#so i redid it and here we are :P i think it still looks okay so. slay | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

inessencedevided · 3 years

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(You can find the set that this gif belongs to here 💙)

From planning to posting, share your process for making creative content!

To continue supporting content makers, this tag game is meant to show the entire process of making creative content: this can be for any creation.

RULES: When your work is tagged, show the process of its creation from planning to posting, then tag 5 people with a specific link to one of their creative works you’d like to see the process of. Use the tag #showyourprocess so we can find yours

I was tagged by @aheartfullofjolllly. thank you so much Pat! it was really fun to reflect about my own process 💗 You can find her post here and @lan-xichens' post that started it all here :)

Also thank you @huigusu 🥰 (who tagged me for my nie brothers set) I'll get to that one in a few days!

Now Pat gave me two sets to chose from to show my process, so obviously I chose the more complicated one :P

I only work in Photoshop CC 2018. I know that there are programs out there for easier cutting and sharpening but I have only just figured out how to do that in PS and I am too lazy to figure out any other programs right now xD

1. Idea and Planning

This set, like most of my sets with lyrics started with me reading the poem, clutching my heart and going "oh shit this fits my favourite characters!!". The idea actually started with me thinking that the first stanza of the poem would go really well with wwx during the burial mounds arc. Then I realized that the last stanza fits lwj better than him and from there came the idea to contrast the both of them next to each other. This is when I realized I wanted to do a dark-light contrast set, though I did not know that I would go with red and blue at that time. My idea in the beginning was just to do a black and white set

I was really impressed by how Pat said that she plans her sets around exact timestamps. Because I don't do that at all ^^ I just get ideas for which scenes would fit (in this case the wwx burial mounds scenes and lwj's kneeling and punishments scene) and then I watch the scenes to narrow them down.

Back when I made this set, I still used a screenrecorder (AceThinker Screen Grabber Pro to be precise. They have a test version that allows you to record up to 3 minutes) and recorded the scenes I needed from Netflix. This worked well enough but now I have the entire show saved on an external drive and it makes a world of difference when it comes to gif sharpness

Now, in this case I had to repeat this step once because when I was almost finished, I realized that I wanted a gif for the lwj corner but let's pretend I didn't do that and that's the way this gif was always going to look because otherwise this post will be way too long ^^

2. Creation

Short disclaimer: The creation process for this gifset was anything but linear. Multiple effects I used here were things I had never tried before. I just had a vague idea and tried to realize it through trial and error. So whenever I say "then I did xyz", it is implied that I ultimately went back to that step several times and changed stuff ^^

I started with the Wei Wuxian part of the gif. I usually use a frame rate of 0,06 (with some variation depending on gif length and size). I work in timeline so I converted all the layers to a smart layer. Then I resized the gif into a square, leaving big chunks of the gif empty (as can be seen below.) I flipped the gif horizontally, so he is looking inwards. This was simple because I felt it fitted the composition better. Then I imported the Lan Wangji part of the gif, again with a frame rate of 0,06. (Image 2)

After that I created a layer for masking in a separate PS document by rotating a square until it was point down (is that a rhombus?). I sized it to match my gif (540x540 pxl) and copied it over. (Image 3) a bit of masking magic and ta da! There's the basic layout (Image 4)

I put a layer of solid black behind wwx to get rid of the transparent bits (Image 5) and then started adding more white and black to both sides by adding solid whit and black layers that i put masks on and changed the opacity as i needed (Image 6)

("reading" direction: from the upper left to the lower right corner)

Then I fiddled with the colours a bit. The first thing I always do is using the curves layer to get more contrast. Then I use the colour balance tool and the selective colouring tool to get rid of that cql-typical cyan tint after that it's just trying to have it look "natural" while the colours still fit the overall scheme. This was difficult here because wei Wuxian’s side of the gif was very dark and when i turned up the saturation to see which colour dominated it was a very weird mixture of multiple colours. That's when i decided that I'd just go with red on his side, since lwj's side was already so blue and those to look great as contrasts.

After that just came a lot of fiddling with selective colour layers and brightness and contrast unti I has happy. There really wasn't much to it ^^. (Image 1)

After that I added the text. I knew I wanted the two lines to for a square of some kind. So I tried different fonds until I arrived at the one below. The two lines are in seperate layers so I could move them around and change the spacing between the letters until I was happy with the layout. I also changed the layer mode for the text to "difference" (is that what it's called in english? my PS is set to german sorry ^^), keeping their colour white. (Image 2)

I originally hadn't planned adding anything else but I felt like the gifs (plural because I switched between the gifs of this set) was still kind of empty and lacking, so I added the tear down the middle (a tutorial for that is either coming up later or already posted. I recently got an ask for this :)) (Image 3)

It still felt empty after that, so I tried different overlays. Okay no, first I wasted a lot of time on different free image sides but then I tried out different ones until I chose the one you can see in the finished gif. I liked that one because a) I felt the round shape was a nice contrast to all the straight lines already there and b) because once I applied a black and white filter to it and switched the layer setting to "difference" (again, i hope this is the correct translation) it looked a bit like a moon. (Gif at the top)

("reading" direction: from left to right)

And that's it! :)

Although in general, these gifs took so much fiddling! I went back and forth between them a lot and sometimes almost redid the entire thing because I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning and by the time I noticed an error, the only way to fix it was ti redo everything. So yeah, this set definitely is the the one that took me the longest out of all the ones I've posted so far.

3. Posting

I save all my gifs to my drafts first to see what they look like put together and to check if they look any different on mobile. Usually i do this several times and change stuff until I'm happd enough with it to hit post. Once i am happy enough, i can't hold back. Doesn't matter if it's at a time when nobody is online, i hit post 😅

And that's it!

Tagging:

@lanwuxiann for this gifset (I adore it so much. I've looked at it and read it severat times since you posted it and the poem just kills me every time!)

@suibianjie for this gifset (The combination of static images and gifs in your gifs is always absolutely perfect! This one is only my favourite of yours because the light coming from behind wwx is just so pretty!!! ^^)

@sweetlittlevampire for this piece (It was soooo hard to pick a piece of yours because I have so many favourites! But this one is just so out if this world, I want to know how you worked that magic :D)

@wei-gege for this set (sparkling shijie! 😭 that set is so incredibly beautiful! I love how you matched the colour of the overlay with her dress!)

@purplexedhuman for this set (your gifs are always incredible! I chise this one because it showcases both your colouring skills and some really intricate effects)

If any of you have already been tagged or don't have the time or energy for this, obviously no pressure to do this at all! 🥰

(btw, I originally tried to place the actual text of this under a "read more" cut but somehow it always messed with the order of the images, so this ended up as a rather long post. sorry!)

#showyourprocess #tag game #the untamed #sophie rambles #long post

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rollingaroundin-bread · 3 years

Photo

Hello and welcome to I redid my age up designs because I wanted to and so I did!!!!!!!!!! :D

uhhhhhhhhh explanations under the cut as per usual!!! :D

Officially speaking: shoot I figured out what I forgot

Okay so whenever I’m drawing I always forget SOMETHING right? That’s just a thing people deal with??

Anyways I forgot the FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS (except for Huey)

It’s very important that they all have friendship bracelets but I drew this over such a long period of time that I completely forgot to give it to people where it would be visible (i.e. Dewey, Boyd, kinda Lena)

It was almost important enough for me to go back but oh my gosh these pictures literally took an hour and I'm not doing that again very sorry

just: they’re there!!!!!! I promise!!!! Its just.... invisible.....

skdhjfgk okay sorry onto the actual thing

In order of left to right also known as height order!

Huey

I didn't change much from my first time doing this!

Basically I gave him a dress shirt and a sweater vest :D

The key difference this time is that last time I made the undershirt red and the sweater vest burgundy!

This time I made the undershirt pink!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Y’all that pink Huey trend from a little while ago was my life force

I hecking love the color pink so much

Anyways!! Moving on: he’s the shortest lol

As I have said before “Older Sibling Culture is being shorter than your younger siblings (I would know)”

But!!! I do love the concept fo Tall and Stronk Huey so he is actually very strong!!!

Instead he’s Short and Stronk!!!!!

Webby and Boyd are the only one’s physically stronger than him but that’s because of spy training and literally being a robot (respectively)

But yes!!! Huey in a sweater vest and also very strong are important concepts so I did that here!!!!!

(hmmn.... sweater vest,, nerd,,, weirdly strong,,,,,,, oh no I turned Huey into Chidi Anagonye klsdfjhgkakjahs)

Webby

y’all I messed up so much on this one

literally so many times

since you’re reading this I'll let you in on a secret

that may not be that secret ksdjfhlkds

Anyways if you look closely at Webby you’ll probably see some weirdly placed lines

specifically around her face, shirt, hand, etc.

basically I messed up enough that I thinned the paper significantly from erasing (multiple, separate times)

so I had so go in and paste another layer of paper over the thinned layer kjjdkahfgs

But enough about me messing up!! what’s with this outfit?

This one’s mostly about Vibes

I wanted to give off a femme lesbian vibe but still keep that formality we see in Webby’s regular outfit!

Hopefully I achieved that!!!

This is one of the outfits I resigned completely from last time btw

The old one was fine but looks kinda weird to me now so this!!!

Oh yeah and I love long hair Webby a lot!!! So I included that!!!!

Louie

Louie is probably the one I changed the most about that still resembles the original design

Both times I gave him a button up for an undershirt

this is ‘cause I see y’all giving him suit jackets for when he’s an adult and he needs a middle stage before that

skdfjs- a middle evolution if you will jkadfhgkjhsfdka

But instead of a slip on hoodie over that I went with a zip up jacket because that’s just more practical y’know?

Also cheek tufts!!!!!

I had them last time too but I love seeing adult louie with full cheek tufts so middle evolution effect comes into play again!!!

He and Webby are pretty much the same height right now btw

If you want to get technical about it Louie’s about a millimeter taller though!

I think that’s all I have for him though!

Gosalyn

Okay so I barely changed anything from last time for Gosalyn

Mr reasoning behind her outfit is mostly that I wanted a flannel gay and Gos was the obvious choice for that

and I liked that decision so I kept with it!!!

Main differences this time include: hair and shoes

So for the original hair I wanted to give her the “bisexual haircut” and I do like Gos with short hair so I kept that!

But I was having a hard time figuring out how to draw her regular bang situation so I went with a totally different style instead!

But I have sense learned how to draw her hair from the show so I incorporated that instead!

In the original I also had her wearing shoes! I changed that this time because I forgot to give her shoes until it was too late! jksdafhg

Yeah this happens often kdsjhvfkajl (mostly with Lena)

Lena

Oh boy where to begin!

In the original my one and only goal was to make Lena look like as much of a Lesbian as possible

And I achieved that much!!!!!!

But in doing so I neglected to make it look like Lena

I mean well it looked like her but it didn’t give off her complete vibe y’know?

So instead of a Hawaiian shirt gay I made her a leather jacket gay!!! Much more Lena in my opinion! :D

I based her hair off of my interpretation of her Phantom and the Sorceress hair! (I know it looks nothing like it but thats how I draw it so???)

In the original I made her hair fade from pink to blue as well and I liked that so I kept it!!

Then I kept the blue button up undershirt!!

I thought about giving it pinstripes but I don't have a thin enough pen or pencil to pull that off so I didn't :P

Hint of her old green shoes coming from the sock color!

