#when were bunk beds invented

[womengeorge7]

The smart Trick of Bunk bed That Nobody is Talking About

Although no one can validate its origin or appearance, there’s no questioning the fact that bunk bedrooms have been about for grows older. The name bunk mattress (recommending to the long oven utilized through the people residing on the pitches of Mount Lola), the typical term utilized through Europeans to define the place where many folks were constrained to their resting area due to a shortage of meals, water or home, and the probability of cannibalism. Loft mattress, futon bunk beds and routine bunk beds, in one form or another, have maintained the bedrooms and centers of parents and little ones for generations on end. (The sanctuary is the only one outside of Los Angeles that uses a location for those along with mental illness to remain.). The very most latest changes are an boost in children coming from birth with quality 6 years and moms and dads in the sanctuary who are likewise little ones of moms and dads in destitution and have been homeless for even more than a years. And with great factor too – because there is actually nothing rather like the fun and pleasure that comes along with resting in a bunk along with your finest good friend or beloved cousin and conversing the night away – when you very well recognize that you must be taking a snooze rather. The upcoming time you fall sleeping at house, offer yourself opportunity to assume about your mattress and find how it's really feeling under the pieces. You may feel bad that you were sleeping too early. And while it’s almost challenging to trace where they came from, it appears that we can enjoy the ancient Egyptians for, at the quite the very least, the tip and the concept of bunk bedrooms. The name bunk bedrooms (referring to the long stoves made use of by the individuals for rest) is derived coming from the term "shelter," a combination of each "bunb" and "bulk.". Official Info Here is the way that shelters are placed after fire. And also though there aren’t any noticeable items of statement to validate this, it can easily be securely presumed that the loft space beds of the early Egyptians appeared pretty contrary to the present day and glamorous bunkers that we are familiar along with and comfortable to today. While the sun can not beam on their faces, when they appeared at the horizon they saw, they were a various species. The sunlight's surface was cool and unskillful.

Having mentioned that, the fact of the issue is that bunk mattress have come a fantastic technique over the years. Currently in reality, we have found three bunk bedrooms have come under our control. The biggest results would have been as a result of to the accessibility of the most current technology, but there is likewise an integral absence of self-confidence in bunk beds that has led to therefore lots of people having them and currently not being bothered concerning them. Today’s present day and fashionable bunk bedrooms come in a total variety of concept, form, shades and drugs. The very most well-liked are produced of numerous components as well as different appearances or products. These are the product utilized, the appearances are the top qualities made use of, the quality premium is figured out through the structure with the addition of any color to the bedroom. Also only a few cloths such as black, vivid blue, etc in the title are going to be utilized to enhance. In the early days of the modern-day and prominent bunk bed, you completely would possess two blocky, identical formed and sized bunk beds perched atop one one more – a proof to operate, if not form. Not therefore today we find two significant areas that are flawlessly designed along with two mattress in the center, and two big, standard bedings responsible for each various other. Many bunk beds are constructed in spaces that are merely designed to satisfy the specific criteria – so their constructed in sizes are rather restrictive. Nonetheless, if you fast onward with a couple of years, today’s readily easily accessible and feasible bunks are identical parts resting gadgets and equivalent components works of art. The contemporary benefits of the bunks are far going over those actually accessible, yet there is room for improvement. Bunks are not the only spot to be: various other components of the world are additionally trying out at a a lot faster pace and the quality of their systems are significantly stronger than the performance of others. Yes, bunk bedrooms have developed right into not merely something that you catch in a bed room, but a focal point of the home. The bunk mattress are even more than only a item of furniture, a type of public space, and have been created along with the objective of supplying folks along with a safe, pleasurable, and relaxing home along with a silent and peaceful location to keep on the edge of the country side. They will certainly be in all respects suitable for both the person residing there as well as the household.

#when were bunk beds invented #how much does bunk beds cost #how much do bunk beds cost #childrens bunk beds at ikea

[hotxcheeto]

Heyyy, I hope you’re doing well ! I am so happy that you opened your requests again ! I would love to read a young vi x reader where through some actions the reader makes Vi realize that she’s gay. I hope it makes sense lol and thank you if you write it !

━ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐕𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒

𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜(𝙨) - Vi x Fem!Reader 

���𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 - Cursing, vi has a wound in #3, mentions/descriptions of blood and pain ( vi ), hidden feelings, friends to lovers, happy ending

𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 ? - Yeah/Nope

𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 - sorry it took forever!!!!! this is such a cute idea thoughhhhhhh thank you for requesting this! ily! <3

REBLOGS ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATED AND NOTICED!

Vi wondered three times if you were gay, three, and probably more that she doesn't remember. But these moments she does, and looking back, she wonders if it was her not getting it right away, or you not giving it too easily.

It was probably both. Yeah. It was definitely both.

#1: The time when Powder and you were hanging out, and Vi was a bit too close by, and couldn't help but listen in. But it didn't give her any answer she was looking for.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" Powder asked, scribbling onto the wall beside your bed. "Yeah, I believe in a lot of things though. Things people call crazy." Powder dropped her marker and turned to you, seeing you laid out on your pillow while staring up at the top bunk.

"Like what?"

Nearby Vi sat quietly, staring at a puzzle cube in her hand, rotating it again and again but never solving it. You had before though, many times actually, you even tried to teach Vi.

"Reincarnation. Fairies. True love and soulmates." Vi looked over at that, hands faltering around puzzle. "You believe in fairies?" Powder giggled while Vi was much more caught up on something else.

"Yep, I bet that one day I'll even see one." "Will I be there?" You nodded happily, sitting up and crossing your legs. "If you wanna be. Vi too, if she wants." Your eyes then snapped to hers, Vi looking away with a coat of blush on her cheeks.

"No way, she'd just scare away the fairies." You giggled while Vi huffed and tossed aside the cube. "No I wouldn't, you would. You're too loud for your good." Powder stuck her tongue out at this, making Vi roll her eyes and do the same.

"Alright you two, that's enough." Powder then looked back at you with a grin. "What about other things?" "Hm... like I said, I believe in soulmates, dragons are probably real. Magic."

Vi then laughed, catching your attention.

"What? Think I'm ridiculous?" She quickly shook her head, brushing her hair back while swinging her leg over the chair arm. Dangling it off the ground.

"No, but soulmates? Magic? Never seen it." You huffed. "So? Just because you've never seen it, doesn't mean it isn't real. I've never seen you cry, but I believe you're capable."

Powder nodded profusely, sliding off the mattress and walking towards her sister.

"She's got a point." The blue haired girl said, skipping towards the couch. "Shut it Pow." "Oh c'mon, Vi!"

You watched the two sisters glare at one another, silently watching while amused. Standing up and off your bed to walk towards Vi.

"Besides, everyone has a soulmate. You can't go through life alone." Vi's smile faltered at this, Powder no longer listening and having skipped off to bother her inventions that had yet to work.

"How do you know?" You shrugged, looking off while leaning against her chair.

"Well, I think that at some point everyone has had one. Romantic or not. And they may have lost them, they may have married them. But they've met them at some point. They feel it. They know."

You looked away at the walls of the room, thinking for a moment while biting your lip.

"And?" You looked back at her, meeting her eyes. "And some people, people kind of like you, just don't care. They don't chase that feeling, that person. They give up or they convince themselves they're nuts. I believe when you feel it, you go for it."

She snorted, standing up, taller than you as she moved to walk in front of your frame still sitting on the arn. Unfazed at her lack of belief.

"You really believe some guy is just out there and ready to find you?"

"Who said it was a guy?" You swore her face changed, barely, but it changed. "And I never said it was romantic." And then again, it changed once more, but again, you didn't notice. "But yeah, probably."

It was quiet, Vi staring into your eyes as you stared back.

"Y/n!" You looked over, Powder holding a few of her monkey's in hand. "C'mon we have to test them now! You promised!"

"Alright, alright I'm coming."

Vi watched you disappear, off with her sister, wondering much more about what the feeling you described, actually felt like.

#2: When Milo was a little too close to Vi's curiosity, and it ended up with you both giving away a little more than you realized.

"What about that guy?" Milo pointed to a man walking passed, Powder gagging and shaking her head. "He's hideous." "I thought you two could be soulmates!" Milo then joked, turning to smile at you while you only rolled your eyes.

"What about you Y/n? What are your opinions on that fine man?" You giggled crossing your ankles while shrugging. "He's... alright?" You swear you heard a few snorts, Powder and Milo glancing at each other. "What you don't think he's cute?" "Not really my type?" You shrugged once more, looking at them both with a questioning expression.

"I don't get it? What's so funny?" You asked, messing with your fingers. "You've said that about everybody!" Milo began, "Same thing every time, do you even have a type?" He grinned, Powder leaning over farther to be able to see you better, kicking her legs off the wall of the building.

"I do. And it isn't you, or that man." Laughter came from behind you guys, all three of your bodies shuffling to turn around. "What's funny Vi?" Milo asked, a slight frown complementing his furrowed brow.

"You don't have a chance in the world Milo." She laughed, her hands in her hoodie pockets, still dressed in what she slept in. "And you do?" You swore her face turned light red, but you didn't pay much attention, looking back down at the streets.

"What about her?" Powder pointed at a woman, walking down the road with her arms crossed. "Now that's what I'm talking about." Milo nodded earning himself a smack on the back of the neck from your pink haired friend. "Shut it Milo."

"What? Don't you agree, Y/n. She's pretty!" All you could do was laugh, then nodded. "I mean, yeah, I guess. I think, though, everyone has their own beauty to them." "Except for maybe Milo." Vi joked, Milo glaring at her. "I wouldn't talk if I were you since you seem to have a type too."

You didn't notice, but Vi couldn't help my glare at Milo, a laugh coming from Powder as she stood up.

"I'm bored, you should come play with me Y/n, Vander just got me new markers." You turned the little girl, nodding. "Sounds good, just give me a sec." Watching Powder skip off, Milo followed after her with a mutter of nonsense towards Vi, leaving you and the girl alone on the rooftop overlooking the slow to set sun.

"So I hear you have a type?" You giggled, glancing over to Vi while bumping her shoulder. "What? No, he was just being a dick." "So you're telling me you haven't had a crush?" She hurriedly shook her head. "No, just... I dunno. Never put a lot of thought into a girlfriend."

"Ahh, okay." You hummed. "What about you?" Her eyes lingered on you for a moment, watching you take a deep breath as the orange colors reflected your eyes. Her own breathing not quite catching up with the rest of her.

"Never put a lot of thought into dating, like you said." Vi nodded, biting her lip as she thought about her next question, but before she could ask you interrupted her.

"I should probably get down there with Pow, she tends to get impatient when I spend too much time with you. Scared I'll pick a favorite sister."

A smile a lingered on her lips as you stood from beside her, brushing off your pants before meeting her eyes.

"I expect you to be down, help me come up with good backstories." You jumped to the main part of the roof. "You're better at it." Vi then said. "But you're my memory, I can't remember all my best details. Quit looking at the ladies on the road and come hang out with your bestest friend in the whole world."

Her face went up in flames once again, looking away from you, though this time you caught it. Biting your lip with a grin.

"Whatever, I'll check you later. She's a ladies, lady, hates my guts." You rambled to yourself, Vi scoffing. "I'll be there soon, moron."

#3: Or the time Vi got hurt, not the first and not the last, but you were there again, and she realized that something in her hoped you'd always be.

"Ow, ow, ow.." Vi muttered to herself, lifting the side of her shirt in order for her to see the giant cut that rested on her hip. The memory of snagging it on the broken pipe replaying her mind once again.

"Mother-"

"Language.." You walked in after, carrying a first-aid kit in hand and a few other things with your arm. "How'd this one happened?" "Don't wanna talk about it." She said, anger lingering behind her words and a sour expression on her face.

"Alright then, sit please." Despite the frustration, Vi plopped down on the couch, feeling you softly pull her shirt up higher exposing her stomach to the cold air. "I'll be done before you know it, promise."

