#and makes a lot of blanket sweep assumptions based of very little information

[logansgaar]

just curious why does everyone assume Bucky's serum (and also all the other serums) was inferior to Steve's? There's not any evidence to suggest this, aside from Erskine obviously not being the one to administer it. We don't know anything about what exactly is in Bucky, not for certain (we don't even technically know for certain if he had a serum at all it could come from something else Zola did, except maybe word of god) we can only make educated guesses that it's derived from Schmidt's blood, which is I think the same serum as Steve, Schmidt was just the wrong man.

The perfect serum would entirely depend on what you're after and there was a reason Erskine was after a Good Man for the soldier since who the person is that's taking the serum impacts massively on the end result. Most of the language used to describe Steve's serum relies on the context that "perfected" means the ideal soldier, not the strongest/quickest/sharpest sense etc.

I've always interpreted it that Steve is the ideal soldier, he's the right balance, even if he's not necessarily the strongest (Banner would be that, but just look at the Hulk, not exactly the goal) nor has the quickest reflexes (I'd argue this is Bucky, his reaction times seem quicker than most and he disappears from under Steve and other enhanced people's noses constantly). He's undeniably the Ideal, the best all rounder with minimal impact on his psyche, but I don't think that means the other serums (which there seems to be five variations that have created 'successful' ie surviving soldiers) are weaker.

They are probably "weaker" in the sense that they're not producing all rounders like Steve, but again it hinges entirely on what you're after, if you're after the strongest then you get the Hulk, but if you're after the best senses like sight, smell, hearing etc. you might get another variation coming out on top.

The serums are just like any other tools, the best is defined by what you need it for.

[kessielrg]

A Quiet Place (Part 3)

Summary: Part 3 for a short ficlet based on a chaotic rp by @chibi-mushroom and @animacreates. The first two parts are here, and here. Took me long enough to finish this one, now off finish to the story where Sabrina becomes a Heartless for a day.

Rating: K+

Word Count: 2,059 words

If you liked this story, please reblog!

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“Pliers?”

“Pliers.”

“Hammer?”

“Hammer.”

“A little reassurance that I'm not going to hit my finger this time?”

“Wouldn't count on it.”

Oswald gave Sabrina a stink eye that she just as easily shrugged away from. He was finding quite quickly that being a sassypants was second nature to her. Having a strong will was good -especially for someone as beaten down as she had been- but heaven help him if it didn’t make him go slightly insane each time. She was going to have a job in power one day. He just hoped that it was on the ‘good’ side of gray and grey morality, and not the ‘bad’ side.

“You know, I think I liked it more when you just sat on the couch.” he informed her, jokingly razzing his tongue at her.

“No you don’t.” she immediately spat. “If I sat on the couch now, you’d think I’m mad at you.”

“Are you?”

It honestly took her a few moments of thought toward the idea.

“Not in this room.” she decided.

“Guess I can’t argue with that.” Oswald snorted. “Would ya bring the standing magnifier a bit closer? If you’re not going to cheer me on, the least you can do is help me delay the inevitable.”

The girl gave a sound of affirmation before adjusting the afghan blanket around her shoulders. The blanket still served as her shield against the world. She may be gaining more confidence, but outside the hobby room her glares did most of the talking. Even that was more of an improvement as well. Stoic wasn’t the best word to describe her first week. Moreover, she did a lot more than head shakes and flinching when spoken to now. She still flinched when Ortensia raised her voice when Oswald didn’t do something the first fifty times his wife asked him to- but the kid couldn’t be blamed for that. It scared Oswald to; even if the forgetting had been on purpose.

At this point, the two foster kids had been with him and Ortensia for six months and three days. The day marking that this was the longest the siblings have stayed with one family was one where Brain called the first family meeting. He never said that this was the case, but at that point both caretakers had a good feeling about it anyway. Many things were talked about that day. Most of it was a simple ‘thank you for keeping our trust’ from the heart. But there were some topics that made them all go silent in both thought and fear. The biggest one of all; would Ortensia and Oswald have children of their own as well? It was no real secret that Ortensia wanted a big family. It was even less of a secret that the two had tried for their own child before.

Ortensia said that it would be nice to have more children. Oswald remained silent; too focused on the kids for their reactions. They may have known each other for six months, but they were still a mystery to him. And what he did know...?  Suffice to say, it sometimes kept him up at night in absolute fury. He didn’t even have that much hate for his own brother- and that fury was well pent up after so long.

But he couldn't think about that now. He honestly didn't want to hurt his finger again because he misjudged his hammer swing. Sabrina watched on, almost unflinching with each strike. Her eyes held a gaze that made it seem like it was her sheer will that prevented Oswald from hurting himself. She was willing each strike to hit the nail square on the head. It was perhaps the only bit of good luck Oswald didn't mind. Her intense focus led him to be extra focused as well. It took several careful moments, but his repairs on the clock were finally finished.

