#tried to make black and blue galaxy dice

[jpitha]

Between the Black and Gray 22

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"Uh, One moment please!" Fen flicked through the screen at her chair. What was this ship called? She found that it had no official name yet, and she was the legal owner of "Frigate 2233" She didn't have time to think of a name - nor knowledge yet on how to change it - so she had to go with it. Traffic Control's accent was pretty thick as well. Fen rolled the dice and switched to K'inmar "This is... Frigate 2233, Captain Fenchurch Whitehorse in command. I am requesting permission to enter K'laxi space and dock at Minaren."

Minaren was the name of the K'laxi main starbase that sat at the L1 point of their homeworld. It housed the K'laxi authorities and was a major seat of offworld government.

"Acknowledged... Frigate 2233. You are cleared to dock at bay 344. The Discoverers will be waiting to speak with you. Be prepared to debrief them."

The Discoverers were the investigative police and worked directly with the Grand Council - the 4 K'laxi elders that represented their people among the stars. Fen had only heard about them from her adoptive family and always in the context of someone you did not want to meet.

There was still half a day or so before she reached Minaren, so Fen spent her time getting familiar with her ship and working on her story. Everyone who could dispute it was conveniently dead, so Fen decided to go with simple and believable. She and 'her' Frigate had chartered Dreams to carry them from the Shipyard to K'lax where she could enter the Gate system and make her way to the larger Galaxy. She was aboard the ship when Something Happened on Dreams and she was told to leave. As she soared away she saw the same thing the K'laxi did and she was just as confused as they were. Simple enough to remember, didn't require any fancy embellishments and she could repeat it with enough confidence that the Discoverers should accept it as the truth. After all, the frigate was legally hers, as well as all the guns and money she now had. Just the thing you need when you're going out to form a mercenary group.

Before she docked, Fen also had a meal and tried out the kitchen. The frigate was small, designed for less than a dozen people total, but the kitchen was well appointed, and Dreams had made sure it was stocked and ready to go. It was nice to be cooking for herself again.

She even took a nap in her quarters before the docking completed. She didn't have time to get a full night's sleep, and she wasn't sure what time it was on the station anyway, but she had enough to be refreshed, and she was so tired she didn't even dream of anything she saw onboard Dreams. It was going to be different the next time she got a full rest.

Refreshed, in clean clothes, and her hair combed, she stood by the airlock as Frigate 2233 was brought into the docking area of Minaren. Before the docking fields even set her down all the way, the ramp was lowering and the door sliding up. Fen decided that the only way to play this was confident. If she didn't act like there was anything out of the ordinary, then there wasn't, right?

"Right!" Fen said to the empty airlock.

As she strode down the ramp, she saw three K'laxi standing at the foot of the ramp. Two wore complicated looking armored spacesuits - with their helmets tipped back - and the one in the middle wore a very dressy uniform. It was cut asymmetrically, brown with a pale blue trim. As Fen came into view, the middle K'laxi's ears flattened for a split second, then they recovered and smiled widely, human style, and bowed.

Why were they surprised? Fen wondered.

"Welcome to Minaren, the home of the Grand Council and the K'laxi. I am Zherun, with The Discoverers. I trust Traffic Control let you know we would be speaking?" Zherun was a young female K'laxi, maybe a little older than Ma-ren was. Her ears were highly pierced and the earrings flashed under the harsh lights of the hangar.

"I greet you friend Zherun, I am Fenchurch, raised by Group Gen'mil." Fen decided to pull out all the stops. She made the gesture of welcome, she bowed low and she spoke the traditional K'laxi greeting in K'inmar. She even let her slight northern accent come through.

The Discoverers trained Zherun well. She barely even reacted when Fen gave the traditional greeting. She flicked her tail in amusement and continued in K'inmar. "Well then friend Fenchurch, please accompany me." Zherun turned on her feel and walked away, without checking to see if Fen was following. The two guards flicked their ears and subtly gestured for her to follow. Fen trotted behind Zhe and they entered Minaren proper.

Fen had heard that nearly the whole station was a forest, but she was unprepared for how... literal that was. When they stepped through the hangar doors, Fen would have sworn she was planetside. Light from their star streamed in overhead, trees all and spindly grew, stretching towards the light. The whole area was warm and moist and smelled of the forest and water. People walked everywhere on footpaths that looked like they were worn into the forest floor from scores of feet. It was all a carefully crafted illusion of course, but it was masterfully done. Fen didn't even try to hide her amazement.

"This is your first time on Minaren, Fenchurch." It wasn't a question.

"Please, Zherun, I prefer to go by Fen."

"You may call me Zhe then."

"Thank you Zhe. Yes, this is my first time on Minaren. I had heard of your forest, but hearing it described does not do it justice!"

Zhe's tail flicked and she smiled. "It never does. We are very proud of our forest. It's nearly six hundred years old."

K'lax orbited their star slower than Earth, so their 'year' worked out to about two Earth years, which means the forest was already old and established before the K'laxi and Humans ever met.

Zhe led Fen across the main floor of Minaren towards a small elevator seemingly built into a tree. As she approached, a guard saluted, and stepped aside just as the door slid open. The four of them stepped into the elevator and one of the guards pressed his palm against a panel. Fen felt movement and her ears popped as the pressure changed.

"Sorry Fen, the top floor is for the tourists and Grand Council. We're going to a place with a much more humble decor."

The elevator door opened with a soft chime, and the guards stepped out. As Fen and Zhe exited, they saluted, and stepped back into the elevator. Fen craned her head back as they walked. "No more guards?"

"Oh, we don't need them down here. Once you've made it this far we can... take care of things if necessary."

Fen glanced up and saw panels recessed into the ceiling at regular intervals. Slug throwers. "Ah."

"Indeed." Zhe led them down the hall a little ways and opened a door with her own palm into a bright conference room. Inside was another K'laxi, wearing a much simpler uniform. They were looking down at a pad, frowning. A steaming pot of tea and three cups were next to them on a elegant wooden tray. "Councilor." Zhe saluted and waited.

The Councilor raised one of their fingers while they finished the paragraph they were reading, and then looked up. "Ah, Zhe, thank you for bringing out guest." They turned to Fen. "Fenchurch? Please sit. Would you like some tea?"

Fen did as she was told. "Yes please, thank you, er Councilor."

"Councilor Tavren Oreni, Councilor of Stations and Starbases." The inclined their head slightly. "I must say I am impressed. I did not expect a human to know proper manners and to speak in such a refined way."

Fen blushed slightly. "I was raised by Group Gen'mil, and my wife was K'laxi. I must admit that K'inmar is my first language."

"Ah, yes, that is why you speak so eloquently. Wonderful!" Tavren's ears flicked. "I find Colonic much too difficult to get... subtleties across. This will be much better. But first, my manners! Let me pour you some tea"

Fen blinked. The fact that the Councilor of Stations and Starbases was pouring her tea meant that she was truly an esteemed guest. Normally, Fen would offer to pour for Tavren.

Tavren picked up the teapot and with a minimum of motions filled the three cups. She slid one towards Fen first, then herself, and finally Zhe. That was also odd. Zhe was the lowest social rank here?

Being first served, that meant that Fen needed to drink first. Neither could do anything else until she did. She should also say something. Fen picked up the small cup and smelled it. It was chamomile and it was perfect. She took a small sip and inclined her head.

The rite performed, Tavren picked up her tea and did the same thing. Once she was finished Zhe completed the ritual.

"Now then." Tavren spun around her pad. On screen was a still from a long range telescope, showing the moment when Dreams detonated. "Please tell us how you destroyed three Imperial Super Dreadnoughts."

#humans are deathworlders #humans are space orcs #sci fi writing #humans are space oddities #humans and aliens #jpitha #writing #humans and ai #humans are space capybaras #humans are space australians #Between the black and gray

[ladymunson]

Love Ain't No Stranger (Bonus Chapter)

Fic Summary: It’s been three years since you and Eddie graduated from high school. You have your own apartment now, and you both have steady jobs. Life couldn’t be more perfect, or could it?

A/N: This is a special little fic for @sweetpeapod, sorry I missed your birthday! Hope you like it.

Word Count: 2374

Warnings: SMUT, unprotected sex (be smart, bag it up!) breeding kink, mentions of pregnancy

I do NOT give permission for my work to be copied, translated or posted to any other platform. Available on my ao3.

---

You awaken to the smell of coffee and bacon, one of the best smells on the planet. You decide to stay where you are instead of heading to the kitchen to chase the smell.

You hear movement outside the bedroom door and sit up, waiting for your boyfriend Eddie to enter the room.

The door opens, “Happy birthday baby!” He says, as he walks towards you with a tray. He places it on your lap and kisses you on the forehead. You smile and look down at the tray; coffee, bacon and scrambled eggs, toast, half a grapefruit and a glass of orange juice await you.

“You made all this for me?!” You ask, a grin on your face.

“Only the best for my best girl on her birthday. Eat up! I’m gonna grab a shower and then I’m gonna give you your present.” Eddie says, heading out to the bathroom.

Eddie has his hands on either side of the sink, looking at his reflection in the mirror. His unruly hair wet from his shower, leaving water droplets on his shoulders that run down his chest. He’s so nervous, more than he had been getting ready for prom, more than your first time, more than graduating. He really hopes you like your birthday present.

He takes a deep breath and leaves the bathroom, walking into the bedroom. Finding the bed empty, he turns back around and walks to the kitchen. You’re at the sink, doing the dishes from your breakfast.

“Baby I should be doing that, it’s your birthday!” Eddie says, stepping up behind you to nuzzle your neck.

“Just making myself useful until I can shower.” You reply as his arms wrap around your waist, pulling you closer. You stop doing dishes and grab a cloth to dry your hands before turning in Eddie’s grasp and wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him down into a kiss. He moans as he deepens the kiss.

“I love you birthday girl!” Eddie says while peppering your face with kisses. He pulls back to grin before grabbing your thighs and lifting you onto the kitchen counter. You giggle but pull him back as he tries to take a step back. “Just need to get your gift sweetness.” A huge grin spreads across your face as you let go of Eddie, he jogs back to your bedroom and disappears inside. He’s in there for a minute, and you wait patiently for him to return.

When he comes back, he’s got a pair of boxer shorts on, whereas before he was just wearing a towel. He stops in front of you, “Hand out babe, eyes closed.” You do as he asks. He places the item he got you for your birthday on your hand and steps back. “Okay, open them.”

You open your eyes and see a black velvet pouch with gold stitching of a dragon in your hand, the drawstring is also a golden colour. Your mouth opens in an “Oh” shape, as you loosen the drawstring and tip the contents into your hand. Eddie is looking on with anticipation. A brand new set of dice tumble into your hand, the colour can only be described as ‘galaxy’, swirls of purple, blue and pink with silver flecks adorn each piece, the numbers etched in gold. You squeal and launch yourself at Eddie, who catches you as you leap from the counter.

He chuckles, “I take it you like them then?” he says with a grin.

“I fucking love them! I fucking love you!” You say as you smother his face with kisses.

“That’s good, because I fucking love you!” Eddie says, you grin ear to ear because he echoed your words and cadence back to you. He lowers his forehead to yours and closes his eyes, sighing in contentment. Then Eddie brushes his nose to yours, making you hum in appreciation. Eddie whispers, “Marry me?”

--

“What did you just say?” You blink rapidly, wanting to know if you heard him correctly.

“Marry me,” Eddie says, more assertive and confident this time.

You don’t even think before words are spilling out. “What…? I don’t… Oh my gosh… Baby… I…” you stammer.

“Hey,” Eddie says taking your hands. You stop talking, your breathing heavy. “This isn’t something I’m doing out of the blue, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I love you, I have for years and years. I’m doing this because it’s the next logical step in our relationship. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, wake up next to you every day, I want you to have my children, I want to marry you.”

There’s tears in your eyes as you listen to what Eddie has to say, you take your bottom lip between your teeth, your mind going a mile a minute. You take a step forward and pull Eddie down to kiss him, the kiss sweet and tender. You break the kiss long enough to whisper, “yes.”

The grin that spreads across Eddie’s face is one you want in your memory forever, he jumps up and down with happiness. And then runs to his signature leather jacket, he pulls out a small black box. He gets down on one knee, but in typical dramatic Eddie fashion. “Will you marry me y/n?”

He opens the box, the ring is beautiful; silver band with a black stone. You take a closer look, and see there’s a bat on the setting. You smile as he takes the ring out of the box and slides it on your finger as you nod your yes.

You jump up into Eddie’s arms, wrapping your legs around his waist. “Bedroom Mrs Munson?” Eddie says making you chuckle.

“Have to get married first Eds, I’m still y/n y/l/n.” you say as you lean against his shoulder.

“You’ve been Mrs Munson since you sat at the Hellfire table back in high school.” He chuckles.

Eddie carries you to the bedroom, laying you carefully on the bed. Laying over you and taking your mouth, his hands exploring your body. His mouth moves to your neck and he kisses and licks it, heading lower, lifting up your shirt to palm your breasts as he licks along The Valley between them. He moves back up and takes your mouth again, his tongue dancing along with yours, your arms around his neck.

Eddie’s right hand descends lower, dipping into the waistband of your panties and swiping through your folds, eliciting a moan from you. “So wet for me baby,” he says as he kisses you, sliding a finger inside you. Your breath catches in your throat as his finger slides in and out of you. He adds a second finger and pumps them in and out of your wet pussy at a quickened pace, your body shaking as your orgasm approaches. “That’s it sweetness, squeeze my fingers. Come for me!”

That’s all it takes for you to come undone, your body convulses as white hot pleasure sweeps through your body. You scream Eddie’s name as he rubs your climax out of you. He removes his fingers, you groan at the loss. He brings his fingers to his mouth, sucking one of them. He grins and offers the other one to you, you suck willingly, moaning at your taste.

With a growl, Eddie rips your panties from your body and pulls you up to remove your shirt. You flop back down on the bed as he shoves his boxers down, stroking himself twice before lining his cock up with your entrance. Your slick dripping onto it, providing him with the wetness to slide into your waiting heat.

“You’re gonna look so pretty all round with my baby, princess.” Eddie says as he slides his cock into your cunt, bottoming out in one movement. He takes both your hands and holds them above your head as he begins moving in and out of at a brutal pace. Your mixed moans echoing around the room and drifting out of the window and to the street below.

—

Four months later

You sit and stare at the test in your hand, you’d done it on a whim, you didn’t think it would be positive. Something felt off, but you didn’t know what. After looking at your calendar, you realised that your period was late. Scratch that, late is a couple of days, you’ve missed the last three. How could you not have noticed?! Your heart is beating so fast, you think that the girl in the next stall can hear it.

You replace the cap on the test, wrap in tissue and place it in your bag. You try and get your breathing back to normal before exiting the stall and washing your hands. You leave the bathroom and walk straight into Nancy leaving her office.

“Hey.” She looks at you suspiciously. “You okay?”

“Actually I’m not feeling great, can I take the rest of the day off?” You ask.

“As long as I get your story on my desk before Friday. And you let me know if you need anything.” Nancy has been a great friend to you, offering you a job at the local paper where she was editor in chief. She opens her office door, “you’re very pale, come in and sit down for a minute. Tell me what’s going on.”

You enter her office, it’s decorated in white and baby blue tones, very Nancy. You take a seat at her desk and she brings you a glass of water. You thank her and she sits opposite you, the same side of her desk as you.

“What’s going on y/n? I’m starting to get very worried.” Nancy asks, her eyes full of concern. 

You take a deep breath and look her in the eye. “I’m pregnant.” You say, wincing as you expect the third degree. Instead you get a squeal, and find Nancy with a grin, bouncing in her seat.

“Congratulations! How did Eddie react when you told him?”

“Erm… I only just found out.” She looks at you with confusion. “I did a test in the bathroom, been feeling off for a while. I had no idea.”

“When are you gonna tell him?”

You think for a moment. “Saturday, it’s his birthday. Gives me time to find a cute way to tell him.”

—

You wake Eddie on Saturday morning with kisses all over his face. “Wakey wakey Prince of darkness.” He smiles sleepily. “Happy birthday baby!” He wraps his arms around you and kisses the crown of your head. “Hurry up and shower, I’ll start breakfast.”

You pull away from his grasp and walk out the bedroom, wearing just a Black Sabbath t shirt and pink panties. Eddie admires the view as you leave the bedroom, hopping out of bed to have his shower as quick as possible.

He finds you in the kitchen adding a pancake to the steaming stack, he sits at the kitchen island as you place the stack in front of him. Along with a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs and a bottle of maple syrup. He tucks in as you pour him a cup of coffee, then you join him at the island. Taking two pancakes and some bacon, drizzling a little maple syrup on top and drinking your glass of orange juice.

—

As you’re cleaning away all the breakfast stuff, the phone rings, Eddie answers and you realise it’s Wayne. You smile and continue cleaning up, then you go for your shower. Dressing in a pair of jeans and a Queen t shirt, your high top chucks on your feet as you make your way into the living room.

Eddie grabs you and lifts you up, spinning you around. You try and ignore how nauseous it makes you feel. He notices the look on your face and puts you down. “You okay baby?”

You lie, “yeah I’m fine. Do you want your present now or later at the party?”

“Hmmmm… now!” He grins. You breathe through the nausea and smile back at him.

“Okay, sit on the couch, close your eyes… no peeking!” You instruct. Eddie chuckles and places his hands over his eyes. You take a deep breath and place the box on his lap. “Open!”

He smiles at the sight of the box, wrapped in black and silver paper and tied up with a red bow. He undoes the bow and watches it fall away, lifting the lid on the box, which is filled with red tissue paper. He looks up at you with a grin and then delves into the box to find his gift. It’s black cotton, so he assumes it’s a new band t shirt.

He lifts it out of the box, looking very confused. It’s small, tiny even. He turns it around and his eyes get wide, “shit no way!” In his hands he’s holding a black onesie, emblazoned with a slogan.

“Are you fucking with me?” Eddie asks, his heart a thrash metal drum beat in his chest.

“I’m pregnant!” You say. Eddie jumps off the couch to pull you into his arms, hugging you with all the love in the world. “So you’re not mad?”

“Mad?! I’m so fucking happy!” He says, dropping to his knees and placing his head on your stomach. “I’m gonna be the best dad in the universe Little baby, just you wait and see!”

—

Six months later, he got his chance when you gave birth to a 6lb 10oz baby girl. And from the moment she was born, the curly haired Arwen Lily Munson had him wrapped around her little finger.

The End

I wanna say a big thank you to @sweetpeapod and @fuzzymelanie for helping me make some vital decisions with this.

Taglist: @munsonlives, @nycbaby21, @grungegrrrl, @b-irock

#eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson #stranger things 4 #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson smut #eddie munson imagine #eddie stranger things #stranger things #joseph quinn

[intyaleglorfindeliel]

#d&d dice #handmade dice #rpg dice #dice #tried to make black and blue galaxy dice #but the black kind of took over #also I was out of my holographic stuff so they aren't as shiny #because dice are cheaper than therapy

[dekalko-mania]

D&D: By wastefulreverie: Lester, Mikey, and Nathan were standing beside him. Mikey was fumbling with three jagged-sided dice while Lester and Nathan glared at each other. Realizing that he was awake, Lester broke eye contact with Nathan. Awkwardly, he put his hand on Danny's shoulder. "Do you want to join our campaign?" he blurted.

Danny tilted his head skeptically, "Join your what?"

Additional Tags: Dungeons and Dragons, friendship, humor, [really enjoyed the irony in this one]

Making Something Out of Nothing: By wastefulreverie: When Ishiyama calls Danny into her office, the last thing he expected was to be offered a job.

Additional Tags: Post-reveal, Teacher! Danny, 

Tiny Little Pieces of Ours: By Bellovebug: Danny Fenton was a dreamer. A dreamer of stars, of galaxies, of spaceships and sunsets and snow. He was a dreamer of wildflowers in the forest, of messages left on the insides of folders set up to take a test, of Polaroids an unknown person has dropped on the street. He was a dreamer of the things that didn't matter, because the things that did scared him.

But dreams don't last forever. And when Danny is gone, he leaves many in his wake.

(Or, a look at Danny's death, and the lives of the people in his life afterwards.)

Additional Tags: Major Character Death, hurt Danny, grieving, Sam and Tucker Centric, [This one hurt so much, but is very beautifully written. Still hurts even now lmao]

A Play to Remember: By AppleScentedLazers: When Danny's drama class puts on a play and Fenton is cast as his own crime fighting counterpart, what's the worst that could happen? With a new villain rising and lines to learn, the people of Amity start to see that there may be more to their resident ghost boy than meets the eye.

Additional Tags: Angst, [interesting reveal concept! more in-depth A-listers]

I’m Still Here: By Cordria: Buried in the backyard, Danny's locked away in a forgotten Thermos. When it's finally found seventy years later, Danny is released and he needs to learn to deal with his new life. Can he survive what the future can throw at him?

