#10 Places to See in Alaska

[bnnysweets]

WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME IF TURNS OUT I’M INSANE?

abby x bpd!reader

author’s note: english is not my first language. i labeled like “bpd!reader” bc i have it and it’s inspired by how much i wanna comfort during crisis, but you can read it thinking just about mental illness in general. i listened to the whole the record album by boygenius while writing this!

warnings: angst & comfort. reader has a crisis and abby helps. talks about voices inside reader’s head, bad past memories and fear of abandonment. mention of self harm but it’s very brief. modern au. readers is called baby, sweet girl and angel.

when you both started to live together you agreed ‘bout the cameras, abby work a eight hour shift and you were almost graduating, but despite that, you still spent a bunch of time alone at house, so the main reason was security. you are a little unpredictable while going through a crisis and sometimes self destructive, abby just wanted to keep a eye at you.

today was one of those days when you did everything as you should, everything was alright until the voices in your head told you it wasn’t. you arrived home, went to the gym, did your homework, cooked and bathed, you were laying on the couch scrolling through instagram when suddenly it hits you, a felling that you are nothing, just absolute hollow.

at first you were just crying, it was okay, nothing new, but everything escalated quickly, your heart was beating so fast that you thought it would stop, you vision almost completely black and you had lost when was the last breath that you took properly.

abby was exiting the parking lot when she thought about checking on you, she opened the app to see the camera footage and saw you sat on the ground, with your knees pressed against your chest, rocking backing and forth and trembling like you were naked at alaska, she called you immediately and looked what would be the fastest way home.

“hi baby.”, you didn’t answer, abby could hear you crying and trying to catch your breath without any success, “i saw it on cameras, i know okay? you don’t need to say anything just listen to me.” you let a little “mhm.” and she was a little bit more calm, just to know that you still could listen to her without your mind disturbing it. “i’m coming home, almost 10 minutes away, i need you to try your breath exercises, i know you think they don’t work but i need that you at least try them.” you started to do without thinking twice, “you’re such a sweet girl, you know that, right? i love you so much, you’re the most precious person that i’ve met, the kindest, sweetest and smartest. i don’t know what is going on your mind, what they’re saying to you or what you’re remembering…but nothing of that define who you are. you are so much more than anything, and i mean, anything that happened to you, you are so much more than what your mind try to convince you that you are. sometimes i even think you’re an angel on earth. i need you to know that, you know that? that you’re a angel? you make heaven a true place when i’m with you. don’t let they say to you that you’re not making progress because you are, everyday i see how much you try to be the better, and trust me, you are. i love you. i’m not going to leave you. we’re are all good”.

“i’m sorry abby.”, her heart stopped, finally you were talking, “i’m sorry i’m this shitty girlfriend, always disturbing you, i love you so much, so so much but i don’t deserve you. i’m just empty.” and now her heart shattered, her foot stepped harder on the accelerator. she was already on yours street but for some mysterious reason the traffic was horrible, she parked in the first empty space she spotted and got out of the car, running towards your house. “nothing can make me hate you, nothing. i don’t care if your mind say to you that you don’t deserve this but you do, you deserve love, gentle love. love without fear, without turbulence, and i’m more than happy to give it to you.” she took a deep breath, “now, may you please open the door?” you left your phone on the couch and rushed to the door.

when you opened it abby was catching her breath, her eyes lit up seeing you, you were a sight for her sore eyes, even when you looked like this. she grabbed you and closed the door with a kick, you hold her so tight that you felt alive again, you felt your heart stopping hurting, she was the best medicine. she carried you to the bed you shared, “i love you, i love you, i love you, i fucking love you, you understand me?” she positioned you on top of her, she was holding your face delicately with a hand and with the other she was smoothing your back. “you are not mad at me?” you asked, even fearing the answer, “oh my love, how could i ever be mad at you? how?” her hand moved from your chin to your cheek, caressing it, she looked at you like she could truly see you, without see all the bad things that went through your mind, all the bad things that you did, all the bad things you always remembered, she could comprehend and appreciate you, even when you were a mess, she loved you even when you couldn’t understand why.

“i’m sorry.” you said and she took your hand in hers and kissed it, “why are you sorry for?” she looked at you with those eyes again, those eyes that you were always able to saw how much she cares for you, “i’m sorry for being like this…for always be a burden, for never being stable, for not being able to give you a normal relationship.” you started to spiraling again and faster than the light abby put her hand on your chest, where you heart is, and she started to breathe really calmly, deeply, and without noticing you were following her rhythm. when you finally calmed down you rested your head on her shoulder, she moved to the edge of the bed to reach the little table beside the bed, she opened the drawer and grabbed your medication and your water bottle, she offered to you and you took them.

“what is a normal relationship?” she asked softly and you let a little scoff, “it’s one that you don’t need cameras to see if i’m not going to harm myself just because my mind hates me.” abby guided your head to look at her, “so a normal relationship is one without you? without your intensity?” you nodded, “yes, it’s one without me being so extreme about everything.” abby caressed your face, “so i would never be happy in a normal relationship.” your eyebrows furrowed, “what do you mean?” she put her fingers on your lips, like she was admiring, “if i won’t have your intensity i don’t wanna it. i know that most of the time it makes your life very hard but it also brings so good things to your life and consequently to mine.” you looked confused but before you could say anything she answered, “when we started dating, on our second month together i already knew we would work out, you know why? because you were so transparent that i already knew you, your reactions, your likes and dislikes and i already loved them. you never lied to me about anything, even when you broke my favorite watch. you remember when you had a fight with one of my best friends because they said something bad about me behind my back? and when i didn’t believed on you, you didn’t get mad, you explained to me what was happening, you showed me proof. this is what makes you the person that i want to spend the rest of my life with. i understand your condition, and that sometimes you’re going to relapse, but every single time it happens i’m gonna to be here, to comfort you, to you talk to or just cry, i don’t mind it. i love you, you are so much more than a diagnostic.” when abby stopped talking you pecked her lips, “thank you.” you said and hugged her again, “you don’t need to be thankful babe, i just doing my job.” “well you do a very good job.” she giggled, “it’s because i fucking love it.”

dividers by @byuvly

[rei-ismyname]

X-Men #10 Review

Raid on Graymalkin is over with a return to status quo ante bellum, at least for the Alaskan team's roster. That was just one incident in a cold war, and as Cyclops predicted, consequences come in the form of the O*N*E. Lundqvist and his fuckboys are using the raid as a casus belli. It's a siege, and aside from a few oddities it's the best issue yet.

The civilians and support staff ready for war

X-Men #10 follows on directly from Raid on Graymalkin with the O*N*E coming to punish the X-Men for stepping out of line. It's not entirely clear how much collaboration there is between Graymalkin (a private prison) and the O*N*E (a federal agency) but Ellis called it in and Lundqvist responded. Every agency seems to have a mutant office, though it's implied that their budgets have been gutted since Krakoa left this dimension. Over in Mystique, Nick Fury Jr is on SHIELD's mutant desk, but it's literally just him. This plot development was solicited and setup so it's good to see it being taken seriously. Uncanny is a different kind of book but their Sentinel attack was accidental - it explicitly treated Raid on Graymalkin as if it didn't happen. Actions need consequences and they've come to Merle l, Alaska.

In Scott's absence, Magneto is in charge and he orders everyone except him and Xorn to evacuate in their Helicarrier. That escaping by air is incredibly dangerous against a foe with local air superiority might be the first hint that he's not thinking clearly. Ben Liu and Jennifer Starkey, the 3K mutants, both object to Magneto's 'blaze of glory' plan in different ways. Ben calls him out as wanting to die though he doesn't exactly condemn him for it. He's staying and he'll use his untested reality warping power to do whatever he can. Jen appeals to Xorn as a healer and he says 'I save lives however I can but I don't tell people how to spend them.'

I've been vocal AF about how much I hate R-LDS, and that hasn't changed, but it's good to see it play out in escalating character beats. Mags' powers are still there, he just doesn't have control over it. Considering the global damage and godly feats he's capable of intentionally, the devastation he could wreak unintentionally could destroy the planet. He's always been willing to die for the cause, but here he's seeking it. That says a lot about where he's at mentally and I look forward to seeing where that goes.

I assume they were delayed picking up Quentin

Magneto's mental health issues will have to wait for a future issue, because the cavalry is here and he does not have permission to die, dammit! Scott has a plan, as ever, letting the old man know that Hellions Protocols went online twenty minutes ago. The main event begins as Lundqvist agrees to talk, after some posturing. This negotiation takes up the rest of the issue, but I appreciate taking the time to check in on the support staff and how they respond to stress.

I'm not sure why Lundqvist would agree to this tbh, or why he'd accept the Factory as the place to talk. It's not a neutral location at all and if the situation turns hot he's either dead or a hostage. He's certainly been more reasonable than previous leaders of the O*N*E, and he did end up as an intermediary between the X-Men and whoever he reports to last time. Maybe he sucks at his job, or maybe he doesn't really want to be doing this.

Toothpick bravado, nice!

Scott cracks a beer and throws one to Lundqvist as they chat in the kitchen. Accepting allows Scott to set the tone of the negotiation and challenges Lundqvist's authority. They argue over the justification for this operation, with the damage of the Raid laid out. Scott quotes the Hague Invasion Act, framing the X-Men as being justified in taking action to get one of their people back. Meanwhile Boom Boom, Fantomex, the Bedlam bros and Locus are attacking O*N*E facilities.

Lundqvist is stunned that Scott would portray the X-Men as equal to the US government, as a nation unto themselves. He emphatically rebukes it and gets a 'says who?' in return. Meanwhile, The Hellions (copyright pending) are wrecking more of the O*N*E's shit.

Lundqvist tries to ignore that argument, shifting the focus back to force. The X-Men don't have a chance, he asserts, so Scott brings up Marvel's greatest force multiplier - superhumans. The X-Men have many and the O*N*E have none. He doesn't outright say that they're allied with The Avengers, but he asks why they're not here to help.

Scott follows up with an excellent point - that Graymalkin is a private entity run amok. By conceding the Xavier issue he's able to establish that they're exceeding their mandate. He really leans into the cold war framing as we'll see, but he sets it up here. It's refuge in audacity, but it's also an evolution of the thinking behind the Extinction team - we don't want war but we're absolutely capable of it. If they won't stop persecuting the X-Men then they'll make sure doing so is not worth it. I enjoy this. Remixing old eras is one thing, but building on Gillen's Uncanny run and escalating it is another.

