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youvebeenlivingfictional · 3 years

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The Long Con Part Two

Previous Part | Masterlist | Next Part Pairing: Marcus Pike x Reader Rating: T Notes: Thanks for all of the encouragement on the first couple of parts of this 🥰💕 I hope y’all had a good week! 💖 Warnings: Cursing; some angst Summary: “Shitty liars need to practice, Pike.”

“Alright, I’ve got a list,” You said, shrugging off your bag and setting it down beside Marcus’ couch. “A list?” Marcus repeated, coming back from the kitchen with a glass of water for you, “Of what?” “Thank you-- Things that we need to sort out before we get to Austin. Look, you’re a shitty liar, right? Your words, I’m paraphrasing,” You tacked on, reaching into your bag and pulling out your notebook and a pen.

“Uh-huh,” Marcus agreed amusedly. “Right, so hopefully if we sort out our details now, you won’t feel so freaked when we’re down there. And you won’t be trying to cobble together facts on the fly. That would get incredibly messy— especially if we’re going to pull this off all week.” “A full week of lying to my family,” Marcus sighed, “Talk about a long con, huh?” You glanced up at him from under your lashes, amused. “God, you’re such a boy scout. And technically you’ve already lied to them, you started the second you told Marnie that you were bringing me— though that’s technically not a lie anymore. Just...Don’t think about it as lying, pretend you’re undercover or something,” You shrugged, flipping your notebook over to your list of questions. “So I’d be lying to myself about the lie? Isn’t that compounding it?” “You’re overthinking it, Agent.” “You might want to start calling me Marcus.” “Right,” You muttered, “I will...Remember to do that.” “So what’s on the list?” Your eyes darted up from your list as you watched Marcus shrug out of his suit jacket. You’d seen Pike in less-than-pristine states before, especially throughout the Coleman case. You’d seen him with his tie loosened, his sleeves rolled up, and when you were half-tweaked on caffeine in your cramped office, it was… more than a little distracting. You leaned forward, picking up the glass and taking a pull from it before setting it down and settling back again. “Basics first,” You said, “How we met. I say we stick with ‘work’.” “That’s not a lie.” “I know, I thought you’d like that.” “I do.” “Okay. How long have we been together?” “Uh...Few months at least-- Five?” “I can handle five,” You jotted it down, “How come you haven’t mentioned me to them before?” You glanced over at Marcus, smiling a little when you saw his panicked expression. “Or have you gotten this one already?” You added. “No, I haven’t-- Work has been busy? Again, I think that would be sufficient, so-- Hang on.” You raised your brows as Marcus leaned back against his couch. You could practically hear the gears turning in his head. “What’s happening over there?” You asked. “We should change how long we’ve been together to...Maybe two or three months? If we’d been together for five and I hadn’t said anything, my family would be very suspicious.” You nodded, scribbling out ‘5’ and writing ‘2-3’. “‘Kay. Are there any significant past relationships - serious girlfriends, fiancés that I should know about? I don’t need full details, just, like, broad strokes so that if someone mentions something, I’m not completely in the dark.” “One ex-wife, one ex-fiancé,” Marcus answered without hesitation. You nodded a little, jotting that down, and stilled when he added, “My ex-wife will be at the wedding.” “Good to know. Is that contentious?” “No,” Marcus shook his head, “No, it ended amicably.” You considered Marcus, his puppy-dog eyes, soft smile and kind nature, and you couldn’t imagine it ending any other way. “She’s still close to my family,” He tacked on. “Oh,” You laughed a little, “Great. That’s gonna be fun for me.” “What do you mean?” Marcus frowned. You shot him a look. “Your family is still close to your ex-wife. You’re bringing a new girlfriend home. You don’t think this could get a little tense? Or is your entire family just as nice as you are?” Your brows rose as Marcus laughed a little, his head ducking bashfully at the question. “We try not to judge,” he conceded, shrugging, “I’ve brought a couple of other people home since the divorce. They’re not going to jump to conclusions.” You hummed, glancing further down your list. Your stomach twisted at one question, but it was one that you knew that you had to ask. “Speaking of jumping to conclusions,” You shifted in your seat, “Is there anyone in your family that might run a background check on me?” “A background check?” “Yeah,” You nodded, “I mean, I know my records are sealed and wouldn’t pop if someone ran a normal background check on me, but if anyone in your family is in law enforcement like you and...And went poking?” “No, they wouldn’t,” Marcus shook his head. “You sure?” “I’m positive.” You lowered your eyes, biting the inside of your cheek to stopper asking for a third reassurance as you jotted the note down. “...You don’t trust easily, do you?” Marcus asked softly. The question turned your blood icy for a moment. But for as much ire as it raised in you, you were careful not to take offense. You knew that he wasn’t trying to get a rise out of you - you were doing the guy a favor, and it would be pretty ill-advised of the man to piss you off at this point. “What ever gave you that idea?” You teased instead, giving him a look out of the corner of your eye. Marcus’ lips twitched with a smile and you returned it. “Alright,” You added, looking through the rest of your list, “Let’s see what else we’ve got before we start drilling this stuff.”

“Drilling?” “Shitty liars need to practice, Pike.” “Marcus.” “Hey, it was better than ‘Agent’.” “At least I’m not the only one that needs practice.” --

“Run it by me again,” You requested, tucking one leg up under yourself and leaning back against the arm of the couch. Marcus sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. He’d ditched the tie, had popped the top few buttons of his shirt, and his sleeves had been rolled up around his elbows. The man looked a little haggard - it was precious. He straightened up, brow scrunching before his head tipped to the side just a little. “Okay. Okay, we met a year ago when I moved to D.C... You work with the Bureau, assisting on cases, mostly art forgeries.” You nodded encouragingly, waving him on. “We started dating two and a half months ago,” He’d settled on that, finally, not wanting to pick two or three, “After we spent so much time together on the Coleman case. You’re an art history professor, you...Have been engaged twice before,” He added, pointing a finger at you. You rolled your eyes a little bit. “Keep going,” You ordered. You raised a brow as Marcus’ brow furrowed a little more, his head turning just a bit. “You don’t have any siblings, you’re not close to your family, and we have not set any plans for the future in stone...Yet.” “Why do you keep tacking on that ‘yet’?” “Because my family knows me. They know I think about those things, and they know I don’t get into relationships unless I really think there’s something there. If they feel me pulling back on that, they’ll think it’s because I’m worried about scaring you off.” “You’re bringing me home not only to meet your family, but to stay there for a week and for a wedding-- which your entire family will be attending. I think that’s a healthy fear,” You retorted. Marcus smiled a little bit, raising his hand in concession. “How’d I do?” He asked. “Much better. You didn’t close your eyes halfway through to remember the details and you stopped ticking things off on your fingers. You do this thing, though, when you’re getting ready to lie, it’s like watching someone wind up for a pitch.” “What do I do?” “You do this--” You imitated Marcus’ furrowed brow and tilted head, “It’s subtle, but you always do it.” “You think my family’ll notice?” “Only if you play poker with them.” Marcus chuckled, slouching back against the arm of the couch and scrubbing his hand over his face. “God, I’m beat,” He muttered. You nodded a little, shutting your notebook and getting ready to tell Marcus that you would get out of his hair. “Wanna go get some dinner?” Was his next question. -- “Did you seriously just order pancakes?” You asked, brows raised. You’d wound up at a diner not too far from Marcus’ apartment - somewhere where the staff seemed to know and were very fond of him. “Yeah,” Marcus nodded firmly, “Dinner is the best time for breakfast.” You chuckled a little, reaching out and taking up your soda. “So, engaged twice?” He asked. You rolled your eyes a little. “Once in college, when I was young and...Quite stupid,” You admitted, “And then once a couple of years ago.” “What happened the second time, if you don’t...Mind?” Marcus cringed a little as he asked. It took you a moment to answer, and he rushed to add, “You don’t have to tell me.” You shook your head. “It’s okay,” You promised, “I, um… I told them that I had a record.” Marcus’ expression softened. “You hadn’t told them before?” “We moved really fast, which I usually don’t when it comes to relationships. I don’t know, usually that stuff is always on my mind when I’m with someone, but with them it never really felt like it mattered. When I did tell them, though, it…” Your eyes lowered to the table as regret twisted in your stomach, “It broke everything.” “Did you tell them what happened?” “They didn’t give me the chance.” The two of you were quiet for a few moments - Marcus digesting this information as you sat in the swirl of bitterness that it had dredged up. “Anyway,” You shook your head, drawing the both of you out of it, “Guess it shouldn’t really matter that they left when they did. I realized later that, given their reaction, they were going to leave no matter when I told them… How much of that you disclose to your family is up to you.” Marcus didn’t say anything for a few moments, searching your face. “Know what I never understood?” He finally asked. “What?” “Why they never nailed any of the people buying from you or your grandmother.” You shot him a skeptical look. “You know that it’s not punishable by law to buy a forgery or be a rich piece of shit.” “You were a kid,” Marcus frowned. You considered this for a moment, directing your eyes to the ceiling to find the best way to order your thoughts. “...I was a minor,” You contended, “But I was old enough to know that what we were doing was wrong. I… I knew that we were duping people, I knew that it was illegal. I knew the paintings were forgeries, and I knew that the people that we were dealing with were dangerous. I’m just lucky I wasn’t tried as an adult.” “You were raised to do all of that and then left hung out to dry by the person that was supposed to protect you,” Marcus argued quietly. You swallowed thickly, hurriedly looking to the table as you felt tears spring up in your eyes. You tried not to think about these things most days. And for Marcus to have this level of empathy, of understanding...You were sure that the man had glanced through your case file at some point when he started working with you, but hadn’t expected this. Most people didn’t look too far past what you were doing to try and understand how you’d come to be in your position. But then, most people weren’t Marcus. “...No wonder I don’t trust easy, huh?” You tried to joke after you’d blinked the tears away and lifted your eyes back to his, a thin smile on your lips. Before he could say another word on the matter, the food arrived.

The two of you tucked in quietly, After a few minutes, you nudged his foot with yours.

“Tell me about Marnie? And her fiancé, um… Hazel, right?” You requested.

Marcus’ face pulled with a fond smile, and you felt ease wash over you again. -- “So, just let me know what the wedding colors are so I don’t wind up wearing a dress that matches them and we should be all good,” You reached for your bag as Marcus pulled his car up in front of your apartment building. “Sure thing.” “And if you think of anything else that your family might ask about us, you know, so we can plan ahead.” “I will.” “Okay-- Oh! Uh… Are you a big PDA guy? Like, is that something your family’s going to expect?” “I tend to be kinda touchy, yeah, but I can tone it down.” “Well, what are we talking about here? Hand-holding, hugging?” “Yeah,” He nodded, “And probably a hand on your shoulder or your back, maybe a kiss on your cheek or forehead or…” Anticipation thrummed through you as his gaze darted to your lips. “‘Kay,” You nodded a little, feeling your heartbeat tick up in your chest. “We don’t have to--” Marcus started to reassure, but you waved him off. “It’s totally fine,” You reassured him, “I trust you.” Marcus smiled at you, a gentle smile overtaking his lips. “Glad to hear it. I’ll get you those wedding colors as soon as I can.” “Thanks,” You smiled, “Night, Marcus.” “Goodnight,” He chuckled as you got out of the car. Tag list: @hufflepuffing-all-day-long ; @spideysimpossiblegirl ; @blueeyesatnight ; @elen-aranel ; @yespolkadotkitty ; @artsymaddie ; @phoenixhalliwell ; @lunaserenade ; @winniedaboo ; @empress-palpat1ne ; @randomness501 ; @nutmeg-20 ; @leonieb ; @the-feckless-wonder ; @lou-la-lou ; @captain-jebi ; @supernaturalgirl ; @naturenebula21 ; @evelynseventyr ; @giselatropicana

#The Long Con #Marcus Pike x Reader #Marcus Pike x You #Marcus Pike/Reader #Marcus Pike Fic #Marcus Pike Imagine

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autumnblogs · 3 years

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Day 3: Vendetta against Bro

Welcome back to more Homestuck Liveblogging. Picking up with Nannasprite as she prepares to give John the Dirt.

https://homestuck.com/story/421

Sburb’s opening move is to take John’s Dad away from him. If @mmmmalo‘s theory about psychological storytelling is to be believed, Sburb provokes fear and then manifests it in the form of a character’s antagonists. If you wonder why I bring them up so much, it’s probably because I’ve been reading their blog lately. I am almost always game for more Homestuck theorization, and would love to be able to reference more people and engage with their thoughts in my theoryposts and liveblogging, so if you know somebody with good takes, please pass them along my way.

The Incipisphere, like John’s name, was invoked into existence by player/character action, but paradoxically, has always been that way. By engaging with Sburb, John authenticates its retroactive existence, like a mailman taking a signature of receipt for a package.

When we engage with the fixtures of our cultures and material realities, we too, authenticate them. This can be good or bad - when we communicate with each other, recognize each other, we authenticate each other too. Observing and being observed is a mutual act of validation for everyone involved. I see you seeing me seeing you.

I’m full of horseshit again. Read some more horseshit after the break.

Content Warning for this one: Pedophilia Mentions.

https://homestuck.com/story/422

There’s a lot to unpack in this sequence of pages, and I’m almost certainly going to miss a lot of it, but I’ll come back to stuff that I miss as it comes back up in later pages.

As a Crucible of Unlimited Potential, Skaia can become absolutely anything, and the shape that it will take on will be influenced by the actions of the players. But it isn’t anything yet.

This is the second time in two pages that Nanna has brought up the light-darkness dichotomy of the forces at play in the Medium, and after just talking about the act of mutual authentication through mutual observation, my brain is screaming the words Hegelian Lens at me. Might go somewhere with that too.

I also wanna call attention to the name of the Medium. As a story about stories, it only makes sense that the name of Homestuck’s main otherworld should evoke the field used to propagate mass communication.

https://homestuck.com/story/423

I’ve always thought that it’s interesting that of the two forces in the Medium, the players have natural allies in the form of Prospit. The choice here is not to act on behalf of one or the other, the choice is between Action and Inaction. Not doing something is itself, doing something.

https://homestuck.com/story/427

You Can (Not) Redo.

Sburb relentlessly drives its players forward. If you attempt to go back, or stay where you are, you will be punished. No getting your parents back, no getting your planet back.

What’ll it be John? Advance or Advance?

https://homestuck.com/story/431

John is extremely resistant to being made to do things that he doesn’t want to do anyway, even by Narrators.

More thoughts about Cake and Baked Goods in Homestuck and in relation to John. The other main characters baking is associated with in Homestuck are all women - The Condesce, Meenah, Jane, Nanna - and baking in general is pretty strongly associated with women, moms, etc. I’ve always thought it was a little out of place amongst Dad’s other character traits, which are definitively masculine. Maybe it’s for exactly that reason - baking is culturally feminine.

Maybe John’s resistance to baked goods is because he’s uncomfortable receiving feminine affection (especially, but not only from his Dad). It’s like getting kisses from your Mom in public or other public displays of affection between men and the women in their lives, or even men and other men in their lives. John is certainly pretty clueless about affection from women when he receives it later in the story. On the other hand, he responds very well to masculine displays of affection, like the aloof but ebullient cards he gets from his Dad, or the one-upsmanship between him and Dave.

(I’ll have to think some more about the capitalism thing from my other post.)

https://homestuck.com/story/433

More of Rose seeing enemies in every shadow. Then again, could it be Jasper’s fault that they’re in this mess?

https://homestuck.com/story/442

I think the fact that we jump to this point in the past suggests that Rose is probably reminiscing about this spot, going along with my theory that when the Narration is focusing on a character, it’s also giving us that character’s stream of consciousness - we’re experience what Rose is experiencing.

That probably goes a long way to excusing the kind of puzzling, irritating experience we have of our first minutes with John. Due to his tendency to get distracted by things and forget how things work, we have to suffer through his own inability to navigate his disorderly environment exactly the same way he does.

Oh, so that’s why this story gets compared to Ulysses.

It is Jaspers’ fault that they’re in this mess. My hypothesis gathers more data.

https://homestuck.com/story/444

The third of the prose poems. Drat. Got to Dave’s Poem before I even had the chance to write about Rose’s Poem. Guess we’ll come back to this one later later.

https://homestuck.com/story/445

I’ve almost certainly missed a few of these gags by now but “Left him hanging long enough” is one of the jokes that Homestuck reproduces over and over again. Homestuck reproduces itself frequently, like variations on a theme. Its self-referential nature could be called incestuous, as it turns one-off gags into recurring gags.

https://homestuck.com/story/448

While Bro and Dirk are both definitely irony ninjas where Dave is just performing irony to get his Bro’s approval, I think all the irony is an effort to distance themselves from the fact that they really do sincerely enjoy the things they’re “ironically” into. That too, is probably ironic.

Unfortunately, the actual subject matter of Bro’s interests, while innocuous in a vacuum, are still extremely inappropriate to leave out where a thirteen year old can have access to them. Bro probably isn’t a pedophile, but between the martial education, and the uncomfortable degree to which he involves Dave in his sex life, his relationship with Dave recalls pederasty which is one of many, many links between Dirk, Bro, and the Classical Hellenes, and Monastic Shudo, a similar practice historically attested from their beloved Japan. (The term Platonic Relationship is called that because Plato is one of the first Greek Philosophers to argue that maybe it would be better for students’ education if they weren’t also sexually involved with their mentors? Or so the story goes.)

I may have a bit of a vendetta against Bro Strider, which probably has at least a little to do with the fact that, when I first read Homestuck, I got fooled into thinking he was kind of awesome, and it wasn’t until I was able to deal with my own childhood abuse and the fact that I had been indoctrinated with a lot of the very same toxic ideas bro inculcated in Dave that I was able to realize that Bro Strider is kind of a horrible guardian, so I have a sort of special ire directed at this character. Maybe I’m afraid in another life, I could have grown up to be that kind of creep. I’m glad I didn’t.

https://homestuck.com/story/449

All throughout this section, the narration suggests that Dave is both subconsciously aware that his Bro’s pasttimes make him uncomfortable, but trying to soothe himself by affirming them. So, in spite of my sharing some youthful confusion with Dave, the Narrative at least communicates to us from the very beginning that something is off about Bro.

https://homestuck.com/story/452

To interrupt my dark and brooding reverie, please enjoy some Skate 3 Glitches.

I guess here’s a good place to note that I am going to be using the #personal stuff hashtag to denote when a post contains me alluding to my own dark and troubled past.

https://homestuck.com/story/457

The password is six letters long, and based on the fact that it’s the most awesome thing that it could be, I have no doubt that it’s Strider.

https://homestuck.com/story/465

Yup.

https://homestuck.com/story/466

It warms the cockles of me heart that Dave’s first inclination when he starts to flip the fuck out is to reach out to John Egbert.

https://homestuck.com/story/484

8^y

https://homestuck.com/story/485

Remember that one-upsmanship I was talking about? Any chance Dave and John get around each other, they talk each other down. I’m not sure if Andrew was saying anything about Toxic Masculinity at the time. I expect, like a lot of us, he didn’t have those words on his mind in 2009, but that’s textbook toxic masculinity, and I think when viewed as a complete work, Dave and John’s growth out of it is a sign of healthy maturation. Build each other up, boys, don’t tear each other down. In this life, we’re all we’ve got, and you owe it to each other.

https://homestuck.com/story/503

Leveling up is one of those weird things about Roleplaying Games that I didn’t realize until some point in the last two years is kind of an integral fixture of them. Overcoming hardships permanently makes you stronger in games that have an experience-level feature in them, and once you’re strong enough to beat a challenge once, you’re almost always strong enough to overcome that challenge in the future.

It’s a kind of storytelling that on closer examination is weirdly propagandistic, but it’s actually all over media. It’s pretty rare for a story to say “When you overcome a challenge, good job. You will have to overcome that same challenge again and again - maybe every day of your life.” The interesting thing, and I might come back to this, is that I think Homestuck actually takes this latter approach. Exactly the same emotional struggles they begin the story with are the ones they spend all 8000 pages of Homestuck agonizing over, and these characters will probably spend their entire lives wrestling with the baggage of their youth.

