#puzzledcretin

[puzzledcretin]

Dropping a new fic while I try to finish up the oneshot, I am closing my jaws around it. In the meantime-

you go down just like holy mary

Fandom: Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026) Ship: Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace (PHM) Chapters: 1/? Rating: Teen and Up (for now, may change)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[fiddledydee]

You can tell it’s my day off

Why? Because home boy finished chapter 2 of my unnamed Leo fanfic and now I can get started on chapter 12 of Like Oil and Water. I’m on a roll today! 

[puzzledcretin]

Chapter Three let's go!!

you go down just like holy mary

Fandom: Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026) Ship: Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace (PHM) Chapters: 3/? Rating: Teen and Up (for now, may change)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[puzzledcretin]

Chapter Two out now!

you go down just like holy mary

Fandom: Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026) Ship: Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace (PHM) Chapters: 2/? Rating: Teen and Up (for now, may change)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[puzzledcretin]

The Start of Something New..

This is the snippet of a personal project I'm working on!

Things to know: all relevant characters are named after objects in space, this world contains five species that dominate the planet, and in this chapter you're introduced to three characters. Mars, Terra, and Mercury.

Terra huffed as she watched the other behind the bar. It was the end of the night, everything was closed and now they just had to clean up. And if Terra was taking a small break with a small drink as she watched Mars wipe everything down, it was no one’s business.

“Where are you going tonight?”

“Hm?”

Mars barely looked up when asked the question, leading Terra to know the answer all to well. 

“I don’t want you going back there.” She stated, staring at the human as his eyebrows scrunched together.

“What do you mean? I have to go back there. Jupiter and I have to patch some things up.” Mars responds, finally lifting his gaze to meet Terra’s. And that’s when she feels it. The uncertainty, the fear. She glances down at Mars’ hand balled up in the wet rag and clutching it.

“But you won’t, will you?”

“What do you know?” Mars scoffs, reaching down to dump his ice bucket in the sink. The half melted slush splashed back at him and he let out a huff. He dropped the bucket, letting it drip into the sink as he moved on to grab the bottles he had pulled out and put them away properly.

“I know that you always say you’ll patch things up and then come home miserable.” Terra responds, leaning her cheek against her palm, “I know that you say he’ll get better but he never does. And I bet when you come home and I ask “are you two together?” You won’t have an actual answer for me. Because he won’t give you one either.”

“… He just doesn’t want to-“

“Bullshit. He’s playing a game and you’re the doll. And you let him.” Terra stated. Mars looked at her, tossing the last bottles into the fridge before pressing the lock. 

“You think I’m not playing too? What, you think I don’t have my pieces on the board?”

“I think he doesn’t let you see the board.”

The tension in the air was thick, two stubborn forces meeting in the middle of a landline riddled battle field. 

Denial and logic battling it out before their eyes with double edged swords and no way to hold on.

Mars went to open his mouth but instead the two heard knocking at the door. They exchanged a glance before Terra shrugged and got to her feet, walking over to answer.

Behind it, the young Aphin boy. He had a bright smile, showing off those fangs but there was no ill intent.

“Hey uh.. I think I left my wallet? It’s uh… green with a Tri force on it?” He asked. Terra turned to Mars, whose eyebrow was arched. It was clear he was trying to be nosey and listen in but was unable.

“Wallet, green, nerd things?” Terra asked. It took a moment for Mars to process before he nodded and ducked under the bar, pulling the wallet out and holding it up.

“Yes! That’s it!” The young Aphin pointed, but made no effort to move into the threshold and past Terra.

Mars walked around the bar, coming over and offering the customer his wallet back. The young man took it and immediately checked for his cash, groaning. “So much for my ride home.. looks like I’m walking,” 

The Aphin laughed, offering a wave, “well, thanks for keeping it! I appreciate it,”

Mars stared at the young man and Terra could feel the energy shift so dramatically it almost left her nauseous.

“I’ll walk you home,” 

Terra looked to Mars with an arched brow, but the human only smiled. She recognized this behavior, chasing after a rush just to feel something. Terra had watched this behavior blossom over several months. The Aphin seemed shocked but then he nodded, “sure, maybe I can get you that coffee I offered earlier?” 

“Yeah, I’d like that,” 

Mars went to step out the door then paused and looked to Terra, “Is it… Okay?”

Terra sighed, but with a look over the young man, she nodded. “I’ll cover you this time, but you owe me.”

Mars grinned and gave the Bracne woman a large hug, squeezing her tight for a moment before he went to step out the door.

“Wait!”

Mars paused, his hand in the aphin’s already and both looking appropriately spooked.

“Give me your apron,” 

Mars’ face turned red but he nodded, letting go of his new stranger for a moment to untie the apron and hand it over, “Thank you,” he offered. But Terra shook her head.

“You stay safe.”

As the two left, she finally caught the name of the young man, Mercury. And she watched them walk down the street before returning to clean up. 

She made sure to do Mars’ part, and at the end of it, she made sure to grab Mars’ jacket from the hook in the break room. 

Terra was looking forward to going home and collapsing into her fiancée's arms, thank the stars she was off the next day.

[fiddledydee]

Who made the court jester stop laughing

A simple question and yet

Opposition arises when the question is asked

“Not I,” declares the king, his nose up in the air,

“Not I,” claims the queen, arms crossed,

“Not I,” says the prince, chewing at his thumb,

But if not them then who

This is a who

Who what when where why

Who made the court jester stop laughing?

The court jester

Who used to jingle along the hallways

Who would jibber and jabber

His bells fall silent

His dances are careless,

They lack their color,

He lacks color

His face does not frown

It does not smile

He is just there

So I ask again

Who made the court jester stop laughing?

“Not I,” exclaimed the maid, her hand upon her chest,

“Not I,” muttered the knight, his focus far away,

“Not I,” whispered the peasant boy, pushing his small wooden car,

Then who!

Who made the court jester-

A man who entertains and provides

A man who mastered his craft

Who, I demand, made the court jester stop laughing?

“Twas I,” admitted the court jester, his bells hanging loose,

“I grow tired and weary, I am not the same man

My bells don’t jingle and my colors are dull,

Every jester has his time, it is simply mine.”

For it was I who made the court jester stop laughing.

Don’t mind me I’m just in a silly goofy mood~

[fiddledydee]

Question:

What is Casey Jones II's weapon called? A chainsaw hockey stick?

Asking for a friend... Totally not for me...

[fiddledydee]

Soooo~ guess who just uploaded chapter 9 of Like Oil and Water? You’re right, it was me!  So, that’s posted and I’m currently working on chapter 12 at the moment. 

In more exciting news though, I have finished chapter one of the unnamed Leo fanfic. I am so much happier with how it’s turned out, I really just needed to flesh it out a lot more. Ended up doubling the length but that’s fine! It’s all cash money.