#I saw tesla coils being used in a show and I loved them to the point i put them on my silly

[hercarisntyours]

i can't remember if I ever shared my old elita helm design from last yr 😚 anyways here it is incase 😚😚

YEAH HER ANTENNAE ARE MEANT TO BE ROUND TESLA COIL SPAKRS AND I FIND THAT SO COOL LIKE I THINK PAST ME IS SO BIG BRAIN FOR THAT I LOVE TESLA COILS AND I LOVE ELITA WHY NOT MIX THEM (like ik they're not tesla coil tesla coil without the middle but she's an alien and artistic libertry 😔😔)

[followmetoyourdoom]

I have now watched Megamind Rules! and have been pleasantly surprised...

I usually do my reviews as a good first bad last but since there's so little bad, let's start with that this time.

Megamind and Roxanne's relationship and the insistence on friends grates a little, it's not the worst thing in the world, but I could use some more soft looks or touches, they were dating! They saved the city together! That counts for something!

Only other negative thing is that ep1 has some of the lack luster writing from the new film and goes hard on the 'oh look an older generation all person who doesn't know tech' when Megamind is a technical genius. Him not knowing the internet? Sure fine though they're supposed to be buying their Tesla coils and blinky dials from a warehouse in Romania, how if not online? But the insistence at him not knowing what a TV is when he has a bunch in his lair as monitors, idk, didn't like that aspect.

Now then for the good.

The quips are really on it, the writing once it settles into 'this is the scenario we have' is really enjoyable and compelling. Machiavillian is so good, the whole game being an elaborate set up was such good writing. Bringing back the Binkey, as a source of power, yes please. Megamind's backstory being that he accidentally killed him? Excellent, love that for the blue idiot, very in character.

Speaking of Megamind being in character, oh my god was he. He was amazingly chaotic and insane and a nice mixture of genius and incompetent. The body swap ep with him running the city was astounding. Hats off to the new voice actors, they really managed to let you know that this was Megamind looking like Roxanne and Roxanne looking like Megamind.

Roxanne came into her own, I'm not happy with *how* they got to her being the mayor, but she is killing it in the role she's been handed. Her dealing with Megamind and Christina bickering is an excellent call back to her having to deal with Megamind and Metro Man quipping back and forth. The cake baking scene was hilarious. I do wish she had been involved more in the investigation side of things, and I do wonder if that's why they gave her the role as mayor, so there's an excuse for her being so busy and no longer a nosy reporter. So that a certain someone else can share the spotlight.

Speaking of that certain someone, Keiko started to grow on me as her push for social media eased off and she became more of an apprentice and a member of the team. I think having a kid who looks up to Megamind but who isn't perfect and struggles to find her place in the world fits in really well with the rest of the cast. Just, let her be that rather than an annoying social media star.

Minion is perfect and has never done anything wrong ever. Except change his name, but we're ignoring that. (Though more on that later).

The Doom Syndicate in this was very good as their antics were more background or focused to one or two eps, it let them breathe as characters and showed them being competent at times, and useless at others. An excellent balance for Megamind's old team.

Overall, when the writers were saying 'this is the story we've been wanting to tell for a long long time' and I saw the film I went 'no, surely not, surely this isn't the story that has been swimming around in your head for 15 years' and it's bc it's not. It is very clearly the build up to ep8 that is the focus. The big show down, the big game across the city, the gaslighting the entire city into believing that Megamind has returned to villainy, that excellent and compelling writing is the core of Megamind and is exactly what I was hoping for. I just wish they had had more time to think about exactly how they wanted to get there instead of crowbarring it in.

To me, they shouldn't have started with a film, they should have done a star wars style summary of this is where we're at now along the lines of "After a long life of villainy, Megamind is now the hero of Metro City. After two long days hard at work as this new hero, Megamind's old team, the Doom Syndicate returns... With the city in chaos, Roxanne takes a step away from the TV camera to the Metro City white house to become the new mayor, while a young internet savvy tween called Keiko joins Megamind's team in the hopes of becoming a superhero herself one day. We return as Megamind is, once again, getting his blue butt kicked." And then cut to the end of the film and have that as ep 1.

No nonsense with Minion leaving, again, or if he does, have it be over something new! Maybe include the name change but in a compelling way such as.

Mn: Sir, I've been thinking-

MM: Now now Minion, I do the thinking around here

Mn: I know Sir, you're very good at it Sir. But I- I don't think I want to be called Minion anymore...

MM: Don't want- but... That was the name my mother gave you, your name is one of the few things we have left from home...

Mn: ...I know, Sir, but, I don't want to be just a minion anymore- I'm not just a minion anymore! I'm your friend! I've been thinking about this long and hard and-

MM: well clearly you haven't thought long enough!!! How could you throw away your name like that? If mother had given me a name I...

Mn: I'm sorry Sir, I don't want to throw away such a gift. It just doesn't suit me anymore...

MM: well... Well, maybe, maybe we don't suit each other right now...

Mn: Okay Sir, I'll give you time to think about it.

And then have him working in the donut shop, and hey maybe the donut guy has called him Buddy. Have Roxanne talk to Megamind about how names define who we are and if he wants a new name, he should be able to pick out a new name. Make it a queer analogy! Have Megamind realise his mistake and talk to Minion about it, like:

MM: Mi- hello, old friend.

Mn: Previous Sir!

MM: Previous- oh, oh I see.

Mr Donut: Hey Buddy! Nice to see you settling in.

MM: Buddy?

Mn: My new name... It's not... Ideal, but I'm trying it out.

MM: Oh. Well. I'll leave you to try out new names then...

Mn: Sir, wait! You didn't let me finish what I wanted to say earlier. I don't want just any new name, I'm asking you to give me a new name, a name I can be proud of! If the name comes from you, doesn't that still come from home?

MM: I... I suppose it does old friend! No! Ol'Chum. Do you like that name? Chum?

Mn: it's perfect!

And like then it has sentimental value, Minion leaving has a point! It has new character growth! It's about growing and learning and changing and adapting and how sometimes you have to let the past go, no matter how sentimental it may be, to move on to the future. I might write this fic.

Anyway! I got very off track. My point is that, the end result of the new Megamind stuff is amazing, I love it, and I am excited to see where they go to next and for the love of everything - Dreamworks, give the team more money and more time! The next installment should be a new movie, now is the time for a proper movie budget, the set up is there now!

[an-american-teen-against-crime]

The Nancy Drew Villains: The Good, the Bad, and the Iconic

So here’s the thing, I feel like there are a lot of lame and mediocre villains, but there are also some really good villains and some iconic ones. To quote Megamind, the difference between being a villain and being a super-villain is in the presentation. So I will be going through the villains and organizing them, by who is lame, who makes for a good villain, and who has the aesthetic and presentation down pat. 

spoilers for every game of course. 

Mitch/Uncle Steve??: Lame. Boring. Where is the villainy? Where is the skill? Mitch wasn’t even around and Uncle Steve was sus as heck. Also Mitch in the remastered literally called and threatened Nancy with his own phone number. Props for the boiler room incident, but thats all you get buddy, you literally murdered a teenager. Like an annoying one but still. 

Dwayne Powers: Iconic. Listen. This dude is horrible and honestly really dumb but like the drama??? the presentation??? The letters, the end speech, honestly iconic and some of HeR’s best villain work however RAN was really dumb and very racist so we’re just. yeah. Dwayne you get negative points for that. 

Louis: who is he again 

no presentation, not even a good plan. He barely did anything. Worse than Mitch and Steve. 

Lisa: Not the brightest, her voice is annoying and like. I just don’t care. Lame

Joseph: Listen. He has zero presentation and also messed up but like is legit terrifying to me and him pretending to help us the whole time only to be the bad guy like w o w. Left me shook. Not a super villain but one of the top. 

sigh Taylor: no presentation. The cool red hand was Henrik so really Henrik deserves this one also pretty sure Taylor murdered an elderly couple and gave Nancy like 20% of her trauma by locking her in the monolith. I mean that was pretty evil. So maybe like a point for being extra evil. But yeah. idk. 

Emily: I mean............... the dogs, complicated but dedicated. But like she didn’t even own it c’mon girl. Rock owning four hellhounds or move over. 

Eliot: Honestly the plan was kinda great....but you had legit not a good reason to murder Nancy. Like i feel you still could have gotten an okay sentence but you tried to murder her like three times. No. 

Andy: I mean. He had a tight racket going, and was like technically the boss man but like did you see that guy? He ran a whale museum all alone. Like whales are rad but that’s just sad my dude. And for a self-proclaimed whale lover you treated that whale like crap, so negative points. Solid plan, but I’m not putting you on the good villain list because your face bothers me. 

Shorty: Legit terrifying and I hate him but like idk i dug the horse plot and hiding out in the ghost town? Great. He’s not a super villain, but like, he’s a good villain. 

jane: Iconic. Phenomenal. WOw. Legit terrifying, insanely smart, and her presentation, aesthetic, vibe? immaculate. Truly a super villain at the wee age of twelve like wowwww. 

Jane/Marion: Listen. Quite the racket she had going. Like I am legit impressed. Maybe not the best actress but she did great. Not a super villain but def a good one. 

Lori: I love this game but Lori sweetie why. Why. Like she’s an interesting character but not a good villain.

Minette: I wanted to write her off because like....it wasn’t even her idea but yakno, points for presentation that mask and the end fight ridiculous as it was, was indeed iconic. 

Big Island Mike/Pua: Mike is iconic but not for his villainy, but however I will put him in the iconic category because that’s just what he is. 

Yanni: Iconic, no I will not be taking criticism. 

Renee: Legit terrifying to me.......jury still out though if she’s a super-villain? I think just a good villain but yeah. 

Helena: Iconic. She even has a super-villain name anddddd created an art theft ring like WOW. And Nico deserves to be there too because that mask and costume was his choice and I am very impressed.

Fiona: doesn’t count but honestly props for being iconic with the hair and jet pack. I mean. She was pretty freaky. 

Corine: Iconic, wonderful presentation, actual plan was worse than the presentation but still, an icon. Also a super villain name like pop off Corine. 

Scott: No. He was a hot mess and honestly get this man some therapy.

Rentaro: hm. I am conflicted. Motivation sucked. Presentation, amazing. But like....not actually a solid villain??? Idk. Just so... upsetting. Negative points for being a dick. 

Anja: Again, not the best plan, but revenge? Iconic. The monster? Iconic. Her vow of revenge? Love to see it. Definitely a super villain. 

Brenda: Good villain but not a super villain. Zero presentation and like what is that look girl. Just no. 

