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breannasfluff · 7 months

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Healing Hands, Hurting Hands

Whump Rating: 3/5

As soon as the Chain learned of Hyrule’s healing powers, he became their safety net. If they are out of potions or fairies, Hyrule can be relied upon to heal the injured. He might not have enough magic to fully heal them, but it’s enough to get by until they pick up more healing supplies.

As the journey continues, the group gets…lax about staying stocked with supplies. Never on purpose; they work hard not to take advantage of Hyrule. Yet whereas before they might stock up on five potions, they only buy three.

Usually, it makes sense to save rupees where they can; a group of nine heroes can’t run on no funds. A few of them get a stipend to fight the monsters from their Zelda’s. There is the odd chest to find along the way, and Wild seems to have a never-ending supply of rupees in his slate. The truth is that Legend and Wild are bankrolling most of the journey. At least they get the odd stop at inns instead of sleeping outside.

So, yes, they could stock up on more potions, but Hyrule never points this out. Deep down, it’s nice to be wanted by the group for a skill only he has. Although that might not be a very heroic outlook.

Wizzrobes slinging curses is never a good day. Wild’s in particular have a nasty habit of surprising them with strange spells. Elemental magic alone isn’t enough—no, they need to suffer hexes, curses, and dark magic.

Hyrule is pulling on his magic to cast Thunder. Electricity crackles in the palm of his hands. It’s a strain on his magic, true, but this fight is growing longer and longer. They need to get out of here before injuries get worse.

The traveler’s magic sense flares. Something is streaking through the air; felt rather than heard. It’s a void against the surroundings; consuming magic and ambient waves. Hyrule turns, electricity still crackling. The curse hits his chest—much closer than expected.

Magic sinks through his skin to latch onto his power. It traces a burning path down his arm and focuses on the lightning he was about to cast. He barely manages to suck in a breath before the curse kicks in, latching onto the lightning and turning it back on himself.

Electricity crackles across his skin. Whereas before his magic provided a barrier for it to bounce harmlessly off of, now it attacks him with abandon. The traveler screams and lets go of the magic feeding the spell. The whiplash snaps on the rebound, but the electricity dies.

“Hyrule! Are you okay?” Legend edges closer while fending off monsters.

“Yeah, but I won’t be using magic for a while.”

“You got your sword?”

He holds it up, already stained in monster blood, then turns back to the fight. He doesn’t need magic to attack, although it helps. The sword will be sending no flame beams to cut down enemies, not while this curse is in effect. Instead, he relies on trusted steel to slice muscle and rend bone.

Someone yelps and Hyrule spins to see who’s hurt. It’s Warriors; a nick above his eye. It’s not serious, at least, although the blood sheeting his face must be annoying. “I’m good,” he calls, and the traveler turns back to his monsters.

By the time the fight is done, Hyrule is sweaty and annoyed. Most of the group sustained minor injuries, but there was enough blood to cause concern. The healer wanders through the group, checking them over.

Warriors is hissing as Sky dabs at the cut.

“Here, let me help heal.” Acting on instinct, Hyrule reaches for his magic. Electricity snaps at him and he flinches. The pain may be imagined, but it’s certainly felt.

“What’s wrong?”

He grimaces, shaking his hand to lessen the tingling. “Got hit by a curse. Turned my magic back against me. I don’t think I’ll be useful for healing until it fades.”

Time crouches next to them with a frown. “How serious are we talking?”

“You know my lightning spell? It’s been turned back on me when I reach for my magic. I…I might be able to reach it as a last resort? It wouldn’t be pretty, though.”

With a nod, their leader stands. “Right, well hopefully it won’t be an issue. Everyone, keep an eye on the amount of potions we have till we can stock up again.”

Hyrule keeps his head down. The curse means he can’t fulfill his purpose in the group; at least, not in a way that matters. Hopefully, it will wear off soon.

The goddesses don’t have mercy. They’ve run out of potions before they find a town or switch eras, and the group of black-blooded monsters they fight aren’t going down easy. The group pulls on every weapon and spell in the arsenal. It’s not enough.

Wind’s scream—high, reedy, and breaking into a wail—has Hyrule miss his slash as he spins. One of the monsters has slammed his sword into the sailor’s chest. Worse, it’s stuck—likely in bone. The monster growls and each tug pulls a broken cry from Wind.

“Let him go!” Warriors hammers on the monster, who refuses to drop the sword. The sailor is pulled along with him and Hyrule’s stomach turns at the sound he makes. No teenager should scream like that. Certainly not Wind, their bright spot of sunshine and ocean breeze.

On instinct, Hyrule reaches for his magic. Lightning meets his senses, crackling in warning and he pulls back. The magic aims to hurt, to kill. He may not have a choice.

The captain finally separates the monster’s head from its body. It’s hand goes lax and slips off the sword. The weapon is still stuck in Wind’s chest and he stumbles slightly, then falls.

“Hyrule! Now!” Warriors yell is rough with worry.

The traveler finishes off the monster he was fighting and runs for the two. The battle still rages around them, although the others try to buy them space.

“We need healing!”

“My magic…”

“I don’t care!” Warriors' eyes burn when they meet Hyrule’s. “I’m sorry, Rulie, but I can’t lose him. Not like this.” There’s a deeper ache there; something that hints at the history between him and Time. Warriors has seen the toll battle takes on those younger than them.

Never mind that Hyrule is only a few years older than Wind; the sailor deserves a future. He can deal with some temporary pain if it means Wind lives.

The traveler nods and crouches next to Wind. Blood soaks his tunic and the fabric is torn open, showing the wound on his chest. With each pump of his heart, blood bubbles and slides down his skin.

“I can’t heal it with the sword stuck in his chest.”

Wind makes a mewling sound, tears streaming. “N-no! Please, it hurts!”

Warriors face twists like the words are causing him physical pain. “What do I need to do?”

“I’ll hold him down, you pull the sword out. Then I’ll heal him.”