“Finished.” Oswald sighed, setting down his hammer with certainty. “Now all we need to do is wind it up, and see if the birdy’s gonna cuckoo. But we can do that later.”

“Why?” Sabrina questioned.

“The best thing about a spouse,” her caretaker gleefully told her, “Is finding new ways to annoy them.”

Sabrina raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t say anything against the idea. If anything, she mentally filed it away for later.

“Do you ever sell the stuff you fix?” the girl then asked as she made her way over to the couch.

“Sometimes.” Oswald agreed, carefully taking the clock with him so he could set it beside the door. He hoped he wouldn’t forget it later. “Ortensia wishes I did it more, really. Says I do nothing more than clutter up the living room, or just create more junk sitting around without use. Thing is; everything’s got a use. It just has to take the right person to see it.”

“Like people?”

Oswald looked up, then turned his head slightly to give the girl an odd look.

“I don’t think I follow, kiddo.” he admitted. “Take me through your thought process.”

Sabrina gave a half shrug. “Everyone has a use.” she said, somewhat in a mumble. “But sometimes the wrong person looks at you and makes the wrong assumption. They treat you bad because they think you deserve it, even when you've done nothing wrong. But you still have that… potential. Potential that could easily be squished if someone decides you're not worthy before ever knowing you.”

“Ah,” Oswald agreed with a nod. “Very philosophical. A very unique perspective too, if I must say. However, them’s some high and mighty words from a girl who trash talked a store mannequin the other day.”

“I could arrange a better outfit than that.” she immediately huffed. “Pairing a tunic blouse with a denim skirt and leggings? It would have created a better silhouette if they had just put flared, knee length capris on it, with a belt a little above the hips. And don't even get me started on the flat colors they chose.”

“I think you're already started.” Oswald laughed.

“Miss Minnie agreed with me,” the child spat. She even blew a raspberry at him for good measure. But in her tall stature, she thought of something. A rather investigative glint hit her eye as she then ventured to ask, “Miss Minnie is married to your brother, isn't she? That's why she makes you fix things for them a lot.”

At first, her only reply was a grunt. He tried to hide it from her this time though; he put on a big smile as he came over to her.

“You're a pretty smart kind, you know that?” he teased while he ruffled her hair. Sabrina was quick to swat his hand away, then fix her hair again. Her stink eye was immeasurable.  Oswald pretended not to notice as he took a seat on the couch. “But this clock isn’t for him, or her. This was my personal project, and tonight at dinner, Ortensia’s gonna know it too.”

“Never said it was, or wasn’t.” the girl claimed. She sat tall, but held the afghan closer to her body. “I just… I like Miss Minnie. Just a bit. But then she goes and acts all no-space like Ortensia does, and it's grating. Is she another one that wants to have a super big family even though the one she’s got is perfectly fine?”

“Mickey’s the one who picks up stray puppies.” Oswald told her, rather sharply. “Minnie, much like the rest of us, wants him to mind his own goddamn-”

Oswald cut himself off. He had to force himself to unclench his fists. He looked over at her to find a rather still expression in return.

“What'd your brother ever do to you?” the girl ventured to ask. She had never really asked much about Oswald or his other family. Mostly because she had no interest in it. She was also smart enough to know by now that there was bad blood between Oswald and his brother. But if she was going to open up, then perhaps it was time he did the same. It was only fair.

Unfortunately, his answer was less than satisfying.

“You have your 'don't-talk-abouts', and I have mine.”

“Right.” the kid said with a roll of her eyes. “So I'll just ask Ortensia about them like you ask Brain about mine.”

“Now listen here you little-” Oswald started to grumble as he made a reach for her. Sabrina yelped before getting off the couch with a start. She whipped around the couch and over to a corner. She let the blanket sway with her. Once she thought she found a safe spot, she looked back at Oswald, upturned her nose, and flung the afghan across her chest like it was a silk scarf instead.

“Easy with that thing.” Oswald jokingly huffed at her. “You move it around like you're a queen about to poison a princess. That blanket's an heirloom, you know.”

And that was when he heard it; her first genuine laugh.

“Being a queen would be such a bore.” she grinned. It was mischievous, cunning, and joyful all the same.  “All she does is make the king look good, arrange banquets, and sit dutifully next to him even when he’s cheating. I’d rather be a princess. They have about… 30 percent more freedom than queens.”

“Oh really?”

“Yup.” she agreed, even popping her ‘P’ with certainty. “She gets to study abroad for her training, lead dignitaries into the kingdom, maybe even flirt with a foolish footman or two for good measure…”

“What a scandal that will cause.”

