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scotianostra · 5 months ago

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On October 14th 1322 a Scottish army led by King Robert I defeated Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland.

Eight years after Bannockburn and two years after the Declaration of Arbroath, the First War of Scottish Independence was still going on, most people don’t know that Edward II tried once again, to take Scotland in this year, perhaps because there was no major battle our history books seem to be bereft of the full details, anyway I will give a wee bit of the details of this English campaign, and the response by King Robert.

After he tasted a sound beating in 1314 at Blackburn Edward II of England refused to recognise Bruce as an independent king. Bruce began raiding Northern England and his brother, Edward, led an invasion of Ireland (which was partly an English colony, more on him later). In 1320 Bruce organised Scottish barons to send a letter to the pope making a powerful case for Scottish independence. But Bruce still faces serious threats. The wounds of the civil war have not healed. In 1320 the Soules Conspiracy to kill Bruce was brutally crushed.

In England, having successfully beaten his rebellious lords at the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322 and encouraged by this success, Edward II turned his attention to Scotland and marched on Edinburgh with a large army. This was to be his last campaign into Scotland. Robert responded with his scorched earth policy – ahead of the advancing English, driving out livestock, burning, destroying, trampling crops – so that the English would find no sustenance on the way and would turn back. Famously it was said that the only thing left to eat in Lothian was an old lame cow; the Earl of Surrey is supposed to have said ‘this is the dearest cow that I ever beheld; for of a certainty it has cost a thousand pounds and more’.

Edward reached Edinburgh, but due to the wet weather, lack of shelter and food, his army began to suffer and became apathetic, ill and demoralised. Edward ordered the slaughter of remaining Edinburgh inhabitants (a lot had fled); the English army ran amok and then retreated into England, harried by the Scots, and at around half its original numbers. They straggled back towards York, committing appalling atrocities in their retreat.

In response, Robert the Bruce had taken an army of around 20,000 to the west. Edward heard of this while travelling his way south, and ordered northern lords to attend him around Sutton Bank to assist. Robert the Bruce reached Carlisle and Lancaster, laying waste as he went, and then came across the Pennines to Northallerton where he was joined by Sir James Douglas. Their army marched south overnight, hoping to surprise the English who had by then taken refuge on the Hambledon Hills. He received news that Edward II was at Rievaulx Abbey (or Byland Abbey, accounts differ) and planned, if possible, to capture him to bring the Wars of Scottish Independence to an end. The English heard of the Scottish advance and moved at Old Byland to hold the ridge and block the path up to the top. While awaiting reinforcements, Edward spent his time drinking and feasting at the Abbey. Extra reinforcements from the south supplemented the number of men to a probable 65,000 according to the Lanercrost Chronicle (a northern English history of the day).

Robert the Bruce planned that Sir Walter Stewart (one of his commanders) was to break through to Rievaulx, once the English line had been broken at Roulsden Scar. He could have gone round the ridge and then to Rievaulx, around 15 miles, but decided to attack in case the delay allowed Edward more time to escape. The Scots hid in the trees at the foot of the Scar, shrouded by these and by the smoke from fires.

Bruce assaulted the ridge causing the Earl of Richmond (Edward’s commander) to respond by sending thousands of troops to counter, having the advantage of the heights and in numbers, but Highlanders in the Scottish ranks then attacked up the flanks, being used to mountainous conditions. Bruce and some of his men made their way unnoticed, stealthily, up onto Shaws Moor where the English were encamped and then, through the unprotected rear ranks, charged, roaring, crashing through the English lines, causing the subsequent confrontation to end in a rout. The armies below, hearing the triumphant Scots, looked up to see the Scots on the top of the ridge, causing the remaining English to flee for their lives if they could; the Earl of Richmond was captured, along with other notables.

The Scottish cavalry led by Sir Walter Stewart went after Edward, galloping on towards the Abbey and Edward fled, leaving everything behind, desperately trying to reach the coast at Bridlington to board a ship. He had been settling down to a feast at the Abbey but had had to flee in haste for his life. He managed to evade his pursuers in the dark, but at Bridlington discovered no ship available and so turned for York, riding flat out. From York he managed to make his way to Burstwick and from there, back to London.

The remains of the English army made their way to York seeking protection. Edward had left all his finery, treasure and the Great Seal of England at the Abbey – all then captured by the Scots. The victorious Scots raided the abbeys and made their way back north after plundering and moving through into the Wolds as far as Beverley. York was a fortified city and so was spared. Robert’s army set about making castles unusable and demanding payment from towns and villages – those that could not pay were looted and burnt. The monasteries and priories tried to save their wealth by moving their riches south before the Scottish army arrived, but had to pay heavily and never really recovered their former riches. The treasure gathered on the way back to Scotland helped Robert to make a start rebuilding his realm.

It is said that after Byland “the Scots were so fierce and their chiefs so daring, and the English so cowed, that it was no otherwise between them than as a hare before greyhounds.”

If you have ever driven south down the A1 you will no doubt know of Scotch Corner, but there are two Scotch Corners in Yorkshire – one on a well known major road – and the other, thought to be on the site of the Battle of Byland, is a little to the north of the village of Oldstead, on the promontory of the hill by Sutton Bank known as Scots Corner, or Scotch Corner. An old ‘drovers road’ runs through the site, used by the Scots in later centuries to bring livestock south to sell. There used to be an inn there – the Scotch Corner Inn. When this and the farmhouse fell into ruin, rather fittingly a chapel was built out of the old stone in 1957 to honour war dead in the Second World War, on the site of the battlefield.

It would be another 6 years before a formal peace treaty between the two countries was signed.

#scotland #scottish #history #england #first war of scottish independence

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alonahawk · 1 month ago

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Note(s): This is part 2, I hope you enjoy it!

I made a little bit of a parallel universe ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights on this picture.

Word count: 1,909

Changes

Chapter 2: Time to prove

Summary: The first deployment is coming up, time for you to prove to Bravo. Can you convince them?

As we arrived in VA Beach, we had to introduce ourselves to Commander Blackburn.

I knocked on his door.

"Come in."

We saluted.

"Commander, we are ready to start our duty."

"Ah, Petty Officers (Y/L/N) and Franklin. I was expecting you. You are the new sniper and spotter. Let me see... I've got two vacancies in Bravo team. This will be your new place. Here is a barracks plan. We are here and there are the quarters of the Bravo team. Contact Master Chief Hayes for further instructions. Any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"You're dismissed."

We went over to the quarters of our team and knocked on the door.

The door flew open.

"Master Chief Hayes? We are the new sniper and spotter, Petty Officer (Y/L/N) and Petty Officer Franklin."

"Oh, right. Commander Blackburn told me about you. Come in."

We walked in and looked around. We were really excited, but tried our best not to show it.

"Guys, this is Petty Officer (Y/N), our new sniper. And this is Petty Officer Drew Franklin, the spotter. (Y/N), Drew, these are Chief Warrant Officer Raymond Perry, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Omar Hamza, Special Warfare Operators First Class Sonny Quinn, Trent Sawyer and Brock Reynolds."

Sonny raised his eyebrows.

"A woman? Did you have the same requirements as everyone else?"

"Yes, Sir."

"We call ourselves by our first names. I have to say, that's actually impressive."

"Thanks, Sonny."

"Guys, get your gear, we're going for urban warfare training. Drew, (Y/N), you're Bravo 6 and Bravo 7. I will take a look at your training level. Let's go."

"Yes, Boss."

The training took the whole day and it was very demanding, but it it made a lot of fun and it was a really good feeling belonging to a team now.

"Hey Boss, let's go to the Bulkhead, the newbies have to pay a few rounds for their arrival."

"That's a good idea, Sonny. Bravo, in one hour at the Bulkhead."

We showered and then Drew and I headed to his van.

"This is gonna be a hard evening, especially for our wallets."

"Oh yes, I think so, too."

"But maybe we've got a little time for a beer before the Bulkhead?"

"That's a great idea (Y/N), let's get one."

After the beer we went to the Bulkhead.

I looked around and saw the rest of Bravo team.

Drew went to the counter and ordered beers for all of us.

There were another two women sitting at the table.

"Hi, I'm Mandy, Jason's girlfriend. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Lieutenant Lisa Davis. But in private call me Lisa. Nice to meet you. I heard you were really good at the training today."

"Yes, such capable newbies are indeed rare."

"Ray, you and your enthusiasm. They are good but we will see when we're on deployment."

Drew and I looked at each other. Jason did seem to be very critical. But we would make it, we were sure about it. I got another round of beer for all of us and we played darts and talked a lot. Late in the evening we all went home very drunk.

As we got to the van Drew dropped the key and almost stumbled over his own feet.

We both began to laugh so hard that we got tears in our eyes.

"Wait, let me get it before you stumble again."

I leaned with one hand against the van and with my other hand I tried to pick up the key but Drew gave me a slight nudge. I fell over and grabbed his hand, he also fell over and there I laid on the floor with Drew over me.

We couldn't help but laugh.

We looked each other directly in the eyes. For a moment time stood still. I saw something in his eyes that I've never seen before. I couldn't tell exactly what it was but it felt so warm and good. I took a deep breath and inhaled Drew's fragrance, it was as if everything else around was gone, as if it's just the two of us on the whole world.

"You're ok, (Y/N)? I hope I didn't hurt you."

"Yeah, everything is fine, don't worry. But we should get up, this floor isn't really comfortable." I smiled and blinked.

"Oh yes, you're right." Drew stood up and reached me his hand.

"May I help you?"

"That'd be great, thank you."

Finally we made it to get the key to open the van.

Time to sleep.

I was so damn tired and drunk but I couldn't stop thinking about what happened moments before.

'We're just buddies, close friends, aren't we? Anything else would be complicated, we're on the same team. Hell, can't I just close my eyes and sleep?'

Somehow I eventually managed to get a few hours of sleep.

The next day began with a run in full gear. Great. My head felt like it could explode any second. But somehow I made it to finish.

"Good job, Bravo. Take a short break, afterwards we will train at the shooting range."

None of us seemed to be really sober, except for Jason and Omar. Omar didn't drink any alcohol but Jason? How could he be so fit after this evening?

"Is Jason always like that after such evenings?" I asked. Sonny smirked.

