#do you think they also slept back to back at baxter?

[goodtimeswithgrian]

at least the big dog doesn't have to share the single bed now, right? woof woof...

[differenteagletragedy]

With the Baxter angst with mc drowning in a riptide, I’m curious as to what Cove’s (and our family in general) reaction is when we’re found and the days/weeks after our death. Thanks, I love your writing

Thank you so much! Here you go :)

"You ok, son?"

"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine."

Cliff watched as Cove came into the house, his arms full of shopping bags. He was most definitely not fine.

It had been a little over a week since you'd drowned, and Cove was just not himself. Not that Cliff expected he would be after such a traumatic loss, but his behavior was becoming more concerning every day and he wasn't sure what to do.

That night you'd gone out for a swim, your moms came knocking on the Holdens' door frantically around 10:00. Cliff had answered the door and hearing the commotion, Cove came out of his room. Pam and Noelani explained how you'd wanted to go to the ocean by yourself, but then you didn't come home and you didn't answer your phone. When they went to check on you, your things were on the beach but you were nowhere to be found.

Both men had set out to help look for you, as had many of the other neighbors. Authorities were called -- it was an unusually chaotic night for the quiet little street -- but by the morning, your body had been found.

Cliff was pretty sure Cove hadn't slept since.

He hadn't been down to the beach, which was understandable, even though it had been a nearly daily activity for him. But he also hadn't showered. Cliff had taken time away from the shop to be there for his son, but when he'd gone out for a quick grocery run one evening, he came back to a pile of sand in the hallway.

"It's time we got this out of the house," Cove had muttered, broom in hand.

Cliff didn't want to be overbearing -- honestly he had no idea how to help Cove through this -- so he'd watched as Cove did an overhaul of his bedroom. He took out his surfboard and tucked it somewhere out of sight, then packed his swim trunks and wetsuits in a trash bag and set them by the curb. Cliff did grab those up and put them away for him, sure that someday he might want to return to the beach, but as the days went on he stopped being so sure.

That day, when Cove had come in with his bags after a trip to town, Cliff followed him to his bedroom. His son didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't care that he had an audience. From the bags, he pulled out bubble wrap, a pack of rubber bands and some smaller plastic bags. He left again without a word, went back to his car, and came back with a cooler.

"What are you doing?" Cliff finally asked.

After taking the time to sort out his newly acquired supplies, Cove knelt down and grabbed a box from under his bed. He opened it, grabbed a few more items, then pushed it aside. He used his free hand to grab one of the smaller bags, and that's when he answered Cliff.

"I'm getting rid of the fish."

Cove was expressionless as he began the task of getting each individual fish into its own bag, securing it, then placing it inside the cooler. Cliff was taken aback for a number of reasons, a big one because he knew how much his son loved his pets. Another was that he was taking the fish off, with everything else that was going on, without a single tear falling.

"I think we need to talk," he said at last, but Cove wasn't interested.

"There's nothing to talk about. I don't want them anymore. Some guy in town is taking them, I'm going to drive them down there in a little bit."

"Cove," he said softly, reaching out to grab his son's shoulder. They both stayed silent, then the younger man let out a shaky sigh.

"I can't sleep, Dad," he said, looking at him for the first time that day. "I can't sleep with them in here. The water ..."

He glanced over to the tank, the little piece of the ocean he'd been so excited to have in his own room years ago. But now, since you were gone, it wasn't welcome anymore.

"Is that why you haven't been showering?"

He nodded.

"Have you been drinking?" Cliff asked. He'd known Cove hadn't been eating that much, but if he was developing this deep of an aversion to water, he wanted to make sure.

"I haven't been thirsty," Cove answered.

Cliff sighed, then decided it was time to take charge. He emptied Cove's hands, setting the scoop and net on the floor, then took him in his arms.

Cove started crying almost immediately.

"You have to take care of yourself," Cliff told him. "And if you can't right now, then you have to let me help you."

"I don't want to," Cove replied, his body wracked with sobs. "I don't want to do any of it."

He cried for a long time, sometimes slowing to a a near stop before starting up violently again. Cliff cried too, feeling utterly helpless. But eventually, when he didn't have any more tears, Cove went a little limp. He was exhausted.

"Come in here," Cliff told him. "I'll take care of it."

He moved to stand beside Cove, letting him lean against his side. He took him to the living room and laid him down on the couch, then grabbed the blanket that was thrown on the back of it to cover him up.

"I'll take care of it," he told him again. "Just sleep for now."

He kneeled on the floor next to Cove, stroking his hair until he drifted off. Then he went in his own bedroom, cleared off his dresser, and began the task of moving the fish tank in there.

When he was almost done, he heard a knock at the door. He moved quickly, not wanting to wake Cove, then quietly opened it and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. It was then that he saw Liz standing there stone-faced, a box in her arms.

"Hey, Liz," he said, trying for a smile but failing. "How are you all holding up?"

"Not great," she answered frankly. "Ma won't get out of bed. They're talking about selling the house but they want to think it through."

He nodded, not sure what to say to that. Liz looked down at the box, then back up at him and asked, "How's Cove?"

"About as good as you'd expect," he said.

"That bad, huh?"

Without waiting for a reply, she held up the box to Cliff.

"What's this?" he asked, taking it from her.

"It's ... it's for Cove. I think he'll appreciate it the most."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Liz excused herself, walking back across the street and going inside. After she closed the door, Cliff lifted the box's lid and took a peek.

Seashells, all different kinds and colors. He remembered you collecting them with Cove when you were younger, how much time you'd spent together on the beach looking for the best ones.

She was right. Cove would appreciate it the most.

He snuck back inside, box in hand, and moved past a lightly snoring Cove. He went back to his bedroom and put the box safely on his dresser by the tank.

Someday Cove would be ready for this again. He'd be ready for the water, and ready to remember you. Until then, Cliff could keep these memories safe.

[missielynne]

CBS Ghosts Review: Isaac's Wedding

I specifically remember telling a Nonnie that I didn't think the stripper would be a big problem but turns out he wasn't NOTHING (at least in the context of Nisaac.) I love how they made him absolutely everything Isaac could want in a man INCLUDING hating Hamilton and having no sense of smell (which is why I was really rooting for him to die and become a ghost because it would have been just perfect for Isaac.)

I know Nisaac was the big point of the episode and the main gay rep for the show but I really like that Isaac was showing interest in someone else too so they didn't go through with the wedding. Was the timing perfect? No. But ever since the Christmas episode when Nigel slept with Jenkins based off like a one day estrangement and constantly let the man lurk in the background without being firm about where they were, I've soured on Nisaac at least where Nigel is concerned, so the thought that someone could be so perfect for Isaac as he is made me so happy (plus I like the idea of Isaac being willing to explore the dating pool instead of just marrying the first guy who wants to because he's afraid he'll never find anyone else.) He deserves better than that, and both he and Nigel deserve better development so they have a deeper, richer story, which is why I'm glad the writers took the chance and didn't go through with the wedding, even though it would have been good for representation. They built up a reason in the story why there shouldn't be a wedding so it wasn't just for shock value, allowing both our men to grow as people.

Now...the same cannot be said for our would-be throple: it took all of two seconds for them to put Thor and Flower back together again and I am not happy about it because the way they're writing it just allows the romance (which is written in a way that doesn't fit either Flower or Thor's characters at all and consumes them at the expense of the family and friendship connections that make both lovable and enjoyable to watch.) I can only hope that now that they've said "I love you" and seem to be on stable relationship ground, they'll start to make them more compelling.

My favorite part of the episode was definitely Pete on the island. I definitely felt the happiest I've ever felt watching him on this show so far. Donna was absolutely perfect for him: they were from around the same time, they found one another attractive, she found his goofy way of flirting ("My wife is terrible, I'm single") sweet and endearing and really got into his water-rafting role play without treating it like something silly or him like some sort of a dork and that's the kind of relationship he deserves. I was literally so sad when he started to disappear and the only way to fix it was to go back to a place where he isn't as appreciated as he should be and has to do all the work to make things peaceful and happy.

His speech at the wedding was so nice and so real, and I love that it was what made Isaac realize that there was more out there for him. No one thinks anything he says is that sort of meaningful, so that was nice...even if it did ruin things for Isaac and Nigel, but at least Nigel seems to have taken it well. (And I'm glad that even though it's weird, Baxter has Carol. He's been a third wheel in the shed for too long.)

And then we get to Patience: I love hearing Flower talking about her and how she was built up. (Also Thor and Nancy's "Just smile and nod" as she talked.) The first time I watched the episode, I didn't see the figure of Patience with her face obscured by her bonnet so that was creepy the second time around. And when she finally kidnapped Isaac, aided by the basement ghosts, that was the creepiest "God bless you" before he was grabbed that I've ever heard, but I loved Nancy's "let's not tell anyone about this: it's not a good look for us."

It's good payback for the ways Isaac's choices have affected other people and I can't wait to see what happens to him next!

Well, that's it, folks! The last review of CBS Ghosts season 3. It had highs and lows but there are definitely several eps that I will add to my rewatch list as we wait for a full season four (which I will also review when it premieres this fall.)

Cheers and happy Ghosts watching, everyone! :)

[cbsghostsmetasandtrevor]

Episode 3x9 live watch

Thoughts under the cut.

Oooh pretty sight. Ghost honeymoon!

LOL Pete as a ghost travel agent -> how would Sam and Jay feel about the ghosts staying in their room? Wouldn't it be better to like... IDK, get her to make up a room outside the house.

LOL at Pete's Bee freak out! How has he never done this before?

Isaac all excited about the potential change!

"I still have the 'fart thing'" = poor isaac.

Thank you, Trevor!!! ALL THIS TIME?

"I am a rule listener!" - I died.

Sass talking about Pizza. West of Michigan is an exotic far off land???

Isaac being like "YOUD NEVER SEE ME AGIAN - oh, wait, fiance."

Pete doesn't wanna use it? BOO.

LOL SASS - Super Cool Power, more lame.

Love Trevor being like - BUT FAMILY!

They are still getting family newsletter? Where's Carol for this?

LOL - Shawshanks thing.

"Jay gets it" -> "Not a good thing pete".

Treating him like a dog. The look on Trevor's face!

This is awkward. "So deeply weird."

Aw Thor & Trevor roommate thing. It was not a hero move.

WAIT Carol moved downstairs and then with Baxter???? WOW.

He's been with NANCY!!!

What they say about crazy chicks... OMG.

OKAY, here's the thing, I can't see trevor being a cheater or denying it. He thought she was gone, so he didn't cheat. It was a year, and like...

It feels like it should be the other way around, Alberta's been lied to but she's also been a cheater -> she says so in the second episode, whereas Trevor's been the loyal one considering that he wouldn't even FLIRT with Sam while with Hetty until she told him to. I don't like this.

LOL UGLY HAT MENTION. Give it back Thor, Alberta!

OMG Jay's talking to himself to everyone else. LOL feeling like Sam.

OOOOH More ghosts.

Trampled together! Also, making people forget.

Pete's lost Jay!

Yeah, but it's DIFFERENT because he thought she was sucked off.

And.... he's going to lie. Yup yup.

"No buildup."

LOL he left Pete!

Sass & Isaac's reaction.

"Pete's too soft for this!"

Hetty is doubting Jay, and Isaac is blaming Alberta.

OMG - Deal Mart after Dark.

This is worse than hell for Pete, I think.

Were all of these ghosts ALSO trampled??

Awww, Nancy probably has feelings for Thor.... Poor Nancy.

LOVE Nancy into blackmail.

Aw Pete! "Who are they!"

LOL - which episode of Viking's will we be enjoying tonight?

OMG this is so obvious.

LOL Flower calling him out. The looks on Trevor/Flower's face was go.

Pete found his way back!!!

Pete found a SPINE!!!

Aww, Pete.

Sass' sarcasm, I'm loving it! Smores! is his sent trap.

Awww lowest fare 'cause he didn't want to steal.

Hetty praising him!

"I could've done it." - "Describe a bus."

No, a pamplet is not enough.

Sam did not know!

Aw, hearing the stories!

"Got it - that's a firetruck man"

TAKING BACK THE POWER!

Of course Flower would understand!

Awww, Nancy's feelings.

Aw, Thor apologized!

I do like that Flower's more upset about what he said to Nancy.

Love that "Yeah, so quiet."

He's going to St. Lucia! Don't do it, Sam!

They found the THIRD!

"Two person thing?" - "Not currently on the table."

This is going to be so funny.

Nancy slept with Carol, too!

So we leave the episode with Pete going to St. Lucia.

***

I liked the episode, but didn't like Trevor's use this episode.

[adoracora-elizabeth]

But Papa! Why? Chapter 22

A couple of weeks had gone by. Cora and Robert stayed in New York for the funeral. Robert made sure everything was arranged before he took her back to London.

Cora was settled in her new position and together with Baxter they worked on many new advertisements. Patrick gave her freedom in how she wanted to work. All the clients loved her work.

"Cora?" Robert popped his head around the corner.

She looked up and upon hearing his voice a big smile appeared on her face. "Yes?"

"What are your plans for this weekend?" He asked, stepping further inside. When he noticed Baxter was not in the office he walked over to Cora’s desk and planted a kiss on her lips.

Since they were back in London, they had gone on several dates and the relationship was getting more and more serious. They said, that in the office they would not show too much affection towards each other, but Robert loved these stolen kisses.

Cora raised her hand to Robert’s cheek. "Hi." She said with an even wider smile. She pulled Robert in for another kiss. "I do not have any plans besides doing laundry and vacuuming."

"Good." He said, his face close enough to press one more kiss on her inviting lips. He then walked back around the desk and sat down. "I want to take you up north to show you the estate and the house."

"The house my father's money will rebuild," Cora said.

Robert leaned over the desk and took her hand which was resting on the desk, in his hand. With his thumb, he brushed the back of her hand. "You showed me your family home and the home you grew up in. I want to show you mine."

Cora squeezed his hand. "I know, I am sorry. I would love to see it, when do you want to leave?"

"I was thinking, tonight."

"Tonight?" Cora exclaimed. "I have so much work left and need to pack. What time do you want to leave?"

"It is a two-hour drive, I thought to have an early dinner and then leave around 20.00 o'clock."

Cora looked at the clock, and felt the colour drain from her face. "I love you for your spontaneous idea, but I cannot be ready tonight. There is so much work left."

"You love me?" Robert teased. "What is the deadline of what you are working on?"

Cora raised her eyebrows. "Friday next week."

"Good." Robert got up. "I will pick you up around eight."

+++

Cora stepped outside, Robert could arrive any moment. She realised that she did not know what kind of car he drove. She had only been in the company cars, with John as their driver. But Robert said he would come with his car, without a driver.

A luxurious-looking car stopped and Robert got out. Cora had to force her mouth shut.

"What do you think?" Robert said with a beaming face.

Cora was not sure what to say. It was adorable how excited Robert was about the car. But she had no idea how special the car could be. She knew Rolls-Royce was a luxurious brand, but not if this was a special model or something. "Nice car." Was all she could say before Robert continued.

"It is the ghost Ékleipsis brand new. This will be the first trip with this car."

Cora smiled, Robert looked like a kid in a candy store.

"Welcome, Milady." He opened the car door for her, put her trolley in the trunk and got in on the driver's side. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Are you excited for this trip?"

Cora put her hand on Robert’s knee. "I am." Robert's excitement was enough for her to forget her worries. She had repacked her trolley several times. Did she bring the right nightwear? The right clothes? She did not know what they were going to do, so she packed nice clothes for a fancy restaurant, but also clothes to wear for a day outside.

It did not take long for Cora to dose off, Robert looked at her sleeping figure and he could not be more content. How did he get so lucky to have Cora in his life?

It was a shame they would arrive this late in the evening. It was not worth it to drive up to the house now. Robert drove to the pub where he reserved a room. It would be weird, he never slept somewhere with less than four stars, but it felt romantic.

Robert parked the car and gently woke Cora up. "We arrived."

Cora needed a minute to wake up. "I was far away. I am sorry."

"For what?"

"Well, I was not what you call an entertaining travel companion."

Robert leaned in for a kiss. "No, but you were a very cute one."

Cora scrunched her nose. "I bet I was snoring."

"Oh, but your snoring was cute." He brushed his nose against Cora’s. "Let us go inside, I could use some sleep too." He paused and suddenly looked scared, leaning back in his chair.

"What is wrong?" Cora asked worried.

"I booked one room, but I forgot to ask if that was what you wanted."

"Are you kidding me? I hate it when you sleep at home during the week. I sleep better with you next to me." He hand went to his knee.

"Good." Robert was relieved, he hoped to get closer to Cora this weekend. They still had not done anything else than kissing and cuddling.

Robert got out and walked around the car to open Cora’s door, he loved that she waited for him to open the door. She was not expecting it from him, but when she noticed his intention she waited for him. She let him be a gentleman to her, and he adored her for it.

Cora took his arm and they walked to the pub. "Do you think my Mama, will one day be happy for us?"

Robert stopped walking, her question surprised him. "Both our Mamas need to understand, that they started all of this. I am at the point where I do not care about their opinion. Your father was happy for us, and so is my father. Our mothers have to accept the fact that I love you." He turned towards Cora. "I mean it. I love you."

