#wilderness study area

[zengguos]

in akilah's vision: ben was the bridge — his death caused the scientists to find them.

and civilization was just a cliff away.

so judging by this string of too good to be true coincidences, unknowingly to them, their escape is literally moments away here beyond the point they are on. beyond that person.

there's also a huge location reveal in this scene where callie is searching up the disappearance of the researchers. it tells us that the "canadian rockies" they were going through was actually mount robson (a place that borders bc and alberta). it is the area that has the highest point in the rockies...

from a little research (as I'm not canadian, so please correct me if so!) — mount robson is a brand new popular spot for scientists in the 90s, as it became a new protected place (in the world heritage site) to study the landscape and many endangered species, so there was a lot of science activity around that time (the resources ben found in the cave were from an old research group) and full mapping needed to be done still.

mount robson's terrain also has many lime caves which generate "foul air" — inexperience cavers usually pass out from long exposure to it due to lack of oxygen as they don't understand the signs of deprivation (and toxicity potentially in the caves too...)

but most importantly, mount robson is also next a highway — a highway known as yellowhead.

and akilah sees something like a highway in the distance with all the lights...

(there's also a lake/parkland area named after yellowhead too...fucking hell it's all so connected).

also...

the fact they stayed for a second winter despite them having a map of how to navigate the wilderness too (which tai picks up and doesn't inform van...)

— and jeff revealing the rough distance from the location of the last recorded scientists' camp to the yellowjackets rescue site being 100 miles apart... oh lord.

they truly were closer to home than they thought.

that's what adds onto more of the horror now as the endgame unfolds.

and because we are entering the endgame with the possibility of escape... the threat that has been with us along has finally developed too — the wilderness — lottie matthews. who will actively seek to keep them here one way or another as shown by akilah's other vision.

the second winter didn't need to happen — the losses they went through should not have happened. what was an accidental unfortunate tragedy has transformed into something more darker, a different kind of tragedy now.

this is yet again yellowjackets double reality... what happened in one reality, didn't happen in the other. if certain decisions were not made, how different would everything be...

[rebeccathenaturalist]

It may seem unthinkable to us today, but once it was normal for the response to hearing a species was in danger of extinction to be "Let's go shoot a few before they're all gone!" This wasn't just among trophy hunters and wealthy collectors who felt entitled to acquire any species they wanted regardless of the impact, but biologists, museum curators, and other naturalists of varying sorts. Today conservationists and scientists have a much more enlightened and informed view of how to respond to a species' impending extinction, but this attitude has been hard-won over the past century.

Arthur Augustus Allen may not be as well-known as John James Audubon, but this ornithologist was incredibly instrumental in getting people to stop shooting rare birds with guns--and shoot them with cameras instead. As chairman of the American Ornithological Union's Committee on Bird Protection, he used his role to establish ethical resolutions that prohibited the taking of rare birds from the wild (in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, no less) and emphasized the observation of live birds in the wild over killing more for preservation and study.

We would do well to emulate Allen's example. Today there are still greedy people who look at a forest and only see dollar signs, or whose only interest in an open area of wilderness is the mineral rights under the soil. They see a pair of antlers as a trophy (and leave the meat to rot), and consider any inconvenient animal like a gray wolf or prairie dog only fit to exterminate. Yet Allen is a symbol of resistance against the purely acquisitive, extractive approach to nature, and how education can change minds and hearts.

So to those of you working to inform the general public about the value of nature in its own right, and not just for what we can get out of it--keep up the great work! Arthur A. Allen certainly wasn't the only person who worked to get the word out about the need to protect dwindling species and their habitats, but I think his efforts deserve to be added to more popular knowledge of conservation.

[ohisms]

↪     𝑺𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 , updated .     (  a  collection  of  various  settings  meant  to  inspire  drabbles  or  be  used  as  prompts .   )

001.   the seaside ,  as the sun is setting .

002.   a cabin in the middle of the woods .

003.   a picket-fenced home in the suburbs .

004.   a dark bus stop lit only by street lights .

005.   a private jet miles high in the sky .

006.   a funhouse’s room of mirrors .

007.   an office building ,  bustling and busy .

008.   the back row of an empty movie theater .

009.   a run - down motel room .

010.   a loud house party on a suburban street .

011.   a university lecture hall during a class .

012.   the rooftop of a very tall building .

013.   a great ballroom during an elegant party .

014.   the back of a wailing ambulance .

015.   the wine cellar of a large mansion .

016.   behind the school’s gymnasium .

017.   a boisterous bonfire at the lakeside .

018.   an otherwise empty parking lot .

019.   the shady bar of a noisy , dark club .

020.  the grounds of an empty summer camp .

021.   a large hedge maze ,  easy to get lost in .

022.   a neglected or derelict treehouse .

023.   a spacious ,  light-filled meadow .

024.   an underground illegal fighting club .

025.   an abandoned scrapyard .

026.   a large penthouse overlooking the city .

027.    an apple orchard in the middle of spring .

028.   an empty playground with squeaky swings .

029.   an extravagant greenhouse .

030.   the base of a large waterfall .

031.    a spacious walk - in closet full of lovely clothes .

032.   a solemnly quiet hospital room .

033.   the dark depths of an abandoned mine .

034.   the deck of a fishing boat at night .

035.   the thick crowd of an audience at a show .

036.   a long ,  winding road .

037.   the scene of a violent crime .

038.   a fork in a hiking trail deep in the wilderness .

039.   a cramped dressing room .

040.   a dusty antiques shop full of relics .

041.   the street of an unfamiliar city at night .

042.   between the tall shelves of a thrifted book shop .

043.   a building abandoned during construction .

044.   a house without power or running water .

045.   a mysterious trail found in the woods .

046.   the back of a taxi stuck in traffic .

047.    the inside of an elevator that won’t move .

048.   fairgrounds during a large event  (or after hours) .

049.   a garden bountiful with flowers or produce .

050.   a childhood home or bedroom .

+   30  more  setting  prompts :    1 / 3 / 2024

051. the site of a horrible accident .

052. a closed pool , after everyone has left .

053. a home holding horrific memories .

054. by the side of a dangerously quick river .

055. a private hotel room .

056. a police station in the middle of the night .

057. a ferris wheel carriage under a sky of fireworks .

058. a lavish , invite - only party .

059. a public transit stop as rain is pouring down .

060. the back of a taxi going in the wrong direction .

061. the underworld .

062. a dusty , forgotten attic .

063. on the set of a television show or movie .

064. a lighthouse overlooking the raging sea .

065. in a post - apocalyptic bunker .

066. on a ship hundreds of miles from the nearest coast .

067. on the rooftop of a perilously tall building .

068. a tent pitched in the middle of the woods .

069. a crowded stadium during a football game .

070. the morgue during an identification .

071. an otherwise empty library during a late study session .

072. a place that feels familiar , yet you've never been here before .

073. a long hallway that seems to stretch on forever .

074. a signpost at the start of a hiking trail .

075. a bar or tavern bustling with life .

076. the dance floor of a masquerade ball .

077. inside of a car parked in a secluded area .

078. at the edge of a cliff overlooking a large lake .

079. inside a very old house with very old haunts .

080. the antiseptic interior of a space station .

[comingdownwithme]

is... is that a kate I see..? Can.... can we get information on her? I beg

Just gonna drop both Toby and Kate here to finish off the proxies- (Didn't include Tim or Brian since apparently they're not proxies but also because I haven't watched MH yet </3)

Anyways, there will be some descriptions of body horror (for Kate specifically) but it will be warned before each paragraph!

Kate the Chaser

Kate Milens was raised by the Woods for most of her life, growing up unafraid of the wilderness that grew beyond the walls of her childhood home. After a series of unfortunate events as she grew older though, and as her baser human instincts push her to run despite the ache of her injured and weary limbs, Kate found that there really was something to fear beyond the treeline. She could hear it speak, it's voice a cacophony that echoed around her- within the base of her own skull- offering her reprieve and a greater purpose if she would just give in.

[DESCRIPTIONS OF BODY HORROR FOR THIS PARAGRAPH] Woke up unable to recall anything that had happened before she first awoke and with a dull ache akin to the sting of a healing injury over every muscle and joint of her body. Found out later on that the skin over her jaw and nose had been flayed, fresh burns mark her limbs, and maggots had once burrowed into her very flesh. They're healed now thanks to him.

Gloves and hoodie are stolen from her victims, and her shirt, boots and jeans are what she had woken up in. She washes them the best she can in nearby rivers.

Good hunter and a decent cook. Usually provides food for both herself and Toby when she can.

White eyes! And they glow! Spooky! They give her pretty good night vision, but that leads her to being sensitive to light.

Despite the both of them being close proxies, Kate is more connected to the slenderman than Toby is. Where she can hear him despite great distances, Toby needs to be at a certain, close radius to hear the slenderman, though the both of them could still recognise when he's near and if they're needed.

Faster than Toby. She's called The Chaser for a reason, and trying to outrun or outlast her is the worst mistake you could make.

Pretty quiet and doesn't talk often with her fellow proxy when he's around. She's more of a listener and listens (and or zones out) of any topic Toby is on about.

Ticci Toby

Tobias Erin Rogers was someone who's deeply familiar with the feeling of isolation. Being ostracised from a young age due to circumstances he can't control, his only reprieve was the company provided by his older sister and the sons of the family just down the street from his own home, though even that wouldn't last as Toby's only friends were torn away from him, and both his mother and sister had passed not long after they had left, leaving Toby alone with a sorry excuse of a father and an empty house.

Fortunately for him, something had noticed his suffering, and it reached an elongated, outstretched hand as it gave him the option to leave this life behind.

Whereas he was a quiet, introverted boy when he was younger, Toby currently is outgoing, excitable and manic, and is often careless during the job due to his general demeanor and the fact he can't feel pain. This also leads him to be fascinated by how his victims feel pain, and he likes to study their reactions.

He's got special eyes like Kate! They don't glow in the dark like hers does, but he does still have night vision.

Pyromaniac! If he could, he'd take the opportunity to set his victims on fire or set their shelters or belongings on fire. He's also in charge of setting controlled burns in the areas of the slenderman's territory where he needs him to.

When desperate times call for desperate measures, Toby won't hesitate to turn to cannibalistic tendencies on his victims.

Physically stronger than Kate.

Absolutely ass cook, don't let him near a stove.

The hoodie he wears under his parka and the axes he holds are some things he brought from the life he left behind, most everything else was stolen off his victims.

Nose piercing! He knows he must have had it before he became a proxy, but if he thinks about it too hard, he'd start getting a headache or start tearing up.

Visions of his past life sometimes slip through, though unlike Kate's where hers are rare and short-lived, Toby's memories slip often, especially when he's asleep where whatever past life he had left behind twists to haunt him in his nightmares. These instances piss him off, and he sees them as a moment of weakness.

[thebigbiwolf]

Spittle - Part 1/2

Summary: The chocolate seems innocent enough - if you look past the Infernal writing on the wrapper, and with so few pleasures in the wilderness, you all but jump at the chance to sneak yourself a small treat.

Unbeknownst to you, the bar is infused with succubus spittle. Just one square is rumored to contain enough potency to send a mortal into the throes of ecstasy.

This is what happens when you eat half the bar.

Fic Tags: Sex Pollen (kinda), aphrodisiacs, succubus magic, a bit of dom!Astarion, unprotected piv, overstimulation, he talks you through it (iykyk), more tags will be added later.

Fic Warnings: Explicit Smut (18+ MDNI), Dubcon (if you squint), Language, No use of Y/N, magical influence

Read on AO3: Here

A/N: Remember the dead spider? I remember the dead spider. Anyways, the reception I've been getting on Starvin', Darlin' has me wanting to thank everyone with a one-shot. This got away from me so I went ahead and split it into two parts.

I've never written anything like this and it was significantly more difficult than a multi-chapter fic. I hope everything comes across the way its supposed to! And a huge thank you to my beta @imaginarydromedary for...you know... encouraging me to post this, despite everything.

From what you could tell, there wasn’t much to the apothecary. 

As you push open the dilapidated doors, your first thought is to search for supplies - anything that could help if things went south on your way to the goblin camp. 

Dried herbs hang from the rafters beneath a thin veil of cobwebs, filling your lungs with a pungent clash of scents. Empty bottles lined the shelves along the wall, caked in several months worth of dust. Large chunks of the building were missing where stone met splintered wood, some areas almost entirely overtaken by greenery.

You step over broken shards of pottery, scanning over the floor and countertops for something - anything that may be of use, but to your disappointment, it seems like the shop was entirely ransacked long before your arrival.

You sigh deeply, knowing you’ll likely never hear the end of this from your companions. It was your idea to search the village. You were the one who suggested taking out the goblin scouts, exerting everyones’ energy, and now you’re afraid you’ll have very little to show for it.

You catch a glint of gold, an object reflecting the sun's rays beneath a pile of rubble. You kneel down to brush away the surrounding debris, thankful for even the smallest promise of coin before your hands catch on… some sort of serrated edge?

You pull at it, and it easily comes loose. It's a thin, rectangular block, just barely larger than the length of your hand. You wipe away some of the dirt with your sleeve, revealing an intricately designed foil wrapping underneath.

As you speculate what this might be, you hear footsteps approaching from behind, light and familiar. You turn to face the elf with a smirk.

“You’re supposed to be the stealthy one.” You chide at him, playfully, “Or has my blood put a little skip in your step?”

Astarion scoffs. “I’ve been here the entire time, watching you fumble around in the dirt.” 

Crimson eyes study you, then the object you’re holding. He places his hands on his hips, head cocked to the side with a raised brow. “Is that what you’ve dragged us all the way here for?”

“First of all,” you waggle a finger at him, “You’re especially grumpy when you’re tired. I’ll have to make a note to prioritize your beauty rest. Second, I haven’t finished looking around, but check this out.”

You hand the bar to him as you stand. The cool skin of his fingers brush against your own, and you’re irritated with the way your heart skips at the brief contact. Why did the one man you found attractive in your camp have to be such a primadonna? And such a huge pain in the ass? 

Astarion’s eyes scan over the textured paper with suspicion, angling it towards the light to get a better look. The golden wrapping is stamped with an image of red lips On the back, letters twist and curve in a language you don't recognize, following a single circular pattern where they meet in the center. You’ve never seen anything like this, neither in your travels, nor within the city walls of Baldur’s Gate.

“Where did you find this?” 

You shrug, then point to the pile next to you. “It was buried right there.” 

He silently stares at the foil, mouth pursed, until your patience begins to wear thin.

“Well, can you read it or not?”

His nose scrunches. “Of course I can’t read it. It’s written in Infernal.”

That’s… odd. Why would an ordinary apothecary sell goods made by devils? Or, worse, for devils. Unless, of course, it was some sort of marketing trick, perhaps a play on the phrase ‘sinfully sweet’, or some other cringeworthy branding.

You take it back, turning it over in your hands before tearing at the corner of the wrapping. It's sectioned into dark, rich squares, and smells indisputably like chocolate.

“It looks like candy.”

“An excellent observation.” he says, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Now, can we go? We’ve spent more than enough time here already.”

You roll your eyes and stuff it into your bag, setting off for camp, vampire in tow.

–

During dinner, you decide not to tell the others about what you found, knowing Astarion’s likely already forgotten the event. You set down your empty plate, thanking Gale for tonight’s meal. He smiles at you and bids you goodnight as you excuse yourself to your tent. 

You pick up your rucksack, thinking fondly of the dessert that awaits you inside. Having lived at the beck and call of your companions for weeks on end, you can’t help but smile at the idea of selfishly indulging in a small treat like this.

You tear open the rest of the wrapping and snap off one of the squares, immediately popping one into your mouth. It melts - buttery in texture, with a smokey, slightly bitter flavor. You can’t remember the last time you’ve eaten something so rich. Maybe weeks of the same rations have made you easier to impress, but this felt especially notable.

As you break off a second piece, a strange tingling sensation begins to spread across your lips - a pleasant buzzing that starts at your neck and spreads down through your chest. 

Strange, but not entirely unwelcome. You’ve heard of such inebriating chocolates, ones laced with alcohol or species of flowers that numb one’s senses for a short while. All harmless, of course, and you don’t have watch tonight. You may as well enjoy yourself. If worst comes to worst, Shadowheart is just outside with an assortment of spells and potions. Always better to ask for forgiveness.

It only takes you minutes to finish half the bar. You set the rest next to your bedroll for later and turn to blow out your candles, enjoying the lingering physical effects of the chocolate. Your skin feels flushed and delightfully warm as you settle down for the night.

When sleep finally takes you, it's dreamless, at first. Your consciousness sways, floating in an empty abyss, until colors begin to bleed onto the blank canvas of your mind.

A trickle of red morphs into the shape of familiar eyes, piercing you with their intensity..

Droplets of white spatter over a dark background, diffusing, blending into whisps. They curl and twist before settling into soft, coiffed fibers. 

