#the hips on the drag queen go swish swish swish

[boogiewrites]

Seeing Stars Part 3

Characters: Eddie Munson x OFC Star

Summary: Eddie starts to see past the hard-ass Star makes herself out to be. She opens herself up bit by bit and is surprised to find that Eddie doesn't run when he finds out she is, in fact, a normal human with emotions like everyone else.

Comment & Reblog to let me know you like it and want more Eddie content!

Part 1 if you missed it!

Warnings/Triggers: Drug use. Hurt/Comfort. Bullying. Lots of talking, flirting, bonding. Mentions of PTSD and past trauma. Soft!Eddie.

A loud meow from her cat, Moon couldn’t be heard over the boom box on top of the counter over Star’s head. She was bent over ass in the air as she put the finishing touches on a presentation for class. The meows of Moon awoke Ozzy, her black tough-lived street cat as he went to check out the cause of the noise. He jumped off the bed and flicked his tail on Star as he passed, she thoughtlessly ran her hand down his head to his tail as he passed before returning to bouncing her body to the beat of Grand Funk Railroad over the stereo. He stood in the doorway, joining in the meowing and chirping at the visitor. Moon sat and swished her tail, her head being pet as she trilled on the back of the bench. Ozzy happily ran around two slim denim-clad legs, rubbing his face onto the well-worn fabric.

Eddie watched as Star sang along to the song playing, sitting back on her feet to assess the posterboard she’d been working on. She wiggled the whole time, throwing her head back and shaking the mess of hair piled on top of her head. She’d then lean back down with her wide-set hips wiggling to the beat as she added flourishes with a marker. Eddie stood quietly, eyes happily taking in the bouncing woman. He’d thought about making the joke of why wasn’t she listening to a certain Queen song while dancing like that but he’d never let himself. She’d made enough jokes about having a fat ass that maybe Fat Bottomed Girls might not be offensive to her. He looked down at Ozzy, his favorite of the two cats, and smirked as it looked like he was being judged by the almost one-eared cat’s narrow eyes. The song decides to change and in the quiet between, he clears his throat, leaning on the doorway with a grin on his face. She turned quickly, her hair falling around her face from her fidgeting about.

“Hey!” her face lit up and he couldn’t act like he didn’t enjoy it when her eyes got bright when she’d see him.

“Still working on that?” he asked, walking in, grabbing the hair knot on top of her head and shaking it.

“I want it to be good. It’s for extra credit so I’m trying to go all out.”

“History class right?”

She nodded, lips pressed together before finishing a corner decoration before deciding it was time to put it away. She looked at the old cat clock on the wall.

“Shit I’ve been working on this way too long.” she let herself groan, her hands on the ground as she raised herself, staying in the position and shaking out her legs before slowly standing and lowering the volume of the music.

“Nerd.” he gave her a big grin as he plopped himself down into her bed, falling into the piles of pillows. At this point, they were comfortable with each other. It was almost October and they’d managed to spend at least one night together a week. She was finally getting into a routine, something stable, and he was reaping the rewards of having her be relaxed.

“At least one of us is gonna graduate.” she retorted, slapping his bent knee.

“Oh!” he grabbed his chest. “Ow.” he acted shocked and shook his head at her. “I am trudging through the moors of Hawkins High and slowly making the hero’s journey towards that diploma.”

“At least you’ve been paying attention in English.” she shrugged and grabbed her stash box.

“I don’t mind English.” he mused, looking to the ceiling, laying back with his hand on his stomach. “How’s art goin’? They covered the bases, catching up after a long week as Star rolled out a few joints. She lit one, taking a long drag before handing it off and falling back on the bed next to him. She nods her head to the music, and Eddie feels her bobbing against his foot with her hip. After they’re sufficiently high, a tradition they were trying to uphold to battle the stress of existing, she turns to her side, facing him with a thoughtful purse of her lips, head on her hand.

“Did you ever listen to that cassette I gave you?”

“No.” he openly admits before she slaps his stomach and he laughs.

“Eddie!”

“I’ve told you a hundred times if it’s not metal I’m not into it.”

“To claim to be so open-minded you’re sure being a tight ass about this.” she shoved him lightly as he slapped her hand and handed her the joint. “It’s Sly and the Family Stone. It’s solid, I swear. You’d like funk if you gave it a chance. The bass is some of the best you’ll ever hear, there are SOLOS for crying out loud!”

“It’s not hard enough.” he spoke with a flippant hand lazily raised.

“It’s not hard enough.” she mocked, him, hopping out of bed and finding a cassette she’d made herself that she knew had a good mix on it.

“You’re gonna ruin my buzz, Star.” He grasped for her but she was already out of reach.

“Then smoke more.” she sassed and switched out the tapes. She plays 'I Want To Take You Higher' and she crosses her arms. Eddie’s attention was drawn immediately. He slowly sat up and with his signature poor posture, he looked at the stereo with bloodshot eyes. “See?” she held her hands out dramatically at the silver box. He narrowed his eyes and took another drag. “You’re such an asshole.” she laughed and loosely slapped his hair.

“I don’t hate it.” he gave with a lit joint in his hand, to accompany his statement. She did a little victory fist pump and it got a smile out of him. “The rhythm is solid. The bass is yeah, it’s…funky.” he chuckled with no other word coming to mind.

“Okay. Good! If you like that how about this?” she had an unsure face but fast-forwarded the tape for a few seconds. She started moving her hips and shoulders, a very basic back and forth weave to the music.

“Nah.” he shook his head.

“It’s fucking Marvin Gaye Eddie! How dare you.” she shook her head and closed her eyes, dancing a little more animatedly.

“Marvin Gaye?”

“Did I stutter?” she says with eyes still closed, arms now slowly raising over her head as she moved.

“Isn’t this the shit older people listen to so they can fuck?” She dropped her hands and stopped moving and glared his way.

“Fuck’s sake.” she rolled her eyes. “You’re thinking of like…” she clicked through the tape, ignoring his shit-eating grin as he reclined back on the bed again. “This.” she points as Barry White 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' starts to play.

“Yeah, this sucks the most.” he nodded with confidence.

“You uncultured swine.” she shook her head as if she was trying to get his words out of her head. She turned it up louder and started to dance.

“Oh god not this again.” his groan turns into a shout.

“Yes! This again!” she said with wild eyes and let herself get into the beat. The bass and snare kick in and her hips start going. She flips on a switch like a theatre kid and looks at him and mouths the words. She dances toward him and he kicks out his leg to stop her from approaching. She takes his foot and uses it as a microphone.

“I will kick you in the teeth.” he declares laughing.

“Fuckin' do it you two left-footed bitch.” His head falls back with laughter. She throws his legs, and thrusts her hips Saturday Night Fever disco style, making him laugh every time he looks at her, standing almost over him right next to the bed. “C’mon!” she says putting her arms on either side of him, bouncing the bed, and repeating the words. He slaps her away and she grabs his wrists, holding them down. She’s met with a mess of brown wavy hair on his face as he laughs and shouts at her. “You’re gonna dance. I’m gonna teach you. It’s inevitable. Give in!”

“I’ll never surrender!” he rolls, turning his back to her to get away. Her knees hop on the bed and she hunches over him.

“Surrender mortal!” she grabs his ribs, a threat to tickle him.

“If you tickle me I swear to god!” his voice cracks in panic as he rolls back towards her to get her hands off him.

“I will teach you the ways of dance. Come to the dark side.” she wavers his voice like a cartoon ghost.

He grabs her wrists and shakes his head, freeing his face from the curtain of hair.

“No tickling. That’s a rule!” he shakes her hands.

“If you let me teach you I’ll stop bothering you about it. I swear. If you at least TRY.”

“You really want me to dance that bad?”

“I’m desperate here. I don’t have clubs to go to, I don’t have anyone to dance with. There are house parties but there’s all by high schoolers and they don’t know how to dance.” she complained. She retreated and stood, stopping the tape.

“Even if I learn how I’m not gonna dance in a field like some nymph for hours and paint landscapes.” he motions his hand East toward the direction where he had seen her do just that.

“I think it’s important. You love music so much and you can’t dance and it’s downright upsetting.”

“You don’t dance to metal!” he laments and sits up.

“You CAN though.” She wheezes and goes to find another cassette. “If you learned how to move your hips when you play you’d be amazed at the effect it has on women.” This caught his attention. “My mom always said if you can’t dance, you can’t fuck.” she states bluntly, snapping the cassette closed to punctuate her point. “Can you fuck, Eddie?” she puts her hands on her hips, face with its high brows judging him. He met her stare directly with angled high eyes and his mouth in a tight line.

“Fine.” he admits defeat and stands. “Come after a man’s sexual abilities you leave me no choice.”

“Exactly.” she gave him a grin. She bounded to him and mushed his cheeks. “Thank you.” she said sincerely with a little bounce before turning back to the cassette player. “I’ll even play something you know.” she hit play on possibly her favorite Dio song, 'Caught In The Middle'. “So what do you know about dancing?”

“That it's stupid.” He griped with a shake of his head challenging her.

“Okay, so nothing.” she rolled her eyes. “You play guitar, so you have rhythm, you just have to change that into your body. So find the beat.” she started a basic sway with her shoulders. “I’m not even gonna try to teach you anything fast, you’ll never need that.” She walks over to him and shakes his shoulders. “Loosen up.” she insists. “Close your eyes and move your body. Wherever you feel it.”

She stepped back a foot or two, hips moving and eyes closed, her body started to wind like a snake and her hands ran down her body, and was less sure about his choice to give into her. She’d danced plenty around him, if there was music on she was moving.

“Move your hips, side to side, back and forth, doesn’t matter, keep your shoulders moving the opposite.” With closed eyes, she reached out and took him by his hips without hesitation trying to move them to the beat. She attempts this a few beats and opens her eyes and looks down. “Eddie, honey.” she flicked her eyes up to his unsure ones, his chin pushed in and watching her. She lets go and steps back farther. “Let's get a little more literal. Move your hips like you’re having sex.” she directs with two straight arms out.

“I don't…” his brow furrowed and he looked down at himself. “I’ve never thought about how they move.”

“Then it’s time you started.” she crossed her arms. “You’ve had sex to music. Do you follow the beat?”

“Yeah?” he thought about it, eyes shifting around the room.

“Dancing is usually about sex, right? You go dancing at clubs to meet someone. School dances are about an excuse to get close. It’s about communicating with your body and just feeling good in your body when you move it. You’re always bouncing around, you like using your body, focus on that?” She was offering solid advice and he was listening whether he’d meant to originally or not. She was pretty convincing and good at putting things in a way he could understand. “Move like you would normally to a song you like.” as the song changed to something harder she let her head move more, a baby headbang.

Now, this he could do. He places his legs apart, a bent knee, and his hair starts to swing with his head. As the song kept going she watched, he had his chest and shoulders moving, not missing a single beat. He air guitared and his face contorted into a highlighted concentrating expression.

“Yes. Yes yes yes. Great! We’re getting somewhere.” she snaps him out of it with her voice.

“Good?” he asked with a raised brow seeking approval.

“You’ve got some good rhythm for a skinny white metal head.” she smiled. “You’ve got the beat and the upper body, but your lower body doesn’t move at all. So back to the sex thing.” She stood sideways after rewinding the tape.

“You like this song or something?”

“It’s one of my favorites. It’s got a good groove to it. It’s flowier and less stiff. Which is what I’m trying to help but still trying to speak the same musical language as you.” she explained. She stood sideways and put her hand to her lower back and her chest. “I don’t expect you to move like this, but it’s the best example I’ve got. Move your hips like you fuck.” She rolled her body, her hands placed to emphasize where she was moving. She rolled her body and he gulped. His eyes went a bit dazed as the more flowing moment of the song was over.

“Have you ever had sex to this song?” he blatantly asked.

“I haven’t actually. My exes weren’t into metal.” she shook her head.

“Okay cause I’ve never moved my hips like that in my life.” he grinned and scratched his head.

“Ride dick for a few years and get back to me,” she smirked. “As a guy, you’re inclined to…” she spread her legs and did a basic hip thrust.

“Yeah that I’ve got DOWN.” he proclaims with a raised chin and a goofy smile.

“Have you ever thrown in some of this though?” She squatted lower, a more scoping motion of a hip thrust, it moved her whole torso when she did so.

“Oh like this move?” he turned and put one foot up on the bed and held his weight up on the wall and did a very similar movement. “Like this?” He wiggles his eyebrows at her with a big grin as he loses his balance trying to turn his head and slips. He quickly resituates to move his face toward hers again with one hand to his lower back. “Ya like that?” He sticks his tongue out of his mouth at her. Meanwhile, Star was holding her hand over her mouth and snorting laughing.

“So graceful.” She gets out between laughs. “The mental image of you doing that naked with that cute little butt of yours is fucking killing me.” She wipes a tear from her eye from laughing, half bent over at the waist. He moves so quickly to put both feet back on the ground and face her.

“Wait what?” His mouth was open and brows high as he hunched and approached her. “Did you just say I had a cute butt?” The look on his face is pure ‘I gotcha’.

“I guess I did.” She nodded and knew she couldn’t get out of this one.

“You said I have a cute butt!” He still had a face of shock and awe but mostly of superiority for her to have slipped up.

“So?” She said still laughing and he shoved her shoulder. “You caught me. What do You want? Me to write it down for your records?”

“I mean, yeah” he grinned.

“You’ve got a nice tight ass, Eddie, what do you want from me? I’m only human.” She kept an easy-going smile on her face and shrugged.

“No one’s ever told me that before.” He stood proudly and moved to try to look at his butt which made her laugh again.

“Why did I just get De ja vu?” She scrunches her nose in thought. “You look like a puppy trying to chase its tail but that’s not it.” He stood and thought for a moment.

“I did say that the first night we met.”

“Did I tell you you had a cute ass when I met you?” She put her hand over her mouth in exaggerated embarrassment even if it was a little real.

“No. You called me a pretty boy.” He gave her a smug smile.

“Are you sure I wasn’t insulting you?”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure. You were... friendly.” He chuckled, looking down and turning to move toward the bed.

“Oh god, what did I do?” She kept her hand to her mouth.

“You called me a pretty boy, and said I was dumb but cute.” She hummed and moved her hand as if she was weighing the options.

“I mean. I was right.” She smiles big, her green eyes disappearing behind fully raised cheeks. “Good to know my intuition is still working even when consciousness is not.”

“You also winked at me.”

“Okay, I’m sorry for that one. That’s too much.” She held her hands out apologetically.

“Don’t be.” He had a softer smile as he looked at the floor. “You said something that now I find more interesting. Knowing what I do about you. With your witch stuff.” He vaguely motions his hand her way.

“I’m never drinking again. I just embarrass myself.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “What’d I do?” She sighed.

“You said you thought I’d be good to you.”

“Are you sure we didn’t fuck?” She chuckled. “Were you drunk too? Because this sounds like I was flirting my ass off.”

“You were.” He grinned and raised his head back up to meet her eyes. There was an unmistakable twinkle in the deep brown that made something flutter around in her stomach for a brief moment. Maybe that's how she felt when she'd met him.

“What did I say exactly?” He huffed out a soft laugh in remembrance.

“I bet you’d be good to me, wouldn’t you pretty boy?” She looked around the room and then put her hand to her chin. You slut, she thought to herself. A grin he thought was embarrassment crossed her face.

“I guess I knew you were a good guy.” She tried to recall it but couldn't. But without the inhibitions of her trauma, she had been open enough to know he was a safe space. Drunk her was trying to make a connection sober her didn't have the courage to.

“I did keep you from fighting a guy 3 times your size and got you stuff to get the spilled beer off you.”

“Yeah, you are a good guy.” She smirked but it was playful and kind and less patronizing. She reached out to pinch his cheek. “Anyone putting up with my drunk ass is a saint.”

“I’m getting indoctrinated next week.” He nodded.

“Saint Munson. Patron saint of putting up with my annoying, drunk ass.”

