#and having them walk me thru where this button for reporting things is and then doing that

[today-i-am-thinking-about]

fake phishing emails sent by company IT departments

[greyfongschemmenti]

Hesitate 4|15

FryeArcana

Chapter 4: Welcome to Republic City

Alarm blaring and you groan turning over onto your back and slam on the snooze button. You take a couple of seconds to take in the morning keeping your eyes closed and take a couple of breaths, then slowly open your tired eyes. You sit up and rub your eyes then run your hands thru your hair taming your bedhead then look out your window.

Darkness

It’s still dark outside, but you can see yellow-orange rays start to creep of the sun coming out of the horizon.

You turn to go to the bathroom and get ready for work. Images of Lin creep up into your mind while you shower, and you feel a slight tickle in the pit of your stomach. You quickly brush it off and get dressed metal bending into your armor before leaving your apartment and mount onto your cycle and head to work.

*

You make way to your desk and look over at the chief’s office, it is in her line of sight she can’t easily look out and your desk being the first she sees. It can be a good thing or a bad depending on the chief’s mood. You put your helmet in your bottom drawer and walk over to look over at a couple of cases, grabbing a cup of coffee at the snack station and return to your desk. You get called by officer Song and get told to come for a ride along, going to spend some time surveilling the streets. You nod and stand back up as both of you start to head out and get into a squad car.

*

Officer Song and you walk back to the station as you walk to your desk you’re stopped by Lin who touches your shoulder which sent a light shock down your spine and you looked over at her over your shoulder and see her index finger curve signaling for you to follow.

“Yes, Chief?” you follow a step behind

“You will accompany me to City Hall this morning for some security.” The chief stated in a slight annoyed manner.

“Sure Chief, what’s going on at City Hall?” you can’t help but ask

“The Avatar has decided to present herself to the public and wants to make an announcement. Since you have previous experience with security details being in the security force at Zaofu. You seemed to be the perfect choice.”

“Well thanks for the vote of confidence, Chief.” You smirk but can’t help but get a slight annoyance about the Avatar. Your first impression on her wasn’t the best, maybe this press conference will change her mind.

You and Chief Beifong arrive to city hall and you walk around the perimeter to make sure every corner has officers before getting back to the steps and stand nearby on the left side of Avatar Korra while the Chief stood at the other side, both of you with your arms behind your back. You listen to the Avatar not being able to answer any of the reporter’s questions. Most of them wondering on her plans on handling the growing number of triads and the anti-bending revolution.

“but, honestly, I-I don’t exactly have a plan yet.” Korra nervously stated while standing at the podium. You look over at her and can’t help, but roll your eyes wondering why she would even gather the public without some sort or plan.

“but, look, all I know is Avatar Aang meant for this city to be the center of peace and balance in the world, and I believe we can make his dream a reality. I look forward to serving you. I’m so happy to be here. Thank you, Republic City.” She spoke more animated and confident as she spoke you can’t help but look down at the crowd, once she finished councilman Tenzin took over and escorted Korra out of the press’s views. Lin leading them inside with you following behind Tenzin and Korra while the rest of the security force disperse the crowd.

“well that was…” Tenzin

“stupid?” Chief chimed in as she crossed her arms as she stood her ground

Korra quick to get upset “Hey, I’m just doing the best I can”

“I agree…” you chimed in and all three look over at you as you glance up and look at Korra “…with Chief Beifong. It was stupid and a waste of the people's time, you just welcomed yourself to the city but offered no sort of plan or action or even have any idea on how to help the city. It was basically a publicity appearance. I’d rather you had kept your appearance low until you had a good grasp on the situation rather than look like a fool out there” you spoke calm, collected but annoyed not breaking eye contact with her as you cross your arms.

Korra red on her cheeks steps over towards you “wow, thanks for the vote of confidence. The city is totally out of whack and needs direction, I’m sure the police is doing what they can, but they need the avatar. Whoever you are.”

“y/n” you quick to respond back to her, not fazed but a slight smirk as you see how hot tempered the avatar can get.“alright stand down, y/n.” chief interjected. You huff as you stand down and both of you try to calm down. “well the conference is over no need to stay huddled” Lin sternly spoke as she walked past Tenzin and Korra toward the door and you followed closely behind.

You both get into the squad car and make it back to the station not before Lin looks over at you on the way there.

“that was some words in there, y/n” she looks out not taking her eyes off the road while she drives.

“yeah, sorry chief. Just it makes no sense, She’s the avatar but doesn’t seem to know what she’s doing” you mutter

“hmm, well as much as I agree with you, she hasn’t done anything to deserve praise for that little show back there, but are you going to lose your temper at every conference?” She frowned as she raised her eyebrow at glancing at you while she drives.

“no, sorry chief, it won’t happen again.” You look out onto the streets till you reach the station and head out of the car and head back inside of the station with the Chief.

"you better" Lin said as she walked back to her office while you take a seat at your desk. For your little outburst you got assigned to rewrite reports and conduct preliminary & follow-up criminal and traffic investigations for the remainder of the day.

One thing is for sure you have a feeling that this won’t be the last time you’re going to run in with the Avatar.

You finish with your shift and rub the back of your neck after a shower at the station and changing into your domestic clothes. You walk by towards the officers desk and notice the chief still at her office when the majority of officer have gone except for the night shift.  

you walk up at the door frame and knock as you look at Lin "you're not heading home, chief?" you asked

"no, got piles of paperwork to get down, but I'll leave in an hour or two, but you go ahead on home or wherever you're planning on doing" she mutters as she shuffles the papers around as she writes down notes and signs others then glances up at you. "anything else?" she pushes her glasses down.

"nothing chief, I hope you have a nice night. see you later, goodnight" you give her a warm smile and head out the station. You’re tired and ready to relax but decide to head out into the city and go visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

*

The door opens with the butler welcoming you inside “ah welcome miss y/n I’ll let master Hiroshi and miss Asami know you’re here”

“thank you” you smile softly and stood in the giant foyer of the Sato family mansion.

“y/n!” you turn around and notice Asami and smile as she runs up and gives you a hug. “it’s been a while since I last saw you. You should join father and I for dinner?” she smiled as she looks at you

“sure, I hope I’m not intruding family dinner. I should’ve called before coming, sorry about that” You sheepishly smile

“oh nonsense, you know you’re always welcomed here. So what brings you to the city?” she says as you both walk over to the dining room where dinner has been prepared and the butler sets out a plate for you. You look around and notice Mr. Hiroshi isn’t there.

“I’ve actually moved here; it’s been a couple of days, so I’ve been adjusting to the move. I got a job at the police force…. Is your father not joining us for dinner?” you look at her as you take a seat beside her while the butler serves your dinner.

“no, my dad is busy working tonight. He got a stroke of genius and wanted to work on his ideas before he could forget it. You know my father. So he’s working at his workshop behind the house.”

“ah well that’s nice, wouldn’t want to get in the way of success.” A quote she heard a lot from Suyin growing up in Zaofu.

“yeah you’re right” Asami softly laughed “you should stop by the factory. I’m sure father wouldn’t mind getting a second opinion on the designs of the new line of satomobiles we have lined up. Dad actually misses you at the office, your designs are still being used on the current models. Remember how we would race each other on the tracks?” she smiled

You can’t help but reminisce the brief time you spent in Republic City before you had settled in Zaofu. “yeah, I guess I can swing by on my day off and look over at the designs… I remember beating your butt on the tracks, but I’ll admit that you’ve served me mine too” you grinned and can’t help but laugh. You both enjoy your meals and you talk about your time in the city and can’t help but vent out to her about your encounter with the avatar.

“yes, I heard on the radio about how the Avatar has come to Republic City, but this is a new environment to her. She needs time to adjust and get a handle on how the city runs. Maybe you should ease up and see how she works?” she has her finger on her chin as she thinks. You can’t help but smile at how she would always try to think about the other person.

“oh like the first impression I had of you when we first met?” you chuckled which caused Asami to smile as well thinking back. “oh yes, just like that.”

*

You remember back to meeting Asami the first time at one of the shopping centers. She was looking for some parts for a project she was working on while she had a guard standing by. You were buying a new clock when you had accidentally smashed the last one with your bending. When you both turn into each other knocking each other out and landing on your bums.

“hey, watch where you’re going” you spat out and look at the newly bought clock broken on the ground beside you “oh great” you groan

“sorry, I should’ve watched where I was going. I didn’t see you” a soft voice spoke, and she helped you up and noticed your broken clock. “oh man, I broke your clock. I can fix it for you if you like or replace it for you. Here follow me.” she absentmindedly grabs your hand and takes you to the private car where the chauffer is there to drive back to the mansion.

“wait what? I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to follow you. I mean people would think I’m robbing you or something”

“robbing you in my own car and chauffeur?” Asami stopped and looked back confused “just get in, nothing is going to happen.” You exhaled and stepped inside the car with her following behind.

You look around quietly taking in your new surrounding before speaking “so, are you rich or something? It’s not every day you have a chauffeur around. Who are you?” you muttered

“oh sorry, I’m Asami Sato”

“Sato? As in daughter of Hiroshi Sato, industrialist and founder of Future Industries Sato?” you looked at her shocked as she looks out the window “what’s a rich girl like you walking around in the busy streets of republic city. Shouldn’t there be security following you around?”

“I’m not rich, that’s my father’s success. I don’t need security; I know how to defend myself. My father had me tried by the best self-defense teachers in the city so I would always be able to protect myself.”

“uh well I guess that’s smart of your father” you keep eyeing Asami as the drive continues your first impression of her was quick to think that she was another heiress who would be prissy and want to flaunt her riches, but you were soon be oh so wrong.

Once you get to the Sato mansion you are in amazement at just how large the estate is. Asami walks you towards her room as she has a desk with a small set of tools. She grabs your clock that you haven’t let go and started to fix it right up in no time. You look around and notice that her room looks just as normal as any teenager just slightly messy desk with drawings and ideas. Seems like she has the same innovative mind just like her father.

“ok, all done” she says as she turns on the clock and works in perfect condition.

“wow, well would you look at that, thanks” you smile as you look over the clock and see how she was able to fix it.

“I guess I pegged you wrong, sorry” you softly spoke a slight blush creeping up on your cheek

“what do you mean?” she looks at you as she sat at her desk

“well once you told me who you were I figured you were some prissy rich girl but looking around and getting to know you a bit more I can see that I was wrong” you look at her.

“well, you shouldn’t be so quick to judge someone. You’ll be surprised to find out about a person once you get to know them” she smiled softly

You couldn’t help but smile back

You come back from that memory as you look at Asami “since then you’ve always been like a little sister to me. It took getting used to being friends with a girl who 7 years younger, but you’ve ways been more mature than kids your age. Sometimes I forget how old you are, Sami” you laugh “what are you 19?” you smile as you take a drink from your cup.

“close, 18. Well you’ve always acted younger than you are. You’ve had a kid like spirit, but I see your time at working with the Zaofu security force matured you, a bit.” She smiled back.

“hey, I can act my age when I want to, just went I’m with the right company well my attitude differs” you look at her and you both can’t help but laugh.

After some more time with catching up with each other it was time to dismiss yourself and say goodbye to Asami.

You make your way out of the residence when a catch a glimpse of two figures huddled in the corner whispering. You try to get close without getting detected but a small crunch of leaves blows your cover and you quickly mount on your cycle and speed off before either one of those figures realize your identity.

You mind races as you’re settled in your apartment and set for bed. Thinking at who those figures were nearby the Sato residence whispering about. Should you have turned back and meddled? It didn’t seem dangerous just some shady whisperings, you think back that time about the break in and robbery at the Sato mansion and decide to just give Asami a ring to calm your nerves.

“hello?” you hear Asami’s voice on the line

“oh hey Sami, sorry to bother you just I forgot to let you know when I got home. Just in case you were wondering. Everything cool at home?” you tried to sound as calm as you can.

“oh that’s great you made it home safe. Yeah, all good over here, just getting ready for bed, you?” her voice just as calm, she didn’t sound nervous or give any indication that she was other than okay, which calmed you.

“that’s good, well I should let you go. Hope you sleep well. Thanks for dinner by the way. It was great as always.”

“anytime, y/n. you’re always welcomed here. Goodnight sleep well too” you both ended the call and you head to bed and look up at the ceiling which is something you always tend to do before falling asleep. Though everything gave you the indication that Asami and her father are safe there is a feeling you can’t help but shake.

[rukia-writes]

✨Sugar daddy Levi Ackerman x college student! Reader✨ (AU)(Part 2)

✨Rated: M✨

“I don’t think it was that bad.”

(Name) reassures Levi as he was sitting at his desk doing some paper work. Levi’s gaze turns from the paperwork to (Name) who had just placed a hot cup of green tea near him on his desk. 

“I’m not saying it was bad. I’m saying they’ll be way into our relationship. Even though we repeatedly said we’re just friends.” 

Levi rubs the back of his neck with his right hand while his left pulls (Name) in, placing her on his lap. 

“Well, maybe they fell for it-” 

Levi places his hand on (Name)’s rear end, gently rubbing it as (Name) knew where this was going. 

Where things always end up.

“I doubt it.” 

“..Levi, your hand.” 

“What about it? What, you don’t like me rubbing your ass anymore?” 

“No! its not that its just that I have homework tonight...I can tell when you’re in the mood.” 

Levi only smirked in response, she was right. Then with a firm slap on her rear end resulting in a moan from his sugar baby.

“Okay, I hear you. Get on your homework then.”

(Name) had a quick change of heart as she rubs Levi’s clavicle, his shirt that was loose with two of his shirt buttons undone. 

“Well..Its not due tonight, I can do it tomorrow.” 

“No, you said you should do it. Go do it.” 

“But I can do it tomorrow. Besides you look stressed Levi.” 

Levi admitted stressed because of all this damn paper work Erwin made him do. (Name) was definitely a great way to relieve this stress. However, Levi knew (Name) should do her homework so she does well in her classes. Levi only wanted the best for her, and if that meant no bed rattling sex tonight then so be it.

“I’ll be fine. Just do your homework.” 

“What if I do some of it and the rest tomorrow? A compromise.” 

Levi thought about it for a few seconds and nodded in agreement. 

The sun shined thru Levi’s bedroom curtains as was getting ready for work that day, (Name) was asleep still. 

Naked with bed sheets wrapped around her, her hair a disarray from last night. Levi admitted that he might have went a little harder than normal, but he was stressed and blowing out (Name)’s back out always relieved him. 

Always. Guaranteed.

Had he not went out to the bar with his co-workers that night a few months ago, he more than likely would have never meet her. 

Levi liked her presence. (Name) was funny, sexy to him, and definitely something else in bed. 

That’s when Levi just noticed all the clothes that (Name) had in the walk-in-closet that he let her have. 

If Levi knew better he believed all that money he gave her to go shopping with was gone. 

Shrugging his shoulders he left for work all the while thinking to himself that (Name) deserved one more gift. 

She did after all do well last semester. 

One more gift. 

Later that day (Name) was in class listening to the teacher when the intercom in the classroom made an announcement. 

“Ms. (Last name) please report to the main office at once.” 

The class erupted in “ooo” teasing her making her slightly emberassed, however she was curious as to why she was being called in the office. 

Once arriving at the office (Name) sees her mother there with a few papers in her hands. 

“There you are sweetie, I was wondering what was taking you so long.” 

“Mom, this is a university. It takes awhile for someone to get to A to B. Why are you here anyway?” 

“Right...look at this.” 

(Name)’s mother hands over the pieces of paper she had in her hands. Looking thru them (Name) recognizes them to be her mother’s hospital bills. 

Except they all said “Paid in Full”. 

“Weird right. It came in the mail this morning.” 

“Did you..pay it off?” 

“No. I’ve been trying though.” 

(Name)’s mother had an operation a few years ago and the operation was very expensive but it needed to done. As such, (Name) had an idea of who could’ve paid it if it wasn’t her mother or a friend of hers. 

“I’m glad its paid off mom.” 

“Me to, but do you think I should make sure that its not a fluke or something?” 

“I’m sure mom. Enjoy this gift.” 

(Name)’s mother takes back the papers, the two talk for a little while until (Name) figured she would get back to class. After saying good-bye to her mother (Name) receives a text message from Levi saying: 

“I decided you deserve one more gift. So I paid your mother’s hospital bills. I’ll see you later on tonight.” 

(Name) could’ve busted out in tears as she only mentioned her mother’s operation once to Levi and here he was paying off her bills. 

(Name) was definitely going to see Levi Ackerman that night.

Rukia-writes

Masterpost

[vroenis]

Uncharted 4: An Era’s End

It’s recently come to light that game developer Naughty Dog has been subjecting its employees to crunch; the practice of overworking and underpaying staff in order to meet deadlines. This is not unique to Naughty Dog, nor to their current project pending release later this year, The Last Of US 2. Reports suggest that crunch has been endemic in the working culture of Naughty Dog for some time and this is now no surprise to us as such reports continue to surface about studio after studio, most in the corporately structured, premium funded and managed space we call “triple A” or AAA, but many smaller studios and independent spaces also. Several senior and long-tenured creatives have left Naughty Dog quite recently, and some may have been leaving earlier than those that have been reported during what’s turning out to be a turbulent development cycle for The Last Of Us 2.

Each month, as part of the paid subscription to the Playstation Plus online service, Sony offers a small selection of games. For April, one of them was Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, from which I derived my title. Not only am I here to suggest the studio’s troubles may have begun during the development of this game, first released back in 2016, but the title may have been one of the first significant indications that the book was closing on AAA development as we know it. I appreciate there have been many good voices shouting from the rooftops about the how unsustainable it’s been from before then, but the Naughty Dog for a long time seemed like a light in the dark, signalling that a big studio could still produce good product under strong leadership.

I feel that Uncharted 4 rather than The Last Of Us 2 is the real light, and instead of a light-house, it turned out to be a signal-fire warning that even then the composure of Naughty Dog was an illusion.

This piece is going to contain significant spoilers for Uncharted 4. It’s also not investigative - I just played it for the first time, completed it and I have some thoughts about it; these are my thoughts.

I didn’t like the third game at all. I took nothing away from it. I’ll never play it again as there’s nothing I want to relive from it, so I’d better look up the wiki on what happened in it... well that didn’t help at all as I don’t remember playing any of that, it was so unmemorable. I remember the wandering around in the desert bit and then some shooting in the desert which was all pointless. There were also some puzzles with shadow puppets that were almost good but so short and pointless, those two things sum up my feelings about the third game entirely.

What a way to start.

I’ve replayed the first and second games once each, so I’ve played those each twice thru and have decided that the first game is overlong and poorly paced, and the second game is the best and probably two-thirds good. Honestly, Elena should drop the Drakes in the ocean, run-off with Chloe and keep in touch with Sully because those are the only three characters with any depth and meaning. Let’s roll-back a bit.

I get that Nathan’s supposed to be a charming, happy-go-lucky character and for the most part, it works. Maybe I’m just getting too old for it or it’s wearing too thin. I really think the third game was completely unnecessary. When I review my notes on the fourth game, I think about the emotional quandary it attempts to set up i.e., ultimately that Nathan should be more honest with Elena - spoiler; he isn’t, but don’t worry it all works out *SPIT* - this was already a problem I was ready to face at the end of the second game. Given my feelings on the third game, I’d have much preferred a simple trilogy and conclusion that faced that emotional brunt to wrap things up. Naturally of-course, that’s not how money-spinners work.

If Uncharted 4 doesn’t spend time on Elena, who does it spend time on? Nathan has a brother! To be fair, I love Troy Baker as a voice actor and if there’s one thing that is consistent in Naughty Dog games, it’s excellent voice acting. I don’t know if I’m now biased after seeing so much of Nolan North and Troy Baker on YouTube outside of their VO talent work, but they’re wonderful people and their professional work is always great. The supporting cast is always great, too - so too the villains even if the narrative arcs are always completely absurd. I know these are always a bit of a lark, you can’t take them too seriously so I can’t hold Uncharted up to Kentucky Route Zero (got my mention in) and shake them comparatively, that’s not fair. It’s OK to have an excuse for a romp even if it does wear on a bit over time.

The problems I have with Uncharted 4 specifically are things like the level and environmental design. I’ve never gotten lost in this franchise up until now when it happened in almost every level... several times. I simply didn’t know where to go. There would be absolutely no clear indication of where to go and no assists, no subtle environmental guide and no camera nudges to help. There is a timer that eventually tells the player where to go and at times, this is tied to deaths so at one point I just threw Nathan off cliffs repeatedly to respawn until the hint appeared. This is unquestionably stupid design. I began to wonder if this was due to criticism that previous games had too much hand-holding, but when the UI assist was finally given and I made my way to the next check-point, I would *never* have found it under normal exploratory gameplay.

This remained true during several moments of scripted action sequences, some including during combat which brings up something else I now remember about the third game. I still couldn’t tell you when it was other than I didn’t know where to go and it was stupid, so there you have it. Maybe the third game was the real signal fire in my metaphor, who knows. In any case, constantly reverting to check-points and having to repeat, not understanding why you’re failing when the game isn’t telegraphing what you need for a success state in a scripted sequence is an exercise in frustration I’m not willing to ever repeat. While I’m not a souls-like player, I completely appreciate the admiration and respect for those games because they have rules that are clear to parse. Video games are *all about* providing feedback to the player. I’m not saying it’s easy, it is an incredibly difficult thing to achieve but it is literally the job you set out to do, it is the only vehicle you have to convey the lofty emotions you want to communicate to your audience.

And then there’s the driving. Naughty Dog. Do not put driving in your games. This is something you’re not able to do.

I don’t want to bash the driving so hard because at this point I feel like it may have been bolted on without time to make it stick correctly. This is the first game in the title where the hot-zones for interactions weren’t quite right. Where I bugged out of animations and had check-points or re-spawns instanced or loaded. Where I glitched out and fell off things, where I had to walk back and forth in-front of things to make buttons appear. The edges of that Naughty Dog polish were fraying. I’d attempt to do a thing and it just wouldn’t work, I’d fall to my death. I’d attempt to do the same thing the same way and it would work. Again this is dredging up more nondescript memories of the third game so I’m beginning to have my suspicions about the working environment there and when in the timeline things started getting bad - but cameras and jumping distances got really difficult to judge. One gap at one time would be fine to jump, then another would have you plunge to your death, and they’d be inconsistent to read or judge. These were not frequent, as with the third game, almost as if the artists and level designers were given time to adjust lighting and camera geometry tracking and control mapping as much as possible but just couldn’t get to them all. But throughout the games, it creeps in more and more.

