#TrackRecord

[ppcseo]

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[findinjurylaw]

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[intimeimmigration]

Are you facing visa refusal in the UK? In need of expert representation to handle your case? Look no further than Intime Immigration Solicitors!

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[usnewsper-politics]

Is Joe Biden Fit for Office? Democratic Challenger Questions Age and Energy in Primary Fight #age #campaign #challenges #connectwithpeople #DeanPhillips #Democraticchallenger #democraticparty #dissatisfaction #dynamicsofthepresidentialrace #experience #fightforeveryvote #fitnessforoffice. #freshideas #frontrunner #JoeBiden #lackofenergy #NewHampshireprimary #primaryelection #trackrecord #unelectable #viablecandidate #weak #weakness

[leroylawpa]

What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Summary:

When looking for a West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer, it's important to find someone with experience in the specific area of criminal law that your case involves.

An excellent criminal defense lawyer should be knowledgeable about the law, familiar with the local court system, and have a track record of success in similar cases.

Look for a lawyer who is responsive, communicative, honest, and able to explain legal concepts in terms you can understand. You don’t want to hire a lawyer that tells you what you want to hear.

Consider the lawyer's fees and payment options, and make sure they are transparent about their billing practices.

Finally, trust your instincts. Choose a lawyer you feel comfortable working with and who you believe has your best interests at heart.

If you've been charged with a crime in West Palm Beach, Florida, it's important to find a qualified criminal defense lawyer to represent you in court. A good criminal defense lawyer can help protect your rights, navigate the legal system, and work towards the best possible outcome for your case. But with so many lawyers to choose from, how do you know what to look for? Here are some tips from a West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer on what to consider when selecting a lawyer.

Experience and Knowledge

When looking for a criminal defense lawyer, it's important to find someone with experience in the specific area of criminal law that your case involves. Criminal law is a complex field with many different areas of specialization, such as drug crimes, DUI, white-collar crimes, and more. Look for a lawyer who has successfully handled cases like yours and is familiar with the local court system. A good criminal defense lawyer must also understand the applicable law and be able to explain legal concepts in terms that you can understand.

Track Record of Success

In addition to experience and knowledge, it's important to look for a lawyer with a track record of success in similar cases. Look for reviews and testimonials from past clients and ask the lawyer about their success rate in cases like yours. A good criminal defense lawyer should be able to provide examples of cases they've won and explain how they achieved those results.

Communication and Responsiveness

A good criminal defense lawyer should be responsive, communicative, and able to keep you informed about the status of your case. Look for a lawyer who returns your calls, texts, and emails promptly, provides regular updates on your case, and is available to answer your questions and address your concerns. It's also important to find a lawyer who can explain legal concepts in terms that you can understand so that you can make informed decisions about your case.

Fees and Payment Options

When considering a criminal defense lawyer, it's important to consider their fees and payment options. Some lawyers charge a flat fee for their services, while others charge by the hour. Ensure the lawyer is transparent about their billing practices and provides a clear breakdown of their fees. Additionally, consider whether the lawyer offers payment plans or other payment options that can make their services more affordable.

Trust and Comfort

Finally, it's essential to trust your instincts and choose a criminal defense lawyer whom you feel comfortable working with and who you believe has your best interests at heart. Your lawyer will be your advocate in court, and it's important to have a good working relationship with them. Look for an honest, ethical lawyer who takes the time to listen to your concerns and address your needs. Importantly look for one that is honest and talks openly to you about the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

Conclusion

Choosing a criminal defense lawyer in West Palm Beach is an important decision that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. By considering factors such as experience, track record of success, communication, fees, and trust, you can find a qualified criminal defense lawyer who can provide the guidance and support you need during this challenging time. Remember that a good criminal defense lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

Q&A FAQ:

Q: What should I do if I can't afford a criminal defense lawyer?

A: If you can't afford a criminal defense lawyer, you may be eligible for a court-appointed lawyer. Contact the court or your local public defender's office for more information.

