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sprog-writes · 3 years ago

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Read here, or on AO3! Word count: 3293 Possible trigger warnings: Danny’s death is referenced, as is that of other ghosts.

Enjoy!

He let himself fall to the ground, phasing through it and stopping himself just in time not to facepalm on sewer water.

“Ghost or no, I’m not getting that on myself” he muttered out loud. He was sure he had lost his parents, he didn’t think they would follow him into the sewers.

But apparently he thought wrong, as he heard the metal sound of the manhole getting opened a couple of feet from him. He started flying again, turning invisible and phasing slightly through the ground once more, ready to flee if necessary, but he couldn’t help but stay to look at them, hoping to see… he didn’t know what, exactly, but he didn’t want to miss it. He thought maybe they’d let something slip, or at least he’d see their new tech in action.

He saw them look his way, scanning their surroundings, most likely in search of his presence. They walked around for a bit, with Danny on their trail, before deciding to split up, his father going back on the streets where they came from and his mom staying in the sewers walking around.

“Jack, dear, everything as expected?” he heard his mom suddenly say. They were probably talking via intercoms, having upgraded their basic equipment over the years, as well as their ghost hunting tech.

‘What does that mean?’ Danny wondered to himself. He didn’t hear the response, but something told him he had better run away from there, far from her. As soon as he actually moved away and phased through the concrete and was back on the street, he was met by his father’s eyes looking directly at him, a smug smile on his face.

Danny looked at his hands to make sure he was still invisible and as he found nothing, he shot a questioning look to his dad, before turning the other ways and flying up to run somewhere safe -or at the very least, safer than there-, instead he found himself face first onto a ghost shield, tumbling back a couple of feet and turning visible again.

“Great…” Danny muttered out loud and found himself asking his dad “Can curiosity kill the cat, if the cat already died?” His father looked at the boy confused, obviously not understanding the contest of Danny’s joke and why it was absolutely hilarious. At least, to Danny it was.

‘Not the time for jokes!’ he thought as he turned intangible again to escape towards the sewers, but as he hit his face against the shield again, he realised that it went all the way around.

He saw his mom cheekly smiling at him before turning around and going back the way she came from, most likely to meet with his dad.

He floated back up, sitting on the street with his arms and legs crossed, and pouting.

“Pouting? Really?” his mother’s voice caught his attention, but he refused to look at her. Getting out of those things was annoying and he really didn’t want to be vivisected by his parents. Or dissected. He was technically a ghost, but also not really, and ghosts are not dead bodies so which one would be more correct? As he wondered his mom continued talking to him “What are you? 5?”

“I’ll have you know” he pointed at himself with his thumb “I am almost of age” Danny announced.

“It’s not like you’ll actually age past 14, ghost” his dad intervened “you’re a ghost!”

Danny stayed silent for a moment, looking at him and then floated to his eye level “Astute observation like alway, Jack” it was always weird having to refer to his parents with their first names, but after a good almost 4 years it became second nature, even a little hard not to mix it up and call them by their names when he was their son, and ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ when he was Phantom.

His dad seemed to take his obvious sarcasm as a genuine compliment and smiled proudly, as his mom shook her head and put a hand on her husband’s shoulder.

“You’re coming with us” as the words left his mom’s mouth, his mood worsened, the air getting colder by the second. His parents visibly noticed. He never meant to do it, but it was hard to control how much cold he emitted, especially when in distress. Some sort of defense mechanism, Sam had once offered as an explanation.

While he was floating, his parents took the opportunity to slide the bottom of a ghost cage under him. Danny recognised it; it was made of ectoranium, impossible to phase through for any ghost. Or, well, half-ghosts, as it were. How his parents got their hands on it, Danny didn’t know.

He sat back down, the same position as before, pout ever present on his face, and the rest of the cage appeared around him.

“You gave up easy” ‘almost too easy’ was left unsaid, but clearly implied. She was wary of what she probably believed to be unusual behaviour for the ghost child, and really. Who could blame her?

“Yeah, well, it’s not like I could’ve gotten out of here, anyway, right now” Danny shrugged, but keeping his face glowering, eyes just a tint of toxic green too much.

“Contrary to popular belief,” he decided to add, as his parents started lifting the cage -complete with its own ghost shield- to carry him to the familiar RV “And by popular opinion I mean, specifically, your opinion” the halfa turned to glare at the two adults holding his temporary prison, no real malice behind it “I am neither dumb, nor do I want to hurt humans!” he huffed, having had this conversation with his folks too many times to count.

Danny realized that carrying him in a metal cage was not going to be a good experience, the RV being pretty far away from his point of capture, so he started floating a bit. Not too much to hit the metal roof, but enough to take off the weight of his ecto-body.

A thought entered his mind, so he ignored his dad’s questioning look, probably in relation to his act of altruism towards his capturers, to ask “Why a cage?” he didn’t really expect an answer, and when neither of his parents answered he let out a heavy breath, a little disappointed.

Then, Danny heard his mom sigh and saw her shake her head as she asked for clarification “What do you mean, ghost?”

“Well, isn’t a cage a little… I don’t know… primitive? Couldn’t you have captured me with one of your Fenton Thermoses?” to Danny it seemed more work than it was worth. The Thermos would contain him and he would be much easier to carry.

“We wanted to keep you under observation” his dad butted in, making Danny turn to look at him.

“What if I just turn invisible? Can’t really observe me if you can’t see me” he smirked as he thought of turning invisible just to piss them off.

But his dad kept smiling, and even without checking, he was almost certain that his mom was doing the same. They had found him before, when he was invisible. Ergo: they had something to track him down with.

His own grin was wiped off of his face as the realization of them being several steps ahead hit him, as he began assessing their tech, everything they had with them, everything that could be new.

‘Man, I should really pay more attention when they talk about their new inventions’ he scolded himself for being so careless.

That was when he saw it. “Your goggles” he shook his head ‘The lenses are green, how did I miss that?’ Danny chastised himself for not noticing it in time.

“What is it? Heat signature? Ectoplasmic residue? A bit of both?” The look on their faces was one of confusion and mild astonishment. His dad opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, probably about to give Danny an honest response, his mom answered him “We won’t tell you how our weapons work. It would be giving you a way to work around them” she glared at him, a silent threat not to try anything stupid.

“So I was right on the money. It’s a bit of both, isn’t it?” he put his hands down, floating a bit more to put himself in a more comfortable position “Man, you guys are good!” he chuckled, then sighed loudly when his eyes landed back on the cage’s bars.

“Well, I’m taking a nap” a yawn escaped his mouth before he could catch it, watering his eyes a bit “Wake me up when you need me” he rolled to the side and, using his forearm and hand as a makeshift cushion, he closed his eyes, hoping he could drift off to sleep.

But his peace was short lived, as he heard his mother groan not more than a few minutes later. He opened one of his eyes to look at her, and as lucidely as possible addressed her.

“What?” he asked.

“You can drop the act, stop trying to pretend you’re human”

“Maddie, I don’t know if you noticed, but it’s about…” he made a point to look at the sky, as if assessing the time. He could, if he wanted, with just a bit more time. But not at that moment “ass o’clock in the morning!” he emphasized his point by turning around and looking the other way “I’m tired and I want to sleep. So” he yawned again “if you do not require my services” he said, with as much of a posh english accent he could master “I’m going to take a power nap”

It seemed that his parents really didn’t want him to sleep, as his attempt to slumber was once again interrupted by his mom speaking, as the cage was lowered in the backseat of the RV “You’re a ghost” she simply stated.

Danny stayed silent for a second, then sighed. He had been doing that a lot that day “And you’re a human” he hoped she would understand that stating the obvious wasn’t going to help her with whatever she needed from him.

“You don’t need to sleep” she stated, once again, as if it was an undeniable, scientific truth she gathered studying ghosts, and not a prejudice developed after years of conjectures.

Danny gave up on trying to catch some shut eye. He would have to take a nap during lunch the next day, because at that point he was sure it was going to be another all-nighter. He stayed laying down, with his back towards the cage’s floor and his hands behind his head, still floating a little. It made him feel more comfortable, as a ghost, to be above ground instead of touching it. He thought it had to do with the change in weight that came with his body changing from meat to ectoplasm, but he couldn’t be sure.

He closed his eyes, but didn’t try to fall asleep, as his dad started driving “If I wasn’t already dead, I’m sure your driving would kill me” he complained to himself. His breath hitched, as the vehicle swayed all of a sudden, the motion causing a startled noise to exit his mouth and his eyes to open.

“Why do you put that much effort in seeming human? It won’t work with us” his mom didn’t even turn around to look at him. Danny wouldn’t lie and say it never hurts to be treated like that from his parents, but he knew they would change their point of view in a heartbeat if he revealed himself. After all, he had lived it.

But he never did. The cons had always outweighed the pros, the pain he would bring them to see what they unconsciously did wasn’t worth it. They would fret, and worry, and blame themselves for everything. Danny didn’t want that. He didn’t want to see the look in their eyes when they realized how much they had involuntarily hurt him.

“What do you mean?” he tiredly decided to ask his mom.

“You know what I mean,” his mom replied, completely useful. Danny raised an eyebrow at her, awaiting clarification.

She sighed “I mean” she said harshly “the breathing. The saying you want to-to- to sleep!” she sounded utterly done with the whole situation “I don’t understand what benefits you get from keeping up the charade, seeing as it won’t work” she unfatised the last words, making it clear for Danny that they didn’t buy whatever they thought he was selling.

He looked at her, closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled “Do you want an actual answer you will listen to? You will consider what I say, even if it doesn’t align with what you think you know about ghosts?” he knew they weren’t going to. They were stuck in their way, too obsessed with being right to even consider that something was different, twisting every bit of evidence they got to fit their beliefs.

His parents shared a glance. His dad had seemed more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He never wanted to prove that ghosts were evil -after all, why would someone wish for inherently evil things to exist?- no, he just had always wanted to get rid of those that were, and for a while it was all of them. But a lot of things happened over the years, he met a lot of ghosts that didn’t fit the mold they created with speculations.

His mom, Danny knew, was the same. But she was also in denial. She didn’t want her entire worldview to change, because the unknown was scary.

‘Wow’ Danny thought ‘I’ve been hanging out with Jazz too much’

He saw his father smile and turn to look at the road in front of him, as did his mother, but she wasn’t smiling. She had her arms crossed and looked at Danny from the rearview mirror.

“We’ll humour you” she simply stated.

‘Well… It’s a start’ Danny wasn’t going to look a gifted horse in the mouth.

“Have you ever considered I’m not faking it?” that elicited a chuckle from his mom “Yeah, sure” she said sarcastically “You don’t need to breathe, why would you?”

“I’m not sure” Danny answered honestly “I’ve thought about it, though” he, Jazz and Sam had that conversation once, when he was still scared of not being completely human. When he hadn’t quite accepted everything that had happened.

“That’s your answer? ‘I don’t know, but I’m not faking it’?” his dad said, incredulous.

“I can give you some theories I have,” he offered. He won’t let that afternoon of oversharing insecurities with his -at the time- wanna-be-psychologist sister go to waste.

“Sure” they said at the same time, his dad with a curious note to his voice, while his mom just sounded wary.

“Well…” he thought about where to start. He could pull out the big guns, but was it really worth it to lay bare his doubts in front of his parents? He decided that maybe it was, if he could change their opinions like that.

“The most probable thing is I do it out of habit” he shrugged “even though I don’t need it, I’ve been doing it for 14 years, so it’s hard to just… not. Somethings I catch myself not breathing and I panic, before remembering that it’s not a big deal” which was something that Tucker always made fun of him for, but after it always got a good laugh out of all of them.

He waited for his parents to say something, but they didn’t comment, so he kept going “The other theory I had for a while, which was mostly before I stopped aging, was that it was a subconscious thing” he heard his father mutter under his breath “Aging?”

“Yeah, I kept aging for a while, but I don’t know if you could actually call it that. I think that since I died before finishing puberty I… Involuntarily kept changing my body to look like I was still, somehow, going through puberty”

“What made you stop?” His father seemed much more interested in all that than his mom, who just looked skeptical. He answered anyway.

“I noticed that ghosts weren’t supposed to change. Seeing how young Youngblood is, how long Dorothea has been a ghost even though she’s been one since the 12th century made me realize that” it had been a little painful, Dora had actually been very supportive and helpful about it. Clockwork tried to help, but he didn’t really understand with his whole ‘being all ages at the same time’ thing he had going on.