I’d talk about combat - it’s functional, but it’s not interesting. These games don’t add anything interesting to the genre or video games in general. I play the games on easy because I don’t need to prolong the experience, I don’t actually have the physical time - if I could play the games without combat, I would. There are other games to play if I want dexterity challenges which I do engage in, Uncharted isn’t one of them. Even in 2016 I’m not entirely sure this would have turned heads. I realise I’m playing this a full four years later, but it’s hard to think of the sum-total of this game’s parts and see it as relevant...

But you know what? Uncharted 4 visually looks immaculate. Outside of the voice-acting and sound design, without question, the highest priority has been given to the visual fidelity of this game inclusive of the animations. So much has been invested in how the tech works, to the abandonment of everything else, I’d say the for example, the driving suffered the most, level design next, then interaction scripting. The attention to detail in the environments is stupendous...

...yet it’s all hollow. You know what? I don’t care about pirates and adventures anymore. Whatever. By the fourth game, I don’t care. I totally get that the game’s not for me but I played it and I’m writing how I feel about it. You’re telling me a story about a guy who met the person of his dreams and marries, then his brother turns up and he can’t be honest to his wife? Meow meow meow it’s all for the sake of drama so we skip over all the details but the contrivance is too much. You want me to accept these things on face value, then on face value, I say Nathan and his brother can go get fucked.

I took particular issue with the comically brief relationship discussion Elena and Nathan have after she saves him and they set off together in which she concludes she’s with him “for better or for worse”, which from memory the game chapter is titled after. Now either the character genuinely believes she owes him under the sanctity of nuptial obligation or she’s using it as a justification of such. This is a wholly unsatisfying discussion for me was when I finally checked out of this game - sure I should have done so hours before but this was the last straw and the indication that I am definitely too old for this shit - but this is a horrifying and stupid message to be spouting. Elena don’t owe anyone shit. Married or not, she’s free to save Nathan if she wants to, for any reason, but she’s certainly not obliged to. I despise this massive chunk of traditionalist patriarchy smashed into her character and the narrative, even if it is “well it’s just about her character” yea great, so that just re-enforces her as a loyal dog-trophy for the main character in the on-going male power-fantasy shenanigans shit-train. Nathan’s behaviour isn’t exactly selfish but it’s certainly not adult or considerate. He behaves like a child not taking on an appropriate level of responsibility. Others around him, being Elena and Sully, continuously bail him out - literally saving his life while endangering their own, and he continues to behave like a manchild that neither acknowledges their physical and emotional labour nor does he grow and evolve as an individual. What a fucker. Does he ever sort his shit out, ask Elena what she wants to do for a career and support whatever the fuck she wants to do with her life? Of-course the fuck he doesn’t. Know why? Because he’s a literal man-baby. And his brother is too. But that’s OK cos  he’s a fucken jock-hero and a funny guy so as long as we can all laugh about it and the narrative says-so and it all works out in the end and he gets the girl and she ends-up supporting his career anyway, it’s aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall fine.

Nathan should have died and Elena shouldn’t have given a fuck.

I know I know, it’s not that serious. Look I’ve been thru some shit, alright? I can see it both ways. Sometimes you don’t think about stupid shit that deep and sometimes you do. Most of the time, I do, and most of the time, I take it to the nth degree, so yea, shit like that gets to me. I call it bad writing, so no, I don’t like the story. At all. Nathan’s supposed to be flawed but nothing ever costs him. When people make mistakes in life, those mistakes cost. The unfortunately thing is the cost is most often paid by the others around them, and sometimes they themselves never realise it. I don’t like stories where there’s a fuckhead at the centre but everyone still stays happy. Nathan seems to have been given a lesson, but I don’t think he earned it. This is why y’all watch Game of Thrones and are surprised when characters die because you keep consuming narratives with no stakes, and GoT is *still* only middling stuff.

Anyway.

How could Elena’s character have been given more attention? Uncharted 4 isn’t all bad. The most valuable thing Naughty Dog achieved was the recreation of real domestic spaces; the Drake households. Twice, we’re given time and space and encouraged to explore them without being funnelled by level design, events, NPC shepherding or audio cues. Rooms and the objects that fill them are meticulously and beautifully created, and they're given life and purpose in a way that has meaning far beyond all the pirate nonsense that while almost as equally beautiful, is completely vacuous.

Putting on Elena’s vinyl record as her daughter Cassie was the only time I enjoyed the music in the game, and it was a great call-back to Nathan having done the same thing in their house much earlier. Sure, there’s the Drake theme that repeats ad nauseam throughout the series but otherwise the soundtrack is bland and unremarkable adventuring fare. It contributes more to the feeling of this game being out of touch, contrasted to something like Control which certainly has a completely different setting, sure - but that’s part of it, so that affords the creative team room for more modular synths and drones and to have a distinct sound.

Walking thru those houses, first as Nathan but really as the player repositioning themselves from adventurer to ordinary life-living person in a domestic setting, and then as Cassie - daughter of these two amazing characters in an equalling urbane setting yet filled with wonderful objects, made up the most fascinating and enjoyable moments of the game for me. The mess of each room gave the houses the perfect lived-in feel to a degree that most other games struggle to achieve, probably due to how much effort it takes to get that much geometry mapped in - Giant Sparrow’s What Became of Edith Finch is probably one of the few games that has come close. The difference between the tropical islands, decaying pirate mansions and the domestic Drake residences is that the houses felt like everything in there felt like it meant something and was in there for a reason, like it had been part of something. I don’t mean that just for the objects that were intrinsically tied to implicit narrative beats like collectables or even items from countries where Uncharted 4 or prior games are set, but also things like towels, washing baskets, plates and dishes, books and picture frames, shampoo bottles, food - the detail in the fridges! That you can feed Cassie’s dog, Vicky is the most meaningful interaction of the game - by the way, the second most meaningful set of interactions is buying an apple in the market in Madagascar then playing with lemur and letting it take the apple.

Back to the houses, I’m disappointed we never got to walk through one of them as Elena. Now that the core of the franchise is wrapped, I’m left with the impression that she’s the most important character in the series and she’s left woefully under-served. This is a very me thing, and unsurprising. I doubt anyone else cares enough about writing and character to have thoughts like this. They’re into Uncharted for the adventuring and the shooting, but as soon as you present me the opportunity for character drama and you want to have a red-hot go at it, I’m here to set aside the rest of that guff and go for it. The running and jumping and shooting never changes, and I’m here to say that the puzzling could have stepped up orders of magnitude that Naughty Dog never committed to - Crystal Dynamics did far better with Rise Of The Romb Raider, and while the puzzling was never really difficult, the way I described it to a friend was to liken the puzzles to desk toys; not intended to be too challenging, but more satisfying in their tactile nature. I feel Fireproof’s The Room series for iOS and Android are great examples of providing similar sensations.

I don’t mind a game mostly about shenanigans, I just don’t want it centred around a character that won’t learn, or who gets off cheaply. Elena is infinitely more interesting to me - her concerns, her desires - Chloe too, for that matter, and I absolutely am not above making the joke about shipping them as I’m sure thousands have before me (no I won’t write a fanfic about them, I’m sure there are plenty around).

I didn’t play the first The Last of Us. There was a horrifically jarring moment when the game felt it was over-playing its sense of cinema to me, then had a sudden camera zoom transition onto I think the first combat gameplay and I checked out. The tone of that game is trying to telegraph TAKE ME SERIOUSLY and I feel all I’m going to do is read tonally similar things to what I have here but far worse. Also post-apocalypse is easy pickings for bad writing, especially by video games narrative writers, I just don’t have the patience. I’m pleased that there’s lesbian representation in the second game but I’m not sure it’ll be handled with sensitivity. While I’m in no way invested in the game as a product, I continue to be concerned for the welfare of the employees at Naughty Dog, and all game developers everywhere, as always. It is a hugely unregulated industry that is in the process of slow collapse, and now more than ever do we need reform and cultural change.

And in the midst of that, one day we’ll get a decent game that’s about domestic partnerships and wonderful emotional relationships with stunning visual fidelity; maybe it’ll have running and jumping and shooting and maybe it won’t. Maybe it’ll end sadly and maybe it’ll end happily but hopefully it’ll be well-written. 

Here’s to Elena.

[professor-maka]

#14 pls! :D “I come to the library every day to ‘study’ but really I’m just watching Netflix over your shoulder and I’m really invested in this series and the day we’re supposed to be watching the season finale you’re not there and I??? Feel personally betrayed??”

Ask and you shall receive. ❤️ I hope you like!

Thanks to @sahdah and @macabremermaid for the eyes.

—

“HBO and Chill”

She can’t afford HBO, not making her own way through school, so Maka had never really worried what shows it airs. Why pine for what you can’t afford?

But then, he’d changed all that, the white haired kid who goes to the library to study every Sunday night, like clockwork. Sometimes he comes at 6, and sometimes he rolls in at 8,but he’s always there, just like her. But unlike her, he always takes a break to stream on his laptop.

The first night, Maka had been pissed—sure it isn’t a quiet study floor, but who streams in thelibrary without headphones? She’d been fuming but also curious. Game of Thrones? She’d read the books—had wished she could watch the series—but alas!

Fuming gave way to interest, and instead of confronting him like she thought about during the first 15 minutes, Maka had found herself watching over his shoulder as hequeued up two more episodes that night, and, reading abandoned for the evening, she found herself wondering when the hell she was going to get to watch more.

Maka had been damn near lowering herself to ask her shithead papa for the gift of HBO, sulking in the library as she did her reading and itched for more in the saga of Starks andLannisters, when her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of someone moving in to occupy the table in front of hers, the same table she claims every Sunday. She nearly gasped when she realized it was him again, the white hairedboy from the previous Sunday, the one with HBO, the same one she’d seen around campus and in the back of a few of her classes, silent as as stone.

Maybe he’d watch again, she thought. She hoped. Although, Maka reminded herself, he’d surely be ahead by now and she has always hated skipping episodes. Disappointment hadflooded her as she poked her nose back into her book and there was nothing but yawning quiet, the scratch of her pen, the click of his keys. And then, she heard it. The theme song! And it was… the next episode!

She barely pretended to read that time as he watched three more episodes straight.

That had been months ago, early in the semester, and now, the semester is nearly at an end and so is the series and she can’t wait! Because by some miracle, he clearly only watches at the library on Sunday nights, right when she’s there to see it, and Maka has become invested.

The finale is tonightand she isn’t even pretending to study, she’s so wound. She needs to know what happens. The show has far outpaced the books and waiting is torture,but Maka knows he’ll be here by 9 to livestream like he has been for weeks.Well, maybe she should at least make a stab at studying. Sure she’s got As sofar in her classes, but finals still matter.

Nine o’clock hits and he’s not there. He’s never not there, not all semester, so where is he?

Ten PM hits and she’s inthe first stage of grief, mourning the loss of her livestream. But surely he’llshow and stream, even if it’s a little late. Eleven hits and with it comes the anger. Why now? Why tonight? How dare he string her along through 8 seasons only to deny her the finale!

Fists clenched, Maka makes a decision. Maybe not the most rational decision, but she’s more than a little desperate. Apparently, laptop boy is friends with Blake—she knows because she’d seen them playing one on one together as she passed the courts afew times—so she can find out where he lives or his number or something and—and—

Well, she doesn’t know, but desperate times, desperate, desperate times.

Clicking Blake’s speed dial on her cell, Maka rolls her eyes at his answers of, “Yo, this is your godspeaking, whatcha want?” That being a god brother makes him her actual god ishis personal joke; only he finds it funny.

“I need—a favor.” She sounds more sheepish than she means to, feels silly, almost hangs up, but—

“Sure, shoot, anything for my favorite minion.”

“Uh, so, eh—“ she stammers through his guffaw at her inability to spit it the fuck outalready. But she’s Maka Albarn and if she’s anything, she’s brave, so she pushes on. “That, uh, weird kid with the white hair you play basketball with—“

“Who, Eater? What, you got a thing for him or—“

“Nooo, he just—wait, his name is Eater?”

The guffaw is louder this time. “Nah, not his name name, it’s just what I like to call my newest minion, keep up.”

“And I thought BlackStar was bad,” she mutters, face flaming. Eater. Knowing Blake, she tells herself she doesn’t want to know.  

“Yeah, whatever, anyway, Maks, what do you want with my boy Soul? Never pegged you for being into the emo type but, like, no judgement.”

Well, Soul isn’t so bad a name. She finds she likes it. Much better than Eater, anyway.

“I’m not into anyone.” She manages not to snap even if she’s seething in mortification. “He—uh—forgot something at the library and I wanted to try to get ahold of him to—“

“Yeah, yeah, alright,I’ll text you his contact, gotta go, they set up the beer pong table, laterloser.”

Black Star will be BlackStar. At least he texts her the contact, and of course it’s under Eater. Figures, but whatever, she just needs to find out why the hell he ditched her.

She’s already pressed to call and let it ring several times when she realizes all at once she has absolutely zero business bothering him. Because, sure, he’d strung her along like a kitten with a string, laying out all 8 seasons before her like a buffet of medieval shenanigans, but it’s not like he’d done it on purpose.

The end call button gets pushed so fast it might have been the key to stopping the apocalypse. Really, it sort of is. Maka drops her phone on the table like a hot potato and lets the shame wash over her—how could she let sensationalized, bawdy medieval television get such a grip on her?

Her phone vibrates and she scoops it up, craving a distraction from her own silliness.

uh do i no u —the text reads.

No, he certainly doesn’t. Maka has no idea what to do but she can’t not answer, it would be rude, so she types back:

Not really. Blake gaveme your number.

ummm okay why — he responds after a pause.

Why? She can’t exactly tell the truth but she doesn’t like lying, either.

I was worried when you didn’t show up at the library. You’re always there on Sundays at the table infront of mine. Sorry.

It’s the truth, just not all of it. Because she does feel like they’ve bonded over Game ofThrones watching it together every week, and she’s overheard phone calls with his parents and his brother and she’s gotten to know quite a lot about him. Gods, she feels like a stalker, but— but—! He’d invaded her library time, not the other way around! And he’s the one who breaks rules to talk on his cell—he’s lucky she hasn’t reported him! And—

The vibration startles her out of her spiral.

maka shit im sorry im sick running 104 was gonna go set my alarm but slept thru its the finale im sorry gimme a sec ill b there

What. The hell.

He knows her name? And that she’s been watching? And—he’s sick—and—

Don’t you move! 104 is dangerous where do you live? I’ll be right there.

Even as she thoughtlessly hits send she regrets it because what is she doing? He’s going to block her or ignore her or tell her to fuck off, or what if he’s theone who’s actually a stalker—

Vibration. It’s an address, for an apartment complex next to campus.

Be right there. Her fingers send it out before she can even think—he knows her name, he sent her his address, maybe he’s a stalker serial killer?

But she’d called him. Also like a stalker. So it makes no sense and what even is she doing with her life?

For about half a second, Maka considers blocking his number and going home, never to enter the library on a Sunday night again. But he’s running a 104 fever; he might need help!And—she’s not a coward and she’s fully capable of kicking ass if she must. AND—the Game of Thrones finale is at his beck and call.

That’s the clincher, so she packs her things and makes her way across campus. It’s nearly midnight, so Maka keeps to well lit walks, and it isn’t long before she’s at his door. She knocks and hears coughing and shuffling and then he’s opening the door, looking bedraggled in plaid pajama pants and a ratty band tee, dark smudges under his eyes, his pale hair sticking up every which way. Well, the last part isn’t sofar off from his normal, anyway, but he looks sort of pathetic with his fuzzy blue blanket over his shoulders. Endearingly so.

“Uh, so,” she says, fidgeting with the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looking at his mouth to avoid his eyes.

“You can—uh—come in.” He sounds nervous even past the unusual scratchiness of his voice, but steps back, so she steps in. He closes the door behind her and she notices he’s got a nest of blankets on his big leather couch. She’s pretty sure she can hear an episode of Chopped somewhere in the background.

“Lay down.” Maka finally takes charge, tired of them both standing so awkwardly. “You have tea?”.

He just blinks at her for a minute, shakes his head, then looks between the couch and the kitchen. “Uh, sure, I can make—“

“Nooo!” she cuts himoff. “For you. I’ll make it.”

“Maka, you don’t have to—“ it’s the first time she’s ever heard him say her name and it startles her, especially because she sort of likes it.

“I know, but I want to.Help, I mean. So lay down.” She doesn’t give him the chance to protest, just walks into his kitchen and begins opening cabinets.

“Furthest cabinet on the left,” she hears his voice call out from the living room. “Cups in the dishwasher.”

She finds the tea (loose leaf! She doesn’t expect that!) and cups and sets the electric kettle on the counter below the tea cabinet to boil.

Several minutes later,she’s got two steaming cups of green tea with an herbal blend, and she walks them out to the living room. Soul has neatened the couch and is sitting up, leaving room on the other side. His eyes are closed and he’s snoring softly. Poor boy looks pathetic, flushed and droopy. Maka sets down a tea cup on the coffee table in front of him, sets the second on the other side, and sits across from him on the couch. She means to let him rest but it’s so awkwardsitting with a sleeping not quite stranger that she clears her throat nervously.

Startling awake, he looks at her, blinks, then seems to recall the situation,

“Uh. So. Wanna watch the finale?”

It’s at least half of why she’s here, so she nods, still feeling awkward and out of place, yet absolutely determined.

They end up commenting to each other through the episode and it’s nice. Why haven’t they ever watched it together like this? Not just Maka spying and pretending not to, but actually just—together? She could have asked and sat with him but she’s been silly.

It’s a regret, but as the episode ends, they’re both too full of feelings and ideas for it to last, and they talk about the finale and the series for a good hour before she stifles a yawn and he lets out a huge sneeze and she remembers who he is and where they are.

“So um—thanks for letting me come watch.”  She’s fidgeting again, this time with the hem of her hoodie.

“‘’Course. Thanks for giving a shit and taking care of me.” His smile is wide and genuine and she could maybe melt which is—silly for a lot of reasons, really—but she also remembers—

“How do you know my name?” she blurts.

“Uh.” A nervous hand musses his hair further. “We’ve had like four classes together and you—sort of stand out.”

He’s already pink with fever but his skin goes red and—is he blushing? She blushes back at the thought.

“Oh, yeah, okay, I just—uh—didn’t realize you noticed me or anything, especially at the library.”

Gods this is embarrassing.

“You weren’t exactly subtle,” his voice is gruff as he looks at his hands.

“But—“ she stammers. “Then why didn’t you just ask me to watch with you if you knew?”

“Thought you’d say no.” His eyes are still down though they flick her way for an instant.

Would she have?

Maybe. In the wrong mood. She can be stubborn, she knows. But still.

“Well, since I’m here, you were wrong.”

“Yeah, I caught that. Guess it’s too late now, anyway. Show’s done.”

It is, isn’t it.

The thought of giving up her Sunday study tv night makes her inexplicably sad. Especially since she’s here during summer and knows he is, too, from one of his calls with his brother.

“You have Hulu?” Inspiration strikes.

“Er—Uh—yeah?” He looks confused.

“Because I don’t, and I’ve been dying to watch Hamdmaid’s Tale.”

“Oh! Yeah, that’d be—cool. We could start tonight—I mean—“

“Yeah, sounds good. You clearly shouldn’t be alone with that fever and I don’t have a final until Tuesday!”

“Cool,” he repeats, calling up the Hulu menu on the television.

For her part, Maka can’thelp a slight satisfaction at having made a new friend who can afford to stream.

[ask-the-cordium-crew]

The General and The Prisoner (A WKTC story)

Yancy was in the air just above the city of mantle he was told thru the radio to report in this was an atlas ship, after all,

He wasn’t gonna listen to these guys, not any chance sure he enjoyed the prison life, but until he avenged the deaths of his friends HIS FAMILY, he was forced to be free out here. He hated it, but he didn’t have a choice.

He soon jumped thru the window, slashing it with his duel blades and clicked a button making the airship explode. He then started to plummet towards the ground. He then breathed in and out deeply. His eyes glowed brightly. 

“🎵 BRING IT ON IT’S TIME TO FLY WE’RE FALLING TOWARDS THE SKY IT’S HIGH TIME WE GET THIS TRIP UNDERWAY WE’RE FLYING TOWARDS THE SKY🎵”

Yancy teleported to the ground, landing down and sighing gently and then lightly chuckled.

“Bam Bam would have loved to see me do that heh he was a crazy bastard he was indeedy”

he then began to wander thru the alleyways of the city for around 10 minutes before someone shouted at him to stop where he was.

???: STOP! 

back up in atlas in the office of general ironwood, he stopped Ruby before she could leave after they just had a meeting about tracking down Robin and her crew

“I have just gotten some information from some of my personal and atlas ship had just flown in from somewhere it did not answer our messages to head on up.

To atlas very much like how you and your friends answered, but unlike you, the ship exploded before we could track it. I'd like you to go find whoever was on that ship and bring them to me.”

Ruby looked surprised “it isn’t anyone I know. That's for sure, and we both know Salem wouldn’t be stupid enough to try something like that. I’ll see what I can do!” 

James smiled gently and nodded, “thank you, Ruby.”

Yancy ran as fast as he could, running away from whoever was chasing him soon, backflipping and turning around, firing his guns at the flying rose swarm heading towards him. Ruby soon jumped onto him and pinned him to the ground. “Who are you?! who sent you, and what are you doing in mantle?”

Yancy slashed her across the face. Thanks to her aura, it didn’t do much to her. Just knock her back as yancy got up and backed up. “OH NO’ES I AIN’T GONNA GO BACK TO THE SLAMMER! NOT TILL I HAVE THAT ICE CREAM BIMBOS HEAD ON A SILVER PLATTER YOUSE HERE GIRLLY?!”

Ruby looked at the man surprised and soon carefully lowered her weapon “ice cream bimbo? Wait... Do you mean Neopoltion?”

Yancy groaned even hearing the bitches name made him angry he sighed before lowering his weapons as he sniffled but held back tears “Yeh that's the one youse wouldn’t happen to know where she mights be would youse? She took them from me. She took my FRIENDS from me. You know how that feels?”

Ruby looked shocked, hearing that gripping her weapon tightly before putting her weapon away 

“yes, I know how that feels, and I am sorry that happened sir, I had lost people before as well. I was one of the people who survived beacon and one of the people who were at haven during the attack attempt.”