Abdullah: Highkey iconic. Homie thought he was actually Rameses and owned that ish. Good and iconic villain.

Victor: Annoying. Kinda hated him but genuinly terrifying and also murder by tesla coil, like that’s pretty hardcore my guy wow. And I know everyone saw it coming except me but having him show up and then feeling trapped in there with him was really awesome and scary. Super villain level dude, congrats. 

Clara: Hm. I mean she’s pretty evil but really no presentation. I feel like she feels very real? Definitely a good villain  but not a super one.

Ewan: YOU HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL!!!! YOU WERE A SPY VILLAIN!! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BE SO LAME

Kiri: No.

Xenia/Thanos: Wow this whole plot, villain reveal, Xenia’s speech, her mind, her brilliance, the costumes, the presentation, the plot, everything. Amazing. Iconic, truly super villain levels. 

Soren: You tried. I do appreciate the axe though. But the sweater man? Really? 

Who was the villain for MID? Oh right. Alicia. What a bitch. I hope you eat a piece of moldy bread.  Thank you for reading!!!! Please share your thoughts as well. 

[dukereviewsxtra]

Duke Reviews Xtra: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Hello, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Another Duke Reviews Xtra Where We Continue Our Look At Disney...

Last Sunday On Duke Reviews, I Reviewed Disney's Fantasia Which Features Mickey As The Sorcerer's Apprentice Well, Today We're Going To Switch Mickey With The Voice Of Hiccup From How To Train Your Dragon In Jerry Bruckheimer's Version Of The Sorcerer's Apprentice...

This Film Stars Nicholas Cage As Balthazar Blake, Who Is A Sorcerer In Modern Day Manhattan That Fights Against The Forces Of Evil In Particular, His Arch Nemesis And Former Partner, Maxim Horvath (Played By Doc Ock) While Searching For The Prime Merlinean, The Person Who Will Inherit Merlin's Powers...

This Turns Out To Be Dave Stutler (Played By Jay Baruchel) A Physics Student Who Balthazar Takes As His Apprentice, Giving Dave A Crash Course In The Art And Science Of Magic And Sorcery So They Can Stop Horvath And Morgana Le Fay From Raising The Souls Of Her Evil Dead Servants So They Can Take Over The World...

Will Dave And Balthazar Stop Them?

Let's Find Out As We Watch The Sorcerer's Apprentice...

The Movie Starts With An Intro By Ian McShane...

Balthazar Spends The Ages Trying To Find The Prime Merlinean With No Child Being Successful Until The Year 2000...

When A 10 Year Old Named Dave Stutler (Played By Ben Stiller's Son From Night At The Museum) Encounters Balthazar In His Antique Store, After Straying Away From His Class Field Trip. Giving Dave The Dragon Figurine, It Comes To Life And Forms A Ring On Dave's Finger, Revealing Dave To Be The Prime Merlinean...

But When Balthazar Goes To Get A Book Of Spells For Dave, Dave Accidentally Knocks Over The Grimhold, Releasing Horvath From His Prison...

(Start At 2:34)

Found By His Classmates And Teacher, Dave Is Ridiculed By His Classmates When He Tells Them What He Saw Only For The Shop To Be Completely Empty, But Either Way Dave Keeps The Ring...

Fast Forwarding 20 Years Later, Dave Is Now A Physics Student At NYU Where He Meets His Childhood Crush, Becky Barnes (Played By Teresa Palmer)...

No, Not Bucky Barnes, Becky Barnes Though The Possibility Of Relation Can Be Questioned...

With His Feelings For Her Quickly Coming Back, He Repairs The Transmitting Mast Of The Radio Station She Works At After It Is Struck By Lightning. Released From The Urn After 10 Years, Horvath And Balthazar Escape To Continue Their Missions With Horvath Being The First To Get To Dave..

(Start At 0:38)

Landing On Top Of The Chrysler Building, Dave Refuses To Help Balthazar As He's Been Under Psychiatric Care Since They First Met But Saying That Once They Get The Grimhold, He'll Leave, Dave Decides To Help By Taking Balthazar To Chinatown Where It Has Been Located While Giving Dave Sorcery 101...

But When They Get There They Discover That Horvath Has The Grimhold And He Has Unleashed One Of The Evil Sorcerers That Was Inside Of It With This One Being A Chinese Warlock Named Sun-Lok, Who Fights Balthazar Until It Ends Up On The Streets Of Chinatown...

(End At 2:47)

Changing His Mind After Defeating Sun-Lok, Dave Becomes Balthazar's Apprentice, Giving Him A Book That Holds The History Of Sorcery As Dave Agrees To Take On The Responsibility Of Being His Apprentice...

Meanwhile, Horvath Goes To Visit A Current Evil Sorcerer Named Drake Stone, Who Is A Criss Angel Type Magician (Played By Doctor Doom From Fan4stic) To Ask For His Help Against Balthazar And Dave...

Taking A Break On A Bench, Balthazar And Dave On A Bench Across From Becky's Radio Station. Figuring Out That Dave Likes Her, Balthazar Is Somewhat Negative On The Relationship Stating That Love Is Not Good For A Sorcerer...

But Dave Follows Her To A Subway Station Where A Mugger Robs Them At Gunpoint, Stealing Becky's Grandmother's Bracelet But Chasing After The Mugger, Dave Uses His Magic To Knock Him Out And Return Becky's Stuff, Impressing Her...

The Next Day, Horvath Plans To Use The Satellite Dishes In The Financial District When The Spell Is Cast By Morgana, While Balthazar Continues Training Dave Only To Be Interrupted By Becky Who Comes Over For Dave To Tutor Her In Physics. Despite Trying To Put A Dampener On Their Relationship, Balthazar Leaves..

Showing Off His Tesla Coils, Dave Uses Them To Make Musical Sounds From Stevie Wonder's Superstition...

To OneRepublic...

So He Can Impress Becky...

It's Not Quite Can You Feel The Love Tonight But...It Works...

But As Becky And Dave Start Somewhat Of A Relationship, Dave Gets Encountered In The Bathroom By Stone And Horvath, Who Ask Dave Where The Grimhold Is After Telling Him The Truth That Veronica Is Inside Of The Grimhold...

Saved By Balthazar, Who Traps Horvath Inside Of A Mirror Temporarily And Knocks Out Stone, Dave Tells Him That He's Tired Of The Lies And Wants To Know The Truth Which Leads Balthazar To Tell Dave The Entire Backstory Again So That Dave Will Know Everything..

Getting Ready For His Date, Dave Attempts To Clean Up The Lab But Frustrated At The Mess, Dave Brings A Broom To Life Which Leads To A Recreation Of The Sorcerer's Apprentice Scene From Fantasia...

(Start At 0:25)

And Yes, I Know That Some People Complained That "They F-ed This Up This Is In No Way As Good As Fantasia!" And While That's True I Still Like This Scene For What It Is, The Actual Sorcerer's Apprentice Scene With Hiccup From How To Train Your Dragon...

Chastising Dave For Using Magic As A Shortcut, Dave And Balthazar Get Into A Big Fight Which Leads Dave To Storm Out In Anger...

Seeing Becky With Her Friends, Dave Leaves In Defeat Feeling Like He Doesn't Belong But Following Him To The Rooftop Where Balthazar Had Taken Him, Dave Is About To Throw Away The Ring, But She Stops Him, Saying That Nothing Is Ruined And That She Really Cares About Him...

Disguised As Dave, Drake Traps Balthazar So Horvath Can Search The Lab To Find The Grimhold As Horvath Reveals That The Reason He Turned Evil Was Because He Was Jealous Of Veronica Choosing Balthazar Over Him...

But Freeing Himself Balthazar Fights Horvath And Almost Loses Until The Real Dave Arrives To Save Him But Unfortunately Drake And Horvath Manage To Find The Grimhold And Leave With It...

Following Them In Balthazar's Car In A Chase That Ends Up In The Mirror Dimension From Doctor Strange, Horvath And Drake Still Get Away By Turning A Person Into A Veronica Look Alike...

Knowing That Balthazar Let Horvath Go For That Reason, Balthazar Finally Comes Clean That Veronica Was His One True Love Which Leads Dave To Decide That They Are Going To Get Veronica Out Of The Grimhold And Destroy Morgana Forever...

Back At Drake's Apartment, Drake Wonders How They're Going To Open The Last 2 Shells Of The Grimhold Only For Horvath To Use A Parasite Spell To Steal Drake's Powers And Life Force...

So He Can Open The Next Shell Which Releases Abigail Williams, A Witch From The Salem Witch Trials Who Kidnaps Becky At The Radio Station But Unfortunately After That, Horvath Uses The Parasite Spell On Her So He Can Eventually Free Morgana...

I Guess It Just Comes Down To...

Arriving At Drake's Apartment For The Grimhold, Balthazar Gets Caught In A Persian Rug Quick Sand Trap While Dave Gets The Grimhold Only For Horvath To Enter With Becky With His Cane On Her Throat Stating To Give Him The Ring And The Grimhold Or Becky Dies...

Realizing He Has No Other Option, Dave Does Just That Only For Horvath To Fire A Energy Bolt At Becky And Dave Which They Dodge And Flee As Balthazar Escapes The Quick Sand Trap...

Apologizing To Balthazar For Failing, He Accepts Saying That He Would Have Done The Same Thing Before Flying Away On A Giant Metal Eagle To Becky's Shock...

Dave Tries Dropping Off Becky But She Won't Have It As She's Involved Now So They Come Up With A Plan To Use Dave's Tesla Coils Strapped To Balthazar's Car To Defeat Morgana As Horvath Unleashes Morgana From The Grimhold In Battery Park...

Finding Them, Balthazar Fights Horvath Off As He Raises The Bull Market Bull Statue To Life So It Can Chase Balthazar. Believing Himself To Be Victorious, Dave Arrives To Halt Horvath's Celebration By Using Tesla Coils To Destroy His Cane, Defeating Him And The Bull..

But As That Happens, Becky Disrupts The Spell By Moving One Of The Satellites Which Leaves Balthazar To Suck Morgana's Soul Into His Body, Freeing Veronica...

With Balthazar Not Breathing, Dave Uses His Magic To Resuscitate Him So He'll Live Happily Ever After With Veronica As Becky Arrives For Her And Dave To Live Happily Ever After By Taking The Giant Eagle To Paris...

We Get An End Credits Scene Which Reveals That Horvath Will Return In A Sequel That Will Never Happen Thanks To Everyone, Who Didn't Like This Film...

And That's The Sorcerer's Apprentice And How Could Anyone Not Like This Movie?