"Yeah, but we got used to it. After all, it's up to yourself if you're drinking too much. You can bet that the next day is going to be demanding."

"Yeah, right. Good to know."

We emptied our water bottles and headed to the shooting range. Jason was already there, waiting for us.

"Alright, first we will train with our assault rifles and pistols. Then, Sonny, (Y/N) and Drew, you will train with your special weapons."

The training was intense and took about three hours. After that we had to run one mile again, do 50 push-ups and then it was Sonny's, Drew's and my turn. Our special training took another two hours.

"Good Bravo, that's it for today. In 10 we're going back to base."

As we prepared for marching back, I heard Jason talking to Ray and Omar.

"(Y/N) and Drew seem to be really good and resilient. I'm excited how they will prove at the next deployment."

"See, Jase, like I told you."

"Okay, okay, Ray. But nonetheless we have to wait until deployment. They still have to prove themselves."

"Of course, you're right. But things are going to be good, believe me. Should we go back?"

"Yeah, it's time. Guys, let's go."

We marched back and prepared our equipment for the next day.

After a hot shower, Drew and I went back to his van. I told him what I heard Jason saying at the shooting range.

"Wow, that sounds great. So I think after our first deployment we will be fully integrated to Bravo."

"Yep, but we should keep it to ourselves, I don't think that Jason knows that I've heard it."

"Of course. This will be our little secret." Drew winked. "Wanna play cards?"

"Oh yes, let's play a round."

One round turned into several and after a long evening playing cards we eventually went to bed.

The week went over very fast and the weekend stood ahead.

Finally we found an apartment not too far away from the base. Every evening we worked a little bit on our new home, so we could move in on time.

It was Friday afternoon, so Drew and I decided to hit the gym. We were training for about an hour and then our phones rang.

Man, I was so excited. I checked my phone first.

"Briefing in one hour. This is gonna be our first deployment. Time for proving, buddy."

"Hell yeah, let's go!"

One hour later we were briefed by Commander Blackburn.

"Your destination this time is Sweden. I know, it's different than usual but we suspect an act of terror. And you will prevent it. Coordinates will follow. Departure in 30. Good luck."

As we arrived at our safehouse we got our orders from Jason. Drew and I had to observe our target person and secure the surroundings.

"Everyone else follow me. We have to check every building if there are evidence or other persons who are in contact with the target person. We're starting at nightfall. Go and get some rest."

As the night began to fall, Drew and I headed to our observation post. Jason and the rest of our team walked towards the city.

"Bravo one, here Bravo 6. Everything is clear."

"Understood, Bravo 6."

They went into the first house. I checked the building while Drew went on checking the surroundings.

As the boys walked into the fourth house, I saw a person through a window on the second floor.

"One, here seven. One person on the second floor, be careful."

"Thanks, seven."

Omar neutralised the person and they went on.

Next building.

They splitted and Trent seemed to find some evidence.

"Bravo one, here four. Here's a laptop and it's on. I can see a plan with markings."

"Good four, take it with you."

"(Y/N), look. Tangos over there."

"Shit. This is going to be nasty. Bravo, here seven. Fourteen tangos on their way to you, prepare for it. We will neutralise as much as we can."

"Seven, here one. Negative, keep your cover. Only intervene if necessary."

"Understood, one."

The gunfight began and suddenly I saw Sonny getting into trouble. The tango grabbed Sonny at his throat. I took aim and fired. Hit.

"Thanks, seven."

As the gunfire silenced, I heard Ray through the radio.

"Bravo, here Mako. I got some information about our target person, he should be three streets ahead."

"Mako, Bravo, here Bravo one. Understood, let's get out of here and get this shithead. Six and seven, I'll send you the coordinates."

We got the coordinates and we shifted to the designated position.

"One, here seven. In position."

"Understood, seven."

They entered the building where the target person should be. I could see movements on the third floor.

"One, here seven. Movements on the third floor."

"Can you see details?"

"Just silhouettes, three, maybe four persons."

"Thanks, seven."

We saw muzzle flash.

"Bravo one to all, jackpot. We're going to exfil."

We left our observation post and met the rest of our team.

Not far away from our exfiltration point we were attacked again. We all took cover and shot back but this time Jason got into trouble. He was shot in his arm and one tango sat on him, holding a knife in his hand.

"(Y/N), cover me. I'll go and help Jason."

"Understood, Drew. Be careful!"

Drew shot the guy and helped Jason to get cover.

Meanwhile the rest of us shot the rest of our enemies and secured the area.

Trent went over to Jason and treated his wound.

"Thanks, Trent. We can go. Guys, let's get outta here, we're done."

We made it to our exfiltration point, without any further interruptions.

#drew franklin x reader #drew franklin #drew franklin fanfiction #drew franklin imagine #seal team #seal team fanfiction #seal team imagine #seal team x reader #female reader

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your-absent-father · 1 year ago

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re-introduction to the re-introduction

Hello, my dear human beings.

You can call me Eve, Evie, or even dad lmao. I am a 23 year old teacher's aid from Finland with a flaky relationship to tumblr based on my availability. I am leaving to the store to buy milk but I'll be back always. /hj

I enjoy a good morally grey character every day, especially if its a woman. Genres I enjoy go wide and far, but I am not that girl if the story needs world building, so Fantasy and scifi are out of the question for me in terms of writing it. Reading on the other hand, I love to read any type of stories.

WIPs I am actively writing:

- False Gods -

After Internet breaks over the confession of Beatrix Jones, the lead singer of the popular masked rock band, to 4 murders and countless of armed robberies, Love Bradley, a true crime podcaster, sets out to find what leads a small internet band into organized crime and if Beatrix Jones really is a monster media frames her as.

tropes: doomed by the narrative, toxic rich people, morally grey lead characters.

Snippet of Beatrix and Stevie meeting

How the False Gods start

False Gods first chapter

- midnight's daughter's -

A 1920s action novel about female assasins on the London's underground. Lillian Blackburn aka "ember" is the most notorious assasin under Lady Midnight. When Lillian's fianceè turns out to be Lady midnight's biggest rival's second in command, Lillian has to choose between her new conflicted feelings between the family she has built, or the fresh start she saw in her love.

Tropes: mobsters | lovers to enemies (to lovers?)| morally grey women | badass women

Midnight's daughters introduction

Hi to new people, and hit me up if you are a new person. I always love to hear about other people.

Important tags:

#Wip: fg - the false Gods tag

#Wip: md - Midnight's daughters tag

#Dad approval - other people's writing, especially when I don't have any like long contructive thing to say. Your absent fathers sign of approval

#self reblog time - rebloging my own stuff

#writeblr #writing #eve rambles #wip: fg #wip: mc vs pol #wip #writeblr introduction #wip introduction

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distancingreality · 8 months ago

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snippet from "of endings and beginnings"

(Winlet | 2 years post book 4 | Scarlet and Winter speak after a long time apart)

The door swings open and Winter Blackburn flounces in. “Good afternoon Scarlet-Friend.” She says with a trill. “It’s good to see you.”

“Likewise.” Scarlet rises from her bed. Her fists find her hips and she gives Winter a look up and down.

Winter floats through the room on graceful feet. She curtsies diligently.

“Still crazy?” Scarlet asks.

“So the physicians tell me. They use a much nicer word.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Mentally unstable. They seem to think I’ve improved though.”

“Have you.” Scarlet is unconvinced.

Winter closes her eyes and recites in a shrill voice, “The quirks and mannerisms Winter Blackburn has developed over the years to cope with her family dynamics and medical hallucinations are ingrained. Others may continue to find her odd but she is harmless and healthy.”

Scarlet widens her eyes in disgust. “They said all of that to you???”

“Indeed.” Winter saunters over to the wide window overlooking the grey city.

Her slender hands rest on the frame. She gazes out into nothing. Whatever she sees is invisible to Scarlet.

“They say many things about me.” Winter looks back at Scarlet and smiles sadly. “They tell me my beauty is diminished and my appeal has gone.” She gestures to the faint pock marks patterning her bare arms and throat. “I’m no longer a princess you know.”

Scarlet scowls. “They’re idiots! You should fire them all! Don’t listen to lies. If I ever hear that sort of thing come out of your mouth again, I’ll shake it out of you!”

“Don’t be absurd. I do not hold those views of myself.”

Scarlet narrows her eyes in suspicion.

“Jacin tells me I am beautiful. Why should I need any other assurance? He tells me I am clever. He says the madness has left me. I believe him.”

Scarlet watches her move to sit primly on the foot of the bed.

“And these things are enough to stave off the murmurings of others. Sit with me.” Winter says.

Scarlet is well and truly angry now. “You will always be the true Lunar Princess. Nothing can take away your people’s loyalty or their love. You belong to them.”

“And to you?”

“Yes.” She says fiercely.

Scarlet feels her throat begin to tighten and that makes her angrier still. She strides to the bed and drops down into a crouch beside her princess. “Anything you command I must obey.”

Winter sighs sweetly. She claps her hands around Scarlet’s. “My knight in a red hoodie, will you also protect me from the unkind rumors of the masses?”

“The best I can.” Scarlet answers.

“Good. Shall I bestow a kiss to show my thanks?”

Scarlet sighs in exasperation. Winter doesn’t pay her any attention. She presses a soft kiss to the other girl’s forehead. She traces Scarlet’s lips absently.

Scarlet shivers at the touch. Her heart hammers away with something she can’t identify. Something she won’t examine.

It’s too close to disappointment.

#this fic is an ensemble piece with the whole crew but it has unrequited Winlet #and lots of interpersonal drama #so obviously it'll be a good read (if I do say so myself)#Jacinter is canon in this but Scarlet has Feelings™#excerpt from my current wip #of endings and beginnings #the lunar chronicles #winlet #scarlet benoit #winter hayle blackburn #tlc #winter blackburn #rarepair #fanfic excerpt

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heavy-40k · 3 months ago

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Character list below!

Shas'O Au'taal: Tau fire warrior acting as a bodyguard for the local Tau ambassador. Weight - 560.

Lieutenant Riasa. Imperial guardswoman and advisor to Amelia Palatian. Has gotten concerned about just how much commander Palatian has ballooned in weight, but tries not to bother her about it too much. Weight - 400.

