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#it's safe to say i could not take this shark in a fight
g-eetos · 2 months
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cherry kisses and bites +
( featuring ) gojo satoru.
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"shoko, oh my god- shoko!"
you're panicking. your fingers are tapping on the table repetitively. your heart is going on a marathon. you're pacing around your room, waiting for shoko to pick up the phone after 5 continuous calls. the time reads 10:13 pm on a saturday night, which makes you wonder: what could she be doing that is so important over her best friend's possible death?
left to your own devices and the incessant notifications from your phone, notifying that both gojo satoru and geto suguru have messaged you, with the occasional calls that you stared at until they were gone.
it was safe to say your life took the "god gave the toughest fights to his strongest soldiers" a bit too hard after all this fiasco.
i mean, what led you to not check on who you were texting before sending an impressive amount of messages all about your-man-who-doesn't-know-he's-your-man (gojo)? the information being handled was of high value! all for it to be wasted in less than 3 minutes because you actually texted your-man-who-doesn't-know-he's-your-man (gojo) instead of your best friend, and now he knows that you like him!
with your phone across the room because you couldn't trust yourself not to peek at the hundreds of messages waiting to be read, all you could do was wait impatiently until shoko picks up. which turns out to be one of the hardest things you've done to the point where you wouldn't be surprised if you turned into a madman at the end of the night—
"confessing on text is crazy, but hey at least you got the job done, right?"
ah, she picked up.
"if you don't see me tomorrow," you pause, considering using all your money and buying plane tickets to travel across the country because you aren't a confrontational person, at all. "just know that i'm dead and i'm gone or i left the country."
"no you won't. plus, you don't even know if he likes you back or not because i know you haven't checked the messages."
"i don't need to know. i'm not—" you cut yourself off after processing what she first said when she picked up. "wait… how do you even know what happened?!"
"we will cross the bridge when we come to it," she responds, though not really responding to the question because she's avoiding it. "nuh uh! tell me how you know!" she's hiding something from you, and you know it. luckily, it doesn't take that long for you to connect the dots together. "were you on a call with them?"
she stays quiet.
aha! talk about accuracy. shoko never stays quiet unless she was found out. you couldn't believe it. your best friend, the one supposed to be with you through the highs and lows, through the thick and thin, was being friendly to the now turned enemy while you were on a crisis?!
"shoko…" cue a sniffle from you, "how could you do this to me?" (okay, maybe you were being a little dramatic, but they don't call you the drama queen for nothing!) you could tell she was starting to get annoyed by that sigh she just let out. it was just a matter of time until she snaps on the low key and gives you an order.
and that moment starts in 3…
2..
1..
"just shut the fuck up and check the messages from him." a beep comes shortly after.
.
..
oh, okay.
you're being fed straight to the sharks (or shark in your case). okay. wow. you just can't believe this. was she hoping for your downfall that much? ouch. with no one else left to be your emotional support, you have to give yourself courage to finally check what he sent you.
you take a huge gulp, and with shaky fingers, you slowly press on your texts.
unexpectedly, it felt like a giant rock was lifted off your back. the first messages you read didn't contain any "i'm sorry but i don't feel the same way" "you're like a sister to me" "i want to focus on myself" "i only see you as a friend" etc. it did, however, contain many variations of "OPICK UP THE PHONE" "i know you see this." "Text Me Back." texts.
one that did manage to catch your eye was the "watch out. i'm coming to your house right now." wait, he's not actually coming to your house right? (he most definitely is.)
you think your eyes are about to fall out of their sockets.
the feeling of relief that just came by? vanished. crushed. obliterated. annihilated. it feels like everything is back to step one, fuck. what could be better than calling your dear friend shoko once more and start ranting again? nothing. so you went ahead and just did that.
"the person you tried to reach is not available, your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system."
you think you might just cry.
to make matters worse, at that very moment, someone rang your doorbell. finger crossed and chanting "it's not satoru" over and over again, you clench your eyes and hope that it is indeed not gojo satoru.
but life seemed to have something against you, as you hear a very familiar voice talking to your mom, the voice of the one person you didn't want to see right now.
who is it? well, ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary folks, it appears to be gojo satoru! (is the world revolving around him now?)
oblivious to the quiet footsteps marching up the stairs, you mull about where to hide. maybe under your bed? no, that's too freaking obvious, plus you don't know if you would still fit after all those years. the closet seemed to be a fine choice until you realize that's the second most obvious place to hide too.
deep into thinking, you seem to have forgotten that the enemy is quite literally in your house, and in front of your bedroom door no less.
baam! your door swings open with enough force to send you flying and landing on your ass.
"why didn't you say anything!?" alright! straight to the point! and by shouting too!
"what the fuck do you mean?!" you shout back, matching his tone and everything in between, which is laced with confusion because you weren't really the one to catch things from the get-go.
"i mean," he starts and pauses, you notice that his chest is rising and falling at a quick pace. he must've ran here. (deep breaths gojo.) "why didn't you tell me that you liked me back for 4 whole years?"
"maybe because i didn't want to get rejected and throw away what we had?"
"well, why did you think you were going to get rejected?" he questioned. it seemed like he was implying that he does like you and this is not just a one-sided romance, seemed like..
but, did he say it outright? no. thus why you're still assuming he doesn't like you. you're no delusional bitch.
"um, maybe, just maybe, because you don't like me?" (you really got the dragging effect on the second maybe, it was perfect, from duration to pronunciation too.)
okay. why is he blankly looking at you now? as if you said the most out-of-pocket thing ever. why does it seem like everyone is judging you all of a sudden?!
"wait so, you mean, you still haven't gotten the hint yet?"
"does i look like a pirate on a treasure hunt for you to be talking about hints? might as well give me that uma costume and a map too." your arms are crossed, you're leaning to the left, and your right foot is repetitively tapping against the floor.
(gojo had a laughing fit when you did that.)
"sorry queen, i take that back." after every word, he giggles like a newborn when they see you embarrassing yourself in front of them. "what i meant to say was, i do like you back!"
"nuh uh."
"the fuck you mean 'nuh uh'?"
"wheres the camera at? i need to make sure i was photogenic during the whole video!"
"there is no camera. im hurt you think i would do something like this to you" his hands are covering the area where his heart was unless it decided to travel and go to his eyelids just for him to randomly feel the pulse at a place it shouldn't be.
"oh!" okay wait, so he did like you... you feel like everything is a fever dream right now, or that you're about to faint. you can't tell the difference.
"can i kiss you? you look so cute right now." hes currently squishing and pulling your cheeks so you can't say things properly. what you can do though, is bite (or try to) his hand the next time he goes in for an attack. ow!
"eat a cherry before."
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀꒰͡ ⠀ ִ 𝒩 𝑜 𝓉 𝑒 𝓈 ⠀ׂ ⠀ ͡꒱
gojo, did infact, eat a cherry
“its too early!!” yall known eachother since the womb and acted like a couple for 4 years. it speaks enough.
if you havent noticed by now, you are oblivious. so very much so it make sashisu want to throw you on a train track and watch you get ran over (affectionately)
you were actually studying for an upcoming exam until you decided to take a little 1 hour break! (it was originally a 15 minute break but tiktok flirted with you saur..)
your mother was actually leaving when gojo came so she wasnt there with experience all the shouting
you think she wouldve thought you guys broke up (you were never together) and wouldve bought you anything you wanted + ice cream
getos messages are still left unread. (next time you see him your gonna catch it on SITE)
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buildgrist · 6 months
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I wrote this last year on Twitter, but since Empty Spaces has sort of abandoned ship, I'll post it here too:
"Funeral"
A woman's whole life changes the first time she sees a combat doll.
First-person, combat doll setting by Twitter user mars_phobos_L1
CW: Harassment, violence, military context, blood, personality changes, conditioning, surgery, unreliable memory
Story below cut:
1.
I washed out of combat training almost immediately, but it wasn’t enough to get me off the hook. I’m sure you all know how it goes – just because you can’t fight doesn’t mean you can’t support the ones who do. If you can’t carry a gun, you can fix a gun, if you can’t fly a plane, you can fuel a plane.
Nothing wrong with that, of course! It’s simply efficient use of resources, and I’m certainly in no place to criticize that, especially not given my current status, so to speak. But even then I wasn’t exactly bothered by it -- I would have rather not been conscripted at all, but maintenance would be safe and interesting and I was already pretty good at it.
2.
The first time I ever saw a combat doll was when I was at the range, trying to get in enough practice to pass my pistol qualifications. I didn’t even know she was there, at first - there was no fuss, no fanfare - but as soon as her handler started barking those sharp, staccato orders I realized what was going on.
I looked over, of course. I know, we’ve all been taught not to make eye contact with the dolls because they might take it as aggression, but how could I not be curious? Can any of you say you wouldn’t be tempted to take a peek?
I hadn’t expected her to not be wearing her mask. All the publicity photos, all the technical diagrams, all the battlefield footage always shows dolls with their masks on, so I assumed that was just their usual state – but no, I was wrong. That was her natural face, with her implant jacks and her surgical scars and her delicate-looking skin. I truly hadn’t expected her to be so pretty…
She caught me looking, of course. Dolls are the apex predators of the battlefield, and noticing a maintenance trainee staring at her was trivial in comparison. She met my eyes before I could look away, and then I couldn’t look away. I knew nothing except her eyes and my heart pounding in my ears, and I had no idea what was coming next… and then she grinned at me.
That grin did something to me, something strange and frightening and wonderful. It felt like lightning running down my spine, like watching a sunrise after being blind my whole life, like finding my way out of a forest I’d been lost in since birth. I was never the same again.
3.
I needed to know who she was, of course. She could pick off targets faster than my eyes could follow, with a perfect bullseye every time. Her handler ran her through everything in our arsenal, and more besides - pistols, rifles, machine guns, throwing knives, on and on - and she was perfect every time. How could I have not wanted to know more after watching a display like that?
Well, apparently, that made me the weird one in the battalion. Everyone I asked about her just shrugged or gave me sidelong glances. Why would they want to keep track of which doll was which, they asked? They were all equally frightening, after all. What did it matter what the shark swimming next to you was named?
It took more than a week - and a couple cases of beer - for me to find out who I’d seen. My buddy on the security team had seen the handler’s name and done some quick research, and he was willing to pass on that information… for the right price, of course.
Victoria. Her name was Victoria, and the next thing he said to me was “be fuckin’ careful around that one,” which didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me at the time. We’re taught to use caution around all dolls, combat or not, why the extra warning?
Because, he told me, there were stories about the Victory-class dolls. They weren’t the fastest dolls or the most powerful dolls, but they were notoriously unpredictable, and dangerous even to their allies. I won’t get into the details right now, that’s not what I’m here to do - but some of your classmates went pale the moment I said her name, so ask them about it later.
But what did that have to do with Victoria? I had to ask, because I used to be a little slow on the uptake sometimes. In case any of you haven’t put all the pieces together: Victoria is the first Victory-class, the flagship, the template upon which all others were modeled – and that meant if there was some fault with the Victory-class dolls, some flaw in their design or their conditioning, Victoria would definitely have it.
4.
Even with all he’d told me, and all I’d learned on my own afterwards, I still couldn’t get her off my mind. Not that I was thinking about her every second, or even every day, but that moment never quite left my mind. I’d lay down and try to sleep, close my eyes, and behind my eyelids I’d see that bare face, that grin, and my heart would start pounding all over again.
By the time we were given our assignments, I knew what I was going to do. I knew what I had to do. I got the cushiest possible position – 8th Supply Battalion, well away from any combat zones, where the greatest danger would be a private driving a forklift drunk. The perfect position to serve out three years of compulsory service and go back to my old life, right?
Except I didn’t want it. I hadn’t wanted it since the moment I’d seen her.
As soon as we were dismissed, I went straight to the commander’s office and asked for a transfer – which they don’t usually do, of course, but he was willing to hear me out anyway, so I told him I needed to be on Victoria’s maintenance crew. Once he was done laughing he asked me what I was really there to ask for, and I repeated my request. I explained to him that I was serious, that I wanted, needed more than anything else, to be assigned to maintenance for Victoria.
He didn’t understand – which is no surprise, because I don’t think any of you do either. Why would I have wanted to be transferred to the only role that had higher casualty rates than front-line infantry, right? Truth be told, I didn’t understand either, and I still don’t. There’s nothing I can point to, no specific reason, just this surety that I belonged there and nowhere else.
Someone needed to do maintenance on the dolls, right? Why shouldn’t it be someone enthusiastic about it, someone fully committed to their role? I don’t know if my argument won him over or if he was just tired of listening to me, but in the end he just shrugged and wrote out my transfer orders: maintenance crew, Victory-class combat doll “Victoria”.
I still remember what he said when he handed me the orders:
“It’s your funeral.”
5.
Just because I’d volunteered for the position didn’t mean I was any less nervous when I first reported for duty! The rest of the crew had already been giving me a hard time - I was the squeaky-clean new girl, fresh out of training - but honestly, they weren’t why I was nervous. That was just some laughs and some hazing, nothing I wasn’t used to by that point.
No, I was nervous because of the six-plus feet of exquisite purpose-built killing machine standing in the middle of the maintenance bay.
The thing is, though.. the reasonable thing would have been to worry that Victoria was going to kill me, right? That’s what you’d be afraid of, that’s what any sensible person would be afraid of! But it wasn’t what I was afraid of.
I’d done my research, I knew the numbers, and I was certain - beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt - that I wasn’t going to survive three years in her maintenance crew. I’d made my peace with that before I ever even walked into the commander’s office.
I was worried that Victoria wasn’t going to like me.
6.
