Would anyone who has experience with POTS be willing to give a recently diagnosed but anxious Goat some advice on compression gear/mobility aids/ other tips?
Could you please do a prompt with a villain splits their personalities (whether separate entities or Jekyll/Hyde sort of situation.) One side is their cold, calculated, reserved persona and the other their kind, charming, caring persona that shows their hidden affections & love for the hero and it so happens the hero shares a somewhat hidden affection for the villain. Thus they both charming and flustering eachother. Bonus if the reserved one still has a bit of that affection but still hides it.
Oh, Anon, this, this is fantastic! The confusion! The possibilities! I totally loved Jekyll and Hyde, it was one of the three books I always carried around with me when I was in high school, so I’m definitely going to lean into that one, forgive me. I hope that I can measure up to this, I tend to be not so good at the whole romance thing, but here we go, I love this idea, I’ll try to do it due diligence, Villain came out a little less cold and calculating than I think you wanted? (They didn’t listen to me) So if you’d like me to try again, just let me know! (Also all the sorry for length, both of the prompt as well as the time it took for me to produce said prompt, for a long time there, the words weren’t working properly, I’m trying to reinstall an earlier version to see if that helps?)
I hope that your day is as refreshing as a tall glass of ice cold water after something strenuous, picture waterfalls, ice caps, condensation, I hope today is the fulfilling of needs without worry for what will come next. Rest, acknowledge your needs and be refreshed.
Hero had realized right away that something was different about Villain when they’d run into them at a small time gang-war several weeks ago, Villain had been far from their regular self, their dark eyes snapping with some magnetic electricity that made the hero feel all tingly–must be some evil plan. Villain had been leaning against one of the shipping containers arms crossed over their chest as fire rained around them, hero hadn’t even seen them at all until they’d had to duck out of the way of some idiot with a flamethrower.
Then Villain had been there like they’d materialized, offering a hand to the gasping hero, a mischievous smile on their face.
“Getting yourself into trouble without me huh?” The Villain had purred as they’d helped them to their feet, “What if I were all possessive and aggressive?”
Hero was too confused to laugh at the Villain’s joke, they just narrowed their eyes, wiping soot across their face accidentally, “What?” Villain was never this…conversational, they tended between long silences and awkward monologues that the hero’s team had always teased was to impress them. In short they tended towards shy calculation which paid off into hard to beat plans, once when hero had admitted to Villain that they found them brilliant when they were both dangling over the remains of a ruined coal mine, Villain had blushed so red that hero was worried that they’d driven up their blood pressure. But that was normally, this Villain didn’t seen even a little embarrassed as they flirted with them shamelessly.
The Villain snickered at their hero’s confusion, “It’s alright, I can share,” then they’d put their hands on hero’s shoulders, a move that hero would have immediately remedied if the Villain’s eyes hadn’t become so concerned, so serious, “Just be careful alright? I need someone to stop me, before you I was woefully successful.”
“Did you hit your head or something?” Hero shouted above the groan of twisting metal around them, they knocked the Villain’s hands off of their shoulders to inspect their head.
But the Villain only laughed, “I just decided to stop pretending that I don’t care about you,” Villain shrugged, “I’ve got to get back to work, some of these shipping containers are well stocked if you get my meaning.”
Hero shook their head, “Now Villain I’m not letting you go until my medic gets a good look at you, you’re acting really weird, stay right here, I’ll be back,” but they’d been gone when hero had turned around, vanishing like they’d been made of smoke.
Hero resolved to keep an eye on Villain, and whatever was responsible for Villain’s shift in behavior hero was determined to figure it out.
It would go without saying that hero hadn’t expected their day to end this way, they had just been going about the usual business, waiting for a text from the chief of police as they did their surveillance on an apartment that they suspected was one of the warring street gang’s hubs of operation. .
They were in the team’s fake delivery van, alone this time, nobody had wanted to come with them, seeing how things turned out they were glad no one else had taken them up on the offer.
It must have been around three in the morning, peak crime hours, but nothing had happened all day, and hero or not, their eyes were burning with exhaustion, it was way easier to stay awake when there were things to do.
Right when they were about to call it a night they decided to swing by Villain’s hot spots, see if they could spot them, it had been a few weeks since they’d seen them at all, that wasn’t odd by itself, Villain normally went underground to plan, getting everything in place before they tried to accomplish whatever it was they were working on this quarter, but hero still had that odd run-in in their head, and they really wanted to make sure that Villain was okay.. They started the van, casting an angry glare at the apartment where nothing had happened, and drove down to the pier, nothing, just the moonlight reflecting off of the choppy water.
They drove by the lower district, but it was almost eerily empty, not even one passed out drunk to take home. One the last stop, hero inwardly exalted, a dark colored sedan was outside of Villain’s favored chop-shop/car repair place. Hero went around, parking the car close enough to watch the sedan, but not close enough to be spotted, and readied themselves for some action.
But their excitement went to waste, they watched the vehicle for more than thirty minutes before they felt their eyes start to burn with exhaustion again. Villain must be inside doing some work, they likely wouldn’t be out for several hours, hero groaned, and debated just going home, they smacked their head onto the steering wheel in frustration squeezing their eyes closed, trying to rid them of the burning scratchiness.
