#I need Leo's leadership pants...

[tapakah0]

*inhale-exhale* H-hi! Um… I'll open commissions in the end, since my hated college wants a lot and… I decided to start saving up for my little dream... (I've never had a device on which I can draw with a stylus not at home, and the iPad that I "stole" is so old that even styluses do not work on it ;-;)... You can DM me here... if you want...

Um… Everything below will be more like a "help the cockroach survive" fund, so please don't expect anything from me beyond what you may have already seen from here, or get upset if you don't like something at the end (I warned you) (((

I'm a little unable to do accurate work now, because I want to do a lot and for me all my free time is gold, so there are options only with sketch works ;-;

Very sketchy animatics (without color and fill!) (accept only with sound if it's not a loop animation! (specifically, you should have a sound that you would like to insert, or a song that you love, and I'll cut and adjust it depending on the chosen time (if needed) and you need to tell what you want to see) : 10 seconds - 15-20$ 30 seconds - 65$ I don’t take more than 1 minute … If the animatic is like almost static, then I discount up to 5-10$. If you want some kind of well-animated piece, then I can add from 10$ ;-; If you want to take an animatic with turtles, I will kiss you ;-; (Please note that I may refuse to work with heavy designs… I'll simplify them as much as possible ;-;)

… Everything will be paid through boosty.to (the only thing I know that accepts foreign accounts) (a small payment instruction below, maybe it will be useful for someone else ;-;)

donations can also be thrown into these things … ;-; Sorry, I really want to draw animatics… I would really like to make some kind of subscription where I would throw spoilers for creating animatics in my free time… I now want to start one which will be like ~ 2.5 minutes long ( it's basically going to be spoilers for things to come later, so it might take a long time) and 1 more (I'll be screaming from happiness everywhere when I start second one eheheh), but just… would anyone watch this at all?.. ha-ha... okay I'm gonna die again... of embarrassment *drinks tears and digs grave*

[mbruben-stein]

I fucking love your work

And can you make a TMNT 2012 Leo x Chubby/Curvy Reader?

I love your TMNT work God bless you sweetie🤗💕

I love you the way you are.

TMNT 2012 Leo x chubby/curvy reader.

A/N: I was having a little bit of trouble riding this one. I was just stuck on writers block for a while. I hope everyone enjoys what I write. Have a lovely day everyone and remember that there's always going to be someone that loves you the way you are.

You sigh as you stare at your reflection in the mirror, pinching the soft flesh around your waist. No matter how much you work out and eat healthy, you can never seem to lose the curves and extra weight. Sometimes you feel insecure about your body, wishing you had a lean, slender figure like April or Karai.

As much as you try not to let it get to you, the negative thoughts creep in more and more lately. It doesn't help that you have a huge crush on Leonardo - strong, disciplined, heroic Leo. You're sure he would never be attracted to someone with a body like yours. He probably goes for fit, athletic girls who can keep up with his intense training.

Feeling discouraged, you throw on some loose clothes and head over to the lair to hang out with the turtles like you do most days. You've been close friends with them ever since they saved you from some Purple Dragon gang members a year ago. Although you adore all four brothers, you find yourself most drawn to Leo and his sense of honor and leadership. You try to hide your feelings, not wanting to risk your friendship or face inevitable rejection.

When you arrive at the lair, Mikey bounces over to greet you. "Y/N! Check out this new pizza recipe I invented - pepperoni, jelly beans and garlic! I call it the Mikey Surprise!"

You laugh and pat his shell. "That sounds...interesting Mikey. Maybe I'll try it later." You scan the room and spot Leo practicing katas off to the side. He notices you and gives a quick smile and wave before resuming his focused movements with his katana blades. Your heartbeat quickens at the mere sight of him.

"Whatcha staring at, Y/N?" Raph teases, plopping down on the couch. "Could it be our fearless leader over there?"

You feel your cheeks redden. "What? No! I was just spacing out. Not staring at anyone in particular."

Donnie looks up from the gadget he's tinkering with, raising an eye ridge. "Uh huh, sure." He exchanges a knowing glance with Raph.

Wanting to change the subject, you ask, "So what's the plan for today guys? Any missions to foil the Foot or Kraang?"

"Nah, it's been pretty quiet," Raph says. "Probably just training and patrolling later."

As if on cue, Leo finishes his katas and strides over to the group. "We'll head out in a few hours to scout the city. There's been reports of increased Purple Dragon activity by the docks we should check out." His ocean blue eyes turn to you. "Y/N, you're welcome to come if you'd like. We could always use an extra set of eyes. And I know you can handle yourself in a fight if needed."

Your eyes widen in surprise. Leo has never invited you on a patrol before. "Really? You'd want me to come with you guys?"

"Of course," Leo says warmly, placing a hand on your shoulder. "You're part of the team."

You beam at him, heart fluttering at his touch. "I'd love to come! Thanks Leo!" You try to sound casual and not too eager.

The next couple hours pass quickly as you all eat pizza, joke around, and watch Mikey and Raph thumb wrestle. Soon it's time to head up to the surface. The turtles gather their gear and you all climb out of the sewer into the dark city night.

You follow the brothers as they sprint and leap across the rooftops with ease. Even with all the training they've given you, you still struggle to keep pace with their mutant speed and strength. Not to mention your curvy body feels cumbersome and heavy as you try to gracefully jump from building to building like they do.

After a few minutes, you need to pause to catch your breath. "You guys go on ahead," you pant, waving them on. "I'll catch up in a sec."

Leo frowns and hangs back as his brothers continue forward. "You okay, Y/N? We can take a break if you need to."

You force a smile, not wanting to slow him down. "I'm fine, Leo. Just go with the others. I know I can't keep up with you guys."

He shakes his head. "I'm not leaving you behind. Here, climb on my back. I'll carry you the rest of the way."

You hesitate, self-conscious about your weight. "Are you sure? I'm probably too heavy..."

Leo gives you a look. "Y/N, you're not too heavy. It's no problem, I promise. Now hop on before the guys get too far ahead of us and Raph starts calling me Lame-o-nardo again."

Biting your lip, you walk over and carefully climb onto his shell, wrapping your arms and legs around him from behind. He easily hoists you up and takes off running, not showing any strain from your added size.

"Is this okay?" you ask meekly, convinced you must be crushing him.

Leo cranes his neck to give you a reassuring smile over his shoulder. "You're perfect, Y/N. I've got you."

Something about the way he says that makes your stomach flutter. You rest your head against his shoulder and allow yourself to relax as he carries you across the rooftops. Being this close to him feels amazing.

After a couple minutes, you catch up to where the others have stopped on a ledge overlooking the docks. Leo gently lowers you to the ground. You immediately miss his touch but try to focus on the mission.

"What do you see?" Leo asks his brothers.

Donnie peers through the scope on his goggles. "Looks like your typical Purple Dragon deal going down. I count maybe a dozen of them and...is that Hun? I thought he was still locked up!"

Raph cracks his knuckles. "Not anymore it seems. And it looks like he brought backup." He points to several black vans pulling up.

"Foot soldiers," Leo says grimly as the doors open to reveal Shredder's men piling out. "Just what we need. A Purple Dragon and Foot team-up."

You look at Leo in concern. "What's the plan, Chief?"

His brow furrows in thought before he nods decisively. "We go in quick and quiet. Take out as many as we can before they sound the alarm. Don, Mikey, you guys handle the Purple Dragons. Raph and I will deal with the Foot. Y/N, I want you to stay up here and keep watch. Let us know if any more show up. We'll regroup once it's clear."

You frown slightly, wondering if he just wants you to stay back because you'd get in the way with your lack of ninja skills. But you know he's just trying to keep you safe, so you agree.

"Got it. Be careful down there guys." You give Leo's hand a quick squeeze. He returns it before signaling his brothers forward.

You crouch on the ledge and observe as the four ninja turtles silently take out the guards and make their way through the shadows. It never fails to impress you seeing them in action.

Things seem to be going smoothly until you notice another black van pull up and even more Foot ninjas spill out. "Guys, heads up! Reinforcements incoming!" you say into your T-phone.

On the ground, you see Raph groan. "Aw shell, not again."

The new wave of Foot rush to aid their comrades, turning the battle into an all out brawl. You wince as you watch the turtles begin to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies surrounding them.

Suddenly, you notice Leo get knocked back by a powerful punch from a hulking Foot ninja. The brute raises his sword to deliver a finishing blow while Leo is dazed...

Without thinking, you leap off the ledge and land shell-first on the Foot soldier, knocking him to the ground. You roll to your feet in front of Leo protectively. "Stay away from him!"

The Foot ninja rises and growls at you, but you stand your ground. As he lunges, you sidestep and use your lowered center of gravity to grab his arm and flip him over your shoulder, slamming him hard into the concrete.

Leo stares at you in awe. "Y/N! That was amazing!" He seems to notice your fierce protectiveness of him and smiles softly.

You help him to his feet, blushing. "I couldn't let him hurt you. Now let's finish this!"

Side by side, you and Leo rejoin the fight. It feels so natural, moving in sync with him as you take down Foot ninja after Foot ninja. Your curves make you surprisingly agile and powerful.

With your added help, the turtles manage to beat back the Purple Dragons and Foot clan, sending them retreating into the night. You all cheer and high five in victory.

"That was so cool how you just jumped in like that, Y/N!" Mikey says excitedly. "You were all fierce and BOOYAKASHA!"

"Our girl's got some moves!" Raph agrees, giving you a fist bump. Donnie pats your back proudly.

You smile shyly at the praise. Your eyes find Leo's and he is gazing at you with open admiration. "Y/N, you were incredible. Thank you for having my back. You're a true part of this team."

Your heart soars at his words. "I'll always have your back, Leo," you say sincerely.

On the way back to the lair, Leo insists on carrying you again, even though you aren't tired. Not that you're complaining. Being held in his strong arms is something you could get very used to.

When he sets you down in the lair, he keeps his hands resting on your waist. "What you did tonight... it showed me a side of you I've never seen before. Your strength, your bravery, how you didn't hesitate to protect me."

He looks deep into your eyes. "Y/N, I've been wanting to tell you something for a while now. The reason I get so protective of you is because...I care about you. As more than a friend. I have feelings for you. Strong feelings."

You stop breathing. Is this really happening? "You do? But why? I mean, look at me..." You gesture helplessly at your curvy figure.

Leo cups your face tenderly. "I am looking at you. And I see a beautiful, courageous, amazing woman. Your body is perfect the way it is. Soft and strong. I love your curves." His thumbs stroke your full cheeks. "I love every inch of you, inside and out. And if you'll have me, I promise to show you just how much every single day."

Tears fill your eyes at his heartfelt declaration. "Oh Leo... I feel the same way! I've always loved you!"

Beaming, Leo pulls you flush against him, your soft chest cushioning his hard plastron. "Yeah?"

You nod shyly and he grins. "Then allow me to make up for lost time..."

He leans in and captures your mouth in a passionate, loving kiss. You melt into his embrace, finally feeling fully accepted and cherished exactly as you are.

In Leo's arms, with him kissing you like you're his whole world, all your insecurities fade away. He loves you, curves and all.

[natalchartnurtures]

Mars Back Home

Note: This post might not give you anything new if you're at an intermediate or advanced level of being on the astrology wildride :p

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fire Mars, on a good day: "Inside me, there's a blazing fire that fuels me to take on challenges and make life my bitch. I'm all about calling the shots and forging the path to my desires and doing it my way"

Why?- Ah, Fire Mars. In his own territory, he becomes quite the showstopper, doesn't he? When realized in his higher octaves, he can be caught blazing his way through life, transforming and alchemiz-ing any old obstacle on his way to what he wants. The element of fire represents transformation, oh! and fun fact, Mars used to be the ruler of Scorpio before Pluto took its rightful place as the lord, okay? That's a big deal because it gives us yet another insight into Mars' true nature and potential. He's in his zone, he's home. So let's really get to know him.

Us tarot whores out here (I'm one too, by the way :p) will let you know that the Wands suit in tarot pertains to the fire element. The King of Wands, a figure we can liken to the higher octave energies of Mars, is seen as a figure who has command over energies, meaning he possesses great potential for manifestation—the raw-hands-in-the-clay, creating his reality. He's like the poster child for fiery energy– full of passion, willpower, leadership, courage, action, assertiveness, pioneering vibes, and oh, creativity. And get this, the connection to the non-physical? THROUGH the physical. Fire is about actions too. And for actions to happen, you need impulse. Ever wonder why fire signs are all about impulse? Yup, that's why. But here's the kicker though– when this impulse is divinely guided in its higher octave, it's a game-changer. Otherwise when it's your-own-mind-guided, it isn't nearly as great, trust me :p. But how cool is it? A connection to the non-physical through the physical? Isn't that interesting? Mars is quite a fascinating planet. Gosh. I love him.

so.. here are some ways how this glorious energy can show up.

Imagine this: You're in a class, the teacher asks for a volunteer, and everyone's like, "Nope, not me." but there's that one kid, heart pounding, who still raises their hand. That's Aries Mars for you– fearless, pioneering, action-oriented, and bolder than bold. Mars here bestows one with the potential to embody the divine masculine, nothing more and nothing less. He is sort of like a warrior that takes on everything with a certain adrenaline-induced spirit, which when channeled well can translate into wonderful things like assertive leadership. Honestly, what's hotter than that? If you've got Mars here, you'll probably discover yourself solely through active engagement with the world. It's how Mars here self-actualizes—pure action. Low-vibe Fire Mars might get called out for not finishing what they started, but a higher octave Aries Mars? You guys will see through anything you kick off. You've got drive, and once you set out for something, nothing can stop you. If something does, you''ll burn right through, no matter how long it takes. It's mesmerizing watching you sexy-ass people do your thing. Seriously, its incredibly hot! Ugh!

And then Mars can also waltz right in and charm your pants off, being all confident and being his self-assured daddy-ass self, shining brighter than the stars in the sky. Looking right at you, Leo Mars. Mars here loves to channel himself through the arts and creative pursuits of a similar note or simply have immaculate self-expression. Creativity almost becomes a drive with this Mars; it's so beautiful to watch Mars chase his dreams this way because the energy of Leo tends to add a certain drama to it, you know? A certain flair~. It's well known that Leo is a fixed sign, and also it being a fire sign, Mars here is gifted with a fire that is steady and just won't run off and get burnt out. It will keep burning until it reaches where it needs to be. Mars can get stubborn like that, and we don't have to guess what happens when passion meets stubborn. A bewildering drive to live, love and create the life of your dreams. Moving on, it's kind of obvious for me to talk about the leadership qualities of Leo Mars. Leo Mars is a leader, like he is a king. There's no subtler way to put it. You guys are leaders who lead with your heart—generous, people-focused, warm and loving, with a suave that gives you a royal air, naturally commanding respect. Which suits you anyway since Mars here takes a lot of pride in whatever he does. It's magnificent, truly.

Now, think of Bilbo Baggins on his adventure with Gandalf and friends. Got that picture? Now replace Bilbo with Mars. Ta-da! That's Sagittarius Mars for you. Here, Mars makes love to freedom, fun, and philosophy. It's a party out here. You humans are free spirits who only God can tie down, unless you peeps decide to settle, of course. You are risk-loving, positive-minded, adventure-sick sweetie pies who have a huge drive for life itself. Your action often aligns with some deep personal meaning, aka your personal philosophy of life. Your driving force is laced with a raw desire for freedom and endless expansion in every aspect of your lives. You guys are the kings and queens of dreaming big, and in doing so, inspiring the rest of us earthlings to aspire to move out of our comfort zones and to challenge ourselves to live life bigger than our regular ones—even if just by a little bit. Y'all embody a divine truth of the universe very well, and that is—expansion. It honestly moves me TO MY core to be in the presence of you divine beings. Keep celebrating yourselves (especially after you came out on top after that major risk you took :p) and keep living bold, honey.

So that was my take on the Fire Mars energies. It was a whole lot of fun writing this one because I reeeeeally do enjoy this energy :p

Time to cool off now. phew.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as i did writing it :]

Love and Light!

[remmushound]

I wonder how 2012 Raph feel to see Rise Leonardo acting like a teenager and not a Leader and vice versa bet pennies to pizza Raph is Surprised that Leonardo is not the oldest in his family

@assanmaharielsreblogs

“Hey red dude.”

Raph flinched as a balled up wad of paper hit him on the back of the head. He growled and returned to polishing his sai.

“Heeeeeeeey.”

Another ball struck him. Raph roared his rage and spun around.

“WHAT?!”

Leonardo was standing there smirking a dumb smirk, balling up another paper and tossing it at Raph’s face. Raph just let it hit him as he seethed.

“You just gonna sit there all day?” Leonardo asked.

“What?” Raph scoffed. “You wanna train?”

“We trained yesterday?” Leonardo scoffed. “It’s break day.”

“Then get off my back.” Raph huffed and turned his back on Leonardo, “and leave me alone.”

“But you’ve just been there cleaning.” Leonardo disregarded Raph’s disgruntled attitude and walked over, leaning over his shoulder, “doesn’t seem very fun.”

“You don’t polish your sword?” Raph growled.

“Well I do, but it’s not like I enjoy it! Well, looking at my reflection is a good plus.” Leonardo smirked and pointed to himself.

