#So boom the overload is my opportunity

[askamnesiamoonjumper]

aau rework version of the overload/boss fight where it actually has consequences and bearing on the character dynamics save me,, save me aau rework,,,,

[puck-bunnies]

wet dreams

luke hughes x fem!reader

warnings: nsfw 18+, unprotected sex (p in v), dirty talk, not proof read, blurb

word count: 913

going to bed needy leaves your mind to run wild, finding another way to let your dirty mind please you. your body secretly begging for your wet dreams to become reality.

i’m sorry for not writing for like a whole month. my bad. i’m going to try to write more again, i promise.

his uneven thrusts makes my insides shutter, harsh moans spilling out of my mouth. the only sounds in the room are me and luke’s moans mixing with the sound of our slapping skin. his hands gripping my hips harshly to keep me in place, my one leg propped up on his shoulder to let him reach untouchable places.

my walls clench around his thick cock, feeling every vein, bump and curve of him. the pleasure building up in my body, head having to roll back on the pillow exposing my neck. luke takes the opportunity to press his lips to my neck, harshly sucking and nipping at my sensitive skin.

whimpers and soft moans release from my mouth, my back arching off of the soft mattress beneath me. “look at you, taking my cock like a good girl.” he grumbles at me. his words send a shock through me, a loud groan entering the air.

my eyes roll back into my head as luke’s tongue dragging a line across my collarbone, sucking a harsh hickey onto me. he twists his hips, giving him a new angle to thrust into me from. “oh fuck, right there.” i scream out.

he smirks against my skin, pressing one soft kiss onto my neck. i can feel my stomach tighten, the familiar coming up of my orgasm making my moans turn louder. “you like that, pretty girl?” he snarls at me.

i can’t even form a response, the only thing that comes out are heavy breaths and incoherent moans. luke can tell my signs of my orgasms, moving one of his hands to my clit, rubbing harsh circles around my sensitive bud.

the new found pleasure causing my body to go on overload, my fingers digging into the mattress by my sides, trying to release some of the tension running through my body.

luke’s tip hits spots that i’ve never been able to touch, my hole clenching around with every sloppy thrust of his hips earning a soft groan into my ear. the pads of my fingers slowly run up his flexing arms, sliding my hands into his rough curls and giving them a short tug.

my orgasm comes closer, my hips buckling and moans doubling in volume. “i’m, i’m so close luke.” i gasp out. luke’s lips lift from their spot on my neck, his eyes looking down on mine. beads of sweat running down his forehead leaving his loose curls to sick to his skin. i brush my nails through his hair, loosening them.

the knot in my stomach tightens causing my eyes to wire shut. luke’s thrusts slow, “you’re going to have to look at me if you want to cum.” i quickly comply, his hips not rocking makes my nerves heat up, my gut wrenching as it chases my orgasm.

my eyes meet back with his as his lips curl into a proud smirk. hips starting to move against mine with one hard stroke, bottoming me out as my toes curl above his head. “that wasn’t so hard, was it baby?” luke breathlessly spits at me.

i can’t even warn him that i’m about to finish, not being able to hold myself from releasing all over his pumping cock. my loud moans of his name booming throughout the bedroom, feeding in his hips to go harder.

my orgasm makes my chest heave, luke eyes drip down to my liquids starting to spill down myself. with a few more deep and hard thrusts, luke follows me with an orgasm of his own. his arms softly shaking beside my head as he tries to hold up his own body weight to not collapse on me.

luke’s mouth opens to talk, as my brain fogs out of the dream. my eyes opening up to the bright light peaking through the blinds of my room. i let out a deep groan as i realize my much needed orgasm was only a distant dream.

stretching my bones and muscles out from my sleep, my thighs grind together, realizing the wetness that pools above my panties. i move my head up to see my boyfriend with his blown out eyes, their so wide that look like they’re about to pop out of his skull.

a blush beats onto my cheeks, heart pumping quickly as my drowsiness slips away. “what?” i question innocently, secretly praying that he doesn’t know what i do.

“what were you dreaming about?” is all he responds. my stomach drops into a pit as i realize he knows the wet dream i just indulged in.

“nothing.” i lie to try to get out of the embarrassment moment.

a smirk lines on his face, “is that why you were moaning out my name and grinding against a pillow?” he can’t help but let out a little laugh, and i can’t help but join him.

“i’m sorry.” the rose stays on my face, butterflies flying throughout my stomach.

luke’s hands grip my hips, pulling me closer to his body. “no need to apologize baby.” his hands running up the back of my oversized shirt, wincing as his cold hands rub against my hot skin.

“how about you tell me what happens in these dreams, maybe i can make them come true.” he whispers into my ear, goosebumps forming on my skin and tingles running up my spine. my wetness pooling between my thighs as i clench them together to gain friction for my needy pussy.

[apoemaday]

The Hurting Kind

by Ada Limón

1.

On the plane I have a dream I’ve left half my torso on the back porch with my beloved. I have to go

back for it, but it’s too late, I’m flying and there’s only half of me.

Back in Texas, the flowers I’ve left on the counter have wilted and knocked over the glass— I stay alone there so the flowers are more than flowers.

At the funeral parlor with my mother, we are holding her father’s suit, and she says, He’ll swim in these.

For a moment, I’m not sure what she means, until I realize she means the clothes are too big.

I go with her like a shield in case they try to up-sell her— the ornate urn, the elaborate body box.

It is a nice bathroom in the funeral parlor, so I take the opportunity to change my tampon.

When I come out my mother says, Did you have to change your tampon?

And it seems a vulgar life all at once. Or not vulgar, but not simple.

I’m driving her now to the Hillside Cemetery where we meet with Rosie who is so nice we want her to work everywhere. Rosie as my dentist. Rosie as my president.

My shards are showing, I think. But I do not know what I mean so I fix my face in the rearview, a face with thousands of headstones behind it. Minuscule flags, plastic flowers.

You can’t sum it up, my mother says as we are driving and the electronic voice repeats, Turn Left onto Wildwood Canyon Road,

so I turn left, happy for the mundane instructions. Let us robot at once.

Tell me where to go. Tell me how to get there.

She means a life, of course. You cannot sum it up.

2.

A famous poet said he never wanted to hear another poem about a grandmother or a grandfather.

I imagine him with piles of faded yolk-colored paper, overloaded with loops of swooping cursive, anemic lyrics

misspelling mourning and morning. But also, before they arrive, there’s a desperate hand scribbling a memory, following

the cat of imagination into each room. What is lineage, if not a gold thread of pride and guilt. She did what?

Once, when I thought I had decided not to have children, a woman said, But who are you to kill your own bloodline?

I told my friend D that and she said, What if you want to kill your own bloodline, kill like it’s your job?

In the myth of La Llorona, she drowns her children to destroy her cheating husband. But maybe she was just tired.

After her husband of 76 years has died, my grandmother, (yes, I said it, grandmother, grandmother) leans to me and says,

Now teach me poetry.

3.

Sticky packs of photographs heteromaniacal postcards.

The war.      The war.        The war. Bikini girls, tight curls, the word gams.

Land boom. Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe. Southern Pacific.

We ask my Grandma Allamay about her mother for a form.

Records and wills. Evidence of life. For a moment she can’t remember her mother’s maiden name.

She says, Just tell them she never wanted me. That should be enough.

“Red sadness is the secret one,” writes Ruefle. Redlands

was named after the soil. Allamay can still hold a peach in her hand

and judge its number by its size. Tell you where it would go in the box

if you’re packing peaches for a living. Which she did,

though she hated the way the hairs hurt her hands.

4.

Why do we quickly dismiss our ancient ones? Before our phones stole the light of our faces, shiny and blue in the televised night,

our elders worked farms and butchered and trapped animals and swept houses and returned to each other after long hours and told stories.

In order for someone to be “good” do they have to have seen the full tilt world? Must they believe what we believe?

My grandmother keeps a picture of her president in the top drawer of her dresser, and once when she was delusional she dreamt

he had sent her and my grandfather on a trip to Italy.  He paid for it all, she kept repeating.

That same night on her ride to the hospital, she talks to the medical technician and says,

All my grandchildren are Mexican.

She says it proudly. She repeats it to me on the phone

5.

Once, a long time ago, we sat in the carport of my grandparents’ house in Redlands, now stolen for eminent  domain,

now the hospital parking lot, no more coyotes or caves where the coyotes would live. Or the grandfather clock

in the house my grandfather built. The porch above the orchard. All gone.

We sat in the carport and watched the longest snake I’d ever seen undulate between the hanging succulents.

They told me not to worry, that the snake had a name,

the snake was called a California King,

glossy black with yellow stripes like wonders wrapping around him.

My grandparents, my ancestors, told me never to kill a California King, benevolent

as they were, equanimous like earth or sky, not

toothy like the dog Chacho who barked at nearly every train whistle or roadrunner.

Before my grandfather died, I asked him what sort of horse he had growing up. He said,

Just a horse. My horse, with such a tenderness it rubbed the bones in the ribs all wrong.

I have always been too sensitive, a weeper from a long line of weepers.

I am the hurting kind. I keep searching for proof.

My grandfather carried that snake to the cactus, where all sharp things could stay safe.

6.

You can’t sum it up. A life.

I feel it moving through me, that snake, his horse Midge sturdy and nothing special,

traveling the canyons and the tumbleweeds hunting for rabbits before the war.

My grandmother picking peaches. Stealing the fruit from the orchards as she walked

home. No one said it was my job to remember.

I took no notes though I’ve stared too long. My grandfather, before he died, would have told

anyone that would listen, that he was ordinary,

that his life was a good one, simple, he could never understand why anyone would want to write

it down. He would tell you straight up he wasn’t brave. And my grandmother would tell you right now

that he is busy getting the house ready for her. Visiting now each night and even doing the vacuuming.

I imagine she’s right. It goes on and on, their story. They met in first grade in a one room school house,

I could have started there, but their story, their story is endless and ongoing. All of this

is a conjuring. I will not stop this reporting of attachments. There is evidence everywhere.

There’s a tree over his grave now, and soon her grave too

though she is tough and says, If I ever die,

which is marvelous and maybe why she’s still alive.

I see the tree above the grave and think, I’m wearing

my heart on my leaves. My heart on my leaves.

Love ends. But what if it doesn’t?

[isleofgont]

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón

1.

On the plane I have a dream I’ve left half my torso on the back porch with my beloved. I have to go

back for it, but it’s too late, I’m flying and there’s only half of me.

Back in Texas, the flowers I’ve left on the counter have wilted and knocked over the glass— I stay alone there so the flowers are more than flowers.

At the funeral parlor with my mother, we are holding her father’s suit, and she says, He’ll swim in these.

For a moment, I’m not sure what she means, until I realize she means the clothes are too big.

I go with her like a shield in case they try to up-sell her— the ornate urn, the elaborate body box.

It is a nice bathroom in the funeral parlor, so I take the opportunity to change my tampon.

When I come out my mother says, Did you have to change your tampon?

And it seems a vulgar life all at once. Or not vulgar, but not simple.

I’m driving her now to the Hillside Cemetery where we meet with Rosie who is so nice we want her to work everywhere. Rosie as my dentist. Rosie as my president.

My shards are showing, I think. But I do not know what I mean so I fix my face in the rearview, a face with thousands of headstones behind it. Minuscule flags, plastic flowers.

You can’t sum it up, my mother says as we are driving and the electronic voice repeats, Turn Left onto Wildwood Canyon Road,

so I turn left, happy for the mundane instructions. Let us robot at once.

Tell me where to go. Tell me how to get there.

She means a life, of course. You cannot sum it up.

2.

A famous poet said he never wanted to hear another poem about a grandmother or a grandfather.

I imagine him with piles of faded yolk-colored paper, overloaded with loops of swooping cursive, anemic lyrics

misspelling mourning and morning. But also, before they arrive, there’s a desperate hand scribbling a memory, following

the cat of imagination into each room. What is lineage, if not a gold thread of pride and guilt. She did what?

Once, when I thought I had decided not to have children, a woman said, But who are you to kill your own bloodline?

I told my friend D that and she said, What if you want to kill your own bloodline, kill like it’s your job?

In the myth of La Llorona, she drowns her children to destroy her cheating husband. But maybe she was just tired.

After her husband of 76 years has died, my grandmother, (yes, I said it, grandmother, grandmother) leans to me and says,

Now teach me poetry.

3.

Sticky packs of photographs heteromaniacal postcards.

The war.      The war.        The war. Bikini girls, tight curls, the word gams.

Land boom. Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe. Southern Pacific.

We ask my Grandma Allamay about her mother for a form.

Records and wills. Evidence of life. For a moment she can’t remember her mother’s maiden name.

She says, Just tell them she never wanted me. That should be enough.

“Red sadness is the secret one,” writes Ruefle. Redlands

was named after the soil. Allamay can still hold a peach in her hand

and judge its number by its size. Tell you where it would go in the box

if you’re packing peaches for a living. Which she did,

though she hated the way the hairs hurt her hands.

4.

Why do we quickly dismiss our ancient ones? Before our phones stole the light of our faces, shiny and blue in the televised night,

our elders worked farms and butchered and trapped animals and swept houses and returned to each other after long hours and told stories.

In order for someone to be “good” do they have to have seen the full tilt world? Must they believe what we believe?

My grandmother keeps a picture of her president in the top drawer of her dresser, and once when she was delusional she dreamt

he had sent her and my grandfather on a trip to Italy.  He paid for it all, she kept repeating.

That same night on her ride to the hospital, she talks to the medical technician and says,

All my grandchildren are Mexican.

[ninjakasuga]

Sonsally Celebration Week, Year 3, Day Four!

Sonally Celebration Week, Year 3, Day Four!

Another day of Sonsally Week, unlike the last few entries, this is where I break linearity and go travel back to a prior period in the timeline. When the prompt of ‘Power’ was shown my mind of course went to the Super-Forms, the Deep Power Stones, and the like. Yet also my mind went back to some fanart from last year about a certain someone I would have loved to have seen share a Super Form with Sonic… Y’all can see where this is going.~

Forward: Timeline wise, this is 9-10yrs before Crossroads; the last battle of the war with Dr. Eggman. I admit I’m once again sprinkling tidbits from my still WIP Archie-Sonic-Verse that has yet to be published, but I think the easter eggs and hints of things yet to be seen will be fun for the reader.

Power:

“Sal, are you flipping insane?!” Cried Sonic as he stared Sally down at her suggestion. “You want to use the Deep Power Stones to amplify our Super Forms? What about all that ‘overload potential’ nonsense?!”

Standing beside Sonic, one eye on the half of the Deep Power Stone in her hand, the other on the approaching Egg Armada. A legion of robots, ships, and what other mechanical horrors Eggman had left to try and quash them all for good. With the world-wide alliances winning victory, after victory, Eggman grew desperate and now was throwing everything he had at them in a ‘If I can’t have it no one will!’ tantrum of a scorched world move. Basically it was done to the wire, and now they were as desperate as Eggman.

Her grip tightened on the stone, that madman would not have the last laugh. He wouldn’t end their world as he did the Mobius he came from! “It’s something I was thinking about for awhile, Sonic. We’ve seen what the stones can do just augmenting the individuals who bring the stones together. If we bring that kind of augmentation to the Super Forms? We have the Master Emerald already channeling to empower the Seven Chaos Emeralds, imagine channeling the Stones through it to the Emeralds and the Power Rings. All of you could not just have a greater power boost, but potentially the forms will last longer, long enough to wreck most if not all of the Egg Armada and put an end to this war for good!”

“It might work…” Murmured Tails, standing on the other side to Sally. “Channeling the Stones' power through the Master Emerald, which itself is a beacon and conduit for the Seven Servers…” He began to murmur as his brain went over the numbers and possible calculations. As the two-tailed fox finished his thoughts, he turned to the Guardian of Angel Island, wanting his thoughts. “The Master Emerald is your expertise Knuckles, you think it will work?”

The red-furred Guardian furrowed his brow as he contemplated this. “Maybe, I admit while my communion with Tikal or my Great Grandfather has given me greater insight to the mystical aspects of the Master Emerald, I’m still a novice truth be told.” He sighed, looking apologetic. “Sadly I know more of the scientific side of things given the Brotherhood’s data mostly focuses around that. Even my Father’s old notes are more historical musings than proven theory.” He sighed again, mentally cursing his forebears for yet another aspect of oversight the Brotherhood neglected during their long tenure of guarding Angel Island. Then again, save for the Lost Tribe, it would seem most of the old mystic arts were lost to the Echidna of today, what few were left. “Given we’ve found many connections to the old mystical artifacts of the world, there’s a good chance they’ll work together as Sally thinks.”

A low growl-like ‘hmm’ punctuated the air, before a stern voice interjected aloud. “Or it will overload the Emerald, destroy it, and fry all of us, or potentially create a super-bomb.” Shadow stated with arms crossed, and looking pensive. As all looked his way, he spoke on. “I’m not saying we ditch the idea, but it’s something to consider. I have a vow to protect this world to uphold, as well as too many I care about to let them die.” His thoughts dwelled on Rouge, Omega, and Hope especially. His other comrades within G.U.N. and the Thorndyke Labs. Even of those here, despite any past animosity, he wanted them and their loved ones to equally live. They all had family, and friends to protect. 

The last member of the group, his expression uneasy, yet a deep resolve in his eyes looked about his comrades, and then the horizon as their enemy continued to fly toward them. “We don’t really have a choice do we? This is the last chance, for all of you, as well as the Future I want to prevent from coming to pass.” Clenching his fists, Silver felt his powers hum through his being. It had been a long journey, and one not without many hurdles. From his bungling to interpret data from then Future, and its founding in the past, to dealing with the truths of his own ‘Master’ and the struggle of wondering if he was truly a pawn to bring about ‘his’ world versus a world for everyone to be happy. In the end he was wiser, more experienced and ever resolute to ensure the dark future never came to pass. All other obstacles save Eggman had been dealt with. This was the final hour. “So, save for Sonic we’re all in agreement?”

Hands on his hips, Sonic frowned deeply, looking rather indignant. “Hey, hey! I never said scrap the plan, I was just pointing out how before everyone kept yammering about doing something stupid with the Stones. Given either configuration usage done wrong could lead to KAB-BOOM! Jus’ pointing that out!” Eyeing everyone, his gaze rested on Sally, those deep blue pools that always sucked him in. Reaching for her hand, he wrapped his hand over hers, their wedding rings shining in the sun together. “You think this is our best bet, Sal? If you’re really onboard, so’m I.”

In truth, Sally did share the same concerns as Sonic and everyone else. She knew even using just the ‘boost’ augment which so far had been the safest, could lead to disaster as much as the other configuration which always ended destructively. Plus this would be the last time they could use them. As per Merlin Prower’s warning, the Deep Power Stones could be used a handful of times, and the mystic had given them warning they were on their last usage. This was due to a special magical limiter the Neo-Walkers put on the Stones, halving their ability so the Freedom Fighters and their allies could have an edge. However with the last use, the limiter was off, and so it was full power, and potentially the best opportunity for the worst case scenario. After this the Stones would vanish for another millennia until they were recharged and reappear randomly about the planet again.

Yet as Silver pointed out, what choice did they really have? Eggman was going all out; and thus, their hands were tied. “It’s the best shot we have. G.U.N.’s mechanized forces are exhausted and what isn’t in the repair bay is out fighting the forces encroaching their borders. None of the rest of the allied nations have any armies big enough to fight this horde. We can’t call for help from Blaze or any other friends from other dimensions because the Zone Cops sealed all dimension travel to Mobius Prime to prevent Eggman from escaping. This, this, is all we can do.” Her resolve sounded unshakable, despite her internal doubt, she had to sound resolute. Matching her gaze with Sonic, she managed a grin as she laced her fingers with his. “Let’s do-it-to-it, gang!”

Smiles formed about at the catch-phrase that was so infectious even Shadow was sucked in. One by one, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow and Silver joined in placing their hands over each other, forming a lock. “Let’s do-it-to-it! They all cried, before breaking to get into place. While Sally stood by the Master Emerald with Knuckles, the others began to loop around the Master Emerald, each linking their hands together. From Shadow to Silver, to Tails, to Sonic. Instead of holding Knuckles’ hand, Sonic placed his own on the Echidna’s shoulder. Knuckles did the same with Sally, while his free hand touched the Master Emerald. Sally held the Deep Power Stones in each hand, waiting for the right moment to place them together. Craning her head to Knuckles she nodded, and he nodded back, his gaze shifting to the large emerald his bloodline made their mission to protect along with Angel Island itself (well Echidna population for them, Knuckles was out to protect everyone).

“The servers are the Seven Chaos… Chaos is power, enriched by the heart… The controller exists to unify the chaos!” As he started the chant, he briefly saw a flash of Tikal within the Master Emerald, smiling at them all. This allowed Knuckles to smile, but he didn’t let this distract him. “We who are blessed by the Chaos, beseech to wield your power and wisdom, to save the planet and the innocent lives that dwell upon it. Let us be the Guardians of Mobius, of the Chaos, and the Light of Gaia!”

“We will gladly give our lives if you can let us protect all we love, please help us.” Murmured Sally, interjecting her own addition once Knuckles’ incantation chant was finished. Staring at the two halves of the stones, Sally placed them together, the halves flashed as they became one. An intense glow emanating from the black object that soon blinded them all. A bright, green glow from the Master Emerald broke through the white, with the gathered Power Rings (including Sonic’s Billionth Special Ring) all giving off a golden glow as the colors mingled together. A pillar of the mingled colors erupts from the Master Emerald’s resting place, shooting up, and up into space as the island is bathed in its warm glow.

