#& proceeded 2 immediately draw loop 4 this

[randomartist-1]

hi good morning what if loop was in constant pain from turning in2 a star. like their skull was replaced w a bomb which then exploded but time paused in the middle of the explosion & the pain stayed. would that b fucked up or what

[helly-watermelonsmellinfellon]

Today(Sunday) is the day in which I get the dumbest fucking teammates in DbD history. How any of these people are Red Ranks I got no clue. You gotta pip up to ascend in rank and if you’re barely getting 10K points every match, how you getting shit done?

Bill, ffs, you haven’t been Hooked or even Injured all match and you see the Killer tunneling me the moment I’m pulled off the Hook! Be a team player and take some agro! I’d already gotten hit with Borrowed Time active and obviously needed to heal up.

Then I got a slugging Michael who was so bad even as a Rank 1, that he needed NO-ED to get a down in the endgame. We wasted every one of his Tier 3s and lost him so many times. And then he slugged everyone and stood in the middle nodding his head like he’s good at the game. He got less than 8K pts and was 15K pts below the Survivor who had the least points.

Got a slugging Wraith who had Franklin’s Demise. My bright green and purple Feng Min managed to lose him in a Chase and I went back to where he made me drop my Med-Kit and then went to help the others up. I Healed myself while Jake(who had Deliverance and managed to get himself off his Hook) is looping the Killer at the shack. I then had to tap the other 2 to get them up. At the same time the last guy gets up, Jake pallet stuns the Killer and then Blinds him with an event Flashlight, and the Killer rage-quit. He’d been playing like a dick up until that moment, but couldn’t handle a stun and blind combo? 

So I was doing a Breakout Build and ended up on Midwich. Dwight got downed on the first floor and I was on the second floor right above him. He had Aftercare and as I’d Rescued and Healed him earlier, we could see each other’s auras perfectly. So I followed him and the Killer from above and Jake took a Hit down below and then I could hear a Hook break which was Jake as well, which gave Dwight enough time to wiggle off! I can only imagine how that must have seemed to the Killer who downed him mere meters away and got in only one Hit. Turns out Dwight had Boil Over as well, so the time to wiggle was shortened and the wiggling was incredibly difficult too! XD

Bought Plague! She’s much harder to play than Spirit. Why do people say Spirit is the hardest to play when she really isn’t?

So I got downed while trying to pull a Kate off a Hook, and I crawled so far under the Hook the Killer couldn’t grab me so she’d walk to the other side and I’d crawl to the opposite while Recovering, and we did this like ten times before she got annoyed when she realized time was wasting and a Gen popped, leaving only 1 Gen left. So it seemed like 2 ppl were down and out right now so it was safe to leave. She walked away to go puke on someone, and I used Unbreakable to get up and then get Kate off the Hook! It was beautiful! Those last 2 dudes got the last Gen too.

Played all Spirit today(Monday) because I had a craving for good game-play after sucking at Plague yesterday.

Got some great 4Ks!

All maps today were MacMillan Estate maps somehow. And then one Autohaven map.

My last match of the night was a weird one. They were a tough group and good at looping, but I eventually got to kill off Jane. Now there was a Legacy Dwight in the lobby and he had a Flashlight. I got blinded so many times and it was annoying, but also funny. I Hook Meg, she gets Rescued immediately, and I go back to get the person who saved her. It’s Dwight! And he’s sandbagging her! He’s running ahead of her just enough to make it so she can’t use pallets or get around loops. I don’t tunnel the person just on the Hook so it was especially annoying for me while trying to get him, because he was using her as a shield. Meg didn’t have Decisive Strike either btw. So Meg and Claudette seem to conspire together and sandbag Dwight in return, cornering him against a wall while I was coming from the only other free direction, and I made sure to only hit him. They both teabagged him while I nodded madly. He was on death Hook and I had Meg and Claudette finish the Gens and point-farm to make up for Dwight wasting everyone’s time and being a douche.

Got a match against a Rank 2 Leatherface today(Tuesday) and I ran his ass around so good while playing Bill! We’re on the last Gen which is 3/4 of the way done, and the Hatch has spawned right beside the Gen in full view so we all know where it is. There’s only Jane and I left. I finally get downed for the first time and get Hooked. She saves me and I use her Borrowed Time to lead the Killer away so she can do that Gen. He must have cottoned on when we ended up in the far corner because he downed me and then ran all the way back. But I had Unbreakable and got myself up, Healed up, and then proceeded to fast-vault a pallet to draw his attention. Didn’t work. So I went back and he got Jane down and I saved her with my Borrowed Time and she led him to that same corner except she was on Death Hook, so he took the chance to Hook her on the other side of the map, thinking he’d make it to the Hatch in time. I was standing over the Hatch and he got in one swing before it opened, and I then Escaped!

Cross-Play can be enabled and disabled in your Options menu. Whining because you don’t want to play with people from other consoles or some shit, is stupid. YOU have chosen not to disable the experience so YOU agreed to go through with it.

Some Killers are such big babies. They make the choice to tunnel but then complain about the results. By tunneling 1 Survivor the whole match, you’ve decided to let the other 3 do whatever they want. And what they want is to Escape, so they’re going to do Gens since there’s nothing else for them to do in the meantime. You gave them the opportunity and are salty that they used it? So in 4 minutes, all 5 Gens get popped and you still haven’t Hit the Survivor you’ve been tunneling. And then you’re going to attack the person you tunneled by accusing them of being in a ‘tryhard swf fag group’ and claiming they’re too ‘sweaty’ and ‘need to go outside and get a life’. Just cuz you’re bad at micromanaging - and playing the game in general - doesn’t mean we’re sweaty. 3 people on 1 Gen will get that Gen done in like 35 seconds. If anyone had a toolbox it would have been even faster. The fact that it took 3 ppl 4 minutes to do all the Gens means they’re slow af. And the fact that you landed no hits in that time frame means you’re bad. Rank 3 my ass.

[humansofbangtan]

Eat Jin - Chapter 3

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Hello! Here's Chapter 3. Please enjoy it!

Brief : You and Jin meet at a grocery store and thus begins the romance of a lifetime. (Fluff + Smut Chapter 4 onwards)

The rest of BTS had arrived with just enough time for introductions before your friends had poured in. Jin had made the introductions with small anecdotes about all of them. He had spoken very fondly of them and the love between them was evident. Namjoon had presented you with a bottle of wine and Taehyung with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, which he had then placed in a vase for you.

The party was in full swing, everyone chatting away joyously. At first, some of your friends who were familiar with BTS had been a little surprised to see the boys but the seven of them seemed to be adept at handling these situations and conversation flowed smoothly from there on. You would have been busy playing the good host had it not been for the presence of the other six boys, leaving you and Jin ample time to talk and enjoy the evening. Your friends had seen how you were with Jin and understood immediately, enjoying the evening while giving you two space. Namjoon was actively speaking about his music making process to a very interested and enchanted group, moulding the conversation to include everyone around him. He seemed as interested in them as they were in him and from what Jin had told you earlier, he genuinely was a good listener. Jungkook and Jimin had entered your home, noticed the PS and requested your permission almost immediately to play, with Hoseok coaching them here and there from his spot on the sofa, making sounds of excitement and displeasure in short pauses. You’d let them be despite it being a party because Jin had explained how busy their daily schedules were. You were going to give them all the freedom they wished to have to relax and spend their time as they may. Taehyung had been enchanted by one of your own artworks at the entrance, and had asked you if he could look around the house, in awe of your small projects that adorned your home. Yoongi had been chilling with a drink in his hand, making the rounds among different groups and conversations before getting tired and seating himself in the lounge chair. He asked to be in charge of the music and continued to keep the party BGM interesting and pleasing, a drink is his hand at all times.

