#codename kite

[as-agilo]

he's so so babygirl

i just started playing aotk and i love him sm

[anonymousewrites]

A Study of the Heart and Brain (Book 4) Chapter Eight

Father Figure! Sherlock Holmes x Teen! Reader

Chapter Eight: Long Wait

Summary: Reunited and back to working together, the Holmes and Watson families get back to solving cases.

            “What you’re about to see is classified beyond top secret,” said Mycroft. “Is that quite clear?”

            He stood behind (Y/N) and Sherlock and in front of a group of higherups in the British government. Before all of them, a TV was displaying (Y/N), Sherlock, and John’s final confrontation with Magnussen. The cameras of the snipers and helicopters had captured everything.

            “Don’t minute any of this.” The secretary stopped moving. “Once beyond these walls, you must never speak of it. A D-notice has been slapped on the entire incident. Only those within this room, codenames Antarctica, Langdale, Lolly, Porlock, and Love, will ever know the truth. As far as everyone else is concerned, going to the Prime Minister and way beyond, Charles Augustus—” Mycroft looked sharply at Sherlock. “Are you tweeting?”

            “No,” said Sherlock. “I’m ordering lollipops for (Y/N). I think they earned them as this point.”

            (Y/N) perked up at the idea of sweets.

            Mycroft narrowed his eyes. “Will you take these matters seriously, Sherlock?”

            “I am taking it seriously. What makes you think I’m not taking it seriously?” said Sherlock. His eyes landed on the table. “Are those ginger nuts? Love ginger nuts.” He took a handful.

            “Our doctor said you were clean,” said Love.

            “I had a misstep,” said Sherlock. “No need for stimulants now, though. I have work to do.”

            “You’re high as a kite,” said Porlock.

            “Natural high, I assure you,” said Sherlock. “I’m just glad to be alive and back with tolerable people.” He grinned at (Y/N), who nodded. He looked back at the group. “What shall we do next?” He pointed at the secretary. “What’s your name?”

            “Vivian,” she said.

            “What would you do, Vivian?” said Sherlock.

            “Pardon?” said Vivian.

            “Oh, whatever. (Y/N), what should we do?” said Sherlock.

            “Pick up my lollipops,” said (Y/N), a fairly self-serving request but they wanted their snacks.

            “Excellent, efficient answer,” said Sherlock.

            “Mr. Holmes,” said Love sharply.

            “Yes?” said Sherlock.

            “We do need to get on,” said Love.

            “Yes, of course,” said Mycroft, turning the recording on again.

            On the TV, there was a clear view of (Y/N) standing before Magnussen with the gun in their hand. “And I’m (Y/N) Holmes,” said (Y/N) on the recording. Bang! There was a shot, but it was into Magnussen’s leg, not his head.

            So they edited it, thought (Y/N). “Who shot him, then?”

            “Some over-eager squaddie with an itchy trigger finger, that’s who,” said Porlock.

            “That’s not what happened at all,” said Sherlock.

            “It is now,” said Mycroft.

            “For the record, which apparently doesn’t exist here, I don’t regret what I did,” said (Y/N), voice even with complete truth. They hadn;t taken pleasure in killing, but they didn’t feel bad about it, either.

            “Remarkable. How did you do it?” said Love.

            “We have some very talented people working here,” said Porlock. “If James Moriarty can hack every TV screen in the land, rest assured, we have the tech to doctor a bit of security footage. That is now the official version, the version anyone we want to will see.”

            “No need to go to the trouble of getting some sort of official pardon,” said Love. “You and (Y/N) (L/N)—”

            “Holmes,” said Sherlock and (Y/N).

            “Holmes are off the hook,” finished Love.

            “Okay, cheers,” said Sherlock, rising from his seat. (Y/N) followed suit.

            “Obviously, there’s unfinished business,” said Love. “Moriarty.”

            “Moriarty is dead,” said Sherlock.

            “You believe he filmed the video before his death?” said Love.

            “Yes,” said Sherlock.

            “You also say you know what he’s going to do next,” said Love. “What does that mean?”

            “Perhaps that’s all there was to it. Perhaps he was just trying to frighten you both,” said Porlock.

            “That would be wishful thinking,” said (Y/N). “But no. Moriarty is the type of man to set up a trap for his opponents after his own death.”

            Sherlock nodded. “He’s planned something long term. Posthumous revenge. Posthumous game.”

            “We brought you back to deal with this,” said Love. “What are you going to do?”

            “Wait,” said (Y/N).

            “Wait?” repeated Love.

            “We’re the targets,” said (Y/N). “So we wait until the next part of the game begins.”

            “We’ll know when the game begins,” said Sherlock. “We always know when the game is on.” He and (Y/N) stepped out the door into freedom.

            As they walked for a cab, (Y/N) glanced at Sherlock. “What is his endgame for a game after his death? What does he win if he’s dead?”

            “Satisfaction at knowing he had us beat in some way,” said Sherlock. He glanced down and saw that (Y/N) was facing forward again. He looked forward as a cab pulled up, and his gaze hardened. What did Moriarty stand to gain if he was dead? He couldn’t get to (Y/N)—which was the reason Sherlock would never regret killing Moriarty (protecting (Y/N)), and he couldn’t know that Sherlock was losing. So what more was going on?

            As ever, (Y/N) was seeing that there had to be more.

            Sherlock just hoped that whatever it was wouldn’t hurt them. However, it was that—hope. Sherlock knew that whatever was coming was dangerous. He squared his shoulders.

            He would protect (Y/N).

l

            Wham! Sherlock stabbed through the stack of papers, happily attaching them to the mantel. “If this gets any better, we’re gonna get two knives.”

            “It pays to advertise,” said John, typing up a blog post to say they were back to solving casing.

            “So, what about Moriarty, then?” said Mary.

            “Oh, I have a plan,” said Sherlock. “I’m going to monitor the underworld, every quiver of the web will tell me the spider’s moves.”

            “I’ll just wait to be kidnapped. That seems to happen frequently when Moriarty is involved,” said (Y/N), twirling a lollipop around.

            “It’s concerning that that’s a fact and not a joke,” said Mary, frowning. (Y/N) shrugged.

            “Sherlock, your plan is to basically just sit there solving crimes like you and (Y/N) always do,” said John.

            “Awesome, isn’t it?” said Sherlock, pleased with himself.

            “Would you rather we do nothing?” said (Y/N).

            John sighed.

l

Over the next nine months…

            “He drowned. That’s what we thought. But when they opened up his lungs…”

            “Yes?” said Mary (another addition to the Holmes household and detective agency).

            “Sand,” said the client.

            “Superficial,” said Sherlock.

Another time…

            (Y/N) looking through the magnifying glass. “Come back, it’s the wrong thumb.”

And another…

            “But—” said John.

            “It’s never twins,” said (Y/N) and Sherlock.

And another…

            “Hawkins, arrest Wilson,” said Sherlock on one video call.

            “Dimmock, look in the lymph nodes,” said (Y/N) on another call.

            “Wilson?” said Hawkins.

            “Lymph nodes?” said Dimmock.

            “You have a limbless torso, and there’ll be traces of ink left in the lymph nodes under the armpit,” said (Y/N). “If your corpse had tattoos, you’ll be able to tell there.”

            “Bloody hell. Is that a guess?” said Dimmock.

            “I don’t guess,” said (Y/N), closing the computer.

            “So, he’s the killer,” said Hawkins to Sherlock.

            “The canary trainer?” Sherlock scoffed. “Of course he’s the killer.”

            “Didn’t see that coming,” said Hawkins.

            “Naturally.” Sherlock closed the call.

            “Sherlock, (Y/N),” said John sternly. “You can’t go on spinning plates like this.”

            “We’re not. We’re solving cases,” said (Y/N). “Why would we spin plates?”

            John groaned, and Mary tutted.

And some more…

            “The heart medication you are taking is known to cause bouts of amnesia,” said Sherlock.

            “Yes, I think so,” said the client. “Why?”

            “Because the fingerprints on your brother’s neck were your own,” said (Y/N).

And even more…

            “A jellyfish!” laughed John.

            “Not our usual culprit,” remarked (Y/N).

            “I know,” chuckled Sherlock.

            “You can’t arrest a jellyfish,” said John, shaking his head.

            “We could try,” said Sherlock.

            “We did,” said (Y/N).

            John’s phone vibrated, and he took it out with a frown before his eyes widened. “Oh, god.”

            “Mary?” said Sherlock and (Y/N).

            “Fifty-nine missed calls,” said John.

            “We’re in a lot of trouble,” said Sherlock.

            A few minutes later (with a lot of running and shouting), Mary was in the backseat of a cab, John and Sherlock were in the front, and (Y/N) was sitting beside her. Mary was in labor.

            “Ow! Oh my god!” screamed Mary. “Oh, my god!”

            “Relax. It’s got two syllables,” said John, trying to use the techniques they’d learned in classes.

            “I’m a nurse, darling. I think I know what to do!” said Mary, gritting her teeth and trying to breathe.

            “Re…lax,” said John.

            “Oh, just drive! Please go. Just drive, god, driiiiive!” shouted Mary.

            “Sherlock, (Y/N). Mary.” John glared at them.

            (Y/N) cleared their throat. “Breathe?” they said hesitantly to Mary.

            “Relax?” said Sherlock.

            “Don’t you two start!” said Mary. Her head whipped towards John. “John, I think you have to pull over.”

            “Mary, Mary—” began John.

            “Pull over!” snapped Mary.

            Baby Watson was born at seven minutes past one in the morning just below a road sign, next to a car.

And more time passed…

            John and Mary smiled as they held the baby close. Mrs. Hudson took a thousand photos of them and cooed over the baby just as much as they did.

            “So, what’s her name?” said Mrs. Hudson.

            “Catherine,” said John.

            “Oh, no, we’ve gone off that,” said Mary.

            “Have we?” said John.

            “Yeah,” said Mary, smiling.

            “Oh.” John was smiling, too.

            “Well, you know what I think,” said Sherlock, amused.

            “Your name isn’t a girl’s name, and we already have one (Y/N),” said John.

            (Y/N) smiled slightly. “I don’t think we need more.”

            John looked at Mrs. Hudson. “Mrs. H, we would be honored to have you as a godparent if you’d be willing to.”

            Mrs. Hudson smiled. “Really? Oh, that would be lovely.”

            “And, uh…” John cleared his throat as he walked towards Sherlock and (Y/N). “You, too, Sherlock.”

            "You too, what?” said Sherlock.

            “Godfather. We’d like you to be godfather,” said John.

            “God is a ludicrous fiction dreamt up by inadequates who abnegate all responsibility to an invisible magic friend,” said Sherlock.

            “Yeah, but there’ll be cake. Will you do it?” said John.

            “I’ll get back to you,” said Sherlock, but John just rolled his eyes fondly. He knew that Sherlock—who, despite it all, had fatherly instincts—would say yes.

            Soon enough, Rosamund Mary was baptized, and Sherlock and Mrs. Hudson were godparents. And (Y/N), to the surprise of everyone (including Sherlock), turned out to be a surprisingly good babysitter. Rosie loved them pretty much instantly, much to the chagrin of Mary and John who had to try to get her to bed.

            Despite all that had happened, for a few short months, everything was as it should be. The Holmes and Watson families were together and whole.

Taglist:

@stilesstilinskiforlife-blog

@im-making-an-effort

@ilse235

@schrodingers-intelligence

@awsedrftgyhujikol

@lxserthxngzzz

@forever1313

@mentallyunstablemanlover

@roo024

@ohimjustagirlidrathetnotbe

@snowy-violet

[w3apon0fchoice]

okay so 4/8 people in my dressing room know that kimi is my girlfriend. i would’ve told all but some would tell others that i do not want to know. we came up with a codename (kite) so they don’t know about her. i ran into my dressing room saying “I MISS KITE.” and everyone comforted me and others questioned.

@kimisbunny look what you made happen😭

[bestfictionalplant]

Bracket reveal

Text version under cut!

