#Theog news

[rightnewshindi]

ठियोग में हुआ भीषण हादसा; बेकाबू ट्रक ने रौंदी कई गाड़ियां, मंदिर का गेट और एक शेड भी तोड़ा, एक व्यक्ति हुआ घायल

Accident In Shimla: हिमाचल प्रदेश (Himachal Pradesh) के शिमला जिले में एक दर्दनाक सड़क दुर्घटना (Tragic Road Accident) हुई, जिसमें एक सेब से लदे ट्रक (Trucks Loaded With Apples) ने कई वाहनों और एक शेड को क्षतिग्रस्त कर दिया। इस हादसे में एक व्यक्ति घायल हुआ है, जिसका इलाज स्थानीय अस्पताल (Theog Hospital) में चल रहा है। है। इस दुर्घटना में ट्रक ने 5 गाड़ियों, 2 बाइक, एक मंदिर के गेट और एक शेड को…

[archersxartxblog]

Master post for 'From Hisui to Unova'

a simply reunion/ slice of life story, (an au maybe, idk) Involving Ingo returning to Unova and his brother, healing, having to adjust to being back in the present, Emmet helping his brother and learning to be an Unlce. (Now part of Warden's Twins) (Blankshippers please do not Interact)

Title and Tag being used here are credit to @drawacirclethatsry

Art

concept for Caleb and Fjord

Ingo returns from Hisui

Plane ride home

Return to Unova

First night in a new place

Storm

From new Uncle to Pro (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

while healing

Family game night

Caleb's first Pokemon

Fjord's first Pokemon

Fjord doodles

Family Photo

Ingo being a dad (2) (3) (4) (5)

Trouble sleeping Forgiven

Bunch of Pictures

who's the mother

Kisses

May have named them after Critical role characters (new friend?)

Woken up in the middle of the night

New sweaters

Passing on Knowledge (eggs)

Plushies

background stuff close up

in the snow

Text stuff

Ingo finds out about Chandelure (thanks to @ sataara link in theog post)

Fear

thoughts on the past

Differences between Fjord and Caleb

Cheer

Caleb's first big lose is in Alola (2)

Parallels

Future stuff

So many questions

Fjord gets hurt ( what happened?)

Bug catching

Trouble sleeping 2.0

About to set out on a Journey of their own

Caleb likes food

[adroitextrusion]

Supplier of ABA Blown Film Machine in Himachal Pradesh

Adroit Extrusion is a Supplier of ABA Blown Film Machine in Himachal Pradesh. Our manufacturing unit is in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Adroit Extrusion is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of monolayer blown film machines, aba and ab blown film machine and multilayer blown film machine. A single, smaller extruder for the A-layers produces only 30–40% of new plastic resins per minute and operates at a slower speed. The design of the second extruder targets the intermediate layer, helping to reduce costs by utilizing recycled plastic resins and CaCO₃. The blown film line with ABA layers significantly lowers raw material costs while maintaining high-quality plastic film standards. Additionally, this ABA plastic film extrusion machine creates three-layer films that are 30% stronger than monolayers, all while requiring less raw material. With a completed printing surface on both sides, these films are ideal for common applications such as shopping bags, enhancing the final product's value. By slightly modifying the die block design, you can transform a traditional two-layer co-extrusion line into a three-layer blown film line. This results in a film with a distinct center layer while using the same material for the top and bottom layers. Specification: Model Name: Duoflex ABA Three Layer & AB Two Layer CO-Extrusion Blown Film Plant Material Used: LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, CACO3, Virgin Raw Material Output range: 60 - 200 kg/hr Screw Diameter: 35/45/55/65/75 (Customized) Screw L/D ratio: 30:1 (Customized) Layflat Film Width: 500 - 3000 mm Thickness Range: 20 micron to 150 micron Application: Packaging Industry Agricultural Sector Construction Industrial Applications Consumer Goods Adroit Extrusion is a Supplier of ABA Blown Film Machine in Himachal Pradesh including Locations like Shimla, Dharamsala, Solan, Mandi, Palampur, Baddi, Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Sundarnagar, Chamba, Una, Kullu, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Yol Cantonment, Nalagarh, Nurpur, Kangra, Baijnath Paprola, Santokhgarh, Mehatpur Basdehra, Shamshi, Parwanoo, Manali, Tira Sujanpur, Ghumarwin, Dalhousie, Rohru, Nagrota Bagwan, Rampur, Jawalamukhi, Jogindernagar, Dera Gopipur, Sarkaghat, Jhakhri, Indora, Bhuntar, Nadaun, Theog, Kasauli Cantonment, Gagret, Chuari Khas, Daulatpur. Feel free to contact us for more information and inquiries. View Product: Click Here Read the full article

[gryffindorconsultingtimelord]

TOMORROW! Our first series of 2023 begins! Disney Princesses and their live action counterparts! Listen wherever you get your podcasts!🎧

#fandoms #fandomsandfantasies #snowwhite #disneyprincess #princess #snowwhiteandthesevendwarfs #disneyclassic #classic #animation #animatedfilm #theog #books #movies #tv #harrypotter #marvel #fyp #comics #nerd #nerdy #podcasting #podcasters #otp #destiel #disney #podcasting #podcast #news #superwholock #popculture

[pbbg]

The power duo sorta #missyoupb #roo #bg #sisters #theogs (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmFKOrYuu6Kem3Ic7JNjMaKVxbcfmshVsVJn_g0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[god-of-all-things]

Okay so I found this link: (here) which sites a bunch of sources

The story of her being carried off by Pluto, against her will, is not mentioned by Homer, who simply describes her as his wife and queen; and her abduction is first mentioned by Hesiod (Theog. 914). Zeus, it is said, advised Pluto, who was in love with the beautiful Persephone, to carry her off, as her mother, Demeter, was not likely to allow her daughter to go down to Hades. (Comp. Hygin. Fab. 146.) Pluto accordingly carried her off while she was gathering flowers with Artemis and Athena. (Comp. Diod. v. 3.) Demeter, when she found her daughter had disappeared, searched for her all over the earth with torches, until at length she discovered the place of her abode. Her anger at the abduction obliged Zeus to request Pluto to send Persephone (or Cora, i. e. the maiden or daughter) back. Pluto indeed complied with the request, but first gave her a kernel of a pomegranate to eat, whereby she became doomed to the lower world, and an agreement was made that Persephone should spend one third (later writers say one half) of every year in Hades with Pluto, and the remaining two thirds with the gods above. (Apollod. i. 5. 1, &c,; Or. Met. v. 565; comp. Demeter.)

But I remembered reading something once about Persephone’s abduction being fairly par for the course in terms of marital tradition so I did some more looking and it does seem to line up with some of the Spartan marital practices

Source 1 says that “According to Plutarch in his Life of Lycurgus, in preparation for the marriage ritual, the bride would "cut her hair off close to the head" and "put a man's cloak and sandals on" (book 15, section 3.) The bride would then be left in a dark room and the groom would ritually capture her. After this, husbands were supposed to visit their new wives in secret and at night”

I did some research and found these as context for this claim

The custom was to capture women for marriage not when they were slight or immature, but when they were in their prime and ripe for it. The so-called ‘bridesmaid’ took charge of the captured girl. She first shaved her head to the scalp, then dressed her in a man’s cloak and sandals, and laid her down alone on a mattress in the dark. The bridegroom who was not drunk and thus not impotent, but was sober as always first had dinner in the messes, then would slip in, undo her belt, lift her and carry her to the bed. After spending only a short time with her, he would depart discreetly so as to sleep wherever he usually did along with the other young men. And this continued to be his practice thereafter: while spending the days with his contemporaries, and going to sleep with them, he would warily visit his bride in secret, ashamed and apprehensive in case someone in the house might notice him. (Source)

Another source seems to line up with this, noting that “Spartan marriage customs (from the early archaic and into the mid-classical period) forbade dowries and there was no religious component to the marriage ceremony, the Spartan marriage practice may have in fact amounted to elopement. According to contemporary sources, the Spartan marriage ceremony was as follows: the bride shaved her hair like a boy (of the agoge), donned men's clothing (presumably the chiton of the agoge), and waited alone in the dark. The bridegroom came alone and surreptitiously after curfew, "took her" (but not necessarily home!) and then stole back to barrack”

I don’t know if this influences the myth of Persephone or vice versa (which came first and all) but i just thought it was interesting. Obviously, there’s no one correct way to interpret an ancient text, and questioning the underlying messages and patriarchy within it is necessary. However, since historically it seems that women were separated from their birth families and considered to only belong with their groom’s family, Demeter’s rebellion against this fact, and her demand to be allowed to see her daughter (who Hades was given permission to take by her father, Zeus, with no indication that Demeter was consulted or even aware) is a pretty feminist story no matter how you shake it.

Now, I’m not sure if I’m right about any of this and I am open to correction, I love hearing about this stuff, but I figured since you asked I’d look into it for a bit :)

Can someone tell me where the ‘Persephone loved Hades’ thing came from in the kidnapping myth because theres people (and LO fans) who say she went willingly but like… wheres the source???

This is why i don’t believe them.

[itgirlgyu]

GIRLIE HOW FAST DO YOU READ?!?? the fact i wrote this while in between studying lmao— and yes i remade it,, it's not official tho i just making y2k inspired logos. and omg so happy you like the banner, they tend to be my motivation to come up with new shit tbh lmao.

NOT THIS MF ALWAYS COMING FOR MY MAN!!!! GO CHANGE BEOMGYUS DIAPERS!!!!!

lmao i didn't give up on soobin but this mf won't probably have any visceral reactions until the woman's water breakss and then he will be panicking.

beomgyu the type to get jailed first in txt fo SHO! #first #theOG

again THIS MF WIth HER YEONJUN CHILD MF-

now now for the hyuka one,, is it traumatising sexual battery charge or is it free porn? open discussion.

thank you so much for reading baby girl and writing such a huge feedback this MADE ME SONSJSKDKDKR!

✷ txt when they see a pregnant belly !

ﾉ WARNING — there's one fuck and shit ton of weird train of thoughts . ⋆〞WORD COUNT: three hundred and eighty four........ ME? i don't take any responsibilities for what ive written and YOU will find me writing something that completely contradicts in the future so don't be shocked. it's just for fun. also fun fact (?!) ive only seen one pregnant belly in my entire lifetime.

yeonjun…

takes a double look.

and again.

but not like in a creepy way

it's more like wow the wonderful miracles of life.

probably gets a stink eye from the pregnant lady because was unknowingly side-eyeing them.

suddenly gets a surge of baby fever.

probably closes his eyes as few stray tears slip out as he promises to himself to become the best father in this world.

and then he gets into a conflict with himself because what if his life partner does not want a child.

would that be a deal breaker for him?

or would he be able to compromise?

gives himself a concussion at the hypothetical discussion despite being single as fuck.

soobin…

doesn't really care much.

beomgyu…

starts thinking about what the couple may have done for her to end up pregnant.

tries to be discreet but kind of starts giggling.

because he's still mentally eleven years old of course.

may or may not have cops called on him because he kind of zoned out and was staring at the pregnant woman with a sinister grin on his lips.

gets dragged away by the cops at the end anyway and yeonjun has to bail him out.

taehyun…

doesn't try to acknowledge the pregnant lady.

it's more like when creditors are trying to get your attention to ask for the money you borrowed.

instead he is the one who gets approached.

i guess there's something about him that screams being an expert at natal care.

actually gets along with the to-be mother and sings to the belly.

gets called to be with the family when she goes into labour.

and actually shows up.

because a real man never breaks promises.

huening kai…

does not make eye contact.

at all cost.

if taehyun was like, avoiding money lenders.

his one is more like avoiding the evil spirit trying to take over his body.

idk there's something about a real tiny living human squirming inside another living person walking around like it's just another normal thing scares the shit out of him.

might run for the hills if he gets approached by them.

apparently he once saw his little sister kick his mother's belly from inside and he has not been the same since about the pregnancy deal.

he respects the community tho.

©ITGIRLGYU 2023! — feedbacks are always appreciated!!!!

ﾉ PERM TAGLIST — @impureperhaps @full-sunnies

[aboutanancientenquiry]

Athenian Political Art: Themis (Law/Justice)

“Themis ·

Θέμις

Read about the evidence

Hesiod (Hes. Theog.). Homer (Hom. Od.). Homer (Hom. Il.).