The guilt then set in, Vi looking away from you as you began to clean the blood around the cut. Focusing on being as light as possible in order to not hurt your friend.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, almost inaudible if you hadn't been sitting as close to her as you were. "It's okay Vi." "Not it's not, I feel like an asshole." "Never said you weren't." You met her stare, giving her a wink before pouring your cleaning liquid right onto the wound, watching her hiss in pain.

"You okay?" "Yeah, yeah fine." You continued to patch the wound, wiping away everything else before laying the bandage overtop of it. Vi staying silent nearly the entire rest of the time.

"Sorry about ruining your time with your friend." "We're not friends" You giggled, tapping her to sit up so you could wrap the bandage around her stomach. "What?" "Well-"

"Vi." Vander's voice came from behind you, Vi's eyes shifting from your own to right beside your head. You turned around, facing the man who had his hands on his hips and a worried look in his eyes.

"What happened out there?" Vi huffed, rolling her eyes and smacking her hands over her face. "Milo happened." "Again?"

You began to pick up your things as they talked, standing up when Vander's hand rested itself on your shoulder. The man smiling at you.

"Thanks for looking after her." "Anytime, but hopefully not again too soon?" A laugh passed through Vi's nose, the girl watching you put everything away and leave the room.

She began to hum and nod to everything Vander said, standing up from the couch. A sudden curious energy running through her, wanting her question to be answered before you could return to your friend. The one that was a little too touchy for her liking.

"Yeah no problem we'll be more careful, swear it." "Vi, are you even listening?" She nodded quickly. "Yeah, of course." "Vi." She grinned at him, walking towards the stairs.

"We'll be careful next time, swear, but you should really be lecturing Milo since he's the one that got us into that mess." Vi moved her hands around dramatically as she spoke, crossing them over her chest. "Not me. Okay? See you later!"

She skipped away before the man got a chance to argue, Vi practically flying to the front of the bar. Looking around for any sight of you.

And for a second, there wasn't one, unable to find you lurking in any of the corners or chatting around any of the tables. It was like you'd disappeared.

"Boo!" "What!" Vi whipped around, breathing heavily with her hand resting on her hip where it hurt. "Sorry, had to take the chance! You should've seen your face!" "Fuck I hate you." You continued laughing, looking around.

"What were you looking for? You seemed worried?" For a moment Vi noticed the flash of worry that crossed your face. "Nothing. What happened to that girl, that you're 'not friends' with?" You shrugged, taking her arm and walking towards an empty table. "Didn't work out." "What didn't work out?"

You sat down, Vi across from you while you grinned.

"A lot of things, and she was one of them."

"Why are you so cryptic?" Vi then asked, resting back against her chair. "Why are you so boring?" "Got me there, cupcake."

#1: The time she finally realized.

It was late, and it had been a long day, yet somehow you couldn't sleep even if it would've saved your life. Instead you sat up, laying on the couch while everyone slept around you, curtains keeping them from the rest of the room.

You instead messed with the puzzle cube, solving it before closing your eyes and mixing it up once more. Opening them to solve it once again. You did this over and over before your mind was fried, looking around in the darkness.

You wondered if Vi would mind being woken up, but instead you decided against it. Standing up and walking back towards your empty bed, except it wasn't empty anymore.

"What are you doing?" You whispered, almost startled at your voice that you hadn't heard in the hours of silence. "Making myself comfortable, my bed is too hot and Claggor snores too loud. It's quiet and cold over here."

"So invade mine, thanks." She smiled at you, despite both of you barely able to see each other. Vi then felt you climb beside her, then over her body to sleep beside the wall.

"Geez, you're hot Vi." "Thanks, cupcake." You laughed, shoving her shoulder before laying down, opting to only rest half the blanket on your legs. "Not like that, asshole." "What? You don't find me pretty?"

You finally laid against the pillow, rolling your eyes as you relaxed into the mattress.

"I find you very pretty." Vi felt her face heat up, covered by the inky room that kept her flustered state hidden. "Thanks, can say the same for you." "Such a ladies lady." It was Vi's turn to roll her eyes, hand messing with the very end of her tank top.

"Do you say that to all the girls?" You then asked, moving to rest your cold cheek on her chest, her arm still up and behind her head, closing your eyes when you felt her lower it around your shoulders.

"No, only you." You then giggled, moving to touch her stomach with your freezing fingers. "Holy shit!" She whispered, making you hide your laughter with your other hand.

"Only me, huh?" Vi hummed. "Liar." "What about you and that guy from earlier? Bet you thought he was pretty." You snorted, opening your eyes again. "No way, he's not my type."

"What is your type?" You thought for a second, opening your mouth before taking a breath. "Girls. With pink hair and loud mouths." You could feel her freeze up, hand coming to a still from twirling her shirt. "They also have to be considerably dense to flirting."

"You have a crush on Sevika?" You sputtered out broken sounds, digging your face into her stomach as you laughed, her lip between her teeth so she didn't burst out in giggles. "How'd you know?" You sat up, a grin on your lips while her eyes focused in on your face.

"You made it so obvious."

For a second you went silent, staring at one another in silence. The moonlight finally shifting into the room, hitting Vi in the face.

"Why didn't you tell me?" "It was fun, watching you squirm around the question." She scoffed, pushing you away. "Thanks."

You then turned to roll over, Vi continuing to watch you.

"What? No goodnight kiss?" You turned your head, gesturing her forward, the girl leaning towards you.

"C'mere." You grabbed her, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"Give me a real one tomorrow, that way its on your terms. Besides, I've waited long enough for you to make a move. Now I'm giving you a go ahead. Make the most of it."

Vi nodded, a cute sparkle of excitement on her face.

"Deal."

#vi x yn #vi x reader #vi x y/n #arcane vi x reader #arcane x reader #arcane imagines #arcane vi #vi imagine #vi arcane x reader #vi arcane #arcane x you #arcane x y/n

[pheavampire]

Astarion, Cazador and D&D vampire lore

Let’s talk about D&D vampires and some lore inconsistencies in Baldur’s Gate 3.

BG3 is not a game about vampires. It was obvious we won’t get a playable character who will be 100% vampire spawn from the handbooks - the mechanical balance would be disturbed in comparison with other characters. But we can list some weird stuff and missing aspects. For fun, for fanfiction, for nerdiness.

I still wonder why Cazador even asked Astarion if he wants to be turned. Sure, he could do that, so he could say later „ha ha you asked for it!” but still - weird. Anyway, a vampire lord doesn’t need to ask - he just bites his victim, kills it by drinking its blood and boom, a vampire spawn is made. Almost made…

… because at first the victim needs to be buried and layed in the ground before it rises. That’s the next question - how the hell did Cazador make 7000 spawns? Theoretically he needed to bury them all, dig them back/wait until they dig themselves out or something and transport them to his dungeon without being noticed. His servants could do that for him, but it still is a pretty big thing to cover. Besides…

… accordng to D&D 3.5 edition: "At any given time a vampire may have enslaved spawn totaling no more than twice its own Hit Dice" which means it was impossible for Cazador to create 7000 spawns. Sure, Baldur's Gate 3 uses 5 ed rules, but I'm sure they didn't change this one that much. (BUT! We can interpret this rule as: a vampire lord can create as many spawns as he wants, but the number of enslaved ones is limited. That's all right in this case).

That being said, Astarion is surprised when he discovers that all Cazador’s victims are spawns now. One of his dialogue options is „I thought Cazador was feeding on you”. Well yes, he had to feed on them to make them spawns Astarion, I thought you noticed that yourself 200 years ago. But let's say I understand your confusion, 7000 spawns mean Cazador's hit dice is 3500. Lol.

As a vampire spawn, Astarion should be able to regenerate even without biting someone. To be precise, he should get 10 health points at the start of every turn until he gets killed. But ok, this one doesn’t work in the sun, so let’s say it’s justified… unless the party is in the underdark, shadowlands or other dark place. But yeah, that would be too OP.

Astarion should be afraid of holy symbols, mirrors and garlic. That would be quite irritating, as he wouldn’t be able to even get near Selune's stuff or Lathander’s temple (Lathander HATES the undead, just ask poor Jander Sunstar). But let’s say the tadpole gave him immunity.

Spider climb. Imagine Astarion climbing walls or even ceilings like a damn Spiderman - this is what a regular vampire spawn can do. If the tadpole took away this ability, that’s not very nice of it.

Claws. Astarion should be able to transform his fingers into claws at will. That’s right, it works like another melee weapon.

Coffins, graves et cetera - bunk beds in Cazador's palace are a very anti-canon idea. Because D&D vampires have really traditional weaknesses, they always have to „sleep” in the ground they were buried in to recover - just like Cazador. Jander I mentioned earlier invented an un-lifehack, as he was traveling through Faerun by keeping some of the dirt from his grave in his pocket. He was scattering it in the place he wanted to rest for some time.

A vampire spawn can be controlled or banished by clerics like any other undead. That's right, when Shadowheart casts this one, Astarion should roll the dice, or else he will have to run away from her like those zombies you banished during your playthrough.

Last but not least, vampires get damage if they are in the flowing water, for example river, but you already know this one from the early access Astarion. Shame they removed it, in was a bit irritating but I loved it. It reminded me Astarion is a vampire not only in the dialogues.

That's all I can think of now. My knowledge is a mix of 3.5 and 5 ed, do with it what you want. I wouldn't mind more lore accuarte Astarion fanfics though.

Shocked Astarion reading D&D Monster Manual. Or Libris Mortis.

#astarion #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #cazador szarr #cazador #vampire spawn #dungeons and dragons #d&d #baldur's gate 3 spoilers

[letsquestjess]

Game Night

Summary: Crosshair struggles after rejoining his brothers, and they do everything they can to welcome him home.

Word count: 753

Warnings: None.

-- -- -- -- --

The Marauder’s consistent rumble may have been able to send some into a cosy slumber, but it held Crosshair in its clutches and refused to let him rest. Rolling in his bed, he wriggled to find a comfortable position, his jaw tightening as he worked to ignore the clanking of the crate buckles and the shaking floor. Another shock of turbulence disturbed the craft, and with a disgruntled huff, he abandoned any thoughts of sleep and sat up. 

Lula swayed at the end of his bunk, tiny red-tipped ears quivering against the wall. After reuniting with his siblings, he went about his daily tasks in silence and kept to himself. They stepped back and gave him space, but every now and again they reached out. Wrecker and Omega had taken to placing the tooka doll close by while he dozed, and on more than a few occasions, he’d left the refresher to discover a steaming cup of caf and a kind note from Echo waiting for him. 

Rotation by rotation, he started to relax, spending a few extra minutes in the cockpit with Tech and responding to Hunter with more than a huff when he asked about his well-being. But the guilt didn’t stop. When he looked at them, he remembered every shot he’d aimed at them and every hostile intention. The aftermath of the war had shattered his family, and he’d let it. 

He rose from the bunk and stretched his aching arms. Humming and beeping, Gonky waddled closer. “What do you want?” he grunted at the defective unit, skimming over the plate of cookies and the slip of paper perched on his head. He unfolded the note and trailed the words ‘game night?’ written Hunter’s almost illegible handwriting. 

If he hadn’t been a little inquisitive, he might have waved Gonky away and paced the rear of the ship until some semblance of sleep took him. But in the back of his mind, he considering if this was his chance to apologise, or at least start to. Waiting for the right words and an appropriate time was getting him nowhere. In the recesses of his heart, trembling cold and alone was a man who missed his brothers. Who wanted to joke around with Wrecker and exchange snarky remarks with Hunter until one of them broke into a grin. Who wanted to chat with Echo into the night and sit with Tech as he tinkered with his most recent invention. 

Cookie in hand, he walked into the cockpit. As the door slid open, five warm smiles greeted him.

“I was starting to wonder whether you’d be joining us,” Hunter said from beside the control panel. “Omega found our old Sabacc table, and we were telling her about the game nights we used to have on Kamino.”

Tech dragged a chair over to the table illuminating the middle of the room and parked it next to him. “I thought you could assist me for the first round.” 