Amelia Palatian. Imperial noble and PDF commander. Though in truth, she spends more days relaxing now instead of training or commanding the garrison of guards. Not like there is much going on that needs fighting on an agriworld. Weight - 10,000.

Osilya. Eldar Farseer that has established a monitoring post on a nearby moon to monitor the local Monkeigh settlements. Though she refuses to admit that the supplies they have stolen from the settlement's store houses have added to her figure recently. Weight - 450.

Natasha Astorov. Imperial Commissar originally sent to whip planet Stratus into shape for military operation. Instead, she has ballooned out in weight due to certain troublemaking anons~. Weight - 5,250.

Selynn Blackburn. Captain of the Mordian Guard. Sent alongside commissar Astorov to help train the local garrison, but recently had her mordian pride replaced with ego over her currently wider bottom heavy figure. Weight - 576.

Caldriel. Tech adept and groundbreaker in fattening projects~. Weight - 7,200.

Genevieve. Royal guard under Ephrita’s charge. Weight - 325.

Ephrita. Rogue Trader that has spent quite a bit of time on Stratus, becoming good friends to Palatian. Weight - 300.

Variket. Necron ruler. Weight - 575.

Penni van der Balt. Imperial Knight pilot. Weight - 380.

Edyth de Montaal. Imperial naval captain and leader of the local naval picket. Extracts "donations" from merchant vessels coming to Stratus. Weight - 5,000.

Captain Alexandria Strauss. Krieg Captain that has gone from strict and commandeering to quite soft, surprisingly mellowing out quite a bit and becoming far friendlier to those around her. Weight - 2500.

Por’la Kor’tal. Tau Ambassador. Weight - 200.

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detectivereads · 5 months ago

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Hellboy The Crooked Man & The Return of Effie Kolb by Mike Mignola

5/5

This post is for fan entertainment, I’m not being paid.

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well.

Ok this series I am very much a newbie, but I do like it. I first watched the movies, Hellboy, and The Golden Army (I love the Golden Army). I haven’t watched the cartoons that are the new Hellboy, but I heard that there was a new movie in the works, and I found it was based off the comic of the same name: Hellboy: The Crooked Man.

I have watched a video before and understood the story, but I got my own comic so I can read it more in depth. What I walked away from is the story remains me of Old Gods of Appalachia (love that series). I have also done some research on Hellboy and he is a detective so another one to add to my ever growing mystery/detective collection.

Hellboy is in the Appalachian Mountains dealing with strange cases of the paranormal class. Hellboy teams up with a local man that has came back to the mountains, his name is Tom Ferrell. Tom had left the mountain because of something that he did when he was a kid, he dabbled in witchcraft.

That he made a deal with the Crooked Man for some powerful magic, but from what I gathered was that Tom hasn’t used the magic till he got back to the Mountains and now the Crooked Man has come to collect what he is owed.

The Crooked Man has a coven of witches at his command and some of them one named Effie Kolb proved to be a formidable foe for Hellboy. But with the help of the Reverand Nathanial Armstrong Watts the playing field was match.

Now the 2nd story that is in this book The Return of Effie Kolb. Taking place once again in the Appalachian Mountains, Tom Ferrell greets Hellboy at the site of where the church was that during the fight with the Crooked Man they had taken refuge at. The Church during the fight was destroyed, but the locals helped Tom make a new house on it.

Now both Tom and Reverand Nathanial decided to root out the rest of the coven after the fight with Crooked man, which they did. But Tom is looking after a little girl who was tossed out by her parents, they claim that she was a witch.

Her name is Sara May Blackburn, she says that something big and bad is coming, which Tom thinks it has to do with house that the Crooked Man once occupy in his life.

Sara leads Hellboy back up to the house and they run into new faces and one old face.

My final thoughts:

I am still new to the Hellboy series, but this comic was a wonderful introduction to the series. The artwork was unnerving, all the pictures of the Crooked Man were scarier than the last one. The fight scenes were amazing as well.

I can’t wait for the new movie to come out. I am curious about the fight scenes.

#book review #mysteries #books recommendations #fantasy #horror #halloween #halloween tbr #hellboy #the crooked man #comics #comic review #comic recommendations

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timesimmer · 4 months ago

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1317 update for the Blackburne clan and the three side households (Smith, Hicrest, and Blackburne). Due to some crazy shenanigans with mc command center we have generation 3 a lot sooner than I thought we would. So I am going to start labeling all of the sims by generation as well to help keep track of all the sims.

Birthdays:

Angus Hicrest - Gen 2 / Age: 1.5 years old / Lifestage: Toddler

Eloise Hicrest - Gen 2 / Age: 13 years old / Lifestage: Teen

Philippa Blackburne - Gen 2 / Age: 5 years old / Lifestage: Child

John Atwood - Gen 3 / Age: 3 months / Lifestage: Infant

Katharine Blackburne - Gen 3 / Age: 3 months / Lifestage: Infant

Isaac Blackburne - Gen 3 / Age: 3 months / Lifestage: Infant

Deaths:

William Atwood - Gen 3 / Age: Newborn / COD: Stillborn

Edward Blackburne - Gen 2 / Age: 8 years old / COD: Famine

Marriages:

Marriage between Alexander Blackburne & Lilyana Atwood

Marriage between Thomas Blackburne & Una Sloane

#sims 4 #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 history challenge #ts4 #ultimate decades challenge #simblr #ts4 decades challenge #ts4 gameplay #ts4 legacy #ts4 simblr #1310s #1317

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thsillystringbeanscribbler · 1 year ago

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Bunny Slippers: Chapter Seven

Summary: It's been three months since Julia first joined the Winchester brothers on their hunts. Julia and Dean continue to strengthen their connection, always finding a way to be close to one another. The three created a symbiotic existence, but this might be thrown out of equilibrium as they head on down to Louisiana for a new case that Sam had found.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader [ OC: Julia Blackburn ]

Warnings: None

Word Count: 5, 056 words

Author's Note: I did a bit of a time jump, and only eluded to the wholesomeness of Dean and Julia, but I hopefully you'll still enjoy the story.

Chapter Six

As the weeks melded together, Julia's presence within the Winchester's nomadic life became as indispensable as the lore books in the back of the Impala. Their journey, a continuous thread weaving through the tapestry of American highways, was punctuated by the rhythm of hunts that took them from one corner of the country to the other. The latest string of cases had caught their attention through whispers of high society vanishings—people disappearing like smoke after attending galas that glittered with wealth and secrets.

In the confined space of the Impala, their roles settled into a comfortable routine. Julia, ever the embodiment of curiosity and restlessness, had commandeered the front seat beside Dean. There, amidst the hum of the engine and the blur of passing scenery, she found solace in a mystery novel picked up during a brief pit stop. Dean, always a sucker for her pleas, had veered off their path the moment she mentioned wanting a new book, a testament to the soft spot he harboured for her quirks.

Her makeshift reading nook in the passenger seat—a tangle of legs on the seat, knees drawn up to support the book—offered her a world to dive into, away from the grim realities they faced. Wrapped in Dean's flannel, a memento from their first hunt together that she'd claimed as her own, she was a stark contrast to the world outside. The flannel, along with her colourful goldfish-designed socks and a Led Zeppelin tee, spoke volumes of the blend of comfort and identity she had found in their midst. Her tortoise-rimmed glasses magnified her focus, her green eyes, so similar to Dean's and yet uniquely hers, hidden behind the thick frames as they darted across the pages.

Dean, for his part, found his attention frequently drifting from the road to Julia. The sight of her, so engrossed in her book, brought an unspoken warmth to his chest. It was these moments, these glimpses of normalcy, that he cherished amidst the chaos of their lives. The flannel she wore, the details of her attire, even the way she bit her lip in concentration—each element was a reminder of how seamlessly she had woven herself into the fabric of their journey.

In the backseat, Sam was the anchor to their current reality, his attention buried in the paperwork and clues that might unravel the mystery of their latest case. His presence, a constant reminder of the stakes at hand, balanced the lightness in the front of the car with the gravity of their purpose.

As miles turned into memories, the trio navigated the complexities of their shared existence—each hunt, each moment of levity, weaving them closer, binding their stories into a shared narrative of resilience, camaraderie, and an unspoken bond that extended beyond the confines of the Impala's interior.

The harmonious bubble of silence and contemplation within the Impala was gently pierced by Sam's voice, a shift in the air as he moved from observer to bearer of news. "So, get this," he started, the rustle of papers in his lap punctuating his words, "that missing person case in New Orleans? Looks like it's not a one-off. It's linked to a bunch of others."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone mixed with the excitement of a puzzle beginning to reveal itself and the gravity of their implications. "Every incident happens once a month, and get this—all the victims are from the high society, the real movers and shakers of southern Louisiana."

The way Sam delivered the information, with a blend of analytical precision and a touch of intrigue, underscored the shift from their casual reprieve back into the world they were perennially entwined with. His revelation not only recaptured Dean and Julia's attention but also recentered their focus on the shadowy underbelly of the seemingly glittering world of the elite they were about to dive into.

Julia's sudden movement caught Dean's eye, her hands flitting around her in search of a makeshift bookmark. With a touch of ingenuity, she retrieved a gum wrapper from the depths of her flannel pocket, sliding it between the pages of her book before snapping it shut. Her actions, endearingly eccentric to Dean, went unnoticed by her as she pivoted her focus to Sam, her earlier literary immersion now replaced by a burst of proactive strategy.

"Okay, how about we find a motel, hit the internet for some old-school detective work, and bam!" Julia articulated, her hands slicing through the air to punctuate the 'bam,' a vibrant illustration of her plan materializing out of thin air.

Dean, unable to resist the opportunity for a playful jab, let a teasing smirk play across his lips. "You gotta lay off those spy novels, Jules. You're starting to make Bond look like an amateur," he quipped, the lightness in his tone a testament to their easy rapport.

However, his jesting facade softened into agreement, a nod to the wisdom in her words despite the playful delivery. "But you've got a point. We've been on the road almost non-stop. A deep dive into what's happening in New Orleans might just give us the edge we need. We'll set up shop, figure out our next move, and hit the ground running tomorrow." Dean's voice carried the weight of decision, a seamless shift from lighthearted banter to the focused resolve that characterized their unorthodox lives.

