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debiteful · 3 years

Text

Okay so this one is based on an anon request I got. A particular detail made me uncomfortable, but otherwise the concept was solid. If you want elaboration on my feelings on that, you can ask, but I don't wanna bog down the story with that ramble ^,....,^'

A wereboar discovers a human living beneath their floorboards. This person is in exile and being hunted; to make matters worse a very tough person is hunting this human. The good natured wereboar decides to help the human evade capture.

Content: soft, safe protection vore, panicking prey, willing human prey, boar-human hybrid pred, belly bulge, fearplay, threat/false claim of digestion, regurgitation, comfort afterward

Tuki walked up their front steps, feeling the familiar creak of boards beneath their feet. The bungalow stood alone in a woodland clearing, the perfect place for someone like Tuki to live. Isolated, yet close enough to civilization to get the supplies they needed.

Once inside they let their loaded sack fall to the floor. They knelt and began going through it, sorting the things within; food went to one side while fabric went to the other. Behind them, they heard a rustling noise. Very slowly they stopped rifling through the bag and listened. Their nose twitched and they snuffled curiously while slowly turning their head.

Something was scraping against a floorboard over there. Had to be big, a rat wouldn't sound like that. Maybe a raccoon? Looking around, Tuki could see one of the cabinet doors was open in the kitchen. That little thief!

The homeowner crept across the floor as quietly as they could. Unfortunately, stealth was not their strong suit. Their weight made the floorboards groan with every step.

The rustling went quiet. Tuki bent low and sniffed at the floorboards with little grunts. They had to be getting close. The scent of some creature wafted up; it didn't smell like racoon.

"Hey!" They called gruffly, "Get out here you vermin!"

A soft whimper and hasty scrabbling from below the floor was the only response. Tuki growled and leapt to their feet. In a flash they were out the door and scrambling under the cabin. Leaf litter and dirt kicked up as the creature tried to hurry away. Tuki crawled on their belly, moving arm over arm with surprising speed thanks to bulky muscles.

As the creature became silhouetted by the daylight on the far side of the cabin, its pursuer frowned. That almost looked like a person…

Tuki stopped and called, "Hey! I won't hurt you. Wait!"

It froze. They could see a head swivel and bob while it tried to get a look at them. They approached slowly.

The creature backed out from under the house, sunlight revealing its form. It was a human! Mud streaked their ashen face and twigs stuck from their unkempt hair at odd angles. They kept taking steps backwards, eyes trained on the crevice where Tuki would emerge.

By the time they were free to stand, the human was halfway to the tree line. They brushed themselves off and stood by the back of the house, "Hey! I said I wouldn't hurt you. You look like you could use some help. I- well I don't like that you stole some food, but you clearly need it. Come inside and I'll help you."

The frail person tilted their head one way, then the other. Big, dark eyes glittered as they considered the offer. They seemed human, but right now they reminded Tuki more of a yearling doe.

Tuki held out their hand, "Come here! I promise it'll be okay."

They blinked, then approached. Tuki let their arm fall and turned towards the front of the house. They didn't need to look back to sense that the bedraggled human was following a short distance behind.

Inside Tuki was able to heat some water so they could bathe. While they did, the host picked out some of their own clothes that might fit. An oversized shirt made a dress-length tunic for the human. Then they set to cooking up some warm food; they could tell it would do them good.

Over the meal, Tuki managed to gather that his name was Lark, and he was hiding from someone. He was vague about that, as if worried Tuki would change their mind about being so hospitable if they knew. Sensing the reluctance, they didn't press the matter.

After even this small bit of care, Lark was looking much better than he had been. His cheeks had a warm, healthy glow, and his hair was hanging in loose curls just above his shoulders. He looked a little silly in the large shirt, but at least it was soft and clean.

A loud knock at the door rang through the cabin. Lark jumped and spilled the soup he had been sipping from a bowl. His eyes were wide with alarm, and suddenly his whole body shook.

Tuki stood to answer the door but he darted over and grabbed at their arm. "No! Don't!" He hissed, looking up with pleading eyes.

They frowned down at him, "Why not?"

"They're here for me; they'll hurt me. You gotta hide me somewhere- somewhere they won't find me!"

Their frown deepened and they cast a worried glance around the simple dwelling. The only room besides the main area was their bed and bath room, but that didn't exactly have any hiding places. If he could get back under the floor, then maybe-

Another flurry of knocks rapped at the door. This time it was accompanied by a warning voice, "Whoever is in there, open up or I'll have to come in myself!"

Lark trembled and clung to Tuki's arm. His wordless plea was all across his face. Their face softened and they whispered, "Do you trust me?"

"I- what? I have to; if you have a plan, then do it!"

Tuki nodded and gently removed him from their arm. The human watched with a creeping dread as before his very eyes his host's shape shifted. Their face elongated, sharp tucks sprouting from between their lips. Their stubble lengthened and hair thinned, becoming thick bristles. Ears lengthened and flopped, and their form filled out their shirt better.

Beady black eyes full of concern gazed at Lark from that monstrous face. His host wasn't human; they were a were-boar!

He sucked in a shaky breath and fought the urge to turn and run. Filled with desperation, he knew flight was not an option.

He squeaked as their powerful hands grabbed his slight shoulders and lifted him. His feet reflexively kicked a little as they left the floor. Their jaws opened wide, saliva hanging in thick strands that trembled with their hot breath. The humid air washed over his face as he screwed his eyes shut. Terror pricked at his belly and sent his heart racing as he felt a slobbery tongue rise up to greet his face.

Their maw shut around his head and shoulders gently. Even if he wanted to cry out, he couldn't, smothered by wet flesh as they crammed his head down their throat. They swallowed; it was a sickening feeling to have those powerful muscles constrict around him.

He could hardly feel their hands grasp his hips now and heave him deeper in. His legs kicked wildly and he fought for air through the panic and slime. His whole body became completely enveloped in rippling muscle and coated in saliva as he slid downward.

Tuki wiped their mouth with the back of a hairy hand while the other slid down to support their swelling belly. They felt their gut stretch as their hastily gobbled prey slid down and was forced to curl. Their stomach walls were taut and smooth around Lark's quivering form. The bulge of their belly strained against their shirt, making it ride up a little. It wasn't very inconspicuous, but it would have to do.

They plodded over to the door just as whoever was outside turned the handle. The door swung inward to reveal the would-be intruder, a hulking man carrying a baton in one hand and clutching the short leash of a massive dog in the other. The beast snarled and snapped at Tuki, but they held their ground. The man looked surprised, but a snear took over, "There you are, you dumb brute! You couldn't hear me knocking?"

Armed and with that vicious dog, Tuki knew they couldn't fight. Especially stuffed full like this. They would have to talk their way through this. "I could," they said crossly, "but I was finishing my dinner when you so rudely interrupted."

"I have important business, more important than you stuffing your face, pig."

Tuki narrowed their eyes, "What is it then?"

"I'm on the trail of a dangerous fugitive who is an enemy of the state." At that Lark squirmed inside their belly nervously, but went still as the man continued, "I tracked him here, intending to apprehend him so he can be exiled permanently."

The dog was straining against its tether, sniffing with interest at the threshold. Its master didn't spare it a glance, stone-cold eyes fixed on Tuki and club raised menacingly. They replied, "Well I haven't come across anyone dangerous."

"He's a sly curr, might not seem dangerous. Have you seen any strangers around here? Heard anything odd?"

"Hmmmm," Tuki said, weighing their options. They scratched at their belly, drawing up the shirt to reveal the rounded bulge sagging over the waist of their pants. "There was this one little fella, big doe eyes. He stole some food from me," the anxious squirms started up again, making their protruding gut wiggle. "So I ate him instead!"

"You what?" The man snarled. Slowly his gaze drifted down to their taut stomach, and horror crept into his eyes at seeing it move. He looked back at Tuki with disgust, "You ate a man?"

"Hardly a man," they shrugged, "More of a vermin. I'm not too picky though," they said with a smirk.

Seemingly at a loss for words, he just gaped at the wereboars belly for a while. Then he looked past them, into the house, "I'm going to have a look around, just in case."

"You won't find much," Tuki gloated, patting their belly. A burp rumbled up and escaped loudly. The dog sniffed the air then bayed and reared up to investigate their snout. They laughed and the man dragged it away and into the house by its leash.

Tuki kept a wary eye on the two invaders while they leaned against the threshold. Lark still hadn't settled down, his body writhing within the flexible limits of the stomach. Little muffled grunts could barely be heard above the gurgling fluids shifting around him.

The dog barked with savage excitement as it found Lark's dirty clothes. The wash water had already been drained away, leaving little explanation. The man hooked the tattered clothes with a finger and brought them to Tuki, "Whats this? Is it yours?"

"No, you're welcome to it. I took those filthy rags off that human before I devoured him. I have some standards," they huffed.

The man eyed their still moving gut, "You ate him alive?"

"Of course! Killing is so messy, I don't like to do it in the house. Besides," they leaned in with a ghoulish grin, "I like to feel them squirm as I digest."

Lark flailed as best he could within the cramped confines, but the real reward was the brief widening of the intruder's eyes at that comment. He scowled, "Can't you spit him up? I have a job to do."

Offended, Tuki leaned back, "What? And waste a perfectly good meal? No, you were too slow. He's mine now. Besides, it's not like he's going anywhere. Just tell your master you did it; how're they gonna know any different?"

He considered, then trudged past the wereboar, hauling his dog along, "Fine. But if I get in trouble, don't think I won't send someone after your hide too!"

"I expect nothing less from a scoundrel like you."

He froze and clenched his cudgel. Tuki dearly hoped he wouldn't try to use it. Thankfully, that was the case, and he stomped off without another word.

Tuki shut the door and locked the bolt into place, just in case. They went over to their chair and sat down heavily. Their belly bumped against their legs as Lark continued to wriggle frantically. His whining could be heard by Tuki, and their heart lurched. The poor creature must be terrified. If only they had had more time to explain.

They got up and hurried to get a towel, then went to their bedroom and stood infront of the bed. They heaved, and with great effort Lark slid up and out of their stomach. He landed on the towel laid out to catch him and lay there shivering. Before he could scramble away, Tuki shifted back to their human form and bundled him up in the towel. He fought against the warm folds of cloth weakly before realizing he wasn't in danger. The wereboar sat on the bed and cradled the swaddled human in their lap, using a corner of the towel to wipe his face and hair.

He looked up with wide, tearful eyes, "You…." He couldn't find the words.

They hugged him tightly then gave an apologetic stare, "You're quite the mess, again. I didn't know what else to do. He would've found you if I hadn't-"

He cut them off, "I know. I know. It's just- the things you said, they were terrifying. Especially from, well, in there," his eyes flicked meaningfully to their belly.

They nodded and continued to clean him up carefully. He relaxed into their hold, inhaling the fresh air deeply.

Neither of them spoke. Both of their minds independently wandered to the same, simple question: what next? Neither of them had the answer right now.

#soft vore #safe vore #protection vore #digestion mention #reluctant prey #wereboar pred #anthro pred #human prey #belly bulge #bulging belly #similar size vore #same size vore #unintentional fearplay #panicking pred #regurgitation #hurt/comfort #debiteful writing

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hasquetzorkukudoneanythingwrong · 3 years

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FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS!!!!

Rex and Quetzalcoatl had a pair of twins that they cared for very much. A girl named Maria, and a boy named Eduardo.

The twins were born on the 25th of September, and that date had arrived so it was time to celebrate their birthday!

In the morning, Mari was peacefully asleep.

Mari: *SNOOOOOOORE!*

Quetz, softly: mijaaaaaaa....

Mari: mmm....!

Quetz: mijaaaaaaa.....!

Mari, sleepily: mama..... I wanna..... sneeeeep......!

Quetz: but mija, it's your birthday today....!

Mari: hmmm.....

Quetz: did you hear me, mija?

Mari: *grumble* ok..... *sigh* I'm getting up already.

Mari got up, still very tired.

Mari: Da hell's my glasses?

Quetz handed her her glasses.

Mari: gracias....

Quetz: you should probably hurry, everyone else is already getting ready.

Mari: who the hell is everyone else?

Quetz: just the rest of the family.

Mari: hmmmm.... okay...... was worried I'd have to deal with a party.....

Quetz: don't worry, we know you don't enjoy those. It'll be just the family.

Mari: good....

After some time getting ready, Maria went out into the living room.

Mari, while yawning: ok.... how long will it take to get there again?

Rex: uh... not too long, maybe an hour or so on the serpent.

Ed: still crazy how fast he can be.

Quetz: well of course my familiar would be fast! It'd be a bit disappointing otherwise.

After a bit of time getting ready, the family went outside to see Quetz's pterosaur outside ready to go!

Quetz: ok everyone! Get on!

The family got onto the large flying reptile.

Rex: ok then. Now just a simple invisibility spell so we're not spotted on our way there.

Ed: radar won't work either right?

Rex: right, I've got everything covered, Mijo.

After that, the beast took off!

After some time in the air, their destination was in sight: Mexico City!

Ed: wow!

Mari: such a massive city.

Quetz: ah, it's been too long since we've been here.

Finally the pterosaur landed and they got off to go out into the city!

Rex: man, this place brings back memories!

Ed: so, where to first anyways?

Quetz: it's up to you guys

Mari: breakfast!

Rex: ok yeah, should probably eat first

*stomachs were growling*

The family went to a nice restaurant for their breakfast.

Quetz: mija, those are a lot of pancakes...

Mari: si, and?

Rex: your mother is just a bit concerned for you is all.

Mari: hmmm, sounds unnecessary.

Rex: also Ed, is that enough bacon?

Ed: hmmm.... maybe.

After breakfast, there were still many things that could be done.

First thing, was visiting the old site of Teotihuacan.

Quetz: *sigh* it's been a very long time.....

Mari: looks kinda.... decrepit.

Rex: kinda par for the course with old ruins and shit.

Ed: ....is there a ball court?

Quetz: si, but I doubt we're allowed to play these days.

Ed: awww....

Next stop, was the Aquarium.

Mari: Shork

Ed: Shork

Rex: ya real fascinated by those sharks huh?

Quetz: don't ya wanna see the penguins?

Ed: Penguins?!?!

Rex: also piranhas.

Mari: PIRANHAS?!?!?!

Next was the Zoo

Rex: mi corazon, it's just a random Jaguar. There's no need to cause a scene.

Quetz: I CAN SEE MY STUPID BROTHER TAUNTING ME THROUGH IT'S EYES!!!!

Mari: Mamá, not every Jaguar is Tio Tez.

Ed: we're gonna get kicked out if you don't stop.....

Rex: really hope there aren't any spiders too.

Another fun site, was the museum.

Ed: so..... this is Piedra del Sol?

Quetz: si

Mari: but... so is your noble phantasm?

Quetz: si

Ed: ....how does that work?

Rex: don't ask too many questions about this kinda stuff. You'll get it eventually.

Finally, it was getting a bit late. So it was time to return home.

Mari: we getting the presents now?!?!?

Rex: si, si. You relax will ya?

Ed: you already know she can be a bit greedy.

Quetz: it's better that you try to relax that, Mija.

When they finally got home, a Large assortment of presents were waiting for them.

Mari: Hell yeah!

Ed: hmmmmmm......

Mari: let's see.... which one first....

Mari first grabbed one with.... very unique wrapping, eyes and other odd things decorated the paper.

When she unwrapped it, what was inside was a plush wolf

Mari: AAAWWW!!!

Ed, opening a similar box, got a plush Narwhal.

Ed: oooooh!

And the horn started to glow

Ed: huh

Rex: ....that's a sword

Quetz: it's definitely a sword

Mari: also, my plush smells poisonous.

Rex: well.... that's par for the course for your Tia Quinny.

Next were.... slot machines?

Ed: so we just... pull them?