Tails was the first to regain his sight, and once the relief they did not explode passed through him, a wide grin formed on his face as he felt it, the power of his Super Form. Not only that but he could ‘feel’ the power was increased. “Alright I think it worked!” He hollered, pumping his arms as he felt the power of Turbo Tails peak and flare briefly. “Hooo it’s been a long spell!”

Shadow merely made a ‘heh’ sound, yet smiled as he stared at his own glowing hands. “Yes, I can feel it, now those machines can feel Super Shadow’s fists and Chaos Spears.”

“This still blows me away with how powerful it makes me feel.” Murmured Silver as he marveled at his Super Silver transformation.

“Oh holy crap…” They heard Knuckles utter, followed by Sonic stammering “S-S-Sal?”. Everyone turned their heads and gasped in awe.

“Oh, my God…” Was all Sally could murmur. Her fur was a pink-orange tinge, and her hair a golden glow, flowing freely from the sheer power itself. “H-how? I thought only those with a tie to the Chaos Force could achieve super form?!”

“Maybe the powers that be felt you were worthy.” Knuckles mused, giving a nodding approval to this development. The light-pink glow of his Hyper Knuckles form, arcing with energy like everyone else. “In any case it looks like it worked.”

“I’m not a fan of the colors, they remind me of when I spent hours scrubbing chemicals out of my fur.” Muttered Sally, recalling the chemical splash that caused her fur and hair to change colors twice, before finally returning to her proper brown and auburn tones. She shuddered at the memory; she was lucky Rotor and Quack were able to make a fur-shampoo solution to cleanse the stuff from her fur, and luckier she wasn’t exposed long enough to cause any health issues.

Rubbing his chin, Sonic flashed a wide smile as he drew in his wife’s Super Form. “I dunno Sal, you rock the colors, and do’. It’s giving me ideas-.”

Tails held up one hand, and the other he put a finger to his mouth. Making a faux-gagging sound. “Sonic, I’m right here, don’t wanna hear that stuff!”

Snorting, Sonic rolled his eyes, “Hey, hey Li’Bro who said my mind was going to the gutter?”

Knuckles shot Sonic an incredulous look. “And I quote, “I’m always horny for Sal.”, end quote.”

Both Sonic and Sally managed to blush through the color of their super forms. Each coughing, and averting their gazes from their friends for a time.

“How about we can the small talk, and focus on saving the world?” Shadow stated, breaking up the moment as he turned and pointed towards the approaching Armada. “I’m sure Eggman saw that light show and is going to get even more antsy to try and finish us off.”

Clearing her throat, Sally stepped forward from the Master Emerald, letting Shadow’s comment further help to put that momentary embarrassment behind them. FAR behind them hopefully! “Shadow’s right, we got the power, now let’s use it.”

Pounding his fists together, Sonic began to jog and jump in place to pump himself up. “Juice and jam time folks, let’s show ol’ Eggy he should’ve stayed on that satellite in his home dimension.”

“If not just shriveled up and died.” Growled Knuckles as he flexed his fists before slamming them together.

“For everyone here, and those yet to come, we must win.” Silver uttered as he began to float, flexing his psychokinetic powers in anticipation.

Spinning his twin-tails, Tails began to hover as well. “Sally, give the word, we’re ready!”

“Everyone, it’s been an honor… LET’S GO!!”

[sinceileftyoublog]

Georgia Anne Muldrow Interview: Rhythm Is A Form of Gravity

Photo by Antoinette A. Brock

BY JORDAN MAINZER

“The people keep you fresh. They keep you on your toes,” Georgia Anne Muldrow told me over the phone last month. The prolific L.A. musician, whose output ranges from experimental hip-hop to neo soul to jazz and everything in between, is releasing her fifth record in four years on Friday, and the third overall in her beats series. VWETO III (FORESEEN + Epistrophik Peach Sound) follows last year’s Mama, You Can Bet! (released under the name Jyoti), 2019′s collaboration with Dudley Perkins and VWETO II, and 2018′s acclaimed, Grammy-nominated Overload. Unlike any of the previous albums, it was put together with some “calls to action” in mind.

Thought some of the songs were around for longer, VWETO III as an entity was made last year, “over a course of time where things were changing in terms of different recording techniques I was trying,” said Muldrow, harking back to techniques and inspirations from her early years of music making. The record was also, obviously, formed during a global pandemic that caused folks to lock down, and Muldrow is conscious to giving listeners opportunities to reach out on her very active Instagram account. Each of the album’s singles have been paired with those aforementioned calls to action. “Unforgettable”, which combines 80′s-sounding synths with 90′s G-funk, calls for vocalists to submit performances to go along with Muldrow’s vocals on the song. “Mufaro’s Garden”, inspired by an illustrated folktale book called Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, asks for visual artist submissions. On the day of the album’s release, Muldrow will ask for dance submissions to “Slow Drag”, a throwback Hammond-guitar-piano ditty named after the juke joint dance of the same name. Next month, it’ll be “Action Groove”, with calls for turntable scratch ‘n’ sampling remixes from DJs. And it’s not just the singles that exemplify Muldrow’s desire to connect with listeners on a granular level. Many of the songs on VWETO III refer to or are inspired by specific eras, from the Afrofuturist jazz of “Afro AF” to the genre tribute “Boom Bap Is My Homegirl”. That the titles are clearly referential, too, like “Old Jack Swing” or “Synthmania Rock”, shows that Muldrow’s not winking and nodding or trying to fool us, earnestly inviting us to dive in.

Moreover, VWETO III is coinciding with what Muldrow’s calling the Teacherie, classes she’s trying to develop to spread knowledge of what she’s learned throughout her own career, everything from philosophy to instrumental-specific classes. Right now, from her saved Instagram story called “Teacherie!,” you can take an assessment to fill out what you’re interested in. “It helps me to see what skill levels people have and what they want to learn in the class,” Muldrow said. “I seek to continue to stay open enough to make relevant music and have relevant things to share with people.” Overall, Muldrow is the type of artist that uses online platforms the way they’d be used in an ideal world. Her use of NFTs, too, is noble; the album art by Cape Town-based Breeze Yoko is being auctioned off, with 50% of proceeds going to prison abolitionist organization Critical Resistance. Even when the offline world returns--Muldrow’s slated to play Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, September 11th--Muldrow’s created a blueprint for navigating an increasingly isolating digital world, by seeking out real connections.

Below, read my conversation with Muldrow, edited for length and clarity, as she discusses making the record, being inspired by African rhythms, the influence of Digital Underground, and why her work logically extends into prison abolition. You can also catch her tomorrow on Bandcamp Live at 8 PM CST.

Since I Left You: Why did you decide this was a good time to revisit your beats album series?

Georgia Anne Muldrow: The people love it, you know? I always like to post beats on Instagram and share my poetry or state of mind of what’s going on in the world according to my people, and provide a place of joy and uplift. The voice of the people kind of determined what songs were on there. There are some songs that nobody’s ever heard. Different ideas, something a little bit more energized.

Something for the people. It’s really great that I have direct contact with them. Some of the songs are things I like to try based on the vibes I get from their feedback. It’s great; it’s a beautiful thing for me. I’ve gone through phases where critics love me, but the voice of the people that really support your work is really cool to hear. It’s like a little focus group. I just like sharing my music with folks because it’s my way of contributing love energy to the world in a direct, immediate way.

SILY: A lot of folks are still staying home and needing that connection. You’re connecting with them but also providing a platform for them to connect with each other.

GAM: Yes. I’m way into that and seek to be expanding that in an even more literal sense with my classroom project [Teacherie], like a live webinar sort of thing, that enables folks to speak amongst themselves. A more extended form of what I do on social media. An intimate look at what’s really going on in music. They can see where my emotions end and the music begins and try to make things seamless within their own music. Teach what I’ve picked up along the way, because I won’t be here forever. Spreading the love but the knowledge, too, with the music that I share. There’s a certain quality that you can achieve if you have patience.

SILY: Did you always know you wanted to do these calls for action, like for vocalists on “Unforgettable”? And how did you decide which tracks you wanted to do them for?

GAM: It’s definitely my way of trying to promote some sort of hip hop jam in lieu of the isolation that folks are weathering...I’m really inspired by the early age of hip hop where everyone had different dances. They brought their art books to the hip hop jams. The jackets with the art on it, the MCs rapping. The breakdancing, the DJs. All of the different things in place for it to be complete. That’s part of what got me hooked on production. One night years ago, [when I first played] my stuff, and folks started to dance, it got me hooked--to make somebody move. Somebody can rap over this, somebody can dance to this or draw to this. That’s the reason for the calls to action. Opening up a hip hop jam all over the world. I hope it gains some momentum. That would be nice, for more people to put themselves out there. But I do understand we live in different times right now and people are trying to get by. I still have to post some of the artists from “Mufaro’s Garden” and these rap videos from “Unforgettable”.

SILY: You’re giving people an opportunity, even if they’re just trying to get through the day, to take a break or have a beneficial creative exercise.

GAM: Yeah. Being creative together, and togetherness. The thinking that the songs aren’t complete without dance. Lyrics are a certain kind of fulfillment of music. But the movement of the body is another one. [It] goes back to gravity. Drummers harness the power of gravity and manipulate it so things can fall at a certain time. Same thing with dance--[dancers] don’t manipulate gravity, but interact with it and create an interdependence with it. When somebody’s dancing, they come back down to the ground, and you could let that go and let gravity guide what your dance looks like. Rhythm is a form of gravity--a form of gravity engaging with life. I feel like movement is the fulfillment of all the arts. I just seek to do my part.

SILY: You mentioned being inspired by a specific early era in hip hop, and there’s a lot on here inspired by genre or era-specific trends, like the G-funk in “Unforgettable” and “Boom Bap Is My Homegirl”.

GAM: [Boom bap] is one of the things that I specialize in. It’s a home base for me. In my experience, it’s a very African point of access. A lot of the boom bap rhythms are straight from Africa. Most of them are. Off the shores of West Africa. I heard so many of them, from The Gambia, Senegal, Mali. Over there, you hear so much of it. I want to be part of that. At the same time, I might wake up and make a free jazz record. I don’t feel like a traditionalist; I just want to preserve the culture of Black music from this hemisphere. I love traditional ideas, but it’s not like I’m gonna do this one idea for the sake of staying in a lane. There’s no place that Black music hasn’t influenced, molded, shaped, nurtured.

SILY: When was the last time you were able to perform in Africa?

GAM: I believe it might have been 2017. These years have started to run together. I don’t mind it, though. Keeps me young. [laughs]

VWETO III cover art by Breeze Yoko

SILY: How did the songs on here with vocals come together, whether the ones with your singing or the ones with featured artists? Did the words or beats/melodies come first?

GAM: The beats came first except for “Shana’s Back”. Shana Jensen is my sister; she’s the mother of my niece. Every time she’d come over and I had an idea to compose songs around her, they’d end up being huge songs. She’d be like, “Bye!” [laughs] I guess she wanted something a little more understated. I’d always end up doing big Motown sounds. There’s a song on The Blackhouse called “Shana’s Groove”. It’s a like a reoccurring situation and character. It’s kind of funny at this point.

The other ones, like “Unforgettable”, I’m very much matching the vibe, the punk-funk aesthetic. Sometimes a little hook just pushes it over the edge and gets them into the mindset I was in when thinking about it. Other songs like “Love Call” I just wanted to sound like it was in an arena. Arena rock, funk, Digital Underground-inspired, all the way.

SILY: Are you a big Digital Underground fan?

GAM: I think it shows in a lot of the music I make. I don’t think I can hide it. This record has so many examples of that. I love Shock G so much. He was so bad, as a thinker, a philosopher, a community builder, artist, pianist, maestro. The “Love Call” groove, “Unforgettable”, “[Old] Jack Swing”, you can hear it. I was raised with that kind of music in my head as a child. Unashamed to be funky and make a groove have extra grease on it. That’s what distinguished our sound from other region’s sounds. Getting greasy. While still doing the boom bap and all that other stuff. For me, it was always a goal to represent where I’m from in my music in a non-traditional way. Bringing what I love about the West Coast to whatever I was working on.

Shock G lives in all of us. He brought so many different vibes. A rhythmic pocket that breathes. Somewhat right under "Atomic Dog”. It keeps you moving. It has a breath of life in it. I’m so thankful to have lived in an era where I could hear and experience his work.

SILY: How did “Ayun Vegas” come together?

GAM: Ayun is my little brother. I think I’ve known him since 2014 or ‘15. He’s quite a talent. I love his style. He’s from [New] Jersey. I love his sense of rhythmic dynamic. His use of metaphor, double entendre. I feel like he’s really a gifted poet. He can do all types of different things. He’s an amazing MC--he just released a project with Jacob Rochester called Slaps & Hugs. I’m gonna lean towards people who are creative themselves and insert themselves into everything they do. 

Ayun is very secure in being different. He came out to Vegas, and I had this song. Usually, when I play leftfield stuff, MCs want that beat they can crush and not feel challenged by. This song is really old. I feel like it was made in 2016. I feel like that was the first time when somebody was willing to rap on an idea that was out of the ordinary. It’s not just in your face. It’s something different, but I want you to rap for your life on this. Something more like a movie score, where you find your character. He did it! He didn’t leave one beat behind. 

He’s rhythmically gifted and quite the poet. He almost went into pro football but he chose music. He’s a very enterprising brother, doing all types of apparel. He was working in the visual artist community, in the videographer community. Any time I can showcase what it is that he got to share, I’m there. He’s not afraid to speak the truth. This verse is impressionistic. It’s like somebody is taking a really big brush and making a beautiful image, strong-arming it. It’s dope. I love it.

We did another song together on the Overload album, but it didn’t make the cut. The Japanese version of Overload has a song called “What Can We Do Now”, and it has Ambrose Akinmusire, Ayun, and me. I’d love for that to be heard stateside, because it’s definitely about what’s happening over here.

SILY: Why did you choose to have the proceeds for this record go to Critical Resistance?

GAM: I’ve always wanted my music to be a tool for the motion of people. It doesn’t stop with dance and rapping and singing and drawing. It begins with that. Where it ends up, the movement of people coming into their powers, truths that in order to have a more humane society, we are going to have to throw some of this bullshit away. The spoils of enslavement. We’ve got to get rid of those spoils so we can get to a more realistic place of folks being cognizant of the activities that they take a part in. Jails ain’t gonna help people feel like they’re part of the community. They cage people and endanger their lives and run the risk of ruining somebody’s mental, emotional, and spiritual state even if they did commit the crime they’re in there for.

There’s a sense that all crime is committed from a place of fear. Many crimes people are locked up for is just folks trying to find a way. I don’t see how more fear is going to rehabilitate. The idea that punishment leads to enlightenment. People in the public school system are taught about some of the baddest people that ever lived--mass murders. But they’re not the type of people held accountable. They’re who brought over the imprisonment systems from their failed nations.

I don’t believe in reform at all. Critical Resistance seeks to abolish prisons as we know them. I love that their resolve is so sure and bold.

Photo by Antoinette A. Brock

[z-iridest]

Dabi, mirio, bakugo, todoroki and Kirishima

Ok, this is the fluffiest of the fluff so many uwus cuteness overload. Since I know your speciality love, heart flutters, and smiles my requested bday gift. 💑 ⛪ 🎩 👰💋👨‍💼🎊🎎🎎🎎

Marriage proposal! That's my request 🥺😘 may I please have you write how each boy would propose to their SO 🙇🏽‍♂️🙇🏽‍♂️🙇🏽‍♂️ tysm😚

(Omg omg omg YES! I'm so so so so sorry this is late, I tried to get this done by your b-day, lovely, I swear! Forgive meeeeee! 😭)

MHA Proposals

Warning: Little bit of language

Katsuki Bakugo

First, we start with the Boom-Boom Tsundere.....

Now, as my various fellow writers have written about our favorite Explosion Boy, he's not too interested in dating... Unless he wants a long term relationship

The two of you met back in your first year of U.A., and though things had started off rocky between the two of you, you ended up being the closest of Bakugo's friends beside Kirishima

The summer before your second year at U.A., the two of you hung out more and Bakugo asked you out within a month of the first day of your second year

Ever since that day, you two were the power couple of U.A., inseparable on and off the battlefield

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with you, hell, he knew it while the two of you were just friends.

He planned everything out the proposal for at least 2 months, even swallowing his pride and asking his friends for help.... Yeah, Mina lost it when he told her, she was so excited

So, on the night of your anniversary, he cooked a special candle lit dinner, got dressed up nice and had a bouquet of roses waiting for you when you came over

The entire night, he was the gentleman he'd always been with you, but added a kiss to your temple as he pulled out a chair for you, a kiss to the top of your hand for a split second during dinner... He spoiled you with affection

Once the both of you had eaten to your heart's content, he took both of your hands in his.

"Baby, I know I'm not the easiest to deal with. God knows my temper gets out of control sometimes... But, I'd be damned if I ever said that you didn't make me want to be a better man. You've known me since our first year at U.A., and our first meeting seems like it was only yesterday. Back then, if anyone had told me I'd have the most amazing, smart and hot s/o by my side for 3 years... I'd have yelled my lungs out and called them crazy. But," he gently squeezed your hands, his touch tender. "Baby, I wouldn't trade the last 3 years for anything. I love you with all my heart, as cheesy as it sounds, and the last 3 years have been the best of my life, and..." He got up and walked to your side before retaking your hand. "I don't want that to ever stop."

He got down on one knee and pulled out the ring, looking up at you with the most tender, loving expression on his face while you were ready to start crying. "Y/N, love of my life, will you marry me?"

Through tears of joy, you said yes. He pulled you into a hug before putting the ring on your finger and kissing you

Shouto Todoroki

Like Bakugo, Todoroki had met you his first year at U.A.....

Unlike Bakugo, the two of you met in the U.A. Sports Festival that year

Your spitfire nature intrigued him, and because of this, he was drawn to you like a moth to a flame

Overtime, the two of you became friends, and by the end of the year, he started to experience something he'd never felt before...

He didn't figure out what the feeling exactly was until he told his mother about you and what he felt while he was around you. She was the one who told him he had a crush on you... And demanded that he bring you to meet her once he had asked you out

So, second year of U.A. comes, and so begins the attempts at asking you out, all of which failed....

His last resort?

He caught a bunch of guys eyeing you lustfully, and he didn't like the way you were visibly uncomfortable.... So, he did the kabedon on you before the boys could do anything. He glared at the boys out of the corner of his eye

Thankfully, the creeps took the hint and ran for it, and Todoroki used the opportunity to ask you out

The rest is dating history....

Fast forward 2 years... You've met his mother and siblings (all of whom loved you).... It did take Endeavour a bit to get used to you, but a year after the two of you started dating, Todoroki had stood up to him for you.

Anyways, the night of your 3rd anniversary, he called Midoriya and Iida... Panicking a bit because he had gotten the ring, but had no plan for the proposal

Midoriya calmed him down and gave him some advice along with Iida

When you came home, you found dinner ready and a note next to your plate

The scavenger hunt led you to the various date spots the two of you had been to until you had reached the spot that Todoroki had taken you on your first date

On that little hill, standing there patiently waiting for you

When he saw you, the tender smile he'd always had around you crossed his face

In his hand was a half white, half red rose, which he gave to you as he greeted you

A picnic dinner was waiting for the two of you, so the two of you sat down together and ate while watching the sunset

The two of you talked and stargazed together

"My love, do you recognize any constellations?" He had asked you

You replied that you didn't (or did and named the few you could name XD)

He moved a little closer as he asked, "Would you like to know what I see?"

Curious, you nodded, but you were blindsided when he pulled out the ring

"All I see is the two of us together. I'm a better man thanks to you, my love, and I don't want to miss a second of it. But, this ring isn't to pressure you. If you're not ready to get married, I'll wait as long as it takes because I love you with all that I am."

You teared up at his tender words and tone and told him that you were ready

He smiled with tears of joy in his own eyes and kissed you tenderly before putting the ring on your finger before he held you. "I promise you, my love, I'll take good care of you."

Eijirou Kirishima

So, even though the two of you both went to U.A., the two of you actually met a couple weeks before school started

Ejirou had been jogging in the park when he first saw you

He had been too shy to say anything, but that first smile from you meant the world to him

That day, you had approached him and the two of you jogged together while talking

A few months into your first year at U.A., he started developing a crush on you

Halfway through the first year is when he finally asked you out

The two of you have been inseparable ever since that day

Kirishima loves the hell out of you, and he loves making you smile or laugh anytime

Back hugs are a definite with this shark toothed sweetheart UwU

Fast forward to a few years later, the two of you are living together and everyday is wonderful for Kirishima

Two months before your anniversary, he planned everything to take things to the next level with you

When you walk in, you're both surprised and touched to see dinner waiting on the table and Kirishima covered in head to toe with what looks like flour with a shark toothed grin on his face

"Happy anniversary, baby." He told you, opening his arms for you.

You giggle and hug him, both of you laughing when you realized you know had flour on you

After a quick shower and changing into comfortable clothes (meaning one of Kirishima's T shirts and a pair of sweatpants for you), the two of you ate dinner and talked about your day.