The tourney is split into 4 32 brackets, and the winners of each will go to the semi finals! I'll make a different post about HOW the tourney will run, and this will serve as a pinned post for round 1 :)

Bracket 1, Side 1

Peppino (Vampire Survivors) vs Winged Strawberry (Celeste)

Herb (Monster Hunter) vs Triffids (Day of the Triffids)

Gigi (Xiaolin Showdown) vs Silent Princess (The Legend of Zelda)

Breath of Evil (Wings of Fire) vs Thorn Thallid (Magic the Gathering)

Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors) vs Farewell Flower (Mistborn)

Togemon (Digimon) vs Silverwood Tree (Witch Hat Atelier)

Golden Apple Tree (Greek Mythology) vs Potbelly (My Singing Monsters)

Sculk (Minecraft) vs MocDonald (One Piece)

Bracket 1, Side 2

Vida (The Promised Neverland) vs Glaze Lily (Genshin Impact)

Dr Brewer's Clone (Goosebumps) vs The Spring (Friends at the Table)

Kite Eating Tree (Peanuts) vs Zotoh Zhaan (Farscape)

Wheel Tree (His Dark Materials) vs Mushtree (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Medusoid Mycelium (A Series of Unfortunate Events) vs Radial (Ooblets)

Chikorita (Pokemon) vs Blast Cone (League of Legends)

Gooloog (AAAHH!!! Real Monsters) vs Venus (Bug Fables)

The Thorian (Mass Effect) vs Yggdrasil (Norse Mythology)

Bracket 2, Side 1

Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda) vs Blood Blossoms (Danny Phantom)

Hotblonde37159 (Angel: The Series) vs Vash the Stampede (Trigun)

Kinoko (Don't Hurt Me, My Healer) vs Wolfsbane (The Vampire Diaries)

Plant (Monster Rancher) vs Flower of Life (Mesopotamian Mythology)

Truffula Tree (The Lorax) vs Slurperon Enchantress (Internet Scam)

The Brain Tree (Neopets) vs Ginseng Baby (Scarlet Hollow)

Chompy (Bug Fables) vs Whispy Woods (Kirby)

Clavu (Overlord) vs Ivern (League of Legends)

Bracket 2, Side 2

Bulbasaur (Pokemon) vs The Trees of Valinor (Lord of the Rings)

Leslie (The Amazing World of Gumball) vs Hayzee Dayzee (Paper Mario)

Piranha Plant (Mario) vs Specimen 34/The Blessed Eternal (Wolf 359)

Potted Plant (Wander Over Yonder) vs Morbuzakh (Bionicle)

Jabe & the Trees of Cheem (Doctor Who) vs Black Mercy (DC)

Mr Plant (The World of Mr Plant) vs Feculant Gnarlmaw (Warhammer 40k)

Tree Rex (Skylanders) vs Flowey (Undertale)

Sundrop Flower (Tangled) vs Venus McFlytrap (Monster High)

Bracket 3, Side 1

Pinchley (Long Gone Gulch) vs Frank the Plant (Harley Quinn: the Animated Series)

The Venus (Hello From the Hallowoods) vs Nirnroot (The Elder Scrolls)

Food Fight (Skylanders) vs Paopu Fruit (Kingdom Hearts)

Phillogenous esk Piemondum (Rod Albright Alien Adventures) vs Plant (Wall E)

Tannot Root (Farscape) vs The Broccoloids (The Powerpuff Girls)

Rockbud (The Stormlight Archive) vs Sylvan Hound (Guild Wars 2)

Eldridge Johnson-Mayer (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) vs Hyacinth/Hyacinthus (Greek Mythology)

Selas Flower (Kingkiller Chronicle) vs Treant (Disgaea)

Bracket 3, Side 2

Dragonflame Cacti (Wings of Fire) vs Sunflower (Plants vs Zombies)

The Bioplant (The Rising of the Shield Hero) vs Turnip Boy (Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion)

Shambling Mound (Dungeons and Dragons) vs Mandrake (Shin Megami Tensei/Persona)

Cowplant (The Sims) vs Ebony Queen's Apple (Limbus Company)

Devil Fruits (One Piece) vs Donkey-Cabbage (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

Oaktopus (My Singing Monsters) vs Field Dungeon (Rune Factory 4)

Mushroom Tree (Stardew Valley) vs Jumpkin (Cassette Beasts)

Undergrowth (Danny Phantom) vs Karzahni (Bionicle)

Bracket 4, Side 1

Dreamstalk (Kirby) vs Myconid (Balders Gate 3)

Stingbulb (Fablehaven) vs Treebeard (Lord of the Rings)

Stray Cat (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) vs Peashooter (Plants vs Zombies)

Giant Turnip (Codename: Kids Next Door) vs Treasure Mushroom (Guild Wars 2)

Tree of Wisdom (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs Fire Flower (Mario)

Stump (The Angry Beavers) vs Groot (Marvel)

Maise (Oneshot) vs Konohana Tree (Okami)

Red Weed (War of the Worlds) vs Pod Plant (Fortnite)

Bracket 4, Side 2

Plantera (Terraria) vs The Grass Snake (Friends at the Table)

Breathweed (Warhammer 40k) vs Campestri (Dungeons and Dragons)

Neo Alraune (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) vs Kringlefucker (Homestuck)

Slimefoot the Stowaway (Magic: The Gathering) vs Gatfruit Tree (Space Station 13/14)

Sex Pollen Plant (Fanfiction) vs The Rumor Weed (VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed)

Dr Madley Radish (Papa Louie) vs Vervain (The Vampire Diaries)

Yatevon (OCTAHEDRON: Transfixed Edition) vs Echo Flower (Undertale)

Wither Rose (Minecraft) vs Hydramon (Digimon)

[tvrmoils]

         ✦     DEMIAN  SEO         ⸺         adaptable  yet  daredevil  thirty - five  year  old  intel  agent  who  goes  by  they  +  them  pronouns  and  is  constantly  toying  with  a  spinner  between  strong  fingers  .  born  in  bucheon - si  ,  south  korea  ,  often  can  be  seen  working  late  at  night  on  their  own  personal  projects  behind  a  too - bright  screen  ;  walking  through  the  mercy’s  hall  with  a  playful ,  charming  smirk  perched  on  their  countenance  ;  or  lighting  up  a  new  cigarette  despite  having  an  unfinished  one  in  their  usual  ashtray  .  diligent  as  a  soldier ,  yet  impatient  as  a  reckless  child ,  demian  greatly  enjoys  the  stinging  taste  of  scotch  against  their  tongue  when  nights  become  too  long  ;  the  faint  smell  of  sweat  and  lime  that  emanates  from  their  skin  after  a  successful  mission  &  the  growl  of  annoyance  they  ignite  in  the  field  agent  who  has  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  their  harmless  traps .  chaotic  evil ,  sagittarius  sun  &  dancing  enthusiast ,  they  identify  as  a  bisexual  non - binary  person ,  have  the  terrible  habit  of  biting  their  knuckles  when  they  have  to  wait  for  something  or  sometimes ,  the  impatience  simmering  inside  barely  tolerable ,  and  have  been  part  of  the  mercy  organization  their  whole  life  for  eleven  years  .     © 

                    THREADS   .   WANTED  CONNECTIONS   .   AESTHETIC  .

⸺      ONE  ,        BASICS  .

full  name .         demian  seo .         nicknames .         none .         age  +  dob .         thirty5  +  november  2th .         birthplace .         bucheon - si  ,  south  korea .         residence .         apex  city  ,  washington .         gender  +  pronouns .         non - binary  +  they / them .         s / r  orientation .         bisexual .         faction .         intel .         mutation .         electrokinesis  ( electricity  manipulation ) .          codename       :       agent  mireuk .         spoken  languages .         korean  ( native )  ,  english  +  german  ( fluent ) .         significant  bonds .         phillip  seo  ( father  ,  tactical  division  ,  alive  ) .   constance  seo  ,  nee.  kwan  (  mother  ,  biomedical  division  ,  alive  ) .   juliet  seo  (  sister  ,  junior  division  ,  alive  ) .

⸺      TWO  ,        PERSONALITY  TRAITS  .

positive .         affable  ,  adaptable  ,  diligent .         neutral .         sympathetic  ,  playful  ,  adventurous  ,   .         negative .         daredevil  ,  self - centered  ,  impatient .         zodiac’s  main  three .         sagittarius  sun  ,  gemini  moon  ,  aquarius  rising.         moral  alignment .         chaotic  evil .         temperament .         sanguine .

⸺      THREE  ,        BACKGROUND  .

               the  firstborn  of  a  legendary  lineage  of  mercy  agents  ,  your  career  path  didn’t  hold  many  options  .  trained  from  an  early  age  ,  the  only  decision  you  could  make  was  the  division  you’d  be  part  of  .  however  ,  disappointment  etched  on  your  parents’  faces  the  moment  you  voiced  your  choice .                regardless  ,  you  didn’t  relent  ,  this  was  yours  ,  one  of  the  first  things  you  did  on  your  own  in  your  life  ,  and  you  wouldn’t  give  it  up  just  because  it  wasn’t  up  to  your  parents'  standards    —    you  were  used  to  the  disappointment  ,  after  all  ,  to  the  disapproval  .  what  was  new  ,  truly ?   only  the  fact  this  was  freely  chosen  ,  by  you  .  a  decision  made  on  your  own .                your  training  was  a  glass  of  milk  ,  nothing  new  ,  nothing  challenged  .  under  the  exigence  of  your  parents  you’ve  gone  to  college  ,  studied  everything  you  already  knew  ,  got  bored  and  high  as  a  kite  ,  missed  half  of  your  class  .  still  ,  you  graduated  summa  cum  laude  ,  and  started  training  ,  getting  bored  and  high  as  a  kite  ,  but  never  missed  a  class  ,  not  when  your  parents’  eagle  eyes  were  upon  you  ,  watching  every  movement  ,  judging  every  decision .                graduation  came  again  ,  although  this  time  ,  what  expected  you  on  the  other  side  ,  finally  ,  wasn’t  boring  .  and  you  vibrated  with  the  excitement  of  it  all  .  the  power  you  held  over  those  on  the  field  made  you  giddy  ,  a  thrill  running  down  your  spine  every  time  the  receiver  came  to  life  perched  in  your  ear .                it  ignited  something  in  you  ,  this  new  phase  in  your  life  .  you  were  reckless  about  it  ,  though  ,  and  the  less  afraid  you  were  of  your  parents  ,  the  bolder  you  got  .  you  stopped  caring  about  expectations  —  now  you  had  your  own  path  ,  your  own  decisions  to  make  …  and  your  own  mistakes .                playing  around  with  field  agents  is  too  fun  to  give  it  up  ,  no  matter  how  many  troubles  it  brings  you  .  you  never  do  anything  to  harm  them  ,  you’re  not  a  jerk  ,  but  have  them  huff  in  your  ear  when  you  take  them  through  a  longer  path  or  scare  them  about  an  inexistent  approach  brings  too  much  joy  to  ignore  it  ,  to  let  it  go .                your  parents  scolded  you  one  night  after  your  shift  ended  ,  after  one  of  your  superiors  told  them  about  your  harmless  (  yes  ,  absolutely  harmless  )  shenanigans  .  you  don’t  listen  ,  block  their  voices  ,  nodding  when  it’s  appropriate  ,  and  then  they  go  home  while  you  retire  to  your  room  in  the  dorms  wing  .  you  haven’t  heard  a  word  ,  you  don’t  care  about  it  ,  you  won't  stop  ,  this  is  yours  to  manage  ,  to  own  ,  as  every  other  thing  you’ve  been  doing  lately  ,  as  every  other  thing  you  will  do  —  you’re  finally  yours  ,  finally  your  own  person .                these  days  you  walk  among  the  walls  of  mercy  with  a  different  step  ,  a  more  confident  one  .  yet  your  immaturity  and  impatience  are  still  there  ,  fueling  your  childish  impulses .  (  you’re  thirty - five  ,  half  your  way  through  your  forties  ,  demian  ,  when  are  you  going  to  grow  up  for  god’s  sake?  comes  the  stern  voice  of  your  mother  ,  her  eyes  icy  ,  irritation  leaking  from  her  tone  .  never  ,  you  want  to  reply  ,  but  you  don’t  ,  you  stay  silent  ,  and  soon  enough  you  stop  listening .  )

[moonlit-orchid]

Ah yes, the time I got bored in class and gave dub names to all those who didn't have any dub names

Also this

"Mark Adams" is because Yusei went by Yusei Adams to pretend to be a janitor in the dub and I went with it. Did I pick Mark because he's marked? I have no idea.

Yes, Mokuba is 'Will' because Will Byers. And yes. Parson is a reference to Priest Set. I went with all profession based ones because we already have a Wheeler, a Taylor, and a Gardner.

I couldn't change Yugi's because, well "Yugioh" but if I did... I saw someone somewhere use Felix or Avery. Maybe Oliver. Or Philip aka "Pip/ Pipsqueak".

I went and renamed the Zexal dub cast because I FELT LIKE IT

Yes I gave Astral the name Halo because it seemed like a dub-name (Halo as his codename, his real name's still Apis...or Elpis)

I have no logic for any of the Tsukumos' names except that "they look like a-". Yuma and Kazuma especially look like a Dexter and Martin... and then I realised Dexter is too much like 'Dextra' so I had to change that too :) I am lowkey proud of coming up with Psyche and Leon though

Also the logic for the Tenjous' dub-surname is because Byers= Will and Jonathan who immensely reminded me of Kite and Hart

[my-head-is-an-animal]

The Sitter

Mycroft Holmes x Bethany Wheeler (OFC)

Story Masterlist

Chapter 10 - Background Check

It was a long few days where Mycroft was overseeing the doctoring of footage to cover for Sherlock’s actions. It wasn’t easy, but they eventually got there with a cover story to go with it, an itchy trigger finger from an over eager squaddie, that was the story they were running with. For the most part, no one would ever see the footage or have any reason to ask about Magnusson, but there always had to be a plan just in case.

