#and we all remember what happened in Paraguay

[dazzlingstarlight]

The way we work together

Hi, everyone!  I wrote this little one-shot a few weeks ago and realized that I never posted it on Tumblr, so here it is now!  (I wouldn’t say it’s overly graphic, but it is a bit steamy and it does involve Harm, Mac, and a lack of clothing - so this is your warning!)  Thanks for reading!

The way we work together — Whether they've known it or not, it's always worked between them.  Harm/Mac one-shot.

[mjn-air]

Panicky rant because good things are happening?

Yes, I am one of those persons who start fucking panicking when something good happens. So. I need to get this out. Maybe you guys can help me not declining the good thing coming my way?

I live in a cozy perfect appartment - under the roof. Temperatures get unbearably hot in the summer, especially lately. Add to that I've started taking Elontril and Ritalin which both have the side effect that your body can't deal with heat as well as usually. Add to that that since I've started taking those meds (last 3 summers) I get funcking panik attacks when it's too hot. I'm just typing this out to convince myself that yes, I need a fancy little airconditioner. You know, one of the tiny moble ones, just for the room I'm currently in. But I'm poor. Like, really poor. I cannot, for the life of me, afford anything like that.

My neighbours who live in the appartment below - a real sweet elderly couple, she's 71, he's 88 - we have a real good relationship, almost friends. Well :D we're German, so we're still Siezing :D

That said, uff, here comes an even longer part, thank you for sticking with me so far! My neighbours have lived for about 30 years in Paraguay and came back to Germany because of age and health issues. 4 years ago, she went back there for 2 weeks because they still have business going on (I didn't ask. We're still Siezing.) and she asked me to walk their dog during those two weeks and maybe look after her husband now and then so he won't be lonely. No problem at all! I love the dog and her husband is supersweet, we get along wonderful! But then...it was a hot summer 4 years ago and he's old and he didn't drink enough water and he fainted and fell and it was real bad and he had to spend the rest of the week in hospital until she came back home and since then we've grown even closer. Her and I go grocery shopping together once a week and sometimes I accompany her when she's walking the dog because her husband won't walk anymore. During the last walkies we were chatting about how it's going to be summer soon and how they battled the heat in Paraguay and I told her I'm fucking terrified of the next heatwave because I can't handle the heat like I once could and...today she knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to come downstairs for afternoon coffee and their son was there who -oh, coincidence! just last year bought a portable little airconditioning unit! my, my! isn't that a coincidence! and how well it works, I'm being told. And - oh, did we tell you? We need to go back to Paraguay this summer I surely wouldn't mind watching the dog (and the husband. I'm so worried about the husband. and I know that's her main concern too, she's just putting the dog in front as an excuse, you know?) and OF FUCKING COURSE I will that's not the question, I love the dog, I love the husband, I will make sure he drinks all the water and eats regularly, I'm kinda feeling nice because they trust me with all this. AND THEN SHE OFFERS ME TO BUY ME MY OWN AIRCONDITIONER and I keep declining because I can't?? Like??? I CANNOT??? ACCEPT???? Because I really really like them both and am not doing it for a very expensive - well, for the money, so to speak? but the aircon would literally save my life next summer AAAAAAHHHHHHH

(and I just remembered idk why I need to add this but she's always doing stuff for me too. Each time I go to the hospital (which is often) she watches my two kitties and waters my plants so it's like, balanced when I watch the dog, you know? it feels like too much what she wants to give me. I know, yes I know, it's mainly about the husband. He can't stay alone for two weeks. But I really really like him and am looking forward to spend time with him, so...it's not a hardship or anything? He's such a joy to be around)

[sidelost]

DAPHNE BLAKE + INTELLIGENCE & KNOWLEDGE :

While Daphne is historically looked down on for not “contributing anything” to the team, something I’ve loved about the more modern interpretations of the Scooby Doo series is the effort made to give her things to be good at, and to be knowledgable about which would make sense for the others not to. As a result, Daphne’s background as a rich, educated young girl with a high-society family that has reach means she knows a lot about very obscure or random topics.

As a non-exhaustive list of some of her biggest interests:

CHEESES & THEIR HISTORY ( as seen in Mystery Incorporated Season 2, Episode 17 )

FASHION HISTORY –– She may not know a lot about the Gettysburg Address, or whatever happened with the founding fathers, but Daphne’s supremely intelligent and great at retaining information about fashion history and its accuracy. She probably has a cousin in California who works as a Fashion Historian Consultant on historical shows & movies. Let’s name that cousin AJ BLACKWELL.

ABSTRACT ART

CHEMICALS & BIOLOGY –– like someone such as Elle Woods ( reference HERE ), Daphne’s knowledge of Chemicals and Biology comes from her interest in makeup and its effects on the body. She knows, for example, a lot of big words and names for the chemicals used in lipsticks, and what to avoid putting on your skin etc. She knows how the skin, as an organ, functions –– she could probably be a freaking Dermatologist if she wanted to be, honestly. Some of this knowledge is researched, while a lot of it comes from her family members, and even more so, from her connections to the makeup industry, and to doctors ( being as her sister is one [ a neurobiologist ] herself ).

On top of this, there’s also the many hobbies that she’s had in Be Cool, Scooby Doo which indicate Daphne as a sort of Jack of All Trades who can very easily pick up many different skills like JUGGLING; PUPPETEERING, etc.

A lot of Daphne’s obscure knowledge comes, like I said, from the people she knows. Unlike someone like Velma ( and this isn’t a slight against her ), Daphne’s knowledge comes from living, and socializing, and learning from experience, and from others. Yes, sometimes it comes from research, but if, per se, she knows something about a very specific sub-species of spider, it’s because her parents went on a hunting trip in the summer to Paraguay and got bit by one. She’s great at remembering things and storing them away. And it’s part of what makes her so freaking smart.

Furthermore, while this post is primarily about mainstream Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, if we were to look at the different kinds of intelligence she excels at –– the most obvious one being INTRA-PERSONAL & INTERPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE ( though as a teenager, she isn’t always the best at that either ) –– she is also gifted with:

MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE: Having once joined the Hex Girls as a stand-in singer for their lead, Thorn, Daphne possesses an understanding of music at least instinctively. While she may not be able to read music or have a huge learned understanding of Musical Science and Theory, she’s naturally gifted musically. 

LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE: Daphne’s a people-person. She’s very charming and knows how to use her words to influence people; get them to trust her; comfort them, etc. She’s canonically a journalist and news reporter, and as such has to be either on air on short-notice, or constantly writing pieces to air. Therefore, while she might not be a Poet Laureate, she has a way with words.

BODILY-KINESTHETIC: I headcanon that part of the reason Daphne was so clumsy was a sort of… over-awareness of her body growing up ( among other things, mentioned below ). Also, with it constantly growing and changing, Daphne wasn’t always comfortable in it, even if she appeared to be. As a result, it’s not until she’s older and able to receive training that she really feels super comfortable and at ease moving around and defending herself. That being said, she did also receive poise and etiquette training in her youth, so she does have a natural-born grace that just can’t be faked.

And to address the elephant in the room since I said Daphne could be very adept at using her body to her advantage: Yes, my Daphne is clumsy and very  much danger-prone, but I don’t think it’s because she lacks grace ( though she sometimes does, hello, ABRACADABRA DOO ) –– I think it’s because she lacks an awareness of her surroundings a lot of the times. It’s what makes her a pretty reckless driver –– she’s aware only of herself and her friends, and her goals, and not necessarily that loose floorboard in front of her.

Finally, let’s also not forget that Daphne has something else that makes her a key facet of Mystery Inc –– something that all the members have: creativity. Daphne is able to think outside of the box. She affords people the benefit of the doubt, she is able to suspend disbelief at times when other’s wouldn’t. In a practical sense, she’s also about to use that creativity to get the gang out of tough situations ( such as when she used a pore strip to unlock a fingerprint ID in Monsters Unleashed )! I think this is actually part of the reason her and Fred are so shippable –– in this regard, they’re both very, very creative.

So, to summarize. Daphne is super smart and awesome.

UPDATED: 01.25.22

[danger-archive]

DAPHNE BLAKE + INTELLIGENCE & KNOWLEDGE : 

While Daphne is historically looked down on for not “contributing anything” to the team, something I’ve loved about the more modern interpretations of the Scooby Doo series is the effort made to give her things to be good at, and to be knowledgable about that would make sense for the others not to. As a result, Daphne’s background as a rich, educated young girl with a high-society family with reach means that she knows a lot about very obscure or random topics. 

As a non-exhaustive list of some of her biggest interests: 

Cheeses & Their History (Mystery Incorporated Season 2, Episode 17) 

Fashion History –– she may not know a lot about the Gettysburg Address, or whatever happened with the Founding Fathers, but Daphne’s supremely intelligent and great at retaining information about Fashion History and its accuracy. She probably has a cousin in California who works as a Fashion Historian Consultant on historical shows & movies. Let’s name that cousin AJ Blackwell. 

Abstract art

Chemicals & Biology –– like someone such as Elle Woods (reference here), Daphne’s knowledge of Chemicals and Biology comes from her interest in makeup and its effects on the body. She knows, for example, a lot of big words and names for the chemicals used in lipsticks, and what to avoid putting on your skin etc. She knows how the skin, as an organ functions –– she could probably be a freaking Dermatologist if she wanted to be, honestly. Some of this knowledge is researched, while a lot of it comes from her family members, and even more so, from her connections to the industry and to doctors. 

On top of this, there’s also her many hobbies that she’s has in Be Cool Scooby Doo which indicate Daphne is sort of a Jack of All Trades who can very easily pick up many different skills like Juggling; Puppeteering, etc. 

A lot of Daphne’s obscure knowledge comes, like I said, from the people she knows. Unlike someone like Velma (and this isn’t a slight against her), Daphne’s knowledge comes from living, and socializing, and learning from experience and from others. Yes, sometimes it comes from research, but if, per se, she knows something about a very specific sub-species of spider, it’s because her parents went on a hunting trip in the Summer to Paraguay and got bit by it. She’s great at remembering things and storing them away. And it’s part of what makes her so freaking smart. 

Furthermore, while this post is primarily about mainstream Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, if we were to look at the different kinds of intelligence she excels at –– the most obvious one being Intra-Personal & Interpersonal Intelligence (though as a teenager, she isn’t always the best at that either) –– she is also gifted with:

Musical Intelligence: Having once joined the Hex Girls as a stand-in singer for their lead, Thorn, Daphne possesses an understanding of music at least instinctively. While she may not be able to read music or have a huge learned understanding of Musical Science and Theory, she’s naturally gifted musically, at least.  Linguistic Intelligence: Daphne’s a people-person. She’s very charming and knows how to use her words to influence people; get them to trust her; comfort them, etc. She’s canonically a journalist and news reporter, and as such has to be either on air on short-notice, or constantly writing pieces to air. Therefore, while she might not be a Poet Laureate, she has a way with words.  Bodily-Kinesthetic: I head-canon that part of the reason Daphne was so clumsy was a sort of... over-awareness of her body growing up (among also other things, mentioned below). Also, with it constantly growing and changing, Daphne wasn’t always comfortable in it, even if she appeared to be. As a result, it’s not until she’s older and able to receive training that she really feels super comfortable and at ease moving around and defending herself. That being said, she did also receive poise and etiquette training in her youth, so she does have a natural-born grace that just can’t be faked. 

And to address the elephant in the room since I said Daphne could be very adept at using her body to her advantage: Yes, my Daphne is clumsy and very  much danger-prone, but I don’t think it’s because she lacks grace (though she sometimes does, hello, Abracadabra Doo) –– I think it’s because she lacks an awareness of her surroundings a lot of the times. It’s what makes her a pretty reckless driver –– she’s aware only of herself and her friends, and her goals, and not necessarily that loose floorboard in front of her. 