And then finally: stompy boots

Just to tie it all together! :D

Dewey

This man is LANKY!!!!!!!!!!

sorry I don't make the rules

Well technically I do sense I drew the thing- but thats unimportant!!!!

Dewey gets to be tall to annoy his brothers but in return he is LANKY tall

Otherwise I largely followed my original design!!

All my reasons for the original were solely based off of ✨Vibes✨

I did change a few things though!

For example: last time I gave him a 3/4 sleeve short and this time I just made them regular short sleeves

Last time I meant to give him shoes but I forgot so this time I didn't forget!! :D

Also cool socks!!

Oh and I added fingerless gloves!!!!!!!!

This is once again based solely on ✨Vibes✨

I can’t put a lot of my reasons into words but I personally think I captured the theater kid meets aspiring pilot meets best friend to super hero’s sidekicks meets adventurer vibe pretty well!!

Boyd

!! Okay I’m excited to get into this one!

In my original Boyd was the shortest because technically he can pick his own height being a robot and all

BUT for that same reason I made him tall because: he wants to be tall like Gyro

The idea that Boyd wants to be tall like Gyro is literally so cute yall

I also based his outfit largely off of Gyros!!!

That is: dress shirt, vest, bowtie, pants

But in Boyd’s color scheme! :D

I’m still working out how to Not to make Boyd look like a popcorn bucket but that’s a problem for another day!

Violet

To start off: literally nothing was changed from the original

akjfdsghkskhal I’m serious no color changes, no outfit elements, nothing

I liked the original one a lot so I just kept it and redid it for this!!

My inspiration for the original was as follows: ✨Librarian Vibes✨

And I think I achieved that with the original so I hope I achieved it here as well!!

Also Violet is TALL

She’s the tallest now and will continue to be the tallest!!!

I mean just LOOK at her dads!!!! They’re SUPER tall!!

So therefore she gets to be tall too!!!!!!!!!

And I think that’s it!! Thank you so much for reading if you got this far!!!!!!!!! :D

Have a nice day folks! :D

#huey duck #webby vanderquack #louie duck #gosalyn mallard #lena sabrewing #dewey duck #boyd gearloose #violet sabrewing #my art stuff #age up designs #uhhhhh idk what to say down here I kinda covered it all in the keep reading section #hope everyones having a nice day btw! :)

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hiddles-evans-hallucinations · 4 years

Text

How Did We Get Here? - 4

Summary: After being in a secret relationship, (Y/N) and Chris are faced with sneaky fans taking pictures of them spending time together and the press went crazy. Chris had enough of hiding.

Pairing: Chris Evans x Famous Reader

Genre: Fluff, smut

Warnings: AGE GAP and seeeexxxyyy timeeeee.

Note: I am so excited to write, writing has been my passion for so long and writing with my boo bear in it makes me more happy!! Thanks to the beautiful @joannaliceevans-fanficblog for reblogging and helping others to check my writings!!! love her already. Hope you like this one hehehe. Oh and a lil comedy :p just for fun

*gifs are not mine*

PART 5

After so many interviews before the Premiere in Chicago, me and Chris has been staying at the same hotel, we were informed that some fans asked the receptionist if we stay together in the same room or separate rooms, but the hotel know what answers to give.

Before I was known, I already loved my life, I’m a normal girl, I enjoy life fully and I never ask for anything in return when doing things for others. I’m thankful in where I am, but I have always been known as a private person and even my family couldn’t get anything out of me.

‘(Y/N/L/N) and Chris Evans having breakfast together at the Ritz Carlton’

I scroll down to the comments on Instagram, smiling of how red my cheeks are looking at Chris who talks about taking me to his date with Dodger.

- ‘the fact that she’s bareface and her cheeks is all red looking at him kills me. They are so cute’

- ‘OMGGGG LOOK AT HOW HE’S SMILING AND SHE’S ALSO SMILING BACK AT HIM IM DEADD!’

- ‘I can’t believe they’re hiding all of they’re cuteness.’

- ‘she got taste, i love her, she’s one of us now.’

I laughed as Pammy surprised me by looking at what I’m reading behind my shoulder, startling me. “Oh my god,” I said, placing my hand over my chest,

“Oh, so you’re creeping on Instagram for your so secret relationship?”

“Stop it, I’m just, you know, trying to- actually I don’t know, it just came up on my explore so, don’t judge me.”

“Judge you for what?”

Chris came out of the room, looking rough, his hair is uh... everywhere, messy, shirtless. Pammy’s jaw dropped open, “Oh...” I lightly elbow her, shooting her a look. She put her hands up, “Chris, I got you spinach-apple smoothie.” Pammy hands him as he scratches the back of his head.

“Thanks,”

Chris looks at me, “Are you going somewhere?” my eyes widens at him.

“We have a press interview today, remember?”

“Oh... no.”

I laughed as I walk towards him and wrap my arms around him, he lifts me up and kisses me, I peck him over and over with my legs wrapped around him then squish my face with him like a little baby. “Get ready, bebe, we have work to do.” I said to him making him smile.

“You’re so cute, I might just take you to bed for a bit.”

I flushed.

“Stop, I would, but... we don’t really have much time.”

He smirks. “I can make it quick,” he leans as he said it so only I can hear him, my cheeks heats up more as I can picture myself with my cheeks way too red.

“I get to you this much huh?”

I roll my eyes. “Oh no, it’s just hot in here all of the sudden.”

He laughed.

“Come, on, we gotta gooooo.” I whine.

“Okay, but come shower with me?”

“I already have my makeup on.”

This time he’s the one that rolls his eyes at me. “Then, accompany me.” before I can say anything, Pammy said, “The interviewer’s here, I’m going to help them set everything up.”

Chris said nothing but, “Perfect! Thank you, Pammy!” he shuts the door with his foot.

“You’re coming with me, bebe.”

I bury my face on his shoulders as he carries me to the bathroom. He sits me down on the sink counter as he look deep into my eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” the smile appears immediately as I look away shyly.

“You’re so easy to love, (Y/N).”

“Am I really?”

He nodded as he tucks a hair behind my ear and smile. “Now.. where were we?”

I arches my brow. “You, shower.” I pointed at the shower with my head.

“No, that’s not where we left things,”

“Oh yeah, you might take me to bed but we can’t so you’re gonna shower and we’re going to work-”

Chris shuts me up by kissing me deeply, passionately that my hands find their way around his neck as he pulls me closer as if we’re not close enough. He moans against my lips and when he was about to went down, I stop him causing him look up to me, confused.

I jump off the counter, moving him to lean against the counter and pulls his pants down.

I can hear him take a breathe but I ignore him as I put him in my mouth and suck my cheeks in. “Baby..”

I smiled, knowing that I’m the one that gets to him this much now.

I work my tongue around him inside my mouth as he grips the counter and continuously moan.

I tease him by slowly taking him out and lick every inch of him. I stood up just to kiss him and slowly trail my lips down to continue on sucking him and feeling his body trembles.

“(Y/N)..”

I fasten my speed as he grips my shoulder.

“Baby.. I’m.. Com-”

The same warmth enters my mouth as he looks down at me, waiting for what I’m gonna do.

The taste of him slides down to my throat as I stood up looking at him, he’s in shock.

“What? You’ve never seen a girl do this to you?” I joked as he wipes my mouth and pulls me close to him.

I can see my lipstick are gone but I could care less. “I have, but it’s you, I’m with you, I don’t need to remember if other women have done this to me or for me before. You’re mine, baby.”

I smiled.

I find it really sexy that he’s wiping my mouth after and holding me close, I love that about him.

“Hmm..” I give him a slight kiss as he slaps my butt causing me to look at him with my mouth open jokingly.

“Okay, shower, now, we need to go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I grab my pouch and walk back to the bathroom to do touch ups as he showers behind me. Chris never take his eyes off me, making me blush every now and then.

For the past few months we’ve been together, I love that at the end of the day we’re normal people, we’re just fortunate enough to live a life like this and we never forget where we came from, maybe that’s why I’d like to keep our relationship on the down low where it’s just us and our closest people.

. . . .

We walk into the meeting room of the hotel that was set up for the interview, Pammy looked at me with a oh-okay-glowing-what’s-up-now look, I shot her a look with my wide eyes, she respond with okay-I’ll-zip-it look with her hands slightly up in defeat.

I changed my outfit, I was wearing a black midi casual dress, since it’s looking not so appropriate anymore, I have to iron it again but since I don’t have the time, I put on a black and white stripes long sleeved shirt and a black fitted trousers that stops in my ankle with a flat shoes.

I redid my hair, curl it a little bit and I was done, I don’t want people to take the note, oh yeah they just did it.

Professional on both, (Y/N)! I said to myself.

My inner self seems to laugh at me.

Both on what? Sexually and in career wise? She said.

I want to roll my eyes, but Chris’ hand lands on my back as we said hi to everyone. “I thought you’re gonna be late.” the interviewer said to us laughing.

I huffed. “Oh no, almost though, I just had to eat first.” Chris immediately turns his head to me.

I added, “I thought you’re already here, seems like we’re soulmates.” I smiled at him, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open.

“Well, I hope you enjoyed your meal.” the interviewer smiled at me.

“Thank you, I did, big meal to boost my endorphins just right.”

We sat down with Seth, the interviewer talking about the movie a little bit but other than that he said he just wants to get to know us, he wants to make the interview a little bit different than others.

Chris was thrilled when he brings up Disney movies.

“Okay, I have questions, you two have to say your name or the other person to answer.”

“Oh.. Okay.” I said.

Seth asks, “Who is most likely to get a complaint because they laugh too loud?”

“Chris.”

“Me”

Seth gasps, “Really?” I nodded making a face where I scrunch my nose. “I have to go to his trailer cause he was on the phone with Anthony Mackie, he laughed so hard I couldn’t sleep.”

“So, you’re the one who complained?”

“Oh yeah, would do it again.”

They all laughed.

“Who is most likely to be on a comedy tv show?”

“Me.”

“Me.” I look at Chris, raising my brow. “You?” I said, rolling my eyes after.

“What is he not funny?” Seth laughs as he ask me that. “I mean,” I gesture my palm left to right, giving him the he’s-so-so response.

Chris added (gif), “She thinks I’m funny, she just thinks she’s funnier.”

“You did admit I am funnier.”

Seth squints his eyes suspicious. “Did you Chris?”

“No.”

I laughed, placing my hand on his shoulder as I bury my face on my arm.

“Who is most likely to take the job as a stripper?”

“CHRIS!”

Chris stood up, arms wide open and tries to give me a lap dance. I squealed in laughter trying to get his butt out of my face.

He hugs me after as I was still laughing with tears started to build up in my eyes from laughing too hard. “Oh my god.” I said. The whole room was filled with nothing but laughter and cameras clicking from their phones.

“Gotta love this guy.” I said before Seth ended the interview.

“Love this gal.” Chris added.

#chris evans fanfiction #chris evans x you #chris evans imagine #chris evans smut #chris #chris evans story #chris evans series #chris evans #hope you like it #i love making this #AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

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legitlaur · 5 years

Text

Golden Hour part 4 // p.p

Peter Parker x Reader

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: Cheesy, awkward social encounters, the occasional swears, not edited (very well)

Summary: You didn’t think having photography with Peter Parker would be of any significance to your life, that is until you found yourself alone with him at golden hour

PART 3

not my gif

You put your headphones on and began dreaded algebra. The music stopped momentarily. You checked your phone, there's a notification from Peter.

