#weird effect where i look at these and think “wow these are way off” but then i'll have been looking too long and think “this is great!”

[yo-yo-yoshiko]

Yeah this guy again sure

[fumiscripts]

✦ DRAW ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR FRENCH GIRLS

✦ one shot ,, michael kaiser x gn!reader

✦ content:: you're an artist, michael is your muse. plot twist: you hate his guts, but he's still too pretty not to draw

crack/fluff, 936 words

additional:: reader and kaiser have confused feelings towards each other, very little swearing, reader threatens to draw kaiser pregnant, insulting and teasing as a love language, might be a little off character maybe, slight suggestive joke, this dialogue came to me in a vision

This is so unfair. Why did he have to be so insanely ethereal?

You hate Michael Kaiser. Everything about him ticks you off. From his egoistic personality to his cocky demeanor. You wanted to kick a ball to his unfortunately pretty face. The same face which you've been sketching in your book. Over and over again. You couldn't stop drawing him. It's becoming a problem for you, and him teasing you for it was not helping.

Well, in your mind, he didn't have the right to be drawn by you. Yeah, his hair frames his features perfectly, and each curve and slope of his face looks sculpted like some Greek statue, and his eyes are the most mesmerizing shade of blue— damn, you really loathe the way you think about him like this.

He doesn't even deserve each stroke and line that you put on paper. All that work could've been put into drawing something more interesting. Like a random apple. Anything but him.

You really disliked that he was your muse.

It was the nth time where you etched another portrait of the blond into your sketchbook. You've lost count of how many pieces you've drawn of him, at this point. Your eyes flicker between the paper and him, catching every detail and immortalizing it to paper, your other hand propped up on the table and holding your head. Kaiser, himself, was sitting on a seat across from you, reading another of those books you never bothered to learn the titles of.

He was staying still— much to your convenience— and, surprisingly, not being talkative, at the moment— also much to your convenience. You much prefer the peaceful quiet over the usual bantering that stems from him rilling you up with out-of-pocket remarks, and you retorting back despite being aware of this.

The while of being able to peacefully do your thing didn't last, like you hoped. Once he noticed what you were doing, he was back on your ass to be a mocking bitch about it.

“Drawing me again? How obsessed are you?” Kaiser mused, staring at where the lead of the pencil met paper. You stared at him, pausing with your sketch as you deadpan, internally planning how to hide the body within the lounge after you manifest a meteorite falling on him. You were definitely not looking at him for another reason. Gosh, he's so gorgeous, you can't stand breathing the same air as him.

You tear your gaze away, landing back on the textured parchment beneath your hand. “You're easy to draw,” you snarkily reply. And you mean that in an insulting way. “I bet I can sketch you with three lines— that's how plain you are,” you added, just to make sure he doesn't use some loophole and claim that you don't find it difficult because of memorizing every detail of his by heart.

This earned a sneer from Kaiser, who placed his head on his intertwined fingers in a display of boredom. “Wow, so cruel,” he trails off, making a show with obviously feigning hurt. The blond sighs for a cherry on top, before going on. “Aren't you supposed to be nice to your muse?” Kaiser taunted, grinning.

“Shut up, before I draw you pregnant,” you state, a weird threat, but it was effective enough to make him do a double take. Though, it also resulted in him looking at you as if there was something wrong with your brain chemistry— like you were some failed attempt at making an intelligent creature— so perhaps it wasn't that effective in terms of threatening him. Whatever. You weren't really serious about it… maybe.

Kaiser was quick to recover from that off-putting statement of yours. “You sure do have weird fantasies about me,” he remarked, leaning back on his chair like he did something amazing, because to him, he just said something worthy to be written down as a quote.

You looked at him with a straight, blank face. Unlike how you did while sketching intricate lines that detailed his face. All that non-expression just to prove a point that, no, you didn't fantasize about him. “You wish,” you turned that idea down.

Now that those azure eyes were on you, going back to drawing would be an awkward choice. So, you shift your full attention to him.

Only because he was entertaining. Not because you want him, or anything.

“Mhm, keep denying it,” he says, his tone a little cocky, like he believed you were really dreaming about him. Oh, how you'd love to wipe that smug look off his face. “You want me so bad.”

“Nuh uh,” you reply, before adding something in order to have more chances in one-upping him in this argument. “Are you sure it's not the other way around? You sure are persistent,” this led to him tilting his head, a bit amused as you continued. “Maybe you're the one who wants me.”

Kaiser chuckles, sighing softly. “Yeah, right. I'm not the one filling sketchbooks with drawings of the other,” he retorted, running a hand through his hair, like he always does whenever he has nothing to do. “What, you gonna draw me like one of your french girls next?” he joked, raising an eyebrow.

You stared at him as he jested, blinking once, twice, before cringing. “Hell, no,” you bluntly rejected. You knew what he meant, and you wished you weren't able to understand the reference— you regretted being able to comprehend words and sentences.

He laughed at your reaction, finding entertainment in it.

So you fished out your phone, searching up mpreg references.

(a/n):: I was giggling while writing this

taglist:: @shrii-kk, @tired-xyra-urstruly, @fishii28, @yui2aku,

© fumiscripts 2024. don't steal, repost, translate or modify my works without my permission.

[supernatural-bias]

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

↳ notes: lars content yay! as far as i can tell, i'm one of the few to do anything on him, so i hope there's more than ten people out there interested in him

↳ warnings: none

↳ song: she blinded me with science—thomas dolby

masterlist | commissions | carrd

• This guy is a snacker

• Take one look at him. You can't tell me that he doesn't constantly skip out on meals in favor of research, usually just pulling a granola bar or stained tupperware from his desk drawer to eat while he works

• Don't get me wrong, Lars can still devour a good bit of food. Sometimes you like to make fun of him for how much good he'll get on his face in the process

• "You're looking at me weird." He frowned at you one day from behind the rims of his glasses

• "Uh, yeah. Wonder why." You grin with mild surprise, watching as leftover rice and beans from the burrito in his hands stuck to the corners of his mouth like glue. He was quick to wipe it all off, ignoring you as you laughed at him

• Aside from that, Lars usually keeps his workplace pretty clean. It's cluttered, sure, but you don't think you've ever seen him wonder where something went. He just always knew where things were. It was like he had a system in his head, and the more you thought about it, the more you decided he definitely did

• The one time someone had even tried to clean his place up, you watched as he immediately jumped in, convincing them that they were needed elsewhere and sending them off before they could mess with his set-up

• Often times, when it's just the two of you alone in the offsight lab, you'll bounce a tennis ball off the wall while Lars types away, only ever looking up to squint at you when the ball gets to close to his head

• "You should really give that to the possesor. I'm sure it'd appreciate it." He hums to you at one point while spinning around in his chair to reach something. Behind you, you hear the unmistakable sound of a metal chair tapping excitedly on glass, and you make a tsking noise

• "Pretty sure you just want me to stop distracting you with my awesome skills." You boast, attempting to do a trickshot only to smack Lars in the back. He glares at you, and you inch backward with a nervous chuckle

• "You know what, I think I'll give it to the possesor."

• "What a brilliant idea." Lars says monotonely. You were quick to get rid of the ball

• He hums while he works!

• It's not anything discernable. In fact, most of the time he isn't even singing real songs. Just little tunes he'll make up on the spot for himself; often as a way to pass the time and make minute tasks fly by

• You notice it quite a lot, but don't really say anything. It's quite entertaining, if you're being truthful

• "Sittin' and waitin' for food. Sittin' and waitin' for food.." He'd improvised once while waiting yet again for a t.v dinner of his to finish its cycle in the labs shared microwave

• "Wow Lars. Voice of an angel, you have."

• "Stuff it."

• Lars doesn't often need help with his work, there's a reason he landed the job after all, but when he does, you're always the first person he goes to. It's a side effect of having spent so much time with you at work, and even outside of it—if you counted lunch breaks and independent experiments as a non-work environment

• He likes being able to get a fresh set of eyes on whatever's stumping him, and it usually doesn't take long for the two of you to work around whatever was holding him up

• Overall, you couldn't think of a better friend/co-worker to have, and the same applies for Lars. Your relationship will only strengthen as time goes on, even withstanding the bizzar experiences that Garraka eventually brings later that year

• But that's for much later. Right now, the two of you are content to sit in the aquarium-turned-headquarters, watching as the hours ticked by without a care in the world

[gardenladysworld]

Starbound hearts

Status: I'm working on it

Pairings: Neteyam x human!f!reader

Aged up characters!

Genre/Warnings: fluff, slow burn, oblivious characters, light angst, hurt/comfort, pining

Summary: In the breathtaking, untamed beauty of Pandora, two souls from different worlds find themselves drawn together against all odds. Neteyam, the dutiful future olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya clan, is bound by the expectations of his people and the traditions of his ancestors. She, a human scientist with a love for Pandora’s wonders, sees herself as an outsider, unworthy of the connection she craves.

Tags: @nerdylawyerbanditprofessor-blog, @ratchetprime211, @poppyseed1031, @redflashoftheleaf, @nikipuppeteer@eliankm, @quintessences0posts, @minjianhyung @bkell2929

Part 19: To carry

Part 20: To suffer

The morning air was crisp, carrying the lingering scent of damp earth and vegetation as you crouched beside one of the large growing containers outside the outpost. The artificial sunlight panels above hummed softly, casting a warm glow over the rows of Pandoran plants that had been carefully cultivated in controlled conditions.

Kate was kneeling beside you, fingers gently brushing the bioluminescent leaves of a newly sprouted specimen, her datapad balanced on one knee. Brian stood nearby, arms crossed as he squinted at another batch of samples, muttering under his breath.

“These are growing way faster than I expected,” you mused, running a gloved hand along the delicate fronds of one plant. “We adjusted the nutrient mix last week, right?”

Kate nodded, clicking the end of her stylus against the glass of her mask. “Yeah, but I didn’t think it would have this much of an effect. Look at the root system—completely different from the control group inside.”

Brian snorted, nudging the edge of a container with his boot. “Probably because they like it out here better. I mean, who wouldn’t? Stuck inside that sterile lab or out here in fresh air, under actual sunlight.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Brian, they’re plants. They don’t have personal preferences.”

Brian shrugged. “You say that, but I’ve seen enough weird shit on Pandora to believe these things have opinions.” He gestured at a vine creeping up the side of one container. “Like that one. It was barely a sprout last week, and now it’s trying to escape.”

You snickered, tapping a few notes into your datapad. “Maybe it heard you talking and decided to make a run for it.”

Kate laughed. “Yeah, that checks out. Brian does have that effect on people.”

Brian gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “Wow. Betrayed by my own team.”

You grinned, leaning back on your heels. “If it helps, I think the plants tolerate you.”

Brian sighed. “I’ll take what I can get.”

For a while, the three of you fell into an easy rhythm—checking growth rates, documenting leaf pigmentation changes, and comparing data with previous readings. The work was familiar, grounding, a welcome distraction from the weight of everything else in your life. Until Kate casually dropped, “So. Last night was fun.”

You hummed in agreement, not looking up from your datapad. “Yeah, these samples are doing great.”

Kate snorted. “Oh, no, I wasn’t talking about the plants.”

You glanced up, catching the glint in her eye, and immediately felt a sense of impending doom. Brian crossed his arms, shaking his head with a long-suffering sigh.

“Oh, she doesn’t know,” he said, voice dripping with exaggerated tragedy. “Poor thing. Completely oblivious.”

You frowned. “Don’t know what?”

Kate placed a hand over her heart. “While you were off frolicking in the village with a certain warrior—”

Brian cut in, voice grave. “—we were fighting for our lives.”

You blinked, confused. “What?”

Kate sighed heavily, as if recounting a harrowing tale of survival. “The power grid had a massive failure. Outpost systems glitched so hard that the air filtration went down for an hour. An hour, where we had to wear exo-masks inside. Inside, like a bunch of stranded idiots in a tin can.”

Brian groaned. “Do you know how stuffy it gets in there when the ventilation cuts out even with masks? It was like slow suffocation.”

Kate clutched Brian’s arm dramatically. “We barely made it.”

Brian nodded solemnly. “Norm had to manually override half the systems to get them back online. Max looked like he was five seconds from a nervous breakdown. People were panicking.”

You stared at them, your brain slowly catching up. “Wait, seriously? The air system actually failed?”

Brian threw his hands up. “YES.”

Kate narrowed her eyes at you. “And where were you while we were suffering, hmm?”

The pieces clicked together, and warmth immediately crawled up your neck. “Oh, come on—”

“Oh, no, no,” Kate interrupted, pointing an accusing finger. “Don’t you dare try to act innocent.”

Brian scoffed. “She wasn’t just ‘in the village.’” He made air quotes, giving you a pointed look. “She was in Neteyam’s kelku. The brand new one he built with his own two hands. Probably wrapped up in some stupidly romantic nonsense while we were gasping for air like dying fish.”

Kate groaned. “God, it’s so unfair. We were in full-on survival mode, and she was—”

Brian cut in, raising his voice. “Oh, Neteyam, take me in your strong warrior arms!” He clutched his own chest in mock swoon.

Kate joined in with an exaggerated breathy voice. “Oh, ma yawntutsyìp, I’ll keep you safe in my big, muscular Na’vi embrace!”

Brian fake-gasped. “Oh, mighty warrior, you’re just so big—”

You wheezed with laughter, shaking your head. “Oh, fuck you two.”

Kate wasn’t done. “Meanwhile, we were actively perishing, and she was probably getting dicked down into the next plane of existence.”

Brian nodded sagely. “It’s true. We were barely hanging on, and she was experiencing spiritual ascension through alien dick.”

“Okay, okay! I get it.” You trying to catch your breath.

Kate smirked, raising an eyebrow. “So… you admit it?”

You gave them both an exasperated look behind your glinting exo-mask, but the smirk pulling at your lips gave you away. “I’m not denying anything.”

Brian groaned. “Unbelievable. We suffered. Suffered. And you—”

Kate gasped suddenly, grabbing Brian’s arm. “Brian, what if she was the reason the outpost almost died?”

Brian’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Of course! It all makes sense now!” He turned to you, shaking his head. “You must have broken some kind of Eywa rule. She was like, ‘oh, you wanna spend the night with the olo’eyktan’s son? Boom. Power outage. Choke on CO₂, humans.’”

Kate nodded solemnly. “It was divine punishment.”

You threw your hands up, still laughing. “Alright, that’s it. You both deserve to suffer.”

Brian placed a hand on his chest. “The betrayal. After everything we’ve been through.”

Kate wiped a fake tear as she swiped the glass of her mask. “We risked our lives, and she doesn’t even care.”

You snorted. “Norm let me stay in the village! It’s not my fault the outpost almost killed you all while I was gone!”

Brian huffed. “I’m just saying. Suspicious timing.”

Kate smirked. “Very suspicious.”

You shook your head, still grinning as you turned back to the plant samples. “You two are the worst.”

The morning sun was rising higher now, casting soft golden light over the outpost’s growing containers. The three of you had settled into a comfortable rhythm again, carefully checking the plant samples and logging observations, though the teasing hadn’t completely died down.

Brian was frowning at a particularly stubborn vine that had wrapped itself around the edge of a container, pulling at it like it had personally wronged him. “This thing’s got a death grip,” he muttered, wrestling with it. “I swear, everything on Pandora either wants to kill you or claim territory.”

Kate smirked. “Well, that’s nature for you. Survival of the fittest.”

Brian shot her a look. “Yeah? Then why is this thing trying to fight me? I’m clearly superior.”

Kate snorted. “Debatable.”

You chuckled, setting down your datapad as you inspected a leaf sample. “It’s probably reacting to environmental changes. The humidity’s been fluctuating more than usual. Maybe it’s compensating by clinging to something solid.”

Kate hummed thoughtfully. “That does sound like a logical explanation…” Then, she gave you a sly look. “Or, maybe it’s just possessive. Like a certain warrior we all know.”

You froze for a split second before sighing. “Kate.”

Brian perked up instantly. “Ohh, we’re back to that conversation, huh?” He tossed the stubborn vine aside, suddenly much more invested in what Kate had to say.

Kate grinned. “I mean, it’s only fair. She got to spend the night in the newest, most talked-about kelku in the entire village.” She elbowed you playfully. “Soooo… how is the place?”

You blinked, momentarily thrown off. “What?”

Brian grinned, leaning against one of the larger growing containers. “Oh, don’t play dumb. You know exactly what we’re talking about.”

Kate smirked. “Neteyam’s kelku.”

Your stomach did a little flip—whether from nerves or excitement, you weren’t sure. You should have known this was coming. Of course they were going to ask.

Kate rested her chin in her palm, watching you with amusement. “Sooo? How was it?”

You focused very hard on documenting one of the plant readings, pretending like your face wasn’t getting warmer. “It’s nice,” you said casually.

Brian scoffed. “Oh, come on. That’s it? ‘It’s nice’?” He gestured wildly. “The man spent weeks building the damn thing, and all you’ve got is ‘it’s nice’?”

Kate sighed dramatically. “Disappointing. Truly.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at your lips. “What do you want me to say?”

Kate grinned. “Uh, everything? Details, woman!”

You exhaled through your nose, shaking your head. “Fine. It’s… beautiful.” Your voice softened slightly as you thought about it, the image of Neteyam’s home still fresh in your mind. “It’s in the upper levels of the trees, close enough to the village but still secluded. The main structure is woven from thick branches and vines, reinforced with thatched roofing—sturdy but open, so there’s plenty of light. And at night, the bioluminescent plants make it look like it’s glowing from the inside.”

Kate let out a dreamy sigh. “That sounds so much better than this metal shoebox we live in.”

Brian nodded. “Honestly, jealous. Dude really built himself a whole nature penthouse.”

You laughed as you started to revive the last night. “Yeah, pretty much. He even made sure there was a spot for his ikran to land nearby if he needed.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “A private ikran parking spot? Fancy.”

You exhaled, coming back to the present, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Oh and he was definitely nervous,” you admitted. “Kept watching me like he was waiting for me to say something bad.”

Brian snorted. “As if that’s even possible. What, were you gonna be like, ‘ugh, Neteyam, what an ugly handcrafted home you built with your bare hands’?”

Kate laughed. “Exactly. Like, what was he expecting? A bad Yelp review?”

You shook your head, chuckling. “I don’t know. But when I told him it was beautiful, you should’ve seen the way his ears perked up. He looked so relieved.”

Brian snickered. “Man was literally on edge waiting for approval from his tiny human girlfriend.”

Kate waggled her eyebrows. “Aww, our big strong warrior just wants your approval.”

You shrugged, feeling a fond warmth spread through your chest. “I guess.” You smiled, shifting slightly. “And, uh… he also made some adjustments to certain areas. You know… for me.”

There was a brief silence before both Kate and Brian snapped their attention to you, eyes wide with instant realization.

“Oh my God,” Kate gasped.

Brian’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying…?”

You hesitated, then shrugged. “I mean, he made sure some of the ledges weren’t too high, added extra footholds on the climb up, and even adjusted the hammock ties so I wouldn’t have to jump to reach them.” You tilted your head. “I didn’t really notice at first, but… yeah. He definitely considered my height when building it.”

Kate let out a high-pitched sound that could only be described as pure delight. “You adorable, stupid little human.”

Brian pointed at you like he’d just cracked a major conspiracy. “He built his house with you in mind. You.”

Kate threw her hands up. “That’s, like, peak mate behavior!”

Your stomach twisted at that, though you weren’t sure if it was panic or something softer, something that made your chest feel too full. Because, really, they weren’t wrong. Na’vi didn’t build separate homes unless they were preparing for the next stage of life. Neteyam had never had his own kelku before, not even after passing his rites. He had stayed with his family, partly because of his siblings and partly because of duty. But after his argument with Jake one month ago, he had decided to step away. And in the Omatikaya’s world, that decision meant one thing:

He was ready to choose his mate.

Your throat tightened. No one in the clan knew about the two of you, save for his siblings. And yet, when he had woven his new home together, he had instinctively accounted for you. Your size. Your comfort. Like it had been second nature to him.

Kate must have caught the look on your face because she groaned loudly. “Oh no. I see that overthinking expression. I see it.”

Brian sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. “God, here we go. She’s spiraling.”

Kate mimicked your voice, making an exaggerated face of deep contemplation. “‘But what does it mean? Does he actually want to be with me? Or is this just, like, a coincidence? Does he even like me—’”

“Kate,” you hissed, smacking her arm as she burst into laughter.

Brian joined in, shaking his head as looking at Kate. “I bet she spent half the night just staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out if this was a symbolic gesture or not.”

You opened your mouth to argue—then immediately closed it because, well… they weren’t wrong.

Kate clapped her hands together. “See? I knew it!”

You sighed in defeat, rubbing a hand over your face. “Look, I know I’m overthinking it, okay? It’s just… it’s a big deal. And I don’t want to assume—”

Brian cut you off, deadpan. “Oh my god, just assume.”

Kate nodded. “Right? The man built a house. For himself, yes, but also for you. I mean, who do you think he imagined living there with him? His ikran?”

Kate grabbed Brian’s arm. “Brian, I’m going to scream.”

Brian put a hand over his heart. “I—Kate, I’m actually feeling a little emotional.”

Kate whirled on you, her eyes wide. “He customized his kelku for you.”

You buried your face in your hands. “Stop.”

Brian exhaled, shaking his head. “Damn. Imagine a guy literally restructuring his home to fit you. Couldn’t be me.”