Mycroft managed to get Sherlock into a meeting with himself Lady Smallwood and Sir Edwin to go over the new story, he knew Sherlock wouldn’t like it, but he didn’t have a choice, this was happening and he needed to deal with it like an adult.

‘What you’re about to see is classified beyond top secret,’ Mycroft began once everyone had settled. ‘Is that quite clear? Don’t minute any of this.’ He said, seeing Vivienne about to take notes. ‘Once beyond these walls, you must never speak of it. A D-notice has been slapped on the entire incident. Only those within this room, codenames Antarctica, Langdale, Porlock and Love will ever know the whole truth. As far as anyone else is concerned, going to the Prime Minister and way beyond, Charles Augustus- Are you tweeting?’ He exclaimed, catching a glimpse of Sherlock’s phone.

‘No.’ Sherlock said, trying to hide his phone.

‘Well, that’s what it looks like!’

‘Of course, I’m not tweeting, why would I be tweeting?’

‘Give me that.’ Mycroft said, going in to grab the phone from Sherlock’s hand.

‘What? No.’

There was a minor scrap, but Mycroft came out victorious, letting out an exasperated sigh as he looked at what Sherlock had been doing.

‘Back on terra firm…’

‘Don’t read it out.’ Sherlock rolled his eyes.

‘Free as a bird.’

‘God, you’re such a spoil sport.’

‘Will you take this matter seriously, Sherlock!’ Mycroft demanded.

‘I am taking it seriously, what makes you think I’m not taking it seriously?’

‘Hashtag oh what a beautiful morning.’

‘Look, not so long ago, I was on a mission that meant certain death, my death and now I’m back in a nice, warm office with my big brother- are those ginger nuts?’ Sherlock was suddenly distracted and it only led to Mycroft rolling his eyes and sighing in frustration.

‘Oh god.’

‘Love ginger nuts!

‘Our doctors said you were clean.’ Lady Smallwood said as Sherlock grabbed a handful of biscuits.

‘I am, utterly. No need for stimulants now, remember? I have work to do.’

‘You’re high as a kite.’ Sir Edwin scoffed.

‘Natural high, I assure you.’ Sherlock said, taking a bite out of his biscuit. ‘I’m just… glad to be alive!’ He sang a little dramatically and even Mycroft was suddenly unsure whether the doctors had gotten it right. ‘What shall we do next? What’s your name?’ He suddenly spotted Vivienne.

‘Vivienne.’ She said, nervously, wondering if she should even have spoken at all.

‘What would you do Vivienne?’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘It’s a beautiful day, what would you do? Go for a stroll? Make a paper aeroplane? Have an ice lolly?’

‘Oh… ice lolly, I suppose.’

‘Ice lolly it is! What’s your favourite?’

‘Oh really, I shouldn’t-‘

‘Go on.’ Sherlock was starting to exasperate everyone.

‘Do they still do Mivvies?’

‘Mr Holmes.’ Lady Smallwood cut through everyone.

‘Yes.’ Both Mycroft and Sherlock answered at the same time.

‘We do need to get on.’ Lady Smallwood warned.

‘Yes, of course.’ Mycroft nodded, apologetically. He played the footage of Magnusson appearing to get shot by someone else, not Sherlock.

‘I see.’ Sherlock said, having calmed down a little. ‘Who is supposed to have shot him then?’

‘An over eager squaddie with an itchy trigger finger, that’s who.’

‘That’s not what happened at all.’ Sherlock disapproved, but this was the way out.

‘It is now.’ Mycroft told him.

‘Remarkable.’ Lady Smallwood said, staring at the doctored footage. ‘How did you do it?’

‘We have some very talented people working here.’ Sir Edwin seemed rather proud of his lie. ‘If James Moriarty can hack every TV screen in the land, rest assured we have the tech to doctor a bit of security footage. That is now the official version, the version anyone we want to will see.’

‘No need to go to the trouble of some sort of official pardon. It seems you’re off the hook, Mr Holmes.’ Lady Smallwood said, annoyed at everything the same as Mycroft who folded his arms and waited for a thanks from his little brother. ‘You’re home and dry.’

‘Okay, cheers.’ Sherlock said, getting up to put his coat on and leave.

‘Obviously there’s unfinished business. Moriarty.’ There was a new tension in the room.

‘I told you, Moriarty’s dead.’ Sherlock said with a mouthful of biscuit, Mycroft wished he could just show a little respect.

‘You say he filmed that video message before he died?’

‘Yes.’

‘You also say you know what he’s going to do next? What does that mean?’

‘Perhaps,’ Sir Edwin cut in. ‘That’s all there is to it. Perhaps he’s just trying to frighten you.’

‘No, no, he would never be that disappointing.’ Sherlock shook his head, thinking. ‘He’s planned something, something long term. Something that would take effect if he never made it off that rooftop.’ Mycroft just watched him curiously, something ticking away in the back of his mind, something he really didn’t want to think about. ‘Posthumous revenge. No, better than that. Posthumous game.’

‘We brought you back to deal with this.’ Lady Smallwood was fed up of playing games. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘Wait.’

‘Wait?’

‘Of course, wait. I’m the target. Target’s wait.’ Sherlock went to leave the room. ‘Look, whatever’s coming, whatever he’s got lined up, I’ll know when it begins. I always know when the game is on. You know why?’

‘Why?’ Lady Smallwood rolled her eyes.

‘Because I love it.’ Sherlock said leaving, making Mycroft roll his eyes again and allowed Sherlock to go.

‘He’d better be right, Mycroft.’

It was Lady Smallwood’s final warning before Mycroft left the room to return to work. He was annoyed that he couldn’t even get a simple thanks from Sherlock for all the trouble he caused, but he honestly wasn’t sure what he expected.

In the following few weeks he regularly checked in with Sherlock, finding out if he’d made any progress with Moriarty, but all he’d been doing was solving cases. Mycroft instead turned his attention to Bethany, he got regular updates on her progress at school, exams were just around the corner and she was looking at placements within a few institutions he was closely connected to.

‘Sir,’ Anthea walked into his office with an odd spring in her step. Mycroft frowned as she placed a file down on his desk. ‘Thought you might want to see this.’

When he opened the file, he was surprised to find that one of his colleagues, Scott Mathieson, was looking at a list of graduates, Bethany’s name was on the list. Mycroft frowned slightly, this was research into biological gene therapy, Bethany’s speciality was chemistry based science. He nodded to Anthea and listened to his assistant leaving.

According to the file, Mathieson was keen to take Bethany under his wing and offer her a placement in her third year with the potential to fund her masters and PhD and offer her a job. How had Mycroft not noticed how good she was in school?

Your name has appeared in a file on my desk. – MH

What? What do you mean? I’ve been at John and Mary’s helping with the baby, she’s due in a couple of days, I haven’t been running around with Sherlock for ages. – BW

Mycroft chuckled at her sudden panic.

Not Sherlock, though glad to hear you’ve been keeping out of trouble, especially with the Moriarty business. No, it came up in a file with a list of names for me to do background checks on before being considered for placement or work at Dr Scott Mathieson’s lab. – MH

Jesus Mycroft! You scared me half to death! I thought someone might have been after me. I didn’t realise it was just a bloody background check! – BW

If there’s anything you’d like to confess to, now is the time. – MH

Oh, I’m sure there’s plenty I could confess to, but nothing that would stop me being put on placement. – BW

You have me intrigued. – MH

I’m sure I do. – BW

Mycroft smiled down at his phone, he contemplated asking her a follow up question, but decided against it.

What kind of information comes up in a background check? – BW

Mycroft frowned, not sure why she was asking.

Yours won’t be that extensive unless we find something of note. We’ll look at the basics, family history, education, any recent events that make you ineligible to work within any co-operations that have a close connection the British government and anything that may make you susceptible to blackmail or taking bribes in the future. Why? – MH

It was a while before she answered and it didn’t make Mycroft sit particularly comfortably.

My mum was a doctor who went to Africa to help children who needed medicine and vaccines. She wanted to help them live without fear that other people’s children could be affected by the lack of basic needs like food and clean water. My father was a lecturer at Cambridge, he taught Engineering, he specialised in Aerospace engineering, I have no idea the depth of the projects he was involved with, but he did a lot of work with NASA in his spare time. They’ve never been poor, but always made sure to teach me how to earn my money and not expect it. I went to a public school, got decent enough grades, never anything exceptional, but I studied Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics and Music at A level. I suppose recent incidents would only involve Sherlock and I’m fairly certain you’re not going to hold any of it against me. I went travelling with my parents before coming back home to get my degree, my mum was stationed in Kenya, I went there for a couple of years and then to my dad in America, I didn’t like the people he worked with so only spent eight months there, before returning to England and finding a place to live with some friends. Oh, and Wheeler is my mother’s maiden name, my real last name is Colbeck, that’s what I was born with anyway, I’m sure when you do your check, it’ll become obvious why I changed it to Wheeler. I know you’re going to find all this stuff out and probably more, but I feel like you should hear some of those things from me personally, because they are personal. – BW

Mycroft took a moment to assess the information she had provided. The more prominent detail was that of her last name, why would she not go by the name she was born with? Colbeck was a familiar name to Mycroft, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

Thank you for telling me. I can understand why you felt it important. And no, anything involving Sherlock will not be held against you, I can assure you. You studied music? Seems like an out of place choice for a scientist. – MH

I suppose it does. It was enjoyable though. – BW

Mycroft wondered if there was any more to that statement than she was letting on, but suddenly the image of her hand tracing over his in the back of his car jumped to mind. Her fingers were long and slender, like that of a pianist. It suddenly occurred to him that there was a lot he didn’t know about her.

Pianist? – MH

Indeed. – BW

There was something nice about her confirmation, something cheeky and playful.

Perhaps, if you find the time, we could go to dinner again and you could save me a background check. There’s quite a few I need to get through these days. – MH

If you have so much to do, wouldn’t an evening spent working be more productive than an evening spent indulging in my small talk? – BW

Perhaps, but that would depend entirely on the agenda. – MH

And what exactly is your agenda, Mr Holmes? – BW

Mycroft suddenly realised he was staring down at his phone, flirting. If anyone walked in on him at that moment, they would surely know he was distracted and not getting on with work.

Let me know if you have an evening free. – MH

He left it there and she didn’t message him back. Mycroft wondered if he should have continued down this path at all, but for the first time in his life, he was being made happy by another human being and one that seemed to be more interested in him than his brother.

Mycroft heard about Mary giving birth and the christening but had yet to hear from Bethany. She had gone to the christening because Sherlock had seen fit to send him a picture of her and Molly posing together. She wore a white dress with green and yellow flowered pattern and a cream suit jacket rolled up to her elbows. She was again, stunning.

Mycroft never replied to his brother when he sent photos, he didn’t feel the need, but he was grateful nonetheless that Sherlock went to the trouble making sure he was kept up to date.

It was another couple of months and Mycroft had done his background checks on the list, finding nothing of note and wondering if Bethany just didn’t want to go to dinner with him. It hurt a little, but soon found out from Sherlock that she had been working most evenings and when she wasn’t working, she was either in the labs doing workshops, writing essays until the morning hours or with Mrs Hudson in the café. Plain and simple, she just didn’t have time.

‘Mycroft.’ Lady Smallwood said as she rounded the corner of a corridor Mycroft often found himself walking down, he suspected she wasn’t there by chance.

‘Lady Smallwood.’ He nodded curtly.

‘Those background checks for Mathieson, find anything of note?’ She asked, he knew where this was going a mile off and he’d prepared an answer.

‘If you’re referring to Miss Wheeler-‘

‘Miss Wheeler? I thought it came up that her name was in fact Colbeck?’

‘It did, but Wheeler is the name she has chosen to go by and the one she has legally changed it to.’ Mycroft explained. ‘Colbeck was her birth name and Wheeler is her mother’s maiden name, hardly a reason to dismiss her as a candidate. And before you ask, I was in possession of that information long before the background check became necessary.’

‘She’s a bloody student Mycroft!’ Lady Smallwood hissed.

‘I am aware.’

‘It’s not appropriate for you to be seen socialising with a student,’ she warned a little quieter. ‘If the press get a hold of this, they will have a field day. She’s barely an adult.’

‘Miss Wheeler is twenty-seven years old, we employ many graduates below that age and hardly treat them as children...’ Mycroft was in no mood to be warned. ‘She made me aware of her given name some time ago and eluded to the fact that she changed it for a reason. Dr Richard Colbeck, her father and Dr Kathleen Colbeck, her mother, are fine examples of what this country is capable of and two people whose names literally open doors. I can imagine the pressure of being the daughter of such respected scholars is difficult enough for her to deal with, let alone rumours flying about her personal life. Which, I should point out, is all but existent. Miss Wheeler currently works part time at a hotel in Mayfair as a waitress and a café in Baker Street, in between working she studies, so please tell me what time she could possibly devote to anything else?’