“No!” Wind coughs and blood splatters on Hyrule’s cheek. “Please, no!”

They both ignore him. They have to. Hyrule holds the sailor down and meets Warriors eyes, then gives a nod. The captain yanks on the sword. Wind screams. The sword doesn’t come unstuck.

“We need it out!”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Pull harder!”

“Stop it!” Wind’s voice is wracked with pain. “Stop it! Just let me die, this isn’t worth it!”

Warriors braces his foot against Wind’s side for leverage and firms his grip on the handle. Muscles bulging, he pulls.

The sailor’s scream is too broken to be more than a wheeze of sound. His eyes are too wide, rolling as his mouth opens. Finally, the pain becomes too much and he slumps, unconscious.

With a wet crack, the sword is freed from his chest. Warriors stumbles backward at the lack of resistance.

Hyrule reaches for his magic, ignores the warning crackle, and pulls it under his command. Life, he urges.

His thunder spell, woven into the curse, turns on the healer. Electricity crackles over his skin and he grits his teeth against the scream building. Blood fills his mouth; he bit his tongue. He can’t spit it away, just focuses on forcing through the barrier of the curse for the magic.

Wind will die without his help. Look at how much pain he was in already. Hyrule can deal with pain if it means saving the sailor.

“Hyrule!” Legend’s voice is faint, despite how close he must be. “Fuck, Warriors, what’s wrong?”

“Wind needs healing!”

“At the cost of Hyrule?”

“He’s going to die!”

“Is it worth trading one life for another?”

Hyrule tunes them out. Electricity bites through skin and sinks into the bone. Everything is burning. His fingertips are numb as he forces magic past the curse. Is Wind even being healed? What if this is all for nothing?

Thunder roars through his veins, eating at his supply of magic as it attacks its host. His vision went hazy when he started the spell, but now it’s darkening. No, he can’t pass out. He needs to know Wind is safe.

There’s a high-pitched ringing in his ears. Something wet drips onto his hands—blood, maybe. Where did it come from? Oh, his mouth is open. He must be screaming, even if the sound doesn’t register. Well, at least the blood won’t fill his mouth now.

Darkness continues to eat away at his perception of the world. His hands follow his fingers, numb, and the numbness works its way up his arms. Hyrule might be trembling, but at this point, it’s hard to say.

“That’s enough! Hyrule! Stop the spell! You’re killing yourself!”

No, he needs to save Wind.

“He’s okay! You healed him!”

The words warble and fuzz through the haze, but Hyrule finally cuts off the stream of magic. Relief is instant and the numbness retreats. The last thing he hears before passing out is Wind, calling his name.

It’s okay, though, because the sailor is safe. Hyrule knows his place in the group. He’s their safety net, no matter what.

#safety net #blood tw #violence tw #whumptober2023 #linked universe #linkeduniverse #lu whumptober #breannasfluff #mywriting #lu hyrule #lu wind #lu warriors

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tuwlips · 10 months

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📎 Nanami is your safety net. Every time you trip or fall apart, he'll be there to catch you.

Always...

#nanami x reader #nanami kento #nanami kento x reader #nanami x y/n #jjk x reader #comfort character #nanami is my safety net #safety net #ariana grande

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69hertz · 7 months

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Day 1 // inktober: Dream // whumptober: Safety net // whumptober: "But now this room is spinning while I`m trying just to fill in all the gaps"

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tatooineknights · 7 months

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Day 1: SAFETY NET

His trembling lips parted as he looked down at the clouds below him, gasping as the familiar sight of the Millennium Falcon appeared before him. He instantly thought of his friends, the family he'd gained over the years, and weakly smiled. "Leia," Luke Skywalker whispered aloud to himself once more, thankful that he hadn't succumbed to his certain death. She heard him.

The top hatch opened and Luke saw a man he hadn't seen before - a bold mustache complimented his face, vaguely reminiscent of a friend he once had on Tatooine. He dressed in blue, and had a certain regality to him; self-assured, charming. His arms were outstretched, waiting for him to let go. The wounded Jedi blinked down at the man tentatively before nodding off whatever trepidation he had - if Leia could trust him, so could he.

Luke made on last look up from where he fell at the belly of Cloud City and traveled down the pole and antennas to where he was now. He made sure he would never forget it. With a relieved sigh, Luke's only hand let go of the weathervane he dangled ever so precariously from, his palm still slick with desperate sweat, as he fell toward the man below him. Gentle hands met his shoulders and his waist, catching him with grace and kindness. His eyes twinkled in astonishment as he looked up at his rescuer, equally from the shock of his cauterized stump and his actual survival.

"Pleased to meet you, Skywalker," the man said, clipping something onto the belt loop of Luke's fatigues to keep him in place. "Lando."

"Luke," he whispered back, though between the roaring winds and the growing throb in his temple, he wasn't sure if it came out at all. He laid on his side of the Falcon, focused more on finally catching his breath than escaping. Luke watched Lando curiously as he punched in codes, prepping their descent. With a short burst of reality coming back to him, Luke crawled on the exterior of the Falcon to his new-found friend, whose arms wrapped around him in thankful sanctuary.

"Okay, let's go."

The bright lights of Bespin slowly faded into darkness as the hatch closed, lowering them both down into the Falcon. Luke's hand clung to Lando's with all the strength he could muster, mumbling to himself in feverish delirium. The adrenaline was finally wearing off and he could feel all power slowly fading from his system; shock, he supposed, in a brief moment of clarity.

"You must be freezing," Lando said, brushing his windswept and sweat-matted hair out of his eyes, clawing for a blanket. After wrapping it around Luke, he carefully lead them back into the cockpit. "The princess is here for you. She's got your back."

"So do you," Luke weakly responded with a small smile.

The man grinned with a nod, opening the door to the cockpit.

