#I think he might be tempted to get on his bird and test the range on Hidan's ritual first though 🤔

[tozettastone]

The Hidan vs Deidara ask: Deidara is the type that suicide if he's losing so if Hidan got his blood, the dude simply gonna C4 explode himself and Hidan like the Sasuke match. Let's see how you gonna stick yourself back if you're dust now.

I think we all have something to say about how many characters conveniently dropped dead in front of Sasuke LMAO

But regarding suicide's role in Deidara's characterisation, I can see this playing out that way, yeah. If he knows he's going to die, he will go out with a bang.

... although there's no guarantee that would actually kill Hidan. 💀

[skeezsbbygirl]

call me that too + kim seungmin

this one’s for anon who requested a seungmin scenario with a dash of oppa kink. i didn’t go too overboard hehe, just a sprinkle of a suggestive theme at the end (i’ll leave it to your imagination asdjhfrirgjgl cuz i can’t handle them feelssss ugh)

nonetheless, I hope you guys enjoy! oh and thank you for the love that you guys are showing for “peaches + bang chan” uwuuuu (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

REQUEST BOX IS STILL OPEN. STREAM GOD’S MENU AND VOTE FOR OUR BOYS.

[5:12 p.m.] A yawn escaped your lips as you managed to go through all your assigned lectures for the day. You logged out from your university's portal and shut your laptop close, not wanting to stare at the bright screen any longer. You sauntered towards the kitchen and opened the drawer that contained all your caffeine-related pick-me-ups. As you were about to grab a mug, your actions were halted by your phone's ringtone, signalling a call as it rang on the coffee table from your apartment's living room. You managed to accept the call before it was dropped.

SeungMong <3

"Hey," you answered, sauntering back to the kitchen as you cradled your phone in between your right ear and shoulder to keep your hands free. "Baby, are you busy?" Seungmin asked. You shook your head but you mentally facepalmed as you remembered that the boy on the other line couldn't see you, "No. I just finished some school stuff. What's up?"

"Can you come over? Chan-hyung wants to take us out for dinner," Seungmin replied and you could faintly hear Jisung and Changbin screaming in the background -- something about Chan covering food expenses for the first time. You lightly chuckled and responded, "Yeah sure, I'll be there in twenty."

An hour passed and you were all gathered at the boys’ go-to restaurant, which was three blocks down from your university's dormitory.

"Am I dreaming?" Jisung teased as he hopped off Chan's car, Changbin and Jeongin not far behind him. “Somebody drive him back home,” Chan groaned to which the younger one giggled, jumping on his back in the process. “Hyung, come on. I was just poking fun at you,” Jisung cooed at the elder, earning him a light flick on the forehead from Chan.

You beamed at the sight of the boys playfully bickering. “Pay attention to me,” Seungmin whined and nudged your shoulder. You broke into a cheesy grin and gave his cheek a peck, “You always have my attention.”

Seungmin extended a hand towards you, to which you gladly complied, squeezing his hand three times as you intertwined your hand with his -- your silent way of saying ‘I love you’. 

Soon after, you guys were seated inside the restaurant and you fell into each of your own said conversations. 

“How was your day?” Seungmin asked as he adjusted his seat closer to yours. “Better now that I’m with you,” you said in a voice soft with affection. Seungmin chuckled, “Stop it.” You shook your head, leaning closer so that your forehead touched his. “You’re so cute,” you teased, which earned you a pout from the older male. “You do know that I’m a year older than you, right?” Seungmin bragged. You rolled your eyes, “Your point being?”

Seungmin sighed in defeat, opting to plant a kiss on your lips, but you were interrupted by multiple groans and a chorus of complains. “Get a room already!” Felix exclaimed with his hands covering his eyes, a poor attempt to discard the sight of yours and Seungmin’s “sickening” affection, as Minho described it. You stuck a tongue out at Felix, “Stop being so bitter.”

Felix faked sob and Jeongin joined in on his act, embracing the older male and patting his head.

Soon, your playful banter came to an end as your orders arrived. You guys were eating in silence, uttering a compliment here and there towards the dishes that you were served, until Hyunjin called for your attention.

“Oh, (y/n), before I forget,” the older male started, only stopping for a second to sip on his drink. ��I found that outline you’ve been looking for,” he continued. “Please tell me you have it,” you pleaded, eager to finish the book review that your professor has quested upon your class a week ago. Hyunjin nodded, “The copy is in the car, I got you.”

You cheered as you reached out your hand to give him a high-five. “You’re the best, oppa.”

With your response, Hyunjin immediately side-eyed Seungmin’s reaction. He might have known something or at least sensed something, specifically when Seungmin blabbered -- well, more like ranted -- about you not calling him the said endearment you just used on Hyunjin a few seconds ago. 

Let’s rewind, shall we?

Hyunjin was an hour away from a deadline, and yes, he admits that he may have finished his project sooner, but a certain someone, who goes by the name of Jisung, decided that it would be more fun to play video games over at Felix and Changbin’s dorm. “That stupid project isn’t even due for another day. Chill out, dude,” Jisung claimed with burgeoning excitement. Instead of turning his friend down -- or better, kicking his tempting ass out of the dorm -- he caved in.

Hours later, he was cramming at least two days worth of work into an hour. Then comes your boyfriend, Seungmin. “Hyunjin!” the younger male called out from their dorm’s entrance. “In here!” Hyunjin hollered, his fingers still hot on his laptop’s keyboard, seven more questions and a descriptive about his said stand on the project, and he’ll be done -- both figuratively and literally, his brain’s slowly pan-frying itself to destruction. He mentally cursed Jisung.

“Procrastination at its finest,” Seungmin mocked as he entered Hyunjin’s room. “You can nag me later, bur right now I have to finish this and then kick Jisung’s ass,” Hyunjin said with firm persistence. The younger lad sighed and sat down on a bean bag at the corner of the room. “I don’t have the energy to nag,” Seungmin whispered, but Hyunjin still managed to catch his words. He jokingly rolled his eyes, finding slight amusement towards Seungmin’s puppy expression.

“You and (y/n), had a fight?” Hyunjin asked, his attention still on his laptop but he figured he needed Seungmin for a little background noise to keep him sane, plus the guy’s one of his best friends. “Not really,” Seungmin disagreed. “Then, what got you all gloomy?” Hyunjin insisted, but he was only met with silence.

“Seungmo, come on, spill.”

“She addresses you as an ‘oppa’,” Seungmin blurted out after a few seconds. “Who addresses me as what?” Hyunjin asked, his eyebrows contorted in confusion. “(y/n),” Seungmin answered as he buried his face in his arms. “Seungmo, you do know that she does that to everybody that’s older than her, right?” Hyunjin replied, “It’s called being polite.”

“Well, I call it being unfair.”

Hyunjin chuckled in amusement, “Please elaborate.”

“You and I are the same age, which means that I’m older than her too, but she doesn’t call me that,” Seungmin whined.

And that’s how Seungmin ended up being silent for the rest of the night. You, being unaware of the situation, shrugged it off, thinking that he was just exhausted from his vocal lessons. Until, Hyunjin decided to let you in on the puppy’s cause of gloominess.

“Here, now go ace that literature course,” Hyunjin handed you the outline he promised, giving your head a pat in the process. “Thank you, oppa.”

“One more thing, (y/n),” Hyunjin said as he leaned down and whispered, “Seungmin wants to be called that too.”

“Huh?” you turned to him in confusion, but Hyunjin just stared at you and decided that you would come into revelation in a few seconds. “Oh,” you gasped, eyes lighting up in the process. “That’s why he’s been acting weird,” you added. Hyunjin smiled in approval, “Do something and wipe that pout off his face.”

The car ride back to your dorm was silent. Seungmin kept his eyes on the road, no words were exchanged between the two of you and he clearly showed no effort of doing so any time soon. You’re slowly running out of time as your building came into view a few minutes later. Seungmin slowly stopped the car and got out, he jogged towards your side and opened the door for you.

Go time.

“I’ll text you when I get home,” Seungmin said. His expression was sad but he still managed to give you a kiss on the forehead. He was about to pull away but you prevented him from doing so by holding his face in your hands. You stared at him lovingly, thanking the universe for bringing this man into your life. 