Finally, let’s also not forget that Daphne has something else that makes her a key facet of Mystery Inc –– something that all the members also have, but Daphne in spades: creativity. Daphne is able to think outside of the box. She affords people the benefit of the doubt, she is able to suspend disbelief at times when other’s wouldn’t. In a practical sense, she’s also about to use that creativity to get the gang out of tough situations (such as when she used a pore strip to unlock a fingerprint ID in Monsters Unleashed)! I think this is actually part of the reason her and Fred are so shippable –– in this regard, they’re both very, very creative. 

So, to summarize. Daphne is super smart and awesome. 

UPDATED: 22.07.21

[tvandenneagram]

Dynasty (2017): Sammy Jo - Type 6w7

Sammy is loyal, fun-loving and materialistic. He has had a tumultuous upbringing and as a result has formed a very strong bond with his aunt Celia. He also has a strong connection with the Carringtons, despite being divorced from Steven.

At his best, Sammy is protective of those he loves and is committed to them. He has less doubt about his decisions and follows his instincts. We see this when his father arrives at Carrington manor and he is faced with the dilemma of siding with his blood relations or with his newfound family, the Carringtons. He chooses to remain true to his beliefs and helps the Carringtons as he trusts them and thinks this is the best course of action.

At his worst, Sammy becomes more self absorbed and concerned with materialistic things (disintegrating to 3). When Steven leaves him to go to Paraguay he becomes listless and focused his time on trying to fill the void left by Steven. He does this by forming a friendship with Manuel but he is still able to detach from the situation to stay faithful to Steven. 

Sammy is very likeable and immediately bonds with the Carrington family. He wants a place that he feels like he belongs in and he will have a secure future in, which he finds with Steven and his family. Anders in particular, senses a kindred spirit with Sam and appreciates that Sam has gone through a lot or trials and tribulations in his life. Anders admires Sam and acts as a father figure towards him, which Sam craves and deeply appreciates.

Sammy becomes very attached to Steven and is willing to put some of his own dreams and ambitions to the side for him. He stands by him when he believes he has a baby on the way and reassures him that he wants to be a father to his child. He also tries to make it work by going to Paraguay with Steven, even though he knows deep down that it isn’t something he really wants in his own life.

Sammy has a wing 7 as he is more energetic and free spirited than a wing 5 would tend to be.

Tri-type: 6w7 - 3w4 - 9w1

Some quotes to describe Sammy’s motivation:

“Is this what happens when you marry a rich guy? Does he just assume that you're gonna be his house-husband? Him away on business trips while I'm stuck with the twins' runny noses and gossipy private school moms until eventually, I get my real estate license just to feel some sort of purpose.”

“You pick and choose your lies like you do your men.”

“Please don't fire me! This job is really important for my self-esteem.”

“I wouldn't last a day in prison. This face has "make me your b***h" written all over it.”

“This is not how I want to spend one of my last night's on the town as a single man. I want it to be bad and boujee, not sad and douchey.”

“I guess that's what love is. Doing things you don't want to for people who don't quite deserve it.”

“Oh my god, you convinced me to wear this ugly-ass outfit and to eat grass. I was about to give you millions.”

“For someone who hates masks, you are the biggest mask wearer of them all. I mean, you're totally unwilling to let anyone know the true Fallon. There.”

Anders: “I already had a vacation. With you, remember?” Sammy: “That was barely an afternoon.” Anders: “And Blake got arrested.” Sammy: “That was bound to happen eventually.”

[ladylove0607]

This chick that tried to say her name was Amber Blanchard but was actually Heather visor Blanchard apparently had this purse that was given to me by the only man I've ever given my heart to. And her family member who first met me and Istanbul when I was about 11 years old showed up at my house after he had to go across seas and thought he was going to disrespect me by trying to beat me to the ground and talk mess,Peyton Vizer. When I was a teenager he acted like he was buying the Oyo on Glendale next to Celebration Station and that's when he got himself in a little bit of trouble I'd also like to thank Elizabeth flowers who was next door on Jean Buckle when she met Michael high - Tower and stole the necklace with the diamond and all those brooches I didn't say anything about it cuz I didn't want to back after you had took them because it wasn't the same. And thank you to someone who's like a brother for giving me the crocodile skin jacket made by Ectra from the crocodile skin that I brought back from Paraguay. I don't know if the one is even reading this or sees it. Everybody was trying to emulate you and some of the ones that were doing the wrong and the women tried to have you six pointed for lies and I remember having to go around with pictures of each one of them and make them look and decide which one it was. Just so you know Magullah and Magala (instanbul) have been in baton Rouge and the Denham Springs Walker area. And I believe magala is the one when I was at motel 6 in baton Rouge when I was doing doordash that had some of your deep sea welding buddies convinced that you were there. As well as Hitower and the brother-in-law with the weird mustache. I was at balcony guest house number nine from November until mid January and every single one of the ones that got in trouble for being there for my uncle got sick was back. Including all three Cassie's shrimp Zach the bro-ho and the taller one and kit. He remembered me when I reminded him of The birdcage story and he got so happy. When I got a chunk of a stipend and did the playground in Paulina and some other things to just try to get back to kids and to the police it would stood up against it. I had bought Esplanade as a place for us. But after speaking to you and the oil reserve board back then there were certain specifications that's why I had chose to do the penthouses the way I did all inclusive so that we could do things just the way we had always talked about together. I always believed in you and you're the only one that's ever had my heart I've never given it to another man. I need either you or an officer to contact me directly on my phone. I'm not upset I'm just more stressed out and at my limit with all this mess happening. I never once felt like you were part of any of what was going on nor but I believe it without proof. I work GrubHub and I'm at the same place that you knew before. I can't just sit 24/7 you're going to have to contact me. And just like a really great man of the military of America told me back then it's not weakness to contact me and me to come to you. Because it took four Triad men to even be able to come to where I was and get me and bring me to New Orleans the last time years ago. Alyse-Marie and Brantley-Layne were their names. We were right about everything and I can't take it no more I just want to be happy.

[icecoldflames]

Chapter 4 - The Mystery of Sanders Castle

Masterlist

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

***

Present Day, England

Classes were the same ones Roman would have done in America but somehow he was looking forward to these ones. Unfortunately, he had to wait for last period with Ms. Yano’s history class. He supposed he should be lucky—he could’ve had her class tomorrow.

His first class was with the first man he had been introduced to yesterday, Mr. Divan for science. Obviously, for the first class of the year, nothing was really taught. Most of it was rules and introductions. Roman learned that Mr. Divan had travelled pretty much everywhere. To Tanzania, Singapore, Bulgaria, Paraguay, Laos, Taiwan, and so many other countries. Mr. Divan showed a quick presentation of photographs he had taken and Roman had loved it so much that he had asked him, after class, if he would send the presentation to him so he could look more closely at the pictures.

The next class was English which was taught by a short, older man named Mr. Losnedahl. Oskar was in that class.

Math taught by Ms. Cirenza (Satomi in that class) and Creative Writing with Ms. Wren flew by so quickly that Roman felt like he blinked and they were both over.

If this was how his days would go, Roman wished he could slow time because soon he’d be on the plane ride home back to America for summer.

On his way to Ms. Yano’s class, Roman bumped into Maxime also on his way to her class. “How has your day been?” Roman asked him excitedly, feeling his body beginning to buzz. He had been looking forward to this moment since last evening.

“It was good,” Maxime said simply.

Roman was still not used to how un-chatty Maxime was. So far, the longest conversation he had had with his roommate was about Harry Potter yesterday morning.

“Do you have any classes with Oskar?” Roman tried again. “He and I share science and math class.”

“Yeah, English and my nature class.”

They arrived at Ms. Yano’s class and, when Roman walked in, he was momentarily blown away by all the art and portraits hung on the walls and the patterned tapestry hung like a makeshift ceiling. Most of the rooms in the castle were high-ceilinged, very open and large. But the tapestry made the whole classroom seem like some kind of den. Like a cottage in the middle of a flower field.

Roman would meet the rest of his teachers tomorrow but he knew that none of their classrooms would compare to Ms. Yano’s.

Ms. Yano herself stood over to the side, speaking quietly to a student who Roman recognized as Spencer from math class.

Ms. Yano was of average height and her black hair was cut severely at her shoulders. She wore blood red lipstick that made her look like some kind of vampire. But it oddly suited her. She was, however, no doubt Satomi’s mom for she had practically the same face as her.

The desks were in pairs and Roman and Maxime found a spot together near the front without a word being uttered between them. Roman began opening up his notebook and made sure there was enough lead in his mechanical pencil to last the whole class. If Ms. Yano would be spilling the tea on the Sanders’ and Scharf’s then he couldn’t have any issues with writing all of it down.

Maxime looked confusedly at the opened notebook. “Is she the type of teacher to teach on the first day?” He hesitantly began opening up his own notebook and pencil case.

“Oh, no. At least, I haven’t heard anything about that. But I’m hoping she’ll shed some light on the royal family who used to live in this castle and the family who used to live in the castle across the woods.”

Maxime seemed to want to say a lot of things at once. “What castle across the woods…? Oh, are you talking about those ruins?”

“Ruins?” Roman’s eyes grew wide. No one said anything about ruins. What had happened to the Scharf’s castle?

At that exact moment, Spencer and Ms. Yano seemed to finish their conversation and Spencer sat themself down next to another student near the back of the classroom.

Ms. Yano fixed a small pile of papers on her desk before finally looking at her last class of the day. Her eyes drifted over her students and then stopped at Roman’s face. Her whole body froze and she looked like she stopped breathing. Roman was fully prepared to help her if something happened.

Ms. Yano blinked once and then she seemed fine. She didn’t even acknowledge the fact that she had momentarily stopped breathing.

Roman couldn’t help but feel that he had caused whatever had happened to Ms. Yano. She had been looking at the class and stopped at Roman. Unless it was some kind of horrible coincidence.

Disappointingly, the class was like all the rest he had been to that day. Introductions. Roman learned Ms. Yano’s first name (Akemi), where she was born (Japan), her husband’s name and occupation (Stan, a freelance artist), and even her favourite colour (red). But Roman learned absolutely nothing about the Sanders’ or the Scharf’s.

Roman had been patient enough to wait for today but waiting another day and possibly more? He didn’t think he could take it.

So, once class was dismissed for the day he told Maxime that he was going to ask Ms. Yano a question and that he could go on. Maxime was probably glad to be away from Roman’s extroverted self anyway.

As the room emptied, Roman walked over to Ms. Yano’s desk like a fish swimming upstream.

Roman was about to ask about the Sanders when Ms. Yano suddenly stood up and gave a tight smile to him. “Roman, do you want to go for a walk to the library?”

Roman’s eyebrows drew down in confusion. “The library?” He repeated. Could Ms. Yano read his mind? Or did Satomi tell her mom about his interest in the Sanders’? That was a possibility. “I was going to ask about the Sanders’ and if you could tell me about them. I know that you’re going to tell us about it in class but I’m beyond curious. I have to know.”

Ms. Yano nodded and she pursed her lips, looking at Roman so oddly that he wondered if he had anything stuck in his teeth. “Yes, I’ll tell you on the way to the library.” And then she began walking.

“As you probably know, the last royals who lived in this beautiful castle were the Sanders’. This consisted of King James, Queen Alice, and Prince Logan,” Ms. Yano began, slowing her walking just slightly. Roman listened very carefully, not wanting to miss a detail.

“When the prince was around 19, he was put into an arranged marriage with the eldest princess from Betrug, just across the woods.” She gestured to her left where Roman assumed the Scharf’s castle to be. “The Scharf’s. It’s said that they got along just fine. Her name was Philomena and she brought her brother, the crown prince, Virgil Scharf to their first meeting.

“Prince Virgil was in an arranged marriage, himself. To a princess from France. Anyway, that’s not necessarily important to this story. The two princes were said to be very close, like best friends. Philomena and Logan got along just fine as well, acting much more like friends than lovers but, then again, they were practically strangers to one another.

“When Logan visited the Scharf’s a couple weeks later, some of the citizens there took Philomena hostage—” Ms. Yano suddenly stopped short and Roman blinked. He felt as though he had just woken up from a long nap and was trying to remember where he was.