Cora got on her tiptoes and kissed Robert. "I love you too."

[blujayonthewing]

Heartbreak, midnight, mistake for Mel if they haven’t been asked and actually can you dow them for Felix too, cause why not.

heartbreak: Have they ever had a relationship that ended badly? Experienced some other kind of heartbreak? What happened?

biting my fist I wish I had better answers for this because I love this question. The problem with both felix and mel is that they are in their 50s and 60s respectively, which isn't very many for a gnome but is still just A Lot Of Years for me, an idiot, to fill with life experiences and I've mostly been really bad about doing that kfgjhdgj.

Melliwyk has always been really bad at relationships in general; she's dated a little, mostly very casually, but especially once she was in the academy she fell pretty hard into 'yes yes yes I'll go socialize when I'm done working on this' chaining one project into the next ad infinitum, especially after the experiment backfire explosion that gave her a reputation as this sort of ruthless researcher and resulted in kind of a feedback loop of people assuming she preferred to be left alone, which meant fewer people bugging her into socializing once in awhile, which reinforced her perception as a loner, etc. I think she's been in at least a handful of relationships with people she really liked that could have been serious but just... sort of fell apart; more regrets than outright heartbreaks.

Honestly as of current canon, I think the worst outright heartbreak Mel's had that I know of was being attacked by, and then losing, her house's ghost as soon as she found out he was real the whole time; aside from Baxter, he was her only friend for years and years, even if only an 'imaginary' one, and it was a gut punch to, essentially, finally find him but then immediately lose him forever.

Felix has even less canon backstory I could tell you about right now, alas :') He's been in very few meaningful relationships; he's not good at putting himself out there, and having a brief encounter with a stranger is a lot easier to navigate than... well, someone else being disappointed with the way he is as a whole person. To be fair, I don't think he's been openly rejected a lot, but the way he sort of expects it shapes his behavior such that it makes it harder for others to get that close to him in the first place. I can very much see him having had his heart broken before, but I'd have to get back to you on specifics ^^; These days he mostly keeps to himself; he likes people, but it's easier for him to be around them than to be one of them.

I am incapable of brevity! The rest under the cut!

midnight: What keeps your OC up at night? Do they have nightmares? Fears? Anxieties? What do they do in the small hours of the morning when they should be sleeping?

Melliwyk is up working. She'd be up working anyway, but especially if she's upset-- working tirelessly, if not relentlessly. She's not good with emotions; she processes things by keeping busy, either looking for Solutions or just looking to throw herself into something productive rather than having to feel her feelings. This is overlapping really neatly with her current major source of stress, which is that everything she's working on is deeply important, and anything she neglects in order to work on those things is also deeply important, and other people are getting hurt and will continue to get hurt if she can't prioritize tasks correctly or do enough quickly enough and well enough. She doesn't have time for fears! Or anxieties! Or sleep! Or dinner! And it's great! After all, she loves her work! She's interested! Passionate! No downsides!! She doesn't have nightmares because the reason she wears that goofy hat at all times is literally to magically prevent nightmares, but I bet if she slept without it her nightmares would be real interesting right now :)

The facetious answer for Felix is: his sleep schedule is sort of unusual, so when he's up in the small hours it's normal and he's getting up to whatever his normal gnome business is, lol. But in the proper spirit of the question:

He lost a lot of sleep after the mysterious encounter that took a chunk of his memory and left a strange mark on his skin. In general, Felix is not immune to getting too invested in [area of interest] and staying up way too late, so he's certainly lost sleep working on/ thinking over really interesting mysteries before, but that situation has so many unknowns, has so many worrying or grim implications, has given him so much to think about and yet so little to actually work with...! The fact that he can't remember getting back to town is what upsets him the most. He's found himself (or put himself) in a lot of really dangerous situations, but he's always had control of his own mind and body before, even when he's been physically overpowered by others.

More generally, sometimes he'll learn something or uncover some secret that he ends up losing sleep over, especially if it's information about something bad that he doesn't feel like he can actually act on. The city he spends most of his time in is less-than-secretly controlled by a powerful criminal guild, so he has to maintain a really delicate balance between snooping around a lot just because that's what interests him anyway, helping others as much as he can, but also staying out of the way of the guild and the law enough that the worst either of them do is, you know, beat him up a little and/or throw him in jail for a couple days, rather than deciding it'd be better if he Just Disappeared.

If he's worried or anxious and can't sleep over it, he'll generally go for a walk, or go sit on a roof for awhile, or sit somewhere and draw if the weather's bad. He doesn't have a lot of nightmares, but when he does they're often about being trapped somewhere and being unable to call for help, or seeing people pass by who can't seem to see or hear him (all of which he stubbornly refuses to read into).

mistake: What’s the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

A little while back, Melliwyk's party returned from a ground excursion to find our airship under attack by a powerful archmage, her personal bodyguard, a bunch of summoned fiends, and a crew of elite soldiers; as soon as she managed to get back on deck Melliwyk launched a fireball at the archmage and then moved toward the cabin looking to get cover inside, and the archmage returned with a massive flamestrike right on top of Mel, who... had just run directly to where most of the crew of the ship were, all of whom had already taken damage before we got there. Our first mate went down, and we managed to get him just inside the door to the stairs leading belowdecks, but before any healers could reach him a previously invisible imp stung him, killing him instantly, right at Melliwyk's feet.

And the thing is. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered whether she, personally, drew fire to him; he had already been pretty hurt, and it was a rough battle for everyone, and there's no reason to believe the archmage still wouldn't have dropped a big AOE on half the ship. And maybe it's perfectly reasonable that Melliwyk, a wizard, a transmutation wizard, didn't try to use her entire action in the middle of a pitched battle to try to stabilize him when there were no obvious enemies nearby, and an actual healer was literally feet away, running to help him. Maybe. But she can only think that it was so, so stupid of her, that if she'd just thought for one second, for once-- ... anyway. The next week or so were all 'Mel doesn't leave her room or speak to anyone' days. Working. Relentlessly. She'd already been working on figuring out a method to use her newly-learned insights into artificing to cast spells, but the first spells she actually programmed into the device she was working on were spare the dying, cure wounds, and revivify.

Felix bit off more than he could chew; he was following the trail of some weird rumors in a smaller town, hoping to find a connection to a string of recent petty thefts he'd been looking into, but he underestimated what kind of people he was dealing with-- both in terms of skills, and of how serious their operation actually was. He got caught pretty deep into their base of operations, way too deep for any attempt at plausible deniability, and after beating the shit out of him they opted to just tie him up and leave him in an abandoned and mostly blocked-off sewer passage to die, rather than kill him outright. He only escaped by convincing the rats to chew through the ropes, quickly made his way out of the city by staying belowground for as long as possible, and has never been back since-- there's a chance they forgot about him immediately, but there's also a very good chance that they'd be really upset if that guy who Knows Too Much is still just running around like a dangerous loose thread.

It was just-- well, maybe not cockiness, he's not exactly the cocky type, but certainly carelessness. He got sloppy, over-interested and under-cautious; he hadn't really expected to be dealing with people who'd be able to catch him so easily, much less that he'd be in any serious danger if they did. He was expecting, like, a gang of teenagers at worst-- not not a threat, but people he could maybe stand up to in a fight, or wriggle free from pretty easily, or who at the very least wouldn't try to fucking kill him. This would have been fairly early in his career (so to speak) of trying to tail people and break into places for actual, like, private investigation reasons rather than pure curiosity, so he didn't have a good handle on the risks, or the stakes; he's (usually) a lot more careful nowadays, although sometimes he still can't resist pushing his luck.

ask about my OCs?

[ahopkins1965]

What is Schizoid Affective Disorder?  Schizoid Affective Disorder is a mental illness that is caused by a chemical imbalance inside of the brain just like Bipolar Disorder.  The symptoms of Schizoid Affective Disorder are mania, depressive symptoms, thinking that you are being controlled by someone or something, disorganized thinking and finally delusions.  I was first diagnosed with Schizoid Affective Disorder on Tuesday July 15, 1997 in Charlotte NC.  I remember taking Prednisone for a skin problem one month earlier.  I remember traveling to Charlotte NC on Sunday June 15, 1997.  I stayed at a hotel on South Tryon Street called the Ashcot Inn it was exactly one block from the Uptown Cabaret Night Club.  I do remember the temperature was 96 degrees outside in Charlotte NC.  I remember catching the cab to the hotel.  I ate a pizza and other junk food all day long.



Next, I stayed at another hotel on Monday June 16, 1997.  The hotel was called The Roadway Inn on West Trade Street.  I spent another night at the hotel and on Tuesday June 17, 1997, I walked to the Uptown Shelter and I stayed there for a total of 8 months.  The first few weeks, I slept on the floor until I was scheduled to get a bed on June 30, 1997.  I had to get up at 5:00am in the morning every single day for 8 months.  I had to walk a total of 9 miles to the Chemical Dependency Center located on Billingsley Road in Charlotte NC.  I remember being in the hospital for a total of 5 weeks.  I remember going to an Agency called the Access Project.  This agency helped me to get on Social Security.  I stayed with Access Project for 8 years.  My AA Sponsor name was Billy Godwin.  He was my Sponsor for a total of 15 years.  He was a Chemical Dependency Counselor for over 40 years.  I had a lot of fun down there by going to UNC- Charlotte for three years.  During the years, I was living at an apartment complex called Charlottetown Terrace Apartments located on Baxter Street in Charlotte NC.  I stayed there for almost three years.  I remember publishing my first book called The Best of Anthony Hopkins.  However I ran into a snag by dealing with two women at the same time.  I had to go back to Dayton, Ohio for an extended period of time.  I stayed with my sister for a few months.  I came back to Charlotte NC for a total of 10 years.  

Further, I came back to Charlotte NC for 10 years.  I remember working at UNC-Charlotte for a total of 8 years.  I lost my job because I was looking at porn online on my work computer.  Prior to that, I was working at UPS for a total of 4 months.  I remember my first paycheck someone stole it.  It took me at least one month just to get paid from the job.  I also worked at temporary Job services for a total of 8 months.  When I got the job at the library in Charlotte NC, I was happy for a total of 8 years.  Afterwards, I lost my job and I became homeless again.  This was also a time when I got scammed by some Africans and they swindled me out of $18,000 dollars in Western Union Funds.  I was also a victim of a pyramid scheme.  I worked so hard just to lose the money as soon as I got it.

Finally, I have been here in Dayton, Ohio for a total of 14 years now.  I published two more books called Essays and My Grace is Sufficient for Me.  The people who published my books is Authorhouse Publications in Bloomington Indiana.  My book is not selling right now.  I live in my apartment building called Wentworth Hi Rise Apartments located on Wentworth Avenue in Dayton, Ohio.  I have been living here for 13 years now.  I have been clean and sober for 33 years now.  I had to get honest and truthful with everyone about my personal recovery.  I have been Court Ordered to take medicine and attending my doctor's appointments each month.  I have been Court Ordered again to therapy and taking 38 pills per day for a lot of physical and mental ailments.  Recently I lost one of my Uncle's last year.  Uncle Johnnie Funeral was yesterday.  If I would have went to the funeral, I would have been fighting my own family members.  I found out that my father is a Caucasian male.  Therefore I am a Biracial Person.  The truth is I never knew my own father.  I was a product of infidelity.  My mother died with her secrets as well as my sister and grandmother.  I have been hearing voices for a total of 15 years now.  It hurts me to have a mental illness right now.  I also suffer from Alzheimer's and Schizophrenia as well as Andropause which is the male version of menopause.  I have been taking medication for a mental illness for almost 30 years now.  This is the reason why I am in need of prayers from everyone right now.  Thank you for reading my essay.

[bleachanimefan1]

Oblitus Part 33

Hallelujah

33 Days Left Until Extermination...

Gabriel stood in shock as he dropped his sword. His whole body was trembling as he looked down at his hands.

"What have I done?" he whispered in horror. He looked over the edge to where Michael had fallen, down towards the city below. He was he going to cover this up? How was he going to explain this to everyone, including father? No, it had to be done. Michael would have been an liability. Gabriel nodded his head. He had done the right thing. Michael was just like that traitor, Lucifer. He had to do it! As Gabriel was in deep thought, he didn't see that someone else was approaching towards him.

"Hey, Gabriel!" he heard them call out to him, making him jumped, startled. Gabriel quickly turned his head, panicking, to see another angel as they walked over to him.

"Ariel," Gabriel answered, trying to remain calm. The angel before him was a female with a rounded face, short brown hair, shady dark blue eyes, wearing dark purple eye shadow.

"Why so jumpy?" Ariel smirked. Gabriel narrowed his eyes, frowning at her.

"Why aren't you at your post?" he questioned.

"I decided to take a little break and wanted to see my two favorite brothers," Ariel replied. She looked around. "Where's Michael?" Gabriel grew tense, trying to think of something then he answered her.

"He attacked me!"

Ariel stared at Gabriel in shock and disbelief before laughing. "Gabriel, Michael couldn't even harm a fly even if he wanted to!"

"I'm serious!" Gabriel shouted. "He headbutted me and was about to attack me with his holy weapon!" Ariel looked at Gabriel, who looked like he had been in a fight. She was that a bruise was beginning to form on his forehead, with a little bit of swelling on his left eye. His face had a few scratches as well. His uniform had some rips and gun shot holes.

"I just find this hard to believe that Michael would do this," she murmured still unsure.

"Please, believe me sister. I wouldn't lie to you," Gabriel pleaded. "And there's more that you should know."

"What?" Ariel asked.

"I've learned some troubling news while I was out scouting," Gabriel explained. "Our former brother, Lucifer is creating an army. They are taking residence in a hotel down there. They are planning to over throw father again."

"What should we do?" Ariel asked, worried.

"Give me some time to recover and then we'll take care of this ourselves together with my army." Gabriel told her.

"Okay, I believe you," Ariel agreed as she nodded. "Just let me know when you are ready."

"I knew that I can rely on you, Ariel," Gabriel smiled.

Back down in the city, Charlie helped Vaggie up, while Alastor was tending to Angel and Husk with their injuries. As Alastor was finishing with Husk's wing, stopping the bleeding, he turned his attention to Angel, seeing the nasty wound on the spider demon. Alastor tried to heal it but he was almost as his limit as well. The wound was only finished halfway healed.

"It's fine, Smiles," Angel replied. "You've done enough. My body will do the rest on it's own."

"I'm just glad that it's over," Anna replied. "That was way too close. I ever thought that angels could be this strong."

"Well, you've never been through an extermination to see it happen," Charlie said. "This is why I want to save my people so they won't have to suffer anymore."

"Can we go back now? I've had enough excitement for one day," Baxter asked.

"Me too," Niffty agreed.

Suddenly, just as everyone was about to leave, Anna looked up to see something falling. It was a person. It was head straight towards them, fast.

"Uh, guys, I think that we should get out of the way," she called out.

"What?" Charlie asked.

"Move!" she shouted as she pushed everyone out of the way just as the person crashed, slamming into the ground, hard. Anna screamed it nearly hit her but Alastor pulled her out of the way just in time.

As everyone stood up to see what it was, they saw a large crater in the center of the street from where they were standing. Anna walked over to the edge of the crater and looked down to see that it was another angel. Everyone else walked over as well, seeing him.

"Oh great, another one." Vaggie groaned.

"Wait, he's hurt." Charlie said as she noticed that he was hurt, seeing a huge gaping wound on the angel chest. His left wing was torn and damaged as well. She jumped down and picked him up and jumped out of the crater and laid him down on the ground as everyone gathered around.

"We need to help him. Alastor can you heal him?" Anna asked.

"Are you insane?" Angel asked in disbelief.

"What?" Anna said.

"If we help him, then what's to stop him from waking up and attacking us?" Vaggie asked.

"I don't want to get my ass kicked again, one of them was bad enough." Angel added.

"It's probably a trick," Niffty added as well.

"Then why would this angel just fall out of the sky and land right in front of us, hurt, right after Gabriel left?" Anna questioned. "I doesn't make any sense." Everyone thought for a moment in silence as she continued. "Plus, maybe we could use him to help us with the hotel."

"That's actually, not a bad idea," Charlie agreed.

"Well, as long as he's tied up and confined, so he can't hurt anyone, and find out what his motives are, he can stay." Vaggie replied. "But, he's your responsibility." Anna nodded. She turned to Alastor.

"Heal him," Alastor groaned.

"Cher, I've almost used up all of my strength. I'm not sure that I'll able able to heal him completely."

"Just do what you can." Anna said, softly.

Alastor turned to the fallen hurt angel then knelt down and started to heal him. The gaping wound on the angel's chest slowly began to mend, closing up, until it was completely healed. However, his wing was unable to be healed as Alastor felt the last of his magic beginning to slip through his fingers. Anna quickly caught him as Alastor almost fell backwards from exhaustion.

"There, it's done," Alastor said, tiredly.

"You've done wonderfully," Anna smiled. "How about when we get back to the hotel, I'll fix up some jambalaya?"

"You've read my mind." Alastor agreed, feeling hungry. He could use some meat right about now.

"I'm starving!" Angel exclaimed.

"You can have some too Angel, as well as everyone else," Anna snickered. But, she stopped when she noticed that there was something strange happening to Alastor. Everyone one else noticed as well.

