#The time of the Juries is over but our time is at hand: the world of the televote which we must rule

[cheapsweets]

Eurovision 2023

Trying to process my thoughts about last night in the form of a tumblr post...

Firstly, which songs are stuck in my head today? Well, Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä (Finland), natch, but also Promise by Voyager (Australia), and Who the hell is Edgar? by Teya and Selena (Austria)

Positives

Croatia's Let 3 made it to the left of the board! Yesss!

I'd normally be the first person to criticise the BBC, but I actually feel they did a good job considering. Admittedly my expectations going into this were kinda low, but they didn't make it too, erm, BBC 😅

Also, Hannah Waddingham. New favourite Eurovision presenter. Clearly feeling very protective of Julia Sanina. Presence, crowd control ("We don't boo in this house"). Queen.

Abolishing the jury vote from the semi-finals was a big success. Not all of my favourites got through (sorry Iceland 😢 ), but we had some amazing performers reach the finals that I'm not convinced would have in previous years.

Negatives

There were a number of artists whos performances in the final were not as good as in the semis... I'm thinking particularly Serbia and Australia, which were two of my favourites coming into the final.

Why did Germany and Spain score so badly? I keep telling myself that part of the answer to that is the old thing about the way the points work, if a song is everyone's 11th favourate out of the 26 entries, it'll get zero points, but still... I feel these were objectively two of the best performances of the night, both technically and in terms of everything else. Still very annoyed by this, they were two of my favourites. At least no-one got nil points this year.

On a related note, who was voting for Israel and Poland?! I know that musical taste is a personal thing (believe me, I know :D ) but Poland's song had no energy to it, and the highlight picked for Iceland was the dance break, with no singing...

?????

I'm not sure what else I can add about the winner/second place that hasn't already been said. We love out green cha cha cha-ing blorbo. Europe loves him. The legend of Käärijä will live on!

Related, I felt that Loreen's performance in the reprise was much better than during the main part of the competition... what happened?

Norway put in a very technical performance, and I really want to like it, but as I've been saying all week, there wasn't enough texture, not enough light and shade to the song as it was peformed. We were also missing the growl in Alessandra's vocals from the semi.

Where was the audience interaction? I get that the focus is always going to be getting votes from home, so a lot of the staging will focus on that, but it's still a live music event, and it was disappointing to only notice Belgium and Germany playing to the crowd.

I've yet to listen to the recorded versions of the songs yet (that's my lunch time listening this week), but from what I hear from @itseverydaybear some of the songs that didn't make a great impression in the semis sound much better. I suspect there will be some sleeper hits in there...

Anyhow, catch you later, just going to listen to The HARDKISS and Jann (Poland televoter's choice to represent them this year - once again for those at the back, time to abolish juries...!)

As a bonus, here's Lord of the Lost covering Queen of Kings (they have even more covers on their youtube chanel, it's worth a look!)

[mellowwillowy]

𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲

Yan! Lawyer Husband x GN Spouse Reader

—𝒀𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 - 𝑳𝑰𝒇𝑬 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕

CW: mafia related stuffs (ALL FOR READER...), disturbing ideations. NSFW

You were the subject of envy for everyone, the spouse of the infamous lawyer, Yulian de Alpheus, who possessed wealth, reputation, intelligence, and undying loyalty to you. To people, you were the beautiful dove living in the gilded cage he had given you, luxuries that fulfilled anyone's needs and wishes.

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒈𝒆?

To him, the one who was truly locked in the cage was him. He was and would forever be locked in the gilded cage, forever drowned in his adoration toward you. If he had to live in a world where you did not exist, he would not hesitate to shoot himself to death and find you again.

--

"Dear, how about we go on a vacation this month?"

His words had you choked on your food. He immediately stood up and pat your back, a handkerchief that you embroidered for him handed to you as he handed you a glass of water, "Apology, did my question catch you off guard dear?"

You shook your head while you regained your composure, "It's just that I was surprised, you had been busy these days so how could you spare me your time for a silly vacation?"

Yulian chuckled as he patted your head, "True, and I plan to work even harder to finish all the mess they had shoved me to work on, I'm sure I could finish it right in time before our estimated vacation."

You frowned to yourself, your husband had always been a hard-working man. It was no surprise judging by the amount of assets he could own at such a fairly young age. While some of it was thanked to his father, you knew those would not remain had he not worked hard to keep and grow.

"Dear, I don't want you to over-exert yourself with this case just for a vacation. If you were worried about me then please pay no mind, I am content with everything but you stressing yourself."

Yulian sat back and started slicing the meat on his plate, "Dear, I did not marry you just to have you live in this house as a prisoner," the way he sliced things was of good etiquette but you knew. You knew how he always looks at the things he sliced as a subject of... low-life. "I want my beloved to live in happiness, a life where you get to have and own anything you want without a single worry," It's almost as though he wished he could use more force with the knife, "A life where you do not wish to end," Yulian used his fork to pick the sliced meat up to your lip, "A life where you wish you could live in for eternity."

You thought to yourself for a moment, drowning in thought before smiling at him, "Yes, a vacation this month sounds nice." You opened your mouth and ate the piece.

--

"What were you even thinking about to the point you tangle yourself into this mess?" Yulian furrowed his eyebrow, in his office was the leader of a renowned mafia group in the underground world and Yulian sat on the leathered chair with his hand wiping his white gun.

The ringleader's subordinates were clearly displeased with the way Yulian easily belittled the case and him but they knew better than to cause a mess.

"So? What do you need this time?"

Yulian stored the gun back in its respective place, locking the shelf with the key before handing the ringleader's subordinate a folder of files.

"I'll need you to fabricate everything I handed you. I've given you options of people for you to use as a scapegoat as well."

The ringleader took the folder and started reading the files in it, scanning the words that were typed on it.

"And I expect you to finish it all by this week. I'll be taking a vacation for myself by the end of the month so I'll finish the case in a few trials. I'd like you to find a way around the judge and jury as well. The more the better, understood?"

Yulian was an infamous lawyer. A lawyer who would validate any way to make his client proclaimed 'Not Guilty'. As much as he hated having to drag his name around the underground world, he had no choice but to work together with them. Why?

"Fine, I'll inform you everything this weekend." The ringleader left the room with his subordinates following behind him meekly. The moment they had walked out of his building and entered the car, one of them posed a question.

"Why did you let that shrimp belittle you, boss? It's not like he is the only lawyer we could have our hand with."

The ringleader did not look at his subordinate as he was still analyzing the content of the files. Even so, he was still attentive enough to answer them back, "Well, if you know exactly how strong my influence is, why do you think I allow him to boss over my men?"

The man gulped as his hand held the steering wheel tightly. Why would a measly bug be able to hold power over his boss?

"... He somehow got his hands into our mud. In simpler terms, he blackmailed me."

His right-hand man sighed, "Yulian is nothing but a coward, Kaspar. A coward."

What difference did it make to him? The fact that the two of them blackmailed people to survive while the ideations were biased to each side was nothing but hypocrisy.

"And yet he is the coward that dared to step into the underground world just to protect his spouse..." Kaspar winced at the word 'spouse', "he did all of that just for the love of his life. Is that supposed to be considered foolish or not...?"

The men fell silent until one of them proposed a question, "Then why not use his spouse against him?"

--

The basement that you did not know even existed. You knew there was a bunker down your house but you were never aware of the existence of the basement.

You were asleep so technically you couldn't have heard anything. No, the room was made to be soundproof, no one could hear what was going on in the room.

But you heard it anyway. You heard it faintly, the sounds of people screaming. It wasn't clear, almost below a whisper but it kept you awake. You looked to your side and found your husband absent from the bed again.

"Is he working again?"

You stood up and slipped your feet into the slippers before walking out of your shared bedroom. The hall was lit up by the warm white lights, the light that always comforts you no matter what. You walked toward his office which was located on the first floor, giving the grand door a knock before entering it.

"Dear?"

No one was inside the room. The room was laced with the smell of coffee, the only thing that he probably could love aside from you. You walked to his desk and read some of the files on it. The words on the paper were beyond your comprehension so you stopped reading it, glancing at the cup of coffee, you feel the cup with your hand. It's cold and full. Weird.

You took a look around his office, bookshelves on the side while a framed portrait of you and him hung on the other side.

He must have really loved this portrait, refusing to change it with a new one.

"Dear?"

You jumped at his voice, where did he come out from?

"Dear, where did you come from?"

"Ah, I was in the washroom. What brings you here? Did something wake you up?" Yulian asked you as he approached you while drying his hand with his handkerchief.

You took a closer look at it, it's not the same handkerchief you gave him. Weird. He had always been insistent on only using the handkerchief you embroidered for him.

"Dear?"

"Ah," you snapped out of your thought, "it's just that... I felt lonely. How long are you going to stay up again tonight dear?"

Yulian thought to himself as his eye shot toward the corner of the room, "Please, don't wait for me. I won't be finishing my work in any time so I hope you would use those time to retreat yourself to bed." Yulian pat your cheek before giving your cheek a peck, his emerald eyes had always drowned you in a ripple of the lovesick sea.

His hand snaked its way to your waist as he led you back to your shared bedroom, opening the door for you and urging you to lay on the comfortable white bed. He placed the blanket on top of you before sitting next to you, humming a lullaby while easing you down.

"My little Lily of the Valley is a curious soul hm? Your husband told you to sleep and you naughtily sneaked out of your room..." He playfully reprimanded you while you tried to drift yourself back to sleep. Hearing him teasing you like this was weird, but at least in a good way. What boosted his confidence?

"Someone like you should not wander around in the mercy of nighttime, even if it was in our own house," his hand caressed your hair while his eyes stared into your half-lidded ones, "my lily-of-the-valley should not wander around in the darkness anymore..."

Did you hear him right? Come to think of it, what woke you up earlier?

"Good night, my love."

--

"Good night, bastard."

A thud and the man who was tied to the chair plopped down, lifeless. The other men could only tremble in horror as they waited for their turn. Perhaps death would be the only slightest bit of virtue that he could offer, a mercy at his hands that was covered in bloodstains.

Just as he approached the other men, the alarm rang. Someone had entered his office. Yulian turned on the screen to the camera and saw you walking toward his desk, observing everything that was scattered on it.

He was glad that he didn't put anything 'suspicious' on it even if you wouldn't understand it. He didn't want to risk it.

Yulian went to the sink and washed his hands before motioning for someone to come out from the darkness. The members of the mafia walked out and waited for his order.

"Ah right, relay this message to your boss. Not only do these bastards will have to face the consequences of trying to touch my beloved, you guys too, will have to face it."

The men shuddered in fear as they thought of what he could do to them. The greatest mercy they could have would be that their boss would be the one who punished them and not the lawyer himself.

"Remember," Yulian walked toward them, hand taking out the handkerchief you embroidered for him, "I work for Kaspar so that this kind of thing won't happen. If this happens again, I'd personally make you guys crawl through the tunnels of prison for eternity."

His emerald orbs almost lit up into a burning fire as his jaw tightened in anger. He made his way toward the door before taking a look at the handkerchief.

He shouldn't use it for something so filthy.

He slid it back into his pocket and used another plain handkerchief instead.

