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junquisite · 4 years ago

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Treasure

WORD COUNT : 2.1K

GENRE : Supernatural AU, Spirit! Donghun X OC

WARNING : The OC has slightly ambiguous Morals, implied violence, mentions of murder, implied murder, very little mention of blood, PLEASE IT’S SOFT DON’T WORRY!!

NOTE : Hello, i came up with this idea last night at 2.30 in the morning, told @unknown5tar about it, then ended up writing this in like 2-3 hours. so enjoy~

The mountain top was reputed - reputed to hold the biggest treasure one couldn't even imagine and no man has ever reached there but the claims still live. The path was dangerous - journey worth weeks that you can't bring enough food for, thunder strikes and too heavy rain and snow or dust storms comprising the unpredictable weather you could never prepare for. And if all that was not enough, there were wild animals to fight you, and ofcourse the dragon at the top of the mountain.

So Donghun just blinked at the girls standing at the mouth of the cave with his mouth agape.

“How did you get here?” he asked as the girl looked at him quickly and pulled her sword out from behind her.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” she asked as she took frantic steps towards him and he stepped back with his hands raised.

“I’m the spirit of this cave.” he said when her sword was a feather away from his face.

“A spirit? Do you guard the treasure?” she asked as her eyes flickered to her surroundings.

“You can say so. Now if you can just take that sword away from my face.” he said and she took it away, her whole attention at the inside of the cave. Probably looking for the treasure, Donghun thought.

“Aren't you a spirit? Why would you be scared of a mere sword?” she asked offhandedly as she walked around the barren cave and he was getting nervous as he followed her to the inside of the cave where there was a slight opening at the top reaching the peak of the mountain as she looked around.

“I might be a spirit but I'm still a mortal.” he mumbled as she turned to stare at him.

“How would that even work..” she mumbled but before he could explain she shrugged.

“Whatever spirit, where’s the treasure? It took me almost a month to get here, give me my treasure.” she asked him with a big smile and he just gave her a small smile.

“The real treasure is the friends you made on the way here.”

There was a scary silence which settled in the cave where she stared at him and Donghun willed his heart to not jump out of his chest. She had a sword that she was clearly not afraid to use.

“You're joking aren't you? is this some test to see if i’m worth the treasure or not because I need my treasure spirit!” she spoke, her words getting louder as she stepped closer to him, crowding him against the wall.

“That is the real treasure. You must not have made it here alone on your own, the friends were the real treasure.”

She started laughing at that and it scared the spirit further.

“Why are you laughing?” he asked as she took a few steps away to sit down on the floor and laugh. When she had calmed down enough she looked at him sharply.

“So you’re telling me the 6 people I left behind to get here were the supposed treasure?” she asked and he nodded.

“What happened to them?” he asked and she shrugged.

“2 died during the climb, one of them got eaten by a tiger we encountered and the other 2 got caught by your precious dragon. He must not have to go out to hunt for a while now.” she said, her lips turning up slightly as she spoke.

“And what about the last one?” he asked and she gave him a sinister smile.

“I didn't want to split the treasure.” she said simply and laughed at Donghun’s mortified face. “Don't look so scared now. I won't kill you spirit.” she said as she got up and dusted her cloth.

“Don't you have a name though? I’ll start, I’m Kim Minji, and you?” she asked as she started wandering the cave again.

“Lee Donghun.” he said slowly and watched her head bob in acknowledgment.

“Aren't you hungry? Do you not eat?” she asked and he looked away. “I don't.”

She laughed loudly when his stomach grumbled at that exact moment.

“I'm going to stick around for a while spirit until I find something worth taking back with me. So share your food with me.” she said as she waited for him at the center of the opening, her hands on her waist making her look more serious then she probably was but it got the point across as Donghun scrambled to go to one of the tunnels just on the other side of the opening.

He heard her gasp as she entered behind him to the small garden.

“What would you like?” he asked as she looked around.

Figuring she was probably not going to answer anything anytime soon, he started gathering the fruits and berries and anything edible in the small garden he felt like eating.

“This is so fascinating but do you really get enough to eat daily?” she asked and he looked at her confused.

“What do you mean? They bloom and fruit everyday?” he asked. Wasn't that how it was everywhere?

Her open mouth gaping at him made him think maybe it was in fact, not like this everywhere.

“Aren't you going to eat?” he asked as he filled a container with the water behind the garden and she followed him like a puppy to the opening. It made him laugh for some reason.

After eating she literally groaned and proceeded to lie down on the floor and sigh happily.

“I haven't eaten this much in years and this wasn't even meat.”

Donghun had many questions but what came out of his mouth was,“Meat?”

She sat up at that. “You have never had meat?” she asked and he shook his head.

“What is it?”

“It's basically the flesh of animals but cooked.”

He scrunched up his face at that. “That's so disgusting.” he said and she laughed.

“I'll change your mind and get you some one day.” she said as she got up and strolled a little away from him and settled in a little corner as Dognhun looked up at the little sky opening above their head, it was getting dark.

“Are you sleeping?” he asked and she nodded as she pulled the small raggish looking bag he remembered her bringing and pulled out a tattered blanket she wrapped herself in.

A few minutes passed and Minji was almost asleep when she felt someone pulling her blanket away. She was about to fight when she felt something more solid and warm being wrapped around her and she smiled and snuggled in.

A loud noise woke her up and she looked up to see it was about a little earlier than Dawn, the sun was probably about to rise she assumed as she picked up her sword and walked to the entryway of the cave. She peeked outside as two men from her village were holding Donghun at sword point.

“Stop lying to us spirit! Tell us where the treasure is!”

She stood back as she looked at them. He was a spirit, he must be alright. She thought as she looked at the scene. She recognised the men.

They must have followed me and my group for an easy way, she thought as one of them looked around at the sparse belongings of the spirit and the other held Donghun with his sword in his face. When the first man kicked off a small bundle to the floor and clothes fell from it, Donghun tried to stop them and convince them that there was really no treasure.

She wasn't going to interfere, she had no need to since he was a spirit, but when the one holding the sword pierced his neck’s skin and drew out blood, she sighed as she stepped out.

“You really have no shame. Was the plan to take the treasure off of my hands when I would get back to the village not enough that you came here following me too?” she said as her own sword dangled lightly from her hands.

She heard Donghun softly whisper her name and winked at him.

“Now why don't you leave my pretty spirit alone and deal with someone who can not only take you on but also probably defeat you.” she said and smirked as she knew she ticked them off.

15 minutes later she was standing with her own feet on top of that man’s head as she cleaned her face of blood with her jacket. She kicked him as she went to check on Donghun who was peeking from the opening and she smiled at him.

“I’ll drag the bodies outside, I'm sure your dragon would love that.”

“I'm not your pretty spirit.” he grumbled as he looked down on the ground, but quickly looked at her when he heard her laugh loudly.

“From everything I did, you chose to pick up on that?” as she left him to drag the bodies out.

A few minutes later she came back only for Donghun to thrust a pair of clothes towards her.

“There is a stream from that entrance.. You can clean up, I won't peak.” he said and his red cheeks were begging for her to tease him, so she did.

“I won't mind if you would.” she said and winked at him, and left laughing to the entrance he pointed as she heard him choking.

That morning after eating something for breakfast, when she was stretching on the ground and Donghun was sitting in the corner, observing her, she stared back at him.

“What do you usually do here?” she asked and he shrugged.

“Nothing?” she asked and he nodded and she whistled. “I’m equally parts sad and happy for you.” and she sat up, a serious look on her face.

“I have decided what I want for treasure.” she said and saw Donghun visibly gulp.

“You. i'll have you as my treasure.” she said with a huge smile and he tried to stutter out a response which wasn't coherent enough for her to make sense.

“Hear me out,” she tried to stop him from hyperventilating and when he took a couple deep breaths and nodded at her to go on, she smiled.

“I’ll stay here. There's nothing calling me back to my village, I've got no one. I'll stay and protect you from people like them and i’ll even take you out!” she saw as his face was slightly scared but at the prospect of going outside, it lightened up.

“You’ll.. Take me out?” he said and she nodded.

“Okay..can i trust you though?” he asked and she raised an eyebrow at him.

“I just saved your life?” she questioned back and he glared at her.

“You also killed them with no remorse.” he said and she shrugged.

“Fair enough. But you can trust me, I'll also teach you to defend yourself my mortal spirit.” she said and threw him her sword which he caught, slightly scared.

“I’ll agree then.”

“Do you think it'll be alright for me to leave the cave?” Donghun asked her and she rolled her eyes at him.

“For the hundredth time Donghun, yes. You yourself told me that I was the only one who came in the past 3 years.” she said as she stepped out with her sword behind her back and a bag full of fruits to trade off for some money.

“How are you today faei.” she cooed at the dragon who rubbed her giant head at Minji’s tiny hands.

“It didn't really took her that long to get comfortable with you.” Donghun said and Minji smiled.

“I never knew it was her. Women bond quickly, don't we Faei.” she said, the last part directed at the dragon who made an elated noise at her and Minji laughed.

“We’ll go to the other village, the opposite to mine. The people at mine must be anticipating either my death or me returning with that treasure to steal it from me. So let’s go to the other village.” she told him and he nodded as she turned towards the other way.

“Lets go!” she said as she grabbed Donghun’s hand and his ear turned red and he looked away.

“We’ll eat bread?” he asked and she smiled and nodded. Then he proceeded to name all the food she has ever mentioned to him and a few steps forward she was full on laughing and nodding at his every word.

“And meat of course!” she added as he scrunched his face at the suggestion.

“How preposterous!” he said as he made a horrified face and she laughed.

“I’ll get you used to it, my precious spirit.” as she pulled him closer with a hand around his waist and he looked away.

She got his attention with giving him a small peck on his cheeks and he was quick to look her way, his whole face read now as he tried to stutter out a response.

“Let’s go my spirit.”

“Not your spirit.” he managed to mumble out and the mountain forest resounded with her laugh.

#a.c.e #donghun #a.c.e donghun #lee donghun #a.c.e scenarios #a.c.e scenario #a.c.e imagine #a.c.e imagines #ACEWRITERS

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maxineswritingcenter · 5 years ago

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Home - Dean Winchester x fem!reader

@happy-little-winchester: could i maybe ask for a slightly angsty deanxreader, where after they fight on a hunt, she goes missing, and it takes them a while to find her, bc demons kidnapped her, and over the like six or so months dean realizes his feelings and he gets v protective when they find her, and then just soft dean refusing to let her go, also i loved the prequel to the other one i requested, thank you!! :)

Okie dokie! Let’s get into it! Also took some inspiration from the song Home - X Ambassadors, Bebe Rexa and MGK

TW: there may some some added violence as requested but nothing more than what would be shown in the show, we’re keeping it PG - 13.

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When it came to hunting, one would think the last thing anyone would have to worry about were the people you ran with. Hunting was hard, there was no doubt about it. All the years of blood, sweat and tears you pour into the job. All the loss and mental strain it puts on should be forever in the back of your find.

But lately, the hunts were nothing to the scraps (Y/N) would get into with Dean. When a match hits gas there is bound to be an explosive reaction. It baffled Sam to say the least, it seemed like recently his friend and his brother were constantly butting heads and having screaming matches late into the night until someone would leave the motel and sit in the impala for a few hours.

They were on their way to, what was at this point in their lives, a routine demon exorcism. In and out with a flask of holy water and some Latin.

(Y/N) sat in the back seat, thinking back with when she first joined the Winchesters. She had been a runaway who turned to hunting for cash. But even that wasn’t enough. After the hunt, Sam had offered for her to join them and she accepted. Dean had made her feel welcome with a six pack of beer for them to share and soft rock playing on the radio while Sam had gone to make a supply run.

“When do you think you’ll find home?” She asked. And he had smiled and took a swig from his beer before answering.

“I don’t know. But’ll know it when I find it. Home is the place where I can go to relax, get some stress off my shoulders. Maybe we’ll all get there someday.”

“Hey!” Dean’s bark had shook (Y/N) from her memory, and her disdain for him returned, “You gonna quit daydreaming or are you gonna finish this hunt?” Sam was rolling his eyes from the passenger seat.

“Ya know what, I was daydreaming. Of the day when I shove my foot so far up your ass you’ll be tasting the leather of my boot.” She spat.

“That’ll be the day, sweetheart.” He sneered.

“Can you guys stop for five minutes?” Sam got between the two of them before they could continue, “After this hunt, we need a vacation or something because you’re at each other’s throats all the time.”

“That’s a good idea, Sam. Maybe Dean will finally relax a little and get off my back.”

“Ya well, after this vacation maybe don’t come back at all.” Dean looked at her in the reflection of the dashboard mirror. (Y?N felt the hurt and anger build up in her chest but she swallowed it down.

“Fine,” She opened her car door, “Dick.”

“Bitch.” Dean opened his car door and they both exited to impala. Leaving Sam to rub his temples for a moment and dread the upcoming hunt.

After the demon was dead, Dean and Sam had taken the body to the back for a salt and burn before it was buried. (Y/N) stayed behind in the house to recollect her thoughts. Sam was right. This whole situation with Dean getting out of hand and it needed to end. But after what Dean said, would he even be willing to make amends. With how stubborn he was, how could-

The floorboards creaking made her spin around, pistol in her hand.

Outside Dean and Sam had just finished putting the last shovel fulls of soil onto the body when they heard three gunshots come from inside the house. They spared each other a glance before they ran back to the abandoned building. Dean was the first to go back in, going to the living area where he had last seen (Y/N). There were three spent shell casing and blood.

“Get your hands offa me you SORRY SONS A’BITCHES!” He heard her shout. He drew his gun and ran towards her voice.

“(Y/N)!”

“DEAN!”

Dean ran out the front door, Sam trailing behind him, in time for him to watch an unmarked car speed out of the driveway. The brother quickly got into their car, starting her up and speeding behind them. Dean gripped the steering wheel, getting closer and closer to the car. Through the back window, the brothers could see her struggling against the men in the back, fighting with all her might. Dean eventually made his way so he was driving besides them on the two lane highway. The man in the front, eyes as black as night was jerking the car, trying to ram them off the road, but Dean was jerking right back. Sparks and metal was flying between the two vehicles.

“Dean!” Sam’s eyes were wide as he spotted the semi truck heading their way. Dean looked back at the road in time to swerve out of the way and driving into a ditch. The car was in rough shape. Dean frantically tried to restart it but she just wouldn’t turn over. He just had to watched as the impala puttered and demons’ car faded off into the distance with (Y/N) inside it.

“Hello, boys-” Before Crowley could even comprehend where he was or what was going on when Dean’s fist made contact with his face. He stumbled back, Dean grabbing him by the collar of his suit and pressing him against the wall. Squirrel had on his angry eyes and that didn’t mean anything good.

Crowley wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, “Kinky, didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Where is she?” Dean growled through his teeth. The bunker was littered with maps and papers since they had gotten home last night, trying to find any sort of information on where (Y/N) could be.

“Where’s who?”

“Don’t act dumb, I watched your guys drag her into a car and drive away with her. Now either you tell me where (Y/N) is, I’m gonna personally send you back to whatever hell pit you came from.”

Crowley narrowed his eyes at the hunter for a moment then sighed, “For just a moment, I would like you to think if it isn’t too hard for you. Minks is the only person makes negotiating with you two tolerable so why in the unholy hell would I take her?!” Dean stared a moment but then let go, back away and going back to the world map table.

“Look, Crowley, no offense, but when comes to demons; you’re the one to go to.” Sam said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“None taken. So some demons take her and you have no idea where she is? Getting a little rusty, are we?” The demon king taunted.

Sam shook his head, “We’ve tried a dozen locator spells, Cass has got angels searching all of creation at this point. It’s like she just disappeared.”

(Y/N) woke up slowly, it didn't take much for her eyes to adjust seeing as she was in a dark room, handcuffed and tied to the chair she was sitting in. Suddenly, a door opened across the room, shining bright light inside causing her to wince. But now she could see all the warding that were painted on every inch of the wall. A woman walked in, her heels clicking on the cement floor. In her hand was a glass of what looked like water. She stopped in front of (Y/N) and held the glass to her lips. She only looked from the woman to the glass.

“We didn’t bring you here to kill you, just drink it.” She said, tilting the glass so the water touched her lips. (Y/N) drank the water, it soothed her aching throat. When it was gone the woman back away and crossed her arms.

“Alright, as soon as you tell us what we want; you can go. Deal?” She smiled.

“I’m not really one to make deals with demons, you’ll have to talk to my associates about that one.” (Y/N) smirked. The smile left the demons lips and her eyes went black.

“Just tell us where the Winchester’s home base is and we’ll kill you quickly.” She threatened.

‘Why? You gonna send a postcard? Oh! Could you send one of those edible arrangements, I heard they’re to die for-” (Y/N) was cut off by a sharp smack to the face. (Y/N) paused a moment before looking up at the demon, licking the blood from her split lip.

“Listen, bitch, any minute now Dean and Sam are gonna be busting down your doors and I’ll be outta here dancing on your grave just in time for dinner. So why don’t you do us both a favor and take the loss.” (Y/N) spat, blood and spit landing on the woman’s face. The demon wiped it away with the sleeve of her shirt.

“Girly, they have no idea where you are. But if they do, I’ll take pleasure in showing them what’s left of you before I use them as a chew toy for my hell hounds.”

“Bite me, bitch.” (Y/N) snapped. The demon hummed to herself.

“Agares.” She called and a man entered holding a very sharp looking knife, “Why don’t you give our guest a warm welcome.” The demon walked out the door and shut it behind her. As she walked away, she could hear the screaming and crying from their prisoner fading as she walked.

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So this will be part one for this new series! I’m excited for it. Also don’t come for me for how I spelled Castiel’s nickname, that’s how its spelled in Sam’s phone. Fight the writers, not me

Read part 2 here!

Reblogs, likes, and comments are appreciated!

Send me a message if you would like to be added to the general tag of if you want to be added to a tag for this fic!

General tag:

- @hobby27

- @overlooktorrance

- @vicmc624

- @ria132love

- @lilulo-12

- @teenwaywardasgardian

- @tloveswriting

- @samros95

- @calaofnoldor

#dean winchester #dean winchester fic #dean x reader #dean winchester x reader #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural reader insert

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minijenn · 5 years ago

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Universe Falls, Chapter 77, Part 2

Bljahsdjasdhkads over a fucking month since the last chapter was posted and here I come with a fuckin mediocre chapter like this. Nice. Anyway here ya go. Enjoy. (please don’t read this on here formatting sucks read it on ff.net or ao3 instead to get the better experience!)

https://minijenn.tumblr.com/post/611433424860921856/universe-falls-chapter-77-part-1

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Chapter 77: Adventures in the Multiverse

Part 2: Adrift in the Cosmos

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So I embarked on a 30-year adventure--a perilous journey through the multiverse to learn what I could about Bill in the hopes of defeating him. In the process, I had many experiences that my younger self might have described as “swashbuckling” if not for the constant nausea that accompanies dimension-hopping!

Within the span of the first year of my travels alone I quickly lost count of the sheer number of different dimensions I found myself falling into. Sometimes my stay in these dimensions would be brief, long enough for me to restock on whatever basic supplies (food, weaponry, wormhole stabilizers) I needed before passing through as quickly as I arrived. Other times I would decide (or more often than not, be forced) to stay in a single dimension for weeks, even months on end, well acquainting myself with the rules and residents (be they friends or foes) of said dimension by the time I left each one.

Still, I pride myself on how quickly I fell into the routine of steadily-paced interdimensional travel. The oddities of the multiverse, of which there are plenty, perplexed me on just about every level at first. But as I saw more and more of those oddities, many of which defied comprehension when compared to anything I was familiar with back on Earth, the less terrified, and the more fascinated I became.

It feels as though I lived 100 different lives across all of the countless dimensions I’d been to. I traveled with bandits, learned to speak 13 languages, got in a fistight with a talking chair, and got tattoos with a tribe of octopus-armed warrior piglets. (These tattoos rank among my most serious regrets. Let’s just say I wear my usual turtleneck for a reason!) I studied ancient texts, compared notes with scholars, dined with monsters, and was briefly made king of the Finger Dimension, until a 7-fingered man showed up and I lost my status. And this was all within the first 5 years of my travels alone!

