#ungrateful ass PCs | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

heliads · 3 months

Text

everything is blue • conrisa space au • Chapter Nineteen: Call Up the Cavalry

Risa Ward escaped a shuttle destined for her certain, painful death. Connor Lassiter ran away from home before it was too late. Lev Calder was kidnapped. All of them were supposed to be dissected for parts, used to advance a declining galaxy, but as of right now, all of them are whole. Life will not stay the same way forever.

series spotify playlist

previous / series masterlist / next

Connor fears that this might be the moment at which he finally goes mad.

He’s undergone enough to make the snap happen, at least. How much bending can a mind take before it breaks? How many separations, how much running, how much death and chaos can one teenage boy undergo before he starts to lose himself? Connor wouldn’t be surprised if this is all a hallucination cooked up by a brain that doesn’t want to separate itself from its familiar skull.

However, just why Connor would hallucinate this tithe of all people, he can’t understand. He stands there, blinking at the blond kid, until the figure of Lev Calder sighs, cracks a grin, and says, “Hey, Connor. Long time, no see.”

This, truly, is how Connor knows this has got to be fake. “Since when have you been friendly?” Connor asks doubtfully.

One of the teenagers next to Connor chokes out a laugh. “Lev, I thought you said you were friends with this guy.”

“I am,” Lev says, flashing the stranger a dour glare so severe that Connor is immediately thrust into more than a year of memories. Yes, that’s Lev alright. No one can cast judgment quite like a boy who’s worn tithing whites all his life.

Lev clears his throat pretentiously and motions for Connor to continue into the house. “Surprised to see me?”

“Surprised would be an understatement,” Connor remarks. “Do I have a concussion or something?”

Lev grins again. “I would make a terrible figment of your imagination, but that’s beside the point. No, Connor, you’re not dreaming. I should hope not, it’s taken ages to track you down. Hasn’t anyone told you to stop moving around all the time?”

“Yeah, the Proactive Citizenry,” Connor says wryly. “The two of you can argue over custody claims for me.”

Lev’s face tightens. “Trust me, there’s nothing I’d like to do more than poke a fight with the PC. They’re no friends of ours.”

Connor arches a disbelieving brow. “Really? Because the last time I saw you, you couldn’t get to a harvest colony fast enough. I seem to remember you arguing with Risa and I in an effort to turn the ship around when we saved your ungrateful ass.”

It’s difficult to keep the bite out of his words. Even though it’s been more than a year, Connor still hasn’t forgiven the kid for the stunt he pulled back in the boundary checkpoint leaving the OH-10 sector. When Lev had sounded the alarm, Connor and Risa had been forced to go on the run again, requiring the help of a sympathetic checkpoint worker for them to escape undetected. Even so, they’d barely made it out alive, and no thanks to Lev.

One of Lev’s friends doesn’t seem to take kindly to Connor’s hostility. He starts to move towards Connor, but Lev waves him off with a small gesture of his hand. Connor watches all this with faint curiosity– since when has the short tithe been able to inspire this kind of loyalty– but doesn’t say a word.

Lev picks up on his lingering irritation. “I wouldn’t blame you for being annoyed with me for how things ended in OH-10. None of us do,” he says smoothly, aiming a pointed glare at his vocal friend before carrying on. “I was a different kid back then. I didn’t know the importance of staying alive. I thought distribution was saving the world. Then I learned otherwise.”

Connor sits forward in his seat, unable to disguise his curiosity. “What changed your mind?”

Lev smiles softly. “Actually, I started having second thoughts the moment I turned you guys in. I couldn’t shake the guilt I felt, thinking that I had sent you guys to your deaths. I slipped away in the chaos when the checkpoint cops were trying to find you, and ended up hitching a ride on a mass transit shuttle. It was going to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, which I figured would be a good way to start clearing my head. Along the way, I met up with these guys. They call themselves the Chancefolk.”

Connor glances at the assembled group. None of them seem to be from the same place, all different heights and builds, different complexions, but the same haunted look in their eyes. Whatever they’ve been through, it’s been just as long and winding a road to walk as Connor’s.

“The Chancefolk?” Connor repeats. “I’ve never heard that name before.”

“I would be surprised if you had,” Lev tells him. “The Chancefolk are the native people of the galaxy. The group you see before you is only a small fraction of their true number.”

Connor turns to face him, startled. “I thought the Collective wiped out all of the native species from the worlds they conquered. People, plants, animals, everything.”

“Think again,” says a woman from the back. “The Collective would love you to believe that they’re the supreme authority on everything, but they couldn’t be more wrong. They miscalculated and mishandled the galaxy, but we’ve been maintaining the worlds all along. There are pockets of us in every system if you know where to look. We may keep our heads low, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look around and see where we need to be.”

Connor nods slowly. “I can’t believe none of us ever knew about you.”

“The Collective’s got a pretty good propaganda blanket across the galaxy, but I have a feeling that times are changing,” Lev tells him. “For one thing, you’ve got a friend who’s pushing that boundary.”

Connor breaks into a grin despite himself. “Don’t tell me you’ve been tuning in to Radio Free Hayden? Even in your outer rim hideaway?”

Lev chuckles. For a moment, he looks younger again, more like the boy Connor remembers meeting, and then promptly abducting, all that time ago at the beginning of it all. “Of course we did. That’s how I knew you and Risa were still alive, actually. I turned to his frequency one day and heard the three of you joking around like you’d never had a care in the world.”

The smile lingers on Lev’s face for a moment longer, but then his expression sobers again. “Speaking of Risa, where is she? From the way you two used to talk on that radio show, I thought you were joined at the hip, but you showed up here by yourself. Did something happen?”

A wave of grief washes over Connor again, even stronger from its absence. “Something bad. We were ambushed by the PC. She sacrificed herself so I could get away.”

Lev closes his eyes momentarily in grief. “I’ll pray for her. In the meantime, what do you say we break her out of there? We were planning a raid anyway. I think it’s time to show the PC that they’re not nearly as strong as they think they are.”

Connor nods excitedly. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do. In the meantime, there are a few things you guys should know about the PC before we draft a plan.”

The Chancefolk draw closer as Connor tells them about Dorian Heartland. He sees the outrage in their expressions, the pain and agony of knowing that their centuries-old foe is still alive. Judging by the steely resolve in their eyes, though, Heartland’s over-extended life may not continue for that much longer. Not if Connor has anything to say about it.

In the end, they walk away from that meeting with a plan. To take on Heartland and the PC, they’ll need an army. However, between the Chancefolk scattered across the galaxy and a fair number of personal friends that Connor and Risa have made along the way, they’re halfway there, and that’s not a bad start. First, though, they’ll need someone capable of uniting the worlds behind their cause, and he’s imprisoned in a harvest colony waiting to die.

“You’re certain this is going to work?” Connor asks for the tenth time. They’re approaching the exterior of the harvest complex now, nearing a service entrance at the back with weapons drawn, but even though they’ve been through the plan many times, all Connor can imagine are possible avenues of error.

“It’ll be fine,” Lev assures him yet again. “Listen, you saved my life when we first met, even if I didn’t appreciate it then. Let me help you out now. I’ve been owing you that favor for a while.”

“Don’t I know it,” Connor mutters under his breath, but he shuts up and lets himself believe in the idea that this might work.

Una Jacali, one of Lev’s closest friends among the Chancefolk, is leading the expedition. She looks as if she might be ready to assassinate Dorian Heartland herself using nothing more than her bare hands and raw anger should they accidentally cross paths. Connor never thought he’d say this, but he actually feels bad for the guy. Having someone as unbreakable as Una on your tail can’t be good.

Una signals to them, counting down from three with a free hand. When she lowers her hand, the explosives they’ve placed on the far side of the harvest complex go up in a fiery rage, drawing the attention of all nearby cops far away from them. The group sneaks through the service entrance and into the shadowy halls. Una and Connor fire at guards when they need to, but their path to the harvest colony is surprisingly clear, likely thanks to the inferno distraction still sending wailing klaxons through the complex.

“They’ll all be in the dorms thanks to the alarm,” Lev tells them. “We should head there now.”

“Remember, Hayden is our first priority,” Connor urges them. “Get everyone out, of course, but we have to make sure he’s safe.”

“Or at least his voice box,” Una supplies. “He can be shot in the leg and be fine.”

Connor shoots her a dour look. “The whole body needs to be fine, Una. He’s our friend.”

Una doesn’t acknowledge this with anything more than a raised eyebrow, which makes Lev clap a hand to his mouth in an attempt to silence his bout of laughter. “We hear you, Connor,” the former tithe says when he manages to get himself under control. “Hayden Upchurch won’t be harmed.”

Connor would appreciate a little more confidence on that front than just the word of Lev, but then again, the boy’s done this well in getting them thus far, he might as well have a little more faith. If anything, the religious upbringing in the younger boy would appreciate some good honest hope.

The group of rescuers breaks into the central portion of the harvest complex when the service corridor ends. Immediately, shots break out as several guards notice them. Evidently not every soldier had been sent to check out the disturbance.

“Go on,” Una urges Connor and Lev. “We’ll hold them off.”

Connor shouts his thanks, then takes off towards the dorms, Lev just behind them. Surprisingly, Lev manages to keep up, even despite his shorter stature. “Since when did you learn to run this quickly?” Connor asks, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.

Lev chuckles. “A lot happened in the Outer Rim. I’ll have to tell you sometime, but the stories would take a while.”

There’s a dark glint in Lev’s eyes, one Connor doesn’t quite recognize from the short window of time they’d spent together a lifetime ago on the stolen shuttle of a Juvey-cop. Connor makes a mental note to sit Lev down once they get out of here and ask him just what in sunfire happened in the year since they last saw each other.

That is, of course, assuming they do get out of here. It is not lost on Connor that Heartland brought all the AWOLs from the Graveyard here to trap Connor once and for all. Although Connor and Risa already sprung that trap in the synth-park, there’s no telling if Heartland had a backup scheme that could be playing out right now. All Connor can do is keep running, and hope to all the heavenly bodies that this, at last, is something the immortal murderer didn’t see coming.

The two of them reach the door to the dorms. A quick blast from Connor’s gun sears through the lock, and he kicks it open. The door surges forward on its hinges, and hasn’t even opened all the way before Connor sprints through it. Kids are everywhere inside– sitting in the corner, talking in quiet voices, poking their heads out of doors, all of them staring at Connor with these wide eyes. It occurs to him that they might be afraid of him. When did he become something worth their terror?

Then a girl near him stands up with a start. “Connor?”

He recognizes her vaguely from the Graveyard, and although they never personally met, Connor seizes this opportunity to get back control of the situation. “Yes,” he says as loudly as he can, “It’s me, Connor Lassiter. From the Graveyard. I’m here to get you guys to safety. There are some men and women outside, they’ll help you to our shuttle.”

Too afraid to believe their good luck, no one moves at first. Connor takes a few more steps inside. “Come on, hurry. Unless you guys want to wait around and get distributed?”

That does it. The girl who’d spoken to Connor earlier hastens to the door, pokes her head out, then quickly waves to the rest of the distributes to get going. “He’s right, none of the guards can get us. Hurry, everybody.”

The teenagers follow the girl, pouring out of the dorms in a shouting, cheering wave of kids. Connor can’t help a smile as he watches the life spark back into their eyes. They’ve got a shot again, and he helped to give it to them. Maybe, just maybe, he can finally make up for what he’s done. He can reverse the tides. Little by little, Connor Lassiter can get back into the good graces of the universe.

Connor pushes further into the crowd, checking each face as he passes for Hayden or, with pitifully shrinking hope, Risa. He doesn’t really think Risa will be here, if he was in the mood for being honest with himself. She’s too important a prisoner for Heartland to just toss her in here with the rest. Still, it would make his rescue attempt very efficient if he could get both Risa and Hayden out of here in only one shot. He’ll have to suggest to Heartland that he re-organize his method of exterminating teenagers so Connor is best served by it.

