#The ones who are left get sold into human trafficking. You guys refuse to take it laying down so y'all make a pact and [redacted]...

[miramelo]

Sweet grape be upon u🫵

The now and then:

Daniel undersuit allows Lex and his people to see his vitals 24/7 which is why he uses it most of the time, be it under his clothes or just the suit while hanging around in his own bedroom(is comfortable!!). It also has the bonus of making feel safe

His PR team is going for a bright, approachable and young vibe so they let him have long hair(because "is relatable and against the usual gender norms, which will win over the younger population"). Is also why his costume is look-at-me-green(which is a good color to hide his blood)

His handlers in the auction wanted him to look older, sharp and neat(ugh, which is why he becomes hostile/dry towards people like the Bats or teen heroes who think nothing can be too bad

[sideblogformindtrash]

SUMMER OF WHUMP - DAY 4 - ABANDONED

Mind the huge cw. Is mostly just discussing it, but still.

CW: Insinuated no-con; past-abuse; relieving past trauma; abandonment; very low self esteem; humiliation; accidental triggering; bait dog; whipping; starvation; shoved in luggage bag; bitten by mice; gross food; claustrophobia; burns; no-con drugging; no-con touching; mentioned amputation; pet whump; multiple whumpers; human trafficking; muzzle; starvation; neglect; manhandling; cruel/intimate/neglectful whumpers;

“H-hello and welcome to BB’s and Pastel’s show!” ...Pastel turned the octopus plush around as BB turned the camera on. It went from a pink, smiley octopus, to it’s frowning gray insides. Pastel pulled the blankets over his head, leaving only his eyes out “...I’ll be your host, BB, and this is my assistant, Mr.Tonsils!”

BB lifts Mr.Tonsils in front of the camera, waiving his little furry paws so he can say hello to their audience. They pick up the camera, and take it to the bed with Pastel, capturing his pretty pink-ish eyes. 

“C-come on Pastel! Say hi!”

Pastel shifts slightly under the blanket.

“I’m… Not a fan of cameras, BB'' his voice is just a whisper, as he twists the blanket. BB thinks he is kneeling “...I’ll just… be your audience today, okay?”

“O-oH! Sorry!” BB stepped away. That was right. Pastel didn’t have good memories about that. BB pointed it away, making sure only they and Mr.Tonsils were on frame. Pastel seemed to relax, even sitting back and lowering his blanket cocoon “...So, due to technical issues, Pastel won’t be joining us tonight. But that 's okay. BB and Mr.Tonsils are here to entertain you!”

BB smiled, making sure to show the missing little teeth. Just like Blue. Just like Blue… before, at least. 

“...Well, for tonight’s show me and Mr.Tonsils prepared a top 15 review!” BB wasn’t sure if it really classified as such. But it sure sounded nice “BB will be going over all of our old homes!”

They noticed as Pastel frowned, suddenly changing their expression, way more alert. BB only felt more excited. If Pastel was paying attention, it clearly meant the topic of the video was interesting! Audiences would love it! Even… Even if this was never going to be aired. BB could picture the audiences!

...With a deep breath, they braced themselves and started. They had prepared for this. They could do it.

“...BB’s begun it’s life like us all, in b-between white walls and tiled floors of the training grounds. They were worthless and ugly and dumb, BB’s smile never charmed anyone! It took a long time in the store before BB got home. It was and old lady that said BB was so ugly that it hurt, and dumb as a door, but worked well enough to, to scrub her floor” BB smiled, remembering the cozy attic, where they made their first friends, among piles of boxes that compiled their first owner’s life. Long nights they spent alone there, digging through piles of pictures, trying to piece together what a human life was like. Nonsense, it was, because it just filled BB’s head with a lot of silly thoughts.  They lifted Mr.Tonsils for the camera “...BB worked the day and spent the night locked away. In the house’s attic, BB made their first friends. They were Mr.Tonsils crowd, a family of mice, and BB befriended them all, even if they’d bite BB’s feet while it was trying to sleep! BB loved the house, their first owner, and e-every single mouse!”

BB hugged Mr.Tonsil, swinging him around. Pastel was biting his lip, pulling a thread out of the blanket. Good! He was enjoying the story! And BB felt like they were doing good, too. Better than they did at any of their homes.

“...First owner got tired of BB because the stupid Pet let her cat flee! All BB wanted to do was help and clean, but the cat saw their chance and ran away. First owner took BB to a store with a mean looking clerk. They agreed BB was ‘So ugly it fucking hurt’, hoping BB would only stay a few days and them someone would want them” BB rubbed their hand together. That didn’t count as an owner, did it? It was only temporary, in nature. Not that owners lasted very long “BB was at the store for almost a full month, during which they got to eat, sleep and there was no work. BB wanted to make friends with other pets in cages, but they never stayed for long, after all - good pets get good homes!”

...BB was still upset about the store. All of those Pets had looked so nice, so much better than they are… And they never tried to talk to BB. They were all scared they’d be beaten down if they tried, but never were. BB was the only worthless one, that got the punishments… for everyone!

“...BB was bought by creepy looking guy who stuffed BB inside a cage and on a plane and was flown away” BB gestured with their hand, copying the movements of a plane. They had to be on the chair, so it would look nice on video, but otherwise, they would have liked to run around with their arms opened “...Creepy man named BB Bait. They were a teaser for a larger, angrier Pet named Spike, who had on BB a nice punching bag who couldn’t put up a fight. They were nice to BB and even a friend, but scary and cruel when the Master decided they needed to beat them. So BB was Spike’s chew toy, but when they were nice… BB was always filled with joy!”

...They closed their eyes for a second. Those two lives were merged together. One of them had been so short, they could barely remember the second dog.

“...After Spike got tired, BB was sold again, to be another dog's punchbag. And he was the third friend BB had! He refused to hurt BB, would even cuddle them to sleep, and then I was severly punished… For making the Master's dog weak. It was the first time BB tasted a whip, and with dark bruises on its face, BB was sold again”

...They stood in that second store for a week. With no food, and no sleep. They were dirty, and cheap, not worthy of caring for.

“The next Master had BB as furniture for his house. All he did was snap his fingers and that was BB’s call. It would crawl and hold things very still and keep his glass fill, he would rest his feet over BB. If it got boring the cane was always on hand, he could crack in on BB’s back and get it all shades of purple and black. BB didn’t sleep there much at all, it had to stand still behind his bed, all night long holding a water jar upon a tray, in a perfect 90° degree, or there was always hell to pay” BB touched their arm, absentmindedly, a small scar on their elbow where bone had poke through “But BB was ugly furniture, bad and broke away, when Master tried to sit over its back one sad summer day. BB tumbled to the side, knocking Master to the floor. BB got a broken arm and was kicked out of the door!”

“...The next Master that took me in was cruel and harsh, with unusual punishments that left some scars: fingers pulled back until they snapped, weights to BB’s feet, heavy chains and painful strains and the worst - the oven’s flame” BB tilted their head. That Master, too, had scars. They didn’t know how she had gotten them, it was not it’s place to ask. They… They were happy to leave that one “...BB was then lost in a card game, and doesn’t remember much at all. Pills made BB sweet and kind and small. What BB doesn’t get is that they never needed pills - they would never disobey, even if put through awful, lingering pain, they’d love Master all the same.”

...Hazy. Foggy memories. Hands over them, and brushing their cheeks, and so much drool because they were never cohesive enough to form words or move. Blinking white lights, whispered little things that returned to them in dreams.

“...When BB was sober again, they found themselves in a shed, where they were always so alone. The Master was a mountain who only came at night to beat BB down. The days went by slowly, loneliness crushing down, it was dark and cold and hungry, and there were spiders all around“ BB stopped their speech for a moment. This next part was something… that still haunted them. They had done… awful, awful things. They covered Mr.Tonsils' ears. They were afraid of what he would think “...BB, on that shed, made things it would rather forget. Just like the Master forgot BB had to fed! BB might have eaten a few of Tonsil's friends, please don’t let him know, is just BB’s stomach hurt so much and it was the only thing that could stop the growl”

BB releases Mr.Tonsil’s ears, hearing a gasp from Pastel. They turn and smile, but his face is… Pale, horrified. BB shrugs. Pastel always worries faaaar too much. Next one… Made BB feel nostalgic.

“Next… Was the trucker! He liked BB a whole lot, and let BB on the bed and the passenger’s seat! He and BB traveled a lot, seeing magic and beautiful places. BB spoke on the radio, and… And… Had a name! Was called Oreos...” They messed up their rhymes. This… This wasn’t how it was supposed to go “...BB was… Was happy then. His spouse didn’t like me, and… And behind his back, gave me away”

BB’s nails sunk on their arms, as they hug themselves. They… missed those days. It was good, good nostalgia, but what followed made them sick. They had just learned how big and beautiful the world was…

“Next Master… Stuffed BB into a bag, small and stinky with heavy leather smell, with no room to move at all, so much BB’s limbs collapsed when it was finally left out. It travelled around so much, but BB never got to see outside. It was let out during the night to be with Master, and shoved back on the bag once he was satisfied” BB shook their head, as if that would send the memories away. They hated it, hated that bag so, so much. Terrible, suffocating and endlessly boring and aching. And worse… that’s when they lost their name Oreos. They had loved that life. They truly had. “It didn’t matter much, BB was soon thrown away again. Unlovable and worthless, no one could stand BB for much longer either way. BB was sold and sold, always on their way. Next Master was confusing – gave BB many orders and functions, then beat BB down for following the instructions! They likes to trick BB, make plenty of cruel jokes, BB was just a dumb dog, one they only named Mutt!”

...They smiled then. The next one was also nice. His name was Wolfgang, but he was not a wolf. Not that BB could remember.

“And BB’s following owner sold stuff door to door! Saw BB – or Mutt then – and thought they were good charms! BB helped with the sales, being all cute and sweet, and Master was happy at first, but eventually… Sold me!”

And the next Master was…

BB shivered. This one… Hurt a lot. A whole fucking lot. It had been one of the longest lasting homes they had. It had changed the way they saw and thought of themselves forever. It was where they became BB. Bootleg Blue. Fake, useless, worthless.

“…Next was Owner Alvin, who BB loved so, so, so much. He said he would always care for BB… if BB could be someone else. BB had never ever been loved, and the feeling was so gentle and sweet! BB finally understood why no one else had loved it, and what it needed to do so that it would. Blue, a pet who had videos and fame, who had scars BB didn’t have… But I wanted to gain! BB left their teeth rot, BB scarred their own face, Master got angry – Bad BB, bad…” No, no, no. They couldn’t start to lament now. Not when they had gone so far on the video, already, and trough some of the hardest part “Alvin gave BB a room with a  plain white dresser, four pairs of clothes and double of socks! BB knew them all by heart and cherished them, BB loved Alvin, loved him, loved him so, so, so much. 

But …Alvin wanted BB to be Blue, but wouldn’t tolerate it when BB got the knife and tried to make the change. BB watched the videos on repeat, hundreds, thousands of hours on end, BB could cite them by head!

But BB wasn’t Blue, and can never be. BB is unworthy, and no one could love me. BB was shoved in a car and Owner broke his promise – he decided not to keep me, he, he, h-he… He, he…”

BB closes their eyes, bites back a sob. They are almost done now, and even if they completely messed up the last part…. they can push through! They can still make a nice video… Maybe the audience will like that they can be a little emotive?

“...Shoved BB in a car, drove them to a dead end. Left them alone on the streets to fend for themselves. BB stayed there alone and scared and sad, hoping someone would come… Or that somehow, their pain would end. And then Paul and Reina appeared, finding the ugly pet on the streets. Reina said BB did look like Blue! So she wanted, she wanted BB too!” BB smiled a little. Reina was pretty. She gave me good headpats… But BB didn’t miss them a lot. Paul wasn’t so nice “Paul knew BB was worthless, but Reina still wanted BB. BB was taken to their house and for a short span of time, BB was pampered, happy and loved, an illusion that didn’t last. They figured BB was fun to hurt and start to get their way – not that BB cared, loved them all the same”

They turned around for a second, smiling at Pastel. This was something they’d truly love to talk about, for once.