When it comes to those other 25 years, I can truthfully attest that they were just as eventful. There’s certainly never a dull moment in the multiverse! I often found my youthful curious spark returning to me whenever I ventured across a new locale, and on many occasions, yearned to have any of my familiar journals on hand to document everything that I saw (which is why I suppose it’s rather cathartic to be finally writing my journey out after all this time, I suppose). It’s certainly true that not every dimension I came across was a safe harbor; many, in fact were practically unlivable for longer than a few hours at a time. At the same time, others were rife with barbaric, hostile beings and creatures who attacked first and asked questions never. And sandwiched between those worlds were dimensions that were borderline bizarre in every sense of the word. While I did often yearn for the (relative) normalcy of my home back in Gravity Falls and the reliable company of Rose and the Gems in particular in those first few years, that yearning paled in comparison to the incredible discoveries and sights I got to experience, far beyond anything any other human has seen for sure.

Still, it wasn’t always an exciting, explorative adventure. Survival was one of my highest priorities, lest I fall short of my main goal of stopping Bill before I could even come close. Thanks to my quick wit (and dimensional translator), I was able to talk my way into and out of food and shelter--although a number of dimensions consider me an outlaw to this day. Ironically, in the multiverse, I’m just as wanted as Stanley! But my crimes had a noble purpose: I only stole supplies to work on my Quantum Destabilizer, which proved to be one of the most difficult inventions I ever worked on.

The Destabilizer was the product of many a sleepless nights during those first few years adrift. I knew from the start that if I was going to face off against Bill, I would need to go up against him far more prepared than I had been during my first unintentional outing in the Nightmare Realm. That preparation would come in the form of a weapon, one that would be armed with all of the knowledge I would go on to obtain about Bill through my travels in the hopes that it would be just strong enough to obliterate him once and for all. Certainly, I reasoned, something out there within the vast, endless cosmos had to possess that power; it was merely a matter of finding it first.

So my search for parts and for information alike went into full swing as I hopped between the untold sprawl of distant worlds. To fully chronicle my adventures would take 10 volumes (at least!), but here’s a catalog of some of the most outlandish dimensions I saw…

The M Dimension

Ugh! Writing about this place after all these years has brought back to life the extreme frustration I felt while I was trapped there! The whole reality offended my ordered and scientific mind. I mean, how does it even make sense for a vacuum to be shaped like an M??

If you think that’s dumb, try looking at their alphabet: it’s just the letter “M” 26 times! Why does a universe like this even exist! Why did I have to spend time there? Why did they keep telling me to “mave a monderful mime!”?

Even though I was feeling “muicidal” after just ten minutes there, at least they were relatively kind to me, considering how strange I must have looked to them. Not like the people in the Symbol Dimension. Those guys are @$$&@!!s!

The Do-Over Dimension

Also known as the Yo-Yo Dimension and the Go Insane Because Nothing Gets Done Dimension (the last name being the most accurate but the least poetic). This is a world where time moves both forward and backward in a seemingly random manner. So you may have a really crummy week but then get a chance to do it all over again. Or just as you complete high school, you may live backward all the way to kindergarten.

The Do-Over dimension can move forward normally for really long spans of time or “yo-yo” back and forth several times in one day. Professional “timelineologists” are like weathermen who try to accurately predict “what the time will be like” on any given day. As the old saying goes, “one step forward, infinite steps back, then two and a half steps forward, for no discernable reason”.

Lottocron Nine (The Gambling Dimension)

It’s like the mob took over this entire galaxy. Except there is no mob, because gambling is not only legal here, it's mandatory.

Every aspect of life is left up to chance in this dimension. Cynn City, the central governing authority of the Gambling Dimension, lands on whatever planet wins the yearly lottery to host it. Babies learn to roll dice before they can learn to walk, and no one over the age of five goes anywhere without their lucky deck of cards. Even choosing your soul mate is left up to Lady Luck. Luckily, the government is effective. The Galactic Senate meets at the track every Saturday to debate (bet) on their favorite laws.

Stan would have loved this place, but it just made me depressed. Although I had a good run in the Gambling Dimension, the dimensional bouncers ended up kicking me out for counting cards! What are the odds?

The Locked Door Dimension

What’s behind door number one? Who knows? Because you can’t open it. Because you don’t have the right key.

As yet another one of the more aggravating dimensions I had the misfortune of coming across, the Locked Door Dimension is really nothing more than a winding, endless hallway with doors lining both sides. Each and every one of those doors is locked, but fear not! The moment you arrive there, a key just so happens to land right at your feet. The only problem is that key only unlocks one door out of the thousands, maybe millions this dimension is made up of!

So with no other options, you go from door to door, trying your key out on each one of them and it works on seemingly none of them. But what happens when you finally reach the door that your key does unlock? I… honestly have no idea. My time in the Locked Door Dimension was mercifully cut short as I happened upon a wormhole just short of me losing my sanity. Part of me would have liked to have kept my key as a souvenir, but I admittedly tossed that thing out the moment I left. Still, I can’t help but wonder what would have been behind my door if I hadn’t…

The Delicious Dimension

This place is something Hansel and Gretal could only dream of. Every non-living material object here is completely edible! Now, this isn’t in the sense that everything is made of food (in fact, “food” in the traditional sense doesn’t even exist here, largely since it doesn’t need to). A clock still looks like an average clock and a candle is still very much a candle. It’s just that you can eat both the clock and the candle without needing to be rushed to the hospital right after.

Have you ever wondered what a table tastes like? What about a car? Look no further than this dimension for the answers! I have to say I was caught off guard the first time I spotted someone here down a notepad whole. But then I got to try a few of this dimension’s delicacies for myself and I was pleasantly surprised. Who knew a pillow of all things could taste so good?

...Actually, now that I’m writing this out, I realize just how… uncomfortably odd this dimension was in retrospect. Moving on!

As the years drew on, my quest to defeat Bill eventually led me to a strange world that I mistakenly believed to be his birthplace…

The Two-Dimension Dimension (Exwhylia)

A dimension that was by far different than any I had encountered this far by the mere composition of it alone. It is, as its name implies, completely two dimensional in every single way. In fact, my three dimensional body intersected perpendicular to the plane this dimension exists on, to the point that I was literally on eye-level with its rather simplistic residents. With that in mind, you might think me to be a god in their world--but not so much.

From my ill-suited point of view, I couldn’t make out much of the world of Exwhylia. My 3-D eyes were worthless in their 2-D world! There is no sky above them and no sun to bathe them in directional light and create shadows. “Above” and “below” are directions that they know nothing about and do not exist to them whatsoever. Still, I was able to glean exactly how their strangely hierarchical society worked. Circles are at the peak of their class system, considered to be the upper crust of Exwhylian society. Far below them are the lowly triangles, sub-class citizens with hardly any rights or dignity to speak of under their rounded overlords. These shapes moved about on their flat plane littered with squarish buildings and countless other indiscernible objects I couldn’t quite make out as identical as everything in their world looked like to me.

I believed Bill came from a similar world that was mysteriously destroyed. But how? I didn’t have much time to investigate. The Exwhylians considered me to be an “Irregular” shape, which is vulgar in their society.

I was unable to explain myself, since my mouth was stuck outside of their world, and I soon found myself under attack. Though small, the Exwhylians’ bodies are razor-sharp, and several hundred of them began slicing into my head in an assault I was powerless to put an end to.

Luckily, I was saved just in time by one of the most extraordinary creatures I’ve ever encountered…

Ford wasn’t sure exactly at what point he’d blacked out; likely around the time the Exwhylians had slammed their tiny two-dimensional bodies straight into his eyes for the hundredth time over. Yet as he managed to open his eyes, he found that they didn’t sting anywhere near as much as he thought they would, allowing him a starting glimpse of exactly where he was now.

Fortunately, he seemed to be back in a fully three dimensional plain, with no aggressive Exwhylians in sight. What was in sight was a far more serene setting than the last dimension he’d found himself in. He was lying quite comfortably on a heavily cushioned bed, positioned in a well-decorated open-air room. It’s outer walls were non-existent, instead bordered by sturdy marble pillars, between which a grand view of what lay beyond them: a beautiful panorama of the sprawling natural landscape that lay down below the high mountain peak the unknown building rested on. The craggy hilltops and lush green valleys admittedly reminded Ford of Earth, and he would have even believed himself to be back in his own dimension if not for the skies that were painted in a kaleidoscope of colors that an Earthly atmosphere would have typically never known.

Even so, the author slowly, carefully sat up, perplexed by how he’d gotten to such a strange setting in the first place. Still, he could hardly complain considering how starkly calm and peaceful this dimension was compared to Exwhylia. And yet, his guard immediately raised as he noticed the curtain covering the doorway on the far side of the room begin to sweep aside as a mysterious silhouette appeared just behind it. Far too familiar with the feeling of being cornered or trapped by now, Ford’s fight or flight instinct quickly kicked in as he searched himself for any of his weapons, only to find that they, along with the rest of his supplies, had been set aside on the opposite end of the room entirely. He nearly jumped up to retrieve them, despite how his bones and muscles alike ached from lack of recent use. That is, until he got a clear view of exactly who was emerging from behind the curtain.

“Ah, so you’ve finally awakened…” The smooth, yet deep feminine voice addressed him as its owner properly stepped into the room. She was a tall, yet elegant figure, her otherwise humanoid appearance made a bit more alien by the pale blue pigmentation of her skin, which matched her much darker blue thick, hooded gown quite well. But what was most fascinating about her by far were her eyes, largely since there were seven of them in total, each of them a different vibrant color as they all stared at the author almost piercingly.

“W-who are you?” Ford asked, somewhat unnerved by her practically captivating gaze.

“Fear not, Stanford Pines,” she said, raising a hand to calm him. “I mean you no harm.”

“How… how do you know who I am?” Ford asked, eyeing her warily as he stole another brief glance at his weapons. “Where are we?”

She smiled at this, her manner still completely level compared to the author’s obvious uncertainty. “Forgive me for answering your inquiries somewhat out of order,” she said. “To start, as an oracle, it is my gift and my responsibility to know of the past, the present, and the future. My name is Jheselbraum the Unswerving and we are in the world I call home, Dimension 52.”

“...An oracle?” Ford eased up a bit, though he still raised an eyebrow at this.

“Oh, that’s right,” Jheselbraum said as she strolled to the other end of the room. “Natives of your dimension don’t tend to take much stock in the foresight of oracles and seers anymore, do they?”

Ford couldn’t help but crack the slightest of smiles at this in spite of himself. “I don’t know if that’s entirely true. After all, an old friend of mine dabbles in glimpsing into the future herself.”

“Ah yes, one of the Crystal Gems,” Jheselbraum nodded knowingly. “The one you speak of is called Garnet, though there’s also Amethyst, Pearl, and of course… the Gem you know as… Rose Quartz, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Wait…” Ford frowned, caught off guard by such an accurate listing. “You almost make it sound as though you’ve met them…”

“After looking through your past, Stanford, I feel as though I might as well have,” Jheselbraum remarked, turning back to face him.

“I’d… argue that could be considered a breach of privacy…” the author said dubiously.

Surprisingly, Jheselbraum simply laughed at this, her light chuckle just as mysteriously graceful as everything else about her. “Then I apologize for the intrusion. I’ll make sure to ask you the next time I decide to pilfer through your personal timeline. How does that sound?”

“Better…?” Ford replied, still unsure of what to make of the seemingly amicable oracle. “In the meantime, do you mind telling me exactly how I wound up here in… what was it again? Dimension 51?”

“52,” Jheselbraum corrected. “And I suppose you could say I’ve been expecting your arrival here for quite some time. Of course, I did take the liberty of pulling you out of peril; those Exwhylians didn’t exactly show you the greatest hospitality, did they?”

“I’ll say…” Ford huffed as he placed a gentle hand against one of the many bandaged cuts on his cheek.

“So I brought you here, and got to work tending to your various wounds both old and new,” the oracle continued her explanation. “In case you’re wondering, you’ve been unconscious for roughly a week.”

“A week?!” Ford balked, baffled.

“Hm. Considering your unsteady relationship with sleep in the past, I would have thought that such a lengthy rest would be more than welcome,” Jheselbraum mused. “Even so, there’s no need to thank me for my services. After all, I must admit that I do have a rather… selfish reason for bringing you here, Stanford.”

“Oh? And what might that ‘reason’ be?” Ford asked, eyeing the oracle suspiciously once more.

Jheselbraum’s rather light manner turned serious, almost grave at this as she took a step closer to the author. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but word of you and your story has spread far and wide across the multiverse, Stanford Pines. Many in worlds you’ve never even been to before have heard tell of your great ambition, to bring an end to the demon known as Bill Cipher. And I must tell you, that bold and noble cause, you and I are very much alike.”

Ford was completely caught off guard by this revelation, to the point that all he could do for several minutes was stare at the oracle in awe. He knew that he was a wanted man, he had been for several years now, particularly in dimensions where it was clear that Bill had some sort of influence. Likewise, in his travels, he had encountered many creatures and people who cowered in fear at the mere mention of the dream demon, his trickery and treachery extending far and wide to ruin countless lives across the multiverse. And yet, never before had he met someone who seemed intent on actually taking Bill down other than himself… until now.

“You… want to defeat Bill too?” Ford asked quietly, incredulously.

“I don’t necessarily want to defeat him myself for that’s not the hand that fate is destined to deal me,” Jheselbraum countered calmly. “But I do wish to see him defeated. For untold eons, Cipher has cast a pall of terror across the innocent denizens of the multiverse. I cannot even begin to tell you just how many minds he has broken, how many worlds he’s left in an upheaval of chaos. I have stood on the fringes, spending centuries watching his wickedness spread further and further across the cosmos and yet no one has ever possessed the courage or the might to face his destructive power head-on. No one… until you, I suppose.”

“Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know if I’d necessarily call my mission entirely ‘noble’,” Ford noted earnestly. “Bill tricked me; he took advantage of my foolish eagerness to succeed to get what he wanted and in the process, his deception cost me more than I could have ever imagined. This isn’t just about defeating him; it’s about forcing him to experience every bit of shame and humiliation he put me through. It’s about getting even.”

Jheselbraum’s expression was unreadable upon hearing this, though all seven of her multi-colored eyes were steadily set on Ford all the while. “Many good men have been driven to madness in the stubborn pursuit of revenge,” she cautioned simply, though decided to make no further comment as she went off on a different tangent entirely. “Even so, as you are now, you would unfortunately be… ill-equipped to face Cipher again and survive. Especially given how narrow your last escape from him proved to be.”

“Well, I can assure you my next attempt will have Bill trying to escape instead of me,” Ford finally stood, albeit somewhat unsteadily as he crossed the room to show the oracle his half-built Quantum Destabilizer. “As long as I have this on hand, then he won’t stand a chance. O-once it’s completed, of course.”

“But a weapon alone can only do so much,” Jheselbraum pointed out as she walked over to him, making Ford note just how much she towered over him. Much like Rose used to, really. “You already know well by now that Cipher strikes the fiercest at the part of a person that’s the most difficult to protect: the mind. Deceptive and cunning as he is, he’s a renowned master of the mindscape, and the damage he can inflict there is far worse than anything he or his minions can do to you physically. Which is why, above all else, if you truly wish to face him again, then you must fortify your mind at all costs.”

“Fortify my mind…” Ford repeated, open to just about any idea that could help him best Bill once and for all. “I don’t suppose you know of any special spells or ancient incantations, or heck, even just a few mental exercises that could do that in a relatively short amount of time… do you?”

“To tell the truth, magic would be of little use here,” the oracle replied. “And when I said you need to fortify your mind, I meant that in the literal sense. A metallic plate, titanium to be exact, inserted directly over the parietal lobe, would more than suffice to protect the inner workings of your mind from Cipher’s immaterial form. I’d be more than willing to perform the operation, but I must warn you that it is notoriously difficult and incredibly high-risk. If even the slightest complication arose, the chances of your survival would be-”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Ford interjected by holding a hand up. “Let me get all of this straight. You want me to trust you, someone I’ve literally just met who claims she can see my entire life history, to insert a piece of metal into my skull in a surgery that could very well end up killing me… just on the off chance that it might be able to stop Bill from getting inside my head?”

“Not might, will,” Jheselbraum corrected, all seven of her eyes bearing down into Ford’s. “If this procedure is a success, then I can guarantee you, Stanford Pines, that the only place within the mindscape that Bill Cipher will be able to reach you from will be within your dreams. But any other mental attack he tries to land against you within the waking world will miss its mark absolutely. And even more than that… Cipher will never be able to possess your mind or body as his own ever again…”

Ford’s eyes widened with stunned surprise upon hearing this promise, a promise so hopeful and reassuring that it almost sounded too good to be true. In the torturous weeks efore he’d been tossed into the portal, he had lived in nearly endless fear, wondering when, not if, Bill would launch a vicious assault upon his mind and body by taking them for agonizing joy rides whenever he least expected it. Even after he’d ventured out into the multiverse, after he’d cleared the horrors of the Nightmare Realm, that nagging fear of the dream demon besetting him in the most twisted of ways always persisted in the back of his mind. But now, here was a chance, albeit a risky one, to put that fear to rest once and for all. To beat Cipher at his own game before the game even had a chance to begin. To finally, finally be strong enough to stand up to the demon who had taken so much from him, even if he could never really hope to take any of it back.

“Yes,” he said without even thinking twice. Perhaps it was that hopeful promise, or the thin mountain air or something else entirely, but Ford was confident that this choice was the right one. As long as the procedure actually ended up working, of course. “Yes, let’s do it. Right away, as soon as possible.”

“Are you absolutely certain?” Jheselbraum asked, admittedly surprised by his easy acceptance.

“Positive,” Ford nodded, resolved to do whatever it took to bring a long-awaited end to his sinister foe. “In fact, I’ve never been more certain of anything else in my entire life.”

A soft smile finally returned to the oracle’s face at this, one that reminded the author that her determination to see Bill stopped was every bit as strong as his was. And through all of the struggles he’d been through across the multiverse, he’d finally managed to gain an ally who could actually help him do just that. “Very well. Then let’s get started.”

Though Ford had only just regained consciousness after a week of being completely out of it, he didn’t protest to Jheselbraum putting him under again that very same day for the sake of carrying out the operation. Despite the oracle’s claims that the surgery would be an arduous process, Ford was completely out of it for the duration, and mercifully so considering just how long it actually took to finish. Still, once it was finally completed, Jheselbraum let the author rest and recover for as long as he needed to, carefully bandaging up the incision wounds and monitoring his vitals while he slept for well over a day’s time.

When Ford did finally awaken, he was still rather bleary and unfocused, a natural side effect of an intensive skeletal surgery according to Jheselbraum, though her plethora of unique natural remedies certainly helped ease the migraines that also came along with it. By the time the author was completely coherent again, the oracle estimated that he’d still need about a week of bed rest to fully recover, which was something Ford didn’t protest too much. After all, he’d waited this long to put an end to Bill already; he could afford to wait just a little longer.

Said wait was made all the more bearable by Jheselbraum herself. The oracle was steadfast yet mysterious, though she also had a bit of a coy, playful side to her personality that shined through her calm and collected exterior every now and again. Because of their shared goal and ambition, it didn’t take long for Ford’s fledgling trust toward the oracle to become a genuine liking, one that was clearly mutual as an earnest friendship began to blossom between the pair. In many ways, Jheselbraum fondly reminded Ford of each of the Crystal Gems as she shared Garnet’s ability in foresight, Pearl’s respectable intellect, even Amethyst’s penchant for mischief, albeit in a much more lowkey way. But above all else, her hospitality, reliability, and endless desire for justice and peace always made Ford think of Rose, almost achingly so as he realized just how much he missed his once-close friend. And while the chances of him ever seeing that friend again were low, at the very least he had managed to make a brand-new one in Jheselbraum.

