#Siding Canton Oh

[egcroofingandsiding]

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[odditycircus-2002]

Mortal Kombat 1 Intros Part IV

A/N: I'm a fan of The Boys and have been watching the newest episodes of season 4. Of course, I love to hate Homelander, and it's satisfying to watch fatalities performed on him in Mortal Kombat 1 after watching him perform heinous crap. This led me to watch his intros and then other Mortal Kombat character intros, and inspiration hit! So I hope y'all like this.😁

Oh! And for those of you that are new, the reader here is a Gorgon, meaning snake hair and wears a mask since they can turn people into stone. They also happen to be an Imperial Healer with a bit of a dark side. Hope that helps!😁

Batch I

Batch II

Batch III

Homelander

Y/N: You are not a god. You’re simply, bad product.

Homelander: You’ll be praying to me for mercy soon enough.

/

Y/N: Why should I give you respect when it’ll only go to the bottomless gaping pit of insecurity you call a soul?

Homelander shivers sarcastically: Should I be intimidated by you?

/

Y/N thoughtfully: Perhaps a virus is in order...

Homelander scoffs: A God is above something so insignificant to him.

/

Homelander: What's with the ridiculous mask? Are you trying to cosplay as some D-List Supe?

Y/N: Why don't you take it off and find out?

/

Homelander: Pray to all the “gods” you want, you won’t survive against me.

Y/N: Why assume that I pray to any of them?

/

Homelander incredulously: You actually want to fuck that disgusting freak?!

Y/N with snakes out ready to bite: Unlike you, Baraka doessssn't fill me with revulsion at the sight of him!

Omni-Man

Y/N: One look and this should be over, fast.

Omni-Man: I'll break your neck before you can even get a peek at me.

/

Y/N: Having been betrayed by a cccccharlatan lover before, I know your wife would want you dead.

Omni-Man angrily: You're not her, so your point means nothing.

/

Y/N cautiously: Your medicine could treat Tarkat?

Omni-Man: If you comply and pledge your allegiance to the Empire, all your patients may receive Viltrum care.

/

Omni-Man: You have stupidly condemned your patients to death!

Y/N: I would rather have my heart ripped out than be fooled twiccccce by a charlatan!

/

Omni-Man: Think it over; what will you have serving a diseased ruler and others with her plague for 500 years?

Y/N: I will have no regrets pursuing my lifelong dream.

/

Omni-Man: I'll rip your damn head off in under a minute.

Y/N ominously: Rest assured, this fight will be a real Scourge.

Raiden

Y/N: Are you aware that Madam Bo's special tea is local around my canton?

Raiden: How in the world did she acquire it then?

/

Y/N: I would’ve paid all the koins in Outworld to have seen you absolutely humiliate Shao.

Raiden: I sense you and him never got along.

/

Y/N: I can confidently say that you’re healing up nicely since we fought the Dragon Army.

Raiden: I’m not sure I would’ve survived without your medical care.

/

Raiden: It must be hard being The Colony's lead Healer.

Y/N: Everyone who dies under my care is a blow to my soul.

/

Raiden: Why is there a statue of Kung Lao in the Wu Shi’s Courtyard?

Y/N shrugs: Kung Lao mentioned how he always wanted a statue of himself.

/

Raiden: You’re very different from how your Titan self acts.

Y/N shivers in disgust: I should thank Liu Kang for not having me predestined for Shang Tsung.

/

Raiden: You only have yourself to blame for missing your chance with Y/N.

Shang Tsung chuckles: You say that as if I don’t still have a chance to win them back.

Kung Lao

Y/N: So far, I don’t see any signs of Tarkat but there’s still a chance you could spread it without apparent symptoms.

Kung Lao: You are not putting my mind at ease, at all.

/

Y/N: You’re inviting me? I don’t even know if I’m able to stomach regular food anymore.

Kung Lao: It would be a crime if you didn’t get to try Madam Bo’s cooking at least once!

/

Y/N: How did you not loose any fingers when you first made that hat???

Kung Lao smugly: Through much practice and much skill

/

Kung Lao: I beaten you in our last fight, so what will change here?

Y/N mischievously: This time, I’m not holding back.

/

Kung Lao: Can you believe that the Wu Shi have a trap dungeon?

Y/N hisses in amusement: Who knew the Shaolin were so diabolical?

/

Kung Lao: You and Baraka aren’t a couple???

Y/N sighs wistfully: How I wish that to be true…

/

Baraka: I don’t always understand what Y/N sees in me.

Kung Lao: You definitely have something more than Shang Tsung.

Kenshi

Y/N: I am sorry I couldn't have saved your sight.

Kenshi: You did the best anyone could in that situation.

/

Y/N: What is it like using Sento to see?

Kenshi: It’s like when you stare at a flame and look away, you see the light of the flame even though it’s gone.

/

Y/N: According to Earthrealm myths, the closest to describing my current form is a “Gorgon”.

Kenshi: Perhaps that’s because there have been other gorgons before.

/

Kenshi: I don’t know Y/N, that seems a bit excessive even by the Yakuza’s standards.

Y/N: You and Kitana think a bit of food tampering is too much.

/

Kenshi in surprise: You and Shang Tsung weren’t just lab partners?

Y/N angrily: I was a fool to fall for his charmssss in the first place!

/

Kenshi: Given how you both act around one another, I'm surprised you and Baraka aren't together.

Y/N: I'm grateful to have him in my life.

/

Kenshi: The Colony is fortunate to have you and Y/N.

Baraka: I thank Deliah every day for sending them my way.

[vosh-rakh]

madstone, chapter 5

“I suppose that is my name,” the former god said with a tilt of his head. “I considered changing it, but the priests advised I didn’t. Would confuse the people more than necessary, they said. I suppose they’re right.”

He put a delicate hand on Kassur’s shoulder, who suddenly felt very small and embarrassed for his outburst. “You say my name with a curious accent. Are you Velothi, by chance?”

Kassur nodded. He didn’t think his accent was that strong. Maybe Vivec was just good at picking up on it.

Without removing his hand, Vivec looked up at Ku-vastei. “What brings you to my city, Hortator?”

“Trouble with the Ahemmusa,” Ku-vastei said. She raised and jingled the Madstone in the air. “We’re helping this lad get it sorted.”

Vivec leaned his face in to examine the amulet. “Interesting design. Dwemeri, I take it.”

Ku-vastei took a closer look at the Madstone. “Is it?”

“May I?” Vivec asked, hand outstretched. Ku-vastei tentatively handed the Madstone to him. “Yes, but of very ancient make. Likely fashioned prior to a law that standardized their more utilitarian style. A law passed long before even our war with the Nords.” He smiles sadly, his eyes seeming to look beyond the amulet and into the distant past. “This really brings me back.”

Kassur managed to catch a glimpse of the amulet in the god’s hand, his first real look at it since they retrieved it. It had a round blue stone engraved with a radiant eye, cradled in an inverted crimson crescent that looked like horns. 

Vivec then casually flicked the Madstone with his finger; a loud, clear tone rang out from the stone. Kassur instinctively covered his ears, even though the sound wasn’t necessarily painful. 

“Before they became atheists,” Vivec began when the sound diminished, “the Dwemer feared the Daedra. They lacked their later, more complete understanding of metaphysical tonality, but still vaguely knew the importance of fundamental tones. They crafted devices such as this to ‘scare away’ the influence of the Daedra.”

“Seems the Ahemmusa somehow obtained one and used it to keep Sheogorath away for generations,” Ku-vastei filled in. 

“Interesting,” Vivec mumbled, scratching his chin. “I wonder how it came into their hands. No matter, I suppose.” He looked again at Kassur. “I suspect whatever issue your tribe faces, this device is instrumental to its salvation.”

“We think so, Lord Vivec,” offered Aryon when Kassur didn’t reply. 

“Oh, please,” said Vivec with a dainty wave of his golden hand. “I’m barely a ‘Lord’ anymore. Call me a saint still, if you want. But I’m more part of the common rabble these days.”

Kassur somehow doubted this. How could a god become a mortal so easily? This was, of course, assuming he was ever truly a god in the first place, something Kassur’s people readily questioned. Regardless, there seemed something insincere, or at least unbefitting, in his stated humility. 

Moving right along, Vivec said, “Well, I suppose I’ll be coming with you.”

Ku-vastei barely suppressed a hiss. “That won’t be necessary, Vivec.”

“Oh, please,” Vivec said again, clasping his hands and stretching his arms in front of him. “I’m bored out of my mind here. Endless bureaucracy. And there’s only so many ways you can say, ‘Get rid of that rock in the sky.’” 

He cast a glance upwards at Baar Dau, which Kassur only just now noticed. It was indeed a giant rock in the sky, crawling with miners like kwama, bits of excavated stone falling into the water by the Temple canton. 

“Won’t leaving the city put its stasis in jeopardy?” Ku-vastei asked. 

“No, I can handle it from afar well enough, especially seeing as it’s quite a bit lighter these days.”

Ku-vastei swished her tail and scratched her chin. Finally, she acquiesced. “Fine. You can come. But not like that.” She made a gesture with her metal hand, dividing her face into two halves.

“Of course,” Vivec replied. “I can be discrete.” In an instant the gold faded from his right side, leaving him fully grey, like any other Dunmer. “Completely inconspicuous.”

“Fine,” Ku-vastei grunted. “Just don’t make any kind of scene. This doesn’t have to be a big ordeal.”

“As you wish, Hortator,” Vivec answered. Kassur was amazed by how easily Ku-vastei commanded the (former) god, and how readily he submitted to her whims.

“Let’s be on our way then, shall we?” asked Aryon. “We’ve got the better part of the island to cross.”

Ku-vastei shrugged. “We’ll just teleport to Sadrith Mora, take the boat to Vos, then walk the rest of the way to Ald Daedroth. Not too complicated.”

