#baby cart in peril

[randomrichards]

LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART IN PERIL

Hunt tattooed lady

Boy gets lost with performers

Rival seeks vengeance

[madamshogunassassin]

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril 子連れ狼 親の心子の心 [1972] Directed By: Buichi Saitō

[theblindninja]

Tomisaburo Wakayama in Lone Wolf And Cub - Baby Cart In Peril (1972)

[bakugoushotwife]

family man // touya todoroki

a/n: this request was adorable! i love dabi sm and my favorite delusional past time is pretending i can fix him

summary: touya never pictured being a family oriented man, yet he's traversing the aisles of a local grocery store in the early hours of the morning just to satisfy your pregnancy cravings---and he's never been happier.

cw: fluff, domestic dabi, let's pretend everything w him and his family is all good!, uh pregnancy ig

wc: 1.7k

He never thought he would be here. He was honestly surprised he had even lived this long, nevermind all the perks of life he finds himself surrounded by these days. He doesn’t even remember contemplating a future. Even when he was really young and his only dream was to be a hero, he imagined himself alone. 

But then he met you. You were…his lifeboat. He would have blown up on his family if he hadn’t stumbled across you in that grocery store that day. Of all the places to fall in love, he thought he was safe at the grocery store. Especially with his appearance and reputation, never in a million years did he imagine a dainty and cute little woman struggling to reach a jar of her favorite pasta sauce, perilously moved to the top shelf. 

You sigh in relief when you see him. He swears that’s the first time he’s ever gotten that response from a stranger before. Then you surprise him again when your eyes gleam with recognition, and you still smile. 

“Oh I know you! Dabi–League of Villains!” You hum, even adding your own inflection to his affiliation like it was a scary movie or something…not as dangerous. You point up to the jar. “I know it kinda goes against your whole m.o., but would you mind grabbing that jar for me?”

How could he say no to a face like that? You were breathtaking, and he wastes no time checking out the thickness of your thighs and the roundness of your ass before giving you a nonchalant nod. He strolls over, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. “True fans call me Touya.” 

You laugh at his arrogant face, and that certainly humbles him. You’re gorgeous and you’re unafraid, those two made a dangerous combination. “I’m no fan, Touya.” You hum, leaning against your shopping cart. He reaches up for the jar, and you never take your eyes off of him. He feels it, he knows. He’s a little confused, though he rationalizes your friendliness to pity, maybe, or just a fetish of yours if he had to guess. He holds the jar out, and you make it a point to brush against his fingers when you take it from him, a cheeky grin on your face. 

His eyes widen slightly, and he nearly jerks away out of instinct, but there’s a glimmer in your eyes that tells him to pursue this, that there’s something there. So when you offer to let him come home with you to try the pasta sauce you made such a hassle for, he can’t help but give you a lopsided toothy grin, and follow after you. 

That leads him here, in the aisles of the same grocery store he stood in five years ago when he met you. A lot has changed since then, he thinks to himself while browsing the store for hot cheetos and chocolate covered strawberries, and the banana mochi they’re always out of. In any other event, he would think you’re nasty. Would he refuse to get it for you? Probably still no, but he would give you hell for it.

But now, he can’t blame you. It’s only his responsibility to get these things for you. It makes your life easier, which definitely makes his life easier. Sure the combo is wicked, but what baby Todoroki wants, she gets. He can’t deny the mother of his child anything, and if their daughter wants this ghastly diet, then he will drag his ass to the store at, he checks his phone, 1:02 AM, to get them for the loves of his life. 

He locates the items, and slinks off to checkout. He definitely never thought of kids. Even after you. He just assumed it was a part of his life he would never experience, why would anyone want kids with him? But for your three year anniversary, you asked to try. He was shocked, it took him days to really think about it and try to think of a baby. He struggled. He thought of you holding that baby cousin of yours, but that was different, it wasn’t yours. When he tries to make the baby look like him, he struggles harder. It’s easy to think of the image when the baby looks like you, instead. And he knows you’d make an amazing mother. You have the personality, the love in your heart, the desire. He can’t deny you that. He would be remiss to say he could break things off with you so you could find someone more suited to be a father, but he knows he’s too far in at this point. He could never let you go. So days later, when he comes to you and agrees to try for a real life human baby of his very own, he does it for you. Because he wants to show you he loves you and is willing to compromise. He’s willing to help you and take care of a screaming brat just because he’s wrapped around your finger. 

He didn’t imagine how much he would love it. He chuckles as he walks home, bags in hand, banana mochi secured. It’s like his life was separated into before you and after you. Everything he thought of pre-you was thrown out, and he’s been surprised with every twist that’s come after-you. No one would believe him if he admitted the giddiness in his step to get back home to his very pregnant wife, the woman who’s saved his life and made him another. No one would believe it if he told them that he’s spent hours scrolling through baby girl names on google and he actually picked the name your daughter will bear once she’s born. 

That’s fine, he doesn’t really need anyone else to believe him. Even when he strolls through the door of your shared home with a loud, begrudging sigh, he grins when he sees your shining face. He can’t pretend like your request bothered him, no matter how tough he wishes he could be in front of you. The sight of you wiggling your hips to get off the couch and waddle over and hug him, seven and a half months pregnant, is enough to make any man feel like he’s won the lottery.

He still remembers the day you told him that you were pregnant. You know how he hates massive celebrations or big flashy statements, so you came up with a more intimate and sweet plan.You just waited for him to get home that day, clutching the test tightly in your fist with a small pair of baby shoes you were able to crochet with all the time on your hands. When he comes in the door and you don’t greet him, he frowns. He’s prepared to make a dramatic scene when he pokes his head in the bedroom and sees you posing with the items. Your grin is impossibly wide and he can’t believe what he’s seeing. It took a while, but here you were, finally pregnant. He was filled with so much excitement but also so much fear, he only choked out a gasp and pulled you into his arms in response. He began to wrack his brain for a solution, on how to be a dad in nine months or less. He wasn’t even sure he was a good husband—but your loving and tender hand on his face brought him back to reality. Your smile is relaxed and you are nothing but ready. He knows if nothing else, you’ll teach him. 

But it turns out fatherhood is something that comes to him quite naturally. He baby-proofs the entire house the day you hit six months and he decides to have his sister host a giant baby shower. Even if he isn’t into big events, you are, and you deserved to be doted on and spoiled and given gifts before you gave him the greatest one of his life. 