Hair , you recognize immediately, his hair . His eyes.

Astarion. 

His image fully takes form, as if it had been waiting for you to make the connection before entirely revealing itself. 

He reaches out and seizes you, grabbing painfully at your hips as you crash into his body, hands exploring you - tight, possessive, squeezing at every inch of exposed skin before settling on the curve of your ass. He digs into your flesh with the blunt edge of his nails.

His lips press hot, wet kisses to your throat, mouthing just below the ear, before dragging his tongue along your nape and sucking, hard . You whine at the pressure, eliciting a grin from the elf, so characteristically pleased with the pathetic little noise he’s managed to pull from you.

“You thought sleeping would allow you to escape this - to escape me , unscathed?” He growls against your skin, his voice almost unrecognizable - as if it’s layered beneath a lighter, somehow more arrogant, feminine one.

“No, no, no. Wake up, darling. You’re in for a very long night.”

–

You startle awake, gasping - loud, labored breaths struggling to make use of the unbearably thin air. The edges of your tent bleed in and out of focus, spinning at a nauseating pace as you attempt to recollect yourself.

You wipe at the sweat collecting on your brow, the muscles of your arm heavy and aching, and find that your skin is absolutely drenched. 

Hot. Why is everything so hot? 

It's as if you're being cooked alive beneath your blankets, strangled beneath the furs. You throw them off; normally soft to the touch, the fibers now only worsen the prickling beneath your skin.

Could this be some sort of illness? A fever? 

No, this doesn’t make sense. Everything feels off. 

Fleeting thoughts of Astarion cross your mind - quick flashes of a sinful smile that was not his own.

It didn’t quite match the one you’d silently come to admire, and now that you think of it, the hunger in his gaze was much too intense for the reserved elf. 

His hands, his mouth, the way he touched you -

Your abdomen cramps, bringing your thoughts to a screeching halt.

A stabbing, visceral pain; a knife plunging into your organs. It overwhelms you, forces your body to curl into itself. You hold your pelvis, grunting, and grasp at your sheets. Tears sting the corner of your eyes.

This is - well, you have no idea what this is. 

You can’t think past the pounding in your head, the throbbing in your midsection. You're compulsively twisting, writhing, begging the gods for some sort of reprieve, but it's then when you make the most mortifying discovery of the night.

You’re soaked .

N ot just your smallclothes, which may have been understandable given your strange dreams, but through your damned pants. Not even the sheets were spared. 

“What  in the hells…?” 

You run your fingers over yourself, only intending to confirm the horrifying reality of your situation - that this is not, in fact, some sick, perverted nightmare, but the lightest touch sets off every nerve. 

You wail at the sensation: one massive wave of bliss giving way to several small jolts of pain. 

Pleasure to the point of agony.

The shock of the sudden orgasm courses from your sex through every limb, clenching and releasing pitiful, warm slick. It leaks freely out of you into your already thoroughly ruined underwear. 

Your heart pounds. You stay like that for what feels like a lifetime, toes curled, limbs twitching, waiting for your body to settle. 

After a minute or so, your breathing evens, and the thick haze surrounding your thoughts begins to lift just slightly, along with the suffocating heat. 

But something within you knows this isn’t the end - knows this isn’t enough . A desperation lurks beneath the surface that you can’t quite name. It screams at you. You need more.

‘Aw…’ A familiar, feminine voice prods at your mind. You quickly recognize her, the woman from your dreams who wore Astarion’s image.  

‘All alone, are we? Empty and needing to be filled? Doesn’t that hurt?’

It does. It aches unlike anything you’ve ever known. The lingering buzz of your orgasm just barely quells the worsening cramps, and they’re beginning to rear their ugly head again not minutes later.

You choke out a sob. “Wh- why are you doing this? What do you want?”

Sharp, wicked laughter fills your head, echoing off the walls of your skull. ‘I’m not doing anything, dear. Just enjoying the show.’ She hisses, ‘I told you, it’s going to be a very long night.’

You must be hallucinating. This fever - whatever this is, is simply cauterizing your senses, or possibly interacting with the tadpole? But the tadpole doesn’t speak, not like this. Never so clearly. Not with words.

Think, please. There has to be a reason this -

“Is everything alright?” Shadowheart raps on the canvas of your tent. “I heard a yelp. Are you hurt?”

Shit.

‘Ooh, this one might do!’  You feel an unwelcome… eagerness flood you.

No. No. Absolutely not.

You try not to panic. 

Under no circumstances should she or anyone else come in here.

The best strategy may be to ignore her - pretend you’re still sleeping. It seems like a good plan, but before you have a chance to follow through with it, another sharp contraction hits. This one is somehow even worse than the ones before. 

You pull your sheets up to your mouth to stifle your whine, but the half elf’s ears are sharper than most. “I’m coming in.”

She opens the flap to your tent and gasps when she sees you there - skin flushed pink, doubled over and covered in sweat. 

“Gods, what’s wrong? What’s happened?” Her hand reaches out towards you. 

Without thinking, you swat it away with your own. Your skin tingles at the contact, and the essence of a smile crosses over the threshold into your mind. The intruder giggles with satisfaction.

“Don’t,” you plead, “Don’t touch me.”

She scans over you, taking in your humiliating state. Her face twists with concern. “I need to know if you’re feverish. Please. You look awful.” 

‘Well, I think you look delectable.’

You groan.

At this point, you know it’s no use fighting this thing on your own. You go back and forth on whether you want to tell her the whole truth, about the voice in your head and its influence on your body, but the idea mortifies you into silence. 

Regardless, a cleric is likely your best chance of fixing this literal mess, so you nod, close your eyes, and brace yourself.

Shadowheart’s palm meets your forehead. It’s somehow worse than you anticipated. Even the simple, chaste touch sends you reeling, as if her soft hands are caressing your entire body. Flashes of heat wash over you, burning your skin, threatening to pull you back under another wave of ecstasy. 

It’s too much. You try your hardest to suppress a moan, but the muffled sound manages to escape from between your tightened lips, pitiful and broken.

The disembodied voice squeals with delight.

She quickly retracts her hand, clearing her throat. “Apologies. I can confirm your temperature is… elevated, but the rest…” She shakes her head. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

You want to scream, cry - anything to release your frustration, but you keep your mouth shut, not wanting to risk making any more unsavory noises.

“I believe I can give you some relief by treating the fever, but I’ll have to consult the others on the rest. This doesn’t look like any ordinary sickness.”

Consult the others? No. Gods, no. Nobody can know about this. Is she mad?

You intend to protest, beg her not to share this with anyone, tell her whatever death awaits you on the other side of this would be preferable, but she’s speaking an incantation before you have the chance.

A bright, green aura envelopes you, cooling your skin and ever so slightly easing the cramps. With the pain dulled, it's as though you can finally think again. 

You want to laugh. This situation is so utterly ridiculous that you’d find it hilarious, were it anyone else, but with the modicum of relief comes exhaustion - eyelids heavy, vision blurring with weariness.

“Get some rest. We’ll figure this out.” 

Her reassuring words are the last thing you hear before you’re overcome by darkness.

[bouquetface]

Navamsa Observations 8 - Your Future Home

One should check D1 and dasha periods for full accuracy of when and if property/homes come to the native.

This is meant to be a fun post. This is just a few observations from irl charts. Please take it as entertainment.

💗 ASC ruler's placement and mars in D1 is important to see the person's ability to be successful and accomplish their goals. Weak or debilitated ASC ruler and mars shows the person is prone to give up in the face of conflict. When these placements are weak, you will need support of others to purchase a home.

💗 Gemini influence on 4th in D9 is one indicator for a busy home life. This can manifest as living in a city or other busy area. Or it can manifest as someone who often has people visiting their home - making the home a busy area.

💗 Pisces influence on 4th in D9 indicates having an emotional connection with your home. You can desire to live off the grid as pisces can give an escapism theme. EX: You can live in the wilderness, You can live away from noise and the business of society. Or You have a space in the home that is very special to you.

ex: Mercury in Pisces 4th H in D9 - Few neighbours and the home is somewhat hidden - maybe in a forrest type area. If Jupiter is well placed, this shows a big home or land.

With Pisces’s influence you will deeply connect to your home. It becomes your escape from the world. However, from my IRL observations it doesn’t indicate a big home on its own. Rather it shows a hermit type energy to the home - somewhere hidden.

💗 Sagittarius another Jupiter ruled sign can indicate a spacious home. This can indicate doing renovations or moving at some point. Sag influence is adventurous and will attempt to expand the home in some way. If Jupiter is well placed, this shows a big home or land. You may have religious or educational items in the home too.

ex: Mercury in sag in 4th - It would be considered a big home. There are many rooms some more spacious than others. Mercury’s influence has family usually visiting and staying for days at a time. Sometimes months!

💗 If Saturn is aspecting Jupiter and related to the 4th H, this indicates a small and humble home.

Ex: Pisces 4th H - Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Gemini 9th H - You may live in an isolated location. You may have exposed wood style. The home is likely small. A small home does not equate to an ugly home.

4th House ruler and/or planets in 4th House: Mrigashira: This nakshatra is about getting away. This shows home in an isolated area. A way from the loudness and hustle of society and the city. You can live in a forest-y areas.

💗 Aries and Mars influence indicate a small home as well. They often like having a lot of open space to be active. They usually have small homes but bigger backyards.

ex: Aries sun in 4th in D9 - They have a small home that is built beautifully. They live near a park too.

Sun/Leo influence desires something grand. In this case, that manifests through the decor and design. They have a beautiful outdoor grilling area for parties. Your home will likely have a unique stand out feature w/ Leo/Sun influence - ex: House exterior is different from others on the block, Unique colour home, Unique colour door.

💗 Rahu influence on 4th in D9 can show someone who purchases foreign items for their home. Or they live in a foreign area - this doesn’t have to be a different country, it can simply be far from birth place. You may purchase or renovate the home to fit a foreign style. If rahu is aspecting a well placed Jupiter, the home will be big - especially if conjunct.

💗 Mercury influence can manifest as moving a lot too. This can be a manifestation of the busy and activity you deal in the home. If well placed and aspecting Jupiter, you may own multiple homes. This would need wealth indicators to support this.

💗 Mercury in 4th in D9 - They will have a library/study or home-office area somewhere in the home.

💗 4th H Ruler conjunct Jupiter in D9 - If unafflicted, this can indicate a big home. The 4th H Ruler should be a planet Jupiter is friendly with like Moon or Sun.

ex: 4th H Ruler Moon conjunct Jupiter - She is house hunting currently and she is looking for a huge kitchen. A perfect kitchen is what she desires most.

💗 Cancer & Taurus influence on the 4th H - These individuals usually desire a specific style kitchen. Aspects and sign can provide further insight on what style you will desire. They want the home to be comfortable. Unlike sag & aqua, they will be the least likely to try an adventurous style home. They usually want something traditional. They can be like hoarders with the amount of items they buy for the home. ex: many throw pillows, many photos up, many blankets, lots of closet & cupboard space. They usually dislike moving and will stay put for many years after settling into a home.

💗 Moon influence on 4th H - This shows a home with many sentimental items. If moon is well placed like libra or taurus, a beautiful home. Possible multiple kitchens or dining areas in the home.

ex: Cancer 4th H - Moon conjunct Sun conjunct Jupiter in Aqua. This person would have a huge and grand kitchen in their home. The kitchen may be the biggest part of the home.

💗 Libra influence on 4th H most likely to want a clean and organized area. They can have specific areas for specific things. They will strongly dislike when things are out of place. They often have a modern but traditional touches in their design and decor. You are most likely to be the type of parent telling your kids to make their bed and clean their rooms ever morning lol.

💗 Aquarius influence on 4th H - They have unique features for the home. They are most willing to renovate for them. They tend to desire home’s with features and styles that can’t be easily replicated. Ex: Farmhouse aesthetic, Futuristic aesthetic, etc. Most likely to have set up alexa or google home.

💗 Saturn influence on 4th H - This can manifest as disliking or difficulty in moving. You could refuse to consider moving or struggle to move once settled. These individuals will prioritize a house that will last. They look for something to last long-term. They can prefer traditional timeless styles. The home may be small and/or the rooms would be considered small.

Another thing I’ve observed with saturn is they often have a portico on the home - especially saturn in 8th.

💗 Venus in 11th H D9 - This can indicate either a beautiful home or/and car. It doesn’t necessarily show a specific style just that it will be expensive/luxurious. This is actually more likely if Venus is debilitated or with a malefic. However, this is not always a good indicator. It can show buying something one can’t truly afford. = debt.

💗 Jupiter in 11th D9 - This shows a desire for a big home or property. You will become the type of person who judges the beauty of the home based on size. Whether this desire is fulfilled or not depends on D1 & D9.

KEEP IN MIND:

Most people move throughout their life. Not every home they live in is the same. The traits of these signs and planets can manifest in different ways each time.

[marilynthornhilllover]

{ The trees, they have eyes }

G!pTaissa Turner x Fem!Reader

Warning:, semi public sex, hair pulling, spanking, fingering gentle foreplay, breast play, sucking cock, slight praise kink, talk of having a baby wilderness sex, creampie.

Synopsis: Tai shows you why she’s been giving you the cold shoulder lately…..

You knew it was wrong, but man did you love the suspense— the getting in trouble with her. You see taissa was like a drug that you ‘accidentally’ got addicted too because curiosity lead you down the wrong road. Before her you were your schools best student, always getting straight A’s, top of your class, honor rolls every term. The teachers loved you…. Oh they craved you.

You’d be given special treatment and privileges that no student ever got. You’d be able to leave class early, pick up teachers lunch and take it to them, do school announcements for dismissal, and even being able to stay back to help with school activities to prepare for big events .

And man did bitchs despise your guts. Taissa was never one of them though, she’d be in the back of the back of the class all curled up at her seat. She was not one of those shy students though, she was the kind that didn’t give an absolute fuck. She’d submit work late, get in trouble with students and teachers, show up to school late sometimes not at all, she swears all the time and get into fights often, she’d smoke and drink in the bathrooms.

She was literally the schools rotten apple, when your biotony teacher made you her mentor because she was terribly failing you were scared at first. But after a while you got comfortable with her. She was actually very misunderstood. She was really kind and sweet. Always bringing you snacks and soda for study sessions and with you she improved in behavior. But after you were given an award for ‘best mentor of the year’ and she wasn’t given ‘best improved student’ things got dark.

Taissa stopped turning up for study sessions, her behavior got far worst and completely stopped coming to school. So when you saw her on the bus to the first camp road trip for the schools science department outing you were beyond surprised. She didn’t look at you though. She was curled up on the seat with her headphones and her bag on the spare seat beside her. It was clear she didn’t want anyone to bother her.

Not wanting to get on her bad side especially since the school is gonna be on this trip for three days you don’t wanna mess things up, plus you already didn’t have friends, incase of anything you knew how to crack her — she’d always come back.

At camp you didn’t see her for the entire day, except at rehearsals for the drama act which was tomorrow. It was late afternoon and everyone was having a good time and enjoying themselves with their friends or partners, even the teachers were all grouped up and laughing while having a great time. And you? You were all alone.

Deciding you didn’t need to be shown how much of a loner you were you decided to take a walk in the forest, because not far up was a small check point area with benches and a small fire place circle. When you got there you immediately froze in your tracks. Seated on the bench was no other than Taissa, and she had a blonde haired bitch on her. You quickly bent down and carefully looked at what your eyes were seeing.

You couldn’t believe your eyes, you weren’t sure if you were seeing right or right…… the bitch was riding Taissa’s fingers and moaning her name. You bit your lips, you couldn’t help the ounce of jealousy that boiled within you. Before you could comprehend more a hand grabs your shoulder, and to quickly stop you from making a sound the hand places itself over your mouth while another grabs your waist from falling.

That’s when you suddenly realize that you’re face to face with Taissa. She urges you to hush as she releases you from her grip. You turn around slowly to see that the girl sitting there was another girl from your class who had identical facial features to tai, but of course she couldn’t come close. Sighing you push pass her but before you could go far she grabs your arm and pulls you back.

“ what is your problem—“ before you could even get your sentence out her lips meet yours in a fierce longing kiss. It’s tender and unapologetic— rough even. You melt against her as you kiss back. She pulls away and the both of you look over at the couple that was long gone by now.

“ missed me baby” she whispers as she grips your underwear from under your shirt and pulls in down mid thigh. Your eyes widen as she rises the hem of your shirt towards your abdomen before she swiftly turns you around pressing you against the tree. Thank god the forest was a shaven wood tree park otherwise you’d be getting nothing more than bruises after this. You feel taissa grope your breast through your shirt before she rips the fabric.

“Tai!” Your shout falls on deaf ears as she continues to fumble with her pants. She was like a wild animal, and you were loving it. You’ve always dreamt of a moment like this. To be intimate with her, to feel her rawest parts deep within you.

