#which is exactly what the TP did on the other side of the fence | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

neutron-stars-collision · 3 years

Text

The Art of Inversion

Neil x Reader

Chapter 20 - Love Is Blindness

Masterlist; Chapter 19

Summary: The confrontation by the turnstile brings more tension into the scene. You and Neil have an opportunity to talk but it goes awry...

Warnings: Swearing.

Author’s Notes: So more of that glorious outfit, am I right? (and R here does have some fun with it) And more tension because why not (plot reasons). Ever so slowly we’re getting closer till the end but before we do let’s finish the Estonian chapter. I really hope I did the scene justice... I hope you’ll enjoy! Feedback in every shape and form always welcomed!

The ride to Sator’s compound could not possibly get longer. Or tenser. For some unknown reasons, at least to you, Neil jumped into the same SUV. The lack of space in the cramped vehicle, which was already aggravating previously, got unbearable. Ives gave you the job of checking the route to make sure you were heading in the right direction (and avoiding the police patrols), which you took as a gesture of mercy. At least it meant you had something to stare at that was not the proximity of Neil’s knee next to yours. Still, your brain could not get past the fact that his shoulder, in that bloody navy shirt, was pressed against yours. The touch that normally set your whole being ablaze was now a harsh reminder of the lie you let yourself fall for. He did not love you. What is more, your feelings for him were a mere inconvenience rather than something he treasured. And the pain of that realisation broke your heart into pieces. You were foolish and naive; it was all that could be said. Whenever your thoughts wandered onto that territory, it was hard to hold back tears.

And so, you focused all the field of your attention on the map, giving out directions when needed. The rest of the squad was quiet, as though not knowing how to react to the show you and Neil put on. You could not blame them. After all, they have heard everything and now knew exactly how badly you fucked up. The least you needed at the moment was pity. You managed well to avoid even looking in the direction of Neil. It was as though the right side of your vision did not exist. On a few occasions, you could feel him stealing glances, increasing all the feelings tenfold. But, by far, the worst part of the journey happened near the end of those dreadful fifteen minutes. Just as you have been nearing the destination, Michael made one wrong turn. With the emotions heightened, that was enough to make you lash out:

“Fucking hell! Can’t you tell bloody left from right?” yelling, you met the soldier’s wary gaze in the rear-view mirror.

“I’m sorry” he hissed as though holding back harsher words “Where do I turn now?”

“I don’t fucking know”

Your hands were shaking. The additional strain of making sure you never touched Neil in any way, even passingly, made every move more difficult. And so, when you tried to grab the paper map of the area stashed in the seat back pocket, the tablet cluttered onto the car floor.

“Christ” you seethed to no one in particular and glanced at where the device had fallen.

The perfect spot was right on Neil’s shoes. A place you could not possibly reach without breaking the no-touch rule you have set for yourself. Just brilliant.

“So? Where do we turn?” Michael’s panicked voice broke through the paralysis.

Huffing, you checked the map. But it would not do without knowing your exact location. Fuck.

“One second” grudgingly, you turned your head to the right, doing everything not to lay your eyes on that blonde head.

Or the piercing blue eyes that landed on you. You were terrified of the coldness you could see there. Or worse, the indifference. But before you could dwell on those fears for much longer, Neil did the unexpected. He placed one of the gloved hands on your forearm, stopping any movement you intended. That was enough for you to face him. And feel close to tears again.

“I’ll get it” he leaned down and retrieved the tablet “There you go” placing it in your lap you were shocked by the tenderness of his gestures.

If anything, after that argument, you expected him to never willingly touch you again. But then, supposedly, he was conflicted. Enough. Shaking off the dangerous hopefulness, you muttered:

“Thanks”

After that, you have managed to direct Michael onto the right tracks again. Only when your SUV arrived with a halt in front of the building, you had to face your new reality. Because neither you nor Neil were paramilitaries, you were told to stay at the back and only enter the space after a signal from the team. You have fucked up while exiting the car, stumbling due to the overwhelming tension and nerves. Of course, Neil noticed that, shooting you a worried look. For a moment, you wanted to scream at him, yell, burst into tears or do anything else that could show the extent of what he has done. But that would be humiliating. So you met his gaze with defiance, as though trying to say: I’m bigger than this. Bigger than you.

“Everyone ready?” Ives’ voice brought you back to the moment “On my signal” he extended a hand and then motioned for the squad to begin the action.

You watched as they broke through the door to the compound and dealt with the mercs inside. The building itself was rather mundane, with a fence separating it in half. Inversion technology more than likely. It had access to the port dock as well. After a few audible salves from the rifles and a yell, you got an ‘all clear’, saving you from the awkwardness of being stood next to Neil. Surging forward, eager to enter the building, you got stopped by a strong grip on your arm. You turned sharply only to meet those damned blue eyes looking back at you with determination:

“Let me go in first” not exactly a plea, more a command.

You have never been more grateful for the layers of clothes separating his touch from your skin. Otherwise, you could never find the spark to light the anger once again.

“Neil-” he rushed to interrupt you, but you kept talking, “I know that you’re desperate to make my life a living hell, but believe me when I say that I can handle myself” you shook off the hand still wrapped around your arm “I don’t need you” you threw all the leftover passion and fury into those four words.

For a second, Neil looked shocked. As though your outburst caught him by surprise, and he did not know how to deal with it. But then he scoffed:

“That’s-”

Somehow you knew where he was going with this.

“A lie?” you interrupted him sharply “Maybe” meeting his eyes, you shrugged casually and stormed off into the building.

If he was allowed to lie, so were you. Even if to show him that he had not won.

Could the day get any worse? The moment you marched into the room, you knew the answer to the question. A turnstile, proving window, one side tinted red, the other blue. All too familiar at this point. Space was in disarray after the storming of the building. Instantly you spotted TP, hunched by the wall, as though in shock. Glancing at the other side of the room, you could see a woman in an elegant two-piece suit. Kat, Sator’s wife that Neil told you about. She was collapsed in the chair. The bullet hole in the glass was a giveaway. You flinched. An inverted round was a messy wound to deal with. As you stared, Wheeler and Michael joined Kat on the other side:

“She’s been shot” the female paramilitary shouted to Ives.

“Get her this side” he ordered, looking around the space, collecting information, taking control of the situation “Was she shot with an inverted round?” he asked TP, and you were struck by the look on Ives’ face.

Of course. He has not seen a younger version of his boss before. To him, the man was dead. You shuddered, almost missing the moment when Neil entered the room.

“This is Ives. He’s one of us-” before you could perceive the movement, TP stood up and grabbed Neil’s shirt, pinning him to the wall.

Fuck. Your heart sped up, soaking the tension that instantly permeated the room.

“Us?!” putting Neil in a chokehold, TP spit out the words, “Who are these guys?”

From where you were stood, you could see the utter panic and anguish in Neil’s eyes. This was off the script. TP was not supposed to know and yet you had no clue how else he could be placated. Despite everything that happened in the last hour, you could feel your heart cracking in sympathy for Neil.

“Priya’s. Ours” his voice was hoarse from the grip on his throat.

That answer was as good as any. You were silently praying the boss will accept it, move on, let the farce continue. But then he spotted you, stood on the side. Shit. You knew he recognized you from the way his dark eyes flashed. More confusion, and then anger. Neil’s eyes darted to you too. Panic and desperation.

“What is she doing here?” TPs question made you both snap your attention back to him “You lied about her too”

Somewhere on the periphery of your vision, you could see the squad deal with Kat. Only Ives seemed frozen in the spot, watching the confrontation with wide eyes.

“She’s my... She’s-” Neil’s stuttering made you stare at him in shock.

My? My what?

“Yeah? Who is she?” before you could dwell on it for too long, TP’s cold eyes turned on to you again “Who are you?” the simple question made your blood turn cold.

Sighing, you came up with the only answer possible:

“I’m one of you. Same as Ives and the squad” you meet the gaze of the man in question “Same as Neil” the blue eyes were trained on you with a strange emotion visible.

“So you lied?” you could hear the remorse in TPs voice.

“I had to” shrugging, you smiled sadly, unable to meet his gaze for any longer.

You could hear the breath he let out then. Defeated and disappointed. It hurt, and you could only begin to imagine how did it feel for Neil. But it was not the end…

“How did Sator know about the ambush?” the stronger hostile edge in TPs voice made you flinch.

“Posterity. An ambush on the streets can’t stay out of the record-” the strain in Neil’s voice made you look up again.

You were shocked by the deepening horror in his eyes. This was bad. You wanted to explain everything, all the reasons why you were forced to lie. Forced to depend on half-truths you despised so much. But you could not.

“Bullshit! He knew every move we made! Somebody talked, was it you?!” the accusation was thrown with surgical precision.

Looking at them, seeing the way Neil winced as though he was slapped, you felt faint again. He broke your heart earlier, but this was unimaginable. Slowly, you felt the resolve to hurt him back crack under the pressure of the situation. It was replaced by the wish to touch him again. To give him comfort in any way you could. Even if it would mean absolutely nothing to him.

“No…no” the stuttering in Neil’s answer only increased the feeling.

Christ. Almost unconsciously, you took a step forwards in their direction. This had to end.

“At every stage, you’ve known too much. I’m going to ask you again. Did you talk?” TP kept the chokehold strong, making the blood drain from Neil’s face.

You were close enough to try to grab TP now. But one stern look from Ives made you freeze. He approached them cautiously:

“Nobody talked. They’re running a temporal pincer movement” the reluctance in Ives’s eyes was new.

None of you expected the situation to go this way. Glancing around, you could see the squad help Kat with certain hesitation in their movements. First, you and Neil arguing, and now this. God knows they needed a rest from tension and conflict.

“A what?” the confusion in TPs eyes was palpable.

Only in moments like this did you remember that this was not exactly the man who chatted to you over dinner about the algorithm mere months ago.