Additional Tags: Angst [definitely nostalgic angst]

The Scrapbook: By Dragon Elexus: Fearful of Jazz's idolism of the ghost-boy, Maddie tries to protect her daughter by stealing her Phantom scrapbook. But the book sparks strange questions in Maddie's mind, and she finds herself stumbling on secrets she never knew existed. Pre-PP.

Additional Tags: Family

Exposed: By ADraconicScribe: A mysterious caller has revealed that the infamous Danny Phantom is half-human, placing a five hundred thousand dollar prize to the one who exposes Phantom's secret identity. Coupled with Vlad's disappearance, the ghost fighting, and all of the efforts to capture him, Danny and his friends must tread carefully if they are to make it out with their secrets, and their lives, intact.

Additional Tags: angst, BAMF Danny Fenton, Identity Reveal, Sam and Tucker are good friends, [I cannot stress how amazing this fic is, extremely well written, such an intense plot. Endless twists and turns, so so good.]

Maybe We’ll Find Each Other: By DP_Marvel94: Phantom, the adoptive son of Clockwork, doesn't remember his life but wishes he did. Jack Fenton, ghost hunter, lost his only son at a young age. When the portal activates, a newly half-human Phantom stumbles into Jack's lab, barely a painfully familiar blue-eyed, black haired form.

Additional Tags: Full ghost to half ghost Phantom, Ghosts think halfas are abominations, father-son relationship, but neither know they’re parent and child [very very interesting story, super cool concept!]

Katzenjammer: By DannyPhantomSG1, sapphireswimming: Danny's had enough. Of everything. But thankfully Tucker understands.

Additional Tags: Oneshot, Half Ghost Angst, Hurt/comfort, Friendship

Hope Can Be a Heavy Thing to Hold: By DP_Marvel94: " I woke up here, wherever here is, with no memories. He told me my name is Daniel James Masters. He told me I am a human-ghost hybrid, like him. He told me he is my father. But I know that’s a lie; there is no way Vlad Masters, my captor is my parent. I know I have a real home somewhere out there. I have a family and friends who love me. Too bad I can’t remember anything about them."

Additional Tags: Amnesia, child abuse, Diary/journal, poor Danny can’t remember anything 

Abigail the Tree Girl: By EchoGhost: Danny didn’t see his first ghost at 14.

Additional Tags: Haunted Amity Park, Danny has always been weird, clueless Danny

Just Fourteen: By aniura: Danny Fenton is an average high school student whose biggest worry is getting the grades needed to become an astronaut. That is, until his friend Sam convinces him to step inside his parents' broken ghost portal...Updates bi-weekly on Sundays. Covers Danny's time at Casper High before the accident and the month afterwards.

Additional Tags: Angst, origin, the accident, Danny is NOT okay, [really cool fic that fills in the gaps that weren’t delved into during the show] 

The Phantom and the Knight: By savya398: After two years Danny Fenton finally felt like he was getting this whole superhero thing under control. So of course something had to come along and ruin everything.

Additional Tags: Danny Phantom/Young Justice, DC Animated Universe, [little twist on Danny’s origins]

Six Degrees of Separation: By Miss_Nihilist: Valerie Gray was not one for doubt and regret, but that was before she fell in love — and then, promptly and without a second thought, threw it away.

She wasn't looking for them to get back together or even to automatically be friends again. But maybe, just maybe, Valerie could get a second chance at being a decent person. For Danny, for herself, and for all the mistakes she had made.

Additional Tags: Moving On, Post break-up, hurt/comfort, identity reveal

Three for the Price of One: By Marsalias: They had only meant to summon ONE ghost...

Additional Tags: cult, summoning

When the Kingdom Comes Calling: By blueh: The Ghost Zone population assumes that Phantom took the crown with dignity. What they don’t know is fifteen year old Danny Fenton just wants to graduate high school, is constantly ready to throw hands with an army of eyeballs, and absolutely will not be crowned the Ghost King without a fight.

Additional Tags: Not PP compliant, ghost king Danny Fenton, fluff and humor, reluctant king au, [so funny and so on character for a little shit like Danny oof]

#lets pretend its friday and not saturday ok lmao #Phanfic Friday #Danny Phantom #danny phantom fanfiction #fics recs #danny fenton #valerie gray #sam manson #Tucker Foley

[catsnkooks]

fulminis instar

Darth Maul x (fem) reader

summary: "and if the devil were to see you, he would kiss your eyes and repent" - farouq gouida

word count: 2.7k

warnings: smut, 18+, praise kink, pet names, monsterfucking technically, tbh this is pretty tame considering my standards

a/n: psppssps maul fuckers c’mere!! time to shine baybeyyy

the pet name maul uses comes from @justalittlecloud​ and their maul drabbles please hit them up they’re fantastic

this is set in the same universe as a deo et rege. maul was never sliced n diced bc apm maul is peak maul sorry tcw maul simps but i’m right. much more plot in this i’m sorry but i gotta set it up

taglist: @littlevodika​ @bad-batch-of-fics​ @hounding-around​ @valkyrieofthehighfae​ @nelba​ @maggietheoneandonly​ @captainrexstan​ @anakinswhore​ @saxophonegirl97​ @answer-the-sirens​ @blue-space-porgs​ @fractiouskat @calamity-queen​ click here to be added to the taglist!

here it is on ao3!

“My lord, if I may introduce my associate, Lord Maul.”

You glanced at the man standing next to the emperor. A zabrak, with bright red skin and black interlacing tattoos. You’d heard about his kind; Nightbrothers, they called themselves. Fearsome, tattooed warriors from Dathomir, loyal now to the emperor through Lord Maul. He sensed you staring at him as his eyes settled on you. Your eyes widened and you quickly looked away, your face heating with embarrassment.

Your father nodded beside you to the enigmatic man. “A pleasure to meet you.”

The zabrak inclined his head politely back.

Your father turned to you. “We have much to discuss privately, my dear. You may leave now.”

“Of course, father.” You stood and bowed to the two men on the opposite side of the table. “Emperor Palpatine, Lord Maul, I hope to meet you again soon.”

You took your leave, feeling as if there was a pair of gleaming, golden eyes following you out of the door.

---

“Lord Maul! You surprised me!”

The zabrak standing before you inclined his head, displaying his cranial horns to you. “I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

His voice was much more soothing than you expected and it caused shivers to run down your spine. He took your hand in one of his gloved ones and brought it up to his lips, pressing a kiss to your knuckles, his eyes never leaving yours. Your breath hitched and your mind blanked of any thoughts. He lowered your hand but didn’t release it, rubbing circles on the back of your hand with his thumb.

“Where were you going?” he asked, snapping you out of your trance.

“Back to my chambers,” you said, feeling out of breath for some reason. He was standing close enough to you that you could see flecks of red in his golden eyes.

“With no guards?” His brow creased in concern.

“This is a very peaceful planet, Lord Maul.” Why did standing so close to him make your heart beat so fast?

He hummed. “Perhaps. However, one cannot be so sure.” He pressed another kiss to your hand, this time on your fingers. “Would you like me to escort you?”

You tore your gaze away from his, your face heating with an undescribed emotion. “I-if you would like. I would not protest.”

He hummed again and stood back, motioning for you to walk forward. “Then lead the way.”

---

The trip to your chambers was uneventful, as always. Lord Maul made polite conversation with you along the way, an ever-stoic figure beside you. He asked you about various parts of your planet, which ones you liked the best, how the people thought of your father as their ruler, what your duties were. You were almost sad when you reached the door to your chambers, getting over your initial fear of the mysterious zabrak and quite liking his company.

“Thank you for walking me back, my lord,” you said, curtseying to him from your doorway.

He bowed slightly in return, grasping your hand to once again bring it to his lips. “Of course, it was my pleasure.” The way his lips and voice curled at that last word made another shiver go down your spine.

“Will you escort me again tomorrow?” you asked, your voice hopeful. Your hand sat comfortably still enclosed in his much larger one.

“Of course,” he promised. “Will I see you at the gala tomorrow night?”

“Of course.” The gala your father was throwing in honor of the Emperor, where he would announce his alliance with the Galactic Empire. You could not miss it.

“Good.” His voice came out in a low growl that made your stomach flutter and made you feel warm all over your body. “I will see you then, my lady.” He brought your hand up to his lips one last time and held it there for much longer than was acceptable. Those golden, gleaming eyes stared into your own, as if putting you in a trance that you eagerly fell for, getting lost in them. You thought you saw the barest hint of a smirk as he released your hand and walked away.

---

Your mind was restless ever since then, and it only got worse as the gala steadily approached. You resisted the urge to fist your hands in the material of your dress as you scanned the ballroom from your perch at the top of the grand staircase. Then, you spotted him; standing at the edge of the room, almost as if he draped himself in the shadows. His appearance hadn’t changed much, merely trading in his traveling tunic for a more intricate one. His gaze snapped to yours, as if he felt you watching him.

Making your way down the intricate staircase, you held your head high, preening under his attention. His eyes raked over you from head to toe, drawing up from the full, red skirt of your dress, the jewels sewed into it sparking under the light. His eyes drew up to your stomach and chest, pausing for a few moments at the deep neckline that ended at your sternum. Your steps faltered and your skin grew hot as his eyes lazily traveled over the skin of your chest. He grinned, running his tongue over his teeth in a lewd gesture that made you falter more.

As various dignitaries from around the galaxy greeted your father, you making polite conversation with them when they asked, you constantly scanned the floor for Maul. Music played softly in the background and you escaped from your father’s side, intent on your search. You didn’t have to go far before a voice called your name from behind you.

“My lady,” Maul said, stepping out from the shadows. He took your hand once more up to his lips, his intense gaze never leaving yours. “May I have this dance?” he asked, pulling you into position before you even answered him.

“Of course,” you replied, already breathless. You placed a hand on his shoulder, settling your left hand in his while he wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you into the dance.

He spun you effortlessly around the ballroom, never treading once on your feet. “You are quite the excellent dancer, Lord Maul,” you remarked.

“My master taught me in the fine ways,” he replied, smirking. “In case I should ever need to woo someone.”

You dropped your gaze to his chest, unable to keep his intense gaze. “I-I see. You certainly look good enough to woo someone.”

“You as well.”

You looked up at him again, face flushing with his praise and surprise. You responded automatically, but you couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Thank you.”

You danced in silence with him for several moments. The skin under his gloves was almost unnaturally hot, almost burning into your hand and waist. With each new step, he drew you closer, until it would become unacceptable, but you weren’t stopping him.

“I must confess something to you, my lady,” he murmured, his voice low and sensuous.

“I as well,” you said, taking the initiative to step closer to him this time.

He gazed at you for a moment, his eyes roaming all over your face, down your neck, and to your chest before coming back up to your eyes. “I am positively obsessed with you,” he breathed. “You have plagued my mind ever since our meeting yesterday.”

“You as well,” you sighed. “I cannot stop thinking about you, Maul.”

Maul sighed through his nose, closing his eyes for a moment, then opening them and looking off behind you. “Your father seeks an alliance with the emperor. A marriage between you and I could arrange that.”

“Oh.” Your heart dropped and you were sure your face fell, as Maul immediately reacted.

“But do not think my obsession stems from that,” he said, his tone turning desperate. “I desire you, so very ardently. I swear I would only ever treat you well, like the queen you deserve to be. Please, I must have you.”

Your head swam from his words. No one had ever professed their desire for you like that. “You…you want me?”

“I swear it, my starlight,” Maul said solemnly.

You sighed again, a smile coming to your face as giddiness rushed through your veins. “Then you shall have me, my lord.”

---

Maul announced his intentions for you to your father that night after the ball. Your father agreed immediately. A week later, you were married, becoming queen of Dathomir and all its territories in one fell swoop.

Unfortunately, Maul could not stay with you after the wedding, as his master, the emperor, sent him on a mission. He swore he would return to you as soon as possible.

Your room in his palace was lonely. The large bed in the center of the wall was too large for one person. Your guards were only ever polite to you when you needed escorting from your room to meals and other places. Your calls to your father became less frequent as the emperor required more of him. You had more maidservants than ever before. But the only things that mattered to you were your letters from Maul.

The one connection you had to him, his letters he sent to you through a secured holo. He tried to send them every day, but with the constraints of his mission, he often broke that, causing your worry to skyrocket before the next letter came in. He always began them with “My Starlight” and always ended them with “Your Night Wanderer.” He never disclosed the nature of his mission and rarely talked about his day, instead asking you about yours and writing treatises on your beauty. You often felt like a lovesick girl after reading his letters, flushing hot at his praise spilled on the page.

His letters became desperate and soon you were flushing with lust along with his praise. His words became hotter and heavier, praying that he would soon know your sweet taste and feel your soft skin under his hands. He made bolder statements, saying that you would not have to leave your bed for days once he returned. It would almost make you nervous if it didn’t make you giddy at the same time.

It happened late at night, after you’d changed into the silky nightgown Maul had given you before he left and retired for the night. You stirred awake, feeling the soft press of lips against your exposed shoulder, twisting around to face whoever had snuck into your room. In the dim light, you could make out the crown of horns and red skin interlaced with black tattoos that announced the arrival of your love, your night wanderer.

“Maul?” came your voice in the recesses of your darkened room, tinged with sleep. You reached for him as he knelt beside you on your bed, cupping his cheek.

“Hello, my starlight,” he murmured, kissing the palm of your hand before nuzzling his nose into it. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, Maul,” you murmured back, bringing his face to yours so you could share a chaste kiss like you had the day of your wedding. “Why did you not tell me you were returning?”

“I wanted to surprise you,” he said, kissing down your arm. “But truthfully, I could not stand to be away from you for any longer.” He pressed open-mouthed kisses on your neck and you gasped, your hands moving to cup the back of his head and hold him close. A fire burned between your thighs because of his lips and his words. “You plague my mind every minute of every day. I can only think about how I must have you.”

You lifted his head from your neck, one hand trailing down his cheek, his throat, to rest on his heaving chest. He nuzzled your palm, closing his eyes and kissing it. When he looked back down at you, spread out beneath him on the bed, his pupils were blown out with only a thin ring of gold in his eyes.

“You have me, my lord.”

Something snapped in Maul at that and he lunged down to seal your lips with his in a hungry kiss. His hands grasped desperately at your skin, both of you moaning at the feeling. He pulled your nightgown up so he could slip his hand under to palm your breasts. He swallowed your moan when he teased your nipples.

“You are so soft, my starlight,” he groaned. His hands left your body only for a moment so he could shuck off his tunic and trousers. The muscles of his chest and arms rippled in the dim light and the fire between your thighs burned hotter. He watched as you squirmed under him, grinning and licking his teeth in the same lewd gesture from the gala many nights ago.

“I would take my time to ravish you properly, but,” he said, hooking his fingers in the band of your underwear and pulling them off in one smooth motion, “I'm afraid neither of us will last long.” He parted your folds with one hand, groaning at the sight. “You are so wet, my starlight.” Teasing your sensitive nub with his thumb, he inserted a finger into you, sinking to his knuckle.

You moaned and writhed under him, tossing your head against the pillows as he slowly pumped his finger in and out of you. You gripped his arm, feeling the corded muscle under his skin, gripping harder when he added a second finger, stretching you open for him. Praises that you had read from his letters now spilled from his lips.

“So good, my starlight, just like that,” he crooned, curling his fingers, searching for the spot that made you scream. When he found it, he grinned as you let out a high keening cry. He pulled his fingers out of you and you whimpered at the loss, but soon moaned again when you felt the tip of his cock brush your entrance.

He kissed up your stomach, your throat, and to your lips, lining himself up to you. “You are breathtaking, my starlight,” he breathed against your lips. Then he entered you in one swift thrust.

Your mouth gaped open, but you weren’t sure if any sound came out. You finally released the breath you didn’t realize you were holding, gasping for air as Maul slowly thrust in and out of you. The ridges of his cock felt divine, hitting every spot that made you scream. Maul groaned into your neck, flipping your legs over his hip to hit at a deeper angle and for better purchase at your thighs. You gripped tightly to his shoulders, nails leaving indentations in his skin.

“Maul—Maul!” Your voice grew higher and louder, trying to signal to him that you were near your release.

“I know, my darling,” Maul gasped, propping himself up with one arm so he could look down at you. “Cum for me, my darling, please.”

At his insistence, you tumbled over the edge. Your vision went white and you arched your hips, trying to stay flush as you contracted around his cock. His name became a mantra as it fell from your lips and the only thing your mind could think about, the pleasure he was giving you. Your name fell from his as his hips stuttered and he lost himself to your tight warmth.

Once the wave subsided, you lay panting, tangled in the bedsheets. Maul pulled out of your fluttering hole, groaning at the sight, how wrecked he made you. He got up from the bed, padding over to the refresher, and returning with a wet rag. You mewled when he cleaned you up, cleaning the mess of his and your cum off of your thighs. The rag made a wet plap as he threw it, landing on the floor close to the refresher. He settled down beside you again, peppering kisses all over your face.

“Did you enjoy, my starlight?” he asked, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his warmth.

You sighed and settled your head on his shoulder, nodding, too tired to speak.

Maul chuckled, the sound reverberating low in your ears. “Sleep, darling. I will make true of my promises soon.”

#star wars fanfiction #the clone wars fanfiction #darth maul #darth maul x reader #darth maul smut #smut #my writing

[ferretbitexo-fic-den]

Maybe It Already Has (Roceit)

Note: Sooooo this post by @attackthepinata had me falling down a rabbithole so here we have a Catradora-isnpired Roceit fic.

Warning: morally ambiguous dark sides cause chaos.

Pairings: Roceit, background Analogical, background Remile

Edit: I've seen so many goddamn typos in this and I really wanna cry...

...

“Sorry, what?” Logan stared at Roman and Patton who stood in the middle of the room, processing what the two had just announced.

“A summer ball!” Roman announced again, dramatically raising his hand to the heavens.

Virgil side-eyed the Royal Side and turned to his father-figure. “Yeah, we got that, but why?”

Roman ignored Virgil’s regular subtle ridiculing of his ideas. “Because!” He interjected. “It will be wonderful!”

“Plus, we may all need a little pick-me-up at the moment. A little ball won’t hurt!” Patton exclaimed. His bounciness became more cheery and contagious and harder to object to.

Save for Logan of course. “Wouldn’t that be unprecedented? Such a sudden with nothing to get out of it?”

“Come on, guys! It’ll be great! I promise! You don’t even have to do anything. I’ll take care of everything! Promise!” Roman begged.

“Yeah! Just be there and try to have fun.” Patton puppy-eyed Logan.

“Oh geez, there’s no disagreeing with you two, huh? Fine, we’ll be there. But no shots!” Logan gave up.

Virgil groaned from the edge of the stairs. “Fine! But let us decide what we’re going to wear. I’m not gonna be put in a white silk sock for as long as a I live.”

Roman pumped his fist! Yes! This’ll be so great!”

He took Patton’s hand as they immediately sunk down to Roman’s room. The two had much to do to make sure this was perfect. It would be.

...

Roman tightened the gem accent that hung on his white shirt under a deep red tailcoat jacket. He straightened his posture and admired the work he had done on himself.

Patton rose in, dressed in a faded blue and black tux-dress. “You look absolutely spiffy, Roman!” He exclaimed.

“Thank you, Patton! You look wonderful, too!” Roman praised him, making Patton giggle.

“Shall we?” Patton said extending his hand.

“We shall.” Roman took his friend’s hand.

They appeared in the Beauty and the Beast-inspired ballroom Roman and Patton had set up.

Soon, music started flowing in from seemingly nowhere and the smell of fresh Spring flowers lingered, out-of-season and wondrous.

Virgil popped in dressed in a dark blue-purple tuxedo with a navy blue corsage on his wrist, hand-in-hand with Logan who was dressed in a knee length galaxy dress with a lilac boutonniere pin on his short-sleeved blazer.

“Okay wow! You two look amazing!” Patton exclaimed, hugging the two.

“I owe my outfit to Virgil.” Logan looked at the tiles on the floor, hiding the extra pink on his face.

“Doesn’t he look gorgeous?” Virgil teased, causing the usually-stoic side to flush his face even more so.

“Hey fellas!” Remy entered in an ash-gray tux. “Ya’ll look gorgeous!”

Emile approached the bunch in his light pink knee-length dress. “So do you, love.” He kissed Remy in the cheek.

Soon, the facets all came and the music grew louder and louder. Each character from Thomas’ videos showed up in either tuxes or dresses.

Roman was talking to Pryce and Dice, exchanging pleasantries and rants when all of the sudden, two sides came in.

Roman felt his blood boil, rushing to the top of his skull immediately. “Uh yeah, can you two please excuse me?”

Roman ran to the new arrivals.

“Hello, Roman.” Janus smiled. “Lovely ball, tonight. You certainly outdid yourself.”

While Roman immediately interrogated the snake side, Remus slipped away in his alter-strapped moss green dress.

“What are you doing here?!” Roman hissed.

“Oh, I see… well, this is certainly awkward…” Janus prompted.