They had passed the library doors and Ms. Yano had led them down a deadend hallway where he assumed no one really went. Roman glanced up at Ms. Yano, perplexed, but the teacher seemed transfixed on something else. Her face was tilted up and Roman followed her gaze up the wall where a massive portrait was hung.

“It’s me,” Roman breathed.

“No,” Ms. Yano said, shaking her head softly. She pointed to the gilded metal nameplate at the bottom of the portrait. “It’s Prince Logan.”

Roman sucked in his breath. “Prince Logan?” He repeated, in awe. “We could’ve been twins.”

Logan, maybe late teens, was sitting on the steps of a gazebo that Roman remembered looking at when he explored the gardens outside with Patton earlier that morning. His face was serious and his light brown hair was brushed back. He was surrounded by dark blue flowers. And, although Roman was 14, there was no mistaking how uncanny the resemblance was between him and Prince Logan.

“Roman, how well do you know your ancestry?” Ms. Yano asked, tearing her gaze away from the portrait and, instead, looking back at Roman.

Roman rubbed his chin. “Well, my dad has Irish roots and my mom, well, my mom’s mom was adopted, just like Patton is, and my mom’s dad has Scottish roots.” He paused. “Do you think I’m related to Prince Logan?” The idea seemed so surreal coming out of his mouth and, had Prince Logan not looked exactly like Roman, he wouldn’t have believed it himself.

“Does your mom know anything about her mom?” Ms. Yano asked and Roman tried to think of anything. But nothing came to mind.

“No, my grandmother died a couple of years ago. She was adopted as a toddler so I don’t think she would’ve remembered anything anyway,” Roman replied.

Ms. Yano sighed and stayed silent.

Roman was about to ask Ms. Yano to finish her story. Did they ever get Philomena back in time for the wedding? What about Prince Virgil?

But another teacher Roman didn’t recognize hurried up to Ms. Yano. “Akemi! The staff meeting is about to start!”

Ms. Yano pursed her lips and she glanced at the watch around her wrist. “Of course,” she muttered and looked down at Roman apologetically. “I’m sorry, Roman. I have to go.” She gestured to the library. “I suggest you take a look in the library. They have a couple of books on Prince Logan that you might enjoy.” She hurried off and Roman was left alone with the picture of Prince Logan staring down at him.

At this point, Roman was desperate. He had been given a little taste of the story of Prince Logan and he would do just about anything to know the end. He made his way out of the hallway, looked at the library, and sighed as he made his way inside.

The library was nice, Roman supposed. It was definitely old and he sneezed almost as soon as he entered. He asked the librarian where the books on Prince Logan were and she directed him to the back of the library.

Libraries were not Roman’s thing. He found them too silent and foreboding. And way too serious. But he needed to know what happened to Prince Logan and the Scharf siblings.

He kept his steps quiet as he progressed deeper and deeper into the library. It was nearly empty, Roman only passing a couple of students. Some of them weren’t even reading, they were just speaking in hushed voices.

Roman supposed it was better than hanging out in the bathroom, which a lot of kids at his old school used to do which was just disgusting and weird.

Finally, he made it to the back of the library where an unlit stone fireplace was. On either side of it was a reading nook where two massive leather armchairs were placed, a wooden, round table between them.

In the nook to Roman’s left, he recognized Satomi reading a brown book. She was upside down in the armchair, her legs sticking out over the back rest. She seemed very interested in her book as her face was scrunched up.

Satomi glanced up, as though she could detect someone near her. “Hi Roman,” she greeted, pulling her legs back down and sitting up normally. “Are you here for books on the Sanders’?”

Roman nodded and took the armchair opposite her. He sank into the chair, and felt as though he could sleep in them. He might come to the library more often just to sit in the armchairs. “Yeah.” He gestured to the book she was holding, a finger keeping her page. “What book are you reading?”

“Ronan M.V. Gighe-Lapillio’s biography,” Satomi responded, flashing Roman a view of the brown cover.

“Ronan M.V. who-now?” Roman tried to repeat. It was almost as confusing as Dumbledore’s full name. “Who’s that?”

“The founder of Violet Branch,” Satomi said with a shrug. “Although it’s rumoured that Ronan was just a pseudonym.”

There were so many mysteries that they were beginning to make Roman’s head spin. “Well, wouldn’t people know his real name anyway?”

“You’d think so, but no. Ronan was a secretive and private man and no one ever saw him, at least, not without knowing. He made no public appearances but it was said that he was a fast worker and an even faster runner, able to be in one place before being in another, totally different place a couple minutes later.”

Roman couldn’t help but have the thought that Ronan was just one letter away from his own name. Maybe it was just because he just saw his own face on a portrait that was painted two centuries ago. It seemed everything was connected back to him somehow.

Which made him remember what Satomi had asked when she first met him. Have I met you before? The, at first, weird question suddenly made perfect sense. “Hey, Satomi, I think I know why you thought you met me before.”

“Oh?” Satomi’s eyebrows jumped up and her eyes, which had been gradually roaming back to her book, shifted back to Roman.

“Your mom showed me a portrait of Prince Logan. He looks exactly like me.” Even saying it made Roman feel weird.

Satomi’s eyes widened. “Of course!” She exclaimed so loudly that the librarian who was near furiously shushed her. “Sorry,” she said, quieter, but it didn’t look like she was. “That makes so much sense. And it can’t possibly be a coincidence. You two practically look like twins. So you must be a descendant of Prince Logan!” Her voice kept growing as she continued but she spoke the next part more bitterly. “I always knew Crespo was a fraud.”

“Whoah, whoah, whoah,” Roman interrupted her train of thought. “It’s possible that me and the headmistress are descendants.”

Satomi rolled her eyes and she had a look on her face Roman hadn’t seen before. “Humph. I doubt it.”

“What do you have against her?”

“I don’t have anything against her,” Satomi said, crossing her arms and looking down angrily at her shoes.

Roman scoffed. “Sure, okay. I don’t believe you for one second.”

“I just don’t like her and I don’t believe Prince Logan’s her ancestor.”

Roman still wasn’t so sure of her answer but he decided to let it drop. He stood up, “you think you can show me the best books on Prince Logan then? I think I might die if I don’t find out what happens.”

Roman left the library with two books, one rather thin and another which had some weight to it. Satomi said they were the best two to read to get a grasp on what had happened without the annoying authors’ biases smacking you in the face and spitting on your unconscious body. Satomi’s words, not his.

Roman had the quickest supper he had ever had in his entire life and then he was off to his dorm to start reading, something he had never done before.

He decided to read the thin one first, hoping that maybe he’d get enough information from it without having to read the other one.

By the time Roman finished the first book, around three in the morning, Roman had a good idea of the events that had happened in this very castle. His butt was sore from sitting on the toilet seat (he had moved to the bathroom to read after Oskar and Maxime went to bed) and, while his body was stiff and tired, his brain was whirling.

Because there was one thing he wasn’t expecting.

Prince Virgil and Prince Logan had definitely been gay. And they had definitely been in a secret relationship.

[filthysweetie]

James Bond drabble

Prompt: “Dear Diary...” 

missed a day >.< this one is begging to be a longer story, but i had to cut it so i can finish packing...note that there’s a brief description of torture in this one.

Edit: This now has a sequel here if anyone wants to read it :) 

———

Dear Diary,

Let it be known this is done under duress. Apparently, not being a bloody field agent does not get you out of psych evaluations and ‘recommended’ methods to cope with ‘high stress levels’ and ‘worrying tendency to identify job performance as self-worth’. I bet they didn’t make Boothyard do this. You get kidnapped once and then everyone suddenly thinks you’re a delicate flower. 

Hell, Bond got kidnapped (I guess it’s just called captured when they’re agents…which actually is now making me quite offended that when I was taken it was called kidnapping) on 7 of his last 15 missions. I don’t see him writing a damn diary about it! (Although god, imagine that.) Besides, what’s the point of keeping a diary if it’s mandated and also!! Your psychiatrist will be reading it? Maybe I should start writing in code. 01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01000100 01110010 00101110 00100000 01011001 01100101 01101110 00101110 ——— “What is…that?”

Q turned, not the least bit surprised to see James standing there behind him. He had a mission coming up and was obviously ready for his kit. Q did a little ritual over the case, always so sad to see the fine pieces of machinery go when the chance of them returning was so dismal. Instead of focusing on the kit, though…Q followed his eyes to the little journal on his desk. It was covered in stickers (most of them shiny, some of them hello kitty gifted by a little one on the tube who got three on before he or her mother noticed) and attached in the pen holder was a pen with a fuzzy feather top. It was rainbow. 

Can’t blame the man for noticing it, it was a rather stark deviation from the normal color pallet and maturity level of Q’s desk.

“Oh, that old thing?” Q pat the top with a little more force than necessary, “my psych assigned diary. I figure if they choose to treat me like a child I may as well oblige.”

James took a moment before speaking, “And what, pray tell, made them think you need it?”

Q blinked, “Does that mean you’ve done it too?” That was a bit of a surprise. The double-o agents seems to thrive on their disregard of ‘normal’ coping, of medical, and of psych all together.

“Answer the question, Q.” James had the audacity to roll his eyes.

“Now I’m very curious,” Q can’t help it, “what do you write in it? About the girls you like? About more interesting ways to destroy my tech?”

“Mostly survivors guilt.” James says, nonchalant.

Well, that answers that, “Oh…” damn it, now he’s obliged to answer James’ question regardless of if this is an interrogation tactic or not. He gives a half shrug, “Dr. Yen assigned it after the kidnapping.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know, I thought it was all very much over the top as well.” Q fights a sigh, “Now your kit—”

James shakes his head, “No, wait, you were kidnapped?”

Q blinks, ignores the chill that goes down his spine; “I knew they didn’t release that on the official channels but I assumed you’d know none the less.” Q clears his throat, “Now, your kit.”

James quiets then, but there are a lot of questions behind his eyes. Who’s to say if Q focuses on his tech a bit more than he normally would. ——— Dear diary, 

I didn’t realize it had been kept quite so secret. I should have known, we are a spy organization. But I was {Q hesitates over the word, crossing out kidn and captu wishing suddenly that he was using his standard pencil instead of this purple inked mess of a pen} gone for 11 days. I guess I figured they would have told the double-os at least, maybe brought them in to help find me. Not that I needed anyone’s help, of course, I mean I got out of there myself, didn’t need anyone rescuing this damsel.

But the fact that {Ja is scribbled over fully; must remember that this will be read} there were agents I’m the primary handler of that didn’t notice at all. What excuse were they told when I wasn’t on the comms? Would they have just kept been given excuses until the forgot to keep asking?

My cats were fed, at least. Moneypenny thought I would come back, or at least held out enough hope to not sell my apartment and put my cats in a shelter after 11 bloody days. 

R had been searching non-stop—bless her, I think she needs this exercise more than me. Poor girl looked like she hadn’t slept since I’d left; keeping all the missions on track while searching for me. It was her and Riley and Sunil that found me on the security footage after I got out of that place and got me a pickup. It’s not like I was forgotten or anything. {Why do I feel forgotten? Q stares at the line in it’s stark purple ink for a long moment before crossing it out. He doesn’t want to talk about that with himself, let alone Dr. Yen.}

Regardless. R has finished debriefing me on all active missions that I’d missed some portion on, and overall everything is going well. Testing of the new laser pen fell behind during my absence but it’s to be expected. It will give me something to do tomorrow when most of my active agents are in transit. ——— “Q, Sir, we really need you in the pit.” Laila said, standing at the threshold of his office, seeming a bit more frazzled than normal. There are no alarms (auditory or silent) going off around her, so the attitude was a bit perplexing.

Q puts the soldering iron down on it’s stand and takes off the magnification glasses, replacing them with his own, already getting up and heading towards her, “What’s the matter?”

“Sir, one of the agents is being belligerent; requesting to speak only to you before moving forward with his mission.”