It's at this point Agent Fuckface finds out his budget is in deep shit. Multiple O*N*E facilities have been destroyed but nobody has been killed. The war remains cold. He is NOT happy and he's just starting to realise he's been played. He's really sweating now, literally. It's clever to have Scott employ this Batman gambit. It's really only possible with an in-depth understanding of how the government operates.

It might be a stretch to infer Scott knows about funding for mutant agencies and departments from this text alone, but I guess he doesn't have to if he's slashing the budget himself. After letting that sink in, 'this is what it looks like when you push me' - calling back to their discussion in issue #3.

Lundqvist has had enough of negotiating from a position of weakness, sticking a gun in Scott's face and demanding the destruction stop. Cool as a cucumber, Cyke denies starting a war and pivots to the most terrifying Cold War and beyond concept - Mutually Assured Destruction. In our world it referred to the nuclear deterrent - if a country fired a nuke they'd be hit with instant, automated retaliation. There's no incentive to attack if you die too.

Lundqvist thinks he's bluffing but Scott elaborates. If he's killed by a government agent then important parts of Washington DC cease to exist. He doesn't have nukes, he's got mutants - using Juggernaut (not a mutant but he's down for the fight) and Xorn as examples. Lundqvist says that would be the end of mutants - total extinction - and he's probably right, in so far as they'd try. Not without a functioning government, seceding states, and foreign powers taking bites out of the US. This is wild. Krakoa's deterrent was mainly economic but the threat was implied. Here it's spelled out. Mutants will not lie down and if you come at us we both lose. Mutually Assured Destruction.

At this point Lundqvist blinks, shocked that he'd kill all those people. Brah, you have no idea. Scott shouts in his face 'THIS IS HOW BRINKMANSHIP WORKS.' He pulls his gun to his forehead and declares his lifelong willingness to die for the cause. He knows they want to kill him but here's another reason why it's not worth it. 'My wife will know and she will grieve.' Threatening the whole planet with The Phoenix. It's about fucking time. The X-Men have been offering peace for over half a century and received endless genocide in return.

With that, Lundqvist gets it. It's not worth it, at least by his calculus. He'll tell his bosses and by extension the US government and military. They agree that it's not over, and Quentin immediately steps in to call off The Hellions. Even more than issue #3, the last time these two were face-to-face, this was a riveting dialogue and Mackay fully committed to gunboat diplomacy on steroids. It's in conversation with the last 60 years of X-Men history and really sells this dynamic as the 'what now?' after Krakoa. I have all the praise in the world for that - the writing was fantastic and the facial expressions were perfect.

It's the final few panels that let it down. Last time, Scott had a full on panic attack after the situation ended. Anxiety and PTSD do not just go away and this feels like a missed opportunity to develop that further. Scott has just led a raid on a prison to retrieve one of his oldest friends, had a falling out with at least one other, witnessed horrors, been under psychic attack and a stalemate, then immediately after walked into the events of this issue. If that's not followed up on now, when the hell would it be? Sure, we can go there next issue, but it deflates the tension and character work for me.

Then Quentin asks if he was serious about the Phoenix threat and Scott says yes. He lets Quentin know that it's on him to defeat The Phoenix (his wife) if it comes to that. I find that very hard to swallow and at odds with the Scott/Jean/Phoenix dynamic we've seen so far. Sure, have a plan for Dark Phoenix, but wouldn't Jean just resurrect him? Thinking Scott was dead bought out Dark Phoenix the first time, but aren't we past all that shit? This is a different Phoenix, having been reborn, and a much more experienced Jean.

I don't buy that Scott would believe that, and I don't buy that he'd destroy Quentin's morale by putting it on him. Scott, of all people, knows that you oppose Dark Phoenix with love, not violence. Above all, I think Jean deserves a little more credit, especially from her husband. I'm starting to think it's more enjoyable to ignore From The Ashes cliffhangers. They have this habit of either being a fakeout or drastically exaggerating character and plot.

There's also mention that King Bedlam wants a very specific head in exchange for his services. No clues as to who, but the very notion doubles down on Scott playing a dangerous game. The Bedlams have been Hellion and X-Force adjacent for their entire publication history. KB was the lover of Tarot who was killed by Trevor Fitzroy. Tarot has reincarnated multiple times since then, but Fitzroy has been making a nuisance of himself by killing mutants in this run, so his head being the price would make sense. We'll see where that goes.

Without those last few panels this was the best issue yet, and a true paradigm evolution in the fight for mutant rights. It shows Scott Summers as wartime general and politician, judo flipping the consequences of Raid on Graymalkin from a position of weakness. This is why people look to him when they're up against the wall. This is the guy with more than 26 plans who's really had enough and is speaking the only language his enemies and oppressors understand. This is where Scott's efficiency and competence shines, but he isn't happy. The cold war continues but having invoked MAD, I have no idea where we go from here. Please no Dark Phoenix though. Enough of the past is being recycled already and y'all can do better, I know it.

[sweet-s0rr0w]

day 10 of @hprecfest - a fest/event fic

Among Ancient Pines by @graymatters (with art by @cambiodipolvere and @onlytheheartknows) - M, 74k, 2021

Summary:

Every day, Draco Malfoy tries. With every fiber of his being he tries. But he doesn’t much think about what he’s trying for.

In his final term of Healer training, Draco is unfortunate enough to find himself on a plane, the only means of traveling to a small, magical town in rural Alaska. Years of hard work have culminated in an opportunity to work with an experimental wandmaker to study the intersection of Healing and wand theory. When Draco arrives, he doesn't find the wandmaker, but does find his apprentice, who happens to have ridiculously messy hair, a lightning bolt scar, and a definitely-not-charming smile. But Draco isn’t going to let Harry Potter get in the way of him becoming a successful medical researcher, even if Potter is stubborn, hot-tempered, reckless, surprisingly gentle, has bizarre taste in music, and likes to leave his shirts unbuttoned. How hard could the next few months be?

A fic about challenging assumptions, discovering self-worth, the silver lining in failing to meet expectations, and finding friendship, love, and purpose in a small Alaskan town that’s steeped in magic.

Excerpt:

Harry looks at Draco with a wicked grin. Draco knows that look, and it makes him nervous. “Hey Gin,” Harry says, not breaking eye contact. “While you’re in the business of being nosy, can you find yesterday’s copy of the Prophet?” He takes a step closer, tugging loosely on Draco’s waistband.

“Harry…” Draco mutters under his breath, focusing on setting the kettle on the hob. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Across the room, Ginny sighs and says, “I don’t see it, Harry. Are you sure it’s here?” 

“Oh, it’s there! I’m sure of it.” Harry turns to check that Ginny is still absorbed in her search before Draco finds himself being lured in by the single finger wrapped around his belt loop. “Maybe check towards the back of the table,” Harry says before capturing Draco’s lips in a playful kiss. 

It’s much too brief, a cold fingertip slipped inside Draco’s waistband, a magnetic urge to lay a hand over Harry’s bare stomach. Though it’s a mere flicker of soft lips, the potential of getting caught sends a tremor down Draco’s spine. When Harry steps back, the ghost of his touch lingers on Draco’s mouth, his hip, and the subtle graze of Harry’s stubble still heats his cheek like a fresh sunburn.

You’re impossible, Draco mouths silently, though he feels the stretch of his cheeks as a smile wins over his face. He wills his heart to slow as it gallops behind his ribs. “You should button your shirt,” he whispers and adds, “It’s absolutely sinful, you wearing it like that.”

&

Home Truths, by @skeptiquewrites (with art by @fantalfart) - E, 67k, 2021

Summary: In the off-season Harry decided to fix up Grimmauld Place and found that Draco Malfoy was the only person who could help him. A demanding career and unrelenting press scrutiny were enough to deal with before Harry added a house with a mind of its own, family history, and a tense, flirty, complicated relationship with his childhood nemesis to the mix.

On professional Quidditch, magical houses, hard choices, Life Debts, and inconvenient truths.

Excerpt:

Sometimes, it seemed like Harry’s crush might be reciprocated.

"What is this?" Draco asked, looking at the doorway of Harry’s room.

"A pull-up bar." Harry gave a quick hop up and pulled himself up slowly to demonstrate. Draco’s eyes never left his arms. Harry might have done a showy and unnecessary one-armed pull up as well.

He expected Draco to turn away, but instead he came closer.

"Like this?" Draco asked. He didn’t hop so much as reach up.

"Tuck your elbows." Harry couldn’t help going into Captain mode, but he held back from touching Draco. Draco pulled himself all the way up once past his chest as Harry had, arms shaking with the effort. He released it all at once.

"And you do how many of those a day?"

"Ten," Harry said.

Draco swallowed hard once before turning away. "Ridiculous," Draco muttered.

But Draco never stood as close to Harry as he’d been that night again.

The H/D Big Bang (@harrydracobang) was the first fest I did, in 2021, with the first fic I wrote, and I had such a great time with it. Drarry is the fandom which originated the Big Bang concept, where longfic and art come together, and I'm crossing my fingers that there'll be one for the 20th anniversary in 2025! These two fics are huge recs of mine from the fest I wrote for; both delicious slow burn, Among Ancient Pines is set in Alaska, with wandmaker Harry and trainee Healer Draco falling in love beneath the Northern Lights, while Home Truths is a brilliant house magic fic, full of lore, with Quidditch player Harry, and loads of old Hogwarts friends thrown into the mix. Both amazing fics, with wonderful art, and both deserve all the love!

If you read them, and if especially you love them, please do let me know! And as always, please do take the time to leave the author a kudos/comment <3

day 1 - first fic you remember reading

day 2 - a fic rated G

day 3 - a fic not on ao3

day 4 - a comfort fic

day 5 - a romantic fic

day 6 - a fic for a ship you don’t normally read

day 7 - the best of your OTP

day 8 - a fic that was recced to you

day 9 - a WIP

[scotianostra]

April 21st 1838, saw the birth of John Muir, the Scottish-born American naturalist.

Born in Dunbar, East Lothian the family emigrated in 1849. In his autobiography, he remembers his life in Scotland ad pursuits which included fighting, either by re-enacting romantic battles from the Wars of Scottish Independence or scrapping in the playground, and hunting for birds' nests.He never forgot his roots and although leaving at an early age, he never lost his accent either, he loved the writing of Thomas Carlyle and was a fan of Robert Burns, he was known to carry a book of his poems on his travels around the world, for he didn't just explore the USA, the only continent he never set foot on was Antartica.

The Muir family's hard-working frontier life left John no time to continue the formal schooling he had begun in Scotland. He did, however, maintain his passion for reading and natural science, and excursions into the woods provided a welcome diversion from his father's strict discipline and grueling work schedule. John put his self-taught knowledge to use at the Muir homestead by inventing an assortment of machines, including a table saw and a machine that dumped him out of bed for morning chores.