Suffering and toil is the fate of humankind, I suppose.

https://homestuck.com/story/518

Surrounded by Idiots.

https://homestuck.com/story/538

Saw is a story about a serial killer who subjects his victims to gruelling trials catered to make them face their own fatal flaws and emerge changed into better people, which is a lot like authorial scorn, which Andrew describes thusly in the commentary for Vriska’s introduction: “It's not as ill-willed as it might sound, but more of a universal principle of storytelling that for things to be interesting, harsh outcomes must befall those you create, in response to which they may thrive or fail. Which to the casual observer may read as hate.“. Lord English and Caliborn bear visual similarity to Jigsaw’s creepy puppet avatars, and serve as instruments of Andrew’s Authorial Scorn. Bro reproduces the same kind of creator’s hatred that Lord English bears toward all of Paradox Space, and reproduces it for the dubious benefit of his ward - Dave is to overcome the challenges thrust upon him in order to become strong.

https://homestuck.com/story/571

Dave does not care for being watched.

https://homestuck.com/story/588

If Dave’s first instinct for when he’s uncomfortable is to go talk to his friends, his second instinct is to attack.

https://homestuck.com/story/625

I don’t remember where I read it originally, it’s too far away in the past, but each of the items in the Rocket Pack is representative of one of John’s friends. The Cinderblock Dave, the Flower Pot Jade, the Violin Rose. John’s friends, his connections and bonds (Blood) tie him down and prevent him from indulging his most impulsive behaviors (Breath).

https://homestuck.com/story/631

In addition to Mad Science (or perhaps as an aspect thereof) John demonstrates remarkable lateral thinking.

https://homestuck.com/story/635

Alchemy has helped me get my thoughts in gear on a subject I glossed over the other day - the way the characters’ personality traits and objects fill the background radiation of the comic. In a way, the same thing is going on when the characters produce all kinds of neat shit from the odds and ends around their house as is going on when Sburb populates itself with symbols from the characters domestic lives.

Clowns become a threatening symbol throughout all of Homestuck, basically because there are a bunch in John’s house from a Doylist perspective. From a Watsonian perspective, Sburb seems, through the vehicle of destiny, to deliberately latch onto things from the players’ lives that will help them to contend with their anxiety and trauma. John has bad dreams about clowns, and seems to conceptualize himself as a clown in his self-critical estimation of himself. Maybe even as a Dark Mirror of his aspirations to be an entertainer? Is a Circus Clown a funhouse mirror version of a stage magician? I don’t have a follow up to that question, but it makes me think. If you checked out the essay from Malo I linked earlier, you might recognize some other things that John is afraid of which characterize his session, like his alleged fear of heights, and his anxiety about confronting his Dad.

I think that’s all for this evening. Another 200 pages down.

Cam signing off, alive and not alone.

#homestuck #liveblogging #commentary #authentication #validation #irony #personal stuff #authorial scorn

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nobodyeverasked · 4 years

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new beginnings; nct dream

(2005 words) - medium

--platonic--

Summary: whenever you feel alone - wherever you feel alone, know that there will always be someone - whether a house away or an ocean away - who’ll be there to support you.

The night lay quiet over SM Studios, the wrinkled sheets of twilight glistening in the pale moonlight and lulling the cream stars threading the indigo clouds of the night together to sleep. Most of the halls and pine-floored rooms lay desolate, no longer cradling the ear-piercing shrieks and rampant footsteps of twenty-two men-children. All rooms except for one, screeches of sneakers of rumbles of heavy breathing rupturing the symphonies of the night soaking through the walls. The amber lights hung above the two figures dancing across the floors and captured the candlelights of concentration in their eyes - sheathed by hatches of sweat-laced hair.

It was Donghyuck and their newest member of NCT Dream, Y/N, conquering the evening so the new maknae could finally learn the moves for their upcoming comeback. Complications have riddled Y/N’s schedule, his mind plagued with thick stacks of paperwork and too many pairs of steepled hands to count. The words escaping garnet-stained lips and the half-hearted smiles - chiseled with the lines of age - all amalgamated into one conglomerate hellfire of stress.

To say Y/N was struggling was an understatement, and the patience of Donghyuck started to wear thin between his grinding teeth and clicking tongue whenever he had to restart the music. The hollow shell of anger framing his frown filling up with the bullets of sweat running down the back of his neck. Y/N could feel the tension leaking off of Donghyuk’s languishing movements and winced at the burn of ire that trudged throughout the room every time the older - Donghyuck - combed his brown hair off his forehead.

Y/N just wanted to give up and let the person who took time out of their to just help him rest, the feeling of being a burden already clawing into his back as soon as he walked through the glass doors of the lobby on the first day. Being met with twenty-one pairs of eyes that stripped him down from his skin, and to the dirty converse now screeching along the floors in jagged steps.

He did not want to be more of a nuisance that he already felt he was, not only taking a badge that Jisung wore proudly, but having to step into the thick haze of expectations that he feared most. The comments and opinions behind closed doors were already getting to him, and as he lay restless between his sheets every night, staring at the one wall that could bear to hear his burdens, he wonders if chasing his dreams was really worth it - or were they stars that were perched too high in the abyss of his delusions?

“I- I’m sorry…” Y/N could barely breathe out those words as he tripped over one of his tattered shoelaces again, the white string growing dirty and worn, each stain holding the countless doubts whispered into countless empty rooms.

Donghyuck instantly stopped dancing as he could hear Y/N stuttering under the music, he even grew tired of his own heavy breathing, knowing that they have made no progress no matter how many hours awake they chisel into the night sky. Y/N could not be hopeless, could he? Even that idea started to wear under the grip of Donghuck’s trainers.

“You know what? It’s okay. We’re done.” Donghyuck did not even spare a half-hearted glance, instantly walking over to his phone and ripping the cord from the port. He was glad he missed the fall in the corners of Y/N’s mouth, the lip bitten in concentration, parted by the delicate hands of shock when the angered voice of his bandmate echoed through the room. It hit him more than the bass of the music, and dug into his heart more than any typed up comment could have.

Even his bandmates were losing hope for him, Y/N was right. He was right all along.

The spotlight was too blinding, the audience was too deafening, the doubts were too suffocating. He can’t do this.

“W- what?” Y/N shook his head, heaved words strained between weathered breaths. He has lost count how many times he wished he could dance like Jisung, belt like Renjun and pour his heart onto the stage the twenty-one works of art that stood by his side - but never made him feel more alone.

He could see their fingers soaring through the flames of their determination, a passion festered in their eyes. Where were his? Lost under the shadows of dejection looming in his mind? Withered to ashes by the tears staining his pillows? He didn’t know, nor did he want to search for any more answers - fearing that he would only find more reasons to pack his bags.

“I said we’re done, okay, Y/N? You’re not gonna get this tonight -seriously… Let’s just figure our stuff out tomorrow.” Donghuck tried to bite back the frustration riddling his dry tongue. He hated being angry, especially at someone who did not deserve it.

Y/N was only looking for help, and ever since he first slipped past their lobby door with the most fearful look on his face, Donghyuck wanted to do nothing more than sweep him into an embrace that could last an eternity. All he knew was that this feeling between them was temporary, and that the tides of their new memories would wash over their groans etched into the shores of the present.

Donghyuck trudged to the door, his steps growing smaller, slower as he could that Y/N was not following him. He hid a smile in his sleeve.

“What’re you doing, Y/N?” Donghyuck whipped around, watching as Y/N started to mark the movements slowly, a lethargy-ridden voice humming out the melody of their song, and muted movements taking over his body.

“I just wanna practice a little bit more-”

“Can you just give it a rest!” Donghyuck’s voice sent a frigid shiver to claw down Y/N’s spine and pierce his limbs. Donghyuck has never raised his voice before, at least not with such a virulent frustration rumbling in his throat. He just hopes that what he has planned many nights ago can finally go through, or the future he wishes to spend with Y/N will be farther between them than he thought. “You’re not gonna get it right now, let’s just get some rest and regather our bearings.”

“O- okay… Sorry...” Y/N hung his head in pure, untainted defeat. He could feel the flames of bitterness bite at his shifting feet and spiral around his legs as he shuffled ahead of Donghyuck and pulled the door to the practice door open. The air - sweltering with tension - cradling his shaking sighs tainted with disappointment.

“SURPRISE!!!”

The screams burst through the midnight haze dragging down on Y/N’s body and sent him jumping into the air, the tears held back in the heat of Donghyuck’s anger as he finally realized what was happening, what this entire practice session was for. His heavy pants crumbled into quiet sobs as soon as the amber candlelights came into view when a large, white-dressed cake was nestled in Jaemin’s extended arms, and four other heads popped up from behind him.

Months of hard work that felt like years and passed like decades made the memories of his birthdays spent back home under the coral glow of candles and sparklers fade completely from his mind, and the smokescreen of tension and anxiety plaguing the moonlight tonight only making it worse. How did they do this? Why? For him? How long have they been thinking about him? Did he actually matter?

“Happy birthday Y/N!!!” Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung flew through the door, everyone piling in on Y/N as he covered his eyes with shaking hands, glistening tears carving rivers down his cheeks, an overwhelming amalgamation of confusion, happiness and surprise drowning his mind. The arms curled around him sent a warmth to slither throughout his body, one of such a love that has remained foreign for as long as the emerald coasts of his hometown left his view. He could barely believe that these people, the ones he has looked up to for so long, thought of him in this way, remembered his birthday, and cherished even the faintest memory of him - he was speechless, breathless.

Hands smoothed over the back of his head and coiled around his torso tighter as soon as his tears could be seen, soaking the fabrics of six different sweatshirts and the comforting hands clinging to his body. Chenle was the first to wipe his tears away, brushing his thumbs over Y/N’s scarlet-tinted cheeks, ones that have never housed a smile so wide. Jisung came next, pressing a long, gentle kiss to the back of Y/N’s head, the smile framing it filled with so much shared joy and adoration that he nearly burst at the seams.

Donghyuck came barrelling in next, yelling at this poor, hopeful soul was the last thing he ever wanted to do, to drag Y/N’s determination through the mud of melancholy that much further. His hug knocked whatever remnants of air left in Y/N’s system right out of him, his coiling touch making an apology more heartfelt than anything he could spin into words or write on paper. The jagged sobs from Y/N only broke his heart more than what he had to do earlier.

“I… I… How…? What? Why me…?” Y/N shook out his hands and leaned his head on Renjun’s, who smiled as the shaking hand of their new maknae slowly rose to meet his. Many flames burned in Y/N’s head, and marred his mind, the fingers of his bandmates intertwining with his only shoving him deeper into the pools of perplexity. “Donghyuck…? Wh-”

“It’s because we love you, and we want you to know that we will always be here for you. We know you’ve been feeling alone, and we hate ourselves for every second we left you alone to fend for yourself. From now on, we just want you to feel comfortable, and we want to be with you every step of the way. We want you to talk to us, laugh with us and have fun with us, we want you to feel like you’re part of this group too.” Donghyuck wiped a stray tear away from Y/N’s cheek, looking into the eyes that were once tainted by the shadows of anguish, now gleaming with a reinvigorated determination, the ones they will have no problem falling in love with as time strolls alongside them. His lips, once pressed into a firm line of emotionlessness, now curved into a flourishing grin, one that could rival the many spotlights that will glow above all seven of their heads and shine a heavenly light on them as their burdens pushing on their shoulders grow heavy.

“I… I don’t know what to say…” Y/N tried to look at all of his bandmates through lashes blurred with tears, the glow of the dancing candle fire still piercing his tears and burning his heart with the flames of appreciation. “Thank you…”

“We just hope you know that we're always gonna be here for you.” Jeno threw and embrace around the people closest to him, his face buried into Y/N’s shoulders, and his arms draped around Jisung and Renjun - who still had their hands entwined with Y/N’s. “Always.” They could feel the pressure - built from the grounds of sleepless nights and piercing the thunderclouds of his greatest fears - melting away like the scarlet wax of the candle bringing all of their gazes to the cake. “Make a wish, Y/N.”

Y/N would always fantasize about receiving love from those he admired so much. But now that the stars perched in the highest nights of his faintest dreams are clutched between his shaking hands and shimmering between his love-struck stares between the other six boys, what did he have to wish for?

His wishes had already come true.

144 notes · View notes

evien-stark · 5 years

Text

✧I Need You✧ Chapter 19 [11% - End: Interlude]

To say that Tony had made an effort to keep himself extremely busy after the bust mission with General Ross one month ago would be putting things mildly. You were starting to feel like you barely saw him anymore, which wasn’t a very good feeling at all. It wasn’t at the level of thinking he was avoiding you but… you were getting there. Slowly. When he was home, he was holed up in the lab trying to fix the hundreds of problems that seemed to keep coming up with the Iron Man suit. New things he wanted to test out, things that needed tweaking. He was especially trying to get a handle on the delivery system. This much you knew. This much he kept you abreast on.

But that was it. And it was starting to feel like when you’d just started, and when he’d just come home. Which was not how you wanted to feel at all. But you weren’t sure exactly how to help him. He was spiraling down in his frenzied focus to be Iron Man, to break up the operation that had tried to end his life. Getting in Fury’s way when it suited him. And then coming home to clean up so that he could take flight some hours later.

It wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t right.

But when you asked, “You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?”

He’d smiled so carefully up at you from his spot at the lab desk, screwdriver in hand, gauntlet in the other. “Of course I would.” You had to take him at his word. He was just keeping busy because there were things he needed to get done.

So you tried to do the best you could keeping out of his way when it was necessary, and sitting down to help him for missions when he needed you. It was a delicate balance along with your Stark Industries duties, which felt like they were multiplying every day.

None more so than today.

What was supposed to be a normal boring Tuesday. Tony would be home later in the evening from another operation in India. He’d been away for a little bit longer than usual. You were eager to have him home. Things could be different, you’d been telling yourself. You just had to sit him down and get him to breathe. After all, that was part of your job, wasn’t it? You’d help him climb out of the hole he was falling into.

Tell him things would be okay. That he had more than earned a break. That the world would continue on in its celebrated quiet peace if Iron Man took a week off. You knew it to be true. You just had to make him see it.

After you came back to the office from lunch that had been more coffee than actual lunch, everything changed.

A very important email sat waiting for you- for all Stark Industries employees.

Urgent: Stark Expo Reel

From none other than Tony himself.

Upon opening it, a cheery video played on screen. You recognized it as one of the promotional videos the media teams had been working on. But you’d only seen bare bones. This was a complete product. Nothing too terrible since some of it was b-roll anyway. But it was the female narrator that itched your ire,

“Stark Industries promotes better living through technology. We’re working on building a better planet for tomorrow, today. Stark Expo 2010. Witness the future first hand.”

The link for the website flashed as the end-tag, and when the video completed the page automatically opened. There right on the front page was a letter from no one other than Tony Stark. One you’d been proofing the verbiage on for a little while. Trying to tweak it before its release.

It wasn’t supposed to be the finished copy, but it had his signature on it. In your confusion you missed the header. But hitting the end of that letter... when you saw it your blood began to boil.

Opens May 7th, 2010.

Immediately you reached for your phone to call him. “Don’t waste my time.” Right to voicemail. You hung up. It was fortunate he wasn’t home. That he was off fighting some quiet war somewhere. Because if he had been he would have been fighting with you instead. And he wouldn’t have won.

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

You waited for him on the back path, printed version of his spiffy Stark Expo welcome letter in hand. Going a bit overboard, maybe. He likely already knew he was in trouble. If he didn’t he was dumber than you expected. You’d made a cup of tea. Hours had gone by and you’d had time to cool off. But the second you saw him firing across the sky, some of that anger came back.

Calm, you tried to tell yourself. Tony was acting out. You didn’t know why. But you’d get to the bottom of it. Yelling at him wouldn’t do any good.

...yet…

As soon as he landed you stood and he seemed spooked. Scared to come closer. His helmet slid back. “...well this is a nice little welcome home party.”

“What are you doing?” Straight out of the gate even though you’d told yourself you’d be better than this, you were already making demands.

“I thought I’d get out of the suit and take a shower. Maybe eat, if that’s okay- did you eat dinner yet? Are you hungry? I can have JARVIS put in for some reservations at-”

Thankful now that you had brought to prop with you as he spoke a million miles an hour (indicative of his knowing guilt), you shoved that Expo letter right in his face. “What are you doing, Tony?” Demanding again.

“Hey- can you not-” Refusing to take hold of it, instead holding your wrists steady so he could read it for all of two seconds before lowering your arms so he could look at you. “Well I know you’re drowning in that stuff so I thought I’d help and take the reins-”

“By bumping our timeline up by six months? Are you out of your fucking mind?” Not only was that going to put an incredible strain on you, it might kill the whole thing. Tech crews might have pulled out, not yet ready to have their pieces on display. The whole point of the convention. “Why did you do that- and why did you do that without telling me!” The yelling started whether or not you wanted it to.

You were furious. There was no other way around it.

Shame wafted off of him like he’d been soaking in a barrel of it. There was a pang of deeper regret that didn’t go unnoticed. But it didn’t serve to clear your head, and when he stayed silent still, you continued. “We’re supposed to work together. Do you remember that? Do you? Because you’re doing the same shit you were doing five months ago-”

His hands came up suddenly, taking hold of your arms in the lightest grip imaginable, very aware he was still suited up. You suddenly were too. “I know- I know. You’re totally and completely right. And I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to keep being sorry, Tony. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to reset and have you keep wandering off when you promised me you’d keep me in the loop- when you promised-”

“I’m sorry.” He pulled you closer and you let him, but the frown felt like a permanent fixture on your lips as you looked up at him. “It was a shitty thing to do and I’m sorry.” You knew it to be true. But that didn’t lessen your hurt.

“You can’t keep doing this to me. To yourself. To us. You can’t keep making the same mistakes and then apologizing for them when they catch up to you. If you’re really sorry you need to stop doing it.” You’d feared the worst when those thoughts that things seemed familiar started wafting in. Were you really just destined to play this game with him forever? You weren’t sure you could, no matter how much you’d come to love him.

His mouth twisted. “-I… I wanna say you’re right- and I’m sorry- again, but I feel like that’s not what I should be saying.” Clearly since it wasn’t getting him anywhere. “There’s no taking back what I did.”

“You think?” Trying to contradict the big boss on the time line was a no go. The letters, the video, the emails, they were already sent out to the public. To the vendors. The teams. Everyone involved. Tickets were going on sale.

May seventh was in just a little over a month.

He seemed to be struggling. “Then what do you want me to do?” It was clear now how quickly he acted without thinking. Not even for his own consideration. And if he wasn’t even thinking about himself, how could he be thinking of you when he did these things?

“Why did you do this?” There had to be a reason, right? For him to push the date so wildly forward. Why on earth? That was really the root of the problem. There was a reason. Tony didn’t just do things like this because he felt like it. Even in his inconsideration of what it would do to you, there had to be a reason.

He let you go, almost quite literally putting you out in the cold as he stepped away from you. “Things were getting sluggish. Everyone was getting a little too comfortable. I thought I’d just put a little pep in everyone’s step.” Dismissive. So completely dismissive. Also so obviously lying.

And that burned you more than anything else.

“Tony.” When he kept walking to go through the doors to the lab you followed and were struck by your own actions. So quick to not only follow but to reach out.

If he was just going to keep lying to you, what was the point?

You could get to the bottom of things on your own. There was more than shame and regret to be had. There was something buried that would be more truthful than he could ever be.

Fear was the first thing that slammed into you- struck you like a bolt of lightning. Panic. You’d never been hit by something that intense before. Your wheels were spinning out. Very suddenly you were drowning. Head caked with fog. You set your hand to the corner table by the door, knocking over a few tools that had been scattered there. You’d never reached in that deeply to someone before.

Tony turned abruptly, in mere moments by your side. “What’s happening? Are you okay?” Spooked all at once. His hand was at your shoulder, the other reaching to the side of your face.

The coolness of the metal helped slightly and you leaned into it. You didn’t want to tell him what you’d just done. If he had no idea… maybe it was better to leave it be.

Oh no.

That you two were more alike than you thought hurt you worse than anything.