- - -

And it wasn’t too complicated. The teleport to Sadrith Mora (which Kassur handled even better than the last three, getting quite used to it), the walk across town, and boat ride to Vos, were mostly uneventful. But it was far from boring, as you might imagine, being a trip with a powerful wizard, the leader of a nation, and a god. To Kassur it went by in a blur; either Aryon and Vivec were in heated debate about the Dwarves, which Ku-vastei moderated, or the three discussed political matters so far over Kassur’s head in their import that he simply tuned it out and focused on not getting seasick. Gals Arethi kept a baleful eye on Kassur, but apparently the esteemed company Kassur traveled with kept him safe from the shipmaster’s wrath.

When they arrived, Sedyni the Vos shipmaster was not there. The four travelers stepped off the boat and glanced around. The nearby tradehouse seemed unusually quiet. Gals shrugged and sailed off back to Sadrith Mora.

“Where is everyone?” Kassur asked. At this time of early evening, the village was usually buzzing with activity.

Vivec closed his eyes. “The chapel is empty.”

“How could you possibly know that?” asked Ku-vastei, planting a metal hand on her hip. Kassur wondered about that brass gauntlet she wore – it was incredibly ornate, and had an air of being impossibly ancient and powerful. But he had no idea how to ask politely.

“I can still feel it,” Vivec said, opening his eyes again. “Most people still revere me as a god, especially this far removed from the official temple in my city. So the Tribunal holy places are still attuned to me.” Kassur had no idea what he was talking about.

Aryon was oddly quiet. In the short time Kassur had known him, he’d never acted like this; he was the type of consequential mer to always have something to contribute to a conversation. It was barely perceptible, but Kassur could swear he saw a slight tremor in Aryon’s hands. But Kassur couldn’t tell if it was fear…or rage.

“Aryon?” asked Ku-vastei. “Are you alright?” She seemed to notice the same thing Kassur had.

“Check on the village,” Aryon said, his voice dry. “I go to the tower.” And so he did, flying off fast through the air, much faster than they had in Vivec. As Kassur watched him disappear into the sky, he saw a dark cloud in front of the setting sun. Or…was it a pillar of smoke?

“This bodes ill,” Vivec said, frowning. “Kassur, stay close. It’s quiet, but I suspect danger.”

Kassur felt a sudden pang of guilt. He realized he was more like a liability to these powerful beings, someone they had to keep close and protected because he was so weak and helpless. He could barely conjure a flame, and didn’t know how to use a weapon. In a fight, he was worthless. He began to wonder why they’d brought him along at all. A sneaking suspicion told him they thought he would be useful only as a bargaining chip, of sorts. A sort of intermediary to help them accomplish…whatever grim task they meant to do.

The thought escaped his lips just as he thought it. “Don’t kill them,” he blurted. “If it is the Ahemmusa. Please.”

“Kassur…” Ku-vastei began, turning to face him. “That might not be –”

“You have our word,” Vivec interrupted, placing a delicate hand on Kassur’s shoulder. “No excessive harm shall come to your people.”

Ku-vastei scoffed, snapping her head towards Vivec to glare at him, but after a moment sighed and shrugged. Kassur wasn't sure if he could trust the word of the false god – or if the Nerevarine had any interest in going along with him. 

They proceeded towards the town walls, which were actually the backs of the tightly-crowded huts of the village, no space left between their rounded stucco corners. There were no guards posted at the gate, the town’s single entrance, and beyond them was still silent. Down the single street they could see that many of the doors were half-to-wide open, but there were no obvious signs of a struggle.

“Vivec,” said Ku-vastei, “take Kassur to check the chapel. I’ll check on the houses.” Vivec nodded and gently directed Kassur towards the chapel as Ku-vastei began picking her way from hut to hut.

Vivec and Kassur passed under the chapel gate into the meager courtyard. The small alchemical garden the two priests maintained there was not overgrown or choked with weeds. “They haven’t been gone long,” Kassur observed out loud. 

Vivec noticed Kassur examining the garden and nodded. “Good,” he said, smiling at Kassur. “Let’s check inside.”

The door was closed, and unlocked. But the chapel never locked its doors, not even when the priests were both asleep. Vivec cautiously pushed through the threshold, Kassur following close behind. “Hello?” called out Vivec. “It’s alright. We’re here to help.” 

There was no answer. The chamber within was nearly pitch-dark, only faint light coming through the stained glass domed ceiling. Vivec cast a Light spell for them to see by as they entered.

It was a mess. The Tribunal tapestries on the walls were torn to shreds, and the murals defaced with what Kassur hoped was paint; candles and torches were snuffed out; the prayer-stools were upturned and thrown about; loose ripped-out pages of books were fluttering in the breeze visiting from outside; ash and bones from the circular Waiting Door on the floor were spread across the room haphazardly. Kassur held no great faith in these things, but it still pained him to see such desecration of a holy place. 

“Be on your guard,” said Vivec stiffly. “In this state I fear I could not trust my divinity to tell if we’re alone. There is little holiness left here.”

Kassur’s muscles tightened. He still didn’t understand how Vivec could know such things. But if he truly was anything close to what he claimed – an ancient mortal-made-god, a living deity – then it was difficult to doubt him.

They slowly circled the Waiting Door, more carefully inspecting the scene, but there was no more evidence of exactly what had happened. At least there’s no blood, Kassur thought. He remembered his teacher, Yakin Bael, and said, “There’s a bedroom downstairs. We should probably check there, too.”

Vivec nodded in agreement, and led the way down the steps, his orb of magical light guiding the way. The priests’ bedroom was not saved from the sacking: pots and urns of various alchemical and cooking ingredients were overturned and cracked open; broken glass from shattered bottles littered the rug underfoot (Kassur was for once glad for his shoes, and Vivec hovered an inch above the ground); the desk had its drawers yanked out, scattering torn papers and writing implements, and its stool and tall candlestick were toppled; the privacy screen was ripped open; and the beds were torn apart, sheets and blankets strewn and split.

Vivec stopped to inspect some of the loose pages of sermons and notes on the floor. Kassur went up the short ramp to the beds to look more closely. He knew the bed on the left was Yakin’s – they had a few lessons down here, when the upstairs chapel was too busy and loud. He picked up a pillow from the floor, gashed open and spitting up dried wickwheat stuffing, and gently laid it back on the head of the bed. He knelt down, and quickly realized that under the pillow was Yakin’s spectacles, broken and bent at the nose and lenses shattered. He gently took them in his hands, careful of the jagged edges of glass, and stared at them.

Just as he was getting used to his new life in Vos, now it seemed to be ripped from him again. Even the only real friend he had among the housemer, his teacher Yakin Bael, seemed to be in some unknown peril. And, useless as always, Kassur could do nothing but follow along with the real heroes, who actually had power to do anything about it.

“Here,” said Vivec, startling Kassur from his misery. A second orb of light appeared, floating near Kassur by the beds. 

“Thanks,” said Kassur. Vivec smiled and kept reading a document in his hand.

Kassur looked back down, and something immediately caught his eye. Just under the edge of the bed was a bright gleam, reflecting the magical light above. Kassur slowly reached for the shining object and pulled it out. 

It was a short sword, still in its sheath; its metallic hilt had been catching the light. He removed the sheath noiselessly and beheld the glistening steel blade, sharp as the day it was forged. “Vivec,” he called, “he had a sword. Yakin, that is. And he didn’t use it.”

Vivec dropped what he was reading and floated up the ramp to Kassur, looking down at him and the sword. “Hm,” he pondered, tucking his legs up under him as he floated and placing his hands on his crossed knees. “Doesn’t mean there wasn’t a struggle. Those spectacles are broken. No blood?”

Kassur looked around again. On a whim he grabbed the pillow he had adjusted earlier and turned it over; sure enough, a small bloodstain seeped through the cloth case.

“Punched in the face,” Kassur suggested. “Nose bled, maybe broken. No other signs of a struggle, that I can tell.”

“Fair analysis,” Vivec said. “I don’t think there’s any other clues here. Let’s go meet up with Ku-vastei.”

Ku-vastei had just come back from the end of the street to the chapel by the time Kassur and Vivec came out. She was alone.

“I see you didn’t find any survivors,” Vivec said, frowning. “Any dead?”

“No,” Ku-vastei said. “No sign of any struggle. Everyone is just gone. What of the chapel?”

“We found no one, but the chapel was desecrated. The homes were untouched?”

“That I could tell, yes. Some doors were left open, and the breeze disturbed some belongings, but that was it.”

“Hm,” Vivec said, stroking his solid grey chin. “Perhaps they’re sheltering at the tower?”

All three turned west towards Tel Vos. The pillar of smoke was rising higher, and blacker. Without a word they began at a quick pace towards it.

- - -

Aryon had put out most of the flames by the time they arrived, but the damage had been done. There was nothing left of the Telvanni fungal roots of the tower but ash, even Aryon’s personal pod at its peak. The tendrils which had so integrated themselves into the stonework of the Imperial fort no longer held it up, causing several portions to collapse into charred bricks.

Ku-vastei and Vivec readied their spears (Kassur hadn’t noticed the god had been carrying one until now) while Kassur cowered behind the two. But it made him feel like a coward, so he tried his best to straighten his back, puff out his chest bravely, and at least put his hand on the sheathed sword of Yakin Bael, even if he didn't have the nerve to actually draw it.

Aryon knelt in front of a smoldering pile of bodies. It was hard for Kassur to make out in the carnage, but it seemed like a mix of guards, tower servants, and Ahemmusa raiders. He might have recognized some of the latter, if they weren’t all so horrifically burned.

“Master Aryon?” asked Vivec. “Are you harmed?”

Aryon turned his head slowly. There was no evidence of weeping on his face, but he looked like a man completely exhausted. Kassur understood the feeling immediately. “No,” Aryon said. “They likely went north before I arrived.” He stood and wiped his hands on his robes. “To the old camp. What of Vos?”