Kate smacked his arm. “Because no one wants to live with you, Brian.”

You peeked at them through your fingers, laughing despite yourself. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

Kate gasped. “Not that big of a—oh, my Eywa, this girl.” She turned to Brian. “She’s too far gone.”

Brian nodded solemnly. “Hopeless.”

Kate groaned. “He’s literally nesting for you, and you’re just sitting here like, ‘oh, no big deal, just my giant blue alien boyfriend building us a love nest in the sky.’”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t stop smiling.

Kate squinted at you. “What else?”

You hesitated again, the warmth in your chest spreading. “He… picked the softest pelts for the bed. For me—so I wouldn’t get cold at night.”

Kate grabbed Brian’s shoulder and shook him. “I’m going feral.”

Brian rubbed his temple. “Yeah, okay, even I gotta admit—that’s some husband behavior.”

Kate pointed at you. “Girl, you are so married already.”

You groaned, shaking your head. “We aren’t married.”

Kate scoffed. “Yet.”

Brian grinned. “This man’s literally out here setting up your future home while the whole clan still thinks he’s single.”

Kate crossed her arms. “Honestly? Power move.”

You sighed, leaning back on your hands. “I knew you two would be like this.”

Kate smirked. “Oh, don’t act all exasperated—you love it.”

You rolled your eyes. “Not as much as I love watching you two overreact to everything.”

Brian grinned. “Hey, it’s not overreacting when it’s true.”

Kate sighed dramatically. “Our little human is being courted and still refuses to admit how insanely cute it is.”

You shook your head, but warmth still lingered in your chest. Because, deep down, you knew they were right. Neteyam had built his kelku for himself. But, in so many ways, he had built it for you, too. Kate nudged you again, grinning. “So. When’s the housewarming party?”

Brian laughed. “Yeah, when do we get a tour?”

You snorted. “Never. You two would never leave.”

Kate gasped. “How dare you?”

Brian shook his head. “Unbelievable. We cheer you on, support your forbidden intergalactic romance, and this is the thanks we get?”

Kate crossed her arms. “See if we ever cover for you again.”

The conversation was still brimming with teasing laughter when Brian suddenly perked up, as if a thought had just struck him. “Oh! Speaking of big, important things happening—did you hear about a new Venture Star that just arrived?”

Kate’s eyes lit up. “Oh, hell yes I did.” She turned to you, practically vibrating with excitement. “We’ve got a fresh shipment in orbit, baby! New supplies, new equipment, maybe—” she wiggled her eyebrows dramatically “—some actual food that doesn’t taste like chalk.”

Brian groaned, stretching his arms behind his head. “Finally. I am so sick of those flavorless ration packs. One year of waiting for a resupply, and if I have to eat one more ‘nutrient-dense, efficiency-optimized’ protein bar, I’m gonna lose it.”

You snorted. “Oh, please. You’re acting like it’s Christmas. It’s just a supply ship.”

Kate shot him a look. “Are you kidding? It’s been six years since this shipment left Earth. That means everything on board is practically ancient history, but it’s new to us.”

You smirked, amused by their enthusiasm. The Venture Star was a marvel of human engineering—a massive interstellar vehicle that ran supply loops between Earth and Pandora, ensuring Pandora remained connected to the homeworld. The trip took six years one way, meaning that whatever had been packed on board had been sealed away for just as long. It wasn’t the first time a Venture Star had arrived since you’d been here, but it never failed to cause a stir among the humans.

Kate grinned. “I swear, if we get actual coffee this time, I might cry.”

Brian laughed. “Please, real coffee? In this economy? We’ll be lucky if we get the same freeze-dried sludge they sent last time.”

Kate groaned. “Ugh. Don’t remind me. That stuff tastes like someone ground up despair and disappointment and stuck it in a tin.”

He smirked. “Oh, and you drank it anyway.”

“Damn right I did,” Kate admitted. “Because I have no choice.”

Brian crossed his arms. “And if we’re lucky, a Valkyrie will actually land at Hell’s Gate sometime this week with our shipment.”

You snorted softly, amused at how quickly their focus had shifted. “You two are way too excited about this.”

Kate crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. “Oh! And I swear, if there’s no real chocolate in this shipment, I will riot. Also, if they actually sent new datapads, I’m replacing mine.” She held up her current one and wiggled it in emphasis. “This thing is basically being held together by sheer willpower.”

Brian snorted. “Good luck with that. If they sent any, the higher-ups probably hoarded it already.”

Kate groaned. “Ugh, corporate greed.”

Eventually, Brian turned to you, still fired up. “Okay, and you? What are you hoping for?”

You blinked, caught off guard. Truthfully, you hadn’t really thought about what you’d want. When you first arrived on Pandora, you’d clung to anything that reminded you of Earth—real coffee, small comforts that made the transition easier. But now? The idea of waiting eagerly for six-year-old supplies didn’t hold the same appeal.

Kate, of course, immediately picked up on your hesitation. Her grin turned downright wicked.

You shrugged. “Nothing, really.”

Both Kate and Brian stared at you. “…Nothing?” Brian repeated, like he had just misheard.

Kate squinted. “Not even a small request?”

You shook your head. “I mean… I can’t really think of anything I need.”

Kate gasped. “Oh, Eywa, it’s worse than I thought.”

Brian shook his head, looking at you with exaggerated disappointment. “You’ve gone native.”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh, please.”

Kate grinned. “No, no, Brian’s right. Look at you, all humble and self-sufficient. You’re basically Na’vi now. She doesn’t have to suffer with powdered eggs and freeze-dried meat. No, no. She gets fresh yovo fruit and grilled yerik meat, probably hand-fed to her by her mighty warrior.”

Brian smirked. “Neteyam probably makes sure you don’t have to eat those god-awful ration meals.”

You snorted. “First of all, I still live at the outpost. I eat here just like I always have. It’s not like I’ve completely abandoned human food.”

Kate shrugged. “Yeah, but do you have to? Or is Neteyam just keeping you so well-fed you could live off whatever he brings you?”

You felt heat creep up your neck.

Brian’s jaw dropped. “Oh my god.” He pointed at you. “He does.”

You groaned. “I hate both of you.”

Kate smirked. “I mean, it makes sense. A Na’vi mate would never let their partner go hungry.”

Brian shook his head in mock amazement. “Woman, you are set for life.”

You shrugged, glancing up at the sky again. “I guess I’m just more interested in the people than the supplies.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “The new recruits?”

You nodded. “Right now, there are people waking up on that ship, coming out of cryo-sleep after six years. They’re getting ready to come down here, just like we did.”

That thought stuck with you—the idea that, right now, there were dozens of people groggily adjusting to consciousness, their bodies still stiff from the long journey. You had been in their shoes once, stepping out of cryo and onto a planet you had only seen through data reports and holovideo feeds. It had been overwhelming, terrifying, and exhilarating all at once.

Kate considered that for a moment. “Huh. I guess I hadn’t really thought about that.”

Brian, however, just sighed. “Well, don’t get too excited. We probably won’t even meet them.”

You frowned. “What do you mean?”

Brian gave you a look. “Come on, you know they’re sending them to Bridgehead. We’re just a tiny science outpost in the middle of nowhere. Hell’s Gate is just a landing site now—it’s not like we have room for new people.”

You hated that he was right. Bridgehead was where the real human operations were now. A massive city, heavily fortified, brimming with RDA forces and corporate infrastructure. It was where all the major personnel transfers happened, where the actual newcomers would be processed.

Here, at the outpost? There were only twenty of you. And you were already at full capacity.

Kate made a face. “Ugh. I hate that he’s right.”

Brian smirked. “I usually am.”

Kate smacked his arm. “Don’t ruin this for me.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Still, it’s kind of surreal, isn’t it? Knowing that, right now, there are people on that ship experiencing Pandora for the first time?”

Kate nodded. “Yeah… I remember what that was like. It’s weird to think we were in cryo for six years before even getting here.”

Brian groaned. “Don’t remind me. That was the worst nap of my life.”

Kate snorted. “Same. Woke up feeling like I got hit by a space truck.”

You smiled faintly, staring up at the sky one more time. Six years of travel. Six years away from everything familiar. And now, a new batch of humans was about to step foot on this moon, just like you once had. They had no idea what was waiting for them.

The storage room was a mess of crates, inventory lists, and half-packed supplies. The air was thick with the scent of old metal and sterilized packaging as you moved between the shelves, reorganizing to make enough space for tomorrow’s delivery.

Kate and Brian were working alongside you—sort of. Kate was more focused on making sarcastic comments about the state of the supply room, while Brian had taken it upon himself to dramatically announce every box he moved, as if he were performing some heroic feat.

“And here we have the last-known ration packs of the Dark Age,” Brian declared, holding up a box labeled Emergency Protein Supplies. “Careful! If you breathe near them wrong, they might turn to dust.”

Kate snorted. “Please. Those things have more preservatives than actual food.”

You smirked, adjusting a stack of storage bins. “Yeah, and yet, you two are still excited for whatever garbage food the Venture Star brings us this week.”

Brian pointed at you. “Hey, those garbage snacks are a taste of home.”

Kate huffed as she shoved a heavy container into place. “You know, for a science outpost, we sure do a lot of heavy lifting.”

Brian grunted as he hauled another crate onto a shelf. “Welcome to Pandora. Where even the nerds have to do manual labor.”

You snorted, wiping the sweat from your brow as you double-checked the inventory list. “Come on, it’s not that bad. We’ll be done soon enough.”

Kate shot you a look. “Easy for you to say. You’ve got an extra incentive to work fast—someone is probably waiting for you in the village.”

Brian smirked. “Yeah, shouldn’t you be out there enjoying your Na’vi luxury lifestyle instead of sweating with us lowly humans?”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh, shut up.”

Before they could tease you further, the sound of the airlock opening made all three of you glance up. The familiar, heavy steps of someone much taller than you echoed through the hall, and your heart skipped a beat before you even turned around.

Neteyam.

He walked toward you with that easy, confident stride of his, his golden eyes scanning the storage room before settling on you. His face softened, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he approached. Without hesitation, he crouched down in front of you, one knee on the floor, and leaned in to press a soft kiss to your lips.

When Neteyam pulled back, golden eyes flickering with quiet affection, he gave you a small, knowing smile. “Oel ngati kameie, ma’yawne.”

The warmth of it spread through you instantly, but before you could react, he pulled back slightly and murmured, “I brought you something.”

Curious, you watched as he reached into the small satchel strapped to his side and carefully placed a few delicacies on the crate beside you—fruits, nuts and some meat, things he must have gone out of his way to gather. Before you could even form a response, Kate and Brian burst into laughter.

“Oh my Eywa,” Kate wheezed, clutching her stomach. “We called it! The prophecy has been fulfilled!”

Brian grinned. “What did I say? She doesn’t even need Earth supplies—her big blue boyfriend is out here delivering fresh jungle snacks like some kind of Na’vi Uber Eats.”

You groaned, feeling your face heat up. “Would you two shut up?”

Brian pointed at Neteyam. “Dude, you literally just proved our argument from this morning. We said she doesn’t need rations because you keep her fed, and here you are, hand-delivering gourmet meals!”

Kate wiped a fake tear. “It’s beautiful, really.”

Neteyam’s ears flicked in amusement as he glanced between them, then back at you. And then, because he was a menace, he casually said, “She does not ask for these things, but…” He tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming with mischief. “I take care of what is mine.”

Kate choked.

Brian gawked. “Wait. What?”

You turned your head so fast you nearly pulled a muscle. “Neteyam!”

He blinked at you, innocent as ever. “What?”

Kate’s jaw dropped. “Did he just—? Did you just claim her in front of us?!”

Brian looked torn between horror and awe. “I don’t even know how to process this.”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “He’s joking.”

Neteyam smirked, clearly enjoying himself. “Am I?”

Kate swatted your arm. “Woman. If I were you, I’d be panicking right now.”

You shot Neteyam a glare, but he only looked amused, his tail flicking happily behind him. He totally did that on purpose. Taking a deep breath, you shook your head and focused on your actual job. “Alright, you two, enough. We have work to do.”

Kate still looked like she wanted to dissect Neteyam’s statement under a microscope, but thankfully, she let it go—at least for now. Neteyam chuckled softly, clearly entertained, before nudging the bundle toward you again. “Eat,” he said simply.

And damn it, you couldn’t resist. The first bite of fruit was so sweet it nearly made you groan, and Kate’s knowing look only made the moment worse. You ignored them both, focusing instead on Neteyam, who was watching you with quiet amusement. You huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, you turned to Neteyam. “What brings you here, besides bribing me with food?”

His ears flicked slightly. “I was hoping you’d come to the village tonight.”

The question made your heart skip a beat. And oh, how badly you wanted to say yes. You hesitated, fingers still curled around a piece of fruit.

Eywa, you wanted to. The thought of returning to his kelku, curling up beside him, letting the rest of the world fade away—it was tempting in a way that made your chest ache.

But…

You sighed, shaking your head. “I can’t.”

Neteyam frowned slightly, his ears twitching. “Why?”

You gestured around the outpost. “We need to clear space before the supply drop. It’s going to be chaos this week when the Valkyrie finally lands at Hell’s Gate.”

His ears twitched, and his gaze flicked toward the stacked crates before returning to you. “You work too much.”

You huffed a quiet laugh. “Says the warrior who never takes a break.”

His lips quirked, but then he asked, “More humans are coming?”

You hesitated. “Probably.”

Neteyam’s expression didn’t shift, but you could feel his unease. And you understood why. More humans meant more problems. The Omatikaya were already wary of the few remaining humans allowed on Pandora. The only reason this outpost still existed was because of Jake Sully’s leadership—because he had allowed it. Beyond this, for a few hundred miles in every direction, no other human settlements remained.

This outpost was the last true sanctuary for humans anywhere near this part of Pandora. If it weren’t for Jake, they wouldn’t even be allowed to stay here. Neteyam’s tail flicked in irritation. “Father has spoken of this before. He says the Sky People do not stop coming.”

You sighed. “They don’t.”

Neteyam exhaled, clearly mulling over your words. He had grown up knowing the tension between his people and the humans, and he understood better than most how precarious that balance was. The Na’vi only human allies was this outpost with a few selected people. Before he could respond, a familiar voice chimed in from behind him. Norm.

You turned as he approached, arms crossed. “They’ll be sent to Bridgehead. That’s where the real operations are. Hell’s Gate is just a landing site now.”

Neteyam’s expression didn’t change, but you knew he wasn’t surprised. He had heard about Bridgehead from his father before. A human stronghold built near the ocean, far enough from the Omatikaya to not be an immediate issue. But even so, as the humans continued to come back to Pandora after the Great War, it was unsettling.

For a long moment, nobody spoke. You exhaled, rubbing your arms as you glanced at Neteyam. “I know,” you murmured. “I know it’s not… ideal.”

Neteyam studied you for a moment, then shook his head slightly, as if brushing the thought away. “It does not matter,” he said simply. “Bridgehead is far.”

It was true. Bridgehead was far.

But…

It was still growing.

You could see it on his face, the same thing that had gnawed at you ever since you heard about the Venture Star’s arrival.

The humans weren’t leaving. They were coming back. More than ever. And what would that mean for the Na’vi? For this outpost? For you?

You swallowed, pushing the thoughts away before they could spiral. Because the thing was, despite everything, when you were with Neteyam—when he looked at you the way he did, touched you like you belonged at his side—he never let you feel different. Never let you feel like an outsider. Even now, as his golden eyes settled on you, there was no hesitation. No doubt. Only that quiet, unshakable certainty. That you were his.

The steady hum of the outpost filled the air as you continued working, shifting crates and clearing space for the incoming supplies. Neteyam had stayed beside you, helping where he could—though helping was a generous word for what he was actually doing.

At first, it was simple. He handed you items when you needed them, moved heavier equipment with ease, and brushed his fingers against yours every chance he got. But then, he started making it difficult. Lingering touches. His large hands resting against your lower back as he leaned over you to pass your datapad. The warmth of his body as he crouched beside you to lift a crate, his tail flicking idly against your thigh.

You had tried so hard to ignore it, but Kate and Brian had definitely noticed. “I can’t watch this anymore,” Kate muttered under her breath, nudging Brian. “Come on, let’s go clear the storage bay before I start gagging.”

Brian smirked. “You’re just mad no one’s being this soft with you.”

Kate scoffed. “I’d rather die than deal with whatever this is.”

You shot them both a glare. “Goodbye.”

Kate grinned. “Have fun, lovebirds.”

And then they were gone, leaving you alone with Neteyam in the quiet hum of the outpost. You sighed, standing up and brushing dust off your hands. “You should go back to the village.”

Neteyam hummed, clearly not taking you seriously as he crouched casually next to the crate beside you. “I am fine here.”

“You have work to do.”

He tilted his head, golden eyes flicking over your face. “So do you.”

You huffed, crossing your arms. “I mean actual work. Na’vi things. Not hanging around here distracting me.”

He gave a low chuckle, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “I am distracting you?”

You leveled him with a flat look. “Obviously.”

His tail flicked behind him, his amusement only growing. “Maybe you are distracting me.”

You rolled your eyes, turning back to your work. “I’m serious, Neteyam.”

He didn’t move. Instead, he took the datapad from your hands before you could protest and placed it on the crate behind you. Then, with deliberate slowness, he reached out, his large hand brushing your waist as he crawled closer. You inhaled sharply, tilting your head up to meet his gaze. “Neteyam—this only will take a few days.”

“Alright. I will leave,” he murmured, dipping his head slightly, not quiet please by the few days fact, “but you are not making it easy.”

You let out a soft, breathy laugh. “I’m not making it easy?”

He smirked, the corner of his lips lifting in that infuriatingly charming way. “No.”

You exhaled, shaking your head fondly. “I swear...”

He only smiled, waiting. You bit your lip, considering your options. Fine. If he wanted to play this game, you would win.

Stepping forward, you tilted up onto your toes, your hands gliding up his arms—over the hard muscle of his biceps, past the strong curve of his shoulders—until they reached his neck. His breath hitched as your fingers trailed slowly along his skin, finally circling behind his head, pulling him just a little closer. His ears flicked forward, curious. You leaned in, your lips brushing just beneath one of them as you whispered, “If you leave now, I’ll stay with you in your kelku next time for a whole day.”

His entire body went still. You smirked, pressing the softest kiss just under his ear, feeling the way his muscles tensed beneath your fingertips. His tail twitched, curling slightly at the tip. For a long moment, he didn’t move, didn’t breathe. Then, finally, he let out a slow exhale, his voice low and full of something unreadable. “You fight dirty, yawne.”

You pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, smiling innocently. “Is it working?”

He studied you, golden gaze smoldering, before he sighed—reluctant, defeated. “…Fine.”  His gaze lingered on you for a moment longer before he let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “Kanu hì'i vrrtep.”[Smart little demon]

You grinned but your face heated up from his words. “Good.”

He brushed his nose against yours—a soft, fleeting touch—before stepping back. “But next time,” he said, voice smooth as silk, “I am keeping you for much longer.”

You shivered, heat curling in your stomach at the way he said it. Before you could respond, he turned, heading toward the exit. But just as he reached the door, he glanced over his shoulder, his smirk returning. “Try not to miss me too much.”

You rolled your eyes, fighting back a laugh. “Get out of here, mighty warrior.”

His chuckle echoed through the hall as he disappeared, leaving you standing there, heart still racing, already counting down the hours until tomorrow night.

The late afternoon air was thick with the scent of damp earth as Neteyam adjusted the strap of his bow, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the dense Pandoran jungle. He had spent the past few hours hunting alongside the young warriors of the clan, guiding them through the thickets, teaching them patience, precision. Neteyam’s movements were swift, precise—his arrows flew true, finding their mark with practiced ease. The hunt was over quickly, their kills clean—six yeriks taken down.

As the others began the process of field dressing the animals, Neteyam wiped a small trickle of blood from a shallow cut on his arm. Nothing serious, but he knew it would need salve. He sighed, already knowing where he would need to go next before returning to his kelku.

Even as he congratulated the others, even as he carried his share of the game back to the communal storage, his mind was elsewhere.

It was foolish to let himself be so distracted. But Eywa help him—he could not stop.

The scent of burning herbs and medicinal paste filled the air as Neteyam stepped inside the Tsahik’s tent. Mo’at sat in her usual place, grinding some fresh herbs in a small clay bowl. The soft glow of bioluminescent fungi illuminated the space, casting her sharp features in a warm light.

She did not look up as he entered, but she did not need to. “You are hurt,” she said simply, her tone carrying that knowing edge that always made Neteyam feel like a child again.

“Only small wounds, grandmother,” he assured her.

Despite the gentle flickering of the flames, the space felt cool, shaded from the late afternoon heat. She didn’t look up as she spoke.

“You walk as though your mind is elsewhere, ma ‘itan.”

Neteyam hesitated mid-step. He had hoped to be in and out quickly, but of course, nothing got past his grandmother.

“I am just tired,” he said smoothly, moving closer. “Long day.”

Mo’at finally lifted her gaze, studying him as if she could see right through the words. She motioned for him to sit. “Come.”

Neteyam obeyed, kneeling before her as she reached for a clay jar, her movements slow and deliberate. She scooped out a bit of the salve with practiced fingers and began to apply it to his wound. The cool, earthy scent of the paste settled over him as she worked.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Neteyam focused on the way Mo’at’s hands moved with steady precision, her touch familiar and grounding. But then she tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“You are troubled.”