That’s why he holds you like he does now, like he hasn’t seen you in years or like this is the last time he ever will. Because he’s so grateful, for everything you’ve given him and will continue to give for the rest of your lives, but he’ll never know how to tell you that. So he can only hug you tight and dangle the bags of your requested cravings in your face, a mischievous grin donning his features. 

“There mama, now baby girl can let you sleep.” He says, resting a gentle hand over the bump you’ve formed. It’s not yet big enough to keep you from hugging, and he’ll relish that for now by running his palm over his daughter’s temporary home. 

You cheer happily, digging through the bags and going for the banana mochi first. He chuckles, he knew that you would. He feels the baby kick into his hand upon your first bite, and he shakes his hand at his women. So dramatic. But he can’t deny the satisfaction he feels when he crouches to her level, his gravelly tone low just for the girl growing inside. 

“Hey, let mama rest or you’ll come out all lumpy or something.” He huffs, his turquoise eyes flickering up to you when the baby responds to his voice with more kicking. 

“She will not be lumpy—don’t lie to her!” You snicker, resting your hand on top of snow-white hair. 

He pokes his tongue out at you like it was supposed to be a secret. “I was trying to help ya, now you get what you get.” He chuckles, kissing the top of your belly before rising to kiss you too, hand still on your stomach. 

You return his kiss but shake your head. “She kicks because of you, you goober. She’s performing for her dad.” You hum, easily downing the snacks. He contemplates the idea, his heart warming. Maybe his daughter did like the sound of his voice. He hums appreciatively, and sighs his content. 

“Well, if yer listenin’, it’s past your bedtime.” He huffs, but he means this to you as well. It’s been getting harder to sleep the bigger you get, so he’s having to be more of an authority on your care than he’d like to be. “Off to bed, both of you.” He grumbles, leading you down the hall for more cuddles, back rubs, head scratches, or even more snacks if that’s what you want, whatever will get you to sleep. His night will be spent wondering if his daughter will look like you like he had always hoped when he finally gets to meet her.

[aelyxtarg]

Children of ours

Rhaenyra Targaryen x Oc Aelyx Targaryen

In the thick of war, Dragonstone stood as a wall of House Targaryen, its dark stone walls echoing with the cries of dragons and the frequent whispers of war. Rhaenyra paced the dimly lit chambers of her castle, Dragonstone her face a mask of determination. Beside her Aelyx her wife, cradled their baby daughter, Visenya, in her arms. The air was heavy with tension as they prepared for a difficult but necessary farewell.

The room was crowded with a mix of advisers , all anxiously awaiting Rhaenyra's orders. Her three youngest sons, Joffrey, Aegon, and Viserys, were being prepared for their journey to the Vale. Joffrey, the eldest of the three at four years old, clutched a small dragon figurine for comfort. Aegon and Viserys, both still babes, rested quietly in their cradles. Beside them was Rhaena, their cousin and now their guardian for the perilous journey to safety.

Rhaenyra turned to Rhaena, her eyes betraying the sorrow she felt. "Rhaena, you must take my sons and Visenya to the Vale. The tides of war are turning against us, and I cannot risk their lives. They are the future of our house."

Rhaena nodded, her own heart heavy with the responsibility placed upon her. "I will keep them safe, Your Grace. You have my word."

Aelyx stepped forward, pressing a tender kiss to Visenya's forehead before handing her to Rhaena. The baby, with her silver hair and violet eyes, cooed softly, oblivious to the turmoil around her. Aelyx's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke. "Take care of our daughter, Rhaena. She is everything to us."

Tears glistened in Rhaenyra's eyes as she embraced her sons. "Be strong, my sweet boys. We will be together again soon, I promise you."

Joffrey, clutching his dragon figurine, hugged his mother tightly. "I will be brave, Mother."

Rhaenyra walks to the maids holding Aegon and Viserys, kissing each of their foreheads. "Stay safe, my sweet boys."

The procession made its way to the courtyard, where a sturdy cart awaited to take the children to the Vale. The cart was surrounded by loyal guards, ready to defend their precious cargo at all costs. The children were carefully placed inside, Joffrey sitting protectively beside his baby brothers and cousin.

As Rhaena climbed into the cart with Visenya in her arms, she looked back at Rhaenyra and Aelyx, giving them a reassuring nod. "I will protect them with my life."

Rhaenyra watched as the cart began to move, each turn of the wheels taking her children farther from her. She turned to Aelyx, who was trying to hold back her own tears. Together, they watched their children disappear down the winding path, their hearts aching with the separation.

Back in the chambers of Dragonstone, the reality of their separation settled heavily upon Rhaenyra and Aelyx. They had sent their heart away, trusting in the promise of reunion and the strength of their blood. As the war raged on, they would fight with every ounce of their being to ensure that their family would be whole once more.

Rhaenyra turned to Aelyx, taking her hand in a gesture of shared resolve. "We will see them again, my love. We will fight for them, for Visenya, for our sons, and for the future of our house."

Aelyx squeezed her hand, a fierce determination lighting her eyes. "For them, we will endure anything. Together, we are unstoppable."

[baronessblixen]

Prompt: "I can't wait for you."

Angst/Mulder in peril: Mulder happens to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time... (wc: 1,373)

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober2023

Fictober Day 6: In The Blink Of An Eye

Of all the ways he imagined his life might end, it somehow never looked like this. He’s holding a tub of chocolate ice cream in the middle of a grocery store when he sees a young man nervously pacing the baby food aisle. Adrenaline shoots through him as he stands up straight, watching without blinking.

The man doesn’t see him and is far too concerned with what’s happening in his head. A woman pushing a shopping cart walks past the man but doesn’t pay him any mind. Mulder takes a step toward the scene and the man. The man's fingers are shaking as he picks up one of the glasses, pretending to read the ingredients. The woman keeps going and Mulder breathes in relief.

He could be wrong. This is just a hunch. A big hunch. But he’s seen this before. The nervous energy. The turmoil. The man puts the glass back on the shelf, his arm trembling. It’s his next move that proves to Mulder what he feared. The man, looking around, but still not seeing him, checks his coat pocket. And there, just peeking out, is a gun.

Mulder doesn’t take his eyes off the man as he takes out his phone. Calling the police would be the logical thing to do, but Scully is on speed dial one, and that’s quicker. She doesn’t pick up. Why isn’t she picking up? Of course she isn’t. They got home late from their case and she was tired, and – in her own words – filthy. She’s either in the shower or already asleep.

“Pick up, pick up, pick up.” When she doesn’t, and he’s coming closer and closer, his heart beating faster and faster, he hears the too familiar beep and starts talking.