“I’m just… tired. I haven’t eaten all day.” Even if it was true, it also wasn’t. But yelling at him and getting all worked up on top of it didn’t help matters.

You got the sense that he knew you weren’t telling the whole story. But since he was in the middle of doing the same thing, he was unable to call you out on it. What a perfect stalemate. “Let me get out of this and take a shower. I’ll get dinner. We can eat in.” He’d turned so quick to tenderness and you wanted to give in to it.

To not be mad anymore.

Part of you wasn’t. But now part of you was more worried than ever before.

What was Tony hiding?

What was Tony hiding that made him that terrified? That had pushed him to act out so insanely? To push the Expo?

Something severe. Something dire.

But your energy was very suddenly spent. And with him fawning over you after weeks of barely being able to kiss him goodbye… “That sounds nice.”

Leaning in he pressed a kiss to your temple, something that soothed the ache that had settled there. “Go get some water. I’ll be right up.”

You nodded uselessly and moved to simply do as you were told. In the far, far back of your mind Fury’s words were on a loop. Barely cooked. He was right. You weren’t cut out to use the thing you’d been born with. Maybe it was too late to start trying. If it had hurt you this badly, was there a point? There’d always been a soft sense of melancholy and malaise that had come with extended, pointed use. It’s why you’d kept it to a minimum.

That and being lied to by people close to you wasn’t your favorite thing. Less so when even in discovering it, there was no way to call them out on it.

It didn’t take long for Tony to collapse into a heap on the couch next to you. And despite everything that had just happened, you moved to half curl up on his lap, hand over the Arc Reactor. The thing that had changed everything.

Our new future started here.

“I’m gonna cut back on going out.” Taking the suit out, he meant. His tone was quiet. Contemplative. “I’ll help with the Expo stuff. Put my focus there.” His way of trying to say he was going to help you clean up the mess he’d made by being thoughtless.

You snuggled into the crook of his neck as his hand came to rest atop yours with a gentle squeeze. “I heard world peace was in these days, anyway.”

“I’m expecting a thank you card from the UN any day now.” There was a soft murmur of a laugh shared between you. The rumble caught in his chest was the most pleasing sound you’d heard in a while. But as it died, he took a long breath in. “I mean it- when I say I’m sorry. I know I can’t keep doing things that- ...that make it seem like you’re not one of the most important things to me. You are.”

You didn’t want to fight with him anymore. “You have to figure out how to talk to me. How to tell me things.” He wasn’t there yet. You didn’t understand why. Maybe it really was that hard for him. He’d operated alone for so long. For good reason, usually. But it wasn’t like that anymore.

And he really needed to try harder.

“I tell you things.” Rebuffing you, only semi-serious. “I ask for your help all the time.”

“You tell me work things. And sometimes not even that.” Case in point, how this whole thing started. “And you ask for help with Iron Man things. ...but what about Tony Stark things?” You shifted your head to the round of his shoulder, casting a look up at him.

He tilted his head back, peering at you. “Didn’t we come to the agreement that’s the same thing?”

“I’m not dating Iron Man.” A suit made of gold titanium alloy. A thing. A machine. You were infinitely more worried about the man inside of it. And when you saw the fight on the tip of his tongue, “I’m dating you. And it would be nice if you stop forgetting it at times.”

“Not once have I ever forgotten that.” He seemed so sincere.

You sat half up, still close, reaching up to card your fingers back through his hair. He eased, eyes dropping half lidded as you rested your forehead against his. “Then you need to start being honest with me.” He was always half holding back- now perhaps hiding something- you had no idea what.

His eyes closed all the way for a moment and he started shaking his head. “I’m-… I…” You waited. Hoping. Hoping hard he was about to stop holding on to all of it. To let you in to whatever it was. You assumed it was all the built up trauma from where this all started. He’d never properly talked about it. “I’m moving at a million miles a minute. Life was going too slow for me, so I gave it a push. Without thinking- because I’m really good at that. And I’m sorry.”

This seemed credible. And you were too tired to check. You wanted to be able to trust him. So you did. Wrapping your arms around him, you pulled his head to your shoulder. “Okay. So we’ll work on making you comfortable with slowing things down.” You wanted to help him. You needed to help him.

His arms wound around your middle, holding you back in an almost crushing grip, burying his face in the side of your neck. You rested your head atop his. “I love you.” His voice a whisper into your skin.

It felt like you hadn’t resolved anything at all, a pain blooming in your chest. He seemed sad. Desperate for something… you didn’t understand what. “I love you too, Tony.” Finding peace in saying it, because it was the ultimate truth. You’d known it for quite some time. “I don’t know if you’re like… trying to do these crazy things to see if I’ll still be here in the morning. If I can take it.” Maybe in some way that made sense. He wasn’t always the most mature. “I’m not going anywhere.”

But it didn’t need to be said that he needed to stop. You were sure he knew that by now.

“I’m not- but- good.” Another quiet murmur, but he tilted to look at you and you got caught in his tired smile. “Because I need you.”

Leaning in, you kissed him gently. Carefully. Like he might break. “I know you do.” Now more than ever, it seemed.

The two of you stayed tangled like that for a long time, yet realizing it was far too short once he moved to get up. “Let’s order some food. I’m gonna make a drink.”

When he went to the fridge instead of the bar, “The green shake again?” He’d taken to drinking some woo-woo health thing. You didn’t understand it. But it was better than getting sauced all the time, and maybe it was good for him. Surely it couldn’t be hurting. So you didn’t want to push it.

“You want one?”

“What do they taste like?” You peered over from the arm of the couch.

“Mint and chlorine.”

“Pass.”

He just grinned as he shook the drink up. “I’ll party by myself then. What’s for dinner?”

Normal.

It was nice for things to just be normal.

#Tony Stark #Tony Stark x Reader #INY Chapter Nineteen

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killervibe · 5 years

Note

Distracted 😉🤦🏼‍♀️

Here’s 3k of Killervibe, West-Allen and fluff

“Hey, what was it that you saw?” Iris asked him as soon as Cisco got to the Cortex.

He shifted his weight, adjusting his daughter so she could continue snoozing with her cheek pressed against his shoulder as he followed Iris to the monitors.

“It was chaos, like, cars piling up and then this giant thing,” Cisco rambled, trying to remember the bits and pieces. “It was green.”

“No location? Nobody you know?”

“No!” Cisco exclaimed. “Nada. I just know it happens tonight.”

Iris flips on a switch for the coms in Barry’s suit. “Bear, you got that?”

“Yeah. I’m going up the North side, Wally the South.”

“Ugh.”

Ralph swung in his seat lazily, removing his eye mask. “I guess we just wait then.”

Cisco walked out to grab his gear just in case they needed to be on the go. He had to sling his jacket over his shoulder, then bent down to get his shoes very carefully as to not jolt the sleeping beauty. He hooked his fingers into the curve of his sneakers then straightened himself back up, and went back to where the rest were.

“And then she told me she felt like I wasn’t reaching my best potential, you know? So I had to try—“

Cisco dumped his stuff on the table, then glanced at the screens again. “Really. Nothing?”

Iris and Ralph shook their heads.

“Cisco,” Iris said, gesturing a bit wildly, like she was desperate for his help. “You’d say Ralph is an excellent detective, right?” Iris sent him a rather pleading look.

Cisco turned to Ralph who was looking kinda glum. “Oh. Sure, I always liked you better than Sherloque. You knew that.”

Ralph made a deep sigh. “My In-Laws don’t agree.”

“Oh,” Cisco said again, rolling his eyes. “In-Laws. Lord. I know.”

“I don’t have any,” Iris said.

There was an awkward silence.

Cisco and Ralph shared a look.

Iris cleared her throat, and returned to watch Barry and Wally run around.

“Listen, you just gotta tell them what they wanna hear, ‘Yes, Dr. T I’ll consider investing in that company, and maybe next year I’ll get my eyes laser corrected, thanks’, and it gets you off their backs until the next time.”

“Actually that sounds pretty decent,” Ralph thanked, then got up to jot that down. He stretched his hand across the room for his pen and Ralph’s Book on Marriage.

“Where’s Caitlin?” Iris asked eventually after more tense silence. It was never fun waiting for danger, especially when they had no idea what they were in for. Team Flash loved their jobs, they did, and none of them saw permanently retiring anytime soon, but now that they were all settled down, with wives and husbands and children, they had to become exceedingly more careful.

“Pharmacy,” Cisco said, knowing his voice was one inflection away from dreamy. He had a particularly bad case of love drunk he hadn’t seem to have shaken since they found out Caitlin was pregnant again. “She needed to refill her prenatal vitamin prescription. She should be back soon.”

Iris looked up, catching his eye, softening at Cisco’s hand tracing soothing patterns along Amalia’s back. “You two are excited, huh?”

Cisco smiled into his daughter’s hair. “Thrilled.”

“You think baby two will be a breacher like Amalia?”

He settled into his chair and rolled his neck over the back of the leather, closing his eyes and let out a drawn out groan.

Cisco loved his daughter and that she had his powers like nothing else in the entire world, but it was exhausting to take care of a metachild who could more or less teleport. The amount of involuntary hide-and-seek and tag Cisco and Caitlin have to play with Amalia hopping into baby breaches around the house is insane. And he doubted it was stopping anytime soon.

Cisco wasn’t sure he could go through that all over again. “Honestly, I don’t even have the energy to think about it. We’ll worry about that when we get there. We need a vacation. We’re already swamped and Caitlin isn’t even in her second trimester.”

“We’d love to take Amalia if you two would like some time off alone,” Iris offered. Cisco tightened his hold on his little girl, feeling stupidly protective.

Amalia, Nora and Don got together like three peas in a pod, all roughly around the same age of three and a half, but Cisco didn’t want to exchange his daughter for a vacation.

“Thanks Iris, but I think we were thinking more like a family getaway.”

“Oooh,” Ralph goes. “Niagara Falls is a good one. They’ve got this crazy log cabin in Canada called Great Wolf Lodge with a giant arcade room and jumbotron animatic animals who talk and sing to children.”

Ralph pauses to look up from Ralph’s Book of Marriage when he was met with silence. He huffed. “I promise it’s not as creepy as it sounds.”

Cisco tapped against his black leather Vibe pants, thinking.

Iris pulled up an article one of her junior staffers wrote for the homestyle section of the Central City Citizen. “What about Disney World?”

Cisco perked up. “Disney?”

“—GUYS? Are you still there?”

Iris minimized the tab, rolling across the desk back to the monitors. “Just a minute, honey.”

She rolled back, clicking on the article.

“You don’t have to go to California or Florida. There’s also one in France. That seems pretty cool.”

Some cackling came on over the coms.

“Are you guys talking about Disney World?”

Ralph saved iris the trip and flicked on the speaker.

“Yeah. We’re talking vacays. Don’t you think Cisco and Caitlin should go?”

Some wind cut the mic, but then it went still, the woosh of Barry speeding around disappearing. He must’ve stopped.

“I don’t know,” Barry’s voice cut in, giving his two cents. “I think Amalia is too young and it’s kinda pathetic when you can’t go on the rides because of pregnancy. I’d wait a couple more years. Ugh, and the lines.“

Ralph nodded. “Good point.”

“We should all go when our kids are older!” Barry suggested, sounding excited. “Four years from now maybe, when this new baby is no longer too young. 2028?”

They all hummed in agreement, as if they could truly make such a ridiculous plan so far off in the future.

“Whoops. Sorry, gotta check something,” Barry’s line disconnected, but they were all too distracted to pay much attention.

Amalia started to stir.

Cisco checked on her as she grumbled, flexing her curled fingers into Cisco’s skin.

“Hi baby,” he whispered, sitting her upright on his lap. “Good sleep?”

Amalia frowned adorably, taking in her surroundings. She reached up for Cisco’s hair, taking a fistful and yanked.

“Hey now,” he said, jerking his head away and shooting Ralph a half-hearted glare for laughing at him. Cisco grimaced when she smacked her hand over his face.

“She’s being very grabby recently,” he tried to explain, but in all honestly it wasn’t necessary.

He diverted his attention back to her, gently prying her hands off his face.

“Hey mini me. You good?”

She nodded, sucking her thumb. Caitlin tended to give herself an aneurysm trying to stop Amalia’s bad habit, but Cisco didn’t really bother.

“Hey Miss Lia,” Iris cooed, coming over to say hello. She stroked her soft hand. “Is Auntie Iris getting a hi?”

Amalia turned her head, burying her face back into Cisco’s neck.

“Ouch,” said Ralph.

“She’s a grumpy sleepy.” Cisco shrugged. “Don’t take it personally.”

Iris crossed her hands over her chest, pursing her lips. “Mmhmm. I think it just means she needs more toys to remember who’s her favourite aunt.”

“Sue’s her favourite,” Ralph said with pride.

Iris glowered.

Cisco bit his tongue, not wanting to get in the middle of this.

He stood up again and walked around the Cortex, bouncing Amalia a little to wake her up. Amalia’s hair was all mussed, her bangs falling over her eyes, so he gently swept them away, zoning out from the conversation as he focused on being in Daddy mode until—

“I think Sue and I are going to adopt a pig.”

“A pig?”

Amalia immediately burst into giggles, making oinking sounds.

Cisco stared up at the ceiling.

“—Why?” Iris shrilled.

“Okay, first of all, Mrs. West-Allen, I do not appreciate that tone. It’s a thing. Pigs make great additions to a family. Pigs are the new babies.”

“Oink oink oink!”

“And,” Ralph continued stubbornly, “They are very intelligent. You should consider it, Cisco.”

Cisco looked at Amalia, who was very well versed in farm animal noises, which last month he was very proud of but today may get on his very last nerve.

“I’m fine with my baby, thank you.”

Amalia only intensified her pig snorts.

“Is this your idea, or Sue’s idea…?” Iris asked, leaning against the desk with a very amused if not slightly mystified expression on her face.

“Oh it’s my idea but I’m sure Sue would be game. She’s a free spirited woman. I’m sure she’d love a hog.”

“A hog?” Iris repeated faintly.

“A piggie!” Amalia shrieked, beside herself with excitement.

“Yes Amalia!!!” Ralph banged his fist on the table, pumped at his little cheerleader. Amalia only screamed louder, the two egging each other on. Ralph pointed at Cisco. “This kid is going places!”

“Oink! Oink! Oink!”

Cisco and Iris shared a long glance.

“…Uh huh.”

Cisco grimaced at a particularly loud Oink! and held his squirming child out an arm away, trying to set her down. “Okay, Amalia, sweetheart, you’re shrieking in Daddy’s ear.”

She struggled, very opposed to being put down, and climbed up his Vibe pants desperately, digging her nails in trying to latch on, whining when her little socks touched the floor.

Cisco sighed, scooping her back up, feeling a lot like a mother kangaroo. He needed a pouch or something.

“I want a piggie!! I want a piggie like Uncle Ralph!!!”

“You do, huh?”

“I want a piggie!!!!”

Cisco rubbed at his temples with his free hand. “Ralph doesn’t have a pig,” he reasoned.

“—Not yet.”

“I wanna piggie!”

Cisco yanked off Amalia’s right sock, and flung it on the ground in the direction of her little playmat with her abandoned Duplos, tickling her baby toes. “You already have piggies!”

She squealed, wiggling as he played with her, hoping it would divert Amalia’s attention away from demanding a pet that would give her mother a heart attack. Iris stifled her laughter behind her hand watching them two.

Amalia finally wanted to get down, so Cisco let her go and she went running for Ralph.

Ralph met her halfway to him, stretching his arms out to snatch her and pull her onto his lap to chant about pigs as Cisco and Iris slowly backed away—Cisco needing an aspirin—Iris, coffee.

“Hey,” Iris said, “Remind me that I need to leave in fifteen minutes to pick up the twins from my dad’s. Do you think you could breach me there?

“No problem. Think the emergency won’t pop up by then?”

“Probably not,” Iris admitted. “Hmm. Maybe I should call my dad and ask if he could keep Nora and Don overnight.”

They bumped into Caitlin, who had a plastic pharmacy bag twisting from her grip in one hand, and her phone in the other. She was staring down at the device with growing distress, quickening her pace, unaware that they were down the hall.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Cisco said, breaking into a jog to meet up with her. She stopped abruptly when Cisco cupped her face.

Expecting one of her soft glowing smiles, he was very surprised to see her frown deepen, shoving her phone in his face.

“Have you seen the news!?”

“…The news?”

“Barry was kidnapped! Chaos! Pandemonium! All tech was shut down, it was like a Kilg%re 2.0. It caused a pile-up downtown, I was stuck in traffic for a good half hour. Why haven’t you done anything!?”

Iris swore under her breath, grabbing Caitlin’s phone, and sprinted back to the Cortex.

“Are you okay?” Cisco asked automatically. Of course, if the city was in danger he was going to help, but his wife and her safety will always be his number one priority.

Caitlin nodded, leaning into his touch, and he removed his hand from her cheek, to run down her shoulder and arm, then placed them over her stretchy cotton shirt. She was just starting to show.

“You look so beautiful.”

Caitlin put her hand over his on her stomach, her worry disappearing from face as she sighed. “Yeah? I’m finally feeling better. I think the morning sickness is gone for good.”

He leaned forward, lifting her chin to give her a featherlight kiss. She smiled against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck. The plastic bag with her pills shaking behind him. He pressed their foreheads together.

“Good trip?” he asked.

“Yes. Where’s the little one?”

Cisco chuckled. “In the Cortex with Ralph. Putting on an excellent rendition of Peppa the Pig. That’s banned now, by the way,” he joked lightly.

Caitlin pulled backwards. “What now?”

He grabbed his wife’s hand and tugged her along, telling her she’ll see soon enough.

Amalia noticed as soon as her mommy was there, ditching Ralph to run into her arms. “Mommy listen! Oink!”

“Wow,” Caitlin praised, her voice sweet like syrup. “Did you and Daddy go to a farm?”

“No!” she giggled. She lifted her arms up and Caitlin sighed, putting down her purse and plastic bag to take her daughter.

Cisco went to join Iris, who was desperately trying to reactivate the suit signals. Cisco scooted her out of the chair, flexing his fingers to take over.

“Should we be opening a breach and just go on? Doesn’t Barry need us?” Ralph asked.

“Mama, I want a piggie!”

Cisco was trying to outhack the virus, but paused enough to lift his eyebrows, filling his wife in. “Ralph wants to adopt a pig and apparently now so does our daughter.”

Caitlin laughed, and pulled off her left sock. “You already have piggies!” She tickled her toes as Amalia shrilled.

“Been there. Done that,” Cisco commented dryly. “Hey, what are your opinions on theme park vacations? Barry says Disney World is fun but are you up for that?”

“Mama, can I have a piggie?”

“Um,” Caitlin shot Cisco a helpless look. Cisco made a noise of equal exasperation as he hooked back half of Central City online.

“I can’t give you a piggie, love, but what about a baby brother or sister? And Cisco—I don’t know, theme parks are a drag when pregnant. My feet will hurt from all the walking.”

“Where is Barry!?”

Amalia considered Caitlin’s proposition, but alas, no.

“Piggie!! Piggie!! Piggie!!”

“Yeah that’s what Ralph said. What about a beach? Also they have Disney cruises!” Cisco hummed as his fingers flied over his keyboard, then smacked the counter. “Done. We’re online.”

“Oh! That sounds nice!”

Iris stood in the middle of the cortex, about to pull out her hair. “Is anyone going to help me find my husband!?!!”

Yellow lightning lit up the room as Wally wooshed in with a disorientated Flash.

“Barry!” Iris exclaimed, running to him as he stumbled.

Wally panted, putting his hands on his knees. “Thanks a lot guys.”

“Oh,” Ralph said dumbly. “We forgot about you.”

“You don’t think I noticed that,” Wally snarked back.

He flicked on the TV. Every single channel Wally flipped to as he channel-serfed was showcasing breaking news of Kid Flash basking in glory and saving the day.

“How did you not notice our coms went down?” Barry asked, wincing when Iris gave him a bone crushing hug.

Caitlin put down Amalia to check up on him.

“…Uh.” Ralph said.

Amalia started to spin around in circles, barefoot, oinking.

“The satellites, you didn’t use them?”

