Born in 2004. Safe for work . My name's Jeanne. Fandoms: Nevermoor, Final fantasy VII & XV, Tolkien, Naruto, Avatar (2009), Ouat, Stargate Atlantis and Charlie Bone! I'm Non binary and I am fine with all pronouns. language: German and English. DNI if you're under 16, pro-censorship or an Anti (I don't want to be part of shipping wars and highschool drama)
I know the Clone Wars more than demonstrated that Anakin and Padme had the sublety of a Bantha on a starship, but I will die on the hill that the biggest tell is Anakin's perfectly styled curly hair. That boy spent 9 years with pin straight hair and then 10 years with a mandatory close cut and rat tail, yet he can suddenly maintain perfectly styled, notoriously difficult, curls in the middle of a war???
No way. That has Padme running-through-a-battlefield-in-full-couture Amidala all over it. There is no way she would let her man have bad hair, war or not.
Obi-Wan raised that boy. He has seen every questionable choice that Anakin has made through his awkward teen stages. He has also seen Padme go through a planet wide, life and death disaster as a teenager and still maintained multiple costume changes with full hair and makeup for her and her friends.
There is no way Obi-Wan did not see Anakin suddenly have a perfect knowledge of how to maintain the long hair he has never had before and not immidiately know that Anakin has spent an inappropriately large amount of time in a bathroom with Padme. No he took one look at Anakin and knew immidiately.
ok i have a new thought which is totally out of pocket, are we ready!!!
imagine if anakin met owen under different circumstances - very different circumstances - the man who introduced himself to anakin as 'his step brother', imagine anakin and his brother.
anakin with a brother would have been unhinged in a whole new flavor. like, anakin is already obsessive about relationships he frames as family:
- he goes feral for obi-wan (father/brother hybrid figure).
- he clings to ahsoka (his “little sister").
- he worships padmé (wife but also rescuer, grounding point, safe home).
now imagine him with a sibling! anakin would instantly project all of his abandonment/loneliness into that bond. he’d decide, in two seconds flat, that owen is his, and no amount of reluctance from owen could make him ease up. he’d be possessive and suffocating about it. “you’re my brother. that means i protect you. that means i fight for you. that means you never leave.” the council doesn’t understand. "family is everything. you’re my family, owen, not them.” and with beru? he’d attach just as hard. “you’re my sister now too. that’s how this works.” like. no questions asked.
and like, anakin would absolutely conflate brotherhood with ownership/obligation! the same way he does with padmé – “you’re mine”, obi-wan – “don’t leave me", and ahsoka – "you’re supposed to be with me”. a brother would give him a sanctioned, permanent excuse to never let go. PERMISSION TO BE DIFFERENT, TO BE MORE.
Welcome to ItaSasu Birthday Bash! This event is to celebrate Itachi and Sasuke's respective birthdays and content which features either of them respectively. Itachi x Sasuke (ItaSasu/SasuIta) works are of course welcome, but relationships featuring either of Itachi or Sasuke in the dynamic are welcome. Come join us and enjoy the prompt fest. This post has the overview of prompts and rules/FAQ below the cut.
Prompt List
Prompts will be split into two different weeks.
Prompt week and dates. Pick at least one prompt per day.
🍡 Set 1: Itachi's Birthday Week, June 9-15
June 9: time travel to Uchiha massacre, pampering
June 10: separated at birth and meet each other later, cheating
June 11: polyamory, Disney AU
June 12: office AU, rescue
June 13: feminization, injury recovery
June 14: dead drove do not eat, overstimulation
June 15: FREE DAY (choose your own prompt)
🍅 Set 2: Sasuke's Birthday Week, July 23-29
July 23: death and life experiences, torture
July 24: impaired sight, illness
July 25: walking in when they're with someone else, jealousy
July 26: scars, birthday celebration
July 27: gift, switching
July 28: secret, first time
July 29: FREE DAY (choose your own prompt)
*Some prompts have more additional details after the jump.
Click the jump for rules/FAQ information.
Ask if you have questions. Have fun!
Additional prompt information. Not necessary to use, but the extra information was thought up with the prompts.
June 9, time travel to the Uchiha massacre: (ItaSasu: Sasuke stops Itachi)
June 9, pampering: (ItaSasu: Adult Sasuke pampers Itachi after time traveling)
June 10, separated at birth and meet each other later: (ItaSasu: Sometime in their 20s)
June 10, cheating: (ItaSasu: Sasuke cheats on Sakura for Itachi)
June 13, feminization: (ex. Itachi)
June 14, overstimulation: (ex. top! SasuIta)
July 23, death and life experiences: (ItaSasu, Boruto spoilerish: Dead Itachi having a conversation with trapped-in-tree Sasuke because the covered part of his body somehow leans into the pure world)
July 24, illness: (ex. showing it off)
July 25, walking in when they're with someone else: (ItaSasu: Akatsuki-Itachi walking in on Sasuke with someone/Team Hebi member when he wants to inform Sasuke about where to meet and fight him)
Event Overview
What is the event?