The pair discussed various things during the author’s recovery period, though the topic they typically tended to linger on was none other than Bill himself. Given her lengthy lifespan and years of research and searching through the sands of time, Jheselbraum had a vast array of knowledge concerning the dream demon. Such knowledge fascinated Ford to no end, for he had always believed that if he was ever going to truly defeat his most dangerous foe, then the most important step was to know everything there was to know about that foe. And across his many years of traversing the multiverse, he’d never come across someone who had anywhere near as an encyclopedic wealth of information about him as Jheselbraum herself did. And fortunately for Ford, she was more than willing to share all that she knew with him.

“Cipher has existed far before the galaxy you call home even burst to life,” the oracle detailed as she filtered through her countless bookshelves and scrolls for whatever documents she had on the demon. “But the dimension he once called home remains a mystery to this very day, largely because it is long gone. All that’s known of it is that Cipher himself, in his greedy thirst for ceaseless power, destroyed his entire world in a fit of violent fury, obliterating everything and everyone he’d ever known, including his own family--whatever a ‘family’ meant for his kind.”

“Bill? Having a family?” Ford asked with a dry scoff. “I find that hard to believe. Then again, if he really did have one once, brutally destroying them is absolutely in-character for him.”

“I won’t argue with you there,” Jheselbraum shook her head as she came to sit on the other side of the table of her lofty library. She laid out a collection of scrolls and manuscripts for the author to see, each of them bearing some sort of visage or information about the dream demon. “Ever since then, Cipher has been scouring the multiverse for a new world to conquer as his own. He settled on the in-between dimension now known as the Nightmare Realm some centuries ago, but as you’ve likely heard, that world is not meant to exist for much longer. He’s set his eye on several other dimensions in the past, but at the moment, he seems by far the most preoccupied with laying claim to your very own Earth. It’s hard to say why he’s so dead-set on making that planet in particular his own, but-”

“But he won’t,” Ford interrupted, his expression stony and severe as he cleared down at one of the images of Bill laying before him. “I’ll make sure he won’t.”

Jheselbraum finally smiled at this. “You know, Stanford, you claimed that your mission to defeat Cipher had selfish motives based wholly on matters of vengeance, but… I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. Anyone willing to lay their own life down for the sake of the world they call home is nothing less than a hero. At least…” she trailed off, her smile turning just a bit more mysterious as she glanced away from the author. “That’s what I’ve come to believe.”

Ford cleared his throat, admittedly flustered for reasons he couldn’t quite place as he loosely repositioned a few of the bandages still wrapped around his head. “Y-yes, well, whether I’m hailed as a hero or not hardly matters to me. Just as long as I’m finally able to give Bill what he rightfully deserves…”

Strangely, the oracle said nothing to this, her smile gone as each of her eyes focused in on the author intently. Ford froze under her scrutinizing seven-eyed gaze, a gaze that almost seemed to be searching for something. And when it seemed as though she finally found that something, all of her eyes blinked at once as she let out a small, almost amazed gasp as she looked back to the author who was still watching her curiously all the while. “Stanford… forgive me…” she said, her voice soft, revenant even. “I promised I would not glimpse through your future without your permission, but… I must tell you… you have the face of the man who is destined to stop Bill Cipher from conquering your world…”

“R-really?!” Ford balked, startled by this information, though the mere thought filled his chest with a warm burst of pride. He had the highest of hopes that he would be the one to bring Bill down, but to hear the accomplishment of that goal be all but confirmed by an all-seeing oracle herself was so exciting he could hardly stand it.

“Yes,” Jheselbraum nodded intently, placing a hand over his on the table. “And in your bloodline flows the strength and determination to destroy him, and all of his evil intentions, once and for all!”

“Incredible…” the author leaned back in his chair, unable to suppress a relieved, elated smile upon hearing such an idea. “A-are you sure?”

“...Well…” the oracle paused, pulling her hand away as her gaze drifted toward one of the many tapestries hanging from the wall. This one, like many others that decorated the mountain shrine, depicted a peculiar, almost lizard-like creature, one that always seemed to be wearing a calm, amicable smile in every depiction Jheselbraum owned of it. “Only The One Who Watches truly knows…”

“The One Who Watches?” Ford asked, confused.

“..You’ve never heard of it?” the oracle seemed genuinely surprised at this. “How odd. Just about every being in the multiverse is aware of the Great Axolotl.”

“...Isn’t an axolotl some sort of amphibian?” the author asked, still not following.

“This Axolotl is no mere amphibian,” Jheselbraum said, rising from her seat to face her tapestry of the creature. “It is a timeless, infallible, benevolent being that possesses immense power, far greater than the false might Cipher pretends to wield. From its home between time and space, it spreads its goodwill and kindness to all who dwell in the multiverse. It is even the source of my own gift to gaze through the sands of time as it grants me an open window to look into the future that it weaves. The One Who Watches is the decider of fate across all dimensions… and I believe that its very own intervention was what led me to find you and bring you here, Stanford.”

“Hmph, well then, I’ll take your word for it,” Ford remarked almost sardonically.

“You don’t believe me,” Jheselbraum inferred, glancing back at him. “Very well. But you should know that there is an ancient prophecy, passed down by the Great Axolotl itself, that speaks of a chosen one…”

“A chosen one?” Ford smirked. “That sounds a bit cliché, don’t you think?”

“Still not interested?” the oracle pressed with a faint smile. “Well, you might be after you learn that the Axolotl’s chosen one is destined to be the one who will put an end to Bill Cipher… forever.”

“Forever…” Ford repeated, his former amazement swiftly returning. “S-so this… so-called ‘chosen one’... You don’t think it could be-”

“You?” Jheselbraum asked knowingly. “I suppose it could be… But even then the true identity of the chosen one is something that the One Who Watches has not permitted me to see, at least not yet. But I believe that if it were you, Stanford, than the Great Axolotl would be making a very good choice when it comes to its chosen one... “

Ford was so deeply gratified and flattered by such genuine encouragement that he scarcely even knew what to say. Jheselbraum was quick to fill in his stark silence however with an offering to raise their already high spirits even more.

To commemorate Jheselbraum’s hopeful prophecies, we spent the entire night partying and drinking Cosmic Sand--the very same kind Time Baby himself consumes (it’s very sweet though quite strong, like finely aged wine, which is somewhat concerning given that a baby is known to frequently drink it). We had much to be happy about, for as far as Jheselbraum’s glimpses through time were concerned, Bill’s defeat wasn’t too far off into the future. And the mere thought that his cruel trickery would finally be wiped from the cosmos for good was well worth celebrating.

When I awoke the next morning, she was gone and I was in another dimension entirely. It was time to continue my quest.

I sometimes wonder where she is now and if by chance I’ll ever see her again… And if the prophecy she spoke of, as well as the One supposedly behind it, is real after all…

Unlike the dimensions I’ve already described, many dimensions in the multiverse are ‘parallel Earths’, very similar to my dimension, but with a few major differences. There are parallel Earths where dinosaurs still rule (one way or another). And ones where dolphins (rather than Homo sapiens) took over as the dominant species after the dinosaurs went extinct. (These dolphin Earths invariably have the best water parks.) There’s a dimension where all music is just screaming, one where tennis balls chase dogs, and one where everyone is the same--except they’re all babies. I didn’t linger there for too long--I don’t care for being spit up on.

But after nearly 30 years of dimension-hopping, I came upon a parallel Earth almost identical to our own. There was at least one crucial difference.

But that difference was far from obvious when I first arrived there. Because when I initially step foot into that much more fortunate dimension, I couldn’t help but mistake it for my very own instead.

Ford could scarcely believe his eyes as he ventured into this new dimension, one with trees, and grass, and a sky that were just like those of his very own home. Even the crisp springtime air smelled just as pleasantly familiar as he remembered Gravity Falls’ being as he walked through the practically identical forest. Never in the course of the past 30 years had he been to a dimension as similar to the Earth he knew as this one, and yet, he was quick to find that the two dimensions weren’t just alike in aesthetics alone.

For soon enough the natural peace of the forest was broken by voices approaching from the opposite direction Ford was traveling in. Wary as ever, the author slipped behind a larger tree just in case the denizens of this dimension proved to be hostile. And yet, when the group traversing the wood finally came into view, he was completely floored to see that they were none other than a quartet he thought he’d never see again: the Crystal Gems. All four of them looked practically identical to how he remembered them, save for their different outfits, though that hardly fazed Ford as he made the most of an incredible opportunity he thought he’d never get again.

Upon so much as spotting his close friends again for the first time in nearly 30 years, Ford didn’t hesitate, instead throwing all logic and caution out the window as he rushed out from his hiding spot to greet them. “Rose!” he called first, absolutely elated as he ran up to the Gems, completely breaking through their former conversation. “Garnet! Amethyst! Pearl! I-I can’t believe it! It’s you! It’s really you!”

“Uh… yes…?” Rose raised a confused eyebrow as she offered the author a quizzical smile. “Are you feeling alright, Ford? You’re much more… excited than you usually are.”

“Did ya discover some cool new sciency thing again?” Amethyst asked with a playful smirk. “What was it this week--and don’t bother telling me about it unless it’s a way I can shove eats into my gut faster than I already do.”

“Oh, please, Amethyst,” Pearl rebuffed, rolling her eyes. “Stanford must be excited about his odd new attire! From what I’ve observed, humans often tend to celebrate very simple things such as new clothing and the anniversary of the day they came into existence. Though I don’t know if I’d consider clothing like that to be… too exhilarating.” She frowned, looking over the author’s dark, tattered travel attire critically. “No offense, Ford.”

“W-what? No!” Ford shook his head, confused. “I-I don’t understand, you all are acting as though I haven’t been gone for the past 30 years!”

“Um… because you haven’t?” Rose pointed out, just as bewildered. “I’m sorry, are… we playing some sort of strange game here? Because if we are I’m afraid I don’t really know the rules.”

“No, this isn’t a game, Rose,” Ford retired firmly, earnestly. “It really has been 30 years since the last time I’ve seen any of you! Don’t you remember? The portal? Bill? Anything?”

“Bill?” Amethyst piped up. “Pfft, we haven’t talked ‘bout that square of a triangle in forever!”

“Mostly because we haven’t needed to…” Pearl muttered disdainfully.

“This… doesn’t make any sense…” Ford said, more to himself than the Gems. “Maybe I ended up in some sort of bizarre time loop? O-or perhaps I could have time traveled in general? I have been through much stranger over the past thirty years but still…”

“What’s science man goin’ on about this time?” Amethyst wondered as the author continued to anxiously mutter to himself.

“I have no idea…” Pearl shook her head. “But he certainly is acting odd…”

“I’m starting to worry about him…” Rose noted fretfully. “Can you make any sense of what’s going on here, Garnet?”

Garnet simply nodded, adjusting her shades before addressing her companions bluntly. “That’s not Ford. Or at least, he’s not our Ford.”

“What?!” Rose, Pearl, and Amethyst all exclaimed, startled by this news. They reacted to it rather recklessly, each of them summoning their weapons in short order and turning them on Ford, who was more than startled by the sudden hostility as a result.

“An imposter!” Pearl accused hotly.

“Who are you and what you have done with the real Ford?!” Rose asked, her shield and sword both at the ready.

“I-I am the real Ford!” the author protested, stumbling backward.

“But again, not our Ford,” Garnet interrupted calmly.

“What’s that supposed’ta mean?” Amethyst asked, baffled.

“Maybe we should go see Fiddleford,” Rose suggested. “He might be able to help us figure this out.”

“Oh, excellent idea, Rose,” Pearl readily agreed. “He has been working on cloning technology recently. Maybe this Ford is the product of one of his experiments!”

“Wait, Fiddleford?!” Ford’s eyes widened at the mention of his former partner. “Y-you’ve seen Fiddleford recently? Where is he? More importantly, how is he?”

“Well, you can come see him for yourself,” Rose beckoned the author to follow her and the other Gems. “I’m sure he’ll be just as amazed as we are to see another Ford out and about.”

As curious as he was, not only to check in on his old friend but also get to the bottom of this peculiar mystery, Ford didn’t hesitate to follow, even if Pearl and Amethyst still watched him much more suspiciously than Rose and Garnet were. “But don’t think we won’t be keeping a close eye on you…” Pearl warned him as she held up the tail end of the group.

“Yeah, ya dirty “Fordposter”!” Amethyst teased, elbowing the author hard in the knee as she impishly ran past him.

Even so, Ford took their misgivings, both serious and insincere, in stride, letting out a small sigh of relief as he simply allowed himself to relish the feeling of being in the company of his dependable friends once more. Even if he wasn’t entirely sure they were exactly the same as the Crystal Gems he once knew. “It’s hard to believe how much I’ve missed this…” he muttered contentedly to himself, hoping against hope that, even despite how strange the Gems seemed to be acting, he really was back in his own dimension after all these years after all.

But he wasn’t.

Because the differences between this dimension and his own became instantly more apparent as the Gems led the author to where he knew his house should have been. And yet, the homey little shack had received quite an impressive surrounding expansion in the form of a sprawling complex of buildings and structures, one that still featured the Gems’ iconic temple as a fixture of its forested background. Upon seeing the impressive structure, Ford had a multitude of questions, none of which he knew how to properly pose to the Gems as they continued to approach it. Even so, one of those questions was answered as they passed by its sign, which simply donned the campus as the “International Institute of Oddology”.

The Gems seemed to have exclusive access to the institute as they bypassed its front office entirely, entering into its complex series of busy hallways with ease. Just about everyone employed in the building seemed to know the Gems and regard them with friendly pleasantries, though even that paled in comparison to the immediate respect everyone paid Ford in particular. Whenever one of the plentiful lab-coat clad scientists passed him by, they greeted him with excited waves and chipper tidings in which they referred to him as “Dr. Pines” or “Professor Pines”, two titles that Ford had never really gone by before (even though he technically could, given his multiple PhDs. Still, despite this strangely warm reception, nothing could have prepared the author for when the Gems took him into a large, futuristic lab, filled to the brim with just about every scientific tool and tech imaginable. But as astonished by this incredible sight as he was, Ford quickly found himself even more dumbfounded as the Gems led the way to the only other person presently occupying the lab at the moment. None other than Fiddleford McGucket himself.

“Fiddleford!” Rose greeted the inventor brightly as she hurried over to him first.

“Oh! Howdy, ladies!” Fiddleford glanced over his shoulder from whatever he was working on. Unlike the Gems, time had actually had an impact on the inventor, though even despite his shallow wrinkles, short beard, and grayed hair, he’d managed to age rather well just as Ford had. “Ya’ll came just in time! I was just about to-” Fiddleford stopped short, swiveling around in his chair to send a peculiar glance Ford’s way. “Stanford? What in tarnation are you wearing?”

The author largely ignored his question as he instead stepped forward, past the Gems, so he could look his once-treasured colleague in the eye for the first time in three decades. “F-Fiddleford… I-”

“Fiddleford!” Before Ford could even utter another word, his own voice echoed through the lab, albeit from a different source entirely. As if this entire situation wasn’t already shocking enough, Ford was absolutely floored to see himself enter in through the far side of the room. By all accounts, this other author looked strikingly identical, the only real differences in appearance lying in his clean-shaven face and equally clean scientific attire. He wasn’t paying much attention as he approached the mutually baffled group, leafing through a stack of papers as he addressed his partner evenly. “So I was running the numbers on that new modulator we were working on and-” He stopped short as he finally glanced up, only to notice his near mirror match standing just a few feet away from him. “Ugh, Fiddleford, what did I tell you about stealing samples of my DNA for your little cloning side project?”

“Uh… I-I shelved Project Double Vision ‘bout a week ago, Stanford…” Fiddleford noted, his eyes wide as he looked between the two Fords just as incredulously as the Gems all were.

“Oh,” the other Ford said simply as he looked back to his double. “Then this must simply be the case of yet another deluded, overly-obsessed fan. Well,” he addressed the other author, pulling out a surprisingly threatening taser pen as he eyed him critically. “I don’t know how you managed to outwit both security and the Gems here, but I can assure you that we here at the IIO absolutely do not tolerate such-”

“W-wait!” the first Ford interjected hastily, running with the only reasonable guess he could make about this situation, given the bewildering evidence he’d seen. “I think I know what’s going on here.”

“Oh, do you?” the other Ford raised a dubious eyebrow.

“Great!” Amethyst chimed in bluntly. “Then do ya mind filling us in?”

“Yes, please?” Rose added, still clearly quite confused.

“W-well, you see, as far as I can tell, I’m not actually from this dimension,” Ford said, ignoring the sting that came along with admitting that fact. Admitting that he hadn’t really made it home like he’d once thought after all. “Even though it does look practically identical to my own. B-but I have been wandering the multiverse for years now and in that time I’ve come across many parallel dimensions to my own, so the only logical explanation is that this is one of them!”

“Golly!” Fiddleford immediately shot up from his seat upon hearing this. “A near-completely identical parallel dimension!? What are the odds of that?!”

“Now, now, Fiddleford,” the other Ford cautioned, still sternly eyeing his counterpart. “Don’t get too excited. After all, this… supposed other me doesn’t really seem to have much in the way of proof in regard to his claims…”

“Oh, really?” Ford met his double’s skepticism with a simple, succinct response as he held up one of his hands. The other Ford balked at the sight of it, glancing between it at his own similarly unique six-fingered hands before reaching out to touch those of his double to authenticate them. “Unbelievable…” he muttered incredulously. “They’re actually… real… I hate to say this but… you might just be from another dimension after all…”

“Can we skip to the part where we just assume that he is from another dimension?” Fiddleford asked eagerly. “Cause that’s far more excitin’ than just speculatin’!”

“Well even if this Ford is from another dimension,” Pearl cut in with a scowl. “How can we be so sure that he’s anywhere near as trustworthy as ours? He did mention Cipher, of all beings when we first found him, after all.”

“Ugh, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in ages…” the other Ford muttered disdainfully as Fiddleford shuddered fearfully beside him. “And I’d just as soon never hear it again for the rest of my life. So what business do you have with… him?”

“I assure you, the only ‘business’ I have with him is putting a stop to his treachery once and for all,” Ford affirmed coldly.

“Wait…” Rose spoke up with a frown. “You mean… you haven’t already done that where you’re from?”

“...What do you mean?”

“Oof, well if you actually are from some parallel dimension, then I don’t even want to know how much of a disaster things are there if you’re still dealing with him,” Alternate Ford shook his head. “Because here all it took to keep him from slipping into our reality was a basic Dimensional Vortex Neutralizer to optimize the portal away from the Nightmare Realm, allowing us to safely use it as we please.”

“W-wha--when in the world did you find time to invent something like that?” Ford asked, admittedly wishing that he had done the very same before it had been too late.

“We all did it together!” Rose smiled warmly.

“It was pretty easy between the six of us,” Garnet added as coolly as ever.

“Yes, if I remember correctly, we reconvened to devise the schematics for it right after I sent Stanley away with my first journal…” Alternate Ford mused thoughtfully.

“Wait… your Stanley actually listened to you when you told him to take the journal and leave?!”

“Yours didn’t?”

“Ugh… of course, he didn’t…” Ford groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly. Suddenly, the basic differences of this dimension were becoming all too clear. The split had resulted from a moment so simple, so singular that it might not have mattered at all when it actually happened, but now it clearly did. Because his Stan refusing to take the journal away had been the very reason why he’d wound up sucked into the portal in the first place. And the Stan of this dimension agreeing to do so was the very reason why his alternate self stood before him today. “Honestly, I’m surprised that any version of Stanley actually would, given how frustratingly stubborn he is…”

“Well, here I suppose he was just a little… less stubborn than usual,” Alternate Ford shrugged. “Either that or he had a moment of genuine clarity for once in his life. Even so, we made good on the advantage splitting the journals up gave us, built the Neutralizer, and we haven’t seen or heard from Bill ever since.”

On this Earth, I was never pushed into the portal by Stan.

On this Earth, my brother listened to me and took Journal 1 away from Gravity Falls.

On this Earth, I reunited with Fiddleford and Rose and the Gems, and together, created a Dimensional Vortex Neutralizer that allowed us to use the portal without any risk of a connection to Bill’s Nightmare Realm.

