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zombielesbean · 1 year ago

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Long post incoming! Since my minecraft creative world has been getting a lot of attention lately, I thought I'd do a post about the history of it!

previously I had thought it started in 2018, but looking into it it turns out I started it in 2017, which is the first year I played minecraft before that point, my sibling was really into it, but I'd never really been into it that much. the switch came out in 2017 and we got one pretty close to launch, and, not long after that, minecraft released for the system, and we got it so my sibling could finally play, and I gave it a try myself, too

I ended up getting very into it, my first base was this big building built into the side of a mountain :) after that, I got very into the building aspect of minecraft, much more than I liked survival, so I ended up trying out building in creative mode, and built this big house

it had a pool in the basement and lots of simulated furniture like a sink and refrigerator in the kitchen hehe

after this experience, I realized that building in minecraft creative mode is essentially having an infinite supply of legos, and I'd been really into videos about people's giant lego cities or terrain builds or big model train dioramas, and I realized this was the perfect way for me to get to build my own landscapes and such

and so, I generated a flat world

in minecraft for nintendo switch, you could generate a flat world with structures, plus some trees and water features, so that's what this was

the first thing I did was just, plant a huge forest, with little terraforming, and then I built a giant castle

and then I built a mountain

and then I started building an ocean

and here's just some other things I built around that time:

after that, I didn't play for awhile, until 2018, when they ported bedrock to the switch, and I picked up the game again because the performance improvements were really good, and also, it just spurred me on to play again in general ehe

here's a look at basically the entire world at that point:

not terribly long after that I met @da-mous and we started playing minecraft together and building stuff in this world together :)

After that there was another pretty long hiatus, I didn't really work on it more until 2020

before that it'd basically just been me and my sibling working on the world together, me doing all the terrain and that kind of stuff, and they were adding lil buildings to the village, but after meeting cass I started playing with more friends, such as @bisthefairy, who added trains to the world :)

at this point my plan was to build a big cliffside around the entire area and make it into a big valley, and then build more stuff (like an "evil" village and castle to oppose the "good" one I'd already built), and I'd started work on the cliff on the side of the world where I wanted that castle to be

but shortly after that, the first real breakthrough occurred: cass gave me new tools, using command blocks

she gave me tools that could do things like build a massive pillar of dirt below me every tick down to the world limit, build a massive square sheet of dirt below me, fill in a space with water, or paint blocks in front of me into whatever type of block I wanted

this absolutely changed everything, and the cliff project and the ocean project turned from things that would have taken me weeks or even months to complete working by hand, down to only days

and, my landscape structures no longer had to be simply hollow facades, but they were now solid all the way through and I could more easily make things like caves, too!

things started going so fast after that point, the entirety of the world I had built went from this area:

...to this (above pictured area is circled, and not everything pictured here was already built back then)

everything I had done in the last three years was suddenly dwarfed in only a few months

I finished the cliffs, I finished the ocean, I built a custom desert (based on the high desert in Oregon), I built volcanoes, I built mountain ranges, I built the evil castle, I built villages across the ocean, I built huge sloping plains, I built a huge underground cavern with a fairy village in it and fake stars on the ceiling... my projects had gotten so much bigger and more numerous

some time after this, I had to move to the PC version finally, because of an incident involving 14,000 end crystals being spawned into the world, which ruined my save file by creating an inescapable black hole of frame rate loss, and we needed to fix that lol

but anyway, that opened up a lot to me, I had much greater performance and draw distance, and I could play with using structure blocks to steal things from normally generated minecraft worlds, like buildings and just pieces of already generated landscapes, and the plop them into the world and then smoothly integrate them into my already built world, which was really fun

structures can only be of a certain size at a time too, so I had entire notebook pages dedicated to mapping out the pieces I was taking so I could copy paste them all back together seamlessly, ehe

also now that I was on PC, I started dabbling a little bit in external tools, mostly so that I could change the biomes; as a flat world, the entire world was the plains biome, and that really bugged me

I found one that was, honestly, pretty clunky, but did what I wanted with biomes, and that was pretty cool! there weren't a lot of tools for bedrock back in those days, so I did what I could haha

but, now my desert was actually a desert! it would actually snow on top of my mountains! huzzah! and I also took the opportunity to just copy paste ocean all around my world, so that it would become a continent surrounded by water, and I built a jungle island far away

after that, I played a little bit here and there, but wasn't really focused on it too much, I didn't really play at all in 2022 or 2023, I was just doing gamedev nonstop pretty much all year last year

that is, until Grey Area finally released, and @chemkitt had showed me a really cool mod for java edition called 'axiom' that's made specifically for terrain building, like a supercharged version of cass's command block tools, and the fire to work on my minecraft world was lit anew

it was just like the renaissance that occurred when cassie made those tools, suddenly things that had previously taken weeks now took mere days, I was able to completely finish the continent and surrounding lands in mere hours, built a giant archipelago in only a day, and could now change biomes and copy paste millions of blocks in an instant

finally satisfied with the size of the world, I also figured out how to go into the files and complete another long held dream I'd had for the world, to change it back to a normal minecraft world, and let the outer edges generate like normal, essentially kind of sealing in my world, and making it so that the outer edges are no longer endless nothing, which I felt was kind of creepy ehehe

and that's where we are today! my little flat world has grown so much :) my current project is building a new entire (even bigger!) giant continent to the east of the original, and another, smaller, southern continent as well!

and most recently, I've been building a big flower garden type of place full of lots of trees and foliage over on the original continent :)

it's been so so nice seeing so many people enjoy the work I've done here! I'm hoping to do a whole video tour of the place sometime soon, there's so much more to see and talk about than I even did here, ehe!

and there's lots and lots of space to decorate and build things and plant forests and all that, so I hope to invite more people over to add to it in the near future, too!

thanks for reading :3

#minecraft #minecraft creative #minecraft builds #long post

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loganseternity · 2 years ago

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make all the metalheads cry - a cameron barlow AU

Saturday nights never failed to be piled full with events to go to and California was no exception. You couldn’t cross a bulletin board from Los Angeles all the way to Oakland that wasn’t plastered with varying posters for parties, open mic nights, and free shows trying to lure you in. Neon paper, bold print and free entry in capital letters were made to make them even more appealing but Cameron couldn’t be bothered to glance in their direction. He already had plans tonight; plans that had been circled on his calendar for almost a month now. Plans that he would be lying if he said he hadn’t been counting down the days for. Local’s favorite club had the major punk band Do It Right performing a highly anticipated sold out show as their tour passed through the west coast.

It had been five years since his band performed for their senior year talent show, making a semi memorable effect on the audience that showed up in their school auditorium. The performance had heart and clear talent but hours of practice still couldn’t buffer the nerves that caused him and his fellow bandmates to fumble a bit. Under the alias of Stalemate at the time, the band took their first live performance as room for improvement for the last five years and now they were finally making strides. Plenty of basement shows had been played so much so that the distance of them lugging equipment couldn’t even be counted any longer but the resilience and the effort the three of them had put behind their passion for his band was finally paying off.

Feeling Phantom, their recently reimagined alias had brought in a favorable crowd at the last couple shows they had played which also resulted in a boost on social media. While it was still humbling numbers in the mid hundreds their following seemed to be increasing and more people started liking what they were making. It was not an overnight success but they were determined it was growing into something bigger and they must not have been the only ones to feel that way as Do It Right asked them to be their first opening act due to a last minute drop out by the previous band. With a show this massive even if they were playing at six thirty when doors opened they were still playing for what would without a doubt be their biggest crowd yet.

Anticipation buzzed through a crammed venue that was holding every body count of its mandated capacity. Incoherent chatter buzzed around and the bar was backed up with requests so far that made the calm appearance of the bartenders seem concerning. They were either going to crack or they were made for this. Outside, Cameron was standing with a beer can resting idly in his hand. He hoped a small preshow buzz would prevent the hype turning into nerves inside his brain. He pushed the nerves down and found his attention back at the conversation his other two band mates were having with him. Isaac, their lead singer, was going on a seemingly inspirational train of thought about them just having fun tonight when their guitarist Chris interrupted the speech that was going to just keep going. “Don’t we always?” He asked with a nudge to Cameron that caused him to smile in reaction. No matter what happened up there at the end of the night they always had fun just doing what they loved. Isaac ran a hand through his buzzcut knowing that he couldn’t keep rambling forever, eventually they were going to have to do the damn thing.

Eventually turned out to be fifteen minutes away from that moment. Quickly the trio had to gather their gear and assemble on stage to perform. As their overhead music cut off Cameron held onto his guitar prepared to open with something that could only hopefully grab the attention of this audience. Isaac looked over at him with a huge grin and nodded back toward Chris who was positioned at the drums with a matching beam of joy across his face. They could do this and they were going to kill it. The warming of Chris' drums led them into their first song of the night and it drew the attention of several people in the crowd to watch what they were doing. No matter the outcome of the night they knew in that moment that if they had captured the attention of that audience that they were doing it right.

#hello it's been almost three years since i've wrote something and that was a bit rocky but here we are #i hate drabbles because the urge to go on and on is real but leaving the script for further imagination is also so nice #it's a little dip of the toe in the writing waters if you will #logs writing log #cameron barlow

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callipraxia · 1 year ago

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“he's angry about being tired and he's tired of being angry.”

Such a succinct way of expressing so much of what ails the character, esp. in the second half of season two.

I had never really thought about the aspect of coming back to that house, but…yeah. For one thing, we know from Ford’s own account that seeing the Mystery Shack was a deeply disorienting experience - which would probably be the case even in a scenario where he was more reasonable about Stan at the time - but the last time he was there…home definitely wasn’t a safe place for him. He was terrified of his own possessions, thinking Bill might use them to spy on him; the house was a dark, dingy, dangerous-to-navigate mess, and from the way he acted when Stan showed up…who knows how long he’d been huddled beside the door with a loaded crossbow in his hands, desperately trying to stay awake and jumping at every noise? The actual first few hours back were maybe not all that bad, but after agreeing to stay in the basement…with the remains of the Portal, once the site of his greatest accomplishment and then the site of two of the worst days of his life…with the Rift…thinking it sounds like it’s *laughing*….ouch.

I know that modeling my own outfits after my idols provides a huge measure of emotional safety

...and there's a personal chord hit that I also hadn't thought about...When I had to attend my father's funeral, I had a peacoat buttoned up to my throat, a scarf around my neck, a wrapper-thing (kind of like a very wide knitted headband, meant to cover your ears in the cold; I can't recall the proper word for it) around my head, and gloves on my hands, all because it felt like it distanced me from my surroundings - something about being literally untouchable made it seem easier to keep my composure. Even on better days, I tend to have what I'm told are slightly over-rigid 'rules' for dress - which kinds of garments can be worn on which occasions and in which places, and etc. So yeah. I can buy the idea that there's a degree of using clothing as emotional armor going on with Ford - something which makes it rather heartwarming that in the closing montage and the end credits of the finale, we see him going about with fewer layers, and even in different clothes, as it could imply less of a need for quite literal barriers between himself and other people as his mental health and relationships continue to improve after the show.

PTSD & Ford's Questionable Choices Regarding Summer Attire

Thanks to @callipraxia for inspiring me to write this.

I know I've joked about how silly it is that Ford wears a turtleneck and trenchcoat in the humid Oregon summer, but as someone who lives in the humid midwest and has dermatillomania, I 100% understand.

Perhaps most important is the fact that he's basically cosplaying as Carl Sagan, which I've mentioned before, but I think I finally found the words to explain why it's so meaningful. I know that modeling my own outfits after my idols provides a huge measure of emotional safety and that is something that Ford would absolutely need after coming back to his old house.

That house is ground zero for his biggest failures. That house is where he met Bill, where he was manipulated, where he slaved on working a damned portal for a demon. He stayed awake for days upon days in that house, bleeding from his eye, unsure if the whispers were only in his head or leaking from the dimension beyond. His brother was branded in that house and it was his fault. Fiddleford lost his mind in that house and it was his fault. The world was doomed in that house and it was his fault.

I'm particularly concerned because Ford spent a lot of time alone in the lab with the portal, just him and his thoughts. He was so close to fixing everything once and for all and what right did Stan have to rob him of his heroic moment? Manually dismantling the portal feels a whole lot less heroic than storming the nightmare realm with a massive gun and it does very little to distract him from how angry and tired he is; he's angry about being tired and he's tired of being angry.

I personally headcanon that Ford is absolutely covered in tattoos and scars under those long sleeve layers. He's been through hell and his body reflects that. But those marks are incredibly personal; a lot of them represent pain and failures and this is the author of "TRUST NO ONE" we're talking about. Vulnerability gets people killed in his experience and there's a reason he's still alive. He has to stay alive to fix his mistakes.

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fantranslatorbychoice · 2 years ago

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Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Volume 6 Chapter 10 - A New Uproar Begins + Author's Afterword

Yep, enjoy the double-upload guys.

As always, if you like this translation, you can heart it, SHARE THE LINK, reblog. You can rave about this, rant about this, reply, etc. but if you can, please link back to this page. If you’re unsure how to do that, just copy the web address of this page. If you’re on a blogsite just insert the web address as a hyperlink to create a link back to this page. I just respectfully ask to NOT REPOST OR REUPLOAD THIS ELSEWHERE. Thank you very much.

Alright here you all go....

P300 "Well then, hang in there, Kasuga!" "Bye-bye Kasuga, be well!" "Improve yourself! Don't break your body!" The Ayakashi in Tenjin-ya all called out to Kasuga who was already in an airship and has collected all of her things.

I gave Kasuga a present, "Tummy-captivating Recipes" cookbook, food that are both easy to make and delicious.

"Kasuga, with this, slowly but surely you can capture the heart of your childhood friend whom you're getting married to."

"Waaah, thanks Aoi-chan. This is so helpful, because I just suck at cooking."**

Kasuga with her smiling face. That face that lights up the sky like the blinding sun, thinking about the fact that I won't be seeing that smile anymore made me feel so lonely. Without realizing it, my tears started flowing.

While at it, I pushed the box filled with assortments of "Hell-juu" and Black Sugar Manjuu to her.