Like smoke clearing after a detonation, a flicker of light shimmered through the mist. Crosshair had spent months dreading the moment his brothers might decide that forgiveness was out of the question and tell him to go. Yet here they were, arms open wide to welcome him home. Although there were difficult discussions to be had and apologies to be made, he was with his family, and that was all that mattered. “You and me against Wrecker and the kid?” he scoffed, taking the seat beside Tech. “We’ve already won this.”

“Don’t claim victory just yet,” Echo said. “You’re facing formidable opponents.”

“If the Sabacc table remains in one piece, that will be victory enough for me,” Hunter chuckled. 

“If you two are ready to be crushed, I think we should begin,” Crosshair said. “We’ll let you start.” 

“You’re on!” Omega enthused from Wrecker’s shoulder. After a few whispers, the duo made their first move, and Tech quickly responded. 

Wrecker groaned. “Oh, come on, that isn’t fair.”

“It is within the rules,” Tech replied with a shrug. 

For hours they strategised, countering moves and gasping at close calls. Laughter filled the ship, light-hearted jests flew across the table, and memories of their game nights on Kamino floated through their conversations. 

Hunter grinned at the playful chatter and shifted to Crosshair’s side, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Good to have you back, brother,” he said quietly as Tech and Wrecker squabbled over tactical advantages and Echo attempted to soothe the discussion. “Hasn’t been the same without you.”

#tbb #the bad batch #tbb fic #the bad batch fic #tbb fanfic #the bad batch fanfic #tbb fanfiction #the bad batch fanfiction #sw tbb #sw the bad batch #star wars the bad batch #sw fanfiction #tbb crosshair #tbb tech #tbb hunter #tbb echo #tbb wrecker #tbb omega #clone force 99

[feralforfrank]

LOVE CONFESSIONS IN THE DARK.

BRADLEY "ROOSTER" BRADSHAW X FEM!READER

summary you've been tasked to grab your clean clothes from the laundry room during a storm. little do you know, a certain someone has a similar task.

cw ANGST, but it's the last time. FLUFF. kind of bad writing. storms, thunder, the dark. feelings!!! miscommunication fr, definitely not how the navy operates, but idc. NON-DESCRPTIVE READER. TELL ME IF I MISSED ANYTHING.

a/n THE LONG AWAITED LAST PT3 IS HEREEEE. im feeling kind of...weird about the ending. i like it, but i dont love it. i hope you peeps enjoy it, though!! sorry for taking so long to write and post it :/

masterlist | taglist

Sunday noon came around quicker than you wanted it. You'd slept until eleven and elected to stay in bed until it was time to eat. When that time came, you ate Penny's homemade burritos that Nix had sneaked in without the boys seeing.

The two of you ate in your bed and then laid back down. Phoenix was literally on top of you, her hands supporting her head. If Hangman were to walk in now, he'd never let her live this down. Badass Nix with messy bed hair, practically cuddling her heartbroken friend. It was a rare sight.

"I'm exhausted, Nix. I wish I'd never opened my goddamn mouth." You sighed, rubbing your temples.

You were tired. After your confession, you raced back here, flopped under the covers and cried, much like the night before. You wanted to take everything back—every word, movement and facial expression. Rooster hated you, and that was the only way you could get close to him—the hatred—but now you've shattered that wall. 

He doesn't like me. I ruined whatever connection we had. Fuck that stupid mouth of mine. Why did I have to react so poorly both times? He's not mine. I want him to be mine. No. Yes. Fucking hell, this headache. Can't we go back to normal—our normal? That has been your train of thoughts for God knows how long, and it was seriously tiring you out.

"Everything will work out for you. Rooster is full of surprises," Phoenix responded reassuringly.

You looked at her weirdly. "What kind of fucking riddle is that? Have you lost your mind?"

She just laughed, sitting up. "Shut up. I know what I'm saying."

You were about to reply when the screech of the bunkroom door caught your attention. "Oh my God!" Fanboy shouted, closing the door again. "Am I interrupting something?" 

You snorted. "Have you never heard of knocking?" You yelled back.

"What are you doing on top of each other, man?" He sounded traumatised. You giggled.

"None of your business!"

"Whatever, man. I came in to tell you it's going to storm real hard soon. Prepare for a blackout."

"Okay, thanks!" You hear the shuffling of feet moving away from your door and groan.

Phoenix makes a move to stand up. As if she knows what you're thinking, she speaks up. "I'm not going."

"Oh, please, Nix! You know how much I hate it down there! Especially if it's storming out," you whine but to no avail.

"You're in the Navy, for Christ's sake. And it's a quick job. Go in, grab the clothes, and come back. I already put them in the dryer. You only have to fetch them."

You groan but get up as well, blindly searching for your phone and earbuds. If you were going in that dark, scary laundry room, you'd at least do it your way. And who's a better companion than Taylor Swift?

—

It was early in the evening when all lights shut off. The heater in your room stopped groaning, and you concluded that the expected blackout was happening now. Nix was sleeping in her bunk above you, and you sighed. You'd put off going to the laundry room in hopes of Natasha changing her mind, but there was no way you were getting out of it now.

You really didn't want to face Bradshaw, and there was a big chance you would in the hallways. Unfortunately for you, no one has invented time travel yet, so you're destined to bump into him at some point. You work together, for fuck's sake. It's impossible to ignore him forever.

So, you gather yourself, put a hoodie over your t-shirt with the nearest civilian shoes, and plug your earphones before pressing play on Taylor Swift and blindly find the door. The backup generator is up and running, for the hallway lights are on. 

A few people are conversing and leaning on their bedroom doors. Some greet you with a nod and a smile, and you shoot them one back, ducking your head so as not to be spotted by your friends—who are likely hanging out with Rooster.

You arrive at the laundry room and immediately get to work. There's no one else in here, and it's cold. You feel like a child, shivering in fear as if a ghost will pop up from a corner. The music is blasting, and you're grateful, for the eeriness of this place makes you jumpy. Fuck, it's so dark.

Unbeknownst to you, Bradley was also on laundry duty. He'd put it off as much as he could, even paying Hangman to do it once. He hated the silence in that freezing room and how far away it was from everyone.

So, here he was, trying to walk as quietly as possible; so no admiral ghosts pop up to scare him. Lucky for him, he only had to put them in the bin, press a few buttons and be out of there in seconds.

He's startled when he sees you. Well, he spots your back, but he knows it's you. The unmistakable Taylor Swift tune reaches his ears. Bradley leans against the doorframe, watching as you bop your head and slightly move your hips while you hum the lyrics. 

He chuckles. Your undying love for the singer was the cause for your callsign, although not many people knew that. You made up a story about how quick you're in the air—that's why people call you that. But he knows.

And he loves his knowledge over that little detail about you because it's so significant. Bradley loves memorising things about you—from how you struggle to french braid your hair to how you like Heineken beer more than Corona because you don't like the stupid connection it has to Fast and Furious.

I miss you. The words are on the tip of Rooster's lips, but he doesn't dare say them. He wanted to give you space and time to rethink your words because—surprise, surprise—he's been in love with you for God-knows-how long. And he wants you to love him back, truly, but he doesn't want to freak you out. So, he'll gladly settle with watching you dance to Taylor while trying to hide the fond smile taking over his features.

A loud crack of thunder startles the both of you. The place goes completely black. Bradley moves off the doorframe, but you drop the half-filled basket with a gasp. A soft fuck escapes your lips, and Bradley decides to close the distance between you and help.

His hands look for your waist, wanting to help you up. He hadn't thought about how isolated you were from the world. You don't have time to move away from the hands circling around you, and a yelp escapes your lips when you hit something solid. One earbud falls off in the process.

You fight to move away and swat the person—God, please let it be a person and not an actual fucking ghost—with a shirt. You cry for it to get away, but the arms find your waist again while the person hushes you.

Bradley. It's Bradley. He's holding you tightly, shushing you, and you gulp deep breaths, trying to calm down. Your heart beat fast from what has happened, and because holy shit, Bradley Bradshaw is holding you.

You have to move away—your skin is on fucking fire. So much for ignoring him.

You push him, turning on your phone's torch. "What the fuck, Bradshaw? I almost had a heart attack." You hit him with the shirt you're still holding.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I was here to do my laundry, but the lights went out." He leaves out the part where he watched you dance. "I heard your basket fall, and I wanted to help."

And suddenly, oxygen is no longer making its way to your lungs, and your whole body is tense. Bradley is right here, in front of you, staring at you with his hands on his hips. And he also knows how you really feel about him. He has to go now.

"You, uh, you can go do your thing," you stutter, pushing your hair out of your face, your eyes never finding his. "I'll finish this on my own."

"No." It's nothing but a statement. "I'm not leaving you all alone down here."

Your heart warms, and the corner of your mouth lifts oh-so-slightly.

"Aren't you doing your laundry?"

"Fuck that. I'll do it tomorrow."

"Alright." You get back to picking your clothes out of the bin.

The silence between you lies somewhere between tense and comfortable. You feel at ease with Rooster here, knowing that no harm will come to you before him, but you can't help but feel awkward since he knows about your feelings now. The lights turn back on, and you have to make your blush disappear before he notices.

You ignore how your stomach turns—butterflies and anxiety—and close the washing machine bin's door when you finish. Well, you at least try to. The door won't latch, making you look like an idiot pushing the washing machine for no reason.

"Here, let me help." Oh my fucking God.

Rooster is hovering above you now, his hand replacing yours. He pushes the machine's door hard, and you hear the satisfying click. 

You can feel his breath down your shoulder, but you try not to tense. Your head spins to him involuntarily, and your eyes meet his. Your eyes fall from his eyes to his lips, and he does the same. Oh my God. Does he want to kiss you?

Your question is answered three long seconds later by him crushing his soft lips onto yours. It's like how all those novels and poets describe it. Instant fireworks. Your body tingles, and your heart pounds so hard that you think it'll rip off your chest. His hand encircles your waist, and you tighten your hold around a random shirt.

He's doing this out of pity. And just like that, the dream you've had for God knows how long is shattered by your own thoughts. You have to pull away.

"W-We can't do this, Rooster."

Your eyes meet his as you touch your lips. They're tingling, scratch that, your whole body feels like it's been electrocuted. He looks hurt and confused as he pants a few feet away from you.

"Why?" It sounds so sad.

"B-Because you don't like me, Rooster. I know you hate me, but I don't want something I've dreamed of for so long to get destroyed because of your silly antics." You sound even sadder.

"Is that what you think?"

"It's not a thought, Bradshaw. I know it. I've seen it with my own eyes." Tears have gathered in your eyes. Fuck, those mood swings.

Bradley exhales deeply. "I don't hate you, Swift. Never in my life have I felt what I feel when I'm around you. I feel all hot and tingly when you walk past me. My cheeks burn like a kid when your comments involve my love life, because deep down, I want you to be the protagonist of my fantasies, not some random girl I met at the Hard Deck.

Your jokes and your talent, your wit and your beauty—I love them. Your charm and ability to persuade everyone into doing chores for you are my favourite. I love listening to you talk, sarcastically or not, because you always have something to say.

Do you know how many times I've eavesdropped on you and Phoenix so I could learn more about you? I know about your hatred for Fast and Furious movies, your obvious Taylor Swift adoration, and the one time you got hammered and thought you were talking to her. 

I love knowing all those details about you, and it's not because I can use them against you. They're what make you...well, you! You're nothing like the girls I've met in my life. You're extraordinary, and I..."

He hesitates.

"Is this...Did Natasha put you up to this? I swear I don't want your pity and fake love confessions, Bradley. You don't have to pretend to be in love with me—"

"But I am! I am madly in love with you. The kind of love that is so dangerous and—and so crushing. I want to be with you every second of the day, annoy you, and make you smile. It's all I've ever wanted for years now."

Your eyes are wide and glossy, eyebrows raised in shock and confusion, and so many emotions. 

"I love you, Swift," he confirms.

"Prove it." Your words are merely a whisper.

Despite the hard rain and thundering outside, your voice is the only melody in Bradley's ears. And he doesn't hesitate. He crushes his lips against yours again, this time with hunger, passion, frustration and love. You kiss back with just as much force, but before you know it, you're pulling back, gasping for breath.

