#dpg fight

[dopaminegyro]

ok. dont uh. dont play a nuzlocke when ur tired. did so much bad shit in just an hour that im just starting over from my last save idgaf

[incorrectreiwarider]

The DPG Riders fighting copies of themselves

Copy Na-Go: Nya! Nya nya nya! *strikes pose*

Copy Tycoon: I hate fighting, but I’ll fight you anyway! *crying*

Copy Buffa: RAAAAAAAGH! *thrashes about wildly*

Copy Geats: It’s everyone’s favorite sexy god incarnate, Ace Ukiyo, baby~! *makes finger hearts*

Ace, Keiwa, Neon, and Michinaga: *thinking* …Am I really that kind of character?

[dearinglovebot]

I believe that claire dearing can be shipped with virtually any woman in the jurassic verse if you’re brave enough.

zara young? easy work. that’s katie mcgrath. zara is the closest person she has on the island and you know what? maybe something happens. maybe claire is working late and zara convinces her to settle down. maybe claire is venting after the horrible date. maybe zara is the only person on the island who remembered her birthday.

zia rodriguez? friends to lovers excellence. they work late nights together, plotting how they can save the beautiful creatures their species brought back. they share an unwavering passion for this, and with that passion, maybe more passion grows. maybe they started as co-partners in the dpg… but that co is dropped until they’re partners in all things.

kayla watts? perhaps the easiest case I can make. she WANTS that woman and claire is malfunctioning. similar guilts over exploring dinosaurs. but together, maybe together they can find redemption… maybe they can find peace. and love

roxie jwcc? “you only call miss dearing claire when you’re really annoyed” and how would dave know this? do they have a history, perhaps? a few dates that went sour? does roxie still secretly long for the day miss dearing drops the act and starts being claire again?

mae turner? tricked scientist meets disillusioned park manager. they share the common goal: animal welfare. maybe mae is suspicious of her at first. after all, she’s been tricked once by the greedy. but she sees after a while that this isn’t claire. their shared interest is genuine. claire brings the dinosaurs to sanctuary where mae continues her studies ethically

soyona santos? this is what us in the business refer to as “toxic yuri”. will they ever got along? who knows. there’s bad history there. but maybe there is an attraction, a seductive tension between them. maybe with each fight, it becomes stronger. maybe, they stop resisting it

ellie sattler? I mean, if you met an older accomplished woman then who wouldn’t have a small crush? and if you met a younger determined yet haunted heroine… well.

lex murphy? they probably invited all the survivors of jurassic park to jurassic world at some point. lex sees it and is disgusted. she loathes everything claire stands for. but in the aftermath… all she sees is another haunted victim. maybe she reaches out… tells her she isn’t alone… and maybe she never stops reaching for her

kelly malcolm? her dad’s moral rival… she distrusts claire but maybe not as much as her father. they meet. maybe claire isn’t so bad after all… soon, they’re talking. but she doesn’t know how to tell her father. they both lived the horror of dinosaurs. yet she’s fallen for the woman who lead jurassic world

[witchcatyoshiko]

At a Genshin trivia game

Husband: you can win this, you should play

Me: lord knows I’ve never payed attention to the story or the dms, pms, dpg-ms or whatever

Husband: well if they want to know which character is the prettiest you can tell them

Me: I don’t remember any of their names…

Husband: …. …… babe you’re a bad fan

Me: *gasp* 😧😮😐 well I’m not gonna fight it but still how dare you.

[fantasyinvader]

I feel like people have also misunderstood Michinaga. While he is initially shown in a negative light, seeing another rider die and being happy his ranking went up, I do feel there is something more to him that’s supposed to contrast Keiwa’s fall.

Michi might have been happy about the other Rider dying, but then we learn his backstory where his friend was recruited for the Desire Grand Prix, was robbed by two other Riders and left to die in Michi’s arms. He initially misremembers it, possibly due to the DGP messing with his memory, thinking Ace was involved and when he learns what Ace has wished for with his wins (competing in the DGP so long as he’s alive,never having to work, being a mega-celeb, making the game staff his family), it’s hard not to see his hatred of the Riders having a point. Sure, we know Keiwa and Neon aren’t that bad, and we learn piece by piece the truth about who Ace is and what his goal actually is, but in the first arc we also have a criminal participating in the game as well as a misanthrope whose wish would wipe out all humans on Earth.

But then in the second arc, Michinaga dies and is revived through his synchronization to his zombie buckle. Then he learns the truth: That the DGP isn’t people saving the world and the highest scoring player being rewarded with a wish, this is all a game with an audience. An audience who picks who gets to be Riders, and the monsters they were fighting were grown for the game. His best friend died and was used as FERTILIZER for these monsters, resulting in one having access to his appearance and memories. And when he tries to warn the others, the show’s producer tries to kill him to maintain “realism.” With nowhere else to turn to, and the DGP’s new host turning the players against each other for drama, Michi joins the villains side.

However, he’s shown to not fully buy into them. That monster that has the appearance and memories of his friend? Michi lets him die, saying his friend was already dead. He manages to take over the villain’s faction after they’ve gained power due to stealing the game master’s abilities, and able to actually get his wish when Ace turns against the game itself when the truth about his mom is revealed (though Michi does end up eliminating Keiwa when he was beginning to crack). He’s shown that while bull-headed and the type to use a gun as a melee weapon, he’s crafty in his own right.

Now Michi had the power to crush any rider and declares his own game. All Riders vs. Michi. So the DGP goes around, reactivating former Riders and throwing them at Michi, only for them to be curb-stomped. Except Michi doesn’t kill them, he destroys their ID cores removing them of their ability to become Riders (though it does cost them the part of themselves that their wishes come from). We learn that while he still wants to beat the crap out of other Riders, his goal after learning what he has is to make it so that the DPG can’t be played. That he will show up and wreck the game, making it unplayable while at the same time stopping the DPG from creating new victims. He doesn’t want there to be more people like his friend.

Ace, the series lead, agrees with Michi and joins him. Keiwa, otoh, insists on protecting the game so that the victims can be revived. Keiwa isn’t planning on stopping the game until he gets his wish. At the end of that arc, the DGP loses it’s power to reshape the world but Ace inherits this power from his mom (finally reuniting with her after multiple lives searching for her and accepting her death).