“ fuck I need you so bad, need to feel that pussy” she continues to remove her pants and boxes as she bends you over some more by pressing her hand against the small of your bad, gently forcing the arch to deepen. You hold onto the tree for dear life. You shiver when you feel her damp fingers slicked their way through your folds and back. You moan softly as you close your eyes, basking in the feeling. Soon her tip was prodding against your entrance. She chuckled when she saw your hand coming back to squeeze her thigh as you squirmed.

“ it’s ok baby, it’ll fix, just relax ok” her voice was calm and sharp, you could almost hear her smirk. She slid her dick through your folds a few times gathering your arousal before she slowly starts to ease her way into you. You let out a grutal moan at the intrusion as you wait for her to bottom out but instead she pulls back all the way out. Her hand gently caresses you ass cheek before she lightly delivers a blow to it.

You shiver slighting, turning your head to look at her— god damn she was a sight. Beads of sweat dripping on her forehead, chest slightly heaving from anticipation and desire— the desire to completely ruin you and your future, make you fall pregnant for her and marry you. Make you hers. God she loved that idea. She bites her lip as her hand reaches down to grab your hair, tugging you back slightly as you gasp. She lays you against her chest as her mouth positions behind your ear.

“ I’m gonna fuck you for all to hear baby girl, I want you round and full of me” and a wish said is a wish delivered because taissa released your hair and thrusted back into you harshly causing you to cry out. Her cock had the perfect curve, it was thick and veiny and god did you love it, you’ve been wanting it for the longest time now. And now you had it, it was heaven.

She increased her pace, thrusting deep and hard within you, your eyes shut tight as you take it , it felt so fucking good. Her head hitting the spot that had you cumming in seconds so perfectly. The stretch of it re-entering you felt like heaven. Your spongy warm walls hugging her so tightly making it even harder for her to move. You feel her arms get tangle in your hair again for a while as she bent down to leave trails of kisses on your back.

“ fuck tai deeper” you moaned parting your legs wider and pushing back against her to meet her eager and fast thrusts. They were fast and loud, you could probably hear the slapping nosies of her balls against you from miles away. And that’s what she wanted. For everyone to know how much of a slut you were for her. You were becoming needy and close to the edge and she could tell by the way your hips pushed back hard against her dick.

“ fuck you feel so good, yeah just like that baby” she pants.

Her hands positioned themselves on your ass cheek, parting them slightly as she looks at all your slick coating her dick so perfectly.

“ look at that, you love making a mess on this dick. Yeah?” Her body pushes into your somemore as she invades your personal space, shoving you up against the tree and she slightly lifts her leg, deepen her thrust. Your back arches all the way as your eyes roll back. Your mind was starting to mush and your body was starting to go limp. You just stood there and took it.

“ fuck tai! Right here! You’re gonna make me cum!” Your hand flys back to her thigh as you push back your hips more aggressively, feeling your orgasm near as the knot ties in your tummy. Her thrust were ruthless and completely raw.

“ yeah baby cum on my cock, it’s yours.” You didn’t need another sentence. After a hot second Taissa feels as her dick becomes a warmer as she feels the hot liquid pour out on her long shaft. She doesn’t stop or slow down her pace though. She continues to fuck you senseless, hazing after her own high. You try to run from her but she grabs your waist and forces you back down making you cry out in pleasure.

“ yeah baby, take this dick, take it, take it, take it please—“ her pleas were broke and her pace was starting to differ and become broken and sharp.

“ fuck baby! Gotta fill you up with my baby!” She moans and you try to pull away from her but she holds your hands and she’s stronger.

“ tai no! Wait—stop you’re gonna get me pregnant tai, I can’t be pregnant!” But she doesn’t listen she continues to rut her cock deep within you.

“ your pussy needs me, she’s wrapping around me so neatly” your eyes roll back as you feel her start to get stiff with her thrust as she pushes you deeper into the tree.

“ that’s it baby, take it for me” was all she repeated until you felt her hot seed spill shoot far in you. She slows her thrust but doesn’t pull out completely. When she does pull out she’s quick with it and covers your pussy with your underwear so her seed doesn’t leak out. She spins you around and kisses you passionately. It’s sloppy and rough. You shiver as you feel her release drop within you.

“ tai—“ but she cuts you off by pushing you to your feet.

“ clean my cock” you follow her orders and take her cock in your mouth, she moans when your warm mouth touches her tip and her hand immediately goes to your hair. She pulls you off after you get the job done and you quickly put your clothes back on and tidy your appearance.

“ tai what if i get pregnant?”

“ then you’ll have my baby and I’ll breed you again and again and again til everyone understands that you’re not just some perfect student, you’re my cock loving slut”

[arvensimp]

I LOVE the Leon sneaking around with reader/oc thing you wrote - the Leon theme that's goin on in general is great tbh - but I'm personally more of a Raihan gal, y'know? 🥰 don't know if he's for anyone here but I personally like the completely separate concept of an "older brother's best friend" sorta scenario where the reader/oc is another sibling to Leon (being 18+ of course) and is sneaking around with Raihan.. 😊

Okay so I'm low-key loving this. Let me see how this sounds?

Honey, you've got a big storm comin'

Raihan x fem!reader who is Leon's and Hop's sister. warning for some slightly adult behaviors, but no full on sex

-

Your whole childhood basically revolved around Pokemon. Now, don't misunderstand, you like pokemon well enough! There are tons of cute little kinds, and they're fun! You've got one that you keep around because it's sweet and easy enough to care for.

But between a celebrity champion older brother and a massive pokemon-fan-turned-pokemon-grad-student younger brother, you kind of dealt with enough of the whole "Pokemon Trainer" life. You watched Leon march off (initially in the wrong direction) to become a trainer, then heard all about the hardships of basically camping in the wilderness while he trained for some matches, and Hop ate it up ravenously. But you? You don't really care for The Great Outdoors and all of its associated dangers. Like, people talk about the wild area and how cool it is to be out and about there, but??? People have died there. Yeah, it's dirty, and the weather can change at the drop of a coin, but also??? For real, there are dangerous pokemon out there who can very easily kill someone.

So yeah, like the middle child you very much are, you deviated from your brothers and their obsession with Pokemon training. You're happy living in a proper city in a proper flat with a proper job, not exposing yourself to the elements.

Still, you do care about your boys, so you help them out in your own small way. See, you went to school to become a meteorologist, and you work as the weather reporter on a small, local channel in Hammerlocke. You're able to live a comfortable life in a nice city, not particularly well known as a local celebrity or anything, and you can let your brothers know if there are any bizarre weather phenomena on the horizon while they're out being stupid in the wild area.

It's also kind of nice that you're not super recognizable. Folks don't recognize you in public as a sibling to the champion. You basically go unnoticed, like the middle child that you are. It's not like Lee hides you away or something, but you don't bother going to the majority of his big public events, unlike Hop, who will happily follow your eldest sibling to the ends of the earth, so you've never been "debuted" to the world the way that Hop was when he did that whole Gym Challenge thing.

Still, Lee always invites you anyway. It just so happens that this latest event of his is in Hammerlocke, so you figure you might as well attend. Hop had to study for exams, and you're not busy with anything else. Truth be told, it might do you some good to socialize a bit more. You'd been spending an awful lot of time cooped up in your flat lately.

This brings you to your current situation, chilling at the buffet of some Rose Sponsored Event in Hammerlocke Stadium's lavish upper floors. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows overlook the greenery of the pitch below, so you figure this must be some kind of box space for major movers and shakers within the pokemon league for when they do their matches below. You'd never bothered visiting the stadium before today, despite living in Hammerlocke for a few years, so it's kind of neat to see. You can cross it off your bucket list or whatever.

Lee is off chatting it up with whatever bigwigs are trying to get him to wear their logo, so you haven't had the chance to grab his ear and say hello just yet. Instead you're eyeing some curry puffs and mini quiches, trying to decide how much would be polite to load up on your plate, when you hear someone's voice.

"Aaaaand that's our GBC 12 Hammerlocke News today. Up next, the weather." The phrase makes your ears perk. It's the one the news anchor speaks every day just before your segment on air. Internally, you cringe. Someone must've recognized you. You plaster on your Broadcast Smile and look to the source.

"Haha," The laugh is as stiff and uncomfortable as you feel. "Sounds like I've been spotted..."

The man who drew your attention is surprisingly tall, giving you a grin with teeth so sharp that on anyone else they'd seem almost predatory, but with his relaxed posture and overall chill demeanor, you're not getting any vibes of ill intent. Maybe (probably) cockiness? But nothing bad. The discomfort you'd felt at being recognized melts away like ice in a heat wave, replaced with a warm thrum of nervous excitement. He's very handsome, and you certainly don't mind attention from someone like him. In his hand is a rotom phone. He gestures with it as he speaks.

"Well, yeah. Gotta keep up with current events; especially gotta keep up with the weather. Can't control what you don't know, am I right?"

No, that didn't entirely make sense to you, but you smile politely and nod anyway. He's definitely easy on the eyes, and getting easier the longer you look.

"So they're inviting the press to these events now, I'm guessing?" The man goes on. "Kinda surprised they'd ask the weather girl to come schmooze it up and get photos and whatnot." He gives a bark of a laugh, and his stark white teeth gleam. "Then again, I suppose it does make for a thematically pretty picture–the weather girl with the weather specialist."

Weather specialist? You think to yourself. Is that some kinda pokemon thing? Whatever.

"Actually, I'm not--"

"Here, get in, and we'll snap some shots, and I can text'em--"

The pair of you speak at once, so you stop and try again.

"Oh, so you want my--"

"Wait, you're not--"

You both laugh this time. He gestures for you to go ahead and speak first, uninterrupted. You can't help but smile, teasingly calling him out.

"I was gonna say. So you just want to get my number, so you can send over those pictures? No other reason?"

"Ahh, ya caught me." Another laugh. Gosh, his eyes are a captivating blue... "Maybe I want your number..." He doesn't sound ashamed at all. "Not every day you get to meet the cute weather girl you see on TV, right?"

"Well it's not every day a cute weather girl meets someone as impressive as you." You eye him up and down very obviously. You're not typically this brazen a flirt, but it's kinda nice to chat someone up like this once in a while.

The man picks up on your traveling gaze, and his smile widens. "Listen, they're not gonna be making any crazy toasts or announcements or anything for a minute... Wanna maybe go somewhere private til then?"

It's a very tempting offer. Your eyes scan the room til they find Lee. He's still engrossed in conversation with some older guy with a pudgy belly and facial hair even patchier than Lee's own sad attempts at a beard (you only tease him about that a little bit). It definitely seems like they'll be there a while, so why not?

"Do you know a place?"

"Heh. Cute. C'mon, I'll lead the way." You feel the warmth of his hand trail down to the small of your back as he guides you from the room. He takes you through a few winding corridors before stopping at a massive mahogany door. It's unlocked, so the pair of you slip inside. The only light you can see is from some kind of underlit dragon themed bauble on what looks like a desk. Maybe this is an office? You can't make out many details, but you also don't have much of a chance before the man pins you to the door, resting his forearm over your head.

He towers over you, even in your heels, in the most attractive way, and you're left with no choice but to tilt your head up to meet his gaze in the dim purple lighting of the room.

From there it's easy enough for him to press his lips to yours. Seems like neither of you felt the need to chit chat further. He's warm, and the clean scent of his cologne fills your senses. Kissing him comes naturally, intoxicatingly. You hum against his lips, and he pulls away just enough to start trailing kisses down your jaw. His free hand takes a hold of your jaw, tilting it to expose your neck and collarbone to him, which he happily bites with those sharp teeth of his. Nothing too hard so as to hurt, just enough to entice and make you squirm.

You thread your own hands around the back of his neck, pressing him just a bit closer to you. "Very nice..." You hum. "But come back here." You pull his face back to your mouth, so you can kiss him again. It'd be an issue if he left any hickies, purposeful or otherwise.

"Yes, ma'am," He laughs softly against your mouth. The hand he'd used to tilt your jaw shifts, just so, to cup it instead, but you gently take it, threading your fingers over his. You hold him there for a moment, savoring your kisses. It's easy between you, finding a rhythm to enjoy, so it doesn't take much more from him for you to squeeze his fingers just a bit and guide his hand down to your chest. He fondles you eagerly, honest to goodness groaning at that first squeeze. Or maybe he's groaning at the sound you made in reaction. You can feel him smile against your lips, biting them softly.

"Ohh, atta girl, give me more of that, yeah?" He whispers between kisses. His hand works its way under your top and into your bra.

You moan as he pinches your nipple between two warm, calloused fingers. You want to ask for more, maybe wriggle your way out of your top, see if he might match you in undressing, but the man's rotom phone loudly dings several times in quick succession. The groan from its owner is of an entirely different sort as he silences the device and checks his notifications. "Agh, damn. I'm sorry, but we'll have to cut this short. Looks like someone's wondering where I am up there, and I can't leave him waiting."

Very frustrating, but you get it. It's probably for the best, too. Lee's bound to find you missing eventually.

"Gotcha..." You sound more breathless than you thought you would.

The man gives your breast a teasing squeeze and a peck on the mouth before he fully pulls away from you and opens the door to the corridor behind you.

"Don't worry. We can pick back up where we stopped later, if you're up for it." He winks.

"Well, it'd be a shame to keep a girl like me waiting for very long, right?" You reply, slipping your hand into his as you make your way back to the event space together. Along the way, you double check that you haven't mussed your hair or makeup noticeably.

Your grip loosens and you pull away from one another by the time he opens the door for you. He gives a teasing bow, gesturing for you to enter before him, so you oblige. Inside, the same pudgy man who had been chatting Lee's ear off seems to be coming to the end of some kind of toast. The pair of you quickly snatch some champagne flutes to join in the "Cheers!" when he finishes.

The hum of the crowd then picks back up as conversations start anew, and your new friend departs quickly to wherever he was needed, so you head back to that buffet line, suddenly remembering those curry puffs that you didn't get to try. Lee can find you whenever, you figure.

True to form, a few minutes pass, and you hear your name being called the same way you've heard since you were a kid. Lee is politely pushing his way through groups of people to you. You offer him a mini quiche (you've eaten an embarrassing number of them already), which he takes without a second thought.

"Mm, thanks. You must've been bored to tears here." Lee says as he eats. "Sorry I haven't been able to show you 'round yet. Here, we can make the rounds together. I'll introduce you to my colleagues."

As it turns out, your big brother knows every person in the room by name. He couldn't find his way out of a paperbag, but he can learn faces and names apparently. They all blend into a massive blur for you, all the different gym leaders, their top gym trainers, and some guy wearing a pokeball costume, of all things.

"Aaah, there he is!" Lee eventually says, guiding you away from the beautiful ice gym leader and her adult son, another top trainer of the region. You've already forgotten their names. Emily? Jordy?

Lee puts on an air as he continues. "Dearest little sister, please allow me the pleasure of introducing you to the gym leader of Hammerlocke. I'm sure you've seen him on the telly or some such."

Ah, fuck.

"My very best mate."

Damn it.

"My closest rival."

Son of a bitch.

"And the second best trainer in Galar."

Blast it all to hell and back.

"Raihan."

Your mystery guy with the big hands, stunning eyes, and beautiful teeth stands in front of you, smiling between Lee and you.

"Raihan, meet my little sister."

Raihan, for his part, barely falters for a second as he learns your identity.

"Champ." He says between too-tight-teeth. "I don't think you ever mentioned a sister. I'm hurt."

"You sure, mate?" It's an honest question. Bless Lee's dumbest of asses.

Raihan nods, and Lee laughs it off. "Ah, you know... She's got herself all hidden away in her flat. Not much into the whole league thing, so I must've...uh..." He looks down at you. "Forgotten? But only in the kindest way!" He attempts to placate you.

"I've been hidden in a flat in this town." You remind him, face flushed from embarrassment. Of course the hottest guy here (who has also already felt you up and had his tongue down your throat) is your big brother's best friend. "You'd think I'd have come up at some point."

"Well, you never wanna come to my matches anyway. Besides, you're the one who lives here. Why has it taken you so long to come down to the stadium? You could've met Raihan ages ago."

You curl in on yourself a bit. Yeah, it's probably not amazing form that you didn't even recognize the gym leader and second best trainer in the region, much less the man who's supposed to be your brother's best mate. That isn't a great look.

"Listen, I'm sure your sweet little sister here was just too busy with her job. She's a local celebrity, you know." Raihan comes to the rescue. Kinda.

"Yeah? I didn't realize that many people saw her. You knew who she was?" Lee sounds impressed.

"Well I've only been watching her as long as they've been broadcasting her!" Raihan laughs. "I just didn't know she was your sister." He looks down at you and narrows eyes slightly. It's probably imperceptible to Lee, but you're not quite sure how to read it. Is he mad that you didn't know him? That you didn't say who you were? "But like I told her earlier, what kinda weather specialist would I be if I didn't pay attention to the upcoming forecasts?"