“You weren’t that bad.” He tossed a hand her way to excuse her misplaced embarrassment. “You were nice.” He gave her a pleasant smile. “I’m glad I met you like that first. I got to see the real you a little bit.”

“Probably helped deal with me being a bitch later on.” She snorted out a laugh.

“Yeah, it did.” He agreed with an exaggerated nod.

“You’re not supposed to agree with that.” She teased and shoved him.

“You were dancing though.”

“Of course I was. Was I dancing with you?” Her voice sounded almost hopeful.

“No.” He answers simply. He saw the press of lips and he felt an odd pang of guilt. She’d wished he had danced with her. “Guess that means I deserve this harassment, huh?” He offers consolation and stands back close to her.

“It would be far worse if I was drunk.” She tilted her head. “So be glad I’m not.”

“I’ll assume the position then ma’am.” He turned and put his foot on the bed same as before. “Where were we? Showing you my moves?” He moves his hips again, once again eliciting a laugh from her.

“I was about to say. If you could only-” she does the small, fast hips thrusts. “I was about to feel so bad for anyone you’d slept with.” she chuckled.

“I’ve had no complaints.” He holds his hands up cockily as he turns back her way.

“I bet you haven't,” she smirked. “Now try doing that but both feet on the ground.” It took him a few swings but he got there. “Now less knee bending.” His eyes lit up when he realized he was doing it correctly, meeting hers with a big smile. “Gold star!” she clapped. “Now use your shoulders with that loosened-up stomach.” She began a simple back and forth and he mirrored it. “Okay he’s a fast learner.” she nods happily, sounding impressed. “If you really wanna impress a woman though-” she moves up on him, grabbing his lower back. “Keep moving, the same way you were. Don’t mind me.” she giggles. She matched their hips up and put his hand on her bare lower back. “Be assertive but don’t come on too strong.” she nodded as she pushed his hand to her body and he caught on to hold her. “A well-placed hand can really seal the deal.”

“Well placed thumb’ll do it too.” he gave her a look that was half-smirk and half cheesy grin.

“Alright, loverboy. I get it, you know what you’re doing.” she smiled and raised her arms, moving her body a little more of a feminine flare. She let her hand fall to his shoulder. “You’ve got it down now.” she gave him a warm smile, having to raise her face to meet his. “Was that so bad?”

“Worse. The worst time I’ve ever had.” he beamed at her, moving quickly and reaching back for her thigh, bringing it up and dipping her for a quick second as her yelp of surprise turned into a full laugh.

“Were you lying? You can do that but not dance?” her hands slapped to his chest as he raised her.

“I had to fill an elective one year and took theatre and they did a musical.” he explained.

“So you can slow dance?”

“There’s not a whole lot to it.”

“That’s true. I never really slow danced. That’s when I’d take a break at the clubs.”

“With all your body language and communicating with your bodies, man-” he said it in a mocking hippie stereotype way. “I figured you liked slow dancing.”

“It’s more intimate. And I didn't wanna be intimate with the people in the club. I was there to drink and fuck.” she noted.

“Fucking isn’t intimate?” he questioned with raised brows.

“Not by default no.” she seemed surprised by his reaction.

“You’re usually mostly naked, all up in each other's shit and swapping spit. What’s not intimate about that?” he shook his head in disbelief.

“I mean emotionally. One-night stands, I don’t want to connect. I’m there to get off. We’re using each other as a means to an end. There only needs to be physical chemistry, not any other kind.” she explained with animated hands. Eddie did love that she was someone that could talk about anything without being shy.“So slow dancing, you’re closer, and you can usually talk because the music isn’t as jarring. There are expectations, and to be honest, that’s the kind of stuff that bothers me. I could fuck anyone. It’s like…no issue. It’s that letting someone in your personal space that I have trouble with.”

“That explains so much about you.” he nodded slowly, a tight line of lips as she felt judged by his gaze.

“What’s that supposed to mean?"

“I was wondering why you made such a big deal out of hanging out with me. You made it clear it wasn’t some holding hands and making out at Lover’s Lake type deal. But for a while, you still acted as nervous as someone that was expecting something like that. And I didn't get it. But you’re… backward. You’re afraid of the stuff that most people want. And you aren’t afraid of the things most people are.”

“Have I mentioned how annoying your observational skills are?” she grumbled.

“Many times.” he smiled. “I was like, why is this girl acting like us chilling and talking is such a big deal. Just getting to know each other, ya know? It’s because it IS a big deal for you.”

“Yeah. It is.” she bobbed with thoughtful eyes. “Notice I’m not doing it with anyone else?” she holds her arms out to show the idea.

“Okay this helps.” he nods and rubs his hands together. “You’re hard to read but also completely transparent.” he teases with a smile. “I see why you’re hesitant about joining the club. It’s a lot to let five new people in.”

“It’s a lot a lot.” she nods. “I’ve always had a small friend group,” she explained. “I’m fortunately and unfortunately a Scorpio through and through. Intensity is my shit but flippant relationships are very much not.”

“Scorpion suits you.” he nodded in approval.

“A stubborn ass bull suits you.” He puts up his fingers as little horns on his head and lets out a huffing sound like a bull.

“And to live up to that, Taurus… right Taurus?” his attention visibly splits for a moment then as Star nods in approval he shifts back. “I will be as stubborn as you and demand that I now teach you to dance.” Star stands and blinks at him. “You taught me how to do it your way, now I’m gonna teach you to do it my way.” he claps his hands together and rubs them. “Only fair.”

“What are you going to teach me?” she openly rolled her eyes and sighed.

“To headbang.” he leans forward to accentuate the obviousness of the statement.

“What’s there to it? You just-” she shakes her head up and down, her top knot slipping forward. She lets out a dumb little laugh as her eyes remain covered by the floof of misplaced hair.

“First of all, shut up,” he says and moves her hair back off her face. “Second of all, get rid of this.” he takes the hair tie out of her hair sloppily and then pulls it back on his thumb to shoot across the trailer. He then got his hands into her hair and fluffed it all out. “And third, watch and learn.” he moves to turn up her stereo and fast forwards to the next song, knowing which it was. He finds his signature pose, feet planted, long legs bent and hands splayed on his thighs. His hair is a glorious crown being shaken in every direction, he goes a surprisingly long time, which gave Star time to copy his stance. He stopped and never stumbled, flicking his hair off his face with both hands before attempting to smooth it down a bit. “Your turn.” he says taking a deep breath to catch his.

She makes a solid attempt, not lasting long before her hand grabs the counter and she’s left with a mess of hair the same as his.

“You gotta loosen the neck.” he grabs her by the back of the neck. “Don’t stiffen this up.”

She plants her feet again, putting more of her body into it, and hears a clap then stops with a stumble.

“Now you've got the more advanced stuff.” he holds out his arms in preparation. “You can throw a hand in there.” he bangs his head, hands up with horns then pounding on his leg. “Or go full head.” he whiplashes his head in a circle, his hair moving like a windmill.

“How do you not get dizzy?” she asks rubbing her temple.

“Not having a brain helps.” He grins.

“You can have mine.” she mumbles, holding her temples before trying again. He’s giving her a loud shout of approval and she lets herself get into it. But unlike Edie, she didn’t quite have the equilibrium for it. She moves forward a little too hard and stumbles over, she’s laughing immediately as she rolls to her back and lays with her hands over he eyes.

“Yeah you gotta work on that part.” he joins her in laughing, both legs on either side of her hips as he holds out his hands to help her up.

“Lemme stay here for a second. The room’s spinning,” she admits. “Maybe this isn’t for me.” she admits, a scrunched-up nose, looking up at the looming tall figure of Eddie.

“You were doing great.” he leans closer with his hands on his knees. “Just gotta straighten out the old noggin.” he taps her nose.

“I don’t know if you should headbang if you’ve had a concussion?” she tilted her head, finally taking her hands off her face.

“Fuck, like recently?” his eyes go wide with concern.

“No, last year.” she held out her hands and he helped yank her up before very sweetly holding her arm and helping her sit on the bed where he joined her.

“Yeah that’s something you might wanna mention.” he only held a slight scold in his voice. He pushed her hair back from her face and held her chin, looking at her eyes to make sure her pupils were even. “How the hell did you get a concussion?” he asked with no real thought behind it, some general curiosity. He sees the wince on her face after the question.

“There was a fight.” she says with a measured pace.

“You? You got knocked out?” he finished smoothing her hair, pulling it back off her shoulders.

“Can’t win ‘em all.” she shrugged and paused. “Especially when it’s a one-on-three.” His eyes went so soft for her that she felt an ache in her stomach. He put his arm around her shoulder to pull her closer in an attempt to comfort her. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“What? That fucking sucks. That's some real bullshit.” he tries to console her. “Can I ask what happened?”

“You just did.” she pursed her lips then sighed. “Don’t tell anyone,” she says very quietly. He mocks locking his mouth and throwing away the key. “It’s part of why I left. This girl hated me. And for once I didn’t anything to make her hate me. But she did, and her and her friends found me alone one day, and…” she fakes hitting herself in the head with something.

“I would’ve lost some money on that fight. I’d always bet on you.” he reassures her with a kind smile.

“Depending on a lot of factors yeah. But when bricks are involved? Not so much.”

“You serious?” he says softly. “You got fuckin’ brained, man. I wouldn’t have-”

“No, shut up. You didn’t know.” she smacks his apologetic hand away. “I'm fine now, I just got a little dizzy.”

“You want me to take a brick to her?” he rubbed her shoulder supportively. “I will drive to Chicago and hit a woman.” he puts his hand to his chest and it makes her smile, her head knocking into his shoulder affectionately.

“Violence is the way to my heart, Eddie.” She beamed up at him from where her head rested on his shoulder.

“You want me to murder someone for your birthday?” he playfully coos at her with pooched lips.

“Yes.” she giggles.

“Don’t go getting mad at me when I do. You asked for it.”

“I’ll be your alibi.” she nods with a warm smile. “It’s a double present. I get to lie to the cops.” she laughed. “Or I’ll murder someone for you? Dealer’s choice.”

“You’re a bad influence, Star.” he shook his head, still smiling.

“But a good friend.” she added in comparison. He squeezes her with the arm around her shoulder, mushing her slightly against him.

“Just a little bit.”

-

Star stood happily in front of her history class. She wasn’t one too phased by public speaking. She’d been given an assignment from the teacher for the first few weeks of class she’d missed due to a screw-up on her intake paperwork. All she has to do was pick a period from history and talk about it. So naturally, she went with one of her favorite painting periods. She’d gone above and beyond as she did when it came to anything she loved. She had a poster full of examples with a well-organized and decorated presentation. She didn’t even need the notes she’d made as she knew exactly what she was talking about. Her enthusiasm for such a thing blinded her to realize that no one else in that class was going to give a shit about this presentation. She knew she’d be graded for showmanship and interaction as it was on the syllabus but she was feeling the pit deep in her stomach grow with every passing sentence. She really needed a good grade and she cared so much about what she was talking about and one other person knew that. And that was Eddie.

He spent the entire presentation as focused as he would’ve been on creating a campaign. His eyes were on her and he was nodding and hitting the chair in front of him to make sure they paid attention. At her most hopeless she looked his way, and it hurt him to see the disappointment in her eyes. He gave her a nod and a thumbs up and she managed to swallow down the lump in her throat and continue. When the time came for the final questions Star was answered with crickets. Eddie's hand shot up, jarring his seat with the force after he looked around the room like a deer in a field to see if anyone was willing to help. So he took it upon himself.

“Eddie?” She calls on him and if anyone had been paying attention they would’ve heard the softness in her voice as she called his name.

“These guys the brotherhood they were based off another group right? The Nazareth?”

Star imagined for a moment sitting her notes down and walking across the classroom to grab his face and plant a kiss that would leave him breathless. It was already overwhelming to have him help at all but to have a question that showed he’d listened to her when she would get high and rant about these paintings made that feeling of wanting to cry bubble up again. But it was for a good reason. The adorable earnest lean forward in his chair, sitting incorrectly in it, as always, paired with the mix-up of the Nazarene movement and the band Nazareth made her heart swell with admiration. She felt the bitter bite of loneliness from speaking about something you’re passionate about to a room of disinterested people fade. It was replaced with a feeling of belonging with the simple act of giving a shit about her by Eddie.

When the cards are right, they’re right.

-

If you’ve never walked into a room and knew everyone was talking about you, it’s an odd experience to explain. Star had come from gym class and had entered the open daunting space of the cafeteria. She decided as soon as she saw Eddie with his wild hand gestures at the head of his table that she would be breaking down and sitting with the group today. She had the older ones in some classes, the younger ones, especially the curly-haired one had been friendly and struck up a conversation with her in the hallway. They weren’t total strangers, and right now she needed support. With an unreadable face, she made a straight line to Eddie. He noticed her immediately as he always does, posture straightening as he saw her heading toward him. He knew something was wrong by the way she chewed the inside of her lip.

“Hey guys.” she managed to sound fairly friendly. “Mind if I sit with you today?” She was met with staring eyes of surprise. She stood with her lunch tray in her hand, a few feet from Eddie. After the shock wore off, Eddie used his foot to push Dustin down the table, disrupting the two youngest.

“Yeah, of course.” Eddie shoved Dustin's tray and a more curious than disgruntled youthful face smiled at her.

Behind her, some causes of her wounded mood approached. A girl from her gym class and a lanky guy with his arm around her slowed down as they passed.

“Looked good in gym class today Freddy.” he said with a smirk and the girl slapped his chest and giggled.

“Couldn't say the same for you.” she offered with a monotone delivery as she slid into the seat next to Eddie. He was trying to hide his typical affectionate behavior as he didn’t want to add to the awkwardness or make her feel exposed. She kept her eyes down to the table for a moment, hands white-knuckled to the tray before finally releasing it and beginning to eat.

“What the hell was that about?” Eddie asked quietly leaning in. The others could hear him but he knew to try to keep his voice from its typical booming volume. She kept her posture straight and looked him directly in his eyes for a few long seconds. He knew they’d hurt her feelings.

“Krueger.” she said before looking away to pick up a french fry. Eddie’s face was contorted with confusion for a moment. She then raised her arm with the burn scars on it wordlessly, then lowered it.

“Oh no, fuck that.” his nostrils flared and everyone was surprised when she boldly reached out to grab him by his wallet chain and yank him back into his seat.

“Don’t.” one word said enough and he hunched over angrily. Everyone at the table was stunned that she’d just leashed their Dungeon Master.

“Why are they calling you that?” Mike asked, sitting beside Dustin to Star’s left.

“I have burn scars on my arm.” she calmly explained.

“Oh shit.” he said quietly.

“Yeah.” she pursed her lips and raised her brows before letting out a big sigh.

“That’s fucked up, Star. I'm sorry.” Dustin offered.

“I expected it eventually. Maybe not so soon but that fucking asshole of a gym teacher wouldn’t let me wear my bracelets in gym class and everyone got a full view of the damage so now I'm the talk of the school again, but for a new reason.” she let her fork fall and put her hands into her lap. She’d spoken fast and from her gut and wished she hadn’t divulged so much information.

“That’s messed up.” Jeff offered. “They make fun of me because of my braces.” he gave a weak smile. Trying to show solidarity.

“You name it they’ve made fun of me for it.” Eddie offered with a shrug, she felt his hand connect to hers under the table as he held it in a tight squeeze.

“Yeah, they make fun of me because I’m fat.”

“And me because of my cleidocranial dysplasia.”

“And me when my speech impediment was worse.” Gareth added, all with the same weak knowing smile of having been the victim.

“Guess I’m in good company then.” she felt touched by the gesture. She’d been blowing them off and here they were, taking her in and trying to help.

Eddie wished no one was around. He wanted to hold her face and tell her the terrible things he’d do to anyone who dared call her that. The hurt in her big hazel eyes made his stomach ache. Star didn’t get her feelings hurt. This was new.

“You are.” Dustin smiled at her full of braces. “For the record, I think the scars are pretty badass.” he gives an affirming nod, and a muttered agreement makes its way across the group.

“Metal. Definitely.” Gareth adds with a supportive nod.