Under the cloak of night, the trio stood in the dimly lit parking lot of yet another nondescript motel. Julia, having gone ahead to retrieve the room keys, approached Sam and Dean with a stride that spoke of her growing comfort and camaraderie with the brothers. A cheeky smile played across her lips as she teased, "So, who's the unlucky one tonight?" In her hands, she held up two keys, her demeanor light and playful.

With a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, she added, "And just so you know, I'm merciless in a pillow fight." Her jest was a testament to how seamlessly she had woven herself into the fabric of their lives.

Sam, who had indeed drawn the short straw more times than he cared to admit, opened his mouth to respond, his expression a mix of resignation and amusement. "I guess that means—"

But Dean cut him off, stepping forward with that characteristic blend of confidence and charm. "Looks like it's you and me tonight, sweetheart," he declared, plucking one of the keys from Julia's hand and moving towards the door with an ease that spoke volumes of their evolving relationship.

Julia, feigning exasperation yet unable to hide her amusement, retorted, "Seriously, Dean, you've been hogging all the 'bad luck' lately." As Dean unlocked the door, she playfully counted off on her fingers, "That's four hunts in a row now. You sure you're not rigging this somehow?"

Dean, with a glint of mischief in his eyes, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, steering the conversation away from his alleged streak of misfortune. "Forget my so-called bad luck," he quipped, leaning into their banter. "Now, about that pillow fight you were mentioning?" His tone was flirtatious, the undercurrent of their interaction charged with a playful intimacy.

Julia laughed, a light, genuine sound, and playfully smacked Dean's chest. "Keep dreaming, Winchester," she shot back, her smile radiant as she slipped out from under his arm, grabbed her duffel bag, and headed into the room they were to share, leaving a trail of laughter in her wake.

Sam, having observed the exchange with a mixture of amusement and brotherly concern, turned to Dean with a warning tone, "You're playing with fire, Dean." His words, though light, carried the weight of his protective instincts, a reminder of the uncharted territory they were navigating with Julia so close to the heart of their lives.

Not long after they had each found a moment of respite in their separate rooms, the trio reconvened in Sam's room, drawn together by the gravity of their task. The motel's dining table, a makeshift command center, was littered with laptops, scattered papers, and the remnants of hastily consumed takeout. It was here, amidst the glow of screens and the scratch of pen on paper, that they began to piece together the puzzle of New Orleans.

As they delved deeper, the pattern emerged with unsettling clarity. "So, it looks like all the missing persons are from the upper echelons of southern Louisiana's high society," Sam observed, his eyes scanning the data they had compiled. The air in the room was charged with a mix of concentration and concern, a reflection of the seriousness of their discovery.

Julia leaned in, her focus sharp. "And every disappearance lines up perfectly with one of those extravagant galas hosted by the Cartwrights," she added, connecting the dots with a precision that came from hours of sifting through event calendars and social media posts. The mention of Mr. and Mrs. James Cartwright, a prominent couple known for their lavish gatherings, added a new layer of complexity to their investigation.

Dean, who had been cross-referencing police reports with their findings, looked up. "The Cartwright galas, huh? Looks like high society's got a dark side. These aren't just parties; they're hunting grounds." His voice was laced with a mix of disdain and determination, a reflection of their resolve to unearth the truth behind the glittering façade of wealth and privilege.

Together, they mapped out the chilling pattern of disappearances, each gala marking a point where another member of the elite vanished without a trace. The realization that these social events were somehow linked to the mystery they were unraveling cast a somber shadow over their efforts. Yet, it also provided them with a direction, a tangible lead in the nebulous world of the supernatural they navigated.

"We've got our window," Sam stated, his voice steady, the implications of their findings casting a new light on their next steps.

"Yeah, and it's a tight one," Dean added, his gaze shifting between his brother and Julia, a silent vow to prevent another name from being added to the list of the vanished.

Julia leaned forward, her eyes alight with a mix of determination and concern. "Looks like we're crashing a gala," she said, the gravity of the situation wrapped in a veneer of resolve. Their path forward was clear, albeit fraught with the unknown. The trio understood the challenge they faced, the complexity of infiltrating the closed world of the elite on such short notice.

Yet, in that motel room, amidst the clutter of their research and the hum of a shared mission, there was an unspoken confidence in each other. They were united not just by the hunt, but by the bond forged through countless challenges faced together. Tomorrow night would be a test of their ingenuity, their courage, and their commitment to unraveling the darkness that lurked behind the glittering facade of high society.

With the decision made, a palpable sense of determination settled over the room as they concluded their late-night strategy session. The laptops snapped shut, marking the end of their digital deep dive into the world of New Orleans' elite. Julia rose from her seat, her movements signaling the wrap-up of their intense planning phase. As she passed by Sam, she offered his shoulder a gentle, appreciative squeeze, her smile warm and sincere.

"Time for me to hit the hay," she announced, her tone light yet tinged with the fatigue of the day's endeavors. "And Sam, you were on fire tonight," she added, her compliment acknowledging his crucial role in piecing together the puzzle of their latest case.

Dean, sensing the shift towards a much-needed break, pushed back his chair and stood, stretching slightly as he prepared to leave the room. His response carried the blend of humor and brotherly affection characteristic of his interactions with Sam and Julia.

"Yeah, Sammy, way to go digging up the dirt on the Cartwrights. You're like a regular Sherlock Holmes, minus the deerstalker hat," Dean quipped, a playful smirk on his face. "I'm hitting the sack too. We've got a big day tomorrow, and I need to be on my A-game if we're going to blend in with the high society crowd."

His words, light-hearted on the surface, carried an underlying acknowledgment of the gravity of their upcoming mission. With a final nod to Sam and a shared look with Julia that spoke volumes of their mutual respect and camaraderie, Dean headed towards the door, each step a reminder of the delicate balance they maintained between the darkness they chased and the light moments that kept them grounded.

The rhythm of life on the road had a way of forging connections and routines, often in the most unexpected ways. For Julia and Dean, sharing a motel room had quickly evolved from a practical arrangement into a series of small, domestic rituals that lent a semblance of normalcy to their nomadic existence. When Dean pushed open the door to their room, the sight that greeted him was both familiar and warmly anticipated. Julia, clad in her Van Halen t-shirt paired with Batman pajama pants and mismatched socks, was perched on the edge of her bed, a remote in hand as she navigated the late-night TV offerings. At Dean's entrance, her face lit up, her green eyes sparkling with an unspoken welcome.

"Hey, what's the verdict for tonight? Western showdowns or high-speed chases?" Julia queried, her voice playful as she glanced over at Dean, who had made his way to his own bed to unpack some essentials from his duffel bag.

Dean, unable to resist the opportunity for a light-hearted jab, responded with a cheeky grin. "I thought you were crashing out? What happened to beauty sleep?" His tone was teasing, signaling his appreciation for the comfortable pattern they had fallen into. Shower, change, then movie night—a simple sequence that had become their unwritten rule.

Julia's routine was predictable yet endearing to Dean. She'd claim her shower first, emerging refreshed and in her nighttime attire, while Dean took his turn afterward. Then came the crucial decision-making process: selecting a movie. More often than not, Julia would nestle into her bed, her attention split between the screen and Dean, until sleep claimed her halfway through their chosen film. It fell to Dean, then, to softly click off the television, ensuring the room's tranquility wouldn't be disturbed by the flickering images as Julia slept.

Before Julia had the chance to craft a response, Dean paused at the threshold of the bathroom, a playful glint in his eyes. "You know, I'm in the mood for a classic showdown tonight," he declared, his voice tinged with the warmth of shared anticipation. The corner of his mouth lifted into a knowing smile, an unspoken invitation for Julia to dive into the treasure trove of late-night TV and unearth a gem for them.

With that, he vanished behind the bathroom door, the soft click marking the start of their evening ritual. Left to her own devices, Julia took up the challenge with a smile, her fingers dancing over the remote as she navigated through channels, on a quest to find the perfect western that would captivate them both for the night.

Dean re-entered the room, the sound of an old western movie greeting him, its iconic opening titles illuminating the dimly lit motel room. Julia was already cocooned in her bed, her attention captured by the screen. He moved across the room, quietly putting away his clothes before making himself comfortable on his own bed. Settling back against the headboard, Dean stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. This position wasn't just for comfort; it allowed him to split his attention between the movie's unfolding drama and Julia.

"I hope you like this one," Julia's voice floated over, tinged with a hint of uncertainty, "It's a John Wayne classic."

Dean couldn't help but smile softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. John Wayne, the epitome of the Wild West hero, always had a way of bringing comfort, no matter the setting. "You've got great taste, Jules," he replied, his voice carrying a warmth that only added to the room's coziness. He watched as Julia's attention briefly shifted from the screen to meet his, her gaze sleepy yet filled with a content smile that mirrored his own before she returned her attention to the movie.

"John Wayne, huh? You're pulling out the big guns tonight." Dean's tone was playful, teasing even, as he settled more comfortably against the headboard. "I guess we're in for a good old-fashioned showdown then. Just remember, if any cowboys come knocking, I've got your back."

Julia's laugh, light and genuine, filled the space between them, bridging the gap that the day's weariness had built. It was moments like these, simple and unadorned, that Dean cherished the most. The outside world, with all its chaos and demands, could wait. Tonight, it was just them, John Wayne, and the promise of a good story unfolding on the screen.

As the movie reached its midpoint, Dean glanced over at Julia, finding her exactly as he had anticipated: asleep. The soft, rhythmic breathing told him she had succumbed to sleep's gentle embrace, her face serene and untroubled in the dim light of the room. With a tender smile, he quietly rose from his bed, the action deliberate and careful not to disturb the peaceful scene before him.

He reached for the remote, his movements slow and muted, and turned off the TV. The sudden quiet that enveloped the room seemed almost sacred, a testament to the night's tranquility. Dean then made his way back to his bed, the sheets cool and inviting against his skin.

As he settled in, he allowed himself a moment to watch Julia, the steady rise and fall of her chest a comforting sight. It was these quiet moments, these snapshots of peaceful companionship, that he treasured the most. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, letting the serene atmosphere lull him into a restful sleep, the day's adventures a faint memory as he drifted off into the night's embrace.