“I was in denial. About the whole ‘being dead’ thing. When I accepted that it was it. I wasn’t going to get a driver’s licence. I wasn’t going to be old enough to drink. I wouldn’t graduate. That’s when I stopped aging” it wasn’t a lie per se, sure. It was true that he did age for a while before accepting the fact that, partially, he was a ghost and nothing could change that. But he would still be able to achieve some of the things he wouldn’t be able to do if he was fully a ghost.

Sure, he had given up on being an astronaut, certain that he couldn’t pass any medical exam, but at the end of the day, he could go up to see the stars every time he wanted. Basically everything else on his list was doable.

“So,” his mom’s voice brought him back from his daydreaming “you’re saying you remember your time being alive?” she sounded like she hadn’t believed a single thing that came out of his mouth, but like the sole thought of something like that being possible was intriguing at the very least.

“Some ghosts do, other don’t” he yawned, a very high-pitched sound coming out of his mouth at the end “Word of advice though, it’s generally considered very rude to ask a ghost anything to do with their time as a living person or, and I cannot stress this enough, about their death. Unless they’re the ones starting that kind of conversation” Danny decided to warn them. He knew some ghosts wouldn’t do anything if someone asks, but they’d most likely get their day ruined. Others could just try to harm them for such queries.

“And why is that?” His mom’s tone of voice made that question sound like a little bit of a challenge, but Danny wasn’t kidding. It was a sensitive topic, one that even he found difficult to talk about, even with his friends.

“Because happy people don’t become ghosts” his voice was flat, void of emotion and low enough that for a second he wondered if his parents even heard him.

Then his dad spoke up “I’m sorry kiddo. Must’ve been awful” his mom looked like she wanted to argue, but didn’t really have it in her heart. After all, ghost or not, he still looked like a teen, and everyone would be heartbroken when confronted with the idea of someone so young, not only dying, be having such a horrible life, or dying in such a traumatic way that they become a ghost.

Youngblood came to Danny’s mind. He didn’t think he ever wanted to know.

The rest of the ride was suffered in silence by both parties. Despite his desire to rest, Danny couldn’t fall asleep after having had such a conversation with his parents. He wasn’t delusional enough to think that one simple conversation was going to fix things, but he still hoped that it could be a start.

#danny phantom #danny fenton #jack fenton #maddie fenton #danny phantom fanfiction #dp fanfic

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afewmarvelousthoughts · 6 years ago

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Truth Pt. 14

Master List @afewmarvelousthoughtsadmin

Request:

What’s up sug! sorry you’re struggling right now but I’ve come to help you If you could bring this to light for me I’d absolutely love for YOU TO DO JT So basically Bucky X Enhanced reader who are fuckin enemies. Hate each other to every last fiber of their beings bc Bucky is rude and she calls him out on it. AnywHs, they get drunk, truth or dare (go crZy baby) and LOTS LF dirty talk if u wanna do smut but if u don’t then buck taking care of her while she’s drunk cause she admitted her feelings

Pairing: Bucky X Reader (Enhanced)

Summary: Since The Avengers gave you a home the only blight has been Bucky Barnes, a ghost from your past that you can’t seem to shake. It makes you hate him. The feeling, it seems, is mutual. But… a simple game reveals that maybe things aren’t quite so simple. (Post Winter Soldier AU)

Warnings: Angst, feels, blood, pain, and... fluff

A/N: I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING!

FUUUUCK. Thank y’all so much for your support and love of this series. It’s been a runaway train from the beginning and I’ve enjoyed even the utterly painful parts. I thought I was gonna wait and post this on Wednesday like I usually do but honestly... after the last chapter I think everyone waited long enough.

I hope you all enjoy this. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Tags are open!

@midnightdream83 @mywinterwolf @disagreetoagree @breezy1415@peachthatdrinkslemonade @wonderlandmind4 @piensa-bonito @handplucked@buckysstar @sam-jae @marauderconvos –harder @for-the-love-of-the-fandom @marvelousmeggi @jewelofwinter @fairislesheets @animegirlgeeky @lydklein1 @katecolleen @siriuslycloudy2 @zannemes

The concussive force from the superheated air knocks everyone back. Free of Stark’s grip, Bucky hits his knees, gaping at the glowing pillar of white light reaching from the ground into the sky. It would be beautiful if he knew you weren’t trapped in the middle of it.

It only lasts for a couple of seconds before it’s gone. The sky cracks with thunder as it cools, clouds swirling in response to the unnatural disturbance. The ground shakes heavily for several minutes, buildings creak, a few close to the now leveled main building collapse.

Then… silence as rain begins to fall from the angry sky.

“J… Jarvis… talk to me…”

“The energy emitted… it was equivalent to a massive nuclear detonation… somehow Miss Y/N managed to contain it… had she not the city would have been decimated… The force caused an earthquake, around a five on the Richter scale. There will be damage but nothing major.”

Bucky hardly registers what any of that means. He bolts to his feet and begins running. Only one thing matters to him at this moment. He has to find you, no matter what shape you may be in he has to bring you home, he will not leave you here… he can’t. If Stark or anyone tried to stop him he’d kill them. That simple.

He’s about to jump into the crater that was once the main building when a hand grabs his shoulder. Spinning on his heels he’s ready to lash out at who ever had the gall to stop him. Steve’s mournful gaze freezes Bucky’s rage in an instant.

“We’ll find her Buck. I swear.” Bucky stares at him for a second before managing a nod and the two men slide down.

Desperately his eyes scan for anything that will give him a clue. But it’s just endless, charred, steaming rubble.

He hears Tony overhead, “Come on Jarvis, tell me you got something.” If Jarvis responds it’s not on everyone’s coms. Sam is also above them scanning, while Hill and Clint help Natasha down into the crater. No one seems certain of what they’re looking for, only that they have to look. Have to try.

After about ten minutes that feel like five hours Sam pipes up, “I think we got something!” He’s near the center, landing softly, no one sure how solid the ground beneath them is.

Bucky rushes over as Jarvis chimes in on all their coms, “Weak life signs. She seems to be in an air pocket.”

“Help me with this guys,” Tony goes to a large slab of wall. Carefully Bucky, Steve, and Tony lift the slab and lay it gently down, not wanting to cause the debris to shift too heavily. There’s still an unnerving groaning sound from somewhere beneath their feet.

They move more debris, working at a miserably slow pace. Finally, they lift a piece of strangely warped concrete and…

He sees you, the debris around you curved and almost melted forming a sort of cocoon. You’re on your back, large patches of your tac uniform have been burned away, your exposed flesh black and red and blistered, your right arm is pinned under your back at a sickening angle, clearly badly broken. Blood trickles from your mouth, nose, and ears. But you’re alive.

Unthinking Bucky drops down hands reaching, aching to touch you. “If you touch her I’ll put a bullet in you Barnes,” Sam barks settling next to you. Bucky glares, “Moving her you could kill her and I’m not going to fucking let that happen. We clear?”

He’s right. Bucky nods. Thankful for Sam.

“Jarvis we need the Nightingale.”

Within five minutes you’re on some kind of Stark tech stretcher. Sam carefully arranges your busted arm, while straps gently and automatically hold you in place.

“Let’s get her home,” Clint says from behind Bucky, patting his back in an attempt at comfort.

Everyone is quiet on the ride back. Sam monitors your vitals, your worryingly faint heartbeat drops over and over and Bucky feels himself die just a little each time. Thankfully you’re still hanging on when they land at the tower.

Medical is prepped and ready. Instantly they surround you, Dr. Cabot barking orders in her stern tone. Bucky follows but Steve grabs him, “Let them help her.”

“Get the fuck off me Steve I can’t-”

“You can’t go in the O.R. Buck,” his grip tightens, “you can’t. But they’re gonna do everything they can. She’s tough as nails. She’s gonna pull through this.” Tony walks past them guiding Natasha and Bucky shoots him a murderous glance. “Come on.”

Bucky refuses to leave medical while you’re in surgery. Everyone but Tony waits with him. Even Bruce joins them looking stressed. It’s just as good. He’s of the mind to literally rip Stark’s spine out.

Six excruciating hours later Dr. Cabot comes out. “We got her stable.” Bucky shoots up. “Some… some of the injuries were unique… the heat…” She shakes her head, “We did our best. Now we wait and hope.”

He feels like he’s gonna be sick. “Can… c… can I…”

“Soon,” The doctor gives Bucky a tender smile. “Get cleaned up and by the time you’re done we’ll have her ready for you to see.”

Bucky nods but can’t seem to bring himself to move. Clint and Steve coax him to the elevator. All the guys come along to the locker room they use for post mission clean up. No one willing to leave him alone.

Cleaned and changed they all head back up. Natasha is sitting with Hill, their hands clasped, in the little lounge area when they get there. Both looking morose.

“You can go see her,” Natasha’s voice is far away. “Wanted you to be first.”

Bucky runs the short distance to the private rooms the medical bay has. In the door, he freezes. You’re black and blue, bruises already blossoming. Bandages cover your arms from the burns, plus a few on your face.

“She’s breathing on her own,” Dr. Cabot comes up from behind, startling him. He jumps, but doesn’t lash out. “Sorry.” All he can manage is a nod in response before stepping in.

“That’s a good sign,” her tone is trying to reassure him but it’s not working. “She’s gonna need a new shoulder but that can wait… Just… there were internal burns. We aren’t sure how they’ll heal… and the head trauma… that’s always tricky.” She sighs, “Time will tell. Being enhanced… changes things, hopefully in this case for the better. No one should have made it through that… She’s strong.”

He nods as if anything she said sunk in and walks over to the bed collapsing on the chair next to it.

“Talk to her,” he looks up and she’s smiling. “Let her know you’re here. I’ll check in later.”

As soon as the door clicks behind her hot tears begin to stream silently down his face as he stares at you. He’s terrified to touch you, so scared that he’ll somehow make this worse. And talk… his tongue feels like lead in his mouth. Even his brain is swirling with different languages, unable to lock on to his mother tongue.

This is his fault. That’s the only solid thought he has right now. He shouldn’t have let you go in that room. Shouldn’t have let you anywhere near this mission… You hating him forever for being a controlling asshole would be better than this… at least you’d be alive.

Then he realizes there is one thing. One thing he has to find a way to say. Russian, Mandarin, French, Spanish, they all try to come out before he coaches his tongue to the proper English syllables. Leaning close to your ear he whispers, voice thick with regret and grief, “I love you, Y/N. I’m so sorry…”

Five days later and your bruises have faded some, the burns healing, but you haven’t opened your eyes… Bruce assured him that you clearly have brain activity, that’s supposed to mean you’re still with them… still fighting. It’s not much comfort.

Bucky has hardly left this room, he’s spoken even less… well to anyone but you, and even then only when you’re alone. Steve and Natasha have kept the most vigil with him, he thinks they’ve worked out some sort of six on six off schedule. The others come in at least once a day, sad smiles and soft words. That is everyone but Stark who’s kept his distance.

Steve finally convinces Bucky that he needs to step away for more than five minutes. Well, convinces isn’t the word… he practically begs. Bucky agrees on the grounds that they won’t leave the tower and Jarvis is to notify him immediately of even the smallest changes to your condition.

They only go up to the roof for about a half hour. The air and sunlight actually do feel good, they clear his head just enough.

As the two men ride back down Bucky turns to his friend, “Thank you.” Steve looks shocked for a moment before relief floods his face. They’re the first words he’s said to him in days.

Without a word, Steve pulls Bucky into a bone crushing hug. In all their years of friendship, Bucky rarely let himself be weak around Steve. He needed to be strong for the scrappy little shit because no one else was gonna… but now, in this elevator after both their worlds have fallen, risen, and now Bucky feels as if it’s fallen again he leans into Steve’s strength for just a minute. “You got it, Buck.”

As they approach your room music spills from the open door. Bucky feels the blood in his veins turn cold. Stark.

“I know you have to hate this one Sparks, so feel free to tell me what a lame ass I am… berate me… anything…” Tony’s voice is rough. He’s leaned back in a chair balancing on two legs by your bed, hands cradling the back of his head. “The 90’s were a tough time for music but there were some gems.”

