#Paisley's Mentor a Hero

[voidfell]

Thinks about Gal and her relationship with her Uncle Albert's former partner Arthur Paisley. Because Artie and Albert were close, they were ex-partners in crimefighting, and in life. Their close friendship fell apart because Artie always felt like he was in Dudepow's shadow, and Artie projects those feelings onto Kelly and Maizey a lot. But Artie was also present at Dudepow's death, and he at first thought that Gal was an impostor and their first encounter did not go well because of that. Artie and Albert had broken up long before Gal or Kelly were born, so they'd never met him. Though Kelly was aware of Artie's connection to the previous Dudepow through news articles and being head of the Dudepow fan club prior to finding out that their dead uncle was said hero. Artie is a part-time mentor or enemy, depending on which side he thinks can get him further ahead. Gal never really knows where she stands with Artie, who seems to actively hate Dudepow, but is clearly fond of Kelly, and at times Gal because she reminds him of Albert.

[paisleywraith]

I got asked about this and I’m not about to make it a masterpost. This is an incredibly neat version of a truly horrifying mess I have inside my notebook. 

Edit: Tumblr has reminded me why I hate it by making it insanely difficult to read. I will update a better one later and maybe burn the site down. Haven’t decided yet.

[krispyweiss]

Charley Pride Dies of COVID-19 Complications at 86

Charley Pride, the trailblazing country singer who was one of only three black artists to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, died Dec. 12 of complications from COVID-19, his family said.

Pride was 86 and his last appearance was at the Country Music Awards in November.

“He was admitted to the hospital in late November with COVID-19-type symptoms and despite the incredible efforts, skill and care of his medical team over the past several weeks, he was unable to overcome the virus,” his family wrote on Facebook.

“Charley felt blessed to have such wonderful fans all over the world. And he would want his fans to take this virus very seriously.”

Richard Marx wasted no time blaming the CMA for Pride’s illness, tweeting: “If you think there’s no possibility that Charley Pride got COVID at last month’s (awards show), you probably believe the Supreme Court is the Deep State.”

Rhiannon Giddens, too, wondered if the CMA show - where performers were maskless - was the culprit.

“Do I have this right? Did the CMA awards kill Charley Pride?,” she tweeted. “Nashville, I just can’t with you right now. Just gonna look at his picture and try not to seethe.”

Pride received the CMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for a career that netted more than 50 top-10 - and 30 No. 1 - hits between 1966 and 1987.

Documentarian Ken Burns, who created “Baseball” and “Country Music” for PBS, compared Pride’s career, which began on the baseball diamond, with another pioneer.

“Charley Pride was a trailblazer whose remarkable voice and generous spirit broke down barriers in country music just as his hero Jackie Robinson had in baseball,” he tweeted.

Ronnie Milsap remembered Pride as “a pioneer, a music man ... (and) a good friend” who was instrumental in helping to get his career off the ground.

“That he died of COVID makes me even sadder,” Milsap wrote on Facebook. “These are such sad days with too much loss. Please ... wear a mask, wash your hands and be wise about gathering.”

Like Milsap, Lee Greenwood and Brad Paisley mourned their friend and mentor on social media and both said Pride was generous with his help when they were trying to make it in country music.

“He gave his home phone number to my dad, and said ‘I’d love to help your son,’” Paisley wrote on Facebook. “And help he did. I am so blessed to have had so many memories with him.

“I’m devastated.”

Dolly Parton, too, was “heartbroken” by the loss of “one of my dearest and oldest friends.”

“It’s even worse to know that he passed away from COVID-19,” she tweeted. “What a horrible, horrible virus. Charley, we will always love you.”

12/12/20

[mz-elysium]

Wow. That was a lot longer than I planned. Do we even do comic sans wip posts anymore? It it cool? Am I cool? 

Photo ID below the cut because this is already way too fucking long of a post. And this ID, bc of it, is so so long.

Photo ID: a 13 slide Comic Sans font powerpoint about an original WIP. All slides but the first are white, black text, all font being Comic Sans to follow the meme.

Slide 1: black background, white text. Titled with red shadow: The City of Fallen Angels: (2) Hitaeth. Definition below: hiraeth: homesickness or nostalgia, an earnest longing for an idealised past, or a sense of regret. Around this title are a bunch of floating descriptors about the WIP: vampires, gothic-punk, regrets vs forgiveness, dark urban fantasy, historical 2003, 4 POVs, secrets, political intrigue, slice of life, compassion vs selfishness, vampires playing Game of Thrones, grimdark and also hopepunk. A Vampire the Masquerade canon divergent original novel.

Slide 2: Worldbuilding, about the Vampire the Masquerade world. Titled: The canon sects but like a little more nuanced. Three columns of bullet points follow. 

The first is the Camarilla. 

neo-feudal lords and princes

rule most of the world

want to rule the rest of it

scheming, old elders who don’t give a shit about anyone else

will kill your family to make a point

BUT ALSO.

stable domains; due process

clan culture, history, tradition

connected to wider vampire society

play their game and you can live as a peaceful peasant (mostly)

The second column is the Anarchs.

rebellious neonates/ancillae

in their Free States, there’s opportunity for power and to live your own life

neonates can actually own land??

ALSO

literal anarchy

no real oversight or leadership

can and will be killed by another gang

“if you can hold it, you can have it”

Third column is the Sabbat

worship Caine as the First Murderer (first vampire)

take “vampire” too literally

inhuman monsters

war cult readying for Armageddon

ALSO

profoundly religious

strict code of honour

accept their inhumanity (no angst)

tight-knit family-like packs

heroes/crusaders for their ppl

Slide 3: Titled: Have a shitty map. A Google map screenshot of Central Los Angeles, with highlighted sections in different colours, clearly done in Paint by a child. Seven sections are highlighted, explained on the next slide.

Slide 4: The lands are divided by the sect who control it.