I know that probably sounds bizarre to you - after all, nobody worries about whether their tank likes them, right? - but trust me, it was absolutely the biggest thing on my mind. So much so, in fact, that I decided to introduce myself to her immediately! Why hang around hiding behind the rest of the maintenance crew when I could just walk right up to her and make a good first impression instead?
So that’s exactly what I did. Right into the maintenance bay, right past the rest of the crew, right across those painted lines on the floor… one foot in front of the other, listening to the pounding of my heart until I was within arm’s length of an active combat doll.
I took one more deep breath, accepted that it could have been my last, and gave her the usual introduction: name, rank, and role. She just stared at me, with those intense eyes I remembered so well, and I offered a little bit of extra politeness – just a simple little “I look forward to working with you, ma’am.”
7.
The moment the words were out of my mouth, she grabbed me by the collar and dragged me in, my body pressed up against hers, and as I stared up at her in shock and fear and excitement, I heard her voice for the first time.
“You’re cute,” she said.
There were teeth in my neck before I could even make sense of her words - combat-specced teeth, the kind that can slice through bone - and it was unbearably painful… but also something about it felt right. I was helpless in her grip, completely powerless, and I realized that I’d wanted that all along.
I saw her true face for the first time, then. That flat, blank non-expression she’d been wearing when I walked up to her had simply been another mask, another disguise… and she’d let it fall away. As she licked my blood from her lips, I understood – she was a hunter, a predator, hungry for more and strong enough to take whatever she wanted… and I was her prey.
I suspect your instructor would kick me out of this class immediately if I described what she did next, so I’ll just say ‘she had her way with me and I had no desire to stop her.’ You’ll have to use your imaginations for the rest… or come find me sometime and I’ll be happy to tell you all about it!
8.
Anyway, even though it seemed like I’d made an excellent impression on Victoria, the rest of the maintenance crew was pretty clear that I’d made a pretty poor impression on them. As soon as we were off-duty and the dolls had all been escorted back to their bunker, they made their feelings known in a very direct fashion.
I got off easy, they told me, pointing out maintenance staff for other dolls. One man had a bloody bandage where his ear had been, and another was completely unresponsive – just blankly staring at a wall. In comparison to things like that, a bite and some fucking was downright gentle for a Victory-class doll!
The crew insisted that I’d better not expect special treatment from Victoria to mean they’d give me special treatment too – I protested that I’d never once expected that, but I don’t think they were listening to me by that point. From all the shouts and cursing, it seemed like they were upset that I, the death-wish rookie who walked right up to a combat doll and introduced herself, had been treated more gently than maintenance staff who simply wanted to carry out their duties safely.
I tried to answer them, I tried to explain that all I’d done was to be friendly and polite, that I’d just wanted to treat Victoria with the respect she deserved. They didn’t like that answer.
Nobody told me about this, so I’ll pass it on as a warning to you just in case: maintenance crews aren’t just wary of their dolls, they’re downright resentful of them. From their perspective, the dolls are the thing that stands between them and getting home safely, and they’re not particularly fond of people who see the situation differently.
I, not knowing this, made some helpful comments about the dolls not being our enemy, about our purpose being to support the dolls so they can carry out their Purpose. Shortly thereafter, in a totally unrelated event, I slipped and fell down a staircase – completely by accident, of course.
I’d been hoping that the maintenance crew - and the staircase - had gotten all the vitriol out of their system by then, but it only got worse. Someone had found out that I’d volunteered for the maintenance crew, while they’d all been unwillingly forced into that position, and it was all over. That was all the proof they needed to decide I wasn’t like them in some indescribable way. They might not have been able to explain how, exactly, I was different from them, but they all agreed that I was, and they all wanted to make that my problem.
9.
I next saw Victoria for post-mission diagnostics two days later. The procedures would be routine, and yet the crew was far more anxious than they had been for our previous visit to the maintenance bay. A doll just back from an operation, having spent only a few minutes being gentled by its handler before being sent off to maintenance, was the most dangerous kind of doll as far as the maintenance staff was concerned: all keyed up on adrenaline and battle stimulants and potentially unsure as to whether or not it was actually safe or still on the battlefield.
The crew all talked like they were off to the firing squad, and I had no idea what to expect as we all walked down to the hall… especially when they all hung back, in ones and twos and threes, lagging behind me while I walked up to the maintenance bay first.
I was the tribute, the offering, the fresh meat tossed to Victoria to sate her hunger - and oh, did she ever take the bait. She ran to me, snatched me right off the ground, and sprinted back to her designated zone as if to convince everyone she’d never left.. except now she had me clutched in her arms, her deadly teeth tracing up and down my neck, that beautiful voice giggling in my ear.
The maintenance team had to conduct their diagnostics around me, in the end. Victoria simply didn’t want to give me up, no matter how they tried to convince her -- and I had absolutely no desire to argue with that. Where could I possibly have wanted to be more than her arms?
In fact, I didn’t want to leave her arms. Even once our duty shift was done and she’d turned me loose, bloody and weary and deeply content, I lingered in the maintenance bay as the others fled for the mess. I knew what was waiting for me there - the same thing that had been waiting for me since I first met Victoria - and I wanted to avoid it for as long as possible.
10.
I hadn’t expected her to notice me hanging around - surely I was unworthy of her attention, right? - and yet, as I lingered behind, she spoke to me for the second time. “Not joining them?”
“No ma’am,” I told her, quietly enough for nobody else to hear. I hadn’t meant to say anything else, but the prospect of having a sympathetic ear was just too much, and the words just tumbled out of me. As she stared down at me with that blank expression, I explained how the crew had decided I didn’t belong, and how they’d been treating me since – the punches, the kicks, the fish in my bunk, the thousand other little reminders that they’d decided to hate me.
Eventually I ran out of words and found myself simply staring up at Victoria. She hadn’t said a single thing the entire time, and her expression was the same unreadable blankness that I’d seen before. While I tried to figure out whether she was sympathetic or simply bored, I suddenly realized that she’d met my gaze, staring into my eyes as if she was looking for something. I couldn’t imagine what she was looking for - and, truth be told, I still don’t know what it was - but I stared back up at her and let her look for it.
I guess she found what she was looking for - or perhaps found an absence of the wrong things - because she simply grabbed me by the arm and practically dragged me right out of the maintenance bay. What was she doing? Where was she going? She ignored my questions, of course, so I stopped asking them and simply walked along with her in silence.
You probably haven’t seen a doll bunker yet, but they’re extremely sturdy – downright overengineered, even. They’re even more heavily reinforced than munitions bunkers, and the only route in and out is through an extremely sturdy-looking steel door. It’s the sort of thing that makes the vault doors in heist movies look like tissue paper… and that was the door Victoria had led me to.
Even though I’d walked to the bunker with her willingly, I couldn’t help but protest a little as she swung the bunker door open. I had been told, upon my assignment, that only handlers and commanders were permitted to enter the doll bunker – all support staff were required to stay out in order to avoid ‘unnecessary manpower shortages’. Not that that stopped Victoria, of course! She simply picked me up by the back of my uniform like an uncooperative pet and tossed me right through the door.
11.
Have you ever walked into a room and found eight combat dolls staring directly at you? Sixteen eyes fixed on you, unblinking, like cats that have just spotted a mouse? Presumably not, but if you’re very lucky - or very unlucky - you might get to someday.
That’s where I found myself as the bunker door slammed shut behind me – gracelessly picking myself up off the floor under the hungry gaze of eight combat dolls. They waited a moment, graciously permitting me to get back to my feet, and then… well, I guess the best way to describe it is to say each one started trying, in her own way, to draw me away from my host.
Not a word was spoken, but carnal offers were made, and one or two dolls began to creep toward me as if stalking prey – and then suddenly they all froze at once. I couldn’t receive dollchat yet, so I didn’t know what Victoria said to them - and even now she just giggles when I ask! - but whatever it was, it was enough to convince the other eight dolls not to steal her guest away.
I spent that night in her bunk. I didn't do a lot of actual sleeping, of course, but the moments I did get... having a combat doll holding me close and murmuring sweet reassurances in my ear was maybe the safest I'd ever felt in my whole life. To be told I'm safe now, that the squad will look out for me, that I'm theirs forever…
12.
I hardly ever left the bunker after that. I would have never left, if I’d had the option, but there were still two things I was expected to handle: work and food.
I was still a member of Victoria’s maintenance crew, expected to be present for those duties, and since the necessary hardware was in the maintenance bay, that was where I had to be too. My first duty shift after being taken to the bunker, I’d hesitated – I was even more uncertain about showing my face around the rest of the crew now, after all! Victoria had just returned from a mission, so she would be waiting for me there, but I still had to get from the bunker to the maintenance bay on my own…
Before I figured it out myself, one of the other dolls took pity on me. She took my hand in hers, as if I was a child, and led me to the maintenance bay herself. It was permitted - after all, she was being escorted by maintenance staff - and nobody dared to say she couldn’t stand by while we Victoria received her post- mission diagnostics and I received an entirely different kind of post-mission attention.
I’m not sure if the crew ever appreciated just how much lighter on them she was when I was around, you know? I don’t know if they even noticed, or if they were too busy hating me. It didn’t matter, though – when we were done, Victoria and the other doll walked me back to the bunker, hand in hand, as if they were concerned I’d stray – or flee, perhaps, but there was already no chance of that.
If any of you ever get invited to a bunker, be aware: there’s nothing for you to eat. There is food for the dolls, although it’s terribly bland, but those meals are measured out to the last bite. Even once the whole squad had fully accepted me as their own, they still didn’t have anything to give me – every bite of food for me was one less for them, and dolls are always hungry.
The only way for me to get food would be to get it from the kitchens myself. I’d have to brave the hallways solo, avoiding any other staff, and throw myself on the cook’s mercy in the hopes that they’d be willing to let me take something back with them – and I’d have to do it two or three times a day! It’d be absolutely miserable, right?
As it turned out, that was practically a nonissue. The kitchen staff recognized me on sight - word spreads quickly, especially when you’re escorted to the bunker by two dolls! - and realized that we could solve each other’s problems: I needed food, and they didn’t want to interact with the dolls. If I could come out of the bunker to receive each day’s rations, rather than the staff needing to hand-deliver it directly to the dolls, they’d be more than happy to throw in each day’s worth of meals for me! Teamwork and problem-solving, that’s what we’re trained for, right?
13.
With food resolved and my duties sorted out… well, one day started to blur into the next. There are no windows in a doll bunker, after all -- there’s no sense of time unless you’ve got a chronometer built in, and I sure didn’t. I slept when they let me, I did as I was told, and every time the rations were delivered I felt a little more like I was walking through a dream.
The kitchen staff stopped looking straight at me, eventually. It wasn’t that they were afraid of me - I was no doll, no battlefield predator - but something about me unsettled them. Maybe my body language had changed – after all, I’d been spending more time around dolls than humans, even I could tell that I was picking up their mannerisms, that I was absorbing the way they spoke and moved and held their bodies.
Or maybe it was something else. Maybe there was something in my eyes. I had prostrated myself before the squad and worshipped them for the goddesses they were. I had licked blood from a doll’s body without ever stopping to wonder who it had belonged to. I had given myself to them over and over, even after my stamina was exhausted and I could do little more than accept their desires.
They had made me theirs - with pleasure and pain, with fear and adoration - but they decided I was ready for more.
14.
I’d tell you it was a day like any other, but I don’t even know if it was a day. It was just another moment in the bunker, a moment of laying on a bare concrete floor, my limbs tangled with giggling dolls who simply couldn’t bear to let their plaything go… and then it wasn’t.
They hauled me up off the floor and pushed my back against the wall, one on each side of me, and the rest of the squad parted as Victoria approached, as the doll who’d claimed me first stood over me once more.
“You’ve been fun,” she told me, “but you can be better. We want you to be better. Don’t you want to be better for us?”
Even after all the time I’d spent with them, I still hesitated. I knew what they meant, and I had learned exactly what it entailed. The surgery, the conditioning, the experience of not being human anymore – but wasn’t I already seen as no longer human?
Victoria saw that hesitation, she saw the fear in my eyes, and stroked my head like a pet. She promised me she’d stay by my side the whole time… and she promised to do my conditioning herself.
How could I say no to that?
15.
The surgeons broke me. There’s no way to sugarcoat that. Even without all the modifications combat dolls get, having an arrhythmia control device implanted in your chest without any anesthetic is simply more than any human can bear and stay sane – so I didn’t. I screamed, I struggled and I let myself fall apart.
Victoria put me back together. She reminded me how much I liked being helpful, and how much I enjoyed being useful. She dug up my memories of how much I loved each and every member of the squad, and she made those memories into the core of my personality so I could never, ever forget again. As for the rest of my memories… well, I told you this whole story, didn't I? But everything before the dolls took me in feels distant, removed from me, as if they're someone else's memories instead of my own. It's better that way – I have a whole new life and a whole new family to love.
Speaking of which, Victoria had a surprise for me once I'd recovered, a way of celebrating me as the newest part of their family. One at a time, each doll got up on one of the bunks like it was a makeshift stage and delivered maudlin, overdramatic speeches about the person they imagined I had been before, and we all giggled along together.
In the end, it was my funeral after all.
16.
There you have it, that's the whole story. That's how I went from being just like you to being who I am now. Your instructor wanted me to share it as a warning, a cautionary tale, and I'm sure for most of you it is. But for one or two of you, if it appeals–
Yes, sir?
Understood, sir.
Thank you for your time, everyone! May fate preserve us! Good luck on your quals!
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cerastes · 10 months
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I’m thinking of how, in OpRec 2, Laurentina knows she has very limited time as herself before her brain deteriorates and she loses her reason again and becomes the “Specter” again. She has few precious hours as herself after years of being trapped in her own mind due to the experiments and the insane amount of pure liquid Originium Amaia and Quintus injected directly into her spinal cord.