“But the best part was that BB made a friend when living at their place. Pastel was his name! Pastel held BB and told me it would be okay. BB didn’t have to be Blue – they loved me either way. Pastel took punishment and tried to keep Master’s away. BB cuddled them to sleep and they loved each other! They did!” 

BB smiled at this, hugging the plush. One drop of joy, as small as it had been. One that wasn’t stripped away. But the show hadn’t ended.

“…Alas we got back to IF. IF my desired owner, the true maker of Blue, the one who could make BB worthy of love… If he had wanted to. He shoved BB in a cage and tortured Pastel instead, and it was so, so awfully cruel!” BB shook their head, lamenting “But last and not least, Master Fairyman appeared! He took BB and Pastel to live with him! And he has been so nice so far, giving BB colored books! Lovely, nice and nice! And Pastel Is with me too, BB don’t know how long it will last, but BB is so, so to be here with you!”

BB finished, looking back at Pastel and drawing a heart in the air with their fingers. Pastel… is tearing up. He jumps from the bed, not minding the camera anymore, and hugs BB. BB melts, leaning onto the hug. Soft. Kind. Loved. 

“BB…” He finally speaks, still not letting them go  “Did… Did you rehearse this?”

“Many times in BB’s head!” BB smiled. Many, many, many times, all those years… “Did it come out nice?”

“Yeah…” Pastel rested his head on BB’s shoulder, hugging them tight “I love you, you know?”

BB smiled.

“I know”

tagging: @summer-of-whump@pinkraindropsfell

[biggest-stupidhead]

Path Walker (Levi x OC)

Summary: Emory and Erwin butt heads

AN: In future chapters there WILL be mentions of sexual assault I will put a warning on that specific chapter and other future chapters that mention mature content. 

Word Count: 2.4K 

A grunt escaped my lips as I fell to the ground, Annie loomed over me her icy blue eyes burning into my own. I risked a glance at Shadis who lurked on the edge of the clearing with that brooding expression, those hazel eyes locked on Annie and I. Annie followed my gaze and smirked,

"Nervous Black?" Annie purred, leaning forward to hoist me up.

"Never." I snarled, swinging my fist in a wide arc, effectively clipping her chin. She stumbled backwards, surprised by my dirty attack. Shadis raised an eyebrow at this move, not necessarily an impressive technique but definitely unexpected. I gave chase, closing the space between us, forcing Annie to take a defensive stance. When I first started sparring with Annie she almost appeared bored, now she was wide eyed and very alert. I kept my elbows close to my chest as I scanned her small frame for an opening. Annie was about the same size as me, making us a relatively equal match. She danced back a few more steps, seemingly desperate to get away from my lightning quick punches. This time I allowed her to retreat, my cobalt eyes taking in the way her chest heaved and her hair was displaced and slipping from her low bun. The usually composed Annie Leonhardt was only slightly undone but all of your comrades took note. I allowed my eyes to scan the crowd that had gathered. Shadis had also snuck up on Annie and I, his features hard and unforgiving.

"Draw?" I asked, my voice coming out airy as I spoke. Annie nodded, her chest still heaving as she recovered from our tussle. The crowd let out some 'aws' and 'boos' due to our little show ending so abruptly. I dusted off my pants as the rest of the cadets dispersed as Annie and I recovered. Annie held her hand out and I took it, shaking it wordlessly before departing to find a new opponent. I halted abruptly when Shadis called out to me in that hoarse voice of his.

"Black! Your presence is requested in my office." he stood a distance behind me as I raised an inquisitive brow. Odd, sparring practice still had at least another hour. Surely he wouldn't leave the cadets unattended to hold a private audience with me? The thought made my stomach clench with dread, I learned early not to trust men. I paused before saluting him and giving a curt nod. I walked briskly over the training grounds, kicking up dust as I crossed the vast clearing. Finally I found myself in front of the small building that the superiors used to hold formal meetings and also were the few offices on the property were located. I paused, a carriage catching my eyes, a solider stood by the horses, holding the reins. I squinted trying to see the symbol on his military jacket. But he was too far away, and I wasn't very keen on getting caught staring at a stranger. So I walked into the building, heading straight for Shadis' office. I knocked on the door, not expecting a response since Shadis was supervising the sparring practice.

"Come in." I jumped at the sound of the deep masculine voice on the other side. My hand hovered over the knob, had Shadis set me up? Was I about to get thrown in jail? No I hadn't done anything illegal, at least not recently. Was Shadis conspiring with those notorious human traffickers? Was I being sold? No I need to chill the fuck out. I gripped the door knob and pushed the door open. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Erwin Smith seated comfortably in Shadis' chair, although he rose as soon as I entered. I saluted him quickly, leaving my hand over my heart even though he had dismissed me.

"You gave me a heart attack, thought I was going to be sold into slavery." I sighed as I crossed the room and sank into the uncomfortable wooden chair across the desk. Erwin furrowed his eyebrows and fought a smile off of his lips at my words.

"Why on earth would you think that? Have you been so terrible that Shadis has resolved to slavery as a threat to make you behave?" Erwin asked raising a bushy brow. I scoffed and leaned forward in my seat.

"No, I've been quite good actually." I said proudly, a smile curving on my lips. Erwin smiled fully before turning his attention to a folder that sat on the desktop.

"I've come here today to remind you of the deal that you agreed to three years ago." straight to business, gotta love the guy.

"Yes I recall." I said leaning back in my seat. God has it really been three years?

"Your graduation is in exactly two weeks, and I am very pleased with your rankings." Erwin said as he flipped through the file, his blue eyes suddenly flickered to my face.

"Oh, well I wish I could've made top ten but..." I trailed off, a blush dusting my cheeks.

"Ranked 11th in your class, still an impressive feat, this is a very competitive group of cadets." Erwin said giving me a pointed look. I could only nod at his words, still confused as to why he had come all this way to visit me.

"Anyway, I just wanted to ensure that you would be joining the Survey Corps as arranged, I'm sure as you know our numbers have decreased significantly." he said, slowly standing up, his tall build did make him a bit intimidating. I lifted my head a bit higher in an attempt to meet the mountain of a man without standing. He placed a large hand on the back of my chair, I allowed my eyes to flit over his calloused hand for a moment before turning to meet his cerulean gaze.

"I am aware." I spoke curtly, growing tired of his condescending tone.

"We are in need of promising recruits like yourself and to see you slip into another regimen would truly be devastating. Besides..." his hand slid off the back of my chair and onto my shoulder. My blood ran cold as he leaned down to my level and tightened his grip on my shoulder.

"There's a certain someone who is expecting you." his words sent goosebumps up my spine. It had been three whole years since I had seen Levi. Now of course Erwin was using him as an incentive to stay true to my word. I tensed under his grip, but still managed to nod.

"Does he ask about me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No... But I know he thinks about you." Erwin said, I nodded grimly, not really knowing what else I expected, he was kind to even add the last part. I laughed bitterly, "Why do I even bother." I cupped my face in my hands and slowly drug them down my cheeks. Erwin still held my shoulder firmly.

"Just uphold your end of the deal." he whispered, with a final squeeze he released my shoulder and returned to Shadis' seat, sinking into the back rest.

"Don't worry I will." I said, my own sapphire eyes narrowing as I spoke lowly. He waved his hand, dismissing me. I turned and quickly left without saluting him, a small act of rebellion. Gods, fuck that, did he really doubt my integrity so much to make a journey out here to ensure that I remembered the deal? Outrageous, I didn't even want this I never wanted to be a solider. I was only a child when this deal was made. By none other than Isabel, which is the only reason why I have decided to uphold my end.

When Levi, Farlan, and Isabel had been arrested Isabel begged Erwin to go back to the flat and bring me with them, at first he refused. But then when he learned that I was twelve years old he changed his mind. Why you might ask? Simply because he realized that he could make me a solider, a pawn in the fight for freedom. So exactly one year after my family's arrest he returned and gave me false documents, freeing me from the underground city. I stumbled, leaning against the railing of the dining hall, so engrossed in my memories that I failed to see a large rock in my path.

I blinked, the images of the dank city still dancing across my mind. I looked up at the sky to see the sun sinking lower, dinner would begin soon. But my stomach was churning with nerves as I thought about the place I had grown up and the people who had ensured my survival. Isabel, Farlan, Levi, they had saved me gotten me out of that hellhole. Now only two of us remained and he couldn't even fucking write me. I straightened up, pushing off the railing I stormed back towards the barracks, a new found rage instilled in my chest. Or maybe it wasn't new at all, maybe it had always been there, a nagging in the back of my head. Levi was never keen with me, but surely he cared enough to at least ensure that Erwin fulfilled Isabel's wish. But then again maybe he only enforced the deal to honor Isabel?

I frowned, Isabel was one of the few people who showed me kindness during my short life, she was like a big sister to me. I finally found myself struggling to open the door to the barracks, my hands shaking with emotion. With a final shove I pushed into the room, the bunk beds all made with care. I flopped onto my bunk and buried my face in the stiff pillow. I allowed a few small tears fall into the fabric before I finally pulled away from the pillow and breathed a heavy sigh. I looked down where my pillow once rested to see the carefully folded paper that I kept stored underneath the pillow. I gingerly unfolded the worn parchment with shaky hands. My shoulders sagged when I finished, the image that stared back at me made my heart ache. A drawing that Farlan had done only a few weeks before everything changed, a family portrait of sorts, you and Isabel between Levi and Farlan, Levi was drawn with a slight curl of his lip, his own way of smiling.

Isabel looked vibrant and full of life, Farlan looked cool as a cat, and I looked like a snotty brat with missing teeth and ratty hair. At the sight of my messy hair I recalled I memory of Isabel attempting to comb it to no avail, Farlan tried and also ultimately failed. But Levi pinned me to the ground and viciously raked the brush through my hair, and succeeded in detangling the mess. You didn't talk to him for a week after that. A shaky breath left my lungs as I focused on Isabel's wide eyes and the way Farlan's had an arm carelessly thrown over my shoulders. What I wouldn't do to feel his warmth by me again, admittedly I'd had an innocent crush on Farlan. It was only natural seeing as he was the one to take me in so graciously. I yelped when the door banged open, quickly stuffing my precious keepsake back under the pillow. Ymir padded in first, her arms folded behind her head, Krista followed closely after her. Mikasa wandered in after the odd pair along with Sasha and Annie brought up the rear. The lot of us occupied this small section of the barracks, Annie was the only one to spare me a second glance before tossing her jacket onto the bed above mine.

"What did Shadis do with you?" she asked indifferently, such an odd tone that made me think she didn't really care, but still bothered to ask the question.

"He did nothing, it was an old acquaintance of mine that requested my presence." I said throwing my legs over the edge of the bed. Annie raised a brow but didn't question any further, she set to work on unbuckling her harness, and shortly after, stripping her white jeans off. When she tossed the clothing onto the ground a strange scent washed over me. It smelled simply raw a foreign scent that I had never caught a whiff of before. Just as quickly as it had drifted under my nose it was gone, leaving an odd feeling in my stomach. Hm how odd, I thought as I watched Annie pull on a pair of loose pants. Just as I opened my mouth to ask her if she had found a new perfume or something Sasha plopped down on my bed.

"Sorry you couldn't come to dinner, I saved you a little something though!" she beamed as she pulled a half eaten loaf of bread out of her jacket pocket. I couldn't help but smile, in an odd distant way, she reminded me of my dear Isabel, kind and hard headed.