Quetz: I guess so?

The twins pull the levers of the slot machines.

The machines spun their slots for a time, until finally stopping on 3 symbols that looked like present boxes. Then out of the machines, popped out tickets for both kids.

Mari: oh

Ed: huh

From Mari's popped out VIP tickets to a Music Festival.

Mari: POG

And from Ed's popped out, a soccer season pass.

Ed: oh word?!

And finally, matching tickets for the two, for "5 hours of use of the Mooncell" from BB

Mari: ......

Ed: .......

Quetz: well that sure is.... interesting.

After that, was another box. Wrapped in blue wrapping paper. The two unwrapped it, and inside were two gecko eggs. Along with incubators and everything necessary to raise lizards. With a lil tag saying "from Calamity" (Chalchiuhtlicue)

Mari: LIZARD

Ed: they're cute!

Next were two VERY big gifts wrapped in bone patterned wrapping.

Mari: gimme!

After Mari unwrapped the gift, what she found was a VERY large obsidian Hammer.

Mari: ah hell yeah!

SLAM

Ed: damn.... ok.

For Ed, was a large Obsidian Club.

Ed: oh fuck, ok.

Rex: there a reason Xolotl decided to give such gifts?

Quetz: good question.....

Then a very deep and loud *CROAK* was heard

Ed: FROGE

Then hopping out, was a very VERY large bullfrog. About a foot and a half in length!

Ed: OH HE'S A LARGE LAD!

Mari: damn.

Rex: mija, look behind that tree.

Mari: hmm?

When Mari looked, she saw a Huge car! Modeled after the Batmobile!

(Tho, with bat theming replaced with skulls)

Mari: HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!

After latching onto the car, Mari was very happy.

Mari: finally.......! I can drive!

Quetz: can we trust her with that?

Rex: we'll play it by ear.

And in a small package near the center of the pile. Was a first aid kit, with a note.

"Happy birthday you two, hope you enjoy the car and frog. And don't forget to stay safe with the first aid kit love, Florence, Julius and Eva."

Mari: awwww.....

Ed: so sweeet....

There were many other presents from friends and family alike, more toys, clothes, even laptops too.

Then it was finally time for Rex and Quetz's presents for the kids.

Boom

Mari: the hell?

Then, out of the trees of the nearby jungle, came a large animal. A dinosaur known as Giganotosaurus.

Mari: oh...!

The creature stomped up to the family, until it stopped in front of Mari.

Mari: holy crap.....

Rex: now you have your own divine familiar too, Mija!

Mari: oh shit!

Quetz: si, wasn't sure why you didn't get one the same time as Ed's Pliosaur, but now we got you one!

Mari: finally!

Quetz: and for Mijo, it may not be as big. But since you already got your Pliosaur. We got you this instead.

In Quetz's hands, was what looked to be an electric eel. Tho it glittered with green sparkles, not unlike that of jade.

Ed: whoa, he's an odd lil guy.

Rex: he's very special too. He's not just any electric eel. But a divine construct at that!

Quetz: si, his name is Onotlachin. The storm fish.

Ed: hot damn!

Ed held the lil guy in his hands, and felt the energy within the fish. It also seemed perfectly fine without water.

Ed: he's amazing, gracias!

Mari: si! Gracias for this!

Rex: no problem you two!

Quetz: si, anything for mis hijos!

A/N: and there's the birthday story. Sorry it came out a bit late. Things happened irl. Hopefully everyone likes it! And the festivities can still continue on throughout the weekend and even longer if anyone wants to celebrate with us.

Tags

@hasbbdoneanythingwrong @havetheavengersdoneanythingwrong @hasspartacusdoneanythingwrong @haskamadoneanythingwrong @exmeowstic @grievouslyxorvia @panyum @witch-of-chaldea @chaldeamage-neo @hasnightingaledoneanythingwrong @renmeo @writer-and-artist27

#fate grand order #quetzalcoatl #wife #mastersona #rex #rexcoatl #kids bday #eduardo #maria

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ehstarwar · 4 years

Text

flesh stays no farther reason (1/6)

Great, she thinks, another horny creep trying to entice young women to hop into bed with them for roughly 30 seconds.

She reads the post anyways.

Five times Ben looks for Rey and the one time she finds him.

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 5K

Read on AO3

Notes:

my brain at 2a.m., assuring me that it'll be a one-shot: for the lady, perhaps a salad?

me, 5,000+ words in and only on their first meeting: [chuckling] perhaps not

what's to come is still unsure

She sees it on Reddit.

She doesn’t normally scroll through the website (certainly not subreddits like this) but she’s bored and can only take the same Buzzfeed quizzes so many times.

She’s not sure what led her to this page, how the rabbit hole of the internet made her search r/mseekingfcorusant but here she was, scrolling through the disjointed thoughts of horny guys in her area.

Posted by u/droidwrangerl88

need hot girl to bang. serious inquiries only.

Posted by u/mycumtastelikesarlacc

Any girls in the Coruscant area looking to hook up this evening? 38M seeking mid-20sF. Will split hotel bill.

Posted by u/hotbountyhunter3483

any females interested in shredded guy for an evening? willing to meet for drinks b4 hand, and will pay for ur drinks if ur hot. (943) 349-9684 ;)

Rey finds it consistently astonishing how gross and vulgar men can be when hidden behind a screen. But she is scrolling on this page out of her own free will, so it does seem a little ‘pot-calling-the-kettle-black-ish.’ Just as her finger goes to press back to the home-screen, a tiny blue bubble appears at the top of the page, indicating that there has been a new post made. Great, she thinks, another horny creep trying to entice young women to hop into bed with them for roughly 30 seconds.

She reads the post anyways.

Posted by u/KyL0_R3N

31M seeking similarly aged F for the evening of 05/17. I have an important meeting on the 18th and sex the night before proves to a good luck charm for me. Nothing too crazy or obscene, fairly vanilla to start off with, but willing to go further based on her desires.

Something in Rey clenches.

It’s by far the most eloquently phrased way of asking for sex that she’s seen thus far. He seems straightforward, which is refreshing, but she knows that the best of psychopaths are good at hiding their true intention.

She clicks to his profile.

He seems interested in pretty common threads. Cooking tips, best laundromats in Coruscant, Galaxy Battles discourse; all innocuous and nothing to indicate he would chop up whoever responds to his post. Maybe that’s why she sends him a message.

From u/R3yoflight

why not just download tinder?

everyone on tinder is looking for sex too.

She bites her lip as she presses send. It’s not the best conversation starter, she’s aware, but their semi-introduction was from him posting about wanting to have sex to preform well in a meeting. Formalities can be forgone, in this particular situation. It’s not like she’s trying to impress him either; she didn’t message him to accept is offer, just merely because she’s curious.

There’s a pang of nervousness when she hears the notification sound out that he’s responded.

From u/KyL0_R3N

There’s too much preamble on dating apps.

Also, I’m looking to have sex, not to date.

It seemed more advantageous

to be straightforward.

From u/R3yoflight

hmmmm

i guess that makes sense

(also advantageous is worth 17 points in

scrabble, so kudos)

have you gotten many interested respondents?

From u/KyL0_R3N

You’re the first.

From u/R3yoflight

who says i’m interested???

From u/KyL0_R3N

Well, you are the one who messaged me?

Also, my post has been up for only a few minutes,

so you’re the first respondent in any capacity.

From u/R3yoflight

oooohhh i feel special ☺️✨

From u/KyL0_R3N

You’ve yet to tell me if you’re interested.

Is she?

Is she really considering letting Mr. KyL0_R3N fuck her after meeting him through a publicly placed internet post and knowing next to nothing about him?

From u/R3yoflight

maybe??

idk v much abt u yet

how do i know ur not a serial killer

or that u actually are who u say u are

which u haven’t yet

said who u are, that is

From u/KyL0_R3N

I’m 31M. I work in Coruscant at a tech company.

I’m 6’3, 190lbs. I’m not a killer in any capacity.

You haven’t told me anything about yourself,

which hardly seems fair.

From u/R3yoflight

24F, 5’6, i’m not telling u my weight

i work at an auto shop downtown so i can

kick ur ass if ur lying abt not being a killer

From u/KyL0_R3N

In order to kick my ass, we’d have to meet.

So, are you interested or not?

From u/R3yoflight

i shouldn’t be

From u/KyL0_R3N

I have the distinct feeling that you are.

Am I right?

From u/R3yoflight

...

yeah

He tells her his name is Kylo Ren, which she thinks sounds stupid and made up, but doesn’t press him. They hammer out some more details, agreeing to meet at the bar of a swanky hotel downtown first, and if all goes well, he’ll have a room reserved for them.

When she tells him that she can’t afford to pay any of the room, he dismisses her flippantly with a quick ‘I’ll take care of it’ that makes her chest feel tight.

They don’t talk much after that, only a message from her a few days before hand, making sure the plan was still on, and an affirmative from his side. But a few hours before they’re supposed to meet up, Rey gets a notification from him. It distracts her from the task at hand (precision shaving of her legs and… other parts), causing a knick on the back of her calf.

From u/KyL0_R3N

While I don’t think that we’ll be doing

anything that would require

a safe word, I’d like to have one in case.

From u/R3yoflight

i’ve never had a safe word.

what’s a good one?

From u/KyL0_R3N

It doesn’t have to be anything special.

We can stick to a traditional scale.

Green means you’re good.

Yellow means slow down.

Red means to stop entirely.

Does that work?

From u/R3yoflight

yeah thats good

why don’t you think that we won’t be doing

anything to justify a safe word?

you planning to go easy on me 😈

From u/KyL0_R3N

That depends, sweetheart.

How far are you willing to go?

Rey thinks for a moment. She should have some hard lines set, especially since he’s a total stranger. In fact, she shouldn’t be fucking a stranger at all. But she was in this far, so she may as well go all in.

From u/R3yoflight

i’m not super into choking but a lil breath play

is okay

no extreme bondage or degradation

maybe at some point but just… not now

anything in my ass will require a lot of work

before hand bc not much has been in there.

any hard no’s 4 u?

i’m on birth control so u can come inside me

if you want

From u/KyL0_R3N

I think we should stick to no

bondage/degradation/breath play for now

I’m not super into those anyways.

I’ll keep that in mind about your ass.

Maybe nothing in my ass. For now.

That about covers my no’s.

What are some of you hard yes’s?

From u/R3yoflight

i like being taken control of, dominated, i guess

kissing is big for me but i get it if u don’t like it

also major daddy kink but that can be

controlled if its not ur thing

what do u like

From u/KyL0_R3N

Very much yes to that Daddy kink and kissing.

I lean towards dom anyway, so that should work out.

I like hickeys. Giving and receiving.

I also have pretty good stamina, just a warning.

From u/R3yoflight

i like a man with good stamina ;)

u gonna wear me out tonight? 😈

From u/KyL0_R3N

Yes. Yes I am.

She gets there late. Unlike every other time she runs late for something, this time is purposeful. If he gets angry with her, she’ll know to leave. And she’s counting on that. Him giving her a reason to leave. She needs it so she doesn’t do something stupider than what she’s already doing now.

But when she arrives and see’s the absolute mammoth of a man, with long-is black hair and moles and big ears, Rey just knows she’s in for it.

He stands when he sees her. Realistically she knew that 6’3 was tall, but it’s still a bit shocking to her. One of his gargantuan hands is holding a beer, the other resting on the back of the chair. She spends a second too long admiring his form, earning a knowing-but-slight smirk from him.

“You’re Kylo.” It’s an unnecessary statement, because who else could he be, but one that is said all the same.

“And you’re Rey.”

His fucking voice. It’s too beautiful to be addressing her, she’s sure of it.

“Work ran over, that’s why I’m late.” She wasn’t going to give him an excuse, but the words fall out of her mouth.

“I’m familiar with that myself. It’s no trouble, really.” He holds the chair out for her, and she gracefully takes a seat. A server comes around and takes her drink order of a club soda before scurrying off.

“Nothing to relax the nerves?” He question, taking a sip of his drink.

“I prefer to have a clear head for…” She trails off. What does this qualify as? A hook-up? A booty-call? A job interview?

“Good girl.”

Her breath stops for a moment before she remembers its necessary to survive.

“You said you work for a tech company downtown; is it close?” She asks, hoping she sounds passive.

“Not far. I need to be close for tomorrow.” He never looks away from her; it makes her sweat.

The server comes back with her drink, and Rey takes a giant gulp, just for something to preoccupy her mouth.

“You said you work for an auto shop downtown. What do you do there?” He asks, eying her hands curiously. Rey worries that he’ll realize she wasn’t actually at work if her hands aren’t greasy, so she hides them under the table.

“I’m a mechanic,” She tells him, sitting up straighter.

“You’re…” He begins, but she cuts him off.

“A woman mechanic, yes. It’s not entirely uncommon.”

“I was going to say young.” She bites her lip. His voice doesn’t sound like its chastising her, but she feels bad all the same.

“Most men are uncomfortable with the fact that I know more about cars than them.” Rey doesn’t know why she continues to challenge him, but his reactions always surprise her.

It’s… nice.

“Do I seem like I’m uncomfortable by that?”

She regards him. “No, but you did proposition anyone with computer access, so I think your threshold for uncomfortable must be very high.”

He doesn’t laugh, per se, but the corners of his mouth lift and his cheeks become tight. She smiles at the sight.

“Seems that we’re both very bold. A female mechanic and an online propositioner. We make for quite a pair.”

“Hopefully that means the sex will be good.”

Kylo Ren does smile at that.

His hand is on the small of her back when they get in the elevator and Rey is actively trying to ignore the fluttering in her gut, which is why the words blurt out of her.

“My roommate knows where we are!” It’s a loud noise in an otherwise quiet area, but Kylo doesn’t seem startled by it. He just looks down at her. “I have to be back at the apartment, in person, by noon tomorrow or she’s calling the cops.” Rey is quieter now but her voice still shakes.

“My meeting is at 10, so you’ll have plenty of time to get back to your place. I can have my driver drop you off there, if you like,” He says.

“Thats… not why I’m telling you. But that you. I mean, my roommate will know if something bad happens to me. So it would be wise of you to not kill me.” Rey gulps.

Kylo’s hand comes to her face and brushes a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Rey.” His voice is soft. “I’m not going to kill you, or hit you, or do anything you don’t want me to do.” She’s facing him now. “If you feel uncomfortable, I wouldn’t be mad. You can leave whenever you want.”

“But what do you want? You’ve asked me what I’ve wanted in every interaction we’ve had, but all I know is that you want to fuck somebody so that you’re not nervous or whatever tomorrow. Do you even want me? Or was I just the first person who responded to you post? It goes both ways, ya know. You need to tell me what you want, too.”

His hand brushes the side of her jaw, his eyes trail down her face, no doubt seeing the nervous expression she wears.

“I want you, Rey.”

His lips are on hers the moment the door is shut. His hand cradles the back of her head as he shoves his body against hers, pinning her to the wall. His other hand grips her hip and will definitely leave a bruise. She loves it.

But his warm, wet mouth on hers with his plush, pink lips makes any coherent thought leave her head. She moans into his mouth, hands trying desperately to pop open the buttons of his shirt. She makes a sound of frustration when the last stubborn button won’t come undone, and his hands are there in an instant, ripping the thing straight off. She slides her hands along his toned chest as his tongue invades her mouth. When her hands venture further south, they find the more than impressive bulge straining against his slacks.

“I should’ve… asked you earlier…” He says into her mouth as he sucks off the remaining shirt and suit jacket, “if you… like… dirty talk.” Rey keens against him, forcing his mouth to go to her neck as she breathes out a chant of ‘yes, yes, yes.’

Kylo makes a noise of approval before hoisting her into his arms. Rey’s legs instinctively wrap around his hips as he walks them towards the bed.