In the back of your mind, you can feel it. There's absolutely a storm coming.

[naffeclipse]

Tusks

Reader x Yeti!Sun & Moon

Commission Info

The lovely @divinit3a requested their Frostbite AU with their cryptid Arctic boys, which was an absolute delight! There's snow, there's local legends, and there's the fellas themselves! I had such a great time writing them, and I'm so glad for the chance to write Sun being so extra monstrous and Moon as soft and sweet. Enjoy!

Content Warnings: Animal death, blood, gore, and fear.

———

The evening light slants golden over the frozen tundra, the sky softening to a popsicle pink hue. Trees and jagged mountain outcroppings alike cast shadows which turn the snow blue and the rocks and bark of willows dark and thick. You cheerfully continue deeper along the expansive land, hiking in snug boots and thick layers of clothing that loudly rub in a high pitch zip with each stride you take. 

This journey is very ill advised—but that has rarely stopped you from chasing after what you wanted. Vanessa, the one who strictly told you not to leave the town set on the frozen edge of the sea at the North Pole, warned her to wait for either her or an official crew before you started chasing after myths and folklore in the region. But one night in and hearing about the local abominable snowman propelled you forward into a solo day trek into the frigid wilds just beyond town. 

Yeti. Local legend. Tall tale. “The ice devil” is too great of a story to pass up. You set out to find a hook, a real, captivating myth to jot down upon your notebooks and preserve on your voice recorder, and you are not going to disappoint yourself. 

Stories are as important as reality, as nature itself. Stories are how people keep themselves alive. You continue the tradition by writing reports for a renowned wildlife and wilderness journal. Nothing would give you more pleasure than to witness first hand the places and conditions which swirl the rumors of a creature so inexplicable lurking along the edges of the town. 

It was once thriving too. Even before the tourism died down, the town hushly boasted of the local cryptid that were said to roam in blizzards after dark. You’ve walked between the frozen houses and down the thin strip meant to behave as the mainstreet—it is struggling. 

Perhaps a new, fresh story could bring attention back to such a place. It could do good to remind the world that there are still stories here, waiting to be heard, wishing to inspire awe and fright and imagination. 

You slide between two giant boulders slick with frost and reach a fantastic overlook at the top of a crag. The town seems so small and far away. The sun is setting low, the perfect golden hour setting upon you like a caress from a loved one saying goodbye. You brush a gloved hand against your nose. It drips slightly, and you can already imagine how bright-red and cold-bitten you must look. 

It’s going to be a trek back down. You frown slightly, studying the distance. Maybe the town really is far away. You have… less than a perfect amount of time to return to your shelter for the night. You simply don’t have the gear to survive a night in the Arctic tundra without additional aid, but that’s no matter. You’re on your way back to your rental room.

Ignore the slight ringing of Vanessa’s voice in your mind, terse and firm, telling you to wait for her, you turn around to find a way to slip down the mountain. You couldn’t help but be allured by the beautiful tundra and the rising mouths of caves and caverns alike. Icicles hang thick as harpoons from the mouths of openings in the mountain and snow piles are so thick in some areas, it would bury you alive to step in them.

You’ve been careful. You’ve traveled slowly and mindfully, and stopped to jot down your notes in a notebook before pulling out the voice recorder to wander aloud about how the environment has crafted a perfect abominable snowman for the locals to chat about. 

Of course, you’re convinced there is no such thing. Stories are born for the need of understanding. One night, a long long time ago, someone saw something in the snow and it seemed larger than reality and taller than life, and then they never saw it again. The understanding of it drifted perfectly into place as a monster. One can wrap their head around a spooky thing when it fits the criteria of horror within their mind, and it becomes a way for people to warn others from wandering too far or staying out at night when the temperature drops to lethal negative digits. 

A new understanding was born. The story of the yeti thrives. 

You drop down towards a sprawling of trees. The mountain still looms tall and dark behind you, its pale face darkening with the change of the light. You almost lose sight of the sun over the sharp slopes and peaks—but you’re sure these are your own foot tracks you’re following back.

And Vanessa was so worried about you. You grin only for yourself to know.

A tempting ice cavern opens up along your side. It’s yawning mouth is towering and the inside is deep and dark. You stop a moment to gaze within, picturing a monster lunging from its depth at a poor, unsuspecting victim. Quickly, you pull out your recorder and make a few vocal notes about the textures and impressions of the cavern. Could more ice be inside, thickly burrowing underground? 

Something to return to later. Vanessa will have to explain more to you, and you’ll ask if she’ll deign to take you on a tour inside one of them. She’s so severe about anything—it can’t simply be the lack of light in half the year or the weather. No, that’s just her disposition.

Around a bend of willow trees, thick with snow clinging to its dangling branches like an umbrella beaded in white, you walk without care. Striding forward, followed the edge of several smaller caverns, still impressive but not comparable in size, your eyes fall to the ground you tread. 

The snow is disturbed. Long and lengthy strides of something small, and there are multiples of them. You slow your rush to peer closer under the deep shadow you’re caught within. Paw prints. Large, impressive animal tracks. 

Wolves.

You slowly straighten, intrigued. Did they pass through here? Perhaps they caught your sense and curiously lingered. You trek through the little patch of willows, studying the strangeness of which the snow is disturbed, markings that are too thick and long to be from wolves, but could perhaps come from them falling into the snow and rolling. Why would wolves roll around here? This couldn’t be a local resting spot for them, could it? 

The division between shadow and brilliant, bright sunlight glittering on snow is a stark threshold. You reach it, stepping from the trees’ shelter only to stop in the golden glare of a sunset. 

Further ahead is a wolf in the path. It lies upon the snow, terribly still. Your pulse pricks up along your throat as you stare. The beautiful, thick coat of the creature is ripped to shreds, stained with blood which languidly spills out around it. 

Your skull empties of rational understanding. As if compelled by morbid curiosity, you step closer, reaching its unmoving side.

Its tongue luls out of its mouth. Eyes, wet and open, stare lifelessly. The hide is decorated with severe gouges, exposing its entrails. Heat ever so delicately rises in misty wisps into the frigid air. The carcass, missing pieces, is not even cold yet.

Something was eating it. 

A crunch of snow echoes further down the path. You startle. An instinct, animalistic and wild within you, scratches at your heart. Go. Hide. 

You obey. Flinging yourself back from the clearing of the dead, eaten wolf, you hunker behind a cluster of frosted rocks. Dropping to your knees, the light barely glancing off the icy edges of the stones, you throw yourself into its shadow. 

The crunch of snow shifts into footsteps, heavy and quick. You press a glove over your mouth, afraid the smoke of your breath could somehow give your position away. 

The footsteps stop. The stillness turns your blood to slush. 

“Oh my,” a curious voice singsongs. It’s high and bouncy with a strange, radio-like static underlying its tone. “Friend? Come on out. I can share.”

The demand is too cheerful. Friend you are not. You hold your breath, terrified as you lean your head against the cold, unforgiving rock. 

“Reveal yourself before I find you,” the voice still is strong, but a strain hits its cords. 

You are doing no such thing. 

“How rude,” the voice pouts. 

The crunch of snow becomes a rapid sharpness of footsteps, and then silence.

The back of your neck prickles. You lift your head back, back, back—

A face of gold and rust stares back down at you, a crown of sharp, splayed icicles framing the creature's head, with a grin stained in blood just behind two golden, metallic tusks. Thick white fur clings to the monster’s frame.

The ice devil.

“There you are,” his voice deepens into a growl most dreadful. A hand, large and clawed, dripping blood, reaches over the rocks.

You throw yourself to your feet. Almost knocking into a willow, snow falling from the branches and catching like dozens of wayward diamonds in the sunlight, you run. 

The creature snarls and quickly strides behind you. Your heart thunders in your ears.

You almost trip over a rock and the creature tuts a sharp sound of rebuke, calling for you to stop. Breathless, fighting the tightening of your throat, you race back towards the ice caverns. A hapless thought of losing it in one of the caves crosses your mind. You step towards the fine division between shadow and sunlight upon the ground, and pump your legs with all your might.

A large hand closes on your shoulder, twisting you back to face him while throwing you to the ground. It knocks the breath from your lungs. In a split second, the creature of wild white fur and golden plates is upon you. He pins you down neatly, as if you were a small toy for his hands to enjoy shaking about. 

“Friend,” he beams, tusks decorated in red, “There’s not enough time!”

You struggle, your boots sliding against snow while you panic without air in your body. Your head spins. The yeti crouches over you, far too close for comfort. One eye is wide and pale, icy blue. The one is damaged, scratched, with a star-like prick of blue deep in its black center.

His claws squeeze your shoulder. His other palm sits on your chest, keeping you in place.

“I won’t get to play with my friend,” he pouts and snarls the next, “How naughty of you to run from me.”

The air trickles slowly back into your gaping mouth. You scramble, clutching at his arms in a vain attempt to push him off you, but you only succeed in smearing blood onto your coat.

The shadows stretch deeper. The monster tilts his head, the impressive icicle jags upon his head spinning like crystals in the air. He releases your shoulder to drag the back of a claw down your cheek, leaving you to whimper with precious little breath.

“We can play,” he decides. “You can run and I’ll hunt you down.”

You frantically mewl, trying to push out from underneath him but he cages you in his long and looming figure. He laughs, bordering on maniacal. 

“Keep struggling, little hare,” he growls, “It’ll make you taste all the better—if you don’t behave.” 

You suck in a sharp breath at the first cool brush of shadows on your face. The yeti snarls a guttural, temperamental sound. His claws sink into the front of your coat, pricking the fabric. 

“No, no, no!” His other hand flies to his face, covering it as the evening gives way to twilight, and the gold upon his particular face fades to a silver and black.

Unhanded, you push yourself out from underneath the monster before bolting straight back into the thicket of the willows. You dash madly. Your footsteps remain in the snow, calm and steady, now smeared with your backtracking as you rediscover the great opening of the ice cavern from earlier, and toss yourself inside with all your might. 

You race into the darkness. The coldness turns your breath into thick smoke before your lips. Your heart pounds while your fingers and toes grow numb. You ignore the paint of red upon your clothing, left on your cheek.

Stories are understanding. A warning. A way to survive.

The ice devil should have been a story.

The rounded walls of the ice cavern grow narrow. Panic hooks into you, sharp and cold, as you push yourself against the wall. The cold bites at your nose. Your head swims as black stains the edges of your vision—or is it that dark?

You slip down to your knees. Clutching yourself, your body shakes violently with shock and icy temperatures. This is too dangerous for you to lie low in—you won’t make it through the night.

Footsteps click into the icy entrance. You lift your head, staring at the large figure taking up the entrance with a thick, wild coat of undisguisable white. Shrinking closer to the frozen ground, you bite your bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

The figure draws near. The low light of the deepening twilight barely reaches inside. Your heart struggles in your ribcage, clawing at your sternum. You can no longer hold your breath. A faintness takes hold. 

A head snaps towards you, two sharp and icy horns upon the crown of its head, paired with two dark tusks. Something long and fluffy sways behind its head—a nightcap. The creature lumbers towards you upon lethargic steps. You yelp as it stands over you, eyes blue and piercing, but his expression is far less bloody. 

A sluggish hand reaches for you. Fear strikes so thick in your mind, you freeze without any adrenaline to protect you. The hand lifts you off your feet and pulls you against its body. You briefly struggle.

“Stop,” a voice comes, low and raspy, and exhausted, “Hold still.”

You obey, if only due to being struck dumb by the difference in the voice from only moments before. 

Long and thickly furred limbs wrap around you. A cloak, white and heavy, drapes over you until you’re snuggled against the creature’s chest, held secure in lithe arms.

Surprisingly gentle, the ice devil ensures every part of you is coated in the warmth of his attire. The fluff is wild and warm. The relief it brings is instant despite your shaking limbs, and you stare, wide eyed, up at the mysterious face of silver.

“Sun…” he mutters, shaking his head. His tusks cut through the air before he looks down at you. “It’s alright now.”

You don’t know if you believe him, but your body sags, and the blackness flanking your vision engulfs you entirely. The last fleeting sensation is a claw touching your cheek, wiping away blood.

[mutant-distraction]

Mammatus clouds over Ah-Shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area in New Mexico

source: Space and Universe

[bogleech]

I don't think there's ever been a single study into this, but I think we surely take for granted how much human activity is kept in check by "pests" like biting insects. I don't mean people dying in droves from malaria, that doesn't help anything. But the people merely pissed off by mosquitoes? Imagine how many millions of humans around the world, every single day, must shorten the time they spend in the woods or on the beach, turn in early, maybe avoid some areas altogether because "the bugs are bad!" Now imagine what that math has to look like all added up; how much less damage humans are doing to ecosystems because they couldn't take all the horseflies or they just didn't want to risk picking up ticks. When I go exploring the wilderness around here I can tell where people feel the most comfortable the most often, just by the reliable concentrations of garbage strewn around the most consistently open, sunlit and "pretty" spots. None of that the closer you get to muddy, swampy, shady places where you're going to get eaten alive by gnats. Sometimes I see all the food trash scattered around a cute little clearing in the forest and I kinda wish I could teleport a nice big nasty stinging anthill right into the middle of it.

[skyward-floored]

Shatter

(Alternate title: Warriors Gets Jarred)

HAPPY VERY LATE BIRTHDAY @adrift-in-thyme!!!! I finally finished the fic I said I was going to write for you :3 I hope you like it, and I’m sorry once again for taking I don’t even know how many months to finish this XD

Ao3 link

————————————————————

“Ooooh, there’s something wrong about this place, I just know it.”

Time more than agreed with Wind’s anxious mutter, studying the trees at the side of the path. At first glance there was nothing strange with the forest they were all trekking through, but the longer they walked, the more nervous they all got. The forest was almost completely silent, no sound of squirrels in the underbrush, no birdsong in the trees. There was no life except for the foliage, and even that seemed strangely off, leaves more grey than green, flowers oddly dull.

Something seemed to hang in the very air, heavy and dark, and Time knew all of them had caught onto it, ears flicking, eyes darting towards shadows.

Something was wrong.

“Where did you say you think this great fairy was again?” Four asked in a quiet voice, and Hyrule hesitated, looking around the forest.

“There’s a magic source of some kind up ahead,” he said, but his voice was uncertain. “But these woods... they aren’t natural.”

“So something’s definitely up then,” Legend mumbled from his place on Twilight’s back. “Wonderful.”

“It’s not like we have any other options,” Sky quietly pointed out, gesturing with his arm that wasn’t in a sling. “It’s the hope of a Great Fairy through the unsettling woods or nothing.”

The rest of them murmured agreement, and Time looked back at all the heroes, worn down from a series of long fights, almost everyone injured without any supplies left to heal them. Legend was the worst off, a deep wound in his side and a concussion to boot, but they were all weary and in need of healing, broken arms and twisted ankles, bruises and cuts galore.

But they were in an in-between time period, one none of them recognized. They’d come across no towns or anywhere else where they could buy supplies, just monsters and wilderness, empty forests and fields.

So it was the Great Fairy or nothing.

A soft breeze rustled the leaves around them, and Time wasn’t the only one who stiffened, his ears twitching. Something like a laugh drifted on the wind, but it faded before he could pinpoint it.

He saw Warriors swallow next to him, and Wind rub anxiously at the dark bruise on his cheek.

“...Come on. This way,” Time said finally, able to sense the same magic Hyrule was following, and they all trailed after him, walking closer together then they had been previously.

It wasn’t long before the top of a structure poked through the trees, and Time steered towards it, following an overgrown, barely-there path. An old temple-like building rose up from the trees, thick vines clawing at dark stone, and they all paused to look up at it.

“This is it,” Time confirmed. Hyrule silently nodded in agreement.

They all exchanged looks, but nobody spoke further, and they all trailed inside.

Time relaxed just a bit at the familiar brush of fairy magic that drifted faintly around them, but he realized quickly that there weren’t any fairies inside, the space oddly dark. The Links looked around, studying dark stone and broken windows, and Time walked towards the pool of water on the far side of the room.

His steps were loud on the stones, and Time studied the pool uneasily, the water inside dull and dark.

Strangely dark.

“...This is really a fairy fountain?” Wind asked as they all gathered in the middle of the area, and Wild limped over to the pool, setting a foot near the water.

“I mean... it kinda looks like one,” Wild said, leaning out over the water. “Just... weird.”

“Careful Champion,” Warriors cautioned, slowly moving to stand beside him. “Something here isn’t...”

“Oh, some Heroes have come to visit, have they?”

All of them froze at the echoing voice, strangely harsh to their ears. Hyrule flinched and Warriors stiffened, but Time barely noticed, gaze focused on the pool.

The water was rippling, bubbles appearing on its surface.