Luke's heart came to life at the familiar sight of Chewbacca at the front seat of the Falcon, with Leia in tow, and the droids gathered round. Her large brown eyes widened and she ran straight to him, taking Luke out of Lando's arms and into hers.

He saw the worry in her eyes and, momentarily, he anticipated the dread of what she'd soon find out. But he couldn't worry about that right now; maybe in a minute. For now, he was safe.

"Leia," he trembled, thankful beyond the tenor of his voice could let out. With her arm around his shoulders, he began to limp to the side-room, where he could finally recover from his ordeal.

#whumptober2023 #no.1 #safety net #luke skywalker #star wars #lando calrissian #fanfic

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evillittlebirdie · 7 months

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Salvation (Tav/Kar'niss)

Tumblr Prompt Fill for Tezzy

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine

Kar'niss was the latest addition to the menagerie and stuck out more than anyone. By all rights, Tav's interaction with Kar'niss should extended to combat only. She should have looted his body and moved on.

Tav could not admit that she had a masterful experience with Drow. But, she knew that the abominations were paying the price of folly and incompetence. They failed a test and as such, were punished. She should have ignored Kar'niss like she ignored the numerous unnatural phenomena. But instead, she allowed a nagging sense of compassion to override good sense.

Kar'niss lingered on the line between death and life. Most of his legs were broken and twisted. Blood coated his lips. Still, even in apparent agony, Kar'niss tried to reach the Moon Lantern. Astarion had already grabbed the lantern and was enjoying goading the pixie inside. Kar'niss was using his arms, shaking from exhaustion, to pull his body along the ground. As heavy as his abdomen was, Kar'niss only managed to pull himself a few inches. Desperation clouded his eyes before he finally collapsed. The Harpers and Tav's party did a number on his body.

Tav walked over to the drider and raised her leg. She would give him a proper stomp to the head. Her body weight coupled with metal boots would ensure a cracked skull. Before she delivered the final blow, she heard a sudden whine. Something in her body lurched as Kar'niss' whimpers devolved into cries. Wretched, anguished sobs radiated from the drider. His voice was faint, but she could hear his pleas. He begged for his Majesty's protection, for the Absolute to save him.

Lolth disfigured him and now the 'Absolute' would abandon him.

Tav would later tell herself that his fanatical devotion would be useful. She would tell herself that his broken mind could be molded. He would be a loyal pet.

Tav returned her foot to the ground and pulled a potion from her backpack. She stared at the health poultice in her hand before kneeling. "Shh, shh," She hummed to Kar'niss.

"Heretic, don't touch me," Kar'niss hissed out, pain dripping from each phoneme. Tear tracks were running down his filthy cheeks. His capillaries had burst, reddening his vision.

"Just drink," Tav insisted, taking the cork out of the bottle.

Kar'niss began to lose the ability to utilize his words. He merely pulled back from Tav, shutting his mouth tightly. The eyes collected on his forehead blinked unseeingly through strands of unwashed hair.

"Hells," Tav muttered. "Stubborn little bastard." She did not want to utilize her tadpole, especially on such a delicate creature. But she pushed herself into his mind.

Voices bounced in Kar'niss' brain, bounding off the walls of his skull. Tav could barely decipher the madness inside the drider's brain. Her pity for him increased, as well as her desire to save him. Tav had to compete with the Absolute as well as the broken man's illness. "Drink..."

Kar'niss suddenly stiffened. His eyes turned to Tav but he kept his mouth closed. "I want you to live," Tav told him through her connection. "Please drink."

Kar'niss kept his eyes on her before finally opening his mouth. Tav sighed in relief before she slid forward. If the scene involved one of her companions, she would have told them to lie on their back. Then, she would support their head as they drank the poultice. But Kar'niss was awkwardly on his chest, his abdomen preventing him from rolling over. Tav quickly problem-solved. She used her free hand to tilt Kar'niss' head up. She could feel the particles of grime, the notes of blood.

"They are a True Soul. They would touch me..." The voice sounded astonished, almost bewildered.

"Yes, I would," Tav told him with a gentle smile, invoking a soft gasp from the drider. "What's your name?"

Suddenly, a foreign vision assaulted Tav's mind. A feminine voice, demanding and harsh, shouted, "Kar'niss!" A vile mixture of guilt, fear, and self-loathing twisted angrily before leaving Tav's cognition.

"Kar'niss. It is a lovely name. Mine is Tav." Tav brushed the hair out of his eyes, tucking it behind his ear.

"They walk without a lantern. They are sent from Her Majesty...A Chosen. A Fourth to the Three."

Tav could not deny Kar'niss and risk him rejecting the help again. "Yes," She lied to him, hoping that deception could carry telepathically.

"I accused you of heresy. I attacked you. Why would you save me?"

Tav could not give him a forthright answer. Instead, she ignored his question.

"Be careful swallowing," Tav advised before bringing the poultice to his lips. She tipped slowly and watched as Kar'niss took in the potion. She kept an eye out, watching as the cartilage in his throat moved. He didn't choke or aspirate. Tav let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He would recover.

"Breathe," She stated, using her voice instead of the tadpole to communicate with the drider. She pulled the potion from his lips, allowing him to inhale.

To say the least, the adventuring party was not surprised when they learned of their new companion. "Tav, my dear, you have a penchant for collecting strays," Astarion told her with a playful smirk on his lips.

***

Tav knew of a small cave near the Last Light Inn under Isobel's protection. No one would bother Kar'niss. Once Kar'niss' legs healed enough to support his body, Tav split from the group to take him to the cave. Kar'niss still was not speaking to her. Instead, he kept his gaze on her in an intense fashion. Tav truly hoped that saving the drider wouldn't bite her in the ass later.

"You can stay here. It's safe. The shadows will not find you here. I promise," Tav told him, bringing him to the mouth of the cave. Kar'niss looked around the cave and a small chitter reverberated in his throat. Hopefully, that was a good sound.