Anarchs:

Angels Wasteland: remains of the #peaceful Barony of Angels. With Salvador Garcia’s death, it’s a shitshow chaotic warzone. 

Tinseltown: Isaac Abrams, movie baron, just wants to be left alone.

East LA: ruled by loyalists of the Old Guard Anarchs, who are all dead/gone. Sabbat from further east are smelling weakness.

Downtown: technically “no baron” but also nines is baron. Typical Anarchs, shooting each other, living rough, living free. OR ARE THEY???

Camarilla:

The Valley: a praxis backed by legendary elders, who are propelled by faceless masters, using unwilling Prince Barty Vaughn as a pawn

Westside: greedy and ambitious LaCroix goes “hmm. la looks like shit. probably wanna get in on that” and calls up his contact, Therese Voerman and says “yo. u got a barony, huh? wanna be my seneschal?”

“Independent”

Silver Lake: a desperate grab by Monroe and co to build their own “utopia” … sorta like the Anarchs 60yrs ago… and look how THAT went. Monroe ate the last Old Guard Anarch.

Slide 5: Titled: Monroe’s POV, with a subtitle of The Captain. On the left, a photo of half of a man’s face in shadow. He has dark hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and a hard expression. Bullet points describe him as Matthew Monroe, Clan Ventrue, Embraced 1873, Humanity 5, age 28. On the right, a series of bullets describe his POV’s story.

this is a dude drowning in an ocean of Problems and his catchphrase is “I’ll figure it out”

he owes a life debt to the enigmatic powerful archon in the Valley (Jan Pieterzoon), who seems to respect/honour him more than most of LA.

he used to be besties with the Valley Prince (Barty Vaughn), who he can’t trust but seems? the same?

he turned his ghoul and secret love into a vampire (Hawthorne), against her wishes, and now she hates him. monroe: u kno what? that’s fair.

Silver Lake is held together with duct tape. monroe’s right hand (Ashley Swan) is a nightmare and untrustworthy. his people try to kill each other.

he’s got a lot of unresolved trauma/grief/abuse/anger and vampires sort of have “The Beast”, a spirit that haunts them with evil

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 6: Titled: Monroe’s supporting characters. Four characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a photo of a very pale man with purple eyes and a lock of ice blonde hair. Ashley Swan, the Thorn, Clan Toreador. Monstrously cruel, sarcastic, hedonistic, aggressive, sadistic, can’t be trusted, doesn’t wear shirts. Bisexual transman.

Second, a photo of a dour woman with dark hair. Audrey Hawthorne, the Lovechilde, Clan Ventrue. Blinded by the Embrace, furious, frustrated, grieving, snarky, over accomplished, creative, passionate.

Third, a man in a black suit looking over a ballroom with a crystal chandelier. Jan Pieterzoon, the Kingmaker, Clan Ventrue. 300 year old, archon, elder, sire is Camarilla big-shot, dignified, mysterious, chessmaster, honourable, elite.

Fourth, a man in a dress shirt, sleeve rolled up, hand extended with a cigarette and bloody palm. Barty Vaughn, the Valley Prince, Clan Ventrue. Former Anarch, Prince of San Francisco, now reluctant Prince of LA. Smokes like a chimney, lives to fuck Tremere and have fun.

Slide 7: Titled: Zari’s POV, with a subtitle of The Black Rose. On the left, a photo of a beaming dark-skinned Black woman with bouncy coily black hair. Bullet points describe her as Zari Adeyemi-Swan, Clan Toreador, Embraced 1973, Humanity 6, age 27. On the right, a series of bullets describe her POV’s story.

life sucks, it’s cruel, and there’s no point thinking on the past, even when the past comes to haunt you

she fled her foster sire and once-lover (Ashley Swan) for his cruelty to others, but now he offers maybe?genuine? amends.

thirty years ago, she left her human children. her daughter (Aisha Adeyemi) has been Embraced and brings bad news

her main way of #coping is working and distracting herself. she throws herself to infiltrate the Westside Camarilla court (Sebastian LaCroix), against all good advice.

soon after she arrives, she finds herself having a secret admirer (Mercurio), who reminds her how precious it is to be loved, held, and cared for — but they need to overcome their own instincts to accept what they could have

The Voerman sisters are in the thick of it all, making perfect cautionary allies and, if she can overcome her preconceptions, friends.

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 8: Titled: Zari’s supporting characters. Four characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a photo of a white man wearing mirrored sunglasses in front of orange-pink neon. It casts his face and smile eerily. Ashley Swan, the Foster Sire, Clan Toreador, monstrously cruel, charismatic, loyal, thorough, too clever, pleasurable. Bi transman.

Second, a photo of a white man in a suit, adjusting his cuffs. Sebastian LaCroix, the Westside Prince, Clan Ventrue, opportunistic benefactor, greedy, ambitious, petulant, ruthless, degrading.

Third, a white man in a paisley shirt, gold necklaces, putting a hand to a tattooed and exposed chest. Mercurio, the Admirer, LaCroix’s Ghoul, resourceful, sweet, empathetic, capable, romantic, salt of the earth, former Mafia hitman.

Fourth, a white woman in a black suit with delicate gold jewelry. The Voermans, the Mirrored Sisters, Clan Malkavian; one is brutal, calculating, patient, reckless, the other is seductive, fun-loving, innovative, insightful.