"Hey, baby, I've got a question for you." He told you. You tipped your head to one side, encouraging him to continue

You watched him take a deep breath before he took your hand, holding it tenderly in his. "I know, this isn't exactly fancy, but I couldn't think of any better way. You deserve the world, baby, and..." He came around to your side and got down on one knee. "I hope I'm the lucky bastard who gets to give it to you. I don't have a ring right now, but damn, I love you so much, and not a day goes by where the thought of you makes me smile and want to be a better hero and a better man. So, if you'll have me, ring or no ring, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and marry me?" He asked.

Smiling through tears of joy, you nodded in response

Kirishima grinned and hugged you. "We can go pick out a ring together. I want it to be perfect for you." He covered your face with kisses until he heard that adorable laugh he loved so much.

Mirio Togata

That brings us to the sunshine of the Big 3... Mirio

You better believe this boy was head over heels for you when he met you

The two of you met in junior high, and you encouraged him to keep training with his quirk, believing in him

By your first year at U.A., the two of you had grown closer together, and Tamaki pointed out to Mirio that he had a crush on you

Halfway through your first year of U.A., he asked you out and the rest is history

You were there for him through everything, being his cheerleader

When Eri entered your lives, you (of course) welcomed her with open arms, spending time with her and Mirio

The first time Eri called you "Big Sister", it had surprised you, but you were touched by her words.

Fast forward a couple years....

The two of you are living together, and everyday with Mirio means the world to you, just like it means the world to him

Which is why, while you at work, he bought a ring for you and set up his plan to propose (Eri helped him pick the ring out ^.^)

When you got home, you found a note from Mirio telling you to meet him at the park, but nothing could prepare you for what was waiting for you.

The moment he saw you coming, he began to play the acoustic guitar you had given him...

As you reached the beginning of a trail of candles, 'I Love You Too Much' by Diego Luna filled your ears, but when you looked up, you saw your boyfriend, smiling warmly as he played the guitar and sang to you as you walked toward him

When you reached him, he got down on one knee as he sang the last line

You covered your mouth and he smiled as he brought out the ring. "Y/N, sunshine of my life, will you marry me?"

Through tears of joy, you accepted and the two of you automatically embraced before kissing as he placed the ring on your finger

Dabi

That brings us to Dabi....

Excuse my language right now, but this motherfucker.... He loved teasing you when you first joined the League, mainly because it annoyed you plus it was fun for him

But, the first time you barked at him to knock off his shit... He'd be lying if he said it didn't do something to him....

A few months later, the two of you were put on a mission together, and you saw just how serious he was on the front line, including his tsundere ways of keeping you safe when it called for it

About a year after you first joined, Toga (nearly getting burned in the process) told you that Dabi had a big fat crush on you before Dabi chased her for telling you, then trying to deny it

He did give up trying to deny it after a while and finally confessed, surprised when you actually returned how he felt

Fast forward 2 years....

You two: living together, an inseparable pair of troublemakers

There wasn't really any plan after almost 3 years of being together, Dabi just ended up getting some candy hearts on Valentine's Day and gave you one that said, 'Marry Me'. When you looked up from it, you found him in front of you, down on one knee to show you that he was dead serious

"Doll, will you be my eternal partner in crime?" He had asked

Your reply? It was a no duh.

He chuckled and kissed you (he went out later and stole a ring you liked)

What can I say? That flame bastard would do anything for you

[doubleattitude]

24/7 Dance Convention, Atlanta, GA: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

Sidekick Solo

1st: Charlotte Brayman-’Wonderful World’

2nd: Emersyn Lawson-’Beautiful Things’

2nd: Khylie Wilkerson-’Proud Mary’

3rd: Audrey Mikkelson-’Shake the Room’

4th: Brenna Ferrell-’Showstopper’

Mini Solo

1st: Mia Clark-’Dem Beats’

1st: Carrigan Paylor-’Orange Colored Sky’

2nd: Elizabeth Scott Lanier-’Bitter Earth’

2nd: Kaylee Schwamb-’See Me Now’

3rd: Ashley Otano-’Dark Matter’

3rd: AnaKate Danner-’Malfunction’

3rd: Ella Barnes-’Nobody’s Watching’

3rd: Layla Karadchy-’Tomorrow’

4th: Jasmine Pando-’Amelia’

4th: Georgia Beth Peters-’Come Together’

4th: Allie Plott-’Fire’

4th: Savy Luetchtefeld-’Sound of Silence’

5th: Lauren Fenton-’Boogie Shoes’

5th: Cora Wunder-’Faith’

5th: Rudie Bolton-’Still Don’t Know My Name’

6th: Isabella Shortridge-’In This Shirt’

7th: Bella Smith-’Against The Music’

7th: Sami Nix-’Bridges’

7th: Rose Mangan-’Make Someone Happy’

7th: Ruby Wilkes Petty-’Once Upon Another Time’

8th: Alessandra Gauger-’Morning’

9th: Kenzie Wagoner-’Recharge’

9th: Laila Taylor-’Riot Rhythm’

10th: Belle Brining-’Ain’t to proud to beg’

10th: Malea Moore-’Big Time’

10th: Gabi Brown-’Brown Skin Girl’

10th: Sydney Lawrence-’Everybody Wants To Rule the World’

10th: Lyrah Atkins-’Keep It Moving’

10th: Vivian Liu-’Opportunity’

10th: Channing Jones-’Tight Rope’

Junior Solo

1st: Giselle Gandarilla-’All Human Beings’

2nd: Nicholas Moreno-’Blue Lips’

2nd: Emme James Anderson-’Resume’

3rd: Mia Doyle-’Designated Harmony’

3rd: Brinkley Pittman-’Gravity’

3rd: Belle Richardson-’Seven Birds’

3rd: Leila Winker-’Takt’

4th: Addison Bradley-’Dynamite’

4th: Maddie Shaw-’Final Goodbye’

4th: Caroline Powell-’How Rare’

4th: McGowan Howell-’Resurface’

4th: Maely Weaver-’Staggered In a Configuration’

4th: Cadence Lyles-’Warrior Queen’

5th: Amanda Fenton-’Devil In Disguise’

5th: Emma Martin-’Dreams’

5th: Leah Midgett-’Mirror Mirror’

5th: Morgan Belyeu-’Older’

5th: Vanessa Johnson-’Over The Rainbow’

6th: Kaden Brown-’Resolution’

7th: Mollie Mikkelson-’Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

7th: Gracie Elder-’No More Tears’

7th: Sloane Dawson-’TEA’

7th: Scarlett Liu-’Unaccompanied’

7th: Sydney Martin-’Vibeology’

8th: Isabella Burdo-’Dance, Dance, Dance’

8th: Estella Guzman-’No Contamination’

8th: Alora Freeman-’Sing to the Moon’

9th: Lila Jane Meadows-’Friend Like Me’

9th: Ever Martin-’Long Time Traveler’

9th: Ensley King-’Ruby Blue’

9th: Gracie Hawkins-’Smokestacks’

10th: MacKenzie Meissner-’Be Strong’

10th: Kinsleigh Gullette-’Despicable’

10th: Pierce Bevans-’Float’

10th: Stella Adamson-’Gamzatti Variation’

10th: Sophia Bell-’Waving Through A Window’

10th: Taylor Dillard-’Way Down We Go’

Teen Solo

1st: Brady Farrar-’Once More’

2nd: Oliver Keane-’Electric Pulse’

2nd: Georgia Greene-’Warning’

3rd: Preslie Rosamond-’Possibly Maybe’

3rd: Sophie Garcia-’Warrior’

4th: Emma Vaughan-’Tango’

5th: Camille Pepper-’1,000 Faces’

5th: Savannah Manning-’Line Thickness’

6th: Emery Sousley-’Birds of Paradise’

6th: Addy Beckham-’Fame’

6th: Natalie Bumgarner-’Lullaby’

6th: Angelina Brennan-’Woman’

7th: Loren Puchalski-’All The Time’

7th: Nika Nosova-’Epiphany’

7th: Sydney Jones-’Raise Your Voice’

7th: Jackson Smoak-’The Longest Time’

8th: Abigail McKinney-’Shout’

8th: Haley Midgett-’Smile to Me’

8th: Callaghan Johnson-Untitled’

9th: Hadley Snell-’Like This’

10th: Emmy Fuller-’Be Be Your Love’

10th: Tierney Denny-Lybbert-’Lean Back’

10th: Sophie Hunsicker-’Take Flight’

10th: Kayleigh Atterton-’Wild Is The Wind’

Senior Solo

1st: Xavier logan-’Self Memoria’

2nd: Thiago Pacheco-’I’m Naturally Platinum’

3rd: Lily Sledge-’My One and Only’

3rd: Kayleigh Everhart-’Thunderstruck’

4th: Grace Robinson-’Always;

4th: Wysdem Ceaser-’Blades’

4th: Niya Smith-’Down2Ride’

4th: Seth Gibson-’Identity’

5th: Chloe Jeffcoat-’As For The Fall’

5th: Dai Boyd-’Try A Little Tenderness’

6th: Alexandra Jinglov-’Action Reaction’

6th: Maika Takemoto-’Changes’

6th: Bella Mills-’Everywhere, Still’

6th: Shaeleigh Person-’Mine’

6th: Christian Butts-’Ohm Sweet Ohm’

6th: Brittany Willard-’Unchained Melody’

6th: Javon Moore-’Visions’

7th: Tristin Edsel-’And So It Goes’

7th: Belle Mason-’Drones’

7th: Saleya James-’Fix You’

7th: Lily Thompson-’Foolish Games’

7th: Savannah Folding-’Heart Shaped Birthmark’

7th: Kirsten Brown-’Trainwreck’

7th: Ella Samellas-’Without You’

8th: CJ Parker-’A Letter From France’

8th: Bailey Cerio-’Free Falling’

8th: Mallory McCormick-’Rose’

8th: Chloe Barr-’Still Light’

8th: Jalen Scriven-’TIME’

9th: Jasmyn Hopper-’Another Lifetime’

9th: Raven Rutledge-’A Pale’

9th: Sydney Scott-’Forsaken’

9th: Katelyn Midgett-’Georgia’

9th: Morgen Watkins-’Gonna Love Me’

9th: Ryin Corcoran-’Red Dust’

9th: Sophie Hooker-’We’ll Meet Again’

9th: Hannah Rivers-’Will You Ever Return’

10th: Blair Southerland-’Desperation’

10th: Izzie Bringle-’Hush’

Sidekick Duo/Trio

1st: West Main Studios-’Colors Of the Wind’

2nd: To The Pointe-’Wildside’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Carolina Collective Dance-’It’s Quiet Uptown’

2nd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Loves Me Like A Rock’

3rd: Carolina Collective Dance-’Proud’

3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’To Build A Home’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Even The Sun’

2nd: Milele Academy-’Fiyah Speak’

3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Nothing We Can Do’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Let Me Follow’

2nd: Milele Academy-’Down We Go’

2nd: The Royal Dance Academy-’Grieving’

3rd: Great Gig Dance Co-’Canon In D’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Addictive’

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Verlust’

2nd: Milele Academy-’Darkest Hour’

3rd: Studio 413-’Black Flies’

Sidekick Group

1st: Studio Powers-’Big Love, Small Moments’

Mini Group

1st: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Daisies’

2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Bones’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Hey Hi Hello’

3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’The Moment’

3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Wepa’

Junior Group

1st: The Southern Strutt-’A Young Mind’s Thoughts’

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Made of Stone’

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Swan’

2nd: Studio Powers-’Cry Me A River’

3rd: Milele Academy-’Save a Horse’

Teen Group

1st: Milele Academy-’Close Up’

1st: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Slack Jaw’

1st: Studio 413-’Social Media Overload’

1st: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Wooden Hymnal In C’

2nd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’He’s A Dream’

3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Shaken Lung’

Senior Group

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’I’m Delighted’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’What A Girl Wants’

3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Dying of Thirst’

Sidekick Line

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Mr Piano Man’

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Rainbow Brite’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Besties’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Dump Him’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Reflections’

Mini Line

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Fergalicious’

2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Brown Skin Girl’

2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Found A Good One’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’As Good As It Gets’

3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Back At It’

Junior Line

1st: The Southern Strutt-’This Place About to Blow’

2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Dance Apocalyptic’

2nd: The Southern Strutt-’I Will Leave The Light On’

3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Genesis’

3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Kill The Lights’

Teen Line

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Lay Them Before Me’

2nd: Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’

3rd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Midnight Street’

Senior Line

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Sunny Side of the Street’

2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Charlie Boy’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Deep Fried Flavor’

2nd: Great Gig Dance Co-’I’d Love to Change The World’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Layla’

2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Matter’

3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Full Bloom’

3rd: Studio 413-’Rumors’

Sidekick Extended Line

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Flying Solo’

Mini Extended Line

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Fly Kicks’

2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Wonderland’

3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’The Happy Disco Show’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Yacht Club Cuties’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Foot On The Gas’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Walk It Out’

3rd: Studio 413-’Girl Boss’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Work’

2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Earthquake’

2nd: The Southern Strutt-’The Wave’

3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Angels’

3rd: The Southern Strutt-’XR2′

Senior Extended Line

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Reception’

2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Here Comes The Boom’

Sidekick Production

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Chewy Chewy’

Mini Production

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Yacht Club Cuties’

Junior Production

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Ski-A-Rhythmdale’

2nd: Studio 413-’Electricity’

Teen Production

1st: exonerated

2nd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Southern Hospitality’

3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Bay 2 the A’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Sidekick Jazz

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Chewy Chewy’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Rainbow Brite’ 3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Dump Him’

Sidekick Hip-Hop

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Besties’

Sidekick Tap

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Mr Piano Man’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’ABC’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Shout’

Sidekick Contemporary

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Flying Solo’

Sidekick Lyrical

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Reflections’ 2nd: Studio Powers-’Big Love, Small Moments’

Mini Jazz

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Fergalicious’ 2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Brown Skin Girl’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’The Happy Disco Show’

Mini Ballet

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Concerto In D’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Fly Kicks’ 2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Found A Good One’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Back At It’

Mini Tap

1st: The Southern Strutt-’As Good As It Gets’ 2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Love Shack’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Jitterbug’

Mini Contemporary

1st: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Daisies’ 2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Bones’ 3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’The Moment’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’3000 Miles’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Fly Me To The Moon’ 3rd: Studio 413-’Helium’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: The Southern Strutt-’Wonderland’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Yacht Club Cuties’ 3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Little Shop of Horrors’

Junior Jazz

1st: The Southern Strutt-’This Place About to Blow’ 2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Dance Apocalyptic’ 2nd: Studio 413-’Electricity’ 3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Kill The Lights’ 3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Genesis’

Junior Ballet

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Violin Fantastique’

Junior Hip-Hop

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Foot On The Gas’ 2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Walk It Out’ 3rd: Studio 413-’Girl Boss’

Junior Tap

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Sussudio’ 1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Here Comes The Sun’ 2nd: Studio 413-’Into the Night’ 3rd: Great Gig Dance Co-’Tiny Dancer’

Junior Contemporary

1st: The Southern Strutt-’I Will Leave The Light On’ 2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Swan’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’A Young Mind’s Thoughts’ 3rd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Off The Rails’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Made of Stone’ 2nd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Daisies’ 3rd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Firework’

Junior Musical Theatre

1st: The Southern Strutt-’First Day Fruge’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’The Gospel Truth’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Zero to Hero’

Junior Acro

1st: The WHEREHOUSE-’Day-O’

Junior Specialty

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Ski-A-Rhythmdale’ 2nd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Grease!’

Teen Jazz

1st: The Southern Strutt-’XR2′ 1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’I Hope My Life’ 2nd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Shake’ 3rd: Studio 413-’Body Language’ 3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Kick It’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Work’ 2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Earthquake’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’The Wave’ 3rd: Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Southern Hospitality’

Teen Tap

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Rock Your Body’ 2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Hook’ 3rd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Wooden Hymnal In C’ 3rd: Studio 413-’Gold Watch’ 3rd: The Southern Strutt-’Gold Watch’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Exonerated’ 2nd: Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’ 3rd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Embrace the World’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Midnight Street’ 2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Angels’ 3rd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’This Particular Dream’

Teen Musical Theatre

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Groundhog Day’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Beetlejuice’ 3rd: Heather Wayne’s Dance Company-’Too Darn Hot’

Teen Acro

1st: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Oceans’ 2nd: Studio Powers-’Area 51′

Teen Specialty

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Lay Them Before Me’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Book of Love’ 3rd: Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Hip Hip Chin Chin’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Born to Be Alive’

Senior Jazz

1st: Studio 413-’Rumors’ 2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Human Nature’ 3rd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Saved By The DJ’

Senior Ballet

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Recomposed’

Senior Hip-Hop

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’Deep Fried Flavor’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Here Comes The Boom’ 3rd: North Georgia Dance and Music Factory-’Power’

Senior Tap

1st: Rhythm Dance Center-’What A Girl Wants’ 2nd: Great Gig Dance Co-’I’d Love to Change The World’ 2nd: Rhythm Dance Center-’Layla’ 3rd: Great Gig Dance Co-’Faith’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’I’m Delighted’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Charlie Boy’ 2nd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Dying of Thirst’ 3rd: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Full Bloom’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Matter’ 2nd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Tides of Lamentation’ 3rd: Dothan School of Dance-’It’s All Coming Back to Me’

Senior Musical Theatre

1st: Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Sunny Side of the Street’ 2nd: The Southern Strutt-’Too Darn Hot’ 3rd: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Might As Well Be’

Senior Specialty

1st: Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Reception’

11 O’Clock:

Sidekick

Studio Powers-’DANCE’

The Southern Strutt-’Flying Solo’

Rhythm Dance Center-’Besties’

Mini

Studio 413-’Helium’

West Main Studios-’Spiders’

Milele Academy-’Move Your Body’

Studio Powers-’Iconology’

Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Bones’

Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Daisies’

Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Found A Good One’

Rhythm Dance Center-’Fly Kicks’

The Southern Strutt-’Fergalicious’

Junior

Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Dance Apocalyptic’

Studio 413-’Girl Boss’

Rhythm Dance Center-’Foot On The Gas’

The Southern Strutt-’This Place About to Blow’

Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Kill The Lights’

Milele Academy-’Missy’

Studio Powers-’Cry Me A River’

Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Made of Stone’

Teen

The Southern Strutt-’The Wave’

Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Hip Hip Chin Chin’

Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Exonerated’

Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’Lay Them Before Me’

Oconee Youth School of Performance-’Poppin Party’

The WHEREHOUSE-’Changes’

Studio Powers-’Stand Up’

Milele Academy-’Close Up’

Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Southern Hospitality’

Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’

Rhythm Dance Center-’Earthquake’

Senior

Dothan School of Dance-’You’ll Never Walk Alone’

Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Reception’

Rhythm Dance Center-’What A Girl Wants’

Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Sunny Side of the Street’

The Southern Strutt-’Charlie Boy’

Great Gig Dance Co-’I’d Love to Change The World’

Studio 413-’Rumors’

Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Exile’

Milele Academy-’Get It’

Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Bitter’

Heather Wayne’s Dance Company-’Old Skin’

Smitty’s Performing Arts Center-’Where Is The Love’

Studio Showcase:

Milele Academy-’Close Up’

West Main Studio-’E R’

Variations Dance Studio-’Through The Cracks’

Upstate Carolina Dance Center-’Exile’

The WHEREHOUSE-’Changes’

The Southern Strutt-’Charlie Boy’

Studio Powers-’Stand Up’

Studio 413-’Rumors’

Rhythm Dance Center-’Earthquake’

Oconee Youth School of Performance-’Poppin Party’

North Georgia Dance and Music Factory-’Tap Dat’

Heather Wayne’s Dance Company-’Old Skin’

Gretchen Greene School of Dance-’Hip Hip Chin Chin’

Great Gig Dance Co-’I’d Love to Change The World’

Dancemakers of Atlanta-’Exonerated’

Columbia City Jazz Conservatory-’The Reception’

[shaineybainey]

“Noble Intentions”

Lab Rats [T]

The Lab Rats and Mighty Med teams face off with the greatest threat to humanity yet: The Incapacitator, a supervillain bent on becoming the most powerful in the planet. …Which makes things super awkward for Leo, considering that their newest nemesis is his father. AU. Lab Rats vs Mighty Med redux.

** DISCLAIMER: SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMER **

tagging: @vcnting @clockradio93 @breanadaveport-mendel @lettersandwhiteroses @serpent-princess @verified-dumbass @weareoutofmaplesyrupdave @aaaaahhhhh1234

IV: Disaster Med

Kaz flinches when Chase’s laser bo staff slams against Gray Granite’s staff. The superheroes are currently locked on a heated battle against the bionic trio, and while he knows this could result into someone getting hurt, he doesn’t feel inclined to clear out the misunderstanding that started it.

“We should tell them, Kaz,” Oliver says worriedly as they watch behind a pillar. “What if someone gets hurt?”

Leave it to his best friend to know exactly what he’s thinking of not doing. “Dude. Do you—”

They’re both knocked off their feet as Adam’s blast wave missed Tecton and hits their hiding place instead. Stars dance in front of his eyes as his left arm, exposed from the pillar, feels like it had been run over by a truck three times over.

He groans, struggling up to his feet. “You want to get in the middle of that?” he asks Oliver quietly as he pulls him up his feet.

Oliver says nothing, only winces as he retreats even more to safety.

They startle when Gamma Girl crashes against Tecton after Bree tackled her. The two superheroes are left dazed while the bionic teenager uses her free time to help Adam with Gray Granite.