The Story Is Great, The Action Scenes Are Amazing, The Cast Was Good, I Just Honestly Enjoyed It As Much As I Enjoyed The National Treasurer Movies Who's Director Jon Turtletaub Directed This..

You Know Some People Consider This As One Of The Disney Reboots But I Seriously Don't And The People That Do Are Idiots Only Question I Have Is Why Did This Movie Not Do Great?, Is It Because There Wasn't A Nicholas Cage Freak Out In It?

Newsflash! We Do Not Need A Nicholas Cage Freak Out In Every Movie He's In!

The First National Treasurer Movie Didn't Have A Nicholas Cage Freak Out And Look How Well That Did At The Box Office Where The Second One Did And Look How Bad That One Ended Up, I Still Like The Second National Treasurer Movie And I'll See The Thrid One When And If It Comes Out But Still...

Either Way I Say Don't Listen To The Haters And See This Movie...

Till Next Time, This Is Duke, Signing Off

[jack-and-pax]

Tales From Mouth Othrys

 Pax: Magical Daycare II

In Luke’s enraged exit, he didn’t notice Axel on the other side of the hallway.

         He did almost run into Mercedes and Pax. For a moment, his eyes widened with fury. Then, they relaxed. “Hey! Jack’s boy. And… Sadie?”

         “Mercedes,” she supplied.

         “Like the car?” Most of Luke’s fury faded to confusion.

         “Like in Call of the Wild,” she said blankly.

         “Huh,” Luke said. “You haven’t been questioned by Flynn yet.” The last part was a cross between a statement and a question.

         The dark circles under Luke’s eyes made Pax wonder if Luke had slept since the donut shop blew up. Pax had heard rumors of nightmares. That could make anyone cranky.

         “Shall I tell her that I take priority over her sleep?” Mercedes asked. “I’m quite flattered. She seems important to the camp.”

         Luke released a shuddered breath, exhaling the last bit of his anger. “She and Jack have a strict morning schedule to get their voices as powerful as possible for the day. I’m sorry. It’s been a long morning. I’m just very impressed by your involvement in capturing Julian.” Luke set a hand on her shoulder.

         Mercedes stiffened.

         Axel paled at the mention of his first kill. Fortunately, the medals didn’t make any noise when he touched them.

         Mercedes artfully kept her eyes off Axel and firmly on Luke’s hand. Pax got the feeling she didn’t appreciate being touched. Pax would bet that she was running through several ways to break Luke’s hand.

         She cleared her throat. Her mouth opened, as though to speak, but no sound came out.

         Then Luke walked past. He gave them one last charming smile as he waved a hand. “I’ll see the two of you later during sword practice. We’ll have to see how skilled you are with a blade.”

         He was gone, having never seen Axel on the other side of the door. He also didn’t seem to realize they had been eavesdropping. Or that the hand he’d put on Mercedes shoulder was discolored from whomever he hit.

         For a breath, Mercedes clutched her shoulder like Luke’s touch had been poisonous.

         Pax took her hand. Belated, he wondered if she hated being touched in general. “You okay?” he asked.

         Mercedes stared at him in a way that said few had dared to touch her hand. She glanced down at the contact. “I appear to have attracted a parasite.”

         “At least it’s a cute one,” Pax tried to comfort, wondering if he should let go. Her fingers shook.

         Mercedes watched Luke disappear at a bend in the hall. Hollowly, she said, “Earlier this week, I thought there were only Romans in the world and demigods didn’t have a choice: either death by monsters outside or forced servitude in the walls of New Rome. Now, I find out my half-brother on the Greek side is trying to form an army to stop a force as unstoppable as New Rome’s and he is clearly unprepared. Seeing the Greeks exist, feeling them, gives me the creeps.” She sighed. “There is so much work to do. And it starts with getting rid of this parasite.”

         Pax almost didn’t catch the last part. She snatched her hand back to shove him into the room.

         Axel, who had been listening warily, scrambled to catch up to them.

         Pax almost flopped onto his face when he saw the interior of the room.

         This room did not belong on a cruise ship. It belonged on a Frankenstein movie set.

         There were rows of shelves on one side of the room, containing—Pax blinked in surprise—spice bottles and vials. Others had scrolls and ancient-looking tomes. On several neatly spaced tables, there was laboratory equipment set up for some kind of experiment. In the center was a full fire pit, with a massive, humming suction duct above it. Pax had no idea how it was catching all the smoke—it should have been spilling all over the place. But, Pax didn’t care. What he cared about was the archaic, cast-iron pot above the fire, bubbling with a strange liquid.

         Just behind the fire stood the looming statue of three women—or a woman with three heads?—holding lit torches, swords, and other ominous items.

         Other tables had skeletons or jars for dissection.

         A black cat napped peacefully on the ribs of a massive skeleton. It lazily opened one eye to see the three of them approach.

         They passed two metal rods with sparks flying between them. Tesla coils?

         By the science equipment stood three other people. One was the chubby, sun-burned boy who had ruined their camouflage. “Come onnnnnnn, Al!”

         “Don’t call me that,” another boy said.

         The other occupants in the room were clearly siblings. One was a girl, maybe Pax’s age, with curly black hair tied into a ponytail. She was short, maybe only five feet tall. Her skin had a healthy Mediterranean glow to it. Her face was tinted pink, like she’d been crying, and she rubbed furiously at her eyes.

         The other was a boy. He was awkwardly tall, maybe close to six feet. Freckles spackled his pale features, ones that hadn’t caught up to the maturity of his height. He must have been older, at least fourteen?, but Pax couldn’t decide how much older. He leaned over a Bunsen burner, using a match to light the bottom. There was a bruise forming under one eye, a product of Luke’s temper.

         He and his sister wore burned and stained lab jackets.

         Pax’s breath caught at the most startling feature: their eyes were emerald green. For Pax, this made them unfairly hot and obviously witches.

         The plump, shorter boy tapped his fingertips together like an evil henchman. From the way his eyes seemed to glitter with ideas, Pax knew he was more an evil mastermind. “But, Al—”

         “Alabaster,” the green-eyed boy corrected again. With routine ease, he set a beaker of clear liquid above the Bunsen burner and sprinkled something into it. The liquid twisted dark and ominous.

         “Think about it like a lovely tit for tat. You know my pranks drive Luke nuts,” the blond boy said.

         The younger sister nodded her head feverously. Her eyes blazed with rage. “Matthias is right. We can get back at him!”

         Alabaster scowled, sniffing the contents of his beaker. He pinched something out of a vial on the table and dusted it into the boiling container. His eyes focused on the experiment intensely like he feared acknowledging their words or what had happened. Pax wondered if the boy had ever been hit before. Pax wondered what that would be like—to remember the first time you’d ever been hit.

         Alabaster’s shoulders slumped. “If anything is used from this laboratory, he’ll know where you got it. I will seek revenge upon Luke on my own time, in my own way. Put the ingredients away, Hanson.”

         Matthias Hanson stopped tapping his fingers together. A deep sigh bellowed from him as he slunk a step towards an ingredients shelf. With another prolonged sigh, he set a vial into an empty slot. “Chris bet ten drachma that no one could get it from you.”

         When Alabaster refused to acknowledge his pouting, Matthias took a back step towards the exit, where Mercedes, Axel, and Pax had stalled.

         The green-eyed girl folded her arms and glanced up to the ceiling. Any hint of previous tears vanished as a smirk lit up her face. “But… we can’t be held accountable if someone were to steal things from the laboratory.”

         Alabaster didn’t look at her, though his lip did twitch. “True. But, you don’t have the talent for theft or silence, Hanson. Idiotic, loud distractions? Yes. Not theft. Now, unless you want to try something—”

         “I don’t like being a guinea pig, Potter!” Matthias said, putting his hands up defensively. He backed the rest of the way out the door. He snapped his fingers and made finger guns at Mercedes, Axel, and Pax as he moonwalked past them. A loud thump sounded when he stumbled into the door.

         Mercedes glanced at a watch on her wrist and shoved the Pax brothers further forward.

         The green-eyed girl focused on them, her eyes going wide. She tugged on Alabaster’s sleeve.

         If Pax had to guess, that blush had something to do with seeing Axel’s bed head. His ruggedness often had that effect on women and the right kind of boys.

         “What are these?” Alabaster asked, not looking up. As he poured some of the beaker’s continents into a vial, he asked his sister, “Lelly, is your Mustela vial ready for trial?”

         She snatched something from a drawer and shoved it at him, still smiling shyly at the three of them.

         Alabaster set his beaker down, so he could take her vial. Its continent was green and fizzed slightly.

         Mercedes snorted and gestured towards the Pax brothers. Axel opened his mouth to answer Alabaster’s question. Mercedes beat him, her response locking the Pax brother’s and Witch Boy’s futures together.

         “New guinea pigs, apparently,” she said.

         “Ah, what fortuitous timing,” Alabaster said. He straightened and walked up to them. He extended a vial to either Pax brother; Axel, the ominous dark brew; Pax, the fuzzy green one. Reflexively, they took them. “Here, drink this.”

         “Ajax,” Axel said, sounding more annoyed than worried.

         Pax would show Axel not to worry about him doing something awesome. He popped the cork topper off his vial. When a witch tells you to drink a mysterious brew—

         “Don’t!” Axel shouted this time. His free hand reached for Pax’s face, but he was too slow.

         Pax tossed the contents into his mouth, excited for some magical goodness.

 ***

Thank you for reading! This short is quite a bit lighter than the other ones, and I hope you’re still enjoying! See what Pax turns into next week in Magical Daycare Part III.

[ourievamp]

Beetlejuice Musical fantasy

So, I fell in love with Beetlejuice the musical, the musical, the musical ever since I saw the Tony performance the cast did. It was a random YouTube click that sent me on a whirlwind of inspiration and near obsessive fandom. I immediately became a fan of Alex Brightman and have since seen Red Hook, his episode of Good Fight and any YouTube vid, soundtrack and bootleg I could find! His energy, talent and love of his work really shines in anything he does.

But this post isn’t about Brightman. It’s about the Beetlejuice show itself. If you have not seen it yet, I suggest going to Broadway and getting tickets now if you can. If not, it is not difficult to find someone with a bootleg. It is a fantastic show made by many fantastic people, but I have a few ideas for it that are a bit…out there.

My imagination runs wild with things like this. ‘How can this be different? How can it be better, go further?’ and this show was no different. I have a character in my head. Fearless and strong, able to do what she wants because she always finds a way. She wanted to perform School of Rock, but is stuck in a second shift manufacturing job. So she was able to convince her boss that she could rock the floor, while still getting her work done. Realistic? No, but when are fantasies based in reality.

