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#and now that i actually have to apply for proper full high responsibility jobs where i will have to prove the skills i feel i don't have
witheringthorns · 1 year
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I haven't posted in a while, though I don't think that really matters? But I wanted to get back into it because it's fun and I have a lot of plans for this story.
So let's start back up with the last of the demons!
Nova! (Honestly couldn't think of anything else, I will be taking suggestions)
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If I keep it, I picked the name mostly based on her hair and eyes. It sounded cute, weirdly fits her and it's all I got, names are hard okay!?
Her design was never posted, so this is just two versions of her. I don't know if I like the skirt or shorts more but I do know I don't like the extra hair on the right. Though it could be part of a thing where she takes out her braids, could be cute.
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Did I mean for them to be from the same perspective? No. Am I keeping it because I can't find a good one that has skin color options and scars? Yes.
Story time!
Being raised in the middle levels of the underworld she was neither the strongest or the weakest. Which in the eyes of the leaders in her world made her and all her friends of those layers, perfect soldiers. As a result the mid layers were almost exclusively based on military. School was more of a boot camp and jobs were only held by those that were retired from the military or were waiting to join it.
Nova, unlike the other demons of our story never cared for climbing the ranks or proving herself. She simply wanted to be a good soldier. Useful but in line. Strangely this mindset is what caused her to climb said ranks. If she was offered a higher position she wouldn't turn it down and would always fulfill her new duties in full but she never asked for more.
Doing this since she was old enough to be in school, it eventually became a challenge for her commanders to see how much responsibility she could take. Just how high could she go before they gave her something that was actually overwhelming?
The answer shocked them all once it actually came. At only the age of 14 the only way she could go higher was if they gave her early access to the battlefield. It was debate after debate on if they should actually do such a thing. The main arguments against it being that she's still young and inexperienced, had a family, others wouldn't want to work with a literal child. The arguments for it were that the girl had shown great skill, understood strategy and restraint, held the power to back up her words and had already shown enough skill to be in charge of the older soldiers training, the ones actually old enough to go. So in the end, they voted in favor of the child going to war.
The girls opinion in her mind didn't matter, this is what her superiors wanted. So she would do her best to meet their expectations. As she had always done. It was said it would be more of a trial run considering her age but.... (I can only do basic fist fight scenes when it comes to anything fighting or war strategy so this one is getting cut short, I'm already going off things I remember from shows and school so I'm not pushing it until I do proper research)
Two years, she was on that battle field for two years. At most it was meant to be a few months but once the enemy caught wind of them adding a child? They followed the lead. Nothing was off the table anymore and quickly the war turned more savage. Within those two years it went from more a gun show to get one side to back down.... To finding any way to beat the other side into submission.
Eventually she was pulled out, now 16 and worn down she was back on her home layer. She was given the ability to retire just like older soldiers since none of that was planned and it was their faults. They thought it would just be out of formality and she would deny it, continue working at least at the school as a trainer. Instead, she accepted and for once in her life made an actual demand.
Nova wanted to go to an actual school, not just a boot camp. They were surprised and hesitant but, could they really refuse? So began the process of applying, testing and interviewing for (still can't think of a name for the school). The hardest thing for her was actually the regular exams, never really growing up with full on classes in math and science made it so she just scraped by. She'd need to study hard to stay but, she was in. She was accepted.
Let her 'normal' life begin.
Hey guys, I know not a lot of people read these but the few people that did miss me! I'm back, bad mix of life, family death and adhd. Kept me away a lot longer than I wanted. Who's ready for the angels? I'm not, names are stupid and hard.
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bellshells · 4 years
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Splitting Hairs
Yo, have this absolute vomit I wrote. It’s a Severus x OC I wrote because I hate myself. I actually have quite a few parts written if anyone is interested in reading them. So it’s set the year or so before Haz and pals attend Hogwarts, new DADA teacher comes and Sev is salty about it, until he meets her. Hope you enjoy <3
Word count: 2795 Severus Snape x OC
Next Chapter: here
Another year, another rejection. Severus sat silently in the staff room surrounded by his gossiping colleagues and tentatively sipped his tea. Sunlight streamed in through the windows and it stung his eyes, he had barely slept. He had analysed Dumbledore’s words over and over again as he sat upright in his bed, the fire feebly spitting out flames as dawn threatened to break. “Not this time Severus,” the bespectacled wizard had said patting Severus’ arm, “you will be missed too greatly in the dungeons for me to spare you to Defence Against the Dark Arts.” Severus only nodded before leaving Dumbledore’s office; his cloak billowed sarcastically behind him as Dumbledore frowned.
Severus had pondered that night, what he would have to do in order to prove he was capable to do the job. Would he have to tattoo the words ‘I am not a bad man’ on his forehead? Maybe take a blade to his Dark Mark and cut it out of his arm? The damn thing would only grow back anyway. Severus sat and silently cursed himself. Dumbledore had done the valiant thing in not disclosing who had in fact applied for the now filled position, but everybody knew. He could see them, whispering about the new professor who would arrive imminently with glances over in his direction. Let them look, he thought. He would much rather them look than talk to them.
It seemed his summer had been over in an instant, he had returned to Spinner’s End with the hopes of doing some much-needed renovations to his family home but preparing for his would-be change of department had consumed him. All day and most of the night he would sit in his high-backed chair and pour over book after book. It was highly unnecessary though; Severus had read those books cover to cover so many times he could recite them from memory. But still, it wasn’t enough. Somebody else had been successful and once again, Severus would have to concede. Minerva entered the room in a flurry of green robes, she was followed by Pomona who trailed in a little soil from her sturdy boots. Minerva stopped short when she saw Severus, her eyes softened and she offered him a sad smile, Severus returned a tight lipped almost grimace and Minerva nodded knowingly. She hurried Pomona over to the refreshments table, taking a cup of tea for both her and her friend. Severus had a soft spot for Minerva McGonagall, whilst in the beginning she had been very wary towards him, they grew to have a mutual respect which, over time blossomed into a friendship. She really was a lovely witch, albeit very nosy.  Like him, Minerva had faced great sadness.
It wasn’t long after the final gaggle of professors settled that the door clicked open for the last time. Professor Dumbledore swept into the room with a regal air only he could possess. Hot behind him, Severus could hear the click-clack of heels on the cold stone floor. The new professor stepped into the room hesitantly, she was young; maybe twenty-five? Surely too young to be the new DADA teacher. Severus felt like he had the wind knocked out of him. She presented herself to him politely with a warm, earnest smile. She was a whirlwind of red hair and green eyes and Severus felt sick. Her pale face looked up expectantly at him as she held out her hand for Severus to shake. He took it without thinking, her handshake was firm, and her touch sent electric pulses through his veins. She looked so much like her, he thought. If he let his eyes soften only slightly, he could almost pretend it was her, Lily. The new professor moved along the line of his colleagues shaking each hand with a dazzling smile. She wore a tight skirt cut just below her knee and a button-down shirt tucked in at the waist, the top few buttons unbuttoned to expose the top of her chest. Severus winced.
He hadn’t even caught her name; he was so bowled over by her resemblance to his lost love. In an instant he was transported back almost a decade, where he climbed the creaking staircase of on almost silent house save for the desperate cries of a baby. He had stepped over the body of his tormentor, her husband with ease; her body calling to him. And then, he saw her on the floor at the foot of a cot. The baby stood inside of it didn’t notice as Severus had fallen to his knees, he only wept for his mother- just out of his reach. The sob in Severus’ chest erupted into a howl of pain as he clutched at Lily and pulled her into his embrace.
He had no idea how long he had sat like that; the baby had long fallen asleep and Severus watched him, the lightening bolt scar brand new on his forehead looked sore. The baby whimpered in his sleep, Severus watched as the baby stretched his arms out and turned over. It was only the gentle tap Severus felt on his shoulder that reminded him he had to leave. Dumbledore surveyed the scene with a grave look on his face. He made his way over to where Severus sat with Lily and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Severus eyed Dumbledore as he tiptoed over to where the baby lay sleeping and picked him up wordlessly, carefully, so as not to wake him; and left. Severus knew that Dumbledore would be contacting Lily’s sister to arrange the funerals, so with great sadness, he lay Lily back on the ground. He took care to smooth her hair around her face, he picked her wand up from the floor and placed it in her hands that rested on her chest. Then he left.
“What say you, Severus?” Severus could feel the tears threatening to spill from his eyes as his attention was brought crashing back to the present. He was a master of disguising his emotions, in the blink of an eye his cold demeanour returned. He forced himself to look at Madame Hooch who waited for his response. “I must ask you to repeat the question, I’m afraid. It appears I was somewhere else entirely.” Severus said curtly. Madame Hooch was only too happy to oblige, she was asking whether he thought there was any truth in the rumours that the N.E.W.T.S were getting easier; and Severus gave a characteristically dry response which elicited both groans and chuckles in equal measure from his colleagues. But he couldn’t keep his eyes from her. His heart pounded loudly in his chest; he was sure everyone would be able to hear it. It was impossible to deny that she was an incredibly attractive woman, but he found her comments on testing here and overseas derivative, but- she looked like her. They must be some relation. Severus thought if he could work out when she attended Hogwarts, he might be able to place her and then assuage some of his concern. He had taught at this school for nearly decade, he would surely remember a fifth year who looked like her.
“I’m sorry professor,” Severus began, he had interrupted Flitwick mid speech regarding the importance of teaching second years proper duelling technique. Severus’ eyes burned into the new professor he didn’t know the name of yet. “I’m interested to know which house you belonged to whilst you were here. I’m terribly sorry but I can’t place you,” he said coolly. The new professor looked slightly startled as she took a sip of her tea, she the placed the cup delicately in the saucer resting on her knee. “That’s because you wouldn’t,” She smiled, “I went to Beauxbatons.” Minerva clasped her hands in delight; “Beauxbatons!” she exclaimed, “You must tell me how dear Madame Maxime is, I haven’t seen her in the longest time!” The new professor smiled kindly and told Minerva in detail of the last time she spoken with the Beauxbatons Headmistress. Severus’ body filled with quiet rage; she went to Beauxbatons? Isn’t that convenient. A school full of exceptionally beautiful young women? He could see it in her now, the way she trailed her hands up her thigh slowly to reach for her wand so Flitwick could inspect it. The way she gathered her thick red hair and pulled it to one side of her face; exposing her lock neck, her collarbone and oh so delicately the tops of her breasts. She was so sensual in her movements, he watched as the outer corner of her mouth twitched up into a smile and he felt something stir within him, deep in the pit of his stomach. He repulsed himself.
Severus stood unceremoniously and cleared his throat. “I must excuse myself, I still have quite a lot to prepare before term starts.” He mumbled and swiftly moved towards the door. Professor Dumbledore stopped him in his tracks with a hand, he gestured towards the new professor. “Of course, Severus, but would you mind escorting Professor Valentine to her quarters? She is to make use of Horace’s old rooms and they are of course, on the way to the dungeons.” He said cheerfully. The new professor, or rather, Professor Valentine stood and smiled. Severus’ jaw tightened as he flung the door open and waited for her to pass through.
Valentine.
Her name was Valentine. He threw Dumbledore a dark look as he slammed the door behind them making Professor Valentine jump. Severus kept swift pace down the Ravenclaw spiral staircase, he could see out of the corner of his eye that Valentine struggled to keep up. As the stairs became stone floor he slowed, his mind raced with all manner of things he wanted to say to her. He couldn’t stop himself stealing a look at her from the corner of his eye, she waked silently beside him; taking in the portraits which lined the walls and nodded at those who acknowledged her or flashing a brilliant smile if they spoke. “You don’t sound French,” Severus said, he surprised himself with his forwardness. He was embarrassed then, and brought his pace back up. Valentine smiled thoughtfully; “I’m not, I’m from Wales actually.” She answered. She’s Welsh, he thought. Yet she went to school in France. Still confused, Severus decided to pursue the matter. “May I ask why you didn’t attend Hogwarts then, Professor Valentine?” Without skipping a beat Valentine replied, “My father was working in France at the time, he thought it would be nice if we were closer together. So, I went to Beauxbatons instead.”
She’s lying, Severus thought. Whilst he never practiced his Leliglimency on his colleagues, he still had a strong sense for when someone wasn’t being truthful with him; especially when they were so close to him. They continued their walk in silence, Valentine stopped every now and again to inspect something on the walls or engraved on the floor. She always offered him an apologetic smile and a touch on the arm, and this annoyed him greatly. Not the dawdling, he was used to having to slow his pace when walking with others; but the way she touched him. She acted to familiar with him and it made him uncomfortable. Were she an old witch, short and stout he may have been able to overlook her terminal niceness, but Valentine made the breath hitch in his throat every time her side brushed against his. It was Lily, he knew it was. Severus felt he was being assaulted by his feelings, and here was this woman having she sheer audacity to go around looking so much like Lily Evans and…touching him. It was far, far too much for Severus to handle.