“Seems they’ve come seeking help,” the voice continued, tittering when they all took a step back. “Oh, even injured they’re strapping specimens indeed...”

“Ew,” Legend muttered.

The voice laughed, and Time stepped forward, ignoring his unease. “We’ve come in need of healing,” he spoke in a level voice, and the voice went silent a moment. Time was sure he could feel eyes on them all.

“Healing, hmm... I don’t know. You all look so dashing with blood on you...”

“This doesn’t feel right,” Four whispered as the voice hummed. Time nodded, still watching the water. Great Fairies could be on the... unsettling side, but not like this, and he could feel the dark magic in the air now, thick and pungent, like an oily weight that sank into his skin.

Time set a hand on his sword.

“No. It’s not,” he said grimly.

“Does this magic feel familiar to anyone else?” Twilight whispered, a hand ghosting along his side where the Shadow’s axe had struck.

“Something’s wrong here,” Hyrule breathed behind them, hand still pressed to his chest. Time glanced at him and saw his eyes darting around the room, sweat beading on his brow. “Something’s really wrong here...”

“I think we need to leave,” Sky whispered.

The voice laughed like it had heard him, and they all went silent, watching the bubbling water.

“Leave? You just got here! Such fine heroes deserve a rest,” the voice almost purred, and Time‘s grip tightened on his sword. “Lovely specimens indeed... in fact...”

The water abruptly stilled, and the Links held their breath, every muscle in Time’s body alert and tensed.

“...I think I’ll keep you!”

The ground began to tremble under their feet, and Time felt the hair on his neck stand up, the water somehow growing darker as it bubbled again.

“Boys, get away from the—!”

A pale hand shot out of the water at the same time Warriors shoved Wild away, the hand closing around Warriors and pulling him under with a cry.

“Captain!” Twilight gasped as Time’s heart lurched, and they all ran to the water with their weapons drawn, Four helping Wild back to his feet.

The water had gone still again, but it was still frothy from the recent movement, and Time scanned its depths, looking frantically for any sign of Warriors below.

Nothing but dark water met him.

“I’m going to find him,” Sky said suddenly, marching forward as he pulled a necklace with a scale on it from under his shirt.

Time moved to stop him, prepared to argue that he couldn’t swim with a broken arm, but then the ground lurched under their feet. They were all knocked off-balance, and Twilight nearly dropped Legend with how harshly it shook. Time had to steady Wild, and they’d all barely regained their footing when something erupted from the pool, water splashing outwards and nearly soaking them as a laugh echoed around the room, unusually harsh and high-pitched.

Hyrule gasped and several of the others did along with him at the sight, horror rooting Time in place at the sight of what stood before them.

It was a Great Fairy, but wrong.

Her skin was ashen, her hair dull and lifeless, lacking any of the usual sparkle it should hold. Her dress was tattered, and the vines twirling around it and her body were dead and grey, like bleached bones of the plants that had once grown there. The only spot of color she sported were her eyes, and those barely counted, a sickly yellow and glowing with malice.

But worst of all was the sight of the large bottle she held possessively in her hand, long nails curled around the jar as she gently caressed it.

Warriors just barely visible inside with his hands pressed to the glass, soaking wet and looking absolutely terrified.

“Captain!” Sky gasped, and Time could only stare at Warriors for several moments, unable to tear his gaze away from the hero trapped inside of the glass.

Warriors met his eyes, his own unusually bright with fear, and all of a sudden Time was eleven again.

“Great fairy, we need your help. We can’t win this battle without you.”

Mask stood to the side as the captain knelt by the pool, the clash of weapons and screams of monsters and men coming from right outside. The squad they’d brought with them shifted uneasily as something howled, and Mask swallowed.

The Great Fairy was their last hope of victory here, and if she wasn’t willing to help them... it wouldn’t be pretty.

Right when he was about to grab the mask at his hip and see if he could do anything, the Great Fairy finally rose from her pool, leaning over the edge to smile at the captain.

“Of course I can help, little hero,” she laughed, bells in her voice. “...But not without a price. I trust you are willing?”

Something in her voice made Mask frown, but the Captain nodded without hesitation, determination on his face. The Great Fairy grinned at the confirmation, and leapt out of the water with a laugh and a twirl, soaking a few of the soldiers standing too close.

Then she snatched up the Captain, and dropped him into a bottle she pulled from thin air.

“Hey!” Mask shouted, but the Great Fairy waved a dismissive hand at him.

“It’s just until we’ve won,” she giggled, holding the bottle up so she could see the Captain better. He took a step back, eyes wide and uncertain. “Unless he’d like to stick around afterwards... but regardless, I need some help, and you’re just who I need.”

Her eyes glinted a bit.

“Let’s go, little hero. Show me how well you can swing that little sword of yours.”

The harsh laugh rang through the air again, and Time snapped back to the present as the Great Fairy gave the bottle in her hand a light shake.

Warriors looked ill.

“Let him go!” Wind shouted, tightly gripping his sword, but the Great Fairy only laughed again. “He’s not yours, let him out!”

“On the contrary little hero,” she smiled, unnatural and wide. “I caught him, so he’s mine. That’s how it works.”

“As a Great Fairy you should know that that’s not how it works,” Time said as he glared up at the corrupted fairy. “Release him.”

“No,” the fairy said plainly, and Warriors pressed his back to the glass as she held him up mere inches from her face. She smirked. “I haven’t had a toy this good-looking in a long time.”

Warriors lost what little color he had left, and Twilight chucked a boomerang at the fairy’s arm.

She flicked it out of the air with a tsk, the weapon clattering to the ground, and her gaze narrowed, the bit of red around her pupils seeming to grow.

“It’s not polite to attack your hostess.”

“Then release him!” Wild shouted, nocking an arrow and aiming it towards her. “None of us are staying with you, you creep!”

The Great Fairy looked at him, and sighed.

“Well then I suppose I have no choice.”

Dark magic glowed at her fingertips, and suddenly they were all scrambling for cover, most of them only dodging the burst of darkness she threw at them at the very last second.

“This must be the Shadow’s work,” Four wheezed as he ducked behind the same piece of stone Time had sheltered behind. “What else would be able to corrupt fairy magic like this?”

“It has his dirty fingerprints all over it,” Wild snarled from nearby, pulling out a stronger bow from his pouch.

“But how did he corrupt a great fairy?” Hyrule said in dismay, and Twilight yanked him out of the way of another harsh spray of dark magic.

“It doesn’t matter how he managed it, we need to get rid of it,” Time shouted over another harsh laugh. “And save Warriors.”

“How do we do that?!”

The Great fairy kept laughing, and the piece of wall they were hiding behind was suddenly destroyed, the Links scrambling away from the debris. The bottle was swung at them all as they scattered, and Warriors flew by in a blur of color.

Wild whirled around and shot off a round of arrows, several hitting their mark, but the corrupted fairy didn’t even seem to notice, still blasting magic and swinging her bottle.

Time ran forward with his blade raised, and the Great Fairy twirled out of his way. She laughed at his attempts to hit her, then slammed him backwards with the bottle she held.

Time managed to get his shield up, but he was still knocked to the ground, pain radiating up his arm where he’d taken the brunt of the hit.

He thought he heard a muffled cry from Warriors, but the bottle was swinging around too much for him to be sure. Wind covered him while he got to his feet, and Time joined the others as they tried to get close enough to the Great Fairy to actually fight her.

There was too much magic flying around though, dark bursts that made Time’s stomach roll when one exploded too close to him. Between the magic and the way the fairy swung the bottle Warriors was trapped in, nobody could get close enough to cause any real damage.

A larger ball of darkness formed in one of the Great Fairy’s hands, and everyone ran for cover again as more dark magic exploded through the room. Most of them ended up behind a larger chunk of stone, and Twilight slid down next to Time, Legend no longer on his back.

“This isn’t working,” Twilight growled, laughter ringing through the room. “Any suggestions?”

“I’d try the Master Sword, but I can’t get close enough,” Sky wheezed from nearby, his face worried and grim. “Her magic would doubtlessly help, but I don’t know how...”

“Oh! Light arrows!” Wind said with a gasp. He wiped some dust off his face, then began fishing in his pouch. “If it’s dark magic, then light arrows should help!”

“But will it hurt her?” Hyrule asked worriedly, and Time sighed.

“I don’t know, but we don’t really have a choice. Hopefully this will purify her. We can only hope for the best at this point, we don’t have the strength for a drawn-out battle.” He looked around at them all. “If anyone has long-range light magic or weapons, use it now.”

Warriors needs us.

Dark magic hit the stone they were sheltering behind, and the Links scattered again, several grabbing in their pouches.

Wind quickly took out his bow, and pulled back an arrow, the tip lighting up in gold. It grazed the fairy’s arm, and she shrieked, the sound so piercing Time and the others put their hands to their ears.

“It worked!”

“Keep it up!” Time shouted, getting his own bow out.

He shot a light arrow of his own at the Great Fairy, but she dodged, eyes flashing with anger.

“Insolent boys!” she screamed, blasting more magic outwards.

Her attacks came twice as fast as she avoided the light magic, but her aim was less precise in her anger. Time found himself dodging so much he only had time to shoot off a single light arrow before he had to move again to avoid all kinds of stray shots.

He caught sight of Legend tucked behind a piece of stone, still looking dizzy, but shooting some kind of light magic anyway. Hyrule was beside him also shooting arrows, and the Great Fairy grew more and more enraged, shooting magic and throwing her bottle around much more violently.

There was so much noise he couldn’t be sure, but Time could swear he heard Warriors cry out more than once, and his throat tightened with fear.

We need to get him out of there, now.

Time paused in his assault, slipping behind a piece of stone and waiting for the Great Fairy’s attention to be drawn to the other side of the room. Someone cried out, and Time ran forward and went to a knee as he carefully aimed.

He shot an arrow directly at the Great Fairy’s wrist, and as it pierced her flesh, Time felt some kind of magic snap, a protection he hadn’t realized was there.

The fairy shrieked as she clutched at her wrist, and the bottle with Warriors dropped from her grasp.

“Captain!”

Wind’s cry was cut off by the bottle shattering as it hit the ground, broken glass scattering like fallen stars across the dark stone. Time was already running, and he slid to his knees beside Warriors, heedless of the glass he was crouching in.

Blood ran down Warriors’ face from a cut on his temple, and he didn’t move when Time gave him a cautious shake. Dozens of cuts from the shattered glass trickled tiny lines of red across his skin, bruises already forming from his time in the bottle. Wind ran up seconds later, and the sailor’s face went pale as he looked at the captain.

“Warriors?!” he said frantically, but the captain didn’t react.

Time quickly checked Warriors’ breathing, relieved when he felt his chest going up and down. But his leg was at an odd angle, blood still weeping from various cuts all over him, and Time swallowed, taking in how truly battered Warriors was.

His mind fell back to the war again against his will, the Great Fairy fighting with the captain in her bottle. Some of the men had muffled laughs as she’d done some especially odd attacks, and Mask had snickered at a few of them as well, ignoring the flicker of unease that had still been bothering him. His laughter had died the moment the battle had ended though, and the Great Fairy had shaken the captain out of the bottle.

Link had barely been standing, and as soon as the Great Fairy had left he’d emptied his stomach into a bush. He was shaking so hard he could barely walk, and Mask had had to help him back to camp, supporting him as they walked.

But he couldn’t do anything to stop the shaking, couldn’t take away the look in his eyes.

The bruises and other injuries the captain had gotten from being knocked around in the bottle stayed with him for days, but the fear in his eyes had stuck with Time ever since.

That was the first time he’d realized that his big brother wasn’t as unshakable as he tried to appear.

Warriors groaned, and Time snapped back to the present, looking down as Warriors’ eyes flickered.

“Captain, can you hear me?” he asked urgently, placing his hand back on Warriors’ shoulder. He flinched at the touch, breath stuttering, and Time quickly removed his hand.

“Warriors?” Wind asked again, and Warriors opened his eyes a little more, looking dazed.

And scared.

“Link, we need to get you somewhere safe,” Time said, throwing his shield up to block a stray blast of darkness. And despite knowing the answer, he added, “Can you stand?”

Warriors breathed in shakily.

“I...” he croaked, voice barely a whisper. “N... dunno.”

He begin to faintly shiver, and Time breathed out, looking at the fight, then back to him. The other Links were doing their best to keep the Great Fairy’s attention away from the three of them, but he didn’t know how long it would last with how battered their group was.

They were all flagging.

“I’ll go help them,” Wind said, giving Warriors a fearful glance before looking back at the battle. “...Can you get him somewhere safe?”

“I will.”

Wind nodded and ran off, lighting up another light arrow to shoot as he rejoined the battle. Time turned his attention back to Warriors, and saw that his eyes had slid closed again, his expression tense as his breath softly wheezed.

“Captain. I’m going to help you up, we need to get you out of here,” Time said. Warriors didn’t reply, and Time carefully pulled him up, not entirely carrying him, but supporting almost all of his weight. Warriors stiffened at his touch, then began shivering harder. “It’ll only be for a moment, hold on.”

Time stood, keeping his shield at the ready as he began to get them as far away from the water as possible. The Great Fairy screeched in rage again as she was struck by another light arrow from Wind, and Time heard someone shout.

Twilight dodged his way over to Time and Warriors, blood smeared in his hair, and wordlessly covered them as they moved further away.

Warriors’s head hung forward, blood dripping from his face as his breath shuddered, and Time didn’t stop until they were safely behind the stonework, carefully lowering Warriors to the ground. He didn’t even know if the captain was awake any more, and Time’s heart pounded loudly in his ears.

“Warriors?” he asked, patting his cheek. “Hey, wake up.”

The captain twitched a little, and let out a full-body shudder as the Great Fairy yelled. His eyes stayed shut though, and Time knelt beside him, unsure of where to begin. They had no supplies apart from bandages, and he could only do so much with those.

“Captain,” he said in a cautious voice, but Warriors didn’t move. “Link, where are you most hurt?”

Warriors only gave a small shake of his head, faintly shivering. Twilight made his way over to them mere moments later, and he kneeled beside Warriors with a wide look in his eyes.

“Are you okay, Captain?”

Warriors swallowed again, and looked like he tried to raise his head, but couldn’t quite manage to, still shaking and bleeding. He choked on his next breath, and Twilight looked at Time as Warriors’ breathing picked up, rasping and trembling.

“Warriors,” Twilight said more gently, fingers twitching like he had to fight the urge to comfort him with touch. “It’s alright, the others are handling things.”

“We need to tend to your injuries,” Time added, pulling out the few bandages he had left. “Your head is bleeding quite a bit, as is the rest of you.”

Warriors swallowed thickly, and Time watched as he shook harder than the leaves on the Great Deku Tree did when the first spring winds blew in.

His mask had cracked, the one he easily slipped on in battle and stressful situations, hiding his true emotions behind it. Warriors was trying desperately to scrape it back together, but he’d been struck too hard this time. Being put in a bottle again had slashed open scars that had been hastily bandaged in the first place, and now there was no going back.

Not until the threat was gone, at least.

Warriors’s breath hitched, and Time looked at him, bloody and broken, flinching every time the Great Fairy made a sound. Time’s hand was resting near Warriors’s own, and Time reached out, gently twining his fingers with his brother’s.

“You’re safe, Link,” he said quietly, and when Warriors didn’t pull away, he put his other hand on top of his. “Me and Twilight are going to patch you up.”

We won’t let her touch you.

Warriors’s fingers shakily clutched back at Time’s, and Time nodded at him, pulling out his canteen to hopefully wash any glass out of his injuries. Twilight stayed close, his sword still held at the ready, and Time was already planning how to convince him to also be patched up as he cleaned Warriors’s cuts. He hadn’t missed the blood in his descendant’s hair.

Warriors pulled in a shaking breath as Time worked, swallowing as he wiped some blood from his face, fingers shaking. His eyes stayed closed, but Time knew he was awake with how he flinched and kept his face as neutral as possible. He didn’t really succeed in that regard, but he tried anyway.

His other hand stayed firmly in Time’s though, and even though it made his job harder, Time never let go.

Someone shouted nearby, much closer then before, and Time glanced up, frowning as the ground shook beneath them. He held tighter to Warriors, and then jumped as Twilight shouted in alarm.

Time whirled around, and saw a face that should have been beautiful leering mere feet away from them, eyes blazing.

Somehow the Great Fairy had gotten past the other heroes.

“You... are... MINE!” she screamed, voice somehow lyrical and ragged. She stretched a hand out, fingers like gnarled branches of an old, dead tree, and her eyes glinted with desire.

Warriors finally opened his eyes at her scream, and there was such an expression of terror on his face that Time felt something inside himself snap.

He clasped Warriors’s hand that was still in his, and drew on the strength of his gauntlets to bodily throw him out of the way, tossing him towards Twilight. He knew the rancher would catch him, and in the same movement, he grabbed his bow again, calling on the dregs of magic he had remaining.