--

"In short, he is the man who would not hesitate to kill his own children, his own blood and flesh, or his family just to save and love his beloved Lily of the Valley."

Kaspar sighed as he read the report. The scapegoats that he offered were his men who were on duty to protect his spouse.

"He is the man who had lived for eternity just to find and love his beloved again and again."

-- log end

Afternotes:

I didn't expect the fic to be this short (says the one who got lazy mid-way and cut half of the story...) anyway, I thought to myself, rather than let this rot in the draft, wouldn't it be better to post it even if it was only half completed without any proofread yet?

I'm really happy my first LIfE Project event features my favorite son, Yulian first! The next one might be Eleanor!

Complete Posts

[holllandtrash]

secret admin | lewis hamilton social media au

pairing: lewis hamilton x reader

the fans figure out who the mercedes admin is pretty quickly, but they struggle to piece together who lewis is dating. (spoiler alert, its the same girl)

mercedesamgf1

liked by lewishamilton, f1 and 376,882 others

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mercedesamgf1 roses are red🌹 sir lewis wears blue 💙 happy valentines day to our 7-time world champion🏆 we love you

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lewishamilton 💙💙💙

lovelylance these pictures are everything

danielricciardo looking spiffy lewishamilton

georgerussell63 where's my valentines day post

mercedesamgf1 someone's needy

paddockgf not the mercedes admin favoriting lewis over george 💀💀

lewishamilton added to their story

womeninmotorsport

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womeninmotorsport: Meet y/n y/l/n --- Having first worked for Lewis Hamilton's charitable foundation Mission 44 as Digital Communications Officer, Y/N has recently made the jump to motorsport and is currently on the PR Team for Mercedes, still working closely with the 7-Time World Champion

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yourusername mama i made it

princemick OHHHH so she's admin???

lovelylewis i mean..she MUST be?? it would explain all the lewis pics, they're probably good friends

sunkissedseb shes pretty AND smart

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lewishamilton

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lewishamilton the city that never sleeps🖤

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georgerussell63 cheers mate, looks like a good time x

sunnymax is that admin?? or is lewis on a DATE

yourusername this was supposed to be a work trip, are you even working

lewishamilton yes don't worry

paddockgf so wHO IS THAT

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lewishamilton

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lewishamilton New York, you were lovely. Such an honour chatting to the next generation of brilliant young minds as well as catching up with old friends🖤 I'll return soon

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paddockgf WAIT DID HE MEAN TO POST THAT LAST PIC

yesterdayschamp so this confirms that lewis is in fact dating someone

mrsaturday but its cant be yourusername if shes in london and lewis is still in new york?? yesterdayschamp or maybe its an old pic? who fucking knows

danielricciardo nice hands

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lewishamilton

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lewishamilton New York, you were lovely. Such an honour chatting to the next generation of brilliant young minds as well as catching up with old friends🖤 I'll return soon

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paddockgf nah sir lewis hamtilon we already saw the original post...

danielricciardo nice save champ

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sparklinglewis who tf is he seeing

mercedesamgf1 so are you dating Michael B. Jordan?

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mercedesamgf1 just a lewis and roscoe appreciation post to cleanse your feed

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lewishamilton 🖤🏆

yourusername i love roscoe

holymolylance we've gotten like 4 lewis pics in a row hey

mazespins admin loves lewis we've been over this sillyszn you mean y/n loves lewis mazespins is she admin? sillyszn well im pretty sure its not roscoe

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yourusername this week in pictures

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lewishamilton told you london was better

yourusername the jury's still deciding

paddockgf oh so they ARE dating (?)

carmenmmundt soooo lovely to finally hang out❤️❤️

yourusername we'll do it again soon (without the boys this time) georgerussell63 ouch

redcharles is this a hard launch or are they just friends who work together I CAN'T TELL

lewishamilton

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lewishamilton Appreciation post for the woman who keeps me sane, who keeps me on track and is my constant motivator. She is my rock, my anchor and everything in between. Y/N, you are the smartest, kindest and boldest person I know and my life is better because I have you in it🖤

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yourusername oh I love you🥺🥺🥺 and i'm crying at work

mercedesamgf1 she is georgerussell63 y/n's the type of girl to reply to her own comments on the mercedes account yourusername that trend is over and done, george, don't bring it back

danielricciardo yeeeeea boy

strolltrash i don't even know if im surprised or if i saw this coming

justaninchident lewis is the luckiest man on earth are you KIDDING

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requests are open

[fuckin-wilde]

Tw for police brutality, murder

One of my high school friends was murdered by our local cops last week. Ive seen absolutely nobody talking about it, and while im sure Bill would appreciate that, i definitely dont. That being said, im making this post for me and anyone else who has lost sleep over Bill's death, nobody else.

Bill was a uniquely wonderful man. If he'd just met you, he'd stick his hand out and say "Howdy, Bill Factor". He would do things for the fuck of it, or because nobody else would, just to laugh with his friends. He was one of two teenagers i knew who didnt think you had to be mean to be funny. He wore this amazingly tacky christmas suit (blazer and pants) for the holidays, which his sister wore to his funeral yesterday. He was barely 25, disabled, native, queer, and a legally ordained minister. He was the only guy i knew who could be in color guard through high school and then rush a frat in college. Truly if the world is ever going to get better, it takes a whole bunch of people like Bill.

Bill was murdered by two cops with less than 5 years of job experience between the two. Supposedly he was hiding on a strangers balcony before he fired a gun at the officers, but - and i know this is an old ass song - thats complete bullshit. He isnt here to explain what happened, he cant tell us what was going on that night, and i hate that how cops abuse this every time they kill someone.

Isaiah Lewis should have been able to tell his mom why he was doing edibles, get grounded like a normal kid, and graduate high school. Bill Factor should be here to tell his mom what he was doing in some karen's backyard. No parent or grandparent should be at their kids funeral. No one person should be allowed the position of judge, jury, and executioner - especially after only doing his job for a year or two.

If you made it through this long ass post and want to help, put pressure on Edmond PD. Let them know we havent forgotten Isaiah Lewis and we wont forget Bill Factor. Ask the city of Edmond and/or the state of Oklahoma for an external investigation this time. Leave a voicemail that just says their names.

And please do say his name.

Bill R Factor. 1999-2024

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The New Yorker just issued its cover: Donald J Trump, A Man of Conviction, by John Cuneo

+

Justice.

May 31, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

Justice.

On Thursday, May 30, justice was served in a Manhattan courtroom.

A jury of twelve citizens convicted Donald Trump on thirty-four felony counts of falsifying documents to interfere in the 2016 election.

Justice was served.

Trump received a fair trial before an impartial jury presided over by an even-handed judge.

Trump had the right to testify or remain silent. He chose to remain silent—as permitted by the Fifth Amendment.

He had the unlimited right to challenge jurors “for cause” if he demonstrated that a juror could not render an impartial verdict. Trump challenged only one juror for cause—a juror who had once been the houseguest of one of Trump's attorneys. That juror was later excused on a peremptory challenge by Trump.

Trump had ten “peremptory challenges” that allowed him to excuse jurors without providing a reason. Trump exercised all ten peremptory challenges.

Trump was able to object to the testimony of witnesses and the introduction of exhibits. He objected continuously. Many of his objections were sustained, and most were overruled (because they were baseless).

He cross-examined every witness offered by the prosecution. He offered two witnesses in his defense. They sealed his fate.

He made an opening statement and a closing argument to the jury.

He was able to submit and object to jury instructions.

After the jury began deliberations, its requests to review key evidence and important jury instructions indicated that it took its charge seriously.

The length of the jury’s deliberations and the unanimity of its verdict on thirty-four counts demonstrate that they were persuaded beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump was guilty as charged.

Justice was served.

The verdict matters because it demonstrates to Americans that the core of our democracy is strong and true.

One fair verdict will offset a dozen compromised and corrupt judges and justices. The verdict demonstrates what justice looks like—and reminds us of what we can have again if we gain control of Congress and retain the presidency.

The verdict is important because it reminds Americans that no person is above the law in our democracy. That bedrock truth must be reinforced periodically, or it will lose its animating force.

The verdict also speaks to the world. It reminds friends and foes alike that the audacious American experiment is robust and secure. Convicting a former president in a fair trial is something few other nations would attempt—much less accomplish in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The verdict gives Americans much to be thankful for:

A fair jury composed of twelve Americans willing to perform the simple but extraordinary task of sitting in judgment over a former president.

A District Attorney willing to carefully review the evidence and follow the law.

Competent and diligent prosecutors willing to do the hard work necessary to achieve justice.

An honorable, fair, firm judge willing to protect the rights of the defendant and the interests of the people in seeing justice served.

Court officers, law enforcement officers, clerks, paralegals, and court reporters who ensured that the court proceeding unfolded in an orderly and safe manner.

Given the fundamental fairness of the trial and verdict, Republicans are reduced to attacking the justice system itself. In a coordinated effort, Republican members of Congress issued statements that called the trial “rigged,” insulted the integrity of the jury, compared the proceeding to “show trials in Cuba under Castro,” and said that May 30 was “the most shameful day in American history.”

While we should be concerned about the assaults on the justice system, let’s recognize that the system prevailed today—despite seven years of attacks by Trump and his enablers. The trial and verdict served as a stress test for the justice system—and it passed.

There will be time to assess the political ramifications of the verdict. Today, we should celebrate that the justice system worked despite enormous efforts to obstruct and undermine it.

That is a remarkable, glorious achievement that stands alone.

Sit with that truth for a moment before returning to the urgent task of preventing Trump's reelection. We deserve a moment of calm reflection and sober relief that justice was served.

Justice.

Finally.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[velvethana]

other universes? ⭒ drabble

An afternoon train ride with Sunghoon brings up some interesting conversation topics as you think over the inevitability of your relationship.

“Do you think we know each other in every universe?” Glancing over at him from the book you had been flipping through, your eyebrows furrow together.

“You think there’s other universes? You don’t even care for ghosts, I never thought you’d believe something like that..” A hint of amusement was present over such a question.

“It’s just a question, why can’t you answer it? You’re deflecting!” Shaking your head, you brought a finger to your chin as if to show you were deep in pondering.

There wasn’t anything to really think about, you were sure you’d find each other in any lifetime but it was much more entertaining to tease him for such a strange question.

“Mm… maybe we’re aliens traveling on a ship together and exploring the stars or something?” Seemingly satisfied with the answer, he brought his coffee up to his smile to balance it between his lips before replying.

If you were to believe that in every so called universe, it’s your destiny to create beauty in this world then it was inevitable that you would find him in every one. To you, knowing him was the most beautiful thing you had done. The thought of saying something so cheesy made you sick.

“Or maybe we’re vampires cannibalizing our lovers.”

This time your eyes are open wide, brows lifted almost to your hairline. Though you didn’t know what to expect from him, that certainly missed the imaginary mark. Although, you’d just blame yourself for not assuming he’d say something so strange.

“Huh? Mines way more sweet, you’re so weird..” he just happily sipped his coffee, glancing out the window causing you to stifle a laugh.

He chuckled along with you and eventually, you were full blown laughing before your face contorted into something more of discomfort, a yawn escaping you.

The smile never left, him tilted his head slightly.

“Tired?” Nodding, you moved your books to the inside of your bag to free up your lap.