The event is an Itachi/Sasuke ship inspired prompt fest with a birthday theme. It is also for Itachi and Sasuke's birthdays respectively.
Do I have to sign up somewhere?
No.
Is this a low stress event?
Yes.
How did the event start?
Members on the ItaSasu Discord server put together the prompts.
Where are all the places the event will be held I can follow?
The ItaSasu Discord server. Our Tumblr and X/Twitter accounts.
Do I have to be on the ItaSasu Discord server to join the event?
You don't have to be on the server to fill out prompts.
I have a question that isn’t answered here.
Send an ask. Join the server and ask in the #events channel.
What does “birthday” mean in the context on this event?
Anything from singing happy birthday to receiving presents. It can be a celebration of fluffiness, sweetness, nostalgia, memories, or moods.
Do I have to use the birthday theme in my work?
It isn’t mandatory to use a birthday theme as the central focus, but you can use the theme so it does take place during birthday occasions.
Are OCs allowed?
Yes.
What must my work include?
It must be focused on either or both Itachi or Sasuke. If you include a relationship, you can ship Itachi and Sasuke together, or you can have a romantic or platonic relationship with them and other characters.
Can I create works for just Sasuke or Itachi separately?
Yes.
Which ships are allowed?
Itachi x Sasuke (ItaSasu or SasuIta). Ships that include Itachi or Sasuke separately. For example, you can create Itachi/Shisui or Sasuke/Naruto.
Are polyamory/threesome ships allowed?
Yes. Ships which include either or both Itachi or Sasuke are allowed. For example, Sasuke/Naruto/Sakura or Itachi/Sasuke/Shisui are fine.
Can there be background characters and ships?
Yes. Itachi or Sasuke focused content or a ship with them should have content in your work, but background characters or ships are okay.
Besides Naruto, can I include works with Boruto, AUs, or crossovers?
Yes.
What will not be tolerated?
Hateful, offensive, or inflammatory attacks aimed towards other participants for their submitted works or the event's subject.
Prompts
How many prompts do I have to use a day?
At least one prompt. More if you want.
Can I do more than one work per day?
Yes.
Is there a length requirement?
No. Create works of any length.
Can I interpret prompts however I want?
Yes.
Can I mix the media types of content I want to create?
Yes. For example, you can create art and fic for the same prompt.
Is NSFW or trigger content allowed?
Yes. We don't have specific content restrictions or ratings for what you can create. Do what you want with NSFW tropes, kinks, or triggers.
Should I tag my work for sensitive content?
Yes. Appropriately tag your work for content like violence, sexual themes, triggers, NSFW, or other applicable warnings.
Does my work have to be new for the event?
Your work should be a new, full standalone work for the event. You can use WIPs you haven’t posted yet.
What should I do on the free prompt/break day option?
Use any trope, kink, or idea you have for a prompt of your choice.
Posting
Can I post early?
Yes.
Can I post my work late?
Yes. Best to tag our server accounts for us to notice late submissions.
Where can I post my work?
Anywhere. You can link back to the event if your work isn't on websites the event is on.
Can I submit my work to the Tumblr blog?
You can submit your work on the blog. You can send a message to us after a few days if we don’t post your work to make sure we received it. We could close submissions after the posting period. Submitting late entries might mean we won't notice your post until later, so you can let us know you sent it in or post on your own.
How can I make it easier to share my work?
Tumblr: Long posts can go behind cuts. Important tags in the first five. Submissions with NSFW content may need to follow Tumblr NSFW content rules, so you can host your work elsewhere and share a link.
X/Twitter: Warnings of content in the first post of your thread. Links probably should go in the posts after the first if you care for visibility.
General: Whatever you want. Extra notes, edits, summaries, etc.
What do I need to know about posting?
We share posts. Tagging event accounts directly will be helpful. Keep in mind we might accidentally miss yours. Feel free to let us know.
Server and event accounts.
Tumblr: @ itasasubirthday
Visit the Tumblr blog with this link.
ItaSasu Birthday Bash 2023 (June 9-July 23, 2023)
X/Twitter: @ itasasubirthday
Visit the X/Twitter profile with this link.
Promotional account for the ItaSasu Server on Discord. ItaSasu / SasuIta (Itachi x Sasuke) ship.
AO3 ItaSasu Discord Server -> ItaSasu Birthday Bash subcollection
Visit the AO3 Birthday Bash collection with this link.