* * *

As dawn crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room, Julia awoke to find Dean still lost in the depths of sleep. She propped herself up on one elbow, taking a moment to admire the peaceful expression that softened his usually guarded features. The morning light painted a golden outline around his resting form, highlighting the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath. Despite the urge to brush her fingers through his tousled hair, she resisted, not wanting to disturb the rare tranquility that sleep afforded him.

Instead, Julia quietly gathered her clothes, tiptoeing into the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead. She emerged dressed in her signature style: classic '90s high-waisted straight jeans paired with a black and purple Metallica band t-shirt. Her auburn curls cascaded around her face as she neatly packed away her pajamas. Slipping into the flannel shirt she'd borrowed from Dean on their first hunt together, she wrapped it around herself like a warm embrace. After lacing up her boots and tucking her hair behind one ear, she approached Dean's bed with a mixture of affection and determination.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Julia whispered, her voice a soft melody in the quiet room. She gently nudged Dean's shoulder, watching as his eyes fluttered open, clouded with the remnants of sleep.

Blinking slowly, Dean peered up at her, a groggy smile tugging at his lips. "Am I in heaven?" he mumbled, his voice husky from sleep, teasing her with his charm even in his half-awake state.

Julia couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at his flirtatious antics. "You, Dean Winchester, are utterly ridiculous," she retorted, her smile betraying the affection behind her words as she withdrew her hand from his shoulder.

"I'm gonna check on Sam. Make sure you're ready to roll by the time I get back," she announced, heading towards the door with a purposeful stride. Pausing with her hand on the doorknob, she glanced back at Dean, who had yet to make any move to get out of bed.

"And if I come back and you're still lounging here, I'm subjecting you to my 'hippie' playlist all the way to New Orleans," she warned, her playful threat eliciting a groan from Dean as he finally began to push the covers aside.

"Alright, alright, I'm up," Dean grumbled, but his tone was light, filled with the unspoken comfort of their routine banter. As Julia left the room with a satisfied smile, the day ahead promised yet another adventure, woven together by their shared moments and the unbreakable bond they continued to build.

Julia's knock on Sam's door was met almost immediately, as if he had been waiting just on the other side. The door swung open to reveal Sam, already dressed for the day, his presence towering yet welcoming. Julia couldn't help but offer a bright smile in greeting.

"Good morning!" she chimed, her voice carrying the lightness of a new day.

"Morning, Jules," Sam responded, his tone warm and inviting as he stepped aside to let her in. There was a certain ease in his greeting, a testament to the camaraderie they shared.

As Julia entered, Sam's demeanor shifted to one of focused concern. "Glad you're up. I was just about to head over. I've been digging into the gala details, and it looks like attendance is strictly by invitation," he explained, moving towards his laptop to pull up the information he'd been reviewing. Julia joined him, leaning in to scan the screen as he pointed out the relevant details.

Sam's brow furrowed as he considered their predicament. "So, I'm not sure how we're going to get in there and figure out what's happening," he admitted, his voice laced with the frustration of hitting a roadblock.

Julia, arms crossed over her chest, absorbed the information before a spark of an idea lit up her expression. "I think I might have a way to get us in," she said, turning to face Sam, her confidence piquing his interest.

Sam's eyes narrowed, curiosity and a hint of skepticism mixing in his expression. "How?" he asked, the single word heavy with both doubt and hope.

With a casual shrug that belied the significance of her next words, Julia revealed her plan. "I just need to make a call. An old sorority sister of mine... she's likely to have access or know someone who does. She can probably get us those invitations," she shared, her tone suggesting this was just another day's work for them.

Sam paused, absorbing the information, his initial skepticism fading into impressed acknowledgement. "That could actually work," he conceded, a slight smile breaking through as he recognized the potential in Julia's plan. The possibility of gaining entry into the gala suddenly seemed within reach, thanks to Julia's unexpected connection.

Dean had quickly gotten dressed and packed his bag, ready to face whatever the day had in store. As he opened his door to the crisp morning air, the sight that greeted him was one of focused activity. Sam was leaning casually against the wall outside, his bag resting at his feet, while Julia paced back and forth across the parking lot. She was deeply engrossed in a phone conversation, gesturing animatedly as she spoke. Dean couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the scene unfolding before him.

"What's going on with her?" Dean inquired, nodding subtly towards Julia, his curiosity piqued by her animated discussion.

Sam straightened up slightly, turning to Dean with an expression that mixed amusement and anticipation. "She's on the phone with her sorority sister, trying to finagle us a way into the Cartwright gala," he explained, keeping an eye on Julia's pacing figure.

Dean watched Julia for a moment, a smile playing on his lips at her evident passion and determination. "How long has she been at it?" he asked, his tone light, clearly entertained by Julia's fervor.

"Going on at least twenty minutes now," Sam replied, his voice carrying a note of respect for Julia's dedication. He glanced at his watch, then back at Dean, signaling the importance of their mission and Julia's role in it.

Dean's smile widened, appreciating not just Julia's efforts but also the dynamic of their team. "Gotta love her dedication," he mused aloud, fully aware of how crucial her success on this call could be for their plan. The morning, crisp and promising, seemed to hold a sense of anticipation, with Julia's animated conversation acting as the prelude to their next big adventure.

As Julia's conversation stretched on, Sam and Dean busied themselves with loading their bags into the trunk of the Impala. With the trunk closed, they both leaned against it, watching Julia pace and talk. Minutes ticked by, and the rhythmic sound of their synchronized stomachs rumbling broke the morning stillness.

"That's it," Dean declared abruptly, pushing off from the Impala with a determined look. He strode over to Julia, who was still deeply engrossed in her conversation. Placing a gentle but firm hand on her back, Dean steered her toward the car. He opened the back door for her, signaling it was time to multitask.

"–sorry, one sec, Chels," Julia said into the phone, her tone switching as she momentarily covered the receiver. She turned to Dean, annoyance flickering in her eyes. "What are you doing?" she asked, her patience thinning.

Dean didn't miss a beat, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of humor. "Look, we're both starving here, so why don't you hop in and keep talking while we head out to grab something to eat?" His hand rested on the door, waiting patiently but with an evident expectation for her to comply.

Rolling her eyes, Julia couldn't help but acknowledge Dean's point. With a mild huff, she slid into the car, settling into the back seat as she resumed her conversation. "My bad, Chels. Now, what was that you were saying about Lana?" she continued, her annoyance swiftly replaced by a renewed focus on her call.

Dean closed the door behind her, sharing a knowing look with Sam that mixed amusement with their shared hunger. They climbed into the front seats, ready to embark on the next leg of their journey with the day's mission steadily unfolding, underscored by the promise of breakfast and the potential breakthrough Julia's conversation could bring.

As the Impala cruised down the street, the snippets of Julia's animated conversation floated through the car. Her exclamations of "No way!" and descriptions like "Yeah, tall, dark, and handsome," along with plans for lunch and dress shopping, filled the space. When she mentioned someone being "super hunky," Dean couldn't resist turning to Sam with a knowing wink, clearly amused and assuming the compliments were directed at him.

Her voice pitched up in excitement as she exclaimed, "Oh Em Gee! Chels, you're an absolute gem!" Promises of "Cross my heart!" and a cheerful "Okay, see you later, kisses!" marked the end of the call. Dean watched her through the rearview mirror as she leaned forward, placing a hand on both Sam and Dean's shoulders.

"I've got good news and bad news," she began, her tone a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Sam turned slightly, his eyebrows raised in interest. "Okay, hit us. What's up?" he asked, always ready to dive straight into the details.

Julia's eyes flicked between the two brothers, a mischievous glint appearing. "We're in," she announced, pausing for effect, "but here's the catch—Sam, you'll have to go as her date."

The car filled with a momentary silence as the weight of her words settled. Sam's reaction was a mix of surprise and resignation, a slight smirk appearing as he processed the unexpected twist. "As her date, huh?" Sam mused aloud, turning the idea over in his mind. "Well, guess it's time to break out the charm then."

Dean cleared his throat, a hint of playful challenge in his tone as he caught Julia's attention in the rearview mirror. "Super hunky, huh?" he asked, his words laced with amusement and a touch of mock jealousy.

Julia turned her head to Dean, her expression a blend of amusement and defensiveness. "Well, I had to make sure she knew Sam wasn't just any ordinary guy," she retorted, her words quick and lighthearted, aiming to justify her choice of words during the call.

Dean's knowing smirk faltered slightly, his eyebrows raised in mock offense. "Oh, of course," he replied, his voice dripping with feigned hurt yet underscored by a genuine amusement at their banter. "Wouldn't want anyone thinking Sam's a potato, now would we?" His tone, teasing and light, effectively diffused any potential awkwardness, highlighting the easy camaraderie and constant ribbing that defined their interactions.

"Sorry, Dean, the other part of the bad news is you're my plus one," Julia continued, a playful challenge in her tone. "Just a heads up, I've got two left feet when it comes to dancing." Her face lit up with excitement, clearly pleased with the arrangement.

Dean tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the thrill of being Julia's chosen companion sent a wave of excitement through him. His heart raced, a mixture of giddiness and anticipation bubbling beneath the surface. "Trying to keep the best brother for yourself, Jules? Seems pretty selfish," he teased back, his voice light but filled with unspoken delight.

Julia's excitement didn't wane as she delivered more news. "I also forgot to mention, Chelsea booked us at a really nice four-star hotel," she said, her enthusiasm infectious.

"So, you two can chill at the hotel or go information hunting while I fulfill my part of the deal by going dress shopping," she explained, leaning back in her seat, the twinkle in her eyes betraying her excitement for the adventure ahead.

Dean, unable to contain his amusement and the prospect of the upcoming gala, quipped, "Well, looks like we're going to be living it up, thanks to you and Chelsea. Just remember, Jules, if you need a dance partner, I've got moves you've never seen." His tone was playful yet sincere, showing his support for Julia's plan and the unexpected thrill of their new mission.

To Be Continued...

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 9 months ago

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By: Aaron Sibarium

Published: Jun 12, 2024

Congressional Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday that would eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion positions in the federal government and bar federal contractors from requiring DEI statements and training sessions.

