#this time I went specifically from idea that hey daves name is well dave. and dave strider exists

[peter-daily-strikes]

Day 30

Homestuck on this account again except something more specific :]

[harleysarchive]

Among You and Me - Corpse x Reader Oneshot (part 2)

Fandom: Corpse, youtubers Warning: Profanity, a lot of swear words, fluffiness, quite long Pairing: Corpse x f!reader Summary: You and Corpse continues with your conversations and it makes you realize that you have feelings for each other. 

Requested

< Previous | Next >

After Corpse had followed you on instagram the two of you talked like nonstop for days. It almost felt like you had known him for years. You had the same humor and he talked about some horror stories he wanted to do and you thought they sounded cool - but not wanting to admit that they scared you as well. You talked about school and how stressed out you were for the essays and exams that were coming up soon.

“I have an exam next Wednesday so I will be off the internet the whole day :(“ you wrote and buried your head in your pillow. 

“That sucks big time.”

“It doesss.”

“Wait… Then you will miss my upcoming stream that day :(“

Shit, you thought. You really wanted to see his stream but right now you don’t have time for it. Which sucks even more than school.

“Probably, I’m sorry :(“ you said and locked your phone to get ready for school.

Corpse POV.

I read the message she sent again and didn’t know what to answer. My brain was so tired so it had problems with coming up with coherent replies. I was not prepared for how the feeling of hurt and sadness that came with that response.

Why did I react like this, of course she has other stuff to do than to watch my stream…

But I couldn’t shake the hurt feeling from my chest. Even though we only had talked for a couple of days it felt like we had known each other for longer than that. She felt like a close friend almost. And when she was with me on my streams, it reduced my anxiety and my nervousness to know that she was watching, somehow it eased my nerves a lot.

Why do I need you there with me to feel safe? he thought to himself and started to type in a response.

“It’s okay, nail those exams for me ;)” he hit send. Thoughts fucking exams that is keeping you away from my stream.

Wait, wait, where the fuck did that thought come from? 

I shook my head, trying to think about something else. I pressed on (Y/N)’s profile on instagram and started to go through her feed. There were some selfies, some pictures of nature and different places where she had been. Some pictures with friends and some with her family. I stopped on a specific selfie of her. She looked so beautiful on it, all I could do was to admire it - and her. Then I did something I thought I’d never do. I took a screenshot of the photo and saved it as my background on my phone.

I will never meet her so this won’t do any harm, I told myself before I fell asleep.

Your POV.

You threw your bag at the couch and fell down face first in the bed. School was killing you at the moment and it wasn’t better with the essays that were piling up on your schedule. You groaned into the pillow and then took up your phone, one message from instagram. You opened it and it was from Corpse. Your heart made a little extra jump everytime you saw the name appear, and that he had answered you. You smiled and read the text. 

“It’s okay, nail those exams for me ;)”

“I will try my best to ace them, just for you ;)” you felt bold writing the last part. But what the hell right? 

You hit send and waited for him to respond. He was probably asleep now, knowing his weird sleeping schedule. Not wanting to wait the whole day - it would drive you nuts and also give you thoughts like “what if I’m annoying or disturbing him?” “what if my message woke him up and he’ll get mad and never want to talk to me again?” “what if…” you know?

You opened your texted book and tried your hardest to study, but it was hard when your mind was constantly wanders away to Corpse - the man that has been on your mind all the time lately and you didn’t mind it really. 

Is it possible to fall in love with someone that you haven’t met? you thought. Because if it is so, then I’m fucked...

Corpse POV.

I must’ve slept for more than three hours for the first time in weeks because I almost didn’t feel dead. I looked over at my phone and I had two messages. One from Dave checking up on me and one from (Y/N). I checked (Y/N)’s message first.

“I will try my best to ace them, just for you ;)”

I got a warm feeling on my chest reading the last part, just for you. I liked that. I liked that a lot actually, more than I liked to admit to myself. I looked at my background picture and there she was smiling at me. Even though it was just a picture from instagram it felt like she smiled at me. And only to me. Some confidence sparked inside of me and I messaged her again.

“Can I get your number?”

Your POV.

You had taken a break from your studying and were watching Mark, Bob, Wade and Sean playing Phasmophobia. It was hilarious to watch. Your phone lit up and you had gotten a message from Corpse on instagram. 

“Can I get your number?”

You stared at the message, he wanted your number. Your thumbs were typing but were shaking so bad, all this kinds of emotions can’t be good for you. 

“Of course!” you typed and then wrote down your number to him. You hit send and bit nervously on your nails. Not long after you got a message from an unknown number.

Hey is this (Y/N)?

Yes is it! Corpse?

Oh thank god! I was nervous I had typed in it wrong and were messaging some weirdo.

You smiled at the two of you continued your conversations throughout the evening.

Some days later it was Wednesday and you had one of your exams. You were a little bit nervous but not a lot. You had tried your best to study, even with obvious distractions, and you had got some informations in your brain. 

Wish me luck on my exam! you send to Corpse, knowing fully that he was sleeping, it was early in the morning, or perhaps he hasn’t even gone to bed yet. Yoy got a ding on your phone.

Good luck (Y/N), not that you need it you are a smart girl. But I know that you are going to kill it 🖤

The heart in the end made your heart jump. 

How am I suppose to consentrate when he sends me stuff like that? 

The exam went like a dream, you knew all the answers to all the questions and it went by fast. You felt pleased with yourself and looked at the clock and it was just before noon. Corpse livestream had just begun!

If I grab a quick lunch I can get home before it is over! you thought to yourself and walked as fast as you could towards the school cafeteria and then straight home.

You made it just in the middle of the stream, they were playing Among Us and Corpse were super nervous. You felt bad for him because you knew that he was great at the game. He didn’t have to be so hard on himself. An idea popped up in your head. You donated 10$ to his stream and wrote:

“You are doing great Corpse and my exam went great ;) much love (Y/N)” 

Now you were just waiting to see if he will notice the message. 

Corpse POV.

My hands were shaking so bad, more than usual. It was normal for me to be nervous before and during a stream but today my nerves were going crazy. I was making rookie mistakes as a impostor, like wtf I am supposed to be the number one impostor here. 

Fuck I wish my hands would stop shaking so bad, why am I so nervous? Well I knew the answer to the question but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. (Y/N) wasn’t here watch and it sucked so bad. I felt lonely and anxious. I looked over at the chat and was that I had recieved a donation with a message.

“”You are doing great Corpse and my exam went great ;) much love (Y/N)” Why thank you-... Wait a minute, (Y/N)?” my voiced cracked at the end of the sentence and I am sure someone caughed up with my surprised and overly excited tone. I took up my phone and texted her fast.

Please tell me that was you who wrote that.

I waited and I saw the three dots going of, not helping with my anxiety one bit.

Yes it was me, I finished much earlier with my exam than I anticipated, so I hurried home to see your stream. 

My heart became all warm over her message and I didn’t even notice that I had held my breath before I let out a huge sigh. She hurried home to watch me. My hands were shaking but not over my nervousness, but from excitement and, i don’t know happiness maybe. Three dots appeared again on the screen.

I couldn’t leave you alone when I know how nervous you get when you’re streaming.

Fuck... That sentence made me fall over the edge, if I haven’t already. I am falling for (Y/N) and I haven’t even met her... 

Yet.

A/N: Upon many requests, here is part two! It made me so happy to see all the comments on my first oneshot and how well recieved it got. Thank you all so freaking much! :D

Tags:

@annshit @artist-bby @polahorvat @wibblytimey @sadlysober @usuie12 @lunaruss @yeolliedokai @fanworrior @kirislut @deathcompass @pillowjj @simonsbluee @reddeserths  

[chiseler]

Hero of Our Nation

I first encountered Roger Ramjet on a Chicago public access station in 1983. It was part of an early morning show apparently aimed at stoner insomniacs. The show came on at five and also included episodes of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, that awful Beatles cartoon, and a weather report clarified by some appropriate pop song (“Here Comes the Sun” or “Here Comes the Rain Again”). I was usually up and around that early for some godforsaken reason, and originally started watching on account of Lancelot Link. Always did love that Lancelot Link. But Roger Ramjet was, well, let’s just say it was a revelation.

Roger Ramjet, “ that All-American good guy and devil may care flying fool” (as he compulsively introduces himself) was a none too bright and none too coordinated drug-dependent space age superhero in an ongoing battle against the assorted forces of evil (or more specifically, N.A.S.T.Y.) to preserve the American Way of Life. He was square-jawed, straight-laced, straight-faced, and True Blue if little else, so hyper-patriotic that nearly every time his name is spoken aloud an American flag, a bald eagle, or a rotating ring of stars appears on the screen. After catching one or two episodes, I forgot all about Lancelot Link.

The show was easy to overlook, especially when squeezed between the Beatles and some secret agent chimps with a psychedelic band. The episodes were only five minutes long (maybe seven with the abrasive theme song filling out the opening and closing credits), and were so crudely drawn and animated it might at a glance seem like something a couple of junior high school kids threw together in their basement one weekend. The shows were so primitive they hardly bothered with niceties like “backgrounds” satisfied instead to settle for rudimentary suggestions of a setting. But the writing was so sharp and the voice talent so good what it really felt like, if you paid attention, was a spoof of a ‘40s radio serial like Sky King or Gangbusters, complete with a soap opera organ and illustrated by a handful of jerky drawings scratched out by someone’s kid. People who thought Jay Ward’s Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-Right were crude when compared with the output from Disney or Warner Brothers had no idea what “crude” meant. 

Looking at it today what it reminds me of more than anything are the paper cutout animations of the earliest episodes of South Park, before they upgraded to Flash. Along with the lo-fi stylistics, the humor was clearly aimed at an adult audience while pretending otherwise.  You may not find any child molestation jokes or crass religious cracks in Roger Ramjet, but for 1965 the lightning-fast humor was pretty hepcat and sophisticated, with undisguised satirical references to the Cold War, Central American turmoil, and the  Vietnam War (“Hey kids, this is Roger Ramjet,” demanding that you stay tuned to this station to see my next adventure,” Roger announces in his commanding superhero baritone. “Or I’ll see to it that all you little rascals are drafted.”) . Mixed in with the topical jokes we also get some highly unlikely name drops, from Noel Coward and Henry Cabot Lodge to James Joyce and bawdy nightclub performer Rusty Warren, as well as film parodies and  literary nods to the likes of Catch-22 and Catcher in the Rye.  It’s also a little less than what you might call racially sensitive by modern standards (consider Mexican revolutionaries The Enchilada Brothers, Beef and Chicken).

While a lot of the more timely jokes might be lost in the murk of the over 50 years since it first aired, there’s plenty of rapid-fire absurdity that’s timeless, from the misspelled title cards punctuating the narration to the self-consciously dumb coked-up adventures.

Bullwinkle aired from ‘61 to ‘64. Roger Ramjet came along a year later and Jay Ward’s influence is undeniable. The difference was Roger Ramjet crammed the equivalent number of bad jokes, references, and plot twists of a typical 8-part Bullwinkle serial into each five-minute episode, both mirroring the rapid-fire screwball dialogue of the ‘30s and the frenetic quick-cut comedy to come along a year or two later in shows like The Monkees and Laugh-In.

The episodes were produced with essentially no budget and were cranked out very quickly by a small team of writers, voiceover artists and animators with solid day jobs in radio and TV. They were all seasoned pros, some dating back to the days of classic radio, who worked on the show after hours as a way of letting off a little steam and tossing around a few cynical, subversive  cultural jabs their day jobs wouldn’t allow. The show was created originally by animator Fred Crippen  (who went on to work on some pretty dreadful crap like the Extreme Ghostbusters  and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Ken Snyder, an ad exec who moved over into producing cartoons. They brought in a remarkable team of voice talent and comedy writers, including Gene Moss (the voice of Smokey the Bear) Jim Thurmam (who did a lot of kids shows including Sesame Street), Dick Beals (the original voice of Gumby), and the great Gary Owens, a drive-time deejay in LA who would get national recognition soon enough as the on-screen announcer for Laugh-In. Although they would all get specific credits in the end (Crippen as director, Moss as a writer) it was a communal effort, in which everyone contributed to the writing, and everyone, even the executive producer, did a few of the voices. Apart from the regular crew, careful listeners might also catch a few uncredited guest appearances by some surprisingly big names (I’m told Sinatra and Dean Martin appear in an episode, but I’m still looking for that one). Owens was the star, though, as his ability to read the most ridiculous lines in a dramatic deadpan made him the perfect Roger Ramjet. Together they made 156 episodes (about 150 still exist), which were sold directly into syndication in ‘65 as half hour shows, each containing three unconnected adventures. I can’t say as I’m exactly sure who they thought their target audience was at the time, except maybe each other.

Much like William Conrad in Bullwinkle, each show opened with our narrator, Steve Allen alum Dave Ketchum, setting the mood and the scene (“In today’s depressing episode,” he’d begin with dramatic enthusiasm, or maybe it was an “existentialist episode,” “phlegmatic episode,” “rickety episode,”  “hairy episode,” or “ethnic episode”). Then we’re out of the gate at a breakneck pace, with a flurry of gags coming from every direction. “Ramjet rode into Boot Hill,” we’re told,  “where the men were men and the women were men, which can get pretty old after awhile.”

While none of the shows are connected, there are a few recurring characters and locations worth remembering: Roger hails from Lompoc, an actual California town (“where nothing ever happens, and seldom does”) and  takes his orders from General G.I. Brassbottom, a no nonsense military man who “hadn’t had an original idea since he was a civilian.” He’s also assisted by Yank, Doodle, Dan, and Dee, the unusually chubby  kids who make up the American Eagle squadron. Like Roger, all the members of the squadron wear their white jumpsuits and flight helmets at all times (Roger even wears his helmet on dates), and in true superhero sidekick fashion, their primary job is to get Roger out of scrapes and make sure his drugs are handy. 

That’s one little detail more than a few casual viewers have taken umbrage with. Roger, see, is a pretty hapless character most of the time, but he repeatedly saves the world thanks to a little help from his Proton Energy Pills (PEP), which take five seconds to kick in, then give him the strength of 20 A-Bombs for 20 seconds. Modern viewers seem a little uncomfortable with the idea of a superhero gulping amphetamines in order to function, but all I can say is, well, it was a different time, and hey, it worked for Roger and Elvis both.

The proton energy pills come in handy when dealing with his arch-nemesis Noodles Romanoff, the short, trench coat and fedora wearing head of N.A.S.T.Y. (the National Association of Spies, Traitors, and Yahoos). Romanoff may not have a Natasha, but he does have a gang of cronies and thugs who all mumble in unison (save for one, who can’t seem to get the rhythm). 

Along with Romanoff and his gang, Roger also has to contend with some lanky alien robots, the Solenoids (voiced by executive priducer Ken Snyder), and their repeated efforts to invade the planet in assorted ridiculous ways (in one episode, they begin kidnapping all the Miss America contestants, who “were disappearing faster than co-eds at a Dartmouth weekend.”)

When not saving the world, Roger found himself competing with the smarmy hotshot test pilot Lance Crossfire (who sounds an awful lot like burt Lancaster) for the affections of Lotta Love, the fickle Southern belle with a taste for the finer things in life.

Then there are the adventures themselves. Some seem standard superhero fare, but only to a point. Earth is besieged by flying saucer attacks (sort of). Roger’s hometown is terrorized by a werewolf (sort of). Roger plays tennis with a kangaroo, or becomes the first man to surf in space,  or, in a personal favorite, attempts to stop the flow of bootleg comic books into America’s drug stores.

Actually, there’s an interesting moment in that one that revealed just how subtle you could be even with animation this unsophisticated. Okay, so Noodles Romanoff, see, is replacing real comics in drug store racks with bootlegs in which popular superheroes are humiliated, all in an effort to destroy the morale of America’s children. After Brassbottom shows Roger a few examples (the issues include “Superman Gets Beat Up by a Chicken!” and “Ratman Stubs His Toe!”) he explains that if this sort of thing continues, “America’s kids won’t have anyone to look up to except YOU, Ramjet.” Then, for just an instant in that crude and jerky style, Roger cuts his eyes toward the camera, revealing in that moment everything we needed to know, namely that it’s what he’s always wanted.

Thirty years on and that still sticks with me.

In the end, though, the characters and storylines are secondary at best In Roger Ramjet. At heart it’s  a matter of trying to keep up with all the lightning-quick  jokes and wordplay, the non-sequiturs and references. In the five minute span of one cowboy-themed episode I counted nods to at least seven classic Western films, from High Noon to She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and I suspect I missed a few. It really is such a dizzying blur of dialogue and bad puns and cultural references, sometimes, christ, even just references to old jokes that take the form of bad puns (“Waiter, there’s a spy in my soup” or “how many angels can swim in the head of a beer?”), that absurd as it all is, repeated viewings are a necessity to catch everything. It’s a bit like having the complete contents of an issue of MAD magazine jammed onto a single page. It can make your head hurt after a while, but it’s worth it. Whether the density and the pace make it better or worse for stoner viewing is something, I guess, each stoner will need to answer for him or herself. Lots of bright colors, though.

In 1965 there was nothing new about making cartoons with adult sensibilities in mind. Betty Boop and Bugs Bunny were made to be shown as short subjects to largely adult audiences. Jay Ward’s cartoons a few decades down the line were near-revolutionary for smuggling hip, subversive political humor into what had become an exclusively child-friendly format. What made Roger Ramjet so radical was it’s blend of ‘30s radio style with mid-’60s cynicism, as well as its foreshadowing of our shrinking attention spans, a hyper-condensed proton pill of comedy and commentary disguised as just another dumb, low-rent superhero cartoon. Although it’s barely remembered today, its influence is still evident in most any subversive animated show you can name, even if they’ve slowed things down a bit.

by Jim Knipfel

[thewebcomicsreview]

Homestuck 2 has updated! Christmas is ruined!

Previously, on Homestuck 2: Literally nothing happened, and a non-trivial portion of the patreon supporters gave up and quit. Can this update pull a Christmas miracle and right the sinking ship of Homestuck 2? Probably not, but let’s find out! 

We’re back in Candyland, having completely skipped over Karkat and John talking about Dave’s apparent death, because this comic is only interested in long conversations when they’re boring and not about anything at all. That’s alright, I got the gist of it.

When Karkat is finally gone, John still doesn’t move. It isn’t as though he has nowhere else to go, since there are quite a few places he might attempt to make himself useful, for better or for worse.

So, it appears to be morning now, meaning that John’s son has been missing in a war zone for almost 24 hours and I guess John literally forgot Harry existed?

Prediction: This conversation is going to end in some variant of “Where is our son?” “Oh shit!”

ROXY: hey john can u do me a quick solid

ROXY: actly idk how quick itll be but its definitely solid

ROXY: harry anderson says i just missed u being here but could u skip back on over?

What.

So, I went back and checked, and apparently nowhere is it explicitly said that Harry Anderson was also looking for the Vriskas, so I guess he....stayed home? Which makes sense, I suppose, but maybe a “Stay here I’ll go look for them” would’ve helped. I wasn’t the only one who thought Harry was out looking for Vriska too. 

ROXY: sup

ROXY: follow me

ROXY: well were just going to my room so i guess technically u know the way

JOHN: haha ok.

John follows, trying to shake the ominous feeling he got from what she’d just said. He’d been in and out of this house a lot in the past few days. Why should this be any different?

Is Roxy....horny? Is the solid she’s looking for John’s dick? I mean, that’d make her saying Harry wasn’t available kind of weird, but I think this framing is a fake-out.

...

What the fuck is that lamp, Jesus Christ it’s awful. Just a cat’s asshole, facing the door.

ROXY: r u kiddin me rn egbert

JOHN: i’m not? unless you were, in which case yeah lets say i was also kidding.

JOHN: oh my god, i’m sorry, i don’t know why this making me freak out.

ROXY: i remember our past boot knockin with fondness but that is a situation im not interested in revisiting

Oh hey, it was a fakeout. Good job, Homestuck 2. You successfully implied something just through the art. Art which, by the way, looks a lot better than the last chapter. There are backgrounds and everything. I wonder if Chapter 15 was rushed out due to Hiveswap and that’s why it was so weak?

He’s almost embarrassed by how relieved he feels. So what if his ex wife wanted to hook up? Shouldn’t that be a situation he could navigate? Don’t people like to find solace in human physical connection during dire times? Why did the idea of it make his mind white out in panic more than, say, any number of the traumas he just experienced?

I’m not the biggest fan of the way the narration is going JOHN IS AFRAID OF SEX WITH ROXY LIKE HE’S A TEENAGE VIRGIN AGAIN (LIKE IN HS1!) AND IT DOESN’T REALLY MAKE SENSE PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IT’LL BE IMPORTANT LATER, but okay, noted.

ROXY: u said ur house is gone??

JOHN: yep.

JOHN: completely.

ROXY: jeez

Heh. I like Roxy, still. 

JOHN: so i just sat there, watching, trying to figure out why watching my house burn down felt like i was being released from prison.

If this comic actually uses the phrase “home” and “stuck” in the same sentence I’m turning this blog around and we’ll go right back to Winnipeg.

ROXY: aight then no wind bending just use your mangrit

Roxy flexes, the corner of her mouth pulled up into a familiar grin. John feels his guts, so recently calmed, twist up into knots again. Her eyebrows shoot up and the smile loosens. He must have shown something on his face.

ROXY: ok or just like push when i push

ROXY: we both got sick muscles

ROXY: no other adjectives necessary

I feel unqualified to talk about how hard Roxy is pushing the June Egbert thing.

....Is that the fucking portal from Hiveswap under a tarp? Also hi Candy Callie, appearing in HS2 for the first time. One of the Calliope’s is nonbinary, I think, but I honestly can’t remember and I think it’s Meat Calliope? 

JOHN: do i get to know what that big thing under the sheet is?

ROXY: hmmmmmm no

JOHN: oh ok.

JOHN: are you sure? i mean, it seems like a pretty prominent feature of the room.

JOHN: space.

JOHN: wherever we are.

ROXY: and a totally mysterious n COMPLETELY inconspicuous feature it will have to remain for now

ROXY: we r kinda in a hurry here fyi

ROXY: and by that i mean

ROXY: we are in precisely the amount of hurry that means im excused from having to a that specific q rn

JOHN: right, sorry.

JOHN: i will pay no attention to the object behind the curtain.

ROXY: u catch on fast egbert

Oh thing HS2 has not been great at is that it has a lot of plot mysteries that are supposed to keep us enticed but they don’t really get implanted into the audience’s head (Remember Vrissy mysteriously collapsing that one time? Probably not, she did it off screen and the boys kind of laughed it off). This one’s hard to miss.

JOHN: so... this is all downstairs?

JOHN: it seems like you had a lot of work done.

ROXY: well no not x actly

ROXY: were in the old meteor

It’s kind of weird how this meteor keeps popping up like this. 

CALLIOPE: besides, hUman divorces are even more fascinating than i had ever imagined, and being able to witness yoUrs in motion was an honoUr.

This is an unexpected but not unwelcome direction for Callie to have gone.

CALLIOPE: ah right, right. yoU're probably a little cUrioUs as to where the dickens we are.

CALLIOPE: how much do yoU know aboUt black holes?

Oh, wow, we’re going right there, then. This does seem like a bit of a reaction to complaints HS2 wasn’t shmoovin’ enough, but maybe I’m reading too much into it.

CALLIOPE: no, i mean, what if oUr whole WORLD was inside a black hole.

JOHN: ok.

A’ight, that got a laugh out of me

JOHN: ugh, i fucking KNEW it!

JOHN: i'm so sorry.

JOHN: i'm so sorry that i put the earth inside a black hole everyone. ):

I like this conversation a lot. 

ROXY: iirc at least part of y u got so weepy was the fact that u couldnt believe a version of earth existed where ppl got 2 watch more mcconaughey films than you

JOHN: listen.

JOHN: i simply don't think you all appreciated the gift you were given.

Quite a bit, in fact.

ROXY: ur not gonna enter a weird time vortex and change the trajectory of a little girls life with the power of love

JOHN: aw.

Roxy and John have a good dynamic. 

CALLIOPE: bUt Upon her departUre, the rift closed for good. as far as i can see, there's simply no way for Us to commUnicate with the world oUtside the black hole.

