#Ian's spiral is too close to home to my 20s like

[aceyanaheim]

How am I relating to all 3 eldest Gallaguer siblings 

Should i just show this post to my therapist/j skjafhksdf

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #29

Icicle Works: S/T ( Side 1 )

Vs.

Chicago : 17 ( Side 1 )

Icicle Works: S/T ( Side 1 )

The Icicle Works are an English alternative rock band and were named after the 1960 short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl. The band was founded in Liverpool in 1980 when bassist Chris Layhe answered an advertisement for a musical collaborator placed by 20-year-old Ian McNabb. The two got together and started writing. They quickly added drummer Chris Sharrock and began playing live shows as "The Icicle Works". The distinctive nature of this band versus others of the time is all in the percussion. Later albums are more straightforward rock or even punk in nature, but this album seems very tribal. Celtic you could say. Think New Model Army meets Big Country. There is a goth meets punk theme. It all starts off with “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)”. One of the more obscure 80s tunes but recently it was featured in the credits scene of Stranger Things, so maybe that gives it some street cred. It’s a good tune. Catchy and energetic without being a burden. Also, pretty sure there is a monk chanting in the background...I could be wrong. None of my description will do it justice, just listen to the dang tune. “In The Cauldron of Love” follows and honestly how many songs do you know that dare to sing about cauldrons? Exactly. They go a little Screaming Trees on this one. Dark, and with more rock than you would expect. Downward spiraling riffs that stir you up in their cauldron. I just wanted to say that word one more time. It doesn’t even make sense anymore. Cauldron. Yeah...so “Nirvana” is next and it’s about the grunge band by the same name. Just kidding. But there is more chanting and bad ass drum fills. The structure does a good job of feeling peaceful then building up to frantic and blissful payoffs. Certainly some psychological elements. Trippy at times. “Lover’s Day” is a slower tune, but again with some awesome and amazing fills. Flute toots to boot. Nothing says love like a flute. “A Factory in the Desert” is not only a bizarre title, but a bizarrely rocking song as well. In fact, I think that’s the single most surprising thing about this group is their big rock sound for being only a three piece. The jangle guitar aside, there are elements of Echo and the Bunnymen with an Irish coffee aspect. Cultural rock. Very nature and religious themes and inspiration. I feel more peaceful after listening.

Chicago : 17 ( Side 1 )

Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. Ironic I know. They originally started calling themselves the Chicago Transit Authority in 1968 before shortening the name in 1969. The self-described “rock and roll band with horns” began writing politically charged rock music, and later moved to a softer sound, generating several hit ballads. Also right on trend with other bands naming themselves after their home city. (Looking at you, Boston). The band technically began in California under the name, The Big Thing, but opted to relocate to the Windy City and renamed themselves in doing so. They achieved a fair amount of success before moving so in a somewhat unusual move their debut album was a double LP. The label had big hopes and were not disappointed. Let’s just say it did well enough that their second and third albums were ALSO double LPs. A lot of those early hits sustained the band, but let’s be honest, a lot of that came from the frontman Peter Cetera. The band continued to have great success, pretty much up to his departure in the mid 80s. In fact, if I recall correctly, this album (17...a numbered theme/gimmick they kept in tact most of their career) was his last with the group. Probably because he realized that they kind of suck. “Stay the Night” was a big hit for the boys. Too bad they don’t rock (like the chorus suggests) all the time. It does have a decent hook though. “We can’t Stop Hurtin’” is ...another song ... with some big old keys sound. But then ruined by those jangle guitar riffs. GTFO disco Stu!!! Aaargh, plus those god awful crap horns. As if it’s not evident, I’m really not a big fan of this garbage. This is exactly why this band can go straight to hell. My ears are offended. Another lame hit for these d-bags was “Hard Habit To Break”. You might remember the video where Peter tries to be cool and wears a Bauhaus shirt...? Yeah, well that basically summarizes this whole experience. Ballad junk. Gross bloat rock. F*#@ THESE GUYS. Even the futile attempts to 80s-ify the band can’t save them. “Only You” is next and I literally have no good words to say. I think it’s a different singer on this one? I hate this record. I’m staring at the stylus with daggers waiting for the agony to end! WHY WON’T IT END ALREADY!!???! “Remember The Feeling” is next. I feel like only jerks like this band. Like, if you actually enjoy this ear vomit, then...you are a person that gives up a pet dog because it peed on your bed or something. You are a fowl, wretched human who hates yourself and is constantly cutting people off in traffic. Yeah, THAT kind of jerk listens to this trash. Even Peter Cetera was smart enough to get off the bus, man. He went solo. I may also still be bitter as I was forced to see these guys in concert when I was 5. My parents took me and I only remember falling asleep. Let me repeat that: Chicago, live on stage, PUT ME TO SLEEP they were so boring. Years later, my parents won tickets to see them but couldn’t go. I was given the tickets and only decided to go because Earth, Wind, and Fire were the opener. Well again, the show sucked because it was a torrential downpour (outside venue) and Chicago is just terrible. I’m sorry but this band is horrifying.

(*ahem) So in today’s challenge The Icicle Works worked not only icicles, but body fat. They burned 159 calories over 21 minutes and 5 songs. That is 31.80 calories burned per song and 7.57 calories burned per minute. They also earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Chicago, on the other hand decided 17 was their number. Here are some other numbers though... 22 which is the minutes, 158 which is the number of calories burned, and 5 which is the number of songs. They burned 31.60 calories per song and 7.18 calories per minute. They earned a (pathetic) 5 out of 15 possible stars. Looks like they may be cold, but those Icicle(s) works today!

Icicle Works: “Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)”

Recently featured in an episode of Stranger Things, so if it sounds familiar that could be why...or maybe that one financial commercial.

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonsix

#Randomrecordworkout

[searchingwardrobes]

Tortures of Hell, With Lower Prices

With everyone heading back to school, I thought I would bring back this ridiculous thing I wrote about CS back to school shopping at Walmart. I wrote this ages ago, long before Hope and the combining of the realms, so this isn’t canon compliant at all. If that’s going to bother you, then just skip this. I don’t hate Hope, chill people. Also can be read on Ao3

It should have been a simple errand. Run into Dark Star Pharmacy on the way home from Granny’s, school supply list in hand. Emma should have known that nothing could be simple where Killian was concerned.

“Five dollars for a bloody notebook!” Killian practically roared. “This is practically robbery, Swan! And I should know, I’m a pirate.”

“But, Daddy!” Evan, their seven year old argued. “It has Star Wars on the front!”

“It ought to be engraved with gold for that price,” Killian grumbled.

“Honey,” Emma argued gently, placing a hand on his arm, “We’ve bought school supplies here for the past four years. And every year, you complain.” Which shouldn’t have surprised her. All prices in this realm were outrageous to her 300 year old pirate.

“Well someone has to! They’re cheating the citizens of our town. Doesn’t Regina care about this?”

Emma refrained from rolling her eyes. “It’s the only place in town that carries school supplies, Killian. They can basically charge whatever they want.”

“Well, they aren’t taking advantage of this pirate anymore, I can tell you that.” Killian snatched the notebook from Evan’s hand and put it back on the shelf, despite the seven year old’s protests. He had five year old Briar Rose hand over the Hello Kitty folder and the sparkly pink pencil case.

“But Daddy!” the little girl pouted. Emma knew Killian was serious when his little girl’s trembling lower lip didn’t sway him.

“If the game is rigged in Storybrooke, we’ll simply go elsewhere, love.”

Emma should have insisted they buy the school supplies at Dark Star; it was Friday night, and school started on Monday. But after being married to Killian for the past nine years, Emma had learned that when he set his mind to something, he was all in. And when Killian Jones was all in, he delivered.

After putting the children down for the night, Emma crawled into their king size bed where Killian was sitting up with Emma’s laptop (which he still referred to as “the magic box”). “Did you know, Emma, that this is tax-free weekend? There’s no sales tax on back to school items through midnight Sunday.”

Emma chuckled as she curled herself into Killian’s side. “There’s never any tax in Storybrooke.”

Killian’s tongue stuck out of his mouth and his eye’s narrowed as he continued clicking. “I know that Swan, but there’s sales tax everywhere else. So this is the best time to shop outside town.” A grin suddenly spread across his face. “A-ha!”

Emma leaned over to look at the screen. “No, Killian, please no! Not there!”

Killian wrinkled his brow in confusion. “Why ever not, Swan? They have the lowest prices, do they not?” Emma groaned as she pulled the covers over her head. Her voice came muffled through the fabric. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Jones.”

Killian chuckled. “Now who’s being overdramatic? How bad can it be? Tomorrow morning, we’ll all head there. It will be a nice family outing.”

Emma pulled the blanket away and stared at Killian incredulously. “You want to take the kids?”

He shrugged one shoulder at her. “Why not?”

Emma opened her mouth, then closed it. At first, she wanted to flat out say no. But then a mischievous grin spread across her face. It should have given Killian pause, but it didn’t.

“Sure, sweetheart. We’ll all go to Wal-Mart.”

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

The closest town with a Wal-mart wasn’t all that far from Storybrooke. It was only a 20 minute drive. Despite that, the kids still begged to set the DVD players up in the mini-van. Yes, Captain Hook had a mini-van. They had made do with the bug until child number three came along. Two car seats would barely fit in the bug; three were impossible. To Emma’s shock, Killian had actually been the one to choose the van. Black, of course.