“You sound just as vain as my Leo.” Raph huffed.

“What? That uptight know it all? No way!” Leonardo scoffed and waved his arms in dismissal, “he’s more like my Raph! If my Raph was a total fun-hating dork. All your brother’s talked about since he got here was ‘Shredder destroying my city’ this and ‘very important mission’ that. The guy really needs to chill. It’ll get done eventually.”

Raph looked up at Leonardo with a baffled look. “You... don’t think it’s important?”

“Of course I do! Just like, chill though.” Leonardo waved his hand, “if it’s important, we’ll get to it.”

Raph shook his head. The thought of a Leo not wanting to get a mission done as quick and effective as possible, a Leo that wasn’t constantly on his brothers shells about getting work done. It just seemed improbable.

“So like, anyway, wanna come skate or something?”

“Skate?” Leo hadn’t extended the offer to skate with him since, well, ever!

“Yeah.” Leonardo shrugged. “I got an extra board if you want it. Donnie made it specially for box shells, so you should be fine on it.”

“So... it’s Mikey’s board?”

“Don makes him a bunch of spares, it’ll be fine!” Leonardo grabbed Raph around the shoulders and lifted him up, guiding him toward where the skateboards were stored. “And it seems like you could really use the break.”

“And is there a catch or?”

“The catch is:” Leonardo pulled his own board out from behind his shell and pointed it at Raph. “You have to try and keep up with me.”