With her initial target gone, the Great Fairy lunged for Time, dark magic swelling at her fingers. The shouts of the others rang in Time’s ears, but as he drew back a light arrow, he felt strangely calm, even as the sickly feeling of darkness began to reach him.

He was doing this for his big brother.

Time released the arrow at the same time the Great Fairy shot her magic, and the two met in the middle with a shear of pure energy.

It threw Time backwards, and as a scream louder than any of the others rang through the room, something else seemed to snap, thrumming in the very air around them.

Time painfully hit the ground, an oddly-colored smoke rising off of him, but he lurched to his feet anyway. There was an awful smell in his nose and mouth, and his head spun as he stumbled backwards.

Warriors.

Where was Warriors?

Time heard a muffled shout, and turned, lurching towards the smears of green and blue he could see nearby. His skin burned as he moved, muscles screaming as loud as the Great Fairy was, and Time dove forward and covered Warriors and Twilight’s heads.

All three of them closed their eyes against the wave of energy that suddenly rushed outward, rustling their hair and making Time flinch. It only made his body hurt more, but Time gritted his teeth and held on, covering as much of Warriors and Twilight as he possibly could.

Then it went deathly quiet.

Time felt his hands shaking as he waited a moment to be sure, then pulled back, gently releasing Warriors. He seemed no more worse for wear, and Time exhaled, relieved at the sight of both him and Twilight unhurt by the magic.

Twilight was staring at him with a wide-eyed look, but Time ignored it, and somehow got to a shaky knee so he could look around the room. He saw the other Links picking themselves up, wiping blood off injuries, helping others stand.

The water in the pool had stilled, and was now light and clear, faint sparkles drifting on the surface. The whole room seemed brighter now, less oppressively heavy, and Time could feel that the dark magic had been cleansed.

The Great Fairy was nowhere to be seen.

Wild let out a weary cheer from the other side of the room, then listed to the side, Wind barely catching him. They both toppled to the ground, giggling a bit hysterically, and Twilight faintly smiled when Time looked back at him. His descendant still looked worried, but he was just as relieved the fight was over.

Warriors stayed unmoving halfway on his lap, blood still trickling from his brow.

Time swallowed, feeling again every injury he himself had sustained, and he slid back to the floor, placing his hand over Warriors’s again.

His brother’s eyes flickered open, and Time gave him a small smile.

“She’s gone,” he rasped softly, and Warriors exhaled, the sound exhausted with relief. “We did it.”

“You mean you did it,” Twilight added, looking a little awestruck. “I don’t know how you threw the captain and then turned around and shot that arrow barely a second afterwards, but it was mighty impressive.”

“Practice,” Time said with a small smile that hurt to make, and helped Warriors sit up. Warriors held on a bit tighter for a minute, then let go, still trembling just a bit. Time studied him worriedly, but he was interrupted by Twilight fussing over his own wounds, pulling away with a hiss as he touched painful skin. The magic had burned him... more than a bit.

Everyone shuffled their way over to where Time and Twilight were, giving them and Warriors concerned looks. Everyone was at least as bad off as them though, and both Legend and Four were unconscious, so Time thought they were all being rather hypocritical.

A sudden chiming noise rang softly through the room, and the heroes all tensed as the water in the pool rippled. Time recognized it for what it meant, but he still watched in suspicion when a head rose slowly from the water, hair glimmering a soft pink.

Warriors stiffened beside him.

The great fairy’s eyes were clear and bright as she looked around at them all, though her face was lined with a deep sadness. The heroes watched her in silence, hands hovering near weapons, and she let out a heartbroken sigh.

“I’m terribly sorry dear heroes,” the she apologized in a whisper, keeping only her head poking out of the pool. “Such a great darkness fell over me... I was not myself. I see I have only made your situation more dire, and I cannot apologize enough.”

She closed her eyes, and the part of Time that was raised alongside the children of the forest grieved when he saw the shining tear that fell down her cheek.

“I owe you all a debt,” she whispered.

“Healing us might be nice,” Wild spoke up, and Twilight elbowed him.

The Great Fairy didn’t seem offended. “Of course, Hero of the Wilds. It is the least I can do.”

She lifted her hands out of the pool, and as water poured from between her fingers, it faded into gentle sparkles that drifted around the room. They floated around and settled across the hero’s injuries, sweeping them away with a touch like that of flower petals.

Hyrule leaned into them, looking grieved, but calm as the sparkles healed him. Legend watched them in silence when he awoke, as did Four and Twilight, and Wind had a thoughtful look on his face as they sealed a gash on his knee. Sky sighed in relief as they twirled up his broken arm, and Wild faintly smiled when the sparkles trickled up his side, healing whatever the cause of the blood all over his hip was.

Warriors tensed as they reached him, not moving an inch as the sparkles sank in around most of his body. Time kept his hand on his shoulder as they drifted past, and Wind slid up to his side as well, both of them watching as they grew thicker around the captain’s leg and forehead for a few moments. The tiny cuts on his skin were sealed, and the bruises faded until they could only barely be seen.

Time felt his own injuries get healed as well, a smell like honeysuckle and morning dew accompanying the light. They soothed the hurt in his chest from the magic recoil, healed the burns and eased the aches and pains he’d already had in addition.

He waved the sparkles away from his scarred eye once they finished, then turned to help Warriors stand, feeling much more relaxed.

The captain looked relaxed as well, oddly enough, though not as much as everyone else. He still watched the Great Fairy with suspicion, even though his trembling had stilled and his expression had settled back to usual.

And he stiffened again when the Great Fairy’s gaze landed on him once more.

She looked at him steadily, eyes shimmering with remorse, and bowed her head. “My deepest apologies, Hero of the Shattered Eras.”

Warriors nodded, and didn’t look her in the eye.

The Great Fairy waited a moment, as if she was hoping he would verbally respond, then turned her gaze away from him and swept it over the rest of the Links.

“Heroes across the ages, I again offer you my thanks for ridding me of the shadows,” she said, her gaze resting on Time as she spoke. “If you wish to remain here and rest, you are more than welcome to stay as long as you wish. The little wings should return with my release, and I’m sure some would be happy to accompany you.”

“Thank you,” Time said respectfully, and gave Warriors’s shoulder a squeeze. “But we should be moving on. I thank you for your gift of healing, and I’m glad we could be of service.”

The Great Fairy looked disappointed. But she nodded, and with one last grieved look at them all, slipped back into her pool, a few errant sparkles the only thing left behind.

Warriors drooped when it was evident she was truly gone, and Time wasn’t the only one who looked at him with worry. Nobody said anything about it out loud though, just stayed close, and told him they were glad he was okay. Wild thanked him profusely for pushing him out of the way, and Warriors waved him off with a painfully forced smile.

Wind merely leaned on his arm, and Warriors softly ruffled his hair, the sailor looking at him in relief.

They all turned to leave then, beyond ready to get away from the fountain. But a another soft chime caught their attention, making them look back.

A few sparkles were drifting on the edge of the pool, floating together into a vaguely cylindrical shape. The light swirled around, then flashed, before fading away to reveal a small, crystalline bottle, filled with a deep purple liquid.

Looking at it, Time felt oddly sad.

The Links all looked at the bottle with emotion varying from curiosity to suspicion, and Twilight was the one who finally stepped forward and knelt down to pick it up, his eyes going wide as he studied it closer.

“Great Fairy tears,” he said softly, lifting the bottle with great care.

“What do they do?” Four asked, and Twilight looked at the bottle in wonder.

“They heal any wound. And grant a brief blessing to whoever uses them, one that protects from any harm for a short while,” he said, and Legend whistled.

“I can think of some times that would’ve been handy.”

“No kidding,” Wild said with a small glance at Twilight.

“I suppose it’s another apology,” Sky said quietly, and Twilight hummed, about to place the bottle inside of his pack, then hesitated.

“...Do you want to carry it?” he asked, turning to Warriors. “I... have a feeling it was meant for you.”

Warriors shook his head, and looked away. “No. You can take it.”

Twilight didn’t press, and he nodded and gingerly put the bottle away. Everyone took that as the signal to begin making their way out of the restored fairy fountain, and one by one they stepped out into the sunshine.

Time squinted as the light reached his face, and he looked around at the forest they’d emerged into with wonder. It barely seemed like the same place they’d left earlier—it was like a spell had been broken, and life was returning to the plants and very earth around him. Time even heard a bird singing somewhere above their heads.

Everyone was looking around with content expressions, satisfied despite the tired way they held themselves. It was always good to see evil purged from the land. They’d done a good job today, rough as it had been.

Time looked behind him at where Warriors stood back from the others, still-damp hair shining in the rays of sunlight. Time wouldn’t have guessed anything had happened to him, except for the pallor of his skin, and the blood still staining his clothes.

Time moved closer and gently set an arm around his shoulders, light enough that the captain could pull back if he wished. He felt Warriors stiffen at the touch, but then he abruptly leaned into it, his eyes squeezing shut.

“You all right?” Time asked, soft enough to only be heard by Warriors.

“Yes,” Warriors whispered back, slowly breathing in, and then out. Time moved his arm from his shoulders, and turned to face him so he could see him better. “I’m sorry I wasn’t much use in the battle.”

Time felt a sharp prick of guilt, and swallowed. He could still see his brother’s terrified face, the franticness with which he slammed his hands against the bottle, the way he’d been unable to stop shaking after getting out.

How still he’d looked, surrounded by blood and shattered glass.

“It’s hardly your fault,” Time finally replied. “I’m so sorry we weren’t able to free you sooner.”

“You did what you could. I didn’t even know those bottles could break, that was impressive,” Warriors admitted, his expression unreadable. “The light arrows were a good idea. Thank... thank you,” he said in an even softer voice. His shoulders gave one quick shudder, and Time hated how it made him feel. “For getting me out of there.”

Time swallowed, and leaned forward, lightly setting his head against Warriors’s. ”You would do the same, big brother.”

Warriors gave him a hint of a smile, and Time held him just a little closer as they leaned against each other.

They would still need to have a proper discussion of everything, figure out how the Shadow had corrupted a Great Fairy, try to make sure Warriors wouldn’t just brush over this incident like he tended to do. Warriors would doubtlessly try to avoid it, but... the discussion could wait.

For now... Time just wanted to enjoy standing here in the sunshine. The battle won, the danger past.

Warriors closed his eyes, and Time drew him into a proper hug, Warriors letting out a shaky sigh as he let himself be held.

His brother alive and safe beside him.

[keeshya6]

What to Expect

Joel Miller x F!Reader Insert

6.5k words

(18+ only. MDNI. To continue, please click “Keep Reading” below.)

This is canon divergent. In my head it's before Joel gets to the Boston QZ, and Joel doesn't know Tess.

There is definitely an element of dubcon to this, due to some glaring imbalances in the power dynamic. However, ultimately, Reader is a willing participant. So it's dubcon-ish.

This could probably be read as a stand-alone one-shot. However, it is a part two. Basics to know from part one: Reader met Joel after his crew killed the people she depended on for protection and, upon realizing this, she offered herself to Joel. Simply put, sex in exchange for protection. Joel demanded a demonstration of her abilities, which she gave to him in part one. Now they are heading back to his camp.

Find part 1 here: Worth the Effort

This will continue to be a series of connected one-shots, I think. No particular timeline planned for posting though.

Please let me know your thoughts, especially if you'd like me to continue this pair's one-shots!

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy!

CW: Little bit of plot, if you squint, but mostly Plot-what-plot? Power imbalance, dubcon-ish, gruff Joel, Dom/sub, dirty talk, manhandling, semi-public kink, sexual acts outdoors, breast play, finger-fucking, mild exhibitionism, mild degradation, mild humiliation, mild praise kink, Joel's an asshole. Let me know if I've missed any, please.

----------------------

Beams of moonlight filter through the forest canopy, lighting up sections of the surrounding wilderness as you follow Joel.

It's a full moon, so even though the sun set a while ago now, you can still see fairly decently. There are some sections though, where not as many leaves have fallen from their branches yet, and you have to pick your steps even more carefully so you don't trip over a hidden root or a critter's burrow. Even Joel slows his confident strides in those areas. Neither of you want to deal with a twisted ankle out here.

For the most part you travel in silence. Generally speaking, it’s safest that way. Plus, he doesn’t seem like much of a talker.

After a while though, you do ask a few questions, trying to get some conversation going.

“How many are in your group?”

“‘Fifteen or so.”

“How long have you been traveling with them?”

“A while.”

“Why were you the only one that backtracked to my camp?”

This is a guess on your part. You don’t actually know how he came across your camp, but you figured that he must have decided to find it after his crew killed the rest of your group. Or rather Phillip’s group. It makes sense, to check for the supplies, and he doesn’t correct your guess now.

“Didn’t need anyone else with them all dead. I can handle a guard or two on my own.”

You have no doubt.

Some small part of you thinks you should feel insulted that he would assume he could handle whoever was left behind. The rest of you shuts that part down though. After all, it’s not like he’s wrong. If you had put up a fight, rather than offering yourself to him in exchange for protection (with a blow job as a convincing argument), you know your body would be growing cold by now, next to the fire he had doused before leaving.

You’re quiet for a while again, picking your way through the trees and adjusting the pack on your shoulders. It feels like you’ve been travelling all night, but the moon is still decently high in the sky.

When the unkempt brush and foliage near the forest floor starts to thin, Joel slows down and gestures for you to come up by him, now that there’s more room.

He glances over at you as he adjusts the rifle strap on one shoulder, and the backpack on the other. Then he looks ahead again, eyes studying the terrain around you.

“How long were you with that group?” he asks.

“About eight months, I think.”

His brows draw together. “But no loyalty?”

You hesitate, glancing his way. You know your answer could hold some serious weight here, given the situation you find yourself in.

“If they were still alive…sure. We were never close, but they kept me alive. With them dead though…well, loyalty losses out to pragmatism.”

After a few quiet moments, he nods and looks your way again.

Feeling his eyes on you, you glance over in time to catch the way his eyes drag down your body.

A faint warmth creeps up your neck and into your cheeks as you dart your eyes forward again, pretending not to notice. You mentally stamp down that blush with a frown at yourself, grateful for the shadows.

It isn't long before he breaks the quiet again, his voice lower. “What was his name?”

You almost ask him ‘Who?’ but then realize the likely subject.

“Phillip.”

He nods. “What did you do for Phillip?”

Your eyes dart his way again and you give a faint huff of a laugh. “Well… we fucked,” you say with a shrug, unsure of what else he’s looking for.

A faint scoff meets your ears. “Yeah, Darlin’, I was able to figure that part out. Was lookin’ for more than that.”

You toss a confused frown in his direction. “More? What, you want to know the dead man’s favorite positions? Doggy style. Occasionally missionary and cowgirl. And yeah, he liked getting sucked off. What more do you want to know?”

His hand reaches out to catch your arm and stop your forward momentum, making you gasp softly in surprise before you turn to look up at him. He’s closer now, looking down at you through the shadows, studying you.

“Really?” he says lowly. “Pretty thing like you and all he wanted was… typical sex?”

A tremor races up your spine. It’s nerves, you think, but maybe a bit of thrill too.

Because, even in the shadows, you can see the undeniable interest in his eyes as they move over your face…and dip lower. And if you’re honest with yourself, it’s been a while since a good-looking guy has come along and looked at you that way. Even Phillip -who was decent-looking but just not your type- hadn’t looked at you with heat in his eyes like Joel is right now.

Smoldering. That’s the word. The look in his dark eyes is definitely smoldering.

“Yes?” is all you manage to squeak out, your eyes searching his face.

“Hmmm…” he hums softly, releasing you and turning to continue walking.

You swallow hard, letting out a shaky breath and taking a moment to collect yourself before quickly turning to follow.

“Did you make him the same offer?” he asks, over his shoulder.

Oh, okay. So you’re not done talking about this.

“Um… yeah. Basically.”

“Pretty much anything he wanted in exchange for protection?” he challenges.

“Yes…”

“Must not have been very imaginative…” he mutters under his breath with a chuff, his eyes locking on the light mottled forest ahead.

You almost don’t catch the comment, and a confused frown tugs your brows together as you pick your path carefully behind his.

Several minutes pass in silence again, before your curiosity starts to get the better of you. In fact, you open your mouth to question him, when he breaks the silence a split second before you do.

“We’re almost there,” he says, jerking his chin forward. “That light ahead is from my crew’s camp.”

Your questions momentarily forgotten, your eyes dart ahead again and it takes you a moment to notice the orange flickering light, still distant and partially obscured by bushes somewhere between here and there.

“We need to go over some ground rules before we get there, Darlin’,” he rumbles, and waits for you to turn your eyes back to him and nod your head before he continues. “First, when we get in there, you do not speak yet. If they get a whiff that you’re part of the group from this morning, you’re dead. Far as they know, I found you wanderin’ alone.”