Slide 9: Titled: Charlie’s POV, with a subtitle of The Moonchilde. In small text, a line says “a.k.a. Me processing grief over my mother #coping. On the left, a photo of a sad-faced white woman with freckles, black eyeliner, and frizzy brown curls. Bullet points describe her as Charlie Bradley, Clan Malkavian, Embraced 2003, Humanity 8, age 20, lesbian. On the right, a series of bullets describe her POV’s story.

life is getting back to normal? well, “new normal”

as a new adult, she has a good ol’ fashioned “start of life” crisis: who am I? where do I fit in? complicated by her mother’s death a year ago. what sort of woman am I? how does this figure into my attraction to women?

maybe. maybe. maybe monroe is cold and distant and ruling a vampire kingdom, but he wants to look after me. maybe i should let him.

also, hey, you (Jesse Harper) get it. and you’re hurting. let me help, let me be your soft place to land. wow, okay, this is kissing.

she didn’t mean to ruin her sire’s (Rhys Wilson) life. but, she did. she killed his mentor. SHHH! secret! she feel bad. maybe friends? uh, okay, weirdo. maybe D&D.

she’s learning to deal with feeding on scumbags and giving what people got coming to them. and the Cobweb, supernatural psychosis

WHY ARE VAMPIRES LIKE THIS? WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? FFS

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 10: Titled: Charlie’s supporting characters. Three characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a white man in the middle of screaming, his head swaying back and forth so it looks like he has three heads. Rhys Wilson, the Sire, Clan Malkavian, weirdo, prime D&D fanatic and DM, just wants friends, and vengeance, pulls pranks to teach lessons. Gay.

Second, a very strong white woman with her arms crossed, a tattoo on one, and a t-shirt that is obscured but clearly says “The future is female”. Jesse Harper, the Darkness, Clan Lasombra, former vampire hunter, reluctant vampire, brooding, mysterious, sullen, black trench coat, buff as fuck, brave. Lesbian.

Third, a pair of clasped hands, male over female. Monroe, the Stepsire, Clan Ventrue, fucking old, inhuman, kills too easily, sincere, honourable, intense, gives good advice but really should shut his mouth hole.

Slide 11: Titled: Jack’s POV, with a subtitle of The Lone Wolf. On the left, a photo of a sad-faced strong Chinese man with a shaggy and tufted mullet. Bullet points describe him as Jack Shen, Clan Gangrel, Embraced 1955, Humanity 7, age 25, gay. On the right, a series of bullets describe his POV’s story.

why does he always end up alone? people leave, people die, people drift and change, but the good times were worth it

he’s always had a rocky relationship with his lover (Ryuko Saito), but now the dumbass has found a cult promising power.

he hasn’t lost him. he hasn’t. him and ryu just take time apart sometimes. but it’s been a long fucking while. and jack isn’t sure who he is alone anymore. a new human friend (Dustin Cohen), working at his animal hospital gives new life.

his former best friend (Damsel) has dove deep into Downtown and managing as Nines’ lieutenant, bringing him more and more dirty work to clean up

monroe relies on him to reign in the chaos of vampires trying to live without killing each other.

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 12: Titled: Jack’s supporting characters. Three characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a young white woman with dyed fire-engine red hair and an Iron Maiden t-shirt. Damsel, the Lieutenant, Clan Brujah, naive, brash, physical, loyal, loud-mouthed, smart.

Second, a skinny man in an ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt and jeans. Ryuko Saito, the Orphan, Mage, power-hungry, desperate, proud, ruthless, loving, isolated, crushingly lonely, gremlin, old and chronic pain, hides and “treats” it with magic.

Third, a white hand extending a hummingbird to fly free. Dustin Cohen, the Receptionist, Human, understanding, the best of Good Dudes, empathetic, kinda lame outsider

Slide 13: Titled: also. A moodboard on the right side includes two weeping stone angels, one at sunset, one in darkness between a tarnished and broken silver crown; a gas station in LA as seen through a rainy car window; grim-looking downtown city buildings; and a sidewalk curb with neon lights reflecting off a puddle and a plastic bag of takeout garbage strewn across.

On the left, bullet points follow.

about 100 million other characters. I legit have a spreadsheet

Everyone is capable of evil

Sins of the sire (father)

Never too late to start being a good person

Takes place  about 6 months before Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines

At least one more novel in the works

Subheading, 22/55 chapters written. Gonna start posting September 28.

End ID.

[cynicalclassicist]

The Court of Mordred

Mordred the Traitor

His wife Cwyllog (supposedly deceased)

His sons Melehan and Melou

His supporters:

Gwallanus, father-in-law of Mordred, King of Strathclyde

Eugenius III, King of Dál Riata

Lord Heliades, claimed lord of Albany

Jarl Vidkun of Norway

Sir Oswald of Ancoats 

Sir Enoch, created Lord of Wolverhampton

Ian of Bannside, from Hibernia

Lord Roderick of Cetecopp

Lord of Wixan’s Bridge

Duke Chelric of Saxony

Mordred is of course there. Arthur’s son and nephew, bastard bastard, the Arthurian Alt-Righter, embodiment of bad rule, treacherous and twisted. Of course for me T. H. White wrote my favourite Mordred... not personally likeable, I mean as in the way Frollo is one of my fave Disney villains.

I mean I think he works best. He is frightening in his all too realistic villainy, whipping up hatred between groups of people, crushing on minorities, acting like a hero of the majority when he doesn’t care for them. In short a modern politician.

And his court? The people who lead to the Last Battle?

I imagine his wife Cwyllog fled him when she realised his evil. He doesn’t love her. It’s worse then usual arranged marriages, he actively ill-treats her and doesn’t see her as a person. I imagine he has kind of warped views on women. Cwyllog I think fakes her death and flees away, which explains how Mordred thinks he can marry Guinevere if he is already married. Of course he is already defying the Church by marrying his uncle/father’s wife but if his wife was still around... well, he wants to marry Guinevere and she has served her purpose to him.

Melehan and Melou. The sons of Mordred have two types of deaths in a way. In one Arthur’s heir Constantine slew them in a Church. In the Vulgate they die in battle against Lancelot. So I was thinking of dividing it up a bit.

The elder Melehan leads the revolt but dies in battle, Vulgate-wise.