“You know the rule,” Emma reminded the kids. “DVDs are only for long trips – an hour or more.” The kids grumbled and complained until Emma reminded them that they had to behave if they wanted to look at the toys or get a free cookie from the bakery. Emma drove while Killian messed with his phone.

“Have you heard of this app, Emma?” he asked her, waving the device. She shook her head and grinned. He always sounded like a kid with a new toy when he discovered the wonders of modern technology. “You scan your receipt, it searches other stores, and if anyone else has a lower price, they give you the money back!”

When they pulled into the parking lot, Emma groaned. “This place is packed! We’ll have to park a mile away from the store!”

Killian’s jaw dropped. “I’ve never seen a parking lot so huge!”

The kids all began talking at once as Emma pulled into a space. If her husband and kids were this excited about Wal-mart, they really needed to start getting out of Storybrooke more often. They all piled out of the mini-van. “Six, guys,” Emma told them. “Remember the number six. That’s the aisle we parked on.”

The five of them walked through the front doors of the massive store and headed to the rows of shopping carts. Killian tugged one loose, then turned to the kids. He turned frantic eyes to Emma. “Where’s Evan?”

“Seriously?” asked Emma, scanning the store. “We lost one already?”

Killian pointed half way across the store. “There! See him?”

Emma let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. “Evan!” she called. “Get back over here!”

“But the sign says bakery,” Evan said, pointing at the neon sign. “You said we could get a cookie.”

“As a reward when we’re done,” Emma sighed. “Get back over here, and don’t wander away from us like that again.”

Evan grumbled and dragged his feet, but obeyed. Emma then turned to hoist three year old Ian into the seat at the front of the shopping cart. Ian shook his head vehemently. “I wanna walk!”

Emma took a deep breath and counted to three. They weren’t even all the way into the store yet! Why the hell had she agreed to this? “You’re too little to walk, honey. It’s a big store.”

Ian crossed his little arms and stuck out his lower lip. “Evan and Briar Rose get to walk. I a’ways too wittle!”

“Come on, Swan,” Killian argued, giving her his best puppy dog look. “Let him walk.”

Killian always caved when Ian complained about being little. Something about Liam always calling him “little brother.” Emma sighed in exasperation. “Fine! But if he takes off, you’re chasing after him!”

Killian took Ian’s hand and smiled down at him. Briar Rose jumped up to hang off the side of the cart like she always did at Storybrooke market. But since Ian wasn’t in the front seat, the cart began to tip. Emma and Killian grabbed it before it fell over on top of her. In her fear, Emma shouted at Briar Rose to watch what she was doing. It was the wrong thing to do. Their middle child was extremely sensitive and tender-hearted. Her lip immediately began to tremble and her green eyes filled up with giant crocodile tears. Before the wailing could begin, Killian scooped her up and began whispering in her ear. A tremulous smile crept across her face. Killian tickled her, and all was well. Another crisis averted.

“Shall we?” Killian asked her gallantly with a cocky grin. Emma narrowed her eyes at him, squeezing the handle of the shopping cart until her knuckles turned white. She would see that grin wiped off his face if it was the last thing she did in this stupid store.

They headed to the school supply section, which was pretty simple to find. All you had to do was follow the sounds of scolding parents, whining children, and general pandemonium. Killian muttered, “Bloody hell!” under his breath, and Emma couldn’t help tossing him her own cocky grin. “Why are Ziploc bags and Kleenex in the school supply section, Swan?”

“I asked my wife the same question,” complained a man to Killian’s left. “We didn’t have to buy all this crap when I was in school. Do you know what expo markers are?”

“Haven’t a clue.”

“Yeah,” the man muttered as he shouldered past a woman who was arguing with her twelve year old about a back pack, “neither do I.”

Out of curiosity, Killian grabbed one of the school supply lists from the nearby yellow display. He whistled under his breath at the list and was suddenly thankful for tiny Storybrooke Public School, K-12. Killian was suddenly shoved from behind, sending him tumbling into Emma, which caused the shopping cart she was maneuvering to crash into a plump woman in front of her.

“I am SO sorry!” Emma apologized.

The woman scoffed. “Well watch it next time, lady!”

Emma turned the cart (a difficult task, since one wheel wobbled ineffectually, not even touching the ground) down the paper aisle. Killian shifted Briar Rose to his other arm so he could pull the supply list out of his back pocket with his good hand.

“Spiral bound notebook; color of choice,” he read off for Emma.

“Which kid?”

Killian shuffled the two papers. “Um . . . both.”

Briar Rose scrambled down out of Killian’s arms, darting off between people and carts. Killian nervously kept his eyes trained on her dark bob with the giant pink bow. It had killed him and Emma at first to see her hair chopped off, but he had to admit the bob was adorable on Briar Rose and made her look uncannily like her grandmother. It was all the hairdresser could do to salvage Evan’s handiwork. They were acting out the end of Tangled, he had explained.

“I want this one, Mommy!” Briar Rose exclaimed, weaving through the mass of people. She held up her notebook of choice. “It’s Belle! And she’s reading a book in the library, just like in Storybrooke!”

Emma hurriedly tossed the notebook into the cart, glancing around nervously. But no one was paying a bit of attention to their daughter. Briar Rose scrambled into the cart, admiring the cover of her brand new notebook.

“Ok, Evan,” Emma asked. “What about you?” “I wanted Star Wars,” Evan whined. Emma and Killian bobbed and weaved amongst all the people, searching in vain for a Star Wars notebook. People behind them started grumbling for them to move along.

Emma straightened, pushing her hair out of her face in frustration. “Just pick something else, honey, ok?” She held up two notebooks. “Captain America or Ninja Turtles?”

Evan rolled his eyes. “Captain America.” Killian had a sudden urge to back-hand the boy. You would have thought Emma had handed him cow dung.

“I want one, too!” Ian begged, jumping up and down.

“Sure, little man,” Killian agree. “Which one would you like?”

Ian grabbed a notebook identical to his older brother’s and hugged it to his chest. Evan groaned, “That’s the one I picked! He’s always copying me!”

Emma rolled her eyes. The combined eye rolls of the Jones family was probably going to set some kind of record. Emma grabbed two other notebooks.

“What about this one Ian? It has cars on it? Or dinosaurs?”

Ian shook his head, clutching the notebook tighter. “Uh-uh. I want Cap’n ‘Merica.”

Emma glanced around the shelves. “What about this one? It has Captain America, too.”

Ian stomped both legs and scrunched his face up until it turned red. “Not Iron Man! Just Cap’n ‘Merica!”

Emma began rubbing her temple. She was definitely getting a headache. “What about this?” Killian asked behind her. “It’s Captain America’s shield.” Emma held Killian’s gaze, both of them holding their breath as the toddler contemplated the choice.

“kay,” Ian finally agreed, grabbing the notebook and tossing it into the cart. Emma and Killian both let out a relieved breath.

“Killian!” Emma cried out, giving his shoulder a shove. “Quick, 2nd-3rd grade lined paper! Behind you; there’s only one pack left!”

Killian whirled around, frantically scanning the shelves. There! He grabbed for it, but just as he did, so did another hand with long, sharp red fingernails. He looked up into the determined eyes of a frazzled mother. Killian sighed. Good form and all of that. He relinquished the paper.

Emma’s frustrated voice came from over his shoulder. “Killian!”

Just then, his salvation came in the form of a blue vest with a name tag that read “Brittany.” The crowd in the aisle seemed to magically part before her. She ripped open a cardboard box, setting out several new tablets of 2nd-3rd grade lined paper. Out of nowhere, dozens of other shoppers descended on them like locusts. Killian found himself in a struggle for the coveted paper, but finally, finally, he had some in his hands! “Pre-k/1st grade paper too, Killian!” Emma shouted behind him. After a brief struggle, he pushed himself out of the throng, paper in hand.

“My hero!” Emma teased, giving him a peck on the cheek.

Killian pulled the supply lists out of his pocket once again and groaned as he looked it over. At least it didn’t include the elusive expo markers, but they still had a long way to go.

“Okay, kids!” Emma said brightly. “On to the pencil aisle!”

Evan flung himself onto the floor, right there in the middle of the aisle. Killian looked around in a panic, expecting his son to be run over at any moment. “I want my cookie NOW!” he whined in the most annoying way imaginable.

“Get. Up.” Killian hissed between gritted teeth.

“Not only does he look just like you,” Emma quipped, “he inherited your flair for the dramatic.”

Killian glared at Emma, then nudged his oldest son with the toe of his boot. “Get off your arse, son. You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”

Evan groaned and did as his father asked. To Killian’s right, an older woman huffed and narrowed her eyes at Killian. “Well I never in all my days heard a father talk that way to a child,” she complained to her husband, loud enough for everyone around her to hear.

Emma grabbed Killian by the arm just as he opened his mouth to speak. “Don’t, Killian,” Emma said sternly as her husband clenched his jaw. “It isn’t worth it. Judging parents at Wal-mart is almost a national past time. Let it go.”

Killian sighed and rubbed his forehead. Now he was getting a head ache. Emma decided to have pity on him. Rubbing his arm she asked, “Why don’t I finish the list on my own? You can take the kids over to look at the toys.”

The kids all perked up at that. “Toys!” they all cried in unison. Briar Rose scrambled out of the cart, tossing her Princess Belle notebook heedlessly to the bottom. Killian grinned down at Emma. “I love you.”

She smirked back. “I know.”

