#eliminate on the other hand. woof.

[finex09]

Tumblr besties get my dumb memes first. Anyways. Based on true recent events.

[owlwithanapple]

Bird & Fox

Chapter 13

After you left Nightwing, you were alone in a quiet and deserted place, staring blankly. At this time, a truck suddenly stopped in front of you, and a group of masked men walked towards you with guns. According to the number, there should be about twenty people. You stood there pretending to be indifferent, just to see what they wanted to do to you with so many people.

You just tilted your head, and more than twenty people pointed guns at you. Such a hospitality means if move again, will be shot to death. These people are really not ordinary idiots. A man who looks like a boss stood in front of me with a gun pointed at your chest. You can tell how much this man has experienced by looking at the scars on his face. You didn't move at all, just wanting to listen to what they have to say.

At this time, someone carried a suitcase in front of you. He opened it and saw a pile of cash. When you were fascinated, he covered it and said, "As long as you work for us, this cash will be yours."

You tilted your head said in a relentless tone, "You want me to work for you? Do you need point more than 20 guns to recruit me now?"

He nodded and laughed, "I've seen the news about you. Your hand is too weird. If I don't do this, I will be unsafe."

You split a clone stood behind him, "It's really weird, but you didn't point it at real me."

Everyone turned their guns to the clone behind him in surprise, and he shouted, "Damn it! What the hell are you doing!"

You just shook your head and told him, "It's nothing."

He laughed confidently and raised his middle finger, "You have two people but you can't beat more than 20 people! Idiot!"

You were annoyed but still applauded him, "Wow then bravo~"

He pushed your clone away and approached you, "Do or not? Money or life? You'd better think it through."

You asked calmly, "What job? I know the salary but don’t know the job content. It's unreasonable, handsome guy."

He pointed back the truck, "This will leave Gotham City from the dock at midnight. You have to eliminate those who come to mess with it."

You understand what they mean, "You mean the truck will sneak out Gotham City from the dock, I'm responsible for stopping Batman and the others, right?"

He smiled so sinisterly, "Correct!"

You think about what to do. A group of more than 20 criminals want to sneak out of Gotham City. You don't know what's in the truck, but it must be valuable. You laugh and say, "But, it's impossible for me to stop Batman alone. He has many helpers~"

He pointed the gun at your chest, "You can leave as soon as the truck leaves. Do you understand!"

He clearly meant he wanted you to delay their time. It's obvious the money in the suitcase will not be given to you. Otherwise, you can use the trick to create a chaotic situation and have fun. It's fun to think about it.

You hold out your hand, "See you tomorrow."

He laughed and held your hand tightly, "Very good!"

Morning—

Overnight became a sleepless night for you, as Nightwing's words made you lose control of emotions and made it hard to sleep. All night long, his every move and word echoed in your mind countless times, even when you were lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, you could see his face. You had a good time with him, but his influence made you completely sleepless all night.

Looking out the window, the sun has risen and hung in the sky. You sat up from the bed with difficulty. Looking at your hands that he had held countless times, how precious the tenderness he gave you that night was. You covered your forehead tried to make your troubles disappear, but not as simple as you thought. Seeing his appearance as soon as you closed your eyes was not good for your heart, and you were almost mad at him.

"Woof?" Kirin, who was lying next to you, got up and looked confused.

You touched his furry hair to seek comfort, he let you touch without resistance, which meant it was a good thing. You sat cross-legged on the bed, held him over to let him sleep on your legs. You looked outside from the window, the sun was so bright, the night was so beautiful. You wanted to take the first step for him, but didn't have the courage to tell him you were willing to bet on him, because what scared you the most was you would only see each other at night, even if it was just for a short night.

You couldn't guarantee you would become the person he expected, and you couldn't expect him to belong to you alone. The emotional conflict was really uncomfortable, but it made people feel so tempted that they wanted to try it again. You two are different, a knight guards the night, and a fox demon travels at night. Even there is an unbreakable trust between you two, but you are timid. Don't want to hurt each other, don't want to give him any promises, and don't want to look forward to future.

Suddenly you remember that group of illegal immigrants said they would arrive at the dock at midnight. It's really one thing after another. Your head is about to explode. Now have to calmly think about how to deal with the work at the dock. You exhale "What the hell am I doing..."

At the same time, Dick POV

I fell into a complete sleepless confusion overnight. After patrolling, I returned to the bed to rest, but her shadow was hovering in my head. I couldn't forget no matter how hard I tried. This is the so-called lovesickness, which made me go around in circles. As soon I closed my eyes, I could hear her calling me "knight" in my ear. I remembered it deeply in my heart even engraved it in my bones.

While I was still daydreaming, I looked out the window saw it had been light for a long time. I looked at the time displayed on my phone, which was much later than the time I usually get up. I thought it was time to get out of bed, so I put my phone aside, took off my pajamas, and found a set of casual clothes from the closet to change into. After I changed my clothes, there was a knock on the door. I hung my pajamas in the closet rushed to open the door. The person outside the door was Tim.

"Hi. You got up late today." Tim stood outside the door waiting for me.

I left the room, closed the door, and went downstairs with him. "Yeah, I didn't expect it."

Tim is very smart. He quickly knew there was something wrong with me. He stood in front of me. "Do you have something to say?"

I laughed and put my hand on his head. "Yes, a lot."

Tim and I went to dining area and found breakfast for two on the table. Bruce had already gone to work, Damian went to school, Alfred went shopping, and Babybird was probably looking for his crush or checking the condition of his car. Now just Tim and I at home, it seemed much quieter, and felt more relaxed.

Tim sat next to me, "So? What's going on?"

I looked at him and smiled, "Don't laugh at me when you hear that."

He also laughed, "If your content is stupid."

I thought about it for a while and decided to tell him everything, "I've fallen in love with someone recently."

Tim looked at me with a confused expression, and made a gesture with his hands. "Wait, you fallen in love with someone then what about Barbara?"

I clasped my fingers together and clenched them. "We broke up a year ago."

Tim looked very surprised. "I thought you two already talking about marriage."

I smiled and shook my head. "We pursue different goals. Breaking up is the best outcome for her and me."

After hearing what I said, Tim didn't show his reaction, he just nodded to show he understood. Barbara and I have been together for many years, and we both think we are the right people for each other. But as time goes by, we find that we pursue is getting more and more different, gradually we realize we don't yearn for love anymore. So I decided to break up and put an end to this turbulent love. It is enough for us to live our own lives.

He became cautious and asked, "Let me confirm with you first, you didn't fall in love with another girl while dating Barbara... You shouldn't be such a scumbag."

I was amused by his words, I smiled and shook my head, "Jeez! Of course not! I've only known this girl for a short time."

He put his hand on his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, "Huh... That's good, I can't accept my good brother cheating. So who is that girl?"