Kaz grins. This is definitely a lot better than going to any comic book store in Amsterdam.

– Ϟ –

Leo knows he’s come just a tad bit too late. Running towards the quarters, he could hear his stepfather screaming as blasts boom at a regular rate inside. When he finally arrives, he sees he’s right: the place is a mess, his stepfather is on the floor looking up in fear at the superpowered trespasser, and The Incapacitator holds close the container bearing the energy transponder.

He frowns. He knows he really should be worried about other, more important things, but - has his father’s suit gotten tighter or is he just imagining things?

Noting his presence, Donald looks his way. “No,” he says fearfully, especially when The Incapacitator looks his way, too. “No. Leo, get out of here!”

Leo doesn’t move. He only stares at the supervillain defiantly. “Incapacitator,” he says neutrally – a greeting of sorts.

“The Incapacitator.”

He almost rolls his eyes. “Are we gonna be hung up on that ‘the’ the whole day, or…?”

The Incapacitator only chuckles.

He’s suddenly reminded of the fact that he lied to him. “Why are you here?” he says as he stares him in the eye.

“Mr. Davenport tells me that the only way to open this box is by getting past this retina scan,” The Incapacitator says. He sits the container on top of the overturned coffee table and grins superciliously. “I can’t decide: should I take an impression of his eye, or should I just take the whole eyeball out?”

“Please don’t.”

“Leo, don’t,” Donald orders, stopping him from coming any closer. “He’s not bionic. You can’t escape this like you escaped Marcus or Krane.”

Leo’s jaw locks then unlocks as he looks at his stepfather then his father. He was able to escape from Marcus due to a series of good opportunities that opened up and some quick thinking.

Krane, he didn’t escape.

The Incapacitator killed him.

He could see from his dad’s eyes that there’s no stopping him. From what he can piece together, he knows the energy transponder is necessary for whatever new plan he has. So, hating himself for what he has to suggest, he asks in resign, “If I open it for you, can you promise not to do any of those things?”

“It depends. Some people, I just can’t stand these days. I don’t know if I can promise.”

I don’t think you know how to promise either, Leo thinks bitterly as he makes a move towards the weapons case.

“No, Leo!” Donald stops him. “We can’t just give it to him. He’s going to drain the whole world of power. He can’t have it!”

Leo hesitates. It’s not his father’s first world domination plan, but it sounds a lot deadlier than the other ones.

The Incapacitator charges up energy in his right hand. “Tick tock,” he softly presses.

Leo glares at him. He said he would never put him in a spot where he had to choose between doing the right thing and making a decision as his son. “I feel like you’re breaking something here,” he says in disappointment.

The grin on The Incapacitator’s face remains, but a small spark of recognition has gone off in his eyes.

However, it doesn’t stay long. An idea comes to mind, and a new, wolfish grin comes up to his face. He constructs a lasso of green energy then throws it.

It wraps around Leo’s torso all too quickly and all too tightly.  “What are you doing? Let me go!” he screams, struggling against it as he’s lifted up in the air.

“Please! Stop!” Donald asks, horrified.

“What about it, Mr. Davenport?” the supervillain says. “The energy transponder or the boy?”

“Big D, don’t!”

“I can take energy from other things around me, or I can take energy from him.”

When Donald hesitates, The Incapacitator pulls Leo closer until he’s hovering just above them.

Then Leo feels it, the energy lasso closing in tighter around him. It presses his arms against his body, the growing pressure squeezing out his breath slowly. His heart panics like a spooked bird in a cage.

Doubt suffocates him even more. His father is not going to kill him, right? He loves him, right?

“Okay, okay!” he hears his stepfather yell as dizziness has begun setting in. “I’ll open it. Just – just let go of my son.”

As the restraints eases and the sudden rush of oxygen makes his head swim, he sees an outline of movement towards the container. He’s slowly let down on the ground. Once the scanner emits a beep, the energy lasso vanishes altogether.

His stepfather crawls towards him. “Are you okay?” he asks.

Leo nods.

They watch helplessly as The Incapacitator holds the invention up as a test. Lights flicker and technology crackle all around the quarters as the transponder draws power. It keeps taking, taking, taking – siphoning too much power into the wrong hands.

Once he’s satisfied, The Incapacitator powers off the transponder and smirks at the device.

It’s then that they hear a rush from the hall. Not a moment later, the room fills with the very people Leo both wished he would and would never see. “Don’t move, Incapacitator,” orders Tecton.

“You’re too late, Tecton,” the supervillain says. “I already have what I need to make you and the entire world bow down at my feet.”

He draws a super charge of energy and encases Tecton, Gamma Girl, and Gray Granite within a sphere before they can act. With the powerful superheroes imprisoned, he sends them out through the roof.

Spackle and debris spray around them. As destruction lies all around, Leo realizes that for the second time in his life, he’s truly afraid of the darkness his father holds inside.

“That’s it,” Chase says, furious. “I got us into this mess. I’m going to get us out.”

“No! Chase,” he tells his brother, staggering up to his feet. “He’s too powerful!”

Fueled by a sense of duty, Chase activates the laser bo staff. Then, he comes at the supervillain.

The more experienced of the two, The Incapacitator blocks the attack easily. He overloads the bo staff with energy to anchor Chase in place.

Chase freezes, the surge of electricity locking him to vulnerability.

With this advantage, The Incapacitator charges a deathly blast of energy to finish him.

“No!” Leo screams. When the supervillain looks at him, he shakes his head pleadingly. “Please. Please not my brother.”

The Incapacitator considers it a moment. Then, he sets off an energy blast similar to Adam’s, knocking Chase out and knocking the others off their feet. “Nice doing business with you, Mr. Davenport,” he says, smiling at the inventor.

Donald only glares at him.

It surprises Leo when he grabs him by the arm. As he looks into his eyes - wearing that suit, knowing to what extent he’d go just to get what he wants, and seeing just how little he valued the lives of others, he realizes then that he doesn’t want to be like his father.

He doesn’t want to be a villain.

Before he could shake his hold, though, a surge of energy hits him. It overwhelms his brain for a long, agonizing second.

Then, everything fades to black.

– Ϟ –

“Leo!” Bree screams as The Incapacitator takes her little brother on his shoulder.

“Let him go!” Adam demands.

“You got the transponder already,” Donald says. “Let him go!”

The Incapacitator smirks. “I spared your kid,” he says. “This is only fair.”

“No!”

A neon green cloud swallows the supervillain and the teenager, and in a moment they are gone.

Bree feels as if her heart has fallen into a hole. She’s shaking with nervousness and adrenaline. Prompted by instinct, she staggers to her feet then comes to Chase’s side.

She checks his vitals, hoping for a beat, a breath, anything.

She sighs of relief when she feels a pulse. She tries to wake him, but to no avail. “Chase,” she persists, “you have to wake up.”

“Mr. Davenport…” Adam looks to their father as he sits beside her, the same look of urgency and loss on his face.

“He must have fried his whole infrastructure,” Donald says, rising to his feet. He shakes his head. “I don’t have the equipment here to fix it.”

“Chase…”

“Well, we can’t just let him die,” Adam protests.

“You don’t have to,” Oliver, now back up to his feet like Kaz, says. “Mighty Med. We have the equipment there. It’s a superhero hospital, and Kaz and I are doctors. We can help.”

Donald thinks it over a moment before nodding. “Okay. Adam, Bree, go with them. Make sure that Chase is okay,” he says. Then, to Oliver and Kaz he asks, “Please. Save my son.”

“We will,” Kaz says.

At that moment, Tecton flies into the room. He helps Gray Granite to the ground and asks, “Where’s Incapacitator?”

“Gone. He took the transponder with him,” Oliver reports. “Worse yet, he took their younger brother as hostage.”

“Hiding behind a child, huh?” Gamma Girl asks as she lands beside Gray Granite. The anger hidden under her unaffected expression is searing. “He must be desperate. He’s changed his MO.”

“I don’t like this,” says Tecton. “We need to find that kid.”

“I’ll call my brother and have him assist me,” Donald chimes in. “We can locate him faster if we have two sides searching. For the meantime…”

Oliver nods, taking out the wormhole transporter from his pocket. “We’ll do our best to get Chase back to you in good health.”

Donald nods appreciatively.

“Okay. Kaz? Everyone, hold on,” Oliver instructs.

Bree’s heart races as she holds onto Chase and Adam. They’ve dealt with many nightmares and many near-deaths before, but she doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to them.

What gets to her this time is the uncertainty of where Leo is and what’s going to happen to him. Is he hurt? Will he be okay? Will he be able to come home?

Her chest aches as she realizes that she couldn’t even protect her little brothers.

“Bree.” Adam nods. “It’ll be okay.”

As the five of them vanish into a wormhole, Bree wonders if it really will be.

[post-itpenny]

Blackwood Family Timeline of Events

I wanted to create a timeline that connected everything. Even all the little hints I’ve placed over all my writing going back to when I first introduced Maggie and Vespers.

To start we have to go all the way back to when Bridgette and Blackwood first got together, had son, said son was terrible and exploited the already present animosity between mom and dad, and they broke up. We’ll set Keir on the shelf for now. That’s an entirely different set of drama we can deal with later.

This was… a lot. And some really angsty content. Can’t lie I feel awful now for this.

Blackwood begins to become more of a control freak than he previously was becomes and begins destroying planets left and right however he pleases because they don’t suit what he wants the universe to look like. Because it’s Lethe’s job to clean up the lost and forgotten (aka all the planets that mysteriously went boom) Blackwood takes advantage and gets the blame placed on her. 

Blackwood decides to try again having children but decides to just do everything himself, another son who was basically a mini clone. Blackwood’s controlling nature gets the better of him and he tampers with the genetic structure of his son’s lights, something that would pass down generations. His son's own power has a lock on, so he could never be stronger than Blackwood. However, since the elder of creation’s power is emotionally based that meant all that excess energy had to go somewhere...

Blackwood refuses to let his descendants out of his grip for several generations before finally relenting after getting into a heated argument with a great-granddaughter who had inherited his power. The first to die of an emotional overload and the resulting explosion takes out a quarter of Blackwood’s planet.

The following generations would find that any with the elder’s powers were liable to suffer the same fate, Blackwood is extremely precious with these descendants, he would insist on having a tight eye on the family.

Bridgette finds a young Jack and tampers with his timeline, making him a fixed point. Jack actually knew Aria’s mother from childhood but that’s, again, a set of drama for another time.

Jack lashes out, the experiment is a success but now Jack is effectively immortal. Taking advantage of this and causing trouble left and right across the universe.

Peregrine and Magpie’s great, great grandfather builds the family castle.

Lethe goes to Bridgette for her help in getting revenge on Blackwood after the death of Nigel and Venus’ parents. Bridgette agrees seeing how this is an opportunity to not only get rid of Jack who has become a problem but also insure Maggie’s safety knowing what will happen to her family.

Kestrel witnesses the death of his younger sister Robin who had Blackwood’s gift. In a fit of rage against a former lover, Robin attempted to fold the earth in half over them. Accidentally crushing herself in the process. Remember how there’s a Banshee at the Blackwood castle? Yeah….

Jack goes to Bridgette, taunting her out of anger as he cannot die but he is still very weak in terms of their kind. Bridgette cryptically warns him time beware of a magpie that will kill him.

Bridgette makes sure that Kestrel and Sophia meet. Taking a family seal as payment for directing him to who she promises is his true love. Long after Magpie is free she meets a disguised Bridgette who gives the seal back. Magpie gives it to Peregrine, the seal is now a part of his outfit.

Peregrine is born

Magpie is born. As Bridgette predicted the combination of Lethe’s fate influencing abilities (the source of Magpie’s control over good and bad luck) combined with Blackwood’s power over creation means Magpie could easily be as powerful as her elder except for the lock on her deadlights. She’s unintentionally destructive as a baby and her parents fear what happened to Robin will happen to Magpie or themselves. They are extremely strict that Magpie should not ever use her power at all instead of teaching her self control.

Peregrine and Magpie meet Lyra, Vega and Ursa Minor as children.

Peregrine befriends Casper.

Magpie grows up with little control over her abilities. Despite this she often is driven by a desire to be helpful and struggles to show her family she can be good. Peregrine grows up viewing his sister as a burden as he is often expected to be responsible for helping control his sister. A rift forms between the siblings.

Peregrine marries Lyra

Juno is born.

Vespers is born.

During his travels, Peregrine meets and befriends Jack, inviting him to visit Peregrine’s home.

Jack meets Magpie, recognizing what Bridgette’s warning meant.

Jack takes advantage of Magpie’s feelings and begins a relationship with her. Risking his death at the reward of having a powerful deadlight who is loyal to him.

Jack encourages Magpie to be more open and embrace her gifts, convincing her to leave her family and travel with him.

Jack plays on Magpie’s desire to be helpful and encourages her to use her power to improve the lives of villages, towns, and cities they visit. Many begin to recognize Magpie as a goddess and she begins to develop an appetite for emotions such as reverence, adoration, and worship. However this has a strange effect on Magpie leaving her euphoric but also confused, aggressive, and more open to Jack’s influence.

Magpie grows destructive, Jack using her to kill many Deadlights for him to collect.

Magpie and Jack lay waste to many towns and cities. Magpie growing increasingly disconnected from reality and unable to control her reality warping powers. Her body begins to slowly break down, losing a stable form.

Peregrine and his family try to have an intervention with Magpie who has become a ball of raw emotion and power. Unable to think clearly, Jack easily convinces her to attack the others. Scaring Peregrine’s face and permanently maiming Kestrel’s leg. When she tries to rip off Sophia's mask Magpie’s hands are severely burned. Snapping her back to reality.

Magpie is overwhelmed and causes an earthquake which kills Casper who had also come to bring her home. I feel like it’s important to note this was all a gamble on Bridgette’s part as this moment could have resulted in the bad ending timeline.

Peregrine rips Jack’s body apart. The lights of his and Magpie’s victims are used to create the chains that bind Magpie to her prison.

Two years later, Vespers and Juno find and begin visiting Magpie who was in a pseudo hibernative state due to her starvation and the damage done to her body.

Jack of course survives and eventually comes across a farm boy who was sent to get help after a monster attacked his family’s livestock. Jack eats the boy whose little sister Marguerite would later be blamed as she is often seen unnatural for her friendship with the local blackbirds and her wild nature.

The monster attacking the family was in fact a newly orphaned Aria. The two girls agreeing to fuse together to stay alive and escaping before Marguerite could be executed.

Three days later The Jackal finds what is now Maggie and on Bridgette’s orders sends the girl to live with Magpie.

I think you get the rest…..

[jawnjendes]

shawn meets... | sapphire

SUMMARY: in the life of a rockstar, shawn mendes comes across some unique people. sometimes, things stray from the norm. (AU, shawn x every one of my oc’s)(continuation/spin off of goth gf)

AN: it REALLY feels like shawnblr is fuckign dead but yknow what its spooky szn so death is acceptable! speaking of spooky, this is another for @fourtristattoos spooky writing fest! i swear im building up to actual spooky stuff pls bear with me oh and theres more smut in this

***let me know if you wanna be added to the taglist

previous chapter

sapphire’s blog | sapphire’s playlist | masterlist

Shawn was quite open to wearing anything these days. He was also open to wearing nothing, but that photoshoot opportunity hasn't come yet, though. But this pastel pink and white suit was a bit much. Actually, the sparkly silver boots were the tackiest part of this getup. Sure, the entire outfit was worth more than all three of his guitars he'd be using during the performance, but he wasn't exactly looking forward to resembling the Had To Do It To 'Em guy when he took off the pink blazer. According to Tiffany, the birthday girl wanted all party entertainers to be in her signature color.

He still hadn't met Sapphire Venus Lilith. This performance was for her, and she hadn't even attended the meetings for it. She was apparently busy with an old friend… catching up in her bedroom. For two straight days.

The yard was full of partygoers already. Tables with hot pink clothes were displayed with all sorts of snacks and drinks. Servers were going around tending to guests, all in pink bowties of course. There was also a raised, pink metallic throne in the middle of the yard, surrounded by 2 burly security guards. The throne was right in front of the stage that Shawn was going to perform on, so he wouldn't miss Sapphire in the crowd. Music was already booming through the large speakers, a Little Mix song that reminded him of a different time. The bass was shaking the window Shawn was looking out of.

“Fan of myself, I’m stanning myself I love me so much I put my hands on myself”

Tiffany was fixing the cuffs on Shawn’s blazer. Anna was doing last minute touch ups to his hair, which was slicked back. It was similar to the 2019 Met Gala, but instead of bronze streaks, it was silver glitter that was definitely going to be a bitch to wash out.

“You nervous?” Tiffany asked.

“Excited,” Shawn corrected. “I missed playing shows.”

“We need to get you on tour again.” She smiled.

“Gotta make a record first.”

There was a sudden knock on the door, making all three of them jump. Shawn made eye contact with Tiffany, and they both chuckled at the ridiculous response.

Anna went to answer, since the door was locked. “It’s probably Andrew, wondering if you’re ready.” She opened the door, and let out a surprised, “Hello! Hi, come on in!”

Just by the change in her tone, it was safe to say it wasn't Andrew who had knocked. Shawn turned to see who had come in, and was first met with a powerful flowery scent, followed by a tall, petite woman.

“Make way for the G-O-double D-E-S-S I spare no enemies in this dress Uh huh, uh huh”

This woman was blonde, curled princess locks cascading down her shoulders. On top of her head was the largest and most extra looking sparkling tiara Shawn had ever seen in his life, but it suited her. Her face was soft with pretty pink lips and piercing blue eyes. Her petite body was clad in a tiny top made of soft pink bedazzles and equally tiny shorts of the same color. There was no other way to describe her as anything but beautiful. Knock-the-wind-out-of-me, step-on-me-in-your-white-Louboutins beautiful.

She was followed by Kat, who was the polar opposite, color wise. Tight black dress, long dark hair in a high ponytail. Unlike her employer, she was not smiling, nor giving Shawn any attention. She merely typed on her phone in a professional manner, the same look Andrew would have when he was texting important people.

Shawn couldn’t even think about the potential awkward tension he would have with Kat because he was too busy gaping at the blonde. How was one person so powerful already?

“Hello, I’m Sapphire,” she greeted, holding out her hand.

Something possessed Shawn the moment he touched her soft skin, and he bent down to kiss her hand.

That seemed to please her, because she grinned, showing the tiniest dimple in her cheek. “You’re my little singer tonight, aren’t you?”

“That’s me,” he replied, almost losing his voice by how much it softened. He really couldn’t stop looking into those eyes. “Happy birthday!”

“Oh thanks, love. I can’t wait to see what you’re gonna do for me.” She was still holding his hand, squeezing ever so slightly.

Shawn’s cheeks heated up so goddamn fast. There was something in those worse, something sickly sweet and intoxicating. “I, uh, I think you’ll like it. I hope you do.”

Sapphire was still smiling as she turned to look at Kat. Wordlessly, the assistant went to Tiffany and Anna, chatting them in on the evening’s events. Then, Sapphire took Shawn by the collar of his blazer and stepped closer to him, her glossy lips at his ear.

“If I really love your gig,” she whispered, “I may give you something extra.”

And yeah, his pants got tighter. Good thing he was going to be holding a guitar all night.

Sapphire leaned back, smoothing the area she had been clinging to. “If it’s okay with you, of course.”

He cleared his throat, trying to calm his body. “Uh, no yeah. Yeah. Yes. Very okay.”

“Wonderful, darling! I’ll see you out there. Come along, KitKat!”

With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, Kat in tow.

Shawn immediately plopped down in the nearest chair, starstruck. He’s never seen nor heard of this girl ever in his life, and somehow she managed to turn him into putty within the first few minutes of meeting him.

“You need anything?” Tiffany asked, trying to mask her amusement. “A glass of water? A cold shower perhaps?”

He blushed even more. He’s never been so flustered so fast, let alone from someone he just met.

“Did I say happy birthday to her?” he asked, dazed.

“Yes,” Anna and Tiffany said at the same time.

Then, Brian entered the room, a dopey grin on his face. “Guess who just met the birthday girl!”

“Shawn did,” Tiffany answered.

Brian’s grin vanished. “What? Man, I thought I was the first one! She’s so…”

“Yeah,” Shawn agreed. Then he got up and took his friend to the side. “Dude, she wants to meet up after my set.”

“No way.”

“I swear.”

“Didn’t you just hook up with her assistant?” Brian asked. “You’d think she caught wind of that.”

Shawn didn’t know, nor did he really care. “That’s why I need you to hit up the assistant. I don’t know if she’s hung up on me or anything and I don’t wanna take that chance.”

Brian made a noise between a scoff and a laugh. “Full of ourselves, are we?”

“Please?” Shawn asked, bringing his hands together.

“Well, what if I want Sapphire and not her stuck up assistant?”

This wouldn’t be the first time Shawn asked Brian to distract a former one night stand. But it was the one time Brian wasn’t agreeing to do it. Shawn put his hands down, surprised and mildly annoyed.

“Kat’s not stuck up, trust me,” he said. “And… Sapphire said she wants me. It’s her choice.”

“I’m not taking your leftovers again, man,” Brian said as he folded his arms. “You always get the girl! Let me have something for once!”

Now Shawn was even more annoyed. “Maybe you’d get something too if-”

“If I was a famous popstar? If I was as good as you?”