Raph grinned. “You are so on.”

~~~

It was harder to keep up with the slider than Raph had anticipated. When on long stretches, Leonardo could quickly outpace him, but it didn’t take long for Raph to notice how clumsy and unsure Leonardo was when he took the curves, always slipping and having to catch himself with his hand to keep up some sort of momentum and not fall flat on his shell. Still, the younger turtle kept in the lead even without his portals and was at the endpoint waiting when Raph finally rolled up.

“Nice skating...” Raph panted, leaning onto his knees as he caught his breath. “Little loose on those turns though.”

Leonardo smirked. “Still beat ya didn’t i?”

Raph shrugged. “Fair point.”

Raph crouched on his knees to rest, and Leonardo sat criss-cross in front of him.

“So, like, what’s the deal with you and your Raph?” Raph asked.

“What’d ya mean?”

“I mean, haven’t you ever wanted to, yknow, take leadership from him? Like every other Leo in the multiverse?”

Leonardo shrugged. “Not really. I mean, Raph says he’s our leader, but it’s honestly more of a team effort. Raph is just usually the best fit. I take lead sometimes when we need some more strategy, and sometimes even Donnie takes control. It’s not just one of us at all times. That’d be dumb.”

Raph doubted the Turtles words, despite how much sense they Made. “Mikey ever been leader?”

“Ehh... debatable. He went on his first solo mission where he was the one calling the shots, and once when me and Don and Raph were turned into babies by a mutant jellyfish named Jellybean, Mikey took initiative and turned us back to normal. Oh! And he’s the whole reason we got into the underground city to begin with. He has a really good memory, and he’s super creative coming up with ways to escape.”

“Mikey?” Raph scoffed, “really?”

Leonardo looked over with complete sincerity in his eyes. “Totally. Like I said, we all do our parts, even if Raph’s our self-proclaimed leader.” Leonardo turned away to examine his nails under the moonlight and begin to pick them free of grime.

“How’d that happen anyway?”

“Eh, he’s the oldest. You know how older brothers are.”

Raph blinked. “Wait? You’re not the oldest?”

Leonardo laughed. “No? Why would you think I am?”

Raph gave a self conscious shrug. “I dunno... i just figured it was the same as me and mine...”

“Aren’t you all the same age though?”

“Well— yeah— technically.” Raph admitted, “but we all came up with a birth order to, y’know, try and find some individuality...”

“It’s biological for us. We aren’t the same species, so we all hatched at different times. Raph hatched first, then Don, then me, and then Mikey. It was within days of each other but those days made a lot of difference.”

“Wait— YOU’RE NOT EVEN SECOND OLDEST?!” Raph tried to hide his laughter

“Nope.” Leonardo snickered, pointing to his chest, “child number three and still the favorite! You?”

“I’m a third child too!” Raph practically beamed.

“No kidding.” Leonardo laughed, gently knocking into Raph’s shoulder. “See? We do got a thing or two in common!” He leaned against the stone of a closed stairwell and sighed as he looked up toward the starry sky. “Believe me, Hermano, when I say this is the start of a beautiful friendship.”

[moonlightflower21]

ease my mind

a/n: angst. mentions of death. stabbings. all that good stuff. also includes mafia turtles. might not make sense but people wanted to read it so 🤷‍♀️😂

but anyway, as calm and collected and stoic leo can be, he has his weak points. he isn't immune to panic attacks or bad thoughts. enjoy!

How could this have happened? His world felt like it had crumbled to the very ground, turned into dust and flown mockingly into the air. Reminding how useless he truly was.

Leonardo watched his brothers follow inside the living room, Raph grabbing an ice pack to cool the knife cut bleeding out on his bicep. Mikey winced as he got rid of his waistcoat, untying his tie and letting it hang limply. His shirt was stained more in red than white, indicating his wound was deeper than he originally thought. Yet none of them spoke a word, barely even glancing in the leaders direction.

Leonardo looked at his team, most specifically Raphael. He had been quiet which had certainly been unlike him. Raph was never one to show how angry he was, always giving his opinion regardless of the topic so the silence coming from him was deafening.

"You good?" Leo's voice was slightly shaky not used to his hot headed brother being so silent about the obvious fail they just encountered.

Dark amber eyes connected with his and Leo didn't need to be a genius to know there was fury brewing behind those honeyed irises. Taking a breath in, he opened his mouth to say something but he noticed something else swirling into those eyes. Defeat.

"I'm sorry about.... You know I had-" "Fuck ya. That's.... all I gotta say ta ya. Yer really got some nerve ta put this on someone else. Get one thing straight, we're not indestructible. Not me or ya or Don or Mikey. But why am I wastin my breath on ya? Whatever I tell ya, yer just gonna go ahead and do the opposite. Like yer always do. And I'm gonna be the one ta help ya when yer run in ta issues. Like I always do" Raphael sneered, his hands in tight fists to control his temper. His tone was accusing, malicious towards Leo. And no one cane blame him.

"I'm not gonna bother waiting my time or energy bein' here. I can't do this no more" His harsh voice dropped to a whisper at the last sentence and he's not sure whether it's directed to his brother or to himself. He wanted to say something but nothing would be able to console how he's feeling tonight. Raph clenched his arm tightly, placing pressure in the damaged skin before pushing past his brother and to his own private room.

"Wait!" But the terrapin had left. Turning back to the rest of his team, Leo hoped he could explain what had happened. But their looks were cold and heartless.

Mikey stood tall, his stare in a hardened frown. He let out a small grunt, plastron burning with pain on his ride side.

"Look I'm-" "I've always stood by your decisions, always respected your commands and orders. But tonight was a fucking shit show and had you not lost focus, those innocent lives wouldn't have been taken. Some leader you are" Mikey scoffed, hands tingling with urges to beat the living shit out of someone. Leonardo stood, his brain unable to form comprehensible sentences to his answer. Was that how he truly felt?

"Mikey..." "Don't 'Mikey' me Leonardo. You were right after all. We may be brothers but we are not a team. Thank you for opening my eyes to that tonight" He snarled, a shaky breath as he applied too much pressure to his plastron. He swallowed hard, mind overflowing with poisonous thoughts suffocating his mind. Begging to be in a safe place but he couldn't find any. He didn't think he could ever feel safe anywhere. Not with his brothers or his family.

"Leave me alone. I have nothing to speak to you about, nor do I want to see your face tonight" Mikey uttered sharply, refusing to show any pain despite actively bleeding. He left in the other direction, retiring to his own personal chambers for the night. Leonardo gritted his teeth, trying to hold himself together. Trying to hold his composture together but it was dangerously close to crashing down. Maybe Donatello would listen. He was always good at reading people. Hopefully he could lend an ear before Leo's thoughts drive him insane.

"Don-" "I don't know what you wish to hear Leonardo. Me to say that it went good? That everything went well?? Raph nearly lost an arm, Mikey only has a new painful scar to his collection. You know how bad his plastron is damaged?? There's only so much that can be done to help it. And as for myself... well I'll let it speak for itself" Donnie lifted the side of his shirt, emitting a soft gasp from the eldest in absolute horror.

The wound was weeping, blood trickling down his abdomen soaking the rim of his pants. Leo's heart fell to the ground, his teeth sinking in his bottom lip to stop any vulnerability coming to light. Only know has it registered how much danger he had selfishly placed all his brothers in.

"But none of this matters to you does it? We're just soldiers to command, to help-" "That's not true Donatello!" Leo's voice came as a hoarse whisper, clenching his fingers tightly. Had his brother looked close enough, he would have seen Leonardo teetering off the edge of his sanity. The tremble in his body, the shaking of his arms despite how strong he stood, his eyes turning a deep blue emotionally overwhelmed.

"Isn't it?? Because the way I see it, you seem to have completely placed us at the sidelines. What happened to family? What happened to looking out for each other? What happened to your honour Leonardo?? These words you held with great pride are nothing but a jumbled mess of letters at your feet. If you cannot practise what you preach then I highly recommend you stop pretending otherwise. Excuse me, some of us have to help his family" Donatello frowned, walking past the blue cladded turtle to help his injured family members.

Leonardo's breath hitched, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes and spilling down quietly his cheeks. Honour, justice, family.... these words were for heros. Words for people that helped their country, he didn't do any of those things. He was a villain, killing himself slowly with his actions.

Moments like these reminded of his haunted childhood, how Splinter berating him for being worthless, how he would never accumulate to anything. Tonight those very words repeated like a record in his brain, unable to pause or freeze and he sat there listening to it all. Because it was true. He wasn't some warrior or a soldier, he was a mistake. And those horrible words ring in his head like an alarm, he didn't deserve to live.

Leo made questionable decisions tonight but his brothers didn't know how much burden he carried on his shoulders. He wouldn't forget those who passed tonight nor did he forget the injuries inflicted on his brother because of him. Was this how he wanted his life to be? Was this worth the pain and failures? And no matter how much those humans had wronged him, he swore to never turn like Splinter had done. Though now he could see himself follow in those very footsteps, heart twisted with evil and brutal thoughts.

They all lay heavy on his mind, constantly mocking and torturing of him of the leadership he once held with great importance and dedication. But now it started to disintegrate, proving his worst fear true that he was simply unable to protect his loved ones. That he couldn't even help himself. He could feel himself spiralling out of control and its times like these, he wished someone would hold him tight Ground him to reality, pushing those thoughts out of his body instead of laying low waiting to strike at his most weakest.

There he sat, sinking further and further into the pit of depair and self-hatred wondering if anyone could ever rescue him from this prison.

Wondering if he ever deserved to feel any happiness.

Wondering if he was better off being alone.

[migeviellardi]

Out Of Comfort

Genre : Adventure, Action, Humour, Hurt/Comfort

Summary : 2 years after the 'you-know-who’, Donnie struggles to adjust with the new way of life. The precarious science blocks are back haunting him, putting him in total stress while he tried his best to keep up with the new team play and co’ord.

Chapter 2 A New Start

Welding felt relaxing, the sound of tiny sparks are like a music to Donnie’s ears. It might not be a real music, but it’s melodious nonetheless. Donnie lifted up his googles, leans back to catch a break. He almost done fixing the hover shell, not the one from yesterday, the one that he kept fixing and fixing away, despite there’s nothing wrong with it.

The one he used last night was a prototype of a new model. It still looks the same as the old ones, but he did made a few upgrades on them. It was definitely frustrating when it got busted. He’s planning to use it more since it felt lighter than the old one. But, now he needs a new shell to wear on a patrol.

He looks at the battleshell charging station. What left there was his worn down Spider-shell. Below it was none other than his wrecked and broken shells that he hadn’t repair, yet. He let out a sad sigh, he looked around him to find that his lab are somewhat cleaner, much cleaner than he remembered. Usually the lab was littered with piles upon piles of inventions, blueprints, scattered metal parts, and energy drinks. 

Now, it seems as if it was untouched. The sleek metallic purple walls with LEDs are still looks fresh and new. The floor was free from dust due to the roombas roam freely without bumping into any tech pieces. And the workbench,....empty. Only his old battleshell that he kept tinkering that are currently there. Also, a cup of coffee.

Donnie about to take a sip when he realized it was ran out. He inspect the glass and saw small coffee drips down the mug got frozen in place due to a long time exposed to the AC. How long have he been there without refilling his coffee? Does he been getting the science block again?

Putting down the mug, he rubbed his tired eyes in frustration. Was he being unproductive on purpose? What is he doing here? Why can’t he finish anything? 

“Hey.” the voice made him jumped, he looked back to see Leo stood on the doorway. “Whoa, it’s okay. Just a little old me.” Leo held his hands out. Donnie frowned, he turned back to his hover shell.

“What do you want, Leo?”

“It’s training time, Don. Better not coop yourself up in the lab, or I’ll let Raph drag your shell to the Dojo.” Leo ordered as he left towards the Dojo. Donnie sighed heavily, he stood up and followed him. He admit, there’s nothing else he would do, science blocks are the worst and it became a daily routine ever since their Lair was smushed to smithereens. And, the fact that he hate to obey the words Leo told him to.

He wasn’t questioning his leadership skills. If Donnie allowed himself to be honest, the Slider actually knows what he’s doing, good at it in fact. Raph at first had a hard time to adjust, now the former leader putting his trust to Leo, even Mikey approved. Donnie, however, still adapting. 

It wasn’t because that he hate to admit it, it just doesn’t sits right putting the leader role to the one who usually pulled some poor one-liners out of spite and keeps bugging your work with some pranks, jokes and poking on things that could cause explosions like it was some kind of a job, because if it is, he good some pretty good records he might get himself some promotions.

And now, the true color of the team seems to emerge. We got the Leader, The Muscle, The Heart and The Brain. Although, The Brain more likely The Brain-Dead one. Stupid science block keeping him from thinking straight, not much idea that pops out other than upgrading, or upgrading the upgrade, or upgrading the upgraded upgrade.

It might be some improvement for anyone, but for the one with the giant science head-cannon looming inside his head, that’s barely even an add-on. He’s unproductivity hurts him, as if the genius inside suddenly just wanted to stop, no more mad scientist mambo-jumbo. He felt it once again, the feeling that he had gone rotten, expired, outdated.....useless. 

Seriously, what will he be for the team without his big brain? What can he do other than getting kicked in the booty several times that let your little brother saves your sorry butt?

If once again, he got knocked down and having Mikey, of all people saves him, he’s going to lose his mind.

###

“Alright, my sons. Now, let us begin to--Purple, where’s your battleshell?” they stared at Donnie in his bare-shell. He rolled his eyes, dejected.

“I’ll be fine, Dad. I’m not going to hurt myself.”

“Nono, my son. I believe you, it’s just....weird seeing you without one.” Splinter simply said, trying not to offend his purple son.

“Well, it’s in repair, and my shoulders are getting tired. So....” Donnie didn’t have to finish his sentence to earned a nod from his father.

“Verywell, then. Let us start,....now!” as on cue, the whole Dojo became dark. The brothers immediately forming back to back formation, weapons at their hands, full caution. “Hamatos carries essence of life, the Ninpo. Or what most common people called them, mystics.”

Raph sense a movement to his right, Splinter came in with a kick. Mikey saw the offense, he blocked the kick, swung his nunchaku to Splinters head. The rat dodged it with ease. Upon landing, Raph coming in clutch with his fist. Splinter jumps back into the darkness. “Some may think that it is the most essential in fighting.” 

The turtles back to their formation, listening to every sound to pinpoint the next attack. “Others, prefer something else.” a tail emerge from the darkness. Donnie shielded himself with his bo, the tail wrapped around the wooden weapon. Donnie expected the attempt of pulling, he pulled harder, forcing Splinter to show up. Leo anticipated Donnie’s strategy, he swung his sword at the same time Donnie ducked. 

Splinter didn’t expect the timing between the two, but he flawlessly avoided himself from being cut in half. Splinter pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it onto the ground. The smoke caused them to cough, which means distractions. They have no choice but to bail on their formation.

“There will be a time where mystic powers will do no good.” Leo sense presence near him. He ducked down to escape another kick. “So, you must focus on your own ability.” He tail swipe Leo’s katanas, leaving him unarmed. 

“Agility.” Splinter increases his speed, offering punches and kicks towards the turtle. Leo dodged every attack, seamlessly evading and parrying every blow. He counter-attacked Splinter’s punch, delivering a fist to his face. Splinter caught his hand and kicked Leo away, disappearing into the dark.

“Strength.” Raph blocked a powerful kick out of Splinter, pushed him back a meter. Another tail swipe, Raph let it wrapped on his hand and threw his dad away.

“Speed.” Splinter took a punch from what seems to be Mikey’s fist. Splinter blocked his next punch, only met with a swipe kick a second after. Mikey swung his nunchakus with unimaginable speed. Splinter steps up his game to blocked a series of attacks that his youngest son often called it ‘Razzmatazz’. He manage to grabbed both nunchakus and threw orange from the fight.

“And, Instinct.” Donnie dodged a powerful kick launches towards him. He swings his bo just in time to meet Splinter’s punch. Once again, he disappeared. Donnie waited, trying to hear the footsteps. Behind you! He turns to blocked another powerful kick, this time it was too much to hold, it sent Donnie flying to a nearby wall. He winced and panted, adjusting his weight to his bo.

The lights turned on, Splinter ran towards him. “I’m fine!” his voice sounded a bit too loud. Splinter flinched, he’s unsure if the pain was bearable, but he knows well how stubborn his purple son can be. He decided to let it go, “You did better, my son. If you did not block that last kick, you might get yourself hurt even more.” He thought that he should apologize, but he didn’t think purple would appreciate that.

“Alright, take a break all of you.” he put both of his hands on his back, cracking it forward. “Ugh, while I tend to my bad back, you may have some spar with each other.” he walked away while rubbing his back. 

“Hey, Raphie. Wanna spar with me?” Mikey asked excitedly. Raph smiled, accepting the challenge.

“Sure thing, Mikey.” Raph readied up. Mikey activates his mystic chains and whips the nunchaku to Raph, wrapping his whole body. Raph blinks before he was pulled away.

“AAAAHHH!!!” a lod crash was heard. Leo smirks at the scene. Donnie gathers back his bearings and prepared for the sparring.

“Leo?” the slider slowly turns with his smug face. Donnie’s on his pose, “Care to join?” giving him the serious look. Leo kept his usual expression as he readied himself. Donnie strikes first, jabbing his bo to his head, Leo tilted his head to dodge. Donnie swings, Leo parried them with his katanas. He gave more barraging swings, Leo’s agility gives him the advantage. He dodged, parried him with literal ease. 

Leo still using the same face. “What’s wrong, Dee-man? Can’t catch little Leo?” Donnie frowned. He swung, Leo blocked and kicked him in the gut. Donnie yelped, Leo sent another kick to the face. Donnie fell to the floor, shaking his head from the mild headache. Leo knelled down, “Aww, had enough already?” 

Donnie growled. He swung to his leg, Leo had expected that. He got up and sent more swing barrage, this time a lot faster and more frantic. Leo parried a lot more on this one, but didn’t change the expression on his face. Donnie downward, Leo blocked it. Eyes meeting eyes. “Come on, Don. Is that all? I can definitely fight you blind-folded.” 

Donnie’s patience grew thin. He didn’t have to tell him that. He knows he can, and he might will one day. 

Donnie pushed him back, now anger are definitely involved. Leo step up his game some more every time Donnie pulled off some new combos and new speed and variety. Donnie looked at him in the face. 

Shut up.

He was parried by another sword.

Shut Up!

He can’t beat him.

Shut Up!!!

He’ll never catch up to them.

Shut UP!!!!

He’s not good enough.

“SHUT UP!!!!!”

Leo flinched. Donnie panting hard, hands gripping tightly to his bo. Eyes fixated at Leo, as if he’s ready to kill. Raph and Mikey stunned by Donnie’s shouting. 

Donnie growled for real, this time. The deep reptilian growl filled his throat with his fang showing up menacingly. Donnie engaging his predator side, Leo held out his hand. 

“Okay, calm down, Dee. There’s no need to continue this with violence. Okay?”

“GRRRR!!!” Donnie attacks Leo with full intention. Leo no longer wanting to fight, he dodged every move Donnie makes. It was fast and chaotic, more like trying to hurt rather than spar. 

“Donnie, STOP!!!”

“GRAAAHH!!!” 

Raph blocks Donnie’s bo. “Donnie, knock it off!!!”

“Please calm down!” Mikey plead. Donnie ignored them all, he charged at Raph with blind rage. Raph dodged the jab, throw his fist at Donnie. He didn’t dodge, letting it hit his face. Donnie growled deeply, eyes as sharp as needle. Raph was stunned, he didn’t expect Donnie to accept the hit. He felt guilty for hurting his little brother.

Splinter ran back after being called by Mikey. “Purple!!”

Donnie saw an opening on Raph, he charge in while Raph refused to move. Leo tackled Donnie and pinned him to the ground. He refused to back down and squirmed his way to freedom as Leo gripped his limbs for dear life.

“Donatello!!!”

Leo, Raph and Donnie startled by his father’s voice.

“Enough!” Leo froze for a little while, he let go of Donnie once he felt no resistance. Donnie layed down, panting. He suddenly really exhausted. All that anger took too much energy out of him. He slowly hoist himself up to a sitting position. Splinter approached his purple son. Carefully assessing the damage around the turtle. There’s a bruise on his right cheek, might be caused by his oldest son as when he meets his eyes, he can see the guilt he’s facing.

“Purple? What is up with you?” Donnie refused to talk or making eye contact to his father. Splinter can still feel anger looming around him. Did one of the brothers ticked him off? What provokes him? 

“Donatello!” 

“I DON’T KNOW, OKAY!!!!” he yelled. Splinter jerked up by the sudden loud voice that felt louder to his rat ears. Donnie noticed that he went too much. “I...I just--” Donnie can’t hold back the tears that began to form in his eyes. He looked down to obscure it. 

Splinter was surprised seeing his son cried. The brothers reacts the same way. Devastated seeing their usual emotionless turtle broke into tears.