But Melou is still a child and hides in a Church, where he is murdered. I’m still unsure whether it was Constantine or Aurelius who performed the murder. But Constantine gets the blame and Aurelius encourages this blame, though he advocated for ending Mordred’s line, planning to gain more power himself. And of course he wants his uncle out so he can become King.

Gwallanus/Caw of Strathclyde has numerous children, including Gildas the famous historian of the era, born in the year of Badon. According to some stories Arthur slew Caw’s son Hueil mab Caw. In my version I will go with the raiding option, something Arthur had to do as Hueil was causing trouble in his lands, so naturally he put an end to it. But I was thinking Mordred married Cwyllog due to attempts to forge a peace between Arthur and Caw. Also Strathclyde and Lothian are close to each other.

Anyway, Caw supports Mordred, hoping he will have a Grandson sitting Arthur’s throne. He’s kind of like Mace Tyrell, happy to support pretty bad causes for the sake of his greed and family ambitions.

Eugenius III is one of the legendary Kings of Scotland, apparently an ally of Mordred. I have reforged him in my mind as a repressed asexual Epicurean who feels driven to overcompensate by the fact he cannot fit into traditional masculine norms and believes himself incapable of loving. Though ultimately he takes his time coming there as he is uncertain who will win.

Heliades is a figure in the Vulgate, apparently offered the role of Lord of Albany for supporting Mordred. I imagine this is a point of contention with Eugenius, who was hoping to gain more power himself, and doesn’t like someone else being appointed ruler.

Jarl Vidkun of Norway alludes to Vidkun Quisling, well-known for allying with the Nazis when they invaded Norway, Fører of the Nasjonal Samling (National Union) and becoming ‘Prime Minister’ of the subjugated country. His treachery is so infamous it named a type of treachery, collaborating with enemies. Norway briefly brought back the death penalty to execute Nazis. One of whom was Quisling.

With Vidkun I imagine he intended to ally with Lucius Tiberius when they tried conquering Europe, as to me Lucius is kind of Hitler. Lucius was killed before his forces reached Norway, but Vidkun embodies the remnants of Fascism, living on secretly. I imagine him as a sort of mentor in evil to Mordred, meeting him and giving him advice, inspiring him to use Lucius’ salute for his party. The salute in real life derived from an idea the Romans did this, but it is unclear if they really did. Might come from Oath of the Horatii.

Oswald... well that alludes to Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley of Ancoats, 6th Baronet, founder of the Black Shirts, a Fascist organisation in 30s Britain. Of course 80 years later I imagine they’d have seats in European Parliament while screaming how they want to smash it up. Though if he did favour Lucius Tiberius... could be Oswald is dead now but his family supports Mordred.

Enoch alludes to John Enoch Powell, the first MP for Wolverhampton South West, which he held from 1950-1974. He made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in 1968, in which he claimed immigration was ruining the country. It’s a favourite among, to put it bluntly, racists, the standard immigrants are to blame, we’ll be a minority in our own country, blacks will dominate whites and other such Malebolgian shit.

Ian of Bannside... Ian Paisley, vile fellow, a hate preacher who helped keep troubles between Catholics and Protestants going in Northern Ireland with his fiery sermons, hating on Catholicism, ecumenism and homosexuality. His opposition in Northern Ireland to Catholics helped start the Troubles. He created the Democratic Unionist Party in 1971, far-right jerks. Paisley’s actions, refusing to allow power-sharing and opposing agreements continued to cause trouble. He was created Baron Bannside, before heading across Acheron in 2014. His son Ian Paisely Jr. is pretty vile as well. The DUP propped up the Conservatives after the last election in exchange for a  b̶r̶i̶b̶e̶  donation of 1.5 billion being sent to Northern Ireland. And Ian is even in trouble with his own Party now. Delightful.

Cetecopp... Alludes to Sir Roderick Spode from Jeeves and Wooster, a caricature of Oswald Mosley. He is an unpleasant thug who starts up The Saviours of Britain... but as they are out of shirt colours they are the Black Shorts, a parody of the Black Shirts. He inherits the Earldom of Cetecopp and once referred to as Lord Spodecup.

Wixan’s Bridge is what Uxbridge was originally called. And the current MP for Uxbridge?

Won’t do much with some, probably just names and scant descriptions rather then full characters. Just so long as it’s clear I hate those demagogues.

The fact is I imagine Mordred attracting the nastiest crowd of people. If he is to be the alt-right again his gang contains various embodiments of bigotry throughout the ages. The Alt-Right is in ways Nazism in a new uniform. No longer armbands but MAGA hats.

And there are Saxons. Duke Chelric of Saxony is the Duke from Cligès. He is angry Cligès prevented him taking Fenice. He has no children with the wife he had instead and blames Cligès for this. His nephew is dead, slain by Cligès. Therefore it looks like his Dukedom will fall as his cousins eye up the land. Now an old bitter man he wants revenge... Cligès is in Constantinople so he hopes to get revenge on their family, attacking their great-uncle Arthur. Mordred is Cligès’ uncle but... he gives the opportunity for revenge.

Saxons might be a little Nazi-coded... but could be comical to have them slightly ‘British’, as in English. They are the kin of the English.

I’m sure I’ll find more, based on Mordred’s allies in various texts. But if I can I would like to update them, give them a spin.

Let us hope that the way things are going now we will avert the danger of further civil strife. Let us hope we can avert Camlaan. And to do that Mordreds need to be kept out of power.

@blackcur-rants @cukibola @epic-summaries

[tom-hollands-eyelash]

Don’t Forget Us (Peter Parker X Stark!Reader) part 6

Summary: What would happen if you were Tony Starks daughter and could lift Mjölnir.

Word count: 2,383

A/n: I’ve had this idea for a while now and I can’t wait to share it with you guys! Please leave feedback, it’s always appreciated. I promise there will be more Peter and Y/N moments! Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen Agent Carter.

MY TAGLIST FOR THIS STORY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED!