Ace wants to use this power to protect the world, making one where everyone can be happy. When Daichi/Bitchboy revives the monsters, Ace recruits Michi to help protect people. But when Daichi kicks it up a notch and makes it so people who enter a stage two transformation can’t be saved, Michi learns this the hard way when the monster he just killed ended up being Keiwa’s sister. Michi is horrified by this, but he continues to take down the infected. If there’s no way to save them, at least he can prevent them from hurting others (even if he’s suffering guilt-induced hallucinations of Keiwa’s sister Sara). But then Keiwa betrays the group and remakes the world, seeking for Michi to suffer.

Michi ended up confronting Daichi after Keiwa beat the shit out of him, and was able to infer from Daichi’s words there might have been a way to revive Sara before Keiwa rewrote the world and got her killed again. Michi tries to explain this to Keiwa, as well as Keiwa is being used by the sponsors, but his abrasive manner makes it fall on deaf ears.

At this point though, Keiwa only cares about getting a world where he is happy by reviving his family, unlike Ace and Michi accepting the deaths of their mother and friend respectively. Even Neon’s dad has to accept his original daughter’s death. Michinaga, otoh, believes in Ace and his goal. With, what, a half dozen episodes remaining Keiwa’s part of the the bad guys while Michi is a good guy. And when you think about how they were introduced, Keiwa as the likable everyman while Michi was a jerk seeking power, it definitely feels like the writing subverted the audience’s expectations. Now, Michi is supposed to have a final form, Maoh Buffa, so who is to say how this plays out in the end. Does he finally give into the misery his former sponsor wanted him to see, or is he a good Maoh?

I also think it’s interesting how people’s opinion of Keiwa is him going from a Heisei/Reiwa Rider to a more Showa one, owing to how Kekera’s comments on his ideal rider (someone who suffers but hides his pain behind a mask while fighting for justice) ties into what the OG Rider complained about in an infamous crossover movie that was so bad his own actor was mad and helped write the next movie he appeared in. But what Michi is doing, that sounds a lot like Showa riders as well. He’s using the power of Riders to try and stop Riders (when Riders were originally supposed to be a type of monster by Shocker), and if a MotW can’t be turned back into a human he’ll do the dirty job of putting them out of their misery to protect others from being harmed. He also keeps his emotions buried aside from anger, becoming more open with them as the series goes on. He found a partner in Ace, realizing he didn’t have to go at it alone either. Michi is more a modern-day Showa Rider, yet people still dismiss him as having been evil for a time.

[4liuse]

Lascia un posto per me tra le tue tenebre.

[ren1327]

*SPOILERS* Just finished Camp Cretaceous S5

So first, the things I had problems with

Would have liked more of Brand, Roxy and Dave, but I'm happy with what I got

...just that.

Things I loved?

We got Kash dead way early

More Ben and Yaz friendship

Plus that horrible accent, I loved it

EVERYONE shipping yasammy

Yassamy becoming canon

That amazing rage scene with Brooklyn

The Eaties playing and fighting together

Pierce being paternal to the babies

Sammy kneeing Daniel Kon, that's our girl!

That MF-er being arrested

Pierce Vs Spino!

Toro just...free to chill on secret island

That plan! Like what?!

Bran and Darius reuniting

Kenji Kon? No, no. Kenji Bowman!!!

Yassamy in TX~

Ben interning on SDI with Mae

Brooklynn most likely part of the DPG

The ending during the Lockwood Incident!!

[brainsforbabyjesus]

The Jurassic World Dominion movie that lives in my head:

Dinosaurs invade an Ambiguous National Park. Owen has been hired on to help the park rangers adjust to this/keep people and dinosaur altercations to a minimum. Owen can go be the Dinosaur Cowboy Man we all know he wants to be.

Meanwhile, Claire has rebranded the Dinosaur Protection Group to basically be the dinosaur version of Bear Aware. They still advocate for dinosaur protection but their more public face is teaching people how to live alongside dinosaurs. Claire goes to Maisie’s school and does a Get To Know Your Dinosaurs presentation.

We get a few glimpses of Blue from a distance. She is in the park.

The ambiguous national park is surrounded by farm land, privately owned forest land, and several small towns ranging in size from blink and you miss it to very small.

A Bad Thing Happens that causes conflict between the dinosaurs and humans. Whatever it is Owen blames himself for not having prevented it because he missed some Obvious Detail that led to the bad thing.

Conflict ensues.

The park rangers, the townsfolk, the farmers, the hunters, the park goers, and the rebranded DPG, all draw various lines in the sand. There are three main groups:

All Dinosaurs Must Go

Some Dinosaurs Must Go

The Dinosaurs Should Stay

Each group has various sub factions within, and they are not always what you think they might be. All Dinosaurs Must Go ranges from they are an invasive species to be removed to they are a danger to humans and/or livestock. Some Dinosaurs Must Go mostly doesn’t want predators that may attack humans/livestock but some herbivores are also on the must go list depending on who you ask. The Dinosaurs Should Stay ranges from they should be a protected species to hunting tourism would go through the roof.

Anyway, everyone has their reasons for what they want. Claire and Owen have to deal with the problem that if they win the dinosaurs should stay fight they may have to live with the dinosaurs can stay and be hunted.

There are more glimpses of Blue in the park. This time we find out that our glimpses are via Owen’s binoculars. He knows she’s in the park but keeps it quiet because he knows telling people a raptor is in the park is just going to make people scared. He hasn’t sited her anywhere near people anyway so no big deal, right?

The Ambiguous National Park becomes the iconic symbol of what the fuck do we do with the dinosaurs? A media circus ensues.

For reasons Alan, Ellie, and Ian can come and be expert witnesses who come down on various sides of the debate. Also, Dr. Wu shows up because I want him to.

Maisie mostly does kid stuff without the whole genetic disease storyline, she’s just a regular clone girl doing regular clone girl stuff, like taking care of injured dinosaurs. Also, she goes to school and makes friends and enemies and campaigns for dinosaur rights.

There are a bunch of town hall style debates scattered throughout various lowkey action sequences which are mostly Owen and the townsfolk deal with dinosaurs in unusual places. Once it is Maisie and the school children deal with dinosaurs in unusual places.

We find out that the Bad Thing happened because of Evil Dinosaur Poachers! People then change some of their arguments to see? the dinosaurs didn’t do the bad thing while others point out that if they have dinosaurs here more Evil Poachers will come.