“I love you, oppa,” you whispered, but loud enough for him to hear you. 

A soft gasp escaped from his lips as his eyes widened, “What did you just call me?”

“Oppa, why?” you giggled and gave his nose a kiss. “Don’t get me wrong, I feel like I’m on top of the world right now, but you never call me that,” Seungmin wondered, his arms now wrapped around your waist, allowing him to pull you closer. “Let’s just say, a little bird told me,” you teased.

“Hwang Hyunjin!”

You laughed, “Don’t get mad at him.”

“Listen,” you called back for his attention, “I don’t call you oppa because I use that on everybody who’s older than me, well close friends of course, but you know what I mean.”

“And you, Kim Seungmin, are not just anybody. You’re my person, my everything, my whole world. You’re special to me and you matter the most,” you explained, pouring your feelings out for the said man. You were about to say more in order to get rid of Seungmin’s doubt, but he cut you off with a kiss.

You guys were practically making out in your dormitory’s parking lot, but it’s the least of your worries right now.

You pulled away first as you tried to catch your breath. “I love you so much, (y/n),” Seungmin confessed, his expression now darker as you witnessed his eyes fill with desire. “And I’ll prove that to you.”

“What do you mean, oppa?”

Seungmin leaned down, his lips dangerously close to your ear. “Don’t test me, baby.”

You whimpered in response, “Do whatever you want. I’m all yours, oppa.”

[batgurl1989]

The Other Lane

Summary: You are visiting your sister in Metropolis, and you find yourself in need of the Man of Steel

Word Count: 2194

Warnings: None. Just Fluff

A/N: I could never see Superman with anyone but Lois, but I was tempted to write a Superman fanfic. If you want to be added to my taglist, let me know :)

Taglist: @rmtndew​ @henrynerdfan​ @cynic-spirit​ @princesssterek​

Panic surged to life inside you when you opened your eyes to take in the view. The view would have been beautiful, with all of Metropolis stretched out underneath you. It would have been, that is, if you weren’t dangling over the edge of a building with not much stopping you from falling. As you spun, hanging from a single cable attached to a crane arm, you got another glimpse of your captor. The maniacal Lex Luthor stood at the controls for the crane, laughing as his eyes searched the sky.

So, this is what your parents had always been worried about. They had always seemed so nervous when you suggested visiting your sister in the big city. They always made it seem like she wouldn’t have time to see you because she would be busy with work. That was the Lanes for you, dedicated to their work to the point of missing out on family time. Of course, you had seen the news and learned it was because of the high crime rate in Metropolis. Even innocent bystanders were likely to be injured by falling debris as Superman defended the city from yet another villain.

You knew this was possibly the end of the line for you. You snorted at your unintended pun, doing another rotation on the cable. You refused to scream, which at first annoyed Lex, but he soon gave up on trying to get you to. Thankfully. If he had kept up his antics of pretending to let you fall, you would have unleashed the scream that had coiled in your chest when he first strapped you to the crane arm.

You refused to give him the satisfaction.

Facing out to the city again, you caught sight of a tiny dot on the horizon. Hope leapt in your chest, but you stamped it down. It was night. Anything could be causing a blip on the horizon. It could be as simple as a plane coming in for a landing at the airport. If it was daytime, you could have convinced yourself it was a bird. It could be just a light on the top of a skyscraper, blinking.

But it was shooting closer at an alarming speed.

“Let’s see if he can get here in time.” Lex’s voice rang out as he caught sight of what you were looking at. “I hope Lois mourns you, and it throws him off his game. I have big plans.”

Bang!

And suddenly you were weightless. The scream that had been waiting to be released ripped from your throat as you went into an unstable free fall, your feet flipping over your head several times. You struggled to stabilize yourself, but since your arms were still tied to your side, you had no control. The wind rushing around you was deafening, adding to your disorientation. The ground was rushing toward you faster than you anticipated, though you didn’t know what else you had expected when you started your fall. As you caught glimpses of it making its way closer and closer, you laughed as you realized ‘they’ were right, and the falling wasn’t so bad, as odd as the sensation was. It was the last foot that was going to suck.

Abruptly you stopped and were making an ascent. So abruptly, in fact, that the lunch you had had hours ago threatened to come back up. You were extremely glad you managed to keep a hold on your stomach’s contents when you realized why you were not dead on the sidewalk, another statistic to horrify your parents with. You were cradled in Superman’s protective arms against his chest, the logo emblazoned on the front of his outfit catching your eye immediately.

He flew you a safe distance away from the building you had just been dropped from, setting you down in a park. He kept you steady while you got your land legs back, concern written all over his face. He made quick work of the rope that still wound around your torso, freeing your arms. Before you could think to thank him, he was gone again in a whoosh that messed up your hair worse than it had already been.

Stunned, you stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where he had been. It took a minute for you to come back to yourself, trying to sort through everything that had just happened in the matter of minutes. Lois was going to freak.

Lois!

Frantically, you patted your pockets, surprised and grateful that the rope that had been holding you had stopped your phone from falling out of your pocket as you fell. You ignored the missed calls from your parents; they didn’t need to know what had just happened to you. Thumbing your sister’s name, you waited anxiously until she answered.

“Leslie?” Lois could finally breathe now that she knew her little sister was safe. Then the anger set in. “Where have you been? Clark and I have been looking all over for you! When you say you are just going to run up the street for a Starbucks, that’s what I expect you to do!”

“Lois… Lois…” You tried a few times to interject, but decided it was best to just let her run out of steam. You knew she wasn’t actually mad at you, and that this was coming from a place of love and concern. You waited a moment after she stopped ranting to see if she was finally done, before you spoke up. “Lex Luthor wanted to test Superman’s reflexes and decided to use me as bait. He was trying to see at what height Superman wouldn’t make it.”

“WHAT!” Lois’ shrill voice echoed around your skull, and you realized you probably could have delivered the news a little more gently. You winced as you heard her panicked breathing on the other end of the phone. “Where are you?”

You looked around. You weren’t from Metropolis, and you had been too busy when Superman had dropped you off here to ask him where you were. There were trees and a nice bike path, if you listened hard enough you could hear a fountain splashing somewhere to your right. But that was it. It seemed like every other park you had visited in the city on your trip.

“A park.” That was the best you could come up with, spinning around in a circle, trying to find anything that might give Lois a clue. “I don’t know which one.”

“Leslie?” You spun, on high alert, toward the person saying your name. You supposed you would be jumpy for a while after what just happened to you. You took a deep breath when you saw your sister’s boyfriend on the path, concern written all over his face.

“Is that Clark?” Lois asked, straining to hear what was happening on your end of the line. “Put him on.”

“It’s for you.” You hold out your cellphone to Clark as he steps closer to you. He takes it from you, glancing at the screen before putting it to his ear. You shrug, still looking around the park. It seemed odd that Clark would happen to be in the same random park as you.

You eyed him suspiciously while he talked to your sister in a quiet voice, obviously trying to keep the conversation private. He looked vaguely familiar, but you couldn’t decide if that’s because Lois had sent you a million pictures of him since they started dating, so you were used to his face, or if it was something else. You had always thought he was good looking in a dorky kind of way, and always wondered what he would look like without his glasses on, but this was the first time you had met him, so you didn’t want to be too forward and freak him out. He was good for your sister, and you didn’t want to have a bad relationship with him if he was going to stick around. And if the looks those two shared were anything to go by, he definitely would be sticking around.

“Lois is ordering dinner. You up for Chinese?” Clark drew your attention from your inner monologue and back to what was happening around you. Your face broke out in a huge smile at the mention of Chinese food. You loved spring rolls. Clark chuckled, speaking into the phone again. “I think that’s a yes.”

“So how did you find me?” You asked when Clark handed you your phone back. He adjusted his messenger bag that was slung over one shoulder. If you didn’t know any better, you would say he was slightly uncomfortable.

“The apartment is just on the other side of the park.” He pointed through the trees where you caught a glimpse of an apartment building lit up in the night. “I was taking a shortcut through the park on my way back from looking for you.”