Discussion: Although the worship of Themis (Law) in Attika is not attested before her fourth century association with Nemesis at Rhamnous, she was well known in early art and literature throughout Greece. Hesiod calls her a sister of the Titans, daughter of Ouranos and Ge (Heaven and Earth), and the second wife of Zeus, with whom she gave birth to the Horai (Seasons)—Eunomia, Dike, and Eirene—and Moirai (Fates) (Hes. Theog. 901). In the epics she plays roles that are true to her name—which also means law, justice, privilege, and authority—convening assemblies of mortals (Hom. Od. 2.68-69), or of the gods, at the bidding of Zeus or Hera (Hom. Il. 20.4 and Hom. Il. 15.95). Before Delphi was given to Apollo, Themis held the oracular seat there. This explains her labelled appearance as a Pythian priestess, with Aigeus, on the tondo of the Kodros Painter’s cup in Berlin [3]. She is veiled, as befits a priestess, so the conflation between the figure we would expect to see in this pose (a Pythian priestess seated on the Delphic tripod) and the character identified by the label must have been intended. In Themis’ early Classical appearance, between Balos and Epaphos, Argive kings, on Syriskos’ calyx krater in Malibu [1], she also carries libation instruments, a phiale and an oinochoe. Her placement between two Argive kings does not correspond to any known mythological episode. Rather, her presence was meant to emphasize the legitimacy of their rule.

Themis is also shown as the personification of religious Laws on two vases related to the Phiale Painter, who was contemporary with the Kodros Painter [2] and [4]. On a skyphos in Tübingen [2], Themis greets Bendis (an imported Thracian divinity), although it is Themis who holds Bendis’ torch, as well as a traditional kanoun (offering basket). Erika Simon has plausibly explained that this scene shows Themis in a capacity as paredros of Delphic Apollo, sanctioning the establishment of the new cult of Bendis at Athens. The Bendis-Themis connection is repeated on a pair of stemless cups in Verona, also attributed to the Phiale Painter: Bendis is illustrated on the tondo of one cup, and the tondo of the other [4] illustrates a woman whose appearance is similar to that of Themis on the Tübingen skyphos [2].

Evelyn Harrison has proposed that Themis may be identified by the distinctive “shoulder-cord” with which the sleeves of her garments are bound in many of these representations (Harrison 1977). But many woman on Classical Attic vases also wear this shoulder-cord, including Eris on the Karlsruhe Paris and as many as seven of the nine unlabelled personifications elucidated by Jenifer Neils on the Meidian lekythos in Cleveland (Neils 1983, 21). Yet Harrison’s iconographic observation might encourage us to identify the unlabelled woman standing with Heimarmene (Destiny), on the far right of the Heimarmene Painter’s Berlin amphoriskos [5] as Themis. Themis’ role in the Helen story is unprecedented and unexpected. Her inclusion in this scene might indicate, however, that the abduction and subsequent tragedies occurred because Heimarmene (Destiny) had temporarily distracted Themis. The similarity of shoulder-cords has also led Harrison to identify figure L, in whose lap Aphrodite reclines, on the East Pediment of the Parthenon, as Themis (Harrison 1977, 159). The shoulder cord is not enough to justify speculation that two torsos ([5] and New York 03.12.17) dating from the second quarter of the fourth century represent Themis, although, as Harrison notes, they are comparable to the third century statue of Themis found at Rhamnous (Athens, NM 231).

Examples:

[Certain example] Malibu 92.AE.6: a female figure, labelled ΘΕΜΙΣ, holding sacrificial vessels and standing between Balos and Epaphos, on a calyx krater signed by Syriskos, ca. 470-460. [Certain example] Tübingen S./10 1347: a female figure, labelled ΘΕΜΙΣ, standing with Bendis, on a skyphos related to the Phiale Painter, ca. 440-430. [Certain example] Berlin F 2538: a female figure, labelled ΘΕΜΙΣ, seated on a tripod opposite Aigeus, on a cup attributed to the Kodros Painter, ca. 440-430 (shown here). [Possible example] Verona 25653: a standing female figure with a libation oinochoe (jug) and a processional kanoun (basket), on the tondo of a stemless cup attributed to the Phiale Painter, ca. 440-430. [Possible example] Berlin 30036: a standing female figure, holding a bird, on the name vase (a pointed amphoriskos) of the Heimarmene Painter, ca. 430-420, with representations of Nemesis, Peitho, Heimarmene, and Tyche or Eukleia. [Possible example] Agora S 2370: colossal statue of a goddess, ca. 335-330, perhaps Demokratia, Themis, or Tyche. “

Amy C. Smith, “Athenian Political Art from the Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE: Images of Political Personifications,” in C.W. Blackwell, ed., Dēmos: Classical Athenian Democracy (A. Mahoney and R. Scaife, edd., The Stoa: a consortium for electronic publication in the humanities [www.stoa.org]) edition of January 18 2003. Contact: cwb@stoa.org. https://www.stoa.org/demos/article_personifications@page=all&greekEncoding=UnicodeC.html

Collection: Berlin, Antikenmuseen Summary:Tondo: Themis and AigeusSide A: Calydonian boar hunt Side B: Peleus hunting the stag Ware:Attic Red Figure Painter: Attributed to the Codrus Painter Context:From Vulci Date: ca. 430 BC Primary Citation: ARV2, 1269, 5; FR, pl. 140 Shape :Kylix Beazley Number: 217214 Region: Etruria Period: High Classical

 Source: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact?name=Berlin+F+2538&object=Vase&redirect=true

[rightnewshindi]

सोशल मीडिया प्रेमी के पास पहुंची महिला ने दबाया अपनी बेटी का गला, प्रेमी ने की हत्या; ठियोग में दफनाया शव

Dharamshala News: इंटरनेट मीडिया के भी कई दुष्परिणाम हैं। शाहपुर क्षेत्र में एक ऐसा ही मामला सामने आया है। शाहपुर की एक विवाहित महिला की पहले इंटरनेट मीडिया के जरिए ठियोग के एक व्यक्ति से दोस्ती हुई, जो प्यार में बदल गई। इसके बाद महिला 26 जुलाई को अपनी चार साल की बेटी को लेकर घर से भाग गई। जब महिला की मुलाकात उसके प्रेमी से हुई तो उसने बच्ची को अपने रास्ते का रोड़ा मान लिया। इसके बाद पत्थर दिल…

[consumeconstantly]

Small Buff Girl Sightings Ch. 5

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ao3

3:00AM | CoffeeVamp: bb bat update us TheOG: ^^ more info on the situation in paris

3:28AM | Demonspawn: It is difficult to obtain information on Hawkmoth. The butterflies disperse after they are cleansed, and before they land their target, they don’t show up electronically.  Coffee Vamp: o how the mighty have fallen i thought u said u could best me bb boi

3:42AM | Demonspawn: I’d like to see you do better. Coffee Vamp: IS THAT A CHALLENGE Coffee Vamp: ill take u up on that gimme 24 hours and ur going down TheOG: he has had a whole month so dont be too sure of that LadyLady: would you guys SHUT UP its two and some of us have jobs to do Coffee Vamp: cmon babs u luv us dont deny it LadyLady: Don’t make me hunt you down, Tim. Coffee Vamp: oOooO proper punctuation im shaking TheOG: just shut off notifications Babs TheOG: Bruce does Jesus: i don’t think the man has checked this chat in years Coffee Vamp: wdym brucie checks the chat all the time hes just a silent lurker Coffee Vamp: he doesnt even set himself to invisible

3:57AM | Daddy is away. Coffee Vamp: im so glad i have admin privileges imagine if i didnt bruce would have a boring normal nickname like his actual name LadyLady: good lord, why am I even in this chat?? Daddy: You’re supposed to keep them under control. Coffee Vamp: SEE I TOLD U BRUCE IS A SILENT LURKER> THIS. IS. SOLID. PROOF. IN YOUR FACE TheOG: nobody said otherwise Coffee Vamp: also how are the people have you made friends Jesus: Demon spawn? Making friends? Id be less surprised if he told us he has a new fling Coffee Vamp: is j right? Got a winter fling? 

4:12AM | Coffee Vamp: ur lack of a response tells us nothing  TheOG: im sure he’s just adopted his usual icy persona Coffee Vamp: haha hes the bb of so many things Coffee Vamp: bb vamp bb demon spawn ice ice bb Coffee Vamp: getitt im so funny

4:36AM | Coffee Vamp: guys?

“I told you I could get her to write her number on your cup,” Marinette grins with pride.

“And I told you I didn’t want her to.” Damian scowls and kicks a pebble in his path.

“You’re still wearing the clothes I picked out for you,” she points out.

“You told me to wear it. I wore it. I’m not interested in her.” 

Marinette squints at Damian, evaluates whether he’s telling the truth or not. “Huh, you really aren’t interested. I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t wear the other outfit I picked out for you-- that one would have gotten her to ask you out on the spot.”

Damian groans. “We’re going to have to find a new coffee place.”

“Or we could just come when she’s not on shift and run away like mice when we do see her?”

Damian gives her The Look.

“But they have good coffee here,” Marinette whines.

“Maybe you should have thought about that before dressing me up and sending me to my death.”

“It’s not my fault! You only have your parents to blame for your looks.”

It’s true; both of Damian’s parents are good-looking. His whole family is, actually, adopted or not. All of the good looking people he meets are talented and have a tragic life story. Which is the cause and which is the effect, Damian isn’t sure. But it holds true even in Paris. All he has to do is look at Marinette or Adrien, though he’s not a hundred percent sure where the tragedy kicks in for Marinette. Probably the time when she was at odds with Lila, but he hasn’t looked much into the situation. He can even use Lila Rossi as an example. She has even worse color coordination than Damian is, but her features are model worthy. Lila Rossi is also definitely fucked up in ways that Damian doesn’t care to explore.

The effects of Marinette’s well-placed compliments has Damian thinking about himself in a positive manner that he never has before. Bruce is always stingy with praise, and the other senior members of the Justice League of America see him as another Robin that doesn’t need praise because competency comes with the mantle. Dick and Barbara compliment him occasionally, but that’s rarer now that his place is more firmly cemented in the family. Damian doesn’t think he’s ever had someone so willing to genuinely compliment him. Marinette’s compliments extend to more than just his looks, as well. She praises his technological skills as he sets up her website and has complimented him as he helps her out with whatever altercations she inevitably comes across on the streets. If he reveals his skills as Robin, reveals himself as Damian Wayne, will he receive even more praise?

“But since we did buy you that absolute knockout of an outfit, you’re going to have to wear it eventually. So whose heart do you want to steal?”

“I don’t want a relationship,” Damian repeats. They seem like more effort than they’re worth, and he always sees couples fighting and complaining about each other. Plus, they have to make time for each other and his alter ego doesn’t allow for that, though he supposes that he isn't Robin. At least, not right now.

“You don’t need to want a relationship just to flirt with somebody. Who’s it going to be? The intern at the Louvre? My parent’s newest hire? Oooh, how about Nicolette?” Marinette’s voice takes on a more mischievous tone. 

Damian will give Marinette this much: her taste in the aesthetics of people is far from bad. The intern from the Louvre is two hundred pounds of lean muscle with a devil-may-care smile and a deep, belly laugh that makes people laugh with him, but Damian and he don’t have anything in common. Her parent’s new hire is knockout gorgeous, with warm brown eyes, and definitely the kind of girl Damian would have gone for as a one night stand back in Gotham. However, he’s also 98% sure that she has a very possessive boyfriend who stops by the bakery every time she has a shift. Nicolette is considered her college’s belle, and her intense gaze paired with her surprisingly friendly demeanor might have been appealing to Damian if she weren’t ten years older than him. 

“I’m not into any of them,” he says, simply.

“Then who are you into? Surely someone has caught your eye in the past month?” Marinette looks genuinely curious, but her expression shifts into horror. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I never asked your preferences, if I was being insensitive, I’m sorry, I mean I’m pan, but you absolutely don’t have to tell me, it’s your right if you’re not comfortable.”

Damian does look slightly uncomfortable now that she’s looking at him more closely. His arms are crossed over each other, across his chest, and his hair is tousled. Then, he lets out a small laugh, and Marinette melts. “It’s fine, Pigtails. All of the people you listed are attractive, but I’m not attracted to them. I’m more of a personality guy, though I can’t say that personality has stopped me from things more than dates before.”

He’s had his fair share of hook-ups and makeout sessions in the past when feeling particularly frustrated with something that wasn’t going his way, though his primary method of relief is through sparring. Short missions and one night stands go fairly well together; he doesn’t ever have to deal with people wanting long term relationships, and even if they do, he’s gone before they know it. So far, he hasn’t hooked up with anyone in Paris, but then again, he’s only been here for a month and this is a long term mission. Whatever time he’s not with Marinette or at school is dedicated to piecing together the mystery that is the Miraculous and trying to figure out Hawkmoth’s identity. 