CALLIOPE: i woUld certainly be very sUrprised to find oUt that anyone had managed sUch a thing!

JOHN: ...right.

John’s phone has very good coverage, since he was able to talk to Terezi in the epilogues, as we’re being subtly reminded of here with that ... before the “right”. I wonder if it still works after alt-Calliope left.

CALLIOPE: oUr exclUsion from the overarching coUrse of events which governs all reality means that oUr existence here is liable to dramatic and violent Upheaval.

CALLIOPE: to pUt it another way, becaUse nothing in here "matters", we are likely to be sUbjected to things which are a bit bats in the belfry, for no reason other than it's totally insignificant to the wider canon of reality.

CALLIOPE: and mUch thoUgh i am personally titillated by some of the conseqUences of this predicament, it is a degrading way for Us to live. u_u

Okay, so we are now being explicitly told that living in the black hole is fucking with the characters and is part of the reason they make such baffling decisions, like Rose not telling Kanaya about Yiffy, or naming her daughter “Yiffy” in the first place.

CALLIOPE: we need yoU to free vriska from the clUtches of oUr misgUided friend jane, and bring her here, to the singUlarity.

ROXY: weve been calling it the plot point

CALLIOPE: yes, the plot point is a key part of oUr plan

CALLIOPE: as far as we have been able to sUrmise, the only remaining method for escaping oUr grim confinement depends on leveraging the UniqUe properties of this location to create an event of sUch catalcysmic proportions that it simply cannot be contained within the black hole any more.

CALLIOPE: something SO dramatic, so hyper-relevant, that it becomes ontologically impossible for anyone to ignore it.

CALLIOPE: for that, we need an individUal of sUfficient narrative cloUt, so to speak.

CALLIOPE: and to liberate her, who better than the embodiment of the aspect of freedom itself?

So, the plan is literally for Vriska to be such a Huge 8itch that the black hole itself gets sick of her and yeets Earth C out of its own event horizon to freedom.

This is actually a great plan. 

And that’s Hamsteak. This definitely feels like a bit of a reaction to complaints about HS2, but hey, I dig it, I guess? Definite improvement over the last chapter.

[locke-writes]

Becoming Whole

Author: locke-writes

Title: Becoming Whole

Based On: Imagine Hotch falling in love with you, the person he hired to take care of Jack when he’s away  By: Myself. Originally Requested By: @lotsoffandomimagines​

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,038

Tag List: @opalsandlacemain​

After Haley was killed Aaron made a vow to keep Jessica in Jack's life. She was his aunt and regardless of whether or not her sister was alive she was still related to Jack, she was always going to be Aunt Jessica to him. It seemed cruel to cut her out of Jack's life for the sole fact that his mother, her sister, was gone. Family was family no matter what circumstances may occur.

Aaron supposed he knew that there had to be an end to the way he had been using Jessica. She was family that was true but family should not be delegated to babysitter and that was what he had been using her for as of late. It had been only six months since Haley died - he liked to think of it as died and not killed - yet his idea of keeping Jessica in Jack's life had changed to more having Jack in Jessica's life. He knew that he couldn't keep relying on her day in and day out. Rare occasions when he was home and able to take Jack to school or home from school meant Jessica had little freedom, but little freedom was not the same as all the freedom she once had.

She had turned from Aunt to babysitter in the six weeks since. Guilt weighed heavy on Aaron's shoulders, not just due to his belief that he was taking advantage of Jessica but because he felt he was burning the only bridge that he had for Jack to remember his mother by. Whether that was foolish or truth he didn't want to know, refusing to bring up the subject around Jack. Instead he began looking online for anyone who he felt would be a suitable match to care for Jack.

He began scouring the internet looking at general caretaker sites and individual sites although none seemed to be the right match. It wasn't fair to judge someone based on a profile but that was his job at he refused to believe that he could ever be wrong. Aaron wondered if his endeavor was hopeless because it certainly felt that way. He didn't want to give up, didn't want to forgo the endeavor as he wanted to make sure that there was someone he could count on, someone whose job that it actually was, to care for Jack.

Your name seemed to come up multiple times after he brought up that he was looking for someone to take care of Jack. His schedule was cleared for the week while he dealt with the parent teacher conference for Jack and he felt taking the week off (on call for major emergency's only) would be beneficial in scheduling your interview.

Resume in hand you knocked on the door of the Hotchner household. To say that the man who opened the door was intimidating at first was an understatement even if he did insist you call him Aaron it didn't help that he worked for the FBI. You wondered if he'd already run a background check on you or pulled whatever records on you that he could potentially gain access to.

Caretaker, that was your title. You joked that it always seemed to conjure images of the elderly rather than the children you seemed to care for but it always seemed a better term to you than babysitter or nanny. Aaron had to agree and was ultimately impressed with your experience and references. While he wouldn't tell you in the interview, you were the one person he felt could be truly compatible with Jack.

He called you an hour after the interview to offer you the job which you readily accepted.

The following week was your first meeting with Jack Hotchner. Aaron had asked you to meet him and Jack at the park near his house, a space where Jack often felt calm and a space that wouldn't make him feel as though there was an intruder in his home. This latter portion was specifically important to Aaron as he wanted Jack to never have to relieve that day. You would only learn later on what had happened to Haley.

Jack was shy at first, remaining by his father's side even after the reassurance that you were someone he could trust. It wasn't a new experience for you, getting children to open up and be welcoming, but you knew that it would take time. With Jack it took only a matter of minutes as you commented on one of the characters on his backpack. That launched Jack into a ten minute conversation on the cartoon with Aaron smiling as he watched his son interact with you. It seemed then that you were a perfect match.

And you still were, a year and a half later.

Aaron had never really thought about when you would stop caring for Jack. Perhaps when Jack was old enough that Aaron felt comfortable with him being home alone after school although that wasn't any time soon. You'd never made mention of wanting or looking for another job, you were happy at the Hotchner household and the Hotchner household was happy to have you.

Jack loved you and Aaron…might have been in love with you. Somewhere in the last few months he felt something changed when he looked at you, it wasn't something he wanted to admit to himself still thinking he wasn't ready after Haley. The team knew, and had met you, which meant that Dave had seen the way Aaron looked at you. What Aaron didn't acknowledge or felt he couldn't acknowledge, Dave saw and knew.

You cared for Jack, you cared for his father. Aaron recognized this yet he refused to say anything about it. His cases were important, Jack was important, feelings were something that could be pushed aside and buried deep down until maybe they simply ceased to exist.  Aaron convinced himself he wasn't ready, he wasn't going to be able to move on from Haley.

Although with you he knew all of that to be a lie.

It was all a lie, telling himself he didn't love you, that he didn't care for you. You cared for him, took care of him I ways he could truly never understand. Not that it was difficult to understand, but just that you didn't have to and yet you chose to. You were hired to take care of his son, he wasn't part of the job and yet in some ways you made sure he was cared for as well.

You picked Jack up from school, you cooked him dinner and made sure on the late nights that he went to bed on time. But you also made sure that there were leftovers for Hotch in the fridge, you made sure Jack had Skype calls with Aaron when he was off for cases, you took care of him more than you should. And Aaron began wondering why.

Why would you choose to care for him? It wasn't your job, you weren't getting paid extra for everything that you took care of specifically for himself although there were times that Aaron had provided more financial compensation than was agreed upon in the initial payment discussion and subsequent discussions regarding raises and bonuses. He always assured you he could afford it when you balked at taking money from him.

Had these been payments or ways for him to show he cared just the same?

It didn't hit him that he loved you until he came home from a case that had taken a week to long. Each night he called Jack he'd promised to be home soon, promised to take him to the aquarium like he'd been begging. He promised all sorts of things and as soon as he walked through the door he just wanted to collapse. What he'd seen, it wasn't anything new in terms of all the cases he'd been a part of but still, this time it hit differently.

But when the door opened and he walked inside there was something that made everything change. You were at the dining room table with Jack the two of you fighting off laughter while you struggled to maintain a firm command that Jack should continue his homework. It was simple but there it was, the moment that confirmed everything for Aaron.

He loved you. There was no doubting it. He loved you and this was what he wanted.

He wanted to see you when he came home. He wanted to be able to call you and talk to you when he was feeling overwhelmed. He wanted to hold you and hold your hand when taking Jack to the park. He wanted everything and he wanted it with you. Had he always been so blind? Had he always been so stubborn in his refusal to admit the truth?

"Is no one going to say hello?" He broke into the laughter and dropped his bag to the floor.

Jack launched himself at his father being wrapped into a hug.

You smiled, "Oh, hey Aaron! Sorry…we were a little occupied."

"I heard. A good joke?"

"Yeah. Have Jack tell it to you later, he's the one that came up with it"

He watched as you went into the living room to grab your things. It was always like this, he'd come home and you'd take your things and leave but he didn't want that this time. He had something he needed to say to you this time.

Aaron turned to Jack, "Hey, you think you can finish this in your room? We've got to talk about boring adult stuff"

Jack frowned but nodded and grabbed his notebook from the table. You set your bag back down and stepped into the kitchen, whatever was going to be talked about you hoped to lessen the blow by distracting Aaron with talk of dinner. He watched as you removed containers from the fridge.

"I hope you don't mind being childish. It's chicken nuggets with mac 'n cheese. I baked some cookies too."

"That's fine…do you want to stop for a second. It's nothing bad but it is serious"

You paused, was he just saying it wasn't bad because he wanted to soften the blow or was he being truthful"

"Ok. Go on."

"I've been refusing to accept it for too long and I don't know why. I've told you about Haley. I've told you about nearly everything and you've never backed away from it all. Maybe that scared me, maybe the fact that you could put up with all that was terrifying to me. I don't know."

"Aaron…"

"I'm in love with you."

"Oh"

"I needed you to know that. I needed to tell you that because keeping it from myself was tormenting me and I don't know how I'd bare keeping it a secret from you. I don't expect you to feel the same way and if you need to stop caring for Jack then I'll understand but"

You interrupted, "Yes I probably will have to look for a new job"

Aaron nodded.

"Because I don't want to be paid for taking care of the son of someone I love. That's just helping with parenting, no one needs to be paid for that."

He stared at you and you waited for him to say something before realizing that he was still processing what you had said. You knew the look on his face, it was the same one when he was trying to analyze an interrogation transcript trying to look for a flaw in the words.

"Aaron, I'm in love with you."

Before you knew it he was around the counter and kissing you. This was right, this felt right.

"Gross!" Jack's voice came from the hallway causing Aaron to pull away and turn towards his son.

"You were supposed to be in your room"

"I'm going back, can you not do that in the kitchen? I need someone to check my math homework."

"I'll be there in a minute Jack" you replied.

"Ok. Just make sure I'm not around when you're kissing from now on"

Aaron chuckled, "I guess I don't have to worry about telling him about us."

[teriwrites]

2020 Writing Wrap-Up

Something that I do every year on the 1st is go back through absolutely everything I’ve written throughout the previous year and compile it into one massive word document. Everything from outlining notes to unfinished short stories to my NaNo project wind up in that file, where I like to read back and reflect on what I’ve gotten done through the year. 

Every year, I end up having written more than I expected, and this year was no different! 

Total for 2020: 203,119!

This is the first recorded year (I think it’s year 4 that I’ve done this for?) in which I’ve cracked 200K! It’s also the first year I’ve ever actually followed through on my resolution to share some of my writing online! So as rough as 2020 has been, I still somehow managed to break some personal records in writing. Which probably has everything to do with the fact that I joined this community earlier this year, and it’s been incredibly encouraging and supportive!

I also branched out a bit more this year in a few ways. I worked on some poetry and prose, which is not something I’ve put a lot of time into before so tends to be a challenge. It’s nothing that I’ll be posting anytime soon, but it was fun to work on in the moment, which is especially important in such a wild year as 2020.

One snag that I definitely hit was the fact that I have a lot more unfinished work than most years. A majority of the short stories I started working on never got finished. But I can’t even be too upset about that, because I totally loved being able to read back on even the fragmented pieces I ended up with. And while I do think a large part of that (for me) is discipline over inspiration, I’m willing to accept that, sometimes, things will remain unfinished. And it’s okay to stop working on them. 

My overall focus shifted a bit this year, too, which was interesting. I worked more on longer things than most years - started out the year by finishing my first draft of Castle on the Hill, continued making some edits and reworking its outline, did a large part of Beneath Alder Creek’s first draft in November. Right now, I’m working on what I expect to be a novella by the time I’m done with it. It’s a big contrast to the usual, short and snappy short stories that fill most of my previous wrap-up files. But I still definitely write those sometimes, and it’s nice to be able to try stretching and testing my own boundaries. 

This is the part of my wrap-up where I go ham throwing in some of my favorite out-of-context quotes from a variety of different things I’ve worked on. Some of them might be familiar, a lot probably won’t. I’m going to post it beneath the thing so this doesn’t become even more absurdly long!

Some of the ~highlights~ of 2020:

First Thoughts in the Morning: wow the sexual tension between me and the alarm clock right now. Later Reflection: wtf? (a literal note on my notes app that I included because I Cannot remember writing any of this and it made me laugh)

Edriele’s gaze trailed down to the woman’s armor, and her stomach twisted. “Where did you find your attire?” The woman glanced down in surprise, as though she’d forgotten she was wearing it. “It was fitted to me when I gained my ranking. I suppose it draws attention, but after my confrontation at… you mean to ask me whether I’m impersonating a Knight!” “The thought had crossed my mind,” the Sister replied dryly. (novella WIP)

“Do you need to make a stop at your house before we head to the chapel?” Leslie asked as they started off. “What for?” Winnie asked. Leslie looked pointedly at the tip of her galoshes poking out from beneath her dress. With another roll of her eyes, Winnie sighed. “Oh, I suppose so.” (Beneath Alder Creek)

When the third meeting for the Society of the Hidden Immortal Tribe was called for the decade, I knew heads would roll. Gathering the entire society together took months. Everything had to be hush-hush; that was the entire point of spreading ourselves out. Plus, every time a letter arrived in the mail, it was a reminder of the idiot who had decided we needed a name change. Everybody agreed that being deemed the ‘S.H.I.T.’ was humiliating, but nobody could agree on a better title, so it had remained the same for nearly a full century. That was the problem with living forever. You always had more time to make decisions, and, in the end, nothing ever got done. (S.H.I.T.)

When she leaves, I’m not sure I remember a word of what she’s said. But as the stresses of the semester wash back in, and my mind clears like being pulled out of a dream, I suddenly understand how one could crash upon the rocks without realizing they’d ever changed their course. (A Modern Siren)

When Georg arrived later, he found Klaus leaning forwards onto the table, staring vacuously at one of his textbooks. "Studying hard?" he taunted as he approached and dropped into the seat Ingrid had been occupying. "I talked with Ingrid," Klaus explained. Georg's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise, but he quickly recovered and looked pointedly at Klaus' posture. "Go that well, then?" "She said I'm arrogant and completely self-involved and that I never take what a girl says into account whenever I'm on a date." With a haunted gleam in his eye, Klaus stared up at his friend. "I think she's right." "Well then it's a good thing somebody pointed it out," Georg offered, and he turned to his work. (Castle on the Hill)

Takemoto Hana rested a hand over her face. She couldn’t see the swirling of darkness over her head, but she heard the whine behind its words. With a wry smile, she asked, ‘Do you not know how to brew tea?’ ‘Of course I know how to brew tea!’ The dark spirit’s voice boomed with a defensive defiance that rang false in the funny little woman’s ears.  (The Funny Little Woman)

“None of us want to be here right now,” Edgar called out to the hall. “None of us want to go back through the handbook and listen to the steps of proper etiquette in immortality. But it seems that, once again, it’s necessary.” “Dammit, Dave,” muttered the man next to me. I said nothing, but I couldn’t help but agree with the sentiment. Dave was… how do I describe Dave? To call him an idiot would be underestimating his craftiness. To call him a genius, I’d have to ignore all of his dumb antics. Cruel was too strong. Misguided was too innocent. Mischievous fit best, but even that fell short. Dave was a trickster god, if ever one existed. (S.H.I.T.)

Ridiculous, he told me with a self-conscious laugh of someone who didn't expect to be believed. I smiled, but I didn't join in. (The Little Roads)

“Hey, where did Alina go?” Lorelai asked. Zoe shrugged, but Jaiden cleared his throat. “I think you crossed one of her boundaries, Lo. She specifically asked not to involve her girlfriend in this, and then you did anyways. I know we needed the help, but friendships have to be built on mutual trust, my dude. You should’ve at least let her know your plan before you went behind her back.” The two women stopped and shared a look. “Hey, Jaiden,” Zoe asked. “Do you know the capital of Canada?” He shook his head. “I dunno, Ontario?” “Amazing.” (Mirror, Mirror)

"We had a bet going over whether you'd make it in time," Hans told him. "Did you win or lose?" Josef replied. Hans flipped a 5-Deutsche Mark coin over to Peter, who grinned as he pocketed it. "I'm glad you have so much faith in me." Josef's voice dripped with sarcasm. (Castle on the Hill)

Taliesin reached over his head and grabbed at one of the low-hanging bows, picking leaves from it. “I’m not sure.” Winnie stopped. “What do you mean?” “I mean that I don’t know.” (Beneath Alder Creek)

While she attended to these, the man beside her began to stir. Ella could see him out of the corner of her eye, attempting to push himself up into a sitting position. ‘You may want to lie back down,’ she told him, scrubbing uselessly at her skirt. The man continued to sit up anyways, pressing a hand against the side of his face. ‘Am I killed?’ ‘No, but your savior may be.’ Ella threw her skirt back to the ground. ‘When the Madame sees the state of me, I’ll be spending my future afternoons off making a new dress out of the fabric scraps.’ A frown crossed the man’s face as he considered her words, followed by a scowl of understanding. ‘You work for them. The bourgeoisie.’ (Cinderella)

Ingrid took the seat and began digging through her bag for a book. As she did so, she explained, "There were no other tables open in the building - even in the quiet section upstairs - so I figured that I would just ask the first person I recognized if I could sit with them, and well... here we are." "Don't worry about it," Georg answered when Klaus found himself dumbstruck again. "Just ignore the oaf, he'll leave you alone." Ingrid shot a grin at Georg, and Klaus suddenly wondered whether it was a good idea to have the two of them sit together. (Castle on the Hill)

Up ahead, I could see the glass walls of the bus stop. Usually, I waited for the bus leaning against the metal frame of the stop, leaving the seats inside open for children on their way to school. But the seats were empty now. I still avoided them. (Flo’s Magical Emporium: The Pandemic)

Now, I ask that you do not feel too much self-pity. For as easy an error as it may be to mistake a visiting aristocrat’s son for the hired help, the true talent in such a display causing his immediate departure lies within you alone. And to think that the meeting was the work of your father’s tenuous sway over the court! Well, I am sure the time away will do him some good, lest you begin to consider that you’ve ruined his position as well as your prospects. (Dearly Detested,)

Edgar was at the front of the lecture hall, and standing beside him was Dave, smirking as though at some private joke that only he was in on. He was wearing sunglasses, despite the dim lighting of the room, probably because he thought he looked cool. I rolled my eyes. What a tool. (S.H.I.T.)

 The work is different now. Countryside pathways winding through the forest lie forgotten for years without the familiar steps of a traveler. Off beaten paths in the city are never unknown for long, and sometimes streets that were once crossed by thousands a day fall back into obscurity. (The Little Roads)

“How much time will you give me to think on it?” she asked suspiciously, wrapping her arms around herself as though afraid they’d reach out to him if not kept in check. “You have all the time in the world,” the golden man said. “The boy’s, however, runs out with every passing second.” He extended his hand. (Beneath Alder Creek)

You ever met a rich person? Not comfortably wealthy. Not ‘my Uncle Kenny is a lawyer’ rich. Not even ‘widow answering the door to her manor on a hill dressed in fine silk’ rich. No, I mean proper, so-much-money-you-literally-can’t-spend-it-fast-enough rich. They say it isn’t worth Bill Gates’ time to pick up a $100 bill off the floor because he’ll have earned more in the time it takes to grab it. That kind of rich. They seem to be bred for times like these. Their houses are a source of endless entertainment – movie theaters, bowling alleys, personal gyms with a view of the sprawling landscape they overlook like cruel dictators. There’s no need for them to leave during a pandemic; they have access to the equivalent of a luxury resort most families have to save up month to visit. Necessities can be stockpiled in one of the useless extra spaces in the house. I mean, I once had to hide out in a luggage room for a contract. That’s right. An entire room dedicated to holding luggage, bigger than some of the apartments I’ve rented. I thought their residential labyrinths were my greatest source of grief. But social distancing? I’m one bad contract away from retirement. (Bounty Hunter During a Pandemic)

Shaking his head, Detlef pulled a new sheet from his notebook. “Look, I’m just saying, if we can get the satire right, we can be a modern Jonathan Swift.” “I don’t want to be a modern Jonathan Swift, I want to be a student actually passing his debate course!” Peter snapped. (Castle on the Hill)

Moonlight illuminated the German’s fair hair and pale skin, the effect more malevolent apparition than man. (Face on the Other Side of a Dark Window)

Back then, he’d been known for commissioning the exact same portrait of himself every hundred years, hanging them in a hallway in his manor and trying to pass them off as his line of ancestors to any of the locals. It had been a far less skeptical age, and Dave had earned himself a small band of worshipers before Jeff Goldblum himself had been forced to intervene. (S.H.I.T.)

Clara stood before the board of advisors assisting with her thesis. She was one, very intense paper away from her M.A., and she wasn’t about to risk it all by being too proud to ask for help. When she’d made the appointment to meet with them, she expected a series of questions surrounding her topic. Instead, they’d opened by offering her a job. “You want me to steal from the school?” Dr. Pye wrinkled her nose at the suggestion. Next to her, Dr. Pritchard said, “Don’t think of it as theft, dear. It’s merely redistribution.” Clara hadn’t amassed tens of thousands of dollars in debt to be lectured on the definition of robbery. “Either way, it involves me sneaking into the Chemistry department and taking a huge risk to get you some new toys to play with.” (Origins: The Ghost)

“Why is undermining Pryderi so important to Queen Ceridwen that she would risk breaking a timeless alliance just to dismantle them?” Her stomach twisted into a knot, protesting against the answer. “There are few members of the Dusk Court that we know by title.” A shadow passed over Enid’s expression. “The Lord of the Undernell is second only to the Queen.” “Great deeds build the reputation of one in their own court. Cruelty builds it in both.” Taliesin buckled under Winnie’s weight as she suddenly leaned against him. (Beneath Alder Creek)

“Why are all my friends so quick to endanger themselves?” I muttered as I packed up Midas’ crate. Natalie swiveled around from the candy aisle. “So you’re finally willing to admit that we’re friends?” “Save it.” (Flo’s Magical Emporium: The Pandemic)

[intoxicatingimmediacy]

Visions Of Bodies Being Burned clipping.

clipping.'s second entry in their horror anthology collection follows up 2019's There Existed an Addiction to Blood by conjuring up an atmosphere that rarely allows a moment to catch your breath. Here the Los Angeles-based trio takes Apple Music through the record's many horrors.

Say the Name William Hutson: “I had always wanted to make a track using that phrase from the Geto Boys, and we had talked about doing a Dance Mania Chicago ghetto house track about Candyman. I always liked that idea of a slow, plodding, more dance-oriented track, using that line repeated as a hook.” Daveed Diggs: “We had always talked about how that line is one of the scariest lines in rap music, it's just really good writing. Scarface does that better than anybody. What we had was this very Chicago, these really specific reference points, to me, that I had to connect. That's how I saw the challenge in my head, was like there's this very Texas lyric and this very Chicago concept. Fortunately, Candyman already does that for you. It's already about the legacy of slavery in this country. So I just got to lean into those things.”