I can get tomorrow off if you wanna take pics

Before you answer you checked your planner. In red and underlined there is an algebra test the day after tomorrow.

I wish I could but I’ve gotta teach myself all the math before the algebra test

Getting back to your algebra you were struggling to find z in the equation. With so many steps, messing a single thing up meant the whole problem was wrong. When you got the x as a decimal you felt tears coming. Math was nothing short of your worst nightmare.

You grab your phone and lay on your bed, needing a break from numbers. You had another text from Peter, and quite a few from Jonah. You opened Jonah's first.

It was nice seeing you again.

Sorry about making you late to your interview.

Wanna hang out tomorrow?

I can pick you up from school.

I miss you :P

You blushed while rereading the texts. You thought of something witty to reply with.

Missing me already? I’ve got a math test I need to study for, but maybe after though.

Before he responded you checked Peters text.

Algebra? I can help you if you need. Not sure if you’ve heard but I’m kinda really good at math.

You laughed and remember Peter always getting top scores in math and science. He is perfect for Midtown, a school of science and technology. You on the other hand, english and history were more your style. No solving equations or numbers.

You text Peter and suggest a nearby coffee shop to study at.

Jonah still hadn’t replied. You took off your headphones and slid into bed.

Peter suggested that the two of you walk together to the cafe. You liked that idea, Queens can be a sketchy place for a teenage girl. You saw him talking with Ned and Michelle after school.

“Hey guys.” You slid into the small circle.

“Perfect timing y/n, we were just talking about the movie marathon.” Ned beamed.

You looked at Peter, “Oh ya. Um we. We are doing it at my place.”

“Okay sweet. Ready to go?” You asked.

Michelle turned to Peter, “Go where?”

“Peters helping me with algebra.” You answered.

Tightening the grip on his bag Peter nodded, “Yeah. Let’s go,” you grabbed Peters hand and began pulling him, “Bye guys.”

Together the two of you left Midtown and head into the busy streets of Queens.

You looked down at your torn up combat boots, “I don’t think Michelle likes me very much.”

“Don’t, don’t take it personal,” he paused, “Mj is a very cut off person. Once she really knows who you are, she’s super cool.”

“Ok,” you shrugged.

“She’s captain of the decathlon team this year, did, did you know that?” Peter smiled.

You shook your head, “No. I guess that makes sense though, with Liz leaving so abruptly and all. That must have really sucked. Could you imagine finding out your dad is evil.”

Peters face went pale, “No. No I can’t. He was a good guy, he just made some bad decisions.”

You could tell this was a touchy subject, so you dropped it.

Peter opened the door, walking into coffee filled aroma. You got into line, wanting something to eat. After ordering you found a place in the corner to work.

Peter sat down next to you, “Okay let’s see this algebra.”

You pull out your textbook and pile of assignments and quizzes.

“Woah.” He mused.

You grimaced, “I know it’s a lot. But we’ll go fast, so we can take photos.”

He was already working on the first problem, “Sounds good.”

Somehow Peter made the equations and numbers make sense. Unlike your teacher. He went over all your mistakes, redid your quizzes. You got almost all the questions right on the study guide, all by yourself.

“Peter you’re amazing.” You wrapped your arms around him.

“Oh! Haha.” He gingerly put his arms around you. You noticed his toned shoulders as they pressed into your slim ones

“Sorry. I’m, it’s just. It’s just that I finally understand math.” You said as you let go, a pinkish tinge spreading on your cheeks.

Peter slurped on his coffee, “I’m glad I could help,” He checked his watch, “Its nearly golden hour. If we want good pictures we should probably head out.”

You looked out the window, “Oh gosh. We should hurry,” you pulled your camera out of your bag and pulled it over your head, “Ready?”

Peter was already out the door. You gathered all your things and chased after him.

“When did you get so fast?”

He shrugged, “So what do you take photos of?”

Looking around the familiar streets you smiled. “Anything and everything I find interesting.”

Click

You turned to Peter, “Hey,” You tried to grab his camera.

He backed up, “Woah woah woah. We are supposed to try our partners style. I find you interesting.”

“Thanks?” You laughed.

“Come on. I wanna show you something.” Peter motioned the other way.

You walked side by side in the brisk air. Taking photos of the tourists with their maps and nick knacks. Peter kept saying you were getting closer, but you felt like it was a wild goose chase. When sirens came around the corner, Peter slowed down but you kept walking.

“Let’s get you home.”

Your eyes followed the cop cars, “Why? Peter I’m sure everything is fine.”

He was already pulling you by your hand around the block. You stopped in your tracks, “Peter what’s going on?”

He was distraught and jumpy. His grip was very tight and starting to hurt your hand. “Y/n please. I need to get you home.”

“What? No, let go of my hand,”

He did, looked back down the street where the cops drove by, then back to you, “I’m really sorry. I, I’ve gotta go.”

With that he ran back towards the sirens. You were left in the middle of the city with dark coming soon. You checked the street you were on, it wasn’t too far from home. However it would definitely be cold and dark before you got back. You texted your mom to let her know you were on your way home. Zipped up your jacket and began the enduring walk, fuming that Peter had just deserted you.

The sun set not five minutes later and you weren’t anywhere near home, you decided to call Jonah.

“Y/n? What’s up?” He sounded excited.

You cleared your throat, “I’m kind of far from home and it’s dark. Also, um well I’m alone. Could you if it’s not any hassle come get me and walk me home?”

There was a silence. You started to regret calling him.

“Sure. Send me your location, I’ll be there soon.” He finally answered.

“Oh my gosh really?” You jumped up.

He laughed, “Really.”

“I’ll see you soon,” You hung up and pinned him your location.

You looked around and saw a bench, conveniently it wasn’t occupied by a hobo. You slid your bag around to your chest and held it tightly. It wasn’t the cleanest of places but it was the bench or the ground. You sat down and waited.

Checking your phone every few minutes you were starting to worry. It was completely dark, and the city that never sleeps seemed pretty sleepy to you. Only a few stragglers trying to get home after one too many drinks at the bar.

The sirens finally stopped, helping calm your nerves. You looked up into the sky, barely able to see the moon. You saw something else, something exciting.

Spiderman swinging through the air. You pulled out your camera and fixed the iso. You clicked and clicked, hoping that they were gonna turn out. You unzoomed and realized how close he was getting.

“Hello, miss,” An obviously fake deep voice began, “What are you doing out here alone? You know it’s not safe.”

You stared at his masked eyes. You were face to face with the famous vigilante.

“Miss?”

“Oh sorry. It’s, it’s just. Wow, you’re the Spiderman.” You continued to stared.

The mystery man laughed, with a much younger voice.

“My friend left me. So I called my well,” you thought for a moment, “I actually don’t know what he is. But he’s coming to get me.”

Not a second later Jonah pulled up in a jeep.

“Hop- Is that spiderman,” He was already out of the car, “Can I get a picture?” He asked.

Spider Man nodded, you pulled out your camera, “Smile.”

“Thanks dude,” Jonah fist bumped the hero, “Let’s go y/n.”

You tossed your camera in your bag and climbed into the jeep, “Thanks Spiderman.”

Jonah took you home, he walked you too your door again. Leaning against the wall you brushed your hair behind your ear. Jonah was watching you as if you were the only thing until the world.

“Why are you staring?” You looked at your boots.

Jonah smiled, “I just can’t stop thinking about how much I wanna,” he paused and got closer, “How much I wanna kiss you.”

You’d never been kissed before but you wanted Jonah so you just laughed, “Then what are you waiting for?”

He gingerly lifted your chin, bent down and stared at your lips. You got on your tippy toes to help the height difference. Finally your lips connected. You imagined your first kiss being the most magical thing in the world, with sparks flying and music in the background. This was nothing compared to your dreams. It was short, and sweet. When Jonah pulled back you opened your door and slipped inside before he could say something.

taglist: tag list: @vicorianmycroft @irxnspxder @sassybisquit @laurrenhawker

TO BE CONTINUED

#fanfiction #infinity war #mcu #peter parker #photography #spiderman #spiderman homecoming #camera #marvel #parker #peter parker fanfiction #Peter Parker x Reader #tom holland #yeet #i larb you guys #this story is getting way too long with no action #tom holland fanfiction

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shalebridgecradle · 7 years

Note

Re: our convo about Five's past from last night: I kinda want someone from Mullins showing up at Abel now. Someone eager to see the famous Runner 5, someone who gets utterly baffled and incredulous when they bring them the weird girl from the fort that no one liked or cared about. He thinks they're playing a joke on him, snarks that if she was that impressive they wouldn’t have let Abel keep her in the first place. And then pregnant Maxine hits him with a chair.

…oops, my hand slipped and I wrote a thing. Which was probably your intention all along, you horrible enabler. :P (Couldn’t arrange the chair hitting though. I tried, but it turns out there’s a short list of people Maxine would 100% flatten with a chair, and this dude’s not on it. …Yet.)

[2,869 words, ft. a mute, female Five. Spoilers through S4M4. Maybe a tiny warning for abuse if you read between the lines too hard.]

“Iredid most of Abel’s security after the unfortunate…incident thatwas Ms. Spens’s brief tenure,” Janine explained as they turnedthe corner from the armory. “You can see it surpasses even Ministrystandards.”

Theman walking at her side, one Captain Morden of Mullins Base, began tochuckle. “I never doubted it, ma’am. But it also never hurts tobe too careful when it comes to a visit from the Minister.”

“Ofcourse not.”

Thegate alarm sounded at that moment, pulling his attention away fromher. Morden shielded his eyes with a pale hand, squinting through thelate afternoon sunlight. “Is that one of your runners?” Heindicated a silhouette running across the gate threshold under theguards’ watchful eyes.

Janinechecked her watch. “That should be Runner Five, actually. Right onschedule.”

Morden’seyebrows shot up. “Oh? I’d been hoping to meet the famous RunnerFive on this trip.”

Ashints went, she thought that rather obvious. “Yes, there’s beenquite a demand for that of late. Since Five’s mission is completedI don’t see the harm, and we’ll need to coordinate with therunners for the Minister’s visit in any event.” She motioned himforward. “After you, Captain.”

Meanwhile, Runner Five foundherself preoccupied trying to brush all the dirt and dust off herclothes. She’d managed to trip into one of the outer trenches NewCanton had dug during their mind-controlled siege. They’d filledmost of them back in over the months, but this one had beenoverlooked—and was now overgrown with grass and weeds. Hence thetripping.

In her headset, Sam was telling herabout a massive DVD stockpile Cameo and Kytan had just stumbled overin between trying to fill out a work order to fix the trench. On topof that, the alarm still sounded as the gate slid shut and the guardswere all making idle small talk, both with her and around her. Itbordered on overwhelming and made it hard to focus on any one thingfor very long, which perhaps explained why she didn’t noticeJanine’s approach.

When she did finally look up,she took a sudden step backwards, almost into the gate.

A ghost out of her past stoodright there in front of her with that same old crooked smile.Lieutenant Morden. He didn’t look like he’d aged a day, save fora few new lines around the mouth. Maybe he’d lost a little weight.