During his lifetime, Muir published more than 300 articles and 10 books recounting his travels, scientific observations, and opinions on nature conservation. His wanderlust led him on expeditions around the globe, but

California's Sierra Nevadas were his home. In addition to his descriptive and inspirational nature writing, Muir advanced a number of scientific theories, including the now-accepted hypothesis that glaciers carved Yosemite Valley. His love of the Sierras, and his concern for their preservation, led him to become one of America's first environmental activists. Muir co-founded the Sierra Club in 1871, and he served as the club's first president until his death in 1914.

Over the pond John Muir is known as John of the Mountains and the Father of America’s national park, as well as patron saint of the American wilderness, and over 100 years after his death is still very well known over there, in Scotland this is less so, although the work of The John Muir Trust who brought us The John Muir way in 2014 that stretches 134 miles or 215 km across Scotland's heartland, running between Helensburgh in the west through to Dunbar on the east coast. Many of you might have walked parts of it without even realising it, I've walked part of it through East Lothian, as well as from Helensburgh to Balloch, and only on Friday was on a stretch that takes you over Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh, look out for the signs you see in the pics.

Many places in America take John Muir’s name including Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College and Mount Muir all in California, and the Muir Glacier in Alaska.

On April 21, 2013, the first ever John Muir Day was celebrated in Scotland, which marked the 175th anniversary of his birth, although for the vast majority of us it passed without them even knowing about him.

Among the pics is John Muir with the U.S President Dwight Roosevelt, the president sent Muir a letter asking to meet him in Yosemite: “I want to drop politics absolutely for four days and just be out in the open with you.” At their meeting, Muir spoke of environmental degradation, like development, and asked for another layer of protection as a national park to improve management. While he never actually started the concept of national parks in the U.S, before Muir came to America, Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas was founded in 1832 was the first "protected" park, Yellowstone was founded in 1871, and was the USA'S first National Park. But there was no central mechanism to create, protect and manage national parks in perpetuity.

That might have remained the case if it were not for Muir, one of the most vocal, poetic and effective advocates for preserving wild places. HeMuir argued that it would be an incalculable loss if these “temples of nature” were to be hunted, logged and mined into oblivion. Muir—not to mention Yosemite—convinced Roosevelt. Already a devoted conservationist, the President returned to Washington fired up to argue that America’s wild assets must belong to the public and must be staunchly preserved by the laws of the land.

In his last years, Muir turned his considerable energy to the preservation of wild lands. The fight to prevent erection of a dam in Hetch Hetchy valley was one of the Sierra Club's most dramatic early battles. Hetch Hetchy reservoir was filled in 1913, and Muir died, disappointed, on December 24, 1914 at the age of 76.

His enduring legacy, were his books and essays that continue to inspire new generations of nature lovers and environmental activists. John Muir was America's first environmentalist, and was perhaps America's most influential naturalist. John Muir before all that though, was a Scot.

[grahambaham]

Some more fic recs cause I'm obsessed and these are all really good.

The Fishbowl by LordLuxury - basically Bruce is a dick which I don't usually go for but it's really good, and he's terrible to Dick and the batfam witnesses him treating Dick like shit and hitting him for the first time and it becomes a whole thing. It's great. 10/10.

2. Look Right Through Me by Teaberry - Stranger Things fic where Steve is trapped in the Upside Down a few months before will and nobody really notices. Will and Steve friendship, no bashing.

3. this place of wrath and tears - and the sequel - my head is bloody, but unbowed by NorthernRanger - Harry goes back in time to 1979 where he gains the attention of Death Eaters, Order members and pretty much all of the British wizarding world by kicking ass. Alastor Moody sort of becomes a weird ass teenager's dad. Not actually, but whatever. Love it. 10/10.

4. Facade by Impravidus - Destiel with Castiel being a very religious man and Dean having been raised to believe in killing supernatural creatures by his serial killer father. It's an idea I've thought about before and am so glad to see it written. 10/10.

5. Miracles Don't Exist by sameuspegasus - Supernatural and House MD crossover where Dean seems to have a case of continuously coming back from the dead and everyone is confused. 10/10.

6. Sand Dollar Child by withay - basically people and other think that Percy's a god cuz he's just that guy. 10/10. Maybe rating everything 10/10 isn't the way to go but whatever. I only speak the truth.

7. An Hour of Wolves by solvskrift - Harry's sixth year where Harry is once again going through some shit. Romilda Vane is a nasty bitch who deserves a crucio to the face and love potions should be fucking illegal. Incomplete but a really good read.

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - AU Rewrite by killtherat - Harry's kidnapped by Voldemort and his buddies. I honestly don't remember anything else but I know it was amazing so give it a read. 10/10 boom.

9. The Second String by Eider_Down - time travel to the Marauders' era but then it turns out to also be dimension travel. Harry is a badass. I don't really remember much about this one either but it's one of my favorite Harry Potter fics so. 10/10.

10. Three's Family by darkbluedark - Harry and Draco accidentally time travel to the first war and get caught and interrogated by Sirius, James and Dumbledore. It's mostly humour, bickering and some angst. Amazing. I honestly reread it a bunch of time. 10/10.

11. Fishing in Alaska by CaffeeinatedFlumadiddle - one of the best and funniest fics ever, truly. Triton and Percy (and Kymopoliea, did I spell her name right?) are sibling goals. Percy's powers are even more destructive than usual and the gods are worried. He runs off to Alaska cuz fuck them. It's great. 11/10.

[pengweng-quack]

Bloodbound

Carlisle Cullen x Human!OC

Summary: Place Carlisle in the Edward situation of falling in love with a human, and see what happens

Chapter 11/?

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11

Notes:

This is on Ao3 under the same title and username if you'd like to read it there (https://archiveofourown.org/works/54527830)

Leave your thoughts (or don't, your choice) in the comments, I enjoy reading through your thoughts :)

Word Count: 2433 words

General warning: I used some religious references in this story so read with caution if you're not so keen into reading that

TW for this chapter: None

PM or Comment to be added on the taglist for this one!

Masterlist

“Nurse Celine, are you busy this weekend?” Daniel asked her, deciding that Carlisle wasn’t worthy of any attention and that he was more interested in Celine

“For you? I’m busy. For anyone else? I’m not.” She straight up answered before walking back to her office

“Fiery little thing she is.” Daniel just said, looking at her “I do like me a bit of a challenge when it comes to my women though.”

“She prefers blonde men.” Carlisle simply said before walking away and into where Celine was

He walked into their office, seeing Celine type something away in her device. The familiar surroundings remained unchanged, evoking a sense of continuity as if he were merely returning after a day off.

“Is this Doctor Daniel’s office?” Carlisle asked, making Celine look up at him

“No.” She answered softly, a polite smile on her face “Never told him that the chief doctor and chief nurse shared an office.”

“Why so?” He asked again, making his way to sit down on the chair in front of Celine’s table

“He’ll always bring up New York.” Celine simply answered, before averting her eyes back on the screen

“What’s in New York?” Carlisle asked again. Now that they’re alone again, Carlisle got to acknowledge the small changes that she did to herself

She changed the cut of her hair, now having shoulder length over the mid back hair length that she had before. The darker shade of lip color she now wore intrigued Carlisle, as she used to favor a paler pink tint, prompting a silent wonder about whether her lips still retained the same taste as before. Noticing the additional piercing adorning her ear, he couldn't help but ponder the significance of this subtle transformation, finding himself captivated by her again.

“Why did you come back?” Celine asked through gritted teeth, refraining herself from yelling at him

“I miss–

“Don’t do that bullshit on me.” Celine hissed, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes glaring with the heat of the burning sun

“I do miss you.” Carlisle confessed quietly

“You shouldn’t have left then if you did miss me.” She hissed at him again, her eyes still glaring at the vampire

“They miss you. Not once did they not miss you.” Carlisle confessed, remembering the somberness on their faces when they were in Alaska that even Jasper had days where he didn’t want to go out his room, feeling everyone’s sadness

“Point still stands, you left.” She said in a stern tone “So, if you’re gonna use your kids and your sister as a futile attempt to make me feel bad, then you’re one fucked up motherfucker.”

“Nurse Celine!” Daniel greeted in her office doorway “Busy for lunch?”

“Busy enough to not entertain your shenanigans.” Celine coldly said, before looking at her computer screen, tuning out whatever Daniel and Carlisle was gonna say to her

As the shift progressed, Celine continued her work quietly, while other nurses eagerly guided Carlisle around, showing him the new equipment that they had received and expressing their gratitude for it. Despite the quiet demeanor, the atmosphere buzzed with efficiency and compassion as everyone worked together to ensure the smooth operation of the hospital.

Celine’s masterpiece

From the gossips, Carlisle learned that the new equipment had been sourced from New York, specifically from the hospital that had expressed interest in hiring Celine. One nurse even mentioned that Doctor Daniel had been dispatched from New York in an attempt to persuade Celine to join their hospital, but his efforts seemed to be failing miserably. That made Carlisle chuckle.

It was the end of his shift when Carlisle passed by Celine’s office again, seeing Eunice and Sean there with her. He decided to just stay outside and wait until his shift was officially over.

“With how you’re acting, you’re making it easier for everyone to figure out that you and Doc Cullen are a thing.” Eunice lightly scolded her

“She’s right. It’s so easy for you to warm up to Doc Cullen when he was made chief doctor, but until now, you haven’t warmed up to Doc Daniel.” Sean added

“Because Doc Cullen is actually good at his job.” Celine complimented to him “Doc Daniel’s only purpose is to get me to New York.”

“Right, not giving up on the retiring at 30 and traveling the world setup.” Sean said, getting Carlisle to listen more intently

A text from his phone distracted Carlisle from hearing what the reason was of Celine leaving

You should tell her why we actually left; she’ll understand - Edward with the help of Alice

He typed out a reply, listening as Celine continued talking about anything. Allowing himself to be enveloped by the soothing sound of Celine's voice as she continued to speak about various topics, her words creating a sense of peace within him.

She’s rightfully mad at me, she won’t listen whatever I will say

Carlisle sent that as reply before checking his watch and seeing that his shift was over. He stood up and said a quiet goodbye to Celine before rushing home

We’ll get her to come over, then you can explain.

Celine's phone rang, displaying Rosalie's name on the screen. She hesitated briefly before answering the call, reminding herself that her anger was directed solely at Carlisle.

“Celine!” Rosalie’s voice boomed on the other side of the call “We missed you.”