“It’s no big deal.” The eye bags under your eye gave away that wasn’t the whole truth, however and he rolled his eyes.

“Lying on stand is a crime.” The glare you shot him was worthy of being noted by judge, jury and his possible executioner but as you scrambled your mind for an excuse, all you could do was bite back another yawn.

“You’re ridiculous.” Before you could attempt to argue back once more, his own books were tossed to the side and he gently pulled you into him, head resting on his shoulder.

“You still take care of me though.” You rebuttal, finally finding a somewhat good argument.

It’s not like you could see but his brows lifted into defined curves and his cheeks flushed the slightest bit. It would be embarrassing if you were to see but in the end, he’d blame the sunlight attacking him through the windows.

It was regrettable that he was out of your line of sight now, knowing how his lashes flutter against the full of his cheeks as he now struggles to find his words for once.

“We take care of each other.” Is all he said. Maybe that was enough of a reason for you to quit teasing him, or maybe your tongue was dancing against the back of your teeth, lips parted as you try to find something to say to seal the moment.

And in some moments he had been so sweet, almost treating you with what felt like love. Sunghoon, who shapes your life with love and purpose, touching your heart ever so briefly with his weary hands and leaving it feeling a little more cherished than it was.

Eventually, you come back empty. Closing your eyes with a sigh, the heat of the sun warming you up.

“Goodnight, Y/N.” The tone was too sweet, so low as if it were only for your ears.

The heat taking over your face surely didn’t help, especially in the already beating sunlight where you couldn’t hide.

“It’s the middle of the day.” He chuckled again, shrugging against you gently.

“Whatever, it’s good if it’s with you.” Face contorting into something of a look of embarrassment, you refused to open your eyes.

“Sure, whatever you say… good day then, Sunghoon.” The strange accent you attempted to make caused him to cringe, looking out the window with full-blown eyes as if to pretend you were some stranger who had fallen asleep on him.

The love and admiration the two of you had could live in peace with your everyday life and for that, you were grateful.

જ⁀➴♡ phone in ᝰ.ᐟ

[blurglesmurfklaine]

Caught In Your Web (1/15)

Summary: Since losing his father to a mugging, David Jacobs has spent the entire summer before his senior year of high school living up to Mayer’s final words to him: With great power comes great responsibility. The start of the school year brings new challenges. Harder classes, college applications, finding out why there’s a rise in crime caused by mutants—typical high school stuff. David finds out wither he can balance his school work, a job, a social life, and a secret identity, or whether he’ll be crushed like a bug beneath the pressure. Spider-Man!Davey AU A/N: It's here! Come check out my fic for the @newsiesminibang24! Huge shoutout to the amazingly talented @hellosammy19 for the absolutely GORGEOUS art she created for this story. I could not have asked for a better partner <3 Be sure to check out all their art! Enjoy! :)

Spider-Menace Strikes Again!

On August 15th, twelve policemen answered the call to an armed robbery on the corner of 5th and Broadway. When they arrived on the scene, three suspected robbers were found caught in what appeared to be a giant spider web. Their weapons were wrapped in the same substance and rendered useless.

It goes without saying that the presumed obstructor of justice (who resolutely continues to hinder good police work) is none other than the Spider-Man.

Who is this so-called Spider-Man? How does he always know exactly where to find criminals? Why is there a sudden uptick in un-policed supers plaguing our boroughs? These are the questions we, as a city, should be asking ourselves. According to the letter of the law, vigilantism is illegal. Spider-Man does not answer to New York’s finest, and he does not answer to the public. He answers only to himself. He is judge and jury for every alleged crime he intervenes in. 

This masked menace must be kept accountable for his actions. He leaves a wake of destruction in his path on his search for vengeance, leaving the rest of New York to clean it up in the form of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Sanitation is still cleaning up the mess he left in Central Park last week.

If our community allows him to go unchecked for so long, it’s only a matter of time before his reckless quest for terrorism gets an innocent person ki—

The hiss from the thin sheets of paper being snatched from his hands cause Davey to jolt in surprise. Swapping the surprise on his face for a disgruntled frown, he swats his arm at the air beside his ear an attempt to reclaim his stolen newspaper. “Hey, I was reading that!”

He watches helplessly as his copy of The World is crumpled up into a sphere and casually dumped into the nearest trash can. He rounds on the culprit, brow furrowed and prepared to give them a piece of his mind until he’s greeted with an all too familiar frown. 

Jack Kelly stands in front of him, arms crossed over his chest and glaring expectantly at Davey.

Oh, shit. 

Continue Reading on AO3

[ajpendragon]

Humanity

“What did you do?”

“Hi, Scott. Good to see you too.” John replied mildly, eyes never leaving the screen in front of him.

“Nope! You’re not getting out of this.” Scott narrowed his eyes at his brother, staring him down with the full force of the Tracy glare. “What did you do?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific. I’ve done a lot of things today. I brushed my teeth, ate breakfast, worked on-“

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“He deserved it, Scott. His foolish incompetence put you and Alan in danger, and injured Virgil. If he can’t be wise with his money, he doesn’t deserve to have it.”

“No, John. We can’t do that. We don’t decide who deserves it or not. That’s a betrayal of everything that International Rescue stands for. We’re the ones who save people, not arbitrate justice.”

“Betrayal? I’m the one betraying the family? No, Scott. It’s not me. The only one betraying the family is the one who continues to send his brothers into danger because he refuses to make a hard choice. I’m making things safer for our brothers, for the world. He doesn’t deserve that money. I left him enough to live off of, assuming he doesn’t waste it, but most of it went to people who needed it. People who won’t actively make our lives harder with their own stupidity.”

“Put it back, John. We can’t do that. We cannot stand as judge, jury and executioner.”

“I will not. I refuse to continue to stand by and allow him to endanger our family. I thought you would understand, Scott, but I should have known you wouldn’t. You never did like to make the hard choices. At least this family has someone willing to.”

John cut the call abruptly, leaving Scott to stew. As soon as the hologram flickered out, he turned to look at the figure floating in the corner.

“Was that sufficient?”

“We’ll see. If that wasn’t enough to get your big brother to come up here, I’m not sure what will. You’d better hope he’s mad enough to come up here and yell at you, or we’ll test just how long you can last floating out in space without oxygen.”

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

Scott was furious, storming through the house down to the hangers. John had completely lost it. Sure, they had all thought about it a time or two, but thinking was as far as it got. It was as far as they could let it get.

They were not the law. They were not the deciders of right and wrong. They couldn’t be. It would destroy any credibility IR had. They saved everyone they could. They didn’t pick and choose who was worthy of their help. That betrayed the very idea of International Rescue.

A quick change into his uniform, and he was firing up the engines on Three. The elevator would have been faster, but he knew John wasn’t going to send that down for him right now. The rocket launched, pushing him back into his seat as it accelerated though the atmosphere and into space.

Thunderbird Five floated serenely, the calm showing no sign of the storm approaching. The commander was coming, and he was not happy.

He docked Three onto Five’s access port, waiting impatiently for the seal to pressurize before storming onto the space station.

“Hello, Scott.” His brother greeted him, seeming unsurprised to see him. “How can I help you?”

“You know exactly what-” Scott shot back angrily, before cutting off abruptly upon realizing that they weren’t alone.

“Hello, Mr. Tracy.” The Hood greeted him, the gun in his hand shifting to Scott. “So nice of you to join us. Your brother knew just how to get you to come.”

The betrayal in Scott’s eyes cut John deeply, but he stood firm. He had his reasons, even if his brother couldn’t understand. “It wasn’t hard.” He said, his voice as smug as he could make it. “You’re quite predictable, Scott. Always going on about responsibility and honor and watch-“ John stumbled over his words for a moment before resuming. “And all that. It doesn’t take much work to outthink you.”

Scott swallowed heavily. John’s words hurt, as he knew they were intended to. His brother was too smart to say something he hadn’t thought through. John was the best communicator in the family, which meant that he could cut someone to ribbons with only his words without even breaking a sweat.

Wait a second! John never misspoke. He thought about every word that came out of his mouth, which means…

Scott turned back to his brother, watching more closely. “Maybe I am predictable. Maybe I am just as stupid as you seem to think I am.” He forced the cutting words out of his mouth, trying to distract the Hood from the brisk tapping of John’s finger against his leg. Morse code! “Even if I am stupid, at least I’m not taking the law into my own hands.”

H-O-L-D. H-E-L-M-E-T. O-N.

“At least I haven’t decided that I can chose what’s right and wrong.”

Scott leaned back against the wall behind him, subtly looping his arm through the handle behind his back, and gripping his helmet tightly, ready to move. He could see John doing the same.

“At least I haven’t spent so long in space that I’ve forgotten my humanity.” He was shouting now, keeping the focus on him as much as possible. “At least I still act like a Tracy.”

His voice drowned out John’s whispered commands, and they both jammed their helmets on simultaneously. Then the only thing he could hear was the rushing of wind as the wall suddenly retracted, sending the Hood hurtling off into space.

The force tried to pull him out too, and he could see John fighting to hold on as well. He gripped tightly, watching as the Hood drifted off, before his ship suddenly appeared in front of him and he pulled himself into the airlock. The ship quickly disappeared out of sight.

The wall of the space station slid back into place, and the room quickly filled with oxygen again. At EOS signal, both brothers removed their helmets, looking guiltily toward each other.

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t mean any of it.”

They reached towards each other, clasping each other in a rare hug. “We need to talk.”

“Yeah.” Scott agreed. “But not here. Let’s go home.”

John followed him back onto Three, settling himself into the copilot’s seat as they pulled away from the space station. The ride home was silent, both of them retreating deep into the safety of their own minds, neither ready to talk yet.

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

A short time later, both of them were sitting on the deck outside Scott’s bedroom, glasses in hand. They sat in silence for a while, trying to process the day.

John broke the silence first. “I’m sorry.” He said quietly. “I didn’t know what to do, so I made a call, and it was the wrong one. I should have figured it out on my own. I should never have upset you like that.”

“You did nothing wrong.” Scott shot back promptly. “You were put in an impossible situation, and you managed to get everyone involved out safely. I won’t lie and say what you said didn’t hurt, but I understand why you did it. I did the same thing to you. And some of what I said I don’t have any excuse for. I was angry at you, and I said horrible things I didn’t mean.”

“I know. I understand why you said it. I understand why you were mad. I was trying to make you mad, so I can’t really blame you.” John took a long drink, draining his glass in an attempt to regain his composure. “I think I’m going to turn in. It’s been a long day.” He set his glass down, unfolding his long legs as he pushed himself to his feet. “Goodnight, Scott.”

Scott set his glass down next to his brother’s, following him into the room. “Stay?” He asked softly. “It’s been a long day for both is us, and I think we could both use the company.”

John thought for a moment, before dropping down heavily on the bed. “Okay.”

He conceded. He threw back the comforter and climbed in, saving room for his big brother to climb in after him. They settled in the dark, neither truly ready for sleep despite what they had claimed.

“Was there any truth in it?” John asked, so quietly that Scott almost didn’t hear him.

“In what?”

“In what you said about me. That I’ve spent so much time in space that I’ve lost my humanity. That I’m not really a Tracy anymore.”