“A pincer movement. But not in space, in time. Half his team moves forwards through the event, he monitors them, then attacks from the end, moving backwards. Knowing everything” you could see hints of frustration in Ives’s eyes as he explained the term.

It must have felt strange to go back to the basics with the man wearing the face of one’s boss. And not only the face but also the voice, the mannerisms were all there. Making this TP seem like a clueless stand-in for the original.

“Except where I stashed the plutonium” his statement drew your attention back to the scene.

He seemed to consider his options quickly, with a certain degree of remorse in his eyes, before letting go of Neil.

“Which isn’t really plutonium, is it?” the inquisitive look was focused on the blonde man.

You saw Neil shift nervously, smoothing the wrinkled shirt fabric and taking a deep breath that he has been denied for the past few minutes. You too felt as though a weight has been lifted. At least he wasn’t being choked…

“I told you it’s what he’s after” the conflict visible in the blue eyes made you stare at him longer “And you just told him where it was” Neil was disappointed.

You realised that you nearly forgot about the actual reason for the Tallinn mission. 241, the last part of the algorithm that you could still take hold of. Well, apparently, not. A knot tightened in your stomach.

“I lied”

What?

“Jesus…” Neil swallowed hard, looking across the room at Kat on the stretcher “You lied about it?” the bitterness in his voice made you follow his gaze.

The woman was bleeding out on the gurney, scowling in tremendous pain. Your heart broke for the tenth time. No one deserved agony like that. Let alone an innocent woman, unfortunate to have married a monster. None of this was her fault yet looking at the grim countenance of Henrik you knew that she was likely to die because of it.

“He couldn’t verify from inside the room he’d have shot her anyway. Lying is a standard operating procedure” the matter-of-fact tone of TP’s voice made you stare at him with disbelief.

Surely he couldn’t be serious?

“Standard operating procedure?” Neil muttered, making you look at him again.

For a moment, your eyes met. TP has joined Ives by the stretcher, and in a second, it seemed like it was just you and Neil suspended in the space. You could easily read him now. The pain, conflict, and worry in his eyes made your head spin. None of it made sense. Most of all, the way he gazed back at you hopelessly, as though unable to tear his eyes away. He was not like that familiar stranger that shattered your heart on the Estonian highway an hour ago. But neither was he the man you considered your lover. This was something else, someone unsure of anything in his life. The resolve kept on crumbling, and all you wanted was to know his mind. To understand what was going on.

“It’s spread too far” the grave nature of Henrik’s voice made your frown deepen.

“Meaning what?” seeing the fear in TPs eyes, briefly you wondered about his attachment to the wounded woman.

He cared; that much was obvious. The only question was how much exactly.

“She’s going to die” Ives got straight to the point, increasing the tension in the room.

You wanted to have something to hold on to. But the only hand you could hold was unattainable. His dark countenance, enhanced by the red lights in the room, made the beauty especially striking. It was in moments like this that you remembered why Neil could be seen as intimidating. With the sharp cheekbones, dark irises, and clenched jaw, he was an object of awe.

“Can’t you- can’t you do something?” the panic in the eyes of your boss was a startling wake-up call.

“Can’t you stabilize inverse radiation by inverting the patient?” Neil spoke for the first time in a while, nothing but business.

For some reason, it was almost refreshing to see him back in action. You could only stare, watching the situation unfold.

“That takes days” Ives being the voice of reason, looked at TP sceptically. It did not work.

“Let’s go” your future (?) boss stared at you all with newly found motivation, pointing at the turnstile.

“We took control of this machine minutes ago. Before that, it was Sator’s” Ives sighed heavily, already tired of the situation.

You heard of this way of stabilizing the inverse radiation during training you knew that it would take a while. And there was no way of knowing whether they could be brought back then.

“How long will she live on this side?”

“Three hours, tops” the medic shrugged helplessly.

That was enough to light the fire within TP. His back straightened as he took the control back into his hands.

“I’m taking her through. I’m not going to let her die. I’ll take my chances out there”

“Chances of what? We’ve got no way of bringing you back” the skepticism in Ives’ voice made you smile in sympathy.

While you understood the wish to save Kat no matter the circumstances, it did not look doable. Or wise, for that matter.

“We find another machine” the blind conviction in TPs eyes was almost admirable.

If he only knew… It took you good few weeks to learn the locations of the turnstiles strewn across the globe. Nothing seemed close enough. Or feasible.

“A week ago? Where?” Ives articulated your thoughts with that sarcastic edge to his voice.

That was when you realised. A week ago. Turnstile. The two men with a gurney, running across the tarmac as you stared. The blue eyes that met yours across space. It was so simple.

“Oslo” you blurted out before thinking.

All three pairs of eyes snapped to you. Unconsciously, your gaze flitted over to Neil first. He looked shocked, staring at you intensely, trying to understand. Then it was TP with palpable confusion in his expression, mouth open as though he too was about to mention the Norwegian capital. Ives just looked unbothered as though he was certain you have lost your mind.

“That facility’s impregnable. It’s inside an airport security perimeter” he explained, plain and simple.

Maybe to him. Before you could open your mouth, a familiar cheeky tone pierced the silence:

“Mmmm… Not last week, it wasn’t” glancing at Neil, you saw the famous smirk grace his features.

At least that was still intact, you mused while letting yourself observe him a little longer. He caught your attention with a curt nod. Well done, at least he was impressed. But it seemed like TP was the one who liked your idea best. He gave you a small nod of acknowledgement before addressing everyone:

“We’re going in. You might as well help” that last quip, aimed at Ives, was received with a roll of the eyes and a huff.

All back to normal. Or almost normal, you remembered as Neil passed by you on the way to the stretcher. The signal was clear. The boys were heading back to Oslo, and you wondered whether you could have time to talk. To try and make sense of what happened. On the periphery of attention, you could hear Ives introducing TP to the art of inversion (as you sometimes referred to the technology in the quiet of your mind). Taking your place next to Wheeler by the gurney you soaked in the look of surprise and uncertainty on the face of the boss. This would be his first inversion. You could only hope he will take it better than you did. At the memory of that afternoon in the courtyard, your cheeks warmed up. Your racing heart, Neil pressing your palm against his chest, prolonged eye contact interrupted by the unfortunate agent. Back then, you tried your hardest not to die from shame afterwards, wondering if it has not made you seem a fool in the eyes of the intriguing stranger. Now, knowing how it looked like from his perspective, you wondered whether he did not see it as a mistake.

“Let’s go” Ives’s command threw you out of the grim thoughts.

You helped the squad wheel the gurney into the turnstile, relishing in the familiar motion and sounds. In this whirlwind of a day, something as ‘simple’ as an inversion was almost a relief. This was recognizable. Everything else was not.

Exiting the machine on the other side, you met TPs wild gaze, as he kept on staring at you and then at the proving window, where your future selves were busy getting into the turnstile. You offered him a small sympathetic smile, the only comfort you could think of. As he joined Henrik at Kat’s side, you just watched, wishing you were useful somehow.

“How long does she need?” TP asked.

“4 or 5 days. A week to be sure”

“Figure out how to get us to Oslo” TP met Neil’s gaze “I’ve got to get back out there” you could see the surprise in those blue eyes.

A hand on your arm stopped you from listening to the conversation. It was Wheeler, evidently tired, annoyed, and conflicted. You could suppose that was the general mood among the squad:

“Can you help Henrik with her?” she asked tentatively as though unsure you were fit for the job.

“Yeah, sure” you nodded, glad to be given a task “Frankly speaking, I need something to do” you admitted while dropping your voice.

Wheeler gave you a shoulder squeeze and marched off, trying to get control of the squad. You approached Henrik, offering him your services as a provisional nurse. For the next few minutes, you were relatively at peace, occupied with the task. All you had to do was to pass him the needed instruments, disinfect the wound and make the process of field first-aid as smooth as possible. Despite not knowing Kat, you hoped she would make it. Henrik has assured you that he has seen worse but also that she may need a lot of luck. And that there will be a scar. You vowed to give the woman all the remains of good fortune you had.

The other advantage of the situation was the fact that you did not have to stress over the unfolding developments. From the corner of your eye, you could see Neil talk to TP and then to Ives. The word ‘container’ was mentioned. So that was their way of getting back to Oslo, you mused while passing the surgical suture to the medic. It most likely meant a whole week (or more?) of not only not being able to see Neil but also contacting him in any way. But maybe that was exactly what you needed…

“Wheeler, brief him” Ives walked over to you, looking completely done.

“What’s going on?” you asked while taking off the latex gloves.

You have finished the task. Now it was only a matter of getting Kat changed and the container ready for the weekly stay. You could see the team busily taking hold of the needed equipment and supplies.

“TP is heading out there. No fucking clue as to why” the squad leader answered your question with a shrug.

“I see…” turning around to the centre of the commotion you could see the boss putting on the mask.

Wheeler was giving him a summary of the effects of inversion and how to survive outside. But your gaze settled on Neil, taking hold of the various bits of equipment, lost in the madness of the moment. The ache in your chest was ever so persistent. The only thing you were sure of was that you had to talk to him before they left. Even if it meant another argument. Or definite rejection.

The moment you saw TP step out of the airlock the whole squad let out a breath. At least now, you did not have to watch your every move. All that proceeded was simple. Prepare the container, wheel in cots, food supplies, water bottles, oxygen tanks and masks, protective suits. You were given the job of assembling needed ammunition and artillery in case they ran into trouble. Handling the guns and bullets never felt quite this pleasant.

“Y/N?” Wheeler’s voice made you look up.

“Yeah?” you put down the Glock, looking around quickly.

You have found a secluded spot among the rows of containers. It was ideally placed because from there you did not have to see him all the time.

“You and Neil should talk” she eyed you pointedly.