And as a result of those rippling turns of fate, on this Earth, my parallel self was a celebrated star of the scientific community. With the help of Parallel Fiddleford and the Parallel Gems, over the years, he had amassed a wide array of incredible discoveries and inventions, all of which he had publicly published through his journals. And as other scientists read through those journals, it didn’t take long for more aspiring brilliant minds to flock to Gravity Falls, like a moth to a flame, all of them looking to my parallel self for direction when it came to investigating the town’s previously unheard of anomalies. That building community of scientists came together to turn his small cabin in the woods into the sprawling International Institute of Oddology (of which my parallel self was both the founder and chief researcher). And as my parallel self detailed the differences of both his life and his dimension to me, one thought ran paramount within my mind above all else. That this life of success and recognition could have just as easily been my own… ff only Stanley had actually listened to me for a change instead of thinking only of himself like he’s always done!

When it was my turn to spell out the details of my vendetta against Bill to my alternate self and his friends, obvious interest was mutually peaked among them all. Parallel Fiddleford’s knee began to bounce with the agitation and excitement as my very own Fiddleford used to carry, and the Parallel Gems all whispered anxiously, yet eagerly to each other. Parallel Rose was every bit the heroic spirit as the Rose I knew as she seemed by far the most intent on seeing Bill be brought to justice, a sentiment my parallel counterpart also keenly shared. Although their dimension was safe from Bill, they all understood the threat Cipher posed to the wider multiverse. They all agreed to do whatever they could to help.

I showed them my unfinished Quantum Destabilizer--a weapon I was designing to blast Bill into non-existence. The problem, my parallel self theorized, was the power source. In all my travels since leaving Jheselbraum, I had never come across an element that had both the necessary power and the required stability. Parallel Fiddleford piped up with a suggestion, an element that he had discovered in the Paradox Dimension. It was inert when visible, but highly radioactive when hidden. He called it NowUSeeItNowUDontium (a unique flair for language was something else he had in common with my Fiddleford).

Even just a small sample of the element would be more than enough to get my Destabilizer up and running. The only issue was that NowUSeeItNowUDontium (what a mouthful!) was a notoriously difficult element to work with given just how potentially toxic it could prove to be to humans at the seemingly random points it blinked in and out of existence. That’s where the Parallel Gems came in. As unaffected by radiation as their non-organic forms are, they were able to handle the element with ease, and fortunately, Parallel Pearl in particular was well-versed in working with it thanks to past experiments.

While the Parallel Gems did their part, I spent the next several days tinkering and making minor adjustments to my blaster’s design, working alongside Parallel Fiddleford and my alternate self to perfect it into a weapon to bring Bill to his swift, much-deserved end. Those few days were filled with plenty of scintillating discussions about the multiverse, parallel dimensions, and of course, the various distinctions and differences of this dimension in particular. The more my parallel self detailed the countless highlights and accomplishments of his lengthy career, the more I wished that my own path had run the same as his as opposed to the ruin I ran into when I was younger. This version of myself had gotten everything I had only ever dreamed of: fame, respect, and the chance to hold onto close friends that I had fallen away from so long ago. And while I didn’t envy him to the point of wanting to take all that he had away from him, I had to admit that if I had even just a fraction of the good fortune my parallel self had known, then perhaps my life would have turned out far different than it had ended up going.

As much as I might have wanted to revel in my parallel self��s success, it was clear that there was literally no place for me in this dimension. Even if I could have stayed there for the rest of my days, my own conscious would not have allowed it. I still held onto the vow I had made close to 30 years earlier to destroy Bill Cipher. And after about a week of finalizing and finishing my Quantum Destabilizer, it was finally time for me to do exactly that.

“Are you sure you have to go?” Parallel Rose asked as everyone prepared to see the author off on his way.

“Yeah, havin’ another science man around could be fun!” Parallel Amethyst quipped as impishly as ever. “‘Specially if he can finally invent that food shovel I’ve been asking for forever now!”

“I have to admit that even though I was somewhat… distrustful of another Stanford just randomly showing up out of the blue, it was still a pleasure working with you all the same,” Parallel Pearl grinned, cordially extending her hand out for Ford to shake.

“Safe travels,” Parallel Garnet bid him succinctly. “And don’t worry about your cellmate when you meet her. You’ll see her again eventually.”

“Um… thank you?” Ford frowned, confused by this strange, cryptic advice.

“Go take that Quantum Destabilizer ‘n show that rabble rousin’, no-good son of gun Cipher what for!” Parallel Fiddleford cheered with all of the southern zeal Ford was familiar with when it came to his own Fiddleford.

“For the sake of your dimension, our own, and countless others exactly like both,” the parallel author began intently. “I wish you luck. Or, uh… I wish me luck? Huh. Even after a week this is still confusing.”

“Thank you,” Ford nodded warmly. “All of you. I have no doubts that our hard work will go a long way toward putting a stop to Cipher and his tyranny once and for all.”

“We can only hope,” Parallel Ford agreed as the others fondly began to wave the author off.

“Happy trails, Other Stanford!” Parallel Fiddleford called cheerily.

“I hope you make it back home someday!” Parallel Rose added just as brightly.

“And if you don’t make it back to your own dimension, then you’re always welcome to visit ours any time you’d like!” Parallel Pearl chimed in somewhat obliviously.

“That’s not very likely to happen,” Parallel Garnet pointed out, though she didn’t explain much more beyond that.

Even so Ford continued on his way back into the woods, savoring his last few moments in this world that was so very much like his own before he ultimately left it entirely.

After 30 long years of planning in the shadows and biding my time, my chance finally seemed to have arrived. With the finished Quantum Destabilizer in tow, there was nothing keeping me from returning to the place where this nightmare had begun to put an end to the one who had woven it in the first place.

I was finally ready to go back to the Nightmare Realm and face Bill Cipher.

And yet… the dimension I ended up in next was about as far from the Nightmare Realm as I could have gotten… and pitted me against a threat that was every bit as dangerous as Bill:

The Gem Homeworld and the Great Diamond Authority.

#jen writes #universe falls #gravity falls #steven universe #crossover #au #fanfiction #ford #jheselbraum #fiddleford #rose quartz #garnet #amethyst #pearl #adventures in the multiverse #adrift in the cosmos #keyword is dimension 52

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themurphyzone · 6 years ago

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Lucky Thirteen Ch 2

Cavendish has to tell Dakota something important. Too bad his nerves and the world are complicating matters.

Ch 2: Second Thoughts

Dakota yawned and hugged his pillow. He hated waking up early on the weekend and would be in bed for at least.another two hours. However, Cavendish was an early riser and was already dressed for the day (like Poor Richard, he believed it would make him healthy, wealthy, and wise). The ring box was tucked in Cavendish’s lapel, safe and secure from prying eyes.

He hopped out of bed and made his choice.

Cavendish tucked the receipt into his pocket and walked out the door.

He couldn’t do it.

Dakota could charm everyone with a sandwich in one hand and a cola in the other.

Cavendish was just the guy who died.

Like, a lot.

His stomach grumbled, but Cavendish hushed it. “Jeweler’s first, then we’ll see about breakfast. Honestly, you’re as bad as Dakota.”

If he’d come along, Dakota would have dragged him into the nearest Paul Bunyan’s for a breakfast burrito and coffee.

Breakfast burrito. That’s breakfast inside of a burrito.

Pigs in a blanket. That’s hot dogs sleeping inside a bread blanket. Hey, a brenket! Yeah, that’s a thing now. Cause I said it.

“Get out of my head, Dakota,” Cavendish muttered. “You’re messing with a highly efficient and organized mind.”

Once the voice bearing an uncanny resemblance to the real-life Dakota was driven out, Cavendish opened the ring box. The rings were on the cheap end of the scale, but they still ate up a good portion of the month’s budget.

Luckily for Cavendish, Dakota never paid attention to the budget chart. He was usually more interested in the area Cavendish had deemed ‘Money for the Snackhound’s Appetite’.

He hadn’t initially planned on using actual rings either.

It was a run-in with Milo and Sara at the grocery store that convinced him otherwise. Sara was extra-vehement at his decision to use edible fruit-flavored candy rings instead, and she was not taking the ‘it’s way cheaper’ excuse.

You can’t substitute mass-produced neutron bracelets for the one-of-a-kind Lazuli Kingdom bracelets, Sara had protested indignantly.

According to Milo, she was just quoting Dr. Zone Episode 22: Jewel of the Earth, so her perception of romance probably wasn’t realistic.

Still, they hadn’t left him alone until they were absolutely positively certain that he wasn’t going to propose to Dakota with a generously sized hunk of sugar.

The jeweler wasn’t far now. He just had to cross the street to get there.

Are you sure you want to do this? a voice asked. You spent the past few months gathering your nerves, and now you’re just tossing it out on a whim? And what exactly are you going to tell Milo and Sara? They sacrificed their time to help with the ring selection, the least you could do is follow through.

“I’ll tell them Dakota said no,” Cavendish retorted, drawing attention from passersby. He ignored them, slipping the ring box into his pocket to avoid the curious stares. “You’re making it harder than it actually is.”

Pot calling the kettle black.

“Oh, be quiet. I know what I’m doing, thank you,” Cavendish muttered. He thumped his forehead in an effort to get the nagging voice out of his mind, and the receipt dropped from his hand. The paper fluttered down to the crosswalk.

“I’m having a crisis here. The least you could do is cooperate,” Cavendish told the paper.

As he bent down to pick it up, a cacophony down the street drew his attention. People screamed and ran for their lives, a car crashed into a fire hydrant, and a motorbike with two people swerved to avoid traffic, dragging a colossal dinosaur made of ham behind them with a bungee cord.

Cavendish scrambled out of their way, avoiding the wheels of the motorbike, but a sharp hit to the gut cut off his air supply and left him wheezing. Something knocked him off his feet and he tripped into a squishy and meaty wall.

Dakota didn’t know Cavendish’s whereabouts. He would still be asleep, lost in some faraway dreamland where bars of chocolate served as transportation and rivers were made of chunky salsa.

Cavendish would die in this hammy tomb, and they had no method to travel back a few minutes to prevent it.

Wait, ham?

His vision returned, and Cavendish realized he wasn’t dead.

Well, duh. No civilization in history claimed heaven smells like ham. Well, maybe the Island Dakotas would say otherwise, but they’ve never been a conventional sort.

On the bright side, his internal organs hadn’t been displaced.

Cavendish crawled out from the wreckage of the ham dinosaur, wrinkling his nose at the ham-scented fluid that clung to his suit. The smell reminded him of Lard World, and not in a good way.

“Can’t you wait until I’ve had breakfast before you try to kill me?” Cavendish griped as he rushed back to the crosswalk, desperate to find the receipt he’d dropped.

He only found three measly scraps, and the other pieces had long scattered to the wind.

He could still salvage the situation. Run into a store, request receipt paper, make a forgery. As long as he got the price right, there shouldn’t be an issue.

Yeah, it was totally a foolproof plan.

“You’re Cavendish, right? One of Milo’s friends?” a voice behind him asked.

Cavendish yelped, jumping away from the man and clutching his chest in shock. His back hit the curb of the sidewalk, making him groan in pain.

“Great Scott, are you trying to kill me?” Cavendish spat once his brain worked again. The man before him looked vaguely familiar, though it didn’t click until he saw the brown cowlick. Right, they played that hodgepodge board game together on the day he and Dakota were trying to close the deadly vortex above Milo Murphy’s home. He racked his brain, trying to recall a conversation where Milo had mentioned his parents. “You’re...Marlin?”

A nearby manhole opened, revealing Danville’s resident underground lunatic. “I, Scott, the master of Subterranous in all her garbagey glory, answer to your summons, Overlander! Who would you like me to trap in the sewers for the next 48 hours?”

“Not every ‘Great Scott’ is an incantation to summon you,” a woman sighed, pushing the manhole on Scott’s head until he disappeared beneath the surface.

“Okay, I get the message! Mildred and I have important stuff to do anyway!” Scott called.

“Anyway, it’s Martin. And that’s Brigitte for future reference,” the man corrected as he helped Cavendish up. “You got clotheslined by that bungee cord pretty good. Are you okay?”

Cavendish brushed the gravel off his suit, though he knew it would take a trip to the laundromat to get the fabric back into pristine condition. “I’ve had worse. Don’t worry.”

Then he noticed the helmets Martin and Brigitte carried. “Were you the drivers of that motorbike?” he asked, gesturing to the upturned vehicle. A bungee cord was caught in its back tires, leading to the fallen ham dinosaur a few feet away.

Brigitte laughed nervously. “That was me. I found my old motorbike from an extreme motocross race I did back when I was a college student and fixed it up. The gas pedal was touchier than I thought and Martin’s sleeve got caught in the second seat while he was getting breakfast.”

“I picked the right day to wear a motorcycle helmet in the kitchen,” Martin added. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” Cavendish said as he brushed past them. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to forge a receipt so I can return a pair of rings to the jeweler’s.”

“I’m going to ignore the bit about forging a receipt,” Brigitte said slowly. “But did you mean these rings by any chance?”

She fished out a familiar ring box from her pocket.

Cavendish took the box gratefully, annoyed at himself for having missed such a crucial object. His plan would’ve fallen apart at the seams if he’d lost the rings.

“How come you’re going back on your engagement?” Martin asked.

“I-we...Dakota and I aren’t engaged!” Cavendish stammered. Were Milo’s parents always this nosy? “Where did you even find these rings?”

Brigitte shrugged. “Found ‘em after the bike overturned. They fell out of your pocket.” She returned the box, and Cavendish secured it inside a pocket that had a button flap.

The most logical reason of course.

“Milo and Sara mentioned that they went to the jeweler’s with you a few weeks ago,” Martin remarked. “They were really excited for you. Especially Milo. He called you his weird but cool uncles that one only meets in family reunions.”

It was awfully hard not to preen at Milo’s good words. The boy didn’t have a mean bone in his body.

While Cavendish was fully capable of finding flaws with everything that existed in their universe, he still couldn’t air a single grievance against Milo Murphy.

“Anyhoo,” Cavendish coughed before the conversation entered further awkward territory. “I should really be going. Besides, Dakota could be waking up any minute now.”

“Does Dakota know?” Brigitte asked.

“I think-um, no. No, he doesn’t know I have these. Unless he went snooping, and I wouldn’t put it past him,” Cavendish admitted.

Brigitte raised an eyebrow. “I meant, have you told him how you feel yet?

Prying woman!

Before Cavendish could snap, deny, refute, or utter a curt goodbye, Martin’s phone emitted the chorus of Chop Away at My Heart.

“Ah, could we put this conversation on hold?” Martin asked sheepishly.

How about indefinitely? Cavendish bit back.

Martin tapped a green circle and held the phone to his ear. “Hello? Oh, it’s you,” he sighed. He looked completely and utterly done with life.

At Cavendish’s questioning glance, Brigitte mouthed Doofenshmirtz, her fists clenching in irritation.

Cavendish found himself oddly grateful for the man’s interference though. Spared him from arguing his rationale for returning the rings.

Martin’s eyebrows flew up in shock. “No, I didn’t give you permission to turn the oven into an Escape Pod-inator!”

Doofenshmirtz said something that Cavendish couldn’t make out.

“For the last time, vending machines aren’t plotting to take over Kansas! What would they even rule there-ugh, forget it. Just forget it. I’m not dealing with this. No, I’ll handle the cleanup. You find something else to do that doesn’t involve exploding appliances.”

Martin hung up, muttering something very unkind about couch-crashing pharmacists.

Doofenshmirtz is Professor Time. Professor Time’s rumored to have dated the strangest things. If we can’t return the rings, we get his help for your proposal.

“I didn’t say I was proposing!” Cavendish protested, much to Brigitte and Martin’s surprise. He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Er...sorry. I just had the most peculiar idea where Professor Time-that is to say, the guy crashing in your home...helped me with-ah, my dilemma.”

Martin’s face broke into a wide grin. “You’ll really do that? Doof will be tagging along with you for a while?”

Brigitte elbowed him sharply.

“Ow, your joints hurt,” Martin said, rubbing his side gingerly. “What I meant to say is that it’s great you’re reconsidering and asking someone you think can help you out.”

Well, it can’t hurt to try one more terrible idea that’s sure to backfire with all the force of a nuclear explosion.

Cavendish logic is way too much fun I swear.

#lucky thirteen #milo murphy's law #balthazar cavendish #vinnie dakota #dakavendish #fanfiction #martin murphy #brigitte murphy

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mattythevagabond-blog · 6 years ago

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How I Became a Vagabond

Hello all, my name is Matt I'm going to be sharing a brief story about my life, well up until now, I'm currently 23 and I've done a lot of traveling so let's get into it.

So I was born into a lower end of a middle class family mom, dad, sister, and a dog. I was born in Nebraska moved to Iowa when I was in fourth grade, graduated high school Iowa. So I was brought up in a Christian household went to church 2 times a week for Sunday church and then youth group, I mainly went because I had friends there and the games were fun, it never really became my own religion until I was a sophomore in highschool. We went on a mission trip to New Orleans (really cool by the way) but my job was to help the old folks at an old folks home. My first thought was, I played $500+ to help old folks I could have just stayed home, anyways, the last day I was working there I met a lady who was 106 years old... just imagine for a second living to be 106, I'm 23 and feel old as crap. But I drew her a picture and was talking to her you know what you do at an old folks home and my time to leave her was over she told me "serve God like you served me". That same night my youth group went to a black Pentecostal church and I have never felt the presence of God more than in that moment. I got down and started to cry I was so happy I just weeded with a smile on my face. After this we went back to Iowa to you know, get back into normal life. One thing my pastor told us was to take something back serve In some what so I decided to do worship tech, which is live sound and lights on Sunday morning for the worship service later on into my senior year I realised you can do worship tech as a full time job. I was so close to going to college for worship tech emphasis on audio engineering. But because my parents couldn't cosign on loans and I had no credit I couldn't afford it, I did however have a scholarship that if I passed 3 years with a 3. Something I would get my final year for free. Anyways that didnt happen.

So in high school and after I was working in fast food. With all jobs it's the people you work with that makes the job either work or not, and I loved the crew I was on. I worked there for a year after school and just decided I'd rather work an equally crappy job in a cool place than in Iowa, so I decided to work at a YMCA of the Rockies, it was the first time I've been away from home and fell in love with the mountains. So that job was a contracted job I worked for 8 months exploring the mountains and working for 4.5 an hr. When I say that to people I hear all the time "Why would you work for that little" and my response is, its free room and board and food so we didnt have to pay for anything, but it's not a job to save. Every 2 weeks my total check was like 120. BUT in the time I was there I explored pretty much all of the Contenential Divide, climbed 2 14ers went cliff jumping (into water) and hiked every day. I went back to Iowa after that ended for around 6 months to save up. And do something travel wise again.

After the 6 months of saving I was planning on working for a ski resort near salt lake city, I drove out to Utah and had a month to kill so I explored Arches National Park and Moab and jeep camped for a month, headed over to the work but my housing fell thru so I had like a good 3-4 days of sitting in my jeep asking myself what do I do. I ended up back at the YMCA again this time in the opposite season I was working from the last time I ended up working 6 months or so, ended up leaving because I left a backpack in a company vehicle that had a chocolate bar wrapper that had THC in it.

So the back story on this was, because we were in Colorado it was legal, the first time I went to Colorado I didnt try it until like my last week there, at a reggae concert at red rocks, took 2 hits off a joint didnt feel anything and then a few days later took a dab, 2 edibles, and a joint all with in an hr and a half I was absolutley floored I greeted out. But I learned to do it in moderation and learned I liked the mind set it puts you in. When I went back to Iowa sold for a little bit then I came to Colorado again. We smoked absolutely every day I was there, not at work but off work. But because it was a YMCA you could get fired for having beer cans in your room, I met people who were 50 and got fired just for that. So I got fired for a chocolate bar wrapper. After this I had a friend who was working about 10 to 15 min north of where we worked I crashed with him, I ended up finding a job at a hotel as a night auditor 10 pm-7am was a good gig. After a few weeks his lease ended so I ended up camping for a month or 2 working at night go to a camping spot sleep in a hammock and repeat. After a little while my jeep died and I ended up being stranded so I found the nearest train station and went back to Iowa.