“Bucky, don’t-” Steve warns. Stark shoots up as Bucky barrels into the room.

He grabs Stark by his tee and slams him against the wall. Surprisingly though all the hateful things he’s thought to scream at Stark over the last few days won’t fly from his lips now. Instead, he holds him there, cold eyes boring into him.

“For what it’s worth I wanna kick my ass too…” The sincerity in Stark’s voice hits Bucky like a blow and he releases him though he doesn’t move away.

Stark’s eyes wander behind Bucky to you, “It was the one thing-” His voice cracks and he clears his throat trying to gain composure before continuing. “It was the only thing she ever asked of me. I asked her to trust us, to join us. I asked her to play hero… fuck.” He runs a hand over his face, catching the tears before they can fall. “She never asked anything of me… until you.” Bucky turns away, not wanting to hear it but unable to leave.

“She asked me to promise that if shit went sideways I would keep your dumbass safe because she knew you’d try to follow her into any deathtrap that came up. The only thing she asked.” His voice is shaking with emotion, “And you can hate me until the day I eventually eat it but I’d do it again in a heartbeat for her.”

Silence rings between the three men, only broken by the sounds of the music. “Even if you hate it play the music. There’s some stuff I know she’ll like. And even if she doesn’t… maybe she’ll get annoyed enough to wake up and have at me.”

As Tony pushes past him Bucky’s arm shoots out, holding him in place. He doesn’t look at him, scared that if he does he won’t be able to say the words. “I don’t hate you, Tony.” Finally, he turns, Tony’s face is bereft, “Keep the music coming, she likes your shitty playlists.”

A sad smile curls Tony’s lips. “They’re only shitty because you’re too old to know what’s good, Manchurian.”

Day 12 rolls up and Bucky begins to feel himself shutdown in a way he hasn’t since he’s been here. It’s a detachment he was familiar with as the Soldier, as though he’s observing the world through plate glass.

He’s going through the motions they all expect. Eating, drinking, talking when he needs to, even managing a half hearted smile here and there. All of it is muscle memory though, autopilot to get through the times when other people are watching.

Honestly, it’s easier to feel that way. Easier when they’re there and he has to play a part. When they’re gone… he feels it. It’s like there’s a crushing weight on his chest. He thinks he’d take the chair a thousand times over this grief. Rather mind numbing pain than this slow suffocation.

But still, he stays by your side. He plays Tony’s playlists, some of his music, some of yours. Sometimes he sings to you, softly, old songs he remembers from his life before. Maybe he tells you about something he remembers or old dreams he had of who he’d be. Over and over he whispers those those three little words he should have been saying long before now.

By day 17 he’s just numb. Your bruises have faded, the burns almost healed leaving pink scars in places that may linger for a few years. The doctors insist that your brain activity is promising but you haven’t even fluttered your eyes, not even a squeeze to his hand, nothing… despite the times, alone in the wee hours of the morning, that he’s begged for you to.

On day 21 he thinks this is worse than death. Just watching you lay there day after day night after night. Performing for the others. Hoping and hoping and hoping for something that may never happen.

Tonight he doesn’t sing, doesn’t play music, doesn’t tell stories. He lays his head down on the bed, silence holding you both tight. Tears stream from his eyes and he counts your breaths until oblivion takes him.

No one ever tells you what it’s like to almost die.

There’s always the wondrous stories about people who die and come back. The white light, loved ones telling you it’s not time and all that shit. People just don’t seem to talk about the almost. They don’t talk about the void of pain, the fear of dying that lingers after your body ceases to listen to you. There’s no beautiful light or love when you’re screaming but no one can hear you. Nothing poetic in pushing through the endless darkness of unconsciousness.

You’ve been here before though. Many times. The almost is like an old friend that rises to greet you when you feel the roof give way beneath your feet. It’s happy to drag you under as the debris settles around your body, still pulsing and glowing with pure burning energy.

Unlike those other times though you don’t beg for death and you don’t pull through to spite the reaper either. This time you fight because there’s something worth living for. Someone, or someones rather, who you aren’t willing to leave behind. Not yet. So you push back against that insidious pull of death, scream and beg your body to obey you to move just a little, just something so they know.

It seems like an age before you feel the pain sear through your right shoulder. For a moment you don’t remember why your shoulder should be hurting or why the hell you’re sleeping on your back. Then it all barrels into you. The pain is less of a nuisance then, you savor it because it means you won, you’re still alive.

The room is silent but you can hear a familiar steady breathing to your left, feel a familiar weight across your torso. Bucky sleeping, his left arm over you, right hand tightly gripping your left. You have to open your eyes, have to see him… You don’t know how long it takes you to force your eyes to open but it feels like hours.

Slowly they creak open, heavy and strangely sore. Even though the light is dim it feels like looking into the sun for a second. Eventually, they adjust and you drag your gaze to the left.

Your heart rises in your parched throat. His eyes look puffy from tears, lips chapped. His beard seems so much longer… how long were you… it didn’t matter.

First, you try to open your mouth, but nothing happens. Your tongue feels heavy, thick, unsure of how to function anymore. It takes a few frustrating minutes but finally you get it under control.

You squeeze his right hand as tight as you can manage. He shifts a bit but doesn’t seem to register until you squeeze once more. Instantly he shoots up, eyes wide.

“Y/N?!”

Your voice is nothing but a rasp, barely even a whisper, but you have to say it… just in case you never get to again. “I love you.”

Those spectacular eyes of his well with tears instantly, his chest heaves, like he hasn’t taken a breath in days. “I love you too, Y/N. So much baby doll. I love you.” That’s all he manages, words stumbling over themselves, before he breaks.

Bucky's lips crash into yours silencing his sob and you tangle the fingers of your left hand in his hair. His forehead rests against yours, his gaze making your heart skip a beat.

“I thought I lost you, baby.”

“You’ll never lose me, Bucky. I’m all yours.”

The next few days are a strange, disorienting blur. You feel like you forgot how to be awake.

Despite almost a month of unconsciousness you constantly feel yourself drifting off. Dr. Cabot tells you that your body is still healing. It was a massive trauma and even super soldiers have a breaking point. Still… it’s annoying. You want to be awake, to study the faces of your friends, dry their tears, hold on to every single moment.

Unconscious or awake though Bucky is there. His reassuring warmth a constant by your side. But… you can see what this has done to him. He’s ragged, barely sleeping, his eyes haunted. The relief that floods his face every time you wake up nearly undoes you.

Four days later Dr. Cabot comes in, a smile on her face. “Good news. I’m clearing you to go home.” That one little work sends warmth flooding through you. Home. Home with Bucky. You turn to him, your face hurting from the smile that just burst across it.

“Don’t get too excited though, you’re not done seeing me. I’m still going to be checking in and as soon as Tony has your shoulder replacement ready we’re scheduling your surgery.” As much as you hate the thought of being under, you’re sick of having a useless arm, you nod. “But since you live here I think being back in your own space will be good. For the both of you.” She gives Bucky a stern look.

“Thanks, Doc.” You eek out despite the emotion welling in your chest.

A couple of hours later and you’re in the elevator, thankful you talked your way out of a wheelchair. It felt good to be on your own two feet, even if you were leaning on Bucky for support.

When the doors slide open a welcome banner hung above the door greets you.

“Are they going to jump out and yell surprise when we walk in?”

Bucky looks down at you, clearly just as caught off guard as you were. “No idea.”

Cautiously he opens the door but to both of your relief no one jumps out, in fact, no one is here at all. What is here are sprays of flowers and a ton of food. A lump rises in your throat as you pick up the hand written card left on the bar:

We all thought you two would like some time alone. Enjoy the snacks, pizza will come later. We each picked a movie we think you’ll like, they’re queued on your TV. Jarvis has your ‘Welcome Home’ playlist ready to go for whenever you want to annoy Ice Man.

Glad you’re back with us, Sparks.

-The Team

I picked out the flowers, because we can’t trust these boys to get that right.

-Nat

Bucky wraps you in his arms, pulling your back flat against him, “We’re home, doll. Really home.”

The weight of those words almost make you weep from pure joy. Hydra had tried time and time again to take everything from you both, to prevent you from finding home and happiness. Hell, even your childhood home was nothing but a lie… But here… With these people, with him, together you had all found something special. More than home, you found family.

Turning in his arms you grasp the back of his neck with your good hand. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

His lips are soft against yours, this kiss unhurried. After all, why rush something so sweet. It truly hits you then that you want nothing but this for the rest of your days, no matter how many or how few there may be. Nothing but him.

Pulling back from the kiss you stare into his face. You want to remember every line, every freckle, every single detail of how he looks in this moment.

“What is it?” Concern flashes across his features for an instant.

“Truth or dare?”

“What?” He laughs.

“Come on. Truth or dare?”

“Um, dare.”

“I dare you to marry me, James Buchanan Barnes.”

The laugh that tears through his chest is pure joy. Every ounce of exhaustion slips from his features as he lifts you up and sets you on the counter top. He doesn’t say anything, just takes your face in his rough hands and kisses you until you can hardly breathe.

“Well? Do you accept my challenge?” You grin up at this man you love.

“I do.”

“That’s supposed to come later I think.” You tuck a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

“I will happily accept that dare, Y/N.” Another laugh falls from his lips before he kisses you once more. “My turn,” he says breaking the kiss. “Truth or dare?”

“I feel obligated to chose dare, it got us into this whole mess originally after all.”

He nods in acknowledgment. “I dare you to take my name.” All you can do is smile at him. You already planned on it, your original last name left a bad taste in your mouth after everything. Your silence seems to unsettle him though, “I know it’s old fashioned but-”

“I’d love to.” He looks shocked. “Y/N Barnes. Has a nice ring to it.”

“Yeah,” he covers your face in kisses, “it does.”

Epilogue to come.

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky #bucky barnes #bucky feels

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thinkyoureholy · 6 years ago

Text

Blood Lust [3]

Pairing : Oh Sehun / Reader

Genre : Angst, fluff, suggestive language, Vampire!AU

Words: 2.4k

Pt 1. Pt 2. Pt 3. Pt 4. Pt 5. Pt 6. Pt 7. Pt 8. Pt 9. Pt 10. Pt 11. Pt 12. Pt 13. Pt 14. Pt 15.

-Sehun’s P.O.V-

I rubbed my temples with my fingertips, Andrei and Yeseul not taking no for an answer. They both wanted to plan a banquet for the most powerful of our kind and they had the brilliant idea of wanting to hold it in my home.

“It’ll only be for one night.” Andrei argued, scotting forward in his seat.

“No.”

“But Sehun-”

I cut Yeseul off, flashing my eyes at the two of them. They had been at it for hours and no matter how many times I said no they kept trying to come up with new ways to persuade me. They even tried to guilt trip me into it but I wasn’t going to let them have their way.

“No is my final answer. I don’t want any of those mongrels setting foot into my home. I don’t want to have to see any of those disgusting old men unless absolutely necessary.”

“Sehun those ‘disgusting old men’ are members of our council. You should show them a little more respect. They’re the reason you’re living the life right now.” Andrei said, seeming displeased with how I addressed members of the council.

I couldn’t help but smile at his words, leaning back in my chair as I crossed my arms over my chest, “Now that’s where you’re wrong my little Andy-”

“Andrei.” He cut me off, his annoyance clearly visible.

“Whatever. You think I’m living in luxury because of those old bastards? Please, don’t make me laugh,” I paused to let a chuckle slip passed my lips, “I would’ve been living however the hell I want without them interfering the way they did because of the blood that runs through my veins.”

I stood from my seat, stalking over to the two of them. I stood directly in front of Andrei, leaning down so he and I were eye level, “You’ll do well to remember that the two of us are not the same. Now get out of my house before I force you out and trust me, it won’t be pretty...for you that is.”

I straightened out and took a step back as he rose to his feet. He turned on his heel without a word, leaving the door to my office wide open for Yeseul to follow but she seemed to hesitate. I sighed, running my hands over my face.

“Get out.”

“Sehun, one of those ‘bastards’ is your father…”

“I said get out!” I shouted, angry that she had the audacity to bring him up.

“Sehun-”

“Seul-ah…” I let out with a sigh, reigning in my temper, even just for a moment, “I don’t want to hurt you...get out...please.”