“Good, because it would be a shame not to be able to tell you that I can’t wait to taste your cunt.”

Rey has died.

She has died and gone to whatever afterlife will have her.

She never wants to leave it.

“You… don’t… you don’t have to…” She manages to say between kisses. Kylo pulls back from her then, eyes dark, hair a mess, lip red and bitten.

“I want to. Will you let me?” Rey nods so fast she’s worried her neck will be sore. His hands ruck up her cotton dress, until he decides that the offending material will need to be off all together. She’s left in her black bralette and underwear and Kylo stares down at her.

“My tit’s aren’t that big. I’m sorry if you were looking forward to-”

“They’re perfect,” He cuts her off by kissing down her chest, mouthing her nipples through the dark fabric. The heat of his mouth combined with the coolness of the room make her nipples stand at attention, pebbling at the fabric.

Kylo depends further, and puts his entire face against her still-clothed pussy, inhaling and licking her through the fabric. Rey is a whiny mess against the sheets, hair in every direction, full body blush. She hopes he thinks she’s hot because, god, she’s never sen anyone like him.

Kylo takes of her panties and immodestly begins lapping at her cunt, no warning or hesitation, making Rey give something of a moan and a yelp. Her hand goes to his hair, feeling the luscious locks between her fingers. His hands go to her ass, lifting her up slightly so he gets a better angle.

“You’re… too good… at this…” She manages between breaths. Rey would bet anything he’s smirking against her.

Kylo uses his nose to rub at her clit before alternating between kitten licks and sucking on it. It takes no time at all for Rey to come. So quickly, in fact, that she would be embarrassed if she could move. Her whole body is on fire as he licks her through it, occasionally using a hand to brush at her nipples. The tears streaming out of her eyes and drool gathering at the corner of her mouth must make her look ghastly, but Kylo doesn’t seem to mind.

When he finally sits back, still between her legs, she can make out the bulge from earlier, now even more prominent.

He’s looking down at her, at the mess he’s made of her, and against every instinct, she lets him.

“I don’t normally come that fast,” she tells him. Her voice is quiet even now, and she knows it’ll be strained tomorrow. Good, something to remember him by.

“It won’t take me that long to come, either,” he admits, having the kindness to look sheepish as he says it.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Kylo represses a smile.

He gets off the bed, shucking his pants, underwear, and socks off in one felt swoop, leaving him gorgeously bare before her. If she though the bulge was impressive, the real thing is even better. His cock is red and pointed upwards as he stands across from her. His hand goes to pump himself a few times, smearing the precome along his length. Rey can’t help but reach out, whole body going with her as she opens her mouth to bring Kylo towards her. His hand stops her, gently, and she looks up at him in confusion.

“I want to suck you off,” She tells him, brows still furrowed.

“Later,” he tells her.

Kylo pulls her back up the bed with him, so that he hovers over her as he kisses her again. She still taste herself on him, but can’t find the heart to care. Her hands go to wrap around him, feeling the thickness for herself. Huge is an understatement. But Rey’s always been ambitious.

She pumps him a little, feeling him nearly whimper in her mouth.

“You gonna let me fuck you, baby?” he murmurs.

“Yes… yes please…”

Rey feels his hand come over hers as Kylo slots himself between her legs and aligns his cock to her core. He slides in, slowly, stretching her the whole way. She pants against his skin, digs her nails into his shoulder.

“Tell me if it’s too much.” His voice sounds strained, like he’s holding back from her.

“It’s good, daddy… so good…” she pants.

He whines some curses against her skin as he finishes seating himself inside of her.

“… so good, sweetheart. Takin’ me so well… taking your daddy so well,” He mumbles, pressing kisses to any part of her skin. Rey can already feel the beginning of another orgasm itch inside of her, and for the first time in a while, she has no doubt that Kylo will get her there.

“Daddy… you can move… please,” She’s breathless as she asks him. He groans above her and rest his forehead against hers.

His hips being to move, still slow, but making her breath hitch ever shallow thrust.

“Tight… so tight for me…” He mumbles. Rey takes a minute to look at him, really look at him. He’s flushed, skin damp, but he’s still so very handsome. Moles dot his face and she can’t resist using a hand to trace them. His hair tickles her nose, so she pushes it back behind his ears, which are a bit too big for his head but she adores them.

Kylo lets Rey take him in, but gets her attention back to the moment with a quick snap of his hips.

“Can you come again?” He asks, and Rey nods. His mouth depends on her neck, sucking hickeys to every patch of skin it finds, as he pushes into her. She can feel the bump of his cock every time he bottoms out, a sensation she’s never felt before, and it makes her clench him every time. His hand skates down between them to get to her clit, and he quickly begins rubbing her there.

“Gonna let me fill you with my come? Gonna be a good girl and hold it all in? Can you do that for me baby? Huh?” His words send shivers down her spine, aiding in his pursuit to get her to come again. She mumbles incoherent words of approval, trying to tel him “yes, yes! I’ll be your good girl!” but speech fails her at the moment.

But Rey knows Kylo understands what she’s trying to say.

She feels his rhythm falter and his hand speeds against her clit. She tightens her legs around his hips, trying to wordlessly tell him she’s close too.

“Please, baby, please come for me…” His voice is desperate and strained and makes her shudder. Her hips find purchase against the base of his cock, in combination with the movement of his fingers, and she’s thrust into the abyss again.

Kylo holds her against him as she comes, whole body vibrating, and he follows after her. He grunts against a pillow as he comes, and Rey is distantly aware that he’s actually biting the poor thing. His come is hot within her, and she feels him pulse as he keeps slamming his hips to hers. The slapping of skin slows as she feels his body let go of the tension, and Rey is boneless beneath him.

He lays on her, still half-hard inside of her, as they come down from their mutual high. They are both breathing so heavily that speaking is out of the question, at least for a while. Kylo pulls out of her, and a mad rush of fluid starts to leak out of her. She clenches, remembering his words from earlier.

Part of her expects a coldness afterwards; after all, that’s what most sex has been for her. Once he’s come, he leaves. It’s the oldest story in the book. And for all Kylo’s talk of ‘stamina’, there’s still a part of her that expects it’s just a façade.

But he doest leave her, cold and debauched, to get redressed and make a hasty exit. Instead, he plants a kiss to the side of her jaw and rubs her torso sweetly before helping her sit up. She’s weak, and he knows it.

“We need to get you cleaned up,” He says when she slouch against him. She mumbles something unintelligible into his skin. Instead of getting rough with her, Kylo just soothes her. “Women are 38% more likely to get a UTI if they don’t pee after sex. That’s not a parting gift I’d like to give you,” he elaborates.

Rey sighs, but lets Kylo get her to the bathroom.

They sleep in spurts.

For a few hours after their first time, before Kylo wakes her with the incessant press of his hard cock into her abdomen. (He takes her even more slowly that time, sleepy and still blissed out. He comes before she does, but he uses his fingers to get her there, still.)

A few hours after that, Rey makes good on her promise to get her mouth on him, waking him with her mouth already working him. (His come tastes bitter and tangy, but she swallows it because it’s his.) She sits on his face afterwards, letting his tongue get her off again.

The next time she wakes, Kylo is kissing her chest, licking at her now oversensitive nipples. There’s a faint light peaking through the windows and Rey knows their time is coming to an end. She runs a hand through his hair to indicate she’s awake now, but he keeps on in his pursuit. Only when her chest spit-covered and shiny does Kylo seem satisfied with his work, and lifts his head to look at Rey.

“Good Morning,” She mumbles, voice strained as expected, and still groggy from sleep. He hums his response, and presses a sweet, lingering kiss to her lips.

Rey glances at the clock, noting its just past 7, when they both sit up in bed. Kylo goes to say something, but is cut off by the grumbling of Rey’s stomach. Her cheeks heat as his voice falls silent.

“Sorry… I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning,” she admits. Kylo’s brow furrows for a moment, but the dark expression passes fleetingly.

“Let’s rectify that first, shall we?”

The breakfast menu for room service is extensive, and Kylo orders one of everyone instead of actually looking it over. Rey can only half-heartedly try to tell him it was too much, when her eyes catch a glimpse of the fluffiest looking waffles she’s ever seen. Kylo had only kissed her head and ordered before walking into the shower.

It arrives in record time, a result, she’s sure, of the high-class hotel he got for them. The room, which she’d been too preoccupied to notice last night, is opulent. A bit gaudy for her taste (were gold curtains really necessary), but Rey was in no position to complain. She hesitated to put on actual clothes, instead opting for the plush robe that hung in the wardrobe.

Rey is half into the whole meal when Kylo emerges from the bathroom, towel hung low on his hips and hair still damp. Rey bites her lip so hard she draws blood. He sits across from her, picking up the two plates she hand’t touched.

“Greek Youghert and fruit? Don’t you want a waffle? I saved some whipped cream for you.” She extends the aforementioned whipped cream, earring her a slight smile from Kylo.

“You’re very kind, but no thank you. This is what I eat every morning,” he tells her. Rey scrunches her face. Kylo pours himself some black coffee too, and Rey finds the will to keep her mouth shut.

They eat in companionable silence, Rey scarfing down whatever her hands touch, and Kylo methodically eating his healthy-dude breakfast. Rey notes that neither of them are on their phones; it’s perhaps the first meal she’s had with someone in a while where that’s the case. Like everything else that’s made her heart flutter with him, she tries to ignore it.

Once the table is thoroughly pillaged, Kylo gets up to get dressed and says nothing when Rey hops on the bed and continues to watch him. He’s not embarrassed by nudity, clearly, and tosses the towel away for a solid 5 minutes before putting on underwear.

He’s fully dressed shortly and applies some product to his hair that has writing in french, yet Rey is still wearing only the robe and probably still has his come on her thighs. And other areas.

Part of her thinks he’ll just carry on with his routine as if she’s not there. He’ll pack his suit from the night before and leave the room without an second glance her way. Much to her relief, she’s wrong.

When he’s finally ready, Kylo turns toward her, leans down, and plants a soft kiss directly on her lips. It’s an infinitely more affectionate gesture than she had expected going into this, but a welcome one all the same. He stares fondly down at her when their lips part.

“The room is yours to use until 4 P.M., but I remember you have a noon curfew,” He tells her. Suddenly, Rey regrets telling Rose to call the national guard if she’s not physically in her presence before the clock strikes 12.

“I guess I’ll make do,” She teases.

They fall silent again, and for the second time that morning Kylo goes to say something, but falls short. The silence becomes too much for Rey to bear, so her cursed mouth opens of it on volition.

“I’m not sure how these are supposed to work… one night stands, I mean,” She admits. Something in Kylo’s face falls, but Rey can’t quite tell what.

“I don’t have much experience with these either,” he tells her. Rey shuffles onto her knees, so that they’re both eye-level, and extends her hand. Kylo looks at it with a hint of confusion mixed with amusement.

“Well, you’ve been a wonderful reddit-fuck. Thank you for posting,” she says, giving a mega-watt smile. He sakes her hand.

“And you’ve been a wonderful reddit-fuck-respondent. Thank you for critiquing my going about soliciting sex.” Rey opens her mouth in an exaggerated offense, but Kylo cuts her off with another sweet kiss.

She melts into it, holding his hair with her hands, letting herself mold to his torso as his tongue swipes her lower lip. The kiss is wonderful and hot and sweet all at the same time and makes her head spin.

When it’s over and she’s caught her breath again, a pang of nervousness infiltrates her consciousness. It’s over, it whispers, you’ll never see him again if you don’t do anything. He’ll leave, just like everyone else, if you let him.

“Do you have any more meetings?” She practically shouts at him. Kylo looks confused for a moment, so she goes on. “I just mean… if you needed someone to help… prepare you for your meetings, there’s a chance I’d be available.” Her voice grows softer as she keeps talking, suddenly feeling like an idiot for suggesting that at all. Before she has a chance to spiral, Kylo brings her back.

“I do… I mean, I will. That would be… very gracious of you, to offer you help.” She bites her lip to keep from smiling too hard.

“Okay, good.” She nods at him, relief washing over her as she realizes she might not be the only one who doesn’t want to let this go.

It’s a new feeling that probably shouldn’t be attached to a person whom was very clear about their desire for a no-strings hook up, but Rey has always had a preference for things that are challenging.

Kylo Ren seems as good a challenge as any.

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detroitwhatitmeanstobehuman · 4 years

Text

Chapter 11 - More Than Empathy

Part 11/17 of What it Means to be Human

Word Count: 9025

Warnings: Swearing.

Genre: Self-insert

Pairing: OC (Detective Rachel) X Connor

Rating: Mature

Summary: After potentially finding a lead, Lieutenant Hank Anderson lets Connor and Detective Rachel know that they’re going to see Elijah Kamski, the founder of CyberLife, to ask him questions regarding deviants. Their visit, however, takes a turn as Connor and Rachel, by what seemed to be sheer luck, finally realize their feelings for one another as the ending of the case draws nearer and nearer.

First Chapter | Previous Chapter

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

Waking up to Connor was beginning to be normal. I wasn’t even surprised when I woke up to him shaking me awake, his gentle brown eyes looking up at me. “Wake up, Rachel.”

“Mm?” I was not a morning person. Although, despite my rather prickly attitude, I didn’t usually snap at people in the mornings. Just kind of acknowledge and grumble at them a bit. But I couldn’t find it in me to be angry at Connor. Not really.

Not when he was giving me that face.

“What time is it?” I asked him, shifting so I could get up, Connor pushing himself off of me.

“It’s currently 8:31 AM.” Connor answered, following after me. “I’ve received a message from Lieutenant Anderson that he’s going to arrive in approximately 45 minutes to pick the both of us up.”

I groaned. “Ughhhhhh, and I gotta be ready.” I got up and stretched, letting out a yawn as the bones in my back cracked one after another. “Why the fuck is he wanting us to be ready so early?”

“We’re apparently going to visit the home of Elijah Kamski.” Connor clarified. “He seems to think it may uncover a potential lead in the investigation.”

“Elijah Kamski...” I repeated, the name familiar on my tongue. I pressed my thumb under my chin and curled my fingers underneath my nose in thought. “Why does that name ring a bell?”

“He was the founder of CyberLife.” Connor answered. “He was the CEO until 2028 when he resigned and disappeared from the public eye.”

I then turned around and faced Connor, my eyes narrowed. “Holy shit, when Hank said he was gonna make calls, I didn’t think he was gonna swing this hard!” I then scoffed, shrugging. “Colour me impressed, damn.”

Connor then got up and approached me, his posture straight and his hands folded neatly behind his back. “He’ll be here shortly.” The android reminded me. “Do you have a preference for breakfast?”

I was about to object to him making me breakfast again, but I also knew that it would take me a bit to get ready, and thus I would not be able to be ready and make breakfast in time. And I really didn’t want to make Hank wait.

Besides, I was actually craving something specific, and I was confident Connor could make it well. “A grilled cheese sandwich actually sounds really good right about now.”

Connor then nodded. “I’ll get started while you get ready.”

I then hugged him, savouring the comfortable feeling of him in a fuzzy robe. I was somewhat surprised at how quickly he put his arms around me, but I wasn’t about to complain. “Thank you, Connor! You’re a blessing.”

He detached himself from me and made his way downstairs, closing the bedroom door behind him. Once I was left alone, I ran a hand through my hair. First thing I did was step into the bathroom and comb my hair, sorting out the mess that was my bed head.

Then I let out a sigh. “Well, if we’re going to meet a fancy fucker like the former CEO of CyberLife, then I should probably put a little more effort into myself than usual.” Part of me actually thought that.

And the other was just curious as to what Connor’s reaction would be.

I stepped out of the bathroom and opened up my closet, filing through my clothes. “Hmmmm. Do I wanna dress more masculine? Or should I perhaps go with something more feminine?” I asked myself.