“I missed you too, Rosie–

“So, you don’t miss us?” She heard Emmett ask

“Oh my god.” Celine said, rolling her eyes at Emmett’s antics “Of course, I missed you all.”

“Does that ‘all’ consist of Carlisle as well?” Jasper asked, teasing laced in his tone

“Whatever you say, Jasper.” She replied, rolling her eyes at them

“Come over?” Rosalie invited her.

‘Are they playing matchmaker on us?’ Celine pondered before giving them an answer

“Sure, but on the day that Carlisle has a morning shift.” Celine agreed with them, there were murmurs on their end of the call before it was silenced.

“Of course.” Rosalie answered, Celine smiled at the thought that their plans on playing matchmaker didn’t work for her

“We owe you so much stories!” Alice cheered on the other end of the line

“Can we see you?” Edward quietly asked

“Carlisle just went home.” Celine replied back, not having the guts to see him face to face yet

“We’ll come over to your place, all of us without Carlisle.” He persisted. Celine had a small smile before answering a soft yes to them

“You’re lucky I like you all.” Celine playfully told them, before ending the call and closing her desktop, calling it a day

A month had passed since the Cullens returned to Forks, and Celine had seamlessly settled into a routine of visiting them whenever Carlisle had a shift, and leaving just as he was getting home. She was thankful that everyone sided with her, not doing some things behind her back to make her “coincidentally” be in the same place as him.

Celine didn’t think that she had the strength to see him yet.

Walking out of the hospital one afternoon, Celine was taken aback when she noticed a note placed on her windshield. As she picked it up, her curiosity mingled with apprehension upon seeing the symbol of the Volturi emblazoned on the front. Her heart quickened with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

What did they want from her now?

Celine felt shivers run down her spine. How could they have possibly forgotten about her? She had made a solemn promise to them that she would be changed by the night of her 30th birthday, a twisted assurance on their part to ensure her silence regarding the existence of vampires.

Carlisle may have fooled me, but I see the strain that it placed on your relationship as mates.

I will be patiently waiting until the night of your 30th birthday.

The Volturi does not give second chances.

“Fuck.” She heard Carlisle say from his side of the parking lot, having used his vampiric senses to read what the note was. She rushed to him immediately, note on her hand

“I–

“What now?” She hissed to him

“I thought they would drop that, given what I had done.” Carlisle whispered, softly pulling the note on her hand and reading it for himself

“Why would they?” She angrily asked him “They couldn’t even drop the meeting your mate promise, mine is much more recent.”

“Come home with me, let’s talk about it with the others.” Carlisle quietly invited, looking at her with hopeful eyes

“I’m taking my car.” She simply responded, rushing back to her car and entering it.

Celine was panicking internally; she was about to actually leave the hospital when a knock was on her window. Peering out, she saw Carlisle standing outside, gesturing for her to roll down the window. Reluctantly, she complied, opening the window to see what he wanted.

“I’ll ride with you.” He decided at once, opening her car door and making himself comfortable on her passenger seat

“Why?” Celine asked, her eyebrows burrowed at him “What about your car?”

“Your heartbeat is faster, your breathing is getting a tiny bit shallower. You’re showing signs of having a panic attack and I want to be there for you if it happens.” Carlisle listed down like he does when repeating symptoms to the patient “And don’t worry about my car, Jacob has a spare key for it. He’ll drop it off later.”

“You were gone for a year, don’t act like a saint now.” Celine hissed at him before driving off to the Cullen household in silence

As Celine drove, she could sense Carlisle's apologetic gaze on her, but she chose to ignore it, keeping her focus on the road and attempting to keep her emotions in check. She wasn’t one for anger, but Carlisle leaving for a year and coming back like he did nothing was just pushing her on the edge.

Soon, the Cullen household was coming into view, getting Celine to remember that the last time she was there was when Caius was killed and burned off. While a part of her was relieved that Caius was no longer a threat, she couldn't shake the sense of impending danger with Aro now coming back for her.

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this.” Carlisle whispered as she parks in front of their house

“You have a lot more to be sorry for than dragging me in this, trust me.” Celine hissed, getting out of the car and rushing in the house

“Celine!” Esme greeted, the same motherly aura surrounding her as she runs to hug her “I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too.” Celine said, hugging her back with the same tightness as her hug had

“Celine’s here!” Rosalie called to everyone, getting Celine to hear continuous footsteps down the stairs

“Hey!” Emmett said, pulling Celine for a hug that lifted her up before twirling her around.

Everyone greeted her with such happiness that Carlisle could only chastise himself for making the decision of deciding without hearing any of their suggestions.

“You owe me an explanation.” Celine said smugly to Carlisle once everyone was done with greeting her, immediately wanting to know the truth. The vampire only nodded and pulled her up to his office and locked themselves in

“I know it may sound crazy, and much more aggravating—

“I’m giving you one chance to explain yourself.” Celine dangerously said to him, crossing her arms together and sitting down on his table “I don’t need to hear any more introductory statements, I need the truth.”

“I made a deal with the Volturi.” Carlisle said, his head hung low “I made a deal with your life to the Volturi.”

“Are you fucking out of your mind?!” Celine angrily yelled at him

“Everyone there got a whiff of your blood. Whatever hiding we’ll try to do, they’ll find us.” Carlisle tried to explain

“Are you hearing yourself? How can you say that you love me and go and gamble my life to those things?!” Celine angrily continued

“My love—

“Do not fucking call me that.” She hissed angrily “You lost every right to call me that the moment you gambled my life to those creatures.”

“I offered them a year of us being away to protect you. One year, and then they’ll stop trying to have you.” He started to tell the whole story, looking at her with hopeful eyes that she’ll listen to him, no matter how crazy it sounded

“But before that, I made a deal with the shapeshifters here, I think you would know them, Jacob is one of them. I asked them a year of their protection on you, killing whatever vampire steps here. I know you will come here after I have left, hoping that I just went home. I also know that Caius would be the one waiting on you, being the one ordered by Aro to kill you.” He continued softly, moving to be in front of her

“The shapeshifter killed him.” Celine continued the story for him

“Aro then realized what I had done. He sent me a letter, angry for tricking him like that.” Carlisle continued the story, moving closer to her to rest his hand on her cheek “That’s why there were no Volturi attacks since then.”

“Did you expect that he’ll use the changing me when I turn 30 promise that I made?” Celine asked with such gentleness that Carlisle was taken back

“I didn’t, because I had asked in exchange of a year of us being away from you was that they get off your back.” He answered earnestly “But apparently, the promise that I have made has been fulfilled. But your promise that you made isn’t.”

“Well, that kind of makes sense, thinking of it now.” Celine quietly said with a small giggle, welcoming Carlisle’s cold hand on her cheek.

“I wished I had approached it differently, told you about the plan, prepared you for it. But I needed to be careful.” Carlisle whispered, using his thumb to stroke her cheeks

“Did you think of me during the year that you left?” Celine asked quietly, looking at him with her eyes coated with tears that were threatening to fall

“Not once did you leave my mind, my love.” Carlisle whispered, pulling Celine for a kiss on her forehead then hugging her. He missed her, everything that made up her.

He thought that she was the temptation designed for him, but she never was.

She was his solace.

[inukag-archive]

Inuvember 2023 Part 1

In honor of @inuvember InuKag Day, the Archive Mods have put together a 30 item InuKag recommendation list: one InuKag fic per prompt. Since this list is longer than our usual, we've split it into two parts. Enjoy!

Day 1 Inuyasha

I Hate That Fucking Well by @kstewdeux (M)

Post-manga. Inuyasha POV. Inuyasha's inner thoughts and monologues. Rated M for fucking language

Day 2 Kagome

Cinnamon Hearts by @fandomobsessions016 (M)

"So, you may be wondering, what’s this story about anyway? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s about how this queen, almost lost her crown, her throne, but worst of all… it’s about how this queen almost lost her king…

Hindsight, of course, has perfect vision, but at the time I did not. I was a girl becoming a woman who fought bitterly against change that was inevitable. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I didn’t want to see what was right in front of me.

What I wanted more than anything was to keep Inuyasha.

High school forced my eyes open, tested our “unshakable” bond and made me confront my biggest fear. All because…

I caught feelings for my best friend.

I like-liked my king."

Day 3 Sango

Forever Home by KittyKatz (M)

How long had he roamed the earth in a form that was not his? Beaten, dirty and caged, he finds one last bit of fortune when she comes to rescue him from this place. But his road to redemption will not be easy. And he will find, that no matter how the world has changed, his old enemy remains. And this time, they plan to destroy him once and for all.

Day 4 Miroku

Under the Northern Lights by @lostinfantasyworlds (E)

Kagome Higurashi has her dream job, working as a photographer for the internationally well-known Yugen magazine. Her career whisks her all around the world, leaving her feeling lonely sometimes but mostly just incredibly grateful to be doing what she loves. When she gets assigned to Alaska for a month to photograph a series of celestial events, she runs into Inuyasha, a half-demon who lives on his own in the middle of nowhere. A mutual attraction draws them to each other, but Kagome's time there is limited. Will giving in to their desire lead to love or heartbreak?

Day 5 Shippo

Oh, But You're Good To Me by @witchygirl99 (E)

It’s a terrible photo, really. The action figure takes up the entire bottom of the screen and part of both of their faces. Shippo’s giggling though, eyes shut and crinkled in his mirth while Inuyasha looks at him. His expression is clearly fond. It’s the softest Inuyasha has ever, ever seen himself.

This is fatherhood, he thinks a little wildly.

He sends the photo to Kagome.

Inuyasha is a single father. Shippo is his adopted son. Kagome isn't supposed to be in the picture, but somehow, she returns anyways. A story about family, love, and all of its obstacles.

Day 6 Sesshomaru

Whispers in the Wind by @ruddcatha (G)

It has been 500 years since Kagome jumped back down the well to be with Inuyasha. A messenger waits to see her family, and is joined by a surprising guest.

Day 7 Rin

My Life Before You by @len-barboza (E) -- based on a story by Mizune-mei

No English language summary provided. Inuyasha había vivido la mayoría de su vida huyendo, un huérfano medio demonio considerado por la gente una aberración, rechazado por demonios y por humanos, pero quien pensaría que esa era una mejor vida, al menos un propósito lo movía; sobrevivir, que sucede con un hanyo con una vida longeva, en completa soledad.

Day 8 Kikyou

Stolen Soul by Kimberly-A (T)

COMPLETE Kikyo uses a spell to exchange bodies with Kagome, leaving Kagome stuck in the dead shell and Kikyo comfortably human. In the aftermath, Inu-Yasha faces difficult choices. InuKag, not very Kikyo-friendly.