Suddenly it was difficult to say, after all, the matter of Kitsune was still unclear, "Ermm... She... It's a bit hard to say."

He took a sip of coffee and looked dumbfounded, "Are you serious? You have to keep me in suspense."

I waved my hands in panic to indicate no, "No, let me prepare myself first."

While Alfred was away, Tim crossed his legs, "So? Don't tell me she's a villain or a psychopath..."

I smiled awkwardly, "Um... that girl is Kitsune."

His expression obviously shocked by my answer, "No way! Bruce asked you to investigate her, and you actually... Wait, or is this your trick to make her fall in love with you and asking her for information?"

I looked at him awkwardly, shook my head slightly and sighed, "Sorry, I'm serious this time."

He held his head with both hands, "Damn... Bruce will be pissed to death."

I put my hands together and begged him, "I failed! I wanted to pursue her with all my heart, but she clearly rejected me!"

He looked at my face, bit his lip and sighed, "She clearly rejected you, so will you give up?"

I looked at him awkwardly, "It's a bit difficult..."

Tim tilted his head and stared at me seriously, then asked, "If she is enemy, will you kill her?"

My expression is no longer embarrassed, but serious. I have indeed thought about this question, thought about it for a long time. I would feel more at ease if she stood on my side, but I can't tell which side she is on. What I know now is she doesn't kill indiscriminately, and none of her attacks are fatal. I haven't witnessed her really getting serious about fighting, and I know that I still don't know much about her, but I just want to believe her.

I pressed his shoulder with a serious expression, "If really comes to that, I can't do it, you will do it for me."

He put his hand on mine, "I really don't want you two to end up in that situation."

I chuckled, "I don't want it either."

Y/N POV

You thought for a while. As far as you know, more than 20 people with guns wanted to sneak out of Gotham City with the truck. Then the truck is the key, and the more than 20 people are just minions. What the truck is transporting needs more than 20 people to follow, and the condition is fully armed. There must be valuable items in the truck that cannot be ignored.

The job they entrusted you which is delay Batman and his men, and then the cash in the suitcase will belong to you. After thinking for a long time, you know it is not cost-effective. They leave at the same time as the truck, and the cash in the suitcase also leave with them. Otherwise, since this is the case, better take advantage of the situation. You are a fox with a cunning mind. Since they want to disrupt the city, let's do a reversal.

To be honest, you are not interested working for those smugglers. It's not for money, just because they want to commit crimes, you don't want to sit back and do nothing. Since they want you to stop Batman and his men, you must do your best. After all, they are not as easy to deal with as you think. You walk into the armory, turn on the lights, disguise yourself, and change into a set of strong equipment in case you have any accidents.

Midnight-

You arrived at the dock an hour early saw many people talking together with guns in hands. You walked towards curious about what they were talking about. As you expected, they were very vigilant. When saw you coming, they pointed guns at you without hesitation. At this time, the man who was smoking on the side stood up waved his hand to signal them put down their guns. After hesitating for a moment, they chose to obey him.

You walk towards the smoker and say hello. "Hello~ I'm here to help today."

He spits on the ground. "I know."

You look at the truck, they are moving things. "What are those?"

He glares at you with disdain. "Shut up, you don't need to know."

You tilt your head. "You're right, it's not within my job scope."

"Hey, take off that disgusting mask." He suddenly says.

"I advise you to stay out of my business, you rubbish." You leave there after saying that.

You wandered around for a few laps, everyone was fully armed and ready to leave together. The next step was wait for the right time, but before that, you needed to pay more attention to the things in the truck. After all, these people not good people, and the things inside were naturally dangerous. You saw them carefully moving the things, it seemed they were very careful to protect the things inside.

Your walking range was limited, couldn't get close unless you disappeared again. However, disrupting their rhythm would affect your next actions. Now you only watch the fun from the side. Your hands on waist and wandered around for a few circles. You heard their voices talking, you curiously went forward to find out what was going on.

From their screens, you saw drones taking photos of police cars parked nearby. You smirk, you already reported the matter to the police station before coming to dock. One step of the plan was successful, but is not the time to be proud. No matter how many police there are, it is difficult to stop so many people.

You heard the smoking man throw his cigarette on the ground, waving his hands desperately and shouting to urge them to hurry up. As expected, he began anxious. While they were in chaos, you released black fog to blend in and went to the warehouse to check the goods. You glanced at the boxes of goods filled with various weapons and bombs. This makes sense. These people are terrorists hiding in Gotham City and now have to move another place to hide.

You hid in the dark, thinking about how to notify the police. At this time, you heard gunshots. You looked in the direction of the sound and saw Red Hood riding a motorcycle with two guns in hand. Nightwing, holding two sticks, fell from the sky and knocked down some people with gorgeous movements. Red Robin holding a long stick, knocked down several people with flexible steps, and little Robin followed. Wow~ Goddess of luck has come, you waiting for them to mess up!

Your plan is about to succeed, and the next step is to find a way to stop the truck. But you can't be impulsive, because there are still a few people in the truck. The moment you open the door, you will definitely be shot by them. Now the advantage is not control the situation, but the result only be known when the truck succeeds or fails to escape. Now your goal is prevent them from getting away with it.

It's been a long time since the chaotic night, how about a serious one? Although you are sorry use them to mess up the situation, you can't do it alone and not trustworthy. You warm up, take out the swords and hold them in your hands, looking at your mask reflected on the swords. You keep playing with the swords with both hands, doing this is to increase your familiarity with holding the swords.

At this time, the smoking man shouted "Fuck dead fox! Where the hell did you run to?!"

You walked out of the darkness, the irritating and helpless voice reached your ears. You took each heavy step towards the chaotic place. Since you had made a big fuss, there was no need to hold back your murderous aura. Some minions realized your aura was not right, and stood aside in a daze, watching you pass by them step by step. At this time, the voice of the smoking man still echoing in your ears, you directly knocked him down with a heavy punch.

He fell to the ground with his eyes rolled up, the sound of falling attracted the people around him, including Nightwing and others. You took a deep breath and twisted your neck. This time you didn't talk nonsense and didn't make any sound. You stood there silently, with your feet the same width as your shoulders. The person closest to you is Nightwing, the person you least want to see for the time being, but now is not the time to be picky.

Nightwing's expression obviously shocked. "What the hell are you doing here?"

You remained silent just stood there quietly.

"Answer me! What are you doing here!" His heart-breaking cry made you feel suffocated.

Red Robin pulled him, "Nightwing... I'll do it here."

Nightwing took a deep breath adjust his mood, "You go help others, I'll take care of her."

"Nightwing..." Red Robin said silently on the side.

His tone became extremely cold, "Go. Don't make me say it again."

You heard his serious tone, Red Robin couldn't do anything to him, so went to help others first. The current situation is just you and Nightwing, the two of you have just experienced a crisis. But you have no choice, if tell him everything in the truck now, once the matter is exposed, no matter how strong, both of you will be in crisis.