“Thanks.” his earnest words got a smile out of her and Eddie let out an exhale he didn’t know he’d been holding in. “I thought they were too.” She takes a deep breath and even though it isn’t her dominant hand, she raises it to begin picking at her food again. Eddie knew she’d left her other hand in his on purpose. Maybe a comfort to ground her for a bit longer. He did the same and went back to his lunch, thumb gently rubbing back and forth on the back of her scarred hand. “I didn’t mean to bum everyone out.” She says with a tone much more like herself. “By all means, back to your regularly scheduled programming.” She encourages them with a wave of her hand.

Eddie kept his hand in hers until she let go.

-

Eddie had settled in after a night of playing D and D. He was in his boxers and his hellfire shirt, propped up on a pillow in bed. He had the liner notes of the newest addition to his collection out and was deeply ingrained in committing the lyrics to memory. The phone on his bedside rang, quickly breaking his fragile concentration. He glanced at the clock, seeing it was almost 11. He quickly crawled to the edge of the bed, turning down the music before hopping to throw his legs over the side.

“Y’ello?” A casual and unsuspecting greeting.

“Oh good, it’s you.” He hears a feminine sigh. “I called earlier and no one answered.” He knew her voice in person or over the phone by this point.

“I took a ride around after Hellfire to clear my head.” He rests the phone between his shoulder and ear, hands moving to put the album cover back together.

“I need a favor.” Her voice sounded a little scratchy.

“Sure thing, shoot.” He answers without a second thought.

“Could you come over?”

He froze, brow moving down in concern.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.” She lies.

“Star.” His voice sounded like her brother when he’d scolded her.

“I don’t wanna be alone.” She manages to get out even if it sounded strained.

“You okay? You need something? Lemme -“ he stands and snatches his jeans off the back of a chair. “Get some clothes on and I’ll be over.”

“I’m having a bad night. Robbies working overnight and I’m-“

“I’m on my way right now.” She could hear the clink of keys in the background. “You’re fine I’ll be there in like 5 minutes.”

“Kay.”

-

He walked into an almost dark trailer. She had her altar uncovered with her tall offering candles burning along with the usual incense. It was close to her bed where she sat. Her knees were to her chest in an oversized sleep shirt that was pulled over her legs. He walked in slowly and moved the same, eyes focusing in the dark as he made his way toward her. The cats raised their heads lazily and with a yawn decided he was no longer of any interest. He heard a sniffle as she raised her head, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. He got to her as quickly as he could.

“C’mere.” He reached down and handled her to pull her up and into his chest. He kept quiet, a hand to the back of her head to keep her close and the other rubbing her back. “Are you okay?” He asked, his voice muffled against her hair. It was freshly washed and smelled like strawberries, the ends still a little damp.

“No.” She let out a sigh, unfurling her arms from around her face as she accepted the embrace and put her arms around him. She didn’t know what she anticipated, but for him to swoop in and try to help should’ve been expected. Perhaps she hadn’t predicted him to be so gentle. “Yes.” She changed her answer, her cheek mushed into his chest. “I’m having a bad night.”

“You said you didn’t want to be alone?”

“I don’t like being alone when I’m like this.” She admitted into the safety of his embrace.

“You’re not alone anymore.” He reassured her. “I’m here.” She could feel the exhale on her scalp, the warmth spreading across her crown as he rests his face in her hair. She looked at the clock on the wall, feeling an ache in her chest when he said the words. 11:11. She felt the heat of tears bubble up again. She knew what was upsetting her but she’d not reacted this intensely in a long time. She let out a little whimper at his words, knowing the timing to never be simply coincidence. It was a sign.

“I know.” She stutters out and squeezes him tighter. He’s touched by the affection. He was worried she’d lash out and push him away, she had before when she was feeling sensitive. But this felt different.

“What can I do to help?” He started stroking back her hair off her forehead. He leaned his face down closer to hers to get a look at her, make sure she wasn’t hurt. “You want tea? Wanna lie down? Want me to shut up?” She doesn’t have to look up to know he’s smiling, trying.

“Yeah.” She let out a small huff of a laugh and he squeezed her.

“There she is.” He pulled away and held her by her shoulders. “You wanna talk about it? Or am I gonna have to beat up everyone and hope I get who’s responsible?” Her face was lit by the full moonlight coming in her window like one of the paintings she loved, he thought. A moonbeam right across the quivering, wet eyes and cheeks. She kept the same aloof eyes for a moment, darting around everywhere except him before another shakey deep exhale steadied her and she met his gaze.

“Tea.” She Stated.

“Then tea for the queen it is.” He gave her a bow and showed her to her bed with a swish of his arm. “Now.” He tapped his fingers together in thought as he found the teapot. “Water in it? Yes. Turn it on. Grab the cup.” He opened her cupboard. “But which mug? Is she gonna go with Ziggy? Teddy bears in pajamas? Oh, Halloween witch maybe?” He kept leaning in and out of the cabinet, popping his head back her way with every suggestion.

“Teddy bears.” She says with a smile.

“Beary good choice.” He models the mug like he was presenting a board on Wheel of Fortune. He gets a snort out of her and that’s good enough. “You’re gonna want peppermint right?”

“Yeah.” She gulped down the whimper that grew in her throat. He listened.

“That’s the upset stomach one.” He nodded and looked for approval from her. Wiping away the rest of the gone tears on her face she agreed. “It is in... this one!” He raises a small canister full of tea bags to his nose. “Nope. Not that one.” He rubbed his nose. “That smells like ass Star, how do you drink that?” He could see her smile from her perched spot on her bed. She was moving to lean in and get comfortable, resembling one of the cats nesting. Both of which were currently laid on top of one another in a pile of laundry at the side of the bed. “Here we go. It smells like Christmas. You get those peppermint sticks for Christmas?”

“Yeah, I love peppermint Candy.” Her voice was more even now, she sounded like she was coming down. “I like the cherry cordials a lot too.” They talked about, of all things, Christmas candy while the tea heated. He took her mind off whatever had been plaguing her for a few precious minutes and as far as he was concerned that was his job in this situation.

Soon she was snugged into the corner and patting for him to join her. He slid in, shoes off first, and mirrored her bent leg, propped up posture.

“You did good.” She says noisily sipping the steaming tea.

“You wanna talk about it?” He asks with a very relaxed body language, his cheek mushing against his fist as he leaned.

“No.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “But I know I should.” She sighed.

“You don’t have to but I would like to know what’s going on even vaguely. When someone calls you at 11 on a Friday it’s for one of two reasons, and I don’t care if this was some twisted way to get me over here to have sex I am not fucking a crying girl. Even I have my limits.” He spoke with his typical animated hand and face, a playful smile that she needed to see on his face.

“What’s the other reason?”

“Somethings wrong.” He swung his head her way, calling her out with an obvious look.

“It would be the latter yes.” She nodded and sipped again. “I’ve only ever talked to Robbie about this stuff.” She mumbled into her cup. “And that’s because he was there, I didn’t have a choice.”

“Are you guys close?”

“Yeah. I like to think so. He’s raised me by himself since he was 19.” She could tell he was surprised and he had enough manners to have not asked what the situation was. “You know how I started school late this year?” He nods.” The guardianship paperwork and me turning 18 wasn’t right and we had to get it all straightened out before I could enroll.”

“So he’s legally been taking care of you.” She nodded in response.

“My mom died and my dad is-“ she shrugged. “Who knows?” She took another drink entirely too casually for Eddie even though he understood.

“I’m in the same situation you know. Except I know where my dad is. Jail.” He huffed out a sound of disappointment.

“And you have your uncle instead of a brother.”

“Wish I had a brother.”

“You want Robbie?” She offered and it made him smile again. Her turn to distract him. “I’ll take Wayne.”

“He does like you.” He grinned. “Asks about you whenever he sees me. Where’s that little hippie girl?”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“Is that what you’re upset about? Those assholes at school starting up that bull shit?” She could see the flash of anger in his eyes.

“Don’t get upset on my behalf.” She reached out and pat his arm.

“Tell yourself that.” He smirked. She returned it recalling the time someone had called Eddie white trash while they were in town and she flipped them off and told them to 'eat her, you gentrifying old bitch’.

“Guess we both have issues.”

“That’s why we get along so well.” She nodded in agreement. Another drink to ease the sore throat from drainage from crying.

“The doctors told me I have this thing called PTSD.” He looked at her confused. “Soldiers aren’t the only ones that get it.” She answers before he could ask. “It’s any traumatic event. You get flashbacks and these thoughts about it that you can’t stop.” Her face was concentrated on the blackness in her mug. “It’s been a year since I got my scars and I didn’t think the anniversary would bother me. Then the new nickname happened and having to take off my bracelets all happening within the same week brings it all up again.” She took a more ragged breath in and stopped to blink and gather herself.

He reaches out and offers her his arm. With a pat on the side of his chest, he summons her easily, sending she needed physical comfort if she didn’t want to be alone. His hypothesis was right. Without a word he took her mug and set it to the side. She slid against him, face into his chest again as they wrapped their arms around each other.

"I'm used to people talking shit about things that aren't true. Rumors don't bother me. But I've never had them make fun of me for this. I haven't been back to school since it happened so this is new." she confided.

"I was surprised you got so upset at it. But that makes sense. I'm so used to you being bulletproof that it caught me off guard."

"I know. I saw." she sighs and nuzzles her face into his chest. "I get upset a lot more than I let on."

"I know." he nodded, his hand making soothing circles on her back. “Whenever I get upset, I always wish that there was someone around to do this with.” He admitted. “When things are really bad you just wish you could be a kid again and crawl into someone's arms and have them tell you it’ll be okay.” He resumes the precious position of putting his face into her hair. Instead of curling up into a ball against him she then extends her arms to wrap around him too. They both felt like they had been dying of throat and now had endless water. There had been a drought of this physical intimacy and trust in their lives. Slowly they were beginning to understand they held the answer to that problem in each other.

“I’d do the same for you.” She spoke into his soft worn shirt.

“I know ya would.” He kisses the top of her head. “That’s why I’m here.”

“Would you stay?” Her voice sounded small. “It’s so much worse when I’m alone.”

“I’ll stay. I wouldn't leave you alone like this, don’t worry. ”

The clock read 12:22.

PART 4

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[cogitoergofun]

Late last month, Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt vetoed funding for his state’s public television network, despite the fact that the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority is the most watched Public Broadcasting Service in the country, with more than 650,000 viewers tuning into its programming every week. Why did Stitt pull the cash? You can probably hazard a guess.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Stitt, a Republican, said, “You know, the big, big question is why are we spending taxpayer dollars to prop up or compete with the private sector and run television stations? And then when you go through all of the programing that’s happening and the indoctrination and over-sexualization of our children, it’s just really problematic, and it doesn’t line up with Oklahoma values.” Among the content that Stitt apparently finds objectionable is a segment called “Let’s Learn,” which features a children’s book called The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish; a gay character in Work It Out Wombats!; LGBTQ+ characters on Clifford the Big Red Dog; and a same-sex wedding featured on Odd Squad. 

There is, of course, no evidence whatsoever that these programs are trying to indoctrinate or harm children. (Rather, the programs are showing kids that it’s okay for people to be different.) But according to Stitt, the idea that it’s okay to be different is not a “value” all of his constituents subscribe to—and it’s apparently his job to defend those people. “Oklahoma taxpayers are going, ‘Hey, hang on, time out for just a second. That’s not my values,’” Stitt told Fox. “I’m just tired of using taxpayer dollars for some person’s agenda. I represent the taxpayers.”

Incidentally, as KTUL pointed out after Stitt vetoed the funding bill, OETA airs more than just TV shows; tornado warnings and Amber Alerts are also among its services. But apparently Stitt is more concerned about protecting Oklahomans from seeing two gay people get married than warning them about catastrophic weather events.

Stitt, of course, is just one of countless Republicans whose new pet cause is to protect children from the mere existence of LGBTQ+ people. After expanding its dystopian “Don’t Say Gay” law to all grades through 12th last month, the Florida state legislature passed a bill that would prevent teachers from using students’ correct pronouns, which Ron DeSantis is expected to sign. Meanwhile, numerous states are trying to ban drag shows, while others want to prevent drag queens from merely reading to children. Last week, Stitt made it a felony to provide gender-affirming care to minors. Harper Seldin, a staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, called the law “a dangerous attack on the rights of families and their transgender youth who call Oklahoma home,” adding: “Governor Stitt and the politicians targeting trans youth have ignored the voices of parents, medical providers, and transgender youth themselves, instead choosing to put their politics between doctors and their patients.”

[incompleteth0ts]

SeaFam week🐚👑

Day Four

Accidents happen

Atlanta was beautiful. Glowing stones and Algae lined the paths of streets and archways in the door. Glowing fish swam past Percy in mimicking flurries of, "My lord." Mena and women bowed and nodded their heads as he passed by them, pulling their kids to their sides, giving him all the room he could need and more to swim down coral roads.

So naturally, Percy loved his father's home and his people.

He just wished that all his people loved him as well.

"This is the third time this month, son."

"I know Dad, I know, but it could be worse last month we had five."

Posideon took a sharp turn on his bioluminescent green tail. "Five? You said four!"

Triton looked up at Percy from next to his mother's unoccupied throne like he couldn't believe one mortal could be so unintelligent.

Percy stammered, flailing his arms around. "Well, the last time doesn't count because Triton killed her before we even left the Gulf, so technically, there's only been four successful attempts."

"But brother, successful or not, a kidnapping is still a kidnapping."

"Come on, Tri, who's side are you on."

"Boys, that's enough with the bickering." The doors to the throne room swing open on the queen's arrival. Her head was crowned with pearls and shells, with clams dangling from her ears like jewelry. "Your father is right, Percy. You've been in danger down here too many times, so I've gone and hired you a bodyguard. Say hello to my nephew, Aimilios."

Strength. The name my mother had gifted me at birth meant strength.

Strength was what had gotten me to the top; strength gifted from my late father and knowledge blessed upon me by my mother.

I had fought at my cousins' and King's side when Oceanus had come for our home. I worked under all the most powerful people until I managed to earn my spot as Commander of the Royal Guard.

I've become a symbol of fear and power for the men who follow under me.

So why are my tentacles stuck to the floor under the gaze of my uncle's newest affair?

The boy was tall for human height, but his head wasn't on level with my hips. He was browned from Apollo's sun and looked like a younger version of his father. The most noticeable feature was his steely eyes; a vertical scar dragged down his right eye, but it didn't make him any less attractive.

Perseus. Destroyer. How fitting.

My aunt is introducing me to Perseus, but I make sure to pay close attention to his reaction. He absent-mindedly nods his head. He's paying close attention to me as well.

I wonder what he thinks. This is a demigod that's only had himself and his friends; many of them died, so many died.

Neither of us is a stranger to battle. I just wished he didn't look so ready to pick a fight with me.

"How long will Dr. Octavius, be stuck to my back?" And bratty. How could I forget?

Amphitrite gave Percy a sharp look, causing him to lower his head in submission like a dejected seal pup.

"Do not give me that tone, mister. This is for your good; we can't have you giving your father grey hairs everything he catches wind that you've been kidnapped again. Just give it some time, at least until everything cools down."

Amphitrite turned back towards me and placed a perfectly manicured hand on my cheek. "Thank you again for doing this, my dear nephew. If anyone can keep this problem magnet in check, it'll be you."

"Hey, this 'problem magnet' can hear you, ma!"

Perseus was brushed off with a swish of her tail. "It's time to go and start the meeting with Delphi and your generals, dear. Triton, come with me."

The royal family had quickly emptied the room as if they were never there to begin with. Perseus looked tired of our family even more than he had before I had entered the room.

He turned, so he was looking back up at me, straightening my back, so I stood at full height. I readied myself to complete any order the young price had for me.

"So how tall are you exactly?"