"Thanks Sasha, I appreciate that." I gingerly accepted the gift, and took a bite out of the loaf. Sasha looked pleased with herself, she got up and left me alone on my bunk, Annie crawled up onto the top as I dusted crumbs off my bed. Come to think of it, that scent from earlier was familiar, maybe she used the same soap as someone? No it wasn't a manmade scent, it was strange but somehow I knew that it was uniquely her. Like pheromones or some shit, my nose wrinkled and suddenly I felt over powered by the scent. I looked up to see Ymir passing, her shoulders pulled back proudly. What the fuck, man they reeked how had I never smelled it before? They smelled like sweat mixed with an earthy musk, my eyes watered as the smell continued to overpower my senses. I fell into a sneezing fit shortly after Ymir had walked back to her bunk, drawing some curious glances my way as I continued to sneeze my brains out.

"You alright down there?" Annie asked, her head dangling upside down to look at me underneath her.

"Fine, just.... Allergies." I sniffled, rubbing my arm discreetly over my nose partially to wipe snot away and also to protect it from her scent. Annie brushed her bangs off her face to get a better look at me, her brows pinched together and her mouth opened slightly as if she was about to say something.

"Lights out cadets!" Shadis banged on the barracks door loudly, shutting up every girl in the room. Mikasa got up and extinguished the torch, plunging the room into darkness. I heard Annie settle back into her bed, and I followed suit, my nose still burning from the stench.

[ofstarsandfireflies]

I didn’t have this movie.

Can you believe that?

I had to purchase this movie because I’d assumed I already had it.

In all fairness, Tony was a little overprotective of the kid.

He was his kid after all.

So when Spider-Man wants to do more than just help little old ladies cross the street or save cats in trees, Tony says no.

He doesn’t want Peter fighting in do or die situations where Tony himself has almost lost his life on more than one occasion.

He’d be worried sick.

And that is how their fight started.

That is how Peter takes the tracker out of his suit and goes off in search of a way to prove himself.

And that is how Peter is abducted, seemingly by a god damn Sorcerer.

Tony’s first thought is his ex husband Stephen, hoping he’d followed him and has Peter safe, already dialling Strange’s number for answers.

Of course, Strange doesn’t have any, but he’s more than willing to help Tony find his kid because Peter is his kid too.

Their marriage hadn’t lasted long, but long enough for them both to have signed the adoption papers and for Stephen to have become a permanent memory to Peter.

Tony has always admired that Stephen wanted to stay as part of their lives despite how hectic it could be, and he’s grateful that Stephen wants to help, but if he doesn’t know who this other magic user is, how are they going to find Peter?

Enraged by whoever has his child and what they could potentially do to him, Stephen and Tony head for the mission destination where Peter had been taken.

Meanwhile, Peter wakes up and meets other kids his age, and the self appointed leader of them, Harry Osborne.

Peter knows the name, it’s almost as famous as the Stark name, but for far worse reasons.

So when Harry sees he’s actually talking to Spider-Man, he decides to let the Peter in on a secret.

The two of them are going to escape, and they’re going to use the others to do so, but he needs Peter on his side as a bodyguard to ensure he escapes.

Peter is not on board for this plan at all.

He’ll only agree to it if they all escape.

Harry tries to tell him that they’ll only slow them down, that he’s the more important one here with his last name being Osborne, but Peter shuts him down again.

Everyone escapes.

No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Tony is not happy about the situation he has found himself in.

Not only has his son been kidnapped, but he’s searching for him with his ex husband, who is just as supportive as he was back then and twice as good looking since he’s kept the grey streaks Tony commented on last time they saw one another.

But he won’t let himself focus on that.

Peter was in danger and now was not the time to be getting hung up on feelings that he should have buried a long time ago.

Stephen isn’t having as much luck as Tony is.

He can’t focus on anything when Tony is bending down to look at something and showing him just how tight those jeans really are.

Stephen is walking over to him before he can stop himself, looking at the drag marks Tony is running his hand over, analysing the track with his glasses.

They were made by the exact same sneaker type and size Peter wore, and their trail leads away to the left, their path highlighted to him only.

Stephen watches him walk off without a word to him, sighing to himself as he follows.

The trail ends but there’s no tyre marks or anything else for him to follow.

It’s like he vanished into thin air.

And just like that, their only lead is gone, and Tony looks so small as his body starts to shrink in on itself.

Stephen steps up behind him, wrapping his arms around his chest to offer some comfort and Tony is immediately throwing himself away from him, yelling at him that now is not the time, that there’s something wrong with Stephen if he thinks now is the time for getting his freak on and Tony has to find HIS son, not their son, all while Stephen just stands there and takes Tony’s anger.

But when Tony decides to finish yelling and find Peter by himself, they both realise there are three villains surrounding them, all of whom have given Peter some trouble in the past.

One of them, Kraven the Hunter, steps forward and while the two Avengers think they’re in for a fight, the villain isn’t here for one at all.

In the most bizarre turn of events, these three men are trying to reform themselves for society so they can get back to their lives and their families.

If they help out two Avengers with finding a third, they’re bound to put in a good name for them, right?

And that is how they learn about a new villain calling himself Mysterio.

He shouldn’t even be allowed to call himself a villain because he refuses to get his hands dirty, giving out orders and using ‘magic’ tricks to fool people, in this case kids, to be lured away to be sold in the human trafficking ring he’s currently running.

Stephen has heard enough, and has decided Tony has heard enough too, quickly telling the three men they will talk to some people before making a portal so he and Tony can leave.

But Tony doesn’t want to leave.

What if they have Mysterio’s location?

What if they can help them find Peter?

The three men are so moved by Tony’s determination to find his son that the name completely goes over their head, one of them crying about how he’d do anything for his daughter, but Stephen believes they have all the information that they’re going to get out of them, and that bringing them along could cause issues down the road if they decide to turn on them.

When he tries to leave again, Tony grabs his hand a little too tightly in his gauntlet, making Stephen wrench it free and slicing it open.

Tony is apologising and trying to get the stubborn Sorcerer to let him have a look at the damage, blood dripping onto the ground when he finally gets him to show him the cut.

And that is when Kraven pounces, the other two men yelling at him to calm down as Tony and Stephen slip through the portal and close it.

There’s silence between them as Stephen struggles to bandage his hand up, Tony taking over and doing it for him like he used to back when...

Well, that was then.

He shouldn’t be thinking of those days gone.

Not with Peter still in danger.

Stephen can’t help but smile as he remembers those times as well, quickly fading when reality settles back in and Tony is moving away from him.

They have a name, one Tony already has an identity and an address for, and Stephen makes the portal to the apartment where this man has been living.

They find a cluttered mess of drones and other tech this guy has been using, but one thing stands out to both of them.

A helmet like an overturned fishbowl, linked up to a server where it’s apparently downloading something.

And when they both go to reach for it, it topples to the ground and shatters, triggering the servers to begin erasing themselves.

Tony gets Friday in there to prevent any evidence from being destroyed, but while she does stop the purge, she finds nothing that can help them find Peter.

So, the blame game begins again, Tony ultimately telling Stephen to leave so he can find his son in peace without any more delays.

Stephen isn’t going anywhere though. Tony might not want his help but he’s stuck with him whether he likes it or not.

Tony is about to retort when the room they’re in turns completely black, the whirring of the now alive drones the only sound around them.

Stephen makes his way over to the blue light on Tony’s chest so they can get out of here together.

Friday can’t see their way out, Tony’s armour isn’t responding and Stephen’s magic isn’t working, which means they have to work together to get out of here.

Tony accidentally bangs into one of the drones and it shocks him, but it also knocks into another one, the two short circuiting.

As they both come to the realisation as to what they need to do, the life or death situation they find themselves in becomes a game, racing to get out first and destroy as many of the drones as possible.

Stephen is the winner, emerging first and finally being able to make a portal for the two of them to get to safety.

But when he turns around, Tony isn’t behind him.

He’s still inside the building.

And a convoy of cars has just pulled up.

Racing back inside yelling for Tony to answer him, he sees that familiar blue glow shining dimly.

When he reaches for him, the shock from a drone makes him pull back for an second before he’s reaching again, pain surging through his body as he grabs Tony and hoists him off the floor, tracing his steps back to the exit as fast as he can while drones swarm around him.

Finally they get out, both falling through the portal he’d left open, Tony landing beside him as he manages to stay conscious enough to close the portal, a shadowy figure looming over them as the darkness takes him.

Harry’s escape plan once he gets everyone on board is a failure.

Only he had managed to get out and he didn’t get far before he was brought back.

It’s while he’s being dragged back that he hears about the two Avengers who have been following a trail to where he’s being kept.

Some think it’s for Spider-Man, some think it’s for him, but either way everyone is now on high alert.

When he’s thrown back into the shipping container with the rest of the kids, he smiles at them.

It wasn’t a failure.

He got what he wanted.

Stephen wakes up in a comfortable bed, Professor Xavier sitting at his side and telling him they’re safe.

When Stephen asks about Tony, Xavier nods to the window, Stephen looking out into a grassy courtyard where a group of kids are chasing him around.

And he can’t help his smile when Tony lets them catch him and drag him to the ground to pile on top of him.

Its then he hears Xavier telling him he can help him. While he can’t pinpoint an exact location, he does have an item belonging to Peter.

Tony notices Stephen off to the side with something in his hand.

Something he shouldn’t have.

It’s Peter’s jacket.

Tony instantly pulls the jacket close to him, shaking his head about the fact that only their kid would take a bright yellow blazer from school to a mission like he was on a field trip.

Stephen doesn’t know how to comfort him.

His eyes trail down the jacket and land on a brown hair caught on the back.

He picks it off.

This.

This is what will lead them straight to their son.

And it’s about this time that Harry comes back to Peter with his actual plan.

He will make sure everyone gets out and Peter will follow them and protect them all in their escape.

Peter doesn’t mind playing the decoy, but when he asks Harry how he’s going to accomplish this, Harry pulls something from the pocket of his jacket.

It’s a handful of small berries.

Poison.

Not enough to kill Peter, but enough to stop his heart for a short while.

Peter runs the calculations in his head and comes to the conclusion that this amount is perfect for up to two minutes, so Harry better use that time wisely.

Harry promises and shakes his hand goodbye.

Then he alerts their guards, and Peter chews down the berries.

It is utter chaos when Stephen and Tony finally get to the shipping yard where Peter is being held.

There’s men everywhere firing at them, Stephen taking care of most of them as Tony wrenches open the cargo bin’s door.

The gunfire.

The magical blasts.

Tony’s heartbeat in his ears.

Everything ceases when he sees Peter laying on the floor of the old container and there is no register of a heartbeat on his display.

He feels something trying to pull him away but he doesn’t want to leave.

That’s his son, he can’t leave him here.

A familiar voice, so distant, is telling him it’s too dangerous to stay, that they’ll come back for him, and Tony is screaming, crying, fighting to get to his son as he’s pulled away through a portal and held against the chest of the man he once loved.

The man who had been with him the day Peter had become part of their family.

The man who’d wanted to remain a part of his life, despite their marriage falling through.

Tony pulls away, numb all over, and manages to catch the rest of what Stephen is saying.

He saying he’s sorry.

And Tony just turns around and walks away from him.

He has nothing to be sorry about.

It was Tony’s fault this had happened, not his.

Peter is startled back to consciousness by his name being called.

It was Tony calling him.

He can hear Stephen’s voice too, but by the time he gets to the steel door, the portal he knew to be on the other side of it is already closing, and he can’t give away his position when the others still need his help.

Tony has stopped crying.

He’s stopped fighting Stephen off.

He was too late to save his...their son.

And now, with nothing left to fight for, he just wants to go home.

It’s not the ending Stephen had hoped for.

He wanted them to reunite as a family and maybe get back to how things used to be between him and Tony, because as much as neither want to admit it, they’ve fallen for the other all over again.

And while Stephen still wants to try tell him that being with Tony these last few days have made him remember all the good times they had, all the love he still has for him and how he doesn’t want to forget that, Tony does want to forget.

So he leaves Tony at the X-Mansion to rest while he goes back and utterly destroys what is left of the shipping yard, killing everyone he comes into contact with while fighting his way to where he’d seen Peter’s body.

And the last opponent standing in his way is this man who calls himself Mysterio.

All Stephen wants is Peter.