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

***

“How is Lady Y/N?” Thor asked when he saw you real dad enter the room.

Tony stops in the doorway to look at him and gives a half hearted laugh. “She doesn’t remember that I’m her dad. She thinks I’m her mentor!” Tony said walking pass the large conference table that the other Avengers (beside Peter) and Loki seated are seated at.

“Woah woah woah woah. Slow down there Stark. What do you mean ‘she doesn’t remember that you’re her dad’?!” Steve asked, holding his hand parallel to the table an attempt to get the genius inventor to calm down.

“Exactly what I said. She doesn’t remember. She’s convinced that-“

“That her family died in Sakovia, and that she’s been living with her foster parents for the last three years.” Peter said interrupting Tony by walking into the room and sitting down in the closest seat to the door looking at the other people but avoiding Tony’s eyes. “She also said that she’s been going to Midtown Tech for the last three years and that me and her-“ Peter continued before stoping himself and finally meeting Tony’s eyes.

“You and her what Parker?” He said with an eyebrow raised.

“It-its nothing mister Stark. Forget I brought it up.”

“Oh no Parker. We’re not pulling that, ‘start to say something important, then stop out of nowhere’ game.” Tony said looking Peter in the eye causing the young boy crack under the intense stare.

“Fine! She, um. She thinks we’ve been dating for the past three years.”

“WHAT?!” Tony yelled as he got up from his seat and proceeded to chase the young spiderling around the room.

“As amusing as this is.” Loki said watching Tony chase Peter around the table until Peter webbed himself up to the ceiling to avoid Tony. “Brother, being the god of mischief, I feel something is off in this house. I must go check.” Thor nodded as Loki disappeared through the wall.

—

“Do they suspect anything?” Ursula said through the phone.

“Nope. My idiot of a father and his protégé are actually fighting right now.” You said smiling as you looked at the hallway tony went down. “One weird thing did happen though, Penis Parker locked me in my hospital room.”

“What?!” Ursula yelled so loudly you had to move the phone away from your ear.

“I said exactly what you said to say. How my parents died, how me and that bug have been together all this time, and how Stark wasn’t my father but my mentor.”

“Then why did he lock you in?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they’re being cautious after Parker and Rogers run in with Bucky?” You felt a chill run down your spine and you could feel eyeballs burning holes in the back of your head. Someone was watching you. You slyly used the window to the hospital room you were just in to look over your shoulder. You saw nothing. You just shrugged your shoulders and continued to listen to your next order. Being the only other winter solider awake, you were use to feeling like you were being watched.

“Does Stark suspect anything?”

You laughed at this accusation, “Stark? Really? No he doesn’t. Right now he’s screaming at the spiderling about how ‘we’re dating’ no he has no clue what’s going on.”

“Perfekt” Ursula said and you swore you could hear her smirking. “Now for phase two: try to see if you can spend the night there and find that file on him and it.”

“Do you still want me to get Mjölnir?”

“Yes. That hammer is a big part of the plan. HYDRA will succeed where Leviathan had failed.”

“Of course, Leviathan was weak and stupid. They couldn’t take on, Peggy Carter, a simple SSR agent. Whereas HYDRA were smarter staying asleep for all these years. Cut off one head-“ you interrupt yourself before turning around the feeling of you being watched returned. When didn’t see anyone once again you turn your attention back to Ursula, not knowing Loki was there the entire time. “Two more grow back.”

“Hail HYDRA” Ursula says before hanging up.

—

“TONY!” Steve said slamming his hand on the table gaining Tony’s attention. “Don’t kill the boy. We need him.”

“Fine.” Tony said reluctantly as he moved away from the corner Peter was in on the ceiling. “I won’t kill the kid.” Tony sat back down in his seat as Peter started to climb down the wall. “Yet.” Giving Peter a look that made the young boy freeze with terror.

“Good. Now let’s get back to business. We need to figure out what’s going on with Y/N.” Natasha said placing her chin in one of her hands, elbow on the table.

“Yeah. Like why she thinks her family is dead.” Bruce said looking around the table.

“Or how she thinks Tony is her mentor.” Clint said looking at Bruce.

“Wait a second.” Peter said finally jumping off the wall. “Hey cap?”

“Yeah?”

“Didn’t something like th-“ Peter was interuppted by a knock on the door and you walking in.

“Mr. Stark...” You said as you walked in and froze when you noticed all the eyes on you.

“Y/N.” Tony said getting up on his feet, the other Avengers followed his lead. As they cautiously took steps towards you.

“I-I’m sorry did I interupt something?” You said looking between all heros in the room. Your real family; the family you’ve been trained to hate, to despise, to eliminate.

“You’re fine. What’s up?” Tony asked as he walked towards you.

“I just got off the phone with my mom..”

“Oh are your parents here?” He said looking over your shoulder

“No they had to go back to the apartment to see the landlord.”

“What happened? Why are they-”

“The ceiling in my bedroom kinda collapsed.” You interuppted him, your eyes were glued to the ground out of embarrassment. You could see your reflection in Tony’s black Salvatore Ferragamo dress shoes. Your eyes were sunken in, your dark circles from late night training and stake outs with The Winter Soilder were showing and the sweater you had on had become heavy it felt like it was made of bowlers.

“What?” He said causing you to snap you’re head back up. “Your ceiling collapsed!?”

“Yeah. It was our neighbors upstairs fault. They left their water on and it leaked through the ceiling. But my parents don’t want me to sleep on the couch and they were wondering if I could sleep here? If not it’s totally okay!”

Tony’s eyes lit up “Yeah of course! That’ll be fine.” He said obviously trying to hide his excitement, but failing miserably. You smirked ‘This is going to be too easy. Like taking candy from a baby.’ You thought. “I’ll show you to your room.” He said walking pass you through the door.

“Actually.” You started turning around and grabbing Tony’s wrists. You met his sad brown eyes. “Can Peter show me? Please?”