She did have a point. Since you have exited the turnstile, you only exchanged two sentences. Both of them have been related to the type of gun Neil had on him. And even then, your usual dynamic was nowhere to be found. It was all strained voices, metres of space, and awkwardness that made you want to scream.

“That is assuming he wants to,” you noticed quietly, feeling the nerves come back.

“Maybe he shouldn’t be given a choice…” the implication in her voice made you think.

Tempting, but…

“Should I just go in there and make him talk?” you looked around the corner at the chosen container.

Just as you stared, Neil entered it, carrying some crates.

“You know him best” Wheeler’s comment made you frown.

“After today, I’m not sure I know him at all”

But maybe this was your chance… You hesitated, staring at the metal box, weighing your options. Gathering courage.

“Go. I’ll tell everyone to stay away for as long as it is possible” she whispered into your ear and joined the squad.

“Thanks” you muttered and took a deep breath.

You took off the protective helmet. Some used to dress up for the battle ahead, but you chose to make yourself more vulnerable. Smoothing the hair, you stopped right at the airlock made from foil. It was unzipped, and inside you could see Neil fumbling with some equipment. Suddenly he cursed under his breath as an oxygen tank rolled in your direction. That was the perfect cue. Without announcing your presence, you entered and picked up the cylinder. He turned with a question that died on his lips as soon as he realised it was you. Bloody brilliant. Meeting his intense, gaze you took a step forward, closing the space. Only when you were within reach, you dared to speak:

“Be careful with those” you handed him the tank with a small smile.

“Thanks” was all you got in return, as Neil turned back to whatever he was doing.

From how tense he was, you assumed he expected you to leave. Abandon any foolish ideas you could have had and ideally never speak to him again. Well, tough luck. You observed his chaotical movements for a beat before saying:

“Neil,” he somehow tensed up even more, “I think we should talk” you finished the sentence, studying him curiously.

His back was still turned to you. The hand with which he was trying to attach the tanks to the oxygen masks was shaking. And all because of you. Jesus. As the tears threatened to well up again, he muttered a response:

“I’m busy” it was that constrained voice again.

As though speaking to you was painful. Contrasting that with your recent phone calls, anger flared up within your heart. He owed you an explanation if nothing else.

“No, you’re not” you wrapped your hand around his bicep, ignoring the ache in the heart “Leave it” forcing him to face you “And just look at me” you met his gaze with newly found determination.

The conflict and anguish in his eyes shocked you. You could see him hesitate, fiddling with whatever he could get his hands on. And then he exhaled, defeated. Shifting, he perched on the edge of the cot, seemingly eager to hold that conversation, only…

“We already talked” the darkness in Neil’s eyes reminded you of the hostile face he showed on the highway.

The drastic changes in his behaviour were more than confusing. Glancing down to gather your thoughts, you could feel his gaze on you. Analyzing, examining, almost caressing if it was not for the lack of affection there. He truly was a stranger.

“That... that wasn’t a conversation,” you blurted out and raised your head again

“I hoped that you’ve got enough decency to reject me in plain terms instead of whatever it was back there”

That sentence hit the mark. Neil’s eyes widened, mouth opened and then closed. He seemed paralyzed with the implication of your statement. You were unsure whether that reaction was better than him openly admitting that everything you had was a lie. You took a step closer, awaiting the inevitable. Now you were within an arm’s reach. Just in case.

“I don’t...” he tried and then gave up with a heavy sigh.

I don’t what? It was his turn to stare at the floor. Dragging a hand through the hair, he made the strands stick up. In the yellow light of the container, they looked almost golden. Your hand twitched, wanting to smooth them. You tightened it into a fist. That was not within your rights anymore. You could feel the emotions threatening to overspill at any moment. Forcing all the strength to keep the tears at bay, you spoke:

“I’m afraid you need to be a little clearer. Because what you’re saying and doing doesn’t make any sense” your throat tightened as though acting on its own accord “I’m just tired…” your voice cracked, and you breathed out the rest of the sentence “…of not understanding” a single tear trailed down your cheek.

Fuck. That was it for pretending to be strong. You let out a shaky exhale, trying to stop yourself from crumbling in front of him. When you felt Neil cup your cheek, your heart stammered. You raised your head, glad for the gloves separating his skin from yours. The heartbroken expression in his eyes was too much to take.

“See? This doesn’t make sense” you whispered, encircling his wrist with your hand.

Once your fingers made contact with his bare skin, Neil gasped and shivered. More confusion. Touching his pulse point, you could feel the rapid heartbeat. Suddenly, an idea struck. If words were not working, then maybe… One look at his tired face made you decide. You took another step forward. His knees were touching your thighs now. Your proximity made him look up at you with bewilderment. The feeling only deepened when you took one of his hands in yours and undid the Velcro strap around the wrist. Then with a swift motion, you slid off the glove and placed it next to him on the cot.

“What…” Neil swallowed hard when you brushed your fingers over his knuckles “What are you doing?” the uncertainty in his voice strengthened the conviction.

Maybe he did not love you, but this still meant something.

“I wanted to hold your hand” without waiting for him to respond, you got rid of another glove “And to make you more comfortable” you met his gaze, shrugging.

There was something almost endearing in him at this moment. The blue eyes tinted with confusion, brows furrowed, lips parted. Hair falling into his eyes. The wrinkled shirt and the vest that was undoubtedly your very next target. Finally, the now bared hands folded awkwardly in his lap. You focused your attention on them, taking both palms into yours and tracing the tracks of his veins up the forearms. The goosebumps in the wake of your touch encouraged you to say:

“You were right about some things, you know...” looking into his eyes, you added, “If that means anything to you” you knew he caught on to the meaning because of how his cheeks turned red.

Could that be shame? Surely not. You intertwined your fingers with his, pressing your palms together, reveling in the familiarity of the feeling. It felt like a stolen moment. Something that is about to come crashing down at any moment. And yet, you could not let it go. There was still so much you wanted to do if it was the last time. Neil had no answer for you, however. He was watching you wearily, guarding you from seeing more than he wanted you to. Using his moment of reverie, you released his hands and reached around his waist for the vest straps. That was enough to wake him up.

“What the hell?” the startled blue eyes met yours.

With how close you were, your arms still wound around his waist, touching the buckles, his nose brushed over yours. It was too easy to lean in. Despite everything that he has done, the pull was still there. And so, you gave in, leaving a sweet kiss on his lips, undoing the straps at the same time. He was too shocked to react at first, staring at you. Utterly speechless. Some things never change. You took a half step back, taking out the gun and the radio from the pockets of his vest and then taking off the article itself over Neil’s head. Only once that was done, he spoke:

“Thought you wanted to talk” the spite in his voice was tangible.

And yet, as your brain helpfully noticed, he was not stopping you. He has not pushed you away. Not even now when you allowed yourself to invade his personal space. It was as though in practice, nothing has changed, but at the same time, everything has. You gave him a quick once-over and rested your hands on his knees. Simple intimacy.

“I’m the only one speaking, and I’ve had enough” shrugging, you met his gaze with nonchalance.

Using the newly found dynamic, you slid your hands higher, up the thighs. Feeling the muscles tense in the wake of your touch. There was something strange in his eyes. A hint of the passionate darkness you were used to but tainted with apprehension. And boundless struggle.

“But… why this?” he raised his hands helplessly “I’m really not in the mood” Neil looked at you sternly.

Fair enough. Lifting your palms from where they rested on his thighs, you put them on his shoulders instead. Smoothing the wrinkles in the shirt, toying with the collar. Something in his eyes shifted. The sudden softness made the pain in your chest worse. The words you tried to swallow got stuck in your throat. It was as though after this mess of a day you could no longer pretend. Not when you were alone with Neil. Not when he was looking at you as though you could be the solution to every trouble in his universe. And you had no clue why.

“As I said... you were right” you smiled nervously before confessing, “I want you”

It was simple enough to say. Suppose when one has nothing to lose, it doesn’t matter anymore. Neil’s reaction to your admission was to be put on the long list of confusing things he did. He leaned forwards and pressed his forehead against yours. Breath ghosting your lips as he asked:

“… why are you saying this now?” the hesitancy in his voice only made the feeling stronger.

You knew that there was no question of ending this moment without confessing too much. He broke your heart with ease, but he was your everything. And those feelings were hard to ignore. You met his eyes without holding anything back and touched the tie delicately.

“Suppose I’ve lost my mind” was as good an explanation as any “Can I?” you asked for permission while loosening the knot.

“Might as well” Neil nodded, and you took off the tie, placing it along with the rest of the garments.

Then you undid the first two buttons, letting your fingertips ghost over his neck and shadow of the collarbone visible underneath the material. Neil sighed and put his hand on your waist, keeping you in place. Nothing made sense anymore. It was as though after the drama of the highway and the confrontation with TP, he did not know what he wanted. You still mattered to him. But that did not explain the things he said. Or the sudden switches in his behaviour when he seemed so distant and cold. At once, you wanted to shake him, to demand answers, and to keep on touching him, exploring the familiar angles and letting yourself get lost in the moment.

“This break might do us good” he broke the silence, making you look up.

Straight into the blue eyes that always sucked you in. It was not different this time. Another confession was on the tip of your tongue. This time there was no passion to blame it on. Nothing stopping you from jumping off that cliff and falling to demise. Just you and him, bathed in the yellow light of the container. Too close for people who had nothing keeping them together.

“If you say so” you muttered and took a deep breath “Neil, I-”

“No, don’t you dare” he interrupted you harshly before letting go.

A breach. But it was nothing. Only the more reason to say it. If truly everything was beyond saving, then why not? After all, it was there. Before he could stop you again, you spoke:

“I know that you don’t want me to… but, I love you”

It was like ripping off the band-aid – sharply, with no hesitation and dealing with the ghost of pain afterward. Neil looked as though you punched him. Fuck. You knew it was a mistake, but his answer was certainly not what you expected.