It took him a moment torecognize her; when he did, his eyebrows shot up almost into his darkhair, but he said nothing. Just tilted his head to look at hersideways.

“Excellenttiming as usual, Runner Five,” Janine was saying. Five forcedherself to pay attention, hoping that if she ignored Morden he’ddisappear back into whateverhole he’d crawled out of.“This is Captain Morden from Mullins.” Apparently there’d beena promotion in her absence. “He’s here toreview our security ahead ofthe Minister’s visit, giventhat Mr. Sissay is occupied at New Canton.”

“RunnerFive,isit?”Something about the way he said her name made the hair on her armsstand on end. Heextendedhis hand,still smiling. Shedidn’t take it, and after an awkward moment he slid it into thepocket of his khakis instead.“Well.Pleasureto finallymeet you. Thewhole country’s singing your praises, you know.”

“Indeed.”Thefaint flicker of irritation in Janine’s voice made Five smile.Neither of them had quite figured out how to deal with all the fameand praisethathad descended on them over the past months.Mostly they’d mutually agreed to ignore it and hope it went away sothey could work in peace. “Ifyou have a minute, Five, I’dlike you toaccompany us back to the farmhouse. We need to discuss who’llbe running interference for the convoy. The Ministry trucks are boundto attract undue attention from the zombies.”

“Andit’ll give us a chance to talk,” Morden added. There was anundercurrent of mockery in his voice that Janine seemed to miss. “Getto know each other better.”

I’dsooner kiss a zom, wasFive’s first panicked thought. She didn’t say it out loud; it’drequire too much explaining. Instead she latched onto the firstexcuse that popped into her head.

“Later?I need to head to the infirmary,” she signed. On seeing Janine’sfrown she was quick to add, “Ran across some zoms. Routinescreening.”

“Isee. I was under the impression the route between Abel and New Cantonwas free of hostiles for the time being. Clearly my information isout of date.”

“Itwas clear,” Samchimed in at her ear. She could picture his brow furrowing inconfusion. “I mean, there was that scarecrow that looked likea zom, and we really need to talk to that one New Canton enclaveabout leaving their art projects lying around like that, but—areyou sure you’re okay, Five?”

Fivedidn’t answer him. She handed her overloaded backpack off to one ofthe gate guards while she waited for Janine’s response.

“Protocolis protocol for a reason,”she agreed with a short nod.“Go, Five. We’ll meetwith you later.”

“Thankyou.” She didn’t wait another moment before taking offat a quick jog, weaving her way through the scant crowd.

Notmore than ten feet later, she heard a familiar shout behind her.“Runner Five! Wait up!” Morden.Shethought about speeding up—running pell-mell through Abel wasgenerally frowned on unless there was an emergency, but she couldprobably get away with it. Thenin the next breathshe paused at a corner,decidingshe could hear him out. If only for a minute. She was a far differentperson than she’d been at Mullins—several times over by thispoint. She could handle him.

Andif she couldn’t, she could always outrun him.

“Itis you, isn’t it?Little Mouse?”

Well,he hadn’t changed at all.

“Mouse?”Sam was trying not to snicker. Five meanwhile was trying very hardnot to grimace. “I know you’re quiet, Five, but come on. Wait—youknow him? From Mullins?”

Mordengrinned at her, all teeth. “I don’t believe it. Imean, we heard all sorts of rumors—yousurvived the crash, you were dead orgone grey, the Exmoor Militiawere trying to hold you for ransom, all sorts of things. Thebrass never got around to telling us the real story. Guessthey figured it wouldn’t matter.” He tilted his head, waiting tosee if she’d notice the sideways jab. She had, but she refused toreact and give him the satisfaction. “Anyway,it’sgood to see you, Mouse.We all missed you, you know?”

Shebit the inside of her cheekto stop herself from laughingin his face. “I doubt it,”she retorted.

Morden,as ever, didn’t understand. “Sure, sure. Hell of a way from CBlock, isn’t it? Guess you’re living the high life these days.Ministry loves this littlehole in the wall.”

Somehowthe slight against Abel was what offended her the most. She turnedand resumed her jog toward the hospital. If Morden couldn’t keepup, that was his problem.

“Hey!Come back!”

“I’mguessing he’s…not your long-lost best friend?” Sam asked at thesame time. She heard his chair creak as he shifted hisweight.

“Notexactly.” That was all she was able to explain to her headcambefore Morden caught up.

“You’refaster than I remember. Now,where’s Runner Five?”

Thatcaused her to slow her step. She turned to look back at him, hereyebrows arched as if to say,what? Even Mordencould figure out what she meant.

“They’reputting me on, yeah?” He’dstarted to laugh. “It’s alla prank, right? De Luca wasin on it the whole time. AndI heard she had no sense of humor.Come on. Where’s the real RunnerFive?”

“Thisis the ‘real’Runner Five, you—” Sam stopped short of actually swearing, optinginstead for a frustrated, inaudiblegrumble. “Is everyone at Mullins as thick as he is? No wonder youdidn’t want to go back, Five.”

Five,her face drawn and placid, indicated the armband on her bicep, whichonly made Mordenlaugh harder. “No, come on!You’re really sticking with this, Mouse?Bloody hell,I remember back when youcouldn’t take a joke, letalone pull one off.”

“What’she on about?”

Shedebated switching her headset off altogether butknew that would only serve to upset Sam. It wouldn’t stop him fromwatching on the nearest security camera, either.

Mordenmeanwhile insisted on carrying on. Hesounded less and less amused by the second.“All right, fine, you’vegot me! Ha-bloody-ha. Now we’re even, Mouse. Is that what you wantto hear?”

Youcan’t deck him, shethought, schooling her expression into one of steely indifference.It’d just causean incident.

Whenshe didn’t respond he reached out and grabbed her elbow, jerkingher backwards a step and forcingher to stop. Inher ear she heard a sharp intake of breath.

“D’youreally expect me tobelieve that you’re the hero of Comansys Tower? The Minister’sgolden child? You?”His voice had dropped to a low, harshwhisper. She shook his hand off, elbowing him in the side in theprocess.

“Five.I can have a guard there in tenseconds. Just say the word.”

Shesigned a quick no toherheadcam and keptmoving.

Mordeninsisted on following her. He made another grab for her elbow but sheanticipated it, dodging sideways out of his reach.

Still,as she pushed through the doors to the hospital, hefollowed right at her heels. She could hear him huffing and puffingfor breath as she sped upstill more. Apparentlyhe’d fallen out of shape since she’d seen him last, she notedwith some faint vindictive amusement. “Come on,” he cajoledbetween one breath and the next. “This is just getting sad now!”

Fiveignored him, winding her way through the crowded halls to Maxine’soffice. She knew the route by muscle memory alone now. That made iteasier to tune Morden out. Atleast until they reached the office door—wherehe put on a burst of speed and beat her there by seconds. He grabbedthe doorknob and held it tight, blocking her path.

Fivemet his icy stare without flinching.A white-hot anger had started to burn its way up her chest. “Move.”She finished with a shooing motion that he couldn’t possiblymisunderstand. Still, he didn’t move. She could feel thefrustration practically rolling off him. Anger management wasn’t arequirement for promotion at Mullins, shesupposed.

“Faceit, little Mouse. You were never that impressive. Youthink the higher-ups at Mullins would’ve left you out here in thebloody boonies if you werethat special? You remember CBlock, don’t you? ‘The C stands for cannon fodder.’Isn’t that what we used tosay? Nobody from there’sworth a scrap. Not me, andsure as hell not you.”

Well.He was half right. She flipped him off beforeshe elbowed him right in the stomach, forcing him tomove out of her way. He letgo of the door to rub his sternum, grimacing. “You and your damnsharp elbows—”

Sheturned the doorknob at the same time someone inside the room did.“Five,” Maxine murmured in quiet surprise. She had one hand onthe door, the other rubbing a sore spot on her lower back. Behindher, Dr. Lobatse waved tothem over a stack of filefolders. “Janine radioed tosay you’d be stopping in.” Hergaze fell on Morden next, her lips pursing into a frown. Fivewondered how much she’d overheard. Sam had gone oddly quiet too.

“CaptainMorden.” The ice in her voice told Five she’d overheard more thanenough. She stood aside, leaving just enough room betweenher growing stomach and the doorframe forFive to slip into the room sideways.

UnfortunatelyMorden didn’t get the subtle message that he wasn’t invited. WhenMaxine tried to close the door in his face he caught it, pushing hisway into the room after them. “So sorry to intrude, Dr. Myers. Dr.Lobatse,” he added, nodding to Kefilwe. “Yourrunner and I were just catching up on old times. Isn’tthat right, Runner Five?”As he said it he clapped Fiveacross the back. Five didn’t move.

Maxine,still frowning, glancedback and forth between the two of them. “Is that right? Ididn’t realize you two knew each other.”At the same time she signedto Five, “If you want himgone…”

“Oh,sure.” Morden carried on,all cheer, like he hadn’teven noticed her signing. Maybe he hadn’t.“Mullins is divided up into all those wards and blocks since wetook on so many refugees,you know?” When Maxinenodded, he continued, “Iused torun C Block back in the day,where our friend here used tolive. Guess you got tired of me bossing you around, eh, Mouse? Tookoff for greener pastures?”

Fivesigned something. She’dbarely finished before Mordenclapped her across the shoulders again, laughing.

“Yousee? Old pals.” Ashe said it she’d tensed her whole back, shrugging his hand off her.

“Oh,”Maxine began, deadpan, “so you must understand sign language,then.”

Morden,jamming his hands in his pockets now,shrugged and kept grinning. “Ofcourse! Might be a little rusty after all this time, but—”

“ThenI guess what Five just said about you and that goat must be true?”Behind her, Dr. Lobatse hadstarted to snicker into her hand. “Ifyou’re not going to dispute it, I mean.”

“I—”Morden’swhole face had begun to turn red, starting from the ears on down.Five made a quick sidewaysstep to get out of the inevitable blast radius as he continued tostammer. “Listen, this isall just some stupid bloody joke you lot have come up with—we allknow that’s not the real RunnerFive. It can’t be! I—”

Maxinelistened to him for a few moments before she turned to Five, archingan eyebrow.

“Throwhim out,” Fivesaid, pointing backto the door for emphasis.

Dr.Lobatse reacted before Maxine could, jumping to her feet. In a momentshe’d taken Morden’s arm, spinninghim around so fast Five almost made herself dizzy watching it. “Thisis a secure area, Captain,”she was saying as she steeredhim straight back out the door overhis protests.“We really can’t have youin here while we have a patient. And I’m sure you’ve kept Janinewaiting long enough as it is—” Kefilwehad them moving at double-time. They’d disappeared down the hall inthe next minute.

“Janine’sdefinitely going to hearabout this,” came the grumpy mutter from her headset. “They can’tjust waltz in here and treat our runners like that. Idon’t care who he works for. Youstay with Maxine, Five. I’m going to go talk to her.” Hisvoice had grown more distant as he talked, until sheheard the door to the comms shack click shut andthen nothing.

Whenthey were well and truly alone in the room, Maxine sighed,tight-lipped and tense. “Youreally knew him from Mullins?”

Fivenodded. “He was telling the truth about that much.”

“And…whatwas all that about you not being Runner Five?”