That’s a new one; “Alright then, transfer the secure line to my station please, Laila.”

It’s always nice, walking out to the floor, seeing his people working away. Standing at the center of it is like being cocooned within the greatest minds of London. It’s safe. 

“Yes?”

“Q”Jame’s voice is instantly recognizable, “I’ve arrived in Paraguay and will be rendezvousing with the contact at 1430.”

Q waited. Nothing.

“And?”

“That is all.”

Q blinked, glad that James couldn’t see the confusion that must certainly be coving his face, “You called me away from my prototypes to give me a standard mission update that you could have given to any one of my people?”

“Had to make sure you were still around, Q”

“Still—” it clicks, “Oh. Well. Yes, I am very much still around.

“Good.” Is that a smile in his voice or is Q projecting? “I’ll check in again after the rendezvous.”

Q’s throat clicks, dry; “I’ll be here.” ———— Dear Diary, 

When will this little experiment be over? It’s been a half month! I haven’t got much free time at all, and wasting it in this damn book isn’t helping anyone. Least of all me. ————— “I notice you haven’t actually written anything about the kidnapping?” Dr. Yen asks, looking through his entries with a clinical eye.

“I much prefer to call it capture.” Q says in leu of an answer. The sticker covered mess looks silly in her hands, but she seemed to have enjoyed his take on ‘making it his own’ even if he’d been doing the antithesis of that. Granted, some of his minions have added stickers to it too—so next to hello kitty is a ‘back it the fuck up’ sticker in fancy script with an old school desktop monitor showing the phrase, and a sparkly unicorn that Trevor insists is from his kids but Q has his doubts. If he leaves it on his desk unattended, when he comes back there are always new stickers. No one ever opens it, respecting some privacy that doesn’t really need respecting (it’s not like there’s anything of substance in there), but it’s a nice gesture none the less.

Dr. Yen smiles, “Of course,” Q wishes she were a bit more of a dick like Dr. Reynard had been—it was easier to dismiss someone when they were being an ass, “I notice you haven’t written about your capture—or escape for that matter—at all. There are some references to it, but no detail. Do you have any thoughts on why that is?”

Q takes a sip of tea. It is nice that these meetings are uninterrupted tea time—though he could do without the conversation. 

“There’s nothing important to say about it.” Q set the mug down, making sure to be gentle about it, “it’s all done, and I don’t exactly plan to get kidna—captured again.”

Dr. Yen gives an amused smile, “no one really plans to get captured at all.” Then, “Sometimes the act of writing down an experience”—she stopped using ‘traumatizing experience’ a while ago, Q did not have a traumatizing experience, thank you—“can solidify it in our reality. It may be difficult to do that at first, but once it is solidified, we can begin to process it in a healthy way.”

“It’s already written up in the after-action report.”

“Yes, but that was what happened, not how it felt to be going through those things.”

Q rolls his eyes, “do you want me to write a soliloquy on how sad and lonely it was and how I felt abandoned by MI6 and made peace with my death? Or maybe how it transformed me in ineffable ways and I have a new lease on life?”

It was so annoying to lay on that perfect level of sarcasm to have it disregarded so thoroughly, “If that’s how you feel, yes.” God she’s so earnest. 

“Well it wasn’t” Q snapped out. He picked up the mug again and took another sip. Setting it down extra soft, with barely a ‘clink’ on the glass table, “Excuse me, I must be more tired than I thought.”

“Not to worry,” Dr. Yen smiled, “your job is stressful any given day of the week, it’s certainly understandable. Please do give it a thought though as you go through this week. Sometimes putting things to paper allows our minds to ‘get it out of our system’ instead of having it linger in our subconscious.”

“Very well. I will give it some thought.” ———— Dear Diary, 

Lets give it the old college try, shall we?

I admire James Bond. He’s one of our best field agents, though his record for returning his tech is abysmal. He seems to come back from the brink of death more times than a cat and never seems to let it affect him. Always ready for the next mission.

I want to be like that. He’s been through so much, the loss of M, the burning of his home, the burning of so many false starts at a normal life, and he comes back and he may be battered but he’s still whole. Undoubtedly whole. I get kidnapped once and now I can’t even get a good nights sleep unless I’m folded awkwardly on the little couch in my office, and of course that sleep is poorer for other reasons. 

I know I’m capable, I know I can destroy countries and get myself out of most any situation that I find myself in, but I didn’t realize exactly how that situation would affect me. I haven’t lost confidence in my abilities, but maybe loss of confidence in my security? Is it just a waiting game to see when I’ll next be thrown into the back of a van, drugged, and then wake up in a windowless room, IV in my arm strapped to a chair with no fucking idea how much time has passed? When will I next find myself threatened and beaten? The soles of my feet slashed, so dehydrated that I can’t put my head up without feeling dizzy? 

Obviously I can survive it. I have. 

The thought of it happening again…it’s terrifying. And it can happen at any time. And I thought I admired James because he looked like a good lay. Maybe it’s because he seems unbreakable and I worry I’m already broken. ———— Q stared at the pages for a long time. Was he supposed to feel hollow?

He tore them out, crumpled them like a secret and then lit them on fire. This was a spy organization after all, no point in letting that level of weakness get out. ���——— Dear Diary, 

Laila got a new corgi puppy. Despite being a cat person, I have to admit it’s quite cute.

[badass-women-league]

-TIVALI-

1- The reunion

"When will I see Ima ?"

The little girl was holding flowers in her hands. She was hopping up and down with impatience. Tony looked at his watch and said:

-"come on Tali be patient, I've already told you she's gonna get out from there" he pointed at the arrival terminal doors. He whispered "you inherited that impatience from your mom for sure"

Tony could not blame his daughter, he was as impatient as she was. He hasn't been in contact with Ziva for month and he haven't seen her for years. YEARS! Away from the woman he loves, the mother of his child and on top of that she had been in danger all this time. She could have died and he would probably not have been aware of it. Raising Tali on his own hasn't been easy. He was worried about their reunion. Worried that things would be different between them. After such a long time away from each other it would be normal. Tony had changed and Ziva had too. Tony knew they would have to get to know each other again. But he was still Tony, he still loved food, movies and he was still the class clown who makes fun of everything. So maybe there was a chance that Ziva was still the same after all: the sexy, strong and independent ninja that he fell in love with.

The door of the terminal opened and passengers walked out. Tali and Tony were looking for Ziva's face. Tony was getting worried. What if she had not taken that plane at the last minute ? It was irrational, she would have told him. Finally she walked through the doors. Tali yield "IMA!" And rushed to Ziva with her flowers in her hands.

Ziva heart stopped when she saw the little girl. She crouched to hug her daughter. Tony walked to them. Ziva took Tali's face on her hand to take a better look at it. She was so big, so beautiful. She was crying tears of joy. She unconsciously started speaking in hebrew. It was always happening when she was upset or like right now, overwhelmed by her emotions. She switched back to english: ⁣

-"my baby! oh my god Tali, look at you, you are so big now"

-"we missed you Ima"

Ziva hugged Tali again and sobbed:

-"I missed you too Tali"

-"look these are for you ! Aba said you like flowers... I choose them myself"

Ziva took the flowers and kissed her daughter's forehead.

-"thank you Tali, they are very beautiful" she glanced at Tony and said "Aba remembered my favorite flowers"

Tony proudly smiled.

After a long hug to her child, she looked up at Tony. He was smiling to her, happy to see that the strong bond between Tali and her mother hasn't been broken after such a long time. She stood up, keeping Tali close to her. The little girl was looking up at her parents. Tony and Ziva were shyly smiling to each other. Ziva was still scared that things could be awkward between them. Tony talked first with his usual charming grin:

-"hi..."

Ziva smiled and tilted her head on the right side:

-"hi..."

Tony smiled too and cupped her face before kissing her softly. When Tali saw this, she immediately shouted a long: "ugh!!!!!!!!" in disgust. Her expression made Tony and Ziva smile and laugh. It was the first time that Tali was seeing her father kissing someone and she was pretty disgusted. Tony was still holding Ziva's face. He looked at Tali and then deeply at Ziva and said:

-"you gonna have to get used to this Tali, because it's gonna happen again.. a lot"

Ziva smiled and kissed Tony.

After a long minute of kissing Tony whispered:

-"come on let's go home"

Ziva was finally home. It doesn't matter if it was in D.C or Paris, her home was where Tony and Tali were.

Tony opened the door of his apartment and stepped aside to let Tali and Ziva in. He smiled and said:

-"welcome home"

Ziva stepped inside and took a deep breathe. She looked around her. It was bright and beautiful. It was the perfect mix between modern and old design. She walked through the room and stopped in front of framed pictures. Mostly pictures of Tali. Some with Tony, some with Senior. Tali's first day of school. Tali's first time at the zoo, Tali's 4th birthday. She was looking so happy. Ziva's heart was broken by the idea that she missed all those crucial moments of her daughter life but at least she was strengthened by the idea that she had the best reason for that. She had protected her.

Ziva looked surprised when she noticed a picture of her between Tali's. The picture of her that Tony took on their first trip to Paris. Tony's favorite one "because she was smiling", as he said years ago. Tony stepped closer and said:

-"you said it would look better in black and white, so I got it reprinted that way.. it's still my favorite"

Ziva fought the tears growing in her eyes. Tony turned to Tali:

-"why don't you show your bedroom to Ima ?"

Tali looked excited and she grabbed her mother's hand to lead her to her bedroom.

When Tony walked to Tali's bedroom 15 minutes later, Ziva was sitting on Tali's bed. She could not take her eyes away from her daughter. Tali was very chatty. She was showing Ziva all sorts of things: toys, clothes, drawing she had made for her. Tony leaned on the door frame to look at them. A tear rolled down Ziva's cheek. A tear of joy and regrets at the same time. Tali saw it and stopped talking. She was confused. She walked to Ziva, touched her mother's face with confused eyes and asked:

-"are you hurt Ima ?"

Ziva smiled and kissed Tali's tiny hands. She wiped her tears away and said:

-"I am fine Tali. I am just very happy to see you"

-"why are you crying ?"

Ziva pulled Tali closer to her and said:

-"because when I left you and Aba, you were just a baby and now you are a beautiful girl. Sometimes grown ups cry when they are happy. It's stupid I know but it's like that"

Tali laid her eyes on Ziva's necklace. She grabbed it with her little fingers. Ziva was struck by her memories of when Tali used to touch it when she was a baby.

She looked at Tali's neck and noticed her Star of David necklace. She took it between her finger and said:

-"see, I have yours and you have mine. As long as we wear them, we'll be together, no matter where we are"

Dinner time. Tony, Tali and Ziva were all gathered around the dinner table. Tali was talking about her school and her friends. Tony discreetly turned to Ziva and asked:

-"Was I that talkative too back at NCIS ?"

Ziva smiled:

-"you were worse than that. She definitely inherited that from you"

Tony looked resigned and said:

-"she got my talkativeness and your bad temper..."

Ziva faked to be offended:

-"My bad temper ? What bad temper ?"

Tony turned to Tali and said:

-"oh I see that miss Dinozzo forgot to mention what she did to young Jeremy last week didn't she ?"

Tali shyly smiled, as a child who knew she had done  something wrong. Ziva looked confused and asked:

-"What did you do Tali ?"

-"I punched him in the face..."

She was obviously not very proud of her action and certainly got lectured for her behavior by her father. Ziva looked at Tony with confused eyes and Tony asked:

-"and why did you punched that poor Jeremy ?"

Tali answered quietly:

-"Because he said he wanted me to be his girlfriend"

Ziva closed her eyes and bit her tongue to control herself but she really wanted to laugh which would have been very wrong for Tali's education.

Tony whispered:

-"does that remind you of someone ?"

Ziva could not disagree.

-"alright alright.. maybe she got that from me..."