I'm sorry I'll never be over how funny the chocobros are. There's two different guys who essentially grew up alongside the MC, putting his life before their own and in parts helping raise him for the grand destiny that is about to befall all of them.
And then one totally normal dude you met in highschool who got one month of gun training.
An important thing about Noctis Lucis Caelum, 114th heir to the throne of Lucis, the True King, is that he's just. The most normal little cringefail teenager.
He's so tired all the time. He just wants to be left alone to do his dumb little hobbies (fishing) and (gacha mobile game). He's a very picky eater who is stuck travelling the world with a cordon bleu chef. His head hurts constantly and he always wants to take a nap.
He's literally god's most chronically ill soldier.
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Hellooo, could i get a fic about Teylan and Solek, like in a platonic way? Solek may get annoyed by Teylan on the daily and not like his human stuff, but deep down has a soft spot for him, he knows he was the most manipulated by the Sky people at TAP that made him like he is now. So even tho he always complains about him, Teylan is like a little brother to him and will protect no matter what. So then one day finds out the way that if you mess with Teylan you got the wrath of Solek after you.
Ooooooooooooooh~!!! BROMANCE!!! That is all I can see!!! Enjoy darling!!
---------------
Little fangs, sharp glare
Trusting humans is one thing so’lek took forever to gain. After everything he has lost, it's odd to be friends with some. He lost his clan, his family, and those close to him. It is not easy to get over it, with sadness comes anger, and with anger comes hate. So’lek deeply hates humans, not all, but those who fall under the RDA name.
He also understands the pain of losing everything, losing all that you have ever known. So when he heard of what was once a long dead clan, its members returning, some hope was restored in his heart.
It was too late for so’lek, but maybe there is still a chance for the remaining sarentu.
Speaking of sarentu, the 4 were very interesting. Too human for his liking, if so’lek didn't know anymore better, he would have been fooled into thinking they were dreamwalkers. Of course he shouldn't blame them, they were taken very young, raised in metal walls, not a touch of nature by humans. When they were freed, three of them wanted to reconnect to their roots. How to be a real na’vi.
There is one, however, who enjoys being human.
Teylan, the youngest of the sarentu, was……different.
Spoke, walked, behaved, and thought just like a human.
Granted, he is the youngest and was far more easy to manipulate and be molded to the humans liking. Yet now that he is free, he fears literally everything. Prefers to stay inside the resistance building, chooses to play with old and new technology. Chatting with humans, and his sarentu friends.
But with other na’vi? Not a chance.
Even Teylan fears so’lek.
So’lek wonders how will teylan continue to live if he hasn't even truly thrived?
“No thank you, I am fine where I am,” teylan kindly rejects.
With an annoyed sigh, so’lek looked at him straight in the eyes, something that makes teylan very nervous about.
“Teylan, computers and radio technology isn't going to help you out there” so’lek reminds the youngest sarentu. His eyes looking down at him, not in an interior way, but more rather of trying to sway teylan.
“A-as if I want to go out there, it's scary a-and there is a lot of danger. I'm fine, besides, I am contributing b-by helping with the tech. Pretty outdated some of this stuff is” teylan tries to make excuses.
Fighting never was something teylan wanted to do. Even back in TAP, if there was anything teylan rebelled in, it be wielding weapons and/or fighting. Violence is like a virus he wishes to stay away from.
“P-please sir, I don't want to touch a gun. Never will”
Hearing this, so’lek was reminded of the three laws of Eywa, one of them was to never touch the metals. Was too late for him, but maybe, just maybe, it is not too late for teylan. The na’vi that is more out of Eywa’s reach.
For weeks so’lek observed teylan, how he is adjusting to things. If there is one word to describe teylan, it is weak. In more ways than just physical. His sarentu friends grow stronger, wiser, and open to the massive world while teylan remains reserved, shy, and hesitant. Traits of someone weak. Even more since Teylan is capable of being mentally vulnerable.
Perhaps there is some method so’lek can use to help teylan get stronger. Brute force and harsh words worked with the others.
Being “soft” isn't something so’lek can get used to.
So’lek is such a scary na’vi in teylan’s eyes. Deep voice, tall, muscular, and very very hateful towards humans. So’lek was teylan’s first exposure to native na’vi. A real na’vi. And his first impressions were not so great. Yes, so’lek was very dangerous in his own right but he wasn't wild or mindless like how Mercer told him.
So’lek is very clever, thinks through his plans and comes up with excellent war strategies.
Everything Mercer said, and even alma to an extent, were wrong.
Yes there is danger everywhere, and if teylan had it his way, he would make a pillow fort and play with old gadgets. Yet so’lek persists for him to train how to wield weapons and fight.