“Why are you being such a dick?”

Then, Tiffany stepped in, literally. She stood between Shawn and Brian. “Guys, don’t do this. It’s just one girl.”

Brian ignored her. “I’m being a dick because I’m tired of being an extension of you! I’m being a dick because you’ve taken dates from me! You don’t even give a shit about any of them because you can’t get over-”

“Don’t!” Shawn warned, raising his voice.

Brian narrowed his eyes. “You’re not over Annalise Flores!”

“Who?” Tiffany asked, bewildered.

Paralyzed with anger, Shawn glared at the other man. The man who was supposed to be his friend. Why couldn’t he just do him this solid?

“Get out,” he said venomously.

“You know I’m right,” Brian sneered.

“Get the fuck out!” Shawn yelled.

He scoffed as he stormed out. Shawn huffed out a sigh, wanting to punch something.

“What the hell was that?” Anna asked, utterly confused. “Who’s Annalise Flores?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he grumbled. “Can you bring me Jocelyne?”

One quick shoulder rub and a redress later, Shawn’s disgruntled state eased a little bit. It was enough for him to fully focus on the beautiful lady he had to impress.

~

The set went well. It went great, because not long after leaving the stage, Charles the butler found Shawn and led him up to Sapphire’s bedroom. Shawn didn’t get to see much of the party, but that was very, one hundred percent okay.

Most of the mansion's interior was baby pink, but this was an overload. Shawn wandered around the large, pink bedroom as he waited. The walls were made of soft pink felt, and there was a large, sparkling chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The desk against the wall was the same color, along with the laptop and picture frames sat on the surface. The photos in the frames were only of the girl he was waiting for. There was no room for modesty apparently. Shawn was never not going to think of the birthday girl whenever he saw this color.

He went over to the king size bed, draped with the softest velvet covers he's ever felt. The headboard was a metallic pink… with bars. Shawn couldn't deny how exciting that felt. He really couldn't believe someone as breathtakingly attractive as Sapphire could possibly want him.

"Didn't know it was my birthday," he mumbled with a smirk.

"What was that?" a soft, female voice said from behind him.

Shawn jumped as he turned around. There stood the birthday girl, Sapphire, blue eyes wide and expectant.

"Uh, I, I didn't hear you come in," he stammered. Way to keep your cool.

She smiled warmly, fixing the silk robe she was wearing. She was quick to get out of her tight little party outfit, but she still had that sparkly tiara resting on her head. Shawn couldn’t help but notice the perky little nipples poking through the thing material, only adding to the burn in his pants.

Wordlessly, Sapphire moved past Shawn and crawled onto the bed, letting him get a view of her ass. He was about to follow, but her high heel clad foot landed gently on his chest, stopping him.

"Take off your clothes," she ordered, her voice still soft.

Shawn had a feeling he shouldn't challenge her, even though that was something he grew to love and get off on. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he felt his face and chest grow warm; Sapphire's gaze was intimidating, she didn't even blink. She looked at his face, trailing down his body as he removed more of his performance clothes. Her tongue peeked out of the corner of her mouth as she watched him drop his briefs and step out of them. Shawn felt mildly embarrassed that he was already hard, but just looking at Sapphire's pretty features made him this way. She already possessed him without even doing a single thing.

And somehow, he couldn't tell if she wanted to fuck him or eat him.

"Don't be shy," Sapphire told him as she curled her finger to get him to join her.

She moved to the side and patted the center of the mattress. Shawn crawled onto the surface and lied down against the pillows. The velvet sheets felt incredibly soft against his skin, heightening his senses.

Sapphire traced the butterfly tattoo on his bicep. The tip of her manicured fingernail left a tiny trail of fire on Shawn's skin.

"I'm so glad you were able to sing at my party," she told him. "And I'm glad you stayed."

"Me too," Shawn replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Really, really glad."

"I can tell." She glanced down his body, making him blush.

Shawn really wanted to touch her, feel her, learn what makes her tick. He couldn't wait any longer, and it made him feel incredibly juvenile. He hasn't been so easily wound up since his university days.

"Saph-" he tried to say but a finger went over his lips.

"Shh, I know, baby boy." She leaned in close, her nose touching his ear. "I know what you want." Then she gently cupped his chin and turned his head towards hers. "I just need to know how far you're willing to go."

Shawn could barely hear himself. "As far as you want."

Sapphire's glossy pink lips curved up as she leaned in closer. Shawn closed his eyes, taking in her intoxicating flowery scent, craning his neck in the slightest, and then he felt her lips press the quickest kiss on his cheek.

He didn't even have time to breathe before she was straddling his thighs. Smooth hands went up his torso and rested on his broad shoulders, and she was hovering over him. Shawn lifted his hands to cup her pretty face, but she was much faster than him. Sapphire grabbed his wrists and pinned them down.

"No touching," she told him, her voice still soft and borderline innocent. "Understand?"

Shawn nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

She cupped his chin once again, her blue eyes piercing his brown ones. "Use your words."

"I understand."

"Good boy." She patted his cheek. Then, she moved down his body, to his hard cock.

Breathing out, Shawn braced himself for what was about to happen. His eyes fluttered shut as a soft, warm tongue ran up the length, and then his whole cock was engulfed by her soft mouth. His immediate instinct was to place his hands in Sapphire's hair, but he had to follow her single rule. But she also had a lot of pretty blonde hair, and it was covering her face. Shawn couldn't see her mouth move on him, and he really wanted to.

Just as he lifted his hand, Sapphire sat up again, taking in a breath. She looked Shawn in the eyes as she wiped the corner of her mouth.

"I know you wanna touch me," she muttered. "But you'll have to prove that you're gonna listen to me."

He nodded rapidly, and then she was going down on him again. Shawn breathed out a soft moan at the feeling, his fingers curling around the silk sheets. It felt amazing, way too good to be real. His toes curled as he felt her mouth suction lightly, tingles spreading all throughout his body. Tiny little whimpers came out of him as the tingles persisted, causing Sapphire's blue eyes to flicker up to him as she pulled off once again.

"You are so cute," she said, reaching up to cup his chin. "Most guys don't like to make little noises like that. Keep it up."

He couldn't stop the sounds even if he tried.

Sapphire sat up and turned her body, straddling Shawn's thighs. She pushed her robe back from the bottom, letting the smooth material spread over her partner's torso. Shawn felt his cock on her ass, and resisted the urge to move his hips up. He had to be good, had to do exactly what she said.

"So, what do you prefer, little one?" she asked, moving her ass back and rubbing against his cock. "I'm on the pill, but I have condoms here if you want that."

"Mm, no condom," he answered a little too quickly, feeling the need for relief.

Her head turned, so he could see her perfectly sculpted eyebrow quirk a little bit. Then, she sat up on her knees, taking hold of the base and swiftly sinking down on it. She let out a little hiss, and remained still in that position.

"You oka-" Shawn almost got out before choking on his words.

Sapphire very quickly recovered and started bouncing on him. For a moment, the only sound was their skin slapping together, until she pinched his thigh.

“Where are my little sounds, little one?” she asked between pants.

Shawn found himself blushing yet again. What was with that nickname? What did that say about what she thought of him? He was about to ask, but he saw the back of Sapphire’s robe fall, exposing her skin. She was naked under that little robe, and she wasn’t letting him see anything. It was a tease, and only drove him further, causing a little moan to bubble past his mouth.

“That’s it,” she praised, leaning forward on her hands so as to get better leverage. She was practically twerking on his cock, making him want to grab the plump cheeks.

Obscene noises of their skin slapping and Shawn's moaning filled up the room. Sapphire was incredibly talented with her hips, keeping the rhythm steady, and she didn't stop or slow down. The coil in Shawn's abdomen was tightening more and more every minute, making his heart race and his breath hitch.

He rested his hands behind his head, eyes squeezed shut from the feeling. Fuel to the fire were Sapphire's first sounds of the evening. Shawn picked his head up and noticed her arm moving rhythmically in front of her, and he immediately knew what she was doing. God, he wanted see that, and she probably knew that too. She probably picked this position on purpose.

Even after a shaky orgasm, Shawn was still thinking about the ways he wanted to take her. All the things he wanted to do with her. His body was weak and sweaty, and he was catching his breath while Sapphire fixed her robe and plopped down next to him.

Like Kat, she still looked well put together, like all she did was go for a casual stroll. Not even sweating or panting. Sapphire did all the work and all she did was dab at her leftover lip gloss with her finger afterwards.

Shawn was a little confused at this. Why was he the only fucked out mess here? He lifted a hand, his fingers gently touching Sapphire's blonde locks to get her attention.

"Was that good for you?" he asked.

She nodded with a smile. "You did everything right, babe." Then, she took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, and she lied her head on his chest. "Hell, I might even keep you here a bit longer than planned."

Whatever the fuck that meant, Shawn didn't really give a shit. Looking down at the beautiful socialite in his arms, he realized he wasn't prepared to leave either. And he certainly wasn't thinking of Brian, or his ex-girlfriend.

next chapter

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taglist: @normalcyisoverrated-beyou @justordinaryjen @chillingbythesea @iloveshawnieboi @shawnsunflower @someoneunimportantxx

[smutfornerds]

A Little Push // Harry x Reader x HR

A/N: If you think this is a Wells overload... just wait for what I have in store for y’all soon. 😇 for now please enjoy this fiery mess of Wells duo goodness!! I know I did tbh!!

—

“The stark difference between you and I my friend—“ “We aren’t friends.” One man overlapped the other as they continued to squabble. “Okay, rude, but. That major difference is, that I know what I want and I’ll actually allow myself to have it.” HR paused now with a coy smile on his lips as he glanced at you. He brought his coffee cup up towards his lips as he spoke again. “And I will gladly chase what it is I want until it’s mine. You however, run the opposite direction with your little tail between your legs.” He slurped his coffee with excessive noise just to irk the other version of himself. Harry’s lips were pursed tightly in a line and his arms were crossed rigidly across his sweatered chest. He didn’t say a word but his eyes had become dangerously narrowed at HR. Before tensions rose too high Cisco stood from his computer chair and clapped once. “What I really want right now is some Big Belly Burger. Care to join me? Anyone?” He motioned to each of the Wells’ and you and Barry, who were both lingering in the lab waiting for his test results.

Finally breaking focus from the computer screen you looked up to find all three males were looking directly at you. Giving a small smile you shrugged. “I could go for some fries and a shake, I can’t leave until this blood test is ran though.” You turned back to see a repressive 56% flashing at you above the slow moving progress bar. Harry’s lip curled up at the way your brows furrowed when you were frustrated. Catching the smallest of changes in his demeanor, HR grinned in your direction. “Oh I’d be more than happy to hand deliver to such a hard working woman.” He strolled over to you and placed his hand on your back gently, grabbing your attention to look up at his bright smile. It was infectious and you couldn’t help but give a matching one in return. “Thanks, HR. As sweet as always.” The male beamed proudly at the compliment and pecked your cheek knowing Harry’s gaze had never faltered from you. The hint of a blush that graced your cheeks only fueled him further.

Keeping his hand to your skin he turned his body to face Cisco. “Do your thing, Francisco, we mustn’t keep the lady waiting!” His voice raised and boomed throughout the room causing you to giggle softly. As much as Harry was melting HR with his stare, it softened when he heard your laugh. It floated into his ears and released the tension in his shoulders, unclenched his jaw. Just watching the smile on your face helped his muscles relax. Once Cisco opened the breach, HR happily made his way over to it with a tip of his hat. Within an instant they were gone and you turned back to the screen. Over your shoulder you heard Barry chuckle and you quirked a brow at him without looking away from the slowly ticking percentage, now reading 60. Leaning back in his chair Barry shook his head before motioning to Harry. Reluctantly breaking your blinking contest with the monitor your eyes landed on the flustered scientist. He was muttering unintelligible words and profanities under his breath as he ruffled papers and slammed tools on the table before him.

“Wonder what’s got his feathers ruffled this time.” You muttered mindlessly only for Barry to scoff and cause you to turn again. “As if it isn’t obvious.” He stated matter-of-factly. Gauging the confused expression you responded with Barry’s eyebrows raised in disbelief. “Oh, come on, you don’t know?” He sat forward now, as if he was excited about this opportunity to enlighten you. Simply shaking your head you turned to him fully now. “I don’t even know what I don’t know, Barry. And I’m usually one of the smarter ones.” From the other room Harry clattered a screwdriver to the table with another grumble before the speedster next to you explained in a more hushed tone. “That argument Harry and HR have been in all this week? That’s about you.” The words left his lips but for a moment or two you didn’t fully hear them. You just digested them for a while before it really hit you. Briefly you opened your mouth to speak but no words came out, and you just closed it again with a small huff out your nose. Noticing your flustered response he gave you a playful grin. “Don’t know which one to choose, huh?” As soon as he’d spoke a breach opened in the Cortex again and HR and Cisco appeared with bags of food and trays of drinks.

“They accidentally gave us an extra burger.” Cisco stated with a shrug. Immediately Harry perked up. “Dibs.” Him and HR said in unison before their eyes hit each other. Harry shook his head and held a hand out but HR just walked the opposite direction to keep his word of hand delivery. He held the bag out to you, the other hand holding your shake. “Since it’s with her food, we let the dame decide.” Out the corner of your eye you saw Barry cover a laugh with his hand. You glanced between both iterations of Wells’. Unable to contain himself, the speedster interjected. “Yeah, who deserves to get it?” He worded the sentence carefully as to hint at you but not the others, and your face tinted a shade close to his suit. Before you could say anything the computer beeped loudly to alert you the test was done and caused you to jump. Barry finally burst out in a fit of laughter, gained confusing looks from the other three in the room. “I-I need to get to this.” You stated taking the shake and bag from HR’s extended hands. “Thank you for this.” You smiled softly at him and shot a gentle glance to Harry who was already staring intently at you, until you met his eyes when he quickly averted them with a clearing of his throat. You walked rather quickly out of the Cortex to go eat and collect your thoughts downstairs.

Munching on the fries your mind was all over the place. What did Barry even mean, they were fighting over you? When had you ever been something to get upset over? Just as your thoughts began to swallow you, there was a light knock on the doorframe. Spinning around you faced an unusually nervous looking Harry, a hand shoved in his pocket and the other rubbing at the back of his neck. “Uh, hey, Allen told me to come get you.” Mentally you envisioned smacking Barry with so many different large objects. Harry took a step forward and gestured to your bag of food. “Mind if I steal that?” A smile fell across your lips now. This man was hopelessly addicted to Big Belly Burger. You held the bag up, tilting your head at him. “What’s in it for me?” You teased and it brought a smirk to the man’s features. “I’ll owe you a favor.” He stated taking another small step your way with an expectant hand out. A few rather raunchy thoughts hit your brain and you felt your face flush, handing the burger over while averting your eyes from his.

Harry hummed happily at the food, wasting no time to unwrap it and take a bite. You pretended to busy yourself at your laptop, bending over the table and chair next to you to scroll through the bloodwork again mindlessly. All you could really think of at the moment were that Harry’s eyes were still glued to you. The scientist simply leaned against the desk, eyes roaming over your figure as he daydreamed about all the places he wanted to touch you. A loud and unnerving set of rattling noises barreled down the hallway and jolted you both from your staring. Not a second later HR entered the room with a beaming grin. Harry rolled his eyes and shoved another large bite of food in his mouth. “Ah, the genius at work!” The bubbly man walked right past Harry, coming to settle himself in the chair you’d been leaning against moments ago. “Caitlin said you’d be in here. I just came to admire you.” His words brought a tint to your cheeks and you couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, shaking your head as you motioned to your computer. “Nothing extravagant, just testing meta DNA for dark matter. Caitlin’s done it a million times but I’m still nailing it.”

The phrase echoed in your mind and you silently hoped neither of them caught it, but hope wasn’t strong enough today. Harry quirked a brow playfully at you while stealing a sip of your milkshake, slurping the drink to make sure he grabbed your attention first. HR eyed Harry for a split second before they darted to you, but down your body rather than directly to your face. “I’m sure you’ll have no problems with that.” He purred, eyes still traveling back up your curves. He didn’t meet your gaze until the last syllable, even then lingering on your lips for a split second before. Simultaneously you and Harry both cleared your throats, yours to attempt to control your mind and him in attempt to clear the air of HR’s charm. Trying to regain composure you leaned over the desk again and narrowed your eyes at your computer. “I uh, I really should be getting back this—“ before you finished HR held a hand up and quickly motioned it for you to come to him. “Here, here, I won’t bother you anymore, I’m just so curious about all this you know?” He innocently shrugged before leaning back in the chair, patting his lap for you to have a seat.

The man didn’t waste a moment waiting for you to give in. Rolling over behind you and sweeping your feet up, just for you to land comfortably on his thigh. Again your cheeks burned pink but you swallowed the dryness in your throat before refocusing on the coding in front of you. From the other side of the table Harry clenched his jaw, his chest puffing out from behind his tight jumper. Noticing your throat gulp as you got to work he took the excuse to make his way to you with your shake still in his hands. He comes to your left side, keeping his distance from his doppelgänger on your right and placing a hand on your shoulder gently. You glance up at him and he tilts the shake in your direction about an inch from your face. “Oh, thanks.” You smile sweetly and raise a hand to take it but he retracts it with a shake of his head. “Work, I got you.” He nods to you as you place your hand back down on the keyboard and he positions the straw to your lips. You can’t help but notice the drink being nearly level with his waist. In the back of your mind the raciest thoughts flood you and threaten to flood elsewhere. Involuntarily your thighs twitch against HR’s lap and he perks up ever so slightly at the feeling. You keep your eyes to your screen as you sip. Harry’s crystal blues stayed locked on you as you sip from the drink in his hand, watching intently as you lick your lips before swallowing. He takes in a deep and slow breath at the sight as his mind grows lustful. Below you, HR had placed his hand softly on your waist to brace you as you type. Your skin burns hot knowing they’re both simply watching you, and you wonder where their minds have wandered and if it’s to the same taboo recesses of the brain that you’ve dived into.

Finding yourself distracted you end up slipping and typing an x where the code called for a c. Harry immediately catches it and leans over your shoulder to point to the smallest of mistakes. “Right there.” His voice is raspy next to your ear and you can’t help but envision the words leaving his lips while you please him rather than this mundane scenario. Again, your legs clench against HR and he clears his throat this time, the hand on your waist opting to grip a little harder at you as he sits up on your opposite side. Your fingers are frozen for a moment as your mind races, both of the men’s colognes battling for dominance of your senses. Admittedly they mix together well to form a sweet yet musky combination. Lost in your own troublesome thoughts it was no wonder you didn’t hear footsteps approach. From the doorway you simply heard a stifled laugh that sprang you out of your dreamland.

Eyes snapping up you saw Barry standing smugly in the hall with his hands in his pockets. The smile on his face made you glare and it only widened in return. “Hey guuuyys.” The speedster spoke in sing song, eyes darting between the closely set three of you. “How’s it goin’ in here?” Barry took a step in and cut the tension with his entrance. HR spoke up, naturally. “Just watching her type her fingers to the bone. She really works too much, BA.” Harry stands fully and places a hand on your shoulder again, this time his touch feeling much hotter than the last. “For once he’s not wrong. You seem pretty drained. Why don’t I take you home?” His words are much more forward than you’re used to from the scientist, and even Barry’s eyebrows raise from the suggestion. Finally standing from HR’s lap he does the same from the chair, keeping his hand planted in your side rivaling Harry’s on your shoulder. Before you can speak the author pipes in. “Oh no, I insist, Harry you must have important projects you’re invested in. Let me walk her.”

Glancing between the two of them you finally fully believed what Barry had been saying. How could you deny it when quite literally, here they were fighting over who would walk you out. Thankfully before you had to answer Barry stepped forward with his hand raised. “Actually fellas,” he paused as both men’s heads snapped to him. “Caitlin sent me to get her, she wants to go over some weird gross blood sample we got from last night.” He shrugged and made a face at the thought of it and you mentally thanked the powers that be for not making you endure this fight any more. You glanced between the two of them and smiled. “I’m gonna.. go..” Words weren’t forming in your usually quick acting brain. Shimmying past them you rounded the corner, but not before Barry could land another teasing look at you. Once you reached the end of the long hallway you simply leaned against the wall to take a deep and calming breath. You’d walked much hastier than you’d intended and were a bit winded. The elevator doors beeped open finally and you stepped inside to head back up to the med-bay.

Greeting Caitlin with the best smile you could force she squinted at you immediately. “Why are you so flushed?” She asked in her quizzical doctor-esque tone. Rolling your eyes you shrugged a bit. “Just.. guy stuff.” Not wanting to admit your problem you blushed a shade deeper. With a silent nod her eyes traveled behind you momentarily and a knowing smile spread across her features. “Ahh, I see..” Finally following her gaze you turned to find Harry and HR in the Cortex now, both men looking rather frazzled and throwing snide comments back and forth. Again you sighed, this one much more exasperated than the last. “I’m so screwed..” you whined and hung your head dramatically. Beside you the other woman giggled a bit. “Only if you’re lucky.” She teased causing you to whine again covering your face with your hands.