"Here, take this with you. Its flavors will bring you nostalgia."

"Hey, Aoi-chan, stop crying."

Kasuga being Kasuga, she made Chiaki-san hold her belongings and went over to me, wiping my tears away with her sleeves.**

T/N: I found my opportunity to plug this in lol *sings* You suck at cooking yeah you totally suck. *end of song* I'm sorry guys, that's my jam sometimes, I'm not calling you bad cooks, the song just rolls off the tongue. Plus the videos are really good too, kewl effects lol not sponsored btw

Also, kimonos have long-@@$ sleeves so Kasuga can do that lol

P301

"Home's not that far away, we'll meet again for sure."

"What's that?"

"Both of us will soon get married to a Hachiyo. Somehow, that's the threads of fate that binds us together."

The threads of fate, that binds us together.

Wait just a minute. I'm not there yet...

We both looked down on our hands, they were shaking.

"Bye-bye! Bye-bye, Tenjin-ya! Goodbye, everyone! My Tenjin-ya!"

This bright young girl's voice echoed everywhere, and the airship starts lifting up high, high into the bright blue sky.

Up until the end I was sobbing, but O-ryo, standing beside me, wasn't even crying at all.

She just looked indifferent all throughout the whole thing. And then a victorious smile popped in her face.

And after that she looked more at ease.

It seemed that somehow, she seemed more determined about something, and wore that in her demeanor.

That's strange. That bottle opener made out of ice that she always has with her, could it have gotten lost?

--Ring.

P302

That sleeping water from the farthest north, it's crystal-clear sound, Kasuga was scattering it from above the airship that she's in.

And when I just realized it, Kasuga's image has disappeared into the sky above, and I can't see it anymore.

Far, far away, where the clear, blue sky has taken them in, way up high.

And, as if looking over everyone in Kakuriyo, the seasons have changed.

Goodbye, Kasuga.

I'm looking forward to seeing that again, the day when I see that shining and vibrant smile again.

x-x-x-x

Afterwards, about a month has passed.

Just as Ginji-san have planned, shortly after the Autumn Festival, "Hell-juu" was marketed commercially.

Tenjiya's as well as Gintengai's souvenir shops have started selling this steamed manjuu, and thanks to being autumn as well as the increasing number of tourists to Kimon, it got record-breaking sales all throughout.

Whether or not it's going to be a long-time best selling product, what matters right now is that it's a huge success.

More than anything, hats off to everyone at the Tenjinya basement workshop, on how quickly the planning and manufacturing of this souvenir product was made.

Everyday the iron mice at Tenjin-ya's basement are working hard to catch up with the huge production volume, without getting fluttered or disorganized while doing their job.

Even more surprising, is that the manjuu with cream cheese spread and no bean paste sells better than the "egg variant" one which has bean paste in it and was labelled as "proper manjuu". I wonder if it's because little by little, in Kakuriyo

P303

the demand for cheese has been increasing, as well as the fact that it's just gaining popularity, and that is its appeal, a report worthy of being sent to the emperor.

It might be first of its kind, and difficult, but it was a huge success.

Its sales was a hit, and Byakuya-san said that pretty soon huge confection companies as well as local ones and even ordinary folk would start putting in "cheese" flavored souvenir products and other similar items in their own shelves.

It delights me to think that while it was borne out of me, the fruits of my labors are finally showing up.

Along with a huge sense of accomplishment, it also feels very exciting.

But not by any means was I able to do this on my own, as I relied on many others too.

Kasuga's christening it with "Hell-juu" was surprisingly simple and easy to understand, and the fact that it permeated easily into the people's psyche was also an important factor to its success. And marking the manjuu's outer crust with the deformed version of the hellish flower, "red spider-lily"** helped make it even cuter and more adorable.

Aside from that, there were many wise sages in Tenjin-ya who gave such good advice, feedback, experiences, and other help that greatly helped in Hell-juu's product development, properly executing its mass production and moving onto sales.

But there was one thing though, a mishap that Ginji-san and I made. I'm going to tell you that right now.

We tried making other limited edition variants of "Hell-juu" for Autumn, and some of them didn't sell so well or sales were very slow.

Those were the "sweet potato" and the "apple" flavors. Diced sweet potato were kneaded into the dough to make it into that flavor, just like how we normally do it, and we wrapped the dough all around the apple jam for the "apple" flavor, but I just couldn't understand why, at a level being so perplexing, that from the very first day these two didn't sell so well, and likely the only thing would be due to them being very unfamiliar.

T/N: You've probably have seen this flower a lot, in graveyards in anime. It's very prominent in Hell Girl. The plant is actually planted in graves so animals won't dig up corpses, like a deterrent.

P304

But why did the "cheese" sell so well?

As handmade sweets from stores, the other flavors were well-received...

When these came out in the shop's show window, despite the packaging that was supposed to make or break a confection's sale, the product itself looks different from what it was supposed to be.

It was for that reason that the "apple" flavor was to be pulled off from the shelves only after a week, and when that day was finally decided on, after work hours Ginji-san brought some mountain apple liquor to drink.

It was an awful time, and the thing about drinking mountain apple wine was that it helped in forgetting things...

Even though this was an exceptional failure, this information is going to be very important for our next success. Those are the words that Ginji-san shared to me.

Why did this failure came to be I have no idea, and overnight I got so depressed that I needed someone to ponder this with, along with some gentle consoling.

x-x-x

There is also one more thing I just realized.

Odanna-sama, as of now, hasn't returned from his business trip to Youto, and he has been absent from Tenjin-ya.

Also, beforehand, Odanna-sama and I had a quick chat.

We got our hands on some rumors, that apparently there will be a meeting of all the Hachiyos at the end of the year holidays, it was going to be the very first "overnight meeting", and the Ayakashi King has summoned me to attend.

P305

"Say, Ginji-san? Odanna-sama hasn't come back yet? It's already been a week, is he alright? I heard from Ritsuko-san before that the Imperial Court is a scary place."

"Yes, it seems that he hasn't returned as of late... But no need to worry, the O-niwaban's Saizou-san is with him. Also I am receiving messages from Odanna-sama everyday."

"I wonder.. is Odanna-sama alright?"

"Yes, for sure."

I see. Since the beginning he was always out on a business trip, I think...

One week goes by, then two weeks, Odanna-sama's absence in Tenjin-ya is still going on... as the days go on, I have stopped getting any updates or messages.

The upper brass of Tenjin-ya started to get flustered.

A messenger was dispatched to Youto, and despite having hopeful news, it turns out that the Ayakashi King ordered Odanna-sama that he cannot go back to Tenjin-ya, and to only wait for further information to be announced by a messenger from the Imperial Court.

"What does that mean?"

"For sure, while he was doing major work in the Imperial Court, Odanna-sama ran into an accident."

The management grew even more worried and started panicking. Of course, that includes me.

I don't get how this happened...

The Odanna-sama that I talked to in Yugao back then, I wonder... there's no way that wasn't a premonition.

P306

There were also other matters concerning the Imperial Court, there were things and plans happening behind the scenes that nobody knows about, things that we were not cautious of and can't do anything about, here in Tenjin-ya. Byakuya-san mentioned something about an unforeseen threat that is about to arrive.

During the first ten days of December, there came a huge shake-up.

That envoy from the Imperial Court paid a visit to Tenjin-ya.

And that envoy, somehow, as far as I'm concerned and made aware of... Is that.. Raijuu.

x-x-x

"Tenjin-ya, isn't this frightening, confusing, utterly incomprehensible and non-sensical?"

"..."

We caught wind of a disturbance, and a bit before opening hours, Ginji-san and I saw something over by the front desk lobby, Raijuu with his hateful and horrible smile was being surrounded by the management, all the while speaking while bearing a calm demeanor.

"In the end, with your Odanna gone, you're all just lowly businesspeople. I hold strong political powers over the Imperial Court, and you all cannot do anything about it.

"Ehhh shut up. If you have some use for Tenjin-ya, first of all, if that's the case, stop pushing us around like you always do!"

Akatsuki's earnest yet fierce-looking face wasn't complying, and yet, while laughing so loudly, Raijuu started climbed up Tenjin-ya's grand staircase.

P307

Clink,clank.

The golden decorations attached all throughout his body, these made striking, echoing sounds as he climbed up the stairs.

In that moment, when he took a glimpse of me briefly, with that disgusting tongue of his, Raijuu started licking his lips.

As I unfortunately started recalling all sorts of traumatic memories, Ginji-san stood in front of me in silence.

"Haven't you comprehended it yet? The Ayakashi King himself sent me to go here, under his command."

"Excuse me?"

"That's what I said, That is what the Ayakashi King said. That is what the important announcement to all of you is about."

Abruptly, coming from the upper stairs where he just walked up to, he turned around and faced everyone, leisurely looking down on all of us as he smugly smiled a wide-toothed smile.

"From now on, by any means, I am now Tenjin-ya's "Odanna-sama"** and not that ogre god anymore!"

Anybody could've been astonished by those words, we couldn't believe our ears.

Odanna-sama... That guy cannot become Tenjin-ya's Odanna-sama...

It can't be, what the heck is this Raijuu talking about... I don't understand what it means.

"S--stop saying such nonsense! Who the hell gave you the right to say such things?"

"But. That's. Why. I already told you, MY words ARE as good as the Ayakashi King's, Ginji-kun. Well, whatever,

T/N: Odanna-sama is not Odanna-sama's actual name, it's a position, like how he is the big boss of Tenjin-ya. So the term "Odanna-sama" can be used by anybody. It's just that Odanna-sama, here and in the anime, his name isn't revealed yet. (I know what his name is, but that's gonna be revealed in a future volume lololol)

P308

at any rate, to us, we have formally conveyed it to you. That ogre god, Kakuriyo was so shocked to know that he has been holding onto some very important secret. Better than that, I conclude that I have no choice but to take care of that Hachiyo's position now."

"An important....secret?"

All of us grew even more and more disturbed.

In this place where Odanna-sama isn't around, something important is decidedly and conveniently being exposed.

This strange circumstance being told about, just about everything is getting chaotic.

"Those speechless-looking faces are the most amusing, don't they? It's such an elevated sight worth seeing, now I wanted to eat some liquor with some side dishes. Say... You over there, why are you trying to scurry and hide away from me, Skilled Cook Aoi-chan?"

My name was called out, and it made me tremble.

I clenched my fists and pulled them closer to my chest, as I glared angrily at Raijuu.

"Hee-hee. Do I.. scare you?"

"What you're calling scary.. it is rather creepy."

"Bwahahaha! Well, that's fine, I don't mind that kind of reaction. Buuuu~t I think THIS thing here will scare you even more. No.. More likely that, as far as YOU'RE concerned, what this means for you is deliverance, possibly."

Raijuu's face looks somewhat amused, and gleefully takes out something from his breastpocket, he pulled out a box.

"Ta-dah~! What is this~?"

P309

I remember that box. That... That is...

"Hee-hee, a while ago I snooped around Odanna's room, and I found a rea~lly awesome item. It's connects Tsubaki Shirou and Odanna, it's the debt contract~"

"Oh...."

I see. When I first came to Tenjin-ya, that was shown to me, I fell in despair...

In grampa's own handwriting, a debt contract, in which he gave away his granddaughter for payment!

"Hee-hee. Since that Odanna is no longer here, this doesn't mean anything anymore, does it?"

Raijuu pulled it out of the box, and brandished it up high.

Without realizing it, I yelled "Stop!" and tried to reach it with my hand.

But, after that bastard heard my voice, he tore the piece of paper in half, and his loud laugh drowned out the sounds of the paper being ripped apart.

"Bwahahahaha! Yep, there you go. Aoi-chan, now you're no longer Odanna's fiancee, it's now nothing. Now that I have set you free, it's fine if you express your gratitude to me~"

After that he scattered all the tiny pieces.

The tiny pieces of paper fluttered down, down, down the staircase. Even though to me, that thing was something that forcibly tied me down, in that moment I felt attacked and I had a sense of loss, and even I couldn't believe it myself, it was a very important thing.

"A...Aoi-san..!"

P310

I was light-headed and unable to think, and without a moment's delay, Ginji-san came to help me stay upright.

But with the status quo, nobody dared to nor even had the gall to say anything. It was everyone's at everyone's pace. While wearing his smug, victorious smile, I was shocked as I looked at Raijuu who tore up, shredded into pieces and threw away the debt contract.

But...

"Go die, you moron."

We thought we heard this lethargic noise from behind Raijuu...

"Ahhhhh!"

Raijuu suddenly fell off the stairs and rolled down indignantly.

From where Raijuu's body used to stand, there he was, with a hard, cold stare, Byakuya-san.

Somehow, this guy seemed to have violently kicked Raijuu off the stairs. Underneath the stairs, Raijuu has suffered a minor injury and was licking his own blood off.

Tenjin-ya's hot water chimney has finally erupted with so much killing intent.

"Gaaah. Well, sure enough, Byakuya the white demon has came out. You're intending to kill me!"

"What are you talking about, I really do wanted to kill you, so much."

Byakuya suddenly closed his fan that was usually spread across his mouth, and started making a stabbing motion with it.

Along with that smooth, slicing sound, that reflexively makes every Tenjin-ya employee straighten their backs,

P311

Byakuya looked over, and with increasingly cold eyes stared down at Raijuu.

"You bastard, how dare you stand in front of my face here in our Tenjin-ya? Why, I never recalled ever inviting you in. Go to the ravine outside and keep hurling yourself in there for a million times until you die!"

"But I already fell down just now, didn't I?"

Lightly scathed by Raijuu's words, Byakuya-san took one step down the stairs, and picked up all the scattered pieces of the debt contract. While laughing scornfully, he held these tightly.

"Regarding the circumstances of our Odanna-sama here at Tenjin-ya, it is rather unexpected, and even if whatever happened over at the Imperial Court was indeed true, knowing you, you have once again completely showed how utterly stupid you really are. So stop laughing."

"Wha...t?"

"This debt contract is fake. The real thing is hidden somewhere, where you'll never be able to find it."

"Huh?"

Nobody reacted more strongly, than I did.