Virgil interrupted out of the blue. “Actually, Ro, Pat agreed on me inviting them.” He explained. “I thought it would be okay…”

Virgil’s voice seemed to fade in the distance as Roman observed Janus’ getup. He wore a gold dress with wilted rose accents that adorned the hem of the dress. His silver heels, as high as they were, weren’t exactly helping as Roman still towered him by a few centimeters. His eyes—those damn eyes— were lightly painted with every colour in the spectrum. Perhaps a talent Janus possesses in spite of his eye condition?

“..Roman?” Virgil snapped his fingers in front of the Prince. “You still there?”

Janus clicked his tongue thrice. “Seems Prince Charming has trust issues…”

Roman bit his cheeks to (ineffectively) stop the blood rushing to his cheeks. “Can you blame me?”

“Anyway, you two have fun. Don’t kill each other for now, Try to keep it neutral, ‘kay?” Virgil abruptly said then left, unoblivious to the tension arising between the two.

“Lovely party, Roman.” Janus smirked, and as he tried to leave, Roman grabbed his arm and pulled him close.

“I know you're plotting something. From now until the second the ball ends, I'll be watching. Wherever the two of you go, I go.” Roman taunted.

Janus broke free of the grasp and grinned slightly “Suit yourself. Have fun with following me!”

Roman felt his blood boil over his head.

...

Roman didn’t let Janus out of his sight for one moment. In doing so, he noticed much things.

For one, Janus was clearly ambidextrous; the way he switched the hand that held his glass often. Janus was also a very touchy-feely person, touching each person he conversed with. He also smelled each thing he ate before putting it in his mouth.

In all the time Roman watched the liar, he felt as though he was being silently ridiculed by how uptight and nervous he was.

For a moment, he watched Janus disappear into the crowd in the middle of the ballroom. He followed him in as the music grew louder.

He finally came face to face with the snake, who extended his hand and cocked an eyebrow.

“Come on, I won’t bite.” He said. Roman took his hand.

“I don’t know about you, but I am having a blast.” Janus said sincerely.

“Whatever it is your planning, it won’t work.” Roman hissed. He was partly annoyed that though Janus was smaller, the snake side seemed to be the one leading.

Janus giggled, and Roman felt his knees weaken. “You sure about that?”

Roman twirled Janus gently, almost afraid of dropping him, then tipped him, in a way that their faces were inches away from each other.

Janus smiled at the prince. “Maybe my plan won’t work. Then again, what if it already has?”

He took the prince’s arm and leaned against his shoulder. “Say, where’s Virgil?”

TAGLIST❤

@shadowjag

@wigsnatchedhoteltrivago

@notall2gether

@i-love-my-dark-strange-sons

@phantom-moonfire

@lostonehero

@awkward-child-of-satan

@gigitheimposter

@ashtonbby2

@lokiamorstuffs

Tell me if you wanna be added or removed!❤

#ts roman #roman sanders #roceit #virgil sanders #janus sanders #logan sanders #sanders side fic #sanders sides #patton sanders #catradora inspired !!!! #remus sanders #remile #remy sanders #emile picani #and its 12 am here holy shit #if yall see another typo #send me to the hell

[queennicoleinboots]

Foraging with Count Vanilla, part 2

Count Vanilla, Mr. Williamson, and I were hungry again. Mr. Williamson and I went to the store and bought:

Simple organic truth brocolli cuts

Simple organic truth butternut squash

Simple organic truth cut corn, no sugar or salt added (Eat your heart out Wynona Parmello-Grant, FreeLee the Banana Girl (if you're still relevant), and Count Macrula. We found the corn.)

Simple organic truth sweet potatoes

Dr. Praegar's Californication burger

Red hot chili peppers

Lemon cayenne Kavana probiotic elixir

Honey

A seeded watermelon

Skinny popcorn

Lily's dark chocolate bar

Hershey paydays

French Nutpods' Creamer

Good Karma Flaxseed milk

Unsweetened Blue Diamond Almond Milk

Half and Half

Comforts Baby Water with minerals added, no fluoride

Non-alcoholic Budweiser, canned 12-pack

Sliced Jarred Peaches

Diced Jarred Pineapple

Amy's vegan Maculoni Pasta and Cheeze

Dried blackeyed Peas, featuring sliced fingers of Nelly Fertardo

Non-binary Rice

Rudy's white rice bread

Amy's green tamale

Daiya Tex-Mex Burritos

Earth Balance soy-free margarine

Safe Catch Elitist Tuna

Safe Catch salmon

Safe Catch Garlic and Herb Tuna

Red onion

Simple organic truth red potatoes

Coconut Thai Portabella Mushroom Mix

Simply Garden Ragu Sauce

Organic English Cucumber

Distilled water

Hydrogen peroxide

Rubbing alcohol, 73 percent alcohol, 27 percent tears of plebians

Count Vanilla and I were then debating about what kind of butter we would buy for my continuing saga of cooking. He rolled his eyes and tried to tune out my speech of trying to dissect the ingredients of sweet cream and salt. I even had questions about what the cows ate and what type of grass they consumed. I even wanted to know what fertilizer the farmers used to enrich the soil the grass was grown in.

Count Vanilla's attitude was that we would die from the flu, diabetes, 5G radiation, high blood pressure, a heart attack, a government agent shooting you from a tree if the government wants you off the face of the Earth, starvation, or the jab, so he didn't care about what the cows ate or what were the ingredients of food products.

I am vain as fuck, so I care about my looks, health, diet, immune system, and lately, my smile. I have questions about food integrity. Mr. Williamson and I had that in common, and we were both scorpios born in October. We foraged for similar food.

Joebear, my black bear sexy husband, ate very similarly to us. He was a Taurus who grazed on mostly healthy food. His favorite food was vanilla ice cream with red grapes and cinnamon. He ate normally and was no longer a vegan. He used to be a vegan cub, but he questioned himself after a while and started to eat fish again.

Count Vanilla was an Air Bear who ate almost everything in sight. He hated coffee or hot drinks. He was usually drinking Southern sweet tea. He also smoked on occasion, but usually not during important meetings because he was afraid that he was going to be judged by the other members. Hardly anyone else in the series smoked except Peter W. Parker very occasionally.

As a matter of fact, Count Vanilla needed to go outside and smoke after we shopped. He lit a Oldport cigarette and puffed it. A female panda bear sat outside with him and smoked an Alpaca cigarette. They growled back and forth. I assumed they were talking about food.

"Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy. Joileen, this is Xara, my mommy," Count Vanilla said.

"Nice to meet you, Joileen," I said.

Joileen looked at me and then looked at him. "She's a goat. Who's your father?" she asked.

Count Vanilla stared at her, blinked nine times before he growled. "Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny. Joileen, she's my nanny," he said. "She's not my birth mother."

"Just wanted to make sure," Joileen said.

Count Vanilla stared at her and blinked nine times. "You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal. You pandas are literal," he said.

"And? White cubs have a compulsion to repeat themselves up to nine times depending on their age appearance," Joileen said as she stared at him.

Count Vanilla giggled nine times. "Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct. Yes. You are correct."

"I take it you are not used to panda bears," Joileen said.

"Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope," Count Vanilla said.

"There aren't many panda bears that come to our meetings," I said.

"You haven't been in the right areas. On this planet, it's on the other side of the world. Like, that part of the Green Planet is overrun with panda bears. There are a few pockets of panda bears in the forests here. I'm a member of Erudite Bears of Laatharah, Glorgia," Joileen said.

"There were literally two pandas that were in our organization on Earth," Count Vanilla said.

Joileen burst out laughing. "Earth? You're from Earth? Oh God, the panda bears from Earth are the laughing stock of the panda bears of the galaxies. Sort of like the United Emirates of Chinta being the laughing stock of the nations of this planet. Jeez. And I thought that I was kind of retarded. Uuuuuugggggghhhhh. You can't use that word anymore. Political correctness has affected every multiverse. I want to find the multiverse that remained in the 1990s, a time when political correctness didn't exist."

"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes," Count Vanilla said. "That's one of the six or seven words you can't say. Are you questioning my intelligence?"

"Not directly. Indirectly," Joileen said.

"I had to take an IQ test before getting on the ship to get here. Those that scored less than 85 had to ride the short spaceship. That spaceship landed in Watuna, Glorgia. That city is five miles west of Athenia. I scored 103. I rode on the bigass space ship. You probably saw on it on the news," Count Vanilla said.

"You have an average IQ. Mine is 155. And yes, that spaceship is legendary. It takes up a good seventh of all of Athenia. I'm sure bears live on that ship," Joileen said.

I'm dumbtarded compared to her. On a good day, I have 144 IQ, but I usually my IQ is 120. My IQ is still average compared to most people but pretty good for a female.

"Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Whoopedydo! Yes, a lot of bears live on that ship because it was a cruise ship for the three days it took us to get here," Count Vanilla said.

"Do you live on that ship?" Joileen asked.

"No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer. No. I live in a freezer," Count Vanilla said.

Joileen chuckled. "You're hilarious. You're an actual polar bear."

Count Vanilla discarded his cigarette before smoking another. "Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub. Polar cub," he corrected her.

"You're literal AND compulsive. That's incredible. What's your number?" Joileen asked with a smile. She had smoking stains on her otherwise well-formed bear teeth

"Nine," Count Vanilla said. "Nine. Nine. Nine. Nine. Nine. Nine. Nine. Nine."

"I meant telephone number," Joileen said as she stared at him with her green eyes and giggled.

"Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh," Count Vanilla said. "It is 786-423-1905."

"Great," Joileen said as she plugged the number into her smart computer phone. "My number is 110-110-0110."

"Binary?" I asked.

"Very. And my telephone number. It means 'I don't give a fuck. I'm rich bitch.'," Joileen said.

"Young Jeezy?" I asked.

"Yes. Not Xara Si's 'I'm Broke,'" Joileen said.

"I'm Xara Si," I said.

"I'm aware. But my telephone number was created before I heard your song. Your song is humorous and true at the same time," Joileen said.

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome. Count Vanilla, I plan to call you soon. I must continue my forage. It was lovely chatting with you both," Joileen said as she started to walk away.

"Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay," Count Vanilla said. "I look forward to my phone ringing."

"Nice to meet you, Joileen," I called before I spoke to Count Vanilla. "Should we continue our forage?"

"You can. I already found what I was looking for. The only things that would make this moment better would be Mommy Cream and Mommy Chocolate," Count Vanilla said.

[azwriting]

Everything We Need (Forget Me Not, Kylo Ren x Reader) - Chapter One

So Tumblr flagged my original first chapter so now I have to repost it! Annoying! Anyways so here’s this again... Let me know if you want to added to the taglist!

Summary: As the battle of Crait begins to unfold, the truth is still being withheld from Kylo Ren. But Rey is beginning to uncover it all.

Warning(s): Nightmares, mentions of death

Word count: 3579

The remaining members of the Resistance huddled in the Mine on the salt planet, Crait, dejected. The battering ram cannon had already burnt through the large door and no one was coming to their aid, the Resistance would perish today. General Leia Organa slumped down onto the stack of boxes, “We fought till the end . But the galaxy has lost all its hope. The spark is out.” She dug her cane into the gritty ground below, defeat evident in her disheartened voice. The few Resistance members that surrounded her, looked around at each other and the others awaiting the ill-fated incoming attack from the First Order’s Stormtroopers, this was it. 

Leia’s eyes suddenly fluttered up, sensing something or someone. She turned her head to her left, seeing a shadowy hooded figure emerging from one of the many brightly lit tunnels. The figure continued forward silently until he stopped before Leia. The man slowly removed his hood, revealing his aged face and short gray beard. “Luke” Leia breathed out in astonishment and relief. Her twin brother sat down in front of her, mouth opening to deliver his deepest apologies, but the General cut him off. “I know what you’re gonna say. I changed my hair.” The Jedi rolled his eyes at his sister’s ill-timed antics. 

“It’s nice that way.” He paused for a moment, inhaling sharply, “Leia, I’m sorry.” 

Leia nodded softly, “I know. I know you are. I’m just glad you’re here… in the end.” 

Luke turned serious, his green eyes hardening, “I came to face him, Leia. And I can’t save him.” A grim expression fell onto Leia’s face, the man terrorizing them was the “Jedi Killer”, Kylo Ren. 

“I held out hope for so long, but I know my son is gone.” A small frown on her lips, but Luke simply gave her a look. 

“No one’s ever really gone.” 

A small laugh escaped the General’s frown, “Yeah thanks for telling me by the way.” Her head nodded to her right out the broken command center windows, towards the group gathered by the melted door. Luke stood confused, eyes casting a search out into the small crowd of Resistance fighters hidden behind boxes of supplies and old transports. A young (Y/S/C) skinned, (Y/H/C) woman crouched down besides an olive toned man with black hair, caught the former Jedi’s eyes. Her hair was secured up in a bun of braided hair, small droplets of salt woven into it. 

A large faded pink scar covered a decent portion of the right side of her neck. That was the only thing Luke needed to see before he turned back to Leia exasperated. “How-?” was all he could muster, green eyes wide.

 Leia only smirked at her unexpecting brother, “She’ll always find her way back home, Luke. Regardless of…” The General trailed off, discreetly tapping her temple. Luke shook his head in disbelief, after all he had done to prevent this very thing and yet she still found her way back and with disturbingly close proximity to the enemy. “You know if we sent her out, he’d probably stop all of this.” Leia added. Luke shook his head immediately, this was not the endgame of Chess, they could not sacrifice “The Queen” in hopes to win. Not when he was so consumed by rage and would only endanger the young woman.

 Luke placed his hand over Leia’s, dropping the gold dice from the Millenium Falcon, from Han, into her open palm. A flash of realization washes over her facial features, as Leia looked to her brother in surprise. Luke remained silent only moving to cup Leia’s face as he bent down to kiss her forehead, before he turned to face his fate.

Resistance fighters throughout the Mine rose from their crouched down positions, eyes following the figure walking towards the hole the First Order battered into the shield door. Poe stood in disbelief, gaping at the legendary Pilot before him. Luke paused at the door, which was still surrounded by flickering red flames, and turned to look at something besides Poe. He pivoted slightly to see his longtime friend, (Y/N), staring straight back at Luke. The former Jedi Master nodded once to her, before heading out to face the First Order. Poe looked back at his friend when Skywalker was out of sight, her face contorting as she mentally tried to solve a puzzle with too many pieces missing. “I think I knew him.”

Kylo Ren emerged from the ship, clad in all black, making the man look like the silhouette of a monster. The newly self-appointed Supreme Leader was shaking to his core, pure and raw fury filled his being as he stalked out of the command shuttle. From inside the safety of the bunker, Poe watched the scene unfold behind a pair of binoculars. “It’s Kylo Ren, Luke’s facing him alone.”

 Finn quickly chirped up from beside him, “Well, we should help him. Let’s go.” The former Stormtrooper moved to walk in between (Y/N) and Poe, but a white sleeved arm shot out to halt his advancements. 

“No, wait. Wait” (Y/N) reiterated, her and Poe sharing a skeptical look, before returning their eyes to observe the scene about to unfold before them.

 “Did you come back to say you forgive me? To save my soul?” The words dripped out sarcastically and menacingly from the Supreme Leader.

 His uncle lifted his eyebrows, “No”. Kylo Ren shrugged off his cloak and ignited his crackling red lightsaber. Luke ignited his blue lightsaber in return and the two readied themselves for the inevitable fight.

 “He’s doing this for a reason” Poe muttered lowly, his finger gently gesturing to the spectacle outside. (Y/N), who still was loosely holding back Finn, raised her eyebrows a realization popping in her mind. 

“He’s stalling so we can escape” She exclaimed, perhaps that is why he nodded at her. 

“Skywalker's doing this so we can survive. There's gotta be a way out of this mine. Hell, how did he get in here?” The small group of survivors begin to follow a remaining Crystal Critter, in hopes of leading them all to an alternative exit. 

(Y/N) stalled behind the group, glancing out to the fighting force users, something oddly familiar about them both. Flashes of flames and quick movements of blue and purple light danced behind her eyes. “(Y/N) let’s go!” Poe shouted back at her, reluctantly she turned and raced after the group, Leia monitoring the perplexed expression on the girl as her beacon on her wrist began to illuminate...Rey was close. 

Kylo continued to strike at Luke, who easily dodged his advances. “How do you think she would feel about all of this Ben?” The man in black, growled at his words quickly swiping at his uncle.

 “Doesn’t matter, she’s dead because of you!” His words were harsh and accusatory, but his brown eyes were brimming with sadness and vulnerability, Luke had touched a nerve. 

Luke shook his head slightly, “No, that was all you. But I did fail you, Ben. I’m sorry.” The two now stood in front of each other, at a distance. “I'm sure you are! The Resistance is dead. The war is over. And when I kill you, I will have killed the last Jedi” Kylo spit out, anger overflowing. 

The Resistance members came to the end of the tunnel, the Crystal Critter escaping through a tiny hole amongst a massive pile of rocks. “No! NO!” Poe shouted scrambling up the rocks, they were trapped. 

“Amazing. Every word of what you just said was wrong. The Rebellion is reborn today. The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.” 

The rocks began to move, bright white light streaming into the tunnel. (Y/N), Poe, and Finn stammered out of the cave first, seeing Rey with her hand outstretched the rocks floating in midair. Finn ran to Rey, the rocks dropping down to the sides, creating a clear path to the Falcon. The two engulf each other into a tight embrace, glad to know the other was safe. 

“Hey let’s get out of here first, then we can do that!” (Y/N) laughed approaching with Poe. The two broke apart and Rey laughed slightly turning to look at the girl, her laugh catching her throat at the sight. The girl had bright (Y/E/C) eyes and a large pink scar tissue on her neck, Rey had seen this girl before. Leia caught the look on the young Jedi’s face, flustered at the sight of (Y/N).

Kylo Ren led a swarm of Stormtroopers into the now empty Mine. He turned and entered the main command center, bending down carefully to retrieve the gold dice lying on the ground. His head snapped up suddenly, feeling the force connect him once again to Rey. The remaining Resistance fighters boarded the Falcon, Rey ushering them all in as she stood at the entrance ramp. She looked down to see Kylo kneeling below, her eyes hardened as they silently stared at each other. Kylo saw a flash of familiar (Y/E/C) eyes in Rey’s mind before she slammed the button, closing the ramp and their connection. The Millenium Falcon took off into space as the group rejoiced in their escape and reuniting with friends. Rey bent down to greet BB-8, while Poe and (Y/N) watched her from the side. The two walked up to greet their savior, “Hi.” 

“Hi” Rey smiled standing back up straight. “I’m Poe” 

“Rey” the two shook hands briefly before her eyes fell back on the scarred girl. 

“(Y/N)” she smiled, outstretching her hand as well. Rey graciously took it, but still looked at the girl confused. How was this possible? From what she had seen it was not.

Rey sat down on a crate, holding Luke’s split lightsaber. She could feel he was gone, but she felt he had not left with pain, but with peace and purpose. Leia placed her hand gently on Rey’s shoulder as she sat down beside her. “How do we build a Rebellion from this?” She looked down to the destroyed lightsaber, that resembled how she felt, split in two. 

Leia’s hand softly was placed over hers, “We have everything we need.” Leia discreetly looked to (Y/N), standing and laughing with Poe and other members. Rey followed her gaze behind her, to the girl who so very much puzzled her. 

“I’ve seen her before in-” 

Rey’s confession was cut short by the General whispering, “In his mind.” Rey nodded, surprised she knew her next words. “Yeah I would imagine you would.” Leia sighed, looking to the unassuming (Y/N). 

“He thinks she’s…” Rey trailed off envisioning the large flames she had seen through the force, listening to Leia’s heavy sigh. 

“They both can never know the truth, Rey. Not while this war rages on.”

 Two Months Later

(Y/N) was squatted down, cautiously maneuvering around in the tall blades of grass. Her blaster was cradled tightly in between her hands, index finger hovering above the trigger. She silently moved around, the blades of grass barely moving, as her face was hardened in determination. An image of black fabric, brushing against blades of grass up ahead, burst into her mind. (Y/N) smirked to herself, tiptoeing forward. A black jacket and black hair wordlessly backed into frame, she quickly pouncing forward and wrapping her hand around their mouth, dragging them back down into her. The person shocked sounds were muffled against her palm as the tiniest sound of blades moving had her whipping around, person still pinned against her chest. (Y/N) pointed her blaster at the wide eyed person who attempted to sneak up behind her, “Gotcha” she grinned. The person quickly held up his hands in resignation. She removed her hand and arm from her prisoner, the man groaning loudly. 

“How do you catch us every time?” Poe demanded turning to face the girl, Finn laughing in the background. (Y/N) only shrugged holstering her blaster back onto her hip. “It’s like you can see the future or something!” (Y/N) shoved Poe laughing as the three turned back, exiting the tall grass and onto the landing strip of the new Resistance base. New recruits jogged past them, sweat making their uniforms discolored. “I’m serious (Y/N), how can you find us every time?” Poe interrogated.