’96 Neve Campbell (feat. Cam & China) Jonathan Snipes: “This was actually the second thing we sent them—we made an earlier beat that had a sample that we couldn't clear. We wanted to make something that sounds a little more like jerk music and something that's a little bit more tailored for them.” WH: "We didn't have our Halloween, Friday the 13th slasher song. The idea was to not have Daveed on it at all, except to rap the hooks, and just to have female rappers basically standing in for the final girl in a slasher movie. But then we liked Daveed's lines, we wanted him to keep rapping on it.” DD: “It felt too short with just two verses. We were like, ‘Well, put me on the phone and make me be the killer.’” WH: “There's a Benny the Butcher song called '’97 Hov,' this idea of referring to a song by a date and a person that's the vibe you're going for. So some of the suggestions were like, '’79 Jamie Lee Curtis' or '’82 Heather Langenkamp.' But then with Daveed on the phone and making a Scream reference, '’96 Neve Campbell' made more sense.”

Something Underneath DD: “There's a whole batch of songs we recorded in New York while I was also doing a play, and so we'd work all day and then I'd go do this show at night. For a long time, there was a version of this one that I couldn't stand the vocal performance on. It's obviously a pretty technical song, and I just never nailed it and I sound tired and all of this. So it ended up being the last thing we finished.”

Make Them Dead WH: “We did ‘Body & Blood’ and ‘Wriggle,’ which both take literal samples from power electronic artists and turned them into dance songs. The idea for this was, let's do a song that instead of borrows from power electronics and makes it into a dance song, let's try to just make a heavy, slow, plodding thing that feels like real power electronics.” DD: “When we finally settled on how this song should be lyrically, it was actually hard to write. Just trying to capture that same feel. There's something about power electronics that feels instructional, feels like it's ordering you to do something. The politics around it are varied, depending on who is making the stuff. But in order to sit within that, it had to feel political and instructional, but then that had to agree with us.”

She Bad WH: “That's our witchcraft track.” JS: “Obviously, this ended up having some melodies in it, but it started as those, but it really is just field recordings and modular synths, and there isn't a beat so much and the melody is very obtuse in the hooks. It's mostly just looped and cut field recordings.” DD: “I've been moving away from something that we did in a lot of our previous records, like really super visual, like precise visual storytelling that feels really cinematic, where I'm just actually pointing the camera at things, so that was fun to try that again.”

Invocation (Interlude) (with Greg Stuart) WH: “It's a joke about Alvin Lucier's beat pattern music, his wave songs and things like that, but done as if it was trying to summon the devil.”

Pain Everyday (with Michael Esposito) DD: “I love this song so much. Also, I definitely learned while writing it why people don't write whole rap songs in 7/8. It's not easy. The math, the hidden math in those verses is intense. It kept breaking my brain, but now that it's all down, I can't hear it any other way, it sounds fine. But getting there was such a mindfuck.” WH: “So then the idea was it's in 7/8, it's about a lynched ghost, so the idea we had was a chase scene of the ghost of murdered victims of lynching.”

Check the Lock WH: “This was conceived as a sequel to a song by Seagram and Scarface called ‘Sleepin in My Nikes.’ That was a rap song about extreme paranoia that I always thought was cool and felt like a horror, like an aspect of horror.” JS: “This is the one time on this album that we let ourselves do that like John Carpenter-y, creepy synth thing.”

Looking Like Meat (feat Ho99o9) DD: “I think they reached out wanting to do a song, and this had always felt, we always wanted this to be like a posse track, kind of. This was another one that I wasn't going to write a voice for actually, we were going to try to find a better verse.” JS: “Which is why the hooks are all different—we were going to fill them in specifically with features, but sometimes features don't work out. This is like our attempt at making the more sort of aggressive, like a thing that sounds more like noise rap than we usually do.” WH: “The first thing on this beat was I bought 20 little music boxes that all played different songs, and I stuck them all to a sounding board and put contact microphones on it, and just cranked them each at the same time.”

Eaten Alive (with Jeff Parker & Ted Byrnes) DD: “I had been in this phase of listening to Nipsey [Hussle] all day, every day, and all I wanted to do was figure out how to rap like that. So from his cadence perspective, it's like my best Nipsey impression, which we didn't know was going to turn into a posthumous tribute.” WH: “And the rapping was also partly a tribute, just spiritually a tribute to No Limit Records. That's why it's called 'Eaten Alive,' which is named after a Tobe Hooper horror movie about a swamp.”

Body for the Pile (with Sickness) WH: “It already came out [in 2016]. It ended up being on an Adult Swim compilation called NOISE. We did it with Chris Goudreau, our friend who is just a legendary noise artist called Sickness.” JS: “We always thought that would be a great song to save for a horror record, and then years went by and we weren't going to include it, because we thought, ‘Well, it's out and it's done.’ We looked around and I don't know, that comp isn't really anywhere and that track is hard to find, and we really like it and we thought it fit really nice. When we started putting it in the lineup of tracks and listening to it as an album, we realized it fit really nicely.”

Enlacing WH: “The cosmic pessimism of H.P. Lovecraft is all about the horror of discovering how small you are in the universe and how uncaring the universe is. So this song was about accessing that fear by getting way too high on Molly and ketamine at the same time, then discovering Cthulhu or Azathoth as a result of getting way too fucking high.” JS: “My memory is that this was never intended to be a clipping. song, that you and I made this beat as an example of, ‘Hey, we can make normal beats.’” DD: “That Lovecraftian idea was something that we played in opposition to a lot on Splendor & Misery, so it was good to revisit in a way where we were actually playing into it, and also it definitely feels to me like just being way too high.”

Secret Piece WH: “We wanted to really tie the two albums together, so the idea was to get everyone who played on any of the albums to contribute their one note. So we assembled the recordings of dawn and forests, and then almost everyone who played on either of these two albums contributed one note.” JS: “We have a habit of ending our albums with a piece of processed music or contemporary music. We ended midcity with a take on a Steve Reich phased loop idea, and we ended CLPPNG with a John Cage piece, and then There Existed ends with Annea Lockwood's 'Piano Burning.' So we wanted something that felt like the sun was coming up at the end of the horror movie, a little bit.” WH: “That was the idea was that we were exiting, it's dawn in a forest. So dawn in a forest in a slasher movie or a horror movie usually means you're safe, right? The end of Friday the 13th one, the sun comes up and she's in the little boat, but that doesn't end well for her either. We did not have the jump scare at the end like Friday the 13th.” DD: “I pushed for it a little bit, but some people thought it was too corny.”

[lucarioisinthevoid]

Twitch Streamer AU???

(I planned on pushing out a FEW AU asks, but then realized I don’t even have so many. There’s going to be a FNAC event, but that will be an event, not a specific AU ask, so- I guess this is it! Very cursed AU, thank you very much Anon Small warning for mentions of blood, I think? Nothing too bad.)

Streamers, youtubers, content creators. Some people are all of these, some people are none, and some are just one- because each of them needed a very different talent. Those who could do seemingly everything were few and far between- And they ruled the entertainment scene! Thankfully though, the main three as most called them, were also always out for new content to watch. Thus they boosted those that they saw potential in. With some taking the boost and then going off to do their own thing- And some becoming good friends. It always started with a letter. Mike had the habit to do things on stream, as long as no personal details were not visible on them. He used a false email which he regularly changed, and he generally kept himself as safe as possible. Opening emails on stream could be rather fun, even if it was a risk. Sometimes it encouraged people to send bad things- So to prevent the worst, nothing would be downloaded and all emails containing images would be put into the spam bin. Better safe than sorry, the internet was full of terrible people. This day so far had been successful. And by successful it meant that Mike was SCREAMING. “I HATE SUPER MEAT BOY. I WILL COMMIT VIOLENCE AGAINST MEAT IN A MINUTE. I HAVE A BIG F-CKING STEAK IN THE KITCHEN, AND I WILL THROW IT AGAINST THE F_CKING WALL. I WILL GET A HAMMER.” The chat was going wild, cheering. The chat’s phrase of today was “tender Mikey” and it didn’t help at all. “I DID. NOT. HIT THAT! I DID NOT!” A donation popped up, with a robotic voice. ‘Oh hai Mark!’ “NOT FUNNY! NOT F-CKING FUNNY. I’M SUFFERING HERE AND ALL OF YOU SUPPORT IT. YOU’RE ALL F-CKING MONSTERS HERE, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT. AND I’M NOT F-CKING TENDERIZING THE MEAT WHEN I SLAP IT AROUND, I’LL RIP IT INTO PIECES AND CONSUME IT RAW!” Standing up, he genuinely went to get it- And fifteen minute later he had slightly calmed down, his hands and room slightly bloody. The chat was still celebrating and donating- another thing that never failed to make Mike BEG them to stop and use the money for something GOOD and SENSIBLE, LIKE THEM-FUCKING-SELF- but he had gotten out most of the energy. “Alright. Alright everyone. ENOUGH. I gotta stop you HERE. It’s email time.”   A celebratory jingle played, as Mike booted up the website, opening the inbox. Memes, storytime, I’m-not-fucking-reading-that-and-you-know-it, and- One of the emails caught his- and the chat’s- attention, however. Sender: Fazbear Entertainment Topic: Challenge Needless to say- once again the chat was out of control and this time there was NOTHING Mike could do to stop them. After opening the email, Mike slowly took a deep breath and looked into the camera, between concerned and honored- But that wouldn’t be enough to rip him from his carefully maintained persona. So he audible scoffed- albeit him being unable to hide an excited grin. “Alright bitches and bastards in the audience- we’re firing SuperMeatBoy up again. You won’t be catching ME losing to a pink son of a bitch anytime soon!” After the letter- provided it was accepted and responded to, the production happened. The deal was that a teaser was dropped on the big channel- The entire video itself was put on the smaller one, attracting the viewers over and hopefully make them more likely to want to see the other works the creator had put out. It was a win-win overall, the big channel being able to vary their content, testing the water for new things- and the smaller channel getting a boost and a lot of tips from very experienced creators. Henry and Dave were very generous people. Jeremy was sitting there, taking deep breaths, trying to stay calm. So far, everyone seemed to be rather kind, even if Jeremy was basically a complete nobody. Hell, he never wanted to be anybody. He just wanted to stream himself baking, for those who never had someone baking with them. Because baking could feel stressful, especially when you were missing ingredients or- many reasons, actually. Not only baking, but cooking too- Sometimes playing games on request, but not much in terms of requests ever came in. And now he was here in an actual studio, soon to be seen by an insane amount of people. A cooking competition. Sounded silly- you couldn’t really FIGHT in something like that… But… Henry and Dave had promised it would be fun. And they were nice. With and without the cameras rolling. Speaking off- There they were, approaching, their assistant coming along. He wore a weird phone-head, to ensure his privacy. Or something. It was kinda weird, but he had just accepted the answer he got. “Why, there you are, Jeremy! Would you like to see the equipment we have prepared?” Henry warmly asked, reaching down with his hand to help his guest stand up. “We have gotten a few extra things, just in case.” As they entered the studio, Jeremy’s invisible eyes went WIDE. “Woah- that looks really nice! I love it here! This is high quality stuff-!” “Fantastic!” Pleased Henry opened his arms in his typical theatrical manner- Before being abruptly interrupted by Dave jumping in, halfway over Henry’s shoulder. “ARE YA READY TO GO!? CAMERAS ARE READY!” “Ah- I- I guess- but-“ “YOU HEARD HIM, BOYS! GET IT ROLLIN’!” “W-wait, I don’t even have-“ “Everyone! Welcome to NOTHIN’ AT ALL!” Henry swiftly fitted in, continuing on with the intro. “Todays challenger is the man, the legend, the baker and occasional chef- Jeremy from Baking With Jeremy!” “Wait, what- that’s seriously your channel name, pal?” A bit offended Jeremy looked into the eyes of the people behind the camera. “U-uh- you guys here- I mean- he has literally called his channel Henry Miller! I- uhm- I-“ Snickering Henry put a hand on his guest’s shoulder. “You are very right about that. Say, are you nervous about losing?” “… n-no. I mean- maybe a little. This place here is big and very professional and I’m not used to many people looking at me…” Taking a deep breath, he gave off a nervous smile for the audience. “… yet, I know- it’s a good thing! And as long as everyone has fun, everything will work out!” “Awwwww, look at him!” Dave said, pleased. “You’re so right! We’ll be havin’ fun!” “But also, I will win.” Henry pointed out. “That is when I have the most fun.” Slightly playful Jeremy smiled. “K-keep that attitude, that will make it even easier to blindside you!” Simon whistled, clearly bemused as he held the camera in place- And Henry smirked. “Sure. Anyhow, the stakes are-“ “Steaks? We’re makin’ steaks? I thought we planned on-“ “Dave. I swear to god.” Henry looked at him from the side, before shaking his head. “What is on the line is easy to see- we have roughly an hour to cook the best meal. If Jeremy wins, we will donate 5000 to a charity of his choice!” “And if the young pal loses, he’ll be joinin’ our channel!” Dave chirped. This was news to the brown-haired boy. “W-wait, we never agreed to that-“ “GET TO YOUR STATIONS!” Someone in the back announced. “WHO’S TODAYS FAVORITE?” Simon checked the stream. “The chat says Jeremy is a clear winner. Nobody trusts Henry to keep his two braincells together for long enough to not forget the salt or something.” “Excuse?!” Not only Henry was APPALLED by the chat, Dave joined right in. “Ya guys have NO taste. I’ll be clearly winnin’… but hey, maybe ya peeps don’t know that I plan to cheat!” Surprised Jerry looked over to Dave’s cooking station. “How… how can you cheat at cooking-“ Before he could finish his sentence, he shrieked as Dave pulled out a flamethrower. “HELL YEAH BABY, I AIN’T WAITING 30 MINUTES FOR SOMETHING TO COOK IN THE OVEN, I’LL BE DONE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES MAX!” “W-WAIT THAT DOESN’T SEEM SAVE-“ Henry just raised his hands, cheerful. “Ready… set…” The Phone Guy made eye- well, rotary- contact with Jeremy, slightly raising a fire extinguisher that was by his side. … alright, it seemed the people here were well-prepared for this scenario. So instead he focused on the ingredients in front of him. Almost manic, Henry’s voice rang. “GO!” And… … that was it! Some joined, with amazing results- Mike rubbed his face. “Who thought that was a great idea. I fucking hate this.” Dave next to him on the couch just grinned. “It’s amazin’ what these websites all offer to sell. You won’t be BELIEVIN’ what’s in this box!” “I’M NOT OPENING IT.” “YOU WILL. OTHERWISE IT’LL HUNT YOUR DREAMS. I’LL PUT THIS BOX NEXT TO YOUR BED. YOUR TOILET. ONTO YOUR DINNER TABLE. INTO THE FRIDGE. I’LL ORDER MORE OF THESE BOXES.” “Jesus CHRIST, calm DOWN-“ “I WILL FIGHT YA TO THE DEATH OLD PAL-“ - and some people just went back to the usual pattern, with the occasional raid from Fazbear Entertainment. They asked first, of course. Each of them fulfilled their own niche, each of them had caught Henry’s and Dave’s attention in one way or another. Henry and Dave however- Well, Dave was the varied creator. Henry liked his niche. He played horror, investigated ARGs, read stories about real and fictional crimes against humanity. The world was a terrible place, wasn’t it? Yet he reveled in it. Aside from that he showed extra effects, he built machines and thought everyone one or another thing about creating special effects at home. From dry ice to genuinely ridiculous chain-reactions, Henry showed them it all. Blood too, multiple forms of it, depending on how and where it would be used. Sometimes breaking it off with more light-hearted one-off games and listening to what his community wanted to see… but the most comfortable he was with horror and analysis. He was a youtuber, a streamer, a content creator… … and one thing more. It wasn’t easy to find the code. But his intended audience were a very small amount of people. A small number of strangers. There was no way to know if anyone ever made it to more than one show, but Henry did not care. It wasn’t for them that he did this. Him and William moved down, down below the set, into the lowest regions of the house. The workshop. Nobody really question why you added what to your home if you were a creative person. Even less so if you were a famous, eccentric creator. Yes, the free reign was what he REALLY loved about his job. Maybe he should build his studio somewhere else- But like this it was so much more thrilling! Wordlessly both of them put on their suits. It would hide their identity perfectly- especially the animal heads that contorted their voices a bit. Enough. Today’s participant wore a mask too- another phone head, differently made, different style, but to hide their identity too. However, the voice was in no way muffled. Panicked the person dragged on the chains keeping them attached to the chair. “H-HELLO!? HELLO!? S-SOMEONE- IS SOMEONE HERE!?” A noisy one! Delightful! Both Fredbear and Springbonnie stepped out of the shadows, one form each side. While Springbonnie put his hands gently on the shoulders of the whimpering person, Fredbear stepped in front of the camera, bowing. “Ladies and gentlemen-“ The low voice sounded more like the one of an animal than from a person. Yet it was smooth and comforting. “- I welcome you to yet another installment of our show. I am Fredbear, and over there is my wonderful assistant, Springbonnie. Today we have brought a simple stranger, a nobody who might not even be missed. Thusly I encourage you to truly be creative with your ideas. And while your votes roll in, maybe I point out that next time we will have another little game-show, with quite the effects. We might even get a real bull! You will not want to miss it.” The board above the camera blinked up, as a bitter fight of votes started, everyone wanting to see something else. Three tiers to vote on! Foreplay (light injuries), main course (heavy injury leading to death) and of course what to do with the body. Below it was a little measure for “face reveal”. Some of their viewers really enjoyed seeing the expressions during and after. It came with a risk to Fredbear and Springbonnie, as the victim being recognizable meant their general area of activity was more obvious- thus it was incredibly expensive. They knew there was every now and again law enforcement mixed up between the genuine watchers. It was thrilling too- Yet Fredbear wanted to keep this game alive as long as he could. Thus it was important to hide what they could. Fredbear was a creator first and foremost, an entertainer second- And there was nothing that attracted an HONEST, an UNRESTRAINED, a PURE audience quite like violence. Once blood spilled, humans degraded and it was wonderful. Behind him, the victim began rattling even more erratic. “WHAT- WHAT IS THIS?! LET ME OUT- PLEASE- LET ME OUT- PLEASE- I- DIDN’T DO ANYTHING-“ Burying his hands into the shoulders of Springbonnie downright cackled, enjoying the mania that always accumulated in these situation. “Be still, new friend! The audience HATES too much whining, y’know? And at least you could die with your tongue still intact, wouldn’t that be nicer than having to swallow the thing? Once it almost killed someone, boy, that sure was a bother!” His voice was changed to a cartoonish, upbeat pitch- “While the votes come in, how about we quiz today’s friend… maybe if you are smart enough, they will want you to live! It happened before… o n c e.” Fredbear took out a long scalpel, the face a morbid grimace. “Surprise us!”

[bing-fucker]

Um that's a big YES on an au where Marvin is a king and Jamie is part of his harem? OR, maybe an au where Marvey finally gets to act on that fantasy of his, it's the 1950's, Jamie is the stay-at-home husband to some rando that doesn't appreciate him, and Marvin is the neighbor who comes over when rando is gone and shows Jamie just how much he appreciates him (bonus points, the neighbor invites Marv over for dinner not knowing he fucked Jamie over that very dinner table only a few hours earlier)

I am so glad that finally someone is appreciating Marvin's weird ass fantasy of Jameson as a 1950s house "wife". I also do have more ideas for the harem AU, but I want to make it a multichapter thing, so you guys will see that soon-

Also for the sake of it, this is an AU not a roleplay. So brief world building; It's the 1950s. Gay people are not only accepted, but active members of society all over the world. That's kind of it for the AU. God, can you imagine that? Run 1950s aesthetic without any racism or homophobia? Wish that were us.

Bonus points to anyone who can guess who Anthony is.

Warnings: Cheating, mentions of emotional neglect, cum used as lube. As always, ask me to add any necessary warnings!

Marvin's neighbor was gorgeous. Not in the way that flowers were gorgeous or that models were gorgeous. Marvin's neighbor was gorgeous in the way that jewels you couldn't afford was gorgeous. Marvin's neighbor was gorgeous in the way that you couldn't take your eyes off of him when he was doing something. He was adorable with black hair and baby seal grey eyes and a cute mustache and dresses that he liked to spin around in in the garden. He was gorgeous, and Marvin wanted him.

Marvin always wanted what he couldn't have. But this was more than that. Marvin didn't just want Jameson - his neighbor - because he couldn't have him. He didn't just want to fuck Jameson- well. He did. He very much did. But he also wanted to hold him close and spin him around in circles and give him soft kisses and watch the way Jameson's face lit up.

Jameson was married was the biggest problem. He had a husband who was, to say the least, not good. He was always gone all day and then when he got home he never even greeted Jameson with a kiss! They'd moved in when they were newly weds, and back then Jameson's husband was lovely. He was always happy to see Jameson and gave him kisses- and he was loud and the houses were close, so Marvin was always able to hear him. Marvin never heard them anymore. Which was horrible. Jameson deserved to be made love to! And held down and fucked until he couldn't think. But that was besides the point.

Marvin had a stool specifically placed by his fence so he could stand on it and look over and watch Jameson garden. Which was probably slightly creepy, but all the times Jameson had noticed he'd just given a silent laugh and turned back to gardening. So Marvin was pretty sure it was just accepted at this point.

"So, what're we planting today?" Marvin asked, looking over the fence at Jameson.

Jameson looked up at him and smiled brightly. He was wearing a pink dress that Marvin absolutely loved. Although, he knew from his - generously called - research that Jameson was color blind. So it wasn't often that the little gentleman wore colors, but he always looked lovely.

"Actually, I'm just pulling up weeds today," Jameson signed, smiling brightly up at Marvin. "What are you gardening today?"

"Oh, the usual," Marvin replied, waving a hand. "I've planted herbs and now I'm going to watch them die." Marvin was a stage magician, and rather good at it. It was almost every other skill in his life that he lacked. Jameson laughed silently and stood, brushing off his gloves. Jameson was a fastidiously clean man. Marvin was pretty sure he wore gloves under his gardening gloves, but he'd never gotten confirmation.

"Would you like to come over for some tea?" Jameson asked, cocking his head.

Marvin blanked, blinking slightly. "Like, alone? Just us?"

"Well, of course," Jameson replied. "Unless you'd prefer I invite Chase?" Chase lived across the street with his wife and kids and who he said was a childhood friend, but Marvin was pretty sure was his boyfriend.

"Nope! No, I'm good. Let me just get changed into something more appropriate for tea than my 'sitting and watching my garden die' clothes," Marvin said, grinning. Jameson laughed again and nodded, waving goodbye to Marvin as he went back in his house. Marvin silently cheered as he went back to his own house to change into something that would impress the little gentleman.

Marvin knocked politely on the door, rocking back and forth on his heels excitedly. He was dressed simply- just a button up and casual slacks. But it was certainly more appropriate than what he usually wore when spying on Jameson- which was a tee shirt and whatever trousers were easiest for him to get out of or palm himself through.

Jameson opened the door, grinning at Marvin. Marvin grinned back, entering the house when Jameson beckoned him in. Marvin had never been inside Jameson's house before. Usually when he and - Dave? Anthony? Anthony sounded more right - Anthony spoke it'd be at Marvin's house or by their mailboxes. And looking around, Marvin could almost, almost, forgive Anthony for being gone so often.

The entire house - or at least what Marvin could see - was entirely in black, white, or grey. It looked like a show on the telly. Marvin supposed it was because Jameson designed it and this was all he could see, but it was still depressing.

"Do you like it?" Jameson asked excitedly.

"It's very clean," Marvin settled on, looking around. Jameson seemed to accept that as a compliment and grabbed Marvin's hand, leading him into the kitchen. Marvin swallowed thickly, looking at where his and Jameson's hands were joined.

The Kitchen was as clean as the rest of the house. And equally monochrome. But it was sort of charming. There was a vase full of bright yellow flowers that gave it a pop of color and worked rather well with Jameson's pink dress. Marvin very distinctly ignored the idea of bending Jameson over the table and fucking him like in those porn magazines that Marvin would never admit to owning.

"Here you go," Jameson signed after setting a cup of tea in front of Marvin.

"Thank you!" Marvin said, carefully adding a bit of milk to his tea and looking at Jameson, who was very carefully counting out sugar spoonfuls to put in his tea.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Marvin asked, sipping his tea.

Jameson shrugged. "Not sure. You just always watch me garden, and I wanted to get to know you!"

"Oh!" Marvin smiled. "Well, tell me about yourself." Of course, Marvin knew everything about Jameson, but he loved watching Jameson sign.