Splinter held out his hand, “My son,-” Donnie swatted away his hand and ran straight to his lab. Not even the call of his name from his family can get his attention. He closed the iron-forced door of his lab, locking it immediately. Donnie sat under his desk, hugging his legs to his chest as he burst to tears. The lab was eerily quiet, the only sounds that are presence are his and the sound of his family trying to reach for him from the other side of the door. 

He felt vulnerable having to broke down like this, he hates it. The way the others desperately trying to get him to open the door made it worse. He wasn’t supposed to show his weakness at the time, he’s a Hamato, a descendant of heart o’ steel. And steel has a lot influence with tech, his thing. He supposed to be able to control his feelings. 

Now, his meltdown would definitely stuck in the topic for a while in this whole family situation. He knows he’s having trouble, yes he does. And he knows he needs to keep up with the others. He knows, he’s the smart one. 

He tried his best, to keep up, to adjust, to be stronger, for everyone’s sake. But he can’t let his family help him with that, they all helped enough. He can’t let them once again drag their butts to fix his problems for him, no. Fixing is his thing, and he can fix his own problem by himself. Just uh, not now. He needs more time, to figure things out. His family just need to be patience, they can handle the waiting game. They’ve done this before, just like waiting for the drill out of its beta version.

He also, needs to be patience. Everything’s going to be alright, he’ll figure it out. He have to. For everyone’s sake.

###

The rest of the day passes by, quietly. Donnie had refuse to talk or eat, he sent Shelldon to grab some drinkable sustenance for him. He can handle being hungry, but thirst must be dealt with. As he recalled some research he found out that living beings can survive hunger for at least a week as long as they have enough supplies of water. Although, he can’t say the same about coffee, but not like it’s bothering him.

He waited for Shelldon to come back with a drink, his lab door still close but no longer locked. Once in a while his brothers visited him as he succumb to his depressions in his favorite purple hoodie, concealing his swollen eyes as a result from the earlier’s mental breakdown.

They talked, though they tried not to bring up of what happened in the Dojo. Leo, most of all, had a hard time keeping it cool. The red-eared slider guiltily apologized for making fun of him in training. Donnie might not talk about it, but he willing to forgive him. It wasn’t Leo’s fault that he had problems, he needs to stop playing the Blame Game.

“We love you, Don. And nobody can change that.” Leo said.

“I know.” Donnie simply replied.

His thought was broken by the sound of whirring from the purple drone who he manage to salvage, thankful that Shredder didn’t think twice and explode his core memory.

“Yo, Dee. I got the coffee for you.” the drone informed enthusiastically.

“Thanks, Shelldon.” he quietly accepted the coffee and took the first sip before once again continuing his currently favorite activity, staring an empty desk. Shelldon’s cheery attitude turned into worry as he watched his creator’s constant solitude. Slumping his upper body further back into his gaming chair, holding the coffee mug in both hands.

“Dude. You okay?” he asked for what seems like the tenth times by now. The response stayed the same.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Shelldon wasn’t happy with the answer, but he shrugged it off. He took out his lanky robot arm and grabbed something that sitting on top of him.

“Mikey told me to give you this.” he held out a box of pizza at him. “You should at least eat something, Donnie.” he plead. Donnie stared at the pizza then at Shelldon. The look of worry annoyed him. Great, even a robot is worried about him. But he knows better that Shelldon is not just a robot. He’s a family, part of the Hamato, the drone has feelings and conscious of its own. 

Donnie accepted the package, he took a slice and eat it. Shelldon--although not quite visible--beaming away that he had accepted the offer.

“Thank you, Shelldon.”

“You’re welcome, Dee!” Shelldon flew off to the other side of the lab, knowing that he’d done his job. Donnie chuckled quietly as he gone. It’s weird to think that the drone behaving like a kid, which was the intention of installing the emotion-settings in the first place. He can’t remember the last time he acted like one, those days of constant playing, troublemaking and have no care in the world. He said it before; it was messy but gosh, it was fun.

Then, he heard the lair suddenly began crowdy. He didn’t realized that the door was opened, did Shelldon forgot to close the door? How could an AI forget something? Donnie have no mood to stand up or command anything for now, so he let it be. He heard a distant sound of clip-clop from hooves in the lair. The only mutant he knows that is involving hooves is Baron Draxum. What is he doing here? And the sound of chit-chats heard along with it as well, especially some faint female voices and his dad. 

They all having a chat out there. How long they’ve been in this states? Why haven’t anyone informed him about visitors? Then again, he’d been cooped up in this lab and desiring for some temporary isolations, of course they haven’t inform him. 

Not wanting to bother with anything about it, he continued sipping his coffee and chomped down more pizza into his throat. Not much he can do for now, other than listening the distant inaudible voices. Not even bothering to look up to the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer to the lab.

“Hey, big guy. How’s it going?” April leans her body to the door frame, keeping it cool.

“’m fine.” he answered again, too often now that it sounds more like a chanting spell. April offered a sad smile as she bring herself to sit beside the purple genius. 

“Wanna talk about it?” she asked softly. Donnie sipped his mug as a sign that he refused her demands. “I see. Well, we wanted to hang out together as family to the hidden City.” she told.

“Last time we did that we got thrown in jail.” he bluntly respond.

“Well, yes. But things are different now. Now that we stopped that ‘you-know-who’, they pretty much removed the bounties from our heads.” she added, definitely sounding more excited than before. Donnie still can’t trust the sudden change, although he does agree the treatment for doing so after that horrible incident, he didn’t expect anything from the Yokais but pay some respect for sparing them from the devilish evil claws they called Shredder.

“Still, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Remember that time where we trust that spider lady for taking care of ‘you-know-who’, and look what she did, total havoc, everywhere.”

“Well, at least she did help out with locating the....uuuh....”

“Empyrean.”

“Yeah, that. If it wasn’t for her, we might not be able to save the day and,... You know what I mean.” she reluctantly continued her sentence. Donnie can tell why, he also didn’t want to think of what happen if they can’t find where Shredder had kept their father hostage. Can’t probably sleep knowing if they were too late, Big Mama was indeed offer a huge help even though she’s only can help telling them the location.

Although, the point still stands, she wasn’t a type of person that can be easily trusted. Things happened because of her, and they suffered the most of it. Can’t believe he wished that he should’ve listen to Leo the first time, probably one of the reason why he can be such a good leader.

“Look, I know it’s hard to believe it that way. But I promise, I got some good hunch today. Everything will be fine. You can blame me if anything goes wrong in your way, okay?” And there it is, the classic humble April. The very things he envies the most out of her, dare enough to take the blame and always be there with positive attitude. 

And, yes, April always had a strong hunch, it never failed them and they all knew that. If she thinks everything will be fine, then it will indeed. 

“So, do you trust me?” she stood up with a big confident smile on her face. It somewhat contagious and made him smile as well.

“Of course, you’re the only human that I trust in this world, April.” he responded, with less tense or sad tone.

“What, you still don’t trust Casey?” as on cue, a loud non-feminine female voice shouting in the background, followed by what sounds like his brothers shouting back at her. Donnie grimaced at the behaviour of that girl. Ever since the former Foot-clan helped out with defeating Shredder, the group immediately warmed up to her. Except for Donnie.

He still respected her for saving his father, however he never had any connection with the girl. Her risk-loving-fight-adoring attitude giving his big bulky brother, Raphael a worthy friendly match. She didn’t even flinched by his loud thundering roar, if by chance she roared right back. And her chaotic energy is enough to keep up with Leo and Mikey. 

Donnie didn’t share much with such connections, in which he easily-predicted, the girl hates science. Although, she does find his inventions as cool and awesome, she might thinking about exploding it in place though. Leo would be proud.

Also, she’s terrifying, not as much as April, but she gave him too many goosebumps for the past years.

“In theory, she might be the last person to be trusted when it involves ‘safety’. Please don’t tell her that!” he semi-whispering, not wanting her to charged in and wreck something explosive in his lab.

“Your secret safe with me.” she gestured a zipping motion across her mouth. Donnie chuckles, “Now, come on. Everyone’s waiting. You don’t have to take your hoodie off if you don’t want to.”

Donnie smiled at that, he stood up and let April grabbed his hand leading him to the group. “Thanks, April.”

“Anytime, Dee.” she grinned at him.

[aknosde]

Okay so I'm thinking up some things for the Reyna swap and there are some major plot things that would obviously need to be dealt with and I just,,, don’t know how

theoretically we could stay with Piper thinking they were dating. Ik people ship them, but personally I like Reyna and Thalia, and I kinda just want to focus on the friendships

core dynamic of the lost trio stays, Leo and Piper are chaotic and Reyna reigns(haha) them in 

unlike Jason, CHB literally has no idea of what to do with Reyna because Bellona is strictly a roman goddess. Would they put her in Athena? Ares? One of the big three cabins because she vibes like that? Would she stay in the big house? (I’m leaning towards the last one because there’s nothing like being alienated)

I think it would be really cool if that matching ring she and Hylla have could turn into a weapon. 

There’s that whole thing with the hunters of Artemis and I’m thinking that Reynas one (1) memory would be Jason. Listen, I know she has her sister, which is obviously important, but it really seems like Jason was her closest friend even with out the possibility of romantic feelings. They grew up together to a certain extent. They were really close. And this gives a really interesting dynamic to her and Thalia’s friendship

Jason taking Reyna’s place and trying to keep CJ together is just So Interesting because he never really wanted leadership in the first place. Reyna did. And Reyna is his best friend, so he is doing it for her. He’s sad and confused and is just trying to do his best for his best friend even if he doesn’t want to even be here. 

I love the idea of romantic tension between Jason and Percy as well as (a memory-less) Percy being attracted to Jason but also super wary because (unbeknownst to him) Jason looks A LOT like Luke

Jason knowing about Hylla and sending Frank, Hazel, and Percy there to tell her that her sister is missing

One thing I think about a lot is how demigods who come to camp without extra clothes get clothes, and what I’ve settled on is that they get one new, free, camp branded shirt, as well as pants if they don’t have any (oof) and the rest comes from a donation system. When campers outgrow clothes or wear them out or get tired of them then the clothes go into the system. The CJ system is bigger and better because they have people from the city donating fresh clothes, but where I’m going with this is that Percy and Reyna have each other’s sweatshirts. 

They both wear their hoodies oversized. There was a bag outside Reyna’s quarters that had some clothes she was getting rid of, and Jason is looking through them because he is Sad and there’s a sweatshirt, and it’s big enough for Percy, and gods Percy and Reyna kinda look alike. And Jason’s poor bi heart can’t take owning his best friends sweatshirt so he just thrusts it at Percy. Reyna gets Percy’s hoodie because he was doing laundry when he disappeared and before they knew that he was Gone some camper was just like “why’d he leave this out? Donation I guess?” And Reyna picks it out. 

Listen, I think Percy looks somewhere in between Reyna and Hazel, so I’d really like if Leo or Piper saw him for the first time and with the physical comparison and sheer power that exudes from him, they’re like “Oh, this makes sense.”

Honestly I have no issues with Piper finding Percy unimpressive, but I think not having met Jason would definitely make her feelings towards the thought of him a bit warmer, and thus enable them to become friends quicker

As being that type of Figure™ in their respective camps, and hearing mostly heroic stories about each other, I think that when they first meet Percy and Reyna would come to an instant understanding and be reliable for each other, but their public friendship is different from their private one

The thing when Percy and Jason made that giant storm could still happen, just instead of doing lightning Reyna is lending him her strength. This is the first time we see her powers and everyone’s blown away. 

One thing (that’s not really swap exclusive) I’m thinking of is Percy being a bit stiffer. He’s coming to CJ without memories but he’s very used to being alienated and his prime desire is to fit in and be normal, which results with him being pretty quiet and put together with an excess of witty humor. When he sees Annabeth he absolutely turns on the goofiness because he wants to be the same for her. Unfortunately it’s the same mask he’s been using on her for the past two years, and Reyna can see right through it. That mask is what breaks with Akhlys. 

This is absolutely a catalyst in his and Reyna’s friendship. Frank and Hazel were concerned when he was acting so goofy but now Annabeth’s like “why is he acting so different???” and Reyna’s just like “He was like this the entire time.” And Reyna gets it because she’s doing something similar. 

[tmnt-brave-new-world]

Prologue

He was running faster than he had ever moved before, his breaths came out in heavy pants. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. They had known going into this, there were damning consequences to failing. It simply wasn’t an option. Icy blue eyes gazed up at the sky as the pieces of Krang’s ship and dimensional gate loomed over the city of New York. It was forming a giant ring above them, and no one was willing to try and imagine what might come pouring forth once it did.

Humans couldn’t survive the atmospheric conditions from Donnie’s understanding, which meant it was up to them to stop this from happening. They were heading towards a building to try and determine the best way to stop the gate from fully forming, and additionally to use the high advantage point as a jumping off point to hopefully reach their intended target.

“Come on! We got this bros!” Mikey yelled excitedly before he took a running leap from the roof top, and landed on a piece of floating metal headed towards the giant conglomerate of moving parts, in the sky.

“Damn it Mikey! Don’t just rush in, you idiot!” Raph yelled after him, before following his lead and jumping on another piece of metal and machinery as it floated by. He would never admit how grateful he was for Mikey’s regular bouts of pure dumb luck.

It took longer than they had originally expected to reach the structure, and the fight with Krang himself was absolutely brutal. It didn’t help that they were down a man as Donnie attempted to override the protocols and force the override to disengage the pieces. They had thought that Shredder was a nightmare, but in retrospect he was nothing compared to this. They didn’t have the experience, or any given advantage in this fight. They were exhausted and had only recently began to repair their brotherly bond after the infighting from the past week. It was just too much at once.

“Leo! There’s something wrong, I’m out of time! I can’t stop this! Oh God, I’m so sorry; I tried. I gave it all I had!”

As the fight between Krang and his three brothers played out, Donnie poured everything he had into breaking the code, he was certain he had it and just needed to tease out the finer points before he could take total control. The others just needed to hang in there a little longer. His fingers flew over the keyboard until, with a sense of relief he managed to stop the impending doom that would follow the systems countdown. They had won, it was over, and with literal seconds to spare. He stood from where he had been seated at the controls prepared to tell his brothers the good news, however he paused. Nothing was changing; why hadn’t the ship stopped constructing the gate?

He looked back at the command system, attempting to determine what he had missed. As he scanned the system his stomach tightened itself into knots as the sudden spike of dread began to drive itself throughout his nervous system.

The system had shifted into a second control override system, and the clock continued its countdown to the end.

The had failed. They couldn’t stop what was to come next.

Leo swallowed hard against the sudden fear, and bile that tightened his throat. “We’re leaving now, we don’t have a choice, we need to retreat back, and try to formulate another plan!”

The brothers quickly regrouped and leapt off of the giant piece of alien tech, they managed to use one of Donnie’s last ditch tools, a grappling gun, to attach to a building and use the momentum to swing themselves away. The force flung them harshly towards the gravel laid roof top of another near by building. The landing was anything but gentle and resulted in several injuries that would take awhile to heal, even with their elevated healing abilities.

As they ran from the empowered machine, they couldn’t help but pause for a moment at the sudden blinding light that it admitted, beaming towards the sky. Unknown to them the beam of light was more than a terrifying display. It was alerting the rest of the galaxy to Earth’s presence and placing this relay of the Krang network online. There was no way they could hide now; The bell had been rung, and it had been heard by any all planets and peoples that had the appropriate technology to do so.

…….. 12 years later……….

 The Turtles listened intently to their communicators as each of the special handpicked teams, took their positions. It was so close, Leo had waited for over a decade for this opportunity; a chance to finally begin to atone for his failing that had allowed Krang to change the world, stripping resources, and taking people off world to be used for all sorts of terrifying reasons.

He glanced at several of the men and women that were apart of his assigned unit for this maneuver. Not all the change brought on by the gate had been for the worst. It had allowed the rest of the universe to find them, and allowed them to find new allies, technologies, and experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise encountered. A significant number of those present were not human, but from the other races across the stars, who had relocated to Earth, or had joined in the resistance against Krang and his tyrannical mechanisms.

There was one other factor that had given he, and his bothers something they had only dreamed of. With the wide variety of peoples and cultures that came from this new world, they were by no means the strangest creatures around; Mutants were no longer feared or threatened. They just simply were. Another group of other beings. The Humans in the first few years had been shocked and terrified of the new species that came to Earth, but had learned over time that shared cooperation, kept everyone alive, and their resources replenished. It was truly, the one good thing that had came from the past decade of hiding and scrapping to get by. Most people were too hungry or scared of Krang and his control of everything else to act like asses with the new neighbors who were moving in every new day.

Leo snapped back to the task at hand. It was crucial that they manage to take out Krang this time. If they failed the resistance would be exposed, and most likely traced back to their bases and obliterated, one by one. Today, was their first, and last chance to complete the assassination attempt. It had taken months and many lives to painstakingly determine Krang’s location and determine a strategy with a decent enough percentage of success to make it worth the attempt.

Leo took the opportunity to check with Raph, Mikey and Donnie to confirm they were in position and ready to act.

“Donnie, are you ready to do this?”

“I have counted the minutes to the time when I would have a chance to finish what I started so many years ago. I am more than ready Leo.”

His voice was cool and his tone seemed to lack emotion over the com link, but Leo knew Donnie was full of fire and wasn’t leaving until this day was done. Donnie had suffered from possibly the largest sense of guilt. He blamed himself for failing to crack the code to controlling Krang’s ship, and thus for the devastation that followed. He had spent almost all his waking moments applying his knowledge to any and every area that he could. In the short time since the Last day of earth, he had become a master chemist, surgeon, and triage doctor, architect, engineer, and mechanic, in addition to his previously developed skill set. His talents and abilities were endless and applied whenever needed.

“Mikey, you in position?”

“I’m watching our target and his guard as we speak. He isn’t getting away this time.”

Mikey had matured tremendously over the years. He still laughed and smiled, especially with the children of the resistance, but in the quiet moments when they were alone, his eyes showed the loss he felt at the countless lives snuff out prematurely, or taken against their wills to be enslaved among the stars. He spent his free time taking what was around him and creating things of beauty, or finding ways to make the bland camp rations into foods that even the smallest and pickiest of eaters craved. He felt a need to give those around him acts of inspiration. It was as much a balm for his soul as for those around him.

“Raph, Its you and me brother. Are you and your team prepared?”

“We’re ready on this side. We either succeed today or die trying. I’ve put everything I have into training these men and women. We will not fail today.”

When Krang had succeeded in setting up his relay that day, and Earth fell so easily in the days that followed, Raph raged, and lashed out at anything that moved, until he simply had nothing left to give. It was the loss of the world, and so many people above, that had made him feel that his rage meant nothing. He spent years taking his anger, and negative emotions and channeling them into trying to save the lives of those who called him a monster and a freak. Except, with everything else going on in the world, they no longer saw him that way. He became accepted and for once, finally accepted himself.

Taking his fathers teaching he began to show others how to defend themselves and to protect the weak, and those they cared for the most. He had become an incredible teacher over the past decade, and with his abilities, it had been noted by several commanding forces, from across the galaxy that the loss of life had diminished by notable percentages in hand to hand combat, whenever they clashed with Krang forces.