Yancy held his weapons out as he looked at her “Then youse should know that I won’t let youse take me in” Ruby looked worried she couldn’t let him leave, but then she got an idea “Neo is highly trained to look if you come with me I can help you upgrade your weapons and help you train to fight as best as I can please.”

He sighed gently, putting his weapons away. “Fine but no cuffs, I'll go with youse to that general guy” soon enough, they headed up to atlas as Ruby walked up to Ironwood.

“Ah, Ruby, your back, did you manage to capture the person and bring them here?” She gulped but then nodded, “yes, I did. I am taking him to help him train. In fact, you might know him.” 

Ironwood looked confused, “help him train who it is? And where is he?” Yancy soon walked into the room, smirking and holding his arms out, walking up to the general “Well look who’s it is it’s the general of atlas army good to see you again Jimmy jam jam nice to see a familiar face.” 

The general looked surprised, walking over standing over Yancy. “Y-Yancy, it was you who had that ship? what are you doing here of all places?” He then turned to Ruby, “And why would you want to train an escaped convict?”

“Well, he had his friends stolen in the attack. He’s told me what he’s done, and I think it’s always good to give people a chance.” Winter looked at him with worry “you can’t be seriously thinking of letting a murderous convict stay here and not go to prison right, sir?” James rubbed his face.

“If Ruby vouches for him then he should be fine” Ironwood then turned away “watch him closely miss rose if you trust him enough then it is fine I am only giving him this chance because I feel bad about what happened to him because of roman and his associate.” 

Ruby smiled brightly and saluted, “Don’t worry, Mr. Ironwood, sir, I won’t let you down.”

before James walked away, he turned to look at yancy. “I am sorry about your friends. I am just glad at least one person on my ship survived and don’t worry, Ruby. I know you won’t dismissed!” 

Yancy and Ruby headed to the training hall and began their training Ruby was at least happy she could do some good she’d try to help Yancy on the step to reformation and hopefully convince him not to kill neo in the end. “Sooooo, what's your semblance? Do you have one?” Ruby went in front of him and smiled, walking backwards, asking all sorts of questions.

“Musical teleportation doll face I’ll give you a prime example soon youse don’t have to worry about that and one question at a time we just met so I won’t tell youse much.”

He sighed gently and looked away “I will tell youse one thing though I can tell we’se gonna have lots of fun and by the end of it you’ll understand why I didn’t wanna be freeeeee🎵~” He winked.

Winter soon turned to ironwood as they both stepped away. “are you sure you can trust him?” James chuckled softly “I trust Ruby, and I know she can do it plus I’ve met him before he’s harmless for the most part I just feel bad for what happened to him being the only survivor on the ship.”

[b-afterhours]

Sympathy For The Devil: Epilogue

summary: Set in 1978, Bill a young yet accomplish cop takes on the crime in New York City. Nervous yet excited to take on his first big task at his new department and prove himself. He soon finds out his partner is everything he had least expected.

author’s note: this is good and long for the wait! if you’ve made it to this epilogue i couldn’t thank you enough! after thinking on it i decided to continue the Star and Bill’s story thru “one shots” i’ve already have one in the works!! but anyway sit back and enjoy! and thank you for loving this story and Star as much as I do!

also if you’re seeing this for the first time you can read part one HERE and if you need to catch up on previous chapters go HERE.

playlist: Angie - The Rolling Stones and Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas & The Papas  

tags: @kikilikes @billieskars @imaginingyournotsolikelyfuture @bskarsgardfilth @itsbillskarsgard @ambeazyyy @the-lonelyon3 @biskarsgards

At the police station in East Harlem, Bill no longer sat at the beat desk in the back of the place but now he was seated right at the front. In a much nicer desk that he arranged to face out so that his back was to the wall and he'd have a view of everyone. His shift was about over, he just needed to double check some police reports he'd let pile up over the week. He was so busy patrolling the streets, that by the time his shift ended, he just wanted to grab a beer and go home to his cat Minx.

"Ay, Bill!" Jason, his partner, said sliding his leather police cap off his head. "I'm out for the day. See you in the morning." He punctuated tapping his knuckles on Bill's desk.

"No drinks tonight?" He said a bit disappointed.

"Nah, sorry. Baby girl is sick with colic." Jason frowned.

"Francis?"

"No, that's my oldest. It's Ruby, the 8-month-old."

"Oh! Right, right..." Bill often zoned out when Jason talked on and on about his kids. He had 3, two girls and a boy in the middle and despite having a near newborn, his wife was already a few months pregnant with a fourth. Bill was one of the first lucky few to hear the news. "Well, then 'til morning. Hope Ruby feels better." Bill gave Jason a little nod while he shuffled his paperwork into a neat pile.

Jaime, the youngest secretary, came in right as Jason passed her at the threshold. She was still very shy and painfully stiff around Bill. She stood with her arms to her side and cleared her throat lightly.

"Uh, are you here for these?" Bill lifted his reports.

"Oh, I can take those." With her feet still planted she awkwardly reached for them and clutched them to her chest. She's weird, Bill thought, but he thanked her. "But I came to tell you, that there is a caller on line three for you."

"Caller? You know who?" Bill said pulling the beige rotary phone on his desk closer to him. He hardly got personal calls to his desk but when he did it was family who he'd given the direct number to.

"No... they said you'd 'know who it is'," she pursed her lips before speaking again. "And they told me to, 'hurry up'."

Bill ran his hand over his mouth to mask his amused expression. "Okay, sorry about that Jaime." He picked up the receiver and hit the third square button flashing red at him. He had an inkling of who it might be calling. "Angela?" He smiled to himself over the fact that he could call her by her real name.

"Christ, what took that girl so long? My break's almost over." She said on the other end of her call. He could hear several dings from a bell in the background and loud chatter. "Bill?"

"Uh yeah. Sorry I should have given you this number too."

"It's no big deal. Are you busy?"

"No, just about to head out."

"Listen, I know we're going out tomorrow and all but could you come to the diner? Um, some lawyers came by earlier and I'm kinda spooked."

"What?" Bill stood out of his seat.

"How do they know where I work? I think they were part of Stan's defense team..."

"Shit... uh, I'll be on the way okay. Don't talk to anyone else."

Bill got into his brown 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass that he bought lightly used as a late Christmas present to himself. Tossing his police cap on the passenger seat, he glanced down at himself and suddenly felt like a square in his uniform. He turned the keys in the ignition with a huff and shrugged, he was just going to have to deal with it.

Arriving at the diner, he jogged from across the street where he parked. The door chime rang loudly when he walked in. All the waitresses, turned their heads acknowledging the police officer. All, except for Star, who was busy wiping down a booth by the window. He gave the waitresses a polite nod passing them by to meet her. Star looked over when she noticed a tall figure approaching.

"You got here quick," she smiled. "Um sit back there, I'll join you in a second." She pointed at the last booth by the window.

Bill nodded, walking past her to take a seat. He watched as she quickly went around the counter, picking up a coffee pot and a white mug. Swiftly, she approached him setting down the mug and filling it up, letting the caffeine pour to a long trail of nothing as she lifted the pot upright. She walked off with a wink to set the bill on her last table of the evening. The table was full of rowdy, college-aged men, they quieted when she approached only snickering amongst each other. A blonde haired boy collected the money from his friends and handed it to Star.

"You give this to the cashier," she set the money on the table.

The blonde looked at her with a sly smirk on as he sneakily ran his hand up her thigh to meet her bottom. Watching the exchange Bill jerked in his seat. Before he could slide out of his booth, Star snatched the boy's hand away; his index finger in her grip, ripping it back harshly. The boy winced, biting his bottom lip to keep from yelping. Star reached for a five dollar bill from their pile of cash and crumpled it tightly in her hand.

"That costs boy," she smirked, pushing his hand out of her grip. The rest of the boys sat back in shock, speechless at what had happened to their friend while he sat red in the face in embarrassment. She stared them down. "Now, you pay with Tammy. Over there." She pointed at the gray-haired waitress gnawing on a piece of gum.

Star turned on her heels and saw that Bill wasn't too pleased with what he saw. She rolled her eyes and slid into the seat in front of him, tucking the crumpled five dollar bill in her bra.

"I'm fine," she spoke before he could say anything. "It doesn't happen a lot. They're just stupid kids."

Bill sighed, shaking his head. "Well, I don't like it." He said still having to let her know.

"Are you hungry?" She changed the subject. "We've got a thing called a garbage plate, it's actually good despite the name," she lightly laughed, waving one of her fellow waitresses over. "So these lawyers that came by," she said turning to him after placing her order, "have any of them come to you or anything?"

"No," he sipped his coffee. "Um, I've heard things about Stan and even Randi from Pat but no goon type lawyers have come to see me."

"Shit..." she sighed. "How did they find me? I don't even have my studio lease in my name?"

"You have a studio?" He said happy knowing she had found a proper place for herself. Star responded with a proud nod. "You didn't tell these guys anything right?"

Star scoffed. "Of course not! I know my rights. I've been to jail so many times I can recite the Miranda rights myself. I just played dumb." She laughed.

"Good." Bill nodded. "I'll poke around, maybe get some info on what's going on at the station tomorrow morning? I can't promise anything but I'll try," he took a sip of his black coffee.

"Alright, thanks," she relaxed in her seat.

"I won't let anything happen to you. I promised you that, remember?" Bill reached for her hand and she quickly pulled away. He winced at the rejection.

"Sorry, they could be watching..." she glanced out the window overseeing the street.

"I'm already here, Angela. And they have nothin' on us anyway."

She slid her hand back lacing her small fingers between his fingers. She looked at their clasped hands, she couldn't believe that he was back in her life again. She missed him the very second she left his apartment that day in late November. She took all her things to the greyhound station waiting in the long line of people trying to leave the city the weekend after Thanksgiving. She stood for an hour and once she was right at the ticket booth, she froze. The old man behind the thin iron bars looking at her strangely when she didn't respond to his greeting.

"I said, where to Miss?" He asked her again.

She stood shaking her head as her eyes teared up. "I-I can't..." she choked out before bolting off.

She stowed away the rest of that evening in a small biker bar until close. She felt stupid. Crying to herself when she was too drunk to drink anymore. Everyone gave her strange glares but thankfully avoided her corner of the bar. For a second she contemplated whether she should go back to Bill's apartment but she thought better of it. He would probably be angry with her, though she knew deep down he wouldn't have been mad at all. It was better for her to stay away for her sake since the night before when they kissed she just didn't feel the same... Instead, she walked back to the bus station just to crash for the night. Never in her life, had she felt what he had her feel. And it terrified her.

The waitress set the large steaming plate of hash, eggs, bacon and sausage and cheese before them. She gave Bill's hand a squeeze before letting go.

"It doesn't look too pretty but I swear it's good," Star said handing him some rolled silverware. "If you put syrup on it, it's way better."

The plate was big enough to feed both of them. Yet Bill was left to finish it off when Star was too full to eat anymore.

"Kinda, shitty, huh?" She said talking out loud.

"No, the food's really good," he said with a full mouth, shoveling the last bite in.

"Oh, not the food... Just, we come back around and all the bullshit came right back with it. I'm bad luck," she frowned.

"You're not bad luck. It was bound to happen, just didn't think it would be so soon. We're gonna have to get lawyers soon too, ya know."

Star sighed. "I work as CI and assume I'd never have to see a courtroom again after..." she shook her head and suddenly yawned.

"Long shift?"

"I worked a double today," she shrugged. "Switched shifts so I could go out with you tomorrow... Don't go lookin' sorry for me," she lightly laughed.

"I wasn't feeling sorry?" He wiped his mouth with a crumpled paper napkin.

"You don't have a very good poker face."

He chuckled. "Well, that explains why I always lose at Jason's poker nights." He laughed. "I, uh, can I give you a ride home? I have a car now," he didn't want to sound too eager but he was.

"Please? My feet are killing me."

Star didn't live too far, just a few blocks over from the diner. Bill couldn't help but scope out the neighborhood, it was a bit rough and he didn't like that on normal evenings she walked home alone. Star pointed out her building to the right of them and he pulled over.

"Uh, I'd invite you in but I really need to clean first. Trust me. And it's a studio so it's super small anyway..." she said quickly barreling out her excuses.

"It's fine," he reached passed her and pushed the car door open. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

"7:30?" She double checked. Bill answered with a nod. "If you have to call me, remember the number I gave you is my neighbors and you kinda gotta talk loud, she's old and hard of hearing and if I'm not home then-"

"Then call the diner," he finished for her, "I got it," he smiled, reaching for her hand and planting a gentle kiss on the back of it. "Goodnight, Angela." ...

That morning at the station, Jason was telling Bill all about the night he had with his youngest daughter Ruby and dealing with her colic. Bill still had no idea what colic was exactly but with what Jason was telling him it sounded like a nightmare. Jaime came hustling her short legs toward them with an aluminum wrapped muffin tray just before they walked out the building.

"I almost forgot!" Jaime said out of breath. "Th-these were left for you this morning." She said passing the tray off to Bill. "And this," handing him a folded sheet of notebook paper. Bill flipped the paper open with his free hand and began to read:

"Good morning, B'. Enjoy my blueberry muffins. See you tonight. XOXO."

It was signed with her signature drawn star with A.E. in the middle. It even smelled of rose perfume. He smiled big, pulling the foil off the tin, and the scent of the sweet muffins hits him. He realized then, her messy studio was just a lame excuse, she had planned to bake these after work.

"Who are these from?" Jason said when Bill handed the tray to him when they finally got in the cruiser. "You got a honey, you've been keepin' from me?" He handed Bill a muffin before biting into his. "Fuck this is good," he said with a full mouth, crumbs coating his dark mustache.

Bill took a bite, his teeth breaking through the sugar crystal crust and into the moist, sweet blueberry muffin. It was incredibly good, actually. He was smiling to himself the whole time he chewed.

"So? Who's this A.E.," Jason said looking at the note. "See you tonight. XO. XO." He read, wagging his brows at Bill.

"Gimme that," Bill playfully snatched the note from Jason. "She's my friend." He said putting the uneaten half of his muffin back in the tin tray.

"Just a friend?" He pressed. "You know how early your friend has to be at the station, for you not to spot her?"

"She's... we're talkin', I guess." He said putting the cruisers gear in drive.

"Talking's good. Now, you don't want to go on getting tied down, just warning ya. You're too young."

Bill flashed him a puzzled glance. "Aren't you only a year older than me?"

"Yeah..."

"You're married and your wife is pregnant with your fourth kid?"

"Exactly, why you should heed my warning!" He wagged a finger but digressed. "But anyway, where'd you meet your friend A.E.? These muffins are really fresh and sweet, so she must be too, right?" He said holding the last bit of muffin up and tossing it in his mouth.

"She is. Uh, we met here at work," Bill bit his lip.

"Oh, was she a secretary before the turn over?" Jason asked as he looked out his window watching the foot traffic blur by as Bill drove.

"Ah, no... met her while I was doing undercover work."

Jason turned his attention back to him with a raised brow. "Met her at a disco or something?"

"No. She was, uh, she was my CI..." He glanced over at Jason, nervously chewing his lip.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well... opposites attract right?" He patted Bill's shoulder and left it at that. ...

At 7:20, Bill parked in front of Star's complex, checking his hair in the rearview mirror while he smoked. He was almost late, having trouble with what to wear until he was reminded of the time and forced himself out his apartment. He settled on dark wash jeans and a white button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Also unbuttoned showing a bit of his bare chest and the thin gold chain he religiously wore underneath his clothing.

Star came hustling out the front door of her building. Bill could faintly hear an arguing couple and a child's crying just before the door closed behind her, silencing it. He flicked his cigarette away as he swiftly stepped out of his car to meet her on the sidewalk. She was wearing a little black dress with black velvet thigh high heels.

"Hey, you look great," Bill smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder ushering her to the passenger door.

"Aww, did I overdress?" She turned her head noticing how casual he had dressed. "You said it was an Italian restaurant, you made it sound fancy..."

"It's a mom and pop place but it's popular. And I-I think I'm underdressed. You look wonderful." He leaned down to open the passenger door. "Now c'mon, the place fills up fast," he put a hand on the small of her back guiding her in.

There was a short line out the little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant when they arrived. Bill was walking back to Star with his police jacket in hand while she held their spot in line under the awning. It was a slightly chilly out for the beginning of March. He draped the jacket over her and rubbed between her shoulders. Star giggled to herself as she pulled the oversized jacket tightly around herself.

"What?" Bill with a chuckle, wanting in on whatever was amusing her.

"I'm usually in police cuffs," she laughed, "not jackets."

He smirked, his dimple appearing. "I hope my jacket is a lot warmer."

"Definitely," she leaned into his side.

Shortly, they were seated in the back of the dim restaurant that smelled of garlic and rosemary and fresh bread. It felt homey. An authentic piece of Italy hidden right in New York City. Sourdough baby baguettes were set before them on the white cloth covered table. Their waiter handed them paper menu's and just before he could hustle off Bill ordered two glasses of white wine.

"What's good?" Star asked perusing her menu. "Have you been here before?"

Bill puffed his bottom lip out and shook his head. "Nah, uh Pat told me about this place."

"Do you talk to Pat about me?" She smirked.

"Uh... sorta? Is, is that weird?"

"Nope," she lightly shrugged. "Just weird that you're basically best friends with an old broad."

"Yeah, well, Pat's alright. I'm still trying to convince her to go out for drinks. You think it'll happen one day?" He playfully winked.

"Christ," she bit her lip to keep from laughing and entertaining his sarcasm. "I knew you had a crush on her. Any other broads I should know about?" She went back to looking at her menu.

"Nah... no," he nervously bit his lip.

"Don't lie..." she peered from atop her menu. A glimmer of curiosity and friskiness in her eyes. "I'm sure girls panties just drop seeing a tall handsome fella like you patrolling in your uniform."

"Excuse me?" He said with a laugh. "Panties dropping? For an NYPD pig? Don't think so." He tore a piece of the small baguette and dipped it into the olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette that accompanied it. "I had a run in from the bar but I, it never went anywhere. One night stand thing," he shrugged. "Only once."

"That's absolutely filthy of you, B'." She facetiously joked. "Can't believe you," she smirked.

"And you, you're a beautiful lady? Uh, I mean, may I ask?"

She set her menu down, suddenly becoming serious and near unreadable as she sat up in her seat. "Not a single soul." She said looking him square in the eyes. "Did you figure out what you want? I think I did." She clasped her hands together, changing the subject.

Bill didn't know how to take her stoic response but he knew how she loved to change the subject when she felt the spotlight on her. It made her uncomfortable. And for some reason, he felt like he was back to square one with her despite everything.

"I'm getting the shrimp alfredo," she pointed on his menu.

Bill's attention finally fell on the menu he barely looked through. "Uh yeah, I'll get the lasagna." It was an easy choice and the first he had noticed. Bill called the waiter over to order and only began speaking once he left. "Uh, did I say something wrong, Angela?" He nervously scratched his neck.

"Huh? No, not at all," she shook her head and reached for his hand on the table. "Relax," she said softly, "I'd let you know if you said something I didn't like."

"But will you, really?"

"Do you know me or not?" She tilted her head. "We just have some catching up, is all."

"Right, right," he nodded.

They ate the delicious Italian dishes with their wine. They even switched plates for a moment to try each other's food. Bill was glad Pat didn't let him down with her recommendation of the place. If only she knew, who he had planned on accompanying him. Lord knows she tried to press him for details but he didn't budge. Star sat back in her seat absolutely stuffed, she hadn't eaten outside the diner since she started working there a few months ago. Her meals were discounted so it was convenient. Bill paid the tab and quickly glanced at his wrist watch, it was almost 10:30 and the movie he had planned to take her to was scheduled at ten on the dot. He was out of moves for the night.

Bill was driving Star back to her place. They sat listening to a Hollies song playing on his car radio, passing a cigarette back and forth. Despite Star's cheery attitude singing along to the radio, Bill felt like the whole date had been a disaster. They missed the movie. And he felt stupid for even thinking it was okay to ask Star if she had been with anyone. He definitely blew it. Bill finally parked right in front of the buildings' door.

"Um, would you like to come up?" Star asked shyly. "You don't have to stay but I'd like to show ya?"

Bill followed her in, hoping this was his chance to end the night on a better note. The walls in the main hallway were painted a dingy yellow color or maybe they were nicotine stained, Bill wasn't so sure. Random yelling and noises came from various rooms as they walked to the graffitied elevator at the end of the corridor.

"Did you get those muffins?" Star asked him after hitting the button for the 19th floor; she lived just below the very top. "Big Ol' Stacy didn't get to them did she?"

"Oh Stacy doesn't work at the station anymore," he chuckled, "But yeah I got them, thank you. They were really good, incredible. Even my partner Jason liked them."

"Is he nice?" She wondered. The only nice cop she ever met was Bill.

"Yeah, good family man. Uh, there is a bit to catch up on, the station nearly had a whole staff change." The elevators opened with an unsettling creak onto Star floor.

"This way," she pulled on this shirt so he'd follow, going left. Her floor was by far a lot quieter than the main floor. Almost eerily quiet. "Old folks live on this floor," she said digging in her small purse for her keys. "I don't know why but I like it. They mind their business for the most part," she stopped at her door, 19G. "It's just a studio," she looked up at him before opening the door.

She was nervous inviting Bill into her home. But he had been so inviting and generous with his apartment she felt it was only right. Besides, she knew he was curious since mentioning it last night. She didn't have much. She was lucky to have collected all the furniture she had acquired so far. She bought a full sized bed and box spring, used, but in decent condition. The bed frame was still leaning against the wall right by, she hadn't had time to set it up. And also she was worried about breaking a nail. Right next to the bed frame was an orange suede recliner she had decorated with a white crochet throw. Nothing she owned matched yet she got it to work together somehow.

"This is it," she shrugged. "I'm gonna get out of this dress. Go and get comfortable. The radio is right by the window." She pointed out.

Star ducked off into the small bathroom leaving Bill alone. He slowly walked over to the radio set on a little card table and hunched down tuning dial back and forth until he could find a song he could live with. He took a seat on the edge Star's bed while the piano jazz he settled on softly played. He looked around the place, bored with waiting, fidgeting with his hands between his knees feeling awkward. There wasn't anything covering the walls but the huge cloth tapestry tacked at the head of her bed. Star emerged from the bathroom in a black slip dress and an oversized thick red flannel over it. She was wearing long tube socks bunched at her ankles that were recognizably his.

Star put a hand on his cheek letting it glide off as she walked around him to her nightstand, pulling out a half-smoked joint and a lighter from the drawer. She walked to the window by the radio and tugged it open, she stuck her head out, and then looked back at Bill.