Cisco cringed and replied truthfully.

“Couldn’t look at satellites if we weren’t looking at all.”

“What,” Wally’s voice went dangerously flat.

Amalia knocked into Wally’s shin. She grinned up at him when he shot his hand down to keep her steady.

“Uncle Wally will you get a piggie with me and Uncle Ralph?”

Wally eyeballed the little girl, at a loss for words.

Ralph stood up, flexing his fingers. “Well as long as nobody’s too hurt…I guess I’ll go home now.”

“Ow!” Barry yelped from the Med Bay where Caitlin was treating him.

“—Would you just—Hold still—“

“Um,” Ralph said.

“What happened here?” Wally griped.

Iris bit her nails, harried, peering into the Med Bay through the glass window.

“Daddy look!”

“Amalia, stop running around you’re going to trip,” Cisco warned her.

“Piggie!!! Piiiiiiiiiiiig!”

Cisco sent Ralph a death glare. “You did this.”

“Oink! Oink! Oink!”

“You made her,” he shot back.

“Piiiiiiiiiiiiiig—Owie.”

“Was that Amalia?” Caitlin called with concern.

Cisco clamoured over. He knew this was going to happen. And now she was crying, but even a bumped chin couldn’t prevent her from whimpering “piggie” between her hiccups.

“She’s fine!”

He sat on the ground and pulled her close, shushing away her tears, and wiping the wetness away from her eyes, pressing kisses to her chubby cheeks.

Eventually Wally stopped crossing his arms, and let go of trying to size them all up, dropping his arms to his sides in bafflement. “Well?!?!”

Iris, Cisco and Ralph looked at each other nervously, scratching their heads as their eyes slid to Amalia, still screaming for a pig.

“We, uh,” Iris said, tersely. “We got…”

“Distracted,” Cisco filled in.

#the flash #killervibe #westallen #the flash fic #fluff #future fic #tkv fic #Amalia ramon #dante stein ramon #suedibny #elongsue

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internetremix · 5 years

Note

I was wondering... Do you any of you have tips for a rookie GM? I'm setting up a game night here soon and I'm stressing the heck out over it.

Alex: No matter what game system you play it's usually quite intimidating because there are like 600 pages of information to digest. At any given time you need to have memorized only, like, thirty. At the end of the day most tabletop games are just two things - math and improv. Admittedly things that, outside of tabletop games, people go out of their way to avoid, but still.

Stress can lead people to get things done fast but also get things done sloppy. You don't need to plan out every single detail of what the characters might encounter eventually in a session. You can flesh out a couple of interesting people, places, or things you want them to see and just keep a scratch card of notes and traits for if/when they go off the beaten path. Remember, no matter what you plan, there is no accounting for the actions of players, and rolling with them provides a far better experience than slamming your fist down and saying "NO" to every deviation.

And above all else, remember that tabletop games are a collaborative effort. People come together to play games, tell stories, and shoot the shit. If shooting the shit overtakes the game you can rein that in a little but at the end of the day everyone's there voluntarily to have fun, and no one is there to see anyone fail.So to recap -

1. You are the arbiter of rules no matter what the book says. You can double-check later and take notes for future games if it becomes an issue but generally you only need to have in mind rules that are actively going to be used in game. If you don't know the exact way to handle something just make up what the closest action would be and if the player rolls what you think is well enough to do it, they did it.

2. If you don't have time to take notes on every single thing the players might encounter, congratulations, you're an average person. You only need a few based on the following factors - what do you want the players to do, how do you think they're going to do it, and do you have something prepared for when they go off the beaten path.

3. Have fun! Seriously, it's called a tabletop GAME, not a tabletop dictatorship.

Kristen: All of my games are Tabletop Dictatorships, all of them. Unfortunately I'm a terrible, weak-willed dictator so this helps nothing.

Alex: Discord Murder Party is different. Mafia/Werewolf operates way differently than D&D and needs a GM SPECIFICALLY so that players don't go off the rails.

Kristen: You are 100% correct.

God my first tabletop I ever DMed for I made my own thing and wrote like... twenty pages for my first session. And then as soon as I started, my players were like HEY I WANNA EXPLORE THE SHOPS

"O-oh.... y-yeah, here's uh... heeeere's a list of shops..."

So then I had to improv like... five shops and make multiple NPCs on the fly and then I found out "it turns out writing an entire paragraph for every NPC is an awful idea because you can't fucking read those notes mid-session"

So my point is don't do that.

Juno: Oh yeah. Last night I had to make up a guy named Lucas on the spot because JoJo's character wanted to convince a guy not to kill them

Kristen: YEP I ran the generic 5e DnD starter for a group of friends and somehow it went from a generic "you all hunt down and kill a bunch of goblins and a bugbear in a cave, way to go" to "You spared a Goblin who has a ridiculous Brooklyn accent who hates his job and now you're starting a ridiculous worker's revolution and this has ended with you all enlisting every other goblin you were supposed to fight into swarming the bugbear boss. Okay."

Juno: I mean. That's a pretty bomb plot twist if you ask me.

Kristen: Oh yes, I enjoyed it immensely. Also really in the context of a DnD game I'm pretty sure that shouldn't be doable cause I don't think any of them were supposed to be able to speak common. If your players are setting themselves up for a more interesting story and you have to bend the rules a bit to make it happen, go for it. One of the most important things for GMing is making your players feel like they have agency- as Alex said, it's collaborative, it's not just you telling your players a story.

Another thing to keep in mind is what sort of players you have. I usually prefer to play with people who are more into the RP/story aspect, but some people are gonna be more into them fighty fights and mechanics and such. Which is fine and can work, it's just a matter of striking a balance in your game. I usually try to tailor things in such a way that everyone's getting a chance to get what they want out of a game and their shot at the spotlight, in whatever manner that takes. For me it's helped to ask my players directly "hey, what do you want out of this game? Do you have any ideas or anything you're really into?"

Mostly what I'm saying is just try to keep in mind what your players are in this for, since that contributes a lot to how much fun you all have.

Atwas: Something that's helped me a lot is to not stress out or stop the game entirely to double check rules. It sort of kills momentum. In my experience, ruling a situation and then looking something up later is a lot less stressful than the pressure of putting something completely on pause while you flip through a book/google something.

If you're doing stuff in real life, I would recommend making a little cheat sheet of your PC's information. My DM screen has sticky notes with each party characters HP, AC, Passive Perception, and Spell Save DC to keep things streamlined.

Kristen: Oooo smurt

Alex: Hell yeah dude. Also there are custom DM screens you can get tailor-made to give you quick rules references. Fairly cheap on Amazon.

Atwas: Also your players don't know if you're winging stuff unless you tell them. ;^)

Also also don't be scared of bumping monster hp up or down depending on a fight or having monsters run away or call in reinforcements. If you go off script in an encounter--surprise! Nobody knows but you. I did that quite a bit when I was starting out because balancing encounters is a bit of an art and CR is a loose guideline at best.

Also also also the point of the game isn't to win. Don't fall into the trap of "beating your players" or stuff like that. Imo that kind of messes with the table dynamics unless 100% of everyone is on board with that type of game.

Kristen: Yeah, don't fall into that and also be careful not to go into the mindset of "punishing" your players if they do something dumb. Like if it's a silly "you did this thing and consequences have gone WILDLY outside of what you expect wheee", awesome, but I've had DMs who basically would act like if you didn't somehow read their minds and find their exact solution, welp you made a dumb choice and now everyone is penalized for it. Made for a pretty toxic atmosphere, do not recommend. Kind goes hand in hand with "don't be a tabletop dictator".

Atwas: oh gods i could go on and on about how punishing someone in game never works for out of game behaviour but i digress. also please don't feel afraid to talk to your players, even if having adult conversations is difficult.

Juno: Cause and effect is the biggest thing to think about I think, especially in a DMing situation.

Alex: For instance, siccing a Revenant on the party? Thavagath made a bad decision in character, that's the natural consequence, he gets a chance to save his ass. Someone makes a dick joke about your carefully crafted NPC? Don't be a dick right back.

Atwas: sweats, trying to think back to the last time a dick joke was made in Fallen Empires

Alex: Like I think the last major one was Phill pulling a muscle stretching so hard to make a joke for five minutes about the "Male Room" rather than the "Mail Room"

But then we - wait for it - ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OUT OF GAME and stuff like that doesn't pop up any more.

Atwas: WHAT? SPEAKING LIKE REASONABLE ADULTS?!?! IN MY TABLETOP?!?!?! it's really useful. please have those conversations, even if they're uncomfortable. and if something is becoming an issue, bring it up sooner rather than later--turns out that people can't change stuff if they don't know about it! Most people want to stay friends after a campaign after all.

Jojo: Have your story planned, npcs, and what you want an end goal to be. Make sure it's all planned out BEFORE asking people to join it. And if you need a second DM to help you with Dice or story, then that's ok too! I'm still a beginner DM myself, so that's the best advice I can give

These guys are pros, so listen to them

Phill: Heheh... male room

Alex: Phill no you'll pull your hamstring again

Phill:

Atwas: what do you think is Phill's average Henderson rating?

Alex: Phill has at least One Henderson in him, he destroyed Underdark to the point of we can't go back to it ever now.

Phill: I mean. Yeah. Honestly, I could've very easily seen phresh reach a 1.75 hendersons eventually.

Atwas: I'd say 1.75 works. 2 is still out of reach, but one day...

Xander: Underdark is cursed content and deserved better

Atwas: How many of he players had that as their first campaign? 3/5?

Xander: I believe so

Alex: Uprising and I had played before, I don't think Jojo, Dawn, or Phill had.

Xander: I'm probably gonna reboot Underdark one day. Wipe the slate clean. Probably not gonna be done on IR

Alex: We did it! We reached two Hendersons!

Xander: Two full Hendersons.

Phill: time unveil my new original character. Blesh

Alex: Blerish

Xander: More like Blemish

#ask the ir crew #advice #dungeons and dragons #dndbags #as always this starts as good advice and then devolves into nonsense #Anonymous

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cheshiresense · 6 years

Note

I just found the alt!swinging pendulum bits you've done and I am blown away. The really funny thing? I actually remember wondering how things would be going if Ichigo wasn't alone in that verse the first time I read it years ago. Having you explore that and having those bits be UraIchi is beyond my own imaginings! How did Kisuke take waking up in the past? Did he know Ichigo was thrown back too, or did he think he was alone for a while? Any chance you'll ever consider a bit from his POV?

I imagine the Soul King (following SP canon) offered them the same deal when they were both locked up in Muken. They wake up in different places in the past though so that might’ve caused a bit of panic, especially since Kisuke would’ve known Ichigo was in bad condition before coming back, and the Soul King didn’t exactly give them details about where they would end up.

My muse does not want to write anything above in Kisuke’s pov (or anyone’s pov) though so Imma just give you something else in Kisuke’s pov. Takes place sometime in the future after the other two bits I wrote.

Kisuke is reorganizing the Twelfth’s seated complement on paper when a commotion coming up the hall makes him glance up. His lieutenant’s dulcet tones is easily recognizable even if it does take a few seconds for Kisuke to make out what she’s shouting about this time.

“-try ta bust in, I swear I’ll bankai your ass inta the next century!”

Her reiatsu is a simmering ball of irritation, and somewhere further behind her are two muted - one more than the other - but equally familiar reiatsu signatures.

Kisuke sighs. Well, at least they’re using the door.

Hiyori reaches his office, and he half-expects her to slam it open without so much as a knock. She doesn’t knock, but she also keeps her grip on the doorknob so that when she storms inside, the only sound comes from her sandals against the floorboards.

Kisuke arches an eyebrow. “Hiyori-san, what can I help you with today?” He pauses a beat. “Because I could have sworn I said I didn’t want to be disturbed this afternoon.”

Hiyori rolls her eyes before crossing her arms with a scowl. “You know perfectly well what. Shiba’s here with some paper-pusher. Says he needs you ta sign some stuff.” She snorts. “Who does that dumbass think he’s kidding?”

Indeed. If there’s one thing Kisuke regrets about coming back to this time, aside from the tripled workload of being a captain again, it’s that he seems to have garnered the Shiba Clan Head’s disfavour. It’s troublesome at best, if only because the lieutenant keeps swooping around and sticking his nose into business that has nothing to do with him every time he sees Ichigo with Kisuke as if his cousin is some damsel in distress who needs to be saved from Kisuke’s evil clutches.

Not that that’s enough to make Kisuke stay away from Ichigo of course. Kaien would have to make sure he’s well and truly dead and buried for that to happen, and as far as Kisuke knows, the lieutenant isn’t that suicidal yet.

On the other hand…

“Paper-pusher?” Kisuke repeats in mild tones.

Hiyori shrugs aggressively. “Probably a runner from the Ninth? Who cares, Shiba brought her.” Her eyes light up with gleeful violence. “Can I kick’em out?”

“No,” Kisuke says dryly and immediately gets a sullen glower for his efforts. Hiyori twitches like she wants to launch a kick at him, and Kisuke mentally applauds her self-restraint when she manages to reel back the urge.

Ichigo’s been good for her, and not just because he managed to walk her through achieving Bankai in only a few short months.

“Why not?” Hiyori hisses at him. “Ya know that dumbass is probably just here ta drag Ichigo back ta the Shiba compound for some family get-together he only threw together an hour ago cuz he gets the shakes or breaks out in hives or somethin’ every time he even thinks about the two of ya together. I should just boot’im out! Ichigo’s not gonna wanna go.”

Here they both turn to look at the couch tucked in one corner of Kisuke’s office where a certain Eighth Division Third Seat is buried under about three blankets and fast asleep. There are bags under his eyes, and even unconscious, his brow is furrowed and tense.

Kisuke hasn’t seen him this stressed in a while. Despite all the annoyances and necessary adjustments of being dropped in this time, the past has been good for Ichigo. But Aizen has tainted at least a third of the Twelfth Division, and arranging for accidents out in Rukongai that would fool even Aizen Sousuke is a chore and a half. As a captain, Kisuke can’t not be seen for more than a day or two, especially with spies in his own labs so he can’t even use the excuse of losing track of time over an experiment or invention to sneak out. Ichigo on the other hand is regularly sent on missions outside of Seireitei, sometimes leading patrols, other times going solo, and that gives him more opportunities to slip away. But that also means a lot of the dirty work falls to Ichigo now, on top of his Third Seat duties, and Kisuke hates it.

So when they have a day like today, when Ichigo managed to finish his paperwork early, and Kyouraku doesn’t need him for anything else, and nothing Aizen-related is particularly urgent, Kisuke is loath to let anyone bother him for anything short of the apocalypse.

“Well?” Hiyori snaps impatiently.

And yet…

“Let them in,” Kisuke decides as he sets his work aside.

Hiyori stares for a moment, then draws herself up and bristles. “What?!” She whisper-screams at him. “Have you seen Ichigo lately? I dunno what’s goin’ on over at the Eighth for them ta have so much work ta do, but clearly they’re workin’ him ta the bone. The last thing he needs is Shiba’s… everything!”

Kisuke almost smiles. Hiyori has become surprisingly… steadier with Ichigo around. Their friendship is an odd one. They still bicker about as much as they did in that other future-past, but Hiyori is a little calmer in Ichigo’s presence, and she certainly listens to him more than she does Kisuke. She’s also become ferociously protective of him since the first time she saw Ichigo stumbling into the Twelfth looking like death warmed over and spending the next six hours sitting at Kisuke’s side and staring at nothing. Kisuke got no work done that day. He was tempted to simply take Ichigo back to their apartment, but people might ask questions, so he simply holed them both up in his private quarters and curled himself around Ichigo until Ichigo came back to himself.

(Ichigo had just come home from a mission - solo, two and a half weeks long, District 70, West Rukongai. It was also the first time he took a little side-trip and quietly dispatched thirteen Shinigami - five of them not even a century old, with faces young enough to pass for middle-schoolers, and obviously naive enough for Aizen to bribe or brainwash - out of the group of fifteen Twelfth Division members who also happened to be on a mission two districts away, investigating rumours of particularly strong Hollows in the area. The thirteen were separated and later found messily slaughtered in various locations where Hollow reiatsu soaked the air.

Kisuke will never be able to top the events and circumstances he manipulated in order to turn Ichigo’s soul into the perfect weapon against Aizen. But teaching Ichigo the intricacies of what amounts to wetworks and then sending him out to do a job that should be Kisuke’s to handle comes pretty damn close.

Ichigo’s told him more than once that it’s not his fault, and Kisuke knows his lover well enough to hear the truth in it. Besides, Ichigo’s never been one to hold back from telling Kisuke exactly what he thinks.

But still this is another sin for him to bear, even if it is necessary, and it drips wet and red in a way that even his most horrifying missions from his Onmitsukidou days never will.)

Hiyori predictably flipped that day, pacing back and forth like an agitated tiger and taking her ire out on the training grounds, and at the five-hour mark, she almost ran off to tear Lisa a new one for “piling too much crap on their Third Seat, isn’t the Eighth supposed ta be the squad that took it easy?!”

Somehow, Kisuke managed to convince her to stay put. The last thing they needed was the Eighth to launch an investigation of some kind. Hiyori still glared at him like she was trying to set him on fire with her eyes, but she also spent the rest of the day - as soon as Ichigo came out of his daze - shoving food at him and kicking anyone who so much as looked like they wanted to ask why the Eighth Division Third Seat was in the Twelfth Division compound. Not many though. It helped that some of them had already seen Ichigo coming and going since he graduated.

“If they only want me to sign something, I’m sure they’ll be quick,” Kisuke says now.

Hiyori does not look impressed. “You-”

“And I won’t let Shiba-san wake Ichigo,” Kisuke continues before levelling a pointed look on his lieutenant. “Let them in, Hiyori-fukutaichou. The quicker you do, the faster they’ll leave.”

Hiyori’s jaw works for a long moment, her hands clenching into fists before finally relenting. She turns on her heel and stalks back out without so much as a salute to Kisuke.

She still doesn’t let the door bang shut behind her though.

It takes her two minutes to retrieve the compound’s two visitors, and Kisuke can hear her threatening them all the way back to his office.

“-break anything and I’m gonna put you and spineless over here in the Fourth for a month!”

Then the door swings open once more, Shiba Kaien steps in with a mousey-looking young woman holding a stack of files at his side and practically cowering from Hiyori’s rage. Hiyori shoots Kisuke one last venomous warning look before shutting the door and storming off.

Kisuke isn’t surprised when he feels her reiatsu retreat only to her office across the hall despite the fact that she should be training a group of Shinigami on one of the training grounds at this time.

He ignores it. She can’t hear anything and that’s enough. He gets to his feet as Kaien and his aide approaches with greetings of Urahara-taichou, but the moment Kaien catches sight of Ichigo on the couch off to the side, Kisuke cuts off his exclamation with a perfectly pleasant, “Shiba-fukutaichou, if you startle him awake, my lieutenant will not be the reason for your impending visit to the Fourth.”

The threat seems to stun Kaien, perhaps because Kisuke’s never bothered before. The Shiba Clan Head has already given him the overprotective shovel talk, inserted himself into every conversation Kisuke starts with Ichigo the few times they’ve agreed to eat dinner at the Shibas’, even tried to drag Kisuke off for “male-bonding time” with an arm around his shoulders that threatened to strangle Kisuke that one time he caught the two of them sharing a brief kiss in passing, and Kisuke has let it all slide without batting an eye.

(On the other hand, Ichigo almost gutted Kaien for that last one, and whatever Ichigo said to him later in private, it made enough of an impact that Kaien hasn’t laid a hand on Kisuke since, and he even gritted out an apology the day after.)

Whatever the reason, Kaien’s mouth shuts with a click, and that’s all Kisuke cares about. He smiles blandly at him, then at the woman hovering nervously a foot behind the lieutenant. “So then? What do you have for me to sign?” He pauses, raking a casual eye over the woman. “Your aide is vaguely familiar to me, Shiba-san, but I don’t recall you working with many assistants in the past. Did she get a haircut? New outfit? Perhaps she used to be blond?”