He’s held together by a thread right now, thought Kassur. There was a haunted look in his eyes. He’d just lost everything. Kassur could relate – although he’d ran from his old life, instead of having it torn from him.

“There was no one there,” Ku-vastei said. “No sign of a struggle, except that the chapel was ransacked.” She took a cautious step forward towards Aryon. “Are you sure you’re –”

The wind changed suddenly, and Kassur caught a big whiff of the corpse-smoke. He gagged loudly, covered his mouth with the collar of his robes, and fled towards a nearby wall. He planted his free hand against the stone as he tried to calm his retching before it grew into something worse. He could feel three pairs of eyes on his back, and he resented it. He let go of the wall and looked at his hand; it was completely covered in soot. The wall now had a relatively clean handprint on it where he’d stolen the blackness. “I’m fine,” he shouted, although the act nearly made him gag again. “I’m –”

There was a loud crack somewhere above him. He only had time to look up at the top half of a tower rushing towards him, but not enough to move out of the way. He closed his eyes.

Something hit him hard, but not at the angle he was expecting. The collapse was deafening, its roar of crumbling stone erasing all other sounds. When the sound had settled, Kassur opened his eyes. Ku-vastei had him in her arms; he could feel the cold metal of her right hand pressing into his spine through his robes. 

Vivec and Aryon appeared in the air above them, their feet glowing with pink light. “Are you two alright?” Aryon asked.

Kassur felt a soothing energy enter his body from the gauntlet, and he felt less sore from the tackle. “Yes,” Ku-vastei said as she stood up, lifting Kassur with her. “I’m fine, and he will be.”

Kassur caught a glimpse of Aryon’s face, wrinkled with worry, before it relaxed into relief. Then he put on a new mask, a mask of cold wrath. A cascade of facades to make Mephala proud.

“Good,” Aryon asked. “We need to go to the old camp and see if they’ve taken the citizens there.”

Aryon turned, and with a mystical wave of his hand, buoyed up the rubble in mauve smoke and flung it aside. “Come,” he said once the crashing din faded. “We have work to do.”

Suddenly, Kassur was terrified of Aryon – and for the safety of his own people.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Here’s a waterfront mansion in Canton, Ohio. It has 7 bds. & 11 baths (no waiting) and is priced at $3.875M.

With the exception of the taxidermy, I think that this is a combination of  elegance & rustic that is very skillfully done. 

Unusual dining room cabinet has to have been custom built, b/c it also functions as a dividing wall. 

And on the other side of the dining room cabinet is a bar. Isn’t that clever? Walk around the dining room china cabinet and get a drink.

The gigantic family room has a lovely brick fireplace, beautiful wood features and a spectacular window.

Check out the stairs. Love the combination of brick and wood in this home. Look at all the balconies and more stairs on the upper right.

Love this “bridge” that leads to an office and another wing.

Here are the stairs and balcony we saw from the other wing. This looks like a casual area for the kids to hang out in.

This balcony overlooks the kitchen. Look at the size of that counter. If I’m not mistaken, I’m seeing a green Aga stove below.

Convenient to call the kids to dinner. Definitely an Aga. 

Large, regal main bd. Don’t care for the shape of the room, though. 

This is a seriously business-like home office. Even the carpet is commercial quality.

Looks like a law office or something.

This is a nice bd. and en suite.

Then those beautiful stairs wind down to the rec room in the basement.

Great space to entertain. This must be the man cave section.

One of the baths down here. 

Now here we have another full kitchen.

A bedroom and a bath. Must be an apt. 

The home has 11 acres with its own lake. 

https://www.redfin.com/OH/Canton/1720-Perry-Dr-NW-44708/home/66085529

[jeannereames]

Which "side characters" to Alexander's story are you most interested in both as a historian and as a fiction author?

Well, Hephaistion is obvious. But my interests as an historian and as a writer are slightly different.

As an historian, I could wish for a more unbiased account of Perdikkas. Of Alexander's age cohort, he had the highest appointments at the youngest age. I suspect it owes to equally high birth. We aren't sure, but his father Orontes was probably the prince/once-king of the canton of Orestis. In the sources, he's poorly treated in part due to bad press from the Successor Wars.

Reputedly, he was arrogant and high-handed, and his own officers (led by Seleukos) killed him in Egypt. But was he that bad, or are these reports part of that bad press (and Seleukos's and Ptolemy's ambitions)? If he were a prince, perhaps his arrogance had cause. Alexander seemed to think he was the most competent of those who remained in Babylon and gave him the ring. Would he still have got it if Krateros hadn't been sent away earlier on his own mission? I suspect not, but we just don't know.

And then there's Krateros, who may also have hailed from Orestis and was probably a cousin of Perdikkas. But, again, we can't be sure. I'd like a better sense of Krateros, as well, to evaluate his place at court. Like Perdikkas, our sources attach a bias to him, but in his case, a positive one. I'm as suspicious of that as I am of the negative one assigned to Perdikkas.

After that, it's largely the women. Olympias, yes. But even more Kleopatra, Thessalonike, and Kynanna. Also Philip's mother Eurydike. I expect THAT woman was someone to be reckoned with. As was Audata, Kynanna's mother. And Hadea, the daughter/granddaughter. Roxana, and Darius's daughters.

Oh, I'd like to know a little more about Parmenion's family--where they came from originally (Pelagonia or not?), and the two younger sons. Philotas sucks up all the air in the room.

Last, I wish we knew more about Darius himself: who he was before being raised to the throne. My friend, Scott Oden, has decided to work on a novel about Darius, which I expect to be spectacular. He has a real talent for detailing the losing side with compassion and insight. If you've not read his novel, Memnon, I recommend it, or Men of Bronze. I think he'll do a great job giving Darius a fair shake.

Now, as an AUTHOR, my interests are similar, but I get to include fictional characters, such as Kampaspe. She may be mentioned in our sources, but was almost certainly a Roman-era invention. Also, you'll get to meet a priest of Ammon who'll travel with Alexander. While also fictional, Alexander must have had such officiants, as he regularly included Ammon in his sacrifices. And, of course, Kleopatra will continue as a voice and window on what's happening in Europe while Alexander is out gallivanting around Asia.

Last, there's a fellow in Athens you'll get to hear more about: Phokion. Plutarch wrote a life of him, in which he's portrayed as the last respectable Athenian general, and was nicknamed "the Good," in antiquity. In the novel, Hephaistion meets him in Athens, when he's there the second time, and he becomes one of (several) people Hephaistion corresponds with, besides Aristotle and Kleopatra.

Oh, I forgot…not a side character of Alexander, but I REALLY REALLY wish we knew more about Alexander (I) “the Golden.”

[curiousobsession101]

Zombies, Run! Secret Santa Gift Exchange

@enbeast I'm your secret santa this year!

Thank you @delucadarling and @notforconsumption for running the secret santa gift exchange this year!

Sunny, one of your listed favorite ships was Nadia Al Hanaki and Archie Jensen. I'd never seen anyone ship them before but the second I read that in your list I realized how absolutely perfect they would be together, so I've written a fluff piece for them. I hope you like it!

This fic doesn't take place within the canon Zombies, Run! timeline but it does include spoilers for season 6. Also, I'm not British myself so I apologize in advance if my phrasing is off at any point in this fic.

Skate Date

Archie looked around in obvious delight. “Abel looks so pretty covered in snow like this, don’t you think? It’s like a fluffy sheep – only not shaped like a sheep.”

Nadia smiled. Archie could always make her smile, her near-permanent cheerfulness even cutting through Nadia’s serious demeanor when she was being professional while guiding runners on missions. Although truthfully Nadia still didn’t see the point of going to Abel Township for their date since it seemed like Archie just wanted to do things they could have done back in New Canton. Like right now, Archie was leading her to Abel’s frozen-over pond to go ice skating. New Canton had a pond too; they could have gone there. But Archie had insisted. “Silly Nadia, why stay in New Canton when we can go on holiday?” so here they were for a day trip to Abel.

When they got to the end of the cleared path to the pond, Archie asked “Would you like me to help you into the skating sled? Obviously you can get into it yourself, but if you would like some help I should do that before I put on my skates.” Nadia nodded.

Once she was on the sled, it naturally took Nadia much less time to get settled comfortably than it took Archie to put on her skates. So Nadia started sculpting a flower out of the snow piled up by the side of the path. She could tell when Archie had finished lacing up her skates because she gasped and exclaimed “That snowflower is so pretty!”

Nadia smiled up at her. “I’d first thought to make a picture of you, but I knew I wouldn’t have time.”

“Aw, that is so sweet of you anyway! Maybe later we can make snowmen together! Hm, snowwomen? I suppose they don’t have to be people. You could make just about anything from snow. Well, not anything. Some things are too complicated and some things would take too much snow-”

Nadia laughed. “Sure. That sounds like fun.”

They slid onto the ice. Unlike Nadia’s bike, the skating sled had to be propelled manually. Nadia could move it herself, but for now Archie was using the handles on the back of the seat to push her in wide laps around the edge of the pond. Nadia started to understand her insistence on “going on holiday”. It was very pleasant to be whirling past scenery that didn’t include imposing castle walls or endless trees shading a carpet of blue flowers for once. In fact, just knowing she was in a different place from her work made her feel more relaxed.

After a while, Archie let go of the skating sled as they both headed closer to the center of the pond. Archie started pirouetting on the ice. Nadia laughed to see her enthusiasm in her spins, and started experimenting with just what her sled could do. It couldn’t turn on a dime like her bike, but the turning radius wasn’t too terrible for a sled. She was challenging herself to make tighter and tighter turns when disaster struck.

The residents of Abel of course kept the ice as smooth and clear as possible, but this was a naturally iced-over pond with no convenient zamboni to help resurface it. And even if there was, the two of them had been doing some serious skating and would have undone all its work by now. Nadia felt a sudden jolt. The next thing she knew she was lying winded on the ice and the sled was tumbling end over end through the air. She didn’t see where it landed.