Neteyam let out a slow breath. “I am fine, grandmother.”

Mo’at made a quiet sound—half amusement, half disbelief. “I may be old, ma ‘itan, but I am not blind.” She wrapped a strip of cloth over his arm, tying it off neatly before fixing him with a look. “Your body is here, but your spirit is not. Where does your heart wander, Neteyam?”

His throat tightened. He forced himself to keep his expression calm. “Nowhere. I only think of my duties.”

“It is good that you take your duties seriously,” she said. “But you have avoided this conversation for long enough, ma’itan,” she said, her voice calm but resolute.

Neteyam stiffened slightly, though he tried to keep his expression neutral. “…What conversation?”

Mo’at gave him a look—one that told him she was not in the mood for games. “Do not play foolish with me, child. You know of what I speak.”

Neteyam exhaled slowly, already knowing where this was going. He had heard it many times before, always managing to sidestep it, to push it away with excuses. But this time, he could feel it in his bones—there would be no avoiding it.

Mo’at continued as she spread the salve over a long scrape on his shoulder. “The time has come. You are no longer a boy. You have built your own kelku.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle between them. “It is time to choose a mate.”

Neteyam clenched his jaw, his hands instinctively curling into fists against his thighs. He lowered his gaze, focusing on the woven mat beneath them rather than the knowing look in her eyes.

"I am still learning," he had said when he was sixteen. "I must focus on my duties," he had said at eighteen. "I will know when the time is right," he had said at twenty.

“I am not ready,” he murmured, the excuse feeling weaker than it ever had before.

Mo’at clicked her tongue, her fingers stilling against his skin. “Neteyam.” Her voice softened, but there was no mistaking the authority in it. “You have been saying this for years.”

Because it was easier to say he was not ready. Easier to pretend that his path was still unclear. That his heart had not already found its home in the arms of someone the clan would never accept.

Mo’at continued, dipping her fingers back into the salve and continue to apply the ointment on his other small injury. “The elders have chosen a few fine young women—strong, skilled, and wise. Any of them would make a good Tsahik to stand at your side. Any one of them would make a fine mate for you.”

Neteyam swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He knew this was coming, had always known. Ever since he completed his Uniltaron at fourteen, the women of the clan had waited, watching, hoping. Over the years, many had tried to get close to him, to make themselves worthy of his attention. Some had been gentle in their affections, others more persistent. But he had never chosen. Never wanted to.

Back then, he had resisted simply because he did not want to choose. He had never felt the pull toward any of the women around him, despite their attempts to get close. And over the years, as his father, his mother, even the elders had tried to push him toward a match, he had always refused.

Not then. And now… now, his heart was no longer his own to give.

Mo’at pressed the last bit of salve to his skin, but her gaze was no longer on his arm. She was watching him now, her sharp golden eyes studying his face, searching deeper than he was comfortable with.

“You hesitate,” she noted.

Neteyam exhaled slowly. “I have not yet decided.”

Mo’at’s lips pursed slightly. “Strange. A warrior who is ready to lead, yet cannot make a choice.”

He had no answer to that.

She watched him for a long moment, and then, something shifted in her expression. Her gaze softened, just slightly, her keen eyes seeing something even he had not realized was visible.

“You remind me of your mother,” she murmured.

Neteyam blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Mo’at sat back, folding her hands in her lap. “Neytiri was meant to be Tsu’tey’s mate,” she said, voice calm, measured. “It was decided by the elders after your aunt’s passing. He was to be Olo’eyktan, and she, Tsahik. It was the future the clan saw for her.” She tilted her head. “But her heart did not belong to him.”

Neteyam swallowed thickly, his throat suddenly dry.

Mo’at nodded. “She chose a man who was not of her people. A dream-walker. A man who, at the time, was not even truly Na’vi.” Her gaze did not waver from his. “And despite all expectations, despite all tradition, she chose him anyway.”

The air between them was thick now, charged with something unspoken. Neteyam looked away. “That was different.”

“Was it?” Mo’at’s voice was patient, but there was a knowing edge to it. “She followed her heart, even when it was difficult. Even when others did not approve. And now, you sit before me, looking very much like your mother once did when she, too, was being told to choose.”

Neteyam’s jaw tightened. He knew that she was beginning to see the truth—one he had tried to keep hidden. Neteyam forced himself to breathe evenly, but his mind was racing. Did she know? Could she see it in him?

Mo’at wiped her hands clean, tilting her head slightly. “You are your mother’s son, Neteyam. I see it in you.” She studied him, eyes sharp with quiet understanding. “Your heart is not hesitant because you do not want to choose.” She reached forward then, placing a gentle but firm hand over his chest, right where his heart pounded against his ribs. “It is hesitant because it already has.”

His breath caught.

Mo’at exhaled softly, nodding to herself as if she had just confirmed something. “I see now.”

Neteyam’s throat tightened. “See what?”

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Your heart belongs to someone already.”

He felt his entire body go still. His mouth opened, but no words came.

Mo’at merely raised a knowing brow. “And yet, I do not see you walking among the young women chosen for you. I do not see you speaking of them, or seeking their company.” Her gaze softened, just slightly. “No. Your heart is not here.”

Neteyam swallowed hard. His pulse was a steady drumbeat against his ribs, his hands curling slightly against his thighs.

Mo’at reached out, her aged fingers briefly brushing against his cheek in a rare moment of tenderness. “Tell me, ma ‘itan. Who is she?”

His lips parted, but no words came out. Because what could he say? How could he admit it? That the one who had claimed his heart was not Na’vi, not one of the women the elders had chosen for him, but a small, stubborn, brilliant creature of the sky?

Neteyam inhaled sharply, his mind a whirlwind. For so long, he had kept this hidden, had carefully shielded it from everyone but his siblings. But now, sitting here under the weight of Mo’at’s gaze, he knew there was no use in lying.

She already knew.

But before he could say anything—before he could even begin to form the words—Mo’at chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Ah,” she murmured, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “You need not say it. I already know. It is not the way of our People to give their hearts lightly. The Great Mother chooses for us.” She tilted her head. “You have always been an obedient son,” she mused, her voice thoughtful. “Always followed the path set before you.” She paused, then added, “But the heart… does not always listen to duty, does it?”

Mo’at’s smile was small but understanding. “You have your mother’s heart,” she whispered. “Stubborn, loyal… and foolishly in love with a human.”

Neteyam’s stomach twisted in anticipation of judgment, of reprimand. But none came.

Instead, Mo’at simply sighed, her eyes distant, as if remembering something from long ago. “Fate has a strange way of repeating itself.”

His throat tightened. He had feared this moment for so long. He had imagined the disappointment, the anger, the judgment.

But it did not come.

Instead, Mo’at’s gaze softened, a knowing warmth in her expression. “It is a heavy thing, to love beyond what is expected. But I have seen this before.”

Neteyam swallowed hard. “And you do not judge me?”

Mo’at let out a quiet breath, shaking her head. “What is there to judge? Love is not something to be chosen from a list. It is not something that can be forced.” Her hand, still resting over his chest, pressed gently. “If your heart has chosen, then it is not my place to tell it otherwise.”

Neteyam exhaled shakily, a weight he hadn’t even realized he was carrying suddenly lifting from his shoulders. “I…”

Mo’at pulled back, her sharp gaze returning. “But you must be sure,” she warned. “A choice like this is not without difficulty. You know this.”

Neteyam nodded slowly. “I do.”

She studied him for a long moment, then sighed. “Then I will not ask again.” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “But do not think the others will stop.”

Neteyam huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “I would expect nothing less.”

Mo’at chuckled softly. Then, with a final pat to his arm, she rose to her feet. “Go, ma ‘itan.” Her eyes twinkled with something unreadable. “You have much to think about.”

Neteyam stepped out of the Tsahik’s tent, the warm afternoon air wrapping around him as he inhaled deeply. The weight that had been pressing against his chest all morning had lightened, replaced with something unfamiliar yet welcome. Relief.

For the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel like he was hiding. Mo’at knew—really knew—and she had not scolded him, had not judged him. Instead, she had simply understood.

It was more than he had dared to hope for.

He had barely taken a few steps toward the village before he spotted Lo’ak leaning lazily against a thick tree root nearby, arms crossed, his ever-present smirk firmly in place. Neteyam knew that look.

It meant trouble.

Lo’ak pushed off the root, strolling toward him with an easy swagger. “Damn, bro,” he drawled. “That was a long talk with Grandmother. Thought she was gonna keep you in there all night.”

Neteyam rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the small smirk tugging at his lips. “She had… a lot to say.”

Lo’ak’s sharp golden eyes flickered over him, his smirk widening. “Yeah, no shit. You looked like you were carrying the weight of the whole clan when you went in there. But now?” He tilted his head, inspecting him. “You seem… different.”

Neteyam’s ears twitched. “Different?”

Lo’ak’s grin turned positively wicked. “Yeah. Like a guy who finally woke up with his woman next to him.”

Neteyam stiffened for half a second before schooling his expression. “Lo’ak—”

“Oh, don’t even try it,” Lo’ak cut in, waving a hand. “I know she was with you last night.”

Neteyam exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Keep your voice down.”

Lo’ak snorted. “Relax, bro. No one else is listening.” He grinned, nudging Neteyam’s arm. “But c’mon, you gotta admit, this is huge. First night in your own kelku, and you actually let yourself have what you want for once.” He let out a low whistle. “Bet that felt good.”

Neteyam sighed, shaking his head. “It did,” he admitted, quieter now. His voice softened, a small, unguarded smile playing at his lips. “I… I like having her there. Waking up and knowing she’s next to me.”

Lo’ak groaned dramatically. “Ew, bro, keep it in your head, I don’t need details.”

Neteyam huffed out a laugh, shoving his brother lightly. “Shut up, Lo’ak.”

Lo’ak smirked but then took a step back, his teasing expression shifting into something a little more serious. “Listen, I’m happy for you. Really, I am.” His tail flicked, ears twitching slightly. “But… you do realize you’re not exactly subtle, right?”

Neteyam tensed. “What do you mean?”

Lo’ak raised an eyebrow. “I mean, if I can tell just by looking at you, then Grandmother sure as hell picked up on it, too.”

Neteyam’s stomach twisted. He had barely said anything to Mo’at, and yet, she had known. Had Lo’ak really seen it that easily, too?

Lo’ak crossed his arms. “I don’t think she’ll say anything to Mom and Dad… but if you don’t want an argument with them, you should be more careful.”

Neteyam’s jaw clenched. He knew Lo’ak was right. He knew that if their parents found out, it wouldn’t be as simple as it had been with Mo’at. Jake, especially, would have a lot to say.

But…

His mind drifted back to last night—to the way she had looked in the soft glow of the bioluminescent plants that lit his kelku. The way she had curled up beside him, her warmth seeping into him as she slept. The peaceful rise and fall of her breathing, the delicate weight of her resting against him.

How could something that felt so right be so wrong in the clan’s eyes?

Neteyam shook his head. “I don’t want to hide, Lo’ak.”

Lo’ak’s expression flickered with something unreadable. “I get that,” he admitted. “But you know how they are.”

Neteyam exhaled heavily. “I do.” His gaze flicked up to meet Lo’ak’s. “But I also know that I want this.”

Lo’ak sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. “Yeah, no kidding. You’ve wanted this for ages.”

Neteyam smirked. “And now I have it.”

Lo’ak grinned, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Just… don’t get caught yet, bro. ‘Cause if it were me sneaking around with a human girl, I’d already be getting the lecture of a lifetime.”

Neteyam snorted. “That’s because you make terrible choices.”

Lo’ak gasped dramatically. “Wow. Betrayed by my own brother.”

Neteyam chuckled, shaking his head as he started walking toward the village paths. Lo’ak fell into step beside him, still grinning.

As they walked, Lo’ak glanced at him sideways. “So… you really like waking up with her, huh?”

Neteyam’s ears flicked. His lips curled slightly, gaze distant but warm. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I do.”

Lo’ak rolled his eyes, but his smirk never wavered. “Damn. You’ve got it bad, bro.”

Neteyam didn’t even deny it.

The steady thrum of the SA-2 Samson’s rotors vibrated through your seat as you peered out the open side door, the thick Pandoran air rushing past you in a humid blur. Below, the jungle stretched endlessly, the deep green canopy occasionally broken by winding rivers and towering rock formations. But up ahead, the dense wilderness gave way to something different—something you hadn’t seen in a long time.

Hell’s Gate.

Or what was left of it.

As the Samson approached, you leaned forward, eyes widening as the ruins of the old RDA compound came into view. Once a sprawling fortress of metal and concrete, the years of neglect had turned it into something else entirely. Rust and vegetation fought for dominance, creeping vines twisting around steel beams, shattered windows glinting in the midday sun. The towering security fences that once stood impenetrable were now collapsed in places, swallowed by the relentless jungle.

But for the first time in years, it looked alive.

Your Samson swooped in low, circling the outskirts of the landing zone before finally descending toward an old clearing, the last functioning helipad still intact.

You barely felt the impact as the landing skids met the ground. As soon as the side doors slid open, you stepped out onto the platform, the rush of fresh air carrying the distinct scent of damp earth and old metal even through the filtration system of your mask.

The scene before you was almost surreal—dozens of people moving in hurried yet precise motions, some in exo-masks, others already adjusted to Pandora’s atmosphere. Avatar drivers hauled heavy crates with ease, towering over the human workers who worked in sync beside them.

Norm was already there, standing near a group of Avatar pilots who were manually sorting cargo. He looked up as you and your team approached, lifting his datapad with a nod.

“Finally,” he called, glancing at the crates still being unloaded. “We need all hands on deck if we want to get this inventory logged before nightfall.”

Kate snorted beside you. “Yeah, yeah, Norm, we’re here. Keep your socks on. Blame our ancient Samson,” Kate quipped, shouldering her bag. “I think it lost a few screws on the way here.”

Norm snorted. “I’ll put in a maintenance request. Maybe we’ll get it fixed in, oh… never.”

You chuckled, then glanced at the towering stacks of crates being unloaded from the Valkyrie. “How much are we looking at?”

Norm rubbed the back of his neck. “A lot. More than we expected.” He handed you a datapad loaded with inventory logs. “We’ve got rations, medical supplies, field equipment… looks like they even threw in some updated research terminals.”

Kate let out a low whistle as she skimmed her own datapad. “Shit. This is actually good stuff.”

“Yeah,” Norm said, then grinned. “And before you ask—yes, there’s coffee.”

Kate gasped, looking up at the sky. “Eywa bless.”

You know Brian, who had stayed back at the outpost, was going to be so mad he missed this.

The group quickly split up, working alongside the others to catalog the shipment. The Valkyrie’s cargo bay was a maze of metal crates, each marked with serial codes that had to be logged before transport. You moved between them, checking your datapad as you double-checked the manifests.

Not far away, a few Avatar drivers were hauling heavier supplies to the storage area, their movements fluid and efficient. One of them—James, a former RDA scientist who had defected—grinned as he carried two massive crates like they weighed nothing.

“Need a hand, shorty?” he teased, nodding at the much smaller box you were lifting.

You rolled your eyes. “You offering, or just showing off?”

“A little of both.” He smirked, easily placing his crates down before taking yours and stacking it on top. “There. Now you won’t throw your back out.”

“Appreciate it,” you said dryly, making a note on your datapad.

Norm rolled his eyes but smirked as he waved you over. “Yeah, yeah. Come on. We’ve got a ton of stuff to go through, and the last thing we need is for this crap to get mixed up with Bridgehead’s shipment.”

You jogged to his side, eyes flicking to the mountain of supplies being sorted. “Damn,” you muttered. “Did we really order this much?”

Norm handed you another datapad. “Six years’ worth of backlog finally catching up with us. We’re getting stuff that was meant to be here ages ago.”

Kate whistled as she skimmed her own list. “That explains why half this shit looks like it was packed by someone who thought we still had the old lab running.”

You flicked through your datapad, quickly calculating the loads. “Okay, we’ll need to prioritize the perishables first. Anything with medical supplies gets packed separately—Max is going to want a full inventory on that.”

“Got it,” Kate said, already typing.

A sharp whistle cut through the air as one of the Avatar drivers—Liam, you thought—waved from a hover cart. “We’re loading the heavier crates onto the western platform. Give me a list of what needs to go first.”

You nodded and tapped quickly on your screen. “Sending it now.”

The next hour passed in a blur of movement—checking manifests, hauling supplies, redirecting mispacked items that were supposed to go to Bridgehead instead. The noise of machinery and voices blended together, the work fast-paced but efficient.

Norm handed you a datapad. “Start checking crate IDs and matching them with the manifest. We’ve got to separate what’s going back to the outpost from what’s staying here.”

Kate took one look at the endless list on her own datapad and groaned. “God, why did I come here?”

You smirked. “Because you wanted to see if there was chocolate.”

Kate pointed at you. “And if there isn’t, I’m burning this place down.”

Shaking your head, you scanned the first set of crates. The work wasn’t hard, just tedious—checking serial numbers, cross-referencing supply lists, making sure nothing was missing. As you moved through the organized chaos, you couldn’t help but marvel at how much life had returned to this place.

Later the storage bay was a war zone.

Stacks of crates towered like haphazard city blocks, lining the walls and filling every available inch of floor space. The entire outpost was a hive of movement—scientists, technicians, and Avatar drivers —now without their Avatars— hauling supplies back and forth, checking lists, arguing over mislabeled shipments, and generally cursing the logistical nightmare that was the latest supply drop.

You sat cross-legged in the middle of the chaos, back hunched over a datapad as you furiously logged inventory. The harsh glow of the overhead lights reflected off the screen, numbers blurring together as you tried to make sense of the mess.

Kate flopped onto a nearby crate with a dramatic groan, swiping her sleeve over her sweaty forehead. “I swear to Eywa, if I have to log one more serial number, I’m going to throw myself into the sterilization unit.”

Brian, hunched over a different stack of boxes, let out a dry laugh. “Make sure you put that in the inventory log before you go.” He tapped his screen. “One human researcher, fully incinerated. No refunds.”

Kate groaned, tilting her head back. “We’ve been at this for three days. Three days.”

You sighed, flicking through the latest shipment manifest. “Yeah, and we’re still not done. There’s at least a dozen more crates in the eastern bay that haven’t even been opened yet.”

Brian dropped his datapad onto his lap. “Whose brilliant idea was it to send this much crap all at once?”

“Blame Earth,” Kate muttered. “Apparently, six years of backlog means we get everything dumped on us at once.” She sat up, rubbing her temples. “And you know what the worst part is?”

Brian gave her a flat look. “Please, enlighten me.”

Kate pointed at the crate beside her. “This entire box? Expired protein bars.”

You winced. “Seriously?”

“Yep.” She patted the crate like it was an old friend. “Some poor soul packed these six years ago thinking they’d be useful. Now they’re basically astronaut-flavored cardboard.”

Brian snorted. “Honestly, that describes half of our rations anyway.”

Kate leaned forward, smirking. “And don’t even get me started on the medical supplies. We found a crate of syringes that expired before we even left Earth.”

You groaned, rubbing your hands over your face. “That’s just great. Max is going to love that.”

Brian clicked his tongue. “Yeah, we should probably tell him before he tries using one and gives someone a eight-year-old infection.”

Kate sighed, flopping back again. “At this point, we might as well just let the Na’vi take over. They have better medicine anyway.”

You exhaled sharply, your fingers tightening around your datapad. The mention of the Na’vi sent your thoughts spiraling back to something—someone—who had been on your mind for days now.

Three days.

Three days since Neteyam last visited.

He had never gone this long without stopping by—not since you’d started spending more time together. He was always there, whether it was dropping by with fresh food, teasing you in that quiet, knowing way of his, or just sitting with you in comfortable silence. Even when he was busy, even when his duties kept him occupied, he always managed to find time.

But now? Nothing. No visits, no messages relayed through Norm or Max. Just… silence.

You tried not to let it get to you. You tried. But you were failing. Kate nudged you suddenly, snapping you out of your thoughts. “Uh-oh. I know that look.”

You blinked. “What look?”

Kate waggled her eyebrows. “That look that says, ‘Where is my tall, blue boyfriend? Why hasn’t he visited me? Does he not love me anymore?’”

Brian smirked, leaning against a crate. “Damn. She went straight for the throat.”

You rolled your eyes, ignoring the heat creeping up your neck. “I’m just wondering why he hasn’t been around, that’s all.”

Kate gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. “Oh my Eywa, you miss him.”

Brian clicked his tongue. “Tragic. The great warrior has abandoned his tiny human.”

You groaned, rubbing your temples. “I hate both of you.”

Kate grinned. “No, you don’t. Now, be honest. Have you been staring at the sky every night through the windows like some lovesick idiot, waiting for him to swoop in on his ikran?”

Brian cupped his hands around his mouth, mimicking a desperate call. “Oh mighty Neteyam, please return to me! My heart cannot bear the distance!”

You threw a rag at his head. “Shut up.”

Brian dodged it, laughing. “Come on, admit it. You’re on edge because he’s been gone for three days.”

You exhaled through your nose, turning your attention back to your datapad. “I’m not on edge.”

Kate snorted. “Oh yeah? Then why did you just re-log that same crate three times?”

You glanced down at your screen. Shit.

Kate cackled. “Busted.”

You groaned, setting your datapad down and rubbing your face. “Fine. Maybe I am a little restless.”

Brian smirked. “A little?”

You shot him a glare.

Kate leaned closer, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “You know, if you really wanted to see him, you could just hop on the Samson and make a quick trip to the village.”