I had been in the young prince's disposable for a week following the young demigod around like a second shadow. We haven't left palace grounds at the request of the prince instead choosing to wander the gardens where the prince would ask me questions about aquatic life and I answered, or he'd 'sneak' into the kitchen and take sample platters of Soutzoukakia, Souvlaki, Pastitsio, Moussaka, seaweed wraps, and blueberries.

"You know, Aimilios, I feel pretty confident that no one's going to make an attempt to kidnap me inside of dads house, so must you really follow me 24/7?"

I didn't bring up the fact that the night our uncle threw a welcome part for Perseus had had been drugged and nearly smuggled out the door.

"I just want to make sure you're as safe as possible your highness."

I spend my time learning about the prince. What aspects of his being he got from his father and what he gained from his mother? I learned that her name is Sally Jackson. He has a stepdad named Paul blofis, which I mispronounced as 'blowfish', and he has a younger half-sister named Estelle; he is 87% sure she isn't Paul's baby.

In return, I told him about me. I tell him I'm 15 feet tall not 14 and that Triton is just being a jerk, and that I can change colors like a other octopus, and that being a blue ringed one is just as fun as being any other.

The day we leave the safety of the castle is because Perseus wants to play with a passing pod of whales. The young calfs spin circles around Percy, causing whirlpools that suck him up and pull him down towards the ocean floor. He climbs on the heads of the biggest orca and prompts it to shoot him in the air like in the cartoons he watches on land.

The elders of the pod and I kept a safe eye on everyone. Which makes me wonder how we could have missed the boat.

The first harpoon catches everyone by surprise. It flies through the water into the smallest whales head, the runt of the pack. The calf dies with a wail that shakes the ocean as she sinks to the sandy floor.

Her mother is hot on her fins in grief, diving to catch her falling baby. On the biggest boat, a man started screaming about nets and keeping two of the smallest alive.

The bottom of the boats had a 'SeaWorld' logo slapped on the sides. My blood boiled at the disgusting sight, but I had no time to worry about them. I needed to get the young prince out of danger as soon as possible; the whales would come second.

"Aimilios!"

This was not how Percy planned on spending the day. He figured if he were to go out, it would at least be in the heat of battle, not tangled up if a fishing meet sponsored by SeaWorld. "Aimilios! Aimilios help!"

Whale from the pod rushed towards their young lord to free him. "No stop! You need to get away. I'll be fine; just go!"

At the half-bloods request, everyone rushed as far away as they could, including the grieving mother. Percy wanted to mourn alongside her, but he had much more pressing matters, such as the half a dozen boaters staring at Percy in shock.

"Hey Benkley," Who the hell names their son 'Benkley'? "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

'Benkley' steps forward and looks Percy un and down. "I do, Tycho. This right here is a merman."

Merman. The word echos through Percy's head and out his ear. He had been praying that the mist would make him appear as drift woof or an anchovy, but nope, I just had to be

"MONSTER!"

Monster?

The mans voice ended in a wet gargle. All around the dock, men and women barely had a chance to scream before they were pulled off deck and into the ocean. The boat lurched to the side, rotating until it was fully capsized. Percy gripped onto the nets as everyone around him held onto cargo, doorframes, and each other.

When I went under, I felt like Moses. The water was tainted red; I could hear the muffled sound of crew members screaming for mercy. In the center of it all was Aimilios. He sunk his fangs into the torso of a woman, not letting go. He ripped her cleanly in half, leaving her body to turn itself inside out. Large great whites began to gather, none of them touching me and going straight for the crew. I reached my shaking hands up towards the knot at the top of the net. My fingers shook and refused to loosen my prison up. I tried to ignore the amount of blood I was inhaling, but there was only so much I could do against it. I let out a horrified scream when, instead of grabbing a rope, I gripped onto a broken spine.

The water grew heavy, weighing down on me until I started to lose focus. Somewhere above, I could hear someone yelling my name. I blacked out before the net was cut and allowed my father's domain to pull me home.

When I finally came too I had my father's frantic face leaning over me. 

'Oh great,' I thought. 'We're officially four strong.'

#percy jackson #seafam #octopus #merperson

[lumberjackloverboy-moved]

hey, ik someone who needs some book recommendations for her 9y kid. she's trying to introduce her kid to books with LGBTQ+ themes, specifically books about trans people. do you know any specifically you'd suggest?

Hello! So, I teach 18 months - 3 years, so this is a bit outta my age range and the ages for these might be a little off, but these are some great books!!

- my shadow is pink (also, my shadow is purple)

- and tango makes three

-she’s my dad

- love makes a family (might be a lil young)

- the hips on the drag queen go swish swish swish (not sure the age range)

- julián is a mermaid (and julián at the wedding)

- the pronoun book (not sure the age range)

- ABC pride

- pride: the story of Harvey Milk (haven’t read it, great reviews)

- pink is for boys

- auntie uncle: drag queen hero

- ABCs of equality

- pink blue and you!

- I am jazz

- stonewall: a building and uprising a revolution (haven’t read it, great reviews)

- answers in the pages (on banning books and standing up for what’s right, not lgbtq but still good!!)

- bodies are cool (might be a lil young, but body books are always useful!) (see also c is for consent. Young book, but good message)

- a family is a family is a family

- when aidan became a brother (MY FAV BOOK!!!!)

- my Maddy

- This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us

- The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families

Hope this helps!!

[coochiequeens]

Drag is for adults. It does not belong in schools

New York is showering taxpayer funds on a group that sends drag queens into city schools — often without parental knowledge or consent — even as parents in other states protest increasingly aggressive efforts to expose kids to gender-bending performers.

Last month alone, Drag Story Hour NYC — a nonprofit whose outrageously cross-dressed performers interact with kids as young as 3 — earned $46,000 from city contracts for appearances at public schools, street festivals, and libraries, city records show. 

Since January, the group has organized 49 drag programs in 34 public elementary, middle, and high schools, it boasted on its website, with appearances in all five boroughs. 

“I can’t believe this. I am shocked,” said public school mom and state Assembly candidate Helen Qiu, whose 11-year-old son attends a Manhattan middle school. “I would be furious if he was exposed without my consent. This is not part of the curriculum.”

Since 2018, the group — previously known as Drag Queen Story Hour NYC, before changing its name early this year — has received a total of $207,000 in taxpayer cash.

The tally includes $50,000 from New York State through its Council on the Arts, along with $157,000 from the city’s Departments of Education, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Community Development, and even the Department of Transportation, city data shows.

“I am considering pulling funding to any school in my district that is implementing Drag Queen Story Hour,” said City Council member Vickie Paladino (R-Queens). “We are taking hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the pockets of hardworking New York taxpayers … to fund a program teaching little children about their gender fluidity? Not. On. My. Watch.”

Most of the money was allocated by city council members from their discretionary budgets, who set aside $80,000 for the group in the current fiscal year — more than tripling the $25,000 earmarked in 2020.

Drag queen story hours for children have been featured at public library branches throughout the city since 2017, with upcoming events scheduled at Manhattan’s Epiphany Library and the Woodside Public Library in Queens, among others.

Cross-dressed performers typically read aloud from a list of books that teach acceptance and inclusion, including children’s classics like “Where the Wild Things Are” and “The Rainbow Fish” — and some that overtly celebrate gender fluidity, like “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.”

But the expansion into city schools has brought new features to the program, its social media posts reveal.

In April, the elaborately coiffed Harmonica Sunbeam wore a slinky gown to meet with kindergarteners at STAR Academy in Manhattan and color pages from “The Dragtivity Book,” which encourages kids to choose their pronouns and invent drag names.

Bella Noche wore a scanty mermaid-like bra getup to travel with 2nd graders from Manhattan’s PS 34 on a May field trip, and Flame taught middle schoolers “of all genders” how to apply drag eye makeup at MS 88 in Park Slope.

Some of the school-related posts disappeared from the Internet Friday, less than an hour after The Post called Drag Story Hour NYC for comment.

In one deleted photo, a performer known as Professor Lionel Longlegs wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the message “I Don’t Want to Look or Be Cis” before an audience of primary-grade kids in the library of PS 191 on the Upper West Side.

Some city parents welcomed the idea of drag-queen visits to school.

“I’m glad to see all types of people included in what students are exposed to and learn in class,” said Kristen Williams, 40, whose 11-year-old daughter attends an East Village middle school.

But Storm Neverson, 26, had reservations about her 9- and 6-year-old girls’ exposure to the program at STAR Academy. 

“If they were in junior high school or middle school, I would be okay with that because I feel like they would have a little bit more understanding,” Neverson said. “At this time, the kids were just a little too young.”

STAR Academy parents were told of the in-school drag session ahead of time, Neverson said — but could not opt their kids out of it.

“It was mostly just like a heads up, you know, like, ’Hey, this event is coming up. We’re gonna have these people come in.’ And that was that,” she said.

But at other schools, parents had no idea.

“I didn’t get any notice,” complained Reese Harrington, a parent at PS 191. “My daughter actually came home and told me that a drag queen came to the school … I feel like it would have been better for that conversation to happen at home.”

Last week, angry Texas parents protested outside a “Drag the Kids to Pride” event — billed as “a family friendly drag show” — at a North Dallas gay bar called Mister Misster, where children tipped drag queens with dollar bills as they shimmied and sashayed.

The “Libs of TikTok” Twitter account was banned Thursday for posting a series of tweets spotlighting additional drag shows for kids.

Dr. Elana Fishbein, founder and president of the conservative group No Left Turn in Education, slammed the city’s in-school drag appearances as “a flagrant disregard for the real needs of the students.”

“Exposing children to drag queens in school is none other than an abuse of authority for the purpose of sexualizing children,” Fishbein said.

The DOE did not respond specifically to questions about parental notification, and refused to say whether the drag queens must pass background checks — but defended the program as “life saving.”

“Last year, 50 transgender or gender-nonconforming people were killed in the United States due to their identity,” spokeswoman Suzan Sumer said. “We believe our schools play a critical role in helping young people learn about and respect people who may be different from them.”

Additional reporting by Maddie Panzer

#Drag Story Hour NYC #$207000 #Children and pronouns #Drag makeup lessons in schools

[moingay1cuonsach]

4 cuốn sách về LGBT bị đề xuất rút khỏi thư viện Mỹ

Nhiều người ở bang Colorado, Mỹ, đòi rút bốn quyển sách chủ đề LGBT khỏi hệ thống thư viện quận Douglas vì cho rằng “ảnh hưởng xấu độc giả”. Bốn tên sách bị yêu cầu không không trưng bày tại chuỗi thư viện công Douglas gồm: Jack of Hearts của L.C. Rosen, All Boys Aren’t Blue của George M. Johnson, This Book is Gay của Juno Dawson và The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish của Lil Miss…

View On WordPress

#Mỹ #Thư viện

[pashterlengkap]

LGBTQ+ allies defeated book banners in two contentious library meetings

Free-speech advocates defeated anti-LGBTQ+ book banners in two showdowns in Colorado and Arizona this week. In Colorado, the board of trustees for Douglas County Libraries voted to keep four contested LGBTQ+ books on the shelves after a standing-room-only debate over the books’ appropriateness for readers under the age of 18. --- Related Stories Community bands together & shuts down LGBTQ+ book-banning effort After the board voted against the proposal, hundreds applauded their decision. --- The books under contention were the children’s picture book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish; the Black queer coming-of-age memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue; the teen resource title This Book is Gay; and the young adult mystery Jack of Hearts. Though the last three titles include mentions of sex, none include explicit sexual scenes. Get the Daily Brief The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you. Nonetheless, resident Aaron Wood filed four appeals looking to get the books removed from shelves. “I’m not out to demonize a particular community and, honestly, I believe this has a disadvantage for the LGBT community, because I would be opposed to heterosexual content that would put sexual perversion or sexual acts in front of children,” Wood told KDVR. The state LGBTQ+ organization One Colorado said that it would continue to monitor state book-banning debates “to ensure that access to diverse communities through books.” Meanwhile, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, pro-LGBTQ+ free speech advocates vastly outnumbered anti-LGBTQ+ protestors in a Monday night meeting of the Rio Rancho Public Library. The anti-LGBTQ+ group New Mexico Mass Resistance had published a tweet encouraging people to attend the meeting. The tweet included an image of two figures having anal sex and the following message: “The American Library Association (ALA) wants to destroy the heterosexual nuclear family…. Stop being afraid of evil. Speak the truth. Mass Resistance has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group has accused LGBTQ+ activists of “pushing perversion on our kids” and “trying to get legislation passed to allow sex with animals.” Anti-LGBTQ+ conservative groups have opposed the ALA, claiming that it supports child access to “pornography” in libraries and schools. .@nmstatelibrary .@edrabinski .@MassResistance pic.twitter.com/A71PBDCjmR— New Mexico MassResistance (@NM_MassResist) August 8, 2023 Though the library hadn’t planned to discuss censorship at its meeting, all 20 speakers made public comments against book banning, KOB-TV reported. “The books [Mass Resistance] may not want their children to read, I might want my children to read. So they can certainly control it at home, but they shouldn’t restrict these books, and make choices for everybody about what books people should read or not read,” said Willie Orr, a member of the progressive political group Indivisible Albuquerque. Anti-LGBTQ+ book-banning advocates attended a Rio Rancho City Council meeting in April 2023. At the time, council members reminded citizens that they could fill out a “request for reconsideration” form to challenge any books on library shelves. However, Jason Shoup, Rio Rancho’s director of Library and Information Services, told the aforementioned news station, “We have not had a single one of those requests in this calendar year. We have not seen a single one.” In the United States, bans on LGBTQ+ books are “escalating dramatically,” according to the free-speech organization PEN America. The bans have largely come from Republican politicians, conservative school boards, and so-called “parents’ rights” groups that have opposed such content as “woke indoctrination” that’s “inappropriate” for school children. http://dlvr.it/SvGrLt

[sheinthatfandom]

Tw possible homophobia todays library incident

Went with Beanie to pick up our books on hold at the library. One book called the hips on the drag queen go swish swish had a little paper with fire on it saying this you are reading a banned book. And my daughter is asking what’s this and I’m freaking cause I’ve been teaching her about accepting everyone and I don’t even know how to begin explaining homophobia to a 4 year old so I go tothe kids section and talk to her friend librarian who is as Icked out as I am like no we aren’t the ones putting this in books. Then said she’ll call that library to find out if this is that libraries way of celebrating banned books. But we’re like it’s the fire the fire makes it feel bad like maybe this is one of the assholes who protest outside the buildings or something.

And we were talking bout how the city and our section of New York (orange county) has strangely gotten real conservative this last decade. I just don’t know I can’t imagine there’s someone printing out these papers and cutting them and putting them in queer kids books but the librarian and my husband both agree hateful people have way more time than I realize.

#Loren speaks #raising beanie #personal

[sophism]

I know your in sydney somewhere but what do you think on this about Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said the Drag Queen Storytime was a celebration of family diversity, community and friendship.

“This event is being hosted by a professional performer, promoting a love of literacy through a creative and positive library experience,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Drag Queen Storytimes have been successfully held in many places across Australia and overseas, to the delight of children and their families.”

Children inside were read ‘My Shadow is Pink’ by author Scott Stuart as well as ‘The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish’ by Lil Miss Hot Mess.

love it we’ve had one in my hometown for a few years now 💕💕💕

[automaticsongeagle]

"js主义The events involve cross-dressed drag performers reading to school children at public schools, libraries and other LGBTQ centers, but has expanded to also include coloring activities. Photos show drag performers also instructing children in classrooms how to apply drag makeup.

According to a reading list the non-profit shared online, performers read a variety of books ranging from classics like ""The Very Hungry Caterpillar"" and ""The Rainbow Fish,"" which discuss topics like growth, acceptance and diversity, to others that more overtly discuss gender identity, such as ""The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish Swish Swish"" and ""The Dragtivity Book.""

"

[icouldbemoreclever]

I dunno, seeing drag-queen themed children’s books feels kinda weird to me. Maybe it’s a generational thing, because back in my day (meaning when I was performing drag lol) drag queens were almost exclusively in adult settings only. I suppose these days there are more all-ages drag queens out there. Though, these books are probably still for children whose families are already heavily involved in the queer community.