She gave me a pitiful look before finally leaving. As soon as she closed the door behind her the energy seemed to leave my body as I leaned against my desk. I let out a shaky breath, combing my fingers through my hair and closing my eyes. I just had a few seconds of peace before I heard someone enter my office once more.

“What now?” I questioned in exhaustion.

“Yoseob wanted to know if you’re ready for your next meal…” She said. her voice sounding small.

I opened my eyes to see Y/N standing in the doorway, her head bowed as she tried to hide her discomfort. She seemed to be trying to hide something on her neck. With my interest piqued I walked over to her, watching as she flinched slightly when she noticed my hand reaching up for her neck. I gave her a look that said to keep still as I moved her hair aside to see puncture wounds on her neck. As soon as I saw them I knew exactly who gave them to her. Without waiting for her to say a word I stormed out of the room to see the pair were still in my living room. He was still wiping the side of his mouth when I walked in, a smug look on his face.

“Andrei, you son of a bitch,” I sneered out, grabbing onto his collar tightly, “How dare you come into my home and drink from one of my servants?”

He had the nerve to let a smirk spread across his face. I threw him against the wall, watching his head hit the concrete, the wall cracking at the force. Yeseul tried to pry my hands off of Andrei but with a single look from me she backed down, taking several steps back and away from the two of us.

“Lay your filthy hands on her ever again and just see what happens.”

He chuckled, his hands coming up to push at my chest roughly, “Don’t tell me you have compassion for the food.”

“She’s not fucking food.”

“Oh? I see you haven’t changed one bit,” He paused to grin wickedly, “What? Wasn’t Mi-”

“Don’t you dare say her name with your fucking mouth or I will rip you to shreds.” I all but growled out my eyes undoubtedly having changed.

I could tell by the way Andrei’s eyes started to fill with fear that they had changed. Andrei’s pride wouldn’t allow him to back down so he just stood there but I knew he was starting to waver. Yeseul must’ve seen how far the situation has escalated as she made her way over to him. I wanted to give him the chance to back down because I knew once I lost control there’s nothing that’s able to hold me back anymore. Yeseul managed to convince him to leave as they scurried out of the house, Andrei not even sparing me a glance.

“Sehun?”

“What?!” I yelled, my anger still very much evident.

I turned to Y/N...her frame visibly shaking under my gaze. I could tell this incident caused her normal fiery personality to simmer and completely burn out. She was scared out of her mind but she tried to put up a front, one I could see right through. I couldn’t help myself in feeling angry with her as well, for letting something like this happen.

“Where’s that fucking attitude you give me, huh?! Are you just going to continue to freeze up in front of other vampires that aren’t me?!”

“What the fuck did you expect me to do?! He would’ve-”

“Fight back! Don’t let them take advantage of you! I’m not always going to be here to protect you!”

“I never fucking asked you to protect me!” She yelled back, tears forming in her eyes.

At seeing her tears I closed my eyes, trying to calm down. I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a heavy sigh. I opened my eyes to see her already walking away from me, another sigh leaving my lips. Another surge of anger ran through me as I turned around, punching a hole in the wall.

[2015; 130 years ago]

I kept my eyes on the floor, my face completely blank of all and any emotion. My father had called me in to talk over a few things I wasn’t all that interested in. I clenched and unclenched my jaw as he kept talking, hating being in the same room with the man. I could tell my father knew I wasn’t paying attention to anything he was saying, an annoyed look crossing his eyes.

“Are you listening to me, boy?”

I nodded firmly, moving my tongue around in my mouth and poking it against my cheek. My father hated being ignored by others, his own son ignoring him infuriating him the most. He slammed whatever he had in his hands down onto his desk roughly.

“What the hell do I have to do to get you to at least listen to me? Do I have to threaten you with Mijin? Is that it? Do I really have to go that far?”

A surge of anger immediately ran through my body as soon as he mentioned her name, my eyes immediately shifting. My father flashed his own at me in warning but I could care less, just having her name roll off his tongue made my blood boil.

“Don’t you dare touch-”

“Then listen to me you imprudent little bastard. I don’t give a damn that you’re my son, if I have to go that far then so be it. I won’t let our bloodline die off so easily.” He said firmly, never raising his voice too high.

“You’re one to talk. You killed my mother off without even blinking an eye, your wife, your mate.” I spat out feeling my heart string being pulled at remembering what he did to her.

“Sehun! You will show me some respect!” He growled out, shifting before closing his eyes and regaining his composure.

“You’re my son...and after I die you’ll be the last pure blood left…” He sighed out, rubbing his hands over his face, “You have to listen to me if you don’t want the others turning on you.”

“You’ve been alive for a millennia...it doesn’t look like you’re going anywhere. And I don’t fucking care about any of the others, they’re just a bunch of mutts. They have no idea how to fucking control themselves and if the humans weren’t as oblivious as they are they would’ve caught on by now.”

“You know we’re not immortal...we also have an expiration date,” He said softly before continuing, “But why speak so ill of the ones you claim to adore? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you observe them, you’re not very good at hiding it.” He responded, leaning back in his chair.

I ground my teeth together, refusing to meet his gaze because I knew he was absolutely right. Ever since I was a boy I always envied humans. They were all so carefree and loving to one another for the most part. They looked out for each other like no other, loved each other, fought for each other while us vampires were ready to tear each other apart the second another looked at us the wrong way. Of course there was a lot of things wrong with humans but the good always out shined the bad. No matter how bad it got for them I could always see most of them try to fix themselves and live happily with one another. The thing I envied the most was the fact that they were able to grow old with each other or alone if they so chose but they were able to finally be laid to rest.

I knew I would have to watch Mijin grow old and die and I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Sure I could turn her...but she has said multiple times that that isn’t something that she wants. As much as I argued with her to change her mind she was headstrong so I had no other choice to respect her wishes. I loved Mijin more than I’ve ever loved anyone in the two hundred years that I’ve been alive and I wanted to keep her by my side.

“If you have nothing else of importance to tell me then I’ll be leaving.” I said without any emotion, my face blank as I bowed.

I turned on my heel and headed straight for the door, stopping in my tracks at what fell from his lips, “They’re catching on...it’s only a matter of time until we’re exposed and we need to be ready for it.”

I said nothing as I kept my back to him, trying to hide how much this shocked me. I clutched onto the doorknob with more force than I intended, feeling it crumble in my hand.

“Keep her well hidden if you don’t want them to do unspeakable things simply because she has a vampire lover.”

After hearing that I left the room, making my way back home quickly. I knew if my father had warned me then the situation was more serious than I thought. Some idiot let a human see them in their true form and was stupid enough to let them get away. As much as I loved humanity the way they acted when afraid was scary within itself. I knew that if they caught wind of Mijin and I’s relationship they would mostly likely torture her and then some for falling for a monster like me.

“Pack your things.” Was all I said as I briskly walked inside our home.

Mijin was sitting on a couch, nose deep in a book she had been reading since I left. She furrowed her brows, sitting up on the couch, “What?”

I didn’t respond as I walked straight into our bedroom. I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started throwing her clothes into it. I hurriedly grabbed a separate duffel bag and put a few more of her belongings inside.

“Sehun what the hell are you doing?”

I ignored her, continuing to pack up her things until she grabbed my arm to stop me, “Answer me.”

“He knows. Mijin...he knows.”

I could see the color drain from her face but she recovered fairly quickly, trying to act as if it didn’t affect her but I could see right through her. She was completely terrified of my father and for good reason, my father wasn’t a man to mess with.

“Sehun, don’t you think you should trust your father? I don’t think he’d-”

“I’m not going to take any chances. I’ve already lost my mother...I can’t bare to lose you too, I won’t lose you.”

“You won’t lose me. Sehun you don’t even know what your father would do. Maybe he won’t even do anything and you’re getting worked up for nothing.”

“Baby..please…”

“I’m not running away, Sehun. You know me…” She said, a soft smile on her lips.

“It’s not just him I’m worried about...your kind...they’re catching on…”

She froze at that, her eyes widening slightly. She sighed heavily before closing her eyes for a few seconds, “I don’t care...Sehun...I’m not leaving you.”

“Love, I-”

“Sehun, nothing is going to happen, trust me. I promise if something does go wrong I’ll run but I’ll be damned if I don’t take you with me as well.”

I cracked a small smile, reaching for her hand and pulling her towards me, enveloping her in a hug. I held onto her tightly, afraid that our time together might be cut short abruptly. I caressed the back of her head, wanting to keep her safe from all danger but I knew that there were certain things that were out of my control. I just hope I can protect her properly.

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dfroza · 3 years ago

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Love is absolute purity and Light.

and we only see it clear by faith and through grace that renews the heart & mind.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 3rd chapter of the Letter of Galatians:

You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a spell on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.

Is it not obvious to you that persons who put their trust in Christ (not persons who put their trust in the law!) are like Abraham: children of faith? It was all laid out beforehand in Scripture that God would set things right with non-Jews by faith. Scripture anticipated this in the promise to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed in you.”

So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine! And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.”

The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: “The person who believes God, is set right by God—and that’s the real life.” Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: “The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them.”

Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.

* * *

Friends, let me give you an example from everyday affairs of the free life I am talking about. Once a person’s will has been signed, no one else can annul it or add to it. Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say “to descendants,” referring to everybody in general, but “to your descendant” (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ. This is the way I interpret this: A will, earlier signed by God, is not annulled by an addendum attached 430 years later, thereby negating the promise of the will. No, this addendum, with its instructions and regulations, has nothing to do with the promised inheritance in the will.

What is the point, then, of the law, the attached addendum? It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham. The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. But if there is a middleman as there was at Sinai, then the people are not dealing directly with God, are they? But the original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.

If such is the case, is the law, then, an anti-promise, a negation of God’s will for us? Not at all. Its purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. For if any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time.

Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.

But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.

The Letter of Galatians, Chapter 3 (The Message)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 1st chapter of the book of Jeremiah about his True purpose of delivering God’s message to others without fearing what they think:

The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:

“Before I shaped you in the womb,

I knew all about you.

Before you saw the light of day,

I had holy plans for you:

A prophet to the nations—

that’s what I had in mind for you.”

But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.

I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”

God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’

I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.

Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

God’s Decree.

God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,

“Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!

See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do

among nations and governments—a red-letter day!

Your job is to pull up and tear down,

take apart and demolish,

And then start over,

building and planting.”

God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”

And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.

I’ll make every word I give you come true.”

God’s Message came again: “So what do you see now?”

I said, “I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us.”

Then God told me, “Disaster will pour out of the north

on everyone living in this land.

Watch for this: I’m calling all the kings out of the north.”

God’s Decree.

“They’ll come and set up headquarters

facing Jerusalem’s gates,

Facing all the city walls,

facing all the villages of Judah.

I’ll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah

for walking out on me—what a terrible thing to do!—

And courting other gods with their offerings,

worshiping as gods sticks they’d carved, stones they’d painted.

“But you—up on your feet and get dressed for work!

Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.

Don’t pull your punches

or I’ll pull you out of the lineup.

“Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work.

I’m making you as impregnable as a castle,

Immovable as a steel post,

solid as a concrete block wall.

You’re a one-man defense system

against this culture,

Against Judah’s kings and princes,

against the priests and local leaders.

They’ll fight you, but they won’t

even scratch you.

I’ll back you up every inch of the way.”

God’s Decree.

The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 1 (The Message)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, August 14 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about wholeness through humility:

In our Torah portion for this week (i.e., Shoftim) we read: “You shall be wholehearted with the LORD your God” (Deut. 18:13). Note that the word “wholehearted” in this verse (i.e., tamim: תָּמִים) is often translated as “perfect” or “blameless” in many Bible versions, though it is better to understand the word to connote being made “complete” or “whole.” When God said to Abraham, “I am El Shaddai; walk before me and be "tamim" (Gen. 17:1), he was not saying “be perfect” or “don’t ever make a mistake,” but rather be fully engaged, that is, walk before God passionately, sincerely, with all his heart, and by doing so “walk out” the relationship with full assurance that he is accepted and beloved by God. Likewise when Yeshua said “Be therefore perfect as your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48), he meant that we should be complete, finished, and “made whole” by knowing and receiving the overflowing love and light of God...