Lady Smallwood didn’t seem to be any calmer. ‘You told me it was a business dinner, that she specialised in chemistry.’

‘She does,’ Mycroft shot back. ‘Though from what I hear, she’s thinking about forensic research as a possible career choice along with gene therapy and several other pathways available to her.’

‘Why did you really have dinner with her that night?’ She cut straight to the point and Mycroft hadn’t anticipated the response, but it did seem like she was jealous, maybe Bethany was right.

‘Fine.’ Mycroft said, looking down and giving into what she really wanted. ‘We were catching up. Miss Wheeler is also a friend of my brother’s and I wanted to ensure that all parties were safe and non-threatening to each other. Miss Wheeler is not aware of that fact.’

‘So, what did she think it was? A date?’

‘Of course not,’ Mycroft defended. ‘I told her I wanted to catch up. Her conclusion from that statement is unknown to me.’

Lady Smallwood didn’t seem at all convinced. ‘For Christ’s sake, Mycroft. Look, if you’re seeing this girl-‘

‘Lady Smallwood,’ Mycroft chuckled. ‘What time do you think I have for a personal life? Particularly one that involves a woman whose parents can make our lives difficult on a whim. I am not “seeing her” as you so poetically put it, but you may consider her under my protection. That should be enough for you.’

Mycroft didn’t bother saying anything else, he could see he made his point clear, but it only put him in a foul mood. Part of him wished he could answer yes, but that presented its own problems and he wasn’t ready to deal with that just yet.

He worked hard over the next couple of weeks, receiving the odd text from Sherlock and one that made his heart skip a couple of beats.

Exams are nearly done! Just one more to go and I’ll be home and dry. Sorry it’s been ages, I just didn’t want to get distracted, I also figured if you’re doing background checks on me, it’s probably not best to be seen having dinner. I’m not sure if that was clear or even the right decision, but if you still want to, I’ll be free from Saturday onwards. Last exam is Friday afternoon. Let me know. – BW

Mycroft sat back at his desk and ran his hands over his face. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. What did he say? He couldn’t risk being seen with her since Lady Smallwood had pointed out the problem the press posed, but he also couldn’t say no.

I will work out the details and let you know. – MH

It was all he could say. It wasn’t a lie, but he felt awful for saying.

‘Sir?’ Anthea called from his door. ‘It’s your brother.’ Mycroft sighed and took a few seconds to prepare himself.

Sherlock came barging in and handed him a phone, presumably with what was John and Mary’s baby, but he offered no explanation beyond that. He started talking about a broken bust of Margaret Thatcher and somehow it started to make sense, but not quickly enough for his liking.

‘I met her once.’ Mycroft said, remembering the moment well.

‘Thatcher?’ Sherlock asked, pacing.

‘Rather arrogant, I thought.’

‘You thought that?’

‘I know.’ Mycroft chuckled. ‘Why am I looking at this?’ He indicated the phone.

‘That’s her, John and Mary’s baby.’

‘Oh, I see, yes. Looks very… fully functioning.’

‘Is that really the best you can do?’

‘Sorry, I’ve never been very good with them.’

‘Babies?’

‘Humans.’ Mycroft smiled, handing back the phone.

‘Beth will be so disappointed.’

‘Why?’

‘She’s been working hard at school, didn’t you hear? Nearly finished her exams, well on her way to getting the top grades and is now babysitting when she can.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘She’s good with the baby. She likes children.’

‘Her mother worked with children, it’s no surprise. But why would she be disappointed?’

‘I have no idea, I just wanted to see if you’d dwell on the subject.’

‘Sherlock.’ Mycroft sighed, half in warning.

‘Moriarty. Did he have any connection with Thatcher? Any interest in her?’

‘Why on earth would he?’’ It seemed an odd question.

‘I don’t know, you tell me.’

Mycroft sniffed and leaned over the Moriarty file that he’d been looking at before Sherlock’s arrival. ‘In the last year of his life, James Moriarty was involved with four political assassinations, over seventy assorted robberies and terrorist attacks, including a chemical weapons factory in North Korea, and had latterly shown some interest in tracking down the Black Pearl of the Borgias, which is still missing, by the way, in case you feel like applying yourself to something practical.’

‘It’s a pearl, get another one.’ Sherlock snapped, making Mycroft roll his eyes. ‘Something important about this. I’m sure, maybe it’s Moriarty. Maybe it’s not. But something’s coming.’

Mycroft whilst mildly amused by his brother’s antics, was slightly concerned that he was investing himself in something that may turn out to be nothing. ‘Are you having a premonition, brother mine?’

‘The world is woven from billions of lives, every strand crossing over every other. What we call premonitions is just movement of the web. If you could attenuate to every strand of quivering data, the future would be entirely calculable, as inevitable as mathematics.’

‘Appointment in Samarra.’ Mycroft finally figured out where this was going.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘The merchant who can’t outrun death,’ Mycroft went on. ‘You always hated that story as a child. Less keen on predestination back then.’

‘I’m not sure I like it now.’

‘You wrote your own version as I remember. Appointment in Sumatra. The merchant goes to a different city and is perfectly fine.’

‘Good night Mycroft.’ Sherlock grabbed his coat to leave.

‘Then he becomes a pirate for some reason.’

‘Keep me informed.’

‘Of what?’

‘Absolutely no idea.’

And with that, Sherlock was gone. Mycroft wasn’t exactly sure what he was to make of his brother’s appearance, but he did look over the Moriarty case file just in case he’d missed something. Nothing jumped out at him, but then he didn’t expect anything to.

He thought more and more on Bethany, he wanted to see her, just talk to her, but he wasn’t sure dinner was the best idea. He decided instead to phone her late on Saturday evening once her exams were finished.

‘Mycroft, hi.’ She didn’t answer with her usual cheery tone.

‘Everything alright?’ He asked, taking a sip from his scotch and observing the fire in front of him.

‘Yeah, it’s fine, it’s just those guys in the house down the road. They just…’ she took a breath and cleared her throat. ‘Never mind. How are you? Is this a social call or am I in trouble?’

‘I wanted to congratulate you on finishing your exams.’ He said, not being convinced by her tone.

‘Oh thanks,’ that was better, a slight lift. ‘Yeah, I finished the last one yesterday, no idea how I did, but I feel pretty confident so maybe it’s fine. It’s just a waiting game now.’

There was an awkward pause between them. ‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ Mycroft asked.

Bethany let a long breath go. ‘You don’t need to worry, everything’s fine. What about you? It’s been a while since we last talked properly, what’s been going on? Any secrets you’d like to share?’

Mycroft took another sip of scotch. ‘Oh yes, are you sitting comfortably? I’ll just run through the list of state secrets I’ve uncovered today.’

‘Great, let me just grab some wine.’ She chuckled and Mycroft felt his heart lift some more. He loved that sound. ‘So, come on then, my background check, you want to talk about it?’

‘Why would I?’

‘I don’t know, because I told you my name was Wheeler when I was born Colbeck?’

‘Yes, but you legally changed it to Wheeler and you took the opportunity to tell me that before I even started the check.’ Mycroft explained. ‘What more is there to talk about?’

Bethany again paused. ‘So, you’re not upset that I didn’t tell you in the beginning?’

‘It never came up and I can’t imagine it would stay that way forever, so why would I be upset?’

He listened to her chuckling away a little more confused than anything. ‘I’m sorry, you’re right, it was a stupid question.’

‘Not at all.’ Mycroft suddenly had a thought. ‘Is that why you prefer to be called Bethany?’

‘Beth, if I can ever convince you to call me that, but yeah, partly that, partly…’ she stopped and he could hear her moving around, was she in bed? ‘Look, I know that my parents are these amazing people, but they spent their childhoods living in poverty, they worked hard to get to where they are, they’re principled and hard working people. I didn’t want to get anywhere just because I’m their daughter. It’s too much pressure, you know?’

Mycroft was simply hypnotised listening to her speak. ‘I can imagine.’ He said taking another drink. ‘We should have dinner again, when you get your results. We should celebrate.’

‘Do you think that’s a good idea?’

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

‘Because if you know who I really am, others will know as well and people might start to talk.’

‘Why would that affect us having dinner?’ Mycroft had asked the question before he could stop himself.

‘Okay, look I just don’t want to cause any trouble for you,’ she said it as plainly as she could. ‘Lady Smallwood seemed really annoyed when she came to the table last time and I don’t want your life to be made anymore difficult.’

‘You shouldn’t worry so much about that,’ Mycroft finished his scotch. ‘If I thought it would cause any hassle I wouldn’t ask. Perhaps we don’t go out for dinner, we could watch another film? Or something else?’ Mycroft knew he was making a hash of things. He was messing up everything.

‘Okay.’ Bethany said, finally. ‘I’ll think about it.’

‘Good.’ Mycroft nodded. ‘Let me know.’

‘I will.’ He could hear her smiling and it made him happy. Maybe he could make this work. ‘Goodnight Mycroft.’

‘Goodnight Bethany.’ He said and hung up.

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[clexa--warrior]

Fear The Walking Dead is not only staggeringly stupid, it’s started ripping off old stories from The Walking Dead. It’s embarrassing and it’s hard to watch. In ‘Blue Jay’ we get a weird combination of gruesome ultraviolence (which I’d normally welcome in a zombie show) and bizarre storytelling that leaves me baffled and annoyed at every turn.

We deal with three returning main characters this episode: June, Dwight and Sherry. All three have been working for PADRE for years, but June has broken off because Something Bad happened and she’s gone rogue. Her nickname is Blue Jay. Dwight’s is Red Kite. I can’t remember what Sherry’s is and I don’t care. These bird names are ridiculous. They’re not just codenames used over walkie-talkies (all hail the mighty, magical walkie-talkies!) but in regular day-to-day speech. Because sure, that makes sense. We learn that the rat-faced woman from the last episode is Shrike.

Remember, the leader of this group of Bird People is called PADRE. I guess they were just stuck with that from Season 7, but it doesn’t fit with the naming conventions of the rest of the group. I suppose Vulture was already taken by the gimmicky Season 4 villains. These villains, like every other group since Chambliss and Goldberg took over, are little more than a cartoon gimmick, and this episode continues to solidify just how preposterous they are. (Imagine Alicia’s horror if she discovered PADRE only to learn that it was a bunch of idiots calling one another bird names).

June, we learn, left PADRE after working for Shrike on various gruesome experiments in order to study the zombie infection. This is an idea we’ve seen used in The Walking Dead a number of times, including Season 1’s CDC arc, World Beyond and so forth. At one point, a man named Adrian who is trying to get her to help him find his daughter, Hannah, discovers her in the train where these experiments are taking place—and she’s a zombie! Which is just like the Sophia reveal in Season 2 of The Walking Dead, but much less shocking or emotionally powerful. Adrian ends up committing suicide by way of zombie daughter which is portrayed as this big, emotional scene but isn’t because A) we didn’t know or care about Adrian and B) it was just super obvious what he was going to do. ADRIAAAANNNN!!!!

The only really new thing here is Shrike using Adrian’s zombified head to bite Dwight and Sherry’s kid, Finch (good lord these bird names) in order to force June and them to work for her and PADRE since she’s the only one who can cure him, or so she says.

This is so damn stupid I don’t even know where to begin. First off, Shrike hasn’t found a cure yet and this kid, even with the radiation, only has a short time to live. The radiation required to "cure" a bitten person kills them.

They can’t cut off a limb because it bit him on the chest. There’s no way any of this works as incentive. Holding him hostage might—but killing him kind of defeats the point. All the bargaining chips are gone. If this show has Dwight and Sherry and June discover a cure . . . . I’ll have some serious finger-wagging to do!

Dwight’s reaction, at least, is realistic: “I’ll kill you!” he screams at her again and again. I hope he does.

Speaking of Dwight and Sherry, the worst couple on TV does not disappoint. Remember, they were first separated by Negan way back in The Walking Dead’s Savior War arc, and then Dwight spent years tracking her down across the United States before finally finding her in Texas. Naturally, she basically told him to kick rocks: She had a new group now and wasn’t interested. It was quite cold and made me dislike her instantly. Mind you, it’s fine if she felt that way (time and trauma changes people) but she approached it so horribly and then—worse—played mind games with him. Their relationship was clearly toxic, but the showrunners keep trying to pass it off as this great love story.

Eventually they got back together and Sherry got pregnant. Apparently they were scooped up by PADRE on their escape rafts and decided to not only hand over their baby, but work for PADRE separated from one another for the last 7 years, until just before the events of this episode. They never told Finch they were his parents and just accepted that they’d no longer be together (kind of like a repeat of the Virginia arc when they separate all the characters—hey, they’re stealing their own ideas at this point! No wonder this sucks!)

Finch, like Wren in last week’s episode, is supposed to be 7 (Wren is 8) but is obviously played by a kid much older (he looks about 12).