#anyway today at work i saw a book that was a play on 'the wheels on the bus' #that was 'the hips on the drag queens go swish swish swish' #and i was really perplexed on who the book was intended for lol #are picture-book-aged children well enough acquainted with drag queens to find it interesting? #personal

[slashingdisneypasta]

Disney Villains x Reader || Drabbles

Plot’s / Includes:

♡ Evil Queen x Hostage!Reader- She keeps you in the dungeon, just for her. 

Negaduck / ◇ Human!Jim Starling x BuddingStar!Reader- You’ll do anything to just make it, you told him. You’ve worked so hard and you’ll be damned if all that goes to waste. So, he gives you a proposition... Didn’t anyone tell you, love how Hollywood works? Someone should have. 

♤ Judge Claude Frollo x Demon!Reader- He’s in love with his stalker… but you’re everything he’s supposed to hate and be disgusted by (And, he is- ). You’re also magnificent. 

♧ Human!Scar x Reader- Inspired by ‘The Madness of King Scar’. Instead of pursuing Nala, he goes after you. You aren’t thrilled for some reason?  

Warnings: I wanted to write some dark stuff. So, in order of the drabbles, here are the warnings: FIRST OF ALL, very inappropriate/noncon/toxic relationships. Then also kidnapping and keeping you against your will (In a cell), non-sexual nudity, sexual harassment / propositioning (Dubcon I guess? I mean, you’re saying yes but not because you genuinely want to have sex), SMUUUUTTTTTTT (Throughout), deeply religious man doing some SERIOUS SINNING (would not recommend for devout Catholics or Voorhees’ because there is certainly premarital sex involved), dirty talk, oral sex (female receiving), sacrilege? And finally age difference (Older man, younger female) and forced marriage / sexual harassment… again.

Evil Queen: 

He She keeps you in a box by the bed, alive but just barely. - Hole

The lines of sunlight that split the dust and the dirt of your cell right in front of you nearly touch the tips of your toes, and as always, your queen comes swishing down the hallway towards you. She always comes at the same time, so when the beams of light colouring the floor start to get closer to you, your usual sitting position, you just watch it and feel anxiety build up and fill your chest… your throat… your mouth. Until you can barely breath and you hear her footsteps, the swift click, click, clicking of her sharp heeled shoes along the stone floor and you bite back a scream.

You did scream, the 3rd week you were here. Every time you knew she was coming, you heard her coming, and you knew she would be in your cell soon, you would cry and yell for her to let you go. You were thinking desperately, for some horrible reason, that if you were loud enough, if the pleading bled through your voice enough, then she would finally understand – fully comprehend your situation, - and let you be free again.

But that was stupid. She knows how you feel, she understands perfectly.

It just doesn’t matter. She’s calculated and she has decided that her need for you is more important.

She would just wrap your trembling body up against her own perfectly calm one, the smooth feel of her fine clothes comforting against your cheeks and your arms. But you didn’t want her. You didn’t want her comfort, it just succeeded in making you feel sick- to your stomach.

But you didn’t move. What was the point? It would just start trouble, and besides… you don’t have the energy. You live on bread and water for fucks sake.

Now, you let her walk on into your cell and she revels in the dull hatred you look at her with. Her lips twist into a smirk in greeting, then moves to the bed. You watch her as she undresses, like always. First goes the hood, her hair coming free around her shoulders, and then go her shoes and her dress. Then she looks over her shoulder and gestures for you to do your thing.

She must be tired today. Straight to bed. 

Sighing, you drag yourself from the dusty, harsh stone floor, reach her and raise your arms like an obedient, lifeless doll. Which is what you are, honestly.

She enjoys pulling the sack of a shift off your body, herself.

Then you both get into bed, wrapping around each other so your leg hooks over her hip while her’s nestles itself in your crotch. Your fronts touch completely, her right arm lays soon-to-be dead under your waist and curls around your back, pulling your body into her and keeping you there, and her left-hand cups the back of your neck; Locking your head in place as well in the crook of her neck.

She smells like burning and vanilla and you breath that in all night, every night when she comes here to your special courtyard dungeon to sleep with you. Just sleep. Hilda just likes to keep your ‘soft’, ‘beautiful’ body close, and she thinks its ‘sacrilege’ to wear clothes herself when she could be touching you properly. It would be wrong to let this go to waste, to watch skin-on-skin attention like this pass by without taking proper advantage of it. Similar to a wine connoisseur’s attitude towards fine drinks- you can’t possibly let that go to waste.

And she can’t let you go to waste, which here is synonymous with can’t possibly set you free.

The truly horrifying thing, though?

You don’t think you could sleep without any of this, now. So you just bury your nose in her neck, pull her body closer and close your eyes to go to sleep. There’s nothing else to do. 

Negaduck / Human!Jim Starling

Chasing the so called fame... she ended stumbling upon her deeds. - Rama

“Ah~ “You sigh, leaning your head back into the wall behind you as his lips paint the line of your throat, enjoying every little taste that he steals off your skin. You have to remind yourself that you don’t want this, you don’t want him. This is just business.

But the way this man - this awful, greedy, self-absorbed ass of a man, - and his hands fit on your hips and how his hips rub against yours, feels like the best kind of punishment and you’re so close to losing yourself. You feel like if you keep thinking you don’t want this, you don’t want this, and keep your true goal in mind then you won’t lose yourself. You’re still just a determined young star dying to make it. You still have your integrity.

You do. You must.

You aren’t one of those whores that are manipulated by old stars and get fucked over- literally.

You’ll get your dues.

This is just the work you have to complete to reach that goal. Like… like mail room.

~

“Hi! Mr Starling, its great to meet you! I’m a huge fan.” You beam, shaking Darkwing Duck’s hand as soon as he gets to your table, which you had just waived enthusiastically at him from when he arrived at the café, in fear of losing it if you were to go and greet him at the door. “Darkwing would kick Gizmo’s ass any day.” You wink, laughing good naturedly and sitting back in your seat, crossing one leg over the other. Truthfully, you aren’t that huge of a fan - Gizmo duck has always been your favourite superhero, in actuality, - but a little fake flattery never hurt anyone. Besides, if what you’ve heard about Jim Starling is true then it’s a very good tactic to getting what you want.

You will get that damn internship with him if it kills you.

Jim’s eyes slip boldly over your form which he makes no attempt at disguising as anything other then what it was; predatory. You’re wearing a professional outfit, but yes, it is pretty cute…  And it caters to your needs. Short, tight black skirt, tinted lavender blouse- hey! Dress for the job you want.

He smiles brightly; A white, sparkly affair that any good celebrity pulls off all the time without getting wrinkles, somehow. That reminds you, if you get this gig - Ah, not ‘if’; When. Be confident, - you need to be sure to ask him what cream he uses.

“Very nice to meet you, too. Sorry, I didn’t get to look at the interview list before I got here.” He… This man didn’t even look at your resume before coming? At least he has the good sense to fake bashfulness. “I was busy running lines with Debra Van Duck.”

Oh, and he’s a name dropper, too. You could laugh, but you force it down.

Instead, you smile your own best smile and tilt your head just so to the side. “Y/N. Y/N L/N, it’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Starling.”

~

“I know it is,”

You remember how he responded like a total douche, and how much of your energy you used up swallowing the deep groan. Good lord, who is this guy? You had thought.

Well, now you have an answer- A guy you fucked on your way up the ladder of fame.

No! You snap out of those self-loathing thoughts. No. You aren’t doing that. You aren’t one of those celebrities. You have dignity...

“What were you doing, wearing my colours… ? Hm? Heheheh… “Darkwing’s colours, sir, think, rolling your eyes as Jim unties the blouses top, grinning at your attire. He’s sure misplaced the line between Jim Starling, and his character, hasn’t he? Piece of work. “Sure got my attention. Good strategy.”

You gasp. “I wasn’t trying to do this! - “

“Whatever.” You bite back an insult, and instead grip his scarf - dear god, what a poser, - and drag him forward to connect your lips with the seasoned star’s. He growls into your mouth, loving the animosity coming from such a cute girl, and pulls away, dragging you the rest of the way through his hotel room, to the bedroom.

The scarf gets lost first thing when you get in there.

~

“- And that’s why I think I’m the best candidate to be your assistant for this movie.” You finish, fingers wrapped around your coffee cup- from which you’ve barely drunk anything from being too busy siting your experience and your competencies to Mr Starling.

“My personal assistant.”

Your eyebrows shoot up your forehead. “Huh?”

“You’ll be my personal assistant, if I like you enough. You should say it.” He smirks, liking something about that ‘personal’ part of the job title. He takes a long sip of his own drink, then- an impossibly detailed drink. The drink of an asshole. You are not looking forward to ordering that thing for him every day. Those poor baristas.

“Okay… And, that’s why I think I’m- “Now that you’ve been corrected on one part of your conclusion, you re-think the rest suddenly as well. It sure doesn’t sound too confident, and you need to sound confident. Gripping the cup tighter, you straighten your shoulders again and paste a winning grin to your young face. “And that’s why I would be the perfect personal assistant for you, Mr Starling.”

“You know what?” His voice gets deeper and huskier than before, dangerous. Eyes half-lidded, he leans on his forearms across the table to you. “I think so too.” Quickly that sexy lilt to his voice disappears again and you take a breath. Wow, that was... unexpected... “One question though! To what ends would you go to in order to get this gig? Or, err… for me.”

-

Your lips trace along his hips, feeling dirty, but still saying it. You don't really want this. Its business. Chanting it in your head. Over, and over… weakly. When you remember. Every few minutes or so. 

You don’t want this… you… You don’t really want this. You don’t….

But you’re grabbing at straws now as you rub your thighs together, thinking this is unbelievably, darkly hot, and in a last-ditch, desperate attempt at retaining what little dignity you might still possess, you say it out loud. Against the side of his cock. “I’m only doing this to get the job. I’m not desperate… “

“Aw,” Once the clothes were off, Jim’s voice permanently contracted that husky, hot quality from before and it made you so wet. “Is that what you think?” He sounds so disbelieving, as if the thought of you thinking that was so, very, ridiculous…

You choke, tears building in your eyes, and for a moment you pause. This was not how your career was supposed to start… you were supposed to be different. “Yes.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” A finger comes under your chin and guides your head up to look him in the eye. There’s an evil, wise glint in it and one corner of his mouth quirks up. “Do you really not get how Hollywood works, yet? Well,” He chuckles. “Consider yourself lucky to be initiated by Jim Starling, love. I’m gonna make you a star- just keep doing what you’re doin’, alright?”

Holding his look for a moment, you hear his words. You really hear them… then set your jaw and narrow your eyes.

He’s right, you will be.

-

A smirk slips across your lips and you find your own eyes half lidding, your fingers brushing your hair back off your neck, and that neck inclining to the side. Towing the line between professionalism and flirting. 

“Damn near anything, sir.”

Judge Claude Frollo: 

You can never be free when you’re in love with the bondage. - Shreya

Claude’s face twitches, which you find just adorably curious, as he kneels down between the confessional of your spread open thighs. The way he looks at your flower - the rose that the Grim Reaper might offer a disaster victim if he was feeling so generous, as your despicable little Judge would refer to it so unflatteringly, -, is a tingle generating cocktail of wicked hunger that, because he’s so bad, he won’t resist and the misery of someone who wishes he could be doing anything else. But he can’t. Because he doesn’t want to be. And that’s the kicker. “I did offer to do you, love. But you said you don’t want my dirty mouth anywhere near you… “

He rolls his shoulders back instead of whining and trembling like he used to, his cold hands finding the junctions beneath your knees. “That’s right.” As he leans forward and brushes his lips against yours, gently. You wiggle your hips carefully, experimentally, to see how he reacts and catch a hot flash of red disappear down his neck beneath those clothes. The clothes of a religious man. Ha! “Who knows what else has been in that.”

You bite your bottom lip, smirking. “I could tell you… “When he tightens his grip as a warning on your soft skin, you let out a little giggle. For a moment, you give him a break and just lean back on the leather desk you’ve sat yourself on, bottoms-less, arms out behind you holding you up as he begins his work. His tongue licks a stripe right up the middle of your lips, going straight in for the kill instead of fluffing around at all. You grin at it, looking at the dark stone ceiling and hike a leg up the chair beside him- opening up more for him.

As he starts to get into it, enjoying your taste as his lascivious moans tell you anything. Not to mention the way he’s devouring your pussy like a starving man. His tongue slides up and down, collecting all the slick that your pleasure creates and he sucks on your lips- whining and moaning because there isn’t enough. There’s never enough. Not of this. Greedy judge. “Ahhhh… “You moan, spreading your legs even more - as far as you possibly and he thankfully buries himself deeper into your cunt, - lips pressing desperately to your hot skin.

As he starts to really scoop up the wetness out of the deepest parts of you with his tongue, slurping and inhaling his meal, you decide it’s time to torture him. Just a little bit! It’s part of the fun of him.

Running your fingers through his hair and spreading them, feeling the soft tufts of grey hair, you smirk deviously, nastily, as the pleasure courses through your and bundles in your cunt from Frollo’s desperation. “You know… “You let out a moan, and roll your hips into his face to encourage him, but are really focusing on the bombshell you’re about to drop on this poor sinner. “I wonder… ah… if you… think about… the… the ones bef-before you… “He chokes, gurgling on your elixir as that thought, and hopefully those mental images flash into his head. You peak down at him with one eye, wickedly.

He recovers and continues to slowly suck on your pretty pussy, determined not to let you get to him… even on his knees, praying on your sex.

Tightening your grip on his hair, digging your fingers into his scalp, your pull locks at the same rhythm of his moans. “Do you think of them, Frollo? Huh? Filling me up with their creamy cum, until I’m so full that I couldn’t possibly take anymore, and it came slithering out and splattering on the ground? Do I still taste like them, baby? You love how I taste, don’t you? Eating me out like a whore… “

In that moment, this man creams hard in his pants.

- Not that he admits it out loud.

Human!Scar

And suddenly, the monster in him fell silent as he laid his head on her lap. - L.W

All you can think, as you stand there in shock with the whole pride watching you and Scar, with concerned looks on their faces but lips zipped, is; This man watched you grow up. You used to play with his goddamn nephew.

Your skin crawls at the knowledge, feeling his poisonous, nearly luminescent green eyes on you and the delirious smirk on his lips as Zazu reads out the wedding speech, voice droning all around you, it seems, like a horrible nightmare- only picking up with forced enthusiasm when Scar flashes a glare at him. His lips quirk up too, and a fluttery laugh splatters out of him like blood from a slashed throat. This doesn’t meet his eyes, either.

Because the only reason that anyone is here, is because Scar has gone absolutely, positively raving mad. He wants to be loved, that much is clear. So, he asked you to marry him… and blackmailed you like a true monarch when you refused. So you had to say yes. To save your family.

You’re just staring at Scar, absolutely not listening to any of Zazu’s words officiating this ridiculous ceremony; His long black hair has grey streaks coming from the scalp, there are bags under his eyes as he rarely sleeps, his tie isn’t tied properly and his eyes- god, those eyes. You keep getting stuck on them.

They’re stark raving, is what they are. Impossibly bright and beautiful, in the same way that a glowing chemical spill is beautiful. Or a nuclear blast. Disastrous.

He’s a disaster. He’s a walking, talking, unstable, ruling disaster like a live volcano; Ready to explode at any given moment.  

And he’s forcing you to marry him.

Marry him.

Your breath hitches, sucking in deep suddenly as if you hadn’t really been breathing for a while. Just standing.

Oh, my god. This is your wedding. This is a real wedding.

As you look around the garden, as if awakening from a dream, your eyes fill up with tears and your fingers go cold and begin to shake around the bouquet of lavender in your hands that is all you can smell. You manage to hold in your cries, though, until Zazu asks you if you’ll take Scar’s hand in marriage.

Then suddenly, your sobbing and begging. “Scar. Please, you have to s-see… this is crazy! You- You don’t l-l-love me… “ Yeah, like that’s the issue with this union. But its all you can think to say amidst your desperate crying.