“Oh no, Nadia!” Suddenly Archie was standing over her looking even more worried than she expected. Nadia sat up, focusing on getting her breath back. Once she could speak again she said, “It’s alright, Archie. I’m fine.”

“No you’re not. Look at your leg.”

Her leg? Which leg? She looked down at her lower half and realized one of the skates on her sled must have come down on her right leg. It had cut right through the fabric of her winter pants and left a bloody gash on her thigh. “Oh. Well help me back onto my bike and I’ll go have Maxine take a look at it.”

“Yes. I think it does look like it needs stitches.” Archie looked anxious.

“Don’t worry so much, babe. It doesn’t even hurt, remember?”

“Yes, I’m glad of that.” She frowned. “It is too cold to take off my coat and use it as a bandage – oh!” She deftly removed her shirt from under her coat and tied it tightly around Nadia’s leg.

“Thanks.” Nadia waited just long enough for Archie to take off her skates and put on her boots, then the two of them sped off towards Abel Township’s hospital.

. . . . .

The hospital wasn’t crowded when they arrived. People hadn’t been getting sick as much lately and presumably there had been fewer accidents too. Well, aside from this one. Music was playing faintly but clearly through the hospital. Dr. Myers must have the radio on to keep the patients from getting too bored, but quietly enough that some of those patients could sleep. She hurried over to them as soon as they arrived. “Archie! Nadia! What’s wrong?”

“Skating accident. I just got a bit cut up. It’s nice too see you, by the way.” Nadia said. “Yes, hello Dr. Myers,” Archie added, “it’s too bad we’re only seeing you because Nadia’s hurt though, hey?”

Maxine couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it’s nice to see you both too.” She led them to a cot. After Nadia got herself situated, Maxine untied the makeshift bandage. “Ah. Because of where the gash is, I’m going to need to take your pants off to get to it.”

“Not a problem. You’re a doctor, and it’s nothing Archie hasn’t seen before” Archie chuckled. “You’re very pretty without your clothes.”

“Maybe we should save the flirting for later. Wouldn’t want to make Maxine uncomfortable.” But Nadia sounded amused, not embarrassed.

“Oh that’s nothing. You should hear what some of my patients have said to their loved ones while on morphine.” Maxine said with a laugh.

“Speaking of flirting, how is your wife?” Archie asked.

“Paula’s doing well. Want me to tell her you said hi?”

“Please do.”

“And tell her hi from me as well.” Nadia added.

Maxine finished examining the injury. “It’s not too bad. I’ll just disinfect it and stitch it up, and you can go. Since you use that sled you can even go right back to skating if you want.”

“Thanks, but I think we have other plans.” Nadia grinned up at Archie. “We do?”

“Do you still want to make snowmen after this? Or snow-whatever?”

“Oh! Yes. But we should go get the skating sled first so it’s not just lying out on the pond.”

“You’re right.”

Maxine brought the bottle of disinfectant over. “This is going to stin- oh wait.”

Nadia laughed. Then she and Archie fell silent as Maxine worked, just in time to hear Eugene talk about the history of the song that had just played. Nadia was fairly certain he made it all up. Jack joined in with some banter, and Phil jumped right in too. Zoe waited for the three of them to be finished before cutting in with some dry remark that had them dissolving into laughter. Since Zoe spoke a little quieter than the rest of them, Nadia didn’t quite catch what she’d said.

A few songs later, Maxine was done with the stitching and Nadia’s pants were back in place. Maxine had even let her use a bit of surgical thread to mend the tear. Unfortunately Archie’s shirt would need some serious cleaning, but she didn’t seem to mind with her winter coat on. Nadia levered herself back onto her bike and the couple went to retrieve the skating sled and then go make snow sculptures. That may or may not have devolved into a snowball fight halfway through but, well, the laughing pair didn’t mind.

[blowflyfag]

WRESTLING ALL STARS: Heroes and Villains : JUNE 1996

VIEW FROM RINGSIDE

By George Napolitano 

[The Bodyguard for Hire and his snake share a moment with their #1 fan: Tekla Benson.]

We would like to welcome everyone to another edition of WRESTLING ALL STARS. Since our last issue there have been quite a few changes in the wrestling world. For starters on January 22 in Fresno, CA, during the WWF Royal Rumble, the bizarre Goldust defeated Razor Ramon to win the WWF Intercontinental title. The following day in Las Vegas, Nevada, during a live Nitro Tv broadcast, Macho Man Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair to regain the WCW heavyweight title. Also on the card, Lex Luger and Sting defeated Harlem Heat to win the WCW tag team title. 

On January 27 in Philadelphia, PA, the Sandman’s reign in ECW came to a screeching halt when he was defeated by the mysterious Raven. Needless to say, Raven had plenty of help as the “new”  Fabulous Ones (Stevie Richards and the Blue Meanie) as well as Raven’s new squeeze were at ringside to lend their support. In the Sandman's corner was his manager. Woman. After the title loss, Woman took the microphone and asked the Sandman to join her in WCW. The Sandman looked around and hesitated for a moment. Then Too Cold Scorpio joined him in the ring. Now Woman offered to take the both of them to WCW just when it looked like they were going to accept her offer, they flatly refused and said they were never going to leave ECW. 

[Woman looks to be headed for WCW. Will she take any of her ECW talent with her?]

[Woman was in Sandman’s corner when he lost the ECW belt to Raven. Are their days together over?]

[Woman asked this man, Too-Cold Scorpio, if he wanted to come with her to WCW. Been there, done that, Scorpio replied, declining.]

In Las Vegas, at the WCW Clash of the Champions, Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man had two special guests at Ringside during their tag team battle against Ric Flair and the Giant. One was Kevin Green from the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and the other was the former manager of the “Mega-Maniacs,” the lovely Miss Elizabeth. With Savage’s ego as big as it is you can bet that soon he will get jealous that his ex-wife, the lovely Elizabeth, is spending so much time with Hogan.

[Diesel and Lawrence Taylor at last year’s Wrestlemania press conference. It hardly feels a year has passed since LT made his spectacular WWF debut against Bam Bam Bigelow.]

The following week in Canton, OH after a Monday Night Nitro match between Ric Flair and the Hulkster, it certainly looked as if the Macho Man’s jealous rage was starting to burn! While Flair and Hogan battled toe to toe inside the ring, Jimmy Hart ran over to the other side and attacked Elizabeth. As soon as Hart grabbed Elizabeth, Arn Anderson immediately tossed his shoe into the ring toward Flair. 

Grabbing the show by the heels, Flair pounded right into Hulk Hogan’s eye! Flair then rolled Hogan over and pinned him in center ring! After the verdict was rendered, a bloodied Hogan rolled out of the ring and fell straight to the floor bleeding profusely from his eye. Elizabeth immediately ran over to try and comfort him, but as soon as she did the Macho Man pushed her away. Elizabeth didn’t know what to do, but she continued to kneel next to the fallen Hulkster. Finally Savage helped Hogan up and led him to the dressing room. Do you think that the Macho Man was jealous that Elizabeth was there to help the Hulk? 

Oooh..Yeah!

As far as the tag team title is concerned, you know that eventually Sting and Luger will have a major falling out. Luger is still very much a part of the Dungeon of Doom, while his partner, Sting, hates everyone else in that infamous group. It’s only a matter of time before their team is blown to smithereens!

[The Stinger is one-half of the WCW tag team champs, with Lex Luger. But Sting and Lex have not been seeing eye to eye as of late. How much longer can they work together as a team?]

While we are on the subject of tg teams, we must acknowledge that the awesome Road Warriors have reunited after a three-year layoff. Before Animal’s back injury caused the team to dissolve, the Legion of Doom (as they were then known) were the premier tag team in their sport. Now that they are back, the Road Warriors are determined to regain their rightful place at the top of the tag team empire. 

Razor Ramon is livid! Ramon can’t believe that he lost the Intercontinental belt to Goldust. Although Goldust had expert coaching from the sidelines from his “Director” Marlene, it was Goldust who applied the finishing touches inside the ring. NOW that Goldust has the gold Intercontinental belt strapped securely around his waist, it’s not going to be easy prying it off of him.

By winning the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row, Shawn Michaels earned the right to face the WWF champion at Wrestlemania XII in Anaheim, CA.

[Here’s a pair of partners who aren't getting along: “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan.]

At the WWF Royal Rumble, the awesome Vader really made his presence felt in a very big way, but that pales in comparison to what he did the following night on Raw. After easily finishing off his opponent, Vader continued to apply his deadly Vader Bomb from the top rope. After witnessing several Vader bombs in paid succession, interim acting president Gorilla Monsoon came to ringside to try to stop the unstoppable Vader. After failing in his attempt to stop Vader, Monsoon grabbed the microphone and said that Vader was indefinitely suspended for his actions. Hearing this, Vader flew into a rage and immediately attacked the President. Sonn Monsoon found himself on the receiving end of several Vader Bombs. Eventually Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels ran into the ring to try and stop Vader, but by the time help arrived the damage had already been done. Within minutes Monsoon was taken by ambulance to a local hospital to have his injuries treated. With Monsoon out of commission the WWF has named “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as its new president!

[Eddy Guererro has made a smooth transition between ECW and WCW. He still maintains a lot of his AAA (Mexican) style, however.]

Former ECW champion Shane Douglas is back after a short and unsuccessful stint in the WWF. While in the WWF Douglas called himself “Dean'' Douglas and critiqued the other wrestlers’ performances in the ring. Although Douglas talked a good game, he just couldn’t produce in the WWF. Whether he will regain the form that made him a star in the WCW still remains to be seen. 