Having noticed Jin looking at you with a small smile on his face through the glass doors to your balcony, you’d excused yourself to come out and join him. “You have a nice view here, Y/N”, he noted. You nodded and the two of you stood with your elbows resting on the balcony railing, looking out to the city while Jin told dad jokes one after another, making you bring your head to your hands in laughter. It wasn’t that the jokes were particularly funny, some of them were, but his personality and laughter definitely played a role in making you laugh uncontrollably. You continued to talk about everything and anything - your job, your friends, your education, your likes and dislikes. What you knew so far was that Jin loved food, taking long quite walks, was really into Mario and had two sugar gliders as pets. He now knew that you liked long walks too, enjoyed cooking and painting in your free time and were free the coming weekend. He wanted to take you out for a proper first date but was yet to ask you. But every time he looked at you talking about something from your life, he couldn’t help but think about the countless number of dates he planned to take you on.

With the evening drawing in, the weather had gotten a tad chilly, making you bring your arms around yourself. Jin noticed this and took the opportunity to hold you in an embrace, your head against his shirt. He was warm and smelled nice. Craning your neck to look at his face, you said, “I like this.” He smiled down at you saying, ”I like this too.” He was leaning his head towards you when a loud knock on the glass doors to your balcony interrupted him; making him open his eyes with a decided icy stare to the horizon above your head. Jin turned his head and you peeked around his shoulder to see Jungkook mimicking being hungry and then proceeding to mimic checking his imaginary watch to indicate that his stomach was more important than your romance. “Let me kill him, Y/N”, Jin said, opening the door for you and following closely behind, one hand on the small of your back.

You couldn’t help but smile at the closeness between Jin and Jungkook, despite their five years gap. They were like brothers, constantly teasing each other.

Not to blow your own horn but dinner was delicious. Your friends already knew you were a great cook but the dinner was ringing with a constant appreciation for yours and Jin’s efforts. You were seated between Jin and Hoseok, both of them letting out loud appreciation for the food at almost every bite. “Wow, Y/N. This is better than even Jin Hyung’s food!”, Hoseok commented while giving you two thumbs up. Yoongi and Taehyung nodded along to the sentiment. “He helped a lot so it is technically still his cooking”, you replied, winking at Jin. “But Y/N did most of the work.”, Jin said, placing some capsicum from his plate onto yours, remembering that you liked it.

Once dinner was over, guests started filtering out of your home slowly. Jin had decided to help you clean, leaving the rest of BTS members to thank you for inviting them. After just a few hours with them, the mutual fondness was evident and the goodbyes were all accompanied with warm hugs.

Closing the door, you leaned with your back against it. Jin took no time to come to you and bring his lips to yours, leaving you melting against him. He kissed you softly, pausing once to smile against your lips while you let out a small giggle.

Still against the door, both of you jumped at the sound of the bell going off. Jungkook popped up on the screen claiming to have left his jacket behind.

“Not this time”, Jin said, shutting the monitor off, continuing to kiss you. His kisses were soft but wanting, his hands placed firmly at your waist while yours were looped around his neck. He felt you curving into him and he brought his hands to the sides of your face, deepening the kiss. Your hands were now grabbing on to his shirt, desperately wanting it off. Noticing your eagerness, he broke the kiss and held your hands above your head. He gave a small peck while you looked at him huge eyes.

Giving you a once over, lust evident in his eyes, Jin let out a heavy breath. “I’ve”. Kiss. “Been”. Kiss. “Waiting”. Kiss. “All damn day”. With that, he brought his eyes to your eye level, giving you another chaste kiss. You couldn’t meet his eyes out of shyness and he took that as discomfort.  Letting go of your hands and turning around with one of your hands in his, he seated himself on the sofa while you took his cue to climb onto his lap. He held you against his chest, kissing your hair and murmuring into your ear. “I understand that we’ve met less than twenty four hours ago. Let’s enjoy each other’s company for now. Up to you, Y/N.”

You looked up at him, lifting yourself off of his chest. You were in awe of how considerate he was, how willing to make this a good experience for the both of you. You’d been entirely under his spell a minute ago and had no qualms about sex. But no other guy had cared this much of your comfort of his own volition, even if you’d been more than willing.

“I would love it either way, Jinnie”, you said, your faith in him on full display. “But let’s wait for date number two. It’ll be more memorable when we both aren’t tired from a long day.” 

"There's something else. Something I haven't told you.", he said, avoiding your eyes, looking solemn. Your brows knit together in worry and confusion. "I have a son." You were shocked to say the least and got off of his lap trying to form the words to react to this new piece of information. Not that you'd have minded him having a son. He was allowed to have a past, of course. But questions regarding the same started forming in your head.

Jin, meanwhile, had been growing red with holding his laughter in. You looked so cute with your eyebrows pinched in worry on what to say to him. He knew you were thinking of what to ask him next without offending him. He couldn't help himself anymore and decided he had caused enough confusion for you and said, "His name is RJ and he's a stuffed alpaca." What followed was that laugh you'd come to love in the short span of time. You looked towards the ceiling and let out a sigh followed by shaky laughter. You smacked his shoulder and he feigned hurt. "What! I thought you should know before we begin a serious relationship!" The end of that sentence made you pause and take his head between your hands and give him a soft kiss. "What will I do with you", you muttered, your foreheads pressed together. "How about some Netflix for now?", he said, smiling and placing a small boop on your nose.

You walked towards the television switching it on and handing him the remote. You took your place on his lap again and both of you laughed along to a comedy while he rubbed your back and gave you small kisses on your head. And that’s how you two fell asleep, Jin bound to wake up with his legs numb from holding you close all night, refusing to let go.

[fantasticworldoffanfics]

DEREK/STILES

                                          --------- (part 3) --------

Fandom: TeenWolf

Even longer list of fanfics :)....

top favourites, more top favourites, part 1, part 2

John Hughes Did Not Direct My Life

Author: nascentgalaxies

Summary: Stiles and Derek are childhood friends who drifted apart. When Stiles joins the lacrosse team against his will, the universe (with a little help from Laura and Lydia) chooses to push them back together.

Don’t You Wanna Be My Sky?

Author: WhoNatural

Summary: Stiles got ratted out by the Realm Guard for sneaking off with Scott a total of seven times before his dad buckled, promising sabbatical once Stiles reached Faehood, and enough Earth culture in the meantime to have him talking like a born-and-bred Californian teenager.He just didn’t have the tan.(Or, in which Stiles is a Frost Fae sent to the Earth Realm on the Fae version of Rumspringa and immediately falls head-first into a Coffee Shop AU)

The Story Of Us

Author: Decemberangel

Summary: After the death of both of his parents, Stiles Stilinski takes charge of his own life. His life is a struggle, working and going to school all while trying to master his own magic. He's been alone for years and fighting all his own battles solo. He's now in senior year and his teachers reach out to him for a rare opportunity: Tutor his resident bully, Derek Hale, for an impressive paycheck. The biggest challenge: Derek is two years behind and they're going to have to spend almost every waking hour together to get him to graduation. It's a struggle but Stiles is more than willing to take this offer to get that paycheck. Derek's biggest challenge: coming to terms with his past and becoming a part of Stiles's future.

Suddenly You’re Standing Still

Author: gottalovev

Summary: A long time ago, Stiles promised his mom that he'd never cross the Hale property lines. He has kept his word even if there hasn't been a Hale in Beacon Hills for years, not since the fire. But suddenly Scott gets turned into a werewolf, Derek Hale is back, and Stiles has to share his biggest secret.

Heartbeat. It’s A Lovebeat

Author: eric_idle_rules

Summary: A very young fox!Stiles ends up lost in the woods of Beacon Hills where he's watched by a slightly older Derek. Twelve years later, Stiles ends up back in those same woods for a completely different reason... but he still manages to find Derek.

I’ve Got A Sure Thing

Author: skoosiepants

Summary: Stiles's water breaks ten miles outside of Beacon Hills.

