#hi i had to get a death stranding thing out of my system :’-)))

[kagoutiss]

a new world with a new sky

#death stranding #death stranding spoilers #cw blood #cw corpse #higgs monaghan #hi i had to get a death stranding thing out of my system :’-))) #the one on the left has chromatic aberration and the other doesnt

[oval3000]

Chapter 4

Yandere Psych Patient König x Nurse reader

Warning: Possesive, Obsession, Death, Gore, Blood, Smut, Toxic behavior, age gap. Assault.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

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

"I don't like this," Jacob rubbed his for head, giving a few scratches. His hand on his hip with a slump posture. His eyes were giving out with annoyance and tiredness, not from the labor work, but from the system.

The fellow nurse could give an eye roll after seeing what was happening. "Anything to save some money, right?"

Mr. Miller ordered that half of the guards on the fifth floor would go to other floors to cover other shifts of guards that quit and who were..laid off. Those 20,000 thousand dollars couldn't come out from thin air as to what Mr. Miller thought it would, so it was the only option, to send some guards home.

Meaning that other guards from other floors had to move around and, unfortunately, your floor was affected by this.

The two guards that were on König, left as well as four others.

Things have now changed, your safety may now be a risk. But to to be quite honest with you, your safety is nothing to be worried about.

You did your morning rounds, assisted where there is needed. During their lunch, you heard the main phone ring from the floor. Jacob picked it up, "this is Jacob. Yes, sir. Okay...yeah...no problem." He hung up the phone taking a deep breath. He walked behind you and tapped on your shoulder. You turned your head away from the computer, "Mr. Miller wants to see you in his office."

You felt a big tull on your stomach. You were nervous. He never called you in his office before and with everything that is going on, you could only imagine worse.

Is he going to fire you?

You can't loose this job, the pay is good. You can't pack and move again to find something better.

You headed down to his office in a bit of a hurry, you didn't want to miss their lunch round check ups. You knocked on the brown wooden door with his name ingraved on a gold platter.

"Come in." You entered into his office and saw him sitting as his usual chair, writing whatever he is writing on a piece of paper. He stood up, fixing his suit. Mr. Miller, about the age of 50. Still has a grown set of hair only it's shown to have some grey strand hairs peaking through. 6 feet 3 inches maybe. Looks a bit fit, lackes muscles though. His light beard with a few grey strands of hair that follows the shape of his long jawline.

You saw photos that are in his office. Paintings of mountains and oceans. You saw his degree in psychology and business on a sharp, dark, brown, frame hanged up on the cream wall.

"Is there something wrong, sir?" You questioned standing behind the two chairs aligned perfectly in front of his desk. You hoped that he doesn't fire you. You can't hit rock bottom. Not now after everything.

"No, I just wanted to check up on you. I also wanted to apologize for the way I reacted towards you during the Gabriel incident. It was really unprofessional of me to do so. You were just doing your job, I'm sorry." He creeped in closer to you. You felt uncomfortable, a bad vibe coming off from him. He placed his hand on your shoulder, gripping it lightly. "If you need anything, my office is always open for you."

You swallowed the little bit of saliva, taking a step away from him, but it only brought him closer to you.

You panicked. You looked around to see if anyone, anyone at all can see, but nothing. The door is shut, the window blinds are closed. "It's okay sir, I should get going."

You turned around to walk away, but you felt his hands on your arm, pulling away in. "You look adorable playing hard to get"

Your eyes widen. You felt absolute frozen. "Sir. Let go of me!" He dragged you in front of his desk. The movement was so sudden, you couldn't say anything. "Please sir."

He gripped your shoulders tight that you couldn't move. You felt his body pressed against you. You felt his hips pushing in deeper. You couldn't help, but to let tears fall from your eyes. You felt so frozen that you hated yourself. This couldn't be happening to you.

You honestly wished he called you in to fire you. His body completely compressed to yours making you bend over on his desk. His hands roamed your body. His cold hands went inside your scrub shirt. You shook at his touch with fear. "No!Please! Stop!"

"You feel so good " he cupped your breast, pulling under your bra to get a better touch. Eventually his one hand left one of your breast and it landed on your ass. You heard the sound of his belt unbuckling and his zipper being pulled down. He gripped onto your scrub pants and pulled them down, including your underwear, showing your naked vagina. "Fuck. I should've fucked you along time ago."

"Please! Please! Stop! Let go of me!" You cried out, feeling his finger pressed on your area.

A beeping sound came from his phone, "Sir, you have a call coming in. It's from the CEO."

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." He finally let go. He yanked your body closer to him. He cupped your face with his hand. You felt his disgusting breath near your mouth. "If you tell anyone about this. I'll ruin your fucking life. You got that."

You nodded as he aggressively let go, making you fall a bit on his desk. You felt so humiliated while pulling up your scrub pants and fixing your bra. You were about to walk out when he said, "Oh and make sure no one sees you like that. Get yourself fixed."

You didn't bother turning to him. You walked about quickly and ignoring the staff by not making eye contact. You pressed the button for the elevator, which felt like an eternity to arrive. Never felt like hours waiting for the elevator. Thankfully, no one was there, it was just you. You pressed on the fifth floor button.

You wanted to vomit. You scrunched your face as the tears fell down your cheeks. You covered your mouth trying hard to cover your sobs. Even though you are alone in the elevator, you felt embarrassed. You took deep breaths as it was reaching near the floor. You wiped away as much tears as you can. Even so you know your eyes and nose are red and puffy.

You avoided eye contact with everyone. You prayed that no one will come up to you ask why Mr. Miller called you down to his office. You grabbed the medical cart with the things you need and quickly went to each patients room, the last one being Königs.

You jiggle the kids, the guards left for you, to open his door. You swang the door a bit open and back inside his room. You grabbed the tray with his medication and placed it down on top of the cart. König watched you. He knew something was wrong.

You raised your head up, feeling the tears forming again. You hated yourself for not stopping the tears from coming out. Not now. Not when you are doing your job.

But you couldn't help it. You covered your face as tears were running down your face. You didn't want to cry in front of a patient, nevertheless, König.

He quickly got up and took your arm to pull you closer to him. He sat back down on his bed with his legs spread a bit to let you in closer to him. He couldn't see your face, which was still buried in your hands. If you could see his eyes, the look he's giving you. The same look he gave to the people he wanted to kill, to his enemies in the battle field. "What happened, schatz?" his thick accent was hard and impactful. You uncovered your face to see him, for him to see you. He saw the tears, the redness in your eyes.

The sympathetic look he gave you made those tears flowing again. Being comfort is not something you're use to. Your always dealing with everything by yourself.

He palmed your cheek, wiping your tears away. You shook your head lightly. You can't tell him. He's your patient. You can't tell your patient is a psychiatric hospital that you were almost raped by your boss. "Bitte tell me."

"H-he....touched me." You stared away, but his other palm touched your cheek, making you to look at him.

You saw the stare he gave you. Filled with sympathy and anger. "He. Touched. You."

You nodded. "He trapped me in his office. He was going to rape me. If he didn't get that phone call, he would've-." Your words turned into sobs.

He got up and pulled you into a tight hug. Your head was buried into his chest, letting out your quiet sobs.

He held you tight and close. His hand rubbing your back while the other was petting your head. "Shhh..it's okay, schatz. It's okay."

He turned his head towards the slight, opened, door. His way to freedom. Your freedom.

Away from this. From every assholes that's here. Away from everyone else.

"Mein liebling. Mach dir keine Sorgen. Ich werde ihn töten. Ich werde jeden töten, der dir wehtut. (My darling. don't worry. ill kill him. I'll kill anyone that hurts you.) " he gripped you tight. He doesn't want to let you go. He wants you to be attached to him. For you to share everything of his. "Mine," he whispered. "All mine."

#cod modern warfare #cod mw2 #cod x reader #fanfic #yandere #yandere konig #yandere könig #könig mw2 #konig x reader #konig #könig x reader #könig cod #könig call of duty #könig #könig x y/n

[nahoney22]

Hello, me again!

Can I please get 20 from your Enemies to Loves list with Fives?

Foes to Friends 🌊

🫧 Pairings: Fives X Female Reader

word count: 1k

prompt:

"I think we're friends now," / "Dank Farrik, don't say that,"

You thought war was stressful but it appeared to be nothing compared to your rivalry with the Arc Trooper that is Fives. But, how do you feel when he saves your life without thinking of the consequences?

warnings: Mentions of War, Near Death Experience, Platonic Relationship, Enemies to Friends, Female Reader but could be read as GN, Fives gets injured, Separatist’s Enemies.

sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoy @sleepycreativewriter 🩵

The blaster fire illuminated the darkened corridor of the starship, casting flickering shadows on the cold, metallic walls. Fives and yourself, both hunched behind a crate, exchanging a quick, tense glance.

For as long as you had known him, the two of you had always butted heads. Supposedly it was down to both of your stubbornness and fierce determination that caused endless clashes during missions and today was no different.

After getting separated from Rex and the rest of the squadron, it was just you and Fives stranded together and things were getting hairy.

"Stick to the plan," Fives muttered, his eyes scanning the hallway for movement.

"I am sticking to the plan," You retorted , peering over the edge of the crate. "If you have a better idea, I'm all ears."

Fives shot you a look that said he doubted your abilities, but he said nothing more. Both of you knew that now was not the time for arguments. The Separatists had taken control of the ship, and it was detrimental that you both needed to get to the control room to shut down their systems.

Moving swiftly, your blasters cut through the droids that stood in the way. As you reached a narrow passage, the floor began to shake violently. Your heart began to race as the shaking was then followed by an explosion which echoed through the ship, and suddenly, the ceiling began to collapse.

It happened quickly but without thinking, Fives grabbed at your arm and pulled you out of harm's way, saving you from being crushed into a pancake.

You pant, shaking your hands as nerves and exhilaration flow through you at your close call. "Thanks," you mumble begrudgingly, not exactly used to showing gratitude towards him.

"Just doing my job," Fives replied, though there was a hint of something softer in his tone. It made you pause and think for a moment, watching him but focused back on the task ahead.

Continuing your advance, the tension between you both felt to be easing. Even if it’s only slightly. He had your back covered and you had his

But things went from bad to worse as you both approached the control room where you fell into an ambush of separatist droids. “We’re out numbered, Fives!” You cry out, shooting and dodging at every chance you get, exhaustion getting the better of you. Just when you thought one wave was down, you were drowned by another and another and another.

"Get to the control room!" Fives shouted over the blaster fire. "I'll hold them off!"

"Are you insane? You'll get killed!" You yelled back, heart pounding. No way you were going to let him do this.

"Just go!" he insisted, physically pushing you towards the door. You meet his gaze, wide and horrified whilst his eyes, usually so full of defiance, now held a desperate determination.

You hesitated for a moment, not wanting him to face the droids alone but then remembered you had to consider everyone else on the ship too. “Fives…”

“What are you waiting for? Go! Leave me!”

A wave of emotions hit you and knowing you had to do this, you turned and sprinted towards the control room. Entering, you curse to yourself as all you could hear and somehow focus on was Fives' blaster firing rapidly behind you. But you had to focus.

Quickly, you began shutting down the systems, fingers flying over the controls like you had done hundreds of times in training. Your mind is running wild and just as you finished, a blaster bolt whizzed past your head. You spin around, ready to meet your fate as you hadn’t even had time to react quick enough to grab your blaster. Heart stopping and your eyes closing waiting for the inevitable and you can only wish you had done all you could for the others but before you could even process anything, Fives was there.

His blaster takes out the droid in a single shot before he leans on the doorframe in agony. He was bleeding and looked exhausted, but he had made it.

You had never been so happy to see him. You rush to his side, looking over his injuries. “Crap, you’re pretty beaten up there.” You sigh and he can only mumble a response which sounded a lot like ‘no shit’ which you couldn’t help but chuckle at.

"You didn't have to come back for me," you say softly, voice barely above a whisper. You didn’t understand it but your throat tightened with emotion.

He meets your gaze, "Couldn't let you have all the glory," he replied with a weak smile. "Besides, someone has to keep you out of trouble."

You rolled your eyes, how very typical of Fives.

Letting him drape an arm over your shoulder, you helped him up and together made your way back to the escape pods after getting the all clear from Rex.

Fives however was clearly struggling, every step he took made him wince. The sight of his pain made your chest ache with a new, unsettling feeling. You came to the realisation with a pang that you cared for him. He had saved your life twice and in all the times you had bickered, you had not recognised how much you valued him until you almost lost him.

As you sat in the cramped pod, waiting for the ship to be out of range, you looked at Fives, seeing him in a new light. The lines of tension around his eyes, the stubborn set of his jaw, all seemed painfully familiar now… it was like looking into a mirror. How could you not see that you both argued because you were both so similar?

"I think we're friends now," you say quietly, trying to lighten the silence.

"Dank Farrik, don't say that," Fives groaned, though there was no malice in his words, only exhaustion and you even saw the flicker of a smile on his lips.

You giggled softly, leaning back and closing your eyes. "Admit it, you care about me."

"Maybe," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Just because we're similar doesn't mean we can't be allies."

“Friends, Fives.” You reiterate, “We’re friends.”

Tags: @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex @jesseeka

@theroguesully @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @staycalmandhugaclone

@ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog

@pb-jellybeans @nunanuggets @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @lamiliani @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi

@greaser-wolf @tinyreadersmur @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @ladytano420

@ladyzirkonia @thesith @raevulsix @cw80831 @knightprincess @crosshairlovebot @whore4rex @imperialclaw801 @temple-elder r @mysticalgalaxysalad @yunggoblin @the-bad-batch-baroness @thiswitchloves9904

#fives x reader #arc trooper fives #arc trooper fives x reader #clone trooper fluff #clone trooper #arc trooper fives x you #tbb #star wars #clone wars #nahoney22 writes

[mamayan]

don’t think i didn’t see this yannie

you know what you have to do now

shiggy step on us with his big feet

This is my third time writing this because Tumblr has eaten my work twice. I will actually slaughter the entity that is tumblr, pull it’s intestines out and use them as a fucking jump rope, if I lose it for a third time. This time I didn’t delete my work on Google doc once I “saved” it to Tumblr. Enjoy some Shiggy nastiness babe♥️ 

Shigaraki Tomura x Fem! Reader

tw: All of them NONCON • DUBCON • Rough Sex • Anal Fingering • Degradation • Humiliation • Breath Play (noncon)

You knew better.

In all the time you’ve known him, you knew better than always show your true feelings.

For the most part it hardly mattered, it was second nature not to flinch at the death and destruction he left behind him.

It was the little things which got you. The mundane and unimportant. It was the times he’d let you completely relax, to feel utterly safe and content, that you’d slip up.

He’d been playing video games for the last few hours while you’d been reading. Mindlessly flipping pages and switching between dreams and wakefulness. Wearing his shirt and only a plain pair of underwear, you were content to laze about the day as he was.

You didn’t notice a set of dull garnet eyes soaking you up. The sight of you made his skin itch and teeth ache. On his bed. In his clothes. Reading a graphic novel he recommended.

You were a pretty picture, even to his delusional standards.

This was Tomura though, so his show of love could never be conventional. At best, mildly annoying and at worst, horrendously violent.

You weren’t prepared for a socked foot to nudge your cheek, the scent of sour sweat and mildew entering your nose and causing your face to scrunch up as your stomach recoiled. You nearly threw up, the thought of feet and the smell enough to have you panicking and losing yourself for just a moment as you flinched away.

“That’s fucking gross Tomu—,” it was too late to redact that statement dripping with revulsion.

Too late to stop the dawning of this new information from his calculating mind. Too late when his face showed surprise, only to be followed by a grotesque smile that had your insides curling for a different reason. It was too late to run when his hand gripped your wrist just as you’d moved to throw yourself off the bed.

“Fucking gross?” You winced at his grating tone, his lip splitting grin speaking only of evil intentions as his eyes crinkled unnaturally around the edges. “You think I’m gross?”

“N-no that’s not what I meant—,” he cut you off with a laugh, the sound reverberating around the room. It was rolling and filled with dark amusement.

“Then what did you mean princess? Hm?” You were shaking. It was obvious nothing good was coming, his saccharine tone as he called you princess telling of the nightmare sure to follow. You couldn’t pull out of his grip, the strength he’d placed initially only growing as the seconds tickled by, becoming painful as you jerked. “Got nothing to say?” He chuckles, his gleeful face not matching the cruel intensity of his actions.

He’s doesn’t hesitate to nearly dislocate your shoulder as he throws you to the floor, blue strands of hair falling into his vision as he stomps down on your chest when you attempt to get up.

It didn’t matter you were crying now.

If anything it seemed to spur him on, as he palmed his hardening cock through his sweatpants.

“Common princess, you didn’t really think I’d let this go, did you? I asked you a fucking question.” You gasp in pain as he increases the pressure on your sternum, air becoming difficult when you couldn’t expand your lungs to drag any oxygen in. Crystalline tears pooled in your eyes, dotting your lashes as you pathetically struggled beneath his foot, trying to grip his ankle and remove the pressure.

“N-no—,” you could hardly breathe and the panic seeping into your system made answering or even thinking difficult.

He let up, lifting his foot as you rolled to your side and gasped for air like a fish out of water. The burning in your lungs ebbing but a dull ache remaining as you coughed and sputtered.

He was hardly done with you.

Easily slipping from his socks, he snickered in amusement as he kicked you over to your stomach, foot digging into your shoulder blades as you whine in protest.

“What? Not going to call my feet gross again? They’re all over you now slut.” He rolls his eyes as you whimper out a stuttered apology.

It’s too late for that now.

Dropping to his knees, he easily grips your hips and lifts your ass into the air.

He was going to show a little mercy, but when you tried to push your chest up too, he easily lifted his left foot and smashed your pretty face into the carpet with it.

“Ngh!” Your cry of surprise and pain only making him giggle as he yanks your underwear down to the middle of your thighs. Enjoying the way his shirt on you slides up to your chest and gives him a nice view of the underside of your breasts and soft stomach.