There was a tap on the window.
Hero’s eyes shot open, only to see Villain’s face at their driver’s side window, mischief glinting in their dark eyes, Villain motioned for hero to open the door, hero shook their head no, glaring at them, Villain rolled their eyes and motioned for hero to roll down their window.
Hero froze, they almost didn’t do it, but they figured that they wouldn’t be doing their duty if they didn’t at least listen to what the Villain had to say, so hero rolled the window down about an inch and a half.
“What do you want?” they demanded, still glaring at the Villain through the glass.
“I wanted to ask if you always have such awful stakeouts? My guys and I have been watching you bash your head against the steering wheel for the last half-hour.”
Hero flushed, but their voice was angry, “I didn’t–It was just the one–Mind your own business weirdo, who watches people?!”
“Isn’t that what a stakeout is?” Villain’s eyes were bright with laughter, they mimed slapping their forehead, “that’s why you’ve been having such a terrible time! You don’t know what you’re doing! Why don’t you let me in and I’ll give you some pointers?”
“Wh-what?” Hero stuttered, “No?
“Is that a question? C’mon, you’re more clever than that!” Villain grinned, not unkindly, in fact, hero was left realizing with an odd warm sort of feeling in their chest that the grin made Villain look cute, not that they were supposed to find their enemy cute, but, um, oh crap they found their enemy cute.
Hero reddened, “I’m n-not!”
“Alright,” Villain held up their hands in mock surrender to the flustered hero, “You’re not clever, but you said it not me.”
Hero was taken by surprise at the Villain’s friendly ribbing, they were used to Villain being quiet, careful, sort of shy, this Villain was…dashing? No, that wasn’t it, suave? That wasn’t exactly right either, whatever it was pushed them past cute–they were practically…Hero realized that they were staring at Villain, and not only that, staring at them and thinking about how attractive they were! Hero swallowed, reddening even further, “Get off of my van,” they growled, I’m going to have to get a handle on that… they thought to themselves.
Villain was smirking back at them, no doubt because they’d just watched the hero stare at them in admiration for a few moments, “Alright, I’ll go,” they replied softly, the smirk never leaving their eyes, “But if you want to know what I’m up to just come over tomorrow, you know my place?” Villain took a half-step back, “Oh, and first rule of stake-out, and this will apply tomorrow, bring food, and maybe come in something a little more comfortable, that suit isn’t doing anything for you anyway.”
Hero swallowed again, nodding distractedly, they didn’t trust their voice to try and throw one more digging remark, feeling hot and cold all at once, they’d never be so stupid as to show up and cater their own kidnapping would they? But they couldn’t stop the little flutter in their chest when they thought about the Villain’s smile.
Villain was putting the finishing touches on their plan, sticking another color coded pin in the map of the city, humming absently, totally engrossed in their work.
Everything had been going so smoothly now that they’d figured out how to focus their energy, no more drama with hero, only the clever planning that had gotten them the respect in the first place. Plus with their new energy focus they might just be powerful enough to defeat them! Were they a little worried about the lost hours over the last few week since they’d injected that mix of vitamins and biosourced proteins that was supposed to make their powers stronger? Maybe, but that was a problem for another day, besides nothing out of the ordinary had happened! They were fine, more powerful, and had given up on trying to get hero to like them, everything was going great!
There was a polite cough behind them ripping them from their self adulation.
Villain whirled around, their hand going automatically to their belt, already knowing that they wouldn’t find anything there, they hadn’t bothered to arm themselves for a peaceful night in plotting destruction.
Stupid!
Hero was standing a little ways behind them, it took them a moment to recognize them out of their suit, they were wearing…They were wearing their civilian clothes, holding a take-out bag? What the hell was going on? Villain’s face must have given away their obvious confusion.
Hero cleared their throat, “Um, you said to meet you here?” They made a point of studying their shoes, lifting up the take-away bag like an offering, “I, uh, brought Chinese? I hope that’s alright?”
Villain couldn’t say anything for a few long moments, they’d only ever dreamed of having dinner with hero, or at least, they had dreamed about it, but they were done trying to get hero to notice them in that way, right? “I’d never tell you to meet me here!” Villain growled, forcing their expression to look fierce, “I’m not sure what you’re planning hero, but this is highly irregular!”
Hero’s face fell, if only imperceptibly, but they were looking at the Villain like they were trying to work something out, even if their face had gotten a little flushed, “Uh, yeah, you’re totally right, this was a trick, I–I poisoned the food, you got me,” they were trying to fold into themselves, thinking abstractly how lucky vampires were, being able to turn into a bat and fly away.
The Villain’s face felt hot, their heart fluttered like the traitor it was. Hero would never poison them, what were they doing?
Villain almost let hero reach the door, they had the nerve to look a little dejected even, plus what the hell was going on? They had to ask hero why they thought that they had told them to meet them here, that was just good Villainy right?
“Wait,” Villain felt their face get hot when hero turned around with some annoyed version of hope in their eyes, that dopey grin tugging at the corners of their mouth, shit, why were they looking at the hero’s mouth what was wrong with them! “did you bring sesame chicken?”