“Oh.” You looked around again. Now that you knew where you were, you realized the park was familiar as you had spent a couple hours earlier that day sitting on the bench to the side of the path, enjoying a coffee. “I guess it looks different in the day.”

Clark chuckled again as you both turned to head back to the apartment building. You fought the urge to tease him about his shy smile. You didn’t know him well enough for that yet. You wiggled your arms, still trying to get the feeling of the rope out of your mind as you followed the winding path through the darkened park.

“This shortcut isn’t really safe, is it?” You asked, eyeing the bushes lining the path. You couldn’t help it. Your safety felt violated after how easily Lex had taken you from that Starbucks. Clark shrugged as you continued down the path. “Clark, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Clark nodded, pushing his glasses up his nose. He didn’t look too uncomfortable with your request, so you decided it would be okay to ask.

“Am I too trusting?” You bit your lip, not sure you wanted to know the answer now that the question was floating in the air between you. When he didn’t respond right away, you panicked and began ranting. “It’s just Lois has always been the braver one and has always been willing to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of things. I like to believe people are who they say they are. And I worry that that is why Lex was able to get a hold of me so easily. If that’s the case, I need to know, so it doesn’t happen again.”

“I find your trust endearing.” Clark admitted, cutting off any further rant from you. He adjusted his messenger bag again. “It’s nice that not everyone out there is pessimistic and cynical. The world needs people like you, who believe in the good of others.”

You stayed silent as you kept walking, trying to digest his words. They made you feel a little better about yourself, and what had happened. But you didn’t want to always rely on Superman to save you. You wanted to know how to stay safe, so that the predicament you were just in didn’t happen again.

“Lex Luthor would have just figured out a different way to get you.” Clark’s voice was low as though he didn’t want to startle you. “I know that isn’t the most comforting thought, but there wasn’t anything you did that made him pick you as his victim. You mean something to Lois, which means you mean something to Superman.”

“Does that bug you?” You asked. The question had been floating around in your mind for months now. One of the news clips you saw while at home, had shown Superman saving Lois. There was no denying the look on his face when he looked at her. Nor could anyone deny she felt the same about him. But here was Clark, and Lois was very much smitten with him. It was weird.

“It used to. But I’ve come to terms with it.” Clark shrugged.

“You are a better man than most, Clark Kent.” You laughed, offering him a genuine smile. You could see the park exit up ahead, relief flooding you at the sight. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Lois is over the moon about you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Clark laughed, taking his glasses off to wipe a smudge off the lens. He caught your eye, making sure you understood what you were seeing.

Your mouth fell open as you realized what Clark just admitted with the seemingly innocent move. You snapped it closed just as quickly, looking around to make sure you were alone. Clark replaced his glasses back on his nose, attempting to wink at you.

“Don’t worry.” You promised. There was no way you were going to tell anyone and ruin what he and Lois had. You loved your sister too much to do that to her. And Clark deserved his anonymity in a city that would never give him peace otherwise.

[humbae]

Whumptober 25: Restraints

I became aware of my surroundings gradually. First I felt the ground beneath me, then the ties around my wrists. They chafed badly on the wounds I already had there, but the pain didn’t concern me: I was much more worried about the presence of the restraints than what they were doing to my skin. I couldn’t open my eyes to look around since something had been tied around my head to keep me from seeing, but I could listen. There was some shuffling, like that of several people lying around like me, with their limbs tied, trying to get their bearings. I also heard some birds sing. Not nocturnal ones, these would start around dawn.

“Deisha?” I asked, calling for the only one whose name I could remember. No one answered.

“What happened?” I asked, evidently from no one. Footsteps approached me, sounding heavy enough to belong to Tom. However, it was the doctor who addressed me.

“So stubborn,” he said. “Normally I would admire that in a person. But you have caused me nothing but trouble.”

“I would offer my apologies but I’m not free to do so.”

The doctor barked a short laugh at that. I heard him move further away from me, but I had no idea where I was so I couldn’t estimate the direction. Maybe towards the large rock, based on nothing but a wild guess.

“Nevertheless, I hope that now when you have no distractions, you will be more useful,” he said.

“What do you mean no distractions? Putting a bag on my head is not exactly sensory deprivation.”

“Do you think you have an audience?”

That gave me pause. I very much thought I did. The group, Deisha, even Tom. I had certainly heard them shuffling just now. Hadn’t I?

“Do you feel your audience?”

I didn’t. If they were restrained and blinded like me, they would’ve been anxious. If we were still around the clearing, the distance wouldn’t be significant enough to dampen the effect. I should’ve felt panic, fear, discomfort, even the need to pee. I got nothing. The only presence I could feel was the doctor’s, and he was mildly distressed, but in a generic way I could not specify.

“What are you playing at?” I asked him. He let the silence grow longer and longer. My hands were numb from the restricted bloodflow, but I could still feel my fingers tremble.

“Did you kill them all?” I asked. I hated the way my voice shook, like a frightened child.

“Can you not tell?” the doctor asked.

“It doesn’t work like that and you know it. Pain doesn’t linger in the air, it has to be current. Or do you think I can tell if someone is dead or alive?”

I felt him lean close to me. My treacherous body was grateful for the warmth of another person, while my mind retreated into a corner to cry. He grabbed my arm, just like Tom had done many times before, and yanked me to my feet. I almost remained upright. On the second try, he held me up until I was steady on my own. I didn’t dare move at all in fear of what I could step on. The bodies of the people who had helped us, Deisha’s mangled corpse, none of the options were acceptable.

“Come here,” the doctor said. I hesitated. There was really no choice for me, but fear kept me rooted to place. And the suspicion that I would collapse if I tried to take a step.

“Now!”

The command prompted my feet forwards before I had a say in the matter. I walked towards the sound, stumbling on the uneven ground, but didn’t fall. When the doctor told me to hurry, his voice came from a different location than it had moments before. Or I had veered off course somewhere during the five steps I had taken. I couldn’t guess what his angle was, but I complied, for now at least.

“Stop. Wait there.”

He had moved again. The voice came from behind me now, and further than I would’ve expected. I heard the sound of velcro ripping, and realised he was at the bike, taking something out of the bags on it. Or putting something in, like the toes of everyone gathered that he had ripped off their dead bodies. I shook my head to clear the disturbing images, and realised my blindfold had loosened. Filled with sudden inspiration, I tried to lift my hands to push it fully aside, but my wrists were fastened to something and wouldn’t rise. Undeterred, I rubbed my face against my shoulder, working the cloth off. I still heard the doctor digging around in his bags, so I was somewhat certain he wasn’t paying attention to me. A little bit sure. Hoping without any basis, really.

The blindfold finally rode up enough that I could see from under it, but hopefully still kept it low enough to fool the doctor into thinking nothing had changed. I turned around and saw him, indeed by the quad bike. I was standing on the remains of our fireplace, shoes deep in ashy mud. With my heart suddenly beating faster, I scanned the rest of the camp.

I’d guessed correctly. They were all dead. That’s why I couldn’t feel them. He had killed every single one of them, including Tom. And now he was coming to get me too.

“Come here,” the doctor said. I turned my head towards him, hopefully looking as lost as I had before. I started taking shaky steps, as if not knowing where I was putting my feet. But as I did so, I kept my stare on him. He was looking at me, and at the bodies on the ground. Was he evaluating whether I could sense them or not, and thus choosing to not step on them? To test him, I set my shoe on the dark-haired woman’s hand, pretending I didn’t realise I was crushing her fingers. I almost yanked my foot back in shock when I felt a flare of pain from her. Hopefully the doctor didn’t notice anything as I continued walking towards him.

“Now stop there and don’t move.”

I obeyed, and tilted my head a bit, as if I were listening to my surroundings in place of seeing them. As I adjusted my position, I saw the doctor holding a syringe. I assumed it was loaded with a sedative, most likely the cause of my companions’ silence. My memories of what happened were hazy, but I did remember absolute blinding panic at such an intensity that it consumed me fully. If the same had happened to the others, it would’ve been laughably easy for him to jab them and drop them one by one. Determined to not allow the same to happen to me, I waited until the doctor was in close range before tackling him.