 “I don’t know, maybe you’re just too predictable.” Poe gasped mockingly hurt at (Y/N)’s teasing words. 

The setting sun illuminated a golden C-3PO who shuffled over to the motley crew, “Mr. Dameron and Miss Stryker, the General is looking for you.” Poe and (Y/N) turned to each other questioningly, wondering what they both were needed for. Departing from Finn, the two entered the main building, jogging down the steps and into the command center. 

The General was going over information on a data pad with Lieutenant Connix. “General, you wanted to see us?” Poe questioned leaning against a surrounding table. Leia looked up at the two, some of the best Resistance Fighters in her opinion, and quickly dismissed the Lieutenant and turned her full attention to them. (Y/N) smiled at the woman, who had become like another mother to her since she had recruited her over 9 years ago.

(Y/N) was 19 and bustling with desire to join the Resistance as the First Order rose from the ashes of the Empire to threaten more of the galaxy in the last year. The General had come to Hosnian Prime to discuss urgent matters with members of the Republic, that had included (Y/N)’s adoptive parents. (Y/N) had been carelessly wandering around the palace, waiting for the end of the conference, when she had accidentally bumped into the General. “I’m so very sorry ma’am!” (Y/N) had rushed out steadying the woman before her. 

“Oh it’s alright dea-” The General had looked up at the taller girl, her words dying in her mouth. The General was quiet as she took in the girl before her. She wore dark terracotta colored pants, a white blouse with a long trail, a purple crystal necklace hanging from her neck, and white boots. Her hair was loosely spilling over her shoulders, attempting to hide a pink scar on her neck, (Y/E/C) eyes bright and young.

 “Oh Leia, it seems you’ve met our daughter, (Y/N).” Pryon Stryker spoke up, coming from behind the two. Leia snapped out of her shock and turned to face the Senator. 

“Your daughter?” Leia was dumbfounded, it was not possible. 

“Yes, well adoptive” Yuiera Stryker spoke up, arm intertwined with her husbands. Leia turned back to (Y/N), smiling awkwardly. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ever since that day, (Y/N) had never left the General’s side, working closely with her and the Resistance, even when the First Order destroyed Hosnian Prime, her adoptive parents with it. (Y/N) had become close to Poe too, the two meeting back in the early days of their training, the two becoming good friends and getting into their own little spurts of trouble. “Yes you two are heading back out on a sensitive mission.” The General informed, both of them relieved to be going back into action and finally getting off of desk duty. 

“What’s the mission?”

 “You two are being sent to a small planet on the outer rim of the galaxy, it’s known heavily for its allegiance to the First Order so-” 

Poe cut the General off with a snide remark, “Let me guess we’re going to have to act like a bunch of First Order sympathizers.” Leia only rolled her eyes and ignored him returning to her plan.

 “There you two will need to try and go undetected and locate and old Rebellion fighter, who claims to have information on the First Order’s new plans.” (Y/N) and Poe nodded stiffly, this mission could either go two ways. “You two will leave at the first sign of daylight.” 

The General dismissed the two and they walked slowly down the far right corridor to their rooms. “So do you think it will be dangerous and daring?” Poe quipped.

 “You’ll be there so we’re bound to find some trouble” (Y/N) smirked, her hand mindlessly going up to trace her faded scar, a constant reminder of her missing life. 

“You think you’re real funny don’t ya?” Poe taunted as the two reached their rooms, directly across from each other. 

“Goodnight Poe.” (Y/N) simply answered before stepping into her small dimly lit room. 

The door slid down behind her as (Y/N) examined the sparse concrete room consisting of: a small dresser stocked with clothes, a small table with a few belongings, and a small bunk. Most members of the Resistance were bunked up with other people, but under certain circumstances (Y/N) was allowed to always be alone. The young woman quickly changed out of her attire and into a faded ivory nightgown and clambered into the small bed, pulling the blue fleece blanket over her. (Y/N) leaned over to turn off the small table lamp and shuffled down into the bed, a restless sleep falling quickly over the girl.

(Y/N) awakened to the smell of smoke and shot up in her small cot. She glanced to the door, hearing the sound of crumbling wood. Quickly she jumped up and rushed outside, her lungs filling with smoke instantly. The temple ahead was engulfed in red and orange flames, screams coming from inside. A dark figure stands in the field, surrounded by bodies lying limp in the grass, “What are you doing? We need to help them!” She screamed at the person, running to aid the burning people. 

(Y/N) was suddenly yanked back by a pair of long arms, “No (Y/N), I can’t lose you too!” A male voice shouts from behind her. She cannot see who he is, but she begs and pleads for him to help the dying soul. She eventually shimmies out of his tight grip and runs inside the temple, the smoke and bright flames overwhelming. She heard the unknown man shout her name from outside, before suddenly a large creaking was heard. (Y/N) looked up to the noise as the roof came tumbling down onto her.

“(Y/N/N) wake up! Wake up!” Someone shook her body roughly when (Y/N) suddenly woke, jolting upwards in bed. She examined her small room, eyes wide with tears, eventually landing on a concerned looking Poe, eyes still heavy with sleep. “You were screaming again.” He frowned quietly. (Y/N) sat quietly for a moment, trembling as she fought back her tears. Her heart was racing and her head pounded, why did she keep having this dream?

 “I’m okay just the nightmare again” (Y/N) whispered hoarsely, eyes looking down at her death grip on the sheets, embarrassment flooding through her. “It’s okay, just breathe” Poe comforted, smoothing down her wild hair.

 “I’m sorry Poe, go back to bed.” She finally looked up to her friend again, trying to smile convincingly. She was not positive if he truly bought it or if sleep was calling him back to his own room. Poe stumbled back towards the door, it shooting upwards to reveal the quiet hallway. He moved to leave, but hesitated, turning back to face the shaking girl. 

“Do you ever remember anything?” The question floated quietly in the night, a tear escaping down (Y/N)’s face.

 “No, I only know what the man told me.” Poe nodded solemnly before leaving, the door closing in his absence. A gutted sound left (Y/N)’s parted lips as she fell back onto her pillow, hot tears rolling down her face. The first memory (Y/N) had was when she was 18, covered in black tar and reeking of smoke, and waking up on a cold steel bench.

She was on the outskirts of a gleaming city, the early morning sunrise casting a golden hue along the towering buildings. Before her, squatting down to her eye level was an older man with his sandy colored hair, gray strands peppering through that and his short beard. Green eyes were intensely watching hers. Panic had began to rise in her, her mind empty, not a single memory or sense of identity within. She could not even remember her name. 

Thick tears began to roll down her ash covered cheeks, “Who am I?” She choked out to the man. 

He let out a small sigh, almost in relief of something, “Your name is (Y/N). You will be safe here I promise.” The man stood to leave, a ship waiting just behind him.

 “No,” She reached forward and caught his cloak with her blackened fingers, “Please don’t leave me”.

 He refused to turn and face her, simply yanking the cloak from her hands, “This is the only way” he whispered and stalked away. 

(Y/N) was left on the bench sobbing for hours, trying to bury herself in her white cloak and hood. The sun was at the high point of mid morning, when an olive skinned woman dressed in a rosy dress, detailed in rich gold colored vines, approached the distraught girl. She had bent down before her, gently wiping away the wet black tears from her face, “What’s your name sweetie?”

 “(Y/N).” 

The woman smiled softly, “Do you have anywhere to go?” 

(Y/N) shook her head more tears spilling out, “I don’t remember.” 

The woman’s eyebrows raised in surprise at that before gesturing for the girl to stand with her. “Come with me darling, everything will be okay. My name is Yuiera. Yueira Stryker.”

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[cinna-wanroll]

Kenobi Script

Heavy panting and clanking of soldier’s footsteps.

J-Cut:

Camera on white armor-clad feet, running.

 Scale up on bodies with blasters against a tan backdrop.

A voice accompanies the scene as we continue to pan through a series of shots of the soldiers running through indistinguishable sand buildings.

A few splashes of color pop from signs and banisters, resembling a street chase.

Voice (V.O.)

Hiding. That is what my days are like. Alone, perhaps to die, although I hope not. I can’t. The galaxy rests on my shoulders now, even though I’m not certain it always hasn’t. I meditate just to find myself broken inside, shards of memories finding their way to the surface, and my mind strays to fix the past- although my body has long since left the scene of who I once was. Now, I no longer reside on the front lines. No, I am refined to watch as the glorious Republic that used to be deteriorates around me. All that’s left of who I am- or who I was- are the sparks I can feel across the galaxy, dimming out quickly. And I can still feel their pain, too.

A brief pause as some action occurs on screen. Pan up to reveal dead end and a cloaked figure, chased by Stormtroopers. 

We see the figure draw a GREEN LIGHTSABER, ready to defend themselves.

Their face is in a fierce snarl, all calculated focus. And for a minute, the Stormtroopers hesitate.

Suddenly, the JEDI is lifted off the ground, choking. 

Pan down to ground as a dark silhouette approaches, and a RED GLOW ignites, a hum the only noise we hear.

J-Cut:

To black.

Voice (V.O.)

But however misshapen I may be, however hidden away I am, I cannot reverse my instincts- my purpose. I can hear it whispered to me through the Force, a tug in my spirit. Warrior. Fighter. And even though I go by a different name, it still finds ways to remind me of who I was- who I still wish to be.

Smash Cut:

On intense grey-blue eyes, opening as the camera focuses.

Voice (V.O.)

And it tells me I am still Obi-Wan Kenobi.

A beat begins to crescendo in the background as we cut away

EXT. TATOOINE- SUNSET

Soft hues melt into the horizon as Tatooine’s suns finish setting. We can see the shadow of a figure riding a measly mount in the distance, sand softly moving across the dunes.

Cut to a closer up of Obi-Wan, holding a pair of ELECTROBINOCULARS up.

We see into the green-tinted view, revealing THE LARS HOMESTEAD. We can see a soft light emanating from entryway, but nothing else. 

Cut back on Obi-Wan, taking the Electrobinoculars away from his face and looking thoughtful and frustrated.

Obi-Wan 

Well, Rooh, this whole surveillance business would be a lot easier if I could see anything.

He pats the eopie’s side gently.

Obi-Wan

(Sighs) I’ll just remember to get here earlier next time, then. 

He closes his eyes briefly and we see the wind blowing his hair gently, the breeze picking up around him. Soft drums in the background.

Obi-Wan

(Opening his eyes) I sense nothing of danger here. Some sand people to the north, maybe. But they’re not likely to come anywhere around here, at least not after last time. 

He leads the eopie away from the homestead and pulls his cloak tighter around himself.

Comp. as night begins to fall upon the desert, Obi-Wan riding silently across the dunes. 

Creature noises echo across the empty desert, and we see how truly alone Obi-Wan is out here.

Focus on Obi-Wan’s lightsaber as it clinks against his hip, silver and heavy.

Obi-Wan stops Rooh abruptly, pulling back on the reins, suddenly alert.

Obi-Wan (Whispered)

Easy girl, shh. 

He squints at the distance, hand shifted to his belt where his lightsaber rests. A small shadow approaches over the dune and out of the darkness, silently.

Obi-Wan remains quiet and calculated, trying to gauge if whatever it is is a threat.

 An ominous beat strikes up in the background.

We see a young Luke Skywalker, no older than six, approaching.

Zoom as Obi-Wan’s eyes widen in surprise.

Obi-Wan (Startled)

Luke!

The young boy gazes up at the older man, shuffling nervously with wide blue eyes.

He’s wearing simple, layered clothing and goggles that sit awkwardly upon his blond, ruffled hair. He has on a small orange and blue poncho, knitted and a bit large.

Luke

Do I know you?

Obi-Wan

Well no, not really. But I do know your parents. What in the blazes are you doing all the way out here?

Luke (suspicious)

Why do you wanna know? 

Obi-Wan

Because you’re a young boy out in the desert alone, at night!

Luke

Why are you out here alone at night?

Obi-Wan’s gaze hardens sternly at the boy. He’s not playing games.

Luke (crossing his arms, indignant)

Well, they’re not my parents, they’re my aunt and uncle, and I’m not alone.

Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow and tries to squint into the distance.

Obi-Wan

Who are you with, then?

Luke

Well… I was with my droid, but then I got lost and- well, I guess now I am alone.

His shoulders slump and his hands fall to his side as he yawns.

Obi-Wan looks at him with worried sympathy, his own face tired.

Obi-Wan (hastily)

Well, we best get back to your home then, your aunt and uncle must be worried sick.

He leans down to help Luke up, but Luke pulls away, pleading.

Luke

Wait, we have to go back for E6-97!

Obi-Wan (confused)

E6-9…

He realizes what Luke means, and we can tell he’s reminded of Anakin here. His gaze turns sad and dark. Of course, his expression seems to say, always with the droids.

Obi-Wan

No, no, there isn’t any time. It’s much more important that you get home now, and then perhaps you can look for your droid in the morning.

Luke takes another step back, stubborn.

Luke

I can’t! E6 is my best friend! I don’t wanna leave him out here to be destroyed in the sand, or scavenged by the Jawas!

Luke bites his lip worriedly. Obi-Wan can see that there’s no changing the boy’s mind, but he tries again with more force.

Obi-Wan

Luke, no droid is as important as a person. And right now, we need to get you back home. Like you said, it’s dangerous out here and-

He’s cut off by Luke, tears welling in his eyes.

Luke

How could you say that? E6 is just as much a person as anyone else! I won him myself, at Bestine in a dice match! I’ve had him forever now, and I can’t afford to lose him. He helps me and Uncle Owen run the farm, he tells us the weather and everything! Please, please, please, you’ve got to help me. If I lose him, I don’t think my uncle’ll buy me a new one.

Obi-Wan sighs, looking away.

Obi-Wan (softly to himself, cracking a smile)

I’ll bet that droid has a lot to report on the weather here.

Luke (crossing his arms again)

He does. He tells us when a sandstorm is coming. And if you don’t help me, then I’ll run away. 

Obi-Wan frowns and turns back to Luke, finally nodding.

Obi-Wan

Alright, since the last thing I want is to be on a wild goose chase while you run yourself into Sarlacc pits. But only on one condition.

Luke (hopeful)

What?

Obi-Wan

You can never, under any circumstances, come out here again without supervision, understand?

Luke nods vigorously, excited.

Luke

Okay!

Obi-Wan

Very well.

He hoists Luke up onto Rooh, who grunts under the added weight. He grabs hold of the reins and makes sure Luke is secure in front of him.

Obi-Wan

Now, which way did you go?

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Focus on Obi-Wan and Luke, riding together in silence as Obi-Wan picks up his Electrobinoculars every now and again, searching for Luke’s droid.

Obi-Wan (putting down his binoculars)

Why were you out here in the first place, young one?

Luke (sighing)

I got mad at my Uncle, so I said I was going to run away. He said fine, and that I should take my useless droid with me. That I should leave just like my father before he died.

Focus on Obi-Wan’s pained expression here.

Luke (cont’d)

 So I started to, but then my Aunt Beru told me that my Uncle was just being ridiculous, and that he would never want me to leave. So I decided not to go, after all. But then when everyone was about to go to sleep, I decided I would get out and explore a little. And maybe if I found some place better, I would stay there.

A brief pause as Obi-Wan furrows his brow, concerned.

Obi-Wan

Does your uncle not treat you well?

Another brief pause.

Luke (thoughtfully)

No, he does. Treat me well, I mean. My Aunt says that he really just wants to protect me. But he just doesn’t understand that I want some excitement every once in a while, ya know?

Obi-Wan gazes thoughtfully up at the stars, pan out for full sky view. Thousands of twinkling lights are scattered about in the dark, vast emptiness.

He knows, perhaps better than anyone what that feels like. But he also knows the consequences better than anyone, too.

Obi-Wan

Maybe your uncle has a point.

Luke (surprised)

What? 

Obi-Wan

Someone I cared about once craved the same thing you do. Change, excitement.

He says the words as dryly as he can, trying to convince Luke that he believes what he’s talking about, that he is immune to the pull of adventure. His tone is sad, remorseful as he pulls his gaze back down and nudges Rooh forwards again. 

Obi-Wan (Cont’d)

So he kept craving more and more. He danced with danger.

A fire ignites in Obi-Wan’s sad eyes, memories you could almost touch.

Obi-Wan (saddening)

But then, it was easy for him to believe in the next adventure, and he forgot all about the real reason he was there in the first place. 

Luke looks back at Obi-Wan, curious.

Luke

Why?

Obi-Wan

Because he was different than most people. He needed to be somewhere with people who understood him. But the more time he spent venturing further, the more people he found. And some convinced him that he wasn’t where he needed to be, even though he was. He left his place.

Luke

What happened to him then?

Obi-Wan (softly)

I had to leave him, too.

Luke (disappointed)

Oh, that’s sad.

 Obi-Wan nods and lifts his Electrobinoculars up again, hiding his expression.

Obi-Wan

A little adventure goes along way, Luke. But if your spirit leads you somewhere, follow it. Just remember who you are and try not to stray off your path.

Luke nods, serious.

Obi-Wan looks back and smiles weakly.

Obi-Wan

I think I’ve found your droid.

Luke (perking up)

Really? Wizard! Lemme see!

Obi-Wan hands Luke the Electrobinoculars and guides his direction, until we transition into Luke’s POV.

Back in the green-tinted view we see a SMALL, SEMI-CIRCLE DROID whirring across the top of a nearby ridge.

Focus back on Luke, grinning from ear to ear.

Obi-Wan

Is that it?

Luke nods and turns around to face Obi-Wan and hand him back the binoculars.

Luke

What are we waiting for?

Obi-Wan can’t help but return the boy’s smile.

Obi-Wan

Nothing, I suppose.

Beat picks up

Pan out back view of eopie and riders, until we see the large expanse that lays before them.

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Obi-Wan and Luke approach the ledge that we previously viewed, the wind speeding up and the outcropping jagged and rocky, rough terrain. Luke has donned his goggles an Obi-Wan has lifted a hand up, shielding his eyes.

Obi-Wan

We’re almost there. Can you see anything?

Luke

Not yet. (Pausing) I wanna go home.

Obi-Wan’s facial expression is the definition of an inaudible groan.

Obi-Wan

We shouldn’t turn back now.

Luke

I know, I just wish I hadn’t left.

Luke wraps his arms around himself, shivering in the cold.

Obi-Wan takes off his cloak and wraps it around the young child, bringing Rooh to a halt. 

Obi-Wan

I’m going to check the motion scanner on here, give me a moment while-

He’s interrupted by the distinct sound of a TUSKEN RAIDER CALL, extremely close. His face falls.

Luke whimpers.

Obi-Wan (seriously)

Stay here.

Luke tries to protest, but stops as Obi-Wan begins walking away.

Invisible cut through sand:

Obi-Wan comes up on a patrol of three TUSKEN RAIDERS with their bantha mounts, prodding at E6-97, which moves uselessly in circles around them. They turn to see them, raising their weapons angrily and calling out.

Obi-Wan (calmly)

Hello there, friends.

The Tuskens don’t pick up on his friendly demeanor, instead focusing on his lightsaber. They howl in fear and rage and hold their GADERFFII in defensive positions. Obi-Wan winces.

Obi-Wan

Listen, that droid there-

He points to E6, which stops abruptly.

E6-97

Yes?

Obi-Wan

It’s mine. And I require it. It’s of great importance to me. I would be happy if you could let me take it and leave, and I’ll promise not to come near your territory again.

E6-97

I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I belong to Luke Skywalker, who won me fair and square at a dice match on the-

Obi-Wan

 Do hush.

E6-97 shuts up, and we wait for the Tuskens’ response. 

One of the Tuskens lashes out at Obi-Wan, leaping with their Gaderffii and almost striking Obi-Wan, who dodges swiftly but does not ignite his lightsaber. Instead, he grabs hold of the Tusken’s Gaderffii and uses it to knock them off of their feet. 

SLO-MO.

His gaze is intense as the wind slows around the scene, stars decorating the background and the distant sounds of animal life echo around the cavern. We hear the breaths of the Tuskens and Obi-Wan, almost unified in a way. A haunting beat plays as we get a taste of the force, the energies from both sides intense. 

Obi-Wan (still calm, pleading) NORMAL SPEED

I do not wish to hurt you!

Back to SLO-MO

TOGETHER. The Tuskens move as one towards Obi-Wan, bringing their Gaderffii above their heads and howling.

Obi-Wan closes his eyes and reaches out towards the two with one hand, stopping them mid-air. The hang there as he repeats himself again, the sound echoing across the expanse of the desert and reverberating around. The banthas groan in fear and buck.

The music swells.

Obi-Wan

I do not wish to hurt you! Lay down your weapons and seek peace. I’m only here for the droid.

He sets them down gently, and no sound is heard. 

NORMAL SPEED.

The Tuskens are shocked, shaken to the core.

It’s quiet as they put down their Gaderffii and mount their still alarmed banthas, riding away into the distance. 

Obi-Wan breathes a sigh of relief.

E6-97

Thank you, sir. Whoever they were, they were quite rude. However I’m afraid I cannot go with you. 