Q: How long does it take to resolve a criminal case?

A: The timeline for resolving a criminal case can vary widely depending on the case’s complexity, the severity of the charges, and the court's schedule. Some cases may be resolved in a matter of weeks, while others may take several months or even years.

Q: What should I do if I'm arrested for a crime?

A: If you're arrested for a crime, it's important to remain calm and exercise your right to remain silent. Do not admit to anything or answer any questions until you've spoken to a criminal defense lawyer.

Q: Can a criminal defense lawyer guarantee a specific outcome for my case?

A: No, a criminal defense lawyer cannot guarantee a specific outcome for your case. The legal system is complex and unpredictable, and the outcome of your case will depend on many factors. However, an excellent criminal defense lawyer can minimize the impact of the charges against you and work towards the best possible outcome.

Q: Can I change lawyers during my case? A: Yes, you have the right to change lawyers at any time during your case. However, it's essential to consider the implications of changing lawyers carefully and to discuss your options with a qualified criminal defense lawyer.

[the-ant-in-amber]

Ive seen a lot of people say they're hoping Jinx goes to demacia in a future series so she can meet Lux, and while I do get the appeal of Lightcannon I do NOT trust riot to pull of a series about demacia. With how badly they handled the oppression of Zaun in s2 theres no way in hell they're qualified to tell that story rn

[voidcat]

leaning in for a peck on the lips and telling your windbreaker darling they're so sweet they give you toothaches... only to be hit by a real toothache hours later

[soraka-in-warhammer40k]

Riot Games, after seeing the massive wave of porn KDA has inspired, was like "hmm yes, horny K-Pop stans are a market, but we need a target group that is even more unhinged, more irrational, and even more likely to give us obsession-fueled money", and then they spent about five minutes online to came to the conclusion of "straight female k-pop stans" and voila:

We got a boyband now.

If this was five years ago I could have sworn this image alone would have spawned two dozen horny self-insert fanfics of varying quality before the week was even over.

[nordickies]

Nor and Den have uncle privileges, Sweden can't stop them ❤️🫶🫶 If they can spoil those kids, then by God they will

So true, and as they should! But poor Sweden, Den and Nor get the kids all fired up, then being like "Okay, I'm going home now, bye," easy for them to do!

[spinningbuster98]

Don't let the new trailer distract you from the fact that we'll be playing through Westopolis yet again

[windfighter]

my therapist told me to start writing again but my brain is just buuuuh? so if anyone feels like sending me a short prompt and a character that'd be appreciated :3

[anxiously-awaiting]

looking lightly wearily at the slowly approaching f/sf air date bc i am nothing but if not predictable and i am probably going to enjoy saber a lot

[trollocs-ooc]

As each day passes i am convinced more and more that 2/11 should not be running a romance blog.

[235uranium]

vaush is like the ben shapiro of leftist debatelords but like instead of talking fast he just screams stupid tankie authleft wokescold when you tell him his ethical child porn rant is weird as fucking hell

[ketsuarting]

This post is both beautiful and horrid so let me add on some things:

Sinners not being allowed in other parts of hell is most likely because of the same reason why heaven gets to come down once a year and slaughter them

Their king doesn't give a shit about his subjects.

Lucifer is top honcho in hell, because he is the strongest. He can literally, magic shit into existence, something we don't see any of the other sins do. Beelzebub is explicitly shown to need 'honey', Asmodeus is directly called the 'weakest of the sins' and Mammon clearly thinks there is a point in extorting others, so clearly he is no wealth of infinite energy. We don't know about Sloth, Wrath and envy (Belphagor, Satan, and...?) but PRESUMABLY they're in a similar boat.

The only thing that is keeping Lucifer from ruling hell is that he has neither drive nor a need to. He can just show up and snap his finger and voila, things are as he desires.