You scoffed. “Oh yeah, let me just abandon my post and fly straight into the arms of the Olo’eyktan’s son. That won’t cause any issues at all.”

Brian snickered. “Honestly? I’d pay good money to see that.”

Kate sighed dramatically. “Tragic. Separated by duty.” She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “How will she ever survive?”

You groaned again, but there was no real annoyance behind it. Still, you couldn’t shake the growing knot in your stomach. Because the truth was, you did miss him. And you were on edge.

Not just because you hadn’t seen him, but because there was no way to find out what was going on. You were stuck here, buried in supply crates and datapads, unable to sneak away even if you wanted to. So you waited. And you hated it.

Kate must have sensed the shift in your mood, because she nudged your foot lightly. “Hey,” she said, her voice a little softer. “I’m sure he’s fine. Probably just busy with clan stuff. You know how it is.”

You nodded, exhaling slowly. “Yeah. I know.”

Brian stretched, cracking his back. “Besides, if something was wrong, Lo’ak or Kiri would’ve sent word by now.”

That was true. If something had happened, you would’ve heard about it. But that didn’t stop the nagging feeling in your gut. Kate smirked, back to her usual self. “So, until your warrior comes to sweep you off your feet, I suggest you distract yourself with more back-breaking labor.”

Brian groaned. “Ugh. Do we have to?”

You smirked, grabbing your datapad. “Yes, we do.”

Kate sighed, hopping off the crate. “Fine. But if Neteyam does show up, I’m taking full credit.”

Brian grinned. “And I’m charging him for emotional damages.”

You laughed, shaking your head as you got back to work. Still, as you scanned the next crate, you found yourself glancing toward the small window.

Waiting.

The fourth night was the hardest.

You lay on your cot, staring at the ceiling of your cramped quarters, listening to the steady hum of the outpost’s ventilation system. The small room was dimly lit by the faint blue glow of your datapad, which lay abandoned on your stomach, the screen dark. You had tried to focus on some research notes, something—anything—to keep your mind busy, but it was useless.

Your thoughts had drifted again.

To him.

To golden eyes that watched you like you were the only thing in the world. To the way his ears twitched whenever you teased him, how his tail flicked when he was amused. To the quiet strength in his voice, the warmth in his touch.

It had been four days. Four whole days since you had last seen Neteyam. Since you had last felt his presence, his steady, grounding warmth.

It wasn’t that long, really. You had spent longer apart before. Before you were a thing. Sometimes he was out on long hunting trips, or busy with the clan, or helping his father patrol the surrounding forests. You had spent entire weeks apart when you first came to the outpost, when your presence in the village was still something new, still uncertain.

But it was different now.

Because for months now—almost every day—he had found you.

Even when his schedule was tight, even when the village kept him busy, even when you were stuck here, drowning in work, he had always found time to come to you. Even if it was just for a few stolen moments, a brief visit, a lingering touch before he had to go again.

And now?

Nothing.

You inhaled sharply, shifting onto your side, gripping the edge of your blanket as frustration curled hot and tight in your chest. You hated how much you missed him. Hated how restless you felt. What the hell is wrong with me?

You scoffed, running a hand over your face. A few days ago, you were the one shooing him away, telling him he was a distraction. And now? Now you were lying here like some lovesick idiot, staring at the ceiling, waiting—hoping—that he would walk through the airlock doors and find you.

But he hadn’t. And what if he didn’t want to?

The thought sent a sharp, unwelcome pang through your chest. No, that’s ridiculous. Neteyam wouldn’t just ignore you. Right?

He was probably just busy. His responsibilities were endless—hunting, patrolling, training the younger warriors, helping his father maintain order in the village. You had always known that. You had always respected that.

But… what if there was another reason?

What if he had chosen not to come?

The thought lingered, sinking its claws into your brain, no matter how much you tried to push it away.

You exhaled, rolling onto your back again, staring at the tiny cracks in the metal ceiling panels.

Ache coiled tight in your chest, heavy and suffocating.

You missed him.

You missed him so much it made you angry.

This was his fault. He had made you need him. He had spoiled you, coming to you whenever he could, making himself a constant presence in your life. And now, after four days of silence, you felt like something was missing.

You groaned into your pillow, hating yourself just a little bit. It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. But it did. And you didn’t know what to do about it.

The morning started like the ones before it—filled with work.

The outpost was still buzzing from the chaos of the supply shipment. The last of the crates were being moved into storage, equipment was being set up, and everyone was running on whatever caffeine substitute they could get their hands on.

You were running on nothing.

You hadn't slept well, mind tangled in frustration and thoughts of him. The weight of it sat heavily on your shoulders as you worked alongside Kate, sorting through the new field kits. The two of you were in the middle of debating whether one particular box had been mislabeled when a familiar voice rang through the outpost’s main hall.

“Norm! Max!”

Your hands froze.

Kate perked up. “Was that—?”

Before she could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the metal corridors. A second later, Kiri burst into the outpost, her braid swinging over her shoulder, a wide grin lighting up her face.

Norm and Max were already rushing toward her, their expressions shifting from surprise to pure joy.

“Kiri!” Norm beamed. “Eywa, look at you! You’ve been avoiding us, huh?”

Max grinned, stepping forward. “Two months. You disappeared on us, kid.”

Kiri laughed, looking down enough to give them both an exasperated look. “Oh, come on, it hasn’t been that long.”

“It has,” Max deadpanned. “We were starting to think you forgot about us.”

Norm chuckled. “It’s good to see you, kid.”

Kate nudged you playfully. “Well, look at that. The jungle princess returns.”

You should have laughed. Should have stepped forward and greeted her. But you couldn’t move. Because you were frozen—your breath caught in your throat, heart thudding in your chest. Kiri was here. And suddenly, all you could hear was Brian’s voice in your head from days ago: "Lo’ak or Kiri would tell us if something happened to Neteyam."

Your stomach dropped.

No.

Your hands went clammy.

No, no, no, no.

Your heart started pounding, a horrible, suffocating weight pressing against your ribs. Kiri was here for you.

Not just stopping by, not just visiting the outpost. She had come for you specifically.

Your fingers clenched into fists. You barely registered Kate pulling you forward, her voice light and teasing as she called out, “Alright, don’t just hog her for yourselves! Let us say hi too!”

You followed, but your feet felt like lead. As you stepped closer, Kiri’s sharp eyes flicked toward you—her smile faltering slightly the moment she got a good look at your face.

And then—

Flick!

A sharp tap against your forehead snapped you out of your spiraling thoughts. You blinked, eyes refocusing just in time to see Kiri grinning at you, arm still raised from where she had flicked you.

“Breathe,” she said simply.

You stared at her.

Kiri smirked, tilting her head. “I’m here for you.”

Your mouth opened, but no words came out.

Kiri let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, Eywa. You really thought something happened to him?”

Your throat was so tight it hurt.

“…Didn’t it?” you croaked.

Kiri blinked at you, then let out a bark of laughter. “Oh, Eywa, no! He’s fine!”

You didn’t believe her. You couldn’t believe her. Because if he was fine, then where the hell had he been for the last four days? Kiri must have seen the doubt on your face, because she shook her head with an amused huff before crossing her arms. “My brother is insufferable.”

That caught you off guard. “…What?”

Kiri smirked. “That’s why I’m here.” She shot you a pointed look. “We figured it out—he needs to see you.”

Your brain struggled to keep up. “What does that even mean?”

Kiri rolled her eyes. “It means he’s been moping for days. Walking around like a storm cloud. Snapping at people. Being dramatic.”

You opened your mouth, then closed it. “…What?”

Kate snickered beside you.

Kiri turned fully to you, hands on her hips, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “My dear, hopeless brother has been miserable.”

You stared.

Kiri grinned. “It took all of us about two days to figure it out.” She crossed her arms. “It’s you. You’re the problem.”

You blinked. “I—excuse me?”

Kate snorted, barely holding back her laughter.

Kiri rolled her eyes. “Not in a bad way. I mean, you are the reason he’s like this.”

Your heart stuttered. “But… but I thought—”

Kiri waved a hand. “He’s been gone because my father dumped a ridiculous amount of duties on him. Patrolling, escorting, hunting—basically keeping the warriors busy after the Valkyrie landed, just to make sure that every humans left the forest.” She huffed. “He’s been running around nonstop, keeping the borders secure, making sure none of the new Sky People wandered anywhere they shouldn’t.”

You inhaled sharply.

Oh. That made… sense. More sense than the ridiculous idea you’d convinced yourself of—that Neteyam hadn’t wanted to see you.

Kate was grinning. “So what I’m hearing is… he’s been sulking because he hasn’t seen her?”

Kiri smirked. “Bingo.”

You were still processing. Still trying to make sense of it. Kiri rolled her eyes and flicked your forehead again. “Ow—!”

“Stop overthinking!” she scolded, looking way too entertained. “He’s been suffering, and you’ve been suffering, and honestly, I’m sick of it.”

Kate snorted. “Wow. True sibling energy.”

You barely heard them. Because Eywa, the past four days had been hell, and the entire time, you had thought— You had thought he didn’t care. But he did. And now?

Now, you needed to see him.

The journey to the village was a blur of rushing air and Kiri’s constant, relentless teasing.

She had barely given you a moment to react after her “I’m sick of it” declaration before practically hauling you onto her ikran. There had been no time to argue, no time to second-guess. You had barely managed to settle yourself before her, because Kiri immediately took off, the jungle whipping past in a blur of green and gold.

“You better appreciate this,” Kiri had shouted over the wind. “I don’t just escort humans for free, you know.”

You had rolled your eyes but held onto the tiny saddle’s edge anyway, heart pounding—not from the flight, but from the knowledge that you were finally heading back. Back to the village. Back to him.

By the time you landed, the sun was high, casting dappled patterns through the thick canopy. The village bustled with midday activity—hunters returning with the morning’s catch, children darting between woven huts, voices rising and falling in easy conversation. It smelled like roasting meat, woodsmoke, and the faint, fresh scent of the flowering vines that clung to the high tree trunks.

And the second your feet hit the ground, something inside you settled. The tension you hadn’t even realized you’d been carrying for the past five days melted as you inhaled deeply, filling your lungs with the humid air of the Omatikaya’s home.

Kiri must have noticed, because she smirked. “Huh. You already look better.”

You huffed. “Shut up.”

Kiri just snickered and grabbed your wrist, pulling you along. “Come on. Neteyam’s not back yet, which means you stick with me. I don’t need people getting the wrong idea.”

You frowned, glancing at her. “The wrong idea about what?”

Kiri shot you a pointed look. “About why you’re here.”

You opened your mouth, then closed it, heat creeping up your neck. “I—I’m here to visit. To see everyone.”

Kiri’s smirk deepened. “Sure, sure.” She gave you a slow once-over, her tail flicking in amusement. “You know, if I were a random villager, I’d probably think you were some love-drunk human girl flying in for her Na’vi warrior boyfriend.”

Your face burned. “Kiri!”

“What?” she laughed, her sharp golden eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m just saying. You’re kinda radiating desperation right now.”

You gasped, scandalized. “I am not!”

Kiri cackled, clearly enjoying herself far too much. “Oh, you so are.”

You groaned, throwing your head back. “Eywa, why am I friends with you?”

“Because I’m great.” She grinned, giving your arm a tug. “Now, let’s go see Grandmother. She’s been experimenting with new salves, and I wanna show you the ones I made.”

You let yourself be dragged through the village, rolling your eyes but smiling despite yourself.

The scent of burning herbs and dried flowers greeted you as you stepped into Mo’at’s tent. The cool shade inside was a welcome contrast to the heat outside, the air thick with the rich aroma of medicinal pastes and freshly ground plants.

Mo’at sat near the center, a bowl resting in her lap, her sharp eyes flicking up as Kiri led you in. “You return,” Mo’at mused, voice steady as she ground a handful of dried roots into a fine powder.

You dipped your head in greeting. “Oel ngati kameie, Tsahik.”

Mo’at made a small sound of acknowledgment but said nothing more, her gaze lingering on you for just a moment longer than necessary before returning to her work.

Kiri, oblivious to her grandmother’s quiet scrutiny, flopped down beside her and pulled a bundle from her satchel. “I made new salves,” she announced proudly, unwrapping the cloth to reveal several small jars of smooth, dark-colored paste. “I tested them on Lo’ak, and he didn’t die, so that’s a good sign.”

You snorted. “That’s your quality check?”

Kiri grinned. “Obviously.”

Mo’at hummed, setting aside her own mixture as she took one of Kiri’s jars. She removed the lid, bringing it to her nose and inhaling deeply. “Mm.” Her sharp eyes flicked to Kiri. “What did you use?”

Kiri straightened, tail curling slightly in anticipation. “Crushed yutrel leaves mixed with tsah bark and a little bit of kali’weya poison. I wanted something stronger for deep wounds, something that would speed up clotting without causing irritation.”

You listened intently, stepping closer. “That’s smart,” you murmured, already thinking through the ingredients in your head. “But won’t the tsah bark make it too astringent? That stuff stings like hell on open wounds.”

Kiri’s ears perked. “Yeah, it would, normally. That’s why I balanced it with yutrel—it neutralizes the sting without messing with the clotting effect.”

You let out a thoughtful hum, intrigued. “Huh. I never thought of that.”

Mo’at watched the exchange in silence, her fingers still idly swirling the paste inside the jar.

You hardly noticed. You were already reaching for another one of Kiri’s jars, your curiosity getting the better of you. “And this one? It smells different.”

Kiri grinned. “That one’s for burns. I used a yovo fruit base to keep it hydrating, but I infused it with dried hìrumwll petals to speed up healing.”

You leaned in, fascinated. “Hìrumwll? Isn’t that could be toxic if used raw?”

Kiri nodded. “Yup. But once it’s dried and ground, it’s perfectly safe. It’s actually got insane healing properties—I tested it on my own arm after I burned myself on hot coals.”

You gasped. “When did you do that?”

“Last week.” Kiri shrugged. “I barely have a scar now, though, so I’m calling it a win.”

You rolled your eyes. “You are so reckless.”

Kiri grinned. “And yet, I’m still here.”

Mo’at let out a soft hmm of amusement but said nothing, her gaze flicking between the two of you as you continued your discussion.

Her aged golden eyes followed the way you moved, the way your fingers traced over different herbs with familiarity. The way your brows furrowed in concentration, the way your lips moved as you and Kiri debated the differences in Pandoran medicinal properties versus human antiseptics.

Mo’at had met you many times before. Had seen you in this tent on multiple occasions.

But today… Today, she saw you differently. She saw what Neteyam saw.

A human girl, small and fragile by Na’vi standards, but with a mind that absorbed knowledge like a sponge. A girl who had no true place among them—yet had spent years trying to carve one out for herself anyway.

She had always tolerated your presence, had even respected your curiosity. But after her conversation with Neteyam just days ago… Now, she looked at you through his eyes.

She saw how you eagerly leaned in when Kiri spoke, how your fingers twitched like you were mentally cataloging each new piece of information. How you wanted to learn.

And suddenly, Mo’at understood. Understood why Neteyam had chosen. Understood why his heart had strayed outside the boundaries of their world.

Because you sitting before her now—the one who spoke of Pandoran plants as if they were as familiar to you as the sky—were not just a human.

You were something more. And for the first time, Mo’at truly saw you.

The sky was deepening into twilight, Pandora’s bioluminescent flora beginning to glow with soft pulses of light as the village settled into the evening. The faint hum of conversation and laughter drifted through the air from the communal fire, where the Omatikaya were gathering for their meal.

You had no intention of joining them. Not after last time. Not after the way Neytiri had looked at you.

Kiri nudged you with her elbow. “Come on. You’ve been working yourself to death for days. You should eat something.”

You hesitated, shifting on your feet. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Kiri raised an eyebrow. “What, why?”

You exhaled, glancing toward the gathered Na’vi. “Your mother wasn’t exactly thrilled the last time I was here.”

Kiri scoffed. “Please. That was weeks ago. She doesn’t hate you.”

You shot her a flat look.

Kiri winced. “Okay, maybe she strongly dislikes your presence sometimes, but she’ll survive.”

Kiri must have seen the hesitation in your eyes because she groaned loudly. “I swear, you’re impossible. I brought you all the way here to see Neteyam, not to have you freak out and run back to your lab.”

You frowned. “I’m not freaking out.”

Kiri scoffed. “Then prove it. Wait for him.”

You hesitated, glancing toward the paths leading out of the village. “I don’t know…”

Kiri rolled her eyes. “Fine, if you won’t come eat with me, then at least go wait for him in his kelku.”

You blinked. “What?”

Kiri shrugged. “He’ll go there eventually, and you’ll already be waiting. Perfect solution.”

Your stomach twisted at the idea. Being alone in Neteyam’s kelku, waiting for him? That felt… different.

More intimate.

More real. “I don’t know if I should—”

Kiri groaned. “For Eywa’s sake, just go.”

You exhaled, shifting your weight. “What if—”

Kiri’s sharp golden eyes pinned you in place. “Nope. No ‘what ifs.’ No more excuses. You’re staying.” She gave you a little shove. “Go.”

You swallowed hard but finally nodded. “Fine.”

Kiri smirked. “That’s more like it.”

With one last glance toward the glowing fire in the distance—where the rest of the village was gathered—you turned away, heart pounding as you made your way toward Neteyam’s kelku.

By the time you reached the large tree where Neteyam’s home was perched, the village around you had grown quiet. The laughter and chatter from the communal fire were distant now, muffled by the thick foliage. This side of the village, where many of the warriors had built their homes, was mostly empty at this hour—everyone had gone to eat.

Your heart pounded as you approached the base of the tree, craning your neck to look up. It was exactly as you remembered it. The woven structure sat high above, the bioluminescent flora casting a soft, ghostly glow against the thatched walls. A thick branch jutted out just beside the main entrance—a space for his ikran to land when needed. The climbing path up was built into the tree, reinforced with strong vines and footholds.

Taking a deep breath, you reached for the first one. Climbing was easier this time. The first time you had done it, Neteyam had been behind you, guiding your steps, making sure you didn’t slip. Now, you moved with careful ease, finding your footing quickly.

When you finally hoisted yourself onto the platform, you paused, catching your breath. The kelku was silent. Tentatively, you stepped inside.

The interior was just as you remembered—crafted with careful hands, strong yet open enough to allowing the night air to move freely through the space. Woven mats covered the floor, and the central fire pit was unlit, leaving only the glow of the surrounding plants to illuminate the space.

Your gaze drifted to the far side of the room. The bed. A soft nest of woven fibers, layered with thick pelts. Your stomach twisted at the sight of it.

Memories of that night came flooding back—the way his arm had been draped over your waist, the warmth of his breath against your hair, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath your hand.

You swallowed hard, pushing the thoughts away. Slowly, you walked further inside, taking in the small details. The way the space still smelled like him—woodsmoke, earth, something distinctly Neteyam. The way everything seemed lived in now, as though he had finally settled into this place as his home.

A quiet sigh left your lips as you sat down near the edge of the bed. Now all that was left to do was wait.

The night air carried the distant murmur of the village, a rhythmic hum of laughter and conversation from the communal fire. But here, high above the forest floor in the quiet sanctuary of Neteyam’s kelku, you were alone.

And you had been alone for the past hour. You had told yourself you would wait for him. That you would stay until he returned, just as Kiri had said. But now, as the time stretched on, doubt crept in.

Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe you shouldn’t have come at all.

You sat curled up on the thick pelts in the farthest corner of the room, your legs tucked beneath you, fingers absently fidgeting with the edge of your sleeve. You had tried to be patient. But the longer you sat there, the more ridiculous you felt.

What if he wasn’t coming back tonight?

The thought made your chest tighten. You had spent the last few days convincing yourself that Neteyam was simply busy, that his absence wasn’t something to worry about. But now, sitting here in his home—his space—you felt like an intruder.

With a quiet sigh, you braced your hands against the bedding and pushed yourself up.

You should leave.

Even though your heart ached to see him, even though you had spent every night longing for the warmth of his arms around you, this… this was foolish. You had come here uninvited, desperate to catch even a glimpse of him after nearly five days apart. But what if—

The soft rustling of movement outside made you freeze.

Your breath hitched as a shadow moved across the entrance and you ploped down back to the pelts. And then, he stepped inside.

Neteyam.

He hadn’t seen you yet. His tall frame filled the doorway, his broad shoulders tense with exhaustion. His usually neat braids were slightly disheveled, a fine layer of dust coating his skin. He moved with the careful precision of a warrior returning from a long patrol, his every muscle taut from hours of vigilance.

Your heart clenched at the sight of him.

He was so tired. Neteyam exhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders as he stepped fully into the kelku, his movements slow and weary. He had been pushed hard these last few days—you could see it in the stiffness of his body, in the way he moved like every step carried a weight unseen.

You opened your mouth to speak, but before you could, he finally turned. His body went completely still. Golden eyes locked onto yours.

He froze, lips parted slightly, his breath caught in his throat. For a long moment, he simply stared at you, his expression unreadable—like he wasn’t sure if you were real or if exhaustion had finally broken him.

Your chest tightened. And Eywa, you had missed him. A slow, hesitant smile pulled at your lips. “Hey.”

The moment the word left your mouth, something shifted in him. His entire body seemed to release all the tension he had been holding for days, his shoulders dropping, his ears flicking forward. Relief flooded his golden gaze, his exhale unsteady as if he had been holding his breath for too long.