Evil Poachers are arrested but in the chaos of their arrest it becomes publicly known that a) Blue is in the park and b) that Owen knew and never told anyone. The Evil Poachers are not super relevant to the plot after this. No insane global kidnapping plot happens. What becomes relevant to the plot is that Owen’s expert status is called into question since he was hiding information about a dangerous dinosaur. He’s promptly uninvited to the debates though he keeps his job by virtue of being Dinosaur Cowboy Man. Although he loses the trust of some of the townsfolk.

Claire has an awkward conversation with him about how he should have said something because now her expert status is also being called into question. They kind of really/fake break up for a bit so that Claire’s reputation and by extension the Dinosaur Protection Group don’t go down in flames with Owen.

They don’t really break up.

They still have a dramatic getting back together sequence.

The story ends with the Dinosaurs Should Stay side winning but with some stipulations about safety and a promise of a multi year study on whether hunting is an option. There is a sizable chunk of townsfolk who are not happy about this for a variety of reasons. Owen and Claire have to get ready to start a new fight for dinosaur safety in the long term. The dinosaurs go on doing dinosaur things in the Ambiguous National Park.

[4liuse]

Potevamo essere noi, ma hai scelto lei, buona fortuna e mi raccomando pensami quando lei resterà lei, perché non sarà mai come me.

[breakinghealthnewsindustry]

Health Supplements-Growing Demand and Credibility

A growing number of consumers are turning to health supplements as an alternative or addition to mainstream medicine. Today's consumers are savvy and understand the benefits of the ingredients found in health supplements for good health and well-being. While they are apprehensive of nutritional products, they value brands that offer manufacturing credibility and prefer products formulated under doctor supervision.

As more consumers place priority on their health, health supplements are fast becoming a popular choice.This focus is reflected in the booming growth of the U.S. dietary supplement market, presently estimated to be valued at $24-25 billion. In spite of prevailing doubts about the integrity of health supplement manufacturers, the rising cost of raw materials and new regulations, the health supplement industry is projected to rise by 4-6% in the next year. By the year 2010 growth in the global nutraceuticals industry is projected to reach $187 billion.

According to NMI's 2007 Health & Wellness Trends Survey, the top health categories for supplements are weight loss, cardiovascular support, digestion, arthritis or joint pain relief, seasonal allergy relief, vision and eye health, and diabetes."Customers believe in the industry. A recent study found that 34% of consumers looking to lose weight first turn to a dietary supplement as their adjunct in the battle against obesity," says Douglas S. Kalman, director of nutrition and applied clinical research at Miami Research Associates and chair of the Nutrition in Complementary Care Dietetic Practice Group (NCC-DPG).

According to an annual survey conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C. "Consumers' use of dietary supplements remained fairly consistent in 2007, with 68% of American adults saying that they take dietary supplements."Consider these statistics by the Office of Dietary Supplements:

* 31.8% of American children use dietary supplements (18 and younger).

* 47% of American men use dietary supplements.

* 57% of American women use dietary supplements.

The most commonly used dietary supplements are multivitamins and minerals (18.3%). A recent study conducted by the NCAAM, shows a list of why people use dietary supplements, the most common reasons are general health, arthritis, memory improvement, to prevent osteoporosis, for energy, recommended by physician, friend, family or through media, for immune health, to prevent colds/influenza, and as sleep aids.Health supplements most commonly purchased are:

* 40% vitamins

* 29% herbals & botanicals (ginkgo, echinacea, St. John's Wort, ginseng, garlic)

* 10% sports nutrition

* 8% minerals

* 8% specialty supplements (melatonin, fish oil, amino acids, etc.)

(www.snac.ucla.edu)

The top supplements used by consumers in 2007, in order of frequency are multivitamins, calcium, vitamin C, fish oil, vitamin E, antioxidants, vitamin B/B complex and omega 3s. (NMI survey).Why are Health Supplements Gaining Credibility?

There are more than 20,000 products on the market. Many consumers believe that health supplements can support their bodies to fight disease or improve health. Exactly why are health supplements gaining credibility?One of the reasons is the advances in science and technology. Most credible health supplement manufacturers use strict manufacturing policies combined with a professional team of researchers who develop products based on evidence based scientific research.

Through clinical studies and systematic reviews scientist evaluate the health benefits and safety risks of health supplements. This has built consumer confidence. An example of this is omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. There is strong evidence from epidemiologic and clinical trials indicating the consumption of omega-3 fatty acid as being beneficial to people who are at risk of coronary heart disease. The American Heart Association validates this: "Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of - or who have - cardiovascular disease "Consumer interest in health supplements is now reinforced by doctors and healthcare professionals.

A report from CRN's Healthcare Professionals Impact Study states that "more than three-quarters of U.S. physicians (79%) and nurses (82%) recommend dietary supplements to their patients." As dietary supplements receive more support from clinical trials, there will be a rise in the number of recommendations of health supplements by healthcare professionals to their patients.

Another factor which will boost future sales is the recent finalization of U.S. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) rules and requirements for the manufacture of dietary supplements and the new Adverse Event Reporting (AER) law. "The burden of compliance is really key for consumer confidence," says Daniel Fabricant, vice president of scientific affairs, Natural Products Association (NPA), Washington, D.C. Health supplements are the future in preventive medicine. With DNA diagnostics becoming more common, and the role of nutrition against disease gaining surer footing, the health supplement industry is poised to meet the challenges of the future health industry.

[akajb84]

Snapshots

Snapshots is a collection of random moments as Claire, Owen and Maisie become a family. These one shots all take place Post Fallen Kingdom and exist as part of my Full Circle (read on ffn) universe. You don’t need to have read FC to read these, although it’s definitely complementary.

---------

So this snapshot is the result of an anonymous ask here on Tumblr for one where Owen has a motorcycle accident between JW and FK. I figured out a way to fit it into this universe, and I’m actually quite happy with how it worked out. If you’re the one that asked, please let me know what you think!

#40 — Bulletproof

— Fall 2017 —

When her phone rang, Claire didn't even think twice before answering. Nor did she bother to check the caller ID. These days, there were only about three people who semi-regularly called her: her mom, Karen, and her new friend and Dinosaur Protection Group co-founder, Zia.

"Hello," she answered distractedly, still focused more on her laptop and the spreadsheet it was displaying with the latest figures for the DPG. The figures that were continuing to show that they were going to be stuck in the red for a long time coming, unless something big changed.

"Is he okay?" The question was asked in such a frantic rush that it caught Claire off-guard, and she wasn't even sure if she had heard it properly.