Scott sat up, dragging his brother up to look at him. “There was not a word of truth in any of it. I said what the Hood wanted to hear, but I didn’t mean a word of it. You are the best of us, John. You hear the worst the world has to offer every day, and you still remain strong. You know just how to help, how to keep people calm and focused. You have not lost your humanity, John. You help the rest of us keep ours.”

There were tears dripping from John’s eyes by the time Scott was finished speaking. Scott wrapped his brother in a hug, holding him close until John calmed somewhat. “I’m sorry for everything I said. Humanity doesn’t deserve you. I’m so proud of all that you’ve done, John. Nothing you could ever do would change that.”

They settled back down into the bed, Scott keeping his arms wrapped around his brother. They weren’t okay, not really. They had both said such hurtful things that they would remember in the dead of night. When the adrenaline wore off, they would feel the effects of their near-death experience. But for now, the assurance that they were together, alive, was good enough.

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

Scott shot awake in the middle of the night, startling his brother from his sleep next to him. “We have to give Fishler his money back!” He cried.

John settled back down, closing his eyes again. “I never took it.” He said smugly. “I set it up so it would look like I did, but I didn’t touch it.” He assured his brother, already back asleep.

[lucas-deziderio]

Dezi reads Pact: Signature 8.7

Let me tell you something about Maggie Holt. This poor girl's backstory is that she is the survivor of a specially mean episode of The Twilight Zone. And then things got A Lot Worse. But, you know, it isn't all bad. She has some victories to her name. Two loving fathers, a handful of goblins on her back pocket, the friendship of an up-and-coming diabolist...

Now the Girl with the Checkered Scarf is a whole other story! If she were an RPG character I could easily show you her inventory and you would see that the only things she has for herself now are one (1) scarf, one (1) goblin, one (1) gender and a dream. OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but my girl do is struggling as reality is trying to shake her off itself.

This chapter starts with a very interesting conversation with Johannes, the sorcerer famous for having a demesne big enough to fit your mom in it. Up until now he had come off as some kind of secondary or maybe even primary antagonist that Blake would have to face against at some point, but now I'm not so sure. His perspective does make sense and the fact that he's being so kind to the underdog that is our current protagonist does make him more endearing.

The first thing I want to discuss is the idea of demesnes; places a practitioner has claimed for themselves and now have full control over, being able to draw energy from it to power their practice. One of the big three milestones a person in this world must achieve to be considered a grown-up wizard.

To me, the process of claiming a demesne seems to equate the process of forming a nation or kingdom. Through the ritual, a practitioner takes over an area that was until then public and makes it their own. But to do that they need the approval of all Others, spirits and even practitioners in the surrounding region. Or, at least, to overpower them through the challenges that are part of the ritual. If successful, what was once free range becomes infused by the identity of its new ruler. We have seen before practitioners both bargaining for and coercing Others into lending them power, but this is different. This ritual is both way broader in scope and way narrower in what it rewards: a geographical, almost political, type of power.

The main rule of this magic system is so maintained: all power comes with a price. In this case, the practitioner scrapes off bits of the liberty of an entire group to make themselves the sovereign monarch of their own kingdom; a social contract born out of the rules of magic itself. As time goes on, Laird Behaim's metaphor about countries becomes poignant once again.

Still, the mystery of how Johannes was able to conquer such a large territory remains as he refuses to concede us any details. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll become essential later. Considering Blake's streak of luck, he'll probably need to use this secret to stablish a demesne for himself.

After a very interesting game of 20 questions, our protagonist manages to get some necessary resources basically for free and steps back into reality to put her plan into action. Except that reality is kinda fed up with her. She dodges the cracks in existence, bombs a handful of goblins and starts to jury-rig a variation of the demesne ritual to claim a new name for herself.

That makes me think that, just like political power, identity itself is something that is determined by our relationship to others. Sometimes it's something we can agree upon, and sometimes it's something we must fight to stablish against discordant voices. Luckily, the girl in the checkered scarf spent this entire arc making all other powerful practitioners of Jacob's Bell pity her. She finishes the ritual, craps in a bucket and wills a new place for herself into existence. I'm proud of Mags.

A couple other questions now remain in my head. Had she fallen down into one of those cracks in reality would she end up in the same place Blake is in right now? After all, he also had his connections to reality stripped from him. And if Padraic is still occupying her previous role as the child of a family, would that make of him a changeling? Or would that be a different type of fey?

Previous • Next

[cielettosa]

Levi's monologue when he was beating the shit out of eren

I can't believe it. I mean, really, can you? It's like a twisted, messed-up joke that humanity's last hope is pinned on a group of bumbling, power-hungry, so-called leaders. These guys couldn't even lead a donkey to water without getting lost in the desert...

And don't get me started on the Yeager brat. Ugly as a Titan's backside, but they want to barbecue him like he's the main course at a Titan buffet. The poor brat is scared out of his mind, stuttering like a broken record, begging for his life every few seconds. Newsflash, brat: nobody understands you when you're gagged. It's like trying to have a deep philosophical debate with a brick wall.

Nile Dok, the shining beacon of all that is pig-headed and self-important. Head of the Military Police, they call him. But from where I'm standing, he's the grand poobah of all things nonsensical. And let's not forget Nick, the Minister Shitface, holding the prestigious title of vice-judge. It's like a match made in heaven – two peas in a pod of bureaucratic incompetence.

Erwin, on the other hand, well, he's got his own history with Dok. Something about stealing Erwin's girl, Marie, way back when. The details aren't clear, but you can bet your boots that it's a festering wound that still stings. You see, Eyebrows may look as calm as a tranquil lake, but beneath that serene exterior, there's a storm brewing.

Minister Nick and his never-ending religious sermons. He's all about that Walls mumbo-jumbo, but honestly, I've got more important things to do, like keeping your sorry butts alive in this Titan-infested world. If I did give a damn about religion, I'd want a better spokesperson than this guy. I mean, really, it's like having a dung beetle as your life coach. Nick's "inspirational" speeches would put even the most dedicated insomniac to sleep. But hey, maybe that's the secret to his survival – bore the Titans to tears. While he's preaching about the great beyond, I'm out here in the real world, making sure you have a future to even worry about.

If there's a heaven, hell, or purgatory, I hope they've got better entertainment than this holy bore. Dok's playing puppet master to Zackly, and it's a damn puppet show I'm not willing to watch any longer. The clock's ticking, and I can't let this charade continue. The jury needs a reality check before Dok's nonsense becomes law.

Erwin, my partner in crime, gives me that unspoken signal, and it's like we share the same damn brain. Twins, they call us, and they might be right. But let's get one thing straight – I got the looks, and I've got the, well, length, if you catch my drift.

It's time to step up, cut through the crap, and bring some order to this chaotic world. Because if there's one thing we don't need, it's more clowns in this circus of despair. It's time for the Survey Corps to do what we do best – kick some Titan ass and take names.

It's a damn shame that I have to resort to beating the living daylights out of Eren Yeager to make a point. But let me tell you, it's like a twisted kind of therapy for me. The kid's got a hair-trigger temper, and it doesn't take much to set him off. I mean, everything makes him lose his marbles.

You'd think we were living in a world where Titans are the least of our worries, with the way Eren goes ballistic over the smallest things. It's like he's got a personal grudge against serenity. But hey, if my fists can knock some sense into him, then I'll gladly be the bad guy. In this world, losing your cool can get you killed, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep this circus from turning into a bloody tragedy.

Mikasa, the black-haired girl, can't seem to stop gushing over "Ereh!" like she's some kind of Titan-slaying goddess. The way she clings to that Titan-spitface is almost comical. Kid's got herself a full-blown crush on Mr. Yeager.

And sure, I've heard it before, that Mikasa Ackerman looks a bit like me, despite us having zero ties. But let's get one thing straight – I'd rather be related to a sack of potatoes than be associated with a brat who's obsessed with Eren.

I'm not one to toot my own horn, but between her and me, I'm the hotter one in this messed-up circus. Beauty might not save the world, but it sure beats being infatuated with a Titan-transforming teenager.

It's not the stench of their porky existence that gets to me, although that's a close second. No, it's the fear that I feed on, thrive on, and let me tell you, it's a feast.

Dok and Minister Nick are probably soaking their pants, and also shitting right about now, knowing that in my mind's eye, I'm picturing them in Yeager's shoes. There's something satisfying about watching them squirm, knowing that their day of judgment might be just around the corner. It's like a sweet symphony, and I'm the conductor, orchestrating their fear, one crescendo at a time. This world is a savage playground, and I'm the merciless player.

Wait shit, was that a spit and blood covered tooth? Holy hell, it doesn't matter. I need to pull back. Just one more kick.

Okay, maybe one more for good measure. Can't leave things unfinished, right?

And one last one, just to make sure things are nice and tidy. It's not often I get to let loose like this, so might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Another kick for the sake of, well, cleanliness.

TLDR: Shipping between Levi and Eren won't be tolerated, it's disgusting.

[tommys-little-writing-corner]

Fickle Fate ║ Chapter I: Second Chance

》 They say fate is a fickle mistress, playing cruel tricks with the help of Lady Fortune and Destiny. However, they also said she throws problems on purpose before achieving something great. What could come out of a fire god visiting your uncle with Naruto cosplayers? And what's with the yakuza man? 》 Chapter I: Second Chance 》 General Notes: Gender Neutral!Reader, Teen!Reader, No Romance, Platonic Friendship, Slight Canon Divergence, First Person Writing, Found Family, Canon Violence 》 Chapter Notes: Initially I wrote this with an OC of mine I had, but then it just sorta spiraled into this! Hopefully, everyone can enjoy this as much as I did 》 Trigger Warnings: Brief Mention of Child Abuse, Abusive Parent Mentioned 》 Word Count: 1.2k Words

The crowds surrounding me and my opponent, Liam, were loud.

They egged us on, cheering us on as the fight continued. Neither one was letting up or giving in, swinging punch after punch. Kick after kick. Liam swung with a right kick, but I ducked down, going in to sweep him off his feet, he jumped up in time, but it left him open...

Open for the ultimate combo from my character.

I dared not to take my eyes away from the projection of our battle on Street Fighter 6. We were both in sync with our respective characters-- Luke and Juri -- who responded to the actions that were being inputted in the controllers we held in our sweaty hands. They are a part of us, representing our soul, and our desire to represent our fighting spirits. The desire to fight, our spirit of competitiveness, could never fade.

The world seemed to slow down as if to take a deep breath, going quiet as Luke's fists connected with Juri's body. Color splashed across the screen as each fist, each hit, landed successfully before everything went back to normal.

"AND THE WINNER IS DAMMECAGE!"

I let out a breath I wasn't aware of holding back, wiping the sweat off my brow as I looked at Liam and smiled. He looked defeated before shaking his head, putting the controller down before offering his hand to shake mine.

"I lost to you again," Liam spoke my name before I shook his hand back.

"Hey, there's always next season." I chuckled, pulling him into a one-armed hug before pulling away. The tournament host and his friend walked on over, talking loudly on the mic, praising my skills in the game. But yet, despite this moment of joy... I couldn't really find myself to be happy in this moment.

