#I know about bones - i promise | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

adhdbisexualramblings · 1 year

Text

Little snippet of a story maybe?

“I’m your friend, Zim. I swear,” Membrane whispered, hands reaching out in case Zim might try to flee or his panic rose to dangerous levels. Zim stuttered with tears, the weight of the situation getting to him in the span of a second. He - he had killed his Tallest. And it - it might have been intentional, he didn’t know. His mind was all sorts of messed up these days, filling his meatbrain with things he didn’t remember.

“Friend,” he scoffed, not out of anger or, Irk forbid, hatred, “friends aren’t - Tallest aren’t friends.” Membrane sighed quietly and moved from his knees to letting his legs bunch up in front of him so he was lower.

“Zim, we talked about this, remember? I’m not a Tallest,” his words brought Zim an odd warmth, which he failed to banish from his chest. Perhaps it was the voice, so welcoming and gentle, in a way he’d never heard it before, “...Do you mind if I carry you?”

Zim made a noise, “What, like a smeet?” He was no smeet, and surely not any weaker than one to warrant being held. Irkens were not meant to be held.

“Yes, like a smeet,” he didn’t seem to understand how weak and helpless a smeet was, especially one that had to be held, “...I think it’ll help. You certainly look like you need it.” Zim looked like he wanted to protest, and he did start trying, but the words got caught in his throat when he looked up at the professor and caught his gaze. He couldn’t see his eyes, or his nose, or anything about him. Professor Membrane was always hidden, even from his own children. Yet, here, in the dim kitchen light, he looked worried. He looked worried for…for Zim. No one had ever been truly worried for Zim, as far as he could remember. That look was for him only. Like he was big enough to have a look all to himself.

“...OK.” He whispered, voice uncharacteristically small. Membrane was careful to go slow, inching closer and opening his arms invitingly. Zim bit his lip and hesitantly uncurled, crawling on all fours to the professor. He set himself down on his lap, just inside range of his arms. The professor told him he would pick him up, then did so. His arms wrapped around Zim carefully, one supporting his bottom and the other resting on his back, careful of his PAK. Zim’s face was smushed against his shoulder as he was forced to wrap the length of his arms around the professor’s neck to keep himself steady. His initial reaction was panic, panic, panic, get out, get out, you’re under attack, he’s choking you, leaving you vulnerable, he said he wasn’t like Dib, how, why did you listen to him-

He was shifted quickly so that Membrane could keep his grip and stiffened, eyes wide. Membrane seemed to sense his discomfort and kneaded his knuckles into Zim’s back gently.

“You’re alright. I’m sorry, I should have warned you,” I’m sorry. Words uncharacteristic of a Tallest. Tallest were never supposed to apologize. Zim scolded himself. Membrane was hardly a Tallest. He wasn’t even close to the genius, the power and respect a Tallest deserved. And yet…

His PAK seemed to think something else.

“No, I -” I was rightfully terrified? I’m messed up? I know you didn’t mean it but my PAK’s saying you did? Zim gave up and forced himself to relax his body. “I - I’m…sorry I got…” he couldn’t finish.

“Oh, none of that, Zim. I should have warned you. It won’t happen again. I’m going to rock you a bit. Is that alright with you?” Tallest never asked if those below them were ‘alright’ with anything. His Tallest flew into his Florpus hole because they didn’t change directions. The comms officers on The Massive were crafty, Zim admitted. It was likely they had tried to…to steer his Tallest…away…

“Zim?”

“...”

“Is my rocking you OK?” Zim nodded absently, eyes staring ahead, unblinking. The professor’s coat was warm in contrast to Zim’s always-freezing skin. His gloved claws gripped his coat and Professor Membrane’s hair tickled Zim’s face. It didn’t bother him.

As he was bounced gently, slowly at first, he repeated, like a mantra, “Tallest don’t hurt you, Tallest don’t hurt you, Tallest don’t hurt you, Tallest don’t-”

A song-like vibration of the throat made an antenna flick. Membrane was humming quietly, the only sound other than the almost-silent clicking and thrumming of Zim’s PAK. It was a childish tune. Still, it was…steady. Something to hang onto. The whirring of Zim’s PAK lowered as he shut his eyes, successfully leaving himself at pure vulnerability. Membrane continued humming and bouncing him, and Zim absently noted, from the sounds of steps, he was pacing the living room in a short line.

After he doesn’t know how long (his PAK should keep a time log. Why isn’t it?), the professor stopped. Stopped pacing, anyhow. Zim felt a stab of disappointment, then one of slight fear, then one last one of anger, belittling him for being disappointed at something so stupid. Of course it had to end eventually. He couldn’t stay in the professor’s arms forever. Maybe he’d gotten tired of him, finally. Zim wouldn’t blame him.

“Are you asleep?” His whisper came as a surprise. Zim opened his eyes automatically. Irkens had no need for sleep, and the fact the professor was proposing he could even sleep was preposterous.