Day 9 Koga

A New Moon, A New Start by @pinestripes (T)

Kouga visits the village near the Sacred Tree. On this particular evening, he finds that a certain half-demon is more on edge than usual.

Day 10 Kagura

The Portal Between Worlds by @neutronstarship (E)

Ten years ago, a portal transported Inuyasha from the demon realm to the human realm. Now a half-demon alone in a world he doesn't understand, he will do anything to get home. When Onigumo brings him a book with all the answers, Inuyasha pushes aside his misgivings and works with the man. He just wants to get home, after all.

Kagome just wants to make an extra buck (and find demons), much to Kikyo’s chagrin. That is why she published Demons Among Us! after all. But strange things start happening when she puts the book online. As if people are using it to open the portals that it hypothesized… When Kagura and Sango join the fray, the stakes grow higher as they try to find the source of the portals.

When Inuyasha encounters Kagome, fate is not what it seems. Not one, but two realms are in danger for their survival. What happens when the final portal opens and an unknowable terror is unleashed? Can the Demon Hunters save the world?

Day 11 Naraku

You Rescued Me by @keizfanfiction (E)

Maybe it was fate that he decided to take the back way home that night, but whatever the reason, Inuyasha was grateful for arriving just in the nick of time to rescue a waif of a woman who had clearly been through hell. He never would have imagined that she would end up rescuing him, too.

Day 12 Band of Seven

Delicate by @akitokihojo (T)

To trust someone, to let them in, what an unsettling ordeal. Kagome is easy and safe, and Inuyasha is difficult and guarded. She can put him at ease with a smile, simultaneously setting him on edge. It was nothing until it was something, creating absolute chaos and uncertainty within the both of them.

Day 13 Jinenji/ Shiori

How Does Your Garden Grow? by @dawnrider (M)

An Ingary-esque AU: Kagome, the newest generation of caretakers of the Higurashi House, finally starts to feel like her garden and business is thriving with the help of her friend Jinenji. Their routine is thrown off by the arrival of an injured visitor who does not want to be found...

Day 14 Toga

Taisho School of Acting: A Quick Guide by @jeremymarsh (G)

“Excuse me, what?” Kagome looked at her best friend with eyes as big as saucers, lips parted, and her mind replaying what he had said a moment before – trying to find a sense but to no avail. “You heard me.” Inuyasha scowled, looking down, arms crossed and lips pouting, just like he did every time he didn’t like the topic at hand. The problem was he had started it this time. “Yeah, I did.” Kagome shook her head and inhaled deeply before she continued. “And that’s why I’m asking you to repeat yourself since I’m having problems believing that certain sentences left your mouth.” “I said,” Inuyasha started through clenched teeth, still not meeting her gaze, “come to my family Christmas dinner this Sunday.” He stopped, ran a hand through his silver mane, closed his eyes, murmured something unintelligible and then added: “As my girlfriend.”

Where Inuyasha tries to fool his parents and miserably fails.

Day 15 Izayoi

The Silence of Daisies by Fierywenchxo (T)

Inuyasha shares with Kagome one of the biggest secrets he's ever kept. One-shot.

READ PART (2) HERE

[elekid]

please can i hear your beef with planet 51

planet 51 represents to me all the circumstances of my childhood where my siblings and i had "public visits" wit our dad wherein we had to go to a public space in small town bumfuck alaska. there were not many options for these court mandated visits so often we would go to the movies or carl's jr and hang out for 5-6 hours. hell. you ever seen "fly me to the moon" 30 times on loop in the kids play place of a heroin den carls jr? fuckin hell. anyway one of these visits all 3 of us kids and my dad go to see pla et 51. there was maybe 15 people in the theater. my dad thought the movie was SO fucking funny that he howled at many parts. in between this he was whispering to me about how my mom was a witch and us kids were alien babies from the devil, that sorta shit. not to mention that the whole time one of the worst movies i ever seen is playing in high definition on a 100 inch screen. after the movie my dad shows me a letter he wrote in jail a few years ago, which talks about how us kids were created when aliens inseminated my mom with (famous person idk the name of) sperm and my mom used witch powers (and crack!) to orchestrate our birth. on one unforgettable visit my father took us kids to a beach! really nice. at the end of a perfect day, my dad takes me up to a cliff (age 10) and brings our family dog. he produces a rifle and explains that he has to kill our dog due to my mothers dark magick reaching the dog's soul. somehow i convince my father to not shoot the dog. planet 51 is my vessel for these times in my life.

this is my reason for hating planet 51. i wish i had a bunch of planet 51 merchandise and a hunting rifle to shoot them on the fence after work wit a hard cider. or perhaps some moltov cocktails. anyway. thanks for the question

[cordycepsfem]

Let's talk about this article:

... because I read the study, and I have some questions.

This article breathlessly states that trans and gender non-conforming teenagers are attempting suicide by up to 72% more, potentially based on laws their states are passing.

... but also as low as 7% more. So no, there is no massive wave of individuals committing or attempting suicide everywhere. There is no trans "genocide."

The survey run by the study did have participants ages 13-24, and found those participants through social media ads. They had more than 5,000 respondents from California and less than 180 from Wyoming, just as an idea of the sample.

The study admits that "no work has been able to identify casual mechanisms between state-level anti-transgender laws and the mental health of the TGNB (transgender/non-binary) community" and "no research has specifically identified a casual link between anti-transgender laws and increased suicide risk" but then boy does it go on and try.

It also fully admits that TGNB teenagers "are already at risk for mental health concerns," which the study believes is due to "minority stress" (stress associated with being the negative impacts of being part of a minority) or potentially because they feel "unimportant and disconnected" (who doesn't, as a teenager?) but which, in my opinion, is more likely because everyone keeps telling them they're going to commit suicide.

Let's talk about these laws that are apparently causing "trans children" not to exist. There have been laws to limit access to cross-sex hormones, dangerous off-label cancer drugs, and permanent life-changing surgery on minors (considering these drugs have a wide range of side effects like slowed intellectual and emotional development, osteoporosis, vaginal atrophy, permanent infertility, and never being able to orgasm, and the surgeries are designed to remove healthy body parts, this seems positive); keeping bathrooms segregated by sex (considering that girls face higher levels of abuse in mixed-sex restrooms and changing rooms, this also seems positive); and keeping sports sex-segregated as well (considering that male and female athletes have different strengths and body types, this seems like it would increase fairness for both groups, and so seems positive to me too).

Now let's talk about people who are actually committing suicide, not just using it for emotional abuse:

The Jed Foundation, which works to increase mental health support on high school and college campuses, says that almost 14% of young adults and 22% of high school students have seriously considered suicide in the past year; 10% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year. The groups with the highest rates of both consideration and attempts are females, Native Americans, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

The CDC tells us that teenagers in rural communities who face isolation, Black teenagers, and "LGBT" teenagers have the highest rates of suicide deaths. Alaska (which has, notably, no anti-trans laws on the books) has the highest rate of suicide deaths (roughly 40 in 100,000), and it's noted that pockets of suicide spring up in groups like Native Americans, Mormons, and evangelical Christians. The places with the lowest suicide rate for teens are urban areas and big cities, whereas those in isolated areas with higher access to firearms and illegal drugs or alcohol see higher rates.

The rate of teen suicides is the lower than the general suicide rate of the entire US. Elderly people have the highest rate of suicide. But yet all that's talked about is the rate of specifically trans kids killing themselves because they couldn't get "gender-affirming" health care, or play on a sports team, or go into the opposite sex's bathroom. The media has decided to push this angle, and almost everyone has eaten it up. Obviously they're the most affected by everything.

I am tired of this narrative. Teenagers and kids deserve better.

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

Christopher McCandless, The Man who Hiked to Death

Born February 12th 1968, in Inglewood, California, Christopher McCandless was immediately plunged into a chaotic family. His sister, Carine McCandless, documented in her book ‘The Wild Truth’ that they shared their home with six half-siblings. Carine also alleged that her parents were abusive, both physically and verbally, toward the McCandless children. She documented how her father was an alcoholic, and their mother often fed off his evil energy, inflicting her own abuse upon them.

The McCandless never stayed in one place for long as Walt McCandless worked for NASA as a rocket scientist, taking him across the U.S. Eventually, the family settled in Virginia long enough for Christopher and Carine to graduate.

Following his graduation from university, Christopher knew he needed to travel. He had spent much of his childhood moving from town to town, state to state, and this had a profound impact on his outlook on life.

He only stayed in one place for a short time, seeing the beauty in exploring the world. In mid-1990, Christopher left Virginia for new pastures and began driving West. He stopped in towns and cities along the way, picking up odd jobs to make ends meet.  By April of 1992, Christopher was itching for another adventure, and that is when he decided to make his way to Alaska, the final frontier of the U.S. 

Incredibly, Christopher managed to hitchhike from Carthage, South Dakota, to Fairbanks, Alaska, a whopping 3,000+ miles through Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon, Canada. Eventually, he arrived, and he began planning his largest expedition yet. He wanted to hike through the Denali National Park. The park covers over 6,000,000 acres in the middle of Alaska. Communities are few and far between, with many Alaskans congregating near large towns and cities.

Despite the harsh weather conditions of Alaska, Christopher McCandless seemed ill-prepared. Fellow hikers and locals recalled seeing Christopher arrive in Fairbanks carrying only a backpack. He also stood out for his ‘Hippie-like’ appearance, choosing to remain unkempt and dirty. April 28th 1992, would mark the last day that Christopher McCandless would ever see the seeds of civilisation. 

That day, Jim Gallien was flagged down by Christopher, who was looking for a ride to the Stampede Trail in the Denali National Park. Gallien later told author Jon Krakauer that he had doubts about the 24-year-old’s survival from the start. When he got into his car, Christopher had minimal clothing and a backpack. Christopher explained that he was carrying a 10 lb bag of rice, a Remmington semi-automatic rifle and a pair of Wellington boots inside his bag.  Gallien was, in fact, so concerned that he offered to drive Christopher to Anchorage so that he could purchase the necessary equipment for him. He knew how harsh and unforgiving the Alaskan landscape could be, and per population, it has an alarmingly high missing persons rate. Throughout their drive, Christopher assured Gallien that he would be fine and had hiked many times before. 

It wasn’t until months later that Gallien learned Christopher’s real name, as when he had picked him up, he had simply given the name ‘Alexander Supertramp’. The only item that Christopher accepted from Gallien was a map. Before leaving, Christopher asked Gallien to snap a picture of him at the Stampede Trail, making this one of the last photographs ever taken of Christopher McCandless.