Just because I won the game didn't mean I won at life-- my life as (Y/N) Carlton was shit. 17 years old and have been living with my uncle, Jonathan Carlton, for the past two years. My home wasn't safe with an absent mom and an abusive dad. His father, my grandfather, wasn't a good dad either, so I guess it just sort of ran in the family. He didn't seem to care if anything happened to me, but once my uncle saw what was going on, he didn't seem to hesitate to help the family out. Uncle Johnny, along with his wife, took me in as my legal guardian, and since then I've just been living life in sunny Malibu, California.

"I'll see you around, Liam! Catch ya later!"

I waved goodbye to my friend, pocketing the trophy in my backpack before running out of the arcade. Once I got out the doors, I grabbed my skateboard and took off to ride the streets in style, headphones on to listen to tunes to celebrate my victory. My head bobbed to the beat, lightly tapping my foot as I swerved past people, swinging around a pole to go right before I continued on heading home. Today felt like it was a good day so far, and surely nothing could go wrong, right?

Well, 30 minutes of skating home proved otherwise...

I wasn't standing anywhere near the driveway before I heard arguing through my headphones. I pulled them off, raising a brow in curiosity before frowning. It made me grimace at what could be going on in there... and neither did I enjoy the sound of arguments. The sounds brought me back to my old home and I did not want to think about that.

"-ou alright?"

I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped, almost slipping off my skateboard before steadying myself to see who it was. An Asian man with short, dark hair in an off-grey and red suit and... is that a sword on him? Does he have tattoos on his hands? Why does he have tattoos? Is he a member of the Yakuza or something? Or are they just nice tattoos?

"Um, uh, yeah, I'm good..." I nodded, hopping off my skateboard before picking it up. "I just don't do arguments, I don't know what they could be arguing about." I walked on the pathway to the large mansion with the businessman walking a few steps behind me. Curiosity itched me and I couldn't help but ask, "You here to see my uncle?"

"Um... yes, yes I am." He answered, almost sounding hesitant for a second. Was he scared or something?

"I get it, my uncle can be--"

I heard the door slam open before it slammed close, Aunt Cris looked furious with her bag and keys in hand before getting into her car and driving off, leaving me in awkward silence with a stranger. The air felt awkward before I cleared my throat, looking at the man before I continued speaking, "My uncle is an interesting person, as you may know. A little... egotistical, but he means well, honestly. I didn't get your name," I offered my hand to him and he looked, questioning his decision, before shaking it.

"Takahashi Kenshi."

"Oh, Takahashi? That's Japanese if I remember correctly... You do stuntwork in movies?"

"I do." Kenshi seemed to answer rather quickly, standing by the door before I opened it and let him in. At the time, I didn't think much about it, closing the door quietly as I could.

"Living room's down that hall, that's where my uncle will be. I'm just... uh, gonna go eat in the kitchen." I gave an awkward smile before I let out a sigh, shoulders dropping as I put my skateboard down to the side before making my way to the kitchen, dropping my bag to the floor before raiding the fridge to reheat day-old pizza and open a can of my favorite drink. It took a while for the pizza to reheat, allowing me time to scroll on my phone on social media.

You know what's really weird? Finding thirst edits of your own uncle... kinda gross. I mean, I can admire their editing skills. But if I had to hear "International Love" one more time, I was going to lose it. The microwave then beeped loudly, snapping me out of further doomscrolling to allow me to eat the pizza while it was still hot on the plate.

"God, I love whoever invented pizza," I muttered to myself, not hearing the brief sound of something crashing when I took a sip of my drink. I figured it was either whatever went down with my uncle it was another one of his "bright ideas" or sudden acting improvision. I didn't think too much of it before hearing the doorbell ring, but that wasn't for me to deal with. I just wanted to relax a little, enjoy intimacy in the form of a good slice of pizza, and read fanfiction. Who doesn't read those? Kinda a guilty pleasure of mine, really. Especially a good rivals to lovers--

CRASH!

A loud crash scared me, making me jump and setting my heart at a fast pace. I put the can down, hand shaking a little as I took deep breaths, calming myself down.

"I'm no longer there... I'm no longer there... I'm no longer home... This is my home now..." I repeated to myself quietly before shuffling to check out the scene. My heart was still racing as I peeked around the corner. While I intially looked fearful about the situation morphed into confusion at what I saw before me, and I had only one thing to say.

"What in the actual fuck..."

TO BE KONTINUED...

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Running from the Flames {19}

Pairing: Pierre Gasly x OFC Warnings: 18+ only, fluff, slight angst - this is a work of fiction and the events are not based on reality. Chapter: One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven* || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen || Sixteen || Seventeen || Eighteen || Nineteen || Twenty || under construction

Mum called Tuesday with an update. Pierre and I were curled up on the couch watching a rerun of The Grand Tour while Addie was lying across us having an afternoon nap, his hand softly stroking her hair while she slept. We all needed a rest after the busy morning spent showing Pierre our favourite parts of London and I regretted not taking my car when we went along High Street and bought more than we could really carry, but parking in the city was a bitch. 

Pierre paused the show when he saw me accept the video call and I introduced the two of them before greeting dad who was sitting to the side of the screen drinking a beer with his lunch. Pierre did a double take seeing dad in track pants and a singlet after only seeing him in pressed suits for work. 

“I’m guessing this isn’t a social call,” I commented as mum moved to her home office and put her reading glasses on.

“Unfortunately not. We need to talk about what our options are to deal with this.” She dropped the dossier of documents I had scanned through to her onto her desk with a loud thud. “The fastest option would be to offer a settlement out of court and pay Gordon for the damages, namely a broken nose and bruised ego.”

“Why should I give him a single penny? He came and harassed me!”

She sighed and rubbed at her temples just like I did when Addie was stressing me out. “We could countersue and file our own charges for breaching the restraining order. That would likely bankrupt him again because he can’t afford to drag out a case against us.”

“If he goes bankrupt again he will just have another axe to grind with me. I want him out of my life, not a reason to come at me again.”

“You’ve gotta work with me here, querida. Nothing is going to be a perfect solution,” she said as she sat back in her chair chewing the end of her pen.

“Could we go to court and see what a judge thinks of the case?”

“It would likely be a jury, not a judge, but I wouldn’t advise it. Have you read this?” she asked as she waved the papers around.

I looked down sheepishly and admitted, “Not all of it.” 

Mum knew that actually meant I hadn’t read any of it. “The stipulations of this would mean your passports are surrendered until the verdict is ruled, which would take considerably longer than the other options.”

I looked at Pierre as I digested the news. “So I would be stuck here?”

“You would be grounded, yes.”

I swallowed deeply at the thought and shook my head. I wasn’t willing to waste the time I had left with Pierre before I started work. I could already feel the date looming over me like a guillotine. “Offer a settlement. I don’t care what it takes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Maybe we should talk about this,” Pierre stopped me from answering with a hand on my thigh.

“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m coming with you to Canada next week, end of story.” I placed my hand on his and squeezed it before I looked back at mum with a nod. “Do it.”

“Okay, honey, I’ll give you an update when I have one. Drive safe tomorrow and give Adelaide a kiss from me.”

“Gracias, mamá. Hasta mañana.” I ended the video call and leaned back into Pierre’s shoulder with a sigh and expected to see him looking at me but he was staring intently at the tv though it was still on pause. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

He dragged his eyes away from the frozen Jeremy Clarkson and chewed on his bottom lip. “Are you sure you want to go with a settlement? Shouldn’t you think about it a little longer?”

“I’m not going to just stay stuck here while you’re halfway across the world.” Doubt started to creep in and I carefully shifted Addie so I could turn to face him. “I know a lot has happened in a short time and you said it was fine but if this is too much, just let me know. I’ll understand if…”

Pierre reached for my face and cupped my jaw as his lips pressed together. “I’m not going to leave you, Bri, so please stop suggesting it. I’m already having a hard time thinking about what happens after Belgium.”

I carefully shifted back into his arms but the stirring was still enough to wake Addie and she sat up, rubbing her bleary eyes as she murmured, “We go park now?”

“Mummy has to go see someone soon and Pierre is going to stay and play with you.”

“I’m happy to take her, if that’s alright with you?” he asked in French so she didn’t understand and get too excited in case I said no.

“If you’re up for it, there’s spare keys on the hook in the kitchen.” I checked my watch and saw I needed to leave soon to make it to Dr Pascoe’s office in time. I pulled Addie into my arms and hugged her tight as I told her the rules again. “Be the good girl I know you are and no running away. Listen to Pierre and do as he tells you, he wants to keep you safe. I love you.”

“Love you,” she said, planting a big wet kiss on my cheek before laughing and running to the shoe rack. “Let’s gooooo!”

“She was asleep 10 seconds ago,” Pierre said as he looked to his empty lap in dismay.

“She goes zero to 60 in 3.5.” 

Pierre got up and offered a hand, pulling me to my feet and into his arms. Every time we kissed I was amazed to find I was still on solid ground because I always got a little light headed and I expected to open my eyes and find myself in the clouds. 

“Je t’aime.” 

Kissing him left me dizzy but hearing those words made me swoon and I pressed my body closer, my hands sneaking beneath his hoodie so I could feel his muscles move beneath his smooth skin. I lost track of time as I stared into those mesmerising eyes of his and echoed, “I love you.”

–

I dropped Pierre and Addie off at the playground on my way to Dr Pascoe’s and my eyes kept lingering on them in the rearview as I left. There was always a big grin on Addie’s face when she was with Pierre and he was no different as they walked off holding hands. 

The image was still on my mind while I sat opposite Sarah and updated her on my latest epiphany. 

“Do you think I’m moving too fast?” I asked, even though I knew the next words that were going to come out of her mouth.

“Do you?”

“If I were an uninvolved third party, just spectating, I would say yes. But, I’m not and I don’t think so? I don’t even know if that makes sense. I think his profession doesn’t help because it's so dangerous, I mean last weekend he had a hell of a crash and I keep thinking if I hadn’t told him how I felt and he had been seriously injured, or worse, then I would have felt absolutely sick to my stomach.”

“Good, you are proactively thinking these things while making your choices, that is good.” She scribbled some notes down before flicking back a few pages and tapping what was written there. “And has anything happened since the incident with Trent Gordon?”

I groaned and shifted in the leather chair, my arms folding over my chest and she wrote down something new in her notepad. 

“I take that as a yes. Would you like to talk about it?”

It didn’t take much to start me off on that saga and bring her up to speed with the settlement and how Pierre reacted.

“Part of me thinks he doesn’t want me to go with him. Maybe this is too much baggage, it’s unfair of me to expect so much from him,” I said with a resigned sigh as I vocalised the worry that had been whispered in my head.

“Have you asked him?”

“Of course. He says he wants Addie and I with him wherever he goes.”

“Then you should trust his decision.”

“What if he’s just too nice to say anything? He seemed opposed to me making the settlement.”

“That is something you will have to discuss with him but perhaps he is worried you will resent him later on because he knows don’t want to give Mr Gordon the money. Is that something you think you may come to regret?”

“I don’t want to give Trent a single cent but this is just a simple transaction and that is how I am going to treat it. I know how fortunate I am that I am in a position to be able to value time over money because of my family. I want to spend my time with Pierre. So, if it takes giving that assho- sorry, that man some money to make that time possible then I will spend it without regret.”