Killian handed Emma the school supply list, Ian yanking impatiently on his arm. When he turned around, the older two had almost sprinted out of sight. “Evan! Briar Rose! Wait for me!” Killian jogged after them, scooping Ian up in his arms. He couldn’t believe the size of the toy section when they reached it. Toyland, Storybrooke’s lone toy store, wasn’t even as big as this one section of Wal-mart. Immediately, Killian faced a dilemma. Briar Rose wanted to look at the doll aisle. Evan wanted to look at the Lego sets. Ian wanted to look at the Thomas trains. Killian ran his hand wearily down his face. “Okay. Evan, you’re old enough to go over to the Legos by yourself I suppose. Just don’t go anywhere else. Ian, we’ll look at Thomas trains AFTER we look at dolls with your sister. She’s always having to do boy things, so it’s only fair.”

Ian, of course, stomped his little feet again in frustration. When Killian continued to tell him no, he sprinted down the aisle and around the corner. “Ian!” Killian yelled. He glanced back at Briar Rose, then down the end of the aisle where his three year old had disappeared. Growling in frustration, he scooped up his daughter and raced for the aisle that said “Thomas,” but when he got there . . . no Ian. His heart suddenly constricted in his chest. Where was he? And what would Emma say? “Ian! Ian!” he continued to shout as he raced up one aisle and down another. He finally found him in the last place he had thought to look – the Lego aisle, standing next to his big brother, both admiring a Lego set of the Millenium Falcon. Killian let out a shaky breath, setting Briar Rose down as his heart slowed its erratic beating.

But there was no rest for the weary, apparently. Evan turned suddenly to his father, legs crossed, hands cupping his privates. “I gotta pee. Now!”

Killian groaned. “Do you know where it is?”

“Yeah, I think.”

“Ok, well, run in that direction. You too, Briar Rose. Ian and I will be right behind you.”

Killian turned to find that his three year old had turned into a helpless puddle on the floor. “Nooo!” he wailed. “Toys!” Killian picked him up, but the child’s limbs dangled and dragged on the floor. How did toddlers will themselves to become heavy when having a tantrum? Killian hoisted Ian over one shoulder, still kicking and screaming as he raced down the aisle. When he came out into the large center aisle, Evan and Briar Rose were nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, it only took him a moment to find the sign that said “Restroom.” He ran as fast as he could in that direction, following the signs until he ended up in front of the men’s room just as Evan was exiting. Once again, Killian found himself looking around frantically.

“Where’s your sister?” “I dunno,” Evan said with a shrug of his shoulders. Killian wanted to back-hand him for the second time that day. Didn’t he know Briar Rose was a helpless five year old girl?

“Well – think son! When did you see her last?”

“She got distracted by Zootopia. On the TVs.”

Killian raced back out into the main part of the store.

“Look, Daddy, Star Wars!” Killian looked behind him, frustrated to see Evan looking at DVDS.

“I don’t have time for this Evan! We lost your sister!” Killian stomped back over to Evan, grabbing him by the elbow and dragging him away from the DVDS. As Killian turned back around, he saw the same older couple from earlier. The woman was muttering and giving him the most condescending look, but at that point, he could really care less. He had to find Briar Rose! She was such an adorable little thing; what if someone had grabbed her? He saw the movie Evan had mentioned, but there was a whole row of dozens of televisions playing the same thing. Finally, he heard the sound of crying. Ahead of him, at the end of an aisle stood Briar Rose, turning frantically in circles. Killian raced to her, falling to his knees and enveloping his little girl in a hug, managing to keep hold of the boys in the process.

“Anything I need to know?” came a familiar voice from behind them.

Killian stood to face Emma, holding tight to all three children. “Yes, Swan,” Killian growled. “We’re leaving. NOW.” He deposited Ian in the seat at the front of the cart, ignoring the child’s protests as he buckled him in.

“Have a rough time?” Emma asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“This place is worse than torture in hell, Swan!” Killian snapped. “And I should know!”

Emma scoffed. “Please, Killian, don’t exaggerate. Besides, you were in the underworld, not hell.”

“Well I’d rather face Hades a million times over than endure this place one second longer. Come on children, don’t dawdle.”

All three of them began to protest: “But what about our cookies?” “We didn’t get to look at the toys at all!” “Thomas trains!”

“NO!” Killian cut them off firmly, raising his good hand in the air. “I lost each of you –“

“You did?” Emma asked, but Killian continued without even acknowledging the question.

“ – got knocked over by who knows how many people, had to endure more whining from the three of you than any father should have to endure, and there’s a lady in her somewhere who’s probably calling an orphanage as we speak because she thinks I’m an unfit parent.”

“Children’s services, Killian, not an orphanage.”

“Whatever. Let’s pay for this rubbage and get the hell out of here.”

Killian turned the dilapidated cart awkwardly towards checkout, the children for once completely silent.

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

An hour later, Killian sat in a booth at McDonald’s his head resting wearily against Emma’s shoulder. The kids had acted like total brats at Wal-mart, but they were all starving by the time they left the store, and they hadn’t gotten the cookies, after all. Storybrooke didn’t have a McDonald’s either, and Emma and Killian felt like Wal-mart had been just as much torture for the children as it had been for them. Besides, after Killian’s outburst they had been perfect angels.

“Swan, next year, just tell me to shut up and buy the damn school supplies at Dark Star.”

Emma chuckled, running her fingers through Killian’s dark hair. The children were burning off all their energy on the playground. Hopefully, they would all sleep on the trip home. Emma could have told Killian “I told you so,” but instead, she just kissed the top of his head. Killian’s phone dinged and Emma picked it up from where it sat on the table. She giggled when she saw what it was. She stuck the phone in front of Killian’s face. “Look how much you got back with savings catcher, honey.”

“Bloody hell,” Killian groaned, slumping forward to rest his forehead on the table, “you’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Nope,” Emma replied, still laughing, “we got back a whopping twenty-nine cents. They say they’ll transfer it to a Wal-mart gift card.”

Killian lifted his head and scowled at Emma. She leaned over and began massaging his shoulders. Leaning even closer, she whispered in his ear, “You know, I did pick up a little something after I got all the school supplies. Something for me to wear . . . tonight.”

Killian suddenly sat up eagerly, all smiles. “Really?”

Emma withdrew a Wal-mart bag from her purse and dangled it teasingly in front of him. Killian snatched it out of her hands and peeked inside. His face fell. “That’s cruel, Swan.”

Emma’s laughter was spilling out now in hiccupping gasps. Briar Rose came bouncing over. “Mommy got you a present?” she asked, looking inside the bag. She pulled out the pink grandma nightgown. “Ooohh, Mommy, pretty! It’s got kitty cats!”

Emma doubled over laughing now, tears streaming down her face. Killian waggled a finger at her, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “Just wait until tonight, Swan. I know how to wipe that grin right off your face.” As hideous as the nightgown may be, Killian knew it would look rather fetching in a heap on the ground after he had removed it from his Swan’s lovely figure.

Emma wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. She knew this wasn’t exactly the fun Killian had envisioned back in Neverland, but her husband versus the modern world was an endless source of amusement for Emma. She was suddenly eager for the holiday season.

She couldn’t wait to introduce Killian to lay-away.

[mybeautifuldecay]

307: Alt Argument Scene.

So in MBD world the wee verbal stramash Jamie and Claire had over various Young Ian/Bree/Frank issues would have played out slightly differently and it’s been running around my head all day as I tried to work out how to protect the precious creature that is Claire Beauchamp (cum) Fraser. 

Personal opinion time: I feel a little slighted because it seems (to me) as if Claire, episode by episode, is coming under fire for various things. She’s a mother, a healer, a wife, a superhero with cape flying through the air with the greatest of ease and with all of those supreme titles comes the rather large red, glowing arrow over her head that often reads “BLAME ME”. 

In this episode it’s from Jamie. I’m aware, as I’m sure we all are, that he’s waking up from 20 years of sleep and like Aurora, he’s groggy and annoyed at time lost. Unlike Aurora, he’s married to Laoghaire Mackenzie - but that’s another story for another time. So his own guilt and insecurities are bound to manifest in some way.

But poor Claire has already suffered enough dodgy side-eye from a man to last a million years and a day and she’s long overdue a break.

She never fails to stand up for the little guy, for everyone around her no matter the circumstances - even those who’ve wrong her (tried to maim her, rape her and marry her husband - she’s a better woman than I. I’d have the matches ready...legit...) so I’ve decided (with my 0% wisdom, but 100% sustained believe in the power of fictional powerful women) that I’d like to stand up for our Claire and allow her a moment to put right some wrongs. 

Have my alternate view SLASH extra moment.

Have I told you lately how much I LOVE Claire (and CAITRIONA too) I felt caps was needed. 

----> This is dedicated to some of my favourite ladies, all of whom wear various different capes daily and lowkey rule the world: @manders1984 @suhailauniverse @thescarlettpeacock @writtenthroughtime @outlandishchridhe @gotham-ruaidh @takemeawaytocamelot @tammywt ...plus loads of others <3 

-- --- --

Claire: You have no idea what it’s like to be a worried parent. You’re not the boy's father, Jamie.

Jamie: No. I’m Brianna’s father. But I didn’t raise her, did I? I have to see how you and Frank brought her up. And that -- that ratchet thing ye call a ...bikini. Even whores have the decency not to go out in broad daylight dressed like that.