“Christ… you’ve really lost it” he sighed before looking at you calculatedly “All that talking about how much those words mean to you and now-” you dropped your hands from his shoulders and slapped him across the face.

Why? Maybe hoping it will wake him. Make him admit what you once believed to be obvious. But it was all a lie. The pain was almost unbearable. The mess of thoughts and feelings making you sway as you stared at Neil. He gazed back, for once completely stunned. That was enough to find the needed words.

“And now I wasted them on the wrong person? Yes, I’m aware” you let out a bitter laugh, feeling the situation dawn on you.

You confessed the truth without anything influencing the choice, and he turned it back on you. You were the stupid one. Guilty of falling for the wrong person once again. Sentenced to live through the heartbreak while Neil would walk free, unbothered. His heart was intact, guarded heavily against the inconvenience of your love.

“It’s not what I meant” Neil’s words broke through your thoughts.

He stood up, defensive and shaken. As though he had the right. The anger burning through your veins made you advance on him again, closing the distance until there was barely half a meter of space between your bodies.

“What then?” you looked up at him, spitting the words in his face “What did you mean?”

“I… don’t know” the restraint in his eyes made you furious.

“Fuck’s sake…” cursing, you placed a hand on his chest over the heart, feeling the rapid beat.

You have had enough. Acting on the most primal of instincts, you crashed your lips into his. Fueled by the anger and desperation, you started kissing him hungrily. He did not belong to you, but you were willing to show him the extent of your recklessness. Tugging at the lower lip, you groaned into his mouth, feeling him tense up beneath your palms. Just when you were sure he was going to push you away, Neil’s hand wrapped around your waist and pulled you flush against him. He opened his lips, letting you deepen the kiss and allowing your tongues to begin the dance. You were furious, upset, and careless. That was enough to give you the courage you have never had before. Biting down on his lower lip, you felt Neil pull you even closer as though he wanted you to melt into him. You tugged sharply on his shirt collar, forcing him to bow down ever so slightly. Tangling the free hand in his hair, you drew out a moan. It only got louder as you burst the blood vessel, piercing the thin skin on his lip. The coppery taste tainted the kiss, waking up a stronger desire. You wanted all of him. Everything at once. Sucking on the split skin, drawing blood from the cut, your soul was set alight with the need for Neil. He gasped when you licked over the damage done and leaned back. His wild, dark gaze was the only sign needed to continue. You pushed him back until his legs hit the cot, and he was forced to sit down. Entirely at your mercy.

Undoing another two buttons on his shirt, you kissed him again. His hands traveled to your hips, pulling you even closer to stand between his spread legs. Breaking the contact after a long, slow kiss, you assessed your work. Messed up hair, swollen lips tinged with blood, eyes hazed with want. Not yours. Ignoring the growing ache in your chest, you kissed the sharp edge of his jaw, sucking on the skin, making him shudder. Then your lips moved south, exploring all of his neck and throat. Making sure not to leave a mark this time but still hoping Neil will understand. His hands roamed across your body, unable to find anything uncovered in the protective suit. A frustrated whine he let out when your teeth grazed over his collarbone made you stop and look at him. Seeing despair in his eyes, the breath caught in your throat. How could he not feel anything back? Swallowing the panic, you ran your hands over his chest, feeling different muscles beneath the material. Then you let your palms settle on his sides, just above the belt, and you picked up the exploration, lightly biting the skin near his pulse point. In response, Neil shivered and pulled you closer, bucking his hips into yours almost uncontrollably. You wanted him to do it again, to feel something. Anything. Even just that pure want that had nothing to do with love. You captured his lips, everything but tender and slow. It was chaotic, breathless, carnal in how you did everything to get a reaction. And it worked. Neil broke the kiss, gasping for breath, leaning his head on your shoulder.

“Christ…” he breathed out, hands secured onto your waist.

Nudging your nose with his as a means of a break, you spoke:

“If you want me to stop, tell me, and I will” you met his eyes with certainty.

Then, not letting a single precious moment go wasted, you kissed his temple. Leaving butterfly touches on the cheekbones and over the eyelids, ending with a gentle nibble of the earlobe.

“N-no” the tenderness made Neil stutter, increasing the deluge of affection in your heart.

You realised that if he asked, you were ready to give him everything. No matter the fact that he did not feel the same. You were his, and that was unchangeable. At least for the foreseeable future. With the infatuation burning through every single cell in your body, you kissed the skin beneath his ear, getting lost in the sounds he let out. If he was unwilling to give you anything else, you had to take what was there. Even if it meant nothing. As though Neil was reading your mind, he made you stop, squeezing the hand that was stroking his chest. You met his gaze cautiously:

“I can’t say it back” Neil whispered as though ashamed to admit it “Not like this”

But you knew. It was nothing new. Shaking your head slightly, you gave him the best smile you could muster.

“I know you don’t love me” placing hands on his shoulders, you noticed the denial in his eyes “But it doesn’t change anything” you shrugged and closed the distance again, “I’m still here” the last word was placed on his lips ardently.

He responded with a kiss, bringing you closer with one hand tangled in your hair. The familiarity of the moment and the terrifying implications of it all were both responsible for the tears that started falling then. The salty undertone of the next kiss was more than appropriate. Lost in the moment, neither of you noticed the footsteps:

“I’m sorry, but it’s time” Wheeler’s voice made you stumble a step away.

Blushing, you met her gaze across space. You were sure she saw enough to understand how the conversation went. Hurriedly, you brushed the tears away, acutely aware of the other pair of eyes fixed on you.

“What happened?” Neil’s hoarse voice broke the silence.

“They set his car on fire. He’s in hypothermia” you inhaled sharply at the news “You should get going” with that, Wheeler left.

For the last time, you glanced at Neil. The perfectly ruffled golden hair, flushed cheeks, dark intense gaze, partly unbuttoned shirt, hands idly folded in his lap. The object of your utmost desire and love. Beautiful, elusive, like a masterpiece that is meant to be admired but never owned. There was nothing left to say. Nodding formally, you picked up the helmet and left before the pain could get any worse.

*** There was not much time to think, as TP and Kat were packed into the container. You were busy checking everything was ready for their journey until the very last moment. When Neil zipped up the foil and motioned for Ives to close the outside door, you felt the sting of tears. That was it. And you did not even say goodbye.

The feeling got worse when Ives turned to you then, digging something out of his pocket. Without a word, he placed a set of keys on your palm:

“What’s this?”

“Neil told me to give it to you. In case he couldn’t come back with us” the leader shrugged “Before all this” he added upon your inquisitive glare.

“Right” you swallowed, feeling worse than ever.

“They’re for his London apartment. I suppose he wanted you to have them” he walked off, leaving you with the problematic set clasped in your fist.

Brilliant.

#tenet #neil tenet #neil tenet x reader #neil x reader #neil tenet imagine #neil tenet fanfic #tenet fanfic #robert pattinson #the art of inversion #gifs not mine

121 notes · View notes

inadarkdarkroom · 6 years

Text

Why I TP’d My Own House

This happened when I was about thirteen years old and I still think about it today.

My friend Jackie and I were extremely mischievous children. We loved joking around, sometimes using extreme measures to pull the best pranks. I can remember climbing a neighbors tree with her, and devising a rope-and-pully system with a basket and water balloons to get the balloons to the top of the tree so that we could throw them at the neighborhood boys without being detected or retaliated against. Sometimes we would do mildly dangerous things to get a good rush, but it was never serious, just harmless messing around.

One night Jackie came over for a sleepover. We ate a bunch of candy and talked about boys, and then we got bored. It was around 1 in the morning and we were hyped off of the sugar so we couldn't sleep. One of us mentioned that we wished our other friend, Bailey, was there to hang out with. And then I got the most brilliant idea of the evening: the two of us should sneak out of my house, walk over to Bailey's and then TP her front tree.

Now for those of you that don't know what TPing is, it means toilet papering. You know how the douchy frat boys in college sometimes throw toilet paper all over other fraternity houses to show dominance or manliness or just plain stupidness? That's what I wanted to do. She, of course, thought it was a brilliant idea. So we stuffed a bunch of rolls of toilet paper into two large purses, put on some sneakers, and then sneaked downstairs and out my back door.

It was a summer night, so not too cold which was good because we were wearing tank tops and pj shorts. The walk to her house was half through neighborhoods, and half through a long stretch of road next to a golf course with a neighborhood at the very end of it. Bailey's house was a little under a mile away, so we began hustling so that we could get there faster and maybe tap on her window and get her to hang out if she wasn't asleep. We began walking, at first nervous that my parents would catch us, and then confident that they wouldn't, we begin giggling and talking about boys again.

Now, I'm sure that most people reading this will think we were very stupid, and we were, but you have to understand the context of the situation. My hometown is VERY quiet. Nobody goes outside after 8:00 at night. It was ranked in the top 5 safest cities in the United States. Nothing bad happens there, or nothing that we knew about at that age. We had up until that point thankfully never had the opportunity to be afraid of walking alone, or at night growing up.

So with that in mind, we figured we had nothing to worry about. We kept chattering on as we crossed the residential area into the golf course and didn't miss a beat in doing so. Suddenly, an suv lazily rode up going the opposite way of us. I can still remember it like it happened a few minutes ago instead of years. The suv was large, red , and four doored, with a middle aged man driving. He slowed down as he approached us, and rolled down his windows.

"Hey Girlies. What are you doing up so late at night?"

He had a huge mouth, with perfect, straight white teeth, and he would have been handsome if he hadn't been so strange.

"Nothing."

He raised his eyebrows at that

"Nothing. All by yourselves? Well thats Dangerous."

He smiled again, this time even wider, and I could, for the first time in my life, feel fear ripple through me like a wave.

" We are walking to my Dad's house. He's waiting for us."