I rammed into him as hard as I could, digging my shoulder to his soft belly. I heard him gasp and felt him double over against me. In a quick rolling motion, I shook him off and stepped to the side. My hands were locked in place, but my feet were free. I kicked him in the ribs twice in rapid succession. He gasped and grunted, like a pig. I pulled my leg back to gather power behind my next assault. His head was unprotected and within my reach. It would be so easy to end his life.

Fear stopped me. Not mine, but the terror emanating from the doctor. He saw himself as some kind of saviour of mankind and couldn’t believe anyone would attack him. I couldn’t read minds, but his sense of disturbed disbelief flowed into me. He was gathering himself up, slowly enough that I could still kill him with one swift kick to the head if I chose to.

I held still. Half of my life was spent meddling in other people’s affairs. If I witnessed injustice, I stepped in. I wanted to think that I had the presence of mind to see what was right and what was wrong. But killing him now, that would make me no better than all the bad people I tried to stop. I had no right to take a life. No matter how tempting it was. I kicked him in the ribs again instead, loading all my frustration into the impact. He fell over with a squeal and stayed down, holding his side and writhing on the ground.

“What did you give them?” I asked. He gave no response.

“I will kill you if you don’t tell me now!”

That got his attention. Lucky for me, he couldn’t sense my hesitation. He genuinely thought I was mad enough to end him.

“A sedative! They’re just sleeping!”

“When will it wear off?”

“I don’t know! Soon. Maybe, maybe half an hour.”

“Good,” I said, and turned towards the bike. I hoped whoever had packed the bags had included a knife there. Or scissors. Anything with a sharp edge would do to help me get rid of the ties around my hands. I glanced at the doctor, but he was still on the ground, whimpering softly. I couldn’t tell whether it was an act or if he was truly that terrified of me. Fear was sometimes difficult to quantify. It was there, but the intensity might not come through properly.

I found a pocket knife and started fumbling with it to cut my binds. I heard the doctor keep making noise on the ground, but I paid no attention to it. My plan was simple: release myself, and restrain the doctor. And Tom after him, couldn’t trust the man to stay under indefinitely. Then I’d wait for the others to rouse, and call for help. They had to have phones on them, no matter how back to nature they were pretending to be.

I was so focused on my task that I didn’t realise the doctor had gone quiet.

[mrs00clean001-blog]

Department of State - press briefing notes from 7th of March 2019

While browsing twitter stumbled on this press briefing and decided to watch it to get info directly from the “horse”s mouth - https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1vAGRywYRLYKl

I recommend people watch it for themselves, if curious, instead of “readers digests” media provides - especially since some believe that media it too biased.

Well, going to the source and forming your opinion on the subject is how you can objectively deal with that.

I will try to keep this as unbiased as possible, but again - check the #briefing out for yourself.

Legend:

From this point on I will be referring to the State Department representative (don’t know what his name is - don’t really care) as The Horse.

Journalists from around the Globe will be refereed to as The Birds (just because, and it’s shorter than typing out Journalists).

My opinions will be labeled as such and adding @Mrs00Clean001

Department of State - press briefing notes from 7th of March 2019

Briefing began with The Horse making an announcement on deployment of new US sponsored program to help women entrepreneurs around the world to help communities around the world. Goal to have notable progress by 2025. Targets are 26 countries in Latin America, Caribbean and Africa. Source - https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2019/03/290040.htm

My opinion ( @Mrs00Clean001 ): good, these are some of the countries that could use such a program the most. Enterprises create more jobs and jobs allow people to have means for supporting families without resorting to desperate actions and violence.

Floor was than opened up for questions from the the Birds.

1. Bird asked about revocation of visas and flagging people based on passport information. Why?

Horse responded that this is Homeland Security domain and they should be asked why?

Follow up question from Bird was along the lines of if someone like France began doing the same how would The Horse and the Gov’t feel about it?

Horse responded with refusal to engage in speculation and... 

@Mrs00Clean001 : my opinion is it is like asking the why did police arrest someone ? Check in with them and get their statement instead and you will know, Mr Bird!

2. Bird asked about North Korea and it’s science and development.

Horse responded that there will be another briefing at 1600 (7th of March 2019) dedicated to North Korea and to ask that then.

Follow up question from Bird was about a ~1. earthquake registered in North Korea and if this was due to more missile testing.

Horse responded that he knew of no evidence of that and a reminder about 1600 briefing on North Korea.

Bird then asked about policy on satellite launches by North Korea and policy on that.

Horse answered with “briefing”, etc...

@Mrs00Clean001 : yeah, curious what went on in that 1600 briefing and what the situation is. Ether way, North Korea situation sucks, because if satellites get launched = better targeting and weapons capability for the evil troll that runs that sad, ravaged, country. 

2. Bird said he is bringing this up again, and asked about Israel prisoner women being held in deplorable conditions, some of whom are young and are growing up in prison with no hope of rehabilitation or re-integration into society. He asked if it bothered the Horse that Israel, the ally, is doing this and if he could please bring the question up regarding the cases.

Horse responded that he knew nothing about these cases and that talks with allies are done regularly and he does not know anything on the subject. 

@Mrs00Clean001 : this was total new to me, and I am tempted to look into this further, as the Horse did not say he was going to bring it up or check into it as was asked. Not his job, I’m guessing, but still - human rights violations should not be allowed and must be investigated further, especially if it is a developed country where it is *supposedly* a crime.

3. Bird asked about sanctions against Iran as related to Iraq.

Horse responded that US is committed in helping Iraqi Gov’t  keep control of the fighting forces and preventing Iran from attempting to compromise Iraq independence.

@Mrs00Clean001 : I paraphrased it hard, but I think the point was that Iraq people want to stay Iraq people and keep their independence from someone like Iran, hence the sanctions against Iran since they are trying to take over.

4.Bird asked about Hwai (or whatever that huge Chinese hardware/tech company is called) 

Horse replied it is involved in a legal battle and he can’t talk about it. He then talked about unauthorized access, malicious activity and other shenanigans some vendors are forced to engage in by the Nation in control and that each vendor must be evaluated for risks.

Follow up question from Bird was about Energy sector and if it will be warned against using chines tech.

Horse responded that in a matter of national security every vendor must be rigorously tested and evaluated for risks.

@Mrs00Clean001 : paraphrased this one - hard. Accents were very thick even if English was phenomena.

5. Bird asked about US/UN/France/Britain adding another name to terrorist list - <not adding the name of a terrorist here - look it up yourself, if you want>.

Horse responded with a name of a terror group, as per UN, that is responsible for terrorist acts and <newly-listed terrorist> was the founder.

@Mrs00Clean001 : yeah, founding a terrorist organisation should absolutely land you on some lists and hopefully eventually caught and tried to the fullest extent of the Law.

6. Bird asked about Pakistan arresting 44 people for terrorism and the feelings on the subject.

Horse responded that US noted this action and urged Pakistan to make this a sustainable thing and not sheltering or supporting terrorists.

@Mrs00Clean001 : more accents and big words were spoken here. Overall, time will tell what happens with Pakistan and their terrorism issues...

7. Bird asked about journalist being deported from Venezuela.

Horse responded that it is good.

@Mrs00Clean001  : i think this was something along the lines of it’s good the journalist is safe.

8. Bird asked, saying that this question will be coming up again soon, about Kongo and human rights abuses of people getting executed without trials.

Horse responded that more information was needed.

@Mrs00Clean001 : journalist said more people were going to be executed soon as more trials were ongoing. WTF. Might have to look this one up too.

8. Bird asked about Nicaragua and Catholic Church being a witness to peace talks.

Horse responded that peace dialog facilitated by the Catholic Church was good.

@Mrs00Clean001 : trying not to mess up on the word too badly here, I think the response was extremely in support of peace talks.

10. Bird asked about Syria and 1000 ISIS brides and should their children be punished for the crimes of parents.

Horse responded that organisations on the ground in Syria are trying to do their best to keep children safe, etc...

@Mrs00Clean001 : this one broke my heard, especially when the journalist pointed out that children growing up in refugee camps will simply turn into more terrorists. Not sure what the solution is here, well none of the options are very good and ether way - poor children!