Teylans knows how to wield a weapon he just chooses not to.
“Damn, useless earpiece” so’lek grunts in annoyance. His ear piece that helps him to communicate with others isn't functioning well. It is not like he can get another one, muchless a newer earpiece. He can only work with what he has.
Taking it off, so’lek examines it, for something so small, its so complex to repair it. He could ask one of the humans to fix it but they are already busy as it is. To take their time away for something small seems inconvenient for anyone.
“I c-can fix it…”
Turning around, he see’s Teylan standing a bit distance from him. Extending his arm out, so’lek hands the ar piece to the sarentu.
Teylan was quick to work in, “it's not useless” he mutters.
So’lek tilts his head, observing teylan’s hands, his fingers be delicate to the tiny piece, using tiny tools to examine it.
“It's old” so’lek says, seeing a small red wire being taken out.
“Yes, but so is everything here. It's not so easy to get new equipment. So the best we can do is maintain it in good condition. We have the parts, we can make it last longer” teylan speaks while replacing the red wire with a yellow wire and putting the tiny pieces back together.
Handing the earpiece back to so’lek, he adds “If there is a piece for it, we can mend it back together again”
With that, teylan smiles and walks away to do other things.
So’lek puts on the earpiece and stays a bit to let his words linger in his mind.
Perhaps teylan is correct.
Teylan jumped from being startled by a large bag landing beside him.
“Easy! Are you trying to scare me?” he asks the person behind the little stunt, which was none other than so’lek.
He grins a bit, “look into those items, see if anything is useful” with that he leaves.
Curious, Teylan opens the bag and gasps in surprise.
It was full of new and fresh spare parts and technology!
Teylan knew so’lek goes on raids to destroy any RDA base but he never guessed so’lek would also be stealing any possible resources that could be useful. And useful they were.
So Teylan was quick to work with these new toys.
“Better security cameras, scanners, newer radars, updated databases. Teylan you thought of everything, well done” anqa praises. This causes teylan to blush a bit. Making his tail sway side to side. It makes him feel good, to be useful. To contribute in the best way he can.
Teylan was about to make his way somewhere else when nor pulled him aside.
“Teylan! Come with me, I finally mastered archery! Come, I can show you” nor said rather excitedly, ready to drag him outside. But teylan pulled away, quickly feeling uncomfortable.
“No thanks nor, Im fine here, besides there is still much to do” he tries to excuse.
Nor clicks his tongue, shaking his head.
“Teylan, you have to learn how to fight. I get it, no guns, and that is fine. Not every weapon is some form of a gun, like a bow and arrows, or spears. How will you survive out there? What if you are alone and can't defend yourself? Don't be a baby teylan, even so’lek is disappointed”
That last part hurt teylan.
“Come on, I can even teach you how to hunt” nor offers.
“No, that is worse, I don't want to hurt animals” teylan argues softly. Unable to raise his voice against his dearest friend.
“Then how will you eat? Eating on powdered foods and fruit? This is for you own good. I don't want you to be left behind in necessary skills” nor goes on.
But before it could go further, another stepped into the conversation.
“Nor, ri’nela is calling for you, saying it's urgent” so’lek speaks, letting his heavy gaze glare down at him.
Nor nods, and leaves.
So’lek turns around to see teylan almost ready to cry.
“Am I a disappointment?”
Together they stand outside of the base, admiring the natural beauty surrounding them. Neither being the first to speak for the first few minutes.
“You are not a disappointment, Teylan” so’lek was the first to speak. Not really looking at the sarentu, just looking beyond the land.
“If anything, you surprise me”
Teylan looked over at so’lek, feeling confused by that, “how so?”
“You are more quiet, shy and a mess of nerves but you are strong in your own right. You surprise me by how quick you work, clearly your strong suits is that of repairing things”
Teylan looks down, playing with his tools that hang from his belt.
“I just don't want to be useless….I hate being seen as extra baggage that everyone has to take care off….even to my friends” teylan confesses.
Sighing, he goes on, so’lek hearing his words.
“I don't like weapons. I don't like guns. I know you know that, nor knows that, everyone does. But I also don't want to hold any other dangerous items. I just hate…violence. I want things to be peaceful, I want all humans to be nice, not just to each other but to this world. Stupid thinking, I know. I don't even see myself as hurting anyone. Doesn't matter if it is human or na’vi, hurting people is wrong…”
A few minutes of silence passed before So'lek spoke again.
“Do you know the laws of Eywa?” he asks, looking over at the youngest sarentu.
“Laws of Eywa, no, never. I didnt even know there is laws” teylan answers honestly.
Chuckling a bit, so’lek shakes hsi head. Should have known the RDA keeps such information away from him.