They both laughed. Tony turned to Tali and said:

-"alright Kung fu panda! It's time to go brush your teeth and go to bed, go on"

Ziva was clearing the dinner table. Tony looked at her and said:

-"don't worry about this I'll deal with that later"

He knew she was trying to keep herself busy. He walked to her and grabbed her wrist to stop her. She made eye contact with him. A long and deep one. Tony looked at her wrist and saw the scar from Paraguay on it. He quietly said:

-"I know you need some time but you'll find your place Ziva. We're gonna help you, me and Tali" he briefly paused "Gibbs told me about Adam.. I am sorry"

A little voice raised from behind and surprised them:

-"who's Adam ?"

Tony glanced at Ziva and looked sorry for her that she had to deal with that now. He grabbed Tali, sat her on the countertop and said:

-"Adam was a very dear friend of Ima. He took care of you when you were a baby and he helped Ima to get you to me"

-"where is he now ?"

Ziva swallowed hard. Tony chose his words wisely and continued:

-"He is gone but he's still keeping an eye on you and Ima"

Tali was trying to understand:

-"Is he with saba ?"

Ziva was surprised about Tali evoking her grandfather. She never thought that Tony would have mentioned him.

-"yes, yes he is with Saba. They are both looking after you, but now it is late and I am sure that Adam and saba would like you to go to bed"

Tony turned and placed his back in front of the little girl:

-"get on board princess"

The little girl laughed and got on her father's back. He led her to her bed, Ziva following them with a smile.

[pro-bee]

“Ziva, sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons.” “People always think their own reasons are right. Especially parents.” “Yeah, they got perspective.” “Parents don’t make mistakes!”  “Yeah.” “My mother never told me what kind of a man my father was. Perhaps she thought I was not strong enough to handle it.” “Nah, she was just being a mom.” “How do you know?” “Perspective.” “Are you lonely Gibbs?” “You’re never alone when you have kids. ‘Night, kid.”

God, this is one of my favourite scenes of the series, and I think recent developments give it new depth because this conversation has kind of come full circle.

I love it because this moment, right here, is the Ziva-Gibbs relationship in a nutshell. 

[very long post with lots of feelings under the cut]

You’ve got Ziva frustrated at the tangled webs people weave to protect their families, even when it ultimately ends up unraveling one giant mess.

The whole episode, Ziva’s interactions with Mariam are fraught with both compassion and frustration. She feels a sort of kindred spirit in Mariam, trying to survive a conflict with no winner but only losers while escaping with some sort of humanity. Yet she’s also deeply frustrated, because Ziva is tired of this shit and particularly the kind of shit men will put the women in their lives through in the name of honour, and she has trouble seeing why any woman would stand by it when they can clearly see they are in the wrong.

It’s one of the most interesting aspects of Ziva’s character to me, one which I wish they would have explored more in the series, because she’s a bit of a dichotomy. She’s clearly deeply entrenched in the system her father raised her in, but she also is compassionate towards the very people she was probably trained to mistrust, knowing that at the end of the day, they’re all after the same thing -- a peaceful existence where they are free to be who they are. It’s a nuanced view that isn’t always given the chance to breathe in the media. 

But, here she is having just finished a case where someone -- a woman --  has once again covered up for the misdeeds of the men in her life, because she tried to protect them. Which gets her thinking about her own mother, who she now realizes covered up the things Eli did from her as a child so she could grow up with a father she could trust and love, even if we know now and Ziva would learn as a young adult that he did not deserve it. 

We don’t know what happened to her mom (other than Ziva says she was killed, like Tali and Ari), but we can probably infer that she went to her grave trying to protect Ziva from Eli’s exploits.

(Now I’m wondering if Tali and their mom were killed in the same event?)

She’s still reeling from the fallout of Somalia two years earlier, of cutting her father out of her life, of trying to figure out if she’s able to forgive him, look past what he put her through and put other people through, if she can find a place in her heart for him the way Mariam has for her son and husband even if they’ve committed atrocious acts.

And that is where Gibbs comes in: That it doesn’t make Ziva weak that her mom didn’t share any of this with her, one which she had to find out herself the hard way. It’s that her mother loved her so much that she wanted to shield her from that part of their lives, let her keep her innocence for as long as possible so that she could live in a world where her father wasn’t capable of heinous acts in the name of “duty”, because he was still her father and she needed that presence in her life, such as it was.

As we know now, Ziva seems to have grown up thinking that being strength = taking things and moving on. But we know that true strength, one which Mariam shows and arguably Ziva’s mother did, is being able to accept those parts of your life and still maintain your humanity and decency.

Then that flips to the Ziva-Gibbs relationship, because she has a moment of honesty with him, asking if he’s lonely. With Borin he brushes it off, but with Ziva, he offers his truth as he knows it. “You’re never lonely when you have kids.” Is it a delusion he tells himself? Perhaps, but in that very moment, I believe that he believes it, completely. Because he cares for these people, the same ones who have spent the entire week trying to set him up with someone specifically because they care for him and don’t want him to be alone. 

But more than that, when he tells her, “’Night, kid,” he’s not just teasing her about being one of the “office kids” who he looks over and takes under his wing. Coming off the discussion about the parents, he’s also telling her that he’s watching over her here the way her father couldn’t. That he sees her heart, the way she cared for Mariam and her family, and he knows where she belongs. He’s reminding her that she is part of a family here, one that may have had its own share of secrets to protect one another, but caring nonetheless. He’s acknowledging the love he has for them (and her) as much as the love they have (and she has)  for him. 

What really gets me, though, watching this now after season 17, especially these last two episodes, is how much their relationship has come full circle. We went from them being his “kids” to Ziva fighting for “her family” in the season 10 finale, to all the heartache between season 11-16, to the bitterness of season 17, and back to their father-daughter relationship.

Because now that Ziva is a parent herself, she has that perspective that Gibbs is talking about.

She, too, has now done the wrong things for what she believed were the right reasons. 

(Ahem, keeping Tali from Tony. Faking her death. Acting alone to fight terrorists. etc.)

And now, of course, with her perspective, she can see why Gibbs did or didn’t do the things he did, the same way she can probably now better understand why her own mother did what she did when she was a child.

(Except Eli. Eli is still the worst. In this house we drag Eli David.)

She has done things as a mom that have been painful and impossible but necessary, the way Mariam did or Gibbs did or her own parents did.

Yet another thing that I love about it is how it comes around for Gibbs, too. He wasn’t lonely here, he claims, because he had the love of his family, his “kids”. Admittedly I have only seen a few episodes between season 14-16, but the few that I have seen, what has stood out to me is just how lonely and isolated Gibbs has become. (I never saw the Paraguay arc, but I take it that messed him up a lot?)

Arguably, he’d lost his “kids.” Ziva was “dead,” Tony was gone, Abby left, McGee was around but now busy with his own family. (Of the newbies, Ellie is the only team member with a normal family so she doesn’t need the surrogate parent in Gibbs, and Torres, well, I don’t know enough about him but he’s got a whole other kind of personality and doesn’t seem to crave that parental bond the way the others do, and Kasie keeps herself a bit at a distance.)

And, yeah, obviously “kids” grow up and move on, but the episodes I’ve seen, it does seem that Gibbs holds himself back at a distance even further than he used to. (I remember in one of Ellie’s episodes in season 11, Gibbs essentially told her that he went easy on her and held back because every time he looked at her desk all he could see was that Ziva wasn’t there.) He has grown older and colder, at all-time peak aloof, save for rare moments. He just seems sad. (Like, not obviously grief-stricken, just... worn out.)

But then in these latest Ziva episodes, we’ve seen him more animated than we have in a long time. He’s laughed and yelled and choked up and smiled. Because something has finally clicked back into place. And it’s not just that Ziva is back, although that is a huge part of it, but it’s like this black cloud that has hung over them has lifted. The guilt and the grief have dissipated. The missing piece of the puzzle has been put into place. And even if Ziva isn’t actually around full-time, knowing she’s out there is comforting. 

And mending that relationship with her is a big part of that. Because Ziva was “the favourite”. I mean, I know Abby was, technically, but he had different relationships with them. Abby’s was a parent-child one, too, because she too was a girl who’d lost her parents, but she’s so sunny and self-assured that I think theirs was more one of comfort. However, with Ziva, I think he recognized immediately how vulnerable she was, how emotionally fragile she was beneath the bravado, and that she was a girl from a broken home who’d never really been protected, and was now making her way in the world without having learned the safety of her father’s love. Plus you add the shared combat experience between them, and the connection makes even more sense. If you think that she left under the most contentious of circumstances, then (nearly) met a tragic end, you can see why that guilt would have weighed down those memories of Gibbs’ even more than Abby’s, who left of her own volition to follow her own dreams. (lol let’s not get into the off-screen reasons.)

I digress.

What I’m trying to say is that now that Gibbs and Ziva are back in each other’s lives, and have laid their cards on the table and confessed their hurt and in turn forgiven each other for it, they have reached a new stage of their relationship. That they both have new perspective. That Ziva understands what her mother did, but also what Gibbs did. And Gibbs tried to protect Ziva then like he has now, but understands better what that actually means for her and what she needs. (Ah, communication, what a concept.)

So they’ve both done very wrong things for what they thought were their own right reasons.

He won’t be lonely anymore, because he’s got his kids back, and his almost-daughter most of all. He’s not going to let her go anymore than she will him.

And on another note: That puts Ziva’s comment in 17x02 about how she was never alone, even on the run, because she always had her daughter, into relief. Because, yeah, she was alone while Tali was with Tony, but she carried Tali in her memories and in her heart, and that was her guiding light throughout this whole ordeal. So Gibbs was right, you never are alone when you have kids. And Ziva will never be alone ever again.

[ask-badlydrawn-mercosur]

Chilean anon: sorry for that, but after that whole thing with Portugal being Brazil's dad that's pretty much what came up on my head. It all starts to get weird. Similarly, what do we even make of the indigenous groups that spanned through more than one of the current countries like the Incas, as an example. I assume something similar to what happened to the HRE, but even then, it was never fully explored how did that work. Do we count colonization and immigration as ways to make countries (pt1)

// Y'know, you just made me remember that I made a post about a particular tradition of paraguayan culture that came from the guaraní on my @ask–paraguay blog, and an argentine approached me saying “hey we do that too!”, which just shows how much their presence in the region influenced argentine culture as well (specially in the north);

as in regards to how many of the indigenous groups spanned through more than one country, we have also to take into account that the current borders are a byproduct of european colonization as well.

but at the end of the way, this is a complex subject and considering the source material, yeah, we shouldn’t give these things too much thought lol