The showrunners and writers apparently think it’s super normal for people to start a family in the zombie apocalypse and then just give up their baby to the first group of bird-named weirdos they come across. And then, after years of struggle to find one another and fall back in love, split up again. Just because.

I don’t like Dwight and Sherry, but I’m offended on their behalf. This is not how real people act. People fight for love. They fight to stay together. They don’t give up their children to strangers without a scrap. I mean, maybe you could take your baby and go somewhere else like Alexandria you morons.

It’s utter nonsense. What an embarrassing excuse for a TV show. All I feel is scorn.

Scattered thoughts:

June is cutting off the trigger-fingers of PADRE collectors. Why isn’t she just killing them instead? They can still use weapons and do bad things with one finger missing. Also, why are they so easily caught?

MAGIC MAGIC WALKIE-TALKIES, POWER, GAS, BULLETS, BATTERIES, DRUGS—I thought we were in a zombie apocalypse with resource scarcity. Fun drinking game: take a shot any time any of these things appears or they say Padre or a bird name. You will cure your antifreeze poisoning in a jiffy.

Madison, huffing and puffing, helps Morgan escape after he tells her he’s “thinking about something I did, or something I didn’t do” (you know what it is) and she feels bad, even though he was going to shoot her last week in cold blood. He’s just got to go help people to make up for all the bad things he’s done (DRINK!)

The acting isn’t all bad, but it’s mostly pretty bad. That’s especially true for the small parts. The PADRE collector on the radio chatter (DRINK!) talked like someone in a bad video game from the 90s.

I love how last week, after SEVEN YEARS, Morgan, Madison and Grace all reunite and then this week AFTER SEVEN FRIGGIN YEARS so do June, Dwight and Sherry. Seven years is longer than all seven seasons combined but none of these people have made new friends or allies or changed in any way. They haven’t aged. Why even do this time jump?

I can’t even like the good things about an episode like this. As per usual, there’s some nice cinematography. I even think the leads did a pretty good job and Sherry didn’t bother me as much as usual. Dwight and June had a few good moments. But I don’t like any of them or care what happens to them at all, and I should by now.

The shocking scene of a zombie head biting into a little boy who’s under anesthesia (DRINK) should have been a powerful, upsetting, resonant moment but I was so irritated by all the crap that came before that it just felt needlessly gratuitous, especially because Shrike’s reasons for doing it—to incentivize them to help her—make no sense.

Also, she said “PADRE wants to keep all the children as safe as possible” literally twenty seconds before chomping the boy, so yeah. Sure. Whatever. All I know is it’s a good thing I’m not playing the drinking game right now or my review might be as jumbled, nonsensical and stupid as this godawful show. I’d be wasted. Instead, only my time has been.

[solarscapenigeria1]

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Residential Properties

The holiday season is a time for giving and spreading joy, and what better way to do that than by choosing the perfect gift for your loved ones or for your residential property? Whether you're looking for something practical, sentimental, or just plain fun, this holiday gift guide has got you covered.

Gifts for the Practical Homeowner

For those who value practicality and functionality, consider gifting them items that they can use every day. Here are some top choices: 1. Smart Home Devices Smart home devices are all the rage these days and for good reason. They make our lives easier and more convenient. From smart locks to smart lighting, these devices allow homeowners to control their home from anywhere at any time. 2. High-Quality Cleaning Supplies Every homeowner knows the importance of keeping their home clean, so why not make it easier for them with some high-quality cleaning supplies? A vacuum cleaner, a steam mop, or even a simple microfiber cloth can make a big difference in their daily cleaning routine. 3. Durable Outdoor Furniture For homeowners who enjoy spending time outdoors, durable outdoor furniture is a great gift option. Consider a weather-resistant outdoor sofa, a comfortable lounge chair, or a sturdy dining set for their patio or backyard. 4. Window Film Windows play an important role in the energy efficiency of your home. They let in natural light, provide ventilation, and offer breathtaking views of the outside world. However, old or poorly insulated windows can increase your energy bills and reduce your comfort levels. If you're looking for a cost-effective solution to reduce your energy costs and improve your home's safety, consider installing residential window film. Also Read: 7 Solutions Window Film Can Provide To Hospitals And Healthcare Facilities In Nigeria

Sentimental Gifts for the Home

For those who value sentimental items and memories, consider these options: 1. Personalized Decorations Personalized decorations make a wonderful gift for homeowners who love to decorate their home with sentimental items. Consider gifting them a customized photo frame, a monogrammed doormat, or a personalized wall art. 2. Family Heirlooms Passing down family heirlooms is a wonderful way to keep memories alive and connect with generations past. Consider gifting an antique piece of furniture, a vintage piece of jewelry, or a cherished family photo. Also Read: The Skin Cancer Foundation Recommends Home Window Films In Nigeria

Fun Gifts for the Whole Family

The holiday season is also a time for fun and entertainment, and what better way to spread some joy than by gifting fun items for the whole family? Here are some top picks: 1. Board Games Board games are a great way to bring the family together for some fun and friendly competition. Consider gifting a classic board game, such as Monopoly or Scrabble, or a newer game like Cards Against Humanity or Codenames. 2. Outdoor Activities For families who love spending time outdoors, consider gifting outdoor activities that they can enjoy together. A portable badminton set, a frisbee, or a kite can provide hours of fun for everyone. 3. Movie Night Essentials Movie nights are a great way to relax and unwind with the family. Consider gifting a high-quality projector, a cozy blanket, or a bag of gourmet popcorn to enhance their movie-watching experience. No matter what you choose to gift this holiday season, remember that it's the thought that counts. Whether you choose something practical, sentimental, or just plain fun, these gifts are sure to bring a smile to the face of any homeowner. Also Read: Tips To Save Money For Your Home And Business Read the full article

[mogai-impossible]

~#Greetings, Agent. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is:#~

Realmagikitic: This Nikkigender is related to the dress Magical Realm Kite Elf.

~#All information needed to complete this mission can be found below.#~

The name for this mission comes from the name of the dress it’s related to.

The flag for this mission is inspired by the colors and design of Magical Realm Kite Elf.

This mission does not have any codenames.

~#This post will self destruct in five seconds. Good luck.#~

[faline-cat444]

Avatar inserts

Aang’s codename is “Kite” while Korra’s is “Athlete”

[thvndring]

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME: Charles “Chuck” Brown

CODENAME: Kite Man

ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral

AGE: 25

ABILITIES: None, Kite based Equipment

CIVILIAN JOB: None/Criminal

LOCATION: Gotham City

THEME: ”The Kite” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

BIOGRAPHY

Charles Brown's path to becoming Kite-Man started when Riddler and Joker went to war over the right to kill Batman. One night, Batman himself tracked Brown down and convinced him to reach out to the Joker, hoping Brown's past connection as a Joker goon would give him a way in. After agreeing to help Batman and join Joker's side as a mole, Riddler discovered the plan, nearly getting Brown killed & ruining his career prospects in the henchman field. Wanting vengeance against both Batman and the Riddler, Brown fashioned himself a costume and officially joined Joker's side as "Kite-Man". 

As the War of Jokes and Riddles raged on, Batman joined the side of the Riddler in exchange for the latter to not kill his enemies. Kite-Man, still considered a joke by the villain community, was specifically targeted by Batman and Riddler to be the last Joker-soldier left in the war, knowing he'd be weak-willed enough to finally hand over Joker's hidden location. He ended up allying with Batman, tricking the Riddler's forces into wearing special kites that flew them up to the Bat-Blimp.

In present day Chuck is little more than a petty criminal aspiring for the big leagues. For now he sticks to either stealing jewelry or selling his specially made kites for the use of other criminals. He was one of the first villains Gotham Girl caught on her own after the death of her brother.

PERSONALITY

He’s Kite Man.... Hell Yeah!

POWERS & ABILITIES

Brown doesn’t possess any super natural abilities. His strongest attribute is his technical proficiency in limited aviation technology (specifically kites) & talents for stealing. He’s a good enough marksman & hand-to-hand combatant.

[la-fleur-du-carnage]

THINGS   YOUR   MUSE   CAN   DO.     bold   what   applies   .    italicize   what   applies   sometimes  .

Tagged by:

Tagging: @rubrumfang ; @regalisking ; @codename-freya ; @kinggrimmjowjaegerjaquez ; @dreadfulbrutality ; @glacies-tempestatem

bake  a  cake  from  scratch |  ride  a  horse |  drive  a  submarine  | speak a second language - when drunk ! it counts !!! XD |  dance (very well actually - very agile and flexible)  | catch  a  fish  |  play  an  instrument  | throw  a  punch |  build  a  deck  |  ice  skate  | program  a  computer  |  change  a  flat  tire  |  fire  a  gun | sew  | juggle  | play  poker |  paint  | fly  a  kite |  sculpt  | write  poetry |  change  a  diaper  |  sing |  shoot  a  bow  and  arrow |  ride  a  bike | swim | sail  a  boat  | do  a  backflip |  play  chess | give  CPR | pitch  a  tent | flirt | stitch  a  wound | read  palms | use  chopsticks | write  in  cursive/calligraphy |  use  an  electric  drill | braid  hair | make  a  campfire | make  a  mixed drink |  do  sudoku  puzzles  |  wrap  a  gift | give  a  good  massage | jump-start  a  car | roll  their  tongue |  magic  tricks  | yoga | tie  a  tie | skip  a  rock |  shuffle  a  deck  of  cards | read  morse  code | pick  a  lock

[jinjojess]

Oh, All-knowing Jess, hear my call and drive away my doubts: how was received in Japan the datamining of the beta of Pokémon Gold? What do you think about it? Are some Pokémon you like or want in actual games? (Personally, my favourite is that creepy Pinsir, for some reasons it reminds me of the Kaonashi from Spirited Away!)

You know, that’s a good question. I’ve seen some fanart and reactions on Twitter, but I didn’t really follow it much, sorry!

To make it up to you, I will now review all of the betas:

Chikorita! 

Yay! I think I’ve made it very clear that I am a big fan of this little plant nugget, so I don’t have much to add really.

10/10

AAAGGGGHHH?! 

What the fuck is this thing? How does this relate to Chikorita or Meganium, who are both largely unchanged from their beta designs? Where are the eyes? Like I’m diggin’ the tiny smug face-looking thing at the top of the bulb, but what’s the deal with the huge single eye down below? Where did the legs go? Why does the body shape change so drastically in the in-between stage when both the first and third stages are quadrupeds?!

0/10 would not trade Bayleef for it

Meganium

Whew, okay. Back on familiar ground here. Meganium is likely my least favorite of the Johto starters’ final forms, but I still like my big, dumb boy.

8/10

Tepkon 

Awww~!

So unpopular opinion, but for a long time I really disliked cyndaquil’s design. I’ve come around to it these days, but back when GS came out, it really put me off. This thing is absolutely adorable, and though the design isn’t super inspired, I still fucking love it.

7/10 wouldn’t trade cyndaquil for it, but would love to see the design reworked for future games

Chubby quilava

This is like quilava’s cousin who grows up to discover that he’s actually more of a bear than a twink. Really like it–seems very cuddly.

7/10 like quilava better but I support this thicc boi

Kirara

Seriously, this is basically just Kirara from Inuyasha. Not as crazy about this design as its pre-evos, especially since it seems like it’s trying to edge in on arcanine’s floof territory. An okay pokemon, but not a fave.

6/10 would not trade typhlosion for it

Baby Nessie

Totodile was one of those pokemon that I had been low-key hoping for, but I gotta admit that this is one adorable little fucker. Look at its stubby limbs! Its cute snoot! Its pudgy tail!

6/10 would not trade totodile but would love to see in another game

Let me clear my thoat (I hope ya don’t mind)

I am…less enthused about the middle evo. The eyes are cute and the little shy smile is to die for, but the…ballast? on its throat kind of looks like a giant boil and I’m not really here for that.

4/10 no thanks I’ll keep croconaw

Dragonair but with legs

The final evo I like a bit more–it looks like a dragonair that struck up a deal with Ursula the sea witch so that it could pursue its land-dwelling love. Now that the gem isn’t jammed right up under the chin it’s less off-putting, and the kind of fang-looking necklace is a Good Look.

6/10 still prefer feraligatr but GameFreak please dust off this design

Hoot-Hoot’s just really into henna right now

I’ve never been a huge fan of hoot-hoot, and I kind of like the extra markings. I assume they were taken off to make the design less busy as well as giving it a fanned tail, but I think I’d actually prefer this one.

5/10 would replace regular hoot-hoot with this one

It is the night

Okay, here we go! Now this is a cool-looking pokemon that would make training up a damn hoot-hoot worth it. Noctowl is a decent pokemon in the game since it means you get access to psychic moves early in the game, but I’ve always thought the design looked too goofy. I like irl owls a lot and this design really speaks to me.

8/10 go back in time and give teenage me this bird instead

Mareep

There’s not a ton to say here other than they lightened up mareep’s fleshy bits in the final release, and I like mareep quite a bit so there we go. Instead, I want to draw attention to this disaster of a backsprite. What am I even looking at? A giant ball of cotton candy that rolled through a bunch of broken candy canes?