She uses a bit of this time to spend it fighting a battle alongside Misery (who insisted she doesn’t need to help him but definitely welcomed the aid since apparently the situation was pretty bad), because in fighting, she can remain useful, in her own words. Skadi insists she hurry back to Rhodes Island, to which Specter says it’s pointless, because equipment on the surface simply cannot help her, only keep her alive, so she takes her sweet time fighting alongside Misery, and Skadi and Gladiia (the latter reluctantly) join.
She allots some more of her time to having a proper talk with Closure, answering as many questions as she can, both about herself and about Closure, but mainly, what she wanted to say was “do not change the way I’m treated. You know me as Specter, you have protocols around the Operator Specter. Retain them. I have to go.”
She talks with a very concerned Skadi and an unflinching but still upset Gladiia, but she already had time with them on the way back. The final person she wanted to talk to before her brain gave out again? Doctor. Explicitly because she predicted Closure and Doctor may take more care on her handling, maybe remove her from combat operations in order to more closely monitor her condition. This is exactly what she didn’t want.
Because end of the day, Laurentina is a Hunter. She finds it difficult to speak as surface dwellers do, she finds it almost nonsensical, and so, she demands, “Keep me in the fight, Doctor. We do not need words, we need only you having a clear objective and me, my orders. If you put me in a bed and out of the battlefield, you are denying me the last shred of identity I can cling on”.
Because she couldn’t sculpt, she couldn’t sing, she couldn’t even control her own body, if she was even conscious. The only thing that she could do to cling to being who she was...
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...Is to at the very least be pointed towards an enemy to fight them, and pointed towards an ally to protect them.
Skadi believed Laurentina had died prior to the events of the game because this isn’t the first time she had done this: In order for the 3rd Squadron to advance towards Ishar’mla, the 2nd Squadron, Gladiia and Laurentina’s, practically sacrificed themselves covering for the 3rd. 
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She never blamed Skadi, and makes sure she knows it. She didn’t mind doing it again now, either. “Point me at the one I have to cut, put the ones I need to keep safe behind me, and give the order. Even if am completely lost in the darkness of my mind and madness of my heart, that, that will never leave me. That’s proof that I am Specter, that I am Shark, and that I am Laurentina. I, namely, I.”
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As far as she knew, these were the last words she’d ever get out as herself. She used to make it very clear: “Do not deny me the only bit of purpose and identity I have left, because even if I am but a shell of myself, I’m still me.”
Of course, we now know that this was not to be her final fate, and she did manage to regain control, decisively, eventually, but... As far as she and Skadi and Doctor knew, at this point, this was really, really it. The briefest of encounters with the real Specter, on borrowed time. And her intent? To make sure she’s not left to rot in a medical room where she’s useless, gathering dust: “Put even more danger upon my share”. You know you are dealing with a seriously terrifying and strong person when they can confidently tell you (and have verifiably, so far, done as much) that even if it’s just a shell of her former self out there, she can and will never stop doing exactly what she’s good at, because otherwise, at that point, she truly has left the world.
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cataclysmic-cathexis · 6 months
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episode 5 moments that live in my head rent free
This is a safe space ship
"The bar is on the floor"
Izzy, stealing Lucius' cigarette, taking a drag, blowing the smoke back into Lucius' face, calling him "twatty", then putting the cigarette back in Lucius' mouth
What the fuck is wrong with them I need to study them in a lab
"...but what did he say about me, specifically?"
*flirty* "Maybe I could teach you a new thing or two" SIR I'M SORRY WHAT
IZZY SLAPS STEDE'S ASS?????
Fang gonna catch some fishies
Stede asking the priest breathing his gasping last breaths if he wants a glass of water
"playing las maracas with the devil"
Jim is so hot in this episode
They're hot in every episode but this episode specifically
Why is Izzy just hanging out in a chair in Stede's room watching him twirl around, I am LOVING it
THE FLOWER
THE DOGGIE
Someone needs to post the complete sketchbook STAT
Love triangle is OUT, throuple is IN
Roach has invented peanut butter
Stede twirling and flipping his coat all over the ship, he is such a dramatic lil bitch and we love him so much for it
Izzy and Lucius again?? Flirting?? Making heart eyes at each other?? Izzy gives Lucius the little shark he's carved?? Calling him "twatty" as he walks away?? WHAT IS HAPPENING
"Don't listen to the devil suit, it wishes to deceive us"
Izzy crossing his wooden leg over his healthy leg and muttering "rude"
Archie miming stabbing the suit and Jim just looking at her like god she's so hot
The congratulatory post fight recap / compliments
Stede and Izzy's little moment <3 <3 <3 <3
Lucius proposing brb I have a TOOTHACHE this is so SWEET
THIS ENTIRE NEXT 5 MINUTES.
FANG'S REAL NAME IS KEVIN
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red-panda-agere · 3 months
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You guys had to have expected this at some point
Also, I would just like to note, that some of these are exclusive to certain plot lines, but since it’s Sonic, I’m kinda of blurring the lines of the plotlines ig??? Like, I’m making headcanons based on SA2 and Prime, so do with this what you will.
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Regressor! Shadow
(!¡! Diaper/Pull-up mention !¡!)
He is an itty bitty baby, and regressed due to unbelievable amounts of trauma and just a lack of childhood. He deserves the absolute best.
Shadow is the fussiest little hedgy to ever grace the earth.
He has a collection of shark plushies and other assorted items/toys.
His headspace ranges from 3 all the way down to completely nonverbal. He’s not very good at pinpointing what age he feels because he has no concept of what childhood feels like.
Shadow really likes to wear baggy clothes when little, even though he doesn’t wear clothes normally. Big sweaters and sleeper onsies are ideal.
He doesn’t really understand the concept of diapers, but knows they’re for babies, so he enjoys wearing them just for comfort.
Shadow actually doesn’t understand most ‘little’ things and gets really upset about this fact. He will melt down over the fact that he doesn’t understand why children can’t just do things on their own, because relying on someone or asking for help is such a foreign concept to him.
Little Shadow didn’t know he wanted to be cared for or shown affection until it was really given to him. Rouge was the first to know about Shadow’s regression, and ever since, “Mimi” Rouge has shown him real (platonic) affection and now that the little one has had cuddles, he refuses to let them stop. He’s just a clingy little baby.
-Rouge is probably Shadow’s main caregiver. Sonic is more of an older sibling who regresses with him, but will take on a sort of caregiver role if he’s not regressed with him and Rouge isn’t there.
Instead of movies, sensory videos, or any sort of TV, little Shadow likes to watch livestreams/live video of sharks and fish at aquariums.
He’s a sassy and fussy little baby who has probably bitten before. Little Shadow does not really get along well with Little Sonic unless he’s feeling extra small, sleepy, or he just really doesn’t have it in him to fight with Sonic.
While being a fussy little goober, he’s actually one of the more calm little ones. As long as he has everything he could want (stuffies, snacks, movies, bottle, etc - just anything he needs in the moment to feel comfortable and fulfilled at the moment) without being asked to do anything, or even just being spoken to, he’s actually just a chill little guy.
-Though it can make no sense at times, there are times where, even when regressed, Shadow just needs some time alone. Whether he just needs the time to think or reflect or just to be little on his own, it’s okay to have alone time when you’re little too.
Rouge and Shadow have a made up language for safe words, just in case saying ‘no’ is too scary or saying anything at all in the moment is already daunting.
Shadow has a lot of trouble with any caregivers, not liking being told what to do in any sense. He doesn’t understand why he needs to be watched over or watched and parented when regressed, but after a small tumble that occurred in the living room after he was asked to pick up his toys, he started to understand a better.
“I don’t want to…” the regressed hedgy mumbled, crossing his arms and stopping his foot a bit. Rouge sighed softly. “Sweetie, if you can just put away your toys in the toy box by the time Mimi comes back, we can watch the shark videos tonight before bed, okay little guy?” Shadow continues pouting as Rouge walks into the kitchen to quickly clean the dishes. Not watching where he was walking, he went to go sit over on the couch, but stumbled over some of his blocks on the floor. Tears sprung to his eyes, even it hadn’t hurt all that bad, Shadow having been through far worse, it still frightened the regressed Shadow. Rouge heard the tumble and quickly rushed in, finding the misty eyed hedgehog breathing shakily as he carefully situated himself so he sat on his knees now. “Baby! Hey! Little guy, what happened?! I didn’t even fully step out of the room!” She pointed out. Shadow didn’t even turn to look at her, far too stubborn. With shaky hands, he started to move his blocks and other toys to the toy box like Mimi asked. Rouge looked worriedly over him, but smiled softly when he got all his toys put away. After which, he crawled over to Rouge, and softly cried to her shoulder. He was just an itty bitty baby… “Mimi…I feww down.” Shadow finally admitted. “I’m sor’y I didn’ c’ean up m’ toys.” He sniffled, shivering a bit as he sat in her lap.
He has a lot of nightmares, and gets very uncomfortable talking, about space. Being stuck in The Void in Sonic Prime and Space Colony ARK for a huge part of his life, it’s a very uncomfortable and isolating topic for him. Most people find space to awesome while he wants to curl up and hide away from it.
-Silver had only good intentions when he bought Shadow the glow in the dark stars for his room, not expecting a small Shadow freak out. It wasn’t a big panicky freak out, but he went nonverbal and closed himself off to everyone else in the room. Silver didn’t know, but would later gift the stars to Sonic instead, and got Shadow some new bath toys with some recommendations from Rouge.
Shadow gets flustered easily by little nicknames far too easily, and will the act like a ‘big boy’ but after a few minutes of little names, praise, and tons of kisses on his cheek, you’ll have a giggly little hedgy in no time.
Surprisingly, he has little to no shame with his little stuff. He’ll be having a normal conversation, and in the middle of someone talking, he’ll pull out his pacifier and pop it into his mouth and act like it’s the most normal thing ever. He doesn’t really understand that it’s not a normal thing for someone to want to do, but he also knows that any judgment will be kept to themselves, Shadow having the ability to easily kick just about anyone’s ass.
Bottles >>> Sippies
Rouge LOVES to spoil this little guy, and has dedicated most of her living room to be a safe play space for little Shadow. She has done everything she can to make it feel like a genuine play space for a child, not just a makeshift attempt for an adult who’s never experienced childhood. She wants to give Shadow a taste of a real childhood.
-He loves playing on the road carpet with his toy cars, especially when Sonic comes over. Silver likes playing with their plushies more when he comes over, the two having a closer headspace, while a Sonic is like the older cousin coming over to play.
(I’m so sorry my energy/motivation are DEPLETED right now. Trying to post stuff still, I swear.)
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xmortuarykittyx · 6 months
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Ever Unlocked
Part 11: In and Out
Part 10: Devil’s Fruit
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pairing: Officer!Leon Kennedy × Coroner's Assistant!Reader
warnings: not really detailed murder, vomiting, manipulation, bribing (this is just a big moment for the two) if i missed anything let me know!
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Morning air was always the freshest, it filled the lungs with a warmth like nothing else could. Birds chirping as the dew still laid across the grass. It was so tranquil, but now was no time to relax. Leon had left her laying in his sheets. He watched her for a moment. His eyes lingering on how her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her lips parted as she sucked in a breath. He couldn't wait to kiss those lips once more. To feel how he felt last night, after he'd fucked her full of his seed, he'd found himself with her on his lap, putting her nickname to good use as she bunny hopped on his cock. He smirked to himself as he remembered the way her thighs felt under his palms, squeezing the fat of her ass and thigh as she bounced on him. Leon pressed a kiss to her head, at her hairline, before he threw on some old jeans and a t shirt that was a size too small, he hadn't worn it since before he bulked up from trying to keep a nice physique for his job.
Leon hadn't truly planned his next steps, he felt a familiar scene of sitting in his car, staring at the two toned building that housed the love of his life. She was safe, locked away in his apartment, she was protected from the evil that crept through the world. The evil that he despised and worked so hard to prevent and stop. The evil he, now, had started to plan in his mind.
He wished it didn't have to be this way, that he could've just simply had the beautiful life of meeting her; asking her out, her agreeing and them having a beautiful first date. Then, months later, he'd say he loved her, then they'd share their first time, then he'd propose a few months later, a beautiful big wedding and then their first child, then their second... third...
A groan left his parted lips, his hand rubbing deeply into his eyes. He backed out of the parking lot. How was he gonna do it? A rope- suicide? No. People her age didn't typically hang them selves. Overdose? He lingered on that thought a little longer, but ultimately decided not that route, either. It would take too long, so he decided that it would have to just be done by him. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. He'd never-
"Leon, baby- please.", he didn't understand, he hadn't seen his mother so frantic in his life. "Hide, please, baby.", her whispers were desperate. "You said you didn't like when i hid-", Leon's sweet childish voice, how serene. "This time i want you to-", a thud cut her off. "I love you, do not leave this closet until i tell you to.", she pressed a haste kiss to his forehead, rubbing the underside of his cheek before she closed the closet doors. "Keep quiet and close your eyes, Leon, my sweet boy.", with that, he heard the glass breaking, the grunts and huffs as more thuds followed. His eyes tightly shut as he covered his ears. He barely heard the bedroom door open, before his mother's sobs fell on his ears, muffled and muted as she begged. "please- ple-", his ears started to ring, a popping sound nearly causing him to cry out. His tears were hot as he kept his eyes closed, a thud and the floor shaking by his feet. He didn't look. He didn't open his eyes or uncover his ears. She told him to stay... he'd stay...