“You shall be wholehearted” is a mandate to know who you are, to know what is truly good as distinguished from what is evil, and to be united with God’s passion to be healed from your inner conflicts and ambivalence (δίψυχος). We are made “whole” or “perfect” (i.e., complete) when we resolutely turn to God for healing of what divides our hearts, as it says: “The Torah of the LORD is perfect (תָּמִים), returning the soul” (Psalm 19:8). Understand the Torah’s commandment, then: “You shall be tamim (i.e., whole and wholehearted) with the LORD your God,” to be a prophecy of transformation for your life, friend... Amen: May you know "the love of Messiah that surpasses knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19).

Note that in the Sefer Torah (i.e., the handwritten Torah scroll), the first letter of the word tamim (“wholehearted”) is written extra LARGE in order to emphasize the importance of the word. Notice also the little word “with” (עִם) that follows in this verse. This hearkens to Micah 6:8: “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice (mishpat), and to love kindness (chesed), and to walk humbly (hatznea lechet) with your God?” Having a humble heart walks with the LORD. Humility begins with the awareness that 1) there is a God and 2) you are not Him.... It is the practice of da lifnei mi attah omed: “knowing before whom you stand” and living your life in light of this fundamental truth. [Hebrew for Christians]

8.13.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

August 14, 2021

Questioning God

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Romans 9:20)

Whenever one begins a question with “why,” he should realize that the answer must necessarily be theological, not scientific. Science can deal with the questions of “what” and “how,” sometimes even with “where” and “when,” but never with “why”! The “why” questions have to do with motives and purposes, even when dealing with natural phenomena. (“Why does the earth rotate on its axis?” “Why do we have mosquitoes?”) Even though we can partially explain such things by secondary causes, we finally encounter a “first cause,” and then the “why?” can be answered only by God.

The wise thing to do is simply to believe that He has good reasons for everything, whether we can discern them now or not. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). God the Creator “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11), and it is our high privilege simply to trust Him, not to question Him.

On the other hand, He often asks us: “Why?” “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Jesus asked His disciples when they thought they were in great peril (Matthew 8:26). “If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (John 8:46), He would say to those who question His Word.

Then, to those who doubt His deity, the apostle Paul, speaking in His name, asks: “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8). As the popular chorus goes: “God specializes in things thought impossible!” Our God is omniscient and knows what’s best; He is omnipotent, so He can do it. He is all-loving and will surely do what’s best for those who trust Him. HMM

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pixelpolaroid · 7 years ago

Text

Left with a memory- Chapter 15

[Just a heads up, this one is pretty long. Also I’m gonna add this in just in case, slight self-harm at the end so this is your warning!]

Chapter 14

Yet he still fights

It’s not over. It would never be over. That decision was made when they lost Henrik, and then reinforced by losing Marvin. None of them wanted to believe it but now it was a part of life they had to accept. That’s what brought them here.

Chase, Jackie, and Jamie were all standing on the opposite side of an electric fence. There was nothing going through it. An abandoned electric power plant, completely empty of any power. A place that could drain a location of power right from under someone’s nose, a place completely connected to the grid. This had to be where Anti was. Jackie turned to Chase, held the stare for a moment, then nodded. Chase bent down to one knee, cutting through the fence with wire cutters.

Anti looked over his toys. His prized possessions. His puppets. A smirk holding a strong look on his face. “Can you see them?” He asked the magician.

He closed his eye, allowing his third to open. “They’re cutting the fence as we speak,” He replied with no hesitation.

“Good,” Anti smiled. He held out a black sturdy mask. “You’ll want this, my little Dark Trickster,” The mask was long enough that it would cover his whole face. It had green markings above the eyes, and red marks up the cheek bones. Around the eyes was a white ring. Trickster held it, looking at the mask, mesmerized by the bright green eye symbol in the center forehead.

Suddenly, his face jolted up. “They’ve broken through,” He said. Anti looked back smiling.

“Perfect,” He turned back to the two. “They want to take you from me. Dear Plague doctor, can you make sure that we have sedatives for our guests?” Plague nodded, putting on his raven mask and walking to his lab. Once he was gone, Anti turned to the magician. “Trickster,” Anti reach one hand up, gentle running it across his chin. His touch was gentler now, his expression kind and calm, searching for understanding. “Do you see it? Do you know now why I’ve taken you two?” He asked, almost pleaded.

Trickster looked down at the glitch, an equally gentle expression on his face. “I see it. I understand.”

Anti’s lip twitched into almost a smile, before pulling his hand away. “Good,” He looked to the door. “These men are broken. Let’s put them back together in a new way. I want you by my side.”

The magician nodded, looking back at the mask in his hand. His attention was brought up when he heard a strong banging on the metal door someone trying to get in. He quickly strapped it on, tying it in the back of his head. He put out his hands, allowing a cloud of dark smoke to engulf the room. He turned to Anti before disappearing into the fog.

After about five full body shoves against the door, Jackie finally broke the lock. When they entered the dark room, they were met with a dark fog. Chase stepped closer to the other two egos. “Stay close guys,” He whispered. “Don’t let Anti get any of us alone,” The other two nodded, but Chase could barely see it. This fog was so dense.

The three began slowly walking through, Jackie and Jamie ready to fight, Chase with his gun locked and loaded. Chase lifted his gun in one direction suddenly. Jackie and Jamie looked the way he was pointed, but saw nothing. “I saw something moving in the fog,” He explained. They couldn’t see a thing though.

Jackie was beginning to get frustrated. “Anti!” He yelled suddenly. “Show yourself!”

“You can’t hide from us forever!” Chase added.

The three froze when a low snicker rumbled through the air. “Who said I was hiding?” They heard his glitched voice call. “Come and find me.”

“If you can,” The voice came at them from different directions. they couldn’t pinpoint its location.

Chase leaned in close to Jackie, keeping his eyes on the fog. “Maybe we should split up,” He whispered.

Jackie looked back at him like he was crazy. “Absolutely not. That’s what he wants us to do. We stick together.”

Suddenly, something, or someone, jumped at Jamie. The two looked back at the man now pinning the dark ego to the ground. They went to pull him off, but suddenly he was gone, leaving Jamie on his back, shaking in fear. Chase went down on one knee to help his friend. “Jamie, you okay?” Jamie nodded, though he was still visibly shaking. The mute man looked down at his arm. His eyes widened when he saw the three deep cuts in his arm. “Anti,” Chase mumbled. Though he wasn’t sure. These marks weren’t as clean cut as marks from a knife, it looked almost like an animal’s claw marks.

Chase helped Jamie stand, the mute man now holding his arm to keep it from bleeding too much. Jackie looked back noticing the cut. “Maybe we should go, we might be better off trying again when we have the advantage,” Chase was about to respond, but suddenly he felt something wriggling against his ankle. He looked down and saw a thick electric wire slither around his ankle before pulling him down and into the fog. He saw Jackie and Jamie reach for him before they disappeared from his view.

“Jackie! Jamie!” He called, grabbing at the wire, trying to free himself. The snake-like creature suddenly stopped pulling him, but before he could stand, a figure pounced on him, grabbing both arms and pinning him to the ground. Chase felt their nails digging deep into his skin. He winced at the pain, trying to wiggle free. The person pinned his hands above Chase’s head with one hand. Chase’s eyes finally recovered from the shock and he looked up to see a masked man, holding a syringe of some kid of liquid. The masked man leaned in with the needle.

Chase continued to fight the man above him. He froze when their eyes locked. Ocean blue looking into a dark, septic green. The masked man hesitated. Chase felt his grip loosen and took his opportunity to get free. He threw the man off, taking the syringe from his hand, breaking in on the concrete floor. Chase fought with the masked man. More cords began to tangle around Chase’s feet. The masked man seemed to be trying to get him away more than anything. Though he didn’t notice, the fog around him began to lift, making his gaze of the mask man clearer.

He could finally make out the features of the mask. He could tell what it was, and it made him freeze. It was a cat. Wires wrapping around him? Dark fog instead of static. That wasn’t like Anti. that was more like someone else. Chase had the man pinned now, weak cords grabbing at him now. Chase reached forward and pulled off the mask. “Marvin? Is that you buddy?”

Marvin began fighting Chase off. “No!” He screamed. His voice was layered with static. Chase could hear glitched sobs coming from the other. His eyes flashing from green to blue, back to green. Over and over again. Marvin was clearly fighting for control.

“Marvin, listen to me. Whatever happened to you, you need to fight it!”

Marvin struggled beneath the other. “He left you,” He said, though it didn't seem to be directed at Chase. Marvin’s attacks grew more aggressive now.

“I know, I know I did. I’m sorry I left, but I’m here now. Come on buddy, I don’t know what you’ve been through but you have to fight it!” He pleaded. He was going to do anything to get through to Marvin. Something was toying with his head.

Marvin looked up at Chase, his eyes now dark and grave. “You’re right,” His voice was thick with static. “You don’t know what I’ve been through. You could never know!” He suddenly threw Chase off of him.

Chase looked up at the magician, his third eye was wide opened, tar black and green now. His eyes went wide when he saw his hands. They were coated black, with long claw growing from his fingers. He looked like he was about to pounce, but something stopped him. Marvin winced in pain, head falling into his hands. “No, no, no,” He muttered. He was still fighting. “Get it out, get it out, get out of my head!” Chase stood up, slowly getting closer to the magician.

“Marv, buddy, fight it! You’re stronger than Anti!” Chase looked back, noticing the fog was cleared. He could see Jackie and Jamie fighting Anti now.

Marvin wasn’t in control of his body. He fought with the drug to keep control. He needed to get it out of him. That drug was what Anti was using to control him. It needed to get out.

Without a thought, Marvin brought his hand around his throat. He sunk his claws into his skin, pulling them down, cutting deep scars into the sides of his throat. Chase ran forward to stop him, but hesitated. His blood was pitch black. Marvin screamed, it felt like venom leaving his body. It was worse than any of the injections he’d been given. Then the pan was just... gone. Marvin dropped to his knees. He looked up at Chase, and smirked. “What took you so long?”

#antisepticeye #chase brody #jackieboy man #jameson jackson #plague doctor #dark trickster #dr schneeplestein #marvin the magnificent #left with a memory

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napstablooks · 7 years ago

Note

for that ask meme thing,,, do all of them >:Oc

oh god

oh god are you sure

well…

HERE GOES I GUESS,

1: 6 of the songs you listen to most?

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen, Fly On The Wall - Joey Pecoraro, Fourth of July - Sufjan Stevens, All the Angels - MCR, For Emma - Bon Iver, and Shelter by Porter Robinson2: If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

Nick Valentine’s voice actor.3: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

”Before I could fasten them, light poured down on me and there he was without a shirt, holding a flashlight.”4: What do you think about most?

My friends.5: What does your latest text message from someone else say?

”Ur gay lol”6: Do you sleep with or without clothes on?

I sleep with them on because I’m a cold bitch7: What’s your strangest talent?

I type on my phone so much I’ve memorized the keyboard. Is that a talent8: Girls… (finish the sentence); Boys… (finish the sentence)

Girls are fucking hot

Boys are soft9: Ever had a poem or song written about you?

god one can dream can’t they10: When is the last time you played the air guitar?

a few weeks ago i think hah11: Do you have any strange phobias?

honestly none that I can think of right now but I used to be scared of the lamp in my basement as a kid I thought it would eat me12: Ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?

many times13: What’s your religion?

I’m agnostic!14: If you are outside, what are you most likely doing?

probably walking! I love taking walks15: Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

I’m awful at photography so probably in front of it16: Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?

oh god uh. good question. the front bottoms? got me through a lot17: What was the last lie you told?

honest to god it was that i wasn’t depressed when i was18: Do you believe in karma?

yes. not super strongly, but if someone does bad shit and something to happens, ima just watch from a distance.19: What does your URL mean?

it’s from Undertale! my favorite ghost kid!20: What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

greatest weakness: can’t take criticism because of schizoid.greatest strength: I’m very accepting and I care for everyone.21: Who is your celebrity crush?

MMMMM Krysten Ritter is my MOTHER22: Have you ever gone skinny dipping?

nah dude I’m underage and lonely23: How do you vent your anger?

by hurting myself. deadass. this isn’t to be dramatic. that or i scream a lot24: Do you have a collection of anything?