You know the drill save money for a little and off I am to southern Utah I worked 3 hours from the nearest Walmart middle of nowhere Utah. I again hiked camped and explored utah near lake Powell working at a hotel as a night auditor and on call every night. With that being said I didnt have one day off until about 4 months in cause I had to be there from 8pm-8am incase a guest got locked out of their room or a toilet overflowed or what have ya. Ended up leaving at the end of October because of slow season, after this I found a job as a shuttle Driver for Vail resorts worked there for a few months and left because of stress, I drove 10-15 passenger Vans over Vail pass in no visibility. I just couldn't do it. So I crashed with a friend in Illinois for a few days, realized I need to work on my mental health and living in a house with no running water mold everywhere wasnt going to help. So I camped for 5 days in southern Illinois to just think about what's next and went back to Iowa for Christmas and currently I am living here in Iowa.

So my next big Adventure will be the Appalachian trail it goes from Georgia to Maine, a trail that is over 2000 miles takes around 6 months to hike. I plan on doing this possibly in 2020 or 2021. Just being out in nature living life how its ment to be lived.

So I'm going to be blogging about stories, travel, camping, and other things I want to talk about. My goal is to find my niche so I can be self sufficiant, build a business maybe, make content, we shall see what the future is like for me.

So I have hooked up with a guy who sells pretty cool things, weird nick nacks, hats, tech products, car stuff, and vape products weird things for weird people. There is also a donation for group who helps with people who have mental illnesses and and their families. https://catinaboxx.com/?ref=Matt50125%40gmail.com

If you find something you want to buy use vapingvagabon for 10% off anything in the store.

I hope you follow me for some crazy stories to come, and if you would like to see some pictures of my travels my Instagram: mattythevagabond Peace love and have a great day!!!!

#travel #seasonal work #colorado #lifestyle #my life #first blog #camping #crazy story #nature #dread head #hippie #blogs #adventure #online store #10% discount #jeeplife #van life #appalachiantrail #2020

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love-takes-work · 7 years ago

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Steven Universe Comic Big Donut Special (2016) - Outline & Review

A review and outline of the special issue comic dedicated to events at the Big Donut.

I didn't find out this existed until the day before it came out! How exciting to just suddenly get a dollop of cute comic content like this. I mean, let's be honest: stories about Steven and the Gems horsing around doing non-plot-relevant things and being cute is not exactly what Steven Universe fans tune in for, by and large, but the writers of this comic had the characters down, and every fluffy little story is such a little treat. If you're expecting plot or lore, you're not going to get it in these one-shot comics, and you should understand that only the TV show is going to go there since these are not generally created by the show's writers and storyboarders. So keep that in mind when you read comics in this universe. They're going to be fluff or mild self-contained plots, and you want to tune in to read them because you get to spend a little bit of time with the characters doing their thing.

Every story in this collection is about donuts! Yes, literally every one! So of course Steven spends a lot of time at the Big Donut and the characters Sadie and Lars make a number of appearances. Here are some notes on the stories: Clash of Gluttons:

To celebrate a blowout donut sale at the Big Donut, Steven declares that he is going to break his eating record, which draws Amethyst's attention because she's convinced she can eat way more donuts than he can. A contest is established, and the two eat themselves sick.

Steven is sure he has no more room in his stomach, but there's always room for the Father-and-Son Special when Greg arrives! Notable for fans: 1. It really doesn't make any sense in-universe for Steven to think he could beat Amethyst at eating, so the suggestion that they tied at the end is stretching credibility a bit, even in a silly plot. ;) Steven can eat, but Amethyst . . . I mean, she eats things that aren't edible, regularly, and literally does not have an organic body to worry about. 2. Steven and Amethyst have some supporters behind them as they prepare for the donut eating. Predictably, Connie and Lion are supporting Steven, but Pearl is right behind him sweating like she's distressed, while Garnet is giving Amethyst a massage and for some reason Onion is there behind her. That is peculiar.

3. Steven eats weirdly angrily while Amethyst does so with clear delight on her face. It's funny.

4. Steven...doesn't have a Gemstone in this comic?? What. There are multiple pictures of him after he ate too much with his exaggerated stomach poking out and Sara drew a regular cartoon outie bellybutton on it every time.

Big Donut Contest:

Another contest requires entrants to design donuts! Steven, inspired by the "don't donut" from last year, encourages the Gems to collaborate with him as an entering team to create the Crystal Gem combo. Surely Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst can create something very special to contribute to the contest, right?

Well . . . hard to do when Pearl is clueless about food, Amethyst doesn't understand what food is palatable for humans since it's all yummy to her, and Garnet doesn't see the point in participating since she already knows how it all ends. But Steven anticipated their donuts not necessarily being appropriate, so he made his own Crystal Gem combo of representative donuts of the four of them. Everyone loves it.

Notable for fans: 1. Lars's slacking is called out by Steven in this episode and it's adorable.

2. Garnet and Pearl are playing video games together in Steven's room in one scene! I've never seen Pearl play video games voluntarily before. 3. An exchange between Steven and Pearl was perfectly Pearl. Steven: "Big news! DONUTS!" Pearl: "Steven, that's not news, we already know about donuts." 4. The suggestions Steven makes for the donuts they'd make are as follows: "The Pearl donut's beautiful, refined flavors! The unbeatable flavor fusion of the Garnet donut! The bold, daring Amethyst donut!" That's so cute and they're clearly all flattered by these descriptions. Of course, Steven completes the quartet with "The sweet and bubbly Steven donut!" Yes, Steven, you're adorable.

5. Steven's cooking apron has Sad Waffle from Crying Breakfast Friends on it. 6. Pearl's idea of a good donut is a hologram donut because in her eyes food you don't have to eat is ideal. Amethyst's donut is a gross pile of junk food. Wow.

7. The final Crystal Gem Combo made by Steven is super cute. Amethyst's is a filled eclair with purple frosting and a squirt of whipped cream; Pearl's is an elegant frosted pale cruller with sprinkles; Steven's appears to be a jelly-filled with pink icing and a big star decoration, and Garnet's is a heart-shaped donut with markings like Garnet's outfit, complete with red and blue star sprinkles. Garnet's reaction to this donut is so precious.

The Donut Thief:

A mysterious thief keeps taking donuts from Sadie and Lars, so Steven accompanies them to the thief's roof hideout to uncover the identity of the thief and stop the thievery. After some antics and mishaps, they find a baby raccoon is responsible. Steven wants to keep it. Notable for fans: 1. Lars grudgingly acknowledges Steven's magical abilities in this story (while saying he doesn't want to be involved if Steven's powers are). It's pretty typical, and as usual, Sadie defends him. The character dynamic is well presented here. (Same goes for when Lars wanted others to be first to climb the ladder to the roof.) 2. What!! Steven does his puppy-dog eyes on Garnet to get her to let him keep the raccoon and SHE STILL SAYS NO! What is the world coming to?

Health Inspection:

Mr. Smiley has decided to make extra cash by doing health inspections, and this throws Sadie into a panic because she's worried the Big Donut won't meet regulations. To make matters worse, the Crystal Gems are literally fighting a monster in and around the store during the inspection. But considering the monster has wrecked all the stores he's had to inspect that day, Mr. Smiley's not going to deduct points for that! Points off for untucked shirts though, Lars. Notable for fans: 1. This one is rare since it's not from Steven's perspective at all! And he's not even there fighting with the Gems when they confront and poof the monster! That's surprising. 2. Yikes, the Big Donut regularly sells expired food that Sadie has to hide for the inspection. Well, I guess that's not surprising, considering in "Lion 3: Straight to Video" Sadie was putting months-old bag lunches in the coolers. How to Donuts:

Sadie comes over to the Temple and teaches the Gems to make donuts! Steven and Sadie enlist the help of Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl to mix dough, knead it, let it rise, roll it out, cut donut shapes, create glaze, fry the donuts, drain them, and add glaze and sprinkles. A real recipe for glaze and donut dough is included!

Notable for fans: 1. Amethyst's role, predictably, is eating everything or whining when she has to wait to eat everything. Pearl and Garnet are helpful, though. Pearl makes the glaze while Garnet does the mixing and frying. Steven does the rolling and shape-cutting. I like this because you really should have an adult do the cooking-related stuff. 2. An ending scene of Amethyst stuffing multiple donuts in her mouth was expected, but I was pleasantly surprised and amused by Pearl adding sprinkles with tweezers and Garnet, for reasons unknown, holding frosted donuts up to two of her eyes and looking through them. What nerds they are.

Food Fight:

Sadie needs to do a business errand and Lars is furious that he is therefore stuck at work and unable to show off his coolest pants to his cool friends. He's so bitter and distracted that he doesn't want to sell donuts to Steven and Amethyst, and is forced into interaction with them when Amethyst just starts taking donuts and eating them.

A food fight ensues when Amethyst antagonizes Lars, and Onion gets involved as a passerby. Soon Jenny is drawn in when she walks by delivering pizzas, and Ronaldo sees what's happening and charges in with a huge bag of fries to participate. Even the other Cool Kids, Mr. Smiley, and Greg get caught in the crossfire! But Lars is still concerned about whether his very cool pants will be appreciated, which is much more important to him than who will clean up the mess. Notable for fans: 1. Jenny, delivering pizzas? Did she get a work ethic for Christmas? 2. Greg reprimanding Amethyst and assuming she started the food fight was pretty funny. I like how often they demonstrate that the characters know each other really well. Also, Amethyst calls Lars "guy." It's pretty common for the Gems to avoid learning or using humans' names, so this is really on-target dialogue. 3. The drawings are really cute--Amethyst's attitude is so well encapsulated by the expressions they've chosen for her. I love her body language, and they did great with everyone's action--you can really feel the movement. 4. Onion's murder face is unforgettable and I'm glad they included it.

Donut Derby:

Steven and Connie enter a toy car race, but Steven's car "Mr. Sprinkles" breaks during the test run. They have to find something to use for wheels very quickly or Steven's out of the race. Notable for fans: 1. Ponytail Amethyst. That is all. (It's weird, though; in the earlier frames it looks like she tied her hair with her own hair, like she did in "Steven vs. Amethyst," but in some of the later ones, it's colored in like it's a black hair tie.)

2. Connie is cute (and, again, on-point with the characterization)--she's very scientific about the aerodynamics of her car.

[SU Book and Comic Reviews]

#steven universe #steven universe comics #myblog

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stetersecretsanta · 7 years ago

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Five times peter and Stiles pretended to be in a relationship and the one time they were

This is for @greenmornings I hope you enjoys and I am sorry it is a WIP. Warning there is some mention of what happened between Derek and Kate.

Part 1- The beginning

Stiles was beginning to get sick of the man in front of him. Danny had dragged him to the Jungle after Stiles had finally admitted to the other man that he is bisexual. Danny looked at him, shook his head then said, “You are attractive to gay guys, but you are not my type”, Styles could both understand and respect that point. Something Stiles wished the guy blocking him against the bar.

“come on baby boy I can show you a good time.” The man in front of him was blond and skinny, with far too much alcohol on his breath, he was unfortunately made stronger by the alcohol and Stiles didn’t want to start a fight and show his dad up. Scanning the crowd Stiles desperately looked-for Danny hoping that the other guy could help him out of the situation. Unfortunately, Danny was nowhere to be seen and Stiles had a feeling the confrontation would end with him being thrown out.

“Look man, I have told you a dozen times already, I have a boyfriend and even if I didn’t I’m not interested.” Stiles tried one more time.

“Yeah right, where is he then, if you were mine I’d never let you out of my sight” he slurred before grabbing Stiles arm.

Just as fast as the hand grabbed him it was gone and a howl of pain came from Mr grab hands, looking behind the fool, Stiles could not help but smirk.

Peter Hale stood behind the guy, snarl on his face eyes flashing ever so slightly blue.

“When my partner tells you to leave him alone, you leave him alone.” Peter growled in the other mans face. The idiot was obviously much drunker than Stiles originally thought, because even though Peter had shown his strength the guy just wouldn’t give in.

“Yeah right, as if he would date someone old as you. Fuck off man can’t you see I’m about to seal the deal with him” he bragged before trying to pull his arm out of Peters grip. Before Peter did something he regretted Stiles darted around the other man to peter, taking a grip of Peters shirt Stiles pulled him down and into a passionate kiss. Peter soon let the other man go, so he could wrap both arms around Stiles. They were drawn apart by the shouting of the man behind them.

“… Freak, you must be old enough to be his father. What the hell is wrong with you. Don’t worry baby boy I will save you from this pervert.” He said before moving forward to attack Peter before being intercepted by Danny.

“Ryan dude what the hell. I saw the whole thing and the only one being creepy is you. Take a walk man.” Danny said before handing Ryan off to a couple of bouncers who he had called over. Stiles peeked around Peter -who had pushed Stiles behind him when Ryan started screaming- before walking forward to stand beside the older man. Peter put his arm around Stiles shoulder in a show of protectiveness.

Danny turned back to them and smiled at their position, Stiles arm having snaked around Peters waist.

“Sorry man, If I’d known he was in tonight I never would have left you on your, Ryan has always been a dick that hasn’t known that no means no. Looks like you don’t need me though you have your own knight in shining armour.” Danny gave peter a slow and obvious once over. Before winking at Stiles.

“I approve” He said before walking off into the throng of people.

Stiles groaned and buried his head Peters shoulder.

“What’s wrong” Peter asked eyes scanning over Stiles for an injury he had missed.

“Danny is the biggest gossip in school because everyone likes him, and everyone talks to him. So, by Monday everyone will think your dating me.” Stiles answered then stumbled as peter pulled away.

“So sorry that everyone will think your dating an old man.” Peter huffed before turning to walk away.

“Dude no, I didn’t mean that. It just that everyone is going to know you are dating the town screw up. Also dude your not that old your only 32 and I was held back a year in first grade because of my ADHD so I’m 18. Legal age dude.” Stiles said only to have his face gently taken in Peters hands.

“You are not a screw up; every single member of that pack would be dead already if it wasn’t for you. I will be proud to have my name along side yours.” Peter said sincerity ringing in every word.

“You know your going to have to put up with my dad right.” Stiles said a smile stretched over his face.

“And we will both have to put up with Malia who will be unbearable as she saw you first. But on the bright side imagine Derek’s face.” Peter smirked while Stiles burst out laughing.

“Fake boyfriend?” Stiles asked with a smile.

“Fake Boyfriends” Peter agreed mirroring his smile.

Part 2- Malia

Peter and Stiles had been texting during the weekend to work out the kinks of their fake relationship, such as how they started dating (Peter helping Stiles with his Emissary training, creating a friendship that turned into more.) Did they have pet names for each other (Wilk for Peter and Hud for Stiles.) How long have they been dating (Three months, four months after he broke up with Malia.) As well as other such questions that could come up.

However, despite that Stiles couldn’t help but be worried about the reactions especially Malia who he had dated. Unfortunately she was completely unable to keep a secret so they couldn’t tell her about the deception. So, with a sigh Stiles hitched his backpack further up onto his shoulder and braced himself before walking into school.

He had barely been in school five minutes when a snarling Malia grabbed his arm and yanked him ruffle into the boys changing room. Before Stiles could get a word out he was flung against the lockers and pinned there by a pissed off snarling woman.

“What kind of game are you playing.” Malia snarled eyes electric blue.

“Playing what game, I don’t know what you mean, there’s no game…” Stiles rambled only to be shoved up against the lockers harder. “Squishy human… need to breath” Stiles panted, which caused Malia to finally releases her grip slightly.

“My dad, what the hell are you doing with my dad” she asked. Stiles realised in that moment that Malia was worried that he was using her dad.

“Dating him” Stiles answered only to get a scoff in return “No seriously, he started helping me with my emissary training, because of the number of magical books he has. Then we started going to dinner outside of beacon and then it sort of snow balled from there. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you.” Stiles explained prompting Malia to let go of him. As she stepped away her body language changing from hostile to fragile.

“Was that the reason you dated me, because you thought you couldn’t have him.” She asked, shoulders slumped and her head down. Stiles rushed forward and quickly pulled her into his arms.

“No, never. When we met I didn’t even know you where a Hale, I hadn’t even thought of him like that before we started hanging out… well I mean I had but only because he looks like that, I mean who wouldn’t have a few fantasies… well obviously you wouldn’t because you’re his daughter. But other than you… and Scott… and Derek… you know what maybe it was just me.” By this point in his rambling Malia was hanging on to him to keep standing because of how hard she was laughing, Stiles smiled mission accomplished.

“Okay, at least I know he has taste.” She told him broad smile on her face.

“That he does” Stiles replied holding out his arm for her to take, which she did. Swinging her hair over her shoulder they walked out of the locker room and walked down the hall, everyone parting in their wake.

“Want to go to the mall tonight and make my dad buy us stuff, we don’t actually need” Malia asked before they walked into homeroom smirk firmly on her face.

“Oh yeah.” Stiles answered with a smirk of his own.

Part 3- Derek

Stiles and Malia dragged Peter to the mall after school, he followed behind them carrying bags with a resigned air of someone who had grown up around shopaholics. Despite his continued grumbling he was brilliant at knowing long lasting fashion trends and what colours would look best on his two younger companions. Which is how he was sitting in a dressing room waiting for his daughter and Stiles to model their latest picks.

Malia came out first modelling a white strapless shirt, short black leather skirt with a top to bottom and four-inch sliver stiletto shoes. She managed to seamlessly pull off sexy, badass and touch me and die with that one look.

“Wow, you are getting that right” Peter asked.

“Totally, I’m kinda surprised that you aren’t shouting about keeping myself covered up” Malia admitted.

“Why would I, your body is just that yours. Plus, if anyone gets to close I know you can make sure they don’t touch if you don’t want them to.” Peter told her, he would never understand people who tried to control what their partner and/or children wore. Before he could say anymore Stiles came out.

Stiles looked slightly uncomfortable for half a second before squaring his shoulders and coming to stand beside Malia. A green wife beater brought out the green in his hazel eyes, and drew attention to his muscles built from fighting the supernatural baddy of the week. Skin tight black leather trousers drew attention to his very long legs and the look was finished off with paint splattered sneakers adding a pop of colour to the outfit.

Looking at him Peters pupils became wide; his eyes flashed blue and he gave off enough pheromones to have Malia wrinkling he nose. Standing Peter stalked forward and took Stiles around the waist.

“You look edible.” Peter growled his eyes flashing blue, which caused Stiles heart rate to kick up a notch whether from fear or excitement he wasn’t sure. Before he had time to analyse that, lips were on his and he was being kissed passionately, in a way that stole the air from his lungs and left him craving more.

Malia made a noise somewhere between a coo and a snort of disgust. Turning she was about to walk back into the dressing room when a snarl came from behind her which did not belong to her father because it raised the hairs on her neck. She turned around just in time to see her father go flying into the partition for the dressing rooms, causing the whole lot to fall like dominos. Wincing both for her father and the fact that the store was going to call the cops, Malia groaned when she saw Derek Hale about to lay into her father.

“What the fuck dude you can’t just assault someone like that, especially not Peter.” Stiles cried putting himself between Derek and Peter unwilling to let any harm come to Peter who was staggering to his feet.

“Move” Derek growled fully shifted into his beta form. Malia quickly crossed the space in front of her and went to stand with Stiles in a protective position.

“Not until you calm down and explain what the hell you think your doing.” Stiles Snarled back doing a damn fine impression of a werewolf himself.

“The better question is what the hell is Peter doing. It make you feel like a big man to kiss stiles in front of your daughter who is dating him. Does it make you feel strong to force yourself on someone under age?” Derek screamed while trying to get around Stiles and Malia to Peter. Stiles didn’t know whether to laugh because of how wrong all of that was, or cry because of how much Derek’s previous trauma obviously still hurt him.

“Derek Stiles and I broke up like seventh months ago, we both agreed we were only together because we saw each other as a safe option.” Malia answered causing Derek to stop fighting against them both so hard.

“Derek dude I’m almost 19, I was held back in first grade because my ADHD had me miss so much school, Scott and everyone else is a year younger than me.” Stiles explained making sure to keep his voice calm and even.

The blood seemed to drain out of his face as he shifted back at this revelation. Peter pushed past the two people in front of him before taking his nephew by the shoulders.