"I imagine you would prefer raw meat, but there's a lack of that around with the shadow curse," Tav continued, not sure what would happen next in the care and feeding of driders. "But my friend, Gale. You saw him. He was the human wizard that..." Tav paused before she continued awkwardly, "was probably responsible for one or two of your broken legs. Anyway, he is a lovely cook. I'm sure he can whip up a nice haggis."

Kar'niss turned to look at her. He pursed his lips before inquiring, "They would concern themselves with my subsistence?" After speaking it aloud, Kar'niss visibly mulled over the dynamic. "They are too kind. To heal a wretch, shelter them, and feed them."

Tav's pity for Kar'niss intensified at hearing his words. Knowing how the Drow ostracized and abused driders, she was not surprised at his attitude. "Oh...well," Tav cleared her throat nervously, "I need you to regain your strength. And you need care, rest, and food to do that."

Kar'niss nodded, accepting this proposition, "They are merciful and benevolent."

Tav felt their cheeks flushed with guilt. If only he knew how close he was to having his skull smashed under her boot. She quickly changed the subject.

"Do you need anything for your nest?" Tav inquired. She looked past him to the cave. The ceiling was high and deep enough to deter claustrophobia, but small enough to sustain a web.

"I will not bother them with non-necessities," Kar'niss stated firmly, as though the idea was out of the realm of possibility. "Not spoiled, not needy," Kar'niss added, his tempo increasing, "I will make them proud, and make them pleased to save this unfortunate being." The words invoked a time long ago. Tav didn't have to be a genius to see the poisoned memory in his eyes. Kar'niss had a story that led him to this point.

***

Tav returned to the cave with dinner for Kar'niss. As she approached the lair, she was surprised to see how prolific he had been. Even halfway healed, Kar'niss had managed to spin a sturdy, intricate web in the space. Tav could see his nimble fingers moving along the strong strands, weaving the material. Kar'niss was so engrossed in his work, that he did not notice Tav's entrance. It was not until he looked up that he saw her. He let out an almost frightened gasp, "Her Majesty's Chosen!" He skittered from his place on the web, traveling to the mouth of the cave.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your work. I just wanted to bring by dinner," Tav offered with a smile.

Kar'niss stared at Tav, bemused by the offering. His gaze traveled to the bowl she had in her hands. He raised his hands almost hesitantly. His eyes darted back to Tav, and a breath caught in his throat. Confused by Kar'niss' hesitance, Tav cleared her throat, "Haggis, like I said before. But I can get you something else."

"Her Majesty's Chosen would allow me to take?" Kar'niss questioned.

"What? Of course. That's why I brought it to you," Tav insisted.

Kar'niss raised his hands as though to take the bowl before suddenly jerking, taking a few steps back. Tav could see the tension in his jaw traveling down his neck to his shoulders. He whimpered before returning to his position in front of Tav. "They shame me, Her Majesty's Chosen. They offer food with no stipulation. I return their pity with uncouth behavior."

Tav needed to add Lolth to the list of gods she planned to kill.

"Hey, it's alright, Kar'niss. You almost died today. You have the right to be a bit skittish. Here, take it," Tav offered once more. She kept a smile on her face, hoping the gesture made him comfortable with her. "Also, 'Her Majesty's Chosen' is a bit of a mouthful. Please call me Tav."

"Tav," Kar'niss repeated, his lips pursing at the sound. "It is not proper." But Kar'niss did not press the issue. He slowly reached to take the bowl. Tav took in his hands, especially his fingers. They looked normal at first glance before they morphed into talon-like claws. He took the bowl from her before retreating into his cave.

Tav let out a sigh. She could take minor victories where she could

***

"Her Majesty, I am forever in your debt. Thank you for sending me your Chosen. Thank you for leniency. I will serve them until I am cast away. Speak through them and I will obey."

Kar'niss climbed into the top cavity of the cave. He could see if anyone would invade his space before they could even notice his web. It was a fine nest.

"They speak sweetly. They offer. No demand. No request."

Tav, as she told him to call her, was beautiful. Even though his lantern lay broken, he could feel a light shone on him through her gaze. Her words foretold of a future where he could serve safely. Her hand was steady and gentle. If she were to punish...

"And yes they would punish. Because I am weak, your Majesty. Foolish, lazy, spoiled boy! But they would punish to correct. Only to correct, like you would. Not like Matron. Too far. Too much. Ilhar, Ilhar, please, I am sorry. Despicable, useless boy!"

Kar'niss could feel his body tremble as his mind took him to his childhood. He shook his head and ran his clawed fingers along the wall of the cave, hoping the sensation would ground him.

He would ensure that Tav would not regret wasting her time, her healing supplies, on him.

"I have no right to ask this of you, Your Majesty. But if you could spare me one more blessing, please do. I wish to recover quickly. I shall protect your Chosen."

Kar'niss' heart began to race as he thought about Tav. If her smile would shine on him once more if he served her well. Until he was healed, he could not physically protect her on her journey. But perhaps there were other ways to show his appreciation. His throat vibrated at the implication. But reality slapped him.

"Foolish thing. Your Majesty, guide me. Give me humility. They have a harem of males to serve them. To think they would allow me to serve her in that manner. Hideous, twisted, castrated, pathetic."

For once, the voices lowered to whispers. And Kar'niss could give into his exhaustion.

#whumptober 2023 #no.1 #but now this room is spinning while I'm trying to just fill in all the gaps #safety net #swooning #“How many fingers am I holding up?”#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #tav/kar'niss #kar'niss #baldur's gate fanfiction #violence tw

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tsarjozinzbazin · 4 months

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tsar you take reqs right…. pls…. i need engi-scout in my life……… i need them kissing or holding each other or something pl

the

#they love eachother #deep rock galactic #my art #deep rock galactic fanart #drg #ask #scout #engineer #safety net

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gierosajie-art · 7 months

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Whumptober 2023 Prompt List | No. 1: “But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.” | Safety Net | Swooning

[Book of Clear Skies AU]

He breathes a sigh of relief as he finally, finally embraces his dear friend after what feels like an eternity. Not in a memory, not in their mindscape, but here, real and whole. Safe.