Tomura doesn’t hesitate to land a sharp slap to your now exposed cunt, licking his chapped lips as the wetness clinging to his fingers when he pulls away. Your cry and jolt of shock only furthering his rough treatment with you, as he meanly shoves two dry and bony fingers inside you.

“Tomu—!” you can only dig your fingers into the carpet and try to breathe, because the foot on your head hurts. His toes already tangled in your hair and tearing strands out as he shifts to work you open.

He’s not looking to get you off. When his fingers are sufficiently wet enough for his standards, he happily drags them out of your tight warm walls and up to your puckered asshole.

“Please—,” you can hardly see through the tears, but when the pressure on your head increases you’re forced to relax as he shoves both into your ass.

“Shut up!” He all but snarls, furious at having his fun interrupted by your stupid whining.

“You act like you don’t like my fucking feet, but you’re really just a dirty whore who fucking loves this, aren’t you?” He spreads his fingers, lighting up all your pain censors as he leans over to spit in the small gap he made, before fucking it into you quick and fast.

“Hurts!” Your hiss of pain through gritted teeth is ignored as he lifts his foot off your face, letting your turn your head enough for fresh air and a sigh of relief as he removes his fingers too.

You don’t see him stand, but when your back is forced to arch further with a hand in the middle of it, you cringe as you hear the sound of rustling clothes.

Tomura drops his pants enough to free his cock, rutting into his palm and roughly jerking himself before lining up with your cunt.

“You say it hurts but this cunt is dripping isn’t it slut?” He sneers, keeping you pinned and laughing at your scrunched up features. Your pretty cheeks wet and puffy, snot and tears covering you along with your sweat making strands of hair stick to your forehead.

He hunches over you again, moving one hand back to your hip and swinging his leg around to smash his foot against your face now, snorting in laughter at your cry of outrage. Your cheek burns, your tears and the carpet rubbing your skin raw as you feel his thick tip begin to push into your pussy.

You weren’t actually wet enough despite his words, the stretch and sting bringing a fresh wave of tears as you sob out loud now.

“M’sorry Tomu’ please, hurts, please—,” your begging does nothing but make him shove deeper faster, trying to jam his cock into your tight hole despite the resistance of your clenching walls.

“Fucking relax, or I’ll fuck your ass,” his threat only served to further frighten you, bearing down almost painfully on him.

His moan of pleasure is your only comfort. “So fucking tight,” his hips jerk, rocking unevenly inside of you, before finally having mercy and letting his spit slick you up a little more. The rough skin of his foot slips a little on your tears, moving his toes closer to your mouth and nose as he loses himself to his own pleasure.

You’re left helpless and weighed down as he essentially uses your face and hips as leverage to fuck harder down into you.

As it gets harder to keep himself up, he drops to one knee and bears down more weight on you. You struggle to breathe or even think as his cock works to open you, balls slapping against your clit in a steady rhythm.

“That’s it slut, you like this don’t you princess? You gonna cum with my gross fucking feet in your mouth? Haha!” He’s delirious in pleasure as he fucks you, hips slamming

His disgusting untrimmed toenails digging into the soft skin of your lips as your tongue hangs out in pleasure, his face giddy looking at your fucked out expression with his foot on it.

“That’s it bitch, I knew you’d like this,” his gaze dark as he watches you, letting his toes wiggle into your mouth and grunting as your core tightens. “This cunt likes it at least,” he grunts, feeling his balls draw tight as he gasps and works his hips faster.

“Go ahead and cum princess, with my filthy fucking feet in your mouth like the slut you are, hah, fuck yes, that’s it,” you couldn’t stop your orgasm even if you wanted to, crying out around his dirty toes as your body convulses beneath him.

He fills your pussy moments later, moaning loudly as his cock twitches and spills inside. Panting heavily as he catches his breath, Tomura’s eyes crack open to stare down at you.

He removes his foot to reveal your messy appearance, too exhausted at this point to do much else but lay pliant below him. Your lip is split, eyes blurry and unfocused, with cheeks stained in drying salty tears.

Tomura chuckles as he pulls out, watching your pussy twitch and push all his warm cum out and down your shaking thighs.

He stuffs his half hard cock back into his sweats he pulls up, standing and stretching his sore side.

“Look who’s fucking gross now bitch,” he grins, digging his phone out of his pocket and snapping a couple pictures, the flash blinding you for a moment.

He intended to set it as his new screensaver.

#I’m in my doing my best era this week #my service and wifi have been shit #enjoy some Shiggy I love him #Shigaraki Tomura #mha tomura #bnha #mha #Shigaraki tomura smut #Shiggy smut #Mha Tomura smut #Shigaraki smut #shigaraki tomura x reader smut #Yan loves her mooties

[wild-karrde]

One Step at a Time - Part 14

Master List | Previous Part | Next Part

A/N: I HAVE RETURNED AND THINGS ARE STILL HAPPENING. Please make sure to heed the warnings! As always, thank you to the wonderful @teletraan-meets-jarvis for beta reading this for me!

Chapter Rating: E

Warnings: PiV sex, language, canon-typical violence, graphic description of injury, mention of suicide, character death, grief

Word Count: 8.4k words

Chuckles’s ears were ringing and everything was dark. The throbbing of his head made him fairly certain he was awake rather than dreaming, but it was hard to be sure. He could hear some sounds, but they were muted and far away, as if he was underwater, and the familiar terror at that thought was enough to snap his eyes open. They immediately stung, and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. 

The kids.

They’re safe. 

But you’re not. 

He took a deep gasping breath that burned his lungs, and he coughed hard, tasting a coating of dust on his tongue as smoke inundated his senses. He felt movement underneath him. 

Anj. Helly.

Planting his palms, he pushed himself up off of the two bodies he’d dove on top of, feeling a cascade of rock and dirt roll off of his back. He wasn’t wide enough to have completely shielded them, but the heaviness and soreness on his back made him hope he’d done enough. He blinked again, his eyes watering as he frantically tried to get the grit out of his eyes. He could just barely make out the two forms beneath him, groaning quietly. Tears streamed down his face, and he couldn’t be sure if it was purely from the smoke as he choked on another deep, shuddering breath. 

Lu.

He glanced over his shoulder. 

Where the lift and Lu had stood, there was nothing but rubble and roaring flames that were licking up any structure that was still standing. He could see most of the supports had collapsed during the explosion, and the struts that were still intact were bent, straining under their added load. The fire was superheating some of the metal, causing it to glow orange and creak threateningly. 

It’s gonna buckle and collapse the tunnel. We have to move.

Alarms were blaring loudly all around, nearly drowning out the ringing in his ears. He knew people had to be coming to help, but he couldn’t wait for them. The Imperials that were still in the mine were stranded at best, dead at worst, and right now, they were the least of Chuckles’s concerns.

A hand clamped around his arm, and his head whipped down to find Anj pushing a slab of rock off of herself and struggling to a sitting position. Blood covered her face, but her eyes were sharp as they found his through the haze. 

“Hells is hurt. We have to move. Now.”

Something about the tone of her voice, the roughness from the dust, the urgency, sent adrenaline dumping into his system and blood roaring in his ears. His training began to echo in his mind and his fingers itched to be wrapped around the controls in his cockpit as he felt the familiar surge of panic and excitement and thrill seep into his veins. 

Steady. You’re not at war. But you are in trouble.

His vision finally slightly clearer, he looked down at Helly. She was trembling and groaning, clutching at her shirt, which was soaked with blood. Her eyes weren’t all the way open, and her palor seemed off, even taking into account the layer of dust that was coating all of them. Chuckles felt his stomach flip, but he swallowed the bile rising in his throat and nodded at Anj, and the two of them began digging around the Rodian. Anj soothed Helly as Chuckles did his best to move the largest rocks and debris out of the way. 

“Where does it hurt, Petal?” Anj whispered. 

“M-my leg,” Helly whimpered. “And my stomach.” 

Anj gripped her hand tightly as she lifted her shirt. A wide gash ripped up Helly’s abdomen. Blood trickled from it, seeping into the dirt beneath her. Anj schooled her face into a neutral expression, meeting Chuck’s eyes. 

“Hurry. Careful with her leg. We’ll have to carry her out.” Her voice wavered slightly, but her expression was calm. Chuck had seen enough battle wounds to know what the calm was hiding. 

“Hang on, Hells. We’ll get you out. Chuck’s gonna get your leg free, and then we’ll get out, alright?”

“The fire,” Helly rasped. “It could hit the fluid lines. They’re filled with flammable material. Y-you can’t stay, Anj.”

“We aren’t going to stay, Petal. But we’re not leaving without you. Got it?” 

Tears trickled from Helly’s eyes as Anj stroked her cheek, but she nodded, knowing the Nautolan wouldn’t be swayed. 

Chuckles fought a wave of nausea as he finally uncovered Helly’s leg. Bone stuck out through the leg of her pants, and her boot was twisted at an angle that was just wrong for her body. And there was so much blood. More than he was used to seeing. 

For a pilot, there usually wasn’t a gruesome death to be witnessed. You were here one moment and gone the next, blinking out like a star as your fighter ripped to shreds around you. If you were lucky, the explosion took you out before your brain could process what had happened, and most of his brothers had been lucky. Crater’s body had never seemed real to Chuckles when he’d seen it, floating in the smoldering debris of the fleet. It had only been a fraction of a second that he’d caught sight of his captain, not enough and too much for him to process and accept. But Crater had been well and gone to whatever the next life held by the time Chuck had seen him, his star extinguished until Chuck could paint it on the back of his helmet. 

Chuckles considered himself lucky to be a pilot in that respect, to be able to grieve his lost squadmates but know that they likely didn’t feel a thing. He’d heard the gruesome stories from Howzer and Wolffe and the others that had fought planetside, brothers with broken bodies, screaming with their dying breaths. 

He hated to think of his brothers hurting, but somehow, seeing Helly suffer was worse. The clones were soldiers, and the harsh reality of their existence had been drilled into them from the moment they could understand the concept of death. But Helly wasn’t a clone or a soldier. She wasn’t supposed to have her body torn apart like this. She was supposed to smile gently and speak far too quickly about things she was passionate about and make Anj’s eyes twinkle in a way seemingly only she could. And yet, here she lay, trembling and leaking enough blood to make Chuckles think of his own accident with a shudder.

“Do you have something to splint with, Anj?” he asked as quietly as he could, trying not to reflexively reach for the scar on his cheek as he fought back against the intrusive memory. 

Anj’s eyes darted down to the Helly’s leg, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “There’ll be a medkit by the lockers. If nothing else, it’ll have a pain med to dull that. Stay with her, I’ll go find it.” 

“Anj, I can-”

The Nautolan shook her head, her teeth digging into her lower lip. It was obvious she was struggling with this, but she was trying to think logically instead of with her heart. 

“I know exactly where it should be, Chuckles. I’ll be faster.” 

She reached over, grabbing his hand and sliding it into Helly’s. 

“Stay with her, and I’ll be right back. Yeah?”

Chuckles nodded. “Yeah.”

Anj scrambled the rest of the way out of the rubble, her boot slipping on a few of the rocks as she clambered away. Blood was dripping off of one of her tendrils, streaming from a cut on her head. The back of her shirt also had several dark splotches on it, but Chuckles couldn’t be sure if it was her blood or Helly’s. 

A quiet whimper brought his attention back to Helly. Her fingers felt cool in his, and a spike of fear shot through him. Ripping his shirt off, he wadded it up and lifted Helly’s tunic again, pressing the fabric against the deep wound in her abdomen to try and stem the bleeding. He felt her body stiffen as he applied pressure, and she winced. Guilt tore through him, some because he knew he was hurting her, some because he hadn’t shielded her enough to keep her from being hurt like this. 

“I’m sorry, Hells,” he rasped. “It’ll only be for a little bit. Anj’ll be right back and we’ll get you fixed up and out of here.”

“You both should go,” she said quietly.

“I’m not going anywhere. And neither is Anj.”

“The kids.”

Chuck’s chest tightened at the thought of Arni and Nita.

They’re at school. Endi will take care of them until I can get there. They’ll be scared, but they’ll be alright. 

“They’re with Endi. They’ll be ok. I’ll comm them as soon as I can get out of here.” 

“You’re bleeding,” she said softly, reaching up and touching his shoulder. Looking down, Chuck saw a deep cut running along the meat of his shoulder. Some of the blood had smeared across his undershirt. Only when he saw it did he finally notice the sting of it. He shrugged, trying to smile through the pain.

“I’ve had worse. I’ll be alright.”

Helly’s gaze grew distant, and her face twisted in grief. “Lu-”

“We’ll find him,” Chuckles replied almost automatically.

Helly’s eyes met his, and he could see she knew as well as he did that there was nothing to find. More tears streamed from her eyes. “Anj knew he… but neither of us thought he’d… I can’t believe…” She shuddered and sobbed and whimpered. 

“Shhhh, Hells,” Chuckles tried to soothe. “One step at a time. We’ll get out of here, and we’ll get you fixed, and we’ll figure it all out, ok?” 

It was clear Helly wanted to say more, but tears slid down her cheeks, leaving trails in the dust on her skin, and she quietly cried. Chuck squeezed her hand, praying Anj had made it to the lockers. As if some deity was finally listening, he heard a curse and some rocks shift off to his left. Anj reappeared, lugging a medkit with one arm. Chuckles could see she was favoring the other, but he knew better than to mention it right now. He took the kit as Anj extended to it, popping it open and rummaging for a painkiller. He found the injector and handed it to Anj, looking for something to temporarily splint Helly’s leg. Anj whispered quietly to Helly before pressing the plunger against her neck, and some of the tension seemed to seep out of the Rodian’s body as the med flooded her system. Anj flung the spent injector away before taking one of the adhesive bacta patches from Chuckles, ripping it open with her teeth as she pulled up Helly’s shirt and did her best to clean around the wound. Helly wriggled, but kept silent as Anj smoothed the bandage in place. 

“Just need to get her leg put together enough to get out of here,” the Nautolan murmured, gently pulling Helly’s shirt back down. “Every medic in a fifty klick radius is going to be heading here, I’m sure.” Her grin was tight, more of a grimace, her teeth glinting in the flickering light of the flames. “You have any medical training?”

“Some,” Chuck replied, ignoring how his hands were shaking as he found bandages and a temporary splint. Helly’s blood and some of his own was smeared across his forearms, and the stinging in his shoulder was beginning to flare into a sharp throb. He bit his cheek as he extended his arm out to Anj to give her the wrap bandages. “You?”

“Some,” she echoed. “But that’ll have to be better than nothing.” Her eyes lingered on Chuck’s trembling hands, and his face warmed with shame. Anj gently reached out, taking the splint from him.

“Hold her while I do this.”

“Anj, I-”

“Chuckles.” Her eyes met his, and he saw a flicker of fear and frustration before she steeled herself. He briefly wondered if this was what she’d looked like when she’d walked away from the partner that had abused her, or when she’d walked away from her home and all she knew, but he blinked, pushing the thought away. Anj closed her calloused hands over his. “I can do this, but I need you to take care of her. Hold onto her and comfort her while I can’t. That’s what I need you to do right now. It’s important to me.”

Chuckles swallowed the lump in his throat, but nodded before moving up towards Helly’s shoulders, helping her to sit up. She gave him a weak smile, but her eyes were dim, and Chuck knew in that moment that the fire and fluid lines weren’t the only things they were racing against. 

“I’ve got you Hells. Just squeeze my hands when it hurts, alright?” He pressed her back against his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder, and she gently rested her head against his, allowing his fingers to wrap around hers.

“One… one step at a time. L-like you said,” she whispered. 

Those words had been such a boon for him in his life since the war ended, and he hoped he hadn’t worn them out just yet. 

Anj met his eyes, and he nodded, holding Helly a little tighter. 

“Yup. One step at a time.”

Anj bit her lip and pressed Helly’s leg against the splint. 

Helly screamed and shuddered. 

He’d known the pain killer wasn’t going to be able to dull Helly’s pain enough for the splint, but that knowledge didn’t stop tears from leaping into Chuckles’s eyes as he held her tightly, trying to keep her from thrashing too much as Anj quickly tried to bandage her leg, tying it firmly to the splint. 

“I know, Hells. I know. You’re doing so good. I’m so sorry. Hang on,” Chuckles said softly, trying to keep his voice from cracking as fear flooded through him. Anj was crying as she worked, tears running down her cheeks. 

“I’m so sorry, Petal. I’m so sorry. I’m almost done. I promise,” she whispered, her voice breaking on every word.

Helly whimpered, and Chuckles held her tighter as she trembled. The smoke stung his eyes, and he knew tears were leaking from his eyes as well. He cradled Helly’s head, pressing his forehead to her temple as he whispered. 

“Almost done, almost done.”

He wasn’t sure if he was reassuring her or himself as she sobbed again. 

“There. Done.” 

Anj’s shoulders slumped with relief as she sat back on her haunches and wiped at her face. 

“Alright, time to go, Hells.” 

The two of them pulled Helly to her good foot, bracing her on either side, but it only took one hobbling step for it to be apparent the three of them couldn’t pick their way over the rubble like that. A rumbling echo and menacing creaking behind them served as a warning that they were running out of whatever time they had left. Chuckles bent over, scooping Helly into his arms with a grunt. 

“Your shoulder-” Anj tried to protest, but he cut her off.

“Scout a path. I’ll be fine. I’ll follow you.”

Anj looked like she was going to argue. Chuck glanced down at Helly before meeting the Nautolan’s dark eyes with a pleading look. 

Let me do this. We’ve got to go. 

He could see Anj doing the math of it all in her head, understanding that this was the best way forward, even if that meant she couldn’t hold onto Helly for a few more moments. She scowled, and he could see her spine straighten as she nodded. Without another word, she turned, eyes scanning the uneven footing ahead of her as she carefully placed her boots, arms held out for balance. Sweat broke out across Chuckles’s brow, trickling down his temple as he tried to keep his arms steady around Helly, placing his feet where Anj had stepped and doing his best to not jostle the Rodian too much. 

It felt like an eternity had passed when they finally heard a shout up ahead. Anj glanced over her shoulder at Chuckles as if to ensure he heard it too. He nodded before taking a deep breath and yelling as loud as he could. 

“OVER HERE!” 