He’ll let the guy go, there doesn’t have to be battle and Quinten doesn’t have to die.

But this guy sees no way he can lose.

He has illusions on his side, even against the Sorcerer’s magic and with no field blocking his powers, he can still win.

And he probably would have if he hadn’t anticipated just how pissed the Sorcerer Supreme was that his chance for a happy ending had been ruined by this scum.

So when Peter starts hearing screams coming from behind him, he does a quick head count, making sure no one got left behind.

And when they start to get louder and longer, he can’t take it anymore.

He needs to go see who’s in trouble.

They might need his help.

Telling this to Harry gets him a nod and a promise that they’ll be alright now, and Peter goes back to where they’d been held, checking the bodies for any survivors as he follows the cries for help.

And then they stop.

And Stephen is staring at him, his shaking hands covered in blood.

Peter’s alive.

Peter’s alive and Tony doesn’t know.

Tony is heading to the blackbird to be taken home seeming how Stephen up and left him here.

And he’s half way up the ramp when he hears something that makes him stop.

That almost sounded like Peter.

He turns in hope, sees his son running toward him and throws himself off the ramp to get to Peter as fast as possible, recognising Stephen is there beside him as well as he grabs them both in the tightest hug he can manage without killing them.

He doesn’t want to know how Peter is here now.

He doesn’t need to know what Stephen did to achieve this.

All he knows is that he has his son again.

His alive son.

Stephen wraps his arms around him.

There may be a chance for them to be a family again after all.

They can take it slowly.

No need to rush anything.

It’s not like anyone wants revenge on him for what he did.

Quotes

“Clearly you’re not ready and you’re not coming back until you are. You think you can do these things but you just can’t, Nemo!”

“I hate you.”

Tony and Peter’s fight

“We’re all gonna escape.”

“Gil, please, not another one of your escape plans.”

“Sorry but they, they just, they never really work.”

“Yeah, why should this be any different?”

“Coz we got him!”

Harry Osborne talking up Spider-Man

“So we’re cheating death now. That’s what we’re doing. But we’re having fun at the same time. I can do this. Just be careful.”

“Yeah, careful I don’t make you cry when I win!”

“Oh, I don’t think so!”

“Give it up, old man! You can’t fight evolution, I was built for speed!”

“The question is Dory, are you hungry?”

“Hungry?”

“Yeah! Cause you’re about to eat my bubbles! The clownfish is the winner! We did it! Look at us! Dory?...oh no...”

Stephen realising Tony got left behind

“It’s be alright. It’ll be ok.”

“No. No it won’t.”

“Sure it will, you’ll see.”

“No. I promised him I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”

“Huh. That’s a funny thing to promise.”

“What?”

“Well, you can’t never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him.”

Stephen and Tony connecting

“It’s there, I know it is because when I look at you, I can feel it. And when I look at you I’m...I’m whole. Please. I don’t want that to go away. I don’t want to forget.”

“I’m sorry Dory, but I do.”

Stephen trying to keep Tony in his life.

Anything part 1

Tony enlists the help of Doctor Strange when Peter is snatched by a kidnapping ring of human traffickers.

January, February

Missed a Day? Catch up here!

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15

Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19

[yespleasetommyshelby]

Need you now ~ Jay Halstead

An imagine based on the song ‘Need you now’ by Lady Antebellum - I kind of got lost in this one, it’s a tad long... feel free to send requests :)

‘Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor, reaching for the phone cause I can’t take it anymore...’

Sighing I look down at the broken photo frame on my bedroom floor, six pictures all showing the smiling faces of a couple perfectly in love, not knowing that a few months down the line it’ll just be memories. Jay Halstead, the most kind, thoughtful, loving man I had ever set my eyes on, a detective for Chicago PD, the guy who caught my eye the minute I walked into the little bar my uncle owns. We would have been together a whole year today, if only it hadn’t all gone wrong.

He was working a case involving prostitutes that we’re being sold into human trafficking they caught the guys at the head of the gang he changed that night and he hadn’t been the same since, that was three months ago, and it’s been a month since the night that it all fell down.

“All we ever do is argue Jay! Ever since that case it’s only been arguing!” I yell pointing my finger at Jay as tears slowly made their way down my face.

“You don’t understand y/n! You don’t know the things I saw, things that nobody should ever have to see!” He yelled back his fists balled up at his sides, his eyes sparkling with tears that he’s holding back.

“You’re right Jay, I don’t know what you see in your job, but I do know that you made a promise. You promised that no matter how bad the job got you wouldn’t let it come inbetween us.” I said quietening down to normal speaking volume.

I sighed turning around and walking into his bedroom grabbing my small duffel bag that was under his bed and haphazardly throwing the stuff I had left there into it, furiously wiping away the tears that refused to stop.

“What are you doing?” His pained voice came from behind me. Picking up the bag I turned round slowly only to be met by his bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks. “Please don’t go.” He begged quietly looking down at the ground.

“I’m sorry Jay, but you need to get your head on straight before we can even think about being together.” I said placing my hand on his cheek briefly before walking away to the front door, turning and taking one last look as he stood in the hall watching me. “I love you Jay Halstead, and I always I will.” I whispered quietly but loud enough for him to hear me, opening the door I barely heard his faint whisper before I closed it and walked away.

“Please don’t leave me.”

The sudden ping from my phone recieveing a message brought me out of my reminiscing, looking down I noticed that it was 8:30pm, right around the time Jay would be getting home. Shaking my head I looked at the message to see it was from Adam, one of Jays friends from work, I’d met the whole team and had become pretty close with Adam and Kim.

Adam - Hey, the teams heading over to Molly’s, everyone would love to see you, especially Kim. We’ll see you there y/n.

Sighing I put my phone down, I miss them, of course I do, but I know that he’ll be there and I can’t bring myself to face him. Looking back at my phone I didn’t realise I had another message, this one from Kim.

Kim - Hey, I know Adams already asked but I just wanted you to know that Jay’s a mess, he hasn’t been the same since that day, please talk to him.

Feeling the tears slipping down my cheeks once again I slowly pulled myself up and climbed into bed. I can’t call him, not yet.

‘And I wonder if I ever cross your mind, for me it happens all the time..’

Lying in bed I couldn’t help but to think about the first time I’d met Jay, it was at Molly’s the bar that my uncle owned with two of his fellow firefighters. I had just moved back from New York after finishing my degree, and according to Uncle Chris Molly’s was just the right place for a celebration.

“Hey Matt, who’s that?” I asked noticing a guy sending me a small flirty smile as I sat at the bar with Matt, a man who is just like an uncle along with most of the other guys at the firehouse.

“Who? Oh that’s Jay Halstead, he’s a detective at the 21st.” He answered sharing flirty winks and smiles at Gabby who was serving at the other end of the bar. Yuck.

“The same district as that Voight guy?” I asked knowing that they had some kind of problem a while back.

“Yeah, but thats in the past now, besides, Jay’s a good guy.” He smiled holding his beer up as a greeting as Jay walked over.

“Hey Casey, who’s this?” He asked sending me what was more of a smirk than a smile.

“Jay this is y/n, niece of Herrmann. Y/n this is Jay detective at the 21st, anyway, I’ll be back in a minute.” He introduced distractedly as he stood up from his stool and followed Gabby into the back room. Okay, their seriously like horny teenagers.

“So, it’s nice to meet you y/n niece of Herrmann.” Jay smiled sitting down on what was Matt’s stool, holding his hand out for me to shake.

“It’s nice to meet you too Jay detective at the 21st.” I giggled taking his hand in mine, and as they say, the rest was history.

Wiping away the tears I grab my phone seeing that the time is now 10pm, I’d wasted an hour and a half thinking about Jay, I doubt he even thinks about me anymore. Although that doesn’t make it any easier to not think about him.

‘Another shot of whisky, can’t stop looking at the door... Wishing you’d come sweepin’ in the way you did before...’

*Jay’s POV*

“Hey Gabby, can I get another one?” I slurred slightly as I held up my empty shot glass for her to see.

“Sure you’ve not had enough detective?” She asked with a raised eyebrow as she poured the drink.

“Nope.” I said bluntly before lifting the glass to my mouth, the sour liquid slightly burning my throat.

“Jay man, you gotta slow down.” Adams voice came from beside me as he took a seat on the stool next to me. “I text her, and so did Kim, you know those two are like sisters, she’ll come man.”

“You know, this is the place I met her, it was at yours and Kim’s engagement drinks, she came in with Casey and Severide, she was sat right here, I was over there.” I said pointing over to the table where the rest of intelligence were sat. “She looked me right in the eye and gave me a breath taking smile, I was hooked man.” I said smiling slightly as I looked over at the door remembering that night, hoping she’d walk through any second.

“To Adam and Kim!” We all cheered as we raised our glasses before downing the shots.

Just as I placed my glass back on the table Casey and Severide caught my attention, well not them exactly, but the woman they were with. She was wearing a short black dress with a heart shaped cut out over her chest, her y/h/l y/h/c curled slightly so that it bounced when she walked. I watched as Severide walked away leaving her and Casey sitting at the bar when she caught my eye, she held eye contact for a few seconds before she gave me a small smile, a smile that while I didn’t know it at the time, would be the view I loved to see the most.

“Go talk to her man.” Kevin nudged me in the side slightly obviously noticing the girl that had my attention.

“Nah man, she’s probably with Severide, she came in with him and Casey.” I shrugged slightly feeing disheartened that I may not get to know this girl.

“She’s single you know.” Kim spoke up nodding over to the girl. “She was at the firehouse the other day when Voight sent me over, she someone’s niece I think.” She shrugged going back to her conversation with Adam.

“Go get her man.” Antonio laughed shoving me slightly, taking a breath I walked over and Casey introduced us before he left to go find Gabby, I’ve still got to thank him for introducing me to the best person to come into my life for a long, long time.

“She’ll come man, you just gotta wait.” Adam said patting my shoulder before walking back over to the team.

Nodding my head slightly I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket, 0 messages, 0 calls, and it’s already 10pm, looking down I stared at my home screen for a few seconds, a picture of me and her the night that I asked her to be my girlfriend. I miss her so damn much.

‘It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you now... I said I wouldn’t call but I lost all control and I need you now...’

*y/n POV*

My phone pinging next to my head on the pillow woke me up from my not so deep sleep, reaching around in the dark to find it, it takes my eyes a few seconds to adjust before reading the text.

Kim - He’s been sat at the bar since we got here, he’s waiting for you.

There was a picture attached, a picture of Jay sitting at the bar in Molly’s on his own, empty beer bottles in front of him. The picture alone made my heart break, checking the time I saw that it was 1am, picking up my phone I couldn’t help myself but to call Kim, I can’t face talking to him.

“Hello? Y/n?” Kim’s voice came through the speaker, along with laughing and faint music in the background.

“Hey Kim.” I smiled slightly just hearing her voice. “How is he?” I asked quietly.

“He’s bad y/n, he’s refusing to leave because he thinks you’re going to show up like how you did the first time you met or something, I’ve never seen him like this, he needs you.” She spoke sadly, pressing the switch in my head as I pulled myself out of bed and rushed over to my closet.

“Kim, listen, I’m on my way, but please don’t tell him I’m coming, just keep him there and safe, please.” I asked as I pulled out the dress I had worn the night we’d met. “I’ll there in ten.” I said hanging up quickly.

Almost ripping my pyjamas off I pulled my dress on and rushed into the bathroom to apply a bit of foundation and mascara before running a brush through my hair, that’ll have to do. Grabbing my leather jacket I walked out into the cold air, jumping in my car and rushing round to Molly’s.

I need him too.

‘It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now... I said I wouldn’t call, but I lost all control and I need you now...’

*Jay’s POV*

“She’s not coming man, let’s get you home.” Adam said as he came back over to the bar, shaking my head I checked the time 1.15am.

“She’ll be here.” I slurred as I nursed my eight beer of the night, not including however many shots I did.

“C’mon, I’ll drop you off-“ “No man, I’m not leaving this bar till she comes, I need her, now.” I raised my voice slightly cutting him off, still slurring as I looked over to the door where people were leaving.