“Well, there are. Three, they are: You shall not set stone upon stone. Neither shall you turn the turning wheel. Nor use the metals of the ground” so’lek says while using his fingers to point out each law.
“Do you know what they mean?” he asks.
“No, they seem confusing” teylan answers.
“They mean you shall not use metal or stone materials. Something humans use, like making this base. As well as is it forbidden to dig up the natural metals from the ground”
Teylan looks down at the ground, remembering the lessons alma taught him many years ago.
“They sound simple…but I bet it is hard”
So’lek nods, “for humans yes, but you oddly follow the three laws without even knowing. Which it is a good thing”
He places his hand on teylan’s hat, taking it off.
“Hey, give it back” teylan tries to reach for his hat, but so’lek chuckles, keeping it away from his reach.
“Easy, I won't take it away”
Teylan huffs but lets it slide.
“You know teylan, despite what nor tells you, you are strong in your own way. Yes, you may not know how to fight but you know how to make this place have a better chance in stance. You are clever and very smart, quick thinking in how to fix or improve things” so’lek praises.
Teylan never knew he would hear such words from the mighty warrior.
So’lek places the hat back on teylan’s head, “I will be strong for you young one so don't listen to what your friend tells you”
The doors open to show the two men walking back inside the base,
Nor sees teylan and tries to persist again.
“Teylan, there you are! I was thinking, instead of archery why not using a spear? They are incredibly sharp and-”
“Actually nor, I don't want to hear any more about weapons in general. I don't like it, so please stop telling me what to do when I an not comfortable with it” teylan says firmly in his voice, looking hard at nor.
Nor was ready to scoff when he saw so’lek behind teylan.
His glare piercing and deadly.
“Alright teylan, I won't do it again” nor confirms, quickly walking away.
Teylan sighs and smiles widely, turning around to see so’lek give a soft expression.
“It worked! He stopped!” teylan grins happily.
“See? Next time if he or anyone persists, just show your fangs at them, they will know better than to push you” so’lek says as he ruffle’s the young one’s hair.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaand that is all for this one! Hope you all like it! Until next time! see ya!
The path we took (So'lek Platonic and Romance Fic)
So like around a week ago, I posted the first chapter of my new romance fic for So'lek and the Sarentu (Tamtey). And I know there is a group of people who see him as a romance option or rather like an adopted father to the Sarentu.
But the one thing they have in common in that both side LACK fanfics. So I decided to post a second version of my romance fic, but than platonic, which led to the question: which path do you take?
In the beginning there may be some similiarities between the chapters, but slowly the chapters will change more. But the chapters are different between the romance and platonic fic.
So, I hope you all enjoy, and please let me know what you think.
Please please please write a continuation of that little fic about spider and Quaritch! How they bring him to hellsgate🙏🙏🙏🩵🩵🩵🩵
Truthfully I think this is going to become a new fic. I don't know how it would end so don't hold me to that. But this scenario is just too much fun to write. Since part one was under a lot of Fire and ash discussion I'm going to repost it here.
I also don't have a name for this beyond, "an au where Quaritch is smarter and doesn't give his incredibly resourceful son his dog tags." So yeah. Feel free to send suggestions. Anyway...
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“Can I keep that?” Spider’s voice was slightly cracked and watery, making his father melt a little inside. Miles knew building a real relationship with his son would take a lot of time but showing an interest in keeping his old dog tags was a step in the right direction. He eagerly held the necklace out to place in his son’s hand. Spider’s eyes lit with a spark of excitement that made Miles pause. When he did a hint of frustration played at the corner of his son’s lip. And then Miles remembered. His boy was a crafty little son of a gun. Nearly killed him once by holding back information on taming an ikran. Crashed a whole ship with a fire hydrant and a ten second opening. Miles didn’t know how he’d escape with just a dog tag but if there was a way Spider would find it.
Miles flipped the necklace backwards, tucking into his pocket. “If you really want them, earn them. Be good for your old man.”
Spider barely contained his snarl, “I have to earn my dead dad’s dog tags! The only thing I have to remember him by.”
Miles scoffed. “What’s not clickin’ in that thick head of your’s,” he asked while tapping a finger on his son’s forehead. Spider swatted him away. “I told you. I’m your father. It doesn’t matter what body I’m in. I remember when your mother told me she was expecting. I can still feel how excited I was when we learned we were havin’ a boy. I remember holding you for the first time. Gettin’ up in the middle of the night to feed y’a….” Spider was pointedly looking away from him but Miles could still see him squirming. He decided to twist the knife. “…I love y’a kid. I have since before you were even born and I’ve loved y’a more every day since. Because I’m your father. And because I’m your father I’m always gonna do what’s best for y’a. Whether y’a like it or not.”