"C'mon," she nudged her head, a playful look in her eyes.

Bill watched her crawl out the window and on to the fire escape platform. Star could easily fit through but he had a whole foot of height on her. He stuck his head out first and met Star's amusement as she watched him shimmy his long limbs through the window. Finally, on the platform, he sat with his back to the stairs, his legs right behind her while her's were between the bars swinging back and forth several stories high.

She lit her joint, taking a puff and slowly sighing the smoke out. She had a lovely view of the iconic skyscrapers of Manhattan, they looked a lot less daunting from Harlem. The city looked beautiful at night almost peaceful if it weren't for the various sirens and clatter of bins and screeching alley cats.

"Sorry about the movie," Bill said looking at how the moon lined her nose and plump lips in silver and created shadows of her mascara-coated lashes on her cheeks.

She turned her head. "We'll see it another time. I heard The Deer Hunter is really good so we gotta." She held out her joint to him. "I'm only offering to be polite."

Bill took the joint between her fingers and took a puff without hesitation. He hadn't smoked grass since grade school. A devious smile tugged at Star's lips as he blew a thin trail of smoke above her head.

"You still wanna go out with me?" He asked passing the joint back.

"Yes..." she stubbed the joint out on the rail. "Why wouldn't I?" Her brows furrowed at his question.

"Y-you left... I thought maybe you felt sorry for me and that's why you agreed to go out?"

"Bill no..." she frowned. "I missed you."

"You knew where I lived?"

She lowered her head. He had every right to be upset with her. "I know. I was scared... And I'm confused... w-why do you like me, Bill?" She looked back up at him. "I'm not that great? I'm just an ex-hooker turn waitress. I'm going nowhere?"

"Stop that," he closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. "I don't like when you talk about yourself like you're nothing. Like you couldn't possibly mean nothing. What you did and what you do now, you shouldn't feel ashamed of. You're a good girl, Angie. I like you because you're honest, and you care, and you have so much courage and you're real. You don't fake anything. Me," he pointed at his chest, "I'm a big faker. I got my uniform and everything but I fuckin' hate being a cop. It's bullshit."

"Oh don't say that. You love being a cop, B'. You're really good at it."

"Fuck the cop shit," he waved off. "Don't skim over what I said about you... d-do you even like me? Or..."

Star slid her legs from between the bars, Bill moved his from behind her and bent them. She looked like she was about to leave him making him regret his words towards her. Until she scooted closer to him, sitting in between his bent knees.

"I do. I like you. I'm sorry for leaving like I did... Like I said, I was scared," she chewed on her lip.

"But why were scared?"

"Because I... no one," she sighed, having trouble finding her words, "I don't meet a lot of nice guys you know. If I do, they certainly don't like me. You know what kinda guys I've dealt with, it's really fucked with my head." She pointed at her temple. "I've had a lot of time to think on it... about what I used to do and why I left you, 'cause at the time I didn't know. Not really... I just, I just feel gross? And then, Stan," she shook her head and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "I'm so disgusted with myself." She turned away for a moment, blinking rapidly to keep her tears at bay. "I like you, Bill. Like a lot! But you don't want someone like me."

"Stop. Stop it. You're not gross or disgusting," he reached for her hand and held it tightly. "I don't see you that way. But it doesn't matter what I think, I want you to see that you're not either. It's important to me. I'll do whatever so that you can know how amazing you are," he sweetly swept a dark lock of her hair behind her ear. "I know it's silly to have these feelings so fast but I couldn't help it and I couldn't shake them. And then I saw you again and just knowing that you were okay and well... that alone made me so happy."

Star nodded feeling so loved and appreciated. It was something she hadn't felt and she never realized how, so desperately she needed it. "If-if we do this..." she nervously stammered, "we have, we have to do it slowly. Is that okay?"

"That's fine. I just don't want you to leave again," he said earnestly, he couldn't take it if she did. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it."

"Okay... 'cause, sometimes people touchin' me freaks me out, I don't know," she shook her head feeling embarrassed. She hated being vulnerable but she also had to remind herself that her words were safe with him. "Like that kid, I was able to handle it 'cause I knew you were there. Other days, I run off to the kitchen and lock myself in the walk-in freezer to calm down. Until I'm me again, you know. It really doesn't happen a lot but when it does it's bad."

Bill nodded understandingly. "Just tell me, what's okay and what's not. Please."

"Well, kissing is okay. I kissed you the day when I saw you again," a soft smile curved from her lips. "I even surprised myself, I just needed to do it."

"And holding your hand?" He said rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand that he was holding.

"Yes," she giggled.

"I'll let you take the lead with whatever, okay? I won't put hands on you unless you ask."

"Sounds fair. You don't have to treat me like I'm fragile, though. I don't get those icky feelings with you. I feel safe. I'll let you know, okay?"

"Okay," he smiled.

"Uh, would you like to stay with me tonight? Unless you've got something in the morning that's fine?"

"I wanna stay." He reached for her head running his hand through her dark hair. "Can I?" He asked. She nodded her head cradled in his hands. He planted a tender kiss on her forehead, trailing them down her nose and finally connecting their lips.

It felt like the first time all over again. Back in his bedroom when things were all right in the world. Before she left. She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, kissing him back longingly. Making up for lost time. At that moment, nothing else existed. Not who they were or what they had been through. And no one around to place judgment on the fact that they had chosen each other. Opposites... Though they were equals in each other's eyes. They were people living in the beat of their own drum in the city that never sleeps. Bill held her tightly as she rested her head on his chest, taking in his warmth. His heart happy with knowing she wasn't going anywhere this time.

[brucewaynebrady-blog]

Prompt 3 - Write a story that begins with an alarm clock going off. 

5/11/18

This blog is a part of a series of prompts that I’m using to write more often, taken from the book The Writer’s Block by Jason Rekulak. I pick one from a random page, and see where it leads. I was inspired by some friends doing art challenges, so, I made a writing challenge for myself. Enjoy! 

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                                              Taking Off “AAANK!!!!! AAANK!!!!! AAANK!!!!! AAANK!!!!!”

The alarm clock’s audible assault of sound bounced off the walls of James’ bedroom, shattering his sleep, and the peaceful silence. Eyes wide, he flung his covers to the floor and galloped across the room. He punched the button a few times, making sure the clock had no chance at coming back to life, but the red numbers on the digital display were enough to keep him awake: “2:30 A.M.”

His flight for California left at 6:00 a.m. and that was after a 2 hour drive to the airport. He’d packed the night before, but the excitement of the trip had kept him awake for most of the evening. Three hours of sleep would have to do for now, and maybe a quick shower would provide an energy boost.

Groggy, James yawned, grabbing a few things on the way to the bathroom, the sounds of a television in the living room fading in the background as he walked down the hall. His friend Paul had been staying with him and offered to drive him to the airport, then house sit for a few days. Paul currently had no place to stay or job, and was thankful to help out and have a place to crash. James, meanwhile, thought he might get some sleep in the car on the way. “We should have plenty of time. I’m ready when you are, man” Paul said casually, watching a show about alien abductions, his feet comfortably wiggling side to side on the coffee table. “Hm? Mmmm….yuh” James grunted, not awake enough to form words yet. After throwing his laptop bag and a backpack in the backseat, they jumped on the highway. James’ mood alternated between excitement for the trip and ignoring his body’s demand for more sleep. Paul’s sea-foam green Accord rocketed down the highway, racing to Hobby Airport in Houston. The lack of other drivers at this time of night made the trip a lot smoother, but it didn’t keep James from checking his phone incessantly, wondering how long the TSA line would take. After his shower, a stop at a drive-thru, and getting gas, they had left at 3:15. Plenty of time

As they got closer to the airport, the highway started to converge into what looked like a smaller city. All lanes led to the airport,  the tail-lights of cars ahead dotting the way forward, making it their only destination for the upcoming exits. “Gate B, that’s where I’m headed” James said, checking his itinerary. “Got it. And in record time!’ Paul replied, always priding himself on his ability to drive faster than others around him. James was happy to make it in one piece and thought that his friend was really racing himself, the other drivers always unaware they had entered his imaginary competitions. James grabbed his bags, and started toward the entrance. “See you in a few days man! Don’t have any wild parties without me” he smiled, knowing that his friend would at worst raid his fridge. “Orgy at your place? Got it. Have a safe trip!” Paul shouted back, driving away to possibly break a land speed record. James checked his phone to see “5:23 A.M.” staring back at him. He rounded the corner and saw Gate B not far away, with a line that stretched around the corner. There had to be at least 60 people waiting, to funnel into 4 lanes at the TSA check-in. After 10 minutes of standing in the same place, James could hear the grumblings of others that this “was ridiculous” and “how could they not have more staff here?” He moved to see the head of the line, where one lone, elderly woman in a TSA uniform,

slowly….

inspected…..

every……

one. At this pace, he would be lucky to get to the head of the line in time. He started to hear people discussing their flight times, most of which were later. Wondering if it would work, he said, a bit too loud “I’ll never make my 6:00 o’clock. I NEED THIS JOB!” “Your flight is earlier than mine. You can go ahead of me, if it’s ok with everyone else?” said a man, further ahead in line. Several people between shaked their heads yes, and miraculously, waved James ahead of them. “THANK YOU! I really appreciate it!” he said, moving up a bit. A few more people started asking about times, pointing at James saying “I think he needs to go ahead. His is at 6” He moved up further, until he was behind a woman, with long dark hair, about 10 spots away from the front.

“5:45 A.M.” his phone display reported to him.

Several TSA agents showed up then, and started to get the lines flowing. “I can’t believe this line. I have to be on this flight in 15 minutes and I’ve been here forever”, said the woman in front of James. “Me too” he said. “Wonder if they would make an exception for us..” James trailed off out of ideas. The woman turned and he saw that she was around his age, in her early 20s and stunning; her skin an olive complexion, her eyes large, brown and right now, concerned. James was alert and trying to think fast. He’d gotten this far. What was the next solution to this? The line moved up quickly and the woman was next. She turned to James, “So, we need to both get on this flight.  I wonder if we can get out of line together?” James, without thinking, blurted out “Maybe if we were married?” and laughed nervously. Did I really just say that? he thought, wanting to teleport back to the safety of his bed. “Yes! That’s it. You’re my husband when they call me up. Good idea!” she replied. James, shocked that she agreed, responded “Well, let’s catch...our….flight”

The TSA agent waved for the next person to step up, and they both rushed to the checkpoint. James, on only his second flight ever, hadn’t been paying attention to the process of removing shoes and belts. They both rushed through the motions, he grabbed his belt and shoes in hand, slung his bags across his shoulder, and they made a dash to the gate around the corner. “Come on!” the dark-haired woman said to James, who was making a mental note to cut down on drive-thru from now on, as he struggled to make the short jog. They rounded the corner, to see an airline employee walking away from a closed terminal door. “6:05”, the clock above the door taunted them, with this update. After pleading with the woman at the gate, they were told that the doors couldn’t be opened but they would be placed on the next immediate flight, in an hour. They agreed and exchanged their boarding passes. After plopping down on some nearby seats, James started to put his shoes on, the mystery woman sitting next to him. “I’m Nashita, by the way” she said, extending her hand. “James. Nice to meet you.” “Well, James, we have an hour to kill. Want to get some overpriced snacks from the bookstore over there?” “Let’s go for it. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon” After leaving the bookstore, they sat, and watched others shuffle through the airport for a few seconds. Nashita turned to him. “So, why was my new fake husband in such a rush? Where are you headed to?” she raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response. “Well, I’m heading to San Francisco for a job opportunity, and vacation really. Sight-seeing, tourist stuff, but mainly want to land this writing job for a tech company.” “Ooh, a writer, huh? Anything I might have read?” James hesitated, chuckling to himself, “Well, not yet, unless you follow my blog and random freelance stuff I’ve been doing for a while. I’ve been reviewing movies for sites, and writing my own stuff on the side. This job is a chance at a full-time position, in a city I’ve never been to. And, I figured, I might as well see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. What about you?” Nashita nodded “Well, good luck with that. I’m heading to L.A. I have some friends that meetup every year. It started as a birthday party for one of my best friends, and now, we just make it a point to get together since we don’t see each other often.”

“Sounds like a good excuse to have a party” James said, fumbling with his water bottle, for the first time, not concerned with what time it was. He found himself hoping if anything, the morning would slow down, so he could talk with her more. “We….know how to have a good time” Nashita laughed, brushing her hair back and getting as comfy as she could, in the plastic airport seat. She told him that her parents owned a few stores in the Houston area and of her plans to go to law school. He shared with her a lifelong interest in writing, and how it was something he’s always done, no matter what regular job he had to pay the bills; writing was always a constant. He scribbled down his personal blog site for her to check out and they noticed the hour was almost up. They boarded the next flight, and sat together. James, again was met with happiness to be on his way, but now wished they shared the same destination. He couldn’t remember the last time he so interested in just talking to someone, especially a stranger. He usually went out of his way to avoid social interaction, never knowing what to say. Words seemed to be more useful when he had time to edit them, but he’d found her delightful and easy to talk to.

Nashita took the window seat and they sat, waiting for the flight to take off. The woman in front of Nashita, leaned her seat back, just enough to make getting up a chore. As James started to laugh, the seat next to him was taken by a large man, his elbow spilling over into James’ seat and ribs. Nashita covered her mouth, and tried to suppress her amusement at James’ discomfort. They sat there for a bit, laughing at being trapped together, on this unexpected flight.

They talked more on the plane, and laughed secretly at the random activity around them. The woman in front of them had fallen asleep, the human bookend guy on the other side seemed to be engrossed in the newspaper, making occasional grunting sounds in response to the headlines, and an older lady was losing a verbal fight with her son, threatening to dispense justice when the plane landed.

The plane stopped in Phoenix for a few transfers. Nashita exited first, and quickly got lost in the shuffle. James figured she was off to her terminal and  was surprised to see her waiting for him as he exited. They started walking through the airport, and realized their gates were in different directions. James stood for a second, watching Nashita pause, smiling back at him. “Well, I’m heading this way” she gestured with her purse. “It was nice missing a flight with you” James grinned, “Yeah. You too. We gotta do it again sometime...I mean” He had no idea what he was saying. The moment made him nervous a bit. Hell she made him nervous, but in a good way. He wondered if he should ask for her number, her Facebook, social media of some kind…? He hadn’t done this in a while. “Good luck with the writing gig. Maybe I’ll get to read it someday!” Nashita said, disappearing around the corner. James stood there, realizing he had to head to his gate too, or he would definitely be sitting in Phoenix, without her this time. He also wondered why he was thinking so damn much. He flew around the corner that Nashita had just taken.

[mrs-dr-reid]

The Avengers Part 4

Word Count: 3993

A/N: PHEW!!! One movie down, 5 to go! This is gonna take a while.

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Status Report:

What is it with me and all these cliffhangers?! Oh, right, the story. Duh. Sorry, my brain is still kinda on overdrive from this whole alien invasion thing. Anyways...

Steve and I headed off to suit up, and after we were, we stopped off where Nat was taking care of Clint Barton, the agent Loki turned who was my mentor when I first started at S.H.I.E.L.D. and who is still a very good friend of mine to this day (I mentioned him in the last entry if it went over your head).

Steve said, "Time to go," and she said, "Go where?", so he replied, "I'll tell you on the way. Can you fly one of those jets?", then Clint emerged from the [ahem] "facility" while wiping his hands and said, "I can."

Steve looked at Nat, and after a discreet nod from her, he addressed Clint and said, "You got a suit?", and when he responded, "Yeah," Steve said, "Then suit up," and took off down the hallway, me following behind him after I smiled at Clint and said, "Glad to have you back, Barton,” which earned me a smile back. We made our way down to the hangar, and we must have been quite the spectacle, Captain America, the Winter Rose, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow all walking side by side towards one of the Quinjets. We boarded the Quinjet, and the young agent inside said, "Hey, you guys aren't authorized to be in here," but Steve shot him down and said, "Son, just don't," making me snicker slightly behind him.

We booted the agent out, strapped ourselves in, Clint fired up the engines, and we took off, Tony flying after us in his battered but still functional suit. He peeled off to get to Stark Tower, and we kept on going. Nat commed Tony and said, "Stark, we're on your three, headed northeast," so he replied, "What? Did you stop for drive-thru? Swing up Park. I'm going to lay them out for you," then flew around the corner to line up shots for us against the Chitauri.

We flew up towards Stark Tower, and I looked out the window to see Thor and Loki brawling on the balcony. Clint said, "Nat?", she replied, "I see him," then brought the Quinjet around to line up a shot at Loki. He threw Thor away from him long enough to fire at one of our engines, taking it out. Steve and I grabbed onto the support bars on the inside of the jet while Clint and Nat tried their hardest to ensure we didn't die. They softened the landing as much as they could, and we unstrapped ourselves from the flying tin can, me grumbling, "How crazy IS that guy?”, while rubbing my ass (as I had fallen).

I whacked the button that opened the bay door with my fist, and we trotted off the Quinjet, Steve saying, "We gotta get back up there," while we ran towards Grand Central Station. We stopped when we heard a loud metallic growl come from the portal over the city. We looked up, and a large robotic creature came flying out, earning an exclamation of, "What the hell is that thing?!", from me. As we watched it fly, more Chitauri jumped out of it, crashing through windows and terrorizing the people in the buildings. Steve said, "Stark, are you seeing this?", and he responded, "Seeing. Still working on believing," so I quipped, "Believe it, dude," making him snicker.

Tony said, "Where's Banner? Has he shown up yet?", and Steve said, "Banner?", so he said, "Just keep me posted," and kept flying. I said, "Rosalie hasn't shown up yet, either. I hope she's okay," and as if she heard me, she came barreling in on a sky cycle, and flipped off of it just before it crashed into a clump of Chitauri flyers. She said, "Hey, everyone!", and I said, "Rosalie! You're okay!", so she made rocks swirl around her body with her geokinesis, making me notice she decked out her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform to look like a mountain (while still allowing her to move freely), then said, "I'd prefer to be called Mountain Maiden, if you don't mind," and Clint quipped, "Cool name," before we all started running around and taking out Chitauri left and right.

After a while, we all met up behind an abandoned taxi cab, and Clint said, "We've got civilians still trapped up here," and Steve said, "Loki," while a clump of flyers flew overhead, shooting at stuff randomly, causing me to make a noise of disgust in the back of my throat at how much property damage that power-hungry jackass was doing to our beautiful city. He said, "They're fish in a barrel down there," and a herd of the armored aliens popped up around us.

Nat shot at a couple that were shooting at us, and Clint ran up behind a second abandoned cab to get a better vantage point. Nat looked at Steve and said, "We got this. It's good. Go," and when Steve said, "Do you think you can hold them off?", Clint said, "Captain, it would be my genuine pleasure," before loading his bow and starting to shoot, Nat doing the same with her pistols, giving Steve the opportunity to burn rubber. He went to run down and help the people, but I grabbed the back of his utility belt and said, "Steve!", and he turned around and said, "Yeah, Doll?", so I grabbed the back of his neck to press a tender kiss against his lips. When I pulled away, I said, "Kick some ass, Babe," making him smile, salut, and say, "You got it, Doll!", before he ran off, me smiling as he went.

I ran back to help Clint get a bunch of people out of a transit bus while Nat held off the Chitauri before continuing our defense. I worked my magic on the platinum bastards, and while I did so, I heard Nat say, "Just like Budapest all over again," and Clint reply, "You and I remember Budapest very differently," so I flipped over them while saying, "Cut the chit-chat, master assassins!", then shot ice rays and threw ice spears at a big herd of Chitauri, making Clint wolf-whistle and say, "Steve's one lucky guy," earning an unseen smile from me before I went to catch up to Steve.

I turned onto a street and almost collided with him, so we shot smirks at each other while we ran. We hopped onto a police car in front of a pair of officers, obviously surprising them with our sudden appearance. Steve said, "You need men in these buildings. There are people inside and they're going to be running right into the line of fire," and I added, "You take them to the basements or through the subway. You keep them off the streets. We're gonna need a perimeter as far back as 39th," while gesturing with a hand.

One of the officers who I'm assuming was the chief said, "Why the hell should I take orders from you two?", and his question was answered when a group of Chitauri came around the corner, and Steve and I worked together to take them out. When we were done, we didn't even have to say anything else to the chief before he addressed his men and said, "I need men in those buildings. Lead the people down and away from the streets," then used his radio and said, "We're going to set up a perimeter all the way down to 39th street," his men taking off to follow their orders.

After they all had dispersed, Steve held up his hand, and we did our signature double-direction high five (which basically means we high five up top facing each other, then he flips his arm down and I high five him down low. It's easier to understand it when you see it), then we hopped off the car to get back to business. Steve and I ran back to help Nat and Clint, and we were kicking alien butt when something (or someone) came in and electrocuted the crap out of them. Thor landed in front of us, and he looked a little worse for wear, so Steve said, "What's the story upstairs?", and Thor replied, "The power surrounding the Cube is impenetrable."

Tony said, "Thor's right. We gotta deal with these guys," and when Nat said, "How do we do this?", and when Rosalie slid in on a rockslide with a quipping of, "Yeah, that was my question, too," Steve answered, "As a team,” which made me smirk. Thor said, "I have unfinished business with Loki," and Clint said, "Yeah? Well, get in line," while counting his arrows, so I snapped, "Save the sass for a later time, Barton," and Steve said, "Loki's going to keep this fight focused on us, and that's what we need. Without him, these things could run wild. We got Stark up top. He's going to need us to...," but faltered at the sound of a motorcycle approaching.

Rosalie squeezed between Steve and I to get to the front, and when she saw that it was Bruce on the motorcycle, she squealed, "BRUCE!!!", then ran at him, and when he saw her coming towards him, he swept her into a ginormous bear hug, and I could tell she was crying really hard because of how badly she was shaking. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but Bruce cupped her face in his hands after wiping away her tears and kissed her passionately, which made her calm down. When he pulled away, she buried her face in his shoulder, then said something I couldn't hear, and he said something back. He let her go, then after he gave her one more encouraging smile, she trotted back to join us.

Bruce said, "So, this all seems horrible," and Nat said, "I've seen worse," earning a nod of agreement from Rosalie and I (read the last entry if you don't understand why), so Bruce said, "Sorry," and Rosalie replied, "No, we could use a little worse,” with a loving smile on her face. Steve said, "Stark, we got him," and Tony said, "Banner?", so I said, "Just like you said," earning his reply of, "Then tell him to suit up. I'm bringing the party to you," then we saw him bank around a building, a Leviathan close behind him. Nat said, "I don't see how that's a party," so I said, "Yeah, me neither," earning a "No kidding" look from her.