Leo after accepting the loss of the most important battle of his life, had spent his efforts coordinating mass evacuations of the people of New York, which had turned to organizing refugee camps. He fought to protect them, including the alien life forms that had come to Earth hoping to escape the devasted home worlds they fled from. As time and the need built, he soon found himself commanding a ragtag band of freedom fighters, taking back areas and stealing supplies whenever available. Under his leadership, life had been tolerable, and people had faired significantly better. The camps had swelled into the thousands over the years until he was effectively running a small, ironically, underground city.

Krang even with as many spies as he had working for him, had never been able to find the location of the city. It moved and changed its shape whenever needed, and those within it realizing how better off they were fought to keep its secrets, by whatever means necessary. His abilities to win people, and see several moves ahead, is why those who had opposed Krang on their own planets sought him out, and after a time, Leo decided it was time to try and take back what Krang had taken from them all. For the lives and peace of so many he was willing to attempt this suicide mission.

That is how they found themselves here today. There cause was noble, and their reach extended across the universe. They were here on behalf of the billions of lives that Krang had suppressed for an unknown fixture of time.

Today it would end. Today was a new day

“Everyone into position, we begin operation Star Waltz within the next 60 seconds. This is everything we have prepared and trained for. Don’t let me down my brothers and sisters.”

…… 20 years later………

 Leo finished his glass of smoky aged bourbon, with a small sigh. 32 years. That was how long ago it had been from the Fall of Earth, marked in the calendars as E.F. and the current year of 21 New Earth, or N.E. The world at the Death of Krang had been overjoyed, but soon after they found themselves in a new struggle. As with every change in power, a vacuum had formed and it had taken a significant amount of time and effort to help elect a governing body, for the planet, as well as root out those who had benefited the most from Krang’s control. Banning slavery and freeing those who had found themselves under its control had taken Leo to places around the world, and to other galaxies he never thought he would see. He had also gone to meet the elected official of each new territory, determine if this was by the will of the people or simply another power crazed asshole who needed to have an “unfortunate” accident. After the time he and his brothers had spent fighting Krang, they had all agreed, that no one would ever suffer a monster so long as they drew breath. Whom ever found themselves in charge, was well indoctrinated that they were a civil servant, and if at any point they became a tyrant, they would be dealt with, in one way or another.

Some fell in line without incident, having survived the new world, they understood the need for cooperation. Others depending upon their policies and whatever else the brothers managed to dig up, were given one of two sentences, they were either executed on the spot, and their cabinet might also suffer the same fate. Ff they were deemed to be just as corrupt, or on rare occasions when they weren’t truly bad, just bad enough, they awoke on Donnie’s exam table, with a bomb inserted into their necks, and a very strongly worded warning. The control to which was held by the world elected federation, who acted as a voice for Earth.

What they did was decidedly not ethical, however they had all survived hell for far to long and had to do too many terrible things, to dance around a megalomaniac. Those who were in charge, were there for the sake of the people, not to line their own pockets, or benefit from the suffering of others. That was the primary reason that Krang had a chance to come to Earth in the first place. They would do whatever it took to keep those same circumstances from ever happening again.

Which reminded Leo, as he stared out across the skyline of his high rise to the glow of the gateway. They hadn’t been able to remove the gate. There wasn’t a way to “turn it off” once it was activated. Destroying it also wasn’t an option, tampering with the gate would have released the equivalent of so many thousands of nuclear warheads directly upon New York and several other states in which the radiated particles would have been carried upon the winds to. Additionally, the Nanites which managed its upkeep would have been released in the trillions and would have cannibalized the planet and all its inhabitants along with it, to rebuild the infrastructure.

Definitely not an option to alter the Gateway, whatsoever. Not to mention, if something big and bad did ever arrive to the planet to try and conquer or destroy it, the Gateway was ultimately an escape route. Per Donnie’s calculations they could evacuate everyone on the planet in under a week, and for those that didn’t want to go, well good luck and best wishes.

The new residents, and all the worlds that until Krang, had been unknown, were now very much aware of Earth, and Earth was just as aware of them. They had simply decided it was a cultural trade, and good for commerce. Not to mention, the mutants got to stay above ground and live as federation recognized citizens.

Life was definitely good, and their new lives, were significantly improved. Each of the brothers had found a niche that worked exceptionally well for them, and from the new world, came many new opportunities. Which Lead to the creation of Tartaruga Bros incorporated. It was a stretch for a name, but they did need a last name, and O’Neil they all agreed, carried too much of a painful memory of happier times.

Somethings had definitely stayed the same. A small smile came to his lips, as he listened to Raph and Mikey argue over toppings to the artesian Pizza that they were creating for a late-night snack. The brothers had decided that they did better together, especially as they worked best as a team. They stood together as a united front as defenders of Earth and all of her peoples.

  They had upgraded though, from a lair in the sewer to a state-of-the-art penthouse in the sky. Life was better, but everyday held something new in this Brave new world.

[shenlongshao]

GGStrive Redesign Analysis: Leo Whitefang

Welcome to the continuation of the redesign analysis series! The next character is another one who first debuted in XRD SIGN; Leo Whitefang! This will be another long post and also the last one until Anji Mito’s trailer in 2021. Please enjoy reading! LEO WHITEFANG ------------------------------- There’s been some mixed reactions to Leo’s reveal. Positive comments like “Leo Whitefang is back! GG Strive is saved!” “He’s a hot burly man!” “Dream Daddy!” and etc. came from fans of the character. But other comments from those not too happy with his reveal were like, “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!”  XDD   Time to examine his previous look.

Every aspect of this character boldly shows his motif is based on a lion, which I always think is awesome. Leo’s design focuses on the unique and cool factor rather than unorthodox. First is his long, blonde hair and beard that looks like a lion’s mane. Actual fur of the same color can be seen on the collar of his trench coat and at the cuffs. His trench coat bares a brownish orange hue, accented with black trim and unfasten belts that exposes his attire. On the sleeves of his coat is a black cross shaped like the Illyrian one, decorated with 6 metal buttons and a yellow one in the center. Metal Illyrian crosses is also at the corners of the coat’s collar, which they connect by twin chains. Six metal buttons is on each part of the collar, adding up to twelve that gives a hint to a rock metal look. His attire is a black, spandex-type body suit with light orange trim baring cross designs in the middle of his chest. Layered on top is a light orange shirt(or vest?) with two straps hanging on the sides. On his hands is simple, fingerless black gloves while his tight pants also has the style of crosses and detail, though slightly different shade of black. Lastly, his ankle-length boots contains tannish brown cuffs with black trim and three metal buttons on each side. The base color is also black with tannish brown trim at the bottom and dark gray plating on the frontal part. Leo’s design brings something different while still fitting in the world of GG. I love the exaggerated mixture of regal and combat style in his look. It’s one of those designs where I could tell what the character is about from just looking at him. I even like design of his weapons, which I notice their shape is like a German cross. I like how the chosen colors compliment each other, especially since it has a vibrant and warm essence to it. Since orange, black, yellow, and silver are his main colors, let’s examine how it relates to his personality. Color Personality of Orange: https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/personality-color-orange.html With orange as your favorite color, you are warm, optimistic, extroverted and often flamboyant. You are friendly, good-natured and a generally agreeable person. You are assertive and determined rather than aggressive - having a personality color orange means you are more light-hearted and less intense than those who love red. You thrive on human social contact and social gatherings, bringing all types together. As a personality color orange, you enjoy partying and socializing and planning all types of social events - orange people are the life of the party, the uninhibited performer! You are often the loud talker in a group. While you are charming and sociable you do tend to be a show-off. You get great satisfaction from helping others and they find you inspiring with your vitality and positive energy. You are tolerant and accepting of others just the way they are. You are full of life, always on the go, determined and competitive, always looking for new challenges - and this can lead to restlessness and impatience with others who do not have this need. Lovers of orange like to take risks in many areas of their life, particularly in the physical areas. They prefer to explore their outer world rather than their inner world. Patience is not one of your virtues and you can be quite forceful and domineering over others when under stress. You may be an unkind practical joker. When operating from a negative perspective, a personality color orange can become aloof, egotistical, and self-centered. Color Personality of Black: https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/personality-color-black.html Prestige and power are important to you. You are independent, strong-willed and determined and like to be in control of yourself and situations. You are methodical in your work, making sure everything is completed as required, down to the last detail. Color Personality of Yellow: https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-yellow.html You have a happy disposition and are cheerful and fun to be with. With a personality color yellow, you can be very critical of yourself as well as others - you are a perfectionist. You analyze everything, all the time, and are methodical in your thinking. You are spontaneous - you are able to think quickly on your feet and make instant decisions. You have a modern outlook. New technology doesn't faze you. You communicate well on a mental level with like-minded people, but can become bitter and sharp-tongued if crossed. You are good at networking and getting information out of others. Journalists often resonate with the color yellow. With a personality color yellow, you can be stubborn but dislike pettiness and spitefulness of all kinds. You like to think you are intelligent and well educated, with knowledge about many topics. Color Personality of Silver: https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/personality-color-silver.html You tend to be introspective, often preoccupied with your own world. In your search for meaning and fulfilment, you sometimes isolate yourself from others as you reflect and ponder on the deeper questions of life. If you love silver, you are imaginative and creative, particularly in expressing yourself with the written word. Making speeches, writing poetry, and writing novels are three means of self-expression you may be drawn to, allowing you to satisfy your need to fantasize and reflect. With a personality color silver, you are open to trying new things and exploring any new opportunities that are presented to you. Change does not frighten you, in fact you welcome it. Resourceful and flexible, and open to new possibilities, success often comes easily to those who love the color silver. You will try almost anything once! Immediately introduced as the Second King of Illyria, Leo is heavily involved in worldwide affairs. From typical paperwork duties to investigation events surrounding Bablyon and the Japanese Colony, he takes on his responsibilities without hesitation. Throughout the story of Xrd SIGN and Revelator, he displays leadership qualities and knows it takes way more than just giving people orders. He tries to carefully analyze the situation and decide the best course of action, showing compassion and understanding for not only the troops, but others around him. This aspect is really shown when in Revelator 2, when the showdown with Ariels occurs and freeing Elphelt from Justice’s body. King Daryl shows to be technically logical with his plan to go for the attack, though detached from the internal details. However, Leo considers the entirety of the situation and wanting the safety of his allies(like Sol and Ky). There’s also the aspect of while he is very boastful and has high self-esteem, he’s definitely not a narcissist(a word often misused). He’s able to boldly admit his flaws and even having a hearty laugh about it; grading himself a C-(from Xrd SIGN). With Leo’s development as a person and what he has to deal with in the aftermath of Revelator 2, it was time for him to get a redesign!

The essence from Leo’s previous design is kept, though still quite a departure from it. The first is his hair is dramatically cut and his beard is trimmed, instantly giving him a more mature appearance. The concept of the fur trench coat is apparent, such as the Illyrian crosses on the sleeves, except their color is beige instead of black. However, it’s obviously not the same coat due to the style; it lacks the Illyrian crosses and little chains in front. And how his new coat would be fasten by the silver buttons instead of buckle straps. On the new coat, the buckle straps securely loop from under his arms and the fact the hue is a warm brown instead of orange with black trim. The clothing he wears underneath is also different, starting with a slightly opened, white collar shirt layered with a dark brown and black vest. There’s the detail of little silver buttons evenly spread out and a side zipper. Around his waist is three belts in slightly different shades of brown. On his lower body, Leo wears a fitted, beige-colored pants that slightly curtains over his mustard yellow and dark brown dress shoes. Lastly, the pants also has pockets, accented with brown strap in front. Since Leo’s new main colors includes brown and beige with a hint of white, Let’s see what the additional colors mean for him. Brown Personality: https://colorogy.com/brown-color-meaning.html Brown personality people are strong and dependable. The strength is not only strong in body, but also strong in convictions and emotional strength. If brown is your most favorite color, you have a good understanding of your own capabilities. You have the mental grit to stand up to and face the challenges life throws at you. You are a reliable partner and true to your friends. You are loyal and sincere in your relationships. For you, feeling safe, loved, and appreciated in a relationship is essential. You look after your family and gladly devote time to your home and responsibilities. Material security is paramount to you; you meticulously plan your goals and work hard to achieve them. Your career is an important aspect of your life. You have a vision for your career and you will do what it takes to get there. You do your best to succeed in whatever you set your heart on achieving. You do your best to maintain a good reputation. Being seen in a good light is vital to you. You dread the idea of being thought of as untrustworthy in any way. Beige Personality: https://colorogy.com/beige-color-meaning.html You have the ability to grasp new ideas and concepts quickly. You amass knowledge for wisdom and for knowledge's sake. You are interested in everything that goes on in the world and in your areas of interest. You are much in tune with all that occurs in your immediate environment. The efforts you put in towards achieving all that you want in life are consistent. You don't back down; come what may, when you really want something. White Personality: https://colorogy.com/white-color-meaning.html They have a compassionate outlook and are kind. Their kind words sooth, heal, and calm those they interact with. They may attract people in their lives who depend on them for emotional support, as they are good listeners and are wise beyond their years. They are grounded, balanced and practical. They have a deep understanding of the world they live in. It doesn't take alot to make someone with a white personality type happy. They find joy and contentment in small and simple things life. Watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset can make their day. They are free spirited and carefree. They enjoy their freedom and feel unrestricted by conventions. It’s interesting how brown is one the chosen colors for him. I think storywise, it could relate to Leo’s heighten resolve and determination to whatever comes next. It also hints he’s matured since the last game, though he still has his jolly pride and charm he’s known for(especially from his expressions and animations.)

I like how Leo’s design still contains his unique style, even though it’s seemingly more casual in comparison to his previous look. Due to his haircut, it’s easier to tell which is his hair and which is the fur from his coat(in the previous games, I sometimes think the fur collar was part of his hair, lol). Part of me will miss his long hair, but the new hairdo definitely looks great on him. I’m also kind of getting Attack on Titan vibes from his clothing and suddenly imagine him killing Titans with ease, XD.  This is another design done well; time to give it the GG style rating! Rating: S + + + (The Lion King!)

[riseandshinelittleblossom]

Hoping for Home Ch 8 - Burning House

Summary: Sixteen years ago Libby Scott was supposed to become Queen of Cordonia, but Fate had other plans. Catch up here.

Special Thanks to @ritachacha for pre-reading and @ao719 for constantly being my sounding board for this piece. ily both

Disclaimer: I don’t own the TRR characters, they own me.

Song Rec  for this Chapter: “Burning House” by Cam

Tags:  @ao719@cocomaxley@leelee10898@fullbeaumonty@choiceswreckedme@ritachacha@itsstillnotwhatyouthink@blackcoffee85@indiacater@drakesensworld@carabeth@daniv2278@cosigottahavefaith@gibbles82@innerpostmentality@perfectprofessorherokid@darley1101@jovialyouthmusic @liamxs-world@thequeenofcronuts@blznbaby@zilch3382@wannabemc2 @jlouise88@lodberg@jasieschoices@aworldoffandoms @lynne1993 @valtorian-duchess @bbrandy2002 @hopefulmoonobject @dianalend@desiree-0816 @emichelle @lettersofwrittencollective

    "Good morning, Your Majesties." Libby singsonged with a brief curtsey as she entered the breakfast hall.

      Liam and Olivia exchanged glances as the twins looked on in wonder. 

     "Good Morning, Duchess." Liam responded. "It's lovely, if not out of character, to see you so chipper in the morning."

    Olivia quirked a knowing brow at the other redhead in the room as she stabbed a slice of melon.

     "Perhaps Her Grace got a good night's rest?"

    Libby dragged the mug of coffee the servant on her left had just poured closer to herself, eyes fixed sheepishly on the table and unable to hide the smirk on her lips.

     "Oh well now I'm just intrigued. Libby spill." Olivia retorted.

     "My queen this is neither the time or place for that." Liam said, slicing into his French toast.

     The queen looked quickly between her husband and his former flame. Deciding that Liam had certainly not been Libby's late night rendezvous, she returned her attention to her fruit bowl.

      "Will Max and the Walkers not be joining us this morning?" Emma questioned.

     Liam swallowed the gulp of coffee in his mouth.

    "I arranged for their breakfast elsewhere. I had something I wanted to speak to our Valtorian guests about privately."

    Will shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Valtorian. Just the thought made him cringe. The longer they stayed in Cordonia the more he wished to be free of this place. All of the pomp and circumstance was extremely off-setting. He had always wanted to know his father, but if he had known that would mean all of this...maybe his mother had been right to shield them from it.

    "I had hoped we could head to Applewood Manor today. Just the four of us. I'd very much like to take the twins on their first Royal Hunt."

    "The four of us?" Libby questioned, caught slightly off guard.

    "I have no interest in visiting the ruins yet again. And horses are only good for polo and battle, neither of which will be taking place today." Olivia piped up.

     "Hunting? Like hunting?" Emma asked incredulous. 

     "Nah. The Royal Hunt is only symbolic now. It's a trip down old royal hunting grounds on horseback that brings the court to an ancient Cordonian village. There are ruins not far from the village that I assume the queen is referring to. It's rumored that the fabled fire tribe from Cordonian folklore called them their home." Will explained as the rest of the room went silent.

    "What?" He shrugged pushing his eggs around his plate. "I know how to read. History is-"

    "Your favorite subject?" The King finished for him, "Mine as well. I must admit, Will, I'm impressed. It warms my heart to see you take such an interest in your new home country."

     "Well I think that settles it then, we'd be happy to accompany you, King Liam." Libby answered and her former fiance shot her a look that told her he picked up on her subtle sarcasm.

     "Fantastic. I'll have security ready a car. We'll head out to Applewood this afternoon." 

*********

      Liam tapped the mahogany door to Emma's room. After a breath she opened it with a broad smile.

     "Hello Your Majesty. Please come in." She curtsied quickly, stepping aside to let Liam in.

     On her bed there were a few open portfolios scattered about, yet organized all at once. It reminded Liam of the desk in his study.

     "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were busy. I can come back…" he started but the young girl shook her head.

    "It's okay. I've got plenty of time to finish my campaign platform."

     Liam quirked an eyebrow as he ambled to the mattress plucking one of the pages from it's stack.

     "Student body president?" he asked.

     Emma nodded, knotting her fingers together sheepishly.

     "I was the first freshman to win. And I took sophomore year easily too. I know that I may not be attending for junior year," she paused, her face flashing with a mix of sadness and uncertainty, "but I'd like to be prepared just in case."

     "There is still so much that hangs in the air until we get those results isn't there?"

     She nodded solemnly, taking a seat near the head of the bed.

    "You know, no matter who your father is, political savvy is in your blood."

    "Well you're a king, of course." 