When Byakuya-san saw my reaction, he responded with a "Oh?", looked into my eyes slightly surprised at my face, and started giggling.

"Oh, Aoi, I feel assured by your courageousness."

"Wait, wait, wait that's not it, it's not like that!"

Finally, my usual reactions have come out at last.

Ginji-san too, at some point smoothed down his own chest with a sigh of relief.

P312

But over here, Raijuu's face instantly became disagreeable.

"Huh? Byakuya, I always thought that I was superior, was I wrong? From now on, you'll be my underling. That's because I have now become the master of Tenjin-ya."

"You dumbass. I don't care how many times the Ayakashi King keeps putting out decrees, whatever the hell you're saying, know that it is worthless."

Byakuya-san pulled out something from inside his sleeves.

What the heck... That looks like an impressive silk pouch. He opened it confidently, and pulled out a shining, golden yellow cube.

"Wait.. is that... The Golden Badge!"

"Golden Badge?"

"Indeed. It is the Hachiyo's verification badge used here in Tenjin-ya. Whenever there is a very important decision to make, this is an indispensable item. Within Tenjin-ya, Odanna-sama and Byakuya-san are the only ones who handle it."

Ginji-san, who was nearby, explained about it.

It was unexpected that something like that actually exists, but I could understand by everyone's reactions that there was nothing to worry about.

"When it comes to a Hachiyo's appointment as well as their resignation, other than the Ayakashi King's decree, twice a year it is required to attend the so-called "Hachiyo Overnight Conference", and along with the recognition of all the Hachiyos, that is to say, all of the Golden Badges need to be gathered. The next overnight conference would be at the end of the year, otherwise it would be at the beginning of the next year, Up until that point, whatever you do, Odanna-sama is still Tenjin-ya's Odanna-sama."

"Hee-hee. Eventually, that's gonna be a problem.. is it not? The Hachiyos cannot go against the decree of the Imperial Capitol."

Immediately after that, Raijuu stood up, sucked up the blood on the side of his lips, and while behaving calmly and relieved,

P313

shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't mind. Right now, all of you here in Tenjin-ya are not put under my custody, yet. So eventually, in the next Overnight Conference, you have no other choice, I own all of you. So I don't mind if you all go against me. Nobody else will be interested in taking charge and managing the inn, and after that everything will get filled with chaos, isn't that an amusing story that you just wanted to see?"

"..."

"But, there is still one more I am certain of. That Odanna... is now forbidden to come back here."

Furthermore, if that guy even tries something like flapping the bedsheets and putting them on, he'll get taken out like fireworks running off and fizzling out. Instantly, he'll be grabbed quickly like a flash of lightning.

What the.. What on earth, why did that even happen?

The whole place got still, like a graveyard, everyone was confused, it was quite a huge shock.

"What are you whispering about? Upper management's aid is required for business operations. Everyone in the top management, assemble at the Great Conference Hall."

In that place, Byakuya-san was the only one who was able to keep his head together. With a deep resolve, he was the only one who tried summoning all of the executives together.

"Aoi-san, are you alright? You look pale."

"Ginji-san..."

"No, this isn't unjustifiable, ok? It has turned into something outrageous. But first of all, Odanna-sama's safety must be quickly confirmed, and all of us here at Tenjin-ya, we have no choice but to make sure that we take care of everything by all means necessary..."

P314

I felt like something got stuck in my throat, I couldn't breathe with all the anxiety, and everyone else was feeling it too. But Ginji-san was already having a stern gaze as he stood up. And amidst the silence he ordered the employees, and in a strong voice alerted Akatsuki and Chiaki-san who got flustered, and before anyone else did, he went to Byakuya-san to confirm what happened.

Time in Tenjin-ya stopped, before everyone started to move about hurriedly.

"..."

But, only my uneasiness, it never stopped. Odanna-sama's behavior that wasn't ogre-like, and his smile.

He was usually reasonable and calm everyday, but the haziness of that person has not vanished, and I had a really unnerving hunch.

In my bosom, the pendant's chain where the key is hidden, I held it closer in my kimono.

Tenjin-ya's master, Odanna-sama.

Odanna-sama's whereabouts...

Odanna-sama's... secret.

Where is the thing, that I must protect?

x-x-x-x-x

Afterword P315 Thank you very much for your support. This is Yuuma Midori. I am grateful that Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi series has reached volume 6. To tell you the truth, since Yuuma's** debut all of the five volumes had been the longest, and now Yuuma has reached the sixth! The season is autumn. For this volume, it picks up everyone in Tenjin-ya's everyday affairs, and the next volume is going to be about the new strife and issues. Kasuga has quit Tenjin-ya, the male army's pointless bath scene, you can easily find Odanna-sama on the cover**. There are so many things and spoilers I wanna tell, but this time, the afterword is just one page, and I can only say one thing about the lively momiji-gathering illustration.. Oh my, on the cover Aoi and Odanna-sama has drawn in closer together.. could it be that something has already started....? On the cover these two bit by bit has gotten a bit more closer**, and somehow Yuuma is filled with so much heavy emotions.

I hope that we can all meet again in volume 7.

Yuuma Midori

End of Afterword, Volume 6.

x-x-x-x-x-x

T/N: Yeah I know it's the afterword but wth this is an additional lesson OK? So.. rather than saying "I" or "me", it's even humbler to refer to one's self by the given name, or surname. Yuuma-sensei does this for all of her afterwords so yeah.. Maybe it's a thing IDK rly but yeah, politeness is deemed important in Japanese culture so it's a thing. Yeah here's the cover and I'mma gonna point stuff out lol

So yeah if you look at the covers of the first 5 volumes and the 6th, this is by far the closest that Aoi and Odanna-sama got illustrated, and that shows somehow a progress of their whatever it is.

Also, holy crap the previous chapter guysssss..... T__T I mean can you believe that, I mean, I had to read and reread that part before I started translating it because it made me cry so much, like holy sh** I wasn't expecting that T_T anyways... We did it guys, we finished volume 6. I hope you all enjoyed.

Hopefully, if I still have enough strength to finish it all (let's just say that I have other stuff to worry in the real life and doing the whole 7-10 volumes may take a while) I could improve more so I could deliver the next 4 volumes as soon as I could, like seriously I could only see juicy things from here on end. Once I feel like I can (if my strength allows) see you all in volume 7...?

End of Volume 6. Previous - Chapter 9

References:

Wonderful site for the youkai references

Other stuff I used to do this: Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary (you can buy here, I’m not sponsored btw). I was about to buy the older edition but then the newer one came out 2013 so I bought that instead. Worth buying since I was able to find nearly all of the words I needed just by stroke pattern alone.

Merriam-Webster's Japanese-English Dictionary (the red-covered 1996 version is apparently out of print right now). This is what I have been using for a very long time, I bought it when I was still a fetus (yes I am old so what lol), and after so many years, when compared to newer editions, I still prefer this one since its entirety is Japanese-English, the English to Japanese gloss are just 16 pages tops, so you get more Japanese words for your buck. But that’s just my opinion, maybe other people prefer the Jap-En x En-Jap IDEK.

Basic online dictionary, Jisho. Knowledge of verb conjugations and other words are necessary since not all have entries.

If you can read Japanese, you can buy the whole set in Amazon Japan, they’re shipping worldwide now, I think.

#kakuriyo no yadomeshi #kakuriyo no yadomeshi light novel #kakuriyo no yadomeshi english translation #kakuriyo no yadomeshi english fan translation #kakuriyo no yadomeshi light novel english #kakuriyo no yadomeshi volume 6 chapter 10 #kakuriyo no yadomeshi volume 6 author's afterword

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abybweisse · 3 years ago

Note

Happy New Year! Do you think UT will capture O!Ciel and try his “soul swap”?

Happy New Year! 🥳

Soul transplant

I really do. The more I think about it, the more inevitable it seems to me. I think he might even succeed. But only briefly.

I’ll mention this again in a reblog I’m about to post regarding Undertaker’s parallels… and how he’s somewhat likely to end up dying/being destroyed. But I will remind everyone here of the four main things that lead me to this idea of a “soul transplant” between the twins. They are not in any particular order, since I’ve been pondering the possibility ever since Mother3 theory began in 2015, but later chapters have given it more support, so now it’s a full-fledged theory of its own, just sort of happily nestled into M3 theory.

Origins and support

1. The Bizarre Dolls have a defect. In ch149, that’s how Othello describes it, and he believes that Undertaker will make further improvements until he completely blurs the line between life and death.

But Othello doesn’t make any guesses how Undertaker will make those “improvements”. Just that he needs to “fix a defect” in the circulation of blood, since right now they rely on regular blood transfusions. What if transfusions aren’t enough, and they need transplants? Like with the renal patients we saw in Bath, the Bizarre Dolls might need kidney transplants to fix their circulation defect… but would it truly perfect them? I think they are missing that very “spark” of life that the souls provide.

2. Transplants have to be compatible. The assignment at Heathfield Manor gives us a huge clue about the next step in Undertaker’s research. Apparently, Undertaker had promised Baron Heathfield he could revive his dead wife by placing someone else’s soul into her body, with the stipulation that the replacement soul must be “the same shape”. Ch155 gives us this:

As an aside, I really do think Jane is probably merely human. A well trained human guard… hired by an eccentric noble… who beds his maids and rambles on about the shapes of souls… what a creeper… but the job pays well and comes with other benefits. So, she sticks around… until the work is no longer worth the pay. And it turns out that Heathfield had even been telling his “bride candidates” their souls might be a match.

Now, we don’t get any proof from Jane or Baron Chris Heathfield that this was really about collecting souls for experimentation with transplants. In fact, all we know for certain is that there was a blood collection facility down in the basement. Does Undertaker even have access to Heathfield’s wife’s body? Who knows, and it probably doesn’t matter. Undertaker was deceiving Heathfield to get a blood supply, just like he was deceiving Stoker for the supply of bodies.

3. There is already an old parallel to experimenting with transplants between twins. I’ve mentioned this a few times in Mother3 theory posts, since one of the earliest things I ever saw about a connection between Black Butler and Mother3 was on some defunct forum… where someone compared Dr. Andonuts to a Nazi named Josef Mengele, aka the “Angel of Death”. Here’re a couple old posts I found just by searching my own blog for “josef”, but there are more; I’m not sure why they didn’t come up. Silly algorithms, probably. They would also be under the #mother3 tag… somewhere.

Dr. Josef Mengele was known as the “Angel of Death” because he was a medical researcher for the Nazis, he got most of his subjects from concentration camps, and his subjects generally didn’t last long. Something particularly notable about him and his research was the fact he had become somewhat obsessed with twins. He was always very happy to find a pair of twins arriving at a camp. He would take them aside and treat them quite kindly… at first… to gain their trust, if possible. He was a really nasty piece of work. He did all sorts of experiments, but there are two major experiments he particularly liked to do with twins: blood transfusions and transplants. And not just organs, either. He was also know to amputate limbs of twins and switch the limbs. Even though not much was known back then about blood types and organ compatibility, Mengele knew that these surgical procedures had a higher success rate with identical twins.

4. S1 and s2 of the anime touch on similar ideas. As annoying as it is to me, I have to examine the anime series for Easter eggs, and we can find slight parallels to this in both s1 and s2. In s1, it’s a matter of Angela Blanc, since she’s the one trying to mess with “Ciel’s” cinematic records. She also admits to sewing Vincent’s and Rachel’s bodies together. Looks like she did the same thing (but as Ash?) to Victoria and Albert’s body. No twins involved here, but it’s this idea of combining two individuals who “belong together”. Then s2 has Claude, on two occasions, using rings to store souls. “Ciel’s” own soul gets shoved back into him, after his body had been carried around in a trunk for a while. Then Claude somehow shoves Jim/Alois’ soul into “Ciel”, even though there’s still a soul there. All the same, he uses special techniques to force “Ciel” to accept this extra soul, which Claude says is very similar, considering the traumas they went through. Then, you have Hannah making a double contract with Jim/Alois and “Ciel”. By the time Sebastian finally has his young master restored to him, the kid is a demon. There’s no explanation for how Hannah achieved this, but I suspect it has something to do with all the stuff that happened to him, including all the manipulation of his soul, then she just tweaked his soul somehow, making him a demon. But anyone’s guess is as good as mine on that one. Because: anime team writers 😑.

So, there were elements of this idea in my Mother3 theory even before we got to Heathfield Manor, thanks to that old forum I skimmed through in 2015, as well as the early anime series. In fact, that old forum thread got my Mother3 theory started. Early on, I did see the parallels between Dr. Andonuts and Undertaker, thanks to the former’s Fascinating Chimera and the latter’s Bizarre Dolls. And I could see the parallel between Dr. Andonuts and Dr. Josef Mengele, since some of the huge vats in Dr. Andonuts’s main lab contain twins (not in the same vat, but they are in different vats in the same room). Then I completed the triangle with a parallel between Undertaker and Mengele, since reapers are also called “Angels of Death”, plus he had twins at his disposal. This idea was seriously reinforced when it became apparent that Lord Vega might actually be a set of identical twins, considering their speech patterns… and how Nina only has four sets of measurements, not five.

What might happen

There are two major scenarios where I see this happening:

Either it was already part of Undertaker’s plan

Or it’s something that becomes “necessary”

If it was already part of the plan, then it would be like Undertaker really doesn’t care too much which is which, and he would see this combination as the ideal — a single “Ciel” Phantomhive with real Ciel’s strength and other attributes plus our earl’s soul. That’s what I call the Ultimate Doll, as if it’s indestructible (but not truly indestructible, just like the Ultimate Chimera… which Dr. Andonuts couldn’t control). He might even think he can keep this Phantomhive around forever. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But, if this (plus who knows what else) fixes the defect in the bizarre doll, it would be a force to be reckoned with. Strength, agility, speed, intelligence, endurance, no asthma, etc. It might also break the demon contract, since our earl’s contract seal is on his right eye. If his soul is now in the body that already gave up its soul, and there’s no contract seal on this body….