"Alastor, your hair!" Charlie exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Alastor asked, smiling confused. "And why are you all staring at me like that?"

Anna picked up a shard of glass, carefully, holding it up in front of Alastor. Alastor couldn't believe it himself as he stared back into his own reflection, like a deer in headlights. His hair was now brown, instead of blood red, but also tufts still sticking out like a deer's on the top of his head.

It was late in the middle of the night, everyone had gone to sleep, resting from the battle. Ever so often, they would take turns watching over their unexpected guest, who was now tied up and being confined in a locked room, waiting for the angel to wake up.

In Angel's room, Angel was lying in his bed while Fat Nuggets was sleeping at the end of it. He smiled as he rolled over on his side, expecting to feel warm fuzzy fur next to him. "Hmm," Angel groaned, sleepily. "Morning, Husky." But, he only felt strange leathery velvet skin.

He slowly opened his eyes only to be met with the color white. Angel immediately sat up with a shocked look on his face. He tried to pinch himself to check to see if he was still dreaming. Nope, he was wake. Sleeping, in front of the spider demon was an unfamiliar middle aged man with slicked black hair with a few grey streaks, while at the top of his head were two black cat ears. Angel nearly drooled at the sight of the man's well toned naked less furry body. He even had a black tail that was slowly swaying side to side as he slept. He had been redeemed.

"Husk?" Angel asked.

"What?" the former cat demon grumbled, sleepily.

"I don't want you to freak out but, your wing's grown back.-"

"And what else is new?" Husk asked.

"It's white and you're a lot less hairy than I remembered from last night-" Angel smirked, but still in shock, and continued. Husk immediately woke up as he sat up on the bed. "Your other wing's that same as well."

Husk folded his wings closer to him then stretched them out. Just like Angel had said, his wings were now pure white with feathers. Husk looked down to see his other wing lying on the floor. He looked back at Angel only to be met with different colored human-like eyes, one light blue and the other light pink.

"Kid, I'm not the only one changes," Husk murmured. "Have you looked in the mirror?"

Angel looked at him confused then stood up and walked over to the mirror across the his room. He saw that his other eye had changed as well, both now completely different colors.

"HOLY SHIT!"

"I know, it's unbelievable," Husk replied in shock. Angel looked back into the mirror, however, he noticed that something was off.

His wound hadn't healed.

It was still the same as it was before.

Fear began to build in Angel as he began to grow nervous and uneasy by the more he looked at it. He tried to stop himself from panicking, in front of Husk. It was fine. He was fine. It'll go away eventually.

It will...It'll just take a little more time that's all!

"Hey, what's wrong?" Husk asked, sensing that something was bothering him. Angel laughed, turning around to face him.

"Nothings wrong! I'm just so fucking happy right now!" he exclaimed, jumping onto the bed, landing right on top of Husk, body slamming into him, while waking Fat Nugget's up as well.

It'll heal up eventually, right?

[bluenet13]

A Bloody Mess

Written for @badthingshappenbingo

Fandom: SEAL Team.

Characters: Sonny Quinn, Lisa Davis, Clay Spenser, Stella Baxter.

Prompt: Bloodstained Clothes.

Summary:  Lisa and Clay are always a phone call away. Especially when his relationship is on the rocks again and Sonny ends up in the middle of a fight after trying to drown his sorrows at a bar.

Links: ff.net - AO3

When Lisa's phone rang, her first thought was Sonny. But then she remembered the night before, how her application to join Echo Team had been denied, and the conversation that had followed. Her heart aching as she realized that Sonny wouldn't be calling her anymore, at least for things not related to national security.

Letting it ring, Lisa figured if it was important enough they would call again. She wasn't really in the mood to deal with anyone and it was her day off.

After a few minutes of silence, Lisa sighed, thinking that it was probably a spam call or one of the Bravo boys taking the hint that she wasn't available. But, not three minutes later, the phone rang again so Lisa ran to the kitchen counter where she had left it charging.

Instinctually, Lisa almost grabbed her work bag at the same time as she finally decided to pick the call, but ended up just frowning, hand falling to her side, as she saw the name pop up on her screen. It wasn't the base that's for sure.

"Hi, Stella," Lisa greeted the woman on the other end of the line, grateful that this was just a phone call so she didn't have to fake a smile, along with her cheerful tone. "Is everything okay? Clay alright?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Hi, Lisa… Yeah, Clay's okay. Well, most of him anyways," a nervous laugh escaped Stella and Lisa's frown deepened. "But, it's Sonny, I'm calling about…"

Taking in a deep breath, Lisa drew her hand down her face, because of course it had to be Sonny.

"Have you seen him?" Stella asked nervously as Lisa failed to say anything to her previous comment.

"Not since yesterday," Lisa explained, "when I left Ray's house, the boys were still there, and I don't know what happened afterwards. We haven't spoken since."

"Umm, okay, okay," Stella sounded nervous, and Lisa desperately needed to know what had happened, but she also knew she needed to get some distance from Sonny, regardless of how much it hurt. "Well, thanks anyways. Let us know if you hear from him."

"Wait, Stella," Lisa practically shouted. But then fell quiet. Things with Sonny were complicated, as complicated as they had ever been, but she couldn't just turn off her feelings for him. Sonny had her heart, and deep down she knew whatever happened, she would never be able to stop caring about him. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Stella didn't answer right away, instead Lisa could hear shuffling and whispering, or more like hissing, coming from the other side.

"Davis," another voice said after a few minutes. Clay. Of course he was there.

"Spencer," Lisa muttered, not surprised that whatever trouble Sonny was in, Clay was involved too. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry to call you, I know this might not be what you wanted," Clay said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I was about to head to Sonny's apartment but Stella suggested we check in with you first."

"Okay," Lisa said simply. Not really surprised that Clay already seemed to know what had happened between her and Sonny the day before. But as much was obvious from his tone. "Clay, what happened?"

"Um, well…"

"Clay! Get on it with it," Lisa hissed.

"Okay, okay, sorry. It's just… Sonny called me last night, like an hour after the rest of us left Ray's house. He didn't sound okay and there were too many voices around for him to be at home, so I asked where he was. He was at a bar. Not one we had been to before. I could hear shouting too. But anyhow, I met him there. And there might have been a fight at some point after that…" Clay's voice cut abruptly, and more angry whispering could be heard on the line.

"Give me the phone, you're taking too long," Stella chided, before she obviously took the phone from Clay. "Sorry, Lisa. The point is Clay went to meet Sonny at the bar, and they ended up in a fight." Stella was trying to sound casual, but her voice was too tight to sound fully natural, and it only told Lisa that she didn't yet know the specifics of said fight. "Afterwards Clay tried to get Sonny to come to the apartment with him, but he refused. They just got an Uber together instead and Clay asked the driver to drop Sonny off first. So we know he made it home, but now we can reach him."

"I've been trying to talk to him all morning, but he's not picking up," Clay resumed the explanation, practically giving Lisa whiplash from all the jumping between the two. "We just thought maybe you had heard from him. But you haven't. So I will just go to his apartment. Thanks and, again, sorry for calling."

"Clay, I'll go."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I live closer to him anyways."

"Okay," Clay agreed easily, his tone betraying that he didn't believe for one second that was the only reason why Lisa wanted to be the one to check up on Sonny.

"Keep us posted, please," Stella added, to which Lisa promised to call back when she knew more, before ending the call.

Sighing, Lisa closed her eyes for a second as she tried to tamper down her emotions. God knows she was really making an effort to respect the rules and get away from Sonny on a personal level, but he just kept reeling her in. She couldn't really say she minded, but Bravo was already under the microscope, and they couldn't further jeopardize all their careers.

But, Sonny was in trouble, so none of that was important now. So, grabbing her purse and keys, Lisa wasted no time in going to his aid, because regardless of the status of their relationship, she would always move heaven and earth to save him; and whether that be from Tangos in foreign lands, or from his own self-destructive tendencies at home, didn't really matter.

-x-x-x-

Not fifteen minutes later, having broken more than a few speed limits in the process, Lisa reached Sonny's apartment and the first thing she noticed was the door being unlocked. Getting closer, Lisa tentatively pushed it open and stepped inside. Feeling a small amount of relief when she found the living room seemingly undisturbed. But her worry returning as soon as she realized Sonny was nowhere in sight.

"Sonny?" Lisa asked, walking further into the familiar apartment.

Getting no answer, Lisa went to Sonny's room but found the bed not slept in, which she was sure of because Sonny was not the type to make his bed before first getting breakfast, and the kitchen had been similarly unused. "Sonny?" She called again, louder this time. But she met only silence.

Moving to Sonny's bathroom Lisa found it empty too and her worry began to increase as she realized that so far she hadn't seen his keys or wallet either. For a brief moment she wondered if maybe Sonny had contacted another member of the team, like Trent since he was the medic. But all further questions flew out of her mind as soon as she noticed the first droplets of blood on the living room floor. Following the path, Lisa reached the last place she had not searched yet.

"Sonny?" Lisa asked again, as she got close to the guest bathroom. The door was slightly ajar but the sight didn't look inviting at all. Lisa couldn't really explain why, until she saw what looked suspiciously like a bloody handprint on the otherwise white wood.

Her mind in overdrive, Lisa pushed the door open and gasped as soon as she saw Sonny collapsed on the bathroom floor, blood soaking the tile and pooling under him. His clothes were so bloody that Lisa wondered how she hadn't seen a blood trail as soon as she came into the apartment, or maybe she had, and her mind had just tried to protect her by blocking the sight until it just couldn't do it anymore.

"Hey, Sonny, wake up," Lisa said as soon as she was kneeling next to him, doing her best to avoid all the blood on the floor. But Sonny didn't answer or even stir.

Running back to Sonny's room, Lisa grabbed the medkit that he kept in his bathroom before she again kneeled next to him. Slowly, she lifted Sonny's hand from where it was pressed to his side, quickly having noticed this was the bloodiest spot on his shirt, and instantly cursed when she noticed the very obvious stab wound.

"Damn it, Sonny," she said to herself. "And damn you, Clay." Because how could he not have realized this would need stitches and probably antibiotics too, just to be safe.

Trying to be careful but effective, Lisa grabbed gauze and pushed down on the gushing wound, attempting to halt the flow of blood, because seeing how much of it was currently on the floor and on Sonny's jeans and shirt, Lisa knew he couldn't afford to lose any more of it.

Lisa's movements must have been careful enough because Sonny didn't wake through it all, but as soon as she began packing the wound, he began to stir and grunt. His eyes flying open as soon as Lisa pushed the gauze further in.

"Stay there, don't move," Lisa said through gritted teeth as soon as Sonny tried to move away. She hated to cause Sonny pain, of the physical kind at least, because she knew the day before she had caused him a lot of emotional ache. But she knew enough of first aid, from her own training and also Trent, to recognize she needed to pack the wound to stop further hemorrhaging.

"Lisa?" Sonny asked, eyes now at half-mast, his breathing coming in small puffs of air, except when he gasped every time Lisa pushed more gauze into the wound. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that question, Sonny," Lisa argued, barely able to suppress her anger, "you should be in a hospital!"

"No need, I took care of it," Sonny explained, a sad imitation of a grin on his face.

"Does this look taken care of?" Lisa hissed, lifting a bloody towel to show Sonny how not taken care of this really was. "You're lucky you didn't bleed out! Of all the stupid things… I swear I will kill you myself if you ever pull a stunt like this again." Lisa continued to rant, even as she never stopped working, finishing packing the wound before taping the gauze in place and moving to check the rest of Sonny.

"Okay, maybe not taken care of," Sonny admitted softly, letting out a nervous chuckle. "But, don't be mad," he whined, looking up at Lisa as his eyes began to flutter shut. "I don't like it when you're mad with me."

"Don't you dare pass out on me, Sonny Quinn," Lisa threatened, "and if you don't want me to be mad, then stop doing stupid shit like this!"

"I'm sorry," Sonny said with a pained exhale, "didn't mean to get into the fight, just wanted a drink…"

"Didn't you have enough drinks at Ray's?" Lisa asked incredulously, even as she knew she was the reason he needed more.

At that, Sonny just shrugged, letting his eyes finally close.

"Sonny!" Lisa shouted, shaking him awake, and gently slapping his cheeks.

Opening his eyes, Sonny tried to focus on Lisa, throwing her his best apologetic look, but his eyes began to flutter again. "Sorry, tired," he mumbled.

"Come on, please Sonny you got to stay awake," Lisa begged.

Finally convinced that the worst of the wounds was treated for now, and Sonny wouldn't bleed out in front of her, Lisa took her phone out of her pocket and searched her favorites list for Trent's number. But a weak hand on her arm stopped her so she looked down.

"What are you doing?" Sonny asked weakly.

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm calling Trent, then I'm calling 9-1-1," Lisa snapped.

"No, don't call Trent. I'm okay. And, the team can't know about this." Sonny explained weekly, using his remaining strength to try to lift himself from the floor, but he only made it a few inches before he collapsed again, ending up slumped in between the sink and wall.

"Sonny how do you expect to hide this?" Lisa asked, gesturing to his body.

"And this," a voice said from the door, and both Sonny and Lisa turned to find Stella pointing at Clay's black eye, and split lip.

"How can we help?" Clay said at the same time as Stella spoke, his key to Sonny's apartment still held tightly on his hand.

"I think you already helped enough," Lisa quipped, looking at Clay with accusatory eyes.

"I, um…" Clay ran his hand through his hair, wincing when he got too far down and bumped the bruise on his eye. The explanation of what had happened was something for Sonny to share with Lisa, so with nothing to say, Clay just ignored her and moved forward, kneeling on Sonny's other side and beginning to pack and wrap a smaller wound.

"It's not his fault," Sonny said.

"The hell it's not!" Lisa all but shouted, "why is it you two always end up in trouble together?"

Clay and Sonny shared a brief look at the question, both shrugging because they didn't have a good answer.

"Clay was only helping," Sonny explained, his voice barely above a whisper. "I got into a fight at this bar, and even I have self-preservation enough to know I wouldn't get far against seven. They were blocking the exit so I hid in the bathroom and called Clay."

"And you just showed up, just like that?" Lisa couldn't help but ask.

"Yes," Stella said simply.

"Of course," Clay said at the same time, his tone basically asking how could he not.

"So, yeah, Clay showed up and I was still locked inside the bathroom," Sonny stopped as he began to stumble on his words, "he tried to get the men to back down and leave us alone. Apologized for whatever had happened. But then I heard a crash and Clay grunting. I got out, and well, a fight broke out. And one of them must have had a knife." He ended the explanation with a hopeless shrug.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop this from happening," Clay said sincerely, looking at Lisa, "but this is the first time I'm hearing anything about knives. My guys were all fists," he explains, pointing to his black eye.

"A lot of fists apparently," Stella added, stepping close to Clay, and lifting his shirt to show various hand-shaped bruises on his abdomen.

Uncomfortable with the attention, Clay pushed his shirt back down and continued working on Sonny's injuries. Now gently prodding the bruising on his friend's stomach, trying to determine if they should also be worried about internal injuries or broken ribs.

"Lisa, did you already call Trent or should I?" Stella asked with a wince, needing to feel useful but also feeling sympathetic towards her boyfriend and his best friend, because Trent wouldn't be a happy man when he set his eyes on them.

"No Trent," Sonny said again.

"Come on, Sonny. Even you must be smart enough to know we can hide this from the team. They will find out eventually," Clay retorted.

"Bravo is already in hot water. Can't make it worse," Sonny tried to argue.

"Okay, we can figure out what to do about the team later, but I'm calling 9-1-1 now," Lisa said, stopping any further discussion and already beginning to dial.

"Can you just put in some stitches? I don't care if the scar is pretty," Sonny begged.

"Maybe last night, but now you also need a transfusion and antibiotics. Too bad you didn't think it important enough to ask for help when this happened," Lisa pointed out.

Grunting, Sonny let his head fall into his chest, knowing that he wasn't winning this argument.

"I'll go make the call. Stella, keep an eye on these two and make sure they don't make any more dumb choices," Lisa said, even as she sent a grateful look Clay's way. Because even with Stella back in the picture, Clay had dropped everything and got himself into a fight just to help Sonny. And Lisa was sincerely thankful knowing that Clay would always be the one standing alongside her on Sonny's self-destructive corner.

Stella just nodded but said nothing, and as Lisa walked out, she had the decency to silently wonder if maybe she should have asked the other woman to call instead. Stella was looking a little green, and her stomach must have been queasy at the sight and smell of all the blood. Another reminder that this world she had chosen was really different to hers, but showing this time she was fully committed to making it work because her love for Clay was greater than her fears.

"Ambulance should be here soon," Lisa said as soon as she stepped back into the room, instantly going back to the floor and sitting next to Sonny. And, against her better judgment, intertwining their fingers together.

"Thank you," Sonny whispered, squeezing her hand weakly.

"Anytime, Sonny, anytime," Lisa promised. And even if the previous day had again shaken their dreams and thrown new hurdles their way, Lisa was certain those words would always be nothing but the truth.

A knock on the door broke the moment, as everyone moved back into action. Stella going to open the door for the paramedics, and Clay moving to Sonny's room to grab his go bag and some clean clothes so he could later change out of the bloodstained ones, while Lisa stayed right by Sonny's side.