“It’sa long story.” She shrugged, holding her palms up. “Things weredifferent at Mullins. I wasn’t much use to anyone, and they didn’thave much use for me, either.”

Frowning,Maxine had just started to respond when the door opened again.

“Well!”Dr. Lobatsecame back in, dusting off herhands. “He seemedthoroughly unpleasant. Ithink Imight’ve strained his shoulder a little more than was necessary.”

“Oh.Too bad.” The sarcasm inMaxine’s voice was so thick it had a palpable presence in the room.

“Anyway,I was about to go put thekettle on. Five?”

Shenodded, slipping her headsetoff and setting it aside now that there was nothing therebesides empty air. Dr.Lobatse smiled and ducked into the next room to start on the tea.

Whenshe’d gone, Maxine called after her, “You’dbetter make mine decaf, Kefilwe.” Then, lowering her voice, “Areyou okay, Five?”

Sheconsidered her answer for a long moment, fingers twisting together.“I thinkso.” Morden might be asunpleasant as ever, but she could take some comfort in knowing shewasn’t his mute little Mouse anymore. If he didn’t want to seethat, that was his problem. Not hers.

“Younever talked much aboutMullins. I hope he didn’t bring up any bad memories for you.”

Asfar as she was concerned he was abad memory. Five shrugged again.

“Right,”Maxine sighed. “Well, if he has any sense he’ll apologize beforeJanine or Sam forces himto. Come have some tea in themeantime, Five. We can talkif you want.”

“I’dlike that.”

#zombies run #runner 5 #zrs4 spoilers #my stupid fanfics #long post #whirly wind #axe me a question #I named the OC after a Babylon 5 villain #that's how ridiculous and off the cuff this is #what am I doing with my life #I regret everything

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askmicrowaveayem · 7 years

Text

Boink! The Gaster Brothers Pt. 4

[Previous]

[Archive] [Cast]

Dressed in his new clothes, Rage hovered in the doorway, unsure if he should come closer or not.

The look on her face told him he should turn around and go.

He stayed still, watching, instead. Waiting to see if she would notice him.

As rigid as her face was, it didn’t stop her son from smiling at him from the bed and waving at him happily, if not tiredly.

Vrinda turned and looked at him, smiling a little. “You can share a bed with Wingdings until we can get something else situated. How are you feeling?”

He nodded quickly, far more used to sleeping on the ground and finding any sort of bed a kind of luxury all on its own. “A lot better now, thank you very much.”

He wanted to ask how Dings was doing. How his eye was. If the crack would heal.

He’d done his best. He wanted to tell her. He’d done his best.

In front of Dings, he said nothing.

After a moment she stopped healing and redid the bandage, handing another cup of tea to her son. He drank it slowly.

“Do you have any wounds that need healing?”

He shook his head. “Just leftover bruises, ma’am. They’ll go away soon.”

Dings signed to his mother, who chuckled. “Dings says to tell you he’s very excited that he gets to have a sleepover with his friend every night now.”

She finished the dressing and stood, smoothing out her apron. “I’m not going to be your translator you know, little one. You’re going to have to work extra-hard on your talking now that you have a brother.”

Dings pouted and signed something.

“Now I’ll have none of that. Finish your tea and sleep.” She tucked him under the blankets.

He watched, unsure of how to respond to any of it, but eventually managing, “maybe I could learn the hand thing you use, too?”

Dings nearly sat up in excitement, but was gently pushed back down again by his mother. “Sleep.”

He pouted again, but wiggled under the covers and let his eye go heavy.

Vrinda tapped a kiss on the better side of her son’s skull before she turned and lead the young skeleton out of the room. “That would probably be good, yes. Treb can’t talk, so it would help you understand him too.”

She walked to the kitchen and finished up the tea, setting the last cup on the table and gesturing for Rage to drink if he wanted.

His face lit up at the tea.

It was still nothing like he’d ever tasted, even if once it was finished, he could only hold the cup in his hands and fidget around it, glancing up at Vrinda.

“...is his eye going to be okay?”

Vrinda sighed, “... It will scar. He’s lost some of his vision.”

She paused, mouth going taunt. “... But it would have been worse. You took him to a healer?” The dots of her eyes looked back at him, somehow able to tell the wound had been healed before she got to it.

He nodded. “The first town we came to on our way back, I brought him to one. I… didn’t know how to bandage something that bad normally.”

He’d thought it was worth the risk.

She nodded, “Thank you. Truly. For bringing my boy back home.”

Vrinda sat beside him again, eyes sad but grateful. “We were beginning to think…” Her words stopped, not daring to finish them. She shook them out of her head and inhaled deeply, breath shaking. “But he’s here now. Thanks to you.”

She smiled, “He seems to like you very much. You must have taken good care of him, despite your situation.��

Despite the gravity of her words and the situation, Rage found himself feeling lighter. A little warmer inside. His ribs a little looser.

He had a name. He hadn’t been beaten in two weeks. He was being told he must’ve done something right. That Vrinda believed he’d done something right with something as important as her son.

Somehow, he’d earned praise.

“I tried,” he said after a moment of stunned silence, trying to match up what Vrinda thought of him versus what he knew of himself. “I’m glad it apparently worked.”

Vrinda nodded and offered him another smile. She didn’t ask more about what had happened. The blood, the wounds on both of them, and the runes, were enough. She didn’t want to know more. Her little boy was safe. The young man that helped him escape was under her care now and she wouldn’t let anyone else take advantage of his lack of understanding of the world around him.

“Tomorrow we will head into town, have another doctor look at Wingdings, get you some clothes, and sell what we can of what you brought. If anyone asks what happened just deflect any and all questions to myself or Treb. We will handle it.”

He smiled back, weirdly thrilled at the idea of going into town with other monsters and being on the other end of a trade. He wasn’t sure how much he could trust anymore, how much of his knowledge was faulty because of lies, but he could trust his own eyes at least. He’d be able to do that much when they got into town. See the world on his own, a little, with these other monsters.

He hadn’t really been around other monsters before, now that he thought about it.

It was exciting. He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I will.”

She smiled again and stood, patting him on the shoulder. “Good lad. Do you want more to eat or drink? Would you like to rest with the little one?”

“I can rest, you’ve already given me a lot,” he said, though he was slow to relinquish his grip on the teacup.

Vrinda nodded and glanced at the cup. “... Did you like the tea?”

He nodded quickly. “It… tasted really different from what I’m used to. What type was it?”

“Just regular black tea.” Vrinda chuckled, her voice scratchy and not very feminine at all. “Things taste different when they’re made with positive emotions.”

She reached out, taking the mug from him. “You’ll probably love dinner if you’ve never had something like that before.”

“Oh,” he said, taking the mug but looking at it in a whole new light. “...Oh! Should I? Um. Help with dinner?”

Was he even supposed to ask, or just assume he was supposed to help? Or since everything was mixed up right now, was it a given he wouldn’t, since apparently the world was all opposites?

...if this was what positive emotions tasted like, did that mean he’d never made anything with positive emotions?

If this was what Dings had been eating, did that mean he’d hated Rage’s food…?

“Not tonight.” Vrinda patted his shoulder again. “Go rest. We’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”

He was a member of the family, which did mean he would have to help eventually, but… not now. He was new and deserved at least a solid week of rest before being given chores like the little one.

He nodded and moved to go upstairs when she took her hand off his shoulder, pausing long enough to say, “Thank you,” again.

He headed upstairs and returned to Dings’ room, heading in quietly and trying to see if the kid was awake or not.

The little skeleton was fast asleep, his head propped up and rolled over onto its good side while he slept. He looked exhausted, but happy.

The bed was big enough for both of them easily.

He slid into the other side of the bed as quietly as he could, careful to not touch the younger skeleton.

The bed was wide and soft, and… he was safe in it.

He wasn’t going to be woken roughly or stepped on or accidentally overlooked. He didn’t have to wake up in time to make food.

He just slept.

The little one slept soundly beside him, eventually clinging at him as the afternoon stretched on into evening.

Vrinda would walk in and very gently rouse her son, helping him sit up a little before touching Rage to wake him as well.

“Supper is ready. The washbasin is right there to wash up.” She gestured to a bowl with a rag and soap set on the nearby dresser.

He woke as quietly as he’d fallen asleep, taking a moment to look around and remember exactly where he was. Why he felt clean. Why he was so at ease.

He grinned and shuffled off the bed with Dings, washing up thoroughly before following the little skeleton downstairs, not sure if it was normal to be this excited about being fed or if it was just the emotions he’d had in the tea and the idea that it would be like this for a long time now--!

Vrinda helped her boy up and gave him a few moments to regain his sense of balance from his head wound, then lead him downstairs, apparently a little worried he might fall if he was a little dizzy.

Treb was the one setting the table this time, the huge skeleton putting out dishes and cutlery. He tapped the seat set for their new member of the family before heading back into the kitchen with Vrinda.

The smell was probably something Rage had never experienced first-hand before. Monster food was powered by magic and the emotions they were made with, the more care put into the food the better it tasted, the more it could heal.

Dings started to walk into the kitchen, nearly bumping into his father’s huge legs as he came out the door.

They signed something to one another, Treb shaking his head and motioning for the little boy to sit back down.

Dings climbed back into his seat beside Rage while his father began to set plates of food in front of them. A cooked hen, dried fruits, stewed vegetables, and bread. Dings kept his hands down in his lap as he watched, unused to not helping with dinner.

It was quiet, but lively. Vrinda came back into the room and filled everyone’s mugs with cider. Treb carved the hen and served it out, giving Rage a hefty portion before he sat down.

The rest of the meal was passed around the table, everyone scooping a portion for themselves that always started with Treb and ended with Dings.

Dings signed something to his mother as they started to eat.

“It’s a special occasion.” She smiled, “We’re a family again. So eat your fill.”

Rage was almost overwhelmed, looking around at the food being brought out and placed in front of him. He wasn’t used to eating anything he hadn’t cooked himself, and the most he’d ever cooked was for two and a child--anything the merchant had to celebrate, he’d gone into town for, and Rage had definitely never been invited along, so he’d never seen this sort of feast in his life. The portion of chicken on his plate alone was plenty to fill him up!

He took very small portions of the rest of the food on the table as it was passed to him, not wanting to be wasteful but desperately wanting to try at least a little bit of everything. He waited a good three seconds after the rest of the table began to eat, still trying to really comprehend that he was here, sitting at the table, being cared for, given a family--

His chest clenched and he ate very, very slowly, refusing to tear up when the emotions of the food took their effect.

He was just happy.

The new family of four ate quietly and happily, conversation being sparse and only of light subjects, half of which were in a silent gesture of hands. When everyone was finished Treb and Vrinda stood to begin cleaning up, again having to tell Dings to sit and not help.

He looked a little indignant and signed something to his mother.

“No chores for you for a week. All of your energy is to go right here-” She tapped her head.

Rage tried to follow the conversation, even if half of it was beyond him. He managed a guess at some of the symbols, judging by Vrinda’s responses, mostly. He moved to try and stack his dishes and organize them to carry into the kitchen, but hesitated when Vrinda stopped Dings, wondering if it applied to him as well or not, since he wasn’t very injured--especially after the meal.

Vrinda tsked him too and took the plates from him. “I will give you things to do tomorrow if you are that eager, but today is for resting. Do you know how to read?”