One Step Closer

Author: Anrym

Summary: The wolf was huge. His reddish fur and his and his big, snarling fangs gave him a very frightening look.Stiles was paralyzed. He watched as the wolf took a sniff at him and growled deep in his throat.He could definitely smell another Alpha on Stiles.

Back To Beacon Hills

Author: surrenderdammit

Summary: Stiles is a born werefox, returning to Beacon Hills with the hopes of starting over and finding some sort of home again. Maybe he can finally stay in one place long enough for his scent to catch.

Baby One More Time

Author: Castielific

Summary: Stiles is turned into a three years old. The Sheriff forces Derek to "babysit". Neither Stiles nor Derek are happy about that, but it could be worse. Maybe. Well, the jury is still out on that one.

What’s My Age Again?

Author: Armygirl0604

Summary: “Did it occur to you,” Scott said through gritted teeth as he dug his phone out of his pocket and stared at his best friend’s unconscious form, “that I’m the one who has to explain all of this to your dad?” He tapped the first button on his speed dial and waited for his mom’s voice. “Hey mom,” he said when she’d answered, “do we still have any of my old clothes from, like, I don’t know…maybe kindergarten?”

Once Upon A Baby

Author: frozenorange

Summary: When Isaac comes home with Stiles who has been turned into a toddler, Derek takes care of him while trying to understand what happened to his mate.

Until We Become Something New

Author: Spikedluv

Summary: When Stiles is bitten by a werefox, his problems have only just begun. An old enemy returns, and new ones appear. It’s Beacon Hills, after all.

In The Age Of Stiles

Author: Olsies

Summary: Stiles accidentally deages himself. Hilarity ensues.OR Derek took Stiles up stairs for a bath, where Stiles proceeded to splash water everywhere.“Stiles! Stop that!” “Stiles! Stop that,” Stiles mocked, splashing more water at Derek.“I mean it!” “You’re not the alpha anymore, Scott is!” Stiles shouted. Derek sighed.

Finding Home

Author: captaintinymite (augopher)

Summary: To teach them a lesson, a pair of mischievous pixies hit Derek and Stiles with a spell that makes them six years old again. Neither of them remembers anything about their lives beyond that age. What happens when the pair of them become immediate friends and declare that when they grow up they will get married? Will they remember anything when the spell wears off?

The Little Spark

Author: Nerdy_fangirl_57

Summary: Derek is running in the preserve when he hears it. A tiny, broken sob coming from the nearby trees. He gets closer only to find a little boy, no older than 4 years old, with moles plastered all over his tearful face as well as watery honey colored eyes and soft brown hair sticking up in all directions. Wearing a red hoodie. Fuck.

A Small Surprise

Author: InnerCinema

Summary: The toddler comes to a stop in front of Derek, raising his arms and demanding in the most commanding tone: “You carry me!” (aka. 5 times toddler!Stiles adores Derek who is a good guardian - gee I suck at summaries tonight!)

Your Face Is Like A Melody (It Won’t Leave My Head)

Author: toyfeels

Summary: Since age three, Stiles has been dreaming of Derek. When he was younger, he would always babble about Derek and draw pictures of them together, etc. but everyone just assumed that Derek was his imaginary friend. Stiles himself didn't realize that Derek was a real person until he heard about the Hale fire but by that time, Derek and Laura had moved to New York.

As Through The Air Protects You

Author: the_ragnarok

Summary: In which Deaton is still a mysterious magical vet, Kate Argent is still a criminal sociopath, and Stiles is still a crime-solving magical kitten.

One Big Happy Pack Family

Author: omelet

Summary: Stiles should've known that it was only a matter of time before he went to the next level and adopted an honest to god wolf. It's like the slippery slope of dog ownership.Well, at least he's got a co-parent for his pups.

Werewolf Lollipop

Author: Alvara

Summary: Stiles has to admit that he has a big problem with keeping his mouth shut at the best of times. But little did he know, one day of forgetting his adderall medication makes his scent say more than his mouth could ever achieve.

Introducing Miss Lydia Ladybug Stilinski

Author: 1001cranes

Summary: When Stiles adopts a vampire kitten, no one really believes him.

Hyper Heart Alone

Author: hito

Summary: When Stiles returns home to help his father recover from an injury, he discovers that things have changed somewhat in his absence: Derek is working closely with Stiles' father, around the house and underfoot, generally annoying and disconcerting Stiles with his presence.Well, Stiles isn't sure you could call all the sex they end up having annoying, but he isn't really willing to call it anything else, either.

Nine Times Out Of Ten

Author: lielabell

Summary: Nine times out of ten, Stiles is the one being pushed back on the bed with his head tilted back to expose his neck. Nine times out of ten, Stiles's legs are the ones that are spread, his hands are the ones that grip the sheets. Nine times out of ten, Stiles gasps and moans and arches up into Derek's touch, Stiles's thighs grip at Derek's hips; Stiles’s feet lock together behind Derek's back. Nine times out of ten, Stiles takes and takes and takes and loves every single second of it. But the tenth time . . .The tenth time is different.

Five Thousand Unicorns And A Gold Star

Author: glitterandlube

Summary: There is a fine line between parenting and being a kindergarten teacher. Stiles does both.

Last Night’s Dress (Tiptoe Out Of This Mess)

Author: hito

Summary: My dad just asked me if my booty call guy that comes over at 3am and leaves at 6 would like to stay for Sunday brunch next week. You in?

I Want You To Want Me

Author: pandacowhipster

Summary: Derek isn't used to wanting things.

The Cake Is (Not) A Lie

Author: Xerxies19

Summary: Someone keeps sending Derek cakes that are neither made with explosives or monkshood. Things get out of hand from there.

Weave Ourselves In A Circle

Author: Akabit

Summary: Stiles and Lydia try to cast a time loop spell but wind up with something altogether more complicated. Every action has consequences.OR Stiles hops through time to fix everything.

Diamonds are Forever (But Flowers Are Cheaper)

Author: Rawren (Zimothy)

Summary: His name was Stiles Stilinski. He was older than 21, but younger than 25. His dad was the sheriff and he was a student at Beacon Hills Community College. He came into the shop every couple days; always after three, but never past five. He always said hello to Laura, always bought one bouquet, and always spent five minutes trying to make Derek smile with as many puns as he could come up with by the time Derek handed him his receipt.Derek may or may not be in love with him.

Those That Bump In The Night

Author: bleep0bleep

Summary: When Stiles was a boy, he had an imaginary friend named Derek. Ten years later, Derek comes back, and is very, very real.

more fics: part 4

[whirofinvention-blog]

My Brief Encounter With the Sun

It has been a while since I've posted here, at least relative to the rate I would like to be posting and to the events I would like to be attending. To start, I guess I should come clean and admit I didn't attend GP Portland. By now I've drafted three separate posts about my not attending, but they all sounded self-indulgent. Instead of a dedicated post, here's the bullet points:

- I did not know anyone playing in the main event. When I started this blog, I knew two people locked in to the event, but leading up to the event they all dropped out. This is not the end of the world, but it is nice to have friends around to celebrate and commiserate with.

- My deck choice was up in the air. As I have mentioned before, I own Hardened Scales and Lantern Control. My results leading up to the GP with Scales were middling at best. Lantern on the other hand has a better track record, but underperforms against skilled opponents. Plus both are faced with the daunting amount of sideboard hate present for KCI decks right now.

-Lastly, and most importantly, social anxiety was the big roadblock. This is something I have struggled with for awhile. It is far from crippling, but it is stifling at times. I get in my own head about it. Though the other two points were factors, they probably could have been ignored. My anxiety just let them become excuses.

There were still silver linings. I had a great time at the event site with friends playing EDH, and I bought and sold a lot of cardboard.

Plus, the Friday of the GP, I registered for Oakland. Maybe that little bit of disappointment in myself was the perfect push to get me to register for Oakland.