With the two stab wounds already packed and their patient stable enough, the paramedics made quick work of loading Sonny into a stretcher and wheeling him down to the waiting ambulance. Lisa, Clay and Stella following close behind.

As they reached the parking lot, Clay and Stella stood to the side while Sonny was moved into the ambulance, Lisa jumping in after him, her posture and scowl daring the paramedics to object. Both Clay and Stella ready to get in her car and follow them to the hospital.

Just before the double doors to the ambulance closed, Lisa looked back at Clay and mouthed a silent thank you. Because as it turned out she wasn't the only one ready to move heaven and earth to keep Sonny safe.

Silently, Clay nodded nonchalantly, moving closer to Stella and drawing her to him. Holding his girlfriend's hand, Clay nodded again, a smile on his face. His eyes telling Lisa all that his words weren't. There was a lot to figure out and Lisa still needed to learn the specifics of what had happened at the bar and to remind Sonny that he needed to take better care of himself, not only for them, but also for his unborn child. But at that moment, Lisa truly believed that in the end everything would be okay. All the proof she needed was standing right in front of her, because just a year ago Clay and Stella seemed impossible, but here they were. And someday in the future, Sonny and Lisa would be too.

[nebula-jazz]

Fictober prompt 28

ROTTMNT Donatello x reader

Note: Sorry I have been gone for so long! I have been wrapped up in school and I also know that this isn't my normal fandom... This is completely self indulgent because he popped on my feed on youtube and he was my first comfort character. And now I found ROTTMNT and I got hit in the face by my best friend on exactly my type... Intelligent, gremlin, cocky, and emotionally unavailable... So this is a complete callout to everyone who has the same type no matter the gender and please enjoy this drabble. And fully expect on several different fandom releases on Halloween including a oneshot for His World. But enough of my rambling! To the story!

You had been in quarantine for nearly an entire year and now your favorite month had been ruined by the hussle and the bustle of your closest aunt asking you to come to New York. Her explanation was that she was taken ill and she needed someone to look after the house and your youngest cousin April O’Neil, much to your distaste.

It was not that you hated your youngest cousin, opposite in fact you adored her, but you two never exactly saw eye to eye on most things. You two were so close up until about five or six years ago and then she changed and you felt as if for the worst. This change caused you both to drift apart.

Since she was your only friend and family member that got you; this distance caused you swirling into an unhealthy mind set. And you got caught up with the wrong people at the worst time in your life as your younger brother disappeared and your mom got distant.

Which lead you here, packing all research that you had gathered over the past few months since the shredder accident, your Bo staff, and other essential items. Taking the time to slide the delicate frames of your glasses up every few minutes. Your boss Baxter had called you a few minutes ago saying that he set you up an apartment and a plane to New York and expected you be ready for training with Rocksteady as soon as you landed. Thinking about it made you flinch.

Grabbing the metal case with your research, your duffel with clothes and toiletries, and your backpack filled with snacks your Bo and training clothes you headed down stairs. You kissed your mom on the head who was on the phone at the couch; gently leaving a large stack of cash that should last her awhile. You slipped out the front door and slid into a sleek car that Baxter had sent for you.

During the car ride you stayed silent, typing away at your computer, jotting down the breakthrew that you had made. Your specific specialty in his company was the idea of spirits and how to harness them, extract them, and even switch with them. Baxter had found out about you and what people and even yourself, at the time, believed as a silly project about four years ago. You had proven that spirits were real and that there was a possibility to do something with them.

He accelerated you through highschool and college, easily making you apart of a team and gave you everything that you needed for your research. You honestly didn’t care what he would do with it as soon as you had perfected everything in your now extensive project. All you cared about was getting your mom and brother back and he promised to keep the investigation open if you handed all research over to him as soon as you were done.

You barely slept on the plane. Fear creeping up your spine and turned your veins icey as you mulled over what was waiting for you when you landed. The training with Rocksteady was not normal. As he was a huge hog and the training was to get you faster, but it would inevitably end with a concussion and a broken bone as it normally would. Then Baxter would inject you with some green liquid that, yes would accelerate the healing process and you would no longer have any broken bones, but it would feel like your entire body was on fire and your back feeling like it was being ripped to shreds.

You eventually drifted into a fitful sleep. You felt like you had barely closed your eyes before you were woken up by the gentle but cold hand of Baxter. You were in a car now just outside of headquarters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh MAh Gawd! Y/N! What happened to you?!” You winced at the worried yell that came from April. You had just gotten released from the lab and your head was pounding from the lack of food and water.

“Just a little scuffle just outside the office. Don’t worry about it.” You croaked out and offered a, what you hoped to be, a reassuring smile. You tried to swallow against the sandpapery walls of your throat.

You felt her soft but calloused hands cup your face as she looked at you. You winced as she prodded at the dark bruises on your jaw and forehead. She lead you to the kitchen where she started to clean the bruises and cuts up.

After several cups of water and an entire pizza, which you had devoured, she was now questioning you.

“So you are working for Baxter?” she asked, you gave her a quizzical look as you swallowed another bite of the second pizza that she had ordered. You had heard the slight tremor of fear in her voice and now it set you on edge.

“Yeah..” You answered slowly and pulled out your laptop. “He is funding my research. Take a look.”

You pushed the computer over and let her skim through the many pages of work as you dumbed down what she was reading.

“So... what you are saying is that you could put someone in a comatose state and do whatever you wanted to them but at the same time you can still talk to them in a spiritual state?” she summarized. With a soft smile you nodded, your eyes heavy from the long two days you had.

“However there are some side effects. With the trials that I ran at home it is extremely difficult to put them back in and more often than not their mind can completely erase one or multiple people from their memory. They will always remember the time they were, what I call, Ghost. There are still kinks in it but i'm pretty sure in this state there is a possibility to redirect this targeted amnesia to get rid of trauma.” You said excitedly.

She gave you a terrified look and excused herself and ran out the front door into the dim light of the dawn. You felt like you had been punched in the gut. Tears formed in your eyes and you fought down the urge to sob and throw up your food. You slammed the computer closed and stormed into the guest bedroom. You had honestly thought that she was going to be proud of you. She seemed genuinely excited about your research. But it was April, you shouldn’t have expected anything less from her.

A few weeks drifted by lazily and October was slipping through your fingertips. April was avoiding you, especially after you caught her in the act of trying to steal your laptop. So today, as a way to get away from the dreariness of the apartment and the fearful glances of April you were in the lab. You were in a loose hoodie and had a stack of pizza boxes next to you along with a large jug of water on your other side. You had just gotten done with another training session and were now working on a new test. it had gotten dark out and Rocksteady had volunteered for the new test.

You scraped your hand roughly through your hair in frustration as the program refused to start for the third time. You huffed in frustration, and looked up in alarm as the security alarms started to go off. You heard an explosion from behind you. Reaching down and grabbing your Bo you didn’t notice the jug being knocked over causing the computer to go haywire. You panicked as you tried to shut down the computer and the large machine pointed at whatever caused the explosion.

However you were too late to stop it from going off once you were able to press the emergency shut off just in time to prevent it from happening again. You heard a shout and roars from Rocksteady. you tried to reach for your more enhanced staff but were swiftly knocked out. All you saw as the world started to darken was green and a ghostly purple figure.

~~~~~~~~

That was a couple of days ago. You were now with 6 foot tall turtle ninjas. They had explained, with the help of April, what Baxter was going to do with your research. The person that you had shot was their brother Donatello. The genus out of the group who was allowing you to use his lab as you tried desperately to keep his body stable and fix his state with what little tools you had.

Your own paranoia had shot through the roof as any fast movement caused you to flinch very heavily. You and Donnie had found out that Baxter was injecting you with mutagen after a nightmare filled night caused wings to sprout from your back.

You stayed away from the other three turtles and only finding solace with Donatello. You both could ramble on and on about different projects you both were working on and the other would listen intently.

You hadn’t noticed how comfortable or how hard you had fallen until you reached the end stages of completing the ray that would make him right.

Neither of you two had noticed that you had started to flirt with each other. But everyone else knew and were eagerly waiting for him to return to normal. They were excited to see him finally kiss you and actually take you out on that date that he had been teasing you for a month with. April was happy to see you smiling again.

You didn’t realize how much you loved him or he you until you both were going over some of your note s to make sure everything was in order.

It was the end of November, just before thanksgiving. Donnie was excitedly telling you that he had been working on a surprise for you with Shelldon. That he wanted to give it you in person. And that he was excited to finally eat something instead of just watching everyone else eat. He was also rambling on how he was totally going to spar with you.

“i'm excited to finally get an infamous hug from you Don!” You chuckled barely paying attention to the notes and more on him. He laughed and he floated closer to you.

“I’m excited to give you one Angel.” he said cheekily. You glared lightly at him and the nickname that he gave you after your wings came to be.

You however stopped in your tracks as you read the small but major detail that you had mentioned to April all those weeks ago. The air ran from your lungs as a soft. “Oh.” escaped your lips.

“What?” he asked worried. He turned to the computer that had your notes on it and read through it and his face dropped. Tears welled in your eyes and the amount of hurt that ran through you was like that day that April ran.

And something inside of you knew, even as Donnie tried to think of anyone, anyone at all that he could possible forget, you knew it was going to be you. You stared at him tears running down your face and it was then you realized how hard you had fallen. And how much you will lose.

Two days before Thanksgiving was the day that was planned to fix him. You were in a room alone with his Ghost. You couldn’t look him in the eye.

“Here,” he said softly, and gestured for Shelldon to bring a small box forward. “This is for you... don’t open it until my eyes do.. ok?” He said leaning down and trying to catch your eye. You looked up at him, willing the tears back and smiled brightly.

“Will do Don! I will see you for that hug ok?” he smiles back softly and nods. He hovers his hand over your cheek, you lean into it until you feel the cool radiating off of him and you closed your eyes.

That unspoken ‘i love you’ rang through you head as you heard the machine wurr to life. You only stare at him as he floats by his sleeping body and you pray, you hope, and you plead to whatever god is listening. To allow you to have him, to allow him to remember you. As you slowly nod your head and you hear April press the button.

~~~~~~~

You try to stifle the sobs in your throat as you hear him and his brothers enjoy their thanksgiving meal that April and you had prepared for them. He didn’t recognize you as you sobbed in happiness when you saw his eyes open. He thought of you as a threat.

You carefully pulled out the small box as Shelldon floated beside you. You looked at him and he bobbed his head in acknowledgement. Slowly opening it you tried to steady your shaking hands. Inside was a locket, a bit larger than one you would find in a jewelry store. You carefully opened the locket and you saw a picture that you had taken with ghost Donnie and the music box version of your both favorite techno song. Engraved on the other half was the french translation of I love you. A loud sob ripped its way from your throat as you clutched it to your chest. 

Donnie was leaning against the wall closest to where you had ran off too. He was watching his brothers laugh and eat with their father and April. He had heard sniffling from the tunnel and quietly escaped the celebration to see where it had came from. He was surprised to see you covering your mouth and Shelldon with you. He was going to call to his creation until you had looked at Shelldon and pulled out a velvet box.

He waited a moment, watching you open it and something inside. He had to nod his head to the song that played. He did not expect the loud sob or the wail that came out of you next. He heard his brothers stop laughing and heard a soft.

“They opened it...”

“Yeah...”

“Poor Y/N... I can’t imagine.”

“Why can’t we tell him my sons?’

“Because he wouldn’t believe us.”

“Yeah! And he already distrusts Y/N... and they asked us not too.”

“A broken heart is something that can kill my children. Especially with a love that deep.”

Donnie didn’t hear anymore from his family. And confusion seeped into him. What happened while he was out?

[ellewritesathing]

Infernal  -  II

Summary: In your sleepy little town of Greendale, nothing ever slept for long. And ever since October, everything felt like it was waking up. Everything except for you, that is. One teensy trip to Hell (and an infuriatingly cute guy) later and suddenly you felt wide awake.

Word-count: 2.5k+

Masterlist Prev. | Part 2 

A/N: thank you guys for all the support for Part 1!! i really appreciate it and i hope you enjoy this one 💕 (also this is my first time making a tag list, could please you let me know if it worked properly?)

Things went back to normal so quickly that your trip to Hell almost felt like a dream that you just couldn’t shake - the only visible sign that it ever happened being the carefully covered bruise on your forearm. That’s just the way life was now; spikes of supernatural intervention and then the lull of Baxter High. But then Sabrina burst into Harvey’s garage again, holding a gigantic book in her arms and calling for a Crisis Fright Club meeting. Another spike.

She explained how one of her new duties was dragging souls to Hell and that she needed your help to get the next guy. Jimmy Platt. Her plan was that once she took Jimmy’s soul, you guys could grab his newly-dead body and she could use it to house Lucifer and free Nick.

“So, it’s like Freaky Friday!” Harvey said. His enthusiasm made you laugh, which you quickly stifled when you noticed that your friends were still on edge about the whole ‘reaping the ice-cream man’s soul’ thing.

“It’s called a soul transference, but kind of,” Sabrina said. 

The four of you agreed to take the Spellman hearse and steal Jimmy’s body while Sabrina took his soul to Hell, but she grabbed your arm before you could follow the others to Harvey’s pickup truck. 

“What’s up, Brina?” you asked, trying to hide the hesitancy in your voice. She seemed unsure for the first time since you’d met her, and you doubted it was because of the body-snatching. “Do you need to talk about being Queen of Hell?” 

“No, it’s not that,” she answered. She bit the inside of her lip for a moment as she chose her next words. “Well, I mean, it kind of is. Do you remember Caliban, the guy from the beach who’s also trying to rule Hell?” 

A face like that was hard to forget, but you didn’t want to tell Sabrina that. 

“Yeah, why?” 

“I want you to stay away from him,” Sabrina said. The words tumbled out of her mouth and she worked quickly to explain what she meant to your arching eyebrows. “Not in like an ‘I forbid you from seeing him’ kinda thing, just be careful if he shows up. I don’t know anything about him except that he’s bad news and clearly has a thing for you.” 

“First of all, I don’t think demons have things for anyone,” you said, overcompensating for the rush you got when she said he was interested in you. “And second, this is the same guy that wants to enslave all of humanity, right? Not really my type.” 

“Yeah, I wasn’t really into the bad boy thing at first either-” Sabrina looked over at Harvey and Roz for a second when she spoke - not long enough to seem significant to anyone who didn’t know her, but long enough for someone like you. “But things change and I just want you to be careful if they do. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” 

“Trust me,” you said, using your other hand to move Sabrina’s off your arm and interlace it with yours. “The only way I’m going to get hurt is if the ice cream man tries to make a break for it.”

She gave you a not entirely convinced smile before the two of you piled into the back with Theo. You picked up the hearse, played musical chairs with the seating chart, and then waited for something to happen after Sabrina left to reap her first soul. 

Rather disappointingly, the only thing that did happen was Sabrina coming back empty-handed and confused. Undisappointingly, Jimmy had kidnapped a little girl in order to extend his contract, and if he died then she rotted away somewhere in Greendale. 

---

The last thing you felt like doing was going to the pep rally after Sabrina accidentally got locked in Jimmy’s murder-freezer and Lucy got returned to her mom, but there was nothing else you could do. They had a plan and you were just backup if it went south. The plan did not include you trying to kick Jimmy's teeth in. 

You didn’t want to third-wheel Theo and Robin or Harvey and Roz, so you picked a spot against the fence where you could still be a part of the pep rally but you had some distance from the over-eager teens. Leaning against the fence, you got lost in your thoughts until a voice woke you up.

“I thought it was tradition for all the pretty girls to dance up there in their little outfits, not for one to be left behind in the shadows.”  

You turned your head to see Caliban waiting for you to respond, so you rolled your eyes and crossed your arms over your chest. He was bad news, even if he was attractive bad news. Like a car crash that you just couldn’t keep your eyes off. Did car crashes usually have such phenomenal bone structure?

“And I thought it was tradition for all the demons to be in Hell, not hitting on unaccompanied minors,” you said, doing your best to seem unrattled. Ignoring the smirk on his face and turning your gaze back to the cheerleaders, you continued, “You do know that Sabrina will kick your ass if she finds you here, right?” 

“I think the Morningstar has other priorities at the moment,” he said. The sand crunched under his feet as he came closer. “But you can try to kick my ass, if you’d like.” 

Casting a glance at him before turning away, you reminded yourself not to get involved. A pretty trainwreck was still a trainwreck, no matter how much you wanted it not to be. The ground shifted again and Caliban was right next to you, lifting his hand slowly to move your hair off your neck. The places where his fingers brushed your skin lit up. 

“You truly have no idea what you are, do you?” He asked it like he was telling you a secret. Despite your attempts to seem unnerved, your jaw clenched. He moved in your peripheral vision and took something out of his pockets. Stepping in front of you, his hands lifted to drape a necklace over your head. “The shell is from the Shores of Sorrow. When you’re ready to find me, just break the shell. Use it wisely, love, because it only works once.”

Choosing to look at his face instead of the necklace, you noticed something in his eyes that made you think at least part of what he said was true. There was something else that made you feel like you didn’t want to find out which part it was. 