So what would she do for Beetlejuice? How do you take a show like that to another level to satisfy her adrenaline needs? There is an interview towards the beginning of the show’s run where Alex and Sophia Ann-Caruso are speaking about the work put into the show and Alex points out ‘It’s stunts!’ and this makes my fantasy self laugh.

‘I’ll show you stunts!’

The start of the show would begin as it does on the Great White Way, but as if Brightman had actually taken cocaine in the wings….and speed. My fantasy self would run and jump over and off anything she could at a whim! Physically fit enough for the stunts, and understanding her body to an extreme degree to avoid injury. What she can do really tests the limits of what a person can do.

She really kicks it into high gear for Say My Name. When I first saw the show my thought about the set was ‘that ‘roof’ is way to small…and so low to the ground!’ So the fantasy would perform the number on a high wire (The strange thing is? I thought of this BEFORE I saw Alex’s interview for Pizza Your Mind https://youtu.be/8jctcvwmykM in which he mentions a talent for wire walking!) The two actors would move and jump over one another high above the audience!

The show would have to keep that kind of energy up, though. So how do you top a high wire act?

I don’t know how Tesla coils work, so it is possible that the things I describe here are dangerous, perhaps even impossible, but, like I said, it’s a fantasy.

Beetlejuice has some impressive power that he uses in the show, depicted by flash paper, lighting, moving sets, and bangs on the Winter Garden stage. My idea would be to use lightning! Tesla coils backstage and a chain mail jacket would aid in this (‘Bitchin’ resistance training.’ Is what she’s say when someone comments on her performing in such a costume). Act 1 would end with bolts of lightning generated from the coils, striking the actor, and being directed to targets like the light fixture, walls, and the pig!

Now, this would obviously be rather painful for my fantasy self, so she would have a rather high pain tolerance and utilize the intermission to recover from the electricity coursing through her body.

Act 2 would be the real test. That Beautiful Sound would best be performed while the actor was wearing the chain mail jacket. Her strength and endurance would have to be increased in order for this to work. She’s dance the number out of the jacket, then on, to develop both to the level needed. Lightning would be used sporadically, and strike near the actors who become possessed for the ‘dance break’, also the ‘She’s in for a shock’ line! It would make for one hell of a show!

Beetlejuice could not be the only one with the stunts, though. My fantasy world is a little self-centered. I want to play BJ, so most of the dream is from that perspective, but there is one exception: Barbara 2.0. It never felt right that only a few things were broken during this number so I always wondered how cool it would be for their past projects to whirl around them as they find their power together, destroying the past as they faced their future!

The séance would need another one up, and Beetlejuice’s hair was and inspiration for another element used on stage. What if the ghoul rose from that stage lit on fire? This jacket would have some kind of fuel on it, maybe gas. Something providing as much control of the element as possible. Beetlejuice in his fury would throw flames on stage, directing his power to the chains and such as needed. The flames would dissipate when Lydia leaves and instead, BJ would opt for throwing knives hurled at various targets (this will continue later).

I am sure that some more effects can be used in the Netherworld, especially for Lydia’s search for her mother. I thought that doubles of the actress would run through, sometimes having mirror images of the girl running about, adding to the otherworldly look of this scene!

The Wheel of Death is where more knife work would be added. Otho would spin on the wheel while Beetlejuice would throw knives at his body, but they would miss! BJ would comment on why his aim is so shit as he pushes the wheel away, leaving room for Lydia to reappear.

Lydia takes control of the show from now on, so my fantasy reverts back to the default of the Broadway show. Sometimes Lydia is hovered in mid-air, with no possible way of doing it, but that’s about it.

So…What do you guys think?

[imgoldielikehawn]

Almost Human Part 1

Hello foolish mortals, as most of you know I write for enjoyment and for a challenge. As of late I have become enamored with the Ghost Adventures Show and crew so without further ado here is part one of Almost Human....

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Zak Bagans Ladies and Gents

For centuries I have wondered this wasteland called Earth, doomed by my predecessors.  I am neither Living nor dead, I simply am.  Though it seems most days I am invisible. I have never known the luxury of love or companionship nor children or motherhood. The ruins from my past bring me comfort and grief all the same and the only thing that awaits me is the stench of one thousand rotting corpses within the pits of hell. Long ago when the earth stood still and the land was ruled by demons and angels I was betrothed to the fallen angel himself, that’s right yours truly was destined to remain in the above lands for all eternity. But when he fell I was given a choice; I could either join him in the lower lands or I could stay in the heavens, but of course there was a catch. There always is with the man humans call GOD, I could stay above in wealth and happiness but I would be promised to someone else.  Like the naïve Angel I was I vowed to stay true to my lover and asked to be set free.

I’ve watched humans fall in love every moment of every day for more years than I care to admit. The only thing I’ve seen more than love is pain and even still I have never witnessed a pain quite like my own.   Upon my arrival to the Lower lands I learned the cruelest fact of life; no one is immune to the bitterness of failure… Magnus as he was called before he fell; didn’t love me anymore. So he claimed my life for his own. When my soul hung in the balance he did me another disservice, the son of bitch cursed me to roam earth for all eternity until I found someone who loved me. The perfect travesty, while he was doomed so was I.  For a while I went through life as I always had, residing in the shadows, observing but never interfering, until I encountered God’s latest creation… Man

What a waste honestly, vain and vile creatures they were. I watched as the raped and pillaged over the years. Ruining life after life, ending life after life; all the while wondering why God hadn’t wiped them out. Instead he was forgiving them at their will and requests.  Sickened I was, most of all at the way women were treated by their male counterparts. The rage that filled me also gave me purpose and with this came my new name… Lilith.

When you are in the state that I am in (Though hopefully none of you will ever be) you don’t really have a place to call home. I frequented places where humans avoided until I required entertainment or someone called out to me.  After the first century I became well known, though my name has changed some over the last hundred years my role in this world remains the same, Misery and death to men…

Every now and then I get a “Visitor” sent by Magnus. Most of the time it was a lesser demon he trusted. On this particular occasion I was standing atop the Statue of Liberty when I felt a rush of air and I turned quickly to see Abaddon appearing behind me. He was Magnus right hand; Demons were all the same in my eyes; Filthy trash and nothing more. Magnus however, saw them on levels. Trust, reliability among other things that meant nothing to someone like me. “You found me” I stepped to the edge of the catwalk.  “I always do. The boss sends his best wishes and asks that you be exceptionally careful” Abaddon said in a deep voice.

“Careful? Something stirring?” I crossed my arms over my chest and took another step towards the catwalk edge.   “A lot of the lesser demons have been hanging around some famous Ghost Hunter, as you know this makes our  presence known to the living and paves the way for Demon hunters” his voice was very curt. “I’m neither ghost nor demon and you can tell your boss to shove his well wishes up his Ass”  I levitated up and over the railing,  gave a nod and pulled my arms around myself; causing an instant shift in my gravity and began to plummet to the icy waters below.

As I fell I was quite  agitated that Magnus felt he had any right to worry on my behalf, he happened to be the very reason I was in this mess. The dark waters seemed far too eager to welcome me, so just before I hit them I opened my arms and remained hovering above the waters. This human form was growing tiresome and I longed to be in my natural skin. I closed my eyes and started to feel my blood literally boil and my skin seemed to catch fire. I was screaming in agony into the deep night.  You see, my powers came with a price. Pain was the payment and energy. Whenever I take human form, I try to stay in the same skin for at least a month before I returned to my true state. Stripped bare of all human attributes I was something to behold. My hair was long and dark with parts of it dreaded white. My eyes were never the same color; you could compare it to a mood ring.  Ancient runes covered most of my skin because a lot of the spells I conjured left permanent markings.  Dressing modestly just wasn’t in my nature and since I spent most of my time seducing rapists and murders, I needed to look as enticing as possible.

I was intrigued by this “Ghost Hunter” I had watched them evolve over thousands of years. Always searching for monsters in the wrong places. Shaking my head I decided to pay this hunter a visit. I paused when I realized that Abaddon had not spoken the hunters name nor location. I suppose I would just do a spell to find out on my own. Drawing on the energy from the surrounding area I called forth the power of sight. In my head I began to see flashes of Paris? No Egypt? Showgirls? What the fuck! I thought, had the spell gone wrong… and then it dawned on me. I smiled to myself wickedly and closed my eyes imaging my destination firmly in my mind. “Miranotos Sontonyoma!” I said out loud.  When I opened my eyes I was standing on top of a building. I could smell the booze and sex in the air and only one place could hold this much potential for destruction… Las Vegas…

The place was still the same; desolate and full of insubordinate human beings.  I reverted to my spiritual form and began my walk amongst the people of Vegas.  It was late on a Saturday night; the streets were packed with pedestrians and performers alike. This place has always been a party city but I’ve done my best to avoid it. When the general population started to expand I discovered that crowds are the worst place to be for someone such as myself.  Imagine sticking your finger to a Tesla Coil, it would kill you right?  In my spirit form I can absorb the energies of Humans and electronic items around me, the more energy I absorb the easier is it is for me to become a physical form.  Sometimes that energy is absorbed whether I want it to or not and when it does it enhances other abilities that I have.  It was happening to me at this very moment; in one instant I could hear every thought of every human being within a mile's radius. I needed to get to my destination… and fast.

I was crossing the street when I noticed an abnormally large crowd.  The humans were almost spilling over the sidewalk. They all seemed to be waiting for something. With all this chaos I cursed and resigned to hovering above the crowd instead. There was a large Black sign and several of the people below held signs they’d made themselves.  “We Love you GAC”, “I Want To Be Locked Down With ZAK”.  I was momentarily puzzled by all the noise I started to hear until I saw a black sort of cargo van pull up to the crowd and they parted.  When the van stopped a group of men got out. A flash of the hunter I was looking for went through my head as my eyes landed on the driver of the van. “My goodness!”  I gasped and quickly I went from above it all to part of it. I situated myself in the thrashing and screaming crowd as I watched the man sign scraps of paper and any item the humans had to give.  There were many people that were of famed reputation that I had met over the years. I’d even slept with a few of my favorites, but this man was something different.  Abaddon was right; they were a popular group of hunters.  I silently followed them into the building as they walked inside. The dark haired human appeared to be the leader and the others were quite entertaining. If nothing else I wouldn’t be bored that’s for sure.