If you're reading this, it means you probably keep up with Magic pretty frequently and are already aware that I did not top 8 the GP this past weekend. It was the most successful weekend (in fact it was pretty heartbreaking), but I had a great time. Friday night I got into Oakland pretty late so did not have time to go to the convention center. Instead I went to the home of my friend David and his partner Kayla who graciously housed me this weekend. We ate some dinner and stayed up way too late drinking, catching up and playing games of Scales versus Mono-Red Phoenix.

Saturday, we got up and made our way to the hall for what was going to be a long day. Before Round 1, I got my beautiful full-art Bolt promo as well as my not-so-beautiful Tigtone playmat and sat down for my first round. Unfortunately for me, I got paired against a pretty rough matchup to start my tournament: UB Faeries. If you have never read the card Mistbind Clique, I would suggest giving it a look cause it is a very messed up card. We went to game 3, but ultimately, the tempo power of his deck combined with his suite of removal and counters proved to strong for my robots.

Round 2 can be described pretty easily. If you are playing against TitanShift and your opponent fails to ever draw a Primeval Titan or a Scapeshift, then their deck looks pretty atrocious.

The following round was the one that really hurt. Most of it is a blur besides the last turn. My opponent was on Grixis Death's Shadow and sitting at 5 life with a few cards, two shocks, a fetch, and a Gurmag and Death's Shadow. I had three lands (2 Nexus, 1 Citadel), a Hangarback on 4 counters with and activation up, a Mox, and a Ravager on three counters at 15 life. My opponent cantrips main phase, plays a second fetch, and goes to combat swinging with both. I know that if he has a Temur Battle Rage, and I don't block the Death's Shadow, I am dead, so I immediately block the Shadow. He then goes to 1 life by fetching a  shock and fetching a basic and TBR's the Shadow. I activate Hangarback and the Inkmoth and sacrifice all of my permanents besides the Welding Jar and a Thopter to the Ravager. We do the math. I have a 13/13 Ravager to his 12/12 Shadow. He tramples over for 11 and deals 5 with the Gurmag for lethal. There were two mistakes I made here. The first you may have noticed. If I was going to sac the Hangarback, why not block the Gurmag first. This one felt bad. The other was that I simply did the math wrong and thought the attack put me to 14.

This round spawned the quote of the weekend when I texted Dave: "I just punted my round 3 into the fucking sun." Unfortunately for Dave, he also made a round losing misplay this round, so we vented to each other which helped. Having a friend around can really help alleviate the anger/stress/sadness from moments like this.

Round 4 is where my tournament ended. My opponent was on Devoted Evolution. Game 1 I had a Hardened Scales and Ballista and was able to kill all his creatures easily. The other two games he assembled infinite mana and a mana dump with the first four turns. The only really relevant statistic I have is that all of the games where I resolved a Hardened Scales and was able to put a +1/+1 counter on a creature while it was out, I won easily. The deck felt extremely strong in those instances, and it won a couple games without the Enchantment. Overall, I can't be too disappointed given the amount of preparation I put into things and walked away proud of the fact that even though I scrubbed out early, I took my opponents to game 3 every time and had a nice time.

The rest of the weekend was side events which were super fun. I managed to play a couple Battlebond drafts with Dave which were great, but I want to quickly tell you about my ridiculous Ultimate Masters draft. 

The draft started with me taking a Demonic Tutor and getting passed an Unholy Hunger followed by a blue card. Pick 4 I saw a Spider Spawning and went all in. By the end of the draft I had an absolutely insane U/B/g self-mill deck that's win cons were pretty much just a Spider Spawning, Rise from the Tides and a Lab Man I picked up pack 3 pick 7. Round 1 I was paired against Dave, of course, and proceeded to slowly crush his U/W Heroic deck and killed him with Lab Man in 2 quick games. Round 2 didn't go as well. I got paired against the only other competent drafter at the table who was on G/W Heroic and made a 4/4 on turn 3 both games while holding up protection for it. After the games, my opponent told me that she thought my deck was the sweetest and probably the only other good deck in the pod which was nice.

There's not much else to say about the event, except it was a ton of fun, and I am already looking forward to the next one (GPLA in March maybe?).

Before I end things, I feel obligated to talk about the bannings announcement scheduled for two weeks from now. I know most of the world will never read this, but I want to stake a claim and call my shot now.

Modern has a problem that needs to be fixed: KCI. In a typical tournament 4 of the top 8 decks being the same archetype isn't the end of the world, but KCI has been showing a dominant performance in the modern metagame for months now. No matter how many copies of Stony Silence and Rest in Peace are running around, the deck still puts up amazing results. Plus the addition of Sai has made it so some games they just attack you to death. None of this even takes into account how the deck can have 10 minute turns and is a nightmare to sit down across at your local FNM.

As I see it there are a few different permutations for possible bans and unbans that may be on the horizon.

The first, and perhaps most vocalized ban, is Ancient Stirrings. This card is probably the best card draw spell in Modern and sees play in KCI, so it seems like the logical card to target with a ban. Unfortunately, I don't think banning it would actually do too much to KCI. If it were banned, I would expect the deck to just abandon green in favor of more blue sources to take advantage of Whir of Invention. Plus, if you ban Ancient Stirrings, then you are also hurting Tron, Amulet, Hardened Scales, and Lantern/4-Color Prison. Some people might say that it is for the good of the format to take the card out of it, but I have to ask, when is it good for a format to hurt 5 different decks with one banning?

The next most likely banning in my eyes is Faithless Looting. Much like Ancient Stirrings, this card is extremely powerful and is the only other card in the running for most powerful draw spell in the format (at least in my eyes). Looting is almost never used as a fair card and has shown how strong it can be in the recent resurgence of Dredge as well as the new Arclight Phoenix decks. The only reason I write about it here is I believe you cannot ban Ancient Stirrings without also banning Looting. If you get rid of Stirrings it will make the Looting decks stronger in the format. Now, if you ban both of them, you would be hurting a huge chunk of the format. Maybe this is what WotC wants. A fairer looking field of decks in modern. Personally, I don't want to play a format where the combo decks are Storm and CoCo with the other decks all being things like GBx, UW Control and Spirits. I cannot imagine a world where they ban just Looting and not Stirrings as well.

This brings me to the card that people have been asking about banning almost as much as Stirrings. Krark-Clan Ironworks. KCI as a deck obviously couldn't exist without the card KCI. The free sacrifice outlet is powerful and maybe is too powerful for Modern. It creates the mana to cast the spells. If WotC banned KCI, I think it would be a fine decision while only impacting one deck in the format. 

Still, I don't think banning KCI is the answer. The card has potential and provides a unique effect to the format, that could see other uses. Maybe people start turbo-ing out their Emrakuls or making giant Walking Ballistas with it. I don't know, but the options are there. Scrap Trawler on the other hand doesn't really seem to have the same potential and is the card I would most like to see banned. If KCI makes the mana, Scrap Trawler is the part that makes the loops actually happen. It gets you back the Spheres and Stars to draw the cards. Plus, it is hard for me to imagine this card ever doing anything other than degenerate interactions with egg-like artifacts. Just like with KCI, banning this would have no effect on the format other than hurting KCI, but I think KCI has more potential for fair things and for that reason should be left in the format. 

A few other thoughts I have on the current ban list. Though at this point in time it is pretty much a meme, I do believe Stoneforge Mystic would be a safe unban. It is rare that I find myself in a game where Stoneforge Mystic would be too good. Though it is a powerful card and will assuredly see play in fair decks, modern has become a strong enough format over the past few years that I doubt it would be an issue right now.