He hardly remembered her anymore, his heart ached at the thought of forgetting, if his father hadn't been so idiotic, so addictive to the adrenaline that came from gambling, angering pool sharks, starting fights he couldn't finish and borrowing from anyone and everyone until he had enough debt to warrant a break in onto his home, where his wife and child were. It was barely a break in, his mother was so trusting and kind. She never locked the door, claiming that she knew his father got drunk and came home at random times. She didn't want him to get stuck outside the apartment and her not hear him knocking. His hands tightened on his steering wheel, if she'd locked the door, she may have had time to contact the police. She may have had time to hide with him. His teeth grit down so hard he thought he'd bust them. His fingers digging, his shoulders tense. Damn her and damn her. He couldn't get away from women who endangered themselves so innocently.
His fingers slipped on the oversized black hoodie, slipping it over his silky blonde locks. He pulled his head though, his hair messy as the hood was pulled over his face to conceal his blonde locks. He'd parked a few blocks away, he hadn't ever done this before, nor had he ever thought the day would come. He promised he'd keep her safe no matter what, he couldn't do that if someone else knew his actions, someone close to her and able to spill his secrets. He wanted this to be over, he wanted to be back in his apartment in her arms, her face hiding, pressed into his chest as she took little breaths that she thought were hidden. Leon loved the way she tried to hide how much she liked him too.
Leon's breath was already running out as he made it to the window. It was a decent jump, if it was open. He slid his fingers into the window sill. He felt the window start to raise as he pushed his fingers further under it. In and out, in and out, he chanted the mantra though his mind, closing his eyes as he bounced on his heels. He had to hurry, not that any part of him could be seen and the gloved protected him from any fingerprints left behind. He needed to hurry, in and out.
His breath came, in and out, his steps soft as he walked through the living room, it was still dark, as dark as it could be with that serene morning sun shining in. He stepped with caution, he was unfamiliar with her home. He was unfamiliar with her routine- his breath caught once he heard it. A creak... that same creak that caused him to be caught in her home that night. His eyes trailed over, his balaclava covering his mouth as he felt the heat of his own breath against his lips. He saw her, she was frail, small... older... he could do this. In and out.
His head hurt, that damn yipping dog, his hand rubbed at his brow. She put up more of a fight than he thought she would. His fingers were tense as he curled them, his eyes snapping closed. The knife that laid abandoned was the only thing he could grab that quick, knife blocks were too handy. Need to cut up a tomato real quick? Reach for the knife block. Need to cut the ties off a new package? Reach for the knife block. Need to quickly slash someone's throat before they can make any noise and tell your, sorta kinda, girlfriend that you were at her house the same day she had a dream you broke in and hit her over the head with a mug? Reach for the knife block. How fucking convenient.
    Her body crumpled, much like how her body crumpled that night, but she didn't get back up. She didn't move, her chest still as crimson blood ran down her thin lips. "God, if you weren't so nosey.", he sighed, closing his eyes. "You'll made her sad, you know? All because you wanted to ask my name.", his hand pressed at the knot in his brow. "Couldn't you have just kept walking your damn dog?", he wanted to yell, as he crouched down, his stomach in knots as it threatened to purge the acid from his body. "I get it, I do... she's a sweet girl. You two are friends but, shit, i wasn't gonna hurt her!", his eyes closed once more, willing away the headache that pulled at his mind. "I wasn't gonna hurt her...", he spoke to the deceased elderly woman.
His breath slowed after he'd been there a little longer, staging a break in as he tumbled over furniture, broke the glass table and took some jewelry. He was a cop, he knew what true break ins looked like. He'd messed with the door, taken some items, killed the innocent women who was home at the wrong time. Now it was time to get back home, to the girl that he'd kill for. He licked his lips, tongue darting out to wet his dry lips, since pulling that hot baclava off. He felt like he could breathe. He felt the cool air from the Jeep's air conditioner, the, still, morning air, it felt good. He relaxed back into his seat after walking so far back to his vehicle. This was far too much work, he'd have to be cleaner with any riskier behavior. His arms folded over the steering wheel as he leaned forwards, feeling the pressure release from his spine in a series of cracks and pops, the sound of his jeans sliding across the seat, the only sound he could hear. He'd- God, he needed to throw up.
   The Jeep door was threw open as hot, grotesque bile rose from his throat, throwing him onto the ground behind his jeep. He dry heaved, gasps and pants falling from his lips as his right hand held the side of his beloved vehicle. His left firmly placed on his thigh as he knelt, face down onto the cool pavement. It was over... it was done. All he had to do was go in and out, just as his breath was doing as he gazed down at the puddle of stomach acid. His throat burned, it felt like it was sizzling. His nose had remnants of the liquid left behind as he lifted his leg, shakily standing with his weight on the trunk. His head pressing the glass as he shifted all the way up, standing upright now, on his own.
———
She hadn't felt this peaceful in a long time, her body tensing as she stretched out her limbs. Sheets of a soft grey under her as she dug her face into the pillow, it smelt like him, that freshly cleaned, Irish Spring type of scent. It was light on the nose and comforting as her hand reached out across the queen sized bed, her fingers finding not a warm body, but a cold blanket and disturbed bedding. Her face pulled away from the authentic scent, her eyes lingering on the empty side of the bed. He couldn't have ditched her, her brows furrowed at the thought, she was in his home. Surly, if last night was a one, more like two, off then he'd simply asked her to leave? Her fingers dug into the mattress, idly as she pondered his disappearance. Until her bladder had decided enough was enough and she needed to get moving.
  She crept from the bed, careful to watch to see if the boyish man would pop out from behind the door at any second. She wasn't familiar with his apartment. Hell, she hadn't even really got to see it, yet. They hadn't had much time for anything else, her cheeks flushed at the memory, those baby blues peeking up at her as he applied his tongue to her- fuck, she really had to pee. Her meme out now faded as she pushed herself bout of the bedroom. "Leon?", her voice rang out into the seemingly empty apartment. Her head poking out to look around his living room. He wasn't kidding... his apartment was not near as comfy as hers. The grey tones of, well, everything was a bit cold feeling. No blankets on the couch or pillows. Just a grey leather couch that had definitely seen better days. A small glass coffee table, a lamp on a side table and a tv propped up on the wall. It was bland. She knew guys weren't as into decorating or warming up the place.
She stepped through the living room, stopping in front of the tv that reflected her form in the light. "Leon?", she called once more, her eyes shifting around the room. Her legs tense as she pressed her thighs together, bathroom. It couldn't be that hidden. Her fingers raised as she walked back down the small side hallway, she pushed open the first door. It was an empty room, except for a trunk and some boxes. She growled, her eyes setting as she quickly pushed open the next. Finally- she rushed forwards. Her sleep pants pushed down as quickly as they could be. She felt instant relief, her lips letting out a sigh.
Her elbows to her knees, her jaw resting in her palms. She gazed across the bathroom, it was a little messy. Towels strewn about and socks, his tooth brush laid on the counter. Her lip pulled up and her eyebrow lowering. Fucking gross, he couldn't get a cup for it? She sighed, her eyes danced to the shower. Irish Spring, she knew it, a small victorious smirk fell on her lips. She looked to the toilet paper holder, the brown cardboard staring back at her. Her smirk was quickly relaxed with a wide eye stare. No fucking way. Panic hit her throat, no fucking way was she about to wait for Leon to come back and then above that, have him come back to her sitting in his bathroom, trapped by the lack of toilet paper.
A whine left her lips, her eyes going to the cabinet next to her. Please, please, please- her fingers curled over the edge of the door as she pulled it back, her eyes catching the roll as she reached for it. Her hand falling short at the red lace that laid next to it. She felt sick, were those...? Red, lace, crumpled up and tossed behind the package. "What the hell-", her words were near whispers. She heard the door close, her hand snatching back away from the underwear.
———
Leon walked into the apartment, his hands full of bags. What better way to wake up the beauty in his bed than breakfast from Honey Hollow? He had a smile on his lips besides the heat and sick feeling in his chest. He was disgusted but slightly proud of himself. Nothing was going to ruin them now. He placed the bags down on his counter, eyes lingering in the open bedroom door. He slid off that brown jacket he loved and had slid into after ditching the bloodied hoodie. A smirk tugged at his lips, what a sleeping- his eyes widened, where-
The click of the lock of a door, his eyes scanned the hallway, seeing her form in the bathroom door wat. Her sleepy, half lidded eyes. "Hey, sweet girl.", Leon's voice was oddly soft for someone who had done the things he had in the past 3 days. He could tell something was wrong, the way her bottom lip poked slightly more forwards. Her glassy little eyes, so soft and shining in the now nearly after noon sunshine. "What's wrong?", he stepped forwards, his hand up to cup her cheek. "What-", "Can you take me home?", her words shook slightly, her hand still holding the door ajar. "Please, i need to check on everything since the power went out.", that's not what's wrong, a few lost groceries didn't warrant an expression near tears. "I'll take you home after you eat.", that was not going to happen. He was going to keep her here for as long as he could. She couldn't go home, she couldn't be the one to find the body. He wanted to scare her but not down right scar her for life. "Leon, I want to go home-", she was adamant, her eyes searching his face. "I will take you home.", her eyes started to light up, "After you eat, i brought Honey Hollow. Coffee.", he turned away from her, walking towards his kitchen. He sighed, peeking at her as she hung her head and followed him. "They're calling for more severe storms today. As long as the weather permits, I'll take you home, bunny. Can you tell me why you really want to go home?", his voice was soft as he leaned into the stool at his counter. his leg stretched out as his other stayed bent. His hand on the counter and the other held out to her. She looked so down and upset.
She didn't know what happened, there's no way. Did she get bad news? Her phone wasn't on her. "Come here, bunny.", his voice was more stern at her lack of attention. His hand stretched a little further out as hers laid in his. He pulled her close between his legs and into his chest. "Did something happen? Did i upset you?", his chin rest on her shoulder. "Just tell me, I don't want you to be upset and leave in a mad mood.", he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I just want to make sure Mrs. Jones is okay and make sure my apartment is okay. I had some food in the fridge and I don't want it to smell up the house if the power stayed out all night.", she sighed, her hands on his thighs. He hadn't even thought to try and see if the power was on. He could've checked while he was there. "I'll take you home as long as it isn't storming.", he sighed, hugging the girl tighter.
Leon knew he had to tread carefully at the moment. He wasn't sure what was weighing on her mind. He didn't want to be angry with her but the sudden shutting him out, hurt. He knew she wasn't that worried last night, she'd been happy to come to his place last night and now, here, she was clamming up on him. Leon's lips pressed to her forehead, above her eyebrow. "Come on, let's eat.", he whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear. He'd be soft and sweet despite the tensing he felt in his joints. After all, everything he did was for her. Her safety came first, then her happiness. He couldn't risk her safety for her wants right now. He kept his arms around the quiet girl as she peeked at the bag, she was hungry and a small smile fell onto his face. He had lured her into agreeing at least for now. "I wasn't sure what you'd want, i got a sausage egg and cheese biscuit and then a bacon, egg and cheese.", he turned slightly, causing her to take a step forwards, now trapped between him and the counter, between his legs as she peeking into the bag. "sausage.", she watched as he reached in, "Got you a donut, too. Sweet girls deserve sweet treats.", he tried to warm her up as he kissed the side of her cheek, reaching over and placing the wrapped biscuit in her hands.
Her fingers unwrapped it as he grabbed his own. "Your Frappe, too.", he placed it in front of her. Was he bribing her? Yes. Unfortunately, it was the only way to ensure she didn't ask to go home again. He knew something was still bothering her as she was so quiet but he wanted to ease her away from whatever was prying into her mind. "Thank you, Leon.", she whispered as his hands ran her sides, feeling the curve of her hips as he trapped her with his legs. "Of course, I'll always make sure you're taken care of.", he hoped the words touched her, wiped her mind of the worrying thought. "I'll always, always take care of you, bunny. I promise you.", he placed his forehead onto her shoulder, he could feel her muscles moving as she ate quietly. His arms wrapped tighter around her, he never wanted to let go, wrapping around her waist to bring her back into his chest.
They both jumped, their bodies tensing as Leon's head popped up from her shoulder. A roll of thunder and a lightening strike outside the kitchen window had them both staring like deer in headlights. Her shoulders sagged as Leon's eyes lit up. He reached for his phone, sliding open the lock screen as the weather app was quickly tapped. Severe Thunderstorms, expected to last until 10pm. "I'm sorry, bunny. I'll take you home in the morning.", he sighed, he got the rest of the afternoon with the ill tempered woman. Her defeat caused a soaring victorious feeling to fill his chest. He couldn't spare her safety in exchange for happiness, she'd have to sulk in safety, in his arms. Thunder rolled over the pair, wrapped in the confines of his apartments his arms back around her as she stared out of the window, the glass quickly marred by the rain drops that blurred the bustling city.
Her sadness was valid, finding another woman's underwear in his apartment was down right gut wrenching. It wasn't fair, so many months of side glances and tense moments. He'd really been with someone else? Her lips brushed past the slightly greasy biscuit, taking a bite as the juice from the sausage dribbled down her chin. His finger came up to wipe at the clear liquid, wiping away the impurity. His finger-pads were rough, but it soothed her. Yet, she couldn't shake the feelings of hurt as she peered into his baby blues. His smile soft but even as before, there was always something lurking underneath. Like the grip he had on her at the party or the quick sharp quip he had slung at her in the car. She was safe, right?