The rest of the evening you avoided the Wells’ like no other. If either of them entered the room you magically now needed a tool in a different area. They could tell you had grown tired of their fussing so they both pulled back for a while. All that pacifist nature went out the window however when Barry waltzed into the lounge with both men trailing shortly behind. “I’m just saying fellas, if you want something badly enough you’ll do whatever it takes to get it.” He stopped about a foot from the platform holding the couches, you sitting tucked in the corner of one of them. As soon as he saw your mortified expression he grinned, turning on his heels and waving. “Well I’m off.” He whistled as he took two normal paced steps and whizzed off and out the building. Looking anywhere but Harry and HR you pretended to be busy with your laptop again. How many times could you get away with that? Apparently not enough.

Harry strode over and sat next to you, leaning over to see your screen. This time however you didn’t have coding pulled up, you’d simply been scrolling through your files mindlessly in an attempt to look preoccupied. “Looking for something specific? Or just killing time?” He asked with a hint of playfulness behind it you weren’t used to from him. HR noticed the tone of his voice and quickly hurried to lean over the edge of the couch. He didn’t say a word but kept his eyes fixated on your lips as you spoke up. “I-I uh, I was looking for uh—“ You blinked trying to think of a lie. “A log of metahuman dark matter radiation levels that shows the range of and could possibly help us calculate the mile by mile surface area of their powers.” You muttered out in one breath, clicking through the endless folders now. Both men nodded and you hoped you’d covered effortlessly enough to get them to leave you alone but that was a pipe dream at best. Hope still wasn’t pulling through today. Harry leaned back on the couch and let his arm fall behind you, resting just above your shoulders not quite wrapping around them.

From above you HR cleared his throat and pointed slowly to your screen. “Now what exactly does one find..” his finger stopped on one file in particular and you froze as he delivered the final words. “In a folder labeled ‘intimates’?” Immediately Harry found where the other was pointing and licked his lips at the very idea. Mortified you tried to think of something, anything, to say. Opening your mouth to speak Harry just shook his head and snatched your computer right from your lap. A loud gasp filled your lungs and you squirmed to try to take it back but HR leaned over you and kept your arms pinned away from Harry. Being the true gentlemen he was he looked down at you with raised brows, and you simply sighed and nodded. Admittedly you kind of wanted them to see, show them what they were really fighting over. Once gaining your consent the earth-2 man clicked once, opening the array of sultry pictures of yourself you’d stored away from anyone’s eyes but your own. Well, until now.

All three of you went rigid, and you could feel how absolutely hot your face was. Both men’s eyes were zoned in on the photos of you, some in lingerie, some.. not. Your mind trailed back to the day you’d taken them; a bit too much wine and your computer’s timed camera aided in the photo shoot. HR whistled slowly and Harry simply grunted in response, nodding with his teeth nibbling his bottom lip. Realizing he still had your arms, HR rubbed them softly while he stepped around to Harry’s side to scroll through the photos. It was intoxicating watching their breathing quicken, their eyes sparkle just a little more with each one. You couldn’t help the twinge of a smile on your face watching them go from so hostile to so amicable in the course of a second. At the sight of them bonding over the laptop a thought struck your mind, before flowing through you and taking over your body. With both of them distracted you slinked your jacket off your shoulders and dropped it to the floor with a thud. The pair jumped and eyes locked on you, Harry placing your computer beside him on the coffee table. Without the coverage they could easily see your cleavage now, and your shoulders past the thin straps of your blue tank top. The strap of your black bra contrasted against your skin and only drew their eyes in further. Even just the smallest bit more skin showing was enough to entice them. As different as they were, they were both still men.

A nanosecond passed before HR lurched forward to steal a kiss, his hands bracing your face and blocking any sight of the other man behind him. Your eyes fluttered closed and you slowly gave in to him, God was he a good kisser. His tongue parted your lips to curl against yours before he’d pulled away. Instead of looking down at you he beamed smugly at his lookalike. “Now how hard was that?” He teased, but Harry barely heard him. The scientist was already closing the gap between the two of you with an impatient quickness. His kiss was harder, as if he was putting everything he had into it. Harry let a hand fall to your thigh while the other held the crook of your neck. His lips moved slowly but every movement was precise. The way his tongue slid out against your lower lip made you melt into him immediately. A small sigh fell into the kiss and Harry felt his pants growing much tighter.

Upon seeing the other man’s hold on you HR took action, bringing his lips to the exposed side of your neck to pepper your skin with teasing love bites and kisses. The sudden contact made you gasp and squeal softly, and you felt both their lips curling into smirks against the bits of you they occupied. Harry’s hand began sliding up your thigh while HR slid his hand around your back to fiddle with your bra clasp, and almost instantly you leaned back to break the kiss and catch both their attention. Reaching out to them, you placed a gentle hand on both their chests. Your eyes bounced back and forth as you spoke. “Clearly none of us want to stop,” you began, lowering your voice from your normal tone to one much softer but dripping with lust. They were drinking up every word and simply gazed their striking eyes at you until you continued. “But I’m gonna need you two to play nice..” your tone feigned innocence but you let your fingers graze down their chests. HR nodded enthusiastically before you’d even finished speaking. Harry however was drawing in a slow and deep breath to fill his lungs.

The other male took that opportunity to steal your lips again, and you gripped Harry’s shirt in your hand tightly. Feeling his chest tense at the sight of you kissing HR, you took it to your advantage and leaned into the contact letting your chest press against his and a small audible sigh brush past his lips. The eager male groaned against you and pushed to lay you against the couch, but you moved to break the kiss and his lips simply traveled down your neck again. Still keeping tight hold of Harry’s jumper you brought your eyes back to him, biting down on your lower lip you purposefully whined out at HR’s nips to your skin. The eye contact and sweet noise were all Harry needed to crack. In an instant his slightly chapped lips were against yours again, wasting no time parting your lips to fervently massage his tongue with yours. Again you sighed and the noise made both men grunt softly, their movements picking up intensity in hopes of eliciting more of those beautiful sounds from you.

HR sunk his teeth into you particularly sharply, gaining a strained moan at the unexpected sting. Knowing it wasn’t for him, Harry sighed angrily out his nose while his hands found your waist to fiddle with your jeans. Noticing the other’s movements HR detached from your skin to help strip you of your offensively still-on-your-body clothing. Only breaking the kiss for a brief second Harry let you sit up into his lap to remove them finally. You tugged at his sweater again, a playful grin rising to his lips as he slowly pulled it off, and the lack of undershirt made you silently thank him for skipping that step of his outfit today. Taking the hint HR flung his tee shirt across the room, finding your back again to unclip your bra in one swift movement. You glanced up at him with a quirked brow and he grinned back proudly with those beautiful dimples. Before you could make a move, Harry brought his hands to the hem of your shirt and practically ripped it off you. Quickly after your bra fell into his lap and he let his eyes fall to it before slowly roaming them up your figure, all the whole his tongue tracing his lower lip.

“Even better in 3D..” he mumbled in reference to your photos. You felt a twinge of pink hit your cheeks and swallowed it by crashing your lips to his again. Your bare chests just barely brushed and the contact sent a chill over Harry’s skin. Behind you HR began kissing up your shoulder to your neck, ever few pecks lingering a bit to let his teeth graze your skin. His warm hands roamed down your sides and around to graze your breasts a bit before he bit down again, simultaneously beginning to roll your nipples between his finger and thumb. Another sharp whine fell into your kiss with Harry, HR chuckling darkly against your now purple bite mark. Unable to help yourself your hands wandered to Harry’s pants to pop the button open. Immediately you palmed at his hardness through his boxers, gaining a low groan from him. At the sound you broke from the kiss, only to snatch his lower lip between your teeth, tugging him to sip up with you as he pulled in a slow gasp between clenched teeth. His eyes darted behind you to the other male and he simply nodded his head up at him, and he clutched your waist to pull you from Harry’s lap. Your brows raised as he set you back down, both men opting to discard their jeans as quickly as they could, almost as if it were a race to see who could get back to you first.

Just to tease - encourage - them, you nibbled at your lip and trailed a hand slowly down the center of your chest, seductively moving lower to hover at your panty line. The sight distracted Harry more than he’d like to admit and he fumbled with getting his jeans off his feet a moment. Finally stripped he was ready to climb on top of you when HR beat him to it, immediately hovering over you with his arms bracing the back of the couch. “You’ve been a naughty little thing today..” His voice was raspy and deliciously low. As he spoke Harry settled in next to you and brought his hand directly to your inner thigh while he chimed in. “So happy to let us see you. Why was that?” His hand traveled to your center and he felt your wetness through your panties, eyebrows raising with a soft hum. “Could that be why?” He leaned his face next to your shoulder, his lips ghosting your skin as he rubbed you gently through the fabric.

A whine trickled from your lips and HR finally covered them with his. Not letting a second go to waste Harry slid his fingers against you to find your clit, pressing firmly to elicit another moan from your lips. HR groaned in response to it and coiled his tongue around yours while Harry began rubbing you in firm zigzags. Before you could control yourself your hips twitched into his hand and you heard him hum again next to you. A hand reached out above you to grip the novelists’ bicep, the other clutching to Harry’s wrist in any attempt to slow him down, but they weren’t letting you have control anymore. Harry growled into your neck, dipping to your skin to bite just above the mark HR had left. His fingers circled your throbbing nerves and drew a much louder moan from you now. The sound made HR’s breath hitch and he broke from the kiss to watch as you squirm beneath him. Noticing the other man had left your lips, Harry aggressively shoulder checked him off you to crash into your frame. He pushed his chest tightly to your own and pressed harder to your clit as he kissed you. A string of gasps and whines left you and you brought a hand out to find HR’s bare thigh beside you.

Eyes still locked closed as Harry kissed you, you felt the other man line himself up into your hand. Without a second thought you began stroking him slowly. Your free hand found Harry’s hair and gave it a sharp tug making a growl rumble from his chest. Quickly he began flicking his fingers against your clit, your hips twitching and jerking against his hand. The knot in your abdomen became rock hard, and you chest heaved with each panting breath your drew in. The faster Harry played with you the faster your hand worked at HR’s length. Beside you he groaned out rather loudly, finally catching the man above you’s attention. He followed your arm up to the other before snapping back to you. “Well that’s just not fair now is it..” he drawled with a faint growl. Taking your panties in his previously busy fingers he pulled them swiftly from your body, lowering his boxers with the same hand. You whined at the lack of stimulation to your mound but weren’t aching for it for long. Harry entered you urgently, giving you no time to warm up before filling you. With your back arching off the couch you lost your grip on HR, a loud cry echoing through the room.

Both men watched in awe of your pleasures moans and faces. Soon Harry set a rhythmic pace, bucking his hips up into you with every thrust. Your eyes squeezed closed tightly at the feeling of him hitting your every inner inch. The sight was enough to make HR groan and you remembered you’d left him hanging. As Harry continued his hips, you reached over to grip the earth-19 man’s erection again. Matching pace with how you were being thrusted into you let your hand move along with your body. Quickly the room was filled with sweet high pitched moans and low grunts and groans from the three of you. A particularly shaky whine came from you as your hips began to shake. Harry looked down at you through his clouded eyes, panting almost in sync with you. “H-Harder..” you managed between breaths and it made Harry’s skin burn red hot. HR’s eyes went wide and his hips bucked slightly in your hand. You began to stroke him much faster, and soon Harry’s thrusts followed.

Feeling your walls clenching against his girth made Harry groan slowly, the sound strained like he was trying to keep it together. Noticing how close you were, HR bent over the side of the couch to bring a hand to your clit. He pressed harshly and rubbed erratic circles which caused you to gasp for any more air in your lungs, your hips involuntarily twitching up into Harry’s. With your hand still stroking him HR shuddered slightly at the feeling of how wet you were. For half a second jealously fell over him that Harry got to feel it for himself but it was quickly overshadowed when your thumb began rubbing matching circles to his top as he was to your clit. A guttural moan erupted from his throat and he didn’t last much longer. His hips twitched a few times as he spilled himself into your hand, the warm feeling giving you a bit of a confidence boost as he caught his breath.

All the while Harry was clenching the muscles in his arms tightly, his grip on your hips surely to bruise you but you hadn’t a care in the world. Once he regained composure HR came around behind you, his hands roaming down your chest. One stopped there to massage your breast, the other dipping back to your clit and rubbing merciless tight circles. His voice came right to your ear as he whispered. “He wants you to come first.. such a gentlemen.” Your eyes popped open to look up at Harry. The way his veins popped out of his neck, every muscle in his body was tensed. HR was right; he was fighting his release to wait for you. A sudden rush of emotion mixed with your euphoria at the idea of it. Never once had a man so badly wanted to please you. Any walls you were still holding up fell instantly when his eyes locked to yours. He gave one last harsh thrust that hit your core, just as HR bit down on your skin again and swirled his fingers relentlessly. The multiple points of pleasure sent you over the cliff edge.

Feeling how you clenched and released against him Harry let out a hard and shaky breath, along with his climax as you rode out your own. He gave a few more jerky thrusts as the two of you slowed your movements to a stop. Finally removing his arms from around you, HR placed a final kiss to your shoulder and playful squeeze to your chest. A lazy huff of a laugh left you and your head fell back against the couch as you steadied your breathing. Harry leaned down to place contrastingly gentle and lingering kisses from your chest up to your jaw. “Fuck you’re gorgeous..” he muttered against your skin. A smile crept to your lips and you brought a hand up to the back of his neck to hold him close to you a little longer. Around you you could hear HR getting dressed and finally Harry sat up when he felt the other throw clothes on his back.

Glancing to the other male you smiled sheepishly, about to apologize for giving Harry more of you when he held a hand up. “Before you say anything, this was for him.” He motioned to the other male. “Well, mostly.” He shrugged and gestured to his crotch slightly with a wry smile. Harry turned to him as he pulled his jeans on and your brow furrowed a bit. “How so..?” You questioned gently. HR handed you your tank top before explaining. “I just knew he needed a little push. And what better motivator to get something you want than some friendly competition?” He flashed that same bright smile and a wink in Harry’s direction. You watched a blush rise to his cheeks, and with a tip of his hat and a skip HR was gone, drumming the walls down the hallway and whistling contently. You were sliding your panties back up when Harry finally turned to you.

“So, uh..” he started, rubbing a hand across his chest as he thought over his words. “You don’t like him, do you?” He blurted finally and you couldn’t help the giggle that came out at how cute he was when he was jealous. You stood, still pantless, and wrapped your arms around his bare torso. “You might all look the same but there’s only one Wells that I’m actually into.” You paused and pecked his lips softly. “And it’s definitely not him.” Harry grinned down at you and brought his hands to cup your cheeks. “Thank fucking god. He’s so annoying.” You rolled your eyes with a smile as he kissed you again, and again, and again. Finally he pulled back just an inch with a smirk gracing his gorgeous features. The same lustful glint was to his eyes now and it made your stomach flutter. “He’s never gonna touch you again.” Punctuating the word with his lips on yours he backed you over to the couch to start another round of proving which Wells you belonged to.

[almondmelkk]

Tips For College

A little back story on me. I attended college right out of high school for mechanical engineering. I was an AP student, good grades but I HATED school. Shortly into engineering school I dropped out because that wasn’t what I wanted at that point in my life. Long story short, I pursued another career (which I’m still happy I did). Eventually I decided to go back to school and quickly discovered I no longer hated school but in fact LOVED it! I’ve been able to maintain a 4.0 and continue to work. My goals are now to become a registered dietitian which requires a masters degree (and then after that I want my PhD in nutrition), at least a bachelors degree in Kinesiology, next semester I’ll be getting my associates in culinary arts 👩🏼‍🍳, and then maybe even a degree in photography because I’ve already taken a few classes. A few years ago I honestly thought I would always just be a college dropout, so it’s crazy to me that I now have these goals.

Here’s my tips on how to be successful in college

Show up to class!!!!!!! This is the most important tip I can possibly give. For a lot of students, college is their first time experiencing independence and not being forced to go to school. So they just don’t show up! Attendance can be part of your grade. Those are easy points that your missing out on if you don’t show up. Even if attendance isn’t counted (and more importantly) your missing out on info!! It’s way easier to just show up to class and listen, than to try and catch up on the info yourself. Plus a lot of professors while teaching will also hint at important info that may be on tests. I could go on and on but the point is just SHOW UP TO CLASS!

Don’t procrastinate. This ones obvious and I think we all already know that. At the very least, look at the parameters of the assignments because sometimes if you wait till last minute you’ll screw yourself if the assignment entails more than you thought.

Get organized. I like to color code everything. This means I have a colored binder for every class with a matching colored notebook. I use three ring binders and notebooks with 3 hole punches so I can put them in the notebook. Because I have classes from multiple majors it’s easy to look at “green” and know that Kinesiology, “black” culinary arts, “blue” photography, etc.

Take notes even if it’s not required. A lot of professors are insulted and get angry if you don’t take notes (which usually means more students take notes). But there’s also a lot of professors that don’t care, your grade and work ethic is on you. In those classes, most everyone just sits there and stares at the proffessor and never writes anything down. Taking notes is a great way to help retain information. Also, I use one of those 4 color pens. For me it’s just easier to look at notes where main points and sub points are in different colors. It helps me to find info faster when going over notes.

Get every point possible. I guess this one depends on your standards and expectations. For me, I’ve become a freak about my grades. I want the highest grade possible at all times! I think this is a good rule for any student though because you never know what’s going to happen! There’s times when you can be sittin pretty on an A and then boom a bad exam and you have a C now. The last thing you want is that to happen and you don’t pass the class. I also find that trying to get every point possible is a great way to alleviate stress during the finals. It gives you a little cushion so that your not borderline a grade you don’t want. So even the stupid little 5point assignments, do them! If extra credit is offered, do it even if you don’t need it. You never know.

Get to know your professors if possible!! I’m not saying kiss ass but be nice and talk to them. Theyre just people. Knowing your professors can open up a lot of doors and opportunities. Maybe down the road you need a letter or recommendation. It can also help with your grade. This last semester I got to know my photography professor and told him how I just enjoyed the class and was only taking it for fun. I also told him how I had a 4.0 and I was seriously stressing that the class was going to blow it for me because I had a B that seemed impossible to bring up. I did extra credit, I busted my ass, barely got it up to an A and he saw that. I definitely think that helped influence my grade on the final because if he had given me one point less, I would have gotten a B.

Figure out your professors teaching/testing style as fast as you can. Now this isn’t about getting to know them personally but figure out how they like to run their class. Every teacher has a system of how they like to grade and also how they like to present info. Are they getting test questions from the book, their power points, or things they say? There’s times where I don’t even bother with the book because professors create tests using only info in the power points.

Balance your schedule with easy classes and hard classes. This isn’t always possible but if you can don’t overload yourself. It’s super easy to do while your working on your initial general eds but harder to do once you get into your core classes

If there’s a study guide, DO IT! This seems so obvious to me but it always blows my mind how many students never do study guides.

(Especially if you work) try to give yourself a day off. This doesn’t have to mean don’t do anything including homework but just make sure there’s at least one day a week where you don’t have to go to school or work. This last semester I had basically no free time at all. It was horrible. I didn’t see friends or family hardly ever. Balance is key.

[andtheywereroom-mates]

inspo: I Know Those Eyes/This Man is Dead

Although he didn’t particularly like Midgard, the god of Mischief had to admit it was much better than the stuffy cell on Asgard. Stark’s penchant for the grandiose allowed him much more room to explore and many more opportunities to slip through the cracks unnoticed.

"Loki.” Mischievous eyes dart back to the scowling face of his brother, Thor. “Are you even listening to me?”

The trickster rolls his eyes. “Of course, brother: no trying to escape, no trying to murder people, generally no fun of any kind. I get the picture.” he retorts with a grimace.

Thor searches Loki’s face for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He wants to trust him, truly, but he’s been fooled too many times by his blind faith. “Tony says there are others who reside here with the Avengers. Try not to give them more reason to send you back into that cell.”

Loki gives him an indifferent shrug. Thor hesitates a moment, standing stiffly in front of the door to the common area. There is so much he wants to say--about their mother, about everything that has happened between them since the last time they were in this place--but with a final nod he opens the door instead. Loki was growing accustomed to the rift increasing between the two of them; this measured silence between them is just another signal of their alienation.

“Stark!” Thor booms, coaxing the inventor out from the recesses of the immense loft.

“Reindeer Games! And just in time for Christmas. Ready to kiss and make up?” Tony calls as he emerges from around the corner, giving the god a once-over as he comes to stop in front of him.

Loki responds with a sardonic smile. He was not fond of being passed around like a bargaining chip, yet here he was. Perhaps at last this would be enough a show of good faith to win back his brother’s favor, if only for a time.

As they are guided through the many wings of the Tower, Loki tunes out as Thor and Tony discuss the details of their arrangement, thoughts receding into his own musings. He ignores the uneasy and even loathing stares he receives as Tony gives them the grand tour and instead tries to memorize the pathways and hideaways to explore later. “And that is our humble home. If you’re a good boy and play nice, we can even let you out to play with the others.” Tony was reveling in his advantage. Thor waits a moment for some kind of reaction, glancing between Tony’s spiteful glare and Loki’s bored expression. “Well, brother...is it to your liking?”

“It is certainly more square footage than my previous lodgings...though the neighbors are just as unappealing.” he finally replies with a teasing smirk, eyes falling on Tony.

Thor rolls his eyes as he moves closer to undo Loki’s restraints. “Don’t make them have to send you back. This is a kindness.” he jostles the chains as if to reinforce his point. “You’ll do well to remember that.”