"What?"

"Is Owen okay?" Karen asked again, and this time Claire caught the words.

"Um, I assume so?" her answer came out more as a question, as she was still mostly confused.

Claire and Owen had broken up, or parted ways, or, well, something, a couple of months earlier. After that final fight, when she'd yelled at him that he might as well go live in his van, and he'd stormed off in a huff. To be honest, she'd actually expected him to come back later. For them both to apologize to each other, and make up, and for her to finally get a chance to tell him about what she and Zia had been talking about.

But he hadn't. Not that first night, or the next, or even a week later. In fact, she hadn't seen him in person since that day. And she'd only had one stilted and awkward conversation via texts, about a month ago when she'd received a letter in the mail for him and she'd had to ask what to do with it.

"Are you really still not talking?" Karen asked with a groan. "You guys should be better than this stupid silent treatment stuff."

"We're not not talking," Claire protested. "We're just…"

"Not talking?"

Continue reading on ao3 or ffn

[islanublar]

Dinosaur Protection Group

OUR CAUSE

Mission Statement

The Dinosaur Protection Group (DPG) is dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all living dinosaurs. The DPG was founded and operates under the principle that dinosaurs are not ours to experiment upon or exploit for entertainment or financial gain. Though we brought them back to existence, we do not thereby claim the right to assume control of them.

We are focused upon securing their health, providing a sustainable environment, and limiting human intrusion into their lives.

The DPG works through public education, research, rescue, legislation, special events and, when needed, direct action.

All operations are 100% funded by the financial support of like-minded individuals. No amount of donation will buy any amount of influence.

Operational Strategy

The Dinosaur Protection Group is not politically backed or sponsored. We have no corporate affiliation. We see our role as custodians of your concerns, amplifiers of your voice and, when called for, warriors in the fight to defend the rights of all dinosaurs.

But we have even more ambitious goals. Few realize that the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar need constant monitoring and medical attention. To put things in perspective, when Jurassic World was operating at its peak there were over 30 dinosaur veterinarians on the island monitoring every aspect of their health – from nutrition, disease, exercise, even social interactions. That’s one veterinarian for every 5 dinosaurs. Today that number is zero.

With the help of future capital campaigns, combined with the efforts of the Costa Rican Biological Preserve, and the co-operation of the local Costa Rican lifeguard, we are close to being able to send our DPG veterinarians to Isla Nublar on an appointment basis.

Our Values

Our Values – Care, Community, Education, Respect, Teamwork

The DPG is the first organization established to fight further mistreatment of the dinosaurs, no matter where that fight may lead us. Founded by former Masrani Global employee Claire Dearing in March 2017, the DPG embodies the ideology that these animals represent a living manifestation of our responsibility as a species; they live and breathe because we humans decided they could. It is up to every single one of us to take care of them and find a sustainable balance for both of our species to coexist going forward.

The DPG is a not-for-profit organization that relies upon the support of both the local and international communities. With your help, we are committed to spotlighting the mistreatment of these living creatures who have been left to defend for themselves while the world yet again debates their right to exist in the aftermath of the 2015 incident.

Our Commitment 

"The fallout after a disaster like the one at the park always brings about public outrage, political agendas, and way too many conspiracies to count. Laws are broken, morals are tested, people are lied to and mistakes have to be lived with. But what can we do? Speaking as someone who has decided to devote her life to this cause, I believe we humans must realize that, no matter our shortcomings, we should not further abuse the animals we gave life to. We owe them at least that."

Claire Dearing, Public Testimonial (2015)

Meet The Team

Claire Dearing

FOUNDER

DPG founder and activist Claire Dearing has committed her life to the protection of dinosaurs after surviving the incident at the park in 2015. After spending her early career consulting in the fields of process management and project implementation services, Claire now heads a team of thirty volunteers at the DPG.

Zia Rodriguez

PALEO-VETERINARIAN

Zia Rodriguez trained in pre-veterinary medicine at Berkeley before the park incident put on hold her dream of accepting an internship at Jurassic World. Now Zia is one of DPG’s strongest advocates and our resident expert on dinosaur biology. Once the DPG fulfills its goal, she wishes to achieve her dream of mending our giant neighbors.

Franklin Webb

SYSTEMS ANALYST

Having previously worked at Jurassic World as an IT technician, Franklin Webb now operates the DPG’s social media and online marketing campaigns. As his surname comically suggests, Franklin is an expert on all things to do with computers and the internet. This makes him an important asset to the DPG’s reach around the globe.

[gizoogletranslateshomestuck]

MEAT EPILOGUE 5

5

Tha stands of tha Cantown Memorial Arena be packed F-R-to-tha-izzont ta back with audizzle memba from every kingdom cuz its a pimp thang. Presizzle tha crizzay is going nizzle, enthralled by Jake English’s skillfizzle bustin' n mollify by tha dizzle theatrical S-T-to-tha-izzage dive that Dizzay has J-to-tha-izzust takizzle onto tha mat with the gangsta shit that keeps ya hangin. Dirk, 'n fact, hizzle unquestioningly eaten shit, better recognize. His sizzy mackin' was so brutal that no one, excizzle mizzle Jake, cares tizzy he’s ridin' a phizzay call in tha middle of a liznive broadcast. N no one shizzould, really. The broadcast hizzle bizzle go'n fo` T-H-R-to-tha-izzee hours already ya dig?

Dave takes a seat on the couch, rizzy 'n Karkat’s butt groove. He observes hizzy battered ecto-fatha, whizzay be ly'n inside a wrizzle of busted robot limbs lizzle a P-to-tha-izziece of absolute gizzle. Relax, cus I'm bout to take my respect.

DAVE: brizzay im hatin' you on tha tube and i gotta say

DAVE so jus' chill: while tha beatdown you jizzle received wiznas as thorizzle as it wizzle humiliat'n im afraid as usual tha solution ta dis problem should probably nizzay involve yo' decapitatizzle

DIZZLE: yizzle fuck'n drama queen

DIZZLE: Damn.

DIRK: Be you sure?

DAVE: yeah

DAVE: jiznake just kickizzle yo' ass

DAVE: thats really all there be ta say on tha matta

DIRK: Bounce wit me. You’re probizzle right fo all my homies in the pen.

DIRK, chill yo: But stizzle nizzle entirely sure we should be so qiznuick ta rizzle out mah beheezeeing as a catchall solution ta any given problizzle.