Silence crept between the car and us. I had lied. He knew I lied. He looked at me, then at Jackie. For a minute I actually convinced myself that maybe he was just a very very creepy nosy neighbor. But there was something so wrong with him. He took his time replying, twisting the words around his mouth like he was tying a cherry stem into a knot.

"That's..... interesting. You're so young to be allowed out so late wearing ...that. You better hurry home to him before it's too late."

The air stood still. The only thing keeping me from bolting was Jackie by my side. I couldn't see her face because I was locking eyes with the smiling man, so I wasn't sure if she heard what I heard too. " you better hurry home before it's too late." "Too Late." Too Late at night... or Too Late for ...what? I didn't want to know, and I was certain that if we somehow were separated things would go very, very badly. I thought quickly. He was on the other side of the road. He would have to go a distance to get us. I tore my eyes from his and risked a quick glance at Jackie, and Jackie wasn't moving either, she was looking at me with wide eyes, as if I knew what to do. So I pretended I did.

"Thank you, Sir. Have a good night."

I grabbed Jackie's hand and marched down the sideway away from him in what I hoped was a confident way. His suv lingered behind us, unmoving. We kept walking, gripping hands covered in sweat together as if it was the only thing keeping us from certain death.

Clack Clack Clack

Our footsteps made empty hollow noises down the deserted sidewalk. My ears were in sonar mode, listening for something, anything, a car door opening, a mans voice.... But I refused to turn around and give him the satisfaction of knowing I was afraid. I didn't want him to know we were. Suddenly, a car screeched into gear and we heard him peel down the asphalt. We started running, and as we ran we both looked behind our shoulders. He had driven off the opposite way, away from us. We didn't slow down.

Eventually we could see where the edge of the golf course ended and in the distance, where a sleepy neighborhood of houses began. It was a ways away, but it symbolized safety to us, so we slowed down. We walked in tense silence for a while. I looked at Jackie's face and her jaw was clenched. She looked at me.

" That guy..."

"Yeah."

.............................

"What do you think he wanted?"

"You know what he wante-"

"Yeah. I was hoping you would say you knew him."

"No."

Clack Clack Clack SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH

The sound of a car booking it down the road came from behind us. We both turned at the same time to see the man in the Red Suv, now on our side of the road, coming straight at us. Neither of us moved, I think we were paralyzed with fear. He Jerked to a stop next to us and began to get out of the car.

"Run!" I shouted

And we tore down the sidewalk towards the houses. The smiling man started shouting something at us but I couldn't catch what he was saying and I wasn't about to turn around and try to find out. The houses were getting closer, but he had gotten back into his suv and was following us shouting things out of the window. There was a corner coming up, and we heard the suv stop, and then him get out and start running after us.

"That way!" Jackie screamed

We turned the corner into the neighborhood, but there was nowhere to go. It was one in the morning, no one was awake, we didn't know any of the people who lived in these houses, and by the time someone woke up to open the door he would catch us. But the first house on the street had a low fence. I pointed to it and didn't even have to say a word to her. We both hopped it and tumbled into a strangers backyard.

They had a Dog. Luckily, it didn't attack us. Unluckily it began barking. We sprinted across the yard and quickly hopped their fence into the neighboring yard which didn't have a dog, and hid behind a bush and a temporary pool in the back. The Dog in the yard over kept barking. From a hole in the bush we could see through the wrought iron fence out into the street. Nothing. Then a voice.

" I know you're here girlies."

We could hear him walking around but couldn't see him. A gate rustled and the neighbors Dog barked even louder. He was looking for us in the first yard that we had went into. He said something else but we couldn't understand him. And then we didn't hear him for a long time. A shadow appeared through the iron fence- the neighbors dog. It had been let out of its backyard, and had wandered past the one we were in. For all we knew he knew exactly where we were and was playing with us, So we didn't move. We sat silently in the bush for hours.

As the night began to fade and the early morning sun began to frame the edge of the hills, still dark but less so, we heard an engine rev. In horror we watched the man in the red suv drive slowly by through the fence in the yard we were hiding in, his face set, turning, searching, still looking. And in that moment I knew why he had driven away the first time; he was giving us a head start. He was hunting us, and he didn't want the prey to go down too easy. It would have ruined his game.

We sat in that bush until around 6:30 in the morning when it was it was fully light out, and then we ran back to my place to hop in bed before my parents woke up. When we got to my house, I realized we still had all the toilet paper we had stolen from my kitchen cabinets in my bags.

"Jackie.... since we never TPd Bailey's house, lets TP mine. It has a better tree. Besides my parents will never suspect it was us because who the fuck TPs their own house?"

It was true. The tree outside of my parents house is a truly magnificent maple tree. And my parents would never guess that we were the culprits. But thats not why I wanted to TP it. I wanted to release all of the tension from the night before and relax again. I wanted to pretend that we were not almost kidnapped in the middle of the night without anyone knowing where we were or why we had disappeared out of our beds without a trace. I wanted to feel like a kid again.

"Yeah. Lets do it!"

So, we completely wrapped my enormous tree in toilet paper, throwing roll after roll up and around, and then hosing the entire thing for good measure (so it would be harder to get out...."more authentic") and then crept up the stairs and fell asleep, exhausted in my bed. Approximately half an hour later my mom burst into my room screaming

"SOMEONE TP'D OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!"

And that was the end of our sleep, because my mom was sure that one of "your annoying little friends did this and thought it was funny" and "we need to combine a family effort to get it off because the ASSHOLES USED OUR HOSE AND SPRAYED IT DOWN!"

Jackie immediately remembered a mysterious obligation of babysitting for her brothers on a Saturday morning, and she had to go do it or else her mom would get mad, and so I was stuck with my irate family combing through wet maple leaves and sopping wet disgusting toilet paper through the afternoon. I learned two lessons that day.

Do not TP your own house (for so many obvious reasons...)

Do NOT walk anywhere at night, with a friend, alone, to pull a prank, to go on a run, do not go. Because you never know who might be out there waiting for an opportunity to hunt.

#scary #serial killer #sociopath

25 notes · View notes

fearofaherobrine · 7 years

Text

Roleplay Server Log #188

“Sneaky Lipstick, Pinwheel”

[TLOT] Peeks his head into the room- Hey, is Markus up? Ummm. Is that fish okay?

[Stevie] - It is now

[Notch] Hello TLOT. I'm awake. Kinda wish I wasn't but that's how it goes.

[TLOT] Not feeling any better yet?

[Notch] eh....

[TLOT] What's with the fish? Oh, hey Flux.

[Flux] Is sitting near the lava pool- Hello TLOT

[Stevie] - Brother threw it at me, something about not being yelled at by you or Doc?

[TLOT] That's weird. You guys enjoying the heat? It's hot as cubes out there.

[Stevie] - Not really, I prefer the cold

[Flux] - I can make it cooler in here if you prefer

[Stevie] - No, that's not necessary

[Notch] Please don't, I'm okay with the warm. My muscles hurt.

[TLOT] I can make you some packed ice to sit on if you want Stevie.

[Stevie] - I'll be okay, really

[Notch] Actually you can take the cold away if you want. I think my fevers mostly gone. I'm just sore all over.

[Flux] - Very well- She waves away the cooler air, dispersing it

[Notch] Kicks off the blanket. - That's better... - He gives the bells a little shake.

[TLOT] How much longer do you have?

[Notch] I don't know... Even Cp said he didn't know.

[Stevie] - Speaking of my brother, it's almost time for his shift

[TLOT] Smugly - I think he's a bit...busy.

[Stevie] Grumbles- Of course he is, pushing more work onto me... Not that I don't enjoy sitting with you Father

[TLOT] Just go be with Alexis Stevie. I heard she had a bit of exictement earlier with one of the new additions...

[Stevie] - Is she okay?

[TLOT] She got spit on by a monster with a head bigger then your house, but that's all.

[Stevie] Jumps up- WHAT!?- Darts outside

[TLOT] Awww. He cares so much. It's sweet. What's new with you Flux?

[Flux] - Nothing new has occurred to me

[TLOT] Want to try something new I made?

[Flux] - What is it?

[TLOT] Just something pretty. - He makes a quick copy of the tube and spends a bit of energy to turn the three pixels inside purple. He reaches up and puts a bit on her lips.

[Flux] Is surprised and also caught off guard by the tingling in her lips- What... What is it doing?

[TLOT] It's just an aphrodesiac. Makes you feel warm and nice.

[Flux] - Aphro... Desiac?

[TLOT] I'm not sure the exact definition, but it's harmless.

[Notch] It's like alcohol Flux. If you feel good already; it makes you feel even better.

[Flux] - I... I am not used to this, it's making certain areas feel warmer than others...

[Feebas] Lazily swims around it's cube-

[Notch] Sit on the bed if you feel weird. - Moves his feet to one side.

[Flux] Takes his offer, her cheeks beginning to turn a darker shade of purple-

[TLOT] There you go. It's safe for you to relax now. Actually, can you sit with Markus so I can go to Steve? He was rather irritated that I left him alone with Yaunfen.

[Flux] - Oh... Uh, sure...

[Flux] Her hand brushes against Notch's leg-

[Notch] Smiles at her touch despite himself-

[TLOT] Thank you. - He takes a polite bow and vanishes in a tp-

[Flux] - I... I feel warm...

[Notch] So do I, it's nice... I'm so achy...

[Flux] - No... My body feels warm... Not the air

[Notch] Then flop next to me.

[Flux] Carefully lowers herself next to Notch, her face growing darker-

[Notch] Snuggles up against her and relaxes, his breathing slowing to a gentle tempo.

[Flux] Finds Notch's touches relaxing-

[TLOT] Goes giggling back to Steve, already projecting the fruits of his labors-

[Steve] You scamp!