Bradley's hands are cupping your cheeks, and his forehead is touching yours. Your breaths mingle as you stare up at him. Your fingers grip his shirt tightly. 

"Is that enough proof for you?" He whispers.

You lightly shrug. "I still haven't forgiven you for almost calling me a slut." That's a lie—you have. You forgave him as soon as your head hit the pillow yesterday. He didn't mean it.

He sighs a long, sad sigh. "Please, let me make it up to you. I was a—a jerk. A complete and utter idiot. I don't deserve your love, but please, I need it. Give me a chance to prove how much I love you." Your heart clenches, and a smile tugs at your lips. 

"You can make it up to me as long as you want, Bradley Bradshaw."

He smiles back, and you think; this is it. This is heaven on earth. Bradley Bradshaw—the man you've longed for so long—smiling at you with nothing but adoration. You're heart feels light and free.

You don't want the moment to end.

previous | next

—

[ taglist: @roosterschanelslut @mak-32 @maverick-wingman @amnmich @mattyskies @wildcole @gretagerwigsmuse @bespinnn @collaps3r @oikawasblueearbud @rip--tide @barryswifey @fanboyluvr @spookys-girl @lonelywitchv2 @j-deimos @heywheresemily @avengersfan25 @piceous21 @sarahjoestewy-blog @n3ssm0nique @mouseymagines @xx-kate-xx13 @vaporub4ever @reading-rosa @marie1115 @dxvanadeline @plaboneruda @awesomebooklover17 @darling-seraphina @kenobiow @tw1l1ghtlvr @desert-fern @melody-death @studentville-struggles @bordelhoe @this-is-a-bad-idea @giuliamunson @graysondanvers @danielmarie @kwanimations @erinnn-brry @mvnsons-slvt @wrathspoet @eberles @shatfairy @alexxavicry @oksloan3 @messers-marauders-prongs @marvelsimps ]

#bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw angst #bradley bradshaw fluff #rooster x reader #rooster angst #rooster fluff #bradley bradshaw fic #rooster fic #miles teller #miles teller x reader #top gun #top gun: maverick #top gun fic #enemies to lovers #fluff #angst with happy ending #mutual pining #eventual happy ending #frank writes

[sitp-recs]

Some Erised Recs…

I wanted to post this yesterday but fell asleep while reviewing my blurbs lol so here’s my first 2023 reclist! Just wanted to do a lil something to celebrate these authors and artists as I did not include any Erised fics on my 2022 reclist. Hope you enjoy before the reveals, don’t forget to give these some love. You can find more lovely recs here by @thehoneybeet and here by @epitomereally

Check all Erised 2022 works!

Fic:

🍺 everything you should say by @candybarrnerd (E, 7.4k) - lush rebound fuck buddies to something else, hot and tentative, love the uncomplicated matter-of-fact tone here, sexy and refreshing!

They're not friends. But when Draco offers help, Harry takes it.

🐺 Service Bell by @shiftylinguini (E, 8k) - est relationship but make it complicated, obsessed with this nuanced pining wolf!Draco with his sharp edges and soft heart

Draco is: a werewolf, living in a cabin in the woods, minding his own business, and never going to buy plaid because he's not that much of a fucking cliche (yet). He's also counting down the days until he sees Harry again.

🎤 Meddling, Menswear, and Magic by @writcraft (M, 19k) - I’m utterly besotted with their voices, the superb level of banter oh my god. I wanna live inside this fic’s dialogue and have it for breakfast thank

Draco Malfoy is working in a job he hates and avoiding the magical world entirely, but he really is fine. When a bequest from Severus Snape brings Draco back to a much-changed magical world, he must find his place within it and navigate his growing attraction to Harry Potter in the process.

🐍 In The Company Of Serpents by @corvuscrowned (E, 25k) - an instant fave, fabulous characterization, perfect slow burn, top notch ust and some of the hottest smut I’ve read lately, so satisfying yum 🔥

There’s something wrong with the serpents at the Greengrass Ophidiarium. Luckily, a certain Parselmouth just might be able to help.

⛷️ Historians by @oknowkiss (E, 30k) - fake dating goodness with holiday vibes, the right amount of angsty pining and a gorgeous Swiss background. Just what I needed to cheer me up on a snowy day

It’s the Dumbledore’s Army Reunion Holiday, and Harry’s found himself in hot water with his friends once again, after telling them he has a boyfriend he definitely does not have. In an attempt to fix things, he’s made it his colleague on Level Nine, Draco Malfoy’s problem too. Featuring a ski chalet in Switzerland, a pair of bunk beds, and an agreement that should’ve been simple, were it not for all the bloody feelings getting in the way.

🏉 All Things Go by @sorrybutblog (E, 32k) - an enchanting 8th year romance with strong Heartstopper vibes👨‍🍳💋 our boys are so wonderfully awkward and young and lovely, my heart is melting! And the scorching UST? Superb

Draco’s back at Hogwarts by court order. Harry’s back for no particular reason at all. Some things change, some stay the same. Neither expects to spend eighth-year living in close quarters, playing rugby (poorly), staying up late, sneaking around, and finally figuring it all out.

⏳Everything is Relative to You by @thehoneybeet (E, 43k) - really brilliant take on time travel/multiverse, inventive concept exploring star-crossed lovers dynamics. It’s about the yearning!!!

Potter was supposed to have lived. Draco is certain of this. That Potter would no longer walk the earth was tantamount to the sun moving west to east across the sky. If only he could have stopped this from happening, if he’d have known… It comes to him as ideas often did: too late.

Art:

🦉Birdwatching for Beginners by dustmouth (G) - so very warm and sweet, I love the cozy vibes, the soft flirting and the ultimate Wizarding fashion as per this artist’s usual

Draco does his best to sneak out early from Ginny and Luna's Christmas party, only to be cornered by a drunk Harry Potter.

🦄 Light in the Dark by @creeeee (G) - stunning art, romantic and evocative. I love the palette and detailed outfits, want those capes in my wardrobe right now

Draco and Harry find themselves encountering more than they anticipated while performing a divine blessing within the deep thicket of the Forbidden Forest.

👔 Routinely Yours (G) by @apriicat - the softest domestic bliss we deserve, gorgeous characters (long-haired Draco!), tender intimacy, lots of cozy cuddling and boyfriending stuff

Morning routines are the best with you.

❄️ Snapshot of Moments by @drarrydoodles (E) - stunning illustrations from daily life scenes, so rich in details and full of emotion. I love how each scene comes with a short description, and the nsfw one is!!!!! 😳🔥

A snapshot of moments in Harry and Draco's relationship.

🎹 The sound of your heart by @pato-roldnart (G) - a charming and moving musicians AU, great storytelling and the prettiest boys finding inspiration together 🎵

Harry is requested to perform a musical piece for a Great Serpent, it can’t be that hard, right? What he does not expect is having to work with an annoying, distracting, good-looking Draco Malfoy.

🛌 Two Wizards, One Bed by dustmouth (G) - soft, hilarious and adorable as usual, this made me giggle the whole night! Draco’s grumpy blushing face is my fave

Harry and Draco are trapped together in a safe house. Fiery discourse ensues (intercourse, more like...)

🪢 This time, tomorrow by @bluebutter-art (M) - talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique etc etc when I tell you my heart missed a beat seeing this beauty, I’m!!!!!

Two souls, bound by fate, destined to meet again and again and again.

#drarry reclist #Erised 2022 recs

[citrusses]

@hd-erised favorites ❄️ (so far)

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this amazing fest and made it happen, the sheer talent on display was astounding. I can't wait to catch up on all the fics I haven't gotten to yet, and to find out who you all are. I adore you! [Now featuring reveals!]

All Things Go by @sorrybutblog (E, 32,826)

Draco’s back at Hogwarts by court order. Harry’s back for no particular reason at all. Some things change, some stay the same. Neither expects to spend eighth-year living in close quarters, playing rugby (poorly), staying up late, sneaking around, and finally figuring it all out.

This story absolutely knocked me off my feet. The layers of characterization are so rich; Draco is very funny but also humble and guilty and sad; Harry is very horny for Draco and it develops in a completely organic way from his initial animosity; Hermione and Ron are also excellent in the background. The pacing was one of my favorite details, from the way their relationship evolves in person to the shift of the narrative to epistolary and back. This is such a lovely exploration of growing up, an enchanting read if you want something beautiful, that’s sweet and comforting with a healthy dose of wry humor.

The Unknown Door by @amywaterwings (E, 60,979)

There is something wrong with the Bellcrest. The heart of the place beats rotten. Everyone says so. Where Draco is a magical property manager, Harry is a recluse, and they’re definitely not hiding from their problems in the run-down flats of the Bellcrest. Not at all. Not one bit.

One of my favorite things that fic can do is turn over the rocks of Harry Potter canon to reveal what lurks underneath. This story looks at the places left out of the light of the wizarding world, but asks the question: what if we treated the downtrodden and discriminated-against with empathy? What if instead of pushing them further down, we attempted to uplift them? It does this through the viewpoint of Draco, who is not fully reformed when we first meet him. His journey is the inverse of the mistreated beings of magical ability we encounter in this story: fallen from the highest echelons of a prejudiced world, he needs to find a way to see those with whom he now shares social status as people, and in doing so find a way to consider one more “dark” creature worthy of love and kindness – himself. And I haven’t even gotten to Harry, who has his own journey to undergo that’s deftly imagined through both character work and inventive magical systems. This fic is full of empathy and heart and humor; it’s sexy, it’s painful at times (I cried), but it’s so very worth the journey.

Historians by @oknowkiss (E, 29,987)

It’s the Dumbledore’s Army Reunion Holiday, and Harry’s found himself in hot water with his friends once again, after telling them he has a boyfriend he definitely does not have. In an attempt to fix things, he’s made it his colleague on Level Nine, Draco Malfoy’s problem too. Featuring a ski chalet in Switzerland, a pair of bunk beds, and an agreement that should’ve been simple, were it not for all the bloody feelings getting in the way.

This fic is such a damn delight. Harry and Draco are both amazingly rendered, the plot grabs you and does not let go, and there’s an impressive amount of emotional complexity hiding under the classic rom-com setups of fake dating and miscommunications. Oh and it doesn't hurt that the smut is top-tier, all-time favorite status; my brain pretty much short-circuited at the final scene. The setting is so well-depicted that you will feel the crisp air of the ski chalet in your lungs as you read. The banter is out-of-this-world. Pick up this fic for the perfect steamy, romantic, comfort-read (and because you simply must meet the hideously adorable Professor Monday).

Everything is Relative to You by @thehoneybeet (E, ​​43,111)

Potter was supposed to have lived. Draco is certain of this. That Potter would no longer walk the earth was tantamount to the sun moving west to east across the sky. If only he could have stopped this from happening, if he’d have known... It comes to him as ideas often did: too late. Or, Harry dreams of his past lives, and Draco is in every one.

The prose in this fic is just *sumptuous.* We travel to many different worlds with Harry and Draco, and each is given detailed description courtesy of some of the most gorgeous sentences I’ve read in ages. This will put your heart through the wringer and, if you are like me, you will say "thank you, more please?" This fic made me think about physics and love and magic and how they relate to each other in ways I never knew I could, it was an intellectual and emotional delicacy.

Draco Malfoy's Foolproof Guide to Reconciliation by @aprofessionalprotagonistonist (T, 5,807)

Narcissa Malfoy’s determined to reconcile with her sister, which means Draco’s stuck spending time with Teddy Lupin — and Harry Potter.

I had to include this fic that does a wonderful job imagining the Malfoy/Black family dynamic, with Teddy being an adorable menace who helps to bring Draco and Harry together. It was such a sweet read over the holidays when I, too, was surrounded by tiny terrors. This story will make your heart grow at least three sizes.

Heliotropic by @sharperthan [ART]

Draco does not approve of the new gardener his mother has hired. Not one bit.

I was blown away by this art – there’s so much emotion on display, it’s a subtle and captivating story told in words and pictures.

And shout out to some of the other faves that I would write a million more words about if I had more hours in the day!