For two days, Christopher hiked the Alaskan wilderness, soaking in the beauty of the Denali National Park. After a gruelling march, Christopher made it to an abandoned blue and white bus. Whilst the exterior was rusted and hadn’t been loved for some time, Christopher recognised it was the perfect shelter and base camp. He wasted no time setting up his gear and prepping his new home.

The blue and white bus that would become a notorious tourist hotspot was not Christopher’s intended finish line. According to his diary, which was later discovered with his body, Christopher had planned to hike through the park and to the Bering Sea. Christopher remained at the blue and white bus for two months, eagerly journaling every step. Christopher wrote in his diary that he had begun consuming the roots of the Hedysarum Alpinum plant.  Christopher also detailed in his diary how he had trapped and hunted small game and wildlife. He had successfully hunted a moose/caribou with his rifle. However, the meat was rotten by the time he came to consume it. With just 10 lbs of rice and foraged plants, Christopher rapidly began losing weight. 

The lack of food and people was beginning to get to Christopher, who heavily documented his trip via his journal and camera. On July 3rd 1992, Christopher packed up his things, leaving the blue and white bus behind.

With a map in hand, Christopher hoped to reach civilisation once more, but the landscape had changed and he became distressed and returned to the blue and white bus to wait out the days until the river froze over once more. 

On July 14th, he also began to incorporate the seeds of the Hedysarum Alpinum plant into his diet, as was documented in his diary. The meagre diet of plant material and small animals was nowhere near enough to sustain Christopher, who continued to waste away. As he continued to weaken, he lost his energy and ability to forage further afield for plants and fruits. 

Christopher McCandless made his final diary entry on what he noted as ‘Day 107’. The entry simply reads, “Beautiful blue berries.” Author Krakauer noted that days 108 through 112 had / (slashes) but no words, and after Day 113, no more entries were made. Sometime around these final diary entries, Christopher wrote, “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye, and may God bless all.” It is clear Christopher knew his end was coming, and he had made his final preparations and peace with his fate. 

 It wasn’t until September 6th 1992 that the grizzly truth would be revealed.

That day, hikers in the Denali National Park came across the blue and white rusted van that Christopher had once called home. 

These hikers had the same idea as Christopher and were eager to use the bus as shelter.

When they approached the bus, they found a note taped to the door which read “Attention possible visitors. S.O.S. I need your help; I am injured, near death and too weak to hike out. I am all alone; this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless, August.” 

As they moved through the bus, they saw the familiar outline of a human in a sleeping bag. After reading the note, they hoped that Chris had managed to survive, but all hopes were dashed when the stench of decay overcame them. The hikers took a closer look, and their worst suspicions were confirmed. Christopher McCandless was deceased, his body decaying in a sleeping bag in the back of a rusted-out bus. 

Alaska State Troopers and Denali Park staff were summoned to the bus where Christopher’s body was recovered. His family were notified of the terrible news, and preparations for his body to be returned to Virginia were made.

Christopher’s passing marked a turning point in the culture surrounding hiking and travelling. He had wilted away in the wilderness when a bridge and cabin were within a few miles of his location. 

[donner-mathis-official]

What's a hot take you have for TLD?

Hmmm… hot take? While there are aspects of the game that are quite realistic, the setting isn’t one of them (even ignoring the magic aurora borealis, which like, my electrical engineering major ass has some Thoughts about that)

The coastal area of British Columbia is overall one of the warmest parts of the country, second only to the southernmost parts of Ontario. Most of the coastline that would get even close to the climate of Great Bear would be in Alaska. (Subset of this, oak trees would likely not grow in the climate the game occurs in. The only oak tree that occurs on the west side of the country is the Garry oak, which from what I recall is primarily found in the rainforesty regions of BC, because it prefers a temperate climate.)

This is not the infrastructure of a place off the road system (which it would have to be, because it’s on an island presumably with no bridges to the mainland). For any of the rest of the island to be even remotely functional as a modern society, like having cars and whatnot, they would need to have a functional road that leads to them from a port. Because you can’t really fly gas in like you can other goods like food and supplies, so it typically comes in on a barge. And I get that there was some amount of quakes on the night of the first flare but the infrastructure still doesn’t really make sense.

While we’re on the question of infrastructure, where did the power come from prior to the first flare? Aside from Blackrock, which canonically had its own grid, and the hydro dam, which was canonically nonfunctional for years, I don’t see any power generation. And their water? Did they have running water in those buildings? Where is their water treatment? Did every individual house have a well that I missed? That’s less of a concern, but figuring out where their electricity came from prior to the first flare is big to me because the whole point of the game is that they don’t have it anymore.

WHERE ARE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, HINTERLAND. We have like 10 named characters and one (Astrid) is indigenous, and she’s not even from here. There would’ve been at least SOME indigenous people living on Great Bear, and yet we have no evidence of traditional subsistence. Granted, I’m more versed in tundra communities, but we got a little bit of training on Haida and Tlingit (some of the indigenous nations in southeastern Alaska/northern coastal BC) ways of life for my job; there should still be fish racks and smokehouses and whatnot,unless all of the indigenous people on the island were completely assimilated and/or killed (which is possible, but I feel like that should be at least mentioned in all of those “here’s the sad history of Great Bear” collectibles you can find in wintermute).

Other hot takes include: the writers were not in agreement on the morality of the convicts in episode 4 and it shows, they should not have removed the glitch where the birch bark was sometimes obnoxiously large, airfield is mid at best, zone of contamination (as much as I love it) is a bit immersion breaking, and wherever the fuck they put Methuselah, they need to bring him back.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

On a recent Friday afternoon, Marie Richards sat in her living room in northern Michigan. She was having a hard time talking about her job at the U.S. Forest Service in the past tense.

“I absolutely loved my job,” she said. “I didn’t want to go.”

Richards, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was a tribal relations specialist at the Huron-Manistee National Forests. In mid-February, she found out she was one of the some 3,400 workers who had been targeted for layoffs — an estimated 10 percent of the workforce — as part of the Trump administration’s move to cut costs and shrink the federal government.

Richards watched as some of her colleagues were laid off on February 14 — the so-called Valentine’s Day massacre, when the Trump administration laid off thousands of probationary employees, generally hired within the past two years. She got a call from her supervisor that Saturday informing her that she had been let go, too. The letter she received cited performance issues, even though she, along with others in a similar position, had received a pay raise less than two months earlier.

“None of us deserved this,” Richards said. “We all work hard and we’re dedicated to taking care of the land.”

The U.S. Forest Service, which stewards 193 million acres of public lands from Alaska to Florida, was in trouble even before Trump took office. Chronically understaffed, the service was already under a Biden-era hiring freeze, all the while on the front lines of fighting and recovering from back-to-back climate disasters across the country.

For now, workers with the Forest Service fear this isn’t just the end of the line for their dream careers, but also a turning point for public lands and what they mean in the United States.

“It’s catastrophic,” said Anders Reynolds with the Southern Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit that litigates environmental issues in the southeastern U.S. “We are losing an entire generation of talent and passion.”

The federal agency does more than ensure that Americans have a place to hunt, hike, fish, or paddle. In the South, forest workers played a key role in helping western North Carolina and other communities recover from impacts of Hurricane Helene. In the West, they’re taking on fire risk mitigation and fighting wildfires. They’re also involved in fisheries management in places like Alaska. Across the country, agency biologists and foresters are busy working to strengthen the over 150 national forests and 20 grasslands it monitors in the face of changing climate.

Increasingly, the service is getting spread thin. 

The agency has experienced a steady decrease in staffing over the last decade and the workers that remain are often overworked and underpaid, according to Reynolds.

“That means you’re going to see those campgrounds close, the trails go unmaintained, roads closed, you’re going to feel the effects of wildfire and hurricane recovery work that’s just going to remain undone,” said Reynolds. “Communities are going to struggle.”

[angrybubbles]

Are you really from Alaska? I’ve never meet anyone from there. Can you make a post about what life’s like where you live?

Well, I can tell you Alaska is Vast and Wild. We regionalize ourselves to help organize where and how we live. I live in South East Alaska, which is the pan handle right on the edge of Canada. No road system connecting any of the towns out here, unless you count the ferry. About 10-15 years behind the lower 48 on an infrastructural and cultural level, depending on where you live. Rural small towns are scattered All Over, many only accessible by sea plane or boat (not always a ferry either). I don't have a road system that connects my city to any other town, so I basically live on an island. Health care is often given by rural doctors or itinerant nurses, and you hope no emergency happens in the meantime.

Black Bears are my neighbors. They regularly try to get in the chicken coop, and I have been late to work multiple times because they decided to walk down the street with me (I use public transportation). I solo hike, and come across them more regularly than you would think. As long as you make noise and don't startle them, they'll usually leave you alone.

Lots of other wild animals, too. I regularly see porcupines, otters, beavers, sea lions, seals, ect. Moose and wolves. And I live in a city, imagine a smaller town! During salmon season, there are fish crowded in the streams, and the whole city smells like rotten fish (since salmon die once they lay eggs).

There are more ravens here than any other bird. They sound like children screaming, usually. Bald Eagles make nests in the trees around my house, and they don't sound like you think they do. They kind of giggle. They're also super dumb and get bullied by the seagulls so take that as you will.

Days in the summer are Long and Bright. About 20 hours where I live, around the solstice. We have blackout curtains on the windows, and spend every sunny day we can outside. Winters are Cold and Dark, and most of us take Vitamin D to handle the seasonal depression 4 months without sun causes. It's better when there's snow on the ground, it makes the darkness lighter.

People aren't nicer, or meaner than anywhere else. Kind of neutral in my opinion. But helpful, and happy to chat. The city I live in is half-caught between urban and rural life, and that shows in the way people interact with each other. We're all stressed though. Alaska is not an easy place to live, not by any means. We do have a lot of community, though. Always something happening, always a place open to get together. Usually a bar; our alcoholism rate is high.

And, well, lots more to say, but yeah. That's what I think of when I think of my life.

[thatwasthenightthingschanged]

eras tour city guide: Gelsenkirchen

(Hamburg | Munich)

are you're traveling to see the eras tour in Gelsenkirchen and are looking for things to do in the city or just need advice for good food/drinks spots? Or are you looking for some insider information about the venue? here are some ideas for you (I will continuously update this post!):

GENERAL ADVICE

credit: @youlooklikeasixtiesqueen (thank you!!)

❗if you're taking public transport i recommend using the app "vrr bus&bahn". it has a green logo with vrr in it as the thumbnail. you can use it to look up public transport lines and if they're on time, and you can buy tickets on your phone (i think paypal and credit card are accepted as payments, not sure about google pay etc) i think it should be in english if your phone is set to english, but i can't 100% guarantee it. i just remember that a friend has her phone set to english and i believe the app is in english for her. you will need to make an account to buy tickets.