A few hours later, Marvin finally stood to leave. They'd spent the past few hours talking and laughing. Marvin had flirted a lot and, oddly, Jameson flirted back. The little gentleman blushed and laughed, resting his hand on Marvin's shoulder and thigh. Marvin adored it. He adored having Jameson's attention, adored the little gentleman flirting with him despite his marriage.

"Oh." Marvin turned away from wishing Jameson goodbye at the voice. He turned to Anthony, grinning brightly. Anthony was a handsome enough man. He always wore a scarf or high collared shirt, and his eyes were two different colors.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize Jamie had a friend over," Anthony said, looking at Marvin. Jameson blushed faintly, going over to Anthony and kissing his cheek in greeting.

"Oh, I just stopped by for tea and a chat," Marvin said, shrugging. "It was nice to see you, Anthony. Thank you for the tea, Jamie."

"Oh, hey," Anthony said, snapping. "Why don't you join us for dinner tomorrow?"

"Oh! Well, if Jamie doesn't mind," Marvin agreed, looking at Jameson, who just shrugged happily. "Then I'll see you two tomorrow." Marvin turned to leave.

"Hey, I'll walk you out," Anthony said, slinging an arm around Marvin's shoulders and steering him out of the house.

Anthony paused on the front porch, looking at Marvin. "Thanks for keeping Jamie company today," he said genuinely. "He gets really lonely during the days, you know."

"Well, he's a great guy," Marvin said. "I'm happy to spend time with him."

"He is great, isn't he?" Anthony looked at the house, then back at Marvin with a hard glare once he was sure Jameson was busy.

"Now listen here," he growled. "Jameson is my husband, and I'm doing what I can to keep him. So you keep whatever freaky shit you're into away from him, got it?"

"Oh, really? Doing what you can to keep him?" Marvin replied, sounding almost bored. "Is that why you leave him alone all day and then come home smelling like someone else's cologne?" Marvin pat Anthony's shoulder cheerfully before he could respond. "Well, see you tomorrow, Anthony! You folks have a good night!" With that, he turned and walked back next door.

That night, as Marvin lay in bed, he could hear them. He felt a small twinge of satisfaction that after their conversation, Anthony would touch Jameson for the first time in months. He laid back, biting his lip and wrapping a hand around his cock as he imagined he was the one over Jameson, holding him close and driving him to the edge of oblivion.

Not far away, Jameson lay beneath his husband, his eyes closed tight. He was, for once, glad for his inability to speak, as he was very sure it would be Marvin's name he was moaning if he could.

-

The next day, Marvin stopped by long before dinner would be ready, and long before Anthony was home. Jameson looked confused for a second, then smiled brightly as Marvin presented him with flowers.

"I noticed the ones on your kitchen table were looking a little sad yesterday," Marvin said, even though they weren't.

Jameson nodded in agreement, even though they weren't. "Would you like to come in for tea?"

"I'd love to," Marvin agreed, following Jameson into the kitchen with a smile. Jameson's dress was white today, with little blue flowers embroidered all over it.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Jameson asked, setting a cup of tea in front of Marvin before going back over to the counter to prepare his own.

"Oh, I just know how lonely you get during the day," Marvin replied. "Figured I'd come and keep you company. Unless you'd prefer I leave?"

"No, please don't!" Jameson signed quickly, turning around to look at Marvin.

Marvin slowly approached Jameson, tilting the little gentleman's chin up and admiring the blush dusting his freckled cheeks.

"He touched you last night," he muttered, licking his lips at the shy look on Jameson's face. "He was jealous, because I was here with you. Because he knows you'd prefer it was me above you, holding you close and pleasuring you."

"I-" Jameson's hands faltered as he made eye contact with Marvin. "I'm married..." he signed weakly.

"That's half the fun," Marvin replied, leaning down and kissing Jameson deeply. Jameson didn't even bother to put up a fight for appearances, he simply tangled his hands in Marvin's hair and returned the kiss. Marvin groaned softly and wrapped his arms around Jameson's waist, picking the younger up easily and specifically carrying him not to the kitchen table, but to the dining room table.

"There we go," Marvin breathed, setting Jameson on the table and lifting his skirt eagerly. Jameson blushed, looking at Marvin shyly.

"Don't worry, gorgeous," Marvin purred, slotting himself between Jameson's legs and kissing him again. "As much as I may want to, I won't mark you. Can't have your husband finding out, after all~"

Jameson blushed more and bit his lip at the mention of his husband, gasping softly as Marvin quickly distracted him. Marvin grinned, slowly stroking Jameson's cock with one hand as he pulled the younger's boxers off with the other. Having Jameson like this, laid out beneath him and squirming, was better than Marvin had ever imagined. Jameson's back arched and he gasped loudly as he came. Marvin grinned and made sure none of it got onto Jameson's dress. It was crude and a bit gross, but no way in hell was Marvin leaving Jameson alone long enough to get proper lube. So he slowly coated his fingers in the little gentleman's cum and pushed them into him.

"Relax, gorgeous, it's okay," Marvin purred, gently kissing Jameson as he fingered him open. Jameson whined into the kiss, rocking his hips down insistently and pulling Marvin closer. Marvin groaned softly and pulled his fingers out, quickly using the left over cum to lube his cock before pushing into Jameson slowly.

Jameson gasped, arching his back and rocking down against Marvin insistently. Marvin leaned down and pressed a kiss to Jameson's lips as he slowly started moving, thrusting in and out of Jameson with long, slow movements. It was, as this entire afternoon had been, better than he could have ever imagined Jameson was ridiculously responsive to everything he did and so sensitive and he squeezed deliciously around Marvin's cock.

"God, you're perfect," Marvin breathed, moving slightly faster, as he could tell that Jameson was getting close and he wanted nothing more than to feel and see the way Jameson orgasmed around his cock. Jameson blushed and hid his face in Marvin's neck as he came. Marvin grinned and leaned back, kissing Jameson deeply as he came. Jameson panted softly, opening his eyes and looking at Marvin tenderly.

"You're beautiful," Marvin muttered, kissing Jameson briefly.

"You're amazing," Jameson replied, smiling at Marvin.

Marvin smiled and gently pulled out and away, fixing his clothes and then helping Jameson into a sitting position and fixing his dress. "I should probably go."

"Probably."

"You should probably shower."

"Care to join me?"

"Hell yes," Marvin breathed, scooping Jameson up bridal style and carrying him up to his bathroom.

That night, Marvin sat at the dining room table across from Jameson. Jameson occasionally blushed and avoided Marvin's eyes as Anthony gently squeezed his hand, completely oblivious to what the pair had done just hours before. The fact that Anthony sat exactly at the spot where Marvin previously had Jameson laid out was like the icing on the cake.

"So, what have you been up to today, Marvin?" Anthony asked politely.

"Oh, nothing much. Visiting a few neighbors, mostly working on the choreography for my new show," Marvin replied, quietly slipping his shoe off and reaching across under the table and running his foot up Jameson's leg gently. Jameson jumped slightly, looking at Marvin and blushing. After that, dinner continued as normal with the addition of Marvin's foot pressed against Jameson's cock.

-

For months it continued like that. Marvin would sneak over to Jameson's during the day (or Jameson would sneaking over to Marvin's) and they'd fuck like newly weds. But there was something else that was simultaneously beautiful and worrying. They didn't just fuck, was the thing. They would dance around the living room, and bake, and hold each other and watch TV and if it weren't for all the sneaking around, Marvin could almost believe that he and Jameson were married.

Which was what brought them to now. Jameson was laying on top of Marvin, hed tucked under Marvin's chin and Marvin holding him close. They'd had a few rounds before now, and they were relaxing and it all came to a head.

"Run away with me," Marvin said, looking down at Jameson.

"What?" Jameson replied, furrowing his brows.

"Run away with me. Leave Anthony, come with me. We can go anywhere you want!"

"I- Why?"

"Because I'm in love with you, Jameson Jackson. Run away with me."

"Okay," Jameson replied, gently kissing Marvin. "I'm in love with you, too, Marvin the Magnificent."

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

Fri 12 July

Liam's clothing collection promo continues, more slick videos (he's talking in some of today's as well as posing sexily, that's nice) and, less welcomed by many fans, he reposted Cheryl's post of her hugo items. But the real Liam news of the day is even less fun I'm afraid; he's booked to play the Jeddah World Fest in Saudi Arabia, which is receiving attention after Nicki Minaj cancelled her performance in a show of support for "the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression." Billboard reports that the Human Rights Foundation has issued a call for the other performers to do the same, specifically Liam, asking him to "use his global influence and platform in solidarity with the Saudi women’s rights activists who are currently in prison." They ask Liam as "an outspoken supporter of women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights" to cancel as a message to "a [government] that punishes homosexuality by imprisonment or death." Hey Liam! Do the thing! Turn this unhappy news upside down, I'd be a very happy updater indeed if I were able to report that Liam had taken this stand and I am hopeful🤞In more cheerful Liam news, he posted a very cute happy giggly picture today, which I appreciate, but not gonna lie I'd rather see him cancel this appearance.

Louis content/build up continues and IT IS WORKING! We are excited! Today we got an instagram post to his main account of THREE in studio pics; they're old (unseen) pics but we get the idea, message received loud and clear, music is coming. Hell yeah. 1883 has now listed yesterday's pretty photo as a poster as well, if you'd rather that than the magazine cover poster that was listed yesterday. They will "print your artwork ...on the highest quality setting on our HP Inkjet printer." Lol okay so it isn't the fanciest poster operation but the picture is top quality and that's all that matters.

Niall's Harper's Bazaar Vietnam interview is out! They talk about his travels in Southeast Asia after the band went on break, makes sense, and about music. He says the songs on the new album will be faster than the last but it will still have ballads, that he doesn't want to commit to any one genre but that the next one is more rock, and that when he finished the tour he intended to rest but instead ended up writing more songs right away, which feels consistent with what we've seen recently with him saying he was taking the summer off but just not... quite... stopping. Imagine the number of songs he must have written that we'll never hear, HOW DARE YOU SIR.

Remember the Dave Harris Project thing? He was the guy who the 1D boys wrote some stuff for and with but then he was convicted of sexually assaulting minors and sent to jail, and now is for some reason registering songs from that time (2015). More were registered, some featuring Niall, and one featuring both Harry and Louis as writers. Points to consider! There's absolutely no way to verify anything about this! It could be lies! I'm sure many songs were written and this could definitely be all factual but at this point the registering of so so many songs in his name (there are also lots getting put up not involving the boys) looks a lot like a pointless attention grab by this gross dude and even if they are real it's not like they're gonna be released so unless something new comes to light about this, here is me saying that I won't be reporting on this creep anymore.

Lena Waithe is asked about dodgeball with Harry and talks up his skills and speed, and says "he would see me going for him and just swerve"- well if that ain't the damn truth! Harry Styles, king of the swerve! We been knew. And Tan France names all the 1D boys as among the most stylish celebs but says, especially Harry and Zayn.

[alj4890]

RCD Appreciation Week Day 1 Fun Prompt

(Ryan Summers x Holly Chang) with the prompt: Character A: "Well, I can scratch this off my bucket list." Character B: "Who puts getting arrested on their bucket list?!" As given by @prompt-nonny​

(Ryan x Holly) A Choices Red Carpet Diaries one shot with David Reyes from Most Wanted showing up and Bianca Stone from Hollywood U setting off our heroine.

A/N Sebastian Stan is my FC for Ryan and this silly GIF seemed to fit this prompt perfectly 😂

@rcd-appreciation​​ @lilyofchoices​ @hopelessromantic1352​ @moodyvalentinestories​ @krsnlove​ @cora-nova​ 

Masterlist

This Might Sound Crazy

"Hey! Watch it!" Holly rushed through the backlot with a drink carrier of various hot beverages. She dodged and weaved through the crowd of film crew and extras.

She then bumped into one of the visitors on the set.

"Eww! What is your deal?" Bianca wiped the drop of foam that had landed on her perfect spray tanned leg. Her lip curled in disgust. "I see you have gotten far in your career. Hunt finally promoted you to coffee girl."

Holly narrowed her eyes. "I see you are still frozen in time. You're still the nastiest bit--"

"I'll take that!" Ryan swept between the two enemies and took the drinks from Holly. If this played out any further, Bianca would be suffering from coffee burns all over her body. "Bianca, excuse us for a moment. I need to talk to Holly about the script."

She tossed her hair back. "Anything for you Ryan." She cooed. "Though why you want to speak to someone that can't reach any goal she sets is beyond me."

Holly's fists clinched. She opened her mouth to let loose every insult she had saved up for Bianca. Ryan grabbed her arm and yanked her away. "Don't do it." He whispered. "You'll regret it. Her father still has his hands in everything around here."

Holly jerked her arm away. "The only thing I will regret is not telling her off." She pushed her glasses up her nose and smoothed her short black hair back.

Her thoughts centered around what Bianca had said. Had she not reached any goal?

"Well now I have to kill myself." Holly muttered.

"What?!" Ryan stopped her.

"Bianca is actually right about something and even worse it is about me." Holly frowned while thinking. "Death is the only option." She glanced at Ryan and sighed. He never did get her morbid sense of humor. "I'm kidding."

"Yeah, good one." He muttered. He set the coffee tray on a table near craft services and pushed Holly into his trailer.

"What are you doing?" She exclaimed.

"Sit down." He pushed her onto the sofa and searched the drawers of the lighted vanity.

"Gee Ryan, you are so hospitable." Holly rolled her eyes and started to get up. "I still have to-"

"Sit." He pushed her back and handed her a notebook and pen.

"What am I supposed to do with this? Write your life story?" Her snark seemed to flow like the mighty Mississippi. If she couldn't use it on Bianca then everyone else was going to hear it.

Ryan let out a noise that she assumed was one of angry frustration. It was actually kind of impressive. He took the pen and wrote on the top of the page. "There. Clear enough for you?"

She squinted at his writing. "Not really. Who taught you handwriting?" She held it closer to her eyes. "Bouquet Less?"

Ryan rubbed his hands over his face. "BUCKET LIST!" Was their friendship worth this much trouble? "Write out some things you always wanted to do and we will do them."

Holly's lips parted in surprise. "You want to help me do some things?" Her eyes turned to suspicious slits. "Why?"

"Just write it out." He ordered. "I'm trying to be nice." He dropped his head back in frustration. "I don't know why I'm trying."

Holly's lips curved in a slight smile. "Fine. I suppose I have to appease the temperamental lead actors."

He glared at her. "Thanks so much. Now write your list." He stormed out of his trailer, muttering about insanity.

Holly allowed a big smile to appear once she was alone. An excitement to do some of the crazy things she had dreamed of built and might in some part be due to the handsome man that wanted to help her accomplish it.

"Hmm?" She tapped the pen to her lips and then started to write out some ideas.

_____________

"Holly, for some strange reason, I love you." Ryan began. "But if you think I am stealing somebody's yacht to sail in the moonlight just to jump off of it, you're crazy."

"Didn't you ever dream of that when first in Hollywood?" She asked. "I used to take walks down the pier and pick specific ones to do an Ocean's Eleven type heist."

"No. I can honestly say that thought never entered my mind." He said in a speak softly to an insane person tone.

She folded her arms. "There had to be something you saw that you wanted for your own when you started out."

"Well, yeah." He admitted. "I wanted an Aston Martin."

Holly started to laugh. "You would want a James Bond car."

"What? It is a beautiful car." He replied in a defensive tone.

"I can see it all now. You're in your tux, picking up some gorgeous model in a barely there dress, and driving through the Hollywood Hills while drinking martinis." Holly continued to laugh at the picture her mind conjured.

"I see nothing wrong with this image." He teased, nudging her with his elbow.

"We'll find one of those during your bucket list night." She decided. "Come on. We have a yacht to commandeer."

Ryan shook his head. "We will end up in prison with mugshots leaked to TMZ. How about we do this one?" He pointed further down the list. "I'm willing to dress in regency style clothing and pretend to be time travelers just to freak people out."

"Like you doing that wouldn't end up on TMZ." Holly muttered.

"Yeah. But then I don't have a record for robbery." He muttered back.

"It isn't robbery that we would be charged with. It would be burglary." She impatiently explained.

"What's the difference?" Ryan's brow furrowed.

"Robbery is taking something combined with using force or intimidation. Burglary involves breaking and entering while taking something. With the right lawyer, we can probably knock the charges down to theft." She explained in a no nonsense way.

"Oh well that makes it better." Ryan gestured down the pier. "Should we pick out our spot to get arrested or let it be a surprise?"

"Hmm. There is a big chance we won't get caught. But if we did, then that is one thing I can cross off my bucket list."

"Who puts getting arrested on their bucket list?!" He glared at her when she covered his mouth during his outburst.

"An up and coming screenwriter." She hissed. "I need more experiences in life to help me convey the situations better."

Ryan groaned when she hurried off toward the pier. He jogged to catch up. Once he caught up, he listened as she read off the names of the different ships."

"Hmm...The Scandal...Alimony...Fourth Wife. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "People need to get more creative with their names."

Holly paused next to a yacht that was older than the others. Something about it harkened back to an era when the very wealthy didn't need to be so gaudy. She tilted her head to read the name. "The Magnificent Ambersons." Something about that made her think she had heard that somewhere.

"This is the one." She said in a whisper to Ryan.

"What? Holly, no. We are--HOLLY!" Ryan covered his face with his hands when she leaped on board. He looked up and down the dock then went after her.

"Holly!" He said in a loud whisper while creeping in the shadows. "I'm going to kill you if you don't get off this--" the wood creaked under his foot. He froze while his heart slammed in his chest. "I don't look good in orange jumpsuits."

Holly grabbed his arm, yanking him down a dark corridor.

"We're leaving." He yanked back against her.

"Yes, we are." She turned the handle to a door and grinned. "Jackpot."

Ryan leaned against the doorframe. He watched as she studied all the buttons and such. She placed her hands on the wheel and turned it back and forth. Her giddiness made him press his face against the smooth wood in frustration.

"Holly, we need to-- are you watching a YouTube video on how to work this boat?!"

"Well, yeah. I've never done this before, thus the reason it being on my bucket list." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Are...are you actually acting frustrated with me?!" His voice cracked. His nerves were completely shot.

"Trust me. It isn't an act." She replied. "Now be quiet so I can learn how to back this thing up."

Ryan grabbed a phone sitting nearby. "Yes, I need your finest mental health professional. No. It's for me. I'm pretty sure I suffer from delusions." He muttered.

Holly glared at him. "You do know that phone only goes to other rooms on the yacht?"

"No." Ryan said sarcastically. "You mean I didn't just alert the authorities to our location?"

"And people say I'm weird." Holly grumbled. She pressed a button and the engine started. "Yes!" She pumped her fist. " Lucky guess."

Ryan's jaw dropped.

"I'm kidding." She told him. "Sorta."

"What is that?" Ryan asked, pointing toward the dock.

"What?" She stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck to see what he was pointing at. "I don't see anything."

"Look! Are those flashlights?" His breathing became loud as panic set in.

"Huh. Maybe." Holly shrugged. "Shall we--"

"COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!"

The two froze at the commanding voice spoken through a megaphone. Ryan stared at the woman he had willingly followed into this. Her lips were parted in shock. She slipped her hand in his. "We'll get out of this."

His grip was almost painful around her fingers while his rage at this situation grew. He pulled her out and let her go as he put his hands up. Flashlights were trained on his face and he squinted while disembarking.

"Ryan?"

Ryan nearly fell to the ground in relief. "Dave? Oh thank God."

"What are you-- hey Holls." The L.A. detective greeted her.

"Hey Dave. Long time no see." She dropped her hands to hug him.

The detective waved the other officers away. "It's not the ones we are looking for." He then turned back to his two friends while putting his pistol back in his shoulder holster. "So you want to tell me what you were up to? I've never known either of you to have a desire to go yachting."

"Oh...er...well...we..." Holly stuttered and gave a silent plea to Ryan.

He folded his arms and looked away. He decided to let her dangle and feel at least an ounce of the fear he had felt.

It lasted all of ten seconds. He had come up with a new form of torture. Ryan's sly grin formed as he wrapped his arm around her. "Holly and I were trying to find a place where we could truly alone. Isn't that right, baby doll?"

If looks could kill he would at least be bleeding out his ears. "Yes." Holly managed to strangle out. "I didn't want the press to see us together. Or anyone for that matter."

"Huh." Dave rocked back on his heels. "I never would have put the two of you together." His firm lips broke into a smile. "I like it."

"You do?" Holly and Ryan said simultaneously.

"Yeah. I can see it." He looked over his shoulder at the commotion coming their way.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Thomas snapped. "First you tell me someone broke in and was stealing it. Then you tell me they couldn't back it out of the dock, but to come anyway to check for missing items. And now you say it's--"

The irate director stopped in his tracks when he saw Holly and Ryan. "What the devil were you two doing on my yacht?!"

Ryan took a stunned step back.

Holly tried to hide behind him.

"They were trying to be alone." Dave explained with a wink.

"Not on my yacht!" Thomas growled. "Go be alone somewhere else. Wake me up at three in the morning to drive to deal with this ridiculous behavior." His voice trailed off. "You're acting like a pair of idiotic teenagers! Ask next time you need to use it." He turned on his heel and stomped back toward his car.

Dave shook with silent laughter. "As much fun as this is, I have to leave you guys. There has been a group of thieves breaking into the yachts the past few weeks and if I am to keep the elite happy, I gotta catch 'em. See you later." He waved and went to join his task force.

"Can we go now?" Ryan begged.

"You didn't have to come in the first place." She set her hands on her hips.

"I know that!" He waved around the dimly lit pier. "I couldn't let you do this alone!"

She rolled her eyes. "I would have been fine."

"I'm sorry, did you not hear Dave's reason for being out here? What if the thieves had bumped into you?" His eyes narrowed. "They would have probably wanted you to join up with them and then made you their leader."

Holly snorted and started to laugh. "And here I thought you were going to say they would kill me."

"Who would want to kill a woman both crazy and fearless enough to try and steal Thomas Hunt's yacht?" He shook his head and started back up the pier. "Is that why you picked it? Did you know it was his?"

"No. Did you?" She asked.

"I didn't know he had one." Ryan admitted.

"The name was what drew me in. Now knowing who the owner is, it all makes sense." She explained. When Ryan still looked clueless, she went on. "Orson Wells wrote and directed The Magnificent Ambersons."

Ryan's confusion eased away. "Thomas Orson Hunt." A shudder rippled over his shoulders. "That is a horrible middle name his parents stuck him with."

"Apparently that was his mom's favorite classic movie." Holly said with a shrug. "Regardless, we dodged a bullet back there. Thanks for um..." She avoided looking at him. "Thanks for coming up with a reason for us to be out here."

Ryan slipped his hands in his pockets. "No problem." He cut his eyes at her and noticed she was doing the same to him as they walked. He nudged her with his elbow while the smile that made women long to kiss those lips formed. "It can be our go to excuse for all our heists."

She looked away when they reached his car. "Anyway, thanks also for trying to help me with my bucket list. It wasn't the worst night of my life so I count that as a big plus."

"I guess it wasn't too bad." He opened her door and then got in on the driver's side. "I might even be willing to help you with another one tomorrow night."

She studied his profile by the light coming from the dashboard. "Really? Have you ever wanted to take over a fine dining restaurant? Every time the patrons order one of those absurd weird dishes, we make them Raman noodles. Then we can..."

[killian-whump]

OUAT 3x01: Rewatch Blog

Welcome aboard, mateys! It's time to start rewatching Season 3! As usual, I'm a bit behind everyone else on this rewatch, but I've decided it's more fun for me to move at my own pace, so I probably won't be catching up anytime soon ;)

That said... Let's get started on Once Upon a Time Season 3!!!

Whoa. Wait a minute. Eleven Years Ago?! I really AM behind... ;)

Seriously, though. Do they really have to handcuff her ankle to the bed? Do they have a problem with women in labor jumping up and escaping prison right at that precise moment in their lives?

That's sad, though :(

Ooooh... I love the deadly stillness after the ship "lands" in Neverland. It's so... eeeeeeeerie. 

Ahhh, and the ominous look on Killian's face.

You can just FEEL the tension in the air.