Wide eyed, you nod quickly.

“Good. Next: as long as you want my protection, you are mine. Only mine. No jumpin’ to someone else and then expecting to come crawlin’ back to me. You belong to me. Understood?”

Your brows lift slightly at his choice of wording. You belong to me. There was a time when any such declaration would have had you sneering in return. But that was before, and this is now. Instead, you just nod again. After all, you had said your offer was only for him anyway. At least rule number two doesn’t conflict with your own rules.

“Okay. And speakin’ of my protecting you, you better not have any issues followin’ orders whenever shit hits the fan. I tell you to duck, you duck. I tell you to run, you run. And anything in between. Got it?”

Swallowing hard, you nod again.

“Say it.”

“I understand. I’ll follow your orders.”

“Alright. Good.” He shifts the pack on his shoulder, turning his attention back towards the light. “Let’s go.”

Following him again, you nibble at your lip as you replay the conversations in your head, while the both of you pick your way carefully and circle around to approach from another direction. Joel briefly comments that this direction is less likely to get either of you shot, since someone named Tommy is on this side of the camp.

Not that he explains who Tommy is.

You can see the fire more clearly now through the trees, growing larger as you approach. You’re just barely able to make out a few tents and people around the fire. Even two small cabins a little ways back, each one barely big enough for a bed. Most of the people you can see -about eight- are laying down in sleeping bags near the fire, presumably sleeping and unlucky enough to not have their own tent, or given access to a cabin. A few are sitting up and appear to be talking and a couple others are standing and walking around, guns in hands. Patrols.

At about a hundred feet away, with the light from the fire still not illuminating either of you in the shadows of the trees, you come to a halt, your fingers nervously fidgeting with the strap of your backpack.

While you had been managing to move pretty quietly, Joel still notices the change immediately and also stops, turning to look at you.

“What is it?” he hisses in a whisper.

Taking a deep breath, you tick your chin upward as you study his shadowed face, your voice soft too, to avoid drawing attention from the camp in the near distance.

“What did you mean… when you said Phillip wasn’t very imaginative?”

Joel cocks his head slightly, his brows lifting. Then a faint chuff escapes him, much like the sound he’d made with the comment earlier. “Didn’t realize ya heard that, Darlin’. You really wanna talk about that…right now?”

“Yes.”

He considers for a moment and then takes a single step closer to your side, to within a couple feet of you, his eyes unabashedly dragging down your body again and then slowly returning to your face. “I meant that he wasted a good opportunity. That is, if you’re serious about the offer of ‘pretty much anything’ I want… and depending on what ‘pretty much anything’ means to you.”

You blink a few times, nervously slipping the tip of your tongue out over your lips to wet them. It’s impossible to miss the way Joel’s eyes track the minute movement.

“I…I was serious. But now I’m more curious what ‘pretty much anything’ means to you.”

A low hum passes his lips and he cocks his head to the side again. After a pause, he murmurs, “I'll ask one more time, Darlin’: you really wanna know…right now?”

You swallow thickly and then nod again, once. “Yes. I'd like to at least have an idea…before I step foot into your camp.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks, and you can see that he traces his teeth with his tongue, behind closed lips, as he looks over your body again in thought.

“Well, Darlin’, it could mean a lot of things. Some days I may be wantin’ things as simple as he did: just sex. Might come back from huntin’ and want you on your knees again…or your hands and knees… or on your back,” he rumbles.

The way he says, his baritone voice dipping with a faint rasp, it sends a surprising warmth across your skin. You can feel it in your chest, up your neck, and into your cheeks. You’re grateful for the generally black-and-white view of the world around you in the evening’s relative darkness.

You give a little nod. “Okay…and other days?”

Joel steps even closer to you, leaving barely six inches between his broad chest and your shoulder. Your breath stills and you look up at him with your head tilted.

“Other days? On other days…I’ll want to play with you,” he says lowly.

Blinking up at him rapidly, you can’t help the way your brows pull together even as your eyes slightly widen. You inhale deeply, feeling the warmth in your cheeks heighten as your chest lifts.

“Play with me?” you repeat in a whisper. “That’s a little… vague, don’t you think?”

Your thoughts are bouncing through so many possibilities of what that loaded word could mean, that you fail to notice Joel shifting beside you, closer still to your side, but now angled behind you a bit. It’s so he can lean down and whisper near to your ear, his breath warm on your skin, snapping you out of your ricocheting thoughts.

“Yes,” he admits, “but I could just… show you.”

It takes a moment for you to recognize your own words from earlier in the day -offering to prove your worth to him- as he turns them back on you. Your eyes widen a little more and your head turns over your shoulder to look at him again, finding him so close that you can feel his breath on your cheek, your own catching in your throat.

“Well?”

Exhaling shakily, you give him a tiny nod. “Okay…but…” You hesitate, mouth twisting up to the side.

Joel stops, his head cocking to the side as he studies you.

“What if there’s something I…really don’t want to do?” you squeak out. “I mean… I did say ‘almost anything’.”

Dark eyes narrow at you and then he snorts a faint huff. “Pick a word, Sweetheart. One word, that you’d never scream while gettin’ fucked.”

His blunt words make your blush deepen.

“Whatever word you choose, you gotta remember it. I’m not goin’ to be askin’ you about it. You have to remember it and use it, if you need to. If I don’t hear it after today though, then don’t expect me to stop until I’m ready to. And don’t think you can get away with using it all the time either. That happens? We’ll have to revisit our arrangement. Understood?”

Your eyes widen throughout his declarations and then with a shiver you nod, licking your lips nervously. “Okay. Yeah, got it. Um…” You glance around at the dark forest surrounding you until your eyes fall on the shadows of a tree in a distant patch of moonlight. “Willow,” you finally say, looking back at him.

“Willow?” he repeats.

You nod. “Yes, Willow.”

“Okay. Willow it is.” He pauses before quirking a brow. “Ready?”

Clenching your jaw for a moment, you take a deep breath and then nod once. “Ready.”

An unreadable smirk tugs up one side of his mouth and he nods, slipping his backpack off his shoulder and quietly setting it down on the ground. He does the same with your backpack, pulling it off your shoulders and setting it beside his bag as you watch him over your shoulder.

Adjusting the rifle strap on his other shoulder, he closes the distance between you without a word of warning, making you jolt slightly. It draws out a faint chuckle from him that you would have missed, if not for the fact that his chest is now pressed against your back and one big hand has slipped around your waist, holding you firmly against him.

Swallowing thickly, you turn your head towards him again over your shoulder, though you can only barely see him out of the corner of your eye.

“Now, Sweetheart, playin’ with you could change from day to day. You could say I’m a man of…eclectic tastes.” He chuckles softly into your ear. “For example… playin’ with you right now… I’d call this semi-public play, which I've always liked. Never know if we’ll get noticed, after all.”

Your breath stutters and your eyes snap to the camp up ahead. There isn’t much movement, and you can see the two men that are patrolling. Even if they patrol on this side of the fire, it doesn’t look like they are going far from the light, so still at least 60 feet from where you and Joel are shrouded in shadows.

Still, the possibility of being caught doing…well, you’re not sure what yet, but…something…has you shivering.

Of course, being held against him, Joel notices and chuckles darkly again.

“How about we test their awareness, hm?” he rumbles against your hair and you swallow hard, heat licking down your spine and pooling between your legs, despite your growing anxiety.

“O-okay,” you barely stammer out.

“Mmm…let’s test how well you take orders too, hm? Open up your jacket.”

Your teeth catch the corner of your lower lip and you take a deep breath. With a little nod, you reach up to the zipper of your jacket and slowly drag it down, trying to keep it as quiet as possible. You push either side open, to reveal the dark green button-up shirt beneath it that hugs your chest.

Over your shoulder, Joel’s head tilts to look down the front of your torso, his mouth still lingering near your ear, his patchy beard catching the strands of your hair. “Hmmm… and now the shirt, Darlin’.”

Air hisses between your teeth in a stuttered breath, your eyes darting around the nearby trees, as if someone else might step out to watch you. You nervously flex your fingers a few times before reaching up to the top button and freeing it. Then the next. And the next. Cool air meets your skin as it’s exposed in a stripe down the center of your torso, the simple, faded tan of a bra peeking out.

Joel watches your hands move to undo each button and then, when they drop to your sides again, he reaches around with the arm that isn’t already at your waist. Calloused fingers slip under the open collar of your shirt, brushing across your collarbone and making you tremble despite yourself. He flips the one side of your shirt open and then the other, exposing more skin to the cool air, and the cotton hugged globes of your breasts.

Goosebumps dance across your skin and you bite your lip, glancing around again to spot the two men patrolling -still a long ways off- before you look over at Joel out of the corner of your eye.

He meets your look with an unapologetic smirk, then looks down the front of your body again as his fingers trace the edge of your bra cup, then trail down between your breasts and over your stomach. They pluck at the button holding your jeans closed as a rumbling, thoughtful hum comes up in his chest.

It takes every bit of control in you to not shiver again at the sound, heat licking through you, despite the cool air, and settling low in your belly and between your thighs.

Damn. When was the last time a man had drawn this sort of reaction out of your body so quickly? So easily? You honestly can’t remember. And it’s frustrating.

Not that you’re able to dwell on it for long.

“Pull the cups down, Darlin’. Let’s see what they're hiding…”

You swallow hard and take a shuddering breath, eyes fluttering and darting around for unseen observers again, until Joel’s breath against your skin distracts you as he rumbles in your ear.

“They’re not likely to see you, pretty girl. Not tonight…maybe another day, but not tonight. Well…as long as you don’t make too much noise and draw attention, anyway.”

Maybe another day?

Your lips part to question that statement, but then you think better of it and snap your mouth closed again. After another brief glance around you, you take a deep breath and close your eyes, tilting your head back to lean it against his shoulder.

After all, even if someone from the camp does happen to notice you, does it make much of a difference regarding your choice? Do as he says… or don’t. It’s really as simple as that in the current moment, possible audience aside.

So, with one more deep breath, your hands glide up over your stomach and to your chest. Fingers curl over the top edge of the cups of your bra and, after another moment of hesitation, you pull them down and hook them under the curves of your breasts.

The cool night air sweeps over your exposed tits and your nipples immediately pucker, peaks tightening into hardened buds. A shiver courses through your veins, more goosebumps dancing across the newly bared skin.

Instinct has your hands moving to cover your chest, but Joel’s larger hands catch your wrists and guild them back down.

“Mmmm… good girl,” he purrs into your ear. “But don’t go hiding ‘em now, sweetheart. You’ve got such a pretty pair of tits. We’re gonna let ‘em breathe a bit.”

The praise sends another shiver down your spine, especially with the way his voice drops into another rasp as he says it. Or maybe that shiver is the result of your nervousness at feeling so exposed.

Maybe it’s both.

Feeling the scruff of Joel’s beard brushing your cheek, you crack your eyes open to look at him. His focus is still down the front of your body though, from over your shoulder, and it’s like he’s drinking in the sight of your chest, a faint smile pulling at his lips.

You’re not sure if you’d call that smile appreciative or wolfish. Again, maybe it’s both.

Either way, it makes you shiver once more.

Joel doesn’t miss those shivers with you pressed against him, and his head ticks to the side a fraction, dark eyes catching you watching him. His brow lifts slightly and then his smile widens a little.

Yeah, it’s definitely both.

His eyes hold yours for several long moments, gaze contemplative, calculating.

Time seems to slow as your eyes dart between his, your heart hammering in your chest, waiting for what he’ll do or say next.

It catches up fast though when he releases your wrists and those big hands glide up your sides, over your rib cage, and finally wrap around your breasts.

Your lips pop open to hiss in a breath, back instinctively arching and pressing you into the warmth of his rough palms. Softer skin pillows between thick fingers that gradually apply pressure, squeezing. A little more and your eyes flutter, your lip curling in to catch between your teeth.

You feel more than hear the low rumble in Joel’s chest against your back as his hands knead at your tits.

His teeth startle you, nipping at the curve of your jaw. It makes you squeak in surprise and you both go still, two sets of eyes darting forwards towards the camp.

Once it’s obvious that no one heard, Joel chuckles as his mouth and nose nuzzle against the hair directly behind your ear. “Better keep quiet, Honey. I ain’t ready to show you off like this yet.”

“‘Ye-yet’?” you gasp out softly.

Another, darker chuckle. “Mhmm… think there’s much privacy with movin’ around and camping? Best get that idea outta your pretty head. I'm lucky enough to have a cabin for now, but that’ll change in a day or two when we move on, and I won’t always want to wait for privacy, Darlin’.” His voice becomes a soft growl then. “Besides…I got no issues with showing off what’s mine; so everyone will know you're mine.”

Your eyes, still focused on the quiet camp, widen as he speaks.

Well, shit.

Sex fully in public was so far off your radar, you're not sure it's even in the same ocean.

Maybe you can talk him ou-

The thought sputters into oblivion as a current of sharp pain blended with aching pleasure ripples across your breasts. You barely manage to catch a startled cry in your throat before it has a chance to escape, by clenching your jaw shut, turning the sound into a ragged whimper as your eyes tear downward.

Joel's index fingers and thumbs are clamped onto each of your nipples and he makes a low sound of amusement. He gives them a firm pinch again.

This time the pain isn’t quite as sharp, since you’re expecting it, but it’s still there. And given that your nipples have always been sensitive you can’t help the way your body jolts. It licks outward, turning into heat that runs through your veins. The pleasure that mingles with the sensation creates a fresh wave of arousal, your cunt clenching.

“Responsive little thing, aren’t you?” he rumbles, and barely twists the buds.

You bite back another strangled whimper, eyes squeezing shut and head dropping back against his shoulder again. Your fingers claw uselessly over the thighs of your jeans before curling into the bottom hem of your open shirt, gripping the fabric tight.

He keeps toying with your breasts for a few minutes, alternating kneading and palming at them with pinching the peaks to keep them hard and listen to your little gasping sounds.

Finally he gives you a brief respite, releasing your chest after a final tug on the peaks that has your back arching sharply.

Your breath stutters again when he wraps an arm around your torso, just under your tormented breasts, tugging you back into his chest. He mouths at that spot behind your ear again, facial hair scraping against your skin. His voice is low and husky, and obviously amused.

“Mmmm… lookin’ forward to properly playing with those tits, Darlin’,” he says. “But for now…”

Swallowing hard, you look over at him, just as you feel his free hand find its way to the front of your jeans. He pops open the button and drags the zipper down, those dark eyes finding yours again as he does, a smirk pulling at his mouth.

You’re not sure if you're frozen due to nervous anxiety or excited anticipation, and once again you realize it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

Then his hand is inside your jeans, pushing down between your thighs, over your panties.

The low, pleased groan he gives meets the pathetic little mewl that passes your lips as your hips rock with a mind of their own.

“Fuckin’ A, this all for me, Sweetheart?” he rumbles into your ear, his fingers seeking and swiftly finding your swollen clit through the soaked material of your panties. “Pussy’s just beggin’ for attention, ain’t she?”

You bite back a whimper, skin flushed as more heat gathers at your center, knowing he can likely feel it.

He doesn't bother waiting for an actual answer, applying pressure and rubbing over the cloth covered bundle of nerves. But when you only give out a small moan, he stops and barely shifts his touch, rubbing again. Again and again he makes tiny adjustments to the way he teases your clit through the cotton, until he finds just the right spot that makes your entire body jolt in his arms and your hand fly up to clamp over your mouth, muffling a strangled keen.

Grinning against your hair, he applies more pressure there, rubbing in quick, tight circles.

Your head presses back into his shoulder, eyes clenching closed. Hips bucking against his hand and spine arching, your breasts lift into the cool night air. As if that's an invitation, the arm Joel has wrapped around your rib cage shifts and his hand engulfs one heaving tit again, kneading it roughly.

Joel keeps pressing and teasing, making your legs tremble as the pleasure amps up, her empty core clenching.

Then, he stops.

A whine is muffled against your hand and your eyes turn to him desperately, finding a curious look in his eyes as his fingertips just press against your clit without moving.

“When was the last time someone other than you made you cum?” he asks.

Your eyes widen a little and you swallow thickly, desperately trying to focus despite the looming orgasm that now seems to be slipping away.

“Answer me,” he growls softly.

Nibbling your lip, you’re once again glad for the black and white view of the forest at night, hoping it hides some of your blush at your admission. “Y-years…”

A hum comes up in his throat and then his tongue clicks softly in a tsk tsk.

When his fingers remain still for several heartbeats, you can’t help the whimper that comes out of you, or the way your hips rock, seeking more friction.

Joel gives a dark chuckle and then nuzzles near your ear again. “Beg,” he barely breathes out the word. “Beg for what you want.”

Entire body quivering, you falter for a moment, desperately trying to gather a coherent thought.