The other unbanning I could see happening, and actually want to happen more, is Preordain. Green and Red should not have the best one-mana cantrips in modern. Blue is the card draw color and blue deserves the best cantrip. There are a few worries with unbanning Preordain, specifically blue based combo decks like Storm would become oppressive. That may happen, but I believe that has more to do with storm being a bad mechanic than Preordain being too strong for the format. Plus, I think this might be the best solution to avoid having to ban Stirrings and Looting anytime soon. Maybe this would make the format too combo-centric, but this isn't Legacy where we have Ponder and Brainstorm. Fair blue decks would play Preordain and be better off for it.

Also, they should unban Punishing Fire just to see what the fuck happens.

Well, then. See ya soon I guess. Next time I will probably write about an EDH deck.

[onlymorelove]

Fic: I Barely Knew I had Skin Before I Met You (3/4)

Title: I Barely Knew I had Skin Before I Met You (3/4) Relationship: Garcia Flynn/Lucy Preston/Wyatt Logan Summary: Sometimes love is found in unexpected combinations. Lucy wakes in the middle of the night to find one less man than there should be in her bed. Notes: You can read Chapter 1 here. You can read Chapter 2 here. This also takes place in the same universe as Your Hands Can Heal; Your Hands Can Bruise and Baby, I’m a house on fire (and I want to keep burning). These stories are all set sometime in the future, when Lucy, Garcia, and Wyatt are in a polyfidelitous relationship. Translation: the three of them are romantically involved and are faithful to each other. They also live together. Word Count: 4574 Rating: T Chapter Title: Bring your secrets; bring your scars. (From Phillip Phillips' Unpack Your Heart.) Warning: Nothing graphic, but don’t read if you object to the idea of three adults being romantically involved.

Read under the cut, on AO3, or at FF.net.

Tagging @extasiswings, @grey-haven, @gwennieliz, @qqueenofhades, and @uglybusiness. (If anyone else wants to be tagged for future updates, just let me know.)

If you read this, thank you. Feedback is treasured; constructive criticism is welcome.

[Part 1]    [Part 2]    [Part 4]

A Google search for a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe turned up a five-ingredient one Lucy was confident even their sleep-deprived, emotionally-drained threesome could handle. Butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and chocolate chips. Today they’d be eating the sweet and chocolatey breakfast of champions. It would be worth it because all of them still had healing to do, and this, acknowledging Iris Flynn’s birthday, was another tangible step in that process.

She’d just pulled a stick of butter out of the refrigerator and set it out to soften on the kitchen counter behind her when two sets of footsteps sounded—one slow and measured, the other pounding down the stairs at a rapid clip. Garcia and Wyatt rejoined her in the kitchen. Wyatt wore a long-sleeved tee. It had seen better days; the cuffs were frayed, and the shirt clung to Wyatt’s back and shoulders after too many trips through clothes dryer. It was an aesthetic she deeply appreciated.

Lucy tapped Wyatt’s shoulder with her index finger and bumped him with her hip. When he focused on her, she turned a mock pout on him. “Excuse me.” She arched an eyebrow.

Wyatt’s forehead crinkled in consternation, and his eyebrows drew together. “Yeah?”

“I thought we agreed on no shirt.”

“Agreed? Ha. You're a funny woman.” Wyatt smirked. “More like you tried to give me a direct order, and I took it as a suggestion.” He gave an exaggerated shiver, causing her to roll her eyes at his dramatics. “It’s chilly down here, Doc. Besides”—he winked and stepped into her space, his body radiating delicious heat, and wound his arms around her—“I’m still gropeable with clothes on.” His words were followed by his hands, which proceeded to knead the curve of her bottom with gratifying enthusiasm.

Tilting her head to the side, Lucy flashed Garcia a questioning look. “What do you think, Garcia?” She traced nonsensical doodles on Wyatt’s shoulders while she waited for a response.

Flynn leaned back against the counter and crossed one ankle over the other, slanting a considering glance at her and Wyatt. Only a few feet separated them. Amusement flared in the depths of Flynn’s moss-green eyes, chasing away some of the shadows that still lingered there. “I think opening a thoughtfully-wrapped present is half the fun of receiving a present in the first place.”

Though Wyatt’s busy hands stilled, Lucy was grateful he kept his arms looped around her. “So, in this metaphor of yours, am I supposed to be the present?” Wyatt asked. She leaned into him, a cat searching for a good scratch; he responded by running his nails over her back through her thin nightshirt. Pleasure sparked through her, chasing Wyatt’s sure fingers, until Lucy nearly hummed from it.

Garcia’s observant gaze tracked the path Wyatt’s hands traveled over Lucy's back, and his lips ticked upward a millimeter. “You, Wyatt Logan,” he said, sidling closer to them, his voice lit by humor but lacking any sardonic edge, “and all that West Texas charm, are the gift that never stops giving.” He finished with a smacking kiss to Wyatt’s cheek.

“Damn straight,” Wyatt replied. “About time you figured that out.”

Garcia’s full-throated laugh rang through the kitchen. For a second, Lucy forgot her exhaustion. Instead, she focused on the warmth that fizzed in her chest as Garcia bent and kissed them—first tilting Wyatt’s face up with one long finger on his chin—and then her.

Warm lips grazed her temple; strong arms surrounded her. Lucy’s eyes slid shut, and she inhaled deeply. She couldn’t catalogue the individual scents that filled her nose, though she dearly wanted to. Was it Garcia’s deodorant? Wyatt’s skin?

All Lucy knew as she tried to freeze the moment, to preserve it in amber for eternity, was that those scents signified something important to her. Comfort. Them. Home.

“I’ll tell you what, Lucy.” Wyatt nodded and folded his arms over his chest. I’ll make a deal with you.”

The mischievous expression that rolled over Wyatt’s face immediately put her on guard, but she decided to humor him anyway. “Okay…I'm listening. What are your terms?”

“Since you seem oh-so-interested in me being shirtless right now, I’ll agree to that, but—”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“ —only if you take off your shirt, too.”

A beat passed. Lucy blinked rapidly, mouth opening and closing several times, but no words came out. Finally, she reached out and thwacked Wyatt on the forearm. “Wyatt!” Lucy knew both men were very aware that she rarely slept wearing a bra. Though she was pretty comfortable in her own skin at this point in her life, that didn't mean she wanted to bake while topless.

“What?” He cringed away and slung her a look that was all wide-eyed innocence. “You’re not the only feminist here. It’s all in the interest of equality and fair play.”

“I think you mean foreplay,” Garcia chimed in, dark eyebrows raised. He curled an arm across Wyatt’s shoulders and pulled him closer.

“You would take his side.” She narrowed her eyes at him, silently promising Garcia future retribution.

Garcia lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m not taking anybody’s side,” he protested, his eyes doing that twinkly thing that made her insides feel loopy and effervescent.

“Ready, Luce?” said Wyatt. His hands gripped the bottom of his shirt and started inching upward, revealing a sliver of skin at his stomach.

“No. Stop. Let’s all just...keep our shirts on.” How had their morning taken such a turn for the absurd?

Garcia’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. Oh, he might be laughing now, but she would remember this moment and make him pay later.

“Deviants,” she said under her breath.

“Hey! I heard you,” said Wyatt. “Just so you know. That is unfair.” Looking not at all put-out, he wagged his finger at her. “And inaccurate. Yeah. You’re the one who started it. So pot, kettle, black.”

She heaved a gusty sigh. “Fine, Wyatt.” With a shrug, she clapped her hands against her legs. “You win. You’re right.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t hear you.” Wyatt cupped a hand to his ear. “Could you please repeat that?”

Her lips twitched, but she bit back the smile that threatened to appear. She would not encourage his theatrics. “I said, ‘You’re right.’”

“Thank you for admitting that I’m right and you’re wrong.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am.” He paused and lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “It's about as rare as a unicorn sighting.” Wyatt and Garcia exchanged telling looks.

It made her skin itch to imagine letting him have the last word. But she would let his very last comment slide. “So I guess we’re equal opportunity perverts.”