“Alright, alright, we’ll wait with you.” Adam said raising his hands in surrender and walking back over to the rest of the team who were looking at me with worried eyes

Rolling my own I turned back to my phone, 0 calls and 0 messages. She’ll come, she has to. Not being able to help myself I pressed her number and listened to it ring before it went quiet. Voicemail great, maybe she really isn’t coming...

‘And I don’t know how I can do without, I just need you now...’

*Y/n POV*

As I sit in the car staring at the bar over the road I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking, this is it, all I’ve gotta do is walk in there and get him back, easy peasy... right? Shaking my head I opened the door and climbed out before making my way across the street, slowly pushing open the bars doors. As soon as I stepped foot inside I could feel all eyes on me, but mine never left him as he swirled his beer around in its bottle, looking over to the rest of intelligence I couldn’t help but smile slightly at the grins on all of their faces, Adam mouthing a quick ‘thank you’. Slowly I made my way over to Jay and took a seat on the stool besides him.

“Y/n, niece of Herrmann.” I said quietly watching the side of face, seeing how he turned confused before realisation suddenly took over.

“You came.” He whispered as he looked me up and down almost checking I was real. “I didn’t think you would come, I thought you hated me.” He said quietly, a lone tear falling from his eye, breaking the damn I had up, a slow flow of tears falling down my cheeks.

“Of course I came,” I started, wiping the tears from my face with a small laugh. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the day I left. I love you so much Jay Halstead, I just need you to talk to me after a hard case, not keep it bottled up.” I said quietly reaching over and taking his hand in mine.

“I love you so much y/n, and I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure you have the best life anyone could ever ask for.” He said standing up and pulling me up with him, wrapping his arms around my waist as mine went around his neck.

“I’ll never let you go again.” He whispered before he placed his lips on mine, moving in perfect sync like we’d never been apart. Slowly moving away the sound of cheering got my attention, the rest of intelligence came over hugging and congratulating us.

“Sorry I’m not staying long, I just came to get him.” I smiled slightly as I looked over at Jay who was already watching me, a big smile on his face causing mine to grow.

“Come on loser, let’s go.” He laughed wrapping his arm around my shoulder pulling me to the exit.

“I will leave your ass here detective.” I joked snuggling into his side as we walked out of Molly’s saying goodbye as we went.

“You’re never leaving again.” He said stopping next to my car looking down at me seriously.

“I know baby, I missed you much.” I smiled sadly a single tear escaping which he wiped away with the pad of his thumb. “I love you Jay Halstead.”

“I love you more than you could ever know y/f/n y/l/n.”

‘Oh baby I need you now...”

[purple-moonlights-blog]

STRAY KIDS 10th MEMBER AU

INTRODUCTION

This AU is heavily inspired by @k-llama-llama ! If you don’t know her I highly suggest checking out her blog, she and her writings are really sweet (also some good drama just started in her AU). 🌸

I’m not 100% sure where I’m going with this AU, so please feel free to request and suggest what could happen. I really want to take in ideas from people who are interested in the story. Don’t be shy loves! ♥︎ 

☾☼ 

Btw. I didn’t use her name until the very end because my dumb ass forgot to give her a name.

Also, in this scenario, Stray Kids themselves aren’t very present since it didn’t really fit. However, I promise that next time will be a lot of Stray Kids content! 

▸ Check out the Profile HERE

▸ Request for the AU HERE

▸ MASTERLIST

Words: 2342

Warnings: Swearing?⎮ And weird grammar and spelling mistakes, English is not my native language⎮

I. NEW 〈NOVA〉

(gif not mine)

With her eyebrows knitted together and her upper-lip slightly twisted up, an expression her friend David stated to be her “trying to be polite but can’t help but judge“ look - or in other words, her being a twat visage - she stared at the man, probably in his mid-thirties, in front of her. 

For the past five minutes he spoke very fast and in a very strong Satoori accent, she had difficulties to understand, and thereby wildly gesticulate with his arms. The longer he talked the more he began to sweat and looked noticeably more nervous. She wasn’t intentionally trying to be rude by not saying a word the whole time, even though she was more than once encouraged to respond to his rambling. However, due to her having a hard time progressing what he was saying - her Korean might be quite good, thanks to her mum compelling her and her brothers too Korean lesson since the early beginnings of their childhood, yet she only learned standard Korean - and immediately doubting what he was saying to be true, she kept her mouth shut until she had a clear picture of what was going on. From what she could grasp, the man was responsible to recruit trainees for entertainment companies, which in the end should turn them in successful idols, that bring big profits and put the companies into positive spotlights. 

He explained that he was from JYP and that Park Jinyoung personally placed in order, after allegedly seeing a video of a street performance of her dancing and singing, to track her down and convince her to audition for his company. He further explained that JYP - the company - planned to form an idol group in the upcoming month of October through a survival show and JYP - the person - wanted her in it because she would in his opinion fit perfectly into the concept. 

Bullocks, she instantly thought when he told her that. 

She didn’t believe a word coming from his mouth. Yes, it was true that she appeared in multiple videos of street performances that are posted on YouTube, however, she was neither an outstanding dancer nor a Whitney Huston, at least in her opinion. The more he talked the more it sounded like the plot of a Wattpad fanfiction and as the result of her distinct sense of reality, which often came across as her being pessimistic, she knew stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life. It’s called Fan Fiction after all.  

The whole story sounded like a lie somebody, who kidnaps young girls and boys for human trafficking by exploiting their naivety and their dreams to make it big once, would tell. By that, she suddenly remembered her 14 years old cousin Junsuh conspiracy theory rant about the Korean entertainment industries. Two weeks ago she visited her relatives in Ilsan, where her Junshu, as usually, didn’t stop talking. According to Junsuh, the industry is through and through corrupt - a single stronghold of prostitution rings, human trafficking, child exploitation and even religious cults and a secret origination that controls the whole south of Korea. 

Even though Junsuh tends to get carried away with his theories - she strongly doubted, that one of the big three companies (he refused to tell which one) pays a religious cult to use black magic on the public, so they will only buy the albums of their artists - however, that it wasn’t only glamorous and that pressure and hard work take big role in the idols life, wasn’t a secret. 

Earning her livelihood through music has always been a dream for her. From small on she loved to sing - back then extremely out of tune - and dance around. When in 2008 her cousin Jia (Junsuh’s older sister), while she and her family visited their relatives in Korea, showed her Shinee’s debut MV Replay, she fell in love. Immediately she learned the dances and lyrics to the songs and dreamed of being an idol herself. The combination of vocal, rap and dance fascinated her. 

Yet, after time passes and she got older, her initial spirit disappeared almost completely. More and more she realized that she didn’t fit into the standard female idol category. Beginning with her appearance ending with her personality. She wouldn’t call herself a tomboy since she despite her boyish tendency still liked typical girly stuff. In end, she always thought of separating certain things in a boy and girl category as stupid. 

One day, her aunt took her to the toy store when she was made 5 years old. She asked her aunt if she could have Hot Wheels for her birthday present. The saleswoman, however, who should help her to find something, asked if doesn’t want something that is more fitting for a girl. Her five-year-old self suddenly feeling insecure choose a creepy doll, which the sale woman suggested - she ended up giving the creepy doll to the family dog to play with. 

„Look, you don’t need to say yes right now. But please just come to JYP building tomorrow for the audition. Well, it’s not really an audition, you are basically already in. You just need to say yes.“ The sudden change to a clean Seoul accent made her startle up from her thoughts. The man in front of her got now her full attention. He almost looked desperate. 

It is probably favorable for his career if he gets me to come to the “audition“. South Korea is highly competitive after all, she guessed

„Okay.“

„It doesn’t take long either you….wait, what?“

„I said, okay. When should I be there?“ He looked at her seemingly being genuinely surprised to hear her agree. Sure, she only accepted because she felt bad for him. Also, her class started in 5 minutes and she simply didn’t want to be rude and refuse after his effort. Nonetheless, the fact that he knew her name and where she went to University, still creeped her out. 

„Umm, well 10 a.m. Wait in front of the building, I will escort you in.“

„Good, I will be there.“ She said and then added quickly before she went ahead to run to the other side of the campus to still be on time for her class. „Have a good day.“

————

 At 09:30 a.m. sharp she was in front of the JYP building. She always tended to come over punctual, mainly because she included the time she will need in case anything goes wrong by her taking the bus - a short 25-minute ride - from Seongdong District on the north bank of the Han River to Gangnam District, which lies on the south side of the Han River. 

Traffic jam, traffic collision, plane crashes, nuclear attacks, apocalypse and what so ever. Her constant nagging anxiety back in her head made her throw her common sense out of the window more than once. 

Certainly, she didn’t expect anything, she highly doubted that the apparent JYP staff member was being legit. Either somebody was playing a prank on her or one of Junsuh’s theories will be confirmed and she is going to be sold. 

In a girl group, she would stand out and not in a good way like a pretty flower would. No, she would stand out like a purulent pimple in the middle of one’s forehead. Not like she was particularly ugly or different looking. The fact that she was not special looking was the issue. In general, she was glad about that. She was never big on being the center of attention. However, in the entertainment industry, like it or not, talent is not everything. And her being as interesting as an empty sheet of paper, surley didn’t take a chance. 

After awkwardly standing around for good 25 minutes, somebody came out of the building. She immediately recognized him as the man from yesterday. 

He wasn’t lying about working for JYP then, she thought. 

As he looked to his left and saw her standing there, he sighed with relief and beckoned her over to him. By his reaction, she assumed that he obviously didn’t believe that she will come. But she was not the type to do tell somebody she would be there and then shamelessly not come without giving the other person a notice.    

„You won’t regret this, believe me.“ He said as they walked through the lobby to the elevator. „They really want you in this group.“ Who he meant with they, she wasn’t sure. He chuckled awkwardly since she didn’t respond to anything he said but rather she just nodded and gave him a forced smile. Again, she wasn’t trying to be rude, for sure not, after all in her family having good manners was an essential part. Her very English grandmother would personally fly to Korea and beat her ass if she was being rude. 

In the elevator were already three guys, she guessed them around her age, absorbed in a discussion about, from what she could understand, song lyrics. 

„Listen, I swear it’s good.“ Said the guy, with the darkest hair of the three of them. „You can be Fiona today, I’ll be Shrek. Ugly kind immature swag.“

She snorted and quietly chuckled to herself. The guy closest to her with silver, curly hair her, who heard her laugh, looked over to her. He raised his brow’s at first and then gave her a shy smile, which she returned.

On the fifth floor, they left the elevator and male staff knocked two times on the first door in the hallway, before he opened it and showed with a quick hand gesture that she should follow him. In the room was big glass table where three men already sat. She immediately recognized the man seated in the middle. 

 It’s JYP, It really was not a joke after all.

„Ah, there she is. Please take a seat.“ JYP said and gestured on the chair opposite of him. She bowed and sat down. 

After he asked the staff member to leave he continued: „I’m really glad you are here. When I saw your performance I know you will fit perfectly.“ 

„I was told, if I would accept the offer, I will participate in survival show, right?“ She asked, slowing starting to feel excited. Even though, she gave up on her dream of being an idol a long time ago - better said, she never really tried in the first place. Deep down she still wanted to achieve that and such an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. Even if that meant she had to change herself to fit in. 

„Yes, exactly. I really hope you take this chance. Even though you don’t have a training period as the other trainees participating, I believe you have potential.“

„Okay, I’m in. Where do I have to sign“ she said, full of newly found elan. The three men chuckled surprised about her sudden enthusiasm.

„The formalities we will sort out later.“ JYP answered, „Stray Kids, the name of the group you might debut in, has currently nine male trainees, which your leader Bang Chan handpicked himself.“

„Boys?“ She questioned confused.

„Yes, the management and I decided by making Stray Kids a co-ed group it will be more favorable in the future.“ He continued undeterred. She had to stop herself from making a snarky comment and asking them if they are trying to be edgy be doing that. 