Obi-Wan looks at the droid flatly and says nothing as he hoists it up into his arms and carries it away.

E6-97

Or I can, but I would prefer not to. I must warn you I’m a rather old model so be careful please. You might not get as much use out of me as you think.

Obi-Wan

I’ve no use for a droid. I’m bringing you back to your owner.

E6-97

Oh really? Thank you! Of course, no one of mature age really needs a droid if it’s not in their line of work. Often times companion droids like myself aren’t needed because you have people you can hang out with. I was programmed to play with children, mostly. But I can do some organizational things and give relevant reports, so-

E6 pauses. Obi-Wan looks forward in focus, fighting against the wind.

E6-97

Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I’d lost your interest.

Obi-Wan (chuckling)

Well, that would be the first time a droid has ever said that to me.

E6-97

I am programmed to pick up human emotions through my receptors and sensors. I could also tell that you’re upset, but I didn’t want to say anything.

Obi-Wan

I’m not upset.

E6-97

Okay.

A beat.

Okay so this is a first draft cuz I had no time to edit but I hope you guys enjoy!

#star wars #obi wan kenobi #kenobi series #kenobi script #kenobi show #luke skywalker #E6-97

[jwminssi]

it’s blue (the feeling i got) | jikook

devils roll the dice angels roll their eyes and park jimin can’t seem to be able to stay away from bad boy jeon jeongguk and his gaze full of stars

inspired by taylor swift’s ‘cruel summer’ | 7K - m - sad ending (read on ao3)

the light shining in through the window is just starting to turn orange when jimin’s phone alerts him of a new message.

lazily sprawled on his bed, he sighs as he reads it on the notification bar, thumb hovering over it as he ponders whether or not to open it - he’s only trying to fool himself, though; those messages never go ignored.

jimin taps on the message icon when the notification disappears and rereads what he had already seen.

come meet me

nothing more, nothing less. but he shouldn’t expect any different than the subtly imperative tone that he’s learned to read even through text, not with the way things work between him and the person on the other side.

jimin sighs and gets up, quickly changing from his crumpled clothes into clear jeans, a tight-fitting t-shirt and a jacket, sitting back down and lacing up his blue allstars that have somehow turned into his signature item; he checks his hair in the mirror, running his fingers through it a few times, and only bothers with some lip balm before he’s carefully opening his bedroom door and looking around the hallway.

the house is quiet, but he still needs to be cautious of any noise he might make - he can’t have his father or brother finding out he’s about to go out with someone they both hate. the garden gate makes a sound of protest as jimin pulls it open and he stands there alert, watching the windows in search for any movement coming from inside; nothing happens, so he continues until he has successfully sneaked out and his shoes are touching the pavement on the street.

the black tesla roadster is parked at the same corner jimin usually finds it when they meet - a block away from where he lives, in front of a house with a pretty garden and a swing for the kids. it looks powerful and imposing, and jimin supposes it’s only a reflection of its owner.

he opens the door and gets inside without thinking too much about it, aware that by now he’s way past the hesitation stage with how many times he’s been sneaking out like this. the rush never dies, his heart always seems to want to jump out of his chest whenever he meets the galaxy eyes of the other boy, but jimin has gotten used to their routine.

“hey.” comes the greeting from the driver’s seat, his voice slightly hoarse from the cigarette that makes him still smell like smoke. another thing that jimin has grown accustomed to, the scent that sometimes lingers on his clothes and his hair after their encounters; he doesn’t hate it, but he would much rather have his soft perfume sticking to his skin instead.

“thought i wasn’t gonna hear from you today.” jimin says and he tries not to sound bitter about the fact that he’s only an option when jeongguk wants a warm body in the quiet of the night. he understands that they’re a dirty secret to be kept from both their families, not willing to risk everything for a summer love - if it can even be called that; jimin is sure it’s more of a summer meaningless fling, at least on the other side of their story.

“you know i always come back for you, babe.” it’s the petname that does it, and jimin scoffs, crossing his arms and looking out the window. they’re still parked and the swings are moving with the wind now, the silhouettes of two kids running around the house making themselves seen behind the curtains. jimin wishes he could be a carefree little boy again. “hey, what happened?”

jimin sighs. he knows he’s being stupid, that he can’t ask more from jeongguk than what he already gets and that he shouldn’t let out his frustrations on him when he’s the only one that can help ease them. but he can’t help it when he wants so much and is not given even half of what his heart aches for.

“nothing, don’t worry about it.” when he faces jeongguk, he already has his entire upper body facing him in the best way he can while sitting down. he’s studying jimin with his typical unreadable expression, the way he does often, like he can figure out his entire life just by looking at him; jeongguk is attentive and he always seems to catch on everything jimin wants to keep hidden.

it’s a blessing at the same time it’s a nightmare.

“i hate this, too. you know that.” jeongguk almost whispers, one hand coming up to caress jimin’s cheek. but jimin doesn’t know, not really, because despite the sincerity in jeongguk’s voice, he still can’t find anything in his eyes, no matter how deeply he searches.

jimin doesn’t answer but he doesn’t pull away from the touch either, choosing to keep their gazes connected until jeongguk’s slips to his mouth. he leans in, placing a soft kiss on the corner of jimin’s lips, lingering there for a second before he pulls back.

and it doesn’t matter that they’ve been doing this for almost three months now, jimin’s heart still skips a beat whenever jeongguk comes close like this. there are still butterflies in his stomach when they touch and goosebumps on his skin when they kiss, and jimin hates it. but he hates even more the fact that he can’t hate it enough to put a stop to it.

“have i ever told you that you’re beautiful?” jeongguk asks, eyes wandering all over jimin’s face, pleased when a light blush heats up his cheeks, the type of unconscious reaction jimin can’t control.

“only about a thousand times.”

“a thousand and one, then.” jeongguk says, their lips brushing with each word pronounced. “you’re beautiful, park jimin.”

and jimin is weak because he can’t stop himself from melting at the words and against jeongguk’s lips moving over his. they kiss slowly, like they have all the time in the world and there isn’t a clock ticking above their heads ready to scream that their time is up. jeongguk’s tongue is skilled as it traces the roof of his mouth and jimin shivers, sighing into the kiss and forgetting all about how he was supposed to be mad at himself for letting this go so far.

when jeongguk pulls away, his eyes are radiating their usual shine, hundreds of stars living in them and making him so alluring. jimin knows they’re the ones to blame for his fall.

”where are we going?” jimin asks after jeongguk pecks his lips one last time and turns the engine on, the soft purr of it sounding almost like home to him by now.

”to watch the sunset.”

that’s the last thing jeongguk says for the entire ride, though one of his hands rest on the inside of jimin’s thigh until they reach their destination. jimin would think he’s claiming him, but there’s no one to see it and the warmth of the touch is only physical, just like their relationship.

but jimin knew from the start jeongguk was a bad idea.

it was his first day back to his hometown after almost five years of living in another country and he was being dragged out late at night by one of his childhood friends who managed to keep in touch.

(jimin didn’t really want to go, but no one has a choice when it’s kim taehyung calling the shots.)

they drove for thirty minutes to a more secluded part of the city that made jimin question if he could still trust taehyung or if he was taking him to a murder site. he frowned when cheers and music could he heard even though he was sure they weren’t there yet but his friend refused to clear up any of his doubts.

jimin was sure he was in a movie scene when taehyung finally stopped his car beside all the other expensive-looking vehicles that were parked around the road. the place wasn’t crowded but there were definitely enough people to make it loud, all gathered into small groups and drinking, smoking and celebrating whatever occasion this was. ahead of them, away from the other cars and people, jimin spotted two shiny cars, one black and one red, and his heart skipped a beat when he realized he knew who the second one belonged to.

you didn’t tell me my brother was going to be here!, he said to taehyung, close to panicking at running into jiwoo at a place like this.

oh, taehyung frowned, i didn’t know he was racing tonight.

jimin sighed, biting his lip as he looked for jiwoo to show up so he could avoid him. his father would kill both of them if he found out where his sons were and jimin would rather not risk it by ending up getting caught by his brother and causing a scene so- wait, what did taehyung say?

racing?, jimin asks just to be sure he heard it right. taehyung always had a habit of dragging him to the weirdest places.

taehyung grinned that devilish grin of his, the one that always screamed trouble, we’re here to watch a street race, jiminie!

isn’t that illegal?, jimin’s heart stopped. he was going to die and his father would be the one to do it.

but taehyung only laughed at him, so?

what the fuck do you mean, so? and what the fuck is my brother doing here?, jimin tried to keep his voice low so that only taehyung could hear him but it was getting harder the more his nerves got the best of him.

oh my god, you worry too much!, taehyung rolled his eyes, the police turns a blind eye to it because most racers have pretty influential families, so relax. and your brother is here because he’s one of them. he’s pretty good, there’s only one guy he can’t beat.

jimin wasn’t  completely convinced that he wouldn’t end up in jail for watching the race so he crossed his arms and frowned. a big explosion of laughter near the two main cars caught his attention and he noticed the owner of the black tesla roadster was now leaning against it as he chatted with who jimin presumed were his friends. he looked a bit familiar, though, so jimin dug up inside his brain until he was struck with the probable answer.

is that..., he trailed off, not wanting to sound stupid in case he was wrong.

the jeon kid, yup, taehyung grins, grew up nicely, huh?

understatement, jimin mutters as he watches him.

jeon jeongguk looked drastically different from what jimin remembered. when he left, he was still awkwardly making his way through puberty at sixteen years of age, a scrawny kid with a haircut chosen by his mother and all the characteristics of an antisocial mess. the jeongguk that jimin saw in front of him was someone entirely: his hair was longer, falling over his eyes in a way that was deliberately messy, one of his arms was covered in tattoos that his t-shirt did nothing to hide, he was taller, broader, and the way he held the cup in his hands made jimin wonder just how strong he had gotten.

jimin closed his mouth when he realized he had been almost drooling over him and watched as his brother approached the group, said something that made jeongguk snort and marched to his car. a whistle was blown and everyone started moving, sitting on the hoods of their cars and gathering with their friends for what's coming next. jimin looked over at taehyung as if asking what he was supposed to do next and found him already seated on top of his own audi, tapping the space next to him so that jimin can join.

by the time the crowd settled down, the two racers already had their engines running, their soft hums filling in the night and mixing with the encouraging cheers of everyone watching. jimin felt his blood pump with adrenaline and he wasn't even the one racing; he had never been the type to take part in anything that led him out of his comfort zone, so it didn't take much for his heart to get a different rush than what he was used to. it was a weird feeling, but he found that he wouldn't mind living it more often.

the race lasted barely fifteen minutes, but jimin was on edge the entire duration of it. taehyung teased him, asking if he wasn't glad he dragged him out, noticing how invested jimin seemed to be into the whole thing. it was as much of a surprise to him as it was to jimin himself, who had never thought he could enjoy something like this so much, especially knowing that it was illegal. the screams increased in volume and jimin perked up, pleased when he saw that jeongguk's car was the one coming in first - he never had the best relationship with his brother, it's not that much of a stretch to say he wasn't rooting for him all along. the crowd went crazy when jeongguk came out to greet them, eyes glistening with something dangerous as he waved at everyone watching, clearly not shocked that he was the first to cross the finish line.

jiwoo's car parked next to his not even a minute later and the racer glared at jeongguk as if the gesture could make him faster or as if he could kill him with just his eyes. jeongguk winked at him, laughing in his amused state when jiwoo cursed at him before turning around and leaving so that jimin hopefully wouldn't see his face again. jeongguk looked radiant, just the right amount of cocky to make him even more attractive and to have him stand out in the middle of the sea of people patting his back for his victory.

taehyung jumped from the hood of his car and grabbed jimin's wrist, pulling him right into the road until they were standing beside jeongguk's car with the boy's attention fully on them. his eyes really did shine like galaxies and jimin found himself awestruck at how mature and absolutely gorgeous he looked now.

tae, hey, jeongguk smiled at them, pushing his hair away from his face with his tattoed fingers. jimin couldn't stop his staring.

i'd congratulate you but it's not even a surprise, taehyung rolled his eyes playfully and jeongguk laughed.

you should have bet on me, the racer said, eyes finally falling over jimin with curiosity, who's your friend?

taehyung snickered, take a closer look, i'm sure you'll remember him.

jeongguk raised an eyebrow at jimin, shamelessly checking him out with the excuse that he was trying to figure out where he remembered him from. jimin felt small under his gaze, but he couldn't for the life of him pull himself away from it, trapped in the intensity of jeongguk's eyes and everything he was made of. the racer came closer then, tilting his head to the side, and jimin saw realization wash over his features before it was replaced by surprise.

no way... jiwoo's little brother?, he smiled, absolutely thrilled that he had someone so close to his biggest rival right in front of him like that, jimin, right? you look... different, he smirked as if he knew something jimin didn't and it sent a shiver down the other boy's spine. he was starting to find out jeongguk was a force of nature to be dealt with.

you're one to talk, jimin answered in the same tone and jeongguk seemed pleased.

does your brother know you're here?, he let his body rest against the hood of his car and crossed his arms. jimin took the time to admire his body and the way his clothes hugged his muscles in all the right places. he wasn't subtle about it and, even though the blush on his cheeks told him to stand down, he kept his chin up when jeongguk noticed.

you're not gonna tell him, are you?

i'm very good at keeping secrets.

jimin was about to find out just how much that statement was true.

jimin comes back from his thoughts when jeongguk stops the car.

looking out the window, he can see they're at their usual spot: a hill by the beach where the horizon is perfectly laid out for them to enjoy and just far enough away from any prying eyes that might ruin their private times together. jimin loves it there, it's a place where he's free to be himself with jeongguk, without the need to hold back on his thoughts, words and actions; jeongguk, too, looks and feels better when they're out on their own like this, away from the pressure of their CEO fathers and just being able to enjoy each other's touches.

the sun is halfway to sharing a kiss with the sea when jimin steps out of the car, the entire sky a bright shade of orange that's about to give place to a hot summer night. he’s been up there enough times to lose count but the view still leaves him breathless the same way it did on the first night he sneaked out with jeongguk.

he hugs his body to try protecting himself from the wind and sits on the hood of jeongguk’s car, caressing the black metal under his fingertips as he asks himself if he really got attached to a car - as if just the owner wasn’t enough. waves crash in the distance and jimin can’t help but to close his eyes and lose himself in the atmosphere, choosing to forget about everything that’s killing him inside at least for the time being.

there’s movement beside him and the car moves a bit so jimin opens his eyes. jeongguk is there, sitting on top of the hood as well, thigh touching jimin’s and body radiating warmth.

”you’re quiet today.” he says, watching the view even though he’s aware jimin is looking at him.

”just thinking.”

jeongguk finally turns to him, eyes so deep and inviting that jimin could compare them to the sea ahead of them if he hadn’t already settled on linking them to the sky above. “don’t think too much.” he mutters, raising an open bottle of wine that jimin didn’t even realize he was holding.

jimin’s answer is a scoff as he takes it, brings it to his lips and takes large sips, not even grimacing at the slight bitterness of the alcohol down his throat. the wine is smooth on his tongue, almost sweet and it’s no surprise that jeongguk knows exactly how he likes it - the same way he knows how jimin likes everything else, how he eats his food, how he buys his clothes, and just the right way to fuck him.

the alcohol hits his empty stomach harshly and jimin gets dizzy for a quick second but ignores it in favor of drinking one more time. jeongguk is watching him closely, studying him in that way he always does, like jimin isn’t already an open book for his eyes to read.

”are you trying to get drunk?” jeongguk asks as he pushes himself away from the car and into jimin’s space, standing in between his open legs while his fingers trace invisible patterns on his knees.

”always.” jimin answers and drinks again before the bottle is taken from him mid-sip, making a drop of wine run down his chin and stain its path. “you have to stop giving me things only to take them away when i start enjoying them.”

he’s not talking about wine anymore but he didn’t mean for the words to come out - maybe he is getting drunk already, despite his often high tolerance; he did spend the day without eating anything only to chug down half a bottle at once, after all. jeongguk sighs as he collects the drop of wine that escaped jimin’s mouth with his thumb and takes it to his own lips. he knows what jimin is saying, he always understands even his most indirect comments; again, a blessing and a nightmare, because jimin can’t even be petty in peace.

”what’s gotten into you today?” jeongguk asks quietly as he inches closer, his hands travelling from jimin’s knees to his thighs where he squeezes lightly before running the tip of his nose over jimin’s neck. “is it because summer is about to end?” he whispers against the sensitive skin and jimin can feel his smile just before he bites down at his pulse point making him whine. “are you going to miss me?”

”are you going to miss me?” jimin shoots the question back at him, holding him close by his jacket.

”obviously.” jeongguk answers without thinking while he kisses jimin's neck. jimin hates how he loves that jeongguk didn't even hesitate before saying it.

”but are you going to miss me?" he asks, pulling away so that he can look into jeongguk's eyes, their noses barely touching. "or just my body?”

”both." jeongguk frowns. "you know that, jimin." he holds jimin's face in his hands and tries to kiss him on the lips but jimin turns away from him. "baby, what’s wrong?” he questions carefully, brushing the hair away from jimin's eyes where the wind messed it up.

jimin sighs heavily and puts some space between them, leaning back on his hands. jeongguk lets his own hands fall back to rest on jimin's thighs. ”nothing, just ignore me. i’m tired and a little tipsy, that’s all.” he tries to smile but he can tell it doesn't work when jeongguk's frown deepens and he pokes his cheek with the tip of his tongue, a habit he has when he's not quite convinced of something.

”did your brother say something to you again?” jeongguk guesses, knowing how jiwoo can be with his words and having heard from jimin himself the absurd things the older said to him numerous times. he doesn't despise jiwoo simply because they're rivals on the streets, where he tries to take his number one place every single time, but because their ideals clash and he can't stand people like him. he doesn't blame jimin for moving to the other side of the world to get away from his family, he would do the same if he didn't have someone else to look after.

but jimin doesn't answer. instead he wraps his legs around jeongguk's waist and acomodates him better, though he still keeps the rest of his body at a safe distance. jeongguk looks down to where they're touching, running his hands over the expanse of jimin's legs, always pleased to be in between them, thinking about how he's going to miss him when summer ends and they have to act like none of this ever happened - even though they already kind of do. he doesn't force jimin to say anything, knows that when he's in a mood like this nothing can get him to talk about what's bothering him and that the only way to help him feel better is by pretending everything is fine like he tries so hard to do; jeongguk wishes he didn't feel obligated to act tough all the time.

”do you ever think about running away?” jimin changes the topic of conversation, though jeongguk can tell his mind is still focused on it.

”all the time.” he answers honestly, eyes trained on jimin’s reaction. jeongguk has always been great at reading people, but somehow with jimin it’s even easier; it’s almost like their souls communicate on their own.

”not with me, though.” jimin mutters but he’s not looking at jeongguk anymore. he lifted one of his hands to start tracing patterns over his arms and his gaze is now following the movement; there’s a hint of bitterness in his voice even though he tried not to let it show.

jeongguk sighs and takes the hand from his arm to hold in between his. ”thinking about something and doing it are two completely different things. just because i can’t do it, doesn’t mean i don’t want to.”

”would you?” jimin whispers and it sounds like he’s afraid of the answer. “run away with me?”

jeongguk hums and smiles, eyes sparkling. ”we’d go somewhere no one knows us.” he kisses jimin’s knuckles softly. “where we can be happy together.”

that sounds like a dream to jimin. growing up in a homophobic family, he could never be himself until the day he decided to leave and go study in a foreign country - the biggest reason for him to take such a long time to visit. his brother is the only one who knows about his sexuality - a slip on jimin’s part - and as much as he’s an idiot through and through about it, he never told their parents; to this day, jimin has no idea why. living abroad has helped him break out of the character his family built for him, but it’s still hard for jimin to open up to more intimate and deep relationships, and as much as he never expected to fall so deeply for jeongguk so fast,  it wouldn’t hurt to be able to live that love the way he wants to.

but jimin is not the only with a complicated background. jeongguk’s parents - well, his father and stepmother - fall on the same side of the scale as jimin’s family and there’s never an easy day for him, having to bow down to his father’s rules and live under the same roof as the man who threatens to take everything from him if he so much as slips simply because he likes men. and by everything, he doesn’t mean his money, his car or his fancy clothes, but all that jeongguk really cares about: his little sister. ever since their mother died, jeongguk has taken it upon himself to pass to little jisoo everything the woman taught him, knowing that their father couldn’t care less about raising a child the proper way.

she’s the only reason jeongguk doesn’t even ponder on the idea of dropping everything and running away, and jimin is not selfish to the point of asking him to do that because he doesn’t want to deal with a broken heart.