[Deer] Wanders into the kitchen-

[Doc] Is following her looking a bit dazed and damp-

[Deer] - Sit love, I'll get you something to eat

[TLOT] Looks like you guys had fun. Are you ready to take the baby so me and Steve can have a turn?

[Doc] Flops into a chair.

[Deer] - Once we get some food, yes. You seem a bit giddy TLOT

[TLOT] Oh I'm full of mischief. Thanks to your Galvantula, Lie and Cp are likely getting it on and maybe Notch and Flux as well. I also sent Stevie dashing home to Alexis.

[Doc] What the fuck did my spider do to make all that happen?!

[TLOT] Oh it bit Cp and gave him a.. oh fuck it. it's a long story. Basically I slipped Lie and Flux a bit of touchie wine. Nature usually runs it's course in these circumstances.

[Deer] Starts laughing- And am I correct in thinking you left Flux with a certain love sick, bed bound patient?

[TLOT] Give the lady a prize!

[Steve] Laughs-

[Deer] Does a little bow and continues to prep food-

[Yaunfen] - Burp!

[TLOT] So can we...?

[Deer] - Yes, go ahead, we can observe the fruits of your labors later

[TLOT] Makes a rather sinister laugh and vanishes in a bit of fog to reappear in Steve's shadow, his hands slide over the miners bare shoulders and his tongue flicks lightly on Steve's ear- I am going to do terrible things to you... Make you beg and squeal and shiver under my assault... Bind and fill you and mark you as my own...

[Steve] Has a super obvious boner. He melts into his lovers arms with a delicious shiver- Take me.

[TLOT] Gladly. - cheerfully- See you guys later! - He picks up Steve and runs for the side hallway that leads to the lab.

[Doc] Good grief...

[Deer] - Oh hush, it's a day of love

[Doc] Oh, I don't care. They're just delightfully dramatic.

[Deer] Picks up Yaunfen to snuggle them a bit- Oh? And you're not?

[Doc] Why do you think I get along with them? They're great friends. I'm glad they wanted to just live with me instead of moving out once the village was established.

[Deer] - I'm glad too, although right now I kinda want to sneak over to Lie's place to see TLOT's results, but I suppose we should wait for him

[Yaunfen] - Burp! Burp!

[Doc] I can check their positions from here actually. I think you could too. Close your eyes and focus on them with the server, see what you can see.

[Deer] Puts Yaunfen down and closes her eyes, concentrating- I... I can see they're all in the house?

[Doc] Get a little closer.... you should be able to pick out who is in what room.

[Deer] Her brows furrow as she tries to focus harder- CP... And Lie, are in their bedroom... Flux and Notch are in the workroom

[Doc] I think we have our answer then. I don't want to disturb them. I'm tired anyway.

[Deer] - Here, eat- She hands Doc some food

[BEN] - Aveeeeeeeeeeeeen, let's go insiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide

[aven] but it's hot and it's cooler by the water

[Aqua] Makes a slightly distressed noise-

[vin] what's wrong aqua?

[Aqua] Tries swimming around, the scales on it's head and upper body getting drier-

[vin] -puts the two enders down before cupping some water in his hands and poring it over aqua's head-

[Aqua] Trills-

[vin] -keeps poring more on aqua's head and body to help snake also come out to watch the enders-

[Aqua] Is still sad and becoming uncomfortable-

[BEN] - Aveeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

[aven] what?

[BEN] - Insiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide

[aven] but why

[BEN] - Becaaaaaaaaaaaause

[Aqua] High pitched rattling noise-

[vin] -pets aqua on the head- it will be ok

[aven] because why?

[Aqua] Tries to thrash around, splashing water everywhere-

[aven] -screams and runs to the far side of the farm-

[BEN] Is immediately by Aven's side- Are you okay?

[aven] yea I guess I wasn't expecting that

[Aqua] More distressed rattling noises-

[vin] -is trying his best to keep aqua wet-

[Aqua] Splashes more-

[vin] aqua please calm down it will be ok

[Aqua] - More distress!-

[vin] ok calm down I have an idea -types in chat- can someone help us over here aqua grew to big for the pond and gem can't help to move him right now because it's to hot and he is getting distressed.

[Deer] - Sorry Vin, everyone is currently preoccupied or exhausted at the moment...

[vin] -pets aqua- it will be ok just try to stay clam till someone can help or the heat breaks I will help keep you wet for now -pours more water over aqua-

[Aqua] Thrashes harder, the amount of water beginning to noticeably drop in the pond-

[vin] please aqua your going to run out of water if you don't stop thrashing

[Aqua] More rattles-

[vin] ben aven can either of you guys help please

[BEN] - Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? It's water!

[aven] ben please hold hyrule -hold hyrule out to him-

[BEN] Takes his son- What are you going to do?

[aven] -water from the small pond outside the house stone fences starts to pour in by aqua making a large block of water that incases both ponds and more-

[Aqua] Darts around his new space-

[BEN] - WHY DID YOU MAKE IT THAT BIG!?

[aven] -is trying to concentrate-

[BEN] Notices her strain and with a sigh adds his own power- Where are we putting it?

[aven] the ocean would be the best bet

[BEN] - No, it's young, it still needs to be watched

[aven] then where is big enough?

[vin] gem was going to deepen the biggest pond out side the house since right now it's only one block deep

[BEN] - Can any of you guys make it deeper?

[Aqua] Still happily swimming-

[vin] if you guys have a shovel because we don't have creative or the tools to do it our hands will take to long

[BEN] - What about raising the edge of the pond? Aven and I can fill it if you guys place down blocks so it won't spill out. Would that be faster?

[vin] we don't have the dirt blocks.

[aven] I do ben if you can hold up the water I can get them.

[BEN] - Alright, but hurry

[aven] -runs up to the house getting several stacks of dirt before running back down and giving them to vin and helping hold up the water again-

[BEN] Quickly checks on Hyrule-

[vin] -starts quickly going to the pond and starts making a wall for the pond so it will be bigger-

[hyrule] -is watching aqua with amazement of how he moves-

[Aqua] Looks at Hyrule curiously from his orb of water-

[vin] -makes the pond nine blocks deeper- this should be good for now you guys can put him in here

This message has been removed.

[aven] -starts moving the block of water to get to the pond-

[BEN] Moves with her, grumbling under his breath-

-the water fills the pond exactly and aqua is now in the tall pond which get will get terraformed later-

[Aqua] Starts exploring his new area-

[BEN] - Now can we go inside?

[aven] ok only because there is no more water to sit next to -starts walking back to the house-

[BEN] Happily follows while wiggling his fingers at Hyrule-

[hyrule] -giggles while trying to grab a finger-

[BEN] Let's a finger be captured- Oh no! What ever shall I do! You have my finger!

[hyrule] -giggles and wiggles the arm that has the finger-

[BEN] Beams proudly at his son-

[aven] hyrule is being just a cute as always -as she finally enters the tree house-

[BEN] Closes the door behind them- Yeah, and he's sure growing fast...

[hyrule] -looks up at ben- dada

[BEN] Freezes dead in his tracks-

[aven] daw hyrule loves his dada

[hyrule] dada dada

[BEN] Almost starts crying- Look! He's saying dada! He's calling for me!

[aven] yes he is because your a great dad -kisses ben on the cheek-

[BEN] Is too happy to make words-

[aven] -pulls ben over to the bed to sit down with her and just snuggle-

[BEN] Is just beaming at Hyrule who still has a hold on his finger-

[hyrule] -grabs ben's shirt with his free hand- dada

[BEN] - Yeah... I'm your dada

[hyrule] -lets go of his finger and starts to yawn-

[aven] awe it looks like someone needs a nap

{BEN] - I don't wanna put him down right now...

[aven] -then just rock him in your arms he still need to sleep-

[BEN] Begins to gently rock him-

[hyrule] -starts to softly babble as he starts to fall asleep-

[BEN] - Our son...

[aven] our sweet baby boy is being held by the handsome man how helped make him his one and only father.

[BEN] - You know, this is probably better than any Valentines gift either of us could come up with

[aven] even sex?

[BEN] - Yeah even sex... But only barely

[aven] damn I guess my idea isn't as good use just being a family then

[BEN] - Oh I'm sure I'd still appreciate it~

[aven] good because come valentines day your not getting out of this bed.

[BEN] - I look forwards to it

[aven] -kisses ben on the cheek- I hope you don't mind gem watching hyrule while we're busy

[BEN] - So long as she doesn't bathe him

[aven] I will tell her not to so you don't have to worry

[BEN] - Good, come on, let's rest, sounds like you have an exciting day waiting for us tomorrow

[aven] yes I do -lays down-

[BEN] Lays down as well, putting Hyrule between them and gently rubbing Hyrule's belly-

[aven] -put her arm around ben and hyrule and slowly drifts to sleep-

-Le next day-

[gem] -types in chat- hey lie could I have some of your cold flowers

[Lie] - Hmmm? Oh yeah sure... Where are you?

[gem] I am in my room at my house I can't leave it's too hot

[Lie] - Uh yeah, just give me a few moments- She looks around for something to wear and just grabs one of CP's shirts before going outside and climbing on Beau to ride to Gem's place

[GK] Realizes Endrea is nowhere to be found. He flies over the general area and has no luck, checking all the usual spots and even the cage. Reasoning she wouldn't be in the Nether he steels himself to go somewhere with a lot of bad memories attached. He focuses his power and vanishes, reappearing in the sky above the end. He instantly lets out a wild bellow - HOLY FUCK IT'S COLD OUT HERE!

[Endrea] Hears the noise and steps out of her home in her dragon form, the white quartz of the building a stark contrast to her black scales- GG?

[Lie] Arrives and knocks on Gem's door-

[GK] Is scanning around for anything besides milling Endermen and his teeth are chattering loudly-

[vin] -opens the door to let lie in- hello lie come on in

[Endrea] Takes to the sky and swoops near GK- Come, follow me

[Lie] - Thanks, where's Gem's room?