9/10 I mean I like mareep, but I gotta take off a point for that awful backsprite

Flaaffy

Flaaffs seems largely unchanged. I’m pretty partial to this boi as well, especially since I had one following me for a bit in my Japanese Soul Silver game.

8/10 I like flaaffy, but fuck that name spelling

Ampharos

One of my fave Gen 2 pokemon! Doesn’t seem to have much different about it, though I did always question where the delightful floof went. I mean we get it back in the mega evolution but still. What was that about, GameFreak?

9/10 docked a point for lack of floof

Mikon

So this is clearly a pre-evo idea for vulpix, and it’s pretty damn cute. I love that with the addition of this member to the family, it’s confirmed that the line increases its number of tails by 3 every time it evolves. I like this, but I’m not entirely sold on it. The face lacks some detail and I feel like the design isn’t different enough from vulpix to really feel necessary.

7/10 it’s cute but I don’t think vulpix needs a pre-evo

Mahou Shoujo Green

This tangela pre-evo is pretty cute, though the body underneath kind of reminds me a bit too much of oddish. I mean maybe it’d be cool to look at the oddish line and the tangela line and see how two related species had off-shoots, but I am not really the biggest fan of baby pokemon as an institution so these will all be a hard sell for me, sorry.

6/10 again, cute but unecessary

Tangrowth as imagined by CalArts

I loved tangela a lot back in the day, and tangrowth is a really interesting pokemon as well…however this one has a little bow and ringlet hair so like, no contest, really.

9/10 this should be an alternate evo option for tangela (perhaps for females?)

i could be your angle or yuor devil

So this one is kinda cool in concept. It’s clearly drawing influence from Japanese kites, and the scary face might be an evolutionary feature designed to scare off predators…that or it’s a flying/ghost or flying/dark type and the angel imagery is the ruse. Either way I fucking love this thing.

10/10 I want this concept revisited

Qwilfish

I like qwilfish a lot! It’s got cool typing, it can perform decently on a rain team, and it’s based on a pufferfish. It’s definitely an underdog in the wider world, but not in my heart.

10/10

The Fish Who Lived

I have…reservations about this evolution though. As cool as it would be to have a qwilfish evolution, this just isn’t doing it for me. It’s kinda cool that it’s shaped like a naval mine, and the Harry Potter scar is pretty cute, but I can get over the dead-eyed stare.

4/10 yeah no I think I’m happy to wait for better evo ideas to come along

Pichu

Pichu’s cute enough I guess but I’ve never liked it as much as pikachu and sure as hell not as much as my boy raichu. However if the baby version was this roly poly cutie, I think I’d be more into it. This style of pre-evo harkens back to the good ol’ days of fat pikachu, and therefore I must doff my cap to it.

8/10 with a bit of polishing I would take this over pichu for sure

Cleffa

Okay, so of the baby pokemon, of which I am generally not fond, cleffa is by far my favorite because of how cute it is. This is also extremely cute. I like picturing the trainer being able to just grab the thing by the little knob on its head if it’s heading toward danger. Plus that tail nub is so cute! I don’t know that I could choose between this version and the actual cleffa.

9/10 would be a 10 but Nate once said “what if cleffa’s hands were its nipples?” and now I can’t unsee it

Igglybuff

Iggly has always reminded me of the Powerpuff Girls, but this beta version is so…delightfully round. God, it’s like hypnotizing how round it is. You wouldn’t have to show this from above to trick someone in a silhouette quiz. The tiny, wide-set eyes are also both piercing and kind of unassuming, which I can’t decide is cute or terrifying.

8/10 think I’d swap this guy in for the existing igglybuff

Quagsire!

I freaking LOVE quagsire. It’s so derpy, I love water/ground types, and just everything about it is cute and makes me want to hug it. The only problem with it in this beta is that there’s no wooper.

10/10 bring wooper with you bro

Natu

I’ve always thought natu was cute and really neat in concept, but I’ve never actually sat down and trained one. This sprite isn’t too different from its final one, but it is missing the color scheme, which is one of the reasons I like it.

6/10 stop being so washed out!

Xatu

Also largely unchanged from its final design, though I do prefer the Silver sprite where its wings are spread. (And I’m sorry about this, but some of the pictures will have bits of other sprites in them, since it was hard cutting these all down in Paint with a trackpad.)

7/10 very unique

Prince(ss) of the sea

Is this a pre-evo of goldeen and seaking, and I can see why it was cut. Who thought either of those would be popular enough to warrant a baby form?

2/10 fuck yeah was a meme guys, it wasn’t sincere

Marill

Marill’s okay. I think it’s fairly cute, and the design they went with using smaller ears and non-clown feet is better imo. Plus this is really minor but it’s bothering me that despite the codename “pikablu” this sprite is pink.

6/10 solid cute pokemon, but the final design is better

Finding Flounder

So I’m a big fan of lanturn because of its digimon-esque eyes and its cool typing. Chinchou I’m…eh on. This cutie though, I could get used to this.

8/10 cute eyes are better than terrifying cross eyes I’m sorry

Clanker’s Cavern

As I just said, I like lanturn a lot. However, this is a shark with an anchor attached. That’s like if you left dhelmise and sharpedo at the day care on the same day an enemy team spilled plutonium all over the yard. It’s so stupid! I love this thing so damn much.

8/10 it’s way too similar to other existing pokemon, but I still kind of want it anyway

Homsar

This thing kind of scares me. The gaping mouth, the wide eyes, and the fact that it clearly would inhabit deep parts of the ocean all make me want to nope out. That said though, I respect it.

6/10 glad they came back to this idea with elektross

Crobat

If you’ve ever battled me in one of our local or online tournaments, you will know that I have a soft spot for crobat. I think golbat’s design is kind of terrible, zubat is simplistic yet kinda cute, and crobat gets to be both cute/cool and also not suck completely in battle (see what I did there?). This design seems mostly unchanged.

8/10 a very good bro

Most likely to drive an airbrushed van

This paras pre-evo looks like it’s inspired by a lovely whimsical creature from Wonderland or Fantasia. I kind of like having a pre-evo to show that at the start the sinister mushrooms allow the baby para to call the shots, biding its time until takes over the entire nervous system as a parasect. Really not feeling the face, though.

5/10 cute, interesting idea, but I don’t know if I want to add more baby pokemon to the mix

Spinarak

I have some mild arachnophobia, but I actually rather like spinarak since it’s so adorable. This version is a little more true to life and not as adorable. Also wtf GameFreak stop giving your arachnids six legs!

5/10 very much prefer the final design but kinda reminds me of the little jumpy bois I catch and release from inside my apartment sometimes

Ariados

Again with the six legs thing. Ugh. Anyway, this beta version of ariados is actually much cuter than the one we ended up getting in the final game. I’m pretty lukewarm on ariados in general (my spider boi of choice is the far superior galvantula), but look at this thing’s face! Look at the face on its body! It’s cute even when it’s trying to be scary!

6/10 why did we not get this adorable boi?!

Skarmory

It’s skarmory. That’s it. A pokemon that I like in theory but have never been super into his design.

5/10 respectably cool but not my cup of tea

Alphonse Elric’s head in chibi form, screaming as his body melts

Here it is. My favorite of all of the beta sprites. This thing is so fucking wonderful in part because I have literally no idea what the hell it’s supposed to be. What is this?! What type is it supposed to be? What is it based on? Is it a pre-evo of an existing mon? Why is its mouth parted in an eternal screech? These questions do not necessarily have answers, and I am a sucker for mystery.

10/10 GameFreak please bring this idea to life just so that I can get closure

Mine! Mine!

So I see what they were going for. It’s a baby form of doduo, with three baby bird heads and a big puff of feathers to make it look like a brood peeking out of a nest. I respect the idea, I do. Too bad it also conjures up images in my head of rat kings and other fused abominations. 

5/10 a good idea that didn’t pan out so well

[Obligatory Undertale Reference]

Sunflora would actually probably be more intimidating if it had an evolution rather than a pre-evo, though. I’m no big fan of sunflora, but I gotta say that this sprite is way better than the one we ended up getting.

6/10 replace existing sunflora with this bullet seed-spewing former skiddo

The Littlest Babaar

I’ve never really been into elephants as a species. Like they’re cool, but they’re pretty middle of the pack for me in terms of my animal preferences. As a result, I always found donphan kind of disappointing. However, I do like phanpy quite a bit, if only for the fact that it’s goddamn adorable. This sprite is a bit plain, but does bring the cuteness.

6/10 prefer the final design but this one ain’t bad at all

Donphan

The Don hasn’t changed much at all as far as I can tell. I’ve never trained one in Gen 2, so is its backsprite really just its trunk? If so, hilarious.

5/10 congrats! you exist!

That’s the statement of the grave mint, Doublemint

I can’t decide if this was intended to be a pre-evo for ghastly or if it’s supposed to be a new ghost type (perhaps later replaced by misdreavus?). Either way it’s an interesting concept, and I can imagine the pokedex entry now: “Born from the souls of fetuses who were eaten in-utero by their siblings. Since they feel they were destined to be twins, they find each other shortly after death and fuse together so that they’ll never be alone again.”

7/10 not the most original design but damn we had a shortage of ghost types back in the day

Girafarig

Girafarig is one of those pokemon that I always wanted to be more competitively viable because I think it has a unique design and could fill a cool niche. I like that the final design has the tail as an evolutionary measure and that there’s a smaller brain in it, just like some real life creatures. That said, we really missed out on getting a face full of evil uniraffe in the backsprite. Man, this is a real tough choice.

7/10 let’s keep girafarig as is and try out this concept on a different mon

Smeargle

This version of him seems a bit more…simian than his final, kinda canine design. Not sure if I dig it. Also, have you noticed that Gen 2 felt obligated to have a ditto/mew type mon that could mimic all the other mons? I feel like this concept gets revisited every so often and GameFreak thinks we’re none the wiser.

5/10 flesh beret just isn’t okay

Coin Kitty

So I know I said I’m against baby pokemon on principle, but the fact that this thing never saw the light of day upsets me so much. It’s so. fucking. CUTE.

10/10 go back in time and replace skitty with this

Betty Boop’s best friend

I get the feeling that this dark type cat got recycled into the purrloin line, but this one is way cooler imo. It references the old adage of “belling the cat” and I think that this pokemon line could have had some really cool sound-based signature moves (sorta similar to the whismur or jangmo-o lines).

9/10 not feeling the bipedal thing, but still a really neat concept I’d like to see

Luna

Again, I love the idea of a pokemon based on a fable. I can see why this particular design didn’t get used, given how simple it is and how closely it resembles umbreon if you just glance at it, but I’d love to see this revisited.

7/10 spruce up the design a bit and get back to me

Politoed’s wild ride

So when I first met politoed I felt he was a bit too…cutesy? Like the rosy cheeks were a bit much. This guy feels a bit more like he belongs in the poliwag line, though he doesn’t look like he’d be as bouncy.

6/10 might replace existing politoed design, might not

Slowking

Though I prefer slowbro as my yadon evo of choice, slowking is pretty awesome in his own right. Not a big fan of the clown ruffle, but honestly it’s kind of a minor setback all things considered. 

7/10 remember how he could randomly talk in the 2nd pokemon movie? That was fucked up.

Unknown

All of these cool, unsued beta designs, and this one gets to stay in?

1/10 don’t talk to me right now, GameFreak

Ledyba

It’s ledyba. One of the bug types I’m actually not really all that into. Pretty sure this is the sprite actually used in Gold.

4/10 fine just not for me

I see you

Ledian’s deal as a superhero is kinda cool, even if I don’t particularly care for the actual design. And I gotta say, it’s preferable to the ever-watching eyes of this thing. Those stars aren’t natural; they’re tattoos for each trainer its killed.

3/10 I feel like I need to go lie down

My Little Shetland Pony

Clearly this is intended to be a ponyta baby form, and while I commend the idea of a foal version (or maybe a Shetland or something?), you may notice that there is very, very little to set this pre-evo apart from ponyta. Like it and and rapidash aren’t exactly the most daring design-wise, so stripping it to the essentials doesn’t really work.

5/10 this is cute as all hell but it has no reason to exist

Espeon

Though I get shit all the time for liking espeon the least out of all the eeveelutions, I do still think the design is neat, and the fact that it draws from the nekomata myth is fascinating. Backsprite is a bit janky in the hips department–yet another unrealistic beauty standard, amirite ladies?

7/10 I personally don’t think there are any bad eeveelutions

Umbreon!

My absolute favorite Gen 2 pokemon! Not many changes between this and the final design, though I will say that this one looks a lot more terrifying–the hole eyes are worse than the red ones somehow. Still, love.