The ridiculousness of that thought makes Connor smirk to himself as he wades further inside. It’s a little difficult to get through as everyone inside does their damndest to get out as fast as they can. Painfully, it reminds Connor of the mass stampede inside the doomed Graveyard when they had been found out.

Just like back then, too, Connor looks up across the crowd to find someone lingering on the outskirts, someone blond and tall who makes eye contact with Connor and breaks into this wild, bright grin that Connor hasn’t seen except in his nightmares in a very long time.

Immediately, Connor throws himself against the crowd until he’s in front of the boy. For a moment, he just stares, and then he wraps his arms around his friend, squeezing him until he almost thinks he’s forced the air from the other boy’s lungs.

“Hayden,” he says emphatically.

Hayden Upchurch, because of course it is he, hugs Connor back so hard that he picks Connor off of the ground entirely before letting him back down again. “Connor! Suns, I heard a few of the religious kids talking about how they got guardian angels when they died, but I didn’t think I’d get such a heroic one. I’ve got a poster of you up on my wall, do you want to see it?”

Connor chokes out a laugh, eliciting a proud grin from Hayden when they finally break apart. “Yeah, I totally believe that the PC let you have an Akron AWOL poster in their harvest colony. That’s such a bad joke, man.”

Hayden snorts. “They only allowed me to put it up because I promised I’d get them a signed copy. Do you carry a pen with you, or should I get one of my own? You know I have to honor my promises.”

Connor just grins. “How about you keep your promise to shoot those starspawn in the legs if you ever saw them again?”

“That sounds good to me, too,” Hayden assures him. “Now come on, I want to get out of here. I don't fancy the idea of spending any more time, even in these fine living conditions.”

Connor casts one last glance over Hayden’s shoulder, but the throngs of AWOLs have already started to disperse, and he doesn’t see a particular brunette girl anywhere. “Hayden– you haven’t seen–”

He can’t quite get the words out, but Hayden, careful as ever, figures out what he’s trying to say. He puts a sympathetic hand on Connor’s shoulder, gently but firmly steering him out of the dorms. “No, Connor. Risa isn’t here. I’ve been looking out for both of you in case either of you turned up, you know that, but she never showed. I’m sorry, man.”

“No problem,” Connor says with a heavy heart. “I didn’t really think she’d end up here, anyway.”

“The two of you split?” Hayden asks, surprised. “I thought you were together forever.”

Connor shoots him a questionable frown. “What in the stars are you talking about?”

Hayden chuckles, even as stray gunfire from the cops rakes towards them. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. The two of you were practically joined at the hip. It used to drive me crazy in the Graveyard, actually. Jeevan and I had a bet going on how long it would take the two of you to finally spill your lovesick little guts. Speaking of which, how long did it take?”

Hayden spares one quick glance at Connor’s face as the two of them run towards the exit and winces. “Don’t tell me you never said a thing. Connor, you’ve been leading that poor girl on for months.”

“It’s not that,” Connor protests. “And come on, seriously? A bet? I didn’t even realize I liked her until just recently.”

At the entrance to the service hallway, Lev joins them just early enough to hear the end of the conversation. “You’re talking about Risa, right? How they act like they’re supposed to be together forever?”

“Yes,” Hayden says emphatically. “Thank you.”

Connor sputters. “That’s absurd. Lev, Risa and I were arguing like crazy when you were there. Don’t join Hayden’s side, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You should absolutely join Hayden’s side,” Hayden says. “Hayden is always right.”

“He’s right about this,” Lev says as they race down the corridor. Then, to Hayden, “It’s the way they look at each other, right? They can’t stop staring. At first, I thought he had an eye problem or something.”

“Hey,” Connor complains, but Hayden just throws up his arms in victory.

“Exactly! The staring thing! Suns, they were hopeless. You’d think they got married years ago.”

“Can we please focus on getting out of here without dying?” Connor begs.

Were they anywhere but here, he’s certain he would have been ignored, but the rapid gunfire of Juvey-cops can derail any conversation. “Fine, but we’re definitely talking about this later,” Hayden warns.

“I’ll do my best to miss it,” Connor grumbles under his breath. Maybe he should have insisted that Lev stay back at the house, or told him that he wouldn’t ever get along with Hayden so he shouldn’t bother trying. Anything to avoid whatever surreal hell this is.

It takes a while to get all of the Graveyard AWOLs back to the house Lev’s friends are using as their hideout. The journey isn’t totally smooth, either: two Chancefolk and three distributes get shot as they’re running. Although the wounds aren’t life-threatening, every person with an injury is out of the final rescue, and Connor needs every single soul he can get so they’re not totally outnumbered.

Once back inside, Connor and Lev sit Hayden down to explain their plan. At the end, Hayden stares at both of them, obviously baffled. “I’m sorry, you want me to do another radio show? And that’s going to save the galaxy?”

Lev nods. “You would be surprised how many people can be saved just by hearing one voice. Or how many already have. You’re well known in the groups of people protecting AWOLs. What you need is to reach everybody else. Sound the alarm so they know it’s time to come out of hiding.”

Hayden shakes his head in disbelief. “This plan makes no sense. If the galaxy can hear me, so can the Proactive Citizenry. They’ll know we’re coming, and they way outnumber us, especially if we tell them when and where we’re attacking.”

“They already know we’re going to attack,” Connor assures him. “They knew that the second they took Risa. The only thing they’re not expecting is how many people are going to show up. If they hear your broadcast, fine. Heartland is assuming that everyone is going to brush it off again like they have all this time.”

“And we’re sure that they won’t just brush it off again?” Hayden asks, clearly dubious.

“I’m sure,” Lev answers. “I’ve been traveling all over the world since Connor convinced me to abandon my tithing. I’ve seen a lot of people in a lot of places, but everywhere, they’re starting to wonder if distribution is really the right way to go. We’ve got a serious chance now of changing their minds.”

Connor nods in agreement. “That’s the problem with Heartland, he’s gotten overconfident. He assumes that things will be the same way they’ve always been, but that’s not the case anymore. Times are changing, even if he hasn’t realized it yet. The time of distribution is over. We get to live again.”

Hayden whistles under his breath. “Damn, nice speech. Are we sure you’re not the one who should be making this broadcast?”

Connor chuckles. “Trust me, man, you’re the one with the star power. It’s your show, we’re all just along for the ride.”

Hayden’s bright spark of a grin shines again. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a better thing. Out of curiosity, how in sunfire is my broadcast reaching the entire galaxy? I mean, my old signal barely made it a few star systems over. There’s no way I can reach everybody on my old tech, plus it was all blown up when the Graveyard went nuclear. Unless the two of you went scavenger hunting around that wreck, we need more comms equipment.”

“Consider that settled,” Lev says. “I’ve got some stuff from an anonymous donor, really nice gear. They’ll be able to hear you from Centerworld all the way to the outer reaches.”

Hayden rubs his hands together excitedly. “In that case, I think it’s time for a show.”

Lev takes the two of them to the room where they’ve been storing the comms gear. He informs them that the Chancefolk have been using this place as a home base for technology and missions operations, hence why so much equipment has been stored up. Hayden’s eyes light up when he sees the new gear, and can’t contain his excitement as he rattles off all the specs of this top-notch equipment. Several times, he has to be reminded that he’s not just here to sightsee, but actually record something.

At last, after some quick tune-ups and test runs, Hayden finds his old frequency and starts to talk. He planned out a loose script with them beforehand, mainly just a few talking points, but they’re more than happy to let Hayden run wild with whatever he comes up with. So long as it gets to the main conclusion in the end, of course.

“I’m not dead,” Hayden announces dramatically to the microphone, “That may come as a surprise to some of you, given the recent lapse in broadcasts, but Radio Free Hayden is still alive, and so am I. So are runaway distributes across the galaxy, or so I hear. Personally, I have Connor Lassiter to thank for my survival. We’re still alive. AWOLs, if you’re listening, I hope you’re still out there, still whole. I’m glad to be back, but I need something from you.”

Hayden takes a deep breath before continuing. “The Collective wants your pieces. All we did was live, and yet total strangers are perfectly willing to tear us apart just because our parents and State Homes gave the say-so. I know this is wrong, and so do you, listeners. However, for once we’ve got a chance to fight back. I need you all to come to Dandrich-IV. Yes, in Centerworld. We’re making a stand against the Collective, and that means we have to go to their home base. I’ll relay the coordinates in time, but I need everyone to show up and be willing to fight. I’m sure all of you remember Risa Ward, a good friend of mine and Connor’s. We need to save her life, listeners, just as she saved your lives by proving that AWOLs could exist out there in the open sky. She’s our friend, and she’s your friend. Let’s get her back.”

Hayden sends a nervous glance Connor’s way, but Connor just responds with a single thumbs up. Hayden’s doing great, now he has to send it home. “We were never meant to survive for long, you know. The Graveyard proved otherwise. Connor and Risa and I, we did our best to show you that we’re real kids, worthy of living even if someone decided otherwise. I know that we deserve to live. We all know it. The Collective is trying to make you think that the fate of the galaxy depends on all of us dying for the cause, but that’s not true.”

“There is nothing any of us can do. We are children. We are kids. As a species, it takes us years to be able to tie our own shoelaces. We’re not even able to drive a hovercar until almost a fifth of our life has gone by. Why, then, is it that the burden of fixing an entire society falls to us? Maybe it’s because we’re the only ones left to care. We’re going to die anyway, listeners. We might as well die doing something worthwhile. Follow me to Dandrich-IV. We’re going to make a stand. We will be heard. And if we lose our lives out there, at least it’s more living than we would have done if we’d been distributed at the start.”

Connor’s heart is pounding in his chest. Surrounded by his equipment, Hayden’s lip curls. “Besides, our enemy won’t understand what it’s like to fear for his life. Did you know that the head of the Proactive Citizenry hasn’t been honoring his promise to only give distributed parts back to the galaxy? The CEO of the PC is a man named Dorian Heartland. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s been around since old-Earth days. He’s been cheating death by swapping out his own rotting parts with fresh ones from kids. To all the adult listeners out there, do you think your children deserve to die so some rich guy out there can have eternal life? To the new generation, do you want your life to go to some man who’s already had more than his fair share of lifetimes?”

“We’re taking back our lives, listeners. We’re winning the war. I want to see you at the gates of the PC. I want you to make a change that generations after us will remember. I’m sending you the coordinates now. If you believe in life, I’ll meet you there. One last time, I’m signing off with everyone’s favorite tune. And remember– the truth will keep you whole.”

With that, Hayden decisively presses the button to end his recording. The grainy beats of some old-Earth song fills the room. Hayden closes his eyes, basking in the sound, his chest rising and falling dramatically. Connor, too, feels as if he’s undergone some great physical exertion, and all he was doing was listening.

When the last bars of the song fade from Connor’s ears, he breathes out unsteadily, not sure what to do in the face of this sudden stillness. “That was incredible,” he says.

Hayden cracks a tired grin. “Thanks. Good to know I haven’t lost my touch.”

Lev shakes his head in awe. “Not a chance. Man, if you hadn’t been slated for distribution– if you could have lived a normal life– you would have made a killing as an actor or something. You’ve got a knack for speeches.”

Hayden’s face twists. “A lot would have happened if we’d had normal lives. You’d still be with your families. I’d be with mine. They had a lot of rich actor friends. Maybe they would have sent me into that life. Who knows.”

Connor’s heart sinks at the grief plainly written on Hayden’s face. “A lot would have changed if we were never supposed to be distributed. We probably never would have met. I’d be a completely different person.”

“So would I,” Lev echoes hollowly.