“I think you should explain to him exactly what you said to me, it might just be what he needs to hear.” She looked up at the clock and closed her book as the hour ended. “We’ll have to work out the time differences but I think a quick catch up while you are away could be a good idea. And if you have any more nightmares or panic attacks, call the emergency number because I want to find out a little more about what’s triggering these again.”

I called Pierre as soon as I was out of the building and he said they were still at the playground. Addie had made a friend, unsurprisingly, and she didn’t want to leave. Pierre didn’t seem too concerned about spending so long in the park since he wasn’t as easily recognised by parents that were busy chasing their own kids around.

“Boo,” I whispered as I rose on my tiptoes and kissed his ear after sneaking up on him. He didn’t even flinch, merely chuckled as he pulled me around him and into his arms so my back was flush to his chest. “How did you know I was there? I dodged every twig and leaf.”

He pointed to the ground in front of us as he rested his chin on my shoulder. “Sorry, beautiful ninja, your shadow gave you away.”

“I’ll sneak something by you one day.” I waved at Addie when she spotted me and she waved back before climbing up the playground with the other little girl her age. “Is that her friend? What happened to her hair?”

Pierre chuckled nervously. “Her hair tie came out and it was getting in her face. I kind of tried to tie it back.”

I struggled to hold back the laughter and failed when Addie jumped down the ledge, the loose band falling away and releasing all her dark curls in a cascade. “Not a bad first attempt,” I said through the giggles, “but we’ll work on that.”

“It lasted a whole 5 minutes, just saying. I think that deserves a reward.”

I turned in his arms and peeked up at him from under my lashes as I licked my lips. “Yeah? What did you have in mind?”

“A few things,” he smirked before whispering in my ear, “all dirty things.”

Click here to for chapter twenty.

Tagging: @my-only-way-tocooperatewithlife

[bi-bard]

Taylor Swift Songs That Would Describe a Relationship with Jason Todd - Jason Todd Imagine [Titans (HBO)]

Title: Taylor Swift Songs That Would Describe a Relationship with Jason Todd

Pairing: Jason Todd X Reader

Word Count: 1,409 words

Warning(s): violence

Author's Note: Reputation is Jason's album. I don't make the rules.

**Not intentionally written in chronological order**

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

...Ready For It?

I, I, I see how this is gon' go Touch me and you'll never be alone I-Island breeze and lights down low No one has to know

I was always the one that was meant to stop Robin.

It was the only job that anyone cared enough to assign to me.

At first, I hated it.

I got tired of fighting the same guy every single day.

But after a while, I began to like our short meetings. Even if I was just fighting him, he wasn't terrible company.

He was cocky, yeah, but he was doing his best. He was trying to impress Batman. I could see that much.

He wanted to be a hero.

And he would be.

Once he could beat me in a fight. But that day has yet to come.

I grabbed his arms, shoving him into a wall of the abandoned building we had found ourselves in that night.

"Aw, what's wrong, Robin," I asked in a teasing tone. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I was thinking," he replied.

"Oh, that's dangerous."

"You could leave these assholes," he nodded vaguely in the direction of my bosses. "I could talk to Batman. Get you a job that's actually fun."

"You're cute, Bird Boy-"

"It's Robin-"

"Bird Boy," I repeated. "Batman would never trust me. Beat the shit out of you a few too many times for that."

"I could convince him."

"Not my style, anyway," I shrugged. "Sorry, Bird Boy. I'm not meant for the games you two play."

"You sure about that?"

I paused for a moment.

No. I wasn't. Of course, I wasn't. This man offered me a pathway out of the world I had been stuck in. The world that I was convinced I would only escape by dying first. But I couldn't just abandon that because he may be able to talk to a man who's been hiding behind a mask for close to as long as I've been alive.

"Maybe," I said.

"What the fuck does that-"

I cut him off by leaning forward and pressing my lips to him. It was only a matter of moments before I leaned back again.

I stepped back, smirking at the shocked look on his face.

"Ask me again the next time we meet," I called as I continued walking back.

"Why?"

I shrugged. "Might say yes."

Jason- whose name I wouldn't know for a while after that interaction- was going to be the only person that could talk me into something like that. I knew that. I was well aware of that.

All I was doing that night was planting that same idea in Jason's head.

Ours

Seems like there's always someone who disapproves They'll judge it like they know about me and you And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do The jury's out, but my choice is you

I'm not sure how I let Jason talk me into going to San Francisco. I grew up in Gotham. I knew that city like the back of my hand. I have no idea why I thought being dragged to a random city would be a good thing.

I had to sneak over there in the first place. Batman would probably think that I was trying to hunt his little Robin if I made my departure from the city obvious.

Getting into the tower itself was easy. Jason let me in.

I stood behind him as he explained to the team who I was, what I was capable of. He mentioned something about Dick having a thing for strays, so it wouldn't be that difficult to convince them into letting me stay.

"Does Bruce know about them," Dick asked after Jason's speech.

I tensed a bit as Jason answered. "No."

"Why not?"

"He would think I was trying to kill you," I answered before Jason could. "I worked with some... shady people in Gotham. Batman knows me. Knows my work. If he knew that I followed you guys, then he'd go after me."

After that, it was a process.

Well, that's what Jason called it.

He wanted to believe that I would grow on the team with time. But I was less optimistic. Dick may have taken me in, but even he didn't seem to trust me on my own.

I was constantly watched. Kept an eye on.

Precaution.

"How long," I asked Jason one night.

I had been training. I knew the cameras were on. Someone was watching. Always were.

Jason had walked in behind me right before I asked.

"What do you mean?" he replied. I turned to face him.

"How long until I stop getting monitored?" I nodded to the camera in the room. "Questioned? Glared at? Judged?"

"I'm not judging you-"

"They are," I snapped. "All of them. I am a risk to them. If they could, they would throw me out."

"I wouldn't let them."

"Love to see you win a fight with space witch and manimal in there."

Jason sighed and stepped forward, going to grab my hands.

"I want to feel like I'm more than a risk to them," I muttered. "I don't wanna be looked at like some ticking time bomb anymore."

"I don't see you that way," he shrugged at me.

"Yeah, I figured out that much," I looked down at our hands. Jason ran his thumbs over my knuckles.

"Hey," he mumbled. I looked at him again. "Screw them, alright? I don't care what they think about you. And you shouldn't either. You're a badass and they'll see that. Anything beyond that... screw them."

I chuckled. "You make that sound so easy."

"Because it is."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I slowly kissed him back, moving my hands to touch the sides of his face. His arms wrapped around me.

I pulled away first, grinning at him.

"See? Easy," he said, smirking a bit.

I smacked his upper arm. "Ass."

He didn't reply, he just smiled and leaned in to kiss me again.

Maybe he had a point.

Don't Blame Me

My name is whatever you decide And I'm just gonna call you mine I'm insane, but I'm your baby (your baby) Echoes (echoes) of your name inside my mind Halo, hiding my obsession I once was poison ivy, but now I'm your daisy

My heart had never dropped as far as it did when Red Hood's mask broke and revealed Jason's face.

"Holy crap," I whispered as I stood up fully.

Jason pushed himself off the ground, eyes fixed on me. "What's wrong, (Y/n)? You look like you've seen a ghost."

His voice was still half-modulated.

I was about to yell out for someone. Anyone. Dick or Dawn or Conner or something. Jason stopped me, yanking me forward and covering my mouth with his free hand.

"Shh," he whispered. "Come with me."

My eyes widened a bit.

"These people treated you like shit," he explained. "Always keeping an eye on you. Worried that you'd turn on them. Go back to your old ways. Remember all of that? Come with me. You'll be free."

"They've changed-"

"Have they," he asked. "Didn't Dick lock you in the manor because he the manor because he thought you'd go after the Joker on your own?"

My jaw clenched. That was true, but it was for good reason. He knew that I would've killed the Joker and anyone in my way after what had happened to Jason.

"Doesn't sound very trusting to me," Jason continued. "Doesn't look like he did the same to anyone else... even Batman. Look at how that ended."

I closed my eyes. I felt Jason's hand fall away from my mouth.

There was another voice, "(Y/n)!"

Dick.

My eyes opened again, now completely torn. I liked helping, but... I loved Jason. He was the reason I joined the Titans. He was the reason I stayed. What was the point if I didn't have him anymore?

Dick must've caught sight of Jason over my shoulder. "Jason?"

"Bit busy," Jason replied to Dick. "And I have a new name now... Red Hood."

"(Y/n), come on," Dick said.

I took a deep breath before reaching over and grabbing one of Jason's guns. I pointed my arm back, firing a shot right by Dick's head.

Jason chuckled. "Good choice. Come on."

I smiled at him.

I missed him.

I would do anything for him.

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

Navigation Guide

What I Write For

Some Original Characters

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: Joel Miller x OC

Notes:I apologise its been so long since my last chapter, for some reason was struggling to get this one right but I'm satisfied with what I've ended up with...I personally think the first half of this is stronger than the second but now we can move onto the really juicy bits of the story and work our way towards the ending!! Hope you enjoy!! Please like and review!! <3

Chapter Twenty Nine

The building was empty as they forced their way inside. The roof had caved in, leaving the elements to claim back whatever it wanted. The floor was water damaged and rotten. The walls were green with damp moss and vines that engulfed any mark of man-made structures. And flowers had even started to bloom along the old stands that once held witnesses to face the injustices in the old world. Joel found there was a cruel sense of irony that even over two decades later there were still souls who thought injustices needed to be punished…only in this world they’d take on the role of judge, jury and executioner all on their own. Himself included. He didn’t know how to feel about the fact that Ellie seemed to be taking on those roles herself now…and it was because of him.

He watched with bated breath as she made her way ahead of him, kicking at the loose debris in her frustration of finding the building empty. “They’re not here! Fuck!” She hissed angrily. “Easy kiddo, we'll find her. Maybe Jesse and Tommy are havin' better luck, their side of town.” He attempted to reassure her... and himself if he was being honest. He already blamed himself for Ada getting captured in the first place. Those bastards had been searching for him and took Ada to use as bait. And now Ellie was hurting because they’d taken her mother.

They stood in the silence for a moment as Ellie looked around for any indication that the WLF had been here but found only debris and old shadows of a world long dead. Maybe now was the time to try with her… try to gauge what she was thinking…

“Ellie…” he tried but she quickly brushed it off as she fought through the broken building searching for supplies both of them knew weren’t there. She was avoiding him. Again. And Joel tried to ignore the dull sting of hurt he felt from it. “Ellie…” He tried again but he heard her slamming her way through the back room before storming out again. “Stupid…fucking door…nothing worth taking…stupid fucking roof and fucking water…god…damn it!” She slammed and kicked, throwing rocks at the cracked glass. Joel rushed to her side to hold her, comfort her. “Hey…hey...Ellie…easy okay…just…” He whispered in an attempt to soothe her. But felt his heart break when she pushed him away. “No! Fucking…don’t Joel! Just don’t…” He backed off hands held in surrender as he tried to tread carefully here. He didn't want a repeat of what happened when he and Ada had told her the truth back in Utah, he didn’t think could handle it again.