(just that he has no desires except for being close to his daughter, while still respecting her autonomy. Sadly cannot be snapped into existence)

Lucifer has no interest in fighting for his denizens. He has no interest in saving them from the exorcist and he probably just gave a disinterested nod when someone asked him to ban the sinners from the other rings.

Because the Sinners suck ass ✨

They do!!!

Hell, the reason why Lucifer is even IN the pride ring is because LILITH probably wanted to be there. She gave a shit! We don't know if it was out of solidarity or compassion or because she saw potential, but she CARED.

Lucifer is shown to be a recluse, while Lilith incited revolt.

The Happy Hotel is Charlie trying to prove herself to her people. To show, Hey! I am here for you! I WANT to be a good Princess for you! I want to pick up the slack that my parents left, Lucifer with his incompetence/apathy as a ruler and Lilith with her disapperance.

Presumably she CAN go to other rings, but those don't need her. They have their Sins that manage them. Mammon is generally well liked in his ring! Bee is considered a party queen! Asmodeus CLEARLY cares about his Ring.

Also: While Hazbin Hotel is not super novel with how it represents Hell (Rings, 7 deadly sins, lots of borrowed names and creatures and themes), it clearly refuses to follow any other established canon to the T and makes a point of diverging.

(the seven deadly sins not being actual 'sins of depravity', there being 7 and not 9 rings, not limbo or climbing up and down, etc etc)

That being said; at the end of the day this is a story and while it's nice to have cohesive worldbuilding, this isn't a Dark Souls game. This is a stage to make the furries have cool dialogue and fun scenes. I know a lot of people think this is automatically 'lazy writing', but you can also absolutely OVER ENGINEER THE PLOT. And these shows already do that. I am thankful they stopped before completely over complicating the lore.

(recently started watching this show with my mom and she has a really hard time following the plot because it's SO MUCH INFORMATION that you have to absorb. I have to constantly explain story beats because the show, to a degree, assumes that you have at least a passing interest in Bible fanfiction. Mind you, this doesn't make the show bad, she still enjoy the jokes, but what a lot of people critique the show for are actually very much NEEDED SHORTCUTS to make the show ACESSIBLE TO NEW VIEWERS. Not everyone wants to be an obsessed Superfan. I know. The horror. I don't understand it either.)

Having all the sinners in one ring helps condense the story. Having the happy hotel help streamlining character interactions. Having Charlie be overtly optimistic makes this show enjoyable instead of a Fuckfest of sadness and angst.

About people saying that sinners only existing on the top ring Pride in Hellavu Boss/Hazbin Hotel is lazy writing and makes no sense

I have been seeing people say that it makes no sense that sinners only exist at the top ring because in Dante’s Inferno each sinner would go to the sin circle that ruled their life. It’s worth noting that this is not Dante’s Inferno, and pointing out what happed in Dante’s Inferno and how it was supposed to work does not change the fact that taking inspiration from a story does not mean they are obligated to fallow it in a way that makes sense to you. Like the Bible, Lucifer did not in fact marry the folklore first human woman that came before Eve and became the first Demon. Nor did he have a Daughter with her.

And yes the fact that there are six other circles but their has to be an extermination every year because only Hell born can leave the top makes no sense. Because it’s not supposed to. Its more telling that their is shady stuff going on.

The vary first thing I noticed about the theme park was that if it were not for the imps running around you would think it was earth. The bluish green sky even looked like the regular earth sky you could even tell it was daytime. Hazbin Hotel everything was dark and vary packed. The second thing I noticed about the theme park, their was elbow room it wasn’t packed.

But why wouldn’t they go to the circle of the sin they were most guilty for in life because that’s how the punishment goes? Well does Lucifer care about punishing? Doesn’t anyone think it’s strange that the sinners only real torment is each other? Other then having to share space with ass holes they are pretty much free to do whatever. They even own businesses. Its like Lucifer does not actually give a shit what they did. Here’s a better question why should he care?