“Lucy, there is nothing wrong with appreciating the beauty of the human body.” Garcia rubbed his hands together as if warming up to the current subject. “It is, after all, a marvelous creation.” With his hands tucked into the pockets of his pajama pants, he strolled the length of their small kitchen. Then he reversed direction, ambling back toward them, studying her and Wyatt in turn, an air of deep reflection about him.

Sensing the beginning of a world-class lecture, Lucy caught Wyatt’s gaze and made a face. He grinned and shook his head. “You are such a brat,” he mouthed.

Lucy widened her eyes at Wyatt and casually scratched the corner of her mouth...with her middle finger.

He snickered at the vulgar gesture and shook his head at her antics. Though his mouth didn’t form any words, Lucy easily parsed the naked affection on his face.

“Consider da Vinci’s exploration of geometry and proportion in his Vitruvian Man drawing—”

Wyatt turned toward Garcia. “You mean the naked guy?” He drew a circle in the air. “With the circle around him? And the square?”

Garcia nodded in approval, a wide smile tempering the otherwise severe lines of his face. Lucy instinctively wanted to smile back, though her stomach tightened painfully at the knowledge of how isolated this man, who had become utterly irreplaceable to her, had been for so long, with no one to talk to about his thoughts. No one to share the minutiae of daily life with. No one to ask him, “How was your day?” and care enough to listen with full attention to his answer.

“Yes! Exactly, Wyatt. I wasn’t sure if you'd catch the reference.”

“Always happy to live down to your expectations, Flynn.”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to underestimate you. Did I hurt your feelings?”

“Nah. Okay, maybe a little. You can make it up to me.”

Wyatt hooked his fingers in the waistband of Garcia’s pants. “So how about we all get naked. In honor of da Vinci?”

Garcia’s face twisted in a rather quizzical expression. “While I appreciate the sentiment, that is altogether convoluted logic, Logan.”

As much as she appreciated their good-natured banter, she knew they had gotten sidetracked from their original objective. She rolled her eyes and yanked Wyatt’s hand away from Garcia. “For the love of... Listen, we’ve gotten completely distracted. We are supposed to be baking.”  She clamped one hand over Wyatt’s mouth and one over Garcia’s. “And no, don’t even say it: We are not going to be doing naked baking.”

Bracketing a hand around her wrist, Garcia tugged her hand away from his mouth. “Half-naked, to be precise,” Garcia said, eyebrow quirked. He gave her fingers a playful nip before releasing them.

Wyatt and Garcia both laughed, deep smile lines radiating out from the corners of their eyes like little sunbursts. The combined effect dazzled Lucy with its radiance. Her breath stuttered in her chest. A second later she blinked, and the spell was broken. “Oh my god,” she said, recovering her voice. “Please, I beg you, both of you. Just forget I said anything about being shirtless.”

“So what'll it be, boys? Dark or milk chocolate chips?”

“Milk,” said Wyatt.

“Dark,” said Garcia.

“But Lucy,” Wyatt said, tugging at her sleeve, “dark chocolate’s gross. It’s too bitter.”

Garcia aimed a scathing look in Wyatt's direction. “No, you're mistaken: milk chocolate is too sweet. Too cloying. Too much of a good thing. In dark chocolate, however, the sweetness is balanced by the hint of bitterness. Balance, Wyatt.” He made an expansive, sweeping gesture with his arms. “In all things, seek balance.”

“Yeah, okay, Jedi Master Flynn.”

A startled laugh flew from Lucy’s mouth. When Garcia cut her a glare to rival Medusa’s stony stare, the laugh morphed into a cough. “Okay, well then.” She cleared her throat. “We’ll compromise and do half and half,” she said, her tone placating. “Happy now?”

“No,” Garcia and Wyatt replied in unison.

Lucy smiled.

“Here,” Lucy said, and handed Garcia a worn wooden spoon. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, and they shared a glance, neither speaking. Gentle heat spread from that point of contact, eventually settling in Lucy’s cheeks. She curled her hand around Garcia’s upper arm. “Make good use of those muscles and beat the flour and sugar together.”

“Whatever you say...ma’am,” Garcia said, a hint of mischief glimmering in his smile as he applied himself to the task she'd set for him.

“Uh uh. No way.” Lucy folded her arms across her chest and shook her head decisively. “I refuse to have you both call me that.”

He nodded in acquiescence, hair slipping over his forehead. “Then I will have to think of something else.”

“Anything but ‘ma’am.’”

Garcia continued stirring, eyes distant, expression thoughtful. The spoon tapped the edges of the steel mixing bowl with every turn and made a dull clanging sound. “Yes.” He looked at her with a half-smile, then nodded. “Whatever you say, dušo moja.” His voice altered on the unfamiliar words, deepening, the tenderness in the foreign syllables nearly tactile. A brush of velvet against her skin...  

“What does that mean?”

His gaze flicked away from hers. “Perhaps I’ll tell you...someday.”

To her surprise, Lucy swore she saw a hint of pink in his cheeks.

“Garcia…” She knew she sounded whiny, but she didn't care. “Tell me now.”

He paused in his stirring to pat her hip. “Patience is a virtue, Lucy.”

An unfortunate side effect of intimacy was that they all knew a thousand and one ways to infuriate each other. “Patience is a virtue, Lucy,” she retorted, mimicking him.

He smiled broadly, brushing the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “Insolence will get you nowhere.”

Wyatt sniggered; Lucy kept her features blank but added him and Garcia to her mental shit list.

“Hey, I’ve got muscles, too.” Wyatt flexed his right arm, grabbed Lucy’s hand, and placed it on his biceps. “Check out these guns.”

“Very impressive,” she said, pressing a quick kiss to Wyatt’s mouth.

“Don’t think I can’t tell you’re humoring me.” “I’m not humoring you, Wyatt.” “Are too.” “You’re right: I am.”

“Your honesty is killing me, Lucy.”

“My honesty is one of my finest qualities.” His eyebrows quirked in confusion. “You have qualities?”

“Smartass. Just for that, you get to take the cookie sheets, and everything else, out of the oven. Then preheat it to 350.”

Wyatt opened the oven door, bending to retrieve the items stored inside that black hole of kitchenware. “Holy shit.” When he stood up, his hands held a mountain of baking sheets, muffin tins, wire cooling racks. Moving slowly so as not to drop anything, he stepped to the right and placed everything on the small square of counter space next to the stove. That done, he turned to look at her reproachfully.

“Don’t you look at me like that.”

He sighed and shook his head in disappointment. “Lucy, you promised us you’d organize this crap.”

She swallowed, feeling a little guilty. Okay, a lot guilty. Her packrat tendencies and general messiness were a sore point between the three of them. “I meant to...I mean I will…” She wrung her hands. “It’s just, we don’t have space for it all.”

“Exactly. So get rid of some of it. Donate it.”

“But I need it.”

“You need all of it?” Wyatt shot back, skepticism evident in his voice.

“Well…”

Lucy’s attention shifted as her eyes caught movement. The wire rack that had been perched at the summit of the mountain of items Wyatt had just hauled out of the oven, crashed to the floor. “Oh no!”

The three of them leapt to catch the remaining objects before they went the way of the rack. A few items still clattered to the ground in a cacophony of sound, but they were able to salvage most of the stuff. Disaster thus mostly averted, Wyatt and Garcia simply looked at her, irritation so clear on their faces that they didn’t have to say anything.

She deserved that; she’d attempt to be graceful. Lucy gave a sheepish shrug. “Um...Sorry?”

“OK, Wyatt, now it’s your turn. You add the egg and mix it up completely,” Lucy said.

She checked the recipe on her phone, then pulled a canister out of the freezer. “Garcia,”—she pointed at the canister—“we need 1 and a ¼ cups of flour. Don’t pack it too tightly, and level it with a dinner knife.”

Garcia rummaged in a lower cabinet, then stood up, holding a glass measuring cup.