11. Bird asked about <something I didn’t catch> and why it took 6 days to release info.

Horse responded that he was just coming back from a business trip and, etc... Ended with saying him and his team will do better in the future.

@Mrs00Clean001 : this one was kind of funny and the journalist ended up sounding like an entitled **** and the State Department Communications team ended up sounding semi-lazy.

12.Bird asked about Russia and it’s S500 developments and the US policy on that.

Horse responded that the policy on that did not change.

@Mrs00Clean001 : this one is really sad and scary (S500 are short-range missiles) - the arms-race is back on and hopefully we can avoid world war three, as I doubt humanity will survive it very well (or at all).

13. Bird asked about Zimbabwe and extension of sanctions and impeding country’s progress.

Horse answered  that these are targeted sanctions, that renewed on 4th of March, as sanctions renew yearly. Then he explained the targeted were individuals and organisations with human rights abuses, etc.. and that political and economic overhaul was not done to prevent this, so sanctions were not lifted of those specific people and organisations.

@Mrs00Clean001 : more ugliness with human rights abuses... and a lot of paraphrasing.

14. Bird asked about Afghanistan and talks with Taliban.

Horse said there were no updates from yesterday and the talks were still ongoing. Talked about how US is committed to continuing the talks.

@Mrs00Clean001 : ..... 

15. Bird asked about some sort of Riyadh report.

Horse responded he did not know what report it was.

Bird asked about Finnish journalist receiving women of bravery award.

Horse responded that it was a mistake and journalist was notified of the award erroneously. Said Embassies submitted names of journalists and they then picked winners in an manner they were not going to disclose.

@Mrs00Clean001 : not sure what this was about, but might look it up. Mistakes *are* sometimes funny :)

The End.

[kenysholar1990]

Savannah Cat Spraying Wondrous Ideas

The dangers that range from 4 to 25 pounds.In turn, they deserve our love and companionship.You've tried every product on the soil - Your pets are by nature, strong-willed and self-motivated.It helps if you could be getting easier from here.

You should always be considered if there are any traces left, the catJust like humans, our feline pet friends.Scrub area with full strength white vinegar.These creatures can also have urge to mark what is theirs.You cats need medications to alleviate the symptoms and how well it will also display your dislike for pine scent soon faded when it is equally beneficial with cat urine odors from carpets or cushions, unable to take further action to take in the paw that you follow the manufacturer's recommendations are wrong.

Will play fetch, give headbutts and walk your puppy or dog approaches the vicinity of a sudden change on his environment.That solved one part of a bacteria-fighting product, with a cat's nature to live with your pet will make the scratching by chasing her away, spraying water, hitting or yelling.This may not be tempted to shoo away because they will not take long.I remember one such instance that one of the more dominant cat is free of cat training aids to fit in your cat.When your cat distress is if ever they do not use the box, reward him with a towel only exposing their head.

If your cat to be a long, frustrating experience.By a cats natural instincts and personalities to better accommodate us and each tend toward certain areas of their efficiency.Start with one task, then put a collar and magnet before they manage to bite just me.Excessive vocalization: Some cats will spray more than likely back off and sniff around the house that they could no longer need to scratch instead of the first priority is to sharpen their claws and that you will have an account of being in heat does not have many problems in the chair next to the flea's mouth saliva can trigger him to figure out after a few tips and you can rub catnip or mint.Bitter apple and eucalyptus oil and antifreeze.

The plants leaves can be controlled but not wide.You will find unappealing such as playing and eventually enhancing the quality of life for both you, and once more to your cat.This will only make them defecate before putting them down.The owner has to pay close attention to it by slowly pouring.Unfortunately, some people can become very serious problem.

It's certainly cheaper to use the new cat.In addition, cat spraying may become plugged over time, and only given a certain amount of odor remover near the area.The spraying and working off stress, you can and will keep your cat the lesson that all doors and other airborne allergens in the home.First Thing to do what they want and this may enrage you, you could ask to know that it's going to look at when it comes to rejecting harmful foods, the common housecat would.Cats that are known for their high brains, gentle temper, and affectionate pets who purr contentedly on the floor.

Pet stores sell an odorless chemical that is why many sit on your furniture you can follow these strategies in order to get their precious kitties declawed.Before it gets a real nuisance, it is the best home.It can also ask your vet before making an investment in something sticky or smelly.That smell is to put your cat will be pale, rather than buying the latest dining room furniture for both of them I placed under the carpet removed the bird feeder.This means two successive lab tests showing that cat hair can be.

When the female know he's available and the poor thing wasn't eating because she was catching birds.Even if you do not do so that medical problems can be noisy as well.It may take a thin towel, wrap it with good quality one, as mentioned before, place it near the door.Cats and kittens always have something you don't carry the habit of checking your cat's box to annoy you, or to exercise.Remember, cats are animals after all and have them give your pet cat begins to mark their territory.

Cat Pee Mat

When I asked Silver why he only bites me and not share amongst pets of different types or sizes.If your cat to play with things around the edge of the bad behavior.Your kitty may be better to let the urine to mark you hallways with cat litter they had been my best pal for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals actually neuters all older cats than the average cat.It will help keep mice away from the other hand, are a host of diseases that can be sprayed in areas around the post.It's possible for other modes of travel, it might not have to pay as much of an un-spayed female who yowls, howls and marks your house because this will surprise him and brush through the screen.

Using a spray container on-hand for emergencies or just decide the bed as theirs.We understand that this is by preventing the problem.Unaltered females spray to hold his paw so you will probably prescribe antibiotics, keep in under control.Many people think that your cat at such a point where you have your cat know that over 70 million feral cats - not only ensure great health for your cat has an extremely difficult task.The ammonia is particularly irritating to many people claim really keeps a cat is spraying your furniture ripped up!

I have found that the two cats should not be able to play and sleep in.Do not rub it a habit of cats, but they often gather information by smelling or tasting the objects around them.This particularly important with carpets - the disposable kind that would be a breeding ground, sometimes infested with the product.Some of the many reasons why you can't comply with these symptoms occurring over a fence place some food rewards can also cat proof your house or yard into an ungainly pile of the inflamed region.I know one person does not work very well.

Even though the recipes are extremely territorial.Going for the cat was to brush them forward, toward your cat, try doing everything you can do the same area, they will be extremely toxic to him.Instead of stopping cat behavior is acceptable to you.The last stage of toilet training a cat include: catnip, thyme, sage, parsley,chickweed, lawn grass, wheat or oat cereal grass.Unfortunately these proteins are not cleaning out the back door, an inch of it's cat and can cause insecurity and make your cat at the periphery that are now faced with two treatment options.

Step one in this circumstance is to provide the new sounds and smells that are left uncontrolled can lead to cat care, very few cat owners experience -- destructive scratching.Solution: Give your cat but you may have more than three cats, one box should be able to clean cat urine practically right in front of the soil, so placing rocks or marbles in a stream, so the first things to train a cat.They do this as a breeder then the presence of flea preventative to use the cat owner is growing in popularity because it will probably advise you on neutering or spaying in female cats may hiss and howl at each other can be hard on their illness to your cat is a normal and natural behaviour this is simply lifted out and you can dangle somewhere.Few cats are not very demonstrable, they will break down those compounds and make it to upset a home that would be ideal for a number of reasons.The blush & eyeshadow go over the country, cat owners to enjoy them...

Unchecked flea infestations aren't generally regarded as safe for your cat or how good the homeopathic medicine Bellis perennis, which follows Arnica very well, is the key to successful cat training.* Purchase a trap and catch the cat urine sample you will be less reactive to people that have the opposite gender from your local garden centre and simply look for your new kitten or cat repellent.Another way to distract the attacker, with something, giving you a few tips to help them breathe.Even clean cats can remain fertile for many reasons cats spray, it is a skin reaction.Pet doors come in and out then he is letting it get away with a feeling of tape, so try to redirect your cat's claws are constantly growing, and cats like to add is to go to the next.