“Oh,” Marinette continues to blush.

She’s clearly too embarrassed to bring up any other topic, so Damian decides that he’ll shoot the same conversation topic back at her. Marinette is attractive, and people she meets ask for her numbers and dates often enough. She’ll accept the former if they aren’t a total creep, but she always turns down requests for dates.

“And you? Why aren’t you out there questing for love? No crushes or significant others that I need to beat off with a stick?”

This does manage to lessen her flush. She frowns, turns something over in her mind. 

“No crushes right now, no. I used to have a huge crush on Adrien just a year ago. He’s such a sweet person, but we don’t see eye to eye on important matters.” And also not into sex, either. Even physical affection hits him the wrong way sometimes, which makes Marinette worry even further for his well being with Lila’s constant touches. Still, he hasn’t said anything, and Lila hasn’t done anything more than grasp his arm or shoulders every now and then, to reassure the class that yes, they are the golden couple. Marinette also suspects that he is very unwilling to talk about the whole situation in general, and it’s not as though they’re super close.

Of course she had a crush on Adrien. Damian can see it now, Marinette looking at Adrien with her big blue eyes, her lashes fluttering when she gets close to him. Stuttering when she gets embarrassed or when she gets close to him. It makes his lungs constrict, but he’s not sure why.

“As for past relationships, there’s only really Luka. We had a pretty good run, but he’s out of the country, touring. He wanted to try long distance, but I didn’t really want that. But he’s respectful-- there’s no need to beat him off with a stick or anything.”

“I’m surprised a pretty girl like you doesn’t have more suitors,” Damian says, stepping over a crack in the sidewalk as they walk towards the park.

Marinette gags. “There are some other people who have been interested, but I wouldn’t exactly consider them relationship material. If you’re going after a girl just because she looks exotic, that’s sort of nasty. I guess I’m just unlucky in love.”

“At least you’re not as bad off as Ladybug is,” Damian jokes.

She looks at him strangely. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, first there was that creepy sculptor who must have been twice her age, then there’s Chat Noir who keeps flirting with her despite her requests not to, plus all of the random love akumas. I’m not even going to talk about the hordes of guys who chase after her, trying to get a date just because she’s a superhero. It’s not even like she can kick them between the legs because she has an image to uphold and all that.” He smirks, nudges her with his arm. “I’m surprised you haven’t done that with some of your stalkers.”

“Oh. You’re right, huh. Though, I don’t think Chat Noir has actually flirted for a while now.”  Chat Noir has been very subdued as of late, and it makes Ladybug worry.

Marinette feels uncomfortable with the way the conversation has shifted. How does Damian know about all of these past akuma attacks? As far as Marinette is aware, most information about anything Miraculous related is difficult to get a hold of abroad, largely because the Miraculous try to hide their existence as best they can, and partially because Mayor Bourgeois doesn’t want word to get out that he hasn’t flushed a supervillain terrorist out even though he’s had three years to do it.

“Copycat happened three years ago.” It’s a question, almost.

“I figure I might as well keep up with the heroes of Paris. I’m here and they’re interesting.” Damian figures this is as good a time as any to bring up his interest in Hawkmoth. Marinette has been nothing but helpful and she’s definitely the kind of person whose heart is in the right place. Not to mention that she’s definitely smart and seems impartial; the one time he asked her about her thoughts on the heroes, he found out that she didn’t see them as perfect. She was able to critique Ladybug in full, which seemed pretty odd considering the rest of Paris seemed to have nothing but glowing praise for the heroine. “You’ve had some awful luck with akumas yourself. Weird how Ladybug didn’t show up when you got kidnapped by Evillustrator. One of the only times she didn’t show up for an akuma.”

“And what happened to the other heroes? It’s mostly Ladybug now. She must be in an awful state with her civilian life.” He looks off to the park, occasionally flicking his attention back Marinette’s face, evaluating her expression.

She catches his eyes and he swiftly looks away, looking almost nervous. Marinette stiffens. He knows, he knows, he knows, he can’t know. But how? How does he know that she’s Ladybug? She hasn’t let anything slip around him. She's been careful not to. Everything she’s ever said about Ladybug has been brief and curt, taking on an almost angry tone.

“If you’re so interested in Parisian heroes, I’m sure you saw the press conference Ladybug and Chat Noir gave last year about why the other heroes would be showing up less often.” Marinette keeps her voice carefully neutral. She needs to play this safe. She’s probably over reacting-- she’s been on edge with Hawkmoth sending out an akuma attack nearly every single day for the past few months.

Damian shakes his head. “It didn’t seem like good reasoning. Ladybug and Chat Noir are too untrained. They haven’t beat two villains in three years. They should let someone else take over.” 

Marinette has come across a good number of Ladybug and Chat Noir haters throughout her time. Those who dislike the Parisian heroes often make the exact same arguments Damian is now. That they’re not fast enough. That they should have taken down Hawkmoth and Mayura already. This is nothing new to her, though it does hurt hearing it from Damian, for some reason. She can’t even argue with most of the points he’s brought up. Going mostly solo was because of her own, selfish reasons. She really should have beaten Hawkmoth and Mayura by now. 

“The only thing they have going for them right now is that they’re keeping their Miraculous out of Hawkmoth’s hands.” She pretends that the reason why Chat Noir doesn’t show up to battle is to ensure that Hawkmoth can’t get both of the Miraculous in one fell swoop. It feels hopeless to fight villain after villain without any movement forwards. Her mind wanders to the increasing frequency of akumas and smiles, sardonically. “Some people think it’s only a matter of time until Ladybug and Chat Noir lose.”

“Hawkmoth almost seems to be the better strategist.” The two of them pass store front after store front. “Do you ever wonder what they look like, under the mask? Who they are?”

Marinette stares at the concrete underneath her feet. Hawkmoth, the better strategist? Laughable, and entirely incorrect. Even the people who hate Ladybug admit that her plans almost always work out, and that her plans are second to none. Really the only person who can possibly think that Hawkmoth is a better strategist is--

She can’t think like that. Damian is her friend. He’s just curious about Paris. Her lack of sleep and increase in paranoia re making her imagine things that are impossible. Besides, Damian isn’t on her list of suspects-- he told her he’s only been here for a short time, and Hawkmoth’s Miraculous definitely has a limited range. It’s a real pity that the world of Miraculous makes concrete evidence hard to come by, otherwise, Marinette likes to think Hawkmoth would have been behind bars already. 

“No,” she lies. Hawkmoth haunts her dreams and every waking hour. She spends hours and hours on theories and scouring out information and people who fit the clues she’s painstakingly pieced together. “Not really.”

Damian’s eyes are a piercing green, and for a moment, Marinette thinks she stops breathing. “Is that so? I’m really interested in who Ladybug is under the mask. I’d love the opportunity to talk to her in person, especially about her Miraculous. The powers she has are… very interesting.”

No. There’s no way that Damian can be Hawkmoth, right? This is all just her paranoia speaking. Damian is just a foreigner who is interested in super heroes. It’s no biggie. Still, she can’t shake off the idea that there’s more to Damian than meets the eye. The way he walks-- no, prowls-- commands respect. Marinette can tell that he knows how to fight, and knows how to fight well. He’s very good at finding information on people-- she sent a whole case file to her on Renee and his situation with his mother within twenty four hours of going into the precinct, complete with video evidence Marinette knows should have been impossible to procure without hacking-- and keeps up with her critiques on Ladybug and Chat Noir’s techniques like he’s watched their battles over and over again. He remembers akuma battles Marinette has half forgotten, because they happened so long ago.

She stares up at him, hands shoved in the pockets of the jacket she chose for him when they went on their wardrobe makeover. Damian is surprisingly wealthy; he purchased anything she even glanced at with passing approval. He looks straight forward, apparently waiting for some response from her. Just because Damian is her friend, doesn’t mean she can immediately expunge him from her list of suspects. So far, she has taken all of Damian’s words at face value. It didn’t matter to her that he rarely talks about his family or his life before Paris. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t brought her to his home during all of the weeks that they’ve been hanging out together. Really, Marinette just figured that he had a rocky relationship with his family, and that he may have been on the poorer side and was embarrassed to show her where he lived. But clearly. Damian is well off enough to afford brand name clothes without batting an eye. Things aren’t adding up. All of the red flags that she’s blatantly ignored start to crop up in her head.

The book on the species of butterflies that akumas are made of, tucked under his arm. The way he showed up after every single akuma attack when she rarely saw him in the area before or during it. His knowledge of the three languages that form the basis of the Miraculous Tome-- Mandarin, Arabic, and English.

If he is Hawkmoth, what sort of emotions would he be feeling right now? Some sort of euphoria, maybe, realizing that he could get infinitely closer to Ladybug when she is Marinette. Anticipation, too. Has Marinette been hanging out with a super villain for the past month? Has she really come to the point where she can call a supervillain her best friend?

Marinette takes another look at Damian’s outfit. Master Fu said that the Miraculous Hawkmoth owns is in the shape of a brooch. Marinette sees no such object on Damian, which could either mean that he’s not Hawkmoth or that he’s just been taking it off whenever he’s with her. She’s really hoping it’s not the second option.

She needs to gather her thoughts, make a plan on how to proceed. When she’s sure that Damian isn’t looking, Marinette sets off the ringtone that is saved for her Maman’s texts and calls. This catches Damian’s attention, and she waves looks up from her phone as though she’s responding. 

“Maman wants me to do a delivery. If you’re looking for more information on the whole superhero situation in Paris, I can get you Alya’s number. She runs the Ladyblog-- I’m sure she’d be glad to talk with you.” Alya also has some of the worst conspiracy theories that Marinette has ever seen. She doesn’t often keep abreast of what the Ladyblog’s portrayal of Ladybug is, but back when Marinette and Alya were friends, she was subjected to wild theories that made her stomach nauseous with how little logic there was. Which means that if-- if-- Damian is actually Hawkmoth, he might be thrown off by what she says.

“I’ll see you on Monday? Jagged texted me last night and wants me to change the embroidery on his commission.” This isn’t exactly a lie; Jagged wants one of the smaller details to be changed, but it certainly won’t take as long as she’s suggesting. Marinette hopes that it’s enough of an excuse to get Damian off her back for the rest of today and tomorrow while she reevaluates her game plans and life choices. 

Damian waves her off. “I don’t think that Ladyblogger girl knows anymore than I do. She’s of no help to me. I’ll see you on Monday.”

#

Marinette’s reaction to Damian’s questions are weird. There’s an underlying tension that she exuded before they parted ways, and he’s still thinking about it a day later.

Marinette, who he always finds near an akuma attack right after it occurs. Marinette, who is emotionally and physically superior to most other Parisians. Marinette, who hasn’t been akumatized in a class full of idiots and other victims. Marinette, who doesn’t like Ladybug even though she seems like a fairly competent and kind hero, despite the fact that she hasn’t caught Hawkmoth yet. Marinette, who rarely talks about akumas despite all of the time he spends with her, which is highly unusual because even people he only briefly meets manage to slip in something about akumas into the conversation. Damian feels like there must be some sort of connection between Marintte and the akuma situation that he’s not getting, but it’s eluding him.

He sits down with his laptop in his apartment and looks up information about Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She’s definitely just as talented as he suspected; in her ninth year of schooling, she won a Gabriel competition, participated in a music video of Clara Nightingale’s, and collaborated with Jagged Stone on an album cover. So that was how she met him-- he wondered, but never asked. There are also a few instagram posts that have tagged her as a good samaritan and a few articles that detail a small, asian girl who’s going around Paris helping random people that are in need.

The weird things that Damian finds are contained in her school records. She’s apparently in very good company with her IQ, but what’s more interesting is all the dates that she is tardy or absent from school. They line up perfectly with all of the dates that akumas appear. He feels dread gather in his stomach. 

A few more searches seem to cement his growing suspicions. Around the same time that Marinette obtained a truce with Lila matched up with when theorists believed that the Italian girl started working with Hawkmoth. He reads the instagrams and tweets of her classmates from the first year that Hawkmoth arrived, which talk about how excellent Marinette is at calming them down and guiding them to a better place. He also reads the posts of Chloe Bourgeois and Alya Cesaire and the articles about Marinette and Evillustrator that tell a slightly different story-- that Marinette is capable of manipulating others into more unpleasant situations.

Damian jolts. There is an incoming call from his father. 

“Are updates on Paris, Damian?” 