[GK] Is shaking a bit but manages to follow-

[Endrea] Lands in front of the doors to her home and pushes open the doors, already GK can feel warmer air coming from inside-

[vin] up stairs last one of the left her name should be above the door

[GK] races inside shivering wildly-

[Lie] - Thanks- Lie climbs the stairs and approaches the door before knocking on it- Gem?

[gem] come in

[Endrea] Follows and closes the door- GG? What are you doing here?

[Lie] Opens the door and balks- I think I'd rather stand out here

[Gk] Looking for you. You just buggered off. I was concerned.

[Endrea] - My apologize, I didn't want the children to over heat down there- They walk down a hall carpeted with deep purple and lighter purple banners hang on the walls

[gem] -get up from laying on the packed ice- hey lie thank you for coming

[Lie] No problem, you wanted some cold flowers?- Already Lie is shivering some

[Gk] Ah, this is really swanky.

[Endrea] - Well I have had many a life to work on it, plus each new Nether grants more quartz

[gem] yes sorry it's cold for you but it's to hot outside for me because I mostly prefer the temperature of space

[Gk] Oh, I thought you got Cp to give you the blocks from creative. I know he likes giant builds. And I've never seen so much quartz.

[Lie] Focus' her powers, several cold flowers forming in her hands- Here, I hope these are enough to help you

[Endrea] - I appreciate blocks gotten... Legitimately... Even if my children get them in obtuse ways

[gem] -string them together and puts them around her neck- this should be plenty thank you

[Lie] - Good, can we move away from the arctic hell now?

[gem] yes -closes her bedroom door and leads lie down stairs where it is warmer-

[Gk] So this is what they do with the blocks! I always wondered!

[Lie] Slowly stops shivering-

[Endrea] - At least, what mine do- They enter a commons area where the children are playing. There are white couches and some glass tables

[Ashe] - UNCLE GG!

[Gk] Geeze... I feel like a wild pig in a glass shop... Kids!

[snake] -comes over to gem and pull out the box of valentines day chocolate and gives it to her- these are for you

[gem] daw thank you lie would you like anything?

[Endrea] - Things can always be replaced, plus I don't have to worry as much while they are here

[Lie] - So how's Hyrule doing? And no thank you Gem

[gem] he is getting bigger and vin said he over heard him say dada

[Gk] It's not like the seed is super dangerous or anything. Plus they're on the respawn. What are you concerned about? Nether, I'd be worried they'd wander off the edge and fall in the void since none of them can fly-

[Lie] - BEN must have been overjoyed, for a couple of reasons

[Endrea] - Water, other mobs, as a mother I never want to see them die, plus up here my other children can keep them away from the edges- She lays down and crosses her front legs

[Gk] Oh yeah, I guess that is good. They aren't jelous of them or anything are they..?

[gem] bet he was

[Endrea] - Not at all, with how many siblings they have overall, they quickly learn that there's no room for jealousy

[Lie] - So do you have any plans for today?

[gem] mostly just having a bunch of chocolate unless ben and aven need me to baby sit then I will be doing that too.

[Lie] - I wouldn't doubt that

[gem] so do you have any plans lie?

[Gk] Hunkers down so the kids can crawl on him like they usually do. - Your moms got a fancy house doesn't she?

[Lie] - Recover from TLOT's antics

[Ashe] - Uh-huh! And we can go anywhere here as dragons! We don't have to in our smaller forms at all!

[gem] does those antic have anything to do with the fact you are wearing cp's shirt?

[Lie] - He took my clothes...

[gem] well hopefully you can get them back I am sure cp will want his shirt back sooner or later

[Lie] - Yeah, plus he gave me a version of touchie wine... If he approaches you with lipstick, run

[gem] I will keep that in mind I will make sure to avoid all lipsticks

[Gk] So what kind of build is this? Just a dragon-sized normal house?

[Endrea] - The upper floor yes, there are bedrooms, a library, and large balconies to rest on, this lower floor is where I'll sometimes meet with some of the generals or their wives, there's a kitchen and dining hall, and even a bathing room which is currently locked tightly away.

[Lie] Yawns- I didn't exactly get the best sleep since CP wasn't sleeping at the same time, it's amazing how quickly you adjust to things like that

[gem] well why don't you head back and see if you two can't get a some extra sleep you seem like you will need it

[Gk] Is still a bit shaky- It's lovely. But damn.... it's freezing out there. And it reminds me of... well... that's not your fault.

[Lie] - Thanks, I think I will, just let me know if you need more flowers

[gem] I will thank you

[Endrea] Reaches over and nuzzles him- It's okay, I understand

[Ashe] Looks between the two adult dragons from his perch on GK's neck- Why haven't you two made more siblings for us?

[Lie] Heads home-

[willow and oak] -are climbing on gk's back-

[Gk] Huh? Kiddo... that's well... I think that would be super weird. I helped raise Endrea this last time, she's like a granddaughter to me. And I'm not into making babies. For all I know my junk doesn't even work since it's never been used that way.

[Ashe] - What's junk?

[Endrea] Gently bangs her head on the floor in embarrassment-

[Gk] Anatomy bits for making babies kiddo. Look at me, and look at your mom. We're both dragons, but we might as well be totally different species.

[willow] -paps oaks head before jumping off of gk's back to have oak give chase-

[Ashe] - But I don't look like either of you, and neither does Aqua or Yaunfen or Liz!

[oak] -is running after willow all around the room-

[Gk] That's cause... you're adopted Ashe... And so are Willow and Oak... Aqua and Yanfen and Liz all came from different seeds with climates and plants and animals as different as the Nether is from the End.

[Ashe] - So? You come from somewhere different to

[Endrea] - Ashe please, that's enough

[willow] -runs into gk's leg before she keep running-

[Gk] That's what I'm saying Ashe. I think even if we wanted too, I couldn't make babies with your mom.

[Endrea] - Why don't you go explore the library some more Ashe

[Ashe]- Okay mama

[Endrea] Turns towards GK- I apologize for that...

[Notch] Stirs awake slowly and becomes aware of the woman sleeping beside him, his fingers ghost softly over her purple skin and tangle in an errant strand of hair. She's lovely and his breath catches ever so slightly with a jolt of pain. As he blinks in discomfort, he catches a glimpse of the coding around her, swirling off like smoke and sparkles. He breathes her name without even meaning too. - Flux...

[Flux] Stirs a little and wakes some- Notch?

[Notch] Is distracted by the coding and having a hard time focusing on her- Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you..

[Flux] - No, it is alright, I don't generally sleep so waking me does not alter me in any harmful way

[Notch] You don't have to be so formal you know...

[Flux] - I don't understand

[Notch] Ah... I guess... Flux? - He's trying to focus on her face in the swirl of coding, it's pretty near to his own the way they're laying.

[Flux] - Yes?

[Notch] What would you do... if I kissed you?

[Flux] - Kissed me? I do not know. I have seen the others do it, but have never participated myself

[Notch] May I?

[Flux] - I suppose you may

[Notch] Leans over and gently presses his lips against hers, feeling something stronger flow between them as he does so, the lingering affects of the wine still on her skin.

[Flux] Isn't entirely sure what to do but finds herself enjoying the sensation-

[Notch] Puts a hand on her neck and slides it across her shoulder passionately. Somehow he's become more aware of and in tune with her digital nature and the pain seems to subside even more as he pulls her close.

[Flux] Finds her hands hesitantly sliding up the front of Notch to rest on his upper chest-

[Notch] Lets her free from their kiss and stares deeply into her eyes. He gives her the tiniest tug to lay her down across him. - That was... something... Flux..

[Flux] - I felt a similar feeling to the one I experienced last night when TLOT applied that substance to my lips...

[Notch] I wonder what it was...?

[Flux] - I'm afraid we'd have to ask him

[Smile] Is scratching at the door to go outside-

[Doc] Is yawning with a cup of coffee - Hang on Smile... I'll let you out... - Yaunfen is trotting after Doc

[Smile] - Water time!

[Grinny] - No

[Doc] Okay... I'm just opening the door, you guys choose the activity. - Opens the door for the duo and walks outside hirself, holding the door for the baby dragon as well.

[Smile] Races for the bay-

[Grinny] - Smile don't you dare!

[Doc] Walks slowly after them and plucks up a carrot to chew on.

-There's splashing from the water and then very angry cat noises-

[Doc] Good grief. - Xe finishes the carrot and walks down to the edge of the water.

[Grinny] Has dragged himself out of the water and is sulking while Smile splashes around-

[Doc] Let me give you a hand Grinny- Xe reaches down to take the wet sweater off of him. - Why didn't you just jump off?

[Grinny] - Because the idiot was moving too fast

[Doc] Aww. - Xe puts the sweater away and takes it out again so it's dry. - Let me dry you off. I've got some cloth-

[Yaunfen] Sniffs at the wet cat-

[Grinny] Hisses and swats-

[Doc] Don't. You're such a sour cat- Xe's patting him off. - How's your skin? You feel a little fuzzier. Actually it's pretty hot out here, do you want to go naked?

[Grinny] - I'd rather not wear that atrocity

[Doc] Okay, as long as you're warm enough. - Xe's only wearing a white tank top and purple shorts hirself.

[Splender] Jumps into the water wearing neon yellow swim trunks with party designs on it-

[Doc] Whoah! Oh, hey Splender! Enjoying the heat? It's just a temperature glitch because the server updated again.

[Splender] - Oh I'm fine! It reminds me of the days brother takes us to the lake in his woods!

[Doc] laughs- I'm having a hard time imagining that being an outing free of bickering.

[Splender] - Usually everyone enjoys themselves, and it's a respite from the heat whenever they break the air conditioning

[Doc] Oh dear... Is it from overuse or just people quibbling over the thermostat?