”i’d like that.” jimin whispers once again before throwing his arms around jeongguk’s neck, realizing he’s only wasting precious time acting like this instead of enjoying what they have left.

jimin is completely wrapped around jeongguk now but he doesn't seem to care; in fact, he brings jimin even closer by hugging his waist until he has successfully glued their bodies together. it's something neither will ever get tired of, being close like this and feeding off each other's warmth, pretending that the world is only made up of the two of them even if just for a few hours.

it's jimin who first moves it for a kiss but that doesn't matter when they always meet in the middle. since the first time their lips touched - in the dark corner of a tiny kitchen at a celebratory party after one of jeongguk's races - they've been in perfect sync, bodies matching in rhythm the same way their hearts do; jimin swears no other kiss he ever experienced can make him feel whole like jeongguk's does.

though their lips move slowly against each other, jimin feels like the sea he hears with his eyes closed: agitated, heavy and alive. the emotions inside of him are boiling and threatening to spill over, have become so big and intense that he can barely keep them in secret, and jimin doesn't know what to do with himself when he feels like this, when jeongguk touches him like he's the most precious thing he has ever encountered, something to be cared for, loved and treated with care. all he knows is that he wishes he could live in this moment forever, away from his family and his worries, just trapped in jeongguk's arms.

they kiss for what feels like an eternity, souls mingling together at the same time their tongues slide against each other, lips locking and unlocking with wet noises that make goosebumps rise on jimin's skin. he's whimpering against jeongguk's mouth, fingers making a mess of his hair as he tries to deepen their connection even more, hoping that if he works hard enough, he'll be able to meld their bodies into one.

jeongguk is holding on to him just as tightly, as if he’s scared jimin will disappear if he as much as thinks about letting go. he has gotten progressively more passionate over the months - a voice in jimin’s mind tells him it’s because he’s just as desperate to not let this end as he is - and jimin loves the feeling of being completely overwhelmed by his touch. his mouth travels down to jimin’s neck, licking and biting at his most sensitive spots that he already knows by heart and getting breathy moans to spill from his lips as he does so.

”could stay like this with you forever.” he mutters against jimin’s skin, inhaling his sweet scent and groaning when jimin tightens his legs around him.

the way jeongguk moves his lips against his makes jimin go dizzy with want. he’s thorough and intense in everything he does and kissing is no exception; jeongguk’s tongue explores jimin’s mouth skilfully, wrapping itself around jimin’s before pulling away to give space for his teeth to nip and pull at his bottom lip, transforming it into an ever prettier shade of red.

jeongguk’s hands are restless as they roam over his body, pulling and squeezing in his need to feel him better. he toys with the button on jimin’s jeans before popping it open, allowing him to slip his fingers inside and grab his ass without any layer of clothes in the way. jimin moans loudly against his mouth when their hips meet, friction making their semi-hard cocks twitch, and his own hands that were under jeongguk’s shirt curl to leave faint scratches behind as he grinds against him once more.

jimin loves the way he loses himself in jeongguk when they’re together, like nothing else matters but them.

"shit, is that jiwoo's brother?" the voice cuts through the night and makes jimin jump away from jeongguk like he’s been struck by lightning; he licks his lips as if that can make them less swollen and hurries to button his pants again.

"mind your own business, siwon.” jeongguk’s tone is sharp as a knife and he keeps a protective hand on jimin’s thigh though he’s taken a step away from him.

"oh man, he's gonna love hearing about this.” siwon claps his hands and only then do they realize he’s not alone; jimin can recognize the other boy as one of jiwoo’s close friends, jisung, the one that’s always oddly quiet and up to cause trouble. “hey jimin, what do you think he's going to do when he finds out you're fucking his biggest rival?"

jeongguk takes his hand from jimin’s thigh and turns to the two newcomers completely, brows furrowed and absolute fury in his eyes. jimin’s heart skips a beat in the worst way: he’s seen jeongguk angry before, it has never been pretty.

"gguk...” he calls, holding him by the wrist more as a way to remind jeongguk he’s there, a way to ground him because he knows he can’t actually stop him using force.

"and you, jeon, do you think he's gonna be happy you're keeping jimin as your own personal slut?" siwon and jisung both snicker like they just heart the world’s funniest joke. jimin’s grip on jeongguk tightens.

"don't you fucking dare talk about him like that." jeongguk spits at them, low and dangerous, but siwon doesn’t seem affected by it and comes closer.

"what, did you catch feelings already?” he mocks. “is he that good at sucking cock?” jeongguk looks back at jimin, then, as if apologizing before he pulls himself free while siwon keeps on talking. “i mean, with that mouth i bet he's fucking incre-“

the first punch hits siwon right on the chin, forcing him to close his mouth and effectively shutting him up. he spits his own blood on the ground before charging at jeongguk full force, fists closed and ready to be used.

jimin jumps from the hood of the car and tries to come up with a way to make them stop without getting hurt himself. he’s seen jeongguk fight like this before and it’s obvious that he can handle it - even though jisung has decided to join and he’s at disadvantage now - but he’s not about to let him get beaten up and show up at his house covered in bruises later, not that this is any news to his parents.

as much as they’re fighting unfairly, siwon and jisung are still looking worse than jeongguk, with blood running down their faces until there’s angry red drops staining their clothes and the beginnings of black eyes on both of them. when jisung manages to hold jeongguk down and siwon delivers a knee to his stomach, jimin decides he’s had enough.

his wine bottle is still by the car where jeongguk had left it earlier and he picks it up, feeling the liquid move inside and hating that it’s going to waste like this. there isn’t even a moment of hesitation in jimin before he hits the back of siwon’s head with the bottle hard enough for it to break and for him to fall down.

he takes advantage of siwon’s disoriented state and sits on top of him, holding a piece of the broken bottle to his throat to stop him from moving. “if you ever breathe a word about this to anyone, you better be ready to see me again. and i swear to you, siwon, i won’t be this nice.”

jimin gets up and grabs jeongguk - who was still punching jisung - by the arm, dragging him to his car and leaving the other two there along with the glass and the spilled wine, forever staining their secret place. he’s back to being angry and jeongguk chooses not to say anything, only nodding when jimin tells him to go to the pharmacy near his house.

it’s a bad type of a quiet in the car as they drive further back into the city.

jimin is drumming his fingers against his jeans, frustrated as he relives the past ten minutes inside his head and wonders what he could have possibly done to deserve not being able to be free as himself.

it seems ironic that the person who reminds him of the cage he lives in is the same who makes him feel like he can fly.

with jeongguk, jimin always feels like he’s living in another reality, when they’re alone and happy, doing whatever they want as long as they’re together. but with jeongguk, when they’re parting ways after sneaking out, jimin also feels stupid for falling for a lie that can take him higher than the sky but drops him from that same height and breaks all his hopes.

there’s no winning with jeongguk, and jimin thought he was ready for the fall.

when they stop, jimin risks a look at jeongguk but he refuses to meet his gaze, so he sighs and opens the door, crossing the parking lot to get to the pharmacy’s front door where he rubs at his eyes under the fluorescent lights. he picks up everything he needs to deal with bruises like that and heads over to the counter, where the cashier gives him a hard look, eyeing the things he’s buying and adding them to his messy hair and his wine-stained shirt.

when jimin comes out, jeongguk is waiting for him outside the car, leaning against the hood, and he doesn’t waste time before stopping in front of him and getting to work.

“this has to stop.” jimin finally breaks the silence as he tends for a cut on jeongguk’s cheekbone.

”i can’t just sit and hear people talk shit like that, you know me.” he does his best to stay still through his frustration at hearing jimin’s words and the sting of the antiseptic.

jimin sighs, heart in pieces for what he’s about to say. ”i don’t mean the fights.”

it takes a moment for jeongguk to process what jimin meant but it’s obvious when he does, because he pulls away abruptly, eyes filled with something akin to betrayal.

”you’re talking about us.” he concludes and his voice doesn’t even waver, but remains sharp as ever. jimin swears he feels it cut him.

”summer is almost over anyways.” jimin pulls him back to finish what he’s doing and jeongguk lets him but scoffs, clearly not pleased.

”and you’re just deciding that by yourself?” he raises his voice slightly and it hurts because jimin never had jeongguk angry at him; he’s finding out just how much of a horrible feeling it is.

”you know i’m right, jeongguk.” jimin whispers, doing his best to hold himself together.

jeongguk doesn’t argue but he pushes jimin’s hand away from him harshly before he can deal with all of his bruises and gets back to his car. jimin swallows down the lump in his throat and puts everything back inside the bag to join him, knowing that he won’t leave him there to walk home no matter how pissed off he is.

inside the car, jimin tosses the pharmacy supplies on the back seat in hopes that jeongguk will use them later - even though he’s sure he won’t.

it’s a short ride to jimin’s house but the heavy atmosphere and the deafening silence make it feel like hours. jimin can only look out the window and watch the city go by them, realization dawning on him that these are his last minutes with jeongguk and they’re spending them in bad terms.

“so it’s a goodbye, then.” jeongguk says, turning the car off. he doesn’t turn to look at jimin like he usually does when he drops them off.

“it has to be.” jimin wills the words to come out, not really wanting to utter them.

”no, it doesn’t.” jeongguk finally faces him and he’s frowning again. “not yet.” if jimin didn’t know him, he would say jeongguk is about to start begging.

”look at your face!” jimin hears how broken he sounds in his own voice. he hates it. “i always hated that we had to do things like this but it just got worse. i don’t want to keep secrets just to keep you, jeongguk, not when it puts us in danger.”

"so you're just giving up like that?" and of course jeongguk would throw that on him like this, so used to doing things his way that he doesn’t know how to act when he can’t get them according to his own wishes.

"oh, like you're willing to fight for us?” jimin doesn’t mean to play that card but it’s what he has right now. either way, it works because jeongguk averts his gaze and clenches his jaw. “we never had a chance, jeongguk. we were over before we even started." that last part comes as a whisper, a truth that they always knew was there but never had the courage to say out loud.

there isn’t anything else to be said but jimin still sits there waiting dor an answer, simply because he’s dreading the moment he will step out of that car and ver talk to jeongguk again. his heart beats violently in his chest as if protesting about having to leave a piece of it behind when he leaves.

jeongguk takes a deep breath and runs his fingers through his hair. "okay." he says, not like a permission but to show that he accepted their fate, and jimin knows that’s the hardest thing for him to do.

"don't hate me, gguk.” jimin pleads, hoping he can hold back the tears already pooling in his eyes until he’s safely hiding in his bedroom.

jeongguk reaches out to cup jimin’s face, looking broken himself. "i could never." he assures and jimin believes him because he wouldn’t be touching him so tenderly if he did.

their lips meet again  and jimin tries his hardest but he still can’t stop the tears that run down his cheeks and turn their last kiss salty.

"i love you." jimin whispers against jeongguk's lips when he pulls back and for the first time in almost three months he manages to catch him off guard, his galaxy eyes sparkling with a vulnerability he had never seen before. "ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard?" and then he's out of the car, walking home without looking back.

jimin doesn't hear from jeongguk during the last week of summer; taehyung stops mentioning him and jimin doesn't attend any of his races scheduled for that period. when jiwoo is driving him to the airport, though, jimin spots the black tesla roadster in the same corner it was always parked waiting for him.

#jikook #kookmin #jikook fic #jikook angst #kookmin fic #jimin #jungkook #nat writes

[ariadnelives]

Chapter 7 -- The Nightmare

[Missed earlier chapters? Go catch up here! Otherwise, welcome back! Oh, and make sure to join our discord server! Chapter can also be found @ ao3]

“I hate this lady so much,” Pilar practically snarled as she adjusted the ship's course. “Was she ever young, do you think?”

“Nah,” Ariadne said from the passenger seat, trying in vain to get a spoon to stick to her nose, “I feel like she's probably been an unpleasant old crone forever.”

“She was probably already on Calisto when they got there and they just built the bio-dome around her stupid rocking chair.”

The Jovian moon Calisto was now within visual range, and the rest of the viewport was filled with yellow and orange swirls. No matter how many operations they ran through the colonial moons, they never quite got used to the scale of a gas giant. Jupiter and Saturn took their breath away every time they looked at them. Something primal and hard-coded into their DNA told them that this was not something they were meant to see, and yet, here they were, a stone's throw from Jupiter.

The ship pulled closer to Calisto and Ariadne abandoned her spoon effort to pull out fake IDs to get into the bio-dome.

They got into the dome without incident, found a small garage to park in, and gave an almost comically large tip to the downtrodden-looking lot attendant.

La Pesadilla's high-rise apartment was at the top of a building whose elevator was constantly broken. While a woman of her means would be able to have it fixed, she liked that it was broken because it meant anyone who wanted to visit her would have to take the stairs.

Ariadne quickly repaired the electromagnets, actually making the elevator much faster than it was before it had broken, and wrote “HA” on the “Out of Order” sign. They were at her door in seconds.

La Pesadilla answered and, like Jupiter, her appearance never ceased to shock Ariadne and Pilar. At a glance, one might guess she was 90 years old. Her skin was eerily reminiscent to a well-worn catcher's mitt both in texture and coloration. Her expression was about as friendly as a large-mouth grouper, and under her tattered bathrobe was an inexplicable t-shirt depicting what appeared to be a zebra wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigar. Whether she wore pants under the bathrobe was up for speculation.

She walked with a cane, even though she did not need one, simply because she liked to jab it at people when speaking.

“You didn't fix my elevator, did you?” she more snarled than said.

“Nope,” Ariadne lied.

“Good, I like it broken,” La Pesadilla grumbled, “makes it harder for people to drop by and ask me favors.”

There was a moment of silence in the hall as Pilar and Ariadne struggled to find the words to respond to this statement.

“Well, come in if you're coming in,” she said, gesturing into the apartment with her cane, “I pay to air condition the inside of the apartment, not the hallway. Every second this door is open is a waste of my money.”

Ariadne and Spacebreather, still at a loss for response, stepped into La Pesadilla's apartment.

The place was decorated like a family-style restaurant, which is to say, the walls were covered with hundreds of curios, oddities, and other units of nonsense which begged the question, “what exactly is the difference between vintage collectibles and old garbage?”

Two other women sat on an overstuffed couch in the corner, their focus divided between small information terminals affixed to the armrests and a holographic table at the center of the room playing an old rerun of Val Deimos, P.I. at an almost obscenely loud volume.

“Balotelli's cheating on his wife again,” said the one on the left, a relaxed-looking black woman of approximately 70 with wraparound sunglasses (worn indoors for reasons that were known only to her) and a blue-and-purple sweater knitted to look like a particularly starry galaxy that Ariadne thought might be subtly swirling and twinkling. “How much do you think he'll pay us to keep it under wraps this time?”

“No dice,” replied the one on the right, a strong-jawed white woman of perhaps 65, wearing a tank top, cargo pants, and combat boots with an iron-gray buzz cut. With one hand, she rapidly tapped on her terminal. With the other, she repeatedly lifted a rather heavy hand weight. She did not seem to break eye contact at any point with the flickering rerun streaming on the surface of the coffee table. “His wife knows. Hired a private dick to tail them last week. Tried to have 'em whacked but lost her nerve at the last second.”

“Do we have the records?” Galaxy-sweater asked.

“I have the contract here,” Tank-top replied.

“We double down. He's up for reelection in May, and I'm sure neither of them wants the scandal breaking in April. Probably pay a pretty penny to keep it under wraps.”

“Sex, betrayal, and intrigue?” Tank-top asked. “This sounds like a pretty valuable story. It'd be a shame if some reporter outbid them for it.”

“Oh my god,” Ariadne cut in, “do you always talk in clichéd banter or is this for our benefit?”

Tank-top stopped her arm curls for half a second and then continued. Galaxy-sweater raised an eyebrow at her.

“Who's this lunchbox?” Galaxy-sweater asked in a derisive way that seemed to be second nature to mean old ladies and made even the most baffling of insults seem to make sense.

“This is that brat I was telling you about,” La Pesadilla growled.

Tank-top did not look away from her television program. “The one who always fixes the elevator?”

“I think so,” La Pesadilla grumbled. She wandered into the kitchen but continued speaking, incrementally increasing the volume of her voice so she could still be heard. “Her name starts with an A, and her wife here is named after … I don't know, some kind of rice dish.”

Pilar pondered this for a moment and resolved to ask Cookie about it later on.

“Shoot, hope that elevator is fixed.” Galaxy-sweater smiled, “I got bad knees and shit to do.”

La Pesadilla returned with two brightly colored plastic cups, filled with a cloudy yellow substance. She practically shoved these into the hands of her guests with a grunt.

“What do… what is…” Ariadne was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. She was barely reaching adulthood herself and she still had very little experience in the department of respecting her elders. She suspected that perhaps sixty percent of the people in the room were not acting as they should, but she was unsure of where she fell in that ratio.

“It's lemonade.” La Pesadilla removed a smallish disc-shaped tin from her bathrobe pocket, pulled out a handful of leaves, jammed them into her cheek, and began chewing them. “You're kids, you drink lemonade. You're in my house, I offer you a drink. The elevator's out of order, you take the fucking stairs instead of trying to fix it. There's rules to this sort of thing.”

“I said I didn't fix your elevator,” Ariadne stammered.

“You always say that.” La Pesadilla rolled her eyes. “What do you want? You're talking through our program.” She gestured at the hologram. The show was popular enough that Pilar had seen this particular episode several times with her parents, and since she had not had parents in approximately a decade, it was a safe bet it was not their first viewing.

“You could always pause it while we conduct our business,” Pilar offered in a tone she hoped would come across as helpful. She took a polite sip of her lemonade, which had no ice and seemed to be little more than powdered mix stirred into room-temperature tap water.

“You could've shown up on the hour, like a normal person, so you don't interrupt the last five minutes of my show.” La Pesadilla slumped into an old, heavily-patched recliner, searched for a small metal jar, and spat the leaves out into it. “So, spit it out.”

Galaxy-sweater let out a small “heh” at her phrasing.

“Why do you come here and bother me again?”

Ariadne finally seemed to find her voice. “We're looking for information.”

“Well, you've come to the right place,” Tank-top grunted, somehow still lifting her weight, “we've got all of it.”

“The Red God cult that's formed on Mars in the last year or so. We need to know everything we can about them.”

“What do we get?” La Pesadilla asked. “I mean, you're asking me to do the opposite of my job here. People pay me to keep their secrets. If I tell you about these guys, I ain't got no leverage on 'em, can't charge 'em for my services, feel? If I'm gonna spill the beans, I gotta know it's worth more than keeping my mouth shut.”

“Cut the crap,” Pilar said simply, “money is no object to us, and I think you'll be pleased with the amount we've deposited in your account as an act of good faith.”

La Pesadilla tapped at her display and raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Well, I'll be damned.”

“You'll get the other half when we have our information,” Pilar said.

La Pesadilla looked at Galaxy-sweater and nodded.

“Think we got something on them.” Galaxy-sweater said, tapping away on her own display. “Yeah, their leader's this fancy scientist turned whacked-out bible nut, calls himself the Zealot.”

“Real original nickname,” Tank-top added.

“Got into some real shady shit.” Galaxy-sweater furrowed her brow at the display. “We got our hands on a few black market ledgers about 20 years back, and the shit he was buying? Banned on just about every rock in the system.”

“Why would someone selling illegal goods on the black market keep a ledger of their customers?” Ariadne wondered out loud. Galaxy-sweater looked at her flatly and gestured vaguely at the blackmail operation they were currently sitting in the middle of. Ariadne took a sip of her lemonade. “I see.”

“You said 20 years ago?” Pilar looked confused. “These guys have only been operating for the past year, year and a half.”

“Nah,” La Pesadilla grunted, “they been around longer'n you kids have been alive. The Red God stuff is new. They used to walk around the moons, door to door, saying that the Earth was a New Sodom that was to be destroyed due to its sin and heresy and that the only way to be sure Jesus would spare the rest of the system was to join their church.”

“Or make a donation,” Tank-top said.

“Course, the day they predicted came and went.” Galaxy-sweater chuckled. “The Earth was still there. Then that happened, oh, five or six more times before everyone stopped giving them the time of day.”

“Buncha idjits,” La Pesadilla mumbled, “Jesus don't need our money, and he's got a whole universe to run. He doesn't go around blowing up planets because some people didn't pray right. All he cares about is if you're a good person. He don't even care if you believe in him if you ask me, just live your life best you can and he won't bother you.”

“Like bees?” Galaxy-sweater asked, smirking.

“Exactly, like bees. You don't bother him, he don't bother you.”

Ariadne thought this moralizing was rich coming from a professional blackmailer, and she couldn't help but think she'd been given the same advice about what to do when you encounter a swarm of bees, but she bit her tongue to avoid starting another tangent.

La Pesadilla took a sip from a nearby mug that seemed to be full of red wine. “Anyway, nobody bought his end-is-nigh crock and, last I heard, he was a pretty sick fucker. He bought a bunch of illegal shit and went underground. Nobody heard from them for a while, and they came back with a new god and a shiny new preacher. Little white girl, 'bout your age.”

Ariadne scowled. “Not even close.”

La Pesadilla matched her scowl. “Kid, if we're talking years, I'm easily five of you. You both got all your original teeth? You're the same age, far as I'm concerned.”