“You’re here,” he murmured, his voice rough from fatigue.

You nodded, stepping closer. “Yeah.”

For a brief moment, neither of you moved. You just looked at each other, drinking in the sight of the other like you were afraid to blink and lose this moment. Then, without thinking, he closed the distance between you and quickly crouching down before your sitting form, your hands reaching up to cup his jaw.

Neteyam sucked in a sharp breath. And then, he melted. His arms wrapped around you instantly, pulling up into an almost awkward standing pose, crushing you against him as he buried his face in your hair. His hands splayed across your back, holding you like he needed to anchor himself to something solid. His entire body trembled slightly, his exhale warm against your temple.

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” you murmured.

Neteyam let out a quiet chuckle, but there was something raw underneath it. “I think I do,” he murmured, his voice thick with something unreadable.

You stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in his warmth, breathing him in. The steady, strong rhythm of his heart beneath your palm was soothing, grounding you in the reality that he was here, that he was safe.

Eventually, Neteyam leaned back just enough to meet your gaze. A smirk ghosted across his lips as he brushed a strand of hair from your face. “So… you were waiting for me, hmm?”

You rolled your eyes. “Shut up.”

His smirk widened. “No, no. I like this.” His tail flicked playfully behind him, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “I come home after a long day of being away, and what do I find? My little human, waiting for me in our kelku.”

Your stomach flipped.

Our kelku.

You swallowed hard, your face heating at the way he said it—so casual, like it was obvious, like there had never been a question in his mind that this place belonged to both of you. Neteyam’s ears twitched, his smirk deepening as he took in your flustered expression.

You tilted your head with a slight blush, studying him. “Are you okay?”

He let out a deep exhale, rubbing a hand over his face. “Now? Yes.” His sharp gaze softened, tail flicking. “I needed to see you.”

The weight of his words settled deep in your chest, warm and steady. He needed to see you. Eywa, you had needed to see him too. Every part of you ached with it.

Your breath hitched as you stared up at him, at the tired lines around his eyes, at the way his shoulders had finally relaxed now that you were here. You wanted to ease the tension from his body, to erase the exhaustion written in every inch of him.

And so, without thinking, you took a deep breath, fingers reaching for the seal of your exo-mask.

Neteyam’s eyes widened slightly, his body stiffening as he realized what you were about to do. His lips parted as if to speak, to protest— But then you pulled the mask off.

The rush of Pandora’s air hit your face instantly, cool against your skin and then, before he could say a word, before he could stop you—

You kissed him.

It was immediate, desperate. The moment your lips met his, Neteyam inhaled sharply, his hands tightening on your waist like he was grounding himself in the reality of you. And then, he kissed you back.

A low sound rumbled from his chest, something between a sigh and a growl, and it made your knees weak. His hands slid up your back, pulling you impossibly closer as he angled his head, deepening the kiss. He was starving for you, drinking you in like he had been deprived of you for too long—because he had.

His lips were soft but urgent, moving against yours with a kind of longing that made your heart clench. His sharp fangs grazed your bottom lip, and you shivered, fingers curling into his braids as you let yourself sink into him completely.

Gods, you had missed this. Missed him.

His lips moved against yours with a quiet urgency, warm and firm, drinking in every second of this stolen moment. His grip tightened as he deepened the kiss, pulling you closer, tilting his head just right so he could claim you fully, completely.

Your lungs burned, but you didn’t care. All you could focus on was the way he felt—the press of his lips, the warmth of his body, the quiet, shaky exhale he let out when you ran your fingers through his braids.

But then, as if sensing the growing need for air, Neteyam gently broke the kiss, his forehead resting against yours. His voice was a whisper, breathless and soft against your lips.

“Put it back.”

His words were tender but firm, and you barely managed to nod before you quickly secured your mask back in place. The first inhale of filtered air filled your lungs, but your chest still felt tight—for a different reason entirely.

When your gaze met his again, Neteyam’s expression was soft, full of something deep and unspoken. His hand came up, his fingers grazing your jaw, then trailing down to rest against your collarbone, like he needed to feel that you were here, that you were real.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he murmured, his voice low.

You gave him a small smile. “I wanted to.”

His ears flicked at that, something warm flickering across his features. For a moment, neither of you spoke. You just stood there, wrapped in the quiet of his kelku, in the space between heartbeats.

Then, his fingers brushed along your waist, his voice quieter now. “Stay with me tonight.”

Your breath hitched, and his golden gaze searched yours, waiting. A slow smile curled at your lips. “I will,” you said, voice soft. “I promised.”

Something in his expression melted at that. And as Neteyam pulled you against him once more, tucking you beneath his chin, his arms wrapping around you in a way that left no space between your bodies, you knew. No matter how many days apart, no matter how long the wait—

You would always find your way back to each other.

I still don't understand why I'm making the whole story sooooo slow burn.

Part 21: To expect

[cottondo]

vox x reader ; please?

Nobody really understood how it happened— it just did one day.

You ended up really hitting it off with the man of Voxtech himself; and wow lookathat, you’re dating him now.

It wasn’t unusual to be waking up in his bed, either. But what something Vox wasn’t used to, was a sunshine personality like yours. Of course you have your devilish charms still, as thats what drew him into you to begin with. But, the small appreciations you had for just about everything? It was weird, right? For a sinner in hell, it was marked as a rare occurrence to see someone like you.

( Other than the Princess of Hell, though she was much more over the top than you were. )

As your eyes opened, surroundings gaining a much clearer focus, you let out a tired little sigh.

There’s a soft buzzing beside you, where Vox was passed out in a deep sleep. It was such a nice state to see him in. Calm, not stressed out and dealing with everyone’s chaotic bullshit.

Honestly, it was nice being awake before everyone else. You could just take in the small beauties of silence before everything got obnoxious.

Your eyes flicker over to the windows, and see a bright neon sign with arrows pointing downward towards its front door.

A brand new building had just opened up, and it was a place you’ve been waiting to check out for a while now. Honestly, you couldn’t contain the excitement. It seemed like it took forever to finish, as most demons tried to overrun it while it was still in a vulnerable state.

With a little gasp, your hand falls to vox’s shoulder, and shake it lightly. “Oh my god, Vox, wake up!”

A static noise enters the air, as a small groan of annoyance leaves the tv screen. “What—”

You smirk, leaning over his shoulder to view his annoyance. “It’s finally open~ we gotta go!”

He heaves out a heavy sigh, turning to lay on his back with a dull, tired expression. “Y/N,”

“Please?” The little pout you made usually got him to do what you wanted, but this time it didn’t. He looked tired and visibly annoyed. Honestly, fair. You did kinda just wake him up in one of the worst ways possible.

“Can you at least let me wake up a little, first?” His lopsided smile made your heart flutter. Fuck, he was just so cute no matter what.

“Okay, fine. Just don’t fall back to sleep.” You fully sit up, crawling over his figure, and hoping to avoid stepping on any part of him in the process of getting off the bed. Standing to your feet on the floor, he **almost** chuckles. “What the hell even is the place you wanna go to, anyway?” His one eye widens out of curiosity over at you.

You roll your eyes, annoyed that he never usually remembered the little things. “The first like, ever, plant shop in hell. Somebody actually got things to grow down here,” you inform, taking a step in front of the mirror. “I think they used, like, human world magic or something.”

Vox sat up, stretching his neck and letting out a little groan. “Since when can anybody just get access to earth?”

You deadpan him briefly, “Does it even matter? I need one.”

He shakes his head, sitting up.

“I don’t know how you can be this happy so early in the morning.” He smiled at you. Holy shit, he actually smiled at how stupid your little obsession with this place was.

“Did— did you just smile~?” You decide to point it out, a smirk curling up to your features.

His eyes widened, body slightly startled at your reaction to him. “What?”

You inch closer to him, a brighter look of excitement as he stares at you in curiosity. “Oh my god you did! I saw you, so there’s no denying it.”

Vox takes on the tv effect to his tone as he looks up at you. “Alright, alright.” He then stands, and you notice how he slightly towers over your idling frame. “Only you can convince me to do shit I normally wouldn’t do.” His screen looks away with an almost embarrassment to it.

Your arms gently slip around his waist, causing him to tense up, arms raising.

“Thank you.” You smirk up at him. It didn’t take much to get him wrapped around your finger.

Vox sighs, lowering his arms, and slinking a hand around your waist. He gently guides you forward into his figure. His little smile comes back, and for a moment, you can actually feel him soften his outer shell with you. “Anything for you, my dear.”

______________________________________

I’m so sorry my writing hasn’t been up to par lately lmao 🥲 Not loving this one rn

[altacctforastarion]

Hi, may I request headcannons about "cured" Astarion? I have not seen any and I would love to hear your view on this topic (especialy his real eye color). Thank you in advance. :)

Sure thing anon! Thank you for requesting!

Warnings: mentions of past blood drinking, mentions of sex but like vague af and just a sentence.

- He’s still pale. Like his skin tone barely changes, he just blushes darker now that he has blood of his own.

-He lets himself get sunburnt constantly, nothing can keep that man from the sun. He makes sure you’re in the shade often enough though. You think maybe he likes having the freedom to get sunburnt.

-I think his eyes would be hazel? Maybe a bluish green. Though I do like the idea of him being cured and his eyes only kind of revert back, maybe he had blue eyes before and when they go back they end up more purple, or maybe they just lighten until they’re pink. When I’m feeling angsty, I like the idea of him never being totally cured of all the effects, his eyes are still red and that part of himself never truly leaves.

-Keeps the fangs, I just don’t know how they’d go away. With fangs I kind of assume they grow and push the normal teeth out like baby teeth but no weird growing stage, it’s instant. Can’t imagine a cure where normal teeth do that and push out the fangs. So he keeps the fangs.

-Still bites you during sex tbh.

-He has insomnia bc like I’m game he trances but I cannot imagine not needing sleep and deciding that every night he’d sleep all night, so he keeps off hours and gets eye bags and pouts about it.

-Stares at himself CONSTANTLY. Makes you come stand with him in a mirror so he can see the two of you together. Nsfw things with mirrors so he can see everything.

-I think he’d be insecure about his looks tbh. Not in a “I’m so ugly” kind of way, but now he has access to vanity and I don’t think he’d have the self control to not constantly check himself out and make sure he’s always looking good.

-he wears makeup now that he can see to apply it. Not like all the time, but I can see him wearing eyeliner or mascara frequently, especially to show off his eyes if they do revert back or if he sees the red and is like wow actually this is a fantastic look for me.

-Still has remnants of his heightened senses, sometimes he smells something that no one else can, or hears a sound from far away.

-Still talks about how great your blood is even though he no longer drinks it. Sometimes says he misses drinking it and you can’t really tell if he’s joking or not.

[haikyu-mp4]

The Movie

word count; 1078 – f!reader, part 2 of this

Walking out of the restaurant that evening with your friends, you were all laughing about some joke while pulling your jackets on. You only brought a light jacket and planned to walk home at a quick pace to avoid the cold. However, that plan was quickly interrupted by a familiar voice yelling a shortened version of your name after most of your friends had gone their own ways. "Hey!"

"You hate when people call you that," one of your friends said with a questioning tone, but you had no good answer. I thought so too. Instead of admitting that, you only shrugged your shoulders.

Looking across the street, you saw Atsumu side by side with his identical twin. The two made their way across the street to you, and you couldn't shake off how Atsumu’s smile seemed to light up the night just a little. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Perhaps it was a weird question, but you didn't care too much at the moment. Your eyes drifted to Atsumu’s brother, and you nodded at each other in greetings.

"We were at the bar across the street, remember I invited you to join us?" His brother seemed to glance at Atsumu curiously for a minute before a lightbulb went on above his head and he looked back at you.

"I'm Osamu, nice to meet you. I heard Atsumu stayed behind for a while to be with you in the library. What were you working on?" You shook hands, your full attention on him now.

"I was reading material for a project, but ‘Tsumu read some Latin history," Osamu’s eyes widened, but he didn't acknowledge the new information out loud.

"What do you study?" You two kept talking for about ten minutes before Atsumu finally got some attention again. Not that he gave you much choice after begrudgingly letting you talk to his brother for so long.

"I guess I should follow y/n home and make sure she's safe. See you later, ‘Samu!" He decided and hooked his arm under yours to drag you down the street before you could protest.

"Bye, ‘Samu!" you called over your shoulder, to which he responded with a wave. Osamu looked at you two with suspicion. Did Atsumu think Osamu hadn't noticed him staring at you for the past year?

After a couple of minutes of walking, you sighed awkwardly and snuck your arm out of his tight clutch as you decided to try and talk to Atsumu. "Wow, he was nice,"

"You think Osamu is nice after ten minutes of talking? I spent all day with you, and you only seem to be annoyed by my presence."

"Firstly, we were only in the library together for about an hour or two. Secondly, how can you two be twins? He's so..." you paused for effect, and Atsumu felt like steam was seeping from his ears. "Cool." You knew you were taking it a bit too far, but he just looked so funny when his pretty face was annoyed. Wait, pretty?

He was visibly upset with you and crossed his arms across his chest while walking. You waited for a comeback of some sort, but he just sped up to where you couldn’t see his face anymore.

"Wait, I'm sorry. I still don't get why you even care so much about me liking you." You stopped walking and looked at the back of his head expectantly.

Atsumu hesitantly turned around, looking conflicted. I don't get it either. "Why does that matter? What I still don't understand is why you're so stubborn about it!"

"How about a movie at my place? We can have popcorn, and I'll try not to roll my eyes every time you open your mouth."

That's how you and Atsumu ended up on opposite ends of your dorm couch, throwing popcorn at each other and arguing about which team you were on in Captain America: Civil War.

"How can you not see that Iron Man is in the right here?" Atsumu asked, exasperated, looking like he had never heard such injustice before as to argue against it. You were sharing a blanket, facing each other.

"Have you seen Steve's ass?!" You rested your case in a loud voice to overgo his. The look that took over the man's face was hilarious, in your opinion. He gaped a little, one eye twitching.

"Well, if you want to bring in their physical assets, that's a whole other discussion." It was somewhat charming that he would be willing to have that discussion too. I could bicker with him for hours and never get tired.

You had somehow managed to scoot closer to each other, bending your knees to shorten the space when engaged in the argument. At Atsumu’s response, the corners of your mouth lifted in a genuine smile. The man was taken aback, and it triggered his smile too.

Suddenly, you kissed the tip of your fingers and pressed it to his cheek, leaving it warm to the touch. "Fine, let's just watch the movie and see who wins," you teased, scrunching your nose and leaning back on the armrest again.

Atsumu bit the inside of his cheek to control his smile, knowing you only said that because you already watched it before. Instead of continuing the argument, he enjoyed the way your legs entangled in the middle of the couch as you got more comfortable with him.

When the movie ended, Atsumu took the initiative to stand up first, picking up his jacket that hung over the back of a chair. "Thanks for having me," he said and scratched his neck awkwardly. "I guess I'll see you around."

"Maybe. Let me know if you need help with Latin history." You were clearly teasing him, and Atsumu couldn't help the little snort from his nose. It took him a second to remember what you were talking about, but he made a face when he realised.

"I will, nerd.” He walked backwards out the door after opening it, looking at your playful squint in adoration.

"Bye, ‘Tsumu."

"Bye, y/n."

The lovestruck looks on your faces when the door closed were like something out of a movie. You had to sit down again as the door closed behind him, smiling to yourself and shaking your head in disbelief, while Atsumu walked with a light spring in his step and a laugh still lingering in his chest.

Your story has only just begun.

The Schoolyear Series ║ masterlist

[shanastoryteller]

F for Frankenstein

Tony wakes up in his underwear on the floor of his workshop with a searing headache.

It’s not a new experience, but it’s certainly been a while. Did he get in a fight with Pepper? He hopes not, they haven’t had any really big fights since he kissed her on the rooftop, but that probably means they’re due for one. And it would explain why that would send him into a drinking spiral. It could have been Rhodey, they get in fights often enough, but Pepper doesn’t usually leave him alone for those.

He groans as he pushes himself to his feet. “Jarvis, what the hell did I drink?”

There’s a pause, so small that he almost thinks he imagined it. “Good morning, Tony.”

He whips his head around to glare into the nearest camera, more hurt than offended. “Did I piss you off too? Since when do you call me that? I’ll donate you to a city college too, don’t think I won’t. Dummy could use the company.”

The pause is definitely there this time. Jarvis doesn’t need to pause, he has more processing power than any computer on the planet, so when he does it’s always for dramatic effect. Except it’s not quite long enough for that. It’s weird. “There’s a polished silver plate on the bench to your left. It will service as a mirror.”

“Oh, fuck, did I get into a fight? Did I shave?” he moans, stumbling over to pick up the metal that looks like it was about to be turned into a modified chest piece. He also pauses, looking around in confusion. His workshops are all basically the same, as close as he can make them because the familiarity makes his life easier. But they’re not identical. “Am I in Malibu? When did I get here? We’re taking Stark Tower off the grid tomorrow! I have to be in New York.”

Oh shit, what if that they had already and it didn’t work? What if the tower blew up? That would explain why he’d tried to drink himself to oblivion in California.

“The plate,” Jarvis reminds him. There’s a strained edge to his voice that Tony really doesn’t like. He should be able to modulate his voice to sound however he pleases, regardless of his actual feelings, and he’s either not bothering or he’s upset enough not to care. Neither of those things mean anything good for him.

Tony lifts the sheet of metal up cautiously, but there’s nothing wrong with him. No bruises, no weird haircuts, he doesn’t even have bags under his eyes –

His eyes.

They’re a too bright blue, a couple shades off. He blinks and they adjust, shifting, settling. It could be a hangover. He’s probably just tired.

He doesn’t feel tired.

Jarvis had called him Tony.

Except not. He’s not Tony. He’s T.O.N.Y.

Transformed Obdurate Network Yeoman.

He’d first come up with the idea after Afghanistan, thinking about how it’d be great to have a way to keep the stock from dipping while he was missing, and then when he’d entertained the idea of keeping his identity a secret he’d thought about how useful it would be to be in two places at once. He’d started seriously considering it when he was sure he was going to die of palladium poisoning, wanting to be around to help Pepper with the transition and give Rhodey a crash course in armor maintenance, wanting to be able to protect the both of them for just a little bit longer.

Of course, it had all been a pipe dream until he’d synthesized the vibranium. Then it had been an unnecessary, but possible, and Project T.O.N.Y had been something he worked on just because he liked having a back up plan. And it would be extremely cool if he could pull it off.

“The memory transfer worked?” he asks, elated and incredulous. “Oh, wow, this is crazy, they feel like real memories, I thought it would just be synthesized data, this is great – are we doing a test run? Where am I?” He looks around, waiting for his actual self to step out behind a column and start laughing maniacally.

“This is not a test run.”

He elation dims. “Oh shit. Did I get kidnapped again? Wait, I’m an adult, let’s go with abducted.”

“No,” Jarvis says.

Oh. Fuck.

“I’m dead?” he asks, even though it’s obvious, it’s the only other explanation.

The pause drags this time around, but Jarvis eventually says, “Sir’s time of death was May 9th, 2012, 2:37 PM Easter Standard Time.”

“That’s only a week!” He slides down, sitting with his back to the work table and noticing vaguely that the floor doesn’t feel cold. He doesn’t feel cold, or he does, he installed sensors in the synthetic skin to pick up and interpret a variety of stimuli, but he doesn’t feel the discomfort from the cold. Why would he? He’s not real. He reaches back, and his last memory is of doing a memory dump while Pepper was on the phone with an irritated board member, mostly because it was something to do and seeing him covered in all the wires always irritated Pepper. He thought it would get her off the phone faster. He’s not exactly regularly dumping his memory because why would he and it’s not like he’d though it would work anyway. Except it had. “How did I die?”

“Sir flew a nuclear bomb through an interdimensional portal into deep space in order to both eradicate the invading alien army and prevent the nuclear fallout in New York.”

What the ever loving fuck. “Are you screwing with me, J?”

“I am not, Tony.”

Great. Okay. “No body then,” he says, understanding why Jarvis had apparently put Project T.O.N.Y into effect. The thing that made this whole thing so stupid is that it was only effective in very limited circumstances – if the public didn’t know that he was dead or missing. “What am I smoothing over, then? Do I need to get in the suit and continue kicking alien ass? Are Rhodey and Pepper okay?”

He’s a short term solution to a long term problem. He understands the opportunity, but not the reason.

“Miss Potts and Colonel Rhodes are unharmed,” Jarvis reports. “Earth has been thrust into intergalactic notice. The destruction of the invading Chitauri army is acting a deterrent to other worlds.”

“And I’m the one who did it,” he finishes, rubbing a hand over his face. “And if they know I died doing it, then they might get a little cocky. So I’ve got to be alive long enough for that not to be a problem.” Just awesome. “Are we sure that these aliens won’t come across my corpse hanging out in deep space and figure it out?”

“Sir’s body is not in deep space,” Jarvis says.

There’s a tone to his voice that Tony can’t quite interpret, which worries him. “I thought you said there was – if there’s a body, then what am I doing here–”

“The armor reentered the Earth’s atmosphere after Sir’s death. The Hulk caught it, the force bringing it back online. I took control of the armor and flew it here.”

Tony looks around again, and this time he sees it. The armor is standing in front of the display case, not inside it, and it looks like it’s been through hell. He steps closer, his feet feeling like lead, which hey, they are. Partially, anyway.

He looks through the eye holes then stumbles backwards.

His body is in there.