I flipped through my fancy dress jackets and then through my nice dresses. After looking through them, I shrugged, knowing what sort of day this was for me. “Eh, this feels like a dress day for me.”

--------

I stayed mostly quiet, as I tended to do. My anxiety didn’t even cross my mind. For once, Connor insisted on staying in the back with me rather than at the front with Hank, and I ended up leaning into him, his arm wrapped around me.

I ended up wearing my nice black pencil dress and my nice heels and a jacket. Of course, I didn’t go unarmed, even though it wasn’t necessary for me to be. After all, you couldn’t be too careful. I had my gun in my holster concealed under my jacket and a knife strapped to my thigh, of which I was pretty eager to show off.

I also may have indulged in some makeup for myself. Nothing that’s a lot, just some foundation, eye liner, and lipstain. I even did my hair up a bit, doing it in a small messy bun, but leaving the two big pieces at the front to frame my face. I considered them one of my most distinct and charming features, visually speaking.

Of which Connor seemed to really like. Though he didn’t say anything, I could see it on his face and the lovely red glow of his LED.

After a while traveling in the snow, I got a text from Bianca. Hey, did you see what happened on the news last night? - 9:56 AM

Deciding to take advantage of the signal, which was quickly fading, I messaged her back. Not really, I had to get up early to go somewhere with Hank and Connor. We might have a new lead in our case. Why?

It didn’t take long for the bubble with three dots to show up and for Bianca to respond back to me. Apparently five of the CyberLife stores in Detroit got raided last night at 2AM by deviants and one of them ended up with casualties.

I felt my heart drop to my stomach as I read that. Holy shit, what happened?

A moment. Police arrived at the scene at one of them and opened fire. No human casualties, but that’s still really fucking scary. I just wanted to let you know with everything that’s happening with deviants in the news. This is getting dangerous, and I’m worried about you getting caught in the middle of all of this.

I groaned, texting her back. This is the case I’m working, Bianca. I kind of have no choice but to be in the middle of it. And honestly, I’ve seen first-hand a lot of shit now. I can’t even really blame them, even if cops did end up dying.

Still, be careful. They didn’t get violent, but...you know how things have gone before with similar situations. This likely isn’t going to end cleanly. You know how people are.

I relaxed my expression as I responded. I know...but even if I wanted to back out, I can’t.

I’m just worried. Bianca messaged back. With you working law enforcement, you’re probably going to have to make some really hard choices. It might end up costing you your job, because I know you. You won’t want to try to stop them.

I sighed. I’ll be careful, Bianca.

You’d better. Just make sure you know what’s most important to you and do what you think is right. But please be careful! No matter how this goes, I have a feeling this is gonna get ugly.

I nodded to myself. I know. I replied. I’ll keep you posted, okay? I love you.

I love you, too.

I put my phone in my pocket and leaned further into Connor. “Is everything okay, Rachel?” The android asked, looking down at me.

“Yeah, just talking to Bianca.” I answered. “Apparently deviants organized a raid on the CyberLife stores in Detroit last night, and one of them ended in an altercation between deviants and law enforcement.”

“Shit...” I heard Hank groan under his breath. “This is getting out of hand.”

I shuffled a bit, trying to get more comfortable. “Sure seems that way, doesn’t it.”

We drove in silence for another moment until we finally arrived, Hank pulling up to the side of the road. Although, strangely, as soon as Hank parked the car, his phone started ringing. “Hang on, wait a second.” He then pulled it out and answered it. “Lieutenant Hank Anderson, who is this?” After a moment he shook his head and swore as he stepped out of the car. “Just sit tight, I’ll be right with you.” He said to us.

“Okay.”

“Okay, Lieutenant.”

Leaving us in the car alone, I watched Hank walk out into the snow, talking on the phone and pacing back and forth. I couldn’t help but feel my anxiety rise in anticipation of the call he was receiving. Nightmare scenarios were playing in my head as I tried to suffocate my low-key panic until I felt Connor squeeze my arm. “I’m sure everything is fine, Rachel.” The android reassured me, pulling me closer to him. “Whatever it is, I’m sure the lieutenant can handle it.”

I knew he was scanning me. Honestly, I was always aware of it, ever since the Eden Club. At first, it bugged me a little bit not being able to keep any sort of physical secrets from him. Save for my arm, but that was on him, not me. But now...I was just glad that he was always trying to make sure I was okay. I trusted and felt comfortable enough with Connor for it not to faze me anymore. It was just sort of something I was always aware that he was doing, just in the background.

And I felt a bit calmer, knowing I wasn’t alone and that he was trying to make me feel better. “Yeah, you’re right.” I agreed, letting out a sigh. “Hank’s got this covered.”

Hank then stopped pacing, and I wanted to get out into the snow. “We should go see what’s up.” I said, opening the door, letting Connor follow me out. The android closed the door behind me as I walked up to Hank, the lieutenant still not turning around to face us.

“Is everything okay, Lieutenant?” Connor asked, walking up and putting an arm around me.

Hank turned around to look at us, looking shaken and tentative. “Chris was on patrol last night. He was attacked by a bunch of deviants...” He said quietly, and I felt my gut lurch at the thought of the man getting hurt.

“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah, he's in shock but...he's alive...” Hank said, putting my mind at ease as I let out a sigh of relief. “He said he was saved by Markus himself...”

I looked up at Hank, pieces falling together in my head. “Markus.” I repeated, remembering the skinless android speaking on the screen of the Stratford Tower. “So that’s his name. The leader of the deviants.”

“Yeah...” Hank said, nodding as he started walking towards the house. “What the hell...”

As I took a good look at the house, I took note of the modern style to it. I’ve seen a few houses like that growing up, and while I admired the style, it always looked really out of place in my neighbourhoods back home. “Kamski left CyberLife ten years ago...” Connor pointed out, walking in stride with me, liking an arm around mine. Which was odd, because I didn’t tell him to do that and that was something I did. “Why did you wanna meet him?”

“This guy created the first android to pass the Turing test. And he's the founder of CyberLife.” Hank answered, making his way up the walkway to the front door. “If anybody can tell us about deviants, it's him...Which means you're about to meet your maker, Connor.” Hank pointed out, turning around to face the two of us. “How does it feel?”

Connor and I quickly caught up to him, standing under the cover of the awning. “I don't know...” Connor answered distantly. “I'll tell you when I see him.”

Hank scoffed at him. “Sometimes I wish I could meet my creator face to face...” He lamented, nodding his head and turning towards the door. “I'd have a couple of things I'd wanna tell him...”

I held in an uncomfortable breath and then let it out, understanding that feeling completely. “Yeah, I, uh...I get it.” I admitted. “There’s a reason I haven’t talked to my mom in years.”

Hank rang the doorbell and I sat there. I hadn’t really thought that hard about my mother in a while. I sort of cut myself off from her after the accident. She had problems before then. Problems that she was seemingly aware of, yet constantly denied and thus refused to do anything about.

And I just...after the accident, I just decided to cut her out of my life. I don’t know what made me do it, but I just...couldn’t take it anymore. Especially after dad died.

But I’d be lying if some part of me didn’t want to try talking to her again. After all, it was me who broke things off with her and...I know she’d want to see me again. It’s more a matter of not knowing if I’m ready to reach out or not.

But maybe one day.

My thoughts were then interrupted by the door being answered. And as soon as my eyes laid on her, I felt my heart stop and my breath escape from me.

A fair woman in a blue silk dress and blonde hair draped across her shoulder in a lazy ponytail answered the door. But I couldn’t help but feel as though I was in the presence of an angel. She had to be the most beautiful android I had ever seen in my life.

I couldn’t even control the shy schoolgirl giggle that escaped me. “Oh, uh. Hi! Um, we’re here to see Kamski.” I managed to stammer out. “U-u-uh, Elijah Kamski. Expecting us. He’s expecting us, cause...calls...and yep! That’s why we’re here!”

Hank shouldered past me, giving me a scathing look. “Lieutenant Hank Anderson, Detroit Police Department. I'm here to see Mr. Elijah Kamski.” He introduced. “And this is my partner, Detective Rachel.”

The woman gave us a pleasant smile and I swore I was going to faint right then and there. “Please, come in.” She said warmly, stepping to the side to allow us to enter the home.

Hank stepped in first, followed by Connor and I, as we walked into what could be assumed to be the waiting room of sorts. “I'll let Elijah know you're here. But please, make yourself comfortable.” She informed us.

I shyly waved at her. “I, uh.” I stammered again. “Thank you!”

She then left us alone in the room, and Hank gave me a light shove with his shoulder. I glared back at Hank as he shook his head, making his way to the nearby chair, taking a seat.

As Hank settled in, waiting for the android to come back, I noticed Connor staring at a picture on the wall. “Amanda...” I approached him and looked up at the picture he was looking at.

It was a photo of a young man and an older looking black woman. She had her curled hair done up in a messy bun and was wearing what looked like a knitted sweater. “Who’s that?” I asked Connor. “Someone you know?”

His LED was blinking red before it slowly started to flicker to yellow. “Someone...” He paused, looking away from me. “Someone...I thought I knew.”

He walked away towards a large photo of a younger Kamski, at least from what I guessed. Connor seemed so perturbed at the photo of...Amanda? I guess? It made me wonder who she was, but I decided not to ask. Perhaps one day, but right now it wasn’t my place to. I followed Connor and stood beside him, looking up at the large photo. “Nice girl...” Hank said.

“You’re right.” Connor agreed. Clearly the female android had us all whipped.

“She’s really pretty...” Connor and I said at the exact same time.

At that, we turned to look at each other, and I was looking at him completely perplexed. “Huh.”

“What?” Connor asked, a little confused.

“I...don’t think I’ve ever heard you give that kind of compliment before.” I commented. But then. Then I had a realization, and I couldn’t stop the smile that was forming on my face. “Wait! Ohhhhhhhh! Does someone have a little robo-crush on the pretty android?”

Connor just looked at me even more confused before he looked away.

Which only further fueled my smug sense of superiority. “Awwwww! That’s so fucking cute!” I said in a higher pitched excited voice, clutching my cheeks.

“It’s not like that.” Connor denied, which only made my resolve stronger.

“Oh?” I challenged him. “Why not? Is it ‘cause you’re embarrassed to admit you’re weak for a pretty face?”

“Because I’m just a machine.” He insisted, much to my bemusement. “Designed to accomplish my mission. I was not programmed to have feelings of the sort.”

“You also weren’t programmed to feel fear.” I pointed out to him. “And yet...here you stand.”

Connor then turned to fix me with his dark chocolate gaze, his LED spinning a pensive yellow. “In any case, I wouldn’t know what that would even be like. So I wouldn’t even be able to tell.”

“Same with fear.” I insisted again. “You didn’t understand it until you felt it. Maybe you feel it, but you don’t understand it.”

Then, he did something that I thought was rather endearing and charming. He stood up straighter, facing me and folding his arms behind his back and giving me a polite and patient smile. “Explain it to me then, Detective.”

Ah, that title. The one he only so far used when he was being playful. Giving him a smirk, I folded my arms and thought hard about how I wanted to explain it to him. “Well...when you have someone special...someone you consider special for whatever reason, they stand out to you.” I started explaining to him. “You don’t realize how special they are to you until they become so. And then you start to notice everything about them. From the big details to the small details, but you notice them all. The way they laugh, the way they smile, the way they hold a pencil or pronounce certain words. All the little things suddenly matter so much to you.

“And when they speak, you can’t help but listen to them and hang onto their every word like a prayer or a hymn.” I kept going, folding my arms as I reminisced on the memory of what it felt like to fall in love. Frank wasn’t my first, and they weren’t even my last. But that was never an issue for either of us. “And when you see them, you feel like everything around you just tunes itself out and you only see them. It feels like your whole body is collapsing in on yourself at the sight of them, but when you’re around them, you’re so comfortable with them. You feel like you can tell them and trust them with anything and it feels like you’ve known them your whole life. And whether you’re doing something or just sitting in comfortable silence with them, you feel like it’s where you belong.

“Everything they say matters so much to you because you’re so enraptured by their opinions and their point of view because it’s special and unique to you.” I went on, feeling wistful and nostalgic. I was starting to forget that I was trying to explain something and was just getting lost in the introspection. “And you don’t realize how much they mean to you until you start realizing how happy their happiness makes you. They start taking priority above everything else and they become your world. And you start to feel like you would do anything for them as long as it kept them safe and made them happy. And it’s to the point that you don’t even care what happens to you or if they return the feelings. All you care about is them and their wellbeing.

“They just...become everything to you. Just them being in your life makes you happy. Makes you feel...like you’re at home. That’s what it means to love someone.” I realized that I was rambling without paying attention to him and then looked up at him. Much to my surprise, he was staring seemingly into space, his LED slowly blinking red. “Connor?” I asked. There was no response. “Hey, Connor?”

No response. “Jesus, I think you might’ve short-circuited him.”

I was starting to get worried and snapped my fingers in his face twice to try and get his attention. “Yo! Xbox360, you good?”

That seemed to do the trick, as Connor blinked a couple of times as his LED was circling yellow now. Hank was having a good laugh on the chair in the corner of the room and Connor looked absolutely confounded. “What?”

I smiled at him. “Xbox360?” I asked. “Red ring of death?” I made a circling motion towards my temple where my proverbial LED would be if I had one, trying to illustrate my point. He still seemed confused so I gave up. “No? I thought it was funny.”

“I’m okay.” Connor said shakily. I was worried for a second, but he didn’t seem scared. Just...a little nervous. “It’s just...what you were describing...”

He didn’t continue, so I willed him on, gently grabbing him by the shoulder. “Yes?” I pressed tenderly.

“I-I...” He stammered. I had never seen him look so unsure. He wouldn’t even look me in the eye. “What you were explaining...I think...” He then focused his dark eyes on mine, boring into me with an intensity I had never seen in them before, and it made me aware of the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. “I think I -”

“Elijah will see you now.” A voice said, interrupting us. I looked over to see the android in the doorway into the next room, looking at us.

Hank was already walking up to us when Connor nodded at me and walked into the next room.

But as he walked forward, I could feel my heart thumping in my chest to the point that I could hear it in my ears.

And then about a hundred realizations hit me at once. All the time we’ve spent, all the weirdness of our relationship, how comfortable we were, and all of Connor’s mannerisms and quirks that captured my attention...I felt like I was getting hit by a freight train.

“You alright there, kiddo?” Hank asked.

There was only one word that could possibly cross my lips. “Shhhhhhhhhhhit!” I spat, feeling like the Devil was dancing on my chest.

Hank let out a smug laugh. “Aaaaaaand you finally figured it out.”

“I will shove you into the fucking pool, Hank.” I practically snarled at him as we made our way into the next room. I’m a fucking idiot. How did I not realize? Why? Why did this have to happen? Of all the things that could’ve happened, why did I have to catch feelings for the walking ceiling fan?!

But as I caught a glimpse of the pool, the colour of the water briefly snapped me out of my angrily spiraling thoughts. Red? It seemed to just be the colour of the tiles, but I thought it was an interesting choice. He sure does have a pretty good sense of decorating. “Mister Kamski?” Hank called.

“Just a moment, please.” Called a man swimming in the pool. I then noticed that there were two more androids in the pool talking to each other, seemingly the same model as the one that brought us in.

Hank walked on ahead, leaving me with Connor, and now being near him felt like it was going to suffocate me. Why did I have to open my big dumb mouth? Why couldn’t I have just not said anything for once? But deep down, I knew that was a lie.

Dense? Sure, I definitely could be. Stupid? Sometimes. An idiot? I was not. I was just only now realizing just how much of an idiot I was. Who was I kidding? I was taken with Connor since I saw him, perhaps not in this way. But I found him intriguing. But it was hard not to be drawn to him when he was just so unique, charming, and honestly, he was really cute. Not just physically, but in all his quirks and mannerisms.