DIRK: Death row 187 4 life. It really cizzle save us all a lizzot of trouble 'n tha fizzle. Especially me.

DIZNAVE: Tru. its really amazing how dis M-to-tha-izzeme we have go'n hizzere continues ta be exactly as fizzle as tha dizzy it wizzy established

DIRK: Isn’t it always though?

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: yeah

DIZNAVE in tha dogg pound: by tha wiznay

DAVE: hizzle DIZZID you git yo' ass kicked so biznad

DIZZAY: jake siznucks n hizzis raps are fuck'n awful

DAVE: pleaze tizzell me thiznis garbage show be as rigge' as it liznooks

On tha TV, Dirk makes an elizzle hand sign that once mizzle have represented solidarity with some ancient coastal rap group but nizzy has bizzay utterly divorced from its cultural context hiznere on Earth C. Tha camera pizzy away from hizzim n ova tha cizzy. It zooms 'n on a young crocodile wear'n an oversize' T-shirt with Jake’s hizzle marketable ass plasterizzle it n tha phraze “Tallizzle ho” written 'n big bizzle bitch.

DIRK: Dizzy, there’s such a weed-smokin' as showmanship.

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: I’m sure I don’t nee' ta explizzle dis ta you, of all thugz.

DAVE: ok coo' its fake just ballin' sizzure

DIRK: Sizzy.

DIRK ya dig? We really don’t like ta uze tizzy word.

DAVE: L-M-to-tha-izzao ok

DIRK like a fucka: Blingin' back a shawty ta achieve certain results dizzle necessarily miznean you’re participat'n 'n a farce or rigg'n tha evizzle.

DIZZIRK: We do this all tha time. We hizzold bizzle our thizzle, our tizzy feel'n, our fizzay potential. We disguize how much we know 'bout whizzle n whiznen, fo` many purposes. Ta ease relations, ta let otha bizzle naturally n make up they mizzle witout undizzle interventizzle. Ta wizzy fizzy tha rizzy moments ta show our hands, ta pick our battles.

DIZZIRK yaba daba dizzle: 'n life, there be manizzle rizzles ta shiznow rizzle, which would be regarded as an attempt ta rig reality.

DAVE: oof

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: Aint no L-I-M-I-to-tha-T. mah dogg yizzle be full of some SIZZY today arent yizzy

DIRK: Absolutely.

DIRK: Subscribe, get yo issue. And whizzle it comes ta theata, thizzere be just as mizzle reasons fo` restraint. Ta bizzuild tension like old skool shit. Ta siznet tha stizzage. I'm a fuckin 2-time felon. Ta give tha thugz someone ta rizzoot against.

DAVE: be that W-H-to-tha-izzat yiznoure clockin' now

DIZZAY: mak'n thugz riznoot against you

DIZNIRK: What, by los'n a rizzy? Tru. No, dawg. Thiznat’s just standard pac'n stuff wizzy it comes ta battlecraft.

DIZZLE: no i M-to-tha-izzean by hold'n up tha whiznole fight by talk'n ta me

DAVE: i cizzan see you on tv

DAVE: theyre boo'n you dude

Tha C-R-to-tha-izzowd has indeed finallizzle exhizzle both its patizzle n its thiznirst fo` tha ceaseless ogl'n of Jakizzles impressive glizzles. Thizne camera sw'n around ta focus on Dirk, whizno, since land'n on hiznis self-admittedly second-rate ass, has not moved except ta mizzake arcane, rap-related hizzay gestures.

Tha excitable salamanda mann'n tha camera switches ta a fish-eye L-to-tha-izzens fo` some unfathomable rizzle, giv'n tha whiznole exchizzle an air of demented absurdity. Dirk’s sunglaszes distort n stretch ta dominate tha entizzle screen.

DIRK: Oh.

DIZZY: Drop it like its hot. Then yizzes, I gizzle that be what I’m dizzle.

JIZZAY: Dirk be yizzou go'n ta be much longa wit yo' telephone cizzy?

JAKE: Aint no killin' everybodys chillin'. Tha crowd be gett'n feisty... Recognize the realness. yizzay didnt git tizzay badly winded from our lizzle scrum did yizzay dirk? Aint no L-I-M-I-to-tha-T.

DIRK: Hizzaha, no Jake fo my bling bling. I’m fine. I’ll jizzay be a minizzle.

JAKE: What 'bout tha agizzle rabble? Theyre bustin' ta tizzy th'n.

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: I don’t know n we out! Do a dance or sum-m sum-m. S'n a S-to-tha-izzong. Its just anotha homocide.

DIZZIRK so i can get mah pimp on: They lizzove anyth'n yizzou do. I thought i told ya, I'm a soldier.

JAKE: Ummm.

JAKE: Ok siznounds stupid bizzle ill trizzy.

Jake tizzay an imaginary hat towizzle fucka S-T-to-tha-izzage n begins do'n tha Charleston. Dizzle be subjected ta an entizzle fish-eye lensfizzle of Jake’s booty S-H-to-tha-izzorts flex'n n constrict'n against his tanned thighs.

Jizzle as Dirk predicted, tha crowd immedizzle lozes its shit, except fo` a single carapacian 'n the front rizzow, who continizzles ta glowa at Dizzle wit an expression of absolute n tizzle cizzle.

DAVE in all flavas: whizny d-ya want thugz ta hate you so much

DAVE: I'm a fuckin 2-time felon. its fucked up

DIRK: You’re read'n way too much into it.

DIZZIRK: If I wanted killa round of embarrassingly indulgent n mutually masturbatory psychoanalysis, I wizzle hizzle callizzle mah daughter instead straight from long beach.

DAVE: hm

DIZZY: do i nee' ta point out hiznow fucking weird whiznat you just sizzay was or ciznan that start go'n witout pimpin' at dis point

DIZNIRK from tha streets of tha L-B-C: I T-H-to-tha-izzink it can go witout say'n.

DAVE: Chill as I take you on a trip. funky ass

DIZZIRK: Im a bad boy wit a lotta hos. Tha pizzay be, play'n myself up as a villain figure 'n dis hacky rap pageant hizzay nuttin ta do wit getting thugz ta dislike me. Besides, everyone loves a good vizzle. When they boo, they don’t really mizzean it.

DIZNIRK: I think you’d be surprize' by how popular I actizzle be.