There’s a moment of silence, then the woman straightens from her impression of a wilting flower and roughly signs in butchered Onmitsukidou shorthand, :speak private. no ears?:

Kisuke eyes them for another few seconds before heaving a sigh. Kaien glances between them before jumping in, “Nah, she probably just has one of those faces. Anyway, here are the files. She had stuff for the Thirteenth to sign too, so I thought I’d accompany her here to get her in faster.”

Kisuke nods agreeably. “I see. We’d best get started then. That looks like quite a number of reports.”

He tips his head in the direction of the door that leads to his private quarters before circling around to where Ichigo is sleeping. He has a feeling he knows what this conversation is going to be about, and Ichigo won’t want to miss it. Besides, it isn’t just for Kisuke to decide what they’re going to say.

He kneels once he reaches the couch, ignoring the eyes on his back. He has never been ashamed of this relationship he’s built with Ichigo. It’s the one thing that was never even up for discussion after they came back in time - they wouldn’t hide this, wouldn’t hide them. They have to work together anyway so people were bound to find out they knew each other. Whether or not Aizen or Central 46 finds out they love each other doesn’t really matter in the greater scheme of things. Maybe it’s selfish, but it’s the one thing Kisuke won’t give up, and it’s always as much a surprise as it is a relief to know that Ichigo feels the same way.

(On occasion, when Kisuke lets himself, he thinks, even if the whole world burns again, so long as he still has Ichigo, he could keep going forever.)

“Ichigo,” He murmurs, reaching out to run gentle fingers through bright sunset hair. “I know you’re tired but I need some help with work. Could you wake up for me?”

Ichigo stirs almost immediately, leaning into Kisuke’s hand before he’s even fully awake, and that’s never something Kisuke will stop marveling at, the innate trust in such a simple gesture.

“Mm, Kisuke?” Ichigo mumbles, rubbing the sleep from his eyes even as he pushes himself up onto one elbow. “Somethin’ wrong?”

“No, nothing wrong, per se,” Kisuke replies lightly, helping Ichigo peel back the blankets as he sits up. “Unless you call the truly abhorrent amount of paperwork Shiba-san and his assistant just brought in wrong, which I would not argue against.”

Ichigo snuffles out a snort, and Kisuke tries not to frown at the way he presses a palm to his forehead, pain lurking in the crease of his brow. “Headache?”

Ichigo grunts and drops his hand. “Just a small one. I’ll be-”

He breaks off, then sighs, half-exasperated, half-relieved as Kisuke touches fingertips to temples and soothes away the building migraine with a soft flicker of his own reiatsu.

“Thanks,” Ichigo sighs, sounding more awake. Kisuke hums and rises to his feet to give Ichigo some room to get up as well.

A hand slides into his, their fingers tangling, and it’s habit, easy and familiar, hello and l love you and I’m with you - the way Ichigo presses a kiss to Kisuke’s knuckles before letting go and stretching the kinks out of his back.

Then the mask comes down, all scowling irritation once more, as Ichigo pushes to his feet and Kisuke steps to the side, and both of them turn as one to their two staring guests.

“Please,” Kisuke gestures to his quarters. “Through here. I do hope this won’t take the rest of the day.”

“We can speak freely in here,” Kisuke assures once the door is shut and the only two chairs in the room have been pulled up beside the bed. Ichigo perches at the end of the bed and Kisuke takes a seat beside him.

“But before that,” Ichigo interjects with his usual bluntness, eyes sharp on the brunette still holding the files. “For fuck’s sake, change back, Hirako-taichou. This is fucking weird, even for you.”

The woman pouts for a second before a Cheshire grin splits her face. Her form wavers before the illusion spell slides off, and the familiar figure of the Fifth Division captain is the one lounging back in the chair. He dumps the files on the ground now that there’s no more need for the pretense.

“You’re good,” Shinji nods at Ichigo. “Nobody gave me a second glance on my way here. Even Hiyori didn’t notice anything.”

Ichigo shrugs. “Whatever. Why are you here?” He looks at his cousin. “And you?”

Kaien grimaces. “Don’t look at me like that. I wasn’t actually coming to get you today.” For a second, his gaze flits from Ichigo to Kisuke, and he gives Kisuke the oddest look Kisuke’s ever received from him. At the very least, the passive hostility seems to be missing. Then the man looks back at Ichigo. “Hirako-taichou came to me for a favour.”

“You owe me a few favours at this point,” Shinji retorts, but he turns back to Kisuke quickly enough, looking uncharacteristically serious. “Alright, I’m not gonna waste time beatin’ ’round the bush.” To his credit, he does pause for a moment before glancing at Kaien. “Should Kaien leave the room?”

“Hey!” Kaien snaps back, and for once, he’s completely serious too. He looks slightly confused, but there’s also an alert sort of tension in his reiatsu as he looks at them all. “I’m not going anywhere. You went to the trouble of badgering me to smuggle you in here cuz everyone would just think I’m here to drag Ichigo out. You can’t include me halfway and then tell me to leave.”

“It ain’t even halfway yet,” Shinji mutters. He looks to Kisuke though, and when Kisuke - after sharing a glance with Ichigo - nods, he shrugs and barrels on. “Eight months ago, ya told me ta clean house, Urahara. Ya told me you were cleanin’ house too.”

Kisuke cocks his head. “So I did.”

Shinji shakes his head, looking irritated. “I was only ever watchin’ Aizen, and Ichimaru once he joined up.” Kaien suddenly straightens but Kisuke doesn’t take his eyes off Shinji. “I didn’ look at anyone else ’til ya mentioned it. And then I started noticing a few of ’em leavin’ for missions I didn’ sanction. Granted, lieutenants are allowed ta look over missions and assign them without notifying me so long as I sign off on ’em before the final mission report reaches the Ninth, so Aizen’s not actually doin’ anythin’ illegal. But he assigns a lot of missions. Missions that might or might not come from up top, if ya get my drift. So,” Shinji taps a finger against the hilt of his Zanpakutou. “If my dear lieutenant’s been mockin’ up missions ta put in front of me, what the hell is he sendin’ my people out ta Rukongai for?”

Kisuke considers him for a long moment. “You mean you don’t know that yet?”

“And here’s the thing, Urahara,” Shinji continues abruptly almost before Kisuke finishes. “Ya told me you were cleaning house. And there’s been talk. Interesting talk that I’ve followed up on, and ya know what the records say? In the past seven months, thirteen percent of your squad has died, Urahara. Thirteen percent. All killed on different missions out in Rukongai. The higher-ups are gettin’ chatty. They can’t decide if ya just don’t care or you’re plain incompetent.”

Kisuke blinks. Then winces when Ichigo elbows him.

“You didn’t tell me that,” Ichigo says sharply. “The old man’s been giving you shit? Or Central 46?”

Kisuke waves a dismissive hand. “It’s nothing I can’t handle, Ichigo. I’ve never been the best captain. I’ve made mistakes before, sending out Shinigami too weak for the mission assigned to them. They don’t suspect anything.”

Ichigo only frowns harder. “…You could lose your captaincy though.”

Kisuke smiles, a twist of a thing that feels too bitter by far. “Oh you don’t have to worry about that either. I’ve invented far too many things for the Gotei for them to even consider demoting me. And who would take my place anyway? Head of a squad centered around research and development, and not something the government would want disbanded now that it exists. Kurotsuchi-san? He doesn’t have Bankai yet, he would never get the votes, and he would never win a trial by combat against me. They won’t demote me for anything short of irrefutable treason. They can’t.”

Ichigo watches him for a moment longer before knocking their hands together. “If you’re sure.”

Kisuke smiles fondly at him. “I am.”

“That’s cute,” Shinji says flatly. He even sounds like he means it, but at the same time could not care less right now. “Now what the hell is goin’ on? Cuz I’ve noticed a handful of Shinigami from other squads have also been gettin’ offed on missions. Are ya doin’ that too? And why’re ya-” He stops, and a muscle jumps in his jaw. “Are ya tellin’ me Aizen’s infiltrated all the squads? Is that it?”

“Wait wait wait, back up,” Kaien cuts in, ignoring Shinji’s blistering glare at being interrupted. “Aizen is- I know something isn’t right about the guy but why is he even doing… anything? What’s his goal?” He looks between Ichigo and Kisuke again. “And why are you two of all people doing something about it? I know you said you bumped into each other and that’s how you met but seriously I am not that fucking stupid. What is going on?”

Shinji’s gaze swings back around to bore holes in them both, clearly demanding answers.

Kisuke sighs and tugs absently on the brim of his hat before glancing at Ichigo once more. Ichigo stares back, then shrugs. “You did say Shinji would come to us first.”

Shinji’s eyes narrow at the familiar use of his first name, the syllables rolling off Ichigo’s tongue far more easily than Hirako-taichou ever had, but he stays silent, listening, always listening.

“And Kaien’s an idiot-” Ichigo continues, and Kaien makes a frustrated noise that Ichigo ignores. “-but he’s not, you know, Goat-Face levels of idiot. Neither of them’s gonna run off to the government about it. Might as well.”

And you can always modify their memories if they try running to anybody else about it, Ichigo doesn’t say because it’s exactly what Kisuke will do if it comes to that, and he figured out how to make a Kikanshinki work on a Shinigami a long time ago.

“Best get comfortable,” Kisuke advises, shifting back to lean against the wall next to his bed even as he lets the long sleeves of his haori flutter down to hide his hands. A binding spell quivers between his fingers, and beside him, Ichigo’s reiatsu whispers over his senses, so faint that even Kisuke only feels it because he’s so familiar with it.

He looks at Shinji, then Kaien, then, “What do you know of the Soul King?”

#bleach #uraichi #urahara kisuke #kurosaki ichigo #myscrap #sarugaki hiyori #hirako shinji #shiba kaien #uraichi in sp verse #aniseandspearmint #msg

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neruran · 5 years

Text

Kippou

Series: Boku no/My Hero Academia Rating: T (for language mostly) Genre: Fluff Relationships: Bakugou/Kirishima/Uraraka [Kirikacchako] Characters: Uraraka Ochako, Bakugou Katsuki, Kirishima Eijirou, Bakugou Masaru, Bakugou Mitsuki, Uraraka Ochako’s Parents, Kirishima Eijirou’s Parents, OCs, minor characters created for the story Other Tags: Established Relationship, Polyamory, Future Fic, Pregnancy, Bakugou Katsuki Swears A Lot, probably a little OOC Summary: Informed that all is well and healthy so far, Ochako, Eijirou, and Katsuki decide to tell their parents the happy news; that they'll all be grandparents in a few months.

Check notes for AO3 link, because this hellsite has a vendetta against links within posts and I hate the link post format, so I gotta make a workaround.

(Title means "good news" in Japanese)

Remember when I said “famous last words” regarding not writing a continuation to Tsuwari? Yeah I was right. I also told myself when I started writing this “oh this’ll be short, just a couple snippets from different points along the timeline of Ochako's pregnancy and their forays into parenting” - you know, like a fool - then 2k later and I still hadn’t gotten to the main point of this so-called snippet, and I finally accepted that this was going to be its own oneshot. Sometimes I hate being so rambly. I admittedly struggled with this more than Tsuwari for various reasons, and I've also done further research and found a couple minor things in Tsuwari aren't quite correct, largely with how Japan deals with pregnancy and childbirth, but it's ultimately relatively minor stuff so I'm not arsed to correct it. It's actually been a little fascinating reading up on the official (as in government-related stuff such as paperwork and healthcare) and social/cultural differences between Japan and North America, so I tried to incorporate hints to some of what I learned, and if I can wrangle my focus and inspiration to write more about Kirikacchako's adventures into parenthood, I'll try to show the differences in those fics/snippets as well.

Once again I have footnotes, which are not really necessary to read to enjoy the story but add flavour, you could say.

As always, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated, but likes, kudos, and bookmarks are nice too! Hope you enjoy!

The day after her little discovery, Ochako books an appointment for that week with her ob/gyn. When she goes in a couple days later and relays the story to Dr. Houkou, they laugh heartily for a good five minutes, much to Ochako's embarrassment. [1]

"I'm terribly sorry for laughing, it really is a little amazing you didn't put the pieces together until now,” they say once they've calmed down, dabbing their eyes with a tissue.

"You can't entirely blame me," Ochako mumbles, hiding her red face. She knows Dr. Houkou doesn't mean any insult, and honestly it is a little funny, but still, she can't help but feel embarrassed for herself.

"That's true, and to tell you the truth, this is not the biggest case of lack of observation; I've heard stories of people who didn't realize they were pregnant until they went to the hospital complaining of stomach pains, when it turned out they were in labour!" [2]

"Oh gosh, I hope I would've noticed long before then!" Uneasily, she rubs her belly. "If not me, one or both of my partners.”

"I'm sure you would; from what I know of those instances, there were certain factors that led the parent-to-be to not recognize the signs, or made the signs less than obvious, which while that's evidently somewhat applicable to you, those situations were more...extreme, I suppose you could say?"

"I'm just glad the worst that's happened to me is this broken wrist," Ochako says, lifting her cast. "I forgot to ask at the hospital, but will this affect the baby at all?"

"No, it should be fine. At worst, it'll be a little slow to heal as most of your body's resources are focused on what's in your womb rather than healing your injuries, but I'm sure the extra downtime will be good for you. Oh don't pull that face, you workaholic," Dr. Houkou scolds, rolling their eyes at the poorly concealed pout Ochako has. "I know you're a busy hero, but it's important you take time to recover, especially now it's not just yourself that you need to look out for.”

"I know, it's just going to be tough," sighs Ochako. "I love helping people! After being in this field for so many years, I feel restless at the idea of not doing anything more than paperwork or small tasks, but I'll have to get used to it for the next while."

"Don't worry, before you know it, you'll be having your baby and jumping back into the fray. Now, let's figure out that due date."

~~~

"We're home!"

"Welcome back!" Ochako calls back, peeking her head over the back of the couch to smile at her partners as they make their way into their apartment. "How was work today?"

"Nothing super exciting on my end, just broke up a scuffle between a couple of rowdy yankii while out on patrols," Eijirou reports.

Katsuki huffs, evidently jealous. "Boring as shit."

"Oh calm down, you got to stop a robbery last week."

"Doesn't make this week any less boring."

Rolling his eyes, Eijirou picks up a meowing Hotaru, placing her on his shoulder as he plops down beside Ochako. He peers curiously at the various booklets and pamphlets she has scattered around her. "How about you? How'd your appointment go?"

"Well, besides giving them a good laugh when I told them how I hadn't noticed I was pregnant"—she shoots a pouty glare towards the kitchen when Katsuki snickers, but he ignores her as he starts on dinner, so she continues—"they confirmed everything's going well and that I'm probably on the tail end of twelve weeks, and we worked out my due date."

"Oh, that's awesome! When is it?"

"February 20th!"

"February, huh," Eijirou muses aloud. "We're just at the beginning of August; February seems so far away...The due date's just a guesstimate, right? So it could be born on a different day. Think it'll be a Valentine's baby?"

"I fucking hope not," Katsuki gripes. "People would probably only give them chocolate and Valentine shit for their birthday, I sure as fuck don't want our kid subjected to that."

"Hey Eiji, you think we'll have to implement a swear jar when the baby's born?" Ochako says teasingly. "Or do you think Katsuki'll manage to get his language under control before then?"

"Shut up, my language is fine."

"Sure, sure, I'm sure all of our mothers would appreciate it when one day while babysitting, our kid says ‘fuck' out of nowhere, and I'm sure it would not be much of a mystery as to who they learned that word from," Eijirou replies. [3]

The noise of Katsuki preparing dinner pauses for a moment. Ochako and Eijirou exchange knowing looks.

"...I'll work on it."

"Wary of what Mitsuki would say?"

"Hell no, that old hag can nag all she wants, she's not much better. It's your mom's disapproval I'd rather avoid," Katsuki answers, pointing at Eijirou.

"Mine? Do you mean Mom or Mama?"

"Ikane."

"Really?" Ochako questions, giving a little laugh in disbelief. "But she's such a sweetheart like Eijirou here." She reaches up to ruffle Eijirou's hair, earning a half-hearted complaint about his drooping hair spikes being messed up.

Eijirou chuckles as he gently swats her hand away from his head, petting Hotaru when she meows at him. "You haven't seen her in full mom mode. Once when I was in middle school, I said something crass without realizing while Mama was babysitting some neighbour kids, and the look she gave me could've pierced right through my Unbreakable state. Not to mention the ear twisting I got shortly after." Absently he rubs his ear, recalling the pain.

"I...suppose I can see that. If it's anything like the expression you make at villains that make you angry, it must be something."

Katsuki mutters a "you have no idea" unnoticed. For the best; he doesn't care to explain to Ochako the incident that lead to him earning Ikane's ire, however brief it was.

"Mama does like to say I inherited her passion instead of her quirk," Eijirou says with humour. "Though, speaking of; do we want to start telling people we're expecting? I mean, I know some people wait until the end of the first trimester anyway since the chances of miscarriage are pretty low after that point, so then it's pretty set in stone that a baby's on the way."

Ochako hums thoughtfully, drumming her fingers absently on Eijirou's knee. "I think I'd like to tell my parents first, but I'd prefer to do it in person or on video call. It seems impersonal to give them the news any other way."

"I wanna tell my moms right away; I just know Mama's gonna love hearing that she'll be a grandma. But I'm also excited to tell all our friends.”

"Why don't we just conference call all our parents and tell them all at once?" Katsuki proposes, scraping some vegetables he just cut up into a pot. "I know the hag'll complain if she's one of the last informed, so if we do it that way, it gets it all out of the way at the same time and I don't get my ear nagged off."

"That's...not a bad idea," Ochako says, blinking in mild surprise.

"Of course it's not, I came up with it. You make it sound like I come up with bad ideas on the regular basis."

Eijirou smirks slyly. "You mean ideas like putting too much hot sauce in your food just to prove you can take it, only to get hit by the consequences later in the bathroom, Kacchan?"

"Shut up, at least I can take it!"

"Now, now, your unfortunate dietary decisions aside, I didn't mean to imply you don't have good ideas," Ochako interrupts. Katsuki grumbles, but puts up no further argument. "I was just surprised I hadn't considered it. Since I have the next couple days off to give my wrist a little more rest, why don't I contact everyone and coordinate it?"

"Sounds like a plan! And then we can start telling all our friends and stuff!" Eijirou giddily hops in his seat, which of course disturbs the cat on his shoulder. She lets out a growl and bats at his head. "Ow, yeah, sorry Hotaru, I deserved that." He sets her down, letting her stalk off to cuddle up with Kyou who's laying in her doggie bed in the corner, touching his ear to check that she didn't scratch him.

Ochako giggles at him. "You think everyone will assume we're adopting another cat at first?"

"I mean, they might, but we only did that once with Hotaru and it was funny! I think in this instance though, I'd prefer to tell some people face-to-face first before announcing it on our social media. Mostly I wanna see Denki, Mina, and Hanta's faces when they hear the news.”

"Yeah, Dunce Face will probably flip his shit, it'll be hilarious."

"I'm excited to tell Tsuyu-chan, Tenya-kun, and Deku-kun. Oh, stop making that face, Katsuki."

"What face? I'm not making any face," Katsuki replies petulantly. "I'm not even facing you."

"Yeah, but I know you and I know you're pulling a face at the idea of involving Deku-kun, because you always do even though you two are friends now," she says, rolling her eyes. Eijirou snickers to himself.

"We are not friends, I just tolerate the stupid nerd enough to work with him on occasion."

Once again, Eijirou and Ochako exchange looks then simultaneously roll their eyes affectionately, fully aware that whatever bad blood the two had as children has long been resolved enough that they frequently trade spots on the hero rankings and collaborate on missions, all the while throwing harmless barbs and challenges back and forth. The relationship is complicated, as "friends" doesn't quite describe them, but "rivals" or "frenemies" doesn't seem right either. They're just "Deku and Kacchan", a category of their own.

"Point is," Ochako continues. "Deku-kun is my friend, and I'm looking forward to sharing the news with him. I know he's going to be very happy for all of us."

"Think he'll cry?" Eijirou asks.

"Definitely," Ochako and Katsuki answer simultaneously.

Eijirou laughs, leaning into Ochako. "You're right, dumb question. He may be better than when we were first-years, but I should know better than to underestimate the secret Midoriya secondary quirk. Now, what's all this you got here, Chako?"

Lighting up, Ochako eagerly explains the various pamphlets that cover things like her recommended diet, the baby's development, and what sort of information she needs to submit to the Health Office. Eijirou just as eagerly listens, nodding his head and asking questions, and though he's busy making dinner, she knows Katsuki has an ear on the conversation so she makes sure to talk loud enough for him to hear as well.