Spider was feeling a mix of emotions some painful, some he never would admit to until his father’s final words replaced them all with seething rage. “How is being a lab rat what’s best for me!”
“Better than being on the front lines of war. You’re safe here.”
“How can you say that after everything they’ve done to me!”
“Oh did they hurt y’a? Cause I don’t see a scratch on you.”
“They forced a camera down my throat! They stuck me with so many needles I lost count…..”
“And if you just behaved yourself and stoped tryin’ to beat the shit out of everyone first chance y’a got then they wouldn’t retaliate by making everything hurt.”
Spider wasn’t entirely surprised but the truth laid bare still made his eyes go wide. “They’re doing it on purpose?”
“Sure they are. They’d give y’a the fun drugs for half that shit if you just behaved yourself. So do yourself a favor already and be good. Faster you do that, faster you can come home with me.”
Spider scoffed, “oh so we can play happy family with your new girlfriend?”
While his son was being sarcastic the statement did give Miles pause. He liked Varang. They had fun together. But Spider would be a constant reminder of the power of the god she scorned. Could she look past that if it ment being in a real relationship with Miles? Did he even want to be in a real relationship with her? She was still so new to him. If they even were in a substantial relationship then it was the honey moon faze. The real testament to their romantic future would be past that. Past the war. Past her spreading her fire across the world. They might have nothing together without a shared enemy. Or they might be everything to each other after defeating their shared enemy. Time would tell. But at the end of the day….
“You are my first concern. If Varang can’t understand that then she’s gone.” The blatantness of the words shocked Spider into silence. “You and me - where gonna have a nice life together.”
Spider let out a harsh, humorless little laugh, “I’ll slit your throat in your sleep!”
Miles chuckled ruthfully, “there’s my feisty boy! Wouldn’t expect anything less from y’a kid. But you’ll come around once y’a settle in. I know y’a will….”
“No I won’t! I will never accept you as my father and I will never accept this shit hole as my home!”
Miles shrugged as he turned to leave, “we’ll see about that. Now eat something would y’a.”
With that Miles exited the room, locking his son inside. He walked down the hall, intending to meet up with Varang but as he went a gut feeling began to fester. He analyzed the instinct, dissecting his thought like a specimen in a lab. Once he came to his conclusion he veered off his course to find…, “Parker!”
The man rolled his eyes, “what is it? I already said you can see your little bastard….”
Miles bit back his anger to say, “you need to move him. Now.”
Parker raised his eyebrows, radiating condescendtion, “and why would I do that? Our best doctors, our best medical equipment - it’s all here!”
“And soon there’s gonna be an assault on Bridghead to get Sully back.”
“How do you know that?”
“Come on Parker, he’s not just their leader. He’s the fricken chosen one to those savages. You really think they’ll just let us execute him without puttin’ up a fight?”
“No.”
“That’s right. If they come here for Sully, then they’ll come here for Spider too. So we need to move him.”
Parker nodded, “where are you thinking?”
“Hell’s Gate. Get him sedated and prepped for transport. We’ll leave in one hour. I’ll escort him there with Varang. We’ll be back in time for Sully’s execution.”
“Okay. I’ll let medical know.”
Miles grinned, “fantastic.”
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Miles and Varang landed their ikrans a safe distance from the small medical transport carrying Spider. Miles dismounted, breathing deep as a wave of nostalgia washed over him at the sight of his old home. The place he would have raised his son if things had gone differently. But now they were back. They could right the wrongs of the past and be the family they always should have been. The very thought made him giddy.
Varang was less enthused, annoyed to be wasting her night on this excursion. But she didn’t complain. She quietly walked by Miles’ side knowing that the less she protested, the faster they would be done. As they neared the building the air breathing boy was taken from the medical transport and wheeled inside. Varang openly snarled in disgust catching the attention of her lover. “What’s with that face?”
“This sky person was shown mercy by Eywa. And yet she ignored my people! Her own children!”
Miles shook his head, “this isn’t the work of some silly god. I don’t know what this is but it can be explained. Through science. Not gods. Not magic. Cold, hard science. And when our scientists crack the code on what happened to him they’ll be able to duplicate it. They’ll show everyone just how meaningless Eywa is.”
Varang’s eyes lit with vindictive fury, a cruel smile on her lips. “Your “science” can really do that? Make Eywa irrelevant?”
“It sure can.” Varang nodded, radiating pure joy at the idea. As they followed Spider’s stretcher into Hell’s Gate Varang’s gaze softened towards him, the new found promise his existents presented filling her with hope.