“So would I,” Hayden repeats, his voice distant and toneless. All of a sudden, his head snaps up, and he makes eye contact with both of them in a row, quick and fierce. “I’m glad we met. I didn’t want to die, obviously, but I’m glad to have you guys. And Risa, and Jeevan, and everybody else. I wouldn’t trade this life for anything, but I do want to end the circumstances that brought us together. It doesn’t mean I like you guys any less, just that–”

His voice breaks off unevenly, but Connor can fill in the gaps. “Just that no one else should have to die even though we lived.”

“Exactly,” Hayden says.

Lev nods slowly. “We’ve got a chance to turn things around. All we have to do is wait and see how many people heard your signal.”

Although he hates to break the tentative peace that’s settled over them, Connor still has to ask: “What if nobody comes?”

Lev looks at him with grim determination. “Then we go in alone, and save Risa or die trying. We won’t hide in the shadows anymore. And if we die in there, then our blood is on the hands of everyone who didn’t participate. Maybe that’ll move them even more than Hayden’s speech.”

The back of Connor’s throat is raw like acid, but he makes a sound of agreement. Lev is right. Whatever happens from here on out, Connor will still go into Dorian Heartland’s center, and he will find Risa. Maybe he’ll have an army at his back, maybe he’ll only have a couple of friends. But Risa will be found, and for once, Heartland won’t have the last laugh. That, at least, he can guarantee.

They allow themselves a couple of standard hours for everyone to show up. As it turns out, they don’t have to wait that long. Within half an hour, ships are already starting to tune up. Voices are popping up on Hayden’s frequency, different people chartering trips together or announcing that they’ll be meeting Hayden on Dandrich-IV. It occurs to Connor, listening to all of these strangers he’s never met saying that they’ll follow him to death or salvation, that he may have started a revolution, or at least helped build a spark into a blaze.

If this inferno consumes them all, at least Connor’s last hours will have been something bright, something beautiful. He’s had an awful lot of time to run and hide. At some point, he has to turn that restless energy into a fight. Now is the time.

He’s interrupted from his reverie by Lev running into the room. The younger boy can hardly manage a word, too excited by something outside. He gestures for Connor to follow, and Connor doesn’t need any extra encouragement, breaking into a run as the two boys hurry from the room.

Lev leads Connor to the door of the house, then pushes it open. Connor stands for a moment on the threshold, blinking in the light, staring in abject astonishment at all of the faces looking expectantly at him. Some are strangers. There are adults and children, bodies young and old. Some bear the wounds of previous fights. Others wear clothes so nice Connor is certain that they must have come from Centerworld itself. All in all, there are dozens of people scattered around the road leading to their hideout, maybe even hundreds, and more arrive by the minute.

“So many people,” he chokes out in a daze.

Hayden emerges from the house by his side, holding up a hand to wave to the gathered crowds with a dazzling grin. “Turns out a lot more people believe in the cause than you think. Still having trouble believing that we’ll win?”

“Not anymore,” Connor manages. “I mean, I didn’t even know that many strangers knew who I was.”

“They’re not just strangers,” Lev corrects.

And, looking out at the throngs of people, Connor realizes that he’s right. Shading his eyes from the sun, he recognizes Bam, Mai, Diego, and the rest of the group that had saved him when Heartland first tried to get to Connor. He leaves his friends at the doorstep, weaving through the crowds until he’s in front of them.

“You guys came,” he says in a daze.

Bam nods impatiently, although she can’t seem to hide a proud grin. “You kept your promise.”

“Plus, someone wanted to meet her hero,” Mai adds. Bam elbows her in the ribs, but the embarrassment on the girl’s face shows some truth to the statement.

“Go talk to him,” Connor encourages. “Hayden always likes meeting new people.”

He doesn’t stick around to see if Bam goes or not, distracted by another face in the crowds.

At first, he can’t quite place the old woman in the security uniform, but then she sighs deeply at the confusion on his face and the name instantly comes back to him. “Sonia?” Connor asks in astonishment. It’s the woman who rescued him and Risa at the OH-10 boundary checkpoint.

“Don’t look so surprised, boy,” Sonia says irritably. “I saved you once before, I assumed I’d have to do it again. Didn’t expect this sort of support, though.”

For once, the perpetual glower on her face lightens into a half smile. “I’m proud, Connor Lassiter. This change is a long time coming.”

“It is,” Connor agrees. Another figure emerging from the crowd calls his attention yet again, and he heads past Sonia to come to a stop in front of one particular cyborg that Connor never thought he’d see again.

At first, all of Connor’s systems go on high alert. Then, before Connor can even ask what in sunfire he’s doing here, Cam holds up a mechanical hand and answers the unspoken question, “I’m here for Risa, not for you. Trust me. She saved my life by getting me off the planet. I need to return the favor, and for real this time. In all honesty. To be completely genuine.”

Connor chuckles. “I think we’re in agreement there.”

He spins in a slow circle, still surprised by all of these faces smiling at him, ready to go to war so that he and every other teenager there can live. When he stops moving, another person has replaced Cam.

Connor’s heart lurches in his throat. “Grace,” he says. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

Grace Skinner taps her fingers together, her expression as practical as ever. “I didn’t know either,” she answers honestly. “I think it’s good, though. That man has to pay for what he did to Argie. He killed my brother. I want to be part of the group that kills him. It’s only fair.”

“That sounds good to me,” Connor admits. “And Grace– I’m sorry. Even still.”

“I know,” she tells him. “Let’s get our revenge, then.”

A careful smile rises to Connor’s lips. This emotion coasting over him in waves isn’t happiness, not exactly, but it feels pretty damn good, too. Looking around at all of these people, the Chancefolk talking to Lev, the crowds of old friends from the Graveyard, the AWOLs and adults who have united under this one banner, Connor realizes that he’s finally got his army. The only thing left, then, is to get his girl.

Dorian Heartland has no idea what’s about to hit him.

unwind tag list: @locke-writes, @reinekes-fox, @sirofreak

all tags list: @wordsarelife

10 notes · View notes

senttotheshadowrealm · 2 years

Text

Daily Hot Take

Just gonna put this out there on here cause I don’t wanna start shit in my Discord server:

The gaming community is one of the most spoiled, ungrateful, and self-centered communities of all time.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of people who give game devs the love and respect they deserve, but others are UNBELIEVEABLY rude and full of themselves. In this Discord server I’m in, a good chunk of people are giving the devs shit for not prioritizing controller support for a PC only game that’s launching into EA soon. Like....obviously they are gonna prioritize the overall quality of the game this close to its public release over this niche issue of the few. Controller support was never promised at any point. It’s something they’ve been working on simultaneously with development because their community asked for it. But the devs are so quick to be thrown under the bus when they have the guts to prioritize their game over making these people comfy cozy. It’s not the devs’ fault that you payed for a game that a. you had no way to play without them accommodating you and/or b. your funky ass can’t bother to deal with a keyboard for little while. Be grateful that they are even bothering to add controller support when they did not have to at all, but they did to make you happy. Then have some patience when they are trying to create their art. TL;DR: Game devs work incredibly hard to put out good games, and they deserve love and appreciation. It’s not their job to drop their work to accommodate your wants and desires.

#RaeWrites #Gaming #VentPost #Toxic fanbase

0 notes

princessbubblegumlover · 2 years

Text

"I'm a selfish ungrateful bitch"

You know why my finance scream that at me ?

So we've had an incredibly busy week, comic con plus 2 big children birthday parties, now on Tuesday my partner fell ill, it was a nasty cold, high fever and a migraine

Now he stayed in bed for 3 days and didn't lift a finger, I made sure to look after him despite myself getting ill too, I also looked after our son who was also ill but thankfully nowhere near as ill as his father

Now yesterday my fever finally kicked in, still I wasn't as sick as my fiance was when he was ill but I was very much ill, he offered me to stay in bed all day as he was all better, all I had to do was make breakfast and lunch for our son, but he did dinner

Now today I wake up and I'm so much better than yesterday but I'm still very very ill, so my thought process was okay I just need 1 more day of rest and I'll be good to go, so when I questioned why my partner suddenly turned on the PC in the bedroom instead of sitting in the living room with our son, he decided to call me an ungrateful bitch because surely 1 day rest was enough, he was exhausted from sitting on his ass playing video games and watching movies and popping a ready meal in the microwave and that I clearly wasn't as ill as he was, so he's doing shit all today

So I took some medicine because I still can't function without it and while I waited for it to kick in he screamed at me for not apologising and he's sick of doing everything for me

So he goes shops to get himself some tea and as he's going he's kicking shit about and even outright says he's not going to get me anything because I'm a selfish bitch

Anyway he comes back and turns off the pc and throws me some food (I don't really have an appetite but I appreciate the thought) anyway I start to think damn has he realised he was being an asshole? Nope he just doesn't want me complaining because he's sick of my face and wants to stay away from me

I'm done, for a while I was content being unemotionally attached to him but staying in the relationship because he likes to cause a big scene when I've tried to leave in the past

But I just don't think I can do that anymore, going on holiday without him was an eye opener, I can survive without him, he can't survive without me though (he spent the 4 days I was gone drunk, high and living in absolute filth eating mouldy food) (why he ate mouldy food is beyond me, it not like we have a truck load of good food in the cupboard and fridge and we have money)

Just how dare he say I do nothing ?! I do everything, his jobs are:

Take the dirty laundry to the laundrette (I have to make sure everything is in the bag, he's got the detergent and tell him that it's laundry day though)

Take 0ut the bins (still my Job to take out the bag of the bin for him and remind him to take it down)

That's it, that's his jobs, the only reason I don't do those is because im a very small woman and often fall on my ass when I try to walk with those bags

1 note · View note

arealcrow · 3 years

Text

i think i have to replace the ram in my computer /m\

#im so tired of this bitch (my pc) !!! ungrateful ass!!!#its like. manageably expensive but i just bought ram like last year #bird.txt

2 notes · View notes

angrelysimpping · 2 years

Note

Leighton having PC dress up as a puppy girl n "play" with his dog hybrid is just hnggggg

Leighton even jokes about how you might actually end up getting knocked up with litters after all of this is done.

Gosh i love this nasty bastard so much <3

@///@

Maybe Leighton asks you to look after his dog hybrid. Maybe offers you some money in exchange for looking after his pet, maybe has you do it lieu of a detention. Either way, you wind up looking after the excided puppy boy.

Leighton acts like he doesn't understand you when you complain about his puppy boy trying to "play inappropriately" with you. He has the faintest grin on his face as you asks you to go into detail, reveling in the way you can't look him in the eye as you try to tell explain to the headmaster that his puppy boy is trying to fuck you without using those words.

Finally, he laughs, the sound sending a shiver of anxiety down your spine as Leighton starts to question you exactly on what his pet is doing. He's sniffing your crotch? Trying to pin your thighs down and pressing his nose into your cunt? Is he trying to mount you? Have you seen his dick? Have you felt the hybrid's hot cock poking at your clothed pussy?

Finally, he offers you a tail and ears. He'll pay you more, wave more detentions, black mail you into it. Whatever it takes to see you dressed as a cute puppy girl, offering your cunt to his pet.

The ears you accept the easiest, the tail the least. You keep denying the tail butt plug until Leighton threatens you. He ends up pressing it into you himself, letting you grab onto his arms and whine into his chest as it's forced into you dry. He would have used lube if you hadn't made such a big deal out of it, muttering in your ear how you were being an ungrateful brat. He's making sure his pet goes for the right hole, after all. Or did you want to take his pet's knot in your ass? He can arrange that.

Leighton debates putting a muzzle on you, only to decide that might push you too far. You're already shaking on his lap, he doesn't want to run you off.