    Liam nodded in agreement before wetting his lips to continue, "Did you know that Maxwell's brother, Duke Bertrand of Ramsford, attended the same Cordonian boarding school as my older brother Leo?"

     Emma crossed her legs beneath her. "Mom told me a little about him. He abdicated right? And the Duke was Mom's sponsor when she came here."

    "Right on both counts. Anyway during their senior year my father encouraged Leo to run for student body president or rather the school's equivalent. He'd done so every year, and every year he won. Of course no one ever ran against him because he was the crown prince. But in their final year, Bertrand Beaumont ran against him. He had a very persuasive campaign. And do you know what?"

    "Bertrand won?"

    "By a landslide. My father was furious, but truth be told Leo was glad. The best man won and he knew it. I suspect even then he knew he had no intentions of taking the crown, he never did like the leadership role."

    "So politics runs in the Beaumont blood as well?"

    "Very much so."

     Emma grinned and the room filled up with a comfortable silence.

    "If I'm able to return to school I think I'll use that in my platform next campaign. It'll be hard to not elect foreign nobility after all." Emma finally laughed.

    "If you choose to, I say milk it for all it's worth, my dear." Liam joked rising from his perch. "I'll leave you to it then,and catch up with you on the way to Applewood, young Emma."

***************

              The trip along the path of the Royal Hunt had taken half of the next day and Libby swore it was longer than she remembered. Emma was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as ever and Will and Liam had spent the entirety of the trip ahead of the ladies deep in conversation about Queen Kenna Rys, the legendary first ruler of what is today Cordonia. 

       As the village appeared on the horizon, Liam rounded his horse back to face Libby and Emma. "Shall we continue on to the ruins first, ladies?"

      Libby nodded, pulling slightly at the reigns of her horse edging him down the wood covered path.

      "Your memory certainly serves you well, Duchess. I'm a little surprised you remember the way." The king called as he fell in line behind Libby and the twins.

     "I'm not," she thought smirking at Liam over her shoulder. "This is where I first fell in love with Maxwell."

**************

         The Ruins at Applewood - 17 years ago

      Libby had shared a private moment with each of her friends at the ruins. It was interesting to hear everyone's insights on the awe inspiring place.

     She found Maxwell last, skipping stones across the face of the river near the center of the crumbling landscape.

     "Not a bad toss." she smiled sidling up next to him.

    "My record is five skips. It's not much, but it's respectable. Though there was probably some kid who lived here who could skip a stone over ten times. Wanna give it a try?"

    "Sure." 

     Maxwell came up behind her, a wide grin on his face. He gifted her the stone and placed his hands on her forearms, his chest pressed against her back.

    Libby's body sighed into him, relishing in his warmth.

   "The trick is to clear your mind and become one with the rock. It is an extension of your will."

     The young redhead tried to do as she was directed, but with Lord Beaumont so close all she could think about was his heavenly scent. Hazelnuts and fresh brewed coffee. Her hand went limp as she breathed him in, the stone falling haphazardly into the water with a splash.

    "I guess its an acquired skill. But that's okay." Maxwell hiked up his pants as he squatted down to pick up a few more stones.

     "You know, I don't really know all that much about you." Libby mused.

    "There's not really much to know."

    "Really? I've seen you talk about yourself for hours at our social events."

   Maxwell sighed skipping another stone before reaching around to rub the back of his neck.

    "That's just, y'know, small talk. Nothing real."

    "Tell me something real."

   "What do you want to know?"

   Libby turned away from the water, her eyes meeting the deep blue of Maxwell's. She tucked her lip between her teeth as she was wont to do before continuing.

    "Have you ever loved someone before?"

    "Oh...you don't play around with these questions do you?"

    "I do not."

    Maxwell sighed, puffing his cheeks before exhaling. "Well Bertrand is the more eligible between the two of us. He's the Duke of Ramsford after all. I always kind of thought I'd figure things out once he was married; but I don't think bertrands gotten any closer to getting married...but there's no need to dwell too much on it."

    Libby nodded solemnly.

    " Mmmmmhmmm," she hummed, sucking her teeth. "But I didn't ask you about your eligibility. I asked you if you'd ever fallen in love."

    Maxwell blinked unbelievingly. "I...uh…"

    She could see the slightest tinge of pink creeping onto his cheeks as he rubbed his hair, eliciting a giggle from her.

    "Yes. Only once, but she's way out of my league."

      He stared deep into her eyes, the two transfixed on one another as if the rest of the world had simply fallen away.

     "Come on guys, let's get back to the others." Drake's voice broke their trance and Maxwell cleared his throat, cheeks as red as Cordonian Rubies.

     "Uh, I'll uh race ya back to the village?" He stammered.

    "You're on, Lord Beaumont," she gulped.

***********

          Applewood Manor - Present day

     Smoke.

      It was thick and billowing as Libby staggered down the hallway. She wadded up her tank top, covering her nose and mouth as she coughed, her lungs and eyes burning.

     "Li-Liam!" she croaked frantically, scanning the labyrinth before her, lit only by the rim flickering of the flames from somewhere ahead.

         More coughing.

    She leaned her shoulder against the wall, the surface warm to the touch already. Her breaths were coming shorter, vision blurring from her wheezing. 

   "Liam! Liam please! Where are you?"

      Libby leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes and steeling her nerves before pushing off of the surface with purpose.

     Again she staggered down the corridor, finally falling into a drawing room of some sort, pitch black but not as smoky, the embers having not reached this far yet.

   Frantically she lunged at the window, her body bouncing off of the glass although it remained intact.

   "Libby? Libby follow my voice." 

    She jumped at the sound to her left, turning towards it but finding only darkness.  The smoke was beginning to thicken once more, curling into her nostrils and seeming to singe the inside.

    "Liam? Where are you? I can't find you,"

    "I'm just here, darling. Follow my words, my love. You can do this Libby. Come back to me."

    She edged closer to the sound, arms outstretched, fumbling in the abyss.

     A plume of fire erupted through the doorway and she stumbled to the side blinking in the sudden illumination. 

     Liam sprang forward, grasping her shoulders to shield her from the blistering heat as the inferno licked it's way into the parlor with a vengeance.

      Libby's knees buckled and she allowed the king to support the full weight of her, head lolling from her lack of oxygen.

    "Liam. We have to...we have to get out."

   "Oh my love, we're trapped here."

   "Trapped?"

      "I am afraid so. Once again I have failed you, darling."

    The redhead buried her face in Liam's shoulder giving way to a fit of sobs and coughs.

  "Don't cry my love," he soothed her, his voice even and steady as always. He rubbed her hair tenderly.

   "This time I will choose you. I will stay with you until the end...and even in death, my arms will hold you, Libby. As they always should have."

    With the last of her strength, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him as if her life depended upon it.

    "Oh Liam...I wish that I could be the woman you think I am-the woman you deserve."

    He shushed her again. 

  "You're more, Libby. So much more."

   He rocked her gently from side to side and a wave of contentment washed over her. But her bliss was short lived.

    Suddenly above the crackling of the flames and the crumbling of the furniture as it was consumed all around them, Libby heard two voices as clear as a bell.

   "Daddy! Daddy save us! Help please!" Emma screamed.

   "Dad? Dad! What do we do?" Will's words hit her eardrums and Libby tried with all her might to move her feet, but they stayed planted in place as if they'd melted into the foundation. 

   "Go to them, Liam. Please. Save our children."

**************

     Libby sat bolt upright, a cold sweat on her brow. She frantically pawed at her face and throat, chest heaving from her nightmare. 

     It wasn't the first time; she'd had the same dream too many times to count in the years since her departure. However this time there was a very different ending.

     Hearing the pain and panic in the voices of her twins was definitely new, and they had called Liam, Dad. What was that supposed to mean?

     Her head was spinning as she flung her legs over the edge of the bed, grabbing her robe and tying it tight around her.

    Groggy, with her heartbeat still elevated she headed out of her suite, unsure of where she was headed. At the end of the hallway the light was on in a suite, the door slightly cracked allowing the beams to spill into the hallway, splashing over the charcoal slacks of the King's Guard posted outside.

     She approached slowly and when she was just outside she dropped her voice conspiratorially.

    "May I- can I see the king?"

     The guard nodded and Libby pushed the door, slipping inside. She found Liam leaned over his desk, his left ankle crossed over his right, his shoulders exposed in the pajama tank he wore, pulled taut against the rippling muscles of his shoulders. His weight rested on his fingertips, brow furrowed and lips pulled down as he poured over the document before him.

     Stunned, Libby blinked a few times at the sight before finally clearing her throat.

     "Oh, Duchess. Is everything alright?" the king questioned, turning his head towards her.

     "Yes. No. I-I couldn't sleep and I saw your light…"

      Liam smiled and for the first time since her return Libby noticed the crinkles beside his eyes when he did it. He certainly had aged since they were together, but he'd done so gracefully. Like a fine wine, he'd gotten better with age.

    "I am always available for a midnight scotch with an old friend." 

     He corrected his posture to stride across the room, grabbing two small glasses and filling them with a few fingers of liquor. He faced her once more, offering the drink.

    Libby stepped her bare feet across mahogany floors to take the tumbler, still unsure why she'd come to Liam of all people. After all these years he had a way of making her feel completely at ease, and perhaps that was her subconscious reasoning.

     Many moments passed, each of them sipping scotch in silence, seemingly waiting for the other to speak. Finally Liam did.

   "Libby, I hope you don't think me forward for saying this, but I have always envied your effortless beauty. Here you are fresh from bed and still you look so put together."

    He leaned casually against the bar cart, once more supporting himself on his fingertips.

    Libby blushed, averting her gaze.

     "You flatter."

     "I'm simply stating my opinion freely,"

      Liam pushed himself off of the cart and took a few steps towards her.

     "Do you ever wonder- do you think things would've been different if I had chosen you the night of my coronation, Libby? I have pondered the thought millions of times since I made the decision. I was trying to protect you, but in my youthful ignorance all I really did was tear you apart. I loved you so much I just...I never meant you harm. The cracks between us began there didn't they?"

    The walls were closing in on her, heart hammering in her chest and before she even knew what was happening Liam's fingers were brushing her cheek, and he was so close. Libby could feel herself dissolving like sugar cubes in afternoon tea. She closed her eyes as the king brushed a hair across her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.

     "I didn't want them to. I knew you were trying to keep me safe. You will always keep me safe. I knew it then and I know it now. You're a benevolent man, Liam and I love you for it. I just wish I could've ...well, I made choices out of my own youthful ignorance."

     He tenderly took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face to look into her eyes.

    "Well we aren't so youthful anymore, my love. I'll just chalk this up to the actions of a foolhardy old man." 

       He bent down, pressing his mouth to hers softly yet forcefully, and when he pulled away Libby stayed frozen in place, lips still slightly parted.

    Dazed, she finally blinked herself back to reality, gaping at Liam. 

    "I should... I-I-I should go." She stammered, setting her glass on the desk and heading for the door. She paused, offering a swift curtsey.

    "Your Majesty." 

     Liam closed his eyes briefly before nodding at her, "Your Grace."

      The next morning Libby was awakened by her phone ringing. Blearily she reached out and pressed it to her ear.

      "Hello?"

    "Apologies for waking you, Your Grace. It's Tessa, your majordomo. I know you had instructed me to forward any letters from the DNA lab to the palace, but since you'll be arriving at Valtoria with the court this afternoon I wasn't sure if I should forward these or keep them here."

    "These?"

    "Yes, Ma'am. One addressed to Lady Emma, the other to Lord William."

    Libby sat up so fast it made her head spin. The results.

    "Uh,uh yes. Tessa, I want you to put them in the safe in my bedroom until I arrive. And don't tell a soul that they're in there, do you understand?"

    "Yes, ma'am. I and the letters await your arrival back home, Your Grace."

   Libby dropped the phone in her lap, scrubbing her hands over her face. There wasn't enough coffee in the world to prepare her for the day ahead.

[fayewonglibrary]

Faye Wong loves the past and present of the brand Céline (2014)

- excerpt -

Why does Faye Wong only love Céline?

What brand can make the cool Fei jie fall in love for ten years? From 2004 to 2014, Faye Wong visited Céline in Paris twice. For ten years, she has been in a continuous relationship with Céline.

In October 2004, Faye Wong attended the Celine 2005 Spring/Summer Fashion Show held at the Place de la Concorde in Paris as a "Friend of the Brand". It was also Roberto Menichetti’s debut for Celine's 2005 S/S collection. Since then, Faye Wong has collaborated with Phoebe Philo, Céline's current director, to shoot magazine covers in Céline several times. As a result, Faye Wong and Céline's "Fei" love relationship quietly unfolded.

Faye Wong is a typical Leo woman who also speaks very little and seems like nothing matters to her. She is a free spirit without a touch of pretentiousness in her life. Regarding fashion, she is unhurried and unbothered.

The spiritual concept conveyed by Pheobe Philo’s Céline is inspired from the real life of women, interpreting their attitudes towards life: not exaggerating and pretending, not grabbing the limelight,and being intriguing. It strives to help women transform into their better self.

Faye Wong and Phoebe Philo's attitude towards life really have some clever connections

Céline's past and present: the designers of Céline

Céline Vipiana (1945-1997) Céline opened its first shop in Paris in 1945 by female designer Céline Vipiana, which mainly sold children's shoes. After being inspired by her daughter, Céline began a new era of leather goods and clothing collections. Under the leadership of Vipiana, Céline's modern and feminine design concept gradually unfolded until today.

Michael Kors (1997-2004) Although his Céline style was subtle and elegant, it lacked the trademark design of the brand's characteristics. Michael Kors, who is good at casual American style, also successfully returned this old French fashion house to the fashion industry, releasing scarves, accessories, mini-skirts, light tweed suits and other French-styled clothing that have become ever-popular items.

Roberto Menichetti (2004-2005) After Michael Kors left, LVMH officially announced Roberto Menichetti to helm the Céline brand, but the good times did not last long. The cooperation ended in less than a year.

Ivana Omazic (2005-2008): Céline during her tenure was known for elegance, but she really couldn't compete with design geniuses like Pheobe Philo.

Reshaping Céline: "Minimalist Queen" Phoebe Philo

"I look forward to the day when women can freely wear men's clothes. I will let the world accept my ideas through a series of designs and tailoring." - Phoebe Philo

In 2008, the LVMH Group selected Phoebe Philo as the new creative director of Céline. After taking office, Phoebe "cleaned up": the brand's 100 stores around the world were renovated under her command, even the trademark font was changed. "It will be a tricky business to follow a big-name designer. Fortunately, Céline is almost a blank sheet of paper." She said.

Yes, she made minimalism the "main theme" since 2010. Think about women's wear ten years ago. Those sexy low-waist hip-baring mini skirts, those sports suits, those tattered layers... They were completely eliminated from the fashion industry. It was a return to simplicity, solid colors, pantsuits and shirts, skirts extended to the knees, oversized coats...This is the subtle influence of Phoebe Philo.

Legend: Faye Wong uploaded a photo on Weibo while attending a fashion show in Paris in 2014. Naughtily she said, "什么压这压那的，压压马路得了" This is the lightness of a Céline girl.

Faye Wong's favorite style: Céline's new image of women in the 21st century

"Contemporary women are not limited to high-society social occasions as in the past. They have a family and also need to work. Expensive cardigans may be stained with children's spit or food, and the handbag may be full of work documents." Phoebe Philo said, "Designers must be able to provide what they need, perhaps [I understand] because I am such a person".

"Among the few female fashion designers, she has always insisted on promoting minimalist design concepts and superb craftsmanship, creating one after another beautiful works for women's wardrobes." Phoebe's best friend Stella mcCartney said, "It has been 20 years since Phoebe and I have known each other, and this friendship is very meaningful to me. I am proud of having a girlfriend like her, and I firmly believe that she will never give up and will continue to bring continuous surprises to the public."

Céline created the trend of "wearing outerwear", bringing pantsuits, high-necked elements and wide-leg pants back to the fashion stage, and leather became a new member of spring and summer fashion. It made cool colors such as olive green, camel and white become good matches for women. She made women in the 21st century pursue "simple dress".

Faye Wong likes simple and easy-to-use bags

Faye Wong attended a Céline event in Taipei wearing a Celine 2012 early spring jumpsuit and gold shoes. In order to keep black from being dull, a bright orange Céline Classic handbag was the right finishing touch to the overall look.

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SOURCE: TENCENT // TRANSLATED BY: FAYE WONG FUZAO

[spectraficrequest]

Train Heist

A request by @floralianspiderboynova

Nova had been called by Leonidas, he didn't know why but it seemed important. When he entered the room where they were supposed to meet, his brothers and sisters were already there, staring at him in silence with a bit of compassion in their eyes.

"Nova, please seat down" Leonidas said.

Nova sat next to Chelle, Leonidas cleared his throat and took some papier sheets out of a drawer.

"So as you may know, House Illia is renown for it's glory and horse riding skills. It has many allies but also many ennemies. House Dyr is one of them."

They all shook their head, Emile raised his hand.

"Yes brother ?

- Why are we talking about House Dyr ? You said it was something important.

- Well... A member of House Illia has been kidnapped by House Dyr."

Emile let out a huge gasp, everyone else remained silent. Nova started getting a bit anxious, what if Elise had been kidnapped ? No, it seemed impossible.

"As the only one with a permit to use armors and weapons, we will be in charge of saving the victim and return them to House Illia with all their belongings. The name of the victim is Elise."

Nova felt his own world crack, thé worst thing he could imagine at the moment had happened. He stood up full of fright and will to save her.

"Leonidas ! Is this true ? We must do something !

- It is true brother, and we will do our best.

- We need to do more than our best ! I won't let them hurt her ! I won't !"

Chelle smiled.

"Lovey dovey I see !"

Valyx let out a sigh.

"It isn't time for jokes Chelle..."

Phares raised his hand.

"Leonidas, what is your plan ?

- Well... It seems we will have to hoard House Dyr's train. One of their leaders, Sir Harle, is our target. We won't kill him, but we might have to teach him a few hard things. Any questions ?"

Emile coughed then started yelling.

"Are you insane ?! Hoarding a train ?! Jupiter and I can't do that ! And you can't either ! It's hopeless !"

There was a blank, Nova was staring silently at the floor. Phares sighed.

"It is a bit insane indeed. It truly seems very hard. Our mounts may be fast but we can't hoard a train, which is probably full of guards, just like that... What do you think."

Emile was clearly not satisfied, Chelle and Valyx seemed unsure, Phares was still perplex. Nova stood up.

"I will do anything it takes to save her, even if I die in the process. If that happens then I'll take that Harle guy with me."

Leonidas smiled, suddenly everyone seemed to agree. If even the usually calm and chill Nova was determined to hoard that train then they were all going with him.

Chelle raised her hand.

"I have an idea ! Let's go in Samurai and Ninja armors !

- Why ?

- Aesthetic !"

----------------------------------------

Clouds of steam were coming from the pit of hell that was the trains chimney. This roaring and whistling monster was running on it's rails, unaware of what was to come. Inside the train were at least fifty armed men and in the most prestigious wagon were Sir Harle of house Dyr and Elise of house Illia. She was wearing her usual attire but her hands were chained and her face full of fear. At her side, Harle was sipping some wine, he was wearing black pants, boots and a white shirt under a purple shaded jacket with house Dyr's symbol engraved in the fabric. He was proud of himself, he had accomplished his mission.

Hidden in the dust made by Thor, Valyx's steed. The Alberian siblings were galoping wild, making a summary of their plan one last time.

"Okay everyone ! Leonidas shouted, his red and white samurai armor bringing out his leadership, Tell me your role !

- I will be following you Leo, Phares said, he had a light sky blue armor, he looked more like a ninja.

- I will also be part of the brawl, yelled Valyx in an armor similar to Leonidas's.

- I will be a distraction and the main pillar of our plan, Chelle answered while checking her pastel pink flower patterned kimono.

- I will go straight for the pilot ! Right Jupiter ? Emile said full of excitation. He was proud of his green samurai armor."

Nova didn't say anything, he eyes showed his true plan more than his voice would have : he was going to make a rampage.

"Well ? Charge ! Leonidas shouted"

They all scattered, galloping full speed to their target. Valyx, Phares and Emile were going to the front while Nova and Chelle were going for the back of the train.