[ssdev4-blog]

the semant is an unidentified man that confuses really alot of people, his name is completely unknown, theories about the man aka semant are insanly forgotten, patients freak out and the doctors recognized the man, if a patient is sick, he would show a pic of the semant, semant is a strange name, what does semant Mean?? semant means (the man) in grammar language, semant has six letters, 666, theory number two! this man is the image of bad luck, it shocked a lot of people, the man is bad luck but in human form, if you ignore the bad luck for about 4 years, your body hair will grow extremely rapidly or lose your hair rapidly that there will be no hair on your body, or you would vomit blood or your pee will be blue, so be careful, this man is bad luck but in human form okay, this is a shocking theory about the semant, and because i want to post this "shocking" mysterious truth of the semant, here is some examples, the creator of spongebob (aka mr. hillenburg) died on november 26th 2018, nobody knows how hillenburg died, since he died because of bad luck, also because death is "bad luck" everyone HATES death, i think the actual thing of why hillenburg died, there was a spongebob christmas movie, and there is a song called "don't be a jerk it's christmas" but that movie was made in christmas 2012, and because this is shocking because people thought that the world was gonna end on 2012, hillenburg probably died because the semant was angry, also this man's name is unknown, but there is alot of hints towards his actual name! okay, you all want to know this man's real name, it is impossible to solve his name, we call him the semant because it is easier to say, anyways this man might have a real name, but for right now, it is unknown, i also heard my principal when we ran out of the school because there was a fire alarm and my principal said something interesting, he said that the semant's real name was hidden somewhere in the united states under the ground back in 1974, do you remember mr. hillenburg died on november 2018, he died randomly it could mean that the semant was angry, also if you actually find his real name, be careful, one of my students said that if you find the semant's real name, things will turn super ugly! his name is worse than bad luck, and i was watching the smash bros live stream because i ALWAYS watch live games! it's fun, and when i was watching the live stream, somehow i saw the semant's real name, and also he could be a real person, i never noticed the Massive scar on his forehead, i think i know why the semant ended mr. hillenburg, because of the spongebob christmas song called (don't be a jerk it's christmas) because the semant got super tired of mr.hillenburgs rants, i think he hates march because march is good luck, and the semant is bad luck in human form, (yeah that was stupid but this is a conspiracy theory, this is not a fact!) i heard when i was at the hospital because my uncle broke his legs while rollerskating, and i heard one of the patients drew a sketch of the semant, he also had a youtube channel then it got deleted, idk why it got deleted, this man is could be a real person we just don't know, because his name is unknown we call him the semant because semant is his "public" name and his "private" name is (just kidding his name is unknown) his identity is impossible to find out, we tried looking for evidence of his real name, we will never find out The semant also has been seen around the world! examples:Armenia Aruba Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Bassas da India Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Europa Island Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern and Antarctic Lands Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Glorioso Islands Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Juan de Nova Island Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Navassa Island Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paracel Islands Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Spratly Islands Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tromelin Island Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan and u.s.a countries! Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho IllinoisIndiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri MontanaNebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon PennsylvaniaRhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming  there is very hard evidence of who he is, but doctors drew the sketch of the semant to find him, of course he has not been spotted in real life, he is the bad luck but in human form, almost 200 people/animals have seen the semant, and this man is a REAL person that happens to be mysterious to all of us, he also probably spotted at working at dunkin do’nuts, his massive scar and his weird eyes gave 200 people the creeps, there are 4 theories about the semant the first theory is that this man is the image of bad luck so people can remember every friday the 13th. The 2nd theory is that this man is a real person, but not caught in real life, he is still the bad luck. 3rd theory is that the semant is causing bad luck, theory number 4th is that this man is probably an unknown man that can’t even be explained by 200 and half the world population links:    https://www.reddit.com/user/tacomemes50/comments/cmgmve/the_semant_caught_in_ssbu_live_stream_part_1/ https://www.reddit.com/user/tacomemes50/comments/cmgoil/the_semant_was_watching_this_live_stream/ https://www.reddit.com/user/tacomemes50/comments/cmxn66/the_semant_founded_in_newspaper/ https://www.reddit.com/user/tacomemes50/comments/coplm1/more_proof/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/cuwdnx/oh_god_no/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSuperMarioLoganSub/comments/cyw1lh/letloganseethis/ https://www.reddit.com/user/tacomemes50/comments/d71ucy/nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dakw14/im_running_out_of_ideas/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/db0hkl/explain_this/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dcidxl/oh_no/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/ddodj1/i_used_face_app_on_the_semant_now_im_having/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/depsyc/heffer_hypnotizes_rocko_to_become_the_semant/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dfneoq/i_cant_think_of_any_original_content_lol/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dh3cpv/the_semant_official_video_2/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dh3er3/spoiler_alert_donald_trump_spoiled_the_semants/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dhg82d/a_user_got_a_mysterious_google_audio_notification/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dhj1kq/how_much_proof_do_you_need/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dhzfzu/okay_here_is_the_proof_of_the_semant_pls_watch/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/die14m/beware_of_the_semant/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/div6di/i_made_this_because_i_was_bored/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/djdnki/sonic_the_hedgehog_talks_about_the_semant/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dk81ww/who_is_the_semant/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dkmnjc/idk_what_to_say/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dm7os5/the_semant_located_we_are_not_sure/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dp0732/was_on_the_subway_train_then_i_saw_a_poster_of/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/ds75gd/something_i_made/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/du2nfd/just_a_normal_day_reading_the_news_paper/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/duiva8/the_semant_conspiracy_theory_buzzfeed/ https://www.buzzfeed.com/mysteryarchives4/the-semant-conspiracy-theory-66xtbdxn3a?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharecopy https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dv3lda/when_you_cant_think_of_anything/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dyti3w/something_i_made/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/dz8uel/google_audio_notification_unknown/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/e08j0v/i_made_this_because_i_was_bored/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/e34odf/showing_my_dog_a_pic_of_the_semant/ https://www.reddit.com/r/BijuuMike/comments/e3kuqe/i_was_bored_then_i_made_this_video/ https://www.deviantart.com/mysteryarchives/art/i-seriously-can-t-think-of-this-pic-GOTTA-GO-FAST-820603374 https://www.deviantart.com/mysteryarchives/art/the-semant-vs-rocko-820602850 https://www.deviantart.com/mysteryarchives/art/the-semant-820410557 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-6OncATh2c https://vimeo.com/375186819 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDx_KdRoLfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qx4ZSfmCkw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rscbRaHF4Ec https://imgflip.com/i/36kjhf https://www.instagram.com/p/B35gGCQguBe/ https://ifunny.co/picture/the-semant-conspiracy-theory-seen-this-man-SsIkCtQD7?gallery=user&query=mysteryfinders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG6gUr3FPKY

[fly-pow-bye]

DuckTales 2017 – “Friendship Hates Magic!”

Story by: Francisco Angones, Madison Bateman, Colleen Evanson, Christian Magalhaes, Bob Snow, Rachel Vine

Written by: Rachel Vine

Storyboard by: Stephanie Gonzaga, Victoria Harris, Vaughn Tada, Brandon Warren

Directed by: Matthew Humphreys

No ponies here, headless or otherwise.

While we've seen a conclusion of at least one part of the Della plot, one other little thing from the season finale hasn't really been elaborated on outside of the occasional mention of Magica De Spell. Specifically: while we know whatever happened to Della Duck, and have a clue on whatever happened to Donald Duck, we never really found out whatever happened to Lena since she became Webby's shadow. Needless to say, it's a long story.

This is the episode where that plot continues. I will say this: Lena plots don't have good track records with me. I liked Jaw$, and The Shadow War was great, too, which was pretty much a foregone conclusion since it was the season finale. However, there's also Terror of the Terra-Firmians and The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck, two episodes I almost gave a Disgusted Donald to. Granted, neither are because of Lena in particular, but still. Which column will this episode fall in? We're about to find out.

Our episode begins with Webby going to the library, because she loves the smell of thinking in the morning. Gotta get that reference out of the way. Oh, and Lena is here now, as an invisible, unhearable shadow being. While nobody else can see or hear her, the audience sees her as this black and green version of herself. Lena says that she's fine with her current situation, though it's quite clear from the tone of her voice that it's more in comparison to any alternative.

Webby doesn't want to do that even if she could hear Lena, so she's continuing her impossible mission to find a book at the library that can teach her about the shadow realm. Yami Yugi is nowhere to be seen, but we do get Mrs. Quackfaster. I guess Scrooge isn't paying her enough so she has to double as the amount of libraries she works at to get that sweet retirement at Birdaydos. Er, Bird-baaaaaay-dos. She tells her that she can't offer the particular book she's looking for.

It's because this new character already checked it out. Webby is shocked, because this book is only in Ancient Syriac, but this "odd girl" happens to know a lot of ancient languages. She introduces herself as Violet Sabrewing, and, after bonding over knowing conversational Akkadian, she offers to stay at her place, possibly overnight. In other words, and eventually Webby's: a sleepover.

Webby, of course, accepts, but Lena does not.  It's almost as if she's read Disney Now's description of this episode, which refers to her as this "suspicious new friend". Then again, it may be because of the way Webby's last sleepovers ended. She wouldn't be the only one to remind her of this.

As Mrs. Beakley gives us the excuse for why we're not going to see Scrooge or the boys in this episode, they're busy in the office for Bin-ventory Day, Webby barges in and tells her grandmother she's having a friend come over for a sleepover. Mrs. Beakley is proud that her granddaughter wants to do another sleepover after the last two ended with money sharks and unicorn fights in the other bin. Gotta love those casual previous episode references that could still work as fantastic off-screen adventures to those who don't know.

Lena is excited that Mrs. Beakley could talk her out of this, and tries to jinx Webby again by saying "cancel the sleepover." Needless to say, that jinx doesn't work out like the library one, as Webby has a different idea.

Instead, Webby decides to have the most normal sleepover ever, as she tries to hide everything that is supernatural in the house, and try to just be normal. Mrs. Beakley attempts to say that the best way to make a good impression on her new friend is to be herself

Mrs. Beakley: ...barring from that summer undercover in Paraguay.

Webby brushing aside what is most likely the origin story for one of her parents, hey, we were all thinking it, she tells her Granny that she's not like her, because she needs friends. After Webby walks away, she tells her to name one person she doesn't get along with.

Enter Launchpad McQuack, inept pilot and ruiner of any plan to make this the first DuckTales episode with only female characters. To disprove Webby's accusation, she decides to invite him for a "sup", and spends a little more time than she wants explaining what she meant. Lena episodes sure seem to love the B-plots that, for the most part, never really seem to converge with the A-plot. This will be another one that fits with the "for the most part".

Going back to the other planned meeting, Webby is all done storing magic rocks in the attic, and her new friend has arrived for the normal slumber party for normal people. She tells Duckworth to get the door, and then realizes that ghost butlers don't help out at slumber parties. Surprisingly, that's not one of the Bailey School Kids books.

After slicing Duckworth's ghostly form in half, him not appreciating it in the slightest, she opens the door to Violet and her totally normal pie. As Webby shows her awkwardness with this whole situation, Lena is not amused, saying she isn't buying it. See, I didn't pull that out of nowhere, Lena hates this girl. I mean, maybe it's a bit convenient that this girl happens to have the same shadow realm-related interests as Webby.

Violet is then brought to Webby's room, and Violet looks around to see all the places that clearly used to have mysterious objects in them. She just says it looks clean, but I can imagine she did not miss that.

Meanwhile, Launchpad tries, and struggles, to drink pea soup from a straw. Mrs. Beakley tries her best to deal with this.

One section she was focused on was this section about Tulpas, an actual concept in the world of mysticism. This whole concept sort of reminded her of that one time all the shadows came alive and...

Webby: Who wants Baggle?!

Violet actually does want Baggle, but wants this obvious distraction some other time. Webby responds that it's just her way to get to know each other a bit more, and suggests asking some ice-breakers. Violet's first icebreaker:

Violet: What do you know about Magica De Spell and the Shadow War?

Lena, feeling completely vindicated, tries to tell Webby that she said the "M" word! I wouldn't say she forgot that nobody can hear her; she's like those people who yell at the characters while watching TV. Heh, nerds. Webby has a different "M" word in mind: makeovers! Violet is clearly not buying this at all, but goes along with the makeovers anyway.

Violet ends up leaving her backpack behind, fully opened, and Lena notices something that definitely shouldn't be in there if she was an ordinary girl who just happened to really like shadow people: Magica's amulet! She runs off to try to warn Webby, and...okay, maybe she still thinks she can hear her, even though she never once acknowledged her existence. She does end up at least finding Webby, except she's now a zombie, complete with one of her eyes falling out.

That fake-out turns out to be Violet and Webby's idea for a make-up session. Webby praises her best friend's make-up, saying that she looks just like the demon named Rakshasa. She's definitely a great friend, I don't know a lot of people who would take kindly to being told "you look like a demon!" Webby should know what Rakshasa looks like, because she met him in a previous adventure, and she has proof...that is definitely not in the attic. Oops.

Webby relents and lets her into the attic, as this cover was completely blown. She was obviously interested in these things, so she doesn't mind that Webby happened to have some magic rocks. They never really explain what those magic rocks are, and I'd like to think I am a little beyond the obvious joke there. She also notices some ectoplasmic energies from that friendship bracelet.

The scene switches from their point of view to Lena's in a neat way, where Lena still thinks she can alter anything here. Sadly for her, Lena is also intangible. Thankfully for her, Webby distracts her from that bracelet, and offers that game of Baggle again. Violet agrees on one condition: they need to use Demogorgan runes. I don't want to reveal that I'm just looking up every one of these words on Wikipedia, so I'll be quiet.