He clenched the two sticks in his hands, at the same time, you were ready to fight at any time. You stepped forward with your left foot and rushed towards him. He dodged and kicked you. You jumped up and put one hand on his raised foot to kick him in the face. His acrobatics were indeed not to be underestimated. He moved his head to the side avoid your kick and then he retracted his foot. You flipped over and landed on the ground.

You jump twice and rush over. You get in front of him and split your legs to lower your height and kick him with your left foot. He does a backflip avoid your attack. You support yourself with both hands on the ground and keep kicking him. He raises his hands to block your attack. After you kick him for the last time, you turn over stand firm and kick him in the front. He grabs your foot with one hand, and you kick him in face with the other.

Nightwing, who was hit repeatedly, retreats and uses his sticks to combo. You use your swords to meet the attack head-on. The two of you disintegrate all the attacks at the fastest speed. In the head-on confrontation, you feel he is showing mercy, only your side keeps attacking him. It really makes you angry after a long time. You obviously enemy, why does he take the beating like a fool.

He suddenly asked, "You'd better give me an explanation. Why are you here? Are you working for them?" You actually already have the answers to these questions. From his tone, you can feel he is waiting for your response. You remain silent.

Your non-response is an answer, but not the one he expects. He gritted his teeth as if he was going to roar at you, but he quickly regained his composure. He suddenly had a confident look on his face, you were confused why he had this expression. At this time, three ropes shot out and tied you tightly. You looked in three directions and saw Red Hood, Little Robin and Red Robin.

"I advise you to surrender. Don't force me, Kitsune." He said calmly.

You didn't expect to be tricked by him. This time it was your mistake. You focused attention on him and forgot about the other accomplices. You moved your body slightly but couldn't break free. The three men were strong tied you up at the same time. You found the warehouse had been closed and the truck had started to escape. Now is the time to catch them all in one fell swoop. The remaining terrorists hid in the truck.

You let go of the swords let it fall to the ground not to surrender, but to take advantage of the situation. The truck drove towards the five of you, and didn't have time to hide. In this case, you took a gamble. You calculated the time found a loophole. You stepped on the sword and kicked it hard. The knife flew towards the tire of the truck. Your sharp sword pierced one of the tires, disrupting the balance of the truck and causing the truck to fall in the other direction.

At this time, several people walked out of the truck. Although it was a mess, you felt something was wrong. You saw two people wearing masks and holding Gatling guns walked out of the truck. The other three realized something was wrong directly loosened the ropes and pulled Nightwing to find cover hide. You broke free from the restraint of the ropes, picked up the sword on the ground and confronted the enemy.

"Fucking fox..." The enemy's tone was very unhappy.

"You lied to us!" Another one shouted at you.

There was no other way after the matter was exposed. You took back the sword raised your hands to make a gesture of surrender. You finally spoke, "I don't need to do a full set work if the money hasn't been paid, right?"

"Fuck you! Did you call the police!"

You nodded made a thumbs-up gesture, "Guessed it right, so smart!"

"You bastard! Traitor!"

You shook your head and opened your palms, "No, I just said I would see you tomorrow, but didn't say I would help you clean up~"

"Fox!" They shouted!

You said in a mocking tone, "Who told you not to pay me first? There is no such thing as free food in the world. If you want me to do something, you have to give me corresponding rewards. That's how business is done."

With a shout, the Gatling gun in his hand was about to fire a round, someone ran towards you. Before you could see who it was, he pulled you aside to take cover. He threw you on ground and used his body to protect you from getting hurt. When you opened your eyes, you saw it was Nightwing who sacrificed himself to save you. This is what they call a hero saving a damsel in distress. You were planning rush to take them both down before the gun started firing, but your plan has been temporarily declared a failure.

You patted his cheek "Knight, get out of the way. You're blocking me."

"Before that, answer my question first. What are you doing?" He blocked you with his body, leaving you no place to escape.

You sighed and compromised "I'm here to stop them."

He snickered, his smile finally returned "Why the hell didn't you say that earlier. What would you do if I made a mistake?"

"Erm... let you beat me up?" You said casually.

He lay on top and hugged you tightly to protect your head "Damn, you fearless bastard..."

The Gatling finally stopped firing, you pushed Nightwing aside and climbed out the bunker to see what was going on. They were reloading the ammunition. You drew sword prepared to attack, but Nightwing held your hand. You shook him off but you didn't have enough strength to get rid of him.

"Idiot! You want to die?" He suddenly scolded you.

You pointed over there, "The Gatling gun is out of bullets, which means it's a good time to attack!"

"What the hell time are you two still flirting with each other!" Suddenly Red Hood appeared behind you.

Red Robin approached, "If want to flirt, wait until finish business, so what now?"

Little Robin followed, "Why flirt with this fox, your appetite is so bad."

Nightwing clenched his fist, "You guys!"

You interrupted mischievously, "You handsome guys flirt first, I'll take them down."

You pull a flashbang and throw it at them. The flashbang explodes and steals their vision. You jump out of cover and throw shuriken at them. When other people come out of the truck to beat you up, Nightwing pulls you back and kicks the enemy in the chin.

Red Robin follows closely hits the enemy with a stick in his hand. Red Hood rushes over grabs the enemy and violently hits his face until faints. Little Robin uses his agility to deal with other enemies. You ride on the enemy's shoulders and throw him to the ground with the power of your feet. Nightwing dodges the vital points with grace and agility then strikes hard.

Everyone's attention was distracted, you took advantage of the gap to quickly investigate the truck. As you expected, the secrets were all weapons, these things were concentrated in the truck, so it took so long to move them. You ran out of the truck saw little Robin being grabbed by someone. You went around behind him, grabbed the enemy's clothes threw him to the ground.

Little Robin fell to the ground, you stood in front of him and stretched out hand to help him up, he slapped your hand away with disdain, "Go away."

You feel speechless but that's just his character. You take your hand back look at his running back with a smile on your face. After a thrilling battle, most of the enemies have been knocked unconscious. Finally, the matter is over. Just in case, you go to the truck check if there are other accomplices. A strange premonition still hovering in your heart. You stand behind and see there is a person hiding. He takes off his shirt you see a bunch of bombs tied to him.

"Stand back! You come any closer, I will blow you up!" he shouted.

You take a few steps back and raise your hands "Hey, calm down first..."

He stares at you, his finger on the button "You don't understand how we live every day! We are people abandoned by the world!"

You can't understand what hardships they have gone through and why they have fallen into such a state. You can't understand and comfort others. You watch him vent his anger. At this time, he no longer hesitates. You see his fingers pressing the button little by little to start the self-destruction. You are standing there and someone pounces on you falls into the water.