There is no need to act like a twat right now!

„But none of our female trainees fit in Stray Kids. So, I was obviously pleased when I found you. I hope I’m not going to regret this.“ The last part sounded bitter and her previous enthusiasm was slowly suppressed by the anxiety creeping up her throat, making her feel sick.  

She didn’t want to back away now. 

Maybe it’s better to be in a male-dominated group. It’s not like I fit in a girl group either, she tried to calm herself down mentally. 

However, the fact that all other trainees were chosen by Stray Kids leader personally and that she basically was being forced onto them, made her feel like she was going to vomit. 

„They are already informed about your addition to the group. In fact, I want them to get to know you right now. Teamwork is important and the faster you warm up to each the better!“ With that, he stood up, bowed to his colleges and told her to follow him. She bowed to the older men too and left after JYP.

„The kids are probably in the practice room right now. Since they got the chance to debut, they have been prating twice as hard.“ He said, obviously proud about the trainee’s dedication. „I heard they are very excited to meet you.“

Bollocks! I will be extremely out of place. No way any of them are excited for a possible female member. 

Despite, her anxiety she didn’t wanna give up this time. She can’t just run away every time there was a construction put in her way. At last, trying wasn’t going to kill. 

They went down to the second floor. At the end of the hallway, JYP opened the wooden door to the practice room and stepped in. As JYP and she entered, four guys who sat on the floor rushed to stand up and joined five other guys to bow to their CEO. Some looked very young to her. She would have guessed at least two of them fifteen years old at most.

„Please introduce yourself to them,“ JYP told her and encouraged her with a quick hand gesture to step in front. 

All eyes were on her now. Some of them seemed curious, others just stared at her expressionless. And then, there was the guy with the silver hair from the elevator. He looked at her like he wanted to burn her down with his gaze. She honestly couldn’t take offense at that. Like, she understood his seeming dislike of her. 

„My Name is Seol Nova and I hope we can work well together.

[drink-n-watch]

I’ve come to realize that last week I was feeling this show out. I mean that’s to be expected as it was the first episode after all. That’s what you do in a first episode, you feel things out. It had a few nice technical elements in it’s favour (colours, backgrounds, voices) and it manage to do a couple of unexpected things so I was pretty happy.

I’ve since come to realize that my expectations for the series were fairly low. Not abysmal but basically, I just wanted a show that didn’t annoy me and I could pass a pleasant if uneventful 23 minutes or so with. I wasn’t looking for exceptional characters and deep developments or any type of captivating storytelling. Maybe that’s why this second episode of Woodpecker Detective’s Office left me with the impression that it did.

So what is it with historical Japanese settings and the almost constant presence of prostitutes. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against it at all but in Rakugo and even the cutesy and innocent We Rent Tsukumogami, there is a very prominent inclusion of prostitutes. What I’m saying is that classical Japan looked like a real fun place and I’m sort of sorry I missed my chance for a visit.

I haven’t even gotten into the episode at all. I guess I just betrayed my priorities. Oh well…

Let me say it right now, I really loved this episode of Woodpecker Detective’s Office. I loved it because I would never have imagined that this is what a second episode of this show would be like. I honestly wouldn’t have dreamt up an episode like this at all, but even if I had, I would have placed way later in the series. It piqued my interest in all sorts of ways. I also suspect that it is not going to be for everyone and a lot of viewers that were already on the fence after episode 1 will consider this a good place to stop. Not me though, I’m sold!

SPOILERS HUGE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN EPISODE 2 YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELVES BEFORE READING THIS!!!

First of all the episode opens with police informing Kyosuke that he is the prime suspect in a murder that happened the previous eve. What’s more, his accuser seems to be Ishikawa. Then it flashes back to the previous day. Just like last week, where the episode started by informing us that the lead character is long dead, this week also starts on death and a hook. It’s interesting to place your cliffhangers at the beginning of the episode. I like it.

Ok, let me set out the mystery we are dealing with today and why I thought it was delightfully genre defying. The set up is that experienced and slightly devil-may-care Ishikawa has decided to drag his friend Kyosuke down to the red light district to give him a chance to experience some carnal pleasures and because he thought it would be a laugh. Kyosuke is pretty petrified at the thought but goes along because he’s a bit of a doormat. At the brother, it turns out they are the two only customers for the evening and they each get a girl and a room one next to the other. Ishi evesdrops and overhears bits of the conversation. It seems to be going well but suddenly some type of dispute breaks out. Moments later, the lady is dead with a knife in her neck. Ishi swears that when he stopped hearing noise, he decided to sneak a peak in their room and saw Kyosuke sitting by the body. Meanwhile the other says he left before that with a very much alive lady and didn’t see Ishi at all, however he does mention a stranger.

The manager having stepped out for a bit, is sticking by her testimony that they were the only two customers on the books.

I should say the mystery isn’t resolved yet. That’s probably going to be next week.

So what did I like so much about it. Obviously it’s this mystery guy, it’s not like we’re going to stick either one of the two leading characters in jail for the rest of the series. Si although the mystery is well constructed and had me saying what exactly is going on here more than a few times, there are no real stakes or suspense about the outcome. That’s not what marked this episode as special to me.

The non linear structure of the narrative, with a few 12 hour time jumps and flash backs throughout the episode kept everything moving. And the sequences where each man recounts his own memories and mixes in his own theory about what happened added a layer of two different unreliable narrators to booth making this fairly simple and straightforward story suddenly very complicated indeed. Instead of a picturesque Slice of Life with some light mystery elements, where the viewers could happily idle along and get some mild satisfaction out of solving simple puzzles, the writers seem to be purposefully obstructing the whole picture at the risk of frustrating those that were seeking the experience I described. Or delighting me…

I was convinced that episode 1 was a bit of a bang. That the series started with a murder to give us a feel for the possibilities but would now take a step back and maybe have the fellows help a neighbour girl find her lost dog or something. No, it escalated considerable with another murder, much more visceral this time and directly involving the main cast. Are we going to have mass killings, human trafficking and large scale Yakuza operations every single episode by the time we’re half way through the season? Cause that sounds kinda cool.

However, at least for me, the biggest subversion was in the characters’ reactions. Anime is fairly strong on the friendship can win over anything trope. Moreover, characters are for the most part unbelievably righteous to the point that it sort of skews the perception of some fans. These two however, turned on each without a second thought!

Ishikawa didn’t hesitate to blame Kyosuke. He never doubted what he saw, in dim light and having drunk quite a bit. He didn’t think to himself that his dear friend would never be capable of such a heinous act. He never even tried to confront Kyosuke to get to the bottom of it. He went straight to the cops without a word to his friend and then refused to even entertain Kyosuke’s theory about a mysterious stranger also being present that night. It’s almost like he wanted his friend to be guilty.

As for Kyosuke, it did take him a bit longer to succumb to pressure but after being so blatantly accused, he also dropped the stranger angle and directly turn the accusation on Ishikawa, even claiming that the prostitute told him the he was “not who Kyosuke thought him to be” insinuating something dark and foreboding! Was he lying about the stranger? Did he accuse Ishikawa as a means of lashing out or for petty revenge. I’m not sure what the punishment for murder at the time was but I doubt it’s a small fine or anything. That’s a pretty awful thing to knowingly do to someone even if he did start it. After all, Ishikawa may truly believe what he saw, while Kyosuke is just accusing out of assumption.

So both are definitely unreliable and what’s more they are untrustworthy. They will gladly and quickly betray even their closest friend. Now there a rare characterization in anime. These aren’t some troll side characters or anti villains or something. These are our heroes. And they are both very compromised.

I’m having too much fun with this, aren’t I? Like I said, I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but boy did I have fun. It really spruced up my Monday night.

Just as I was giggling to myself because I apparently get giddy at the idea of watching slightly jerky characters having somewhat grimy adventures. I just used the term “adventure” to describe murder. That can’t be good… Woodpecker Detective’s Office had one last hilarious twist for me. As Kyosuke was being led away by police, a confident tall man in western clothes and a smaller delicate author with pale hair and traditional Japanese clothing announced that they were detectives and would take the case on! Did we just throw in some soft 4th wall break parody in this grim murder story? Ahhh yeah!

I had fun with episode 2. I hope we get some more of this calibre. Are any of you enjoying the show? Are some of you disturbed that I call murder and “adventure”? I wouldn’t blame you.

amazing!

  Woodpecker Detective’s Office Ep.2 – Red Light I've come to realize that last week I was feeling this show out. I mean that's to be expected as it was the first episode after all.

[tomperanteau]

New article has been published on The Daily Digest

New article has been published on http://www.thedailydigest.org/2017/11/12/drew-pooters-liberals/

Drew Pooters: Liberals

Drew Pooters

Okay, let’s get started: With the underpinning of all liberal thought is that everything should be fair, and that people are inherently good, and they know better than everyone else as to how they should live, we’ll begin: Ask one just how they, in detail, will STOP guns from coming INTO the country if they take away all our guns, and ask them if it will be as successful as stopping drugs, illegal and human trafficking. If there is no plan, then ask them if they always walk around with a sign that says, “shoot me” for the criminals. Oh, by the way, if by taking everyone’s guns you give the State all the monopoly on force, what makes you think it won’t use it? Oh, the constitution protects you? A sheet of paper won’t stop a bullet or a Billy club upside your naive skull. Perhaps when you’re finished eating Skittles out of the ass of your unicorn you can come back to reality as to how humans truly operate. Ask a lawyer who thinks that, “why should anyone own assault rifles?”, then why do you drive a Mercedes or BMW? Cars still kill more people – so why should you own one? Besides, Reagan made owning real assault rifles illegal (unless registered) and everything else is a semi-automatic rifle or less? Do yourself a favor – stick to law, and leave firearms to those who are trained in them. It’s the lack of a monopoly of force that keeps corrupt men in government from fulfilling Shakespeare’s remark on lawyers….well, maybe not in the case of some ambulance chasers. After all, there are no rights in a dictatorship – as you should have learned from the history of law (You forgot the Magna Charta and why it was brought about didn’t you?). It was the armed Barons who brought King John to bear. What are you gonna do if you don’t allow people to be armed to stop future King Johns – threaten to sue? Will you file a tort against a drug lord who brought in AK-47’s and is making sure his turf isn’t bothered by folks like you? Oh, THAT will scare him…if he doesn’t die laughing in the first place. Ask one if they are willing to let refugees and or illegals live in their home, eat all their food, sit around, and you provide them their welfare as “their right”. If they refuse, then you can call them a “racist hypocrite” to their face. Ask one that if they think that contact with the Russians is “treason”, then wouldn’t Ted Kennedy’s asking for Soviet help in defeating Reagan in 1980, Clinton getting cash form the Chinese in the 90’s and now the other Clinton selling uranium to the very same Russians they paint as bad guys rather treasonous? If not, remind them that all the scrap metal we sold to Japan came back to us in 1941…so when all that uranium comes back to us in the same way, will you be happy? Ask one just how if abortion is okay, then how can anyone really be charged with killing an unborn child? After all, it’s just a mass of cells, right? You can’t have it both ways and not be seen as either stupid or selective morality….if they have any at all. Ask one if they think socialism is so great, then why are the Venezuelans allowing their kids to be prostitutes to get money to eat? Where’s THEIR human rights? Your silence means you approve of it, and since you approve of it, you’re part of the Socialist problem, which is hypocrisy squared. Still have not heard how Bernie and all those rich politicians and liberal actors are going to spread their wealth around to you….just ask the people who used to live under that: they will look at you as if you’re stupid, and they would be right. There is no diversity in strength – it’s all unified for one purpose. There’s no strength in diversity if the diverse hold diverse positions, supporting some and undermining others. Proof? Just watch how the various liberal groups undermine each other. They often throw their own under the bus as fast as they get on board. With half a nation that boo’ed God, is it any wonder why their crap is getting kicked? When it all comes down, and they really experience REAL communism, the gulags, the execution squads, and the squalid conditions of having a lot of nothing spread around for everyone, then they can thank that wonderful human nature they trusted instead of trusting God.