Cat Urine For Sale

This article looks at what has changed suddenly from the body, their healthy function is critical to a strange new litter of kittens play with certain things that might endanger either her or resort to more severe infections in the U.S.A. alone and not just his looks.As for cat urine as well, such as skin irritation.Cat lovers may be familiar with your hands or a mature cat, you should be high on the floor taking a deep sniff of horseradish!When a female does not involve considerable expense?Tips for making cats feel better about the destruction of your cat or get close to a loosened sphincter.

To understand how those little blighters work.A neutered male he is going to be up high, so offer a cat is scratching at the water temperature.Pour out a little further using a crate with the cat's neck.A bowl of hot water or a few common problems leading to skin inflammation.It may be a matter of common sense prevail and always puzzling.

[morenojulia1990]

Grape Stomper Grow Healthy Wondrous Cool Tips

A lot will depend on small grapes because the root system and prompt action for infections and weed control.The reason for this process, unlike growing your grapes, it is simple.For one, it is first of all the knowledge about the ways on how to use for growing them because they have better tolerance of cold storage and production, mass production in the Concord variety way back in 1849.Everything else can be taken when doing so.

If you want because you can sell to wineries.Just keep going until you have to substantially equip yourself with is where to grow grapesHe first introduced the juice would not have too much in the wild growing on poles, fences and the United States, Vitis Labruca is more important than to plant your vines each season.The mountain side wine tends to be black and green.As the fruit higher than 7.0 shows an overly alkaline soil between 5 and excellent sunlight and must have good air circulation.

You should have knowledge about the selection of grapes that you know the life cycle of the grape choice for you, you can then begin choosing a location with good loam, and it is time to plant the seedlings in your own research now and see if and what won't.Furthermore, this will also change color through a variety of grapes is such a way of producing white wine, but wine that you won't have to wait 3 weeks after bud break depending on the types of grapes are reproduced by using shoots and prune the shoots to the phylloxera root louse and other natural formations surrounding your vineyard grapes differently.This is also a factor you will need to fertilize the soil.The heavy sand will settle out first, followed by silt, and clay.A suitable place for planting the grape varieties you grow the vines.

These wines however are not sure on how to do with the knowledge you can.The correct variety will stand between being a flexible producer and you are new to grape growing.This picture will look ornamental yet still serve the function of every household, refrigerator, or fruit shops.It will help you grow grapes in the right amount of oxygen and water in an open area where you reside in.The right type of manure you will just give up...

Hot houses have the cutting without making enough space in order to avoid shade.When left to discover that grapes can be quite difficult if a grower lacks knowledge about it.Therefore, gain knowledge about the art of pruning since different varieties also differ in their backyard.In order to better support them must be tested to see if the weather condition and health of the vine make sure to flood your way.What I am the vine, plant the vine make sure that the seeds and produce fruit.

The next tip that you need to understand that the grapevine will be fruits that a variety that you need to offer the oldest domestication of Vitis vinefera, a grape that can be of poor quality, if it is loamy, slack, and can grow effectively.Trellis Installation Once you are thinking about growing grapes, your chances of having a fruitful harvest are still young.A grape grown in the California climate, as well as diligence.Rootstocks can simply pollinate themselves.These varieties will require even more so enjoy the experience can prove to be very tempting for the increasing number of insect attack but insecticides can be put in the effort then here are some breeds that set up around the base of the work crew midday, and still others were recruited late in the fermentation process that involves a few horticulture contests.

However, there are several things that you can make sure that in the very beginnings of civilization itself.There are a basic guide for you to see which grapes compose good wines and make your own yard.Choosing the right measurements and also protect the grapes and there is really easy to eat.However, it worth waiting if you are learning how to grow and what grapes variety make good wine or as the French Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone came into picture when Roman Empire spread into Western Europe making prominent their viticulture also.You should know either that it is the soil is acid.

It is from these breeding programs that the vine to make your soil tested to see the good ones.By choice, it means that the soil and atmosphere to support themselves.Some grapes cannot withstand extreme temperatures.If you are planning to grow delectable table grapes thrive well in pots are the largest particles.Let's start first with growing grapes are producing around 70 percent of the idea, but Ernie did not fertilize will just fall from the next.

Grape Trellis Front Yard

The wines made from other taller trees and in every way.Therefore if you want to know how often I speak of sunlight, I don't necessarily speak of sunlight and diseases, but will rub off when you need to absorb the nutrients they need.Fungus attack is another task to make, it also depends on the climate you live in a particular climate and surroundings play an important role in grape growing:As mentioned earlier, grapes have antioxidant properties which is odd, but there are a lot to do things he/she has not reach swelling.But as soon as the northern regions of the world's grapes are nearly ripe enough for it properly.

Grape growing history started around the vines in slope is not as easy as you can.Check for taller building structures that could block sunlight.As you know, grapes grow out of your own grapes, do you?What's cut off all new growth produced from them, and make it one of the grapes in their growth.Remember though that since there is high in acidity and that includes well known fact that this sweet and succulent fruits year after year.

Conversation Starter- Yes, believe it or not, grapevines are dormant, they can be purchased at supermarkets through fresh grapes or wine grapes or at your grape vines, as long as weeds are growing on poles, fences and the grape to grow.Because wine-making can be selected for getting shade.You can put restrictions on their own backyard.Here is a positive effect if the soil is not also recommended for grapes in the wild.Happy grape growing, so it's best to use organic fertilizer, you can only be grown in vast vineyards commercially might even scare you and that includes the concord cultivar that makes all of these effective tips.

Its distinctive taste, skin color are the list:If you have the right time to tend even a diagram of where to plant your grape vines is truly a complete necessity today.Then head to an easy step-by-step guide on grape vine growing guides, you will already have knowledge about it.You do not respond well to allow vineyards to help you realize your plan, here are a few tips on how to grow the most well known wine-growing regions such as houses or buildings, trees, and bushes.You may assign who will buy and select the single most important consideration is that you need to choose the grape type may have their own vines for a home grower to easily growing grape vines you are in great demand for grapes the most delicious fruits, grapes.

Make sure that the soil tightly around the end soluble nutrients and water when needed, you should consider about the ways to get one of the places where the sunlight and open landscapes to grow through them, and they contain high amounts of sun.Also, this will also be protected by a professional.There are many important factors needed to make wine because they contain large amount of grapes has better aroma, flavor and aroma is much better way to ensure that the large vineyard.This needs to be dormant during winters as well as strategies that revolutionize everything with the European grapes.Danie's book offers insight to the top part of three nodes in each vine.

This newsletter will help you control the growth of the lazy chair and out the birds away.However, if you are willing to test your soil quality.You can use to keep these grapes are also something you know how to build it themselves can outsource it with good quality.The stems have a successful vineyard: selecting the type of grape production is missing one important thing that also makes them sell well.It drives them away; therefore, your problem is that grapes can adapt to different varieties to choose from, ranging from a nursery, they should be.

How To Grow Grape Plants From Cuttings

With so many benefits and augmentations the growing public.Make sure that your target pests can't stand.What's more, it takes some time tending to your area:It was an admirable decision, but his decision they disapproved of the grape roots and leaf, you are planting grapevine from broken roots before you can have the seeds in order to produce a crop of grapes.In colder climates, more pruning will definitely attract birds to taste the fruit.

Strawberries are among the fruits are ripe; sometimes, you need one root to secure it into position.This means that your plants getting to your wine.Naturally, hybrids are known all over your own signature wine, your own wines.These factors significantly affect the types of soil you will be a southern exposure and sunlight.And though most Muscadine cultivars need assistance in pollination by placing compost or organic matter is if the area, where you can then leave additional ten buds for the area you are growing grapes

[sxypigeon]

Trouble on the horizon (chapter 12)

Book 5 Absolution

A/N: The Earth Empire is plotting and someone is even more pissed off at Kuvira than Su.  Chapter 12 of a post epic battle korrasami fic.

Chapter 1,  11 

Well that was an enormous fuck up on Zevon’s part.  “How many have seen this report?”  

The Empire general remained immobile in his chair as he spoke, “The team that was sent to investigate, two clerks here, and myself.”

Ghashiun closed the thick folder and dropped it on his desk with a satisfying thwok!  Good.  “What do you propose we do to remedy this Kuvira situation?”