JOURNALS! i have over 2025: Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

video chatting 26: Are you happy with the person you’ve become?

in a lot of ways no, but in some ways… yes. yes i am.27: What’s a sound you hate; sound you love?

sound i hate: crunching of anythingsound i love: wood crackling fire!28: What’s your biggest “what if”?

what if nobody really loves me?29: Do you believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

yes and yes!30: Stick your right arm out; what do you touch first? Do the same with your left arm.

right arm: my therapy journal hahaleft arm: my teddy bear, Roger!!31: Smell the air. What do you smell?

laundry detergent! i just washed my blanket32: What’s the worst place you have ever been to?

a hospice in my town33: Choose: East Coast or West Coast?

West Coast even though I’m living in the hell of the east coast rn34: Most attractive singer of your opposite gender?

god i don’t fuckin know 35: To you, what is the meaning of life?

to make yourself enjoy it as much as possible and help others get there along the way!36: Define Art.

something you create because of a feeling (or no feeling).37: Do you believe in luck?

Yes! kind of like I believe in karma.38: What’s the weather like right now?

it’s 7 am here and its slightly warm, but clear out 39: What time is it?

7:12 am!40: Do you drive? If so, have you ever crashed?

Nope! don’t have my license yet41: What was the last book you read?

I think it was Sharp Objects42: Do you like the smell of gasoline?

sorta - after a while it makes me sick43: Do you have any nicknames?

Bee, Robino, Robee, Rob44: What was the last film you saw?

A Beautiful Mind!45: What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had?

idk i think i sprained my ankle a few times but otherwise i don’t do enough to get injured46: Have you ever caught a butterfly?

yep!!!!47: Do you have any obsessions right now?

Overwatch! it’s been an obsession since about july of 201648: What’s your sexual orientation?

not sure right now. pan with a preference towards girls maybe?49: Ever had a rumour spread about you?

not big ones but yeah50: Do you believe in magic?

yes!!!!!!!!!!51: Do you tend to hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?

yeah i’m a super angry person :/52: What is your astrological sign?

Virgo 53: Do you save money or spend it?

i spend it so bad lmao. i don’t have any rn though cause no income source54: What’s the last thing you purchased?

pizza :D55: Love or lust?

love, always. always always.56: In a relationship?

nope! just got out of one about a week ago.57: How many relationships have you had?

4! only two of them meant anything.58: Can you touch your nose with your tongue?

no i’m a failure ;A;59: Where were you yesterday?

i was @ my house sleeping60: Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

yep! a music box from my mom61: Are you wearing socks right now?

no they are evil62: What’s your favourite animal?

SEA OTTER!!!!!!!63: What is your secret weapon to get someone to like you?

i make them feel super comfortable around me! i love it when people are themselves around me, it makes me feel trusted. i don’t do it out of malice or anything ;-;64: Where is your best friend?

at her house a few miles away from me…i get to see her today!65: Give me your top 5 favourite blogs on Tumblr.

-esuerc (is that how you spell it?)-mercysblaster-moon-goblin-mojavemessenger-welcome-to-far-harbor(these aren’t in order)

66: What is your heritage?

whitest of the white. irish or something? i think? fuck if i know anymore67: What were you doing last night at 12AM?

streaming overwatch on twitch haha68: What do you think is Satan’s last name?

trump.69: Be honest. Ever gotten yourself off?

fuck yeah dude who do you think i am lmao70: Are you the kind of friend you would want to have as a friend?

i think so! i think I’m a very caring and loving person. id like to come to me for my problems, yknow?71: You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late one more time you get fired. What do you do?

fuck my job save the dog i can always find a new job but i can’t always save a dog’s life72: You are at the doctor’s office and she has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. a) Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? b) What do you do with your remaining days? c) Would you be afraid?

a - yes. i tell everyone.b - i enjoy myself the most i can. c - no. i’m not afraid of dying.73: You can only have one of these things; trust or love.

fuck. trust. i guess.74: What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?

don't stop me now by queen! never ceases to make me smile like a dumb idiot75: What are the last four digits in your cell phone number?

3309 hah76: In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?

trust. absolutely. and being comfortable and putting everything out in the open.77: How can I win your heart?

make me feel trusted and give me love. lots of love.78: Can insanity bring on more creativity?

of course it can! 79: What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?

realizing that i am my own. nobody else’s.80: What size shoes do you wear?

9 women’s heck off81: What would you want to be written on your tombstone?

i always knew it would end like this! dammit!82: What is your favourite word?

83: Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word; heart.

smiling…a heart full of love.84: What is a saying you say a lot?

”big mood”85: What’s the last song you listened to?

Concrete - This Wild Life86: Basic question; what’s your favourite colour/colours?

PERIWINKLE !!!!!87: What is your current desktop picture?

it’s a cool map i found while researching DnD dungeon layouts!88: If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?

trump!!!!89: What would be a question you’d be afraid to tell the truth on?

”why do you lie?”90: One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What do you do?

i’d freak out but i mean if they just chilling they can be my friends91: You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power?

oh shit to freeze time obviously92: You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?

the time that i had a long talk with a friend at 3 am. you know who you are. i can’t remember anything that good for the past few years.93: You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

being abused.94: You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. Who would it be?

FUCK UHHHH carly rae jepson95: You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

hdkjhajk omg idk uhhh probably new york to visit my friend shivani96: Do you have any relatives in jail?

nah fam97: Have you ever thrown up in the car?

yep!98: Ever been on a plane?

i have and i hated it99: If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?

please, just let there be love.

YOU’RE WELCOME, ANON!

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confusedunit · 4 years ago

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Universe of Unreality - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - "Not without a fight. Not this time." The moment is here. But this time, it goes differently. Dr. Freeman wanders off. The consequences will remain.

[Content Warning: The aliens entirely lose their human forms. While Benrey is described more vaguely (mainly because I have No Idea how to describe any of the forms he takes on Xen in canon) Tommy is very explicitly described taking his non mortal form.]

Dr. Freeman leaned against the wall, to catch his breath.

Their most recent travel attempt through the facility had been not quite a disaster, but an absolute mess at the very least. Fighting through zombies and aliens and soldiers had become almost normal, by that point. Even if Dr. Freeman had only been successful with his crowbar.

But once his arm was injured, he'd effectively been rendered useless, even if the team disagreed with him. He couldn't fight effectively, and was unsteady on his feet. Benry had been put on guard duty for him, keeping him going and topping him off with healing beam when he needed it.

At least he could keep track of their goal, where they were, what way they'd gone and the like. That made him feel a bit less useless. But what they had to face sure didn't help matters. The 'sharks' that were obviously alien creatures had almost gotten the better of their group, and when the shark tank had broken he and Bubby had gotten trapped within, Dr. Coomer barely pulling them above in time.

And when they'd finally gotten near the surface just for a new wave of assaulters, they'd caught him with a silenced pistol in his right arm again. He was glad it wasn't the one he was using, but it being the injured one that was hurt again sure didn't make the pain any less awful.

He looked back over the group. Benry and Tommy were across the room, pointing at a light bulb and discussing the moths that flew around it, while Bubby and Dr. Coomer were sitting near the entrance, having a somber conversation of their own. The whole team was busy, except for him. Again.

Well...at the very least he could try to help with some scouting work.

He moved through the room without any of them noticing him, searching for an exit door, and while he wasn't sure he found that he did find an opening. He snuck through the thick metal doors, barely slipping inside, before he glanced around.

"...Surface access. Hell yeah." He mumbled to himself.

He continued as quietly as he could down the hall, which with his injured state wasn't too quiet at all. His boots dragged across the floor, digging scrapes into the concrete as he went. He perked up a bit, as he saw a doorway into a room with a health station. He smiled to himself, as he walked inside the room.

"Good luck, for once. What a change of-" As he reached out for the health station, something hit him hard on the back of the head, and he dropped to the ground. His vision swam, and his ears rang.

The suit chirped at him. "Warning! User health, 29%! Vital signs critical!"

Loud steps were heard, as he was surrounded. He grit his teeth, and searched with his left hand for his glasses.

A boot caught him in the chest, and his head hit the wall.

"Now, Bubby...I know you're worried about this." Dr. Coomer rested a hand on Bubby's knee. "But things do not have to be the same a second time."

"I know that." Bubby adjusted his glasses with a huff. "...But I can't help but be concerned. He's...far more injured than he was the last time. What if they...cut him again?"

"They won't. Not without a fight." He smiled a bit sadly. "Not this time."

Bubby nodded, before he seemed to realize something, and tensed up. "...Where the hell did he go?"

"What?"

He scrambled to his feet. "Dr. Freeman. He was just against that wall, and now he's gone."

Dr. Coomer felt his blood run cold. "...He wouldn't, right...?" He hopped quickly to his feet.

"Go off on his own while feeling useless? You know him better than I do."

"...Not anymore." He shook his head. There was no time for despair about what had been locked away and lost. Not when there was something in the present that he could lose. "There's only one exit, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded once, before pointing.

He picked up the other man, before making a running leap across the room. He set him down on the other side of the door, before slipping through himself. "Do you think he already made it to the-"

A voice in the distance interrupted his train of thought. "Good luck, for once. What a change of-" A grunt cut off the words, and a loud metallic clang echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of a metal door slamming shut.

Dr. Coomer sprinted and leapt down the hallway, a ball of fire shooting along at his side. "They closed the door-"

The flame landed, Bubby wincing as the fire went out. "Then get it open!"

His hands shot forward, digging into the metal at the bottom of the door. "Working on it!" He grit his teeth, grunting as he got leverage far too slow for his liking. He struggled to lift the door up. "There, go!"

The ball of flame lit up again, as Bubby flew into the room with a battlecry.

Dr. Coomer lifted the door a bit higher, struggling to get inside before he let it go. It slammed back closed behind him, but he couldn't believe his eyes.

There were so many more soldiers than the last time he was stuck in this room. Surrounding the orange lump on the floor were several bodies, as well as Bubby standing over him, one hand ablaze, the other holding his magnum. He laughed as he took out soldier after soldier, taunting them in his fury.

Dr. Coomer leapt into action against the soldiers on the other side of the room, punches landing more often than they missed, knocking the soldiers out or worse. He felt himself start to get into the groove, as if he'd missed this kind of fighting. As if his body remembered, even if he didn't always.

A cry of pain from behind startled him, and he spun around just in time to see Bubby fall to the ground. He cried out, reaching for him, but an arm caught him around the throat and pulled him off balance. The solder tossed him over his shoulders onto the ground, pinning him down and hitting him in the face.

He felt his own anger rising. His tone of voice dropped dangerously low, laced with malice. "Going to hurt the people I care for? Going to attack me?" He moved his arms up, grapping with the hands trying to reach down for him. "Better make it count. Better kill me in one-"

The sound of a single bullet startled both of them, and they quickly looked to the side.

Bubby had collapsed into Dr. Freeman's lap, head on the concrete floor, glasses missing, eyes closed. But Dr. Freeman was partially up, slumped forward but lower back against the wall, damaged arm protectively over Bubby and left arm holding the magnum. His teeth still were clenched, glasses cracked and askew on his face, eyes full of rage. And a soldier with a single shot between the eyes was down on the floor.

Dr. Coomer cheered, using the moment to grapple with the man above him, and toss him into the wall across the room. He scrambled to his feet to keep up the assault on the soldiers as he heard the occasional bang of the gun. But after what felt both like an eternity and also far too quickly, he heard a noise of panic behind him, and the clattering of a gun falling to the floor.

Before he could spin around, someone tackled him and slammed him against the wall. And this time, his vision went black.

Tommy's voice cut off as he heard a metal bang off in the distance, and he quickly looked over to the path that he heard it from. "...More enemies?"

Benrey suddenly grabbed his arm, shaking it a bit aggressively. "tommy? where'd the others go?"

The sentence made his heart still for a moment, and his eyes quickly darted around the room. He shook when they were nowhere to be found. "..." He looked back over to the path. "...Oh no..."

"go! gogogogo-" The guard took off running across the room, clipping through the door without stopping.

Tommy was right behind him, warping through the door before he could touch it, holding his hand out as he focused. He felt three faint points of energy still pulling at his own, which eased his worry ever so slightly. But the anger he heard from Dr. Coomer behind the harsh metal door did not help him in the slightest. And when he heard the gunshots, and the sudden thud and silence, he shattered.

His mortal form shattered outwards, overwhelmed by a bright yellow fire as he screamed in a tone that would have strained his vocal cords if he still had them at that moment.