He quickly surrendered the plates and sat back down, shaking his head. “Just maps, ma’am.”

“Then that is something you can go do.” Vrinda smiled and looked down at her son, “Take him into the reading room. Give him a headstart on learning how to read.”

Dings nodded happily and took Rage’s hand to lead him into a room he had yet to be in connected to the dining room. It was spacious with big windows and… way more books than a simple family of farmers had the right to own. Bookshelves lined the walls filled with things in both the latin alphabet and wingdings, stacks sat by the walls, and pillows lay on the floor for them to sit on, as well as a large comfortable chair that looked like it was Treb’s, and a small rocking chair beside it.

His eyes widened as he walked in and he pulled his free hand to his chest, almost afraid to touch anything. Books were so expensive, and they had so many here…

He followed anywhere Dings took him, still reeling a little that he was going to learn how to read.

The little skeleton lead him over to one shelf and climbed onto a tiny step ladder to reach a particular one. When he stepped back down he handed it over, a translation book for the latin alphabet into wingdings with detailed drawings of all the different symbols used.

He grinned and tapped the cover, then made motions with his hands.

Rage could learn both!

Rage nodded slowly, unsure if he was supposed to take the book or not, and a little hesitant to do so at all, even with permission.

“I, um,” he said, having assumed Vrinda would be the one teaching him. “How do I learn if I don’t know either of them to start with, though…?”

Dings wasn’t sure how to respond, the little boy thinking for a moment before mumbling “mmm!” and pointing at where Vrinda was in the kitchen. Mom would teach him but he could look at it until she was finished the the chores!

The book was thrust at him before he grabbed another.

This was a picture book that was rough around the edges, indicating many years of wear. He handed him that one too.

It was his favorite before he learned how to read wingdings.

He took the book, fumbling a moment before finally getting a good hold on it. He took the picture book much more easily, shuffling to sit down on the floor.

The wingdings and latin book was what he was supposed to look at, but…

He opened the picture book instead.

Dings settled down beside him on the pillows and looked at it with him; a silent story about a rabbit monster playing a game with all their friends, both human and monster.

By the time they finished Vrinda was walking through the door, hands drying on her apron. “Showing him your favorite?”

Dings nodded.

“Your father has a bath started for you, run along while I help get Rage started on his reading lesson.”

He pouted and signed.

“Run along.” Vrinda repeated a little more sternly, the tiny skeleton rolling off the pillows and heading out the door.

He’d been watching the story and--found it a little less cheerful than Dings had.

He didn’t mention it, just a little glad when Vrinda arrived and sent Dings off. He closed the picture book carefully and set it back on the shelf, instead picking up the latin and wingdings book, looking at her questioningly.

Vrinda approached him and took the book, then settled herself on the floor beside him. Her hands with delicate and slender, clean and with very few marks or scuffs, unlike her scratched and jagged husband.

“Before I begin I want you to know that in this house reading is very important.” She looked at Rage seriously, a hand resting on the cover of the book. “Starting tomorrow I will be giving you lessons in wingdings and the latin alphabet and I want you to take it very seriously. Understood?”

Her words were heavy but her voice was kind.

He nodded quickly, “Yes, ma’am.”

Reading was a--a rare skill in a lot of places he’d been.

He still couldn’t quite believe it. But he nodded all the same.

Vrinda nodded happily, “Good.”

She opened the book and began to go through it with him slowly, teaching him very basic symbols in wingdings and showing him with her hands, as well as their latin equivalent. Even as the evening grew dark she continued, lighting a candle and bringing it close to teaching him as much as she could.

Dings would come by again, cleaned and in fresh clothing. He would snuggle into his mother’s lap as she read, eyes dozing along with the lesson. Treb would come in as well, peacefully listening along while he rested in his chair.

Rage paid close attention, learning slowly, but diligently repeating each letter and symbol, drawing it out on the floor with his fingers and shaping them to his hands to try and learn the form of them and connect them together.

Maybe if he learned them both closely enough, he would be able to read them both equally as easy?

As more of the family came into the room and the night grew darker, Rage began to grow tired. He was full and warm and his bones didn’t ache, and as much as he tried to keep memorizing, he found himself growing heavy-eyed and tired.

Vrinda took notice right away and slowly closed the book, setting it aside. “That will do for today. I’ll teach you more tomorrow. Go on and head to bed. We’ll wake you in the morning for breakfast before heading into town.”

Without needing to be told or directed Treb stood up and slowly lifted the smaller little skeleton into his arms, Dings having long since fallen asleep in his mother’s lap.

The large skeleton lead them both to their bedroom and tucked his son in.

Rage nodded gratefully, trying hard to not yawn and following Treb upstairs after thanking Vrinda once more. He wanted to wait until Treb was out of the room to climb into bed--another old habit, one that might leave one day--but didn’t want to disturb Dings at all.

Treb gently pet his son’s head before turning to leave the room, his hand patting Rage on the shoulder as he passed in his own way of saying ‘goodnight’ before leaving completely, the door slowly closing.

Rage relaxed and crawled into bed a moment later, again making sure to give Dings plenty of space.

He curled up in bed and rested, looking forward to waking up again.

Dawn would come and the door would open. Vrinda would wake up Rage on his own this time, letting her son sleep in and heal a little more while they prepared breakfast.

The washbasin was set in the same spot with soap and a towel to wash up before the day began. Once he was finished and they were both out of the room she closed the door gently behind her and spoke softly, “Breakfast will be ready shortly. In the meantime would you go into the barn and give him a better idea of what some of the items are and where you got them?”

Rage nodded, saying a quick, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ before heading outside. He had to look around somewhat to locate the barn and it’s entrance, but hurried over as soon as he did, knocking and poking his head in. “Mr. Trebuchet…? Ms. Vrinda asked me to come tell you about some of the items?”

Treb nodded, a number of the items in front of him on the barn floor. He knew his wife had explained exactly what he needed from him; some items’ purpose and where they got it, so he would point to each one and wait for an answer without having too much of a language barrier.

Rage closed the barn door and walked closer, settling in beside Treb and waiting to be told what to start with.

The merchant had come across a lot of different items over the two years Rage had lived with him, and he’d kept some of the most valuable and unusual for his own. Rage hadn’t discarded very much when taking the wagon and mules. Most of it was still around.

Depending on where and what some of the items were, Treb would put them in very particular piles. Metals, fabrics, price, all seemed to have a place to go.

As they began to finish, Vrinda came into the barn and closed the door behind her. Her usual stride changed into less like a housewife and more like… something else. She stood behind her husband as he hunched over the items, arms locking behind her back rather than in front over her apron as they had before.

“What are you thinking, Treb?” She asked, her voice different suddenly in a lot of ways. It was authoritative and commanding, but not mean. Just… stern. Very stern.

He signed something to her without looking at her and she nodded.

“We’ll have those melted down.” She pointed to the metal items. “Sell for material rather than their actual purpose.”

As soon as Vrinda entered, Rage noticed the change in demeanor, and turned slowly to face her, keeping his back away.

He wasn’t scared of that authority in her voice or the rigidness of her posture, just… wary.

Just wary. Because he’d only ever been hurt by people who carried themselves so confidently.

This was still the skeleton who had fed him yesterday, though. Who had let him wash and given him clothes and allowed him to sleep in a bed--in her son’s bed.

But he couldn’t shake the tenseness of his shoulders or unbend his spine, just watching quietly as she and her husband talked.

“Can you still call in that favor to Leofrick?” Vrinda asked and Treb nodded. She patted him on the shoulder, “Good. Have him take the more high gold items that we shouldn’t be seen with.”

Her magic glowed yellow as she pushed a few of the items together without touching them. “Those.”

Treb nodded obediently and started to gather everything up. Vrinda then turned to Rage, her voice softening but not losing its authority. “I’m sorry to ask this so bluntly, but did you kill him?”

He stiffened under her gaze, but hesitated only a moment before giving a single, sharp nod.

He had liked it, too.

Her eyes went dark. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t frown either.

“Good.”

He blinked a little, surprised at that reaction. Maybe not so much that she was glad the man who’d hurt her son was dead, but--

...he hadn’t expected it. Somehow. There was something in her face and tone that kept him on edge.

“You’re not upset?”

Vrinda closed her eyes and shook her head, eyes opening again to rest a hand on his shoulder. “Young man, if you hadn’t have done it I would have gone out to find them myself. They hurt my boy. He is scarred for life. His vision is permanently affected. He has a tracking rune in his hand and so do you.” She glanced down at his wrist.

“I think you did the right thing and I’m proud of you for taking action when you knew there was injustice happening around you.”

He nodded slowly again, almost shying from the hand before making himself relax into it. He glanced down at his wrist as well, forehead creasing as he lifted it up and rubbed it gently.

“...is it really that bad?” He was glad he’d done a good thing, but--

“I… didn’t realize…”

Vrinda hovered beside him for a moment before kneeling down to sit next to him. She touched his wrist gently, “It’s treating a living being like an object to do this. I can’t say what he was like, but… you have to be a despicable creature to do this to another.”

He let her touch it, watching carefully.

That merchant had raised him. Cared for him. Been the only family he’d known. He’d thought it was all normal; he would’ve continued along just fine with that life until the child skeleton came stumbling in and trying so hard to escape. So scared of being hit.

He’d been fine, living like that. Was it really so terrible from the outside…?

“It hurt.”

Vrinda frowned and reached up, taking Rage’s head gently into her hands and pulling him close into a hug.

“Everything is alright now. You’re with us. We won’t let anyone trick you ever again.”

He accepted the hug, chest tight, trying to gather up the strength he had to shake his head. To keep speaking.

“No. When I killed him. I made it hurt.”

Vrinda said nothing, squeezing the boy a little tighter. At those words Treb came over and kneeled in front of them, looking angry. He signed aggressively before his wife translated for him, “He deserved whatever you did to him for hurting an innocent child.”

Slowly, Rage nodded again. If Trebuchet meant to call Rage an innocent child, he didn’t understand--the only child he had in his mind was Dings. And he nodded.

He’d done the right thing.

He’d killed him. And it had been right.

Vrinda sighed and released Rage before standing, “We should head back inside, the little one will be waking soon. Remember what I said about going into town. If anyone asks, deflect them to Trebuchet or myself.”

He nodded again, face set. “Right. I will.”

He’d done the right thing.

The three of them headed back inside, Vrinda setting the table and this time getting Rage to help while Treb walked upstairs to wake their son. He came down with him a moment later, the little boy rubbing his good eye and settling into his seat at the table.

“Feeling better today?” Vrinda asked, her voice completely back to how it had been.

Dings nodded tiredly and she pet his head. “We’re heading into town today to pick up some things and get you healed again.”

Rage fell into the role of helping easily, learning where things were kept and what was expected on this table.

It all felt a little more real when he was working. Like maybe he’d really been taken somewhere else, instead of this all being a very strange long dream he might some day wake up from.

Breakfast wasn’t as extravagant as last night’s meal, but it was still made with care and would heal well. Eggs, bread, and potatoes. They would sit and eat, the conversation sparse if nonexistent.

Then they would clean up and Treb would hook up the cart, the items in the back under a blanket. He pulled himself up behind the mules and Vrinda would help Dings into the back where Rage could go too, then settled up front with her husband.