~~~

Coordinating the conference call with their parents ends up being a more difficult task than Ochako expects; each set of parents has different schedules and events, not to mention there's Eijirou and Katsuki's schedules to consider, so it actually takes several phone calls and emails to figure out a day and time that works for everyone. The entire time Ochako also finds herself dodging the question for why this is so important, merely explaining that their triad had some good news for them and wanted to announce it to them all at the same time. She admittedly flushes when Mitsuki teases that perhaps one of them proposed to the other two or vice versa—the idea of getting married to Eijirou and Katsuki flustering her even if they're already expecting a child—but clumsily acts coy to keep her from guessing the actual news.

After two days of back-and-forth, they finally all agree that the upcoming Friday after dinner will work for everyone, barring any emergencies. Which gives Ochako several days time to build up her excitement, but also her anxiousness. What if any of their parents don't approve? Her own parents had been rather apprehensive about her being in a poly relationship back when she first told them, but now that it's been several years with only a couple hiccups, they're happy for Ochako's happiness, but what if this changes their minds again? Sure she's a grown adult capable of making her own decisions in life, but she's always been close with her parents so she'd hate to lose that relationship over this. Mitsuki's reaction also worries her a bit, as while she does like the woman, she can be rather brash and critical like Katsuki at the most unpredictable of times.

She quietly admits this to Katsuki as they're snuggled up on the couch waiting for Eijirou to get home from a late-running patrol shift; he gruffly assures her that both his mom and dad will be ecstatic at the news, so her parents will surely feel the same, which means she has nothing to worry about. In return, he confesses feeling a little apprehensive himself regarding her and Eijirou's parents reaction to him being involved, but Ochako's quick to tell him that if she's fine, then he's fine as well because their parents all know what a good person he is and seen how wonderful and loving a partner he's been, so they should have no qualms.

Eijirou, on the other hand, seems to vibrate with anticipation with each passing day, as if the information that they're expecting is waiting to burst out of him like an explosion from Katsuki's palms. It even seeps into his aura while out doing hero work, enough that one of Ochako's sidekicks happens to take notice.

"Red Riot-san was more energetic than usual when I happened to pass by him doing patrols on my way home yesterday," Subspacer muses when Ochako stops by the office to pick up more work to do from home. "When I asked him if something good had happened on patrol, he grinned and said no, but he did get some news that made him really happy recently, but didn't elaborate further." They turn to her, head tilted curiously. "Any idea what that's about?" [4]

Ochako gives a chuckle that she hopes isn't as nervous-sounding as she feels. "Oh, I wouldn't think on it too hard...You've seen him in casual work settings, he gets excited over the smallest stuff." She does her best to maintain a smiling poker face as they eye her a moment, before they let whatever it is they're thinking go, going on to fill her in on what's happened at the office in her absence. Ochako knows they're suspicious, but mentally thanks them for not pressing the matter.

The days pass and Friday arrives without much fanfare. All three of them are antsy in their own ways during dinner; Eijirou can't seem to sit still at all, Katsuki's foot bounces restlessly, and Ochako frequently slips into her natural Kansai accent as she talks, excitement and anxiousness starting to come to a head as the promised time ticks closer. Soon enough, their dinner is eaten and cleaned up, their pets are fed, and then they're sitting on their couch with Eijirou's laptop opened up on Ochako's lap.</p>

On her right, Katsuki's phone makes a little ‘boom' noise to indicate he has a new message. "My old man says he and the hag are ready when we are," Katsuki says after checking.

Eijirou's phone dings to her left a moment later. "My moms are good to go!"

Sure enough, hers buzzes less than a minute after, and a quick glance tells her that her parents are also ready. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she smiles at both her partners, then clicks the button to start the conference call.

Eijirou's mothers are the first to pick up, but her parents and Katsuki's follow suit seconds after. It's almost overwhelming seeing six faces on the screen, but besides the big news she intends to drop during this call, this is something they've all done before in lieu of separate phone calls and emails. Besides, it's been weeks since she's seen any of them through anything besides social media, so it's nice to be able to talk to their families face-to-face, even if there's a screen separating them. Smiling brighter, she gives a little wave, Eijirou doing the same. "Hello everyone!" she greets. A chorus of greetings echoes back from their parents. "I'm glad this worked out, it's been so long since we've been able to do a group call like this!"

"The woes of adulthood and having busy jobs, right hon?" Mitsuki turns to Masaru, who nods in agreement.

"How is that new line coming along, Masaru-san? I recall Mitsuki-san mentioning before you two had a deadline this week," asks Karuko. [5]

"I've finished everything that's within my control, so now it's just a matter of waiting for the samples to see if there's anything that needs adjusting before going into full production." [6]

"That's good to hear! Considering your other work, I'm sure it'll be a success."

"Not that I don't want to hear how the rest of you are doing," Tomoe interrupts, blunt but not unkind. "I think I'd like to hear from our children, since it's often so hard to get a hold of them with their unpredictable jobs." Ikane smiles a little, apologetic for her partner's abruptness. [7]

"Aw, but we wanna hear what you're up to too, Mom!" Eijirou jokingly complains, grinning.

"She does have a point though," Saburou says. "Ochako, how's your arm? I hope you're getting proper rest so it heals properly."

Katsuki snorts. "As if either of us would let her do anything reckless on our watch."

Ochako shoots him a sharp look hidden behind a smile that says “be glad you're sitting on my injured side, because I would be giving you such a pinch right now if I could”; Katsuki simply smirks back at her. Huffing, she turns back to their families. "I promise I'm getting plenty of rest; all I've been doing the past week is paperwork, which I'm glad I can do on my laptop because it's difficult writing left-handed! I feel so antsy sitting around barely doing anything though, so at my next check-up I'll ask if it's okay to go out for runs or something."

"I understand feeling restless, but please be careful, Ochako," her mother chides worriedly. "We wouldn't want you to get hurt further."

"Agreed!" Ikane cheerfully pipes in. "As amazing as that takedown was, it wouldn't do if you were out of commission for months instead of weeks."

The trio shares a glance at that, which doesn't go unnoticed by Mitsuki. "Now what's that look for? Is that related to whatever news you had to share with us?"

"Oh that's right, you did mention having some sort of good news. Did one of you go up in rank?"

"Did you get new sidekicks?"

"Are you being recruited for another overseas assignment?"

"New sponsors?"

"Whoa, whoa, one at a time," Eijirou laughs, holding up his hands. Once their parents settle a bit, he continues, "It's not anything related to our jobs, though it will kinda affect them."

"Particularly for Ochako here," Katsuki adds, nodding to her.

Confused and curious faces stare at them, bringing Ochako's nerves back, but she steels herself; after all, what do any of them have to be unhappy about? "So, when I had told you that they didn't have anyone with a healing quirk on staff at the hospital to heal my wrist, I wasn't being honest with you. Truthfully, they did have someone there, but because of some tests they ran, they were hesitant to use the quirk on me as they weren't sure how my body would react."

In the corner of her eye, Eijirou's grin gets steadily wider, his hand gripping hers as he tries to contain himself from bouncing in his seat. With a roll of his eyes, Katsuki reaches behind her and gives his arm a gentle swat, but it does nothing to hinder Eijirou's energy. On the screen, Tomoe's eyeing them intensely, to the point that if Ochako wasn't absolutely sure her quirk doesn't work through screens or cameras, she'd almost think that she's reading their auras to try and get a bead on whatever it is they're building up to. Not for the first time, she finds herself glad she's never considered going into business law, as she'd hate to be stared down by Tomoe during negotiations or prosecutions.

"Why is that, Ochako-san?" Masaru inquires. "What did they find?"

"Well, turns out that I—"

"You're going to be grandparents!" Eijirou blurts excitedly, unable to hold himself back any longer. When Ochako and Katsuki both turn to him with fondly exasperated expressions, he at least has enough awareness to look sheepish at his outburst. "Sorry, I just couldn't wait any longer."

All their parents are quiet, faces in various levels of stunned and surprised. It's Saburou that speaks up first. "Pardon me, what?"

Shaking her head at Eijirou, Ochako turns back to the laptop. "Turns out I'm pregnant, nearly fourteen weeks now. We're having a baby!"

"Wait, really?" Mitsuki exclaims, and it seems the Urarakas are about to speak as well, but everyone's interrupted by a joyous scream that makes them all jolt.

On the Kirishima-Keshiki part of the screen, Ikane's leapt from her seat and started hopping around, still squealing happily. "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, I'm going to be a grandma! Tomoe we're gonna be grandmas! Oh my god!"

"You really did get your passion from her," Katsuki observes dryly, earning a giggle from Ochako.

"She's going to be like this for a minute or two, so I'm going to mute us until she calms down so the rest of you can talk," Tomoe says, rolling her eyes fondly before Ikane's happy screams go silent, though she's still jumping around on screen.

"Your mother really does love children, doesn't she, Eijirou-kun?" teases Mitsuki.

"Oh you didn't see his reaction when Ochako told us the news, he did pretty much the exact same thing as Ikane."

"Katsukiiiii, they didn't have to know that!" Eijirou complains, flushing a bit.

"You literally just shamelessly blurted out the surprise, you have no right to be embarrassed now!"

"Boys, play nice," Ochako chides playfully, patting them both on the leg.

"While I am happy at this news," Karuko butts in, expression stuck between elated and concerned. "You said you're close to fourteen weeks along, right? That means you've been doing all that strenuous and stressful hero work. Are you sure everything is okay?"

Ochako nods, turning her gaze down and placing her uninjured hand on the bump that's become a little more prominent in the past week but is still easily hidden by her clothing. "I was really worried when I first heard the results for that exact reason, but I got a check-up at the hospital and have had two appointments with my doctor since then, and they've said I've got a healthy and hardy baby growing despite all the factors that could have made it otherwise."

Sound returns to the Kirishima-Keshiki feed, with Tomoe and Ikane settled back in their seats. "Whew, I'm sorry for my outburst, everyone," Ikane says, looking a little out-of-sorts and somewhat teary-eyed, but still positively glowing from joy. "I got a bit overzealous. But still, I'm so happy and proud of you three! To have a baby that's managed to hold on and stay healthy without you being careful means it must be fate for you to have it. Do you have an idea on which of you is the father?"

"No," Ochako's quick to answer before either of her partners could. "And I don't think we'll really know until it's born, but to be completely honest, if possible I don't think I want to know at all, because even if only one of them will be related by blood, both Katsuki and Eijirou will be raising them with me together, and I think that counts just as much if not more than whoever contributed chromosomes." She looks up again, and her eye strays over to Tomoe. There's a subtle expression of understanding and gratitude on her face, and her hand's wandered to grasp Ikane's, and Ochako knows that she sees her point more than any of the other parents on this call. "No matter what, they'll both this baby's father. No ‘real' father or bullshit like that."

Everyone's silent for a moment, stunned by the sudden conviction and seriousness in her words. She knows her partners are both staring at her, but she stays looking at the screen so that she doesn't lose her nerve. It's only when she hears a quiet sniffle beside her that her concentration breaks, but before she can turn to see what's wrong, Eijirou's got his arm around her and pulling her close, face buried in her hair.

"That was so manly," he whispers, voice a little choked up, and he presses a soft kiss to her head. "You're the best, I love you so, so much."

On her other side, Katsuki all but shoves his face into the space between her neck and shoulder, his hand gripping her bicep. He murmurs something, but she doesn't really catch what it is. While she appreciates the sudden affection, she's a bit embarrassed that it's happening with their parents right there, and she's not really sure what's brought it on. "I— Uh— What—" she stammers, stuck between looking for help from their onlookers and avoiding eye contact with them. On screen, her parents and Masaru have politely chosen to turn their attention elsewhere while Mitsuki grins, unbothered by the PDA and in fact looking oddly proud. [8]

"You're right." Ochako turns her attention to Ikane and Tomoe's feed, where Tomoe seems to be holding back giggles at Ochako's predicament but also looking away politely. Ikane, on the other hand, is watching their triad with fondness, gaze soft. "That was rude of me to say, especially when I'm fully aware that love and family aren't defined purely by blood." Her hand finds Tomoe's, and she gives it a gentle squeeze in apology. "You're going to be a wonderful mother, Ochako-chan, and I'm glad my son has such loving partners in you and Katsuki-kun."

Eijirou whines, ears turning pink as he hides his face further. "Mama, don't say things like that, I'm gonna cry more! And then Ochako will start crying because hormones, and I'll feel bad for making her cry, and then Mom might get involved—"

"Hey now."

"—and maybe Katsuki will get overwhelmed—"

"Oi, don't just assume things—!"

"Nothing wrong with some manly happy tears, Ei-chan; I know we taught you that!"

"I know, but it's still a bit embarrassing to do it in front of everyone!"

"Says one of the two currently clinging to me without shame..." Ochako mumbles.

Both Eijirou and Katsuki stiffen, realizing that yes, they're practically smothering Ochako while their parents are watching; Ochako can't move her head much in this position, but she's sure they're both starting to flush. After a moment, the two finally pull away, their heads turned to avoid eye contact with everyone.

Eijirou lets out a sheepish chuckle, ruffling his hair. "S-Sorry about that, I guess we got a bit overwhelmed and forgot about our company."

"No harm, no foul," Saburou assures gently, waving off the apology.

"Besides, it was kind of cute. It's not often I get to see my Katsuki get so emotional," Mitsuki teases.

"Shut the fuck up, old hag," Katsuki grumbles, flushing more and sinking a bit into the couch.

Masaru puts a hand on Mitsuki's shoulder when it seems like she's about to scold their son. "Be nice, you two," he chides, waiting until Mitsuki's hackles lower before looking to Ochako. "Really, we're delighted at this news, and we're happy that you've shared it with us all. I'm sure all of us parents can agree that it's not always an easy road, but we're all here for you if there's anything you should need along the way."

"Of course!" Karuko pipes up. "We'd be happy to give you advice and help whenever you need it. Now, tell us more about everything, like when are you due?"

From there, the conversation flows smoothly, starting at talks about Ochako's pregnancy and what the three of them are to expect in the future before eventually moving on to general life updates such as new projects at work or what their neighbours are up to. As the group call edges towards the two hour mark, everyone notes with amusement that Ochako's eyes have begun to droop. Ochako tries to insist she's fine when Saburou points this out, but before long her head is leaning against Katsuki's shoulder, barely able to stay up. The families all say their goodbyes, promising once again that the three of them are welcome to come to them for anything and kindly demanding to keep updated, then the call ends. Eijirou reaches over to close the laptop, taking it from Ochako's lap as he stands and chuckling when Ochako shifts to sleepily cuddle with Katsuki now that she's free to move.

Katsuki, on the other hand, rolls his eyes, though it does nothing to diminish his affectionate smirk at Ochako's drowsiness. "C'mon Ochako, let's get your ass to bed."

"Nooooo..." Ochako tiredly protests. "'m fine, yer just"—she yawns—"just warm and cozy..."

He snorts. "It was fucking thirty degrees outside today and it's not even that cold in here with aircon, why the hell do you want to be warm?"

"Shhhhh..."

"Alright then." Despite her protesting, he stands, scoops her into his arms with no more than a quiet grunt, then saunters off towards their bedroom even as she half-heartedly wiggles about. "If you behave and go to bed, you can cuddle me all you want."

"But I dun wanna go to sleeeeeeep," Ochako whines, pawing at his chest in a lazy effort to get away.

"Oi, if you don't stop wriggling around, I'm gonna drop you and it'll be completely on purpose," he warns.

"No you won', 'cause 'm pregnant, injured, 'nd cute, 'nd I know ya love me too much to drop me..."

As they enter the room, Katsuki hears Eijirou—who's getting changed into his sleepwear off to the side—laugh at Ochako's sleepy retort, so he levels a frown that says "don't encourage her" at him, even though he knows that she's completely right in that statement. He would maybe consider dropping her on her butt just to show that he won't put up with her being a little shit if she wasn't pregnant, but circumstances are not in his favour, so instead he unceremoniously deposits her on the bed, earning a squeak.

"Uncalled for..." she grumbles, pouting petulantly as she rolls to the side and hugs her pillow. "What if I hurt my wrist more?"

"I know you're not that fragile, Round Face, so don't try to guilt me."

"Eiiiijiiiii, Kacchan's bein' mean to meeee..." Rolling his eyes again, Katsuki goes to change into his own sleeping clothes.

"There, there, if you really don't wanna sleep, you can cuddle with me and watch me play some Street Fighter," Eijirou says as he slides into bed, handheld console in hand. "Do a bit of backseat gaming. How's that sound?" [9]

Ochako hums, her tired brain considering the offer. "...'Kay..."

"But first, you're getting changed out of your day clothes," Katsuki announces, tossing a set of her pyjamas on the bed. When Ochako makes no move to do so, he huffs, then reaches over and pulls her towards him, tugging gently but forcibly at her clothes. "C'mon, you're not going to be comfortable sleeping in those shorts, let alone your bra."

"Whoa, getting frisky, are we?" Eijirou teases, waggling his eyebrows with a sly grin. Katsuki responds by throwing a pillow at Eijirou, who cackles even as it hits him in the face.

Before long, Ochako's changed into her pyjamas and curled into Eijirou's side, her head resting on his chest so she can watch the screen, her cast wrist pillowed carefully. Katsuki slips in on her other side after finishing his nightly routine; instead of cuddling, however, he chooses to sit up against the headboard, reading glasses perched on his nose and a book open on his lap. Eijirou's game and the occasional turning page are the only noises in the room, until barely half an hour later, both boys glance up at a quiet snore, smiling upon seeing Ochako out cold as predicted. Eijirou lets her continue sleeping on him for a little while longer, then carefully shifts her to sleep on her proper pillow, kissing her brow softly. Katsuki sets his book and reading glasses aside as Eijirou gets up to finish his own nightly routine, shuffling down under the covers and putting an arm around Ochako, who shifts closer to his warmth in her sleep. When Eijirou returns to the room ten minutes later, he's greeted with the sight of Katsuki spooned protectively against Ochako and just as asleep as her. While not a new sight, it's one that Eijirou can never get tired of, and he can only imagine how much better it will get as Ochako's belly grows, and then when their new addition comes into the world. Quietly, he takes a picture to appreciate later, then goes to join them on the bed, leaning over Ochako to peck Katsuki on the cheek before turning off the bedside light and settling in to sleep himself.

Footnotes: [1] - This time the doctor is not named for their profession, but still named for their quirk; I had a thought a little while ago that went something along the lines of “you know people probably take on jobs that have nothing to do with their quirk all the time, why don’t we see more of that in the HeroAca world”, and so we have Dr. Houkou. Their quirk basically makes them a human GPS; their name is made up of the kanji for “direction” and “navigation”.

[2] - This is apparently a thing that has happened to some people, believe it or not. Not something that happens often, mind you, but it happens. Factors for why the pregnancies go unnoticed include the person’s weight, the size and position of the baby, and things like spotting being mistaken for light periods. Which is why if you thought I was stretching the truth too much by having Ochako not notice for three months, surprise! Reality is weirder than you think.

[3] - Me: You know Bakugou’s language in Japanese isn’t really full of swearing, it’s just very blunt and rude because Japanese doesn’t have the same equivalents to curse words so the likelihood of a child imitating his speech is unlikely.

Also me: Meh who cares, gonna write it like that anyway, it’s funnier to think about it this way.

[4] - Unlike the doctors I’ve named in this story and Tsuwari, Subspacer is a full-fledged OC of mine! I’ve given careful thought into their quirk, name, and personality, though I’ve been undecided on their age and professional status for a while. I decided to add them in as one of Ochako’s sidekicks for giggles, but if I do get around to writing more of this storyline, you’ll likely be seeing more mention of them!