Once Upon a (Wet) Dream by @innerlillith (E, ​​13,510) 

Service Bell by @shiftylinguini (E, 8,297) 

Contretemps by @moonflower-rose (T, 8,488) 

Meddling, Menswear, and Magic by @writcraft (M, 18,739) 

The Inconvenient Death(s) of Harry Potter by @nv-md (E, 33,105) 

Two Wizards, One Bed by dustmouth [ART] 

​​Trouble with your tie, Potter? by @tenthousandyearsx (E, 6,719)

A True Entanglement by @thebooktopus (E, 10,243) 

#citrus recs #hd erised #drarry fic recs #drarry

[mccall-me-maurice]

HII!! Adding onto your headcanons talk, any Samneric hcs?? 💕💕

YES YES OMG

> sam is younger than eric by 5 minutes. he hates being the younger twin

> the twins are inverts of each other. sam is right handed, eric is left handed. sam has a mole on the right side of his lip and eric has it on his left. they have heterochromia and their eyes are swapped. their hair is parted on opposite sides. they are each others literal opposite

> eric is taller than sam by 1/4 of an inch. it’s hardly noticeable but he brags about it all the time

> sam’s name is samuel james pinch and eric’s is eric russell pinch. eric got his dad’s name solely because he’s older

> they live with their aunt and uncle because both of their parents are dead (they don’t live with jack. it’s a different aunt and uncle :) )

> they’re jack’s cousin through jack’s dad and their mom. they CONSTANTLY hang out at the merridew house

> sam is significantly sweeter in personality than eric is. eric is more sarcastic and that’s how most people tell them apart

> they have never been away from each other for longer than 6 hours. they aren’t sure they could achieve that

> they have twin telepathy even though that’s not really that real. they absolutely can read each others minds and will just be like “don’t” before the other does anything

> sam is REALLY good at science and eric is REALLY good at languages. so they’ll do each others homework

> they switch all the time when it’s test day and the other knows they won’t pass the test

> they sleep in bunk beds from childhood to high school

> eric is fluent in english, italian, german, spanish, french, japanese and korean. he’s learning other languages as he goes. sam knows english and italian and that is IT.

> the twins regularly speak to each other in a language they invented when they were little when they don’t want someone knowing what they’re discussing

> they were born on valentine’s day!

> for a brief period, sam dyed the ends of his hair pink and eric dyed his periwinkle so that people didn’t always confuse them. it didn’t last because they couldn’t swap with it

> they’re closest friends with ralph and simon, but literally can fit into the choir because of their familial relationship with jack

> they’re known to be troublemakers, but they NEVER get caught. they’re too sly for that

#lotf #lord of the flies #lotf headcanons #I LOVE THE TWINS….. #COULD TALK ABT THEM FOR DAYS! #my headcanons #lotf headcanon #lotf samneric #mail!! #quackoyesyes

[sweet-s0rr0w]

My first Five Faves of the year. It's been A While, I know. I have drafts for others in the pipeline, and then @oknowkiss went and posted two bangers within a couple of weeks and it all went out the window because I just had to go all oknowrec, ya know? Look, whenever I read anything that I ADORE, the first people to hear about it are always my buddies @tackytigerfic and @sitp-recs - and you know I mean it when it's full on caps lock raving DMs - see also @wolfpants' The Hollow and @moonflower-rose's Pissing For England (reclists for both authors hopefully coming soon!) I swear I must have spent a full week going on about the first Elaine fic I read, any day now. I mean, truly, I went through all the emotions with that one: elation at finding such an amazing author, grief at my own inadequacy, anger that it was over - it was a rollercoaster, believe me.

Elaine's turn of phrase is always spot on, her inventiveness in world-building is second to none, and her fics somehow seem to retain this fabulous lightness of tone that keeps things just on the right side of heartbreakingly raw. She's undeniably hugely talented, and now has a fabulous AO3 back-catalogue for you to sink your teeth into, so please waste no more time in checking out her fics!

Read oknowkiss' work here on AO3!

💋 Historians (E, 30k, fake relationship, Gryffindors (and some hangers on), bad skiing, bunk beds, hot tubs, getting together)

Summary: It’s the Dumbledore’s Army Reunion Holiday, and Harry’s found himself in hot water with his friends once again, after telling them he has a boyfriend he definitely does not have. In an attempt to fix things, he’s made it his colleague on Level Nine, Draco Malfoy’s problem too. Featuring a ski chalet in Switzerland, a pair of bunk beds, and an agreement that should’ve been simple, were it not for all the bloody feelings getting in the way.

💋 in between two tall mountains (there's a place they call lonesome) (E, 8.3k, Relic Chaser Harry, researcher Draco, campervans, treasure hunting in Oregon, inappropriately timed wanks)

Summary: In the shadow of a mountain on the Oregon coast, there may or may not lie a shipwreck, on which there may or may not be a magical relic, lost hundreds of years ago. Harry's been tasked with finding it, and Draco is there to take notes, and they're stuck in a campervan pretending to be married, and it's all going to be just fine. That's what Draco's gotten rather good at telling himself, anyway.

💋 any day now (E, 17k, prisoner Draco, Auror trainee Harry, secret codes, a feelings puppet, morally grey everything and everyone)

Summary: Draco supposes he should be grateful. 

The rehabilitation centres were the Minister’s idea, or that’s what the Prophet said anyway. Their stated objective is simple: to provide a safe space for low-tier Death Eaters and high-tier sympathisers to reconsider the entirety of their life choices. All guests–because no one is a prisoner here, the literature brags–are to be provided with shelter, food, clothing, and the guided support of a Mind Healer via a programme they call “ideological restructuring,” which is, of course, mandatory. 

OR: Draco Malfoy considers the circle.

💋 draco malfoy's substitute murder service (E, 11k, curse breaker Harry, various incredible mythological monsters, Christmas)

Summary: When Harry joins the Curse Breakers shortly after his twenty-fifth birthday, he’s surprised to find himself assigned to the Department of Creatures, Cryptids, and Associated Calamities.

OR: the one where Draco goes goblin mode, and Harry has a thing for monsters.

💋The July Tree (E, 52k, Eighth Year, Greenhouse Four, Draco Malfoy does Muggle Scotland, The Who, First Times)

Summary: Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail… nor well-meaning friends, nor questionable communication skills, nor seven years of hating each other’s guts can keep Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy from falling in love.

OR: It’s Eighth Year, and Harry Potter has detention. What else is new? Well, since you asked: Greenhouse Four and the Tree of Life, for a start, and then there’s the new shared Eighth Year common room, and Harry’s sexuality, and these pesky dreams he keeps having about a blond man pushing him into things…

Previous Five Favourite Fic Posts: thestarryknight | vukovich | fwooshy | lq_traintracks (and 10 more) | tackytiger (and microfics) | m0stlyvoid | peachpety | magpie_fngrl | shiftylinguini | onbeinganangel | veelawings | shealwaysreads | loveglowsinthedark | birdsofshore | maesterchill | frayach | graymatters | bixgirl1 (part one/part two | skeptique)

#drarry #five favourite fics #oknowkiss

[cchsunday]

In Defense of Jerry Lewis — by Mark Simpson for Out Magazine, 2009

Forget hair whorls, genomes, amniotic fluid, older brothers, domineering mothers, or disco. I can reveal with absolute certainty the cause of my homosexuality in just two words. Jerry. Lewis. As a kid in the 1970s, I watched reruns of his movies—especially the ones from the early 50s with his on-screen boyfriend Dean Martin—with a level of breathless excitement that nothing else came close to until I discovered buggery in the 1980s. Films like Money From Home (1953), where he pins Martin to the bed wearing a pair of polka-dot shorts campier than Christmas in West Hollywood, and Sailor Beware (1952), where he is pricked by several burly Navy medics wielding ever-bigger needles until he squirts liquid in all directions and faints, made me the man I am today.

In February, after a lifetime of being ignored by a cross-armed Academy Awards committee that never gave him so much as a nomination when he was making movies, Lewis finally got an Oscar. But not for his charming films with Dean Martin or his solo classics such as The Disorderly Orderly—in which, memorably, he happily Hoovers with the appliance plugged up his own ass—but for his fund-raising for muscular dystrophy. Its a charity Oscar in every sense. Lewis is 83 and has been unwell for some time. The Hollywood gays, though, are Not Happy. They have a Hoover up their ass about Lewis. Some tried to block his Oscar because this ill old man, born in 1926, almost used the word faggot last year after hosting a 12-hour telethon. In effect, the gays are running down the street screaming Ma-a-a! Likewise, because he isn’t gay himself and because his nerdy, sissy persona has been deemed exploitative.

Lewis has been almost completely spurned by queer studies, when really he should have his own department. Certainly, though, his films should be set texts. But it was in his anarchic, early-50s TV shows with Martin that the 20-something Lewis was at his queerest and giddiest. Their heads were so close together in those tiny 50s cathode-ray tubes—gazing into each others eyes, rubbing noses, occasionally stealing kisses or licking each others neck to shrieks of scandalized pleasure from the audience. They were a prime-time study in same-sex love. And they were adored for it—literally chased down the street by crowds of screaming women and not a few men.

Their very first TV show opens with our boys arriving at a posh ball, full of Waspy straight couples being announced: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cordney! Mr. and Mrs. Walter Christiandom! And then: Mr. Dean Martin and Mr. Jerry Lewis! The Dago and the Jew same-sex couple. Setting the tone for their series, Lewis promptly trashes the place. The Martin and Lewis partnership was queer punk rock before even rock n roll had been invented. It trashed normality right in the living rooms of 1950s America, courtesy of Colgate. No wonder they’ve almost been forgotten. They should never have existed. True, the explicitness of their pairing depended on the official innocence of the times and perhaps a nostalgia for buddydom in postwar America, which allowed the audience to enjoy the outrageous queerness of what was going on without having to think too much about it. Literally, to laugh it off. But official innocence is a mischievous comedians gift horse.

A skit depicting the (fictional) meeting of Martin and Lewis—or Ethel and Shirley, as they called each other—climaxes with them being trapped in the closet together: pushed together mouth to mouth, crotch to crotch. In another skit our boys end up sharing a bed with Burt Lancaster, playing an escaped homicidal maniac. Boy, Dean, these one-night stands are moider! says Lewis. Moider was exactly what they got away with. In a skit set in prison, Jerry’s bunk collapses on Martin below. What are you doing? asks Martin. I felt lonesome, replies Lewis.

Lewis’ on-screen queerness may have been just a phase, but what a phase! It was so unruly, so indefinable, so crazy, so ticklish, so exhilarating that gays—and probably most people today—don’t really know what to do with it. It’s a bit scary, really. But that—in addition to the fact that it’s still piss-your-pants funny—is precisely what is so great about it. [And] why I still think Jerry Lewis is at least as much fun as sodomy.

#<- photo source #a gay icon from hell: jerry lewis #jer #out magazine #article #2009

[tobiasdrake]

If we play our cards right, we might not get shot today. Those are better odds than we had ten seconds ago.

You, sir, are a braver man than I. You were hanging onto that thing with one foot in a footrest. You could not pay me to balloon-float from the highest point in the city like that.

Hahaha I don't think you have the authority to make that happen. Everyone, including you, has talked about how this guy's organization are basically the supreme rulers of Kanai Ward.

Son of a fuck I knew I should have thrown you out that window!

Shit, maybe you do have the authority. Halara, kill. Uh, please.

That's not quite the story he told us earlier. He said he has demon blood and that seeing his face causes people to lose their sanity.

Of course, Yuma cut him off before he could tell the full tale, so this might be some of the stuff we skipped. Or he's lying.

Honestly, I think it's a lifestyle choice. He invents stories to avoid having to explain that he wears it because he likes it. Hey, you do you, man. I'm not gonna judge.

Just like that? Man, you have told me outright that the Peacekeepers are basically the rulers of Amaterasu and this company town. I doubt it's going to be that--

Oh, We definitely should have thrown you out that window if you have clout like this. Holy shit.