He cleaned his plate fully and enjoyed the care once again, still a little overwhelmed by it, but glad it was there. He helped clean and climbed in the back of the wagon with ease, looking around as they traveled into town, taking in the scenery.

The ride would be peaceful, the parents occasionally discussing what they would be doing in the town once they arrived. Treb would drop them off at the edge of town before heading to find Leofrick, Vrinda would take the boys to the healer, get Wingdings checked over and healed as best possible, then get some clothing for Rage.

They discussed getting some writing materials for the boys, both of them needing to learn how to write. Perhaps see if the bookstore had anything new.

There was no talk at all about what they would tell the others in town. Not around Dings.

The farmscape broke way to closer knit houses before they arrived into town roughly an hour later. It was no city, but it had everything you would need. Books, clothing, a market, all the essentials and then some.

It was… oddly quiet.

Humans and monsters milled about together, a lot of them not speaking but using the same signs as Dings and Treb used. The signs were in wingdings first and foremost with only occasionally having the latin version underneath.

Treb stopped the wagon to allow Vrinda to jump off, who came around the back and helped her son out of the cart.

Rage climbed out of the cart on his own, gravitating towards Vrinda and Trebuchet, not daring to go much further away from them than a few steps.

The last time he’d been in town had been a frantic haze, so he took his time turning his head, looking around and observing the signs. He tried to recognize the wingdings from his studies last night, and somewhat succeeded.

Trebuchet continued on with the cart through the street, Vrinda carrying Dings as she lead Rage towards the healer. It was pretty similar to the one he had taken him to before, the front small with only a counter and a curtain behind it that lead into the back rooms.

A furred monster came out at the sound of the bell and instantly looked shocked.

“Vrinda! Oh my goodness you found him?” She rushed around the counter, “Oh my goodness oh my goodness, come on, bring him back.”

Vrinda didn’t say anything at first, carrying her son into the back and leading Rage along with her, wanting to keep him close. The furred monster did give him a longer look than usual, but was mostly worried about the tiny skeleton in Vrinda’s arms.

The back was filled with potions, herbs, and bandages. Vrinda set Dings down on the chair and the monster went right to work unwrapping his head.

“What on earth happened?”

“He was kidnapped.” Vrinda said bluntly, the monster spinning around to stare at the skeleton in shock, then looked at Rage.

“Not him.” She said very quickly, “Apparently a man is going around kidnapping monsters wanting to make slaves.”

It was simple and the truth, to a point. It was what her son had told her and she knew he would go around telling others, so it was easier to mold her story around her son’s than manipulate him into lying. She wouldn’t do that to him.

Rage stayed close to Vrinda, not backing away even when the furred monster stared at him for long enough that he could almost believe she knew what he’d done.

But he’d done the right thing.

So he stayed strong. Head up. And kept close to the other skeletons. Listening closely to Vrinda’s conversation--it wasn’t exactly what happened, but she said she’d take care of it. Even if she wanted him to send people to her for explanations, it was important he got his own story straight and aligned it with hers.

...he’d be lying.

He’d be lying.

And that was okay.

“You’re kidding…” The woman said as she undressed the bandage around Dings head, doing well to hold her face still as she saw the wound. “This is certainly not helping monster/human relations… Things are really beginning to get worrying, aren’t they?”

Vrinda nodded and Dings signed, trying to smile up at the healer with one slumped eye, the light in it completely gone.

“... Did he now?” The healer looked at Rage again, surprised.

Vrinda nodded, arms crossed and voice authoritative again. “He helped Wingdings get back home and has nowhere to go, so he’ll be living with us now.”

Monster… human relations…

He’d. Maybe be able to ask. Later, though.

For now, he just watched the conversation, even though he couldn’t understand part of it. He thought he might’ve recognized one or two of the gestures, but couldn’t piece them together fully.

He ducked his head a little, embarrassed at the mention of him having nowhere to go. It wasn’t embarrassing exactly, but…

...maybe it wasn’t embarrassment as much as he wasn’t used to feeling so pleased?

The monster nodded, buying the story well even if it wasn’t 100% the truth. “How did he hurt your head so badly, Dings?”

‘Hit me with a cane.’ The little boy signed, to which the healer let out another ‘oh my goodness’ and began to heal what she could.

“He’ll have permanent scarring. There isn’t much more I’ll be able to do in ways of closing the gap. That means less rough-housing, young man.”

Dings pouted, ‘What about my eyes?’

The monster stopped what she was doing and hovered her claws over each eye socket, magic glowing. “... I’m sorry sweetie. The damage is done.”

The little skeleton’s face sunk and the healer looked heartbroken as she went back to healing his head.

Rage fidgeted, looking up at Vrinda and then back down at Dings.

He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it again.

He watched the wound instead, trying to see if he could actually notice it closing.

Vrinda looked at Rage, but didn’t force him to speak if he didn’t want to. If it was something more delicate she gave him a look as it say ‘we can talk later’.

It was closing a little, but… it would always be a long crack from his eye socket to the back of his head. His vision was forever damaged.

The healer started to rebandage him, “Do you want me to heal his hand too?”

“No.” Vrinda said quickly, “It’s as healed as it’s going to get.”

She didn’t want them to see the rune. It was… very graphic. It took a special kind of thing to carve a rune into a child’s hand.

At the mention of the hand, Rage… shifted his wrist a bit. Just enough to hide it against his side, the inside pressed against himself, so that no one could see it.

He’d never had a problem with it before, but after talking with Vrinda this morning, he was suddenly much more conscious about it. Like he had something evil printed on him, and it wasn’t ever going to go away.

He’d ask for something to hide it when they left the office. Not now, though. For now, he just kept his wrist close to himself, hoping it looked casual.

Not much long after they were walking out of the healer’s office, Vrinda paying her and the monster offering Dings a tiny piece of sugar-coated, dried fruit as a treat for being good.

She lead her son and Rage out into the street. “We’ll get you some clothes now, then stop by the-”

“DIIIINGS!” A shrill little voice screamed, a tiny black monster with one large eye, a cat-like mouth and furred claws pushing his way through the crowd towards them.

#BOINK!#mayem #the gaster brothers #undertale #RP log #rage #dings #vrinda #trebuchet #cylas

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xiakha · 7 years

Text

An Act of Omission (2092)

Kei leaned against the wall by the stairwell in what she assumed was a ne’er-do-well fashion. She scrolled through the apps in her device with a cool indifference like the devil-may-care delinquent she was. Never mind the way her heart was syncopating, she was cool and composed and perfectly fine with breaking rules like this. She paused mid-flick as the clattering of a run stopped short echoed from around the corner. With a bit of a loping walk, another miscreant tried his best to casually drift into view. She looked up from the device with her best coolly skeptical look. "Lochmann." "Keiretsu."

There was a moment as both of them tried to look as serious as their greetings had been before their expressions split into giddy grins.

"Sorry, did you wait long?" Loch bent an arm by his side and offered his elbow. He was trying hard not to look like he had just run up a few flights of stairs, his breath forcibly light and his face a bit more flushed than he cared to admit. Kei reached out and accepted the proffered elbow. "Only a bit. It's not like a gentleman to keep a lady waiting." "You're quite right. Now where are we headed?" As they turned the corner to the landing of the stairwell, out of line of sight of any cameras, Loch dropped his arm and found Kei's waist and Kei turned to put a hand on Loch's neck.

After an extended muffled moment, they broke off. "Well, it's dinner time." Kei leaned forward a bit to touch foreheads, enjoying the feeling of Loch's thumb stroking her chin and lip. "Yes it is. Why are we meeting out here?" Loch said, his breath ticklish on Kei's face. "Oh, I just thought I'd meet up with you half way." "Doesn’t Student Council meet on the first floor?” "We do." "And you know Debate Club meets on the second floor." "I know." Loch looked across the stairwell at the bilingual sign for the fifth floor and studied its duality carefully. Kei reached her other hand around Loch's neck, interlocking her fingers, "And yes, I know the cafeteria's on the ground floor.” "So it's going to be like that."

"Perhaps it—mmph!" Kei let go of Loch as her back was pushed into the wall. She reached under Loch's arms back up to his shoulders and braced herself close. Her feet just barely left the ground.

A few more moments passed in quietly aching contemplation.

"Somewhat risky isn't it, out here?" The tension in Loch's voice vibrated like a string. As did his hands, but that was more from exertion than nervous urgency. "Fairly deserted with no classes in session. The teachers should be done for tonight too." Loch considered his positioning in the stairwell. If anyone decided to mount the stairs, his back would be exposed to them, and in a few minutes, maybe more than just his back. So with painful deliberation, he disengaged. He wiped his hand slightly on his pant leg and pulled out his key chain from his trouser pocket. "Let's play a bit safer." Kei breathed out slowly, coming back down to earth. She redid some buttons and smoothed her skirt out. Loch was right. Stairwell was probably just asking for trouble. No bones about it. She looked at the jangling keys, “So that’s what was pressing into my leg?” ”Maybe. Maybe something else.” "Oh, and here I thought you were just happy to see me.” He extended his hand, "Let me show you just how happy I am to see you."

The two speed-walked as casually as they could under the cameras. The classrooms were all locked now, but if you were a prefect, you could request a key after hours to unlock a door. That key was closely monitored and had to be signed in and out, which was a big hassle. So Loch made a copy of it and Kei figured out where all the blind spots in the CCTV network were. It just so happened that the sophomore science classrooms on the fifth floor were so old they were basically off the grid with only one camera in the wing.

And so, with the physical manifestation of his deeds in his hand, the son of a candidate for Prime Minister of RHK turned to the daughter of the CEO and heir of the largest Japanese biotech company. "Last chance." Kei looked up from the door knob that Loch had his hand on. "Last chance?" "We could go back up to your room, y'know?" Loch didn't say he wanted to avoid very publicly violating several co-educational guidelines in one of the most prestigious schools in the greater Guangdong area. They could do it in private instead. “But we’d have to walk all the way up!” “Well, if you think this is worth it…” Kei popped up on her tiptoes and dropped her voice in Loch's ear, "You chickening out on me, Lochmann?" She punctuated her intent with the tip of her tongue on his inner auricle.

Loch's qualms were pushed aside like the door before them.

After a few attempts, the door behind them locked shut. "So, how was club?" "You would have—liked it. We were debating—human cloning." Their conversation went on in odd, breathless bursts, like they were preoccupied with something strenuous. "Mmm. I do—love my b-bioethics." "Yeah, I was—thinking of you—the entire time." Loch paused to picked up their blazers from the ground and set them neatly on a nearby desk, eliciting a small laugh and a light push from Kei. "How was student—student council?" "Eh, same old. Class Repre—representative duty hasn't much changed—eep!" The desk they were leaning against scraped against the ground as Loch pushed Kei onto it. There was the twang and snap of roughly pulled elastic and fabric ejecting itself across the room. "Go on."