10/10 listen this is my personal rating

Alolan Shellder

This one is so fascinating to me. It’s obviously the chompy boi from slowbro and slowking, which in the pokedex is referred to as a shellder, but perhaps this is a unique evolution that only happens when it disconnects from the slowpoke? I am really upset this wasn’t actually used in the game, because getting to have this thing on the same team as slowpoke, slowbro, and slowking would have been like when Banjo-Tooie introduced the mechanic that let Banjo and Kazooie split up.

10/10 give me, dammit!

Garbage Pail Kid

Again with the baby form for a line that already is known for extremely simple designs. Grimer and muk are literally just piles of slime of differing sizes. (Shut up, Alolan forms weren’t a thing til later.) So basically this baby form is fucking adorable, and I’m loving the thing that could be a nose but I’m choosing to interpret as a mouth with a single tooth. It’s just that…who needs this?

7/10 cute, but not necessary by any stretch of imagination

Are ya feelin’ lucky, punk?

Okay, so this beta is a) way cooler than remoraid ended up being, and b) makes the evolution line make SO MUCH more sense. I can definitely see why it was changed, especially since censor-happy America was a legit market by that point. And I guess the revolver barrel part of the design still persisted in Gen 2, but still.

5/10 booo censorship!

TANK!

Octillary’s name also makes way more sense with the original tank design. I mean I can kinda see why this changed, but like…Digimon was over there with a creature in the anime just literally called Tankmon who shoots shells at elementary schoolers so I don’t fucking know. 

7/10 I like octillary as is, but this is a much more interesting design

WWE fan

Okay so real talk, I am not the biggest fan of tyrogue’s design, but what was even going on here? What’s with the frog hat? Is it a safety helmet? The general hitmonlee body shape combined with the baby boxing gloves for hitmonchan was pretty cool, but this is not something I’d look at and think “Yes, this will grow up to be a humonoid fighting type.”

5/10 it’s…cute? I guess I just don’t see what’s going on here really

shaga;lsdkfhahdgajspd[f

NO. JUST NO. THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS HAPPENING HERE, TOO MANY LIMBS, TOO MANY EYES, JUST NO. HITMONTOP ENDED UP BEING SILLY BUT AT LEAST IT WASN’T THIS MANGLED BODY HORROR NONSENSE.

0/10 for reminding me of claydol and my own mortality

Pupper

This is going to come as a surprise, but I’m glad they didn’t introduce a baby form of growlithe. The growlithe and arcanine line includes 2 of my top 3 pokemon ever and as cute as this is I don’t think it would fit aesthetically. It looks like a spaniel that doesn’t match the shisa vibe of the growlithe line. That said, I would love to see it as a first form for a different line of perhaps…ground type doggos?

9/10 please give us some floppy ear dog designs, GameFreak! new doggos!

Like, nya

I do think the hoppip line (except for the last evo) is pretty cute, and this one reminds me a bit of an in-training digimon so I’m liking it. That said, I think the designs we got were better.

6/10 cute but like existing hoppip

Gardnyar

Again, prefer Skiploom.

5/10 not a fan of the flower for some reason

Nyancat theme plays in the distance

So I like this better than jumpluff personally, even if the other is probably a more unique design.

5/10 jumpluff’s limbs bother me, but lbr I was never going to train one anyway

New this Easter

Mr. Mime, I think we can all agree, is an unsettling design. That’s its whole appeal, really. Mime Jr. is cute enough I guess, but this is a tiny clown egg that looks like it’s learning to ice skate for the first time!

6/10 get your derpy clown nose out of here, Mime Jr.

Agatha’s apprentice

Smoochum is…well, she is. She’s kinda cute, and I think I prefer the finished design to this one since it looks way too similar to grown up jynx. Plus it raises some uncomfortable questions about it being born with ganguro make-up and hair (in a style that looks like E4 Agatha’s for some reason). This smoochum looks like it’d be taken out to sit alone at the bar in the club while wearing booty shorts that read “Mama’s Lil’ Bitch” across the back.

4/10 this makes me uncomfortable, and the hair is too close to Agatha’s

Which way to the Chao Garden?

Elekid is one of few baby pokemon I like, but hot damn this thing is adorable. It looks like a tiny, wingless bee with a halo.

7/10 can this be recycled as something else?

Bart Simpson

Really what keeps me from fully embracing the magmar line is largely the fact that they all have butts on their heads. These spikes are way more appealing to me, and so I would have loved having this one in the game.

8/10 is it still too late to redesign magby?

Bellossom

Not too many changes from the beta. I am digging the shoujo sparkles going on around her, haha.

6/10 not a big bellossom fan but a well-design pokemon nonetheless

Audrey III

Nope, I don’t like this, no sir. Where would this even go in the evo line? Is it supposed to be an alternative to victreebel? Cause this isn’t much better, guys.

1/10 I will give it one point since it looks like it could cut a rug on the dance floor

Miltank

A good, solid pokemon I’m pretty fond of (once I got over my salt from the Whitney battle). I like her as a female counterpart to tauros. Nothing too astounding but still fun and cute.

8/10 

Fire Seal

I feel like there’s folklore here, but my tired brain isn’t coming up with anything at the moment, sadly. Not a really detailed design but those tend to be more my favorites anyway. Trying to figure out what this was replaced by in the final game but I’m having a tough time figuring it out.

7/10 we have a lot of seals, but this is the only FIRE seal

Delibird

I see we chose the path with more subtlety in the end.

4/10 not really a big fan of delibird

Hanshin Hopeful

Okay, I know I said earlier that the screaming pile of goo was my favorite, but this line is also my favorite out of these beta designs. This one upsets me because this would have been such a great cultural addition! Osaka (represented by Goldinrod City in the games) has a baseball team called the Hanshin Tigers, which everyone in the area is a fervent fan of. Not only is this unbearably cute, it could have been hanging out in like a little baseball stadium area or something in or around Goldinrod. 

10/10 how could you leave this out?!

Nandeyanen!!

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Why did I not get this?! The Akihabara of Osaka is even called “DenDen Town” (Electric Town)!

10/10 we’ve missed our chance and now amends cannot be made

Talk to the wing

Is this supposed to be a farfetch’d evolution?! It doesn’t make a ton of sense aside from the waterfowl connection, but like…how pissed would you be if you were farfetch’d? This is kinda cool. I’m not super into swans or anything, but the masquerade/crime fighter mask is a neat detail.

5/10 I could see this being used interestingly, even if I’d probably not use it

Hitori Kakurenbou

I love this concept. Look at this! I know it was basically recycled for shuppet’s line, but this is so much more hardcore. Now this is a pokemon that can use curse appropriately.

10/10 personally like this one better than shuppet, if I’m being honest

Hsien-ko

This is the most Chinese pokemon since arcanine, oh my god. It’s a panda jiangshi. A panda jiangshi! Imagine it hopping after you adorably, ready to leech life you to death.

9/10 it’s not as cute as the pre-evolution, but still–panda jiangshi!!!

Murkrow

Not a lot of changes going on here either, aside from the more obvious witch’s hat design. Unsure if I like this one better or regular murkrow.

7/10 good flappy friend

*uncomfortable cough*

Blissey’s design is a bit too busy and frilly for my tastes, but it’s certainly a lot more acceptable than this. I get what they were going for: a heart on top of its head to represent healing and whatnot, but it just came out so…so yonic in nature that I have to wonder about the person responsible for this design.

1/10 not entirely awful but good lord

Scisor

Here’s the boi, only this time with eyes on his little crab claws! It’s cute but later got used for hydregion instead, and I dunno, I kind of prefer scisor as is. Still think scyther looks cooler, but a good strudy boi.

6/10 for the puppet shows it could give to entertain all the baby forms on this sprite sheet

Pinsir Noh Pinching

Here’s your fave, anon! You’re right that it seems to have a blank Noh-like mask on its face, as if a huge pinching bug wasn’t terrifying enough for you. That said, I kind of like the really creepy vibe, and poor pinsir got left in the dirt by his rival scyther once Gen 2 hit and gave scyther an evolution but nothing for his clampy comrade.

6/10 we could still get a pinsir evolution, guys

Houndour!

As you might expect of me, the houndour line is a close second to umbreon for Jess’s Favorite Gen 2 Pokemon. It combines two types I love, fire and dark, into this edgy but adorable package–what could I not love about it? This design is actually even better than the final one, because look at that sick-ass spine highlighting the ribs that got left in!

10/10 you cannot half ass edge; that misses the point

Houndoom!

Houndoom, meanwhile, looks pretty much as I remember him in Gold. And there’s nothing wrong with that–his design is fucking amazing. Man, kids, back in the metagame in Gen 2, houndoom was firmly in the top tier. Ah, I remember those days…

10/10 like a shark, houndoom has passed through decades without major tinkering to its evolutionary design

Baby yeti

Long before froslass burst onto the scene, this little bundle of deceptively charming horror could have been the first ice/ghost type. Yes, yes, it’s very adorable upon initial inspection, but once you look a bit deeper, you notice that the pokemon itself is actually black as night, with two piercing Jawa eyes, and the happy fur coat is another creature that’s been skinned and put on like a hoodie. Amazing.

10/10 I’ll take four

Wampa

I started on Star Wars references in the last entry and I gotta keep it going. Anyway, the evolution of tiny, arctic Buffalo Bill up there is even more fearsome, with claws and pupils! It’s even somehow found a way to make its fur covering evolve with it, having it sprout huge fangs (yeah I know, adults probably hunt larger creatures for clothing, but let me have this).

10/10 this so should have been a thing

Pon de Lion

I wonder if perhaps this design was meant to be an alternate form or evolution of porygon, or if this was an entirely different species based on toys (presumably to pad out the number of steel types). It’s an interesting idea, certainly, but I 100% get why this design got scrapped–it was a lawsuit from Mr. Donut waiting to happen.

Ugh

Did you know that horses produce 10 gallons of saliva a day? I now do thanks to Nate quizzing us over vacation last weekend to see if we could tell the difference between real animals and pokemon based on factoids. Now, lickilicky was not a new evolution I embraced with open arms, but man, it could have been so much worse.

2/10 I can’t say there’s no appeal (that mustache is great) but it just looks slimy and no thanks

Steelix

It’s steelix, unchanged from this beta to the final game.

7/10 I just think it’s neat

Sunken Master

I would like kingdra so, so much more if this is what it looked like.

9/10 this is goddamn cool and no one can convince me otherwise

Shadow the Edgedog

I’m not gonna lie, I fucking love this stupid design. It’s an electric dog with super sayain hair. 

10/10 fuck you, I do what I want

Oscar Myer

Do I find this design cute? Yes. Do I personally like it more than entei’s? Yes. Do I think it’s a better design than entei? No. It’s a bit too plain to really give off that legendary feel, but for me? I’d totally take this in a game. Also at least the last two have actually looked like dogs. The Legendary “Dogs” we got were a tiger, a lion/bear hybrid, and whatever the hell suicune is supposed to be.

8/10 I am a simple woman with simple needs

Jen Kira

I see people likening this design to Nina Tucker, but I actually don’t see that. It looks more to me like a special edition My Little Pony toy from the 80s released to promote The Dark Crystal. I dig it, even if it’s my least favorite of the three OG doggos.

8/10 if only some of the pizzazz of this design was afforded to fiery boi up there and we’d be onto something

Rook

This weasel/otter type thing is really cute, and perhaps was a concept idea for what later became sentret? I’d say I would want to see it again, but I kind of get the feeling we already did get the concept revived in the mienfoo line.

6/10 glad we got to see this one again

Ho-oh

Doesn’t seem too different from the sprite in the final game, and still a good design. That said though, I’m noticing that there’s no lugia in these beta sprites. What the fuck is that?!

7/10 got bros over this ho(-oh)

Togepi

This little bugger was introduced so early in the anime that I’m not surprised that its design was firmed up by the time the demo came out. Togepi’s okay I guess, but again I don’t really tend to like baby pokemon and I got kind of over-exposed to it in the anime.

6/10 cute but not a fave

Snubble

SNUB PARTY!! Snubs has the dubious honor of being the only dog pokemon I actively dislike. I like granbull so I can put up with it temporarily to get it to evolve, but this does a lot of things on my Dislike Checklist: aggressively pink, check; clown ruffle, check; appears to be wearing a dress, check.

4/10 not a fan

Boscoe

This early version of aipom looks like Marsupilami if it had been created by the Fleischer brothers. Something about this design just isn’t Right, but I can’t put my finger on it. I think it’s the 1930s American animation style face combined with walking on all fours? Either way it creeps me out.

3/10 though aipom is a very middle-of-the-road pokemon for me, it’s a helluva lot better than this abomination

Leafeon Prime

If you had asked us kid pokemon fans back in the days of Gen I what pokemon we’d most like to see in the future, I imagine “grass type eeveelution” was near the top for many of them. It just made sense–you had the leaf stone just sitting around, not reacting to your eevee, and it was so blatantly conspicuous. I had my own grass type eeveelution design I’d made called “Thorneon”, the design of which I might share at some point, and I was far from the only one.