Neither of them let go. Whispering assurances only heard between the two of them, holding tight as if the other might disappear. You're safe. I should've been at your back that night.

I'm sorry. At least it was just me.

Carmen feels the grip on him loosen, and he is taken by surprise when they both fall, the former wholly unprepared for the sudden, unexpected weight as Venti becomes unresponsive then and there.

#whumptober2023 #no.1 #safety net #swooning #genshin impact #fanart #genshin impact au #implied kidnapping #clear skies au #the art drawer

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xyphergal · 1 year

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tripping, falling with no safety net

boy, it must be something that you said.

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bitchesgetriches · 6 months

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Hi. I was wondering if you would be willing to share information about the Affordable Connectivity Program for your followers who might benefit ftom it? www.fcc.gov/acp. Thanks.

Of course, cherry bomb! Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention. From the org's site:

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

And worry not, Bitch Nation: we did a little research into it, and the ACP is a legit government program and not a scam, and the FCC can generally be trusted. Good luck!

If you liked this article, join our Patreon!

#FCC #Affordable Connectivity Program #broadband #subsidized internet #safety net #welfare program

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lbibliophile-sw · 6 months

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Breaking Habits

Also on AO3 @whumptober-archive - day 1: safety net, day 22: "watch out", vehicular accident @clonefandomevents - Haunted Clones week & 501st bingo - day 1: time loop

They say that it can take as little as 21 rotations to build a habit.

Rex doesn’t know just how many weeks he was trapped in the loop – he lost count somewhere after the 30th morning of waking up in the Coruscant barracks. Yet eventually he found the combination: he saved Fives, made the Jedi listen, defeated the Sith.

But then there is the aftermath. For all that he had been desperate to unravel the mystery, the routine had become familiar, comforting, safe. Details fading into the background as he focused on each variable.

Now… People aren’t where they’re supposed to be. Conversations take unfamiliar turns. Someone moved ‘his’ caf-mug from the shelf. Things change without his input, and it leaves him wrong-footed and unsure.

The first time he leaves the barracks After, only Jesse’s reflexes keep him from being run over by a speeder-truck. Rex didn’t check, because this intersection is always clear. Rex didn’t react fast enough, because dying just meant waking up.

He has to remind himself that consequences linger; people remember and injuries take time to heal. He has to relearn how to accept uncertainty.

#haunted clones week #501st bingo #whumptober 2023 #no.1 #no.22 #safety net #vehicular accident #“watch out”#star wars #sw:tcw #ficlet #fanfic #time loop #time loop aftermath #car crash near miss #captain rex #bingo fill

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one-piece-aus · 7 months

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Whumptober Day 1

Uta

Lmao so we're starting off with Uta this year because I noticed October 1st is her birthday, and what better way to celebrate than to give her the first Whumpday hororororororo TW: Mention of destruction, abandonment, guilt of unconscious criminal actions, and Uta considering herself a monster

For as long as she could remember Shanks and his crew had been there for her.

Until that fateful day, the music island had been destroyed.

With the pirates being the only survivors, they fled the scene with her before the Marines arrived. Uta slept in Shanks' arms, unaware of what they were discussing.

"What do we do?" Roux asked pushing the plate of food away from him. "If the Marines found out she was the one behind this..."

The members worriedly glanced at Uta who clung onto Shanks' arm. Heavy silence only fueled the anxiety clawing in their minds.

"She might have a higher bounty than the Devil of Ohara." Hongo set the stack of bounties he had been looking through on the table.

"It's not right for kids to have bounties," Yasopp said, his arms folded and staring at the ground.

"She would've gotten a bounty eventually," Limejuice reminded the group. "We're pirates, and marines don't discriminate who to make an outlaw."

"Well, we didn't expect it this soon."

"It'll be dangerous if she stays with us."

"We can't just drop her off and leave her behind."

The last statement ceased the others from conversing further. Shanks, who had been quietly looking at his daughter, at last spoke up, "Let's head to Dawn Island."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luffy waved goodbye to the pirates, shouting he'll meet them again someday with his own crew, when a thought wormed it's way into his mind. He dropped his arms and scratched his head in search of his memory. Did he say bye to Uta? She didn't talk to him as the crew was packing up to leave, which was weird. Uta would've been right by Shanks, teasing him before Red Hair gave the strawhat to the boy. Maybe she was already on the ship sleeping, her devil fruit did take up a lot of her energy. Luffy shrugged it off and walked back to Makino's bar.

"Makino, can I have some juice?" Luffy requested as he climbed onto a stool in front of the bar.

"Of course, Luffy." She smiled and got out a glass.

Luffy happily waited, kicking his legs back and forth, when he heard a girlish yawn behind him. He spun around, eyes going wide. "Uta?! What are you doing here!?"

"Hmm?" Uta shot him a confused look as she rubbed her eyes. "Why wouldn't I come here? I'm hungry, I want breakfast."

"Luffy-" Makino tried to explain the situation but Luffy opened his mouth first.

"BUT SHANKS LEFT! I THOUGHT YOU WERE WITH THEM!"

"He wHAT?!" Uta snapped awake not processing what he just said.

"Shanks and his crew left earlier this morning, why aren't you with them?"

Uta's face contorted to one of horror and she dashed out of the bar, unable to hear Makino calling out to her. Her little legs carried her to the docks, she glanced around in devastation at the empty port.

They left her.

They actually left her.

She thought the conversation she overheard was a bad dream. They wouldn't abandon her, right? They loved her, she loved them. So why? Why did they leave her here?

Just as the question appeared in her mind, a brief memory from Elegia's destruction popped up and for now her questions stopped. She bawled her fist as rain fell onto the ground in front of her. Luffy ran up to the docks, Uta wiped away the rain before turning to the boy wearing her dad's strawhat.