Tony led the Leviathan into the ground, and it started skidding down the street towards us. Bruce started walking toward it, and Steve said, "Dr. Banner," making him stop. Steve continued, "Now might be a really good time for you to get angry," so Bruce said, "That's my secret, Captain," and with a quick look at the Leviathan approaching at top speed, he turned back, said, "I'm always angry," then proceeded to Hulk Out and bring his fist against the Leviathan's steely head.

It started flipping over, so Tony said, "Hold on!", then shot a missile at an exposed soft spot on the beast, making Steve grab Nat and I to protect us with the shield, Clint dive behind a nearby car, and Rosalie shoot up a wall of rock to protect herself, but since Thor is a god (or at least a demigod), he just covered his eyes (show-off). The Leviathan fell, and we all stood in a big circle, Hulk letting out a roar, Clint loading his bow, Thor brandishing his hammer, Rosalie letting rock and dirt swirl around her hands, Nat reloading her pistol, Steve sliding his shield back on his arm, Tony landing between Steve and I, and me brandishing two ice spears while the crowd cheered.

More Leviathans and Chitauri flyers came out of the portal, making Nat say, "Guys," and Tony said, "Call it, Captain," so Steve said, "All right, listen up. Until we can close that portal, our priority is containment. Barton, I want you and Jackson on that roof. Eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash."

Clint nodded at Rosalie and said, "Can you give us a lift?", so Tony said, "Right," and walked over to them. Rosalie wrapped her arms around his torso, he put an arm around her waist to secure her, and he grabbed Clint's quiver before saying, "Better clench up, Legolas," and taking off. Steve continued and said, "Thor, you gotta try and bottleneck that portal. Slow them down. You got the lightning. Light the bastards up," he nodded, then swung his hammer around and flew off (which kinda surprised me, because I didn't actually know how he flew around, but now I know).

Steve looked at me, then said, "You, me, and Romanoff, we stay on the ground. We keep the fighting here," then he turned to the Hulk and said, "And Hulk...," grabbing the green lug's attention. He raised an arm, then pointed at him and said, "Smash," making the creature smirk and launch himself at a Chitauri on a nearby building, and proceed to jump from building to building while smacking the crap out of a bunch of aliens. Nat and I were beating the snot out of some of the creatures, and Nat turned at a small thump and aimed a zappy stick thing that she got off a dead Chitauri to see that it was only Steve.

She stood the stick next to her, then, out of breath, she said, "Captain, none of this is going to mean a damn thing if we don't close that portal," and he replied, "Our biggest guns couldn't touch it," so I said, "Well, maybe it's not about guns," then shot a look at Nat, knowing that she could probably tell what I was thinking since we've known each other for so long. She smirked slightly (confirming our "telepathic abilities"), then looked back at Steve, who said, "If you want to get up there, you're going to need a ride," so she tossed the zap stick aside and said, "I got a ride," and we looked up to see the Chitauri flyers that passed through our area periodically (typical Nat plan (can you tell I've known her for a really long time?)).

She said, "I could use a boost, though," so Steve crouched with his shield, making me get the hint and move to his other side. He looked at Nat and said, "Are you sure about this?", so she replied, "Yeah. It's gonna be fun," then ran at him, hopped up on a car for momentum, then jumped off, Steve pushing her up with his shield, and she grabbed the tail of a flyer, making me smirk and say, "That's my best friend," earning a slight chuckle from Steve.

While we marveled at Nat's gumption, we were cut short by a group of Chitauri closing in. Tony flew in to give us a quick hand, then left again to secure the perimeter, leaving us to kick alien ass by ourselves.

A Chitauri pinned Steve at one point, but I hopped over an overturned car with an exclamation of, "I do not think so!", and kicked it off and away from Steve before pinning it to the ground and stabbing an icicle through its throat, killing it. Steve said, "Thanks, Doll," so I replied, "No biggie," and smiled at him before Clint said over the com, "Captain, the bank on 42nd past Madison. They've cornered a lot of civilians in there."

Steve said, "I'm on it," and started to leave, but I grabbed his arm and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before saying, "Good luck," and running in the opposite direction, jumping over the piles of dead Chitauri and parkouring over flipped cars, helping people out along the way. I said through the com, "Steve, I'm at the corner of 36th and 7th. I could use some backup," so he replied, "I'll be there as soon as I can. Love you," and I said, "Love you too, Captain," before continuing my butt-kicking spree.

After a while, I cleared out the Chitauri in my section, and I heard Steve over the com say, "Everyone clear out!", then a lot of growling and grunting. While I ran, I said, "Cap, I'm turning onto 41st, what's your position?", and he started to respond, "I'm-...," but was cut off by an explosion. I said, "Cap? What's your status?", but I didn't hear anything but static. I said, "Steve? Babe? You there?", but I still heard static. I was starting to get desperate, so I said, "Steve?! Answer me, damnit!", but there was nothing to be heard but static. I started tearing up, but I wiped them away and continued running around, hoping to bump into Steve, or Tony, or anybody for that matter.

I said, "Tony, get me a lock on Steve's position. Pronto!", and he replied, "What? He's not with you?", so I said, "No! He went into the bank on 42nd to help the civilians, and his com went dead. I can't get a hold of him!", earning his reply of, "I'll see what I can do," before he disconnected. After a few minutes, he said, "He's on 43rd with Thor. Where are you?", so I replied, "Turning on now," and disconnected. I saw them taking down a bunch of Chitauri, and my heart swelled when I saw that Steve wasn't dead. My blood started pounding in my head when Steve got zapped, and the Chitauri started closing in. I ran faster than I ever have before, then swiped an arm across me as I ran, and large ice spikes traveled across the road and ran the damned things through.

Thor helped Steve up, curious as to who saved them, then I pole-vaulted over the dead aliens' heads using an ice spear, tossed my hair over my shoulder, then said, "That's what you get for messing with my boyfriend, you slimy bastards,” kicking one of their limp heads just because I was feeling a little extra spiteful. Steve stared at me for less than three seconds before stepping forward, wrapping an arm around my waist, and kissing me passionately in one fluid motion. It caught me by surprise, but I eased into it and brought an arm up to wrap around his neck and cupped his face in my other hand in order to keep him close.

Thor cleared his throat, and we pulled away from each other, slightly embarrassed. Thor said, "Are you ready for another bout?", and Steve replied, "What, are you getting sleepy?", making me nudge him in the chest with my elbow, and Thor smirk before calling back Mjölnir (his hammer apparently has a name). Nat's voice came over the coms, and she said, "I can close it. Can anybody copy? I can shut the portal down," which made Thor and I look at each other excitedly while Steve said, "Do it!", but Tony's voice came, and he said, "No, wait," which confused me.

I said, "Tony, these things are still coming!", and he said, "I've got a nuke coming in. It's gonna blow in less than a minute. And I know just where to put it," so I looked at Steve, and he said, "Stark, you know that's a one-way trip," but Tony didn't respond. We heard an engine whirring, so we looked up to see Tony flying over us with the nuke (I'm calling it right now that it was the World Security Council who launched it, the bastards). He went in the portal, and less than a minute later, all of the Chitauri dropped dead around us, making us look at each other in confusion.

We heard a muffled explosion, which made my heart drop to my feet, because there was no way Tony could have survived that. Steve said, "Close it," and I could hear the sadness in his voice. The portal collapsed on itself, and I looked away from the the boys so they wouldn't see the tears welling up in my eyes. Steve said, "Son of a gun," so I looked up to see Tony falling, and my heart soared, but then I realized that he wasn't falling any slower, and I let out a small worried gasp. Thor said, "He's not slowing down," and swung Mjölnir around with the intent of going to catch him, but Hulk was two steps ahead of him, and he jumped across the gap between two nearby buildings and caught him. He landed a few yards away, so we all dashed over to them, Thor turned him over, and Steve said, "Is he breathing?"

I grabbed his face plate and threw it to the side, and Steve bent down to listen for a heartbeat. He sat back up, and we all exchanged looks, not really knowing what we were supposed to do. Then, out of nowhere, Hulk roared, and Tony woke up, making my spirits lift. He said, "What the hell? What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me," and Steve said, "We won," making Tony sigh and say, "All right, yay! Hurray. Good job, guys. Let's just not come in tomorrow. Let's just take a day. Have you ever tried shawarma? There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is, but I wanna try it," making me smile at his ability to make a joke in such a heavy moment, and Steve wrapped an arm around my shoulders, a smile on his face as well.

Thor said, "We're not finished yet," so we all looked at him, and after a few seconds of silence, Tony said, "And then shawarma after," making me snicker. We all entered Stark Tower to find Loki struggling to get up, no doubt recovering from a Hulk-Smashing. He looked up to see us all standing there threateningly, and after a few moments, he said, "If it's all the same to you, I'll have that drink now," making Tony and I smirk slightly at his nerve.

After we went to get shawarma (don't judge, we deserved it), we all got out of our mission suits and met in Central Park. We gave Thor the Tesseract, and he and Loki traveled back to Asgard with the help of it's magic. Steve shook Tony's hand, and I rubbed his shoulder, happy they had settled their differences, before giving Tony a small hug, me getting a kiss on the cheek from Tony (Steve obviously shot a dirty look at him for that). I gave Nat, Clint, and Rosalie hugs, and when I gave Bruce a hug, he whispered, "Thanks for keeping Rosie safe for me," so I gave him a tight squeeze and said, "If it's all the same to you, I had nothing to do with it. She took pretty damn good care of herself," making him laugh.

Steve and I got on his motorcycle, and he looked over his shoulder at me to make sure I was all set to go before he revved up the engine and took off. I looked back at Tony's sports car and Nat's Nissan going in the opposite direction over my shoulder as we drove off, and I smiled, because I knew that even though we won the battle today, we still needed to be here, because the world would eventually need the Avengers to reassemble. As we kept driving, my arms tightened around Steve's torso at the happy thought of seeing all of my friends again, new ones and old ones alike. That's all for now. Talk to you guys soon!!!

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[thricaxoxo]

My Transition.

...hope this helps someone. I've put a lot of thought into writing this and my transition.

I just started dressing full time for 2 weeks now. I had to build up the courage and strength for a long time before even considering it. It came about one day where enough was enough.

Previously, I had a harassment case at work, where someone was making comments about my gender and riding my ass (no pun intended) since I started working there. The very first person I came out to was my lead supervisor. He was very supportive about this issue. I let him know what was going on with me and he had to report it to my shift supervisor. He was supportive as well.

How my supervisors handeled this situation gave me the strength to know the time was right. I just had to have the courage, to deal with everything that will come after, once I make this choice. Now if you know me, I'm stubborn and once I set my mind to something, I don't give up. Now this shit right here: is a major choice. I mean there's no going back. It's either work or life suicide. There will be so much repercussions to a major choice like this.

I couldn't even get my head around it. I mean I'm passable and gone out before but to do it full time? You got this, I said. The hardest thing would be passable but what is passable? To me it was looking the best I could as a woman from head to toe. From everything I've learned and soaked in all my life, from observing every woman in my life, I felt confident in this department.

Shopping spree and acquiring everything needed was already done but it's never done right? There's just so many things I want to buy. I'm a bargain hunter on designer brands so at least I got taste. Expensive taste but hey why not? This girl deserves it. I can spoil me. I work hard for that money. Well, I've compiled plently of outfits, to not wear the same thing in a few weeks time twice. Just need more shoes! Omg, there are so many shoes I want. All that was left was getting the right make up and the last essentials.

I already had my belly button pierced and 2 piercing in both ears prior to coming out. I think this was the start of my transition... At least in my head it was when I started it. I had my tounge pierced already and my left ear but wanted to feel complete. I just had to acquire ear rings to go with my new outfits. This makes a difference in your beauty believe me. I guess the next thing on my list is a 3rd piercing in the ears and ho stamp here I come!

I'm not ready for tattoos yet. When I do I'm getting things that I would have been laughed at for having before. Such as butterflies. To me I'm transforming into something beautiful. This will be a way to express my transition from a caterpillar to a butterfly. My personal beauty that's inside that can finally shine because baby I'm a firework.

Well, I handeled that situation at work, but still had to continue on with the next step that i wanted to achieve. My transition.

I was thinking about this for so long. Reading everything I could about mtf transition. Re-reading everything I've read years before. I had so many questions. What do I say or how do I go about it? How do I tell my family? How do I tell my friends? Will any of the mentioned be left afterwards. God so much fear. So many worries. Not to mention how to tell the most important people to me my wife and sons.

With all these worries, I had nothing but time to think, at work and at home in my head always thinking about this. Consuming every minute of thoughts enough to make me burst in tears. Why now? I ask. I ended up trying to find out all the information I could on legalities of name changes. How to make it official as far as I can with everything I could think of. How to blend my past life with my new life. Work history, job skills, college experience, and anything else you could think about.

There's so much to plan out it can become overwhelming. There's so much to your transition, that you need to think about, to know what your getting yourself into. It costs so much to be a girly girl, diva, or supermodel.

-Just don't fool yourself. It may not be right for some. Mainly because your features may not be feminine enough. Hey, I know it hurts to hear, but for some it may not be achievable. You know I'm right. If I'm wrong then...

You can achieve it. Through all the steps in your transition you will become that woman you want to be. Just plan it out and what's not planned you'll learn along the way. Just trust in yourself. It's you that wants to change. Results may vary.

Don't think that you will get immediate results. It takes time. Rejoice in each change you see. Cry when you need to and have ice cream ready. I haven't cried so much lately I think I'm making up for all the years I haven't. And just think...I haven't even started estrogen!

Now just think, you will go thru another puberty, that lasts as long as what another female goes through. It may be 10 full years, that go by, when you look at yourself in the mirror and your not the same person as at the start of this journey.

Embrace it ladies and look back at the old you. See how far you've come and the many changes in your life that's happened. Just remember the old you..  don't forget it. Please. Come to terms to say goodbye to that person. In reality you are killing them off, to become that woman that was inside, but yet it is you that's still inside.

Well then the day finally came. I finished sewing clips into my extensions, over the weekend, and wore them into work one day. The next day I visited the salon to get my hair did. Mind you for the 1st time in my life. I let my hair grow for 15 years and came into the salon with virgin hair. The girls rejoiced and I was happy with the finished results. Dyed to hide the gray, highlights with tones, and ombre with blonde. Extensions were dyed the same as my hair. I felt so beautiful and the best part... I was dressed as a woman. Yet, I didn't have the confidence, to fully walk out of my home like that or back into it. I threw man's clothes over me so the neighbors wouldn't see me like that.

Although I made it through that experience I couldn't go into work dressed as a woman that day. Yet each day I slowly progressed becoming that woman I would become. With each day my coworkers were starting to become aware of my changes.

The mask had to come off. I was tired of the sarrades, of trying to hide any girl features that would be seen by anyone, when I was a man. Or worrying about if anyone seen me as a girl when I was dressed at home or out in town.

I've dressed at home always before stepping out. It became a half and half thing in my daily life. Maintain a guy appearance at work and girl appearance at home. This was the only way to keep a balance in my life up to this point. Also to have some sanity to keep my mind right with the struggles I would face inside.  Maintaining this balance was the best I could do up to this point.

After coming out at work I slowly implemented it. I didn't want to completely shock everyone with such a drastic change. They knew or suspected something but the mold was coming undone. I knew it was time to stop fooling myself as well.

I can say that I have a great job, where my coworkers are accepting and the company is a LGBT friendly place. If my coworkers are not accepting then they are just tolerating the change. The company's ethics policy protects me being a member of the LGBT community and the way I am so I'm thankful for that. I know it was a shocker for some but this day and age most people are more accepting than if I came out 10 years ago.

Ive been a crossdresser for over 15 years. I think the biggest pain was suppressing it for the past 10 years. It was not healthy mentally. I'm sure it's taken a toll but I know what I want and who I am now. I'm on a transition to mtf. I'm not having any doubts. I've lived half my life as a guy and now it's time to be a woman. I've suppressed her for half my life. I've shared her in this body.

It was like I couldn't just throw her and all the clothes into a box and hide her away. I would always come back to it. It to me was a fetish at 1st. Next was attraction and being with men. Later in life, finding out how I felt all along since a teenager, was that I had gender dysphoria. There was nothing wrong with me or how I felt inside. There was nothing wrong with the stages of this developing from crossdressing to transition.

Now it's her time and he can share or fade away. I look forward to the new me. I know the HRT will help. The progesterone as well. Surgeries when I have enough saved in my HSA. Also having good healthcare. I have support. Friends, they'll be there or I'll make new ones. Family, they will accept me or reject me. I just hope they know I love them and I'm the same person inside. Just changes to the outside from what I feel inside.

I hope this helps anyone in need or that's in the same shoes as me. I know what your dealing with and your not alone. There's always someone that can help. Just reach out for someone like you. You are beautiful.

💋Thrica Allure

xoxo

[ebachan]

Miraculous Magic - Chapter 1 - Advance Notice

The night is upon us and two phantom thieves will cross time and space to meet in an adventure. Kaitou Kid and Kaitou Joker will clash in an attempt to gain Butterfly's Heart exhibited in Suzuki's Sky's Museum located on the 150th floor of his new Babylonian Skyscraper. Who will win the heart? Welcome to the shining night!

Cover by: @deepfaceglitter

Story by: @ebachan

Special thanks: @animemoonprincess

"Senior adviser, sir!" the young secretary run into a luxury looking office. It was spacious with an expensive furniture and pictures, showing an old man with a big smile holding trophies.

“What is it?” The old man from the photographs was sitting behind the big desk reading some papers. He was none other than the famous Suzuki Jirokichi the Suzuki Financial Group Senior Adviser with more money than one can count. The old man was wearing beige pants, simple shoes, almost white shirt, and dark beige cardigan.

“I have found this stuck in the morning newspapers!” The young man gave the senior adviser two small cards.

“Hmm? What?!” He jumped on his feet once he saw the first card. It belonged to Kaitou Kid.

“With your kind permission, tomorrow night during the highest peak of the glorious silver moon I’ll fly away with gentle Butterfly’s Heart in my grasp. Kaitou Kid”

“That impudent thief!” Suzuki was shaking with anger and happiness he has yet gotten another chance to capture him. “This time I’ll put his capture in my biography!” He started to laugh.

“Um, sir. There was another card.” The secretary gave him the second one.

“Is that an advertisement?”

“Tomorrow midnight I shall make Butterfly’s Heart that’s located in Babylonian Skyscraper owned by Suzuki Financial Group mine. Kaitou Joker”

“What’s that?” Suzuki carefully examined the second card. It had big text “Joker” and a long dragon on the other side. He laughed. “Well, well, someone is trying to gain some fame. What a poor soul.” He gave the card back to the secretary. “Once I catch Kid, I may spare sentence or two about this. Just look at the name! What a joke!” Suzuki left the room to call TV, newspapers and do all the preparation for the heist. It will be a busy day.

[Tokyo street]

“Edogawa, look!” said Haibara Ai. She was about a 7-year-old girl with short beige hair. She had a light brown skirt, dark brown knee socks, and white blouse.

“What is it?” asked glasses wearing boy with short black hair. He was wearing light blue shorts, bit darker blue jacket with one big yellow button, white shirt, and red necktie.

They stopped in front of a shop selling electronic. The TV in the shop window started broadcasting a live coverage from the Suzuki Jirokichi's house.

[Sky Joker]

Small ninja in a pink apron was washing the dishes and listening to the TV when Underworld Net News started he lifted his head to see the screen.

“Good morning. It’s time for Underworld Network News,” announced bored-looking man with green and slightly purple hair wearing anything but extravagant stuff like D and J earrings and pink, fluffy scarf. Suddenly, he jumped in the front of the camera and jolly shouted, “I’m your newscaster, DJ Peacock!” It seemed it’s his usual behavior as Hachi didn’t move a muscle and continued to wash the dishes.

“Kaitou Joker has yet announced another daring heist. This time he is after Butterfly’s Heart displayed on the 150th floor of Babylonian Skyscraper owned by Suzuki Financial Group. And that’s not all. The owner of the treasure made a daring announcement!”

The screen behind the DJ switched to the live stream of Suzuki’s speech.

“So Kaitou Kid has sent another Advance Notice?” asked one reporter.

“Yes, he is after my Butterfly’s Heart diamond. He plans to steal it tomorrow midnight. Just you come, you daring thief!” He looked at the camera. “This time you won’t escape!” He started to laugh, and the report ended with that.

“Uh, how strange,” pondered confused Dj Peacock. “I wonder what happened but Kaitou Joker, this isn’t heart-pounding and stimulating development! Maybe he forgot to send it!”

That made Hachi horrified, and he immediately ran after his master.

[Tokyo Street]

“I see the old man is in it again,” noted Ai, making slightly sarcastic smile. Conan’s face clearly shown what will come next as the black limousine stopped next to them shortly after that.

“Mister Suzuki is awaiting you,” said a man in the black.

“Can’t help it, right?” Conan shrug and with Ai they got in the car.

[Babylonian Skyscraper 150th floor – Sky Museum]

“Ah, there you are, my Kid-killer,” Jirokichi welcomed Conan by his strange, but an accurate nickname. Conan made a slightly sour face.

“Nice to see you too, old man.”

Suzuki greeted Ai as well. “So what do you say?” he asked them and looked at the big cut diamond inside of a glass case on the pedestal.

“It’s beautiful,” said Ai. She came closer inspecting the visible butterfly made inside of it. “But where is the heart?”

“Just watch.” Suzuki took small remote control from his gray-blue jacket and pressed the button. The light installed in the pedestal illuminated the gem. The refraction inside of the diamond created the colorful shape of the heart.

“It’s amazing!” gasped in amazement Ai and even Conan was impressed.

“No wonder Kid is after it,” he agreed once Suzuki switched the light off.

“Ah, it’s a masterpiece done by modern technology inside of million of years old treasure.”

The young secretary came closer to Suzuki. “Sir, I’m still worried about the second card.”

“Fool, that was just a joke!” Senior adviser shouted.

“Second card?” That perked Conan’s interest. “Did you get a second card from Kid?”

“Nah, it must be just some prank. Some so-called Kaitou… What did he call himself…? Prankster… Rascal… Porker…” Conan looked awkward. "Whatever that second card doesn’t matter.” He excused himself and left to prepare for tomorrow’s night.