With his lack of mortal form came his lack of most mortal features, his face completely replaced with the burning yellow fire of his true form. He had no need for mouth, for he could speak without one. He had no eyes, for he did not need them. He could see all.

His form struggled to even be perceivable, his clothes smoldering and reforming over and over as his star-like fire burned brighter and brighter, keeping his form humanoid in shape. His fire arms stayed through the arms of the lab coat that shuddered and shimmered, clean and untattered as always, helping hold his form mostly together. Two additional pairs of arms pushed through slits that formed for them at the back of the coat, each of the additional four hands tangled in differently colored cord.

On his right, the hands were tangled with a light blue and bright green cord respectively, the lower hand with the green cord reached up and clasped around the wrist of the blue corded one. The cords tangled together at that point, before remaining tangled as they climbed up the arms to Tommy's back.

On his left, one hand and arm was tangled with a deep blue cord, with bands of shimmering color that rippled through from time to time. The upper hand and arm had two shades of orange cord wrapped around them, distinctly untangled with each other. One, at that moment, was a duller shade of orange, while the other brighter one occasionally rippled with a sharp electric green. The blue cord had gotten caught around the upper arm a few times, tangled with both the orange ones, though the dull one much less so. Those cords also traveled along the arms, to Tommy's back.

Once, back before all of this, his father had told him that one day, when his arms fully bound together with the cords of those he cared for, they would become multicolor wings.

He wished his father was there to see them, now that they truly had done so, as the hands and arms melded together to form true hollow wings of glowing fire, the cords weaving within them to form the between. They started to flap, anxiously, as they tested their own movement.

Hidden under his shirt, the cords tangled with a mass of yellow cord that wove around his torso, as an anchor for the others. Their cords, what humans might refer to as 'threads', bound to his for safe keeping.

He would not let them falter. Not after fighting for them for all these years.

Benrey had also changed his form, next to him, body contorted and stretched as he tried to work within the constrains of this reality. He was more feral, arms stretched, hands sharp like claws as he showed off his razor sharp teeth. He twitched from form to form every few seconds, but the claws and teeth remained constant.

The time being felt sorry for him. The long time Xenian had been disconnected from his home for so long, he could not properly transform. The price to pay for having a home connection.

Tommy's home was his people, which often made him weaker. But one can overcome many odds to protect one's home. And that, in this moment, for him, was enough.

He warped through the door at the same time that Benrey clipped through, and their anger echoed through the room as they tore through the soldiers. Benrey on the right, and much more literally, while Tommy handled the left, pointing his hand at the enemy like a gun and evaporating them with a snap of his fingers.

They kept coming, and he wished he could stop time, but with the amount of excess emotion bouncing around his body and without a way to suppress it like his mortal form did, he couldn't concentrate enough to do so. And after an unknown amount of time, he heard a thud and a cry of pain, and he didn't have to turn around to know what happened.

The dark blue cord smoked for a moment, as it burned his arms with a dark and cold burn, but the feeling faded quickly. Benrey had fallen, but his spirit remained. He would recover.

"Hey!" A voice yelled behind him, muffled slightly by a gasmask. "Get that thing's back! It's the weak point!"

He didn't realized he had faltered at the burning, but he tensed at the yell. His back was weak, yes, but not in a way that they could understand. He was infinite, but the cords were not. Not yet. He could not let them be damaged, while they were still in this fragile state.

He folded the wings behind him, spinning to keep his back to the wall, when a grenade caught him in the chest. He hit the wall with a thud, slumping to the ground. He was running out of time, and he knew it. He'd already been weak, and the struggle of keeping his charges bound to life now was proving strenuous. He couldn't protect them here forever. But he could protect their lives.

He saw the next attack in slow motion, as some quick thinking soldier had tossed a fire extinguisher towards the hole in the fire of his torso that the grenade had caused. He would have to take this exit. It would take far longer than he wanted to reform after that, he knew, and in his mortal form he would be weak, but he had to protect the cords. He would find them later. But their lives would not be locatable again.

Time resumed normalcy. The canister hit his flame and immediately burst. He screamed out in pain as his flame went dark in a puff of smoke.

In the room, he left nothing behind, as he was spirited away into the energy of that universe to recollect himself.

#*confused fanfiction noises*#UoU AU #Universe of Unreality

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mrsrcbinscn · 5 years ago

Text

BDRPWriMo Task #16: TV Soundtrack

Task: Jukebox Musical/TV or Movie Soundtrack - come up with a playlist of at least 10 songs, write a scene summary to go with each one.

AU: The Robinsons is a hit multigenerational Netflix show featuring an ensemble cast, chronicling the lives of main couple Franny and Cornelius Robinson from childhood all the way through their marriage, and the lives of their families. Rated TV-14 some episodes, but some have mature content rated MA.

These aren’t in chronological order, I was too lazy to fix everything because the ideas came to me out of order.

tw: violence, marijuana use, underage drinking (in the US anyway), abuse of prescription medication (ADHD meds), mentions of abortion (a side character), sexual themes, car accident

tagging my husband because lots of these involve him @nottomsellecksorry

[ooc: these events all happened, just obv not with cool background music]

Episode Title: Song

1. The Mugshot: Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison

(Inspired by the use of Istanbul in the diner fight scene in The Umbrella Academy)

Background: Since the beginning of the series, Franny Robinson has had a framed mugshot of herself throwing up the rock n’ roll hand gesture with a cut on her face on the wall of the Robinson home. This episode is where the mugshot’s origin is revealed.

Franny and Cornelius had only been married for a little over a year when they visited Franny’s parents in Georgia for her mother’s birthday. One night during their stay, they went out drinking in the city (Atlanta) with Franny’s youngest older brother (Art) and a bunch of Franny’s hometown friends. A man at one of the bars, one with a gorgeous outdoor bar, where the scene takes place, wouldn’t leave Franny alone even after she flashed her wedding ring. The situation quickly got heated and before Franny’s brother or friends could step in between them, the man shoved Franny back into a table.

[background noise is edited out in post-production, there is no sound but the sound of glasses falling and shattering on the bar’s patio as Franny looks down at her sandaled feet, now bleeding from glass cutting them a little.]

And then;

[the first notes of Oh, Pretty Woman]

“He put his hands on me first. He shoved me first, you all saw that, right?” Franny said, holding out and index finger and pointing it at her husband, at her friends, at Art, and at strangers who had long since begun to spectate.

“He touched me first. So this is self defense.” She said, pulling her hair back into a ponytail before launching herself at him. All five feet five inches of her came at him like a missile and absolutely knocked the crap out of this guy. Her big brother didn’t even need to throw a punch, she had this all on her own.

[Mercy!!] As Franny slams the man’s face onto a table.

As they were both clearly fighting, both Franny and the man were arrested and taken to the police station, and while they took her mughot, Franny threw up the rock n’ roll gesture with a bored expression.

2. Payne Lake, Georgia: Blue by LeAnn Rimes

Background: Cornelius’s first EVER visit to Franny’s hometown of Payne Lake, Georgia. The first time she introduced him to her family.

Neil and Franny join some of Franny’s friends at the little town’s bar on karaoke night, they’re hangin’ out, munching on the bar’s specialty - Irish Nachos; waffle fries with melted queso, scallions, ground beef, salsa, and black beans - with her regular hometown crew. But then her high school voice teacher (who is a bartender too because ‘Murica) is like “Franny Framagucci, it is KARAOKE night!!! Sing!!!!”

And Franny’s all like “Noooooo” because Neil’s only heard her sing in musical productions through NYU, or at showcases for jazz studies. So meticulously practiced and critiqued performances. She’d yet to invite him to any open mics she was going to or anything like that. This man thought she was perfect!! ! ! She needed to make sure he kept that myth as truth.

So Franny was all “no, I simply CAN’T” but then her teacher started chanting ‘sing, sing, sing’ and her friends joined in, and then people around them recognized Franny - small towns, gotta love ‘em - and someone shouted out “Do Blue, Franny!”

“Haha, no way”

“Come ooooon”

“Well, if you inSIST”

When Franny was in high school, she’d learned to yodel to she could knock Blue out of the park to show up some bitch she hated at the county fair. Very South, Much Georgia, wow. So naturally, she stood on stage and rocked Blue in all her Georgia glory in front of her very Yankee boyfriend, exposing her very uncool country bumpkin side to him for the first time.

Except, it only made him think she was even MORE wonderful, he just got even bigger heart eyes than usual.

3. Am I A Crazy Bitch?: Science vs Romance by Rilo Kiley

Background: Earlier in the episode, Franny had gone off on Cornelius because she was insulted he’d offered to pay for part of her tuition for the upcoming semester so she wouldn’t have to work as much. Because the last episode, he found out she’d been abusing Adderall on a semi-regular basis to be able to stay awake long enough to juggle school, work, a social life, and seeing him. And confronted her about it. So this episode, he was like “let me make it easier for you.” And Franny went off on him because she was A. insulted, and B. so mad at herself, because his response to his girlfriend abusing Adderall shouldn’t be ‘give her money for college.’ He should be!! Disappointed in her!! He should!! Hate her! And she felt disgusted with herself that he didn’t.

SO.

The song plays while it flips between scenes of

A. college-aged Franny sitting on the bathroom floor of her apartment smoking weed #hating herself after she went off on Neil before he left for a business trip to Europe. She can be heard muttered “stupid bitch, he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you” as she moves to straight up laying down on the bathroom tile.

B. scenes of Neil in Berlin; in the back of a car halfheartedly listening to his assistant reading off the agenda for the day, pretending to listen to what his German nerd counterparts are saying as he’s just spaced out and sad, only picking at his food across the table from his assistant

C. Art (Franny’s youngest older brother) typing an e-mail to his parents because he’s too afraid to tell them in person he’s dropping out of university for the second time

D. Sophie (Franny’s mother) sitting alone in the kitchen of the Framagucci home after having woken up from a nightmare about her life under the Khmer Rouge, drinking hot tea

E. Delia Weiss, one of Franny’s closest college friends and eventually lifelong friend, smoking a cigarette and standing outside of an abortion clinic that opens the next morning, after having found out earlier in the episode she was pregnant with her shitty ex’s baby, hinting to the audience she planned to come back tomorrow to terminate

4. Cambodian Independence Day: I’m A Cuckoo by Belle & Sebastian

Background: Franny, who had up until this point in her life, never cut her hair more than a few inches, was told she would need to bob her hair to star as Millie in NYU’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Long hair is a cultural thing for many Cambodian women and while it didn’t carry too much significance to Franny personally, it very much mattered to her mother, Sophea (”Sophie”). The episode happens to be set on November 9th, which is the day Cambodia became independent from France.

I’m A Cuckoo plays as Franny’s standing in the kitchen of Cornelius’s NYC apartment, scissors in hand, just chopping off her hair that went down to just a couple inches above her tailbone. She keeps repeating, “I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m so dead.” Then says “Mak’s gonna skin my hide alive then use it as a lampshade, Ed Gein style.”

When Cornelius laughs at her joke she whines, “It’s not funny, I’m serious! When my mother kills me say somethin’ nice about me at the funeral.”

Scene skips ahead to Franny examining her hair in Neil’s bathroom mirror, biting down on her lip and whimpering. He slips his arms around her waist and kisses her cheek, “I think it looks nice.”

“I’m going to be buried. Alive, most likely.”

“Shh.”

“Mak’s going to kill me, revive me, then kill me again.” *whines* “I look like a Boy Scout.”

*Neil turns her away from the mirror to face him. “You look beautiful.”

“You always say that.”

“It’s always true.”

Aaaaaand some more kissing later, they’re having Hot Sex against the bathroom counter. They’re horny 20-somethings, what can ya do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

5 & 6. Am I A Manic Pixie Dream Girl?: I Held Her In My Arms by Violent Femmes // Prove My Love by Violent Femmes

Background: Franny decided to give Cornelius a glimpse into what poor people do for fun. When she couldn’t afford concert tickets, she and her friends both back home and in NYC would go to parking decks overlooking amphitheater venues to see concerts. So she took Neil to a parking deck to watch a Violent Femmes concert - and planned to, for the first time ever, open up about some parts of her life.

I Held Her In My Arms plays and Franny’s dancing, having a great time, and tbh this is sUCH a manic pixie dream girl moment, I’m ashamed. She’s ashamed. God is ashamed.