Should he give them a clue to his growing suspicions that Marinette is Hawkmoth? No, he can’t tell them until he gathers more information. 

“No,” he says. “Information about Hawkmoth and the Miraculous are hard to come by.”

There’s a sigh and what sounds like the rustling of papers from the other side. “I figured. Tim and Barbara can’t find anything over here, either, but the Justice League is worried. They want results.”

“The Justice League and I agreed that having Robin make an appearance would be beneficial. Gain Ladybug and Chat Noir’s trust, or find Hawkmoth. Information might come easier with your alter ego.”

“All right.” 

Another pause. He and his father have always had an awkward relationship. Bruce didn’t know of his existence until he was ten, and by that time, the most formative years of Damian’s life had already passed. Bruce Wayne may be many things, but good at dealing with children, he is not. Even after adopting so many children, he doesn’t know how to raise a child. Damian and his brothers have all raised themselves, with Bruce only stepping in when one of them is really going off the rails.

“Is everything else going well in Paris? School is good?”

“School is fine.” Damian wonders whether he should tell his father about Marinette. About the girl who is kind and capable and scarily efficient at dispatching criminals for a citizen and-- he can’t think about her like that. He decides against telling his father about her. She might be Hawkmoth, after all, and confirming her existence to his father means that he’s denying that possibility. “Gotham?”

“Nothing out of the usual. A few run-ins with the Joker.”

Another silence. The lapses in conversation aren’t awkward, but Damian thinks of the playful banter Marinette has with her parents and frowns. 

“Goodbye, Father.”

“Goodnight, Damian.”

Damian looks around at his empty apartment. There is nothing in it, except for his suitcase and a few pieces of furniture. It’s nothing like the manor, where he knows that Tim is up at all hours slaving away on another project that Damian rarely gets to see, or that Jason is in the training room with Dick joining him occasionally. He can’t pick a fight with Tim or have Dick try to mediate the conflicts between himself and Jason. No nightly patrols with three or four people talking over the comms, or near instantaneous backup when he gets into a tight spot. There is no Alfred or Barbara or Cassandra or Bruce here. Only Damian. 

He looks down at his laptop, at the various information and images of Marinette that he has up on his screen. In good conscience, he can’t continue being friends with her. Not with the possibility that she is the person he’s trying to hunt down. 

He remembers her saying that being lonely is different than being alone. 

Damian is lonely.

#

Patrol is a necessary evil. 

Ladybug doesn’t hate patrol. She’s not very fond of it, though. It cuts into time that she could be spending sleeping or designing or anything else, really. In the beginning, it started as a way to figure out how everything worked under the guise of the dark and without the constant threat of an akuma hanging over head. Then, it progressed into disproving the theory about Ladybug’s age, because civilians aren’t inclined to believe that a teenage girl who has school the next day would patrol every day in the early morning. Now, it shows the Parisians how devoted Ladybug is-- that’s something that she’s struggled with ever since withdrawing the Miraculous from all of the part time heroes-- and lets Marinette blow off any steam that she has. 

Right now, Marinette needs to blow off a lot of steam. Still, even as Ladybug, as much as Marinette wants to scream to high hell and back about how she’s been friends-- very close friends, she’d dare to say-- with the same person who has been terrorizing Paris for years, she can’t. If she screams, there will be media coverage on it, and she doesn’t want to deal with what the press would write up some article about how Ladybug was overworked and needed to bring back the other heroes, or that Ladybug wasn’t mentally sound enough to take care of Paris, she should just give up the Miraculous, or that Ladybug’s scream was [insert some poetic nonsense that English teachers wax about for hours even though the author never intended the audience to read that deeply into it].

Marinette doesn’t want to admit it, but she’s gotten close to Damian. She’s as close to him as she is with Kagami, Luka, Jagged and Penny. Damian knows that she’s MDC. He knows her hopes and aspirations. He knows her family, knows the majority of her friends, and knows what’s important to her. It will be so easy for him to tear her apart now. Marinette isn’t sure what Hawkmoth is waiting for, but she almost hopes that he’ll get it over with sooner rather than later.

What will Hawkmoth do first? Go after the website that he helped her make, probably. Cut off the financial support that she could use to run away and create another identity. Then, he’ll go after her friends, few and far as they may be. Renee next. Her family, last. She wonders who Mayura is, if he is Hawkmoth. She hasn’t seen anyone that’s close to him. Then again, Damian reveals next to nothing about himself. She’s never even seen where he lives.

There’s a shadow on the rooftops. 

God, of course Hawkmoth would send out an akuma today. He knows how horrible her mental state must be. There’s no way he wouldn’t take advantage of that.

She yoyos over to the shadow, not close enough to strike or apprehend, but close enough to easily give chase without the akuma being able to give her the slip.

“Ladybug,” the akuma says.

“Cut the crap. We all know you want the Miraculous, Hawkmoth. Let’s get to it.” The shadow steps forward where a street lamp illuminates its costume, and once again, she is assaulted by the barrage of colors on her eyes. After seeing how awful Damian’s color coordination was, it’s easy to come to terms with the awful designs of all of his costumes. Still, she’s surprised that the boy who dresses in the same outfit every day creates such outlandish costumes for all of his minions. 

The akuma frowns, tenses. 

“I’m not Hawkmoth,” it insists. “I’m Robin, a vigilante from Gotham. I’ve come to learn more about the current situation and aid you in taking Hawkmoth down.”

 Ladybug scoffs. She’s not sure what this akuma’s tactic is, but none of the others have tried to lie to her so blatantly about their identity. And ripping off an identity? That is a new low, even for Hawkmoth. She’s sure that the real Robin didn’t agree to this, and if she were close with the vigilante, maybe she could get him to throw a lawsuit or two at Hawkmoth once he was in custody, just for kicks.

Robin the akuma scrambles, apparently looking for something that can verify his identity. 

Ladybug strikes. There’s no pride in striking an opponent when they are distracted, but it’s a means to an end. If Damian is dumb enough to send out an akuma confused about its identity tonight of all nights-- a night where Ladybug is distressed and it would be all too easy to take advantage of her-- then she’s going to take advantage of it.

It’s easy to bind the akuma. Startlingly easy. The akuma is different tonight, then. His powers have something to do with close contact, maybe? Ladybug looks on his person for things that could be the point of akumatization, eyes flitting from Robin’s waistband to his mask.

She comes to an unpleasant conclusion. The measurements and the coloring are a perfect match. Hawkmoth has come to meet her in person.

“Damian,” Ladybug hisses. 

Damian’s eyes widen, like he doesn’t know how she’s pieced together his identity. How stupid does he think she is? He’s been dropping hints constantly. Information a transfer to Paris shouldn’t know. Never telling Marinette anything personal. Always being near an akuma attack when it happens. It’s almost like he wanted her to figure out his identity.

“How did you know?” 

“Please, Hawkmoth, did you really think that Marinette couldn’t connect the dots? You must have thought awfully little of her if you thought that your constant appearances near all of the akuma and questions about the Miraculous didn’t lead me to your identity.”

“Hawkmoth? Ladybug, I’m not Hawkmoth, I’m Robin.”

“And I’m the queen of England. Renounce your Miraculous now, Hawkmoth. Or I’ll beat you until you detransform and take it from you.” 

Damian looks confused before his face contorts to an expression of resignation. He recognizes a cold fury in her eyes that is distinct to people who won’t give up until they get their way, and there’s really no other way around this right now. He should have brought his comm with him, but he wasn’t expecting to meet Ladybug tonight; he just wanted to assess the situation as Robin, to get out from his apartment for a second. Rookie mistake. 

True to her word, Ladybug beats Damian unconscious and also until he’s black and blue. She’ll be lying if she didn’t say she took out some of her fury from the past years on him.

But here’s the thing; Damian doesn’t detransform. He stays in his god-awful costume that has the same disgusting shade of mustard yellow as that one top Damian owns. That’s not what’s supposed to happen. When Miraculous users faint, they detransform because it takes a sort of mental awareness to handle the powers bestowed upon them. Is it different because Damian is an akuma? Is there some sort of Miraculous bylaw that if a Miraculous user gets akumatized, they get to stay in their alternate form? Oh wait, that’s right, he’s an akuma, not Hawkmoth right now.

Ladybug stumbles forward, breaking all of the weapons that are on his belt, taking off his mask and breaking that as well. No akuma comes out. She tries his gloves, then his boots. She pats him down, seeing if there’s anything she missed. She rips his suit, too. Nothing. There’s no brooch in his personal effects either.

What is she supposed to do now? 

Seeing no alternative, Ladybug picks Damian up and yoyos back to Tom and Sabine’s Boulangerie to safely detransform and figure out what the fuck is going on.

He’s not Hawkmoth, is the conclusion Marinette comes to after a side by side comparison of pictures of the vigilante and Damian. The horrifying conclusion: the person lying on the floor of her bedroom is actually Robin, the vigilante from Gotham. 

Marinette knows it’s better to err on the side of caution, but she still buries her head in her hands in embarrassment. How can she have gotten him so wrong? She really needs to get better at reading people, because deciding that random civilians are Hawkmoth clearly has not paid off. 

She also cannot believe that the Justice League has decided to step in now, and with a sidekick from America, of all things--Marinette is pretty sure that she sent the videos to the European branch. It must have been three years since her first notification to them. She contacted them immediately after Stoneheart, and again, after Syren when she was distraught at the death that surrounded her. With no response, there was nothing she could do. She has to start relying on herself and her own skills. 

Ladybug only contacted them once more, after Heroes’ Day. At that point, Ladybug had been thinking for a while that someone who was naturally superpowered or someone with a high grade of intelligence-- like the heroes affiliated with the Justice League-- would do more harm than good if they were allowed in the city. After the devastation of her teammates being akumatized, and the nearly week long battle that ensued, she was certain that she could barely fight her teammates, let alone trained professionals. So with shaky hands and red rimmed eyes, she said to please disregard her earlier messages; the situation in Paris wasn’t that bad, and Ladybug could handle it. 

Damian groans. Marinette jumps; he is waking up far earlier than she anticipated. She wants to transform back into Ladybug. Being in her spots gives her a pseudo sense of security. First, though, she has to restrain him. Even though he isn’t Hawkmoth, she’s not sure whether he’s a threat or not. She makes quick work of it, using the thickest zip ties that she has on hand and restraining his arms and legs.

She doesn’t get the chance to transform back into Ladybug, but that’s just as well, because at the end of the day, Marinette is the foundation of anything that makes Ladybug a hero to the public. Damian opens his eyes almost immediately after she has finished restraining him, taking in his surroundings and the person in front of him.

“Marinette? Where’s Ladybug?” No questions of how he got there; Ladybug can clearly carry her own weight and more. No questions as to why there are zip ties cutting into his wrists and ankles; he has seen too many of Marinette’s victims on the streets.

“What do you mean, where’s Ladybug?” Marinette is right in front of him. She might not have the suit on, but at the end of the day, she does have the Ladybug Miraculous, which means she’s Ladybug through and through, and Damian must know that. Otherwise, there’s no real reason for Robin to be spending so much time with Marinette. The fact that she feels more real and true to herself as Marinette than as Ladybug probably means nothing to him.

“She knocked me out on a rooftop. Didn’t know that you two knew each other personally. I’m not Hawkmoth, by the way.” He twitches, then realizes that he’s been tied up. “Why’d she leave me with you?”

So he doesn’t know that she’s also Ladybug? This whole thing keeps getting more confusing. Still, the less people that know about her alter ego, the better. Marinette will keep him in the dark. She attributes his blatant misunderstanding to the identity concealment magic of the Miraculous. It’s powerful stuff. If it didn’t exist, she’s sure she would have found concrete evidence as to who Hawkmoth is by now. 

“She asked me to assess whether you were a threat or not. Whether or not she casts the Miraculous Cure is contingent on my response.”

“Ladybug wants you to assess whether I’m a threat or not? Why’d she leave a possible super villain with a civilian?”

“I help Ladybug out with many things.” Her voice turns to clinical detachment. She uses this method to dissociate as Ladybug when things get overwhelming. Assess the situation. Get in, deakumatize, get out. Marinette needs to distance herself. It’s bad enough that the situation is this convoluted, but she doesn’t need Damian to doubt Ladybug’s capabilities as well. “Ladybug knows that you’re not Hawkmoth now, and she knows that I can handle myself with any run of the mill bad guy, even if they are a supposed vigilante.”

“Tell me, Robin,” Marinette spits the name like a curse, “Why should I tell Ladybug that you’re not a threat? That you are who you say you are?”