Inside of the “Building” actually turned out to be a home; and quite the lavish one if you ask me. They all went their separate ways and I followed the one they kept calling Zak. “I swear humans names have gotten stranger in the last century” I said out loud and I swear I saw him shift.  Raising my brow I watched him enter a bedroom. It was particularly dark and full of strange objects. He dropped the bag he carried by the foot of the bed and before I could blink his shirt was over his head. I gasped for a second time that evening.  His skin was of olive tone and there was tattoos scattered across his skin ; to say he was in shape did not quite do him justice. He was gorgeously trim in all the right places. His arms bulged perfectly and I was impressed.

 “I know you’re here. I can feel you” he turned to face where I would have stood had I been visible.  “I’m not afraid and I’m not going to hurt you” His chest rose and fell evenly and I knew he was telling the truth about not being frightened.  I focused my energy and felt my skin tingle as I revealed myself. His eyes grew large and he took a single step back as I lowered to the floor.  “Full Bodied apparition, I’ve never seen one this clear” he stammered.

 “First of all; I am not an apparition second my name is Lilith and you will call me by no other name” I closed the distance between us in literally an instant. I wanted to unnerve him and make him uncomfortable.  He did not jump but I watched as he let out a huge breath.

“Be still. I am here because of the stir you’ve caused in the spirit world. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.” I lifted my hand to his chest and he flinched.

 “Relax, I mean no harm, I just want to see what’s inside your head” I kept my hand hovering over his chest and he nodded. When my hand touched his chest his eyes followed. I placed my other hand the side of his head.

“Look at me. I want to see your eyes” he lifted his eyes to mine. I was greeted by flashes of a young man who seemed very lost. The scenes changed quickly and before long I watched he and two other men go through houses shouting and laughing.  I removed my hand from his head and pulled the hand that remained away from his bare chest.

“Thank you” I said turning to go. “Wait! Don’t go yet” he seemed to find his voice again. “I’ve never been able to touch a .. Well… What are you?” I frowned but a small smile played at my lips “Not one for subtlety are you?” “Sorry no. so what are you? Who are you?” he still stood at the foot of the bed with no shirt and his pants were unbuttoned.

I paused letting my eyes admire him in his glory. “I will answer your questions if you make yourself presentable.” I smirked and crossed my arms. He looked confused and then took off to the closet. I could hear him rustling around and when he emerged he had on a white t-shirt and his pants were buttoned. I was disappointed that he had covered his wonderful body but I would not be able to concentrate on a conversation had he remained exposed. Something about him called to me and I was intrigued by it. Of course I always kept an air of caution, though his intentions seemed rooted purely in curiosity; he could very well be my demise.  Just from the way he looked I was half inclined to believe that this was a trap set by Magnus. He sat down on the bed and I remained standing.

“My Name is Lilith and I come from a time where angels and demons ruled the earth. I am neither Human nor spirit nor am I a Demon. When I was young I fell in love with an Angel named Magnus. He committed a horrible act and when he was banished God gave me a choice, I could stay and live in the upper lands or I could live in the lower lands with my love.” I paused shaking my head.

“Seems like an easy choice” he said.

“You sound naïve as I did. there was a catch to this “choice” if I stayed in Upper lands I would be married off to someone else and to someone who thought she’d found the love of her life…” I closed my eyes and waited in silence. “So you chose hell” he finished. “So I chose hell and when I got there, Magnus was so bitter about his failure that the pain engulfed him.  I became an afterthought, so he killed me in a fit of rage” I said bitterly. “So let me get this straight. You were an angel….” he seemed genuinely shocked. “I know I don’t look like one anymore do I?” I chuckled and sighed. “Well, I’ve never seen an angel so I can’t really say” He smiled. “As I lay dying my soul lingered between the spirit world  and the physical world, Magnus made sure I would be just as miserable as him by cursing me to roam the earth for eternity alone.” i crossed my arms and looked over at Zak. “That is pretty shitty, I’m sorry”. He stared at me intensely. “It is the way of the world forever doomed to repeat itself” I turned my back to his gaze.

“So how long have you roamed the earth?” he asked. “I am older than the earth. the centuries sort of bleed together after the first 10,000 years” I smiled to myself continuing to stand facing the window. “So what do you do when you’re not standing in my bedroom” he ran his fingers through his hair. I had not turned around but I had profound hearing and after being around humans for thousands of years I recognized certain sounds more than others.

“I kill men.” I turned around so I might see his face.

“Like a succubus?” he swallowed but I could see the excitement on his face.

“Yes, but much more powerful. You have nothing to worry about I’m not here to seduce you.” I grinned and watched him lick his lips. It was no secret that those who hunted ghosts for a living usually picked up a few kinks along the way, but even so I found myself amused. “Why not?” he asked. “One, I’ve seen inside your mind Zachary. You might have your fellow hunters fooled but I’ve seen your deepest desires.” I watched his face turn red and he cleared his throat. “Two I must go. I have places to go humans to kill and spells to perform” I finished. “Will I see you again?” he got up from the bed as I walked up to him. I placed my hands against his chest and slowly rose from the ground so that we were eye level. I leaned forward and paused.

“After I place my lips against yours you will feel dizzy but you will always be able to call for me. I make no promise to always answer, do you understand?” He nodded slowly and I let my fingertips linger on his inviting lips. Whenever I look back on this moment I can still feel the same shiver go through my body as I leaned forward. My Otherworldly lips met his Human ones I felt something that even now I still cannot put into words. I pulled back and when Zak opened his eyes I was long gone...

[marvelous-imagining]

Surrogate Mother

Request: I have this amazing idea for a Steve imagine that I was hoping you could do. Y/n is peppers bff. Tony and pepper want to have a baby but pepper can’t carry said baby. Y/n offers to be the surrogate mother for them. Around 4/5 months she moves into the tower so she can be close to tony and pepper. Steve falls in love with y/n and there’s flirting. After the baby is born their relationship takes off.  Not sure if that sounds like something you’d want to do.

A/N: We all know I have no imagination, so the name is just… yeah. I love love LOVED this request! Sorry for taking so long to finish it! Hopefully you like it. Also, I mainly wanted to keep this as a fluffy imagine, so I didn’t go to specifics about pregnancy and the possible sadness that comes along with giving away the baby,  I know that is a lot harder than for others. 

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Words: 5,221

Warning: pregnancy, surrogacy, fluff 

Okay, I don’t know much about childbirth, I tried to do some research so if something I wrote makes no sense, feel free to tell me so I can fix it. Decided to name the baby after the inventor Nikola Tesla, who invented the Tesla Coil because I love the idea of Tony naming his child after an inventor (also because I googled “what would Tony Stark name his daughter?” and someone on yahoo answers said Tesla… I was desperate, ok?)

It all started when you decided to hang out with Tony and Pepper in the tower. You hadn’t seen Pepper, your best friend, in so long and you just wanted to catch up. Tony heard you were visiting, so he decided to join the two of you.

Tony got you a few drinks which you gladly took and the three of you started conversing, catching up on what had been going on in your lives.

“So…” You said as you gulped down the remains of your drink after telling them how your life was going. “What’s the situation between the two of you?” You asked, smiling warmly at your best friend with Tony’s arm wrapped around her.

Pepper shrugged, smiling at Tony. “Nothing much.” She said and turned towards you again, clearly hiding something.

“What are you hiding from me?” You asked while narrowing your eyes jokingly. “You can trust me! I’m your best friend. C'mon, what’s going on?”

Pepper turned to Tony again and raised her brow. Tony nodded and kissed the side of her head. You looked at them in confusion and started filling your glass again. Pepper looked at you, trying to stop herself from smiling as she laced her fingers with Tony’s. “We, uhm…” She started, still hesitating to tell you. “We’ve talked about… having a baby.” Pepper finally said, making you almost spill your drink.

You cursed silently under your breath and turned to look at the two in surprise. “A baby?” You asked, seeing them nod. “That’s a big step to take.” You stated, checking if any droplets of your beverage had tainted any furniture. “I’m so happy for you!” You said and turned your attention fully back to them.

The smile your lips had harbored quickly disappeared as you saw your friend frown.  You sent Tony a questioning look and saw him looking at Pepper with sad eyes. “What’s wrong?” You asked.

Pepper shook her head, looking back at you. She opened her mouth to say something but was quick to close it, not knowing how to break the news to you. Tony placed his hand on Pepper’s thigh, comforting her.

“Pepper?” You asked quietly, carefully.

She glanced down at Tony’s hand on her thigh and looked back at you with a slightly scared look on her face. “I can’t carry a child.”

You were quick to lower the glass that you were just about to take a sip from and circled the coffee table, sitting on the couch beside her. You looked at her, seeing a sad smile on her face as her gaze fell on her lap. You wrapped your arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry.” You whisper. “How long have you known?”

“Long enough that I’ve learned to live with it.” She said as you pulled away. “I’ve known for months now, it’s okay, really. There are other ways to have a child.”

You nodded along as she spoke, your hand rubbing her back soothingly as you looked to Tony, seeing almost unnoticeable frown on his face. It was clear that they both had had some time to get used to the fact that Pepper is incapable of carrying a baby.

“So have you planned on how…?” You asked carefully, not wanting to pry or upset them in any way.

“Well,” Tony spoke up, making Pepper turn towards him. “We talked about adoption but we also found out that it’s still possible to genetically create a baby from her eggs and my sperm, so then we talked about surrogacy.”

“And you prefer the latter option?”

Tony nodded while looking at Pepper. “Who wouldn’t want another Stark in this world?”

“I think one’s already enough.” You muttered and leaned over to grab your drink from the coffee table. “So you’re sure you want to go for surrogacy?”

“Pretty much.” Pepper said while nodding. “We just need to find a surrogate mother.” She continued and took Tony’s hand in hers. “It could take up to two years if not more if we sign on with a surrogacy agency… That’s such a long wait.” She sighed, laying her head on Tony’s shoulder.

“I’ll do it.” You said without thinking.

Pepper’s head shot up from Tony’s shoulder and they both looked at you in surprise. “W-what?”

You found yourself feeling shocked by your own offer as well but shook it off quickly. “I’ll do it.” You repeated. “I’ll be the surrogate.”

“Alright, I think that’s enough of drinks for tonight.” Pepper laughed but stopped as she saw the look on your face. You were being serious.

“Are you sure?” Tony asked with her brows raised. “Y/N, you know you don’t have t—”

“I want to.” You interrupted him. “I can see that you two are struggling with this situation and I don’t want you guys having to wait so long to have a baby since you want one so badly.”

Pepper looked at you in awe and Tony’s eyes welled up with tears. “Are you serious? You better not be joking or I swear—”

“I’m absolutely one hundred percent serious.” You said as a smile made its way to your lips. Pepper threw her arms around you and pulled you in for a hug.