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neuroticbookworm · 10 months
Text
Step by Step Episode 8 Ramblings
Episode 7 Ramblings, here
Put is not even gonna let Pat say his piece? 2 minutes in and I'm already burning mad
"I haven't taken you for granted like before"
"I know, you've been really good to me" Oh Pat, you pathalogical people pleaser
I continue being impressed by this show showcasing how adults do and should handle relationships and everything that comes with it. This must be one of the most realistic breakup scenes in BLs. And it is done without compromising the emotions of the characters. Hats off, really
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Jane is wearing two layers of pink. Our resident Tumblr color demon @respectthepetty has taught us that pink = love, so good to know that his feelings has remained unchanged or even intensified from last when we saw him
My god, Khun Jeng looks so fineeeeeeeee
And he's wearing a dark blue shirt underneath his neutral brown jacket. While Pat is in a dark blue cardigan. Interesting
Ohhhhhhh wow Jane is pissed and Jaab is too. The cat fight between these two is gonna be hilarious
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Put, you insufferable snake, ya dumped. Stop misrepresenting facts
Jeng, how the fuck did you know? Are you really THAT perceptive?
Oh man, that is the worst takeaway you can ever have from a failed relationship
*jaw dropped* Oh Jeng is going for the jugular. Oh he's done playing games, he wants to fight
Oooooooooof. Put, you manipulative bastard
Oh it's still not over. Oh they're still going, holy shit, this is intense
Is that a threat, about coming out? Seriously, what the fuck
I CAN'T WAIT to read all the body language analyses y'all are gonna write on that scene. Woah, that really was something
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Ae and Beam are here!
Well, Ae looks like a goddess, as usual. What else is new?
I love this scene and the commentary that comes with it. Keep your noses out of pregnant people's business, for fuck's sake! How hard is it to have some basic decency?
I love that Tae is calling out how quickly Jeng's mood changes from brooding to giddy and vice versa in this conversation.
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We have a new stuffie. The shark is out and the tiger is in. YES I SEE IT AND I LOVE IT
Oh I'm sooo ready for this non-date date. I want the sweet, sweet fluff to drown me. Gimme all the blushing, all the eye contact, all the accidental brushing of fingers, GIVE IT TO ME
OH MY GOD, he planned the whole thing. He had people move chairs out of the way for aesthetics. This complete bitch (affectionate)
GUYS, THE FLIRTING, I know I said I can handle it, but this is too adorable ^^
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Jeng just hung up on his brother in a flash, not even waiting for him to respond? Oh that's cold
Oh shit, Pat is drunk, again, Here come the truth bombs
Damn, Man Trisanu is nailing this. He is acting his ass off to show how restless Jeng feels before every almost-confession
This slowburn is gonna kill us all, honestly
Oh we are dancing, oh it's so gloriously awkward, oh make it stop
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Jaab, my beloved, I've missed your melodrama. You look like a divorced sugar baby who won half the riches in the settlement, I love it
Jeng tells Pat he can be just a safe space for him, while Pat is sobbing on his shoulder about his ex. All while Jeng has been trying the whole day to confess his own feelings for Pat. Every atom of this man is a green flag, I swear
These drunk disaster gays, I love them so much
Pat, sweetie, no. Please, you must be joking. Don't tell me you didn't know, DON'T TELL ME YOU ARE THAT OBLIVIOUS!
Okay, now Pat has to rethink each and every one of their interactions to see if he has ever misled Jeng, or if Jeng has ever crossed his boundaries. And then recalibrate his feelings with this new information. Yeah, this could take a while.
I'm leaning more and more towards the possibility of a second season, or even a special episode, after the show ends. Because there is no way they can fit all the domesticity these characters deserve within the next couple of episodes.
Ahhhh I can't believe the slowburn is still not over. I love it and I hate it and I'm pretty sure this show has turned me into a sadomasochist.
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scarletsaphire · 6 months
Text
Danny has been waiting for Phantom to let him go into the Ghost Zone for months, but has been met with "It's too dangerous!" at every turn. At long last, he's gotten Phantom to agree to be his tour guide. (Phantom kinda sucks at being a tour guide.)
---
Totally didn't forget to cross post those two. ANYWAY this is Shiptember Day 3, Reckless x Protective. Is this one going to get more added later? Maybe! I want to! But there are other things to write. Aka more, different pitch pearl.
"You have an oxygen mask with an ecto filter?" 
"Yup."
"And you have an ecto ray in case we get into a fight?"
"Right here."
"And you have your jumpsuit?"
"Phantom, you can see me wearing it," Phantom stopped pacing to look at Danny, who was sitting on his father's desk, arms crossed. 
"Oh, right," Phantom said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I'm just-"
Danny cut him off. "Nervous? You don't have to be, I'll be fine. It's not like I don't know anything about ghosts."
"I know that," Phantom said. "But its different when the ghosts are out here. It's like studying sharks in captivity, and then jumping straight into the ocean to swim with them."
"Yea, well, that's why I have you isn't it? To make sure that none of the sharks eat me." Danny hopped to his feet, grabbing onto Phantom's hands and pulling him to the portal. "Now come on, I've been waiting for this for ages!"
Phantom let Danny drag him along, but didn't stop talking. "You might need more than just me to keep you safe though! What if there's some kind of mind control bug that only affects humans? Or what if we get too close to Walker's prison and he arrests you? What if-"
Phantom was cut off by Danny's lips pressed to his own. "You need to stop worrying so much," he said, pulling away with a smile. "We've both been preparing for this trip for months. You can deny it as much as you want, but I've seen the map you've been working on. Everything going to go just fine, ok?"
Phantom blushed green. He had thought he'd kept his fruitless endeavor to map a path to take Danny on a secret, but apparently he hadn't. He could try to deny it, but there was no point. Danny always knew when he was lying. "Just, promise me you'll stay by my side?"
"Of course, there's no where else I want to be." Danny's tone was somewhere between teasing and sarcasm. He rolled his eyes and yanked on Phantom's arm more determinedly. "Now hurry up! I want to see the Ghost Zone!" 
The cold, tingly sensation of the Fenton portal had long since grown familiar to Phantom, but the warmth held firmly in his hand shed a new light on the entire experience. In many ways it felt wrong; the portal represented the border between warmth and cold, between life and death: having something so clearly, undeniably living as Danny's heartbeat. On the other hand, nothing had ever felt as right to Phantom as Danny's hand in his own, and not even the otherworldly sensation could change that.
Phantom knew that they had exited the portal by the tightening of Danny's hand in his own and the gasp he let out, distorted in the ectoplasm rich air. The tight grasp he'd kept on Phantom's hand fell loose as he spun in the low gravity area, taking in the sights of the ghost zone. Phantom let him go.
"Oh wow..." Danny said. "It's so..!"
When Phantom realized that Danny wasn't going to finish the sentence, he tried to finish it. "Green? Floaty? Covered in big ugly rocks?" Danny slapped Phantom in the arm without looking away from his surroundings.
"I was going to say incredible. Oh my god, is that-" Danny cut himself off, dashing forward into the distance, chasing after who knows what with surprising speed.
"Danny, wait, you promised!" Phantom said, rushing after him. If Phantom had been less prepared or less experienced, he might not have caught up to Danny at all. But Phantom had plenty of experience navigating the ghost zone, and arguably even more dealing with Danny. He had made Danny promise to stay close, but Phantom hadn't actually expected him to keep it. It wasn't that Danny meant to break it. He was just far too curious for his own good. 
Phantom caught up to Danny after a few seconds, almost entirely because Danny had stopped at what he had been distracted by. It was a rock covered in a type of moss that grew almost like seaweed, swaying in the fictional breeze it decided it was affected by. With every twist and turn it shifted into different colors, sometimes a soft transition into its new color and sometimes so abrupt that it shifted in the blink of an eye. 
Danny hovered, crouching in the air to stare at the color-shifting plant. "What's this called?"
"I have absolutely no idea," Phantom said. "I'm not exactly an expert on the zone, you know." 
"Does that mean I get to name it?" Danny asked, glancing over at Phantom. 
"I mean, it probably does have a name. I just don't know it."
"How does it change colors like that? Is that normal for ghost plants? Why is it moving like this? Would it be able to grow underwater? Does it grow at all? Is it the ghost of a plant or is it just a ghost plant?" 
Phantom shrugged, smiling wide at Danny. "You'll just have to find out. You did say you were going to take samples back, after all."
Danny facepalmed. "I completely forgot about that! Can you grab the vials out of my bag? They should be on the inner pocket."
"Of course." Phantom floated behind Danny, opening the backpack and pulling out plastic vials. He grabbed the pen and labels while he was in there. "Here you go."
"Thanks so much," Danny said, taking them without looking. He wasn't expecting the label and pen and dropped them right into Phantom's other hand, poised right under Danny's. He grinned sheepishly at Phantom. "You know me so well."
Phantom leaned down and kissed Danny's cheek. "I know. Now, get to your science stuff."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Danny said, getting to work.
---
It took Danny about an hour to gather the samples he wanted, asking questions Phantom didn't know the answer to the whole time. Phantom didn't mind; he wouldn't be dating Danny if he didn't find his curiosity endearing. Honestly, Phantom had expected to be there longer, and had been floating on his back almost directly above Danny's head, keeping a careful eye on the horizon when Danny straightened directly into him.
Phantom spun to the side. "You can't give a ghost a warning?"
Danny laughed. "Oops. Do you want me to kiss it better?" Danny wiggled his eyebrows at Phantom, and he laughed.
"Maybe when we get back," Phantom said. "Unless you want to cut the trip short?"
"No sir, please continue with the tour," Danny said with a mock salute. 
"It isn't much of a tour when you run off immediately," Phantom teased.
"Ok, then please start the tour," Danny said, taking Phantom's hand. 
"Fine, fine," Phantom said. "Have you been taking lessons from Sam in being bossy?"
Danny laughed. "If she hears you saying that, she'll kill you again. You'll be a double ghost."
"That doesn't sound all that bad," Phantom joked. "Maybe you'd be more interested in me if I was something for you to study like that."
"I'd be more interested with you if you actually started the tour instead of just standing here talking!" Danny said.
"Well, this area is one we call the Barrens, for pretty self explanatory reasons," Phantom started, dragging Danny along behind him. "There isn't much out here, and there was even less before your parents built the portal. Almost all of the lairs you see were either moved here after, or were formed by...something."
"Something?" Danny asked. 
Phantom shrugged. "I did warn you that I'm not an expert."
"I've noticed."
"So, the Barrens. It's not the most exciting area, but it is really big, so we won't be leaving it today."
"I thought you said there isn't anything out here?" Danny asked.
"I said there isn't much of anything," Phantom corrected. "There's a difference. And besides, my 'there's nothing out here' is very different from your 'there's nothing out here.' Case in point, the jars of ghost plant in your backpack."
"You raise a good point," Danny said. "I think that ones on you, though. I mean, who wouldn't be distracted by- holy shit Phantom look over there!" Danny started to float off towards a collection of rocks all spinning in sync. "Come on, we have to check it out."
"Why don't you go ahead and prove my point harder, huh?" Phantom said. He allowed himself to be dragged for a little while before going stiff, holding Danny back. "We can't go over there."
Danny did not stop pulling. "Why not?" he whined.
"Because that is something that I know about, and it isn't safe," Phantom said. He yanked Danny back to his side, wrapping his arm around Danny's waist, and guiding him away.
Danny pouted. "Is this a not safe like going into the Ghost Zone at all is not safe, or a not safe like helping you fight Technus, or not safe like-"
Phantom cut him off. "Not safe like you may never leave it again."
Danny narrowed his eyes, staring into Phantom's, unblinking. Phantom held the gaze right back. "Ok fine, I believe you. But can you at least tell me why it's so dangerous?"
"You know black holes?"
Danny scoffed. "Of course I know black holes."
"It's kind of like that, but with ectoplasm and in a much smaller area."
"Does it just work on ectoplasm, or does it affect everything else too?" Danny asked, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the rotating rocks.
"I don't know, and I'm not letting you figure it out," Phantom said. "Even if I have to keep you on a leash to stop you."
"Kinky."
"You could at the very least turn to look at me when you say things like that," Phantom said, blushing.
Danny turned his head from the rocks to look at Phantom. "Kinky," he repeated.
"You're a jerk," Phantom said, looking away.
"But you love me!"
"I do," Phantom said. "Clearly, that means something is wrong with me."
"No, it just means my secret mind control lessons with Ember have been paying off."
Phantom turned his head back to Danny fast enough that if he actually had bones he would have hurt himself. "You have not." Danny smiled back instead of answering, expression a picture of innocence. "I can't tell if you're pulling my tail of not. If I find out that you've actually been trying to learn mind control from Ember I am going to leave her in the thermos for a week, and then figure out how to make a thermos for humans and leave you in there."
"You'll never be able to prove it," Danny said in a singsong tone.
"And your parents say I'm the evil one," Phantom said, shaking his head and fighting the smile that threatened to cross his face.
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pinheadbella · 6 months
Text
Day 7: Break the Tie, Not the Bond
For the final day of Rajbow Week, I would like to present a prediction for season 2. I've had this comic sketched for a while now. Like a month before I even started this blog. And now I think it's the perfect time to discuss just what I think will happen to Raj and Bowie during the island rematch...
Back when the reboot was being teased, screenshots of a flyer have been going around. It showed the new cast, a synopsis, and some hints as to what the challenges may be. And one hint jumped out at me: "New challenges will now be peppered with inspiration from disaster and horror movies..." Season 1 of the reboot had some disaster movie aspects. The catapults, the obstacle courses, the lava lake. But nothing really jumped out to me as "horror movies."
Soooo I figured they were saving that for season 2.
As much as we wanted season 2 to be an Action reboot, Terry confirmed on Twitter that it would still take place on the island. But what if they could still pay tribute to Action? Why not put the contestants through revamped versions of Action's movie-themed challenges? And what could be more scary than getting dressed up as a killer/monster and hunting down your competition in a dark forest?
It's kinda like the serial killer challenge from Action. But instead of one player who has to scare their teammates, it's everyone on a team who has to scare everyone on the opposite team. Pop up from behind the bushes, scare someone with a butcher's knife in the kitchen, bust down a cabin door, etc.