Meanwhile, Launchpad tries, and struggles, to color a coloring book, and then eventually tries to get Mrs. Beakley to get into Darkwing Duck. Mrs. Beakley tries her best to deal with this.

...okay, maybe I shouldn't just brush this off for this running gag, since this scene has quite a bit of lore to get into Jim Starling's eventual big role in The Duck Knight Returns...but maybe I'll wait for that one.

Back to this game of runes, it just so happens that book has the right chant to make those dice-like runes glow green. Lena tries what might be her 50th attempt to actually affect anything as a intangible shadow person. She's shocked to find that it actually worked this time!

She then tries to rearrange the runes to spell out a message. Unfortunately, since these people are nerds, they think it's the writing on the runes that have any meaning, and not how this layout is shaped like the words "don't trust her." Not getting anywhere with these mysterious messages about rat messages, Violet tries another shadow spirit summoning trick: humming this melody. It works...but only Lena can see these white spirits ominously creeping out from the dark. She has to think of something.

She tries to manipulate a white sheet in a form of a ghost. This actually works, because of ghost cliches that even Lena is aware of, but it doesn't solve the "they can't hear me" problem. Violet decides to use a weapon against the one evil spirit they can see, and it turns out this weapon happens to be Magica's amulet. One side effect is that this amulet allowed her to actually see and hear Lena for a second, which is enough to clue Webby in on what is really happening. However, that is only the second most of her worries.

The main side effect is that it finally gets Webby to realize that maybe this girl may not be what she seems. Just like Lena wanted her to, she starts to question their future friendship, and asks everything she knows.

It’s here that we finally get her backstory, or at least her claimed backstory. She was just an ordinary Muggle, having no interest in magic or anything else of the sort. Then, everything changed when the Shadow War happened, and. Oh, and she just stumbled across Magica's cane, which turned back into the amulet. That's pretty much it. We don't know if she's completely telling the truth...

...but Webby buys it completely, to the disappointment of Lena, and they start to do a seance. You see these shadow beings that look like the shadow of Magica De Spell. This, of course, gets Lena to attempt to grab them again.

I hate to spoil this, but I will say that this seance does lead to Lena being able to drag Webby and Violet into the shadow realm. No, not that one, thankfully. We get a big reunion, but this hug doesn't get to last long, as Webby and Violet finally get to see those white shadow ghosts.

That was spoiler enough, so I'll run through this: a big chase scene happens here, and it all leads to a good conclusion to this episode. Even the "tulpas" from the earlier scene comes up, as that turns out to be a little bit closer than one might guess from the opening of the scene. Here's a hint: they don't just stay in this Magica-like form.

In a sort of fake-out transition from that mayhem, we see what is the conclusion to the Launchpad trying to get Mrs. Beakley into Darkwing Duck plot. Turns out, they both got really excited over a cliffhanger ending. Unfortunately, in this universe, that was how Darkwing Duck ended, with a Woody's Roundup-esque cliffhanger. I usually don't talk about future episodes, but this will be given more detail in The Duck Knight Returns.

What were those shadow beings? Will Lena ever learn to trust Webby's new friend? Should Lena ever learn to trust Webby's new friend? Most importantly, while we got the reunion, will it last? At least some of those questions will be answered by watching the episode. It was a treat to see one of those answers in the end, something I thought I wouldn't see until the end of this season.

How does it stack up?

This episode didn't give me anything to dislike, and a lot to like. The biggest challenge this episode had was introducing this new character. I'll say this, without spoiling anything: while she doesn't have any Earth-shattering twists like Lena did, yet, she has potential.

I kind of skipped over the Launchpad bits, I can admit they're all pretty funny. Obviously, it wasn't going to be something as big as the A-plot, but just something minor and maybe even a little bit cute.

In the end, it's definitely in the Jaw$ column.

Next, I actually find a way to talk about The Powerpuff Girls...and not those ones!

← Raiders of the Doomsday Vault! 🦆 The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee! →

[writer-of-the-revolution]

Icarus Ch 2- Awakening

Drip. Drip. Drip. Cold, fear, pain. Escape! I have to- have to get out. Please! “Hold him down!” I can't stand. “We’re losing him!” Black.

I woke in a hospital bed; not my favorite place to regain consciousness. Strangely, I found myself lying on my stomach, a sweltering blanket draped across me. Even with my limited medical knowledge, i know that this is unusual. The wisps of a dream retreated from my mind as a team of medical professionals rush into the room. Why would I need a team of medics. What’s wrong with me? The already uncomfortable blanket seemed suffocated. I can’t breathe. I can’t move! Images of sterile walls and bleak cells cloudy my vision and my heart rate accelerates. Doctors start shouting and I am roughly turned over. A needle is jabbed into my arm and my heart rate returns to normal. I lose consciousness.

-

My second Awakening was much calmer. The suffocating blanket was gone and I could breathe again. Sitting at my bedside was none other than Alexandria Gray. She looks surprised to see me awake. Then she looks guilty. Why would she look guilty? For that matter, why was I here. My whole body throbbed I cannot remember how I got to the hospital. I try to pull myself up but Alex's shaky hand presses me back down.

“Hey, slow down, Kai!” Something's wrong. She always calls me Agent or Valerius, never Kai.

“ Where am I?” Instead of my usual voice, a deep, raspy sound, almost unrecognizable, filled the quiet room. Oh God, my voice sounds like it hasn't been used in years. How long was I out?

As if sensing my disquieting thought she spoke. “ You're in the B.O.A. med wing, the plane went down.” God no. Months of training rushed to the forefront of my mind.

“How long?”

“Kai I don’t think-”

“How long!?” I was I was practically panicking. My nerves were set alight and my back pulsed pain.

“Two weeks.” She said quietly. “ They've had you here for two weeks.” something about the way she said that seems so, so wrong. Like she's hiding something.

I take a moment to glance around the room it was small and plain with light blue walls with a chair in the corner, a mirror against the side wall, and a television playing the news for- wait that can't be right- February 18th. That's in 6 months! My chest tightens.

“Its February! What do you mean I've been here for two weeks?! Where the hell have I been?”

Her voice turned soft as she attempted to soothe my racing heart. “We lost to in the crash when the people who brought down the plane came to collect their prize,” she shuddered, “ You fought. You went back to buy us time and we never saw you again, at least until you showed up shot to pieces at an American military base in Paraguay.” I lay there speechless. I tried to set up again but this time I realized I couldn't. There's something attached to me holding me back. I clawed at the bandages wrapped around my torso. Alex tried to stop me but I pushed her aside as I stumbled out of bed. Managing to break the last of the wrapping I slowly dragged myself across the room, wincing slightly as a dull aching pain shot up my side. I limped in front of the mirror and recoiled in disgust. A pair of dark, ragged wings that now hung from my back.

I fell back in horror, tripping over one of the new appendages, and causing it to bend at an awkward angle. Sharp, almost unbearable pain cut through me as my freshly stitched wounds tore open and a warm blood flows down my back and pools around me. A groan of agony left my lips and dark spots clouded the corners of my vision. I hear the shuffling of feet, and a few nurses crowd around me, cautiously lifting me off of the cold and now blood-stained tiles and laying me on the bed. I see Alex’s face, her soft features twisted into worry as the nurses begin re stitching the wounds. I didn’t even flinch as the sharp needle pierced my skin.

What happened to me? Why can't I remember. Since waking up it seemed as if every second brought more questions and few answers. Wonderful.

The next few weeks past in the snail-paced blur medical terms and updates. How miraculous it was and I'm alive. How quickly I heal. How grateful I should be. I've had too much time to think. Think about what my life will be like now. How do you live a normal life with 8-foot wings dragging behind you? I can't exactly make my weekly trip to the grocery store can I. God! I remember when I found out.

-

I was barely week into my stay when I got the news. Alex and a somber looking doctor came in with a folder full of scams and results.

“ So! When can I get these abominations off?” I watched then hopefully but my spirits plummeted when I saw their faces fall. “Guys?”

“Look Kai,” ...she only calls me that when she has bad news, “ the people who did this to you, whoever they are, knew what they were doing. The wings are attached so deeply that even attempting to remove them would most likely cost you your life” Maybe it would have been worth it.

-

By the time the second month rolled around I had had a few more visitors...Other than the failed physical therapy attempts, Oliver Green came to thank me for saving his life, allowing him to return home to his family, as did the rest of the team. Captain Warshow gave his condolences. And Alex… Well, Alex is what kept me sane.

It wasn't until that point that I realize how fortunate I was. I was sitting in the chair in the corner reading when a red-faced and teary-eyed Alex Grey ran into the room trapping me in a hug. I grimaced as she sobbed into my shoulder, irritating my sensitive ribs.

“Th-They found him!” Her brother. The one I promised to help her find. “He- he’s probably not gonna wake up.” She sobbed harder, her chestnut hair tangled around her face.

I hesitantly wrap my arms around her in an embrace, slowly rubbing my hand across her back as an attempt to calm her. While doing so I had a revelation. I was alive and well and me. It was no one's choice, but my own to stay here, locked up in this stuffy room debilitating. I wasted my chance to help Alex save her brother and I wasn’t about to waste another.

-

That night was my first out of the infirmary. Slipping past the night nurses was easy. After all it is my forte. Was. I push onward. The gym was empty, no doubt because of the unusual hours, and I went to work. I could feel the months of misuse aching in my muscles. The wings were held close to my back by a thick swath of bandages. Opening my bag, I started to wrap my knuckles. I stepped up to one of the bags and swung.

The bag flew away from me with gusto, and for the first time since regaining consciousness, I smiled.

[uomo-accattivante]

(Photo by BACKGRID)

SCREENPLAY REVIEW - TRIPLE FRONTIER

Below is a review I recently came across. (I’m not sure if this version is the updated one which includes input by JC Chandor.) 

Pope - Oscar Isaac

Redfly - Ben Affleck

Ben - Garrett Hedlund

Ironhead - Charlie Hunnam

Catfish - Pedro Pascal

Be forewarned - the following review contains SPOILERS:

***

Screenplay Review - Triple Frontier

Genre: Crime/Action

Premise: A group of ex-special forces come together to steal 90 million dollars from a drug lord in the most criminally potent area of the world, the Triple Frontier.

About: Triple Frontier is one of those projects that’s been impossible to get made. It’s had more starts and stops than my neighbor’s 1999 Volkswagon Jetta. But no matter how much talent has come and gone, the project has always been able to replace them with either equal or better talent. That’s typically the sign of great material. That’s because when you have bad material and A-listers drop out, you never get any A-listers back. Your project is doomed to second-tier status. Well, all that waiting has paid off as the film is now in post-production. It stars Charlie Hunman, Oscar Isaac, and Ben Affleck. J.C. Chandor (Margin Call, A Most Violent Year) directed. Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) wrote the script.

Writer: Mark Boal

Details: 136 pages

The heist is one of the most bankable structures in storytelling. Get a group of contrasting characters together (Act 1), give them something they want to steal (Act 3), then slowly build a plan for achieving their goal (Act 2). It’s almost full-proof. And yet, we don’t get a lot of good heist films. In fact, I can’t remember the last one I saw.

That’s because the heist film is one of the most difficult genres to come up with something fresh for. Most of the heist scripts I read involve stealing money from a bank. There just aren’t that many ways to make that premise original. So I was thrilled when I picked up Triple Frontier, which promised to be a new take on the heist genre. Let’s see if it succeeded.

Ex-Special Forces operator Pope has gotten tired of missions to remote parts of the world where he guides local police to take down giant drug dealers. It’s more death, more destruction, and he thought he left all that behind with the special forces. The problem is, a man needs to make a living. And these missions are the only thing Pope knows how to do that pay good money.