The Dismantle DEI Act, introduced by Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R., Texas), would also bar federal grants from going to diversity initiatives, cutting off a key source of support for DEI programs in science and medicine. Other provisions would prevent accreditation agencies from requiring DEI in schools and bar national securities associations, like NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange, from instituting diversity requirements for corporate boards.

"The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division," Vance told the Washington Free Beacon. "It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society."

The bill is the most comprehensive legislative effort yet to excise DEI initiatives from the federal government and regulated entities. It offers a preview of how a Republican-controlled government, led by former president Donald Trump, could crack down on the controversial diversity programs that have exploded since 2020, fueled in part by President Joe Biden’s executive orders mandating a "whole-of-government" approach to "racial equity."

From NASA and the National Science Foundation to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S Army, all federal agencies require some form of diversity training. Mandatory workshops have drilled tax collectors on "cultural inclusion," military commanders on male pregnancy, and nuclear engineers on the "roots of white male culture," which—according to a training for Sandia National Laboratories, the Energy Department offshoot that designs America’s nuclear arsenal—include a "can-do attitude" and "hard work."

The Sandia training, conducted in 2019 by a group called "White Men As Full Diversity Partners," instructed nuclear weapons engineers to write "a short message" to "white women" and "people of color" about what they’d learned, according to screenshots of the training obtained by the Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo.

The bill would ban these trainings and close the government DEI offices that conduct them. It would also prevent personnel laid off by those closures from being transferred or reassigned—a move meant to stop diversity initiatives from continuing under another name.

The prohibitions, which cover outside DEI consultants as well as government officials, would be enforced via a private right of action and could save the government billions of dollars. In 2023, the Biden administration spent over $16 million on diversity training for government employees alone. It requested an additional $83 million that year for DEI programs at the State Department and $9.2 million for the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility—one of the many bureaucracies the bill would eliminate.

A large chunk of savings would come from axing DEI grants made through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has a near monopoly on science funding in the United States. The agency hosts an entire webpage for "diversity related" grant opportunities—including several that prioritize applicants from "diverse backgrounds"—and has set aside billions of dollars for "minority institutions" and researchers with a "commitment to promoting diversity." All of those programs would be on the chopping block should Vance and Cloud’s bill pass.

Cosponsored by Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R., La.), and Eric Schmitt (R., Mo.) in the Senate, the Dismantle DEI Act has drawn support from prominent conservative advocacy groups, including Heritage Action and the Claremont Institute. At a time of ideological fracture on the right—debates about foreign aid and the proper role of government bitterly divided Trump’s primary challengers, for example, both in 2016 and 2024—Wednesday’s bill aims to provide a rallying cry most Republicans can get behind: DEI needs to die.

"It’s absurd to fund these divisive policies, especially using Americans' tax dollars," Cloud told the Free Beacon. "And it’s time for Congress to put an end to them once and for all."

The bill has the potential to free millions of Americans—both in government and the private sector—from the sort of divisive diversity trainings that have become an anti-woke bête noire. Its most consequential provisions might be those governing federal contractors, which employ up to a fifth of the American workforce and include companies like Pfizer, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, and Verizon.

Each firm runs a suite of DEI programs, from race-based fellowships and "resource groups" to mandatory workshops, that have drawn public outcry and in some cases sparked legal challenges. By targeting these contractors, the bill could purge DEI from large swaths of the U.S. economy without directly outlawing the practice in private institutions.

Targeting accreditors, meanwhile, could remove a key driver of DEI programs in professional schools. The American Bar Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredit all law and medical schools in the United States and derive much of their power from the U.S. Department of Education, have both made DEI material—including course content on "anti-racism"—a requirement for accreditation, over the objections of some of their members.

Those mandates have spurred a handful of law schools to require entire classes on critical race theory. The transformation has been even more acute at medical schools, which, per accreditation guidelines released in 2022, should teach students to identify "systems of power, privilege, and oppression."

Yale Medical School now requires residents to take a mandatory course on "advocacy" and "health justice," for example. And at the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, students must complete a "health equity" course that promotes police abolition, describes weight loss as a "hopeless endeavor," and states that "biomedical knowledge" is "just one way" of understanding "health and the world."

While the bill wouldn’t outlaw these lessons directly, it would prevent accreditors recognized by the Education Department from mandating them. Such agencies, whose seal of approval is a prerequisite for federal funds, would need to certify that their accreditation standards do not "require, encourage, or coerce any institution of higher education to engage in prohibited" DEI practices, according to the text of the bill. They would also need to certify that they do not "assess the commitment of an institution of higher education to any ideology, belief, or viewpoint" as part of the accreditation process.

Other, more technical provisions would eliminate diversity quotas at federal agencies and end a racially targeted grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Unlike past GOP efforts to limit DEI, which have focused on the content of diversity trainings and the use of explicit racial preferences, the bill introduced Wednesday would also ax requirements related to data collection. It repeals a law that forces the armed services to keep tabs on the racial breakdown of officers, for example, as well as a law that requires intelligence officials to collect data on the "diversity and inclusion efforts" of their agencies.

Though officials could still collect the data if they so choose, the bill would mark a small step toward colorblindness in a country where racial record-keeping—required by many federal agencies—has long been the norm.

"DEI destroys competence while making Americans into enemies," said Arthur Milikh, the director of the Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life, one of the conservative groups supporting the bill. "This ideology must be fought, and its offices removed."

I don't care who raised it. If the Dems raised it, I'd support it. DEI is absolute poison.

#Aaron Sibarium #DEI #diversity equity and inclusion #diversity #equity #inclusion #DEI bureaucracy #DEI must die #merit #make merit matter #meritocracy #academic corruption #ideological capture #ideological corruption #diversity programs #religion is a mental illness

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bullet-prooflove · 11 months ago

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See It: Eric Blackburn x Reader (NSFW)

Tagging: @kmc1989

Eric doesn’t expect to fall in love with his Intelligence Officer. It’s the sort of thing that creeps up on a man, that he doesn’t realise is happening until his hands are in her hair and he’s buried deep inside her making her say his name.

Eric.

It sounds so sweet on your lips.

On base he’s always Commander Blackburn but when he’s fucking you he’s Eric.

You’re close now he can tell, it’s in the hitch of your breathing, the way you tighten around his cock. His thumb ghosts along the line of your jaw, guiding your gaze back to his.

“I want you to look into my eyes and see it.” He whispers against your lips at the height of climax. “I want you to see exactly how much I love you.”

Love Eric? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Interested in supporting me? Join my Patreon for Bonus Content!

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

#eric blackburn #eric blackburn x reader #commander blackburn #commander eric blackburn #seal team

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usafphantom2 · 1 year ago

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RAF Air Support Command 47 Squadron Blackburn Beverley C.1 XB267/B (1967)

aviationphotocompany.com/p934046062/eeb…

More Beverley images: aviationphotocompany.com/p799029743

AviationPhotoCo via X

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the-fatty-frontier · 1 year ago

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Welcome to the Frontier, where all kinds of fascinating and expanding events can happen! Below are a list of characters, that is sure to have more members added to over time. Enjoy your stay!~

Kinks:

Yes: weight gain, inflation (water, air, blueberry, soda), area specific weight gain or inflation (belly, rear, lower half, chest), massive expansion (to an extent), tightness, strained clothes

No: slob, health problems, gas, lethal bursting, muscle expansion

Characters:

Natalia: also known as Gorgon, Natalia is a spy and agent for the Persean Consortium, the largest criminal organization in the Frontier. Weight: 150

Nadia: Corporate security officer from Valcourt Security, and Natalia’s rival. Though when not trying to catch the spy, Nadia tends to indulge a bit on the corporate worlds where she works.~ Weight: 9,000. VERY belly and bottom heavy figure

Nadia “#15”: massive ‘volunteer’ for Carmine’s Confectionaries, being used to clear up entire warehouses of excess product~. Weight: 2,737,350,000

Marza: Guartoksian and Scarlet Brigade member. Known for raising corporate warehouses and slipping away with plenty of luxury goods. Tends to have a bit of an effect on her figure. Weight: 8,400

Alexandria: regional director of Celestial Incorporated, in charge of their operations in a section of the Frontier. Certainly tends to indulge, for better or worse. Weight: 215

Commissar Anastasia Steele: IGSR commander and thorn in Alexandria’s side. Carries out “confiscation” duties in the Frontier, collecting supplies from Celestial Incorporated and indulging in the more luxurious goods. Weight: 560

Katarina Carmine: businesswoman and heiress to the Carmine Confectionaries company. In the outside she comes off as a kind and jolly, behind closed doors she is known for her mischievous antics and for “testing” products. Weight: 125

Stella Belmont: merchant noble and representative of the Most Serene and Wonderful Republic of Arcadia (yes that is what they actually call it). Growing up in one the more powerful families on Arcadia, Stella enjoys quite the relaxed and pampered life. It’s not wonder she’s gotten quite the chubby figure. Weight: 450, belly and chest heavy

Ivy Blackburn: pirate captain and leader of the Caustic Claymores, a small but troublesome group of tech pirates. Being the leader of this small group has its perks, such as first picks on any of the more valuable loot. Weight: 300, all around fat

Ignatius Darkwood: a kind and optimistic explorer from Terra, but is also known for being quite gullible to certain tales of the Frontier. Leads to him getting into quite a bit of trouble. Weight: 1100

Atlas: ancient automaton overseer from an unknown civilization. Once built for the purpose of maintaining entire cities, Atlas now uses his technology to teach a lesson to those who mess with him or the ruins he protects. Inflator and feeder.

Lustro: otherworldly figure always seen in a cloak of gold and wearing a similarly colored mask. Seems friendly enough, though initial appearances are always deceiving~. Feeder/Feedee

Umbrial: similar to Lustro, another otherworldly individual in human form. Is always seen either in a suit of armor that shines like obsidian, or wearing a dress of a similar design. More hardheaded than Lustro, Umbrial usually expects her to be the leader of whatever situation she’s in. Feeder/Reluctant Feedee

Lucia: rogue countess from Arcadia, now working to start her own royal house. Very overconfident and easy to mess with. Definitely a feedee~

Alexandros: Janissary, bodyguard and friend of Lucia, he’s followed her into the Frontier. Pretty relaxed for a bodyguard, and someone to easily feed~

Younger Nadia: Nadia back when she was a mercenary, spending her time fighting different battles across the Frontier. Far more prone to be inflated than fattened up at this moment, but not an impossibility

Elina Radler: CEO and overseer of Frostgrove Manufacturing and its colony. Rules it like it’s her personally kingdom, and enjoys indulging and helping her guests “indulge” as well, usually leaving them fattened up or expanded in some form.