"Did-" she paused to get a hold of her emotions. "Did he say if he was coming back?"

"No, he said they won't be returning," Luffy bluntly said but quickly scrambled to fix it. "But- uh- I'm sure they'll come back for you. I mean- we can get Makino to call them and have them pick you up-"

"Don't bother." Uta brushed past him. "He's not going to come back."

Just like her world shattered. Her family, that she could fall back on, disappeared. All that remained were gaps that needed to be filled with answers explaining why they would leave her, and she had a vague idea of what they were.

As the gaps filled with her thoughts of the music island's destruction, a seed planted itself in the back of her mind.

'Monster.'

Tags: @bookandyarndragon @roseoftrafalgar

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whumptober · 8 months

Note

What exactly do you mean by safety net?

A safety net can be a literal net that can be there to provide safety for someone, such as a net for a trapeze artist or a rescue cushion that firefighters use.

It can also be a metaphorical safety net, such as a person/group of people or a place in which the person feels safe and protected from harm.

You can even take it a more evil route and the net may not actually be that safe at all. Such as a mer!whumpee getting captured in a net 👀

#mod kitty #asks #safety net

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dreamersbcll · 7 months

Text

“But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps”

- whumptober, prompt no. 1

(the halloween party in 6, but different)

——————————————————————————

In all fairness, the party wasn’t going so great, even before Sam knocked that boy out.

Tara knew that she was risking a lot being here. She was risking her low profile, her reputation, and her safety. But she was also threatening Sam’s.

At first, she was okay with that. Her big sister would live. Tara was young and in college. The partying phase was bound to happen sooner or later, especially when Sam was so goddamn clingy.

It was like her big sister couldn’t let Tara out of her sight- which she understood why, but it was getting too much. The ‘Find my iPhone’ training and self-defense classes made sense, but it got old quickly after the six-inch hunting knife as a first day of college gift. Coupled with Sam’s ability to track Tara down at all times and constant texts, calls, and voicemails, Tara was bound to rebel.

If she thought this out better, Tara would’ve gone to a party before Halloween, given the sister’s history with people in costumes. Tara knew that. But she wanted to show Sam she would be fine by herself, especially on a holiday.

So perhaps that’s why she takes shot after shot and mixes all kinds of liquor. Maybe that’s why Mindy and Chad look at her like that, concerned and slightly worried. And perhaps that’s why Tara follows that guy up to his bedroom, fully knowing what he wants.

Maybe, just maybe, she would’ve given it to him to prove that she could defend herself, because she wasn’t just her history.

And then Sam snatched her up.

One minute, Tara followed this guy up the stairs; the next, she was being tugged back by another arm. She smiled, thinking it was Mindy being playful, but instead, she was met with the enraged eyes of her big sister.

“Tara? What the fuck are you doing?” her sister snarled, her fingernails digging into Tara’s arms.

Before she could retort, the man of the hour decided to open his mouth.

He reached over and slapped Sam’s hand away. “Hey, don’t be such a cockblock, bitch.”

Sam pulled her arm back, her eyes darkening into the signature Carpenter sister's rage.

Tara couldn’t deny her rage. How dare this asshole touch her big sister like that. It was her job as a little sister to fight and annoy, but Sam was her sister above all else.

Opening her mouth to retort, her voice blended with Sam’s immediate response.

“What did you say?”

“What the FUCK did you say?”

The man laughed at the repetitive sisters, rolling her eyes. He bent down, getting up in Sam’s face. His big sister straightened up, one hand resting on the knife in her pocket, the other on the taser.

He smirked at the action. “I said your big sister doesn’t have to be such a bitch. God, I’m just trying to be a nice guy,” he spat.

Sam cocked her head. “Oh yeah?” she said icily, her voice even.

Reaching over to grab Tara’s arm, he tugged, trying to pull her up. “It’s not like this little kid will ever get a guy unless he really hates himself.”

Tara pushed herself off of him, her mouth open in shock. “Well, at least I’ll get a guy who isn’t a limp-dick fuck who couldn’t get a rock to like him!” she hissed back, getting up in his face.

Before Sam can back her up, Tara gets struck. One minute, she was upright; the next, she flew into the wall, slumping up against it. She could feel blood pouring from her nose, and her head was ringing. Her whole body was pulsing, her vision blurry.

Her ears were ringing. Every time she blinked, it was like she was watching everything in stop-motion.

Blink.

Within mere seconds, Sam went from staring at Tara in shock to turning into the blood-thirsty Carpenter daughter she was.

Blink.

Her big sister was on top of him, throwing punches, blood, and teeth flying around the room. Tara could hear a tooth fall down the stairs; each time it knocked against the wood, it sounded like a gunshot.

Blink.

Yelling. Sam was yelling in her face, maybe talking. He was slumped across the stairwell, unconscious. Tara’s head was pounding. Her big sister brushed a streak of blood that trickled down her mouth away with her thumb while her other hand held Tara’s chin firmly. Tara closed her eyes, leaning into the touch.

Blink.

Sam scooped her up and quickly moved the pair through the crowd and out the door.

Blink.

Tara was laying on the ground, cool concrete sinking through her jeans. She was sitting on her bottom, her head lolling down. Sam was sitting across her, sitting criss-cross, holding Tara up by her shoulders.

Cold air blew across Tara’s face, and she breathed in the best she could. Her nose was broken, her breathing borderline panting, her throat thick with blood.

“Sam? M’ head hurts,” she mumbled, feeling very heavy.

She should close her eyes and sleep. She was so tired. Her head was so heavy. Instead of fighting it, Tara let her body lurch forward, her dead weight flopping into Sam’s chest.

Sam caught Tara and forced her back to a sitting-up position. “Hey, no. Look at me. You have to look at me, my love. See me,” her big sister cooed, her voice low.