The CEO can be top dog of a privately-owned company, but a company of Amaterasu's size is likely publicly traded. That would mean the company has a Board of Directors that the CEO must answer to, who are themselves accountable to the shareholders.

That might not be what Makoto's talking about, though. The fraught relationship between him and Yomi is extremely imbalanced. Though Makoto legally holds authority over Yomi, at the end of the day, all of the guns in this city answer to Yomi.

The line between megacorporation and mafia is extremely blurry. If Makoto tries to fire Yomi, Yomi can respond, "Yeah? Well, all of these men with guns say you're fired."

This is a company town. The first right of a government is the monopolization of violence. The Peacekeepers are that monopolization. If Yomi and a thousand men with guns decide that Yomi is God-King of Kanai Ward now, who's going to stop them? The military is always the greatest internal threat to a government.

Makoto is walking a thin line, trying to resist Yomi's consolidation of power without outright provoking Yomi into a full-scale coup.

Of course, like I said back in his tower, being against bad things doesn't make you a good guy. To be a good guy, you have to be for good things. We only know what Makoto's against. As CEO of Amaterasu, he's a key component of the mechanism that made this monster in the first place.

Makoto gives me the heebie-jeebies, in a "The enemy of my enemy can kiss my ass too" sort of way. But I suppose he did bail us out back there, so we owe him one.

...and then what? This is an isolated city-state, my dude. When you declare his exile and he and a thousand guns respond, "No, you go," what are you going to do to make him? What higher authority wields power over Yomi and the Peacekeepers that can force him out against his will?

This is the same problem that Shachi had with his plan to "gather evidence" of Peacekeeper corruption. When he starts shooting, when the streets run pink with the blood of his enemies, how do you intend to pry that power from his fingers?

No matter how sound your logic or how solid your evidence, you can't win a debate against a bullet.

...Did... Did Makoto just gift us a new sub? Ooh, maybe it'll have that new car smell. And bunk beds. I call rooming with Fubuki!

#master detective archives: rain code #drake plays rain code

[freestyle-crocodile-trashpile]

Support

Summary: the turtle boys with an male s/o that just needs comfort, what's a good way to do this? Cuddling

Version: 2014/15

Raphael

He was very confused when you came up to him and asked to lay with him

He didn't say no of course

But gor worried when you didn't say anything

And when you did your voice cracked abit

He asked what was wrong but you still silent

Didn't push it

So he just pulled on his plaston and let you calm down

Heartbroke when he heard you crying in his arms

Was ready to fight anyone

Definitely calm you down

Took a nap with you

Made you a scarf

Michelangelo

Loves cuddling so didn't question when you climbed into his lap while he was playing video games

Thought it was weird he hugged his arm though

Didn't ask what was wrong thinking you were tired

Until he hears you trying to quietly cry

He stops his game and pulls you off his arm to ask if your alright

When you just look at him with sad eyes he hugs you tightly

Takes you to his and Raphs bunk bed

Lays you down so he can go get hot chocolate and big fluffy blankets to hell

Does anything to make you smile

Is glad when you fall asleep In his arms

Donatello

He didn't notice you lay down next to him at first

Very interested in his book

Didn't notice until you cuddled into his side

He put his arm around and asked if you were alright

When you looked up at him and teary eyes he put his book down to help you feel better

Knows it's not the best idea to push you when you don't wanna talk so he doesn't

Holds you close until you say your alright now or you need to use the bathroom

Anything else can wait

Talks about his book or inventions to occupy your mind

Melts when you fall asleep in his arms

Leonardo

Was mediating when you came to him

You said his name in a low voice that kinda cracked

Looks down at you seeing your tear stained face he quickly opens his arms for you

After your settled in his lap he asked what's wrong

When you don't answer he hums and rubs your back

Made you tea to help

When you finished your tea you guys when go to his room and cuddle

It was easier than sitting on a hard platform

Glad you came to him for help

Will hold you for hours if you let him

Offers to make a bubble bath for you

#tmnt #tmnt donatello #tmnt leonardo #tmnt michelangelo #tmnt raphael #tmnt 2016 #tmnt 2016 x reader #bayverse tmnt #tmnt headcanons #tmnt x male reader #tmnt imagine #tmnt 2016 x male reader

[maripr]

Reading the RWBY novels is making me really interested to learn about how the different academies interpret the team rule

It's said multiple times that, at Shade, teams are very competitive even at an internal level, so teams from Beacon are seen as weird.

Speaking of Beacon teams, we can assume Ozpin wanted each of them to have that level of unity and complete trust we see in our main characters.

This is also reflected in how the dorms are different. At Shade it seems each team room is very small, while at Beacon they at least seem to be of comfortable size.

In both of the academies, teams live in the same room. What about the other two academies?

At Atlas, the teams also share a room, which has bunk beds by default, unlike the stuff RWBY had to pull in their Beacon room.

However, I wonder about the level of unity. Winter and the Ace Ops graduated from Atlas, yet they never even mention their previous teams.

This is different from Qrow, Tai and Raven, who graduated from Beacon and still have unsorted problems and are deeply grieving about their Beacon team.

I'm guessing, since Atlas Academy basically expects the graduated students to join the military immediately, teams are something that exists only inside the school and is forgotten immediately after. From what we see from the Ace Ops, we can assume that, even at school, they're taught not to form any real attachment to their teammates.

It's also seen when Ciel basically doesn't like Penny. However, we don't really know if Ciel and Penny ever had a team or it was just an invention for letting Penny compete at the tournament.

And now for Haven. It's mentioned in the novels that dorms are quite different from the other academies: each team member has their own room. This individuality is reflected in our main team coming from Haven, SSSN. Sun is notorious for dropping his team to do his own thing.

However, in Before the Dawn, the rest of his team has had enough of this. I wonder how much of Sun's tendency of doing his own thing without his team is enhanced by Haven. This is the school we have seen less of, unfortunately, even during the volumes it was the center of.

So it's just a very vague assumption, but so far my thoughts are so summarized:

The teams were created because Oz "greatly believes in teamwork" as per crwby's words. However, only the school that is run by him actually manages to basically make teams into families. Remember Yang and Ruby's previous friends? They're also never brought back after the team's formation, lol.

Anyway, basically every team from Beacon is internally connected, even after graduation, even if they may no longer work together all the time.

In Vacuo, students are competitive and see their own team mates as rivals, while in Atlas they're just a meaningless rule in the face of the expected conformity to the military.

In Minstral, we don't know for sure, but teams may have also been less united.

#rwby #rwby meta #rwby theory #rwby analysis #i wrote a thing

[what-if-nct]

helloooo today's reminder is I've been listening to fall out boy on repeat for the last 24 hours and I'm SENDING MY LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE APOCALYPSE AND I JUST ABOUT SNAPPED DON'T LOOK BACK EVERY LOVER'S GOT A LITTLE DAGGER IN THEIR HANDS

can you believe they invented a time machine back to my high school emo phase?? fuck i love them so much, and then i was listening to infinity on high all day and if that isn't the best album ever made, holy shitttttt

Hiiii, Okay so I was more of a My Chemical Romance emo. So I didn't listen to fall out boy often but enough and when I did. Something about Patrick's voice just scratched a specific area in my brain and their lyrics mixed with the way Patrick sings I cant explain it but fall out boy sounds like if a wizard was conducting an orchestra and you were watching it while drinking a red bull with a little battery acid in it. Also my completely useless skill is I can sing "I'll be your number one with a bullet. a loaded gun complex cock it and pull it" along with Patrick without it becoming gibberish. Patrick's annunciation is fine people just aren't listening enough. But I can't believe every fall out boy song is about Mikey Way. And maybe Gabe Saporta. My first ever fanfiction I read was a Mikey Way, Pete Wentz and Ryan Ross threesome on a bunk bed. I'm not ashamed of who I was at 14....maybe a little.

[whump-captain]

No. 17 - Hanging by a threat

Breaking point | Stress positions | Reluctant caretaker

1500 words | OC: Kintsugi (follows on from here)

Taglist (feel free to ask to be added/removed!): @thatsgonnaleaveamark

does a character still count as a caretaker if they don't actually end up doing the caretaking? ask Lucy! she'd hate it

---

CN: bad/reluctant caretaker (both honestly), aftermath of torture, cuts, blood, broken arm, captivity, guns, self-loathing, first aid, painkillers

---

When Lucy returned, Diaz was leaning against the door outside, sneaking bites of chocolate candies from the pocket of his vest. He offered her one but she shook her head.

Under her arm she held a bundle of stiff green fabric - a custom-packed first aid kit that a nurse had wordlessly handed her when she'd arrived in the medical wing. She'd had a quick rummage through it and had been relieved to find its contents to be fairly basic. Hopefully that meant she wouldn't be too out of her depth.

She still couldn't believe she'd been roped into cleaning up Linde's mess. Make sure the prisoner doesn't die, he had said, as if it hadn't been him who'd been beating the guy within an inch of his life. Why was she now responsible for fixing his fuck-ups? She wasn't even trained for this; she knew rudimentary first aid but nothing that would make her the first choice for medical duty. There was a whole hospital here, for fuck's sake, with qualified staff and state-of-the-art equipment. Linde was out of his bloody mind.

Lucy pushed the heavy door open and slipped into the cell. The narrow room was well lit, the walls painted a neutral pale blue. A single, waist-height cupboard clung to the wall by the door to the tiny bathroom segment and beyond it, opposite the entrance, was the bed - a flat berth extending straight from the wall. On it, curled into fetal position, laid Ethan Lythmer; Linde's supposed spy.

At the sound of Lucy's footsteps, he jerked up. His features were twisted, eyes wide with terror behind his crooked, broken glasses. The whole right half of his face was covered in blood, both dried and fresh, shades of red clashing between flaking patches of almost black and the bright crimson lines running down his cheek. Red stained his clothes as well; in drops around his collar from where it trickled down from his chin but also in elongated blotches on his shoulders, one next to another in an obviously deliberate pattern.

Lucy could guess now what had happened to him.

She set her rifle down, leaning it against the wall. Then, unrolling the first aid kit, she crossed the length of the cell. Lythmer recoiled, hid behind a raised forearm as he pushed himself further back into the wall.

Lucy sighed. "Relax," she said, holding the kit up to show him. "I'm here to patch you up."

She sat down on the bunk and Lythmer curled in on himself even tighter. From up close, she could see the source of the blood: a deep, clean-edged cut above his eyebrow, still weeping a thin rivulet of crimson. She also noticed the bruises that covered his left arm: black and purple, spilling out from where the forearm deformed with uneven, horrible swelling.

The fracture she could do nothing about. There was no sling in the first aid kit, or even a triangular bandage - which meant Linde wanted that injury untreated.

Exploitable.

All she had was a few packs of disinfecting wipes, antiseptic cream, skin closures, some dressings, and half a box of painkillers - six doses in total. Bare-bones. She guessed her job was mainly to dress the cuts: the one on his face and whatever more was hidden under his clothes. Wonderful interrogation method Linde had invented, she thought. Bloodletting; straight out of the fucking dark ages. All it had achieved was to give her more pointless work to do.

She laid out one of each supplies next to her and set the rest down on the floor. A stinging smell of disinfectant filled the air as she opened the wipes. Best to start with the blood, she thought, make it easier to see what she was dealing with.

The second she leaned towards him, Lythmer flinched away. He drew his knees up like a shield between them and whispered: "Please, don't."

"I'm trying to clean your wound," Lucy said sharply. "You're still bleeding."

He shook his head frantically. He buried his face in his bloodied hair, clawed his hand through it to pull it down over the gash on his forehead. Lucy guessed Linde had used that injury against him, too. Her memory conjured the sound of screams; her imagination - a deadly grip on damaged skin, fingers digging into raw flesh to cause as much pain as possible. She grimaced.

This time she was comfortable with her disgust - she had a personal stake in it. If Linde hadn't been a pettily cruel piece of shit, she wouldn't have to sit here and play nurse. The anger was refreshing - finally, it had a cause that she could understand. When she looked at the terror carved into Lythmer's features, she remembered that her time here was not her own. She was pissed off at Linde, rightfully so, because he had dragged her into his bullshit MI6 roleplay when she had no reason to care either about him or his so-called spy.