“What exactly did he buy?” Pilar attempted to break the tension. She, at times, was confused by Ariadne's talent for locking horns with grumpy older women, but suspected this was a deeper issue than they had time to unpack at the moment.

Galaxy-sweater looked at her screen. “We got three Cortex brand neural implants. Those things were all the rage back in the 90s, companies used to get them for all the employees so memos would go right to their brain.”

Tank-top laughed slightly. “Yeah, but they got banned pretty quick.”

La Pesadilla took another sip of mug-wine. “Security risk… a lot of bosses got caught snooping in their employee's thoughts. There was one big scandal where a manager tried to increase productivity by planting thoughts in his employees heads while they slept. An entire office working 16-hour shifts and sleeping at their desks because their brain was telling them 'if I stop working I'll die, if I ask for overtime I'll die, if I make a mistake I'll die.'”

“Yikes,” Ariadne concluded. “Go on, what else?”

“Blueprints for immersion pod,” Galaxy-sweater  explained, “That's a VR capsule that uses the brain's visualization center as a processor to create realistic simulations of pre-programmed scenarios. Originally designed for video gaming, scrapped because every focus tester who attempted to play a children's shoot-em-up game had to be treated for very real PTSD, and made illegal after the prototypes were found being used as training simulators for a radical Earth-based supremacist paramilitary corps.”

“I'm sensing a theme here,” Pilar chimed in.

“Here's where it gets really interesting,” Galaxy-sweater said, pointing at the screen, “he bought up a bunch of medical equipment. Machines for growing and implanting new organs.”

“Shouldn't need that,” Tank-top piped up, still watching her show but seeming to slow down on the weights. “I know he was sick, but if he needed a transplant he could get one at any hospital and be home for supper.”

“Could've been for implanting the Cortex device,” Ariadne suggested.

“Could be,” La Pesadilla said. “We ain't here to speculate, we just give you the information.”

“Aaaaand,” Galaxy-sweater reached the end of her list, “one Quantum Shift Generator. Weird little devices, designed for the Shop-n-Go corporation. They had this idea for expanding to the colonial moons that they could just build a single store interior which all of their storefronts would lead into, that way they could have a dozen stores in a bio-dome but only pay one set of overworked employees.”

“Wonder why that got banned.” Ariadne smirked.

“If you're thinkin' it's some worker's rights whatever, you're wrong,” La Pesadilla grumbled, pouring herself another mug of wine from a bottle that had been conveniently located next to the mug on the table. “It's because all the exterior doors led to the same interior, but they ain't give you the same courtesy on the way out.”

“What she's trying to say,” Tank-top said, placing her weight on the ground and reaching for a nearby bottle of water, “is that people would attempt to leave the store only to find themselves coming out of the wrong one. You could end up 15 miles across town in the 40 seconds it took you to buy an iced tea and a candy bar.”

“Would've made a great public transit system if there was some way to predict which storefront you'd come out of,” Galaxy-sweater offered.

“That's all we've got,” La Pesadilla said. “Where's the rest of my money?”

“Now, hang on,” Galaxy-sweater said, easing herself off the couch, “these girls paid good money and we have got one more thing. Been meaning to get rid of it anyway.”

She ambled over to a bookshelf, grabbed a small, shabby-looking paperback, ripped the back cover clean off, and handed it to Ariadne. “They dropped this in our mailslot back when they were still pretending to be Christian. Got a picture of the Zealot on the back. Might help.”

La Pesadilla jabbed her cane towards the closed door. “Now, get out of my house and put that money in my account.”

Ariadne and Pilar put down their half-finished lemonades, more than glad to not have to finish drinking them, and walked towards the door. As they exited, they heard La Pesadilla mumble, “and so help me if that elevator is working.” The door closed behind them and they immediately heard it lock.

In the elevator ride down to the first floor, Ariadne looked at the laminated cover she'd been handed. The photograph was of a white man, perhaps in his 40s, with squinting, intense eyes, a full but neatly trimmed gray beard, a straight, pointed nose, and a wide-brimmed black hat.

She felt uneasy and turned the book over. Something about him, something she couldn't quite place but knew very few others would see, hit upsettingly close to home. She didn't look at it again for the rest of the trip back.

#core story

[icequeen-shiva]

alright, you know what

about two weeks ago maybe by now, i made a post about how i’ve recently hit 200 followers and i’d like to do a q&a again, and even with a reblog from someone more ~*popular*~ than me, and multiple reblogs once a day for a few days by myself, i didn’t get a single fucking question. not one. earlier today i posted two pictures of myself where i felt pretty (i’ve since deleted them) and nobody i actually know of liked it and i got asked by a stranger who doesn’t even follow me if i had any nsfw pictures. i don’t get asks anymore, i don’t get shit. and that tells me that, you may be following me, but you aren’t connecting with me. and i feel that. i get on tumblr and i don’t feel like i’m friends with fucking anybody. and i did that. i know i did that. 9/10 times i let my fear of rejection and embarrassing myself overcome my desire to talk to people, so i don’t do it, or i let it fizzle out and we go our own ways and we don’t become friends. 1/10 times i actually function as a human being and make a connection or at least something that sticks a little.

so here, below the cut, is a comprehensive (loosely) list of things that i like, in no particular order at all, besides tickling, because apparently both sides of this need a little help connecting on any front.

scooby-doo

beetlejuice

the addams family

the sims

the mcu

classic disney animations; my favorites are dumbo, the great mouse detective, the rescuers, sleeping beauty, and oliver and company (it’s old enough that i consider it in the classic category)

~modern disney animations too; my favorites are treasure fucking planet, coco, and... i’m a sap, beauty and the beast. rise of the guardians too even though it isn’t disney.

musicals; i can’t pick a favorite just fucking ask me, but i don’t know a lot of newer ones honestly

empire records

the greatest showman still

cats (i mean the animals but i also like the show even though it is Weird As Hell)

my cat in particular

alice in wonderland

stranger things

space jam

tsum tsums

elvira, mistress of the dark

dice

kiki’s delivery service and specifically jiji things

winnie the pooh i don’t even fucking care i LOVE HIM AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS

silly hats

playdoh

interesting earrings

exploring libraries or big bookstores

true crime mysteries; my favorite youtuber for this is georgia marie, bless her. i also watch bella fiori and kendall rae

fictional mysteries too

i have a kind of fascination with jack the ripper and with the lizzie borden case

shipwrecks! i don’t know why but shipwrecks fascinate me! why did they go down? all the stories that went with them!

i once read a novel that was told as a series of letters, or journal entries, by people on the titanic, including the iceberg and it was THE absolute saddest book i have ever read in my life. like, obviously i knew what was coming, but i got attached to the characters, the letters made them alive and it was just like... NO. NO I DON’T WANT THEM TO DIE. I KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO BUT THEY CAN’T. and it was awful. i had to put it down and cry.

cryptozoology

the bermuda triangle theories (i’m not saying i believe sOmEtHiNg’S gOiNg On but i think some of the theories are interesting)

ghosts

the nancy drew computer games

monopoly

i still play a lot of my snes games; my go-to time killer and head-clearer honestly is kirby’s avalanche. i also play a lot of super mario rpg legend of the seven stars, super mario world, kirby’s dreamland 3, and donkey kong 2 and 3

final fantasy x in which i’m guaranteed to call almost (i can’t stress that enough) every character at some point “my child”

hyrule warriors, i know it’s not a tRuE zelda game but it’s fucking fun

same with fire emblem warriors

red dead redemption

kingdom hearts

the uncharted series

splatoon but i don’t have it wahhhhh

mind you i am not very Good at videogames, i just like to play them anyway

game grumps

ninja sex party

jacksepticeye

markiplier

monty python

crocheting

tea

harry potter

classic rock. pretty big on queen lately. i like tom petty and the heartbreakers. i like joan jett and the blackhearts.

i just... like rock. across the board. i like the offspring. i like some rage against the machine songs. acdc on the radio makes me happy. def leppard on the radio makes me happy. beartooth, starset, powerman 5000, as long as it’s got a good beat and good stuff going on behind the vocals then i’m gonna be happy. i’m way more into the guitars and the bass and everything going on instrumentally than i am vocally, honestly. the whole big guitar solo to van halen’s “you really got me” and then that bassline that comes in, that bassline is sexy. it’s so simple but i LIKE it.

anyway music as a whole gets me right in the heart and can lift me up when i am at my literal worst point

it’s hard for me to name a favorite or specific bands that i like because there’s so many and i’m not really picky about it. 

pop vinyls

good ol’ vines

buffalo wings

mac and cheese

grilled cheese

dr. pepper

i drink a l o t of dr. pepper

pretending i know how to do makeup well

history; i watch a lot of expedition unknown and mysteries at the museum, and sometimes i’ll watch a free documentary on youtube if it catches my attention. last weekend i explained the donner party to my boyfriend. just.. on a whim. because i’d just watched a thing on it and he said he didn’t really know what it was. i’m that person.

OH I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS BACK AROUND TRUE CRIME BUT I READ A BOOK ABOUT H.H. HOLMES AND HIS MURDER CASTLE AND THE CHICAGO WORLD’S FAIR. it was by erik larson, i believe. larsen? i could google this. devil in the white city. there’s been talks to make it a movie. it’s a good read though i will admit i skipped a lot of the fair parts because i was there for the murder.

i also read a book about the lusitania by the same author and i was like ohhh my goooood what. it got a little boring sometimes, i had to push myself to keep going, but i would read dead wake again.

csi: miami reruns are the greatest thing don’t @ me

dark purple and black aesthetics

just like... witchy aesthetics. those colors and black cats

if you haven’t noticed by any selfies i’ve posted, i do have my lip pierced and i love finding new lip jewelry. i have a new opal stud in and i love its look

leather jackets

combat boots; i have a galaxy print pair and a pair with classic marvel comics stuff printed on the inside and you can fold down the sides to show it. they’re my faves.

owls

drunk history

the first 5 seasons of supernatural and i still have a soft spot for the winchesters and castiel

i’m slowly making my way through watching the librarians

i’m also making my way slowly through watching the magicians

(american) football

nature walks

going to the zoo

going to the aquarium

like really take me to either of the above and i will lose my shit

road trips

savannah, georgia

the smokey mountains

last august i drove by myself from ohio to boone, north carolina for a friend’s wedding and that wedding was smack on a mountain top and it was the coolest thing i think i’ve ever done

roller coasters BUT NOT EXTREME ONES baby steps ok

log rides tho, i don’t know why, i always love the water rides

ren faires!

cosplay, even though i’m not exactly active in it myself (but i want to be; one of my offline friends is an actually-getting-kind-of-internet-famous mei from overwatch cosplayer)

cards against humanity

foosball

pool but i suck at it

speaking of pools i love swimming ... but i suck at it, i just like boppin’ along in a pool

cookouts

summer

there is nothing like being out in the middle of nowhere in summer when the evening starts to fall and the sky is dark, dark blue and there’s a sea of shimmering lightning bugs out over a field. it’s beautiful. it’s peaceful.

there’s nothing like sitting outside on a calm spring night and listening to the spring peepers (they’re frogs) either.

if you couldn’t tell, i live in the middle of nowhere. i have to find enjoyment in the little things.

campfires

dancing around said campfire, you cannot have a campfire without good music. this is when a lot of my classic rock education came to pass.

elephants

my favorite books are the abhorsen trilogy by garth nix, tied with the serpent’s shadow by mercedes lackey

i am trying to get into comic books by way of the youtube channel comicstorian. they break comic books down for you and read them aloud with the images, altered slightly to avoid copyright strikes (and that’s all made very clear, it’s not done sketchily), and it’s been really easy for someone like me who doesn’t just have a comics store close (and i would otherwise continue on as i have been, forgetting to ever look for them on the internet). i listened to injustice 1 and 2, and they covered the game. i’m actively following scooby apocalypse, and there was some teen titans stuff i went all the way through up until now. i don’t think it’s finished yet from what i remember.

i love museums

candles

i actually kind of collect tea sets

i also have a collection of sand art bottles AND IF I’M EVER AT A FESTIVAL OR A FAIR WHERE THERE IS A SAND ART STAND YOU CAN BET I AM GOING TO MAKE ONE

yugioh duels; i’m definitely just a novice and it’s just a fun pastime my friends got me into when they found their giant binders of cards again

i’m not actually that big on pokemon, i don’t know a lot of them but it’s still fun and i know some. but i did love pokemon go when my friends still played it (don’t really have time anymore, and it kept crashing way too badly on one of their phones anymore anytime they tried to join a raid and it just wasn’t fun as a group then)

i don’t have any but i like the ~look of crystals and would like to have some, not for my own aesthetic but i just... like having pretty things!

listening to the rain

how the air smells (at least where i live) after a long rain and everything is just cleansed

depression has stopped me from writing for a long time but, in my heart, writing has always been something that has touched me ever since i knew how to do it and could put my stories down on paper instead of having to just talk about them... so i’m going to include that here

root beer floats

hotdogs

hard dip ice cream (if you don’t know what hard dip means... as my boyfriend didn’t... it means ice cream that you have to use a scoop with, not soft serve)

soft serve’s good too tho don’t get me wrong

strawberry milkshakes

this isn’t even stuff that anyone would need to know on this site to befriend me at this point, nobody’s gonna message me like HEY I READ YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKES ME FUCKING TOO

you’re cool if you do that lmao

so bad they’re good creature features from the 50s and 60s

the old godzilla movies

i like the moon more than the stars, but i like them too

flower crowns

bouncy balls

original skittles

this has gone on way too long, nobody is reading this, your mom’s a hoe, goodnight

no she’s not, i’m sorry, if you got this far then i hope your mom is a nice person

#about me #THERE'S A LONGASS LIST OF THINGS I LIKE IN HERE SO IF YOU WANT TO BE MY FRIEND THEN THERE'S A PLACE TO START #OK THEN

[whovian223]

It’s week 3 of our weekly look through the Boardgame Geek Top 100 to see what games I’ve played and which ones I may be interested in playing.

Last week I got educated about Dominion, maybe even enough to try it again some day.

What will this week bring?

Maybe a treatise on train games?

You got that in you, Dave? (let’s see if he reads this…)

I picture Dave like this.

Let’s see if he even sees this…if so, I’m sorry.

Anyway, this week there are a lot more that I’ve played, and some good stuff in here.

And some…well, not so good stuff. At least for me.

So let’s get started!

#80 – Roll for the Galaxy (Rio Grande Games) – 2014

Designers: Wei-Hwa Huang, Thomas Lehmann

Artists: Martin Hoffmann, Claus Stephan, Mirko Suzuki

Roll for the Galaxy is the dice version of Lehmann’s Roll for the Galaxy, but it is so much more than that.

No screenshots of the app yet, so have to make do with boring pictures of the tabletop game

Each player will get a set number and type of dice depending on their starting world development that they choose at the beginning of the game. These dice will then be rolled and secretly used to activate actions.

You get points based on the points on the tiles that you build, whether they are developments or worlds that you colonize (just like the card game) but you have to assign dice to these tiles on your player sheet. Each tile takes the number of dice equal to the point value to put them into your tableau. If you don’t build it in one shot, those dice are trapped until you do.

When you assign your dice, you have to choose one action to activate (Explore, Develop, Settle, Produce and Ship). You can use any die to activate an action, but all subsequent dice assigned to that action have to actually have that action’s symbol (there are ways around that, of course).

If somebody else chose an action that you have dice for, you get to use those dice as well, but if nobody did, they go back into your cup.

I really like this game a lot, and it’s a shame that I haven’t played it since 2017. It just hasn’t come out to the table since then and the one guy who owns it hasn’t been to our game day in quite a while.

I have played some games on Boardgame Arena, though, which is nice.

Here’s hoping I do get it to the table again soon!

#79 – Russian Railroads (Z-Man Games) – 2013

Designers: Helmut Ohley, Leonhard “Lonny” Orgler

Artists: Martin Hoffmann, Claus Stephan

Two entries in a row with Hoffmann & Stephan art!

Russian Railroads is a game that breaks my brain, though part of that is because I tried to figure it out on Boardgame Arena a few times.

It never really made that much sense to me, but I think I have an inkling of what’s going on in the game.

I’m just terrible at optimizing actions.

Needless to say, I’ve never played it on the table, though it has shown up at a couple of game days in the last year or so.

There’s just been something else I wanted to play instead.

Essentially you’re trying to build the best railway network in Russia (I assume, based on the name).

From BGG:

“The development of simple tracks will quickly bring the players to important places, while the modernization of their railway network will improve the efficiency of their machinery. Newer locomotives cover greater distances and factories churn out improved technology. Engineers, when used effectively, can be the extra boost that an empire needs to race past the competition.”

There are three tracks that you’re trying to extend, but you’re also trying to make them good tracks, as well as doing other things. There are multiple paths to victory (so they say) and like most games where that’s the case, I always found myself doing a little of everything and thus falling way behind.

I wouldn’t mind trying this once just to see if I can wrap my head around it when I can physically manipulate the pieces.

However, it’s not that urgent.

If I never get the chance to play it, I won’t be that heart-broken.

Fans of the game, tell me why I should play this as soon as possible.

And then maybe I’ll do it.

#78 – Codenames (Czech Games Edition) – 2015

Designer: Vlaada Chvátil

Artists: Stéphane Gantiez, Tomáš Kučerovský, Filip Murmak

I’m not big into party games for some reason. Maybe I’m just an anti-fun guy, I don’t know.

Codenames is a party game in that there are two teams of multiple players and they’re both trying to make contact with their agents by using the clues that the clue-giver on the team says to try and identify the words on the table that match their agents.

A number of cards with words are laid out in a 5×5 grid. The clue-givers on each team have a layout of which cards are their agents and which ones aren’t. They give one-word clues and say how many of the cards they are referencing with that clue.

The other players have to then try to guess, but if they choose one of the opposing team’s agents, they their turn ends and that helps the other team because they have fewer agents to identify. If they choose an innocent bystander, their turn just ends.

If they choose their own, then they can keep guessing. If either team accidentally chooses the assassin, they lose.

The starting team has 9 agents to identify while the other team has 8.

Whoever identifies all of their agents first wins!

Codenames is a fun little game but it’s not something that really grabbed me that hard. I’m not that great at deduction games and I am a terrible clue-giver in this one. I haven’t played it since 2016 (back when I was less diligent taking pictures, as I couldn’t find one!) and I have no aching desire to do so either.

Of course, it’s moved on now with multiple variations of the same thing (Marvel, Disney, etc), including a 2-player cooperative game!

So many Codenames, so little time.

#77 – Architects of the West Kingdom (Renegade Games Studios/Garphill Games) – 2018

Designers: Shem Phillips, S J Macdonald

Artist: Mihajlo Dimitrievski

On the other hand, how about one of my Top 10 games played of all time?

Yeah, that would be Architects of the West Kingdom, a game that I’ve reviewed here (and people really seem to gravitate towards it as it now has my second-highest view count on this blog)

Blue didn’t build much, I see…

Go check out the review if you want to know how to play, but why do I like it so much?

I love the “place workers to get resources and the more workers you have there, the more you get but somebody might come and capture all of them to weaken you again” mechanic (say that 3 times fast!). I love the apprentices and how they work to make your actions even better, or at least help you build more buildings.

I love the Black Market and how Virtue can get you points but also can affect whether you can either build in the Church or visit the Black Market (though come on, in reality if you are too virtuous to visit the Black Market you would find a way to get somebody to go for you).

Everything just goes together so well and it’s a blast to play. And it doesn’t even take that long either.

The University adornment gets you a new building card and 2 more points! The Smithy adornment gets you three stone immediately and also 2 more points.

I only have one play of the game with the Age of the Artisans expansion, but I think it will make this game go up even higher in my esteem (if that’s possible).

After you’re done reading this review, go try a game of this however you can. See if you think I’m right.

Because I am.

#76 –Marvel Champions: the Card Game (Fantasy Flight Games) – 2019

Designers: Michael Boggs, Nate French, Caleb Grace

Artists: N/A

I first (and only) played this game at OrcaCon in January and while it ain’t no Marvel Legendary it is kind of fun in its own right.

It’s a totally cooperative game where you all play a Marvel hero (I believe there are 4 in the basic box?) that will be teaming up with other heroes to defeat the nasty villains and their schemes.

The base box comes with Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Iron Man but you can buy multiple expansion packs with new cards, new heroes, new villains, and stuff like that.

It was a fun game and I liked how it scales based on the number of players (basically each player draws a card from the villain deck at the end of their turn and has to face what happens, so fewer players means that fewer cards come out.

I just have a thing about Living Card Games (LCGs). I don’t want to be constantly buying new stuff, even though I do like that you know what the new stuff will be rather than buying random Magic: the Gathering packs.

The Marvel Champions packs seem to just add new scenarios and heroes and stuff. I don’t think they add cards for the original heroes (though maybe they do? Somebody please tell me).

The other LCGs that I took a look at, namely Arkham Horror: the Card Game, while you can play with the suggested decks it also has deck customization options as well. I don’t want to construct a deck before each scenario/story and that along with having to buy more and more stuff to get the varied content has just turned me off to the whole concept.