“You’re the greatest friend anyone could ever wish for.” She muttered. “I can’t believe you’d do this for us!”

“I’d do anything for you, you know that.” You said back and looked at Tony who was trying to hold back the tears.

You pulled away from Pepper, chuckling as you moved over to sit beside Tony and hugged him too.

“Thank you, Y/N. You really are the greatest friend anyone could ever have.” Tony said as he hugged you back. “Hopefully you won’t regret this tomorrow morning.”

“I won’t.” You promised.

The promise was kept.

Fortunately everything went perfectly, no problems with the embryos, no miscarriage, everything was going smoothly. You had gotten to the fifth month of your pregnancy and Tony and Pepper offered to let you live in the Stark Tower for the rest of the pregnancy. They wanted to be near the baby and make sure everything was going great.

Neither of them had told the others about having a baby. It was Tony’s idea. He wanted to see the surprised looks on his teammates faces. Nobody even knew you were going to live with them for at least the following four months.

You held your stomach while you stepped out of the car that dropped you off at the Tower. You saw Tony standing by the door, opening his arms to invite you in for a hug. You accepted the hug and he leaned in, pulling back slightly as he looked down at your stomach. “I’m not hurting you or the baby, am I?” He asked.

You chuckled, shaking your head. “No, Tony. You’re not.” You said and pulled him in for a hug again. “Where’s Pepper?”

“Hard at work.”

You nodded and the two of you headed inside. “So how’s everything?” Tony asked you.

You smiled while looking down at your stomach. “Everything’s perfect.” You told him. “No mishaps or anything.”

Tony smiled, relieved. He lead you to the elevator. He pressed a button and soon the doors opened on the floor that was your destination. He showed you the way to the common room of that floor and told you to just relax and maybe get to know your surroundings if you wanted to.

You decided to just take seat in the common room. Nobody else was around so you just decided to lie down and maybe take a nap since you were feeling pretty tired from having the baby kicking your stomach all night, barely letting you sleep.

You heard someone coming and opened one of your eyes to see Steve Rogers nearing you, not looking up from the ground as he talked to someone on the phone. You quickly sat up and looked at him, waiting for him to lift his gaze and see you but he didn’t. You waited until he was done with the phone call to clear your throat and finally make him look up, seeing you sitting on the couch.

“Oh…” He sighed in surprise. “Hello.”

“Hi.” You said back.

You chuckled after a moment of silence at the awkward silence between you two and you decided to introduce yourself. “I’m Y/N.” You said.

“Steve. Steve Rogers.” He replied and walked up to you, extending his hand for you to shake it.

You tried to push yourself off the couch and failed the first time which lead Steve to ask if you needed any help. You shrugged his offer off, as sweet as it was, and stood up yourself, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.” You said politely.

“Likewise.” Steve replied with a small smile. “So… You’re…” He started while looking down at you.

“Pregnant. Yes.” You said while running your palm over the bump. “I’m on my fifth month.”

“Does the father work here, for us?” He asked. “For Tony, possibly?”

You tried to prevent the smile from growing on your face and bit your tongue before speaking up. “No, Tony Stark is the father.”

Steve’s eyes widened and he took a step back, looking at you with surprise. “Tony?” He asked firmly. “But… He’s…”

“With Pepper, yes, I know. She’s my best friend.”

Poor Steve was so shocked and confused. He looked around the room as if he could have found the answers to the millions of questions flooding his mind. You felt kind of bad for not explaining it further but you also found his reaction quite amusing.

“Hey, Y/N.” You heard Pepper come from behind you. “It’s so glad to have you here.” She said and pulled you in for a hug. “How’s the baby?”

You took a quick look at Steve and saw that his gaze was switching between the two of you. The poor guy was so incredibly confused.

“The baby’s doing great!”

“Did Tony show you your room, yet?”

“Your room?” Steve asked. “You’re coming to live here?”

Pepper seemed to pick up on Steve’s confusion and turned to you. “Steve can show you your room.” She said and placed a hand on your shoulder. “You can maybe explain this baby situation to him.” She said with a slightly warning tone in her voice.

“I-I don’t know where her room is.”

“It’s the empty one on this floor .” Pepper said and hugged you quickly before excusing herself to get back to work.

“Well,” You sighed and turned to Steve. “I guess I have some explaining to do.”

Your life at the tower was very pleasant. You got along with the team very well and they were all very supportive of your decision on being a surrogate mother for Tony and Pepper, especially Steve. Steve was very supportive. If anyone had something negative to say about the surrogacy, Steve was there to defend you and say how incredibly selfless and how great of a friend you were for doing it.

Steve was someone you got along with very well. Sure, you got along with the other members of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes but you and Steve had grown very close. There had been some flirting back and forth but neither of you had taken the step to initiate anything further in whatever what was going on between the two of you.

Before your mind got the chance to wander and make you think of all the different reasons why your relationship with Steve hadn’t escalated to anything more than flirting, you placed a hand on your stomach and let out a grunt, gaining Steve’s attention. He looked at you and saw the discomfort you were showing on your face and saw the hand that you were holding your stomach with, making it clear to him that you felt pain. “What’s wrong?” He asked, brows furrowing in concern.

“Nothing, just a little contraction.” You said with a dismissive wave of your hand.

“Contraction?” Steve asked, brows shooting upwards. “Contraction?” He repeated, making sure he heard you correctly. As you nodded, he shot up from his seat. He walked over to you and pulled you up from the couch, surprising you. “We need to get you to the hospital!” He said hurriedly and started leading you towards the elevator. “FRIDAY, let Tony know—”

“Wait, Steve!” You yelled out and placed a hand on his chest. He stopped abruptly and turned to look at you with worry still evident on his facial features. “It’s false labor. The doctor said this could happen towards the end of the pregnancy. Everything’s okay.” You told him with a small smile on your lips. “There’s no need to worry. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Absolutely sure? He asked, his face softening as he realized there was nothing bad happening. He brought his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it as his gaze fell to the floor. "I’m sorry…” He apologized in embarrassment.

You shrugged. “No need to be sorry. It’s actually kind of sweet how worried you are about the baby.” You said with a shy smile.

Steve let out an embarrassed chuckle. “It’s not the baby that I’m worried about.” He muttered out. “I mean, the baby is not the only one… Of course I’m worried… I mean—”

“Steve, I get it.” You said with a laugh and patted his chest. “It’s… sweet.” You admitted, moving your hand up to his shoulder before running your fingers softly down his arm. Your hand absentmindedly wrapped around his bicep and you let out a sigh.

You heard Steve clearing his throat and you quickly pulled your hand away and looked away in embarrassment. Before you could open your mouth to apologize you heard Tony call out for you. You turned back to Steve and excused yourself before going over to Tony. “What’s up?”

Tony sent you a knowing smile and glanced back at Steve whose face was a bit red from blushing. “Seriously, it’s painfully obvious that you two have a thing for each other.” He said and turned back to you. “I’m fine if you two go on a date or something but you’re not allowed to enjoy his Capsicle while you’re carrying my child, you hear me?” He asked with a warning tone.

“Nothing’s going to happen!” You assured him. “And ’his Capsicle’?” You asked. “Way to make the most of an overused nickname.”

Tony nodded. “Anyway, the thing that I needed to talk to you about is that I’m planning on a little surprise for Pepper. She’s very busy at the moment but she’s also worried about us not being ready for the baby, so I was thinking I should start on the room for the baby but I’m afraid I’ll go too far and she won’t like it, so… I was just wondering if you’d want to help me?” He asked hopefully. “I mean all you do is sit around all day, you don’t have much to do.”

“Excuse me, I do not sit around all day doing nothing!”

“Oh, yes, of course… You also fawn over Cap over there—Ouch!” He whined as you hit his arm. “Alright, alright.” He muttered, lifting his hands up in mock defense. “Will you help me, please?”

“Of course I’ll help you.”

“That’s great. Thank you, Y/N.” He said before heading away. “You know, when we start bringing all the heavy stuff like the crib and all, maybe we can call Steve to help us. I’m sure you would love to—”

“Shut it, Stark!” You hissed and looked behind you, afraid that Steve overheard what Tony said.

Tony just continued his way with a small scoff and you walked back to Steve, seeing him raising his brow, asking what Tony wanted.

“He’s planning on a surprise for Pepper. He’s going to be decorating the baby room for her.”

Steve nodded, “That’s nice of him.” He said and you agreed. “Wanna bet that kid has a more expensive room than our rooms combined?”

“Yeah, and two rooms, actually. One here, one back at the mansion they mostly live in. And hey, how do you know the furniture in my room isn’t worth a lot?” You challenged with a cocked brow.

He shrugged, “Haven’t seen your bedroom.” He said and smirked. “Maybe I should drop by sometime, see it for myself.”

“Oh, my…” You laughed. “That’s very forward of you.”

Steve’s smirk faltered and he harbored a panicked look on his face. “I’m sorry, was it too much? I didn’t mean to—”

“No, it’s good.” You assured him. “Your flirting’s getting better.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah.”

You two looked at each other for a moment before you both started laughing.

“Do you want something to eat?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, I’m starving.” You said and yelped as you felt the baby kick. “Oh, this one agrees.” You chuckled. The kicks continued and you invited Steve to feel the baby. He seemed hesitant at first but when you told him the baby would probably stop soon, he carefully laid his hand on your stomach. He had a small smile on his lips as he felt the kicks against his palm. Steve’s face was very close to yours and you took a close look of his eyes. They were fixated on your belly as he held his hand over your bump. You noticed how long his beautiful lashes were and fought the urge to run the pad of your thumb on them and feel the feathery touch.

“This is amazing.” You heard him whisper.

“It is.” You smiled and looked down at his hand that was still on your stomach.

Sitting in the living room while watching TV, you felt a contraction hit you but a lot different than what you’d had before. The pain hadn’t started from your lower abdomen as it usually did, this time the pain had started from your lower back which you had just shaken off, tried to change your position to make the pain stop but it had now wrapped up around your abdomen. The pain was worse than it had been before and you grunted loudly. You decided to ignore it and change positions every once in a while to relief the pain.

After a while you made a move to sit up you felt water leaking down your thighs onto the couch and that’s when you realized you were actually giving birth. Your water had just broken. It was no false labor anymore.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., can you let Tony and Pepper know that their child is possibly on its way?” You asked, biting down the moans of pain that were threatening to escape your mouth.