They stopped in a medical suit. Minding Spider’s I.V, Miles carefully lifted his son off the stretcher, taking a brief moment to relish in the feeling of cradling him close before he deposited Spider into bed. When he straightened to face the medical team his entire demeanor changed, an aura of danger radiating off of him in powerful waves. “Now you listen up. This is my son. Got it? I’m his father and that means whatever you want to do to him has to go through me first. Now Jake Sully is due to be executed in the morning. I’m sure after that I’ll be needed for a few days as we pacify the hostiles. In that time you will be in total communication with me regarding my son. I expect an email in my inbox at 0500 every morning detailing every test you plan on running on him and why. Do not proceed with a thing until you have my permission. Or else….” He let the threat hang in the air as he looked down on their terrified faces. Satisfied that they would obey his commands Miles nodded. “For your own safety keep him sedated until I come back. You don’t wanna end up lookin’ like the doctors over at Bridgehead.” Their eyes grew wide with fear as they looked between Miles and Spider. “Do we understand each other?”
“Yes sir,” they said in unison.
“Good. Dismissed.” They all scurried from the room leaving only Miles, Spider and Varang. Miles turned to his lover. “Sugar, could y’a give me a minute alone to say goodbye. Then you and me will get on out of here.”
Wanting nothing more then to leave as soon as possible Varang quietly exited the room. Alone with his son Miles allowed himself to be soft, crouching down to be more on Spider’s level. He pet Spider’s hair as he drank in his peacefully sleeping face. It’ll just be us soon, Miles thought. No more Sully trying to take my place. He’s gonna be gone tomorrow. Then I’ll be all you have. With one final look of love he kissed Spider’s forehead before rising to leave.
Miles was deep in thought as he and Varang exited the building. He knew that Spider was going to be so mad at him when he woke up. His boy was just so stubborn. So set in his ways. How could Miles possibly have a conversation with him? To bring him around to his side?
They reached their ikrans. Miles watched as Varang attached her kuru to her nightwraith, memories of her doing the same thing to him flashing through his mind. Then it dawned on him. “Hey baby. Could you teach me how to do what you do? The way you connect?”
Varang gave him a playful little smirk, “why? Thinking about using it on me?”
Miles returned her expression, already liking where this conversation was headed. “Maybe. If you’re a bad girl.” Varang giggled but on her the sound was like a cat’s purr. “I really want it for my son,” Miles admitted, “Sully has his hooks in him deep. And he’s so hard headed. I need to be able to break through that.”
Varang nodded, “then I will teach you. At least enough to get through to him.”
Large calloused fingers were running through his hair. That was the first thing Spider was aware of as he came around, the sensation over his sensitive scalp grounding him as the fog began to clear from his brain. He knew the hands holding him, even in half consciousness. “Dad,” he called, the word slurred.
He could feel the warm smile radiating down on him. “That’s right son. I’m here. I’ve got y’a. You’re safe.”
Spider’s stomach lurched. That’s not Jake. Fighting through the disorientation Spider did his best to sit up. To get away. “Whoa, whoa there tiger. Easy now. Easy. You’re okay. It’s alright. You’re safe. You’re safe….”
“No I’m not! I can’t be with you!”
“Oh come on now. You really think I’d let anything happen to you?”
“Of course I do!”
“Well you shouldn’t. Now come on. Lay back down….”
“No!” Spider fought to stand but his father was faster, putting one hand on his chest to stop him, the other attaching his kuru to Spider’s. The boy’s pupils went wide, mind calm, body limp. Quaritch carefully lowered him down onto his pillow, looking at him with a loving smile. He resumed petting his hair like Spider was his most coveted prize in the whole world.
“There y’a go. That’s better isn’t it.”
“What…” Spider barely managed to get out.
“Varang taught me.” Cold dread washed through Spider and Quaritch could feel it. “It’s okay. The dominance she inflicts on people doesn’t have to hurt. It can be just like this. Isn’t it nice?” Quaritch could sense the rejection from his son. It made him frown but non the less he was undeterred, channeling his feelings for his boy through their connection.
I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. The words whispered, screamed and echoed all at once in Spider’s head, reverberating through his entire being. The intense physical and emotional pain overwhelmed him into near complete paralysis, save for the involuntary twitches in his fingers, toes and mouth. His father’s adoring gaze filled his vision as the man continued to stroke his hair. “There y’a go,” he said gently, “y’a feel that don’t y’a. It’s nice isn’t it?”
No, Spider screamed through their connection.
His father only laughed at him. “Y’a know you can’t lie to me while where connected right?” Quaritch could feel every one of his son’s emotions. They were stoped up like a raging current fighting to break free from the impenetrable damn built to keep the tidal wave at bay. And Quaritch was determined to destroy that barrier. But not right now. He knew that thick wall needed to be chipped away at. Weakened before he could tear it all down. So he lessened his control on his son without disconnecting.