(Though probably concussed, Tara could hear the lace of panic that was interwoven into Sam’s voice, a warning sign in the soft cadence)

Groaning, Tara forced her head up, her eyes crossing from dizziness. Her head felt light but heavy, and she couldn’t see. It was like someone took her head, shook it up, and sat it on a still body. Fuck. There goes the rest of Halloween.

“Look at me. How many fingers am I holding up? Look at my fingers, honey. Look at me,” Sam whispered, taking Tara’s chin with one hand and tilting it to her face.

Tara honestly can’t remember the last time she had seen Sam so panicked. It must have been months since Woodsboro, a long time since the night of the hospital attack. Though Sam was in the wind for years, Tara is still haunted by that look of sheer terror on her big sister’s face from the hospital. It was like Sam knew at that moment that it was the end, and she couldn’t escape it.

But they did, and now Tara was on the ground outside of the fraternity, her eyes half-shut, her head lolling down in exhaustion. If it was that same panic that Tara remembers, she knew what Sam was most afraid of—the helplessness of it all. Whether it was the fault of the actions of her big sister or not, Sam would still blame herself to hell and back, even if it was Tara’s irrational decisions that put them here.

However, Tara couldn’t soothe her sister’s fears. She barely knew her anymore. And this was all Tara’s fault for sneaking out to a frat party anyway. It wasn’t like she could wave a magic wand and get this all over. And to be fair, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to make it better. Underneath all the pain and confusion, she was pissed that Sam followed her there. She couldn’t get one night alone and be a normal kid.

What they went through wasn’t all they were. It wasn’t like Ghostface was coming back anyway.

And still, despite all her anger and doubts, Tara decided to play along with Sam’s doctor check-up, knowing that this was the only way Sam could calm down.

Plus, her head fucking hurt, and she couldn’t see straight.

Looking up, Tara groaned, trying to focus. This would be easier if she weren’t wasted, much less concussed. But getting glimpses of the silent panic and distress her big sister was in, Tara knew she had to try.

“Three,” she mumbled, closing her eyes to relieve the thumping in her head.

If she were looking, she would’ve seen Sam wince in relief. She would’ve seen Sam reach out, unsure, as if to comfort Tara.

But Tara wouldn’t take the comfort, and Sam knew that. They weren’t there yet. But Sam had to comfort herself somehow.

So, instead of reaching out and holding Tara to her chest, Sam rested her hands on Tara’s knee, squeezing tightly. Tara is half-smiled, still woozy, sitting up.

“Sam?” she whispered, swallowing a wave of nausea.

Her sister leaned in, eagerly listening. “What, Tara?”

Tara smiled at the relief in her sister’s voice. Not for long. “I’m going down.”

And then she collapsed into Sam’s arms, blissfully unconscious.

#scream #sam carpenter #tara carpenter #carpenter sisters #whumptober2023 #AU: i’ve got blood on my hands #safety net #how many fingers am i holding up?#ao3 author #HAPPY OCTOBER!!!!

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amongthebooks · 7 months

Text

{whumptober: day 1}

FANDOM: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (Reboot)

PROMPTS: Safety Net | Swooning | “How many fingers am I holding up?” | "But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”

PAIRING: Simon 'Ghost' Riley / John 'Soap' MacTavish (SoapGhost)

WORD COUNT: 1.7k (AO3)

TAGS/CW: falling, near death experience, light angst with a happy ending, hurt Simon "Ghost" Riley

SNIPPET:

Ghost had no time to react as both he and his attacker were sent flying. His muscles tensed to brace for a quick impact… only it never came. Fuck, it still hadn’t happened yet - they were still falling. Why were they still falling? A fact realized only a moment too late, was that both men were fighting in a wing that was still under construction, around a place that would soon be a stairwell. The caveat? Instead of that finished structure, there was a big gaping hole. or Ghost takes a fall while on a mission.

“I’m in place, you’re clear to move,” Ghost stated into his comms, settling into his position of overwatch.

The 141’s latest mission had sent them to the heart of a city, seeking out a target of extremely high priority. The immediacy and sensitive nature of the man they were looking for had been the sole reason that the team had agreed to infiltrate an area where things could go south quickly.

All it meant for Ghost is that they had to practice extreme caution. That one misstep could lead to an unwanted interaction with civilians.

Ghost was posted up in a multi-story building, chosen due to the fact it was in the middle of being constructed. It had been relatively easy to gain access, the toughest part coming where he had to navigate through the various ladders and scaffolding, the tools serving as the only means of getting between levels.

Setting up his lookout post using a top floor apartment allowed him a clear view of the building across the street without being too obvious from the outside. There, he provided support as Gaz and Soap infiltrated the building, constantly updating them to the security detail’s locations as they swept each floor.

Before long, he watched through two sets of windows as Gaz secured the target. Both men having a tight grip on him, quick to cuff his hands and gag his mouth.

Ghost watched as they descended back the way they came, heading to where Price was waiting outside with the exfil vehicle.

A few minutes later, and he was sitting on his heels, waiting to hear his favorite words.

“Mission success. Ghost, regroup on us.”

That was his cue. Ghost lowered his scope as he turned to grab his gear and leave. He didn’t get far, though, before the door suddenly burst open. And behind it? A man pointing a gun in his direction.

Shit.

Ghost wasted no time in rolling to the side, hearing a shot fly by him as he ducked into the adjacent room, hand reaching to unsheathe a knife on his thigh. He stayed low to the ground, waiting for the other man to take the bait.

The fight was anything but clean - Ghost not expecting resistance, and the intruder not expecting a tank to be his target. Fists and blades flew, guns abandoned as the close quarters got tighter.

Before long, the two had burst back out into the hallway. Both were out of breath and pissed that the encounter hadn’t ended yet.

With one last attempt, the intruder lunged at Ghost, putting his entire body into sending the man to the ground.

Ghost had no time to react as they were both sent flying.