❗gelsenkirchen has the highest percentage of people living in poverty in germany. if you're not from around here and you're imagining a cute german town that looks like it's from a picture book, then that is not gelsenkirchen. it's a large town in the industrial part of germany. crime is not uncommon, especially downtown. keep an eye on your belongings, if you wear a bag make sure it closes completely, and please walk in groups of at least three people when it gets dark. basically just make smart choices and use common sense to stay safe.

❗ the median temperature for july is around 25°C

THINGS TO DO:

credit: @youlooklikeasixtiesqueen

❗important: taylor is playing her shows while the kids are out of school for the summer, so anything touristy that is family friendly will probably be full

❗there is a theme park nearby called "movie park germany" which is hella overpriced. there's not a lot of good rides for adults. the lines are also very very long in the summer. i would not recommend going.

⭐ the area around the veltins arena itself (arena-park):

- mini golf: 3.50€ for adults and 2.50€ for kids - schalke museum: museum about the football club that the veltins-arena is home to, 5€ for adults over 21, 6-21yo it's 3€, under 6yo it's free - apollo cinema: no movies in english but if you speak japanese or turkish you might be in luck if you want to catch a movie - food: several places to buy food including a mcdonalds - there is also a small castle called schloss berge nearby

⭐ zoom erlebniswelt:

- amazing large zoo with three areas (africa, asia, alaska) - highlights: igloo ride, petting zoo, viewing platform for the giraffes, lemur island (lemurs move around freely amongst visitors), canopy walk (by the orangutan outdoor area) - definitely plan to be there for at least half a day, my tip is to go when it opens and go to the "alaska" area first because they have this little ride that's an igloo that shakes you around a bit and it's so much fun, but there can be quite long lines in the summer (i think mostly because it has aircon), it's called "alaska ice adventure" and is opposite the polar bears - they have a little boat that you can go on to get closer to the baboons and flamingos but imho it isn't worth the wait - another tip: bring your own food and plenty of water. it's very expensive at the zoo. like, worse than airport prices. - you can buy artwork made by animals for very good prices at the gift store. i love the penguin art made by their little feet waddling over the canvas. - sadly not a great place for people who need walking aids or wheelchairs. they do say they're somewhat accessible but they aren't (it's better than ten years ago but still not great) - there's plenty of toilets and places to sit, and the toilets have always been clean when i went - prices: for adults it's 21,50€, kids up to 12 pay 14€, and it's free for kids under 4. if someone wants to bring a dog it's 6€. prices are reduced by a lot after 4pm (adults 10€, kids 8,50€), but you won't have a lot of time in the zoo, only about two hours. they also have lower prices for students if you have proof that you go to school or college. it is recommended to buy your tickets online and i agree with that. there's very long lines in the summer. - getting there: if you go by car, parking is 6€ for a day. the address for a gps is bleckstraße 64, 45889 gelsenkirchen. HOWEVER I do recommend taking the tramline 301 from the main station, the stop is just called "zoom erlebniswelt", it's a very short walk. - website: https://www.zoom-erlebniswelt.de/ (only in german) - btw they had baby pigs at the petting zoo not too long ago - @notjustillusion (thank you!!) also recommends ZOOM Erlebniswelt!

⭐erlebnismuseum schloss horst

- i haven't been but i've heard it's cool - interactive museum in a castle!! - exhibits on how people lived in the mid-16th century - free and accessible! - playground outside for the kiddos - in the afternoon on mon, tue, thu, and fri you can use an old printing press - open every day except saturdays from 3pm to 6pm, and sundays from 11am to 6pm - getting there: the address is turfstraße 21, 45899 gelsenkirchen. from the main station you can take bus 383, or tramline 301. the stop is "schloß horst" or "schloss horst"

credit: @notjustillusion (thank you!!)

Zeche Zollverein in Essen: a Zeche that was shut down, great place for walks and/or tours informing you about mining in the Ruhrgebiet in general!

credit: @feminst4life (thank you Nadine!!)

Nordsternpark: nice park where you can go climbing and there's also a museum!

Rungenberg-Halde: a nice photo spot!

FOOD & DRINKS:

credit: @feminst4life

Noah & Zoe's Place: all kinds of food (from breakfast do dinner to drinks), only a 15 minute ride with the tram away from the venue!

GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT THE VENUE:

credit: once again @youlooklikeasixtiesqueen (I feel the need to thank you again because you helped me so much with this post!!)

veltins arena, also called "arena auf schalke", max capacity around 60k

it has different entraces, your ticket should say which one you need to use

cashless venue - you can pay by credit or debit card, or using google pay, apple pay, or samsung pay. you can also trade cash at the venue for a "knappenkarte", which is basically a card you can pay with when you buy something in the venue. they have several different "payment counters" where you can exchange your money throughout the stadium. i'm not sure if these restrictions apply to merch, because it hasn't been announced if she will have her merch trucks or sell it inside the stadium.

you can buy food at the venue, they have vegetarian and vegan options too, but i don't know what anything costs. they have an overview where you can see what food counter has what on their website. they have pretzels and sweets at every food counter.

the website says you can bring in something to drink that is up to 500ml in a "tetra-pak", aka a juice box or a milk carton. i'm not sure about foldable silicone water bottles. plastic bottles are not allowed.

no bags larger than an a4 sheet of paper. i recommend a clear bag as well. they don't seem to have a clear back policy, but it'll make security lines move faster (i'm nearly certain there will be bag checks, i've never been to a concert in this general area that didn't have them, no matter how big or small). i got a clear fanny pack from amazon that i can also wear over one shoulder and around my torso because i think it'll make dancing easier than a crossbody.

i know someone once brought a dog to the rep tour and idk if it was a service dog but i think it's worth mentioning that animals are not allowed.

cameras for commercial use are not allowed (usually that means don't take a dslr)

powerbanks are only allowed if they are smaller than 10x7x3 cm. charge your phone beforehand and maybe put it in energy saving until you want to take pictures

you are not allowed to climb on seats

if you pee anywhere other than the toilets, smoke outside the designated area, or put a sticker somewhere, it's a 25€ fine

the roof will be closed unless it's too hot

they don't have lockers so only take what you need

website: https://en.veltins-arena.de/

[sketchfanda]

Kirishima’s Mystique: Fun Times of the Chivalrous Stud Red Riot:The Cheetah Princess of Kenya

Now it was easy to forget especially with all the mayhem and what not that came their way during their first year alone, and heroics or no, but UA was still a high school. Festivals and sports events were the necessities for any regular fun highschool life after all, not to mention occassions such as when a new transfer student came along or the old classic, the foreign exchange program. One student from their own school and another from a school in a different country changing places for a period of time in the spirit of better co-operation and understanding of one another's cultures and differences. But of course UA was no exception to this especially when Minoru Mineta found himself selected (translation:Forced into volunteering) to attend a hero school all the way in Alaska, which left UA playing host to a splendid, perky and friendly young lady from Kenya by the name of Elena. She was a definite stunner in looks alone and the face she stood at an even 6 feet tall only enhanced that. It was like one had to wonder if Mina had a long lost twin of sorts in the girl, given their enthusiastic levels of energy and their social, affable personalities. To say nothing of the fact she was quite a dancer herself when it came to the brazilian art of Capoeria. But then of course there was her quirk, which was guaranteed to earn er a spot in the top 10 of her home country as a pro in terms of looks and ability. But one person was a little conflicted when it came to the exchange student and not for any negative reasons mind you. For our resident Red Riot, you see, the awkwardness was due to of course, his ever kinky girlfriends and their antics when it came to him and their loving,but by no means vanilla relationship as a trio.

Kirishima:*thinking to himself as he sat on the comfy mat in the campus gymnasium.*'There is no way these two didn't plan this? Midnight-sensei definitely had a part to play in it...'*the chivalrous hero thought to himself, as he looked out the window to see a view of the swimming pool. Mina and Maya of course hanging out with some of their lady friends/classmates, looking hot as all damn hell in the UA school swimsuits. Those one piece leotards left very little to the imagination,that was for sure,a playful toungue blep on his face directed at the cotton candy acid girl and the blue shapeshfter bombshell as they waved with cheeky smiles,blowing kisses his way. Damn he just couldn't stay mad at them.*

Elena:"Kirishima-kun, you alrighty? You seem distracted. Nothing serious I hope.."0w0^w^*The spikey haired redhead felt his brain hit the brakes as that ever peppy,melodic voice spoke up. Elena getting his attention as he found himself looking her way. Goddamn what a view to behold as the exotic Kenyan princess (Seriously, what were the odds they'd have an actual princess in their class!!), wearing nothing more than a white mid-riff baring tanktop and white spandex booty shorts,and her distinct jewellery accessories was doing her usual personal workout routine. Feeling his pulse racing as no doubt blood was rushing to a certain place at seeing this six foot African beauty perform stretches and yoga style twists and bends. Her flexibility on display as she practiced her chosen fighting style, reminding himself how much Mina and the excange student had bonded over their sense of rhythm and love of dance. Her dusky chocolate skin coated in a glistening sheen of perspiration which threatened to soak her workout wear as she casually,seemlessly shifted around like an eel swimming through grease. Currently looking his way as she did a handstand,one palm flat on the gym mat floor while her legs performed the splits. To say he was having ideas would be an understatement*

Kirishima:*managing to exert some sense of willpower and self control as he kept his libido tame and at bay, sending a modest friendly smile her way.*"Yeah, I'm good Elena-chan.no worries, just been thinking was all.."*Left unsaid was the fact Maya had been hosting the exchange student in her dorm room,or that the shapeshifting hottie and Mina had been having regular slumber parties. To which the teased and gave him ideas that Elena was, to say the least, more than into him and wanting to be "very good friends". Quirking a brow curiously as Elena giggled, her tone and body language just radiating such soothing energy. Before she ceased her handstand and her routine as she planted herself upright, standing on her feet as she walked over to him with a distinct bounce to her step. Those bright blue eyes twinkling as she stopped and bent over to face him. Her expression playful as she looked into his own crimson eyes and made him feel...a sort of sense of deja vu.*