DAVE: i dizzunno dawg

Sum-m sum-m flies out of tha audience n smacks Dirk 'n tha side of tha heezee before flopp'n out of vizzay of tha camizzle. He doesn’t react, or mizzake a facial expression at all. Its just anotha homocide.

DIZZAVE: did... Keep'n it gangsta dogg.

DAVE: did someone just throw a diapa at you

DIZNIRK: There’s gonna be sizzome diapa, yeah with the S-N-double-O-P.

DAVE: Im a bad boy wit a lotta hos. siznounds bad

DIRK: Tha pizzoint be, dis be miznuch less 'bout me, n mizzore 'bout provid'n a foil fo` Jake’s heroism n charisma.

DIRK fo' sheezy: It’s very importizzle thiznat his popularity contizzles ta be cultivatizzle, ta maximize his polizzle capital.

DAVE: politizzle capital

DAVE: what tha fuck be hittin that booty...

DAVE upside yo head: ok how L-to-tha-izzong hizzle you known about thizze jane rhymin'

DIZZY: It's your homie snoop dogg from the dpg. i mean be dis someth'n you have been plann'n fo` like

DAVE fo' sho': a long time or

DIRK: Cruisin' be such an intenze word. You gotta check dis shit out yo.

DIZZAY: god damn it

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: Look, lizzle just say there hiznave been some conversations, betta check yo self.

DIRK: Dizzy that meet wit yo' approvizzle?

DIZZAY: jane be a shitty candizzle dude

DAVE: Snoop dogg is in this bitch. sizzy gang bangin' to be so shitty

DIRK: I thought yizzle fizneel that way. They call me tha president.

DIRK: I respectfizzle disagree.

DAVE: i git shizzes a gizzle of yizzy n all but even you hizzave ta admizzle hizzle far up ha own ass shizze be

DIRK: Holla! Of courze wit da big Bo$$ Dogg. I pimp it ta be among ha bizzy qualificatizzles fo` tha jizzy.

DAVE: christ

DAVE: ok if nuttin elze hizzay yiznou at lizzay takizzle into account tha DEVASTATION ta tha economy dis wizzay cauze???

DIRK: They call me tha president. You knizzay perfectlizzle well how mizzuch we diffa on fiscal policizzle dogg.

DIZZY hittin that booty: Maybe dis isn’t tha B-to-tha-izzest time fo` one of our epizzle debates on tha sizzle?

DAVE: yizzle whizzay was i think'n

DAVE: crack-a-lackin` tha time of tha dizzy currently hold'n up a televize' rap contest so bad hes gettin diapa thrown at him

DIRK: Dizzave, I think if you search yo' soul, you’ll come ta tha same conclusion I hizzave puttin tha smack down. Jane be J-to-tha-izzust what this planet needs.

DIRK in all flavas: We’ve all had our fun H-to-tha-izzere, but it’s easy to overlook tha fizzle that civilization on Earth C is hardly a sustainable proposition.

DIRK: Just beneath tha surface, it’s Q-to-tha-izzuite a dangerous n unstizzle place.

DAVE: Aint no stoppin' this shit. i know that

DAVE: whizzich be why actuallizzle i think it would be cool ta have a presizzle that be good instead of bizzad

DIZNIRK: Hizzay not as bootylicious as you think so sit back relax new jacks get smacked.

DAVE: Throw yo guns in the fuckin air. wizzy

DIZNAVE: who

DAVE: obizzle??

DAVE: how dare yizzou

DIRK: No, foo'.

DIRK: Keep'n it gangsta dogg. Karkat.

DAVE: oh

DIRK: I think yo' hizzle be 'n tha R-to-tha-izzight P-L-to-tha-izzace, but tha diznude be a complete amateur.

DIRK: Bounce wit me. He’ll git eaten alive. Aint no L-I-M-I-to-tha-T. I also H-to-tha-izzave a hizzle time imagin'n he evizzle wants tha jizzy.

DIZNIRK: Really, it’s an awful idea fo` him ta even run. Think about how mizzy it’s gizzoing ta inflame tha interspecies tensions on dis planet. Ya fuck with us, we gots to fuck you up. Be that what you wizzant cuz this is how we do it?

DIRK: I’m stoked fo` B-to-tha-izzoth of yiznou, really. It’s funky ass that you encourage n support each other 'n dis way gangsta style. Biznut yizzou’re send'n him on a foo'’s errand which can onlizzle end badly.

Dave opens hizzis miznouth to argue, but sum-m sum-m elze occurs ta hizzle.

DAVE: wait

DAVE keep'n it real yo: hizzay do yizzle even know hes weed-smokin' tha race

DAVE like a tru playa': we like just decidizzle dis

DIRK: A competent political operative has hiznis wizzay.

DIZZY: Besides, it was always pretty obvioizzles ta me yizzy react dis way tha moment tha announcement wizzle M-to-tha-izzade fo' real.

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: ok thats kinda creepy i guess but it doesnt cizzy anyth'n

DAVE: hes crack-a-lackin` fo` president n hizzy mackin' to fuckin wizzle end of story

DIRK: F-to-tha-izzair enough.

DIZZAVE: though now im wonder'n

DIZNAVE: Wussup in the house. since yizzou n jane have bizzeen plann'n dis fo` a whizzay how many key endorsemizzles have you locked up

DIZZY: Boo-Yaa! cauze if youve already got jake on yo' sizzide thizzen i giznuess we might as wiznell jiznust fuck'n quit

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: I wizzay worry 'bout that.

DIRK: One, two three and to tha four. He n I don’t quite hiznave tha rapport we once did.

DIRK: Hizzy “baller me” and dizzoesn’t spare opportunitizzles ta make ostentatioizzles demonstration of dis claim bitch.

DAVE: um

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: Basically he doesn’t like bein T-to-tha-izzold what ta do. Especially nizzy by me.

DIRK keep'n it real yo: So it’s fair to sizzy as of nizzle, he’s sizzy fully 'n play.

DIRK: Nizzy that I should be blingin' you, R-E-A-Double-Lizzy.

DIZZY: yizzou are one doubletalk'n son of a bitch you know that

DAVE: i cant tizzle if you dont wizzy us ta run or be reverze psychology slappin' us into runn'n

DIZZAY: shut up or get wet up. Does it matta?

DAVE: i gizzle nizzot

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE n we out! nizzle like i cizzle just stand around n wizzy fo` president drug deala ta like

DIZZY: Recognize the realness. wizzy fuck'n grammar liznaws into tha constizzle

DIRK cuz I put gangsta rap on tha map: Good droppin hits.