He stopped outside of Valentine’s door. A large-ish wooden door carved into an alcove in the castle wall. This part of the castle lead to nowhere but the dungeons and it was dimly lit, so if you weren’t looking for a door; you would miss one entirely. Valentine’s face lit up as Severus chivalrously opened the door for her, more out of curiosity on his part than anything else. He hadn’t been in there since Dumbledore had offered him these chambers all those years ago, Severus ultimately chose quarters adjacent to his classroom. She inspected the room excitedly; she moved her fingers deftly over the heavy curtains that hung by the big window. These rooms in this part of the castle were some of the last to possess windows and the view outside was very pretty. Her trunks and bags sat in the middle of the room; a desk rested against a wall with more bags atop it. A sofa sat invitingly in the middle of the room and better yet, her four-poster bed partially hidden behind it. Severus cleared his throat, still stood in the doorway.
“Oh Severus!” she exclaimed, “I completely forgot you were there.” Valentine giggled. Severus shifted his weight uneasily from foot to foot as she came towards him. “Would you like to come in?” “No,” he said too quickly. “No, thank you.” Valentine smiled at him and leaned a shoulder against the door frame, the light from behind her framed her silhouette beautifully. Severus swallowed hard. “Thank you for showing me the way down, I never would have found it without your assistance.” Severus nodded curtly and took every inch of her in. “Professor Dumbledore invited me to have a drink in his office this evening,” Valentine said matter of fact, “He said the other professors would be there. Are you going?” “I wasn’t going to; I have to prepare my ingredient lists to give to Professor Sprout first thing in the morning.” Severus muttered wryly. “Oh, of course.” Severus raised an eyebrow. Valentine looked sheepish before she said, “I was just wondering if you would collect me on your way. This castle is truly a maze, but if you’re not going, I’ll just see you-” “I’ll call on you at eight, Professor.” “Elizabeth,” she corrected with a grateful grin. “Elizabeth.” Severus nodded and turned his back. He continued down the corridor, it wasn’t until he heard Valentine’s door close a few feet behind him that he allowed himself to breathe. Why did he say that? Why did he offer to do that? He hated social gatherings with a fervent passion and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her.
He flew into his classroom and locked the door with a flick of his wand. He made his way through the lines of desks and into his chambers, he shifted the curtains aside which disguised the heavy wooden door. Once inside he unbuttoned his frock coat along with the top few buttons of his tight shirt. He skulked over to his drinks cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whisky and poured himself a generous glass, he then perched on the arm of the blood-red armchair that sat in the fireplace and rifled in the bottom drawer of his desk. Severus produced a packet of cigarettes and lit one, letting his head roll back and his eyes close. His heart was very heavy in his chest, so heavy he could hear his pulse in his ears. He knocked the whisky back and enjoyed the sensation as it burned his throat on the way down. Why was he torturing himself by volunteering his services to Valentine? He didn’t owe her anything and he certainly didn’t want to get to know her. She was too much like Lily and yet nothing like her at all. Her hair, her eyes, the kind features of her face transported Severus back to his youth; constantly fighting the urge to put his hands on either side of Lily Evans’ face and kiss her desperately. And yet, Valentine’s overt sexuality, her fashion and her subtle way of talking was nothing like any version of Lily he had ever seen. Severus was intrigued by this woman but also completely turned off by her. He wouldn’t be a man if he said he didn’t desire Valentine; but he was utterly devoted to his memory of Lily. He couldn’t understand why she would torment him so by looking so much like the woman Severus had lost all those years ago.
He stood slowly returned to his drinks cabinet and retrieved the whisky bottle, pouring another measure for himself. He held his glass in the air to toast; “Elizabeth Valentine,” he said to nobody and took two great gulps until there was nothing left. He set the glass back down next to the bottle and caught sight of the label, sitting wide across the middle of it.
Y Ddraig, it was called. Dragon whisky. Welsh.
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uni-life-tips · 4 years
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Resume Tips
I've been handed quite a few resumes at work by people looking for a job. I always give them a quick read-through and show interest because I've been in that position. Job hunting sucks, even more so when the people you're handing your resume to aren't even going to pretend to be interested. I know that my workplace is not hiring and that my boss basically throws out the pile of resumes we leave for him in the bin at the end of the month--without really looking at them.
I've noticed quite a few things about the resumes we get handed at work and I decided to include some tips that I've picked up on. I have a few friends that have made it to manager or supervisor positions in their jobs, and some of them are also in charge of recruitment at their workplaces--basically, they're the ones that get to decide who to hire and when. They helped me workshop my resume time after time for different sorts of jobs and it's only after I got their help that I started getting calls back and interviews. Some of the tips that they gave me seem like common sense and at first I thought I was the only one that didn't know those things...but pretty much every resume I've seen at work has these 'simple' flaws in them.
1) Tailor your resume for the specific job you're going for. You don't need to have the company name in your cover letter, but having different resumes geared at fast-food and at desk-work (reception, secretary, desk-clerk, etc.) would definitely increase your chances of being taken seriously. Typing speed and/or what computer software you know how to use is not going to impress the fast-food manager. Get rid of that to make space for relevant information--customer service or experience serving food, for example. At a fast-food restaurant that I worked at the employees and even the manager would share comments on the resumes we'd see in the back. Whenever we saw "wpm" (words per minute) or "proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel" etc. we'd all have the same kind of reaction. "They must have been in the area, handing out resumes to the dental offices, clinics, and registries in the area and stopped by to throw one at us for good measure." None of the people who handed us those sorts of resumes were even considered for a call back.
2) Pen-marks look bad. If you have to scribble out your old phone number and write a new one in by hand as well as scribble over a typo, you're better off re-typing the entire resume and printing it off without the errors. Pen-marks don't look professional and the pen-edits tell the manager a lot about you. It tells them that you don't have as much attention-to-detail as your resume claims because you failed to spot the typos or whatever before going to print. It shows that you're unmotivated--especially if there are known ways to print stuff for free in the area, look into public libraries in your area and chances are that they provide some quota of free printing every month. A finalized, error-free resume is seen as the absolute least you could do if you want to be considered for a job. Overall, pen-marks and crumpled resumes look unprofessional. You're not just being judged by what you say about yourself in the resume, 'cuz that's your word about yourself--how you carry yourself and how the resume looks really says a lot about you.
3) One page, single-sided--maximum. The person hiring goes through dozens of resumes at the same time as yours. They're not going to want to flip through 3+ pages of stuff. If you have a lot of experience at different places that may be good, but see number 1 and only write down what's relevant to the position you're applying for. Example: if you're applying for fast-food positions include any experience you have working with food and don't waste page-space on your time as an AV person. Also, if you have had multiple employers, only include the latest ones--either within the last 5 years or only your latest two or three. You're 28 years old applying for a fast-food position because nowhere else is taking you seriously. Your high school volunteering experience isn't going to make you look good. It was over a decade ago and if you have to include it to pad your resume up to one page then that says a lot about you--you've had 10 years to get other experience, what were your contributions to society in those 10 years and why should the employer expect you to be motivated to work if you have not worked/volunteered in the last decade?
4) Purpose/intent/goal--again, tailor this to the specific job you're handing the resume into or nix it all together. "To use my skills in a professional setting", "Full-time job", "To earn experience that will get me closer to [insert dream job here]". They don't need to know your purpose in your resume. That's a "where do you see yourself in 10 years" question best left for the actual interview. When someone hiring for minimum-wage entry-level positions sees your aspirations they aren't thinking that they want to hire you--they're thinking, "this person clearly has aspirations for a different job. They are not a safe training investment because nothing guarantees that they'll stick around long enough to make the training investment worth it for me." Your dream job or your ideal position or whatever is something best left for the interview or for after you get hired--leave it off of your resume. You don't have to be all fake and talk like that minimum wage position is your dream job, but you have to present yourself as a safe training investment. It takes a while for anyone to learn the ropes in their new job. Official training may only take a week or two, but it'll probably take 3-6 months for anyone to get the hang of the position and start performing well. Any mistakes made in that time may cost the company money. If you piss off a customer because you're not familiar with the menu and can't answer their question, that's a lost customer. If you haven't gotten the hang of serving customers quickly then you're costing the company money because they could have served two customers in the time it took you to serve two. Above all, a lot of employers just want to know that they can earn back their training investment. Suppose it'll take you three months to get the hang of stuff and to stop making frequent mistakes--double the training investment for a ballpark of how long you'll have to be prepared to commit to the job for them to take you seriously. If it takes three months to develop the proper habits for the job, then you need to show the manager--starting with your resume--that you're willing to be there for at least six months. If your resume is clearly geared toward a different kind of job and you outright state your dream job to be something else then you're not a safe investment for them because you're clearly looking elsewhere.
5) Point form. Under each work-experience entry write up to 5 points that are relevant to the specific job you are applying for. Worked retail in a clothing store before and now you're applying to fast-food? Include time-management skills, organization of a workspace, task delegation, customer service, and any other transferable skills like training others in your area or key-holder status. This'll help you cram a lot of info onto one side of a page. The manager isn't looking to read anything in-depth--they're just going to skim your resume and if it looks like you're going to give them a return on the training investment and that you're a responsible person then their next step is probably locating your contact information to schedule an interview. Save the full sentences and elaboration (i.e. one specific time where your customer service skills stood out) for the cover letter. The first page of your resume should read like a table of contents of yourself--it's a sales ad. If they're interested in what customer service experience you have, they'll ask you more later. Don't shove it at them on the resume 'cuz that resume is just the table-of-contents. Include your contact information and if they're interested they know how to reach you.
Good luck! If you're looking for a job, I know it sucks. I've been in that position a lot and felt helpless a lot. Lots of summers went by with me unemployed between years in post-secondary because I went to university in a different city from my home city. Nobody wanted to hire someone for four months out of the year because the training investment alone wasn't being met. It sucks and it's depressing. Hang in there. Revising my resume after every rejection was my way of trying to keep hope. Each resume revision got better and better and I got more and more calls back the more I revised my resumes and tailored them for the specific positions I was applying for. I had a different resume for reception, a different one for service/wait-staff, and a different one for fast-food and I labeled them as such on my computer.
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orionsart · 4 years
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Debt pt 1
Summary: after an incident in the woods you find yourself in the debt of an infamous Witcher
Words: 1588 Pairing: Geralt x femme!reader A/N: Hi hello. This is my first Witcher fic and I am in no way an expert in the series so please excuse any inconsistencies with canon. I also use my pen name instead of “Y/N” whenever the reader’s name is used.
***
The forest floor was bountiful that day. Warm sunlight peeks through the treetops as you fill a leather pouch with wild onions and mushrooms, a welcome treat after months of eating potatoes from your garden and near-rancid meat brought home from the tavern. Dirt cakes your fingernails as you dig through the underbrush to retrieve the thickest roots, and wild berries stain your skirts crimson, but you don’t care. When you’re tending bar you let your hair down, unlace your blouse and bat your eyelashes to get coin, but here in the forest your appearance doesn’t matter. 
As the day goes on and the sun grows hot you stray deeper and deeper into the forest, farther from your home than you had ever gone before. Eventually you stumble upon a crystal clear lake, tucked away behind a frame of foliage. The water looks cool and tempting. Wiping sweat from your brow you sit on a fallen tree and unlace your boots, sticking your toes in the soft silt near the edge of the pool. A quick dip, you think, there’s no one around for miles. A quick dip then I’ll head home. You quickly disrobe and remove the pin holding your hair up, leaving your clothes in a pile near the fallen tree and wading into the waist-high lake. The water is cold on your naked legs and your bare nipples harden at the change in temperature. You cup the cool water in your hand and bring your face to it before leaning back, letting the water fall through your hair and down your naked body. As you revel in the freeing and cleansing feeling you close your eyes and begin to sing. It’s a catchy tune, one you heard a pompous bard singing in the tavern a few nights ago.
“Toss a coin to your Witcher, oh valley of plenty...”
With your eyes closed you continue to bathe in the clear water, listening only to the sound of your own voice as you recount the ballad of the snow-haired vagabond you’d heard so much about. When you open your eyes you notice that a thick layer of fog has rolled in all around you, and a singular figure stands stoic at the opposite end of the lake. A pair of amber eyes shine through the mist, staring directly at - or through - you. 