[Splender] - Somebody usually gets slammed into the outside unit

[Doc] Hmmm, if it was me, I'd put it up high against the house. Hey! Guess what? Yaunfen said their first word! -Is rubbing Grinny's ears playfully.

[Splender] - REALLY!?

[Yaunfen] - BURP!

[Grinny] Growls-

[Doc] Yeah. That's it. But hey, progress is progress. - pats the cat.

[Splender] - Pinwheel doesn't seem to like this heat much though...

[Doc] Well they are covered in feathers. Yaunfen seems to be enjoying themselves.

[Splender] - They've completely splayed themselves out on the floor, I'm a little worried, they haven't bitten me once today...

[Yaunfen] Runs along the edge of the water-

[Doc] Do you want some ice? I can make you a couple of packed blocks to sit near them that won't melt.

[Splender] - We could see if that helps

[Doc] Well you don't have to get out of the water, just paddle over and I'll have a look. Can you watch Yaunfen and Grinny?

[Splender] - Sure! It's no problem!

[Doc] Hits the lever that raises the dry path into Splender's house and walks inside cautiously- Pinwheel?

[Pinwheel] Is splayed on the floor, it's wings spread as far as they can get them and to cover as much of the cooler floor as they can-

[Doc] Looks around and sees that the anti-venom plant has grown quite large in a pot in the corner and it's drooping with ripe rainbow fruits. Xe picks one just in case and approches the little dragon cautiously. - Hello little one. You look a bit too hot there.

[Pinwheel] Growls, but the growls are broken up by pants-

[Doc] It's okay, I just want to give you a little check-up and then something for your temperature...

[Pinwheel] Tries squirming sideways without giving up any of the surface area it's created to cool down-

[Doc] Gives the dragons shoulder a cautious pat-

[Pinwheel] Little hiss, it's feather are very soft and flattened so no warm air can get trapped between them while it's scales are smooth but very warm-

[Doc] Does a little skim of the creatures code to see what it's like and what kind of structures are under the covering of feathers- You are super soft.

[Pinwheel] Flicks tail a little, the feathers on it's tail not as soft and designed to be used a bit more like a weapon-

[Doc] Hands off, got it... Do you have spikes under there too?! Geeze?

[Pinwheel] Presses itself to the ground again-

[Doc] Smiles hopefully - I brought you something nice....

[Doc] Pulls out a block of packed ice from the creative and sets it down next to the prostrate dragon, before taking a quick step back.

[Pinwheel] Sniffs at it and tries licking it, only to get it's tongue stuck-

[Doc] Ummm... No offense but I'm not getting my hands anywhere near your mouth. - Xe swats the block so it breaks, leaving a small chunk of ice stuck to Pinwheels tongue and puts down a fresh one.

[Pinwheel] Now angry, lashes out at the block, sinking fangs into the block-

[Doc] Touchy aren't you? But while your mouth is occupied... - Xe lifts up the dragons tail and peeks underneath before letting go again- Ah-ha! Now that's something I didn't know.

[Pinwheel] Is growling at the block-

[Doc] Calls out the door. -Hey Splender? Guess what?

[Splender] - What is it?

[Doc] Pinwheel is a girl. The bad news is I put down an ice block and she insists on attacking it. But at least she's feeling vigorious enough to do so.

[Splender] - Oh no! She's stuck?

[Doc] I'm not sure. I can just break it and try a fresh one, again. But if you want to see I've got a good view of the poison they're pumping into the ice

[Splender] - Maybe put it in the floor? So they can't bite it as easily?

[Doc] Okay. - Xe knocks out the block and replaces a floor block with a new one. - Is that better?

[Pinwheel] Sniffs at the ice and scratches at it a little before stretching her wings forwards to rest over the ice-

[Doc] There you go Pinwheel, isn't that better?

[Pinwheel] Small barely audible trill-

[Doc] Good girl. - Xe goes to sit on Splenders step with hir bare feet in the water. - congrats, your dragon is grudginly happy now.

[Splender] - REALLY!?

[Yaunfen] Is batting at the water-

[Doc] Yep they're sprawled on the ice and I got a small happy noise out of her. Yaunfen? Do you want to go swimming?

[Yaunfen] - Burp

[Splender] Reaches out with a tendril and gently wraps it around Yaunfen, lowering the candy dragon into the water but not letting them go to far down- There we go

[Doc] Also wades into the water. - There you go, just move your little feet like this sweetie.

[Yaunfen] Bobs head up in down to splash more-

[Smile] Runs past splashing everyone-

[Doc] Laughs- Hey Grinny? Sure you don't want to join us? I bet you could cat paddle a bit.

[Grinny] - Fuck off!

[Doc] Is trying to guide Yaunfens body so they can swim.

[Yaunfen] - Burp! Burp!

[Doc] Aww! You having fun?

[Yaunfen] - Burp!

[Doc] I'm so glad you're not allergic to water. We're gonna have so much fun when you get the hang of this. You can swim with me and Deerheart all over the place. Even play with Aqua when they're bigger.

[Yaunfen] Tilts head curiously-

[Doc] You know, Gem's dragon? The little blue snaky one that squirted BEN?

[Yaunfen] - BURP! BURP! BURP!

[Doc] I thought you'd be excited. Gk can play with you that way too. He doesn't mind water.

[Splender] - How have the others been? I haven't left my house much lately

[Doc] Jeff and Jane have been on walkabout, but I suspect they're avoiding me. Strangled hasn't tried to kill me lately so that's good... Silver and Glitchy are busy with their pokemon as usual. BEN is settling into his dad duties nicely.He got a fairy to help them with Hyrule too! And Cp is, well... you know how Cp is.

[Splender] - That's wonderful! Now if only I could find someone to watch Pinwheel so I could go feed

[Doc] I can try... I mean, I can keep the antidote on hand and I should be okay. I don't want you to go without.

[Splender] - Are you sure? I could see if I could get one of my brother's to watch her...

[Doc] No, it's okay, She seems pretty lethargic right now. I'll just hang around your house.

[Splender] - Okay- He brings Yaunfen over to Doc for them to take

[Doc] Gives the baby dragon a kiss and holds them gently above the level of the water - Have fun-

[Splender] Teleports to the village to eat-

[Smile] Trots up to Doc completely soaked-

[Doc] Hey Smile. Do you want me to throw something for you?

[Smile] Suddenly shakes throwing water everywhere-

[Doc] Well then.... is that a no?

[Smile] - Play!

[Doc] Did you have anything specific in mind? I've got a lead if you want to tug of war.

[Smile] Tug! Tug!

[Grinny] Snickers from the shore-

[Doc] Pulls out a rope and puts Yaunfen on the raised path before bracing hir feet and tossing the other end to the dog-

[Smile] Grabs the other end and immediately pulls-

[Doc] Gets yanked off hir feet and stands back up drenched. - I see how it is... Lets try this again- Xe grabs the rope and pulls hard from hir end this time.

[Smile] Takes off again-

[Doc] Puts hir feet into the block under hir like a pair of cement shoes and yanks him short- Ha-ha!

[Smile] Growls as he pulls harder-

[Doc] Is letting him have some slack and then yanking again to really give the huge dog a challenge. - Damn you're strong!

[Smile] Growls playfully-

[Pinwheel] Makes noises from inside-

[Doc] Whoah! Smile! Wait! - Xe lets go gently so Smile doesn't fall. - I gotta check on Pinwheel! - Xe runs inside- Yaunfen, please stay there!

[Smile] Stands there tail wagging-

[Yaunfen] Watches Doc leave curiously-

[Pinwheel] Has backed away from the ice and is holding their mouth open in pain, the ice having melted there-

[Doc] Oh dear... does your mouth hurt? Let me see.

[Pinwheel] Ignores Doc as it fusses with it's mouth-

[Doc] Roots around for some of the blue pills xe used for Ashe and sneaks behind the little dragon before quickly trying to get a firm grip on the back of their head.

[Pinwheel] Makes a surprised noise and squirms some-

[Doc] Presses the sides of their mouth to make it open and looks inside-

-There are sores on the inside of her mouth-

[Doc] Pops one of the blue pills in and tries to close her mouth-

[Pinwheel] Shuts mouth quickly and gags a little, shaking her head-

[Doc] Blows on her nostrils and rubs her throat- Just swallow! You're going to be okay!

[Pinwheel] Swallows and then hisses-

[Doc] Lets go and backs off a bit - See? Isn't that better?

[Pinwheel] Scurries into a corner and hisses again-

[Yaunfen] Sticks head inside house- Burp?

[Doc] Motions for Yaunfen and pulls out a bit of dragonwort - Look what I have. Are you hungry?

[Yaunfen] Comes closer to sniff at it-

[Pinwheel] Gives curious head tilt-

[Doc] Breaks off a bit for Yaunfen and then lays a leafy bundle just out of Pinwheels striking distance before sitting back down on the floor.

[Pinwheel] Steps forwards and sniffs before taking a bite-

[Yaunfen] Rubs against Doc-

[Doc] Smiles at Yaunfen and gives them some affectionate pats- What do you think?

[Yaunfen] - Burp!

[Doc] Yeah me too. And Pinwheel is a pretty dragon. - whispers- almost as pretty as you-

[Splender] Teleports back- I have returned now!

[Pinwheel] Hisses-

[Doc] Feeling better Splender?

[Splender] - Much, thank you!

[Doc] I gave Pinwheel a little snack, she seems to be on the fence about it. Heh.

[Splender] - That's okay

[Doc] Anybody compliment your shorts? I'm sure the kids are out in force since the weather is nice.

[Splender] - Yes! They were very interested!

[Smile] Barks from outside and he can be heard splashing through the water-

[Doc] Sits up a bit to look out the window, - Smile? You okay?

[Smile] - I smell Jeff!- He then runs off to find his owner

[Doc] Grinny? You still out there?

[Grinny] - FUCK OFF!

3 notes · View notes