-- --- --

The breath caught in her chest at the accusation, the memory of previous (very similar) arguments with Frank bubbling beneath the surface. Had she been clearer minded she might have debated, internally, the reasons for Jamie’s anguish and anger. But she wasn’t. She was shaken; bone tired with the highs of their reunion fading before her eyes. The fears she’d expressed to Brianna before leaving Boston were suddenly becoming very real and the shattering truth of her own words back then reverberated through her chest.

Claire had spent a large part of her return to the twentieth century facing recriminations for her actions. For her choice to love Jamie she’d faced Frank’s ire, his anger and his resentment and - although he’d been the best father he could be to Brianna, that she couldn’t deny - she’d lost so many chances to bond with Bree through that ever present longing.

“Don’t,” she snapped, before Jamie’s words could cut her any deeper. She knew she held some accountability for her own decisions and actions. Tough choices that she had made and paid greatly for. She’d given up the blossoming relationship her and Bree had begun to grow. She had sacrificed her career, her home and her comforts.

At that moment she saw Brianna, sat in the window seat in front of her, her eyes soft in the dimmed light as Claire had discussed her parting. Finding her lungs devoid of air, the question rose around her like a smothering smog, what would Bree do? What would her feelings be should she hear Jamie speaking of her in such a way?

Her heart ached like mad, the distinct throb pulsing through her chest making her muscles weak and her eyes tear.

Claire had given up an awful lot for an opportunity to be whole once more.

For love.

For *true* love.

Claire had known that it wasn’t going to be easy. She’d felt that particular sting as she’d begun to learn of Jamie’s past and his present, but the burn from his harsh words sent her spiralling back into the memories of Frank and *that* she could not face.

“I can’t, Jamie, please,” she almost begged, hating that her words seemed weak and feeble. She hadn’t bayed to Frank’s taunting, she wouldn’t to Jamie’s either. Jamie was supposed to be the man who knew her best, the one she could truly be herself with.

The slight tenor of fear in her voice was a product of fear. Fear that she was losing the last tangible link to the Jamie and Claire Fraser they had been before. The immortal image of them against adversity was slowly burning to ashes in front of her, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop the destruction.

But for Jamie she would try. That meant not holding back, she had to be transparent and honest, even if that meant speaking up. Her ‘Do No Harm’ oath did not extend to feelings, only physical ailments.

“I’ve lived this life. The one with insults, secrets and I can’t, no,” she said stopping herself before she allowed any excuses to be made on his behalf, “I *won’t* live it again.” She stumbled over the ‘won’t’, a reminder that - even with their argument only half completed - the force of her feelings for Jamie were enough to make her want to fight her own corner in a less aggressive, more caring way.

“So,” Jamie replied, a distinct sound of shock in his voice though he tried to hide it, “do ye want to leave now, then?” He asked the question with a sort of suspended disbelief, as if he hadn’t thought his allegations would render Claire so hurt. He hadn’t thought at all. Jealousy and bitterness had overtaken the more rational part of his brain and he’d used their daughter to try and lessen the guilt he had over his various unspoken and *unrevealed* indiscretions.

Seeing his heated resolve evaporate, Claire continued, managing to stem the sobs as they caught in her throat as she spoke.

“You told me I was a good mother. You told me I needed to go. I did the best I could with a man I didn’t love the same anymore, I took his barrage of insults when he and I clashed and I lived a half-life where I tried to keep my feelings for you tampered AND raise our daughter AND try and ensure Frank didn’t feel too destroyed by my buried affection for you...and now, after searching and failing, searching and succeeding, getting into bother with our daughter over the lies she was told over the years then building a relationship with her, I made the outstanding decision to come back to you because I LOVE YOU, and here I am again facing yet more criticism for my decisions...”

“Claire,” Jamie interjected during her impassioned pause, trying to move towards her and bridge that gaping gap that had arisen between them in a few short moments. The taste was bitter in his mouth as she shook and shied away from his affection.

“You just called our daughter a whore,” she choked out, “the very daughter w-who begged me to return to you so that you could know what we did all those years ago was successful. That she had lived...because of you. What would she say…?” Claire said, more to herself than to Jamie now, “How would she feel to hear you speak of her this way?”

“Claire I didna mean--” “You did, Jamie. You meant it.” Claire said, her nose and cheeks red, her face covered in the moisture of her tears. “I did love Frank, but not in the way I love you. Never in that way. And he punished me for the rest of our marriage, even when I told him he was free to leave. Then, just before his death, he tried to take her from me. After he’d made damn sure I had no say in it. I took it all, Jamie, anything and everything he threw at me because I stayed too. I bore the scars of leaving you for twenty fucking years and I deserved some of Frank’s anger because I didn’t love him as I should. We agreed, you know,” she continued, turning to the side and hiding her crushed facial expression from Jamie as she went on, “that if he was discreet he could see other women, and he did…”

“Christ, Claire,” Jamie cursed, his hand coming to lay on her shoulder.

This time she didn’t shy away, but she didn’t turn back either.

“So if that’s how you feel, then yes, maybe I should go. Bree and I,” Claire said, her voice getting deeper as the emotional overload gripped her, “we haven’t had the easiest relationship. But we’d bonded...more recently. I could go home, in time see her married and help to raise my grandchildren. I just want to be happy, that’s all. Content and not...n-not the martyr in an unwinnable battle.”

Shrugging her shoulders, she let Jamie’s hand slip from her as she bundled herself further away from him once more. She’d laid herself bare, exposed all of her (and Frank’s) polluted past for Jamie to hear and finally succumb to the idea that it *had* been foolish to think she could rebuild the twenty year gap that swirled between them like an unfathomable abyss. Whatever they decided she didn’t want to be touched at this particular moment.

“I dinna think I could take it if ye left, Sassenach,” Jamie whispered, his voice breaking ever so slightly, “to have ye here once more only to lose you...and then because o’ my own callus words. Dhia,” he cursed, his gaelic slipping in without thought. Luckily nobody was close enough to hear.

Peaking up from under her buoyant curls, Claire watched though sore eyes as Jamie began to cry beside her, his shoulders shuddering silently as he fell apart above her.

“She’s a credit to us, Jamie,” Claire said, “she’s strong and bright, stubborn yet kind hearted. Every day she made me proud with everything she did because she’s selfless. She embodies the very best of all of us and she carries herself with such grace. I bloody wish you could see her for yourself, so you could see what I’ve seen and I would give *anything* to turn back the clock and give you those years. But I can’t,” she whimpered, huge tears welling in her eye and dripping down her nose as she tried to shake them away, “I can only give you everything from here on out. I can show you pictures and tell you stories. I can love you with all that I am for as long as I have left, but I cannot suffer the indignity of anymore harsh looks and brutal words. I’d rather leave and remember what we had with fondness, than have it ruined if it’s not to be--”

“Stop, please Claire. I’m sae sorry. But please dinna leave me, please…” he begged, falling to his knees and thrusting himself against her.

Burying his head beneath her chin, Jamie wrapped his arms around her waist, giving her no option but to turn to him. Together, the burden of grief still hovering over them but dwindling now as the cold atmosphere began to clear in the aftermath of their combined break down.

Claire’s chest felt immediately lighter and she softened to Jamie’s touch, sinking into him as he had once done, all those years ago at a small abbey in France.

“I’m sorry, Claire, to you and Brianna. Sorry for what I said, I didna mean it,” he said, mirroring a conversation held long before, when their world had grown dark in the shadow of Fort William. "I wasna thinking o'er much and I should have been. I spoke in fear, Sassenach..." His voice trailed away, heavy with regret. "I am scarit. I feel like I havena woken from a dream, an' that when I do ye'll fade." Jamie paused, clutching her waist tighter beneath trembling fingertips. "Ye are my heart, Claire. If ye go, I'll tear in two. I dinna ken that I'll live wi'out you or it fer long."

“Hush now,” she replied, her voice no more than a sigh against the top of his head, “I won’t go. I don’t *want* to go…” Claire’s heart skipped a beat as they clung to one another in the moderate heat of Jamie’s brothel accommodation. “I remember my vows, Jamie. The ones we made together. Do you?”

“Of course I do, how could I forget?”

“Blood of my blood,” she recalled, saying the words that had seemed so foreign when she’d said them on their wedding day yet now seemed carved in her skin, a permanent reminder of their inextricable connection. Through thick and thin, they said, no matter the storms we have to weather, through good times and bad, you are mine and I am yours. Always.

“Bone of my bone, Claire,” he returned, running his nose along the long column of her neck before placing an incredibly delicate kiss on the underside of her jaw.

“I gave you my body, Jamie,” Claire said, her voice breathy and light, “and then I gave you my heart. You still have them both, if you want them?”

“By Christ I do, Claire,” he returned, “as ye have me. Mind, body and soul...until our lives shall be done, aye?”

“Yes. Why do you think I had to come back?”

“Because, mo nighean donn,” he said, “you found me and kent,” he paused, kissing her once more, “that it wasna done.”

“Yes, Jamie,” Claire sighed, fully relaxed again, “it isn’t done, is it?”

“No, sassenach, it isna,” he replied sincerely, “no’ by a long shot.”

-- FIN --

[astrogeoguy]

It’s Astronomy Week and the Lyrids Peak, plus Galaxies Galore, and Morning Planet Amore!

(Above: This image of the Pinwheel Galaxy Messier 101, located near the handle of the Big Dipper, was captured by Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario. The face-on spiral is as wide as the full moon! www.astrodoc.ca/)

Astronomy Skylights for this week (from April 15th, 2018) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, or another in your area, visit www.astrogeo.ca.