“Threats, dear brother?” Loki meets his gaze intently for the first time since they’ve arrived. So this was all he thought of him now, then? Thor hesitates. His eyes search the softness of Loki’s expression and this time, there are too many reminders of their intimacy. How could those thousands of years of trust and affection crumble to dust in less than a decade, a split-second in their lifetime? The Asgardian reminds himself that he cannot let himself be fooled and closes his eyes against the onslaught of brighter memories. “Food for thought.”

Loki’s heart sinks; his dejection becomes apparent on his face for only a second before he carefully places his mask of indifference back up. "Very well.”

All at once, the weighted moment is interrupted by a sing-song exclamation from behind them. “Anthony Edward Stark!”

“Oh, Viktorina Anastasia Alexandrovich, what have you come to sucker off of me now?”

The Gods turn and there she is, a ghost Loki had never expected to come back to haunt him so viscerally. Her curls are tied back in a messy ponytail, swishing back and forth as she jogs down the winding stairs. She looks misplaced in this era’s clothing: a too-large leather jacket slung around her shoulders, a plain white T-shirt tied at the hip, teasing a sliver of toned muscle, and dark jeans rolled to her ankles. The kunoichi pauses when she notices the two brothers; there is a newfound mischief in her eyes when their gazes meet.

Loki’s heart is pounding against his rib cage. He feels like he has come alive, every synapse overloaded. Could it really be? But how? It doesn’t matter. The winding string of fate has brought them together again and for once he won’t affront the universe.

“K-Katya?” Loki whispers, already moving towards her, ready to sweep her into his arms once more, but Thor has caught him mid-step, a vice grip on his pale wrist. “Not this time, brother.”

His eyes snap to Thor’s grip, then scan his expression: his tone, his resistance...something is wrong. Thor stands beside him defensively, eyeing the woman as if she were a dangerous assailant ready to attack them both.

“Rock of Ages, this is Viktorina, our resident heiress and regular pain-in-my-ass. Vix, this is Loki, God of Mischief. Tried to wipe out mankind but is now in Villain Rehab here with us.”

“Loki...” she murmurs, testing the word on her tongue. Loki is frozen in place, eyes locked on her as she slowly descends the remaining steps and her smaller frame comes to a stop in front of him. “I’ve heard so much about you. Are you more fun than your brother?” Her voice is like honey, each word dripping slowly and sinfully from her lips; it is a side from her he has never seen. A smirk slowly unfolds across his lips, emerald eyes boring into hers, willing her to give him a sign, to remember. “I should certainly hope so.” The electricity between them is palpable from just a glance. Up close, he can no longer deny the yearning her visage stirs in him. From the way she keeps her eyes locked on his, perhaps she is just as entranced as he. It has been a hundred years since the last time he’d seen the same thin bridge of her nose, traced his tongue along the curve of her glossed lips, caressed the soft column of her throat with his fingers and-

Thor clears his throat, interrupting Loki’s wayward thoughts and jostling Vix from their raptured daze. “Viktorina, how is your swordsman?” Vix twirls a wayward curl around her finger and smiles sheepishly, recollecting herself from the unexpected captivation. There was the girl he remembered. A wide smile cracks the trickster’s lips; this imprisonment might work out for him after all.

“Ah, I nearly forgot! Tony-dear, we’re taking one of the cars. Telling not asking. Baby~!” she exclaims.

It is Zabuza’s turn to descend the stairs with his signature sword slung across his back, a duffel bag in one hand, and two ruby katanas in the other. “Almost forgot these,” comes his gruff reply as he tosses the swords to Vix.

“What would I do without you, my love?” she coos, the two exchanging a kiss as he meets her at the bottom.

Loki’s smile drops; Thor lets go of his wrist and lets his arm fall helplessly back to his side. He can sense his brother’s malaise immediately, takes comfort in knowing it will assuage at least this form of recklessness.

“Michi, this is our new roommate.” The two exchange words in a foreign tongue, the man’s response eliciting a wide smirk from the brunette. Loki finds his eyes darting from her delicate hand, sliding down the plane of Zabuza’s chest with such intimacy, to Zabuza’s fingers, delicately tracing the swell of Vix’s exposed hip. He can’t help the scowl that pulls at the corner of his mouth. The Asgardian finds himself standing straighter, mentally berating himself for loosing his senses so swiftly.

“Well, it’s been a real slice, but we’ve got work to do. Tony?” Vix smiles innocently and holds out her hand expectantly. Tony rolls his eyes and groans exaggeratedly before tossing her the keys from his pocket. “I want it back pristine. I mean, pristine.”

She grins, victorious, and casts a final, lingering glance at Loki. “'Da svidania, dorogoy.” The words sting; she is so close to the woman he loved, so familiar, yet so distant all at once. What cruel torture was this to have her right in front of him, only a hollow version, only smoky tendrils of a dead woman slipping through his fingers? Zabuza curls his arm around Vix’s shoulder as they leave; she nuzzles her nose against his neck and an easy laugh is shared between them. What fresh agony was this to watch her in love with someone else?

With the click of the door, Loki is transplanted firmly back in his own body, in his surroundings. Without her magnetizing presence, he can think a bit more clearly. He can recall how only one introduction was made, the familiarity between her and his brother, and the guilty way Thor is shifting from one foot to the other beside him. Loki’s eyebrows furrow tightly. “You knew...” he breathes.

“Stark, if we could get a moment alone-” Thor starts, but Loki’s tirade has already begun.

“Is this why I am being sequestered on Midgard? Here I thought it was for more freedom, but it seems that you have only wanted to find a more encompassing  punishment.”

“Loki, please. I cannot assure that you will not get into more trouble. But Tony can, under Jarvis’ watch, and you can be more free here than you ever could on Asgard.”

“Keeping me locked up: just what Father would have wanted.”

“Keeping you safe: it’s what Mother would have wanted.”

Loki’s fists remain clenched at his side. His emotions threatening to break through the floodgates and get away from him. 

Although he anticipated a reaction from Loki, The God of Thunder had to admit, he hadn’t expected Katya to still have such a hold on him after all this time. His intentions were genuine: to grant his brother as much liberty as he could have without giving him enough free reign to destroy another planet or make a play for the throne. He could have warned him, true. However, watching the turmoil rampaging beneath the surface, Thor wonders if preparing him for the blow would have lessened his pain any moreso. With a heavy sigh, Thor places a tender hand on Loki’s shoulder. “I know what it’s like to love a mortal, Loki. Jane and I-”

“Do not.” Loki snaps, shaking Thor’s hand off his shoulder. This understanding is a hundred years too late; in this moment, he no longer wants Thor’s earnest gestures. “Katya and I lived a lifetime together. Don’t insult me by comparing it to you and your paltry affair. Do not assume to know the depth of my feelings or lecture me, Thor. Or do you forget who warned you about your precious mortal in the first place?”

It’s just a heartbeat. This day, the next, a hundred years: you’ll never be ready. The only woman whose love you prized will be snatched from you.

Recalling the memory, Thor casts his gaze to the ground. At the time, he had assumed Loki’s words came from a place of spite, longing to hurt Thor as much as he had hurt him. It was not uncommon for the Gods to cavort with the mortals now and again; however, it seems Loki really had found something much more significant in Katya, a devotion that lingered still. There is nothing he can say now to rectify how wrong they’d been, to give Loki solace now when he needed it. All Thor can offer is the truth.

“Brother, understand...Katya is dead. Despite how she looks, that woman out there is not her.”

Loki remains silent for a long while. Folding his arms behind his back, in a moment of eerie calm, he walks slowly to the balcony. 

“And that makes it all the worse, doesn’t it?” he hisses through his teeth.

[katieamazeballs]

MVP Tour Experience in Boston

Hey all it’s Epic here! Haven’t posted in a long time but after getting to experience the MVP tour , getting to meet some of the cast, and after meeting Jen again, I wanted to update! It’s grossly long I know but hopefully you all like these things! Pics coming later!!

First, I want to say the show was amazing and SO short!!! I really thought it would be longer! It flew by way too fast!!! And also, we were lucky because not many people were in the balcony, we got to move up about 10 rows! It really helped with the view! The show had many mixed emotions and took you on a powerful journey through all 3 of their lives and you can tell they all have such an amazing bond with each other. I loved watching Val dance. He has so much passion when he dances. Loved seeing Peta and Maks dance together and Kiki and Koine dance together! Peta is an absolute Queen on stage! Loved getting to see her live! My favorite dances were the opener, Val’s Latin dance, the stroller dance, Petas solo break up piece, and the wedding dance. Oh and they brought Victoria Arlen up on stage at the end of the show and recognized her which was really nice!

We essentially went right out to the buses after and didn’t know where to stand because we were told they were coming out of 2 different doors so we were confused. But anyways, first we saw JT come out and I said hi to him first and he was shocked that he was recognized! Haha We saw Teddy come out next and he took pictures with us and was super super friendly. He says there will probably be a Maks and Val 3rd tour soon. JT came back to take a picture with two of us after. He was more friendly than I thought he would be. We saw the crowd moving and suddenly they were surrounding one of the buses. I was told Peta had gone right in the buses without stopping. So we missed her which is unfortunate. But Then we saw Sofia and Emily Crouch just sweetly waiting and Taking pics with a few of the fans that recognized them. They were both super sweet and were so happy we supported them and recognized them. I told them I look forward to what is coming for them. They were so genuine and happy that we noticed them and cared about them! I love them! These dancers really stood out to me especially tonight with how humble and sweet they were. Hope to talk with them again. Then we saw Taylor come out and she is such a happy person! Just always laughing and smiling and just loving life! I didn’t expect that about her for some reason! But I adore her and hope to meet her again! She was my favorite one to talk to of the cast! We saw security guards by the buses at this point and saw Maks came out. He was surrounded by security guards!! We could barely get near him, let alone have a 2 second conversation! But everyone was crowded around him and he was taking peoples phones and taking quick selfies with all of us. I got two with him so that was nice but didn’t get to talk to him much! The other difficult part and I regret it now is I saw Koine and Kiki coming out together at the same time we were waiting to take pictures with Maks, and they crossed the street to their bus before I could meet them! 😭 tried tweeting them to come out after but of course that didn’t work! Bummer. Hopefully next time.

We waited for a little longer then BOOM, Jenna and Val casually walk out together and Jenna was holding Anastasia in that little green pouch. So cute! Honest to goodness, I didn’t even look at Val when he first came out, I went straight for Jen. I had an open opportunity again and she wasn’t being hounded so I just went to her immediately! We saw each other and smiled and I knew she recognized me right away. 🤗 honestly, it felt like two good friends being reunited again! Didn’t feel like I was just fangirling anymore. it was so casual and natural and really special. I realize looking back on it the first thing I said was “hi love” when I saw her haha. Don’t usually do that with people but it just came out! Haha We hugged and I told her it was so good to see her again. She asked me how I was doing and I Told her I really missed her and I gave her a little birthday gift I had put together. So glad I could give her a gift in person this time! I saw Anastasia and that little pup is so adorable! Oh my goodness! I asked if I could pet her and Jenna had no problem with it. Can I just say feeling that dogs head, I was seriously nervous I was gonna hurt her or something. That skull! So delicate! Haha I was like “oh my gosh her little head” and Jen goes “I know right!” 😂 then she goes “glad to be here again but this weather though” I just responded “I know and you always say you love Boston so much (laughing)”

We got to take one picture together and I was grateful for anything I could get because I honestly did not think I would get to see her at all! Let alone have another conversation!

The security guards were starting to get annoyed with me now. I could see it in their eyes. I wasn’t quite done yet. I said “can I just quickly ask you a question before you leave Jen?” She said yeah of course. I said, “so I know you talk about the comparison game a lot. I wanted to ask what is your best advice for someone currently going through this and constantly comparing? What would be the first thing you think of?” She went “oh man, social media. Social media is killer and it’s just constantly comparing and it’s important to take a break from it.” She said she does this sometimes and whenever she feels herself getting into that place, she gets off of it and takes a break. She said she deals with this constantly. So social media was her number 1 thing. I thanked her and told her she was the best person to come to with this because she is so inspiring with everything she posts. Told her I can’t wait for the blog and wished her an early Happy Birthday. I said, you are gonna get overloaded with a lot of videos and posts coming up for your birthday and she said “I know and I just love it so much. Everyone is so great.” I then said I can’t wait to see her kill it on DWTS this season and she said “yea, we’ll see , we’ll see what happens.”   Wished her another happy birthday and that was about it with Jenna. Also, Anastasia barely moved an inch when sitting in that pouch! She definitely loves being carried! Haha spoiled by her mommy and daddy! I just want to reemphasize how wonderful Jen is also! Jenna is as genuine and down to earth as it gets and anyone who thinks otherwise has no idea what they are talking about! I’d also like to point out that Jenna wanted to stay and keep on talking to fans while others were trying to move her along to the bus. That girl is something special! Just throwing that out there. So I heard Val ask some of the security guards to escort Jenna across the street to the buses and I thought that was very sweet. Very gentleman of him. So almost completely forgetting about Val (whoops!), he was again crowded by fans and I could see he was getting ready to cross the street. He was also surrounded by security and I didn’t even really get to say hi to him. He took my phone and took a few selfies of us and I had him sign my audiobook cd case of his right before he crossed the street. Didn’t get to have a conversation though. So he was in a rush and security was pushing him too. Anyways, overall a really amazing and rewarding night and you should go see the show if you get the chance! It’s great! So thankful to have met some of the cast tonight and seeing Jenna again unexpectedly tonight just topped it off! #MVPConfidentialTour

Above submitted by Epic Anon.

I freakin love that you name dropped me to JT😂😂.  And  listen, he can recognize my name to my friends all he wants and tell them to tell me hi but that won't cancel out the fact that he just waved and yelled "Oh Hey!" and wouldnt come talk to or take a picture with me. 😒😒

[reliquumtheseries]

Reliquum Chapter One

                                               Prologue  

                                             Sleeping God

“Can you believe that it's already been six years since that night? It doesn’t feel as though time has passed us by so quickly but there is no mistaking it they’ve grown so big it makes me a bit emotional?”

“You’re right sister, it feels like it was yesterday that night still plays in my mind but you’re supposed to be preparing for the Adolescentem Ceremony you are one of the presiding Praecepter after all.”

“I know I just wanted to watch them from this perspective one more time before they become my disciples. After today their lives will change forever they’ll see this world for what it truly is they’ll become completely different……”

“They’ll become completely different people. Adults, is that what you were about to say?”

“No, it’s just..…Do you remember our Adol Ceremony?” “We were nothing like them.” “We'd already seen the truth by their age. We were already tainted by the sins of the elders.”

“We had no other choice. We were forced to take the weight of the world upon our shoulders. We didn’t have the time or the privilege they’ve been allotted.” 

“True but isn’t that why we did everything we did. To give them the gift that we never had.  An actual childhood and genuine innocence.” 

“YANA!” 

A booming voice Interrupted their conversation and suddenly a dark-skinned man with long black hair and adorned in the white, and gold uniform of the I.M.A appeared in the Armchair to the left of them.  

“Don’t….dodon’t yell at me like that. You never raise your voice so when you do it’s terrifying.”

“I apologize Eve but I……..We all need you to be clear-headed from here on out.”

As he continued to speak his voice began to soften but maintained its air of seriousness. 

 “You will be their guide through this coming turbulence, you'll be the one who will answer the many questions they’ll certainly have and you are not wrong for wanting to maintain their Innocence it is after all the very reason we took the actions we have up until now but the time has come to prepare them for what lies ahead and both you and Ryu are right we were not afforded the opportunity to stay asleep for as long as they have. We were forced awake by the truth of this world and then given the choice to live in a nightmare masked as a dream or stay awake.” 

“We chose to stay awake and write the dream for the next generation.” “It was unfortunate for us but fortunate for them.” “That’s why your role is so integral to everything we've worked for.” “You will be their bridge to the truth, a way of easing them into it all.” “I believe you’d both agree that it’s better than being thrown out of the “dream” with no guide to show them the way.” “Once they’re ready we can finally bring an end to this Era of Lies.” 

“So please Eve calm your mind, clear away the fog and set your eyes towards the task at hand, one that only you can do as only you can.”

The Man looked at Biyana and Ryu then nodded and as fast as he’d appeared he vanished. 

“Sadly that’s the most he’s spoken in months the only other times he wakes from his slumber is during emergencies of the highest order or when he needs to give directives and even then it’s only his Astral Projections.”

“I wish he would finally wake up. I know that he needs to be in that state to access The Records but It just doesn’t feel the same...….he doesn’t feel the same.”   

The Mood in the room turns Melancholic.

“I know Yana it doesn’t feel the same but you know how he is when it comes to achieving his goals. That determination and conviction to see whatever challenge that he faces through to the end is the very reason I decided to follow him all those years ago.”

“When he finally does awaken I’m going to slug him for leaving us alone for so long.” 

“You sure it isn’t the fact that he left you alone for so long It seems that you miss him more than anyone.”

“Hmph, I don’t know what you're talking about I don’t miss him in the slightest.”

“Yana you can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to me.”

 “SHUT UP RUEY!” Now blushing from his teasing she proceeds to punch Ryu. 

“Ouch, you're so violent……I think you broke my arm.”

“No way your body is made of steel, you remember when you punched that mountain and cracked it in half you didn’t even flinch afterward.”

“Yeah, not even a flinch you know me Ha ha ha.” Laughing nervously he thinks about the pain he felt after shattering every bone in his hand that day. 

“Anyway, I hear you finally found number seven was it another child from the Noble House’s or a Branch Family?”

“No in fact until recently she wasn’t even a Magi.”

“Ho..how is that possible at the very least she must be a descendant of an exiled line that’s the only way she could have broken her Sigillum.”

“I thought the same thing at first but I checked every living member of her family and their Sigillums are still in place.”

“The chances of a normal human not only breaking their seal but surviving the resulting influx of mana is one in a billion.”

“Your right she’s an actual anomaly and the incident that caused her power to manifest was odd in and of itself.”

“For you to say that after everything we’ve seen scares me what happened?” 

“There was an accident that nearly killed her no it should have killed her but somehow her body instinctively started healing itself I would say she unknowing used an Incantation from the second school but it was passive almost similar to the abilities of an Armis Magi.”

“Breaking her seal then surviving the resulting mana overload, and possessing the ability to passively heal you have to let me train this girl.”

“No none of my disciples are ready for that level of training though three of them probably think they are.”

“So not only do you have the boy whose set to become the next head of House Guidry that everyone’s been calling a prodigy but also the Armis Magi from the Ito Clan who trying to learn Incantations then there’s the kid that descends from the House of Rauch and I hear he can already use commands and of course the two candidates for the title of “Rose” it honestly doesn’t shock me that Riona’s little sister would be considered for such a role but the girl with the powerful Illusions from The House of Wright is surprising and now this girl that’s a…...rarity…...oddity…...miracle I don’t even know how to describe her.

“Amazing that’s the word you’re looking for Beau Guidry, Kenji Ito, Ryker Lehman, Aoibhinn (Ivy) Reid, Piper Wright, and Aurora Gola there all amazing.”

“Hmm……to be completely honest with you I never thought I’d regret becoming Praefectus of the I.M.A’s Military Forces but I’m a little jealous that you get to take these kids under your wing. It's going to be one hell of a show.”

“I know they all have the potential to become incredible Magi’s and with the right guidance they’ll even surpass us one day.”

“Ohh and how could you forget about your first pick?”

“Very funny Ruey you know none of us could ever forget about him.” “I'll be personally bringing him to the ceremony I was going to pay him a visit anyway so why not.”

“Already showing your bias huh Isn’t that favoritism.”

“No you know today is special for him in more than one way or did you forget.”

“Special day……….Oh crap it’s his birthday damn I’m a terrible big brother”

“Hmhm you tried to make me feel guilty and look at you now.”

“Tell him that I’ll make it up to him later.”

“Sure sure sure.”

“I SWEAR I will make it up to him somehow. I've been so busy lately that I let it slip from my mind.”

“Fine I’ll tell him you have something big planned for later”

“You’re the best sis”

“Well I’d better get going I’ll contact you after the Ceremony.”

“May the lux bless your path sister.”

“May the lux bless your path brother.”

In the blink of an eye she vanishes leaving Ryu alone he sighs as a sullen look falls over his face thinking to himself that he’s a terrible brother for forgetting such an important day.

“Happy Birthday Arcades I promise you I’ll make it up to you and I’m positive he’s thinking the same thing right now.” He walks out of the meeting hall and descends to the second-lowest level of the Tower. 

In front of him is a massive door engraved with the Sigils of the Thirteen Bloodlines arranged in a circle with the Sigil of the first bloodline in the center surrounded by runes. 

He channels mana into his fingertip and rearranges the runes into a specific pattern once the last rune was placed in the correct order the door began to glow opening in segments as it did revealing a large room with bookshelves spanning the walls to the left and the right of him in the center of the room sat an oval-shaped table with a map of the world etched into the ancient wood.

He directed his gaze towards the furthest end of the room where a gigantic mana crystal was imbued in the wall.  

Inside of it was a man with long black hair the roots of which were as white as snow itself. Placing his hand on the crystal the thoughts racing through his mind came to a head as he spoke to the sleeping man.

“She’s right you know it doesn't feel the same. We’ve done our part now it’s your turn it’s time to wake up.” 

“Please wake up Aniki.”

                                                               Chapter 1

                                         From 4,000 Miles Away

“Big Brother Big Brother BIG BROTHER PLEASE WAKE UP” Tears Streaming Down His Face. 