“They’re quite busy, Miss. They asked not to be distu—”

You let out a sound close to a sound a cow would make while in pain. You grabbed the backrest of the couch while kneeling on the soft cushion, breathing heavily.

“I’ll inform them right away, Miss.” The artificial intelligence said after hearing how much of an immense pain you were feeling.

You heard someone coming in the room and you looked up to see Steve standing at the doorway, taking in your pained form. He was quick to walk over to you and help you off the couch. He let you squeeze his hand as you felt another contraction coming. He held you up as you held onto his arms while groaning in pain. “They keep getting worse.” You hissed and released your grip from him. “I need Tony and Pepper here now.”

“We’re here, we’re here!” You heard Pepper yell out as she and Tony made their way to you. “How long apart are the contractions?”

“I don’t know.” You say honestly, shrugging. “But they’re pretty frequent already.” You said only to have another contraction hit you.

“We have to get you to the hospital.” Tony said as he placed a hand on your back, taking one of your hands in his for you to squeeze if you needed to. “Are you coming?” He asked Steve.

The blonde man shot you a look, wondering if he should go or not.

“We need an answer now, Steve!” Tony said impatiently.

“Okay, I’ll come!” Steve said and followed the three of you out. He grabbed you as Tony yelled out in pain from how hard you were squeezing his hand. He lead you to the elevator only to realize it for the first time in so long, it was malfunctioning. He cursed under his breath and picked you up with no difficulty and started carrying you down the stairs with Tony and Pepper hot on his heels. He carried you to one of Stark’s cars and climbed in as well, waiting for Pepper and Tony to get in the front seat. Tony was quick to pull out of the garage and start driving towards the nearest hospital.

“We’ll be at the hospital soon just hold on.” Tony said as he sped up.

“It’s really not my call, Tony!” You yelled out as you slumped back on the seat, holding your stomach in pain. “Just get me to the hospital before I give birth in this car.”

Pepper turned to look at you from the front seat and told you to copy her breathing while Tony continued to drive you to the hospital. Steve had no idea what to do. All he could do was hold your hand and let you squeeze it as hard as you needed to.

You got to the hospital quickly and Tony and Steve both helped you out of the car and started walking you to the front desk. Pepper talked to the woman behind the desk and they wheeled you to a private room. The doctor did some checkups on you and told you that you weren’t quite ready to give birth yet.

You sat up on the hospital bed and placed a hand over your forehead, looking back at Steve and the parents-to-be. “God, I hope this will end soon.”

“You’re doing amazing, Y/N.” Pepper said and ran her hand over your head. “I am so grateful that you’re doing this to us, you have no idea.”

You smiled and took her hand in yours, giving it a small squeeze. The squeeze intensified as another contraction hit you and Pepper let out a painful whimper which made Steve to take her place.

“I’m sorry for treating you like a squeeze toy.” You said to Steve and let go of his hand.

He chuckled. “It’s okay, really.” He said and smiled down at you. “It’s the least I can do at this point.”

You couldn’t help but smile as well as you looked up at the blonde man. “Thank you, Steve. For everything. And thank you,” you said as you grabbed Tony’s and Pepper’s hand in yours, “Thank you for—”

“We should be the ones thanking you.” Tony said, squeezing your hand. “Thank you for carrying our child for the past nine months. I know it hasn’t been easy but I promise—”

Tony and Pepper both erupted into yelps of pain as they felt you squeezing their hands hard. They both pulled away and Tony pushed Steve to your side again, letting you grab the super soldier’s hand once again. “Thank, God, you’re here.” Tony muttered as he looked at Steve who wasn’t at all fazed by your tight grip. “She’d break our bones if we had to hold her hand every time she has a contraction.”

“I’ll break a lot more than your hand if you don’t shut up, you—” You stopped talking as you heard the door opening and the doctor coming in. He checked you again and told you that you were ready to be wheeled in the delivery room.

“Y/N, I want to tell you how much I admire you for doing this.” Steve said and you smiled as you were wheeled away. “I actually would like to take you to dinner to—”

“Really, Steve?” You asked. “Are you asking me out while I’m in labor?”

Steve’s face fell. “So… You don’t want to?”

“No, I’d love to!” You said quickly. “Just the timing is a little—” You were once again cut off by a contraction. “This baby wants out of here.”

“Steve, call the team! I can’t wait to show off the little Stark!” Tony yelled out as they continued wheeling you away.

During the next couple of months, visiting the tower became a regular thing for you. Nobody really minded, you had lived there for months while you were pregnant and had become friends with the Avengers. You were in good terms with each of them, some better than others.

You walked over to the lab where you knew Pepper and Tony were at the moment and knocked on the door before stepping in. Pepper was quick to greet you with a hug and you walked over to Tony to give him a quick hug as well. “It’s so great to see you.”

“What do you mean?” You asked. “I was here only few days ago.”

“Yeah, but you only seem to be spending time with someone else.” Tony said and nodded at the door.

You turned around to see Steve stepping inside the lab. You smiled widely and waited for him to reach you before you laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned in to place a quick kiss on his lips. “Hey, you.” You said quietly as your smile widened.

“Ready for lunch?”

The two of you had started dating a while after you gave birth to Tony and Pepper’s child. First it was a little dinner date and a few after that before the two of you started meeting for lunch during the day, after a while you made your relationship official.

“Yeah, I just want to say hi to the little one.” You said and turned to Tony and Pepper, clasping your hands together.

“Yeah, in a minute.” Tony said and pressed a button on his phone. Your brows furrowed and you heard the door opening behind you, seeing a stroller coming in the room on its own and stopping right in front of you. You stared down at the stroller before looking up at Tony. “Really? Do you understand how dangerous a malfunction on this thing could be?” You asked and turned back to the stroller. “Hey, princess.” You cooed as you lifted Tesla up from the stroller. “How are you doing?” You asked as you bounced her slightly.

Tesla had her fingers in her mouth as she looked at you. You wiggled your fingers at her and she made a move to grab one of your fingers in her chubby hand. You smiled down at her and she let out a small giggle which made you sigh happily and cradle her to your chest. “She’s so adorable.” You said and turned to Tony and Pepper.

“Isn’t she?” Pepper asked, smiling fondly.

“Now, listen to me.” You said and placed your hands under Tesla’s arms, looking into her brown eyes, similar to her father’s. “I know you have all these other cool people around you, living under the same roof as Avengers and all… But remember that you lived in me, so I’m going to be your favorite person in the world, after your parents of course.” You told her, hearing others laugh at you. “Also, I bring you all kinds of cool stuff.” You said and looked at Steve, gesturing to the bag on the table next to him. He picked it up and took out a little light pink hooded cardigan. “Isn’t it adorable?”

Steve put the little cardigan on Tesla and you turned to Tony and Pepper with a huge smile on your face, seeing how adorable their daughter looked in it. You saw both of them smile at their daughter and you handed her to Tony who placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, holding her securely to his chest. You turned to Steve and took his hand in yours. “Well, it’s time for lunch.”

“You want to take Tesla with you? She could use some outing and if you babysat her for like an hour or two that would help us a lot.”

“Is it okay with you?” You asked Steve, seeing him shrug. “Okay, sure!”

“Great. Some babysitting will be a great experience for your future kids.” Tony teased.

“We’ve only been together for a few months, Tony.” You scolded and took his daughter from her, holding her on your hip.

“Yeah, but this one has been in love with you ever since you came to live in the tower.” He said and motioned at Steve whose cheeks flushed red. You saw Pepper nudge Tony’s side and send him a warning glare and you turned to Steve, grazing your fingers on the back of his hand, smiling at him. He returned the smile only his was a slightly embarrassed one.

“Okay, we’re going to leave before you make things more uncomfortable.” You said with a chuckle. You were just about to place Tesla back in the stroller but you decided against it. “Yeah, I don’t trust that thing.” You said and shook your head, grabbing Steve’s hand and heading out of the door. “I’d rather carry her everywhere than put her on that death trap.”

You heard Tony scoff from behind you but you ignored him and continued your way out. Steve grabbed the diaper bag that was under the stroller and you yelled out your goodbyes as you walked out of the door. You turned to Steve who looked to be deep in thought. You nudged his shoulder and he sighed before telling you what was on his mind. “Do you… Do you think about having kids?”

“Way too early, Stevie.” You laughed.

“Thank, God.” He muttered out and you laughed once again.

“Just because Tony likes to tease about those things doesn’t mean it’s what we should be thinking about. It’s way too early.” You said and turned your attention to Tesla who had her hand on the collar of your shirt, pulling on it slightly. “We’re taking things slow and everything’s going good. We really don’t have to think about all that. But anyways…” You said and changed the subject. “Where do you want to have lunch?”

“Wherever, I don’t mind.” He said and sent you a small smile, glancing down at Tesla who was looking around at the objects as you passed them by. He tickled her side and made some silly faces at her which made her giggle, making you smile as well.

Looking at Steve interacting with Tesla made you think about what he had asked you before, if you thought about having kids. Of course it was way too early to talk about all that with Steve, your boyfriend of few months but… If you were to have kids, you’d be happy to have his kids.

When Steve looked up at you, you turned your attention on Tesla as well and he thought about the possibility of having kids. He thought the same about you. If he were to have kids, he’d be happy to have children with you.

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[ineedthed-blog]

Fans vote Lightning best in sports in Ultimate Standings

"A lot of teams think, 'If we win, they tend to be going to come,'?" Griggs says. "It was an opportunity seeking for any catalyst," he says. Beneath coach Jon Cooper -- a former standout junior hockey coach whom Yzerman groomed within the AHL -- the actual Lightning have racked up an average associated with 102 factors more than days gone by three seasons generating your Eastern Conference finals twice. Subscribe today! That would always be a priority for Vinik. Your staff is actually friendly. Fans benefit coming from the large scoreboard as well as the lightning inside the particular arena as well as concerts before and also after the game. Since a financier, he twice created fortunes regarding himself and also investors: He ran Boston-based Fidelity Magellan, that had become the world's largest mutual fund in the go-go '90s, after which their own hedge fund. This kind of story appears within ESPN the Magazine's Oct. As Well As in order to Buffalo, or even any 1 of half dozen some other cities whose teams may well have got offered him north regarding $10 million any year. The Actual organization, he says, has been doing "almost a whole 180" since 2008, when he was an 18-year-old rookie as well as the Bolts had been one of the worst teams within the league. And Also it's in that final category that Tampa Bay really excels. "It's about creating lasting memories. From the holiday concert within December 2008, Vinik ended up being drinking wine along with a friend and also musing concerning the future when he suddenly said: "I'm going to purchase the hockey team." In 2010, he bought the actual Lightning and 5.5 acres about their particular arena for a reported $170 million, $30 million less than your team had marketed with regard to two years earlier. For all involving that, the entire enterprise would appear to hang within the stability through the run-up to Stamkos' decision within the summer. so now, making use involving their core intact on the ice and season tickets up from 3,000 in order to 14,500 under Vinik, the actual Lightning are generally planning to construct out from the whole new plateau through developing the actual fan base. Despite getting near to zero leverage, the Lightning got again Ryan Callahan and 3 draft picks regarding St. 1 example: The Particular Bolts are distributing 100,000 sticks along with balls to obtain kids playing within driveways as well as on streets before you take the particular ice. We've developed tribalism."