A sharp gasp escapes your lips as you flinch to cover yourself, but the Butcher of Blaviken remains unfazed. Your skin flushes wine red in embarrassment and you turn around quickly to where you left your clothes, but your eyes soon spot what was actually captivating the Witcher. A spindly monster with pointed ears, lengthy talons, and gnarled teeth crouches near the fallen tree. Your knees begin to buckle beneath you and you open your mouth in a silent scream, too terrified to move or make a sound. The waves your sudden turn created ripples across the surface of the water, crashing on the shore at the monster’s feet. It opens its mouth and an unholy screech pierces the heavy silence as it pushes off from its hind legs and lunges into the pool towards you. You stumble backwards in an attempt to get away, but the lakebed is soft and slippery and your feet fall out from beneath you. The last thing you see before your skull makes contact with a submerged rock is the monster being thrown away from you by some invisible force.
***
As you regain consciousness you feel the soft familiarity of your bed beneath you. You sit up, not remembering what happened, and wince at the throbbing behind your forehead. Instinctively your hand reaches up and is met with a cloth bandage hastily wrapped around your head, sticky with blood at the temple. Suddenly the memories come flooding back; the lake, the Witcher, the monster. Looking down you see that you’re no longer naked and instead are dressed in the clothes that you had gone foraging in. Confused and a bit dizzy, you gingerly rise fully from the bed and step out of your bedroom.
You enter the front room of your small cottage to see Geralt of Rivia sitting in front of the fireplace, eyes affixed on the front door. He must have heard or sensed your entrance, because he soon turns to look at you. His golden eyes make you feel small. 
“You’re awake,” he says in a low, gravely voice that sends shivers through your body. 
You nod, too embarrassed to say much, but the words “how long was I...” manage to escape your throat.
“Hours,” is his only response, and you see through the window near the door that the sun is beginning to rise. Hours indeed - it was already the next morning. The two of you sit in a pregnant silence for what seems like minutes before he clears his throat. “I found this cabin just north of the forest. The owners must be out.” 
A sly smile creeps at the corners of your lips, but you decide not to tell him that it’s your house he brought you to. “Thank you,” you say instead, “for saving me. You didn’t have to.” He leans back in his chair, crossing his right ankle over his left knee. “Couldn’t exactly leave you to drown,” he replies, “naked in the woods, left to be found by who knows what.” 
Your cheeks grow rosy and you wrap your arms across yourself, feeling ashamed of your foolishness. “I’m in your debt,” you say, not daring to meet his eyes. His smoldering, piercing eyes.
Geralt rises from his seat and crosses towards you, looking you up and down. “What’s your name, girl.” The question is more of a command, as if to say “Tell me your name. Now.”
“Orion,” you respond meekly.
“And how exactly do you plan to repay your debt, Orion?” His low baritone makes your stomach flutter.
You think for a moment, “I can give you lodging for as long as you need. I know the owner of this cabin.” 
He raises an eyebrow, “and how do you know them?”
“She’s me,” you respond. There’s another silence before a smile cracks across Geralt’s face and he chuckles softly before walking back to his seat. As he turns away from you you notice four long tears in the back of his shirt, with gashes in his skin peeking out from underneath. “You’re wounded,” you say, stepping towards him.
“No shit,” he responds. “It’s part of the job.”
“Let me help,” you insist, heading towards the kitchen to your stash of salves and creams, “just take off what’s left of that shirt. I can mend it for you, too.” When you turn back around, medicine and a rag in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other, you see that he’s obliged. Your breath hitches at the sight of his bare arms and chest. Being a full figured woman, not many men you know are able to lift you, but Geralt is definitely more than capable. He carried you here, anyway. Part of you wishes he would wrap his thick arms around you and carry you wherever he wants.
Shaking away the thoughts, you step towards him and he shifts in his chair, giving you proper access to his back. You dip the rag in water and gently wipe the dirt and dried blood from around the wounds, then dab at the cuts with a bit of clear liquor. He inhales deeply as you do this, feeling the sting, but otherwise does not react. When the wounds are clean you apply a cooling salve, relishing in the opportunity to feel his supple skin. Unfortunately, as all good things do, this comes to an end. “They’re in an awkward spot,” you tell him, wiping your hands on your skirt, “so I can’t bandage them. But you should keep it easy until they fully heal.” Your own wound has begun to itch and you subconsciously raise a hand to the bandage to scratch it, wincing softly at the pain. 
Geralt sees you do this and lets out a low breath, grabbing a footstool from near the fireplace and dragging it in front of him. He pats it softly, beckoning for you to sit. Your heart begins to race as you sit down, the hem of your skirt resting in folds at the floor. His hands, rough and calloused as they are, are gentle as they unwrap the bandage from around your head. He takes a corner of the cloth and dips it in the pitcher of water before dabbing it at your left temple where curly tendrils of hair have fused to your bloody skin. It’s less difficult to look into his eyes when they aren’t peering into yours, and you enjoy every second of it. 
After cleaning your wound he drags his thumb down your cheek before gently cupping your chin in his hand. You hold your breath, not daring to move beneath his gaze, thinking only of the fact that this man has seen all of you. A moment later he releases you and stands, turning towards the door. “I have to tend to my horse,” he says, facing away from you.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, Geralt?” you ask, finally releasing your held breath.
Standing in the doorway, he turns over his shoulder. You see what appears to be a wry smile spread across his face. “Well, you are in my debt, Orion.”
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timeclonemike · 3 years
Text
Write Who You Know
Inclement weather forced me offline earlier today, and while that made it impossible to write (among other things) it did allow for some reflection on my many, many writing projects. Specifically, why some of them are proceeding while others are stuck fast. The result was enlightening, though perhaps not encouraging:
The stories that are making no progress are all stories where I don’t actually understand the characters I’m trying to write, in any way. Because my writing style is so character driven, this is a GINORMOUS PROBLEM.
Birthright was intended to be a deconstruction / reconstruction of Harry Potter. It takes the idea of a secret society / civilization of magical people living isolated from industrialized non-magical humanity and shows how that would actually work, and how it would fall apart. I had high hopes for it, but I just could not get into the headspace of the protagonist that I had created for the setting; he’s gay, he’s adopted, his parents are loving and supportive... the only thing he and I have in common are a love of books, and that’s not enough for me to work with.
Mirror, Mirror was already collapsing under its lack of effective characterization, so much that I wanted to totally revamp it into a reverse isekai with a fantasy adventurer transported to our world to fight its monsters (cops and capitalism). The original character was a college drop out working at Dollar General thrust into the adventure of a lifetime; all outside my frame of reference. Flipping the script leaves me with a fantasy character in our modern world, and while a sorcerer / rogue multiclass burning cops alive is cathartic to write, there’s no narrative meat to sink my teeth into, so it didn’t go anywhere either.
The Bad Guys is the same problem multiplied by five. Each of the newly minted supervillains comes from a walk of life I only have a limited understanding of; Dr. Axiom and Hazmat are Physics / Engineering Majors (I majored in Mass Communications), Digital Chameleon is an actor and social engineer (I can’t even get Dollar General to hire me let alone talk my way inside a huge company to steal important documents), Gentleman Caller is a proper gentleman concerned with dress and decorum and honor (nobody could accuse me of that with a straight face) and Memento Morrie is from the Big Apple (I’m from the middle of nowhere, for better or worse) so taken all together I put together a team of characters I have NO IDEA HOW TO PORTRAY.
Consequently, these three projects are being put on indefinite hiatus, until such time as I can re-engineer the characters to something easier for me to work with. There’s a few ideas that come to mind but for now, I think it’s better that I focus my attention and effort on the stories that aren’t fighting me:
Like Clockwork is basically, after a few plot rewrites and adjustments, a novelization of an RPG campaign in a bespoke fantasy steampunk setting. The characters draw heavily from fantasy conventions, but the motivations and key personality traits of each member of the party are essentially mine: Alice’s love of steam powered technology, Dr. Spatchcock’s disgust at the medical establishment’s treatment of mental illness, Sylvia’s rebellion against her family’s restrictions, and Edgar’s desire to connect with the memory of his late grandfather. Even the antagonist’s motivation, outrage at being betrayed by people he thought he could trust, is mine. The only problems are those of narrative clarity and pacing, which will be solved in the fullness of time.
The Last Machine is a post apocalyptic story, and that already gives me considerable leeway in depicting the apocalypse; all post-apocalyptic fiction is a commentary on existing society at the time it was written anyway. More importantly, the protagonist is dealing with the same “who am I and why am I here and what the hell am I doing” existential fuckery that hounds my every waking hour, so that’s a solid foundation right there. The protagonist’s friends were already loosely based on some impulse or emotion I found relatable; kind of wish I’d been able to do that with The Bad Guys, honestly.
The Gamble is also a post apocalyptic story, one that allows me to explore a different flavor of the apocalypse. The two main characters, Eric and Lyla, are written based on my floundering for purpose after graduating from college and not being able to find a regular job, and my sense of I-can’t-believe-I-have-to-babysit-this-grown-ass-man that comes from working for my dad on the farm, respectively. The Gamble is the second part of a trilogy, and the final part, The Signal, is a “humans through alien eyes” perspective shift, which gives me more leeway in narration. Both of those stories are proceeding, if slower than I like.
After some reflection, I have deduced that my fanfic is still ongoing, it’s just that the stress and strain from the pre- and post-election politics has fucked up my focus. Frisk is one of those characters that is very easy to project on (arguably by design) and that by itself makes the characters easy to write. The small town setting is also very familiar. The Frostpunk and Deltarune fics not so much, although they are not abandoned, just stagnant. We’ll see if I can get some updates out before 2021.
My non fiction work doesn’t fall into this same characterization bottleneck, so any delays are a result of research into the appropriate topics. The Post Apocalyptic Civilization Kit is currently waiting on some detailed analyses of disaster relief / response efforts and how well they worked, and after that there will be other blanks I need to fill in, but that’s all part of the process. Same with So They Called You Mad, my facetious how-to guide on becoming a Mad Scientist, and The Super Villain’s Starter Guide, which is the same thing as applied to becoming a criminal mastermind. (The overlap between the two means progress or delays with one book also carries over to the other.)
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vagrantblvrd · 4 years
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jeremavinwood supervillains?
Oh, friend, I know I should aim for the Totally Serious take on your prompt?
And yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So.
Let’s say in this AU superheroes and of course supervillains are A Thing.
Everyone knows about them and there are fans of both and it’s not a big deal to anyone there.
Ryan’s this computer/tech-type guy looking for a job and he just so happens across this job opening online, right? One of those job listing sites and it’s just odd/quirky enough to stand out from the rest of the listings he’s browsing through one day.
Has more character to it, and also job perks/benefits. The only thing it he’d have to move cities for it, but he’s not all that attached to the one he’s living in at the time and decides sure, why the hell not, you know?
So Ryan applies for the job and doesn’t think too much about it. One of those ones where it would be nice to get, but not something he’s banking on or has any real investment in, and in the meantime he gets all these interviews and the like for the others openings he applied for.
Nothing that sounds promising once he gets the chance to talk to hiring manager/whoever, and he’s getting - not worried, exactly, because he’s got enough in the bank and various investment things he can afford to turn them down when they offer him work.
And then, just when he’d forgotten about the weird job listing he gets an email.
Again, kind of weird? All Dramatic and the whatnot, but he figures maybe this guy is just Eccentric or whatever and is just interesting enough Ryan takes the job. (This feeling in the back of his head that the guy’s got to be part of the supers world, which is a first for Ryan, but whatever. He was getting bored of the usual thing anyway, so yeah.)
Takes him a few weeks to deal with everything where he’s living at the time and get out to the new job.
Thank goodness it comes with a place for him to stay until he can find something more suited to him if he likes and so on, right?
Only thing is, by the time he gets to the city the guy who hired him is nowhere to be found.
Ryan gets to the address he was given, which isn’t much to look at from the outside. Looks like an old warehouse the guy bought, maybe big aspirations and such hoping to turn it into the home of the business he started that he told Ryan he needed a computer/tech guy to help get off the ground.
Still, the code Ryan was sent works for the keypad on the front door and when he gets inside the place is still pretty unimpressive?
Ryan walks around and makes a face because it’s kind of a dump. All this trash and debris and bits and bobs that add up to a mistake on Ryan’s part, but then he bumbles into some activation device/panel that activates the AI that’s been keeping an eye on the place.
Because, wouldn’t you know it?