Kei looked down at the top of Loch's head, "Are you serious Johnny." Loch peered back up, planted a wet kiss on Kei's skin, and licked his lips, "I'll be fine down here. You were saying?" "Oh my god I don't belie—" She was quickly convinced, "Okay. Well. The budget for—for the junior class field trip was recently approved!" The lilt in Kei's voice shot up a few octaves and decibels as she clamped her hands in Loch's hair to steady herself. "I'm sure they'll be quite happy with that." "Thrilled! I-I'm sure! But that's—that's b-basically the only! Thing that we got d-done today!" "Bureaucracy was that bad today?" "Yeah, arguing back and forth, even—even with that sort of p-polite tone! Is—is the sort of thing that j-just ties me into knots!" It was a blessing that Loch could so dexterously untangle her like this. "The sophomores were being—being rather stupid, ohgod, today. But I can't—can't seem to remember why!" Kei drew a shuddering breath as Loch paused slightly to wipe his mouth, his breath hot and heavy and so close, "It'll come to you." "Oh god Johnny please. ...OhgodJohnnypleasepleasepleaserightthereright--"

After a few moments of released yet suppressed agony, Kei retrieved her breath from where it had become caught and released her death grip from Loch's head. She brushed her hair dramatically out of her face to better frame her goofy half smile, "This is going to put awkward wrinkles into my skirt." "We should have dealt with that before, huh?" Loch stood up, his smile half smug and half giddy. Kei stood up as well, shakily support herself first on the desk, and then on Loch. "Your turn."

"But Sammie I—" His protestations abruptly cut off as he became a bit tongue tied. There was the sound of jingling and zipping before something plopped to the ground unceremoniously. Kei pushed Loch gently back into a chair from where they were standing and then leaned forward onto her knees. "Tell me about the debate." "Turnabout's fair play, I gue—" Loch drew breath sharply. For a few moments, Loch was too distracted to find the words. Then, with subtle prompting from Kei, he continued, "W-well, ah, it was about human cloning, right?" "Mhm." "My side was assigned pro, and, ah, the t-topic went over to the—to the use of non-sentient clones." Kei paused slightly to tuck some wayward hair behind her ear, "The classic organ growing debate?" "F-funny. Well, es-especially now that your mother's company, ah, disclosed that their hyper—hypercompatible antirejection organs originate fr-from non-sentient clones, the discussion has, mph, has swelled with new blood, s-so to speak." "Mmmm." Loch cupped his hands on the sides of Kei's head, slowing her movement, "C-careful. An-anyway, the con side had—had their work cut out f-for them, but Al-Alexandria was able to press—to press forward with the question of wh-where the non-sentient clones, ah, come from, ne-never mind the good they—they currently do—Oh god, Sammy." There was a slightly wet popping sound, "Yes?" "You're about to get the better of me." Kei giggled at the turn of phrase and stuck her tongue out at Loch, "Yes and?" "W-Well, we still need to make it to dinner." "So lemme get busy then." "I mean, can we skip ahead?" Kei pouted and tapped her chin with something that was not quite her fingers, "But you already ate and I haven't had my fill yet." "...Right but if we do this and then wait around until I'm ready for the, uh, 'main course,' we'll surely miss actual dinner and go hungry. Mostly hungry." He got off the chair and pulled a small square from his discarded pants and helped Kei to her feet. After a kiss, Kei took the square and ripped it open with her teeth. "All right, then, will you fill up me in a different way?"

They did away with a few other frivolous details, like a certain wrinkled skirt, and Loch gently eased Kei back on that desk. As he made some last minute adjustments after Kei's somewhat slipshod sheathing, Kei folded up her legs, kicking slightly, teasingly. Loch wrapped a hand around her thigh, finding the nook behind her knee, "You present quite a persuasive argument." "Pssh, do you want me to guide you through it?" "Well, spread out like this in front of me, it should be easy to understand. But a little help wouldn't hurt." The desk creaked in a way that it probably was not designed to do. And then it did so again. Repeatedly. For a while, whatever conversation they had was made primarily in scattered, nigh inaudible pressing whispers made when their mouths weren't preoccupied with other matters. Then, as such things happen, Kei did her best not to scream as she did her best to crush Loch in the embrace her arms and legs made around him. And well, faced with that kind of tightness, Loch was about as tenacious and persevering as any man, who had previously been forced so close to the edge already, could hope to be.

As they came back down, Kei broke off the kisses to laugh, "I remember now!" "Hm?” "What the sophomores were complaining about!" "Oh, what about?” "Improper use of sophomore classrooms!"

As they finished putting the classroom, and their wardrobes, back together, Kei held Loch close as the buzzing in her head finally subsided. "So what was the resolution of your debate?" "Barely scraped by with a win, 3-2. In no small part helped by the notes you were able to procure from your mother. Next meeting we'll be talking more bioethics, but I'll be judging." "Oh, that reminds me, is your father still free to meet with the student council next week?" "Yeah, and he's usually good with these kinds of commitments. He loves teaching kids.” They parted, with a final kiss, to mask the nature of their delinquent activity. Loch had to discreetly dispose of evidence, and Kei needed access to a mirror. But for a few moments they held hands, fingers intertwined.

"Sammie just entered, south-side.” "Funny, because Johnny just entered from the east." Az squinted, "Oh my god he's got his sheepish I-just-fucked swagger on." Eri did a little fist pump at waist level, "And Sammie's practically glowing. I totally called it." "They could have been studying!" "Yeah because studying totally makes you glow and walk funny. Pay up." As the two miscreants met up again in an almost naturally unexpected kind of way, Az transferred money to Eri's account.

#story #Academy #Loch #Kei #Az #Eri #nsfw?#ish #Stands Still Universe

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calledtokarip-blog · 6 years

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LIFE UPDATE

Holy. Cow. It has been a long time. Two months to be exact. I have been so busy being blessed by the Lord Jesus Himself that I haven’t had a spare moment to sit down and write. Also, I hadn’t felt the push of the Holy Spirit that I like to have when I write until last week.

We have been singing a new song by Hillsong Young and Free at Switch (Life.Church’s Wednesday night youth ministry). It is called P E A C E.

Here are the lyrics for you:

You will stay true Even when the lies come Your word remains truth Even when my thoughts don't line up

I will stand tall On each promise You made Let the rest fade away

There's a peace far beyond all understanding May it ever set my heart at ease Dare anxiety come, I'll remember that peace is a promise You keep Peace is a promise You keep

You will stay true Even in the chaos Your word remains truth Even when my mind wreaks havoc

I will be still For I've known all along My Jehovah Shalom

There's a peace far beyond all understanding May it ever set my heart at ease What anxiety fails to remember is peace is a promise You keep Peace is a promise You keep

You are peace to a restless soul Peace when my thoughts wage war Peace to the anxious heart That's who You are, that's who You are

You are peace when my fear takes hold Peace when I feel enclosed Peace when I loose control

That's who You are, that's who You are

I've found peace far beyond all understanding Let it flow when my mind's under siege All anxiety bows in the presence of Jesus the Keeper of Peace And peace is a promise He keeps

Read the lyrics one more time through. Let them speak to you.

They have spoke to me in so many ways lately.

Last time I checked in, you may recall that I was in Florida, visiting one of my best friends, Halee. Upon my return home a HUGE blessing came into my life.

Blessing #1: ACCUTANE

As some of you may know, I have dealt with persistent acne almost my entire life. Okay, since I hit that awesome stage in life we call puberty, basically. This drug is one of the most “powerful” drugs that is FDA approved for acne sufferers. It basically dries out your entire body’s oil glands and there is a 75% chance I'll never have to take another pill for acne again and I may even be able to use “normal person” fast wash! I’m currently almost half way through month 2 and I’m seeing SO MUCH PROGRESS. I have had so many compliments on how good my skin looks and I’ve had to learn how to take those compliments because it’s something I’ve never experienced this before!

Blessing #2: YOUTUBE

When I started Accutane, I actually created a YouTube channel to document my progress. YouTube is something I’ve wanted to do for a REALLY long time and I’m so glad I stopped out of my comfort zone to create a channel. In this busy season of life I feel like I’ve left my followers in the dust a bit but I plan on making an update video to let them know why I've fell off the face of the YouTube earth as well. If you support this blog and my YouTube channel, thank you so much for what you do!!

Blessing #3: OPPORTUNITIES

WOWIE. Okay, this is another area of life that I asked God to bless me in and boy did He.

I applied for a lifeguard job and also got it so that is SUCH a HUGE blessing. I can’t wait to be making money this summer and saving up for next school year.

I also applied for an internship at Life.Church this summer. By the grace of God, I will also be the LifeKids intern and Life.Church Shawnee this summer! I am so excited for this position and the opportunities it could provide for me in the future. It counts for credit for college purposes so that is an added bonus to it all. I’ve found such a love for being at church so I can’t wait for this summer so I can really make an impact in even more kiddos lives. I got to go for my first time doing the LifeKids schedule today and I won’t sugar coat and say it was easy but it was honestly fun! I got to see everyone who serves and challenge myself in making sure we had enough people in rooms and that kind of stuff! I would very much appreciate prayers in this season of life and that God has me impact even just ONE family this summer.

In addition to receiving a job for the summer, I have also received a job for the fall! I will be working at our fitness center as a facility attendant.

I’m so glad that everything I will be doing as far as jobs and internships go in the next few months all apply to my degree! This excites me because it will look great on a resume in the future when apply for “big girl jobs!”

Blessing #4: SCHOOL

As I am typing this, I am officially DONE WITH THIS SEMESTER! With my J-term and summer credits, I will actually be a JUNIOR in the fall! I am on track to graduate a year early and I can only thank God for the opportunities He has given me and the abilities He has given me to persevere, even when life can be tough. I made it through this semester with a 4.0 and I am so grateful. It was a FANTASTIC year at OBU and I cannot wait to come back next fall to be with Kylie, Rylee, and Logan in our cute little home.

Blessing #5: THE LITTLE THINGS

Because I will be a junior next fall, and because of the academic achievements I have made, I was inducted into the Oklahoma Baptist University Chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society!

Blessing #6: THE SMITH FAMILY IS MOVING...PART 6

YOU READ THAT RIGHT FOLKS! The last time we moved, it was across the country, now, its across town!! We have found a BEAUTIFUL home in a GREAT neighborhood and Spencer, Troy, and everyone we can round up, will be helping us! Mama Lis and BDR have been thinking about down sizing since they became empty nesters and God gave them just the push they needed. We are all very excited...so excited that Lisa and I redid my bathroom over text one night! All of our friends that live else where must come to see our cute little house when we get all settled.

So what does all this have to do with the song I showed you??

God has thrown SO MANY BLESSINGS my way...even day to day my life has just been so blessed. I have been thrown a lot of curve balls though.

Moving is never easy, I had to work REALLY hard in a lot of my classes this semester to get a 4.0 and some days just weren’t the best...but that’s life...right?

God has brought me SO MUCH PEACE because I have accepted that it is HIS will, not mine. I have explained my experience with anxiety and some of my close family and friends know how bad it can get but the line in this song, “what anxiety fails to remember is peace is a promise You keep.” That line speaks VOLUMES to me because anxiety and negativity is such a common tool that the devil loves to use against all of us.

So today, remember that PEACE is a promise that our Lord keeps to us...NO MATTER WHAT.

I could not have done what I did this semester and gotten what I have been blessed with this semester without my Lord and Savior. I am so appreciative of how He is moving in my life and the lives of those close to me.

Also, I could not have done it without Mama Lis and BDR. There are lots of people that have kept me going this semester and really, entire year but these two...I tear up just thinking about them. I can’t wait to be home with them this summer. I have learned to cherish them so much more this year than any other season of my life. I love you mom and dad, I'll always be your little girl.

God bless you all,

Until next time,

XOXO,

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