However, as a standalone experience, Marvel Champions was a fun game to play and I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to play it again.

LCGs just don’t really appeal to me in general as far as playing multiple times.

Somebody tell me what I’m missing.

#75 – Aeon’s End (Indie Boards & Cards) – 2016

Designer: Kevin Riley

Artists: Gong Studios, Stephanie Gustafsson, Scott Hartman, Daniel Solis

Aeon’s End is a cooperative card game where you are trying to defend a town from ancient evil (or maybe just evil in general).

You will choose a Nemesis which will come with its own card deck and then up to 4 players.

There are a couple of interesting-sounding twists to this.

First, there is no shuffling. When you discard your hand, you choose the order it goes in. When you are out of cards, you just flip your discard pile over and start playing again. So you know exactly what cards are coming and when.

Secondly, who acts first, second, etc, is completely randomized. The bad guys could go twice in a row, or maybe it will end up being in order.

Who knows?

From the app, since I haven’t played this before

I have only played the Steam version of Aeon’s End and I know I’m having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to play this and win. I know the basic rules (or can pick them up again, as I haven’t played in a while), but I get my ass kicked every time I play.

It’s starting to hurt.

I wouldn’t mind trying this on the table once, especially with somebody who’s played it before and can coach me.

Because otherwise, there’s no way to win.

When a village sees me coming to protect it, they start setting up their wills and everything because they know they’re going to die.

#74 – Patchwork (Lookout Games) – 2014

Designer: Uwe Rosenberg

Artist: Klemens Franz

Patchwork is a 2-player tile-laying game where you are trying to fill a grid (quilt) with a bunch of different misshapen pieces of cardboard (fabric). You are collecting buttons that will then enable you to take one of up to three pieces that are available to you (depending on how many buttons they cost).

At the end of the game, your points will be the number of buttons you have minus points for any missing squares on your grid.

I have to say that tile-laying “Tetris-shaped pieces” games don’t really do a lot for me.

When I first (and only time) played it on the table back in March 2016, I didn’t really care for it that much.

I don’t like spatial puzzles and this was the ultimate in spatial puzzles.

Then I played the app.

Wow, man, I fell in love with it.

Sure, I still suck at it and probably will never win a game.

But I decided that it didn’t matter. I really really like it.

So much so that I have finally bought a copy (when 401 Games is able to get it to me).

I’ll be able to let you know more a little later whether the game on the table holds up or not.

I’m really looking forward to it, actually.

#73 – Agricola – Revised Edition (Lookout Games) – 2016

Designer: Uwe Rosenberg

Artist: Klemens Franz

It’s a Lookout Games/Uwe Rosenberg/Klemens Franz twofer!!!!!

Yes, we have another Uwe game with Klemens art but they couldn’t be any more different.

Agricola is the first of Uwe’s many “place workers (family members) somewhere to get something, and then don’t forget to feed them at the end or bad things will happen” games (For some reason I have trouble shortening these descriptions).

In it, you’re running a family farm, trying to build up your farmhouse, raise many sorts of animals and plant your crops.

Each round an additional space opens up for you to place your worker, where you can get resources, food, animals or crops to then sow in your plowed fields.

At the end of a certain number of rounds, you have to have enough food to feed all of your family members.

Don’t worry, nobody dies. You just have to beg for food (and lose points).

Might be more fun if somebody did die.

It would be an Ameritrash game then!

I have never played this game on the table, but I have played the app of the original version (this revised edition came out in 2016).

I’m honestly not really sure what the Revised Edition does.

I really don’t enjoy this game that much. The idea of feeding your family is ok (and has been done in many games since) but it’s a very punishing game.

I have never been able to figure this one out. I have played its sister game, Caverna, and it’s much more pleasurable to me (though I still haven’t played it in a long time). Caverna isn’t quite as punishing with the feeding mechanism and that makes me feel less trapped.

I’ve played this on the app recently and unfortunately it still doesn’t agree with me.

Sorry to you fans.

#72 – Troyes (Pearl Games) – 2010

Designer: Sébastien Dujardin, Xavier Georges, Alain Orban

Artists: Sébastien Dujardin, Xavier Georges, Alain Orban, Alexandre Roche

I played this game once on the table but have played many games on Boardgame Arena since then.

This is a dice rolling and drafting (kind of) game where you are managing your own section of the population of this famous city (pronounced “Twah” for those uninitiated). This population is in the form of dice depending on what regions you have your people stationed: Religious, Civil or Military.

You roll your dice and then the first thing everybody has to do is beat off invasions using some of their dice.

Remaining dice are then used to do various actions around the city (or out in the countryside where you may use them to cancel bad stuff that’s sitting out there). You can even buy your opponents’ dice because you need more and you don’t want them to have them.

That can be a mean thing.

It’s a game I enjoy but don’t love, and I haven’t had much of an urge to get it to the table again (not that I could without buying it, as I don’t think anybody I know has it anymore).

It’s fun enough, though, and I’m always willing to play an asynchronous game on BGA, but it’s not something I’m burning to play again any time soon.

I do like the dice drafting mechanics and how you can place your workers in a bunch of different areas to make actions more efficient (as well as possibly get points for them at the end of the game).

I really like how you can buy other players’ dice too.

Overall, I think it’s worthy of its spot in the Top 100 even if it wouldn’t be in mine (well, maybe it would since I’ve only played something like 350 games, but you know what I mean).

#71 – Battlestar Galactica: the Board Game (Fantasy Flight Games) – 2008

Designer: Corey Konieczka

Artists: Kevin Childress, Andrew Navaro, Brian Schomburg, WiL Springer

And now we come to almost the ultimate hidden traitor game, a game that sounds so cool that I really want to play it.

Sadly, I never have.

And it’s not for lack of opportunity, because I have seen it being set up at conventions and stuff.

It just intimidates the crap out of me, partially because of the deduction aspect and partially because it can take 2-3 hours to play. Every time I’ve had the opportunity, something has just told me “no, you need to leave yourself open to other stuff” and I back away slowly.

Maybe I’m a Cylon in disguise and I just don’t know it?

It’s a semi-cooperative game because you are trying to get the Humans to safety, but some of you (at least one, I think, and perhaps more than one?) are Cylons hidden for years without even knowing about it, programmed to doom humanity.

Do you hide the fact that you’re a Cylon or do you just go balls to the wall and try to kill everybody?

Those sound like exciting decisions.

If I ever get back to a con and I see this being set up (or if it’s a scheduled game), I need to sit down and play it.

Scratch that itch, fulfill that dream, kill that human get the humans to Earth.

Crap, that was supposed to be a “delete,” not “strikethrough”

I have revealed myself.

Run for your lives!!!!

So we’ve reached the end of another week. I’ve played 6 this week with one on Boardgame Arena and one on Steam (also an iOS app if you don’t count the Revised Edition). Not too bad.

That makes 13 that I’ve played “officially” (on the table) out of the bottom 30. Almost 50%

Will that go up or down next week?

I guess you’ll have to tune in and find out.

What do you think of these games? Love them? Hate them? Good enough for Cylons but not you?

Is there something I really need to play in there?

Let me know in the comments.

Posts in this Series:

#100-91 #90-81 #80-71

Boardgame Geek Top 100 - Played or Play? 80-71 #boardgames @riograndegames @Zmangames_ @FFGames @czechgames @PlayRenegade @garphillgames @IBCGames It's week 3 of our weekly look through the Boardgame Geek Top 100 to see what games I've played and which ones I may be interested in playing.

#Aeon&039;s End #Agricola #Alain Orban #Architects of the West Kingdom #Battlestar Galactica #Card Games #CodeNames #Corey Konieczka #Czech Games Edition #Dice-rolling #Fantasy Flight Games #Garphill Games #Helmut Ohley #Hidden Traitor #Indie Boards & Cards #Kevin Riley #Leonhard Orgler #Lookout Games #Marvel Champsions: the Card Game #Party Games #Patchwork #Renegade Games Studios #Rio Grande Games #Roll for the Galaxy #Russian Railroads #Sébastien Dujardin #Shem Phillips #SJ MacDonald #Tile-Laying Games #Tom Lehmann

[singingintothevoid]

New Friend

Siren smirked as she leaned forward, sweeping the chips to her side of the table in a flashy, pointless gesture.

“I’m gettin’ full value outta ya buddy,” She drawled, grinning just a little wider so the points of her teeth were visible.  “Goods’ll be picked up in about fifteen hours, an’ so help me, if ya try to cheat me, there won’t be a meteor in this galaxy ya ass would be safe in.”

The blue man slumped, an impressive move given the size of his shoulders, and Siren laughed, plucking the datastick from her tablemate’s unresistant hand.  “Not that ya could!  Doubt ya got credits left for fuel!”  

In her moment of gloating, she missed her victim turn to mutter something to his bodyguard, who angrily stomped away.  Not that she had paid much attention to his presence anyway; when she was here, sizing up others was Lash and Spackle’s job.  The more she held herself as a rich, cocky brat, the less people expected of her, and the more she could get away with.  And she got away with a lot.  For example, her taunting about being cheated was so heavily hypocritical her tongue should be making clanging noises against her teeth, as Chamile was currently hanging on the ceiling, invisible, and quietly relaying the other’s hand to her over an earpiece radio.   Over at the dice table, Chirp had his antenna tucked under a hat as he quietly tilted dice for Zentara, who was flirting just enough that no one was paying any attention to the scrawny kid beside her.

But rules were things for other people.

Her opponent (he had introduced himself when he sat at her table, but she had promptly forgot and had been thinking of him as Fresh Meat all night) stood, glowering at her.  Siren just grinned wider, settling back in her chair, as Lash and Spackle stepped forward.  Meat looked like he was considering it anyway, probably because he alone was as wide as the two of them together, but decided against it in the smartest move he had made all night.  

“Run along, buddy.”  A casino bouncer had come along, and rested his hand on Meat’s shoulder.  “Computer says you don’t have enough credits left to stay.”  Meat, having been given a smaller target and the smashing realization he had, in fact, just bet away almost everything he owned and now had nearly nothing left, turned and punched the man in the face.  The bouncer didn’t budge, and Meat recoiled with what definitely looked like a broken hand.  

Siren didn’t care to stay and see how this was going to go down, and promptly sauntered off as the bouncer pulled back for his own punch and a flock of black-suited bouncers descended on the starting fight.  She didn’t feel bad.  Meat had been downright rude to the waitstaff, and that was the lowest kind of person.  Even space pirate had standards.

“Let’s get drinks.  On me.”  Siren decided, as they exited.  Hailstorm and Warhound pushed themselves to their feet from their seats next to the door and fell into step beside them.  Chamile became visible next to the two, and gave a quiet cheer.

Drinking on won money was almost always a bad idea, and last night was not the exception.  There always seemed to be even less concern with how much money was spent, and on backwater planets like this, there was some potent stuff if you had the credits for it.

Siren dragged herself out of her tank, glad she had made it in, because most of the rest of her crew were going to be useless for the rest of the day.  This way she was at least somewhat safe from the hangover, having spent the night hydrated.  She peered at herself in the mirror, tugging a brush through her hair, which was already drying, thanks to its oils.  Wasn’t much she was going to do about the circles under her eyes today, and she was already in a losing battle with the crows feet.  “We’re only thirty-eight.”  She snapped at her reflection.  “It’s bad enough we got white hair already, stop that!”

“Stress does terrible things, boss-lady.”  Shine commented from her doorway, smiling serenely.

“So it’s all y’all’s fault.”  Siren grumped.  “Noted.  Ya need somthin’?”

“Not particularly.  However, you may be interested to know that your winnings from last night have been delivered.  Also, the man you won them from who started the fight as we were leaving?  He’s going to be working at the casino until he can pay off the fine they levied against him, so we might want to avoid it for a while.”

“Go figure.”  Siren sighed dramatically.  “Was one of the only ones ‘round her we could still get in’ta.”

Shine smiled.  “Guess we’ll have to actually work a job then.”  She narrowed her eyes slightly.  “I am surprised though...  You almost never drain someone completely like that.”

“‘E was ‘n idiot.”  Siren shrugged, and yanked her coat on.  “Shouldn’ta bet more than ‘e was willin’ ta lose.”  She reflected for a moment.  “He also slapped the waitress’s ass.  I didn’t like that.”

“Hmm...”

“Anyway, where’s ‘Ailstorm?  I need someone sober ta help move shit.”

It hadn’t really occurred to Siren that when you win all “easily liquefied assets” from a man who owns slaves...  That included slaves.  But here sat the long haired man who had been behind Meat all night, with the rumpled look of someone who had spent a night sleeping on a crate.  And now he was glaring at her, holding tight to a small sack that must have held everything he owned in the world.  Siren probably looked much the same when she was dropped off in the orphanage.  

“No!”  She screeched again, jabbing one finger at the employee, who was almost straining something with the level of ‘I couldn’t give less of a shit’ attitude they were exuding.  “I don’t do slaves!  I don’t deal in ‘em, I don’t transport ‘em, and I certainly don’t win people!”

“Well, you won this one, and he can’t stay in here.  I’m obligated to make sure all your winnings get off planet with you, and that includes this...”  He glanced at his tablet.  “Theoric.  An Asgaurdian combat slave, about 900 standard years of age.  Male, and fuckin’ smells it.”  Behind him, Theoric looked massively offended, and tried to give himself a subtle sniff.  The employee closed the program, and popped the data stick out.  “His info and ownership papers are all on here.  You could give him back, but he’d just get sold to cover his old master’s debt to our casino, and the owners don’t care who buys those they sell.”  (The offended expression switched to vague panic.)

Siren stared at the man, unable to form words through her fury.  Next to her, Hailstorm was almost vibrating from his own disgust.  Pretty much everyone on her ship saw eye to eye on slavery, but that had never stopped him from going on long, angry rants about it.  

Shine stepped forward, before Hailstorm could explode, and took the stick from the man’s hand.  “Of course we’ll take him.”  She was releasing her calming pheromones, and to her (decreasing) frustration, Siren felt herself respond to them.  “I know where this place sells people.  I don’t wish that on anyone.”

“Fine.”  Siren seethed.  “Alrighty, Mr. Theoric, come aboard.  I’ll find ya a room without some weird ass bird in it, and decide whatta do with yer ass once we get off this shithole.”  She stomped back up the gangpank into her ship, waving for him to follow her.  Shine smiled apologetically at the man.  

“She’s nicer than she acts, I promise.”  She patted his shoulder as he walked past, before moving to help bring boxes into the cargo bay.

They found a room Theoric could put his stuff down on the third try.  First door had a large, blinking machine making concerning noises in it, and the second did indeed have a large, weird bird, which flew at Siren when she opened to door, shrieking wildly.

“First order of business, is you are taking a shower.”  Siren wrinkled her nose.  “I’ve lived with an unwashed crew once before, and its not ever happening again.”  She pointed out the shower room, and continued, “Once you do that, come out.  We’ll figure out getting you free.”

Theoric bolted into the shower with more enthusiasm than she expected, though he did mutter something about not stinking THAT bad.

Siren sat on what was to be Theoric’s bed, and brooded.  Slaves were documented, so that meant she had to go submit paperwork for not only his transfer to her ownership (a frustrating mess), but also for his freedom (An even more frustrating mess.)  It also wasn’t much help that she had been banned from the planet as a slave thief, a title she wore with pride.  The Goats had told her about how slave escaped on their home planet, how simple it was in comparison...  Cross the right boarder and you were generally safe.  (Actually, it had been a much more complex explanation, but there was just something about Chamile trying to explain things that made Siren lose all focus and retention)

Here, if you were stolen as a slave, your paperwork had to be stolen too, and then purchase or exchange information forged, then you would still generally have to be on the watch for bounties out on you.  And that was just if you were being stolen by another master.  Stolen to be freed?  It was easier just to find a way to fake your death.  Fake identities for ex-slaves were highly sought after, and Siren was pretty sure that’s how Zentara made most of her money.  They hopefully wouldn’t need that though, considering this was all done legit.  

Huh.

That was a weird feeling.  Though she supposed bounties were things done legitimately...  Probably...

Her musing was interrupted by Theoric coming back out, toweling his hair.  There had only been one towel in there.  Nothing she hadn’t seen before, but...

“So I suppose the “ass-gaurd” part ain’t really embraced in yer culture, huh?”  She drawled, giving it a vague inspection.  Probably in the top twenty she’d seen, and that was saying something considering how many brothels she had wandered around in.  

#sonofthefrosthearted #Theoric #drabble

[feyariel]

While I was figuring all of this out, I heard movement on my desk. I’ve been keeping a box of food from the apartment in my room and had worried about the mice getting into the bag of rice or pudding boxes. Well, sure enough, they had - the rice, at least. There’s also angel hair in there, but it’s buried, so they’ll have to gnaw through the larger box to get to it. Hopefully they do not resort to that before I get my own place.

I tried de-cluttering my backpack, but this time all I ended up removing was some change and my DS games, which I had already removed once. Currently, it holds an aluminum water bottle (blue, with an etched Japanese flower motif; dented, attached to a clip), an Italian cookbook I bought while studying abroad (I wish I had also bought its companion book, which is all about pasta), The Little Black Book of Tea (which is more handy for understanding tea differences than anything), two notebooks, Merlin: The Prophet and his History (which keeps cropping up whenever I come across a bibliomancy meme), my “gay outfit,” my old sketchbook, my pencil case, what’s left of my bag of trinkets, Second Darkness: Children of the Void, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, my 3DS with Pokémon Y (because I spent so long on it and haven’t quite finished it), my Game Boy Micro and its games, my Tarot Cats in their bag, my stablet with its charging cable (which I should replace with one that won’t break), earbuds, a keyboard for the stablet, my iPhone 3G in its box (because I wanted to put it back in - I loved that thing), my glucometer bag (containing the glucometer, used and fresh test strips, a used lancet in a spring-loaded device, my old pump, and an emergency ID necklace - in other words, proof), and of course my icon/sigil of Fotamecus. I am tempted of attaching my shinai to it all, as it has sentimental value, but it won’t fit in the bag. I feel like I should reduce those contents substantially - I’ve excluded The Night Circus (because it’s a magic item in its own right and I fret that it will interfere with the spell), my 3DS games in their boxes (besides what I’ve already listed), the 3DS box and manual, all other video game stuff (including Ori and the Blind Forest [which I wouldn’t be able to play anyway, though I’d love to have more storage space on my stablet to mess with it, but would need either a Windows 10 install or a method of turning the stablet into an XBox One], both copies of Okami, Super Mario Galaxy, Twilight Princess, every version of Pokémon not released before August 2005, and every game I could have bought that wasn’t a Game Boy game), several books which are either too large or would be released shortly thereafter anyway or could use some redoing, and miscellaneous other stuff. All in all, I’ve  removed a lot of material and what is left is stuff that, even if it isn’t irreplaceable, holds significant meaning to me or (as in the case of the cooking stuff) seems imminently useful.

I know I’ve included my baoding balls in a separate pouch; I have not investigated whether or not I’ve included my dice (specifically my TU dice), as I keep forgetting that I have that pouch filled at all and I’m trying my darnedest to forget about it. That stuff is small enough not to matter much and relevant enough that I don’t want to toss them. The balls, however, concern me: I suspect that they, too, might be enchanted (or at least have a numinous quality to them, if not purposefully ensorcelled) and I’d rather not have such things interfere with the spell.

Earlier, I had a dream about the amount of objects (both in strict numbers and in measures [volume, mass, weight, etc.]) which I might take. It was clear it was my upper brain thinking through experiments to see what all I can and cannot take and what I must do to expand that capacity, but it was nonetheless intriguing. There are a great many things (my blue, USB-powered desk fan, for one) which I would love to take back with me but which I don’t think I can, especially if I’m trying to conserve room.

Were I to remove more items, I would struggle to get down to the icon/sigil, the glucometer bag, the Tarot cats, the gay outfit, the stablet, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, the old sketchbook, and maybe something else (the Game Boy Micro, the bag of trinkets, etc.). There are several things in there which seem necessary to include (the water bottle in particular) or else something I feel like I’ve been told to take (the Micro being one of those). The only thing I probably wouldn’t struggle removing would be the 3DS if I were to complete the Pokédex and got a replacement set of legendaries (specifically Celebi), but it’s in there because of that need. Similarly, the bag of tokens has change in it, but it’s now all change from before 2006; I had been keeping money in it in general (since I had so little), but it was getting very heavy. I’d consider keeping a piggy bank in there, but that seems like a recipe for sitting on my thumbs and not getting anywhere with this spell. (The 3DS is also there, but I’m at a point at which I could beat the game and just deal with having a fake Celebi, WiFi access or not.)

My hope is that something good happens soon. I’m trying to keep ahead on this packing thing so it’s not another impediment (though it could be one on its own) and I’m avoiding making too many time commitments/plans so as not to be in strong anticipation mode (fretting et al tends to backfire). I’m keeping my fingers crossed.