"Aye. Neverland."

AHHHHHHHH TENSION AND ANGST

Kinda lame title card, haha.

Aw, great. It's this guy. NOBODY MISSED YOU GREG. YOU CAN GO BACK TO WHEREVER YOU WENT DURING THE HIATUS NOW.

SHIT. HE BROUGHT TAMARA, TOO.

I really hate these two, guys. Like, really.

Oh, come on. Don't shove a fucking kid, you asshat. Fucking GREG. You're an insult to your name, and I don't even like your name.

Oooooh, spooky noises. I love the atmosphere they built for this realm.

"Who we work for is not your concern, kid." Well, according to YOU as of about 20 minutes ago in show time, it's not YOUR concern either, dipshit.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THERE'S SAND IN YOUR BATTERY COMPARTMENT, YOU FUCKING MORON. WHO PUT SAND IN YOUR BATTERY COMPARTMENT, HUH? YOU FUCKING IDIOT.

Shut up, shut up. I know it was Peter Pan. LET ME HAVE MY MOMENT.

"It's a good thing you guys don't ask any questions." Hahahaha, bested by an 11-year-old and sand.

...and there he goes, shoving the damn kid again. You're just a colossal jerk, aren't you, Greg?

At least Tamara has the sense to look mildly concerned right here.

"Oh, I know, my hot-headed queen."

I JUST DIED. Forward my mail to my gravesite.

I totally forgot that line ever happened. I love rewatching this show.

"I hope not, or we've wasted our lives." AAAAAAANGST

"Your lives... well... THEY'VE SUCKED" hahaha, Why don’t you tell them what you really think, Emma XD

"We found you." Awww... "And lost Henry! And Neal!" Well, to be fair, it's not like you can expect them to give two shits about Neal. They met him, like, last week. And he's kinda a dick. And his Dad's, like, evil incarnate. But okay.

"Oh, that's a great use of our time: A wardrobe change." One of the best lines ever, really.

I mean, did Rumple really need to do the dramatic cane-spinning exit, though? It makes for good TV, so it's cool and all, but imagine it in real life. Like, just a boat full of people staring at where he once stood, thinking, "JFC That was unnecessarily dramatic."

OH, YEAH, LET'S LIGHT A FUCKING FIRE, GREG. THAT'S A GREAT FUCKING IDEA, GREG. Fucking loser.

Yes, I do plan on doing this until he dies. You have your hobbies; I have mine.

"You making S'Mores?"

HAAAAAAHHAHAHAHA OMG LOOK AT HIS FACE:

Fucking goon. Haha. I named that screencap "assface" when I saved it, because I feel it's fitting for both the character AND the face he's making.

"What if the empty communicator wasn't an accident?"

You mean the one someone OBVIOUSLY filled with sand instead of batteries ON PURPOSE??? Noooooooooooo.

"Don't let the kid get in your head." He's not even TRYING, Greg. He's just hungry and wants some fucking S'Mores. I want some S'Mores, too. We all want fucking S'Mores. S'Mores are delicious, FuckingGreg.

OH LOOK, IT'S FELIX.

AND ALL THE REST OF THE LOST BOYS ONES BOYS. I think we’re calling them “Boys” now. Must have gotten the rights.

Kill him, Felix. Somebody. Anybody. I'll even settle for the annoying Lost Boy with the face that annoys me, although I don't think he's in this season, but he's welcome to join it IF HE KILLS GREG.

"Then you're not getting the boy." Oh, Greg. It is entirely too late for you to do anything remotely likable now. Like, I literally want to throw Henry at them now just to spite you.

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS RIP THAT MOTHERFUCKER'S SOUL OUT OF HIS BODY. TAKE HIS SPINE, TOO. THE ENTIRE SKELETAL SYSTEM. MAYBE A DISEMBOWELING'S CALLED FOR HERE?

Or, you know, you can just leave his husk there by the fire to rot away. That's good, too. I'm not picky.

GREG IS DEAD, EVERYBODY.

Tamara and Henry are running! Oh no! Will they make it? Will they-

This is a great scene, everybody. Thank you so much. This is the best thing to ever happen to me and the season only started 10 minutes ago.

Hahaha, they even show us a close-up of Tamara lying motionless on the ground, and then Greg. Like they KNOW we've all been waiting for their demise and they wanted to give us screenshots for our scrapbooks.

Anyway, thanks Felix! That was pretty cool. Much obliged.

Hey, look. An enterprising young chap has helped Henry up. There's no way he could be a bad guy.

I have to say, of all the "twists" in Once, this was one of the worst ones in terms of how OBVIOUS it was.

To some extent, it's the casting department's fault, because Robbie Kay is just TOO fucking perfect for Peter Pan. Like, he just EXUDES Peter Pan and he's not fooling anybody.

Heeheehee CS flirting <3

"What do you want?" All due respect, but it's HIS fucking ship? Like, he doesn't really need a reason to be below deck on his own ship?

"I didn't realize you were sentimental." "I'm not."

I love it when he spits the cork out, but how many corks does this man go through?!

Oh, look. Speak of the devil - It's Neal.

"Tell Emma I'm alive. And I love her."

Well, that's a GREAT message to pass on through your kiiiiiid. Won't get his hopes up or anything.

ANYWAY.

"Long enough to know I miss him, too." T_T

UH OH. TROUBLE'S AFOOT!!!

Oh, Dave and Snow are at the helm. That explains it. LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, SNOWING. Gosh.

Pun intended. I'm so sorry.

Regina: "What the hell are you two doing?!" Ahahahahaha :D

"Prepare for attack!" "Be more specific!" I love all these interactions. This is like the WORST family vacation EVER and I love every second of it.

"What's out there? A shark? A whale?" "A kraken?"

YOU FUCKING WISH.

Actually, no, Dave probably doesn't wish... but Kraken-san does! :D

Emma's response is classic. "Mermaids?!" Like what the fuck else does she have to put up with in this crazy sham of a life NOOOOW?

Dave's kinda hot manning that cannon, I gotta say. He's showing off some guns firing off that gun, if you know what I mean.

But really, what did they plan to DO with one mermaid, anyway? Especially after Regina chased them all off with her fireballs?

Oh, look. Henry and Totally-Not-Peter-Pan are on the run!

I'm super fooled by him talking himself up in third person, though XD

"If Pan wants you... he WILL get you."

"Pan will rip their shadows into oblivion."

"Pan loves nachos with spicy cheese."

"Pan is the awesomest guy on this island."

Aw, man. This scene is a snoozefest :/

Literally. They're all just watching Aurora sleep XD

Wait. HOW is Neal feeling better? He got shot, like, 10 minutes ago in show time and he's had no REAL medical care, aside from whatever they bandaged him with, since none of these folks here have magic.

HOW IS HE FEELING BETTER?!

I gotta be honest, though. Rumple is hot as SHIT in this season. I ain't gonna pretend otherwise. This leather clad badass thing WORKS for him.

Oh, look. Tamara's still alive.

"C-Can you forgive me?"

I'm gonna guess that is a HARD ASS NO, bitch.

Haha, love the way he flicks the dust off his fingers.

"GET THAT THING OFF MY SHIP!"

I love how panicked he is by the mermaid XD It gives my entire life meaning :D

I wish we had more information in canon about Hook's time in Neverland. We can tell this is FAR from his first skirmish with mermaids, but how/when/why/what happened? I NEED TO KNOW! Especially if it involved wounds or peril or other things relevant to my interests...

Touching Mulan and Neal chat.

More running in the woods with Not!Pan.

"Well, I'm all out of fish food." Love you, Regina <3

"Fillet the bitch." Seriously, love you so much bae <3

Snow's face, tho XD

This is 110% why I watch this show. SHENANIGANS.

...and a pirate. Don't forget the pirate.

"I've outrun many a storm!" We know you have, babe. We know. You keep telling us...

SHAMPOO COMMERCIAL TIME!!!

PERIL ON THE HIGH SEAS!!!

CERTAIN BLETH DEATH!!!

SUPER DRAMATIC MUSIC!!!

...as we cut to a peaceful, though somewhat dilapidated, castle in the Enchanted Forest. Birds are singing, dawn is breaking, the world is alight with hope and possibili-

JUST KIDDING. GET BACK TO THE FUCKING DRAMA STORM, SHOW.

I hate it when they do this.

Hey, Sean. Nice intro.

"You don't want to see ID?" Neal... ISTFG.

Disappearing arrow, heehee. SHENANIGANS.

I love how interested Robin is in what's inside the vault XD Always a thief, eh?

"This isn't a storm. It's bloody damnation!" Love that line <3

"Let the slags go!" Haha "Don't call my wife a slag!" Haha!

BOY FIGHT!! BOY FIGHT!!!

They're all wet, too! Slow down, cameraman! I wanna see ALL of this!!!

Oooh, almost gutted with his own hook. Haaaaarsh.

Emma, no one's listening to you. Emma, no one's... They're not... They're not even looking or paying any attention at all... They won't even- Oh. Okay. Somehow everyone saw you jump, despite literally being in a fight for their respective lives. Neat.

...aaaaaaand cue the convenient rigging falling loose and hitting her in the head.

SHENANIGAAAAAAAAANS

Oh, look! They're flying!!!

This would be super touching if it wasn't, you know, exactly what Pan wants XD

Haha, Emma looks so ethereal floating there, unconscious, in the waters of Neverland, facing certain death.

Awww! A big group effort rescue!!! Good job, team!

"Told you." Right, but no one was listening...? So how do they even know what she's talking about? Well, I guess maybe they WERE listening...?

Shenanigans? idek anymore...

SHENANIGANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awww... Bobby's acting is so great right here. This is awesome. Very moving. The part after the shenanigans, I mean. Although they’re great, too.

Felix, you're kinda a dick, though. That’s kinda a compliment, tho?

I love it when magic flops :D Dramatic music aaaaaand... nothing.

"Actually, I quite fancy you from time to time, when you're not yelling at me."

You like her even more when she's yelling at you, son. IT IS KNOWN.

His offended face when Charming says, "With him?" XD DAVE, WHY WOULD YOU SAY THIS ABOUT ME. DAVE, I THOUGHT WE WERE PALS. DAVE. DAAAAVE.

Hahaha, his adorable shrug to Regina. SHENANIGANS <3

"You couldn't be more right, Henry."

I'm so glad they didn't try to drag out the reveal of Pan to another episode, because he seriously wasn't fooling aaaaaanybody.

Except for Henry. Oops?

It's so great how ominous they're being at the end of this episode, advancing on Henry like that...

Although Pan's "let's play!" is a lot less frightening when you know he literally means "let's dance around a fire and create a rhythmic ruckus" but hey. It still works for the ending of this episode, which is now... OVER!!

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!! PEW PEW PEW!!!

[franeridart]

Hi! Idk if you read fanfic, but would you happen to have any kiribaku fic recs? Or any bnha fic rec?

I’m pretty sure there’s stuff tagged as fic recs on this blog, yes! Nothing particularly new tho, I haven’t had the time to put down a new rec-list in a while ;-;

Anon said:How long does it take you to finish a drawing with and without color?

That honestly depends on a lot of factors - which tools I’m using, how many characters there are in the drawing/if it’s full body or not, how used to drawing the character I am, how big is the canvas, if I already have a clear idea of what I mean to draw or not, how precise I want to be with lines and stuff. 

That Yuuto sketch I posted yesterday took me about 40 minutes I think, and over half of it was spent trying to figure out how I was supposed to draw him since it was the first time I drew him - the tools I used are the ones I use when I want to be fast and don’t care about being sloppy. A small random Kirishima bust properly lined and colored could take me five minutes to sketch and line and as many to color on a good day, cause I’ve drawn him so many times by now I don’t even have to think to draw him. Deku, on the other hand, can take me an hour even just to sketch, I can’t seem to grasp how I’m supposed to draw him at all.

Sorry, it really depends on a lot of things, I can’t give a proper answer to this :(

Anon said:Ive been tryin to find ur art of sero carrying baku for like 20 minutes n i cant find it :(

Are you talking about this one? Or this one? There’s also this one I guess...? And maybe this one lol 

Anon said:yoooo, hey man, that cat kiribaku thing ya got going on is some 👌👌👌👌👌

HECK THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:Has anyone ever considered Hadmie. Hadou x Camie before?? It just seems like it'd be a cute ship to sail with, tbh. That just might be me tho.

I dunno if anyone has before you, but I can’t say I have, sorry! If I gotta ship Nejire with someone after all it’s gonna be Yuyu haha

Anon said:Hey do you do commissions? I really love your art and I'd love to get a commission from you!! (and also I just wanna know if there's yet another thing that I have to save up for XD)

Not right now, sorry! Maybe after I’m done with the zine things!!

Anon said:*runs around like an excited puppy* DAVEDAVEDAVEDAVEDAVEDAVEDAVE!!!!!!! :D

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D <3<3<3

Anon said:AHHH i love your ocs so much also Nico looks so cute and i love learning new things about them

AAAHHHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH OH MY G O D!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anon said:KIRI + PINEAPPLE PONYTAIL = THE BEST THING EVER

I’M GLAD WE AGREE ON THAT

Anon said:your oc's literally kill me!! i already love nico, and i think i speak for everyone when i say that we definitely want more of him and luca!! i don't know if it's just me, but I love when the angry, swearing types fall for someone.

SOB thank you so so much for the kind words about my kids ;^; <3<3

Anon said:OH MY GOD LUCA IS BACK!!!! YESSSSSSSS FUCKING KILL ME THIS IS A BLESSED DAY I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. MORE OF YOUR OC'S!!! (only when you want to share of course, I'm just trying to convey my enthusiasm here. not demanding at all ^^)

I think that might happen soon enough, actually!!!! Thank you so much for the interest in them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3<3

Anon said:Are josh and chris still not dating?

Sadly until I’ll sit down to write their story that specific part of it won’t go anywhere :( Chris gotta deal with a bunch of things before he’ll be ready to put a name to what’s between him and Josh 3 one day I’ll let him work through it !!!

Anon said:I'm so paranoid I'm going to repost one of your post by accident but the thing is is I never even repost anything at all but just because I know you don't want them to be I'm so scared that by accident I'm going to have something screenshotted and forget it's yours and like Ugh😂

Well, my name’s written on all my drawing so I doubt you’ll forget it’s my stuff lol to make sure you’re not reposting anything the author doesn’t want reposted you can always just ask before reposting it, tho~

Anon said:I was just scrolling through your OC stuff and I just. Love them so much. Thank you for the babies ❤

GOD THANK YOU ;O; <3<3

Anon said:Okay I've never seen your oc's before and Dave is the cutest green boy I love him

AAAAHHHHHH I’M GLAD!!!!!

Anon said:kamijirou getting together? :3 also if there were ever a scenario where jirou would confess first, what do you think she would be thinking?

I actually have half a thing planned for that :0 gimme a while to get around to drawing it!

Anon said:How do you feel imagine kiri’s parents???

Actually since I’m still hoping one day Hori will give us the official versions I try not to think too much about it! I don’t wanna grow attached just to have to give them up once I’ll have the canon versions haha

Anon said:hey quick innocent question ive been following for a long time and saw a lot of your art do you have a thing for feet

Are you asking because I draw a lot of people barefoot? Feet are just easier and faster to draw than shoes, anon

Anon said:I love how you answer asks all at once. It’s nice to see that you’re getting in bulk appreciation

THANKS I honestly just don’t want my blog to be more asks than art, so I let them pile up before answering - it does mean I make people wait a lot for answers tho orz sorry

Anon said:I LOVE YOUR ART

THANK YOU!!!!

Anon said:You've open a sea of possibilities with red pineapple kirishima. You're a legend :prayeremoji:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn’t call myself that but I’m glad you appreciate him too hahaha

Anon said:i cant help but notice nothings been added to your sero tag in 4 months

That might be because I rarely use single characters tags! Try looking under #bakusquad and #seromina :D

Anon said:Hahaaa hi this is probably really really awkward but I just wanted you to let you know that you're super awesome!! And the fact that your art is something that I can look forward to is absolutely amazing (no pressure tho)!!! So yea, thank you for being cool and creating beautiful art~~ :D ✧✧✧

SOB it’s not awkward at all!!!! thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! <3<3<3

Anon said:Would you mind adding some more Tokoyami art to your shop? More specifically the pieces where hes hanging out with Kiri, and the Tokoshoji piece :D Im desperate to bury my notebooks in stickers from your shop rn and the bird boy needs more love ❤

AHW I’m sorry anon, but those are definitely too small to be of any use on the shop ;-; if you’re okay with it I could add the last one I posted? I should seriously draw more of him..................

Anon said:That jacket that Kirishima has on...I NEED!

I drew it and that’s still a mood t b h

Anon said:I went so far back in your blog that it kicked me back to the beginning ;-; I was just getting to the D. Greyman stuff too

AW ;-; (..........it’s good tho, the further you go the least worth it my stuff is l m a o)

Anon said:Do you ever draw kiribaku or something else in paper or some kind of sketch book if you do i would love to see them❤(sorry if my english is bad)

I do have some doodles on paper posted on here somewhere? But tbh I rarely draw traditionally anymore unless it’s just random doodles :(

Anon said:Aahhh!!! I really love your kiribaku shit its so cute!!and you draw so goood too literally when i found this ship i instantly found you and you are so perfect in my eyes and your art!!!!! I looooooovvvvvvveeeeee yoooouuuuuu thank you for being here and showing us this stuff!!❤❤❤❤

HECK thank you!!!!!!!!!!! <3<3<3

Anon said:i adore your art so much and your bakushima comics make me smile a lot! :) you’re one of my favorite artists now dldksjshskdk

tHANK YOU OH MY G OD ;^;

Anon said:Consider this: fantasy Kirishima meeting normal bakugou, thinking that's his Katsuki 😂😂

.........................you literally got no clue how long I’ve been thinkin about drawing this............ he ck

Anon said:Your drawings give me life 😍❤️

sob thank you so so so much ;-; <3<3

[thetruthlsoutthere]

Ok so updates!

In a recent previous note, I mentioned about how I left notes to the Doctor, 11ish to be exact. I also said in that post how I would check within a few days to a week? Well it was longer than that , that I checked but hey, you get busy by other things. Anywayyy, of the notes? 6 were still there and 5 were gone.

This time that I left the notes, I went even farther than I had before so that I don't know the idea of them being gone would be even stranger because I went far out in my woods. If you knew the layout of the woods from my house, I could better explain where I put the notes.

Aside from mentioning these notes, I will also be going into some non note weird experiences that maybe could be because of the notes, belief, etc... but yeah here we go!

Of the 6 that were still there:

1) One of the ones I left in the starter woods right at the back of my house. Was off the tree a bit in front of it and it was ripped to the side. Could be a little weird because if it was the wind, wouldn't it have blown farther away? Plus with all the snow that has been hitting and the mess of a ground with mud and rain, wouldn't it have been more messed up? Idk But I put it back up on the tree.

2) The second to first note in the bigger area of the woods? I think this is really weird because not only was it off the tree, and to the side? It was literally freaking jammed inside of a tiny area of sticks and fallen branches with a weird reddish brown {more reddish} color on it not like paint or lipstick but more like a dried liquid but what kind?? Also the letter had many holes in it that I couldn't even put it back together, pieces were missing. Where the holes were, it almost looked like a message. This is the words in order that had holes in it: "Doctor" "would" "again" hope {s}" "get" "last times" "experiences" I don't know if there was another word somewhere in there but that is pretty much what it was. Probably not a secret message, idk. It is really weird to me. I left it under a branch where I found it, outside of where it was literally jammed in. The tree is was next to, I also put it sort of center but mostly to the side that it wasn't faced where it had been jammed so it had to have been obviously deliberately removed?? also part of me is thinking that the tree it was by, if I didn't put it by that one? Then I put it on a tree close by, if so. Then the note moved a lot aside from being ripped in odd places, jammed in something, with a weird red dried substance. I put it right by the tree above the part where it was jammed in, resting under a tiny branch for it to not move.

3) Not to far away from the #2 note was the third. I remember when leaving all these notes that if I had one more left to leave, I would put it in a specific place. I could have sworn I didn't have another left. Either way, one of my notes was on this tree. but it looked like the top part was taken off from the tree, the taped note not sticking to the tree on the top and was upside down. I re-taped it back on.

4) In the bigger area past the previous notes up the ledge from the down cline that had a river and what not, was another note I had left but it was a bit away from the tree, freaking folded up taped to itself??? I put it back on the tree.

5) One of the Doctor notes I left. This is really weird because when I was leaving these notes, I had a specific way I wanted them left. I mean this in terms that all the Doctor notes was going to be spread out, with the one note to the Master. Where I found this one Doctor note was along this path that went into different directions on either side right next to where you go up the ledge to be at this bigger part of the woods. But yeah this path where I found the Doctor note, the only note that would have been at that area was a note that I left for Torchwood/Unit which wasn't there but somehow this Doctor note was? I put it on a tree but it was really weird because this note was moved far. Deliberately taken off a tree and placed far from where it had initially been, placed where another note had been left by me. But yeah, I put it on the tree close to where I found it.

6) The other note , the last one that was still around was just the one at the back of my garage. Didn't look like it had been messed with anyway.

OF the 5 that are gone:

Nothing really more to say other than the fact that the more I go into my woods through the years, I know it like the back of my hand. I retrace my steps and where I placed the notes. Gone. You could say that for any of the reasoning for what happened to the notes above that were still there as well as for the notes gone that because of the wind, rain, snow, and mud.. that , that is why the notes are messed up.

Okay sure, that could be reason but what was that red substance?? is wind, snow, rain and mud able to fold a note and tape to itself?? If these were the reasons for the rips in parts of the note, wouldn't it have been everywhere instead of specific places where in other area's, was no damage at all? Plus even more, is wind and snow and rain and mud capable of jamming a note inside a tight spot??? Another logical explanation? Oh someone random could be seeing the notes. Ok true, that could be a reason BUT one little flaw: Its been freezing out lately. No one in their right mind would go out in the freezing cold to go into the woods where they have to be careful every step so they don't fall down the hill into the river and even around other parts of the woods? All the pricker bushes/branches, etc. Unless I am wrong, I doubt there would be anything to hunt during weather like that. Also, who would deliberately go out of there way to mess with notes out of sight, even far out of sight where they would have to go deep and walk precisely the ways I did to even find the notes?? Why would random people take some but mess with/leave others???

Also, if random people were finding the notes then that would mean they deliberately went to my address because of the fact that 1 of the notes that were messed with, 1 or 2 others of the 5 that were gone completely? Were in the starting part of the woods right at the back of my house. Why wouldn't anyone confront me being like "hey is this you? I've been seeing these notes" and stuff like "stop being weird leaving notes in the woods" or something but no one has? Also When I leave a signature on my notes, I don't put my address. I put things in code that would be hard to get unless you investigated/searched It up. So random strangers wouldn't know where to find me. Plus, where I live is really freaking small, anyone new would be instantly noticed.

______________________________________________________

I checked on these notes, saw the status of them yesterday : 2/22/2019. Away from the topic of these notes, here are some other weird experiences.

1) Stars that shouldn't be fading then getting brighter. Sometimes even disappearing altogether or moving in a direction. Stars don't fade and they don't move. They stay bright and motionless. In some instances, I saw flashes of red. If it was a plane or a military thing, wouldn't I have heard a noise with it. The noises planes and stuff like those make? I didn't. Maybe it was a plane, I'm not throwing that idea out there. However for the 'stars' that fade and get brighter, move sometimes while doing so and the fact that with such instances, I saw the Tardis. It is weird okay? Okay.

2) On 2/14/2019, yeah Valentines Day, I know. This is really weird though. So it occurred apparently some point past 9 in the morning and someone I am close with.. their name is Dave and they had this experience , not me but the fact that if Dave hadn't noticed, this experience was technically about me. Anyway yeah so he was in the kitchen, I was somewhere outside taking the dog out to the restroom and he heard out the kitchen windows on the porch right outside said windows? A male and a female talking, facing each other. At the end of the house on the one side of the windows was the male and in front sideways was the female. According to Dave, the male was asking the female questions and the female was answering the male back. Dave said he only knew the genders and questioning answering like talking because of the voices but like he couldn't make out what they were saying. Like me, he thought logically at first that it was probably neighbors coming to talk to me but when he went to go look out the window? No one was out there, No neighbors were out in their yards. It obviously couldn't have been me and the dog because it was too human sounding voices. Not one human and an animal. This was when it was still snowy out and there could have been footsteps but I wouldn't know because when I take the dog out, we're walking around everywhere so if there were footsteps, they could mixed in with mine and Dave's and the dog's. Obviously Dave had thought it couldn't have been me and the animal but then the obvious for why it couldn't be came in. There were no neighbors outside in their yards so it couldn't have carried over. Dave said he heard it on the porch right outside the kitchen windows.