“Oh, but it’ll all be covered up before anyone even knows it happened. That’s the thing about royalty and their heirs; they’re always more than willing to sweep things under the rug to keep appearances.”

Oswald snorted. “Guess I can’t argue with that logic.” he decided. “Come on princess, let’s hang this cuckoo in the dining room before Ortensia notices.”

“Right,” the girl agreed with a nod. She walked back over to the couch to gently place the afghan blanket over the back. Oswald noted how she very gently folded it into a triangle before placing it down. She didn’t look at him as she went over to the door, but she did pick up the cuckoo clock for him. He smiled a bit before joining her. Together they left the safety of the hobby room and back into the main house.

“You know,” Sabrina mused as they entered the living room, “I’ve noticed that you usually work on older stuff. Like clocks, and projectors, and anything else that existed before Thomas Edison. How come? Why not work on newer stuff like Xboxes and plasma TVs?”

“Well, princess,” Oswald informed her. “That’s because I'm not allowed to work on electronics anymore. Not after an accident where I shorted out a control box and every single firework at Walter Elias Memorial Park went off six hours before the big show. Burnt my eyebrows off during that. Ortensia wouldn't let me leave the house for weeks after, too. Poor honeybunch thought just touching something with a charge would give me a heart attack.”

“Oh…” the girl mumbled. Oswald looked over at her, raising a concerned eyebrow.

“Something wrong?”

Sabrina shook her head. It took her awhile, but she quietly admitted, “Brain and I used to go there a lot. Walt Memorial. We always found a good spot by the jungle gym to watch the fireworks shows. Everyone sits by the safety line, you know. It gets too crowded.”

“Do you like crowds?” Oswald asked as they entered the dining room.

The girl then lulled her head from side to side. She handed Oswald the clock so he could hang it on a spot conspicuously already prepared for it.

“I don't like being invisible in crowds.” she finally decided. “I want everyone to know I'm there.”

“Keep sassing store mannequins, and I’m sure you’ll attract your own crowd.”

She tried to hold it back, but Sabrina let out her second laugh that day. The happy sound brought a grin to Oswald’s face. He was sure Sabrina still had a long way to go to really trust anyone within the family, but at the moment, he couldn’t have asked for a sweeter foster kid.

[lolainblue]

Presque Vu  Chapter 5

Raina sat up on the bed next to Jared and brushed the hair back from Jared's shoulder, letting her fingers linger in its softness. Surely she had earned the right to touch it now.  She planted a small kiss on his collarbone.  “Thank you,” she said with a sigh.

   Jared gave her a little laugh and leaned over to give her a kiss, much more chaste than the ones that the evening had begun with. “I'm not sure what you're thanking me for.  You were amazing.”  He pressed his forehead against hers, his thumb tracing her still swollen lips.  “I'd ask to stay but the Hills are a long drive from here and I have an early appointment.”

   Raina sat back with a sigh.  “Look, it's okay.  You don't have to make excuses.  It was great.  We can just let it go at that.”

   Jared frowned at her.  “What's that supposed to mean?”

   Raina pulled a pillow in front of her, feeling much more naked than she had a few minutes ago.  “I just,” She couldn't look him in the eye.  She didn't want this to be awkward but it was rapidly becoming exactly that.  “I don't have any illusions here, okay? You don't have to try to spare my feelings or make excuses as to why you aren't going to stick around to cuddle now or why you won't be calling me next week.”

   He grabbed her chin so that she was forced to look at him.  “You know,” he said, “you've made a few comments tonight that really make me wonder what you think of me. I don't know where you've gotten the picture of me you have but I'm not that guy.  At least I hope I'm not.”

   Raina shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.  She realized that she had started this all with a lot of assumptions that weren't based on anything to do with the man in front of her.  She also realized she was fast on her way into making this the exact mess she was trying to avoid.  “I'm sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean it that way. “

   Jared gave her a quick kiss on the tip of her nose.  “I do wish I could stay. You probably  have an early morning too though right?”  She nodded.  He surveyed her with a quick glance.  “So is this how you normally sleep?”

   “What?” she asked, confused.    

   He made a sweeping motion with his hand.  “Naked.  Nude.  Do you sleep like this or do you wear pajamas?”

   “Uh, I usually wear a nightgown.”

   “Okay, where do you keep them?”

   Raina was very confused now.  She pointed at the dresser.  “Over there, third drawer down on the right.”

   Jared took the pillow from her and stood up.  “Why don't you go brush your teeth and clean up and I'll get your nightgown out.” He held his hand out for her.  “Come on.,” he said gently,  “I don't want to leave you like this.”