If you’d like me to bring my Digital Starlab inflatable planetarium to your school or other daytime or evening event, visit DiscoveryPlantarium.com and request me. We’ll tour the Universe together!

Astronomy Week Public Events

Taking advantage of dark moonless evening skies this week, the members of the RASC Toronto Centre will gather for dark sky stargazing at Long Sault Conservation Area, northeast of Oshawa on (only) the first clear evening from Monday to Thursday this week. You don’t need to be an RASC member, or own any equipment, to join them. Check here for details and watch the banner on their homepage or their Facebook page for the GO or NO-GO decision around 5 pm each day. 

On Monday evenings, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday evenings after dark, they offer free public viewing through their telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

To celebrate Astronomy Week, if it’s sunny, each weekday morning from 10 am to noon, astronomers from the RASC Toronto Centre will be setting up outside the main doors of the Ontario Science Centre for Solar Observing. Come and see the Sun in detail through special equipment designed to view it safely. This is a free event (details here), but parking and admission fees inside the Science Centre will still apply. Check the RASC Toronto Centre website or their Facebook page for the Go or No-Go notification. 

On Wednesday, April 18 at 6:30 pm at the S. Walter Stewart Library, U of T Professor Emeritus John Percy will present a free public talk entitled Toronto’s Astronomical Heritage. (Details are here.) 

If it’s clear on Thursday evening, April 19, I will be setting up my large telescope with other local astronomers for a free public star party in Pomona Mills Meadow, east of St. Volodymyr's Church, 15 Church Lane, Thornhill (first north on John Street, just east of Yonge Street). Observing will start about 8:30 pm. Details are here. 

Eastern GTA sky watchers are invited to join the RASC Toronto Centre and Durham Skies for solar observing and stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario in Millennium Square in Pickering on Friday evening, April 20, from 6 pm to 11 pm. Details are here. Before heading out, check the RASCTC home page for a Go/No-Go call in case it's too cloudy to observe. 

Saturday, April 21 is Astronomy Day all day at the Ontario Science Centre! Astronauts! Space Activities! Planetarium shows! A screening of Netflix’ new Lost in Space show! Solar Observing on the Telescape (if it’s sunny)! And evening stargazing! The schedule and details are here. 

On Friday, April 20, starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour will present their planetarium show entitled Grand Tour of the Cosmos. Tickets and details are here. 

On Saturday, April 21, starting at 3 pm, the U of T AstroTour will present their planetarium show entitled Underdogs of the Solar System. Tickets and details are here. 

On Saturday, April 21, starting at 7 pm, the U of T AstroTour will present their planetarium show entitled Our Musical Universe. Tickets and details are here.

(Above: The radiant of the annual Lyrids Meteor shower is located between Lyra and Hercules. The shower maximum occurs before dawn next Sunday, but you can look for them all night long.)

Lyrids Meteor Shower

The annual Lyrids meteor shower, derived from particles dropped by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), runs from April 16 to 25 and peaks before dawn on Sunday, April 22. This shower can produce up to 18 meteors per hour, with occasional fireballs. True Lyrids will appear to be travelling away from a point in space (the shower’s radiant) near the constellation Lyra (the Harp). The first quarter moon, which sets shortly after midnight, should not spoil the show too much.

You can start watching as soon as it's dark. Even when the peak number occurs before dawn, meteors will still be visible before midnight, too. Don't worry about looking directly at the radiant. Bring a blanket and a chaise to avoid neck strain. And remember that binoculars and telescopes will not help: their field of view is too narrow to see the long meteor trails. If you have friends or family along, don’t look at each other while chatting. Keep your eyes to the skies! 

To see the most meteors, try to find a dark viewing location that has as much open sky as possible. Light pollution washes out the night sky, dramatically reducing the number of fainter meteors you will see. So a drive to a park or rural site away from city lights is helpful. To preserve your eyes’ dark adaptation, remember to turn your phone’s screen brightness to minimum or, even better, cover it with a red film. Disabling app notifications will reduce the chances of unexpected bright light, too.

(Above: Several bright galaxies hold positions near Mizar and Alkaid, stars in the handle of the Big Dipper. Use binoculars or a telescope to hunt for them.) 

Bright Galaxies Near the Dipper’s Handle

In late evening during mid-April every year, the Big Dipper stands upright in the northeastern sky. The bright star Alkaid marks the tip of its handle. The Pinwheel Galaxy is a spectacular, large face-on spiral galaxy, also designated as Messier 101, sits a palm’s width north of Alkaid, forming an equilateral triangle with Alkaid and Mizar, the star at the bend in the dipper’s handle. Although relatively bright and close to us (21 million light-years away), the Pinwheel Galaxy is fairly dim because its light is spread out over a large patch of sky. It’s as wide as the full moon! 

(Above: The beautiful Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51, imaged by Ian Wheelband, near Collinwood, Ontario) 

Searching about four finger widths (3.5°) from Alkaid in the opposite direction, you will come to the iconic spiral Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51. This galaxy’s angular size (the area of sky it covers) is much smaller, but it will appear brighter in your telescope. It also features a secondary galaxy core. The two galaxies are linked by a bridge of material. 

The Moon and Planets

The moon reaches its new phase, when it is hidden from view beside the sun, Sunday evening. On Monday it will reappear as a fine silver crescent sitting over the western evening horizon. For the rest of the week, the moon will wax and shift eastward. For about 90 minutes after sunset on Tuesday, the moon will sit a palm’s width to the lower left of bright Venus. The pair will fit within the field of view of binoculars and make a lovely photo opportunity.

(Above: The young crescent moon will sit to the lower left of Venus on Tuesday evening, shown here at 9:30 pm local time.) 

On Wednesday evening, in the western evening sky, the crescent moon will pass through the constellation Taurus (the Bull). The V-shaped face of the bull is formed by a large open star cluster known as the Hyades, one of the closest clusters to Earth. The moon will enter the “V” at about 8:30 pm local time and reach the midway point by the time moonset around 10:30 pm. A few hours later, observers in most of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Central and Northern Russia, Northern and Eastern Scandinavia, Northern Greenland, and Northern Canada will witness the moon occult the bright, orange star Aldebaran, which sits at the southeastern corner of the bull’s face. 

(Above: On Wednesday evening, the moon will cross through the V-shaped face of Taurus the Bull, shown here at 9:45 pm local time. Parts of the world will see the moon occult the bright star Aldebaran.) 

On the coming weekend, the moon will pass through Gemini (the Twins), and end the week with Sunday evening’s First Quarter Moon phase. The evenings leading up to first quarter are the best ones for looking at the moon under magnification. The steeply slanted sunlight creates breathtaking vistas along the terminator boundary line that divides the dark and light sides of the moon. To see the sights, sweep with binoculars or a telescope from pole to pole. 

Venus continues to catch the eye as it slowly climbs higher in the western evening sky. It sets just after 10 pm local time. In addition to Venus’ encounter with the moon on Tuesday, our sister planet will also end the week by approaching the bright star cluster known as the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters, in Taurus. Next Sunday evening, the cluster can be spotted with unaided eyes or, even better, with binoculars, just a few finger widths to the upper right of Venus.

(Above: On Sunday evening, April 22, Venus, which climbs higher every evening, will reach a position a few degrees to the lower left of the bright Plieades Cluster, shown here at 10 pm local time. Next week, the two objects will be even closer.) 

At the same time that Venus is setting, mighty Jupiter will be rising in the east. The extremely bright planet dominates the southern overnight sky now. It reaches its highest elevation (about three fist diameters) above the southern horizon around 3 am local time, and then descends into the southwestern sky at sunrise. 

The Great Red Spot takes about three hours to cross Jupiter’s disk. But the planet’s 10-hour rotation period (i.e., its day) means that the spot is only observable from Earth every 2-3 nights.  If you’d like to see the GRS, use a medium-sized telescope (or larger). You’ll have your best luck on evenings with steady air – when the stars are not twinkling too much. The best times to try this week are: Monday, April 16 at 11:23 pm, Thursday, April 19 at 1:01 am, and Saturday, April 21 at 10:31 pm. Try to look within an hour before or after the times I’ve given. 

(Above: Three bright planets continue to shine in the pre-dawn sky this week, as shown here at 5 am local time. Jupiter rises in late evening, but remains in view until dawn.)

The ringed planet Saturn will rise in the east shortly before 2 am local time this week. You should be able to see its yellow-tinted point of light until about 6 am, when it will sit about 2.5 fist widths above the southern horizon. Reddish Mars will rise about half an hour after Saturn. Look for it a generous palm’s width to the lower left of Saturn. Mars is steadily pulling away from Saturn. By next weekend, their separation will increase to a fist’s width. 

Elusive Mercury has re-joined the eastern pre-dawn sky. This apparition won’t be very good for observers in mid-northern latitudes, but during the coming weekend you can try to spot the planet barely over the horizon just before sunrise. I’ll post sky charts for the observable planets here.

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

[forcewindow85-blog]

The Linc - National NFL writers predict Eagles to beat Washington

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Week 13: Packers Fire McCarthy in Merciful Move For Coach, Team - FMIA Philadelphia 30, Washington 22. Week 7 2017: The coming-out party for Carson Wentz (four TD passes) and the Eagles, a 34-24 win over Washington, getting the Eagles to 6-1. This year: survival of the fittest at the Linc for 6-5 Washington and 5-6 Philadelphia. The Eagles have a ridiculous road to nine or 10 wins and a playoff prayer in their last five: Washington, at Dallas, at the Rams, Houston, at Washington. Not looking good.