The guy who put out that job listing Ryan that caught Ryan’s eye is, indeed, part of the whole supers world.
A supervillain, as it may be, and Ryan is just ??? and then !!! as he realizes this, the AI spinning up from the dormant state it’s been in since its creator went and got got by the local police.
Which  is something  Ryan finds out when he asks the AI where his supposed employer is, because this is super weird and all?
Turns out he got pulled over thanks to a dumb traffic violation, which turned into an Altercation the local superheroes got called in on and now the guy’s kist really, really dead.
Headlight out and cop pulling him over to tell him to get it fixed and he’d let it slide this time, but the supervillain is on the high-strung side of things and flipped the fuck out resulting in the city’s superheroes stepping in to help bring him in and all because massive property damage and so on and all because he couldn’t keep his cool when faced with a traffic stop.
(Which explains what all the street detours and cleanup that made traffic into the city a nightmare Ryan didn’t think too much about since there’s always a mess with all the supers around. Not like he knew his new employer was involved in it or anything.)
Anyway, the AI has been given all the information on Ryan - loads more than what Ryan put on his application or told the guy over the phone and in video calls, but uh, the whole supervillain thing kind of explains all that away.
Turns out Ryan’s been given clearance to get into the bunker under the warehouse which is where the supervillain was doing all his Plotting and Scheming.
Not a major name yet, but he around long enough to have the kind of money to put into a Proper Supervillain Lair. (Including the Mad Scientist Lab and while it hasn’t been fully installed just yet there’s an area for a shark tank, so that’s cool.)
Ryan is kind of weirded out as he gets a glimpse of these half-finished Schemes and Plots all over the place (improving on them in his head before he catches himself and moves on to explore the rest of the Lair) and is like hmm, okay then, because what else is he gonna do
AND THEN.
Once he’s looked around the whole place - or the areas he’s cleared to go - the AI directs him to a living area and the suite that was meant to be his before he found a place of his own.
It’s late and also been a hell of a day - hours spent traveling and then discovering he inadvertently became a henchman and all that and hey, the bed actually looks pretty comfy?
So he goes to sleep and figures he can decide where to go from here in the morning, right?
Do the right thing and call the authorities to come and check the place out and go back to looking for a normal job. (Assuming the local authorities don’t think he was in on the supervillain’s whole deal the entire time and throw him in jail.)
The next morning he makes a call to the local police and realizes pretty damn fast they’re what you might call overzealous? Rabid, maybe, the way they immediately think he’s making a threat as opposed to informing them of this potentially Very Dangerous supervillain Lair and asking them to deal with it so he can get back to his uneventful life?
He hangs up the moment he realizes they think he’s Totally Evil and Must Be Stopped and is just ??? because what now?
And, you know, the AI is just, “Well...” and then one of the screens in the command center Ryan was making his phone call in lights up and all these protocols and contingent plans pop up as to how to secure the warehouse and bunker it’s built over in case of discovery and such.
Ryan stares at all of it for a moment because talk about your over the top supervillain bullshit? But there are some reasonable ideas in there he can tweak and all that and anyway, not like he’s got much planned for himself as is, so...
Okay, right.
Maybe he makes an attempt to get in touch with the city’s superheroes first to hand the Lair and all that over (or tip them off, whatever), but he gets pretty much the same response the cops had, so he decides to go with fortifying the Lair’s defenses and suchlike.
And then ~*MONTAGE*~ in which Ryan ends up pretty much renovating the place from the top down.
Tearing out walls and such and old t-shirt and sweats and rewiring and halfway through he realizes he doesn’t know as much about that shit as he thinks he does so he calls in an electrician?
Which.
Yeah, he knows, but apparently the supervillain had a whole list of - at the very least - neutral parties - in the whole construction and such business . (Who else would build the superhero bases/supervillain Lairs for the supers who weren’t big enough to afford their own people and couldn’t do it themselves? Really.)
Anyway, that brings Michael into the picture who looks around at the Lair and what Ryan’s manages to do in the time he’s been there and is just.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, let me take care of this,” and so Ryan has a surly/cranky electrician rewiring the whole Lair and such while he deals with other matters.
And that’s, like.
Distracting because the aforementioned ~*MONTAGE*~ with the old t-shirts and sweats and it gets pretty hot in the Lair (that’s a thing Ryan needs to call in more experts for later, because yeah) and some days he’ll check on how Michael’s doing and he’ll do the thing where he wipes sweat off his forehead with his arm and Ryan is suddenly in a romcom and anyway.
Distracting.
So off he goes to deal with the computer/tech guy shit while Michael grumbles and growls. (Ryan will be back later for lunch, because Michael needs to eat too and he knows the good takeout places in the city and if they sit and chat and suchlike it’s not a big deal or anything, you know?
Really.
Anyway.
They’re working on getting the place up and fully functional before any cops or superheroes bust in, but it’s a lot of work, you know?
And in the meantime life goes on and one night the AI (that Ryan has taken to calling E.D.G.A.R. because some totally Ryan reasons about it kind of sort of being in a hole, what with its core being located in the Lair which is indeed underground and all that and also an acronym I don’t have the brainpower to go into at the moment but it definitely totally lame and/or nerdy) alerts him there’s an intruder.
Ryan is ??? because who the hell - and then !!! because what if it’s the authorities???
But no, no.
Ryan goes to the command center and watches the security feeds to realize there’s a goddamn thief slipping through the Lair’s corridors.
Michael’s there watching too because either E.D.G.A.R. called him down there after realizing he’s Important to Michael (has been given all the clearances and such that Ryan can give him while he works on cracking the ones the supervillain who hired him still has up so he can gain full access of the Lair and its amenities) and so on.
Anyway, the two of them watch this little thief get past several security measures before E.D.G.A.R. finally manages to pin him down in a room. All these lasers and other deadly traps and only an idiot would try their luck.
So of course there’s this moment where it looks like the thief is giving serious thought to doing just that before he obviously decides better. Huffs and pouts and looks directly at the hidden cameras watching him to scowl at Ryan and Michael who share a look because what the fuck, right?
They go to the room the thief is caught in - E.D.G.A.R. disengaging traps as they go, just enough to keep the thief pinned but not put them in danger - and the little bastard is annoyed.
British accent and clearly not from around here (or not that long, at any rate) and what the hell does he think he’s doing?
To which Gavin is like, what the hell do they think they’re doing, hmm? Last he heard the supervillain that had hired Ryan had set this place up, and when he went and got got the payment Gavin had been promised for a little job for him fell through and Gavin, okay.
Figured the bastard wouldn’t mind that much (couldn’t do anything about) Gavin coming in here and picking up a few things he could sell off to someone else to make up for the money he never got paid for services rendered.
But, oh, look.
Someone just happened to come along and set up shop in the abandoned Lair like it was finder’s keepers and mind letting Gavin go now?
Ryan’s kind of ??? because hell if he knows what to do, right? Doesn’t really want to keep Gavin locked up here even if it might be a smart thing to do (no telling if he’d go running off to the authorities the moment they let him out and all) even if there are cells on a lower level.
Michael looks a little like he’d like to pretend he never saw Gavin, leave him pinned in here and go back to sleep and fuck if it’s any of his business what happens to him, but Ryan knows better.
And anyway, anyway, Ryan’s not actually a supervillain or a loyal henchman or whatever. He’s just some poor bastard who applied for the wrong job and got in waaaaaay over his head.
So.
He tells E.D.G.A.R. to disengage the lasers and traps keeping Gavin in place and points towards the Mad Scientist/gadget lab Gavin was clearly headed towards. Tells him to take what he wants, but if any of it gets used against him or Michael or the authorities come sniffing around he’ll regret it, you know?
And then he heads off presumably to go back to sleep. (Really he goes back to the command center to see what Gavin will do now, but shhh.)
Michael grumbles at Gavin, but when it comes down to it it’s not like he has any say here, so he actually goes back to bed.
Gavin dithers for a moment sure it’s a trap? But when nothing happens for a bit he shrugs and goes to root around the Mad Scientist/gadget lab for stuff he can sell.
E.D.G.A.R. keeps an eye on him, but Gavin’s not about to test his luck and gets what he came for and leaves as quickly as he can.
But then, okay, but then.
He gets curious, he does.
Sells off the gadgets and whatevers he stole and does some poking around.
Already knew about Michael being one of those neutral parties people in this city are always hiring when their superhero base/supervillain Lair needs repairs or what have you, but Ryan?
Nothing about him being involved with any supers or even any criminal business ever.
Does some more digging and eventually finds a profile for Ryan on one of those job sites out there and kind of dies laughing when that leads him to the job listing that caught Ryan’s eye way back when from the supervillain.
And then, okay.
He’s just all-over curious about Ryan - definitely could have killed Gavin or locked him up or whatever and didn’t. And then there’s Michael, surly bastard that he is, but not too hard on the eyes and anyway, anyway.
He goes and breaks back in to the bunker/Lair.
This time E.D.G.A.R.’s not quite prepared for him, because Gavin’s good at what he does, but he’s not completely blindsided.
Asks Gavin what he’s doing as Gavin bypasses security measures and crawls through vents and whatever else to get to the Lair proper. They have a pleasant little chat and by the time Gavin gets to the command center Ryan’s there with a bemused expression because it’s the middle of the night and what even is going on right now?
Michael’s over at a console grumbling about something because insomnia and some new tangle of a problem and might as well deal with it now, right?
Ryan’s likewise trying to crack another firewall or other doohickey keeping him from gaining complete access to the Lair and such and seriously, Gavin, what the hell.
To which Gavin is just, “Have you tried *insert cool hacker stuff here*?”
Ryan is “What?”
Michael’s swearing stops and his head pops up and even E.D.G.A.R. is Quiet because ???
Gavin rolls his eyes and huffs and pushes Ryan aside to do some hacker stuff on the console he’s working at for what he mentioned to work. Cheerful little chime and more of the Lair/E.D.G.A.R.’s abilities and the whatnot unlocking for Ryan.
And then Gavin’s like oooh, because there’s a lot of fascinating stuff there and before long he, too, joins Ryan’s little motley crew of who even knows anymore.
Which is just aggravating because Gavin is an absolute troll and a terrible human being and Ryan Suffers when he and Michael team up against him, he truly does.
Just like.
Gavin’s relentless Questions and his Bad Science just to fuck with Ryan and that goddamned little chuckle/chortle of his when he’s being a little shit.
(Also, also, the way he gets Michael so freaking riled up and laughs like it’s the best damn thing, okay.)
ANYWAY.
Yeah.
So now the three of them are just living their weird little lives getting the bunker/Lair up to snuff when some guy rings the warehouse buzzer one day.
Short guy, horrible fashion sense.
None of them have any damn idea what he’s doing there? But when Ryan goes to talk to him they find out he’s there in response to a job listing for security.
Someone to patrol the warehouse and not ask too many questions about anything odd he might hear or see or whatever. (Not in so many words, but read between the lines and all and it’s the same damn thing.)
Anyhow, Jeremy’s like.
“Oh, that sucks,” when Ryan tells him the guy who was supposed to hire them both was not only an actual supervillain but also super, super dead, and sorry, but not looking good for the job Jeremy was expecting to find.
Ryan feels bad about it, given he’s more or less claimed the bunker/Lair for himself (and the other two idiots), but -
E.D.G.A.R. who’s patched into the comms and the earpiece Ryan’s got in suggests it might not be a terrible idea to have someone  keeping an eye out for any trouble coming there way.
Like.
E.D.G.A.R. is monitoring things for them, but never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes, you know?
And hey, Ryan was in Jeremy’s shoes not too long ago himself, so of course he agrees, and then Jeremy joins them in their weird little lives.
At that point Michael’s more or less done with the major work to get the bunker/Lair running, fusses with stuff because he doesn’t want to leave. (Got too attached to these idiots and all.)
Gavin’s goes off Thieving every so often, but he tends to come back to the bunker/Lair to help Ryan out or pester Michael and he’s not worried about being ~betrayed for whatever reason.
Jeremy’s just like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and has no problem with patrolling the warehouse in the day and then going down to the bunker/Lair to fuck about in the Mad Scientist/gadget lab with Gavin who’s had another one of this Brilliant Ideas.
Or maybe hanging out with Michael as he fusses/tinkers with some project or other and bitch about whatever, possibly with a beer or one of the strays he sneaks in. (There are so many at this point. Cats and kittens and a puppy or two, and Gavin is totally an enabler and Ryan is just SIGH because he’s not an actual monster, dear God.)