Henry Godwinn has brought his cousin Phinneas T. Godwinn to the WWF, and they are being managed by the original country boy, Hillbilly Jim. When Hillbilly Jim was going strong he had several family members with him yoo. Hillbilly’s family consisted of his Uncle Elmer, Cousin Junior and Cousin Luke. Old time fans will recall that Uncle Elmer was even married in center ring at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. But that wasn’t the first WWF wedding. That distinction goes to Butcher Vachon who got hitched on a Saturday Night Live segment during the glory days of WWF. The other WWF wedding was the marriage of Macho Man Randy Savage and his lovely valet, Miss Elizabeth, at SummerSlam in Madison Square Garden. Today, as we know, these two are back together again, but they are no longer married–as their marriage ended in a bitter divorce. 

[Bret Hart with belt. Will the Heartbreak Kid be his Wrestlemania opponent?]There has been quite a bit of talk in the wrestling world about the controversial “Billionaire Ted” skits with the “Huckster,” “The Nacho Man” and “Scam Gene” which have been appearing on the WWF telecasts. The skits poke fun at WCW Head Ted Turner and ex-WWF stars Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Savage, and Gene Okerlund. Actually the skits are very funny, but unfortunately WCW doesn’t think so. Now WCW has threatened the WWF with legal action if they continue  to air the “Billionaire Ted” skits. The war between WCW and the WWF has really heated up, and it’s obvious that the war is only going to intensify in nature in the next couple of months. That’s all for now. See you at ringside!

[zrtranscripts]

Season 10, Mission 6: Extinction

Dead as a Dodo

~

[splashing footsteps]

ZOE CRICK: Thanks for coming with me, Five. Sorry it’s all drizzly and muddy. You don’t mind me just calling you Five rather than Canton Five, do you? Well, obviously not. That’s what I’ve always called you. It’s only... Since Abel Five and all the rest went missing, people have started getting a bit emotional about it.

I know Amelia’s been running you ragged. She’s been running herself ragged, too. I’m not even at Abel, and nothing feels right with all of them gone. Amelia says she’s going to find them, and let’s be honest, she always gets what she wants. But this time just seems different.

Brent Valmont wasn’t who I expected to hear from when Phil and I opened up the lines for a call-in today. Amelia says he’s a terrible person, which is incredible, coming from Amelia. But I don’t see how telling us about a lost shipping container full of rare animals could be part of some nefarious plot.

So I thought you and I could pick them up, Five. If they’re cute, maybe we can bring them in for the kids in our mental health support group. And if they’re not cute... highly unlikely. They’d have to be hissing cockroaches or something. Whatever they are, it’s going to be better than those otters we tried. I don’t think Sam will ever forgive us for the mess they made of his hoodie collection. Although it’s his own fault for being so lazy with his laundry.

Oh God, I really miss them. Hold on. How is it that time? Valmont said he’d get someone to meet us at the beach five minutes ago. I hope it’s Jody. I barely get to see her, now she’s in charge of Abel. Come on, Five. Race you! Only don’t go too fast because I’m not actually a runner.

~

ZOE CRICK: Look, Five, up ahead, leaning against that half-rotten rowing boat on the beach. It isn’t Jody. Much too tall. Actually, I don’t recognize her at all, do you? Hello? Are you from Valmont?

SLAVA: Hello. Yes, I am. You must be Zoe. Mr. Valmont didn’t say you’d be bringing company.

ZOE CRICK: Oh, yes. This is Canton Five. Five, this is... Someone whose name I don’t know, sorry.

SLAVA: Miroslava. It’s Slava to my friends. Great to meet you, Five. And you, Zoe Crick, First Lady of the UK.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] First Lady? Wait. [sighs] Let me just enjoy picturing Amelia’s face if she heard that. There’s only room for one first in Amelia’s life, and that’s Amelia.

SLAVA: [laughs] You’re funny. Not what I was expecting. Not the way Mr. Valmont described.

ZOE CRICK: Oh. He told you about me, did he? I didn’t actually think he knew who I was until he contacted us earlier.

SLAVA: [laughs] Are you kidding? He calls you “Amelia’s little side piece.”

ZOE CRICK: Mm. Lovely.

SLAVA: Because you’re sleeping with his wife. They are still married, aren’t they?

ZOE CRICK: Yeah, I suppose. Technically. Amelia says a zombie apocalypse is as good as a divorce.

SLAVA: Come on. Let’s move. The shipping crate is that way.

ZOE CRICK: So uh, who exactly are you? I mean, what do you do for Valmont?

SLAVA: I’m his Chief Executive Operative.

ZOE CRICK: That’s one of those titles that could mean absolutely anything.

SLAVA: [laughs] You’re right! Come on. The shipping container is on a sand bar. When the tide comes in, whatever’s inside it will drown. Let’s run!

~

ZOE CRICK: There they are, Five. Look, they’re birds. Just two of them, waddling up and down the sand bar, looking distraught. The tide’s already coming in. We’ll need to wade to get to them.

[splashing footsteps]

SLAVA: They’re big. Must be 20, 25 kilo. I don’t recognize the breed.

ZOE CRICK: I think I do... but that would be ridiculous. [birds coo and honk] Five, look at those beaks. Are they – are they dodos?

SLAVA: I don’t see why not.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] Because they’re extinct! This is so weird. I mean, awesome, obviously. Look at their cute fluffy faces! But what on earth are two dodos doing in a shipping container off the British coast? Never mind. Let’s just catch them first. Move nice and slowly, Five. We don’t want to spook them. [water splashes, bird honks] Oh my God! Slava, look out!

SLAVA: [shouts] Get off me, you disgusting thing!

ZOE CRICK: One on the left, Five! It’s trying to headbutt Slava.

SLAVA: Thanks for the assist, Five! Now hold it still while - [bird honks] Dammit! It’s going for Zoe’s leg with its beak.

ZOE CRICK: With its massive beak! Massive and actually quite sharp.

SLAVA: We have to get away from them.

ZOE CRICK: Oh my God, they’re chasing after us. The one on the left looks literally murderous. Why did no one ever tell me dodos were this aggro?

SLAVA: Oh well. We tried.

ZOE CRICK: What are you talking about? We’re still going to rescue them, even if they are absolutely horrible. Maybe we can let them chase us back to New Canton, then we can get more runners to help us round them up?

SLAVA: The things you Brits waste resources on.

ZOE CRICK: Not an animal lover, then?

SLAVA: They’re all just meat on legs to me.

ZOE CRICK: If you try to eat one of my cats, I would have to kill you.

SLAVA: Don’t worry. Not enough flesh on the bone, barely a mouthful. Mr. Valmont always says, “Make sure the prey is worth the hunt.”

ZOE CRICK: Oh no. Zombies heading our way. They’re all rotted and waterlogged. The flesh is falling off in lumps. We need to steer the dodos away from them.

SLAVA: Okay. Let the dodos almost catch us, and... Uh, yes. That’s it. Now speed up, but curve your run towards those rocks.

ZOE CRICK: It’s working. They’re following us, and I know the caves up ahead. They should bring us out between Abel and Canton. Come on, Five!

~

SLAVA: Almost at the caves, now.

ZOE CRICK: The dodos are still following us. Also, the zoms.

SLAVA: Those birds are fast! Weren’t they supposed to be slow and docile?

ZOE CRICK: Yeah, but our records come from the colonizers who eventually killed them off. Hardly unbiased.

SLAVA: [chuckles] That’s the beauty of winning. You get to write the history. Come on, into the caves. We should be able to lose the zoms in here.

ZOE CRICK: Those zoms aren’t letting up. We can’t seem to shake them.

SLAVA: Sure we can! You see that pothole up ahead? Wide and very deep.

ZOE CRICK: You’re not thinking of a McShell?

SLAVA: When in Rome.

ZOE CRICK: But I thought you weren’t meant to do them in odd-numbered groups.

SLAVA: Every rule was made to be broken. I’ll take the left-hand passage, you and Five take the right. I’ll meet you at the exit nearest to New Canton. No time to argue. Here they come! Go, go, go!

~

[splashing footsteps]

ZOE CRICK: Slava? Slava?

SLAVA: [radio crackles] Zoe, Five?

ZOE CRICK: Maybe the rock’s blocking her signal. Hopefully she’s made it through. Can you see the dodos, Five? I should have made sure they were following us. These caves are pretty twisty and turny, but I think the exit we want is at the end of this passage. Oh, that’s not good. The way out’s blocked by a huge rock. [struggles] It won’t budge. But that can’t be right! Phil and Layla were down here rockpooling the other day. They never mentioned this!

[zombies growl]

Oh, brilliant! Some of the zoms must have evaded the McShell. Oh, I knew we shouldn’t have tried it in a three! You heard me say that, right, Five? [water pours] Jesus, and now the water’s rising! Phil said these caves flood fast at high tide. Why am I only remembering that now? No. I refuse to survive the zombie apocalypse only to drown to death a few miles from my own front door! There should be another way out further down. Come on, Five!

~

ZOE CRICK: Five, I’m sorry. Can you give me a hand over this rock? I can’t feel my feet anymore. The water’s up to my waist. Why won’t it stop rising? I’m so sorry, Five. What a ridiculous way to die, chasing after 50-pound extinct birds. 50-pound extinct birds with, it turns out, awful personalities. Amelia’s going to be furious. I think... I think I want to call her now.

AMELIA SPENS: [static] Zoe, for the last time, we are not dressing up as Jawas for Halloween! If we must go as Star Wars characters, I’ll be Kylo Ren and you can be General Hux.

[ZOE CRICK laughs]

AMELIA SPENS: What’s up? What’s the matter?

ZOE CRICK: Know how you said I should never go on missions because I’m so rubbish at them?

AMELIA SPENS: I do recall. Where are you?

ZOE CRICK: Caves. Sea caves. I’m with Five. They’re filling up with water really, really fast.

AMELIA SPENS: [sighs] Sea caves is dazzling nonspecific. Where, exactly?

ZOE CRICK: Oh, um... Wait. I filed a mission plan with Nadia like you always tell me to. She’ll have a map.

AMELIA SPENS: [shouts] Jules, get a snorkel team prepped now. Coordinate with Nadia, she’ll tell you where to send them. Tell them to take two extra oxygen tanks. My idiot girlfriend is trying to drown herself. Go, now!