End of the Mike McCarthy Era in Green Bay: Week 13 in the NFL - MMQB I think an appreciation of Jay Gruden is in order tonight. The Redskins coach survived the Robert Griffin III divorce and the Kirk Cousins fallout, and this year has kept the ship steady through a rash of injuries (RB Derrius Guice, G Shawn Lauvao, G Brandon Scherff, QB Alex Smith, etc.) So if anyone’s equipped to navigate a week infiltrated by the Reuben Foster waiver claim, it’s the younger Gruden brother. Tonight I think the Redskins, behind Colt McCoy, come out firing. And I think the Eagles, and Carson Wentz fire back with their second straight comeback win. My pick: Eagles 27, Redskins 24.

NFC Playoff Picture: Can the Eagles realistically be a wild card team? - BGN Week 13 of the 2018 NFL season featured a number of upsets. The results of some of those games actually helped the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances of making the playoffs, if only slightly. Let’s take a look at the updated NFC playoff picture.

All About the Run - Iggles Blitz The Skins are a running team. They are 13th in the league in rushing, only 25th in passing. This is a bit of an old school offense. The Eagles were great against the run for the first five games. As injuries mounted, the run defense began to struggle. They have allowed 135 rushing yards a game over the past six weeks. Not good. Breakdowns by DBs have hurt the run defense in recent weeks. Chandon Sullivan missed some crucial tackles on Sunday. Rasul Douglas missed a couple in the Dallas game. The defense tackled much better in the second half of the Giants game. That’s one of the ways they limited Eli and Co. The Eagles must tackle well this week.

Lawlor: Game Preview vs. Washington - PE.com We are now in the month of December. The Eagles have yet to win back-to-back games this season. That is really hard to believe when you consider the team won nine in a row during the 2017 regular season and then three in a row in the playoffs. If the team is going to make anything of this season, they need a winning streak. The way you go on a winning streak is by staying in the moment. One day at a time. One play at a time. One game at a time. A winning streak is built on winning moments. You can’t snap your fingers and conjure up four consecutive wins. You have to work diligently and focus on the task at hand. Doug Pederson likes to preach “winning the day.” It doesn’t matter if you are lifting weights, practicing, or playing in a game. Win the day.

Best bets for Redskins-Eagles - ESPN In$ider My projection for this game is Eagles -7.3 with a total of 43.8. As much grief as we all give Alex Smith for being such a risk-averse quarterback, it was this style of football that kept Washington in multiple close games this season, relying on a defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in takeaways. If the Redskins could eliminate mistakes, then their opponents would eventually make them and offer opportunities to capitalize. McCoy certainly gutted it out on Thanksgiving, but he wasn’t able to take care of the football the way Smith can. He threw three interceptions and fumbled once. I’m not sure we have any reason to trust McCoy in Philadelphia’s cold and wind Monday night against a superior team still vying for a division crown in the NFC East. I made a half-sized wager on the Eagles at -6, and would add more to my bet sizing if this were to drop below -6.

The five most intriguing NFL games of Week 13 - The Athletic The Eagles’ offensive line against Washington’s front seven. During last year’s Super Bowl season, the Eagles’ offensive line was arguably the best in the NFL. Because of injuries and inconsistent play, that hasn’t been the case this year. But in last week’s win over the Giants, the line played well. Tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters appear to be healthier than they’ve been all season. Washington has a good pass rush and will throw plenty of different blitz packages at Carson Wentz. If the offensive line can hold its own, the Eagles should be able to run the ball efficiently, and Wentz should have time to move the ball through the air.

Eagles’ Nelson Agholor bringing awareness to Camden-based literacy program - NJ.com The NFL’s annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign enables individual players to highlight charitable causes through the use of their footwear. In Week 13, several Eagles players will wear cleats designed to raise awareness for causes that are important to them. Agholor has partnered with PDQ on a year-long initiative called “Building Reading Muscles.” According to a press release, the program encourages Camden City School District “students to meet reading goals throughout the school year.” “Obviously, it’s all about literacy to me,” Agholor told NJ Advance Media on Friday. “I just want to bring attention to the kids in Camden and the efforts to help those kids read at a higher level, help their graduation rate and help them progress.”

Roob’s 10 Eagles observations: Kareem Hunt, an embarrassing stat, Eagles Pro Bowlers - NBCSP The Eagles have gone 12 straight games without having two interceptions in a game. That’s the sixth-longest streak in franchise history and tied with the 49ers for the longest current streak in the league. Their last two-INT game was the NFC Championship Game, when Patrick Robinson and Corey Graham picked off Case Keenum.

Can the Redskins Pull Out Some Magic Down the Stretch? - Hogs Haven I hate to say this, but the team will only go as far as the arm of Colt McCoy can take them. If Colt can push the football downfield and eliminate costly turnovers, we may have a shot. If we are unable to make plays and put points on the board, we will be putting too much pressure on our defense - and with the way they have been playing recently, that is not a good thing.

Cowboys address mystery man on Saints sideline - PFT In the aftermath of a Saints-Cowboys game during which the home team stymied one of the most potent offensive in football, suspicions have emerged in connection with images showing a person in Cowboys gear with a headset (and apparently a cell phone) on the New Orleans sideline. And, yes, the Saints are suspicious.

Report: Sean Lee’s return may not come against the Philadelphia Eagles - Blogging The Boys It’ll be a whole week before we see the Cowboys play another game, and on Sunday morning NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated that it could be even longer before Sean Lee does in fact return. Apparently we could be looking at past this next game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mike McCarthy fired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers - Acme Packing Company It finally became too much for Mark Murphy and the folks in charge at 1265 Lambeau Field. Mike McCarthy is out as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The team announced the move on Sunday evening, following their 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. McCarthy spent nearly 13 years as the head coach of the Packers, putting up an overall record of 125-77-2 for a total winning percentage of 0.621. That span included nine winning seasons and eight years with 10 or more wins, as well as six division titles. The Packers made four NFC Championship Games during his tenure, going 1-3, and they won Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 season.

The NFL Promised It Would Change. The Kareem Hunt Failure Proves It Hasn’t. - Ringer The Kansas City Chiefs released the running back on Friday, but only after TMZ published a video showing Hunt shoving and kicking a woman in February. That it took until now for the league and team to take public action is a betrayal of everyone who’s made the mistake of taking the NFL at its word.

2019 NFL Draft order: 49ers edging Raiders for top overall pick after Week 13 - SB Nation The 2018 NFL season is paring down its playoff teams, and for a handful of hopeful contenders that means a December filled with important wins and crushing losses as January’s seedings unfold. There’s another race taking place on the opposite end of the spectrum as well: the spiral to the bottom of the standings and the top of the 2019 NFL Draft board.

...

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/12/3/18123381/eagles-news-national-nfl-writers-predict-philadelphia-beat-washington-monday-night-football-game-mnf

[theworldhopper]

The Answers She Seeks Chapter II

To read this story in AO3, simply click here to go back to Chapter I.

Chapter II: Her Story

The next morning saw Claudia travelling through the Meadow of Triumph on horseback on a rainy day. She read the rest of her letters during breakfast this morning. They were merely well-wishes on her journey and trying to appeal to her to see reason and just come home (with Edna even threatening to hunt her down, wallop her hard with her umbrella and carry her back to Ladylake herself if she has to and she totally can). Zaveid, at least, tried to keep it lighthearted but it all boiled down to telling her to come home because her parents were worried about her. And any time her parents were mentioned in those letters, it made her think back to their letter from yesterday.

Claudia Aria Diphda had the fortune (or misfortune, depending on what side of the spectrum you’re in and in Claudia’s case, it’s a little bit of both most of the time) of being born into Royal Family of Hyland. Her mother, Alisha, was the farthest from inheriting but when her brother, the King, died childless from an early death of ear infection about 3 years after the Hyland-Rolance war, he saw no worthier successor (and by worthier, he meant someone who wouldn’t A. run the country to the ground, B. let the greedy and corrupt nobles take over or C. let Rolance invade) other than his half-sister who worked hard to foster peace between their two countries. So, Alisha became Queen at the ripe young age of 20, working closely in the shadows with the current Shepherd and her old friend, Rose, to foster peace. But apparently working in secret with someone would lead to feeling inevitably developing and some 8 odd years later, Rose asked Alisha to marry her and surprise, surprise, she said yes. The Shepherd had decided that the world was safe enough for now and to avoid the scandal of a Shepherd being biased to one country, she, under the suggestion and blessing of the Prime Lord Lailah, relinquished her title of Shepherd to follow her heart’s desire after doing so much for the world during the 11 years she was Shepherd. So far, there was no immediate need of a new Shepherd and it wasn’t much of a loss; with Rose’s knowledge as merchant, she had a pretty good head when it came to trade so she was made the Head of Hyland’s Trade Relations with Rolance and she WAS a citizen of the country to boot. Thus, Rose became the consort to the Queen of Hyland. It caused quite the uproar amongst the nobles, but no one was willing to go against the popular Queens. Especially when the Queen managed to give birth to an heir with her consort merely 2 years after their marriage. It caused quite a bit of strain on the young marriage until Claudia was born, as Rose accused Alisha of having an affair; a sentiment shared by the nobles. After the birth, however, no one can refute that it was that their child because the sweet babe was the perfect mix of them and no one can explain how it happened; not the Queen, not her consort, and not even the Seraphim that were their closest companions. Lailah merely chalked it up as the blessings of other Seraphim, the dormant Maotelus or maybe even The Four Empyreans. Despite what happened in the months that passed, Rose was overjoyed when she realized that the blonde haired baby was hers.