Usually you take care of Leighton's puppy boy by yourself, but not this time. Leighton joins you, sits on the floor with his back to the wall and forces you to face him as you present yourself to his pet. It doesn't take much encouragement for the puppy boy to mount you, panting in your ear how his master said you'd be the perfect mate. Leighton cups your chin in his hand, forces you to look him in the eyes, as the tip of the puppy boy's cock prods at your cunt.

He holds you like that the whole time, saying how you're taking his pet's cock so well, how cute you'll be when you carry a litter. Every time you whine he calls you a good girl, tells you what a cute puppy you are. It's not long before you feel the puppy boy's knot catching at your hole. Leighton's still making you look him in the eyes when his puppy boy thrusts in and can't pull out.

It's as the hybrid humps himself to completion, floods your insides and twists to face away from you, that Leighton pulls out his cock. You're going to be here for a while, waiting for the knot to deflate. Why don't you be a good girl and suck him off? There's a good puppy, just like that.

#tw hybrids #cw hybrids #tw dubcon #cw dubcon #leighton the headteacher #uuuh #tw pet play #cw pet play #sorta kinda #i....got carried away #a wee bit #perhaps #tw pregnancy #cw pregnancy #mentioned anyway

127 notes · View notes

celestiachan · 2 years

Text

I Can't Sleep Because Of How Sick I Am So I'm Gonna Rant About Partners In Crime

So like. Wouldn't it be fucked up if Chosen actually loved the idea of destroying Alan's desktop and everything in it and decided to go help the virus in destroying the PC and found five sticks who he thought were slaves (they were not) and saved them from the destruction and brought them back home to Dark and they started training them so they could help destroy the internet with them but lied to them and told them it was for self defense and then one day Dark accidentally uses Real Ass Viruses against them and kills all of them except Second and Second is so pissed at this that he kills Dark and Chosen is pissed that Second, who he "saved", is being ungrateful by killing his boyfriend and then they fight to the death

#xenon screams #animation vs minecraft #animator vs animation #avm #alan becker #ava #partners in crime au #ik i already made a post about this a while ago but i cant stop thinking of this au

16 notes · View notes

just-otter-thoughts · 2 years

Text

I think I give up on this laptop.

Listen, the thing is five years old, okay? It's served its time, and served it very well. But I don't think it's usable for gaming anymore.

It heats up at the slightest hint of a high in resource usage. Sometimes it takes seconds for the cursor to move. It cannot run games anymore (maybe some of the components are shot, who knows). And lastly, again, it is five years old (going on six, actually).

Gaming is something that's important to me, okay? I need to do it sometimes, I just do. Things are getting extremely hard financially, and prices aren't the same as they were back in 2017, so it's virtually impossible to get another one. If I choose to walk the route of building a gaming PC that'll be even worse, because PC part prices are at an all time high.

I just feel trapped. Granted, all my basic physical necessities are fully catered to. I ate today (in facty, I am eating peanuts right this second), I go to a good school, my physical health is mostly in check. That's the bare minimum. I'm not going to lie to you, my parents both get really good salaries, number-wise, but everything is so expensive that their salaries just get eaten away paying for gas or my school or whatever. That's part of the reason why I want high school to end so bad, because that's gonna lift a weight of R$1000 per month on the two of them. That means they spend R$12000 a year on school, not to mention textbooks, mandatory literary books, supplies, paper, etc etc.

And I just feel so bad for being this... ungrateful of a child. Because they give me everything they can, and even that's still not enough.

None of us can afford leisure. Everyone busts their ass to travel once, for a week at a time. Everyone busts their ass to afford a single new phone, not even because they want one but because they need one. My dad's had the same phone for 7 years, his is just starting to malfunction, and he does not have the money for another one. He's putting it off until the last minute. It makes me so sad.

I wanna be able to help. I wanna come home and tell my dad "hey, I paid bills x y and z, you don't have to worry about those". I wanna come up to my mom and say "Wanna go to Portugal?" and not have anyone worry about how much it's going to cost. I'm just so tired of being restrained by something I cannot control or even see (because I don't see anyone's money, I just hear them talk about it but it's enough).

Anyways. Sorry for the rant.

#mason rants #vent tw #mason speaks his mind

3 notes · View notes

sheeple · 4 years

Text

The intern | 2: Hiding under desks

GIFS NOT MINE. THIS IS ALL FICTION. Genre(s): intern!au / fluff / mild angst Group(s): NCT / Red Velvet Pairing(s): Moon Taeil x fem!reader Summary: The new Elysion Publishings intern is the youngest they ever had. It’s not a problem until she grabs the attention of the IT guy. Warning(s): Age-gap of five years [Masterlist] [Mini masterlist]

It’s been a month since I started my internship at Elysion Publishings. In that time I noticed that everybody just calls the company Ely.

I also became really good friends with Wendy, Taeyong, and Johhny. I’ve learned that Wendy and Johnny do bicker a lot. Every time they do, I am allowed to hit them, permission granted by Taeyong.

“Hey Y/n, when were you born?”, asks Wendy as she gets me out of my daydream, and I notice Taeyong and Johnny peeking over the dividers with curiosity.

“Ehrmm... fifteenth of November, why? Planning already a surprise party for me?”

Wendy sighs dramatically while spinning around on her desk chair. “Nooo”, she draws out, “I mean what year. ”

“Oh! 1999 if I’m correct.” I chuckle awkwardly while counting on my fingers. “Yup, I’m turning twenty this year so that’s 1999.”

A gasp leaves Wendy mouth and Taeyong falls off his desk chair in chock. Johnny’s mouth falls open while blinking rapidly.

“Is... something wrong?”

“You’re twenty?!”, screeches Johnny and I hiss.

“Not so loud, you doofus! Not the whole company has to hear that.” I look around but see no evesdroppers. “And no, I’m turning twenty.”

A smirk grows on Taeyong’s lips. “So that means I am your oppa.”

I groan and get up from my chair. “Yeah sure, whatever butters your toast. I’m going to visit IT for this piece of garbidge.” I grab my Mac and walk towards the elevators.

“Don’t whine, you ungrateful child. You could have gotten a pc”, calls Wendy after me as she leans backwards.

“I wish, then I could at least work instead of on this thing cast from Hell”, I call over my shoulder before the elevator doors close.

“Hi, can I help you?”, asks a disembodied voice as I get distracted by all the computer stuff stalled around.

“Ah yeah, sorry”, a laugh leaves my lips, “got a bit distracted.” I turn around towards the helpdesk and place my Mac on it.

“I’m from the D&D department an I can’t get my Adobe CC to work anymore.” I look up with a slight pout and my breathing stops midway.

I’ve just encountered the most beautiful person on earth. A wide smile, beautiful teeth, sparkly eyes, and floppy hair that’s styled out of his face.

Holy shit, he’s a 10. No, a 100. An angel sent from heaven to grace us with his beauty. Okay Y/n, stop. You’re starting to sound like a creep.

“Oh, that’s not how it should be, does it?”, he says with a slight chuckle in his voice and I shake my head slightly, not trusting my voice.

As he’s busy clicking and typing away to fix my problem, his brows furrow. The action creates little wrinkles right in between them. It just makes me want to smooth them out.

But before I can do anything stupid and awkward, I turn around and chose to look out of the floor to ceiling windows. IT for sure has the best view of the area.

IT is located on the twenty-fifth floor, exactly in the middle, and shares the floor with HR.

“This is such an amazing view”, I say to break up the silence. Well, silence... The buzzing of the computers around me are creating enough noise, just like the guy’s typing.

“I know right”, he smiles fondly while looking up, “it’s especially phenomenal when the sunsets. But it’s better on the roof.”

I turn around with big eyes. “There is access to the roof?”

The IT guy hums as he continues. “Of course. There are all kinds of little seating areas littered around. You can even take your break up there.”

I smile and grab my phone, texting Wendy if we maybe can eat our lunch on the roof today.

My eyes grow wide and I almost drop my phone. Wendy is typing while probably running up to the elevators to whoop my ass.

“You okay?”, questions the IT guy as he sees me getting nervous.

“Oh, it’s nothing big. Just my friend is running up to here to beat me.”

He laughs loudly while shaking his head. “You can hide under the table until your friend has passed.”

I blink rapidly. “Re.. really?”, I ask dumbfounded.

Before he can answer, a ding signs the arrival of the elevator and I scurry under the table.

Rapid footsteps approach the IT desk as I fold my hands over my mouth to prevent myself from making noise or breathing too loudly.

“Have you seen”, huffs Wendy angrily while she slams her hands harshly down the desk, “a foreign girl with shoulder-length brown hair, about this tall.”

I imagine she holds her hand up above her head as I am taller than her, by ten centimetres or so but I still tower above her.

I grab the IT guy’s leg slightly, to let him know I’m still there and he nods his head.

Fucking snitch. I knew I couldn’t trust him. My mom was right; never trust a stranger.

“Yeah, she came for her Mac, right? She ran away in a panic a couple seconds ago.”

“Which way”, hisses Wendy and the guy points down the hall.

“She probably took the stairs. Where to, I don’t know.”

I let out a soft sigh of relieve and squeeze his leg ever so slightly.

“That kid has gone to the roof.” She hits the counter one final time before turning away, throwing a quick ‘thanks’ over her shoulder.

“She’s gone, you can come out”, the IT guy whispers and I peek over the edge, just to make sure he isn’t betraying me.

“For a second I thought you would snitch me out”, I grumble while pouting and brushing the dust off my butt and knees.

“I wouldn’t dare”, he muses amused and leans on the desk, bushing my Mac closer to me. “Your problem is fixed, by the way.”

I raise my eyebrows and quickly log in and see that the issue is indeed fixed. “How did you do it?”, I ask surprised.

The IT guy smiles slightly. “You probably pressed some button that disconnected you to the company's server.”

With a slight hum, I nod. “Sounds about right. I just can’t work with this hell-sent thing.” I grab the Mac from the counter.

“Well, thank you so, so much for everything.”

He raises his shoulders. “It’s nothing.”

I wave goodbye and walk towards the elevator.

“Hey”, the guy calls me and I turn around, “if you ever need something; a place to hide from your friend or just someone to talk to, you can always come down here and have a chat. I’m here nine to five everyday so feel free to drop by.”

I smile and nod, saying, “I’ll keep that in mind”, before the doors close.

#red velvet #red velevt wendy #red velvet imagine #red velvet au #nct #nct 127 #nct u #nct imagines #nct scenario #nct 127 imagines #nct 127 scenario #nct au #nct 127 au #nct u au #nct u scenarios #nct u imagines #office au #nct fluff #helplessly-creative

27 notes · View notes

peggysousfan · 4 years

Text

The Affair (Warning!! Smut assured)

Hey guys! So this is a fic requested by @peggysousoversteggy. It does contain violence, slander, and smut. It is extremely ANTI-Steve Rogers and ANTI-Steggy. So if you support either one, do NOT read this. However, it is Pro- Peggysous!It is super long so I will separate it into sections. This is section 2. So enjoy!! :)

2 weeks later:

"Peggy." Steve says. He's just returned from Washington and is very unhappy. "What the hell happened while I was gone?"

"What are you chattering on about?" She says, annoyed. The pile of files on her desk need to be signed by the chief, so she heads that way.

"Grant. You know, our son? I just picked him up from school and dropped him off at home. He says you haven't been feeding him. What the hell? You're his mother it's your job to-"

"I'm going to stop you right there." She turns around to Steve and glares at him. "First off, seeing as he is 'OUR' son, I shouldn't be the only one responsible for him. Secondly, I do feed him. I'm the only one who actually tries to give a damn and give him what he needs. Not you. You are never around, and the fact that he adores you so much makes me gob smacked because you are never there for him. I am. You've never once been there to sooth his cries, change a bloody nappy, help him walk or anything. I did!