In all honesty, all Marinette wants to do is knock Damian out again so she can collect her thoughts. She’s not sure how she should address his presence as Robin in Paris and is still reeling from the whiplash of thinking he was Hawkmoth only for him to turn into a foreign vigilante. Next thing she knows, he’ll tell her that his name isn’t even Damian Grayson. Well, now that she thinks about it, he’s definitely not. After this encounter finishes, she’ll look up Damian and Gotham and see what she gets.

He looks flustered, like he never expected anybody to question his identity or presence. It’s laughable, really. Marinette doubts that the Justice League actually sent him; he’s probably here to explore on his own. That means he’ll only be a pain in the ass to deal with. Maybe she needs to get into contact with the Justice League again, if only just so she can deport Robin with more ease. 

“I can call Batman,” he says.

Marinette doesn’t think this is a very good solution. There’s no way for her to prove that the person on the other side actually is Batman and not some actor. But after racking her brain, she can’t come up with a much better solution. It’s not like Robin has any superpowers that she can request to see, and she doesn’t have a direct line to anybody from the Justice League.

“Fine. Call Batman.”

“It’s in the pocket near on my right side.” Marinette doesn’t bother going closer to him. She destroyed everything on him earlier, in case it was the akuma’s vessel. Ladybug thought she came across a phone, but now she’s glad she smashed it and left it on that random rooftop. He probably has some sort of tracker on his phone. In any case, Marinette thinks it’s weird for a vigilante to have a phone on them while on the rooftops. Shouldn’t he have an earpiece or something? 

“Your phone was destroyed by Ladybug. Tell me the number to call. I’ll put it on speaker.” Marinette isn’t sure if the number he’ll have her call will be some sort of secure connection or direct line that is only accessible through Damian’s phone, but she doesn’t particularly care because the Miraculous Communicators are exactly that. Miraculous. Master Fu assured her that all communications were private and impossible to crack unless they also had a Miraculous. Which is why she’s using the Miraculous Communicator to call Batman.

Damian winces, then speaks into the offered phone. 

“Batman, it’s Robin. I need to verify my identity in order to proceed.”

“Are you with Ladybug?”

So he is on a mission, then, and not just playing hooky. If Batman is involved, Marinette has no doubt the rest of the Justice League will follow soon. This will be a dreadfully unpleasant call.

“I’m making it a video call,” Marinette says. “And no, he’s not with Ladybug. I’m Ladybug’s point of contact, and she doesn’t take kindly to people encroaching on her territory without permission.”

“Robin, what happened?” Batman isn’t accepting her video request.

Marinette cuts off whatever Damian is about to say. “Damian was suspicious; I reported his activities to Ladybug and she believed that he could be Hawkmoth. Then, she caught him on the roofs and took him back to my place after verifying that he wasn’t Hawkmoth. Video call, Batman. I’d like to see that you are who you say you are, before I send Robin back to the states.”

“She knows your civilian identity? Two people know that you’re Robin?”

“Turn your video on. If you can’t prove that you are who Damian says you are, Ladybug and I will do everything in our powers to deport him and make sure that the Justice League is not allowed in Paris again. Ladybug said that she doesn’t need any unknowns in her city, and I’ve been hoping Robin came here of his own volition. It sounds like that isn’t the case.”

Marinette thinks that Batman curses in English, but she’s not sure. Fluent though Marinette may be, she is not well versed in curses, colloquialisms, or American memes. The camera turns on. It’s Batman, or at the very least, an actor wearing a very good knock off costume.

It’s annoying that Marinette can’t see his eyes. There’s some white film where his eyes should be, and the fact that his cowl covers more than half of his face isn’t doing her any favors in letting her read his facial expression. She moves herself so that Batman can see both her and Robin.

“Why is Robin restrained?”

“Like I said: he was suspicious. I’m not taking any chances.”

A moment of silence.

“How do you want me to prove my identity?” 

That’s good. He’s not asking who she is, though she’s sure that there are cameras pointing at the screen on Batman’s end, running facial analysis and background checks on her. The Miraculous magic will ensure that any connections between her and Ladybug will not come to light. Other than her identity as Ladybug, Marinette has nothing to hide.

“If you’re Batman, then you should have access to the League’s calls, European and otherwise. Play me the last video that Ladybug sent you. I know what she said.” She spares a glance at Damian. His jaw is tight, but when he looks at her, she finds what looks like regret. It’s not entirely Damian’s fault. A mission is a responsibility, and Marinette understands that in order to be a hero or vigilante, one must be willing to do anything to accomplish the mission. Really, she’s only Ladybug because she feels that heavy weight of the words duty and responsibility on her shoulders. Fu’s fault.

“Behave. If you try something, I’ll knock you out.” Marinette sets the communicator on her desk and eyes him. The zipties are so tight around his arms and legs that he is bleeding. Marinette feels a flash of sympathy, then pushes it away. It was his fault for-- why was he at fault, again? 

“I have the video.” Batman sounds even peakier than when they started the call. He plays the video.

“Justice League. This is Ladybug. I rescind my requests for help; I can take care of Paris with my own team. Any help from you at this point would be a detriment and could potentially harm the citizens of Paris. Hawkmoth manipulates strong emotions, and I don’t need to handle a metahuman or tactical genius to gain more power to wreak havoc on my city. I will not contact you with any further requests for assistance.”

It’s an awful video. Marinette had to wait a day after the Heroes’ week fiasco just so her eyes wouldn’t be red. At least her voice doesn’t waver in it. There’s a conviction in the whole video that was unique to that moment. 

Marinette looks at Batman, then at Robin. 

“Clearly the Justice League refused to listen. Ladybug doesn’t want or need your help at this point in time. Why are you here?”

“The Justice League is at fault for not paying attention to Ladybug’s other videos. But Mayor Bourgeois and President Macron can only cover such alarming incidents for so long. Ladybug and her… team clearly need help in order to find and take down Hawkmoth, so once the American branch of the Justice League found out half a year ago, we started to investigate.” Batman speaks in lieu of Damian. Marinette briefly wonders if Damian knows who Batman is under the mask. She bets he does. They’re probably close, what with how worried Batman sounds. 

“What makes you think that the Justice League is any better equipped to handle this situation? Ladybug and her team have been fighting for the past three years and resolved every akuma with no help from you. She needed your help in earlier years. Now she doesn’t.”

“Exactly; it’s been three years and she still hasn’t caught Hawkmoth.”

“You say that like the Justice League doesn’t have a team with more wealth and manpower than Ladybug does that’s been looking into Hawkmoth and the Miraculous for the past half year and clearly has not found any reasonable leads. Ladybug has only been actively looking for Hawkmoth for the past two years, not three. The police handled the first year, not that you’ve done any homework on the situation. Thought that a field agent would help your chances?” 

There is fire in Marinette’s stomach. Batman sounds so dismissive of all of the work that she’s been doing. It’s been hard on her; she doesn’t have the support that she needs and doesn’t have the experience or expertise to hunt down Hawkmoth on her own. She trained briefly under Master Fu to learn spells and ways to expand her powers as Ladybug, but that was an equivalent exchange: she no longer trusts that other holders won’t be akumatized. Her growing cynicism and physical training from Maman came at the expense of Chat Noir; after the whole Lila incident in her first year as Ladybug, she found out that Chat Noir and Adrien were one and the same. And Gabriel Agreste is not afraid to use his son until Adrien is stretched far too thin, which forced Marinette to nearly bench her partner.

“Three years,” Batman says again.

“If the Justice League can’t figure it out nearly unlimited resources and funding in half a year-- both ordinary and super human-- then clearly it isn’t a question of time. It’s a question of capability. Get off your high horse, Batman. You haven’t given me any reasons why Ladybug and I shouldn’t deport Robin here, and you’re definitely not making a good case as to why she shouldn’t go to Mayor Bourgeois and France’s president to ensure that the Justice League and its affiliates and ban hero travel into Paris. Bourgeois already doesn’t want information on it’s supervillain situation to get out.” 

“Marinette,” Damian pleads.

As Robin and as Damian, he doesn’t pose a threat. He hasn’t been helpful, but he certainly hasn’t messed with the status quo for the month that he’s been here. Still, he is a liability. If he stays in Paris, he is the gateway for the other members of the Justice League to fly in and try to commandeer the fragile balance that she has found. She can’t afford for something like that to happen.  

“You’re not any better, Robin. Why did you even hang around me? Thought I was a threat?” Her eyes narrow in realization. It makes sense why he decided to hang out with her, despite his initial cold front. He was playing a role.“You thought I was Hawkmoth.”

His silence is an agreement.

“We just want to help,” Damian says, and against her better judgement, Marinette believes him. 

Her shoulders round, and Marinette sighs. She can’t truly begrudge Damian for that train of thought, not when she believed the same about him. She’s been a little harsh on them so far, in part due to old resentment that they never responded to her in that first, awful year when she needed the help. 

There’s a dull tiredness that comes with knowing someone who she considered one of her closest friends suspected her of being a supervillain, though she did believe the same of him, so maybe they’re even. It still hurts, though. It hurts like when Alya decided that Marinette was mean-hearted enough to stop the members of their class from reaching their full potential. It hurts like when Marinette finally realized that she couldn’t repair their friendship, not to what it used to be. It hurts like when she looked around the classroom and realized that she couldn’t talk to anyone there. It hurts like when Marinette decided that she couldn’t risk helping her friends the way she wanted to. 

“What kind of help can you offer us? We don’t need any more of you to come out here.” Resources are nice. More money to fund therapy programs around town won’t hurt. Master Fu doesn’t help on that part. Really, he doesn’t help at all. Even though she has Chat Noir and had a team, she often feels like it’s herself against the world. Some days, she reaches up to her earrings and feels an aching emptiness, like there’s something more to the Miraculous that’s been sealed away.

“We can give you resources. Money, connections, experience. Robin is good with technology. He can help you track down where Hawkmoth is.”

Marinette’s laugh is bitter. “Sure, he can try, but the butterflies Hawkmoth sends out aren’t visible by the normal human eye or electronically until they’ve found their mark. Once they’re purified, they’re just normal butterflies, and they go off in random directions.”

“Normal human eye? It sounds like there are exceptions.” Damian readjusts himself. He has fidgeted his way into an uncomfortable looking seiza position, where his ankles are bleeding. 

“A true holder can see the butterflies at all times.”

Marinette also decides to throw them a bone so there’s no questions as to why a mere civilian is working with Ladybug. “That’s why Ladybug recruited me. I was Multimouse.”

Multimouse was in the file that Damian sent his father, but he asks, just to make sure. “The one that can split itself?”

“That’s correct. I guess now is as good a time as any for the two of you to get your questions answered.”

“Why are you the point of civilian contact instead of any of the other more frequently used heroes? Didn’t you appear only once?” Damian avoids looking Marinette in the eyes, and that makes her feel slightly better. He’s ashamed of his actions. Good. 

“Ladybug said that the other hero’s civilian forms were either compromised or not in a good position.”

“Ladybug knows who all the holders are.” Batman speculates. He looks less tense now that Damian is no longer tied up, but his voice remains gravelly and distrubed. Maybe that’s what he sounds like all the time.  “Who else knows? Do you?” 

“Only Ladybug knows.” Marinette lives in half truths. She’s not sure that they’re much better than lies, but they’re all she has. Secrecy is the only thing Master Fu has sincerely taught her.

“Why have all the other heroes disappeared?” 

“Ladybug said that it was too dangerous for someone who could be akumatized to hold a Miraculous. Rena Rage, Shell Shock, Queen Wasp-- they were all frighteningly powerful akumas. It’s also why Chat Noir has been showing up less and less; his home life is not the best, and she’s trying her best to ensure that he doesn’t get akumatized.”

“She’s not worried for herself or,” Damian’s eyes flick to Marinette, away from Batman. “For you?” 

“She knows that both of us are good at dealing with stress. We have our own methods of coping.” She looks at Damian, her mouth tightening into a frown. “If you want to stay in Paris, I’ll cut you a deal. We can work together for two weeks, and if we don’t get any results, you have to leave and the Justice League must promise that they won’t interfere again.”

“Two weeks isn’t enough time,” Damian objects.

“If you don’t think it’s enough time, just leave now. I’ll say now that I’m only willing to work with you during the night. That’s the time I work on Miraculous related stuff now, anyways. And stay out of the akuma battles.” She doesn’t actually think that working together will help anyways, and she wants Damian gone sooner rather than later. He’s been making her feel too much and emotions that are far more explosive and easy to take advantage of than Marinette has in a long time. She doesn’t want to be targeted by an akuma because of her inner conflict. 