Sometimes he bounces Evil Plans back and forth with Ryan as Ryan works on gaining full access to the bunker/Lair - roughly 90% there - that are really just horrible ideas the like you come up with your idiot friends you know will never happen/work but are fun to play around with.
And all through this these idiots are developing the FEELS for one another, but it’s like, “Oh, they could never like someone like me,” or “They’re totally head over heels for that other person, everyone can see it but them,” not realizing they’re all the kind of idiots who are in love with each other and oh God, the romcom shenanigans that come out of.
Absent-minded flirting that gets awkward when one of the others walks in. Fond smiles and indulging one another and all that goodness. Accidentally bumping into one another in passing.
And, okay, sparring.
Michael’s kind of a brawler, so he does okay.
Gavin’s usually too fast/clever to get caught, but even he’s got some moves packed away in that head of his. (Meg insisted, because Gavin’s one of her idiots.)
Jeremy’s got some martial arts training, boxing, handful of other shit under his belt.
Ryan...fuck.
He’s like.
Joe Average or whatever.
Except he knows how to throw knives, what the fuck? (And other little surprises here and there, because Ryan.)
Still.
Jeremy and Michael become Concerned about the other two idiots, which leads to these little training/sparring sessions.
People getting thrown and pinned and all kinds of close quarters contact and flirting and innuendo and it’s just A Lot, okay?
The good kind.
Gavin pestering Ryan for knife-throwing lessons while Michael and Jeremy heckle them like assholes, and just.
Yesssss.
And then!
Shit goes wrong, in that the superheroes of the city and the authorities (who aren’t all as Noble or Upstanding as they pretend to be) manage to catch Gavin when he’s away from the bunker/Lair which sets off this whole chain of events that results in a Dramatic Battle.
Because thief!Gavin is a known presence in the city, has a record and the superheroes/authorities take advantage of that fact. Lean on the whole bit where Gavin’s got these trust issues relating to past “partners” and employers that fucked him over and how does he know this Ryan and the others won’t do the same too?
(Obviously they wouldn’t, and Gavin knows it, but these assholes don’t and they’re kind of ruthless about it.)
Meanwhile the others are going a little bit crazy trying to find Gavin once they realize what happened.
Ryan finally breaks through that last bit of bullshit keeping him from gaining full access to the bunker/Lair and E.D.G.A.R.’s full range of abilities he can command and then it is on.
Full-on fight raging through the city (carefully though, because property damage and potential casualties and what I’m saying is Ryan and the others do what they can to keep it all to uninhabited areas/lead out of the city and the whatnot.
Whole thing with the Drama and Action and attempted Heroic Sacrifice the others shoot down real fucking fast because what the fuck you moron?
And then the superheros/authorities having to beat a retreat when it becomes clear they just might out themselves as complete bastards if they keep pressing.
Ryan and the others go to ground at the bunker/Lair - which, by the by, the superheroes/authorities still don’t know the location of, and just.
Put the pieces back together.
Realize if the superheroes/authorities seem to think they’re the the bad guys then guess they’ve got no other option than to become the bad guys. (Honestly, the longer Ryan stayed in the city and saw how things were, the more that seemed like the only way to go, you know?)
And that means they’ll need someone to help keep the bunker/Lair up and running and Michael mentions some people he knows that could help with some of the stuff they unearthed when Ryan got full access. (This asshole of an engineer among them, even if he’s a bit overqualified for some of this.)
Gavin has his own contacts, and Meg’s got a major network of her own she’d be willing to use to help them out.
Jeremy knows some people too, and anyway, where else would he go?
Ryan?
Fuck, who even knows, is the thing.
E.D.G.A.R. is on his side, and that’s not a little terrifying after realizing how vast his reach is.
Global satellites and orbital strikes spring to mind, because those are actually a thing he has access to and the supervillain behind all this could have been a truly terrifying figure if he hadn’t gone and gotten himself killed before he could set things in motion. (Also? Robot armies, although there’s really just that one prototype down in that secret lab, but still.)
Some shenanigans and kerfuffles with the superheroes/authorities from time to time and the slow - painfully so at times - realization that they all totally have FEELINGS for one another, and then, like.
More romcom situations before any of them act on it, by which point the entire city knows they’ve got FEELINGS for one another and there are fan pages and groups and whatever else about it because of course there are.
And also, at some other point in come Geoff and Jack, part of a federal agency created to deal with the whole supers nonsense and pretty much Tired who realize Ryan and the others aren’t Totally Evil and idk, but!
At some point Geoff gets ~captured by Ryan and them and is just Very Tired as they try to figure out what the hell do do with him?
Obviously idiots and something else going on here and he’s just too old for this shit, and then shenanigans, I guess???
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Survey #270
“please remain calm; the end has arrived. we cannot save you; enjoy the ride.”
Do you own pastel-colored pants? No. What type of lotion do you use? I don't really use it. Nothing seems to help how dry my skin is. What were your favorite clothing stores in high school? Hot Topic. If you could have a car in any color you wanted, which color? Pastel pink, but realistically (given a pink car would probably have a paint job I'd have to pay for, I assume?), I like burnt orange cars. Not too brown-ish, though. What is your favorite color, do you look good in it, & do you wear it a lot? Pink, probably not, and no. Name someone you know who hates pink. Idk. What is your favorite Avril Lavigne song? "Nobody's Home." Do you kill bugs? Sometimes. Depends. If they're in my house, most likely. Have you ever had a bedroom that had wallpaper on the walls? No. Do you own any rompers? No. What’s one thing you’ve done to celebrate Earth Day? I made a birdhouse out of a milk carton once. Animal Planet taught me lol. Do you use window clings (aka window stickers)? No. What color is your stapler? Black. Do you have a desk that you sit at in your room? Ugh, no, but that's one reason I want to move to somewhere I have a bigger room for a desk so I don't do everything in my damn bed. What do you miss about college? Feeling like I was worth something and on a "proper" path. Was your middle school crush the same as your high school crush? No. What is/was your dream school? I never had a "dream" school. Do you wish you could talk to someone about your past? If so, who? Idk, probably someone. What motivates you? Music and/or videos on whatever subject I could use motivation in, like self-care on my bad days. Have you ever completed a weight loss program? No. Tried, though. When was the last time you did something for the first time? I went through a doctor appointment entirely without Mom just a few days ago; she had to stay in the car due to chemo, so I filled stuff out, checked in/out alone, answered questions on my own, that business. I'm entirely aware it's sad as hell that a 24 y/o did that for the first time, but if you knew just how dependent I am on my mom, you'd get it. Which do you prefer: Valentine’s Day or Easter? Valentine's when I actually have someone to celebrate with, but I love Easter as an aunt with how excited the kids are about candy and all. Easter sorta rubs me the wrong way though since, y'know, Christianity essentially stole and rebuilt it. Do you wait until the last minute to decorate, or do you decorate early? I myself don't even decorate. Mom only does for Christmas, and it's very last minute. What’s your favorite Starbucks drink? I don't drink Starbucks. What were you wearing in the last good selfie you took? *checks phone* uh the one where I'm wearing a red tank top is okay. That's all you can see cuz FUCK taking full-body pics of me. What’s on your wish list right now? Ha, I actually have a list in my phone of things I really want/need to buy when I can. A few include a bigger terrarium to Venus, a treadmill, an Unus Annus shirt before the channel and thus merch expire, glasses for driving... What do you use to sweeten your tea? I don't drink tea. Have you ever owned an expensive eyeshadow palette? No, I don't wear enough colors or makeup in general to warrant buying one. When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone? The aforementioned doctor visit. How would you rate your self-esteem? Low, healthy, or high? Low as like, the deepest oceanic trench probs. Do you own a tripod for your camera? Yeah. Were you a bigger fan of Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff? Hilary. Do you make Halloween costumes out of clothes from your closet? Only ever to just be a goth to live out my inner fantasy of regularly flaunting that aesthetic. Do you enjoy putting outfits together? Not particularly. Would you rather it rain or snow? Snow! What does your umbrella look like? Don't have one. What’s one thing you’ve had a toxic reaction to? Do you mean like, emotionally/mentally toxic? I'm guessing probably yes. Even though parts of it were entirely realistic, understandable reactions/behaviors, I most definitely had some toxicity in me regarding the breakup, too. Which do you prefer: cropped tops or tunic tops? Uggghhhh, both are so cute. On me, I'd only ever wear tunic tops, but on others, I tend to find cropped tops cuter. What’s a style or trend that you think is ridiculous? I don't pay enough attention to this to really know... hm. Yeah, idk. Which YouTuber do you want to be more like? I could only dream of being as motivated and smart and determined and "I can do this shit" as Markiplier jfc I Love One Man Only. Do you like stuffed animals? EEEEEEEEK yes!!!! What was your favorite class in high school? Art. Have you ever gotten straight A’s in a class? If so, which classes? Yes; not to brag whatsoever, but too many for me to remember. I remember I got my very first B in 5th grade in I think math, and I was so bummed out. Were there any subjects that you got a perfect SAT score in? If so, what? I don't think so. Are you happy today? If so, what made you happy today? I'm content-ish, not happy, but also not unhappy. Is your bed right by a window? There's one to my upper right and middle left, but my bed's not exactly against either. Do you spend more time in your bedroom or your living room? I barely leave my bedroom. Which holiday is your favorite to decorate for? Halloween, if I actually did decorate. Do you name stuffed animals still? Very rarely. Depends on what it is, the importance, etc. What titles did you win in the senior class polls? I FUCKIN READ THIS AS "TITTIES" AND WAS JUST LIKE... Anyway, none. Were you popular in school? No. If you’re from the US, what states have you lived in? Only NC. Who was your best roommate? Well, Jason, if he even counted as a "roommate." Was your first roommate your best roommate? See above, considering idk if he fits the term; if he does, then yes. What’s the best family vacation you’ve ever been on? Disney World. Have you ever wanted to be a model? No. What years did you attend prom? Sophomore (bf was a senior and he took me) and senior. What do you want to be for Halloween? I was recently listening to a metal version of Oogie Boogie's song from TNBC and it hit me: MISS Oogie Boogie. A fat bitch could pull that shit off, watch me ho. Which member of your family are you closest to? My mom. If you have any regrets, what is the biggest one? If not, why do you have no regrets? Letting a boy become absolutely all that mattered and more to me. Would you ever apply to be on reality TV? Why? Ew, no. I don't need any more people judging me and my life. What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? The partial hospitalization program that saved my life, literally. Do you have a hard time letting things go? It depends on what it is, but generally, yes. I recently realized one of my greatest flaws: I respond very, very poorly to loss, in any way. Looking back on people (especially people), events, other things... a negative, chronic reaction to loss is present throughout. What have you accomplished in life that has made you the most happy? Emotionally healed, a lot. I don't think some things will ever fully scar over, but nevertheless, I don't mentally have fuckin gashes in me. Have you ever struggled with your weight? Ever since the breakup, yes. I thought I was slightly fat before then, but looking at pictures now, I just think "damn hunny u look gud" and realize I was perfectly healthy. But anyway, I was put on a medication called Abilify (full-on name droppin', fuck this med), and it MURDERED my metabolism. I could eat a fuckin carrot and gain five pounds, probably. Emotional eating probably contributed too, but here's the thing: my current doctor took me off of it, knowing the moment I mentioned it that it was not only bad for me and my conditions but also responsible for the extreme weight gain? Pounds dropped like a ton of bricks, and this started before my emotional eating began to die off and regulate. I lost around 80 pounds just from dropping a goddamn pill. Cue college essay-long rant here about how my body image was slaughtered, how much I loathe the fucking doc that kept me on the med and blamed everything on me, and now how I've been stuck weight-wise for two years despite a vast plethora of methods to continue shedding a;sdlkfajkwlelawe GUYS I could rant til my hypothetical great-grandchildren die. When you are out with your friends are you loud and outgoing or shy and reserved? It depends on who the friend is, where we are, etc., but generally, I'm just awkward, trying to be outgoing when in fact I'm questioning every single thing I say and do al;wekjrkawde this survey has taken a TURN. Do you like to stay in your pajamas all day long? I don't leave my pj's unless I have to leave the house and go inside somewhere besides like, a gas station or something that's just "whatever." In high school did you have a lot of friends? Do you still keep in touch? I wouldn't say a *lot*, no, but not a tiny amount, either. The only one I ever still see is Girt, but I keep up with many on Facebook via the like button and shit, ha. Do you really care about such issues as abortion, religion, and global warming? Fuck yes I do. Who is the biggest womanizer you know? Juan sure was, but I haven't been in contact with him for years. Would you ever have a threesome? No. Who is the most attractive person you know? Of those I personally know-know, my answer will probably always be Alon like jc she's beautiful. When did you last feel the most free? ZOINKS we can't ask that question in America rn. Is there anyone who likes (or liked) you and had a really hard time getting over you? I don't know. Did you ever love someone and feel like it was wrong? Love? No. Well, before I realized I was bi, maybe Mini