“Mister, can you show me the second card?” Conan asked the nervous secretary. It was a man in his thirteens with short brown hair, and no significant mark, that would differ him from the men in the hall.

“Well, you are Kid-killer so it may be useful to you. You can have it.” He gave him the card, and Conan read the context. The man left to do his job.

“So, what do you think? Is it a fake?”

“I don’t know, I never heard about any Kaitou Joker before. Well, if it’s a prank or real thing we will see tomorrow.”

They heard Suzuki’s loud voice as he was ordering workers what to do. Kid was in disguise among workers.

‘That old man is energetic as ever,’ he smiled in his worker costume. Whenever there is his heist, there will be enough people for him to use as a disguise or enter their group. He put the box he was holding on the ground pretending he is unpacking it. He carefully examined his surroundings.

‘But another note arrived, huh? Joker? I never heard of him. I wonder if it’s a joke or…’

“Hey, you, help me here!” called him another man.

“Coming!” he called back. ‘Well, real or not, I won’t let him have it.’

“Uh, sorry,” apologized short worker he bumped into.

“No worries,” answered Kid back, and as he was walking away he had this strange feeling from the small guy.

The second worked walked outside the room, and the only thing that set him apart from the others were his silver hair. He headed to the restroom where he closed himself in the cabin.

“Just wait, you old geezer!” he shouted angrily. “Ignoring my Advance Notice!”

“Mr. Joker, please calm down,” insisted Hachi from the ventilation above the cabin he used to infiltrate the building. “Let’s focus on our job.”

“You are right. I’ll show him a miracle, he won’t forget, for the rest of his life!”

Hachi slightly smiled as he saw Joker’s angry face. “But who is this Kaitou Kid he has spoken about?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Joker leaned back.

“Mr. Joker, don’t underestimate your opponent. That phantom thief may be a shady character!” Hachi raised his voice.

“’Kay, I get it, but man, this Suzuki is worst then Kaneari. This skyscraper is packed with treasures from the basement to top. Yosh, let’s get back to work.” He headed out while Hachi turned in the ventilation to move to point “X” where he had quicker access to other parts of the floor.

‘But…’ Joker started to think, ‘something is strange here.’ He looked at two small children that were now talking with the Suzuki. ‘Why they are here?’

“Hey, pipsqueak, came here!” called Joker older man. Phantom thief in disguise mumbled something and walked toward him. At the same time, Conan looked back at him.

“Seeing someone suspicious?” asked him Ai.

“Must have been my imagination,” he shook his head. “By the way, old man Jirokichi, do you have some traps here?”

“Or course! But let’s disguise it somewhere else,” he looked around. He was sure Kid is already here, so he took Conan and Ai to his office.

“Hachi, follow them,” Joker whispered to his communicator.

“Hai, su,” answered Hachi and looked at his map Joker made. It has shown all the rooms on the top floor. “Let’s hurry, su.” He crawled thru narrowly space toward the office.

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Leave comment, like or reblog if you appreciate my work :-)

[johnchiarello]

Wednesday

SHOOTER- MEDIA-NEWS-

John 8:32

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 The other day- Sunday afternoon- I did a few roll out videos- on them I discussed media manipulation- I even talked about how they have shaped the narrative on gun shootings in our country. Sure enough that night- we had one of the most horrific mass shootings in the nations history- as of now- 59 dead in the Vegas strip shooting. I did a few comments/videos since then- I decided to link them all to one post- here it is. I might add some controversial video links that have come up since the shooting- if you watch my videos you will see how I do not buy into all the various conspiracy theories going around- but these other links are making the rounds- and there is a general distrust of the media and official government reports- on many things. In my opinion they deserve this distrust- and that's what fuels the conspiracy theorists- I’ll also link whatever videos I make today- 10-4-17-

[Past posts- verses below]

 Walk the dog- [notes below] https://youtu.be/zXTtFQXZgdE

http://ccoutreach87.com/10-4-17-walk-the-dog/

.Free Fallin’

https://youtu.be/QA_RtMKkeD8

.CNN- Top story- MORON- MORON- MORON-

.Great job guys!

.abc- nbc- cbs- 613 [3- 6- 10 are the local stations] I made a correction below- on the 613- the real number some scholars debate is 616- not 613- I posted the past teaching below-

.Did we just crack the code? Watch n see

.And yes- some teaching- Docetism and the Gnostics

  Trump golden showers video- Breaking News- no more Sun!- https://youtu.be/RRWeF3IevLw

http://ccoutreach87.com/10-4-17-trump-golden-showers-video-no-more-sun/

.Digital disaster?

.Fox news not much better

.ISIS

.Trump and the hammer?

.FBI- Comey

.Russian blackmail?

.The infamous Russian hotel room

.CNN and porn?

.Trump tweet was right

.Acts 24 preview

.What happened in AD 79?

.Media establishment

.Fake News

 Breaking news [NBC] Tillerson calls Trump Moron- Democrats thinks Guam might flip over [On the video I said Puerto Rico- it was Guam] https://youtu.be/BpVfg5WGDPU

http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-JR

.See for yourself? https://youtu.be/v7XXVLKWd3Q

.Why does the media believe Guam [or Puerto Rico] will flip over? [Dem said it- media covered for him]

 https://youtu.be/_Q76bxxyKu0 Shooter update- I made this video on 10-2-17- and the day before the shooting I actually talked about issues like this- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/10/02/sunday/ So I linked them here - I didn’t make a post for the Shooter videos and wanted them on a post.

 https://youtu.be/G4CCQi62RBY Shooter 2- media disgrace

https://ccoutreach87.com/10-3-17-shooter-2-media-disgrace/

 Last video [Walk the dog]- I did talk about Logos- Word- and did a little teaching- yes- on the antichrist! Did I crack the code? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Ok- obviously I simply did a day of discussing media- I talked about how NBC had breaking news- yes- they reported that Tillerson called Trump a MORON. This pressed Trump’s button- and they knew it!

 CNN ran a story ‘Trump to have special meeting over tensions between him and Tillerson’. Then they had 3 stories- in a row- where the phrase MORON was in the title. Like college kids playing a game.

The short teaching on the video spoke about the importance of the Word- Logos [Jesus].

 I guess it’s fitting- our nation- and the world- have some real problems-

The Vegas shooting- yes- the recovery from the hurricanes- and other very important things that REAL NEWS is not covering- the humanitarian crisis in Yemen- where many are dying- not because of a hurricane- or a deranged shooter-

But because of real shooters- in a proxy war- in which the U.S. is arming one of the sides [Saudi Arabia].

 Yes- many more than 59 are killed- and many more than all the recent hurricanes combined.

Yet- we actually play a roll in these deaths- and if the media gave 1/ 100th of the coverage they give to MORON stories- we might actually be able to save lives- yes- of women and kids.

 So the word- whether print- or spoken- can have a positive impact on the world.

But sad to say- we are getting the wrong words-

As Christians- and yes- independent bloggers- we can play a role as well.

 It’s sad that many in our society simply do not trust the mainstream media- or the official government reports.

Many have turned to others- to try and find REAL WORDS- words that are simply speaking truth.

 Not manipulation- not personal attacks against the president- any president.

The public know the difference between true investigative journalism- and what we see today.

There was a time when journalism- on both sides of the aisle- could be trusted- but no more.

 So- that's it for today-

Unless there is some other breaking world news event-

Like maybe Trump’s wife called him a moron too- then sure enough-

That headline will take precedence over the kids who are dying in Yemen- or Africa- or in many other places of the world.

 Because the shooting of 59 people in Vegas- as tragic as that is- that same loss of life happens every single day in worn torn areas of our world- yet never makes it to the radar screen of the so called REAL news.

 For those who are interested in real news- here’s just one link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Crisis_(2011%E2%80%93present)

  NEWS LINKS- [Just a few links to some of the stuff I mention on the videos]

https://www.infowars.com/breaking-sheriff-says-las-vegas-shooter-could-have-been-radicalized/

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/hillary-clinton-not-give-fbi-13-devices-containing-emails/

http://www.breitbart.com/news/the-latest-girlfriends-sisters-say-shooter-sent-her-abroad/

http://midnightinthedesert.com/hotel-guest-next-door-las-vegas-shooter-saw-multiple-gunmen-video/

http://yournewswire.com/las-vegas-video-multiple-shootes/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/us/las-vegas-shooting.html

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/twitter-is-drowning-in-a-goldenshower/news-story/17f297c7c86510cf986011201ab88d85

https://www.thecut.com/2017/01/the-sheer-perfection-of-donald-trumps-golden-shower.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/tillerson-s-fury-trump-required-intervention-pence-n806451

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-concede-election-night-donald-trump-presidential-latest-a7443606.html

  PAST POSTS- I’ll try and add some stuff- on these roll out’s I make the videos and add comments thru out the day- they are not intended to do in depth teaching but I know I drained you guys with all the MORON stuff- I figured I’ll add something of value-

 https://youtu.be/Da51D5bw4qc  Remember the crumbs

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/12-29-16-remember-the-crumbs-matt-16-rev-21-2nd-sam-5.zip

ON VIDEO-

.Christian rapper leaves the faith

.Apologetics

.Atheism

.Jewish Prophets preceded Greek philosophers

.Logos

.Historical Jesus

.Higher critics

.Marcion

.Gnostics

.Sophia

.Demiurge

.1st canon

.Saul’s crippled grandson

.This Rock

.Natural ethnicity opposes the kingdom

.Tel Aviv - Jerusalem?  Does it matter?

.Which John wrote it?

.Kingdom come

.How to maximize your potential in the kingdom

NEW-

Once again- I talked about a lot of stuff on today’s video.

I’ll try and hit the high points.

In the famous confession of Peter we see Jesus- and all who confess him- as the ‘stones’ that the church- the spiritual temple of God- is built upon-

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter- in his own letter refers to us as ‘living stones’-

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 Now- John in his vision on the Island of Patmos saw the same thing-

Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

That the foundation of the church- the city coming down from God  out of heaven- also had the names of the apostles ‘built into it’.

The church is made up of all those who believe- and have received this revelation- that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

In the city John saw- there were angels at the gates- the gates are described as ‘pearls’ as well-

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

This is where we get the term ‘pearly gates’.

Paul teaches that the church is built ‘upon’ the foundation of the apostles and prophets- Jesus being the chief cornerstone-

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph.

Most of us realize Paul is talking about the church- not an actual temple with cement and rocks.

But many view the same image that John sees- as an actual city/building ‘coming down from God’-

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Now- we are indeed the actual dwelling place of God- but when John sees his vision- he is seeing what Paul himself wrote about.

Get it?

Jesus taught us that no man can really know who he is- unless God revealed it to him-

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 Paul teaches the same-

1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

 So- we today- the temple that God dwells in- are the city coming down from God out of heaven-

The Bride-

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

 2 Corinthians 11:2

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 The spiritual stones that make up the city are ‘children of revelation’- meaning children who have received this understanding from God.

John sees a ‘light’ in this city- not the sun or moon mind you.

But a light that has shined for all who believe-

The Lamb himself-

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Yes- the bible says the word is a light unto our path-

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119

Jesus is that light-

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 John 9:5

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 We walk in the light- as he is in the light-

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1st Jn. 1:7

Those who walk in sin- they can’t enter into the city-

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev. 22

Repentance and faith are required to get in- to be a part of this city of God-

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

The Jerusalem which is below- earthly- is in bondage-

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Gal. 4

meaning those who stayed in the law covenant- would not benefit from this new reality in God.

But the ‘Jerusalem which is above’ the church- coming down from God out of heaven is free-

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal. 4

Yes- John saw some great things in his revelation on the Island of Patmos.

These are the same things we see in the teaching of Jesus- and Paul.

Jesus is the head of the church- he is the cornerstone- and he is the foundation-

Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

 Colossians 1:18

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 But we read that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets-

That means their gift- in preaching Christ- is declaring him as the foundation they were laying-

1 Corinthians 3:11 [Full Chapter]

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

  Yes- he is Lord of all-

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil. 2

PAST TEACHING-

[parts]

VERSES-

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Isaiah 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isaiah 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Isaiah 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Isaiah 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Isaiah 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

Isaiah 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

Isaiah 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Isaiah 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

Isaiah 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Isaiah 60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

Isaiah 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 60:15 Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

Isaiah 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

Isaiah 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Isaiah 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Isaiah 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Isaiah 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Matthew 5:14 [Full Chapter]

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

James 2King James Version (KJV)

 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 [parts]

1886- DIVINE LOGOS

 Okay- just read Isaiah 65- one chapter left.

 These past few weeks I have been going thru the last 15 or so chapters of the book.

 There are lots of great themes to do- maybe I’ll take a pic of the verses I wrote down and hung up here in my study.

  I also wanted to engage in a conversation on the Divine Logos.

 Huh?

 Well yeah- maybe a little scholarly sounding- but my goal has been to ‘upgrade’ our level of teaching.

 When I say ‘our’ I’m talking generally about the present day church in America- and the obsession with ‘the now’.

 That is ‘what do I get out of this- monetarily?’

 Yeah- that’s the rave of the day.

 So- every so often I do my best to walk the other road- to give the other side of the coin.

  So- a few weeks ago I was at my daughter’s house- we usually have the whole family over for the b-days and stuff.

  And my kids like playing those word games.

 So they bought some game- don’t remember the whole name- but part of the name had LOGOS in it.

  I just quipped ‘you do know what that means’?

 Now- I kid around so much- sometimes they have a hard time believing me- like ‘sure- you’re making it up’.

 No- for real!

  Logos means WORD.

 It’s the Greek language- which the New Testament was written in- and it simply means WORD.

 My 2nd oldest said ‘I should have known that’.

  My oldest daughter- Bethany- just turned 27- Becky is a couple of years younger.

  They both have degrees from A&M University here in Texas- top notch school for sure.

  So that’s why Becky ‘should have known it’.

   Anyway- this word is a favorite in the writings of the apostle John.

  In both the gospel and his 3 little letters [1st, 2nd and 3rd John] he uses this term to describe Jesus.

  ‘In the beginning was THE WORD and the word was with God…’

 That’s the Greek word- Logos.

  It should be noted that the early Greek philosophers had a concept much like this.

  All the way back to the time of Plato- Socrates and Aristotle [around 500 years before Christ] the Greeks were speaking about a universal principle- some type of ‘unifying theory’ that would be the basis of all knowledge.

 They spoke about this principle as THE LOGOS.

 So- some of the critics of Christianity did use this as a criticism of the church- they say ‘see- the disciples were just making stuff up- borrowing themes that were already there’.

 Do they have a point?

 A point- maybe- but that’s all.

   In the letters of John we also read him refuting a cult of the day- called Gnosticism [Gnosis is the Greek word for knowledge. They believed that they had secret knowledge that the others did not have.  A modern twist on this is sometimes referred to as Revelation Knowledge- it’s a form of this ‘special knowledge’ idea that existed in the early days of the church.]

 An off shoot of this group were called the Docetists.

 These guys were pseudo Christians- they held to some form of Christian belief- but denied the true faith of the church.

  They taught that Jesus was ‘a phantom spirit’ that is- they denied what we refer to as the incarnation.

  That God became man in the person of Christ.

   John was one of the youngest disciples- and he also outlived the others.

  His writings are probably the oldest in the N.T. [Revelation]

 So- he was around long enough to refute the growing philosophical challenges to the church.

  So- putting all this together- when John said Jesus was the Divine Logos- he was not ‘stealing’ that idea from the earlier Greek philosophers who were indeed looking for a Logos principle.

 No- he was saying ‘look- we- the followers of Christ- have found the thing you were looking for all the time- he is the Wisdom- the Logos of God’.

 See?

  Okay- I haven’t read John in a long time- nor have I ever studied Greek.

 But- I do have a Greek lexicon [a book that gives you the Greek word before it was translated into English].

 And back ‘in the day’ when we were young believers- seeking to learn the faith- these were the basic tools of the trade.

  But today- well- the tools are motivation- success stuff.

  Learning how to invest- make a buck [or 2] - how to ‘create your world’.

 Yeah- we really don’t have time for all that silly stuff like the Logos.

 After all- it’s all Greek to me.

 Yeah- I know.

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Note- Do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [Facebook] - I have posted lots.

 [parts]

(1343) One of the other themes that spoke to me from Galatians was the idea that Israel and the world were under a ‘schoolmaster phase’ until the fullness of times arrived. This phase was the whole economy of Old Testament law and rule. I felt like the Lord was saying that many of us have been led, and actually have arrived, at places and purposes the hard way; i.e. - the ‘tutor’ phase. That is God allowed the process of trial and error and discipline to work in us until we arrived at the purpose and goal. Isaiah says that ‘I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction’ yes, this way of ‘arriving’ is much more painful, but it still gets you there. Now the entire discipline phase for the world was the time period before the Cross. The law and the Old Covenant were the only way to ‘get there’ so to speak. If people wanted to have a relationship with God, they were either born Jews, or converted to Judaism. Today of course we have access thru the Cross. One of the earliest ‘cults’ of Christianity was a sect call ‘Gnosticism’ these early adherents mixed Greek dualism [material world bad, spirit world good type of a thing] in with Christianity, they taught that the God of the Old Testament was the evil God who created the material world, and that thru Jesus we can come to know the true God of the New Testament, the God who gives us salvation by delivering us from the material world. Though it seems like there are verses in the New Testament that teach that the ‘world’ is evil and that God wants to ‘deliver us from this present evil world’ [Galatians] yet in these contexts ‘the world’ is simply speaking of the lost system of man and the ‘way of the world’. In Christian theology matter is not inherently evil. The Apostle John would deal with the Gnostics in his first epistle by saying ‘whoever denies that Jesus has come in the flesh is not of God- they are anti-Christ’. Because the Gnostics believed all matter to be evil they would reject the humanity of Jesus, John was targeting them in his letter. As I mentioned before the controversy over the Trinity was settled at the council of Nicaea [a.d.325] but the church still battled with the nature of Jesus. Nicaea said ‘God is one essence/substance and 3 persons’. But this did not fully deal with the nature of Jesus, various ideas rose up [Monarchianism, Dynamic Monarchianism] that challenged the nature of Christ. In 451 a.d. the church settled on the language that ‘Jesus is one person with 2 substances/essences [natures]’, though to some this looks like a contradiction to the earlier language of Nicaea, this council in 451 [Chalcedon] was simply saying Jesus was ‘fully God and fully man’ so anyway we were all under the discipline phase until the ‘fullness of times’. I am believing God to get us to the destination with less ‘tutoring’ if you will, less trial and error. Sure, we will never fully get to the point of not making a few mistakes and stumbling along the way, but as we get older hopefully we will ‘stumble less’.

Correction- I ‘joked’ about the media being the antichrist- the number some scholars think is actually 616- I said on the video- 613- so- for the media- I guess you got lucky today- see below-

[parts]

Gematria- a common use at the time John wrote- which gives each letter of the Hebrew alphabet a numerical value.

Nero Caesar[ 1st century emperor] equals 666.

STUFF HE DID;

1-Made people worship him- as God [2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.]

 2-Castrated a boy- named Sporus- then married him.

3-Put tar on Christians- set them on fire and used them as human torches.

Nero ruled as emperor and persecuted the early church- his rule led up to the destruction of the Jewish temple in a.d. 70.

The predictions Jesus gave to his apostles about the destruction of Jerusalem and a great time of wrath [or tribulation] can indeed be seen as having happened during the 1st century.

Many people believed Nero to be the fulfillment of the anti-Christ that the New Testament speaks of.

John the apostle wrote that ‘anti-Christ’ were those who denied Jesus- at the time of his writing [1st century].

John- who wrote Revelation- said ‘the mind that has wisdom’ will figure out who he is talking about.

John sent this letter to actual Christians living in the 1st century.

You would expect that the readers of the letter would have some clue to who he was talking about.

As we go thru Revelation- my intent is not to cover [and debate] all the various views on all the verses in this book.

I simply show you this view [which I think is about the best one out there] Because we live in a day where many of the ‘end times’ teachings seemed to be consumed with a future leader [a famous preacher just prophesied ‘the anti-Christ is here’ the other day] who is still to come-

And that this will set off a cascade of events [most see these events as prophesied in Revelation- and sort of see it as a play book].

So- it is quite possible that the anti-Christ was Nero-

And yes- we live in a wicked world- and sure- we might/will continue to see men ‘rise’ and do wicked things.

But when Paul and John wrote- in the first century- warning the believers about a wicked ruler who would do bad things-

I think it would have been a disservice if he were speaking about a leader- who would not show up- until at least 2 thousand years later.

  BELOW- I pasted some various views here- just to give you a flavor of the different ways Christians view some of these things.

At the end I also added some of the passages I talk about on the video.

 Here’s a quote from St. Augustine- an early Christian leader- referring to the verse I pasted from 2nd Thessalonians-

"Some think that the Apostle Paul referred to the Roman empire, and that he was unwilling to use language more explicit, lest he should incur the calumnious charge of wishing ill to the empire which it was hoped would be eternal; so that in saying, 'For the mystery of iniquity doth already work,' he alluded to Nero, whose deeds already seemed to be as the deeds of Antichrist. And hence some suppose that he shall rise again and be Antichrist. Others, again, suppose that he is not even dead, but that he was concealed that he might be supposed to have been killed, and that he now lives in concealment in the vigor of that same age which he had reached when he was believed to have perished, and will live until he is revealed in his own time and restored to his kingdom. But I wonder that men can be so audacious in their conjectures" (De Civitate Dei, XX.19.3).

 I pasted this from another site-

In both ancient Greek and Hebrew, letters also represented numerals (as they do in Latin), their values assigned according to the order of the alphabet, alpha and aelph, for example, having the numerical value of 1. By adding these values, words could be represented as the sum of their numbers. This literation of numbers and numeration of letters was known as isopsephism by the Greeks and gematria by the Jews (which, in cabalistic practice, has been used to interpret Hebrew scripture). If the Greek spelling of Nero Caesar (Neron Kaisar) is transliterated into Hebrew (nrwn qsr), the numerical equivalent is 666.

What is curious, however, is not so much that 666 can be decoded to signify Nero but that the name of the emperor is encoded in this particular number, especially since it could have been represented more readily in other ways. If "Nero" is retained in Greek, for example, the numeration would be 955 or, if "Neron," 1005; in Hebrew, then 256 or 306, respectively. It only is when the words are transliterated into Hebrew that the numeration adds up to 666 (nrwn qsr, 50 + 200 + 6 + 50 + 100 + 60 + 200). Even so, this is an alternate spelling, a letter in "Neron" being transliterated (nrwn instead of nrw) but not in "Caesar" (qsr instead of qysr), although these forms do appear in both the Talmud and a contemporary Aramaic scroll from Qumran. It is intriguing, therefore, that 666 encodes the name of Nero in Hebrew when Revelation, itself, was written in Greek.