“I am so sorry for what happened to you if I could go back and kill that bitch more slowly I would, but I can’t. I promise you Derek I will never be with anyone that doesn’t want me, I would never betray Malia by stealing her boyfriend. Derek I’m sorry we should have told you.” Peter said maintaining eye contact with the other man. Derek nodded before gripping his uncle’s wrists and pressing their foreheads together.

At that moment there was a yell of

“Stiles! Ah crap kid what did you do this time.” The sheriff sighed surveying the wreckage. “Do I even want to know kid, or do I just charge you all with public disturbance” Noah asked pinching the bridge of his nose.

“That was my fault sir I misunderstood the nature of Stiles relationship with Peter. I will pay for the damages to the shop.” Derek said. Which caused Noah to look sharply at Stiles who seemed to shrink.

“What relationship would that be Stiles?” John asked looking between his son and Peter who had come over to stand next to Stiles.

After taking a deep breath Stiles answered, “Peter and I have been dating for the last three months.”

“You have to be shitting me kid, seriously? Fine you know what fine. Peter, you better be over for family dinner tomorrow. Derek, you can work out repayment with the owners. I am going to get a burger and fries. Stiles get changed your coming with me.” With that the Sheriff walked out of the shop.

“I’m so screwed” Stiles muttered.

#Steter #steter secret santa #submission

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wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog · 7 years ago

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Top Shots (Week of Nov. 12, 2017)

Miss any of the week’s most interesting celeb moments? For example, Emma Stone reuniting with ex Andrew Garfield? We’ve got you covered with Top Shots.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

Guess it wasn’t too late to say sorry! The former exes looked very much back together Thursday, when Selena showed up to JB’s hockey game once again. As soon as Biebs was off the ice, the singer planted one on his girl for everyone to see. (Photo: Backgrid)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Anna Faris and Michael Barrett

That’s amore! The new couple walked hand in hand in Venice, Italy, on Thursday. The Mom actress, 40, and the cinematographer, 47, stepped out of their hotel for a late-night stroll. (Photo: Ciao Pix/Backgrid)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Miley Cyrus

The “Younger Now” singer was very color-coordinated on Thursday, as she filmed scenes for a shoe ad near Venice Beach in L.A. Her blue hair matched her sweater and her Converse sneakers, but it certainly didn’t match her mood. (Photo: Backgrid)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Rumer Willis and Demi Moore

The mother-daughter duo looked more like sisters as they attended the launch of Christian Louboutin’s capsule collection with Sabyasachi on Thursday in Los Angeles. (Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Christian Louboutin)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Taye Diggs

Over in NYC the same night, the Empire star played to win as he gambled for fun at the Gotham Men’s Issue Celebration. (Photo: Lars Niki/Getty Images for Gotham Magazine)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Hillary Clinton and Ben Platt

The former presidential candidate put her John Hancock on Platt’s character’s infamous cast while backstage at Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway on Wednesday night. The actor’s Tony-winning run is coming to an end; he’s set to exit the role on Sunday. (Photo: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Mark Hamill

Talk about a thrill ride! The original Luke Skywalker surprised guests on board the Star Tours attraction Tuesday at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The same day, the park anounced that new elements inspired by the upcoming Star Wars film will debut Friday at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. (Photo: Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland via Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Sarah Hyland

Members of the Modern Family cast was having their cake and eating it too as they celebrated their 200th episode at Fox Studios on Wednesday. Hyland made sure to snap a photo of the impressive confection, which had all the main characters in edible form! (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Naomi Campbell and Janet Jackson

After watching Janet tear up the stage at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, the supermodel got to chill out at the after party with Miss Jackson (if you’re nasty). (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Juggernaut Productions, Inc.)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Natalie Portman

The actress was all smiles as she worked on her backhand at an early morning tennis lesson in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Photo: Javiles/BACKGRID)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Dermot Mulroney and Ashley Williams

The holidays are in full swing for Mulroney and Williams, who hung around at the opening of Hallmark’s Museum of Christmas on Tuesday in New York City. The actor stars with Ashley’s sister, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, in The Christmas Train, which premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Nov. 25. Williams stars in Christmas in Evergreen, which premieres on Dec. 2. (Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Kate Winslet, and Jim Belushi

The Wonder Wheel cast was looking sharp at Tuesday’s premiere at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. The new film, set in Brooklyn’s famous Coney Island, stars Winslet as a wife who becomes infatuated with a lifeguard, played by Timberlake. (Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Sofia Richie

She is committed! On the rare ocassion that the model is not wrapped around her current beau, Scott Disick, she has him right in the palm of her hand. Ritchie held her Disick-covered phone tight on a Tuesday night out in London. (Photo: Splash News)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Jacob Tremblay and Owen Wilson

Just two wild and crazy guys! The co-stars mugged for the camera at the after party for the premiere of their new film, Wonder, on Tuesday in L.A. (Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard

The actress and her famous director dad attended a benefit screening of Broken Memories — a new movie starring Ron’s dad and Bryce’s grandfather, Rance Howard — in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Drew Barrymore

The Santa Clarita Diet star was simply glowing at the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in NYC on Monday. Wearing a Paris-inspired top, Drew cracked up on the red carpet. (Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Henry Cavill

Superman made some superfans’ day when he opted to takes selfies with them at the Justice League premiere in Hollywood on Monday.(Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet

The gorgeous duo walked the red carpet for the first time as a married couple at the premiere of Justice League on Monday. Together for 12 years, Momoa and Bonet tied the knot in early October. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid

Bella saved the day when she rescued her sister from a near fall when Gigi got caught up in her gold gown on Monday in NYC. No worries, though: Zayn Malik’s girlfriend of two years took it all in stride and laughed it off, quickly recovering and getting back to her runway walk. (Photo: Richard Buxo/Splash News)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone

It’s really not awkward! The friendly exes, who have had us guessing about their romantic status for years since their last breakup, shared a laugh at the 2017 Governors Awards in L.A. on Sunday. (Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor

The Fargo co-stars have gone public with their new romance as they were snapped hand-in-hand heading to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre to see Hamilton last week. When photos of the pair kissing in a London restaurant made headlines last month, McGregor announced that he and his wife, Eve Mavrakis, separated in May. Winstead’s seven-year marriage ended in May as well. (Photo credit: Marksman/The Mega Agency)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Demi Lovato

No shirt, no problem, and she’s “not sorry” about it. The singer donned a sexy suit with nothing underneath at the MTV EMAs 2017 in London on Sunday. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence

The girlfriends got silly on the red carpet at the Governors Awards, with J.Law photobombing her pal while she posed for the photo pool. (Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Jamie Lynn Spears and Maddie Aldridge

Jamie Lynn Spears posed with her happy and healthy-looking daughter, Maddie Aldridge, at the American Girl Place New York Grand Opening Benefit on Saturday. Britney’s niece has made a full recovery after her ATV accident in February, and enjoyed her day at American Girl, shopping and getting styled. (Photo: Startraks Photo)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez

The co-stars were superexcited to be at the premiere of their new movie, The Star. Levi and Rodriguez provide the voices of Joseph and Mary in the animated film about the story of Christmas. (Photo: Grosby Group/Backgrid)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

Jaime King

The stars are already getting in the holiday spirit! The actress took her son James Newman to meet the North Pole’s main man at a California Christmas at the Grove in Hollywood on Saturday. (Photo: Parisa/Backgrid)

Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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German Armed Forces Takes Delivery of First Airbus H145 SAR Helicopter

Airbus has delivered the first H145 helicopter for the German Armed Forces’ (Bundeswehr) search and rescue service to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), several months before the agreed deadline. Among other features, the Airbus H145 helicopters are equipped with high-performance cameras, searchlights, emergency beacon locator systems, a full suite of medical equipment, rescue winches and load hooks that can be used for fire-extinguishing tanks, for example. They are easy to identify thanks to the characteristic bright orange paintwork on their doors, featuring ‘SAR’ in blue lettering.

A total of seven helicopters of this type were ordered to renew their ageing Bell UH-1D search and rescue fleet. The new aircraft will be stationed at the sites in Niederstetten, Holzdorf and Nörvenich with the last of the H145 LUH SAR (Light Utility Helicopter Search and Rescue) helicopters will be delivered in early 2021, once training has been completed. “We are delighted to be able to deliver this helicopter not only on time, but in this case even before the contractually agreed deadline,” said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Deutschland. “The H145 helicopters already operated by the Bundeswehr have proven themselves, in particular, through their very high levels of operational availability. We see a lot more possibilities for the flexible and reliable aircraft to perform a wide range of tasks in all branches of the armed forces.” The Bundeswehr maintains a fleet of search and rescue helicopters on permanent standby and is responsible for search and rescue operations (SAR) in the event of aircraft accidents on German territory and in national disaster management operations. Airbus Helicopters will be responsible for logistics support, repair, and maintenance of the helicopters. See latest Travel News, Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: Airbus, Helicopters, SAR. Headlines: Korean Air to Revamp SkyPass Frequent Flyer Program Embraer E175-E2 Performs Maiden Flight Charlie Sullivan Joins CWT's Air Distribution Team Marriott Opens Third Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, China Radisson Blu Opens Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam Qantas Chooses Airbus A350-1000 for Ultra Long-Haul Flights Executive Appointments at Banyan Tree BA to Launch LHR Flights to Six New European Destinations in 2020 Korean Air to Revamp SkyPass Frequent Flyer Program Embraer E175-E2 Performs Maiden Flight Charlie Sullivan Joins CWT's Air Distribution Team Marriott Opens Third Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, China Radisson Blu Opens Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam Qantas Chooses Airbus A350-1000 for Ultra Long-Haul Flights Executive Appointments at Banyan Tree BA to Launch LHR Flights to Six New European Destinations in 2020 How Technology is Shaping Airports of the Future FCM and Flight Centre Achieve NDC Level 4 Certification Dusit Rebrands Luxury Resort in Philippines Emirates Launches Flights to Mexico via Barcelona Air Canada's First Airbus A220-300 Completes Maiden Flight FAA Certifies ExecuJet MRO Malaysia to Work on Dassault Jets AirAsia Launches Snap Air France-KLM Orders 10 A350-900 Aircraft Bundeswehr Takes Delivery of First Airbus H145 SAR Helicopter Drew Crawley to Join American Express Global Business Travel as CCO Cape Town 7s 2019 to Take Place 13-15 December Congo Airways to Replace Dash 8-400s with Embraer E175 Aircraft Ascent Solutions Installs Two E-Gates at NAIA 2 Departures Michel Poussau Appointed GM of Rugby World Cup 2023 Wetherspoon to Invest £200 Million Developing New Pubs and Hotels IATA Asks EU to Support Sustainable Aviation Fuel Transition Boeing Delivers First Modified MV-22 Osprey to United States Marine Corps Marriott Signs Six Hotels in India Accor to Rebrand Hotel in Queensland, Australia MHG Signs Two Hotels in Doha, Qatar Vietjet Launches Flights to New Delhi from Hanoi and Saigon SKY Signs Purchase Agreement for 10 Airbus A321XLRs British Airways Trials 3D Printing SAS' First A350 to Enter Long-Haul Service on 28 January Air Italy and Oman Air Sign Codeshare Agreement ACH and Aston Martin to Unveil 'New Creation' in January Qantas Signs FFP Agreement with Air France - KLM Group Malaysia Airlines Launches Shuttle Fares on Flights Between KL and Singapore Accor to Open 125-Room Mercure Hotel in Canberra in January Openings Push Australia's Hotel Inventory to Over 300,000 Rooms Alban Dutemple Appointed Cluster GM of Two Hotels in Bahrain Air New Zealand Trials Edible Coffee Cups Manchester Airport Unveils Details of £1 Billion Transformation South Africa Beat New Zealand to Win Dubai Sevens Aviation: RPKs Up 3.4% in October 2019 China Airlines to Launch Flights Between Taipei and Cebu, Philippines Marriott Adds North Island Seychelles to Luxury Collection Trenchard Aviation Appoints Neil Watkins as Group DOSM J. Scott Kirby to Succeed Oscar Munoz as CEO of United Airlines Vietjet to Launch Hanoi - Bali Flights London Stansted to Host CAPA World Aviation Outlook Summit 2020 JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok Completes Renovation Air Freight: FTKs Down 3.5% in October; APAC Down 5.3% Carl Volschenk Joins Sheraton Grand Danang as GM American Airlines Adds Passport Chip Scanning to Mobile App TCEB Partners Thai Airways to Launch APAC MaxiMICE Campaign United Airlines Orders 50 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft Four Seasons Signs First Hotel in New Orleans Aman Venice Appoints Norbert Niederkofler as Consultant Chef Bombardier to Relocate Global Aircraft Production Airbus Appoints New Communications Leadership Team Malaysia and Turkish Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement Marco Violano Joins Four Seasons Jakarta as Executive Chef World's First Zest OK Youth Hotel Opens in New Zealand Dubai Sevens Set to Kick Off 2020 Season Boeing to Give $48 Million to Over 400 Global Charitable Organizations Dusit Thani Hua Hin Completes First Phase of Renovation British & Irish Lions' Itinerary for 2021 Tour of South Africa Airbus Signs Global Support Contract for Tiger Helicopters Over 400 Now Connected to Travelport's Rich Content and Branding Qantas Opens First Class Lounge at Changi Airport in Singapore British Airways Empowers Airport Staff to Solve Issues on the Spot Next Story Group Launches New Hotel Brand Air New Zealand Launches Flights Between Christchurch and Singapore Vietjet to Launch Saigon - Pattaya Flights India and Colombia Certify Mi-171A2 from Russian Helicopters Qatar Airways Cargo Unveils Major South America Expansion CWT Meetings & Events Restructures Leadership Team Air France to Operate Flights from San Francisco Using SAF Four Seasons Seychelles Appoints Kevin Lopes as Exec. Pastry Chef Vietjet to Increase Flights Between Vietnam and South Korea Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor Opens Khmer Restaurant, 1932 Airbus Celebrates 100th A220 Aircraft Produced CINZ Appoints Lisa Hopkins as Chief Executive Amadeus to Upgrade Travel Experience at Perth Airport in Australia Travelport Makes First API-Connection Bookings for Qantas Using NDC Sustainable Success for Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show 2019 Air Corsica Takes Delivery of First Airbus A320neo Aircraft Bangkok Airways Partners Krungthep Limousine in Trat 431-Room Novotel Hotel in Perth to Soft Open on 19 December Malaysia Airlines Launches New In-Flight Services GICC Macau Appoints Joey Pather as Senior Vice President - MICE Renaissance Hotel Opens in Xiamen, China Finnair Partners Chef DeAille Tam for New Business Class Menu Simon Barnett Joins Four Seasons Singapore as Hotel Manager FCM Achieves TMC Elite Level Within SAP Concur Partner Program Club Med to Open Kota Kinabalu Resort in 2022 SAS Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350-900 Seaplanes in Thailand? Interview with Dennis Keller, CBO of Siam Seaplane Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 30.7m Int. Pax in October BA and Aston Martin Celebrate Concorde with Ten Very Special Cars Premier Inn to Eliminate Unnecessary Single-Use Plastics by 2025 Gold Coast Airport to Enhance Security with New CT Screening Systems China's Airlines and Airports Investing in Chatbots, Biometrics and Blockchain Marriott Bonvoy Partners Tennis Australia Executive Appointments at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto Korean Forest Service Takes Delivery of K7 S-64 Air Crane Helicopter First of 353 Airbus A321neos Enters Service with AirAsia Two Lagoon Sixty 7 Catamarans Sold to Customers in Far East Novotel Partners Calm to Enhance Sleep Experience for Guests SpiceJet Appoints APG as GSA in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland Slow Travel and Micro Escapes Becoming More Popular with Singaporeans Mandarin Oriental Signs Hotel & Residences in Tel Aviv, Israel Bombardier's Montreal Facilities Receives First Sustainable Aviation Fuel Executive Appointments at British & Irish Lions Jared Green Joins Six Senses Fiji as DOSM Seaplanes in Thailand? Interview with Dennis Keller, CBO of Siam Seaplane Accor Opens Novotel Christchurch Airport Hotel Air Astana to Launch Almaty - Paris Flights Subhas Menon to Become AAPA Director General in March Airlift Takes Delivery of First Airbus H145 Helicopter Inge Kotze Joins Singita as GM - Conservation Teleport Signs Interline Agreement with Lufthansa Cargo British Airways Opens Refurbished Airport Lounge in Geneva CAE to Deploy Bombardier Global 7500 FFS in Dubai Simpson Marine - Interview with Howard Prime, Country Manager Thailand Finnair to Cancel About 257 Flights on Monday Boeing Unveils First 737 MAX 10 Hyatt Signs Two Hotels in Saigon, Vietnam PHG Appoints Angeline Hon as Group Marketing and Communications Director Airbus Delivers First of Two H145M Helicopters to Luxembourg Ghana Signs MOU with Boeing for Three 787-9 Dreamliners IHG Opens Second voco Hotel in Oxford, England Air Senegal Signs MOU for Eight Airbus A220-300s Emirates Converts Boeing 777 Order for 30 787-9 Dreamliners Erik Lannge Appointed GM of Villa de Pranakorn in Bangkok Finnair's Sapporo Flights Become Year-Round Virgin Atlantic to Offer More Cargo Capacity to India, Africa and USA Gold Coast Airport Extends Partnership with SITA to 2024 WTTC Report Reveals Global Medical Tourism Growth of 358% SAS to Save Up To 51 Tons of Plastic Per Year with New Food Packaging Vietnam Airlines Enforcing Ban on Damaged or Recalled Lithium Batteries British & Irish Lions Renews Kit Deal with Canterbury Over 6,000 Expected to Visit Pattaya Boat Show 21-24 Nov; Free Entrance British Airways to Take Delivery of First Boeing 787-10 in January GECAS Orders 12 Airbus A330neos and 20 A321XLRs Air Astana Signs LOI for 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft flynas Orders 10 Airbus A321XLRs Emirates to Operate Historic National Day Flight - EK2019 Air France and KLM Launch Manila - Taipei - Paris Flights easyJet Exercises Purchase Rights for 12 More Airbus A320neos AirAsia.com Starts Selling Seats on Other Airlines Air Arabia Orders 73 A320neos, 27 A321neos and 20 A321XLRs Nick Bray Joins Travelport as CFO British Airways Using AI to Enhance Airside Operations at London Heathrow Garuda Indonesia Takes Delivery of First Airbus A330-900 Cathay Pacific Reports 7.1% Drop in Passenger Numbers in October Emirates Signs Purchase Agreement for 50 Airbus A350-900s EgyptAir to Lease Two More Boeing 787-9 Aircraft from AerCap Serge Cuypers Joins Anantara Siam Bangkok as Hotel Manager SunExpress to Exercise Options for 10 More Boeing 737 MAX 8s Marriott Signs Three Hotels, 1546 Rooms in Thailand Passenger Numbers at Hong Kong Int. Airport Down 13% in October Fiji Airways Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350 Biman Bangladesh Airlines Orders Two Boeing 787-9 Aircraft Ritz-Carlton Opens 100th Property as Brand Returns to Australia Daniel Simon Joins Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel as GM Air Peace Orders Three Additional Embraer E195-E2 Aircraft SAS to Launch Airbus A321LR Flights to Boston in September 2020 Vietnam Airlines to Launch Hanoi - Macau Flights Airbus Forecasts Middle East to Need Over 50,000 New Pilots Over Next 20 Years Seven HD Videos from IATA Airline Industry Retailing Symposium 2019 in Bangkok China Airlines Cargo Launches Taipei - Mumbai - Amsterdam Service Four Seasons Signs Second Resort on Baja Peninsula, Mexico Greg Ward Joins Aman as Head of Global Sales & Distribution Air Italy Appoints Roberto Spada as Chairman Gauderic Harang Appointed GM of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort Heifer Cancels Race to Feed 2019 in Hong Kong Thai Airways Signs MOU with ICBC Russian Helicopters to Showcase Civilian Mi-38 at Dubai Airshow 2019 Captain Michael Ott Receives Bombardier Safety Standdown Award Discover Thainess at the Vince Hotel Bangkok Pratunam - Interview with GM AAPA Cancels 63rd Assembly of Presidents Scheduled to Take Place in Hong Kong Chengdu Shuangliu Int. Airport Trials Smart Security Checkpoint System Caravelle Hotel in Saigon Launches Refillable Glass Bottle Programme Siam Ocean to Install Latest HVAC Technology at Anantara Hotels Globally Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire Partners Highclere Castle BelugaXL Receives EASA Type Certification United Airlines Helps Passengers Battle Jet Lag with Timeshifter Aman to Open Luxurious Tented Camp in Utah, USA Lost Bags and Airline Baggage Tracking - Interview with Peter Drummond, SITA Conrad Chun Appointed VP of Communications for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Airbus VSR700 Prototype Performs Maiden Flight AirAsia Indonesia Appoints Veranita Yosephine Sinaga as CEO Emirates Opens Check-In Counters for Cruise Passengers at Port Rashid KLM Signs Firm Order for 21 Embraer E195-E2 Aircraft Airbus to Showcase Numerous Aircraft at Dubai Airshow 2019 Belfast to Host ExploreGB 2020 Travel Trade Show in May Awesome Trip - Interview with Mark Corbett, Chief Innovation Officer Vern Insurance Technologies - Interview with Marton Elodi at IATA AIRS 2019 Sabre Signs Multimillion-Dollar Agreement with Vietnam Airlines Airbus Paints Air Canada's First A220; Delivery Set for December Accor Expands Partnership with Alibaba Group American Airlines Aims to Resume Boeing 737 MAX Flights on 5 March Embraer Appoints Antonio Carlos Garcia as CFO Rugby Sevens: China Women Qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Vietnam Airlines Signs EngineWise Service Agreement with Pratt & Whitney Future of Airline Distribution and NDC - Interview with Yanik Hoyles, IATA Accor to Open Dual-Branded Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 24 in Bangkok IATA Reports 3.8% Increase in RPKs in September; ASKs Up 3.3% Virgin Australia to Suspend Hong Kong Service; Launch Brisbane - Tokyo Qatar Airways Signs Codeshare Agreement with IndiGo Air Cargo: FTKs Down 4.5% in September 2019 Thai Airways Promotes CLMV Travel with One Pass, One Price Value Card Bangkok Airways and Emirates Add FFP Benefits to Codeshare Evolution of Airline Chatbots - Interview with Jonathan Newman, CCO of ( caravelo ( Airline Distribution - Interview with Sabre Travel Solutions ATPCO and Routehappy - Interview with Robert Albert at IATA AIR Symposium 2019 IATA Airline Industry Retailing Symposium 2019 - Interview with Stephan Copart Cambodia Travel Mart 2019 - Interview with Hosted Buyer, May Yap Air New Zealand to Launch Non-Stop Flights Between Auckland and New York Mandarin Oriental to Rebrand Famous Hotel in Switzerland Palace Gate Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Interview with GM Lynnaya Urban River Resort in Siem Reap - Interview with GM Cambodia Airways Interview with Lucian Hsing, Commercial Director HD Videos and Interviews Podcasts from HD Video Interviews Travel Trade Shows in 2019, 2020 and 2021 High-Res Picture Galleries Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News Read the full article