All she wanted was to do her job and be left alone. But even that wasn't allowed to be simple and now she had to try and play good cop to Linde's fucking terrible cop.

She wasn't a good cop. She wasn't a good anything. She was a grunt with a gun and she was sick of both other people and her own doubts trying to force her to be something else.

"Do it yourself, then," she said abruptly, tossing the wipe down on the cot.

She gave Lythmer a cold look but he couldn't see her, huddled again into a tangle of bloodied limbs. Bracing for another hit.

Lucy felt his fear, heard his stuttering breaths and saw the violent tremble of his whole body. She remembered his screams again, remembered every time she herself had dragged him to Linde's interrogations. She remembered that glint of manic fear in his eyes whenever he had looked at Linde. She recognized it now, when from under the blood and bruises, he looked at her.

It made her sick to her stomach.

And that feeling made no fucking sense.

She stood up suddenly and snatched the first aid kit from the floor.

"You've got gauze and dressings here," she said, throwing the white packets onto the bed. "And skin closures, but good bloody luck with those without a mirror." She scoffed. "The cream is antiseptic, put it on each wound before you wrap it. If you get an infection, Linde is going to throw a strop and he'll think it's my fault." Fistful at a time, she emptied the kit into a messy pile and shoved the fabric pouch into the front pocket of her vest. Then she paused.

"I can't leave you with those."

She gathered back up the small blister packs of painkillers. The pills rattled dryly in her fist. There wasn't enough there to overdose on, but she was nowhere near a fucking expert, was she? And if Linde came back tomorrow to find a corpse, she didn't even want to imagine the shitstorm he would start. It was safer to just take the drugs back and eliminate the risk.

She slipped the pills into her thigh pocket. The crinkle of plastic mixed with a soft rustle from the cot. Lythmer uncoiled slightly now that she had stepped away. She saw how much he was shaking, not only with fear, she realized, but also with pain. The way he held his left hand frozen in a strange half-curl, as if afraid to move his fingers; the way his head dipped to the side, as if the wound was weighing it down; the way his breath caught on quiet gasps and small, involuntary groans whenever some deeper shiver jostled something that was damaged. It wasn't hard to see.

Something stabbed her through the chest and she told herself it was anger again.

She threw open the cupboard and grabbed from it a simple plastic cup. With the other hand, she fished a pack of pills back out from her pocket and cracked two of them into the cup before slamming it down on the countertop.

Lythmer didn't flinch at that. When she gave him a pointed glare, he met her gaze from under a curtain of tangled hair - and she saw in his eyes a cold, quiet rage.

He didn't thank her.

If he had, she'd have flown off the fucking handle.

A bitter smile crept onto her lips and she scoffed a short chuckle. There was Linde's reward: zero information and a hatred like Lucy had rarely seen before. Exactly what they both deserved.

When she picked up her rifle, everything was back to where it belonged.

She was cruel and she was hated. She was the grunt with the gun.

She didn't return the painkillers to the medical wing and kept them in her pocket instead.

#whumptober2022 #no.17 #reluctant caretaker #oc #writing #gun mention #aftermath of torture #captain's stuff #captain's ocs #kintsugi #she mad #im postin the prompts out of order bc i want a semblance of a chronology for this lmao #can't believe how much im focusing on kintsugi lol #the prompts are lining up tho #i do have some ghost ambulance ideas too

[in-ei]

Ninternia: The Ultimate Elemetnal

Chapter 8: The Heat and The Cold

Katara dropped her bags, inspecting the room she shared with Cyrus carefully. As far as she could tell, it was as they had left it. Both their bunk beds were made, silver-grey on top, white and ice blue below. Her worktable, and tools were neat since she hadn't been working on anything here. There was her shelf full of inventions varying from complete to a pile of pieces. A bulletin board and white board took up most of one wall, both covered in notes. The only thing that belonged to Cyrus, other than his bed, was a fish tank to a on his dresser, which was home Prisimfin named Simon. While she would've preferred to have her own room, she didn't mind sharing with the nindroid. He was quiet, cleaned up after himself, and never touched her stuff, so it worked out.

Satisfied that no one had been in the room since they'd left, Katara began to unpack while thinking about their adventure. So much had happened, so much had changed, yet not even a week had past since she'd met them. Not even a week, yet one of them already knew she was an elf, though she knew she'd have to tell the rest at some point. The truth trap in the labyrinth had been a close call, but how much longer could she keep it up?

I should tell them....

As far as she could tell, none of them had any prejudices against elves, which was good. Clay had taken the news really well. They'd hung back from the group on the hike out of the canyon, so she could explain what a winter elf was; while cold didn't bother her, heat drained her energy, and could kill her.

"So is that why you jumped away from the fire?" He'd asked, looking at her curiously.

"Yeah," she'd replied, hesitating before adding, "Does... it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?" He'd looked so confused, like the thought hadn't even crossed his mind and... maybe it hadn't.

How awkward she'd felt: "That I'm not.... human, and.. my weakness. What it could mean for the team. Doesn't that worry you?"

His smile had been so warm, trusting, caring... "Kat, I don't care if you're human, elven, or even an alien, you're a part of this team, and my friend. As for your 'weakness', it's not going to make you weak unless you let it. Why would you think otherwise?"

She remembered staying quiet for a while. He hadn't even pushed her, he'd just let her take her time before answering, "Humans... haven't exactly been kind to elves in the past. There was a war between my kind, and the siltharaa, but... Part of it took place on human land. The whole thing was covered up, yet they couldn't erase memories. The families who lost people in that... The didn't forgive us, or the snakes..."

He'd listened to her every word. "I... I had no clue. I've never heard of anything like that."

"You grew up in the city, right? It's more the mountain villages, especially the rural ones."

"Oh... Well, I still stand by what I said, and anyways, you had nothing to do with any of that."

Katara frowned as she remembered the conversation. If only she was able to believe him about her 'weakness', but she just couldn't bring herself to. A small smile pulled at her lips as she recalled the nick name though. It had been so long since someone had called her that. She sighed not feeling the will to sleep, and decided to work on her technobands, when she heard a loud slam coming from the living room. Dropping her tools, she dashed to join the others

"Who?" Ren was asking a little girl stalking into the Temple. She had pale skin and raven hair braided over her shoulder She wore a black gi as well as a cloak with a dragon on it. Underneath it was a well hidden tanto sheathe the elf could barely make out. What caught Katara's attention was the child's harsh expression. There was a dull, empty look in her eyes, disguised behind anger and determination, yet it was still there.

A clattering sound broke the tense silence. A quick glance around revealed that everyone was here, a few doing odd things; Clay was putting down a coffee table, Churro and R.A.L.I. were under the dinner table, but the source of noise was Atalie, who had dropped the hilt in shock.

"Did... did you say 'Soran'?" she asked, ignoring the curious looks the others were giving her. "How do you know him?"

The girl studied her. "I was his classmate at the boarding school. How do you know him?"

"I-" Atalie started, but Khan cut her off.

"Enough figuring out why who knows who, because we still don't know you," He glared at the child.

She raised a skeptical brow. "Let me guess... You spent the whole time we were talking trying to come up with a line, and you only interrupted now because you thought of that not-half-bad one?"

"Yup." Khan smirked, then paused as he thought over what she'd said. "Wait... No, or... um..." He trailed off in confusion. Katara resisted the urge to facepalm. She also noticed a triumphant gleam in the girl's eyes. 

Clay took a knee in front of the child, and set his hands on her shoulders. "What my friend here was trying to say is; What's your name? I'm Clay, and that's Khan, Ren, Jaya, Atalie, Cyrus, Churro, Rali, and Katara.'

She twisted away. "You can call me Shadow. Where's Ju?"

In a patient tone, he answered, "Sensei isn't here right now. How do you know him?"

Shadow studied him. "Okay, let's get this straight, don't treat me like a kid, and won't prove to you I'm not." Clay blinked looking taken aback.

Jaya stepped forward. "Enough, let's get back to the beginning. You said your classmate was captured. By who? And where?"

"Several days east, if you travel nonstop on foot, there's a pair of doors under a waterfall. They lead into the lost world of Erdan, has to the siltharaa, a race of snake people. Soran and I found a map that lead there about a week ago, and decided to check it out. Now they have him imprisoned," Shadow answered.

They found the doors to Erdan? And released the siltharaa? But how? This isn't good...

"Wait, someone hit rewind, did you say there's a LOST WORLD OF SNAKES RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET, AND YOU JUST SO HAPPENED TO RELEASE THEM!?!" Ren yelled. Recalling humans dismissed other races for legend Katara quickly masked her surprise with confusion.

"No, we just went there. Someone was already down there, a super tall man in all black." Shadow replied, unfazed. Out of the corner of her eye, Katara noticed Atalie had gane pale.

What's up with her?

"Oh, because a creepy stranger releasing them is sooo much better, " Ren moaned.

"But you left him? How did you get away? Was he hurt?" Atalie questioned, a strange look on her face.

"Yes, he distracted them, and no," Shadow responded.

"Do you know where he is?" the older woman pressed.

"I know where they caught him, but it didn't look like their main base. The best way to find him would be to find the snakes, and they now have a map marked with various seacret places in Ninternia, Blade Vaults included." Shadow backed up until she was at the doorway again. She looked at all of them. "I've told you what I know, do whatever you want with it." With that the little girl turned away, about to leave.

"You're not going to stay?" Atalie asked, a worried expression on her face. 

"Yeah if you want us to save your friend, you've at least got to help," Khan added.

Shadow paused, though she didn't turn back. "He wasn't a friend. He was a stuck up, whiny brat, but... he did save me, and I don't like having unpayed debts. If you need another reason to save him, he's one of you, an Elemental Guardian. I watched him unlock. That's how I got away." She shut the door behind her, disappearing into the night.

"That was peculiar," Cyrus commented.

"If that means creepy, I agree," Churro shivered, getting out from under the table. "Was she a spirit or something? No kid I know talks like that."

"I believe she was human," R.A.L.I. assured him as Cyrus helped her up.

"She's been through hard times, " Katara gazed at the place the child had been. "I want to go after her. Maybe I can convince her to stay. If what she said was true, we might need her, plus if she know's Sensei he probably trained her. She carried herself like a ninja, and had a tanto if nothing else."

"You didn't have to make a list," Clay teased. "I was going to talk with her if none of you did. She needs a place to sleep, change of clothes, a decent meal, and more." Katara exchanged a smile with him then left. By the time the elf was outside the gates, Shadow was out of sight.

Setting off down the path, she tried to think of a way to convince Shadow to join the team. Though she had said she'd shared what she knew, Katara got the distinct impression that she had a lot more information then she let on. There was something different about this child, more than her being a ninja, not seeming shaken by everything that happened, and her way of speaking. After a second, Katara realized she'd been moving at a quick pace down the mountain for several minutes and had yet to see or even hear Shadow. The elf came to a stop looking around.

There's no way I could've missed her but she couldn't have gotten this far ahead Did she go off the path? Unless-

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt a knife against her neck, right on her carotid artery.

"Why are you following me?" a low voice hissed in her ear

"I just want to talk," Katara replied.. unnerved by how off guard she'd been caught. Her captor released her, but by the time she turned around to see that it was indeed Shadow, the blade was back in its hiding place.

Swift, silent, skilled, smart, how long did Sensei train her?

"Well?" the girl asked.

"I, uh, just wanted you to come back, at least for the night. Though if you wanted to stay longer..." Katara trailed off. There was something unsettling about the child that was throwing her off. A strange aura telling her to trust the kid, which went against her nature.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll be fine."

"So you're just going to abandon your friend? And don't say he isn't. You traveled through the wilderness for several days to tell us what happened, there's no way you don't care about him, even if it's just a little."

Shadow's already distant demeanor became cold. "I don't know why you'd think that, but I walk alone. Always have and I always will."

Katara faltered a bit, shaken by a hidden, empty note in her voice. Taking a different route, she said, "Well, you live in this world too, don't you want to help save it? These siltharaa sound like they're trouble, and they're not the only problem." 