“It’s just a gut feeling. It was just a gut feeling but when I laid my eyes on her, I knew she was mine.” Were the words that Rose said when asked by others on how she knew Claudia was her child and no one else’s. Though she would deny she would ever say anything that cheesy if you ask her now.

Thus, Claudia was born. A true blue miracle baby. The pride and joy of Hyland and the jewel of the realm. The daughter of a former Shepherd and her former Squire. Claudia will admit that she had a pretty good childhood; almost anything she asked, she received. Tutors who taught her history, biology, warfare, politics, trade, arithmetic, among other things; everything she needed to know as a child, a student, and her mother’s heir. It was drilled in her head that she had to be the perfect Princess if she were to survive the cutthroat world of Politics; graceful, elegant and knew how to stand up for herself. Being the daughter of one Shepherd and her squire and the descendant of another Shepherd merely fanned those flames and put unnecessary pressure on the girl, who now also thought she had to be as pure as her parents. Mikleo and the others, who dropped by every so often just to see the highly resonant little Princess, taught her the ways of the world that she can’t learn from simply sitting in a classroom. When she was old enough, her mother’s former subordinates, Ian and Shiller, taught her how to use a bow and basics with the sword. Her mother, Alisha, taught her the ways of the lance she learned from Lady Maltran while Rose and the Sparrowfeathers taught her how to be quick with daggers, how to use her surroundings to her advantage, how to be a ghost in the night; anything she learned from Brad and the Windriders. Alisha wasn’t exactly pleased with her consort teaching their child the ways of an assassin but she can’t deny that someday soon, Claudia will most likely need to get her hands dirty in either self-defense or an unavoidable war. Her parents showered her with as much love and attention they could despite their duties and Claudia loved them dearly.

However, everything changed when she was 13. When both her parents determined that they’ve taught her everything in their combat expertise, they revealed that they’ve arranged for her to be fostered by her Uncle Sergei in Pendrago to be taught how to fight with a sword under the Platinum Knights. Hyland had formidable swordfighters yes, but it can’t be denied that the Platinum Knights are the best with the sword. Thus started the downward spiral in Claudia’s behavior. She felt discarded by her parents, especially when it was the time they started being busy with various problems with the nobles of Hyland. She left Hyland angry at her parents. She put up a polite front with the Platinum Knights and Uncle Sergei as well as the Royal Family of Rolance when they invited her to dine with them every once in a while. But even Claudia can’t deny that she felt a tinge malevolence swirling inside her because of her anger at being dumped at a foreign territory by her parents. Without her parents’ watchful eye, she became more…liberal…than most princesses should be; she learned to drink, how to gamble, how to get into and win a bar fight with her friends in the Platinum Knights and for a moment, she felt at home with her friends. That wasn’t to say her parents and the other Seraphim never visited her. They did obviously. The Seraphim came whenever they wanted; sometimes all together, sometimes one at a time, sometimes in pairs and sometimes just three of them because one decided to gallivant around the continent in their own adventure. Her parents, on the other hand, always came together. Usually it was to discuss trade and other diplomatic things required of them with Emperor Lyte. But those always took their first priority while she remained as an afterthought; only visiting on the tail end of their trip and never staying for more than a few hours at a time before hightailing back to Hyland. There were even a few times when they didn’t visit at all, only leaving a letter with Sergei to pass on to her. And in those moments, she felt that little twinge of malevolence growing stronger and stronger that it somewhat scared her. It made Claudia wonder if one’s susceptibility to malevolence could be inherited from a bloodline like resonance can. But she dared not ask Lailah and the others; it would only make them worry.

When she was 18 and bested her Uncle with the Lion’s Howl arte, he deemed that he has nothing left to teach her. Claudia was satisfied with her skill and all that she learned for the past five years and after some heartfelt goodbyes to him, her friends and extending her gratitude to the Royal Family, Alisha and Rose arrived to pick her up and take the princess back to Ladylake. Frankly, she should’ve been overjoyed but upon seeing her parents after being separated from them for 5 years…but it was like she barely knew them. And she knew that even they could barely recognize Claudia anymore. Few words were exchanged before she got on the carriage and they went on their way. An awkward silence prevailed amongst the family. Unable to take it, Alisha attempted to lighten the mood.

“There’s going to be a party when we get back. To celebrate our Princess’ return. Oh sweetheart, we missed you so much.” The Queen said with a happy tone as she held her hands. As if she was still talking to the 13 year old she shipped off to Rolance. As if she wasn’t gone for the past 5 years. As if everything was still the same as always. Rose, on the other hand, merely smiled and ruffled her hair. Claudia almost threw up on the inside and resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

“I look forward to it.” She replied with a sardonic smile as she pulled her hands away and continued looking out the window to see the scenery, pretending that she missed Alisha’s hurt look. They missed her, yeah, but they didn’t miss her enough to attempt to see her more in Rolance. Claudia wanted to understand. Really, she did. But she felt robbed of the years she knew she could’ve spent with them. Thus, the entire trip back to Ladylake was spent in silence.

The party was magnificent though, even if it made her feel even more alone than she ever was, with the older nobles looking at her with disdain because she was an obstacle in obtaining the power they wanted and the younger nobles only interested in her for either the purpose of marrying into the Royal Family or just to plain use her to enhance their standing. They all probably thought she was a freak because she was born to two women too. But, by the end of the night, she got to dance with Lailah on a balcony, away from the prying eyes of others so that was something. The first memory of being back in her homeland that she so cherishes (unless you count the time Sergei brought her horse, Sir Trots-a-Lot, to Ladylake to reunite them). A lot of people may be able to see seraphim now compared to Shepherd Sorey’s time but some (emphasis on the some) petty nobles tend to resent the seraphs that hang around their monarchs every once in a while solely for their youth while they grow old and decrepit each and every day.

The next 3 years were pretty much uneventful; her relationship with her parents were a bit improved compared to how it was when she came home but she still kept her distance from them. They even let her join the meetings with the nobles so she can learn something new, though she usually just glared the nobles and wanted nothing more than to leave because it was just so boring in that room. They even let her go on her adventures on the condition that she check in on their territories as well (and of course, they learned and weren’t pleased with her causing trouble in taverns every once in a while) But…one day…that one day that led to her running away from Ladylake came. Claudia still shivers when she thinks to that night…even though it’s been like…4 months since she left.

4 months ago

As night fell upon Ladylake, Claudia was sitting by the desk in her room, finishing up the last letter she was writing for one of her friends in Pendrago and adding it to the pile once it was in its envelope. Just as she was done, a knock sounded on her door.

“Come in.”

One of the maids in Roundtabel Palace came in and curtsied as always while she drank her wine.

“Princess Claudia, Queen Rose and Queen Alisha request your presence in Queen Alisha’s office.”

“What for?” Claudia asked as she poured herself another cup of wine.

“I do not know, my lady. But Queen Rose was pretty cross when she sent for you.” The maid said plainly. Claudia waved her hand in dismissal and the maid went on her way, with her following a short while. She took the walk to her mother’s office and entered without even knocking, seeing her parents seated by the desk discussing something while Alisha was holding a letter.

“You rang?” She asked nonchalantly as she swirled her cup of wine. Rose took the letter from Alisha and held it up as she walked around.

“You’re gonna burn a hole in the floor if you keep that up.” Claudia said. Finally, Rose stopped and looked at her.

“Your Uncle Sergei wrote.” She said darkly, meaning that Claudia will most likely not like the contents of the letter if it displeased her parents this much.

“And that’s news to me because…” Claudia trailed off before making it clear that she needs it spelled out to her.

“Because he disclosed what you were up to when you were in Pendrago!” Rose yelled out at her.

“Rose!” Alisha cried out in surprise. Claudia rolled her eyes and completely gulped down her wine.

“How you went out drinking nobles under the table! How you got into fights with others! How you basically raised hell in nearly every tavern in Pendrago! Is that where you got the idea to do the same here in Ladylake and Marlind?”

“Ah, good times. They were funny moments. But you know what’s even funnier? How the both of you only learn of these things about…say…what age was I in when I started those? 16? Oh right, you only learned of these about five years after they happened.” She retorted in a quiet manner. Finally, Alisha stood up from her seat and spoke.

“Why? Why did you do it? Did you not care how those nobles will look at you in the future? Did you not stop and think that they will say ‘this is the future of Hyland.’ Did you?”

“I did it because I was young! I was impetuous! I was angry at being shipped off to Pendrago without my input! I was angry because my parents weren’t there when I needed them the most! Of course, not that either of you would even care since the two of you were busy with your diplomatic duties every time you went to Pendrago!” Claudia finally yelled out, stunning her parents into silence. Nearly ten years of pent up feelings were finally out in the open and now it was her parents’ turn to respond.

“Claudia…everything your mother and I did, we did for you. We sent you there so you can learn to defend yourself, to understand the people of Rolance and we know it was wrong for our diplomatic duties to become our priorities while you were growing up, it was so you can someday have a stable reign and a life free from the worries of war like we did.” Alisha quietly tried to defend them as tears sprang in her eyes. But Claudia merely looked at them with hurt and disappointment for daring to use that card on her.