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ferrybaker0-blog · 5 years ago

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The Bammy - Subway's Take On A Vietnamese Classic

For as long as I can remember, the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi, has been a part of my life. Even as a Chinese American, this stuff would always be around my family and friends. It was cheap, easy to sell/make and tasted better than most American sandwiches. For $5, you can get at least four – one for each person in the typical 4-person Asian family. It was the go-to fill-up snack because it was cheaper than anything at McDonald's. Even if we didn't have a store-bought sandwich, we'd have some variation of the banh mi. As a kid in elementary school, I'd have my mom's mutated version which consisted of thick slices of the Vietnamese meatloaf known as cha, liverwurst (American pâté) and mayonnaise – smacked between two pieces of Wonder bread. On fishing trips with family friends, there'd be an endless supply of Capri Sun and banh mi in the cooler. Hungry? Have a banh mi! We'd pick that sandwich up with our fish and worm-flavored hands and go to town. My Lao aunt in Fresno also ran a small sandwich business right out of her kitchen and guess what we got to eat every time we were there - banh mi. Banh mi was seriously around so often it was like a brother to me – always there to wrestle and play video games with.

So you can understand why one would take a hiatus from the beloved sandwich. I was tired of it. After I graduated from high school, I don't think I touched banh mi unless I had to. As a college student, I made quick trips to Little Saigon to satisfy my broke ass. To me the food was nearly forgotten as I found love in other things such as noodles. Then around 2006, Vietnamese sandwich shops started popping up like the current food trucks as more Vietnamese residents and immigrants moved out of Rosemead and El Monte. On Valley Blvd. alone, you'll find at least a dozen places selling banh mi, including chains like Banh Mi Che Cali and Lee Sandwiches. This was the mainstream for the people of San Gabriel Valley and certainly not earth-shaking news.

Then earlier this week, my friend sent me a link to a New York Times article titled "The Vietnamese Sandwich. Banh Mi in America" by a Jordan Michelman. This was published after last year's banh mi craze in New York City which left me and I'm sure many others, scratching our head. Interesting considering most people look to New York as the pioneer of trends, especially fashion and food. This isn't the first time an article on banh mi has been published. But it was the first time I realized how long it has taken Vietnamese culture to be recognized in the history of America – especially since the Vietnamese have been here as early as the late 1960s. A few decades for New York Times to "discover" this sandwich? You don't see Jonathan Gold writing an article every 6 months on banh mi to remind us that it exists. Does something have to go through the New York "fad machine" before it gets any attention? Even in Los Angeles, the banh mi mutant can be found at places like Six (banh mi burger), Mendocino Farms (pork belly banh mi) and Nom Nom Truck (banh mi tacos). But I thought to myself, this is indeed a great time to really advertise the shit out of this delicious, Vietnamese sandwich... and really aggregate the credit it deserves.

Banh mi may be big in New York and Los Angeles right now, but it isn't big until it goes national. And when it comes to sandwiches, there's no one more sandwichy than Jared Fogle's Subway nation. Not sure why I even linked to Subway... you've got to be from space if you haven't heard of it. I like to have fun when I eat – especially with corporate places like Hometown Buffet, Souplantation and Yoshinoya. So I decided to have some fun with Subway and find out if I can actually make the Vietnamese sandwich an American favorite. But what do you call this new potential menu item?

Well, if a sandwich is a "Sammy", then a banh mi must be a "Bammy"!

On a random weeknight, I find myself standing in the most depressing line ever at Subway. There are five of us, heads tilted up 45 degrees staring at the menu of bland food. Is this what we as Americans resort to? A life of 9-6? 2 hour commutes? Buying goods by bulk at Costco? Lunches at Subway? Do I want to pay $5, $6 or $7 for a foot long blandwich? Should I have the blandwich with teriyaki sauce or the ham & bland sandwich ? The menu is simply comprised of words put up to disguise the word "bland" and there is no difference in what you order because it won't have any taste period. When a "sandwich artist" asks me what else I'd like to add to my sandwich, I usually respond with, "flavor."

But actually, as I'm standing in line with the other customers waiting for toasted boredom to be served, I smile a little. I have an advantage over the other customers and employees - and they don't even know it. I'm equipped with an actual banh mi sandwich from Chinatown's Buu Dien, some Maggi sauce, fresh jalapeno slices, scrambled eggs from home and some real Vietnamese pate. Yes! And tonight's challenge is to see whether or not I can make an actual Subway sandwich edible and dare I say, as tasty as a Vietnamese banh mi.

It's now my turn to order and I order a toasted black forest ham and turkey Foot Long for $6, which by the way is equivalent to five banh mi sandwiches at your average Vietnamese joint. I wanted to keep this as authentic to Subway's ingredients and build. I picked the black forest ham because it is the closest in color and taste to the pink, headcheese (gio thu) and BBQ pork (xa xiu) used in banh mi. I picked the turkey because it is the closest in color and taste to the grey meatloaf known as cha. For the toppings, I added cucumber, cilantro, pickled jalapeno slices, salt & pepper and a thin line of mayonnaise. No oil, vinegar or whatever liquids they offer. I asked the "sandwich artist" not to fold the sandwich over and F up the innards. They even kept it served open face for me and placed it on a tray. I'm pretty sure they considered me crazy. Love it. Haha.

I then drew an imaginary DMZ line to distinguish the Northern and the Southern region of the sandwich. On top is Subway's Sammy using original store ingredients plus pate and Maggi Sauce vs. SaigonWay's Bammy with the traditional fixings.

Subway's Bammy - plain bread - ham - turkey - cucumber - canned, pickled jalapeños - cilantro - mayonnaise - pate - Maggi sauce

SaigonWay's Banh Mi - plain bread - ham - turkey - cucumber - fresh jalapeño slices - cilantro with stem - pickled radish & carrots - mayonnaise - pate - Maggi sauce - fried egg (optional, it's what I love adding to my banh mi)

Subway's "Sammy" For the first time in a long while, I felt fear. The last time from a serving of deep fried insects at a food stall in Cambodia. I had prepped myself with a few neck cracks and got my gag reflexes ready. I grabbed the sandwich... crumbs from the shitty bread landed on the tray. What am I doing? I took a bite and not to my surprise... there was absolutely no flavor. There was so much bland matter due to the sawdust bread and processed meat - I couldn't taste anything! Maggi Sauce is used to PROVIDE flavor. But yet it could not provide this time – it let me down. I put this sandwich down after the 2nd bite. Even a foot long of Cambodian fried insects had more flavor.

SaigonWay's "Bammy" Now, on to the real test. I opened the sandwich and made sure everything was evenly distributed. It was the moment I've been waiting for. Actually the moment every American slave of the corporate lunch cafeteria known as Subway was waiting for. If I succeeded, I knew that I have done something for my country. I had at least provided ONE item on Subway's menu that actually had something called flavor. I took a bite, and I have to say, it was a familiar taste. Even though the meat wasn't the right kind, the balance of Maggi Sauce, fried egg, pate, fresh jalapeno, fresh cilantro and fresh daikon and carrots made so much sense in that sawdust bread. I actually ate half of this and partially enjoyed it. All Subway has to do is offer a few more ingredients that really don't cost anything! But you say the words pate or liverwurst and you'll lose customers. And what in the world is Maggi sauce?

My work wasn't finished tonight though. This is my palate, and I know what I'm looking for in a sandwich. The true test though was finding out whether or not the actual Subway sandwich artists would eat my fixed-up version of their blandwich. I wouldn't go in peace until I had them try it. I waited for the right moment when the customers parted with their foot longs and approached this young man. We'll call him Justin. Within a few minutes and persuasive words, I had him sitting down at the table with the "Sammy" and "Bammy" in front of him.

Justin: "What am I eating?" Me: "You're going to eat a Subway take on a Vietnamese sandwich." Justin: "What's in it?" Me: "Oh nothing really. Just your meats and veggies and a few extras." Justin: "You sure?" Me: "Dude, I'm not trying to kill you man. Even if I was, you've got cameras rolling."

Justin actually went in and took a big bite, making sure his gums made sweet love with that sandwich. He took a few bites and then looked at me.

Me: "And?" Justin: "Nothing. It's bland man!" Me: "Of course it's bland. It's Subway." Justin: "..........." Me: "Last one, try my version."

Like a good employee, Justin looked to see that there were no hungry patrons queuing up. With a reluctant look, he picked up the "Bammy" and sank his teeth in once more. But this time, to my surprise, he raised his eyebrows slightly and his eyes widened. And there was a slight bob of satisfaction.

Me: "And....?" Justin: "This is actually pretty good. I like the taste. What's in it?" Me: "Subway's ham and turkey, fresh jalapeno, fresh cilantro, pickled radish and carrots, fried egg and the special Maggi Sauce." Justin: "It tastes fresh. Oh man, that egg is real nice." Me: "Yeah that's key man." Justin: "Alright man, are we done? I gotta get back to work." Me: "Thank you."

One down, and a whole nation to go. Is there hope for the American palate? Whether or not Subway actually decides to put this on their menu, I may not live long enough to see the revolt against bland food. I threw away the food and started packing up. As I headed out, Justin said:

Justin: "Hey man, what's that sauce you put in that sandwich?" Me: "It's called Maggi sauce." Justin: "What is it?" Me: "Flavor."

Subway, dreams of flavored food can come true. Look I've done the POP (point-of-purchase) displays for you! Yes, I'm an ad guy! We can also start rolling your new Jared spots right away.

"Hello, I'm Jared. Remember me? I used to weigh 450 lbs. I'm over in the Far East to advertise Subway's new sandwich, "The Bammy". I've cut out the 14 hour flight for you and endured some of the roughest conditions to bring you Vietnam's delicious sandwich. We use only the freshest, greenest cilantro. Guys.... can we cut. I feel some leeches in my pants."

"Hi again, it's me Jared. I've also cut out the vicious Saigon traffic for you by riding helmet-less with my buddies Tuan and Huan. I almost wet my khakis like a little girl trying to cross the streets of Saigon! Where we going guys? My mom's expecting me home for dinner."

So, if you saw "The Bammy" on the Subway menu, would you eat it? The truth is, you'll never see this on the Subway menu just as you'll never see a delicious shawarma, torta, cemita. Even if it was on the menu, you know it wouldn't be good haha. I would take any of those ANY DAY of the week over anything from Subway. But surprisingly, as diverse as America is, the Subway people of Milford, Connecticut still feel that their current menu is a good representation of what the American palate craves. So Subway, would you like your "Bammy" toasted or not toasted?

Thanks for reading.

Source: http://eatdrinknbmerry.blogspot.com/2011/02/bammy-subways-take-on-vietnamese.html

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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hedgeradish9-blog · 5 years ago

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Pongal celebration, Pongal shopping list

What is Pongal festival? Pongal festival is celebrated widely among Tamil nadu people, devoted to Sun god. It is also celebrated in the places where ever Tamil people are living - like Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Sri Lanka, US, UK etc;.

Wishing all my reader and follower friends a Happy Pongal! I am not going to write the basic details about pongal festival, please check wikipedia if you want to know about the basics of the festival. Even Though it is celebrated by all the tamils, it's not the same way it is celebrated by every family. Each family, each household have different way, traditions that is followed. I did not even realize my in-laws family had a different way of celebrating from the way at my mom's place.

After I got married, I haven't been there to celebrate pongal with them. So every year, my mami ask me to visit them when it's pongal. But usually Aj will have cyclic test and won't be able to make it. Last time when they visited, I requested them to come here to Singapore to celebrate the festival. So last year (2018), my mama, mami came here for celebration along with my two other brothers-in-law family🙂. Last year, I could learn a bit from my mami what is our custom and traditions to be followed. First I was little nervous on how I would manage all the things, Vj gave me confidence and told since many people are there, they will all do their part and no need to worry. As he said, While I concentrated only in the cooking part, I got all the help from my co-sisters, mami to prepare for the poojai. I just concentrated on cooking for the entire family along with pongal keeping. Before I go through the way we celebrate pongal, if you are looking for pongal recipes, click here for the pongal recipes. Disclaimer: This is just how we celebrate pongal festival at our household. Please check with your respective family elders to follow your traditions. I just wanted to share and keep a record of how we celebrate pongal festival. Though the customs and traditions are changing according to our convenience, availability, I just wanted to keep it written for my future reference. Let me also share the pongal shopping list/ checklist.

Shopping list for pongal:

Poojai items

Kungumam

Sandal

Flowers

wick (thiri nool)

Betel leaves, nuts

Banana

Agarbathi, sambrani

Camphor

Sesame oil/ vilakku yennai

Mango leaves/ maavilai

Kaapu kattu if applicable / available (kind of a bouquet with white flowers and yellow flower sarakkondrai, etc,)

Vegetables:

Fresh ginger

Fresh turmeric

Sugarcane

Mochai

Broad beans

Raw banana/ plantain

White pumpkin

Yellow pumpkin

Sweet potato

Colocasia/ arbi/ seppankizhangu

Karunai kizhangu/ yam

Banana leaf

Coconut

Grocery checklist

Moong dal

Raw rice

Jaggery (preferably paagu vellam)

Ghee

Oil

Cashews

Cardamom

Nutmeg, edible camphor

Milk

Let's start with how we celebrate pongal. First and foremost, they figure out when is the Tamil month 'Thai' exactly born, by referring panjangam. We use paambu panjangam (பாம்பு பஞ்சாங்கம்) for referring all such timings for festivals etc. Whenever the month is born, my FIL or MIL takes bath and lit's lamp. The lamp is also not the usual ones, its called madakku (மடக்கு) - large lamp made out of mud. So let me start how we celebrate pongal festival: Soak 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup raw rice, grind to a smooth paste in liquid form to draw maakolam (மாக்கோலம்). Draw a kolam at entrance of the house. You can refer my parents blog learnkolam.net for pongal kolams. Here's what my mami drew last year.

Draw kolam as shown below in three places. One at the regular pooja place, one for veetu deivam and one for Surya bagavan. So total three places. My mami drew these kolams last year.

Here are the lamps cleaned and kept ready for the poojai. The brass vilakku is my paati's and the other are respective from our mom's house.

In the pooja place wall, using avarai ilai (broad beans leaf or pungai ilai) crush and make a rectangle using the dye from the leaf. 7 rows of 7 dots are kept each in one different item and colour.

Black - kan mai (kaajal) or sago saandhu

Red - kum kum

White - kola maavu (rice we ground)

Green - Same leaf but darker shade

Viboodhi

Sandhanam

Manjal

We use cardboard to do as we do not have white wall at pooja place. So either we can keep the cardboard for the upcoming festivals or can also create new ones. I already tried to check with my family why we do it and the reason behind to understand better, but there's no much information available. So I have to check with other elders when I visit India and enlighten myself.

This setup is for two places- one at regular pooja place and one for veetu deivam. Last year, my co-sister helped me drawing this and cleaning pooja vessels with me. Prepare one wooden plank - wash and dry. Draw kolam over it too and let all kolams dry. A big agal vilakku (madakku - large lamp made out of mud) is tied around decoratively with a white thread. It is called thaai vilakku (தாய் விளக்கு) Which represents the late daughter-in-law of the house (here, my father-in-law's mom).

In the wooden plank, raw rice is spread preferably new fresh harvest rice (புது அரிசி). Keep the thaai vilakku in the middle. Keep one lamp (brought by the daughters-in-law during their marriage) each for the daughters-in-law around the thaai vilakku. So here, one for my mom-in-law, one for me, two more - one each for my co-sisters, as I have two co-sisters. So total 5. After my Mom-in-law, I have to take all these traditions and follow it. That time, the thaai vilakku will be for my Mom-in-law. And the tradition goes on.

The wick (thiri nool) for these vilakku is not the regular cotton wick we use. There is a thread called ''paavu thiri" (பாவு திரி) and we have to count in 50s or 100s. Take required length of the thread and cut. first tied a knot on the top. Then like we plait our hair, divide into three and make a plait. End it and tie a knot to secure. This is used same way for all the lamps. My grandfather used to run this thread 108 times in Padi, and it is then taken out, plaited to wick. But my father-in-law takes counts of thread, measures length and plaits the wick as these days padi is not available at homes as well as madakku. So this wooden plank is kept in front of the regular pooja place, over the kolam we drawn earlier. In front of this arrangement, a thalai vazhai ilai (Full banana leaf) is spread. Over which, 5 or 7 betel nuts & leaves, coconut, flower on top of the leaf, vegetables like raw banana, broad beans, sweet potato, arbi (seppankizhangu), yam (pidi karanai) are kept in sets, the same count as above.

So once the lamp is lit by the eldest in the family (take bath and lit with wet veshti/ towel), Make ready the pongal pot by decorating it. Viboodhi pattai, kunguma pottu is kept. Manjal and ginger is tied around the neck of the brass pot (vengala panai). One panai, each for sweet pongal and ven pongal. The pongal pot should be full, so buy the pot accordingly. My mom in law used a thread and inserted a piece of manjal and ginger in it, tied around the pot. So you might not see much. Seems she does this usually to avoid the leaves catching fire while cooking.