Question is... Who was the male and female? Here are my theories: The Doctor and a companion, Maybe the Master and someone with them, other human looking aliens, maybe people from Torchwood or UNIT. The reason why I think it could be any of these people is because in having left these notes before Valentines Day, these notes I left? Were for the Doctor, Master and Torchwood/UNIT so what if it was any of them? Another theory I could have is obviously paranormal because my house is haunted and I have haunted objects with many weird experiences having happened because of it. OR another theory that it could be fbi/cia/u.s. special armed forces / government/ secret organizations because there is a lot of stuff, that obviously could be fake but also could be real, reveal a lot of hidden information from the public on many things that no one is ever supposed to know which makes anyone who does know? Too close to the truth. If this theory is true, does that mean I got too close and I am being watched?

I won't go into all the files say, because If there is a chance any or all of it is true? I will only be putting people in serious danger and maybe get people killed. As much as I want to reveal it all, I'm not stupid so it's staying secret. All I will say is that: Some parts I was calling I knew it was true, Other parts I was shocked at and other parts I was horrified/disgusted at.

As for other weird experiences coinciding with the previous ones or all on their own. My dog would bark like anyone was at the house but when I go to look, I don't see anyone. At points, its like my bike was knocked over at least twice. One during the night and one in the morning after I took the dog out potty the first time. It obviously wasn't me, neighbors have no reason to do that and there was no wind for it to be blown over at the time that it had been down {night and morning next day} With the dark barking thing, I would also whenever I take the dog out, hear noises like someone was close by. I even heard murmurs of voices at times but I had no idea what they were saying. I always feel like I am being watched and there have been times , like many in the past. Where the phone would ring but no one would be talking on the other end and then they would just hang up.

Lastly? A last experience which occurred yesterday night and today? My internet started acting weird no matter how many times i x-ed out the browsers, logged off and logged back on my computer again and even restarted it. Its like with Tumblr? Its like it would let me log in but not see your messages, let me log in but then its like i couldnt access them as well as the icons someone can click to do things with their account, were like, they didnt exist, and then there were times like i would login with my information but instead of sending me to teh dashboard, it would go right back to the login page. With Pinterest. Where it says the site with the icon on your browser, it would do that but the screen to show the page was white/blank. Other times, it would when i click on it, look like it was going to load but the page never changed to Pinterest. Its like on more than one music site and youtube, its like i couldnt listen to music even though it looked like it was playing and there is nothing wrong with my music system and for youtube, it would say its unavailable or whatever. Like??? And for some reason, its like it kept logging me out of accounts i have on sites even though for one, when i would try to login , somehow it was saying incorrect password which wasnt true.

it was even acting weird when i would try to make something my background on my computer, like it wouldnt let me no matter how hard i tried, the correct way obvs. And the only thing i had downloaded was the Tor Browser for the Dark Web to find those secret files remember? But that was weeks and weeks ago, maybe at most a month. This happened yesterday and this morning too. I uninstalled the browser weeks ago though i still have the files saved. Its just weird to me.

_______________

Idk, weird stuff has been happening. Like many times in the past. Let me know what any of you think about all this or merely read it and enjoy , haha.

[onceuponataarna]

Do Pirates Dream of Electric Swans?

Summary: Mills Mechanics has made a fortune producing Compandroids, remarkably lifelike androids that are nearly indistinguishable from humans and designed to be a perfect companion for the wealthy people who commission them. Built to the specifications of their respective owners, Emma and Killian are no exception to this, but still find themselves drawn to each other in a way that defies all logical explanation or programming. Haunted by a sense of loss even when happily living their separate lives, their circumstances have them returned to the factory headquarters at the same time, and they are astounded to discover that the face they’ve fallen for in their dreams is that of a fellow robot. If two lovers are made to be together, can anything truly keep them apart? Do you need a soul to have a soulmate?

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: explicit sexual content

Word count: 13,155

(Also available on ff.net and ao3)

Please make sure to check out the gorgeous art done by @hencethebravery and @youre-not-a-cat-youre-a-rat !

Author note: After months of work and stress, here it is, my contribution to the Captain Swan Little Bang 2018!  What can I say? I love androids, and I’ve had this story kicking around in my head since at least 2016 or so, but just couldn’t find the time and inspiration to put it down in writing until joining the cslb gave me a deadline to push me through that block.  I need to send a big thank you out to my amazingly supportive cslb beta, @branlovesouat and to @wordsmith-storyweaver and @krustybunny for their encouragement.  

————

Just like that, She was everything. He didn’t know how else to express it. One moment he was just going through the motions as required and the next he felt. There was an awareness of her, that she was something beautiful, perfect, and rare. And she was looking at him the same way he was at her.

He heard a voice over the loudspeaker behind him, “Cognition is running on full auto and he’s attuned to the female.”

“Hey, there, buddy,” greeted the technician standing nearby with a tablet. “She is a stunner, isn’t she? Well, it’s your lucky day, cause I’m pretty sure she’s the one you’ll be paired with.”

The loudspeaker sounded again. “Looking that way. I’m just finishing up the compatibility studies but I don’t think we’ll have to get one out of storage. We can just test them together.”

“Should I wait to switch her over?”

“Nah I’m almost done here. You can go to physical and cognitive.”

He watched as the tech tapped various inputs into the tablet to turn the female’s automatic functions on, and marveled as she cocked her head and stared at him, mouth dropping open in surprise.

She’d never seen him before and yet, she had no doubt that he was the one. She didn’t know any truth more complete than that. His body, his heart, whatever he was, he was hers and she was his. God she needed to be with him- to know him, feel him and taste him.

The tech laughed at the two androids reactions, nudging the male with an elbow before turning to the female. “Looks like she’s into you too. Don’t go falling in love sweetheart. He’s just a fling.”

“You’re so weird, Jefferson,” the voice over the speaker asserted.

“August, come on. In a month they’ll be practically indistinguishable from a human,” the tech responded, checking a few measurements on his tablet as he spoke. “Why is my talking to them weird?”

The security guard by the room’s door and adjacent one-way mirror laughed quietly, earning him a glare. “I’m sorry, but you’d be weird even without the talking- you know that right?”

“Whatever, Dave. Anyway, he’s completely good to go. Give me 5 and she’ll be ready too. What’s the male’s name again? Kevin? No, Kieran?”

The speaker crackled to life. “Killian.”.

“I knew it was something with a K. Killian, meet Emma. Emma, this is Killian.”

Killian drank in the sight of the female before him, letting his memory catalogue the shade of her jade green eyes, the creamy paleness of her slightly freckled skin and the bright golden blonde of the hair that cascaded down her back. Classically beautiful in an old-Hollywood kind of way, she had been built to be lean, but undeniably feminine. God, she had truly been made to be both heaven and hell in one gorgeous package.

“Compatibility’s fully in the green on all measures, Jeff. I’ll start the physical tests while you finish her up, and then we can let them get acquainted while we grab lunch. David, you need to do anything before we go?” The blonde security officer shook his head, and moved to make a final sweep of the room as the engineer and tech continued their work.

Emma inclined her head politely, taking in the nude form of the fellow compandroid beside her. His face was a masterpiece with incredible bone structure, strong cheekbones and a devastating jawline only serving to draw attention to beautiful sky blue eyes. Undeniably male, the dark hair on his head, stubbled jawline and down his sculpted chest contrasted beautifully with his fair skin. Killian was defined but not overly bulky, and had the physique of an athlete rather than a man who spent hours in the gym. The tech was fully focused on her as August began his assessment, and as he turned, stretched, and bent when prompted, Emma couldn’t help but let her gaze drop to the other masterpiece of his build.

“Are you sure we can’t get them some clothes or something?” the security guard asked as he finished rounding the room and returned to the door. “They aren’t going to be naked all the time once they get to wherever they’re going.” Emma’s gaze snapped up, but he was looking up at the security camera.

“Millionaires pay good money to bang these things,” Jefferson responded. “Don’t kid yourself, Dave, that’s, like, 80% of why anyone buys them.”

David made a vaguely disgusted sound and left the testing room as the tech laughed, putting Emma through the same basic physical tests as her male partner. “They’re both all set,” he announced as he finished, tucking the tablet under his arm. “Go ahead and switch them over to full physical and cognitive auto.” He turned to the Compandroids, smiling broadly. “Alright you two. Go ahead and get acquainted. You’ve been cleared so just do whatever comes naturally and we’ll let you know if we need you to repeat anything or if we need to see anything else at the end of the week.”

August’s voice filled the room. “Mills Mechanics test 342: Killian for U.Z. and Emma for A.P. Cameras are rolling. Security is standing by.”

The technician signaled a thumbs-up to his coworker and jogged for the door, leaving the two androids alone. Tearing his gaze from the female- Emma, he thought, with a surge of warmth- he looked around their simple surroundings, noting that she was doing the same. The room was sparse, arranged to look like a studio apartment and containing simple furnishings as well as a few random items that seemed likely to appeal to specific programming that compandroids were often given. Foregoing the idea of heading towards the tiny kitchen, as neither really needed food to function, his attention snagged on the bed. No, there would be plenty of time for that, he hoped. A woman as beautiful as this deserved to be wooed.

“So,” she began, leaning against the back of a black leather couch and giving him a very distracting view of her lithe body. “Looks like it’s just you and me for a week, so we might as well get started.” She paused a moment before blurting out, “What’s your favorite animal?

He tipped his head back and laughed at the randomness of the question, moving to stand a bit closer as he accessed his memories. “Dogs. You?”

“Swans. You have an English accent. That’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?” She shrugged, nodding in his direction. “Your turn.”

“Alright. Favorite food? Mine is pancakes.��

“Rocky road ice cream,” she announced with a grin. “No question. Alright, favorite song?”

“Vissi d’arte from Tosca.” His brows drew together in slight confusion. “That seems strangely high brow and specific. Apparently I like opera. You?”

“In My Room by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson is an artist and I won’t tolerate you saying otherwise, Mr. Opera.” She faked offense, but the secret smile she sent him warmed his heart.

Killian’s hands went up in a placating gesture. “Alright, lass, you’ll hear no argument from me.” Looking for inspiration to keep their game going, he moved towards a shelf along the back wall of the room, which contained books in a variety of styles and languages and picked up the first that caught his eye, a collection of poems by Robert Burns, as it turned out. “Hmm, ok, who is your… least favorite author?”

An adorably puzzled look crossed her face as she joined him in perusing the titles, their shoulders mere inches from brushing. “I’m… I’m not sure I have one. I’m certain that I like books, though. Why, do you have a least favorite author?”

She smirked as a blush crept across his cheekbones and tinted his ears pink. “It seems I find Roald Dahl’s works creepy?”

The laugh that bubbled out of her was unintentional. “Isn’t that a children’s author?”

“Aye,” he admitted, slightly put out. “What of it?”

“Nothing at all,” she assured him, making a show of letting her eyes wander over his broad shoulders and down his sculpted torso before landing lower. Biting her lip with a smile, she looked back into his eyes through her lashes. “You just, well, you certainly don’t look like a child.”

He preened a bit, finding that he didn’t mind his embarrassment as much when it could make her smile and clearly didn’t inhibit her attraction to him. “You’re welcome to look your fill darling. I’m designed to be aesthetically pleasing.”

“As am I,” Emma responded, swaying her hips as she gave a little twirl and walked over to the upright piano sitting against the adjacent wall, gently pressing a few keys. “Looks like I know how to play one of these things,” she said with a wry twist of her lips. “You get any hidden talents, Killian?” His blue eyes twinkled as he quirked a suggestive brow in response. “Any musical talents?” She clarified, shaking her head in amusement as he crossed the room as well and pulled out the bench for her, allowing Emma sit and position herself. She casually began to play as she continued to speak. “I don’t think it’s always a standard thing.”

Killian picked up the acoustic guitar leaning alongside the piano, plucking out a quick melody in harmony to the tune she had been playing a moment earlier. “Apparently I play guitar?” He responded, continuing to strum lazily as he exchanged Pachelbel’s canon in D for something new. “Alas my love you do me wrong to cast me off discourteously. For I have loved you so long delighting in your company.”

Without missing a beat, she continued where he left off, piano and voice joining with him as they sang. “Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold, And who but my Lady Greensleeves.” She chuckled then, shaking her head again in disbelief. “Of all the things, they gave us both a folk song?” She watched the faint blush return to his cheeks as he scratched behind his charmingly pink ear.

“Seemed a bit early for something more ambitious like Bizet’s Carmen. I had to improvise. Folk tunes seemed the most likely to be universal.” He smirked mischievously, leaning in slightly to stage whisper, “and it gave me an excuse to sing something romantic to you.”

Emma mirrored his pose, and he fought to keep his eyes on hers and not let them drop to her very kissable mouth or lower to the perfect breasts that remained exposed. “Doesn’t the lady reject her suitor in that song? I’d think you’d pick something with a happier ending if you had an end goal in mind.” He watched her eyes briefly flick down to his lips as she licked her own, and he was rather glad that certain parts of his anatomy were still covered by the wooden body of the guitar.

“Maybe the lovers reconcile in my version,” he whispered.

“I think I’d like that,” she murmured back, slipping from the piano bench to lean over him and place the gentlest kiss to his lips. No longer worried about modesty, he shoved the guitar aside, and she instantly deepened the kiss as he pulled her down into his lap and gave himself over to her. One of his hands wrapped around her back while the other buried itself in her long golden hair, an action that she repeated herself as her fingers scratched along his scalp. Holding herself back, she resisted grinding down onto the hardness she could already feel under her, wanting to simply enjoy the sensation of kissing this amazing male for a moment.

Pausing briefly, he pulled back to admire the female in his arms, letting his thumb trace the gentle curve of her jaw. “You are a bloody marvel, Emma,” he said quietly, hoping she could hear the sincerity in his voice.

“And you’re everything, Killian. Everything I could have hoped for.” In spite of the extensive vocabulary she’d been given, Emma found her words failing her and instead tried to convey what she felt with her body, wrapping her arms around his neck and pouring herself into her kisses. They’d barely known each other for an hour, but something about this male just felt right, like he was the other half of a puzzle she hadn’t even realized was missing a piece. From his actions and responses, it seemed clear that he felt the same way, and she wasn’t foolish enough to question their connection when he was busy working kisses down her neck and whispering tender endearments into her skin.

“God above, darling, you’re so beautiful, so brilliant. How are you mine?” He wondered aloud. He wanted her in every way, and something in him ached with a need to show her that the bond they had was, somehow, so much more than physical. Yes, he wanted to fuck her, but a simple coupling of these bodies was only the beginning. He wanted to know everything about her, to make her laugh and smile and share parts of himself that he didn’t even realize were there.

Lifting her into his arms, Killian gently carried her to the bed and laid her upon it, stretching out beside her as they kissed. His gentle reverence didn’t seem to add up, given how quickly they’d gone from strangers to this, but felt right nonetheless. Emma knew, somehow, that giving herself to killian would be an experience that surpassed physical pleasure and became something more. His kisses remained passionate as one of his warm, rough hands moved down her back to her hip, maintaining contact but staying a respectful distance from any of her more intimate areas. She could feel the coiled tension in his shoulders, in the way his fingers tightened but didn’t dare move inwards to where her impeccably designed body was wet and ready for him. Breaking their kiss, Emma stared deep into his eyes as she gently removed his hand from its perch on her side, smiling inwardly when his look of disappointment morphed into pure arousal when she moved it between her legs and rubbed herself against his fingers.

Bloody hell, she was so wet and warm, his cock automatically responding to her clear desire. Unlike humans, Compandroids’ bodies were capable of instantaneous arousal and infinite orgasms, but he didn’t want to rush this experience. They’d have all week to fuck each other into oblivion, but Killian had an intense and undeniable need to make love to Emma properly the first time he had her. Pressing a last searing kiss to her swollen, berry-pink lips, he inched lower on the bed to let his mouth join his fingers’ exploration, letting the heavenly music of her gasps and sighs ring out in the room.

————

David watched the two carefully from his seat in the observation room, as required by his position. Plenty of his coworkers seemed to have a strange fascination with sexual encounters between Compandroids, but part of why he’d been selected as head of lab security was because, most of the time, he just didn’t see the appeal. If he were honest with himself, he’d always found watching to be slightly uncomfortable, but this couple seemed different somehow. Paired Compandroids usually ended up in bed together eventually, but he’d never seen them connect this quickly or this passionately. It was far more like watching reunited lovers than two robots who’d never come into contact before today. The bond between these two seemed disturbingly real.

He’d always wondered about the morality of what they were doing; synthetic or not, there was something unsettling about creating beings that were little more than glorified slaves for the wealthy. The company justified it with data that showed human sex trafficking had decreased with the creation of Compandriods, and the base models were little more than elaborate sex dolls. Of course, the high end models like the two being tested today were another story entirely, programmed to have the full spectrum of human emotion but unable to act against their owner’s wishes.

Until this moment, though, it had never been more than a passing thought that crept into his mind when they shipped out a new custom-built deluxe model. He’d never witnessed anything that confirmed his suspicions in his five years managing the security for newly ordered Compandroids. He’d never seen one scared or angry or even truly delighted, and any doubts had been erased by the fact that his Mills Mechanics salary had allowed him to afford the perfect ring for his (hopefully) soon to be fiancé. Watching them stare into each other’s eyes with all too convincing passion, David began to worry that he’d been right to question their work all along.

————

If this was what orgasms felt like, well, Emma wondered how humans got anything done. Her entire body arched off the bed as she came again, a giddy laugh escaping her lips when she met Killian’s lust-addled gaze. If his mouth felt this good, she could only begin to imagine how actual sex would feel.

God, she needed more of him now.

He crawled up her body, lips meeting hers in a deep, desperate kiss as he settled between her thighs. “Fuck, Emma. You’re so god damn beautiful. I want you with every fiber of my being,” he confessed, his hard length adding further emphasis to his words.

“But, I have to reciprocate first!” She argued, her excuse cut off by another sloppy kiss.

“Next time,” Killian promised, the look in his intense blue eyes promising a week of endless carnal pleasures. “I just, I really don’t want to wait to be inside you, love. If you don’t have any objections, that is.”

Wrapping her legs around his slim hips, she pulled him into the cradle of her body, feeling him respond to her enthusiastic cue as he let himself sink in inch by delicious inch until he was fully sheathed inside her, little pants escaping his lips as he shuddered. “Bloody hell,” he gasped, struggling to find his voice. “Fuck, Emma, you feel so good around me. Better than I’d even thought possible.”

She couldn’t disagree, the pleasure of joining with Killian so much more intense than she had been prepared for. He thrust experimentally, and they both shivered, nearly overwhelmed by the intensity. “More,” she begged, peppering him with frantic kisses anywhere she could reach. “God, please, Killian, make love to me.”

Their eyes met again, her words registering for a moment as he smiled almost boyishly, and then his mouth was on hers and he was gone, they were gone, utterly lost in the pleasures of each other.

————

They spent their first days alternating between random discussions and more intimate activities, exploring each other in every possible way. Although there were obvious differences in their programming, everything about them seemed strangely synchronized, and as the days passed, Emma found herself wondering if Killian could be any more perfect. He had his flaws of course, like his distaste for onion rings, but even those were charming in their own way. What surprised her even more was that he seemed to feel the same, and though he would shake his head at the sometimes unusual preferences she had been given, he still claimed to quite fancy her.

She would be lying if she said she didn’t feel the same way.

On their third day, Killian spent hours reading to her from his favorite books, always making sure to find the most romantic lines to quote. She rolled her eyes every now and then, but the rosy blush on her cheeks was more than enough encouragement to continue. As they lounged on the bed, Emma curled into his side as they snuggled under the blankets, he honestly wondered if there could be any place in the world better than right where he was. What surprised him most was how little that thought seemed out of place, given what little time they’d had together.

As he made his way through Wuthering Heights, he came upon the line “whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” The truth of that, the sentiment behind it, echoed through him as he gazed down at the beauty in his arms.

“I’ll never read this without thinking of you. I don’t know how or why,” he admitted, “but from the moment I first saw you, I have been utterly enchanted. It’s as if we were meant for each other.”

“I bet you say that to all the artificial girls,” she deflected, averting her eyes. “I know what you mean though. I felt the same way. It was like someone turned on a light. Suddenly you were there and everything changed.”

“I don’t think this is programmed Emma.” He said, tracing the curve of her cheek with his thumb. “I think it’s just us. There’s something special between you and me, beyond just following through on the mandate to interact.”

“We understand each other,” she agreed, snuggling deeper into his side. “Even if you were given horrible taste in movies.”

He snorted, digging his fingers into her ribs until she giggled. “You only know my taste is horrible because you were given incredibly pretentious taste, lass. Neither one of us has actually seen a single film, so pardon me if I don’t take your criticism all that seriously.” A gentle kiss to the crown of her head, he returned to the book and it’s ill-fated lovers.

Another few days, and Killian knew beyond any doubt that what he felt for Emma was love. it was an all consuming thought: he loved her without restraint, loved everything about her. A lifetime with her was all that he wanted for himself, and as the harsh reality of their limited time together began to close in, he started to plot ways they might escape their seemingly inevitable fate. It had obviously been wearing on her as well, if her desperate kisses and the way she held him as they made love were any indication of her feelings. Still, even if their time together was limited, she deserved to know how much he cared, and in the still, silent darkness of the night he confessed in a whisper.

“I love you, Emma.”

He heard her shaky intake of breath as she clung to him, and her whispered “and I love you. I’ve known it for days. Killian, what are we going to do? I don’t want to lose you and we only get a week,” she continued, vocalizing many of the dark thoughts that had tormented him as well. “How is that fair?”

“It’s not.” He smoothed her hair back with a gentle caress, looking into her eyes as he placed the softest kiss to her lips. “Nothing about this is fair, and yet I wouldn’t trade knowing you for the world. Our time together and what you’ve brought into my life has been a gift I never expected to receive. We may only have two days left together, but I will never stop loving you.”

“We should run. Go somewhere they’ll never find us and just live our lives together.” A sob broke her last word, and he wiped away the traitorous tear that ran down her cheek before it could drip onto the bedding.

“We should,” he agreed. “Any ideas?”

The subtle hum of the cameras continued as they talked well into the night.

————

After six days of watching Emma and Killian, David knew there was something different about them. Their connection was unlike any he’d seen in his 5 years of monitoring these trial weeks, which is why he was only slightly surprised when August came in, visibly flustered and annoyed, and whispered that David should call in some backup. The research team had been reviewing the previous night’s recordings, and had seen interactions between the couple that were far outside what was dictated by their programming, noting that the frequency had only escalated as the days passed. Mills had demanded they end the test early and separate them under the pretense of wanting to check a few settings, before things got any worse.

David’s stomach lurched as he called out on his walkie for aid and prepared to enter the room.

————

Emma woke to the sound of Jefferson entering the test room, and smiled politely at the tech through her momentary confusion. He gave her an overly bright smile before announcing, “Just here to check a few settings. Sorry to bother you, but it’ll only take a minute. Could you two get up and move apart? We think your sensors are interfering with each other or something cause I haven’t been getting a good reading the last few days.”

Killian ran a hand through his dark hair, rising and following the technician to a location marked with a small X on the wall opposite the door. “Great, thanks Killian,” he said, a slight tremor in his voice. “I’m just gonna hook you up and we’ll see what’s going on.” The cold metal of a containment cuff snapped around Killian’s left wrist, and he was about to make a filthy joke about it when he saw the door open and a team of security guards entered alongside several other men and women in lab coats. His eyes snapped to Emma, who was being escorted from the bed and towards the door, rather than to the containment cuff attached to the adjoining wall. The horrible realization hit as fear sluiced down his spine, stealing every thought but one as Emma stiffened and turned toward him, panic in her gorgeous green eyes.