ZOE CRICK: You never call me that.

AMELIA SPENS: You’ll need to be my girlfriend if I’m going to play the grieving widow. Oh no, hang on. Life partner’s better. My life partner tragically passed away while for some reason prancing around a water hazard with my chief runner. That should be worth a few points in the polls.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] Will you go into official mourning?

AMELIA SPENS: Black’s always suited me rather well, so yes. Zoe, why are you prancing around a water hazard rather than running a bath for me like I asked you to?

ZOE CRICK: You’re not allowed to be cross with me when I tell you.

AMELIA SPENS: I’m already cross with you!

ZOE CRICK: Dodos! I mean, we didn’t know it was dodos originally. Not that that would have made us any less likely to go. More likely, really.

AMELIA SPENS: Dodos?

ZOE CRICK: Valmont tipped us off about them.

AMELIA SPENS: Brent. Huh. Yes, I see. He would think it was funny, luring you to your death with an extinct animal.

ZOE CRICK: Can you... Can you tell Phil that I love him? I know I don’t say it enough, or really at all, but -

AMELIA SPENS: Zoe, stop being maudlin, you know I can’t abide it. I will get you out of this. [sighs] Five, you’re the professional, for heaven’s sake. Help her. We’ll be having words when you get back to New Canton.

ZOE CRICK: It’s not Five’s fault!

AMELIA SPENS: Save your breath. Just keep treading water, keep your arms and legs moving.

~

AMELIA SPENS: Five, Zoe, can you hear me? Zoe!

ZOE CRICK: I’m here. I’m here.

AMELIA SPENS: My scuba divers are 12 minutes out.

ZOE CRICK: Oh. Okay. So... How long after drowning can you resuscitate someone?

AMELIA SPENS: Up to 6 minutes.

ZOE CRICK: You were right. I’m such an idiot.

AMELIA SPENS: Don’t. This isn’t your fault. It’s mine! You’re only a target because of me. Sorry, Zoe.

ZOE CRICK: No. It’s all right. I always knew exactly what I was getting into with you, and I did it anyway!

AMELIA SPENS: More fool you.

ZOE CRICK: It’s been good though, hasn’t it?

AMELIA SPENS: I wouldn’t change a single minute, my darling. Except this one.

[explosion]

SLAVA: Zoe, Five?

AMELIA SPENS: What the hell was that?

ZOE CRICK: Slava, is that you? Amelia, the water’s draining. I think Slava’s blasted through the wall of the cave. We’ve got an escape route!

AMELIA SPENS: Who’s Slava when she’s at home?

ZOE CRICK: I’ve got to go. I’ll tell you when I get back. Amelia?

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, there you go. I knew you were making a big old fuss about nothing. I’ll see you both in New Canton. Expect a stern lecture! [radio clicks]

SLAVA: Zoe, Five, I’ve blown a hole in the cave wall. It’s about half a click down that tunnel. You need to get to it fast before the water refills.

~

[zombies growl]

SLAVA: Zoe, Five! Quick, into the Jeep before those zoms get you.

[door slams, engine revs]

ZOE CRICK: You’re a literal lifesaver. [bird squawks] Oh my God, and you got the dodos, too.

SLAVA: They found their own way out of the caves. Must have a better instinct for self-preservation than you.

ZOE CRICK: We thought you’d lost you there.

SLAVA: Ah, got turned around in the tunnels. Sorry for the radio silence. Guess my mic took a knock on the cave wall. I could still hear you, when you were uh, talking to Amelia. Used it as a locator beacon to find you.

ZOE CRICK: Oh, yeah. Um... I think I was losing it a bit.

SLAVA: It’s funny. Mr. Valmont says Amelia can’t possibly care about you at all, but that’s not true, is it?

ZOE CRICK: For certain definitions of “care.” When I first started seeing her, everyone thought I’d lost my mind. Especially Jody. Amelia framed her for murder once, and Jody’s never forgiven her. Which, to be fair, is pretty reasonable. But I suppose there must be a reason I’ve stayed with Amelia this long.

SLAVA: I like you, Zoe Crick. I think we should be friends. We can compare life lived in the shadow of great leaders.

ZOE CRICK: As long as you don’t mind me persuading you not to believe everything Valmont says.

SLAVA: [laughs] You can try. Come on. Let’s get you and Five back to New Canton. Amelia’s waiting.

~

[pbandjesse]

I had a pretty excellent day off. I wish I slept a little more when I took a nap this afternoon. But that's alright. It was still a really good day.

I slept okay. And let myself sleep in a bit.

When I got up I felt pretty fine. I decided to do some cleaning. I got dressed and kissed on Sweetp. I changed the kitty litter and vacuumed. I changed the sheets and the duvet cover. I felt very productive.

I had a snack and decided I would leave around 11 to go do all my shopping for the house. It was going to storm this afternoon so I thought I would leave a bit early.

I would drive out to Canton crossing. With some bursts of down pouring rain along the way. But I got out there before 11. Which was only bad because most of the stores didn't open until 11. Which I didn't realize. Oops.

So I went to target first. The carts were all wet. I had a funny interaction with a family, who commiserated about the wet carts but also that the first carts we tried also had broken wheels?? I changed it out and got a quiet, working cart. I got the cat food and litter and other things I needed form there. I felt bad when I picked up a bag of litter and it was torn and spilled everywhere. I found someone who worked there to let them know and they were like. Oh man. That happens so often. Annoying I'm sure.

I finished up in there pretty fast. I found most of the things I thought I would be able to get there. I paid and headed to the next place.

Ulta was next. They apparently don't have body shop lotion anymore so I got hemp brand. I had a coupon but then it was also 30% off so I got my $25 lotion for $8! I always use Jess's phone number at Ulta so apparently I have earned her $6 off too but I left that for her. Which msde her laugh when I texted her about it.

Five below was next. Where I got a bunch of candy, but I also found calico critters blind bags for me and Jess for next weekend when she comes to visit. And I got 4 soft side boxes for my cart in my studio. Exactly the size I needed.

I had a coupon for DSW and I tried to see if they had the flip flops. But no luck. That's alright. I left there and returned to the car.

I put everything away and drove to the other end of the shopping center. I went to the Nordstrom rack but it was a little overwhelming. No luck on flip flops there but they did have philosophy lotion, and I got the lemon cream which I love. So it wasn't a total loss.

I went next door and got kitty litter deodorizer and I got Sweetp a beautiful new collar. It's black velvet and has a gold ring detail and it is just so fancy! I will have to get a picture of it on him.

I decided on lunch next. There is a shake shack over there and I decided to use their drive through for the first time. Which felt weird! I got my mushroom burger and they had spicy cheese fries. I decided to bring all of it home.

I took a weird ways home and got back in about 15 minutes.

When I got home I struggled to carry everything up but I got it. And didn't drop anything but it was tough.

I put stuff away and set up to have my little lunch and the fries were super super spicy but also really really good. It was an excellent meal.

I got everything out away. Put the stuff for camp in a bag. And chilled in the AC.

I would lay down for an hour. But I think I only actually slept for a half hour. I woke up when I had a text that was important to answer right away. And then James and me decided they would tell me at 3 if they needed me to come get them because of the incoming storm.

They decided that they didn't want me to come. And would end up getting stuck in the thick of the storm. Which made me feel so guilty.

I would sit in the window and have some ice cream and watch the rain and wait for James to get home.

They were soaking wet when they got home. They would get changed and dried off. And I would chill on bed. I had lost all of my energy.

James had their DND game with their friends. And I would rest. I took a shower and Waheed my hair. Laid in bed so my hair could dry for a while. Eventually I would go sit on the floor in the studio and fill all the bears I made with polyfil. I'll get them sewn shut this week.

James would make me breakfast for dinner again. Which was great. And we would just hang out. And then coming to lay in bed. Which is where we are now.

Tomorrow James is coming to camp with me! They are going to help with the project and I am looking forward to their company. And we will leave early for my rhumatologist appointment. I hope it is a good day.

Sleep well everyone. I hope you are staying cool.

[wutbju]

Joseph Richard Buchanan, BJU Class of 1955.

Rev. J. Richard “Dick” (Grandpa) Buchanan, 90, of Shippensburg, passed away the evening of Sunday, August 18, 2024 at his home with his loving family by his side.

He was born on April 23, 1934 in Grove City, PA, a son of the late Albert Henry and Mary W. Headlee Buchanan. He married Mary V. Hawk on March 9, 1957.

Dick was a 1951 graduate of Evans City High School and a 1955 graduate of Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries.

Dick dedicated 60+ years as a Pastor with Rural Home Missionary Association, serving churches in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina, and South Dakota. Throughout those years, he was always supported by his home church, Sharon Baptist Church. For the past six years, Dick was an active member of the Chambersburg Alliance Church.

In addition to his wife of 67 years, Mary Buchanan, he is survived by four children, Vicki (David) Johnson of Taylors, SC, Steven (Rebecca) Buchanan of North Pole, AK, Melissa (late Harold) Watson of Gloucester, VA, and Julianna (Jeff) McCracken of Shippensburg; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three siblings, Larry (Mary Lee) Buchanan of Canton, OH, Peggy (Bob) Craig of El Paso, TX, and Kathy (Rolly) Pflug of Greer, SC; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Buchanan of Lakeview, NY and Tammy Buchanan of Heritage, PA.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Chambersburg Alliance Church, 230 Siloam Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Pastor Mike Garrison and Pastor Jeff McCracken will officiate.

A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the church. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Dick’s (Grandpa’s) family would like to express their sincere thanks to their church family and friends, from the many places he served, who visited, called, provided meals and prayed faithfully for him and the family during his time of illness.

The family also extends appreciation for the many compassionate and competent caregivers who made it possible for Dick to remain at home during the last months of his life.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rural Home Missionary Association, 310 E. Courtland St., Morton, IL 61550 or online here.