Wyatt cracked a large egg on the edge of the mixing bowl and poured its contents in. He walked to the trash can and tossed the broken shell pieces in there. “So tell us something about your daughter,” he asked, glancing over his shoulder. “What was she like?”

Lucy pulled a container of salt from the pantry and brought it to the counter, eyeing Garcia without comment. Would he answer Wyatt’s question? Garcia froze in the act of pulling a spoon from the cutlery drawer, blinking rapidly. Pin-drop silence surrounded them. “She...I…” He sighed and shook his head, hand trembling as he dropped the spoon in the measuring cup and closed the drawer with a soft click.  

Something inside Lucy twisted. “We could take turns. Share one memory—talk about our...Talk about the people we’ve lost.” She slid her hand over Garcia’s, squeezing gently. “Um. I’ll go first.” She released his hand and worried her bottom lip with her teeth. A deep breath. She could do this. “Amy is...I mean...Amy was…” A laugh escaped her lips, and Lucy cringed at her own nervous behavior. “Wow, this is hard.” She stared down at the counter in front of her, vision blurring, until an arm closed around her shoulders.

When she looked up, blinking back tears, she discovered that it was Garcia who’d wound his arm around her. His eyes met hers unflinchingly, and the silent compassion she saw there gave her the strength to continue. She closed her hands into fists, then concentrated on loosening them slowly. “Amy’s seven years younger than me. When she was little, Mom would put her in my lap, and I’d read to her. I’ve always loved books, and my parents, they fed that love. So we had a ton of books at home. At first, I used to decide what to read to Amy. But when she got to be two, maybe three-years-old, she started pulling books off the shelf and bringing them to me to read.

“She loved this series of books about a giant dog. Clifford the Big Red Dog. He was twenty-some feet tall, and...Anyway, at one point, her absolute favorite book was Clifford’s Kitten.” An ache started in Lucy’s chest; she pushed it away and continued. “I think I read it to her every day for like a month straight; I basically had it memorized. I got so sick of that damn book, but Amy would bring me that book, plop down in my lap, and say, ‘Read.’”

The ache increased, widening its geography, and stretched to her throat. There it sat, like a malignant growth. Lucy shook her head, once, clutching the locket that still cradled her sister’s picture, and allowed Garcia to fold her in his arms. Eyes shut tight, she pressed her cheek to his chest until the ache receded enough that she could breathe freely again.

After they put the cookies in the oven to bake, Lucy set a timer for nine minutes. Turning to Wyatt and Garcia, she took them each by the hand and pulled them to the living room. “Let’s sit while we wait for the cookies to bake.”

Lucy snuggled into one corner of the larger sofa; Wyatt claimed the other one. Though Garcia moved to sit on the small sofa adjacent to the one they sat on, Wyatt shook his head and motioned him closer. “Sit here,” he said, patting the empty spot between him and Lucy. Garcia perched on the edge of the sofa. Wyatt sighed in exasperation. “Like this, genius,” he said, and pulled Garcia down until he lay flat on his back with his head in Wyatt’s lap. They must have made a comical picture. Garcia was so tall that his butt pressed against Lucy’s hip, and his legs bent, bridging her lap, his feet tucked next to her other leg.

Lucy smiled, watching Wyatt card his fingers through Garcia’s dark hair. She knew just how hypnotic that resulting sensation could be, given that Wyatt had done the same to her earlier that morning.

Careful to keep her touch gentle, Lucy worked her hand under the hem of Garcia’s sweats and pressed her fingertips into his calf. Garcia sighed, and Lucy’s smile widened.

“If you keep doing that, I’ll fall asleep,” Garcia murmured, eyes closed, voice curling in the air like a wisp of smoke.

Wyatt chuckled, then stopped abruptly. Lucy turned her head to look at him, curious. His hand continued to glide through Garcia’s hair. “Jessica loved to knit, especially when I was deployed. She said…” He cleared his throat. “She said it helped, especially when she missed me, knowing that she could fill a need for someone else. She had needles in all different sizes, and she made all kinds of stuff—scarves for soldiers and vets; blankets for homeless shelters; little hats for newborns at the hospital.

“I think she was always working on a half dozen projects at a time.” He smiled, and it was just a little one, but it was real. Then the smile seeped away, and his hand stilled in Garcia’s hair. “After she was killed, I was sitting on the couch one night, just nursing a beer, and I felt something poke me. It was one of her knitting needles, sticking out from between the cushions. I went a little crazy then. Threw out all her stuff. Her knitting needles, her half-finished charity projects, her huge stash of yarn. All of it. I wish...Now...I wish that I hadn’t done that.”

Lucy’s eyes met Garcia’s; he laced his fingers together with Wyatt’s and laid them over his heart.

Silence reigned until the kitchen timer buzzed.

Once the cookies had cooled, Lucy scooped them all onto a pretty platter and set them in the middle of the dining table.

Wyatt grabbed one and raised it to his mouth.

Lucy snatched it away from him and put it back on the platter.

“Why’d you do that? You promised me chocolate chip cookies for breakfast, Lucy.”

“I did. But not until we sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ Let me see if I can find a candle.” After rummaging around in various cabinets and drawers, Lucy finally found one in the junk drawer. “A-ha!” she said, holding it up in triumph. She also found a pack of matches in the same drawer.

“How many candles are there in total, Lucy?” said Garcia.

“Let me look… I see three. How come?”

“Oh. Well, I was thinking, maybe we could light one in honor of each person we’ve...lost. But if there are only three…” His voice trailed off.

Lucy nodded. “I think that’s a lovely idea. We’ve only got three candles, but we’ll light all three. It’s supposed to be the thought that counts.” She couldn’t very well stick the candles in a cookie, so she grabbed a small bowl, filled it with salt, and placed the candles, one red, one blue, and one purple, in there until they were all standing, albeit a bit crookedly. She stepped back, tilting her head to admire her handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, but the effect was charming. Somehow it worked—just like their patchwork family.

“Here,” Lucy said, handing the matchbook to Garcia. “Why don’t you light the first one?”

Garcia accepted the matches with a nod. He tore off one match and drew it across the striker. The odor of sulfur hovered in the air as the match head flared to life, glowing brightly in his hand. He held it to one candle wick until the flame caught. With a brisk shake of his hand, he put out the lit match and handed the matchbook back to Lucy.

She did as Garcia had moments before, and when her candle flame flickered merrily, she passed the matchbook to Wyatt.

When all three candles were lit, Lucy reached for both Wyatt and Garcia’s hands. She started the song. “Happy Birthday to you,” she sang, and if her voice was a little shaky, no one commented on it. Two baritones joined her on the next line. “Happy Birthday, dear Iris. Happy Birthday to you.”

They all seemed to hold their breath as the last few notes hung in the air, fading by slow degrees even as the trio of flames still danced.  

“Why don’t you blow them all out for us?” Lucy whispered, face turned toward Garcia, loath to disturb the fragile peace that encompassed them.

“Do you mind?” Garcia asked. His eyes lingered on Wyatt, not Lucy.

“Not at all. You do it.” The candlelight reflected in Wyatt’s eyes. “Please,” he added.

With a silent nod, Garcia closed his eyes. After perhaps a minute, he opened them again, then leaned forward and blew out all three candles.

Lucy released both men’s hands, smiling when Wyatt seized four cookies, two in each hand.

He bit into one cookie. “Oh my god,” he said, eyes fluttering shut. “These are so fucking so good.” He groaned, the sound simultaneously filthy and exquisite. “Guys, I think we’re going to need to bake about three dozen more.”

Lucy snatched one cookie out of Wyatt’s hand, quickly taking a nibble before he could protest.

“Hey, no stealing! That was mine.”

She munched on her cookie until she realized Garcia was standing there, silent and cookie-less. “Don’t you want one?” she said.

“In a minute. First, I wanted to say thank you. Both of you. For all this. For being you. For putting up with me. I know I can be...difficult.” Wyatt snorted. “Massive understatement there.”