Elena:^w0"Let me guess, was it about me naked? You and me doing some very adult things, of which I'm sure Ms.Midnight would certainly approve.0w0 How does she put it,ah yes, "Just two young heroes enjoying the spirit and energy of their youth together as they should."*the Kenyan beauty giggled cutely at the look on Eijiro's face, his jaw risking dropping at the words that came out of her mouth as she tilted his jaw shut, before gently cuppping and caressin his face.* "It's okay if you do and more of course. After all,you've been a very wonderful friend. And I certainly think it's time you and I became quite very good Friends,don't you?"*She quipped before capturing his lips in a sudden kiss. certainly not a chaste peck either,oh no, this was a full on sensual, erotic sort of kiss. Her tongue caressing his lips before making its way into his mouth to dance with and caress his own. Purring and smiling as she found him returning and giving in kind,as she felt him grasp her snow white shortcut hair as he deepened their liplock. The pair of heroes in training moaning as Elena found him probing her throat while she caressed and traced those sharp shark like teeth of his. he duo soon breaking for air as a little stand of saliva broke between them, panting as their faces were flushed with red blushes of arousal.*

Kirishima:*an amused deadpan smile on his face as the Kenyan princess playfully blepped and smiled at him in kind*"Let me guess,Mina and maya's idea? Makes sense why you asked me here...and why they got the view there..."*shaking his head in bemusement as Elena giggled,her tone not lacking any of its usual playfulness and feisty friendliness. Kissing him on the lips softly and sensually as she backstepped away a bit, striking a little pose for him that made thos toned,limber mscles of hers flex, standing out thanks to the sunlight and her glistening sheen.*

Elena:"Of all the boys here,you stood out to me the most at first sight when we met. They could tell soon as we got acquainted and insisted they were more than okay with it. And of course they were very detailed and descriptive singing your praises,you manly puppy you..." *soon as she’d finished saying that,the exotic African babe made the sturdy hero in training drop his jaw and widen his eyes,taking delight in having his attention as she began to strip. Peeling off her tanktop and shorts as she exposed and laid herself bare before him. Flexing and posing for him,her movements silky and graceful. Looking like some divine goddess as his red eyes drank her in from hewed to toe. Her long,strong,toned powerful legs, her firm arms and good lord her hips and thighs. To say nothing of her boobs and bubble butt. Before she shit him a wink and a smile,blowing a kiss his way as she flexe her muscles and begs to change. Her muscle mass boosting as f her hands and feet took on the traits of a feline,cat ears sprouting on her head and a tail forming from where her spine tailbone met the pelvis. Fur formed on her arms and legs up to her biceps and mid-thigh, showing the colour and pattern of a cheetah, another portion acting like a makeshift bikini. The transformation complete as she struck a pose, sending him a purr and meow a her tail wagged.*

‘Elena, home country:Kenya, birthplace:France. Quirk:We’re-Cheetah. A transformation type quirk that enhances Elena’s flexibility and senses while it also increases her strength and especially her speed as it provides her the traits and qualities of the African Cheetah, such as a set of sharp fangs an claw. Her affable charm,friendly personality and sensual charisma combined with the exotic appeal of her looks and quirk ensure this young lady has a bright future ahead in the pro hero circuit.’

Kirishima stared in awe,face blushing so red thst it made his hair look paler in comparison. If Elena was a 10 before,in her quirked form she was an absolute 11 as the Kenyan hero exchange student posed for him. Courting his attention as if she were a wild animal in mating season looking for a good time, fitting given the nature and appearance of her transformed state. Before the chivalrous hero in training shook his head steeling his nerves with a look of firm determination as he stood up, stripoing off his gym suit top. Elena licking her lips sensually at seeing his sculpted torso, a result of his hours of dedicated,rigorous training. Her silky tail swaying seductively as she watched the sturdy redhead continue to strip until he was as naked as she was. Silently oohing and aweigh at the sight of his exposed loins. Such smooth yet large heavy balls and of course his absolute unit of length and girth as it breathed freely in the open air. Rising to full mast erection as it stood stiff and firm as a flagpole, looking like he could hammer nails into solid wood with that meat stick of his. All without yet needing the added benefit and enhancement of his quirk as despite being a solid even statuesque six feet tall, the 5 foot 7 absolute unit of a young buck felt like an equal. A sensual smile and blush on her the were-cheetah girl’s face as her blue eyes twinkled with arousal as the young buck approached her. Looking as serious as he would on a mission, which in his mind was all the same,as a real man never left a woman waiting and wanting.

Elena:*softly gasped as Eijiro didn’t stop until their fronts were pressed together. His head level with her breasts as his face nuzzled the valley of her cleavage. Giggling and moaning as she felt her erection sandwiching between her thighs, his length and girth pressing against her slit and the crack of her juicy bubbly booty.* “Oh my, such a look in your eyes, Mina and Maya told me you really became quite the beast once you get in the mood. Well then, you Manly Man you, please show me what a real alpha male You can be….” *She playfully quipped, cupping Kirishima’s face in her hands as she tilted his head up, gasping delightfully as she found one of his hands clasp the back of her head and the other reach around to grab a nice handful of her ass. A melodic moan escaping her luscious milk chocolate lips as he gave a firm squeeze of that booty meat.*

Kirishima:”For you,Princess? I’m not gonna disappoint….”*not wasting anytime and leaving no hesitation or doubt, the shark teethed redhead pressed his lips to hers as they kissed once more. Elena’s moans and gasps music to his ears,as they made out with a deep passion to fuel the growing sparks of desire between them. Their hands exploring one another as Kirishima felt the silky spotted fur and her exquisite muscles while she used her own quite healthy thighs to massage and jerk off his magnum dong. Feeling her snatch gush and lube up that length and girth as she traced and memorised every detail of his physique. From his firm pecs to his washboard abs, he was on par with all those classical renaissance sculptures.*

it wasn’t long before their make out intensified as the two heroes in training truly ran with the spirit and energy of the pair youth in ways that would make Midnight proud. Rolling around the floor as they kissed and groped one another,their tongues dancing in a sloppy game of spit swapping and tonsil hockey before Kirishima sat on the matted floor, shuddering as Elena stroked his shaft. Her padded,furry pawed hands heavenly Especially as she would perform such stunning fellatio. Sucking snd blowing on his cock as it was clear Mina and Maya gave her their toys to practice on. Effortlessly deepthroating him as her blue eyes looked at his red ones with friendly sensuality. Twikling with glowing lust and admiration for her new “Alpha Male” who didn’t stay idle as she found him masaaajnf and smacking her swaying ass. Making that booty jiggle as his fingers teased and caressed her slit. Her nectar flowing with a steady stream of growing arousal as her tail wagged with erotic delight as she popped her mouth off of his cock, nuzzling her face against it as she smiled a catlike grin,tongue teasing his balls as she stroked that veiny womb hammer. Eyes glowing with lust as she awaited his next move.

Elena:”Ahhhn my alpha,you really do know yiur way with a girl’s body. Aah please, enjoy me to your hesrt’s content and have your fill. Keep this uo and we may become more than just very good friends…”*The Kenyan heroine in training melodically praised,as she found her body laying at a 90 degree piledriver angle. His hands grasping and massaging her spread thighs as his tongue lapped away at her snatch. The slithery muscle drinking up her love nectar as it probed her folds, the African jungle princess biting her lip sensual as her tail wrapped around his shaft. Idly stroking that length and girth as the primal animal instincts within her began to take hold, truly coming to imprint on Kirishima as her alpha male, her body entering a mating heat, awaiting to be claimed by him sexually.*

Kirishima:”Princess…you feel amazing…so Damn hot….”*Eijiro couldn’t help but feel like the first times he’d fallen for Mina and Maya as he found himself currently fucking Elena doggy, or rather kitty style. Balls deep inside her as heavy sacks smacked against her clit, making her juices splash against his pelvis and rain down on the floor beneath them. His muscles rippling and flexing as his cock pumped into her snatch like the pistons of a jackhammer drill. Elena’s smooth abs swelling from the thickness and reach piercing her welcoming, eager womb. The gym walls and ceiling echoing with the sexual rhythm of their mating, the cries of passion and skin slapping skin as he’d smack that stunning chocolate booty which was amazing to watch jiggle. Her tits swaying as her claws grasped and scratched the mat up,her tail wrapping around her designated alpha male’s waist as she looked over her shoulder at him with devotion.*

The exotic exchange student and her studly Alpha Male didn’t know how long they’d went at it but quite frankly all that mattered to them was to maintain the flow and rhythm of raw,primal passion and desire between them. Elena feeling orgasm hit her so swiftly that there was no way to keep count but ooh the sweet pornographic bliss whenever Kirishima came. Especially inside her, Maya and Mina were right on the money about forgoing condoms. A magnum dong like Kirishima could only be enjoyed raw as the cheetah Lycan beaut relished every intimate position they performed in their primal dance of man and woman. Sitting and bouncing on his lap as they kissed in the seated lotus, to rolling around playfully fighting for dominance in a mating and Amazon press. Hearts glowing her in sky blue eyes as she found herself held up in a full nelson, screaming yes over and over as Eijiro flexed his muscular form and pumped his cock into her over and over. Missionary, spread eagle, piledriver, a veritable kama sutra for their first time becoming animalistic friends with benefits was an absolute must for the duo as their momentum saw her laying flat on the floor. Kirishima mounted atop her as he fucked her prone bone, the primal part of Elena’s brain howling “get me pregnant” over and over like a mantra. Claws deep in the mat as his cock hammered into her overflowing, warm pussy. Her booty a lush meaty cushion jiggling with every impact of their loins. Shuddering as they came together, Elena purring as her tail caressed his back,turning her head as they kissed kissed one another softly and sensually. Breaking their liplock as they heard applause, turning to see the source and finding they weren’t alone anymore.

Mina:*grinning with erotic,Pervy delight,her golden eyes having a soar of mischief and lust to them as she and Maya stood over their boyfriend and roommate. Ceasing their clapping and beginning to strip off their swimsuit leotards.*”Well now,Maya-senpai I knew these two would get along famously. But if two is company and three is a crowd,what’s four?”

Maya:”ooh I’m sure we can make it work just fine Pinky. But first thing’s first,what’s say we stop watching and really make out like animals…”*the blue shapeshifter teased erotically as she and Mina and stood naked before their boyfriend and his new bestie with benefits. Their bodies radiating raw desire as their pussies fished with arousal.*

Kirishima stared,blushjng and wide eyes,his red hair wet frkm sweat and effort as he looked between at his girlfriends and Elena, the cheetah princess playfully blepping and smiling as she was clearly ready and willing for a four way. To which the sturdy hero could only roll his eyes and smile bemusedly before he set his face to a determined expression. MUscles flexing,tensing as he mentally prepared to use his quirk as need be. His little Red Riot was going to to need the extra boost and energy and A Real man would and should never leave his important ladies needing an wanting. As Elena’s alpha male especially, he knew that he needed to go, Plus Fucking Ultra…..