counts, as then I was anti-LGBT and couldn't even imagine myself as anything but straight. What’s your favorite bug? Butterflies. What’s the longest amount of time you liked/loved somebody for? Yeesh... I still can't say with absolute confidence I no longer love Jason at all, whom I started dating in 2012 and went head over heels for. What song makes you cry? There's a few that are capable of it sometimes, but do fucking not play "Stairway To Heaven" if I'm within 10 miles of you. "Another Life" by MiW usually makes me tear up towards the end, but it normally doesn't get that far anymore. Do you like rock or rap music better? Rock, as I'm not a rap fan. If you could watch someone change, would you? Yes let me live my life a;lsdkfjaws Ever known someone with an eating disorder? I don't know. I think maybe? Have you ever had a white Christmas? I think? The best snow we ever got was late Christmas night though, and the next morning was a total whiteout. What’s something you want to do but aren’t sure of yet? Hm. Idk. I'm pretty sure of most things I want to do. Biggest lie you ever told? I'm not entirely sure and I'd rather not search for one. Do you have a religion? I don't fit perfectly into any. I relate most with Neo-Paganism, but even that I deviate from some. Believe that there is a point to churches? I mean sure, people have the right to believe in/worship what they want to, and some people get a lot of joy and reassurance out of going. How do eat Oreos? "I split them in half and lick the cream before eating the cookie." <<<< Converse or Vans? Idc. Eh, maybe Converse, but idk. Dancing or watching others dance? I love watching others dance, it's why I enjoyed dance recitals and competitions. Favorite thing to touch/feel? My cat! <3 Rather be in a tornado or a large earthquake? Both would be horrifying, but I guess earthquake. I've had an outrageous fear of tornadoes since I was very little. Would you rather Santa or the Easter Bunny actually exist? Santa, duh. Would you rather spread gossip or start a fight? Start a fight, I guess. Trying to sully someone's name with false information would haunt me way more than starting an understandable fight. What has been the best New Year's for you so far & why? I don't know. What is the weirdest fear you’ve ever heard of someone having? Do you have any weird fears, and if so, what are they? Uhhh I think maybe butterflies? Idk, even that's not too weird considering it's an insect, and that's common. I'm personally absolutely terrified of pregnancy and also whale sharks scare me quite a bit. ig that's weird. How did you find Tumblr? lol how could you not know at some point as a teen on the Internet. What of the 8 wonders of the world do you find the most fascinating, if any? I had to look them up lmao. I guess the Great Pyramid of Giza. I in general find Egyptian culture and art to be very cool. Do you have a webcam? If you do, do you ever use it and what for? I mean, it's built into the laptop. I never use it. What is something that you think is really underrated? The band Otep, for one. I mean they're not small, but I don't think most people interested in the metal genre know them. OH and then there are A LOT of YouTube artists that MADLY deserve to be signed. I have a large chunk of metal musicians I listen to, and those especially like Jonathan Young blow my fucking mind they haven't technically "made it," even if they have a large subscriber base. Have you ever had a dream where you died? Did anything weird happen to your body after it? Yes, a few. Now hang with me, okay? One of my worst nightmares as a kid involved the wicked witch from TWoO turning me into one of those fucking party things that you blow into it and the paper unfurls and her using it killed me. Yo idk. I was really scared of that witch as a kid. What’s the scariest dream you’ve ever had? How about the most realistic? It involved my dad and that's all that needs to be said. Realistic? Hm. This was SO long ago that I barely remember *just* how real it felt, but I remember it felt real as fuck. I was very little when this happened. I dreamed that I went outside to our porch because there was a weird light and when I stepped outside, a swan and a goose flew down from the light onto the porch to become my late grandpa and my deeply beloved cat Midnight, who died from sickness. I'm sure it was just a dream now, but back then, I was VERY convinced it was like a vision from God or something, telling me they were okay and with us. Do you have a favorite fashion trend? What is it? Is there a fashion trend right now that you think is completely ridiculous, and if so, what? What do you think was the worst fashion trend of all time? I don't care about fashion enough to go in depth about all this. I'll tell you right now though that mullets were the worst mistake known to mankind. Do you tend to like original horror movies or re-makes better? What’s your favorite horror movie? Is it an original or a remake? If you're remaking an old one, I'll probably like it more since they're generally not nearly as cheesy. Modern horror movies, I don't have much of a preference. My fave is The Blair Witch Project, and it's an original. What is one characteristic in a person that you cannot stand? What characteristics do you like best in a person? Do you possess any of these characteristics? Those that act violent when they're angry, for one. Those scare me. Some traits that I really like are compassion, patience, genuineness, empathy, kindness just for the sake of being so, stuff like that. I'd like to think I've got some of those. It's notable that in my nightmares, I'm way more violent than I actually am, though. What kind of jeans do you like best? When I actually wore jeans, they were like solely skinny jeans. What has been the most traumatic experience of your life? Does it still bother you? A very abrupt and poorly-executed breakup after a long-term relationship and falling way, way too hard to be healthy. Does it still bother me? PTSD is stapled on my fucking forehead if you know the slightest about it. I've healed a whole lot, but I'm pretty sure it's a scar that's never going to even fully seal.
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elisaphoenix13 · 4 years
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Against All Odds (Ch. 14)
Quill's car was found abandoned at the grocery store and according to the police, and the news, the cameras showed him walking back to his car once he left the store and then he suddenly vanished into thin air. The video was somehow releases to the press and when they showed it on tv, it really was like Quill vanished. One second he was carrying a bag to his car and pulling his keys out of his pocket, and the next he was gone. Not even his bag of groceries was left behind as proof that he was there. Just his car. When Quill didn't return home after running an errand for his grandfather, the elder Quill went to the police to report him missing.
After just a month of active searching, the police had to call it off because they had no leads or evidence to work with. The remaining time Scott spent in high school was never the same after that. He regressed back to invisibility after everyone that bothered to remember he dated Quill graduated, and school was only bearable until Stephen graduated the next year. Actually life itself was only bearable because of his friend. Stephen always made sure to keep an eye on him and visit often during the long periods that Scott's parents weren't home.
When Scott finally graduated from high school, he started looking for a job because even though he was offered scholarships for his good grades, it wouldn't pay for everything. He didn't plan on going to college because he couldn't even apply for loans. His parents obviously didn't put anything aside for him so he had to jump straight into getting a job.
That was until Stephen came to his house one day with a letter. He said nothing as he handed it over to Scott and the younger read it with wide eyes. A full ride scholarship to a college of his choice. When Scott read who was offering it, his jaw dropped.
It was from Stark Industries.
"H-How...what…?!"
"Tony knows about your situation."
"How do you know Tony St--" Scott's eyes widen even more. "Are you dating him?! How long have you two been--?!"
"Since I was eighteen. Relax. I wanted to help you get away from here." Stephen says quietly.
It wasn't the only reason Stephen visited either. He looked distraught and when Scott asked him what was wrong, his friend actually burst into tears and told him that his sister was gone. That she drowned and he felt responsible for her death. Scott didn't know what to do besides hug Stephen and let him cry himself out. It was the very least he could do for him.
It wasn't the only time Stephen came through for him either. Scott had things that he couldn't take to college with him so they got him a storage unit for his things, and while the two packed his things, Scott came across the teddy bear that he threw into the far corner of his closet after Quill went missing and he stared at it for a couple of minutes. He never forgot about him, he couldn't, but having the teddy bear as a constant reminder of what he didn't have anymore? He had to put it somewhere he wouldn't see it. It only brought him pain whenever he saw it. Finding it in the closet was no different. Cinnamon went into the storage unit as well because Scott couldn't bring himself to throw him away. He could only handle the woven bracelet he still wore to this day. He almost never took it off.
He graduated college with a master's degree in electrical engineering and it was shortly after that when he met Maggie. She was the first person since Quill's disappearance to make Scott feel like living again. He told her about him too. About what his living situation was like up until he graduated high school and how supportive he and Stephen had been, and she accepted every bit of it. She understood why Scott always wore the black bracelet and never asked him to take it off. Even after they got married. Scott was finally happy again after years of going through life on autopilot.
When his daughter Cassie was born, Scott vowed to never neglect her like his parents did to him. He would always do what he could for her or die trying and Stephen had continued to be supportive. He was glad Scott found some normalcy in his life and often called if he couldn't visit (since Scott permanently stayed in San Francisco), and he and Tony sent gifts on proper birthdays and holidays for the family. Scott finally had a proper family.
Until money got tight.
Cassie was four when Scott turned to the life of a thief to support his family. He was good at it and it helped, but then he caught wind of Vista Corp practically robbing everyone so he hacked into the system to rob the company of millions of dollars to give back to the people...but he got caught. Even with Tony's influence, the billionaire could only have his sentence shortened to five years in prison. Halfway through the first year, Maggie sent him divorce papers and Scott broke all over again. First Quill, now Maggie? Was he not meant to be happy?
He asked Maggie why when she came to visit him to pick up the papers.
"It was a long time coming Scott. I can't be with someone who resorts to thievery to support his family, no matter how well you meant by it...and I know you loved me...but you didn't love me with all your heart."
Scott was shocked. "Of course I did! You and Cassie both!"
"Scott...we never should have gotten married in the first place. You couldn't love me with all your heart because part of it died when he did."
Quill was presumed dead ten years after his disappearance, and Maggie was right. When Scott heard the new update about Quill's cold case, part of his heart shriveled up and never recovered. That part of Scott was still hoping that his first love would turn up, but that announcement shattered what was left of his hope. Stephen called him that very day and stayed on until he was sure Scott would be okay.
Scott was out of prison after serving three of his five years and after trying to find a job with his record, he had to resort to stealing again when Maggie and her new husband kept him from seeing Cassie until he had a job and his own place. That was when he was pulled into being Antman. He helped Hank Pym and his daughter prevent Darren Cross from creating the Yellowjacket, went subatomic to protect Cassie from him, and managed to return from something supposedly he shouldn't have been able to return from.
Then there was the fight between the Avengers at the airport in Germany. Scott was just asked for his help and he took the Ant-Man suit to help Captain America and his friend. He didn't know he would be fighting against the very man that helped pay for his college education and get him out of an abusive home. Scott told Tony that when the billionaire visited them on the Raft and apologized, and Tony pulled some strings so Scott would get away with a couple years of house arrest.
Then Stephen got into a car accident shortly after and went missing, and he only knew that because Tony knew how much the doctor meant to Scott. At that point, Cassie was the only reason Scott kept going because someone else he cared for, loved as a brother, went missing too and he was sure that it would be Quill all over again. Thankfully that wasn't the case though, Stephen emailed him shortly after and told him he was okay and not to worry, and Scott heaved the biggest sigh of relief he made in his life.
Just a few days before his house arrest was over, Scott helped Hank and Hope with the Quantum tunnel to get Hope's mother back from the Quantum Realm. After barely managing to make it home before his parole officer, he was finally taken off house arrest and he and Cassie moved to New York when Maggie and Paxton asked Scott to take her in full time so they could travel. She was excited about the move and the fact that she would be able to see Stephen whenever she wanted, and when they made it to the tower, he was the first person they went to see.
Scott, of course, threw his arms around the older man the moment he saw Stephen, and the hug was reciprocated instantly.
In front of all of the Avengers. All of them. Even the ones that fought with Tony two years ago.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you." Scott whispers.
Sam clears his throat from the living room. "Um...why is Strange nice to Tic-tac?"
Tony snorts as he sips his coffee. "They have a history. Stephen practically raised him since he was fifteen."
"That sounds a little overdramatic." Clint says and Stephen looks over at him.
"Actually, it's extremely accurate."
"Please don't." Scott mumbles to the now sorcerer.
"We won't. Let's get you down to your floor and situated."
Scott nods and moves away from Stephen and he and Cassie follow the doctor to the elevator and down to Scott's personal floor. The sorcerer shows Cassie her room first and the men leave her to unpack her things and get comfortable while Stephen shows Scott the master bedroom. The moment he opened the door, the younger man froze when he saw what was sitting on the bed. It was Cinnamon. When Scott stepped closer to touch the teddy bear, he got a whiff of the spice the toy was named after and tears threatened to spill from golden-hazel eyes. Cinnamon looked brand new. Like he hadn't been in storage for eighteen years.