Spider breathed a sigh of relief, his senses coming back to him. Looking around the strangely familiar room he asked, “where am I?”
“Hell’s Gate. Home sweet home.”
Spider was shocked to be back in the place he had in fact called home for most of his life. Until the sky people came back and stole it.
Quaritch tutted, “you can’t steel something that belonged to you in the first place.”
“Stop that!”
“I can’t help it!”
“Then just disconnect already!”
Quaritch huffed a laugh, “not happening kid.”
Spider groaned is frustration, bucking his head on the pillow in a vain attempt at knocking his kuru free. “How long have I been here?”
“Awhile.”
“How long is “awhile”?”
Quaritch shrugged, “awhile.”
Spider growled, “you fucking asshole! What have you been doing to me! What’s happened! Where’s my family!”
“I’m your family,” Quaritch hissed. “The war is over. The Sullies are gone…”
Spider felt like he could throw up, all the fight leaving him in one harsh hit. “What?”
“I said…”
“You’re lying.”
Quaritch shrugged, “does it feel like I’m lying?”
Spider tried to fight through his own pain to search his father’s mind but the man was like mist, tangle and intangible constantly dancing through his vision, giving him nothing to grasp onto. Spider let out a shuttering breath, “I can’t tell.”
“Well then. You’ll just have to take my word for it….”
“Your word is as good as sturmbeest shit to me!”
Quaritch laughed, racking his fingers through Spider’s hair once again. “Well I’ll just have to prove y’a wrong on that.”
Spider’s mind, now fully awake and alert, processed his father’s hand in his hair. How easily his fingers slipped through the strands. How sensitive his scalp was. Are my dreads gone, he thought his brain already working to sooth the blow. “It looks nice,” Quaritch said.
“What have you been doing to me!”
“Oh relax. The scientist couldn’t get a good read on your brain with all that thick ass hair. They wanted to shave it. But I told’em no. I told them to have some people brush it all out so you wouldn’t flip your shit when you woke up…”
“Oh fuck off.” Even through his father’s elusive mind Spider could feel it. Envy. Quaritch knew that Spider styled his hair like Jake’s in an effort to be more like his chosen father figure. Quaritch had to destroy that to sooth his own ego.
“Oh don’t be like that. They did a nice job. Shaped it up for y’a. Did a few treatments so it could be all pretty again. Varang said she’d braid it for you…”
Spider huffed a humorless laugh, “as if I want that bald bitch’s styling…”
“Hey,” Spider felt a shock of anger from his father, warning him to stop, “do not insult Varang. She just offered to do something nice for you. So decline politely or there will be consequences.”
Spider scoffed, “consequences? What’s the worse you could do? I’m already a prisoner.”
“You’re not a prisoner. I saved you and brought you home to be with your family….”
“Stop saying that! This is not my home! You are not my family!”
“And neither are the Sullies. You can try what ever y’a like to get them to accept you. Dress yourself up like a mini Jake. Be helpful. Be respectful. Make yourself scarce when they’re mad at y’a. Obey every order they give y’a. Shut yourself down whenever they’re around just so they won’t hate you for who you are. But it’s never enough for them. They can’t stand you. And yet you’re so desperate to be accepted by them that you keep killin’ yourself in the hope that maybe one day they’ll wake up and finally see you for who you are and that they’ll love y’a for it. And y’a know what’s worse? I don’t even need to be connected to you to know that. They left you with me for months without a care in the world. If one of their real kids had been taken they would have stormed Bridgehead to get them back. But not you. No, when you were captured they ran far away without givin’ you a second thought. Do y’a get it now? You will never be their son. Because you’re mine. You will always be mine.”
Even though the words made Spider feel as if his heart had been ripped from his chest and ran over, he still couldn’t find it in him to cry. His brain simply switched itself off. His body melted into the bed as if he were a gentle wave lapping at the shore before receding back into the vast ocean to disseminate into nothing. He was no longer here. Nothing had to matter for the moment.
His father lifted him into a sitting position, pulling Spider in. His arms wrapped around him tight. A kiss was placed on his temple before his father nestled his cheek into his hair. Through their connection Quaritch resumed channeling, I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you…..
a funny thing about having a Problematic Blorbo is that you'll periodically come across a post along the lines of "um let's not forget that [Blorbo] is a bad person..." listing their various crimes, and if you have a modicum of intellectual honesty you find yourself nodding along and saying yeah it's true... but it's the greyness of their character that makes them so compelling... At the same time though you have a little Saul Goodman in your ear going "your honor in their defense: who cares like omfgggg who caresssssss like come onnnnnn"
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