“Scully, it’s me. I’m in a little… situation here. You know, I thought I’d get you some ice cream as an apology for the late flight, for the absurd case and because, well, you don’t know this, but the other day while you were using my head as a pillow, you were mumbling something about chocolate ice cream. So I thought I’d get you that ice cream and because I didn’t want to drive half an hour with a tub of ice cream, I went to the store around the corner from your apartment and now,” he pauses, catching his breath. The man has his back to him now and he’s slinking away. He’s losing time. He’s losing momentum. He’s losing everything.

“I, um, I need back-up. I should have called the police,” he whispers the word as quietly as possible. The man neither stops nor turns around. “But I called you instead. I can’t wait for you, because I have no idea what this guy is planning, but I know I can’t wait. Whatever happens here tonight, I will get you that ice cream.” As if in slow motion, the man reaches into his pocket, and Mulder starts running, the phone still pressed to his ear.

“Whatever happens,” he repeats, “I love you.” The phone clatters to the ground as Mulder closes in on the man, grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him around. A pair of big, wide eyes in a face that is much younger than Mulder would have thought meets him.

“What the-”

“Give me your gun,” Mulder says calmly, his hand still on the man’s shoulder. He shakes his head like a small child who’s been asked to give up his favorite toy.

“Can’t do that,” he says, his lips starting to quiver.

“No one has to get hurt.”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” the man-boy spits at Mulder. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

“There’s a solution for everything. I can help you.”

“No,” a voice says from behind him. Mulder and the man turn around at the same time. There’s a woman, about the same age as the guy, her hair wild and her eyes narrow. The way she’s holding the gun tells Mulder she has no idea what she's doing. This clearly wasn't in their plans. She’s doing it all wrong and someone is going to get hurt.

“You don’t have to do this,” Mulder says gently, but he can see it in the dark pits of her dilated pupils. He’s too late. He miscalculated. In the moment right before the bullet hits him, he realizes he’s still holding the tub of ice cream. It falls to the ground with a splash, and his body follows a moment later. Everything goes black, and he thinks he hears a scream, but then, everything goes quiet, too.

*

Someone is praying. Words like “god” and “please" penetrate through the fog that’s his mind. That can only mean one thing: he’s dead. Who would have thought that Fox Mulder, porn connoisseur, would end up in heaven? He grins. Or he thinks he does. Can dead people still grin?

“Mulder?”

“Am I dead?” he asks, his tongue as thick as a brick in his mouth.

“You’re not dead,” the voice says, “you’re incredibly lucky.”

“Scully?” He smiles, just thinking of her.

“God, Mulder,” she says, and now he knows it’s her, even if his eyes refuse to cooperate and open. “Do you have any idea- do you know how scared I was?” His senses are waking up with every word she says, and every touch she administers. He feels her warm, strong fingers curl around his wrist. Then, she squeezes his fingers. His skin tingles and it's best feeling possible, because it's Scully doing this.

“Oh fuck,” he says. “The ice cream. Scully, I don’t remember what happened to the ice cream.”

“Ice cream, Mulder? You almost died.”

“The- the shooter. There a was a man and a woman. I had the man but the woman… she came out of nowhere.” Like a newborn deer, he blinks open his eyes. It’s only when his eyes meet Scully’s that he realizes how close he must have come this time.

“A young couple,” Scully says, her fingers now wandering over his face, as if making sure that everything is still there and in its rightful place.

“Are they- were they-”

“No, they’re alive. When- after she shot you, and other people came to see what was happening, they surrendered without a fight.”

“Did they talk? Scully, they were so young.” She smiles at him, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Only you, Mulder. Only you would care about the people who almost killed you. But you’re right, they are young. Their parents threw them out and they didn’t know how to feed their baby.”

“I’m not going to press charges.”

“You could have died.”

“I feel fine,” he says.

“You may feel fine, thanks to the painkillers. You aren’t fine. You’ve been shot.”

“Scully, they have a kid.” She nods. That's why he was in that aisle. All the guy wanted was to buy his kid something to eat.

“Let’s talk about this some other time, okay? You need your energy to heal.”

“Is it that bad? Where did the bullet hit me?”

“Your shoulder,” Scully says. “The other one. You have matching scars on both shoulders now.”

“Worth it,” he says with a groan. He turns to the side and sees the bandage. Whatever they gave him, it’s doing its job. He doesn’t feel any pain. There’s just a comfortable numbness taking hold of his whole body. Exhaustion is tugging at him, and he fears he doesn’t have much time left before sleep takes him again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get you your ice cream.”

“What is it about this ice cream?”

“Didn’t you listen to my voicemail?”

“I did,” she says warily.

“I’ll get you that ice cream once I’m out of here. That’s a promise.”

“The only promise I want from you right now,” Scully says, “is that you get some sleep. I’ll come back in the morning. That is my promise. Okay?” He nods, his eyes closing on their own volition. Oh yeah, they really gave him the good stuff this time.

“Ice cream or no ice cream,” Scully whispers, her breath tickling his cheek, “I love you, too.” In the morning he doesn’t know if it was real or just a dream.

[afro-ashigaru]

Lone Wolf and Cub 4: Baby Cart in Peril 1972

[freesia-writes]

Howzer + Aurelia Ch. 34 - Opening Up

Beginning with his shiny days, this story follows Howzer's character arc through some heartwarming romance, action, adventure, yearning, angst, and growth.

Content/Trigger Warnings for Entire Work (individual chapters not labeled): wartime peril, injury, and death; sexual assault up to kissing; relationship passion up to making out and heavy petting; sexual relationship alluded to (smut is posted separately); pregnancy, birthing trauma, and stillbirth (chapters 30-39, can be skipped and still keep up with the story).

Master List of Chapters

Word Count: 2.9k (eep!)

34. Opening Up

"We've got a full workup coming in," the nurse said, flipping pages on her clipboard. "Sounds like he was just rescued from some remote mountain. He's been shot, but they say he's alright, although there's a note on here to check his mental faculties. Something about an explosion, head injury... Whoever wrote this made a complete mess of it."

"Not much of the standard protocols left, it seems," Lennox said, shrugging dismissively. "Let's get him in here. Aurelia, can you please prep the diagnostic bed?"

"On it, Doc," came the reply, as Aurelia bumped a nearby cart with her mildly protruding belly. It had been another couple of months, full of the rhythm of work, rest, and the ever-changing spectrum of pregnancy quirks. Thankfully, the lingering first trimester symptoms had mercifully subsided. Her energy had returned, including an extra spark that she hadn't anticipated, and her baby bump had finally started to show. It was still fairly small, but she frequently found herself rubbing it with fondness, smiling as she thought to herself about all that it represented. 