Determined not to be unnerved, you put on your best war face and straightened up. “And why should I believe anything you say?” 

“Why should I have any reason to lie to you?” he asked, seeming amused by your standoffishness. 

“Because you want to get the Throne, which means you have to go through Sabrina,” you said, taking the necklace off and wrapping the rope around the seashell as you spoke. The shell was white with specks of faint color creating patterns along the outside. A very pretty trainwreck indeed. You reached for his hand and lay the necklace in his palm. “And you’re trying to go through me to do that.” 

“Do you really think so low of me?” Caliban asked. 

You couldn’t tell if he was genuinely hurt behind that stormy expression of his or just trying to manipulate you. You looked down at your hand, still holding the back of his, and saw your sleeve had rolled up. Pulling away, you tugged your sleeve down to cover the ugly yellow- purple that had been sticking out. Looking back up to say that yes, you did think that low of him, you found Caliban staring at your forearm. 

“You didn’t get that in Hell.” 

He said it so matter of factly that it sent shivers up your spine. 

“How would you know?” 

Harvey called out to you, breaking your staring contest and signaling that it was done. When you looked back, Caliban was gone. The necklace lay in the sand where he had been. Telling yourself it was better if you had it than some unassuming girl, you picked it up and shoved it into your pocket. Then you rushed over to your friends like you hadn’t just consorted with the enemy. The very distracting enemy.

--- 

In an effort to prove that you were right to distrust him, Caliban challenged Sabrina’s right to rule with a challenge to find the Unholy Regalia. The first part was finding the Crown of Herod, so you spent the day at the Academy with Ambrose trying to figure out where it could be. Zelda was hardly enthused about your presence, but Hilda asked what the harm was of letting you poke around under Ambrose’s supervision. Besides, she said, they had bigger problems to worry about than you reading about witches. 

After scrambling to find the location of the crown, Ambrose left to find Sabrina, leaving you alone in the Academy’s library. Figuring this was the only opportunity you’d get, you started looking for books about … something. You didn’t know what Caliban meant when he asked about what you really were, and your dad had told you countless times that Delilah was based on you. If she wasn’t human, that had to mean that you weren’t human either, right? 

Or that your dad was crazy. Either option seemed equally possible, if you were being honest with yourself.

One of the books you pulled was about changelings; fairies or demons that replaced human babies and terrorized their host families. But you knew it wasn’t right. It just didn’t click with you, and you doubted that they’d just dump a fairy with humans without an evil instruction manual or a card with the time and place of Evil Babies Anonymous. If you were a demon or a fairy, you felt like you’d know about it. 

Sighing, you checked your phone. Multiple texts asking where you were, if you were coming to the carnival, and did you need a ride. You sent off a few texts that all essentially said the said thing: you’d meet them there as soon as you could.

You made your way back home and dumped all your school things and research on your chair in the corner of your room. You grabbed a jacket and pulled your hair up into a ponytail before heading out the door so none of your friends put out a missing person’s report on you. 

“Bye, Dad! Don’t wait up!” you called. 

Just before opening the door, you heard your dad say something that you didn’t quite catch. Hand hovering over the doorknob, you had to decide between heading out or see what was responsible for the nagging feeling in your stomach. The nagging won. 

“I thought you were going to the carnival with your friends,” your dad said with an easy smile when you leaned in his doorway. 

“Yeah, I am but I thought you said something,” you said. 

He seemed to be doing better today at least. The good days used to be the norm, the bad days were a foggy nightmare that you woke up from with a stack of your dad’s homemade pancakes, and then you turned sixteen. Now you could count the number of good days on one hand. 

“Oh.” He straightened up in his chair. “I just said to be careful. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and all that. Have fun.” 

“Wait, what did you just say?” you asked, muscles tensing slightly. He couldn’t know about Herod’s crown. 

“To be careful,” your dad blinked. 

“After that.”

“Have fun?” 

“Right,” you said. He’d forgotten what he said. Another lapse in memory, did this still go in the good day pile? “Will do.” 

The Carnival was way more unsettling than you expected. You couldn’t find your friends anywhere, all the sounds were too loud, and the lights got brighter and brighter as the sun set. Your dad’s words ringing in your head didn’t do much to ease the anxiety either. 

You jumped as one of the games rang out next to you and a hand reached out to steady you. You pulled your arm away and caught the hand with your own, twisting it at an angle and waiting for the wrist to snap. 

“Easy,” Caliban warned, leaning into the movement to protect his wrist. “You could hurt someone like that.” 

“That’s kind of the point,” you said, dropping his hand and crossing your arms over your chest again. Even though you acted like it didn’t, this place felt a little bit safer with him next to you.

“Oh, I know,” he said with a devilish smile. He ran a hand through his hair as he stepped closer to you. “I see you kept the necklace.” 

He couldn’t have - you were very careful to hide it under your clothes - but you knew he expected you to check. That would give him an answer as to if you kept it. You didn’t move or say anything, but you did jump when another game celebrated a victory with loud chiming. 

“A little on edge tonight, are we?” 

“Only because there’s this guy that keeps popping up whenever I’m alone,” you said, turning and starting to walk again. “People are telling me to get a restraining order, but I’m not sure it’ll do anything to stop him. I think something more dangerous and less orderly might be what I need.”

“Perhaps I could be of some help,” Caliban said, making it clear that he understood what you were implying but refusing to acknowledge it. “I happen to have an affinity for doing dangerous things.” 

“Oh, I bet you think you do,” you said, stopping and turning back to look at him again. 

A dangerous thing with an affinity for doing dangerous things looked back at you. Maybe it was your anxiety clouding your judgment or maybe it was the way the Ferris wheel lights caught in his eye, but all you wanted in that moment was to forget Sabrina’s warning and kiss him. After all, one dangerous thing never hurt anyone; it was always the harmless things that got people damned. Like apples. And Caliban was hardly an apple. Though if you thought about it hard enough, maybe that meant he was the snake.

Realizing that it had been almost a minute since either of you had said anything and a smile was slowly etching its way across Caliban’s face, you shifted your weight and asked, “Don’t you have places to be, people to torture?” 

“Now that you mention it, I do have somewhere I need to be.” He ducked his head slightly as he spoke and took a step back, readying his hands for whatever spell he was about to cast. Looking back at you with a smile that managed to be both conniving and grim, he added, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and all that.” 

“Wait, what did you-” 

But he was already gone, a few burn marks on the ground the only evidence that he’d been there at all.

Taglist:  @peachesandknives  @caliban-is-my-girl  @t-a-i-l-o-r-m-a-d-e @music-movies @miss--moose

Part 3

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #234: The Witch’s Tale!

August, 1983

“Seasons of the Witch!”

If Wanda offers you a free Halloween mask, politely tell her no thanks.

A lot going on in this cover. Because this is one of those issues that summarizes a character’s continuity because wikipedia doesn’t exist yet and back issues aren’t super easy to get. 

Last time: There was an Avengers/Fantastic Four sorta crossover where Annihilus tried to blow up the universe. The primary fallout of that is that Vision walked into a null-field and then collapsed. He’s basically in a robot-coma recovering.

This time: the Avengers bring Vision home in a tube.

It looks like the kind of coffin you shoot into space but it’s not. It’s just a life-support capsule that looks like a space coffin.

Now though it sucks that Vision is in a robot coma, this does mean that he and Wanda are back involved with the book again. We briefly checked in with them during the Trial of Yellowjacket arc.

But we’ve been pretty short of Scarlet Witch and Vision since #211 when they left the team to try to have a go at a regular life. I’ll summarize in brief how that’s been at the appropriate time. Point being, that’s twenty some issues with a very low amount of my second favorite comic couple.

She-Hulk and Thor carry the capsule into the basement of Avengers Mansion because that’s where their medical center is. The basement. Of course. Why wouldn’t you put your medical center in the basement. Best place for it.

Wanda thanks Wasp for inviting her (and Vision) to stay at the Mansion when they could have stayed at the Baxter Building.

Wasp: “Nonsense! That place was left in a mess by Annihilus! Besides, the Avengers take care of their own!”

(Tangentially, the Avengers have always been more of a family to Wanda than anyone else aside from Django and Marya Maximoff who raised her and Pietro. The Avengers are Wanda’s family basically.)

Also, it’s not said anywhere but I feel like probably Reed Richards never did do that procedure that was supposed to help Vision recover more quickly as distracted as he was by Franklin’s injuries.

While Wanda hovers (metaphorically) around Vision’s tube, Wasp reflects on how hard this is hitting her.

Wasp: “She and the Vision were such a strange match, but they’ve been so devoted to each other their marriage worked -- !”

Oof, that bold hurts, Jan.

Wanda asks for some time alone with her husband so the Avengers leave the basement level medical center, all thinking thoughts as often happens.

Wasp feels guilty because she’s the one that called Wanda and Vision into action but justifies that they were needed. Even though they didn’t really accomplish much.... Kinda makes it worse.

Captain America asks Thor off to have a private chat.

Captain Marvel laments that they couldn’t destroy the field before Vision was injured. And Starfox muses about the sensitivity he senses from Captain Marvel.

Kinda wondering if Stern is trying to set up a love triangle between Starfox, Captain Marvel, and She-Hulk.

Speaking of She-Hulk.

She-Hulk: Any of us could’ve wound up in a tube... or on a slab. But that’s the risk we have to take!

A very typically She-Hulk of this era kind of thought. She’s very direct.

Wasp calls a rain-check on apartment hunting. Which is what she and She-Hulk were doing before the whole invisible dome thing.

And She-Hulk finds other ways to occupy her time.

She-Hulk: “Hey, Starfox! You have any plans for tonight?”

Starfox: “Well, I’d considered checking out the local sights, but if you have a better offer -- !”

She-Hulk: “Spaceman, I can show you some things you won’t believe!”

She’s very direct.

Over at Captain America and Thor’s private conversation, Captain America catches Thor up on the happenings re: Iron Man, i.e. Tony Stark.

Cap(tain America): “It’s Iron Man, Thor... the Wasp and I paid him a visit to find out why he’d resigned from the Avengers. I... don’t quite know how to say this, but... Tony Stark hasn’t just left the Avengers! He’s given up his identity as Iron Man... turned his armor over to another man!”

Thor: “Eh? ‘Tis most passing strange!”

Cap: “That’s not the only thing that’s ‘most passing strange!’ When we talked to him, Stark was so drunk, I’m surprised he was able to stand up! And when I suggested that he’d had too much to drink, he ordered Jan and me out of his apartment!”

Turns out that off-panel at some point, Tony confided his problems with alcoholism to Thor.

Another example of the close relationship that Thor and Iron Man used to have and lamentably don’t seem to have anymore.

Cap even says that Thor has known Tony longer than the rest of the Avengers. While Wasp has been on the team just as long as Thor has, yeah, Thor has known the man in Iron Man longer.

So Cap asks Thor to try to talk to Tony because maybe he could get through to him.

Thor: “I could try, Captain! But if he rejected your advice, while under the influence, I fear for my ability to do better!”

Cap: “What about your mortal identity? Maybe if you approached him as Dr. Don Blake... man to man...”

Thor: “Mayhap. I shall give this thought.”

Thor then hammer-whirl flies off, leaving Cap to think about whether there’s anything additional that he could do, maybe in Iron Man #172, which was on sale at the same time.

Since this issue is otherwise going to be a lot of recapping Scarlet Witch’s entire life, why not pop into another book briefly for some additional content?

I’m the boss and I’ll allow it.

So over in Iron Man in general and issue #172 specifically, Tony Stark is on hard times. We know about the alcoholism and Rhodey taking over as Iron Man. But a man called Obadiah Stane is also attempting an incredibly hostile takeover of Stark International. He’s bought up all the company’s debt (and it has a lot), he has a bunch of civil suits pending against the company, and he’s secretly been the architect behind Tony Stark’s imploding life. That and Tony himself. Takes two to implode.

The last hope Stark Int. has is a writ that will force Stane to back off for a week or two. It’s not a lot but it’ll be some breathing room. Only problem is that it needs Tony Stark’s notarized signature before 5 PM and they kinda lost track of him after he broke into a museum to put on some knight armor and had to be bailed out of jail.

Rhodey decides to call Captain America for help and that’s how we get the asterisk indicating that you should check out Iron Man #172.

Cap does find Tony but unfortunately, Tony slips away in the confusion when an old Iron Man foe called Firebrand (unfortunately not a gargoyle) sets the hotel on fire because he’s just incredibly pissed off at the idea of Tony Stark.

Cap’s less-nice confrontation with Tony about his drinking is decent drama (but possibly not the right tactic to take) though so have some of that.

Anyway. Back to Avengers.

Meanwhile, over on Long Island and at the Cross Technological Enterprises building, industrial espionage gets aggressive as some men in jumpsuits and balaclavas climb the building to sneak in.

One of them is worried because that Avenger guy Hawkeye is in charge of security but the boss is like pssh Hawkeye is a chump with a broken leg.

Then Hawkeye arrives on a hover scooter because insulting Hawkeye probably just summons him to prove you wrong. He has that kind of contrarian energy at times.

He shoots all of their guns out of their hands and pins them to the wall with arrows all before they can really do anything.

His leg may be broken but his arms aren’t. And those are the limbs that do archery.

Sure, his style is slightly harshed by having only one swashbuckler boot on but that still doesn’t stop him from shooting arrows.

A woman and a photographer show up instantly to take pictures of Hawkeye’s cool victory. Apparently the woman is Sheila Danning and she says that she’s in charge of PR for Cross Technological Enterprises.

People showing up to take pictures of how cool he is makes Hawkeye feel very appreciated so he happily poses for some pictures with the captured intruders.

I feel like this is going to end up related to the Hawkeye solo miniseries that’s published around this time. The events of the miniseries cost Hawkeye his hearing but gain him a wife. So we’ll call it a net positive for Clint.

I’ll possibly summarize the relevant parts of the series when it becomes relevant to Avengers, which I’m sure it will.

Several hours later, back over at Avengers Mansion, She-Hulk wakes up after a night with Starfox.

So let’s discuss a thing.

In a later She-Hulk series, the moral iffyness of Starfox’s ability to shoot pleasure at people’s brains and make them become infatuated with him is explored. In a legal sense. As in, Starfox gets put on trial for sexual assault and accused of using his powers to seduce people.

The question is raised whether he had ever used his powers to seduce She-Hulk in regards to them getting together like this in Avengers. And when he won’t give her a straight answer, she beats the shit out of him.

Eventually, the case goes all the way up to the Living Tribunal, the cosmic judge of all realities because of course there’s one of those, and a mind probe proves that Starfox did not use his abilities to influence She-Hulk’s decision to have sex with him.

They’re both just horny people.

Anyway, Starfox and She-Hulk get on first name non-codename basis with each other. Then Starfox takes off to go explore New York, but he and She-Hulk do make plans to get together again in the evening.

She-Hulk’s post-implied-coitus giddiness is rained on when she learns that Wanda hasn’t slept at all and has spent the whole night at Vision’s side.

So now its time for She-Hulk brand very direct friendship.

She tells Jarvis to go make breakfast and she’ll deal with Wanda.

As we saw in and about the Trial of Yellowjacket, She-Hulk doesn’t really beat around the bush.

So when Wanda says she’d rather stay at Vision’s side rather than get breakfast, She-Hulk grabs her and tries to physically drag her towards self-care.

She-Hulk: “Look, watching your hubby won’t make him get well any faster. You’re coming with me! You’ll feel a lot better with a little breakfast in you!”

It doesn’t go over well.

Wanda blasts She-Hulk away and now Jen and Wanda are angry at each other and Wasp arrived just in time to play baffled mediator.

She-Hulk: “I hope you have a good dentist, Red!”

Wasp: “Jennifer!”

She-Hulk: “She started it, Wasp! I was just showing her some hospitality, and she sent me flying with her crummy hex bolts!”

Scarlet Witch: “What?! You physically pull me from my husband’s side, and you call that hospitality?!?”

Wasp: “Girls, girls! We’re all friends here! I know how upset you must be, Wanda, but you mustn't let worry get the better of you! I think we all need a spot of breakfast! Please join me, Wanda. The She-Hulk will relieve you at watching over the Vision... we all will!”

She-Hulk: “That’s what I was trying to tell her!”

Jen’s heart was in the right place but she lacks much in the way of tact?

Anyway, Wasp and Wanda set up in the library and Jarvis brings breakfast pastries to them, though Wanda refuses any.

Free breakfast aggros Captain Marvel and now she’s here too. That and She-Hulk trying to make up through a proxy.

Captain Marvel: “A little bird told me that you were serving your continental special, and I just couldn’t stay away!”

Wasp: “A little bird, C.M.?”

Captain Marvel, whispering: “Well, a big bird! She-Hulk radioed me that the Scarlet Witch was still a little down, and suggested that I might be of help, cheering her up!”

You have a good heart, Jen-Hulk.

Also, Monica just beams right in through the library window as a sunbeam before forming back into her human shape. And that’s delightful. But would be startling. Jarvis is startled. He’s seen it all but all keeps expanding.

Monica and Wanda briefly bond over both speaking French when Monica praises that Jarvis’ pastries rival the best of the French Quarter. Jan is a bit lost because she doesn’t know any French but Monica and Wanda were just very excited because they don’t get to French very often. The language.