“Two weeks, then,” Batman agrees. “Robin can contact me if you need any extra resources.”

Marinette hangs up and assesses Damian. He looks almost pitiful, with bruising around his eyes, tousled hair, a ripped suit, and cuts where his skin is exposed. She opens her trap door in a clear gesture for him to depart. Downstairs is dark; her Maman and Papa have long since gone to sleep, and it’s only a few more hours until they wake up to start baking. “We start tomorrow. If you need Ladybug for anything, tell me.”

He’s half way down the ladder when he looks back up at Marinette, into her eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” he says.

Marinette can’t breath. She feels like vomiting. His eyes are so green in comparison to the purple bruising on his face. She did that to him. She made him look that way. All she’s ever wanted to do as Ladybug is protect the people she cared for. But Damian-- Marinette doesn’t know. She doesn't know whether what Damian has done can actually be described as bad. He was just trying to do what Batman told him to do. Keeping an eye on a threat. Marinette wonders how long he thought she was Hawkmoth. She wonders if he ever thought they were friends. 

“I’m sorry too,” Marinette says, and shuts the trap door.

They’re both sorry for very different things.

[greatpeanutcomputer]

HORROR

Mashobra is a small hamlet about thirteen kilometres from Himalayan town of Shimla an hour's drive from there through a winding ,twisting narrow moountainous road througha landscape of sheer virgin beauty. With the comping up of a whole lot of hotels guesthouses and resorts. it has become quite a crowded place today.Once this was no more than a peacefull little village situated in the middle of a thick coniferous forest- stark and glorious.Mashobra is my birthplace.Despite the fact that i spent only the first year of my life here i have a special attachment to it.THE lonely hills supporting a dense coniferous forest the lush undergrowth the exotic himalayan birds the glorious sunrise and sunset-they all hold a magical attraction for me.I love the intensemystical silence that gets interrupted only by the tweets of the birds,or by the chattering monkeys fighting inter troupe battles. And when the wind blow through the bush,it creates its own music-intensely haunting and hypnotizing.this pristine forest is timeworn-mony of these luxuriant deodars pines junipers, and oaks tall on these slopes have witnessed several generations come and go.they are mute witnesses to epochs of the known and the unknow history.Mystery is concealed in every nook and corner of these mesmerizing hills.I remember one episode from the time i was a little schoolgirl.I had gone with Pa to Mashobra,where he was presiding over a seminer at the GramSevak training centre.His seminar had continued unendingly ,leaving me bored and hungry.Our driver Sant ram offered to take me for crispy hot pakoras to a dhaba at talai abiut a kilometre away I jumped at the tempting proposal.An almost flat undulating patch of the grassland,that steadily rose up into a hillock to the south and subsided into a gradual velley to the north,talai was a very alluring playground.I chased butterflies around a small insignificant pond of green thick scum of moss, while hot pakoras were being freshly fried for me at the dhaba. Once we sat down to eat, Sant Ram informed me,"you knows ,baby ji entine area acquires its name from this humble pool-Talai ""oh". My eyes roved around to unearth more mysteries.I than spotted a large mansion hidden behind a thick cluster of trees at the top of the hillock.Who lives that house, SantRam?""That's the faridkot estate owned by the Raja of Faridkot.Faridkot is an panjabi."  Hmm Visible from the dhaba was also a dilapidated house."Why is that house so broken and worn out?No one lives there?" I asked, enjoying a hot pokara in yummy tamarind chutney."Oh Baby ji, it is supposed to be a bhootia banngla a haunted house."I stopped munching. my interst in a ghost made me forget how famished I was. Ieyed the house in an entirely new perspective.curiosity and fear were two strong contenders in my young mind producing goose pimples all over my little body but I allowed my curiosity to override. Hesitating a little, i asked, Really ? Teel me about it.Sant Ram was quiet for a few seconds .He must have been making up his mind whether to tell me the story."there had been a terrible fire here long ago." I watched the dhaba owner nod spiritedly. His upheld opinion added more flavour to the story.I now noticed the blackened stone structure and the frameless windows and doors-whatever had survived the assault of fire and time. Sant Ram elaborated,"the fire broke out at night. the lady living alone in it was fast asleep and was burnt alive. Some think the fire was started deliberately-asabotage. IT is belived that her spirit lives in the house.""Who was the lady? Didn't she have children?" "No, no children. She was very close to the Raja, hos special friend, you know-girlfriend. He had given her this house."Sant Ram explained with a meaningful smile. He thought I would not understand. But I had instantly perceived what he meant;the way he exchanged glances with the dhaba owner. " But , no one dares to touch the house. people who tried had bad experiences once they began removing the wreckagr."What bad experience, Sant Ram? i insisted timorously .it would be a nice ghost story to tell to my friend."They fell ill, or had nightmars i which a woman  told them to leave her house alone etcetera ." Sant Ram's pursed lips and enlarged eyes unnerved me, which he didn't notice. "No one dares to repair or live in that house,despite it being located at a very prime site.All of a sudden, it occurred to me that the ghost was perhaps watching me from the ruins. My little body shivered.I hurriedly gobbled the leftover pakoras. "Sant Ram, please take me back to pa." the house, seemingly right out of a horror story had begun to frighten me.Much later,when I was a young collage girl, I come to know about a creepier supernatural incident that had transpired here in Mashobra many year ago with someone very close to my family. It happned before I was born In 1952 at the behest of the government at new delhi, a Gram Sevak Training Centre came up at Mashobra and Pa was appointed its first principal. My family lived on the first floor of the main building. its ground floor had the administrative offices. The lecture rooms and the auditorium were housed in an adjacent building. The Students' hostal and the staff quarters were about a kilometre walk down the hill near the famous coutts garden.The student and staff community wasn't a large one.There were about twenty students and six members of the teaching faclty. only one of the lecturers ,Raj Vaidya, was married. It was a mid-january evening of the year 1953. Dark clouds had descended like a gigantic rolling ocean in the sky.It had been snowing non-stop for the past two days.Two feet of frozen vapour covered the land scape,hiding all colours under its white caps.The bitter cold had restrained folks inside their home.The students and the teaching staff of the centre were on two months long winter break. only my family and some of the administrative staff had remained behind at the Centre.The deserted expanse was even more desolate now and over whelmingly silent.It was well after dinnertime.My parents were in the sitting room warming their feet in the dying fire at the fireplace and exchanging notes on the day's events before retiring for the night. they were jolted out of their reverie by a loud knock on the door. " I wonder who has come at this time.,"  Pa got up from his chair to check on the unexpected caller. When the door was opned in breezed a draught of chilled wind and centre's compounder krishan das Negi. wrapped in a blanket over his khadi coat, BUSHEBRI cap and a home knit woollen muffler he stood shivering with a worried frown creasing his brow. Pa quickly shut the door.  "I am worried about Hari ram's health," Pa later expressed to Ma. he looked so ghostly pale.I wonder what's wrong with him then he added hope the doctor on duty is efficient.By lunchtime there was still no news of the sick man if everything went well they should have reched the hospital by ten thirty, Maybe eleven even if they went slowly." Pa eyed the telephone."I had specifically asked Krishan to call me.Why hasn't he?'His restlessness made Ma concerned for him."Why don't you call the hospital?. she posed."I have tried the hospital reception,Can't get through."Pa shook his head dejectedly."they must have got busy looking after the patient,or maybe the telephone there is out of order.You know it's very common in winters.WIRES SNAG." Ma tried to put his mind at ease.She wanted keep them away from this unfortunate death. they were too tnder to be exposed.It was later that details were divulged to her.of about four miles when they came across a huge mound of snow completely bloking the road It was a minor avalanche but couldn't be cleared without the help of the public work department. but there was stranded on the orther side of the blockade agreed to return to shimla and arrange for the required. Hari Ram condition continued to deteriorate. his body went into tremors and he began to get disoriented. By and by he went silent. the men accompanying him thought he had fallen asleep.The temperature was dropping fast and the light was fading. they waited and waited for someone to arrive to clear the road.None came when Krishan tried walking Hari Ram up, to make him drink some tea, he realized he wasn't hotnanymore. Had the fever subsided? He then realized Hari Ram wasn't breathing.he trived reviving him all in vain Hari Ram's spirit had long been released and his body now lay lifeless.Hari Ram belonged to a remote village in theog tebsil of Himachal. He had lost both his parents ,however his two older brothers still lived in the village with their families.Pa telephoned the agriculture inspector posted at theog, asking him to inform Hari Ram's family of the misforture. He expected Hari Ram broyhers to take his body to their village for the last rites.Meanwhile the body was kept buried in snow for two days. when even by the thidr day nobody reached Mashobra to claim the body, pa sent another urgent message. Pa quickly shut the door."What brings you here at this time,Krishna?" Krishna rubbed his ice-cold hands."Sir,Hari Ram is running a very high fever for the past two days,and it's showing no sings of subsiding.I have been giving him paracetamol table every four hours since yesterday but it hasn't made any difference ti his fever. There is no cough no running nose." Hari Ram was the peon at the centre. "Stomach infection?" Pa asked ."No, Sir. No diarrhoea, no vomiting. He's complaining of a severe headache though.i fed him half a slice of bread and half a cup of ter with great difficulty.He hasn't eaten anything else the entire day. I don't know what is wrong with him .I checked his temperature before comeing to you. it was 105`fahrenheit since the evening he has also been blabbering incoherently he's very serious SIR he need to see a doctor.Hmm we must admit him in a hospital immediately. Pa shook his head worriedly."It is too late now, sir. driver pitamber has left and his house is three kilometters away There is no way we can take Hari Ram to the hospital now.'Oh NOT much can be done immediately in this bad weather keep cold compressess on his forehead and try to keep his fever down.If his condition doesn't improve by the morning go and fetch pitamber from his house and take himto SHIMLA, TO Snowdon hospital.Krishna appeared dismayed. it wouldn't br easy to plod through mounds of snow early in the morning in the bitter cold especially if he was going to be looking after the patient the entire night. Pitamber should be reporting on duty around nine. Sir. Even if I leave at seven to call him we can't be back before nine .'YOU forget Krishan,tomorrow is sunday. pitamber will not be coming. go as early as you can. Let's not take chances." oh yes, sir I WILL leave as soon as I can." And Krishan once again retreated into the dark cold night. there was no improvement in weather conditions the next morning. It was a daRK COLD AND blustery day. around nine there were noise of hectic activity outside. The frozen engine of the jeep took consistent effort and warm weter to come to like.Krishan and Pitamber brought Hari Ram on a chair and lifted him into the jeep. He had lost tremendous weight in just a few days and looked so pallid that Pa was taken aback. A STRANGE abnormal look in his eyes was frightening. Despite his condition he threw a weak smile at Pa. "you" ll be fine Hari Ram, Pa assured him be strong.Hari Ram nodded faintly. I ll be back soon he whispered.Pa stroked his head.of couse,you ll be!Before they left pa gave Krishan strict instructions,"Call me as soon as you reach the hospital.I wiill speak with the doctor on duty." though he personally knew a few doctors at the hospital he also knew that it being sunday not many doctors would be available at the hospital except the ones on emergency duty. THE clock tricked on. there was no information about hari ram's health even by the evening.Finally at five o' clock, Pa had enough of waiting around in tension.grabbing his overcoat he got into his snowshoes."where are you going in this cold? It'll be dark soon."Ma eyed him check.""You can't walk till the hospital,ten miles away in this snow,"Ma expressed her apprehension."No,I am not going to the hospital.Of course not! Will just walk till talai.I need some exercise."Ma nodded. A short walk would do him good ease him out a little. she ardently prayed for hari ram's health as she stood at the window watching Pa trudge through the snow. he had been away for barely fifteen minutes when Ma rushed out on hearing the sound of an approaching vehicle. It was the centere's jeep as she had expected Pa alighted from it.He looked pape and immensely miserable. In an instant Ma realized that things weren't good.Pitamber got off and rushed to help other from the back of the jeep.Krishan was next to dismount.Then both of them removed hari ram from the jeep.he was wrapped in a sheet from head to toe."Oh my God! What happened? Ma was shaken and upset."Sorry, memsahib we couldn't bring him back alive,"Krishan spoke through his choked throat. tears streamed down his cheeks. pitamber sobbed openly "He was such a wonderful man. why did he have to go so early?"Ma closed her eyes and silently prayed for the departed.the handsome cheerful face of Hari Ram hovered for the departed.The handsome cheerful face of Hari Ram hovered before her eyes.He was too young to die.After the intial shock she hurried inside to her children.The body couldn't be kept forever .this time he was told that hari ram's family was finding it difficult to travel due to the blocked roads.It was left on Pa to undertake the required ceremonies. Early next morning a priest was arranged. he came reluctantly;he couldn't be blamed. It hadn't stopped snowing for the past four days. More than three feet of snow covered the entire expanse of the town, draping it in white as if in mourning for the departed.Hari Ram's body was taken in the jeep to the cremation grounds. Clearing a small patch. they made the funeral pyre under a makeshift tin roof. It become very difficult to light the damp wood. finally krishan consigned the body to flames after a great struggle and many tins of ghee. the priest half-heartedly chanted mantras for the peace of the departed soul and shivered continuously in the cold. As if this wasn't enough a raging blizzard struck soon after the pyre was lit. blinded by the snow crystals, they all had to beat a hasty retreat.THE next day when krishan and pitamber went to the cremation ground, they were stumped. Hari Ram's body hadn't burnt completely. the keeper of the cremation ground had neglected his job of watching over the burning pyre. they were now in a dilemma ."the best thing now will be to do the needful in haridwar suggested krishan. Hari Ram's remains were anyway to be taken to haridwar as customary in hindu religion."how will we take these half burnt remains there? Pitamber probed. "The interstate bus service has been suspended dee to the snowstorms. And ,i don't think I  can take the risk of driving through this strom.We'll get stranded for sure so don't even make that suggestion to principal sahib."Neither were the remain in a condition to be kept for too long. the keeper of the cremation grounds suggested burying the remains of hari ram in a suitable place realizing it to be the most expendient proposal in the given circumstances the men complied and kept silent over the whole affair.Early march with the culmination of the winter break the hustle-bustle of the insitute was restored. In the close knit community of the centre the death of a young man was shocking-almost unbelievable. Hari Ram's affable smile happy go lucky persona and free spirit had fetched him lots of friends among the staff and students. Now he was so far away from them all.A condolence meeting was held which held which was attended by all except one person associated with the community. Raj Vaidya a senior staff member had returned without his family. his wife neema had stayed back to spend more time with her parents looking after the younger doughter just a few months old was easier with the help of her mother .