If it’s a last moment “necessity”, it could be that something happens to either our earl or real Ciel… and there’s begging/pleading (or an offer!) on one side or the other to perform the procedure. Say, if our earl is severely injured before the contract has been fulfilled, and the last resort to keep him alive is to transplant his soul into a donor body, which would be real Ciel’s body. Sebastian could ask for it or Undertaker could offer it. That’s what always makes me think of this image from Artworks 2.

However, here’s where I see Undertaker only being successful for a short time: the twins are mirrored. This could include their internal organs. This could even include their souls. Somewhere, in an older post, I explain that mirrored souls would have the same shape but in reverse, so Undertaker would have to flip it around to place it inside. Theoretically! I once described it like a jigsaw puzzle with a different design on each side, one of those double-sided ones. Flip it over, and it’s completely different. That could cause a major complication, like body and soul rejecting each other. Or they fit together… but the resulting combination causes a personality change.

Either “Ciel” would wish to be torn apart again, or “Ciel” would have to be destroyed to stop him from doing something terrible? Of course, it could simply end in “Ciel” renewing the contract, as a way to end the suffering. Besides, the demon keeps reminding his young master that he will stick around and remain loyal until lies become truth. Our earl calls himself “Ciel”, but it becomes the truth… if his soul gets placed inside the body of real Ciel. Who knows? This might be the last requirement of the deal, and neither one realizes it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

You know what would be funny? If I’m completely overthinking all this soul stuff… and real Ciel just needs his younger twin to donate a kidney. 😏 😆

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squishneedsahero · 3 years ago

Text

Reasons

Awesomest of Them All 2.0

Part 4 of 13

Word Count: 1809

Batman x Batmom!Reader

You know what the bat family needs? Someone to pull them together and give them all the love they deserve. Who better to do that than you? An author rising to stardom in Gotham who catches the eye of a billionaire with your standoffish attitude at a huge social gathering. You are yourself and never pretend to be more or less than that. Plus you're the most stubborn person in the world, refusing to let good things go without reason.

This is a rewrite of my story Awesomest of Them All, I wanted to see how much I've improved over 3 years.

"You're breaking up with me?" You say it like a question, offendedly and confused, from your point of view everything was going good, but apparently it wasn't.

"I am. I'm sorry y/n it's not you it's-"

"Nu-uh, Bruce Thomas Fucking Wayne you are not going end things with that cliche line," you say sounding pissed. "I love you and if you want to end things that is fine but you better as hell give me one good fucking reason why.

"But-no-were done y/n," he says, sounding confused as to why you're arguing with him. Why did you have to be so stubborn?! If anything it only made him love you more.

"No we aren't done at least until you give me a good reason. If you're going to end things with me then I deserve to at least know why when as far as I know everything is perfect according to Gotham standards," you cross your arms and pop your hip. This was the first real relationship you'd had in your life and him ending it without warning wasn't something you could handle. You needed to at the very least know why. Why had he invited you over? Why had Dick and Alfred greeted you normally? Just for him to try and end things? It made zero sense.

He looks away from you, with the angry tears in your beautiful eyes. You the first woman he has genuinely fallen head over heels for that he was currently trying to end things with. It was hurting him just as much as it hurt you, but he had a good reason. He didn't want you getting hurt because of his night job.

Both Alfred and Dick had tried to tell him you could handle it, and he knew they were right. You would be able to handle the fact that he was Batman, but he knew he couldn't handle you getting hurt. He knew that was his breaking point.

It's as you're staring at him with the tears beginning to run down your cheeks that he reaches his other breaking point. Seeing you hurting and confused, he couldn't bring himself to lie to your face another time.

"What?" You ask, seeing the slight changes to his posture and expression.

He takes a breath, "I'm trying to keep you safe y/n-"

"You're trying to keep me safe?" You ask your own expression softening. "Bruce," you reach a hand up to cup his cheek as you always had, but he catches it before you can touch him.

"Yes, I can't handle seeing you hurt. Even now, when I know I have good reasons for trying to leave you, I can't bring myself to actually do it because I can see how much it's hurting you even if you're yelling at me," his hand drops yours and comes to cup your cheek, a slight smile coming to his lips.

Your breathing hitches for a moment as he speaks, you can feel how genuine he is being, "Bruce-" actual tears begin to run down your cheeks at his proclamation of love. Your arms wrap around his torso and you lean your head against his chest, "Bruce, my love, that is the opposite of a good reason to break up with me. I hope you realize that."

His deep laugh echos through your ears, and his hand runs through your hair. "I know my dear, I can't do it. I can't bring myself to end things with you. If you had walked out after I tried the first time I would have, but I cannot bring myself to argue with you when I know deep down I'm wrong even if I like to think I'm keeping you safe."

"Well, as sweet as that is I'm glad you at least are acknowledging the fact that you're a dumbass for thinking it might work," you laugh gently and lean back to look at his face. "So, can I know what has you so convinced I'm going to be hurt if I continue my relationship with you?"

The two of you stand in silence for a few minutes just hugging each other before he says, "it'll be better for me t show you, as knowing you if I were to just tell you you would laugh and think I'm joking."

This of course causes you to laugh, "me? Laugh at you? What in the world makes you think I would do that?"

He laughs gently, "I don't know what would make me think that, dear." He doesn't wait for a real answer, instead taking your hand and leading you into the study and up to the beautiful dark colored oak wood grand father clock. He doesn't say anything as he moves the hands on the clock and it opens like a door revealing a staircase. He leads you down, still holding your hand.

You, are of course confused by this, because who the hell has a secret room in their house?! Well, billionaires, that's who. But that still doesn't tell you why he had a secret room. You look to him for an answer but he simply continues leading you down the stairs.

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs you stop, and look around amazed at the vast cave you found you were in. It's dark, and you can't see much so you revert back to default settings and ask, "you have a sex cave?"

He laughs, clearly amused with that question. The fact that he had expected any other reaction just showed him how often you surprised him. "No, y/n," he leads you a little further into the cave before letting go of your hand and saying, "wait here, I'm going to turn the lights on."

You nod, and wait as you hear him move off through the dark. Your mind was reeling, what in the world was this place? Whatever it was, it was important to him and he was trusting you with it.

It's after a few moments that the lights light up the large space. A gasp leaves you as you see on one end of the cave a huge computer screen built into the rock, on the other end a car, helicopter and a whole ass airplane. It's as you slowly turn in a circle that Bruce comes back over to you and catches you in his arms.

You were facing a taxidermy T-Rex as he leans down to softly say in your ear, "I'm Batman."

A chill goes down your spine and you know it's true, not that you could really question it when he has a bat-mobile and T-Rex in his basement. Your hands find their way down to rest on his, "I guess this would be a good reason to break up with me, if you're still wanting too."

He shakes his head, "I love you too much to do that to you. Plus, me telling you defeats the purpose of any of that stupidity," he says, grabbing your waist and pulling you into a deep kiss.

"So, this is why I couldn't spend the night?"

"Yes," he laughs softly and kisses you again as he picks you up. Your legs find their way to lock around his waist, as he carries you over to the chair in front of the computer. He sets you on the desk, kissing you deeply yet again, one of his hands traveling up your shirt to draw circles on your side.

How could he be the worlds greatest detective and also not have guessed that you, the woman he loves would argue with him when he tried to leave you? He had almost made the biggest mistake of his life that day and now all of his emotions were overcoming him, he wanted, needed you close to him.

Sooner than he wants you break the kiss and end the make out session. You gently kiss his lips one time and ask, "so, how much am I allowed to know?" You press another quick kiss to his cheek as you stand up, and say, "I love you."

He doesn't let you move far from him, sitting himself in the desk chair and pulling you into his lap. "Anything you want to know you can," he brushes your hair back from your face and tilts his head to press a kiss to your neck.

"Hey!" You laugh and push his face back from you. "I want you to answer my questions, not try and distract me!" You spin yourself to straddle him, a hand going to rest on his hip, "after questions, then maybe, I'll let you kiss me." You purse your lips in thought, "maybe I'll let you do more than just kiss me, but that depends on if you behave," you tease gently.

He laughs and shakes his head slightly, "alright, I'll restrain myself from kissing you anymore, until you have your questions answered. After that though," that smirk comes to his lips as he suggestively lets his hand go up the back of your shirt to rest on your shoulder blade.

You sigh dramatically, and roll your eyes gently, even if you were excited to see him like this. "Okay, I'll make it fast. Does this mean Dick is Robin? Is that Clark Kent guy actually Superman and that's how Dick knew him? Finally I'd like to formally apologize for doing your job that first time we met when Joker tried to shoot me and I went on autopilot and told him he had lipstick in his teeth."

Bruce laughs, "yes, Dick is Robin. I'm surprised you already put that together with Clark, usually Superman is far away so him wearing glasses works. And, my love, it is more than alright that you did my job for me. I couldn't have done it better myself, though I probably would not have fallen on top of Joker after flipping him," he teases gently and kisses your cheek, "but no, I should have known from that that you can handle yourself."

You smile and press a kiss to his lips, "well, at the very least I'm sorry for insulting you when I did thank you that night."

He laughs again, "y/n, I love every part of you and if I am honest with myself that is the night I started falling for you. You amaze me with your ability to laugh and stand strong in the face of danger, I save people every night and have never seen anyone else react like you."

You push a hand against his chest, "stop, you're making me blush."

He rolls his eyes and laughs at you again, before growing more serious as he looks at you, saying in a low, sexy, voice, "a deals a deal, y/n, I'm going to make you do more than blush tonight."

#Batman #batman x you #batmom #batmom reader #batfam x batmom #batfam #batfam x you #batfam x y/n #batfam x reader #batman x batmom #batman x batmom!reader #bruce wayne #bruce wayne x you #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne x y/n

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mariacallous · 2 years ago

Text

Twenty years ago, we lost Paul Wellstone, his wife and daughter, three campaign workers and two pilots in a tragic plane crash. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of him. Some politicians disappear quickly from the public imagination once they are no longer with us. Others have a legacy that lives on in the people they impacted and the values they upheld. Their light continues to shine beyond their time in office or on earth. Their influence even magnifies over time. That is true of Paul Wellstone.

I first met Paul as a 19-year-old student at Carleton College. He was my faculty adviser and political mentor and became a lifelong friend. No one had more influence on me than Paul. I worked on the 2002 campaign that ended so tragically and helped to found Wellstone Action. This is how I remember him.

Paul Wellstone loved and respected working-class people. He honored their dignity and their struggles to support their families. The Iron Range — indeed the entire Eighth Congressional District — was his second home. He was comfortable in union halls, church basements and on the picket line. He fought for the rights of steel workers, autoworkers, public sector workers and mine workers. These already strong relationships were cemented in the fight against NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Paul understood that any trade agreement that did not protect U.S. jobs was certain to cause dramatic dislocation for many workers, wrecking families and entire communities, as jobs were shipped overseas. What a different world we might have today had that fight not been lost. Huge swaths of voters might not have been attracted to Donald Trump's fake populism.

As the son of Jewish immigrants, Paul had a natural affinity with immigrants, whether they be Hmong, Mexican, Liberian or Russian. Having watched his mother work for years in cafeterias and his father in jobs far below his education level, Paul knew what immigrants give up when they come to the U.S. and how much they contribute to their new home. He never held himself above anyone and honored all communities who were finding a place in the fabric of our state. His was not a phony appeal to working people or immigrants, but rather a deep and abiding respect for who they were.

Paul loved rural and small-town Minnesota. One of his first organizing projects as a professor at Carleton was to create Organizing for a Better Rice County. This project enabled him to bring issues of local poverty to his students and to bring skills and organizing tools to his neighbors. Later he would forge alliances with farm families, whose livelihoods were being threatened by large utility companies, corporate agriculture and politicians who just didn't care. Paul walked their land, sat at their kitchen tables and listened to their stories. Then he would help turn that knowledge into action to improve people's lives.

Paul did not believe there was a contradiction between defending the environment and the need for good, high-paying jobs. He didn't change his position from audience to audience on these and other issues. Rather, when he was with a labor audience, he talked about the urgency of environmental protection, and when he was with environmentalists, he helped them to understand the real and immediate concerns of workers. He educated all sides and helped people see connections.

Remarkably for a politician, Paul admitted when he was wrong, and then sought to make amends. Early in this country's debate about marriage, Paul took the position that marriage was a right to be afforded to only a man and a woman. He believed civil union should be available for all. Later, after listening to the hurt and anger of his gay and lesbian friends, he changed his position. He evolved. He admitted that he was wrong and became a champion for same-sex marriage. This takes courage.

Paul Wellstone was authentic. He found joy in politics and in turn people felt his warmth, his genuine concern and his interest in finding solutions with them. "We all do better when we all do better" was not just a slogan for Paul; it was a core belief. He worked with his friend and Republican colleague, Jim Ramstad, to promote mental health parity and to see addiction as an issue worthy of legislative action. He worked with colleagues across the aisle on domestic violence.

He fought vigorously to protect workers and the environment, but after a fierce political battle, he could be friends with those with whom he disagreed. He could laugh with them, ask about their families and sympathize with personal setbacks. He was so certain of his convictions, that he was able to be both fierce and compassionate.

Paul is remembered for his friendships on the Senate floor, but also with the Capitol police, the elevator operators, the cafeteria workers, the custodians and the legislative staff whose jobs it is to make government work. These people were never invisible to Paul.

Long before Barack Obama, Paul understood that a multiracial, multigenerational coalition was not only an effective way to win elections, but also the only way to advance social change and strengthen our democracy. He believed in collective power and grassroots organizing. I witnessed dozens of gatherings where he shifted the focus from himself to the work being done by others in the room. He understood one person does not make change. Organized people do.

As I sit with the current ugly state of politics, the cesspool of lies, the rise of authoritarianism and racism, and our inability to get anything done, I remember Paul. A beacon of hope when he was alive, his legacy is still a beacon of hope. I believe we can learn to respect each other again, to come together to solve serious problems and to build a future worthy of our children and grandchildren.

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asterekmess · 3 years ago

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Did you ever watch Buffy? The first episode where Anya was introduced was titled "The Wish" and all I can think about is if Scott McCall had ever run into a pure Sidhe where they offered him a wish. Instead of, "I wish Buffy had never come to Sunnydale." It would be more, "I wish I was never bitten to become a werewolf." But just like all feaye tricks, the outcome is more, his Dad ended up with primary custody rather than his Mom and he was forced to leave BH. And then Stiles ended up more friends with Heather and others. And while Scott's life is worse, when he tracks down the others he finds all of theirs are greatly improved.