"I told you! I'm fine!" a voice came from the hall, slightly louder than usual, as a flustered nurse ushered in a clone. He looked diminutive, as they all did without their armor, and his unique appearance was even further accentuated by his strikingly sharp features. His cheeks seemed to be more angular than most, and his expressive eyebrows were working overtime to convey his displeasure. Aurelia smirked at the bravado, but the lighthearted observation was immediately replaced by a stabbing pain as her eyes rose to his hair: he had a faded undercut that reminded her of Howzer, though instead of being thick and tousled on top, it was smooth and laid flat against his skull. 

"You alright?" Lennox asked, appearing at her side. He seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her, and she could never quite decide if it was helpful or annoying. 

"Yeah, sorry. Just distracted," she flubbed, turning away to continue entering the protocol on the diagnostic bed. 

"Thank you, nurse," Lennox said kindly, turning to face the clone and rising to his full height, standing a good few inches over the head of the newcomer. "Alright, CC-5576 is it?"

"That's my number, sir, but Gregor is my name!" came the answer, and Aurelia tilted her head to inspect him again. He was a standard clone, but his voice had a unique lilt to it that caught her attention. It was hard to describe -- somehow slightly higher in pitch than the others, and as he continued talking, she noticed a periodic squeak on various syllables. She punched in an additional command on the screen for a more thorough vocal cord inspection in addition to the brain scan. 

"Alright, Gregor," Lennox continued evenly. "I understand it's a bother, but we'd like to make sure you're all good to go, and we'll get you back out there in no time. Maybe we can see if we can modify the machine to give you some superpowers while you're in there, eh?" He had a variety of approaches with patients, attempting a variety of humor, discipline, paternal sternness, and gentleness until he found the particular combination that worked for each clone. Aurelia was amazed at his ability to connect with such a wide array of personalities, and she had learned quite a bit in this area during the last four months of working with him. 

"Oh!" Gregor said, "Well now you're talking!" He followed it with a sudden giggle that brought a smile to Aurelia's face without her permission. That was a new one. 

"All you have to do is lie still for a while and we'll do the rest from here, alright Captain?" Lennox said, noting Gregor's title from the clipboard, which seemed to go a long way in increasing the clone's respect for him and led to subsequent cooperation. With a grin, he hopped onto the diagnostic bed with a bit of a wince, moving a hand to his chest where his blaster wounds had been stabilized on the journey to Coruscant. "We'll take care of those as well," Lennox assured him as he flattened himself on the gurney, which slowly slid into a large plastoid tube that whirred to life as the captain disappeared within. 

"Do you know him?" Lennox asked Aurelia as they watched the data screen populate with various readings. 

"Him? No, why?"

"You just had a funny look when you saw him."

"Ah," she said, shrugging dismissively, "My face looks funny sometimes, I guess."

"Why do you keep pushing us all away?" Lennox asked gently, reaching out as if to place a hand on her shoulder but rethinking it last minute, moving it quickly to the side to grab a tissue analyzer that he didn't really need. "Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to comfort you? To share in your thoughts, both the good and the bad? There are wonderful people here, who truly care..." he drifted off for a minute, swallowing hard. "I mean, I'm here for you, but even if you don't want to confide in me, that's fine... I just know the value of having someone that feels like... I don't know... a counterpart of sorts. You know? You don't have to do it all alone." 

There was a wistful tone to his voice, and Aurelia studied his face intently, with a sudden realization that perhaps his friendliness toward her had evolved into more than just decency. A flurry of emotions swirled around at once: self-criticism for not having seen it before, immediate guilt at the thought of letting anyone in other than Howzer, and a yearning for that kind of companionship that she'd been in complete denial about. 

"I have that..." she attempted, voice falling flat. 

Lennox remained silent for a moment, eyes roving the ground as though it would give him guidance. When he looked back up at her, he put forth a small smile and a brisk nod as he returned the tissue analyzer to the counter. "Alright," he said, though he didn't look convinced. He always wanted to respect her boundaries, though it was his very nature to try to help anyone in any kind of pain. But he also realized that it couldn't be forced... All lessons he'd learned over years of both personal and professional experience. "Well, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here, and I know others are too. Alright?"

"Alright," Aurelia answered, meeting his gaze. "I appreciate it, Len. Really, I do... I'll keep it in mind."

"Good girl," he said cheerfully, reaching up to pinch the bottom of her chin playfully, but Aurelia flinched and backed up suddenly in a seemingly disproportionate reaction. "Whoa!" Lennox said, putting both hands in the air in submission, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be out of line...? I apologize..." He watched her closely, confused by her immediate reactivity and the unequivocal look of disgust on her face. He thought they'd reached a comfortable level of closeness and friendship, and he was surprised at the hurt he felt in response to the abhorrence on her face.

"Sorry," Aurelia breathed, though she didn't know why she was apologizing. As she processed it all, and waves of the past washed over her, she shook her head. "It's not you. I just... Please don't ever call me 'good girl', okay?"

"Of course," Lennox said gently, lowering his hands at a snail's pace. 

"I had a boss, back on Ryloth," Aurelia proceeded, the words flying out as though they needed to escape. "He was a slimy, gross, smooth talker who worked for the Empire. I was his assistant, but I was basically supposed to do whatever he wanted. Or so he thought...His name was Moss Gowden..." She shuddered at the thoughts, face contorted. "He was always hitting on me, always whispering nasty stuff... And he used to say 'good girl' under his breath whenever I answered his requests. It made my skin crawl."

The indignation and anger were plain on Lennox's face as he listened, and he clenched his fists at his sides for a second before releasing them and letting out a slow breath. "That must have been awful," he commiserated, leaving space for her to share more if she wished, hoping that she would continue to open up. He felt as though he were diffusing a bomb -- one wrong move and things would never be the same. And he desperately wanted to get it right. 

"It was," Aurelia conceded. "I kept refusing him, trying to keep it professional... So one night he put spice in my food and waited until I could barely stand, then he tried to take advantage of me." Tears swelled in her eyes, and she looked up at the ceiling to try to hold them back. "He probably would have, too, if not for..." she faltered, lost in the splintered memory of Howzer's rescue. Lennox knew better than to inquire any further, and instead opened his arms slightly to the sides in a nonverbal invitation for comfort and closeness. 