“Irkens do not need sleep.” He didn’t mean to clip his voice, or to say it so loudly, likely breaking the calm silence they had made. He winced when the professor did not continue his rocking. Zim had made his Tallest upset. He would be punished for raising his voice, surely. Speaking against his leader was a crime.

“...Ah. Noted,” he still didn’t continue, to Zim’s aching fear. He - he had upset him. He had to make it right. He had to - complete the mission given, had to - harm himself - let his squeedlyspooch burst at his direction. He would put his life on the line to serve his Tallest. Tell me what to do, tell me who to hurt, tell me to do anything, command me - “Zim, you’re getting panicked again. Are you alright? Do you feel sick at all?” Sick? At all? Zim’s entire PAK was sick. The Control Brains had told him, said he was Defective. His Tallest said he was Defective. Nothing more than a short, Defective little weakling of a soldier whose first words couldn’t be more broken. He had barely gotten past Invader training with his life and respect. He had called his Tallest once, when his sickly PAK couldn’t heal him. They had laughed with him. But nothing had been funny. Nothing about his PAK failing him was anything to laugh about. They had laughed with him. With him. With him. With him. With him. With. With. At. At. At. At. At him. The Tallest laugh at him.

“Zim-”

His throat clogged with acid and he realized a second too late the vomit and bile spitting from his mouth. He coughed and retched, spasming as his spooch disdainfully emptied itself.

He was whimpering pathetically, hot tears shocking him, "I didn' mean it, 'm sorry, 'm sorry - I'm sorry, I - I - 'm sorry, my T - Tall - Talles' - Tallest, I'll clean it - up, I swear -'' his breathing was too loud. He was breathing too heavily. His throat burned. His face burned. Everything burned. His body spasmed and pulsed with sick. He swallowed breath stupidly, and they laughed with him, laughed at him, at his pathetic excuse of a mission. He wasn't even a real invader, oh Irk -

"Zim, you do not need to clean it up. I am not upset. You just got sick. That's it. It happens." Not for an Irken. Never for an Irken. A superior race taken down by nothing more than a little vomit. How stupid was this? How stupid was he? No one believes Defectives. The Tallest knew he'd done it on purpose. He would be taken to the Control Brains and deactivated for real this time. Not like that fake-out trial that had been all a joke-

"I didn't mean it, my Tallest. I didn't-" he gasped, chest heaving while he tried to suck in breath. He had done it again. It had happened again. They'd found his broken spots, and now he'd gone and ruined everything. There is always something wrong with him. Everything was always wrong with him. He ruined something good again.

“I know you didn’t mean it, Zim. Let’s go clean up now, hm?” A part of his brain told him that language was demeaning. He was not a smeet. He was not. The tears streaming down his face and the lack of control meant nothing. He was not a smeet. He’d stopped being one ages ago.

As his body shook with stupid sobs, he felt smaller. He didn’t want to feel small. Small meant weak. He was set on the bathtub edge. Membrane quietly dug through the bottom cabinet and ripped a few paper towels from a roll. He kneeled in front of Zim and reached out slowly, towel in hand, no doubt to wipe the disgusting vomit from his mouth and chin. Zim’s mind ran to catch up and he snatched the towel.

“I can do it myself,” it wasn’t said with much pride. Membrane noticed it was practically a whine. Zim took the towel shakily and roughly rubbed it across his face. He got very little of the throw up. The professor fixed him with a look Zim couldn’t place. He held out his hand expectantly. Zim stared at him, not really seeing him.

“...Please?” Membrane asked. Zim stared down at the towel, then handed it over. “Thank you, Zim.” Zim said nothing as the vomit was wiped off gently and the towel was thrown in the trash. When the professor stood, his knees cracked, though he either hid his discomfort well, or it didn’t hurt at all. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for the night, don’t you think?” He asked rhetorically.

#Context: Membrane pretty much knows about the paranormal (the reason he believes not to is to keep his kids safe)#And Dib comes home hurt #an equally as hurt Zim following. Membrane patches both of them up and reveals to Zim only that he knows he’s an alien #He promises not to do anything and really just listens and takes notes #Having a confidant becomes especially important for Zim after Enter the Florpus #His Tallest aren’t calling and it stresses him out #So while Dib is off at a relative’s house for the week Zim kinda stays with the professor the whole week #This got me out of my writing block and is also extremely dumb #invader zim #my writing #fanfiction #Professor Membrane #its like 2am I am bone tired #But here followers. Eat what crumbs I give #Imma pass out soon see ya hope you like this

12 notes · View notes

braveryhearted · 8 months

Text

Player Character / Tav of Baulder's Gate 3 Character Sheet

Name: Serenity ( Sere ) Caldwell. Age: Early 20s. Height: Medium. Clothes in Camp: Minthara's aka she looted it like the Rouge she is. :3 Hair Color: White / Silver. Eye Color: Light Elf Purple and Dark Elf Purple. Hair Length / Style: Medium / Winterfell Scarf. Ears: Pointed. Complexion: Pale. Profession: Folk Hero / Noble. Alignment: True Neutral. Class: High Elf Half Mermaid Rogue. Sub Class: Arcane Trickster. Boons: Slight of Hand, Charisma, Deception, History, Arcane. Weakness: Strength, Defense, Constitution.