Anj moved quickly, shouting with a raw voice, and Chuck followed carefully behind. A moment later, two silhouettes emerged out of the murky darkness, headlamps cutting through the swirling dust and smoke. 

“ANJ! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!?” Teef shouted. The oxygen mask he was wearing muffled his words, and his sharp eyes blinked behind his goggles. 

“Not sure yet,” Anj said flatly. Her eyes flicked to Chuckles, and she gave him a nearly imperceptible shake of her head. The message was clear. 

Not now.

“Hells is hurt bad,” Chuckles rasped, his throat suddenly feeling more raw. He noted his legs were trembling, and his shoulder felt like a hot iron was embedded in it. The second figure stepped forward, and he was relieved when Gornar took Helly from his arms with a nod. 

“They’re staging medical out front. Aside from the inspectors, anyone else in here?” Teef asked, moving aside to let Gornar past. Chuckles could see Helly’s chest was rising and falling shallowly, her eyes closed. 

“There’s no one else alive,” Anj said quietly. 

“I thought I saw Lu walk past.”

Anj’s voice broke, and Chuckles grabbed her around her waist with his good arm, holding her against his side as her knees seemed finally ready to buckle beneath her. The next words she spoke were gritted out through clenched teeth. 

“No one else alive, Teef.” 

The realization settled into the Latero’s eyes, and his gaze dropped to the ground. “Understood, Anj. I’m sorry.” He stepped aside, absently patting her arm as he took in the remains of the mineshaft, still roaring with fire and smoke. “Let’s get you two out of here, and we’ll figure out what comes next.” 

Chuckles walked slowly with Anj, allowing her to slide her good arm across his shoulders as he gripped her by her belt, holding her up. Teef went ahead, shouting for a medic and pointing out any unsteady footing. Gornar had already disappeared from view, and Chuckles hoped that meant Helly was already in the hands of a medic. When they finally reached the entrance to the mine, catching sight of Lothal’s sunshine tearing through the dust and smoke, he felt Anj release a shuddering sob, sagging against him as her grief finally overtook her. 

“I’ve got you, Anj. Almost there.” 

She didn’t reply, but he felt her grip tighten on his undershirt as they stepped forward into the clear air. Almost immediately, they were swarmed by figures, peppering them with questions. Anj slipped from his grasp, half-carried by two humans he was pretty certain were Kit and Bronce. He heard her rasp out Helly’s name as she was led away towards a set of hastily constructed tents. 

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, CHUCKLES?”

He blinked hard, his eyes focusing on Jerrno, who was standing in front of him with wide, frantic eyes. 

“CHUCK?”

His head throbbed, and his shoulder seared. There was a ringing in his ears that made him flinch.

“I-”

His head swam. He looked down and finally realized how bloody he was. Some of it was Helly’s and some of it was Anj’s, but there was no mistaking the source of the crimson stream that was pouring from his shoulder. His hands were trembling.

“Lu-”

His voice faltered as relief, exhaustion, and agony all washed over him simultaneously. His knees impacted something hard, and he winced, wondering what had struck him. He realized too late he had fallen to his knees, the grit biting into his stinging palms as he tried to keep himself up.

“CHUCKLES!” Jerrno’s voice sounded so far away even though he could feel the Laterro’s hands on his shoulder and back, trying to brace him.

His vision narrowed, as if someone was closing the blinds on a window. His head slammed into something, and he tasted dirt. The last thing he saw was tan dirt that made him think of the birthmark on Arni’s face and sunlight as golden as Nita’s irises. 

Then his world went quiet.

—

For the second time that day, Chuckles started awake, but this time, it wasn’t smoke and fire surrounding him, but the soft murmur of hushed conversation and the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment. He could smell antiseptic and the distinct tang of bacta. He recognized immediately that he was in one of the tents that had been setup outside of the mine, lying on a mat on the ground. He groaned, rolling onto his undamaged shoulder. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and his throat felt raw. He heard a scuffling behind him, and Grinz was suddenly hovering in front of his face with a water packet and a look of relief sweeping across his haggard features. 

“Drink,” he croaked out.

Chuckles obeyed, drinking greedily until he drained the packet and flopped onto his back, breathing heavily. 

“Fire’s out. They’ll be diggin’ for days though.” Grinz sounded exhausted. 

“Hells?” Chuckles asked.

“She’s gonna be alright,” Grinz replied, sitting down next to him heavily. “Thanks to you and Anj. If she’d had to wait for a rescue crew… well, I’d rather not think about it.” The Ugnaut scrubbed his stubby fingers over his face, and Chuckles could see him wavering between grief and confusion. 

“And the inspectors?”

Grinz sighed. “Gone. Probably immediately. Jerrno managed to get some smaller drones down the shaft, but the droids didn’t find anything alive. The explosion collapsed the entire lift shaft, and the working theory is that the inspectors were standing too close when it happened. It was quick.” 

Chuckles’s chest tightened at the revelation. 

There will be questions. A lot of them. About what we knew and if we helped Lu at all.

Panic rose in his throat.

“Grinz, my kids. I need to tell them-”

“They know you’re safe,” Grinz reassured him. “As soon as I heard the explosion, I ran down here with every bit of medical supplies I could carry. I got here just as they were carryin’ you in here, and I commed Endi to let her know. That was a few hours ago. I… I didn’t think you’d want the kids to see you like this. You’re pretty banged up.” 

“I’ve got to get to them.”

He rolled onto his side and pushed himself to a sitting position. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t graceful, but he managed. 

“Chuck-”

“I’ve got to get to them, Grinz,” he repeated. The Ugnaut stared at him for a few moments before poking his head out of the curtain that was keeping Chuckles separated from the main portion of the tent and waving down a medical droid. The droid bustled in, scanning Chuckles as he pushed himself to his feet. 

“I must advise against you leaving,” the droid protested. “You have a lacerated shoulder, two bruised ribs, one that may be fractured, multiple cuts and contusions, and a concussion. It would be best if you remained here so that we could monitor-”

“Is the shoulder cleaned, bacta’ed, and stitched?” Chuckles asked. 

“Why yes, but-”

“And there’s nothing that can be done about the ribs other than taking it easy, correct?”

“Limited activity is recommended, but for your concussion-”

“I know the protocol,” he interrupted again. “Had enough of them during my time as a soldier. I might know more about them than you.”

“Sir, again, I must recommend-”

“You’ve made your recommendation. You did your job. But I’m still leaving.” He glanced down at his undershirt, and swore at the dirt and blood that covered it. “Dammit. Used my shirt on Hells. I can’t let the kids see me like this.”

Grinz stood next to him. “We’ll stop by my place on the way and get you cleaned up. I’ve got a shirt you can borrow.” 

“Grinz-”

“If you’re not gonna listen to reason, then you’re gonna have to settle for lettin’ me help you,” the Ugnaut growled. “Now come on, you stubborn git.” Chuckles barely had time to mumble his thanks at the droid, who was still sputtering objections, before he had to stumble after Grinz. The Ugnaut was stomping away at a faster pace than he’d thought his stubby legs capable of.

Grinz’s shower was too small for him, but Chuckles hunched enough to make it work, allowing the warm water to run down his back for a few moments before he scrubbed at the dirt and blood that was and wasn’t his, trying to clean as much of the evidence of the day away as he could. By the time he got out, the stall was covered in a layer of grime, but Grinz waved off his apologies as he helped him back into his clothes. Chuckles knew better than to ask how Grinz had a shirt that was just his size and smelled brand new, and he allowed the Ugnaut to look him over, scrubbing away any streaks of dirt he’d missed and dabbing at one cut that reopened on his brow before putting a fresh bandage over it. Finally, Grinz stepped back, inspecting him with a grimace. 

“You still look like you got run over by a herd of bantha, but at least you smell better, I suppose,” he huffed. 

Chuck straightened, extending the hand on his good arm. Grinz eyed it before gripping it. 

“Thanks,” Chuckles said with a smile. The word felt insufficient but also like anything else would be too much. Grinz nodded, grasping his forearm. 

“Go get your kids. I commed Endi to let her know you’d be headin’ out shortly. She’s taking the kids to your ship.” He eyed Chuck again. “You need me to come with you? Can’t have you conkin’ out on the side of the road.”

“I think I’m alright,” Chuckles reassured him. “Not the worst concussion I’ve had.”

“No sleepin’ without someone checkin’ on you.”

He huffed a laugh, but didn’t object. “I won’t.” 

Grinz nodded. “Get goin’ then.” 

The walk back felt like it took an eternity, and all Chuckles could think of was getting to Arni and Nita. He was certain they’d heard the explosion at school, and if he remembered one thing about being a cadet, it was how fast scuttlebutt would spread, particularly among younger recruits who let their imaginations run wild. His blood sang and his pulse thrummed when the Starlight finally came into view. The kids must have been waiting for him because the hatch immediately flew open, and the two younglings were sprinting at him full speed in a matter of seconds. Tears blurred his vision as he took the scene in, Nita’s eyes wide and her silver ribbons bouncing, and Arni’s lekku trailing behind them as they raced towards him. He managed to kneel down carefully just before they slammed into him. Tears slid over his cheeks as the two younglings babbled, clinging to him tightly. 

“We heard about the explosion.”

“Everyone was saying all the miners died.”

“Are Anj and Helly ok?”

“What about Lu?”

He squeezed them tightly, trying to hold back the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him. His head hurt. His shoulder throbbed. He wanted to break down then and there, but he bit the inside of his cheek, steeling himself. He buried his nose in Nita’s curls, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head before pulling Arni’s forehead to his own. 

“I’m ok. Anj and Helly are getting looked over, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be alright too.” 

He wanted them so badly to miss the fact that he’d excluded a name, but of course Arni didn’t. Their brown eyes searched his. 

“And Lu?”

Chuckles answered as honestly as he felt he could. “I don’t know, kid. He… I don’t know.” 

I don’t know anything about Lu right now. Other than the fact that he’s dead.

Arni’s face fell, but Nita appeared to be too relieved by Chuckles’s reappearance to notice the implication that Lu was gone, wrapping her arms around his neck. He carefully scooped her up with his good arm, trying not to flinch from the soreness that was settling into his body. He knew every part of him was going to be aching in a few hours, but at the moment, he couldn’t find it within him to care. 

He was alive. Still.

Arni hung close to his side as he made his way towards the ship, but they didn’t reach for his arm, clearly having noted the injury to his shoulder. 

Endi was waiting at the door when he reached it, and she inhaled sharply as she took in the cuts and bruises all over him and the bandaging on his shoulder, still apparent beneath his new shirt.

“You should see the other guy,” he joked dryly, winking at her as well as he could with the cut over his eye, but he could see it did little to alleviate her concern. He set Nita down as Endi approached, carefully cupping his face in her hands. He let his palms fall to her waist, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent. 

We’re all ok.

“Thank you for taking care of them,” he said softly. 

“Of course,” she replied, her voice cracking. “I’m so glad you’re alright. What-”

“I’ll tell you later,” he whispered, cutting her off. Her eyes sharpened, and he could see she understood there were things he wasn’t ready to talk about in front of the younglings. She smiled gently, standing on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m going to let you spend time with them. Dinner’s in the reheater and should be about ready.”

“Endi, you can-”

“I know,” she whispered softly. “But they need you right now. Come by later if you want. And if not, I’ll understand.” She rested her forehead against his, her fingers slipping into his mohawk. “I’m just glad you’re alright.” 

He kissed her, stroking her cheek before letting her slip past him and out the door.

Dinner was an unexpectedly quiet affair, and for that, Chuckles was glad. Nita hummed and grunted in satisfaction through her meal as if nothing was different, but Arni didn’t seem to be able to take their eyes off of Chuckles, sneaking glances at him in between every bite. Chuckles considered asking them about how they felt, but ultimately, he wasn’t sure he was ready to talk through it with them yet. He didn’t have all of the information. His head still ached. And he hadn’t processed things himself yet. No matter how much he was trying to focus on the present, his brain kept replaying the last moments before the explosion, searching for cues he’d missed from Lu, things he could have done to change the outcome, the look in the Nikto’s eyes as he’d reached for the detonator…

“Chuckles?”

He blinked hard. Nita was looking at him expectantly. 

“Yeah, Honey?”

“Are we going to be alright?” 

Of course that was the question. They didn’t know much, but they knew something was wrong. Something bad had happened, and try as he might to hide it, he knew his guard was down and his concern was written all over his face. 

Reassure them. 

He pushed his bowl of reheated rice and meat aside and reached across the table. Both younglings took his hands, and he did his best to evenly meet their gazes. 

“A bad thing happened today, and while I’m not sure how it’s going to play out, I am very certain of one thing. We are going to be ok. Got it?” 

The two of them exchanged a glance before hesitantly nodding. He flipped his pinkies out, and Nita grinned. Even Arni couldn’t hide the hint of a smile that tugged at the corner of their mouth. 

“Pinky swear,” he rasped. “We will be ok.”

They locked their fingers with his. 

“Alright. Now the two of you go get cleaned up and get in bed. I’ll get dinner cleaned up.”

“But your shoulder,” Arni tried to counter. 

“You two have had a day. I can get it.”

Nita was more than happy to escape cleaning duty, scampering towards their shared bedroom, but Arni tapped their foot skeptically. 

“We didn’t have a mine collapse on us today.” 

“I mean, technically I didn’t either. I didn’t make it down to the mine,” Chuckles reminded them. 

They sobered, wrapping their arms around themself. “I’m glad about that.” 

Chuckles bit the inside of his cheek to keep the sudden shudder that was threatening to rip through him at bay. “Yeah, me too kid.” 

Most nights, the two younglings put themselves to bed without issue, but tonight, Chuckles came down to the hold with them, letting Nita babble about the day and allowing Arni to continue to sneak glances at him, reassuring themselves that he was there and alright. He sat down between their bunks as Nita snuggled with her trooper doll and Arni pulled the blankets up to their chin. The little Pantoran’s speech slurred as slumber quickly overtook her, her mumbled words devolving into quiet snores. Chuckles smiled at her, relieved the day’s events hadn’t affected her too much. He remembered being that age, how most of the small things seemed larger than they were, and how the bigger things weren’t always significant to younger cadets, merely because they didn’t fully understand them. Nita had seemingly never considered the possibility that Chuckles might not come home, and for that, he was grateful. 

“Chuckles?”

He rolled his head to meet Arni’s gaze. 

“Are we really going to be alright?”

He huffed a laugh, mustering a smirk that he hoped portrayed confidence. 

“Of course, kid.”

Arni tugged at a thread on the corner of their blanket. 

“Was it scary?”

Chuckles let his head thunk back against the hull’s cool metal wall and winced as his concussion reminded him of his existence. He experimentally rolled his shoulder and bit back a curse as pain shot through his muscle. 

Another scar for the collection. 

He inhaled deeply. 

“Yeah. It was scary for a bit.”

“What really happened to Lu?”

He scrubbed his hands over his face, knowing Arni was picking up every detail of his response but feeling too overwhelmed to hide it. They knew something bad had happened, and he wasn’t going to lie to them. But he also didn’t have much to tell. 

“I’m not really sure, Arni.”

They contemplated that. “But he’s dead?”

Chuckles sighed. “Yeah. Yeah he is. I’m sorry, kid.” 

Arni let out a shuddering sigh. “I’m sorry too.” 

“Let’s not tell little one though yet, yeah? She’ll find out eventually, but I’m just not sure I’m equipped with enough information to help her work through it, if that makes sense.”

“It does,” they agreed quietly. “Will you stay until I fall asleep?” 

“Absolutely.” 

It didn’t take long before Arni’s snores started to fill the silence. Chuckles didn’t immediately retreat, closing his eyes and listening to the two younglings, his kids, sleeping peacefully. He hoped they had no nightmares, that they could have as much time as possible before they learned the truth about what had happened, about what Lu had done. 

They’ve experienced so much loss and seen so much death. More than anyone deserves. But especially not them. 

His brain started working the problem, searching for an explanation. 

Helly knows something. She said as much. 

 “Anj knew he… but neither of us thought he’d… I can’t believe…”

Anj knows it too. 

He felt his brow furrow as his mind reached for pieces he couldn’t quite see the shape of. Lu had always been quiet, not outgoing but also never rude. He was kind but never offered much up about himself. In fact, the brief conversation he’d had with Chuckles and Helly just before the explosion might have been the most words Chuckles had ever heard him utter at once. But try as he might, he couldn’t find anything in all of his interactions that would point to some reasoning behind Lu’s actions. 

His head still fucking hurt. 

Checking one last time to make sure the kids were both still fast asleep, he crept up the stairs and out of the ship. The cool night air felt good against his skin as his feet carried him towards the schoolhouse as if they were on autopilot. His brain was still turning over everything when his boots hit the stairs. He was surprised when the door opened automatically, admitting him inside. 

Endi was still up, sitting at her desk. A small lamp illuminated the classroom, casting long shadows. When she looked up at him, he could see the toll the day had taken on her as well. Her dark curls hung loose to her shoulders, sticking up in every direction as if she’d been massaging her scalp. Dark circles were evident under her golden eyes, and her smile looked weary as she took him in. She powered off her datapad, coming around to the front of the desk. 

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said softly as he closed the distance between them. He pulled her against him, and he felt her arms wrap around him, her fingers carding through his mohawk again. He buried his nose in her neck, inhaling deeply as his lips brushed against her skin. 

“I’ve got you,” she whispered, stroking the nape of his neck. “I’m right here.” 

His head was still hurting, but he no longer cared. Chuckles grounded himself in the feel over her, the way her pulse leapt when his lips grazed the skin of her throat, the way he could smell the sweat of the day and her perfume, the way she shuddered slightly when his breath tickled her ear, the way her fingers tightened their grip on him as he pressed closer. 

He wanted more. 

Endi seemed to understand and denied him nothing, scooting back to sit on the desk and wrapping her legs around him. 

It was almost like the first night as he kissed her, his hands reaching under her skirts as her fingers fumbled with his belt, but it was a different type of urgency, a need to have her, a need to feel alive when death had brushed past him again. He leaned over Endi as she laid back on the desk, her heels digging into his back as he pumped himself a few times before sheathing his cock in her in one stroke. 