So instead he gave her space to breath, as she leaned back against one of the stands. Her hands shaking as tears rain down her face. And it killed him that he couldn’t hug her. Tell her that everything would be okay. He stood frozen in place as he watched her break down. Her sobs echoed in the empty space between them. Joel took a step forward and tentatively moved to sit beside her. “Ellie…” he uttered. “It's okay…just talk to me…”

She sniffled against the tears as she wiped at her eyes harshly, leaving them red and bloodshot. “I can’t…” She croaked brokenly. “Why not?” He asked.

“Because you fucking died Joel!” She sobbed and he felt his whole body turn cold at her words. He supposed he had. Even if it was just for a little while. And even when he’d woken up, he’d been a different person. He guessed to her and Ada their Joel had died. He sat beside her and said nothing. What could he say?

He glanced across at her as she stared at the floor, her hands still shaking, tears still escaping her eyes. “You fucking died and now you’re here and it’s like I’m talking to a ghost. It fucking haunts me.” She whispered, her nails picking at the skin of her thumbs until they bled. Joel resisted the urge to reach over and take ahold of her hands to stop her from doing it. She’d always fidgeted when she was stressed or upset. To the point he’d had to put bandages around her hands because she’d made them bleed so badly when they’d first arrived in Jackson. She’d been terrified that she wouldn’t fit in or that she wouldn't make any friends. He and Ada had done what they could to make sure she was settling in okay. But mostly she’d kept to herself.

He listened as she sighed and finally found the courage to look him in the eye. And Joel almost broke down himself when he saw just how red and sore her eyes were. “I was angry for so long… but when you came home I was a stranger to you and it seemed so fucking stupid to be mad at you for something you couldn’t even remember doing…I guess I’m just tired Joel…I’m so fucking tired.” She breathed softly as she slid down what was left of the stand and sat on the bench. It creaked slightly under her weight as she lifted her legs up and tucked her knees under her chin.

She looked so small. And he was tired of not being able to comfort her, he moved to take a seat beside her again. Nudging her side gently with his knee as she turned to look at him with those big green eyes, welling up with tears again. In the end he caves, reaching out for her and pulling her close in an embrace to comfort her.

“Oh baby girl…I don’t regret savin' your life. I will never regret that. But I’m sorry I took that choice away from you…I just wanted to keep you safe.” It's the best he can give and he hopes it's enough. Hopes it's enough to bring her back. Because he means every single word. Just like he did that night on the porch.

‘If somehow the Lord gave me a second chance at that moment... I would do it all over again.’ There is no doubt. Not even a speck of doubt in his heart. He hears her hiccup another sob but this time she doesn’t scream, she doesn’t pull away. She listens and so with his eyes squeezed shut, he takes a breath and knows he can’t lie to her again.

And so… he tells the truth.

“You wanted your life to mean somethin'…whose to say it doesn’t? Now? To me and your mom? And Dina…Jesse and Tommy…You may not have saved the world baby girl but you saved us. You saved me…”

“What do you mean?” She utters as she lifts her head to stare at him. And he knows he’s said too much now. There’s no going back. He has to tell her. As he does the guilt pulls at him when he realizes that he couldn’t even bring himself to tell Ada or Tommy.

“I wanted to end it…” he finally confessed. “When I got my memories back…I knew I needed to finish this once and for all. I was ready… I was gonna walk right in there and give myself up, I was headin' to Texas you know? I was gonna say my last goodbyes to Sarah and then that was it.” He feels her turn rigid in his arms as he speaks. But he tugs a little and rests his chin on her head and his heart warms at the sensation of her snuggling a little closer into his frame. “But then I found your mom and I knew I couldn't go through with it. I wasn’t ready to die…not yet. I remembered you tellin' me to get up…to fight back. It took me a while but…I’m listenin' now…I’m doin' it.”

She doesn’t speak after he finishes. Instead he feels her wrap her arms around his middle and hug him as she sobs into his jacket. He cradles the back of her head like he did when she was younger, like he did the day he found her after she killed David. And slowly he rocks her back and forth. He lets her cry, lets her break down. Because he can tell she’s been bottling it up for so long to protect everyone else. She may be older but deep down, Joel knows she is still only a kid. Only nineteen years old. And she will always be his baby girl no matter how old she is.

“I’m sorry…” She sniffles, its quiet. Barely there as she muffles the words into his jacket where she’s hidden her face in his chest. But Joel still hears her. And when he does he immediately pulls back and cups her cheeks. His callous thumbs wiping away the leftover tears that fall. “Hey now… don’t you ever apologize to me. You have nothin' to be sorry for.. you hear me? You had every right to hate me…”

“I don’t…I could never…” She hiccups again as she shakes her head. Gasping for air as she tries to fight away another sob that takes her breath away. Almost like she’s fighting to say the words. But she's determined to win.

“You’re…you’re my dad. And I could never hate you.” Joel smiles through his own tears that water in his eyes. Pressing a kiss on the top of her head as he hugs her again. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve this second chance with her but he knows he won’t waste it. He stands and dries his eyes as he composes himself as he reaches out to help Ellie to her feet.

This time she gladly accepts his help.

“Come on kiddo.. let’s head back hopefully Dina’s got some more intel over that radio.”

She smiles and nods as they both make their way out the broken building together.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time they made it out; night had already fallen. Jesse followed Tommy as they made their way through towards the town hall. They’d decided to keep their flashlights off while they made their way through. Having already noticed some patrols moving through the streets; either on foot or driving around across the broken roads. Keeping to the shadows, Tommy kept on guard as he led the way.

“So how’d you get past Maria?” He whispered without turning to face Jesse. The young man breathed a laugh through his nose as he smirked.

“I didn't, she told me to go.” He explained quietly. “Was worried about you guys, you'd been gone too long.”

Tommy internally groaned at the implication in Jesse’s voice. He knew he'd been gone longer than he’d promised but they hadn’t expected it would take so long to find Joel and now they had, things seemed to be spiralling out of control. Tommy knew they wouldn’t rest until they’d either killed Joel or they wiped them all out. Either way he tried to spin it, he didn’t see things ending well.

“Yeah I bet that’s gone over well with her…” he muttered lowly, but Jesse just smiled kindly, nudging the man to stop for a moment as Tommy turned to look at him.

“She’s worried. Mostly about you. A little pissed that you’ve been gone so long though. But she gets it…I think.” he said the words gently, knowing that the older man was already feeling guilty. He appreciated Jesse trying to be considerate. He’d always liked the boy, he was a good friend to Ellie. And was always one of the first to volunteer for anything the town needed doing. Whether it was covering people’s patrols or helping with supply runs, nothing was too big or too much effort for him and Tommy found he quite admired the boy’s kind heart. He reminded him of himself when he was younger. Before the military and the fireflies had gotten their clutches into him and tried turning him into something he wasn’t. He was grateful that Jackson was a place where Jesse wouldn’t ever have to go through that. He’d been raised well. And he knew when Dina was ready to tell him; he was certain he’d step up and be a damned good father too.

“We’ve been through worse.” Tommy replied with a sigh. They had. He just hoped this time wouldn’t be the last. “However, as I was passing through a ritzy part of town back in Salt Lake City, I came across this necklace. It sparkles a lot. I think it’s real gold.”

Jesse smirked as he continued to follow the older man.

“You think it’s real gold?” He asked sceptically.

“Oh, it’s real gold.”

“Let's see it.”

“I know what real gold looks like.” Tommy chuckled as they continued through towards the town center.

“If it’s legit, can we say it’s from all of us?” Jesse asked with a muffled chuckle as Tommy rolled his eyes at the young man beside him. “Ha! Find your own damn bribes.” he retorted. He heard Jesse breath a laugh through his nose as the two slowed to a halt as they took cover behind an old car, its frame broken and half-burned. The street was busy with WLF soldiers though Tommy didn’t recognize any of them.

They waited and watched as the patrols made their way passed. A whole group of them moved through towards the riverside where old water pipes had burst, reshaping the old downtown subway into a new water system. A few men seemed to be preparing a boat while others moved supplies to the truck before continuing further down what remained of the streets. Tommy watched with narrowed eyes as a very familiar face emerged from a side street. The braid hanging down her back gave her away instantly. Abby. She walked along beside a soldier towards the makeshift dock as she helped load the last of the supplies before climbing in, starting the engine and speeding off down the river. Tommy felt his blood run cold at the possibility of her getting away. He couldn’t allow it. Not when he was so close. There was another boat tied to the dock; if he moved now, he could just about make it and still have a chance of catching her up. But as he moved to stand; a hand harshly pulled him back.

“Hold it! Tommy, look it’s the town hall…” Jesse hissed in a low whispered shout, Tommy glanced at where he was pointing, the building was large but seemed to only be guarded by a skeleton crew this late at night. Looking back at the dock, he knew he had to make a choice.

“No, we're taking that boat.” He said sternly. The younger man blanched at his words as he looked at him in earnest. “But you heard them right? They’re talking about Ada…” He knew he was referring to the message they’d heard over the radio. And while it was possible they were talking about Ada, Tommy knew she’d be grateful to him taking the chance to track down Joel’s would be- killer. He shook his head defiantly as he shrugged slightly. “We don’t know that.” He uttered. “Who else is it going to be?!” Jesse challenged in return but Tommy was losing his patience and he didn’t have time to argue while Abby was getting further away. And more importantly, towards somewhere Tommy couldn’t track.

“Ada can take care of herself, she’s already taken out one of their guys. Abby is who we’re after…if we just follow-” “...What if she’s in trouble? We don’t know what they're doing to her…” Jesse interrupted as he shook his head, huffing in frustration but the older man couldn’t find it in himself to care. They were wasting time! And Tommy needed to move now, if he had any chance to catch her up. Ada would understand that. Of course she would. Wouldn’t she? Would Joel?

“She’ll be fine.” Tommy decided. “They wont hurt her while they’re trying to get ahold of Joel. And Abby is behind all of this. We take her out, then this is over. This is our chance.”

“Jesus Christ.” The younger man swore as looked at Tommy with disappointment in his eyes, but he knew he wouldn’t see it from his side. He hadn’t been there that day. Hadn’t seen the hatred in her eyes as she’d beaten his brother to within an inch of his life. Left barely breathing and a shell of his former self. Tommy still felt the pain in his ribs from being held down as they tortured Joel. Even now it still haunted him. And there was no way in hell Tommy was just going to let her walk away.

“The best way to help Ada and Joel is to go after Abby.” He tried as he looked at Jesse with a pleading stare; hoping that he’d relent and agree to come with him. But he saw the determination his Jesse’s eyes that reflected back at him. It was the same look he’d seen in Ellie’s when they’d first learned of Joel’s disappearance. He realized in that moment that Jesse wasn’t doing this for himself. He was doing it for his loyalty to Ellie and his respect for Ada. There was no getting him to change his mind.

“I really hope you get her…” Jesse uttered with a kind smile before he took off towards the direction of the town hall. Tommy nodded in respect for the boy’s resolve as he watched him go before taking off in the opposite direction; as he headed towards the last boat that was left docked. He didn’t know it would be the last time he would ever see Jesse alive.     

[nicklloydnow]

“And so, as I stand today to receive a peace prize, I ask myself, “What does the world of fable have to tell us about peace?”