Thinking about it, in between Lucifer rebelling against God, being cast out and damed, I am missing the part where he agreed to be the dumping ground of the evil monsters, selfish Jackasses, or just troubled people who were just not really pure enough for heaven to want.

So why would he make the Hell born, his actual citizens, share space with creatures he wanted nothing to do with?

[shootingcookielover]

Villain!Donald One-Shot

Alrightttt because ppl really like the donald duck villain au...

Have a one-shot. As a treat! (I'm not promising more bc my trackrecord of finishing long-form fics is. Zero. But hey, if u like... Feel free to play around w the idea urself! Tag me in that though, i wanna read it, too xD)

Somehow, Donald had thought the days would feel more... Profound than this. That there would be an invisible weight off his shoulders, that the rage and resentment would have finally, finally cut off. Released, now that he was no longer affiliated with... Everything.

But he felt pretty much the same as he always had - bar the inevitable exhaustion of raising three children as a single parent. Uncle.

Luckily they were asleep for now, down for the night. Louie and Huey had, as always, been the easiest to put down.

How could anyone, anyone look at children - these soft, small, terribly fragile creatures and... Deem them fit for adventuring? For fighting off ancient curses and monsters and the undead?

His own childhood memories sat heavily in his mind, that old, familiar prickle of fear and adrenaline running through his system for a moment.

He shook his head, eyes moving downward to the pile of bills laid out before him. A couple newspapers were spread beside them, all open to show off whatever jobs were available right now.

Most of them had already been crossed out by him, the red crayon he'd used for it still rested in his hands. The color had started staining his feathers a little, not that he particularly minded. His shirt was equally stained, he wasn't sure he actually still had a clean one anywhere on the boat.

The boat he could only just afford with the help of the state, with the help of what little financial aid it offered for single parents. An aid, of course, heavily supplemented by one Scrooge McDuck. Living off of it made Donald feel like gritting his teeth. Like breaking something.

Not that he would. He couldn't risk waking the boys. Or breaking something important he wouldn't have the money to replace.

His head thunked face-first into the tabletop, beak squished against papers. A despondent sigh left him.

Money, it always came back to the money, didn't it? His uncle's adventures had also always cricled back around to that singular goal, no matter how much he'd claimed it was about "scientific discovery" or "archiological finds".

And Della had always eaten it up. Had strived to find the most exciting, mystical artefact, not realizing that Scrooge probably would have just ended up selling it to some schmuck.

Maybe, Donald thought, he could break into the Money Bin and just take some of that money. Certainly, once his uncle realized it was him, he would be left off the hook. What, with how they'd parted ways, with how Scrooge had insisted upon being "family".

Then again, family had always ended where the money began.

Donald balled his hand into a fist and finally raised his head from the table again. He plopped his face into his hand, staring sightlessly down at the papers he'd collected.

Even if he could manage to land a job anytime in the near future, he still needed a babysitter or a daycare of some kind. Someone to take care of the kids while he wasn't here.

The mere thought of leaving the boys with somebody else nearly left him breathless with worry. Enough so that he abruptly abandoned his seat and walked through the tiny "living room" area of the houseboat to his room. Their room.

(He'd seen the kind of terrors this world was home to, had fought them himself, even. Anyone of them making their way inside, closing in on the children - he didn't want to even think about it.)

He opened the door, silently as he could, just enough to peek his head inside. He had a baby monitor, of course, charged and ready to use on his table, but that wasn't enough.

He needed visual confirmation.

And there they were, in that crib that Donald had cobbled together, while the boys had been just in his eyesight, playing with toys.

All three were snuggled into their blanket, eyes closed, breathing calmly and only occasionally letting out little snuffles.

A soft smile crept onto Donald's beak.

Despite himself, he stepped into the room. Careful to avoid the creaking planks he'd discovered within his first week living on the boat, he approached the crib.

He reached down, where the little stuffed lion had fallen, that Donald had recently bought the boys. They'd been in love with it from day one, hardly willing to share it even with each other. Donald's heart still ached at the thought he couldn't even afford two more plushies for them.