“Cades I’m…...I’m fine wipe your eyes there nothing to worry about I was just resting my eyes”

“But you were moaning in your sleep like you were in pain and……and your Doves they’ve turned black all of them but one”

“They turned because of the overflow of Nox they’ll be fine after a while”

“But doesn’t that mean it’s my fault that……”

 Lucien thumps Arcades on his forehead.

“Ouch why’d you do that Lulu” 

Lucien rest’s his forehead on Arcades forehead like a parent checking a child’s temperature.

“Calm down and stop trying to blame yourself.” “Do you remember the promise I made to you” 

“That no matter what happens or how far away we are from each other that you’ll always be there for me but……”

“But nothing Cades, I meant what I meant no matter what happens I’ll always be there for you even after I’ve left this world whenever you need me all you have to do is call my name Understand”

“Okay ‘ Big brother I understand”

Arcades heard a voice piercing this Melancholic Memory that manifested itself as a dream.

“Arcades, Arcades, YOUNG MASTER ARCADES.” A flutter of her pure white wings sends a wave of wind throughout the boy’s room.

“Lady Minerva I knew it was your voice I was hearing.” I'm sorry I should have woken up the second I heard it but I just wanted to watch a little longer.”

“It’s perfectly fine Young Master Arcades you are a growing boy after all you need your sleep in order to do so.” Minerva sighs she knew what Arcades did while he slept. Unlike most humans or even most Magi who fall into REM Sleep and manifest subconscious Fears, Hopes, Regrets, Desires and everything else the Human Mind can think of Arcades was different. 

Since the age of three, he could actively control his Dream State often using it to replay Memories to such a high degree that to an Outside Observer like her it was as if this boy could turn back time to that exact moment. 

This was an extremely rare type of Lost Magic known as “Dreamwalking” and while Arcades used this ability for Nostalgic Purposes she knew that this was the lesser scope of his power.

And she often thought of what he’d be capable of when he finally realized his true potential. 

But in truth, she knew this was just a side note compared to the innate power the boy was born with and the so-called destiny attached to that very power.

Minerva then thought about the vast amount of sheer power that he and his siblings were imbued with. 

To think that the children of “The Belmont Boy” and “The Rose of House Vivant” were this gifted the fact that not one not two but three once in a generation Magi were born into the same line and all within 7 years of each other.

This was highly improbable and thought to be virtually impossible especially in this age. But perhaps it was indeed that word Humans called destiny.

“But that being said it is your birthday and……..You Have A Visitor” She laughs mischievously.  

“A visitor, who would visit me so early Lady Minerva who is it?”

“I was explicitly told not to tell you who it is.”

“Why not?”

"Because it’s a surprise Young Master now Up, Up, Up” She flapped her wings sending a blast of wind at Arcades powerful enough to throw him out of bed.

“Wait, Lady Minerva, I’m still naked” 

Minerva laughs knowing that he’d slept in the buff since he was a little boy just like his brother. 

As he stood up to cover himself when his bedroom door burst open.

“What is taking you soooo long Cades I came all this way to wish you a Happy Birthday and this is………”

Biyana’s jaw dropped when she realized what was in front of her. She looked down then looked up then looked down again then looked up once more.

“Yana what are you doing here….I...I...I” His body went stiff and his face glowed red and as he looked at Biyana his eyes wandered towards her bust suddenly feeling a tingle in his groan he covers his private parts with his hands instantly knowing that he had an erection. 

“CADES……You just turned 13 and you’ve already become a PERV”

“I’m not this just a misunderstanding that all”-

“A misunderstanding eh well explain THAT!” Pointing towards the erection sparsely covered by his hands.

“This this isn’t for you I mean this wasn’t for you I mean it’s just because I just woke up” He stuttered trying to explain it away knowing that he was just digging a bigger hole for himself.

“So why did you scan my body with eyes…..”

“No that was just an accident I didn’t know who It was at first” 

“AND MY BOOBS ARE WHAT HELPED YOU RECOGNIZE ME” Growing angry at the implication.     

“No that’s not what I meant It’s not like I stare at your chest all the time. It’s just the Dress your wearing shows off a lot of Cleav…….” He stops himself realizing that he shouldn’t have brought up her dress”

“CADES” Her anger peaks as she raises her index finger readying it to strike him with a spell.

“I can’t believe my little Cades grew up to be like every other PERVERTED Man” Tears welling up in her eyes as Mana crackles around her raised finger. 

“Yana please I didn’t mean it like that you have to understand I just woke up and then Lady Minerva blasted me out of bed and then you burst in before I could cover myself I would never do something like that to you” Realizing that his explanations aren’t working he results to cuteness.

“Please Big sister you have to understand it was a mistake” Using the Infamous Puppy Dog Eyes Technique that his brother taught him.

Now disarmed by the boy’s cuteness she disarms her spell and lowered her finger and enveloped him in a bear hug completely forgetting his transgression and…….the fact that he was naked.

“Oh Cades I could never stay mad at you”

A wave of relief washes over Arcades knowing that he made it through this situation by the skin of his teeth. 

“Oh No Oh No Oh No” He then realizes that his face was now buried in Biyana chest and he immediately knew that this was the worst possible place to be especially while naked and he tried to force himself to think of something other than being smothered by breasts but Puberty overtakes his mind.

“What wrong Cades…….” Slowly realizing the situation when suddenly something poked her in the thigh. Glancing down she focuses in on the hard object poking her in the thigh she faints from the shock.

“Crap crap okay I just have to wake her somehow” As Biyana drops to the floor he goes to catch her but as he tries to pull her up he looks towards the broken door and notices the head maid of the manor standing there with a ghost-white face.

“AR-CAD-ES……..WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!”

“Miss Mio I was just trying to help Yana….” He then thinks about how this must look standing over a passed-out woman completely naked with an erection.

“Lux’s Grace this isn’t my day” 

“Lady Mio” Minerva, who has been laughing the entire time, realizes that Arcades has had enough torment for one day and begins to explain the situation for him.

“This is not what it seems Young Master Arcades simply rushed to his feet after Lady Biyana passed out from exhaustion I can certainly understand how this situation could be misinterpreted as something rather obscene considering that the Young Master sleeps in the buff and his “little sword” is unsheathed but a woman blessed such as Lady Biyana is would likely light a fire in any boy’s loins and especially one as inexperienced as the Young Master”

“Ahh now that makes sense for a minute there I thought my lord had grown into a ravenous pervert”

“Hey! I’m not a perv I swear” 

“Yes I know but your “sword” tells a different story.

His embarrassment at its peak and wanting the moment to be over he rushes to grab for his bed sheet to cover himself forgetting that he was holding up Biyana. Dropping her but before she could hit the ground Mio had already stopped her fall.

“Thank you, Miss Mio!”

“You're welcome now wash up PUT SOME CLOTHES ON and when your ready come downstairs Lord Belmont and Lady Yvonne have prepared something special for your birthday” Mio easily lifts Biyana and carefully shepherds her out the door and closes it behind her.

“Okay I’ll be down in a moment”

“You could have done that at the beginning it would have saved me a lot of trouble or better yet you could have been a little bit more gentle with the Wind Blast.” 

“Sometimes I think you do things just to torment me, Lady Minerva.” He Sighed.

“No Young Master I would never do anything that would cause you undue trouble” This was true Minerva’s loyalty lay solely with Arcades and everything that she does is in his best interest even if he doesn’t know it. 

She knew that Biyana was on her way up the stairs and she knew that him being blown out of bed would line up perfectly with Biyana bursting through his door and set up the situation as a way of distracting Arcades from the memory he was replaying inside of his dream. 

Even after he’d awakened, it was still on his mind and she knew that if she didn’t stop it now, he would continue to think about it throughout the day and she didn’t want him to be stuck in a state of melancholy especially on such an important day. 

It wasn’t just his 13th birthday it was also the day of his “Adolescentem Ceremony” and she wanted him to be able to look back on this day as one of Joy and Celebration, not one clouded by memories of the past. 

“Alright time to get ready” He started his morning hygiene routine. The whole process took around 15 minutes after which he rushes down the stairs, hook’s left runs down the hallway, and walks into the Great Hall of Aldavastum, the estate of House Vivant.

“Looks like you're ready for your big day but I heard you had a little trouble getting out of bed” He laughs knowingly.

“I don’t even want to talk about it” 

“It’s fine trust me I understand you're becoming a man so of course, you’d try to make your move”

“DAD It was a misunderstanding” 

“That’s what we all say son that’s what we all say”

“Umm, I don’t even want to know what that means” Deadpan Face. “Anyway, Miss Mio said you and mom had something for me?”

“Ahh yes your Birthday Gifts” Lucas gets up from his armchair and grabs an ornate box off of the Antique Side Table he sits the box down in front of Arcades

“Open it” 

“Okay,” Inside it sat three items. 

The first was a Pendant with the Sigil of House Belmont engraved into the metal. 

The second was a white Peignoir “Robe” with the Crest of House Vivant emblazoned in gold on the lower left side of it. 

The third and final gift was what appears to be an Ivory Pen etched into it is a tree with 13 limbs and 13 stars at the tip of each limb.

“One from me One from your mother and One from your grandfather” 

“All three are Heirlooms of both the House of Belmont and the House Vivant” 

Arcades stared at them with amazement. 

“The Belmont Pendant think of it as a battery.” 

“Magi from the House of Belmont are often born with immense almost overpowering amounts of mana and they’d use this Heirloom to store the excess.” 

“All you have to do is enter a meditative state and allow your mana to flow into The Pendant and it will be stored there until it is needed.” 

“It also allows its owner to temporarily mask their presence from an enemy who may be targeting them by storing its owner’s entire “Mana Well” but only for a short amount of time.” 

“For a normal Magi, it could hide their presence for about 5-6 hours for a Belmont that time is reduced to 1 hour and 30 minutes but for someone like you it may last for 30 minutes at the most.” Lucas takes a small chain out of his pocket and loops it through the Pendant and puts it around Arcades neck.

“It’s amazing dad” Arcades could immediately feel The Pendant passively siphoning his mana and storing it inside of itself he could also feel what seemed to be the mana of the previous owners.

“Hmm Interesting” 

“It seems you can already feel the remnants of the former wearers. It’s an interesting perk of The Pendant each new owner can feel small remnants of mana from the previous members of the House of Belmont. A way of always keeping the connection with our Forefathers alive”

Arcades put on The Peignoir and it instantly begins to resize itself to perfectly fit him and to his shock changes into a hoodie.

“Wow this is AWESOME”

“The Peignoir of House Vivant gives its wearer a boost in their Overall Speed, Elemental, Restoration and Alteration Magic it also changes its appearance and size to fit the wearer style and body type” 

Arcades marvels at how comfortable it is to him it feels like it was meant for him to wear to it.

“What does the pen do?”

“That’s no Pen son in fact out of all of these items it is the most sacred and certainly the most powerful” 

“That is the Baculus wielded by the very first Grand Magus it’s been passed down through the generations and is only gifted to a Magus with the potential to become one of the most powerful Magi who has ever lived.” 

Only those with massive amounts of mana can even hold it let alone wield it. Like The Belmont Pendant, it siphons off the mana of the wielder but instead of storing the mana it channels and amplifies every Incantation, Commandment, or Declaration making them ten times stronger and like The Peignoir it will also alter itself to match the needs and personality of its current wielder.” 

It has transformed into everything from a Wand to a Ring and it’s said that some of its previous owners could manifest a set of extremely powerful weapons known as “The Armory of Ashanti” the historians state that it consists of a pair of Destructive Gauntlet’s, a Great Bow, a War Hammer, a Deadly Scythe and even a Legendary Sword”

“Ohh I used to read about those in Grandpa’s dusty old books supposedly Great Grandpa Maxim and the third Grand Covenant used them to end the Great Armis Rebellion but never Imagined that they were all one weapon” He picked it up and like the pendant, he feels it passively siphoning his mana with a noticeable difference with the Pendant it felt as if his mana was being poured into a sealable container but this felt as if his mana was flowing through a pipe.  

He ran his finger along the top and it began to expand in length and width the top then split open almost like a flower blossoming and when the transformation stopped the staff stood 7 feet tall. 

He began pouring mana into it and an orb forms at the top of the staff he pours even more into it and the orb grows in size as the tree etched into it began to glow and the stars atop each of the 13 limbs shined brighter he points the staff towards the fireplace in the Great Hall and speaks an Incantation.

“Fax”  The orb shot from the staff at breakneck speed sucking the residual mana out of the staff as it left.

 The orb made contact with the brick lining the back of the fireplace and bursts with a massive shockwave that rattles the great hall and scorches the walls around the fireplace.

“Oh shii...I mean crap”  

“I didn’t mean to do that, I'm sorry dad” Shocked at how powerful the amplified spell was he used a rudimentary flame spell, one that should have only been able to light the wood inside the fireplace at most.

“Your fine son I’m honestly surprised that you were able to cast even a simple spell so easily again it takes a massive amount of mana just to wield it let alone cast a spell but I suppose you are the exception to most rules and don’t worry about the fireplace and the wall’s” Lucas waves his index towards the fireplace and it began to repair itself he then does the same to the wall surrounding it within a minute the area was completely fixed.

“Now your mother is expecting you, she's on the Patio don’t keep her waiting”. 

“Yes sir” Arcades turns toward the arch of the Great Hall and begins to leave. 

“Oh and son…...Happy Birthday”

“Thanks, Dad” Arcades walks out the Great Hall and sprints down the long corridors of Aldavastum finally reaching the double doors leading to Manor’s Jardin and steps onto the patio. 

“I DON’T CARE WHAT LUCIEN SAYS HE’S NOT READY YET” Yvonne and Biyana were sitting in summer chairs across from each other mid-conversation.              

“Lady Yvonne you know Laz he would never give him a task he couldn’t accomplish or put him in a situation where his life would be in danger”  

“Your right I do know him I know him better than he knows himself and I know the expectations he has for Arcades and it's too much for him to handle at such a young age” 

“Lady Yvonne trust me I understand I brought up that exact point and he won’t budge the timescale doesn’t allow for leeway” Grinding her teeth trying to contain her rage.

“DAMN THE TIMESCALE I will not let my son shoulder the weight of this world like his broth….”

“Like his brother like we had to at such a young age due to no fault of our own” 

“Eve you both know how I felt about that night you both know how much I protested what The Nobles and The Elder’s were doing you both know much I fought for you all”

“But in the end, it still led to nothing” They stared at each other, and the glass table between them started to shatter.

“If it has to come this then so be it but you should remember who held that title of yours Rose of House Maxwell”

“And you should remember how I gained that title Former Rose of House Vivant”    

“Is everything okay?” The Tension was palpable. Arcades stepped out to stop the argument but they instantly stopped talking, confusing him.

 “Of course, Cades everything’s fine!” Repairing the cracked table as he walks towards them.

“Yes…..everything's fine my son” Her face still red from pure anger.  

“Okay…....good Dad said that you wanted me for something 

“Actually someone else wanted you I’m just their proxy”

“Who is it, Uncle Yves or Uncle Henri”

“Henri is not your uncle he’s a cousin from the branch family how many times do I have to tell you that”

“Uncle, Cousin what’s the difference” 

“There’s a big difference Idiot” Yvonne and Biyana speak in unison. The boy’s denseness lightens the mood a bit. 

“Okay okay geez”

“No it’s not Yves or Beau you’ll just have to find out for yourself there’s a box in the Jardin with your name on it”

“HMM…...A random box for me Hmmm it might be a declaration of love from my secret admirer or maybe…….IT’S A TRAP”

“Really” Deadpan Face. Speaking in unison again.   

“Yep it’s definitely a trap I’ve seen enough movies to know that

‘BOY Go open the box” 

“Go ahead son don’t keep us waiting for much longer and stop watching those 80’s Movies there rotting your brain” 

“Okay, I guess I’ll open the box” He walked down the steps of the Patio and towards the small box in the middle of the estates luscious Jardin as he squatted down to examine the box he wondered what could possibly be inside was too small to even hold a wristwatch let alone anything bigger.

It was made of Ashwood with thirteen lines running along the sides of the box leading to the top where they met in a spiral pattern that resembled a whirlpool inside the spiral was a small circle with the initials A.A.B  carved into the wood. 

“Someone put a lot of work into whatever inside if the box is this fancy” He pulls a small purple tab from a corner of the box and the side panels fall to the ground but the top of the box descended slowly as if someone was personally placing a puzzle piece. 

When it reached the ground the initials carved into the top began glowing with mana quickly looped around the spiral then traced along the thirteen lines adorning the side panels the lines which now expanded out from the deconstructed box met each other in a circle then branched off into more lines that once again met in a circle which spawned more lines this process repeated itself thirteen times. 

“What the he….” Arcades mesmerized by the display didn’t even notice that these concentric circles and the lines connecting them surrounded him when he realized what was happening. It was too late. 

“Is this…..Am I in a….” He was inside of a gigantic Spell Circle that spanned the entirety of Aldavastum’s massive garden.

“The box was just an activation key and I…..was the target” He worried that perhaps he was right and this was an elaborate trap but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Once again distracted by this turn of events he didn’t notice that his feet were no longer touching the ground.

He’d begun to float as he did the spell circle spawned Lesser Spirits that followed him on his ascent. 

They were Birds of every feather Eagles, Parrots, Robins, Blue Jays, Hummingbirds, and Land Animals of every kind Rabbits, Foxes, Dogs, Cats, Mice, Pika’s, Gophers and Chipmunks there were too many of them for him to count.

The circle then began summoning Great Spirits some of which he had only read about in books like the Dryad’s, Oceanids, Meliads, and Sirens all flying around him as he continued his ascent.

The Dryad’s put a crown of Alder Wood on his head.

The Oceanids created elaborate shows of Water Magic.

The  Meliads fed him rare fruits, berries, and candies that appear to be made of honey and milk but to him, they tasted like heaven.

The Sirens transformed into beautiful women and flirted with him. 

One took the appearance of Biyana then winked making him blush.  

Another took the form of a blonde woman with deep blue eyes that entranced him and sent chills up his spine at the same. 

And the last seemed different somehow. She was a red-haired woman with freckles covering her face and bright green eyes that shined like emeralds. She flew towards him and whispered, “Protect Each Other”  in his ear. She then kissed his forehead and disappeared.

This filled him with a sense of comfort and longing while flooding his mind with questions.

“Who was she and What did she mean?” But before he could sink into deep contemplation he noticed something through the menagerie of Spirit’s.

It was a Pillar of Flames spewing from the furthest edge of the Spell Circle and as he looked around he counted thirteen of them each in a different color rising into the sky and converging inside of a cloud bursting it open and creating a fireworks show that filled the sky with colors that spelled out the words.

Happy Birthday Cades  

As he began descending the Spirits that were summoned flew above him and dispersed their corporeal forms into Pure Mana combining in one massive orb that burst forth releasing thousands of Cherry Blossom Petals that surrounded him as he finally reached the ground. 

“WOAH someone went all out” As he tried to take in everything that had just occurred he saw a dove familiar flying towards him it was carrying a piece of parchment in its beak. 

The dove landed on his stomach tilted its head as Arcades took the letter from its beak. 

It flapped its wings and lifted off back into the sky. 

He unraveled the gold ribbon tied around the letter and he noticed that it was blank. 

As he rubs his thumbs on the edge of the parchment writing begins to appear in the top left-hand corner. 

It says. 

  Cades

 Blood of Blood 

It doesn’t matter how far away we are from each other I’ll always be there for you wherever or whenever that may be no matter how long it takes to reach you or the trials I may face on my way there I’ll always come all you have to do is call my name. If you do remember then I hope my absence on such an important day for you doesn’t undermine that promise I hold it as scared as one does an Oath and I hope that you know that if it wasn’t for my role and the Duties and Responsibilities that come with it that I would be there right beside you but know that You are always on my mind and I’m always watching over you and I couldn’t be prouder of the man your growing into I can’t wait to see where the journey your about to embark upon takes you just know that wherever it does I’ll be there even in death. I hope you enjoyed your gifts, they were my way of showing my love even from 4,000 miles away.                

-L.L.V

“Idiot” Arcades looked up at the sky still soaked with colors watching the Cherry Blossoms as they continued to fall and he began to cry.

“Of course, I remember” Choking on his words with tears streaming down his face.

****

“So that’s what he was planning I was wondering how he would make up for not being here but he certainly pulled it off” Yvonne and Biyana watch Arcades as he begins to cry and they become emotional as well.

“He’s always known how to put on a Good Show and a Beautiful One at that” 

“So can I take that as your……”

“Yes Eve you have my blessing to become his Praeceptor I think he knew that I would have reservations about anyone taking Cades as a student due to the nature of his powers that’s why he chose you out of everyone he could have picked he knew that I’d be the most comfortable with you and I believe that he believes you would be the perfect person for this role”

“Thank you Mother Yvonne I love you.”  

“I love you too Eve but..…..Mother Yvonne, I didn’t know that you and Lucien were in a relationship?”

“Ohh neither does he.”

“Ummm” Deadpan Face. 

****

Lucas watched the show from the window of the Grand Hall with contempt and envy of his eldest son’s Magical Prowess.

“So even from 4,000 miles away you still found a way to spite me”

Lucas breathes out sharply the veins in his forehead bulge and at that moment all the glass in the Great Hall shatters and the marble floor beneath his feet crack open.

“I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything less from you”

“LUCIEN”