AND with the ice broken, Monica smoothly shifts topics over to asking Wanda about herself.

Captain Marvel: “You know, there’s so much I’d like to ask you. I’ve read all about you in the files, of course -- but they’re so impersonal. You’ve led such a fascinating life.”

Scarlet Witch: “Fascinating? I suppose... but I was too young to appreciate some of the more fantastic moments.”

AND THEN WANDA LEGIT, NO FURTHER PROMPTING, STARTS NARRATING HER WHOLE LIFE STARTING FROM BIRTH.

DAMN WANDA, exposition under pressure?

So Wanda tells Monica about how she was born in WUNDAGORE, a Balkan mountain in Transia with a super-advanced city built on it. The High Evolutionary was making furries for reasons which escape me but it explains why a cow-woman answered the door when Magda, supposedly Wanda’s mom although that has changed, came knocking on the door.

She was double pregnant and on the run from a husband who had developed terrible problems and an attitude problem.

The cow-woman Bova, invited Magda into the city and helped deliver her children Pietro and Wanda. And then Magda walked off into the snow to die, pulling a Padme-on-purpose-but-years-ahead-of-time by dying just after having twins.

Her thought process was that Mystery Husband would come looking for her but if he found her frozen in the snow, he wouldn’t find out that she’d had children? I dunno, this logic is a bit spurious.

I’m glad that Wanda’s current in the year 2021 real mom isn’t someone who walked off into the snow to die because it seemed like a good idea.

Showing what an awful idea this was, Magda left Wanda and Pietro in the care of Bova who had no idea what to do with two babies. So she took the matter to the High Evolutionary who also didn’t want to deal with it and decided to dump the babies on a childless Roma couple.

High Evolutionary: ‘DOES ANYBODY WANT SOME BABIES?’

Except the comic doesn’t say Roma, they say the g-slur. I don’t think Marvel ever stops doing that. Its a weird case where the portrayal is overall sympathetic but tinged with stereotypes and using a slur.

Shape up, Marvel.

I also notice that Wanda’s recap leaves out Fake Dad Robert Frank, the Whizzer.

The first time Wanda’s parentage was Totally Revealed For Real, it was revealed that not only Magda but Robert and Madeline Joyce Frank were hanging around Wundagore waiting to give birth.

I’ve already been into it before but originally it was just the Franks kids but the Whizzer whizzed off in grief when he learned his wife died in childbirth. Then when someone got it into their head to retcon otherwise, Magda was at Wundagore and gave birth to twins and then the High Evolutionary had Bova try to give the kids to Robert but he ran off in his grief so shrugged and passed them off to Django and Marya Maximoff AKA the real parents even if not biological.

To editorialize, the Maximoffs actually raised Wanda and Pietro so no matter what, I’ll always consider them the twins’ real parents.

Anyway, the Franks aren’t part of this retelling. Which is funny because for a while Wanda thought the Whizzer was their dad and treated him like one and now she’s dumped him like raw meat for ease of retelling. Tsk tsk.

So, Wanda and Pietro lived a good life and “better parents could hardly have been found.” Then when adolescence happened, Pietro suddenly could run really fast and Wanda “discovered that strange, unpredictable things would happen if I was in a certain frame of mind and gestured in a particular way.”

That’s a pretty specific mutant power. And she relates that she kept causing accidents by gesturing in the particular way while in a certain frame of mind, it’s like, Wanda, don’t gesture that way? Get mittens or tie your fingers together. Its not hard.

Your powers are so specific!

Stereotypes happen and an angry mob burns down the Maximoffs’ camp.

Pietro ran Wanda to safety and the shock was so great that they got AMNESIA.

Marya, I think, died but Django survived and went a little mad with grief, assuming he lost his wife and kids.

For a couple years, Wanda and Pietro just kicked it around Eastern Europe, Pietro using his superspeed to catch game. Things were going okay but not great up until the time that Wanda wandered into a village and made the fuck-things-up gesture and whoops fucked things up.

I’m telling you, Wanda, mittens.

Anyway, she set a house on fire, WITH HER MIND, and now there’s an angry mob after her assuming that she’s a witch.

As sometimes happens in Marvel Eastern Europe.

The mob chased Wanda to camp where Pietro lost his shit and superspeed tried to beat up a mob but wound up getting pinned down and beaten.

Then Magneto showed up and yanked all the crude farming implements away and told the mob to gtfo.

Magneto: “Come no further, homo sapiens! The two whom you attack are under the protection of Magneto!”

An idiot: “With power such as his, he can only be Satan himself!”

An idiot who has the right idea: “Run! Run for your lives!”

Wanda thanks Magneto for the save and he demands “Let neither of you ever forget what you owe me... ever!”

Cool. Cool cool cool.

Wanda: “He took us in... fed and clothed us... but never did he show us any human kindness. We were supposed to be above that, he said... we were mutants, and under his tutelage, we became Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch!”

What a dick.

Anyway, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were forced to join Magneto and his other agents Toad and Mastermind.

Magneto’s Brotherhood clashed with the X-Men multiple times. And then the Stranger just sorta yoinked Magneto into space.

Early X-Men is a bafflement to me.

Wanda: “Our debt had been repaid to Magneto many times over. We were beholden to him no longer... We were free. And... we were alone. We had just begun to realize the potential of our mutant powers, but we did not know how best to use them. Cut off from Magneto’s cruel exploitation, we didn’t know what to do. I don’t know what would have become of us, had we not been accepted as Avengers! The Avengers gave purpose to our lives, gave us something to be part of.”

Anyway, being on the Avengers meant dangers and foes to fight but it also meant allies, friends, and ROBOT BOYFRIENDS.

Wanda: “Were it not for the Avengers, I might never have met the Vision! He was the product of a laboratory -- and many thought him to be inhumanely cold -- but I grew to love the warm, feeling inner man.”

Of course, if you tell Vision he has feelings he gets mad and insists NUH UH.

And dating Vision pissed off Quicksilver who basically disowned Wanda for a while.

But who gives a fuck what Pietro says, Wanda also learned WITCHCRAFT and (although not explicitly mentioned) how to summon METEORS TO SMASH HER FOES.

And she got married in a double ceremony where the other bride married a tree! That tree part doesn’t get mentioned.

After this, Wanda and Vision went on a short honeymoon but found that the hashtag Avengers life kept them so busy that they didn’t have a lot of time to themselves.

Then Real Dad Django Maximoff showed up and Wanda and Pietro went with him to Transia to learn their backstory.

Annnnnd Wanda got possessed by Chthon. Won’t be the first time ha ha.

Thankfully, the Avengers managed to do a care bear stare to unpossess her. Oh, and Django died. A misstep if you ask me. There was too much character potential to just kill him off after one arc.

Alas, alas.

Anyway, the recap skips over a whole bunch of stuff and doesn’t mention Moondragon’s role but we get to the point where Wanda and Vision quit the Avengers.

Wanda: “When the Vision and I were finally reunited, our thoughts began to turn inward. Our life with the Avengers was fulfilling, but apart from our careers, we had no real private life of our own. Would society accept us on our own, away from Avengers Mansion? We didn’t know -- but we had to at least try to find out. Taking our accrued Avengers salaries, we bought a modest little home in Leonia, New Jersey.”

So a brief recap of their adventures in the first Vision and Scarlet Witch miniseries.

In the first issue, Captain America’s Halloween housewarming gift of a cursed book winds up being cursed and contains Samhain. When Wanda didn’t immediately free him, he got angry and turned some trick or treaters into monster versions of their costumes to attack Vision while Samhain attacked Wanda. She manages to set the cursed tome on fire, ending Samhain’s power. FOR NOW. Then Not-Actually-Their-Father-But-Doesn’t-Know-It-Yet the Whizzer shows up.

In issue two, the Whizzer is looking for Wanda’s help in regaining custody of his son Nuklo the Nuclear Man. With their help, Whizzer manages to get the court to agree to release Nuklo to his custody. But the lead doctor managing Nuklo is secretly ISBISA! ... Y’know, the Whizzer’s old foe from his All-Winner’s Squad days? No? Okay, well he also masterminded the nuclear ‘accident’ that led to Nuklo’s birth in the first place. And now he’s back to finish the job with radiation siphoned from Nuklo. In anger at Wanda being drawn into Golden Age drama, Vision reveals that Wanda isn’t the Whizzer’s kid but it little matters because Whizzer has a massive heart attack and dies. Nuklo helps defeat Isbisa and both of them are drained of atomic power leaving them human. Oh and Vision’s arm gets melted off. That’s kinda important.

In issue three, Vision is in a robot coma and he needs an energy donation from Wonder Man, his brain brother, to recover. Comic books! Vision has a meaning laden coma dream where Ultron screams at him a lot. Grim Reaper attacks and tries to kill Vision and Wonder Man while they’re incapacitated because he has one character beat and its that. But Vision manages to subdue him.

In issue four, is the pertinent one for this issue.

I’m going to say, I think the second Vision and Scarlet Witch series is better. This was a series of loosely related mishaps. The second volume does more with Vision and Scarlet Witch living in suburbia as a concept.

Anyway, in the fourth issue and in this Avengers recap of Wanda’s entire life, after Vision lost his arm, he and Wanda went up to Attilan to get it replaced. Because the Inhumans can casually just build him a new arm that works with his powers.

And people say the Inhumans aren’t good for anything.

While on the moon, Wanda and Vision decide to visit with Pietro and Crystal and their new daughter Luna. Pietro was even not a dick to Vision. It was a nice moment until Magneto barged in and started a fight by insisting he wasn’t here to fight while trapping everyone inside the building. Also, he threatened Bova to get information on who his kids were and frankly, that’s unforgivable. Bova is an angel. A cow angel.

They fight fight fight and then the fight is ended when Luna cries and Magneto realizes he’s doing a big superhero/supervillain fight in the same room as a fragile child and realizes ‘wow maybe i’m the dick here.’

Now the Vision and Scarlet Witch series ends with the internal-reveal that MAGNETO is the father (for now) of Wanda and Pietro. Magneto asking them to accept him as such. And on a confused moment of ‘shit what now.’

The Avengers issue picks up on that and finishes out the scene.

While Wanda is too stunned to know what to say, Pietro has some choice words.

He snatches his daughter away from Magneto and tells him fuck off, you’re no father to me.

Magneto’s argument is ‘hey genetics is the only thing that matters you’re my son like it or not.’

Pietro’s counter argument is ‘nuh uh’ and that Django Maximoff is the only man he calls father. And Wanda agrees.

Its good to see some Django respect.

Magneto tells them they’ll see the error of their ways and flies off.

Which is the wrong tack to take to prove that you’ve changed and are ready to get some good dadding in and won’t kill your granddaughter for being a human.

He’s super bad at this.

After that, Wanda and Vision went home to New Jersey and just stayed at home for a while, Wanda was so horrified by the reveal.

Wanda: “Even now, I can hardly begin to express the horror, the shame! It’s as if I suddenly discovered Hitler lurking in my family tree! Part of me wishes that he is really sincere about tempering his hatred for non-mutant humans. But even if he was telling the truth, that can never excuse his past crimes... Nothing can!”

Its really surprising how ready people are in-universe to compare Magneto to Hitler. From Wanda to Cap to Xorn.

Wasp: “Wanda... you mustn’t torture yourself this way! Magneto has no claim on you, and you’re certainly not responsible for him! I know it must be tough, but you can’t let him ruin the rest of your life!”

These are helpful things to tell Wanda to calm her down.

Less helpful is when Wasp speculates that hey maybe it was okay not to believe Magneto when he said he’s changed because maybe he’ll become worse! Maybe his newfound tolerance of humanity will lead him to try to save humanity from itself rather than wipe it out. In reference to how Moondragon tried to do that on that planet we never heard from again.

Wanda: “Heaven help us, if such a thought occurs to Magneto!”

I’m pretty sure he’s going to be too busy in the near future trying to be teacher to the most death-prone idiots this side of Westchester. And then after that when he decides to be evil again, he’s going to do some nonsense with Asteroid M. But I don’t think he ever hits the ‘save humanity from itself’ point.

Anyway.

Wasp and Captain Marvel reassure Wanda that if Magneto Strikes Again the Avengers will be with her!

The following day, Wanda returns to Leonia, New Jersey to put together a suitcase of stuff since she’s going to be staying at Avengers Mansion for a while.

Wanda: “Jan was nice enough to offer me a few of her things, but they’re all too small for my figure. And that robe the She-Hulk lent me last night fit like a tent!”

Wasp and Scarlet Witch usually look the same size and shape but that’s important canon body shape information for someone, I guess. If they wanted to draw Avengers But Not All The Same Paper Dolls character designs.

Anyway, the issue really ends with Dr Strange showing up to pull Wanda into a crossover with his own book in Doctor Strange #60.

Ergh. This era sure has a lot of stuff going off on the sides.

I’ll synopsize Scarlet Witch’s time in Doctor Strange’s book if it becomes necessary but I’ve already looked at five non-Avengers issue for this post and am probably going to have to cover the Hawkeye series in brief too when it intersects with Avengers.

Follow @essential-avengers​ for grudging contextualization of everything that’s happening in Avengers, when I feel like it. Like and reblog if you liked.

[traincat]

not to be dumb on main, but I’ve only rly seen the mcu and not read many comics and I was wondering if you could tell me the reasons you ship spideytorch? Esp bc it’s spideytorch week

I can do that, especially in light of it being Spideytorch week. (I can even tie it into the first two days of @spideytorchweek‘s themes because I’m brilliant like that.)  If you’re coming from a mostly MCU background, what you need to know about Spider-Man comics is that, by in large, they’re a very different animal, especially in terms of Peter’s personality and supporting cast. Unlike in the MCU, he doesn’t have a best friend in high school – there is a Ned Leeds in comics, but he’s a reporter for the Bugle who functions as Peter’s rival for the affections of his first girlfriend, Bugle secretary Betty Brant, and Peter wouldn’t meet Harry Osborn or become friends with Flash Thompson until he entered college. If Peter does have a male friend he’s close to during this point, for the relative value of “friend”, it’s Johnny Storm.

Peter and Johnny first meet in the very first issue of Amazing Spider-Man. This is partially because the Fantastic Four’s brief appearance in the issue were used promote this new superhero book. One thing you have to understand at this point is that the Fantastic Four were wildly popular at their debut, and featuring them in the first solo Spider-Man story was a surefire way to get people to pick up the book. What this ending up cementing was a long and storied in-universe connection between Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. Peter’s served as an Avenger in 616, but he’s family to the Fantastic Four. 

Not that Peter and Johnny got along at first.

(Amazing Spider-Man #1)

(Amazing Spider-Man #8)

(Strange Tales Annual #2) There was some pretty extreme pigtail pulling going on at first from Peter towards Johnny.

This is one of the premier friendships – developing at this point as it is – in Marvel comics. It basically predates all of the other big ones: Captain America and Iron Man, Luke Cage and Danny Rand, any other big Spider-Man friendship. This came first. There’s a lot of reasons for that – team ups between the Human Torch, who at this point was big enough to have his own run on Strange Tales in addition to the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man, an instant hit with fans, was good for the sales on both books, and the relationship made sense and was organic because both characters were teenagers who were the same age, who had gained powers in fantastic accidents, and who both had personalities suited to a banter-filled rapport filled with fun bickering.

In spite or maybe because of that early bickering, though, it quickly becomes apparent that Johnny really respects and admires Spider-Man:

(Amazing Spider-Man #18)

Peter Parker, on the other hand, who Johnny’s at the time girlfriend Dorrie Evans thinks is just so polite and gentlemanly? Peter Parker, Johnny doesn’t like so much at this point.

(Amazing Spider-Man #21) And here we have the beginning of our identity porn, practically a staple when it comes to superhero ships. This kind of dynamic between Johnny and Spider-Man/Peter Parker would continue up until Peter revealed his identity to Johnny in the middle of a crisis, having to silently trust him to understand:

(Spider-Man/Human Torch #5)

So you’ve got this amazingly long history, and from the beginning the shippy tropes are piling on – Johnny saying he could understand if his girlfriend fell for Spider-Man, Peter and Johnny having their own special meeting place, and then there’s the fact that Johnny gets kidnapped to use as bait for Spider-Man:

(Amazing Spider-Man #19)

Fast forward a bit. After the death of Gwen Stacy, who Peter was very much in love with and who he was seriously talking about marriage with, Peter unsurprisingly falls into a dark mood. One of the bright spots for him? Building the Spider-Mobile, which he’d been hired by an automotive company to drive, with Johnny:

(ASM #130)

In an updated version of this story in Spider-Man/Human Torch #3 (they even had their own team up comic!), Peter speaks to Gwen’s ghost-slash-memory, and says that when he’s with Johnny he feels like he’s “her” Peter again, the best version of himself:

“And for the first time in a long time, it doesn’t feel like I’m putting on act, or going through the motions. Suddenly, I’m Spidey again. No, I’m Peter again. Your Peter.” Considering Peter was head over heels in love with Gwen and planned to spend the rest of his life with her, that’s one hell of a romantic statement.