You hold your breath in the water. Looking up from the water, the bomb has been activated and that guy have been blown into a bloody fountain. In the water, someone hugs your waist pulls you to the surface. Once you are on the surface, you take a deep breath find that is Nightwing next to you. He holds your waist pushes you up. You climb up smoothly then he supports his whole body with both hands and climbs up again.

He squatted beside you and panted, "Are you okay?"

You saw him nod slightly, "Thank you, I'm fine."

You stand up and walk forward. You see a pool of blood scattered on the ground like fireworks. Everyone else was knocked down and couldn't get up, but he was blown up so badly. You regret not stopping him in time, but it's not worth it for you to sacrifice yourself in exchange for his life. However, the blood spray is really suffocating.

Policemen stepped into the scene with guns, "Don't move!"

You stood aside and didn't move. A policeman shot into the air then pointed at you, "Raise your hands!"

"Wait a minute! She is..." You heard Nightwing trying to stop them, but he was stopped by Red Hood.

"Ahem, please put down the gun." At this time, a man with glasses came over.

"But! This fox is their accomplice!" A policeman was nervous.

The man with glasses put down the gun in his hand and smiled at you. "Thanks to you for delaying them in time, we can bring them to justice."

You bowed to him and saluted. "Thank you for trusting me, Mr. Gordon."

Batman walked out of the darkness. "Everyone did a good job, including you Kitsune."

"What the hell?" Red Hood was confused.

Red Robin pointed you. "So you are helping the police?"

Little Robin looked disgusted. "Huh? Is it the credit of the stinky fox?"

Suddenly you sneezed. "Hachoo! Come on, who has a towel? I'm freezing!" You hugged your cold body. You don't like the heavy atmosphere and feel stressed, just want to sneeze to relieve stress.

Everyone was discussing the issue very seriously, and you the only one who interrupted and shouted it was cold. However, you heard Mr. Gordon squinting his eyes and laughing softly, Batman coughed twice as he trying to hold back laughter, Robin put his hands on his waist and grinned, Red Hood and Red Robin very confused expressions, and Nightwing stood next to Batman and smiled at you.

Mr. Gordon put his coat on your shoulders. "You should get some rest first. You must be exhausted."

You hold the coat nod to him. "Thank you very much."

You find a quiet place sit down and rest. It's really painful to be soaked in cold water. You look back see the police team starting to work. Batman is investigating on the side. The matter has been resolved. You can sleep well tonight. If you don't think of a solution in time when facing a large number of people, your body will not be able to bear it.。

Someone sat next to you and handed you a bottle of water. "Can you give me an explanation?"

You looked at him. It was Nightwing. You took it and opened the bottle cap. "Erm... must it be now?"

"Otherwise, you will disappear again and I won't be able to find you." He took a sip of water.

You sighed and pressed the bottle tightly. "Ask me, I will answer if I can."

He looked at you raised his eyebrows. "What can't you answer?"

You looked at him said in a playful tone. "Then I won't answer anything."

He pulled your arm. "Hahaha, I won't tease you anymore. So what's going on today?"

You thought and decided to tell him, "Erm... those terrorists hired me to delay you all so they can leave Gotham City smoothly. Before coming to the dock, I met James Gordon. I thought they had a lot of people and it would difficult for me to do it alone, so I asked him to ask for support."

After he understood, immediately said, "No wonder Batman suddenly came to me, it was you."

"That's how it happened. So, Mr. Knight, do you have any questions?" You rubbed your hands.

"You risked your life to be double, the risk very high." He said.

You pointed at yourself said confidently, "I'm safe now~"

He held your hand tightly and put his other hand on your hand, "You can rely on me more."

You nervously pulled your hand back. You and Nightwing were still in a delicate relationship and he kept making you waver. You smiled awkwardly and said, "Oh Knight~ I couldn't find you, so of course I asked the police for help."

He speechless, his eyes fixed on you, you held the borrowed coat tightly in your hand. You didn't know what to do, you really didn't dare to meet his eyes. His burning gaze concealed a lot of words, you didn't want to pay attention to him now, lest your emotions be messed up by him. You stood up walked past him without saying goodbye.

You turned around saw him sighing in frustration with his head down. You didn't know what to do with his sudden reaction. You knew he cared about you so much out of kindness, but once the two of you were in a stalemate, you were at a loss. At this time, Red Robin came over to block you, thought you were blocking his way so you moved to the left, and he also moved to block your way.

"Reddy, what are you doing?" You tilt your head.

He crossed his arms "I thought you were smart, but much dumber than I thought."

You were annoyed by what he said. "What do you want to say?"

He chuckled. "His low mood has something to do with you."

"Huh?" You pointed at yourself.

At this time, Red Hood came over with little Robin and put his hand on little Robin's head. "Wow~ The fox made Nightwing cry~"

You looked at Red Hood and pointed at his red helmet. "Your mother's Little Red Riding Hood, when did I make him cry?"

Little Robin got rid of Red Hood and interrupted. "Tsk, idiot fox."

You were annoyed by them after being lectured by them and didn't understand what they said. But they were right. You noticed Nightwing's mood kept changing when he was with you. But comforting people is not your strong point, and afraid of saying the wrong thing and making things worse. You looked at his lonely and lost back, suddenly an inexplicable sadness came over you.

You took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to walk towards and stand behind him "Um...Knight?"

You saw that he didn't even turn his head. You wanted to speak, but your face suddenly turned red. You opened your mouth and said, "I...believed you definitely would come, so I dared to take that risk..."

Damn embarrassing words, you look back awkwardly, seeing the other three raising their hands to show thumbs up, damn you don't understand their crooked thoughts. You look back at Nightwing in front of you, he has turned back to look at you. You didn't notice when he turned, fortunately the mask covered your face, this expression can't be seen by anyone, definitely be embarrassing to death.

"Did you say it for real?" He asked in a surprised tone.

You looked to the side to distract the gaze "Yes..."

He quickly stood in front of you, you fell back in fear but he held your waist to let you stand firm "You said you trust me for real?"

You looked to the side nervously "Don't make me say it second time..."

He approached you with a smug look "I want to hear it again!"

"Go to hell!" You hit his forehead with your head.

Batman helped Mr. Gordon complete the investigation then walked towards the other three. He saw you and Nightwing with back to each other. Nightwing covered his forehead but looked very happy until couldn't hide his smile. However, you were so embarrassed that clenched your fists.

Batman pointed at the two of you and asked the three, "What's going on over there?"

Red Robin shook his shoulders and laughed secretly, "Flirting."

Little Robin looked disgusted and said, "Tsk."

At this time, Red Hood shouted, "If you want to flirt, go to the bed! He can only do three rounds on the bed! Be careful, fox!"

You ran towards them, "You are so noisy! I'm going back first!"

You saw Mr. Gordon looking through the documents. You took off coat, folded it, and stood aside waiting for him to finish. He looked at you, "Hey, Fox. What's wrong?"