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alonahawk · 1 month ago

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Note(s): Part 4 is ready, I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights on this picture.

Word count: 4,553 words

Changes

Chapter 4: Not even hell can separate us

Summary: Strong people sometimes need strong shoulders to lean on, too. Especially when everything is going terribly wrong.

A few months and a few short deployments later, Drew and I were at the grocery store to get some things for dinner. It was Wednesday evening and the week was going well. Shooting training, sports and close combat training.

As we walked out of the store, our phones buzzed. Drew and I looked at each other with big grins on our faces.

We unloaded our purchases at home and went straight to the base. Commander Blackburn gave us instructions for our new mission.

"Good evening, Bravo team. Your destination this time is Afghanistan."

He opened a map on the screen and showed us the location where we would operate.

"It's just this one building in this area. We suspect that this building is used to produce explosives. Plus, a high value target is frequently checking the work there. He's got a leading position in a terror cell. Our goal is reconnaissance of the target person, capture him and destroy the factory."

Then he opened a picture of our target person.

"Departure in one hour, good luck Bravo team."

We packed our gear and headed to the plane.

As we arrived at our safehouse, Drew and I made a plan for reconnaissance. We chose our area and prepared our weapons and our equipment.

When we finished our preparations I went to Jason.

"Boss, we're ready. We will go at nightfall."

"Alright. Then go and rest a little bit, we are here."

Drew and I went to our room and slept a little bit.

After we woke up, we went to our command post and grabbed a coffee. Jason, Omar and Brock were sitting at the comms and screens.

"Any movements?", I asked.

"A group of ten people went out of the building, must be the workers.", Jason told.

"Okay, then we will be on the way."

"Understood. Be careful, we stay in touch."

We left the safehouse and checked our radios.

The distance to our area was about 9,5 miles through rough terrain, so we knew it would take a few hours to get there. We walked well hidden, so we could make good progress.

It was about 0200 as we arrived. There was a small cave between rocks at a higher point. We went to the cave and it suited perfectly. We had space for ourselves, our weapons and our equipment. We camouflaged everything and got into position. The distance to the building was about 3,600 feet.

Drew radioed. "Bravo one, here six. We're in position."

"Copy, Bravo six."

We laid there for about four hours and nothing happened. Then we saw a group of people approaching the building. I looked through my scope to get a better view. I could count ten people and reported it to the command post. This time Ray were on the comms. On the ground floor we only saw silhouettes through the windows because they were milky as fuck. The second floor got two windows with a good view. I could recognise that it has to be the "office", but no one was there.

In the afternoon, a pickup truck pulled up in front of the building.

Four people, one of them was our target person. The others must have been bodyguards or something like this.

We reported it to Ray.

Our target person left the building at approx 1730, the workers left at 2000.

The rest of the evening nothing happened anymore. We decided to take turns every two hours at sleeping, so we got at least a little bit of sleep.

It was 0600 when Drew woke me up. The workers showed up. At 1535 the pickup truck with our target person came. He left at 1720, the workers left at 2000. Another night went over. The next day went like the other two days and the day after like those days before. So one week went over and the only thing that changed a little bit were the times when the target person arrived and left, but that was just a maximum of ten minutes.

We reported every move, so our team knew everything what was going on. Jason decided to get started at dawn.

As the rest of Bravo arrived in the area, they were not far away from us. It was about 1300 when Jason contacted us.

"Bravo six and seven, here Bravo one. Stay at your position, we are within reach. We will clear the factory, attach the detonators and wait for the target person. You will observe further and provide us cover. When we're done here, you'll pack up and follow us to our exfiltration point."

"Bravo one, here Bravo six. Copy that."

Ten minutes later we saw the rest of our team near the building. They entered and we directly saw the muzzle flashes, then after a few minutes the radio message from Jason came: "Building clear, we're now waiting for the target person."

It was 1540 as the pickup truck arrived.

The target person entered the building, short after the bodyguards were neutralised and the target person captured. Drew screened the area.

"Holy shit. (Y/N), look, 9 'o clock.", he said to me.

Fuck. A horde of enemies. We had to warn the others.

"Bravo one, here seven. Get out of there, enemies on their way. They're about forty to fifty men and they got motorcycles and pickups with machine guns."

"Here Bravo one, copy that, seven."

When the guys came out, the enemies were already close to them.

I had to think real quick. Then I made a decision.

"Drew, you know that I love you, don't you?"

"I know, I love you too. What exactly is on your mind?"

"Go. Now. Go to the extraction point with the others. I will request air support and stop those shitheads."

"No way! I won't leave you alone!"

"GO! Better one of us instead of the whole team, I will make it!"

"FUCK!"

I could see the tears in Drew's eyes. He gave me a quick kiss, packed up and ran to the rest of our team.

There I was. Me alone against a horde of enemies.

"India one one, here Bravo seven. I need air support. Now!"

It took a few seconds, then they called me back.

"Bravo seven, here India one one. What are the coordinates?"

I gave them the coordinates of the target area and marked it with infrared.

"Bravo seven, you are located in the danger zone, are you sure?"

"Confirmed, India one one, fire!"

--- Drew's POV ---

'Shit. What am I doing here?'

I ran as fast as I could until I reached our team.

Jason looked at me, his expression dark.

"Drew, where is (Y/N)?"

Tears came up into my eyes.

"She... She stayed... At our position... She wanted to request air support..."

"FUCK! We have to go on, we will come back and get her."

"Yeah... She will make it..."

Deep inside I knew she would make it but I was so scared.

We ran to our exfiltration point where the helicopter was already waiting for us. We got into it and then the helicopter took off. I could hear the F-16 approach. Short after I saw a row of explosions at our old area. It felt like someone ripped my heart off my chest. I felt sick and vomited. Sonny sat beside me and laid an arm over my shoulder.

"Hey... She will make it bro... We will come back and get her out of this fuckin' shit hole. No one gets left behind."

--- Your POV ---

"Here India one one. Cruise missiles in three, two, one, launched."

No matter how hard I tried to get my heart rate down, it felt like it was increasing with infinity.

I saw the impact of the cruise missiles and the blast waves hit me like a kick in the face. Something was flying in my direction, that was the last thing I saw before everything went dark.

--- Drew's POV ---

As we arrived at our safehouse, we locked our target person up. We tied him to a chair and I punched right into his face.

"You fucking little shithead! Who gave you the orders?"

He only grinned at me but said nothing.

I punched him again.

"TALK!!!"

Nothing.

I wanted to punch him again, but Ray catched my arm and stopped me.

"Drew, stop it! We still need him for further information and he won't talk if you beat his face to a pulp."

Ray and I looked at each other and then I went off wordless.

"Drew!" It was Jason.

"Yeah?"

"Take some time to rest. I know, it's hard but give it at least a try. We will do our best to to get informations about what's going on with (Y/N). In eight hours at the latest we will go searching for her."

"Thanks, Boss."

He nodded and patted my shoulder.

I went to (Y/N)'s and my room and there was nothing but silence. Pure desperation, anger and fear was a bad mixture. And everything erupted in one big explosion.

"FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!", I screamed at the top of my lungs and punched with full force against the wall, leaving a dent. There was so much pain burning inside, I felt dizzy and my legs gave up. So I sat on the floor in front of my bed and could do nothing but cry.

--- Your POV ---

I woke up and it was dawning.

'Holy shit. I'm still alive.'

I shifted the stones and debris away and looked after my weapons. They were all intact. Thank god. My headache was killing me, a stone must have hit me.

'Marching nine miles with hell of a headache. Nice.'

So I got up, packed my gear and checked the radio.

"Bravo one, here seven. Radio check."

Nothing.

"Bravo one, here seven. Radio check."

Still nothing.

I tried it another three times but got no response.

The radio must have been destroyed by the explosion, so I had to fight my way through without comms.

As I was making my way back to our safehouse, I suddenly felt like I was being watched. But I couldn't see anything, so I went on. Then I saw silhouettes on a hill nearby and heard someone screaming something in Arabic, followed by shots in my direction.

'Oh fuck.'

I searched a place to hide, but I didn't find one. So there was only one thing left: Fight and run. First I shot with my sniper rifle and hit many. But there were more and more and they came closer quickly. My whole body was hurting, so I wasn't really fast. I ran and turned around to shoot them with my assault rifle, but I was too slow and ran out of ammunition. Then I was hit in my leg and fell to the ground.

'That's it.', I thought. Again I heard something in Arabic and the gunfire silenced.

The next thing I could remember was, that I tried to get away with my shot leg and then I felt a dull thud on the back of my head.

I woke up, tied to a steel buttress with nothing on but my underwear. Could it get even worse?

I looked around and it seemed to be a small old abandoned warehouse. Then I saw the rest of my clothes lying in a corner. They were unreachable for me but something came across my mind. Whoever kidnapped me forgot to take off my tactical watch. It had a combination to send an emergency signal. I managed to press the buttons and then it was time to wait and hope that one of my team was getting my signal. The door opened and a man came in. He looked like a typical middle-aged Arab, but not like a typical Afghan. He came over to me and walked around me in circles. Then he stopped in front of me, held my chin and grinned at me.

"A female Navy SEAL. That's unusual. I should kill you, but I think we will get a lot of money for you. Maybe I kill you after we got the money. But until the time comes, I think you will wish you were dead. So tell me a little bit about what orders you got and where the rest of you is hiding."

I spat into his face.

"Damn whore!"

He punched me in the face, then he pressed his finger into my wound on my leg. I gritted my teeth to not to scream. This asshole wouldn't get to know how it was looking inside of me.

"Sooner or later you will talk, I promise."

He poured a bucket of cold water over me. It was so fucking cold. Then he left me alone in the dark. I completely lost my sense of time. But he came again and again and every time he poured cold water over me. My body began to hurt from the cold. The next time he came, he had a cable in his hands.

"Will you talk now?", he asked.