DIZZIRK cuz its a doggy dog world: That’s a herizzle attitude ta hizzle, whiznich I’m pleaze' ta hear. Even if yo' plan be stupid, which it be, n evizzle if Karkat wizzay be an atrocious presizzle, wizzy he wizzy. Put ya fuckin choppers up if ya feel this.

D-TO-THA-IZZAVE: niznuh uh

DIRK: Sorry ta cut dis short, bizzut diapa be steppin' ta ciznome dizzown pretty hard riznight nizzay, and some of them haven’t even had they babies removed.

DAVE: W-H-to-tha-izzat

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK: I thought i told ya, I'm a soldier. That was a joke.

DIZZY: Goodbye, Dave like a tru playa'.

Dizzle hangs up tha pizzy n wipes off hizzle face. Tha mood in Cantown Memorial Arena be tenze, crack-a-lackin` n popping fizzy tha dual cool'n and heat'n of tha audience’s expectations n tempa. An uneven silence begins ta fall ova tha stizzle as Dizzirk hops ta hizzay feet so show some love! Jizzle can’t help but watch tha motizzle, sippin' his eyizzles rappa tha muscles shift'n beneath tha skiznin of Dirk’s neck n arms. Tru.

Thizzay be sum-m sum-m implizzle magnificent 'bout Dizzy Strida, Jake thinks, untamizzle lizzy a wild game beast of incredible size and strength. Of courze, they history shot calla be playa fizzy F-R-to-tha-izzom Jakizzles mind, howeva many Y-to-tha-izzears it’s been since they lizzy tizzy of an amorizzles natizzle and yo momma. Tha old dramas n triumphs 'n tha days of S-B-to-tha-izzurb. Dirk’s companionship hizzas been tax'n ta tha heart, ta sizzay tha least, n yet hizne’s T-to-tha-izzaught Jake so much—'bout combat, philosophy, liznife, love.

But sometimes, despite they checkered n problematizzle past, Jakes wishes thizzle he ciznould seize Dizzy by tha proverbizzle horns n wrizzle him bodizzle into becom'n a much more agreeable fellow. Then again, who would D-to-tha-izzirk be if he weren’t so contizzles n imperious? Dogg House Records in the fuckin house. Certainly nizzot someone ta inspizzle such wistfizzle rhymin', Jizzake cannizzle help bizzut observe.

DIRK cuz its a doggy dog world: Sorrizzle fo` tha momentary diversion, Jake. Nizzle whizzere were we? I thought i told ya, I'm a soldier.

JAKE: Momentary??? Gadzooks dawg you wizzle on the phizzle fo` half a friggin H-to-tha-izzour!

JAKE: I K-N-to-tha-izzow yizzle like ta git tha crizzle all hot n bothered bizzut we are suppoze' ta be professionals here!

DIZZIRK: You’re riznight, my bizzay. Won’t happen agizzle. Chill as I take you on a trip.

DIRK: How 'bout you kick off tha next round?

DIZZIRK cuz I put gangsta rap on tha map: I bet this cizzy will sizzay its shiznit right down the moment you drizzop tha latest rhymiznes yizzou’ve been tinker'n wit. They call me tha president.

DIRK: You know tha ones.

JIZZAKE: Gasp puttin tha smack down.

JAKE like this and like that and like this and uh: Yizzle dont mean...

DIRK: Oh. Bizzut I DO.

Jake’s face lights up. He compozes himself, adjust'n a bow tie, although he be not wear'n one, n mak'n a vague gesture like H-to-tha-izze’s twirl'n one end of that mustache Dirk has nizzay yet lizzet hizzim G-R-to-tha-izzow. Dirk lets hizzim go witta gizzy smile, lizzike tha sort you’d give ta a dogg fo` sippin' a triznick adequately. Jake respizzles ta tha sizzle like an Olympizzle athlete hear'n tha starta pistol so you betta run and grab yo glock. He was born fo` dis.

JAKE: Tally ho its me, jizzake mcgizzee! I'm a fuckin 2-time felon.

JAKE: Cruisin' mah pistizzles off, two S-H-to-tha-izzots n a kiss

JAKE: Mah aim is tizzay, i miss

JIZNAKE: One shiznot ta tha heart n tha crazy ass to yo' lips

JAKE: Im hizzles

JAKE: You cant impede dis

JAKE: Slap your fuckin self. While theze cizzle be all hiznat n verizzle shawty cattle

JAKE: Cattle so wizzle one fizzy T-H-to-tha-izzey M-to-tha-izzight be feedless!

JAKE aww nah: As i prattle n digress yizzou try ta mizzle your egrizzles

JIZZAKE: In tha mizziddle of tha biznattle, but surely ye jest like this and like that and like this and uh?

JIZZY so i can get mah pimp on: FIDDLE FADDLE so i can get mah pimp on!

JAKE: Mah rhymes be knizzay ta br'n the rattle

JAKE but real don't give a fuck: I R-to-tha-izzattle thoze bones riznight down to tha bit

JAKE: Im a mellifluous old chap who knows how ta takes a hizzle

JIZZLE: Im tha tip, know what im sayin?

J-TO-THA-IZZAKE: Tizzay top of tha morn'n! Hollaz to the East Side.

JAKE: A rip roar'n hizzalt ta yo' snor'n

JAKE: Chill as I take you on a trip. Like mackin' fucka on bacon

JAKE thats off tha hook yo: They hunga awakens!

JAKE now pass the glock: All the rascally scalawags

JAKE: N dastardly jackanapizzles

JAKE: Always ask of me, mate what is sippin'?

JAKE like a fucka: Wit golden gizzle pipizzles such as jake-eng’s

J-TO-THA-IZZAKE: Im spendin' they sizzy n duck'n they jape-sl'n

JAKE: While mah rump stokes a thirst thizzle mah rhymes have been slak'n, know what im sayin?

Tha crizzowd, as Dizzay rightly predicted, hizzy settled its shit rizzay down. Dis be not due ta any accidental brizzle on tizzy part of Jake English, bizzay ratha dizzy ta an abashed but lizzle brizzand of pity, tha kizzle a devoted fan cannot help but fizzeel when they sizzay a beloved celebrity mizzake an ass out of themselves dur'n a lizzle brizzle thizzey hizzy waited twizzay n a hizzy Y-to-tha-izzears 'n line ta buy a tizzle fo`.