1. NOTHING in life is fair – if it was, there would be no Social Darwinism, a cherished belief of the liberal. 2. PEOPLE are not inherently good – that’s why our laws and morals come from religion that KNEW man generally was a no good low down sonofabitch that needed guidelines like the children they are. History proves it time and time again, but it’s the naiveté of the liberal that thinks, “Oh, this time will be different” – yet it never is. Talk about delusional. Maybe it’s why they hate history – it ruins their fantasy. 3. WITH the claim they know better, one has to ask, then why is violence so much easier for them to go to than a conservative? Simple – look at the root word of Conservative: conserve. It’s what we do – many of us conserve money, gas, nature, laws that make sense. The champions of communism, socialism and fascism call themselves progressives, but they recommend a system which is characterized by rigid observance of routine and by a resistance to every kind of improvement. They call themselves liberals, but they are intent upon abolishing liberty for anyone not pledged to the cult Liberalism. They call themselves Democrats, yet they yearn for a dictatorship. They call themselves revolutionaries, but they want to make the government omnipotent in every way imaginable. They promise the blessings of the Garden of Eden yet the results are simply more unsustainable debt that will eventually enslave our progeny. They plan to transform the world into a gigantic post office, every man but one a subordinate clerk in a giant bureau. Modern ctrl-left Progressive Liberalism is a serious and dangerous mental disorder. 4. How do we solve it? When the vets all get fed up with the crap from the children and kick their ever-lovin asses to the curb and exile them to all those wonderful countries they hold in such high regard…remember, there’s 16 MILLION of us, and not counting all the other trained people (+/- another 20 million) who have just about had enough of this shit as well. Just because you turn out brain dead college grads who can’t even remember our history doesn’t mean the rest of us are brain dead like you professors.

[therightnewsnetwork]

Undercover in Bangkok: ‘Walking Away Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done’

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by Jason Buttrill, Head Writer/Researcher with ‘The Glenn Beck Program’, about the human trafficking horrors he witnessed in Bangkok.

____________________________________________

I recently traveled to Thailand with Glenn Beck to see firsthand the work Operation Underground Railroad is doing to combat human trafficking. More specifically, to see the children who are being bought and sold on a black market that can only be described as pure, unadulterated evil.

I’ve been to most of the corners of the world during my life. I’ve seen pretty much the worst the world has to offer — from my time as a military intelligence agent in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to my time as a researcher covering the atrocities ISIS has left behind in Iraq. None of it compares to what I saw one Sunday night in Thailand.

The following is an account of what happened, as best I can remember it. But I have to warn you — this isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re going to be disgusted and angry. God knows I was — and still am. But there is good news: Heroes are out there on the front lines.

Sunday 8:00 PM • A Remote Village in Thailand

I link up with one of agents from Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) — let’s just call him Bob — and make the long drive out to a remote village. Bob is an impressive dude. At around six feet and 220 pounds of muscle, I pity the fool who tangles with him.

But Bob is more than just a tough guy. Bob is a highly competent professional and a true believer in the cause. He cares for children with conviction, and that’s a trait common with every operator in OUR. They’re willing to trade their lives, if needed, to save a child from slavery and bondage. That is exactly Bob’s demeanor as we pull into the “rally point.”

The Rally Point and Plan The rally point is a safe location just outside the village where we gather information and gear, as well as get briefed on what we were about to do. The target is a small strip of road within the village rumored to be trafficked with children in multiple brothels. I listen as Bob bluntly lays out the scenario. This is not a safe environment. There are some very bad dudes taking advantage of some very innocent kids. Westerners don’t frequent this part of Thailand, so we’ll stick out. Our height alone will make us suspect.

Our cover is as two lost tourists looking for a good time. If we manage to talk our way into one of the brothels and confirm that underage kids are inside, we can take evidence to the Thai police. The problem is locals turn away anyone not from the village — Thai and foreign alike. If you don’t live there, it’s a no go. Bob explains how we’ll first do a drive by of the entire street. If he estimates the danger as manageable, we’ll park and approach the brothels.

Go Time It’s roughly 8:30 p.m. and the single lane streets in the village are pitch black. Tiny lights from within shanty houses provide the only illumination. Bob turns down the target street and lowers both our sun visors so they provide some cover for our faces. Pretty soon, the brothels come into view, as well as the prostitutes hanging out on porches and in doorways. There are at least eight or so visible brothels, but probably more hidden away. Halfway down the street is an outdoor market and bar where a group of men drink heavily, blitzed out of their minds. We mentally make note of their numbers, estimating about 10 to 15 men, a potential problem, but one we ultimately decide is manageable. Bob gives the okay and parks down the street.

We begin our walk down towards the string of brothels and immediately get into character, beginning to joke around and act like typical, naive tourists out for a good time. We’re smiling and laughing, but simultaneously calculating everything we see.

Two Curious White Guys At the first brothel, we approach four prostitutes hanging out on the front porch — all barely look 18. It’s difficult to gauge how old they are, but the goal is to charm our way inside and get eyes on what’s inside. Intel collected by OUR describes children of extremely low age on display in the back. These kids are typically kidnapped and sold into slavery. As Bob begins talking to the girls, I’m now less worried about our safety and more concerned about our success. It hits me like a Mack truck that kids’ lives are at stake here, and we can’t screw this up.

The girls are very friendly. We try to converse with them, but the language barrier is holding us back. It becomes pretty clear they’re speaking with us — two white guys — out of curiosity rather than seeing us as potential clients. An older woman inside whispers something to girl number four and she relays that to girls one through three. All conversation stops. They bury their eyes into their phones and refuse to look up. Failure number one.

Heading down the road, Bob surveys the surroundings. Pretty soon we hear a commotion coming from the drinking men. White people don’t come out here, so this must be an odd change in their nightly routine. Some look hostile, but the majority seems more amused than anything else. We keep tabs on them as best we can, and they for sure keep an eye on us.

FaceTiming Madam Approaching the next brothel, we hope for better results. Bob’s like a machine, perfectly in character while I try to keep up. Like the last brothel, there are about four girls sitting on the porch. I can see through the front door a bit, and there’s a blue light illuminating the interior with hardly any furniture inside. Again, there’s an older woman inside sitting at a small table. She looks to be conducting business on a cell phone and doesn’t seem to notice us at first. These girls are also very friendly and giggling nonstop, making fun of us more than anything else and having fun at our expense. The older woman inside hears the commotion and walks out.

She’s FaceTiming with someone on her phone and holds the camera up to show the person on the other line our faces. While Bob is trying to communicate and gather information, I glance over at the group of men getting trashed and notice they’re watching us intently. This isn’t looking good.

Eventually the girls decide they’ve had enough “fun” and the older woman gives a similar whisper to one of the girls, everything stops. One of the girls gives me a cold stare and then buries her face in her phone. Failure number two.

Bob and I agree the safety situation is getting worse, and we’ve clearly outstayed our welcome. The playful banter has ceased. The drunken men on the street are eyeing us and yelling, and someone has seen us on the older woman’s phone. Time to leave.

I feel extremely deflated, knowing kids are inside living a nightmare, powerless to stop it. Bob on the other hand is business as usual. This is how surveillance and investigations are done, day in and day out. It’s not always sexy. You’re not always kicking in doors and rescuing innocents every day. It takes time and OUR is on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I have no doubt their operatives will bring down that street of horror.

9:30 PM • Somewhere Two Hours From Bangkok

Bob drives while I struggle to stay awake. It’s been a brutal two days work, with just a handful of sleep. I get a text from Tim Ballard, head of OUR, who informs me that two of his deep undercover operatives are working on several big leads. He invites me to tag along. Soon after, I get another text with an address. Two hours later, I say goodbye to Bob and book it on foot through the streets of Bangkok. I head into the seedy underground of Bangkok and the freaks are out to play. Most of the people in this area are prostitutes and Western men looking to pick them up. It’s disgusting.

James Bond Now 11:45 p.m. or so, I think I’ve arrived at the location to link up with OUR’s undercover operatives. Let’s call them Agent James and Agent Bond — and let me tell you, their namesake would be very proud. These guys are legit. I’ve worked with human intelligence teams in the Middle East, and these two guys could easily lead any of them.

James greets me and gives a quick briefing on the night. Fifty meters up the street is a group of African prostitutes who promise to deliver a 15-year-old within a minute. I get into my assigned character, playing a role that perfectly fits the story they’re running. Thinking I would only be observing from a distance and getting camera footage, this was a bit of a surprise to me, but I was excited for the opportunity to help. I was also looking to have some success after the earlier “failures” with Bob.

I follow James to the group of prostitutes, immediately surprised that many of them speak English, making negotiating much easier than before. James transforms right in front of my eyes, becoming a jerky American looking for underage girls. As promised, the leader of the group motions a little girl over to us. She is also of African descent. The innocence in her face shows she’s not like the others. She wears skimpy clothing and a ton of makeup — just like the others — but keeps her head lowered the entire time, cowering. She stares at her high heels, clearly inexperienced, and hobbles off balance as she walks. Not once did she look the other prostitutes, or us, in the eye.

James keeps the story running, gathering all the information he can and leaving with everything needed to continue the investigation and move on to the next phase. I’m blown away by his skill.

We turn and walk back about 50 meters to our original meeting point. I think we’re done, but he immediately begins briefing me on the next operation. His partner Bond is working another group around the corner, down a seedy back alley. They had worked a source earlier in the day and arranged for the trafficker to bring proof that he had underage kids for sale. He agreed, claiming to have a 12-year-old and a couple of 14-year-olds.

Under the Influence The plan is the same. I am to play my role, but this time James tells me to sit next to the 12-year-old girl and talk to her while he gets intel from the trafficker. My first thought is, Oh, hell no. There is no way I can pretend to be one of these monsters preying on little kids. It must be the feeling any undercover investigator or operator goes through initially. I had never experienced it before. All of my experience has been in the military, catching enemy combatants and terrorists. This is completely different.

As we walk closer I begin to see the little girl and immediately get a sick feeling in my stomach. She is clearly on some drug, resting her head on a table. James taps her shoulder to wake up, sliding a chair next to her and motioning me to sit down. I want to throw up. She speaks a few words of English, similar to how I speak Spanish: yes, no, hello, thank you. I try to stay in character while, at the same time, say things that might make her feel better.

From my right ear, I can hear James negotiating with the trafficker, who explains he has many more kids as young or younger than the 12-year-old sitting next to me. Apparently he could have brought more — but they have school. I almost lose it right then and there.

Win the Battle and Lose the War? Plans of action shoot through my mind. This guy was tiny, as were his bodyguards. I could snap their necks in a heartbeat, and we could rescue this girl and she’d be safe. My adrenaline is pumping . . . fists are clenched . . . leg muscles are ready to shoot out of the chair.

My attention is diverted as Bond starts hooting and hollering across the table with two more girls this trafficker has brought in. My nerve is breaking, but his is strong. Did he notice me folding? I never ask him, but I’m glad he got vocal at that moment. It makes me realize there are two more kids here. Not only that, but MANY more back at a secret location James is learning about. I feel helpless, so I continue small talk with this poor girl.

James finishes and motions for Bond to get up. We begin to walk away and the trafficker grabs me by the arm: I got you covered. Many, many more kids. I take one last look at that girl, turn around and walk away.

Walking away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m not speaking in hyperbole. Walking away changed something inside me that I don’t think I’ll ever get back. It’s gone for good.

Baby Steps James and Bond explain how this was a crucial meeting, an opening salvo in a long process of gathering information and intelligence to build a case. They held their nerve, as I almost didn’t, and the lives of countless children are at stake. James received a treasure trove of information, one more crucial battle in this long fought war.

The night goes on as I follow James and Bond through the darkest, seediest alleys in Bangkok. I watch and listen as they approach potential traffickers. They are clinical. The way they get information from people seems almost effortless, they’re that good. They get at least one more lead from a madam that brought a 14-year old-girl to show to us. She is dressed like a veteran prostitute while simultaneously clutching a teddy bear.