"That child of YOURS chooses to not eat what I give him. Like you, he thinks I need to be a chef and give him everything he desires; but I don't. Because MY JOB as a mother is to raise him right, teach him manners and discipline, so he is ready to join the world as a PROPER gentleman. Unlike his father! So, don't came here and confront me with the problem of YOUR SON. If something is wrong, deal with it yourself!"

"Where do you think you're going. I'm not done talking with you." He grabs at her arm pulls her closer to him, and she punches him in the face; he falls back and uses the desk for support.

"Did I or did I not say to never touch me again? Hopefully that's a good enough reminder." She storms off and into the Chief's office. Daniel watches from afar like the rest of the office; and they all laugh.

"Rogers just got his ass handed to him by his own wife!" Thompson says, and they all laugh harder; but not Daniel. He just smiles proudly. Proud that Peggy put Rogers in his place in front of everyone. Maybe now he'll get the message. Steve grumbles and goes to his office, slamming the door behind him.

"SHIT!" He screams. Agent Caldwell opens the door and finds Rogers on his ass. His office chair snapped under his weight. He tells the others and the have another round of laughs. Daniel couldn't help but think today was a great day, and tonight was gonna be even better...Hours go by and when its lunch time, Peggy takes Daniels order and slips him a note 'File room after lunch orders -PC 🖤' It takes all his strength to not smile too much; now meeting in the file room is more than a comforting hug...After Peggy gives everyone there lunches, she meets Daniel in the file room.

"Hi." She says

"Hey..." He pulls her close and their lips meet immediately, their tongues duel in an explosive battle. She moans and bites his lip, which forces his hips to thrust. Peggy chuckles. "Not yet, darling." He groans and leans her against the table; and she gasps. Both his arms on either side of her hips.

"Why not? Hmm?" He attacks her neck and forces a moan from her throat. He grinds against her and she starts to lose control.

"Daniel..." She rests her hands on his chest. "We can't, not now. Steve- " "Isn't even here." He starts to unbutton her blouse.

"He's upstairs."

"I don't give a damn." He snogs her silly and she groans; wrapping her legs around him. He slips a hand in her brassier and she moans once more.

"Daniel..." Peggy leans back, slightly, on the table and enjoys his hand on her skin. His lips trail down her throat and lead to her chest. "We-we're going to get caught." She chuckles breathlessly. He thrusts again with a small growl, and she gasps. "Dear lord, Daniel!"

"Shh, Peg." He laughs. "Keep that up and we will get caught." His hands slide down her leg and up her dress.

"I can't help it, you-ugh" she playfully slaps his chest as he starts to touch her core, and they kiss again. She drops her legs from his waist and places a hand on his arm. "Daniel. Seriously, I don't want anyone to come down here and see." Her eyes meet his and he can't help but melt in in them. He sighs and takes his hand away. "Don't look so disappointed" She laughs. "Your coming home with me, remember?" "Mm, I can't tonight." He hesitates. "Daniel! What-"

"Chief put me on the night shift again, and I can't get out of it. We'll just have to... meet up tomorrow." He kisses her head and she slump down. "That's why I was hoping..."

"To do it now." Peggy wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his nose; and he chuckles. "I can wait, I'm not in a hurry. I like to savor this, not rush it."

"Okay." They kiss once more and leave the room separately.

The rest of the day went by fairly quickly, and Peggy goes home; not without a sly wink at her lover. When Steve leaves the office, he hits the town for the night, and of course leaves Peggy at home with their son. Every time he does this, he doesn't return till early morning. What a headache that is for her. When she enters the house, she sees Grant in the living room, with an enormous mess on the floor.

"What in the bloody blue blazes happened in here?!"

"I was hungry, and I tried to make something to eat. Its not like you were going to do it."

"I wasn't- Grant I make you breakfast and supper every day, since you were born. What is it with you and being so ungrateful! The food we have is perfectly edible and not at all disgusting. You're being stingy because it isn't a bloody steak."

"No, I'm not. And Mrs. Smith doesn't make steak, she makes beef stew. I just don't like the food you make. Its gross. AND you don't make breakfast 'everyday' like a mom's suppose too- "

"I do everything a mother is supposed to. So, excuse me if YOU young man are an inconsiderate little arse!"

"I'm not an ass, you're just a bad mom! You don't even feed me real food or pick me up from school." Peggy has been trying her hardest, but now she can't take it.

"School? Hmm. Very interesting, Grant. Yes, lets talk about that" He shakes his head and looks at Peggy.

"What?"

"School. And why the hell you keep being sent home or I get notes saying how horrible you are! You treat the girls as if they were good for nothing dirt, your grades are horrid, you do nothing but bully the other children. And for what? Because your father is Captain America?" She exclaims. Her blood begins to boil, and her face is turning red. No matter what she does, her son keeps going down a destructive path; and she can't save him.

"So, what. I can handle myself. I'm better than they are, I don't need school or girls. They're supposed to help take care of us, not the other way around 'Mom'. Who's to say I'm not a super soldier too!" Peggy looks away and closes her eyes. "You're not. If you were things would be very different. Trust me. Now take you little attitude and go to your room. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night!"

"Wha- " "Now!!" She points to the stairs.

"Whatever!" His dirty blond hair bounces on his head as he runs upstairs.

"If you break anything, I swear on my life your new best friend will be the end of a BLOODY TWIG ON YOUR ARSE!" He slams his door after hearing her yell.

The Next day:

"Mom, make me some toast."

"No."

"But I'm hungry." "And I said, No. Besides aren't you that one who said my food is 'gross'?" Grant rolls his eyes as he sits at the table. "If you're hungry make it yourself. You're eleven years old and its time you learned to fend for yourself. I doubt you'll marry anytime soon and get a glorified trophy wife to cook for you. Therefore, if you want food, make it yourself." Grant glares at Peggy behind her back and grabs his bag.

"I'm going to school."

"You're not going to eat?" He says nothing and slams the front door. "I swear I'm going to kill him one day..." she mumbles. She needs a break and a distraction from the annoyance she feels with her son and husband. Peggy walks towards the telephone and calls Daniel; they both have the day off today...

"Hello?"

"Daniel..." He laughs on the other line.

"Peggy..." He teases. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh yes, of course. I was just calling to let you know," She smiles and twirls the cord of the phone. "that Grant left for school already, and I'm home alone..."

"What about your husband? Won't he be in soon." Peggy laughs.

"Oh please, Steve won't be here. He's either with a bimbo whore or at the SSR right now." Daniel chuckles and hangs up the phone. "Daniel? Dan- bloody hell. I'm not falling for that again." Daniel once hung up before and she got worried; so, she went to his apartment, and he had a surprise waiting for her in his room...She yelled at him, obviously, and taught him a lesson on not doing it again. An hour later there's a knock on the door, and Peggy answers it. "Daniel!" She throws her arms around his neck and crashes her lips into his.

"Hey..." She kisses him again and again and drags him inside. "Slow down Peg." He laughs. Daniel hasn't made it four steps inside and already she refuses to stop placing fleeting kisses all over him.

"No."

"No? I see how it is..." He grabs her by the waits, twist her towards the wall, and traps her against it. "You really want to play this game?" His voice begins to deepen. She bites her lips and rests her hands on his shirt.

"You're an intelligent man.... Why don't you figure that out yourself?" He thrusts against her, involuntarily and she laughs. "No interruption today?" "Not a one." Peggy looks into his eyes and starts to lose her breath; and the pounding in her chest refuses to leave. Daniel leans in all the way, no space between their bodies; and she has no where to turn. Her belly begins to twist in desire as he drags his lips from her neck to her lips. Rather than a kiss, he nips.

"Daniel..." He keeps her pressed against the wall and dives into her lips. She moans as his tongue duels with hers.

"I think we should take this somewhere else..." She gasps and laughs.

"Lead the way." He takes her hand and they walk towards the bedroom. He's been there several times before in those 2 weeks Steve was gone...He shuts the door behind him and unbuttons his shirt. "No! I wanted to do that!" She laughs taking his hands in hers. He shakes his head.

"Not this time."

"Is that so...?" He hums in confirmation and nudges her towards the bed. She stands in front of it, defiantly. He nudges her back, but she doesn't budge.

"Okay, Peg. I see how it is." He grabs her waist and snogs her breathless. When she's let her guard down, he lifts her up and puts her one the bed.

"Ah!" She squeaks. "DANIEL!!" She leans on her elbow and looks at him, shocked. He shifted all his weight on his left leg when he lifter her, so he didn't put pressure on the prosthetic, and so he climbs over her to relieve his legs. "Somethin' wrong, Peggy?" She laughs with all her breath as he undoes her blouse.

"No. Everything is perfect." She lays down fully and runs her hands in his hair. He takes off his shirt and hers, and their skin feels hot to the touch. Peggy moans as her body tingles with desire. She reaches for his trousers, and he stops her. He grabs her hands and places them over her head. "Da-Daniel..." He then licks, kisses, and nips at her exposed skin; releasing every gasp, moan, groan, and giggle he can discover. "Please!" she squirms underneath him, her patience running dry. He chuckles at her plea and release her hands; immediately she scratches at his back, and he arches as grinds instinctively.

Peggy grabs his hair and snogs him until neither can breathe. His hands slide down her belly, leaving electric shocks in their trail, and he undoes her trousers. In one swoop, they're tossed to the floor. Peggy laughs and kisses him again, clawing him up and down. He unclips her brassier and tosses it aside as he indulges the globes on her chest. Peggy undoes his own trousers and sits up to pull them down. Daniel stops his kisses and helps her remove them; his trouser and underwear are tossed all at once. He lays her back down and reaches in her nickers and swallows her moans in their kiss. He tears them off and thrust inside, both moan in lust. The bed begins to shake as the lovers' rock and dance in love.

"Ugh Daniel!" She shouts. He groans and thrust again and again as sweat beads at his brow.

"Peg-I -God Peggy..." He begins to lose his rhythm so she soothes him with a kiss, and he finishes. He loses all sense of control and begins to collapse, but she catches him in time.

"Are you alright, Darling?" She chuckles.

"Yeah, just..." He tries to catch his breath. "I just need a minute." She laughs as he lays his head on her chest and listens to her heartbeat. Both of their hearts beat as one, and time stills as they lay together, spent and in love...

#peggysous #peggy carter #daniel sousa #peggysous > steggy #anti steve rogers #anti steggy #peggy sousa #mentions of peggy rogers #angst #smut #warning

13 notes · View notes

killscreencinema · 4 years

Text

Star Fox (SNES)

undefined

youtube

When Star Fox was released in 1993, I was elated as I had never seen polygonal 3D graphics on a home console before. This was usually in the realm of PC-gaming, which was almost always out of reach for most of my life. My family couldn’t afford a computer in the 80s, and by the time we bought a computer in the mid-90s, they went el cheapo and bought a computer that could barely run Windows without crashing every few minutes, much less any video games. So it goes without saying, PC games cruised right by me during my childhood and teenage years, with the exception of the few times I got to play a computer game or two at the local library, school, or at a friend’s house.

My point is, getting to play a game that looked like a PC game on my humble Super Nintendo was a real treat and I was not disappointed with Star Fox, even though the game relentlessly kicked my ass. I could make it to the last stage on Level 1 (or Easy Mode), but that was about it, and even then, it was rare. Despite the difficulty, the slapping soundtrack, the memorable cast of characters, and the advanced graphics all combined to make for a truly amazing gaming experience.

But how does it hold up today?

In short - fine, but not-so-great.

Ironically, it comes down to the aforementioned “advanced” graphics having aged very, very poorly. The polygonal graphics were neat at the time, in lieu of anything better, but by today’s standards seem crude. It’s like how you always hear that pixel art is better than 3D graphics, because pixel graphics have an ageless quality to them, but 3D graphics lose their luster as soon as the next big jump in quality comes along. Nowadays, graphics have somewhat plateaued now that they can be damn near photorealistic, so the future might look back mercifully on the visual aesthetics of today’s games.