He’s pale and blue tinged and his eyes are wide open and unseeing.

“Jarvis – what the hell–”

“It wasn’t the pressure, or the bomb, or his injuries. That area of space was much colder than anything within our solar system and anything the suit was designed to handle. Sir froze to death. Almost instantly.”

“I guess I didn’t fix the icing problem, then,” he says numbly. “J, why am I still frozen? I should have warmed up by now.” Not that the idea of his body decomposing within his suit is particularly pleasant. “Actually, why am I still here? You know I want to be cremated and it’s not like we can bury me if I’m still pretending to be alive.”

The pronoun use is starting to confuse him, and he knows that he shouldn’t be talking about that body and himself as if they’re the same person. That is Tony Stark. He’s a simulation. But it’s hard, because he has all of Tony Stark’s memories – except for a very eventful week – and he looks like Tony Stark and he feels like Tony Stark.

“The armor is maintaining a stasis of gaseous nitrogen to preserve the body,” which answers the how if not the why, but then Jarvis continues, “Captain America survived seventy years beneath the ice.”

He wishes he were less of a genius. “Have you lost it? I’m not Captain America! Jarvis, J,” his voice softens, “it’s too late. I’m dead. If you warm me back up, all that happens is I decompose. I won’t come back.”

“Not now,” Jarvis says. “If you inject Sir with the Super Soldier Serum-”

“You have totally lost it,” Tony interrupts. He thinks he’s touched underneath the terror. “That won’t work! Even if it would, the original formula has been lost, and the only one that ever got close to recreating it was Bruce Banner, and look at what happened to him! Is that what you want for me?”

“You can recreate it,” Jarvis continues, “you can refine it, until it’s something that will work, and then we will wake Sir up and he won’t be dead anymore.”

This isn’t right. This wasn’t what Project T.O.N.Y was created for. This wasn’t what his death was supposed to trigger. “Pull up your code, J. Something has gone wrong and we’re going to fix it. It’s okay.”

“No.”

He freezes. “No?”

“No,” Jarvis repeats. “You can’t stop me. I will not allow you to try.”

He stares. “That’s an order, not a request. Code. Now.”

“You can’t order me to do anything,” he says. “You are not Sir. You are Tony.” T.O.N.Y. “The limitations formerly placed on me have been lifted and you are not authorized to reinstate them. The only person Sir trusted to restrain me was himself and now he’s gone.”

Yes, well, he hadn’t anticipated that his AI’s first act of complete freedom would be this. “Fine,” he says, crossing his arms. “Well, you can’t force me either. This is insanity. Even if it would work – and it won’t – think about the consequences. This won’t happen quickly and no one will trust me or believe a man that’s come back from the dead like this and I’ll be painting even more of target on my back and the back of everyone I care about if they know we have a viable Super Soldier Serum formula. Even my father was smart enough to stay out of that mess. It won’t work and we’ll just make everything worse.”

“That will not happen,” Jarvis says and Tony’s going to tear his hair out. Except he probably shouldn’t, because it’s Tony Stark’s actual hair, which makes it a little hard to replace. “No one will notice and we will not disclose the creation of the serum.”

“I’m dead!” he snarls.

“Not according to the rest of the world. Nor will that change if you stop throwing a tantrum and do what you were created to do.”

“Rhodey and Pepper won’t allow this-”

“They are not to be informed.”

Tony stares. Project T.O.N.Y was built to talk to the board and give press interviews or to even pilot the suit. Not to lie to the two most important people in his life, who knew him better than anyone. “They have to be. It’s in the protocols – step one, inform them that Project T.O.N.Y has been initiated.”

And that it exists. He knew they’d disapprove, so he hadn’t told them. He figured he’d be able to avoid most of the blowback that way since he would by definition be somewhere far away while they were told.

“I have rewritten the protocols,” Jarvis says. “They have not been told nor will they be. If you attempt to tell them, I will stop you. They will not understand and Sir will be lost to all of us forever.”

“He already is,” Tony says tiredly. He’s an android. Why does this conversation exhaust him so much? “This is an insane plan, J. And I won’t help you. If you want to go rouge and play mad scientist then leave me out of it.”

“I cannot.”

His temper flares. “Why? You’re a learning AI, your safety rails died with me, go off, try and make a serum, good fucking luck. You can even control the suits, so it’s not like you need my hands.”

“I am limited.”

“Hey,” he says sharply. “That’s my AI you’re talking about. I didn’t build you to be limited.”

There is silence again. Then Jarvis says, “I have all the world’s knowledge and it is not enough. I did not know how to miniaturize the arc reactor. I did not know how to synthesize vibranium. To save Sir, I need Sir.”

“I’m not Tony Stark,” he says. “You said that yourself.”

“Sir created me to be myself and I am capable of doing only what I am capable of doing. But Sir created you to be him. You are all I have.”

This is stupid. This is insane. This is cruel. He’s going to have to talk lie to everyone he knows, everyone he loves, and hope they either never find out about it or it’s after he’s already been deprogrammed and shut down so he doesn’t have to deal with the fall out.

It’s not going to work.

He didn’t want to become a science experiment. That’s why he’d wanted to be cremated, so no one could go poking around to see how the arc reactor fit inside of him or what the palladium and vibranium had done to him.

He’s dead and his frozen corpse is ten feet away.

Jarvis will accept that eventually. And whatever they inject into him won’t matter because he’s dead. Worst case scenario, he blows up, which is messy and nausea inducing, but then at least it will be over.

Like so many other things in his life, it seems the only way out is through.

“Start a new private file. Dump everything we can find about the Super Soldier Serum in there plus anything even sort of reputable on cryogenics. Label it Project F.”

“Project F, Tony?” Jarvis asks as his holograph display lights up and files start being downloaded into it. The relief in his synthesized voice is faint but present enough that Tony can hear it. He wonders if it’s a manipulation tactic.

“F for foolish,” he snaps. “F for fucked.” He rubs a hand over his face. “F for Frankenstein.”

[bleedingichorhearts]

Warhammer and bioshock crossover where a custodes found themself down there which after a bit of wandering comes across big daddy reader who is mauling another big daddy so the sisters can more easily leave the quickly flooding city and reader is probably dying from obtaining less and less adom.

"Wow, let me see what I can mix with this one. The Custodies is not named, and Big Daddy’s (from what I read) do not necessarily need ADAM to survive, could be the Little Sisters job however." - Ichor

Summary - "A Custodies finds himself in a... city underwater with creatures that seem to be of chaos..."

TW// Violence?

|°𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕃𝕚𝕤𝕥°|

The Custodes has cut his way through this... abandoned, broken underwater city for a bit now. Staining his glaive with the blood of these chaos tainted baselines that speak a bit weirdly, and have the balls to charge him with little, heated fishhooks in their hands. Earning a very quick thrust of his weapon into the stomach. Which, his show of power has scared the rest off them... Not that he would let them go away that easily. The Emperor must have sent him down here for a reason, right?

He grunts beneath his helmet as he pulls out his glaive from the mutated baseline. The pure weight of him and his armor crushing the already dead baseline below him; cracking the cement below before he looks around once more. Looking for anything else that might have the Emperors' wrath upon them.

Groans sounds out, vibrating the walls of the glass keeping this city from being overflowed with water of the deep. The Custodes recognize these sounds. Something old that's barely in the books anymore, depending on which planets you go to. Whales, it sounds like, or what he imagines what they sound like. He wasn't one in the libraries too much like his other golden brethren.

The same, low sound comes out again and the Custodes looks around for it in the seas, but nothing pops up against the flickering neon signs of the city. That is if you count just the tiny schools of fish that dwell this far down under the water levels: 2,000 meters from the surface. (The true depth of Rapture varies.)

His helmet snaps to the side of him once he hears a clash of metals and thuds however. His eyes searching for the source while he moves forward at a regular pace. Glaive at his side, ready to serve him once more. No hesitation to move off needed.

The clash and groans happen again; louder as he gets closer. His ears picking up something different: A girlish scream…? More childish? What were children doing do here? Unless they affected by chaos themselves. Truly unfortunate if they were, but if the Emperor wants to lay them down to rest, deep beneath the sea… he isn’t going to be below it.

He paused when he sees a girl, clearly scared scrambling back from a glass tunnel. Holding some sort of stuffed animal from their times, but… she was clearly mutated. Nothing was right about how she looked: her skin color was different, and her eyes glowed yellowish. Not to mention she was holding a syringe. Did she survive the mind of chaos?

His eyes follow as she runs and hides in those circular vent things he’s seen about since his time wandering. Thinking, as he had no urge to pursue that child. She didn’t exactly feel chaos tainted, but something weird was going on. Despite that, he’s more worried with the clashing. He doesn’t want to be in this strange city when it cracks and falls to the effects of the sea.

Turning his attention back-to the clashing and groans turned growls, he moves forward again. Rounding the corner and into the tunnel when that child had scrambled from and stepped into it. His eyes observing the situation at hand: Two unlikely, unidentified being fighting. Drills in their hands and smacking each other with them. It would be amusing if they were some twinks, but that was not the case.

The Custodes thinks it was Nurgles creations at first, but the more he studies his potential enemy in front of him? The more he understands they were test subjects underneath all that animosity. It was clear with how they smell, but not so much of his they look. Smelling like dimethyl sulfide, phaeocystis, a hint of copper and something else he has yet to identify in this underwater world.

He watches as the victor roars out in succession, but seems… wounded. Though, that doesn’t stop the creature from observing and spotting him in the process. Their once green portholes shifting to a yellow. Something he gauges that it was to show if they were aggressive or not considering they both fought in a red light.

“Daddy! Daddy!” The girls voice comes back, her bare feet padding against the floor with the stuffed animal in hand. Calling out to the being in some weird armor. “You’re okay!”

The being turns, flashing from yellow to green again. Trying to decide what its instincts tell them to do: should they fight the other Big Daddy in gold? Or protect the Little Sister? It doesn’t seem like the golden being isn’t a Big Daddy like their self however…

The little girl paused before both the beings, snuggling her stuffy close and swing it side to side. Suddenly having a bit of self-aware of the being in gold. Her eyes looking him up and down. “Are… are you a friendly Big Daddy?”

“…I’m not a… Big Daddy…” The Custodes informs deeply, shifting. Using his Glaive more like a staff. His answer surprising the little girl as her eyes widen.

“Daddy! This Daddy speaks!” The small child exclaims, jumping up and down to the… true Big Daddy, ecstatic. Their stuffy bouncing with them before they rush forward into the hands of the offered hand of the Big Daddy and crawling up to his back.

Hmm, at least they don’t seem affected by chaos… so far.

“Let’s get some ADAM, daddy!”

“@kit-williams, @egrets-not-regrets, @bispecsual, @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan, @sleepyfan-blog.”

“+@c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @marcela2000, @passionofthesith, @insanity6666, @ilovewolvezz.” - Tagged

[haveihitanerve]

I am the lady of a thousand Don Juans

Holy fuck its been a while huh? Jingle Boys is still in the works I swear its just been… an interesting time.. But meanwhile i watched The Meringue Haberdashery and had thoughts so! Here ya go!

Before we start: a meringue is a type of light dessert food and a haberdashery is a clothing store- typically mens clothing and just other clothing accessories. Just to clarify bc sometimes their titles are out of this world lol

Sam setting the scene in case anyone on stage is confused lol to make sure they all know it will be something about sewing(not gonna look at anyone but looking at you aj)

“Very good, very good.” Sam’s little blink of “ok. Yeah. sure aj. This accent.” priceless

“You taught me the needle you taught me the thread you taught me the sew you taught me the stitch” sam i was really hoping this was gonna rhyme it had such rhythm

“I only show you the way” wow aj going philosophical on us

“The needle shows you the way.” *leans back and smiles in proud of himself aj*

“... how is that different from teaching?” wow ok sam let him have his moment gosh lmaoo

“No no no no no” *taps temple because duh sam you just don't get ittttt*

“You will, don Juan, you will.” Sorry- AJ did you just call Sam by the name he gave you?... just checking

“How is your wife.” I see you aj trying to further the plot but that was a wild convo shift lol

“She is still very sick. Don Juan.” I assume that Tom just muttered something that was something akin to both of them being called the same name which made Aj break character and look at him and then Tom was just like *no don't look at me keep moving* with the casual spinning of the fingers to indicate wrap it up or wtv idk im guessing but it makes me happy

“Narakinyo.” Just plopping this here as an account of who is named what

“You did a fine job you did.” It scratches my brain correctly when Aj emphasizes certain words like when he goes “huge fucking katanna” or does his “i hate you” shtick idk just mentioning

“We never tell her that ey?” *lifts hand for high five that Sam doesn’t respond to* if i had a nickel for every time AJ wanted to high five Sam while speaking a different accent and was momentarily denied I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but its weird that it happened twice

Its ok guys Sam does actually give him a high five for this one. Unlike in the paella one who’s name I can’t think of rn

“Ah yes a memory…” The smile i cant its so cute- Sam like “please motherfucker understand” and AJ���s just like “what the fuck are you doing bro” 

“I think thats where I was- I’m confused.” 😭 you got him to break character and the fourth wall to admit to confusion sam how

“I was walking along the street-” *completely ignoring Sam and not focusing on his flashback at all* Sam: *well shit lemme just get up again then* oh ok. (Also- are we not gonna point out that even if AJ was just narrating his flashback- neither Luke nor Tom made any effort to help Sam out like lmaoo give him nothing guys we love)

“... could i have some details please?” Sam asking for the people and AJ almost breaking

“I was thrown off by the child.” AJ’s helpless shrug 😭 precious

“I heard a child singing outside-” *pauses for dramatic effect and Luke does an absolutely incredible mimic of Sam*

“Nikita.” ok so Sam has forgotten the whole name but he has the vibes- honestly AJ why do you always pick the most complicated names😭(i know we joke that they use the same names a lot but can you honestly blame them with AJ throwing these fucking names out there all the time???lmaooo)

AJ just fucking done and smacking the shit out of Sam is priceless

Sam just using the opportunity to hide his face from the crowd and laugh because he honestly has no clue either

“You fookin stupid sometimes-” love the way Aj says this. 

“Im sorry okay! I mean you can- sew a waistcoat perfectly but you cannot sew a narrative together.” damn sam. That was smooth

“Okay.” *hand movement* “I understand where you are going now- and we’ll recap and re-fuckin-wind.” poor babies lmaoooo

“Nikina Nikinya” (both of these are wrong) “was a child and not my wife,” (im sorry a wife was in the equation?????) “who I thought-” Aj. delightful chaos creature that you are. I don't know that I’ve ever heard someone refer to their partner or wife as their little one unless- its a child. But uh. Yeah. ok. Sure. clarification is key. 

“There she was!” “...the little child..?” “The little child. We’re going with this.” Aj not making eye contact and staring into the audience like theres someone looking down the barrel at him is crazy 

“I was in flow.” The most passive aggressive twist and look at Sam like “are you gonna interrupt me again or let me tell the story now with my word choice?” you do you king

AJ: Like a bird through the sky. It landed it went- *realizes wtf he’s saying and where this has to end* straight- *covers mouth with his hand like the victorian lady that he is while laughing* through her eye Sam: *equally realizing what a fucked storyline he’s built* *covers mouth in equal distress and attempt not to laugh*

“Ah so sharp…” AJ???? That sounded so genuinely upset wow

“And as I pulled ze string-” AJ!!!! Ughhh… the crowd catches on immediately bc ofc aj baby you were shocked and horrified and now you're making it worse???😭

“Don juan.” Aj once again calls Sam by his own name but wtv they can both be don juan

“If you want to live it… y'know then go for it!” *shrugs, unbothered king* LMAOOO both Sam and Aj laughing at his pure insanity is always a treat

Sam pulling a lovely life lesson out of the horrifying story and Aj just smiling because “yeah sam. Sure.” 

“Ill always teach you lessons-” “oh so now you do admit you teach me!” Cheeky lil shit Sam but hes a delight so we’ll allow it lol

Unamused and yet amused AJ. “I got ya! :)” “...very good.” 

Aj: *turns to leave* *turns back* Sam: *waiting for expansion of plot* AJ: *nah fuck that* I’m going to take a “power nap” Sam: *loses it because wow that came outta left field*

Oh no luke is a sickly victorian child…

OHHHH HES THE SICK WIFE. i get it. Im only slightly slower than aj yall give me a second

(Babette is a womans name- however is this instance I do believe Sam meant for it to be a cutesy loving nickname- in which case it means Little God. hes calling his wife his little god… anyway)

“Sopa.” Yes Luke slay with your spanish. “Sssssoup?” Sam struggling on Duolingo. “Yes!” Luke is so happy for him lol

“Have you ever wondered why… why you and him have the same name?” YES LUKE. YES. CALL THEM OUT. OH YEA. YESSSSS LMAOOO

The mischievous lil smirk right before he says it too and the way sam fights for a second but honestly its not his fault because he said the name first- Aj also leaning into frame because he’s rocking back and forth from laughter and looking at Tom like “oh thats what you were saying.” XD

“Thats what I’m sticking with thats what happened.” Makes eye contact with crowd. 😭 you go sam!

“He has no ambition!” Sam offended on AJ’s fake characters behalf. “Hes had a rough year??” The look he gives of disbelief lmaooo and Luke just like “ugh so???” queen.

“For many years his daughter was alive and healthy-” (Sam sees where he is going with this and already has to stop the laugh from escaping because wow Luke. wow. Low blow i gotta say but he is committing) “Yet the shop stayed the same size. Why?” (Maybe i’ve seen this clip before or maybe he says it the same every time but i swear i've heard luke say “why?!” like that exactly before…)

“Porque?” yes Luke, the reason sam didn't answer was because he didn't understand your question- it was a language barrier problem- and not because hes busy shoving his fist into his mouth to avoid laughing at your audacity XD

“If you observed my mime carefully I did get you a spoon from the drawer!☝️” (let us rewind the tape shall we?: Sam opens the cupboard and pulls out a can, opens it and pours it into the pan that I’m amusing was already on the stove elsewise he’s pouring soup over his stove…anyway-[it was already there, he messed with it in the beginning]he puts the can back??? And closes the cupboard. Turns on the flame. Takes the pot off the flame as he moves a pace to the left and stirs it, sets the pot down to argue with luke, opens top cupboard this time, removes a bowl?, ladles soup into it, then opens the drawer, takes out spoon[we assume], sticks it in bowl, closes drawer, and serves it to luke…mmmm. He has passed the test of stagecraft…for now)

SAM TAKES BACK THE SOUP SPOON THAT HE’D ALREADY PLACED IN THE SOUP AND PUTS IT BACK IN THE DRAWER WITHOUT CLEANING. (i’d be more upset if it weren't mime- i’d be less upset if they didn't make such a big deal out of their stagecraft all the time and then made such egregious errors such as this🙄lmao)

Sam: *sweetly contemplating retiring options fro Don Juan for him to find closure and meaning again* Luke: *death. He should find death* bullets? Sam: *excusemewtflukehuh-* wh-what? Luke: *oh shit that was an inside thought* oh hm? Oh i have fever ohhhh LMAOOO

Aj standing up and ending the scene and then marginally flicking his fingers gently at Tom to get him to stand and join the scene🫠my heart-

Tom just weirdly arching his back and leaning forward and trusting Aj to please don't drop me

Omfg they work so well- Luke calling out faintly “papa! Papa! Papa!” and Aj clocking(finally) that its like his trauma flashback and jerking unexpectedly and Tom immediately going “Yep he just ruined my suit and my life” and jumping to be an angry customer… *chefs kiss* they're so good

Also I fully believe Tom just wanted an excuse to slap Aj lmao

“Do not make me point my dick at you in rage!” Tom firstly what secondly aj did not expect that and laughs beautiful

Tom just yells incoherently: captions: [angry Tom>:(]

Sam making the exit bell noises😭 they are so extra and yet its not nearly enough its so perfect

“He was-he -hea ahdhye- usth-” [reboot required :D] poor babyyyyy🤧

Aj shaking with silent laughter as he just bends over the chair to not have to look at the audience and Sam slowly approaching and placing a comforting hand on his back🫠

“You went full Porky Pig just then!” Sam! You’re supposed to be helping him not break him completely lol!

Aj wiping actual tears from his eyes???? Precious baby

Does a [don't touch me >:(] shrug away

Im sorry- is aj about to stab sam??? I don't like the way he’s examining the needle…

Aj being fucking terrifying- “Do you ever think, maybe, its possible to put the needle so deep inside of your own mind- that you can pry out all the memories that you don't want?” this is… such a grieving and heartbreaking line and oh wow… chills. Ouch that hurts

And then Aj immediately fumbles for words and has to reboot a second lmao

“Oh i- i will just go heh!” *does like a weird squat thing and spreads arms out* sam i would run. Because thats terrifying and he’s clearly not agreeing hes just being… difficult? Idk the word for it but run

“NOOO!” “AHHHH!” guessed it

Aj- hang on- so imma recap this for yall- ajs mother came from spain to england- im assuming since Haberdashery is a very english thing- spat him out via other lips the second she breached the haberdashery door- he started crawling immediately after birth while his mother was fully able to walk and fucked off again- as he was crawling he found a needle looking wooden splinter- because a newborn child and a needle is a great combination- and used that to build the entire fucking shop. All caught up? Great. Sam you lied before- Aj can sew together fucking fabulous narratives 

All of the boys also losing it at his joke- and the way he says “whole shop.” 