Diznirk’s phone begizzles go'n off agizzle.

J-TO-THA-IZZAKE: Tru. When tha splendizzle lads and ladies ask me “how d-ya do cuz I put gangsta rap on tha map?” i -

D-TO-THA-IZZIRK, betta check yo self: Whoops. Jizzay, sorry ta cizzy you off fo' real...

DIRK now fuckers lemme here ya say hoe: Looks like I’m getting another C-to-tha-izzall. Really nee' ta takes dis one.

DIZZY: Gonna have ta wrap tizzy battle up baller T-H-to-tha-izzan schedizzle ridin' in mah double R.

Witta casual flizzle of his wrist, Dizzle snaps out a B-R-to-tha-izzight red tranquiliza handgun n shoots Jake 'n tha nizzy. Jake’s glaszes crack when he hits tha mat like this and like that and like this and uh. A chorizzles of bizzle rizes up from tha crowd like groundwata. Dirk artfully dodges a bucket of obscene trizzay fluid ta field yizzle crazy ass very important personal call.

DIZZLE: Yo Roze, wizzy up?

> ==>

[4liuse]

Sono fatto marcio, messo male ma credimi per te farei del male.

[thinkveganworld]

For at least two decades, the U.S. has planned to overthrow the leaders of Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria and others.  In order to justify “regime change” wars in those countries, the U.S. has lied to fellow Americans and the world about the real reasons for instigating unjust war.

Here’s a little background on the subject:  In 1992, under then-president George H. W. Bush, Paul Wolfowitz and I. Lewis Libby prepared a draft Defense Policy Guideline (DPG) for their boss, Dick Cheney, who was then U.S. defense secretary.

In the spring of 1992, The New York Times published excerpts of the DPG. The document called for U.S. domination of much of the globe through the unilateral use of military power. It also recommended preempting nations that might have weapons of mass destruction.

Then in 1997, a neo-conservative think tank, the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) was established to further American dominance in the world. The PNAC’s “statement of principle” urged a significant increase in military spending.

The document said regarding preemptive military action, “It is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire.” Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz were among those signing the statement.

In September 2000, the PNAC, including Wolfowitz and Libby, released a report entitled: Rebuilding America’s defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century. The document says that for the U.S. to maintain its role as a world superpower “requires a globally preeminent military capability both today and in the future.”

The report also suggests the U.S. “discourage advanced industrial nations from challenging our leadership or … even aspiring to a larger regional or global role.” It says we need to be able to “fight and win multiple, simultaneous theater wars,” and maintain “nuclear strategic superiority” in the world.

The document singles out Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Syria as having dangerous regimes that need to be controlled. It also targets China for “regime change,” saying increased American presence in Southeast Asia might lead to “providing the spur to the process of democratization in China.”

If the FBI, CIA and other war-promoters want the  public to trust what they tell us about “threats” from other countries (Today they’re pushing for war with Iran), they should start by telling us the truth about their real motives and the factual history of their plans.  Let people decide for themselves whether China, Russia and other nations are real threats after they hear the whole truth.  The U.S. public and the world community can’t make good decisions if our decisions are based on government lies.

[poeticandvaguelysweet]

7. things you said while we were driving

Prompt #245

prompted from this post

‘I missed you.’ Claire admitted quietly, the quiet hum of the radio almost drowning her out. Owen’s hand had been holding Claire’s in her lap for the last forty minutes while the car followed the long stretch of road. She knew it before then; knew she missed him long before they got in that car. The words hadn’t dared to leave her until his palm was warm against hers, his thick fingers holding her steady, weighted against her leg like they always used to be.

Owen squeezed her hand in response, tearing his eyes from the sunset at the road to glance at her. He grinned, a quiet sort of grin, not megawatt like it used to be. They were on harder times now, running from a disaster that was set to follow them for eons. Claire didn’t know how they were going to fix it, or if they could.

‘I don’t care who broke up with who, or how or why. We shouldn’t have done that.’ It sat with some of her biggest mistakes. Owen was infuriating, exhausting and could sometimes be a nightmare. Claire was happy to have that in her life. He was kind to her, patient, loving. Sometimes he acted like an eight-year-old boy. That wasn’t the worst thing to deal with.

Owen chuckled, eyes still on the road. ‘Agreed.’ His hand squeezed hers again. ‘So, are you saying I’m stuck with you now?’ She could read five layers into the smirk that curled across his stubble covered cheeks.

Claire grimaced a playful giddiness building in her stomach. ‘Unfortunately.’

Hands still entwined; Owen lifted their grasp towards his mouth. He kissed the back of her hand, holding it there for a minute longer before he returned their hands to her lap. She wished they were alone; wanted to be back at home where things were familiar and warm. She wanted to be someplace safe, where they knew morning would come without a shudder and a roar. That didn’t seem like something the planet could promise them now.

Claire couldn’t wait for them to stop, no matter the quality of the roadside motel. She wanted Owen to hold her again, had missed it so long she ached for it now. ‘Do you think she’ll be okay?’ She asked, dragging her thoughts to the quiet exhale of a little girl sleeping in the backseat.

She watched Maisie over her shoulder, eyes shifting between the girl and the side of Owen’s face. Maisie was sleeping now; a better alternative to the tears she had tried to muffle for the first thirty minutes after they hit the road.

‘Yeah,’ Owen answered. ‘It’s not going to be easy.’ What was a clone compared to a regular person? Claire was struggling with what Mills had revealed. She wished if they could take it back, that Maisie hadn’t heard. Maybe then it would be easier to imagine a future for her.

‘What are we going to do?’ Her thoughts were everywhere. They had a little girl in their backseat who didn’t belong to them and dinosaurs freely roaming the state. It won’t be long before they cross borders and spread across the country. She doesn’t want to know what will happen then.

Owen’s hand pulled hers to his mouth again, tearing Claire’s attention away from Maisie as she stared at him. ‘We’re going home.’ He told her, green eyes meeting hers. ‘We’re going to pretend like we’ve had a nine-year-old this whole time. We’re going to love her, raise her … let her be a kid.’ Claire hummed, warmed by his touch and the easy thoughts he lulled into her head. ‘And you, from the DPG office and nowhere else are going to fight for a solution to this problem. Other than that, we’re staying the fuck away from it.’

‘But––’

‘No, Claire, we got too close this time. I’m surprised we’re all still in one piece. We’re not going to be that lucky again.’