You hugged his coat tightly, "I will return your coat after I wash it."

He shook his head wanted to refuse, "It's okay, I can wash it myself."

You quickly said no, thanks to him, you are safe, "I will send it to the police station and return it to you after I wash it."

He looked at you in surprise and happiness, "Fox, I thought you would be a person who disturbs the city, you are much more obedient and sensible than I thought."

"I..." You wanted to explain the sudden praise.

He returned your sword to you, "Since you insist so much, I will let you wash my coat."

You put the sword away, "Leave it to me."

You left the dock with Mr. Gordon's coat, and couldn't help sneezing as you walked down the street. It was so cold, and a life-threatening situation to be in the water. But thanks to him, he pulled you into the water, you would die at any time without a shelter. This matter has come to an end for the time being. It's better for you to rest at home for the next few days, otherwise you will be dragged down by a cold.

"Kitsune!" You turned around, it was Nightwing chasing you.

You were confused as what he was going to do, you ignored him and ran away for some reason.

"Why are you running!" He ran faster.

"I'm asking you what you're doing! Why are you chasing me!" You ran into the alley.

"Hey! Eh?" He rushed into the alley and didn't see you.

You hid on the roof poked your head down, curious about what he was going to do. He just looked up and saw you. You two met eyes and realized something was wrong. You just flipped backwards and ran away. You jumped to the opposite roof. You turned around and saw he was still chasing you. After a fierce battle, he seemed to have not used up all his energy. You stopped and bent down to catch your breath with your cold and exhausted body.

"Hachoo!" Still can't help sneezing.

He stood beside you "Are you okay?"

You looked at him angrily "I just wondering why you chasing me?"

"I wanted to take you home... I saw something wrong with you." He opened his arms tried to touch you.

You slapped his hand away"Really no need. Bye."

Before you could walk far, he yelled "Do you have to be so stubborn all the time! Is it necessary to be so stubborn! Why do you have to force yourself!"

You turned around and complained a few words "I didn't! Mind your own business!"

You feel his gaze still on you, you ignore him and walk away, after walking for a while you look back and see he is gone, he is not following you anymore. You feel a little sad he didn't catch up with you, but no matter how much you make trouble, he doesn't need to be humble to you, and you don't need him to take care of you, just go back quietly and have a good sleep.

You haven't participated in fierce battles for too long, your body almost forgot what it feels like to be exhausted. I'm glad that Mr. Gordon believes in you, Batman and others came to help in time, otherwise you would been exhausted and collapsed. You stopped and looked at endless road. The dock is so far away from your home. How long will it take to drag your tired body back home.

"Damn..." You muttered to yourself.

Chapter 13 End.

If you have any ideas, don’t be shy. Just leave a comment below. Your opinions would be valuable and will be added in story. ♥️💙

AO3 Bird & Fox by owlwithanapple

AO3 Chapter 13

Tumblr Other Chapter

[britcision]

Alright, friendos! Happy Hanukkah, happy Yule, merry Christmas, happy Kwanza, and happy holidays to anyone I forgot who is still celebrating or gets to start soon!

This chapter is dedicated to all our brave souls who have just made their way through finals! You made it, you’re free, and you deserve a heckin’ break

Tag list: @welcometosasakiworld @kyrianclawraith @someonebored0100 @stealingyourbones @starkcravingmad @frostedthroughghost @akikoyuii @rainbowbunny0159 @littlefeather345 @violet-catsarelife @serasvictoria02 @wolfjackle @blacksea21090 @secretdestinywerewolf @anime-hipster-the-amazing @undead-essence @skitscratched @blackroserelina @snoodly-boop @trickerdi @mayoota-blog @xysidhe @idkmrpianoman @little-apricot-the-writer @chaoticmistake @the-legal-shipper @bun-fish @aroranorth-west @demon-cat-goes-woof @eonic @onyxlightdragon @larks-and-katydids @peachesandcreamfemboy @jesus-camp-the-sequel

Previous chapter:

First chapter:

—————————

A Swell Night On The Town

Jason had been pretty sure he knew what to expect from Vlad Masters. The Plasmius file had stood out even amongst all the other ghosts, and not just for being a halfa.

The guy was a stalker, a creep, manipulative as hell, and would not take no for an answer. And no, he didn’t need a second grabby billionaire anywhere near his life, thanks.

He’d dealt with dozens just like him, rich assholes who thought their wealth and power made them untouchable.

And the man himself, standing in front of him? Yeah, okay, Jason was a little surprised.

Vlad’s face had this perfect fist shape to it, like his cheekbones were gonna wave Jason in to break his teeth.

Wild how that worked.

Offering to share Danny’s baby pictures was… an unexpected avenue of attack, honestly. Fucking effective though, and it had somehow defused the situation.

He’d still rather drag the man out by the scruff of his neck, but the apparent peace offering settled something inside him. Well, more directly Danny’s reaction to it.

Danny wasn’t scared of Vlad. Whatever he was, whatever he’d done? However much he’d hurt Danny in the past, used his death against him?

It hadn’t been fear setting Danny off when he knew Vlad was here. Which raised the question of what it had been, but he could always ask later.

For now, Vlad wasn’t an immediate threat to be eliminated, at least not yet. Today, they could play with him a little.

And if that changed? He was ready.

So Jason let his face soften into a smile as Danny groaned, damn near as dramatic as Dick. Let Vlad think he might be tempted.

And maybe just a little enjoy the revenge after all that bugging about the pixie boot photos earlier.

He reached out automatically to steady Danny as he swayed, leaving his hand on his shoulder. And watched Vlad track the gesture, which was… interesting.

Yeah, they could probably get him on the same game as the Manson’s. Jason let his arm slip around the slighter man’s shoulders, skimming gently down his arm.

Danny leaned into him just a little and if that made the pit happy, well, convenient bonus. Most of his attention stayed fixed on Vlad.

“I guess you’ve known each other a long time?” He offered, trying to keep his voice more neutral.

Danny sighed dramatically, folding his arms and glaring.

“Well it sure fucking feels like forever,” he grumbled loudly and Jason grinned, ruffling his hair.

“Not so long as I’d like,” Vlad argued with a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “I’m afraid even though I have always been his godfather we did not meet until he joined the club as it were. Had we met sooner I might have made a better impression.”

Sam snorted most of a laugh derisively through her nose, cocking her hip and smirking at him.

“Would you have given a fuck before he joined the club?” She asked sarcastically, perfectly matching his dramatic emphasis.

Vlad shot her another scathing look, then gave Jason an obsequious smile.

“Of course, I don’t have anything on me, but if you would like to come by some time…” he began, and Danny straightened so fast that something in Jason lurched to pull him back.

He resisted. Barely.

“Hell no Vlad, fuck off. You’re not having Jason over to your creepy ass castle in Wisconsin,” Danny snapped, his eyes flashing green and Jason had a revelation.