Star Fox is still looked on fondly because when you look beyond the dated graphics, it’s still a good game! The controls are tight, the basic gameplay is solid, the soundtrack is still epic by today’s standards, and the characters are great. I think we all remember that first time we saved Falco from a pursuing bogey, only to get his snarky, completely ungrateful response of “Mind your own business, Fox!” I don’t know about you, but I usually returned his sass by blasting at his ship as much as possible while it returned to formation. So much personality from the characters was conveyed via text and nonsensical jibber-jabber!

But those damned graphics really test one’s patience. Part of the problem I ran into was discerning friend from foe, as they all looked like polygon ships despite the distinct (and cool) design of the Arwing. This is probably why the game designers made it so friendly fire doesn’t damage your pals. The level designs can also be kind of repetitive due to the limitations of the graphics engine (green planet, space, space, blue planet, space, red planet, brown planet, etc). Last but not least... the frame rate, ohhh, the frame rate. It’s good enough that the game is still playable, but man does it chug.

I had often wondered why so many people prefer Star Fox 64 to the original, when the original was so great in it own right (and certainly has better music). Now I’ve gotten my answer: even with muddy N64 graphics, Star Fox 64 not only fixed everything that marred the experience of the first game, but made so many improvements to boot... but we’ll get to that review when I get to it.

#star fox #snes #super nintendo #retro #fox mccloud #falco #peppy #slippy toad

2 notes · View notes

prorevenge · 5 years

Text

Piss on the floor, and threaten to evict me? Enjoy your possesion charges.

Obligatory on mobile disclaimer.

This story is still unfolding, but this is where we are at currently.

Back in October 2017, I moved in with a friend (G) and his roommate (T), after they moved out together from their previous and needed a 3rd.

T and I hit it off right away. G is a pothead, and he got me started on the habit. I gave it up in December, I felt tired and slow all the time. G kept going as normal.

The house we moved into had all sorts of problems. I'm a handyman, so I'd fix whatever I could, and I was only ever reimbursed for materials, minus my share. It was kind of shitty, for my labor went unpaid, but whatever, I never brought it up, and it never bothered me. The landlord was always giving excuses as to why he couldn't fix it, and would deduct it from the rent instead. It worked out, but it was a pain in my ass.

One fateful day in January, T had been out since the day before, so it was just G, the cats, and me. I went to have my morning piss, only to find that the toilet is completely smeared in piss, as well as the floor. I am livid. I recorded it over WhatsApp, and sent it to the group. I said it was unacceptable and that it needed to be cleaned before I decided to do it. G wakes up, and immediately stats with the bullshit (woah, that's a big leak. We need a plumber). I reply that it wasn't possible for a leak to crawl up the walls of the bowl and make a mess all over. He then blamed the cats. I am somewhat allergic to cats, specifically, their piss. Just a whiff of it will have me coughing a lung out. I bring this up as well.

His tone went from "haha that is so weird!" To "quit your bitching, I'll clean it up you faggot". And he did. And from that moment on, his demeanor and attitude changed completely.

He would send passive aggressive messages if I had any dishes leftover from the day before. He would send passive aggressive videos if MY TV which was on the livingroom, was dusty. Whenever I got home and said hi, he would ignore me.

So I started ignoring all of it. I stopped saying hi to him, and limited myself to only speaking to him when absolutely necessary. He didn't like that. Whenever we'd be both walking in opposite directions, he would square up, and try to shoulder shove me out of the way. We are both pretty big dudes, so at first I took it in jest, but later I'd stiffen up and send him flying every single time he tried it (you never forget how to hip/shoulder check someone).

He eventually stopped with the physical confrontations, and would complain to T about me. His complaints ranged from "he won't even greet me" to "I never see him do any housework".

One day, his insane girlfriend was over, and they had a massive fight at 2am, where she took his PC (which I built) and threw it across the room.

He sent me a message the day after, along the lines of "fix it, I'll pay". I replied that I would fix it for free, but only if my friend G asked. I wouldn't touch it otherwise. He took issue with that, and told me he had no need to establish a friendship with me. I told him that I had no need to fix a computer, so I wouldn't do it, and he got pissed. He stormed off my room, and left the building.

A few weeks later, I left my Tupperware soaking in the sink. He sent a message to the group, stating that it was unacceptable to have dirty dishes (all the while, he had days worth of dishes at any given time). I asked if we were expected to clean up daily, and he blew up saying how he was tired of havig an ungrateful, arrogant, violent prick in his home (lease is under his name, we all pay equal parts of rent) and he wanted me gone by the end of the month.

I got home, laughed at him, and he threatened to have me evicted legally, and if that failed, he'd throw my stuff out on the streets. He claimed that because his name was on the lease, his word was law.

I challenged him to do either, and got a nifty little surveillance program that uploads straight to YouTube. I caught him once goin into my room, realizing my webcam was on, and walking out. When I got home, I broadcasted the video to his TV, and confronted him. His stance was that I was illegally recording him, and he'd sue me. I told him to go for it. I still don't know why he went in.

He turned violent and aggressive. I decided to just be the bigger man, and leave, so I moved out on Saturday. I figured I'd drop the drama, leave and that'd be the end of it. Nope. On Saturday night, he sends a message "like a bitch".

On Monday morning, I called the landlord. On the lease, there is a clause that states that the use of recreational drugs is forbidden. I told him that Gs substance abuse had forced me to leave, because the apartment was filthy all the time, and reeked of pot.

He told me he was going to make a surprise visit. I told him when to best catch him blazing.

On Tuesday, the landlord called me to ask if I would testify against G. Apparently, the landlord did go and dropped on him, the stench of pot was unmistakeable. Police were involved, and G apparently assaulted the landlord. He is being evicted, and I have a court date coming up.

I sent him a message, "good thing it's your name on the lease". Got no reply.

Tl;Dr: pothead roomie pissed on the floor, I threw a fit, he threatened to evict me or throw my shit out. I snitched to the landlord, and roommate is being evicted for breaching the no drugs clause on his lease, and being charged with possession.

(source) (story by Aeris_24)

#prorevenge #by Aeris_24 #pro revenge #revenge stories #pro revenge stories #pro #revenge #revenge story #last10

334 notes · View notes

mistressarachnia · 5 years

Note

Been away from tumblr for ages. Just outta curiosity, are you still working on the Yukihito route english patch / translation?

No. I’m not.Yukihito’s route has been translated by Shino. You can read her translation here: http://shinocchidesu.net/post/177579849074/togainu-no-chi-true-blood-yukihito-routeThere are a number of reasons I stopped working on the True Blood patch. First, there are a ton of technical problems just getting the game to run smoothly on PC. It was made for PSP and PS2 consoles, so requires emulators, and sometimes it just doesn’t want to work. It’s also worth noting that it’s extremely low res, so on modern systems will only run as a small window (not full screen).Second, translators in the N+C fandom are treated like shit. Hanging out on the JAST BLUE server lately has shown that these attitudes are not only still alive and well, but all-consumingly pervasive. No one seems to understand that fan translators are FANS who are doing a TON of work FOR FREE purely because they love the source material. They are not professionals. They are doing something on their own free time out of the goodness of their hearts that it normally takes an entire full time paid production staff to do. They do not “owe” you a perfect, flawless translation. They don’t owe you shit, and you need to get that idea out of your heads.Here’s some food for thought. Japanese does not translate directly into English. (See Google translate. It’s jibberish.) You CANNOT do a word for word translation - it would make no sense. All Japanese-English translations are subjective - there IS NOT “one true translation.” A lot of fan translators, myself included, are NOT FLUENT and are still learning. They are learning an entire new language just so they can read more of the material they love, and if they happen to share it with you, please don’t be an ass about it if it’s not 100% perfect.You guys seem to understand the concept of fanfic writers and fan artists being in the process of learning, and having different styles, and know that you should not flame them nonstop just because their writing/art isn’t flawless or 100% catered to your individual tastes. But the exact same logic applies to translators. Translators are people.Be nice to your content creators, or you won’t get any new content.Third, although JAST currently does not have plans to translate the console games, they have stated that there is a good possibility that if the official releases of the main games go well, the console ports will also get official releases. Frankly, I don’t want to waste my time doing a ton of work when I don’t have to, because there is a good chance that someone else will come along and do it better.Last, one of the main insults lobbied at the DMMd fan translation team is “they didn’t do as good a job with X route because they didn’t like that character/they liked everyone else more/etc.” From talking to members of that team, that’s just an outright lie… but it’s totally applicable to me. (LOL) I honestly don’t give a shit about most of the routes I have to go through and translate just to get to Nano’s route. But since he’s the true route, I just happen to have to go through them to get to the only one I DO care about. Since I have close friends who adore all of the other routes, I’m certainly trying my best to do a good job for their sakes, but there just are so many other Nano-related fannish activities I could be doing instead… and guess what I’d rather spend my time on?I’ve agreed to release written translations for friends with regards to new scenes with their fav route characters which they would really like to be able to read and understand. Whether I’ll release these publicly or just to my friends is up to debate. The current attitudes towards fan translators are pushing me towards the latter. (I’ll definitely do a full translation of Nano’s route and post it on my Nano blog. Because... priorities.)I am still working on the mini-games, because as of yet JAST has absolutely no plans to do anything with those, and they’re much more manageable projects.(For the record… no one has actually specifically attacked ME as a translator, but that’s sort of beside the point. Seeing all of my friends and fellow translators trash talked 24/7 does not make me eager to run out and do more free work for the ungrateful masses.)

#Anonymous

6 notes · View notes

timeisacephalopod · 6 years

Text

Rewards Points

Remember that YouTube AU I wrote with Peter Q/ Stephen/ Tony? Well I liked it so I’m writing more of it. So this is more of that (also if you want to find the first you can locate it under YouTube AU and also IronStarQuill).

Tony considers the empty spot beside him and Peter is doing the same. “Have we ever done a video without Stephen?” he asks eventually.

He shakes his head, “pretty sure we haven’t. How do we start this?”

“Why are we even confused? He never starts these things, most of our videos are us talking,” Peter points out.

Its true for the most part but Stephen always has something to say and now Tony is confused without his presence. “Maybe we should wait until he’s back,” he says,

Peter considers it, he can see Peter consider it, but he eventually shakes his head. “Nah, he’d be pissed we didn’t stick to the schedule. You know how he is.” Shit does he ever, Stephen is a damn stickler for being on time and schedule. It works for Peter, who’s usually under a time crunch on set, but Tony has never liked being on time or on schedule. He makes his own times and schedules and everyone else works around him.

“How is it possible that none of our schedules have ever conflicted with these videos before?” he asks. That simply isn’t possible- Peter’s jobs might be always up in the air, but Stephen and Tony travel consistently for their jobs. Especially him.

“We do dark weeks when none of us are going to be around,” Peter says. “Which usually means only one of us is around. Its just weird luck that two of us are here and Stephen is off doing doctor things. I think, I didn’t really ask,” Peter says.

“He’s giving a talk on spines or something like that, I have a hard time keeping up,” he admits.

Peter looks instantly relieved. “Jesus, I thought I was the only one. I mean you’re a genius and all that and Stephen can go on for hours if you let him.”

That’s an understatement but yeah, Tony has a hard time keeping up with language he doesn’t understand. He spends a lot of time looking up the terms Stephen uses on the fly but none of it seems to stick in his mind. Biology is not the kind of science he finds interesting unless it involves technology somehow. “Yeah, I don’t really care about spine things. I mean I care that Stephen cares but I don’t really know anything about it,” he says.

They sit awkwardly for a long moment before Peter speaks up. “What was this video supposed to be about?” he asks, defaulting to wrangling duties, Tony supposes.