I stared him directly in the eyes but said nothing. He hit me with the cable over and over. It was hurting so bad on my cold skin but before I would tell anything to this asshole I'd rather shoot myself. Eventually I lost my consciousness.

The next time I woke up, I laid on my back with my hands tied behind on the cold floor. There he was again, this time I saw a big bucket full of water. I knew exactly what was going on next.

"You think you are special and immortal? We will see..."

He and one of his men grabbed me and pulled me in front of the bucket. Then he grabbed my head and pressed me under water. I didn't know how many times he made me almost drowning, I only tried to survive. The only thing that I knew was, that I wouldn't tell him anything, even when it meant my death.

After this was over, he tied me on a rope to the ceiling pillar, so that I hardly could touch the floor with my toes. Everything was blurry, I didn't even feel my body anymore.

'Please, my brothers, get me out of here...'

The door opened again. He came to me with a knife in his hand.

"I should cut your eyes out. But then you can't look at me. Or at my men, when they will visit you to have a little fun."

He left a cut on my cheek and on my throat.

"But maybe I will cut your guts out when they are finished with you."

The cuts went also over my belly.

Then I heard shots. My hope was restored.

My kidnapper held the knife on my throat.

"Don't you dare to scream."

--- Drew's POV ---

Eventually I made it into my bed and fell asleep.

Until Sonny woke me up.

"Drew, wake up! (Y/N) has sent an emergency signal, we can track her!"

I jumped out of my bed and went with Sonny to the others. Jason briefed us and then we headed out to our target location.

My hope grew bigger again.

'Please, (Y/N), hold on... We will come and save you.'

This time we had a pickup truck, this made us a lot faster. We could see a small building in the distance.

"That has to be our destination!", Sonny shouted.

We approached further and then got off the car to make the rest by foot.

As we got in, we shot the first three enemies. We cleared every room until only one was left.

'Please be in this room. Alive.'

Brock kicked the door in and Jason shot. Hit. Room Cleared. There she was, badly hurt and hanging on a rope. It was hurting so much to see her like this. I got over to her and freed her.

--- Your POV ---

I saw Jason coming into the room and in a split second the kidnapper was shot.

The guys secured the room and then I saw Drew. He came over and freed me.

My legs gave up and I directly collapsed into his arms.

"Drew... I... I thought that I.... Thank you... For saving me... I'm... I'm so sorry..."

"Ssshhhh... I got you... We're here, everything is gonna be alright. Don't say that, you don't have to feel sorry..."

He wrapped me into his combat jacket, took me upon his shoulders and then we went to the extraction point.

Again I lost my consciousness.

As I woke up, I was in the hospital. Drew sat sleeping on a chair beside my bed, holding my hand and resting his head on the mattress.

I gave his hand a light squeeze. He instantly woke up.

"(Y/N), you're awake! Oh my god, I'm so glad that you're alive... I almost thought that I'd never see you again..."

I have never seen Drew crying since we know each other, until now. I stroked his cheek and wiped his tears away with my thumb.

"I thought my time has come... I was so relieved as you came in... Thank you for saving my life..."

The doctor came in.

"Ah, Miss (Y/L/N), you're awake. We stitched the bigger wounds and treated the smaller ones. Plus you have a concussion, so you should stay one more night for control. But if you're feeling better tomorrow, you can leave the hospital."

"Thanks, doctor.", I answered.

As the doctor was gone, Drew kissed me gently. He softly cupped my cheek and looked at me. I could see so much pain in his eyes.

"I shouldn't have left you alone... I feel so guilty...", he said with a sad voice.

"Hey... You didn't do anything wrong, okay? You are not guilty for anything, I sent you away. And nobody expected that there would be an ambush... I thought that there would be no one after these explosions... I thought that they must've been thinking that I was dead, too... So I made my way... And if I weren't been ambushed, I would have easily made it..."

"I will never leave you alone again... We live together, we fight together... And if our time has come in combat, we die together..."

"And not even hell can separate us..."

Drew didn't leave my side this night either.

The next day Drew and I went home. As he opened the door, the whole Bravo team was there. I was so happy, that I got tears in my eyes. Jason spoke at first.

"Welcome back home, (Y/N)! We're so happy to see you! The mission was a success, we got the information we needed and you saved our lives. Thank you so much."

"Thank you boss... But everyone of you saved my life, too... Thank you so much my brothers... I don't know what to say..."

Sonny came over and hugged me.

We drank a few beers, ate pizza and talked a lot about our last mission. Then the rest of the team went home and Drew and I went to bed.

He took me into his arms and held me tight.

I finally felt safe. And I felt the connection we had, it was so strong. Drew recognised that my head was full of thoughts.

"I'm here... No one will ever hurt you again. I will protect you with my life, I swear..." He gently stroked my head until I finally fell asleep.

***

When I woke up, everything around me was dark.

"Drew?"

No answer.

"Drew? Are you there?"

Nothing.

I couldn't move, my hands were tied together and I couldn't feel the ground under my feet.

No. Not again.

How did I get there? I was at home, I knew it!

Panic came up inside of me.

Then I saw a door opening, there was a weak shine of light. A dark figure went into my direction.

The figure tossed something on the floor in front of my feet. It was my tactical watch.

"This time nobody will come to save you."

Again he had a knife in his hand.

"You're dead! My brothers shot you!", I yelled at him.

"I'm immortal, not like you. I killed your friends, one after another. And now it's your turn."

He laughed like a maniac and began to cut my guts out, like he said the first time. Everything was full of blood and I couldn't do anything but scream.

"DREEEEEEEW, PLEASE HELP MEEEE!!!"

***

"Hey, sweetheart, look at me... Look me in the eyes! I'm there for you, everything's alright. Nobody is hurting you, you just had a nightmare."

Drew. He was there. He held my face in his hands. I was sweaty and my heart was racing. It took a few seconds until my vision got clear. He took me in his arms and hugged me tight.

"Do you wanna lay back down?", he asked me gently stroking my back.

I nodded.

He laid down first and reached me his hand. Then I laid down beside him, my head resting on his chest.

I could hear his calm and steady heartbeat.

"You don't have to be afraid, I'm always there for you and we will fight your demons together."

Drew's words were so heartwarming and gave me strength. I focused on his breath, his heartbeat, his strong arms around me and his gentle touch. He kissed me softly and stroked my head and my back until I slowly drifted into sleep again, this night without any further nightmares.

The sun shone through the window and it took a small moment to realise that I was at home. I felt Drew's warm and steady breath against my neck. With a sigh of relief I turned over, so I could look at his beautiful face. He also woke up and pulled me closer him.

"Good morning, my love... How did you sleep?", he asked with his wonderful morning voice.

"Good morning, my beautiful... With you by my side the demons didn't come back.", I smiled at him.

He looked me intensely in the eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so... What happened will take a little time to process but don't worry. I will make it and with you nothing is impossible." I gave him a gentle kiss. "And every kiss is pure balm for my soul."

"You know what? You're the strongest person I ever met. And I love you from the very top of my heart..."

He kissed me so softly and intense, that I could've melted right away.

"Should we get up and make breakfast?", Drew asked.

"Hmmm, right after a hot bath?"

"Alright, I will do it, stay there.", he winked.

Drew got up and filled the bathtub. Then he went into the kitchen and made coffee for us. He came back into the bedroom and carried me on his arms to the bathroom.

"Hmmm, what a service.", I said with a smile and got into the tub.

"And that's not even all, give me a second and I'll be right back."

He came back with a big, hot cup of coffee.

"Thank you so much, but I still miss something.", I teased him.

"What did I forget?"

"Yourself. Do you want to come in, too?"

"I'd love to accept your invitation."

He also got into the tub and sat behind me. I nipped at my coffee and put the cup aside. He wrapped his arms around me and placed soft kisses on my shoulder.

"I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful man by my side, thank you for everything...", I said enjoying every single touch.

"(Y/N), my love, for you I would do everything. You're my one and everything..."

"I would do everything for you, too. I hope you know that..."

"I know, sweetheart, I know..."

He massaged my shoulders and my neck, I could feel the tension of the last days fade away. Then he pulled me close to him, his head resting on my shoulder and his fingers trailing soft lines up and down my arms. His touches felt so soothing, I almost fell asleep in the bathtub.

The water slowly got cold, so we decided to get out of the bathtub and make breakfast.

As we were eating, I got a message on my phone.

"Hey little sis, Lisa and I want to go out a little bit today, do you and Drew wanna come with us? Sonny"

I looked over to Drew. "Should we go out today with Lisa and Sonny?"

"Yeah, why not?"

So I texted Sonny back and made a meeting point.

When we were ready with breakfast, we cleaned up and got dressed. We went to our place under the trees and placed a blanket on the grass. Before we sat down we saw Lisa and Sonny waving at us.

When they arrived, we hugged each other and sat down on the blanket.

Sonny brought beers for all of us. "What a picnic without something to eat or drink."

"Yeah, but you can't eat beer. So it's just something to drink, the food is still missing.", Lisa chuckled.

"Don't worry, babe. I've imagined going to a restaurant later. Is that okay for everyone?", Sonny asked.

Drew and I looked at each other and nodded.

"Great idea, Sonny.", Drew and I said almost simultaneously.

I leaned back against Drew's shoulder and looked into the sky.

"It's such a beautiful day, sitting in a park under the trees with a part of my family, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, moments like these are priceless."

Drew leaned his head against mine and Lisa and Sonny nodded.

As the sun was setting, we packed up and went to the restaurant.

"I love going out with you two.", Lisa said. "Sonny and I haven't to hide our relationship from you."

"Yeah, that's really cool.", I agreed. "But it would be a lot easier if it was allowed officially."

"Oh yes, you say it."

We ate our steaks and after a few drinks and good talks we all went home.

Later in the evening Drew and I went to bed. He took me in his arms, my head resting on his chest. The sound of his steady heartbeat, his scent, his warm embrace, his loving cuddles and his intense kisses were all things that calmed me down and made me feel alive. Especially when I woke up in the middle of the night, sweaty and breathless from the nightmares that were hunting me.

Drew and I had a bond that never ever could be broken. And that night I could sleep the first time without any nightmares. I was recovering well and soon ready for the next mission.

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