The lion was lowered carefully and Dewey, always the most active out of the three, who lay at the very right, immediately snatched it away from Donald's hand. The movement was accompanied by a soft, baby hand smacking into his brother's, Huey's, face. The boy frowned in his sleep and turned around, but didn't wake up.

Donald let out a soft breath of relief as he pulled up the blanket a bit, to properly tuck the three in again. Louie didn't acknowledge any of the changes going on within the crib, blissfully, deeply asleep.

Donald couldn't help himself as he brushed his hand over the youngest triplet's head. For a while, he had been nothing but anxious about Louie. Because the little one had been so much sleepier, much less active than his brothers. But the doctor had reassured him that Louie was perfectly fine, his energy levels simply did not quite match up with his brothers.

The doctor had also promptly slammed him with an outrageously high bill for the appointment, but Donald decided not to think about that for the moment. He didn't want to ruin his mood again, not when he'd just managed to calm himself.

He backed away from the crib, intent to go gather the bills and newspapers he'd laid out, maybe look over them tomorrow when he'd had some sleep. (He already knew Dewey was going to wake him up in the middle of the night again, hungry and fussy and bothering his brothers in the process.)

Except as he softly closed the door, making sure it didn't produce a sound, his eyes caught on the opposing wall. Or, more accurately, the window across from him. Because that window was wide open, letting in the cold night air.

Immediately, Donald was on alert. His shoulders tensed as he looked over the room, poised and ready to defend himself as well as the babies in the next room, should it come to that.

But the room looked entirely untouched, except for the open window. A bit dirty, a bit messy, sure, but not anymore or less so than before Donald had gone to check on his nephews.

His brows furrowed into a frown. Strange.

Perhaps he'd opened the window earlier and forgotten...?

Still he didn't relax, even as he approached the window and closed it again. It looked fine, really, no evidence of being tampered with or anything. And certainly Donald would have heard anyone come in, even from the boys' room. Even through the door - it wasn't exactly sound-proof, after all.

Reasanobly reassured, Donald went back to his pile of papers. A few had scattered off the table and now decorated the ground.

With a huff Donald bent down to pick them up.

But as he did so, something red caught his attention in the corner of his vision. It couldn't be the crayon - he was still carrying that around, after all - no. It was an envelope, half-hidden under the pile of other documents.

Frowning harder than before, Donald reached out and pulled it free. His tension was back immediately and his gaze hushed over to the baby monitor for a second. But no sound came from there, nothing indicating anything being amiss.

Only the red envelope in his hands.

He didn't remember it being in the pile of mail he'd grabbed that morning - mostly bills, really - and there was no address on the front, either. All that was written on it in awfully nice, unfamiliar handwriting was "For Donald Duck".

Even as he turned it, he didn't expect to find more. And he was right, the back was entirely blank.

Already over this, whatever this was, he began ripping open the letter. Meanwhile he tried composing a mental list of Scrooge's enemies and which one was most likely to send a threat to Donald, of all people, when he had so clearly distanced himself from his uncle.

The list shattered into a pile of questions as he read the words trapped within the envelope.

"Dear Mr. Duck,

It has come to our attention that you have recently split off from your uncle and are in dire need of both a babysitter and a job. To prove that we do not have any malicious intentions toward you or the children, we propose a meeting with one of our representatives."

There was more, after that, instructions about a place to meet - a public place, a playground in the middle of Duckburg, yet not too far from the boat. Donald knew it well, went there often if only to satisfy his own need for fresh air.

It was a well-frequented place, always full of other parents - some of which had helped Donald with the kids before, some of which he'd thought of setting up a play-date with. Innocent, potential victims.

The thought of agreeing to this made every single alarm bell in his head ring deafeningly loud, but at the same time... His gaze travelled to look over the newspapers he'd been attempting to find a job in.