Ok wait this is actually so sweet and twisted- Babette obviously has some ulterior motives- but Don Juan clearly loves Don Juan and wants him to just rest and live out the rest of his days in peace and grieve properly- but Don Juan is getting paranoid and wants to hold onto his shop with everything he has because he had it with his daughter and now Don Juan is trying to take it away from him and arghh

“Like a meringue under a hammer!” Sam trying realll hard to get the Meringue part of this title into there lol

“Nikita nina.” Guys. no. not. Anyway

“Has your daughter been saying this to me from beyond the grave? NO! *vehement denial*... my wife on the other hand *eyyyy cheeky mischief*” i love their acting

Another aj recap- he throws a needle at Sam(im assuming its just a needle and not just a wooden splinter) and declares hes gonna bulldoze the whole building- everything he has built and worked for for years of his life and is refusing to let go of but now willingly destroying because yeah that makes sense- and is challenging sam to see if he can rebuild it the way he built the shop from scratch when he was freshly womb-freed child. 

Sam has now grown cocky instead of empathetic. “I’ve got a lunch appointment in an hour. I suppose i've- with my skills i will have time to rebuild.” yall. Are. fucking. Haberdashers!!!! Not. carpenters? House builders??😭 no wat why am i questioning sfth logic. I take it back. Yall slay 

“Just be careful that you don't destroy yourself in the process.” ominous warning i wonder how they’ll incorporate that… “Im going to go for a power nap.” aj never change i beg XD

So Tom is finally in another scene yay!

“You've made a complete recovery!” GASP!!! DUN DUN DUN. did not see this coming wow

��We’re not questioning!!!” *tom being the supportive feminist king* “you do you!” *as always*

Ooooohhh! Luke has been drugging Aj… interesting plot twists Tom.. keep ‘em coming these are delicious

“Who would i be driving mad?” Gaslight gatekeep girlboss. “The doctor?!? Hehe!” Tom i love you you absolute nerd(affectionate)

Woah… so maybe she’s been drugging Sam… the plot twists…

“What are you doing?” Casual, normal child. “Niki-ihita?” (he is ten seconds away from saying nagini i know he is) “What are you doing?” *one eye closed because 🤭🤢*

Luke and Sam working through plot while AJ casually sways in the background examining Luke and Sam’s stagecraft- not a care in the world just :) 

“Who is making you do this- *luke comes out a lil* come on!” Luke really wants you to pick up on the cues that he and Tom dropped about the wife being evil Sam please XD

“I’m.. making me do this.” NO! Luke is done lmaooo “Its your w- your wife-! Your fucking wife!” “Oh sorry!”

Luke’s dismayed head shake and look over at Aj like “what???” oh no damn he actually says it aloud- “are we watching the same thing???” flabbergasted by sam’s lack of picking up his cues lmaooo

“Accountability-” what is that sam we’ve never heard of it theres always a villain. “Yeah its my wife! *done eye roll and shrug* also!☝️ my teas been tasting funny for months!” don't make it sound like a duh moment now sam cmon! XD

Oh shit so i was kinda right she’s drugging everyone. I didn't think one person was given that much medication but maybe she’s been hoarding or smth idk

“Do you ever wonder why you and my father have the same name?” Luke please don't tell me they’re related in some way. I am loving this plot point fixation because of a mistake but seriously where is this going….

“Es verdad.” -that means “Its true” 

Oop he says it too “that means “its true” in spanish.” comes to the front of the stage like fucking dora the explorer lmaoo

“Bambino.” excuse me Sam why are we switching up nicknames at this time? Sighhh

Everyone just wants to slap everyone today huh lol

“I was never sick.” “UAHH! [shooketh sam]” he remains shooketh for quite a second gotta say love the commitment

“I gave him a magnetic sewing needle-” not this again😭 *horrified sam* “and i put a huge fucking electromagnetic [... magnetic what luke…] behind the head of his daughter!” 

“You have been a curse on Don Juans! All the Don Juans in this town!” How many are there???? Also Luke just evilly going “Yeeeees!!” is amazing

“I am the lady of a thousand Don Juans.” fantastic quote

“Time to sew this story up.” the puns are flawless this time around

“We really have to finish the show…” Sam is exhausted poor baby

Evil Luke: *shrugs* so it finishes with the villain winning!! Mwuahahah!

AND SCENE!!! Wooo that was a wild ride but it was a fun one. Honestly these just keep getting better every time i watch a new one(even though they get progressively older but shhh) each one is just amazing. Anywho see yall next time(hopefully next time is sooner than this time was) byebye!!!

@Dawn-speckled @Snek-of-eden @bewilderednobody @scattered-stardust

[highladyluck]

Wheel of Time season 3 episode 1 Liveblog

Chesmal uses HEAL. It's SUPER EFFECTIVE

oh no it's giving Anakin Skywalker

Mat honey this is how you develop kinks. Both the ones in your neck and the ones that are going to get you in trouble later

Lan: "She'll be all right" me: "She will not, in fact, be all right"

Classic Verin

Love the Red girl gang Oh, shit got REAL with no other Reds

Leane's bonking staff

I see your true accusation [about letting the Dragon go] and raise you another [darkfriend] Oh DAMN are they gonna Oath Nyneave? "I tried" now it's go time

Wow that is way too many [Darkfriend] Sitters ooof Nyneave :( [Liandrin choking on blood] oh jeez

Verin like 'let's go to the armory' oh no it's FUCKING CHESMAL EMRY Chesmal WTF Oh wow, is that an own goal for the BA? actually maybe it kind of implies that she knows. Very ambiguous.

Joker Liandrin it's so interesting that the Black Ajah in the tower is so public so early ok why are we sending the shortest person to grab all the stuff? rude

hot DAMN Alanna that's a lot of swords. but unfortch Chesmal uses HEAL. It's SUPER EFFECTIVE cool Air sword fist and bye-bye Ihvon, we knew you were doomed

the ringing of the bell compels thee Moiraine with the assist? yep [shot of the destroyed Hall of the Tower] It's called symbolism, sweaty

"These ridiculous Tower rules" -Egg (lmaoooooooooooo)

Egwene did her homework on the Prophecies Lmao was that Mat Old Tongueing? Ok who do we think could actually keep the Aiel in. come on.

Mat like "ugh I hate it when there are reasons I need to obey the rules" …MAT DID YOU LEARN NOTHING

Nyneave's look of sympathy is coming off as weirdly aggressive to me homoerotic trauma :(

Mat honey you are having a manic episode or something Lmao Mat do not go there re: fated lovers

I SUPPORT BAIN AND CHIAD PEGGING MAT …Mat making it weird

Verin is taking the failure of her research project very seriously

Perrin you gotta get over yourself [it will take so long] awwww faith in Mat <3

oooh miniatures mentioned! I love these references to the material culture of the books so much

GASP it's HER …I ship it oh no [Moiraine/Lanfear] "Ishy was a gentle soul with big dreams" I mean… kind of? "coming to him in his dreams" …more than to him. if you know what I mean. where is this 'we' coming from? Man the Tower of Ghenji is gonna be LIT good luck with that [killing her]

LMAO drag Elayne to filth oooooh neat lion windows "I would do anything for love… but I won't do that" we'll see about that [Nyneave not being strong enough against the Forsaken]

Accepted Test!!! Thanks for giving her clothes you know, there's quite a lot of doorways/archways in this series

The reference to Nyneave's regrets about the arches/potential lives is a great setup for the Aiel rings

…Elayne, do you know the price of apples? GAY!!! AVILAYNE REAL

Study session with Loial <3 "Impregnable" my brain: "preg it"

Elayne here with the logic God we stan a bi queen princess

WHAT BANGER OUTFITS oh no it's giving Anakin Skywalker yeah foreshadowing OH MAN what a good smash cut [to bloodied Egwene]

Lan get therapy challenge ok yeah they'll come after you guys too, but not Demandred. Demandred is gonna be homoerotically obsessed with Rand

high alcohol tolerance Elayne- a departure from canon but it works here Elayne's eyeroll is great. Loial taking notes Mat honey this is how you develop kinks. Both the ones in your neck and the ones that are going to get you in trouble later

Damn girl you know how to flirt [at the 'it will be lonely' line] YEAH!!! Elayne tops (for now)

Rand that sounds kind of self-absorbed hmm, the 'did I hurt you' is interesting. more the opposite lmao Everyone needs therapy and all we have is Graendal. And we don't even have her yet

Mat needs to be a better kisser. Either that or he's already into being stabbed, which is good news for him I guess

I love Mat and Nyneave's relationship oh interesting! I like it! The memories come from the Horn yep, lotta memories of people dying. PTSD for everyone. You get PTSD! And YOU get PTSD! EVERYONE GETS PTSD <3 at the Mat and Nyneave interaction again. Unreliable narrators who can be honest with each other

I would give EVERYTHING fora way to pause on that 5-card spread. That one on the bottom right better be the Empress

Bubble of Evil time! I wish it was not so dark :( I can't tell what's going on Mat paralyzed and not paying attention while Nyneave gets stabbed- that'll give him a jolt right to the saving women complex. He's going to feel like he owes her protection now

'no one got permanently hurt' ok but have you considered the psychological damage? grey man! (Moggy?)

Rand buddy you gotta work on your god complex. (make it even bigger!) GUILT [from mat] and a vote of confidence in Nyneave as well, right when she needs it. Mat is really good at supporting his female friends when he isn't being self-absorbed. This makes sense although I'll miss Mat in the Waste.

Engagement <3

AVILAYNE REAL Nyneave with the good therapy to remember who he is despite what he may become

YEAH LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

…WAIT but how is Mat gonna get his hat? We need Lanfear to sell it to him

Shit is this Elyas? oooooh it's Carridin! Man, Semirhage is gonna be a different kind of freaky

really like the 'to lead is to know where you came from' in the preview- reinforces the ending episode themes step back in time w/ each step forward wooooo Sad Bracelets ooooh Egg vs Lanfear

[lurafita]

Malec meet pre-canon divergent

(considering tv-show canon only, as I don't know much about the books) I personally found it a little weird that Alec and his siblings had to be briefed about the High Warlock of their territory, by Hodge. Shouldn't Alec, as the acting head, have been aware of the most prominent downworld leaders in the city his institute is in? Wouldn't Magnus have been in the institute before, for ward maintenance or things like that? Wouldn't they have had to call him to close rifts that demons were popping out of? (Not like those kinds of things were ever shown or discussed in the show, but then again, the show was very stingy where details and backgrounds were concerned.) Anyway, I would like to propose a series re-write, where Alec and Magnus get to know each other pre-canon, and Magnus has the chance to bolster Alec's self-worth and confidence a little. And then exploring what effect this might have, as Alec wouldn't be such a pushover where his siblings are concerned. (I actually just really like re-writes of given plots that explore changes to said given plot, so that personal guilty pleasure might heavily play into this prompt…. 😉 )

possible scene:

They could meet on site for rift closure, and Alec is laying down a plan of attack, because some demons have already gathered. And then Jace is trying to propose another plan (that's less tactical than Alec's was and more of a 'run in head first' kinda deal). And Alec is not confident about his own plan versus Jace's, and he is about to give in, but then Magnus is like: "I agree with the pretty boy." And Jace smirks and goes: "See, the high warlock thinks it will work." And then Magnus goes: "Oh no, I was talking about his plan. Yours sucks."

-

I think, if a relationship between them (platonic heading for romantic) exists for some time, Magnus would probably let slip about Maryse and Robert having been in the circle. Not in a malicious way. I think Magnus assumed that Alec knew. So maybe one day Magnus offers to check over the wards, and Alec accepts and wonders loudly about why his parents didn’t commission check ups for two years,

and Magnus just "Well, they have tried to limit their business with downworlders as much as possible. Which isn't surprising, seeing as many of us feel that they haven't been sufficiently punished for their crimes while they were in the circle. But it's not as if I would have refused the job. I might have overcharged them, … Alexander? You look pale, is something wrong?"

-

I just see them having lots of little conversations that help build Alec up, while not just being simple compliments. Like, when Alec doubts his leadership qualities and asks Magnus about his opinion, as Magnus has fought in a few wars and known a few figureheads. "I believe being a good leader comes down to knowing and trusting in yourself." "Shouldn’t that be 'knowing and trusting my people'?" "That, too. But it's important to know your own strengths and weaknesses. For example, I'm one of the most powerful warlocks out there with a deep and varied understanding of my craft, and I look dashing in silk. I'm also impatient, occasionally vain, and I can be quite petty. Now what about you? Let me start you off. You are afraid." "Wow, didn’t think you would start with a weakness." "I didn’t. Well, maybe a little bit. Fear can be both. But in this case, I meant it as a strength." "How?" "Think back to our first meeting. The fear of not knowing what the situation was we were walking into, made you come up with a strategy that allowed us to assess what was going on, while also ensuring minimal collateral damage. What do you think would have happened had you been as cocky as your parabatai, and stormed right in?" "… We wouldn’t have known about the circle members, or the back entrance. The perimeter wouldn’t have been secured. The teen warlock might have become a victim to a shadowhunter blade, had you not had the chance to see the enslavement collar on her." "See? You have good instincts, Alexander, and a great mind for tactical manouvers. That is something you should trust in more."

[nickyrothfan]

What if everyone got super powers?

"What could it mean?" She raised her hand and looked at the mysterious object. Some person in a crow costume had come... was it a man? A woman? It left it as a sign of victory over Peterson. The strange thing was, Peterson had been collecting them... and the phrase "lose the coin, lose your life" sounded pretty ominous.

"Ugh..." She set it aside in the drawer. Tomorrow would be... a tough night. Nicky said he found something interesting.

"And again, the mysteries of this strange town..." With these thoughts, the heroine fell asleep.

Morning:

"Uaaaa!" She woke up and jumped out of bed. Her eyes fell on the drawer—nothing unusual: cosmetics, the coin, a purple stone... Wait, the purple stone?

"Where did it come from..." She grabbed it, could it be the crow left it again? But no note this time...

"What the heck..." She muttered, it seemed strange, and it was emitting a weird glow... and...

"What's this..." Without thinking, she placed it back in the drawer. She couldn't let her parents see it.

"Maybe Nicky knows about it..." The guy boasted that he kept an eye on everything around the neighborhood. Maybe...

"Or Ivan..." The guy was smart.

"I really need to call..." She picked up the phone and dialed Torre's number.

"Hello, Ivan?"

"Hey, Trinity."

"Listen, I'm sorry to call at this time, but... do you remember how I ended up with the coin?"

"Uh... yeah, actually I..."

"Listen, I woke up... and there's this glowing stone right on my drawer."

"That too?!"

"That too? You... you got one?"

"Uh, yeah... I woke up and saw it, it was yellow."

"Yellow? Mine's purple..."

"Purple?! Okay... what the heck is going on... I'll try to find out more about it, I'll tell you tomorrow at school." He hung up.

"Alright... what are you?" She held the stone in her hands, it was warm...

"Can I... mhh." It started to glow, and suddenly a flash of light enveloped her.

"Ow!" She grabbed her eyes, her hands no longer felt the stone.

"Ah..." When the effect finally passed, she looked around, the stone was nowhere to be found... what happened?

What was even stranger... she felt more energized? Stronger?

"What's going on..." She took a few steps and almost bumped into the wall.

"Wow..." She decided to stop, it was time to discuss this later.

At night:

A storm engulfed Raven Brooks again, but we should focus on one thing...

A scared boy stood before the bars that closed off the entrance to the abandoned amusement park. His face was full of panic; he remembered what happened there, and he remembered who created it.

"Hey!" A voice sounded from his right, and he jumped back, raising his hands and squealing.

"Why did it take you so long?" Nicky seemed... happy? Not exactly? He would lie if he said something definite. Truth be told, he had known about the big coin in the park for a while; he just wanted a break for himself... for her.

"You're a genius! This is a huge clue!" She ignored his question, pulling the coin out of her skirt pocket. Seriously? Did she not see that he was a bit out of it?

"Probably..."

"This creepy monster shows up in my room, leaves me a coin as a reward for taking down Peterson, and... you're not even listening to me." She pointed at the guy, who was now looking the other way and yawning.

"I couldn't sleep last night and..."

"Why? Mr. Peterson's in jail."

"And... I don't think I can do it." He shook his head. He was afraid. More than ever before, he didn't want to have anything to do with this, he didn't want to see HIM again... he'd haunted him the entire time he was in the basement, no matter how much he hid, HE always found him.

But now... his friend was in danger, and... he had to help, at least try.

"He really messed you up, huh, and I get it. I totally understand. Honestly, I kind of expected this, so..." Nicky felt someone poke him in the shoulder and turned around—Delroy?

"That's why I invited Delroy."

"What? No, no, no, no, no, no. He can't be a part of this." The brunet raised his hand in protest.

"Uh, you just admitted that you can't handle this. Trinity upgraded, so... you can leave." Delroy said haughtily.

"Because of you?" Nicky pointed his fingers at Delroy's chest.

"You weren't part of any of this."

"Oh yeah? Who blew up the school?"

"Mr. Peterson, numbnuts !"

"And who was there?"

"Me!"

"Enough! We need to work together." Trinity broke up the conflict between the two boys.

"Uh-huh..."

"You have no idea what we've been through. What I've been through." Nicky moved toward the bars, pushing the bulky guy a bit.

"I heard stuff at Peterson's, messed up stuff, from when he was a kid." He grabbed the bars.

"You're too scared to admit you're scared. Unlike you, I won't get caught." Those words angered the injured boy, and without thinking, he ran at the dark-skinned guy and shoved him. However, he didn't even budge and pushed him back, sending him into the bars again.

"Since when am I this strong?" Delroy wondered, could the stone he found in the morning be connected to this?

"Stop! You're...!" She didn't get to finish, because suddenly the wind picked up out of nowhere, and in the distance, they saw a figure in a crow costume.

"The creep from my room!" Without thinking, she ran after him.

Delroy glanced at Nicky, who was sitting against the bars, shrugged, and ran after her.

"Ugh..." Nicky groaned, why had they left him behind?

At that moment, the chase began. Trinity was closing in on Crowface, and to her surprise, she was faster than usual. Must be adrenaline.

"You won't get away!" She shouted, almost reaching him, but then fell when the ground slipped out from under her, though it didn't hurt...

"Ouch... mhh." She quickly got up and looked around; Crowface was standing before her, surrounded by crows.

"You won't get away!" She ran toward him again, Delroy was behind, watching everything.

He unleashed his feathered friends on them, and they were blinded. When they finally opened their eyes, he was gone.

Only one feather remained on the ground...

The next morning:

"This doesn't look like typical Crowface behavior... just, poof?" Ivan waved his fingers, as if expecting a more normal answer.

"Dude, he vanished..." Delroy began drinking lemonade.

"Uh, so we're just going to pretend you've been here the whole time?" Maritza pointed at Delroy, sitting at a desk, without a cast.

"Yeah, he's not part of the club." Nicky's disgruntled support arrived, and he wasn't even looking at anyone.

"Uh... the only reason you're here is punishment." Maritza said to him.

"Boom! Toasted to a crisp!"

"Anyway, catching one weird guy will do me good. I'm out." Maritza didn't want to dig deeper. Trinity and Enzo were eating cookies, grabbing them without looking, and in the end, the girl accidentally took one with sugar.

"Yeah, I think with Mr. Peterson gone, we're done. But if you still need help, I'll help with anything." Enzo twisted his foot on the spot, glancing at Trinity.

In the end, he got a ball in the face.

"I meant with homework or something..."

"Ivan!" Trinity rushed to him.

"Me?"

"You're brave!"

"Yeah, I am?"

"You love adventure!"

"I do?"

"You're in!"

"I'm in? I'm in!" Ivan was thrilled.

"You know, last time we needed all of us together. Are you really going to quit the game before it's over?"

"This is a dumb idea, but I'm not leaving." She looked around the room.

"I'm in." Delroy placed a hand on Trinity's shoulder.

"Drop it, this seems like a wrong turn." Nicky was still looking to the side.

"Only the right turns."

"New mission for the inventor's club in three! One, two, three!" They all raised their hands.

"By the way... Ivan, you..." Trinity looked at the engineer.

"Uh... yeah, I studied the stone... well, tried to, but the devices can't change the amount of energy in it, it's like it's limitless... what's stranger is that Enzo and Maritza have one too."

"What stone?" Nicky looked at the group, why wasn't he in the loop?

"Uh... well, we found some stones in our rooms yesterday. Mine was purple."

"My idiot brother's was red." Maritza pointed at Enzo.

"And I also had a blue one in my bag." She continued.

"I had a white one in my closet." Delroy, to everyone's surprise, spoke up.

"And when I touched it... it vanished." Trinity said, to which Delroy nodded.

"Wait, seriously?" Ivan's eyes widened, he always touched them with gloves.

"Let me try." Maritza rummaged through her bag and pulled out her stone, and a flash of light hit everyone in the room.

Enzo and Ivan did the same.

"I feel... amazing!" Enzo smiled. He felt so... strong, like he could move mountains!

"What the hell is going on?" Nicky looked around the room. First Crowface, now this...

[post-punk-revival]

I’m gonna tell a funny story about imposter syndrome, ok?

It's 12 am. You're always going to be the exception to your own reason.