   Raina was unsure how to respond so she did as he asked, heading into the bathroom to wash up and get ready for bed.  When she returned from the bathroom Jared was completely dressed, sitting on the edge of the turned down bed, holding what happened to be her favorite lavender nightgown.  He smiled as she emerged.  

   “Here.”  He got up and pulled the nightgown over her head, lifting her dark hair out of the neck of the garment then smoothing it down over her.  Taking her hand, he next guided her to the bed, settling her down carefully on the pillows before settling the blanket around her.  “I wanted to tuck you in before I left.” He brushed the hair from her face and then fished his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it before holding it out to her.  “Would you put your number in? I can call you again, can't I?”

   Raina smiled at this unexpected development.  Who knew if he would actually call again, but she knew she would be a fool to pass up a chance for another night like the one she had just spent. She quickly added her contact information to the phone and handed it back to him.  “Only if you want to.  I don't want you to feel obligated or anything.”

   He sighed as he took the phone back.  “I can see I have a lot of work to do here.” Gently he kissed her again, lingering for just a bit longer than the last time.  “I'm going to call.  It may be a bit because I'm really busy right now, but I will call.  Just give me a chance okay?”

   “Okay,” Raina conceded.  This gave Jared a smile.  He tucked his phone away, got up and switched the bedside light off before going to see himself out.  

   “Good night, Raina.  Sweet Dreams.”

   The next day at the studio was complete chaos.  They were supposed to be shooting a layout that included half a dozen models in futuristic costumes for a sci-fi piece the magazine was doing but the special effects makeup people they had coming in had been miss scheduled and showed up two hours late.  Additionally, there was some sort of problem with some of the wardrobe pieces that left that department scrambling as well.  The studio was filled with people, most of whom didn't work there on any regular basis and had no idea where things were, people were cranky and tripping over each other and touching things they shouldn't.   Raina was sure Val was going to have a stroke any minute. She, however, was completely relaxed and unflummoxed by the pandemonium around her.  She bobbed through the crowd with a smile, completely composed as she ran interference for Val and kept everything running as smoothly as possible.  In a moment of distraction, she bumped into an equipment stand that dug into a tender bruise on her side that Jared had left when he bit down too enthusiastically.  The initial wince immediately gave way as pleasant memories flooded back, and Raina found herself biting her lip to contain herself.

   “What on earth is that look for?”  Cassie was standing in front of her, brows furled but smiling.  “You look like the cat that got the cream.”

   “Oh, Cas....”  Raina didn't even begin to know where to start explaining the last day to her friend.  She looked around to make sure no one could overhear.  “Do you remember that band that we were photographing yesterday?”

   Cassidy rolled her eyes.  “I'm pregnant not brain damaged.  Of course I do.” She gave Raina a quick up and down look.  “Why?  What did you do?” 

   Raina giggled.  “You mean who.  Who did you do?”

   Cassie's eyes grew wide.  “You didn't!” When Raina only shrugged her shoulders Cassie gave her a friendly shove.  “You did!  Raina!” She laughed as she too looked around to be sure they weren't being listened in on.  “I knew you wouldn't mind that I gave him your number.  I'm sorry I didn't warn you but I couldn't find you before we finished packing out.”

   Raina gave Cassidy a puzzled look.  “Wait, what?  He didn't call me, I just gave him my number when he left last night.”

   Cassie shrugged.  “Maybe he lost it? Or just wanted to be sure he had it?” She gave the area another furtive glance before continuing in a quieter voice.  “So how was it?”

   Raina started to answer her but almost as if on cue Val shouted for her from across the studio.  “Amazing.” was all she had time to answer before returning to her duties. 

    Whenever she would bump into something or stretch a bit too far there were twinges and aches to remind Raina of her erotic adventures of the previous night and the sexy man she had shared them with.  It kept her smiling through the chaos and the day rushed past quickly.  She was helping Cassie straighten up when her cell rang with a call from a number she didn't recognize. 

   “Oh, maybe that's Jared,” she told her friend.  “He did say he'd call, I just didn't expect it this soon.”

   Cassie got a strange look on her face.  “Jared? Wait, Raina...” she reached for the phone but Raina was already answering it. 

   “Hello,” came the voice on the other end.  “Raina?”

   “Hey.  I'm surprised you're calling already.” Cassie was making wild gestures with her arms but Raina just turned her back.  “How was your day?”

   “Um, it was fine thanks.  I guess your friend told you I asked for your number.  I hope that's okay.”  Feeling a rush of panic, Raina suddenly realized this was not Jared.  She whirled back around to Cassie who was still trying to get her attention.  Quickly she hit the mute button on the phone.     

   “What did you do?” Raina hissed at her.  “Who did you give my number to?”

   Cassie bit her lip and looked back at Raina sheepishly.  “Shannon.”