He sighed as he put down the envelope beside his bills. His finger tapped the tabletop a couple of times, his tired mind busy debating the pros and cons of the situation.

The cons list was pretty long, at this point.

But, even though it was shorter, the pros list held a couple of very important points that Donald would be remiss to ignore.

His musings were cut short by the sudden cry of a newborn.

Red envelope forgotten, Donald dashed into the boys' room again.

----

He'd debated calling Beakley for back-up, just some silent support in case things went south.

Now he regretted that he'd decided against it.

His nerves were high as he sat on the bench, watching the boys toddle around the sandbox. They stayed close to him today, though Donald hadn't told them to. Certainly, if he had, they'd have soread out as far away from him as possible.

Perhaps the little ones had picked up on Donald's anxiety. He had heard from other parents that children often were a lot more perceptive than adults gave them credit for.

Though his nephews were still so small. How could they realize his emotional turmoil? How could he put that on them? How could he put them in danger like this?

Hardly five minutes after sitting down, Donald stood up again.

This was a mistake. He shouldn't have come. Shouldn't have listened to that letter.

He was just so damn tired--

"Huey!", he had barely been able to call when an unfamiliar voice spoke up from just beside the bench.

"Mr. Duck?"

He turned and his heart sank into his stomach. He'd been right.

This was a mistake.

Stood just beside the bench were two people, one he didn't recognise, a duck with red hair who stayed in the back, not appearing to be paying attention. The second was Black Heron.

He remembered her, remembered feeling terrified, petrified as a child, faced with the supervillain. That same feeling now rushed through his veins, alongside overwhelming concern for the boys.

His eyes darted to the side for a moment, glancing to where they'd been just moments prior. They were there still, appearing unbothered as they dug through the sand.

"Black Heron.", Donald replied, voice cool as he returned her gaze.

The other grinned, reaching out with one hand. A robotic hand, Donald noted, with sharp bits and pointed ends that he wanted never, ever anywhere near his nephews. "So you do remember me. I am flattered, Mr. Duck."

"What do you want?", Donald asked, tone harsh. This sort of thing was exactly why he'd left Scrooge in the first place. He had no desire for the boys to get involved with things like this.

Pulling back her ignored hand, Black Heron rolled her eyes. "Now, please. There's no need to be so hostile."

"Yeah! It's not like we're here tl kidnap the kids or anything! Now, if we were planning that you should be concerned, but honestly I don't know if I could do that. I mean, look at them! They're so adorable, I don't think I could focus long enough to take them! Not that I'm particularly good at focussing regardless, but my point is--"

"Quiet!", Black Heron interrupted the ramblings of her... Accomplice, a severe expression in her face.

The other woman looked sheepish and yet somehow entirely clueless and unaffected as well. "Sorry.", she said simply, giving a bit of a shrug.

Donald didn't feel very comforted by what was going on, though he supposed at least they weren't openly threatening to take the boys. He stole another glance at them. They were fine, Huey was busy digging a plastic shovel into the ground, Dewey had started shoveling sand into his beak and Louie looked about five seconds away from falling asleep next to his brothers.

Wait. Dewey was shoveling sand in his mouth.

"Dew-", he began, already starting in that direction.

But he was quickly eclipsed by the red-haired stranger Black Heron had brought along. She sped past him and picked up Dewey from the ground.

Donald's heartbeat sped up faster than the Cloudslayer could fly. "What are you- Put him down!"

But the woman wasn't paying him any mind. She was swaying Dewey back and forth, and... Talking to him.

"Y'know, I thought eating sand was a really fun idea, too, when I was younger, but then I tried it again recently and oh boy, let me tell you, getting the grit out of your teeth is nearly impossible! And, well, I mean you barely even have any teeth but, still you shouldn't get into the habit, y'know? Besides, who knows what all is crawling around in playground sand! You could get all sorts of sicknesses! Why don't you chew on this instead?"

She reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out... A teething ring? She held it out to Dewey and the boy eagerly grabbed it, before shoving it in his mouth. "There, see? Much better!", the woman exclaimed before setting Dewey back down on the ground.

Donald felt a little lost at the display. "I- what?", he muttered, trying and failing to keep his worldview intact. He shook his head. Maybe all the lack of sleep was getting to him.

"Hm, yes, I was surprised, too, but apparently Agent 01 is quite adept at taking care of children.", Black Heron added, arms crossed against her chest as she watched the kids now, too.

"Oh, yeah, I had to take care of my little siblings all the time when I was younger.", the woman - Agent 01? - added, grinning up brightly at them, from where she sat kneeling in the sand, entertaining Huey.

Donald blinked a few times, still feeling unbalanced. Sort of as though somebody had pulled out the rug from under him. His unease and worry were still there, but he found mild intrigue there, now, too. The letter had mentioned there would be a babysitter. And a job.

Donald's brows knitted together again.

"What do you want?", he said again, glancing Heron's way once more, tone a touch less hostile than earlier.

-----

Working for F.O.W.L. wasn't so bad, really, Donald thought. Of course he wasn't one of the actual agents - moreso filling the role of accountant, fiddling with and filling out paperwork, but Donald didn't mind.

He liked it, actually, the quiet that came with it, the calm. Certainly he wasn't used to it; his life had always been hectic, one adventure chasing the next, chasing the next and then he'd abruptly become a caregiver for three children and the very idea of having a calm day went out the window.

But now? He tapped his pen against his desk a couple of times. He had an entire little office to himself, here in F.O.W.L.'s underground headquarters.

A desk with a chair, a couple of filing cabinets, a potted plant. A cozy little carpet on the floor, a "hang in there!"-poster on one wall. A poster with the F.O.W.L. logo on the other.

This might be the most normal experience Donald had ever had. And it was in the HQ of a secret organization that strived for world domination.

Truly only in this family, Donald thought with a sigh.

He scribbled down a couple more notes on the paper he was currently working on, before shoving it aside on the "finsihed" pile. He felt almost at peace.

His teeth came down on the back of the pen. His gaze flitted to the clock that hung above the door.

The document before him was nearly ledgible.

Nearly, because Donald couldn't focus.

Who was he kidding? He was the furthest thing from peaceful!

What was he even doing?! Working for F.O.W.L.?!

He stood up, chair spinning away behind him.

His steps were quick and crisp as he crossed the room. The door opened easily, unlocked, and as he peered outside he didn't find any guards, either.

They were underestimating him, then. He could work with that. He'd worked with that constantly when he'd been a child and none of Scrooge's enemies had taken him seriously.

The hallways looked basically normal as well, as normal as one could get, who knows how many miles under the earth.

Donald strode with confidence, face set into a snarl.

He knew where the boys where, knew that Pepper - Agent 01, the woman who'd accompanied Black Heron that first time - was in charge of keeping them safe and entertained.

How could he have agreed to that? Agreed to have a F.O.W.L. agent watch over his nephews? Even one as apparently harmless as Pepper?

He found himself picking up his pace until he was running through the hallways. Eggheads shot him confused looks as he made his way past, but didn't say anything.

He slid to a stop by the door of the "daycare".

He had to restrain himself from ripping it off his hinges, in a desperate effort not to draw more attention to himself.

In the room itself - floor covered in soft, colorful mats, looking like puzzle pieces, decked out with all sorts of toys and plushies - Pepper looked up in surprise, Louie peacefully napping in her arms.

"Donald!", Pepper exclaimed in surprise, voice subdued for the benefit of the sleeping infant.

Huey and Dewey weren't far from her, distracted by their own little toys. Dewey was chewing on that same teething ring Pepper had provided him at their first meeting.

"What are you doing to them?!", Donald snapped, voice a dangerous whisper.

Pepper blinked, part confusion, part surprise. "Uh, well, I was going to lay this little one down for a proper nap soon and maybe read Huey and Louie a story, later?"