Hero didn’t answer for a second, like Villain’s question had come out of nowhere, then they held up the bag again, “uh, yeah, and moo shu pork and broccoli, but if this was a mistake or if you’re busy…”
Villain shook their head, trying and failing to push all of their embarrassing thoughts away, hadn’t they gotten rid of those?
Villain shook their head again, forehead still wrinkled in confusion, “It’s fine, I’m just, um…a little confused.”
Hero stood in the doorway for a second holding the bag before giving up on trying to figure out what Villain was planning and walking back in, they’d know soon enough anyway if this was a trap, damn, should have told someone where they were going…But that would have meant admitting that they thought they were going on a kind of date with their mortal enemy…They were so not having a handle on this.
“So, what did you want me here for again?” hero said conversationally as they made themselves busy taking the takeout boxes out of the bag.
Villain was frozen in their chair watching hero take the food out, feeling uncomfortable in having their enemy in their lair when they were planning…. Villain shot to their feet and pulled a curtain over their map board knocking the little tray of pushpins over as they went, “So that’s your game?” they accused when they were finished, “You wanted to see what I’m plotting and tried to catch me off guard with food?”
Hero looked up obviously frustrated, “You told me to come over! I said that already.”
“And when did I do that? Do you think I wouldn’t remember talking to you? I never forget any of my run ins with you!” Villain realized with growing embarrassment that they’d just said far too much, but they tried to keep their face stern.
Hero was looking back at them strangely, “Wait, you’re you right now, aren’t you?”
“What?” Villain sputtered, “Who else would I be?”
“I don’t know, but the last two times I’ve talked to you, you seem…” Hero flushed, far too attractively for Villain’s liking, “..Different.”
“Different how?” Villain’s bewilderment was starting to shift to fear, it would explain all of their lost time, the weird inside jokes they now seemed to share with gang leaders and subordinates alike, it would explain why they were so tired all of the time.
Oh shit, the trials had had some weird gene altering effects at first, but they’d gotten rid of them right? Right?! Plus they felt fine!
Hero reddened further, “I don’t know, confident, um, flirty, I uh…” Hero gestured to the food, “I fell for it I guess?”
Villain couldn’t stop their mouth from falling open, it felt like their thoughts all smashed to a halt with a scratching record sound buzzing in their ears, “You came here to go on a date with me?” They asked incredulously.
“Oh don’t rub it in!” Hero responded crossly, “Like I said you asked me! You seemed pretty into the idea too!”
Villain rubbed their temples and sat back down in their chair, “oh something is definitely wrong with me,” they murmured to themselves, hero looked a little offended.
“No! I like you okay? I can’t believe I’m talking about this!” Villain growled, “Listen,” they started finally, “We can unpack all of this later okay? Right now I need you to come with me to my lab and look at some samples, I think I may have somehow altered my genes.”
“Oh that sounds bad,” hero looked both concerned and confused, “Can I ask how and why?”
Villain shook their head, “I’ll explain when we get down there, as will you, about everything I’ve said and done over the last month that you know of.”
“Alright,” Hero agreed, “But just to warn you it’s not much, just the two conversations.”
“That I can’t remember, and apparently asked you out like I’d…that I don’t remember,” Villain burned with embarrassment what the hell was wrong with them?
“Y-yeah,” hero cleared their throat and broke eye contact, “should I bring the food?” They gestured to the still steaming Chinese on the desk.
Villain shrugged, everything was already so weird anyway, “Sure, why not, let’s just hope I don’t accidentally clone some rice or something.”
Had a bad dream last night that, among other things, involved a woman who’d been conditioned to entertain. Specifically, to make others laugh. To not think for herself or take action or be serious, just to be funny. That was her “purpose.”
I didn’t know what particularly she had gone through, but it must have been bad, and it must have been effective.
We were trying to rescue her, being her back, and she’d only respond with these nonsensical statements and a forced-looking smile. In the dream, I was sobbing and telling her I loved her, and nothing could reach her. It was hopeless.
After I woke up, I realized this was the perfect time to try a technique I’d read about for dealing with nightmares. You go back in your head to the last thing that happened before you woke up, and you ask yourself what happens next. Then you just take what comes to you until it reaches a resolution of some kind.
I saw in my head the scenario continuing, until the woman said something silly, and so abruptly that I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.
And she stopped. It was like a spell had broken and she was herself again.
She told me that no one had ever reacted to her that way. Had ever found her funny. I got a few little mental “flashbacks” of crowds of people jeering and throwing things at her, of her captor always demanding more, never being satisfied. She could never even be what she was forced to be.
How ironic.
We hugged and cried and laughed all at once. I had her back finally. It felt like we had reached a good ending. Now, instead of a bad dream, I had a touching story, an important message of some kind (still trying to dissect what it all means).
Is it weird that I'd like to see more caretakers with disabilities? Just. Disabled people in literally any position but the whumpees honestly. Caretakers with chronic pain. Whumpers with wheelchairs. Let my mans with anxiety still be able to take care of others while anxious. Idk just. Not helpless disabled people please?