That? That was a truly fucking weird thing to see. Even if it hadn’t always been the trigger for violence, yeah, he could see why his family flinched.

Also? Danny getting possessive? Adorable.

Vlad certainly seemed to agree (which made Jason immediately want to change his mind), giving Danny a smug smile.

“Jason is an adult, Daniel, as you are yourself. I believe he can make up his own mind?” He purred, gaze flicking expectantly back to Jason.

It was a good thing he’d been practicing one of his best gala smiles half the month for this occasion. He’d never been more thankful for the training that let him keep it light and sweet.

“I’m not coming to your creepy ass castle in Wisconsin,” he agreed with Danny, loving the way Vlad’s face fell.

Impatient bastard. Like Jason hadn’t proved extremely early on which side of this line he was coming down on. Although…

“But maybe you can email me.”

Keep him sweet. Keep him hopeful. All the better to fully fuck around with later, and maybe give himself a backdoor into any plans.

Danny grinned smugly back at Vlad, folding his arms and leaning into Jason in a way that was definitely all out possessive. Which Jason could kinda get.

The new kid at school liked Danny best. Hell, Jason was always smug as fuck when one of the birds sided with him over B.

“Aww, I guess even your best impression wasn’t up for much, huh Vladdie?” Danny teased and Vlad’s eyes narrowed, before his smile flashed back, sharp and venomous.

“I shall certainly send you some pictures at my earliest convenience, Jason. Do you have a card?” He asked sweetly, looking from Danny directly up to Jason’s face.

Jason stifled a snicker.

“It’s not the eighties. Gimme your phone, I’ll add you.” He held out a hand, half expecting Vlad to refuse.

Surely he didn’t make his money and build his evil empire by being stupid. But no, Vlad gave him a calculating look and then handed the device right over.

Didn’t even try and look at the screen. And, well, Jason was a Robin once. Even Danny grabbing for the phone didn’t stop him, raising it above his reach.

Type his email with thumb swipes so it took half the time, turn on bluetooth, pair to Tim’s phone, get the ping for the downloaded app, bluetooth off and he handed the phone back to Masters, back on the contact screen.

“Here. That’s my private email, so don’t go giving it out to all and sundry,” he added as Danny tried to flap the phone from his hand.

“Aw come on Jason! You can’t give him that, he’s evil!” Danny whined, and Jason put his free hand directly in Danny’s face and pushed him away like he’d do Dick.

“You wanted to talk to Selina, you filthy fucking hypocrite.”

“Who wanted to talk to me?”

And speak of the devil, here she was, slinking towards them in one of her tight black dresses, short hair cupping her face.

Vlad shifted to let her join them, making a face when she stepped too close and stepping quickly away.

Jason closed his lips on a grin. Hope he didn’t have anything too precious in those pockets. Luckily his phone was still in hand, now tucked into a different pocket.

“I did,” Sam said loudly before anyone could interrupt, turning and bestowing her sweetest Manson Party Smile on her. “I heard you have baby photos of Jason.”

Selina raised an eyebrow as Jason made a half hearted grab for Sam, cocking her hip and smirking at him.

“Why darling, I most certainly do. And you are?” She asked, gaze darting around the group.

Sam stuck out her hand to shake.

“Sam Manson. This is my date, Danny Fenton, and my… friend, Jason Todd,” she introduced, jerking her thumb at the boys in turn.

Vlad cleared his throat, and promptly regretted it when Sam smirked.

“Oh, and this asshole is Vladdie.”

Vlad shot a glower at her while Danny and Jason snickered, turning to offer Selina his own hand.

“Vlad Masters, Daniel’s godfather.”

Selina took his hand delicately, a sharp smile on her face as she shook.

“Oh, so you’re the one who’s been snatching at the little Waynes! Have you come to make a grab for Jason?” She asked with a barely hidden glee, and alright, maybe she could stay.

Vlad’s poleaxed expression would make up for a lot, then he snapped too and snatched his hand away.

“I most certainly… oh… well. I. Suppose there was one incident, but I’d hardly call it grabbing,” he admitted with ill grace, smoothing down the front of his suit.

Selina’s smile spread and she pointed discretely towards the refreshment tables.

“Oh? Poor Tim has had to get an ice pack I hear, and someone said that you were behind Dick’s sudden disappearance. I’ll have to warn you that the last one left is Damian and he has a reputation of his own,” she purred.

Vlad’s brows furrowed into a deep frown, clearly not sure how to handle this situation. Being the focus of the gossip was apparently a change for him.

Jason was almost jealous, but the sheer joy of watching Selina at work washed it away. Not being the focus of all the gossip was a fun change for him.

“Damian Wayne?” Vlad asked, glancing back at Jason. Like Jason was about to help.

“He bites,” Jason explained casually and Danny fucking cackled, falling forward into Sam.

“Oh… oh Vlad… Vlad please… go bother Damian,” Danny gasped as Sam caught him, and Sam smirked.

“Would you turn down your Wayne scholarship?” Sam asked wickedly and Vlad’s head snapped around so fast he must have cricked his neck.

“Your what?” He asked sharply as Danny sucked in great lungfuls of air, finally straightening.

He was in no fit state to answer so Sam took over, smirking at Vlad.

“Oh, part of why Danny came is because he won a Wayne scholarship,” she said with a smug confidence Jason had to admire.

And join in on, since it was upsetting Vlad so much.

“Yeah, Brucie just loves to provide for underprivileged youth. It’s how we got my newest brother Duke,” he explained with an offhanded shrug, and oooooh he could almost see steam flying from Vlad’s ears.

His glare snapped back to Danny himself, who was just barely recovering.

“Then I suppose it’s a good thing I was here to defend your good name to Brucie,” Vlad spat the words like they tasted bad and that sent Danny off again.

“Aww, Vladdie, you do care,” he giggled, pulling himself back up and wiping at his eyes.

Vlad’s expression contrived to somehow become even more constipated. He turned deliberately back to Selina, his smile decidedly pinched now.

“And you know the Waynes well, I presume?” He asked, doing his best to pretend none of the younger three were grinning at him.

Selina cocked a brow, clearly clocking the interaction and filing it for later, a slow smile curling her lips that Jason fucking recognised.

“Oh, I know Brucie quite well,” she purred, one hand coming up to cup her elbow while she toyed with her hair, “I couldn’t paw-sibly miss the chance to greet Jason.”

Which, honestly, Jason considered mild for her. Vlad’s brows furrowed in confusion this time and Sam covered her mouth with her hand.

Selina tipped Jason a wink and he rolled his eyes good naturedly.

“Couldn’t miss the chance to fuck with Bruce, more like?” He asked dryly.

It wasn’t that he specifically didn’t want her there. Fuck, anything keeping Bruce off his ass was a win.

It was more that putting her next to Danny was probably an incredibly bad idea. His eyes had lit up - thankfully not green - and he grinned back at her.