"No.", Donald replied. "What are you doing to them?! To me?!"

"Uhm.", Pepper looked entirely lost at his line of enquiry. "...nothing?"

"Impossible!", Donald snapped. "I wouldn't have agreed to this if I wasn't, if you didn't--", his words died in an unintelligible garble of noise, frustration spilling out of him.

"Mr. Duck.", a new voice spoke up, unfamiliar in tone and cadence, yet he couldn't shake the feeling he's heard it before.

"What?!", he responded, whipping around to face the newcomer.

To face--- Donald blinked a couple of times.

Was that... The head of Scrooge's board of directors? What?

"Mr. Duck, I undrstand that this is all a lot to rake in, but I assure you, we are doing nothing to you or your nephews - aside from providing them proper childcare, of course."

Donald's mind restarted suddenly and he glared. "How do I know you're telling the truth? You and your people have tried to kill me a dozen times!"

"Oh, no, Mr. Duck, I understand how you could have come to that conclusion, but that is not what we - what F.O.W.L. - is all about, not at all. We have not been attempting to kill you, as you put it, but rather to put a stop to your uncle."

There was something awfully calming, relatable even, in the old vulture's stance, in his tone of voice, the way he spoke. Donald huffed, regardless, glancing over at the kids again.

Huey was staring up at him, now, eyes big, tiny beak curving into a smile.

"So you can take over the world.", Donald scoffed, attention returning to the vulture. He didn't remember the guy's name, but he'd seen him before plenty of times. Always complaining about money spent.

Surprisingly, he didn't try to deny it. He nodded. "Indeed. To make it safer. For you, for me, for... Them.", he gestured to the children.

Pepper was humming a tune as she played with Dewey, Louie still securely wrapped in her arm.

"So that none of them have to go through what we did."

"...we?", Donald repeated, confused.

The vulture wasn't looking at him, anymore, gaze placed on something far off, distant. "Indeed. You are not the only one who suffered through a childhood of danger and adventure at the hands of their family."

Donald jerked back in surprise, eyes going wide. "What- you-"

"My grandmother. She always took me along, no matter how little I wanted to.", the old vulture sighed, gaze meeting Donald's once more. "I only want to ensure that this fate does not befall any more innocent children, Mr. Duck."

Donald glanced betweent he vulture and the children still expertly being tended to by Pepper.

Of course Black Heron had already given him a basic run-down of what had just been explained to him, but... Well, it was hard to argue with that look in the other's eyes.

Donald had seen it plenty of times; that haunted, hollow thing. Every time he'd looked in a mirror, they would stare back at him. Every villain, every menace, every danger he'd faced as a child.

Heron hadn't just made up a story to convince a poor, sleep-deprived Donald to join F.O.W.L. he realized.

Tension bled out of his frame as he stepped into the room. He knelt besides Huey, smiling as the child grabbed ahold of his finger.

"...I'm sorry.", Donald muttered, "I don't know what... I understand."

"That's alright.", the vulture answered, easily. "You were traumatized. I know from experience that trusting people can be hard after what we've both experienced in childhood."

Donald gave a quiet chuckle. It was nice to have someone who understood.

Of course, Della had been there - thinking of her made him wince with pain - but she'd never quite realized how much Donald resented the adventures she loved so much.

He reached down, pulling Huey into his lap.

The little boy giggled, gurgling a couple of indistinct sounds.

He would help make sure no other child had to grow up as he did. Especially these children.

His children.

-+-+-+-++

Wow would u look at that! I have no idea how i got here but i kinda like it lol

Poor Donald being put under a lot of pressure aint he? Idk what else to say tbh

If u liked it. Please let me know :D

If u didnt like it... I do appreciate constructive criticism lol

Yes, I made Pepper Agent 01 to insinuate that she was the first egghead that joined F.O.W.L.. I just thought that was a fun idea x3