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Aurelia gave in. It had felt like ages since she'd been held, and she'd felt so alone, as though she'd been ripped in half. In that moment, she felt like a child, lost and scared, longing someone to simply take care of her when she'd been working so hard to take care of herself. She stepped forward, allowing Lennox to wrap her in a gentle hug, her own arms hanging awkwardly at her sides. He was significantly taller than her, and the small indent where his ribcage split apart made a perfect place for her to hide her face. 

Tears stole silently down her cheeks, wetting the front of his white uniform, and he lifted a hand to peaceably stroke the top of her head. He felt as though his heart were exploding in his chest. He didn't know how he'd come to be so fond of her, but she was brilliant and witty, strong and resilient, and had piqued his interest within the first few weeks of her arrival. He sympathized for her situation even though she didn't want him to, and he felt a strong desire to lighten her burdens. He'd caught a few glimpses of her humor, as well as brief flashes of curiosity, wonder, and delight that had warmed him to the core. She carried so much, and yet kept everyone at an arm's length even within the congenial friendships she enjoyed. Her heart seemed to be set on another, even though she didn't appear to hold much hope of his return. How someone could hold that kind of affection along with a stark sense of realism was beyond him, but it only increased his fascination. 

"If not for what?" came a squeaky voice from inside the diagnostic bed. Aurelia sprang back, surprised by the unexpected third party. 

"I thought they couldn't hear anything in there!" she hissed, wiping her eyes quickly. 

"They usually can't," Lennox grumbled, leaning down to speak loudly into the tube. "You have to stay still please, Captain. Even speaking could cause it to miss some of the micro details. Plus... this conversation is not for you, my friend." There was a slight edge of correction to his voice, though it remained affable overall. 

"Sorry!" was the singsong reply, "Just getting bored in here!"

Aurelia couldn't help but smile. The interruption was a welcome one, if she was honest. The consolation of Lennox's embrace had made her feel as ashamed as she felt gratified, and she'd been wrestling with a multitude of thoughts about it the entire time, which had felt like forever even though it was mere seconds. She appreciated the support, but it still felt wrong. She closed her eyes for a moment, envisioning the lazy evenings she'd spent wrapped up with Howzer on the couch, listening to his heartbeat and his husky voice, enveloped in perfect contentment and comfort. It felt like a lifetime ago, and the bittersweet reminiscence gave her a steadying sense of focus. She'd do everything she could to find him... whether he was dead or alive. The last thought made her stomach turn, and she opened her eyes, shaking her head briskly as if to chase the thoughts away. 

"It's about finished anyway," she said, distracting herself with the data panel. At a nod from Lennox, she tapped the screen and the machine's loud whirring slowed to a quiet buzz as the gurney slid out slowly, freeing Captain Gregor from the tube. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head and looking sheepishly back and forth between them.

"Sorry if I was eavesdropping," he said, "I didn't have much else to do..."

"It's alright," Aurelia answered, "I shouldn't be discussing that kind of stuff at work anyway."

Lennox tilted his head as if to say something, but he was cut off by an oblivious Gregor, "Eh, it's as good a place as any. Besides, he seems like a good one." He jabbed a thumb toward Lennox, who had apparently earned his complete approval in the short time they'd been acquainted.

"Thank you, Captain," Lennox said uneasily, slightly flustered in an endearing sort of way. "If we could get back to matters at hand, however..." He skimmed the datapad, tapping various points to enlarge the detail. "The blaster wound is healing well, and we'll cover it with a fresh bacta patch on your way out. That should finish the job. It says in your file that you survived an explosion on Abafar..."

"Karking right I did!" 

"Yes..." Lennox proceeded, smirking fondly at the enthusiasm. "Well, the lasting effects seem to be fairly minimal. Your motor skills are virtually uninhibited, and your brain function is surprisingly good, considering the trauma it received. I am seeing some damage, however, in the thalamus, as well as the hippocampal formations in your temporal lobe... There are also some rather permanent-looking lesions on the dorsal laryngeal motor cortex... "

"Whoa there, heh, can I get that in Basic, please?" Gregor lilted, looking to Aurelia for translation, who found his unfettered charisma a welcome respite from her troubling thoughts. 

"These areas in your brain are connected to memory, so you may suffer bouts of amnesia or mood swings," she began, interrupted once again. 

"I barely knew who I was before the explosion!" the commando interjected, "Some little bug man and his droid squad filled me in. So no surprise there!"

"You will likely have similar periods in the future, so finding a good support system and creating structures to remind yourself of things when it does happen would be a wise precaution," Aurelia suggested, "And the lesions are on the part of your brain that controls various elements of your vocal cords, including the pitch and cadence of your speech."

"Well noooo kidding..." Gregor marveled in mock surprise. "So I'm Captain Squeak from now on then, eh?" he chuckled as though it were an involuntary reaction. "Ah well. And what about my superpowers?"

Lennox smiled, patting the clone on the shoulder and inviting him to stand. "Your superpower seems to be that you are as difficult to kill as a spider-roach, my friend. You'll be a great asset to Captain Rex's team, should you choose to pursue that option."

"I'll take that as a compliment?" Gregor said, rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. A disembodied voice came from the small comlink near the door -- the nurse informing the doctor of his attention required in another room. 

"Absolutely," Lennox answered, "Aurelia will get your chest mended with a new bacta patch, and you'll be on your way." He gave an appreciative wave as he exited, leaving the two of them staring at each other. 

"Would you prefer to stand?" Aurelia asked, tearing open a fresh patch and removing the protective strips from its adhesive. 

"Yes ma'am!" Gregor chirped, puffing out his chest with a smile. 

"We need to remove the top of your blacks, please."

"Ohhh, getting frisky now, are we?" His teasing was clearly harmless, and it brought Aurelia a fond memory of Pivot's innocuous advances at 79s. She found a genuine smile on her face once again; this clone was an undeniable ray of sunshine in seemingly any situation, and she was honestly grateful for it. "Juuust kidding," he giggled as he pulled his turtleneck over his head, revealing a surprisingly gnarly chest wound that was covered with fairly shoddy work. The scorched flesh peeked out from around the edges of the wrinkled and faded bacta patch, and Gregor's grin turned into more of a grimace as she removed it as tenderly as she could. 

"Sorry," she murmured, focusing intently on her work.

"You don't have to take it out on me," he muttered in return, hands gripping the edges of the diagnostic bed behind him. The patch was quickly freed from its enmeshment with his skin and hair, and Aurelia moved quickly to apply a soothing bacta spray, earning a deep sigh of relief from the commando. Her nurturing spirit warmed at the sight, and she felt a new sense of affirmation herself, inexplicably, some random inkling that perhaps things were going to be alright.