Then one day, a Brazilian drug runner discloses to Pope the location of one of the biggest drug runners in the world, Lorea. Lorea has a home in Paraguay right off the criminally infamous Triple Frontier (the nexus of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina), where he’s holding 90 million dollars. With Pope’s unique skillset, he believes he can break in the house and get that money. But he’s going to need some help.

Enter his ex special forces buddies: the all-American Redfly, the bipolar Ben, the wily old vet, Ironhead, and the cool-as-a-cucumber Catfish. Some of the men are reluctant and others reared up and ready to go. But in the end, because there wouldn’t be a movie unless they all signed up, they all sign up.

Once in the Triple Frontier, the group begins doing surveillance and planning. And when I say planning, I mean planning. Pope gets his hands on the blueprints for Lorea’s house and builds an EXACT REPLICA in the jungle so that they can practice the heist. But that’s only the beginning of this mission impossible, as they have to figure out shit like how five men can carry away 4500 pounds of money on foot, and how they can escape through a backyard that rings an alarm if anything over 20 pounds steps on it.

After extensively perfecting their plan, they wait out an unexpected rainstorm and sneak in. Everything goes according to plan until they arrive in the money room and… it’s gone. Not a single bill. Just as everyone starts freaking out, Pope notices that the ceiling is leaking. They moved the money during the storm so it wouldn’t get wet! But that means going through every room one by one to find it.

As you’d expect, this leads to them being spotted, and within seconds there are three dozen guards converging on them. The soldiers go into fuck-all mode and start shooting everyone. They know the gig is up. They know they should leave. But they’ve put so much effort into this that they must have that money. So after the money they go. Will they get it? I’m thinking they’ll find a way. But the real test may be what happens AFTER they get the money.

Uhhhh…

This. Was. Good.

Wow.

I’m talking really really good.

Where do I begin? Let’s start with the heist itself. What’s the number rule for writing a good heist film? It’s not what goes right, it’s what goes wrong. Your job, as a writer of a heist flick, is to have your criminals cover all the bases, make sure they’ve found contingencies for every situation, and then when they show up, something goes wrong. And that thing that goes wrong leads to several other things that go wrong. And quickly, the whole damn heist falls apart.

I LOVED when they arrived in the money room and the money wasn’t there. Even when my cynical screenwriting analyst brain kicked in and said, “Of course they were duped. That’s what always happens!” But then Pope looked up and saw the leaking and realized the money had been moved and I said, “oooooooh, that’s good.”

I loved how the script evolved from there. Because what I was expecting to happen is what always happened in these mid-point heist films (a script where the heist happens at the mid point instead of the third act): They get the money home but then the bad guys come and hunt them down.

Triple Frontier instead focuses on the complexity of getting this money out of the country. The special forces guys rent a helicopter, only to find out that the money (which has increased from 90 million to 600 million at this point) will be too heavy. But they decide to risk it anyway, and fly their copter through the endless South American mountain forest. When the mountains start getting too high, they have to make the unthinkable choice of dropping the money and living or keeping the money and likely spiraling into the most hostile terrain in the world.

That was one of the best scenes I’ve read this year, besting even the Mission Impossible Fallout helicopter chase. And I’ll tell you why. It wasn’t just a simple helicopter chase. Difficult choices needed to be made. They MIGHT have been able to make it through the mountains if they kept the money. But they likely wouldn’t have. How do you make that decision? The decision to throw away 600 million dollars?

But the script isn’t just the heist. Boal made the bold choice of using the entire first act to get the band back together. This is a controversial screenwriting choice because modern screenwriting outlets will tell you to move this section along as quickly as possible. A short burst of scenes that has the band back together and ready to go by page 10, page 15 at the latest. They’re afraid that if you include an entire opening act of characters reuniting and talking and establishing their jobs and lives, that the average audience member will get bored.

But the great thing that happens when you extend your character intros out that far is that we get to know the characters better. I mean, it’s simple math. The more time you spend with someone, fictional or real, the more you’re going to care about them. Therefore, when these guys flew off to the Triple Frontier, I felt like I knew each of them. The extra time really paid off.

Now there’s a caveat to this. You have to be good with character to pull it off. You have to know how to set up a flaw. You have to know how to make your characters unique. You have to give each character a defining personality that’s easy for the audience to understand so they can label him properly (Chris Kyle was the introspective sniper). Each character’s dialogue has to be unique and interesting. If character isn’t your strong suit, don’t spend an entire act getting the band back together.

The fact that this script has been sitting on the shelf for so long is insane. I’m guessing it’s because Ben Affleck has a million projects to do and he’s in rehab half the year and they had to wait for him. I’m just glad the wait is over. Cause this movie is going to be damn good.

[ ] What the hell did I just read? [ ] wasn’t for me [ ] worth the read [x] impressive [ ] genius

What I learned: Find a unique place in the world that isn’t well known and build a story around it. What makes Triple Frontier so good is that we’d never heard of the Triple Frontier before. It hasn’t been in any movie. It creates the all important “strange attractor” we can exploit for one hell of a heist film.

###

[heliosphoenix]

State of the planet: 2018 edition

Well here we are, it's time once again for my now annual review of the year we just finished up. When we take some time out of our New Year's celebrations to recognize that while it seems like we just went through 365 days of pain and frustration, there was a smattering of good things that happened as well.

Here's some of them:

Scientists in China cloned two monkeys via Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, a major development toward's the potential for this technique to be used for regenerative cloning in the future

A new drug designed to combat Ovarian Cancer has begun clinical trials. Early results show that half the patients taking the drug are now Cancer free with no sign of the Cancer returning

Chinese scientists have developed rice that will grow in drought conditions. They plan to cover about 10% of the desert in the UAE with this rice for farming use.

An effort is underway to save the Northern White Rhino from extinction, using frozen sperm implanted in eggs from Southern White Rhinos, the hope is that this process will be able to revive the species in the future

A Ukrainian company is placing Solar Panels around Chernobyl to generate Solar Power. They plan to use the existing infrastructure to eventually generate up to 100 Megawatts of energy

101 cities around the world are now getting 70% of their power from renewable energy sources. In a related story, 56 cities in the United States have committed to going 100% renewable by 2050

The World Health Organization reported that Paraguay has now completely eradicated Malaria, other Latin America nations are close to doing so as well

The Ocean Cleanup Project has begun an initiative to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. They're aiming to remove at least 50 tons of garbage from the ocean every year

The Ozone is beginning to repair itself. At current rates, the Northern Hemisphere should be fully repaired by 2030, with the Ozone Hole in Antarctica sealed by 2060

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge was opened, it's the world's longest sea crossing bridge

Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced that he's modified the DNA of twin infant girls in an attempt to make them resistant to HIV

According to a report by the International Telecommunications Union, 51.2% of the world's population is using the Internet

Qantas launched the first commercial non stop service between Australia and the United Kingdom, the route is flown by their 787 fleet

Cinemas opened in Saudi Arabia for the first time since 1983, the first movie shown is Black Panther

Diplomatic talks took place between North and South Korea, with both nations committing to the removal of land mines from the Demilitarized Zone between the nations

The Basque separatist group ETA announced its dissolution

The Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality

Ireland citizens voted to repeal the nations ban on abortion in a national referendum

Voting turnout for the US Midterm elections was at a 50 year high

Michigan was the latest state to legalize recreational use of Marijuana, Canada also voted to allow sale of Marijuana.

The overall crime rate for the year is expected to have dropped by 2.9%

11% of the US Population is expected to get a boost to their credit scores

Homeownership rates for Americans under 35 are now at just over 36%, the highest since 2013

Americans gave over $400 Billion to charity this year, a record high

The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in South Korea

The 2018 World Cup was held in Russia with France claiming their second title. It was also announced that the United States, Mexico and Canada will host the 2026 World Cup

The Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl over the heavily favored New England Patriots

Tiger Woods won his first PGA tournament since 2013

The Michigan Basketball team did so much better than anyone could've expected, winning their second consecutive Big Ten tournament, and making their second Final Four appearance in 5 years

The Michigan Football team had a decent year as well, posting their third 10-3 record under Jim Harbaugh as well as winning a share of the Big Ten East division title (but because two of those losses were to Notre Dame and Ohio State, Michigan fans will be forced to spend the offseason being miserable twats again)

Justify won the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, the second horse to win the title in 3 years (rather remarkable considering the previous title drought was nearly 4 decades)

SpaceX launched 21 Falcon rockets this year, including the first Falcon Heavy rocket which sent Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster into interplanetary space

NASA had a busy year as well, launching the TESS spacecraft to search for ExoPlanets, the Parker Solar Probe to explore the Sun's atmosphere, and the InSight lander which successfully touched down on Mars in November

ESA launched the BepiColombo spacecraft to explore the planet Mercury, the first mission to the planet in over a decade

The OSIRIS-REx sample returned spacecraft arrived at the Asteroid Bennu.

Finally, the New Horizons spaceprobe will conduct a flyby of the Kuiper Belt Object Ultima Thule just after midnight tonight!

Remember all that? Good. Because that's where I'm at right now: December 31, 2018, with just over 11 hours left in this year.

You, dear reader, are in the future. And by the time you read this, it's very likely that for you 2018 will be over. Relegated to the books. And you've probably read a bunch of articles and blogs and tweets about how we just went through a year of infinite pain. Which is why I'm hoping that this missive finds you after you've already read all those other things.

Because our minds tend to place the most emphasis on the last thing we experienced, and I want your lasting memory of 2018 to be that all those things I listed above happened this year, and nothing can ever erase them.

Now this is the part where I say something nice and worldly to tie up the events of this last trip around the ol' Sun. I try my best to come up with some theme or other that brings it all together into a coherent picture.

I think the word I would use to describe this year is "Revelation." Because I think we can all say that this year, it's not so much that we learned things, but things were revealed to us.

We've all been in this situation before. We think that we've got everything figured out, we have all the answers. And then all of a sudden we uncover something that completely shatters our perceptions and kicks our foundation out from under us. And based on all that's happened this past year, I think it's safe to say this happened to all of us at least once in the preceding 12 months.

Perhaps someone did something you never thought they would do? Or something that seemed to be amazing turned out not to be as good as you thought? Or maybe your way of viewing the world now looks totally alien to you?

Revelation can be a very traumatic thing to deal with, and I can tell you from experience that when your entire perception of reality is challenged, you become unsure about everything else. Doubts creep into your mind, and you start wondering what else it might be that you're wrong about? It's the kind of feeling that can make you feel completely alone even in the middle of thousands of people.

But Revelation can also be a good thing.

Sometimes something turns out to be even better than you were expecting. Or you discover that you actually are much more respected and valued than you thought you were. Or maybe you look around and realize that things aren't actually as bad as they seem.

Even if you have to deal with the Revelation of a harsh truth, you can still find the positive out of that. Sure you can choose to become cynical and jaded and let it consume you, or you can choose to be proactive about it.

Sure, things weren't what you thought they were, but that's okay. The world didn't come to an end, you still have much to be thankful for, and you can now use the knowledge that you've learned to become wiser about how to live your life.

So this is the part where I usually say that there's one more awesome thing that happened this year, but you're going to tell me what it is. Tell me something good that happened to you during 2018.

This time however, I'd like to try something different.

In addition to telling me something good that happened to you this year, I'd like you to give me the biggest Revelation you've had this year. What was the most surprising thing that was revealed to you?

Now I understand that it probably won't be as pleasant of a memory as whatever awesome thing that happened to you this year was, it may even cause you distress just thinking about it.

If that's the case, embrace it, because you are distressed. But not over whatever it was that you were forced to confront, but rather the loss of what you thought the world was.

But don't let it consume you. Take the truth that was revealed to you and apply it. Learn from it and resolve to use that truth to strengthen your resolve for this next trip around the Sun.

Things aren't always what they seem, and they often don't work out how you planned, but that's not always a bad thing. Because the amazing thing about this world is that things have a way of working out anyway.

So remember the good times, but learn from the Revelations. When you do that, you'll be that much closer to being the person you want to be.

Have a good day, a great month, and an AMAZING 2019.