“I didn’t need or want anything else. I could’ve dealt with those in time. I just wanted you both.” Claudia said as she clenched her free hand before looking at Alisha. “You once told me that you didn’t want to be the parent your father was to you; who was hardly there for you when you were growing up. Well, congratulations. You became the very thing you feared the most; a parent who wasn’t there when her own daughter needed her!”

Claudia suddenly felt a sting on her cheek as her head was thrown to the side, her eyes widening in surprise as she turned her head. Rose had slapped her. Her mother slapped her. Her mothers barely raised a hand against Claudia while she was growing up but…she can acknowledge that she deserved this one. It was a hurtful accusation and she knew her mother loved her wife enough to defend her from anything that might cause her pain. Even if it was their darling daughter.

“Don’t you dare speak to Alisha like that ever again! Understood?”

Claudia nodded just as another knock sounded.

“Come in.” Rose said as she turned away to face the maid who just entered. It was one of the highly resonant maids in the palace who greeted them.

“Your Majesties, the Lords Mikleo and Zaveid and the Ladies Lailah and Edna are here to see you.” She said with a curtsy and Alisha waved, not trusting her own voice, to let them in. Zaveid sauntered in first, followed by Edna and Mikleo as Lailah closed the door behind them.

“Well, well, who died? Why is everything so gloomy here?” Zaveid asked lightheartedly while Mikleo and Lailah nervously stood aside. Rose merely handed Lailah the letter as she sat next to Alisha. The four seraphim read the contents of the letter and were…sufficed to say…shocked, seeing as how she never seemed to have this behavior when they visited in Pendrago.

“Whoa...looks like the little Princess here was quite the hell raiser.” Edna commented with a small smile as Rose rolled her eyes and rubbed her temples from the stress.

“When did you guys arrive? And how much did you hear?” Rose asked them.

“A few minutes ago. And we heard everything.” Mikleo gently answered as he looked at Claudia with a kind and understanding gaze. Claudia could only look down at her empty cup to hide from it.

“Looks like the fires of Calamity burns bright with this one.” The shirtless Seraph said with a large grin before realizing what he just said. The look of horror on his face would’ve been priceless for Claudia, who was always close to him, had it not seem so serious.

“Zaveid!” They, except for Claudia, all yelled at the same time. The young princess slowly lifted her head with a questioning look.

“What was that supposed to mean?” She asked with eyes widened in surprise. They all looked at each other and Alisha and Rose nodded in approval. Lailah gestured for her to sit and she did so almost immediately.

“Claudia…you know you were descended from the First Shepherd through Rose, right?” The Prime Lord asked her with a serious look as she sat across the girl.

“Eleanor Hume. Yeah. Through her son, Arthur. What about it?” Claudia asked, increasingly getting suspicious.

“Well…there’s one tiny detail that was blotted out from history. To protect both Eleanor and her son.” Zaveid interrupted, earning a questioning look from Lailah. “It’s alright, Lailah. I got this. I was there after all. I figure it should come from me.”

Lailah merely nodded in response and Zaveid continued.

“What history left out was that Arthur…was just like you.”

To say the least: Claudia was heckin’ bamboozled. She was stunned. She could only laugh for a moment before talking.

“I-If by ‘like me’ you mean a miracle baby born of two women, then that’s impossible. The records say that Arthur Hume had a father who died before he was even born and Eleanor decided to give him her last name instead of the father’s.”

“But the father’s name was never once mentioned wasn’t it? Birth records from those time show that it was expunged. Probably by Prince Percival Asgard himself.” Edna said as she leaned by the fireplace, twirling her umbrella in her hand. Claudia’s studies in history never mentioned such a thing but she was shown the records when her parents first told her of her ancestry when she was ten. Finally, she asked her question.

“Why would they go through so much trouble to hide a child’s father?”

“Because…people saw Eleanor Hume as the first Shepherd. Humanity’s guiding light. Rose is considered to be your “father”, isn’t she? Because you’re still her daughter and you know what a scandal it caused for her and her mother. Now think how scandalous it would’ve been had word got out that her child’s “father” was none other than the first Lord of Calamity herself.” Mikleo answered. Once again, Claudia was stunned into silence before she bolted from her chair and towards the liquor table.

“I told them all of this. I told Rose of her ancestry. It took me a lot of tracking but I eventually found out where her ancestry came from. I was one of the few people, along with Prince Percival and Edna’s brother, Eizen, who knew of Arthur’s parentage. That his other parent…was actually Velvet Crowe.” Zaveid added with a pained tone in his voice. Claudia poured herself a full cup of wine before drinking it wildly, enough to make an obvious stain on her black nightshirt. Putting the cup down, she approached the door.

“I…can’t do this right now.” She said before she left and stiffly retreated to her room, pretending not to hear Alisha’s sobs echoing throughout the corridor.

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

By midnight, Claudia was wide awake on her bed, thinking about the events prior. She heard her door open and she closed her eyes as she continued to listen to the footsteps approach until it stopped in front of her and sat by her side. Barely cracking her eyes, she saw a familiar dress. It was her mother, Alisha. As she feigned sleep, she felt her mother’s gentle caress on her face. Just like she used to when she was a child afraid of the rain and the thunder and the lightning. She always said it was just Uncle Sorey and Mikleo’s grandfather fooling around but she knew the truth; Uncle Sorey and Mikleo’s grandfather died about 13 years before she was born because of the Lord of Calamity. But it did always comfort her. After a while, she felt the gentle touch of her mother’s lips on her forehead. The last time she felt this was when she was thirteen and eve of her departure to Pendrago when she cried herself to sleep at the prospect of being separated from her parents for who knows how long. She felt her mother stand and walk towards the door but didn’t hear her leave immediately.

“Good night, my brave little sunbeam. I love you.”

With those words said, she walked out the door. And almost immediately, she threw her blankets off and got dressed. All the clothes she could bring and the gald she had (which was A LOT) was packed in a single bag. She grabbed her sword, a gift from her mothers for her 15th birthday, and swung it over her shoulder before securing it over her waist. Black was a good color to wear if you plan on running away at nighttime so she passed by the Palace wholly undetected. Claudia grabbed Sir Trots-a-Lot and slowly led him down to the city gates. Just as she passed by the inn, a voice stopped her.

“Leaving already?”

Stopping in her tracks, Claudia winced as she turned, seeing Lailah standing behind her.

“Prime Lord or not, you’re not stopping me.” Claudia warned the woman known as the Lady of the Lake.

“Of course not. I believe that you need to seek the answers that you seek on your own. So I won’t stop you as much as it pains my heart to let the daughter of my two dearest friends just walk away.” She gently said. Claudia chuckled as she looked at Lailah.

“I always did love you for letting me be myself when I was growing up.” She said with a fond smile on her face. Claudia had no idea when…maybe it was the time when they danced on the balcony when she returned…maybe it was during one of those times she paid her a visit in Pendrago and made her origami cranes…or maybe it was even way before that…but at some point, she just stopped looking at Lailah as that friend of her parents who used to visit her to play and look after her and started looking at her as a beautiful woman she pined for.

But not even Claudia was a fool; she knew it would never work out. She was a seraph. Lailah will outlive her and continue to watch the world grow and fall and rise again while she would grow old and die and turn to dust with nothing but the words in the pages of history to forever immortalize her for her deeds. So, Claudia never told Lailah her feelings. And she was fine with that.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what will you be looking for?” Lailah asked her with a tinge of worry. Claudia hesitated but answered.

“Peace. Answers. I haven’t had both since the day I left for Pendrago. Maybe somehow, I’ll find it somewhere in Glenwood.”

“What about the Kingdom? You’re your mother’s heir. If something happens-“

“Mother has other siblings. Cousins. Uncles. People who can take the throne when she passes and continue the Diphda name. It might not be the ideal choice but it’s the only one she has. Maybe if she’s lucky she has a relative who shares the same ideals. But I can’t be here for now.” She said, pausing to catch her breath before continuing. “Not with this shadow looming over my parents and I. I can’t do that to them. Tell them…I will return. Someday soon. When I find my peace. And my answer on what I want with life.”

Lailah merely nodded before approaching her and holding her hand.

“I pray to the Empyreans for your safe journey. They may slumber for now…but I hope Maotelus…and your Uncle Sorey…protect you.”

With those words said, Lailah leaned down a bit (if there’s one thing Claudia could be proud of, it’s that Lailah wasn’t that much taller than her thanks to her ridiculous growth spurt) to press a kiss to her cheek. She relished the feeling, knowing it would probably be the only one she gets, before they separated. Claudia led Sir Trots-a-Lot out of the city, not daring to look back even once, before mounting him and riding off.

Since that day, it’s just been her, Sir Trots-a-Lot and the road. She hid in Marlind for about a month to check on the territory before leaving. Eventually, she started picking up these Iris Gems and started seeing scattered visions of the hellionized woman and her group. It became apparent that they were scattered, seeing as how there are times certain members of the party weren’t with them in one vision and then there in the next.

“So, where should we go next, Sir Trots-a-Lot? Goddodin? Lohgrin? Pendrago? Nah, you’ve-“

She cut herself off as she looked up once again, seeing a familiar glint from afar. Claudia immediately dismounted and tied Trots-a-Lot’s reigns to a nearby tree. He’s loyal to a fault but he’s pretty jumpy at times. She approached the Iris Gem and slowly kneeled before it. Looking around for a moment to ensure no one sees her, she looks back at it and picks it up.

And the vision began once again.