[5] - Since Ochako’s parents don’t have names (truly a travesty; they’re an important part of her motivation, but they have yet to get profiles like the Bakugous or Jirous? I call unfairness), I decided to give them names. Following Horikoshi’s current naming conventions for parents—which involves separating the kanji in the children’s names and giving at least one to each parent as part of their names (i.e. Katsuki “勝己” separates to get Masaru “勝” and Mitsuki “光己”), the only exception so far being the Midoriyas as Izuku “出久” only shares kanji with his yet-to-be-seen father Hisashi “久”—I took the “茶” and “子” from Ochako’s name and searched through various kanji readings and meanings to get Saburou “茶奉郎” and Karuko “軽子”. The sa in Saburou means “tea” and an alternate reading of the kanji, while bu means “offer, dedicate” and rou means “son” (this same kanji is in Eijirou’s name; it’s a relatively common kanji for boy names). Karu means “light (opposite of heavy)” which is supposed to reference what I can only assume is the family quirk (again, we have no idea what her parents’ quirks are; I DEMAND TO KNOW HORIKOSHI), and then ko means “child” and—similar to rou being common for boy names—is pretty common for girl names.

[6] - I will admit I have no idea how the production of fashion lines work, and unlike many other things, I’m not arsed to research it for a single line of dialogue (I do that enough as it is...I’m very easily distracted) so if I’m horrendously wrong on how fashion designers work in a company, please ignore it.

[7] - I actually have come up with entire profiles for Eijirou’s mothers, but I do not have the room in the notes to go into complete detail on them on here, so feel free to read about them here instead. I unfortunately don’t draw so they don’t have ‘official’ appearances, but I’ve tried to describe them as I see them in my head as best I can.

[8] - I think it’s relatively well-known that PDA in Japan tends to get the side-eye if it’s anything more than holding hands, and while Japan as a culture does seem to be slowly getting laxer about it and this fic is set in the hypothetical future, I doubt there would be significant change, plus I’m sure they’ll still think PDA in front of one’s parents is pretty taboo. Personally I’d feel a bit shy about hugging/cuddling with my S/O in front of my family, but I’m also aroace af so what do I know, hahaha.

[9] - Just imagine the gaming console Eijirou’s using is similar to the Switch, but like...a future version. Maybe it’s not even a Nintendo product, who the heck knows what game technology is gonna be like.

I considered also writing about the trio telling their friends the same week in-universe, but all the ideas I have for that are kinda vague and I’m not really sure how to write the scenes out without seeming repetitious, or how to keep them interesting to read, so I nixed that in favour of ending at this point, especially since I’ve struggled so much to get here. Maybe that’ll be an actual snippet, but no promises, hahaha.

#my hero academia #boku no hero academia #kirikacchako #katsuki bakugou #kirishima eijirou #uraraka ochako #kiribakuraka #nerufic #once again this is queued up to post during the day

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brightwaterforarainyday · 5 years

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@grotesque-rotten-puppet (I hope you don’t mind me tagging you in these)

Answers to some very important questions pt. 2: Mazrah Sulein:

On a scale of “is occasionally forced to bathe” to “Instagram model with sponsors to hoe for” how involved is your OC’s Skincare routine?

Mazrah’s high charisma and familiarity with corporate and corporate security culture mean she’s almost always the one in charge of impersonating security guards/negotiating with the Johnson for higher pay/just about any interaction that doesn’t involve shooting things, so she has to be at least a bit more aware of her appearance than other members of her team. On the other hand, anything too flashy is going to make her stand out more than she would like to, so she usually just sticks to a middle ground of respectable but plain, unless a particular run requires a certain “look”. Also like, she has better things to spend time and money on. Like guns. And cool jackets.

What are your OC’s food preferences (flavors/textures/spiciness/calories/ when and how they eat) and how did they get that way?

Any kind of food that could be described as “hearty”: potatoes, soup, sausage, many pastas, that kind of stuff. It’s like a hug that you eat! Food and eating also have a lot of social connotations for Maz, which plays into her preferences quite a bit. Meals are one of the few times she gets to spend time with her team mates outside of “work”, and the trust inherent in the act of sharing food makes it a good way for the team to bond and grow closer. I feel like that might be a thing in the larger Shadowrunner community as well, as a profession where suspicion and paranoia are survival mechanisms and the price of misplaced trust is so, so high, sharing a genuine sit-down meal with others is a Big Deal.

She’s also a fan of street food for similar reasons, it’s like the Shadowrunner equivalent of having someone prepare a meal for you, with all (or, well, some of) the connotations of care and hospitality that comes with that.

What’s something pointless/petty/unimportant that IRRATIONALLY ANNOYS THE HELL out of your OC?

No one ever returns spoons to the safehouse kitchen and they’ve spent entirely too much money on replacing them already.

What’s your OC’s response to being asked for money by a homeless person?

She runs a quick risk/reward calculation that goes something like this:

Pros:

Homeless people see a lot of shit and can be a great source of information. Getting friendly with them has some strategic advantages.

Maz spent some time on the streets herself before she found a Runner squad who would take her, so she knows it’s rough.

Fellow lowlifes gotta stick together if they wanna stick it to The Man. Or, you know, survive.

Cons:

Money is always tight and earning more usually involves getting shot at.

She almost always decides to give them something, maybe ask their name too, get to know them a bit. Networking is an important part of any job, Shadowrunning included.

Does your OC get lost easily? What do they do when they do get lost?

On one hand, she has virtually constant access to the power of Future!Google Maps. On the other, sometimes Future!Google Maps is unavailable or unreliable. If she ever does find herself lost, she’ll look for: A) some kind of prominent landmark she can orient herself relative to, B) a public transit station or hub that will likely have a map, or C) someone who looks like they could give her directions.

What would STOP your OC from Doing The Right Thing in a tense situation?

“Messing with these people who hate my guts/view me as a disposable asset/are actively trying to kill me would be hilarious right now.”

That or just plain old spite.

Realistically, could your OC (in their normal circumstances- i.e. at their own house/battlecamp/spaceship etc.) keep a small child alive for a week if they had to? A Dog? A Houseplant? A rock with a smiley face painted on?

I mean, the secret hideout of a bunch of professional criminals probably isn’t the best place for a kid to hang out, but safehouses are, by definition, safe (supposedly). Also, she has a lot of experience keeping her idiot boyfriends alive in similar circumstances, and a kid can’t be that much harder.

If your OC had to take the S.A.T. tomorrow with one night to prep, how would they do? both emotionally and academically.

Maz has taken her fair share of standardized tests courtesy of the Ares Macrotechnology owned and run primary school she went to, so she would be familiar with the concept, at least. That was a long time ago however, and she hasn’t had any formal education since she started running the shadows as a rebellious teenager (or the Orc equivalent of a teenager anyway). The difference in the speed at which Orc and Human children mature probably makes school complicated too, come to think of it.

Tests like the S.A.T are also a pretty major aspect of the kind of life and culture she was specifically running away from when she decided to become a Shadowrunner, so I imagine the amount of anger and resentment she would feel along with the stress would be significant.

So, academically: probably not great. Emotionally: also probably not great.

What would cause your OC to chose to do something petty/pointlessly cruel?

Mazrah has a lot of very deep-seated anger and resentment towards people in positions of power and authority, especially if that power comes with the kind of wealth that being on the board of directors of a company or megacorp provides. (She owns more than one “Eat the Rich” t shirt, incidentally) Given the opportunity, she would find the sight of one of those people in pain to be extremely satisfying.

But.

Although she’d be slow to admit it, the quasi-military upbringing she had under Ares left her with an above-average sense of things like duty, and honor, and justice, and all those other things organizations of that kind claim to uphold. Some of that manifests in the code of honor she -- and most other street samurai --follow. This code is the primary thing -- besides all the chrome -- that sets a street sam apart from you’re run-of-the-mill tough guy with a gun, and she takes it very seriously. More importantly, it specifically forbids her from taking lethal action against, or allowing someone else to take lethal action against anyone who is unarmed, unaware of her, or otherwise defenseless. It’s a bit fuzzier on the subject of just like, regular old pain and fear however, though I imagine those are also discouraged.

So... which one of those two opposing forces wins out in the end isn’t going to be simple, or certain, and would be extremely dependent on the context of the specific situation in question.

On a scale of “Complete and Justified nervous breakdown” to “Conquer The Entire Galaxy and become an Immortal God-Emperor”, how well would your OC handle being abducted by Aliens?

You know, aliens aren’t that much of a stretch from orcs and dragons and magic an all the other bizarre things that happen every day in the Sixth World. So I think her reaction would be something along the lines of “Ok I guess we’re doing this now, sure. Life is weird enough already this might as well happen. I would very much like to go home now, though.”

But also, can you imagine how much literally any intel or object from that encounter would sell for?

What song is 100% guaranteed to get your OC beyond turnt and will be sung loudly and embarrassingly, either in public or the shower?

“I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous”, “Out of Breath”, and “Love Ire & Song” by Frank Turner all fall under this category.

She aslo definitely sings along to any MESSERKAMF! songs that happen to come on as loud as possible and with just the most enthusiasm, just to annoy/embarrass Dietrich.

What perfectly-normal-to-them-thing does your OC do that confuses/pisses off/terrifies their neighbors?

She possesses both a very unpredictable schedule and an electric guitar she spends a considerable amount of time practicing, possibly the most aggravating combination of traits a neighbor and/or housemate can have.

Under what circumstances would your OC appear naked in public?

Mazrah has been known to, as they say, “party hard”, on occasion.

How strong or weak is your OC’s Impulse control? What’s the worst thing that happened because of their Impulsivity or inability to be so?

It’s gotten better since she’s started finding herself in more and more leadership positions in the teams she runs with and the extra responsibility that comes with that, but she’s still a pretty big adrenaline junkie. There are probably a few Lone Star security squads that could have gone unprovoked or avoided entirely with someone a bit less impulsive at the helm. She’s done some pretty buckwild parkour stunts too, but so far all of them have ended well.

EDIT: I'm a god damn idiot for forgetting my own character's backstory: Hands down the single most impulsive thing Mazrah has done is running away from home to become a Shadowrunner as an idiot teenager.

How does your OC sabotage themselves?

The tension between the desire for and benefits of close relationships between people like team mates, neighbors, that one street doc who always patches them up after a run, and the inherently mercenary and transitory nature of those relationships, and the risks they bring, is a confusing, ever-shifting balance, and Mazrah is usually overcompensating in one direction or the other at any given time. Either closing herself off to any kind of really meaningful connection or becoming too involved with and concerned about the people around her and getting hurt as a result.

What’s your OC smell like? no, not that “Vanilla and Anxiety” evocative stuff, realistically. Body odor? what have they been touching all day? When was thier last shower? Did they put on any kind of artificial scent?

Leather conditioner and gun oil, generally. If she’s not out on a run or partying she’s at the safehouse taking care of her gear. She buys soap and hair stuff that smells like sandalwood whenever the option is available, so she’s got that nice like, warm, almost-cinnamon-but-different smell underneath all that too.

#Mazrah #wow a lot of these got really long

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azanycollectormilkshakeworl-blog · 6 years

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How much does it cost for auto insurance for a 16 year old??/?

Could a car insurance agent please answer my question?

I live in CA. I have Mercury insurance. I had 3 old cars on my policy which was too expensive so I sold 2 of them. I was paying $273 monthly automatically deducted from my bank on the 21st of every month. I sold the first car Jan. 29th. On Jan. 30th I took release of liability to AAA DMV and then to my insurance agent asking for the car to be removed from the policy. On February 10th I sold the second car. I took the release form to AAA DMV then straight to the agent asking for release. When I look at my policy deducting the 2 cars my insurance should be about $180 per month. They tell me it will be about $210 per month. Today rolls around, I check my bank account and they have deducted $273 from my checking. I call the 800 number for Mercury. They tell me it needed to be in by February 5th in order to make the billing deadline. Then they said they will NOT refund the money they removed from my account or prorate because under writing takes time. Is this legal??????""

Where is a good place to get insurance after having a suspended license without paying a large sum?

My license was suspended in 2009 for a year. I currently have insurance under American family but they upped my fees to around 200 bucks for even if i have a decent record. Can anyone recommend a decent company that might be cheaper with the suspension on my record?

Whats the difference between home insurance and rental insurance?

for my rental property? Is it a good idea to switch home insurance to rental insurance when a tenant is living in my rental property just in case if they smashed some holes on the wall, or some damages on the property? Thanks!""

What are the cheapest cars to insure?

Which car would have higher insurance premiums?

I'm trying to figure out what car i want for my 16th birthday.. I've absolutely fell in love with the subaru wrx hatchback. the only thing im worried about is the fact that the insurance rates Might be high. i also like the mazda speed 3 and i was wondering which would be more expensive insurance wise. Also what you think about them being first vehicles. and please no<, you should get a POS for a first vehicle... Thanks in advance!!""

Car insurance- insurance not renewed.?

A month ago my car insurers send a letter saying my policy wouldn't be renewed when it ends in November. reason, there weren't dealing with the agency. now I have two cars, one having abs problem so wasn't driving it but was paying for both. Am getting a new insurance company but wouldnt add the problem car till I get money to repair it. its not driven and want to save that wasted money to repair it. Am I right.""

Why is my car insurance so high?

I'm 17 years old and hoping to pass my driving test ASAP. My parents own a ford fiesta 2009 Zetec and both have been driving for over 20 years with clean licenses and no claims. I've been on comparison sites to see what insurance will be like on their car when I've got my full license. But the cheapest I can find is 10,000 Surely I'm doing something wrong because I thought it would be maximum 5,000! I will only do around 1,000 miles and just use it to go McDonald's ;) Seriously though does anyone know any cheap insurance companies or explain to me why it's so high? Thank you!""

Health insurance question?

ok i'm a international student and i just found out that i got a cervical cancer or abnormal cell growth, and i don't have a health insurance and i don't know how to pay for it? if i get a health insurance would it cover it?""

What is the cheapest car insurance company?

18 year old full cover insurance?

I'm 18 and I have full cover insurance on a saab 97x but I pay 200$ I wanna see what I can do to pay less

How flexible are life insurance quotes. Can I negotiate with company for a better rate.?

I got a quote for my family and me for life insurance (20 years/400K each). I would like to negotiate a better rate with the broker (assuming same coverage).Can it be done, or are the rates fixed, is there room to negotiate. we did the blood work and were offered standard rates.""

Do i have to pay insurance on a car if its not being driven?

my mom is buying me a car. I have my permit and I get my liscense in May but I want the car now. My mom says that she doesnt want to have to pay insurance on the car and just have it sit there, but I really want it so I can sit in it and show it off to my friends, who all have cars. if noone is driving the car, does there need to be insurance on it? she said that it does because what if someone were to hit it while it was parked on the street. also, does it have to have a liscense plate and can i get all that stuff without having to get insurance? i wanna get it now and then convince her to get insurance and let me drive it. it will be easier to convice her if i already have the car. the car i want is a manual but she wants me to practice in her automatic because thats the car im using for the test. im tired of driving her car and i want to drive my own, especially because its a stick.""

What sort of car/van insurance can i get?

I have my own business and use a van and i also have 1 employee who uses another van so i need to insure both of these but i also want to get a car to use maybe once or twice a week to meet clients etc, i havent decided on what car to get yet but i am looking at something sporty, ie a bmw m3 or something similar, is there a business policy which i could take out to cover all this? i would prefer to find one similar to motor trade where i and my employee can be insured to drive anything and i pay a set cost each year,any advice will be great, thanks""

How much would insurance usually raise adding a minor on it?

""For insurance, will a total loss raise my future insurance rates more than a repair? Any idea by how much?""

I filed a claim on my motorcycle, I have read you can do some negotiation in terms of if your bike is considered a total loss versus just needing repair -- EG telling them that certain damage is inconsequential towards the vehicle's safety and it's something you don't care about -- like maybe one small scratch on an otherwise fine fairing, or by getting your own estimates from shops to contest their estimates. I was just wondering what the longer term consequences on my insurance rates might be for it being repaired or considered a total loss.""

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Extra costs covered by car insurance ?

I had to pay 150 to get my car brought home when a car hit me from behind ? Can i reclaim this money through my insurance company ?

How much would car insurance cost a 16 year old guy?

I live in Connecticut and drive a 2004 volvo xc90 2.5t. I have a 3.5 gpa and will most likely have insurance with middlesex mutual. What can I expect my car insurance to cost per month/year?

Which car insurance is cheaper for a 17 year old male?

I'm 17 and I'm thinking about getting a car when I get my g2 in a few months, I do have a job I work at Canadian tire! and Im looking for which car would be cheaper on insurance.. I dont want a truck, caravan or a smart car... please answer this truthfully! :) P.S. Im in ontario, Canada""

Can my mom add my car to her insurance?

I'm 19 yrs old and i just bought a car, my car note is $300 a month and because i just got my licence the cheapest insurence i can find is atleast $250 a month (i cant afford that)... i have a used 2006 lexus is 250... i cant afford $250-$350 a month and was wondering if my mom could add my car to her insurance even though the car is registered in my name""

""21,no job,no health insurance,need meds, what do i do?""

i live in california & i had Health insurance for 3 months (medical) but they cut me off when i turned 21 in december. during those 3 months i was taking fluoxotine for my depression/social anxiety & nexium for dyspepsia. The meds actually worked. it took 2 weeks for my mood to change. i felt happy,less anxious & more talkative! but unfortunately i have ran out. My insurance company said they only take care of youth up to age 21 & the elderly. Well what does everyone else do? do any of you over 21 have Health insurance? if so what company? I have no money to pay for the meds myself, My fam cant afford it, i have no help, i cant get a job (ive been trying for two years) i Have no idea what to do.""

Do I need to have insurance to drive my parent's cars?

The cars have insurance but I don't. Do I need it!?

17 Year old insurance on 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1?

Im 16 years of age soon to be 17 and I am looking for a first car that would be of a classic sort. I hate all the usual Saxo's and Corsa's that all the other kids drive. My dad currently owns a Series 1 RS Turbo and were in the middle of restoring it. I looked into insurance as myself as a named driver and got quotes of 11k and that's way too much. Would the price be cheaper if i put myself as a second driver on my dads insurance? Im in desperate need of answers right now. If not then has anyone got any info on a Mk1 or Mk2 golf or even an Mk1 XR2 Fiesta. If all this classic insurance is too hard then has anyone out there got any ideas on what car I could get that has got cheap insurance, Looks good, Performs great and can be modded great. I don't want answers which involve astra's and clios's. More along the lines of newer better material. Thank you :)""

Health insurance...what does this mean?

My school has an option that states that unless you have health insurance from a ' government sponsored health insurance plan' then you have to go with the school's health plan.......which is so expensive. So what are the 'government sponsored health insurance plans?

Can I get liability insurance if I do a roll over?

I'm currently financing a vehicle and I simply can't afford it anymore. I'm considering doing a trade in for a cheaper car. I would be trading in my car which has a higher value than the car. So there will still be a finance going on but it would be a rollover. Will the other technically be paid off meaning that I'd be able to get liability on it? I just need to lower my payments because it's too much to handle right now so even some ways that I can lower my payments or insurance would be nice.

How much would auto insurance cost if?

im about to be 15, and my dad is freaking out about car insurance prices, so how much so i expect to pay for a 2003 jeep liberty/ or honda civic? (texas) also we have geico.""

Lowering insurance premiums in BC?

In BC after I get my class 5 drivers license(no longer an N) Is it likely my monthly insurance cost will go down?

What is long term insurance?

can someone explain in detail about long term insurance?

How long does it take for an auto insurance claim to clear you record?

I currently have USAA and back in Nov 2005 I hit a piece of tire on I-25. The tire ripped out my wheel well cover and took the electrical system with it. I made a claim that came out to 1K including my deductible. When trying to change insurance this claim came up and uppped my 6 month policy by 300 dollars. It is not on my DMV driving record, can I still get the cheaper insurance thru progressive.com? Thanks a bunch.""

Can I get refunded 7 years of premiums on a Life insurance policy with a Total Disability Rider?