I think about it a lot and how Scott never really dealt with the consequences of any of his actions, everyone else did, and how an episode or mini-arc could have fixed a flaw in the show's design. I mean, we were already dealing with a lot of Celtic lore, why not someone from the Sidhe courts?

I have no idea why this took me so long to answer, so apologies for that. <3 I did watch buffy! I've seen all of it, and all of Angel as well. XD

I remember 'The Wish' episode, and whoooo boy it gave me chills. I loved how big the butterfly effect was, how something that seemed so small, something that Genuinely seemed to be the cause of a lot of problems in Sunnydale, ended up being so important to how things had progressed. Because, yeah, you would think Buffy not coming to Sunnydale would be a Good Thing, right? Sunnydale didn't have all of these insane issues before she arrived. It was quiet, and nothing big or scary ever happened. Her arrival matches perfectly with when everything started going absolutely nuts, so whatever selfish ideas Cordelia had, her thought that Buffy not coming to Sunnydale would be a good thing, makes sense. Except that, as she finds out, she's entirely wrong. Buffy's arrival was a lucky coincidence, or fate, whatever your taste leans toward. She showed up right as things started going nuts, and she kept it from going SO MUCH MORE NUTS.

Now, moving on to TW, it is a fascinating mix of being the Exact same situation, and the exact Opposite. I'll add a Read More, cus' holy god is this a lot of Rambling.

Because Scott wishing not to have been bitten...yeah, the bite Did improve things. But it improved things for him. He would absolutely regret making the wish, just like Cordelia did, because he would realize how many good things the bite had brought with it. BUT, conversely, he would have to realize how many good things the bite had brought for him, not for other people, and how their lives either wouldn't have been affect, or might've even Improved without him being bitten. Without the bite, Scott wouldn't have gotten on first line, period. His health issues made very clear in the five minutes he had them that any kind of stamina based sport was just out of the question for him. If he is unable to walk through the woods at a moderate pace without needing to grab his inhaler and stop against a tree, he just plain cannot play lacrosse for two or three hours of running at high speeds and working a bunch of muscles in his upper body. He likely wouldn't have gone out with Allison, because he would have no convenient way to get her attention. Furthermore, he wouldn't have the extra senses that both impressed her on the lacrosse field, and told him about her 'family dinner' the night of Lydia's party. (I've discussed this before, but... While it's true, Allison would have still brought him the dog; that dog would likely have attacked him, and his chances with her would have been shot in the foot when they both got in massive trouble and he likely had to go to the ER for stitches or something. Without Allison or first line, he wouldn't have started hanging out with the 'cool kids,' and quite frankly, wouldn't have had anyone to help him study for the classes he was struggling with. It's true that he also wouldn't have had werewolf things to worry about, or even a girlfriend to distract him from homework, so maybe that wouldn't have been such a huge issue, but still.

If we look at other people's lives and how They would have been affected by Scott not getting the bite...well, let's talk about that.

Stiles didn't get on first line because of Scott, or because of a werewolf bite. Or even because of the werewolf bullshittery occurring in town. He was put on first line because of his abilities, and even after being taken OFF first line for missing the game, he was put Right onto the field in the next game, chosen OVER other players who were perfectly viable options. Which means, he still would've ended up on first line. Allison wasn't interested in dating before she met Scott, and part of her draw to him was based on how 'different' he was. He knew things she didn't know how he could know, he had a weird ability to calm a furious, injured dog, and he had charisma that was ALSO gained from the bite, since being on first line made Scott Much more self-confident. If she didn't end up dating him, it's likely she wouldn't have dated at all. Which would mean no hiding from her parents, no strange conflicts of interest, AND, interestingly enough --depending on her involvement in the murders, etc that would still be occurring in town--no night in the school that would scare her bad enough to ask Kate for extra help and tip her headfirst into hunter training. AND, even if she DID still end up getting those lessons from Kate? There would be no bitterness to fuel her behavior at the end of season 1.

Allison was Traumatized after Kate showed her Derek on the grate. She was horrified, and didn't know what to do about it, and while we can ramble all we want about the morality of her not confronting her family (whom she's just discovered is willing to electrocute people) about it, the fact is that she pushed the thoughts aside to stop freaking out and went to that dance. Where she found out Scott was a werewolf, and was So fucking Betrayed that she was willing to help Kate catch him and Derek. No Scott, no betrayal, no willingness to help Kate recapture the miserable man who'd been chained up in a basement.

If we go back to that specific night, and try to unfold the events from there if Scott hadn't been bitten, things get a little complicated, but I'll take a few artistic liberties. Scott isn't bitten. Presumably, he just happens to get out of the woods in time, or he gets caught with Stiles by the sheriff, or doesn't go to the woods in the first place. These all change the possible outcomes of that night. If he hadn't gone in the first place, and Stiles went alone, would he have been bitten instead? Would Scott have been dragged into all of this anyway, but without the protection and boost of being a werewolf and cured of his asthma? If he weren't the one bitten, and he saw everything Stiles gained from it, would he still have such a hatred for the bite? Or would he want it, like Erica did, to cure him and make him powerful and cool? But, let's assume Stiles doesn't get bitten either. The second half of Laura's body still hasn't been found, and Stiles has no reason to fear running back into the preserve the next day, and no real punishment from his father as far as we can tell. So, does he go back to look again? If he did, he would run into Derek, because Derek would still be there after retrieving Laura's body himself. He would see Derek and still recognize him, and from there, things might spiral, still involving Stiles in the supernatural, and it's likely Stiles would try to involve Scott, and Again we get hit with "Would Scott want the bite, if he hadn't gotten forcibly bitten in the first place?" The answer is probably yes. He wanted to be cool, and popular, and on the lacrosse team. He wanted everything being a werewolf gave him. BUT if we're looking at this wish as similar to "The Wish," then no matter what, Scott won't be bitten. He'll be transported to a new world where it just never happened, and he'll be human, and forced to watch everyone around him be just plain different. Scott not being bitten would isolate him from Stiles, if Stiles got involved in the spn anyway. We SAW how Stiles cut off his other friends once the spn starting getting in the way. He and Harley? We have no clue how close they were. They were close enough for her to tease him about his crush on Lydia, for her to wander up comfortably to the locker and talk to them. And he cut her off as soon as the werewolf stuff hit. What if he cut Scott off? To protect him, if nothing else, like he did his own father. Once he realized the danger involved, I doubt he would be willing to put Scott in harm's way.

So, Scott would not only lose first line, lose his girlfriend, lose his popularity, lose his health and strength and heightened abilities, lose his 'importance' to the goings-on of Beacon Hills, but he would also lose Stiles, who seems to have been his only friend, unless he also had a relationship with Harley.

Okay, I've rambled enough about the what if's, so let's talk about the Reason why this wish would go so badly for Scott, in such a different way than it went for Cordelia. Cordelia, first off, wished that someone Else would not have/do something, rather than wishing for herself not to have done something. She watches how fucked up the world gets, and how much worse her life is without Buffy around to save the day. Scott wished for Himself not to have done something (even something passive, like 'get bitten') and would have to watch how fucked up his world gets, and how far behind he would fall. The other's lives might not necessarily get better, because Peter is still on the loose, and the hunters are still there, etc etc, but they would still Progress, while Scott would stay stagnant.

And WHY is that? Because Scott isn't important to the story. It DOESN'T start with him. That's the Whole Point of his character. He is supposed to be the 'everyman' who gets dragged into crazy shit and becomes integral to things that he wasn't ever meant to be a part of. The guy who wanders into becoming King or 'The Hero' that will save the world, even though he's just a small lad from a tiny town, whose highest prospects were "get on first line."

He was NEVER supposed to be Buffy, or if he was, it was done Very Badly.

But Beacon Hills WASN'T a quiet town before Scott was bitten; however much he might've said 'nothing ever happens in this town.' It was FULL of bullshittery and magic from the very beginning. There was the fire, and Paige, and the blinding of Deucalion, and the death of Alexander Argent, and the Nogitsune in the internment camp nearby. All of these things were around So much longer than Scott's bite, and they'd been affecting the world that whole time too. Because yes, in Buffy, the master was There before she was, but he was literally rendered inert by the situations he was in. And the things he'd done happened Centuries before, not six years. There is a difference. Sunnydale was Not Known for the insane number of weird deaths. Beacon Hills was. And aside from the Nogitsune, every single fucking thing that happened in Beacon Hills, was attuned to the Hale family in one way or another. Deucalion's blinding occurred during a meeting on Hale land, because Talia was known as a wise leader, etc, in the area and other wolves flocked to her. Deucalion biting Argent seems unrelated (if you even believe Deucalion did that, despite being a fucking pacifist before Gerard blinded him), but again, it occurs just a couple hours away from Beacon Hills, which is Hale Territory. The one who plays the Buffy role here? Who shows up at just the right time, and launches themself against an endless wave of evil, with slightly enhanced senses and a thorough need to do good and not back away from things that 'aren't they're problem'? The actual hero who is somehow tied to everything going on in ways even they don't understand? Was Derek. The guy who entirely unwittingly allowed Julia Baccari to survive, because he was trying to be merciful to his first love. Who entirely unwittingly was manipulated into giving up information that let a hunter kill his family. Who followed his sister back to town after six years of just trying to survive in New York, fell into a fucking tragedy, and decided to stop the bad guys anyway, even though he knew he didn't stand a fucking chance.

And as annoyed as some might get. The 'everyman' who stumbles onto the set and accidentally becomes integral to the saving of the world? The one whose ambitions are small and who expectations are smaller? Who is misunderstood, and has abilities that aren't recognized or appreciated, that doesn't really fit in, but tries their best anyway? The literal Angel to Derek's Buffy?

Is fucking Stiles. The son of the sheriff who just could not let it go when he discovered there was something funky going on. Who hung around on the edges, even though he wasn't really wanted, because he needed to help. Who ended up saving Derek's life over and over, and becoming so important as to be Derek's anchor? Who literally WENT DARKSIDE and HAD TO BE NEARLY KILLED, even though Derek didn't to kill him???

I know how it sounds, but JD SAID he took inspiration from Buffy. The issue is that his parallels are between DEREK AND STILES, and BUFFY AND ANGEL. Respectively.

Derek might act like the broody bad boy, but it is STILES' mentality that matches Angel's behavior, and it's Derek who matches Buffy.

I'm so fucking off track. Scott would be miserable if he ever managed to get a wish and used it to keep from having been bitten. And it would be sad. I would feel bad for him, had I watched something like that happen. Seeing him realize that most of the good things he had, he only got because of the bite. That Stiles would still be on first line, that Lydia and Jackson would still be the popular kids. That Allison wouldn't know he existed, or if she did would avoid him entirely. That Jackson would never have been turned into the kanima in the first place. That everyone else would move on and up in life, and he would still be standing at the bottom step. Because it wasn't his actual limitations that were holding him back, it was his refusal to accept them, to work with them, and to just plain stop Envying Everyone Around him, and start living his own fucking life instead of trying to steal other people's.

Scott wishes he were Cordelia, and I promise that would backfire too.

#personal #anti-Scott McCall #meta ramblings #go for it #this is way too long #but i had feelings #the more you guys made me talk about this #the more I want to write a Buffy fusion #or a tw rewrite with Scott not being bitten #or fucking Both #or both Combined #SOMETHING

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septembersghost · 2 years ago

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is Bates Motel scary? I'm a horror wimp but have been curious about it

i wouldn't say it's scary in a jump scare horror sense per se, most of the fear is very psychological, but i'd want to give you a dozen different trigger warnings if you're sensitive because it is very dark and deals with heavy themes. saying that sounds like a negative - it's not, i love the show, and like i said to the other anon, S4 is a beautifully done (elegiac, i recently used that word to describe something else, but it's apt here) season of television, though by nature as a prequel/reimagining a heartbreaking tragedy, and the entire show builds upon that and examines difficult topics. putting them under the cut, also light spoilers due to the subject matter.

huge trigger warnings for sexual assault, not only because there's a brutal instance of it in the pilot (you see it coming, that doesn't lessen how terrible it is), but it's not forgotten or avoidable, norma's life has been shaped by this. she's a sexual assault and abuse survivor through childhood, through marriage. her dynamic with norman is molded by this too, both due to her trauma influencing her as a mother and her closeness with him being predicated on this idea that he's the one man she can depend on and trust while he's simultaneously her baby that she wants to shield and protect. he witnesses her being physically and emotionally abused by his father (the most upsetting instance of this comes up in 4x06), which is the origin of his disassociative disorder. it goes without saying their dynamic is complicated and upsetting, her attachment to him and his fixation on her is not normal. their relationship is also tender and empathetic. they love one another in profound and terrible ways, theirs is the central unconventional dynamic of the show.

the sexual abuse norma has survived is probably the part i'd urge the most caution about, it's a topic i actually often avoid myself, but in this context it becomes a necessary part of understanding her. idk if you've ever watched dexter, but in S5 of that show, the arc deals with that theme (in a different way than here, but still, it's difficult), and the character affected by it is also one of my favorites, it's always been a rare example of a show where i felt the theme was handled very carefully and humanely rather than exploitatively. i feel the same way about norma (maybe excluding the pilot scene - which drives everything else that happens, so i can't say it's unnecessary to the plot, but it feels every bit as cruel as it is). and she is a survivor, she is not defined by her experiences, but they also linger with her continually. inc*st/csa is part of her backstory, and affects the present story in relation to another main character (i can't say more without totally spoiling a plot). a subtle undercurrent of her arc is also the casual cruelty men inflict and the damage of misogyny on so many women (some of which she's understandably internalized). she also weaponizes her sexuality and the thrall men feel towards her at times, which is not an uncommon response to the things she's been through, even though she doesn't like/blames herself for that.

there's a very sad accidental animal (dog) death in S1, which also ends up providing necessary story. norman gets into taxidermy, which we see instances of, but he never hurts animals himself, and he tends to the ones he preserves with a great amount of reverence and care. there's some body horror given what happens to norma and her ending up in the basement.