the routine at the institute resumed. the cold began to wane and with it the memory of the departed. A new man replaced the deceased and life's routines continued.Summers arrived in may and Neema Vaidya returned home.the day temperature were comfortable twenty five degree and the night were cool the bright sunshine had begun to spread its golden warm cape over the mountains. the honeysuckle creeper scrambling up on one of the pillars in her house's portico was in full bloom and had spread its heavenly aroma far and wide. THE chestnut tree was once again filled with prickly fruits the apple,plum,and apricot tree on the hilly terraces were laden with small unripe fruits. May 10,1953 around four in the afternoon- the routine bustle in the students' hospital adjoining Neema's house was missing usually the students returned after classes around this time but presently the annual examinations were going on and today's paper was scheduled for the afternoon. IT would finish at five her husband was on invigilation duty and hadn't come home for lunch.the hectic toil since the morning had exhausted the mother of two children ever since her exhausted the mother of two children ever since her return a few days ago her seven=months=old  chitra had been a bit cranky taking time to adjust to her new environment her three-year-old veera was happy to be back with her father and in an overly playful mood. today much to her relief both her gils had decided on a long afterniin nap.It was a warm languorous afternoon inducing drowsiness and Neema took advantage of the opportunity. A short nap of half an hours was very rejuvenating.Once up she decided to finish her knitting. There was no season in shimla when the children could do without woollens. opening the window of her sitting room wider to enjoy a fresh cool breeze she sat down on an easy chair facing the window with her knitting. She must have been at her work for berely five minutes when she dropped a stitch and got focused on retrieving it. it was then that she heard a voice.someone greeted her from the open window."How are you,Memsa'ab?"She raised her eyes from her task to check on the visitor a man in a loose whitish shirt stood just outside the open window. oh hari ram ? I'm fine. seen you after a long time how are you?""how's veera?""Children are doing well thank you."i'll take veera with me."thank you hari ram not now she's sleeping. with great difficulty she went to sleep."Neema smiled."Maybe later in the evening you can take her to play outside. Hari ram nodded and left.She found nothing amiss except hari ram had sounded very different his voice was much deeper and distant as if he was making an effort to speak.

Hari Ram had often looked after looked after Veera. He was such a fine person.After chitra had been born he had been a big help when neema was struggling alone with the household chores and her children before she had gone home to mandi for winters he had come so often whenever he had some free time at hand. He loved to play with her little girls, especially veera-a very happy and lively child ,and very pretty with lovely pinkish complexion and large expressive hazel eyes. ever since she had learnt to talk she had become a non-stop chatterbox.Neema would smile seeing Hari Ram burst into laughter at her baby prattle.It 'll be nice if Hari Ram came in the evening to take veera out to play. Raj will come tried, and probably won't have the energy, Neema reflected and continued to knit blithely.Raj came home late the evening around six thirty.Students had appeared in his subject's exam that day, so it had taken him some time to count the papers and make the bundles.With the bundles under his arm,he reached home with the intention of starting to correct immediately,after his usual cup of tea. THE children were up and playful.it was a pleasure to come back home to his lovely family.the couple sat down to their evening tea in the dining corner of their sitting room Little chitra was happing gurgling in her father's lap and veera was making all efforts to climb onto his lap too.What an attention seeker she's becoming! wouldn't let her father have A cup of tea peacefully. Neema gently held the child's hand and pulled her towards her. Veera go and play with your toys.No, I want to sit on papa's lap. You take chitra away , the three-year-old persisted."Papa is tired,beta.""No,papa is not tired.He will play with me.""Now,don't be an adamant child,and come here,"the mother chaged her tone to sound firmLet her be Neema. She needs an outing. though I need to start correcting the papers,I'll take the girls out a while after I finish the tea."No, you don't have to. you can do your corrections .Hari ram said he would come to take veera out to play.He's late. Maybe he's on his way."Raj stared at her. 'What? what did you say?'"Hari Ram had come in the afternoon, around four. I told him to come in the evening and take Veera out to play,"Neema reiterated. She couldn't understand the changed expression on her husband's face. she lifted her cup to take a sip."Are you sure it was hari ram the peon?It could have been someone else,"Raj spoke gingerly. Neema put her cup down on the saucer.why someone else?don't I know Hari Ram? He used to take veera out to play so aften and at times help me with the household work. It could have been the new peon who has joined recently Raj affirmed despite his doubts.He know that the new peon was nowhere close to resembling hari ram.He was short short and stout unlike the deceased man moreover Neema hadn't even met the new peon.  what wrong with raj? Does be think I can't recognize people well? why are you saying that?Being away for a few months has not made me forget Hari Ram's face."when did he last come to help you?Raj spoke warily his heart in his mouth.beads of perspiration had collected on his brows.Neema remained unawere of it all."Hmm... He come after a long time today. Neema frowned and than said,"In fact for the first time since my return from mandi. "did he come in-inside the house?" Neema wondered why raj sounded so anxious and afraid NO, he stood outside at the window. children were asleep so I didn't feel the need to let him in. Though he will come now; he said so Neema sipped tea and watched Raj looking at the window as if it was something out of the world. why was he acting so weied? The window was still open. beyond it the twilight was slowly slipping into night. Only the pillar was faintly visible in the grey haze the cool breeza of the mountains streamed in generously through the window wafting in a little chill. Neema couldn't grasp what was making Raj so nervous,He was trying to stand but couldn't since veera sat at his feet.Neema please hurry shut the window. The desperation in his voice was palpable. Why does be want to shut out the lovely breeza? Neema relucatantly got up. she peeped out of the window. the fragrance of the blooming flowers was heavenly. she took a deep breath and lingered at the window for a few seconds.Neema shut the window Raj's voice rumbled a mixture of concern and fear.OKay I'm closing it why are you getting so worked up? Neema grudgingly closed and bolted the window and returned to finish her tea she frowned when she took a ship It had gone cold She liked to drink it hot she peeped inti Raj's empty cup and then picked up her cup and moved towards the kitchen to reheat it. Raj was sitting absolutely still on his chair looking pale and distrubed. What gone wrong with his mood Neema wondered would you like another cup of tea, dear.?NO, When Neema returned with her steaming cup refilled, she found Raj still sitting frozen in the same pose as she had left him. He was tightly holding in the same pose as she had left him.He was tightly holding on to his daughters. chitra was peacefully playing with her father's tie. Veera had lovingly rested her head on his chest and was sucking her thumb.Is something the metter?Are you not feeling well?"Neema sat down with her cup of tea.I relly don't understand.....understand what?, Neema lifted her cup and brought it close to her lips.Hari Ram is dead."What rubbish! He was here around four in the evening ." She frowned. She was about to take a sip but her hand froze in mid air."Did he die after that? He seemed all right. Was it an accident "NO. he died this winter, when we were away, Raj spoke slowly guardedly. he didn't want to frighten Neema. but he hadn't chosen the right moment. A choked scream escaped Neema's throat. she dropped the cup with its hot tea on her lap, scalding her thighs. the cup rolled down crashed on the floor, and broke into fragment. the children got frightened at the clattering and their mother's sudden reaction. they begen to wail. Neema's vision automatically traversed to the window. She was relieved it was shut. She was shivering and her burnt thighs hurt. But she remained glued to the chair. The couple gazed at each other. Had Neema known about the man's death and then had seen his ghost, it could have been taken as a figment of her imagination a hallucination. but she had no inkling to the fact that Hari Ram had died while he was away to mandi. No one had bothered to let her know for Hari Ram was a forgotten man now out of most lives  and minds. After comforting their daughters, the couple rushed to the little shrine in the corner of their bedroom. they lit a lamp burnt a bunch of incense sticks and offered prayers for the peace of the wandering soul. they prayed for the safety of their daughters. "Please protect us. No harm should ever come to our little family," They appealed to God. Later when Neema went to the kitchen to cook dinner, her husband followed her with his daughter still held protectively in his arms. The silence around their house felt unnerving. The students were busy preparing for the next day's exam and there wasn't the usual bustle around. Neema loudly and continuously incanted hymns to keep the restive spirit a bay. She could berely give attention to her cooking. As they sat down for dinner ,Raj expressed, "Neema, let's just keep quiet over the incident. There in no need to spread panic among the students. Most will not believe us anyway. Neema nodded. there was hardly anybody here with whom she shared that kind of rapport except with Mrs. Sharma the principal's wife she was like a older sister. But if Raj was insisting there most be a good reason for not disclosing it unless the ghost appeared tp more people, it may be a good idea to keep it a secret. The next few weeks went by smoothly. There were no unwanted visits no eerie visitor. the dread and dismay to fade from their lives. The routine at the training centre went on undisturbed. NONE except the couple had the knowledge about a wandering spirit among them. but they had prayed for its peace and perhaps that had its effect Hopefully the spirit had gone to its eternal rest. The examination at the school were over and the results were declared. The students prepared to go home. the first year batch on annual vacations whereas the graduates would soon jobs. the weather was warmer than the previous month. the weather was previous month the bushes on the hills were filled with vibrant blooms. their exotic, heavenly fragrance infused hearts with joy. Pa decided to organize a special treat for his students and a ferewell for the outing batch. After some deliberation He came to the conclusion that nothing would be more appealing to the young folks than the Indian Cinema.IT was very rare for the residents of this far-removed mountainous region to be able to watch a movie. the nearest cinema hall was in shimla, not easily accessible to all. Also it would be a big hassle to take everyone to a theatre at shimla. So, he decided to bring a cinema hall to the institution. He spoke with the director of the public relations department and he agreed to send his moblie cinema van complete with a screen projector and spools of the latest hindi film.Aankben starring bharat bhushan and nalini jaywant. He would also send along his technicians to set up a mini cinema hall for a day.When the announcement was made about the show there was an air of excitement in the campus. indian films becomes the hot topic for discussions the actors the movies songs and singers the debate kept on till the cinema van arrived on friday morning.Though the movie was to begin after lunch at two all students arrived from their hostel by ten in the morning as soon as the word spread that the cineama van had arrived on they requested the canteen owner to prepare early lunch and he happily obliged. HE didn't want to miss the show either So a picnic in the lawns before the moving got added to the entertainment a package.The technicians got busy setting up the moving theatre surrounded by a crowd of chattering curious excited students. By one thirty a big crowd had assembled outside the makeshift cinema hall word had spread in the two-mile radious and many families arrived uninvited for the show. So the movie was running a full house.Pa's contentment was marred by the fact that Ma wouldn't be joining him. she had developed a severe headache and had declared her inability to come. Another missing member was Neema vaidya. Her infant daughter was running a fever and she decided not to risk exposing her further. The machinery developed some snag and the movie show could begin only by two thirty.Once the black and white movie began the excited chatter instantly died down. Although the area around Neema's house was never a crowded zone due to the presence of the student community, its was seldom that still during the daytime.there would always be some kind of activity, sounds, and laughter around. Today, an overwhelming silence hovered on the region like hushed mist over a clam ocean. Ma swallowed a paractamol table with water and decieded to take's it easy. It was a rare opportunity to rest in the afternoon. All children including the hyper youngset, were away for at least three hours. She made hereself snug inside a quilt. Soon the medicine took effect and she was fast asleep.