Nova hopped off Mercury's back and kicked the back door open. Chelle leaned over.

"Arigato Gozaimasu" she said with a really bad accent. Nova chuckled a bit knowing his sister was trying to cheer him up.

Nova climbed on the train's roof. Chelle went inside and started to distract the guards.

Emile hopped off Jupiter with a bit of trouble, he stood there, breathing heavily for a moment while looking at the confused pilots before knocking them out.

Phares hopped on with Emile, Emile didn't knew how to control a train however Phares did, Phares knew a bit of everything after all. He was there to make sure they don't die stupidly.

Nova crawled to the first class wagon. Luckily for him the windows were open. He entered took out his daggers and threw one of them in a guard's chest, the two others engaged him. He sliced them to pieces, injuring them but not killing them, he hated to kill. Seeing them roll on the floor groaning in pain was enough.

He continued his blood thirst to a red door, he could hear a man talking with a very pretentious tone. He kicked the door open. Harle stood up, with a vile grin on his face. Elise stared at Nova, he was covered in red, and his eyes were burning with rage. He was terrifying.

"So you came foolish boy ? Harle said while chuckling a bit, Are you upset ?"

Nova took out his rapier, Elise had never seen him using it as a weapon. The rapier contrasted with the outfit, his hands were shaky. Harle let out a sigh.

"Well if this is what you want... He said while clutching his sword, let's fight !"

Nova jumped at him, barely giving him time to dodge, the rapier clashed against the sword. Harle was stunned and went on defensive. Nova repeatedly hit his blade on Harle's before, slashing at Harle's right leg, cutting the fabric and the skin underneath it. He let out a little squeak, like a wounded rat. He went at Nova, trying to bash at him, Nova dodged painlessly. Exhausted, Harle stopped for a second, only to be kicked in the stomach. Breathing heavily, Harle raised his weapon for a lethal blow. He had strenght, but Nova had speed. He slashed Harle's left arm, leaving a deep cut. Harle let go of his sword to clutch his wounded arm. He had enough. Flowing with rage, he managed to catch a glimpse of Nova's move, caught the rapier's blade and kicked in Nova's knee before Head butting him. Nova was stunned, but still standing.

Elise watched the two men in complete silence and horror, they were like feral beasts. Injuring themselves badly. She couldn't do anything, at least it seemed.

After a few more hits Nova grabbed Harle's neck, they were both too tired to continue. Nova's eyes had never seemed that wild. Harle laughed.

"Go on... Kill me... And bare the burden of my death forever...

- Nova, that's enough."

Chelle had entered the room. Nova released Harle, he fell on the floor, holding his neck, breathing with difficulty.

Nova looked at Elise, the anger in his eyes had turned to sadness and what seemed like shame.

"I'm sorry you had to see this..."

Elise smiled a bit. Chelle freed her. She walked up to Nova and hugged him ad hard as she could. He let out a sigh if relief.

"I'm glad to see you are safe."

[kaspbrak-tozier-reddie]

Hey! Could you write something Harrison helping the reader through some anxiety or something. I dunno I just read about him being the hella sweet boy he is. ❤️✌🏻

A/N: Just want to put out a small trigger warning before you start reading this.

Anxiety and I go way back, we’re talking way back when I was like 14. Bullying was a thing, it brought me down and I wasn’t able to do the things I loved. Sure I haven’t had anxiety attacks, usually I get a hold of my anxiety before it gets bad just so that I don’t scare myself more or scare other people.

I did everything I possibly could to get rid of this feeling that once stopped me from doing everything I loved. That’s when I thought I needed to do things I Ioved to come out of my comfort zone. I’ve forced myself to do pub gigs, I loved singing but always thought I wasn’t good; signed up for leadership volunteer work such as being a tour guide around London when I’m not needed. 

Harrison Osterfield and I have been dating for about 2 years and within those 2 years I haven’t told him about my anxiety, mind you, I haven’t had bad anxiety since I started to do things to break away from my enemy (anxiety). That was until he invited me to the Infinity War Premier. I didn’t know why, considering he was going as Tom’s date. 

It dawned on me that I would be walking down the famous red carpet amongst moviestars, A-List moviestars! I was over at my Best friend’s house for our fortnightly hang out. “Sam! I can’t!” I cried to my best friend, yes, my best friend is Sam Holland, he’s the reason Harrison and I are together. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t.”

“Y/N, you got to. You’ll be fine. We all will be there supporting you.” Sam replied.

“She freaking out?” Sam’s twin, Harry, asked as he made his way into the living room.

“Yeah.” Sam said to his brother. “Can you give us a minute?” Harry nodded and left the room. “Y/N, there’s only a few more days until the premier, why don’t you try to relax?”

“I just don’t want to fuck this up or Haz. I need to pass this anxiety! I don’t even have a dress!”

“Everything will be okay.” Sam rubbed my back soothing me into a light sleep.

So much for a friends day …

2 days later after my friend day with Sam, my anxiety had left but then, the known feeling of the lump in my throat started up again and I knew. I knew that my anxiety was back and here to stay. I walked out of the shower and pulled out the box the Harrison had left me, excited to finally open the white box. A red strapless jumpsuit stared at me with a pair of white heels. I pulled the towel off my body and placed on panties before pulling up the body-hugging jumpsuit. The pants weren’t super tight, just tight enough to hug my curves.

“Y/N? Can I come in?” Harrison asked from behind the closed bedroom door.

“Yeah!” I answered. Harrison opened the door smiling but his smiled dropped when he saw my face. Tear stained my cheeks and my glassy bloodshot eyes stared at him through my reflection in the mirror.

“Babe, you look beautiful, why are you crying?” I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat made it difficult to breath, I started hyperventilating while the tears came out. It started to scare me, it’s never been this bad. It’s never gotten to the point where I can’t breathe and feel nauseous and faint. 

I don’t understand why I was nervous or anxious. I wanted to meet everyone my boyfriend worked with other than Tom. It’d be nice but my anxiety was on edge.

“Babe you’re scaring me.” Harrison said with panic. I heard hm fumble for his phone. “SHIT!” The crash of the phone hitting the tiles of the bathroom floor, crap I must’ve forgotten to close the door. Harrison decides to hold me, to calm me down. My tears stopped my breathing went back to normal.

“I’m sorry, my anxiety has never been this bad.” I finally get out. “To be frank, I scared myself.” I laughed a little.

“Why did you hide this from me?”

“I thought I could get a handle on it like I’ve done in the past. To be honest, I haven’t had anxiety since we’ve been together.”

“Could it have been because I’ve been away for a long time?” 

“Maybe.” I pushed myself off the floor and went into the bathroom to put on my makeup and straighten my hair.

“We don’t have to go.”

“Harrison, I’m fine! We’ll go for the photos then we can leave, if that makes you feel better? Promise.” 

“Yeah, it does. I just want to take care of you.”

Like I promised, we came home after the carpet. Harrison helped take off my makeup and got me ready for bed. Harrison gave me one of his hoodies and I immediately put it over my head and took off my bra that I had only just put on.  

I crawled onto my side of the bed beside Harrison and propped myself up on the pillows. “Why don’t we watch some good old classics?” Harrison suggested, I nodded cuddling into Harrison’s side as he flicked through our selection of films on the tv. “The Great Gatsby, Psycho or The Lion King?”

“How about all three?” Harrison nodded and we started with the Great Gatsby. He knew how to bring my spirits up with a wide selection of the classics. Some including Leo DiCaprio.

The Great Gatsby (the 2013 one) with Leo DiCaprio is probably one of my all time favourites. 

“Comfy?” Harrison asked looking down at me.

“Yeah.” I swiveled my head to look back up at him before adjusting my head on his bare chest to look at the tv. “What have I done to deserve such a sweet man like you?”

“Ask Samuel.” Harrison laughed.

“Eh, he’s still my favourite.” 

“Well someone’s anxiety has left their body and is back to their naughty self!” I gasped, faking the hurt. “Might punish you later but first my darling Y/N needs her prince in shining armour.” I squealed at his comment before turning my attention back to the movie and cuddling more into Harrison, my night in shining armour.

[fqrtescue]

                                  BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Alice Louise Fortescue PRONUNCIATION:  Alice  Louise Fortescue MEANING: Alice ( Noble ), Louise ( Famous Warrior, Renowned Fighter ), Fortescue ( Shield, Valiant, Strong Warrior ) REASONING: I mean, isn’t it obvious? NICKNAME(S): Al. Ally Cat. Ally. Fortescue. BIRTH DATE: July 28, 1959 AGE: 17 ZODIAC: Leo Sun, Taurus Moon, Scorpio Rising

Slytherin Leos can be either very good, or very bad. At their best, they exemplify all that“nobility” is made of: confidence, openness, charm, initiative, generosity of spirit, wisdom, judgment, and poise. At their worst, they become elitist, bullying bigots. How they end up depends on the company they keep, and how they are encouraged to act early in life. Either way, they never lack attention - it’s hard to ignore a Slytherin born under this sign. These Slytherins usually end up in positions of responsibility and leadership, because of their charisma and natural ability. Their creativity and drive also makes them very resourceful.

I thought this fit perfectly for Alice because not only does her name Alice mean noble, but this is just EXTREMELY Alice. She shines so brightly, like sunshine, really. I thought this also fits Alice because had Alice grown up around bigots, grown up around a father who trained her to be a weapon &not to help human kind, a mother who didn’t instill altruistic beliefs into her – she would’ve easily fallen into being on the bad side of being a Leo. Alice is open-minded and an open person, something she’s been since she was younger, something she will never grow out of. She believes the impossible as much as the possible, she believes in it and because she’s not rigid or thinks she knows EVERYTHING, she’s often got an edge during dueling when it comes to figuring out her opponents strategies. It adds to her being resourceful, while Alice isn’t always the most creative in a traditional sense, her being a fantastic dueler and able to navigate herself in her house is due the fact that not only is she cunning, but is so resourceful & able to see other people’s side of things while having the ability to manipulate people’s perception of her to work in her favor. She knows how she’s seen, she uses it to her advantage, often taking mental ( and physical ) notes of her classmates to be used in the future.

Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac and rules the back, the spine, and the heart. Positive traits include creativity, charisma, generosity, warmth, enthusiasm, a natural talent for leadership, and a great deal of inner power; negative traits are haughtiness, snobbery, an expectation that one is the centre of attention and should be waited on by everyone else,profligacy, lack of realism, dominance that can lead to bullying, and a refusal to change one’s mind even in the face of solid facts.

Alice sees the world so openly and vast, she thinks, why not? Facts are only facts because they haven’t yet been proven otherwise, and Alice believes it only takes a little bit of doubt to undermine a fact – something easy to do. I bolded ‘profligacy’ because Alice has grown up never having to worry about money, and is the type to spend it on people she loves, buy them thing after thing, anything they need. Alice always has the latest record and few extra to give away to friends, she’s there to cover your bus fair or even a train ticket if needed. She’s mothering and maternal, especially as she gets older, she wants to take care of anyone who needs to be taken care of and give back in any way she can – which is where the dominance can come in. Sometimes overbearing, when Alice believes something is best for someone, it’s hard for her to change her mind about it – this oftentimes comes off as extremely controlling even though she means well. She’s the type of person to check up on you if you even mention that you’re having a slightly off week, and ask if there’s anything she can do to make it better. This is definitely due to her generous and hospitable nature, but it is excessive and always has been – not something she would ever change as long as she lived.

GENDER: Non-Binary PRONOUNS: She/Her and They/Them ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Panromantic SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Pansexual/Demisexual

Alice’s natural hair color is a really dusty blonde, even dirty blonde. She really loves to experiment with it though, so she’ll cut it and dye it all sorts of colors - from neon green to blonde to rainbow. From a pixie cut down below her waist. Anything and everything. Sometimes, in an attempt to just get out of her own head and escape for a bit, cutting & coloring her hair is fun and gives her some of a respite. She knows it’s just hair and it’ll easily grow back with a hair potion and just does it as a way to cope with not feeling completely comfortable in her appearance. She also does ridiculous makeup, sometimes adorning very shimmery glitter all across her eyelids and wearing funky socks that don’t always match her school robes. Sometimes she prefers to wear pants instead of a skirt, and puts pins of all sorts up and down her tie. Alice also owns an extensive sunglasses collection that she tries to wear on weekends or brings at least one fun pair with her Hogsmeade weekends. Until the last year when she finally expressed her self consciousness to her uncle about how she looked, her Uncle Florean helped educate her on the Queer community etc. Alice definitely IDs as queer and she’s openly not straight ( has been for forever ), but her gender is something she keeps more close to her heart & is really trying to figure out even with the information her uncle has given her. If I had to put a label on her sexuality it would be panromantic pansexual/demisexual. She also would probably fall under and be extremely interested in Polyamory, completely loving the free love movement currently going on.

NATIONALITY: Irish ETHNICITY: French/Irish/English

                                              BACKGROUND

BIRTH PLACE: Galway, Ireland HOMETOWN: Galway, Ireland SOCIAL CLASS: Upper Class EDUCATION LEVEL: Student / High School FATHER: Gervais Fortescue, 60, Deputy Head Auror in the Auror Department of the Brtitish DMLE

Her idol. Her rock. Her mentor. Her monument. Gervais Fortescue is everything to Alice, and then some. It is thanks to him that the Fortescue’s are now labled blood traitors having been relatively neutral seeming in the past. Gervais was one of the most vocal wizards in favor of intervening in WWII, even moving to England to find a way to help the war effort as France was not a good place to be – especially after surrendering to Nazi Germany. He packed up along with Florean and made it a mission to make a difference in Wizarding Britain, succeeding as he became an extremely political and physical asset to the Ministry as years went by. Gervais is the sole reason the Ministry of Magic has been able to anticipate as many missions as they have and the reason the Order currently has half of the information that they do. His missions have now spanned all accross the world, making important & vital connections with people all over the globe. His side projects have included much research into runes, lycanthrophy, and different styles of magic. He’s not just a mentor to Alice, but a mentor to many within the Auror department, having been a mentor & trainer to many a Auror who’ve come through the department, often extending his home as a safe place for them to be in case they need somewhere to go. The only reason he’s not Head Auror is because he knows he’d lose the freedom of traveling & researching as much as he does today. Gervais has unfortunately been on many a Death Eater & Co. radars, having infiltrated their plans, throwing quite a few Dark Wizards in Azkaban over the years.

MOTHER: Lucille Fortescue neé Rowle, 57, Former Herbologist & Current ‘Stay At Home’ Mother

Once a woman who could electrify a room, Lucille was an Irish woman with more life than her Pureblood family could handle. They were far too traditional, treacherous, straight laced, close minded for her tastes and always had been. When Lucille could, she moved away from her family, cutting ties and moving in with her best girlfriends, taking a job in Ireland as a Herbologist. For a few years, she was happy that way, having grown an extensive garden, finding home in Galway, finding family, and finding a random man hiding in her garden who’d later introduce himself as Gervais Fortescue. Over drinks she learned he was an Auror currently on mission, who later explained he’d been hiding from someone chasing him. Love at first sight might’ve been impractical, but, Lucille felt an instant connection to Gervais. Two years later, they were married, living their independent lifestyles while finding a way to share their life together. Alice remembers her mother as the woman who sang to her, who read stories to her, who soothed her fears, who inspired her love for Herbology and so much more. After the death of her unborn son, Tiernan, she became a ghost of the woman she once was. In Lucille’s mind, she was every horrible thing her parents had thought of her, she was a failure of a mother, she was a failure to her whole family. The woman who used to attend every Ministry party on the arm of her husband now retreats, barely coming out to greet company, barely talking to her loved ones at all. While Gervais, Alice, & Florean know that she needs professional help, it didn’t seem like she’s able to accept it. Luckily, she was no danger to herself and has lived out her days borderline catatonic & completely detached.

SIBLING(S): Tiernan Fortescue, Deceased. EXTENDED FAMILY: Emmeline Vance ( cousin, verse dependent ), Florean Fortescue ( uncle )\

FLOREAN FORTESCUE:  | 58 | OWNER & CREATOR OF FLOREAN FORTESCUE’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR & LEATHER JACKET GAY/BI

Coming from a long line of Aurors, protectors, Hit Wixes, even noblemen who went up in the ranks because of their hardwork & success at protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves ( eventually being labeled blood traitors in French Wizarding Society for it ), Florean was much more of a creative mind. He as always working with hands, whether it was working on muggle & wizard cars & motor cycles or cooking, he always was able to create with them. He had the ambition to do something great, but didn’t like the idea of fighting. Of making the world more chaotic & less focused on the things that made your soul thrive. His love of food started at young age, and his love of making weird combinations of food started shortly after. Discovering that ice cream would be one of the perfect ways to express this mixed love of food that didn’t quite make sense was a revelation and with his trust fund, he created Fortescue’s in England. There he figured not only would it be a new start for the Fortescue name but something completely his own. Needless to say, it flourished and he’s been making flavors like Salted Caramel w/ Garlic to Strawberry Bubblegum (his niece’s favorite ), ever since. Florean also plays an important part for the Order of the Phoenix, using the apartment above Fortescue’s as an Order Member retreat and safe area. He’s also an informant & the eyes and ears keeping notes of the people of Diagon Alley.

BIRTH ORDER: Oldest! PET(S): BABY ( 7 ) & KIWI ( 9 and a half ) & BONAPARTE ( 2 ) & LILA FORTESCUE ( 15 ):Baby an Australian Shepherd, Kiwi a yellow lab, Lila a black cat that mainly keeps her mother company as her familiar. While Baby is much more Florean’s dog, it doesn’t stop Alice from kidnapping him from time to time, especially over the summer. Kiwi is Alice’s first true love, the dog she got after her brother’s death, who brings her immense support and comfort. When at home, Alice sleeps with the dog, eats with the dog, walks around her neigborhood and visits friends via floo with her dog, you name it. The pair are close, Alice still able to carry the dog even though she’s nearing tean years. When Kiwi had puppies, Alice kept one of them – Bonaparte – who separated himself from the rest with his boundless energy, constant attempt at barking ( that was often just a whine ), and non stop attention seeking nature. Alice fell in love with him right away, naming him after Napoleon as a joke because of his demanding but small nature. The runt of the litter, Alice loves him fiercely, whenever Alice is home he follows her practically everywhere – even the bath. Lila’s been around for what seems to have been Alice’s whole life, always more fond of spending time keeping Lucille company than bothering with Alice.

                                    SKILLS & ABILITIES

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: 7.5/10 only because as much as she tries to make up for it with all the training she does, while she can be lethal, she still is short and still training and always learning how to make up for that against people much bigger than that. OFFENSE: 9/10 DEFENSE: 8.5/10 SPEED: 9/10 INTELLIGENCE: 8.5/10 ACCURACY: 10/10 AGILITY: 8/10 STAMINA: 9.5/10 TEAMWORK: Fantastic at teamwork and often more of a leader than a follower. However, she will respect who is the leader if she feels they are competent enough, acting as a perfect right hand. TALENTS: Dueling. Fighting, physically. Compassionate & empathetic and able to manipulate people’s emotions to help them and if needed, help herself. SHORTCOMINGS: Emotionally repressive and compartmentalizes to an insane degree. Too forgiving. Unable to stop, take breaks, and can give into her obsessive tendencies. LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN: English, French, conversational German, DRIVE?: Yes! JUMP-STAR A CAR?: Yes, haha, thanks Uncle Florean! CHANGE A FLAT TIRE?: Yes. RIDE A BICYCLE?: Yes. SWIM?: Yes. PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?: Yes, the piano! PLAY CHESS?: Sometimes. Definitely not her first priority or something she’ll go to automatically. She’s not bad at it but she’s definitely not the best out there. BRAID HAIR?: Yes! Especially loves braiding flowers into hair. TIE A TIE?: Yes! Alice loves her ties! PICK A LOCK?: Yes!

             PHYSICAL APPEARANCE & CHARACTERISTICS