[jwood718]

Oh, poor Springfield, OH.

The story about the pets being eaten has a couple of germs: someone in Canton, OH was arrested for stomping a cat to death, while a woman in Springfield posted a fake story on Facebook about a cat being killed and hung from a tree. Then the Neo-Nazis got involved and everything went to hell, complete with "the great replacement theory" and bomb threats.

CantonRep.com's Nancy Molnar wrote about an incident in August of this year, when a woman was arrested after stomping a cat dead and (maybe?) eating part of it. The same woman was also arrested over 10 years ago and is not Haitian, and, y'know, she's in Canton (which is more than 140 miles away on the other side of the state).

The Haitians in Springfield were offered work permits and Temporary Protected Status because of the years-long strife in their island home country. Springfield's local Dole plant and an auto parts company both wanted for labor post-Covid lock-down, and the Haitians had been "trickling in" since 2017 -- so they seemed a likely population to invite in larger numbers. Essentially: factories needed workers, Haitians wanted to work, Springfield worked to make that happen.

As The Guardian's Stephen Starr writes, "the glut of new arrivals has also stretched hospitals and schools in the area, angering many locals who resented their presence. The outrage reached a crescendo last August, when an 11-year-old boy was thrown from a school bus and killed after its driver swerved to avoid an oncoming car driven by a Haitian immigrant ...Soon, rightwing extremists seized on Springfield’s unrest.

Armed neo-Nazi members of Blood Tribe...flew flags bearing swastikas and marched through a prominent downtown street while a jazz and blues festival was taking place nearby in August." Plus other asinine neo-Nazi stuff.

Then after the debates came the bomb threats. As Edward Helmore writes: "Two hospitals in Springfield, Ohio, were sent into lockdown after bomb threats, police said on Saturday, marking the fourth such case in as many days that appears linked to false claims circulating among the far right that Haitian immigrants there are eating domestic pets and wildlife."

Evacuations, searches (no bombs -- so far), frayed nerves, Haitians staying behind closed doors, Black Americans being threatened on the streets (apparently they look Haitian?) and then Helmore relates this convoluted tale:

"On Friday, a Springfield woman, Erika Lee, apologized for rumors about Haitian immigrants eating pets that resulted from a post she wrote on Facebook claiming that the friend of a neighbor’s daughter lost her cat – and then found the animal strung up outside the home of a Haitian family.

Lee now says she had no firsthand knowledge of the claim. The neighbor referenced in the post, Kimberly Newton, revealed that she also had heard the story from an acquaintance and not her daughter.

Lee said she was filled with regret and insists she never intended to put a target on the backs of the Haitian community.

'It just exploded into something I didn’t mean to happen,' Lee told NBC News on Friday."

And there may be the man in Columbus, OH, who was getting injured geese out of a roadway in that city who may have been misidentified as a hungry Haitian -- but anyway.

Plus, just icing on the cake, J.D. Vance says he just makes shit up to make a good campaign trail story!

"In a stunning admission, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, said he was willing 'to create stories' on the campaign trail while defending his spreading false, racist rumors of pets being abducted and eaten in a town in his home state of Ohio.

Vance’s remarks came during an appearance on Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, where he said he felt the need 'to create stories so that the … media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people'" as Helmore writes in a separate story.

Seems to me there are plenty of ways to highlight American people suffering that doesn't require making up shit about legal workers eating pets, but once the rumor mill starts churning, why not just keep it going?

[egcroofingandsiding]

EGC Roofing and Siding

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Address: 907 Spring Ave NE, Canton, OH 44704, USA Phone: 330-265-5573 Website: https://www.egcroofingandsiding.com

[the-firebird69]

This is a way of making people race and then you have someone in the middle and people harassing from the outside like they were doing to me and Canton Massachusetts Thomas O'Connor do a little about it and Trump and it came back on them and their guys were doing it but the max were behind them and it's this theory that you force them into a bigger team than a smaller one they're doing it here quite a bit and they're different shapes around me it's idiocy but it's not idiocy all over the place and knowing this was helpful but I noticed something I have not figured out completely but Elizabeth has. Olympus has not elizabeth. That there are different shapes for different album covers for different bands in other words you'd have a set of very famous rock and roll bands and each one of them has a major shape or two and something has different ones and Pink Floyd has different ones and led Zeppelin has different ones it's amazing so they communicate and it's probably indicative of the culture and area they're in this would be most likely former satellite nations Transylvania perhaps it's the occults and there's a lot of it there you see it in hell boy

-the major symbol on Jupiter is a circle inside a triangle a three-sided triangle in Plainview and plan view and it means to triangulate and attack the laser as a Target there's no way for them to really make that symbol appear I'm sort of can. And the possibly never might appear and may have seen something similar in cloud formations and I'm hearing that they did not I know it is true they have seen similar stuff but did not know it would be a triangle but probably sent it back they will try and triangulate this what's very odd is the size of the diamond might be seen through the nozzle

Zues oh yeah so it's big they say yeah that would be big very big and not the only one Hera

Well we're going to do is make sure he's right now we can hear it and we're going after them but this is a gigantic change these people are not used to people calling them out telling on them showing people what it is and a lot more so we need protections here these people are flimsy and we can go with it all the time

Olympus

[fortheloveofrunning]

The weather was nice this morning, in the mid-50s. It’s supposed to rain all day so I wanted to go before that started. Slow as always. Thinking of bumping up to 1.75 miles next jog, but we’ll see how I’m feeling I guess. 14 minute miles is pretty ridiculous but I’m trying to stop focusing on that right now. I just want to do the jog, it doesn’t have to be perfect or even good. I just have to go and get the exercise while I get used to the distance and routine of it all.

Season 10 Mission 6 spoilers

Narrowly escaped drowning and rescued some dodos! At least things are always interesting? #ZombiesRun

- Does no person with the number 5 in their name have the ability to speak??

- Oh great, you heard from Brent Valmont. Oh surely this is a normal and legit and not at all an attempt to kill or kidnap or otherwise terrorize you, a person who is important to Amelia.

- Oh. Zoe thought it might be Jody waiting for her. Shit she really doesn’t know Valmont’s got them all captive.

- “Slava to my friends” and then Zoe immediately calls her Slava

- Miraslava’s impression of Valmont is genuinely quite good. “Amelia’s little side piece”

- What are they doing in a shipping container off the coast? Obviously baiting you.

- “Make sure the prey is worth the hunt.” Oh gee I wonder what could be going on here, ZOE??? WHAT DO YOU THINK VALMONT IS DOING HERE???

- Who could have blocked the exit? Hmmm. what do you think, Zoe???????

- “Can you tell Phil that I love him? I know I don’t say it enough, or really at all.”

- I mean it’s not really Amelia’s fault, but like, it’s sweet that she acknowledges it as such.

- No don’t get in the damn jeep. Idiots.

- No she’s not a “literal life saver” she’s the one who intentionally put you in this very dangerous situation.

- “I could still hear you when you were talking to Amelia.” Oh great, now Valmont knows (in his own words) the prey is worth the hunt.

- Honestly, I genuinely thought they’d been kidnapped until I read the post-mission email.

Speaking of which: I guess it’s nice to hear from Nadia, even if it’s only in a written note. And did we know Canton 5 was one of the people who agreed to do the LARP thing? Lmao that’s so funny.

[celtfather]

The 3 S's: Songs, Stories, & Sustainability this Fall

Greetings Gunn Runners, 

The Fall 2023 season of Pub Songs & Stories will be back on Mon Aug 14 at 6 PM Eastern. So mark your calendar and of course subscribe if you haven't done so already. You can do that at PubSong.net

You will enjoy a live concert, some stories from my Celtic Invasion of County Mayo, Ireland. I will continue my series talking about sustainability in the music industry and what you can do to fight climate change. You'll hear music from musicians I find on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and beyond. We will look to the future to make things better. And of course, I will tell you the stories behind the songs I write and perform.

It's all on Pub Songs & Stories starting August 14. 

Oh! And if you want to support the new Kickstarter for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You'll find a link to that and more at pubsong.net. 

MUSIC IN THE PUB THIS WEEK

"Bright Side of Everything" by Marc Gunn from Selcouth

"Hero of Canton" by Marc Gunn from As Long As I'm Flyin'

Check out this episode!

[equallyshaw]

this time, next year - with luke hughes

Warnings: nothing.

Word Count: 2.6k +

← day six. surprise finale. →

────────────

you two had met when he came out to visit jack before the season started after he graduated from highschool. you had also just graduated, and was in new york with your best friend, her mom and your's for your present. you two had been walking into the coffee bar at the hotel in manhattan when you guys bumped into one another. you nearly fell on your butt, but the strong, tall and lanky dude instantly out of reflex, grabbed your arm before you lost your balance. your best friend sasha, stood to your side and gawked. who was this cutie and how did he do that so fast? jack and quinn were with him, and smiled at their younger brother was instantly smitten. throughout both of their stays, they met up a ton at the hotel pool and restaurant with their family that they were with. you revealed that you'd be coming to new jersey in the fall to study Exercise Science and Kinesiology just like luke would be at the U of M. the two of you immediatley clicked, exchanging numbers and social media accounts. then your trip was over, before their's and you made your way back to boston where you and your best friend was from.

fast forward to christmas 2022, two years after they began to date long distance. you would drive or take the train to meet him at away games with sasha and your other friends. you two would meet up in michigan, new york, boston or the hughes lake house for various breaks; before the lake house was sold. you brought out the very best in luke, and vice versa. you brought him out of his comfort zone, no longer the shy hughes boy around people. the two of you were very smitten with one another but these past few months after the last time you saw one another in late august; was difficult. the two of you constantly bickering, going days without texting or facetiming. using academics, prior commitments and other things as different excuses. everything was just 'off'. both of your friend groups together and just as themselves, realized that you two were going through a rough patch. they knew you two loved one another, but it just all became too much all of a sudden. nothing was working, and collectively the friend group agreed - without telling the couple - that they thought they should take a break. they needed one, and at the very least they'd realize if they truly wanted to make the relationship work or not. hoping that this break, could solitidify the relationship and help them realize if they wanted to fight or not. because recently, they were exhausted and frankly over it.