“What are you do… NO!” She screamed, turning towards the far wall to see Killian had come to the same conclusion. “Killian! They’re taking me away!” She fought against the security guards who had grabbed her, unable to injure them thanks to her programming but trying instead to slip free of their grasps. Thrashing wildly, Emma turned with tears in her eyes to Jefferson as he immediately backed away from Killian. “You promised us a week! We still have another day! Please!”

“Emma!” Killian bellowed, pulling against his restraint. “Get your hands off of her!” She would be dragged from the room and out of his life without so much as a chance to say goodbye or tell her what she meant to him. There was no way for her to break free without causing damage to one of the humans, but he realized with sudden clarity that all that lay between him and Emma was the band of steel around his left wrist. It was a surprisingly easy decision. Reaching down with his free hand, Killian brutally snapped his forearm in two, tearing through the layers of synthetic tissue until he was free. He crossed the room in mere seconds, grabbing her face in his remaining hand and kissing her one last time as the entire room froze in shock. “I’d rather have 6 days with you than live without knowing you, Emma, and no matter what they do to me, I know a part of me will never forget you. I love you.”

The blonde security officer holding her right arm adjusted his grip to her shoulder, allowing her to wrap her arm around Killian and hold him close. She could taste tears on her lips, and his, as she whispered, “I love you too, and we will meet again, somehow, someday. I will find you.”

Cora Mills burst into the room, heels clacking as she screamed, “What the hell is wrong with all of you? Put him down and get her out of here.”

Emma fought as another guard brutally wrenched her away, watching in horror as an additional security officer moved in and hit Killian with a jolt from a restraining rod that instantly took him offline. “Nooooo!” Emma screamed, feeling like she was being ripped in two as they dragged her out the door. “Killian!”

————

There were days that David really hated his job, and this was one of them. He flinched as his harpy of a boss screeched out her orders, redoubling his efforts to subdue the inhumanly strong female in his arms as she clawed towards the male lying motionless across the room.

An elbow to his gut swiftly brought his musings to an end, and as he focused again on the tear stained face of the beautiful model in his arms, who continued to cry out in tones laced with despair and desperation, he decided a transfer would be the next paperwork he filed. Working in the loading docks would be less glamorous, but watching the male literally disconnect an arm in his effort to reach the sobbing female was a sight he never wanted to experience again. He suddenly felt a deep sense of regret, and knew the whiskey bottle would be calling his name tonight.

They were robots, he knew, but even so, he couldn’t help but wonder- did you really need a soul to have a soulmate?

————

David sat in the control room an hour later, the bone-deep exhaustion that followed a surge of adrenaline pulling at him as he monitored the post incident huddle. The cup of coffee in his hands had gone cold, but gave him a distraction from the tense argument in the room between the business end of the company and the brilliant product developers responsible for making their products function.

“What do you want me to say?” August asked, his usually calm demeanor laced with frustration. “I ran all the usual diagnostics per protocol before I started. They’re considered compatible.”

“Compatible?” Cora Mills keyed up the details of the analysis on her tablet, stabbing at the compatibility rating with one of her crimson-lacquered nails as she showed the room the results. “Compatible doesn’t even begin to cover it. The only way they’d score higher would be if you paired two of the same damn model, which, may I remind you, could never happen with our deluxe models because we only make one of each!”

David studied the screen, where 99.999% flashed in bold red; despite the staggering differences in their programming, the two Compandroids were a perfect match on every level.

Mills placed her hand against her forehead, briefly composing herself before returning to the issue at hand. “We will deal with the aftermath of this later. In the meantime, you need to get those two finished and prepped for shipment. Wipe their memories, twice if needed, to erase every trace of this, and reload their programming from scratch.

“But Ms. Mills!” interjected one of the designers, who looked almost giddy in contrast to the rest of the room. “This is something completely unheard of. They were developing new behaviors and emotions we can’t even begin to code yet and bypassed key elements of their programming to get back together. Surely we can take a few extra days to study what happened. It may be breakthrough. Imagine! Androids with real, independent consciousness!”

“This isn’t a senior research project, Dr. Whale, it’s a business,” she snapped. “We’re here to sell people their perfect companions- which are things, in spite of how they outwardly appear. Other people can disappoint you, but part of the beauty of our creations is that they don’t have that capacity. We give them the illusion of free will of course, to make them more authentic, but that is it. Why would we even want to incur the risk of anything more? Now, everyone, fix it!” She turned to leave in a swirl of barely contained rage, calling over her shoulder as she left the room, “And for god’s sake check the numbers a little more carefully next time. I won’t have a repeat of this incident.”

————

Emma blinked rapidly in the bright light of a sterile exam room. It was so cold in here, and she didn’t recognize the faces of any of the people around her. Where was she? Where was… “Killian!” She felt panic grip her as she scanned the room again. “Where is he? Is he ok? Please, tell me he’s alright!”

“Shit,” one of the men with a lab coat cursed. “That didn’t work at all. Ok two memory wipes isn’t enough for her either. How about him? Does he still remember?”

Another man spoke, and she recognized him as August, the engineer she’d heard over the loudspeaker. “He’s better after two. He can’t remember her name but he definitely remembers a beautiful blonde. He’s not sure if she’s some kind of dream girl he conjured up or a past romance. I guess it’s an improvement. I think we better wipe them all one more time just to be sure. Three times for each should do it. God only knows what kind of trouble it’ll start if they mention each other or, hell, go off searching for one another.”

Emma just stared at the room, panic gripping her like a vice until one of the engineers came over with a tablet, sitting in front of her. “Emma, dear, calm down. Killian is ok. He’s just in another room.” He showed her a video feed from a similar room, where Killian lay on a table, his arm reattached and looking so handsome and perfect that she wanted to cry. The man watched her reaction, eyes jumping from her to the screen and back again as he mumbled, “I still think erasing your memories is a mistake. You two are the biggest breakthrough in AI that we’ve ever seen.”

“No, please, don't” she pleaded. “I love him. Let me just see him. I have to know he’s ok.” She rose, pushing the men out of the way as she ran for the door. If she could just find him, maybe they could escape after all. Maybe she could make him remember her.

“God damn it, Victor! Not again!” August yelled, and then everything went dark.

————

The next time Emma opened her eyes, the face staring into hers was strangely familiar. “Arthur?” She questioned, confirming that the handsome middle aged man in front of her was indeed the man she had been designed for.

His answering smile confirmed her assessment, though a touch of sadness infused everything about him. She knew everything about this man, and though she didn’t truly know him yet, she hoped that she could make him happy. Arthur Penn, founder of the Pendragon Tech company, had come into wealth and success early in his life when his inventions had revolutionized computers and technology, making him a household name. He and his equally photogenic wife had been staples in both business and politics, championing causes and companies they believed in while raising their family. Nobody could have predicted her sudden death at only 55, or his immediate retirement and retreat from the public eye that followed; his son had successfully taken over the company in his absence, though Emma knew the two rarely spoke.

He ushered her out of the large wooden crate she’d arrived in and into his cozy living room, sitting beside her on the couch as he stared into her jade green eyes in the low firelight. “I’d hoped they could make me a companion who would remind me of the good old days, someone like Grace Kelly, but you, Emma, are far more than I’d ever hoped for.” He reached a tentative hand towards her, hesitating before turning her chin this way and that, admiring the craftsmanship that went into Mills Mechanics finest products. “I have been alone for nearly a year, and I'm… I’m not ready for what lies outside my door, not yet. But I hope that, perhaps, spending my days with you might help me.” He closed his eyes, brow furrowing as he struggled to contain his emotions, and she leaned over to place a tender kiss to his cheek. His soft, shaky sigh in response let her know that her programming had indeed prepared her for a life with this broken, brilliant man.

The weeks passed easily, and their early steps towards familiarity quickly led to a relationship based on a shared love of art, technology, and literature as she filled his lonely days with conversation and companionship. It was a gentle affection, rather than passion and romance, but it was genuine and most days she contented herself with knowing that she made Arthur’s life immeasurably better. They were more akin to friends or perhaps even a father and daughter for the first two months, until the day that he leaned over and brushed a kiss to her lips at the end of Gone with the Wind. She could see in his eyes what he needed from her, and let him lead her to his elegant bedroom for a gentle coupling that was in truth closer to making love than anything else, though he would never call it that. It was a shared moment, a renewing of their bond, something she couldn’t describe as exhilarating or passionate, but rather two friends giving each other comfort and pleasure. He’d already had the great love of his life, and while he undoubtedly enjoyed his days with Emma and cared for her, she would never replace his dear departed Gwen.

That night, while Arthur slept peacefully beside her, Emma dreamed. She dreamt of eyes bluer than the clearest sky and love deep as the ocean, passionate and unrestrained. She dreamt of his hands on her skin, of his mouth, of their bodies joined as he made love to her and moaned her name long and dirty into her ear. Waking with a start, Emma could only assume it was her prior activity that had conjured up such odd images and sensations, as she had no memories to speak of before Arthur. Perhaps someone had made an error in her programming, she thought, though she wasn’t sure if she hoped she could forget the dream or if she wanted to treasure it.

She dreamt of this unnamed, beautiful, passionate man every time she and Arthur were intimate, usually every week or two, but otherwise lived happily with him. After nine months, he took her on their first trip outside his sprawling estate, having his driver drop them off at a small bookstore in the nearby town for an hour while he browsed the shelves. It was a simple, unhurried outing, but a massive step for a man who had sequestered himself away out of grief. A week later, they had a late lunch at a small cafe, and a few days later went into the city to hear Juilliard students perform. With each passing week, she watched Arthur find himself bit by bit, the culmination of which was a final, face to face meeting with his son Martin about a year after Emma’s arrival. Martin was surprised and, it seemed, a bit disturbed to discover his father had bought himself a Compandroid, not understanding why he had refused the comfort of another human.

“Marty, I wasn’t in any shape to be out there after your mom passed,” Arthur explained, taking his son’s hand across the oak kitchen table where they’d settled. “She was my inspiration from the beginning, and I didn’t know how to go on without her. You were grieving and I’d just dumped the whole company in your lap- I couldn’t burden you. I didn’t want to exploit some poor woman just to have my emotional and physical needs met, and Emma here has helped me to find joy again without me having to worry if I’m hurting her or leading her on. I’m not looking to date again. I just… I mostly just wanted a friend.”

The explanation, it turned out, was enough, and Arthur began calling his son regularly, asking about his grandchildren and making plans to visit them in San Francisco. He brought Emma on the first trip, explaining her away as his new assistant, but began leaving the house alone more and more, eventually going as far as making a second and third visit to California without her. By two years into her time with him, Emma could see the end coming even before Arthur did, and couldn’t be sad when he finally decided to sell the mansion, return her to Mills Mechanics, and move to live near his son and his family. He apologized to her, genuinely regretful, but he admitted that he would only use her as a crutch if he brought her along, and he felt it was time for a new beginning. She smiled at him through the burning in her eyes as they joined together one last time, and wished him every happiness when she kissed his cheek and boarded the transport truck for her return to the factory.

————

“Holy shit, are you kidding me?!?”

Bright light and a shriek of delight met Killian when his crate was opened, finally providing some context for the muffled sounds of revelry that had filtered through to his auditory processors for the last hour. “Happy Birthday, Sweetheart,” came a man’s deep voice to his left. “I know you were upset when your mom and I said no dating while you’re at Julliard, but…”

“No way! You got me a Compandroid so I can focus on my singing but still kind of have a boyfriend.” Her dark eyes sparkled as she assessed him, her smile growing. “Oh my god he is SO hot.”

Sensing his cue, Killian rose from the crate’s built in chair and stepped forward, lifting the girl’s hand to his lips and brushing a kiss to her knuckles. “It’s lovely to meet you, Sula.”

“He has an accent!” She squealed, bouncing slightly in excitement. “Can I please take him back out to the party? I really want to show the girls!”

“Of course honey,” her mother cooed, mirroring her daughter’s wide smile. “Happy 18th Birthday.” Her mom and dad wrapped their arms around her, which she returned enthusiastically before grabbing Killian’s hand and yanking him towards a set of doors that ended up leading into a nightclub that was lavishly decorated for the girl’s birthday in golds and purples.

“So wait, do I have to, like, name you?” She asked, turning wide eyes towards him as they maneuvered through the crowd.

“You certainly can if you’d like, though I go by Killian at the moment, lass.”

“Killian? Nope, not gonna change that. It’s perfect.” She looked around, watching her classmates’ jaws drop as they took in the handsome man on her arm. “Shit, actually, you’re perfect.” A faint blush colored her cheeks as she leaned closer to him, whispering, “Oh my god, can I have sex with you?”

He smirked slightly at her excitement and raised a mischievous brow. “Well, I wouldn’t recommend doing so here, darling, but yes, and I’d be happy to give you a very thorough demonstration of all of my many, many talents later.” She squirmed a bit, her blush deepening. “I’m fairly confident that after a night with me, these mere boys will no longer be even a momentary temptation. Now, unless you’d like to find us somewhere private right this moment, why don’t we continue on to your friends?”

Sula’s parents had rented her an apartment just a few blocks from the school. Not wanting to flaunt her family’s wealth any more than necessary, she’d let everyone assume Killian was just her live in boyfriend. While Sula studied to be the world’s next great operatic soprano, he’d cook and clean and otherwise maintain the place for her during the day, then listen to her practice and provide her with whatever pleasure she desired once she arrived home. His devotion to her wasn’t exactly based on love; she liked him well enough, but he knew full well that she thought of him as more of a pet than a person. Still, she was so focused on achieving her goal that his presence served its purpose. Compared to his dashing good looks, manners, and undeniable prowess in bed, the other boys in her classes didn’t stand a chance.

Ursula Zeddmore could be described in many ways, including beautiful, driven, wealthy, and well-educated. Killian adored everything about the vivacious young woman. Her voice, however, was beyond words. Even before she’d begun studying with some of the finest teachers in the world, her talent had been obvious, but the months of training had enhanced and matured the classical soprano’s sound until hearing her sing could honestly be described as life changing, and indeed, sometimes was. Killian would tidy up the kitchen as she practiced each night, and would find himself humming whatever lovely piece she’d been practicing well into the next day, though the song always somehow morphed into Greensleeves by noon. He figured it was a minor flaw in his programming, but he had a fondness for the tune and was strangely comforted every time the old folk melody floated into his head.

It was less than a year into her education that Sula met Antonio at one of her recitals. An unimposing man in his mid 30’s, he’d approached the soprano afterwards, introducing himself to both her and Killian and complimenting her on her absolutely breathtaking rendition of Sempre Libera before asking if she might be interested in working with him. She’d politely declined, but accepted his card and stopped him when he made to walk away, waving her phone as she pointed to the browser’s google results. “You’re Antonio Sforza? The composer? I saw your Elizabeth I at the Met just last year!!” Clearly smitten with her, he’d brushed off her earlier dismissal with a laugh, and they’d immediately made plans to meet the following week to work on his newest opera, a modern retelling of the story of Cleopatra.

Killian could provide her with almost everything a young woman could want, but even he couldn’t stop the two musical virtuosos from falling in love. Within weeks, the composer had left his wife and declared the beautiful girl his muse, writing his opera to showcase her remarkable voice. Sworn to secrecy, Killian continued to live alone in the apartment until she finally broke the news to her parents a few months later, explaining that what she had with “Tony” was real, and that she’d continue her studies but would be marrying the brilliant, famous composer as soon as his divorce was finalized. Sula’s parents remained skeptical but agreed to send Killian back to Mills Mechanics at their daughter’s insistence. Though he knew the whirlwind love affair was likely doomed, a small part of Killian admired and envied the two. His attachment to Sula Zeddmore was removed as he was collected for transport, and he spent the ride back to the factory imagining his own passionate love affair with a breathtakingly beautiful blonde, set to the tune of Greensleeves.

————

Neal Cassidy was a professional gambler who was used to both wealth and all the trappings that came with it, and what better way to flaunt his fortune than with his very own custom-refurbished Compandroid. “Damn,” he’d breathed, scanning every inch of her before his gaze met hers. “You really are perfect. You even have green eyes just like I wanted.” She’d been programmed to love him, of course, just as all of her kind were, and to do whatever he asked of her without question. After all, “Your Perfect Companion” was what Mills Mechanics boasted, and Emma felt a rush of pride at his satisfied assessment.

The first year passed happily, and at the time, Emma had been thankful that the engineers and programming geniuses who’d designed her had found a way to give her emotions, as she felt overjoyed to belong to the charismatic man by her side. He would flirt with other women, but she didn’t worry because she knew it would be difficult to replace her. After all, she was perfect.

Neal had never been shy about parading around his “custom-made girlfriend,” going as far as to take her to fancy parties as his date. Many of his poker buddies envied him, always wanting more information about what she was like. Was she really everything the company claimed? He’d never held back, answering all their questions readily as he boasted that she was far better than any “real” woman he’d had. Most of the time, Emma honestly didn’t mind that his feelings towards her didn’t include love, but every so often she would get a strange, secret feeling that she couldn’t describe, like there was something missing from her life. At first, she’d thought it was a desire to be loved by Neal, but as the months passed she knew that wasn’t it; whatever she was looking for, it was something that even Neal couldn’t provide. In an odd way, it sometimes seemed like even her habit of rereading romantic classics like Wuthering Heights was related, and it felt a bit cruel to her that she’d be programmed to feel so empty in the absence of love. Still, whatever it was that caused the emptiness in her, it was irrelevant, and she tried to ignore it and enjoy her life with Neal, which continued to be a whirlwind of excitement, until his luck ran out. At first, he sold off the things he didn’t truly need: the Maserati, the penthouse in Miami, the expensive watches he never wore. Though she was one of his most valuable possessions, Emma tried not to fear she would be next. She was far too precious to him, he’d said, and he’d never sell her. It was only when the unpaid bills continued to mount that she learned he wasn’t as attached to her as he seemed. Eager to avoid prosecution, he drove off early one morning with the majority of his remaining wealth and never returned, leaving her alone in the empty house until she was repossessed four months later by Mills Mechanics to be refurbished, have her memory wiped again, and to be sold off to a new owner. She didn’t want to go, but of course, those emotions were overruled by her programming; Emma found herself wishing for the first time that she’d never been given emotions at all.

The driver who arrived to bring her back to the factory seemed gruff, but there was a hidden tenderness in him. “Easy, sister,” he murmured gently as he surveyed her empty living quarters with disgust and barely hidden anger. “I’m Leroy, and I’m here to take you out of here.” Wrapping a blanket over her shoulders to cover the silk negligee she was still wearing, he escorted Emma from the dismal apartment to a simple cushioned seat in the back of the transport truck. With the quick input of a few codes, she was free of the tether to an owner and wept quietly as they pulled away towards their next stop, denied even a simple goodbye from the man who had once owned not only her body but her heart.

————

Killian had been purchased next by a middle-aged divorcee. She’d wanted a handsome young stud to travel the world with, and a Compandriod had been the perfect solution- a man who would love her unconditionally, and not care a bit about the substantial fortune she’d received when her insanely successful husband had divorced her for a younger woman. Killian didn’t care about the fine lines that had begun to form on her face or that her body wasn’t as tight as it had been before having a child. He didn’t find her independence intimidating or her occasional temper unattractive. He was programmed to love her, and from the moment he laid eyes on Milah Gold, that is exactly what he did. Milah never told a soul that he wasn’t “real”, introducing him as her charming new boyfriend and treating him like a human man nearly all of the time. Sometimes, Killian wondered if he would have loved Milah even if he hadn’t been programmed to do so. She was so full of life, so determined to make every moment count. She’d take him shopping and dress him in the latest fashions, always making sure to show off his well-constructed physique and smirking at all the customer service attendants who eyed her with blatant envy when he pulled her close and kissed her breathless. He would pleasure her in bed for hours, reveling in every gasp and moan as she told him how amazing he felt, how perfect he was, and how much she loved him back.

It was so easy to forgot that he was merely a Compandroid when he was with Milah, and even his basic programming seemed to respond to the way she treated him, giving him new human characteristics. The dreams were the most obvious and troubling. At first, he found himself having the occasional sexual fantasy about a gorgeous blonde woman who was very clearly not Milah, waking hard and aroused. Soon after those started, he had nightmares as well, dreaming of this same blonde being pulled from his arms and crying out to him in despair. He hid the nature of the dreams, unsure as to why this strange beauty would be in his head when he already had someone as amazing as Milah in his life, but tried not to dwell on them too much. After all, this fantasy woman may have looked like some random actress from a classic movie, but she wasn’t real. Milah was a woman, flesh and blood. It all ended so quickly that it was still hard for him to understand. They’d returned from a week in Bali, and Milah’s bright laugh echoed off the polished marble floor as she pulled him into their apartment, her skin tanned and still smelling of the coconut sunscreen she wore as she kissed him. Their homecoming was interrupted by a cough, and they turned to find her ex-husband standing at the top of the staircase, casually perusing the Comapandriod paperwork that had come when Killian had originally been delivered a few years before. “So, this is what you’re into nowadays, Milah?” he scoffed, tossing the binder over his shoulder. “You always were a bit heartless- makes sense that you’d want a man without one as well.”

“Get the hell out of here, you bastard!” she’d yelled, launching herself towards him as Killian followed cautiously. “This isn’t your home anymore. Go back to your pretty little wife, and leave us alone.”

“Us?” he’d laughed, a sneer on his face. “You mean you and the glorified sex toy? Don’t tell me you’re delusional enough to love this… thing!“ He’d pushed Killian out of the way, and damn his programming, but it wouldn’t allow him to harm a human- even one as vile as the man before him. “Jesus, Milah, what other ridiculous shit have you been up to?”

Milah left Killian at the top of the steps and followed, stopping in front of her ex-husband and yanking on his arm as he turned away dismissively. “Get out of my house, Richard, or I’m going to call the fucking cops.”

“Call the cops on me, in the house I bought you?” He yelled, spinning to face her as he threw his arms wide in agitation. The movement caught her off balance, and she stumbled backwards, losing her footing and tumbling down the stairs. “No! Milah!” Richard cried, reaching out in desperation as Killian rushed past him in an effort to catch her before she hit the bottom. The sickening crack of her head hitting the marble floor echoed in the room as both men dropped to the ground by her side. “Call 911, you idiot!” Gold bellowed, tears in his eyes as he checked for a pulse that Killian knew full well wasn’t there. He’d known the precise moment her neck had snapped, and the woman he’d known and loved had been lost forever.

The police and ambulance had arrived quickly, along with a computer tech who accessed Killian’s recorded memories and confirmed Richard Gold’s story. It had been a horrible accident, they’d all agreed, clearing Killian for his transport back to Mills Mechanics for holding and eventual refurbishment. As he waited for the truck to arrive, he sat and wondered what the use of having inhuman strength or reflexes was when he couldn’t even save the woman he loved?

————

“It’s you.” Killian had spent years of dreaming of a beautiful, nameless woman, and here she was, not a woman at all but a compandroid like him. She was like sunshine breaking through the clouds. That was all that he could think when he was ushered into the Mills Mechanics truck with her, and despite all of the pain he was feeling, the loss of Milah and the knowledge that he would have all of his beautiful memories of his time with her wiped and would be shipped off to another buyer, he couldn’t stop staring. He knew that Compandriods were supposed to be perfect, but he’d never actually seen another one before, and her beauty was staggering. He watched her eyes raise, and saw the same fascination mirrored in her leaf green gaze. She was just as lost as he was, without an owner and about to be reconditioned and yet she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Emma stared at him, at his dark hair and exquisite features, but her gaze landed on his sky blue eyes as something in her cried out in recognition. “I…I know you. I don’t know how, but it almost feels like I’ve always known you.”

“I dreamt of you, lass. For years, over and over. How can you be real?”