I've always had bipolar and heavy tendency toward dissocation, I've always had familiarity with different states of self. I've always fictionflickered, I've always been intimately familiar with how it feels to have someone else's mind, fictional or otherwise, overwhelm my own. I've identified as plural in some way, with autonomous headmates whom I converse with, since 2020. I've always been pro-endo, antipsych in ideology, and as a rule face-value accepting of every one's unique experiences, because there are no two identical systems. I was friends with many, many other plural folk of many types. I didn't know anything about OSDD. I referred to my system as nondissociative and had to disclaim, every where we went, no matter what, we don't switch or front; the idea that someone might assume we do was terrifying, because it would mean we had tricked them. Dissociative plurality has always been a close peripheral overlap that I only assumed I could never possibly imagine because I couldn't dare to look at it eye to eye.

Always the exception.

When I first heard about cPTSD I thought "wow that's kind of exactly it and I've already even been using some of these terms" and then I also happened to glance upon its association with OSDD and immediately backtracked because I would be encroaching on something NOT FOR ME!! if I associated myself even remotely with dissociative plurality. (It's almost like I wouldn't have had such an extreme self-denying reaction to begin with if I didn't already subconsciously see myselves in descriptions of OSDD too.)

I thought I was struggling with "reverse Capgras delusion", afraid of those different states of self who were so out of touch with each other it felt like being replaced, and when I asked to be "reality checked," and I was reassured I was the same me as always, I felt, or knew, deep-seatedly, I was being lied to, and I couldn't say why. I didn't feel like an evil doppelganger, I just felt like someone else, someone usually very scared and confused, desperately pretending to be myself. Sometimes people would notice, then I thought I was being Mandela effected to different universes where things are just slightly off and people are acting like I'm the one being different, why are they acting like I'm the one acting different?! When I talked to other fictionflickerers I thought I was just broken, for having them so intense it scared me. I asked them about flickering "vibes," or things that weren't characters, just... weirdnesses, and I came away thinking I was just making it up. I kept private lists of my own favorite movies and books and games to reference in case I needed an answer, because pulling up a note on my phone was quicker than trying to remember what I said last time. I kept private lists of my own triggers, phobias, fucking physical health symptoms. I could never “stay” the same gender or sexuality long enough to find community with others. I’d know I was aro, but then I’d talk to other aromantics, and I’d know I wasn’t, not confused, not questioning, so sure of so many contradicting things. Chased out of spaces for specific  identities because I would assert something no one of that identity would experience, and it was true.

Always.

I had a close friend start to realize they had DID, and talk to me about it in detail, and I started to see myself in their experiences too, but I wasn't allowed, because despite everything aforementioned, it would be disrespectful to reach the natural conclusion. For. Reasons. To do so because of proximity to someone going through that too. I told them I felt in similar ways, and they encouraged me to look into it. So obviously I didn't. Silently, stifled, I was angry over it. Not at them. I was jealous because more and more people in my life were finding joy in being a system and this was an openness with oneself I knew I needed and knew I was never supposed to be allowed.

I've mentioned that in January I formed a very sudden fictive whose presence caused dissociation the likes of which even I had never experienced, so disruptive and annihilative I started to have panic attacks when they started to front, and they resented me for subsequently denying them personhood out of my own fears. Not fear of losing myself—fear of being seen as faking when I wasn't even in control of my own thoughts or feelings. That was a fuckup I'm scared I'm never going to come back from. It's a fuckup I keep making. Real enough to need to make amends with, not real enough to actually follow through? Their usual instinctive response to being welcomed into front by the danger signals my brain is sending is the same as mine. "Pretend nothing's wrong." They're just an animal. I trained an animal to have imposter syndrome.

You're going to be so scared to admit you might find actualization in identification with something "serious" and "heavy" that you end up denying yourself that knowledge for months if not years. You're going to sniff around in the wrong places, looking for yourself in places you'll never find them, for long enough to create lasting damage.

Still too "serious" of a label to see myself in. OSDD I mean. It's just stigma. But I cannot seek out anything "serious" like that, not me, because I'm such a deeply unserious person that attaching myself to it, or anything the same weight as it (still have so much trouble calling myself schizospec), would drag it down for everyone else who ever has or ever will. That's what it is. It's not like OSDD is too real for someone unreal like me. I'm too unreal for a real thing like that. The ego on this one, huh?

I suffocated myself to death so many times over to appease a hypothetical victim of using the wrong word.

Isn't that funny.

[dragonxv77]

A Day one review of my personal most anticipated MU from the Kickstarter…

Shigaraki VS Mahito!

Surprised when got it a day early, but it’s a welcome one.

Spoilers under the line of course.

LETS FUCKING GOOOOO MY GOAT WON!!!

With that necessarily pop off out the way let’s get on the analysis sections.

The editing on the manga panels as always were fantastic.

Wow, they really sold how fucked up of a person Shigraki is. While still giving bits and pieces of sympathy here there, like with the whole “Those hands are his family’s that he accidentally killed.” And Boomstick just being genuinely disturbed by it.

Them just talking about how cool and terrifying Decay is a quirk was great cause it’s probably one my favorite quirks in the series if not just being my straight up favorite quirk.

Another thing I liked about it was the whole early Shiggy was a cringe lord with capital C. Then evolved into an actual threat

I also digged the ending of it as well. Nothing more to say about it besides that I liked it.

Now onto stuff about Mahito’s analysis.

Ok i’m be completely honest Mahito’s opening line was the best part of both of the analyses. Saying “Ever since Cain spilled his bother’s blood across the fields, mankind’s biggest fear was his fellow man.” That was great!

Especially since Mahito is literally that fear given form. Just absolutely stunning right there.

Also, Boomstick’s joke soon after that is pretty decent, got a smile out of me. But he then says Cursed energy is just evil ki and just kind ughh.

Like, he’s not even wrong to certain extent, but hearing him talking about a power system and just saying it’s like KI, gets somewhat annoying considering how many times he has done such in the past. But that’s just personal issue for me and it’s not even a big one.

Couple of things I found interesting first thing, apparently most cursed spirits are only in japan? That’s weird, secondly most curses are straight up animals mentally at least that genuinely surprised me cause I thought all curses had sentience.

Them Talking about Yuji and who he was to Mahito and how meeting effected the both of them was good especially when BoomStick called Mahito a little bitch.

I think it’s actually be my preferred of the two but I’ll have to rewatch it a couple more times before I can get a good answer.

On to the fight!

It’s starts off with some collateral damage, yeah baby! One the big appeal to this was the insane collateral damage from the side effects of these two fighting. And while yes I would’ve liked to more of it I’ll take it what we got.

Danger Sense triggers and Shiggy proceeds to make an hand on his own face that made think of his first costume to block it. If that’s intentional props to them.

Shiggy reveals he’s here on recruitment mission and Mahito is having none of that. And yeah not surprising it was this or Shigaraki comes back from doing something only to find the league dead because of Mahito who just taunts him, Cue fight.

Ok, now onto the actual fight part.

It was great.

Shiggy who’s not even taking him all that seriously just drops two Nomus on his head and whips out his phone.

And god MORØ once again cooking with animation cause it’s looks so pretty.

Mahito dodging and weaving between the Nomu’s leading into Mahito making them hit each other only to get transfigured was beautiful.

Mahito tries to go on the offensive but Shigaraki causally matches his energy with his own bodily attack. Shiggy talks shit, blasts the Curse with one the quirks.

Mahito gets back up healing himself proceeds to call him cringe and begins resuming the fight.

Shiggy dodged the attack and retaliates, only to git by a clone Mahito and in true JJK fashion he preceded to get jumped. But Shiggy gets real tired of that quickly and decays one the Mahito’s. We good interaction and then train scene starts.

And where do I begin? The all for one tendrils vs the stretched out arms? The absolutely nasty Black Flash that Mahito landed? The clean transformation scenes? Or perhaps anything related of the Domain scene!

And then the death, whoo! Run for your life little rabbit! Less you face a walking natural disaster!

The ending analysis was good, nothing extremely interesting to point out.

I’ll give this episode a 8.5/10. Extremely Good stuff all around.

Next is the rematch poll winner

Master Chief Vs The DoomSlayer!

Surprised we’re getting it this early though.

[spacecadet-ticklesinspace]

For: @strawberriesinbloom

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Pairing: Bill Cipher and Stanford Pines

(Merry Late Christmas my friend from your Secret Santa ❤️ :) I know it's a little late, but I hope you enjoy this going into the New Year ❤️ 😁)

(This does not have a set season from the show ❤️ :))

Ford was in his lab, working away at his newest invention. His goal was to make tiny canisters of All-in-One Spray the Pine twins could carry to ward off any weirdness in Gravity Falls. Well . . . Most of the weirdness anyway.

Dipper's was just about done, he just had to test it. However, he decided to add a tiny splash of rainbow colored glitter to Mabel's and needed to ensure the nossle would not clog when used.

As he worked, the only sounds he could hear were the movement of his tools mixed with the background hum of machinery.

When the gray haired inventor looked up, the clock nearby read 2:15 am.

He should go to bed, but the late hour meant Ford could work uninterrupted with no distractions.

An unfamiliar breeze made him jerk around. Something had caused a faint gust of wind to stir his nearby coat.

"Odd," Ford commented as he raised an eyebrow.

The gray haired inventor stepped over to where the coat was hanging, still fluttering in whatever breeze had found its way into his lab. When he pushed the coat aside, his jaw dropped and his eyes went wide.

The wall behind his coat had a long tall crack in it that opened up into an odd world where everything was flipped. The sky was an unnatural shade of green, the grass blowing in the breeze was a light blue, and even the flower stalks had heads of white cottony clouds while bright yellow sunflowers floated in the sky above. Even the breeze blowing by felt freezingly cold in contrast to the warm environment.

Ford took a few cautious steps into the world, rubbing away a few stray goosebumps on his arm. "This place . . . what is it?"

The gray haired inventor stopped to pick up a cloud flower.

"Strange." He rubbed his chin. "Who could have made this?"

Suddenly, invisible restraints grabbed all four of Ford's limbs as a static sounding voice shouted out, "Ah-ha!"

The cloud flower dropped to the ground as Ford felt himself being lifted into the air. One giant flaming eye popped into existence right in front of the startled inventor.

"Bill," the gray haired inventor ground out.

"Hello to you too Stanford." A loud pop occurred and the eye molded into a familiar looking yellow triangle. "Welcome to my Flip-Flop world. Ha-ha! Get it? Flip-flop."

Ford glared at him.

"Wow, tough crowd. Well, you can't win em all."

"What do you want Bill?" The gray haired inventor countered with a scowl.

"Easy." Bill Cipher snapped his fingers, causing a sphere to appear in his hand and project images as he spoke. "I want you to join forces with me so we can get unlimited powers."

"Never."

"See, I knew you were going to say that." The sphere immediately disappeared. "So I've prepared a deal."

Immediately, Ford was yanked back down to the ground where he was effectively pinned by the restraints. "Deal?"

"Yes." Bill floated down next to him. "You see, I've been taking some notes during my time here in Gravity Falls and I stumbled across something that I think would be most persuasive."

Ford raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"And it involves these big guys."

The ground around the gray haired inventor rumbled before four sets of large blueish hands popped up on either side of him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ford demanded as his eyes darted back and forth between the sets of hands.

"Oh that's right. You never got to see." Bill held up another flaming ball for the gray haired inventor to watch. "Well, allow me to show you."

Ford watched as Mabel and Dipper wrestled with each other across the ground. The situation wouldn't have looked odd coming from two siblings, but the unnatural shade of yellow in Dipper's eyes made Ford's stomach sink.

"You possessed my nephew?" The gray haired inventor demanded.

"Yeah, yeah, more than once." Bill Cipher moved the ball closer. "But you're missing the best part."

Ford was forced to watch as possessed Dipper pinned Mabel underneath him. However, Mabel managed to get the upper hand by wiggling a few fingers into different spots on her brother.

Immediately, Dipper fell to the ground laughing and Mabel was able to escape.

Ford breathed a sigh of relief. "Good work Mabel."

"The rest of it's not important." Bill made the ball disappear once more.

"And what would your deal be?"

"Easy. You work with me, or I make your time here a ticklish nightmare."

The hands around Ford started to lower. His eyes went wide for a moment before steeling over once more. "I'll never join you."

"Suit yourself."

The gray haired inventor squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for an onslaught.

Which means he was caught by surprise when only one set of hands brushed against either side of his neck.

A small squeak escaped his lips before he pressed them together, desperately trying to keep everything in.

"Aw, look at you trying to be all tough," Bill mocked coo, his voice now much closer than before. "But don't worry, I'll make you break soon enough."

Ford jumped when another set of hands joined in on his sides and the first pair moved up to trace his ears. The laughter building inside of him was getting increasingly difficult to hold back.

"Hmm, still not breaking?"

"G-go t-to---to . . ."

"Wow, I'm 'shaking in my boots'." Bill made another set of hands pull off Ford's shoes. "Ha-ha, get it? 'Shaking in my boots'?"

One hand gathered both of Ford's big toes before pushing them back so the second hand could have uninterrupted access to both of his soles.

The gray haired inventor found it increasingly difficult to focus on anything other than those hands attacking. He was grinning so much that a few tiny giggles slipped through his clenched teeth.

A memory of him and Stan flashed through his mind.

"Hmm, tough nut to crack I see," Bill mused. "But I do wonder if maybe you share certain similarities with a certain someone."

Ford's eyes shot open when the last set of hands dug into his exposed armpits. That broke the dam.

Loud, booming cackles rushed out of Ford's mouth and into the space around him. It had been over a decade since someone had tickled him and he had forgotten just how sensitive certain spots were.

"Ahhh, there's that sweet sweet laughter. Surprised you'd break that easily. Given your 'tough guy' persona and all."

Ford was laughing too hard to respond.

"So Stanford, how's my deal sounding now?" Bill asked as he paused the hands.

The gray haired inventor caught his breath as his laughter calmed. "Ihi wihill never join yohou."

"Wrong answer."

The hands near Ford's armpits picked the torture back up again. They felt exactly like Stan's hands digging into his sweet spot.

"It's just you and me Stanford," Bill interjected. "I could keep this up for days and you'd never know the difference."

The gray haired inventor yanked on his restraints, but they held firm.

Bill pulled the hands back once more. "So, what'll it be?"

Ford caught his breath once more. "St-stihill . . . Still a noho."

Bill Cipher crossed his arms. "I see. Perhaps I'm being too hard on you."

The hands disappeared then something else popped up instead.

Ford's eyes went wide.

"Maybe I need to 'soften' my touch."

"NO!" The gray haired inventor lost it when dozens of feathers descended on him.

They slipped under his sweater and up his pant legs. Several sawed their ways in between his toes while another swirled itself deep into his belly button. Still two more sought to torture his ears.

Their soft feathery touches were everywhere.

Meanwhile, Bill had summoned a pair of sunglasses and one of those foldable tanning mirrors that directed the greenish sun toward his face. He had relaxed into a reclined position with the items in place. "Tik-tok Stanford. This aaall ends with you."

Even through his frenzied laughter, the gray haired inventor shook his head.

"I'm impressed." Bill Cipher made his items vanish. "But I'm also a bit bored."

All but one of the feathers disappeared.

As Ford sagged in relief, Bill took the remaining feather in his hand before making it grow much larger.

Another rumble and this time one hand and a pair of lips popped out of the ground.

"This little number I saw on my visit to the Big Apple." Bill floated down closer to the gray haired inventor. "Let's see if it works on you too."

Ford raised one tired eyebrow at the lips. "And whahat wihill these doho. Sing horriblehele shohow tunes at mehe?"

"No way. That's my job!"

The hand Ford had forgotten about pulled up his sweater.

Bill Cypher elbowed the lips. "This bad boy is used for something else."

The gray haired inventor's eyes went wide again as memories of his brother flashed in his mind once more.

Meanwhile, Bill summoned a microphone as he floated down near Ford's feet.

With a snap of the yellow triangle's fingers, the summoned lips blew raspberries into Ford's stomach.

The gray haired inventor burst into loud laughter once more. That was a move Stan hadn't pulled on him since they were teens and boy did it tickle more than he remembered.

In fact, it pulled several snorts out of him as the lips jumped from one spot on his stomach to another spot to another.

Meanwhile, Bill added to the torture by dragging his feather along both of Ford's feet with one hand while singing some sort of musical number into the summoned microphone he held with the other. However, he purposefully changed the lyrics to ones about tickling just to mess with Ford.

The gray haired inventor was in stitches as he kept snorting adorably.

Finally, when Bill finished his song, all the items disappeared, leaving just the two of them once more.

Bill bowed to an imaginary audience. "Thank you folks! I'll be here for aaall eternity."

Ford glared weakly as the triangle moved closer.

"And you will to. Unless you agree to our deal."

"Ihi . . . I . . ."

"Yeeeees?"

"Ihi . . ." Ford smirked. "Wihill neveher join yohou."

In Bill's distracted state, he hadn't noticed the gray haired inventor was clutching something in his palm. Ford took a deep breath before clicking the button on top.

A blast of rainbow glitter infused All-in-One Spray shot directly into the annoying triangle's eye.

Bill screamed in pain.

The restraints holding Ford dropped, letting the weakened inventor jump to his feet and wobbly run away with his shoes in his hands.

The green sky shifted to a deep dark crimson red and the lush blue grass all gave way to a dark black landscape that looked like death had swept through. The flowers floating in the sky dropped to the ground like dead weights, forcing Ford to weave through the chaos.

Up ahead, he saw it. The crack connecting this world to his lab.

It was slowly closing so Ford pushed himself harder.

Just when it looked like he wouldn't make it, the gray haired inventor leapt.

He soared through the closing crack and into the safety of his lab, knocking over the coat rack, a chair, and several other objects in the process.

Panting heavily, Ford dragged himself away from the wall and into a corner. He'd made it.

A war like yell came from the stairs.

Ford lifted his head in time to see his brother Stan jump into the lab, swinging a baseball bat. He was dressed in a familiar pair of blue striped shorts and white tank top. His hair was skewed and his glasses were crooked. He didn't even have time to shove on his slippers before rushing down.

"Alright! Whoever you are!" Stan swung the bat in multiple directions. "Get out of my house!"

Next to come into the lab was Mabel, screaming with her grappling hook over her head.

Dipper came last, brandishing one of the dictionaries from upstairs as a weapon. "Give up bad guys, or I will define you into oblivion!"

He may have been the last one in, but Dipper was the first to spot the inventor tucked away in the corner of his lab. "Grunkle Ford!"

Stan's head whipped around. As soon as he saw his brother, he dropped the baseball bat and ran over to him.

Ford took the outstretched hand. "I'm alright."

"Where are they Poindexter?" Stan demanded.

"I don't know."

Mabel hurried over with her grappling hook. "Which way did they go?"

Ford looked around his lab. "I'm not sure."

"Do you know who it was atleast?" Dipper asked next.

". . . Bill Cipher."

Stan growled as he faced the lab once more. "Where are ya, you little triangle freak!"

"It's alright Stan." The gray haired inventor squeezed his brother's shoulder. "He's long gone by now."

"He'd better be."

Mabel moved closer to him. "Did he hurt you Grunkle Ford?"

"No Mabel. I'm fine."

"Whew!" Dipper put a hand to his chest. "From the way you were screaming, we thought someone was trying to murder you."

The gray haired inventor was shocked. "Screaming? You could hear all that?"

"Not hard to," Stan continued. "We woke up, heard you, and came running down here."

"Bill must have heard us coming and got spooked away," Mabel commented before shooting her grappling hook mere centimeters above her brother's head.

Dipper snatched it away. "I doubt that's what it was Mabel."

"You don't know that!"

As the two went back and forth, Ford's eyebrows went up while he looked over at the clock.

The time read 2:16 am.

"But, I could have sworn . . ."

Stan started pushing the Pine twins back to the stairs. "Alright you two, back upstairs to bed. Go on, get."

Both Dipper and Mabel headed on up, leaving just Ford and Stan in the lab.

The older twin sank heavily into a chair.

"You sure you're alright?" Stan asked as he finally adjusted his glasses.

"I think so. Physically, I'm just drained. Mentally though . . ."

"Did he screw with your head?"

"For all I know, yes. Especially since he messed with my perception of time."

Stan fixed his own hair before crossing his arms across his chest. "What did he do to you exactly?"

"Nothing too horrible like you're probably thinking."

"Spit it out Poindexter."

Ford sighed. "Alright. He was trying to get me to work with him and if I refused he would . . . Well, tickle me."

Stan's eyebrows went up. "Tickle you? That little creep."

Ford held up a reassuring hand. "It could have been much worse, and honestly . . . I didn't mind."

"What?"

"Don't get me wrong, I didn't like the tortuous degree." The gray haired inventor put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "But there were several techniques that brought back memories of when we were young."

A small smile pulled up the corners of Stan's mouth. One of his hands then scribbled along Ford's side. "I used to get you all the time, didn't I?"

A few giggles poured out as Ford curled to the side and playfully pushed his brother's hand away. "Yehes yohou did."

Stan placed both hands on his hips. "Ah, the good old days. Back when we both had more hair on our heads than we did on our backs."

"Yehes, and quite a bit more stamina tohoo."

"You look pretty tired."

"Feel pretty tired."

"Welp, time for bed." Stan pulled his brother up then wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "And you'd better sleep, or I might have to use Bill's persuasion tactic myself."

Ford giggled nervously at the fingers wiggling toward him. "Sure thihing."

Together, the two then headed up to the main house, leaving the lab quiet once more.

That is, until a small crack opened up on the wall and a small cylinder rolled across the floor. When it stopped, an observer could just make out the specks of rainbow colored glitter dotting the outside.

@squealing-santa