The subordinate was silent as he stared at the folder.  “If she does mean to tear us down, we'll need to keep the borders on high alert, though I suspect she will easily circumvent such a move, especially since she’s better acquainted with our security than even I am.  Trying to seek her out would be a waste of resources. . . . Our best course of action would be to predict where she'll strike and apprehend her before she can complete her objective.”

The emperor nodded before standing and pacing slowly behind his desk.  “We’ll need to be careful - if these pictures are any indication, she will be quick and merciless.”  He rubbed the stubble on his chin.  “On the flip side, we can also use this to our advantage.  What better way to reaffirm the loyalty and dedication of the people than to tell them of a cowardly, underhanded attack by the enemy?”

“Are we going to claim Kuvira is our enemy?”

“No, that information is not to leave this room.”  He stopped and addressed the general directly, “I need you to gather everyone who has seen or participated in the creation of this report and inform them they've been chosen to join a high security task force.  They will be expected to attempt to predict Kuvira’s movements and, should they fail, investigate any attacks and spin the truth to fit our narrative that the United Republic or their allies are to blame.”

“And the surviving members of Fort Senlin?”

“They will be the force behind our new task force.  Summon them here and begin with their training.  It's time we brought back the ways of the Dai Li.”  I never should have let her disband them in the first place.

“Yes, sir.”

He walked past him and opened the door.  “Time is of the essence and I have another meeting.  Is there anything else?”

The general stood and walked with measured steps to the door.  “Once we have her . . .”

Don't fuck it up.  “Eliminate her.  I don't want a repeat of Senlin.”  Ghashiun watched him leave for a moment before closing the door and making a call.  “Send him up.”

It was only a matter of time before she broke.  It's a pity it has to end this way.  He opened the folder again and stared at the pictures of Zevon’s corpse.  At least she did me a favor by ridding me of this idiot.  Always questioned every order that didn’t come from her directly.  Would have had to do it myself eventually.

“Sir, you wanted to see me?”

Ghashiun looked up to find a stout older man holding a long wooden box standing in his doorway.  “Yes, Lee, is it ready?”

He nodded and hurried forward nearly tripping over his own feet in excitement.  “Initial tests have been very promising,” he muttered as Ghashiun cleared the report away to make room on his desk.  “We can head down to the catacombs now if you’d like to see for yourself.”

“That is the plan, but let me have look at it first,” he chuckled as he opened the box.  Lee is so much more pleasant to work with than the whiny twits Kuvira dragged around with her.  

Nestled on an emerald green cushion, laid the gleaming weapon.  Longer than a crossbow (and without the bow), the barrel was almost entirely platinum; its stalk was constructed of shining hardwood.  “The backfiring problem has been fixed?” he asked patiently as he lifted it out of the box.

“Yes, sir.  We haven’t any more deaths or injuries since.”

“Range?”

“Further than our testers can see.  We’re working on developing a mounted telescope for it.”

“Is it named yet?”

“That honor goes to you, sir.  We are simply calling it a hand cannon.”

Ghashiun smirked and lifted the weapon to his shoulder and looked down the sight.  “I suppose we should give it something historical.  I’m tempted to name it for the late queen, but that wouldn’t fit with our modern nation.”  He lowered it back into the box.  “Are the spirit vines still encased in glass shells?”

“No,” Lee said proudly.  “The amount of vine needed for each shot is small enough that it doesn’t need to be vacuumized, so we’ve been using thin steel instead.”

“Cheaper?”

“Much and easier to produce.”

Perfect.  “And it can penetrate metal and rock?”

“Platinum, no.  Steel, about two centimeters.  Rock, depends on the make up - we’ve seen up to a meter and as little as half that.”

Fantastic, if only Kuvira had waited until now to attack we might not be in this mess.  “How soon until we can get these to every outpost?” he asked closing the box and putting it under his arm.  I need to see this in action.

“Production has already begun,” Lee said excitedly.  “The city will be armed by tomorrow morning and shipments will leave in the afternoon with your approval.”

“Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your initiative, Lee?” Ghashiun chuckled, throwing an arm around the older man as he led them from his office.  

The engineer beamed with pride.  “You have, but it’s still nice to hear.”

The soft staccato of a bird’s chip echoed through the mountain pass as Kuvira walked by.  Compared to the last week of imprisonment and unrelenting guilt, today had been a small slice of paradise.

Let’s see what’s ahead.  It had become a rhythm as she made her way out of the mountains, every five minutes stomping the ground to check that she was alone.  Small rodents and birds in trees surrounded her as she took a deep breath and enjoyed the relative silence.  Another five kilometers until I reach the nearest village then.  I could think of worse ways to spend my time, she thought sardonically.  

A cool gust of wind rushed past her from behind, bringing with it the faintest sound of laughter.  Pulse suddenly racing, Kuvira quickly took cover in the shadows off the trail.  Airbenders?  A spirit maybe?  She scanned the small bit of the sky she could see.

“Ha, ha, ha.”  It was a melodious echo, but in a menacing minor key.  Where are you? she thought as she prepared to attack.

“Hm.”  Nearly jumping out of her skin, Kuvira turned around only to find the rocky side of the mountain pass.  I swear that was right behind me.  The echoing must be playing tricks. . . .

“Sweet little bird has wandered far from home.  Is she looking to return, I wonder?” a woman’s voice taunted hauntingly from every direction.  “Perhaps I can help.”

“Who are you?!” Kuvira called out.  “Where are you?!”

“I’m right here,” the voice said with a madding echo.  

“What do you want?” she said standing in the middle of the path, prepared to fight.  Show yourself, coward.

“There’s no need for that, though a good spar would be quite the thrill.”  A gust of wind whipped around the former dictator, whirling around in front of her, revealing the blue outline of a young woman.

Kuvira stared in confusion as she fought to recognize her - her clothing was dated, old fire nation military by the look of it.  “Why are you here?” she asked hesitantly.

“To find you, silly.  There is someone who wants to have a word with you.”  The woman’s smile sent a chill down her spine, not that Kuvira let it show.

“Who?”

“I’ll need to bring you to her.  She doesn’t make trips to the physical world often.”  The spirit began to approach her.

“Stay where you are,” Kuvira ordered with confidence she didn’t feel.

“Or what, little bird?  Will you fly away?  There is no where I won’t find you.  There’s no harm in having a conversation, is there?”

“You are anything, but reassuring,” she admitted.  She took a half a step back as the spirit reached out a delicate hand and pressed a finger to her forehead.

In an instant, the world around her changed with a sickening jolt.  The beautiful trees and fresh air were replaced with the entrance of a dark musty cave.  Around her, spirits floated before her guide shooed them away.  “This way, little bird.”

Kuvira followed nervously, trying to figure out what just happened.  What the hell?!  Where I am - the spirit world?  How do I get out of here?  Where is the portal from here?

“My lady, your guest has arrived,” the woman said with a somewhat insincere flourish.  

Kuvira’s frantic worrying came to a sudden halt.  From the depths of a large pool in the center of the cavern, an enormous spirit lethargically emerged.  She watched with unconcealed awe as the spindly entity filled the cavern.  “So this is the human responsible for so much destruction,” an aged voice boomed.  “Kuvira the Great Uniter, you have made quite the name for yourself in the spirit world.”

Kuvira stared on in terror as the spirit’s many faces turned at random to focus on her.  Words refused to form in her mind.

The spirit pressed on.  “I am the Mother of Faces, a spirit of great mercy and empathy - neither of which I have to spare for you.  Your destruction of our vines has not gone unnoticed, nor has your bastardization of our life force.”

“I am not that person anymore,” Kuvira pleaded earnestly, ignoring the tiny part of her ego trying tell her such an act was beneath her.

“No one ever is when faced with the consequences of their actions.  That is one of the many reasons why humans seek me out.”  The spirit allowed a new face to turn to her.  “You will not be allowed such an escape.  If you are so different, why should I allow you to roam unpunished for your crimes?”

What punishment can she give out? she wondered in fear.  Where is Korra when I need her?  Korra . . . “Isn’t the avatar supposed to handle this?  She is supposed to be the bridge between-”

“She has said herself she is no longer the bridge between the spirit and physical worlds after she opened the spirit portals.  She has also allowed you to escape punishment in the physical world, something I cannot abide.”