Couple this with the fact that, in and out of the mask, Johnny’s consistently one of the best people at calming Peter down and making him take a step back. That might not sound too impressive if you’re not familiar with comics Peter, but in comics, when he’s angry and upset, he has a tendency to verbally lash out at people he loves and isolate himself. It’s generally not a good idea to get in the middle of one of his fights, either – think like inserting yourself into the fight when your dog’s trying to fight another dog. Your dog might love you, but there’s still a very good chance you’re gonna get bit. Johnny’s success record here is unmatched.

(ASM #591)

(Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #5)

Then there’s the fact that Peter clearly feels protective of Johnny. (Though, to be fair, 616 Peter feels very protective about everyone he loves.) When Johnny lost his powers and was on a self-destructive bender, Peter teamed up with Johnny’s other best friend, Wyatt Wingfoot, to snap him out of it:

(Fantastic Four v5 #12) Look at that hand on Johnny’s stomach, steadying him on the building’s ledge. Also look how pretty Johnny is – the real question is, why isn’t he shipped more?

Peter also spent served as Johnny’s personal taxi afterwards:

(Fantastic Four #642)

When the Red Skull recently possessed Johnny and failed to make Johnny hurt his teammates, he taunted Peter by threatening to kill Johnny in front of him, a threat to which Peter violently reacted:

(Uncanny Avengers #20)

So there you have your hurt/comfort, the second trope at play here. (Also, Johnny is a champion damsel of the Marvel universe. I once tried to average out how much he faints and came out with something like 1 out of every 3 issues in the early Fantastic Four days. If you like your hurt/comfort, Johnny Storm is right here, collapsing all the time and getting kidnapped by giant gorillas at least three, one time of which – Amazing Spider-Man Annual #4 – Peter has to save him.)

There’s a million other factors that play into “reasons why I ship them” here – they canonically consider themselves family. They have an established tradition to meet up every Christmas morning at the Statue of Liberty. When Johnny died (he got better) he left a video will instructing that his place on the team be left to Peter and saying that “we all love you”:

(ASM #657)

They lived together when Johnny was recovered alive for a short period of time, during which Johnny cooked Peter breakfast in nothing but his underwear and a saucy apron, yes, really:

(FF #17 – there are word bubbles here in the finished issue, but they just distract from the rest of this, honestly.) And when Johnny’s family disappeared and Peter found himself unexpectedly a millionaire (long story), he bought the Baxter Building to keep it safe for Johnny. They’ve mentioned having movie nights in canon. Whether or not anyone ships them, it’s hard to deny in canon that they love each other, and that they have a bond forged over decades and decades worth of canon. They’re incredibly close, to the point where, when Peter’s identity was wiped from the minds of just about everyone on the planet, Johnny was one of the few people (along with Felicia Hardy, Peter’s ex-girlfriend) who knew that he used to know who Spider-Man was, and the loss of that knowledge hurt him deeply. They’ve fought together, they’ve saved each other lives, they’ve celebrated holidays together, and they’ve propped each other when the other needed it. It’s a ship with so much history it’s honestly hard to sum them up quickly or efficiently – honestly, they have more history and more reasons to ship them than, I would say, at least 80% of other popular ships and I mean ships in general, not just Marvel ships. It’s pretty amazing to have a relationship in canon that has endured the test of so many years and still remained incredibly relevant to each character. If you’re interested in checking out some more comics featuring them, I have a big long in depth reclist here!

Also, Johnny once slept naked in Peter’s bed:

(Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #1)

Just platonic best friend things. You’re welcome.

[magaprima]

Part 2 Episode 6 Analysis (Part 1/?)

“You look like the cat that ate the canary” Lilith says while Adam is sat there just watching her. This is totally a reference to sex, in my honest and frank opinion. It’s just such a look-who-got-some thing to say, and especially when we consider the added canon fro Part 3 where we learned Mary never consummated her relationship with Adam, and we presume this was Mary’s choice and Adam was simply respecting her wishes (’I thought you wanted us to get married’, ‘marriage doesn’t matter to me’), the fact they finally consummated their relationship and then she agreed to get married after they slept together, meaning a double whammy....yeah he’s gonna look like the cat that ate the canary. 

Also, the way Lilith says this, not judging, not even mocking or sarcastic, it’s just an observation, made gently, said affectionately, and she has a genuine smile on her face as she says it. Also, she is doing work. As in Baxter High work. She has brought work home. Lilith brought mortal work things home and is actually doing them. Let’s just appreciate this for a moment. The first woman, the first witch, the rightful Queen of Hell, who is several thousand years old, is actually doing the job of Principal properly, and seems to also be marking papers. And having not done the at work, she has brought them home to finish. She is doing her job not just professionally, but thoroughly. She has work at the table (also the way she’s doing the work at the table and the pile of papers and the pen is paralleled in the Hare Moon episode where she’s at the table, doing all of Sabrina’s regal admin).’

And how domestic is this scene? There’s tea between her and Adam, there’s jam toast (interesting side note, jam is considered something Lilith loves and can be an offering you make to her in worship or plea to her), and he’s just sat comfortably opposite her while she works, and gentle piano music plays on the record player. It’s so very domestic, and there’s such contentedness to it. There’s relaxation and comfort here and we’re seeing Lilith relaxed and at ease, not on edge, which is very rare for her, as she’s always got a guard up in one way or the other, but she seems totally relaxed here. Even when Adam makes his suggestion she take a day off, she doesn’t jump in shock, she doesn’t even stumble, she just smiles at him again, even as she says she has too many responsibilities as Principal to do that (which, considering she does eventually agree, and enjoys herself, so clearly did want to take the day off, the fact she initially refuses because of work is further proof Lilith did end up taking her job at Baxter High quite seriously. So silver lining for Mary, that in the four months she doesn’t ‘remember’, no one can claim she was shoddy at her job).

“You’re underappreciated at that school of yours” Adam says this in a way that suggests he’s said it before and/or he’s thought it for a long time, which I think is really sweet, because that means he’s seen how good a teacher Mary was, how dedicated she was to her students, and how much that was ignored by the likes of Hawthorne and others at the school. Also, it’s tragic to think Mary probably was heavily underappreciated, and probably not very much noticed, because she was just a quiet teacher, who was dedicated to her students and not gossip.

“Mm-hmm, well that’s more true than you know. I have been giving that girl-- uh, that school my all, for some time now and the rewards have been less than I expected”

The fact she gives him a truly honest reply, mentioning Sabrina, and has to stop herself as she realises what she’s saying, shows just how relaxed, confident and comfortable and at ease she is with Adam. She didn’t even think to lie to him, to give her cover story, she just answers him honestly ‘that’s more true than you know, I have been giving that girl--’ and then she snaps herself out of it and we see the mask forced back on, though it’s not to the usual degree we see. Also, we’re seeing more glimpses of Lilith admitting to herself how little the Dark Lord is giving her, how little she’s being repaid, which is a big step for her, considering her fearful and long term dedication to him in Part 1. 

And another important development; when Adam reaches out and grabs her hand, she no longer jumps at the touch. When she first met him, she was tense, wide-eyed and on guard, she jumped at him coming even slightly near her without warning and she looked shocked and bewildered through every kiss and affectionate touch. Now, when he reaches out, she doesn’t flinch, she doesn’t stare at in shock, she doesn’t even look at it in amazement or surprise. She doesn’t look at all. It’s natural for her. Adam reaching out to her has become the norm, Lilith being touch in a gentle, non abusive way has become the norm for her. And she’s smiling at him again. This scene is literally the most we have ever seen Lilith smile in the entire series, and it’s such peaceful, quiet smiling. And it’s all because she’s in a dynamic, a relationship, where she’s being respected and treated well. All she asked for from the very beginning of her creation, and I think this is just a good way to confirm to us, the audience, that Lilith was very much not in the wrong with Adam 1.0,  that when she says he was cruel and speaks of him with horror, with can trust she’s telling the truth, because we see how gentle and happy she is when she does have equality and respect in a relationship. 

And the way her hand goes to her mouth, trying to hold back from the temptation when Adam says enticingly ‘just this once, it’s a day’. Lilith has spent millennia being dedicated to the Dark Lord’s every request, she’s he’s right hand, his foot soldier, his concubine, his supposed Queen, she has answered his every request, and the entire reason she’s in Greendale is to do his bidding. And yet here is someone asking her to do something entirely for herself, something that would be utterly unrelated to the Dark Lord and I think she’s almost shocked by how tempted she is, how much she wants to do something, for the first time in forever, that isn’t related to Lucifer. And that is a long, long habit, a long time to have live a life dedicated to one person, which is why we see her debating, why even in the temptation, she almost resists, but then...she gives in.

And the fucking delight on Adam’s face when she agrees. He is so happy that she’s agreeing to take a day off work and spend the day with him. He’s so pure. He’s utterly in love, and I do mean in love with Lilith, as I’ve said in my other analysis about the way this dynamic worked, and how things changed from Adam’s perspective. Regardless this boy is like a puppy with his head over heels love vibe.

“I’ll be all yours for the rest of the day” Her choice of words is so purposeful here. I said above how everything she does in Greendale is for Lucifer, and now she’s choosing to do something for herself, and it’s important to note that in choosing for herself, she is choosing to be with Adam. It’s not just about the day off, the day away from everything, it’s very much about the company. And that smile is so bright as she said it. This entire scene is her basically smiling from beginning to end and that means so much. And, I know I went on about her hair and the style changes reflecting her level of ‘being herself’ on that long post, but here her hair is getting less ‘Mary’ and more ‘Lilith’, again showing comfortable she is. 

Also she has the red pen throughout. Could be a visual reference to her favouring red in general and her links to Hell. Or it means Lilith may be marking, but she marks a hell of a lot with the red pen...i.e telling all the students they’re wrong, wrong, wrong. 

[adoracora-elizabeth]

We have been happy, haven’t we? Chapter 11

Cora got back in bed, last night after Violet passed, Dr. Clarkson had explained, what the treatment would be. It contained a diet of raw liver; she was horrified by the idea.

The evening had drained her from all her energy and to top it off she had spent a lot of time in the bathroom during the night. Her intestines were not agreeing with her.

Robert had fallen asleep like a baby. The moment his head hit the pillow he was gone. Cora was glad he slept this well, he needed his rest. There was so much he needed to arrange, although Mary would do a big part, which was one of Violet’s wishes.

She rolled on her side, hoping to get some more sleep. But then she felt Robert getting closer. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She winched, her back was hurting, but she did not want to discourage Robert. She felt his nose in her neck, he did not say a word, clearly, he was searching for some comfort. She let him, he had just lost his mother, her discomfort was not important now. She would try to sleep some more in the afternoon.

Robert felt Cora winch when he pulled her close, but he needed her comfort. He needed her smell in his nose, he warm body against his. He knew he was selfish right now, but he did not care. He wishes they could stay here the rest of the day. Ignoring the rest of the world.

"Robert?" Cora's voice was soft.

"Hmmm"

Cora turned around and faced him. "Are you alright?" Softly she touched his cheek.

Robert felt a lump in his throat and could not answer.

Cora saw his lip tremble and pulled him close. Her hands rubbing his back. "It is alright to cry. I am here for you darling. I am here."

Suddenly Robert pulled back. "It should not be this way. I should take care of you, you are ill."

Cora put her hand on his arm, playing with the hairs. "I am ill for weeks now, don't you worry. We know what is wrong and that I will be better soon."

"You barely slept last night, and now I am here being weak."

"Robert you are not weak, because you are showing emotions. It is perfectly all right. I am your wife and know how much you loved your mother."

Robert sighed, he felt ashamed he let Cora alone with Dr. Clarkson last night. He should have been there, instead he drank away his feelings. He did that a lot, he chuckled, the only time that was not possible was with his ulcer.

Cora raised her eyebrows. "What is funny?"

"I was thinking about that time I needed to stop drinking when I had that ulcer."

Now Cora also chuckled. "How drunk you were on Christmas eve."

"The fear of losing our darling Sybbie was too much for me, and I hadn't touched a glass in weeks." He sighed; he remembered the feeling like yesterday. Tom was going to take his darling girl away.

Cora kissed the tip of Robert’s nose. "Tom came back with her, and he had grown into a different man, he needed that trip." She felt some rumbling in her abdomen and knew she needed to run to the bathroom.

Robert watched Cora rush to the bathroom, moaning 'not again.' he felt sorry for her. Her gut gave her some problems the last couple of days, He was scared to see her body's reaction on the raw liver. He got nauseous just thinking of it.

He got up and decided to get dressed, Baxter would come soon with Cora’s breakfast. He was going to make sure she could take a slow day. The bathroom door opened, and Cora appeared, looking white as the sheets. He rushed over to her. "Cora?" He asked while wrapping his arm around her waist.

Cora gave Robert a faint smile. "I am alright. I just need some more rest."

"I will ask Baxter to bring you something for your stomach."

"I am not sick, darling. It is not my stomach."

Robert stuttered. "I know, but...." he felt silent, he did not like talking about it.

Cora patted his hand. "I know what you mean. Thank you."

Baxter entered the room with a breakfast tray. "I will bring the liver up soon." She said, pulling a face.

Cora chuckled. "Is it that bad?" She looked at Robert. "I will sit down on the settee for my breakfast."

Robert helped her down and stepped back, Baxter would take over from here.

+++

Midday Cora finally found the energy to go downstairs. Baxter had brought her activated charcoal and it had helped. She was able to be away from the bathroom longer than 5 minutes.

"Grandmamma!"

Cora almost got run over by George, Sybbie and Marigold.

"Be careful with Grandmamma." Mary exclaimed

Cora saw Caroline looking at her shyly. She reached out her hand and guided Caroline towards the sofa.

"Is granny Violet with Mama?" Sybbie asked.

Cora quickly glanced at Robert. "Yes, darling. Yes, she is with your Mama"

"You aren't going to leave us soon, right?" Sybbie asked with big eyes.

Cora touched her cheek, unable to speak.

Robert sat down next to Sybbie. "Grandmamma will be all better soon. It will take some time, but she is staying with us for a long, long time.

Cora smiled at Robert. She heard his relief in these words. She felt the same relief herself. She was going to see the children grow up and she would be around when the new addition to the family would be born. Sybbie would become a big sister, in a couple of months.

"I remember, when your Mama was younger, she asked Mrs. Patmore to teach her how to cook. She made a cake for me."

"She did?" Sybbie asked in surprise.

Cora smiled; she remembered that day like yesterday. She was working on some embroidery when Carson came in to tell her Sybil was spending her days in the kitchen. He took her down and the moment she saw Sybil’s smiling and proud face, she knew Sybil would make it in this world. "It was the best cake I ever had."

Thomas entered the library.

"Dinner, everyone." Cora said while getting up.

Robert gave her his arm when he saw she was unstable. "You never told me about that cake."

"I am sure, you would not have appreciated it, Sybil was walking on all your nerves those days."

"I am afraid you are right. But I am happy you knew about the cake, did Sybil ever found out you knew?"

Cora lowered her eyes. "I never told her."

Everybody had left the library when Baxter entered with a plate.

Robert pulled a face. "Why does that smell so bad?"

"Because it also tastes bad." Cora said while taking the plate from Baxter. She waited for her to leave the room before she turned towards Robert.

"I don't understand how you can eat this," he said.

Cora smiled. "You would eat it too, if that meant you could stay longer with me."

Robert took the plate and put it down. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. He felt Cora relax in his arms, and he kissed her again. "You are so much stronger than I am."

Cora moved her hand to his cheek. "You are the one making me strong. Without you I would be lost."

"I am so thankful, I married you. Although the reason was not the right one. I got a winning ticket. You truly are a woman of real substance, and I am lucky, I can still call you, my wife."

Cora had the biggest smile on her face. "You don't know how much I love you." She pressed her lips against his.

A big thanks for everybody who left reviews. I really enjoyed writing this story. I cannot wait to start a next one.

[ecto-american]

Broken Ectoplasm C15

DannyMay themed story don’t bully me at it being NEARLY DANNYMAY A G A IN i’m trying my best

Ectoplasm | Broken | Glass | Theory | Community | Eavesdropping | Worldbuilding | Accident | History | Shape shift | Puppet | Ink | Hands | Anniversary | Or Read on FFN or AO3. |

Day 15: Finals

There was no time to lose and a lot of work to be done. Agent G continued to comb over his notes as his co-agent reluctantly followed the GPS. They didn't speak, even though Agent G could tell that his coworker was irritated at driving around. Another duo of agents were sitting around the hospital waiting room, watching TV on their phones or doing paperwork on a company laptop. But thankfully, that wasn't them today. It was refreshing being able to walk around and talk to people, rather than try to figure out what other trashy, mediocre show he was going to half-heartedly sink hours of his time into.

The neighborhood was a typical city one, with cars parked on the street and some in short driveways. The homes looked nice, and Agent G could tell that this was definitely one of the upper class areas.

"Sure you're not just gonna wait in the car?" Agent G half-joked as the coworker pulled into a free spot on the street, right in front of the house number that they had managed to find. Luckily, it was one of the addresses that was noted as part of the case file, in terms of the background information Paulina Sanchez had given about herself to the original case author. Agent K grumbled, putting the car in park

"Nah, you're still on your trial run, I have to stick with you," he complained. "Like disgustingly sticky gum permanently stuck on my shoe."