For the sake of this scenario, let's assume that Raj and Bowie are on the same team. And that their team lost.
And that they tied for the most votes.
And since there's no way for the rule of "the player with more immunity wins is safe" to be applicable in the team phase, Chris has to think on the fly to get one of them out in the most dramatic way possible.
The tiebreaker? Raj and Bowie have one minute to beat each other up. Whoever's costume looks more ruined by the end will be eliminated. And if they somehow tie again, then they're both out.
And the boys are obviously upset.
Raj, who was dressed like a slasher killer, doesn't want to hurt Bowie. He's a hockey jock. He can effortlessly leave someone with bruises or a missing tooth even when he doesn't think he's playing rough. Bowie, who was dressed like a vampire, doesn't see the point in the tiebreaker. If him and Raj don't want to fight, why can't their team just revote?
Chris says that this'll be great for the ratings and starts the timer.
Bowie didn't want to give Chris what he wanted. As much as he hated losing, he also realized how much it sucks to lose someone he cares about. He already lost his friend Emma. He was not going to botch it with the guy of his dreams.
But Raj...
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...Raj really wants to win.
The prediction I'm about to drop is...insane. I admit it. Especially after seeing so many people headcanon/depict Rajbow as such a sweet and wholesome relationship. I'm not even sure if Fresh TV can get away with doing this. But with what little we have canonically with the ship so far, I see a dark direction it can go.
What if Raj's parents are homophobic?
What if Raj didn't want to come out at first because he was scared his parents would watch the show?
And what if he came out specifically while he and Wayne were falling down the mountain because he thought the cameras/mics wouldn't catch him?
Raj doesn't just want to come back and do better. He wants to win the million and move out. At the very least, he wants to make sure that kissing the love of his life in that tapioca shark pit was worth it. That he didn't just lose his parents' trust for a guy who didn't love him back.
Remember my Day 1 drawing? Yeah, Raj has been anxiously waiting for their first date to even happen.
And while Bowie doesn't want to admit why he's been holding off on that date he promised, Raj doesn't want to admit why he wants to win so badly. He doesn't want Bowie to think it's his fault or that their relationship is a problem. There's nothing wrong with Bowie, Raj thinks. He's perfect.
So...Bowie was tricked into a false sense of security. Raj slipped his cape off while they were busy kissing. How does Bowie feel to be blindsided by someone he thought he could trust?
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He couldn't be prouder. The guy who tricked so many people last season ultimately got a taste of his own medicine. And so, the villain passes on his prized necklace to his protege.
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look-at-the-soul · 8 months
Text
Peaky Blinders letter exchange
Arthur Shelby x Heaven
Letters master list
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💌 So I’m beyond thrilled for this brilliant idea, @raincoffeeandfandoms thank you for creating this project I almost stick to the deadline… not going to lie it was quite a challenge since I’ve never wrote for other than Tommy, but just as in life, I’m always up for a challenge 😉
The first letter was written by @call-sign-shark as the OC, Heaven 🤍 I have to admit this letter made me dream about their encounter, the response as Arthur was written by me, I hope you enjoy!
Summary: After S3c Heaven and Arthur live a peaceful and happy life in their house in the forrest and they are trying for a child. But when Arthur got the mafia’s black hand, he came back to Small Heath. At first he asked his wife not to come to protect her, but their love is so strong, so drug-like, that they kinda withered without each other. So she decides to join him no matter the danger of Changretta’s threats. Arthur receives the letter the day Tommy told him everyone should stick together for safety reasons.
*****
Mon amour, Bleak Winter and brass knuckles, My heart burns in the steel Of your saddened eyes. Night fell upon the city and I’m alone in our house, our big dog lying at my feet and flickering candle lights as sole company. As I watched the moonlight and stars, I felt the urge to write down these words for my heart aches with your absence. I know you asked me to stay away from Small Heath until things are better with Luca Changretta, but I’m becoming crazy between these walls. I can’t stand the idea of you risking your life and not being able to take you in my arms at night to give you comfort, nor to wash away the blood from your face and hands. Admittedly, it sounds like I am writing this in pure emotions and I am pretty sure that’s what Thomas will say, but I have thought the matters for nights and days before taking this decision: I am coming back to Small Heath, and we will fight as we have always done since we have met: together. As long as you’re with me, I know that nothing can happen — and if Death brings its cold and bony fingers around my neck, know that I’ll forever be by your side. But Arthur, I can’t go on without you. Each day without your presence is not worth living: I would rather hold your hand and bath in blood with you than being locked up away from you, safe but decaying. As I impatiently wait for our “retrouvailles” in three days, I keep brushing the golden ring your offered me with the tips of my fingers. Your gravel voice still echoes in my head, the words of your proposal bringing me comfort in my darkest and coldest nights. I remember how pained you looked when Tommy told us to wait for this gang war to be over before getting married but I think this is not a good idea. Quite the contrary, this is one rule we should disobey. Even in the midst of battle, I am ready to wear my white dress and deliver my vows, flowers crowns on my head and razor blade in my hand. If sky fall apart and hell breaks loose, at least we’ll leave this world as husband and wife — but don’t get me wrong, I am pretty sure no one will make you bow. Don’t forget that you’re a strong man. Stronger than you can imagine, stronger than everyone thinks. I believe in you, and always will. In the meantime, keep me in your heart and I promise I’ll soon be in your arms, Forever yours, Your angel Heaven.
-
My dear Heaven,
There’s no more room for sadness for me since the day you walked into my life. Last night I had a dream, it was already dark and I was sitting alone, you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and everything changed; it was a sunny day and we were walking hand in hand around the forest that surrounds our home. I just wish it could be true and you could be by my side, you can’t even imagine how much I dream of you…. Finding your letter early today gave me peace, but the day has been a fucking nightmare and I just got the chance to answer your words in the middle of the night. How I wish it was me lying next to you, feeling your warm body calming my busy mind. Don’t let out dog get used to it, though as I intend to take my spot back once this war is over. If only you knew how much your love means to me… you saved me from the darkness. It’s been lonely nights without you darling, but the sacrifice will be worth it, we will be able to go back to our routine and start the family your heart desires, but your love is giving me the strength I need at this moment, that’s what keeps me going. I need you to stay away from this mess, that’s the only way I have to protect you. Oh no, you bloody what?! Heaven, love that’s the craziest idea, I miss you so much yes, but there’s no way I can put you in danger, Small Heath isn’t a good idea right now… and please don’t even think about it, I’d never let anything bad happen to you. But as I know, once you make a decision there’s no way to convince you otherwise, so just let me make adjustments and prepare the way you’ll get in so it’s the safest, at least give me that peace eh? I cannot wait until we get married, but again if you already decided you don’t want to wait, we’ll do it right away. You’ll be the prettiest bride, you’ll look like an angel…and later after all of this passes we’ll have a bloody big celebration. Don’t worry about Tommy, he’ll understand. Your words mean so much, I treasure it so close to me heart my dear. I’m looking forward to our “retrouvailles”. I just know having you close will give me peace. Always in my head and heart soon to be Heaven Shelby. Always yours, AS.
****
Tag list:
@runnning-outof-time @call-sign-shark @shelbydelrey @raincoffeeandfandoms @there-goes-thefighter @dandelionprints @zablife @cljordan-imperium
I don’t know if you read for Arthur, if not that’s okay!
@lyarr24 @esposadomd @elenavampire21 @stevie75 @babaohhhriley @fastfan @forgottenpeakywriter @mrkdvidal1989 @shaddixlife @moral-terpitude @pono-pura-vida @ange-thoughts @onlydeadcells @lespendy @sloanexx
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alexinlalalaland · 7 months
Text
GEKKO X INSECURE!READER [You're perfect] pt.2
It was a copule hours after Yoru's comment and you still haven't left your room. Phoenix tried to talk to you, feeling like he was to blame as well. After all it was him who poked fun at the Japanese man. Heck even Yoru tried to visit and apologize having calmed down enough to see how fucked up the thing he said to you was. But you wouldn't budge. Both of the older males could hear soft whimpers and sniffles when they visited, and their heart clenched when they did. They messed up badly, and needed to do something before things could get out of hands.
Salvation came in the form of a tall, lean young man. With green hair and chocolate brown eyes, who was currently playing with some of his creatures in the common area. Being blissfully unaware that his lover was currently fighting her own demons. So imagine his surprise when Yoru and Phoenix walked over to him with sheepish looks on their faces, as if he was a father that was about to scold them because of something. This made him suspicious.
"What's up ?" Gekko greeted the two duelist, Dizzy chirped in protest when his Hand stopped scratching her back.
"Uhh mate, we kinda done something... well technically Yoru did something." Phoenix started scratching the back of his head, wondering how he will tell him about the problem at hand.
"Hah !?" Yoru growled looking at the English Man, feeling himself getting pissed all over again. "You're partially to blame here. If it wasn't for you and your dumb jokes I wouldn't have said what I said to (Name) !" he yelled angrily making Gekko narrow his eyebrows a little.
"What happened to (Name) ?" his brown eyes narrowed at the two males infront of him. His heart started to beat faster at the mention of your name. Were you okay ? Did you get hurt ? The questions about you well being floaded his mind, yet he still tried to stay focused. He just wanted, no he needed to know what happened first.
"I commented on her weight, and she hasn't left her room in a few hours." after what felt like forever Yoru confessed to what he has done making Mateo freeze.
"You did what ? WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT TO HER ?!" the Hispanic male got right into Yorus face. The blue haired man wpudl lie if he didn't say that it wasn't at least a bit intimidating. "Nah matter of fact why would you say that to anyone ? Are you fuckinh stupid ?" Phoenix's eyes were wide openhile he witnessed the absolute rage of the green haired male. He knew you were very dear to him but to get this angry ? He was glad that it wasn't him facing the guy right now.
"It was an accident ! I tried to go and apologize but she wouldn't even open the fucking door !"
"And she dosen't have to ! What the hell man ? I thought you were chill !" Gekko stright up growled at him, or maybe it was Thrash that materialized behind his shoulder. The creature eyed the Japanese man with a glare, making him shiver. No matter how cute his other buddies were, Thrash always made people second guess if they were safe around her. And everyone in the room could tell she was as pissed as Gekko was right now.
"I'm gonna go to her now." the greenhaired man sighed.
"Good idea mate." Phoenix commented quietly making Gekko nod his head and walk over to the doors.
"You gonna take your pet with you ?" Yoru asked while still watching Thrash, now on the ground circling him like a shark that was about to pounce.
"Oh, Trash isn't done with you." Gekko send him a smirk over his shoulder and left the room.
"Shit." was the last thing Yoru said before the creature attacked and whole base could hear a high pitched scream, making Agent wonder if Killjoy found another mouse in her laboratory.
*********
You were half asleep when you heard knocking on your doors. Rolling your eyes you were fully intending on ingorning it until you heard familiar voice.
"Hermosa ? We're coming in." you didn't look at him when he entered. You cursed yourself for giving him the acces code to your room. Though you never thought he would see you like this. Surrounded by pillows and blankets, half asleep from all the crying you did. You looked like a mess you were sure of it.
"I'm not in the mood to do anything, Mateo." you informed him from your place on the bed. Your back was to the door so you couldn't see his expression or what he did. You could however hear tiny footsteps coming closer, you turned around just in time to catch jumping Wingman.
"Hey ! That's dangerous !" you scolded the yellow creature making him tilt your head at you. Mateo laughed walking over to you accompanied by Dizzy and Mosh, who were resting on his shoulders.
"I think that's the least dangerous thing my buddy did those past copule of weeks, no ?" he sat next to you and took his shoes off to lie lie next to you.
"Still. I don't want him to get hurt like that." you huffed a little bit hugging Wingman closer to your chest, which made him purr like a cat, making you giggle a tiny bit.
"There's my pretty girl." you blushed at his words, making you avoid his eyes. You could feel his arms going around your midsection. Yelping when he pulled you on top of him.
"Mateo !" you glared at him. Partly forgetting ypu were supposed to be sad because his presence just made it better. "Can you stop ? Like I said I am not in the mood." you said trying to get off of him. While you did that all the creatures surrounding the both of you dissappear in his belt, giving you the privacy you needed right now.
"Hmm. Is it because of what happened ?" his hand tightened down on your waist making your breath hitch. You looked at him with wide eyes, wondering how he knew about it.
"Phoenix and Yoru told me the story. You want to talk about it ? Nah, we need to talk about it. I am not letting you beat yourself over some words that idiota said to you. " he send you a pointed look, letting you know he was not finished.
"What's there to talk about ? Yoru is right. I am big. Maybe too big." your voice suddenly got quieter, softer. Making Mateo raise an eyebrow at you, his heart broke seeing you in this state. One of his hands raised to your face wiping down any residue of the tears that flew down your cheeks just a moment ago.
"Stop that. You know it's not true." he said gently, placing a kiss on you forhead.
"Do I ?" you looked into his eyes, feeling yourself calm down. "Maybe Yoru was right. Maybe I should start a diet.. ouch !" you rubbed your forhead after he flicked it, glaring at him with a pout on your face.
"Basta, I don't want to hear that shit from you. You're perfect like you are, don't change just because some asshole made a comment about you. And you're not big or fat, I am pretty sure I weight more than you." he said with narrowed eyes. You rarely saw him mad and you had to admit he looked hot like that. Gulping you nodded a bit and put your head on his chest.
"I love you." you whispered with a smile.
"I love you more." He kissed the top of your head and smiled happy he could at least help you a little bit.