“You pissing off studios because you thought it was funny,” he says. It’s a topic Stephen wouldn’t have much to contribute to anyways, hence them choosing it over other topics of interest. Like people’s weird need to know about Stephen and Peter’s early feud that Tony didn’t know existed but apparently got pretty vicious until they decided maybe they weren’t each other’s enemy. Tony doesn’t know if his total lack of knowledge of this means Peter and Stephen were subtle or if he’s completely dense but he’s leaning towards dense. Neither Stephen nor Peter know anything of subtlety.

“Right, yes,” Peter says. “So anyone who watches these things probably keeps up with me or Tony so you’ve probably already seen that trailer that nearly got me fired from my own fucking movie- like literally I wrote it, I’m directing it, and I’m one of the producers too, how the hell were they going to fire me? Okay I mean it can happen but given the response the trailer got I didn’t get fired,” Peter says.

Tony shakes his head because none of Peter’s fretting made any sense when his job was on the potential chopping block. “What the hell was the problem anyways? You soft of freaked out about maybe being fired but you didn’t actually say why.”

Peter sighs, “alright- so some background. No one wanted to do a movie about a gay guy who’s gayness was kind of irrelevant to the actual story for one- guess people don’t understand that being gay isn’t usually the only important thing about a person. So that was a strike against me. Then the problem was that no one big enough was attached to it so I asked Tony to do me a favor considering he had a lot in common with the character anyways so that saved my ass for five minutes. Then it turned out the kid that was cast as his son is trans, not like I knew that because I don’t make a habit of telling people to whip it out in auditions, so that was a thing,” he says, making a face.

“Whatever. So when people stopped yelling about that they basically told me I was supposed to sell the story based on Tony’s fanbase but I didn’t want to do that so instead of making the reveal in the trailer that Tony is in it, I had the guys who cut the trailer stick him in less than thirty seconds into it and let the damn story sell itself. So that caused a whole new round of problems but people’s response to it was basically ‘wow, he didn’t use Tony Stark as his selling point, the story looks good!’ And that’s how I managed to keep my job,” he says.

“Not to be like... ungrateful or anything, but my fanbase is either a bunch of lovely human beings or the kind of guys who watch Fight Club and want to start a fight club. There’s no in between, and the guys who’d want to start a fight club would be pissed about the gay thing because dating two guys still doesn’t make me gay. I mean they’re kind of right, I’m bisexual but still, I’m not straight.” God knows he hates the half of his fanbase that thinks the time he spent drinking too much and acting like a complete jackass was a good way to live life but he can’t exactly do much about it now. Sure, he’s expressed plenty of distaste towards people who are like that, but no one seems content to listen.

Peter snorts, “oh my god, sidenote- one time Stephen and I looked you up. Can’t remember why but this was back before we stopped hating each other so we were probably looking for some kind of evidence that you loved one of us more than the other. Anyway, so we came across this entire blog that was dedicated to talking about how you ruined yourself by being too ‘PC’, and that dating Stephen and I was for ‘PC’ points. You know what, looking back on it I think that’s the first time Stephen and I bonded because we both thought it was hilarious that a real human being would genuinely think that you’d date someone just to be politically correct,” he says.

Tony lets out a long, drawn out sigh because this is the kind of shit he hates. “Yeah, obviously I date people to be politically correct. Bonus points because Stephen isn’t white,” he says sarcastically.

“I think Stephen’s personality strips all those bonus points. I love him but he’s a total dickhead. I think I should earn more bonus points,” Peter says.

“None of you are earning any points, I’m not a points reward card, you can’t redeem your points at my non-existent cash register. If I were to award points though Stephen gets points for being a freakishly good kisser and you get points for being better at cuddling than Stephen,” he says. Stephen isn’t meant to cuddle, he gets home and if you touch him he literally growls until he’s slept for a few hours. Then he expects attention until he gets sick of it. Sort of like a cat.

Peter nods, “I’m not even mad about it, Stephen is a freakishly good kisser. I mean usually kissing is more a means to an end for me but Stephen makes it a whole show. Honestly I feel like a fucking golden retriever next to that,” he says, shaking his head.

Yeah, Peter has a lot less skill but so does Tony so its not like he can judge. “Ok. Stephen is a good kisser, that’s established. Back to you almost getting fired,” he says, preforming the necessary wrangling duties.

“Right! So yeah, anyways I also got into an argument about the kid, what’s his name?” he asks Tony.

“Peter,” he says. Kid is smart too, Tony likes him.

“Yeah, Peter. Eventually I got annoyed enough that I told them we keep the kid or I walk, which means you walk, which also takes your portion of the funding and they can have fun unkilling a dead project they all like now because you got involved. Needless to say I won,” Peter says.

Tony raises an eyebrow, “you did all that for some random unknown actor?” he asks, surprised.

Peter shrugs, “no one knew who I was either at one point. Then my fuckface dad almost ruined it for me when people did finally start to pay attention. Anyways, point is you and the kid have chemistry, I’m not recasting because I didn’t ask what junk looked like during auditions. That’s weird, invasive, and also technically discriminatory. Seriously though, the screen tests will not be the same with anyone else. If I didn’t know better I’d think he was your actual kid, you two work amazingly together and you actually produce good improv. Improv is hard,” he says but Tony doesn’t really know. He’s improvised near everything in his life so he’s gotten good at it. And the kid has talent and he’s fun to work with, Tony likes his memes.

“Pretty sure it wouldn’t actually matter, I’m good with him because I like kids, not because I like him specifically. I mean in two years he’ll be bitter and sad because the world is shit and seems intent on crushing people to death but you know. He’s fun now, while he still has hope and child-like wonder and all that.” Tony hopes he’ll be able to keep that bright light of wonder and happiness but he knows that’s probably never going to happen. Kid is different and the world has always punished anyone who doesn’t fit the status quo.

“Whatever, I don’t care if you like kids, I’m not replacing the kid I got for stupid reasons,” he says. “He’s fucking adorable and you two get along well, it’ll look good on camera. Less work as a director for me that way.”

Tony snorts because yeah, there’s the real reason Peter fought to keep mini Peter around- less work for him.

“Has it occurred to you that you forgot the name of an actor that has the same name as you?” Tony asks.

Peter shrugs, “I’m the best Peter so I don’t remember any of the others,” he says and Tony starts laughing.

Stephen ends up being called in to work before he even gets home, which Tony wonders about because jet leg is a bitch, but when he does finally venture home he sleeps for a stupid amount of time before wandering into the kitchen. He recognizes his own voice- ugh- and Peter’s and frowns until he finally clues in to Stephen watching the video he and Peter did without him. It got a surprisingly high hit count and a huge amount of positivity neither of them had been expecting. They hadn’t even realized why Peter’s name was suddenly trending on Twitter until they looked through the reactions.

Seems people were pleased that Peter stood up for younger trans Peter even though none of them seemed to have clued into the fact that Peter only did it to save himself directing trouble later.

“Peter gets too much credit as an ally, he only kept mini Peter because he didn’t want to try and coach chemistry out of another random teen that’s genetically dissimilar to you,” Stephen mumbles, trudging towards the coffee. His eyes are glued to it like its going to save him from jet leg and being extra tired after a shift at the hospital.

“Oh my god, genetics do weird things sometimes and Peter looks like his movie mother, Stephen, so shut up!” Peter yells from the living room.

“His features are still genetically unlikely, you should have recast,” Stephen yells back.

“No, I don’t want to find another kid who looks that good with Tony on camera. Mini Peter is good, I don’t give a shit about genetics!” Peter yells to him.

Stephen mumbles something under his breath as he pours his coffee. “Next people are going to accuse him of dating us for PC points,” he mutters.

“That’s already happened. Also how come no one accuses you of doing that?” he asks.

“Because minorities don’t usually scramble for PC points, we’re born with them. Don’t look at me like that, I think its stupid too. Also I think Peter’s bad self insert movie about the father he wished he had with a kid that could pass as his is sad and depressing, but also creepy because he cast his boyfriend as his metaphorical dad,” Stephen mumbles. He takes a drink of his coffee just as Peter enters the room.

He obviously hears the last bit of that because he goes from looking ready to fight Stephen on genetics to disgusted in ten seconds flat. “Oh my god, how dare- I did not, Tony isn’t- He is not my father!” Peter says, horrified.

Tony shakes his head, “no, no I am not and Stephen you need to stop that. I’m not playing the role of Peter’s dad.”

“Are so. You’re officially his daddy,” Stephen says, grinning as Peter and Tony both start gagging.

“I have too many daddy issues for this shit,” Tony mumbles, gagging again. “Please tell me this isn’t actually a story about the father you wished you had,” he says to Peter.

Peter is still gagging to his left, looking so disgusted he’s about to cry. “It is, but Stephen had to fucking make it weird, I didn’t even make that connection until he made it for me.”

Tony shakes his head. “No, absolutely not, I’m leaving you both and going back to Pepper and getting no PC points for it,” he says, wrinkling his entire face is disgust.

“Well, she’s a woman running a very successful company- technically your company- so I think you get a half a PC point for that,” Stephen tells him, smiling pleasantly like he’s happy that he’s permanently ruined Tony’s relationship with Peter.

“You did this on purpose!” Peter accuses. “You know how many daddy issues Tony and I have and you totally weaponized it!”

Stephen continues drinking his coffee. “I’d like to point out that I’m clearly the superior partner because I’ve never made you my father. Though, to be fair you look nothing like him even if you’re the same height,” he says.

“Fuck you, Stephen,” Peter tells him. “I thought you got over the jealousy thing.” He pouts, giving Tony puppy eyes but he can’t look Peter in the eye right now. Or maybe ever again.

“Sure I am, but I like making you squirm and also I do find it very strange that you cast Tony as your pseudo father. Just saying, I think maybe you have more issues than you think,” Stephen tells Peter.

Peter sits down on the ground before flopping over and curling into a ball. “I hate you and my life,” he mumbles.

“Stop whining, at least you aren’t my dad!” Tony tells him.

“You aren’t my dad either, you just had a lot in common with the character!” Peter says. “Stephen only made it weird because he sucks.”

“I only pointed out the obvious,” Stephen corrects.

Tony lets out a long groan because this is going to be a painful process. Peter seems to feel the same way but Stephen, the asshole, looks utterly pleased with himself.

“Also,” Stephen adds, “next time I would actually like if you waited for me to return to do a video.”

Peter and Tony flip him off but Stephen looks utterly unrepentant.

#IronStarQuill #tony x stephen x peter Q #alternate universe #YouTube AU #fanfiction #writing #idk bois i liked this so much I decided to do more of it

17 notes · View notes

anxiety-trademark · 3 years

Text

The week in review:

Raw 10/19 NXT 10/21 NXT UK 10/22 Smackdown 10/23 Hell in a Cell 10/25

Raw:

I’m here to give Alexa credit once more for making me give a shit about the Fiend. I do like his entrance, especially without a live crowd.

What a visual... them standing together hand in hand.

I love that they kept the monitors set on the graphics for this segment. No offense to the audience, but seeing them would’ve ruined this.

Amazing transition from Fiend and Alexa to the next segment/match. Major points.

Still a vicious elimination to Lacey by Natalya.

I intend to take this title match as seriously as wwe has - not within a football field of giving a shit. I know how this entire angle ends anyway (preemptive welcome back, Queen) but let’s watch it through. See how this face turn worked out for Lana.

Asuka really is insanely fast, I’ll give her that.

Great rollup attempt by Lana (shades of Nattie/Alexa), great counter by Asuka into the Asuka Lock, and great job to Lana for grabbing the ropes. Points.

I’m sure this is all rehearsed, but Lana obviously puts in the work. Do I think she’ll ever be a singles champion? Absolutely not, but at least she isn’t complacent.

Is it the tables? Is that what led to Lana turning face?