His pace was frantic, each snap of his hips scooting the desk slightly across the floor. Every muscle in his body was protesting and pain was flaring across his ribcage, but he ignored it all, focusing on the way Endi’s eyes found his, the way she sat up, gripping the front of his shirt, the way she kept whispering to him and kissing him and touching him. 

“I’m right here.”

“I need y-you,” he stuttered out. 

“Take what you want from me. I’m yours. I’m right here, Chuckles.” 

He came once, but his cock didn’t soften, and he only allowed himself a few moments to catch his breath before he resumed his pace, relishing in the way Endi writhed and mewled beneath him and the way his spend was pushed back out of her with every thrust. Sweat trickled down his brow, stinging the cuts on his skin, but all he cared about was the way Endi felt around him, pulsing and warm and his. He wanted to get lost in her, to fuck her until he forgot everything else that had happened, and when he came again, his knees buckled underneath him. Endi caught him and managed to ease him to the floor before he just collapsed. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled in between panted breaths.

“Don’t be. I’ll be right back,” she murmured, and he wasn’t certain if he acknowledged her or not. 

A few minutes later, she returned carrying two glasses of water, offering one to him. He took it and drank greedily before sitting back heavily against the front of her desk. Endi sank to the floor beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. 

“Did that help?” she asked softly. 

“Probably not the concussion or the busted ribs, but I do feel a bit better,” he joked. 

“You have a concussion?” He could hear the worry in her voice. 

“Not my first and definitely not my worst.” It was clear the humor did nothing to alleviate her worry, but she also didn’t fuss over him further. 

They sat in silence for a few moments, their fingers slowly intertwining as they both emptied their glasses of water. He could feel her fidgeting, wanting to ask but not wanting to push him. 

“It was Lu,” he said finally, his voice feeling rough. Saying it out loud made all of the emotions of the day come running back, and he took a deep shuddering breath. He felt Endi’s eyes on him, but he wasn’t ready to meet her gaze. “Lu blew up the mine. On purpose.”

“What?” Her shock was genuine. 

Good. Word wasn’t getting out yet. 

“I’m sure there’ll be an investigation,” he continued, letting the words tumble out of him. “Two Imperial inspectors were on site. Don’t think they made it out.” 

He was tired, and his head was hurting again, but this time, with worries he hadn’t disclosed to anyone. Of course there would be an investigation. They’d want to talk to everyone, especially the clone that showed up here out of the blue, the one that was in the mine when it happened. By and large, after the decommissioning, he hadn’t heard anything about clones in the newsfeeds. It was as though they’d essentially vanished from the galaxy, and with them, any trust and appreciation the public had for the soldiers that had fought for the Republic. 

Well, the Empire now. 

Would they look into his service record? Or would they only care about what he saw that day? He didn’t know anything. But would they believe that? 

“You’re worried.” 

Of course she could see it. She knew him. And he was tired of her not knowing all of him. 

It would be so easy. I can trust her. I trusted Ry and Oks and certainly didn’t spend as much time with them as I have with her. 

It would be so much easier. To tell her. To let there be no secrets between us. 

She was a source of comfort, and he needed to lean on someone right now. Her delicate fingers stroked the back of his neck soothingly, and he finally turned to meet her gaze. Golden irises searched his for answers he didn’t have. He rested his forehead against hers, allowing his eyes to drift closed. Her other hand rested against his unmarred cheek, and he basked in its warmth. 

It would be so much easier. 

“I don’t know what Lu was thinking,” she muttered, a sudden surge of anger creeping into her voice. “He’s put you all at risk now. Jerrno and Teef’s reputation. Anj’s leadership. Everything that’s been built here, everything you fought for.” She sighed. “After everything the Empire’s done in the past year, I can’t understand why he’d do such a thing.” 

Chuckles’s eyes opened. Endi kept talking, not noticing the way he was looking at her. 

“All you and your brothers fought for, so that we could have the life we have today, and here he is, tearing it down.” Her voice had changed. She wasn’t exactly shouting, but every word dripped with venom. “All these small terrorist uprisings and wasted lives and efforts, only making it harder on those around them, destroying instead of building. What a waste.” She blinked, exhaling sharply as if to calm herself. Her voice quieted. “I hope the fact that you and your brothers were able to win the war and quash the Jedi uprising brings you some peace in this moment. You’re heroes, and the Empire couldn’t have risen without you, Chuckles. It’ll persist in spite of these ill-intentioned anarchists, and for that, I’m thankful.” 

The gears in Chuckles’s mind ground to a screeching halt as he processed her words. He was certain he’d misheard her, but the way she was looking at him was as if she’d just commented on the weather rather than the murder of children and allies, assured him he had not.

“Heroes?” he asked stupidly. “You think what we did at the end of the war was heroic?”

“Well of course. Otherwise, the Jedi may have succeeded in killing Emperor Palpatine and overthrowing the Republic. The war may have dragged on for years if they hadn’t been stopped.” 

“Children were killed,” he gritted out without thinking, confusion and anger and renewed grief ripping through him. “Jedi younglings.” He glanced at her, trying to keep his face neutral. He wanted her to take back the words, to clarify her meaning, to show him that he had misunderstood her. Surely his concussion had made his mind foggy. His head really did hurt. 

Surely this was wrong. 

Endi blinked at him with confusion, her brow furrowing slightly. 

“War is an awful business. I understand that, Chuckles. I don’t think less of the clones for doing what needed to be done.” 

What needed to be done. 

He had to keep his grip in check as his mind faltered, trying to keep himself from shattering the empty water glass between his hands. 

“I wasn’t around for the end of the war. Wasn’t planetside. Didn’t follow the order,” he mumbled aimlessly, trying to weave his way through this conversation, trying to give her any out he could. “And we weren’t really given a choice in the matter.” 

Her fingers wrapped around his, less comforting than they had been a moment before, but still sickeningly warm. She took the glass from his hand, setting it down as she clasped his hands, and he met her golden eyes, the eyes he’d stared into so many nights, getting lost in them. Now, it felt as though he was looking at a stranger. 

She thinks what we did was heroic. That having our minds turned against us was the right thing. That killing all of those people, killing younglings was necessary?

How is that possible? How could I not see it?

“Whether or not you were there for the finale, you contributed, Chuckles. The galaxy we have today wouldn’t exist without your efforts,” she insisted. “Besides, from what I understand, the chips were just an insurance policy. To ensure loyalty amongst the clones where it didn’t already exist.” 

You shouldn’t need chips that control minds to garner loyalty. And my brothers would never have done that willingly. Ever. 

His stomach curdled at that thought. He resisted the urge to withdraw his hand from hers, but he could still feel himself leaning away from her, putting distance between the two of them.  

I never really knew her at all. 

Just like Lu.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” he stuttered out.

It was true enough. She smiled warmly at him, and that soft, sweet smile sickened him now. His mind was racing for justifications, that she was just buying into the propaganda, that she didn’t understand what had actually happened, because there was no universe in which Endi, his version of her, would ever be alright with what had happened at the end of the war. This woman that sat across from him now wouldn’t have batted an eye if his children had been slaughtered, thinking it was justified, for the greater good. 

And here she sat, smiling at him. 

He’d kissed her. He’d bedded her. He might have loved her. 

“Is everything alright?” she asked. 

It felt as though Chuckles’s mouth had gone dry, his tongue a heavy leaden weight. He wanted to scream and shake her, to wake up from what was surely a nightmare. He dug his nails into his palm to be sure, and he felt a pinch of pain as they broke the top layer of skin. 

This was real. 

And now he had to be careful. He was concussed, he was hurt, he was reeling, but he couldn’t reveal anything that would condemn him or the kids. 

Endi was still watching him, concern etching her delicate features that he’d once found beautiful. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Today was hard enough without me ranting and raving about politics. Why don’t we go to bed?” She stood and reached for him, and before he could think about it, he recoiled. Her brows knitted together in confusion, and he internally swore at himself. 

Politics. That’s all she thinks this is. Just politics. 

For the greater good.

He tried to focus, but his brain was racing through memories he had with Endi, trying to remember if they’d ever talked about the Empire before. Surely they had. This had to be wrong. He had to have misunderstood. And then, with startling clarity in the fog of his concussion, it clicked into place. 

You made an assumption. You assumed she’d never support the Empire because she was too kind to, because how could someone so caring do that? 

And she assumed you did because you’re a clone soldier. 

“I-I don’t think I should stay tonight. The kids… they shouldn’t be alone tonight after everything,” he said hurriedly, awkwardly pushing himself to his feet while trying to meet her eyes. Her face was still pinched with confusion as she smoothed her skirts, but she seemed to accept his haphazard excuse. He forced what he hoped read as an apologetic smile into place. “Plus, not supposed to sleep much because of the concussion,” he choked out, tapping his temple with a finger. “Maybe another night.”

She nodded, unable to hide her disappointment. “Maybe.” 

Chuckles forced himself to lean down and place a kiss on her cheek. She felt stiff under his touch. She wasn’t a fool; she knew something had shifted. He could tell, and he hated that he knew that, and he feared what suspicion it might draw. 

“Thanks for helping with the kids today,” he said quietly. “And… thanks for this.”

She dipped her head. “Of course. Goodnight then.” 

“Good night,” he replied. 

She was hurt, and he wanted to fix it because he hated hurting people he cared about.

How can you still care?

Because you haven’t accepted that she’s the person you just spoke to. 

He wanted to stand there and argue with her, but he knew he couldn’t, not with the physical and mental state he was in. Instead, he stumbled back out into the night, leaving a bewildered Endi standing in the empty schoolhouse.

Tag List: @redheadgirl @cyarbika @witchklng @djarrex @arctrooper69 @sleepingsun501 @ladytano420 @rexxdjarin @echos-girlfriend @zoeykallus @leftealeaf @galacticgraffiti @hidden-behind-the-fourth-wall @ariadnes-red-thread @goblininawig @merkitty49 @ladykatakuri @runforrestr @baba-fett @daimyosprincess @obihiddlenox @bucketbunny99 @fordo-kixed-rex @nerd-ika

#karrde writes #star wars #fanfiction #fan fic #the clone wars #tcw #clone oc #jedi oc #OC Chuckles #OC Arni #OC Nita #OC Chuckles Ayyshu #OC Nita Ayyshu #OC Arni Ayyshu #twilek oc #pantoran oc #found family #angst #clone oc x oc #nsft #lemon #lemony lemon #fluff

[isaacforalpha14]

Imagine # 115 Sam and Dean Winchester

A/N: This has been in the works for a while. I absolutely have loved Supernatural since the show started. I love both Sam and Dean and it’s so hard to choose which is my favorite. So, this is a selfish write just to get me back into the swing of things. It’s going to be a mini-series. I am not sure how long it’ll be but there will be different things to choose from on how you get an ending for Sam or Dean. 

Pain; the emotion rippled throughout his system like a poison. Released from his heart in a bittersweet continuous trickle, infecting each nerve in his system as warm tears blurred his vision. Bobby Singer is dead; for real this time, no resurrections or ghostly visitations, just dead. To say it was difficult to let him go is an understatement; he thought he'd done it the first time yet as the vibrant flames enveloped the flask, contorting the metal into a liquid mound, it hurt just as much as when he watched the life leave his body in that hospital bed. Richard ‘Dick’ Roman, the leviathan leader extraordinaire, seared a target on his forehead the minute Bobby took his final breath. The Winchester brothers would never stop until the leviathan paid for his death. They’re distraught; torn into pieces by the death of a man that was closer to them than their own father. However, if there was anyone that felt this loss harder than Dean, it was definitely you; Bobby Singer’s only blood relative, his child. How could he ever fix this for you?

“I am so sorry.” Dean’s soothing baritone reaches your ears in a whisper, warm breath tickling the flesh of your tear stained cheek as his calloused fingertips brush a strand of hair behind your ear. He wraps your trembling frame in a sympathetic embrace, nuzzling his stubbled face into the softness of disheveled hair as your fingers clutch at his cotton shirt in tight fists. “I am here for you.” He places his forehead against yours, nudging you like a loving kitten before he continues. “I’ll always be here for you when you need me.” Dean’s body releases an involuntary shutter, goosebumps spreading across his limbs, thankfully hidden underneath his smoke gray button up, as your warm breath mingles with his due to the close proximity. He knows it’s terrible timing, he shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea, but he wants to tell you how he feels. He wants to be honest, to pour out his heart, in case the plan doesn’t work and this kills him. You had to feel something for him, right? 

“Y/N.” The somber tone of Sam Winchester’s voice interrupts the moment, pulling away from Dean, your lower lip quivers as you meet the younger man’s gaze. He’s heartbroken by the sight; the impish glisten to your beautiful eyes is replaced with sorrow, tear stains reflecting off of your soft cheekbones, supple lips quivering as you fight the sob from creeping up your throat. He furrows his brow in concern, opening his arms in a silent invitation to seek comfort from him. Dean coughs, ignoring the pang of sadness that causes his chest to ache the moment you crash into his younger brother’s arms and sob against his brown plaid shirt. He’s cradling your head in the palm of his hand, threading his fingers through the soft tendrils of hair as he gently shushes you, mumbling words of comfort into your ear that his brother can’t quite hear. 

Sam glanced over his shoulder, Dean’s tattered boots retreating up the cellar stairs without a word, his stout footsteps the sole interruption of your sniffles and sobs against Sam’s clothing. He knew something was bothering his older brother, obviously not just the loss of Bobby again, but something he wasn’t sharing. Maybe it was a mixture of grief and anger, he knew that Dean wanted revenge against Dick Roman but there was just a hint of something else that lingered in the air when he was around. He blinks away the thought, forcing himself to focus on the moment so he could be present for you. You needed him. “You want to go for a drive?” He offers in the faintest whisper, almost as if he raised his voice you’d shatter like delicate glass. 

“Y-Yeah.” You stammer, sniffling as your fingers clutch at the sleeve of the plaid rolled up to his elbow. “Can we get a coffee from town?” Your pitiful tone made his heart skip, a smitten smile quirking his mouth as he nodded and placed an affectionate kiss on your forehead. 

“Of course, we can, princess.” The nickname brought a sad smile to your face, butterflies tickling your abdomen as you grasp his much larger hand in yours, intertwining your fingers. There’s always been a place in your heart for the Winchester brothers, a magnetic connection you’ve shared with both of them, and yet, despite moments like these you could never be certain if either of them possess feelings for you on more than a platonic level. Neither had ever gone further than smitten glances and flirtatious banter. To say it’s difficult to love someone when you don’t know if they feel the same is an understatement, but it’s even worse when you’re in love with two people and you have no idea how either feels about you. 

Everything went wrong in the worst way, the ‘plan’ appeared to work but before there was even a chance at feeling satisfaction in the win, the happiness that might’ve been just disappeared. Kevin Tran had told you and Sam about Dick Roman’s ‘creamer’ that would wipe out thinner people. He made you guys promise to blow up the laboratory before leaving the building, you three had just burst through the lab doors when you spot Dick Roman with the specialized bone weapon in his neck; Dean standing before him watching as he gurgles and struggles to maintain his meat suit facade, Castiel standing behind him watching the scene as he prayed they’d succeeded and it’s when the sounds stop and a weird ripple pulses from Dick Roman that you knew something was about to go wrong. Sam’s breathing is labored as he begins to back away, broad frame pushing you back into Kevin as he tries to gesture for you to retreat.  The atmosphere around the monster’s silhouette begins to ripple in stronger waves, you were about to scream for Dean to back away when his concerned willow irises met yours, he mouths something you don't quite understand before Sam’s arms wrap around your body and he shields you from the sudden explosion. 

There’s Leviathan goo covering the entire lab, the tar blood dripping off the walls onto the pristine floors. Peeking around Sam’s broad shoulders, you can feel your stomach drop as you’re met with nothing. Dean and Castiel are just gone. You’re frozen in shock, ignoring the exchange between Sam and Kevin as the hunter tries to figure out what’s happened and Kevin just tries to urge you to leave. Crowley appears and you can feel yourself losing it, you’re trembling, mind racing, throat unable to form words as you purse your lips feeling the bile rise from the pit of your stomach. Just like that, Crowley exchanges a few select words with Sam before he snaps his fingers, Kevin disappears with a couple of demons and then he himself just vanishes. 

“Breathe, just breathe.” Sam’s soothing voice murmurs, warm palms cradling your cheeks as his charming hazel eyes meet yours in a concerned gaze. He knew about the panic attacks, Bobby had confided in him years ago about how you’d been on medication for anxiety ever since your mother’s death. Sam is no stranger to comforting others in times of distress but he’s never been present for an episode like this. He vaguely remembers reading about panic attacks, he’s desperately trying to wrack his brain for anything that could help you in this situation. He lands on distracting you; or maybe it was his subconscious urging him to finally be honest with you about how he’s always felt now that he had you and you alone. 

The sound of frazzled breathing dissipates, instead being replaced by a gasp as Sam’s delightful mouth meets yours in a tender and cautious kiss. With a subtle groan, your body instinctively relaxes, pressing yourself painfully close to his broad muscular frame as your fingers grasp at his chestnut hair and you find yourself kissing him in return with the feelings you’ve tried to hide over the years. Sam sighs through his nose, the kiss becoming more heated as he gets caught up in the moment. He’d definitely succeeded, you were distracted, but now so was he. The distant splat of leviathan dripping from the lab walls onto a surface somewhere in the room is what had brought you both back to reality. 

“We should... w-we should go.” Sam offers in a murmur, clearing his throat with a deep cough, warm pink hue brightening his cheekbones in the most adorable manner. “We can figure out what happened to them. Someone has to know something, right?”

Wrong; it’s been four strenuous months since that fateful night at Richard Roman Enterprises. There hasn’t been a sole indication that whatever happened to Castiel and Dean wasn’t- fatal or reversible. Sam found himself toeing the line between losing himself to the pain of his brother’s absence and the paralyzing need to keep a suffocatingly tight grip on you in fear of losing the only person he has left. Sam’s need to be protective seems to have worsened as his feelings for you became like a tsunami tide; his heart was lulled into the calm waters of the affection he’s held for you since he can remember, only to be devoured and swept into a chaos of domestic dreams and a relentless wave of love that crashed into his heart with no warning. He’s always been smitten with you, but now, he was hopelessly in love. He remembered the promise he made to Dean vividly, if anything happened to either of them then the other was to live a normal life. An apple pie life. He’s never considered the promise before but now, with you, everything is different. 