"There's a quirk to being the Sorcerer Supreme and protector of the Time Stone." Stephen says softly. "He looked a lot worse when Tony and I got your things out of storage."
For a few minutes, Scott was fifteen again. He just got home from Quill's house after Christmas and the teddy bear was just his boyfriend's temporary replacement until he visited again or saw him at school. The hallucination quickly died away though when he remembered that wasn't the case anymore. Scott would never see Quill again. Twenty years was too long to have hope your missing boyfriend would come home.
"He's dead Stephen." Scott finally says. "I'm not getting him back."
"I know. I just thought it could help you remember that I'm not the only reason you're where you are today. I'm convinced that you were close to...you know."
Scott nods. "...I think I was too. So thanks for saving me from myself."
"If you need anything just ask FRIDAY or Victor for me or Tony." Stephen says and Scott looks back over at him.
"Victor?"
"Tony made me an AI. I named him after my brother."
"Right...you mentioned the accident. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Scott sighs and leans his head against Stephen's shoulder when the older man approaches him and hugs him again.
"It's okay. Tony was. I had you when I lost Donna...just like you had me when you lost him."
Scott was grateful for what Stephen did for him. He was grateful for Tony's generosity too. If it weren't for them, Scott would probably still be living at his parents house and mourning over Quill. In all honesty, he probably wouldn't even be alive right now. But he was, and he no longer felt neglected anymore. He may feel touch starved again, but he had people that cared about him and made sure he knew it.
As far as he knew, his parents never asked about him after he moved out while they were out of town again, and that thought only hurt Scott a little bit. They were never his family. Stephen and Quill were, and after Quill went missing, it was just Stephen. Then Tony, Maggie, Cassie...his family was growing little by little even if relationships never worked out. He didn't bother with Hope because she had her own catching up to do with her mother and Scott didn't want to only give her half of his heart like he did with Maggie. Scott could live with being single for the rest of his life as long as he could keep the family he had now.
"Daddy!" Cassie calls from Scott's bedroom door and he pulls away from Stephen to look at her. "I'm hungry."
"If you can wait a little longer you can have dinner upstairs with us." Stephen says as he walks over and crouches in front of her. "Spaghetti?"
"With garlic bread?" Cassie asks.
"Of course. My kids would throw a fit if I didn't make garlic bread too."
Scott's eyes widen when his best friend mentions having kids.
"Your kids?! I thought you didn't like kids? Wait...where was I when...I'm so confused." Scott blurts out.
"I'll explain at dinner." Stephen says with a smirk in Scott's direction. "One hour."
Stephen stands up and pats Cassie's head as he passes her. "Thank you Mama Bear!"
Scott gawks.
WHAT?!
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lakewoodranchmovers · 4 years
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Lakewood Ranch Movers Secrets
Lakewood Ranch Movers Secrets January 22, 2020Category: Blog Wonderful relocating working experience.. the fellows ended up polite, punctually and speedy. I hugely propose Mover Bradenton Zech and his crew are definitely the best read more
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gaypornshack1 · 4 years
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What Price do We Pay for Gay Marriage?
The Supreme Court’s decision affirming the proper to couple across the us may be a joyous moment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Recognition of our equal dignity, and of our right to an equivalent legal protections straight couples enjoy, may be a civil rights milestone. But it could even be the last hurrah for the movement for gay freedom that began after war II.
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But such unity of purpose comes at a price. Freedom to Marry, the advocacy group that has led the wedding equality movement, was in 2013 the most important recipient of cash from foundations that specialize in gay causes.
LGBT Rights Social Movements
Will even a fraction of the energy and money that are poured into the wedding fight be available to transgender people, homeless teenagers, victims of job discrimination, lesbian and gay refugees and asylum seekers, isolated gay elderly or other vulnerable members of our community? round the same time ny State legalized couple , in 2011, it had been slashing funds for services to homeless youth, who are disproportionately gay or transgender.
The movement for gay rights that began after war II was waged from society’s margins; its most outspoken proponents sought to overturn social convention, not join it. it had been not in the least inevitable that the movement would at some point coalesce around marriage.
In 1953, the primary year of its publication, the national gay magazine ONE dismissed the thought that gays might at some point be allowed to marry. “Rebels like we, demand freedom!” one article declared. “But actually we've a greater freedom now (sub rosa because it may be) than do heterosexuals and any change are going to be to lose a number of it reciprocally for respectability.”
Of course, this freedom was precarious; the subsequent year the l. a. postmaster refused to deliver a problem of the magazine on the grounds that it contained obscenity. Though the Supreme Court ruled within the magazine’s favor, many gay publications, businesses and bars were forced to shut within the 1950s and 1960s.
What About Black Gay People?
But more gay and transgender Americans are permanent outsiders. Some churches are doubling down on anti-gay rhetoric, which fuels family rejection and contributes to youth homelessness. Violence against transgender Americans is on the increase . Gay people in prison remain subject to rape and abuse. Rates of latest H.I.V. infections are rising among young black men.
Just as feminists learned after the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, a movement that throws most of its weight in pursuit of one policy may falter and stagnate when it achieves a powerful victory.
Gays must now devote to the fight for cover from discrimination an equivalent resourcefulness and energy with which we fought for the proper to marry. we should always confine mind that our struggle began as a fight against police harassment, and “Black Lives Matter” is our cause, too. Befitting its status because the 20th, not the primary , country to legalize couple , America should preach equality abroad humbly, acknowledging that it does so with the zeal of a convert.
The gay movement has stood for valuing all families — including those led by single parents, those with adopted children, and other configurations. it's stood for other ideas, too, that risk being lost during this moment’s pro-family turn: that intimacy, domesticity and caretaking don't always come packaged together; that marriage shouldn't be the sole thanks to protect one’s children, property and health; that having a family shouldn’t be a requirement for full citizenship; which conventional respectability shouldn’t be the sole route to social acceptance.
Many of the undergraduates at the school where I teach cannot remember a time when couple was unthinkable. except for most Americans alive today, to return out as gay meant accepting that we might never wed. It meant that we who decided to return out had little choice but to empathize with the excluded. We weren't , for obvious reasons, the marrying kind; that was a part of what made us special.
For some folks , marriage are going to be a ticket out of the margins. But it might be a tragedy if, vindicated by the Supreme Court, many folks proclaim a premature victory, overlooking those folks who are still overlooked , and lots of more people round the world for whom the search for basic recognition is far unsure . Betraying our history — forgetting what it's meant to be gay — would be a price too high to pay.
It is unfortunate that the movement’s two great victories of the last decade — the proper to serve openly within the military and therefore the refore the right to be married — have come as progress has stalled or reversed in numerous other areas of civil rights: equal pay and reproductive choice for women; housing and faculty segregation; police violence against minorities; and the prospects of an honest wage and a modicum of job and retirement security for all.
Conclusion
It is no accident that the one civil rights law that might likely apply to the best numbers of gays — a ban on discrimination employed and housing on the idea of sexual orientation or identity — continues to elude us. An anti-discrimination law creates substantial costs not just for the govt , which must enforce it, but also for companies , which must suits it; letting gays into military service and into the institution of marriage doesn't . Indeed, 379 employers, including many of the nation’s largest airlines, banks, health insurers and makers , filed a quick in support of couple , arguing that inconsistency in marriage laws created an onerous regulatory and financial burden and hurt their efforts to recruit talent.
After Massachusetts became the primary state to legalize couple , in 2003, a backlash of ballot initiatives and referendums banning such unions swept much of the country. In response, many lesbians and gay men who were tired of marrying forgot their doubts for the cause.
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lostinlogicerror · 4 years
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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: ゴールデンカムイ | Golden Kamuy (Manga) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kikuta/Tsurumi Tokushirou Characters: Kikuta (Golden Kamuy), Tsurumi Tokushirou Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Pre-Relationship, Attraction, Cheesy, Humor, Horseback Riding
Usually, Kikuda offered group lessons only, but this particular client was absolutely adamant about attending a private beginner course — "in need of a more personal approach" were his exact words according to his secretary Ariko, who was in charge of booking appointments.
Tsurumi. The name did ring a bell, but even after a quick little dig in his memories, he couldn't place it. That is until the scheduled day came to meet the man face to face.
He had a striking face you couldn't possibly forget.
They met at the precinct once, Kikuda remembered now, eyeing the man in front of him fiddling with the chin straps of his riding helmet. Back when he was called to the questioning concerning one of his trainees.
Kikuda could still recall vividly the professional demeanor — worthy of a police investigator — the man carried himself with. Now the air of sternness and seriousness around him were all but gone, replaced with a casual atmosphere and cordial expression, which made it all the more harder to reconcile this image with a man who made him feel as if he was the one under intense scrutiny at the time.
Perhaps even more shocking was the equestrian attire he specifically chose to wear for this occasion — a well-fitted black jacket, paddock boots with matching leather half chaps and high waisted beige breeches which accentuated his lithe figure and gave off an impression of being tailor-made. Standing next to him, a riding instructor almost considered himself underdressed.
He kept eyeing him from head to toe before it finally hit him he was rudely staring. Feeling his cheeks heat up, Kikuda tried to find his words after the initial surprise worn off.
"What a coincidence, dete-"
"Please," the aforementioned detective immediately cut into his sentence, raising his hand in an imploring gesture "I rather we not refer to my profession during my leisure time. Tsurumi's just fine."
"Ah, right, of course. Tsurumi then." Kikuda corrected himself hastily. Still feeling out of it, he extended a palm in greeting to cover up for his jittering nerves, only to be met in a handshake much firmer than he expected from detective's slender fingers. It felt grounding and Kikuda couldn't be more grateful. "It's Kikuda."
"I'm aware. And as much as I'd like to subscribe our meeting to a stroke of luck, it is, in fact, intentional," he began to explain, breaking their eye-contact "I figured since I'm a total beginner, I'd be more comfortable having a familiar face show me the ropes."
Kikuda could swear he could detect a put-upon modesty in his voice but didn't think much of it.
So that's how he ended up here at his riding stables. Presumably. Kikuda was surprised he even registered on the detective's radar. They only exchanged a few sentences before. As a matter of fact, he did not have much information to share at the time of the inquiry and thus couldn't imagine he contributed in any way to the solving of the case. But then, given the nature of his job, the detective must be keeping track of most people he deals with daily. He struck him as a meticulous sort of person.
"Horseback riding, huh? Whatever gave you an idea?" he asked conversationally and with a shall-we gesture started leading the way toward the stables.
"I had someone recommend it to me." Detective Tsurumi matched his fast pace without missing a beat. "It's supposed to help improve one's focus and coordination, or so I heard, and-" he paused as if for a dramatic effect, before dropping his voice into conspiratorial whisper "Apparently, I'm in a desperate need of a hobby. At least according to my subordinate."
A workaholic then? Kikuda could think of plenty of other hobbies, not as time or money-consuming, but if this is what detective needed to take his mind off work, who was he to question his flight of fancy? It certainly couldn't hurt his salary of a horse riding coach.
"I applaud the spirit." Kikuda wasn't sure what prompted him to slow down his stride or to chuckle playfully at the man next "But, you know, you didn't need to go all the way out with your-" he gestured offhandedly at his, as impressive as unnecessary, custom outfit "A safety helmet and proper footwear would more than suffice."
"Oh, but I absolutely had to. I'll have you know I don't do things half-heartedly."
The detective's retort was imbued with more gravity than it warranted and Kikuda struggled not to read too much into his statement, which sounded almost like a challenge. Or a threat. Feeling all too self-aware under an intense stare, he cleared his throat. "Let me introduce you to the horse we'll be working with then."
They had reached the box stall, where a dark bay horse was waiting — with his ears pointed forward and eyes attentive — already alert to their presence. "His name is Nagant. He's generally a gentle gelding, this one." Kikuda's pride and joy. One he picked with a fidgety greenhorn in mind. He certainly did not expect to deal with a man projecting nothing but self-assurance after hearing that special request. Not being a people person himself, Ariko must have misunderstood, clearly.
The dete-Tsurumi stared at him blankly before recognition dawned on him, an earnest smile brightening his features.
"Nagant. As in a gun model?" he looked particularly pretty when he smiled "Are you by chance a gun enthusiast?"
"Uh. I collect old models in my spare time," he answered mechanically, somewhat caught by surprise. Normally he'd feel defensive about admitting to it, too often met with uncalled-for disdain in return. It's not a crime. But something told him the detective's curiosity came from a genuine place of interest.
"Nagant, is it?" Tsurumi directed his attention toward the horse, the bright smile never leaving his face. "Well, aren't you a handsome fellow?"