"By the way," Gregor said, bringing her awareness back to the present, "You should take it easy on that doc. He seems like an upstanding guy, and obviously cares a lot about you. Hard to come by good people these days, you know?" He waggled his eyebrows so suggestively that Aurelia's surprise was overshadowed by the levity of his expression, and she shook her head with a smile, fitting the fresh, large bacta patch across the side of his chest. 

"You're a fun one, Gregor."

.

Next Chapter

[swantonbomb]

went to the doctor. got home. packed my bag. dogs got off their line while i was packing. spent an hour looking for them. circled back to the house and they were here soaking wet. i cried a lot because i thought my dog was dead. watching lone wolf and cub baby cart in peril now. whatever.

[ridethepunkhorse]

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (Buichi Saito, Japan, 1972)

[criteriondiary]

「子連れ狼 親の心子の心」斉藤武市Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril Lone Wolf and Cub #4 Directed by Buichi Saito • 1972 • Japan

[brookston]

Holidays 2.18

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Sierra Leone)

Clean Out Your Cubby Holes Day

Cold Day in Hell

Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day

Critical Care Transport Nurses Day

Dale Earnhardt Remembrance Day

Day of Spenta Armaiti (Zoroastrian Goddess of Earth & Fertility)

Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan)

Don Luis Muñoz-Marín Day (Puerto Rico)

Enzo Ferrari Day

Flirting Day

Great Back Yard Count begins (North America) [until 2.21]

Huck Finn Day

International Asperger’s Day

Kimathi Day (Kenya)

King Biscuit Flower Hour Day

Konudagur (Wife’s Day; Iceland) [1st Day of Góa]

Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)

National Airboat Day

National Battery Day

National Democracy Day (Overthrow of Rana Dynasty; Nepal)

National Hate Florida Day

National Thumb Appreciation Day

Pluto Day

Rain Water Day (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)

Rakali Awareness Day

Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival; Japan)

Sepandārmazgān (Women's Day; Zoroastrian Iran)

Stained Glass Appreciation Day 

Tacita (a.k.a. Rites of Tacita; Roman Silent Goddess)

Tanigumi Odori (Dance Festival; Japan)

Toni Morrison Day (Ohio)

Thumb Appreciation Day

University Mental Health and Well-Being Day (UK)

World Corporate Social Responsibility Day

World Information Architecture Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Drink Wine Day

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

National Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day

3rd Saturday in February

Barley Wine Day (San Francisco) [Saturday before Presidents Day]

Community Pubs Week begins (UK) [3rd Saturday through 4th Saturday]

International Restaurant Day [3rd Saturday] (also May, Aug & Nov)

National Black Movie Day [3rd Saturday]

Red Sock Day [3rd Saturday]

Saturday before Ash Wednesday [Wed., 6 Weeks before Easter] (a.k.a. ... 

Carnival begins (Brazil, Malta)

Carnaval de Barranquilla (a.k.a. Barranquilla's Carnival; Colombia)

Carnival Saturday

Egg Saturday

Shopping Cart Saturday (New Orleans) [Saturday before Mardi Gras]

World Pangolin Day [3rd Saturday]

World Whale Day [3rd Saturday]

Independence Days

The Gambia (from UK, 1965)

Roscamistan (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Aristophanes (Positivist; Saint)

Bernadette Soubirous (Lourdes, France; Christian; Saint) [also 4.16]

The Blue-Breasted Party Pigeon (Muppetism)

Colmán of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Women (Ancient Persia)

Flavian of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

The Fornicalia (a.k.a. The Feral; to the God Manes; Ancient Rome)

Fra Angelico (Christian; Saint)

Frank Miller Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Geltrude Comensoli (Christian; Saint)

Leo and Paragorius (Christian; Martyrs)

Navel Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

The Prophet’s Ascension (a.k.a. ... 

Al Isra et Al Mirage (Djibouti)

Isra and Miraj (Kuwait)

Isra Mikraj (Brunei)

Isra’ Mi’raj Nabi Muhammed SAW (Indonesia)

Leilat al-Meiraj (Comoros)

Maha Shivaratri (South Africa, UK, US)

Miradji (Matotte)

The Prophet’s Ascension (West Bank and Gaza)

Rites of Tacita (Goddess of Silence; Ancient Rome)

Simeon of Jerusalem (a.k.a. Simon; Western Christianity)

Spenta Armaiti (Zoroastrian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [10 of 32]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [10 of 37]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [10 of 30]

Premieres

The Big Broadcast of 1938 (Film; 1938)

Bringing Up Baby (Film; 1938)

Constantine (Film; 2005)

The Cuphead Show! (Animated TV Series; 2022)

Good Vibrations, recorded by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys (Song; 1966)

I Am Number Four (Film; 2011)

The King of Comedy (Film; 1983)

Kiss, by Kiss (Album; 1974)

Kitbull (Pixar Cartoon; 1933)

Lake Titicaca (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Local Hero (Film; 1983)

Mickey’s Pal Pluto (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Mickey’s Surprise Party (Disney Cartoon; 1939)

No Jacket Required, by Phil Collins (Album; 1985)

Mister Roberts, by Thomas Hegel and Joshua Logan (Play; 1948)

The Pirates of Penzance (Film; 1983)

Reality Bites (Film; 1994)

Rumble (Animated Film; 2020)

Schultze Gets the Blues (Film; 2005)

Trombone Trouble (Disney Cartoon; 1944)

Uncharted (Film; 2022)

What’d I Say, recorded by Ray Charles (Song; 1959)

The Whole Nine Yards (Film; 2000)

Today’s Name Days

Constanze, Simon, Simone (Austria)

Bernarda, Šimun (Croatia)

Gisela (Czech Republic)

Concordia (Denmark)

Karita, Karme, Karmen, Rita (Estonia)

Kaino (Finland)

Bernadette (France)

Constanza, Simon, Simone (Germany)

Agapitos, Leon (Greece)

Bernadett (Hungary)

Cinzia, Claudio, Simeone (Italy)

Indra, Kintija, Konkordija, Kora, Vizma (Latvia)

Bernadeta, Gendrė, Lengvenis, Simeonas (Lithuania)

Frode, Frøydis (Norway)

Albert, Alberta, Albertyna, Fryda, Konstancja, Krystiana, Maksym, Sawa, Sylwan, Sylwana, Symeon, Więcesława, Zula, Zuzanna (Poland)

Leon (Romania)

Jaromír (Slovakia)

Eladio, Heladio (Spain)

Frida, Fritiof (Sweden)