Our night ends around 2:30 a.m. James and Bond hop in a cab, but I decide to walk back to my hotel. I need time to process.

I thought I had seen and known evil throughout my many travels. Turns out, I knew nothing. This was evil in its purest form. This was the worst humanity has to offer. As I write, I’m still struggling to get the image of that little girl out of my head. She remains in a remote, secret location among many more child slaves. But I know something her captors don’t: OUR and their Thai partners are on their trail. The goal? The liberation of every single child involved in this depravity and the evil men responsible to be thrown in jail. I’m counting the seconds.

If you would like to join Jason and the team at Operation Underground Railroad in the fight to save children from sex trafficking, learn more and get involved through prayer or financial contributions. Just five dollars a month makes a massive impact in OUR‘s capability to save a child and provide recovery services.

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Undercover in Bangkok: ‘Walking Away Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done’

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Undercover in Bangkok: ‘Walking Away Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done’

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by Jason Buttrill, Head Writer/Researcher with ‘The Glenn Beck Program’, about the human trafficking horrors he witnessed in Bangkok.

____________________________________________

I recently traveled to Thailand with Glenn Beck to see firsthand the work Operation Underground Railroad is doing to combat human trafficking. More specifically, to see the children who are being bought and sold on a black market that can only be described as pure, unadulterated evil.

I’ve been to most of the corners of the world during my life. I’ve seen pretty much the worst the world has to offer — from my time as a military intelligence agent in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to my time as a researcher covering the atrocities ISIS has left behind in Iraq. None of it compares to what I saw one Sunday night in Thailand.

The following is an account of what happened, as best I can remember it. But I have to warn you — this isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re going to be disgusted and angry. God knows I was — and still am. But there is good news: Heroes are out there on the front lines.

Sunday 8:00 PM • A Remote Village in Thailand

I link up with one of agents from Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) — let’s just call him Bob — and make the long drive out to a remote village. Bob is an impressive dude. At around six feet and 220 pounds of muscle, I pity the fool who tangles with him.

But Bob is more than just a tough guy. Bob is a highly competent professional and a true believer in the cause. He cares for children with conviction, and that’s a trait common with every operator in OUR. They’re willing to trade their lives, if needed, to save a child from slavery and bondage. That is exactly Bob’s demeanor as we pull into the “rally point.”

The Rally Point and Plan The rally point is a safe location just outside the village where we gather information and gear, as well as get briefed on what we were about to do. The target is a small strip of road within the village rumored to be trafficked with children in multiple brothels. I listen as Bob bluntly lays out the scenario. This is not a safe environment. There are some very bad dudes taking advantage of some very innocent kids. Westerners don’t frequent this part of Thailand, so we’ll stick out. Our height alone will make us suspect.

Our cover is as two lost tourists looking for a good time. If we manage to talk our way into one of the brothels and confirm that underage kids are inside, we can take evidence to the Thai police. The problem is locals turn away anyone not from the village — Thai and foreign alike. If you don’t live there, it’s a no go. Bob explains how we’ll first do a drive by of the entire street. If he estimates the danger as manageable, we’ll park and approach the brothels.

Go Time It’s roughly 8:30 p.m. and the single lane streets in the village are pitch black. Tiny lights from within shanty houses provide the only illumination. Bob turns down the target street and lowers both our sun visors so they provide some cover for our faces. Pretty soon, the brothels come into view, as well as the prostitutes hanging out on porches and in doorways. There are at least eight or so visible brothels, but probably more hidden away. Halfway down the street is an outdoor market and bar where a group of men drink heavily, blitzed out of their minds. We mentally make note of their numbers, estimating about 10 to 15 men, a potential problem, but one we ultimately decide is manageable. Bob gives the okay and parks down the street.

We begin our walk down towards the string of brothels and immediately get into character, beginning to joke around and act like typical, naive tourists out for a good time. We’re smiling and laughing, but simultaneously calculating everything we see.

Two Curious White Guys At the first brothel, we approach four prostitutes hanging out on the front porch — all barely look 18. It’s difficult to gauge how old they are, but the goal is to charm our way inside and get eyes on what’s inside. Intel collected by OUR describes children of extremely low age on display in the back. These kids are typically kidnapped and sold into slavery. As Bob begins talking to the girls, I’m now less worried about our safety and more concerned about our success. It hits me like a Mack truck that kids’ lives are at stake here, and we can’t screw this up.

The girls are very friendly. We try to converse with them, but the language barrier is holding us back. It becomes pretty clear they’re speaking with us — two white guys — out of curiosity rather than seeing us as potential clients. An older woman inside whispers something to girl number four and she relays that to girls one through three. All conversation stops. They bury their eyes into their phones and refuse to look up. Failure number one.

Heading down the road, Bob surveys the surroundings. Pretty soon we hear a commotion coming from the drinking men. White people don’t come out here, so this must be an odd change in their nightly routine. Some look hostile, but the majority seems more amused than anything else. We keep tabs on them as best we can, and they for sure keep an eye on us.

FaceTiming Madam Approaching the next brothel, we hope for better results. Bob’s like a machine, perfectly in character while I try to keep up. Like the last brothel, there are about four girls sitting on the porch. I can see through the front door a bit, and there’s a blue light illuminating the interior with hardly any furniture inside. Again, there’s an older woman inside sitting at a small table. She looks to be conducting business on a cell phone and doesn’t seem to notice us at first. These girls are also very friendly and giggling nonstop, making fun of us more than anything else and having fun at our expense. The older woman inside hears the commotion and walks out.

She’s FaceTiming with someone on her phone and holds the camera up to show the person on the other line our faces. While Bob is trying to communicate and gather information, I glance over at the group of men getting trashed and notice they’re watching us intently. This isn’t looking good.

Eventually the girls decide they’ve had enough “fun” and the older woman gives a similar whisper to one of the girls, everything stops. One of the girls gives me a cold stare and then buries her face in her phone. Failure number two.

Bob and I agree the safety situation is getting worse, and we’ve clearly outstayed our welcome. The playful banter has ceased. The drunken men on the street are eyeing us and yelling, and someone has seen us on the older woman’s phone. Time to leave.

I feel extremely deflated, knowing kids are inside living a nightmare, powerless to stop it. Bob on the other hand is business as usual. This is how surveillance and investigations are done, day in and day out. It’s not always sexy. You’re not always kicking in doors and rescuing innocents every day. It takes time and OUR is on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I have no doubt their operatives will bring down that street of horror.

9:30 PM • Somewhere Two Hours From Bangkok

Bob drives while I struggle to stay awake. It’s been a brutal two days work, with just a handful of sleep. I get a text from Tim Ballard, head of OUR, who informs me that two of his deep undercover operatives are working on several big leads. He invites me to tag along. Soon after, I get another text with an address. Two hours later, I say goodbye to Bob and book it on foot through the streets of Bangkok. I head into the seedy underground of Bangkok and the freaks are out to play. Most of the people in this area are prostitutes and Western men looking to pick them up. It’s disgusting.

James Bond Now 11:45 p.m. or so, I think I’ve arrived at the location to link up with OUR’s undercover operatives. Let’s call them Agent James and Agent Bond — and let me tell you, their namesake would be very proud. These guys are legit. I’ve worked with human intelligence teams in the Middle East, and these two guys could easily lead any of them.

James greets me and gives a quick briefing on the night. Fifty meters up the street is a group of African prostitutes who promise to deliver a 15-year-old within a minute. I get into my assigned character, playing a role that perfectly fits the story they’re running. Thinking I would only be observing from a distance and getting camera footage, this was a bit of a surprise to me, but I was excited for the opportunity to help. I was also looking to have some success after the earlier “failures” with Bob.

I follow James to the group of prostitutes, immediately surprised that many of them speak English, making negotiating much easier than before. James transforms right in front of my eyes, becoming a jerky American looking for underage girls. As promised, the leader of the group motions a little girl over to us. She is also of African descent. The innocence in her face shows she’s not like the others. She wears skimpy clothing and a ton of makeup — just like the others — but keeps her head lowered the entire time, cowering. She stares at her high heels, clearly inexperienced, and hobbles off balance as she walks. Not once did she look the other prostitutes, or us, in the eye.

James keeps the story running, gathering all the information he can and leaving with everything needed to continue the investigation and move on to the next phase. I’m blown away by his skill.

We turn and walk back about 50 meters to our original meeting point. I think we’re done, but he immediately begins briefing me on the next operation. His partner Bond is working another group around the corner, down a seedy back alley. They had worked a source earlier in the day and arranged for the trafficker to bring proof that he had underage kids for sale. He agreed, claiming to have a 12-year-old and a couple of 14-year-olds.

Under the Influence The plan is the same. I am to play my role, but this time James tells me to sit next to the 12-year-old girl and talk to her while he gets intel from the trafficker. My first thought is, Oh, hell no. There is no way I can pretend to be one of these monsters preying on little kids. It must be the feeling any undercover investigator or operator goes through initially. I had never experienced it before. All of my experience has been in the military, catching enemy combatants and terrorists. This is completely different.

As we walk closer I begin to see the little girl and immediately get a sick feeling in my stomach. She is clearly on some drug, resting her head on a table. James taps her shoulder to wake up, sliding a chair next to her and motioning me to sit down. I want to throw up. She speaks a few words of English, similar to how I speak Spanish: yes, no, hello, thank you. I try to stay in character while, at the same time, say things that might make her feel better.

From my right ear, I can hear James negotiating with the trafficker, who explains he has many more kids as young or younger than the 12-year-old sitting next to me. Apparently he could have brought more — but they have school. I almost lose it right then and there.

Win the Battle and Lose the War? Plans of action shoot through my mind. This guy was tiny, as were his bodyguards. I could snap their necks in a heartbeat, and we could rescue this girl and she’d be safe. My adrenaline is pumping . . . fists are clenched . . . leg muscles are ready to shoot out of the chair.

My attention is diverted as Bond starts hooting and hollering across the table with two more girls this trafficker has brought in. My nerve is breaking, but his is strong. Did he notice me folding? I never ask him, but I’m glad he got vocal at that moment. It makes me realize there are two more kids here. Not only that, but MANY more back at a secret location James is learning about. I feel helpless, so I continue small talk with this poor girl.

James finishes and motions for Bond to get up. We begin to walk away and the trafficker grabs me by the arm: I got you covered. Many, many more kids. I take one last look at that girl, turn around and walk away.

Walking away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m not speaking in hyperbole. Walking away changed something inside me that I don’t think I’ll ever get back. It’s gone for good.

Baby Steps James and Bond explain how this was a crucial meeting, an opening salvo in a long process of gathering information and intelligence to build a case. They held their nerve, as I almost didn’t, and the lives of countless children are at stake. James received a treasure trove of information, one more crucial battle in this long fought war.

The night goes on as I follow James and Bond through the darkest, seediest alleys in Bangkok. I watch and listen as they approach potential traffickers. They are clinical. The way they get information from people seems almost effortless, they’re that good. They get at least one more lead from a madam that brought a 14-year old-girl to show to us. She is dressed like a veteran prostitute while simultaneously clutching a teddy bear.

Our night ends around 2:30 a.m. James and Bond hop in a cab, but I decide to walk back to my hotel. I need time to process.

I thought I had seen and known evil throughout my many travels. Turns out, I knew nothing. This was evil in its purest form. This was the worst humanity has to offer. As I write, I’m still struggling to get the image of that little girl out of my head. She remains in a remote, secret location among many more child slaves. But I know something her captors don’t: OUR and their Thai partners are on their trail. The goal? The liberation of every single child involved in this depravity and the evil men responsible to be thrown in jail. I’m counting the seconds.

If you would like to join Jason and the team at Operation Underground Railroad in the fight to save children from sex trafficking, learn more and get involved through prayer or financial contributions. Just five dollars a month makes a massive impact in OUR‘s capability to save a child and provide recovery services.

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