One should appreciate, too, that there were no numbers in Greek or Hebrew and that the "the number of the beast" was not presented as a figure but as letters of the alphabet or written in full. That is to say, it was not expressed as "666" (indeed, discrete Arabic numerals would not be invented for another five hundred years) but as the numerical values of the three letters representing 600, 60, and 6.

For Watt, the significance of 666 is that its expression in Latin is the sequential Roman numerals DCLXVI, which parallels but is the antithesis of the "Alpha and Omega" that John uses to characterize both Christ (22:13) and God (1:8, 21:6). As the Deity represents the beginning and end, so the Antichrist is a reversal of the first and last, D (500) preceding I (1). To phrase this another way, 666 (or rather DCLXVI) signifies the Antichrist because that number signifies Nero, and Nero—who was a matricide, proclaimed his divinity on Egyptian coins as the "Savior and Benefactor of the World," and the first emperor to persecute the Christians—signifies the Antichrist. Indeed, the procurator of Judea (c. AD 60) refers to Nero as "my lord" (kyrios), the same title applied to Jesus (Acts 25:26).

If the Latin (rather than the Greek) spelling "Nero Caesar" (above) is transliterated into Hebrew (nrw qsr), the final "n" in Neron being omitted (and its corresponding value of 50), the name computes as 616, which is the number indicated in the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament (the fragment illustrated below). If, instead, "Neron Caesar" is correct, it may be that the Latin was transcribed incorrectly, perhaps because the copyist realized that this transliteration did not equate to 666 and so omitted the letter, which changed the sum to 616.

Still, each digit of 666 is one less than seven, the perfect number, and such mathematical play may have tended to establish 666, rather than 616. Regardless of the number, Nero is the only name that can account for both 666 and 616, which is the most compelling argument that he, and not some other emperor, such as Caligula or Domitian, was intended. Too, for the number to have any significance for a reader of the first century AD, it would have to refer to a contemporary historical figure.

Writing a century later, Irenaeus is the first church father to comment on the number of the beast, although he apparently was ignorant of what the number actually encoded. Nor is he correct in assuming that John's vision occurred "almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign" (Adversus Haereses, V.30.3; a tradition repeated by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, III.18.3, and by the church fathers), which is to say sometime before AD 96, when the emperor was assassinated and just a few years before John himself died of old age. Rather, his presumed banishment to Patmos (where Revelation was written) seems to have occurred almost thirty years earlier, toward the end of Nero's reign and before the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, which John otherwise would have mentioned.

For Irenaeus, 666 was correct. The Antichrist "sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge....and also sums up every error of devised idols since the flood" (V.29.2). The flood came in the six hundredth year of Noah and the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar (who Shadrach, Meshach, and Bednego refused to worship) was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide (Daniel 3:1ff). This being the case and "this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies....I do not know how it is that some have erred following the ordinary mode of speech, and have vitiated the middle number [L] in the name, deducting the amount of fifty from it, so that instead of six decads they will have it that there is but one" (V.30.1).

Nero, too, was the sixth emperor, counting from Julius Caesar (as did Suetonius, for example, and Josephus, cf. Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII.2.2, where Tiberius is identified as the third). "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come" (Revelation 17:9-10). Of these emperors, it is Nero who had been "wounded to death" but "his deadly wound was healed" and he still lived (13:3)—Nero redivivus.

St. Jerome-"As for the Antichrist, there is no question but what he is going to fight against the holy covenant, and that when he first makes war against the king of Egypt, he shall straightway be frightened off by the assistance of the Romans. But these events were typically prefigured under Antiochus Epiphanes, so that this abominable king who persecuted God's people foreshadows the Antichrist, who is to persecute the people of Christ. And so there are many of our viewpoint who think that Domitius Nero was the Antichrist because of his outstanding savagery and depravity." (St. Jerome - Commentary on Daniel; notes on Daniel 11:27-30, -- BAKER BOOK HOUSE Grand Rapids 6, Michigan 1958)

 Some will suggest that the book of Revelation was written only for those living at the time, and that 666 most probably applies to Cæsar Nero, who ruled Rome from 54 to 68 A.D., rather than someone from latter centuries. This point of view, which suggests Revelation had an immediate application to the first century, is known as preterism. So, just how is Nero linked to 666?

Preterists take Nero's name, Nero Cæsar and transliterates the Latin into Hebrew.  An "n" is added to conform with the Hebrew spelling and usage of Nero's name, in a manner similar to the Greek adding an "s" (i.e., Jeremias, Jonas, etc.).  Other names in scripture where the adding of an "n" may be seen are Abaddon, Apollyon, and Armageddon.  Once Hebraicized,  the Latin Nero Caesar becomes "nrwn qsr," which when using the numeric equivalent of the letters, then adds up to 666 as follows:

Nun 

= 

50 

Resh 

=

200 

Waw 

=

6 

Nun 

= 

50 

   Qoph 

= 

100 

Samech 

= 

60 

Resh 

= 

200 

An example of this spelling has been recently discovered in one of the Dead Sea scrolls. If you use the same process, but without the added "n" the result is 616. Interestingly, some early manuscripts have 616 rather than 666, but even scholars such as Irenæus [A.D. 120-202] attribute the 616 to only a copyist error (Against Heresies: V, xxx) "this number [666] being found in all the most approved and ancient copies" [of the Apocalypse] and asserts that "men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony" [to it - 666].

 VERSES-

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of theFather, but is of the world.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Revelation 13:1-18 - And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.   (Read More...) 2 John 1:7 - For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 - Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   (Read More...) 1 John 2:22 - Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Mark 13:22 - For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect. 1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. Matthew 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mark 13:6 - For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many. 1 John 4:1-3 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.   (Read More...) Revelation 19:20 - And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 13:16-17 - And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:   (Read More...) Matthew 24:5 - For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 - Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Revelation 13:1 - And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

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New Post has been published on https://javleech.com/silver-springs-inside-fleetwood-macs-great-lost-breakup-anthem/

'Silver Springs': Inside Fleetwood Mac's Great Lost Breakup Anthem

  By 1997, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s romance should have been ancient history. The pair had split many years earlier, fueling Rumours’ famously raw breakup anthems. But for the duration of a taping of a Fleetwood Mac reunion display later released as The Dance, shit once more were given very actual. Midway thru a non-album rarity referred to as “Silver Springs,” Nicks turned and faced her former flame as she sang the music’s rueful bridge: “Time cast a spell on you, however, you may not forget about me/I know I ought to have cherished you but you would not allow me.” The pair locked eyes, and Nicks step by step built to a cathartic howl – “I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you/You’ll never break out from the sound of the girl that loves you” – indicating that, for her at the least, resolution had never actually come.

RELATED

Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Greatest Songs From British blues to California rock, from clean sunshine to the most haunting breakup epics ever Suddenly, “Silver Springs,” a music written for Rumours but left off the completed album and relegated to B-aspect popularity, seemed like the key to the whole messy and spell binding saga of Fleetwood Mac’s maximum liked lineup. Even lower back in ‘seventy-seven, amid iconic tracks like “Go Your Own Way” and “Dreams,” Nicks’ soft yet vengeful post-mortem on her breakup with Buckingham had come to be an emotional lightning rod. The song could have behind-the-scenes repercussions for decades to return – nearly main to the breakup of the band. “Silver Springs” might additionally end up a precious touchstone for Nicks acolytes ranging from Courtney Love, who has passionately covered it, to Lorde, who referred to it as a power on her Melodrama LP.

  Fleetwood Mac’s own melodrama was brewing well earlier than Nicks penned “Silver Springs.” She and Buckingham met as young adults at a spiritual-organization gathering; after excessive college, they became romantic and musical partners, in the end teaming up inside the duo Buckingham Nicks. In December 1974, Mick Fleetwood was known as up Buckingham to sign up for the already-hooked up Fleetwood Mac. The guitarist insisted that he and Nicks were a bundle deal, and both would be a part of and appear on the band’s self-titled 1975 album – they’re first international destroy and U.S. Number One.

As they worked on an observe-up, which would emerge as Rumours, Buckingham and Nicks’ relationship, as well as the wedding of bandmates Christine and John McVie, started to implode. Nicks formally ended matters, however, neither had been taking it well.

“[Stevie] was going through a chunk of a tough time too because she becomes the one who axed it,” Christine McVie, who had to grow to be Nicks’ close buddy and confident throughout this time, stated in Bob Brunning’s Fleetwood Mac: The First 30 Years. “Lindsey was pretty down about it for a while, then he simply awoke one morning and said, ‘Fuck this, I don’t need to be unhappy,’ and commenced getting a few girlfriends collectively. Then Stevie could not take care of it … !”

Rumours became a theatrical affair, with the exes addressing each other’s faults, their very own pain and a typhoon of other topics related to their respective heartbreaks. “Silver Springs” was Nicks’ tribute to the fairy-story finishing that by no means became. The name got here from Silver Spring, Maryland: While passing thru the town on the excursion, Nicks romanticized the call. “It sounded like a quite terrific location to me,” she said in the Classic Albums documentary about Rumours. “It’s an entire symbolic thing of what [Lindsey] could have been to me.”

As Rumours co-producer Ken Caillat remembers, Fleetwood Mac recorded “Silver Springs” approximately six months into the process. “Stevie was in love with the track,” he tells Rolling Stone, noting that he views it as one of the best-engineered and exceptional-produced tracks from the sessions, emphasizing the aggregate of acoustic and electric guitars added through the music’s very own challenge, Buckingham.

“Lindsey becomes the man who laid all of these large colors on the report and so that you should believe it’s an atypical function for him to be in,” Caillat explains. “He’s mad at her, the tune’s about them being mad however it’s an excellent art form. But you can inform via all the one’s components he did at the guitars and the harmonics and the selecting, it’s a chunk of artwork.”

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Lindsey Buckingham Stevie Nicks Buckingham Nicks Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Nicks was proud of “Silver Springs,” and even as it changed into in component a revenge anthem directed at her bandmate/ex, there was someone greater critical in her life who turned into meant to enjoy the industrial fulfillment she assumed it might advantage.

“She decided to offer the publishing rights to her mom [Barbara] as the type of a big thank you with a pleasing royalty test for her mom,” Caillat provides.

The album turned into nearly completed when Mick Fleetwood pulled Nicks out into the car parking zone of the Record Plant, the Sausalito, California, studio where much of the album was recorded.

“I knew it became truly serious ‘reason Mick never asks you to go out to the car parking zone for whatever,” Nicks recalled in a 1991 BBC radio interview. It becomes there that Fleetwood found out that “Silver Springs” had been reducing from the album for being too lengthy and “numerous [other] reasons,” in line with Nicks. Fleetwood desired the lighter “I Don’t Want to Know” at the album as a substitute, a song on which she and her ex-boyfriend harmonized approximately their breakup. She did now not approve.

“I commenced to scream bloody murder and possibly stated each horribly suggest component that you can likely say to some other man or women and walked lower back inside the studio completely flipped out,” she continued.

The manufacturers tried to find a manner to maintain the tune on the album, and presented to reduce down its length or trim a distinctive Nicks tune, just like the seven-minute “Gold Dust Woman.” As Fleetwood had relayed to Nicks all through their fateful parking-lot argument, duration becomes the main thing within the tune’s displacement, given the constraints of vinyl pressings and her bandmates’ choice for identical illustration on the LP. Plus, “Silver Springs” might have made for a 3rd ballad by means of Nicks on the album, as opposed to the greater upbeat “I Don’t Want to Know,” a duet with Buckingham.

“As you may listen, [the album] grew to become out feeling poppy notwithstanding the truth that we had a variety of sluggish songs in there like ‘Oh Daddy’ and such things as that,” Caillat provides. “So we gave her the option that we may want to cut one of the gradual songs down so we ought to have room for the alternative ones or we could take one of the different songs off and she or he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ She desired to maintain all of the other songs more than ‘Silver Springs.'”

According to Nicks, but, she wasn’t so compliant.

“With a gun to my head, I went out and sang ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ and they positioned ‘Silver Springs’ on the again of ‘Go Your Own Way,'” she told the BBC in ‘ninety-one.

As Caillat sees it, the position of “Silver Springs” as a B aspect on the album’s first unmarried changed into a peace offering. “Stevie changed into devastated for some of the motives,” he explains. “She loved the song, and via it now not being at the LP, her mother didn’t make all the extra publishing due to the fact the single didn’t promote very lots.”

  The tale of “Silver Springs” regarded to give up proper there, in Sausalito. The band executed the music stay a few times in 1976 and ’77 earlier than shifting on from it for the remainder of the 1970s and everything of the 1980s. Even so, Nicks devotees nonetheless located their manner to the song. Tori Amos’ family lived in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the course of the 1970s, and within the Rumours technology, she become slicing her tooth by gambling gay bars round close by Washington, D.C. Nicks had long been one in every of her biggest impacts, however it was a random barfly who put in a request for “Silver Springs” that led to her discovery of the music.

“I heard it and the concept it changed into lovely,” she tells Rolling Stone. “It just has become a part of the repertoire for the beyond 39 years.”

For those not frequenting the bars wherein Amos kept the tune’s spirit alive, the tune’s number one exposure was as a B facet to “Go Your Own Way” – Buckingham’s own expression of anger and revenge towards Nicks, in which he claimed that “packin’ up, shakin’ up is all you wanna do.” The song could end up one of the band’s largest hits, charting inside the Top 10.

“He knew it wasn’t actual. It became simply an irritating factor that he stated,” Nicks told Rolling Stone in 1997 of the “packin’ up, shakin’ up” line. “Every time those words would come onstage, I wanted to move over and kill him. He knew it. He, in reality, pushed my buttons through that. It becomes like, ‘I’ll make you go through for leaving me.’ And I did.”

Of direction, Nicks had the precise equal motivation whilst she wrote “Silver Springs.” In a 1997 interview with the Arizona Republic, she explained the music’s message as “I’m so irritated with you. You will listen to me on the radio for the relaxation of your lifestyles, and it will malicious program you. I hope it bugs you.”

After their breakup and large fulfillment with Rumours, Buckingham and Nicks spent a decade persevering with to sing to and about each other onstage, while they appeared to transport on with their respective non-public lives. They courted special people – Nicks even in short married – and pursued solo careers along with their paintings with the band. But according to Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography Play On, the ardor and anger had no longer completely died down, and a physical altercation among the former couple at some point of a band assembly in 1987 is what in the long run led to Buckingham’s departure from the organization. Both Buckingham and Nicks denied Fleetwood’s claims.

Three years later, the new, Lindsey-less incarnation of Fleetwood Mac launched Behind the Mask and went on a global excursion. Following the trek, Nicks began plotting a greatest hits compilation titled Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks wherein she was hoping to consist of “Silver Springs” along with her different Fleetwood Mac contributions and solo hits. But her plan was given in the way of Fleetwood’s personal choice to consist of it on an imminent container set cataloging the band’s discography. This led to some other heated communicate among the two approximately “Silver Springs.”

“I informed [Fleetwood’s manager] that I want ‘Silver Springs’ because it belongs to my mother,” she advised the BBC in 1991. “It didn’t occur to me that they would not let me have it lower back. I stated to his supervisor, ‘You find Mick, and you inform him that if I do not have those tapes through Monday, I am not a member of Fleetwood Mac.'”

Fleetwood received, and the track seemed on 25 Years – The Chain. True to her word, Nicks left the band.

By the time of The Dance, each Buckingham and Nicks had reputedly settled into a brand new generation in their lives. Nicks was sober for some years, having finally kicked the drug addiction that had plagued her because of the 1970s. Buckingham becomes then dating Kristen Messner, the woman who might give birth to the first of their youngsters 12 months later and marry him in 2000. It turned into an implausible Buckingham Nicks reunion in 1996 for the duet “Twisted” off the Twister soundtrack that might place the Fleetwood Mac reunion in movement. (The twister metaphor changed into hopefully not lost at the pair.)

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Lindsey Buckingham 1997 Lindsey Buckingham, 1997 Brian Snyder/Redux The Dance, a release largely made up of Fleetwood Mac’s pleasant-regarded hits, would earn the band 3 Grammy nominations and their first Number One album because 1982’s Mirage.”To be sincere, I don’t keep in mind hearing ‘Silver Springs’ performed at rehearsals,” Elliot Scheiner, producer, and engineer of the concert movie, tells RS. Similarly, director Bruce Gowers does not consider something unique about the early run-throughs of the song. It had always been part of the setlist for so long as he had been attending their exercise sessions, and he simply assumed that it has been a part of their pre-breakup live performance repertoire. The looks exchanged through Buckingham and Nicks throughout the show – and the especially uncooked second between them for the duration of the climax of “Silver Springs” – did now not come about until the two nights of taping in Burbank.

This changed into through layout. Nicks has admitted that the fiery take at the music that appears in The Dance become “for posterity,” as she advised RS at the time. “I wanted humans to face back and truly watch and apprehend what [the relationship with Lindsey] was,” she later advised the Arizona Republic.

“‘Silver Springs’ constantly ends up in that location for me because she’s always very committed to what the ones words are about, and I remember what they have been about then,” Buckingham advised Rolling Stone in 1997. “Now it’s all irony, you realize, however, there’s no way you cannot get drawn into the end of that music.”

“When we are [on stage] there making a song songs to every other, we possibly say extra to every aside from us ever might in real lifestyles,” Nicks introduced. For many Fleetwood Mac fanatics, The Dance marked the first time they’d even heard the music. One of those changed into Courtney Love, who has long been a very public admirer of Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. The hole had released their personal cover of “Gold Dust Woman” in 1996 and interpolated “Rhiannon” into their Pretty on the Inside song “Starbelly” returned in 1991.

“I wouldn’t exist without Stevie,” she tells Rolling Stone. Love and Nicks have recognized every other for years, and the alt-rock singer was in attendance for one of the live tapings of The Dance, even spending time with a worried Nicks in her dressing room earlier than the display.

“I thought it turned into a vintage Buckingham Nicks track,” she recalls of her first publicity to “Silver Springs.” “It actually moved me. I changed into like ‘What the fuck is that this?’ I didn’t ask her approximately it.”

While Love had been playing “Gold Dust Woman” live for decades, she later chose to sing “Silver Springs” as an alternative at a Fleetwood Mac tribute show in Los Angeles final yr. “I began crying as I turned into singing it,” she admits. “It doesn’t promote itself, you have to sell it a touch bit. Take it to the quit. Before the instrumental spoil, it builds, it builds, it builds and it climaxes. It’s an unusual track musically in that feeling.”

  Nicks’ very own overall performance earned “Silver Springs” a belated Grammy nomination, inside the class of Best Pop Performance with the aid of a Duo or Group With Vocals (it misplaced to Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity”). It becomes the most effective music from The Dance to be recognized outdoor of the album as an entire.

“I by no means thought that ‘Silver Springs’ could ever be finished onstage,” she reflected in the course of a 1997 MTV interview. “My beautiful tune just disappeared [20 years ago]. For it to come again round like this has clearly been special to me.”

“Silver Springs” has gone directly to have excellent 2d lifestyles. Besides Love and Amos, Florence and the Machine and Lykke Li have blanketed it live; it regarded inside the finale episode of American Horror Story: Coven; and just this yr, 20-yr-antique Lorde mentioned “Silver Springs” at some point of a conversation about her very own heartbreak album Melodrama, released in June.

“I don’t forget being [15 years old] taking note of [‘Silver Springs’] over and over, doing my art homework, thinking it turned into a stunning tune,” she said in the conversation with Tavi Gevinson for the Rookie Magazine podcast. “I recall hearing ‘Time cast its spell on you however you won’t overlook me/I’ll observe you down ’til the sound of my voice will hang-out you/You’ll in no way get [away from] the sound of the girl that loves you’ and feeling the weight of them, and I also bear in mind listening to them six months in the past and hearing a complete exclusive element unlock.”

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Stevie Nicks 2017 Stevie Nicks, 2017 Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Speaking to Rolling Stone later, Gevinson cites her very own excessive-college breakup as her impetus for connecting to the tune. “I without a doubt copied down the lyrics in multiple journals,” she says.

Fleetwood Mac still performs “Silver Springs,” often as an encore alongside “Don’t Stop” and different signature songs. Live, Buckingham and Nicks have persevered to revive their haunting locked-gaze Dance duet. In late 1997, live pictures captured Buckingham welling up with emotion and embracing Nicks at the top of the track. In a 2004 clip, he aggressively strums his guitar and yells into the microphone, making his harmonies extra audible than ever.

After Christine McVie rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 2014, her heartbreak sisterhood with Nicks become rekindled. By that time, “Silver Springs” had already emerged as a staple of the band’s set lists. “When I finish [performing] ‘Silver Springs,’ Christine waits for me and takes my hand,” Nicks told Maclean’s Magazine in 2015. “We walk off and we in no way let cross of every other until we get to our tent. In that 30 seconds, it’s like my heart simply comes out of my frame.”

Since Nicks become capable to turn “Silver Springs” into the hit she always desired it to be, her mom Barbara did receive the royalty take a look at her daughter had earmarked for her – two decades later than anticipated. “My mother ended up getting a $50,000 check two months after The Dance went out,” the singer discovered. “To my mom, it was a million dollar check.”

Nicks also ultimately had the opportunity to vicinity the tune on her personal compilation, including it on 2007’s Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks. In the lining notes, she dedicated “Silver Springs” to her mother, who surpassed away 4 years later. It turned into the elder Nicks’ “rainy day music.”

[lavleech-blog]

'Silver Springs': Inside Fleetwood Mac's Great Lost Breakup Anthem

New Post has been published on https://javleech.com/silver-springs-inside-fleetwood-macs-great-lost-breakup-anthem/

'Silver Springs': Inside Fleetwood Mac's Great Lost Breakup Anthem

  By 1997, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s romance should have been ancient history. The pair had split many years earlier, fueling Rumours’ famously raw breakup anthems. But for the duration of a taping of a Fleetwood Mac reunion display later released as The Dance, shit once more were given very actual. Midway thru a non-album rarity referred to as “Silver Springs,” Nicks turned and faced her former flame as she sang the music’s rueful bridge: “Time cast a spell on you, however, you may not forget about me/I know I ought to have cherished you but you would not allow me.” The pair locked eyes, and Nicks step by step built to a cathartic howl – “I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you/You’ll never break out from the sound of the girl that loves you” – indicating that, for her at the least, resolution had never actually come.