A kilomettre away, Neema fed both her daughter. chitra had been restive since the morning; her fever made her cantankerous. Neema put nasal drops into her blocked nose,soothed her, sang her a lullaby and fimally managed to lull her to sleep. Veera was playing with her toys. her sleeping hours were decreasing day by day as her curious little mind was focused on the discovery mission.It was a lovely summer afternoon with a cool and pleasant breeza blowing gently. Neema opened the window to allow fresh air inside her bedroom. she stood there admiring the blooming flowers even though the intense silence in the area was making her uneasy. A fleeting memory of the eerie incident of last month crossed her mind but she immediately tossed it out. Hadn't they prayed ardently for the peace of Hari Ram's soul? She once again joined her hands and said a quick, silent prayer. But the loneliness depressed her today. She felt left out. She wanted to watch the movie. She had seen only two in her lifetime. that was before her children had been born. Raj hadn't even offered to stay back with the babies and allow her to go.But then he was needed to maintain discipline among the students. Neema heaved a deep sigh and withdrew from the window.Since Veera was up and playing, she couldn't lie down to rest even though her back felt stiff.There was some stitching left to be completed. She had been stitching dressess for her daughters. She kept the sewing machine on the tabe and sat down to work on it. An icy draught of air entered her room through the window. she shivered a little. the wheel of the hand-operated sewing machine continued moving in circles. The needle sewing machine continued moving in circles. the needle went up and down to attach the small bodice of the frock with the skirt.A sudden dimness in the light made her wonder if it was getting cloudy. she had her laundry drying on the clothesline outside. The weather in shimla was so unpredictable. the pre-monsoon rains would start any day, declaring an end to the divine summer season of shimla- her mind kept wandering from one thought to another. Her hands  deftly kept on stitching the dress.A stray dog enjoying the late afternoon sun in the porch suddenly whined breaking her thought process.The whining become distant. The dog had rushed away. Had someone hurt it?

[iamrobmorales]

wet and lost in this current climate || @thekeekee_gee || #theOG #iamrobmorales #Bayonne #NJ #unicornsearchparty #unicornsightings - SUBSCRIBE to UnicornSightings digital magazine for unpublished exclusive images of this set - link in bio (at Bayonne, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCvvvCIh77J/?igshid=7rep3axhclec

[marvinroy]

Top 5 Best Hotels in Shimla Near Mall Road for A Vacation

I have spent the last 3-4 years (roughly blogging about Himachal Pradesh’s principal tourist attractions). Additionally, I have been to most of the towns in Himachal Pradesh, and Shimla is obvious in that list alongside the quaint hamlets like Mashbora, Naldehra. Many people ask me what the best hotels in Shimla near Mall Road to stay at are!

You too can relate that a staycation is important with the proximity of the famous tourist attraction of the particular place you are visiting. Hence, I have decided to prepare a list of hotels in Shimla with prices near Mall Road. But before I proceed, let me tell you a little about the historic Mall Road in Shimla.

The exquisite pathway in Shimla for a leisurely de-stressing walk, Mall Road in Shimla, is the heart of Shimla where the tourism gathers the most during their holidays. There are places to shop woolen, handicraft items, and swanky restaurants. Hence, it is obvious that the Shimla hotels near Mall Road are always the talk of every Shimla tour package. Especially in winters, the charm of Mall Road folds 10 times during snowfall months from December to February. If you also wish to achieve nirvana by relaxing at Mall Road’s best tourist attractions, update yourself with the best hotels in Shimla close to Mall Road.

List of 5 Best Hotels in Shimla Near Mall Road

Hotel Dhroov, Shimla

Clarkes Hotel

Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort, Shimla

Hotel Combermere

Taj Theog Resort & Spa

To help you sort your vacation plans, here I have handcrafted the list of best hotels in Shimla with prices near Mall Road. Scroll on to read everything about the places to stay near Mall Road! So, fuel your car, ask your travel buddies to join because these the very best hotels of Shimla in and around Mall Road are just a few hours’ drive away from Delhi and Jaipur.

Hotel Dhroov, Shimla

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the all new Whiff of Hotel Dhroov..!! Located just 700 meters from The Mall Road, we at Hotel Dhroov are awaiting your presence to take you to the mesmerizing experience of hospitality with comfort. The delectable food, luxurious rooms, state of art interiors, relaxing stay and above all the amazing experience is what we aim to offer.

The hotel offers best in city gourmet cuisines and banqueting facilities making any occasion, whether social events, training, product launches, workshops and exhibitions perfect.

North Indian favorites and exciting Asian and Continental flavors can be experienced at Spice Bowl, multi cuisine restaurant and The Cask bar. Enjoy all-day and fine dining at Hotel Dhroov, Shimla.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services at Hotel Dhroov: Accommodation class at Hotel Dhroov comes in Classic Rooms (INR 6,000), Premium Rooms (INR 7,450).

Distance from Historic Shimla Mall Road: 700 meters (approx.)/5 minutes

Clarkes Hotel

Guests at Clarkes Hotel literally can enjoy the sweeping views of the entire town. The hotel beacons old-world charm of the British era because it was built in 1898. Its proper Shimla Mall Road allows visitors to come directly from Shimla Railway Station (10 km). The hotel is surrounded by colonial-era buildings like Gaiety Theatre, Gorton Castle, Rothney Castle.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services at Clarkes Hotel: Accommodation class at Clarkes Hotel comes in Deluxe Rooms (INR 9,500), Superior Rooms (INR 9,000), Premium Rooms (INR 10,500), and Suites (INR 13,000). It has 3 places to eat out of which one is a terrace (7 am – 11 pm) surrounded by flowerbeds. While the bar (11 am – 11 pm) serves vintage wines and indoor dining hall (7 am – 11 pm).

Distance from Historic Shimla Mall Road: 650 m/3 minutes (approx.)

Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort, Shimla

Imagine a staycation with your beloved one on honeymoon or a short romantic trip at the summer residence of Lord Kitchener’s. Wildflower Hall Shimla is set at 8,000 feet above sea level and is the most exclusive 5-star hotel in Shimla near Mall Road. All the rooms have poster king size bed, ottoman and Victorian style lamps, grand fireplace, paisley print sofas. Additionally, the architecture of Wildflower Hall is inspired by the traditional British colonial style. Vintage charm during staycation oozes. Rooms are classified as Deluxe Garden View Rooms, Mountain View Rooms, Deluxe Suites, Premier Valley View Room. A staycation in this property starts at ₹ 21,000 – ₹ 88,000 (approx.) excluding taxes. Installed.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services at Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort, Shimla: The indoor heated (temperature-controlled pool is the USP of Wildflower Hall, Shimla. There are 3 restaurants and a bar that serves lunch, dinner, and morning brunch. On the brighter side, the wellness treatment here is a cluster of eastern and western massages that revitalize guests’ minds, bodies, and soul to the core. Imagining detoxifying your body with the grand views of the Himalayas.

Distance from Historic Shimla Mall Road: 10.8 kilometers (approx.)/45 minutes

Hotel Combermere

A 3-star hotel close to the vicinity of the historic Mall Road, Hotel Combermere is one of the best Ayurvedic and wellness treatment hotels. It’s a newly built hotel and promises a heartwarming stay for couples, family travelers starting at just ₹ 6,000 (approx.) excluding taxes. While you are on Shimla holidays and if you select Hotel Combermere, nosh on Chinese and European cuisine at Cafe Sol. With 4 categories of rooms (Luxury Double, Large Double, Penthouse Suite, Luxury Suite), your staycation would be bliss at Hotel Combermere.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services at Hotel Combermere: They welcome children of any age means Hotel Combermere is a full-fledged family-friendly hotel near Shimla. It also features a Sun Terrace to witness spellbinding sunset and sunrise. What foreign travelers love about this property is the onsite currency exchange.

Distance from Historic Shimla Mall Road: 350 meters /2 min (approx.)

Taj Theog Resort & Spa

As the name suggests, this luxury property is managed by Taj Groups, and hence, you can expect notch-level hospitality. Particularly for couples, Taj Theog Resort & Spa is one of the romantic hotels in Shimla with nonsmoking rooms. Even more, you can enjoy the pine forest setting as the hotel is wrapped with lush green foliage, which turns white into winters. Planning a day trip to Shimla Forest Reserve (19 km) and Kufri Fun World (!5 km) is one of the best things to do! Choose from Luxury Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Premiums Rooms, Junior Suites, and Master Suites starting at ₹ 19,000 onwards for two excluding taxes.

Amenities, Facilities, And Services at Taj Theog Resort & Spa: The hotel welcomes wheelchair disabled persons. There are 3 on-site restaurants where you can nosh on the blend of cuisines, including Cantonese, Himachali, and Sichuan. Also, the BBQ facilities, onsite currency exchange, and revitalizing spa are the added USP of Taj Theog Resort & Spa.

Distance from Historic Shimla Mall Road: 30 kilometers/1 hours (approx.)

So, We Are Saying…

When are you unpacking your worries and making room for a stupendous holiday during the Hotel Dhroov Shimla?

Read more...

[marwahstudios]

Chail is Beauty of India- Sandeep Marwah in Himachal

Chail: AAFT School of Hospitality and Tourism is expanding its wings from north to South and from West to East of India also leaving no stone unturned to touch all possible countries where Indians can comfortably visit for internships and training and then for jobs in hospitality and tourism Industry.

“The students of AAFT School of Hospitality and Tourism are doing pretty well in the industry. Tough this is one Industry which has been badly affected by Pandemic in last two years, but I assure you that the boom is right at the corner. People are tired of sitting at one place from last so many months. Human nature, psychology and behavior have always proved that Human being needs change of environment-and this industry provides you the same with new experiences,” said Dr. Sandeep Marwah Chancellor of AAFT University and Managing Director of National Federation of Tourism and Transport Cooperatives of India Limited while talking to the press during his visit to Hotel Tavleen of ITC Hotels at Chail, Himachal Pradesh.

Sandeep Marwah, seven times World Record Holder, was also the brand Ambassador of Himachal Pradesh during 2010 and had been recipient of State Award. His last trips to Theog, Mashobra, Shimla, Kasauli, Kufri etc. were the most successful trips. His visits added a lot to the tourism of Himachal Pradesh.

[joyffree]

#NewRelease avail. on #KindleUnlimited

Title: Falling for the President's Daughter

Series: Satan's Fury MC

Author: L. Wilder

Genre: MC Romance

I’d spent half my life being her friend. Now, it was time for something more.

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller L. Wilder brings you a new addition to the original Satan’s Fury series. Sit back and spend some time catching up with your favorite Fury boys!

Flynn~

I’d grown up across the street from Cotton and the brothers of Satan’s Fury.

They were a legend in our small town.

I’d heard all the rumors about them.

Knew some of them were true.

But I didn’t care. I was only interested in her.

The second she showed up at the fence, I knew Lauren was like no one I’d ever known.

She was not only beautiful, she was strong and determined—and unapologetically so.

We quickly became friends—good friends.

But over time it grew into something more.

It wasn’t until her life was in danger that I knew how far I’d go to make her mine.

Falling for the President’s Daughter is a full-length, standalone MC romance with no cheating and a HEA. This story will have you rooting for the underdog, swooning over the boy next door, and fangirling over your favorite Fury men. Get ready for a wild ride!

When Tristan was kidnapped, Cotton sent Big and Nitro to bring her home safely—and they did. Only they brought Lauren along with her. The twelve-year old with dark hair and blue eyes quickly won Cotton’s heart, and it wasn’t long before he and Cass decided to adopt her. This is her story, and one you won’t want to miss.

#fallingforthepresidentsdaughter fftpdrelease #lwilderauthor #romanticsuspense #alphamale #mcromance #satansfurymc #romancebooks #theog #OG #tbr #amazon #kuromance #mustread #enticingjourney

@wilder_leslie

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