Granddaughter of Wyllyck and Abelea. Daughter of an unnamed Caldwell and Undyne of the Forgotten Lands.

The Caldwells are one of the oldest families in the Gate, and under her grandfather Wyllyck's leadership, sustained their great wealth. Serenity's grandad, however, did not hoard his wealth, and instead distributed a lot of it to charity. Because of this and several other reasons, the Caldwell family is very well regarded, not just in the Upper City, but city-wide. Her grandfather Wyllyck even invested into businesses in the Lower City, giving him great repute in the area. In addition to general charitable works, he donated very generously to the Church of Last Hope, Shrine of the Suffering, Watchful Shield, and the High House of Wonders.

Serenity shares a lot of her personality with her grandfather. She's said to be very modest, talented, and philanthropic. Serenity is more interested in studying, discussing alchemy, and conducting charity work, and thus declined invitations to noble galas. She believes most other patriars were too concerned with their own pleasure in order to care about the Lower and Outer City. Serenity was against the Guild, though that did not stop her from looking into issues within the Outer City.

In Baulder's Gate, Serenity could often by found in the Wide, studying alongside her fellow alchemists. The Caldwell patriarch is well liked all over Baldur's Gate. Many persons and organizations were impressed with Wyllyck and his extended family, including Duke Torlin Silvershield, the Parliament of Peers, and even his political rival, Ulder Ravengard.

Wyllyck has an intelligent wife, Abelea Caldwell, who was skilled at finance and business management. This is where Serenity gets her pragmatic skills and her stealing everything she sees, even if it's not really valuable. If it's sellable even for one gold, it's worth every yoinked slight of hand.

In 1482 DR, the Parliament of Peers planned on electing Serenity's grandfather, Wyllyck Calwell to become a duke and thus part of the Council of Four. Wyllyck had very strong support from existing dukes, and citizens from all around Baldur's Gate. However, Caldwell never became duke. He was eventually passed over in favor of Lord Ulder Ravengard.

The Caldwells originally made their fortune on the the extensive orchards of apples and pears that were grown south of Baldur's Gate. In the 1400s, they branched out into importing raw timber and exporting cut and treated lumber, thanks to their own treatment process. This was used by the majority of builders, carpenters, coopers, shipwrights, and wheelwrights in the region. By the 1480s DR, they'd expanded into shipping upriver and bought and operated two ships, Abelea and Sweetseed.

They are very well regarded within the city for their numerous charitable endeavors and financial investments in businesses located throughout the Lower City. They made generous donations to several temples: the High House of Wonders, the Watchful Shield, the Shrine of the Suffering, and the Church of Last Hope. By 1492, they had ownership of most of the art museums in Baldur's Gate. Nevertheless, their riches were still not a patch on those of the Silvershield family.

Wyllyck and Abelea had multiple sons, in which one unnamed one fell in love with the mermaid Undyne, who grew legs and left the sea to be with the one she loved. They eventually wed and had Serenity, their only child. Her mermaid gene is more submissive than her High Elf one so when they classified her after the birth, she was put under the High Elf category. The only affects that she has that can been scene is her impulsive tendency to steal almost anything, especially skulls and bones and her melodic singing voice, said to even outshine the harpies on the beach.

In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mermaids are sometimes associated with perilous events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks, and drownings. In other folk traditions (or sometimes within the same traditions), they can be benevolent or beneficent, bestowing boons or falling in love with humans / human-like beings. The male and the female collectively are sometimes referred to as merfolk or merpeople.

The Western concept of mermaids as beautiful, seductive singers may have been influenced by the Sirens of Greek mythology, which were originally half-birdlike, but came to be pictured as half-fishlike in the Christian era. While there is no evidence that mermaids exist outside folklore, reports of mermaid sightings continue to the present day.

Mermaids have been a popular subject of art and literature in recent centuries, such as in Hans Christian Andersen's literary fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" (1836). They have subsequently been depicted in operas, paintings, books, comics, animation, and live-action films.

Her (battle) theme is LOVE THE SUBHUMAN SELF from Guilty Gear. She's deeply in love with the fellow high elf rogue turned vampire, Astarion Ancunín. Verses if they are in a romantic relationship are dependent here. Not gonna force anything. Her relationship with her mother Undyne is strained, as her mother is jealous and has tried various attempts on the young woman's life through the years, as Mermaids tend to be envious of anyone else and wish them dead.

2 notes · View notes