S1 is kind of a mess with a couple of subplots, but it improves immensely as it goes. (and i think the subplots end up serving the characters well in the end.)

obviously, given the source inspiration, there are murders, committed for various motives by various characters, so tw for violence/blood, brutal at times. matricide (it's not graphic at all, though). there's also some involvement in the drug trade.

norman's deteriorating mental health is a constant part of the narrative and it deals quite bluntly with how broken mental health care is and how difficult it is to get proper treatment (and how terrifying and dehumanizing that process can feel). it is deeply sad as we watch him get worse. so tw for depictions of mental illness, medical neglect (imo), depression, hallucinations, and suicidality.

hopefully that covers everything! i don't want this list to sound too awful, writing it out probably makes it sound worse than it is as an organic part of the story. it's worth watching, but you should always take care of yourself first!

#anonymous #letterbox #bates motel

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procrastinatingsapphictrash · 4 years ago

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Slide in the wall

Word count: 1418

Genre: I guess fluff but this is super random

Pairing: Platonic!Tony x reader (with some Pepper at the end)

Warnings: Swearing but in a friendly way (let me know if I need to add more)

Request: ... and this ones pretty vague but i just cried over a stark!reader after tony died so would love anything fluffy tony!

Summary: Tony and the reader find plans that they made while drunk and decide to build them without the permission of Pepper.

A/n: This request was for @casperlikej so I hope you like it. If I’m going to be completely honestly I don’t even know what I wrote here and it’s probably trash but whatever, I hope everyone enjoys anyways. It was also my first time writing for Tony so I don’t know how well I did but again, this isn’t meant to be a super serious fic, it’s very lighthearted fun.

“How did you think that date was going to go well? It was at a seedy bar!” Tony asks you incredulously.

“I was desperate.” You answer honestly.

“Why, because you haven’t gotten any action in months?” Tony mocks.

“Oh fuck off.” You tell him while holding up your middle finger behind her with one hand as you continue to work with your other.

“Excuse me, is this how you speak to your boss?”

You laugh, “So you’re the boss of the avengers now? Besides, we both know you’re only the boss of anything on paper, if you wanted to fire me you’d have to go through Pepper first.” He opens his mouth to protest but you shush him.

“Don’t shush me.” You ignore his warning and shush him again, holding out an architecture design you had just found buried beneath some folders. He grumbles and takes it but when he looks at what it says his annoyance disappears. You smile as you see him read the page that details exact plans of how to install a slide from the top floor where both your rooms are, all the way to the labs in the basement with multiple places to get on or off in between.

“When did we make this?”

“I don’t know,” you respond, shrugging, “maybe while we got drunk a few nights ago?”

“That makes sense but this plan is good, even if we were wasted when we made it, we have to do this.” He says and you nod in agreement, knowing that he is serious and fully on board with the plan.

“But we can’t let the others know because they would stop us,” you tell him, “and we need to do it before Pepper gets back from her business trip or else she’ll figure it out.”

“We need to start now.” He agrees while calling a screen from Jarvis and pulling up some materials to buy. With Jarvis’s help it only takes a few minutes to decide which ones would be best to buy because Jarvis compared all of the different compagnies and figured out the best quality materials. You then move onto finding a team of workers who would be willing to work in secret to install the slide but it isn’t as hard as it sounds because Tony just promises to pay them ten times their normal hourly price so they agree easily. The rest of the day is spent improving the plans and figuring out how to keep the other avengers occupied so nobody notices.

---

The next day you wake up early to go down to the labs and make sure all the materials and workers are ready. When you get down you find Tony is already there, explaining everything to the workers to make sure everything runs smoothly. The workers look weirded out by what they are being asked to install and the manner they are being asked to install it in but don’t question him because they are thankful to be paid this much.

“Hey Tony,” you say as the workers disperse to get on with the day, “ready to distract the team?”

“Of course,” he replies, “keeping them off of the top ten floors shouldn’t be too hard, even if it is where their rooms are because I booked us a full day meeting with Fury to go over whatever he wanted, I didn’t pay attention to what he said.”

You groan. “Was there seriously no other way? I swear that man makes his meetings boring on purpose just so he can yell at us when we fall asleep.”

“Are you still mad about that? It happened two years ago.” You don’t have a response to that so you just stick your tongue out at him. He laughs at you as he starts walking out of the lab. “By the way, we’re both already late.”

“Fuck you!” You yell after him as you rush to catch up.

---

A week later and all seventy floors had been completed so the slide ran from the top floor to the labs with a place to get in and out at around every ten floors. Somehow none of the other avengers had noticed that on one of the far walls of each floor there was a jut out that hadn’t been there before, some of the jut outs even having doors. As soon as you say thank you to the workers and they leave, you and Tony rush up to the top floor to try the slide out.

Both of you want to go first so you sit on the edge while Tony sits behind you, wrapping his legs and arms around you in a way that reminds you of doing this with your brother on the playground as kids. As soon as he is secured you push off, gliding down. It’s just as fun as you imagined and works perfectly, slowing down at every exit just enough for you to grab a bar to stop yourself, before speeding back up again. It takes almost a minute for you to make it all the way down, plopping onto the mattress Tony had the foresight to set there. You turn to each other with huge smiles and excitement shining in both your eyes.

“Again.” You both say simultaneously, racing to get up the stairs. You were about to get on the elevator on the first floor when something made you pause.

“What is this?” Pepper’s shrill voice rang out. Tony gulped and you both creep to the room where the other avengers stood in fear of her and peek your heads around the doorway. If you hadn’t also been scared you would have been amused by the sight of the world’s greatest heroes rendered speechless by a normal businesswomen.

Natasha speaks first. “I have no idea, I didn’t notice but I can assure you I had no part in whatever somebody did to change the shape of the room.”

“I trust you,” Pepper says, “Besides, Tony and Y/n are the only ones who are suspiciously not here.” After she says that you both pull your heads back.

“I’m blaming it on you.” Tony says.

“Me, no, I’m blaming it on you! You paid for it!”

“Yeah well you had the idea.” He accuses.

“No I did not!” You defend yourself although you don’t even know who made it since you were both drunk.

“Fine, maybe you didn’t but you showed me the design when you could have just thrown it away.”

“Oh like you would ha-”

“You two are not as quiet as you think.” Pepper says, cutting you off. “Now come out so I can talk to you properly.” You step timidly into the room, pushing Tony in front of you.

“Hi sweetheart.” Tony says weakly, with a guilty smile.

“Don’t sweetheart me. I want to know why the room is a different shape!” Pepper yells while the team snickers at your misfortune.

“Are you sure the room hasn’t always been this way? I for one don’t notice a difference.” Tony says, playing dumb.

“You know that would be a lot more convincing if the paint colours were the same on the new walls as they are on the old ones.” Pepper says, looking completely done with Tony.

“How was I supposed to know there are different versions of white?” Tony asks her, ignoring the dangerous flash in her eyes.

“Tony…” she practically growls, “why did you do this?” He nudges your side for you to respond instead of him.

“We built a slide to the labs.” You tell her.

“So let me get this straight,” she says, pretending to think out loud, “you two added a slide from here to the labs, renovating the floors without consulting me?” You and Tony look at each in horror. If she was this upset about one floor, she would undoubtedly be pissed once she found out the full length of the slide.

“SoactuallytheslidegoesfromthetopfloorallthewaytothelabsI’mverysorryIloveyou. (So actually the slide goes from the top floor all the way to the labs, I’m very sorry, I love you)” Tony said all in one breath before running away pulling you after him.

Pepper stands shocked for a second but as you get further away you hear her yell something indistinguishable. You feel a little bad and you can tell Tony does too but after a lot of begging and making up for it Pepper will forgive both of you and besides, the slide was totally worth it.

#tony stark #tony stark x reader #ironman #ironman x reader #avengers x reader #avengers #pepper potts #marvel fanfiction

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threecheersforinking · 4 years ago

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The Promised Neverland Anime: what happened??

So, if you’ve been keeping up with the anime airing this season, you might be aware of the controversy surrounding The Promised Neverland season 2 and how it’s started to diverge from the manga. As a manga reader, I wanted to add my two cents, and keep you caught up on the situation if you’re unaware.

In this post I’m going to be discussing the first 5 episodes of The Promised Neverland season 2, but there won’t be manga spoilers, don’t worry. (I will mention arcs and characters by name though, but that’s it)

So, I finished the manga back in June, (you can read my spoilery review of it here) and while I enjoyed it I do remember others being disappointed in the ending. There were rumors that the publishing schedule changed and the author and artist had to put out chapters at a quicker rate than they were ready for. As a result, the end seemed fairly rushed.

When manga readers found out that the author (Kaiu Shirai) was going to help work on Season 2 and make some changes, originally, most of us were excited. Having the original creator involved in the anime is always a good sign, and it seemed like they were aware of some of the displeasure manga fans had with the ending.

However... I can speak for all of us when I say we were not expecting changes this early on. You may have heard talk of the ‘Goldy Pond’ arc, which is the next big arc after Grace Field house in the manga. None of us expected it to be involved in the cuts and changes made by the author. However, from the way the second season is going, it seems like Goldy Pond is going to be completely axed from the show. A beloved character who was meant to be introduced at the start of this season, Yuugo, might not appear at all either.

Despite all this, I trust that Shirai knows what they’re doing. I’m really hoping that even if the story ends up being different, it’ll still be enjoyable and interesting to watch. Everyone has their theories as to what the plot changes are leading to or how Goldy Pond might still happen, but honestly, literally no one can know for sure until we watch the upcoming episodes.

However, I also want to mention my personal criticisms with the show even disregarding the plot changes. My biggest issue (besides being sad about Yuugo) is the pacing. Episodes 4 and 5 had way too much going on. The audience barely had time to absorb the bunker before the raid happened, and then all of a sudden there was a huge timeskip. Yes those things happen way later on in the manga, but even if they wanted to make those drastic changes they definitely could have made them more cohesive or flow better. I’m hoping this aspect improves as they continue on with the season.

Generally though, if you’re an anime-only fan curious about Goldy Pond or Yuugo or just want to know what all the fuss is about, definitely read the manga, it’s totally worth it! Also, if you’re anime-only or a manga reader and want more info/theories about the fate of Season 2, I’d highly recommend this video by Best Girl’s Basement. Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking

#the promised neverland #tpn #tpn s2 #the promised neverland season 2 #the promised neverland yuugo #yuugo #goldy pond #ray tpn #emma tpn #norman tpn #Yakusoku no Neverland #winter 2021 anime

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foxymoxynoona · 3 years ago

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Absolutely love amended but I just can't see the happy ending man.. Surely there's affection between both of them, they care and want the best for each other, for sure. However it seems to me like there are too many flaws for it to work? With the big fight, we have a clear view of how they work with their defense mechanism under pressure and shock and it's not good. To me, there will always be an imbalance in the relationship, because no matter what, you say dumb shit you don't mean when you're angry and Jungkook will throw in the fact it's his money, his house and etc. while Belle will threaten to leave with the kids. It's bound to happen again, I think. And with Belle traumas, I'm quite sure she might, no matter how in love she falls, keep in the back of her mind the fact that Jungkook did pay for everything, that her situation now could be gone in a breath if Jungkook wanted to. But that could be entirely different once she starts her new job (so happy for her) and save enough money—again, her mind might just be full of 'secure the money so the kids can be safe if Jungkook ever kicks us out'? Unhealthy. So there's definitely a stronger one on the relationship, dependence happening. That's not good to me, if they're always going to come back to that fact at some point. Belle has always been on her toes, ready to leave to keep her kids safe and I don't see her fully trusting Jungkook, no matter what. And Jungkook could definitely question her intentions as time flies—if she loves him or if she's here for the money to keep her kids safe! The foundation is fragile, unstable imo. Also, Jungkook is quite childish at times, even if he does a lot of efforts for Belle. He gets hurt too and say stupid stuff, making her even more insecure. They don't communicate very well, do they? Patricia won't be here forever, they only speak their mind when she comes around. And she pointed out how Jungkook would go for the 'easy' explanation when the real one would just hurt Belle, but that would help her understand him. It's hard to change that too! And I don't agree on people blaming Belle only. They're to blame together, one is not wrong and the other right—they have flaws, on different levels, yeah, but that doesn't make one less important than the other. But sooo many, and some are yet to come into the mess of it all, like the basement thing! It's exhausting for both of them. And I'm sure they love each other but sometimes, love's not enough—sometimes things don't go the way you want it to and that's okay. I could see both of them being exhausted time after time because they don't communicate well and have awful defense mechanisms. I could also see Jungkook stuck in there bc he loved Belle when he was young and he loves to provide and he's like a puppy you know? Like he did her wrong in the past and now he's trying his best to make it right, kind of redemption? Blindsinded maybe, not true love. And Belle stuck in there bc she likes Jungkook, sure, but it's safer for the kids and she'll do anything to keep them safe and Jungkook does just that? Not that she would force herself into it but you know. Yeah. Just my thoughts, love you! ♡

This was really sad to me to read because it seems like such a fatalistic view of marriage and relationships. People just aren't perfect, and marriage puts someone right there in the mud with you when you going through shitty phases, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it. You don't have to be a perfect person to be loved or worthy of love. You can love someone at their worst, and I really don't see Isabella or Jungkook being at their worst now. In fact, the opposite, both of them actually feel safe and supported and accepted enough that they're starting to crack open pains and fears they have kept locked up --in some cases their whole lives!-- so that they can finally heal.

There's not really an "ending" in life until you die. There are always new challenges, new opportunities, new opportunities for growth. Does that mean that love and intimacy aren't worth it, that you shouldn't even try until you've reached some impossible place of perfection?

You also don't seem to think they're capable of growth but people are! Some things take years to heal or unlearn, sure, and I'll honestly be expediting some of that growth in the story compared to real life. Maybe that's just a difference in our view of people? I think that people can and do improve if the intent is there, and that intention to be better makes a huge difference. I see the ways Jungkook and Isabella have greatly improved in this story. Just because they aren't done yet doesn't negate all the progress they've made.