Bentley, Blythe, Flavia, Flavian (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 49 of 2023; 316 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 7 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Jia-Yin), Day 28 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Shevat 5783

Islamic: 27 Rajab II 1444

J Cal: 19 Xin; Fiveday [19 of 30]

Julian: 4 February 2023

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 21 Homer (2nd Month) [Aristophanes]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 60 of 90)

Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 29 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.18

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Sierra Leone)

Clean Out Your Cubby Holes Day

Cold Day in Hell

Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day

Critical Care Transport Nurses Day

Dale Earnhardt Remembrance Day

Day of Spenta Armaiti (Zoroastrian Goddess of Earth & Fertility)

Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan)

Don Luis Muñoz-Marín Day (Puerto Rico)

Enzo Ferrari Day

Flirting Day

Great Back Yard Count begins (North America) [until 2.21]

Huck Finn Day

International Asperger’s Day

Kimathi Day (Kenya)

King Biscuit Flower Hour Day

Konudagur (Wife’s Day; Iceland) [1st Day of Góa]

Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)

National Airboat Day

National Battery Day

National Democracy Day (Overthrow of Rana Dynasty; Nepal)

National Hate Florida Day

National Thumb Appreciation Day

Pluto Day

Rain Water Day (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)

Rakali Awareness Day

Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival; Japan)

Sepandārmazgān (Women's Day; Zoroastrian Iran)

Stained Glass Appreciation Day 

Tacita (a.k.a. Rites of Tacita; Roman Silent Goddess)

Tanigumi Odori (Dance Festival; Japan)

Toni Morrison Day (Ohio)

Thumb Appreciation Day

University Mental Health and Well-Being Day (UK)

World Corporate Social Responsibility Day

World Information Architecture Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Drink Wine Day

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

National Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day

3rd Saturday in February

Barley Wine Day (San Francisco) [Saturday before Presidents Day]

Community Pubs Week begins (UK) [3rd Saturday through 4th Saturday]

International Restaurant Day [3rd Saturday] (also May, Aug & Nov)

National Black Movie Day [3rd Saturday]

Red Sock Day [3rd Saturday]

Saturday before Ash Wednesday [Wed., 6 Weeks before Easter] (a.k.a. ... 

Carnival begins (Brazil, Malta)

Carnaval de Barranquilla (a.k.a. Barranquilla's Carnival; Colombia)

Carnival Saturday

Egg Saturday

Shopping Cart Saturday (New Orleans) [Saturday before Mardi Gras]

World Pangolin Day [3rd Saturday]

World Whale Day [3rd Saturday]

Independence Days

The Gambia (from UK, 1965)

Roscamistan (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Aristophanes (Positivist; Saint)

Bernadette Soubirous (Lourdes, France; Christian; Saint) [also 4.16]

The Blue-Breasted Party Pigeon (Muppetism)

Colmán of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Women (Ancient Persia)

Flavian of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

The Fornicalia (a.k.a. The Feral; to the God Manes; Ancient Rome)

Fra Angelico (Christian; Saint)

Frank Miller Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Geltrude Comensoli (Christian; Saint)

Leo and Paragorius (Christian; Martyrs)

Navel Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

The Prophet’s Ascension (a.k.a. ... 

Al Isra et Al Mirage (Djibouti)

Isra and Miraj (Kuwait)

Isra Mikraj (Brunei)

Isra’ Mi’raj Nabi Muhammed SAW (Indonesia)

Leilat al-Meiraj (Comoros)

Maha Shivaratri (South Africa, UK, US)

Miradji (Matotte)

The Prophet’s Ascension (West Bank and Gaza)

Rites of Tacita (Goddess of Silence; Ancient Rome)

Simeon of Jerusalem (a.k.a. Simon; Western Christianity)

Spenta Armaiti (Zoroastrian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [10 of 32]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [10 of 37]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [10 of 30]

Premieres

The Big Broadcast of 1938 (Film; 1938)

Bringing Up Baby (Film; 1938)

Constantine (Film; 2005)

The Cuphead Show! (Animated TV Series; 2022)

Good Vibrations, recorded by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys (Song; 1966)

I Am Number Four (Film; 2011)

The King of Comedy (Film; 1983)

Kiss, by Kiss (Album; 1974)

Kitbull (Pixar Cartoon; 1933)

Lake Titicaca (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Local Hero (Film; 1983)

Mickey’s Pal Pluto (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Mickey’s Surprise Party (Disney Cartoon; 1939)

No Jacket Required, by Phil Collins (Album; 1985)

Mister Roberts, by Thomas Hegel and Joshua Logan (Play; 1948)

The Pirates of Penzance (Film; 1983)

Reality Bites (Film; 1994)

Rumble (Animated Film; 2020)

Schultze Gets the Blues (Film; 2005)

Trombone Trouble (Disney Cartoon; 1944)

Uncharted (Film; 2022)

What’d I Say, recorded by Ray Charles (Song; 1959)

The Whole Nine Yards (Film; 2000)

Today’s Name Days

Constanze, Simon, Simone (Austria)

Bernarda, Šimun (Croatia)

Gisela (Czech Republic)

Concordia (Denmark)

Karita, Karme, Karmen, Rita (Estonia)

Kaino (Finland)

Bernadette (France)

Constanza, Simon, Simone (Germany)

Agapitos, Leon (Greece)

Bernadett (Hungary)

Cinzia, Claudio, Simeone (Italy)

Indra, Kintija, Konkordija, Kora, Vizma (Latvia)

Bernadeta, Gendrė, Lengvenis, Simeonas (Lithuania)

Frode, Frøydis (Norway)

Albert, Alberta, Albertyna, Fryda, Konstancja, Krystiana, Maksym, Sawa, Sylwan, Sylwana, Symeon, Więcesława, Zula, Zuzanna (Poland)

Leon (Romania)

Jaromír (Slovakia)

Eladio, Heladio (Spain)

Frida, Fritiof (Sweden)

Bentley, Blythe, Flavia, Flavian (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 49 of 2023; 316 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 7 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Jia-Yin), Day 28 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Shevat 5783

Islamic: 27 Rajab II 1444

J Cal: 19 Xin; Fiveday [19 of 30]

Julian: 4 February 2023

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 21 Homer (2nd Month) [Aristophanes]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 60 of 90)

Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 29 of 30)