His muscles tensed to brace for a quick impact… only it never came. Fuck, it still hadn’t happened yet - they were still falling. Why were they still falling?

A fact realized only a moment too late, was that both men were fighting in a wing that was still under construction, around a place that would soon be a stairwell. The caveat? Instead of that finished structure, there was a

big

gaping

hole.

Ghost used his strength to kick at the man mid-air, succeeding at prying the arms off of him seconds before his back connected with something firm. The wind was knocked out of him as he tried to understand the reason for his sudden cease of movement.

But before he could assess things, he heard a snap, his fall continuing seconds later.

What was going on?

His body spun as his leg snagged on something, and then everything stopped. Well, to say that everything stopped would have to mean that the room wasn’t upside down and spinning - but it most certainly was.

Ghost felt as if he was going to be sick.

He tucked his head to his chin, looking around to assess the situation. As it was, the fall had to have lasted at least a few stories at the minimum. His leg had been caught up in some rope, miraculously enough that it had looped in a way that stopped his descent in its tracks.

It was a safety net.

It made sense now, recalling the harsh snap when he had first fallen.

The nets were only meant to handle a fall of six feet, and Ghost guessed that he had easily doubled that amount. He had been lucky that it had snapped in a way that had snagged on his leg, though it had definitely pulled something and left him still suspended up in the air.

The alternative would have been a much worse fate.

Peering to the ground below, Ghost clocked the body of the man that had fought him, and how it was in a contorted, unmoving heap at the bottom of the stairwell.

That could have been him.

Ghost’s head spun as he tried to reorient himself. Too disoriented on the fact that luck had saved him from certain death that he didn’t hear his radio going off.

'-ost? Lieutenant, check in, godammit!'

'Price, I’m going to Ghost’s last known location.'

All the while, the man dangled like a fish on a line as he resigned himself to his fate in the net, blood already rushing to his head. He had definitely gotten whiplash from the fall, feeling sick to his stomach and sore in more places than one.

Ghost was still utterly disoriented when he barely registered his name being called; far away at first but getting closer with every passing moment.

Footfalls that seemed to pick up until, “Oh my god,” he heard Soap mumbled breathlessly. Of course it was Soap that had come to find him.

Ghost assumed he was creating quite the sight, even when he couldn’t see the other man. Walking into a room to see your lieutenant hanging upside down, entangled in rope, would get a rise out of most of his men, he knew.

Though Soap wasn’t like most of his men.

He had half of a mind to attempt rotating around to greet the man, though he didn’t want to risk the seven foot fall that awaited him. That, and he felt like he’d be sick if he moved even an inch.

“Ghost? Ghost! Shit, no, please tell me you’re not-“ The man circled around him until he was facing him properly. In lieu of a verbal greeting, Ghost raised one of his hands to wave gingerly, ignoring how the movement made the nerves in his arm tingle like crazy.

Even from the vertical distance between them, he could clearly make out the loud sigh Soap let out. Presumably figuring out his predicament.

“Steamin’ jesus, are you serious? You can’t just not answer your comms, Ghost! What’s a man supposed to think, walking in here to find that body over there and you suspended in the air like that?” The smidge of relief on Soap’s face had morphed into something more harsh, his accent getting stronger as he ranted.

And oh…Ghost hadn’t even thought of it like that. Of the conclusions that could be made from seeing his attacker’s broken body below him, and his limp one all tangled up. He opened his mouth to reassure the man, before another wave of nausea washed over him.

On second thought…talking would have to wait another moment.

Soap let silence fall over them for a few moments before he sighed again.

“Alright, let me find something to soften the fall, LT,” he offered before turning on his heels, pausing in the doorway. “Oh, and don’t go anywhere, ‘k?”

“Fucker,” Ghost mumbled as the other man’s laugh echoed down the hallway. Deciding to blame the fact that he was lightheaded as the reason he let a few chuckles of his own out.

Soap was back after a few minutes, hauling two bags of insulation behind him.

He made short work of placing them underneath where Ghost was dangling before disappearing again, presumably to get to a position where the rope could be cut.

In the meantime, Ghost allowed his eyes to shut. An overwhelming feeling of exhaustion seeped into his body the longer he continued to be suspended.

“Ready?” Soap’s voice echoed down the empty stairwell.

“ ‘mm?” Ghost grunted as his eyes fluttered open. His mind trying to fill in gaps again as the room seemed to spin again.

His reprieve was short lived when there was suddenly a distinct snap was heard, and Ghost’s body was in free fall once more. This time for a much shorter amount, though, before he impacted something soft beneath him.

Ghost stayed prone until Soap caught back up to him.

The man immediately tried to help haul him to his feet, balking when Ghost swatted at his hand and insisted that he didn’t need help standing.

Soap scoffed, “There’s no way you can stand after dangling like that, sir.”

When he received a side eye from the man, he added, “Alright, how many fingers am I holding up?”

After a few unsteady steps, Ghost had made it to his feet, though he had to immediately brace himself on the nearby wall.

“Uh,” he squinted towards Soap, looking for where his hand even was. Fuck, why was the room spinning so much?

“None?” Ghost settled on, before suddenly swooning, eyes rolling back as he started to go down. Soap luckily lunged to catch him before his body hit the ground.

“It’s alright, LT. I gotcha,” he said reassuringly, repositioning his arms so that he was essentially bridal carrying the man. He figured it was the easiest way he’d get them both outside, especially when Ghost couldn't be awake to protest.

Soap couldn’t help the mote of excitement that buzzed through him as he made his way out of the building.

After all, it wasn’t every day the lieutenant was found hanging mid air, and he had a feeling there was no way that the rest of the team would let Ghost live this day down.

#whumptober2023 #no.1 #safety net #swooning #”how many fingers am I holding up?”#“But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”#callofduty #fic #near death experience #ghostsoap #soapghost #mw2 #mwii #ghostMW2 #soapMW2 #Scar's SoapGhost Fics

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