As if spooked, he immediately jumps as well - what a pair you make, -, except, he moves toward you. Cupping your face in his hands and standing very close, looking into your eyes so intimately that Zazu has to step back from the scene. “Shhh, shhh, pet. No need for tears. No, no, no, please don’t cry… “ His voice, gravelly as ever, lilts like he truly feels sorry for you. Like he sympathises with you.

Our Mad King, you think, looking back into his eyes. “B-but- “

“Now, now, I know it’s an emotional moment for us darling but please, pull yourself together.”

You do try to bite your bottom lip and calm down, to your credit… but, of course, you fail. I mean? The situation definitely warrants, tears. “Scar, please just listen to me! - “You sniff, cheeks damp from your salty tears now. He dries them with his thumbs, pouting at you with knit together eyebrows.

“Don’t you see, my love? You’re going to be Queen. We’re going to be married and be happy together, adored by our kingdom, living forever and leading the world. Together. And, in a year… “Your future husband sets you with a serious look, informing you of something. “We will have children, together.” Biting back another cry at that, you try to rip out of his grip but he just makes calming noises like you’re a wild animal and curls an arm tightly around your waist, holding your jaw in one hand now. “Calm down now, love. We need to have a united front in front of our people!” His grip is surprisingly strong, what with his hold on his own mind precarious. You can’t escape him. 

“I am giving you a year, after all. Isn’t that nice of me? Anyway, we’re having a wedding, now. Please smile, look your prettiest, and say… “He raises his eyebrows, before turning your head to look at Zazu, enunciating his words clearly. “I do.”

#Disney Villains x Reader Drabbles #Disney Villains x Reader #Disney Scar #Disney Scar x Reader #Fem Reader #Judge Claude Frollo #Judge Claude Frollo x Reader #Negaduck #Jim Starling #Jim Starling x Reader #Negaduck x Reader #The Evil Queen #The Evil Queen x Reader #Dark Fanfiction #Dark x Reader #Dark #Human Disney Scar #Human Jim Starling #Human Negaduck

[mrpatrouiousachatz1993]

When it comes bringing up sexuality in schools it is not necessarily teaching about sex.

The Far Right wants you to think that teaching about sexuality is teaching about sex when in reality that is not the case.

There are children’s books that have LGBTQIA+ themes. None of those themes are sexual what so ever. Many of the books talk about how some kids have two moms or two dads. Some books talk about how some people are transgender and what being transgender means. Some of them are just plain silly and fun like the book titled “The hips on the drag queen go swish swish swish”

The far right is scared because LGBTQIA+ people are slowly starting to be normalized and accepted and the far right hates that. I remember when I was a kid the far right said that LGBTQIA+ people being allowed to get married would be “predatory towards children.”

Teaching about sex is one thing, which yes that should NOT be taught about to Kindergarteners. Teaching that not every person is cisgender or heterosexual is a whole different story. In most K-12 schools the curriculum does not mention LGBTQIA+ people at all or worse mentions nothing positive about LGBTQIA+ people.

You want to know what was said about LGBTQIA+ people when I was in High School? The only time they were mentioned was in health class. You know what was said about them? That AIDS and HIV are diseases that LGBTQIA+ people get. I’m sorry what? This was back in 2009 and around the late 80s and early 90s Magic Johnson told people on LIVE television that heterosexuals can get HIV after he announced he tested positive.

Schools don’t mention Bayard Rustin who was an openly gay black man who had involvement with the Civil Rights movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. They don’t talk about Alice Toklas or Gertrude Stein but they’ll do the musical Mame where their names are brought up, but they don’t read any of their works or just even learn about them. They don’t teach about Harvey Milk, they don’t talk about James Baldwin or read any of his amazing works. They don’t talk about Stormé DeLarverie who fought back against the police during the Stonewall Uprising. They don’t teach about Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera who helped spark the gay liberation movement. If they talk about Andy Warhol often times they don’t mention that he was gay. They don’t mention Lili Elbe who was a transgender woman and was a successful painter during the 19th century. Heck they don’t teach you that LGBTQ+ folks were also Holocaust victims when they teach about the Holocaust.

If you think just bringing up LGBTQIA+ people in general is the same as “talking about sex” than your mind is very much in the gutter. And it comes to show that you are homophobic and transphobic.

#lgbtqia+ #schools #academics #don’t say gay bill #homophobia #transphobia #lgbtqia+ history

[hanniiesuckle17]

Love > Shame

A/n: im hoping i got the request right! Hope you all enjoy! (this is not thoroughly edited srryyyyy) also like frick ^^this video his vlog is the most boyfriend thing ever

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: cussing, partial nudity

Requested by: @ann0325441904​

Tag List: @distrikt9​ @mini-meanhoe​ @poeticallyspaghetti​ @hanstagrams​ @desertofdessert​ @yangomangos​ @hoes4hoseok​

Summary: Sometimes timing isn’t the best. With tensions high at work for Jisung and your time of the month really kicking you in the ass, a fight breaks out between you and your boyfriend leaving you completely alone in a country far away from your old family and friends. Misunderstood problems turn to jealous and catty fights. Is there any way the two of you can come back together?

Genre: romance, angst, fluff

◈

Pain shot through my abdomen. It was like someone was sticking eight thousand needles into my stomach repeatedly for the sole purpose of fucking with me. Fuck womanhood. The pain meds I took earlier were doing nothing to help. This was putting me in a terrible mood. 

The sound of shower running floated from behind the closed door of the adjoining bathroom. My longtime boyfriend, Jisung, lay just beyond it. It was easily one o’clock in the morning, but I always waited up for Jisung to return home from practice. He had also come home in a rather sour mood. 

Deciding that the leggings I was wearing were far too constricting to sleep in with cramps, I got up and waddled my way over to our big closet. Jisung and I both had enough clothes each to fill an entire apartment so when we were apartment hunting, a big closet was a must. 

I threw the pants in the hamper and grabbed one of Jisung’s t-shirts from his side of the closet. The soft black fabric fell around my thighs. Why Jisung bought shirts four times than his actual size was still a mystery to me. The pressure on my stomach lessened but still remained. 

The door opened to reveal a shirtless Jisung emerging from the bathroom. A pair of gray sweatpants hung low on his hips, the fabric making a swishing sound as he walked. It was clear he was still upset. Jisung roughly towel dried his hair, rubbing the cloth over his dark locks. “You still upset, babe?” I asked looking over at him. It took all my willpower not to snap out the words. He shook his head and looked over at me with a pointed glance. “You wanna talk about it?” 

Again, Jisung shook his head. “Ji, it’s not healthy to keep this bottled up. I think you might feel better if you would talk about it.” An aggravated sigh left his lips and he laid back on the bed. 

“Y/n. I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” 

It was hard to watch Jisung so upset. I walked over and laid next to him, trying to ignore the agonizing pain. My fingers traced random patterns against his stomach. The action usually calmed him down. However, he simply turned his head away from me tossing the towel somewhere else in the room. “Jisung, its not good to go to bed angry-”

“Babe, just leave me alone and stop being such a clingy bitch.”

I froze, hand hovering over his stomach. Silence hung heavy in the air. It seemed Jisung had no intention of taking back what he said. He didn’t even seem like he regretted it. “Excuse me?” I said sitting up in disbelief. 

I felt like screaming. Crying. Throwing everything in this room at Jisung’s little pimple head until it popped. “What?” He said rolling his eyes. Wet black hair hung in front of his vision. 

“Did you just....”

“Just get over it. I want to go to bed.”

“Get...over it?” I scoffed getting up from the bed. 

“Yes. You’re overreacting. Just get over it.” I shook my head in disbelief. This was not the Jisung that I knew. This was not the Jisung I was in love with. The boy who ran in the rain with me just to capture the perfect kiss on our first date. The boy who sent me love notes every day for two months until I agreed to go out with him. The one who stayed with me when my aunt died and I was too heartbroken to leave the bedroom since I couldn’t fly home for the funeral. The one who never went to sleep until he told me how much he loved me whether I was awake to hear it or not. 

“Look I get you’ve had a shitty day. But I’m not just someone you can push around Jisung. You know that.”

He sat up, clearly annoyed. “I’m not pushing you around!”

“You called me a bitch!”

“Well, you’re kind of acting like one!”

“Well, you’re kind of acting like an asshole.” Jisung rolled his eyes, pushing himself off the bed. Anger started to bubble up in my chest. “What the fuck, Ji?” 

“Look- I don’t owe you anything okay! All I wanted to do was come home and get to sleep. I don’t want to deal with all your nagging.” 

“Jisung I care about you. I love you! I’m just trying to help.”

Nothing seemed to make it better. Eventually, I stopped trying to be the good guy. I stopped trying to keep my voice quiet. If he was going to yell at me, then I would yell back. He couldn’t just walk all over me. My emotions broke loose along with the rest of hell. 

“I WORK ALL DAY! ALL YOU DO IS SIT ON YOUR ASS AT HOME ON YOUR COMPUTER. I’M TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THE TWO OF US Y/N!” 

“SIT ON MY ASS? I’M TRYING TO GRADUATE JISUNG!”

“Listen I can’t deal with you anymore.” He said turning his back on me and looking out the window. The muscles in his back were tight and tense. “Just fuck off, Y/n.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. The pain in my stomach was just making me even angrier. “That’s it. Get out.” Jisung turned around in shock. He started stuttering and trying to form a coherent sentence. “You heard what I said. Out.” My finger pointed to the door furthering my stance on the situation.

“Y/n-”

“Get out, Jisung! Go sleep at the dorms.”

He started gathering his things, tugging on a random hoodie and slipping on some socks from the dresser. “This is is exactly what I was talking about.” He mumbled. Jisung stood up, clearly pissed off. He started towards the bedroom door but stopped and turned back until he was standing right in front of me. His wet hair was covered by a beanie, pushing it all in front of his eyes. “You know what, Y/n? Call me when you decide to stop being such a heartless bitch.” 

My hand flew across his cheek before I could even think. What surprised me...what hurt me....was that I didn’t regret it. Jisung stood in front of me, shocked, his eyes looked hurt. His doe eyes which I loved so much always told me what he was thinking. But, as they stared back at me, I didn’t recognize them. 

“I hate you...”

He sighed seeing a tear leak onto my cheek. His long fingers wrapped around my wrist, but I pulled away before he could get to close. His cheek was starting to turn red from when I hit him. “No...you don’t.” I looked away not wanting him to see me cry. Of course, he knew I was lying. There was nothing he didn’t know about me.

“I should....I should hate you...” He made no effort to reach out to me again. In all honesty, I didn’t know if I wanted him to right now. I wanted to push him away, but I also want him to hold me until everything was okay again. “Just go.”

After a moment, he nodded and I followed him to the front door. He picked up his keys and walked out into the hall, leaving me standing in the doorway. He turned back to me, like he was going to say something else, but stopped when he looked into my eyes. 

“Don’t call me,” I said, the last tear falling down my cheek as I shut the door.

◈

Two weeks had passed. It looked like Jisung and I were on a break. Whether it was temporary or for good I didn’t know. My hand brushed over Jisung’s side of the bed. The sheets were cold. They were never cold. Sunlight streamed in through the large glass window in our bedroom. Well...it wasn’t really ‘ours’ anymore. I sat up waiting for arms to pull me back down under the covers. Arms that never reached out. 

Mornings like these were usually spent in Jisung’s arms staring out at the skyline trying to convince him that he did indeed have to go to work. Lazy kisses, sleepy whispers even though no one else was in the room but us. There were no calls. No texts. Not even a fucking post on Instagram. Nothing. 

All my friends were back home. I was alone in Seoul. No one but Jisung. There was a knock at the front door. Dragging myself out of the queen size bed, my feet trudged over the wood floor in the apartment. I looked through the peephole only to find a huge stuffed bear looking back at me. 

“The fuck...” I mumbled. My fingers switched open the locks and opened the door. The teddy bear moved aside to reveal a face that made me burst into tears. “DANNY!” I screamed wrapping my arms around him.  

Daniel had been my friend practically since birth. We grew up next door to each other. Our parents even bathed us together. Daniel hugged me tight spinning me around in the hallway. It felt so good to see him again.

I would not have made it through high school in my home country if Danny hadn’t been with me. I had missed him so much. As most old friends did, we had dated for about six months in senior year but decided we were better off as we were before. Daniel was a sight for sore eyes.

“How are you here?” I asked cupping his face.

He smiled down at me. Even though he hadn’t had a growth spurt since the ninth grade it seemed he had sprouted another five inches. “I’ve been planning to surprise you! With finals coming up I knew you’d be busy, so I came down so we could party beforehand.” He ruffled my hair and moved past me into the apartment. “So, where is he? I want to meet the man officially!” 

Daniel looked around the quiet apartment before turning back to me expectantly. Jisung. He was looking for Jisung. Just the thought of him made me sad. Danny’s smile fell seeing my expression. “Y/n, what’s wrong?” He brought me further into the apartment and closed the door. “Did I say something?” 

I shook my head and ran a hand through my hair. “Do you want some tea?” Looking for anything to distract me I moved to the kitchen and put a kettle on the stove. Before I could turn the switch, a hand came over mine.

“Y/n, did something happen with you and Jisung?” 

He sighed watching me nod. The silence only lasted a moment before Daniel pulled me into another warm hug. The feeling of his arms around me was comforting, but not fulfilling. There was something missing about the way he hugged me. 

My hair. Every time Jisung hugged me, one of his hands would always hold my head to his chest. His fingers would stroke my hair, lingering at the base of my neck. It was a small thing. A very Jisung thing. But, a small thing I missed none the less. I felt empty without his fingers threading through my hair.

“You know what we should do?” I hummed in response as he pulled away, keeping his hands on my shoulders. “Let’s go drinking!” Daniel was always dragging me on wild adventures. He could never sit still. That’s probably why we never worked out. While I loved a good adventure, sometimes I wanted to just sit with a good book, or just lie in bed listening to the rain. 

“Fine. But, you’re paying.” He cheered and rushed off to go change and I found myself doing the same. Hopefully, I could get Jisung off of my mind.

◈

My eyes looked across the room from over the rim of a martini glass. The heels of my shoes lay firmly hooked over the bottom of the bar stool. “What happened anyway?” Daniel said over the thumping music. He sat next to me at the bar of the nightclub we were in, taking a swig from an overpriced bottle of beer. 

A sigh floated past my lips. My fingers traced the base of the elegant glass. “We got into a stupid fight. I regret almost everything. If I wasn’t on my fucking period I probably wouldn’t have acted so rashly. It wasn’t all my fault though. He’s the one who called me a ‘heartless bitch’.” Daniel spit out the beer he was currently drinking. 

“He what?!” 

“He was just angry.”

“That’s no excuse.” 

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “If it helps I did slap him.” Daniel let loose a little smile and took another sip from his drink. “He had a really bad day. He wouldn’t talk to me. I was just trying to help.” I watched Daniel’s brows furrow. The base of his beer bottle was rolling around the bar top as he thought. 

“Do you remember in sophomore year, I had just gotten into a massive fight with my parent about school and I wouldn’t tell you anything about it.”

“Yeah. It pissed me off. You clearly needed to vent. You ended up punching Marty Finch in anger the next day.” 

Daniel laughed before turning towards me again, eyes serious. “Well, I was too ashamed to talk to you about it. Then, I mean. You were always much better than me in school. I didn’t want you to think less of me because I was having so much trouble with something so simple.” I stared into the clear liquid in my glass. “What I’m saying is...he may have felt like you would have seen him as less of a man if he told you how he was feeling at the time.” 

Daniel reached over and took my hand in his, laying it on the bartop. “He still didn’t have to call me a bitch though,” I said with a sad smile on my lips. 

“Yeah, no. That was a fucking asshole move.” My friend glanced down at my now empty drink. “Another gin martini, dry.” He said to the bartender, who removed my empty glass. Daniel scanned my face. It was hard to hide the depressing way I was feeling. “You really miss him don’t you?”