“C-Can I ask you something?” Sam clears his throat, rubbing the palms of his hands against his jean clad knees as you place a cold beer bottle on the battered motel coffee table, a dulled thud interrupting the tension filled silence. There’s something strange about his demeanor, something that spreads a hollow nerve in the pit of your stomach as you offer him an unsure nod. “Will you sit here with me, please?” His warm voice trembles, gesturing to the empty space on the sofa with his signature puppy eyes. 

“Sammy.” There’s a beat of silence as you gnaw on your lower lip and contemplate how to broach the remainder of your thought. “Is this about Dean? I-Is he..” 

“No.” He rushes, placing a comforting hand on your thigh as he meets your gaze. “I m-mean, I don’t know if he’s-” He pauses with a pained expression, before scooting closer to you and brushing his calloused fingers across the delicate flesh of your cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “Dean and I made a promise to each other. If anything were to happen to either of us, the other is to find a way to be happy. Move on and try to live a normal life.” There’s a coy smile that quirks his mouth, warmth creeping up his neck as he intertwines your fingers before continuing. “I want to do that with you.” 

“Give up hunting?” There’s confusion in your tone as your heart hammers against your chest. Were you hearing him right? Give up on helping people? Give up on Dean?

“No more hunting.” He swallows the nerves, heartbeat drumming in his ears as he hopes to God that you’ll agree. “Just me and you, we can settle down somewhere. We can find a house, a normal nine to five and maybe-maybe, i-in the future, we could get married?” It’s impossible to ignore the startled expression on your face, he’s uncertain whether it’s leaning toward a yes or a no, so he hopes pleading his case can sway you. “I am in love with you.” His confession is tender, voice so gentle that you feel a warmth spread through your chest as you meet his beautiful hazel eyes. “And I think that you know that. I’ve been in love with you since we were kids but I never thought you’d feel the same. So I kept it to myself, continued being the best friend that I could be to you and just enjoyed the time we spent together.” His massive hand squeezes your thigh, the other playing with your fingers as he continues. “Things have been teetering on the line between friendship and more with us since our kiss,” He hesitates, cradling your face as his thumb brushes your bottom lip. “I finally felt like you might’ve had feelings for me too. If I am wrong, and you don’t, if I am just reading too much into this, tell me now.” The sofa releases a squeak as he shifts his weight, leaning dangerously close as his forehead meets yours. 

"Sammy." The lighthearted giggle and dazzling smile caused Sam's heart to skip a beat, the contagious laughter coaxing an amused chuckle as he wrapped his lean muscular arms around your waist, pressing your back against his toned stomach. "We're never gonna make it to the lease signing if we don't choose a color." 

"I am content with whatever you choose." He mumbles in your ear. "I just want you to be happy, baby." 

"Samuel William Winchester, you promised." The adorable pout directed over your shoulder softened his expression, heart skipping as he met your gaze with a smitten smile. He released a sigh, reaching toward the paint chips in your hand and plucking the card with a gray hued blue. 

"This." He murmurs into your hair as he wraps his arms around you once more. "There, the promise fulfilled." 

"Thank you." It's almost impossible to keep from smiling, the terms of endearment still felt fresh and made your heart flutter. He's always called you princess but since that day in that stale half dilapidated motel when he expressed his love for you, he's really taken to calling you sweet names like babe, baby, love and honey. There was a sole instance that he'd called you sweetheart and something in you broke. He instantly noticed you tense and a sadness glistening in your watering eyes that broke his heart. He didn’t want to admit it then but he knew the reason; Dean. So he’d silently promised himself he would never call you that again. Sam never wanted to be the reason for your pain, even if it was unintentional.   

“Have you put any more thought into the lease time frames?” Sam questions, releasing you from his tight hold to push the shopping cart toward the next aisle. There’s hesitation in your response, he can sense the tension that looms in the air as the squeaking from the shopping cart wheels goes silent and he’s watching you with a curious tilt to his head. “Baby?” 

“Sorry.” You whisper, gnawing on your lower lip. There’s still no answer to his question and it’s starting to worry him that maybe you’d changed your mind altogether; you didn’t actually want this, want him. He leaves the shopping cart, fingers tugging the soft cotton sleeve of your peach cardigan as he urges you to come closer to him. The emotion reflecting in his hazel eyes causes you to frown and place the palms of your hands against his stubble covered cheeks. “I know that look, Winchester. Don’t do that. It’s nothing you did, I promise.” Pressing an affectionate kiss to your delicate fingers, he nods with a sigh of relief, ushering you to the shopping cart to continue the journey to the registers. “I was thinking about my dad and I just didn’t want to ruin our trip.” 

“It’s perfectly okay to miss him.” He responds with an empathetic smile in your direction before greeting the cashier and placing the items on the conveyor belt, fishing his wallet out of his jean pocket. “I miss him too.” The remainder of the shopping trip was silent, it wasn’t that you thought Sam would judge you for thinking of your father but you didn’t want to have to admit that you were afraid of returning home. That’s why you’d agreed to rent a house with Sam about two hours driving distance of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There’s a piece of your heart that yearned to return home, like being on the junkyard property line would help you feel like a part of your father was still here with you. Yet, the wounds were still fresh and it was hard to grasp that he really is truly gone. 

“Are you okay, baby?” Sam’s concerned voice is barely heard over the rumbling of the Impala engine, his fingers interlacing with yours as he lifts your clasped hands to his mouth, pressing an affectionate kiss upon your knuckles. 

“Mhmm.” There’s a subtle squeak from the leather seats as you scoot closer to his massive frame, nuzzling into his side as you enjoy the ride to the place you’d be calling home for a while. The cassette tape peeking out of the radio catches your attention, there’s an uncomfortable knotting in the pit of your stomach, a pain you’d often get when you focused on reminders of Dean. Sam is humming, you’re uncertain of the song but it takes everything within yourself to keep from pushing the cassette tape in and turning the radio on. Neither of you have been able to bring yourself to turn it on since Dean’s been gone. Swallowing the sadness, you try again, as you have each day since their disappearance, to pray to Castiel. It still hurts each time that the prayer is answered with radio silence. Sam makes you that happiest you’ve been in a lifetime but with Castiel and Dean still missing it feels like pieces of your heart have just vanished. The most painful part of the ordeal is the unknown; are they in pain? Are they in danger? Are they dead?

Sam Winchester could never have envisioned this; feeling comfortable enough to let someone in wholeheartedly, to allow himself the pleasure of falling hopelessly in love and nourishing the dream of a happily ever after. This is everything he’s ever wanted; this is perfection. The morning sunlight radiates from the bedroom window, revitalizing warmth descending upon the bare and exposed flesh sprawled across the mattress. The muscles in the hunter’s tanned arm were roused as he twirled a strand of hair around his finger, the movement provoking a content sigh as your foot grazed his leg in a gesture of instinctual fondness. There’s sleep evident in his movement as he savored the astounding happiness that devours his heart, his enamored hazel eyes hypnotized by the serene expression on your face. You’re beautiful; he’s always thought so however in this intimate sense of domestic bliss, bare skin wrapped in the floral print sheets, conquered by peaceful slumber due to  the previous night's love making, he couldn't help himself from equating you to a goddess of celestial perfection. Aphrodite; in flesh and bone gracing him with the blessing of her presence. Then a realization hits him in the depths of his stomach as his heart skips; he’s ready. He wants this to be the rest of his life. This has been the best year of his life and everything in him is aching to spend the rest of it with you by his side. He’s going to propose. 

#supernatural #supernatural imagines #supernatural imagine #sam winchester x reader #dean winchester x reader #sam winchester imagine #dean winchester imagine #sam x reader x dean #sam winchester x reader x dean winchester

[tarlosmalec]

Pairing: TK Strand/Carlos Reyes

Fandom: 9-1-1 Lone Star

(Requesting my mutuals to share their go-to tarlos fics :) Here are five wonderful pieces I’ve come across)

The Ring-In by ifyoustay, LolaLand

@welcometololaland

87K | Explicit | No Archive Warnings Apply

When TK receives a call from an old friend offering him a last minute invite to a wedding in Hawaii, he jumps at the chance to finally wrangle his fiancé into a vacation. Unfortunately, TK isn't the only old friend invited.

Or, the fic where we say "why should they have to wait for their honeymoon to go to Hawaii?" Featuring TK Strand and Carlos Reyes being disgustingly in love, some interesting headcanons, some indulgent scenes and Alex finally working out that he probably shouldn't have shacked up with the spin cycle instructor.

My Constant Companion by Child_Of_Wonderland

@child-of-wonderland

23.7K | Teen & Up Audiences | No Warnings Apply

Moving to Austin, in a way, made things easier than TK expected. Having a support system that never faltered, that didn't know the depths of it but still supported him, was something TK never knew he craved until he moved.

A simple case wasn't supposed to be enough to knock it all down. He wasn't meant to be faltering just days before reaching 2 years. He wasn't supposed to. And yet, here he was. (Written for: Lone Star Big Bang 2022)

Sanctuary by PhoenixWillRise

38K | Teen & Up Audiences | Rape/Non-Con

Carlos is on his way home from a long day. And as he goes down an unknown route, he encounters a stumbling man. Its 2am and freezing, he stops to offer aid and perhaps a ride somewhere but as he takes in the dazed, and confused looking green eyes of the mysterious man.The bruises on his wrists, and the red bites and hickies covering his neck and collar, the police officer believes there is more to this boy than meets the eye.

Siren Sounds by ElfinNevermore17

22.7K | Not Rated | Creator Chose No Warnings

TK had not had a good day to start with. It began with him and Carlos getting into a stupid fight before they both began their respective shifts this morning. Something about who should fill the dishwasher, or maybe it was whose turn it was to empty it? TK couldn’t fully remember what they had argued about, he just knew that they'd both left the condo angry with each other and hadn’t said their usual goodbyes or ‘I love you’s before separating at the door, Carlos into his car and TK into a waiting Uber. TK’d taken an Uber to work so that he didn’t have to share an angry car ride with Carlos, not wanting to stew any longer in such a tense silence.

TK wished with everything that he’d swallowed his pride and taken Carlos’ offer of a ride one last time. Perhaps then, the feelings of guilt wouldn’t be as strong as they were right now.

Time of death…

there ain’t no way to burn when the fire’s out by justapoet

@justapoet

22K | Teen & Up Audiences | Creator Chose No Warnings

It was heated, grey, and painful.

And Carlos didn't know how long it took for the ring in his ears to deafen until the point he could hear the dispatcher he had on the line, but he was almost sure she had said something about help being outside the house already.

"I need you to stay awake," she said, and Carlos turned his head to the side just to see the flames closer than it should be, the vivid orange being reflected by the dark walls and mixing with the red and blue lights coming somewhere from the outside. "Sir, are you listening?"

Or, TK and Carlos have a fight over Owen and his stupid actions, and Carlos is alone when the fire starts ― and even more when, for him it ends.

#tarlos #911 lone star #carlos reyes #tk strand #tk strand x carlos reyes #tarlos fic rec #fic rec friday #911 ls #tarlos fic

[tickletastic]

Let's Get Physical

Fandom: Star Trek AOS

Ship: N/A

Summary: For once, Bones is the chaotic one, and Jim doesn't like it one bit. Day thirteen of Miya and Mia’s Tickletober: prank call! Dedicated to @dreamthinkimagine, happy birthday darling! <33

Ding ding ding

Ding ding ding

Jim groans, throwing an arm over his face, suddenly believing self-suffocation via pillow to be in the cards. He took the pillow from next to him and threw it at his comms system, groaning when it caused the call to be picked up. 

“Jim, I know you can hear me, ya damn child,” Bones’ voice rings from around the room. Fuck surround sound, Jim thinks.

“Oh god,” Jim whines, “it’s like you’re inside of my head.”

“Kid, the bridge has been tryin’ to contact you for ages,” Bones replies, “you sleep like a rock.”

“What?” Jim is suddenly jumping off the bed, grabbing a shirt from the floor and pulling it on. He tumbles to the door, not even bothering to grab shoes, hoping and praying he doesn’t step on anything sharp.

He almost runs into a wall on his way there, screeching around the corner, skipping the elevator to the bridge in favour of dashing up the stairs. 

When he gets to the top, panting and red in the face, all eyes land on him, clad in a wine-stained t-shirt and a pair of boxers. 

“What’s going on?” Jim asks, out of breath, eyes flicking between Spock and Sulu.

“Nothing, Captain,” Spock reassures, tilting his head to the side, “I believe you are meant to be on rest from yesterday’s planetary visit.”

“I was, Mr. Spock,” Jim agrees, his face still red, but this time for other reasons. “I had been informed by Dr. McCoy that the bridge had been trying to contact me.”

“That is incorrect, Captain. I believe that Dr. McCoy may have been attempting to engage in what you humans would call a ‘prank’.”

“Damn right, Spock,” Bones exclaims from behind Jim, causing the blond to turn around with a jump.

“I’m going to kill you,” Jim says, glaring daggers through Bones, “I’m actually going to kill you, today will be the actual day of your death, Bones.”

“Actually no, Jim,” Bones says with a smirk, “today is the actual day of your physical.”

“Oh my fucking god,” Jim grunts “you did not wake me up on my morning off to give me a physical.”

“Thing is, kid," Bones pauses for dramatic effect, "I did.” Jim wishes he could wipe the smirk clean off of Bones’ face, wishes he could rewind time to being asleep in his quarters, and Bones just keeps talking and talking. “You were on some mysterious planet yesterday. You gotta get a checkup.”

Jim rolls his eyes, but makes a move to obediently follow Bones, a first for the stubborn captain. 

“Nice boxers!” Uhura shouts as the elevator door closes, leaving Jim and Bones alone inside.

“I’m going to kill you,” Jim grits, looking straight ahead.

“Oh c’mon, Jimmy boy, it was just a prank,” Bones reasons, poking Jim in the ribs.

Jim jumps away with a shriek, somehow looking even angrier when he recovers. “You’re done for.”

“Whatever you say, Jim, whatever you say,” Bones brushes off.

Jim continues to follow Bones obediently throughout the hallways, and, in hindsight, this should’ve been the first sign to Bones that he might actually be in trouble. 

Jim enters the medbay without a single quip or comment, obediently sitting in the chair next to Bones’ desk. Bones turns around to shut the door behind them, and when he turns back, Jim is right there, looming in front of him.

“One of us is getting a physical today, Bones, and it’s not me,” Jim says, a menacing grin starting to form on his face.

“Jim, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to give you a physical after you nearly got stranded on some strange planet,” Bones attempts to reason, backing up, his back hitting the wall.

“Oh yeah, Bones?” Jim asks, getting closer, “was it perfectly reasonable to wake me up on my morning off? To make me enter the bridge in my pajamas?”

“Well, I- wahahait, Jihihihihim!” Bones squeals when Jim goes directly for his hips, the door supporting his body weight as he tries to grab for Jim’s hands. “STAHAP!”

“I don’t think so, Bones,” Jim says calmly, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

“Stuhuhuhpid gahahames? I’d sahahay hilahahrious!” Bones giggles, squirming and wiggling in an attempt to escape the space Jim has trapped him in.

“Hilarious? You want hilarious?”

Jim’s fingers speed down to Bones’ knees, squeezing over both of them at the same time, and Bones goes boneless, collapsing to the ground with Jim looming over to of him.

“JIHIHIM!” Bones screeches, kicking his legs, “STAHAP IHIHIT YOU BRAHAHAT!”

“Now I’m just confused, Bones. You wanted hilarious and you seem pretty hysterical to me right now, shouldn’t you be glad?”

Jim very rarely tickled Bones, he never had the energy to turn the tables during a session, and he turned to jello after one, so he never could get revenge on Bones. Bones had no idea that Jim was so good at teasing, and it made his nerves feel all the more sensitive, his face turning bright red the more Jim spoke.

Jim moved his hands up to Bones’ ribs, relishing in the way the doctor snorted and flailed, before deciding to deliver the worst of the tickles. One hand went back down to Bones’ knees, while the other shot up to his armpit, and Bones absolutely howled.

“JIHIM! FUHUHUCKIN STAHAHAP!” Bones shrieked, arching his back and desperately flailing. 

“Say you’re sorry,” Jim says, reprimanding Bones like an adult would a child. Just the way Jim says it makes him want to say no, makes him want to stick out his tongue in mockery. 

Instead, Bones finds himself quickly buckling, unable to handle the sensations. “I’M SOHORRY! IHIHIM SOHOHORRY! JIHIHIM!”

Jim slows to a stop, laughing as Bones desperately tries to catch his breath, panting against the door. 

“You- you’re a menace, kid,” Bones pants.

“Me?” Jim asks indignantly, “you’re the one that decided to wake me up on my morning off!”

Bones barks out a laugh, “okay, you got me on that one.”

Jim rolls his eyes, standing up and dusting himself off. Once Bones has caught his breath, he joins Jim, leaning against the door for stability.

“So,” Bones starts, and Jim raises an eyebrow, “physical?”

Jim just groans, hopping on to the examination table in front of them, already knowing he’d have to taste some of Bones’ revenge.

#ticklish!bones #ler!jim #star trek aos #star trek #tickletober #tickletober 2023 #miya&mia's tickletober #jim kirk #leonard mccoy

[limbobilbo]

So without further ado here’s an introductory post/timeline of major events for the Neo Hellenic systems (working title)

A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

1) A.C. And B.C. Are how I will be messaging time. These a stand for after contact and before contact. You will find out what contact is soon.

2) I frequently use the term ‘cult’ in this world. When I say cult I mean in it the ancient greek sense, Monolatrous temple orders.

3) please do not tell me I misunderstand greek mythology when it comes to olympians and especially hades, I know my shit. This is a twist on them.

Ok let’s go. Oh also current year, 6050 A.C.