I need to know if I can get reimbursed for the premiums I paid. I own the policy and didnt know it had a waiver of premiums rider due to total disability. The insured has been totally disabled due to a stroke since 2001 and has been on social security disability since that time.. Please help because I think American General is trying to give me the runaround. This is a term life insurance policy

Will getting a speeding ticket increase my insurance rates?

I am 17 with my G2 on my parents State Farm Insurance Policy, but will be taken off in 5 months when I move out to university. I got a speeding ticket (65 in a 50) and no points with it...will they find out if I just mail the check myself?""

How much money i need to start up car insurance business?

ok im licensed, i have office with experienced sales people , company name gaico , how much cash on hand i need to cover losses (lets say i signed 100 customers allready to gaico)""

Affordable Health Insurance?????

hi everyone...im asking this question for my parents. they are 56 (dad) n 53 (mom)....both of them are permanently disabled. my mom has been on ssi and disability since i was 5 (now 23) due to a severe back injury that left her unable to work. my father was forced to retire about a year ago due to a hip replacement, crooked spine and back surgery that left him crippled for months. my father now receives his retirement and ssi as well...however due to extreme circumstances they both just lost their medical insurance from another provider. what options do they have??? how can they get coverage??? thats affordable...??? medicare doesnt kick in for my father for 24 months after he first started receiving his ssi benefits. n my mom said for her to get it its very expensive. what do they do???""

Insurance for 16 year old?

I turn 16 and get my license in June(I'm a guy). I'm getting a 2003 Toyota Rav4, and going through Travelers on my dad's plan which has 5 cars on it already. How much will liability and collision cost for me?""

Help understanding auto insurance settlement and if I need to seek legal help?

My 17 year old son was driving his 2003 Ford Explorer, when he was hit by another vehicle. My son was approaching a stop light and traveling between 3-5 mph....The vehicle that struck him was a company work vehicle. The work truck was pulling out of a parking lot when he hit my son. His estimated speed was also 3-5 mph. There were no injuries at all, and there was no medical treatment sought. This all happened on April 10th 2011. It was found that driver of the work truck was at fault for inattention. Honestly, this guy was super nice and walked my son through the process of calling police etc til I could get there....Now dealing with the Companies insurance carrier has been a headache!!!! here is the basic timeline....Explorer still drivable....Had to wait 10 days for police report....contacted Company that owned work truck, and they forwarded me to their insurance co....Was advised to seek several estimates, and fax them over....Faxed over estimates to adjuster. All estimates exceeded 5k....Stated she would have to contact an adjuster from local area to work this. Local adjuster came out. Estimated damages to be 3300.00. Insurance Company sent me check for 3300.00 and advised me when vehicle repaired, auto shop would need to work with adjuster on any additional repairs and costs. Explorer was in shop 30 days before finally being totaled. Local adjuster was horrible to work with, did not communicate with body shop, etc. I finally contacted the insurance company, and told them I refused to deal wither contracted adjuster etc. Now that the vehicle has been totaled, they don't want to pay what I think is fair. The insurance company wants to settle for $6928 plus $367 for taxes. Clean retail for the Explorer is $8100. This is for my area. I have been car shopping for 2 days straight. can't find anything comparable with the money they gave me etc. I have taken off work to deal with this etc, been going on for 2 months plus, and Iam worn out with it all...All I want is for my kid to be back in a safe reliable vehicle. The insurance company did provide a rental car. I had to drive it, my son had to take my car, my other son had bought our car from us, but can't get it yet, because the other needs it for work school etc....I am so frustrated with the ins ompany""

Does driving school really decrease your insurance rate?

i heard that if u go to driving school and tell the insurance after getting ur license they'll give u a discount on insurance

Car accident involving two parties with same insurance company?

Hi there, My dad was involved in a car accident where the other party was at fault in WA state. Both parties have same insurance company. The Insurance company deemed the car as a total loss and sent a check of $4000. Meanwhile my dad had to go to a doctor because his neck is super stiff. Did anyone have similar experiences? $4000 isn't enough for a new car, and they can't afford car payments at this time (my mom has was just laid of), should we get a lawyer to contact the insurance company to demand higher compensation? Thanks!""

Car Insurance Question?

Here's the quick version of the story- I'm 21 and have just totaled my Altima on a rainy night, crashing into the back of a parked SUV, also totaling that. I have received a $700 bill for the ambulance, a $1200 for the radiography and, here's the kicker, a $24,000 bill for the hospital. I do not have medical insurance or medical coverage on my car insurance and will not be able to pay off the hefty hospital bill. What options do I have?""

Can your auto insurance company raise your rate without notifying you?

hello, I just started a auto insurance policy with Infinity insurance. the agreed monthly payment was $403 and that is what my first bill was. this month I noticed that they billed my checking account $563. I did call them and they said the price went up because they made an error with the policy. so what I want to know is it legal for a car insurance company to raise your rate and bill and charge your account without letting you know before hand? also what can I legally do? it really does not seem legal...if I would have been notified I most certainly would have canceled my policy. thanks""

Do I need to be on the insurance to go to and from school in my friends car?

I am 16 years old and I have my drivers permit, is it legal to drive myself and my sister to and from school in my friends car without being on the insurance policy? its my friends dad car and I want to use it for school..""

New to US and getting car insurance in CA?

I am arriving on a working visa to California. I will need to buy a car and get insurance. I have a UK drivering license. Can I get insurance with a UK license or will I have to get a CA license first?

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What is the best type of insurance to buy term or Variable Universal Life? Why?

Whats the difference between home insurance and rental insurance?

How much should i get for insurance repairs?

I have a 98 pontiac grand prix gtp and it was keyed all over every part of the car. The side mirror was broke off. The key marks are all the way down to primer. My deductable is 200. How much should i expect to get to cover the damages?

Why the **** is my car insurance so high?

I don't have a car, but I just checked how much my insurance would be if I did have a car.... $850 monthly, and $10,000 yearly. Why the **** is it so high? I'm in Canada &19 years old... I don't think this can be right, I always see young with their own cars, no way they are paying this much ... on top of it all there is gas, oil changes, all that other stuff that will cost thousands more.""

Can you get insurance on a vehicle if your license is suspend?

What if I cause an accident but the car insurance is not under my name.?

Well I hit someone and in my car but the insurance is under my mothers name only.The other driver and his passenger are riding in car that does not belong to both and they are not under the insurance of the car.Sadly the passenger was complaining about a neck injury so they called the cops and an ambulance.What happens then?

Does a car being Stolen/Recovered Affect Future Insurance Policies?

I am looking to buy a car, and wondering whether a car that had been stolen with keys, and recovered (but not before the insurance company had paid out for it) will have problems getting insurance, similar to cars rated as Cat C, or Cat D?""

How to get Cheap Car Insurance? This is True...?

Hi, Ive recently be searching on comparison websites to find myself a cheaper quote, I started doing my searches at the start of the Year, Ive noticed that I would have been paying 300 cheaper during December and January time if I was to get insurance in those months and When I did the same search in May and June - Summer period it became 600 more expensive. So give it ago on confused website and see for yourself your insurance will become a lot cheaper if you insure between these months.""

Cheap car to insure?

Let's work on a budget for a car of 10,000. I'd like a car newer than 2004, so I'm more than happy to have a second hand /used car. I'm looking for something a little bit more on the luxurious side of things, rather than the stereotypical first car (Clio, Corsa, Fiesta etc). UK models only! What cars are fitting my brief, and have cheap insurance for a 17 year old male. I know insurance is far from cheap nowadays, but I'm asking for the cheapest.""

How much would it cost to add this to my car insurance policy?

okay, i am 16 years old and just got my liscense a couple of days ago. my parents are now paying an extra $800 to add me to the insurance but they want to buy me a really cheap car to drive for about 2 years so i dont crash the other expensive cars we have say i got a '93 honda civic for around $2,000 with around say 100k miles on it, how much do you think it would cost to add that to the policy?""

""WHY the hell is motorcycle insurance SOO expensive in Ontario, Canada?""

I took identical information and filled out a progressive quote for both DETROIT and LOSANGELES and both are 2356 FULL coverage (im 16 years old with zzr600), While when i got a quote from TD Bank they said 6000$ what the f u c k my damn bike doesnt even cost that much got damn it.""

Good starter bike thats cheap on insurance?

i was thinking a 250r or a 600r???

Help a 21-year-old choose car insurance?

So I have a 2001 jetta that's being financed. I need full coverage and I have to start looking soon. Anyone havesuggestions on where to get a quote from? What should I expect paying for on a full covered vehicle? By the way, I have a clean record, never been in an accident and this is my first time getting car insurance, or any type of insurance. Thanks in advance...""

I need a motorcycle insurance estimate?

I plan to get a 2009 Suzuki GS500F Motorcycle in the next coming months. right now i don't have a drivers license, just my learner's permit. i take the Road test next month and if it goes well the month after i will go for my motorcycle license. I am 21 years old and i live in NYC which as many of you know is a high traffic area. I am a college student, My campus is about 16-20 miles away. on a weekly average i expect to ride about 80 miles or so. i won't be doing any stunts, period. there are two questions i have for you guys, 1). whats the best motorcycle insurance for someone young, inexperienced and new on the road? 2). Being that it is a 500cc engine and its pretty low powered motorcycle will my insurance be cheap, like under 200$ a month or probably something way above that?""

Average cost of auto insurance for a truck per month?

Car Insurance Question!?

I currently am paying 231.10 dollars for car insurance. This policy has only one vehicle, which is a 1997 Dodge Caravan. I am planning to add another vehicle to the policy which is a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan. I am wondering how much more I would have to pay if I were to add on this vehicle. Can someone give me an estimated amount?? ( Using GEICO as my Auto Insurance ) And also, I went on the Geico site and I saw that you can add a vehicle to your policy just online. After I'm done with all the registration, will they just send the insurance card straight to my home with just a simple online registration??""

""Car insurance help, 16 yrs old?""

hey, so im 16 yrs old. I live in florida, have above a 3.0, took driver safety classes and everything, and im thinking about getting a 1995-2000 v6 camaro as my first car. Problem is, about 4 or 5 months ago, some asshole in a truck with a trailer crashed into me while i was driving and my parents got ****** on insurance, and the court just now ruled it wasnt my fault, but i know its still going to affect my insurance. If i go under their plan, have them as the lead and im just an off-driver, as it will be a school only car, how much do you think the insurance would be? im just looking for a medium range, i know everyone can't get specifics, im just trying to see if its worth it or not. i think with me on both cars now they had to pay $150 dollars more now, they said it would usually be more, but since they have been with them for over 30 years or something they get a discount.""

""Who has the cheapest car insurance in Houston, Tx?

I have Geico right now.. I am a 17 year old boy who has a car accident on his record (in june 2010).

What is the cheapest car insurance in Florida?

I'm 20 and I'm with Allstate they have me paying $1000 each 6 month for Insurance too much money they killing me help.

Help! sears auto employee insurance?

does sears auto center provide free insurance from any injuries during their work of hours for the employees such as mechanics

Cheapest Car to Ensure?

What would be the cheapest car to insure for a 19yr old male, license for 2 years, without the best insurance past... Written 1 car off in flood water, and crashed another, so not expecting anything much under 2,000?""

How much will my insurance rate go down if i take driving school?

...I just turned 18 and im wondering if i should go through the schooling..

Can I drop my Health Insurance and pursue the Affordable Health under the Obamacare program?

... and would it be wise to do so?

HELP!!! Car insurance - 10 month bonus accelerators and cheapest insurance companies?

Hi has anyone had any problems with a bonus 10 month accelerator policy when renewing??? also any ideas for the cheapest insurance companies especially when paying monthly and being a young driver (only 20)? thank you xxxxxxx

Insurance question please answer if you know?

my friends husband has colon cancer the health insurance is about to run out she is looking for morer health insurance does anyone know any health insurance that will insure him?

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Does anyone know where I can find affordable health insurance for self employed people?

I own a small business, and need to find health insurance for my family that wont break me. Please help if you can. Thanks.""

How much wil my insurance go up?

I was just recently in a car accident. It was my fault I hit a truck and totalled my car. The truck didnt seem to really have damage I hit the metal ball where you attatch a trailer the hitch. I have fred loya car insurance. how much will my insurance go up? Please. will rate best answer.

Auto Insurance Rates...Own Vs. Lease?

I'd like to know if there is a HUGE difference in monthly auto insurance rates if you Lease a car instead of buying one? Things to consider for my scenario: 1) I'm a 23 yr old male, so my rates are still higher until I turn 25 2) Will have to have full coverage considering I won't own the vehicle in either scenario (I'd have to finance if I bought). Any info would be greatly appreciated!""

How could she afford health insurance?

Here's the real life monthly budget of a 28 year old woman I recently met: Wages +1760 [$10 an hour; full time, no holiday bonus pay] Taxes -250 [Social Security, Medicare and Federal Income Tax] Take Home = 1510 rent 600 [1/2 of shared apartment] car 300 [includes auto insurance and repairs] food 200 [and household supplies] electric 50 [her half] cell ph 50 church 50 clothes 100 [includes makeup, beauty, and entertainment] replacements 165 [primarily for her car = 2,000/yr] {used car replaced about every four years with another used car that is about 6 years old when bought. Monthly costs are 150 for insurance, 50 for gas, and 100 for repairs. She has no auto loan payment.] *** How much does this woman have left to buy health insurance with? *** you're exactly right -- ZERO her employer offers all employees a fine health plan -- at a cost of 700 a month for a single employee [employer contribution is zero]. Is there any way she could possibly afford health insurance? Only if it is free. There is no other way. *** what does this woman do if/when she gets sick? because she works in health care, she aks the doctor who sees her patients while he's at her workplace. he looks at her off the record and writes an Rx if needed. cost = zero plus the Rx. *** Here's the challenge -- how do you pay for her health insurance without raising her taxes?? [She can't afford any higher taxes.] Notice that, aside from her car replacement fund, she has no savings, no retirement plan other than Social Security, and almost no assets. One credit card, zero balance, used once a week on average, always pays it off. *** Dear Congressman: This woman is your uninsured target. She almost literally can't afford to pay anything for health insurance; and certainly can't afford fancy health insurance -- she's just barely making it as is. [She makes too much to be eligible for Medicaid since she has no kids.] What's her plan for a serious illness? Go to the hospital, get admitted, and go bankrupt afterward. She has an older used car and no assets -- nothing to be taken away [her car fund would be emptied for rent and food while she's unable to work]. Tell us how this is going to work -- her employer, btw, is almost bankrupt now, so you can't tax it to provide the health insurance unless you also increase health care reimbursements to providers.""

Car insurance on first car?

i'll be turning 17 soon and my parents and i have been talking about a car for me. my dads over 50 and has a perfect driving record...if i were to buy a car but put it in his name, would I save a lot on insurance? and then i could just drive it? would that work""

Is this a good world to bring a child into?

I sometimes worry about having kids due to the world going down hill, theres so many bullies and bad people out there,i dont think I can handle my children getting hurt by someone or bullied,also how much will car insurance be in 18 years, a 19 year old at work keeps getting 5000 quotes for 1.1 cars,id like some opinions on this as me and my wife are planning to have kids soon,am I worrying about nothing or does anyone else feel like this?,i want my kids to have a nice life.""

Why is my car insurance quote cheaper?

My insurance ends this month so last week i just did a quote out of curiosity claiming i had a 1 years no claims bonus which i should get end of this month, which said it would be 10 cheaper. I did it last night but this time i put i had NO no claims bonus and it came up saying its 40 cheaper! I went for that one but does it matter that i havnt put in my bonus? I havnt got one yet anyway cause i needed to sort it out asap""

""What is the absolute best, maximum protection motorcycle insurance for me? 20/F 1st time rider.?""

I am willing to pay more, I just dont want to get cheap insurance that doesn't cover me. No subrogation clauses, I want to be covered as much as I possibly can. I am in TX. Is Allstate good? My car is under Allstate. I have heard Dairyland Insurance is good...anyone have experience with it? I dont have any tickets or violations on my record.""

How much does insurance increase for a teen with an old car?

I was doing some research to buy my own car. I wanted either a 1976 dodge Monaco or a 1989 Chevy caprice. My question is, if I am 17 years old and I had this car, what is a rough estimate of how much my dads insurance will increase? I figure old cars and young drivers don't mix well but I need to know. Also, I have never gotten in any accident or received any tickets and I don't even remember the last time my parents crashed or got a ticket if that helps. Shanks""

""Auto Financing Insurance, does it exist?

Is there such a thing as auto financing insurance. i know when you apply for a credit card they ask you if you want insurance in case you lose your job or accident or whatever and they would make the payments for you. But do any companies out there exist that do this kind of thing for auto financing. Im going to be buying a car within a week and wanted to know Thanks

19 yr old looking for a fast & cheapest insurance car...?

So im 19 and looking for the best option in car with a cheap enough insurance <2,000. Wanting a car that is about as fast or sporty as im going to get for also <2,000. Any suggestions ???""

Health Insurance and im currently pregnant?

I live in Orlando, Fl and I'm pregnant, is there any insurance company that i can get a health insurance now?""

""How do i go about getting car insurance, for a 20 year old?""

well i'm almost 19 now..but when I am 20 I am getting out of my house..anyway my mom is always nagging at me about how she pays for my car insurance and she says its like 200$ a month and i wish i could pay it so she could shut up..but anyway so when i move out how do i get car insurance and how much would it cost for a 20 year old? i've never been in an accident, i would be a student, i have above a 3.0 and i took drivers ed..don't you get discounts for all that?""

""Looking for a good first car, one with low insurance rates preferably?""

I just turned 16 and am currently in the market to buy a car. I am looking for something in the price range of around $2,000, possibly a small four cylinder pick up, or a japanese sedan. Does anyone have any sugestions for a good first car, and if any one has expeiriance with insurance can you tell me a price range of what I would be looking at for isurance, I have good grades and looking for a minnimum policy in Florida. Thanks if anyone can help me although I know I probably wont get much help with the insurance part.""

Motorcycle insurance... Tell me everything.?

What can you tell me about cycle insurance as far as coverages I should get and dont need, and what I need and who do you think is the best company to get it from.. Me; 25, sportbike""

WHere casn i get cheap insurance in toronto canada?

Hi guys i need help, where can iu get real cheap insurance for my car thanks""

Average health insurance annual limit?

How much is the US health insurance annual limit. I'm talking about the amount the insurance company will pay to the healthcare provider. NOT what the customer would pay. IE: I go to the hospital for chest pains with insurance. I pay a deductible (a) and the insurance company pays the rest (b). Most insurance companies have a limit for the amount they will pay towards (b). I need to know what the average limit is. Google is failing me here, but maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Just to be clear: I am looking for a dollar amount not a percentage. I am not interested in what the person pays, just what the company pays. Thank you!""

Insurance on a civic si?

Alright so im pretty sure that answer is going to be high but im thinking of buying a '06/'07/'08 civic si, but i was just wondering if any other si drivers could give me how much they pay for insurance. im 20 live in s. cali and have one ticket so i bet thats gonng drive it up but still want to know like an average. will it make a difference if i but a civic si sedan instead of the coupe?""

Where does car insurance go when yo do not have an accident?

what happens to the money you give to car insurance companies when you dont have an accident?

How does insurance for a scooter in florida work?

I was wanting to get a scooter a little like the one on this site: http://gainesville.craigslist.org/mcy/1167379006.html So anyone have any info that might help me like will i need insurance, would i need a special tag or license that costs more, are there any laws towards scooters in florida, would i need to get something from the owner like any type of paper work? Any tips would help a bunch!! thanks!!""

Need to find cheap but good minibus insurance. Can anyone help?

What's a good job with good health insurance not needing a degree or experience?

I'm a college student looking to find a good job that has affordable health insurance all on which i can find an affordable place to live. Most factory's that have these benefits start with a low pay rate that doesn't seem worth it (after gas is taken out). Any ideas?

How i can buy repairable cars from insurance company's for start bus sines?

i want to start bus sines with insurance company's who sell cheap repairable cars

Where is the best place to buy cheaper home insurance for the over 50s?

How much home owner's insurance should I get?

Strafford Missouri Cheap car insurance quotes zip 65757

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/1-year-quote-car-insurance-anthony-white/"

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