“Yeah, Yeah of course. Parker can you please show young Y/N to her room please?”

“But Mr. Stark I was-“ the spider superhero was starting to say.

“Now please?” Tony interrupted.

“Yes sir. Come on Y/N.” Peter said as he walked out the door with you swiftly behind him. When you were down the hallway and out of earshot Loki materialized.

“ODIN’S BEARD BROTHER!” Thor said holding his hammer up as if he were about to throw it.

“Warn us next time you do something like that.” Bruce said holding his chest.

“My apologies, but I believe there’s something wrong with Lady Y/N.” Loki said now standing at the head of the table with both hands placed firmly down while looking at everyone’s faces begin to twist in a mixture of confusion and worry.

“Of course there’s something wrong with her! She doesn’t remember that I’m her father, she thinks Parker has been her boyfriend for the last three years, she thinks that her parents died in Europe, and she doesn’t realize that her family is right here in this room!” Tony said slamming his fist on the table now back at his seat across from Loki, staring him down. “What could possibly be worse? Mmh?” He said raising his eyebrows in anticipation to hear what Loki had to add.

“Well for starters, are you familar with Leviathan and a SSR agent named Paisley Carbon?” Loki asked looking around until he locked eyes with Steve who realized who the god of mischief was talking about.

“Do you Peggy Carter?” Steve asked Loki with sadness occupying his face. Loki nodded and looked away from Steve to see what Tony would do.

“I know who Peggy was she was an excellent Agent, but Leviathan does sound familar. F.R.I.D.A.Y. look up ‘Agent Peggy Carter and Leviathan in dad’s old files please.”

“on the order of Joseph Stalin, Leviathan was formed to ensure that the Soviet Union would become the world's leading superpower by having better weapons than its enemies and allies. The group also trained girls to become assasins at a young age.

Some Leviathan operatives have their vocal cords disabled, leaving them with a Y-shaped incision on their neck and preventing them from speaking without the use of a Voice Synthesizer. These operatives were present when at the Battle of Finow when Midnight Oil was used; their voice boxes were damaged because of the gas and removed. Missions are given to agents and communications are returned through the Remote Typewriter.

Leet Brannis was an operative of Leviathan, but decided to go solo. He went to the illegal trader named Spider Raymond and received a packet of money in exchange for property stolen from Howard Stark. When a man in a green suit went to Raymond to claim the Nitramene bomb, he killed the fence as he searched his safe for it.

Brannis revealed the existence of the organization to Peggy Carter by telling her, "Leviathan is coming." She had noticed that Brannis and the assassin who killed her roommate Colleen O'Brien both had their larynx missing

Known associate Edwin Jarvis researched Stark's files but found nothing pertaining to Leviathan. Carter went to hospitals, but did not find any records of men with a laryngotomy operation, concluding that Leviathan operatives were foreigners.

When Brannis was captured by Carter and Jarvis, he asked for protection from his former employer.

Drawing a heart-like shape in the dirt, Brannis died before revealing more information to Carter about the organization.

The Strategic Scientific Reserve researched the backgrounds of Leet Brannis and the Man in the Green Suit, learning that they were both in the Soviet Armed Forces, but the agency did not connect them to Leviathan.

Ivchenko came to the United States with Peggy Carter after she freed him from a prison in Belarus. He told the Strategic Scientific Reserve the story on how Leviathan captured him, without revealing his loyalty to the organization. When they were alone, he tried to get Chief Roger Dooley to look out his office window; Dottie Underwood was stationed across the street with a high-powered rifle. Dooley would not come to the window, so Ivchenko changed Underwood's order to target Peggy Carter. He then learned all he could about the whereabouts of Howard Stark's inventions from Agent Yauch before having him commit suicide.

Ivchenko procured a weapon of Howard Stark labelled by the Strategic Scientific Reserve as Item 17; he caused the death of Chief Roger Dooley in the process by having him wear a Stark Heat Vest. Dottie Underwood tested the effectiveness of the weapon by releasing it in a movie theater. Everyone attacked each other until there were none left alive.

Fennhoff and Underwood then kidnapped Howard Stark and took him to his warehouse. There, Fennhoff revealed his plan to make Stark release the Midnight Oil on New York City for what happened to Fennhoff's brother at the Battle of Finow. Fennhoff hynoptized Stark into flying a plane filled with the Oil to New York City to dump it over the Times Square celebration of V-E Day. However, Fennhoff and Underwood were confronted by SSR agents Peggy Carter, Jack Thompson and Daniel Sousa. Carter was able to subdue Underwood, but she escaped; Fennhoff was knocked out by Sousa and gagged to prevent him from hypnotizing anyone. Stark was freed of his hynoptism, and Fennhoff was then taken to jail.” The Irish A.I. read.

“But what does this has to do with my daughter?” Tony asked when F.R.I.D.A.Y. Finished reading the report.

“I think she was captured and tortured by HYDRA for the past years and now they’re finishing what Leviathan started. I know it is far fetched but I heard her say ‘cut off one head-” Loki said looking Stark in the eyes to see his eyes widen.

“Two more grow back.” Steve finishing the saying he knew to well. A saying that still haunts his dreams to this day.

“Where’s the spiderboy?” Loki asked finally realizing Peter was nowhere to be seen. “He never misses a briefing.

“Oh crap.” Natasha says taking her feet off the table and sitting up straight. “He’s with Y/N.”

“And if what Loki said is true-“ Clint said.

“We need to go and get him.” Bruce said finishing the thought.

—

Peter was rambling off about something about Star Wars when he felt the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck start to stand up, it was his spidey-sense going haywire. Peter looked around for a potential threat, but all he saw was you. The girl who he’s been worried about for years and whom he loved holding a knife into his back and smirking at him.