I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG GUYS <\3 I caught a nasty cold over the weekend and could not sit down and write. I hope it's okay! I am gonna write more in the future, feel free to send tge requests ! <3
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evolutionsvoid · 10 months
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Okay, I know I should have stopped at the last one, but I can't help myself. Once I got reading up on the Helkkja and their magics, I was just drawn more into their legends and stories. I don't know why regular old magic doesn't excite me that much, while this stuff really gets my brain churning. Maybe its that it ties to a region that I could never explore, and its bizarre way of using life as a medium to their art. Whichever the case is, I just keep finding more books and scrolls to devour on the subject, and even take some enjoyment from the various tales of horror and the macabre. Yes, I can chalk some of this stuff up to hyperbole, but with this supposed abyssal magic at play...well, safe to say that almost anything could be on the table at that point. So this isn't so much an entry, just me rambling about this bizarre magic I read about and one of the abominations that can arise from its use. If it writes out well, maybe I can sneak it in somewhere. Don't tell Eucella!
I have written before on the abyssal sleepers, Helkkja that undergo a transformation into a shark-like creature which then lives for years in the darkest depths of the ocean. There they are exposed to a force unlike anywhere else, absorbing some kind of energy or presence into their very flesh. The abyss boils with this strange magic, if one can even call it that, and the sleepers is how the Helkkja collect it. Once their time below is up, the sleepers rise back to their frigid surface home and are taken back to land by their sisters. There the flesh and fins are carved off their bodies, and they revert back to a human form. This fresh meat is now steeped in abyssal energy and curses, which then needs to go through a rigorous process to filter and break it down into a form mere mortals can handle. What is born from this process is access to glimpses and fragments of abyssal magic, some twisted art brought up from the very bowels of the ocean. There is much talk and wonder around what they use this alien energy for, but there is a certain kind that is quite infamous to those outside these arctic lands. Most who have heard of it think it no more than a terrible tale to scare people around the campfire, but certain accounts and strange disappearances suggest it more real than people would like...
It is known that the Helkkja keep to themselves on their frozen wasteland of an island, but that does not mean they do not venture into other lands and waters. It also does not mean they are excluded from the actions of the outside world. Their colony was established due to fighting between witches and mages, and this conflict still remains fresh in many minds. It is no secret that many magical academies and mage circles utterly despise the Helkkja and spread word of their horrid ways. They are a coven of witches that refuses to be exterminated or driven out, and their mere existence makes these famed masters look weak. If witches are so corrupt and evil, then why hasn't the pure mighty magic of the greatest mages purged these monsters from the world? Why do they seemingly do nothing to these arctic monsters, while they weave their abyssal magic and abduct poor souls? All this bad blood has led to many attempts to invade this island, which have all failed horribly. It also drives the pursuit of magic, law and establishments that could work to thwart the Helkkja and their strange abilities. If you ever see a team of mages studying icy magic or working with arctic ingredients, know that they are trying to find a flaw to these witches. Even outside of the Helkkja themselves, witches around the world get in a whole lot of trouble from both the mages and the public. Many trials, many laws and a whole lot of purging. This gives the Helkkja a reason to be interested in the outside world, not just for their sake, but for others like them. There have been rare instances where a Helkkja has been spotted outside their island, walking amongst the rest of us mortals. Their appearance is more like that of a ghost, here and gone within moments, leaving only a chilling aura behind. You can certainly tell one is near if you feel a bitter cold, as the Helkkja require icy temperatures to stay alive. Their short visits might just be that they despise the heat or any kind of warmth. Why they are here, we can't really say. Some believe they arrive to depart wisdom or blessings to other witch covens, helping those in dire need. A lot, however, say that they are here for nefarious purposes. The enemies of the Helkkja are many, and it seems like they have a way of targeting those who threaten them the most...
Though there is many theories and thoughts on the hows and whys, there is no denying the existence of the tooth. That single sharpened blade that remains at the scene of these horrible tales. I saw a supposed tooth in a museum once, sealed behind a whole lot of glass and protective runes. As the stories go, the tooth is supposed to be rendered drained of magic and inert after inflicting its single "bite," but I get the feeling many folk aren't willing to trust that theory. The look of it isn't all that special, it is pretty much a large shark tooth. They come in different sizes and shapes, varying by the species of shark they are pulled from, but they are all black in color and still wicked sharp. Their look and consistency suggests that they are ancient, dug up from a time long gone. The only thing making them different from other fossilized shark teeth is the etchings in their surface, which are said to glow a faint blue when active. It is said that the tooth is a weapon used by the Helkkja to punish those who wrong them or threaten their existence. They collect these stony blades and imbue them with abyssal magic, pouring the horrid curses into the etchings and symbols upon them. When they carry the hexes of the darkened sea, they are then taken by Helkkja who are sent out to the lands beyond. They will leave their island and plunge into the world of man, seeking their targets from the chilling shadows. While it may sound cooler that these witches attack their targets and drive the tooth into them with their own hands, the reality sounds more insidious and paranoia inducing. From the stories, it is suggested that the tooth marked for the victim is left in places where they least expect, positioned so that its biting edge may cut into the unwary. Slipped into a bed, hidden within a drawer, or even placed in a shoe, the tooth is set up as a stealthy trap. Though ancient, the blade is still sharp and easily tastes blood when touched. The victim will discover the tooth upon their first cut, but it is already too late once it bites them. At first, the small cut will be just like any minor wound, but soon a chill shall start to spread through the victim's body. No blanket or fire will keep them warm, despite the fact that they begin to sweat profusely as the curse takes hold. Their skin will turn pale and clammy, the constant sweat making them slick and damp. Respiratory problems kick in, with harsh breathing and wet coughs. As it progresses, their senses will go wild. The tongue will taste nothing but damp, the nose filled with the smell of salt and fish, while the ears hear the constant sloshing and pulsing of endless waves. Amongst it all, their eyes will become painfully sensitive to light, causing them to scream at the faintest lantern or fire. Attempts to cure this have all failed, and eventually the victim retreats to a darkened room or closet. They bury themselves in blankets and layers, shroud themselves in darkness, but find no relief. This is when the transformation occurs, and it is a horrid one at the sounds of it. The skin begins to soften and melt, the muscles and fat swelling and slithering beneath it all. The legs stick to each other like glue, soon fusing into one awkward limb. The lips meld together, turning their screams to muffled whimpers. The sweat turns to slime, as their hair falls out from every inch of their body. The eyes swell up and their skulls deform. Fleshy fins erupt from the back, as their arms are shriveled and reduced. When friends and family finally tear open the door after hearing the commotion and gurgling screams, what they find turns their blood cold. The stories speak of pale, writhing creatures, of men who have turned to fish. The twisted abomination may slither and crawl towards their loved ones, silently begging for help, but they usually find no mercy. Their appearance disgusts them and horrifies them, usually leading them to flee from the very sight or sometimes kill them right there. If they are left alive and alone, they will seemingly vanish despite their awkward bodies. The tales speak of shattered windows and broken doors, each coated in a sickly slime. The trail of goop leads to the nearest source of water, and then it is gone. The transformed victim disappears into the sea, leaving only that darkened tooth behind as evidence of what has occurred. What becomes of these creatures, no one can say. It is commonly thought that they swim back to the Helkkja, who now rule their thoughts and actions. When they make it back to the island, many claim they are forced to serve as amphibious slaves for their cruel masters. Folks with more twisted minds say that the Helkkja eat them, serving up their fishy bodies for a feast. Regardless, the targets of the Helkkja someday vanish, and a single tooth is a symbol of their demise. With its target cursed and fled, it remains dark and empty, erasing all traces of the magic it held. To this day, the mages have not been able to crack whatever hex is contained in these terrible blades, and remain ever vigilant of their surroundings in fear that one may be slipped into their homes. As it is said to those who are invited to the bedroom of a mage, be wary if they are insistent that you be the first to crawl into the sheets. I will say it does make me curious of what would happen to us dryads if we ever got bit by one. Would we turn into a fish? A fish with meat, or a plant one? Maybe we become kelp dryads! Not sure, but the more I think of it the more it kind of scares me. Yeah, never mind. Entry over.   Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian
Editor's Note: Chlora, how do you exactly plan to sneak this by me? I am your editor, I kind of see everything you write and submit. Maybe if you were actually subtle about these things you could get one by me, but since your notes are a mess I don't think even you know what you send to me! Your last stack of papers had a grocery list in it! Please organize your papers and thoughts, and also stop trying to submit these mystical myths and such. If we were writing a book on scary legends and horror stories, this would fit right in! BUT WE AREN'T!
Also be sure that you are getting orange peppers, not the red ones. Vera likes the orange ones better, she says the colors are more fun. And also you're buying your bug broths?! What happened to your garden pots!? This is stuff you should be able to easily brew at home! I am coming over to your house as soon as possible to get a look at your garden. I don't know what mess you got growing out there, but I am not about to let Vera eat store bought broths when a home cooked one is so easy to make!  - Eucella -   --------------------------------------------------------------
“Abyssal Thrall”
Collected fossilized shark teeth once and wondered about were-sharks and what primordial curses lie within these ancient things.
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koneko-pi · 11 months
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HELP. Feels a little out of place doing her profile first but I've been reworking her a lot and am finally getting satisfied with her UuU so here is Leolai, a character who's been in the works for a while. It's kind of funny how a next gen oc is getting the first profile. I very much have enjoyed her as a character and who she is, as I think it creates potential for some nice drama and conflict for specific reasons.
Some of this may be subject to change in the future.
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Leolai Alette
A homunculus created by a fairy named Gepetta and taken in by Briar Rose after her defeat during the spade kingdom arc.
Aggressive
Distant
Quiet
Awkward
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Leolai's was created by a fairy named Gepetta, whos magic involved making hyper realistic dolls of other people after she was able to study their Grimoire. However this fairy had an unhealthy obsession with going beyond just dolls and wanted to make something REAL and ALIVE. So with her magic, experimentation and a sample of potent mana (Fuegoleon's arm in this case) she finally managed to make Leolai, but Gepetta was slain during the spade kingdom arc by Briar Rose shortly after her creation. Leolai, as an infant, was later discovered and adopted by Brair. Her presence sparked many fights between Briar and other individuals; Fuegoleon especially, who insisted on taking the girl in himself. But Briar would fight him on it due to the fairy blood in her body and nature of her "birth", wanting to keep an eye on her herself. This would spark a rather intense feud between the Vermillion's and the Silva's once Mereoleona got involved. It would be settled eventually as Leolai got older.
Leolai would be confused as she was the spitting image of Fuegoleon (because she's basically his altered clone) yet she lived within the Silva family being raised alongside Avalina, Nymphadora and Mikhail. While the two families settled on letting her move between the two houses so she could see Fuegoleon, she ultimately lived with the Silva's so Briar could oversee her growth. As she wasn't sure what would happen to her as she got older.
Growing up Leolai would be lonely, choosing not to interact with her adoptive siblings because they were moms "real children" while she saw herself as some kind of fake. And she couldn't understand why she was being shared between the two families.
She eventually does learn of her origins and her aggression only skyrockets as she becomes tormented by emotions and confusion. Feeling lost. Briar will apologize for keeping secrets and gift Leolai with a necklace made of Cinderella's mana stone, saying it will protect her. Saying that she can do whatever she wants but this will keep her safe.
Her magic would later trigger the stone into creating a Spirit of Cinderella which Leolai can later use in fights.
Trivia
Leolai really likes sharks
While she is difficult at times, she really wants friends
'Alette' is Briar's family name.
Like Briar, Leolai is a black hole for sugary treats. (it's a fairy thing)
Because of how she was "born" Leolai does not have a grimoire.
Leolai's name is a combination of Vermillion tradition and Briar's sentiment. Leo- a commonly used in man family vermillion names. And Lorelai- the name of Briar's aunt, who she loved deeply. Nozel came up with it when Briar and Mereoleona were bickering on what her name should be.
She thinks Fuegoleon's egg trick is the coolest thing in the world.
She looks like Fuegoleon's little clone because no other DNA was used in her creation.
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merelypassingtime · 1 year
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John Contantine looked at the little bundle squirming in King Shark’s arms, all his usual cool indifference gone.
“How?” he demanded. “How is this even possible?”
King Shark glared at him. “Seems a little late for me to give you the birds and the bees talk now.”
“I just had no idea you were…” John trailed off with an inarticulate gesture at the tall, imposing figure before him.
“Pregnant,” King Shark finished for him.
It wasn’t quite what John had meant, but it was close enough. “Yeah. Why didn't you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure myself until a few weeks ago. Then I wasn’t sure what to say.”
“So that was the ‘family business’ you had to take care of back in Hawaii?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re sure it’s mine?” John asked, his eyes fixed on the sharp white and grey nose poking out of the tattered blue blanket.
“Yes, of course he is!” King Shark shot back. “What sort of question is that?”
“Sorry, sorry. It’s just a lot to process.”
“Yeah, I guess,” King Shark conceded, though his face was still thunderous.
Wanting to comfort him, John took a step forward, only to stop when King Shark clutched the baby protectively. The movement broke John’s already scarred heart. 
“Can I see him?” John asked gently. “Can I meet my son?”
Liquid black eyes full of fear and love met his eyes for a long moment, then softened. This time it was King Shark who stepped forward and held out the baby. “Careful of his teeth,” he said fondly. “He’s a little bitey.”
“Takes after his dad that way,” John joked, as pushed the blanket back and brushed his fingertips against the baby’s skin. “In fact, he looks just like you.”
“I dunno,“ King Shark replied. “I think he looks like you in the face.”
Looking down at the baby, his mouth open and drooling as he slept, John admitted, “Yeah, I can see that.”