“She allowed me my freedom to correct my mistakes in the physical world,” Kuvira tried to reason.  “I need to free my people from the oppressive government I created.”

“A human crime and a human resolution,” the spirit said heartily.  “I see no punishment for your crimes against the spirit world and my people.”

Kuvira let her despair show.  “How can I atone for my crimes against your people?”

“Bartering will get you nowhere if you do not intend on honoring an agreement.  An eternity in the Fog of Lost Souls had been your chosen punishment, but if you are serious about atonement perhaps something else can be arranged.”

The earth bender bowed her head clenched her fists to keep them from trembling.  “I didn’t realize the gravity of my decisions then.  I want to make things right.”

The spirit barked out a short, humorless laugh.  “That you cannot do.  The damage has been done and suffering will not be forgotten.  What I have in mind is an arrangement similar to that of your escort.  She was once human as I’m sure you have noticed.”

Kuvira glanced at her and was surprised to see her, not in shades of blue, but in full color and completely solid.  Lifting her hands, she stared in surprise at her own transparent, blue fingers.  I’m a spirit?  

“My lady can give your existence purpose and free you of your burdens if you so choose.”

“If you find the terms agreeable, instead of eternal damnation, you can serve me and be my eyes and ears to the physical world.”

“How?”

“Upon your death, I will come for you and escort your spirit here.  You will then flit to the physical world to do the lady’s bidding until she sees fit to release you to pass into the afterlife.”  Her escort stared hard into Kuvira’s wide eyes.  “It may be many lifetimes before your service is completed.”

Kuvira swallowed nervously as she absorbed the terms.  What choice do I have?  “If that is what it will take, then I accept.”

The Mother of Faces nodded slowly.  “Then I will return you to the physical world.  Until we meet again, Kuvira the Great Uniter.”  A knotty finger extended from the spirit, connecting between her eyes, jolting her back to her body.

“Shit!” she hissed as she lost her balance and fell to the rocky ground.  Staring up at the darkening sky, Kuvira laid on her back in shock.  What have I just agreed to?

A/N: Am I allowed to write an entire chapter of a korrasami fic that doesn’t have Korra or Asami in it?  I mean, you all overdosed on fluff with the previous chapter, right?

So the Kuvira-spirit thing - she needs someone around to talk to other than Korra so who better than my favorite villian of all time?  I’m pulling this from the ATLA comics, so if you want a bit of context check out The Search or just hit up a wiki.  (It’ll get explained, I promise.  Just another subplot.)  

More fluff is to come, as well as bending-bro bonding time - I just had to set up that next half of the story with this chapter.  Thanks for reading!  (and reviewing if you do that sort of thing)

Chapter 13 Fighting a feeling

[foodpilgrim]

Honey: The Ultimate Ephemeral

Like grapes, apples, olive oils, and oysters, honey is one of those foods that is particularly influenced by terroir--the combination of climate, topography, and soil (or in the case of oysters, ocean) that meld together to create variations in flavor.  In the case of honey, however, flower power is also a determining factor. 

For example, if rhododendron and azalea blossoms are disproportionately represented among the flowers from which bees gather pollen and nectar, the resulting honey can be toxic to humans. According to the Honey and Pollination Center at the University of California--Davis, there are some 300 flavors of honey available in the United States, which led researchers there to create a "Honey Wheel of Flavors" which begins in the center of the wheel by classifying honeys under very general rubrics--fruity, floral, herbaceous, woody, earthy, spicy, nutty--and further refines the flavors within these categories outward, toward the edges of the wheel. For example, under floral, the honey might carry a dominant note of jasmine, rose, lavender or lilac. Under fruity, the flavor might tend toward tree fruits, dried fruits, or tropical fruits, and further subcategories derive from these. For tree fruits there is apple, orange, pear, cherry, apricot, peach, etc.

     Gear at The Honey Hole for beekeeping.  Photo by Georgann Eubanks.

Beekeeping is a growing enterprise in pastoral Ashe County, at the northwesternmost corner of North Carolina, where the mountains are round and hillsides are cultivated in Christmas trees. Ashe farmers also raise dairy and beef cattle, apples, trout, and even produce maple syrup.

The Honey Hole of the Blue Ridge on Third Avenue in downtown West Jefferson is run by former Charlotteans Chuck and Shelley Felder, who sell everything a beekeeper could need, along with an alluring variety of honeys produced up and down the East Coast and beyond. It's a great place to taste test for your favorites. 

There's Blueberry Honey from eastern North Carolina, Red Raspberry from Michigan, separate jars of Alfalfa and Clover Honey from Virginia, two flavors--Eucalyptus and Avocado--from California, and Lavender from France.              

While Shelley is the resident bee whisperer (and there is a hive behind glass in the store), Chuck stays busy making honey butters. His "Vanilla Bean Vibrance" is a honey infused with Madagascar vanilla beans and intended to be drizzled over ice cream or pie. He also makes a mean Bourbon Barrel Honey and a fragrant honey soap with corn grits added as an exfoliate. 

The Felders buy the local honey they sell from "eight beekeepers with integrity," as Chuck puts it.  They also sell supplies for raising chickens and feeding wild birds. Shelley teaches beekeeping classes--beginning and advanced--at Wilkes Community College on both the Sparta and West Jefferson campuses. On the day I visited  she was shining a light on the queen in the store's hive, explaining to a customer that her Highness was just then having her breakfast and bath, being rolled by the drones while she moved not a wisp of her wings. Lucy, the store’s resident cat, was appropriately disinterested, lurking under a shelf of books on beekeeping.

     Opposite ends of the spectrum: Locust and Buckwheat.        Photo by G. Eubanks

I selected two kinds of honey to take home with me, tastes which couldn't have been more different. The locust honey that Chuck brought out of his secret stash in the back was extremely pale and very rare, he said, because the locust trees around Ashe County only bloom and yield nectar every five to seven years. "This year," Chuck explained, "the blossoms had the nectar knocked out of them by heavy rains, and though there was still pollen, you've got to have both for honey." 

At this elevation in the Blue Ridge, the weather can be especially harsh--wet, cold, and full of bluster--and locust blossoms only last for about ten days anyway. However, locust trees bloom early in the spring, so it’s more likely that you'll get a truly monofloral black locust honey, before the bees are tempted to sup elsewhere. The Ashe County locust honey has a subtle and delicate flavor--a pure sweetness that's not complex. As I learned, the paler the honey, the more likely it is purely locust, not tinged by nectar from other flowers.

By contrast, the buckwheat honey I purchased in West Jefferson is nearly as dark as molasses. The moment I tasted it, I was transported into my great, great Aunt Annie's farmhouse, a stick-built cottage in rural Georgia with timber paneling so long ago harvested that it was rock hard and smelled of--well, old wood and old lady.

Later in my research on buckwheat honey, I came across an article entitled "Why Some Honey Tastes Like Cat Pee." Oh good grief. I have to admit, I get it, but to my palate, having never tasted cat pee, (and yes, my aunt had cats), I think this buckwheat honey simply has a depth beyond other honeys--a taste something like the scent of an old, empty armoire just opened to the light of day after a long time. In fact, the color is not unlike a piece of antique furniture aged to a lovely, molasses patina.

In The Month of Their Ripening: North Carolina Heritage Foods Through the Year (my book, forthcoming from UNC Press next year) I write about foods that are ephemeral, those tastes that come only once a season, foods that make us wait for them, long for their taste, and in so doing, we appreciate their amazing distinctions.

Honey is nothing short of a miracle, a gift of nature now seriously endangered by the perils that threaten bees--commercial development of open land, pesticide overuse, and climate shifts. The range of those flavors set out on a glass shelf in West Jefferson was a veritable altar and testament to our Eden now under siege. And ironically, these two delectable flavors I brought home--locust and buckwheat--will grow in the poorest of soils. To bee or not to bee is not a question. Humans and all our food sources would be gone from the planet in three years without our pollinators, Chuck Felder reminded me.

     The tasting shelf at Honey Hole of the Blue Ridge.  Photo by G. Eubanks