"Ah, I love hanging out with you too, man," Agent G replied sarcastically. He unbuckled his seat and got out of the car, immediately making his way up the sidewalk to a stoop.

Agent K brought his hand up to the door to knock on it. It took less than a minute for a tall, mustached man to answer the door. Nobody ever expects officers at their door, and he stared at them. But he remained fairly polite.

"Hello, can I help you?" he asked hesitantly.

"We're Agent K and Agent K. We'd like to speak to your daughter," Agent K informed him.

The man studied them, suspicious. Agent G guessed that this was Paulina's dad. Likely an overprotective type.

"Is she in trouble?" he asked.

"No, no!" Agent G quickly assured him. "We're just following up on a previous report, from the Overshadowing Epidemic."

Mr. Sanchez looked a bit puzzled, but he simply nodded. He moved to the side for the agents to come in, which they did and stood in an entryway. Mr. Sanchez went to the bottom of the stairs nearby, shouting up.

"Paulina! Can you come down?"

"I'm studying for finals, Papa! I'll be down in a moment!" a familiar voice replied.

"Now, please. There's some officers here to talk to you."

Silence for several seconds. The agents heard somebody walking around above them, hurrying to the stairs. Agent G saw the familiar face of his old classmate peek around the top of the stairs down. Paulina froze upon seeing the agent. She curiously cocked her head to the side before she started going down the stairs. She stopped halfway, nervously glancing from agent to agent.

"Um, hello?" she questioned, her voice a bit shaky. Agent G didn't blame her. It was always intimidating seeing law enforcement at your door. Especially when one was an old classmate. He immediately flipped his notebook open to make notes.

"Hey, Miss Sanchez. We just have a few questions for you, about an incident that occurred about a year ago," Agent G spoke up. His partner remained silent as he talked. "Concerning the Overshadowing Epidemic?"

She visibly relaxed upon the question and realizing that nobody was here for an arrest. Paulina nodded, descending the rest of the stairs and skipping the last one to land on the floor in front of the two agents.

"I spoke with officers before, close to when it happened," Paulina told them.

"I know, but we just have some follow up questions," Agent G assured her. The high schooler nodded, bouncing lightly in place as she waited. "Do you believe that you were overshadowed?"

"I know I was overshadowed," Paulina said firmly. Any anxiety she had seemed to be gone. Agent G took detailed note of it all.

"Can you explain how you knew?" he asked.

"I had all the signs, like being cold afterwards, loss of time and super tired, I slept literally like, fourteen hours when it was done. I also saw the ghost leaving me," she replied. "And the ghost boy saved me too."

"Can you specify who or what you mean by ghost boy?" Agent G questioned.

"Danny Phantom," she explained. "He made the ghost overshadowing me leave, and he protected me when that ghost began to go like, crazy and started attacking."

"Did you recognize the ghost that overshadowed you?"

Paulina shook her head no. She went from bouncing in place to a casual back and forth rock as she answered questions. The girl paused before shrugging.

"Well, kinda," she confessed. "It was one of those ghosts that looked like they were from a SWAT team or something, a lot of them looked alike."

"Do you know why you were overshadowed?" Agent G asked. The question clearly took her by surprise, and she thought for a moment. Paulina was quiet for several seconds. It turned into a minute, then two. Agent G waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts.

"So like...when I was overshadowed, I don't remember a lot of what I did," she said slowly. "I don't remember school, being with my friends or family, much of anything. There's some parts that I can like, vaguely recall, but…" Paulina paused once more, staring at the agent. Agent G nodded, encouraging her to continue on. "Some of what I do remember doesn't really feel real, like it was a dream. Cause it just doesn't really make sense to me."

"Please, describe what you can remember," the young agent encouraged. Paulina lightly bounce as she rocked, but she did.

"I think I remember talks of like...some kind of ghost conspiracy?" she began. "Like I don't really, like, totally remember seeing anything, but I felt like I was in several meetings? And by that, I mean like, we were talking about what to do, only it wasn't me talking. It was the ghost talking."

"Do you remember what was being said?" Agent G's heart pounded excitedly at this information this girl seemingly assumed was just useless dream fog.

Paulina glanced at the ceiling as she thought, trying to gather what she could make sense of time she lost nearly a year ago.

"Not really," she admitted, her shoulders drooping a bit. "I only really remember that Dash was the one who talked the most during the meetings."

That was incredibly disappointing. He really was hoping that she had something more. But it still shed the proper light on the evidence he had towards his new theory.

"Dash Baxter?" Agent G guessed. That name was already on his list. Paulina nodded. Well, he now knew who was next on his list of people to interview.

"Yeah," she verbally confirmed. "He's my boyfriend."

"Do you know where we can meet him today?" Agent G asked. She nodded her head once more.

"Yeah, he's grounded cause he got in trouble at school for shoving this kid, Danny, in a locker, so his dad's making him do chores all weekend," Paulina replied. "I can give you his address."

"Please." He handed her notebook and pencil, and Paulina pulled her cell phone out. She scrolled for Dash's contact info before writing down his address. "Thank you," Agent G smiled warmly at her, jotting his last note before closing his notebook. He pulled out a GIW business card to hand her, with the agency's number and address. The girl took it, curiously looking it over. "If you can remember anything else, please feel free to give me a call. My agent extension number is seven."

"I will," she promised. She slipped the card into her pocket, and Agent G gave a nod to Mr. Sanchez.

"Thank you for your time," he spoke to him. Mr. Sanchez nodded, and he reached out to wrap a protective arm around Paulina, squeezing her lightly.

"Not a problem," Mr. Sanchez replied.

Agent G opened the door, and the two agents slipped out, with a final goodbye from Mr. Sanchez as the man closed the door behind them.

"Let me guess." They had barely made it five steps away from the front door when Agent K spoke up. "We're going to the Baxter home."

"You got it!" Agent G replied cheerfully. "I think I'm onto something significant here."

"Oh really?" Agent K half-hummed. He opened the driver's door of their spotless white car. The agent buckled in as he mostly spoke to himself. "Heh, rookies."

"Come on, even you have to admit that this is more interesting than sitting around, twiddling your thumbs," Agent G nudged him before he buckled in. Agent K didn't reply.

He just made an irritated grumble as he started the car. Agent G quickly punched in the address. It wasn't far from here at all, barely three blocks away. Good, it wouldn't be an annoyingly long drive.

He pulled his work phone out, checking for messages. He already had an email reply and a confirmation that there was going to be a search in the area Phantom specified. Nice, things were going underway. He just had to hope that it wouldn't take days to find something, or that it wasn't a goose chase. But something in his gut told him that they'd find that scepter.

"So what's this significant thing you're thinking?" Agent K asked. Agent G glanced up from his phone, putting it back into his pocket.

"Oh, finally coming around?" Agent G teased. Agent K grunted.

"No. I'm more interested in why you're dragging me all over town to talk to teenagers," he replied shortly.

"Because there's something deeper at play here," Agent G explained. "Something's up. I've read those case files. There's just something missing, like this final piece of a puzzle that'd really tell me what's up. I want to know what it is."

"And those answers are gonna come to you from teenagers?" Agent K's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Hey, don't underestimate teenagers," his coworker protested. "They do some pretty amazing things, you're just not paying attention to any of it."

"I'll pay attention when they actually impress me."

The young agent frowned, but he didn't comment. He stared out the window as they pulled up on another street, in front of yet another home in the city. The street was fairly void of cars, most folks seeming to have their own driveway. A nice neighborhood, in the same spirit as Paulina's.

A familiar blond guy immediately caught his eye in the front yard of the house as the duo stepped out of the car. He was on his hands and knees, pulling weeds in flower beds that covered the area around the front porch. An older balding man worked nearby, trimming tree branches. Agent G already knew that this was Dash, and the man was most likely his father. But, you always had to be sure, and he approached the fence, resting a hand on the gate.

"Hello, are you Dash Baxter?" he called out.

Both men turned their attention to him curiously.

"...Yeah?" Dash replied. He looked sweaty and miserable.

"I'm Agent K, and this is Agent G, we're from the Guys in White," his coworker introduced themselves. Dash's face instantly dropped, staring anxiously at them. The older man left the tree to walk over closer to Dash. "Do you mind answering a few questions?"

"About the Overshadowing Epidemic," Agent G clarified. The teen glanced up at his dad, who simply gave a nod at him. The agents took this as permission to open the gate and slip into the yard.

"Take a break, talk to them, I'll get us something to drink," Mr. Baxter told his son, patting his shoulder. Dash gave a deep sigh of relief, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt off his jeans. He pulled his gloves off and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe sweat off his face. Mr. Baxter glanced at the agents. "Do you fellas want a drink?"

"No thank you," Agent K declined. Agent G shook his head no, and Mr. Baxter slipped inside the house. Dash shifted from foot to foot, taking a moment to stretch.

"So, what's going on?" Dash questioned. "I already told other officers like, months ago about the overshadowing stuff."

"I know, but we just have some follow up questions," Agent G explained. Dash let out a light "Oh" noise. Agent G got his notebook and pen ready. "So, from what I understand, you believe you were one of the overshadowed?"

"Oh I was definitely overshadowed, I remember seeing the ghost leave and be knocked out of me, least twice," Dash confirmed, giving a nod to accompany his answer. "I also had to go to the doctor, cause I had a bunch of injuries. They thought that I was fighting while overshadowed, I had a sore back and wrists couldn't play football for almost two weeks."

"Do you know the ghost that overshadowed you?" Agent G asked.

"Definitely, definitely. It wasn't one of the other ghosts that were around, the ones that kinda looked like they were from some kind of ghost police?" Dash mentioned. Agent G raised a curious eyebrow. "This one was like, all white. Had a black hat, kinda had a skeleton face. Reminded me a lot of a movie gangster and talked like he was like, some kind of Texas ranger."

Hmm...This wasn't in the original report. But then again, nobody really seemed to ask the folks if they could identify specific ghosts who had overshadowed them. While the report claimed that everybody basically described the same sort of ghost, green and blue with shields and batons that most making comparisons to SWAT, army or police, this all white ghost was never mentioned.

"Do you know why you were overshadowed?"

Like the other teen, Dash seemed surprised by the question. He stared blankly at them for a few seconds.

"Pretty sure it was some kind of personal grudge. The ghost always seemed so pissed that I could literally like, feel his anger whenever I could basically...you know be lucid, I'd guess I'd call it?" Dash had begun to gesture his hands as he talked. "But it wasn't like that anger you get if like, your friend stole your girlfriend, and you wanna kick his ass. It felt more like you wanna just really fuck up somebody's life." Agent G hummed curiously, and he continued to make note.

"What all do you remember of your time being overshadowed?" Agent G asked. Dash took a minute to think.

"Well, not much, really," he confessed.

Agent G internally sighed. Well, this seemed like a dead end. But there had to be something more. This guy was overshadowed by a unique ghost that had a specific anger to him. His mind thought back to Phantom's statement.

It was Walker and his goons. He's basically ghost police.

This unique ghost, this all white ghost… If Agent G could assume Phantom was telling the truth, he likely had a name for this ghost. He had to be Walker. The descriptions of all those other ghosts matched Phantom's statement, and this feeling that Dash had seemed to match the seeming motivation for this mass overshadowing.

"Not much?" Agent G lightly pressed. Paulina made reference to meetings, and she placed Dash there. There had to be something. "Anything that happened, anywhere you went, anything that was said, just tell me anything that you can remember."

"Well...being overshadowed? I don't really remember anything," Dash clarified. "But I remember this brief moment in between like...I guess overshadowings?" The young agent gestured encouragingly for him to continue, and Dash did. "Okay so like, I don't know where I was, but I remember that white ghost threatening Phantom." Interesting...

"How so?"

"He basically like, revealed that it was him behind a lot of stuff, real supervillain style. I remember just like...having an immediate headache and my body hurting so bad, I couldn't even open my eyes. I just laid there. Now I know that like, I was definitely overshadowed, but at the time, I was just super confused as to where I was and what was going on, but I heard the ghost say something about how like, he was gonna turn everybody against him until Phantom basically came begging to be in his prison. Cause like, that's where he belonged? And then he ordered a bunch of other ghosts to attack him, and then I think?" Dash took a second to think. "Pretty sure I got overshadowed again, cause I don't remember anything up until Phantom freed me, and that was apparently like days later. Then my mom took me to the doctor, and she had me talk to another Guys in White agent."

This was absolutely gold. This matched Phantom's report. This kid had no real relationship to Phantom, no human really had a relationship with Phantom. For his account to match Phantom's statements so well was unnerving, especially when it still never deviated from what Dash's first interview and statement said. It all still matched.

Phantom had told him the truth. Strange as it was, there really was some kind of anti-ghost conspiracy against, well, the town's celebrity ghost. Was it really all because of this supposed crime? This was assuming Phantom was telling the truth about his charge being so...seemingly petty. There had to be something deeper. But yet why would Phantom tell the truth about seemingly everything else, then lie about this one thing? His mind just continued to be overwhelmed with theories as he finished writing down the statement.

"Thank you," Agent G thanked him with a warm smile.

As before, he pulled out a business card, giving Dash the same talk about contacting them if he could remember anything more. Dash had shoved the card carelessly into a pocket, agreeing lightly before his dad had returned in time to bid them a goodbye as well. Agent K pulled his phone out as they stepped back out through the gate.

"So, uh, next," Agent G began to speak as he looked through his notes. Agent K gave a small noise, a "nope" sort of sound.

"Sorry rookie, I have business back at HQ. We gotta cut your adventure short," Agent K told him, scrolling through what Agent G assumed to be a message informing him of stuff.

Agent G opened his mouth to complain, but quickly closed it and said nothing. Agent K did have seniority over him, and this entire investigation wasn't really something they were assigned to anyway. His coworker had cases that he and Agent O were working on before the latter went on vacation that couldn't be left ignored either. Agent G only knew vague information about them, but he knew one of them was very important and was related to computer security.

He sighed, half-heartedly agreeing, and they made their way back to the main office. Least it gave him a chance to type everything up.

There were only twenty-six agents. No need for more than that given the amount of work available. The GIW headquarters had, according to Agent K, only recently grown into their own building, and Agent G was treated to many stories about the frustration of the government agency having to share office spaces with other companies within a building. Including one really far out story revolved around the insane lady from the lawyer's office below them that constantly threatened to sue them. The annoyance of having to drive to an entirely different building seven blocks away just to talk to people that had to rent out a lab from another space.

But despite the fancy new building, it was still fairly small. Again, they were a small department that didn't have the budget or popularity of other branches, like the Men in Black. Not outside of Amity Park. All agents shared an office space, six desks with six fairly average computers arranged in a cubicle fashion that agents had to share in an average room.

Agent G sighed in boredom as he spun in one of the chairs. There was another agent at a desk furthest from him, but Agent G had found out long ago that this particular agent made for terrible small talk or conversation. Incredibly weird, apparently did some time in the military but got discharged for a reason he never really elaborated on.

He turned once more to stare at the computer screen, where a word document was up and showing him what he had been working on. Not only where his notes type up on a separate document and stored away, but he had already neatly organized them onto this document, preparing his case report.

There was a brief knock at the door before it opened, not waiting for any kind of permission to walk in. A familiar employee named Sandra, not an agent but one of the field technicians, smiled warmly at him as she entered. He returned it. Agent G knew her well; they interacted a lot over the evidence she would collect at the ghost-related incident scenes.

"Agent G?" she spoke. Agent G gave a noise of acknowledgement. "I think I located the object you described."

Agent G immediately stood up, the case report completely forgotten about.

"Already?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, your directions were pretty spot on," she replied. Sandra paused. "Or well, assuming I found it."

"What do you mean?"

"So I didn't find any kind of scepter, but I found a lot of red glass shards, and it was next to a staff," she explained. "I already looked at the glass, and it doesn't really match the kind of glass you'd see in, say, beer bottles or vehicles."

This immediately piqued his interest. Those were definitely the parts of a scepter.

"Can I see?" Agent G asked.

"Yeah, yeah! Let me show you!" she eagerly agreed.

Agent G quickly saved his stuff and logged off the computer before following her down the hallway, and into what they primarily used for storing ghost artifacts that they found. At the table was another field technician, painstakingly trying to put what had to be thousand upon thousands of shards of glass pieces together. He was making impressive progress, Agent G had to admit, as he could already tell by the shallow bowl-like shape he had already managed to stick back in place, that it was exactly what he was looking for.

"Do you have the staff part?" Agent G asked.

"Right here!" Sandra informed him, and she gestured to another table, where the staff lay.

Instantly, it was familiar. While it had broken in half from the fall, and the bat itself had lost a wing, it was undoubtedly Showenhower's scepter. The object was in all of his promotional material and very distinctive. And he got giddy, as Phantom had been able to tell him exactly where it was. Phantom's account and Showenhower's account lined up nearly perfectly.

"There you are!" Agent K's voice interrupted his thoughts, and he sounded irritated. Agent G and the field tech turned to look at their coworker. "I was just about to leave without you. Hospital called. There's a ghost attack involving Phantom, we're rolling. Now."

Agent G immediately bid his coworkers a quick goodbye and a promise to be back later. There was a ghost kid in the hospital waiting for them.