I've been married for almost eight years and we are still learning how to communicate, how to live together, how to support each other, and how to understand our own changing needs. Neither me nor my husband are perfect people, and we have had fight much bigger than any Isabella and Jungkook have had, but do I think our marriage isn't worth it? Nah. Even though sometimes we fight over the STUPIDEST fucking stuff. We have grown and changed as people, and it's sometimes been rough, but we've made it work so far. Isabella and Jungkook are just at the very beginning of their relationship and are rapidly learning so much about each other, and rapid growth can be painful, but they’re both invested. Why would that mean it's already time for quits? They haven't even gotten to fighting over fruit left on the counter or how to load the dishwasher or why would you ever NOT immediately clean up the bug you just squashed on the wall or why the fuck no one but me will put the empty toilet paper rolls in the bin THAT IS LITERALLY RIGHT THERE and they just line them up on the windowsill... like... wtf?!

You mention the fights as exhausting but you don't seem to be giving fair weight to the joy that they bring each other most of the time. If their relationship was nothing but fighting, that'd be one thing. You do make some good observations about their flaws and struggles! And I could absolutely have written a very tragic story of their marriage based on guilt and obligation and regret. I see so much love and admiration in their interactions though --playfulness and joy and gratitude. You don't see that too?

I guess this made me sad because it just seems like you are suggesting something should get thrown away because it's not perfect, when marriage is really learning about how to love and compromise on the imperfections.

#asks #personal #amended

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echo-three-one · 4 years ago

Text

Chapter 27

Who's still reading this? Have fun!

CW : character death (This spoils a lot I'm sorry but I have to put it.)

THE ROAD SO FAR

Previous Chapter : What's behind door number two?

Staying in Shape

John Price

MacTavish Residence, Glasgow, Scotland

It has been almost three days since the culmination of the New York Attack and most of his contacts regarding Nero and Shepherd's movements were quiet. He was getting anxious to step back into the fight, but without sufficient intel, or even better weapons, they couldn't do anything.

Price scanned the room, everyone else started to pair up with each other, a dynamic he expected to happen anytime soon. With all the challenges they've been through, finding love within each other was inevitable. And Price was fine by that. Heck, when he was younger, he had his fair share of romance during missions.

With the thought of Nero and Shepherd resurfacing any moment soon, Price devised a plan, to keep his crew in shape and always prepared to deploy as soon as sufficient intel is presented.

With the help of Jack, they created a training and endurance exercise schedule, where the soldiers, including Price himself, would follow to still continue to stay in shape and prepared for battle. They asked permission from Soap who was more than willing to help, an excited grin all over his face.

"I'll help you set up." he said, gaining a nod from the old man.

"France will train at the basement gym." He added and Soap nodded.

From that moment, the team started training, improving their physical abilities and endurance. Weapons training wasn't possible at the moment as they left it all in Brazil.

Jack overlooked the team from afar, Samantha and Maxine were at the gym helping out France's version of the training. They did the regular set of training from standard 141 protocol, using everyday materials in exchange for some of the equipment Soap didn't own. Price also instructed a specific dietary plan for the soldiers instead of just eating whatever they liked.

While on break, the two girls, Samantha and Maxine approached Price with an excited look in their eyes. Priced raised an eyebrow and asked what they were up to.

"Everyone's doing their best and We both wanted to offer our help." Samantha explained as Maxine inserted.

"We'd like to apply as the team's dietician and health consultant. My resumé is that I have vast knowledge in cooking along with their nutritional information." She grinned.

"And Samantha here has little background on tending to physical wounds and pain. You could see how fast Alex's face healed!" Maxine added. Price was more than happy to accept their offer, it goes to show that they were willing to give whatever it takes for the people and cause they cared about.

"Alright. Guess you're both hired." he chuckled as the two cheered and made their way to their respective 'partners', probably out to share the good news.

Wiping his sweaty forehead with a towel, he looked around the main room where everybody was. Jack was by the office, looking up something on the laptop or probably just playing solitaire. Soap and France were at the gazebo, he could barely see them by the angle he's at but he couldn't miss that flashy mohawk.

To his left, he saw Samantha sitting on Alex's lap as she carefully cleaned Alex's bruise, Roach sat on the other end of the sofa, chugging a bottle of Gatorade while Maxine stood behind him, he could barely hear it, but it looked like the newly hired dietician was already lecturing him about the benefits of said drink, saying the word 'electrolytes' somewhere in the sentence.

He felt proud that this team stood by him ever since he made that choice. He was very grateful that he had someone whom he shared common goals with.

"Price. It's for you." Jack called from the office, causing him to immediately get up and answer the call.

"Aye, this is Price. Got anything for me?" he muttered.

"John. Looks like your friend is on the move." Kate Laswell spoke on the other end of the line, her voice was authoritative as always.

"Which one?" he chuckled, it was about time he received some news.

"Shadow Company. Looks like they're brave using the same car again. Same plate and all." she informed, giving Price the last route they went before going cold once again. It led them to an empty warehouse just by the docks.

"Just what are these bastards up to…" he muttered.

"I have no idea. Think you'll do recon? It doesn't strike as a threat to warrant an official team, this leads really calling your name, John."

Laswell hinted. Despite him being out of the force and one of Fbi's most wanted, Kate insisted to use such perk for further trapping the suspicious Shepherd.

"I worked hard forming the 141 and he easily disbands it like it's nothing…" she added, her voice sounded very bitter.

"Now now, Kate. Take it easy. We'll get him. He's bound to fuck up anytime soon. Keep in touch, mkay?" he said as they both said their goodbyes and ended the call.

"A little recon mission won't hurt, right?" he nudged to Jack who grinned proudly at the solitaire victory screen, cards bounced all around the edges of the screen.

John Price found himself unable to sleep. It was either he's actually excited to do some missions or he's too worried about what they're about to discover, what would Shadow Company be up to and what is the quiet Nero planning behind the scenes? His thoughts raced to a dozen possibilities, all calling for drastic measures and sacrifices. He knew he had allies by his side, allies that are always ready to do whatever it takes to fix this mess.

He lazily dragged his feet to get a glass of water in the kitchen, despite being huge, the house was awfully quiet. Too quiet that he could hear every soft rustling from the halls.

He wasn't one to eavesdrop but he couldn't help but hear soft murmuring near MacTavish's bedroom.

"So.. um.. same time tomorrow?" said a low Scottish voice a chuckle followed. It was obviously Soap and Price thought only enemies were doing something behind the scenes.

"You wish.." a female voice giggled.

"But seriously… Thanks for tonight John." she added.

"No problem, Francine. So.. what's stopping you from staying overnight?" he chuckled. Price knew this was wrong but his glass of water was still half full.

"You know that I'd love to… but Maxine also needs me right now. Especially that she's slowly recovering bits and pieces of the past." she reasoned and Price knew it was time to head back to his room quietly.

Maxine Winters

MacTavish Residence, Glasgow, Scotland

It felt real. She looked around and felt that this was more than just an ordinary dream. The vision was too dark with a small ray of light peeking from the slightly ajar door.

She knew where this was. She liked hiding here, her parent's closet.

She was waiting for Francine to find her, Francine always knew where she hid. But in this certain memory, she wasn't there.

She giggled quietly and hushed herself as soon as the door opened, France was going to find her. But instead, what she heard was her Dad saying words of assurance followed by heavy breathing. She was curious enough to peek through the small opening.

Her dad carried her Mom to the bed, his hands held hers tight, wiping the sweat off her forehead as her chest rose and fell quickly, her breath was labored and her eyes looked tired.

"Hang in there, love. The doctor's on the way." his father assured, making his wife comfortable as they wait for help to arrive.

"I don't think I can make it anymore…" She whispered.

"No no no. Don't do this to me Coraline, don't you want to see our angels grow up?" he sobbed, tears fell on her hands as he kissed it. Maxine remained still, she wanted to cry but she just sat inside the closet, peeking, frozen in a mix of fear and worry.

"I do , Love … but it looks like my body can't make it to that day… I'm sorry…"

"Don't! Please Coraline, stay strong, for me… for the kids…"

"I am… and I know that you know it." she exhaled, panting heavily after the last sentence. Her Dad hugged her until her breathing stabilized, while Coraline weakly raised her hand and hugged him back.

"Promise me you'll see the kids grow up…

Promise me to tell them how much I love them every single day…

And promise me that you'll never forget how much I loved you… Francis Maximus Winters." tears fell from her tired eyes. Her dad held her cheek and wiped it off, sobbing as she slowly closed them.

"I'm not sure if I could keep all of those promises… but I will try… I love you Coraline Winters, I always have and I always will, until the time we'll meet again." he muttered. Maxine witnessed it all, the way her father's face frowned when he realized he just lost his wife. It was one of her saddest memories.

Maxine gasped and opened her eyes, touching her face as soon as they opened. Tears. She was crying while asleep. She flicked the lamp and looked around her, France wasn't around. Just as she pulled the sheets so she could leave the bed, the door knob slowly turned and a soft creak was heard. It was Francine.

"France!" Maxine gasped and immediately ran to her side, hugging her tight as she began crying. France smelled different, almost masculine, but she didn't mind.

"Max! What happened? Are you okay?" France quickly hugged her, rubbing her back as she quietly bawled out her emotions.

"I saw… " She panted.

"I saw… Mom…"

"Mom died…" She exhaled as Francine escorted her downstairs to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to calm her heart.

"You were in the closet. We were supposed to be playing hide and seek." France muttered as Maxine turned to her.

"Francis… Maximus Winters." she recalled.

"That's dad's name. It's quite long, right? Mom actually liked him because of it." France enlightened, trying to make Max calm down.

"Yeah… is he ?" Max asked.

"Yeah… but he's kinda forgot about us now. Every time we visit he just looks for Coraline."

"Mom."

"Yes."

"He kept his promise." Max said.

"Huh?" France tilted her head.

"Mom's last words. Promise me you'll see the kids grow up…

Promise me to tell them how much I love them every single day…

And promise me that you'll never forget how much I loved you…" Max recalled from her dream and as more words were added, France's sobs were louder.

"He… he did them all…" France cried as they both hugged each other. And it was the moment that Maxine remembered what France looked like when they first met, her smile… It was the smile of someone who was finally reunited with her only family, and it was painful how the only ones she could cling to couldn't remember her.

"What's that smell?" Maxine asked as she killed the mood of the sisterly hug. France's face turned red, even in the dimly lit room, Max could tell that she was blushing.

"N-Nothing… I don't smell anything." She laughed nervously.

"I swear I passed by that scent somewhere…" she looked at her suspiciously and laughed, shrugging it off which actually made France relax her shoulders.

"Let's go back to sleep." Maxine invited her sister and they both got back to their room.

Next Chapter : Docked and Loaded

Notification Squad my Beloved

@beemybee @enderio @smokeywhalee @samatedeansbroccoli @whimsywispsblog @ricinbach

#horrayfic #codmw #john soap mactavish #john price #simon ghost riley #alex echo 3 1 #gary roach sanderson #whateverittakes

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damianwaynerocks · 4 years ago

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Zuko & the Waynes - Chapter 3

Batfam/ATLA au

Description: Prince Zuko, pre-finding Aang, falls into Gotham City. After being adopted by Bruce Wayne, Zuko finds himself enjoying life in this strange world. Zuko Wayne has a family who loves him unconditionally. Zuko Wayne is a hero, saving the innocents of Gotham City every night. But Zuko soon finds himself at the center of a plot that threatens to destroy not only this new world he's come to love, but also the world he's trying to leave behind.

A/N: okay, so the members of the titans and young justice team are different in this au.

Young Justice: Tim Drake (Red Robin); Cassie Sandsmark (Wondergirl); Kon/Conner Kent (Superboy); Bart Allen (Impulse)

Titans: Dick Grayson (Nightwing); Koriand'r (Starfire); Garfield Logan (Beast Boy); Rachel Roth (Raven); Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle); M'Gann M'orris (Miss Martian)

Chapter 2 | Masterlist

Chapter 3:

"So, you remember the plan?"

"Yeah, we got it," said Cassie into her earpiece, having to raise her voice to be heard over the pouring rain outside. "Don't worry about us, we're fine."

"Good to know," Tim responded into the comlink.

It was the night of the auction. Zuko was wearing a black suit while Cassie was wearing a red dress. Both had their masks on. Kon, also known as Superboy, was sitting in the driver's seat. He was acting as their chauffeur, and was there as backup in case anything went wrong. Zuko rolled his eyes as he heard a slurping sound in his com link, presumably from Tim taking a sip of coffee.

"That was gross," Kon sighed. "Don't do that."

Tim ignored him. "Proud of you both. Remember, if the wrong person gets their hands on the magyntite, not even Superman will be able to stop them." He paused. "No pressure, though.”

"Wow, you're great at pep talks." Zuko adjusted the mask on his face, making sure it hid his scar. "You ready, Cassie?"

"I was born ready," Cassie responded with a grin. "Now, let's go, Henry."

"After you, Larissa." Zuko grabbed an umbrella and stepped out of the self-driving black limousine they'd borrowed from Bruce. He went around to her side of the vehicle and opened her door for her. Cassie looped her arm through his, muttering a thank you as Zuko raised the umbrella above both of them. They walked into the casino.

Just inside, a bouncer stepped in front of them. "How tall is the eagle's wingspan?"

"That means do magic," Tim said through the coms.

"Uh," Zuko's mind raced as he tried to think of a spell on the spot. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" he finally said, and a ball of fire appeared over his closed fist. The bouncer nodded, and unhooked the red rope, allowing them to step inside.It was bright and loud and flashy, and Zuko had to stop for a moment to get his bearings.

"You good?" Cassie whispered, placing a hand on his chest to steady him. "It's okay. Let's just go downstairs, follow me." She gently led him towards the back of this casino. Tim had told them that there was a staircase behind the bathrooms, and the basement was where the auction was taking place.They walked past the doors that said 'men' and 'woman' and opened the third door, revealing stairs going down to a concrete basement. "You okay now?" Cassie asked as they began to descend.