The Ascension of Trismegistus:

One of the most important figures in Hermetic magic, the main form of magic used, is the mythical figure Hermes Trismegistus. The hermetics tell us that Trismegistus was once a normal man but due to his intelligence and discoveries he made Trismegistus achieved a higher state of being. Before he left the mortal world he scattered his knowledge across the galaxy in huge emerald tablets. The common interpretation is that Trismegistus then became part of the god hermes.

These tablets contain esoteric knowledge needed for magic and are written In a language known as Esoteric Trismegistian, which the Hermetics have decoded. The hermetics will get much more detail later just you wait my little summer children.

Before contact:

Much of humanity’s last days before contact are sort of hazy. Mainly because most of the records are missing. The most important thing though is that humanity had spread out across the Solar system. Unfortunately, despite knowing and having the technology for faster than light travel however it was imprecise and most experiments with it would leave to stranding or death (theres actually a number of stranded ships floating around that are hives of pre contact material. So humanity was stuck, with the ability to travel far but not the capability

The discovery of valentinium (5 b.c.):

On the moons of Jupiter a group of five explorers and scientists were investigating odd magnetic anomalies. There they found a huge deposit of an unknown metal with completely unique magnetic properties. The leader of this expedition, Leonard Valentine, named the metal Valentinium.

After experimentation it was discovered that Valentinium’s unique properties allowed it to basically be coded to act as a compass across lightyears of distance. With the occasional discrepancy of roughly 1 picometer. With this some engineers created the first of what we now call Star Compasses, a huge computer like device that can determine a course and direction with near perfection. In order to show off the power of the star compass Valentine climbed into a one man ship to take a quick trip and back which was meant to last a day.

The return of Valentine (0 C)

Valentine disappeared for five years. We don’t know how people reacted to this as we dint have many sources from the time that aren’t early hermetics discussing the first and second emerald tablets (which were found on Earth and Venus). Then Valentine returned, appearing in Earth’s orbit. Valentine had been missing for five years and when he was able to speak again he explained that he had encountered something amazing.

Valentine claimed he had spoken to and met the gods of greek mythology. The twelve olympians, and a number of the minor gods. He had also been informed of the coming threat of demons. This was also the start of the use of the six classes of intelligence.

Note: these are defintely not the actual greek gods. These are a bunch of analogous horrific elder gods.

This basically changed everything. And after enough time humanity basically turned into greek LARPing space people now with FTL travel and renewed faith.

Emergence of demons and the fanaticism of the cults (72 A.C.):

In 72 A.C. a tear in space opened and a bunch of demons emerged from Tartarus. These demons are fucking dangerous and they basically haven’t stopped appearing since. By this point there was some monolatrous worship of the olympians but the demons made it much bugger when the so called ‘Order of Artemis’ approached a bunch of hephaestus worshippers and asked them to make them weapons to kill the demons.

This is the start of modern cultism, with the cults of the gods usually specialising in one thing. (Expect a big post on this down the line).

The founding of the hermetics (231 A.C.):

The Hermetics, the cult of Hermes, formally became an order in 231 AC. The Hermetics were based on the planet of Theseus where they had founded Tablet 5, the largest known about tablet. The Hermetics use a form of magic based around occultism and rituals. They have a lot of sigils, incense, chanting and rituals. They also keep basically all the knowledge on the olympians. A lot of Hermetics are tattooed with sigils and notation to help them with their magic.

The Olympian War (3466-3550 A.C.):

So by the time of the olympian war the cults had all gotten pretty zealous: the hermetics were off doing magic, the order of artemis were hunting demons and cutting off the genitals of men who acted as their record keepers and clerks, the followers of apollo were being secular historians and Poseidon’s worshippers were busy doing space navigation.

However the two cults that started the war were the cult of Hera and the Hephaestians (the followers of Hephaestus. For context on these two:

the cult of Hera have always viewed themselves as a sort of humanity centric inquisitorial group. They view hera as ‘the mother of man’ and therefore the preservation of humanity and the soul and body as incredibly important, in fact the phrase often used by the cult of hera when they kill people is “by the grace of my soul given to me by the mother of man I sentence you to die.”

The Hepaestians meanwhile, are basically the super adeptus mechanicus from warhammer. They create most of the technology in the systems. They also love making themselves into technology infused monstrosities. Their chant is, ‘The flesh fuels the forge, the forge renews the flesh.’

So these two groups hate each other, a lot. And they went to war with most of the cults taking sides except for the hermetics, the thanatosians and the cult of Aries (who were really not that big at the time). The Hephaestians claim that during the war Hephaestus himself appeared above Forge-1 (the main planet of the group) in form of a giant man made of metal, molten metal and fire and told them they were righteous. In order to stop this a bunch of independent planets and even civilian planets who were technically being ruled by the cults combined forces to basically force a ceasefire. There was a lot of death and even in the modern time theres a lot of impacts of the war felt.

The cult of demeter died out in the war

The Nemean Lion Charter (3550 A.C.):

After the end of the olympian war was forced by an alliance of planets the leaders of the cults and the united planets boarded a space system named The Nemean Lion and wrote a huge treaty dictating what would happen after the war. What was determined was that most of the cults would disarm, except for the hermetics, order of artemis, thanatosians and the cult or Aries. Furthermore all planets under the rule of the cults would be taken from them, leaving them with usually 1-3 each. Instead many planets, without a large force to protect them, united into ‘Poleis’, unions of small groups of planets who act as one political entity. This is also where the aristocracy of the systems started becoming more powerful.

The disappearance of the dionysians (3552 A.C.):

one cult were very mad about being told to disarm. The cult of dionysus, the strange mystery cult of hedonism. The dionysians were told to disarm and withdraw multiple times, and instead of listening they piled themselves onto a huge ship and a fleet of smaller ships and, along with the Hecatian Mystics (who are a different order of magic users), disappeared somewhere far off the maps. And no one thought of them that much.

The manifestation of Hermes (4550 A.C.):

So, Theseus was the main home of the Hermetics. Key word, WAS. After the end of the Olympian war a new philosophy had taken hold in the Hermetics, that it could be possible to become one with Hermes, as Trismegistus did, but through basically summoning oneself into Hermes.

After ages of setting things up, the Hermetics eventually made an attempt at this ritual. On Theseus, in front of Tablet 5.

It worked, kind of. Unfortunately for the Hermetics they summoned Hermes. And a planet sized, twelve winged man made of light wielding a huge snake entwined staff appeared. And Hermes reached out from space. And Theseus was obliterated, reduced to dust in a second, before Hermes disappeared.

The manifestation of Hermes is seen as the true reinforcing of faith, as an Olympian itself appeared before humanity. Strangely, nothing else was affected by Hermes blowing up Theseus. There were ships near the planet who witnessed everything and were unaffected, the planets near theseus saw it all happen but were not affected.

Modern Hermetics, now very cautious and often given rules on their practice on many settled planets, maintain that the ritual itself was done incorrectly but was not misguided.

The rise of Alexander (6035 A.C.):

Out in far reaches of the systems is a Planet named Ozymandias. Almost completely irrelevant except for two details, it is where the Cult of Aries stationed themselves after the Olympian war and that the Nemean Lion was stationed there during the treaty discussions.

30years ago a man was born on Ozymandias, the son of the planet’s ‘Tyrant’ (a term used to described an autocratic ruler of a planet, not necessarily a bad one.) at the age of 15 this boy’s father died and he took power as the Tyrant of Ozymandias. He changed his name to Alexander and set about establishing an empire. Including negotiating a deal with the cult of Aries to become his personal elite army, on top of his regular army.

This was the start of Alexander’s empire, sometimes called the Ozymandian Union. A huge, effective military force slowly conquering planets and Poleis. To counter Alexander theres more and more unions of Poleis and factions forming.

The Return of the Dionysians (6045 A.C.):

The Dionysians returned. Five years ago the cult who disappeared returned. Now a centralised, powerful force of religious zealots. The Dionysians and Hecatian Mystics have combined into one, leading to a powerful military force with access to magic no one else is familiar with (Hecatian Magic has always been far less popular than Hermeticism).

The cult claim that they managed to summon and kill Dionysus and gained unimaginable power through drinking his blood. No one has confirmed this, as no one dares go into the centre of the cult’s power.

The Dionysians believe that humanity should become one. Literally. Using the flesh crafting power they possess they shape and fuse unfortunate people into ‘euphorias’, giant single minded flesh blobs and sculptures. The Dionysians are spreading, and they are winning most of the conflicts they take part in.

So thats a basic overview of major events and should provide a good baseline. I will answer questions and more posts will be made.

#196 #196 campfire #r/196 #worldbuilding #world building #sci fi #original world #long post #very long post #original theology #world crafting #limbobilbo worldbuilding

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Thranduil and Josie Pt. 143- Phantoms

Summary: Thranduil gets a surprising wake up call. Raven and Legolas get one as well. Josie reels in shame over the prior night's events. A countryside carriage ride begins. Bash finds something gruesome. Narcisse receives a gift. The warlock lord is summoned. He and Bash assess a dire situation. A misleading letter arrives.

*Warnings* language, angst, hangover, GRAPHIC depictions! death, sexual references

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

December 3, 2022

Thranduil was up at the crack of dawn, awakened by the smell of breakfast seeping into the tent and the painful ache of his morning wood in which he scowled at and forced out of his mind for he was anxious to be on his way to Rivendell where he could truly relax with his needy member, and he had one particular destination in mind. His special secret place deep in the forest that he called Moonlight. How he longed for his bare skin to be submerged in the soothing crystal waters it held for much needed rejuvenation of his mind, body and soul.

He glanced over at a sleeping Raven whom he had ordered to sleep in his bed. He had planned to ravage her when they went to bed the prior evening but he had never touched her, for the desire had been lost after hearing your wish, so he slept as far as he could to the edge, facing away from the redhead who reminded him of you from the back. His mind had been plagued all night by Elrond's words and even Raven's about his real feelings and he hardly slept a wink.

As he sat up, his movement awoke Raven and she turned over, stretching and propping herself up on her elbow to look at him with her breasts exposed. Much smaller than yours, the King thought as he raised a brow at seeing Raven in the light for once. Just enough to fill his mouth but not his large greedy hands like yours did.

Forcing his misbehaving eyes from her bare necessities, his eyes reluctantly wandered up her copper strands, to her face. Thranduil was taken aback for a split second as he did not see Raven, but he in fact saw you, smiling your beautiful smile that formed on your cherry lips paired with your sleepy bedroom eyes that caused his membrum virile to twitch.

Thranduil sprung to his feet with a slight gasp and turned to you baring his entire unclad self.

"You...." he whispered as his eyes darted about your face.

"Well...it looks like someone is happy to see me."

Your face then disappeared as Raven's voice washed it away, her eyes wide, staring at his solid seeping cock.

His lips pursed and his eyes slitted as a hot puff of air flared out of his nose. "I thought I told you never to be of her image!"

"Wow. Now I know you still got it bad for my sister, for I have done no such thing. You can deny it all you like, but your cock is a big fat tattle tale."

Thranduil's neck stiffened straight up, more so than his member and just as long. He clamped his teeth so tight, ripples like earthquake waves could be seen in his jawline as he gave the dhampir a wicked glare.

"Get up and clothe yourself! It is time to prepare for our journey....and I desire for my boots to be cleansed of your regurgitation. Take them to the stream by the horses and do so."

As she stood up, instant nausea consumed her. Into the corner she ran to be sick.

"This again?? The silverbane is long gone from your system, so what is the excuse of this atrocity?"

Raven had to think fast, for now was not the time for the Elvenking to know she was with child, and possibly his....or even worse...Jareth's.

"Gimli...all those strange meets he cooked last night. Dwarves are so gross."

"Yes. They are." Thranduil agreed, turning to dress as a tiny curl of delight formed on the side of his lips at her statement.

On her way back from cleaning and primping the Elvenking's leather boots, Raven walked by Gimli, who was stirring some concoction in a pot over the fire that threatened her gag reflexes as the stinky smoke blew in her face.

"Would you like a bowl? This is the last of it." Gimli asked her to be polite.

"What...what is it? It smells like you do." she snarked with a crinkled up nose.

"You don't recognize a cauldron of boiling children? It is just to your liking." the dwarf quipped with a serious face.

"You disgusting little fuck!" she shouted with fiery eyes and kicked the pot over, then ran back to the tent as Gimli roared in laughter.

"Why is it there are tents here fit for Kings, but the food looks and smells of my vomit!" Raven griped as she handed the King his squeaky clean boots.

Thranduil was all dressed in his traveling attire, nibbling on some Lembas and washing it down with wine as he sat a bit angled with his legs crossed, for he was still in a bit of discomfort for ignoring his cock's morning call.

"You drink the vile blood of humans and yet complain of foul smelling food. Be useful. Place my boots upon my feet, then do something with your hair. A bird may want to nest in it."

"I do not see you consuming any of Gimli's stew...and for your information, I do not need blood to survive since I am part human. Normal edible food suffices just fine. Blood to me is just an addicting treat, like sweet wine is to you. You don't need it but you certainly crave it." She sarcastically explained as she tugged at Thranduil's thin unruly footwear, cursing under her breath.

"Adar. We are packed and ready to resume our journey to Imladris." Legolas informed as he stood in the tents open doorway with a quite noticeable look of disgust at Raven' s hands on his father.

"Very well." Thranduil said in exhilaration as he sprung up, then turned to Raven. "Eat some of the bread. You will need it for the long day's teetering travel on the horse. It will settle your stomach, for I do not desire your upheaval in the back of my hair."

"I...I am riding with you?"

"She is riding with you?" Legolas simulated in shock.

"That is where my queen would ride, is it not?"

"Your Queen??" Raven and Legolas simultaneously asked, both stunned.

"Has deafness become you this day?" Thranduil snarked at the both of them.

"Well...why am I riding on the back then if I am your Queen?" Raven asked with a raised brow. "A Queen rides in the front of her King, does she not?"

"She does, when it is official. That will be handled later."

Even then, Thranduil knew he would never place her in front of him. It was where you rode, which is why he did not want her there, for he knew that if he had to stare at the back of Ravens red hair, his mind would betray him with thoughts of you again, just as it had that morning...just as it had in the river. He had made Raven turn away for a reason and it was coming to the point where even that was not working.

"Adar...official? You cannot be..."

"Enough! The start of this day has already questioned me. No more. I will not be interrogated by my own son or Queen of my will."

"It is not your will!" Legolas snapped and walked out.

"Geez. Who pissed on his Lembas?" Raven muttered as she then followed an annoyed Thranduil out.

The morning sun shone in on your face, making you squint and moan in agony of your splitting headache. You gasped and sat up as coos of Leean sounded about the room. There sat Lola, holding her in a rocking chair and Narcisse was nowhere to be seen as your head whipped to the side of you where he had sat stroking your hair before you fell asleep.

"Good morning Josie. If you are looking for Lord Narcisse, he left you a note on the desk. He came and got us this morning."

You immediately held your arms out to your baby. "Can you bring her to me please, and a bottle of the water?"

As you held her, showering her with kisses and smiles, you fed her the bottle and then all the memories of last night came flooding back. What a fool you felt like and was glad Lola did not witness any of it....and Stephane, oh god. He was so right. You would have regretted it in the morning if you had slept with him in such a state of impairment.

"Lola...could you also bring me the note and a large glass of that water as well. My head feels like it's going to explode and the healing liquid will fix me right up."

You chugged it down as Leean's moonstone eyes watched you faithfully in curiosity. Within minutes, your head felt normal again, well, physically anyways and the horrible aftertaste in your mouth was gone too.

You laid Leean down beside you when she was finished with her bottle and then you opened the note.

"Good morning beautiful. I cannot wait to see you for our date. I will have a carriage waiting for us at 9 a.m., for I have a long day planned for us."

-Stephane

"Umm Lola?"

"Yes Miss?"

"What time is it?"

"It is 8 a.m my lad...Josie."

"Oh god!" you reeled as you flung out of bed in a panic.

"What is the matter Josie?"

"I'm late, or going to be for a very important date."

You cringed, knowing you just stupidly recited a line from Alice in Wonderland, a love of fairytales habit of yours.

"Will you make sure Leean is bathed?...I... I was going to do it myself but..."

"Miss...I have already given the little one a bath while you slept. Lord Narcisse asked me to make the morning easier for you."

There was that little one thing again. You did not want to think about Garrett today of all days, for you had a huge surprise for Narcisse and hoped the stableman did as you asked him to....and Stephane...caring about how you felt this morning because he knew you would be severely hungover, even after all you put him through the night prior. He really was an incredible man.

"Ok..Thank you so much. You're a godsend Lola."

You gave Leean a tickle and a kiss, then rushed off to the washroom for your own quick bath.

"Oh Josie! Be sure to dress warm today. It lightly snowed last night and the air has a chill."

You peeked back around the corner. "You're kidding?? It was just like, 60 degrees yesterday. Narcisse wasn't joking. This weather is all out of sorts for December."

Then again, everything was out of sorts since Thranduil left.

It was 8:45 and you were ready. You snuggled Leean a bit more, told her you loved her at least fifty times, then headed out with your stomach in knots, for you still felt so ashamed of last night's events.

The timing could not have been more perfect when you walked outside to see Stephane standing at the Kingly carriage, smiling like a King himself when he saw you.

"Queen Josephine...I see you received my note. You look as lovely as ever, my lady." he said as he bowed his head to you.

You had chosen a long coat with a fur neckline, but only because you knew it was faux fir because Narcisse would never allow such things in his realm.

"Thank you, Stephane. You look...quite handsome yourself."

You felt flushed as the memory of your make out session with him flashed through your mind, sending your stomach into some wild butterfly frenzy.

"Come. Let us be on our way and keep you warm."

Stephane reached his hand out and assisted you into the carriage, then he climbed in and the journey began.

"I have hot tea and a basket full of fruits, breads and cheeses for a morning snack to enjoy on your tour of the countryside. Later I will have a nice dinner prepared for you at my villa, since today is your actual birthday."

"You have thought of everything, haven't you?"

"So that all is perfect for you as you deserve the best."