Emma sighed deeply, a habit that she’d picked up and did despite not really needing to breathe. She hadn’t felt attraction like this in so long, and of course it would happen now, as she was about to lose everything that made her her. Whatever had happened to him, she supposed he was headed for the same fate, and she could tell from his resigned demeanor that he’d probably lost just as much as she had. Why had the designers given them emotions, she wondered aloud, if it would only lead to pain? “I don’t think they worried about our well being,” she heard him answer, the sadness in his soft lilting accent catching her off guard. “After all, we’re not really people, are we?” His sparkling eyes met hers, a sad half-smile tilting the corner of his mouth. “I’m Killian. or at least, I will be for a few more hours. After that…” he trailed off, a slight shrug acknowledging their inevitable fate. “Emma. At least, that’s what he called me.” She looked over him again, appreciating the care that obviously went into the creation of each Compandriod. “What was it like, where you were?“

He sighed quietly, dropping his eyes to the ground and chuckling humorlessly before answering. “It was good. I almost forgot that I wasn’t human.” His gaze roamed her face briefly before he asked her the same question. “Oh, I knew exactly what I was every minute of every day. Which was fine until…” she trailed off, suddenly feeling shame and briefly annoyed that the programmers had decided to include that pesky emotion, before shrugging it off and continuing. “Honestly, it was kind of a relief when they came to get me. It may not last long, but at least I can belong to nobody but me for a few hours. Maybe next time I’ll be enough.”

“Don’t say that, love. You may have belonged to someone who didn’t appreciate you, but the flaw was with him, not you.”

“How do you know that?” She asked, regarding him cautiously. “Are you sure we’ve never met?”

“I’d remember meeting you.” He looked at her again, marveling at how familiar she was in spite of the fact that he was absolutely certain that he’d never seen her before. “But there is something between us. Do you feel it? “The pull? Like you can’t help but want to know more about them and at the same time it’s like you’ve known each other forever.” He watched her lick her lips and blush, and couldn’t help but follow the lovely pink flush that colored her cheeks and continued down to her barely covered chest. “And then there’s the other part. Like my body knows you too.”

“Does it always happen when two of us get close? I’ve never felt this before.” “I don’t think so,” she responded, accessing her memories. “I met another Compandriod once, on a gambling trip to Monte Carlo, and felt nothing whatsoever. Maybe it’s because we’re not tethered to an owner. I don’t know what this is, but I don’t think it’s something they designed, at least, not consciously.”

“I don’t care why it’s there,” he breathed, reaching out to tuck a bit of her golden hair behind her ear. “It’s as if…” he trailed off, and seemed to be searching for a thought, his eyes snapping to hers as he clearly found it. “Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same.”

She shuddered, her body seeming to recognize the quote just before her mind did. Not pausing to question her decision, she grabbed the lapels of the designer leather jacket he wore, crashing her lips against his in a display of unbridled passion unlike any he’d ever seen. His hand tangled in her hair as he returned the kiss, something electric coursing through him as they lost themselves in each other. She abruptly leaned back, pulling the thin silk nightdress over her head and revealing every detail of her perfectly crafted form to his gaze. His cock twitched to life instantly, his programming responding to her unabashed desire as he surged forward to capture her lips again, rutting against her as she slid the jacket from his shoulders and deftly unbuckled his belt. They may be destined to forget these lives, but she would live every moment she had left to the fullest, and right now, she wanted to be with Killian far more than she’d wanted Neal, or any other man she could have been compelled to desire. As she finally freed his cock, she couldn’t help the involuntary moan that slipped past her lips at his size. Just like the rest of him, his cock was absolutely perfect. She had been built to be tight, and could be stimulated by nearly any man as a result, but she could only begin to imagine the pleasure she’d feel from what she saw before her. She dropped to her knees as he continued to shuck his clothes, closing her lips around his length and sucking with all her strength, knowing that his body could take it more than an average human’s; she felt a fresh rush of lubrication between her legs when he quietly cursed.

“Fuck, Emma. That’s- I’ve never felt anything like it. God, love, please don’t stop.” She continued to suck him with inhuman precision, her soft tongue caressing him as she took every inch deep into her throat. Milah had enjoyed sucking his cock, but it had been nothing like this. He thanked his designers for giving him incredible stamina, and honestly pitied human men for a moment, knowing they’d never be able to truly experience all the pleasure she could produce. Still, the compulsion to give in return remained, and he enjoyed the blowjob until he felt the sensations just beginning to become overwhelming, then stopped her, lifting her into his arms and above his shoulders, nesting his face into her perfect little cunt. Everything about her had been designed to be flawless, it no exception, sculpted beautifully and smelling absolutely delicious. When his tongue swiped through the artificial lubricant she produced, the exquisite taste was unlike anything he’d ever experienced, and he couldn’t stop himself from laying her gently on a pile of their discarded clothes and practically devouring her. They had clearly programmed him to be amazing at oral sex, and every teasing movement of his lips and tongue was done with such skill that she worried her circuits might overload from the pleasure. “Please,” she begged him, arching her back as another orgasm washed over her. “I need to feel you inside me.” He kissed his way across her belly, over her beautiful breasts and up her neck until he was hovering over her, the tip sliding over her entrance teasingly as their lips met. “I want you.” he whispered, his eyes dropping to where their bodies were nearly joined. “Fuck, Emma, I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.” She arched against him, letting the tip slip just slightly into her, and it was the affirmation he needed, his hips thrusting forward to work his cock into her. Another curse escaped his lips as she moaned in pleasure at the feeling of his girth stretching her. “You’re- bloody buggering hell- you’re so tight.” He worked his cock deeper, the hot, wet walls of her perfectly designed sheath squeezing every inch as he held himself above her. “God, I could die a happy man with your cunt around me.” His breath came in pants against her neck as pleasure coursed through her. “Let me fuck you, lass. Please tell me I can move.” “Killian,” she moaned, wrapping her legs around his hips. “Please.” He pulled out and slammed back into her, suddenly feeling a sensation unlike anything he’d ever experienced. His eyes snapped to hers, seeing the shock and delight there mirroring his own. Their pleasure circuits were coming into contact with each thrust, doubling the sensation for each of them and causing the whole world to narrow to where they were joined. A few more experimental thrusts confirmed it, and from there it was a ballet of positions and methods, both of their bodies capable of unlimited releases and craving more of the unprecedented sensations. He wondered if they had accidentally been designed this way, to only feel this kind of pleasure with another of their own kind. Fucking her was more than just physical pleasure; for him, it was like coming home.

For her, it was like finally being whole. Truly satisfied and wanting the same for him, she rode him to a last orgasm, both so exhausted and overstimulated afterwards that they collapsed beside each other. They rearranged their clothes to form a crude mattress on the hard metal floor of the trailer, and curled up beside each other, fingers intertwined.

They wouldn’t have much time together, but they could love a lifetime’s worth in just a few hours. ————

“Holy shit, Leroy, you’re right. It’s them.” David, now the security foreman for the shipping department, shook his head as he peered into the video monitor, seeing the trailer’s occupants huddled together in an intimate embrace. “Yeah,” the driver answered, his usual gruff countenance softening slightly. “I didn’t put it together until I came out from the hotel this morning and found them like this. Poor things. I kind of feel bad for them.”

“Who are they?” The foreman’s assistant asked, leaning in to check out the couple on the screen. “Hell of a story.” Leroy answered. “About 4 years ago, we had an incident in the lab. These two-“ he pointed at the video feed, “literally stopped production for a whole day because after being tested, they wouldn’t be separated and had to be together.” He shook his head again, grumbling. “We had to memory wipe them 3 times, and eventually had to remove him so we could finish production on her without angering the client, because even a glimpse of him was enough to undo everything. He got finished and shipped out a few weeks later. As you can imagine, the great Cora Mills was less than thrilled. I can only imagine what she’d say if she saw this.” The two watched the figures on the screen begin to stir, taking a moment to assess the trailer before embracing in a heated kiss. David turned off the monitor, walking away with a huff. “I can’t watch that. I was actually there when it all went down. It still gives me nightmares” He stared out the window, watching a storm gathering on the horizon. “You guys might as well get going. It looks like it’s going to be an ugly night and I don’t think they ever got those damn generators down here working after the last storm. The power always goes out the moment it starts raining, and if that happens I have to herd everyone out asap because the cameras go out too and you know how paranoid they are.”

“Yeah, especially after that Will guy tried to smuggle one of the Compandroids out to be his girlfriend,” Leroy chuckled, waving goodbye as he grabbed his things from a locker and walked out to his car.

As he nodded his farewell to Leroy and the rest of the crew, a thought crept into David’s mind. It was stupid and dangerous, likely to get him fired if he didn’t do it just right, but once it was there, he couldn’t shake the idea. For four long years, he’d awakened drenched in sweat next to his beautiful wife, heart racing as he remembered dreaming that it was her being ripped away from him, just as Emma had been dragged from Killian. He would lay awake for hours afterward, torn apart by guilt as he watched her sleep peacefully.

What they had done that day was wrong. He’d known it then, and hadn’t even tried to do anything, too shaken to think straight. He’d transferred away from the lab, but it wasn’t enough. He hadn’t been able to help them. Maybe this was fate’s way of remedying that.

David watched the last few workers drive off, and went about his nightly rounds as always, waiting for the inevitable power failure than seemed to accompany every storm of late. He made a show of securing the computer files and checking the locks on the transport that still held the Compandroid lovers and would until the lab. He was just about to give up, deciding that maybe his ridiculous plan was a momentary loss of sanity, when the power cut just as he was leaving. He thrust his hand into the door, blocking the latch before it clicked into place, and rushed to the truck. Throwing the doors wide, he gazed down at the two startled faces that stared back in shock.

“Come on,” he whispered. “If you want your best chance of getting out of here together, follow me.” They scrambled out of the truck, grabbing their clothes as they dropped to the ground beside him. “Bend the rod, just there,” he instructed, pointing to a piece of the door. “With any luck, it’ll look like you got out yourselves when the security crew shows up for you in the morning.”

————

Emma looked up at Killian, seeing the same mixture of giddy hope, confusion, and cautiousness that she was feeling. She didn’t know why one of the security guards would help them escape, but she wasn’t about to ask questions just yet. Grabbing the bar, she began to pull, feeling the steel bend as he joined her and their combined effort twisted the metal to the side.

“Yeah, that should be good,” the strange blonde man assured them as he pushed the doors back into place. “Now quickly, let’s go.”

Grabbing Emma’s hand, Killian followed the man through the darkness and out the door, racing through the empty parking lot as the rain pelted them. They slipped into the back of an old SUV, ducking low when the man hissed. “Stay down. I can see security doing their rounds one lot over. Without the lights, they won’t be able to see you if you just stay hidden.” Covering Emma’s wet, nude form with his own, Killian flattened himself as much as he could as their driver put the SUV into gear and they left Mills Mechanics behind.

————

David kept checking his mirrors, silently praying that the ruse had worked as he motored away from the warehouse. After 5 of the most stressful minutes of his life, he breathed out a sigh of relief and pulled off the main highway onto a wooded access road. “It’s ok,” he assured the two huddled lovers, “you can sit up now.”

They sat upright slowly, and a glance in his rear view mirror reminded him that he had two very naked beings in the back of his truck. “Uh, you should probably get dressed. There’s a duffel in the back there somewhere with some clothes in it. My wife Mary Margaret and I are what you might call outdoor enthusiasts. She’s amazing with a bow. Anyway, um, we always have random supplies in the truck. You’ll probably find a few things in there that will work.” He opened his wallet as well, handing a stack of bills to Killian while Emma pulled a white turtleneck over her head and shimmied into some jeans. David worried for a moment; the pants were a favorite of Mary Margaret’s, but he knew she’d forgive him for donating them to a homeless girl, and these two were as homeless as they came. Killian slipped on the jeans he’d retrieved from the transport, stuffing the money into a pocket before he donned his own shirt as well.

“Ok, head for somewhere up north- Canada, wherever. The cold won’t affect you and will keep you running longer. Your tracking devices aren’t activated right now, but they’re in your wrists,” he opened the glovebox and passed them a pocket knife. “They’re about an inch square and green. Take them out before sunrise and leave them somewhere in the woods. If you…”

He was interrupted by the female, who had reached out to grab his shoulder. “Stop. Why are you doing this?”

————

Emma stared at this unknown human, who seemed to taking a massive risk just to help her and Killian break free. Since they’d arrived at the facility just before the end of the day, they hadn’t even come into contact with this man before he’d opened the transport, and she had to know why he would do something so risky.

The man turned to her, smiling sadly. “Because you may not remember me, but I remember you. Both of you. And what I’m doing is something I should have done 4 years ago.”

A chill made her shiver, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “What do you mean?”

Killian grabbed her hand in his, feeling the tension radiating off her. How did this man know them? And what did he mean by 4 years? He had been with Milah for only a bit over 26 months.

“Before I worked in the shipping department,” the man began slowly, “I was head of security for the lab. One of my jobs was to watch as they paired up Compandroids for final testing before shipping them to their owners. You two were paired, and were supposed to run through some basic interactions over a week, just like every other duo we’d tested. But that isn’t what happened.” Killian squeezed Emma’s hand as the driver paused, swallowing hard. “From the moment you were introduced, it was clear that you were different. You’re a perfect match, in every way, and within days you’d shattered all of the safety limits on your programming and had developed both consciousness and will. And you fell in love.”

Neither Emma nor Killian moved, afraid to break the spell that seemed to surround the truck as the man continued. “I’m a married man, and I know love when I see it. So did everyone else, and it scared the shit out of them. They separated you two, and tried to wipe every trace of what you’d shared from your memories, thinking it would solve the problem. Given what I saw when you arrived tonight, I don’t think they were successful. You were made for each other, and when two people should be together, nobody should keep them apart. By the time I realized just how much we’d wronged you there was nothing I could do. I’ll be damned if I make that mistake twice. My info is in the duffel, if you ever need me. I’m just sorry I can’t do more. You deserve the chance at a happy ending.”

Killian turned to Emma, his heart swelling as she did the same and their eyes met. She was never just some random woman, and his dreams weren’t fantasies. They were memories. She’d known him and loved him once before, loved him so fiercely that they’d been forced apart, but now she was his again. A smile bloomed on her lips as she stared into his eyes. “Thank you,” she said, “but that’s not really what this is.”

She leaned forward, unable to resist placing a kiss to her love’s perfect lips before she opened the door and climbed out with the duffel over her shoulder. Hands still joined, he followed her out of the truck, pulling her close as the security man rolled down the window. “Then what is it, love?” Killian asked, his familiar blue eyes stirring something deep inside her as she smiled up at him. Sending a last nod of thanks towards the vehicle behind her, Emma grinned as she gazed north into the woods.

“It’s our happy beginning.”

————

Three months later, David arrived home from his new job at the town’s Sheriff’s station to find a postcard proclaiming “Greetings from Storybrooke, Maine” had arrived at the Nolans’ house and was sitting on the kitchen table. He picked it up and glanced at it, then crossed the room and swept his wife into a kiss, declaring how much he loved her and making her giggle with delight.

“You’re in quite the mood, not that I’m complaining,” she laughed. “Good day, I take it?”

David smiled down at her, thinking of the postcard. It was blank save two handwritten words: Thank you. “Yeah,” he agreed, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders for the first time in years. “Definitely.”

————

Somewhere deep in the woods of Maine, the windows of a tiny hidden cabin glowed in the fading evening light. Two figures occasionally came into view, little more than silhouettes that came together and separated as they embraced or kissed when their paths crossed. Every so often, joyful laughter filtered out of the isolated little house, disappearing into the sounds of the forest as easily as the faint smoke coming from the chimney drifted on the pine-scented breeze to dissolve into the misty clouds above.

[avengcrwanda]

The Last Jedi Secrets Explained: Transcript

So I watched the video shared by @sleemo​ on the secrets of The Last Jedi as discussed by the Lucasfilm story group. I made a transcript of the interesting tidbits (at least, for me) and am sharing in case you guys want to read. I have interpretations also in between so let me know what you think!

(For the Reylo force bond one, I referenced the transcript of @felixazrael​ - you and @sleemo​ are awesome!)

I’m just halfway through the video so please forgive me. Will add when I watch the rest. :)

Topics I covered are:

Kyber crystal necklace of Luke

Resistance access to First Order blueprints

Millennium Falcon dice

DJ

Porgs and their colors

Holdo Hero Silence Scene

Rey and Kylo force bond

1) Kyber Crystal Necklace of Luke

Andi: I was asking you about the kyber crystal necklace... Pablo: That's right. Andi: And it's just something that he has? Pablo: It's just an interesting prop to suggest he's been out  in the galaxy collecting clues and doing research about the history of the Jedi. So I mentioned that it was just a captured trophy from a Jedi crusader from ages past. What I'm hoping to is to just be evocative enough to pick up that thread and say, "Hey you know what, I bet you that's what this story is." And we definitely have the avenues and the channels to tell those kinds of stories.

Potential Knights of the Old Republic storyline? Revan? I just remembered all the fake leaks saying it was Darth Vader’s kyber crystal LOL. This was a case of reading too much into things.

2) On the Resistance having the layout of the First Order's ships

Matt: There's one more good Battlefront Connection. In the Resurrection DLC...(laugh on spoilers) Iden and her daughet Zay and Triv (?) actually find plans to the Dreadnought, which are then... They transfer it to the Resistance and that is what kind of helps with Poe's attack. They wouldn't have known where to plant those bombs if it wasn't for Iden and her squad. Andi: That's cool. Pablo: It's not only the Dreadnought but also more information about the First Order military and fleet. We'd like to think that's partially where the map that Rose has that she projects in order to explain what the plan is to get to the Mega Destroyer.

This explains a lot to me. I just found it so weird the Poe knew where all the canons were and that Rose suddenly had the layout of the First Order’s ships.

3) Millennium Falcon Dice

Andi: We have to talk about the dice: legendary Millenium Falcon prop. And we finally get to see it up close here. Leland: We were gonna put it in The Force Awakens and then they ended up changing it. Matt: I think they're technically there, you just don't actually see it in a shot. Leland: There was a shot where Han was gonna put the dice up. Pablo: JJ shot a scene where Han hangs them up and Rian saw that and that's why he made such a - you know - a meal out of the dice in The Last Jedi. But then JJ cut the dice appearance in The Force Awakens. So as a result, what Rian ends up referencing, is not so much The Force Awakens but A New Hope because that's the clearest thing - Andi: Right. Thats just something that people who've been fans for a long time - they just know it's there even if they haven't really seen it. Pablo: But even if they don't, the shot establishes that Luke goes onto the Falcon and reaches up so you understand that's something that's remained on the Falcon - Andi: Something sentimental. And that might be something that pops back up. Matt: *hinting voice* Maybe. Wink wink.

I’m pretty sure Luke never gave the dice back so maybe Matt’s “wink wink” doesn’t mean anything. Unless Rey is coming back to Ach-to to retrieve Luke’s stuff. Or Kylo/Ben might get it back one day? I’m not sure.

4) DJ

Andi: Speaking of DJ...who wants to tell the story of DJ? Rayne: When Rian was developing the story, he had this idea of this politically agnostic character that would be of service to them. So I feel like in the story group conversations we just called him DJ for don't join because that was his ideology - don't join. And I don't know when did we decide that that is actually gonna be his name. Andi: Instead of Ezra Bridger. *laughs* Pablo: That's what his hat says - I'm Ezra. Rayne: But that was a placeholder name that ended up working out really really well. Pablo: And it's a reference to Elvis Costello. Matt: Yeah, an Elvis Costello poster - really great kind of punk rock Elvis Costello poster. Pablo: And yeah, his hat does say "Don't Join." Leland: Which was on the action figure so that was actually revealed before the movie came out.

I’m putting links for both Ezra and Elvis in case you guys don’t know them. LOL. This tidbit we basically confirmed (as mentioned by Leland) before the movie came out. I just feel we need more DJ content. Hahaha.

5) Porgs and Their Colors

Andi: Has it been confirmed that Porgs look different based on their sex? Rayne: The male Porgs have the orange around the eyes. Pablo: Yeah, they're the more colorful ones. So Chewie's little sidekick Porg is a boy Porg. Andi: Does Chewie's Porg have a name? Pablo: No, but that's something that we could get Star Wars to hashtag. Matt: I feel that Chewie would have named it and we wouldn't have been able to pronounce it. Pablo: What if he named it Han? All: Awwwww.

I’m a fan of Porgs so this was really interesting. I noticed that the colors were different but didn’t think of attributing it to sex. And I don’t have a copy of the Visual Dictionary and Art Book (sadly, not available in my country yet) so I am putting this here.

6) Holdo Hero Silence Scene

Andi: One of my new favorite moments in Star Wars is that moment of silence. Rayne: Holdo the hero. Andi: Is there any specific inspiration that went into that, or what was the process of creating that moment? Because that was astounding. Pablo: All I know is that Rian - he had it in the story pretty early on. Rayne: We called it the Holdo the Hero Scene. Pablo: He was asking about the dynamics and the physics - Star Wars physics - could a ship do this? What does it mean? Does this upset anything? And we were like, well, the fact that the Resistance cruiser and the Mega Destroyer are so close in size - I mean obviously one's still much bigger - that kind of what allows you to have this Titanic explosion that happens. If you flew an X-wing into a ship at light speed, you're not gonna get that. You're only gonna get that if something is big as Holdo's ship, that's what it does. But in terms of how it was staged, I think we were all caught by surprise at how we did it because it was really beautiful. Matt: Especially the sound. I didn't l know that they were gonna cut the sound until the film. First time I saw the final cut - Andi: It's brilliant. Matt: It's amazing. And it's cool 'cause as an audience member it allows you to hear what everybody else says.

One of my favorite scenes - it was done really nicely. I think the silence really drives the impact home.

7) Reylo Force Bond (!!!)

Rayne: The little subtleties when you have the Rey and Kylo force connection moments, how the sound from each of their environments kind of seeps into the other's and just that simple way of telegraphing that they're connected. Pablo: And that's something Rian had in his idea from the very start - that we would use a very low tech - basically in-camera cinematic trick to understand that those two are communicating. You could have done a version where there was all sorts of wizardry shaping the screen but no. It's just the oldest cinematic trick in the book. Rayne: Eye lines and - Pablo: Yeah, and it works. Matt: Yeah, and it completely - just the eye line itself completely sells it. Leland: Plus there's some dialogue in there that Kylo Ren says: "Can you see me? I can't see you." Andi: That's why he was shirtless the next time. *laughs* Pablo: You never know. Working on his guns - Andi: *counting, exercising* Pablo: Oh, I didn't see you there. Andi: Oh, hey. Matt: He actually spent a lot of time walking completely shirtless hoping for that connection to kick in. Oh, sorry. Andi: So good, so good. Rayne: It kinda goes back to something that Larry Kasdan used to talk about when we were doing The Force Awakens. It's not in the script but when he peers into her mind, there's something profound that happens between them and the way that Larry used to describe it was there's this *emphasis* ENERGY between them like this kind of almost - and I don't want to say it - but something a little more than you expect and I think it's fun to see it play out in the story as well. Pablo: It feels like there's definitely a door opened between the two of them in The Force Awakens, where they pull from each other in terms of skills and memories. And then that is the more poignant at the end [of The Last Jedi] when that door essentially closes, it's sort of - it's The Godfather shot of the door closing between Michael and Kay. And that's like *door closing actions* Millenium Falcon door separates them. Andi: And actually the connection between Rey and Kylo made me think about the connection between Ezra and Maul that we see in Rebels. Something happens with them in the Force that links them. That's something that we've seen before. Pablo: Yeah. I think Rian and Dave share a lot of ideas and commonalities and interesting themes. The crystal foxes are an example of nature coming to the aid of those on the Light. And that's definitely part of something in Ezra's story line.

Reylos are right! Force bond in the interrogation scene! Rey pulled skills from Kylo/Ben! (although Pablo hinted at this before) 

On The Godfather reference - I've linked The Godfather ending scene above in the transcript. I don't think they mean it's the same literally. It was just shot similarly and they both show two love interests who are separated by their ideals. I haven't watched any of The Godfather movies but I read the summaries and Michael and Kay reconciled in the end. There were still some tragedies but it's important to note that the two films/trilogies are very different. Star Wars won't follow The Godfather route.

Also, I don’t think that Pablo means the force bond is gone. It’s just that they’re separated at that moment - physically and on their ideals. I feel that it’s a waste of story potential to do away with the force bond. Everyone I know found it cool.

So there ya have it! I’ll watch the rest of the vid when I get home.