The news is not very good. Homer tells us that peace comes after a decade of war, when everyone we care about is dead and Troy has been destroyed. The Norse myths tell us that peace comes after the Ragnarök, the Twilight of the Gods, when the gods destroy their traditional foes but are also destroyed by them. And the “Panchatantra” tells us that peace—the death of the owls and the victory of the crows—is achieved only through an act of treachery. To abandon the legends of the past for a moment and look at this summer’s twin fables, the film “Oppenheimer” reminds us that peace came only after two atom bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, were dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; while the box-office monster called “Barbie” makes clear that unbroken peace and undiluted happiness, in a world where every day is perfect, exist only in pink plastic.

And here we are gathered to speak of peace, when war is raging not very far away—a war born of one man’s tyranny and greed for power and conquest—and when another bitter conflict has exploded in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Peace, right now, feels like a fantasy born of a narcotic smoked in a pipe. Even the meaning of the word is a thing on which the combatants cannot agree. Peace, for Ukraine, means more than a cessation of hostilities. It means, as it must mean, a restoration of seized territory and a guarantee of its sovereignty. Peace, for Ukraine’s enemy, means a Ukrainian surrender. The same word, with two incompatible definitions. Peace for Israel and for Palestinians feels even further away.

(…)

If my work has been influenced by fables, there is also something decidedly fabulist about a peace prize. I like the idea that peace itself might be the prize—that this jury of wise benefactors is so infinitely powerful that they are able to bestow upon a single individual, and no more, one year’s award of peace. True, blessed peace, not trivial contentment, paix ordinaire, but a fine vintage of Pax Frankfurtiana, a whole year’s supply of it, delivered to your door, elegantly bottled. That’s an award I’d be very happy to receive. I am even thinking of writing a story about it, “The Man Who Received Peace as a Prize.”

(…)

My fate, over the past many years, has been to drink from the bottle marked Freedom and therefore to write without any restraint those books that came to my mind to write, and now, as I am on the verge of publishing my twenty-second volume, I have to say that on twenty-one of those twenty-two occasions the elixir has been well worth drinking. On the remaining occasion, namely, the publication of my fourth novel, I learned—many of us learned—that freedom can create an equal and opposite reaction from the forces of unfreedom, and I learned, too, how to face the consequences of that reaction, and to continue, as best I could, to be as unfettered an artist as I had always wished to be. I learned, too, that many other writers and artists, exercising their freedom, also faced the forces of unfreedom, and that, in short, freedom can be a dangerous wine to drink. But that made it more necessary, more essential to defend. I confess there have been times when I’d rather have drunk the Peace elixir and spent my life sitting under a tree wearing a blissful, beatific smile, but that was not the bottle the peddler handed me.

We live in a time I did not think I would see in my lifetime, a time when freedom—and in particular freedom of expression, without which the world of books could not exist—is everywhere under attack from reactionary, authoritarian, populist, demagogic, narcissistic, careless voices; when places of education and libraries are subject to hostility and censorship; and when extremist religion and bigoted ideologies have begun to intrude in areas of life in which they do not belong. And there are also progressive voices being raised in favor of a new kind of bien-pensant censorship, one which appears virtuous, and which many people have begun to see as a virtue. So freedom is under pressure from the left as well as the right, the young as well as the old. This is something new, and made more complicated by our new tool of communication, the Internet, on which well-designed pages of malevolent lies sit side by side with the truth, and it is difficult for many people to tell which is which; and our social media, where the idea of freedom is every day abused to permit, very often, a kind of online mob rule, which the billionaire owners of these platforms seem increasingly willing to encourage—and to profit by.

What do we do about free speech when it is so widely abused? We should still do, with renewed vigor, what we have always needed to do: to answer bad speech with better speech, to counter false narratives with better narratives, to answer hate with love, and to believe that the truth can still succeed even in an age of lies. We must defend it fiercely and define it as broadly as possible, so, yes, we should of course defend speech that offends us; otherwise we are not defending free expression at all. Let a thousand and one voices speak in a thousand and one different ways.

To quote Cavafy, “the barbarians are coming today,” and what I do know is that the answer to philistinism is art, the answer to barbarianism is civilization, and in any war it may be that artists of all sorts—filmmakers, actors, singers, and, yes, those who practice the ancient art of the book—can still, together, turn the barbarians away from the gates.”

“The survey, conducted from October 19 to October 25, found that 70 percent of Russians would support Putin should he decide to end the conflict this week.

However, if ending the war would include Russia returning the territories that it has occupied and annexed throughout the conflict, only a third (34 percent) of respondents said they would support that decision.

(…)

In its latest poll, the Levada Center surveyed 1,608 people across Russia. The results suggest that 20 months into Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, public support for the conflict has dropped significantly.

The results are significant given that stringent laws passed in Russia in March 2022 made criticizing the Russian military and the war in Ukraine illegal. Many are believed to answer public opinion polls on the topic dishonestly, fearing retribution.

(…)

An August poll by the Levada Center showed that just 38 percent of respondents "definitely" support the actions of Russia's armed forces in Ukraine.

That is in contrast to results from a February 2022 survey from the research organization, conducted when Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Results from that poll, which asked the same question, showed 48 percent of respondents said they "definitely" supported the army's actions in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said on multiple occasions that he will not comply with the Kremlin's non-negotiable conditions for peace talks, including that Kyiv must accept the September 2022 annexation of four of its regions—Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia—following referendums called by Putin that were deemed illegal by the international community.

Ukraine has said that any peace deal must make void Russia's annexations of its territory, and that the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Putin annexed in 2014, must be reversed.

Zelensky has pushed a 10-step "peace formula," which includes radiation and nuclear safety; food security; energy security; the release of all prisoners and deported persons; implementation of the U.N. Charter and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the world order; withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities; restoration of justice; countering ecocide; preventing escalation; and finally, confirmation of the end of the war.

Russia has maintained that any peace deal must include "the entry of four [Ukrainian] regions into Russia," something that Kyiv is unlikely to budge on.”

“The US and Israel are exploring options for the future of the Gaza Strip, including the possibility of a multinational force that may involve American troops if Israeli forces succeed in ousting Hamas, people familiar with the matter said.

The people said the conversations have been impelled by a sense of urgency to come up with a plan for the future of Gaza now that a ground invasion has begun. A second option would establish a peacekeeping force modeled on one that oversees a 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, while a third would see Gaza put under temporary United Nations oversight.

(…)

“We can’t have a reversion to the status quo with Hamas running Gaza,” Blinken, who will travel to Israel on Friday, told the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We also can’t have — and the Israelis start with this proposition themselves — Israel running or controlling Gaza.”

(…)

Israeli officials have said repeatedly that they don’t intend to occupy Gaza, but they’ve also said that continued rule by Hamas is unacceptable after the Oct. 7 attack in which the group killed 1,400 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage. There’s also little evidence that the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, would be willing or able to take over Gaza. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

Ophir Falk, a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said, “A number of options have been raised for the day after Hamas. The prerequisite for all of them is that Hamas be destroyed. Once Hamas is destroyed, all the options discussed are based on the premise that Gaza be demilitarized.”

All options hold political peril for President Joe Biden and for other nations, including Gulf States, not to mention Israel. Biden believes that putting even a small contingent of American troops in harm’s way could prove politically risky, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who added that the US isn’t close to making such a decision. It’s also not yet clear whether Arab states might be interested in participating, another person said.

Ultimately, Biden and other US officials say that an endpoint that involves a sovereign Palestinian state is necessary, but exactly how to reach that outcome has barely featured in discussions, either public or private. And Israel says its military operation could last months, and will result in a buffer zone around Gaza.

According to the people familiar with the matter, one option would grant temporary oversight to Gaza to countries from the region, backed by troops from the US, UK, Germany and France. Ideally, it would also include representation from Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, the people said.

A second option is a peacekeeping force modeled on the Multinational Force and Observers group that operates on and around the Sinai peninsula, enforcing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Israel believes that this idea is worthy of consideration, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A third option would be temporary governance of the strip under a United Nations umbrella. This would have the advantage of the legitimacy bestowed by the UN, but Israel views it as impractical, according to a person familiar with Israel’s thinking, who added that Israel believes that little good has come from the world body.

Earlier this month, Israeli Minister Benny Gantz labeled UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a “terror apologist” after Guterres argued that the Oct. 7 attacks “did not happen in a vacuum.”

Several former officials and outside groups have already begun discussions with the US and Israel, and floated possible plans. One came from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which called for a Palestinian-run interim administration, with the UN Relief and Works Agency continuing to provide food, heath and education.”

[roosterforme]

Claim a speak now (taylor’s version) song for your fic pairings 💜 thanks for the tag @laracrofted

Here is Em's version! I'm not much of a Swiftie, so I had to call in @beyondthesefourwalls for help. But here we go:

Ours - Roo and Baby Girl. She was so hesitant at first, but once she picked him, it was all over. It doesn’t matter what life throws at them, what people say, or even the insecurities they each get sometimes - their love will always be theirs ❤️💛

Lyric: The jury's out, but my choice is you. You never know what people have up their sleeves. Ghosts from your past gonna jump out at me. Lurking in the shadows with their lip gloss smiles. But I don't care 'cause right now you're mine.

Sparks Fly - Beer Boy and Sugar. She knew she should be cautious, and she tried her best. But what they had sparked into more than either of them anticipated. And even after they were apart for ten years, they came right back together, a perfect fit. 🍺 🍭

Lyric: You're the kind of reckless that should send me running. But I kinda know that I won't get far. I run my fingers through your hair, And watch the lights go wild. Just keep on keeping your eyes on me. It's just wrong enough to make it feel right, And lead me up the staircase.

When Emma Falls in Love - Coach and Kitten. She always thought she was the problem when it came to love. But really, she just needed to wait for the right one. Some who would love her and Everett both. Coach would do anything for her and she changed his whole world without even trying. ⚾ 😺

Lyrics: She waits and takes her time. 'Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it's gonna rain. When Emma falls in love, I know, That boy will never be the same. When Emma falls apart, it's when she's alone. She takes on the pain and bears it on her own. 'Cause when Emma falls in love, she's in it for keeps. She won't walk away unless she knows she absolutely has to leave. Emma met a boy with eyes like a man. Turns out her heart fits right in the palm of his hand. Now he'll be her shelter when it rains.

Foolish One - Daddy and Princess. These two have had so many seasons of feelings together. It's hard to pick one song. It hurts to say, but this is what she’s thinking and genuinely believes right now. Come on, Daddy, give your Princess the world. ✈️👑

Lyrics: You give me just enough attention to keep my hopes too high. You know how to keep me waitin'. I know how to act like I'm fine. Don't know what to call this situation, but I know I can't call you mine. But then the voices say, "You are not the exception, you will never learn your lesson".

Enchanted - Bob and Molly. Bob was gone for Molly from the beginning and wanted to say so much more than he did. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking of her, and he's blushing the whole time. And honestly, she's just as bad when it comes to him. 🤓💐

Lyrics: I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. The lingering question kept me up, 2 AM, who do you love? This is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the story line ends. My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again. These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon. I was enchanted to meet you. Please don't be in love with someone else, please don't have somebody waiting on you.

Tagging anyone who wants to play along!