Without being prompted to, he gently raised his hand to Nagant's nostrils, allowing him to sniff at his knuckles. The horse nickered softly in greeting. "I'll be in your care, then." Tsurumi turned his gaze back to Kikuda just as he was finishing his sentence, leaving it ambiguous which one of them he was actually addressing. Kikuda could feel his cheeks heat up for a second time that day already and cursed inwardly. Unfair.
He took a deep breath trying to regain his composure, it wouldn't do if he transferred any of that nervous energy to Nagant and made him in turn apprehensive toward Tsurumi. Really, there was no reason for him to feel this flustered. "Actually. While I'm sure you're itching to get started already," he said scratching at the back of his neck "I would like to, well, for you two to get familiar with each other first."
"Yes?"
Met with Tsurumi's confused stare he felt he had to elaborate.
"You see, I'm of the opinion developing a mental connection with the horse is equally as important as perfecting a riding technique."
Kikuda didn't know whether he expected more of a cheeky or defiant response in return, but he sure wasn't counting to be met with this withdrawn expression. Eyes cast downward, posture slouching slightly, the man looked positively dejected.
"Naturally. It's important to me as well, that we do this at the right pace," his voice sounded strangely small, missing the exuberant mirth from earlier and-
Oh. It finally occurred to him he might have completely misinterpreted Tsurumi's overconfident flair. Just like a hardened detective front he wore at work was merely one of the various facets there were to this man. In actuality, he most likely wasn't as certain of himself as he wanted to appear to the world.
And wasn't it a failure on Kikuda's part to not pick up on this earlier? The realization raised a prickle of annoyance with himself. It wasn't like him to judge a book by its cover.
He couldn't begin to guess at the man's insecurities, but, at the very least, he could offer to be a rock of stability.
"Hey." Feeling bold and resolute, Kikuda grasped Tsurumi's hand gently and guided it to the horse's mane, encouraging him to start rubbing the side of Nagant's neck, knowing full well both of them will find the experience comforting. "It will be alright. One step at a time."
It was Tsurumi's turn to blush this time.
Kikuda stepped aside to collect the grooming kit, while Tsurumi compliantly followed his cue and began to stroke the horse's neck and shoulder in a careful, steady manner — his palm open.
"You're doing fine," he reassured, taking note of Nagant's calm and relaxed demeanor.
"I would hope so." Tsurumi said under his breath before he caught his blunder "I mean, it's petting. There are only so many ways you can go wrong here."
Kikuda couldn't quite stifle a snort in response. "You'd be surprised how many people approach horses as they would their dogs. Even using their fingernails to try and scratch them."
And even though there was no ill intention behind this common mistake and beginners' ignorance, bringing it up would normally rise an ire in him all the same. Something about this time was different. He wondered briefly whether the soothing atmosphere didn't rub off him as well.
At any rate, Kikuda was relieved Tsurumi sounded normal again.
"We'll start with some basic grooming before I show you how to tack him up properly," he said, in the meantime arranging the necessary combs and brushes.
Tsurumi stopped what he was doing. His hands went up to his chin strap buckles and started undoing them, clearly foreseeing this is going to take a while and he might as well get comfortable. He took off his riding helmet in one smooth motion, the alluring effect somewhat ruined by his previously meticulously slicked back hair looking all disheveled now.
It was rather endearing, Kikuda decided, and in that moment thought himself silly for ever finding this man so intimidating.
"Let's proceed then."
They met with no further hurdles afterward. Tsurumi seemed to pick up on things quickly as Kikuda instructed him, step by step, on the correct procedure of cleaning the horse's coat, followed by his mane and tail. But fast learner or not, Kikuda preferred to play it safe and handled hoof-picking himself, the relatively more complicated and sensitive part of the whole ordeal. Working in sync, they did a thorough job, and Kikuda could tell Nagant was pleased with their efforts.
Saddling and bridling were more of a complex task on the other hand. Being realistic, Kikuda did not expect Tsurumi to memorize the entire process on their first try, albeit he proved to be an attentive student so far. That was fine, there'll be more opportunities to work on that.
"I know this whole thing might look daunting at first but it's not really as difficult as it seems. In no time, it will become a routine to you," he said while checking the latigo straps one last time, just to be safe. Satisfied, he patted Nagant on the neck in appreciation, earning himself a head-rub against his shoulder in return "Thank you for being so patient, buddy."
"Do you think he's ready then?" The slightest hint of anticipation could be heard in Tsurumi's voice. To be fair, he wasn't alone in his feelings. Though Kikuda did not stop to ponder why that was.
"Absolutely. I think you're ready to lead him out," he thought it a good idea to allow Tsurumi to establish some control over the horse before he actually gets on Nagant for the first time.
With his brows scrunched slightly, and his equestrian helmet already put back on, Tsurumi accepted the lead rope. "I trust your judgment."
Positioning himself on Nagant's left side and folding the excess of the rope so it doesn't dangle, he started to lead him — Nagant didn't show any resistance as he clearly has taken a liking to Tsurumi already, Kikuda couldn't help but smile to himself at the thought — until they reached the paddock area, and Tsurumi halted him effortlessly.
"Now comes the hard part." Kikuda closed the gates behind them prior to making a quick sweep of the area with his eyes, checking for anything out of place. Safety first. "Would you like to use a mounting block? There's no shame to it."
Tsurumi leveled him with an unreadable gaze before he broke into a self-pleased smile, mischief in his eyes. "I think I'll manage. Thank you."
Oddly enough, it's all it took for Kikuda to feel reassured that everything's going to be just fine. So he smiled in return.
"Just make sure to not tense up. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be right there to catch you."
Tsurumi only raised an eyebrow at him incredulously, as if saying "good luck with that". Cheeky.
"Focus now," Kikuda put on his most authoritative voice, pushing down his own embarrassment "Rest your left hand on his neck — don't let go of the reins — and grab the saddle fork with your other hand. Your left foot goes into a stirrup-" which Kikuda held for him, in assistance.
Following the instructions to the T, Tsurumi swung himself into the saddle in one swift motion and landed on it softly. He found the right stirrup on the other side without missing a beat.
Kikuda let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. True to his word, the man was fit enough to pull it off. He chuckled.
"Alright. Well done. Now that you're in the saddle, the first thing I want you to understand..." Kikuda trailed off realizing Tsurumi was no longer listening, his attention somewhere else, as he adjusted his position and straightened his posture before squeezing with his lower legs to signal Nagant to move forward.
And move forward they did. Seemingly in no time and with little effort, Tsurumi appeared to tune in with his center of balance. It didn't take more than the subtle cues — a slight pull of reins here, push of heels there — for Tsurumi to coax Nagant to walk a circle and this, this normally would have given anyone a pause but...
Nobody could possibly blame Kikuda for being too caught up in this bewitching display taking place before him.
He watched, enthralled and rooted in place, their graceful dance — at ease with each other, and in seamless rhythm — as their walk kept transitioning into a trot, a canter and then back again, in even intervals. Not every day he could witness Nagant caught up in such zest.
And Tsurumi. Tsurumi who appeared to be lost in a world of his own, riding against the wind, as the sun outlined his elegant figure in motion and the rays caught his flushed face just right — in that moment, looked so raw, honest, Kikuda could feel his heartbeat rise at the sight. Breathtaking.
Then the buzz of a phone filled the air and the moment was gone.
Nagant pinned his ears in apprehension when halted so abruptly, but still, he stopped in his track, obedient. At first, a clear confusion spread through Tsurumi's features, looking as if he forgot where he is in the meantime, before he collected himself and reached into his pocket to retrieve a message.
"Ah. It's work," Tsurumi sighed audibly, frowning at the screen "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this lesson short."
"What? Already?" Kikuda's voice came off as hoarse and he had to clear his throat, willing his pulse to slow down. He closed the distance between them in a few strides, before continuing, mindful to keep the disappointment out of his tone this time "I thought this is your downtime."
"There's no such thing as being unavailable in this line of work." He smiled down at him, but the sentiment didn't quite reach his eyes "My apologies."
Though he did his best to hide it, Kikuda could tell, Tsurumi seemed just as affected by this interruption. Such contrast to how exhilarated and open he looked just moments ago, and Kikuda felt even more reluctant to part with him yet. Especially now, that the vague idea has taken root and wouldn't leave him.
He wanted — needed — to say something. "Listen-" but this time he was cut off by the same phone ringing and-
Shit.
Of all things to overlook.
Everything happened in an instant and yet, to Kikuda, it felt as if time itself slowed down. A high pitched whinny reached his ears. Normally docile horse reared up, startled by the piercing sound — sensitive to such noises, of which Kikuda was aware of and he'd chide himself for not warning Tsurumi earlier, if there was time for that — in an attempt to throw off the source of it, that in this very moment he perceived as a threat.
He could see Tsurumi sliding out of the saddle, despite his best effort to hold on to and Kikuda suppressed his primal instinct to get out of the way of a frightened horse in favor of rushing to his aid instead. Don't let him hit the ground!
A solid weight knocked the wind out of him.
It was impossible to tell how long it took Kikuda to come back to himself. First, a muffled sound of neighing reached his awareness, while the ringing in his ears slowly subsided. Warily, he opened his eyes again to spot Nagant standing a few meters away, looking anxious but otherwise fine. At first glance at least.
He couldn't tell whether he rolled them both out of the way in time or they were just this fortunate the horse didn't stomp all over them. Clearly someone, universe? was looking out for them.
Oh, right. Tsurumi was lying on top of him. Very still. Kikuda could feel a cold dread spreading through his chest, rapidly, as panic started to rise. "Hey! Are you conscious?! Can you move your neck, or your toes or-?!"
"I'm fine. I'm fine," with a languid lift of his hand, Tsurumi interrupted his frenzied tirade, Oh, thank heaven, before bursting into a fit of uncontrollable giggles, which made Kikuda question the validity of his answer. A concussion? "You did catch me after all."
Huh? Kikuda frowned, utterly perplexed at Tsurumi's words before it finally hit him what he was referring to. He couldn't resist a snort in response. "You little..." In the end, he only shook his head, too grateful and relieved at the same time to resort to name-calling. And oddly enough, he could only think of some cutesy labels to call him with. That'd be rather... inappropriate.
"Do you feel well enough to get up?" He asked the man still sprawled on top of him, his most pressing worries alleviated in the meantime, but he needed to make sure.
"Well. I could certainly try." Tsurumi paused, considering his next words "But, to be honest, I'm still weak in the knees."
"Oh." Kikuda could detect the note of uncertainty, of hope, in Tsurumi's voice and had to smile to himself. He didn't fight the fondness spreading through his chest, it was a lost battle already. He certainly didn't mind the other man's weight. Or lying down here a while longer. Or never letting go, for that matter. But he couldn't see his face from this angle, and that wouldn't do. "That-That's fine. Then just try turning around. Do you think you can do that?"
He got a peeved hmph in response but Tsurumi started to move all the same. Gingerly, as he was bruised all over no doubt, despite Kikuda's body cushioning his fall.
"And you're sure I'm not too heavy?" Tsurumi asked once they were face to face, looking him straight in the eyes. Finally. They could talk properly like this.
"I would let you know if that were the case." Carefully, Kikuda put his arms around Tsurumi in an embrace and shifted him closer to accentuate his point. He meant it. If anything, he found the solid weight against his chest heartening.
"But first, listen," he had some explaining to do, so Kikuda tried on his best scolding tone, with some measure of success "Those maneuvers you did earlier... You're not new at this, are you?"
So why take up lessons at all? Kikuda kicked himself internally for not figuring it out from the start. In hindsight, it was so obvious.
Tsurumi had a gal to avoid his gaze as if feeling bashful now that the cat was out of the bag and started worrying on his lower lip. Kikuda couldn't help following the movement with his eyes. Unfair. So unfair.
"I couldn't figure out a better way to approach you. Seemed like a good excuse at the time."
Tsurumi finally confessed, and even though Kikuda felt beyond exasperated at the absurdity of this whole situation, he couldn't help the swell of affection overcoming him. Not quite sure what to with it, or himself, he took Tsurumi's face into his hands and pressed a chaste kiss against his nose, then his cheek, wherever he could reach at this awkward angle.
"Promise me something. Next time, do us both a favor and skip all the unnecessary steps. Just ask me out directly."
A content sigh followed in response. Satisfied with this outcome, Tsurumi attempted to settle and make himself more comfortable, leaning his face down and bumping the hard shell of his helmet against Kikuda's chin in the process.
"Ou. Please, take that thing off."
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