Is this what your time with him, however long, will really be like? Such a mix? Pain with pleasure? Humiliation and desperate desire? Such a push and pull?

You’ve known the man for all of a few hours and he’s already gotten your panties soaked two times; which is more often than the last guy did in three times as many months.

Fuck, you’re in trouble.

Taking in a shaking breath, you’re barely able to whisper out a plea.

“P-please, Joel… pleeeease make me c-cum,” you gasp out the words. “Please.”

A smirk curves up one side of his lips and mustache as his hand moves again, this time to tug the cotton of your panties aside and slide his calloused fingertips through your wet folds, drawing a mewl past your lips.

“Atta girl,” he rumbles, as two thick digits sink into you.

An obscene sounding mewl is muffled against your hand as you clamp it back over your mouth, head dropping back on Joel’s shoulder.

His reach is deeper than your own ever could be and your hips arch eagerly to meet the intrusion, drawing a low chuckle out of him. Buried inside you, his fingers scissor slightly, making you jolt and whimper. Making your cunt flood with a fresh wave of heat and arousal.

“That’s it, Darlin’... so fuckin’ wet for me,” Joel rumbles into your ear.

Gradually he begins to stroke, drawing his fingers back only to press in deeply again, slow at first but soon picking up speed. He twists his fingers inside you and your knees nearly give out, another yelp barely muffled by your hand.

Some small part of your mind demands you look out towards the camp again, to see if you were heard.

The rest of you ignores that small part.

Your hips rock to meet the thrust of his fingers, your chest rising beneath the kneading of his other hand with every panted breath.

A pleased sounding hum comes up in Joel’s chest and he dips his head to bite at the side of your neck, just below your pulse point, sucking at the tender skin and drawing another needy sound out of you at the pleasure-pain that spears like heat through your body. You have no doubt color blossoms under his lips and teeth, marking you above where the collar of your shirt and jacket will rest. Marking you as his.

His tongue laves over the spot as he twists his fingers again, mid-fucking, and your eyes nearly roll back in your head.

At this point, the only things keeping you on your feet are his arm around your chest and his fingers buried between your legs.

“Listen to that, Sweetheart,” he growls lowly into your ear. “Can ya hear how soaked you are? I wonder if anyone else can hear it yet?”

Your lip pulls between your teeth to bite back another whine and it only takes a moment for you to notice it: the lewd wet noises, barely hindered by your panties and jeans his hand is stuffed into.

A confusing mixture of arousal and shame sends a flush rushing into your skin, up your chest and neck and into your face. Your eyes finally pop open, to look out towards the camp.

No one is moving your way.

Joel gives a cruel chuckle against your hair, his fingers moving faster and the heel of his palm pressing over the throbbing bud of your clit at the same instant, making you writhe in his arms.

“You’re a pretty little thing when you’re embarrassed,” he purrs. “Gonna need to get over that though, Darlin’. Not gonna let you get away with keeping those noises in, most the time.” He nips again at the hickey forming on your neck and you gasp between barely muffled moans. “I’m gonna have you screaming for me. Beggin’. Some days I’ll edge you so many times it’ll hurt… and other days I’ll make you cum so many times it’ll hurt. Some days you’ll love what I do to you…and some days you won’t.”

His words make your head spin just as much as the fingers he fucks into you, or the heel of his palm as it grinds against your tender clit.

“But either way, keep this in mind: your pleasure is mine now. Mine. Mine to give or not. You don’t make you cum. I do. You only cum if and when I say. Understood?”

You’re pretty much too far gone to form words now, panting for air, little pleasured sounds hidden in the palm of your hand. All you can manage is to barely nod.

That’s not good enough.

Joel’s fingers go still and the whine you give is nothing short of pathetic.

“Say it.”

A sob comes up in your throat and you just manage to pull it back, hazy eyes looking at him pleadingly as you croak out a response.

“I c-cum… only when y-you say.”

His fingers are fucking into you again instantly and you give a muffled keen, arching and trembling as his voice growls in your ear.

“Good.... So, cum. Now.”

Your body reacts before your mind can fully catch up. Hips bucking and spine arched, you mewl and moan, pleasure rushing through you, your juices soaking the fingers he still pumps into your fluttering cunt. Eyes clench closed as your hands grasp desperately at his arms, nails digging in. It washes over you in wave after wave, all coherent thought wiped away in its wake, buried beneath pleasure and Joel’s rumbling voice in your ear.

“Goood girl…”

Aftershocks course through your body as you slowly come down, limp in the strong arms that still hold you up. One is wrapped around your ribs beneath your breasts again, with a thumb now idly caressing a tender nipple. The other is still in your pants, but now those thick fingers are just curled over your dripping seam, holding you in a way that would almost be tender in a different circumstance.

“So… successful trip?”

Your eyes fly open and snap forward to find a man standing about fifteen feet away, silhouetted by the distant campfire light, his head canted at you and Joel with a rifle down at his side.

The heat of humiliation rushes back into your cheeks as a squeak escapes you and you fumble to try and close the sides of your jacket around your exposed chest. Try and fail, considering Joel’s arms are still in the way.

You writhe in his hold to get free, but it only tightens and his voice dips into a low growl at your ear so only you can hear the words.

“Stop,” he snaps. “We’re still in the shadows, Darlin’. Doubt he’s seen much… but I’ll be happy to call him over for a closer look, if you don’t stay still.”

You bite back a sob and then clamp your lips shut as you do what you’re told.

Joel’s voice lifts to address the silhouette over your shoulder. “You could say that,” he says with dark amusement in his voice, making you shiver. “Found myself a pretty little plaything that wanted protection. She’s still a bit shy though. Mind givin’ us a few more minutes, Tommy?”

The silhouette tilts his head the other way and seems to think about it for a moment before nodding and turning to head back towards the camp.

“Best make it quick though, Brother, if you ain’t plannin’ to share. I doubt I’m the only one that heard her.”

You would swear your face is on fire. You’re surprised it’s not actually creating light of its own.

You both watch Tommy walk away, leaves crunching under his boots. Once he enters the distant firelight you finally tear your eyes from his back to look over your shoulder at Joel.

You find him watching you, a brow quirked.

“Was that really necessary?” you grumble at him.

He chuckles and, with a teasing stroke over the puffy lips of your sex -which of course makes you whimper despite yourself-, he tugs your panties back into place and pulls his hand from your pants. He wipes some of your slick from his fingers across your stomach, and the rest on the hip of your jeans and the thigh of his own. Then he surprises you by reaching around again to zip and button up your jeans.

“Ain’t my fault you couldn’t keep quiet,” he quips.

You blink at him rapidly and your mouth opens and closes a few times before you hiss back, “Actually, it very much was!”

That draws out another dark chuckle and an unapologetic smirk on his stupidly handsome face.

Rolling your eyes, you tug away and begin righting the rest of your clothing: pulling your bra back into place and buttoning up your shirt.

“Well, you wanted to know what you’re in for, Darlin’.”

He says it so matter-of-factly, still with that shameless smirk, that you can’t help staring at him for a moment. Then you just give a resigned sigh and pretend to focus on closing up your jacket.

Out of the corner of your eye you can’t help noticing the way Joel adjusts the front of his jeans once you look away, before he leans down to scoop up his backpack and put it back on, then holds your backpack out to you.

You take the bag and sling it back onto your shoulders, shoving away a bit of smug satisfaction at knowing he’s a little uncomfortable right now too, at least physically.

The thought makes you pause to wonder how long it’ll be before he decides you need to fix that.

You have no doubt now that offering yourself to Joel is going to prove to be a lot more work than it ever was with Phillip. But, on the bright side, at least Joel seems interested in getting you off some of the time. And he’s definitely better at it than anyone else has been in a very, very long time.

So, despite nagging misgivings, he still seems to be an upgrade.

With a mental shrug, you look up at him again, head canting to one side.

“Any more questions?” he asks with that infuriating smirk still in place.

You respond with a slight glare and a negative shake of your head.

Flashing you another brief, wolfish grin, Joel nods once and turns to follow the path towards the camp that Tommy followed.

For a moment, you hesitate, looking back over your shoulder into the darkness of the woods behind you.

They’re eerie.

Quiet.

Uninviting.

Well, what the hell? A deal’s a deal. Plus…it seems doubtful that you’ll be bored anytime soon.

With one more shrug to yourself, you turn forward again and follow Joel into the camp.

[vintake-ss]

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒: 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ❄⛄

'Tis the season to de-rank falalala

Wdym I was supposed to post this a whole month ago?

M. List

Phoenix and Neon are dragging everyone to christmas karaoke night

Everyone secretly hopes Cypher is their secret Santa, he probably knows everyone's Amazon wish list

Jett turns every snow covered area into a battlefield, always the first to throw a Snowball at someone

Speaking of, you can't win a snowball fight against gekko because it's always a 4 v 1. I don't think mosh can throw snowballs.

Killjoy takes secret Santa seriously. Will secretly study whoever she's gifting to produce the perfect gift.

Omen knits scarves for the entire protocol

Skye bakes the best Christmas cookies

Sova made it his mission to get a real Christmas tree from the snowy wilderness

Team nanobomb(raze & killjoy) completely obliterates everyone else in a simple gingerbread house-making competition. Straight up turned it into an engineering competition

"Their house has a marshmallow cannon??"

Astra uses her powers to create something similar to the northern lights in the sky

Yoru pretends not to care, but will get sentimental at anyone's gift. He won't let it show, though

Deadlock and Iso are in charge of the fireworks. Raze and Phoenix were not allowed within 50 feet of them

Clove makes Christmas tiktoks with just about everyone

[laughhardrunfastbekindsblog]

Touched

Summer of Bad Batch 2024 | Week 13 | Prompt: "Stop touching me! / I'm not touching you!"

Summary: Tech has nerves of steel - well, most of the time. POV: Tech Rating: G (Word Count: 989)

Read on Ao3

            Tech felt something brush across his neck before a weight settled on his shoulder, and he sighed in annoyance.

            He and his squadmates were on their third assignment since graduating and being sent out to the field, and while all of them had gone through plenty of simulations to prepare them for survival in wilderness areas, this jungle planet in particular had made Wrecker more than a little jumpy – especially at night. And of course Wrecker somehow always ended up sleeping right next to Tech when not on watch duty, no matter how often Tech rearranged things when they set up camp for the night…

            “Wrecker,” he hissed in an undertone, “would you kindly refrain from touching… Oh.”

            Having turned his head to look at his shoulder, he cut himself off mid-sentence upon finding it was not the weight of Wrecker’s hand that he was feeling.

            Wrecker snorted sleepily. “What’d I do now?” he whined softly, clearly only half awake.

            Tech gingerly reached up to coax the creature onto his other hand before holding it up close to his goggled eyes for study. This must be what the natives called a tero spider, one of the species of Theraphosidae he had read about when researching the squad’s assignment. These in particular were non-venomous arachnids and by all accounts quite docile, though large and frightening enough in appearance that Tech knew Wrecker would never be able to sleep for the duration of the mission if he knew these could be scuttling around the campsite.

            “Nothing, Wrecker,” Tech replied as he tapped his goggles to capture some recordings of the creature now sitting contentedly in his hand. “Go back to sleep.”

            ***

            Tech, eyes narrowed in concentration as he studied his datapad while making his way along the path leading down to the shore, stopped when a hand gripped his arm, and gave a long-suffering sigh.

            To help Shep and the engineers on Pabu plan out the rebuilding efforts, Tech, Hunter, Wrecker, and Omega had volunteered to scope out the extent of the damage the tidal wave had wrought on the docks and shoreline properties, with Phee opting to join them. Tech was well accustomed to the friendly punches on the shoulder Wrecker was wont to give him whenever Wrecker became overly enthusiastic or wanted to emphasize a point or draw Tech’s attention to something, and normally this didn’t bother Tech; but with all the recent excitement of being on Pabu and meeting so many new people, Wrecker had felt the need to emphasize and bring attention to so many things that Tech had just about reached his limit with his brother touching him.

            “What is it now, Wrecker… Oh,” he broke off in confusion as he looked up to discover it was Phee who was resting her hand on his forearm.

            He was suddenly grateful he hadn’t acted on the impulse to step back and shake off what he had thought was his brother’s grip, though it currently felt like his heart had leaped into his throat – a most peculiar sensation.

            “What’d’cha say, Tech?” Wrecker now asked as he came up from behind with Omega and Hunter.

            “Nothing,” Tech returned automatically as his siblings stepped around him to forge ahead on the path leading to the right. He now recognized he was feeling the same sudden rush of startled adrenaline he had felt forty-two hours ago when Phee had touched his shoulder while giving him the coordinates to Pabu; the fact that he had had the same reaction every time Phee had been in physical contact with him was a pattern lending to his current hypothesis that he felt more deeply about Phee than just as one of his family’s allies…

            “Something wrong?” Phee queried, raising one brow at him.

            “No,” he said, realizing he was in a quandary: he desperately wanted to move but instinctively knew that if he did, she would break contact, and so here he remained, frozen in place.

            “Okay then, just wanted to let you know we’re supposed to be heading this way,” she said, gesturing with her other hand to indicate that Tech had been about to take the wrong path. “You’re gonna get yourself lost with your attention on that datapad all the time,” she added with a small smile.

            His racing heart and the nervous heat building within him would soon manifest in a blush if he didn’t compose himself soon, and that would be humiliating. Research, constructing devices, and sharing his knowledge were the main non-combat areas in which he felt most comfortable; since there was nothing to engineer at the moment and Phee seemed to think he should put down the datapad for now, that left talking as his best option.

            “Since this datapad is equipped with various navigation and positioning systems, it would be nearly impossible to get lost while using it. Besides, all clones have an excellent sense of direction – it is part of our bioengineering.”

            Phee rolled her eyes at him but still smiled as she stepped away, letting her hand drop from his arm – to both his great relief and disappointment.

            Well, at least he could move now… though he found himself wondering when, if ever, he would be daring enough to initiate physical contact with her outside of life-and-death situations like tidal waves…

            “Are you suggesting I don’t know where we should be going?” Phee was saying lightly.

            “Well,” he said, still desperately trying to recover from the feeling that he had just had his feet knocked out from under him, “given that you are much better acquainted with the layout of this island than I am, I am inclined to follow your lead.”

            Phee chuckled now. “Let’s stick together, then, shall we?” she said, playfully shouldering him before starting back down the path.

            He was finally feeling more settled, though he couldn’t hide a small smile as he matched her pace. “Indeed we shall.”

@summer-of-bad-batch

[macgyvermedical]

Med school teaches a lot about handling various conditions with all kinds of medication and equipment etc. but so little on what to do when there isn't access to any ( in the middle of the highway in a movie bus/car with a first aid box consisting of a few band-aids. Or in the middle of a forest or a remote lake or beach.)

So what can we do in these situations when people look at you (as a known healthcare professional).

Eg: a case of anaphylaxis and no epi-pen, case of ureteric colic due to a kidney stone. Or something very acute.

There are a couple of ways to look at this. The first is from a first aid sense, the second from a broader medical sense.

The first aid sense:

One of the best things you can do is take a Wilderness First Aid course or get your Wilderness EMT. I know it seems like you'll be learning a lot you already know, but I promise- first aid (and particularly wilderness first aid) is so so different than the kind of medicine you learn in med school. These courses teach you to make decisions in contexts where you're thinking about safety of a group, how and when to go for help, and what basic things you can do about the most common illnesses and injuries in a wilderness or remote setting. Mostly, it gives you permission to improvise in a way that med school doesn't.

The broader medical sense:

This one is tougher to fit in a tumblr post, because I've been studying this my whole life and honestly I know there's still so much to learn. Think of low-resource medicine as an entire medical specialty. You could fill an entire residency program with the information you would need to provide high quality medical care in low-resource environments.

In order to improvise, you need a lot of knowledge about the subject area. You need to know how bodies work, and you need to know how and why they break. Med school is great for this.

You also need to know how to figure out how a body has broken. Hopefully, you got a class or two about physical exam skills. This is a great jumping off point. A lot of these skills were perfected in the 1930s-1970s, so getting a physical exam (AKA physical diagnosis) textbook from this era will give you a much deeper dive into how to figure out how a body has broken without a CT scan or a lab test.

Then you're just going to need to amass knowledge. One of the best ways to do this is to, as you encounter medical problems in your patients, ask yourself: "What did we do before we had the current treatment for [illness or injury]?". Talk to older doctors and ask them what treating __________ was like when they were going through residency. People love to talk about this stuff. If you can find someone who was in residency in the 1960s or 1970s, you're in for a real treat.

I would also highly recommend you find textbooks like Improvised Medicine by Kenneth V Iserson (designed for doctors) or Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner (designed for lay people who need primary care). Also, because a lot of low-resource care is nursing care, I recommend Barron's The Complete Guide to Home Nursing by Diana Hastings. All of these are available on Internet Archive if you want to sample them before you buy.