“время, чтобы умереть паук-мальчик. (Time to die spider-boy).“ You said holding the knife up to his back. Ursula’s words echoed through your mind: ‘Eliminate anyone who gets in your way’ that’s what you’re doing right now, but you didn’t want to hurt this boy. You wanted to protect him, you care about his well being. You suddenly felt guilty for hurting and planning to kill Peter.

But why?

Part 7

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[darlingnisi]

Book Review - Got to Be Something Here : The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound

In high school, I remember when we read Shakespeare or Twain or one of those European literature anthologies, we’d always start with learning about the historical context of the time. I always was a bit annoyed by that, like” can we just get to the book”, but as I went through college and later, I came to really understand the importance of learning that information before really diving into the work. Hearing what was going on at the time, how the culture of the time grew itself or how it evolved into what it came to be was a really important aspect of understanding and appreciating the work that came from it.

Got to be Something Here : The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound is an important work, because it gives that context of where Prince and the Minneapolis Sound came from and also how Black music struggled and thrived and survived in the mostly lilly-white environment of the Twin Cites. A lot of the the narrative around Prince kind of paints the picture of a singular musical genius who overcame all odds to make it out and become this worldwide sensation...which 100% is a thing, but books like this really provide a lot of foundational answers in regard “why” and “how” he was able to do this so successfully...and provides more of the stories around the community support structures that helped him get there.

What was especially striking to me was how familiar the musical traditions were from the sweaty dance parties held at local clubs and community centers to the creation of Paisley Park as a musical utopia. As much as we hear that P didn’t look back and was always moving forward, he most certainly carried those traditions forward with everything he did. Some of the pictures of people dancing their hearts out with the musicians right alongside them reminded me of when P would invite fams on stage to dance by him in the same way, or stories of parties at Paisley where he’d be part of “the house band” and say things like “turn off the lights nothing to see up here” and urging people to dance, or aftershows in small clubs....all honestly re-creating those dance parties from back in the day. Even Paisley Park as a place where EVERYONE could go and create and jam out...a sort of utopia that HE created because other similar performance venues had always been shut down due to racial tensions in the city he grew up in...maybe even as recently as his own forays with Glam Slam....

It’s all sort of remarkable...this perfect storm of culture, talent, tenacity, struggle, hard work, all part of the musical tradition that predated him...the tradition that shaped him, the tradition that he studied closely and embodied in all that he did, a tradition full of people that mentored him...combined with the business/marketing acumen he brought to this tradition to FORCE people to pay attention to that talent more than his race, something he saw his local heroes struggle with immensely as people saw only their Blackness and dismissed, ignored, or put them in a box...

More than him, this book is about THAT TRADITION, and it’s an important one to know and to learn to understand someone who maybe is not so much of an enigma after all...

Amazon

[nikfix]

Fretboard Masters: Sho Hikino

Aside from your biggest heroes (in my case, Steve Vai, John Mayer, SRV, Andy Timmons, etc...), you take the most of your musical inspiration and influence from your teacher.

I spent my first few years learning guitar on my own, playing the basic licks and riffs here and there, but with no foundation on theory and improvisation. And that is something that my mentor, (or my sensei) Sho Hikino has brought to me.

I started taking lessons from Sho back in 2010 (I believe). From that point in my playing, I started to learn new things from fretboard exercises to licks and music theory concepts that were totally new to me. The guitar was never the same for me from then on.

He's been up and around the music scene for quite some time now, best known as Salamin's six-string wielder. Up Dharma Down's Carlos Tañada even went to say that the most talented person in their band is their sound engineer. He also used to teach guitar a few years ago he also taught my sister Elise classical guitar and discovered how much of a good player she is too, as well as some of my other friends.

Now, we look into his awesome guitars, influences and being Up Dharma Down's sound engineer, and his awesome new band, AOUI.

What started your interest in music?

My family is very music oriented. I've been listening to different types of genres from classical, jazz, pop, funk, soul, RnB, ballads, western, eastern, middle-eastern, OPM, and so on since I was a kid. I'm very thankful I've been fed great music right from the start. Then I started researching current music, and more guitar driven music! I guess my love for music has been there from the very beginning. Honestly, it's like my soul, heart, and mind can't live without it! hahaha!

How does it feel to be at the other end of the stage and taking control as a sound engineer for Up Dharma Down?

This is something not everyone can experience, These people are not just workmates to me, they're like brothers (and sister) to me! Everyone in UDD, including myself, and the whole crew treats each other like family! I also feel like UDD's 5th ghost member. If I don't do my job right, they won't be able to sound their best! and everyone won't get to enjoy their set, Including UDD too. I also get to set everything up for them so, in essence, it's like adding your own touch to their sound live! We also get to work with some of the best sound system suppliers, events, artists/bands, and people around PH!

Sho playing Paul Gilbert’s Curse of the Castle Dragon at 19 East (2011)

Did you take any formal musical training?

Yes! I took classical guitar lessons since 2nd yr High School at U.P. Diliman, and right after HS, I went straight to the U.P. Conservatory of Music. The rest, I learned through experience, research, reading, listening, learning from other musicians!

Who are your biggest influences on guitar? How did you apply knowledge that you've acquired from them into your own playing style?

This is a hard one! I can list a lot but I'll try to minimize it to a few and summarize it. I'll start with:

Nuno Bettencourt: his percussive style of guitar playing and very melodic and unique style of soloing is a big one for me!

Paul Gilbert: his chops, speed, accuracy, picking, melodies, and rhythm is a must for every guitar player!

Joe Satriani & Steve Vai: for the very melodic soloing and modal changes.

Dimebag Darrell & Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah): Metal Riffs, extreme solos, noise, groove metal!

Tom Morello: very unique guitar playing, groove hip-hop riffs, out of the box solos!

Greg Howe, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Allan Holdsworth, Brett Garsed, Eric Johnson, Shawn Lane, Guthrie Govan, Steve Lukather:

All the Fusion rock, jazz rock, Modern Jazz, out-o'-this-world guitar soloing.

Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Romeo, John Petrucci: for all the Neo-Classical, Prog rock style.

Tosin Abasi, Acle Kahney, John Browne, Misha Mansoor: for the modern prog style, groove metal.

I'll stop here, These are all basically in my head jammed up together! and I try to apply everything I hear to my style of playing.

Let's talk gear. What guitars are you playing/have you used?

Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Bought from friend and Up Dharma Down guitarist Carlos Tañada)

Fender Thinline 72' Reissue MIJ

Made in Mexico Fender Black Paisley Stratocaster 

PRS Tremonti SE loaded with Bare Knuckle Cold Sweat humbuckers with Burnt Chrome cover in the bridge position

Ibanez ARZ307 loaded with BKP Aftermath set bridge + neck pickups with Tyger cover

Neko Claymore 7 String

Washburn N4 Nuno Bettencourt Signature

Phoebus PG-60CE Acoustic-Electric guitar with Fishman Isys+ Pickup

Sho also makes use of MONO cases and the ZOOM G3X for easy gigging.

What strings and what gauges do you use?

Tried a lot but I always end up with D'Addario ProSteels 10-46s, Regular Light for my 6 String guitars and NYXL1059 Nickel Wound, Regular Light 10-59 for my 7-String guitars

What's next for your music?

I've been writing some solo stuff on the side but my new band AOUI is currently writing songs, and soon to record and hopefully release our album (or EP) this year! Please follow us for more updates and gig sched!

Facebook.com/aouimusic Instagram.com/aouimusic

What would be your advice to aspiring musicians as well as fellow guitar players?

For everyone including starters and veteran musicians, listen to as much music as you can, learn and play your instrument(s) as if your life depends on it, love music, drop the attitude, find the right bandmates with good chemistry, right mindset, share your knowledge and experience with other musicians, learn how to communicate with others, talk, support the local scene, support your scene and the rest will follow.

Meanwhile, here is some notable stuff Sho’s been to in the past few years. 

[paisleywraith]

hey, I know you've currently finished your superhero AU but I was wondering... What is Stan's powers and what does he look like? I kinda wanted to cosplay him and I really liked your version of him so I thought I'd ask

Hello, friend! I’d be glad to chat more about Stan’s abilities…in my original draft he was more prominent in mentor and it’s one of the things I wish I had more time for…he got a bit overlooked. 

That being said, I’d be glad to tell you more about him, and I hope your cosplay works out great, I’d love to see when you’re done!

Uniform:

Stan’s underlying uniform is a black jumpsuit, he owns two depending on how hot/cold the conditions outside are, fits from neck to toes. Slight reinforcements are made into the knees/elbows, he can take a decent tumble without being badly hurt. 

He wears a shirt with his logo that is best described as a white crop top. He has leather bracers and boots. He has reinforcers for his shoulders, on which to perch weaponry or roll on to cushion a fall. (looks like metal but is flexible.)

He has a large pack he wears on his back, full of gear, but if he gets into a fight typically he takes what he needs and drops it. He has a holster on his side for his weaponry. 

As of right now, he sports black eyeliner and goggles with the lenses tinted orange…whether it’s practical or for show he hasn’t given anyone a straight answer. (It’s a thermal reader) 

He also is currently going by the name ‘Dissever’ but everyone that knew him before this stage still calls him Toolshed. He just can’t get it to catch on. 

Abilities:

Stan is a mostly-weaponry-based superhero, and practically no one knows that he actually made most of his things himself…with some help. He’s worked a lot with other heroes and shares a few gadgets with them. Among his arsenal are:

EMP devices. Created with Terabyte, these are round objects that he tosses to disrupt any and all electronic devices in the immediate vicinity. (He was working with them on a type of gun before they had a little bit of a falling out). 

His holster holds a long cylinder that looks kind of like a small telescope. It’s actually a laser, emitting a green beam capable of slicing through steel. And limbs. He doesn’t usually use it in fighting, as it’s a little too easy to kill someone. He keep it close so it’s never stolen. 

His latest creation is a sword that looks like it’s made of glass, only it’s scabbard keeps the weapon hot. It has an unnatural look and it’s combined sharpness and heat makes it useful against anything organic. Not very helpful otherwise. (But it’s super cool.)

He shares what he terms ‘spy devices’ with Containment and later “Mysterion”, your basic listening devices, gps trackers, even a couple smoke bombs who’s primary use is being tossed at other heroes when they’re being annoying. Containment obtained most of these. 

Powers:

Arguably, Stan’s greatest asset is his connections. He’s one of the only people who will work with others, often bouncing around one person to the next when the situation calls for it. The Witch and Tera are his primary friends, but people have seen him work closely with a pre-accident Chaos, Mosquito, Containment, and is later often seen with “Mysterion.” He refuses to work directly with SuperStrike, though he’d worked with WonderStrike with no problem whatsoever. 

His connections allow him to gather people together, despite his cynical and doubtful nature he’s somehow obtained a surprising amount of friends in the hero community, despite the fact he’s teased often for his ever-changing persona. Maybe it’s the fact he’s so cynical to begin with��his trust feels real once you’ve earned it. His respect is genuine. 

In summary, Arsenal-based hero, somewhere between spy and fantasy hero, a lil emo, and basically every teen’s ideal casual and unpowered hero. 

I’m so sorry, dear friend, this is probably way more than you asked for. I went on a ramble. :) 

If this helps, or actually if it doesn’t help, come back to my inbox and tell me. I’ll get you something better. 

Good luck with your costume!!!

[paisleywraith]

So I tried a cityscape. 

[paisleywraith]

Hey, look, an update!

[paisleywraith]

Alternative chapter title: Please don’t shank the author. 

[paisleywraith]

About time I redid this.

Mentor was one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. I’ll come back to it someday.

[paisleywraith]

What’s up. How are you tonight.