“Well it is the purr-fect opportunity,” he said gleefully and Sam groaned.

“So this is how I die. Fantastic,” she snarked as Selina’s smile spread and she turned to face Danny more directly.

“But of course, anything fur family,” she agreed genially.

Vlad was beginning to look annoyed too, and Jason decided that was enough to tip him over into enjoying it. Not joining in; he wasn’t Dick.

Fuck.

Dick was here.

Biting down the urge to look around, Jason took a deep breath. Dick was probably still in the back. Probably still having hysterics.

What had Vlad even said to him?

Whatever it was, Jason might owe him a thank you for getting Dick out of the way of this particular meeting. All three at once would be…

Yeah, no, creepy castle in Wisconsin won if only because Jason had fucking always wanted to cause mayhem in an actual castle. Wayne Manor was fine, but an actual castle?

It might have battlements. It definitely had a ghost and a half.

Danny and Selina were clearly having fun, going back and forth with increasingly over reaching cat puns.

Jason took advantage of the moment to casually reach behind Danny and entwine his hand with Sam’s. She started a little, glanced over, and made a show of almost-but-not-quite pulling away.

Keep the show going. Apparently they were competing with Vlad for the spot of Top Scandal, which was just fucking great. No matter who won, they couldn’t lose.

Selina must have noticed though, because she gave him a sly look and gently broke things off with Danny.

“Not to pussyfoot away, but I do need to steal Jason for just a moment darlings. Old family friends and all that,” she added, tipping Danny a wink as he chuckled.

Jason gave her a wary look for a moment, then followed her a short distance away. Staying far enough back to be out of pickpocket range.

“What did you do?” He asked quietly once they were out of earshot, pausing at another potted plant. Appeasing Ivy, or a subtle invitation.

Selina gave him her most innocent smile, leaning up against the pot.

“I may have upset Bruce a little, and now he’s looking for you. He was going to the back rooms first but that shouldn’t take him long.”

Jason remembered watching Cass drag a wailing Dick to the back rooms.

“He might take longer than expected,” he noted with a half smirk, then shook his head. “So why’s he looking for me?”

He couldn’t think of anything Selina might do that would have Bruce hunting him down; usually the response to Selina turning up was to usher the kids away.

No matter how old those kids were.

Not that any of them actually wanted to stick around, just. It was dismissive at best.

Selina smiled fondly and patted his cheek, and for once the emotion seemed genuine.

“Jason, darling, no man likes to think their little boys have grown up. And of course I assumed that if you were making this much of a scandal this early on it was intentional, so I told him you had an orgy in the back rooms,” she finished bluntly, shattering the soft moment Jason didn’t know how to handle.

Rather than stammering or shutting down over emotions he wasn’t sure he could face, a startled laugh shot down his nose.

“You fucking what?!”

“I told him that when you five snuck off for your little chat earlier you’d been caught with your pants down,” Selina explained casually, an entirely catlike smile of satisfaction on her face.

And yeah, okay, maybe Jason was reminded why he liked Selina. For all the distance between them, she’d never stopped treating him as Robin.

She and Bruce might be on again off again, but she’d always be a cool stepmom to the birds. And she could be relied on to join a good joke…

Leaning in, Jason lowered his voice.

“You’re absolutely right, targets are the Manson parents, Bruce, and Vlad. Do you need to be filled in?” It had been a while since he’d done a speed debrief, but at least Selina had received a few.

And recreationally hung out with Harley Quinn. Her eyes sparkling with mirth, she shook her head.

“Oh not at all, darling. You know I pre-fur a surprise. Is the young Miss Manson in on it?” She asked, gaze sliding back across to the others.

Jason snickered, letting his eyes follow hers. Vlad seemed to have swanned off somewhere, and Danny was vainly “trying” to recapture Sam’s attention.

“Sam called the hit. They insist she has to find an eligible bachelor, so she’s got two,” he added, and Selina’s smile took on a decidedly nasty edge.

“Well then you’d best get back there and woo her, hadn’t you?” She cooed, long fingers gently patting Jason’s cheek again as she straightened to slink back into the party. “I’ll tell Bruce you’re at the refreshments.”

Jason hurried back to Sam and Danny, not exactly keeping his head low, but folding himself in a little. Hanging out with Superman and Clark Kent taught a guy a few tricks.

Catching his companions by an arm each, he leaned in to whisper,

“Selina told Bruce we’ve been having an orgy in the back rooms, she’s gonna be running interference and get him to the refreshments,” he explained quietly.

Sam snickered and shook her head, tugging her arm from his grip but allowing him to take her hand instead.

“So is she in on it?” She asked quietly, sharp eyes glancing around the party. Jason shrugged.

“I didn’t tell her much, but she’s always down to cause trouble of one sort or another. Wanna look for your parents and be conspicuous?” He asked Sam, grinning.

A grin spread across Sam’s face too and she nodded, giving him a nudge with her shoulder.

“Your family is fucking ridiculous, Jay.”

Which wasn’t news, but it was nice when other people noticed.

“We’re not really the ones to talk,” Danny pointed out with a grin of his own, coming around to take Sam’s other hand, “dare you to trip me in front of the Mansons, Jason.”

And if there was one thing Jason had gotten in trouble for all through his life… he could never resist a dare.

**

When did everything go so wrong?

It had been such a lovely evening, and yet out of nowhere, everything had turned on its head.

People were whispering about him, as they usually did, but now it was with giggles! Mockery hidden behind a hand, a glass, some ridiculous fan.

They tittered as he passed, closed their circles and turned their backs, or even moved away from him! He found himself suddenly alone, a room full of people exquisitely aware of his presence and avoiding it.

As if he were somehow beneath them. As if they had any sort of high horse to hold over him. And all for what? A mild misunderstanding?

It was something he’d always noticed about Gothamites, when he’d met them away from this dingy city. The way they considered themselves superior, above the rest for being a bloated parasite class in a jumped up hellhole.

Talking as if they personally were made stronger by all of those rogues, the darkness, the gothic nonsense. As if their city would protect them when even their Bat sought to bring them down.

Corrupt, stinking, filthy wretches. It was why it had never bothered him to avoid the den itself.

Oh, there was abundant ectoplasm, the misery and terror of millions saturating the air to almost Amity Park standards. So many people, crammed together, living in fear every day of their lives.

It made their hope powerful, those who lived at street level. Those who actually faced the city’s dangers. But these inept plutocrats? Cushioned with wealth and corruption and casual evil?

Their city hated them almost as much as Vlad. Would be happy to see them and their pathetic little Court fall. Maybe then the place could finally breathe.

They should count themselves lucky Vlad was above sinking to their level. Restrained himself to icy smiles and remembered faces, adding to his list of those to exploit.