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

Really, all logic and literacy seems to be foregone when it comes to Sansa and her delusional fans trying to make GOT happen.  But guess what?  Sansa’s GOT storyline is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.  As someone who grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin I’m accustomed to snow, and I grew up with horses so I know a little about them as well.  I am also someone who is actually literate and always applies context to situations in these books.  So there is no goddamn way that Sansa is going to make it North in TWOW, much less, be reunited with Jon first, especially considering Rickon is possibly already with Davos and considering Davos’ location, he may end up at the Wall with Rickon instead of back in White Harbor due to the Winter Storms out at sea.  So let’s look at all of the factors preventing Sansa from heading North in TWOW:

1.  It’s the beginning of winter, and not just any winter, a magical winter that is preluding the LONG NIGHT.  And what do we know about the LONG NIGHT?  Well the stories from Old Nan said that the previous LONG NIGHT lasted a generation and it was so bad that mothers would smother their babies and children so they wouldn’t starve or freeze to death.  Hell, the normal northern winters are so bad that the infirm go out to die in order to give their younger family members more food and supplies to survive.  If that’s a normal winter, then how is THIS winter going to be?  There is a constant blizzard right now, Stannis’ army is starving to death and freezing to death, there are 40 ft snow drifts along the walls of Winterfell, and there are ropes criss-crossing Winterfell to help people walk from place to place because the snow is so deep.  And like you said, it’s not just the snow that’s the problem, it’s the cold.  Sansa has no notion of what winter entails.  If she ever saw a winter it was when she was just a baby.  She has never experienced even their normal winters.  How is she supposed to deal with being exposed to the elements like that?

2.  Sansa has her own arc in the Vale that doesn’t seem like it will be tied up for a long while yet.  Littlefinger doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to try to reclaim Winterfell for Sansa, if that’s even one of his goals, rather than a pretty lie.  If what LF is telling Sansa is even a bit true, it seems like he intends for Sweetrobin to die, Sansa to marry Harry the Heir, become Lady of the Vale, and conceive a child, before Harry meets an unfortunate end, thus making Sansa Lady Regent of the Vale whom LF can control, and possibly marry himself before moving onto the North.  So if this is the case, I don’t think LF has intentions on moving in on the North in just a few months, but a few years, after all, he is hoarding things for the winter.  Not only to price gouge other people but to keep them well supplied for the winter.  So it seems his intention is staying put for the winter.  Perhaps, news about Robb’s Will and the resurgence of Rickon and Bran and Arya could speed and re-route his plans, where he wants to head to the North, but then again, I ask, how would this happen?

Sea travel is very dangerous now with the winter storms, so heading to the North on galleys with a large retinue and possibly an army would be perilous and he’d likely lose half his retinue/army and half of his supplies.  Not only that but if they traveled by galley and made it to White Harbor, they’d still need to march their retinue/army from White Harbor to Winterfell in winter, a winter where weather likely won’t be clearing up, but instead getting worse by ADOS.  How exactly are horses and carts of supplies and thousands of men going to get to WInterfell, when Stannis is already having this much trouble?  These things are the main reason why I believe the War for the Dawn will take place in the Riverlands, not the North, because it seems logistically impossible for armies to go there during the winter preluding the Long Night.  If there is any sort of traveling by the second half of TWOW, I’m sure it will all be southern travel - people beginning an exodus of the Wall (when/if the Wall breaks), people beginning an exodus of Winterfell, and finally people beginning an exodus of the North altogether.  I say this time and time again, but I’m not picking on Sansa here and trying to keep her away from the North, because suffice it to say I don’t even think my favorite character Arya is getting North until after the Long Night either.

3.  I’ve seen theories that Sansa may be kidnapped and brought to the North, ranging from the Mad Mouse, to Brienne and Jaime, to the Hound, early in her TWOW arc, but I don’t find this feasible.  Of course, she very well could be kidnapped if GRRM just decides to waste Sansa’s Vale arc, and of course whoever kidnaps her could try to get North, but we have to think about logistics here.

Sansa and her kidnapper would need to get their hands on some garrons and bear paws to travel the uber-wintery and freezing North.  They would need garrons because they can withstand these freezing temperatures, and they don’t eat as much as other horses.  However, they would have to make sure that these garrons were fat, and they’d likely need a small herd of them so they could group together to keep warm during their rest times.

Sansa and her kidnapper would need several carts for supplies and of course horses to pull the carts.  Travel time from Winterfell to King’s Landing when it’s not winter usually takes 3 months, so let’s say it would normally take half that time to get from the Vale to Winterfell, so my rough estimate is that it might normally take a month and a half maybe?  But we have to take winter into consideration so the smart thing to do would be to pack supplies for at least a 3-4 month journey.  These supplies would probably consist of food, barrels of alcohol, hay, oats, clothes and furs and blankets, and timber, as well as tents and other portable supplies to help protect against the elements.

So I ask them, how would a kidnapper have those types of supplies to bring Sansa North?  There is no way that Sansa and a kidnapper could survive going North with very limited supplies.  It’s winter so there is no chance of scavenging food from plantlife, animals are hard to come by, regular horses would probably break their legs and/or die from the elements, and they’d likely freeze and starve to death.  It’s just not feasible.

These people are just so damn desperate to make Sansa the real “Girl in Grey” that they forego all reason and logic, and conveniently forget that this is a fantasy story with magical seasons, and a winter that is preluding the invasion of the Others and the Long Night.  Not only that but it completely erases Sansa’s Vale arc.  She may not be an active player, but she still has an arc to finish there.  It’s not like Arya’s current arc and Bran’s current arc, where you can naturally see them finishing them within less than a handful of chapters before doing something else, and that may be because it seems like they are headed towards the finish line of what they needed to learn during these arcs, but with Sansa, it still feels like she’s at the beginning of what she needs to learn, so yeah, I don’t see her leaving the Vale.  I personally think that Sansa is going to stay in the Vale until ADOS, if not a quarter of the way through her ADOS arc.

At times like these I really despise this fucking subreddit

But I will say "the snow will blow to the sides so that Sansa has an easy path to make it to Winterfell, I know more about how snow works than you because I saw a movie that one time" was not on my bingo card. Amazing theory! Brilliant! Let's pretend like this blizzard *isn't* monstrous in a *fantasy setting* to the point where people AND horses are dying (and being eaten!)

[curatorofthisdigitalmorass]

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril - Art by Tony Stella

[cultfaction]

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril

Director Kenji Misumi returns for the fourth instalment of the Lone Wolf and Cub series – Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril, Ittō Ogami (once again played by Tomisaburo Wakayama) and his son Daigoro (played once more by Akihiro Tomikawa) are back and this time they are up against the tattooed female assassin Oyuki (Michie Azuma). Oyuki is killing every man that is sent up against her. Along…