I nodded, looking away from him and out into the club. “I really do. Danny, I miss him so fucking mu-” I froze. I must be imagining things. My eyes must be lying to me because there was no way I was looking at Jisung sitting on the other side of the club. His arm was draped around a girl with dyed hair. Her hand was squeezing his thigh as he whispered something in his ear. His eyes met mine.

There was a flash of something. Sadness? Guilt? Longing? But, it disappeared before I could question it. Daniel followed my gaze, tapping his finger against the back of my hand. “What’s up? Who is that?” Anger started to boil in the pit of my stomach. Maybe not anger. Anger wasn’t a good word. It hurt more than it made me angry. Jealousy. Jealousy is what was eating away at my insides as his hand played with her hair. 

Danny looked over at the man who used to be mine with a curious gaze. “Jisung,” I whispered, turning back and downing the new martini in one gulp. The alcohol burned the back of my throat distracting me from the stabbing pain in my heart. 

Daniel started to get up, fury in his eyes burning like white hot flames. My hand stopped him from doing something he would later probably not regret at all. “Y/n- are you kidding right now? I’m gonna kill him!”

“Danny, stop. Let’s just go.” 

I took his hand in mine and dragged him away from the bar. The air around me felt heavy. Like I was up on a mountain. Pushing away the pain in my chest I dragged my friend away from the club, not feeling the pair of doe eyes on my back. 

◈

The drone of the television played through the apartment. It was raining outside. It had been raining since the night of the club about four days ago. Daniel sat on my couch, my legs across his lap. A half empty bottle of wine sat on the coffee table and a fully drained one lay next to it. Much alcohol had been consumed in the past few days between the two of us. Daniel; to make me feel better. Me; to forget about the hurt I felt in my chest. 

A light buzz was hovering in my brain as I took another sip from my wine glass. “I know that now is probably not the time,” Daniel said, changing topics. “But, I had a question to ask you about Marin.” 

Marin was Daniel’s girlfriend. She was quite possibly the sweetest person I had ever met. Daniel was lucky to have her. “Oh no. What did you do? You didn’t run here to escape from your fuck up did you? Danny, she’ll kill me! I like being alive!” He laughed patting my leg a few times.

“No. Don’t worry. I wanted your advice.” 

“Hit me with it, baby,” I said drinking the rest of my glass dry. 

Daniel set the glass on the table, turning to me. “Is two and a half years too soon?” I pouted my lips and looked out the window. The view was still immaculate without Jisung next to me. It just felt...lonely even with Danny here. 

“Too soon for what?”

He sighed, that familiar cheeky grin popping onto his cheeks. “I want to ask Marin to marry me.” 

“GET OUT OF TOWN!” I screamed. He laughed when I started squealing. My hands slapped at his shoulder. My little Danny was going to get married. 

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I came to Seoul to ask for your advice. And also to ask if you’ll be my ‘best man’ of sorts.” 

“Are you kidding? Of course, I will!” I jumped up from the couch and poured us both more wine. “Have you asked her dad?” He nodded taking a sip of the sweet alcohol. 

“So you think I should do it?”

“Fuck yeah, I think you should do it!” I stared at Daniel with a smile on my face. I could remember when he had gotten his long-legged ass stuck in a baby swing at the park for three hours before we had to find a pair of bolt cutters and run off with the swing. “I cannot believe you are getting married! My little Danny!”  I said leaning over and wrapping my arms around his neck, carefully making sure not to spill my wine. 

The sound of the front door opening had me pulling away from my friend. My eyes widened as Jisung stepped through the door, keys in hand. His stare moved from me to Daniel then zeroed in on my hand still on his neck. 

“Jisung-” I shot up on my feet setting the wine on the table. 

He scoffed closing the door, shoving the keys in his back pocket. “Don’t let me interrupt your date. I just came to get some things.” Jisung’s voice sounded like music to my ears despite its cold tone. He wore a pair of old ripped pair of black jeans I hadn’t seen since we started dating and a baggy white shirt. His usual noir beanie covering his dark hair. 

Daniel awkwardly tapped on his wine glass and watched as Jisung traveled into the bedroom. He looked and me before nudging his head towards the door. I mouthed a few choice words to him which resulted in a silent argument. 

“One of us is going to go in there, and if I do he’s walking out with a black eye and some missing teeth.”

“Oh please. You know he could kick your ass with his hands tied behind his back,” I whispered. 

“Why can’t you date less athletic people? I’d like to be able to defend your honor.” He started pushing me towards the bedroom with his foot. He groaned when I resisted. “Y/n, it’s obvious you're miserable without him and he doesn’t look too happy either.”

Taking a long deep breath, I turned towards the open doorway. My whole body went numb as I took the short steps into the room. Jisung stood at our closet, a bag open on the bed. His head turned hearing the door close behind me. 

“Don’t worry. I’m just getting some clothes. I didn’t think you’d be here.” He tossed a hoodie into the bag, not meeting my eyes. I watched him pack for a moment. He clearly felt uncomfortable under my stare. “I’m going to be out of your hair soon. You don’t have to watch me like a hawk.”

“Don’t leave,” 

His movements stopped, his back away from me towards the closet. An almost perfect replication of the night he left. His fingers twitched as if he was debating putting back the shirt in his hands. 

“I’m a little tipsy, but I’m sober enough to know that if you walk out that door....I’m going to lose you forever.” 

My eyes searched for any sign for me to continue, but his face stayed hidden from me. Jisung dropped his head but stayed silent. I watched his fingers tighten over the fabric in his hand. 

My hand reached out, afraid to touch him, but longing to feel him again. His head turned feeling the brush of my palm on his arm. “Jisung,” He sighed hearing his name. “Please don’t leave.”

Jisung turned around, looking down at me. “I saw you.” He whispered. I saw tears pricking at the edge of his eyes. “I saw you. At the club. You were with the guy in there. I saw you walk in together.” He searched my eyes for something I did not know. 

“So did I; I saw the girl.” He sighed, head falling into his hands. “Did you-...God I can’t even say it.” He winced when I tried to laugh through the awkwardness. “If you did-...we were technically on a break so... I have no right to be mad at you.”

“Even if I did, I would feel terrible if you weren’t.” 

Jisung looked at me with sincerity. “You didn’t sleep with her?” He shook his head, staring down at me. Just one look into his big doe eyes told me he was telling the truth. 

“She kissed me after you left, but I stopped her.” I couldn’t help the smile slipping onto my face. Jisung nodded towards the door before speaking again. “Is that your new boyfriend?” 

“Danny? Hell no. He’s my best friend from back home. He came to visit.” 

“Oh, thank God,” Jisung said in one breath. His hands reached for my cheeks smashing his lips against mine. My fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt tugging him closer to me. Jisung kissed me as if he was afraid I would disappear the moment he let go of me. His lips danced against mine, desperate to be with me again. I pulled away resting my forehead against his.

“Well...I mean technically...we dated in senior year, but that was a long time ago.” 

He nodded, fingers threading through my hair as his lips returned to mine. I was just as hungry for him as he was for me. He smiled feeling me push him backward, without breaking our kiss. He laughed quietly when I moved him into the open closet instead of a wall. Jisung straightened himself up before taking control and pinning me up against the doorframe. 

“Wait,” He said breaking the kiss, smiling as I chased after his lips. “Didn’t you say you lost your virginity your senior year.” He asked looking into my eyes, brows furrowed.

“Umm...shhhh. This is about us, yeah?” 

Before he could say anything else about Daniel, I kissed him again tugging off his beanie and running my fingers through his soft locks. He broke away and nuzzled his face in my neck, arms wrapped tightly around my waist. “I’m so sorry, baby. I was a total ass. I should never have said those things.” 

“No, I’m sorry. I regret everything that happened. My emotions were all wack because of my period.”

“Well...I did deserve that slap.” 

“Maybe a little.”

“Hey!” He laughed, letting me know he wasn’t really offended. My thumb brushed over his cheek as I looked up into his eyes. “Y/n, I’m so sorry. I was too ashamed about what had happened that day to talk about it and I took it out on you. Can you forgive me?”

Leaning up, I kissed him gently savoring every moment. “Jisung, I love you. You never have to be ashamed to tell me anything. I love you unconditionally. Even when you leave coffee mugs all over the house. Even when you forget to pick up groceries when I ask you eight times in an hour.” He laughed resting his forehead against mine. “My love for you is greater than any mistake you could make or problem you have.”

“You are so cheesy.”

“You love it.” 

“I love you,” 

Jisung tilted his head, leaning down for another kiss. This one was slower, more careful. A knock on the door pulled us apart. Danny stood in the entryway, drinking from his wine glass. “So I’m assuming you will need a plus one on the wedding invite?” He said with a smile. 

“Jisung?” He closed his eyes and smiled hearing his name from my lips. “Would you go to a wedding with me?” He nodded, kissing me on the cheek. 

“Would love to, baby.” 

Daniel walked over and reached over to shake Jisung’s hand. “Nice to finally meet you,” He said with his goofy, lopsided grin. Jisung warily looked him up and down but smiled and shook his hand. “You want to be a groomsman?”

“Depends. Did you fuck the love of my life when you were eighteen?”

“JISUNG!”

“WHAT?”

◈

Requests are open my lovelies! Just send an ask!

Masterlist

#stray kids imagines #stray kids #kpop imagines #stray kids reactions #stray kids preferences #han jisung imagines #han jisung imagine #han jisung smut #han jisung oneshot #han jisung au imagines #han jisung #han imagines #jisung imagines #han jisung fluff #han jisung angst #stray kids masterlist #stray kids angst #stray kids scenarios #stray kids fake texts #stray kids au imagine #stray kids au imagines #stray kids college au #stray kids incorrect quotes #stray kids smau #stray kids social media au #stray kids soulmate au #rubber ducky you're the one

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Emp-Ire “The King.”

“I am starting to think that the oracle was screwing with us.”

“Silence!” One of the men barked, clapping Ramirez across the back of the head with an open palm. Ramirez jerked forward with a grunt of pain, and seeing that, Adam was having the sudden, sneaking suspicion that…. Everything wasn’t what it seemed to be.

At first, the whole thing had screamed of elaborate tourism. Let the tourists show up and think they are going on some cool quest, and then make them overpay to meet with some lady who was just super high, but the way these men were acting…

Adam was beginning to agree with Ramirez.

If their adventure as Sheriff’s deputies had been real then wasn’t there all the likelihood that this was real as well? Just because you show up to someplace exotic doesn't mean it was designed like that to amuse you. He wouldn’t take a hop and a skip over to Japan and just assume that the different customs there were an elaborate ploy to get money off of tourists….

Well maybe on Earth that sort of thing could totally happen, but looking at these men…. Their physiques, their clothing,their weapons, and the very real, point of their spears, he was becoming aware that maybe they had stumbled on something a lot more serious than they had first thought.

Shit.

He seemed to have a habit of doing things like that.

He glanced around at the small contingent of men who walked with them. As he had noticed before each and every one of them was absolutely shredded, not necessarily in the bodybuilder kind of way, but in a way that made it clear these guys never skipped leg day, arm, day or cardio. 

Adam and Ramirez were no slouches; by comparison, both of them hitting the gym at least five times a week for an hour at least, but in comparison?

And of course they didn’t hide it either. 

Each of the men carried a massive circular shield and spears taller than they were. They had on sandals with greaves and simple leather wraps, most of them were bare chested, though their commanding officer wore a breastplate, all of them wore helmets.

“Laconia!” 

His sudden exclamation startled the man as well as Ramirez, 

“Shit, I just realized why that sounded familiar.”

One of the men turned to look at his commanding officer, “I do not think they are Athenians, sir.” He glanced back at Adam, “Too dumb.”

The other men laughed at his expense. Adam frowned, “Sorry my knowledge of ancient greek geographical locations isn’t up to snuff.”

He was silenced with another slap to the head, and with his ears ringing and one eye fuzzy, he finally accepted that this was, in fact, not a joke. Somehow, for some reason that dumbass oracle had sent them out to get potentially sacrificed by a group of Neospartans, and he doubted they were going to be able to sue for damages.

It took almost the whole day to make it to “Sparta” itself, though he became aware of their approaching closeness when small dwellings began appearing on the edge of fields. It was only when he figured out that Spartans needed to eat too that he realized not ALL of them were going to be big buff badasses. Of course, that was until he saw the farmer pulling the plow, who was in fact Hercules’s cousin on his father Zeus’s side.

Okay so maybe things were a bit different.

He was under the impression back during the age of real Sparta, a lot of spartan citizens were just normal people and it was only a select few who were turned into warriors. Women, while they had some rights than in other places, were still expected to stay home and take care of things while the men were off at war. She had to be strong, but that was only because she was expected to raise spartan sons, or something like that. He couldn’t remember exactly how that sort of thing worked, he wasn’t a historian. For all he knew Spartan women were just as shredded as the men.

A truth that seemed apparent for thee spartans because, as they made it to the next little farming house, a woman turned to look at them and damn it was like the Amazons met the spartans. She wasn’t particularly tall by anyone’s standards, but she looked like did mixed martial arts for a living.

He had no doubt she could probably kick his ass.

Ramirez had gone rather silent as he looked around  nodding to himself every so often as they were dragged through the outlying villages and farms, and eventually up a set of stone steps leading into a city which was surrounded by lush medeteranian hills and grasslands on either side.

The city itself was no slouch either. It wasn’t as artistically expressive as New Athens had been, ut there was no shortage of statues, and interesting architecture. Walking down the street, everyone they met was shredded or well on their way to becoming so. The men, the women, everyone but the children.

He noticed a few differences from ancient histories, including but not limited to the fact that the women were just as armored as the men, the many races and ethnicities, and the strange assortment of modern day dogs that roamed the place, which he thought was a strange addition.

A line of marching soldiers passed by wearing their red and gold, and as they went Ramirez turned his head to follow them, “Welp, I am pretty sure I had a dream like this once.”

“Did you dream include us dying horribly?”

“Does being crushed between someone's thighs count?”

Adam sighed and rolled his eyes to the heavens, “how can you be thinking like that at a time like this?”

“How can you not, I am scared and way turned on and it is the most confusing feeling I have ever had in my life…. Aren't you just a little?”

Adam frowned and was surprised to find that, “No, he didn’t think so. He was JEALOUS of plenty of these men, but none of the men or women caught his eye in that way, at least he didn't think so.”

Ramirez stared at him and shook his head sadly.

“What?”

“Still thinking about your breakup huh?”

“No I’m not.”

“Quiet.” One of the men hissed raising a hand to backhand one of them, though he stopped as a voice called out from before them.

“Captain NIcos, you have returned from your patrol.”

It was a woman’s voice this time, and as they looked up an armored figure stepped down from the steps to the columned temple. She wore a bright golden breastplate, knee length red skirt and golden greaves and bracers. An attendant at her shoulder carried her Helm, though she kept hold of her spear and circular shield. She was at least six feet tall and had a body like the she hulk though her face was exceptionally beautiful as well, with large brown eyes and full lips. 

The man raised his spear to her, “Queen Xanthia.”

The man around them raised their spears as well.

She stepped forward over the stone, “What have you found here.” She used the tip of her spear to reach under Ramirez’s chin and tilt his head back, “Athenians?’

“They say they are ‘from Athens, but not “Athenian.” Captain Nicos said shoving Adam forward so he tripped and fell to his knees on the hard stone.

She grunted and turned her attention to him, tilting his head back to look at her, “Is this true, not-an-Athenian.”

He crinched away from the blade of her spear, “I’m Mericandian actually, Terran, Earthling.”

There were a couple grunts of surprise from around the group.

“Tourists.” Ramirez piped in.

Xanthia frowned, raising her chin, “And how did you end up on Laconia. We don’t encourage tourists here.” 

“Would you believe it if I said that asshole of an oracle sent us here.” He raised his hands, “We meant no disrespect of course, we just came here to see the sights and then leave.”

Ramirez nodded.

There was another muttering from the crowd. She had an eyebrow raised, “The oracle you say?”