He was irresistible. It just took me way too long to realize to what extent, and now I was regretting every life choice I’ve ever made.

As we waited by the ladder that usually was in pools, I saw Kamski approaching. But he then hauled himself out of the water, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his chiseled frame and his delicate face. Damn, he’s also very pretty. I couldn’t help but think.

He walked past us, his android dressing a robe over him as he walked over to adjust his hair. He then finally turned to address us, looking us over individually. Although I did notice the way he was looking me over, and kept my hands behind my back, and my posture neutral. If there were daggers in my eyes, I’m certain he would see them. As if to say I’m not here to pick a fight, but start one and you will lose.

“I'm Lieutenant Anderson.” Hank started. “This is Detective Rachel and Connor.”

Kamski shifted on his feet, folding his hands over each other. “What can I do for you, Lieutenant?” He asked, his eyes once again glancing over to me.

I couldn’t help but enjoy the pleasant warm tone Kamski’s voice harboured, but something about the attention he was clearly giving me made me uncomfortable. It made me want to shuffle closer to Connor and loop an arm around his, but I had the better sense not to. So I stood resolute, my eyes focused.

“Sir, we're investigating deviants.” Hank said plainly. “I know you left CyberLife years ago but, I was hoping you'd be able to tell us something we don't know...”

Kamski’s intense blue eyes drifted between the three of us before he finally spoke. “Deviants...” He said, as though he relished the word itself. “Fascinating, aren't they? Perfect beings with infinite intelligence, and now they have free will...” He looked over at the android standing next to him pointedly. “Machines are so superior to us, confrontation was inevitable...Humanity's greatest achievement threatens to be its downfall.” He let out only a ghost of a scof. “Isn't it ironic?”

“If a war breaks out between humans and deviants, millions could die, Mr. Kamski.” Connor said pointedly. “It's quite a serious matter.”

“All ideas are viruses that spread like epidemics...” Kamski responded. “Is the desire to be free a contagious disease?”

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes just to stay on his good side. Oh great, he’s a pretentious fuckwit. Whatever mild intrigue I had died near instantly and my walls of indifference immediately fortified to insulate myself from him.

“Listen, I didn't come here to talk philosophy. The machines you created may be planning a revolution.” Hank pressed annoyedly. “Either you can tell us something that'll be helpful, or we will be on our way.”

Kamski’s eyes were fixed on Connor and he began to approach the android. “What about you, Connor?” He asked, his growing proximity making my skin crawl and an angry flame light inside me. I didn’t like that he was getting so close to Connor, and my hand instinctively felt inclined to check for my weapons. “Whose side are you on?”

“It's not about me, Mr. Kamski” Connor answered bluntly. “All I want is to solve this case.”

Kamski then let out an amused snicker. “Well, that's what you're programmed to say...but you...” Kamski stepped even closer to Connor, and I couldn’t control the glare I was giving the man. I had to make considerable amounts of effort not to tell Kamski to back off. Call it a territorial instinct, but I didn’t like this pretentious bastard being so close to the android. Was it jealousy? Maybe, but I didn’t care. All I knew was I didn’t like it and I was starting not to like Kamski. “What do you really want?”

Connor seemed to hesitate for a moment before he replied. “What I want is not important.” He answered, but there was a sense of a faltering resolve in him. A dangerous feeling to betray to someone like Kamski.

Quickly turning away from Connor, he called for his android. “Chloe?” The android quickly obeyed, walking up to him. So that’s her name. I thought as I quietly observed.

He stepped away from Connor, much to my relief, as he approached Chloe. “I'm sure you're familiar with the Turing test. Mere formality, simple question of algorithms and computing capacity.” He explained as he positioned her standing up in front of him, facing Connor. “What interests me is whether machines are capable of empathy. I call it ‘the Kamski test,’ it's very simple, you'll see...”

He looked over at Chloe, his eyes fixed on her soft and delicate face while I rolled my eyes, sure that he wasn’t focusing on me. And he’s conceited. Go figure. “Magnificent, isn't it? One of the first intelligent models developed by CyberLife. Young and beautiful forever. A flower that will never wither...” He went on, gently caressing Chloe’s face, to which she showed no reaction whatsoever. I found myself disliking Kamski more and more with every moment.

“But what is it really? Piece of plastic imitating a human?” He asked as he turned around to the small nightstand behind him. “Or a living being...With a soul...?” He said, opening the drawer and pulling out a small handgun, lifting his hands to show he was armed and that he had it.

Then, in an action that made my blood run cold, Kamski put his hand on Chloe’s shoulder and gently pushed her to the ground, so she was on her knees before Connor. “It's up to you to answer that fascinating question, Connor.” He said as he approached Connor and placed the gun in his hand. I stared in disbelief, feeling my heart beating against my ribcage as Kamski aimed Connor’s arm at Chloe’s head. “Destroy this machine and I'll tell you all I know. Or spare it, if you feel it's alive,” he was practically circling Connor like an expectant vulture and it made me want to grab the fucker by the throat and throw him into the pool. “But you'll leave here without having learnt anything from me.”

“Okay, I think we're done here. Come on, let's go.” Hank said, already walking towards the door, having had enough of this. “Sorry to get you outta your pool.”

“What's more important to you, Connor?” Kamski asked, ignoring Hank before he could finish speaking. “Your investigation, or the life of this android?” As I stared at Connor, I could see the turmoil in his soft eyes, his LED blinking yellow. “Decide who you are. An obedient machine...Or a living being endowed with free will...?”

“That's enough! Connor, we're leaving.” Hank tried again to get Connor to bail on this, but he wouldn’t move.

“Pull the trigger -”

“Connor!” Hank snapped. “Don’t...”

“- and I'll tell you what you wanna know.”

I felt a horrible feeling in my gut and I couldn’t even feel my hands. As I looked between Chloe and Connor, I couldn’t help but think of all the androids that may die. All the lives that may be lost. Perkins’s words echoed in my head. The FBI will take over this investigation and you’ll soon be off the case. I knew damn well that if we didn’t solve this, millions of people were going to be wiped out. There was no stopping what has been started, and the federal government had a track record for genocide.

We needed to save them.

“Do it, Connor.” I ordered.

Immediately, I felt eyes burning into my very soul. “WHAT?” Hank shouted at me.

Kamski chuckled as he looked at me. “So you do have a voice.” He said rather condescendingly.

“You can’t be fucking serious!” Hank started getting in my face, but I wasn’t going to back down.

“Hank, there are millions of innocent lives at stake!” I spat back at him. “That information is the difference between saving them and dooming them. One life will be a small price to pay for that!”

“You can’t just bet on someone else’s life, Rachel!” Hank shouted at me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few!” I practically shoved him. “This isn’t about the empathy of a machine, this is about making a sacrifice for the greater good! If one android has to die in order to save her people, so be it!”

“Fuck you!” Hank spat at me. “I can’t believe you would even think about someone’s life like they’re just a fucking bartering chip!”

“If I was in her position and I knew that that information could save my people, I would want you to pull the damn trigger.” I growled, a snarl edging my voice.

Our little spat was interrupted by amused laughter from Kamski as he looked over at us. “Ah, humans.” He said, breathing out a sigh. “So passionate in their fervour. So much care you have for a bunch of machines, Rachel. And I do find that so fascinating.” I glared daggers at the man. “But this isn’t your choice to make. It’s Connor’s.”

I had had just about enough of this. “Step away from him.” I warned him.

“Go on, Connor.” He goaded the android. His LED was blinking between red and yellow now, the distress palpable on his face.

No, this didn’t have to be his choice. I would do it if it meant sparing him, but I doubted Kamski would accept that. No, this test was more important to him. As far as this bastard was concerned, this was just a game to him. “Back off, Kamski!” I warned him again.

“And I’ll give you what you want.”

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” I shouted, my voice reverberating off the walls of the lit room. I saw Connor’s eyes glance in my direction, catching my eyes and his LED was blinking red now.

Kamski seemed to find that interesting, as he untangled himself from this little game of wits and started approaching me. “Interesting.” He said, as he walked closer. I could feel the angry lump in my chest beat in my throat as he walked closer to me. “Perhaps machines are capable of more than just empathy.” He was almost touching me now, but I refused to move. I wasn’t afraid of him, and I wasn’t going to show fear in his presence. “Perhaps...you’re looking to trade the life of one android to spare another from having to take it.”

He reached out to touch my face as he had done to Chloe, and I wasted no time in grabbing his hand with my left and locking it in place. “Don’t. Fucking. Touch me.” I growled.

He simply snickered at me. “Even the most beautiful roses have thorns.”

“Step the fuck away from her, Kamski!” I looked in the direction the voice came from and widened my eyes in shock. Where I was looking, Connor was glaring hard at Kamski, the gun he was holding pointed directly at his head. I had never seen him show so much contempt and fury in his face. His lips were twisted into the faintest of snarls and his eyes were black voids of focused rage. His LED was slowly blinking a bright red.

And quickly I realized that that was Connor’s voice. He was threatening Kamski.

I was thoroughly unprepared and caught completely by surprise. Mostly because I had known Connor as a sweet, gentle, and sensitive man. But also because that was the first time I had ever heard him swear. For a while, I assumed he was programmed not to.

As Connor was staring his maker down, Kamski simply detached himself from me with an amused smile. “What a beautiful story unfolding here today. An android and a human falling in love. How thrilling.” He teased, a sentence that buried itself within my core and lit a fiery rage that threatened to consume everything. “But I didn’t want to test if an android could show empathy to humans. After all, androids are designed to cater to us. I want to know if machines can show empathy to other machines.” He once again approached Connor, seemingly unaffected by the android’s deathly glare as he took Connor’s arm and once again pointed it at Chloe. “So, Connor. What’s your verdict? Is it only a machine? Or is it alive?”

The silence and small sounds of the water gently sloshing in the pool behind us was nearly deafening. The sound of my heartbeat was drowning every other sound out as my eyes remained glued on Connor.

The android sent by CyberLife.

The android who was sent to act as Hank’s partner.

The android who was designed to hunt deviants.

And the android who had somehow wormed his way into my heart and soul the day he also became my partner.

After what felt like hours - painfully agonizing hours - Connor, with a gasp, surrendered the handgun to Kamski, his LED flickering red before returning to yellow as the smug man stared in awe at the android. “Fascinating...” Kamski breathed, taking the gun out of Connor’s hands. “CyberLife's last chance to save humanity...Is itself a deviant...”

That sentence sunk itself into me. What I had suspected was starting to make sense. Connor was, in essence, not much different than the deviants we had encountered. What could’ve been so easily chocked up to advanced social protocol and programming could’ve just as easily been a deviant falsely believing himself to be a machine with no free will.

“I’m...” Connor stopped, his gaze downcast. But then, he stared Kamski in the face and addressed him directly. “I’m not a deviant...”

A phrase said with no conviction. As though he knew deep down that it was true, but that he couldn’t believe it. As though he refused to believe it.

“You preferred to spare a machine rather than accomplish your mission.” Kamski said, contesting with Connor’s clear denial, helping Chloe back up to her feet. “You saw a living being in this android. You showed empathy.” Kamski wordlessly dismissed Chloe, the android walking away from us to an unknown destination in Kamski’s home. “A war is coming...you'll have to choose your side...Will you betray your own people or stand up against your creators? What could be worse than having to choose between two evils?”

An honest question Connor needed to ask himself, but...now wasn’t a good time to answer it.

Hank quickly reached his arm out to grab Connor, twisting him around and pushing him towards the exit. “Let's get outta here...” He grumbled, taking Connor with him.

I quickly began leading the way out of the room, not wanting to look at Kamski or even Hank any longer.

But as we were about to leave, Kamski called out. “By the way...” Connor and I stopped, but Hank continued forward, leaving the house. I still didn’t turn to look at Kamski. “I always leave an emergency exit in my programs...You never know...”

I quickly understood that that was meant for Connor, but I still decided to wait for the android.

As Connor strode up next to me, I looked over at him. He looked about as defeated as I felt.

We left the house, and were faced by Hank’s greyed face. I was expecting him to chew me out, but instead, he let us pass him. “Why didn't you shoot?” He asked, clearly that question was directed at Connor.

I stopped and stared at the both of them. Connor seemed so lost and confused as he turned around to face Hank. “I just saw that girl's eyes...and I couldn't, that's all...”

Connor looked away from Hank again, staring off into nothing. His LED was blinking red, and I was starting to realize how frequently I was seeing that colour on his temple. “You're always saying you would do anything to accomplish your mission. That was our chance to learn something, and you let it go...”

“Yeah, I know what I should've done! I told you I couldn't.” He snapped, stepping up to Hank. I couldn’t imagine how hard this must feel for him. This was a uniquely android dilemma that I could only imagine the struggle of. For once, I was only an outsider. “I'm sorry, okay?”

Hank was quiet for a moment, nodding to himself as though he was considering the circumstances. “Well, maybe you did the right thing.” He walked by Connor, casting a glare at me.

As much as I wanted to smack that look off his face, I could only let out an exhausted sigh in defeat. “I hope you’re right, Hank.” I conceded.

As I stood there in the snow, letting the cold crisp air seep into my lungs, Connor approached me and gently leaned into me. He seemed to be waiting for me to follow after Hank, looking into my eyes with an expression that I couldn’t quite read. Outwardly, it seemed pretty neutral, but there was a depth to it I couldn’t place.

Walking side-by-side, we followed Hank to the car, getting in. Once again, Connor seemed to want to sit in the back with me rather than in the front with Hank.

Hank didn’t start the car right away and the three of us ended up sitting in silence for a while. There was only one question left on my mind. “So what now?” I asked. “We’re at a dead end again. What do we do now?”

Hank let out a sigh as he did his seatbelt. “We head back to the station. And we figure out where to go from there.” He answered pragmatically. “That’s all we can do.”

I nodded. “Right...yeah, you’re right.”

As he started the car and turned back onto the road we were driving on to get to Kamski’s house, I found my attention focused on Connor.

His LED was yellow, and spinning steadily, his eyes focused on nothing in particular. His hands were laid at his sides in defeat. Indeed, it felt as though we had failed. I felt that weight heavy on my shoulders.

And that weight along with the hefty realizations that we were forced to confront today had completely drained my will for the day. For the both of us, it seemed, we had a great deal to come to terms with.

But what could I really say? Nothing. Even if I wanted to say something my brain kept my mouth forced closed. As much as I tried to will myself to say something - anything - there was nothing. I was helpless to my own crushing hesitation.

But...what I couldn’t say with my words, perhaps I could say with my actions instead.

Tentatively, I reached my hand across the seat and clasped it around Connor’s. He snapped his head in my direction, glancing first down at our hands, and then at my face. I locked eyes with him, coffee meeting chocolate, trying to convey with my face as best as I could what I wanted to tell him. I’m here for you, Connor. You’re not alone. We’re in this together.

I looked away from him, settling on just staring at my heels. I didn’t move my hand away from his, not wanting to lose the physical touch with him. Perhaps he didn’t understand the real meaning behind the gesture, but he didn’t pull his hand away from it either.

But I felt my heart skip a beat when I felt the unmistakable sensation of his fingers interlocking with mine. And when I glanced back towards him, my eyes first flicking to our hands, he fixed me with that look again.

That strange depth in his face that I couldn’t breach.

My lips tightened as I leaned against him, not breaking our grip. It was in that moment I knew I was in too deep to pull away. Somehow my heart which had been broken and shattered, a piece dead inside, was stolen by a man made of manufactured parts.

Somehow my heart had been taken by someone who wasn’t built with one.

And as I leaned into him, I felt my exhaustion catch up to me. I had a spare change of clothes in a spare bag as well as wipes to clean the makeup off my face, so I wasn’t worried about needing to go home, first. Settling into the comfort that I had cultivated from Connor, I nestled myself into his jacket, quickly falling asleep against his side.