So yeah, I’d have appreciated this a LOT in Gen 2. I was disappointed it wasn’t introduced in Gen 2. However, promises of a grass type eeveelution in Gen 4 got me to finally pull the trigger on getting a DS to play Diamond and Pearl, and that turned out to be an execellent decision. So maybe it was better that they kept this idea incubating for a bit longer.

10/10 I like leafeon and I also like this design–particularly like the vine bits that look like scars

And so there you have it! All 100 beta sprites reveiwed by yours truly. 

Hope it was worth the wait, anon!

[humansofoz]

October 30th, 2018

“Knock me down 9 times, but I get up 10.” -Cardi B

Cliff-Simon Vital. 20. SUNY Oswego Senior. 

HoOz- What was your most memorable childhood experience?

Cliff- I would have to say the day before I came to America. So what a lot of people don’t know, or I don’t advertise it a lot, but I come from Haiti which is a small country in the Caribbean. The night before I came to America, my aunt who took care of me when I lived in Haiti, threw this big going away party for me. It meant a lot because we struggled, so I knew she didn’t have the money for it but she threw me a party anyway. I had a giant cake, I had this huge lollipop. It was one of the rainbow lollipops that has swirls. Any time that I think back about my transition here, or when I’m sad and I’m trying to think of happier thoughts, I just go back to that memory of her giving me this huge lollipop because we went to the market one day, and I saw it there and I really wanted it but it was very pricey and we had to buy other things because, you know, money doesn’t grow on trees. She knew that I wanted it and she bought it for me and it just meant a lot. So that’s probably my most sacred childhood memory. The flights that I was on to come from Port-au-Prince to Florida was the worst flight I’ve ever taken in my life. There was so much turbulence, and the entire time I was clinging onto the lollipop. Hard times. So I always go back to that memory of her giving me that lollipop, throwing me the party, and just having fun.

HoOz- Can you tell me what your childhood was like in Haiti?

Cliff- Here’s a little backstory for everyone that’s going to read this or just to connect the dots. I was born in Long Island. I was born in Mineola and when I was three years old, around this time actually, so when I was about to turn three I was sent to Haiti to live with my aunt because my mom just couldn’t raise me. At that time it wasn’t financially good. So she sent me to Haiti and I lived with my aunt for a couple of years. My mom was getting her education, she was also relatively new to America, so she had to transition herself and raising a child at the same time for her was just not convenient. So she sent me to live with people who could take care of me, who were more better off. I lived in Haiti for a couple of years and I came here when I was about ten years old. Between that time, I had to go back to Haiti a couple times just to figure out the whole immigration stuff. I couldn’t stay in this country for so long because of how the laws were back then. So I had to keep going back and forth. My first full year in America was when I was like twelve if I remember correctly. So I lived there for a while. I don’t have a lot of memories other than the really good ones and the really bad ones. I know that I woke up every day around 6:00 am, got dressed, and went to school. My uncle picked me up from school and then we drove back home, I did my homework, and then I watched TV, and then I went to bed, and repeat. When I lived with my aunt, she lived in like a mountainous area, so it was away from the city, away from people. It’s like upstate New York. It was more isolated, so I had a really boring childhood. I didn’t have sleepovers, I didn’t ride bikes, I didn’t fly kites. I went to school, did my work, and came back home. I think that’s why I’m so structured now because I’ve always lived that structured life. That’s also why I don’t know how to dress because I wore uniform my entire life. Since like pre-k I was wearing a uniform. So.. it wasn’t bad. There are more good memories than bad memories. I was also raised with family, so there was always another guy or girl in the house. So who I thought were my siblings for a while, but I realized were my cousins, I had an older guy cousin and an older female cousin. I was the youngest, I was treated like the youngest, more attention was sent to me, my birthday presents were more elaborate. But I never go special treatment, I still had chores, I still had to get good grades. I lived how any other kid lived, full of innocence and not aware of what’s going on around them. Just doing what they’re told.

HoOz- When you finally came to America for good, how was the transition for you?

Cliff- Oh my. So when I left Haiti I knew two languages, French and Haitian Creole. When I came to America people did not speak French or Haitian Creole. So that was my number one struggle. Oh man did I struggle. Second or third grade, I was bullied a lot. I went to a Catholic school, and nothing against Catholic schools, but I was one of two black people there. I know Catholic schools are more diverse now, but back then it wasn’t, and back then I was this kid who was black and came from an international country that’s known for being poor. When I came to America my mom graduated with her RN, she was well off this time. She had money, enough to send me to a private Catholic school, so I was living life, but in school, I was not. I had to go to extra classes. During my normal 9:00 to 3:00 schedule, around 11:00 or 12:00 I would have to go to ESL class. Back then it was called English as a second language. I think it’s called ESOL now but it’s definitely advanced since then. That professor helped me learn English. I remember always having to defend myself about why I had to leave math class. I remember that sometimes when people had recess I would have to stay inside and do more English work. I think it was actually sixth grade where I stopped ESL, I was speaking more proficiently, but that’s because school didn’t end for me when I went home or when class was over. I got home, I ate, I did my chores, and then I did either homework or I was watching TV. On those days that I had no homework, I was watching PBS Kids stuff where they taught you English in the morning, or more English specific TV shows. I was forced to watch those shows for a while until I passed this specialized English test at the end of the year. So seventh grade was my first normal like “hey I’m a kid. I’m gonna watch Codename: Kids Next Door and hang out with friends.” I lived in Rockaway Beach, and the beach was two minutes from my house, we had parks every couple of blocks. There were things to do as a kid there but I was never able to that because if I wasn’t helping to raise my siblings, I was studying for the English proficiency exam. I eventually transferred schools in fourth grade because the bullying was ridiculous. When I moved from one school to another, the bullying didn’t stop. I was made fun of in class and it didn’t help that the professors were also making fun. Yes, usually teachers are supposed to be helping or guiding or whatever but some of the teachers weren’t supportive. It wasn’t until I got to fifth grade, my teacher backed me up and yelled at the kids who were making fun of me. I’m not gonna @ any names but this kid, and I still remember his name because you always remember the name of your first bully, threw me in the coat closet and then put the broom in the door so I couldn’t get out. It was right before lunchtime, so I was in there crying for forty minutes. When my professor found me, she made a big deal. She was a little Irish white lady screaming her head off, the principal came into the room, I’m sobbing. I was also bleeding because I hit my head on one of the coat hooks. It was a big deal. My mom called, she was screaming, she was threatening to sue the parents about the kid. It was this big thing. The kid got kicked out of school for bullying. That’s just one of the worst examples I could think of about how my transition from Haiti to America was, being in the American school system where the only support you had was your ESL class. Yes, I had two hours of ESL where I learned the language and stuff but I was thrown into those classes and I just had to swim. I was thrown into the pool and told to swim. Imagine not knowing what the teacher is saying sitting in class all day long for like two years. That was me until I really was like I don’t understand. My mom was like we’re gonna put you in this ESL class, we’re gonna go to the library, we’re gonna do all these things to make sure you’re caught up. My siblings who were growing up with me, my younger ones, didn’t have to face all that because they were born in America, raised in America. I was born there, raised here, and when I came back I had to transition all over again. So it was hard. It’s crazy. It’s a lot.

HoOz- Let’s fast forward a little bit. You’re now in college and flourishing, and you’re the president of the Pre-Health Care club. Can you tell me a little bit about how you got involved in that?

Cliff- So, funny story. I was never really the big pre-med person that I came in as. In high school, I was involved in like health care specific organizations but that didn’t really go anywhere once I came to college. I came to college and there were a couple of changes with my major the first year, but as a first-year student I was a Biochemistry major and my goal was to be an OBGYN working in the intensive care unit. Then Organic Chemistry happened, but whatever. I got involved with the Pre-Health Care club as a freshman when the current president Ian Thompson told me about it, and I was like this is a great organization, it’s gonna help me get to where I want to go, and I just joined like anyone else would join. I went to the involvement fair and that’s when they told me about it, I went to their meetings, and now I’m president. So it’s been a journey.

HoOz- What do you hope to accomplish with the club as president this year?

Cliff- This is actually my second year as president, and usually your first term is where you make all of your mistakes. So this semester, it’s been very helpful to know what didn’t work last year in my presidency. What we do for Pre-Health is we bring in medical professionals to come in and speak to the club members and tell them about what they do, how they got to where they are, any advice that they would have wanted to know when they were in our shoes. My first year as president we had a lot of issues with booking speakers. That’s all we did was bring in speakers and we teach through them. Last year it was very hard to get speakers because me being the president, I didn’t really know what I was doing in a sense, but this year we’ve been killing it. We have speakers every single week. We’ve only had to cancel once this semester. Last year I think we canceled five out of ten times, this semester we canceled once just because the speaker was having family issues and couldn’t come in which was understandable. But we have speakers lined up every week to come in and it’s been great. People are enjoying it, I’m seeing a lot of recurring people so people are staying. I get emails every week on LakerLife, “hi I want to join the organization,” and I add them to the email list. So it’s working well. I want to evolve Pre-Health. We were founded in 2011. In 2013 we got our footing in. Like I said I was a member, I was treasurer at one point, vice president at one point, and now president for the past two years. We’ve only been doing speakers. This semester, I’m really excited to announce that we’re using the money that we get from SA to fund group trips. So November 10th, we’re bringing about ten people to Temple University, which is known for their Podiatry School but they also have other programs that our club members are interested in. So we’re gonna go to their open house in Pennsylvania. We have an Airbnb, we’re gonna buy groceries to cook, and it’s gonna be a really fun time. We’re also going to The Mütter Museum that has all these failed experiments and body parts that people have donated to science. It’s gonna be really exciting. We’re also planning an Upstate trip the week after that. So we’re gonna go to Upstate Medical and have a tour and participate in their open house day. Me being president this year we’re trying to do more. We’re trying to evolve to not only do guest speakers but to have events. At one point I want to advertise Pre-Health to the public. I want to table or do a fundraiser or something. I want to give the organization to the next president a bit more developed than it was when I got it. I don’t want them to only be doing guest speakers. So that’s my plan.

HoOz- If you could tell your future self one thing, what would it be?

Cliff- Wow this is a tricky question, it’s always been like your past self. I guess if I could talk to my future self right now, I don’t know what I would tell them, I would ask them. I would tell them to keep pushing. Keep thriving. What I’m currently going through right now, all the stress, all the homework, all the papers, all the on calls, I hope it was all worth it. So just keep pushing, keep thriving, keep surrounding yourself with the people you love, and just keep moving. We’re going through all these hurdles so we can make the end goal of being happy, being successful, being financially stable, so just keep going. There are a lot of times where it’s just like I’m just gonna give up, I’m just gonna quit this, I don’t wanna do this anymore, I don’t have to deal with the stress, if I quit right now I won’t have to deal with this. I don’t obviously because being a student leader you can’t just quit. I think I would just tell him to keep going because you’ve done it already. You’ve jumped through all these hoops because if you don’t keep moving then you’re gonna be stuck in the past, and if I’m talking to my future self then they already got through the things I’ve gone through.

[alexandrian-archives]

I was tagged in the #bookishconnections and #whatthisweek and it was combined so I'm combining it too 😆 be ready for a lengthy caption! 🪐Is there a genre you tend to stay away from? Romance and Russia inspired books. Although the latter isn't a genre, Russia/Slavic inspired books tend to rub me the wrong way as I am half Russian and grew up with the various folk tales used in these kind of books. So no, I have not read the Grisha Trilogy or the Bear and the Nightingale and really don't plan on doing that. Romance is...self explanatory although my mum enjoys them more than me haha. I also don't like horror. 🪐Is there a book on your shelf you're ashamed you haven't read yet? The Odyssey...The Hobbit...The Kite Runner...not necessarily ashamed because I know that the time for them has not come around but people don't exactly react in the most positive way when I tell them I've not read the Hobbit. I've watched the movies! I know it's not the same but The Hobbit and LOTR movies are wonderful and I don't think anyone will disagree 🪐What is your worst habit as a reader? I fold corners (mainly on books I've bought second hand) and also eat while reading (is that a bad habit?) 🪐Do you read the synopsis before buying the book? Yes. A horrible habit is reading the Goodreads reviews or searching it up on IG. I know, terrible. 🪐What are you reading this week? Too many books to list but wanna read a bit of Shahnameh by Ferdowsi 🪐What are you listening to this week? My mother loves Michael Bublé's Christmas album...but also mainly Kpop 🪐What are you watching this week? I'm not a TV fan but I watch productivity/school/book related vids on YouTube 🪐What are you excited for this week? Staying home and relaxing! Just kidding! My prof doesn't like us enough and we all have a dissertation (essay in French is simple words) due the first class back so here's to hoping I don't procrastinate! Also excited to really have time to dive into the research for my WIP, which, if anyone has any codenames for, would be helpful. It has Zoroastrianism, Islam, Muslim conquests and maybe The Conquests of Alexander the Great. Happy holidays! Signing out, HL Mila https://www.instagram.com/p/CJRkHb2guev/?utm_medium=tumblr