He was definitely scoring points with you, but what he did last night scored the most when he didn't even score. Most men would have jumped at the chance for a roll in the hay and not have given a damn that you were highly inebriated....but Stephane did.

You opened the basket and snapped off a cluster of purple grapes, your favorite fruit besides cherries and watermelon, and began devouring them, for you were starving. Narcisse helped himself to some cheese and bread and you both ate in silence for some time. You weren't sure where to even begin, so you started with an apology.

"Stephane, I am so sorry for last night. I remember you telling me that it wasn't like me and you were right. I never do that. I feel so stupid."

He leaned forward and took your hand as he smiled. "We all have moments that are not our finest. That horrible fight we had just days ago. That wasn't like me either and I feel stupid as well for how I acted and I feel even worse for how I treated you. I understand your desire to apologize but it is not necessary. Jo, after all you have been through, it was bound to happen. One can only take so much pain before they fall to pieces. I am just glad I was there to pick them up."

"It wasn't like you because it was Catherine's black magic. Yes, that sure was me though. Big old humpty dumpty had a great fall. I could have had a literal one too if you hadn't saved me. God, did I really fly???"

"Like an eagle...just not as gracefully." Narcisse jested with a curled smirk.

"Ughhh....do you think I could do it again? I mean....would you help me? I...I don't even now how I made it happen."

"Your emotions, just as they make all your other powers work, such as the controlling the weather or healing the wounded such as myself."

"Or bringing Haldir back from the dead....Jesus, Stephane...this is so overwhelming. I even had a vision when I touched something."

"Well that is something new as well. What was it? What did you see?"

You had never even stopped to think about how you were going to explain that one without giving away what Garrett did to those two guards, but since they were both dead, what did you have to worry about? The fact you would have to lie to Narcisse is what you had to worry about, but you had to protect Garrett and prayed that Charles would keep his mouth shut, because he too was now lying to his father. You also worried if Arion himself would reveal your truth.

"Well...that is part of your surprise that I told you about. Can we stop by your villa first so I can use the lady's room before we venture out any further?"

"I would like to say we have had enough surprises to last us for quite some time, but...I will admit, I am very curious about what you have been up to, all for little ole me."

Back at the castle, Bash had been informed that two of the guards were missing and since Narcisse was out, he decided to go out to search for them with some other guards in the area they were last accounted for.

"Bash! Over here!" one of the guards shouted.

The deputy assistant rode over to them and dismounted his horse to find a small boat on the shore of a small river with clothes scattered about.

"I must warn you Bash, it is not a sight for the weak stomach."

The warlock's brow lifted in concern and made his way to the craft to find one of their guard and a woman laying inside of it, both unclothed and deceased, covered in blood....and both had their hearts ripped out.

Bash immediately recognized the man as the guard who fled after his drunken encounter with you in the dining hall, and the woman was a known harlot.

"Take care of this. Narcisse will want to assess their bodies. I am going to go locate him. Watch your backs. This looks like the mere sport of a vampire, done solely for the thrill of killing."

Narcisse knocked on the wall behind him to alert the driver to stop just outside of his villa.

"We are here my lady. Would you like me to refill the tea while we are here? Our trip will be at least two hours, for my lands reach far and wide." Stephane asked as he helped you out of the carriage, kissing your leather gloved hand.

"It won't be necessary. Your tea is one of the reasons we are stopping here in the first place." you giggled.

"One?"

You reached up and stroked his cheek as you smiled.

"Turn around."

Narcisse turned to see the stableman and a very happy Arion trotting up to him. His eyes widened as he blinked a few times to process what he was seeing, then he turned back to you with his mouth ajar and his eyes full of discernment over what you had done for him.

"I can't believe it...Arion!"

Narcisse went straight to his faithful companion, looking him all over with such joy and pure love as you stood with teary eyes to witness the happy reunion.

After a few shared head nuzzles between the two, Stephane came back to you wanting answers.

"H..how??"

"Well...when I went to your office to pick out a flower to wear in my hair, I saw the makeshift doll made of hay you told me about that was found in Claude's room. I don't know why, but I picked it up and when I did....I saw him. Arion. And I saw where he was. So...I went to the place, and...there he was. Alive and well. well, a bit weathered physically and sad, but all in all, he was alright."

Narcisse's brow arched as he looked at you with skepticism and you then knew the questions were coming.

"And that was it? You just found him and brought him back? Where was he?"

"Some place South of the castle in the forest. It was near a cliff that held a large round stone broken down dungeon."

Now his head tilted. "That is a good half hour away, at least on horse. Just how is it that you knew where to go by a vision when I know you have not been in that area before?"

"Well...umm...I kind of...asked Charles for assistance and he took me there."

Stephane began fidgeting with his ring like he always does when he is either trying to assess a problem, or when he is nervous. In this case, he knew you were holding something back.

"And? Arion was just there all alone, all this time? How was he being cared for, if at all? Surely if Catherine went to all the trouble to fake his death, she wouldn't have just left him there to rot."

'Well uh...I..I don't know what her plans were for Arion. I think she just wanted you to suffer by believing he was dead and that you had eaten him for your dinner that she served you."

"Jo...that does not answer my question. What are you hiding from me? Should I just go ask Charles, or better yet, Arion?"

"No...no. Stephane...."

You stopped and sighed. You were going to have to tell him about the guards, for he would eventually know they were missing....but you didn't have to tell him what happened to them.

Narcisse noticed your hesitance and walked closely up to you, taking your hands in his against his chest and peering straight down into your eyes as he sweetly spoke.

"Jo...after everything we have been through together...I think I have more than proven to you that you CAN trust me..."

You wanted to so bad, and you in fact did, but not when it came to Garrett, for you knew that if he knew Garrett was involved, he wouldn't be so lenient with him as he was that guard, solely because he was a vampire and a rival for your love.

"Ok...you're right. Stephane, I do trust you. I mean, how could I not after last night. You could have easily had your way with me and you didn't.'

"Then tell me what happened. All of it."

"There...there were two guards there. I don't know who they are. Once they saw Charles, they took off."

"Just like that? With no confrontation, for they obviously were in Catherine's pocket....and they certainly must have known you and my son would not remain quite...yet...you both did?"

"Because it was a surprise for you and if we had told you about..."

"Jo...stop. It's a bit insulting. You knew I would need and want to know of this immediately, for they are traitors."

"I'm sorry. I am not trying to insult you. it's just...well, they left...so I just wanted to get your horse back to the stables and get him the care he needed...and then all that stuff happened with the other guard and then it was time for the party...I guess I just got side tracked...I..planned on telling you all of it today when you saw Arion...and I have. Can that not be good enough for you? I...I brought your beloved horse back to you."

He sighed deeply and his eyes softened. "That you did and I will forever be grateful to you for that. Thank you Jo. You have healed a deep pain in my heart. In fact, you have done many things to my heart that boggles my mind. Do you recall that rare jewel I told you about that I had never experienced? That jewel is you."

That rare jewel was love that he spoke of. Did he just tell you in not so many words that he was in love with you?

Narcisse smiled and leaned down, placing his lips so tenderly upon yours.

His warm peppermint breath was so perfect in the cool crisp air, making you want more. Just as your mouths parted and began to join again, a guard came riding up, dressed in armor.

"My lord Narcisse. Your assistance is needed back at the castle. Bash and others have been looking for you."

Stephane saw the man was distressed. "What has happened?"

"I don't know. I just know that is of dire urgency pertaining to a missing guard."

Your heart sunk, wondering if they had found the one Garrett sent into a swan dive off the cliff, or the burnt remains of the other one.

"Is my brother alright??" Narcisse instantly asked.

"Bash is fine, but from what I have heard, the guard is not."

"Wait, what? Stephane...Sebastian is your brother??"

"One of them yes. The younger one."

"Ohh...I...I guess I am just surprised is all, that I did not know. I should have noticed the resemblance, especially of the eyes."

"Yes...well. I didn't think it was of any importance or I would have told you."

"Just like with Charles...Stephane...you know so much about me...I..I just want to know you too, even the littel things that you think are of no importance. You...are important to me."

He smiled so sweetly and kissed your hand. "I'll tell you what. I need to go handle this matter. You go inside my villa and wait for me. There are plenty of guards here. You will be safe. When I return, we can continue our trip and I will tell you anything about me you wish to know. Is that satisfactory? I will even check on Lola and Leean while I am there."

"O...ok...I..."

"Don't worry love...I won't be long."

He then turned to the driver and the assistant. "Take her inside. See to it she has all that she needs. I want my villa on lockdown until I know the details of what has happened....Jo, go with them."

You reluctantly let go of his hand as you did what he asked and walked back to the carriage. Narcisse, the guard and the stableman then all left with the horses.

"Bash...I came as quickly as I could. What has happened?" Narcisse inquired, slightly out of breath.

"Come...I'll show you."

Narcisse followed Bash and two other guards down to the a sealed off dungeon room used solely as a morgue to store the dead until they were inspected and released to be buried or burned. The odor was anything but pleasant, prompting Stephane to hold a cloth over his nose upon entry.

"I found them in a boat, naked, on the small inlet at the bottom of the drop. Their hearts have been ripped out of their chests." Bash explained.

"No other wounds?"

"None that I could see. I knew you would like to look them over yourself in case I have missed something. Also...I was just informed before you arrived that another body was found at the top of the drop, burnt to ash. It is unclear who it is....and two other guards are missing as well."

Narcisse was quiet as he moved to the edge of the stairs and looked down at the rotting bodies, then he threw a torch down to the floor so he could see. As his eyes scoured the lit up faces, he immediately could confirm seeing the warlock who confronted you in the hall and had fled to avoid Narcisse's wrath.

"I thought you said they were unclothed?"

"They were. Their clothes were there, so...I..."

"You had them dressed?"

"Well, yes. To be respectful."

"Respectful? Do you know what he had done to the Queen?"

"I do. I just..."

"Never mind little brother. I want this entire castle on lockdown until we locate the one or ones responsible for this atrocity. You say it was near the drop...how very interesting."

"Yes...Why's that?"

"What we have here is a monster who likes games. That woman is a well know street walker, but harmless otherwise. She had no enemies. Having their hearts torn from their chests with no other wounds is purely a message from someone evil, a warning even, to show their power and lack of fear. The hearts were a trophy. I also know that there were two guards in that area recently that I know were up to no good and now you say two are missing. It has also come to my attention that a certain vampire has suddenly disappeared from this area with no explanation. A vampire that is solely known for seeking out the bad apples for his meals. A vampire that was once accused of the Lake-town slaughter and maybe that wasn't so far fetched after all."

"I thought the same thing, but vampires don't waste their food, nor leave it as evidence. What about Harker? He was here not long ago."

"As I said, this wasn't a meal, but an act of vengeance for whatever reason...and I think I may know what that reason is. Harker won't be ruled out, for this is very much his style. I know what he is after but right now, I want King Garrett Lee found and brought to me alive for questioning, for things don't quite add up where he is concerned. If you come across Harker, bring him in too. This could also be merely a distraction of Jareth's for a greater purpose, that being of that wretched book. The situation is an equivocal nature indeed. I must get back to my villa to protect the Queen, but first, I must inform Haldir and have him remain here with Leean and Lola. I cannot risk taking them out in the open. Have you seen him?"

"Yes...he was last with the child and Lola."

"And Catherine? She is still secured with no issues?"

"Yes. I checked her only moments ago."

"Good. I will be questioning her myself soon enough. Do not speak any of this to her. Now find me those two missing guards. They will have the answers we seek, if they are still alive.....and watch your back as well brother, and my son's."

"Lord Narcisse." Another guard called to him as he came in.

"What is it?"

"A letter has been left addressed to you, marked urgent."

"Very well. Bash, let us go see what this entails, for I cannot fathom the stench in here any longer."

Stephane went outside for fresh air as he read the anonymous letter, but he knew exactly who it was from due to the information provided within it.

"Coward..." he muttered as he crunched it in his hand.

"What did it say? Who is it from?" Bash desperately asked.

"I now know one of the missing guards is alive as I believe this to be from him, I know his scent...and according to this, the other missing guard is the burnt remains that was found. It would seem I was correct after all. We have a vampire breech. I want Garrett found now!"

@redeemer46

#lee pace #thranduil #thranduil and josie #king thranduil #the elvenking #fantasies #fairytales #magic #love stories #dark stories #witches #warlocks #legolas greenleaf #orlando bloom #craig parker #narcisse #torrance coombs #fantasy fanfic #thranduil fanfiction

[cityandking]

7, 15, 48, and 62 for Dai, Minah, and Rue

thanks! // get to know my d&d characters

7. which party member do they understand the least?

DAI — of everyone he's traveled with it's probably izzy, but of the current lineup... I mean it's slim pickings. up until recently it would have been ozy, but post-traveller ozy is. well. obviously daichi didn't sever his connection with his deity of 50 years but he's familiar with what it means to be adrift from your home and your god and your history, so he kinda gets it. I guess maybe scratch — not because he doesn't sympathize with her or where she's coming from, but some that stubbornness he admires he also just doesn't quite get (he is also often bemused by the sibling stuff) MINAH — upon some reflection, cian. everyone else is pretty easy to get a bead on: rhydian's grief and anger, riya's grief and confusion, leo's grief and vengeance, cian's (grief?) and—? she's pretty clear on the fact that there's something in his past that has affected him (and she has truly no interest in learning what it is), but she's not sure how that affects him or how he's always so like. level. contained. what goes on in there? RUE — to be honest I don't think she had the first clue what was going on with kallux but he was still her favorite (maybe second favorite after dobin) (petrika is a category all on her own and needn't bother herself competing with everyone else)

15. do they trust their party? why or why not?

DAI — yeah. they've had his back for long enough and seen him in some pretty unflattering positions. they came to the abyss for him. he trusts them. MINAH — she knows the party will have her back in a fight and keep watch while she sleeps, but she still doesn't really trust them. no one should take it personally; she doesn't really trust anyone. she's built different (badly) RUE — she'd trust petrika with her life and also her afterlife so jot that down. everyone else... she'd trust dobin, probably. not for any specific reason just because dobin is a super cool spellcrafting wizard and rue grocks that. she doesn't know the rest to say either way.

48. what do they see in their future?

DAI — ok so the thing about daichi is that actually seeing his own future is kind of the thing he's worst at, in an "I can't conceptualize what comes after this" sort of way. it's not quite as, ah, bleak as it used to be, but he tends to get really caught up in what's going on and forget about himself as like, a guy who exists outside of whatever crisis needs solving. I think, if the void is destroyed and the portals close and people around the galaxy(?) are stranded far from home, he'd make it his life's work to get everyone back where they're meant to be. god of travelers sort of thing MINAH — oh, god. horror. death, blight. violence. she doesn't think about it. RUE — rue doesn't spend much time conceptualizing her future. there'll be people to fleece and wonders to see and petrika, and that's all that matters

62. outside of otherworldly forces, what do they believe in?

DAI — he believes in the tenets of his oath: discernment, valor, resolve, character. helping those who need it and protecting the people under his charge. he used to believe in the structures that governed airedon (the skysingers, the order of the sunspeaker) but his recent run-ins with authority and governing bodies has made him a little more hesitant on that front. MINAH — doesn't even believe in otherworldly forces to begin with so jot that down (I mean she believes in magic but idk if that counts). mostly she believes that there's no faith to be placed in the system and structures that rule thedas and it's every man for himself and sometimes, if you're lucky, you find a kind stranger. that's about as far as she's figured it out. RUE — rue was raised by ghosts so tbh "otherworldly" is hard to pin down — they were pretty worldly to her. she's not really one for gods and the like, though she knows petrika is and tries to be respectful if not faithful. honestly, mostly she believes in tri.

#ty!! #memery #(still taking these!) #rue #minah #daichi #rue is my favorite little guy

[chronically-enthusiastic]

HI ELIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

you like podcasts, right?

do you have any recommendations? so far i've been listening to all vampires are gay and it's pretty cool but you have a great taste in Things so i thought you might have some suggestions :D

i love you <3

A;S.DKLJFASKJDF SO MUCH EXCITEMENT RIGHT NOW AND i CANT COPE HEHEHEALKSJFHALJ AGAGGGGGHSDFSFFFFFFHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*dies*

Okay.......... *composes myself, adjusts blazer and tie, pulls out a briefcase and begins*

Hmm this post got a lil out of hand so here's a read break for anyone who doesn't want to hear me talk for *copies and pastes into google docs to count the words* 800 words about fiction podcasts :DDDD

Sooo! I have not listened to all vampires are gay, but have read the podcast description so I know a little about what you are looking for....

Audio dramas (In order of how similar to AVAG I think they probably are):

Where The Stars Fell is a dark supernatural podcast (I had to stop listening bc it got too dark....) that seems very similar? I don't remember much and didnt listen enough to get a proper feel for it.... check it out and see!!

I listened to a like 20 episodes of Welcome to Night Vale before that one got too dark - but it is very popular on this website and each ep is kinda like a news report. Its set in a weird town where lots of supernatural things happen and almost every conspiracy theory is true there.

The Unseen Podcast has a *very* cool format. Each episode is kinda a monologue from a different person each week. It talks about their individual experiences in a fantasy world and it has SUCH a cool magic system!! Please listen to this/do more research..... I've spent like 45 mins on this post at this point (I haven't written it in order, this is one of the last parts im writing) and I'm tired so can't really explain it properly.... Sorry!!! But I loved the non-dark episodes of that!!! (they had content warnings so I only listened to the ones with reasonable content warnings)

Civilised is an improvised science fiction dark comedy show about a ship stranded on a planet and strange things ensue. I listened to the first few series but then from what I remember it got a little too dark for me. (my threshold is very low fyi). I listened to that one a while ago so don't have much else to say, check out the first few eps if it sounds interesting!!

We Fix Space junk is again a dark comedy sci fi show (also a dystopia kind of) about scavengers in space! Again, listened to it ages ago so I don't remember much....

The amelia project is kind of a surreal (maybe?) show about a company that fakes people's deaths. Each episode is framed as an interveiw. So far it has 72 episodes, and it has just come to the end of the 2nd part of the 5th series! The first series is very much a collection of semi-unrelated stories but the plot begins to unfold in S2, and *lots* of things start to happen in S3 onwards!! My personal favourite!!!