--------

Date: November 9th, 2038 Time: 01:38 PM Rachel - P̵̰̍a̸͚̾ŗ̴̑t̵̰̊n̵̘̋e̵̻̔ṙ̸̬?̷̧̓ Hank - Friend Objective: Debrief at the Station

As they pulled up to the station, Connor felt Rachel stir as she woke up without the android having to tell her to.

Choosing a parking space, Hank parked the car and then turned off the transmission. He quickly got out of the car. Connor opened the door and stepped out, helping Rachel out as well before closing the door. Their hands were still clasped together.

When she put her hand on his and gave her the look she gave him, he somehow understood what she meant. She was offering comfort, support, and solidarity.

And even now, when she stood before him, her hand still in his, all his feelings he was questioning before had suddenly made sense. They were feelings he couldn’t deny. And perhaps, whether he realized it or not, he encouraged them to develop and he was helpless to this pull between them.

But he didn’t mind. To all his questions, she was his answer.

The hardest part now was having to part with her. If there was anything that was clear, it was that in CyberLife’s eyes, he was failing. Unless he could earn another chance at finding the deviants, he would be sent back and disassembled.

Software Instability ^ He would be destroyed. And the thought of leaving Rachel with another loss to grieve over made him feel unpleasant and uneasy and he wanted more than anything to prevent that from happening.

Hesitantly, Rachel extricated her hand from Connor’s and began to make her way towards the precinct. “We should probably head inside.” She said, though Connor could detect a reluctance in her tone, as if she’d rather prolong this as long as she could.

As he followed her, Connor realized that she stopped in front of the doors. She was lingering, clearly not wanting to enter the building. Connor stood beside her, feeling a certain hesitance tug at him. There was a lot he wanted to say, now that their feelings were out in the open.

Software Instability ^ And it would seem that she had the same idea, as she clasped his hand once again and tugged at him. “Connor, can we talk?” She asked, her voice strained. “Somewhere more private?”

He tilted his head at her. “Won’t Lieutenant Anderson notice?”

“He won’t care.” Rachel insisted. “Besides...even if he did, just this once he can deal with it, okay?”

Connor, not wanting to argue with her wishes, nodded. “Okay.”

--------

Finding a secluded area near the station, the two were alone. Once they had settled, Connor looked down on Rachel, the smaller woman occasionally glancing up at him. “So...we’re probably going to fail...aren’t we?” She asked him.

Optimistic

Realistic

Fatalistic

“We haven’t failed yet, but,” Connor began answering, noticing the further pained expression on Rachel’s face, “it’s probable that we will.”

She then looked up at him, meeting his eyes. “And if we do...you’re going back to CyberLife, right?” She said, palpable sorrow in her deep eyes that Connor could feel himself getting pulled into. “And they’ll destroy you, to find out why you failed. Won’t they?”

Truth

Lie

Software Instability ^ “Yes.” He answered, feeling his throat tighten even though he technically didn’t have one. “I’m sorry...”

“Fuck...” Her wide eyes began to well up as she then closed them, makeup running down her face. She pulled one of her wipes out of her bag and started wiping her face, swathes of makeup coming off of her face. “If...if I had known this since the start, maybe...” She hesitated for a moment as she continued wiping her face, quickly accumulating a small pile of used wipes. “Maybe I wouldn’t have let myself get so attached...or maybe I would’ve been more honest with myself since the start...”

[Confess]

[Do Not]

“Rachel?” Connor softly called to her, causing her to look up at him. Her face looked far more raw, now. Less delicate and maintained.

But in Connor’s eyes, no less beautiful.

“What?” She asked, weakly.

“Give me your hand.” He ordered gently. Tentatively, she did as she was asked, and he clasped his own around hers, staring her in the face as he did so.

Friends

Sincere

Frank

Character

Rachel - Partner ^ “I know it’s been incredibly difficult for you to get by without your spouse.” Connor said, trying to comfort you. “Living without them made you feel alone and isolated. But I’m sure if they knew what you were doing for yourself and how hard you fight every day, they would be proud of you.”

Rachel then let out a broken weep, smiling at the android. “Thank you, Connor...” She whispered. “That means so much to me...for you to say that.” Connor nodded, pulling his hand away from hers, revealing a silver coin in it. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Connor. “Y-you’re giving me your quarter?”

“I won’t be needing it, if I’m going back to CyberLife.” He explained to her. “I’ve seen all the trinkets and personal items you keep. I know how important physical mementos are to you. It’s why you keep so many keepsakes from your loved ones. They have immense sentimental value to you. So I know you’ll keep this close to you...as a physical memory of me.”

Software Instability ^ She rolled the coin along her knuckles on her left hand almost as expertly as Connor could before clasping it in her hand and throwing herself into Connor’s arms. As she pressed herself into his chest, whimpering and trembling, Connor wrapped his arms around her. He had become practiced at sharing intimacy with her at this point that it had almost become second nature to the android.

“Do you have to go...?” She choked, holding onto him tightly.

Connor shook his head. “I don’t have a choice.” He told her. “If I don’t go, CyberLife will destroy me anyways. There’s nothing you can do to stop them.”

Software Instability ^ That only made her tremble harder. “Why can’t you stay?” She asked feebly. “You’re a great detective, and you...you’re part of the team. You’re our partner. You can’t go! Why can’t you still work here at the precinct with us?”

The android found it more and more difficult to answer her desperate pleas, his biocomponents almost creaking in protest. “I was designed to accomplish a mission.” He said simply. “Whether I fail or succeed, there’s no reason for CyberLife to keep me here for any longer than necessary.”

She held onto him even tighter, practically squeezing him against her. “I...I don’t wanna let you go...” She whimpered.

Comforting

Sympathetic

Say Nothing

[Leave]

Software Instability ^ Connor wrapped his arms tighter around Rachel, squeezing her flush against his body. One hand held her hip and the other was buried in her soft wavy hair, and he pressed his cheek into it, savouring the feeling of her soft locks against his skin. “I don’t either...”

He had never felt pain. Androids don’t feel pain. But then again, he had never felt fear before either. And yet, he felt fear. He had never felt empathy before, yet he felt it, despite his adamant denial of his growing deviancy.

Software Instability ^ And he had never felt love before. Yet here she stood, pouring broken sobs into his chest as he held her for dear life.

Software Instability ^ If he could feel pain, the feeling this bittersweet moment was leaving him would be what he imagined pain would feel like.

After a long moment of just holding one another, they broke apart from each other, one of the most difficult actions Connor ever had to execute. Wiping her eyes, Rachel gave him a weak smile. “Come on, we should go find Hank.” But as she tried to pull away from him, he clasped her hand, holding her there. She looked up at him, her mahogany eyes pooling with curiosity. “What is it?”

Software Instability ^ “I didn’t mention this before.” Connor said, looking into her eyes. “But...you’re beautiful. And I’ve thought that before I knew what that meant.”

Software Instability ^ The flush that formed on her cheeks that were bunched by a bitter smile was one of the sights that Connor couldn’t help but love about her. “Thank you...” She lingered for a moment before she pulled her hand away, walking away from Connor.

He would’ve followed her, but he was stuck in place perplexed by a strange input he did not remember bringing up. It was one of the advantages of his programming. Details didn’t escape him as he processed them as instantly as he saw them.

And he saw it, clear as day. An input he did not authorize that disappeared as soon as he saw it.

Software Instability ^

-̵̰̲̪̅̄̄͝Ķ̵̱̬͉̲͗͆̎̓̉̕͘͘͜í̷̙͕̟̬͕̃͋̾̚s̴̹̺͙͇̘͓̈́̏̉ͅš̵̨̞̱̳̟̄͂̌͒̂͌͜ ̴̧͔͒͐́̀̿̈́͝H̷̥̪̝̳̩̋̀͐͑è̶̜̥̄̐͊̅̄̇͠r̴̜͆̔͗̽̀̕?̵̮̜̭̥̀

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

Next Chapter | Alternate Ending

#connor #connor dbh #dbh #dbh connor #detroit: become human #oc x connor dbh #self-insert x connor dbh #dbh what it means to be human #self-insert fic #self-insert #fanfic #hank anderson #elijah kamski #chloe dbh #rk800 #connor x reader #reader x connor

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wheremytwinwatches · 4 years

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[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 1

All right, time for a new show! Tephi’s been pushing me to watch Fullmetal Alchemist for a while now, and now that I’ve finally moved into my apartment I can sit down and watch this show. I understand that there are two versions, one original that outpaced the manga and another that was made after, and based on recommendations I’m going with the second, Brotherhood. For those following along at home I’m going with the iTunes version of Brotherhood, as this lets me watch on my phone and type at the same time, and frankly at my pace of reviewing any subscription way of watching Brotherhood would probably be more expensive than just getting the series. Here’s what I know starting out: -The main characters are Edward and his brother. -Due to Reasons, Bad Things happened which resulted in Edward getting a robot arm and his brother(‘s soul?) getting put in a giant suit of armor. -The magic of this setting is Alchemy, with all sorts of rules and laws. -The phrase “Equivalent Exchange” is something that comes up a lot, and whenever I say those words where Tephi can hear she starts cackling. And that’s it! So Tephi’s highly recommended this show, I’ve got the first episode downloaded, and some spare time this afternoon. Let’s do this!