This was good for Asuka. This was good booking. She didn’t look like a chump giving Lana offense, and she looked both strong and smart post-match. Solid.

By that logic, ShaNia owns NXT’s division as well. Just saying.

Really wish they’d nix the “Mandy” intro.

Stop I never wanna hear Peyton’s theme again, plz.

So they really never did explain why Peyton and Lacey became a thing? Mk. They seem like genuine friends, it’s just too bad they aren’t a compelling tag team in the ring. Would much rather watch Sexy Muscle Friends, ngl.

Hi I like Riott Squad and have no problems with them theoretically being in this match, but why the fuck are they still here lmao. Go to SD.

This better get longer than 10 mins, there are way too many women here for y’all to rob them of time.

It’s nice to see more women give a shit about tag team wrestling/becoming a cohesive unit.

Lacey just cuz you can do a moonsault off the apron, doesn’t mean you should. That was dicey. Fine, but dicey. There’s a reason Charlotte goes up to the top turnbuckle when she does it to the outside (not that I’m suggesting that incredibly high risk spot but I’m js)

Wish Lacey wasn’t so wooden. Wish she was more trusting and flexible like Charlotte.

I’d bet anything Mandy and Dana actually could suplex Nia. Let them try.

Good break up by Shayna. Protect Dana and Mandy’s finisher. Also that was a WICKED knee strike by Mandy.

Everyone’s gonna get a move in now huh. Le sigh.

NICE interrupt again by Shayna, girl with the good timing.

Fair ending. How long was that? 5 mins to the second lmao. Mk, wwe. Mk.

Welp Alexa is officially on Firefly funhouse. Good. Now we get to blur some lines and have a bit more fun with her character.

Highlight: Asuka looking like a dominant champ without squashing Lana

---

NXT:

Rhea Ripley #1 in nxt, these are the facts. She’s literally gone through them all. Throw her up to the MR, lesgo.

Watching her handle Charlotte and Piper is so impressive. Beast.

“Gone against Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler,” so got squashed by Bianca and Shayna lmao. Hey, everyone’s got a role I guess. I remember when Alexa was enhancement talent that did a 450 splash and blew glitter all over the stage.

I don’t understand how Ember was wiped out after doing a mere roll off the ropes. It seems like a work since Jessi didn’t react and continued on as if she scored some offense (she didn’t) but that was a nasty landing on Ember’s lower back. Weird.

One count off an uppercut bahahaha

“You done messed up now,” Ember exclaims, after flipping off a fucking snapmare. I liked her better when she had no personality and just wrestled amazingly.

Is Ember a heel now? She’s acting like a heel. Why is she doing submissions? Why is she talking so much trash? Why is she so arrogant? Not a fan.

A springboard back elbow drop? Intriguing, Jessi. Intriguing. Points.

Jessi was too quick for Ember’s (now slow) setup into her codebreaker out of the corner. I’m gonna watch Charlotte vs Ember from 2019 after this, Ember was a lot quicker and cleaner - also cuz I miss Charlotte.

Yeahhh Ember used Jessi’s hair to pull her head back so she could do a crossface. She’s either a garbage babyface, or a heel.

Welp Dakota just turned babyface. Jeeze she be looking fine too. 10 points.

Dakota should be mad. She bumps like a motherfucker for every person she faces, and she made Ember’s botchy moves look amazing. Sucks she had such a stinker against Io, but there’s no way Ember should be rated higher than Dakota rn.

Interesting to note that Dakota came out on her own, as opposed to bringing - or even sending - Raquel.

Why does Xia have to win? Is there a kf contract that’s riding on her victory? Why is a random ass match against Kacy the biggest match of her career lol

Also this interviewer is gorgeous. Eyebrows on fleek, beautiful eyes and flawless hair.

*The Garganos prepare to Spin the Wheel* No.

Love Kacy’s speed. Always a joy to watch in the midcard.

Oh holy shit Kacy won, I did not see that coming. Where we going with this Xia stuff?

Xia gonna single handedly wreck both Kacy and Kayden?

WHY IS RAQUEL OUT HERE? What the fuck did Kacy and Kayden do to Raquel lmaooo

Commentator said Raquel sees Rhea Ripley in everyone she looks at. I say that’s the weakest explanation ever. Y’all just trying to find any reason to give her screen time, and this ain’t it.

“She’s sending a message to Ripley,” RHEA DON’T FUCKING CARE ABOUT THESE BITCHES. Also she’s like 3x the size of all of them lmao what?

“And next week? At Halloween? Havoc?” Girl stay backstage with your promos.

I don’t know wtf the wheel is, but I absolutely loved that segment with Io.

She’s such a special attraction to me. I miss her when she’s not on, and she’s so under saturated that I never get tired of seeing her.

Highlight: Segment with Io

---

NXT UK:

Man I really like Nina’s theme song.

After seeing last week’s fucking wrist lock marathon, this aggression is such a breath of fresh air. Not really much of a match, as it a brawl... but that’s perfectly fine lol.

Ahh Nina’s a runner? Interesting, I wouldn’t have guessed that.

Not a fan of Amale’s boots with her gear. Pressing stuff, I know.

Lol thought Nina was about to do a dis-arm-her. Man, I miss Becky.

Nina is a bit awkward with her transitions, I’m noticing.

Beautiful landing of the back body drop by Nina. Practically a swan dive.

Amale did such a lackadaisical pin attempt, and then could barely muster the strength to kick out of one. Ma’am isn’t the worst, but with as green as she is, she should be limited to 3 min sprints.

Seems to be a popular complaint I have with UK, they get gassed insanely easy. wwe needs to build a pc over there or something.

Final Act is a really weak finisher, but considering the speed, I will give points for the way Nina holds her opponent’s neck forward. We like to see performers protecting their partners from getting whiplash.

Love Nina’s voice. Love her whole shtick tbh.

She wants Piper? *sigh* okay. Should’ve just done a tournament to determine KLR’s next opponent, but whatever.

Highlight: Nina’s backstage interview

---

Smackdown:

lmfao Bianca’s reaction to being slapped. Ahhhh she’s funny.

Jeeze fucking tossed Zelina across the ring.

oof that speed by Bianca after flipping out of the hurricanrana. Whew.

Bianca straight threw Zelina into the air just to punch her in the throat lmao.

So this match was literally just “watch [Bianca] shine now” aye rep those lyrics, girl.

Confession: sometimes I fangirl over Bayley’s demeanor. She got BDE and you know what? Good for her, good for her.

Points for the chair, Bayley.

“[Sasha is] an ungrateful brat” you know... kind of accurate.

Tbf Bayley, Sasha’s name kind of is bigger than your title, cuz she’s kept herself as an A+ superstar for like 4 years without holding gold. That deserves respect and recognition. That’s a woman keeping solely her name relevant without even being champion. Now in all fairness, I think all 4 of the horsewomen are up to that standing now, but let’s give credit where it’s due.

Sasha deserves to be champion in a meta sense, this is a fact, but man her character is so unlikeable. Like Bayley is a coward and an absolute tool but she still comes off as more genuine. A face turn for Bayley will be so easy. Not asking y’all to rush it wwe, but I’m just saying.

“Just give me the title back and we’ll talk about it,” Bayley says, as if she won’t grab that shit and bolt out of the arena.

Oh that was such a good set up to the spot with Bayley caught upright in the chair. I saw that screenshot months ago, but watching it be set up makes it so much better.

Ma’am I feel like being physically forced and coerced into signing a contract automatically makes it null and void, but hey this is your universe, what do I know.

Vicious - Bayley falling over with a fucking chair wrapped around her neck. Whew what a bump.

“Go help her Cole” LMFAO legit the last person in the company that would come to Bayley’s aid. Good line, Corey. That was a great promo and segment. Mega points.

Highlight: Go home segment for Bayley & Sasha

---

Hell in a Cell:

Kind of a weak video package for this feud, ngl. They didn’t bother with the Raw women’s championship, didn’t bother with 2019, Raw 2016/2017, nxt... Closest we got were a couple 2 second clips/screenshots.

By definition, this feud has to be one of the biggest disappointments in recent memory. It had the potential to blow Becky/Charlotte out of the water, and didn’t even enter the same stratosphere. Shame. This is a perfectly fine feud in a vacuum... until you remember it’s fucking Sasha and Bayley. Okay I’ll stop beating a dead horse.

If Sasha were a real babyface, she’d drop that awful Snoop remix.

Sasha looks amazing. Love the contrast of Sasha wearing white and Bayley wearing black. Gonna miss Bayley’s old gear though.

Love Bayley spray painting 1-0 on the chair, since we all obsessed over Sasha’s shitty record ahead of this match lmao.

This feud just never picked up that mountain of tension Becky and Charlotte had at Evolution I’M SORRY.

Why can’t everyone do a headscissors takedown as fast as Sasha can.

Such an innovative way of utilizing a table and the cell to deliver a meteora. POINTS FOR SASHA *applause*

So I like the concept of Sasha rolling under the table and pushing it up into Bayley, but the landing of the table near Sasha’s head made me uneasy. I like the concept of Sasha rotating her body on the apron before jumping straight into a meteora against the cell, but the way she landed against the LED was awkward. The ideas are there though.

Cool watching Sasha jump from the apron to scale the cell, then back to the apron, then jumping over Bayley onto the floor. She’s like a rabbit. I’m underselling this tbh, like 95% of the women in the company can’t do the things Sasha can do.

OOF at Bayley being dropkicked into the steps. What a landing.

At this point, I don’t even want to see a women’s hiac match unless Sasha’s in it, or at the very least has a hand in producing it. Ugh she’d be an amazing match producer, whew.

Ugly landing through the kendo stick onto the steps by Sasha. That’s a spot that would’ve received an audible gasp from a live crowd.

OOF a sunset flip powerbomb into the fucking cell. oof. rip Bayley.

OOF a sunset flip into the fucking chair. oof. rip Sasha.

Positive on Bayley’s botched kendo stick/tape spot: lends credence to how inexperienced Bayley is with handling weapons in kf, and Bayley did a great job vocally improvising - probably earned herself points backstage. A negative: what a disaster of a spot lmfao. Should’ve had it already created and ready to go beneath the ring, or used a broomstick/crutch for the spot instead. Having people handle tape mid match is stupid. Wasn’t Bayley’s fault, but the crowd would’ve shit all over that lesbireal.

If you’re a specified Sasha fan, you’ll probably deem this the greatest match of Sasha’s career, cuz my god did she look amazing in it (and she actually won) but if you’re not, I’ll tell you, they did not do a good job making Bayley shine at the end of her historic reign imo.

Sasha bout to have a breakdown. Good acting.

This match lacks cohesion. Very spotty, but most of the spots are fucking incredible, so it gets a pass.

I like the ladder on the chairs.

Sasha jumping off the set up ladder to do a meteora in the corner was nice. Sasha using a fucking Bayley to Belly onto the ladder was beautiful.

Sasha looking like she wants to cry. Man she’s amazing.

BEAUTIFUL counter out of the Bayley to Belly by Sasha; dropped Bayley into the chair to set up her Bank Statement inside the chair.

Mega points for that single chair being the center of their entire feud, as the rivalry began and ended with that chair. Bravo there.

That’s it, Bayley’s reign is finally over. This match’s review was hella long, but deservedly so. Extremely happy for Sasha. Took her 4 years on the MR giving people banger after banger before wwe trusted her with a legitimate title reign, but we’ve finally made it.

Highlight(s): Both sunset flips by Bayley & Sasha against the chair & cell, respectively

---

*hiac blew everything else out of the water by default thanks to Bayley vs Sasha, but both Raw & SD were very enjoyable to me this week as well.

#wwe #issa review #feel free to ignore these #cuz who tf cares lesbihonest #today's props goes to:#sasha banks

0 notes