you were in michigan at the hughes house in canton, one day before luke would be leaving, before he was heading off to nova scotia for iihf world jrs. you two were in the car, after getting dunkin and had just gotten into another argument. it was stupid and so blown out of proportion. but you two, knew that this dynamic was not working anymore. you two were oh so done with it, exhausted from fighting, exhausted from not coming to compromises or agreemants. for the first time since things started to go downhill, you were done. you looked at luke as you two sat in the drive way of his house. his hands finally unclasped the steering wheel, his knuckles no longer crimson white. you pulled some hair behind your ear and sighed, alerting luke. tears pooled your eyes as you looked over at him, and just by that expression; he knew. "i ca-can't keep doing this luke. i can't keep dreading every conversation we have, because i fear that it will just turn into an argument. i can't keep going back and fourth over nothing. i can't keep going days without hearing from you, and thinking that we are done. that you are just going to slip silently out of my life. i can't keep hoping for something that doesn't amount to anything." you sobbed, both of your hearts breaking.

luke sat their silently, looked down at his hands and stared. he couldn't look at you without crying. "i can't sleep, i can barely eat, ive been constantly getting sick the past few months. i i just am done, luke. im sorry." you confessed hunching over covering your face, and crying. your sobs broke his heart, and nodded in understanding. luke placed a hand on your back, rubbing it up and down, trying to comfort you. and then in a split second, you were in his arms as you both cried. you knew this was the end for the time being, for the near future. "i wanna say that there is hope for us but everday i wake up and don't feel hopeful anymore. and i can no longer force it." luke started, "i don't know if i can anymore. trying to force something that isn't their anymore. i love you so much y/n but i think we need some space for awhile. especially with me leaving after the season, i think it's time we step back for a bit." luke explained, and you nodded. you agreed wholeheartedly. the following few hours were spent in securing a last minute flight, now that you were no longer traveling to nova scotia with his parents. you were leaving that evening for boston, and soon enough you were at the airport.

you sat next tp luke as the two of you said your goodbyes, atleast for a year. luke much to his dismay, agreed that it would be best to wait until he was in new jersey full time to continue your relationship. he placed his hands gently on your face, "i love you so much y/n but am prepared to let you go, ok? i cant promise our future or your future, i can't say that we will be together in a year but please don't wait for me. please try to move on in some way, and i will try to do the same." luke said with tears streaming down his cheeks. you nodded, wiping your own. "i will, i promise." you said as your voice cracked, breaking both of your hearts. "i love you lukey i love you so much." you said before kissing with much passion and sorrow. you two pulled apart, resting eachothers forheads against one another's for a few seconds before you pulled apart. you sniffled, wiping your nose and hopped out. luke sat their looking out through the windshield, as you grabbed your suitcases and carry on. he watched as your dropped your bags off at the baggage check. that was the last time for a year, he'd be seeing you. it took him a minute and a traffic guy to yell at him through the window for him to drive off. he no longer saw your hair, or your bags. knowing you were gone from his life for the time being.

this time, next year - hopefully.

luke's first season in new jersey.

your family was staying at soho house in new york city, a 30 minute drive from newark where the hughes brother lived. your family was celebrating this year in new york, something the family hadn't done for years. there was something special about christmas in new york, especially when you had somebody to share it with. you smiled up at harrison her boyfriend of 8 months. his family being natives of the city, invited them over for christmas eve once they heard their plans to spend the week in nyc. harrison and her were currently in front of macys storefront, looking at the christmas windows and walking all over manhattan. popping in to different stores, all over downtown new york. they walked into ralphs coffee after walking from saks fifth avenue, down the street. they were standing in line to place their order as luke noticed a familiar laugh in the cafe. he instantly began to look around, and at long last, his eyes laid on you. jack finally caught on to where he was staring, and saw you. his eyes went wide, hitting luke in the chest. "ow, what was that for?" luke demanded shooting a glare at his older brother. "its y/n!!!" jack said freaking out, which luke rolled his eyes. "she's not alone." jack added quickly, and the family that included ellen, jim and quinn looked over at the same time. you felt eyes on you, looked past harrison and saw the family that you once though of as your own. your breath stalled in your chest, before you looked at harrison and shifted a bit, so he was now blocking you from their view.

you took ahold of harrison's hand, leaned up and pecked him. he smiled, wrapping his arms around your lower back, placed a quick kiss on your head before releasing you from his arms. "should we head over to the hotel next?" you questioned, and he nodded. you two ordered your usuals, and then moved over to look at merchandise waiting for your coffee. thankfully the coffee shop was next to the parking garage that you two had parked in and so it gave you a few minutes to linger in ralph lauren before harrison pulled the car up. you were looking at men's suit ties, hoping to find one last gift for harrison. you felt a familiar presence near you, and you looked up and jack and luke in the next aisle whispering rapidly. you sighed, walking off into another section hoping they would not follow. "y/n?" you heard luke from beside you. you looked up from the men's accessories, and took in all 6'2 of him. you swallowed nervously, before looking away. you adjusted your purse and bags, before feeling your phone ding with a text from harrison. "wait, y/n!" luke said as you were about to walk off. you stopped instantly, and slowly turned around to luke. you said a silent plea in his eyes, and you nodded already knowing what he was gonna say or ask. "little owl, tonight, 7:30 pm." was all you said before walking off.

once you got in the car, harrison grabbed your hand and put them in the middle console, and you smiled softly as you drove off towards the hotel.

it was now 7:30 pm, and you had just sat down and waited for luke. luke appeared in the small pub style restaurant and looked for you. he found you and made his way over. you stood up and he leaned over and hugged you. you didn't realized how much you missed the familiar wamrth, scent and now much stronger arms. he sat down across from you, and the waitress came up and asked for drink orders. you two ordered your usuals and a charcuterie board. you both felt comfortable right off the bat again, like it was only yesterday you two had been together. "how's school?" he questioned as you skimmed the menu, you looked up catching his eye. you looked back at the menu, blushing. "its good, going to be graduating early this year." you admitted and luke smiled. "you always were a smart cookie." he grinned, and you smiled. "yeah, uh thanks." you said shyly. "hows the season going?" you questioned, sipping the arnold palmer that was set down. he smiled widely, "its going great. awesome, really. having jack there has been amazing too." he said and you could feel the immesnse love and passion for his game, just by him being there. it was his aura, that lit up brighter than last time you saw him. "good good. " you smiled. luke cut right to the chase, "you moved on right? thats your boyfriend?" he asked. you nodded, anxiety rising. "yeah..harrison. he goes to nyu and is a finance major. we've been dating since april." you confessed. luke nodded looking down, "but i- i haven't fully moved on luke." you added and luke looked up with hope seaping through his eyes. "at the beginning he knew that he was simply a distraction a rebound, but obviously things have changed. things are different." you paused sipping your drink, "but that doesnt really change things." you sighed. luke felt hopeful. "have you moved on?" you questioned and he shook his head. you nodded, feeling like an ass. "dont feel bad, i just didnt meet anybody that i wanted to pursue something with." he now paused sipping his drink, "because i didnt want to move on from you and what we had. i haven't stopped loving you." he said place his hand near yours, and you looked down at it. in a split second, you took ahold of his. "i haven't either." you two said both now, on the brink of crying. "i havent moved on, i cant. i dont want to." you said sniffling. thankgod for this low lighting, making this moment a bit more intimate.

3rd pov.

the two spent the evening catching up, planning for when she could come visit newark and getting the families together for christmas. now she just needed to break up with harrison and that terrified her. luke pulled up to harrison's apartment in west village, and you sighed with nerves radiating through your body. "ill be here okay?" he confirmed and she nodded, and he gave her one last hang squeeze before she got out. she nodded and got out, and walked out towards the front door of the building.

she now stood face to face with harrison, knowing she lied to him. he had ended up in the same restaurant as her family and they thought that she was with him and vice versa. that's when her sister realized the promise from last christmas, and she said something along the lines of potentially meeting up with luke. "don't lie to me y/n." harisson demanded and she shuddered. she then shrugged, "its true. i did see my ex or i guess my boyfriend. i guess we really never broke up for good...." the girl trailed off mumbling to herself. "listen, dont even try to explain yourself or defend. just leave, ill send you stuff to your apartment." harrison said, leaving the room. she swallowed, making her way out of the apartment. and never looked back.

she and luke walked hand in hand in downtown westfield, which was 30 minutes outside of newark. luke and jack had found this area when looking for coffee one day and had come back during the fall. it was christmas morning and the two were heading to go find some coffee, before heading back to newark where his family plus hers would be celebrating the holiday. once the families had realized the two were back together; they without hesitant got together for christmas eve dinner, and caught up like old times. the two of them clearly smitten, and in their own world at dinner. it was like things had never changed

the two of them walked out the coffee shop hand in hand, as light snow began to fall. the young girl smiled up at the sky and swung their hands. luke smiled down at her, she was giddy as a kid. y/n looked at him and the two of them stopped, got closer so they were now chest to chest. "i love you lukey."she smiled inching her face closer to his. he smirked, "i love you too y/n/n." he stated placing his lips on hers. she smiled into the kiss, wrapping her arms around him, and spun her around. her giggling was intoxicating.

•

@lhughes_6: hanukah came late this year, but the wait was worth it 🙏🏻

Location: sohonewyork

Tag: y/username

45.9k likes, comments disabled.

|||

@y/username: happy holidays from me and mine. 🤍

Tag: @lhughes_6

2.9k likes, commenrs disabled.

—

hope you guys enjoyed !!!!!

RANDOM tag: @jayda12 , @huggybug , @hugheshugs @mack-samo and @sillingers