"Evil older brother and the spirit of darkness itself going to take over I'll like of darkness itself? They're not going to destroy the world, just take over it, and if I don't make it... Anyways, how do we know Ju doesn't just want the Blade for himself? Finally, why do you do that?"

"I, um, do what?" Katara was having keeping up.

"You act like you don't know what the siltharaa are. I saw your face when I mentioned them earlier. There was no confusion, just surprise, a bit of fear, and anger." Shadow raised a brow.

"My dad knew a lot of folktales and stories."

"Hm... nicely done. You lead me to assume an answer rather than giving one, but now I know you're hiding something, and that your dad's gone, and I'd say your mom is too." Her eyes flicked to the ever present bandanna. Katara resisted the urge to check it. This girl had learned more about her with a single sentence than most of the others had after living with her for several days. No way she knew about the elf thing though, right?

Shadow grinned, "Gotch 'ya. What I can't figure out is why you came after me. You have secrets. I'm sure you like to keep to yourself. I doubt you would've joined any team if Ju hadn't dangled the 'You're a Guardian, come save the world!!' carrot in front of you so.. why come after someone who can read you like a book?"

"You're not the only one who can read people. Your eyes, your tone, you try hide it, but I can see it, hear it. You've had a hard life, and I don't think I'm alone in losing my parents, " Katara countered.

"Your point is..."

"I'm just saying, no matter how you act, you're still a kid. If you want a friend..."

Shadow scoffed. "Who? You? That's hilarious. You're already annoyed by me, don't deny it, and anyways, friendship is overrated."

"Okay, fine, what about this; You stick with us until we get your friend. After that, you can leave, and none of us will bother you again."

"Give me one reason to-"

Shadow shut up mid sentence as both her Katara turned toward the Temple in unison. Without another word, they took off up the path. Despite the elf's heightened speed, Shadow somehow managed to stay with her, but Katara didn't give it much thought at the moment. She had bigger problems. The closer they got to to the top, the louder the shouts, crashes, and clangs got. As soon as they arrived, they bolted through the open gate. Katara paused to survey the courtyard.

Frostbite

There were at least a dozen siltharaa wrecking havoc, and the others were fighting them. She saw Khan swinging his sword as he ran around, Ren shocking snakes on the roof, Jaya on the porch attacking with her trident, and... a wave of relief hit her when she saw Clay throwing snakes over the wall, yet she didn't see Cyrus, Atalie, R.A.L.l., or Churro. She hoped they were safe inside. 

While she was distracted, a siltharaa broke away from the others and charged her. Not having the time to activate her technobands, she dove out of the way, and the snake kept running... right into Shadow's tanto. As she pulled it out of the body, she gave Katara a nod and disappeared into the fight. 

Okay... So she doesn't hesitate to kill either...

Shaking her head, she activated her blades to join the others in protecting their homebase. After taking down her fourth snake though, she began to feel tired, and she could if she could feel it, she could only imagine now exhausted the others were. They were too scattered, it was too chaotic. In a fight like this, whichever side was bigger would win. 

"You weren't kidding when you said they had several useful functions." a familiar voice said. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Katara replied, standing back to back with the young Earth Guardian. "You?"

"Took some hits, but I'll be okay," he assured her, tapping his knuckles together, then punching a snake through the wall. He'd left his scythe on his back, and was just using his powers, eyes like pools of lava. "Did you convince Shadow to stay?"

"I think so. She's helping us at the least" Katara ducked under a thrust. "Khan! Watch where you swing that thing!"

"Sorry!" he yelled, now backed up against the wall by a team of siltharaa. Apparently, they'd decided he was the easiest target, and, to be honest, they were probably right.

Idiot, he almost cuts my head off then I have to go save him. 

Before Katara could reach him, a black blur took all of them down in succession. Shadow. How she moved that fast Katara didn't know, but right after, an explosion came from inside the Temple, distracting her, and everyone else. Something went flying towards them.

"A... teapot?" Shadow said, catching it.

"They used the gas from the stove to ignite the air in a powerful blast!" Cyrus shouted as he and the others emerged fo the cloud of smoke and flames.

"And they blew up the stove too!" Churro coughed.

"I just informed them of that."

"Is that what that jumble of words meant?"

"Enough!" Clay commanded. "Get the hose. Fill buckets from the stream outside. What ever you can do to put this out!"

They scrambled to follow his orders, hoping they could save the Temple. The siltharaa had left as soon as they'd caused the explosion. The Guardians were too busy, and exhausted, to give the attack much thought, trying to extinguish the fire as they were.

Except for one.

Oh no...

Katara stumbled backwards, trying to get away from the flames. The air was already thick with heat, and it was making her dizzy. She could feel her energy fading, and she hit the ground. There was so much smoke, she was coughing more than breathing. The fire was moving fast despite her teammates efforts to stop it. It so was hot... and she felt so tired... Her eyes closed.

Clay... He's the only one who would know what happened...

When Katara regained consciousness, the first thing she noticed was that it was cold. In fact, it was what humans would call 'freezing', but to a winter elf, it almost felt like home. A quick inspection revealed that she was in some sort of walk in freezer. There were several isles of shelves packed with boxes, all of it covered in frost. She got to her feet, unsteady for a moment before regaining her balance...

I don't remember this place, was it always-

Suddenly, some one tackled her from behind, almost making her fall. She tensed, about to throw them, when her attacker spoke.

"Thank the FE, you're awake," Clay said in relief, turning her to face him then hugging her again. "I was so worried. I figured it was the heat, but I didn't-"

"It's fine. Sorry about this. Did the others ask questions?" Katara squirmed away, but he didn't seem bothered by it. "Oh, and thanks for taking me here, wherever 'here' is."

"Um... I didn't take you, Shadow did. We're inside an underground freezer that's connected to the kitchen from a staircase over there." He replied, pointing. "But... when did you tell her you weren't human?"

"I didn't," Katara said, dashing in the direction he'd pointed. Climbing the stairs he'd mentioned, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. Her ponytail was tangled, and she was covered in soot. Her bandanna had somehow stayed in place, unless Clay had fixed it, but her gi was unkept and torn in some places. Shaking her head, she refocused on what she was doing, until she emerged from the freezer that is.

She was standing in a blast zone/battle field. Most of the kitchen was torched, only some of the counters, dishwasher, and fridge was left intact. The stove was... well, not really recognizable, and there were ashes and rubble everywhere. The walls were almost gone, so she could see the rest of the ruins. The bedrooms, living space, training dojo... they were all gone. Everything.... Centuries of history... The Temple had been the home of the First Elemental millenea ago, it had withstood the test of time, and now.... There was next to nothing left, just smoking ruins.

"We tried to stop it, but..." Clay came up behind her, grief in his eyes. "There wasn't much we could do. We only put it out a few hours ago, once most of the more flammable stuff was already gone. We saved as much as we could, and took it down to the bus."

"I should've been helping you. Maybe..." Katara trailed off as she realized the sun was high in the sky.  She'd been out for hours.

"One more person wouldn't have made that much of a difference, don't beat yourself up about it," He told her. "At the least, we managed to recover most of Sensei's library."

Not to mention I wouldn't have been able to help...

She left the kitchen, hoping that maybe something had escaped the inferno but the rest of the Temple was stripped down to its frame, a skeleton of what it once was. Here and there a piece of wall had survived, black with soot, which just made it all the sadder. Piles of objects burned beyond recognition, parts of the roof, and damaged furniture were scattered every few feet, making it difficult to walk. She found the others sifting through the mess in the dining and living rooms.

"Would you look at that, elfy's finally awake," Shadow drawled from her spot on the charred rafters as she sharpened a katana. "Did you enjoy your beauty sleep? It didn't do you much good."

Her earlier anger returning, Katare glared up at the girl. "How did you know?"

Shadow ignored her, not even bothering to glance down. "I'll take it as you haven't told them. More fun for me then." 

"Told who what?" Ren asked looking up from his pile of rubble "And why did yo call her 'elfy'? Aren't those the things that make shoes?" Shadow almost fell off her crossbeam laughing. Katara glared at her feet.

"Hey are you okay?" Jaya looked at her worriedly.

Clay put a hand on Katara's arm. "You should tell them."

"If you don't, I will!" Shadow chimed, in twirling her sword. "And I'll enjoy every second."

"What are you guys talking about?" Khan demanded.

Katara sighed. This isn't the way I wanted to do this. Then again, I didn't want to do this at all...

Still, she reached behind her neck, untying her bandanna.

"I'm an elf," she said, brushing her hair back to reveal her pointed ears. "A winter elf, to be exact, though I do have fire elf blood..." There was a pause as the other teenagers processed this.Then Ren broke the silence laughing.

"Very funny guys, is this your way of getting back at me for lying?" he said, but when they stayed quiet, he started to sound a little desperate. "That is what's going on right? RIGHT?!"

Katara winced.

"I suppose I should reprogram my database again to include elves as fact rather than fiction." Cyrus said. Khan suddenly reached out, and touched Katara's ear. She was startled, and threw him.

"Ow!" he yelped, rubbing his arm.

"Sorry, but maybe you should've asked." she muttered.

He got up. "I had to check if they were fake. I guess not..."..

'First siltharaa, now elves! What's next!?! An army of indestructable stone warriors? A bunch of crystal dragon zombies!? A-PIRATE-GIENE-CAPTAIN-WHO-WANTS-TO-STEAL-OUR-SOULS-SO-HE-CAN-REBUILD-HIS-REALM-AND- CONTROL-THE-WORLD-WITH-UNLIMITED-WISHES!?!" Ren said all in one breath. They a stared at him.

"That was... oddly specific," Clay blinked.

Shadow looked down at the Lightning Guardian. "You either read too many comic books, or watch an insane amount of cartoons. Or both. Yeah I'd say both. Oh, add video games to that."

Jaya put an arm around Ren to try and calm him. She turned to Katara, eyes flicking to her ears before returning to her face. "You said you were a... 'winter' elf. Is there... an elf for every season?" Before Katara could respond, Shadow cracked up again, and this time, she did fall.

Though it might've been on purpose because she landed on her feet, sheathing sword in the same motion. "Nope! There the two kinds of elves: winter and fire. Winter elves can be in extreme cold, and not even feel it, but heat drains their energy. It can also kill them. The opposite is true for fire elves.

How does she know that? Did she used to know an elf?

Khan looked at Katara awkwardly. "Um.... sorry about all the, uh, fire jokes. I didn't know how dangerous it was to you." She raised her eyebrows in surprise, this wasn't the response she'd expected from him.

"It's fine, not like you knew any better" she looked at the others, they'd returned to digging through the mess. "Does... You're all okay with..."

Jaya glanced at her. "Why wouldn't we be? You've proven yourself. I can't say I'm happy you didn't tell us at first, but I can see why you wouldn't. How about this; No more secrets and we call it even." She looked at everyone else. "And that goes for all of you. We're a team after all." Ren Clay, Cyrus, and Khan nodded. Katara looked uncomfortable. Shadow appeared to be debating which knife she should use to cut out Jaya's tongue.

"Well..." the little girl said. "That was fun. Who doesn't love staying up all night putting out a fire, then spilling secrets that shouldn't be... secret?" she grinned.

"I am now certain they are gone," Cyrus interrupted. Clay, Ren, Khan, and Jaya groaned in unison.

"What's gone?" Katara asked, confused.

"Hm..." Shadow pulled an over dramatic thinking pose. "Let's use our brains for a second. I came here with the sole purpose of warning you that some snake people took a map marked with the locations of four vaults that hold the pieces to a sword that can control the world, and you just so happened to have two of those pieces lying around." She gasped comically. "You don't think they took them do you? And without asking!?"

Khan snorted.

Katara wanted to hit herself for being so stupid. The attack made a lot more sense now.

"Hey guys, ready to go? We've got the bus all set!" Churro called, picking his way through the debries when he saw their expressions. "Why the long faces? Did I miss something?"

#ninternia #shadow kaida #soran zhong #clay brooks #katara anakari #jaya lenori #khan lenori #cyrus julian #ren walker