"Yeah," Zuko grunted. "I'm fine." They walked down a dark and damp hallway, a stark contrast to the bright lights and clean floors of the upper floor. The reached a huge room with a wrap around balcony overlooking the bottom floor. Many people, all wearing masks, were crowded together.

"It's about to start, Mr. Henry," Cassie said. "Let's go sign in." The pair walked through the people until they reached the stairs leading to the bottom floor. Arms still linked, they walked down the stairs.

"There's a ton of people here," Zuko mused. "I wonder what they all want to buy."

Cassie shrugged. "Drugs. Artifacts. Who knows."

They made their way to the middle of the throng of people and sat down in two of the chairs. The auction started soon after, and the words the auctioneer was saying sounded like white noise to Zuko. Finally, twenty minutes in, Tim's voice in his ear made Zuko flinch. "Magyntite is next," he said. "Be ready."

Sure enough, the man held up a silver briefcase. "Magyntite!" he yelled. "This drug is like Kobra Venom! Bulk up your muscles, lady and gentlemen. Do I hear... two million?" Zuko raised his hand and the same time another man did. The man glared at Zuko, who did the same.Back and forth this happened, Zuko and this man trying to get the magyntite. In the end, though, Zuko and Cassie got it for $45,000,000.

"Holy crap," Cassie breathed as they walked back up the stairs. "That man wanted to kill you."

Zuko hummed. "He isn't the only one."

Cassie gave him an amused look."Is that so, Sir Henry?"

"Indeed it is, Lady Larissa."

Golden eyes gazed into blue for a second, both having small smiles on their faces.

"Yo, you guys get it?"

"Uh, yeah," Cassie replied, breaking eye contact. "Yeah, we're heading back now."

Zuko's face reddened. He hadn't felt any feeling similar to that since Mai, when he was thirteen. He shook his head to clear it. Don't be stupid, he told himself. Don't even go there. No chance of that happening.

"You good?" Cassie asked, raising an eyebrow under her mask. Zuko cleared his throat and nodded a little too quickly.

"Me? I'm great. Splendid. Never been better!" he babbled. "Oh Agni, I bet Kon is going crazy! Uh, let's go see him!" He linked his arm with Cassie's and half-led half-drug her through the club and out the door.

"And the lovely couple returns!" Kon cheered as Zuko opened the door for Cassie. "I missed you! Tim told me I couldn't listen to my podcast because I had to stay alert so I've been bored out of my mind."

"Oh, poor baby!" Cassie mocked. "Do you need a massage and a nice cup of tea?"

"I do, actually."

"Too bad, Superbrat."

Zuko looked out the window. He missed his uncle's tea.

Only 11 more months.

___

The next morning, Zuko, Duke and Damian were at the table eating breakfast. Zuko was about to put a piece of bacon in his mouth when he felt eyes on him. Looking up, he frowned as he met Duke's eyes. "What?

Duke's eyebrows were furrowed in disbelief. "Dude, it's 7:00 in the morning. Why are you already dressed?"

Zuko blinked. While the others were in their pajamas- Duke in an old t-shirt and shorts and Damian in his silk robe -Zuko was in jeans and a Ralph Lauren button-up, his hair in a topknot. He would've put shoes on, if it weren't for Alfred's no-shoes-in-the-house rule. "I'm used to getting up at dawn and getting ready. It's what I've done for three years."

Duke shook his head. "You're making me feel like a slob, Zu."

"You will not feel that way for long," Damian spoke up. "For I hear Drake coming down the stairs."

Sure enough, Tim walked around the corner, staggering to the table. He was in an over sized black Superman shirt and his boxers with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. His long hair was a mess, and the circles under his eyes made it look as though he had been punched in the face. Alfred pulled out a chair beside Zuko, a cup of coffee already in his hand. Tim stumbled towards the chair, looking as though he was about to pass out. He sat down in the chair slowly, and Alfred immediately put the cup of coffee in front of him. Tim blinked slowly, before picking up the coffee and bringing it to his lips.

"Well," Duke chuckled. "I no longer feel like a slob."

Damian wrinkled his nose, scoffing at Tim. "You are a disgrace, Drake. Have some self respect." Tim stared at him owl-eyed in response.

"Just give him like ten minutes," Duke said. "Anyways! So I heard you went on a mission last ni-"

"Master Duke!" Alfred interrupted him sharply. "Might I remind you the rules of breakfast?"

Duke seemed to shrink into himself as he answered in a small voice, "No vigilante talk at the breakfast table." Alfred nodded in approval before going back into the kitchen. Duke turned back to Zuko. "Later."

Zuko hummed in response.

As soon as breakfast was over, Duke ran to Zuko excitedly. "So!? How'd it go?"

"It went fine," Zuko replied. "I mean, we went in, got the stuff and got back in the car."

"That's it? No fights?"

"No fights."

"What about Cassie? Any emotions?"

Zuko coughed, his eyes widening. "What!? No! Don't be stupid!"

Duke laughed. "Dude, you're gonna have to get better at lying if you want to join the business."

"Which could start right now, if you want." Zuko and Duke whirled around to see Bruce holding a cup of coffee. "You've been here for a month. You can fight and you're smart. You're welcome to start training today, if you want."

Zuko's jaw dropped. "Uh, yeah! That'd be great!"

Bruce smiled."Fantastic. Go get changed into something comfortable and we'll start."

Zuko practically sprinted to his room, but before he could change, his phone chimed.

Cassie Sandsmark: good morning doofus

.Zuko grinned in spite of himself.

Zuko Wayne: good morning!

Cassie Sandsmark: how'd you sleep?

Zuko Wayne: great but i don't know if tim slept at all he's barely alive right now

Cassie Sandsmark: sounds like tim

Cassie Sandsmark: so when u joining the hero business

Zuko Wayne: right now,, I'm about to start training

Cassie Sandsmark: YAY TELL ME HOW IT GOES

Zuko Wayne: of course

Training, Zuko decided, was difficult. It'd been a month since he'd started, and while he was improving, he was sore and sick of computers.

"If I have to break another one of Tim's codes, I'll kill myself," he groaned, flopping on to the couch beside Damian, who nodded.

"Every time Drake speaks, I want to kill myself." Zuko eyed him wearily.

"That's harsh."

"Such is reality." Damian flipped to the next page of the book he was reading. "So, your first patrol is tomorrow?"

Zuko grinned."Yeah. I'm so excited." He sat up, cracking his knuckles. "Gonna be a blast."

"Are you finally adequate at lying?"

Zuko winced. "It took me a while but yeah, I got it."

"Good. We cannot have you exposing our secret." He looked up from his book. "Christmas is next month. Pennyworth instructed me to inform you that he needs a list of what you wish."

Zuko groaned. "I have no idea what I want."

"Well, figure it out," Damian replied. "Because if you do not, I'll have to listen to the complaining."

It was the night of his first patrol. Zuko turned to the mirror. His suit was a black kevlar lined jumpsuit with an obsidian utility belt and combat boots of the same color. There was a blue bat symbol across the chest, and a demon-type stage mask of the same color on his face. He looked at the blue gauntlet on his wrist and flexed his arm.

Dick whistled lowly. "Lookin' sharp, Zu."

Zuko grunted in response, but he couldn't stop the corners of his lips from twitching upwards.

"Good to see you suited up," Bruce said as he saw his son. He turned to the Bat Computer and typed something in. "Alright. Nightwing and Robin, you take the east side. Red Hood and Black Bat, you take the west. Red Robin, you take south. Blue Spirit and I will take north."

"You got it, boss man," said Jason with a mock salute. At that, the vigilantes headed out.

"Remember," Bruce began as he and Zuko got into the Batmobile. "Code names in the field." Zuko nodded.

"I won't forget, Batman."

"Good to hear, Blue Spirit."

After a few minutes if driving, Oracle spoke. "Croc is robbing a store on the corner of North and Order," she said. "Blue Spirit and Batman are closest."

"We're on it," Bruce said, and sped up.

They reached the corner in five minutes, and jumped out of the car. "Croc!" Bruce yelled.

A huge reptilian humanoid turned toward the voice, and smiled. "Batman!" he chirped. "And who's this?"

"Blue Spirit," Zuko said stiffly.

Killer Croc chuckled."New kid to destroy? I love that."

Croc rushed him, snapping his jaws viciously. Zuko jumped into the air, doing a flip over the creature. Fire blasted out of his elbow and he punched Croc in the snout as he turned.

Croc stumbled back. "Igniting your elbow to increase the force of your punch? Smart. Not smart enough." He ran towards Zuko again, claws outstretched, moving at inhuman speeds. Zuko ducked under his claws and gave an uppercut with the same advantage into his stomach. Croc was thrown into the air by the force. Before he could land, Zuko sent a blast of fire at him, engulfing him in flames. Croc screamed and fell to the ground, charred and smoking.

"He's still alive," Bruce said gruffly. "Not bad. I'll call Gordon." Zuko's chest swelled with pride, but he simply nodded.

"There's a robbery at the R&D center of Enterprises," Oracle said suddenly.

"Blue Spirit and I are going to check it out," Bruce answered.

"10-4," Dick replied. "Call if you need backup." Bruce grunted in response and, gesturing for Zuko to follow, jumped back into the Batmobile before speeding off.

"R&D?" Zuko echoed what Oracle had said earlier. "What's that?"

"It's the Research and Development Center," Bruce replied. "It's where we store Batman Inc. tech that's still in production."

"Oh."

“That's right. If anyone succeeds in getting their hands on what's in there-"

"-They'll get their hands on everything." Zuko bit the inside of his cheek. "It's fine. We can do this."

A hint of a smile ghosted across Bruce's lips, so small that Zuko wasn't sure if it'd even been there in the first place.

The Research and Development Center of Wayne Enterprises was primarily used to develop advancements in technology. These advancements ranged from more effective cancer treatments to new engines for vehicles.The blueprints listed the building as being eight stories. Unbeknownst to the majority of WE's employees, there was a basement. A basement hidden far below the actual building, so far below than an express elevator was needed. This basement was where the technology for Batman Inc. was developed.

Unlike the secret basement of Falcone's club, this basement was in pristine condition. It had a hospital feel to it, with white flooring, walls, and ceiling.

Bruce and Zuko had just grappled down the elevator shaft was landed at the end of one of the basement's hallways."The only alarm that's been triggered was the entry alarm," said Bruce. "The rooms where the... merchandise are kept have separate alarm systems. Can you tell me what this means, Blue Spirit?"

"The intruder either doesn't know what exactly is down here, or they just haven't managed to get into the rooms yet." Zuko frowned. "Wait, if they figured out this place was here then that means they definitely know what's down here. So then they haven't found the location of the 'merchandise.'"

"And you believe that to be the most probable scenario?"

"Well... yeah. I mean, unless they managed to bypass the alarm system. But that's impossible, this place is un-hackable ever since that incident with Ra's al Ghul. The security system is invincible. Right?"

"Rule of thumb, Blue Spirit," Bruce grunted, raising his arm closer to his face to he could activate his gauntlet. "Nothing is invincible. Everything has a weakness. Some are harder to find than others, but the only thing that is truly invincible is God Himself. And I don't think He would have any reason to break into Wayne Enterprises."

"Okay, but they tripped the alarm when they came in," Zuko pointed out. "So they must not have been able to hack the system."

"Unless they want us here."

Zuko sucked in his teeth. "So that's what you think? This is a trap?"

"It isn't a trap if we know about it," Bruce countered. "Here, I'm pulling up the motion sensors." Sure enough, the holographic screen coming from the gauntlet showed motion in room 121.

"Is that one of the rooms?" Zuko asked.

Bruce nodded."Yes." He and Zuko started to run in the direction of the before mentioned room. "There's very dangerous technology in there. We need to stop this intruder now." The two were sprinting, taking twists and turns through the winding hallways until Bruce stuck his arm out, signaling for Zuko to stop. In front of them was room 121, the door ajar.

"Holy crap," Zuko whispered. "They hacked us."

"They hacked us," Bruce echoed. "And now they're going to pay. Manuever 13. Be cautious." Bruce rolled a metal ball into the room, and it exploded into smoke Using the smoke as cover, Zuko and Bruce dashed into the room.

Using the heat signatures to see through the smoke, Zuko jumped forward, swinging down his broadswords in arc. His eyes widened as they hit air; the person had disappeared."What-" he broke off as someone landed a hit to his spine. Zuko whirled around, kicking out at his attacker, yet his foot hit air as the assailant dodged again.

"A teleporter?" he muttered. A laugh hit his ears, and the assailant landed another hit to the back of his head. Zuko tried to return the hit with one of his own but, of course, he missed.So far, Zuko noticed, they were teleporting closely around him. They were staying in close proximity with him. It would be hard to deduce where exactly they would strike, unless he limited their options.

Zuko stomped on the ground, and a ring of fire flared up around him. The attacker led out a gut wrenching scream as they were caught in the flames.He caught a glimpse of a person in a black suit clutching their arm before they teleported above his head, aiming a dropkick above him.

But Zuko had anticipated this. He grabbed their leg from above and slammed them on the ground. They landed with a crack and coughed.

"You just broke my spine, you asshole," the person wheezed. They were still now, and Zuko could see she was a girl with long brown hair in a wine-colored robe.

Zuko gulped, forcing down the rising panic at the girl's words. "Maybe you shouldn't have tried to break my skull."

The girl shrugged. "Just following orders."

"Who are you!?" Zuko snarled. "Tell me! Who are you and what do you want with this technology!?"

"Well, if you must know," the girl said, pain evident in her voice despite her calm tone. "I am but a servant of The Lady of the Dual Skies."

"The Lady of the Dual Skies?" Zuko echoed. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing's taken," Bruce said as he crossed his arms from where he stood behind Zuko. "Nothing has even been tampered with. You clearly weren't looking for anything here. So what did you want?"

"The Lady does not permit me speaking with anybody but you." The girl was speaking directly to Zuko, not sparing Bruce a glance. "She has something she wishes you to know."

Zuko narrowed his eyes behind his mask. "And what would that be?"

The girl grinned wickedly. "She says she'll see you soon."

With that, a portal opened up under the girl and she disappeared in a flash of purple light.

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