Fast forward, and she’s back to sitting down, her legs fit under the barrier between the parking deck and the drop to the concrete below, so her feet are comfortably dangling in the air as she-- know what, lemme just copy-paste a selection from our Discord DMs

mckala 10/26/2019 Oh wow wanna know the first time Franny was Purposely vulnerable in front of him vs. he-caught-her-at-her-worst-moments

mary 10/26/2019 uuhh yes pls, i say knowing i will regret

mckala 10/26/2019 OH the good news is, it's not SUPER sad, but it's #revealing SO

She opens up about how poor her family is, and how much she'd been bullied for being Asian, biracial, having an immigrant mother and Swiss immigrant stepdad and their funny accents, and how she puts all this pressure on herself to succeed since she couldn't be smart in the "right" way (STEM), so she HAS to do well in the arts against all odds to make her parents proud, and to make enough money so that her mom and dad don't have to work past retirement age. "So my mom can enjoy her life after what she went through in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge."

But she does it...lowkey romantically, like

Franny takes Cornelius to the parking deck overlooking a lil amphitheater concert venue to watch a Violent Femmes concert, and now Franny has like a part-time job while in school so she CAN afford tickets -- and she has a rich boyfriend -- but she purposely took him to the parking deck to listen to the music and at one point she turned to him and said "When I was in middle and high school in Atlanta, we'd do this a lot. It was the only way we could afford to go see live shows."

And then she's like "We were - /are/ poor. Really poor. Not like you." Bc she assumes he was always decently well-off once he was adopted since his mother probably made at least six figures by her estimate.

And she's monologuing pretty much until her eyes water without her really REALIZING. Just monologues about how much pressure she puts on herself to BE perfect, to BE the best, to not make mistakes because she already made the big mistake of not "Being smart enough to be a doctor, or an engineer, or a lawyer, or half as smart as you."

mary 10/26/2019 oW, my hEART meanwhile neil is just like, "there is no right way to be smart. and you're smarter than me in a million different ways, so we're going to put an end to that line of thinking right here and now." because he didnt look at music as anything other than white noise until she came into his life

mckala 10/26/2019 OHHH MYYYY GOD

SO. They’re all snuggling and kissing for a bit, then at one point Franny’s like “We need to go to the car right now so we can ;)” and he’s not picking up what she’s putting down because he is far less sexperienced than her lmao, so he’s like “...what? Wait, but - oh. OH.”

And Prove My Love plays as Franny gets nerdy, newly sexually active Neil to have sex with her in a his car in a public parking deck, SMH. At [special favors come in thirty-one flavors] the camera pans to Franny’s face as she’s receiving oral ASDFGHJKL; and at [third verse, same as the first] the episode goes to end credits.

7. I’m Twenty-Two Years Old: I’m Sixteen Years Old by Ros Sereysothea

****TW: CAR ACCIDENT*****

I’m Sixteen is a running musical theme throughout the episode

Background: The previous episode, Franny and the rest of the cast that were NYU students have graduated from NYU. Last episode ended with Franny and Cornelius celebrating her graduation with both of their families, and plenty of nudges from both sets of parents ‘sooo, can we expect a summer wedding, orrrrrr does Franny want to take the summer to think about masters’ programs?’ A lot of Franny and Neil hissing at their mothers ‘Mak/Mom, stoooop’ but earlier that episode Franny and Neil actually talked about getting married next spring, once they figured out whether or not they were staying in New York now that Franny was done with NYU.

The episode I’m Twenty-Two Years Old begins with Franny driving at a comfortable five over the speed limit on the interstate at night. A cassette tape of Cambodian 60′s and 70′s psychedelic rock is playing in Franny’s car as she’s finishing up a phone call on her good ol’ Nokia 5190. (Remember, this was 2002.)

[I’m Sixteen begins to play in the background during the phone call when it was on Franny’s end]

“Yes ma’am, I should be at the house in about an hour.”

[camera shows Lucille Robinson in her neighborhood finishing up a night jog]

“Franny Framagucci, you know I told you to call me Lucille. You and your manners.”

“I can’t help it, my mama would kill me if she knew I let Lucille slip sometimes.”

“If you marry my son you can just call me mom.”

“What d’you mean if? It’s when. It’s for sure when, we just- we want to sort a couple things out post-NYU first.”

“So you’ve talked about it?”

“Mmhm. I’m going to talk to him about it again when he’s back from Beijing. I’ll tell you everything when I get to the house. Thanks again for lettin’ me crash a couple days. I dunno, I just feel kinda melancholy about graduatin’. Didn’t wanna be at the apartment all alone for a whole week.”

“You’re family, you’re welcome anytime.”

“I know. Love yoooou, see you soon!”

She tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and turned the music up. [I’m Sixteen is now playing loudly.] Soon, a car going the wrong way comes speeding at Franny and Franny screams shrilly above the music as she’s aware there’s no avoiding impact. The scene fades to black and a countdown clock appears on screen.

9:00:00. Nine hours, zero minutes, zero seconds before the accident.

Franny’s dancing around their apartment in one of Neil’s shirts and her underwear listening to that same cassette of Khmer 60s and 70s music. [I’m Sixteen is playing.] She’s singing along and when Cornelius steps out of the bedroom wheeling his suitcase behind him, Franny briefly interrupts her dancing to wave at him before she grabs a handful of Swedish Fish gummies (her favorite American candy) from an open bag on the countertop and pops one into her mouth while dancing.

She dances her way over to Neil and shoves a Swedish Fish in his mouth and asks him. “Got your deodorant?” He hums an affirmative. “Backup underwear and pants in case you spill stuff on your lap thrice in one day again?”

“Must you have so little-” he’s given pause when she shoves another fish in his mouth. “-faith in me?”

Franny grins. “My love, I have all the faith in the world...in your clumsiness.” Commence some cute kissing before Franny’s like “hey, heeeey, no getting handsy. Because then I’m going to take your clothes off and you’re going to miss your flight, and Tanya [Neil’s assistant at the time] is going to kill me.”

Scenes between several of the cast of characters happen, yadda yadda.

Eventually when the clock strikes 00:00:00, Neil’s plane from his first layover at Dallas-Fort Worth touches down at LAX at the same time of Franny’s car accident.

The scene cuts to the wreckage of the two cars, it is out of focus and shaky with occasional flashes of clarity to show important actions. Franny’s car falling into place upside down, Franny’s neck not supporting her head anymore because she’s unconscious and her head the rolling to one side, other drivers leaping out of their cars and running to the wreck.

Cut to what can be assumed to be a couple hours later, at LAX. Neil’s still waiting on his flight to China and just chilling, humming the tune of I’m Sixteen because it was in his head from this morning. He begins to mumble an approximation of the lyrics, but he’s immediately disgusted with his lack of ability to speak Khmer. He turns to Tanya.

“Do you think I should learn Khmer?”

“Huh?”

“Khmer. I should learn it.”

“Oh, that language your girlfriend speaks? Good luck. It sounds rough. Every time she’s on the phone with her mother I think they’re fighting.”

Cornelius shook his head. “I think it’s beautiful.”

“You’d think it was beautiful if it was just high-pitched screeching because it’s to do with her.” Tanya poked affectionately.

Neil’s phone rings. Caller ID says Art, Franny’s middle brother.

[I’m Sixteen plays over the background noises of the following scenes spliced together]

Cornelius shooting out of his seat and listening with wide eyes before running to the nearest counter to find the first flight back to New York, Franny in surgery, Bud and Lucille (who were the first people Franny’s family in Georgia called to ask them to go to the hospital since they’re in New York, they’re in Georgia) scurrying out of the house, and poor Tanya looking frustrated as fuck as she realizes Cornelius is about to just throw away important investment opportunities to fly back to New York for a situation he has literally no control over.

8. Brothers and Sisters: She’s Actin’Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) by Gary Stewart

Two years before Franny even met Cornelius, she was an eighteen year old high school senior and her oldest brother was Going Through Some Shit. Specifically, a breakup.

He was laying on his bedroom floor listenin’ to sad cowboy music and she was like “fuuuuuck no” so her 5′5 ass grabbed her over six foot tall big brother up off the floor and hissed “We’re going to Uncle Lemmy’s garage right the fuck now!”

In one hand was the cassette Gaston was listening to, tucked under her armpit was a bottle of Maker’s Mark she swiped from their vati’s (father’s) collection on the way out, and she had an iron grip on Gaston’s hand with her other hand.

Unlce Lemmy was a Vietnamese man actually called Tất Văn Hữu Liêm in proper Vietnamese naming custom, but to the neighborhood kids he was Uncle Lemmy.

“Bác Lemmy!” Franny called out in Vietnamese as she let herself in after knocking. “We need to use the garage. Gaston’s girlfriend just broke up with him.”

“Oh, dear. Do you kids need anything?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any goi cuon laying around would you?”

“I can roll some!”

“Don’t trouble yourself, Bac Lemmy.”

“Nonsense. Gaston is in crisis!”

In Uncle Lemmy’s garage was a karaoke machine. Franny popped in the cassette of sad cowboy music and shoved the mic into Gaston’s hand. “Sing it out, you sad bastard.”

She opened the bottle of Maker’s Mark and took a swig, handing the whiskey out to Gaston, too. The songs you listen to in your sad cowboy hours? They covered them all. All My Ex’s Live In Texas. Neon Moon. Long Gone Lonesome Blues. (”Whooo, fuck that bitch!” shouted Franny at some point during Hank Williams.) Misery Loves Company. I Told You So.

The highlight of Framagucci siblings drunk karaoke at 2:30 in the afternoon? She’s Actin’ Single.

[I've seen men look at her before And they think, I don't see] “God,” Franny slurred, very, very drunk. “How fucked is that? Fuck off, partner, that ain’t your woman.”

[I know she'll be lookin' back The minute I'm not there While she pours herself on some stranger I pour myself a drink somewhere] “Daaaaaaamn, bitch.”

By the chorus, Franny and Gaston were just wasted scream-singing the lyrics at each other.

9. Go Ahead: Go Ahead by Rilo Kiley

Basically, the song the soundtrack team put over the scene where Franny took Neil’s virginity lmao. You can tell I stayed up til 6:30 am yesterday working on this task, and now it is almost 4 AM the next day and I’m still trying to finish, so I’m very much trying to stop being Extra now.

It was v soft and giggly and the most wholesome sex scene in cinema mmkay

10. That Damned Penguin Song: Papa Pingouin by Sophie & Magaly

One week when Wilbur was very small, Cornelius and Franny made the mistake of letting Franny’s Swiss Italian-French-German speaking father be the main one to watch Wilbur for a four-day period when both Franny and Neil were insanely busy. Adrien was a godsend, really. Whenever Wilbur was being fussy he would sing and dance to the 1980 absolute BOP that is Papa Pingouin.

But when Adrien Framagucci left Swynlake after his visit?

“Muuuuummy, Daaaaaaaddy. Penguin! Sing penguin!”

Except, neither of them knew what the actual fuck Wilbur was talking about, until Franny suddenly remembered from her childhood. When Adrien, who wasn’t her biological father, was trying to convince Franny to like him so she’d let him marry her mother, she vaguely recalled a French song relating to a penguin.

In her memory, six year old Franny had demanded Adrien do something stupid in public and he obliged by singing a French song and acting like a penguin.

Slowly, tentatively, Franny sang the first few bars

Le papa pingouin, le papa pingouin Le papa, le papa, le papa pingouin Le papa pingouin s'ennuie sur la banquise...?

“Muuuuuummy noooo, you gotta do dance! Pépère does the dance.”

Franny inhaled sharply and turned to Cornelius. “How much do you love me, dear?”

“Huh?”

“You married me. It’s not like a Wal-mart where you can just return me if you bring the receipt, yes?” “Uh...”

“I’ll explain after the little guy is satisfied.” With that she turned to Wilbur, sighed, and did Papa Pingouin with full enthusiasm. If French wasn’t Cornelius’s best second language, it was by the time Wilbur outgrew Papa Pingouin.

The penguin song was Wilbur’s favorite until he outgrew it. For years. Years. Y E A R S, Neil and Franny were in a loop of Papa Pingouin. Cornelius is now 45 and Franny is about to be 40. Papa Pingouin still haunts their dreams.

IT IS 5 AM ON DAY 2 OF WORKING ON THIS LMAO FINALLY DONE

#&&...hc #bdrpwrimomckala

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