FACE CLAIM: Marilyn Lima EYE COLOR: Blue HAIR COLOR: Currently, a dark brown. Though as mentioned before, Alice loves LOVES to change up her hair, changes up her hair often. Her favorite hair color is between bubblegum pink and her natural dirty blonde. She really really loves pink though. HAIR TYPE/STYLE: Naturally, Alice was blessed with easy to manage, loose waves and fairly soft. Alice makes sure to condition and manage it really well between all her hair coloring charms, doing a few hair masks every week. The only issue she has with her hair is it’s sometimes can get oily, though she makes sure to wash it enough as to where that doesn’t happen often. Alice’s hair styles vary from Leia like space buns to loose and free. Half up, half down is probably her usual most practical style she likes to wear, adding her favorite sunflower clip at the base of the top bun. GLASSES/CONTACTS?: Alice needs glasses but only slightly – she’s slightly farsighted. She only wears them when she’s got intense studying sessions where she has to read a lot, she uses them. DOMINANT HAND: Left! But she writes with her right. Her duelling hand is her left, though. She’ll duel and write a letter at the same time! HEIGHT: Alice is a shortie. A short hoe. 5′2″ on a good day! WEIGHT: 54 kgs/120 pounds BUILD: While Alice definitely has the appearance of looking extremely thing, she’s ALL lean muscle. Most of her body weight is muscle and bones, but she is healthy enough to make sure maintains a healthy amount of fat. EXERCISE HABITS: Every morning Alice goes for a run, at least 5 miles during the school year. During the summer her training is much more intense and diversified. Alice has been learning Krav Maga as of late and takes boxing lessons from some of her father’s Auror trainee’s. She’s exceptionally trained in Savate, has been since she was a child. Alice does an intense round of stretching at night before bed for 30 minutes, rolling out her muscles, the works. After her daily run, Alice practices her Dueling, using an empty classroom she’s scouted out for Dueling Club, charming dummy after dummy to approach etc. At home, Alice trains for at least 3 hours a day ( but will take one week off a month to train less and to explore more, so, only an hour a day ), reading up on any new developments in the martial arts and dueling worlds. SKIN TONE: Bitch is white! Basically, a few shades darker than pale. TATTOOS: Carefully placed floral tattoos. As her Uncle Florean went with her this past summer ( end of June ) to get her first tattoo, something her father would blow a gasket at. While she’s planned for a good few more once she’s left home, this was her first tattoo.   PIERCINGS: Ears & Bellybutton. When I say ears I mean Helix, Forward Helix, Industrial,  Lobe Piercings, Rim/Auricle. MARKS/SCARS: Sweet lord, well, Alice has freckles very lightly spattering across her cheeks and some on her shoulders. And when I mean light, I mean LIGHT. As for scars, USUAL EXPRESSION: Usually a smile or a very open warm expression. Unless she’s Dueling or working on something, then she’s ridiculously focused and almost a resting bitch face. CLOTHING STYLE: Truly this gyal is clothing goals. When she wears jeans, they have to have a floral pattern stitched on. She loves loves loose fitting tops that are cinched at he waist. Long maxi dresses. But also? Alice loves wearing overalls when she does anything Herbology related, especially when she tends her families garden at home that her mum hasn’t kept up. When Alice means business or is just feeling like she needs to go slay, she’s very inclined to wear suits, much like Harry Styles style of suits though? Dark Florals, withplatform leather boots of all different colors. Or styles.  Jumpsuits of all colors and patterns as well. Another favorite combo is short skirts with leather jackets. When going to concerts, Alice wears her favorite floral charmed Doc martens. With EVERY outfit, Alice wears a pair of sunglasses. She has an extensive sunglasses collection she cherishes. On New Years, she goes even more into sparkles & such than she usually does. Christmas, she’ll wear something that emulates the star on top of the tree or some really ugly cheesy Christmas sweater that Florean likes to knit. On Easter, she’ll wear something long, floral and flowy.  When working out, the recent invention of the sports bra has saved her ass. Unless she’s practicing Krav Maga or Savate where uniforms are involved, for running she wears a Sports Bra with a cut out tight fitting shirt or a tank top with extremely short shorts. Some other styles include: [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] [ x x ] [ x ] [ x ]  With her school outfits, Alice gets away with as much improv as she can, wearing funky socks, adding pins on ties and jewelry galore. Alice’s favorite sort of lingerie and underclothes are lacy and delicate, otherwise she’d prefer not to wear a bra or anything too heavy duty – luckily she doesn’t have to. Sometimes Alice will bind when she’s feeling somewhat dysphoric, and those are the days she’s definitely more masc in appearance. Otherwise, Alice really does enjoy being topless & naked, unfortunately, that’s not usually socially acceptable. JEWELRY: Alice ADORES jewelry. She’s always wearing a piece of jewelry at all times. Usually stacked rings, stacked necklaces. Dangling pendants. Hanging pendants with crystals on the bottom. A ring for almost every finger. A family heirloom with the Fortescue family crest is perhaps her most prized possession. It’s been past down from son to son, until Alice, who was not a son but just as worth. Alice’s heirloom is a sword pendant. Though not in that picture, there are flowers near the base of the sword and on the blade there’s a phrase that means ‘With A Warrior’s Heart’. ALLERGIES: Bigots. Walnuts. Penicillan.

[13signs]

Trump’s transit troubles

Backlash to a Blowhard

Donald Trump's Saturn-Moon-Sun Problems

The last time Saturn stepped on Donald Trump's Moon was less than two weeks before his dreary and demoralizing inaugural. He was humiliated, caught with his pants down as he tried to exaggerate his crowd numbers. Meanwhile, the Women's march drew millions nationwide. This was the first of many gaffes, and his administration got off to a rocky start. During the term of Saturn's transit of his natal Moon, his Mexican wall, anti-Islamic immigration bills, and the repeal of Obamacare were are squashed. Moreover, his cabinet was trashed by a media broadside and a relentless meme ridicule. The "resistance" to his presidency was in full swing. He had to crawl back under the protection of the Republican party he almost destroyed.

Starting in early July, Saturn came back in retrograde to take another swipe at his bubble, and the reality of his incompetence and contradictions are coming into full view. For the second time his trajectory was stopped in its tracks. Everything he says one day is regurgitated the next to mean the opposite. The elimination of Obamacare, like an open wound, seems to be harder to deal with than he thought.

Saturn isn't accelerating the gradual descent into financial crisis and political anarchy--that's Pluto's job; but Saturn is damn well raining on Trump's parade.

In the patois of astrology, a Saturn-Moon transit is called the "Bitter Lady" and implies a very adversarial situation. It's hard-hearted, inhibited, suspicious. Any false sense of security is stripped away, and feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression make us cling to hopeless, unwinnable situations and self-destructive practices. The only emotions we have left are low-self esteem, resentment and envy. A person going through this beating isn't going to be the life of the party, much less be able to successfully pursue a political agenda.

Odd-man-out at the G20 summit

Trump's magic with the media and ability to galvanize his followers depends on his own myth of his invincibility and confidence, but Saturn has been slowly hammering away at the image, making him withdrawal into an ever smaller circle of trusted confidants. Although still popular among his millions of followers, they haven't seen any progress, nor have any of their actual demands been addressed. His quixotic policy statements are so dualistic that even his handlers are confused. His recent grandstanding at the G20 summit and his attempts at reconciliation fell flat, and he was the odd man out among a veteran set of players who seem to have already discounted him and American power. Russia's Putin and Germany's Merkel seem to have run circles around him. Internationally, he's quickly becoming old news, a flash in the pan, an embarrassment--which must disappoint Trump if not his supporters. Some foreign media have actually labeled him a "mobster".

Transiting Saturn and Trump's natal Moon conjunct in 14 degrees Ophiuchus. This really amplifies the Ophiuchus fear of persecution and hope for renewal, two very predominant influences for those who have the goddess in their birth charts. Trump is a demagogue; a blunt and direct Taurus on his best days. His Moon in Ophiuchus gives him an ability to cast spells on the unwary, like a horny old wizard hypnotizing a crowd of bumpkins at the circus. Now, in the harsh light of the internet, working behind the scenes is impossible for him; all three times that Saturn crosses over Trump's Moon have put his weaknesses in the spotlight, and will subject his brand of boosterism to piercing scrutiny.

Was it not for this cloud over Trump's Moon, this would be a fortunate time for him. Trump will get a taste of the generosity of a Jupiter return in Virgo during August that will pump him up, part of a series of very lucky Jupiter connections in August. A Virgo Jupiter is a fixer, and Trump may actually appear to enjoy a tailwind. But there's stormy weather ahead. Any optimism may be slapped down again by Saturn a few weeks later. Most of Trump's first year of his presidency has been held hostage to this Saturnean triple-slap at the presidential ego, and he's not out of the woods until November. The final Saturn transit of Trump's Moon will start to apply at the end of August, go exact on September 27 and be active until mid-October. Trump won't be free of the dour influence of Saturn on his powerful Moon, upon which he depends to bamboozle his base, until Saturn enters Sagittarius on Nov. 19.

Just as the Saturn-Moon transit ends, a new, worse and more inhibiting Saturn-Sun opposition transit goes into high gear.

During the same buildup, Jupiter will trine his Sun and Uranus will bolster his Mars-in-Leo energy, so he might be able to bluster his way through. However, Jupiter could also inflate his confidence like a balloon, expanding his ego and his stomach. He could find himself having to backtrack from exaggerations as Saturn undercuts his empty boasts with hard facts.

The final phase of Trump's Saturn-Sun transit could really strike deep and personal, exhausting him and taking a physical as well as an emotional toll on him. Trump's Sun will get the Saturn treatment for over a month, from the middle of October to mid-November (right into the Mercury retrograde period). Stephanie Johnson says of this transit:

"Life seems like an endurance test during this transit. You feel tired, worn out and old as your list of jobs seems overwhelming in comparison with your time and energy. There may be delays in your projects or simply a feeling that the fruits of your current labors are hard to see right now. It is a time to ponder on your priorities and discard any tasks that may be blocking your path, while shouldering responsibility in the areas which are important. Meditation may be useful. Certainly it is a time to watch your diet and health."

Trump is not likely to heed any of this advice, and will double down and blame others for his own lack of purpose, loss of confidence and the take-down of his image.

What a terrible time for Trump's big ego as he embarks on a 14-day Asian trip that's bound to have negative repercussions!

The Sun represents the ego, and Saturn has a malefic influence on it in opposition, where by starts and stops, the full weight of the responsibilities and frustrations of his presidency start to crush him into an untenable position. It might even mean a physical breakdown, back problems, or a general malaise from which he cannot escape. Trump's tour of Asia during this slump, and his depressed state of mind and pitiful collection of shop-worn cliches will not go over well with his Asian counterparts, especially Chinese Premier Xi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, both of whom have openly scoffed at the limits of American imperialism. Xi has recently reached a pinnacle of power, as his new 5-year plan for regional domination and world influence starts to materialize, along with the new alliances he is making with Russia, Iran, and others who now see China as the practical replacement for the failure of the US-controlled world economy and its impending melt-down. Many countries now see the gold-backed Chinese yuan as a alternative currency against the dollar. The Chinese face the consequences of their own financial bubble, and see expansion as the only way to avoid a melt-down of their overheated economy. The Philippines, Vietnam, and other Asian states all see which way the wind is blowing, and will have to realign their economic future with their regional giant, China.

A minor but very dangerous Neptune transit of Trump's Venus makes him very vulnerable to confusion, frustration and a pitiless reality exposing the true Trump and his relationship problems, which he has with almost everyone. Of course, scandal is his middle name, and his supporters have tended to overlook them in the past--when it was convenient for them. That Neptune is the planet of scandals and erosion of faith--and money, in the case of a Venus transit.

If you factor in the volatility of today's politics; the herd mentality of the mainstream media; the potential for military defeat in any of our far flung wars, (particularly Afghanistan); worsening global trade relations; and a deflationary dollar causing a hyperinflation of the cost of living, the possibilities for a major crisis seem imminent. Trump may be hard pressed to stay on top of the curve.

However, the Taurus in Trump will never let him quit. The consequences are worse, and with no real opposition from the hapless Democrats, the "sick man" of US politics, Trump may survive and go on to oversee the greatest financial crash, default and bankruptcy in history. Trump fills a void in American politics that was created by venality and greed, and that patina will stay with Trump until the end. The need is greater than ever for effective leadership, yet we'll not see any hope of change; Americans face the possibility of a Trump administration bloodied like a mortally wounded bull in the ring, kicking and trashing around, part of a global trend of failed states mired in corruption and fraud. The degree of success or failure for Trump in muddling through the gargantuan problems we face won't matter in the long run, Trump is essentially a placeholder in today's politics, since even if he knew what he was doing, he couldn't make it real. His own lack of substance, desperate isolation and peevish paranoia may spell more danger for Trump than any media backlash or attempts to disgrace him by his enemies. Trump is his own most dangerous enemy. He has nothing to give, nowhere to go, nobody to love him. He's a TV has-been that oversold himself and now must pay the piper.

Donald Trump's natal chart.

A Taurus native with a Ophiuchus Moon, he taps into the magic of mass appeal with a frank, outspoken simplicity. Trump's contradictory statements and Twitter tantrums are easily explained by his Mercury, Venus and Saturn in Gemini. Rather than the mark of the predator, Trump has his Leo Mars buried in the 13th house, closeted in a shroud of sexual secrecy that alienates him from humanity. Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in the 2nd house enable him to appear larger than life, seducing people to believe he possesses powers that far exceed his true capabilities. His Taurus planets are trine his Virgo, he's survived in public life so long because he's adaptable (for a Taurus, anyway). Trump's future is out of his hands; he's awakened a dragon of international opposition and his only weapons are the dollar and the drone, neither of which can measure up to the task of saving his presidency, or helping the country avoid a take-down of immeasurable consequences.

[wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog]

These school districts are actually changing their dress codes in response to student complaints

Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

For the past several years, American students have been making headlines for saying they felt unfairly targeted by their schools’ dress codes. Now some school districts have decided to listen to these complaints and are adjusting the rules accordingly.

“If you look nationally, there’s a lot of conversation about how some dress code policies aren’t just about dress; some school systems’ dress code policies are about gender issues, sexuality, self-expression for students,” Michael Doerrer, communications director for Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “For us in Frederick County, it’s about ensuring an environment that is conducive to learning. Period. So our board wanted to set fair guidelines that spoke directly to that, something that everybody could understand, that could be fairly and transparently enforced, and that was strictly about dress, not about those other issues.”

Emphasizing gender equity As in other school districts, girls in Frederick County had complained about the fact that teachers and administrators targeted them more than boys for violations. Paige Tolbard, the student member of the school board for the coming year, says an assistant principal pulled up the straps of her friend’s shirt to cover her bra straps in front of her classmates at lunch.

“None of us like the way that was handled,” Tolbard tells Yahoo. “If you see somebody wearing low pants or a low-cut shirt, it doesn’t really bother us as students. I don’t agree with the policy that it’s distracting for boys for females to have their shoulders out. If teachers publicly call a student out, that upsets the whole dynamic of the classroom or wherever the student is.”

After listening to students, teachers, and administrators, the FCPS Board of Education voted in July to adopt a new dress code. Instead of listing separate rules for male and female students, the new code states that its “standards are to be consistently and fairly applied to all students regardless of gender.” While the school board allows individual schools to set their own dress codes within its guidelines, it emphasizes that the codes should balance the need to create a safe and orderly environment with the students’ First Amendment rights. The code prohibits clothing that is “unduly revealing,” as well as anything that promotes violence, illegal conduct, or derogatory statements.

“Dress codes can be useful when it cuts down on provocative graphics on T-shirts, for example, as causing points of conflict between students can distract from academics,” says Deborah Gilboa, MD, a parenting and youth development expert. “It’s really problematic when it’s gender-biased in its enforcement, in terms of the messages it sends to kids about their bodies and what’s acceptable and what’s valuable and what’s admirable or not.”

Before school starts in September, Doerrer says that administrators and teachers will be trained in the new guidelines.

“I think I can safely say that no teacher or administrator wants to be the dress police,” Doerrer says. “That’s not what they’re there to do. They’re there to teach.”

A California experiment On the other side of the country, California’s Alameda Unified School District is going even further, thanks to a movement started by students at Lincoln Middle School.

“It was really in my seventh-grade year, 2016-17, and I was in leadership, when a lot of students approached us and said they’re feeling uncomfortable, they’re feeling targeted, they’re not feeling safe, and they wanted an updated dress code,” Kristen Wong tells Yahoo.

While Wong had never been officially punished for violating the dress code, she recalled an incident in sixth grade when she walked into the school office to get a community service form wearing a cardigan over a scoop-necked tank top (which didn’t show any cleavage or stomach). Someone told her never to wear it again.

“I was really upset with myself for some reason, and I was so confused,” she says. “That’s what a lot of these girls and boys were facing. They were feeling stressed out and self-conscious if someone pointed them out.”

The student group successfully petitioned the school to change its rules, and then set its sights on the whole district. After a process involving focus groups of students, teachers, and administrators, the district decided to adopt a dress code very similar to the gender-neutral model set by the Oregon National Organization for Women in 2016. The so-called Oregon NOW model became the basis for dress codes set in Portland in 2016 and Evanston, Ill., in 2017.

Like the Oregon NOW model, the code Alameda will try this year may seem startlingly permissive to those used to standard dress code rules. It lists what students must wear — bottoms, tops, shoes, and opaque material “that covers genitals, buttocks, and areolae/nipples.” Clothing that depicts hate speech, violence, illegal activity, or pornography; headgear that covers the face (except for religious reasons); and visible underwear (except for waistbands or straps) are all prohibited. But the items that are allowed include pajamas, crop tops, tube tops, hoodies, ripped jeans, and hats.

If a student happens to violate any of the rules, the code states that loss of class time should be kept to a minimum, they can’t be forced to wear someone else’s clothing, parents should not be called, and students should not be shamed by being addressed in front of classmates.

“We’re really trying across our district to reduce the barriers to class attendance to students,” AUSD spokesperson Susan Davis tells Yahoo.

Davis knows that one of the reasons many give for stricter dress codes is that they are meant to prepare students to dress in professional settings. She doesn’t buy it, because the jeans and T-shirts they’ve been allowed to wear to school aren’t considered professional either.

“They wouldn’t wear jeans and a T-shirt to work,” she says. “They’re dressing for school. Just as in college, they’re dressing for college, and most of them aren’t wearing a suit and tie.”

Gilboa thinks that while it’s valuable for kids to learn that society judges people based on how they’re dressed, that’s something their parents can teach them, with reinforcement from the school.

Leo Long, another Lincoln Middle School student involved in the dress code change, also disagrees with the notion that other students’ clothing can be distracting.

“I’ve never looked at somebody and been distracted by their clothing,” he tells Yahoo. “The only thing that distracts me in a classroom environment is if somebody’s being loud and obnoxious verbally.”

Gilboa also disputes this notion of dress codes protecting students’ ability to learn.

“In the age of tablets and phones, clothing is probably the least of our distraction concerns,” she says, adding that educators have often simply used dress code violations as excuses to deal with students’ attitude problems. “I hope that [these rule changes] will allow the staff in hallways and teachers in classrooms to focus more on what our kids are doing than what they’re wearing.”

A lesson in democratic education Another remarkable thing has happened in these school districts in the process of changing dress codes: Groups of students have learned how to use their voices to advocate for themselves.

“Involving the students in designing policies and rules teaches them to lead our schools in 10 or 20 years — and they will be,” Gilboa says.

Hearing 13- and 14-year-olds refer to “stakeholders” and “implementation” certainly drives home the point that this was a learning experience.

“Maybe I’m overly optimistic, but I don’t think this is going to lead to anarchy,” Long says. “At the end of the day, this is going to be a very positive change. It’s going to direct us to be more educationally focused rather than be overly concerned with whether or not a student is wearing a 5-inch skirt.”

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