The two of them nodded again, not sure where this was going.

She turned her head to Captain Nicos, “Keep a close eye on them, I will speak with the king”

She turned on her heels and walked off, passing through the double doors with a swish of her red cloak, leaving the two of them still kneeling on the rough stone.

They turned to look at each other in nervous confusion, not entirely sure where this was going. Overhead the sky had dimmed to a dull blue and torches were being lit all up the city streets. The young man who was doing the lighting had the look of a classic greek hero with tight curly hair and a body borrowed from a demigod.

The two of them didn’t say anything until the doors opened and the queen walked back out, “The king wishes to see the intruders.”

Two guards held the doors opened as they were forced to their feet and up the steps. The interior of the room was bare and blunt, no more than stone pillars and a single uncomfortable throne carved out of sharp marble blocks, on which sat the manliest man he had likely ever seen. Xanthia walked over and sat in the identical throne next to him, and together it seemed as if they were being pulled before the throne of the very gods themselves.

This man was godlike, but not the kind of overly muscled where he can't even touch his own head. This was probably what peak human performance looked like with a neatly shaved beard and thick dark hair. Adam glanced over at Ramirez again, to see the other man was nodding in great approval of this development. He turned his head back to the man who stood very slowly, his armor clinking. He wore a short sword on one hip and carried a spear in one hand, and when he moved, he moved with the grace of someone who knew exactly what he was doing, and where his body was at all times.

He walked down the steps and looked the two of them over with steely golden eyes, like those of a wolf.

His gaze fell on Adam for a long hard moment, “I see we have been graced by the presence of a foreign general.” He said turning back and stepping up the stone steps.

There was a murmuring in the room around them.

Adam blinked in surprise, “You know who I am.”

The Spartan king stood before his seat, but did not sit down, “Well of course.”

He held up his arm so Adam could see the scrolling holographic image across his wrist, “Just because I live like a spartan doesn’t mean I subjugate my life to not knowing what goes on in the universe. In fact as King it is my duty to know what important developments are being made in this galaxy.”

He turned his head to look at Adam ,”I am loyal to this galaxy and the ideals upon which humanity has befriended aliens.” He walked across the stone, “And you Admiral Vir  are an important linchpin in that model.”

He turned to wave a hand at Ramirez, “And of course I know a Marine when I see one.”

Another muttering from around the room.

So, this is sort of not what he expected. The Spartan king was well versed in intergalactic politics, and was no slouch intellectually either.

“So, you’ll let us go then.”

The man did not smile, but the way his eyes twinkled, almost menacingly did not give Adam much hope.

“Oh I never said that.” He turned and paced back in the other direction, “You see, Admiral, I have become aware of an unfortunate pattern in humanity’s political history, and this includes the fall of empires due to poor or weak leaders.” he turned on the spot, “I had given up hope in being able to influence the intergalactic stage, but finding you here has…. Given me an idea.”

Oh no.

“I want to see just what kind of men are being tasked with keeping this galaxy together. I want to know if you can do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. I want to make sure that my people are in good hands, when their good is out of mine.”

“What are you talking about.”

“I want to make sure you are a brave leader, and that you can fight when is necessary.”

He made a motion with his hands and Ramirez was dragged off to the side.

A group of Spartans stepped up and grabbed Adam around the arms hauling him to his feet.

“Bring him to the training field.” The king said, and the group of men dragged him forward and out the doors.

Adam tried to protest but he was silenced as he was dragged from the doors, down the walkway and into a large lit arena with a sandy dirt floor. A large group of men were practicing here with their spears and shields, but cleared off as soon as an order was barked.

“What are you doing!” Adam demanded

“Consider this your greek trial, Admiral.” The king said taking his own spear and tossing it to Adam, who caught it in one hand, “Fight, and let’s see what you can do.” “But I-”

He was handed a shield, and then the group began to pull back.

The king stepped up onto the arena wall and paced down it’s length, “Lets see if you can beat one of my men first, and we will go from there.”

He motioned a hand and ordered one of the younger men forward. He couldn’t have been that old and was not nearly as well put together as the others, but he held his spear and shield with some confidence.

Ok…. this was going to get interesting.

He knew there was nothing he could do to stop them, so Adam dropped into a crouch.

The shield felt awkward and heavy on his arm, but the spear was a familiar weight. They circled for a short time before the boy came charging at him. He could see what the king was doing. This boy was young and had probably trained repeatedly in drills but had never sued weapons in practice..

He was meant to be easy to beat.

Adam stepped to the side and caught the boy’s foot sending him staggering away. Adam used the shield to knock him further off balance and sent him plowing into the dirt.

No one made a sound.

It wasn’t that impressive. That was SUPPOSED to be easy.

“So at least you have SOME training.” The king called. Overhead a shooting star crossed over the heavens. A crowd trickled onto the stands of the arena.

He motioned someone else forward. She too was young, but the set of her face and a scar down her right cheek showed that she had at least SEEN combat at some point. The way she eyed Adam told him that she knew what she was doing.

Her problem?

She was likely to set i nher fighting abilities, not creative enough. He traded a couple of strikes with her, gaging her ability before making his move. He used his shield as a distraction to cover some of his movement so she couldn't see, and then sent a lightning fast jab. He struck a hit hard on the side of her helmet sending her plowing to the Arena floor.

Still no one made a sound.

The king nodded slowly and motioned someone else forward.

This man was an actual soldier, though likely no great shakes, but at least he knew what he was doing. Adam ended up in a sharp flurry of contact before the shield got in his way and he almost took a hard blow to the shoulder , even so he ended up with a delicate cut along the side of his cheek. It was only by way of quick thinking that he was able to duck under one of the swipes and kick the man hard in the sternum. He went flailing back into the dirt, and Adam couldn’t help but whisper to himself.

“And this is sparta bitch.”

The kind paced around him in a wide circle, “So, someone has trained you in the use of the spear.”

Adam growled, “I was trained to fight aliens with four arms, so you are going to have to try harder.”

The king smiled, “Confidence…. Always a good sign. But the shield, I think you have not been trained to use one of those.”

Adam paused nodded, and then threw the shield to the ground kicking it away.

He took the spear up in two hands, in a distinctly different style from the spartans, “Well, come on then.”

WIth the shield gone and his switch back to using a spear like he had been trained he defeated the next three challenges with relative impunity. It was only when the king stared adding extra fighters did Adam struggle.

They clashed hard, Adam ducking dodging and sometimes jumping over swings from his opponents. He dived into the dirt, rolled onto his back and caught two spears as they hurtled down at him. He kicked one in the side of the knee and he went down. Adam lunged for the hit, spun on the spot and caught the second spear as it came down for him again. He brought the but of his spear up and hit the woman in the face before spinning back in the other direction, dodging an oncoming jab and slammed his spear into the back of his opponent’s head sending them sprawling to the ground.

He was breathing heavily now but he could see and hear some of the men and women muttering in surprise.

The king nodded, “This is heartening, I must say. It seems as if our leaders CAN fight.”

Someone was motioned forward and he was handed a rag to wipe his face and a canteen of water. He drank greedy wiping his mouth and tossing the leather skin back to the young woman who had brought it to him.

“But I think I do see one deficiency.”

He took a waiting spear from one of his followers, waved off a shield and stepped into the ring.

Men and women all around the circle leaned forward in anticipation. Adam readied himself.

The king stepped forward.

Adam could already tell this wasn;t going to be easy.

He was already tired, the kind was fresh.

But still he was ready, the two men circled and then Adam lunged forward in the way the Drev had taught him, The king batted it away and they made an exchange. The man didn’t try to attack him, but seemed content on seeing what Adam could do. Their engagement must have lasted for thirty minutes as they clashed, the king slowly escalating over that time. The longer they went the more energized the other man became. Adam thought if he could just hold out until the other man grew tired as well, then maybe he would have an upper hand.

But it never happened.

Adam gasped for air.

Even after what must have been thirty minutes of continual engagement, the other man only seemed to be breathing steadier and more deeply. All together they had been fighting longer and harder than all of the other previous engagements put together, and still the man was not tired. Adam watched as the man specifically did not take openings that should have killed Adam.

He knew he was trying to make some sort of point.

Adam was breathing in ragged gasps now. He had never been so tired in all his life, he came in for a lunge he knew was sloppy, and his spear was kicked from his hand. A sandals foot hit him in the chest and he went down choking. The king stood over him nodding, “I am impressed by your skill” He turned and waved to the crowd, “You could match any man or woman here hand to hand in a fair fight, but you do have one deficiency.”

Adam gulped and panted.

The king crouched next to him, “No stamina.”

He stood again, “You train with my men tomorrow, and so does your marine. We will make Spartan’s out of you yet!”

Adam gasped coming to his knees, “Wait… but I-”

“You came here for vacation, and I am sorry to inform you that will not be so. You will not be leaving until I am satisfied our galaxy is in the Best hands.”

Adam stood crawling to his feet with great effort.

The king even smiled at him this time, which seemed strange to him somehow. He held out a hand and Adam took it, “A pleasure to fight with you Admiral, I am James king of the Spartans.”

Adam frowned, “James?’ Not Kyros or something?”

“I was born in the northern provinces of Mericanda, of course I don’t have a greek name.”

He clapped Adam on the shoulder and then walked off joined by his queen and their entourage as he shouted orders vanishing into the night.

Adam stared after him.

So, the king of Sparta was Canadian? 

[herpronuonsarefemslash]

Bioweapons and Beef Stew - TEASER

https://www.patreon.com/posts/52994705 Kara's pod goes into the wrong wormhole and she ends up in the Mass Effect universe. (I made it ABO so that everyone's learning new things about their bodies, which I always find fun to write. The setting is middle of the plot of Mass Effect 1 and except for Kara Zor-El, will be largely vanilla.) KUDOS NOTE: Much of the asari culture and most of the words are borrowed with my gratitude from  PMC65 of "Thessian Whisper" fame, LogicalPremise's supporting documents for his grimdark "Of Sheep and Battle Chicken" saga, and Joking611, author of "Cari'ssi'mi" stories. ----- Shepard closes the channel, leans back in her chair and pinches the bridge of her nose as hard as she dares. It feels like her sinuses are full of riot foam. Has since they took off from Noveria. "Fuck." She staggers into her cabin's bathroom and splashes cold water on her face, prodding at the rapidly purpling bruise on her right cheek from one of Benezia's wilder attacks. Spinning the clothing rack inside the tiny closet shows she has dress uniforms, her BDUs and a novelty T-Shirt she got on Elysium the night before the Blitz. Somehow it survived all the excitement and arrived by shipping pod a few weeks later, along with a promise to provide her anything in their entire line. If only she wore femme clothes with any regularity. She has a prisoner to visit and traitor or not, Benezia T'Soni requires the utmost respect. In the darkest hour of the asari, when raping, murdering queens from inland laid waste to the grand coastal cities, it was two newly minted paladins who made the midnight raid that struck down the twisted matriarch so fearsome that some claimed she was Athame's punishment. It takes no exaggeration to say that the golden age that rose in the aftermath is the daughter of Kanyru T'Sere and Cellnis T'Soni. Two tiny houses with nothing but a warrior tradition and pair of matriarchs and thousands of years later, both families are so wealthy and influential that their private navies could conquer the Terminus with ease and with a bit of luck, roll the Systems Alliance up like a carpet and lay siege to Earth. Dress uniform it is. Putting it on requires only memory. Button. Straighten. Tug. Adjust medal. Smooth sleeves. Check boots. Polish. Check again. Polish again. ... She was a quicker draw than Ashley, but not by much. Three hollow-bottle electrical rounds from her pistol knocked the matriarch out. They brought Benezia back to the Normandy in cuffs and doped to the gills. Her body blazed through the drugs almost as fast as they could pump more in her biotics working on behalf of her immune system to try to burn out the threat. Evolution doesn't allow weaklings to live to a thousand and four years old. Now, looking at a good marine--one she trained herself--standing dazed and sweaty during an easy duty shift, Shepard wonders if she brought the enemy aboard. Is indoctrination contagious? Seems unlikely that their scanners would detect it in standard decon, no matter how many nano-virus patterns they can check for. "DRAVEN! Are you operational, marine?" Draven nods again, even slower this time. "Yes...wait. No. I think I'm sick, ma'am. Fever, maybe." "I think you might be, yeah. So straight to your sleeping pod and seal yourself in. I'll send the doc." She keeps her hand squeezed tight on Draven's shoulder as she steers her towards the enlisted bunks. The door swishes open and she sees the last thing she would have expected to see: Ashley Williams wearing what looks like a very realistic cybernetic strap-on, pinning Tali's long hands against the bulkhead and rolling her hips, dragging the shaft over the suit between the young engineer's ample thighs. Tali seems to be a willing participant, judging by the way she's clenching her legs together and the lunges she makes when Ash pulls back. "Gunny!" Shepard barks. "Explain yourself." Ashley turns. Her golden skin is dripping with sweat, her curly hair is down to her shoulders, tangled and wild, and her teeth are bared. She leans

forward to cover more of Tali's body with her own and actually growls, like a dog protecting its food bowl. ... After a round of precautionary commands and instructions to Chakwas, who reported that she had already suited up in decon gear and gotten to work, Shepard swallows the last scraps of her pride and approaches the medbay door. She presses her palm to the intercom. "Can I come in, Liara?" Rather than a reply, the door simply opens. Liara's hand is slack at her side, as if lifting her finger to her omni to open the door took everything. Trails of salt granules streak her freckled face. The officer's academy didn't go deeper than 'coastal-dwelling ancestors' but seeing Liara's face streaked by sea salt and lean, delicate body and her long hands folded into a ball makes Shepard think of a mermaid in mourning more than anything. They say asari means 'of the ocean' in the salarian language that lent them their post-spaceflight name. "How is she?" Liara shrugs, looking younger and older at the same instant. "The body will live. The mind..." Something propels her forward, commands her to put her hands on Liara's shoulders. "C'mere." ... It is only a few minutes each time she wakes, so they make careful use of them. The drugs wear off every few hours and Benezia wakes for five or ten minutes as herself, then goes back to ranting. It's a slow process and knowing that Saren is anything but slow in his mad pursuit of this Conduit, it makes Shepard sick to be on a quarantined ship, even if it is with the mother of the girl she's fallen for. With the Normandy idling at a gas giant while they sort out the disease affecting the crew--they caught Draven mounting Gunnery Chief Roberts in the middle of her shift--there's plenty of time for Shepard to catch up on her paperwork from Chakwas' desk. Liara explains about Shepard's vision and gushes about melding and trying to understand it, and Benezia smirks and looks past her daughter to Shepard as if to say 'get on with it'. Shepard promises to keep Liara safe. ... Chakwas' omnitool pings and she glances down at it, says something Liara's omnitool marks as impolite, and then gradually lowers her head onto her desk, raising it and dropping it the last inch three times. "Doctor, are you..." Ill? Delirious? Suicidal? Liara wonders. Then she remembers that Tali has taken to kicking pieces of damaged technology that don't cooperate, a habit she claims she learned from Engineer Daniels. It's not a quarian gesture she's ever seen and Tali sheepishly admitted that the first two times she did it, she stubbed her toe. It's as if human emotions can gather so densely in their bodies that unless they damage themselves physically, they will go mad. "I just received word from the commander that the bioweapon has finished whatever it is doing to her." Liara's tongue feels thick. Clumsy. Too much. Like it might choke her. "Oh?" Chakwas nods. "Apparently her body has taken on masculine characteristics, at least judging by her request for altered duty clothes. I think the asari word for it is akero?" "No, but I can see why you might think that." Chakwas shrugs. "Joker wanted to name the whole mess after some popular concept in human pornography called alpha/beta/omega. All based on a fetish which is itself based on highly suspect research about Earth wolves. I suppose humans associate the dominant and forceful sexual role with the male." Liara hums. "It is a human ship, doctor. Perhaps human terms are appropriate when venturing into the unknown. Is there any way I can help the Commander?"

#mass effect #shiara #female shepard #liara x femshep #abo