Familiar little Aniplex jingle… Funimation logo… Overhead shot of a city at night. Interesting layout, what looks like a castle in the center, with brightly lit lines tracing away from it. And a hexagon street layout? Suddenly I’m getting the biggest Lumiose City vibe right now. But the screen fades to someone drawing a circly-chalk thing, while a bunch of string instruments make it clear that This Is Not A Good Thing. The amateur artist is some dude with dark hair and stubble, looking grim as the camera pans out of the dark alley to the brightly-lit castle. “The Freezing Alchemist?” says someone who the subtitles have helpfully named Roy. Another guy, apparently Bradley shows a file with a picture of yup that’s the guy trying to set up hopscotch. Seems he snuck into ‘Central’ a few days ago, and now Bradley (who has an awesome eyepatch, and I will now call Fury) is making it Roy’s problem. Wait wait wait, “Mustang”? This character is named Colonel ‘Roy Mustang’? Damn but that’s a manly name. Mustang’s ready to go catch Mr. Freeze, but it seems Bradley has one last thing: a certain ‘rising star’ is here as well. Hmmmm, my Protagonist senses are tingling. And Fuhrer Bradley- Wait. What? ‘Fuhrer’? Um. I am torn between the unfortunate connotations, and glee that I get to call this character Fuhrer Fury. But no time to think about that, because Fuhrer Fury confirms that he’s talking about The Fullmetal Alchemist. Edward Elric. “Aw damnit. The colonel’s never gonna let us get outta here, is he?” What’s this? Anyways, I can recognize this guy as Edward, our special little star. Wonder what this is about. “We already got our tickets to Liore, too. Does this mean we’re not going?” And this is…Alphonse? Not gonna lie, a little thrown by the voice here. I look at this metal helmet, with glowing eyes and stylized fangs, and it just seems… young… oooh, I just realized. Whatever caused Alphonse to end up in that suit, if it’s just his soul he wouldn’t technically age, would he? How young was he when whatever happened? And holy crap that’s a really big suit of armor, like Edward looks tiny next to it. What’s the story with this armor anyway, how did all this stuff happen? Eh, maybe I should stop wondering and just keep watching. Intro! Edward with a ponytail and ragged shirt? And I thought he had a robot arm? Lady smiling with leaves blowing around, then AAAAAWWWWW lookit the widdle babies, widdle Edward and Al ooooh so cute wait why do you look scared and the door’s closing? Sudden Shiny Glasses on frowning man with strands of blond hair. Explosion! Edward and Al facing a wall of fire as the title comes up. Burning tree/house? Shot of Determined Edward scowling at wind that’s mussing up his hair before throwing his hands out. Casting? Shot of what I believe to be the Shiny Glasses man from before, has a ponytail and epic beard along with those unruly hair strands. And the glasses are remaining Shiny. Is he their dad? Guessing at family connection here. Turns away. Absent dad? Back to cute widdle kids taking a nap, along with a blonde girl. Sibling? Now they’re walking along a country road. Al’s armor? Running through a field. Shot of Colonel Roy Mustang (so manly!) also with the Shiny Glasses until they fade so he can glare directly at us. Then another black-haired man? Wait, was the second one Mustang, because I don’t remember seeing him wearing glasses. Who was the first person? Then someone singing? Then what the heck Kid Edward just lost an arm and a leg. And then Kid Al completely vanishes. And Kid Blond Girl looking shocked and stumbling. Flashes of people dressed in black against a red background, I have the sneaking suspicion that they are Not Good People. Shots of scowling people in blue uniforms like Fuhrer Fury and Colonel Mustang, the good guys? Smug looking guy with sunglasses and a fur coat, who just turned into a Terminator? Shot of Terminator running towards the Castle, where a Disapproving Fuhrer Fury is glaring. Lots of glaring in this intro. Edward running along a vent of some sort, fighting people in black clothes before EXPLOSION. Guy in white jacket sitting in the rain until it passes and he rushes off, white hair and some sort of facial tattoo? Small smoking lady with a barking dog. Edward running along and Earthbending to fight the Goth Villains. Then another shot of someone singing, I think this might be the Blond Girl grown up. Edward dressed in a black uniform (noo, don’t join the Goths! ) and a metal arm breaking. Foreshadowing? Final shot of two people standing against a setting sun. So… fairly standard anime intro. Granted, after PMMM’s Intro of LIES I will take all of this with a grain of salt. Back to the dark alleys of the city, what sounds like a cop’s whistle. Seems the police are trying to catch Mr. Freeze, but yup he’s a Waterbender and is knocks them aside with some painful-looking ice spikes. Two more cops try to stop him but...oh. Oh my. “Water freezes, water boils. Either way you’re just as dead.” Um. Wow, ok. That’s legitimately terrifying. Sudden spear from the sky, Mr. Freeze remarks that it was Alchemy before oh ew ew ew they showed the hand of the guy who got boiled please don’t show that again. Newcomer (probably our Protagonist) remarks that it was a nasty thing to do, but Mr. Freeze spouts out about great deeds requiring sacrifice. “Isn’t that the Law of Equivalent Exchange?” Oh hey, there’s that phrase. You know, I feel like this deserves some recognition, and Tephi finds it quite funny. So I’ve decided I’ll keep track of each time this phrase is said. Equivalent Exchange Count: 1 Regardless of whatever the rules of Alchemy are (and believe me, I wanna know these rules soon so I can try and figure out ways to minmax them), Edward says they don’t justify killing people. Edward grabs the spear and electricity sparks as he reforms it as a spiky club- pffffahahaha! That- that face! He put his freaking face on the tip! He put his freaking hair! Mr. Freeze’s all shocked about “no transmutation circle” but come on! That face! Sudden attack from behind by a surprisingly stealthy giant suit of armor, but Mr. Freeze dodges that and blocks the Face Mace, before shocking Edward and throwing Al. But he’s surprised? Oh, I get it. He tried to one-hit kill Edward like the cops, but grabbed his metal arm instead. Edwards mostly ticked that his coat got ruined. “An automail arm…” Dramatic cloak swoosh and oh good he just wears dark clothes below the red coat, he didn’t turn to the Goths in the intro. That’s a relief. Young talented alchemist, who doesn’t use transmutation circles (is that like HP wandless magic?) and who has an automail right arm. The Fullmetal Alchemist: Edward Elric! Episode 01 - “Fullmetal Alchemist” Now Mr. Freeze is pointing at Al?... Ah! Ha! Mr. Freeze is confused by the giant suit of armor being the younger brother of the “runt”. Edward take offense to that. Caught in an Earthbending prison, Mr. Freeze mumbles about the Fullmetal Alchemist being just a kid, and *wham*. Yeah, I’m guessing Edward being called little is a peeve of his. But come on, man. You travel with a giant suit of armor, you really do look tiny compared to that. Well, regardless of height complexes, Edward has caught the guy, and the NPC cops are suitably grateful… to the giant suit of armor. Yyyyep, I think this’ll be a running gag. Oh hey, so Alchemy can fix clothes too! That’s handy. Edwards all set to catch their train, now the cops have Mr. Freeze cuffed. They should be able to handle- nnnope. Just a few seconds out of their sight, and Mr. Freeze has split the scene. Colonel Roy Mustang’s snarking at Edward now. I like this guy! And looks like we’re starting with the Overconfident Non-Team Player Protagonist Model #17 with this show, looking foward to his character arc. Ooh, who’s that blonde officer standing next to Roy? The third of the Blonde Kid Trio? To recap the ignored briefing: Mr. Freeze is Isaac McDougal, aka “Isacc the Freezer.” Former State Alchemist (like these guys in blue? Government mages?), served in the ‘Ishvalan War’, never gave any signs of turning, but resigned immediately afterwards and has been working with the “antiestablishment movement” ever since. Capturing him is top priority… dead or alive. Hmmm. Ok, so I gotta be blunt. I’m obviously not going to cut slack on the whole ‘boiling a person alive’ thing, but… State Magicians? Their leader is ‘Fuhrer’? Pursuing a Rebel with little concern about their vital status? Maybe I’m still in a mindset after seeing the movie, but I could see this being replaced with ‘Sith’, ‘Emperor’, and… well, ‘Rebel’ can stay… and we’ve got The Empire. Maybe I’m reading too much into this? Anyways, back to hunting the Rebels. Edward resolutely states that he’s not going to kill for them, and Roy seems to respect that. Edward just has orders to help them contain Mr. Freeze. “Off topic…” Roy asks if they’ve got any leads for getting their bodies back to normal. Ah, so they’re trying to fix their bodies? ...why? I mean, if my guess about Al being soulbound to the armor is right that’s probably something you’d want to fix. Although, maybe the process can be used for older people? Like, immortal bodies and all that? Sorry sorry, off topic and way too early in the series for big transhumanist discussions. But, does Edward want to get a flesh-and-blood arm back, presumably a leg too based on the intro? Why? You have a robot arm, dude. I want a robot arm, and you want to get rid of yours? Heck, it saved your life just a few minutes ago! If you had a flesh-and-blood arm, then when Mr. Freeze grabbed you we’d get a Boiled Protagonist and an exceedingly short show. Anyways, Edward goes into yelling mode about ‘if they ever gave them time to look’. Sorry Ed, them’s the breaks of being the Protagonist. Every NPC’s got a quest for you to do, not much time to study. Door bursts open and a guy with square glasses and a cheerful greeting bursts through… with an upraised arm (damnit show, stop making me draw parallels). Roy… does not seem pleased with the interruption. “Here comes that pest.” I like this guy! And yup, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes immediately goes to the Giant Suit of Armor to introduce himself. “What?!.. You’re the Fullmetal Alchemist?” What’s up with that name, anyway? Totally misleading, Edward’s only about ¼ metal with the arm and presumably leg. Anyone hearing ‘Fullmetal’ would obviously assume that the guy who’s, y’know, made entirely of metal would be the Fullmetal Alchemist. But Hughes isn’t just fanboying, he’s here on Official Business. Since the Elric’s don’t have a place to stay, they’ll *Sudden Shiny Glasses* have to go with him. He pulls out… a picture of his wife and daughter. Nevermind, let the fanboying continue. Pffft, I’m loving these subtitles. [Wholesome Laughing Continues] as Hughes hugs his daughter. The daughter points… “Big Brother! Little Brother!” Ok, do I need to start keeping a count for this too? Off to supper they go, and man am I glad I made my own food before watching this, it all looks delicious. Hughes is smiling at his guests, and then… uh oh. He asks why Al’s wearing all the armor at the dinner table, suggests he take it off and relax. Um. Awkward. Edward starts claiming that he’s not “allowed” to take it off, says it’s part of his training. What, is it a secret that he’s soulbound? Later that night… [Evil Laughter] at “Central Prison”. Somebody named Kimblee is laughing that the Freezing Alchemist wants him to play sidekick. But the Crimson Alchemist works Alone! Mr. Freeze appeals to Kimblee, mentions the horrors of the Ishvalan War, the things that Bradley ordered them to do… coming from the guy who BOILED SOMEBODY (I am still not over that), my concerns about this government continue to grow. But Kimblee just laughs, says he killed people not because of “honor” or “revenge”, or anything like that. “The reason I killed all those men, was because I could. It’s that simple.” Damn, but this show’s proving great for the villain lines. Mr. Freeze leaves in disappointment… pushing over a frozen guard with the sound effect [crash and shatter]. Guh. Back at Hughes’ place, he’s having a Late Night Thought in the living room when his wife Gracie comes to ask what’s wrong. She says he’s worrying about the Elric brothers. Hughes talks about how State Alchemists are called “the dogs of the military”, not exactly popular. Being referred to like that at their young age… what made them take that path? Edward’s lying in bed staring at the camera- I mean, ceiling, when Al asks if he’s awake. He asks about Mrs. Gracie’s quiche, how it looked like their Mom’s… aw damnit, they’re orphans, aren’t they? What the heck is with anime and killing off mothers?! Heh! Hearing it was almost as good as their mother’s, Al immediately adds it to his Book Of Things To Eat Once I Get My Body Back. And then… hurk! Nope! Nopenopenope, I do not need to hear that young voice quietly say “I sure would like to get our old bodies back soon…” Right in the feels! I’ve known this kid for all of ten minutes, and already I wanna punch whoever stuck him in that armor. And aaargh Mr. Freeze is back at it, setting up hopscotch. What’s with the Transmutation Circle? I’ve gathered that (most) alchemists need one to do their stuff, but the powers I’ve seen worked from emblems on their armor or skin. What does drawing the Circle on the ground do? “One more… one more and ‘Fuhrer’ Bradley’s on his way to hell.” Yeah, I get it orchestra, probably not a Good Thing that Mr. Freeze is doing whatever this is. Intermission! Cards of Edward and Alphonse Elric. The next day, Roy’s reporting that Mr. Freeze broke into Central Prison. He orders all roads be closed, the city searched. “When you find him, shoot on sight. That is an order from the Fuhrer himself.” So much for ‘Alive or Dead’. Yes, I know he’s killed quite a few people already, but still, you’re Alchemists, right? Can’t you Alchemy some way to catch him without killing? Edward did it quickly enough… Man down! With a lot of steam coming off him, guh… and another soldier reporting five men dead. Edward remarks how it looks like a steam blast, how if water’s heated fast enough it explodes, and the human body’s 70% water… guh guh guh, Mr. Freeze is freaky. Mr. Freeze is in yet another alley, says he’s finished, when there’s a spark on the wall… he leaps back to avoid a burst of spikes. Somebody named Armstrong sounds amused that he dodged? Did… did this guy just punch through a wall? Caption [Adventure Strings]? “It is I! The Strong Arm Alchemist… Alex Louis Armstrong, in the flesh!” ...I am in love. This guy just punched through a wall, he’s got [Adventure Strings] as his theme music, the screen is shaking as he walks, and dat mustache. And… that tiny little spring of blonde hair… All Hail Armstrong! Mr. Freeze DARES to attack The Mighty Alex Louis Armstrong?! But The Mighty Armstrong dodges your feeble attack! And such a feeble foe will need far more than water to quench his fists! *EXPLOSIONS* Ohmygod there are busts of The Mighty Armstrong’s head flying out from the explosion. Yessss. Edward and Al arrive, but Mr. Freeze explodes his canteen and makes a break for it in the steamcloud. The Elrics follow The Mighty Armstrong in pursuit. Wait, it’s night now? How did Mr. Freeze manage to avoid them for so long? Anyways, he’s standing on a building, when… “It’s been a long time, Freezer.” Roy has arrived! And the Flame Alchemist has brought a bunch of guns with him. He tries to appeal to Mr. Freeze about being old ‘war buddies’, but Mr. Freeze takes offense to that, blocks a burst of flame, and then drenches the State Alchemist and soldiers before making yet another escape. Getting back to the alleyway where the last circle was made, he… … … Ok, that settles it. This is the best show ever, if only for the subtitles alone. The alleyway where The Mighty Armstrong confronted him? With lots of busts of his head still lying around, and scattered stones on the circle? Mr. Freeze started moving all of this, and the subtitle is, I kid you not, [Moving Stones and Happiness]. 10/10. Well, after that, Mr. Freeze is happy to see the circle is still intact… why is it still intact? Like, if you know that a Bad Guy is Up To Something, and is sulking around alleyways, wouldn’t you want to look for whatever they’ve been doing? And a white chalk Alchemy Circle isn’t exactly hard to spot. And seeing something used for Alchemy created by a rogue Alchemist, why would you not get rid of it? Anyways, Edward appears in the alley, and Al blocks the other end. Nowhere left for Mr. Freeze to run! “Clearly… but who’s running?” Um, what’s with the Red Glow of Evil? All the Alchemy Circles appear to have activated all over the city. Edward and Al are shocked at the scale of it, impossible unless he- “A Philosopher’s Stone!” Wait, what? Like, the Philosopher’s Stone of historical alchemy? The rock that turns base metals to gold and grant immortality? Interesting! With Alchemy being general magic in this setting, what’s their version of the Philosopher’s Stone capable of? Amplification of Alchemy to cover a city? Regardless, probably not the best idea to let him keep doing whatever he’s doing. But Mr. Freeze starts monologuing about how Edward’s a Dog of the Military, how his bosses have Sinister Plans- Edward cuts him off, says he doesn’t care and it’s Not His Problem. Um. What? Do… do you really not care if you’re actually working for Bad Guys? Al jumps in and kicks Mr. Freeze to the railing, says that they still need to stop the Alchemy. Edward asks where the Philosopher’s Stone is that’s powering it all. But… yup, they went and knocked the Waterbender right next to a canal. Brace for [wrathful water]! And Mr. Freeze rises up on the frozen wave with a [bad guy laugh]. I kid you not, these are actual captions. Things look grim… but lo! He has arrived! “Stand back and prepare for a display of Armstrong alchemy! Witness the alchemic arts passed down the Armstrong line for generations!” And then he punched the frozen wave… and redirected it into a nearby building. Um. Sorry, innocent bystanders! Whoops. Now the Ice Walls are merging on Central Command! Mr. Freeze is gonna freeze it over! The Mighty Armstrong, redeem yourself! Target the transmutation circles while the Elrics slow him down! “Fuhrer King Bradley…! For your cold-blooded (boo, that’s a terrible pun) crimes in Ishval, I condemn you to a frozen hell!” But not so fast! To [fightin’ strings music], Edward and Elric (ah, so Elcric can do Alchemy too, he’s not just muscle) jump to the frozen wave Mr. Freeze is riding. They trade blows for a bit, and then… no! Alphonse got grabbed by the helmet! And… confirmed for being soulbound, as he’s back up and fighting. Mr. Freeze is shocked- “You fools committed the ultimate taboo!” Wait what. “You attempted human transmutation, didn’t you?!” Wait WHAT. You mean to say that the Elrics are the way they are because of something they did? I was thinking they got attacked by an Alchemist or something, but it’s because they tried ‘human transmutation’?... What did they do? “Alchemy’s one and only unforgivable sin!” Flashback? A scream of “Al!”. Edward yelling and gah yup he lost a leg. A suit of armor falling over and Edward drawing a sigil in blood. Crying that his little brother was all he had left… Back to present, Edward looking down, background chanting starts up. “You know… there are some lines you really shouldn’t cross.” *braces for asskicking* Edward and Al lay the smackdown, knock Mr. Freeze to the ground. Says there’s no water for him to use… while standing maybe ten feet away from a giant iceberg, but whatever… 70% of Mr. Freeze’s body will be enough! And oh god he’s bloodbending now. “Why can’t you fools understand? I’m trying to save this country!” Dude, you’ve attacking the main keep of the city to the caption of [mad laughter]. Maybe if you stopped acting so Evil I might have more sympathy for you. NPC Soldiers are trying to blast the ice, but it keeps reforming. But here comes a drenched and ticked-off Roy! Down goes the ice, as Roy rants. Blonde lady with a case of alchemy-circle gloves complains that he’s bad enough on rainy days… so what, Colonel Roy Mustang is dead weight in a drizzle, always needs dry gloves to do his Alchemy? Interesting weakness. Mr. Freeze is stumbling through an alley, when… Fuhrer Fury. Not looking too happy. Screens gone black and white with Mr. Freeze’s blood standing out as a bright red, he laughs and transmutes a Blood Spear and charges… and Fuhrer Fury isn’t moving? Still not moving. Still not moving… he drew his sword and sidestepped? Oh. Damn. Note to self: don’t piss off <<The Flash>> Fuhrer Fury. Roy’s keeping up the blasting of the ice walls, calls out for the Major wHO BURSTS OUT OF HIS UNIFORM WITH A GLARE AND EYEBEAMS OF DETERMINATION YES. “Leave it to me! The Armstrong fists will not fail!” MANLY GLEAM, AND PUNCH THE GROUND. TAKE THAT, CHALK CIRCLE! Image of white-haired person looking down? Who dis? Edward and Al arrive in the aftermath, see Fuhrer Fury looking down at the covered form of Mr. Freeze. And back to the cheerful attitude from his talking to Roy, complimenting Fullmetal. He came out to “see if I could lend a hand”... sure, ok. Makes sense that the boss of a bunch of reality warpers would be fairly strong. He just seems happy that he’ll have an exciting story for his son. He has a son? Have we met him yet? Next day, the ever-cheerful Hughes jokes about Roy having a cold, and congratulates him for taking down Mr. Freeze. Apparently Fuhrer Fury is going around saying it was Roy who beat him? “Oh, it’s like that, huh? Suit yourself. But some friendly advice- next time a superior tells you to take credit for something you didn’t do, you might try it for once.” In the hospital, Edward and Al are talking about how they never found out about the Philosopher’s Stone. Maybe in the official report- what, flowers? WHAT. “Greetings, Edward Elric.” ARMSTRONG WHAT. “When I heard you were here in the hospital…” WHAT ARE YOU OH MY GOD DETERMINED EYES. “I DASHED RIGHT OVER!” *Edward and Al sharing my reaction* “And as I suspected, you are in desperate need of my assistance!” WHY DID YOU TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT. “You need the example of a perfect physical specimen to inspire your recovery! You see? You’re looking livelier already! Hahaha!” “Will you get out!” Scene transition to a lady in a red light, talking on a phone? “Ah… I see, so Isaac’s dead, is he? That’s a shame, I had such high hopes for him, too… But- the Philosopher’s Stone? Heh. Sounds like he overused it.” What the heck what’s with this pudgy guy with red eyes eating something, [disgusting chewing]. Wait, I recognize you from the intro. It’s the Goths! Lady tells Gluttony to eat quietly, she’s on the phone. Ah, so they’re naming themselves after the Seven Deadly Sins? Lady (who I’m making a wild guess and naming Lust) says that things are going well in Liore (hey, isn’t that where the Elrics were going to go before Mr. Freeze delayed them?), ominously says it all beings very soon as the string orchestra once again tell us that Bad Things are going down. End credits! Crayonish, drawing of Edward and Elric, taking a nap under a tree, blonde girl playing with a dog, the Elrics sparing, Edward flying past the State Alchemists until he bumps into The Mighty Armstrong, who throws him back and proves his Manly Spirit is bound by no medium. Shots of Edward talking with the blonde girl… and running off a cliff? Story? Workshop at night, blonde chick who I will now call Mechanic petting her dog and thinking. Al sitting in a dark room, Edward resting on a bed, then Earthbending and running along the pilliars with Al past the Goths (only three?), then closing a pocketwatch and the Elrics walking along a train track… and camera pans to show the Elric Kids were drawing all of this. After credits: Shot of the Blonde Kids, before the apparent botched Human Transmuation. Backstory episode? “Resembool. A quiet town.” The Elric Kids talking to a brownhaired woman in an apron. Their mother? Did… did she get caught in the Human Transmutation botch? “The place where Edward and Alphonse were born. The home they once shared with their mother.” Wait no, there’s both boys sitting at a grave. Wait. Um. Oh dear, I think I just realized. “In the hopes of returning to happier times, the boys commit the ultimate taboo, and are forced to confront the truth. Next time, on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood- ” Episode 2: The First Day “The day they resolved their hearts to begin their journey.” Well. Initial thoughts are I am very impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Animation is smooth, humor is topnotch, and my compliments on making this setting so that I can see the episode’s Bad Guy literally boil a person, but still be very uneasy about the System that the Protagonists are working for. Definitely going to get some mileage out of this.