The stove should be clean and can be decorated with kolam. The whole day, everyone in the family should do fasting. Only after pongal, we can have food. Menu to be cooked :

Payatham paruppu (South Indian style moong dal)

A thayir pachadi

A sweet pachadi

2 poriyals - I made vazhakkai poriyal, avarakkai poriyal

7 kari kootu

Pongal sambar with payatham paruppu (moong dal)

Apart from ven pongal (to be consumed instead of regular rice) and sweet pongal.

All the menu prepared uses fresh turmeric, fresh ground spices and no onion or tomato, using only the 7 vegetables.

After the above cooking part is done, including the pongals, we start poojai. At each place (3 places) - a pair of kuthu vilakku is lit. In front of it, over the kolam drawn, keep a plate with a pair of vethalai, paaku, coconut, a pair of banana.

In front of main pooja place, 5 banana leaves (One thalai vazhai ilai and 4 edu) is spread. Usually 7 is done, but now a days, we cannot consume all these as the family is smaller than the earlier days. So we did 3 at each place according to the number of family members.

In each leaf, ven pongal, sweet pongal are kept, patted using water and made dent in the middle. Add a slice of banana, a small piece of jaggery over it. Pour a tsp of ghee.

Keep all the cooked items too in order.

First the regular place is done with poojai. Later, veetu deivam and surya bahavan should be offered at the same time, so me and Mom in law did together simultaneously.

Once the pooja is done, offered to crow, we all enjoy the food. We all sat on the floor and had food together. It was great experience last year and I was just imagining how the festival would have been celebrated those days earlier in our households where they had their own cultivation lands, cattles, cows and a very large (joint) family😃.

Source: https://www.rakskitchen.net/2019/01/pongal-celebration-pongal-shopping-list.html

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alexiablackbriar13 · 8 years ago

Text

Panther!Oliver Teaser - Continue or Not?

Below is a segment of the beginning of the Arrow AU ‘verse where Oliver has the ability to shape shift into a panther. After I finish puppy!Oliver, this is one of the options for a new WIP fic I would start or a new ‘verse I would fill with oneshots. After reading, if you would be so kind as to inform me of your opinions regarding this option, and the fic premise itself, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

@geniewithwifi @bushlaboo @thatmasquedgirl @acheaptrickandacheesyoneline @nvwhovian @latinasmoak @ohmyemilybett @nodecaff4me @queensoverwatch @imusuallyobsessed @somewhatinvisible @angelheartsspn

Scientific Log, Crew Member 21

DAY 1

Been three days since arrived on east shoreline of Lian Yu. Captain dropped anchor mile offshore, sent research scientist group with scouts to set up on beach. Seems perfect for research - deserted, no surveillance - nobody to be aware of our illegal activities. Research deemed illegal by United Nations - experimental animal gene splicing into humans not deemed safe nor suitable. Chinese government willing to compromise - gave us permission to use prisoners on Lian Yu if agreed to share profits from successful experimentations - hand over successful subjects to be tested, used as weapons. Waiting for further orders, further progress.

DAY 4

Become aware of possible inhabitants on Lian Yu. Captain certain they’re camped not far from research and scout teams position. Wants to take a team, find and capture, bring them in as subjects. Progress so far - successful removal of genes from animals, serum created to inject. Test subjects vitally needed.

DAY 7

Confirmed inhabitants on Lian Yu. Scout team discovered crashed plane wreckage that showed signs of living. Warm embers of fires. Recently snapped foliage. Captain determined to track and capture. All efforts put into hunting down of inhabitants in hope they will become test subjects.

DAY 13

Test subjects captured. Two males, one female. Subject 1, said name Oliver Queen, late twenties, has extensive scarring from torture, said shipwrecked on Lian Yu last year. Subject 2, name Slade Wilson, claimed ASIS connections, Captain further researching, skilled in combat. Subject 3, female, name Shado, no last name given, does not speak much, also skilled in combat. Refusing to offer information. Captain wanted torture for information on possible more inhabitants, however scientists want subjects in prime condition for experiments. Testing and experimentation will proceed tomorrow.

DAY 14

Genes successfully spliced into subjects. Lead of experimentation wants at the moment to focus mainly on splicing feline Panthera genes into captured subjects. Subject 1 received Panthera Pardus, common Chinese leopard; Subject 2 received Panthera Tigris, Siberian tiger; Subject 3 received Panthera Neofelis, native clouded leopard. Though subjects put up resistance, experiments carried out with success. Awaiting results.

DAY 15

Subjects behaving strangely, adverse reactions. Different. Subject 1 sweating excessively, projecting symptoms of flu. Subject 2 fallen into deep sleep, cannot be woken, suspected short hibernation? Subject 3 not moving, vomiting, high fever. Can only treat symptoms and hope for their survival.

DAY 16

Subjects illness improving. Beginning to act strangely. Pacing of cells, not eating nor sleeping, aggressive attitudes towards staff and crew. DNA results to arrive in two days.

DAY 18

DNA results come in. All three subjects adopted spliced genes. All subjects now remain 58% human, 42% spliced gene. Testing will proceed.

DAY 21

Testing results proved conclusive. Subjects senses heightened to that of spliced gene species, adopting characteristics emotionally and intellectually of spliced gene species; e.g. Subject 1 when approached growls and snarls. All have enhanced stamina, immunity, senses, strength, speed. Testing will continue. Results very promising.

DAY 23

Subjects’ first transformations. Forced with concentrated formula injection of adrenaline. Subject 1 strangely adopted melanic gene of leopard. Subject 2 larger than average. Subject 3 slim, not much muscle. Extremely pleased with efforts. Transformations were smooth, uncomplicated, full. Very promising!

DAY 25

Subjects escaped. Half crew dead. Scout team missing. Aborting mission.

DAY 26

Transport off Lian Yu exploded. No escape route. All experimental serums, research, data collected about subjects destroyed and lost. Emergency.

DAY 27

Last group of survivors swam out to sea. Picked up by fishing vessel. All agreed. Not speak of experiments. Agreed to use new identities, destroy any and all evidence of scientific research trip. Subjects remain trapped on Lian Yu. Only hope they do not survive or escape.

A sleek black head snapped up from where a delicate pink tongue was lapping at the calm waters of a lone stream deep within the dense rainforest vegetation. Both ears pricked and swivelled, catching the distant sound, alert and to attention, and within seconds, tensed muscles responded.

The panther sprung across the stream gracefully and raced through the jungle foliage, leaping over fallen trees with ease and expertly navigating through the dark undergrowth. With a massive jump, powered by powerful hind legs, the panther launched itself onto the branch of a tree and the cat quickly clambered up to the highest point, sharp dagger-like claws slicing effortlessly into the bark, dark blue eyes darting about the horizon.

There, in the distance, a small fishing vessel, only a click offshore from the hellish island. The panther raised his head and unleashed a loud yowl into the forest that echoed off the land before it leapt down out of the tree, landing skilfully on all fours before streaking towards a vantage point.

The island ferns and bramble branches lashed at the panther’s legs as his paws thudded on the hardened, cracked ground. It had not rained on Lian Yu for nearly a month now, and due to that, prey had been scarce. The panther had hardly eaten nor drank fresh water for weeks, instead having to rely on the small range of edible plants and tiny water springs up in the mountains. The chance of rescue, in the form of a fishing vessel, was surely a miracle. Skidding to a halt at the top of one of the sea cliffs, the weathered rocks crumbling under the great cat’s paws, his nose twitched madly as his glowing blue eyes, filled with determination and courage and strength, settled on the small ship off shore.

A low rumble escaping the panther’s chest, he darted back into the thickets to where he had stored his weapons for safe keeping whilst hunting. As the leaves and twigs snapped and dragged at his short black pelt, the fur melted away into human skin, and within seconds, the magnificent creature was no longer standing on four paws, but instead on two legs. Torn and ruined old clothing covered him, and there was not an inch of skin that was clean. Hair had grown from, well, nearly everywhere. Even in human form, the man still loped like his panther form, his senses wired and sharp eyes darting about, hands almost trembling in his excitement as he thought of going home, escaping the hell island and being able to live again.

He snatched his bow and quiver from his hiding place, and quickly traversed back up the cliff, until he rocked back on his heels and carefully drew an arrow, the motion effortless as his muscles rippled, toned and hardened by months, years really, of surviving on a barren scrap of land with barely any prey for a panther to hunt. Striking flint down onto the arrow head, it sparked and lit, the flame flickering and causing the man to cringe back in fear. Men utilised fire and used it as a weapon, but animals… all animals were afraid of fire. And he was more animal than human at this point.

The arrow was released, and it flew. The man watched with keen eyes as it struck the pre-prepared pile of tinder and wood on the beach, and as the signal fire burst into life, and great grey buffets of smoke rose into the sky, he felt, for the first time in years, relief. The fishing vessel was beginning to turn and head towards the beach, having spotted the signal.

Gripping his bow tightly in one hand and drawing the green, threadbare hood pooled at his neck over his head, the man shadowed his sunken face that was adorned with hard lines of stress from years of anger and pain and fear and paranoia. He was slightly unsteady on two legs, having been used to running on four paws for the longest length of time, but he managed to hurry down from the cliffs and get himself onto the beach, so he arrived just as the babbling and anxious Chinese fisherman stepped onto the dull sand.

At first, he was wary, a low snarl at the back of his throat. For so long, he had associated human touch with agony and pain. He couldn’t remember the last time a human being had touched him and not hurt him. But the fisherman just stared at him in shock, stock still and not making any sudden movements, and the panther settled inside of him. Lifting his head, the man stepped forwards.

“My name is Oliver Queen,” he croaked in Mandarin, his voice sore and rough from disuse. “I’ve been shipwrecked on this island for five years. I need to go home, to the USA. Please take me to Hong Kong, to the US embassy.”

The Chinese men nodded, muttering to him that he was safe now, that he was being rescued, they would take him to where he wished to go, and soon the man who was also a panther was standing on the stern of the fishing boat, gazing with glazed over eyes as the island of Lian Yu grew smaller and smaller in the distance as they sailed out to sea, towards the mainland. It was uncomfortable, being in his human skin, after so long as a panther, but he would cope. He would have to cope. He had a long few days ahead of him, but soon, he would be back in Starling City. With his friends. With his family.

Oliver Queen was going home.

It was loud. Too loud. Too many people, too much equipment, too much around him, keeping him trapped there, walls confining him. Everything pristine and white and smelling harshly of chemicals and disinfectant.

It reminded him of the Room. The Room where he had been stripped down of his humanity and built back up as if he was a wild animal, a lethal creature preparing to pounce.

There were so many bright lights, pulsating and flickering and tearing through his mind. It was painful. But Oliver couldn't help staring down at the city below him.

He was finally home.

His ears twitched and he turned his head a fraction to the side, inhaling shallowly. A new person. The doctor man was talking to her outside the door. Hushed voices, hoping not to disturb, alarm. But he heard them clearly.

Extensive scar tissue.

Second-third degree burns across his back. Hasn't spoken.

Flinches when touched.

Then the door slowly opened and a broken voice whispered, "Oliver?"

That was his name. New person - threat/target? Ally/enemy? He turned, hands clasped and tilted his head slightly, inhaling again and the sharp scent of warm-mother-safe filled his nostrils. For the first time, in a long time, he smiled.

"Mom."

He was returning to his territory. His territory that had been his home before the Island, before the rebuilding of himself. His mother spoke constantly, causing a ringing in his oversensitive ears, but then the doors were open and the smell of mahogany-tea-family hit him and drew him inwards like hypnosis.

"Your room is exactly as you left it. I never had the heart to change a thing."

Oliver's head whipped around to face a new person approaching them. Threat/target? Ally/enemy? He stared and inhaled the man's scent, and it smelt familiar.

"Oliver. It's damn good to see you."

Oliver narrowed his eyes. He couldn't place the face. He shifted his stance slightly, unsure whether or not it should have been defensive or offensive.

"It's Walter..." The man offered. He reached a hand forwards, probably to shake Oliver's. "Walter Steele."

Oliver looked at the hand, half of his mind telling him it's-a-trap-no-don't-shake-it! and the other half reassuring safe-not-threat-friend. He made a small chirping noise, fixing bright eyes on Walter, but didn't shake his hand.

"You remember Walter, your father's friend from the company," Moira said, putting a hand on Oliver's arm. She looked worried.

He flinched away, another memory coming to mind, of forceful touches and needles and knives. Moira looked shocked, then upset and hurt. He didn't miss the looks that she and Walter exchanged sadly. Then, his ears twitched at a faint noise; he looked up. Another woman. This time - Russian-cake-ally - he gave a small smile and slunk forwards. "It's good to see you, Raisa."

The maid gave a smile and gripped one of his hands tightly. He expected coldness, and the sting of pain, but instead it held a welcoming warmth. "Welcome home, Mr. Oliver." And her voice was as quiet and gentle as he had remembered, not grating in his sensitive ears like the other. "Mr. Merlyn phoned. He wants to join you for dinner."

The name registered positively, and a smile quirked his lips for a moment. The panther seemed distinctly satisfied, muttering Tommy-trusted- friend. Distracted by yet another scent, Oliver just gave a dismissive nod and wandered to the bottom of the staircase, sniffing and taking carefully measured steps.

"Wonderful," Moira beamed. When he didn't reply, she said concernedly, "Oliver? Did you hear that?"

A door opened and closed. A young woman, a teenager, appeared at the top of the stairs and stood there with a massive grin of shock and relief. Oliver gave another quiet chirp of excitement. Sister! Sister!

"Hey, sis," he greeted, grinning, feeling an overwhelming happiness as the panther preened and yelped excitedly inside of him at the sight of his kin.

Thea gave a choked laugh and bounded down the stairs, with all the strength of a lioness. "I knew it. I knew you were alive!" She flung her arms around his neck and Oliver stiffened, immediately expecting an attack of some sort, but soon relaxed into it. Her scent was wonderfully familiar, and it was one he had sorely missed. "I missed you so much," Thea murmured into his neck.

"You were with me the whole time."

Dinner was probably one of the most awkward situations Oliver had ever been in. Tommy was chattering away, and he listened absentmindedly, but in reality, he was focused on watching the subtle interactions between his mother and Walter, eyes narrowed and occasionally sniffing to catch a scent.

He couldn't turn it off. The panther part of him, the part that constantly assessed for danger and for threats and enemies. It wouldn't shut down.

He couldn't eat the food. He was so used to eating so little on the Island that after the food they had forced down his throat at the hospital, he didn't think he would be able to eat for a week.

And then there was his mother and Walter. Oliver couldn't mistake the scent of Walter all over Moira, as if he had claimed her. And Thea kept on shooting them little nervous looks when they brushed hands or began to smile too much.

"What was it like there?" Thea questioned. Oliver turned to her and inhaled. Curious? He blinked at her, swallowing. It was Hell. It was pain and horror and nothing you could ever imagine.

That Island... It changed me in ways you'd never comprehend.

"Cold," he responded shortly.

Dinner went downhill from there.

His room was too cramped. He couldn't sleep on the bed, and he couldn't sleep without the window open. Restless, Oliver tossed and turned on the floor, finding comfort in the spray of rain in his face and the harsh wind; he had gotten used to sleeping for only a few hours on the Island, sometimes going without sleep for days, and he needed the elements surrounding him to calm him.

His body wasn't used to falling into such a deep state of unconsciousness. He was plagued by nightmares of the black sea tearing at his clothes and soaking him through, the flashing lightning blinding him as he choked on salt water, the pounding thunder deafening his screams and pleads for help.

And then it changed - suddenly, he was not half-drowning in a terrible storm, but he was tied down to a pristine white medical table and he was being stuck full of needles and cut open, blood pouring from the incisions made with the scalpel, and his form was tearing apart, a new animal burning its way into his spirit and soul as they injected and severed and remade him. He heard Slade and Shado screaming his name as agony overwhelmed him and he thrashed in pain.

Oliver, wake up! Oliver! Wake up!

Panther instincts leapt forwards, forcing him awake and he reacted instantly, flipping his attacker and shoving the flat side of a hardened hand to their throat in desperation and fear.

"OLIVER!"

This wasn't the Island. His eyes snapped upwards and met terrified, stunned ones in a gentle face, and he recoiled, scrambling away, the leopard rearing backwards until he could only feel it on the fringes of his mind. He crouched, panic-stricken and guilty, staring down at the sodden floor with haunted wide eyes.

Walter was helping Moira to her feet and Oliver choked out, his breathing heavily and uneven, "I'm sorry. I'm so - I'm so sorry."

Moira knelt, trying to get a little closer. Her scent of warm-mother-safe wafted over his nose, but it wasn't reassuring, as it was also tinged with the scent of fear-shock-scared. "It's alright, sweetheart," she whispered. "You're home. You're home."

He had never felt so lost.

The next morning, he was faced with emerging from his hidey hole and explaining to his mother and Walter why he had vivid nightmares and sleeping troubles.

He dreaded even thinking about it.

Oliver had arranged to meet Tommy in the late morning. But that still left time for Moira to confront him about last night.

The family were silently eating breakfast in the dining room when he arrived in the doorway. There was an obvious negative mood, that made the panther inside of him twitch. Oliver gave an uneasy chitter, shuffling, but the noise was loud enough for Moira, Walter and Thea to hear.

"Morning, Ollie," Thea beamed, from around a mouthful of bacon. "God, it's so great to be able to say that again."

"Good morning." He sat down carefully, the scent of meat and fried food wafting over him, and he sniffed, hunger pooling at the bottom of his belly. As Oliver began serving himself bacon and toast, the hairs at the back of his neck tingled as in the corner of his eye, he spotted Moira and Walter exchanging unsure glances. "I have missed cooked breakfast," he said, forking some bacon into his mouth. He turned to Thea. "School today?"

Thea rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately."

"I wouldn't have survived the island if I hadn't learnt to catalogue and examine the environment; building on knowledge and education is important," he said absentmindedly, repeating the words he remembered Shado once had said, as the panther inside licked his lips at the taste of meat on his tongue. It was heavenly.

There was silence. He looked up. All three of them were staring at him in shock.

Thea laughed. "Who are you and what have you done with Oliver Jonas Queen?" She joked.

She blanched when Oliver simply swallowed his bacon, and looked down at his lap blankly. Oliver Jonas Queen died the moment he landed on that island. He suddenly felt uncertain. He had spoken about the island, and now felt slightly more vulnerable.

"Did you sleep well last night, Oliver?" Walter questioned blandly, but there was an underlying warning as his eyebrows shot up.

Oliver paused, his fork half-way to his mouth, and slowly placed his cutlery down on the table. When he raised his head, he unleashed a lethal glare at the man. Walter started in shock, looking fearful for a moment before he composed himself.

"Like a log, thank you," he gritted out, giving a painfully fake smile.

Thea glanced between them all, as the three adults in the room all exchanged glowers and stares. "Why do I get the feeling I missed out on something?" she asked suspiciously.

Moira took a delicate bite of toast. Walter took a gulp of orange juice. Oliver grabbed three more slices of bacon.

"It's nothing, Speedy," Oliver reassured her shortly, after a moment.

Moira cleared her throat and ended up in a light coughing fit, drinking some water as Walter gently patted her on the back. Throughout it, Oliver had frozen and looked down at his hands.

"You okay, Mom? That's a real throaty cough you got there."

"You can thank your brother for that," Moira said sourly. Almost the instant after she said it, Moira's eyes snapped upwards in horror and she desperately tried, "Oliver, I didn't mean -"

But the damage had already been done. Oliver had lowered his guard, considering the fact that his family was familiar-safe-comfort, but that comment had been like a sword thrust through his chest. He crumpled. The panther made a small injured noise, hurt flashing across his face, as well as guilt and shame. He rose silently and slunk from the room, metaphorical tail between his legs.

Luckily, Tommy provided escape. As he clambered into Tommy's car, once again donning his billionaire playboy mask, he closed his eyes and suppressed his emotions.

He had felt more connected to his family when he had been on the Island. Now, all he felt was isolated.

#arrow #arrow fic #oliver queen #oliver queen fic #alexiablackbriar13 #mine

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