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Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Greatest Songs From British blues to California rock, from clean sunshine to the most haunting breakup epics ever Suddenly, “Silver Springs,” a music written for Rumours but left off the completed album and relegated to B-aspect popularity, seemed like the key to the whole messy and spell binding saga of Fleetwood Mac’s maximum liked lineup. Even lower back in ‘seventy-seven, amid iconic tracks like “Go Your Own Way” and “Dreams,” Nicks’ soft yet vengeful post-mortem on her breakup with Buckingham had come to be an emotional lightning rod. The song could have behind-the-scenes repercussions for decades to return – nearly main to the breakup of the band. “Silver Springs” might additionally end up a precious touchstone for Nicks acolytes ranging from Courtney Love, who has passionately covered it, to Lorde, who referred to it as a power on her Melodrama LP.

  Fleetwood Mac’s own melodrama was brewing well earlier than Nicks penned “Silver Springs.” She and Buckingham met as young adults at a spiritual-organization gathering; after excessive college, they became romantic and musical partners, in the end teaming up inside the duo Buckingham Nicks. In December 1974, Mick Fleetwood was known as up Buckingham to sign up for the already-hooked up Fleetwood Mac. The guitarist insisted that he and Nicks were a bundle deal, and both would be a part of and appear on the band’s self-titled 1975 album – they’re first international destroy and U.S. Number One.

As they worked on an observe-up, which would emerge as Rumours, Buckingham and Nicks’ relationship, as well as the wedding of bandmates Christine and John McVie, started to implode. Nicks formally ended matters, however, neither had been taking it well.

“[Stevie] was going through a chunk of a tough time too because she becomes the one who axed it,” Christine McVie, who had to grow to be Nicks’ close buddy and confident throughout this time, stated in Bob Brunning’s Fleetwood Mac: The First 30 Years. “Lindsey was pretty down about it for a while, then he simply awoke one morning and said, ‘Fuck this, I don’t need to be unhappy,’ and commenced getting a few girlfriends collectively. Then Stevie could not take care of it … !”

Rumours became a theatrical affair, with the exes addressing each other’s faults, their very own pain and a typhoon of other topics related to their respective heartbreaks. “Silver Springs” was Nicks’ tribute to the fairy-story finishing that by no means became. The name got here from Silver Spring, Maryland: While passing thru the town on the excursion, Nicks romanticized the call. “It sounded like a quite terrific location to me,” she said in the Classic Albums documentary about Rumours. “It’s an entire symbolic thing of what [Lindsey] could have been to me.”

As Rumours co-producer Ken Caillat remembers, Fleetwood Mac recorded “Silver Springs” approximately six months into the process. “Stevie was in love with the track,” he tells Rolling Stone, noting that he views it as one of the best-engineered and exceptional-produced tracks from the sessions, emphasizing the aggregate of acoustic and electric guitars added through the music’s very own challenge, Buckingham.

“Lindsey becomes the man who laid all of these large colors on the report and so that you should believe it’s an atypical function for him to be in,” Caillat explains. “He’s mad at her, the tune’s about them being mad however it’s an excellent art form. But you can inform via all the one’s components he did at the guitars and the harmonics and the selecting, it’s a chunk of artwork.”

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Lindsey Buckingham Stevie Nicks Buckingham Nicks Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Nicks was proud of “Silver Springs,” and even as it changed into in component a revenge anthem directed at her bandmate/ex, there was someone greater critical in her life who turned into meant to enjoy the industrial fulfillment she assumed it might advantage.

“She decided to offer the publishing rights to her mom [Barbara] as the type of a big thank you with a pleasing royalty test for her mom,” Caillat provides.

The album turned into nearly completed when Mick Fleetwood pulled Nicks out into the car parking zone of the Record Plant, the Sausalito, California, studio where much of the album was recorded.

“I knew it became truly serious ‘reason Mick never asks you to go out to the car parking zone for whatever,” Nicks recalled in a 1991 BBC radio interview. It becomes there that Fleetwood found out that “Silver Springs” had been reducing from the album for being too lengthy and “numerous [other] reasons,” in line with Nicks. Fleetwood desired the lighter “I Don’t Want to Know” at the album as a substitute, a song on which she and her ex-boyfriend harmonized approximately their breakup. She did now not approve.

“I commenced to scream bloody murder and possibly stated each horribly suggest component that you can likely say to some other man or women and walked lower back inside the studio completely flipped out,” she continued.

The manufacturers tried to find a manner to maintain the tune on the album, and presented to reduce down its length or trim a distinctive Nicks tune, just like the seven-minute “Gold Dust Woman.” As Fleetwood had relayed to Nicks all through their fateful parking-lot argument, duration becomes the main thing within the tune’s displacement, given the constraints of vinyl pressings and her bandmates’ choice for identical illustration on the LP. Plus, “Silver Springs” might have made for a 3rd ballad by means of Nicks on the album, as opposed to the greater upbeat “I Don’t Want to Know,” a duet with Buckingham.

“As you may listen, [the album] grew to become out feeling poppy notwithstanding the truth that we had a variety of sluggish songs in there like ‘Oh Daddy’ and such things as that,” Caillat provides. “So we gave her the option that we may want to cut one of the gradual songs down so we ought to have room for the alternative ones or we could take one of the different songs off and she or he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ She desired to maintain all of the other songs more than ‘Silver Springs.'”

According to Nicks, but, she wasn’t so compliant.

“With a gun to my head, I went out and sang ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ and they positioned ‘Silver Springs’ on the again of ‘Go Your Own Way,'” she told the BBC in ‘ninety-one.

As Caillat sees it, the position of “Silver Springs” as a B aspect on the album’s first unmarried changed into a peace offering. “Stevie changed into devastated for some of the motives,” he explains. “She loved the song, and via it now not being at the LP, her mother didn’t make all the extra publishing due to the fact the single didn’t promote very lots.”

  The tale of “Silver Springs” regarded to give up proper there, in Sausalito. The band executed the music stay a few times in 1976 and ’77 earlier than shifting on from it for the remainder of the 1970s and everything of the 1980s. Even so, Nicks devotees nonetheless located their manner to the song. Tori Amos’ family lived in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the course of the 1970s, and within the Rumours technology, she become slicing her tooth by gambling gay bars round close by Washington, D.C. Nicks had long been one in every of her biggest impacts, however it was a random barfly who put in a request for “Silver Springs” that led to her discovery of the music.

“I heard it and the concept it changed into lovely,” she tells Rolling Stone. “It just has become a part of the repertoire for the beyond 39 years.”

For those not frequenting the bars wherein Amos kept the tune’s spirit alive, the tune’s number one exposure was as a B facet to “Go Your Own Way” – Buckingham’s own expression of anger and revenge towards Nicks, in which he claimed that “packin’ up, shakin’ up is all you wanna do.” The song could end up one of the band��s largest hits, charting inside the Top 10.

“He knew it wasn’t actual. It became simply an irritating factor that he stated,” Nicks told Rolling Stone in 1997 of the “packin’ up, shakin’ up” line. “Every time those words would come onstage, I wanted to move over and kill him. He knew it. He, in reality, pushed my buttons through that. It becomes like, ‘I’ll make you go through for leaving me.’ And I did.”

Of direction, Nicks had the precise equal motivation whilst she wrote “Silver Springs.” In a 1997 interview with the Arizona Republic, she explained the music’s message as “I’m so irritated with you. You will listen to me on the radio for the relaxation of your lifestyles, and it will malicious program you. I hope it bugs you.”

After their breakup and large fulfillment with Rumours, Buckingham and Nicks spent a decade persevering with to sing to and about each other onstage, while they appeared to transport on with their respective non-public lives. They courted special people – Nicks even in short married – and pursued solo careers along with their paintings with the band. But according to Mick Fleetwood’s autobiography Play On, the ardor and anger had no longer completely died down, and a physical altercation among the former couple at some point of a band assembly in 1987 is what in the long run led to Buckingham’s departure from the organization. Both Buckingham and Nicks denied Fleetwood’s claims.

Three years later, the new, Lindsey-less incarnation of Fleetwood Mac launched Behind the Mask and went on a global excursion. Following the trek, Nicks began plotting a greatest hits compilation titled Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks wherein she was hoping to consist of “Silver Springs” along with her different Fleetwood Mac contributions and solo hits. But her plan was given in the way of Fleetwood’s personal choice to consist of it on an imminent container set cataloging the band’s discography. This led to some other heated communicate among the two approximately “Silver Springs.”

“I informed [Fleetwood’s manager] that I want ‘Silver Springs’ because it belongs to my mother,” she advised the BBC in 1991. “It didn’t occur to me that they would not let me have it lower back. I stated to his supervisor, ‘You find Mick, and you inform him that if I do not have those tapes through Monday, I am not a member of Fleetwood Mac.'”

Fleetwood received, and the track seemed on 25 Years – The Chain. True to her word, Nicks left the band.

By the time of The Dance, each Buckingham and Nicks had reputedly settled into a brand new generation in their lives. Nicks was sober for some years, having finally kicked the drug addiction that had plagued her because of the 1970s. Buckingham becomes then dating Kristen Messner, the woman who might give birth to the first of their youngsters 12 months later and marry him in 2000. It turned into an implausible Buckingham Nicks reunion in 1996 for the duet “Twisted” off the Twister soundtrack that might place the Fleetwood Mac reunion in movement. (The twister metaphor changed into hopefully not lost at the pair.)

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Lindsey Buckingham 1997 Lindsey Buckingham, 1997 Brian Snyder/Redux The Dance, a release largely made up of Fleetwood Mac’s pleasant-regarded hits, would earn the band 3 Grammy nominations and their first Number One album because 1982’s Mirage.”To be sincere, I don’t keep in mind hearing ‘Silver Springs’ performed at rehearsals,” Elliot Scheiner, producer, and engineer of the concert movie, tells RS. Similarly, director Bruce Gowers does not consider something unique about the early run-throughs of the song. It had always been part of the setlist for so long as he had been attending their exercise sessions, and he simply assumed that it has been a part of their pre-breakup live performance repertoire. The looks exchanged through Buckingham and Nicks throughout the show – and the especially uncooked second between them for the duration of the climax of “Silver Springs” – did now not come about until the two nights of taping in Burbank.

This changed into through layout. Nicks has admitted that the fiery take at the music that appears in The Dance become “for posterity,” as she advised RS at the time. “I wanted humans to face back and truly watch and apprehend what [the relationship with Lindsey] was,” she later advised the Arizona Republic.

“‘Silver Springs’ constantly ends up in that location for me because she’s always very committed to what the ones words are about, and I remember what they have been about then,” Buckingham advised Rolling Stone in 1997. “Now it’s all irony, you realize, however, there’s no way you cannot get drawn into the end of that music.”

“When we are [on stage] there making a song songs to every other, we possibly say extra to every aside from us ever might in real lifestyles,” Nicks introduced. For many Fleetwood Mac fanatics, The Dance marked the first time they’d even heard the music. One of those changed into Courtney Love, who has long been a very public admirer of Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. The hole had released their personal cover of “Gold Dust Woman” in 1996 and interpolated “Rhiannon” into their Pretty on the Inside song “Starbelly” returned in 1991.

“I wouldn’t exist without Stevie,” she tells Rolling Stone. Love and Nicks have recognized every other for years, and the alt-rock singer was in attendance for one of the live tapings of The Dance, even spending time with a worried Nicks in her dressing room earlier than the display.

“I thought it turned into a vintage Buckingham Nicks track,” she recalls of her first publicity to “Silver Springs.” “It actually moved me. I changed into like ‘What the fuck is that this?’ I didn’t ask her approximately it.”

While Love had been playing “Gold Dust Woman” live for decades, she later chose to sing “Silver Springs” as an alternative at a Fleetwood Mac tribute show in Los Angeles final yr. “I began crying as I turned into singing it,” she admits. “It doesn’t promote itself, you have to sell it a touch bit. Take it to the quit. Before the instrumental spoil, it builds, it builds, it builds and it climaxes. It’s an unusual track musically in that feeling.”

  Nicks’ very own overall performance earned “Silver Springs” a belated Grammy nomination, inside the class of Best Pop Performance with the aid of a Duo or Group With Vocals (it misplaced to Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity”). It becomes the most effective music from The Dance to be recognized outdoor of the album as an entire.

“I by no means thought that ‘Silver Springs’ could ever be finished onstage,” she reflected in the course of a 1997 MTV interview. “My beautiful tune just disappeared [20 years ago]. For it to come again round like this has clearly been special to me.”

“Silver Springs” has gone directly to have excellent 2d lifestyles. Besides Love and Amos, Florence and the Machine and Lykke Li have blanketed it live; it regarded inside the finale episode of American Horror Story: Coven; and just this yr, 20-yr-antique Lorde mentioned “Silver Springs” at some point of a conversation about her very own heartbreak album Melodrama, released in June.

“I don’t forget being [15 years old] taking note of [‘Silver Springs’] over and over, doing my art homework, thinking it turned into a stunning tune,” she said in the conversation with Tavi Gevinson for the Rookie Magazine podcast. “I recall hearing ‘Time cast its spell on you however you won’t overlook me/I’ll observe you down ’til the sound of my voice will hang-out you/You’ll in no way get [away from] the sound of the girl that loves you’ and feeling the weight of them, and I also bear in mind listening to them six months in the past and hearing a complete exclusive element unlock.”

Fleetwood Mac silver springs Stevie Nicks 2017 Stevie Nicks, 2017 Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Speaking to Rolling Stone later, Gevinson cites her very own excessive-college breakup as her impetus for connecting to the tune. “I without a doubt copied down the lyrics in multiple journals,” she says.

Fleetwood Mac still performs “Silver Springs,” often as an encore alongside “Don’t Stop” and different signature songs. Live, Buckingham and Nicks have persevered to revive their haunting locked-gaze Dance duet. In late 1997, live pictures captured Buckingham welling up with emotion and embracing Nicks at the top of the track. In a 2004 clip, he aggressively strums his guitar and yells into the microphone, making his harmonies extra audible than ever.

After Christine McVie rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 2014, her heartbreak sisterhood with Nicks become rekindled. By that time, “Silver Springs” had already emerged as a staple of the band’s set lists. “When I finish [performing] ‘Silver Springs,’ Christine waits for me and takes my hand,” Nicks told Maclean’s Magazine in 2015. “We walk off and we in no way let cross of every other until we get to our tent. In that 30 seconds, it’s like my heart simply comes out of my frame.”

Since Nicks become capable to turn “Silver Springs” into the hit she always desired it to be, her mom Barbara did receive the royalty take a look at her daughter had earmarked for her – two decades later than anticipated. “My mother ended up getting a $50,000 check two months after The Dance went out,” the singer discovered. “To my mom, it was a million dollar check.”

Nicks also ultimately had the opportunity to vicinity the tune on her personal compilation, including it on 2007’s Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks. In the lining notes, she dedicated “Silver Springs” to her mother, who surpassed away 4 years later. It turned into the elder Nicks’ “rainy day music.”

[ask-the-cordium-crew]

The expariments behind closed doors (A WKTC story)

amazing artwork done by @mechanicalanakal go cheek them out!

this story takes place during volume 6 of rwby this story is rather long and extremely dark you have been warned

mark was in his office he had just finished some reports for salem he soon began to tap his fingers as he sent them away to dr. walts he now had nothing todo at the current moment he had some time off and he wasn’t needed for any missions besides watching over emerald and mercury

he had camaras all around his mantion he watched from a tablet in his office though he’s able to take it with him anywhere he just mainly keeps it in his office 

he watched them they didn’t seem to be doing much besides training sparing and watching tv it was quite boring for him to watch he felt appalled seeing the outfit worn by emearld sure showing less skin was good on the battle field but to him it just made her look like a slut he laughed at his own joke he also happened to have speakers around so he can speak to anyone he was watching soon enough he was altered to the front door camara he turned his head 

he soon saw the front door open and benjermin his loyal butler/body guard bring in a large box about the size of a human with air holes mark began to smirk oh ben was back with his little pet project he soon made his way downstairs opening his secert room just beside the left stairway in his manor 

“ah i see you were able to-do as you were asked good job benjermin!”

benjermin blushed and smiled happily as he gave mark the crate

“all in a days work sir oh and before i forget it’s a dog faunus this time sir!”

mark began to rub his chin gently soon emearld and mecury walked out to see what was happening by the time they saw this they soon saw a door close the secert door and walked up to benjermin 

emearld was the first one to ask something “uh hey whats with that door? whats behind there?”

benjermin soon began to dust the place after he closed the front door he then turned to face emearld “why it’s masters private room only he knows how to get in and thankfully it’s sound and smell proof from the outside” 

mercury walked infront of him interupting his work as he groaned 

“...why the hell would it be important for that room to be sound and smell proof ben?”

benjermin shivered and looked away before sighing and standing up stright and began to work once again after pushing him out of the way much to mercurys anger ben was still twiching as he worked away and soon finally answered

“you’ve heard a scream before the same day your friend made my master mad lets just say what he dose behind closed doors isn’t very saninatry”

both gulped as they looked at where the room would be they can only guess what sort of horrors mark dose inside that room they both then said “point taken” then left to just talk about what was happening with eachother and benjermin began to clean around outside 

mark then soon opened the create relasing a dog faunus girl the girl had light brown dog ears but her hair was a much darker brown along with that she was dark skinned and even had brown eyes she was in perfect condition besides being a bit underdressed only wearing a yellow tank top and blue shorts that were ripped up 

mark soon chained her neck to the wall of a cage with in the right side of the room after that he hand cuffed each of her arms to the bars of the cell which were very far apart causing her pain since her arms were being streched out slightly more then they should be but not enough to break anything

after this mark soon put chains on her ankles that were attached to the wall he then backed up as he looked at her up and down 

“benjermin went all out on this one... good... she will be a perfect little expariment”

the girl looked up at him in shock and horror she was about to scream out calling for help when mark stabbed her in the lip with a sowing needle she looked suprised and started crying asking him to stop the best she could before her lips were fully sown shut all she could do is cry 

“why am i doing this?... simple your a filthy animal horrible a waste of space and recorces i am gonna make people hate you alot more then they already do by making you a real animal...  A GRIMM!”

he laughed loudly she looked at him with fear soon he injected himself with a needle his eyes glowed red and bright as he soon slit his wrist and allowed his veins to cover his fingers to make deadly needle like claws soon using two fingers and stabbed her in the back of the neck 

this wound was two deep side ways holes simalar to the marks that would be left by a vampire she then would feel some sort of black sludge being injected into her neck causing her to wiggle and squirm like crazy 

but he wasn’t done injecting her yet after this he carefully grabbed her hand turning it backwards and very softly like a scaple cut into her arm where her veins would be injecting her arm with more of the odd black sluge he then did the same to her other arm finally he used one finger aimed it inbetween her breasts and stabbed her carefully with one of his claws injecting the last of the black sluge before carefully patching up her wounds 

after this he attached a feeding tube thru a hole in the front of her neck along with a water tube just to keep her alive he had skill to-do this so he wouldn’t need to feed her he had never stiched someones mouth closed before so he wanted to see what effect it would have after the transformation was complete but that would take at least 4 weeks and he had all the time in the world 

after that he soon left and came back each and every day making sure she got the food she needed after that he tortured her leaving brusies cuts marks all over burning her making her bleed at the end of the week he came in and the transformation had begun 

the bones from her legs started to stab thru her skin as black fur started to grow on them she was crying in pain more then ever trying to scream out but only leading to mummering sounds she was in so much pain as she felt her own bones twist and squirm inside her own body slowly breaking out to cover some parts of her mark wrote this down and recorded the whole process 

the second week came by her legs and arms were fully covered in black hair as she seemed to have grown to 10 foot tall her back was also showing signs of change as her spine and other back bones have started to leave her body and place themselfs on the outside they seemed to be growing and changing into rather large spikes mark smirked at this as she also seemed to be losing her own mind fighting much more violently and beganing to try and growl and free her mouth from the stiches he removed them but replaced them with much stronger ones very fast metal stiches covered in little bits of dimoand making them extremely tough while he was replacing them she almost bit his finger off and growled extremely loud he jotted this down as a sign of good progress 

the third week came and she was almost fully changed her rips left her body covering her chest her finger nails growing and changing to much longer and sharper her back spikes had fully grown in and black hair almost fully covered her her mind was almost completely gone she still showed to be scared but she also tried to injure herself because of this not to kill herself but her form beganing to understand what it’s gonna become grimm do hunt people who show great fear and since she was showing great fear she tried to hunt her ownself but because of her bindings she was unable mark soon removed the food tubes from her neck she grunted in pain one of her eyes had fully changed and a mask was almost fully formed at this point made from her skull 

the final and forth week came mark came in and she had broken her own chains she had fully transformed the only things remaining of her were her brown faunus ears they had changed to more of an alpha ear type but they remained brown for whatever reason that might be she was a bit shorter then most alpha beowolf but still quite strong mark then called dr. walts who arrived with a ship he was already heading away on a mission given to him by salem so he would pass by marks location so it was perfect for the both of them 

the new beowolf alpha was loaded onto the ship mark gave him full reports and recordings which he gladly took 

“another expariment gone sucessful hmm... still can’t completely perfect the change they still seem to show some of their oldself by the fact she is shorter then most alphas and the color of her ears... but besides that she is fully changed”

dr. walts nodded and rubbed his chin 

“hmm well even so you have done a fantastic job i am sure one day these remainers of the past won’t remain but prehaps this will give them an edge”

mark smiked and laughed “right you are dr. walts right you are!”

dr. walts soon left and after a bit of traveling when they just finished refuling in the forest while staying hidden dr. walts pressed a button opening the grimms cage who jumped out of the ship in hunt mode of a little forest home near by the grimms mouth had grown in a way where it had no working mouth it’s mouth was completely grown seeled shut but with teeth sticking out of it’s seeled mouth none the less 

and because it could not make any growling or howling noises it could not be a proper alpha however it would be more stealthy then most all that remained of the girl was gone and now she was just a killing machine 

hope you guys all enjoyed the story i worked hard and it’s my longest who killed team cordium based story in a long time 

please send me your thoughts after reading! it would mean the world to me and for information on who the faunus girl click below! 

for thoes who are curious the dog faunus in question is this lovely little backround chararter from volume 3 of rwby why you may ask? welp we know nothing about her and she’s a chararter i could kill off without hearing people complain about it