Lucy used her free hand to swat him on the butt.

“I’m a prickly bastard, aren’t I?” said Garcia.

Wyatt lips curled up in a megawatt grin that could have melted a glacier. He winked and tossed Garcia a wry look that clearly said, “You don’t actually want me to answer that, do you?”

Garcia laughed, long and hard. When he finally quieted, he pulled out a chair and sat down. His hands came to rest on the table in front of him, fingers threaded together tightly. “I should probably talk about Iris now. You both shared a memory. I should do the same.” Lucy brushed her hands together, clearing off cookie crumbs, then squeezed Garcia’s shoulder. “There is no ‘should.’ You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“The thing is, I think...I think maybe I want to. Perhaps it’s time.”

“Then we’ll listen,” Lucy replied.

“I don’t believe in God anymore, but...” His voice trailed off. “My daughter, she...” He paused again to clear his throat. “My daughter was magical. To me. To my wife. And she believed in magic—fairies, mermaids, dragons, and all those mystical things we adults sneer at. There’s this drawing she did for me years ago. A drawing of three mermaids. I’ve carried it with me, in my wallet, all this time, everywhere I’ve gone. After every horrible thing that I’ve done, I’ve taken out that tattered drawing and looked at it, reminding myself why I had to do those things. And for what? I’ve paid my pound of flesh—and then some. And for what?

“Do you know she wanted to change her name?” he said, abruptly changing topics.

He laughed quietly, and the sound hurt Lucy because it echoed with the vast ocean of longing, grief, and dusty dreams that each one of them held for their dead loved ones.

“She wanted to change her name to Arabella Sweetwater,” Garcia continued. “That, according to Iris, was a name fit for a mermaid like herself. We promised her, Lorena and I, that if she still wanted to change her name when she grew up, she could do so. She's never going to grow up, though is she?”

Neither Lucy nor Wyatt answered, recognizing the question was rhetorical.

“She's gone. Really gone. They both are. And the part that scares me the most, is that I think I’m starting to move on. Wyatt...Lucy... I don’t want to give them up. I don’t want to forget them.”

“Oh, Garcia,” Lucy said. “You don’t have to forget them. Neither of us would ask you to do that.”

Author’s Note: So, I think these guys had more to say than I initially expected. That means there will be one more part after this, and then we should be done. The last bit will be short.

[peterhewitt2]

Arsenal vs. Leicester 11/8/17

Arsenal vs. Leicester 11/8/17

Arsenal began the 2017/18 season against Leicester City at the Emirates. New signings, Alexandre Lacazette, who impressed against Chelsea in the Charity Shield win, together with free-transfer Sead Kolasinac started in a 3 4 3 formation. Due to extensive injuries to first-choice defenders, the three centre-backs lined up left to right as Kolasinac, Monreal and Holding, and conventional wisdom (in the form of Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville) were adamant that this make-shift trio were going to be under pressure, especially from set-pieces. This proved to be the case, but errors came largely from open play and were forced by wastefulness from Mohammed Elneny and Granit Xhaka deep in their own defensive half. All this proceeded a fine opening five minutes from Arsenal; Elneny (who was given lots of time on the ball throughout the game) clipped a beautiful pass from the right channel onto the head of Lacazette, who glanced a powerful header in from the penalty spot after 2mins.

Scoring with only his second touch, this was an excellent league debut from the Frenchman, who will certainly reach 20 goals this season and bolster Arsenal’s title challenge. Lacazette also impressed with his disciplined tracking back and ball-winning, but it was his movement and awareness that will thrill football fans; there were moments in the game where, receiving the ball with back to goal, Lacazette laid off the ball and immediately sprinted into an advanced position; a directness that has been lacking in Arsenal’s forward play for many years.

The other debutant, Sead Kolasinac, looks like a canny piece of business in what has proved to be an exhilarating and stupendously lavish transfer window. He combines strength, aggression, technical ability and tireless industry and is an excellent addition, surpassing the delicacies of Kieran Gibbs, and the unpredictability of Gabriel and Calum Chambers. It was Bosnian who led a high-press against Leicester at the stroke of half-time, and after the ball broke in the penalty box he squeezed the ball through to the powerful Danny Welbeck to bring the game to 2-2 just before half-time.

Arsenal’s defensive problems in the first half were self-inflicted. Petr Cech flapped at an excellent Marc Albrighton cross which was dug out on the six-yard bye-line for Shinji Okazaki to head home for 1-1. Elneny, occupying the deeper defensive midfielder role, received the ball 30yrds from his own goal from Monreal, and under pressure from the Leicester press, carelessly rolled the ball into left hand channel for Albrighton to run onto. The winger sent a fine cross at pace between the stranded Monreal and Holding onto the right foot of the on-rushing Jamie Vardy for 1-2.

After half-time, Leicester defended well, and created chances through Mahrez from deep positions. The Foxes went 3-2 when Vardy headed in a plunging corner from Riyad Mahrez that dropped over the diminutive Monreal in the central role of the back three. But despite Leicester’s goals, agile movement, precise passing and pressing style, Arsenal continued to create chances. Bellerin burst forward onto Danny Welbeck’s pass from the D, only to have his attempt at a nutmeg saved by Kasper Schmeichel. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who seems to be tailor-made for his current wide right-wing back role, excelled in an attacking capacity, picking up balls from deep in his own half and carrying them up-field at pace. He looked dangerous throughout and provided many overlapping and driving runs into the box, as well as some stinging shots on target. Lacazette and Welbeck combined well throughout, producing a number of scintillating exchanges which ended in efforts on goal (a total of 27 on the night, 10 on target).

A familiar pattern appeared to form as Arsenal retained possession but failed to penetrate. But Arsene Wenger’s reading of the game after 70 mins and his subsitutions proved decisive. The defensive and somewhat unsteady Elneny was replaced by Aaron Ramsey, together with Theo Walcott and Oliver Giroud (for Welbeck). The game became stretched; a long ball from defence was handled by Mesut Ozil which led to an Arsenal corner in 80th minute. The set piece was cleared to Xhaka who lofted a left-footed pass to Ramsey who had lost his marker level with the penalty spot (right channel). Controlling the ball with outside of his right-foot the Welshman gained an extra yard on the out-of-position Ndidi before smashing the ball past Schmeichel from six yards. The Danish goalkeeper was perhaps expecting a near-post shot but seemed rooted to the spot regardless.

The winner came from Giroud from Xhaka’s corner in the 85th minute. The high looping corner was delivered with speed to Giroud who was simply too strong for his marker and the Frenchman headed onto the underside of the bar and past the Dane who could only slap the ball outfield after it had crossed the line. It was especially pleasing to see the desire from Kolasinac and Lacazette competing for the rebound, but Goal Line Technology did their work for them. 

On a less positive note: Ozil was extremely poor in this game. The German is, by now, used to getting clattered in the opening minutes of Premier League fixtures as he is known as a soft target, but Özil seemed especially fragile and somewhat short of fitness. Back to back off-seasons playing for Germany is bound to take its toll – but this does not account for everything. There were moments in this game when, clearly off-the-pace and out of position, Özil chose to berate teammates who chose not to pass to him. This writer believes that Özil was worth every penny of his £42.5 m price tag in 2013, but his performances have been well below his own high standards. He seems to lack pace to play wide and yet Wenger does not play him centrally.

Positives

New signings have very good games

Giroud proves his quality

Wenger makes key changes and draws upon the squad’s depth to change the game

Xhaka, despite being wasteful at times, begins to show quality through set-pieces, passing and long-range shooting.

Squad appears to have a good balance.

Negatives

Mesut Özil looks fatigued and off the pace

Make-shift defensive trio look a little vulnerable

Alarming sloppiness at times from Elneny and Xhaka in front of back three

Cech error leading to first goal