Wooden Overcoats is a comedy podcast about a funeral home run by Rudyard and Antigone Funn, two probably autistic, probably a-spec, characters. Eric Chapman opens another funeral home and its kinda about their rivalry but also how they kinda cant live without each other and if any of that sounds even remotely interesting please please please listen because it is truly hilarious and excellently written and produced!!!!! It is finished with 4 seasons. My other favourite!!!!

Alba Salix is a fantasy show that is very very fun!! Again, I listened to it a while ago so I don't have much to say bc I can't remember, but it has quite a similar feel to BBC Merlin I think? With more fairies and magic though. I remember loving it very much. I should probably relisten soon!! This is from the website:

"Farloria’s Royal Physician has her work cut out for her. As head witch and the only regular staff member at the new House of Healing, Alba’s got an endless lineup of patients and a bickering King and Queen to please. Fortunately, help is on the way. Unfortunately, that help is from Magnus, a troublesome young ex-monk and aspiring surgeon, and Holly, an accident-prone fairy herbalist."

Forgive Me is a comedy about a father (the religous type, not a parental figure) who runs a church and each episode is framed as a confession in the catholic church. It's not very religous-y and does point out some of the problems with religion etc. Its quite lighthearted from what I remember? The amelia project did a crossover episode with them!

WOW this post got very long! I will put a read break to shorten it........ oops!! I like podcasts very very much.... heheeeee

These are all the fiction podcasts I have listened to (I think? there are probably more that I have forgotten about....) but if you want any non-fiction ones I have a lot more to talk about heheee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you too Echo!!! And thank you for inadvertently letting me infodump about a special interest for this long!!!!!!!!!!!!

#ask #echosghoast #podcasts #am i really going to tag every single podcast ive mentioned? #yes #where the stars fell #welcome to night vale #unseen podcast #civilised #we fix space junk #the amelia project #wooden overcoats #alba salix #forgive me

[stupid-sloot-headcanons]

Got out of Beau is Afraid

No spoilers but in short if you like pretentious films like I do, esp ones about anxiety and narcissistic mothers, you'll find its worth the ass-numbing 3 hour runtime

Also actual spoilers below

You know how Death Stranding is Hideo Kojima doing whatever he wants and how it's this amazing slog and a mess of metaphors and abstract imagery? This is Ari Aster's Death Stranding. And I say that as someone who loves Death Stranding.

If you dislike movies with pacing issues then fuck you are not going to like this one. It's an intentionally long uncomfortable sit. My interpretation is that this movie takes place in/through Beau's psyche, which is why it feels so nonsensical and dreamlike. I loved the first 2 thirds but I wish it had backed of just a little bit on the heavy exposition towards the end.

Patti LuPone is fucking amazing in this and Joaquin I'm so sorry but she stole the show for me lol. She nails this narcissistic abusive mother role so perfectly and she's absolutely horrific.

This is a movie with a lot of "blink and you'll miss important shit" moments so keep that in mind if you watch it. Like specifically the collage of employees and how not only can you see Elaine and Roger, but even the various homeless people and vagrants from the start of the movie. I think people who missed that shot really lose the impact of the Truman Show vibe and that realization that Beau's mom controls EVERY aspect of his life.

...I cannot find a way to positively describe the Penis Monster. I understand it, but I think it's a bit too much of a "jump the shark" moment even for the surreal nightmare this film is lol. I personally interpret it as the only way Beau COULD know his father since he was absent his whole life; all Beau knows for certain is that his dad cumming in his mom made Beau and killed his dad, so he manifests as a literal Penis Monster. It also tracks with how Mona only talks about Beau's dad in terms of his death, his creating Beau with her, and how that makes HER feel so she can exacerbate Beau's anxiety and guilt. You can also interpret it as a manifestation of Beau's fear of sex and/or masculinity. Fuck my entire life, I'm analyzing a Penis Monster okay

Ari could have cut down the forest sequence in a few spots and trimmed a few other scenes to get this down to maybe 2 and a half hours, but I honestly believe he chose not to because this project is his baby. His uncomfortable, anxiety-riddled, Penis Monster In the Attic baby. So fuck it

Speaking of blink and you miss it moments, Nathan Lane mentions Beau's testicles are unusually large. It's a brief line but a) we see Beau's balls and they are in fact huge (he even busts one right through a condom the first time he orgasms ever) and b) it adds to the fact he's never ejaculated in his life due to his fear of dying like his father.

I liked the moment where Beau fast forwards through the camera feed and it shows the entire rest of the movie at high speed right up to the trial scene.

Anyway this movie is a bloated mess of a self-indulgent wank-fest for Ari Aster, and I say that as someone who loves that sort of thing. I think every director should get one blank check to do a film like this to get whatever the fuck is going on with them out of their system. The fact it's so divisive is fucking great, I love films like this.

#this movie is ari aster saying 'look I made two wildly successful films. i want my 3 hour adaptation of my short film #and i want all the money and actors to make it plus NO editing down for time #and A24 said 'fuck it sure. youve made a name for yourself so go ahead' #sloot watches #beau is afraid spoilers

[fanficwriter284]

Saw ur post about having writers block, maybe i can help?

What if u wrote about BarcleyPierce ? Like nica and andy slowly falling for one another i think that'd be cute

OOO!!! I've never written about the two before!!! But I certainly have thought about it!!! Now this gives me the perfect excuse! Hehehe And yes it would totally be cute!!! Thank you!!

It had approximately been 2 months since she met them. Andy Barclay and Kyle Simpson. They were nice enough to let Nica stay with them. Since Nica had no place of her own, so the trio hid away from the world, in a cabin. And due to that red-headed fiend, they had no homes or family...they didn't belong in society anymore...They were outcasts.

Nica had gotten along just fine with Kyle...but Andy? She couldn't say she didn't because the man never uttered a full sentence around her. Any dialogue that came from his mouth was either, inaudible mumbles or a single word. He was a rather awkward and distant man, unlike his sister. Nica didn't mind his coldness and often found conversation with Kyle. However, she did find it a bit rude at his reoccurring dismissiveness and negativity the man possessed. Kyle would often apologize for her brother's distant behavior, and fill Nica's head with lighthearted stories about the two growing up, hoping to shed a positive light on Andy. Kyle never opened up about her home life before meeting Andy and being placed into the foster system. It was rather a sensitive topic for the blonde. Nica never pushed forward on the topic, seeing the immense discomfort it brought Kyle, she kept quiet as she too had a sore spot when it came to her home life. So, she kept asking questions about Andy. At first, she didn't care all too much and only brought him up to make conversation with Kyle, however over the course of time she stayed with the two of them, she grew to look forward to their little talks about Andy.

"And there was this one time when I was doing the laundry and the kid took my cigarette and inhaled that thing! Oh wait that reminds me! Andy's birthday's tomorrow."

Hearing that had caught Nica's attention. She tossed back her hair, combing a loose strand from her face, and tucking it to the side.

"Why don't we do something for him?"

Nica noticed a sudden change in Kyle's demeanor. Once jolly and bright, now turned grim and sad.

"What's wrong?" She questioned, curious to find the reasoning behind the sudden mood shift.

"On his sixth birthday...he well...his gift was the fucking doll....the thing that ruined his life....and after that....he never really did birthdays...Well...not his..."

Nica felt herself sink into her chair, saddened by the thought.

"Well...maybe we can change that....how about something small. Just a cake. His favorites vanilla right?"

"Yeah how'd you know that?"

Nica felt herself blush a tad bit.

"Oh, you told me when we were chatting"

Kyle let out a find grin, letting out a small chuckle, crossing her arms.

"Alright I'll head to the bakery, there should be one close by"

Nica raised a brow, the three of them were in the middle of nowhere, there was no sign of civilization for miles.

"No there isn't"

"Yeah, there is, it's like 3 hours away though. Considering we're out in the damn forest, I consider that close Nica. When you've been here for as long as I have, 3 hours is nothing."

Nica gave a slight shrug, taking Kyles's word for it. She had watched her friend take her black leather coat off the hanger and make her way to her car. Once Kyle began to drive off, Nica waved goodbye, wishing her safe travels.

...

Andy Barclay had been wallowing alone in his room. He'd come to the realization that it was his birthday tomorrow. The day that caused the hell he was living. Somedays he felt there was no point in getting out of bed. He had no reason to. Except for Kyle. She made sure he left his room, that he ate, and that he slept. Without her, he was as good as dead...Sometimes he'd wonder about death. Why it didn't come and take him when it had the chance. It had no issue taking his mother. Oh, how he missed her. Each night longing to be held by her soft warm embrace. Her reassuring voice telling him that it was going to be okay, and soothing his nightmares. But that was all gone now...it perished with her. And so did his remnants of innocence.

...

Nica had felt like she needed to get Andy a gift. Though she couldn't conjure up much. She had no money and no contact with the outside world. So, something homemade would have to do. There was no paper to making a card was out of the question. And not a since pen or pencil insight. She couldn't cook anything since all the food they had was instant and microwavable.

Her search around the house had proven to be useless, and quite a bit challenging, with her wheelchair bumped into corners and the rug getting caught in her wheels.

"Damn it"

"Need some help with that?"

The poor girl jolted upwards startled by his sudden presence.

"Ya really snuck up on me there"

"Sorry...I'll give ya a warning next time"

Before Nica could respond, she felt herself being pulled away from the corner and guided to her she had a bit more space, so she could move freely.

"Thank you"

"...You're welcome..........Hey....Where's Kyle?"

Nica blushed at his question, but answered with a minor fib, to keep Andy's surprise a secret.

"Kyle? Oh she said she was gonna go get something"

"What thing?"

"Don't know she didn't say"

Andy let out a faint grunt, and headed back to his room, remaining there the rest of the evening, quiet as a mouse.

Eventually, Kyle finally returned with the Vanilla cake, showing it to Nica. It was a rather simple cake. With frosting and rainbow-colored sprinkles, with Andy's name in the center of the cake, written in creamy blue frosting.

"Looks good!"

"Had to get the center redone, the damn fuck misspelled his name. Like how the fuck do you misspell Andy?"

...

After the cake had been hidden at the back of the fridge, where Andy wouldn't find it, Nica went back on her quest to find Andy a birthday present. Only to find nothing. After a long while of looking she stumbled upon, the jacket he lent her on the first day they met. Nica had found it in one of her drawers, with it neatly tucked away safely. The jacket was in perfect condition, with not a stick or loose string in sight.

"That'll will work"

...

6:30 Am

Andy was more miserable than ever. He had been dreading for the sun to rise, marking the day that all hell started. He thought about just staying in bed till the day passed, but he knew Kyle would barge in and force him out of his cave. So he kicked off the covers, and shuffled his way the to door. Grumbling with each step.

Surprisingly the house had been quiet. At first, he thought he was the only one awake, but Kyle always woke up at 5, so his original theory was false.

"What the hell? Hello?"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

"..."

Andy could only remain silent. He could only stare at the cake in front of him. With the giving warmth to his frosty arms.

"Come on sport. Blow 'em out! Make a wish"

The man blinked a few times before leaning in and blowing out the flames. Kyle cut the two pieces of the cake and placed each slice on paper plates she had purchased at the store.

"Here ya go"

"Vanilla. You got my favorite"

The blonde smirked elbowing Andy in the side playfully, causing the man to stifle to the side bumping into Nica, causing her to drop her slice.

"I am so sorry."

"No no it's fine!"

"Here I'll pick it up"

Kyle handed her brother a packet of paper towels and watched him scoop up the delicious pastry and toss it in the trash.

"Oh shoot...ya kind got a bit on your face. Hang on..."

Andy almost instinctively, grabbed another towel and wiped off a bit of frosting from Nica's cheek, causing the woman to blush once more.

"...Oh god...I should not have done that....sorry that must have been really weird for me to---"

"Andy! It's fine!!! Really! And besides it was only a bit of frosting...And here I got you a gift."

Andy froze examining the think box.

"I didn't have time to wrap it...sorry about that"

"T--This....I---Is for me?"

"Yeah, it is your birthday. Open it"

Slightly hesitant he lifted, the top of the box, revealing his jacket.

".........My jacket"

"Yeah sorry it took so long to give it back to you...."

"....M--My mom gave me this jacket....Thank you Nica..." He whispered struggling to hold back tears.

"You're welcome Andy. I'm glad you liked it"

"...I love it"

...

From then on the two began to chat more often amongst themselves. Becoming more and more comfortable on the other's presence.

#barclaypierce #Thanks for the ask!! #This was a fun wholesome one!! #kyle simpson #andy barclay #nica pierce #chucky #child's play

[tanoraqui]

re: the Flight of the Noldor and Finwë's reembodiment - not to take your post in a wildly Doylist direction but the reason there's not any conversation about Finwë's return is probably because Finwë's return is a very weird and iffy thing.

Tolkien knew from the start that it had to be a hard and fast certainty that Finwë wouldn't come back and start impacting the plot again, and in the earliest versions of the story, it's simply that whatever Morgoth (or Melko, as he was initially named) did to kill him was so severe and weird and fucked up that the Silmarils were actually necessary to the process of restoring him to life. In this version until they're retrieved he can't be reembodied, presumably because they actually need the original corpse. However, Tolkien's conception of the Halls changed over time, and it became more about the Finwëan family drama. In the earliest drafts there isn't any family drama at all, basically, except for Fëanor grieving his father's death; Míriel really becomes a person who impacts the plot in the very late drafts and Indis shows up after she does.

The justification we arrive on is that since Finwë has two wives, only two of the three people can be alive at one time, and in at least one late draft as soon as Finwë dies, Míriel decides she wants to be alive again and leaves the Halls, thus stranding him there.

idk it's really funny how JRRT both wants Finwë out of the story after the Darkening and needs to work with the reembodiment/immortality system that he created to justify the permadeath

The different levels of canon from the years of changing and accumulating notes are SO neat, as is JRRT visibly getting mixed up in his own system. As someone who just spent literally an hour and a half messaging my friend in order to rubber duck out where to set a few scenes I'm writing - not "what will happen in them", literally only "where do they geographically take place" - MOOD.

Also, honestly, "Melkor and Ungoliant between them fucked Finwë up so thoroughly, in his very fëa, that his re-embodiment is entirely possible/probable but he WILL first need to heal, spiritually, for so long that it's irrelevant until at LEAST a couple Ages later... seems 100% reasonable to me. I bet Ungoliant tried to eat him.

#finwe #random anon asks #the silmarillion #feanor and feanor's kin

[spartanlocke]

Lightfall spoilers below

I am once again wishing everyone who complained that the Traveler “stole our kill” during the Red War a very stubbed toe.

Thanks to all the bitching and moaning for what was a very fitting and impactful moment in Destiny’s story, Bungie has become convinced that the Guardian must always be the one to kill the bad guy, otherwise players might feel that they were “robbed.” And we can’t have that, now can we?

Ever since Caiatl was introduced as a character she was driven by her desire to kill her father, she said over and over again that she would be the one to kill Calus, so we all thought she would, because Bungie seemed to be building up to it and it’s fitting for her.

Instead she stays behind and we just shoot Calus to death.

Calus was defined by his desire for power. His endless hunger for everything. Something that the Witness nurtured into a imperishable need to be the end. He is hedonistic, yes, but he was cunning and powerful and had the killcount to prove it. He didn’t just laze around and let everyone else do the work for him, even though his subjects did help, he conceived the plan, moved the pieces, and got his hands dirty. Not only does lore not from his biased PoV confirm this, but see it ourselves when he was introduced as literal raid boss, fighting the Guardians to see if they can prove their strength. He fights Ca’our in Spire of Stars, he uses his run-down robots to kill intruders, he murders hundreds of his own subjects to feed the Egregore; he’s literally a one-man army fueled by megalomania.

But he doubts the Witness, doubts that it will fulfill his desire to be the very last at the end, so what does that say about his motives, his desires, which come to conflict with the Witness’s?

...Apparently it says he just sleeps through the whole campaign until the Witness yells at him to get back to work, then we just shoot him to death.

All those years of buildup and carefully constructed characterization, thrown away because players told Bungie that our Guardian needs to always land the final blow.

Anyway, hope y’all are happy, Bungie gave you want you wanted!

.

.

.

UPDATE: OKKKK got all that out of my system, feel better now.

Despite that I will say that all in all, I like Lightfall! There were a lot of things it could’ve done better but overall I really enjoyed the experience! Strand is tricky to master but I am really enjoying it, the environment and music are 11/10 as always, and the Cloudstriders (Nimbus my beloved) continue to be a very intriguing addition to the story and I love the entire concept of the CloudArk and allowing the citizens to be part of the patrol zones without actually being there. I’m a bit disappointed we still don’t know what the Veil is but it’s normal for Bungie to reveal things in bits and pieces rather than all at once. Also like the foreshadowing Nezarec is getting, feels a bit on-the-nose but I find it preferable compared to how Rhulk just appeared out of nowhere (no shade though VotD definitely made up for that)

Some people are saying the campaign felt like a filler and while I can kinda see it, I can also see why Bungie would’ve done that. The whole reason we're getting The Final Shape is because Bungie realized three expansions was not enough to conclude all the plot threads they were building, so they had to include another expansion to make room. Lightfall‘s conclusion allows them to temporarily Vault the Witness allow the Witness to exit the stage so they can focus on concluding the stories of Xivu Arath, Mara Sov and Clovis Bray before finally taking on the Witness in The Finale Shape.

...I just hope Bungie does them more justice than they did Calus and Caiatl.

#jem blogs #delete later maybe #destiny #destiny 2 #lightfall #lightfall spoilers #Warning: Salt Ahead #Lots of Salt #also bc it doesn't go without saying on tumblr #this is a venting post #not a discussion piece #feel free to disagree but i'm not engaging in discourse #i am just #so tired #someone Please tell bungie it's ok if the player doesn't always land the killing blow #ESPECIALLY when it'd be more fitting for another character to do it #(which you'd think they'd know given season of dawn and season of the lost but. Apparently Not.) #anyway calus and caiatl deserved better you can't change my mind