"You can feel it, whether as well as not it's throughout video games or perhaps coming for the rink as well as when you're acknowledged all through the actual community," Stamkos says. Regarding another, Vinik saw the whole Tampa region being an undervalued asset: mired throughout recession yet with all the particular uncooked supplies with regard to recovery, like a fast-growing and also well-educated population. Louis is currently retired, Callahan is signed via 2020 and also Yzerman provides wheeled and also dealed your picks into a lot more prospects.) It wasn't until he involved to turn 50 he began to be able to imagine receiving concerned with his childhood adore in a distinct level. "But the actual metrics an individual can use to evaluate just how much a team is worth -- its sport, media revenues, money flow -- they're sort of irrelevant. This has rewarded a lot more than 400 nonprofits -- although extending the actual Lightning's reach to your people charities' board members. in describing the alterations he has seen, Stamkos sounds much more just similar to a VP of marketing compared to Lightning's six-time top scorer: Growing up in the shore city associated with Deal, New Jersey, Vinik loved hockey so much in which at the chronilogical get older of 5 he would sneak any small black-and-white TV in to bed using him to become able to pick up night games. Louis wanted out regarding town and also reportedly said he'd play only for the Rangers. "Nobody desires to lose money, and also we've gotten ourselves to be able to breaking even," he says. Nevertheless something different counted too. As Well As to be able to Detroit, the place exactly where the Red Wings are making the particular playoffs regarding 25 seasons in the row. Louis depart. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Vinik was obviously a gazillionaire searching for his subsequent large investment. Two days after Stamkos dedicated towards the Lightning, defenseman Victor Hedman adopted his lead, inking an eight-year extension. a month or perhaps two later, the actual Lightning re-signed Nikita Kucherov to another team-friendly deal. "Second- along with third-generation Lightning fans are usually beginning out believing. Tampa Bay ranked No. Instead, he re-upped along with Tampa Bay with regard to eight years and $68 million.. As Well As there's real lightning, from the couple of Tesla coils sparking purple arcs. Simply By some time Vinik has been ready to buy inside 2010, he estimated which eight for you to 15 teams were either around the market or perhaps potentially available. and I want to be the dog owner of your excellent franchise." Vinik acquired the actual Lightning inside February 2010; three months later on he hired Hall involving Famer Steve Yzerman as GM. As Well As how staff noticed a new mom having problems using your ex son's faulty wheelchair, so they will really took it for the maintenance facility and also repaired it. Stamkos, that started skating on ponds as well as public rinks in the Toronto suburbs at the chronilogical get older of 2, could have gone residence to play for that Maple Leafs. "And if he had gone, who knows simply how much expertise the actual Lightning will be able to hang on to. Hillsborough County, Florida, buzzes with tales of how former CEO Tod Leiweke when rushed in order to assist a woman struck with a puck. Together With the actual Lightning, he's were built with a knack to find contributors beyond the surface of your NHL draft, such as Ondrej Palat, any seventh-rounder inside 2011, along with Tyler Johnson, an undrafted WHL http://ultimate-stud.blogbugs.org/ center. As Well As he swiftly zeroed inside about the Lightning. Louis along with a pick. the plan offers honored local citizens including Bob Buckhorn, the particular mayor involving Tampa, in order to Ben Carpenter, a teenager who plays power wheelchair soccer. (St. "Tampa can be progressively learning to become a hockey town." In sharp distinction for you to his earlier gigs managing funds, Vinik, as sole owner of the Lightning, doesn't always have other investors pushing him in order to chase quick profits. the team's executives have got used the actual Green Bay Packers as his or even her model: smaller market, rabid fan base, great service. Right After a new 22-year playing profession within Detroit, Yzerman had moved in for you to the Red Wings' front workplace and also assembled the particular Canada roster in which won Olympic gold throughout 2010. "I accustomed to watch the particular Rangers upon Channel 9," he recalls. (He imposes only one rule throughout his owner's box: no talking whilst there's motion around the ice, which is sometimes adequate to drive Buckhorn out with the suite.) "We want ticket takers, ushers, bartenders, everybody inside the creating in order to take straight into consideration the way to serve fans," Griggs says. Consequently now we give fans a lot of access to players, like from Carnival Day. "This team's been around regarding 24 a prolonged time now," Griggs says. Since taking control of this operation, he has imprinted courtesy in its business model. yet fans pay 28 % lower than your NHL average to see games throughout Tampa (average ticket price within 2014-15: $44.50). LOVE -- OFFERED AND?justified, frustrated or spurned -- continues in order to be with the center in our Ultimate Standings regarding 14 a long time as we've used fan surveys and monetary analysis to rate MLB, NBA, NFL along with NHL teams by simply how they compensate fans for that time, cash along with emotion they purchase them. "When you cannot automatically sell your products about the ice, you obviously have to sell the fan experience," he says. "Meanwhile, Stuart Sternberg, when is he in a Rays game?" Vinik was absolutely no skater, though; it proved his talents lay within managing wealth. Brad Park has been my guy." EIGHT YEARS AGO, the actual Lightning were incompetent around the ice and also inside the owner's box. Not Really coincidentally, inside our surveys, Tampa Bay ranked 1st throughout having owners and also players which show appreciation to fans. There's a new vibe operating through many of the Lightning's efforts which is downright ... Yzerman has also traded shrewdly, like throughout 2014 when Martin St. It's regarding becoming nice." Other franchises, just take note: Treat fans well and additionally you just may capture love, as well as lightning, in the bottle. Among his possible suitors, the Lightning probably offered Stamkos his best chance to win the title. And Also it will be not just within this building. "Six years back inside our arena, you wouldn't have got identified anyone had been throughout Tampa Bay," Lightning CEO Steve Griggs says. Throughout our surveys, fans rated the Lightning among the top three teams within sports within having honest ownership, showing resolve for their particular neighborhood and also providing avenues regarding fans to provide feedback. "And right after we transferred to Ny City, I would visit games all the time. "I was very bullish about the area, and I even now am." All that has triggered real on-ice success. two in our surveys within maintaining core players, as well as fans placed the Lightning inside the best 5 throughout each willingness to fund players and also obtaining the many from the cash that they spend -- the feat virtually as difficult to pull off in these standings as in real life. The Lightning furthermore award $50,000 at each house game to a "community hero," whom fans can nominate along with that then donates the money to a charitable trigger of his or even her choice. "Now anyone couldn't always be anyplace else." "I don't play golf. Instead, he has pursued the particular twin objectives involving building an elite NHL franchise along with making a main civic impact throughout his new hometown. It's in this community." YES, TO BE a new Lightning fan can be to become pleasantly surprised. Beyond these numbers, fans tell the story involving a company inspiring such loyalty which hockey will no longer feels foreign in order to Florida. Regarding one thing, Vinik provides invested more than $70 million renovating Amalie Arena, giving it an identity it sorely lacked and a conviviality pertaining to every day fans, whom is now in a position to walk across the concourses throughout the action simply because eight lower-level suites were removed to spread out up the stadium bowl. Walk via the actual turnstiles in Tampa, watch the Lightning as well as the lightning, primal-scream through the thunder, cheer town hero-it's practically as in case a phantom limb of your sports character comes back again in order to life. The Tampa faithful appreciate Vinik's perspective -- as well as the actual method it differs through that of some other sports landlords, several absentee, whom they've got encountered by means of your years. 31 NBA Preview Issue. "In larger markets, you can offer out your own video games whether or even not you choose to go 82-0 as well as 0-82, however Tampa isn't like that. friendly. With Regard To one thing, the actual team has been mismanaged yet had a range of intriguing assets, including an established star within Vincent Lecavalier and an emerging small stud in Stamkos. "We didn't believe there is a likelihood he'd come back, so we were devastated," says John Thresher, the 40-year-old construction attorney and Tampa Bay season-ticket holder. And Also inside Tampa, he trusts the leading office, enjoys the sun's rays and also appreciates your lack of a state earnings tax. http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/fans-vote-lightning-best-sports-ultimate-standings/story?id=43045043 So when Lightning captain Steven Stamkos answers a new problem concerning his team's fans, players and also staff together with "You could believe that love" -- well, which says all involving it about his team's place in the top. Forbes newspaper says the particular Lightning have got elevated throughout value by 49 percent since 2011, for you to $260 million, along with carry less financial debt when compared with virtually any comparable NHL franchise. And Also now that will we've created a core associated with players as well as expectations are high for us, we still genuinely want fans for you to come and produce their particular families. Under Yzerman, the particular Lightning have proven the actual sort of continuity fans love: That They create along with retain sufficient talent not merely in order to contend however to maintain fans attached for the organization even as veterans such as Lecavalier as well as St. With Regard To him to end up being able to return instead of using the cash and running, it really endorses what we like to really feel about this team." Love can also be something Stamkos had to weigh more than the summer as among hockey's most coveted free regarding charge agents. "But you've to look at all your pillars which sustain the particular ebb and also flow of one's support. Vinik and his wife, Penny, just lately pledged $10 million to become able to keep the program going for at least 5 much more years. But the Lightning encounter has become a lot much more than any tag sale. Since local interest in playing hockey explodes, the team is actually purchasing programs and equipment across the region. This specific is specifically what I do for fun. Any massive pipe organ, the biggest inside the league, blasts audio as well as three types of thunder noises-one gigantic boom if they're just about all played together. I'm not really selling. This ended up being through the darkish interregnum between your 2004-05 as well as 2012-13 lockouts, when many NHL clubs failed for you to devote within their means, various Sun Belt franchises teetered about the brink associated with survival along with several owners began trying to sell. "Vinik -- the particular guy will be each and also every game, he's the fan," says Marshall Ames, the 58-year-old financial adviser which has been a season-ticket holder since 1991, prior to the team ever took the actual ice. Or Even how former captain Dave Andreychuk, now any Bolts VP, provides assisted clients locate the best jersey size