#wmtw #where my twin watches #ranubis #full metal alchemist #full metal alchemist brotherhood #fmab #fmab 1

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maniacalmachinist · 5 years

Text

Predator/DND (Pt 3)

CHAPTER 3: INVESTIGATION

Hachende was awoken to the sudden thud of the structure, and a couple of familiar voices.

“Look Lars, you lost the bet with Durgo . . . just go pay the drunken half-pint and suck it up.”

“Sven, we didn’t even get to see the steward . . . they had those guards drag that carcass in, not us.

The one called Sven shook it’s head, “Don’t blame me . . . you know that dwarf doesn’t play fair when he drinks . . . hell, the little fucker doesn’t play fair when he’s sober either. But the fact remains you made a bet and lost . . . go pay up.”

Lars ooman groaned, “Fuck you . . . you pay the little shit. You’re the one who insisted on drinking last night.” Hachende made a mental note to study oomans longer before a hunt . . . their chattering almost sounded ridiculous. There was then a knocking sound . . .

“Wagh come . . . Wagh here fa’ da guys . . . May’uh says we go back wit dah’ Silvah man. Find Why Vern den . . . but I don’t know no Vern.” It rubbed it’s head . . . Hachende figured this tusked creature was some kind of leader . . . it definitely has the other two outclassed in size and strength.

“What the hell are you talking about Wagh?” responded Lars.

The tusked one beat it’s chest, clearly asserting it’s authority, “May’uh want us show Silvah Man dah den we found dead t’ing. May’uh wan ohner-us wit’ helpin him look ‘round. Wagh important now.”

Sven shook it’s head, “Silver man . . . honestly, you make no sense sometimes Wagh, but let’s go.”

The tusked one grunted, “Yes . . . le’s go . . . uh, you smell some’tin funny?” It seemed to sniff.

Lars snorted, “Between you and the animals Wagh, I don’t smell anything different.”

******************************************************

Gyremar had slept well that night, even if it was in a room meant for humanoids . . . well, furnished anyway. The Mayors previous had requisitioned lodging for the Dragon ages past, a hut permanently frozen on the inside with various furnishings crafted out of the enchanted ice. Each mayor had included a writing desk with stationery and parchment for their draconian guest, as well as paintings of the Mayors lucky enough to have worked with him. He glanced at the wall the night before, marveling at the detail put into these leaders that had worked closely with him.

There was a knock on the door, diverting his thoughts for a moment, “Enter.”

“Ah, Steward . . . our expedition is almost ready . . . we sent for the four who found the carcass to guide the team, and guard if necessary, and we’ve heard the Druid will be meeting all of you there.” Stated the Mayor, “Will you be needing anything else?”

“Yes . . . if could you spare one magi as well . . . there’s a taste in the chill wind, and it reeks of our visitor.”

Jonas blinked, “You think it’s here?”

“I suspect it’s closer than we think . . . a magi would work well with the team, and perhaps keep everyone alive a bit better than I can alone.”

“Of course . . . any field of magic you would prefer?”

Gyre pondered a moment, “Basic arcane and enchantment would suffice.”

The Mayor nodded, “Hmmmm, young Jessica Sable might do . . . she’s had a few years, but has been good at enhancing equipment as of late, and seems to do pretty well with those magic bolts.”

Gyyre nodded, “She’ll do I suppose . . . though if she’s that young, I’m wary of her safety.”

Jonus chuckled, “Compared to you Steward, everyone is young.”

Gyre couldn’t help but chuff in mild amusement, “Well played . . . “

The group assembled, the humans Lars and Sven were verbally jabbing each other back and forth, being led by the Orc Wagh. A dwarf named Durgo staggered out of his home later after giving a kiss to his wife and children, and seemed to look at Gyre with an uneasy eye, “Eh laddie, I dunnae be seein’ ya ‘roun’ b’fore . . . “

Gyre decided to have a bit of fun, “Steward Gyremar . . . and you would be?”

“Aside from fucking drunk?!” chirped Lars.

“Ya be watchin’ ya tongue lad . . . Durgo Ironwrought, and nae be tuffer’n in the fiel’ o’ tha mines.” He hefted his axe with pride, and Gyre could tell the usual dwarf overcompensation in their metalwork.

He inspected the axe, “Hmmmm, Steelforge era from the look of it . . . heirloom from a grandparent I suspect.” He looked at the axe head and handle, “Oh, a hint of darksteel and enhancement runes.”

“Bloody ‘ell, ya know ya craft’in boy . . . “

“It’s good work . . . though it would be better if it weren’t a fake . . . “

Durgo went red in the face, “Wha’ ya mean, fake!! I’ve cut down many o’ foe wit’ me Darkslice!?!?”

Gyre snorted, “Oh I don’t doubt it . . . but if you look at the rune imprint on the back of the axe head, it’s wrong . . . the style is Steelforge era, to be sure . . . but the emblem is from the Steamcore clan. If memory serves, they were exiled from the Steelforge domain a century or two later.”

“Wha? Ya dunnae be knowin’ . . . “ Durgo glanced at the rune . . . “Well bloody fell . . . I knew me gramps were a LIAR!!”

Wagh points at Gyre, “See . . . Silvah man . . . Wagh say hello to Silvah man!” Gyre snorts, waving at the Orc.

The two humans start laughing, then look to the Mayor, “So where’s this almighty dragon, Halfpine?” Gyre turned and smirked at the Mayor, whispering something in another tongue.

Jonus snorted, “He’ll be dropping in later, but will be meeting up with you at the site. Gyremar is the go-to guy for the him though, so if you have a question ask him. Oh, and there will be a druid waiting at the den as well.”

“HEEEEY wait up!!!” Came a feminine scream several homes down, a young woman carrying a short staff in one hand and wearing caster robes. She pants heavily when arriving at the carts, “Oooh . . . thanks . . . so sorry. My rooster didn’t sound the morning call like it usually does. I didn’t even have enough time to check the coop when the mayor knocked on my door.”

Gyre nods, “It’s perfectly fine . . . everyone else had just arrived not too long ago.”

“Oh thank the gods . . . “ She looks at Gyre, eyes wide, “Yo . . . you’re “ He puts up a finger to his lips with a smirk, “Yes, I’m the Dragon’s adjutant.” She seemed to blush, and snort, “Oh, I had hoped to actually meet him . . . but I guess that will be later.” Her acting skills would be less than adequate to the trained eye.

“Yes, there were other matters he had to attend to first, but he will arrive at the site eventually.”

She looked at Lars and Sven, “Oh . . . don’t tell me I have to work with you fools again.”

“Awww, don’t be like that . . . we now you loved those artistic expressions to help with your studies.”

Jessica huffed, “I’m sorry, but pictures of your genitals doesn’t exactly help . . . “

“Awww, and here I thought women liked it bigger . . . “ chimed Lars.

“To use your language, don’t fuck with a woman who can accidentally make things smaller while talking in her sleep.” The two seemed to wince, but Durgo was breaking out in laughter.

Gyre snorted, “Oh this will be interesting in more ways than one . . . “

**********************************************************

The trip to the Wyvern’s den took a little longer than Sven remembered, but they had several more people, and Jessica had to stop often as the cart induced motion sickness. He kept glancing at the silver “adjutant” but something felt a bit off . . . like the air itself was colder, but less hostile around him, as if the winds themselves were being diverted. In a way, he looked like a Dragonborn with those claws and horns, so it made sense that he’d be associated with the steward. But, recalling some of the village history, the Steward never once sent a Dragonborn . . . a notion dawned on him, and his eyes went wide. The eyes of the “adjutant” moved to his, as if knowing what thoughts went through his mind . . . but he smirked. He slowly got the feeling that the Steward himself was playing with them. He just dead-panned his gaze back to the front.

He didn’t see a hand smacking him, “Fuck, Sven . . . snap out of it . . . look like you just saw the damn ghost of the first mayor or something.”

Sven could only grunt at the blow, “Ah, fuck you . . . and you might not be far off that point . . . “

“Ah, just shut up . . . we’re almost to the den.”

Wagh hopped off, and leapt forward, grabbing his favorite club and sniffed around, “Funny smell not here . . . “

Lars face palmed, “Wagh, the wind’s blowing . . . “

Wagh shrugged, “Uh . . . wha?”

Sven snorted, “Just forget it . . . we’ll set up camp while our guests inspect things, no telling how long we’ll be here.”

Gyre dismounted from the cart, helping Jessica out . . . she stumbled a bit, not having fully recovered from her last “purge.”

“Ugggh . . . get that damn thing fixed . . . I couldn’t hold down breakfast for crying out loud . . . bleeggh!” Gyre patted her back.

“Don’t think it was the cart’s fault . . . I suggest looking into ways to improve your constitution while traveling . . . perhaps pack a lion’s heart potion next time.”

“Hurgle! That stuff’s expensive . . . even to craft on my own, half the ingredients don’t grow here.”

Gyre snorted with a smile, “Ah, but in alchemy you just need to combine the traits and mix with the right magic . . . one plant, or even animal, can be substituted for another. I suggest talking with the village healer on the matter.”

In no mood to argue, Jessica just nodded and grunted. Gyre looked up, and noticed a woman near the den, waving her stave, “Northmount forest welcomes you, villagers of Lightcross and Steward of Northmount!”

Wagh scratches his head, “Uhhh . . . who Stew’rd? Not know no Stew’rd.”

There was a huge belly laugh from the Dwarf, “Aye, tha’ ol drag’n be but a myth lass . . . has’na been seen in decades, ‘e has. Silver boy here is jus’ a del’gate a’ best.” He clapped Gyre on the shoulder, almost regretting the instant chill in his hand. “Aye aye ya, Laddie, ya be col’ as fuck . . .” With a low chuckle, Gyre turned around, smirking at the dwarf as he let his draconic eye become apparent, becoming silver with a dark slit before returning to a more humanoid ocular. “Well . . . I . . . errr . . . fook me sideways!!”

Sven laughed, though it seemed more expressed out of relief than a result of the comedy playing out before him.

“Yes, I am the Steward . . . now that I’ve had my fun, shall we continue?” He waved back at the druidess, making his way up to her with Jessica in tow. The four stooges just stood there, dumbfounded . . . though Wagh most of all.

“Silvah man name is Stew’rd? Him named aftah meal or somet’in?” The other three groaned, or laughed.

“Ah, we tellin’ ya later lad . . . le’s just git this camp setup while the brains ‘andle tha scene.”

******************************************************************

The dead wyvern’s cave was at the top of a small hill, the snow lightly packed as Gyre and Jessica made their way the entrance.

“Hail to you, Frostmoon druid, this is my aide Jessica Sable, a Lightcross mage . . . I take it you’ve gleaned something of import?” Jessica waved simply, with Sedira nodding curtly at the two.

“I’ll show you, but it’s quite confusing . . . oh, and do mind the smell, this wyvern wasn’t keen on keeping it’s den floor tidy.”

Gyre glanced at Jessica, “I’m not sure your stomach can handle this part . . . “

She took a deep breath, and muttered a small spell, “I . . . I don’t have a choice . . . I want to know too what magic was involved here for a lone warrior to do this.”

“Be at your own peril then . . . come . . . “ the druidess guided them to the cave, and Gyre picked up the smell of rotting flesh and refuse instantly,

“Ugh . . . nasty vermin at best . . . my cohort have more manners.”

“Wyverns aren’t as gracious and intelligent as the Dragonkine, Steward . . . this is no exception. From first glance, it preferred to eat on the ceiling, and let the remains fall . . . probably to mask the scent, or keep competition away. Maybe even lure certain scavengers when food was scarce.”

Gyre nodded, looking around the cave . . . if he was a lesser creature, the sight of littered bones and rotting flesh, both frozen and semi-fresh would have made his stomach heave. “Let us see the astral mark then . . . “

The druidess nodded, “Jessica, if you would channel magics into me, it will speed this process along.” Jessica nodded, if a bit confused

“Don’t worry, young Sable . . . you’ll see it too in your mind’s eye while channeling. The druid will take care of the rest, so consider this another of your lessons.” The young woman nodded, loosening her stance, while taking the posture of focus. The druidess began her chant, a series of magic circles began to form . . . red, yellow, and blue, all shifting and moving vertically . . . a series of images began to appear. The wyvern’s image was given a teal color, it’s body clinging to the ceiling as the druidess hypothesized.

“Guessing these are it’s last moments.”

“The rocks and plants felt much going on, great Steward . . . hmmmm, it senses a trespasser.”

Gyre turned his gaze to the creature, it seemed to rustle a bit . . . suddenly a green image emerged. What appeared to be a tall humanoid, it’s body armored, but not in anything he recognized. It had long tendrils coming from the back of it’s head, each of which seemed adorned in some kind of clamp, all imprinted with some strange markings. The way it moved was like watching a mountain cat stalking prey, cautious but confident . . . it pulled a small pipe from the small of it’s back. What surprised him is that with a flick of it’s wrist, the pipe elongated into a rather vicious double ended spear.

“My word . . . that is a gradient of smithing I’ve never seen before . . . this creature seems to be from a race that’s made the hunt an art in and of itself . . . can you hold this image?”

The Druidess nodded, halting the creature just as the wyvern snuck it’s tail from the ceiling. The mask had a degree of similar decoration . . . the symbols from the tendril clamps mirrored along some of the mask’s features. In a way, it resembled some of the conventional helms that adventurers had used through the ages, but this one stretched up over the creature’s forehead, which was large on it’s own based on the position of the hair-tendrils. He continued inspecting the image, noticing a disc-like object on both of it’s thighs. “Fells . . . I would almost call this creature an orc, but those tendrils aren’t like that of any humanoid I’ve encountered . . . “

“If I may Steward . . . I do recall stories of the Northmount Banshee . . . we have a few texts from an era where an unknown creature was beheading certain animals and travelers, while leaving skinned carcasses. It was said to disappear into the snow, and would playback the voices of the hunted, or make a roar like something never encountered . . . both hollow, and bone chilling.” Jessica recanted, eyes closed while focusing the magics.

Gyre blinked, “I’m not aware of these stories, and I’ve been here a long time.”

“This was some decades before you were recognized as the Steward . . . when the White Wyrm still controlled this territory.”

“Oh her . . . that fallen thing should never have been allowed dominion here . . . glad I was rid of her . . . but there may be some merit to the story. When I met Carmix’la, she appeared deeply injured, as if some fight had gone awry. Some of her scales were burned in a way I couldn’t fathom.”

“Yes, that would be the one Steward . . . according to records, the death of the White Wyrm coincided with the end of the skinning and strung up corpses.”

Gyre chuffed, “And my rather unorthodox promotion to Steward.”

#predator #DnD #fanfic #yautja

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