“What are we going to do with him, John?” King Shark asked. When John bristled at the question, he added more quietly, “I don’t want him to have the sort of childhood I did. I don’t want him to be feared and hated and attacked just for being different like I was.” Then, in a whisper, he said, “I don’t want him to be turned evil.”
With one hand still resting on the baby’s head, John brought his other hand up to press against King Shark’s cheek, startled to find it damp with tears.
“I could send him away,” John offered, though the thought tore at him. “I could use my magic to find a universe where he’d be accepted and safe and we could send him there to grow up loved.”
“You could?” King Shark asked, more tears streaming down his face. “Right now?”
Fighting his own emotions, John nodded. “Of course, sweetheart.”
It was surprisingly easy, John found a universe, different but similar to their own and King Shark put the baby in a basket with his blanket, some fish, and a stuffed bear to be sent off to a brighter future.
They also included a note that said simply, “This is Jeff and he is a land shark.”
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alittleposhtoad · 7 months
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7 and 29 for the ask game!!!!! 🫶
Hi Nat!! 💕
7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?
Quite a few!! If only I didn't have irl responsibilities and I could spend my time writing 😭
I have this head canon that Gaz likes reading pulpy noir private eye novels as a guilty pleasure or something, which naturally has morphed into, what if I write an au where Gaz is a private eye.
I got a Mass Effect Cod au idea where the 141 are Alliance soldiers tasked with defending a research space station.
Lastly, non cod related, this is something I've wanted to do for ages, but at the beginning of the Star Wars High Republic series, there's a line or two about a character reading a book that's essentially one of those vapid romance type novels, except it's about Jedi, so like the forbidden romance trope,(it's been a hot second since reading it so I might've got the description wrong but) I SO BADLY want to write that book. Make it as outrageous and tropey as all hell. like crack treated seriously.
29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.
Suprise, it's another Mass Effect thing!! I have so many ME wips I started during the pandemic that never went anywhere. This was from one where I imagined the Alliance and Hierarchy were on better terms and doing training drills together in the area when the batarians attacked Mindoir, so both came to the colonies aid (cw, canon accurate violence, brief mention of human trafficking):
From the orchard’s shadows, their attackers appear. The nearby lights glint off their eyes, their armor. Shaped like a human until they weren’t. Lights flash across the sky, briefly outlining a patchy cloud cover. A low rumble fills the area and the alien’s attention is drawn to the sky.
Not having the same curiosity, Rowan scurries into the orchard. The uneven ground sent spikes of pain through her bare feet, and she dives to the ground as another shot rings out. Crawling across the ground in wild fear, she collapses against the trunk of the nearest tree. Taking deep, stabilizing breaths, she shoves her back to the tree and squeezes her eyes shut. It wouldn’t do a thing except stop her from seeing them, but it was all the control she had in this situation.
She pictures their shiny, obsidian eyes, (too many eyes, eyes like a shark) their gash of needle-like teeth and tried to make herself as small as possible. Their roars and shouts swell (noise, too much of it, everywhere, on all sides). More gunfire. She waits to be grabbed, to be hurt and broken. Minutes passed and... nothing. For a few seconds, the world falls quiet. The gentle evening breeze rustles her hair and brings unfamiliar sounds to her ears. Chirps, soft humming, an eerie rumble. Clicks. Rhythmic clicking. A language?
A soft touch on her shoulder and the same soft humming, but closer. Direct. Her mind screams at her to keep her eyes closed, but she fights the instinct.
Bright, unnatural light floods the area, and it stings her eyes. As they adjust, she notes the source - a turian looking shuttle. She blinks rapidly and struggles to interpret the sudden reversal of circumstance. A turian kneels at her side, a Hierarchy patch on his armor, a rifle slung over his shoulder. With no translator, she couldn’t understand his words, but the feral instinct of Hierarchy=safe helps grapple with the manic fear threatening to overwhelm.
Unable to form words, she grabs his arm and wordlessly pleads for help. He watches her for a second before standing, pulling her to her feet as well. With gentle and awkward gestures, he directs her back to the road. It felt like she was walking with her head floating above her body, disconnected. Autopilot was easier. Just shut down every thought and follow simple instructions.
The turian stops and turns around to say something. She stares at him blankly before looking over his shoulder. In the stark light he looks much younger than she first thought. He only stood a handful of inches taller than her–couldn’t have been much older either. Beyond him, a group of fully grown turians mill around a pile of dead batarians, checking for weapons and pulses. Effie lay between their two groups with a turian at her side. Unlike the one standing next to her, the one by Effie sported a med shield on their shoulder.
When she doesn't respond, the turian grabs her shoulder as if trying to get her attention.
Tears sprout, and the dam breaks. She tries and fails to control her breathing. The odd mix of aching, empty grief, and soaring relief at being rescued overwhelm her. With tears now streaming freely, she braces her hands on her knees to steady herself. The younger turian remains by her side in armor too shiny and un-scuffed to be anything other than brand new.
As sheltered as life on Mindoir could be, Rowan knew enough to recognize the Hierarchy military insignia. She had no thought as to why they were here. While grateful, the alien presence confused her. Up above, a set of two fighters shot through the sky. Very angular, of definite turian design.
Arden. A memory pierced her mind and her heart ached at the image of little Arden reading his book of ship cross-sections, marvelling at turian ships. The memory shifts to him being thrown into a cage with the other children. She sobs and bows under the wave of grief threatening to knock her down. The turian touchs her shoulder again.
Despite her heartache, her parents’ gentle raising offered a blueprint to keep going. To not completely fall apart. Find out what the nice young man wants. Her mother’s voice rings clear in her mind, as real as if she was standing at her side. A previous near-capture had a batarian driving her head into the rough gravel pathway outside her home. She escaped, but it came at the cost of scraped and bloody ears. They destroyed her translator; it lay crushed in her yard, where the monster stomped it to pieces. With trembling fingers, she touched her injured ears. The turian turned to the others and exchanged words she had no hope of understanding.
“Is she–is she- “ (Dead.) Couldn’t bring herself to speak the word. Rowan let the turian move her to the side of the road, but her eyes never left Effie.
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imaginewarehouse · 2 years
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Human!Mr Snake x Reader || Drabble
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I am just super excited about this movie at the moment so wanted to make something! Probably more to ensue, haha XD Obsessed with the idea of a Femme Fatale reader being part of the group.
Plot: A drabble inspired by the Gilmore Girls prompt, 'I just wanted to know what it would be like'. Basically you have a big ass crush on Snake and it finally bubbles over.
Warnings: One F bomb, but I think that's it. Not gonna write anything racy for the Bad Guys for a good minute, I assure you XD Also age gap if you squint, tho.
🔆🔆🔆
The gang were all running on their usual high from our most recent heist- including yourself. But while the rest were in loud, excited moods, rough housing and talking quickly about what everyone did well - how Webbs managed to disarm the Wsstp without anyone getting singed or sliced, how Mr Shark’s Little Boy costume went over without a hitch, how Mr Piranha actually got the grappling hook to work the way to was intended this time, - , you were in a more… quiet, giddy mood. There’s something on your mind. Something that’s been on your mind for a while, in fact, that you’re just now thinking maybe… you could do. You could consider.
You could try.
When you realise that you had stared at Mr Snake for a moment more then you would usually allow, you take in a sudden, sharp breath, and turn your back on the group; Back to your drink and reality. 
See, you’ve had feelings for the cranky jerk for a while, now. And you thought you could just wait it out. It was just supposed to be a passing thing, because you like the way he cracks safes, you think it’s hot- but that’s all! You were sure it would go away in a week or two. Absolutely sure.
But it’s been more like… 11 months… And 'just the way he cracks safes', turned into the way he talks, the way he’s obsessed with guinea pigs, the way he cares about Wolf, the way he teases- and a whole amalgamation of other things that are just constantly torturing you and you don’t know how long you can keep it in.
You’re reaching your boiling point and either you tell him, or you explode.
And that’s where your own heist-high comes in. You’re thinking you might… but even you, an infamous criminal, are too chicken shit. Hell!-
"What are you doing?" You're just moving to hide your face in your hands, when someone appears in the seat next to you and you jump- that blunt voice more than familiar. Looking like a deer in headlights, your big, wide eyes finding Snakes as he looks at you expectantly- waiting for a response. You didn't say any thoughts out loud, did you? Like in the books???
Finally, when the world doesn't implode and the ground doesn't open up under you, you sigh out your mini heart attack and look forward, shoulders dropping. "Don't sneak up on people when they're lost in thought... "
"Oh?" Its clear as soon as he speaks, his tone jumping high in intrigue, that you said the absolute wrong thing. Turning your head to see the cruel curiosity on Snakes face, you cant help but think... shit. "What were ya so lost in thought about?"
"Secret stuff," You reply airily, coolly- hoping beyond hoping, that he loses interest in poking around your business. "Boring stuff- you wouldn't be interested in it."
"Well, why don't you let me decide on that?" He pushes, leaning across the space between your chairs to make you uncomfortable. Jokes on him, though, you guess. Jaw falling, he hisses out the next part; A guess. A guess that you're pretty secure in hearing, as a guess from Snake will never be that you like him. His mind just doesn't work like that. "Are you the one that tripped the bidet on Wolf?! That was hilarious!"
Fighting a grin, you shake your head at him. "No." Though you wish you were. That was hilarious. "Now stop guessing- its none of your business."
"Which is my favourite kind of business," Drat. Visibly, you droop. "Come on! You can tell me, kid!" Kid- of, if you could droop further, you would. Is your existence just one big, cosmic joke here? Ha Ha Ha... Its not funny. "Aren't I trustworthy?... "
You turn to look at him again in a deadpanned kind of way, finding an evil grin stretched across sharp teeth. "Oh, let me think... "
Honestly though, you would trust Snake with your life. He acts like he hates everyone but he's really a huge softy and that's one of the things you love about him.
"Okay let me guess again. Hold on." He thinks for a moment, eyes crawling up in a very thoughtful expression that makes you grin before he goes AH, and looks back to you once more- and you look away. "Didya break Webbs' USB last week?"
"No."
"How about Shark's fake nose?"
"Mm, nope."
"Were you the one that ate the last push pop yesterday??"
At that, an honestly guilty look crosses your face as you peak at him. "Well... I did do that... " You admit, making his jaw drop, abject betrayal written all over his face. "It was delicious, but that's still not what you're looking for."
Flashing you a glare, Snake goes on. "O-kay... wait were you the one that helped Piranha pull off that ping pong ball prank the other da- "
Ugh! He's relentless!
You knew this before, obviously, but it is becoming frustrating at this moment- and before you could think of all the reasons that this was a bad idea- you've kissed him.
Quite literally- reached over, lost your fingers in dark hair and brought your mouth to his. He freezes for half a second, not even long enough for you to realise your mistake and let go, before long, thin fingers hesitantly find your waist.
He kisses you back just as hesitantly for a moment, before you pull right back... realising what you've done. "Ohmygod I'msosorry!!" You should not have done that. You should not have done that. His eyes are wide and surprised, looking at you, looking as if he wants to say something as he opens his mouth, but cant quite string together the words.
So, taking a deep breath, you go ahead and talk instead. "Well... that's, kind of what I was thinking about... have been for a while, actually... Everyone knows, except you... Well you do now, but- " You avert your gaze in embarrassment from the seasoned criminal's, then. Feeling more like a blushy little anime girl rather then an established criminal, yourself. "I, uh... I just... wanted to know, you know- what it would be like."
Your gaze slips up, finding him again- he's opening his mouth again as if to speak, but no words come out for a good moment; Shock written all over his face.
... Okay.
Maybe that's better, him not saying anything. Yes. Taking a deep breath, you get up from your chair - Snake only now taking his hands off you, - and give an awkward waive. "Well bye!"
Then you flee.
And Snake is there looking more then frustrated with himself, wondering how that could have gone so wrong, silently asking his voice box what the hell happened there... But eventually, all he can do, is curse.
"Fuck."
~
Later that night, you're lying on top of the covers on your bed, not even in your pyjamas yet and nowhere near sleepy, staring at the ceiling and just listening to your heartbeat in your ears still.
You've royally messed things up.
Suddenly theirs a knock at your door, and your heart turns freezing cold inside your chest. Who is that?
Slowly, cautiously sitting up on your bed and walking across the room, you dread finding out what's on the other side- but that feeling has nothing on the blind panic that strikes through you when you open the door and find Snake standing there.
You immediately open your mouth to say something, anything, but he beats you to it this time- which is good, because you had nothing.
"Look, I'm sorry." He starts quickly, apparently full of adrenaline. Your eyes blow open wide at the last word- sorry. Since when does Snake say the word 'sorry'?! "I wanted to say something, but I- I don't know, man, my mouth wouldn't work. Something about you being too young, or how you could do much better- then- " He seems to be working himself up, but quickly shuts it down. "But it doesn't matter. I like you- and- ... And that wasn't a good sample."
Only just trying to take in all that information at once, you don't understand that last part at first. He likes you!?!? He thinks yo could do better, then him??? "... What?"
A slow, evil smirk spreads across his mouth, and he shakes his head. "You said you wanted to know what it'd be like- that wasn't it."
"... Oh... and..?" Still clueless, you blink those big confused eyes at him and it drives him mad.
A gasp topples too easily out of you as Snakes hands slither back around your waist and you let him guide you carefully against the wall by your bedroom door- finding that he ends up far closer to you then before, a breath between you both when your shoulders relax back against the new surface. Your eyes are still wide, but you're not confused anymore- you're shocked. Is this really happening? What is this?
Still, your hands travel carefully up his arms to his shoulders, chewing on your bottom lip in unsureness; In cautiousness. "That wasn't it... "
Then, before you can respond with something stupid, he gathers you against him and kisses you again.
And you're just glad there's a wall behind you because otherwise you would've lost footing.
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