Perhaps that would make Daniel happy; he and that goth girl were so in favour of the working class. A little redistribution of wealth (and some to himself) could be a nice gift.

Of course, if he actually thought about it, Vlad had a pretty solid guess of when the night had left the rails. He never should have grabbed the young Drake, thinking he was Daniel or not.

Frankly grabbing Daniel had been one of the habits he was intent on breaking, but it had just… happened. Force of habit was an irritatingly powerful thing.

They had always had a very physical relationship, and wasn’t that part of the problem? Vlad had never intended that.

It was just that the boy didn’t listen. Wouldn’t see what was good for him, no matter how clearly it was shoved in front of his face. He was independent, wilful, and while those were good traits…

Daniel also insisted on using them against him. Against himself. And Vlad… well, Vlad knew he had a temper. And frankly, so did Daniel.

They butted heads and with their shared abilities, sometimes that got explosive. But those same abilities were how Vlad knew that no matter how much they fought, they would be pulled back together.

And now there was a new halfa. For a supposedly rare occurrence, it was really becoming increasingly common.

Perhaps that was worth testing too. If something about the modern world made it easier to create a new halfa.

Not that young Jason was quite finished yet, he wasn’t a fully formed ghost, but Vlad could already taste the power in the air around the boy.

Not being alone had been all he’d wanted for so long.

And, apparently, something Daniel had been craving in an entirely different way. The air between the boys had been charged with more than just Daniel’s little flare of power.

Vlad wasn’t quite sure where the need to mention Daniel’s photos had come from; he’d never planned to let the boy know he had them.

It had been an idle curiosity, years ago now, and they’d never come to fruition. But seeing Daniel so obviously interested in young Jason…

Vlad was sure he’d looked at Madeline like that all the time, back at school. And far more lucky than he, Jason seemed to return the interest.

Daniel moving to protect Jason, put himself between them, had been expected. It was his nature, dear boy, and as foolish as it could be he stuck to it.

Jason refusing to allow it, moving Daniel behind himself? Surprising, and entertaining. If not for himself, he’d have thought those protective urges helped to form a halfa.

And, of course, it was rather telling.

Whatever Daniel had told him that made Jason see Vlad as a threat, Jason saw him as a threat to Daniel, not himself. That could be useful too.

Vlad would rather be a threat to neither of them if they’d just learn to listen. All he offered was a gift, and all he asked was to not have it tossed aside.

All he wanted was a family. And while he certainly wasn’t yet as desperate as Brucie Wayne, adopting any child he found on a street corner… perhaps the other man did have something to teach him.

With any luck they would still be able to have their private meeting. Vlad could only hope that the impression he’d managed to make would be enough.

The man doted on his sons, and Vlad involved in upsetting two of them? No, he would have to tread very carefully here.

Some form of apology. Not tonight, not while the issues were still… fresh. He would have to steer clear of the Waynes for the rest of the evening.

And think of some suitable way to show his contrition.

The younger boy was interested in technology, wasn’t he? His interest in Tucker would be explained there. And Vlad had plenty of technology beyond the power of science alone.

Yes, some form of gift for Timothy. Nothing too closely related to ghosts, but that was only a brief limit.

And perhaps it would be a way to soothe Jason too. For him to see that Vlad was sincere, that he did not intend to be a threat.

Why, maybe even something to protect the boy. A personal shield, perhaps. That should please such a protective soul.

Richard would be harder. Perhaps Vlad should have avoided the topic altogether, but he hadn’t realised the boys had been close.

By all accounts Grayson had precious little to do with Brucie around the time of Jason’s adoption, and while there was never any negative publicity, they rarely appeared together.

Not the way Grayson could now be seen fawning over all of his other siblings, draping himself over them and teasing whenever possible.

Perhaps Jason’s death had been a catalyst for him.

Not that it mattered. Even if the young man’s hysterics had been at least partially overblown (it certainly hadn’t followed through to Vlad’s enhanced senses), the message was clear.

And he’d gotten the answers he needed anyway.

Perhaps something equally overblown in return, Vlad mused with a slight smile, ignoring the other guests flowing around him.

Flowers wouldn’t please most young men, but the goal wasn’t actually to please Richard. He might appreciate a dramatic gesture in return.

And the man was a police officer of some sort. Something for his station.

Yes, no need for the evening to be a total loss. There would be the meeting with Bruce, and perhaps he could even persuade the man that he wished for his help to make amends.

As frustrating as this little setback was… this was still his day.

**

Tucker had absolutely no idea why Sam always complained about these parties, because he was having the best night of his life.

He’d met Tim Drake-Wayne! Actually hung out with Tim Drake-Wayne! WAS STILL hanging out with Tim Drake-Wayne!

And he got to piss off Vlad, eat fancy food, make his mom cry with pics of him in his fancy suit… Yeah, it was the best day ever.

Tim had taken his jacket off a little while ago after they’d bumped into Vlad, and while they’d joked about rigging him a sling for the rest of the night, it’d be taking the bit a little far.

It had also given them an excuse to hang out away from the crowd for a while and just talk tech while Tucker iced the “wounded” shoulder.

As expected, Tim Drake-Wayne was beyond brilliant. Most CEOs had no idea what the departments who actually worked for a living did, but Tim?

Tim knew about every single project going on in R&D. He knew what all of them were doing, and he seemed impressed that Tucker kept up with as much of their testing as was made public.

Remembering which bits still weren’t technically public yet was a little trickier, but he didn’t want to make a bad impression.

Hiring the hacker who broke your system was a movie bit, not real life. But, Tucker did hope that if he could impress Tim tonight, he’d at least remember Tucker’s name when the job faires started.

If Danny and Jason hooked up, maybe he and Tim would get to hang out at other events in future.

Because yeah, Tucker dug the new halfa. He did. Jason was funny, cool, pretty considerate, and just immediately down for Team Phantom’s fuckery in a way few people were.

Hell, he’d gotten Tucker a party ticket at pretty near the last second for Tucker to have this, the best night of his life. Tucker loved the guy, for all he’d known him for about a weekend.

But.

He did suffer from not being Tim Drake-Wayne. Like a lot.

It was probably something he heard way too often though, so Tucker was never gonna mention it.

Cuz yeah, Jason might be entry number four in a species that no one had thought was possible, but like.

Tim Drake-Wayne.

It just wasn’t a fair contest.

Tucker hadn’t clicked with anyone this fast since the day he met Danny in first grade too. He’d known Tim Drake-Wayne would be brilliant, obviously.

The guy was the next best thing to Batman himself, and was even mentioned occasionally in some of the Oracle-spotting groups Tucker frequented.

(Not that he could be Oracle, of course. While Tucker would put money on Oracle being in Gotham, Tim had way too much public presence.

He had a busy, often public job, but Tucker was just dying to ask if he’d ever done custom work for Oracle themself. Not on first meetings, though.

Had to find out if the guy was In The Know or not first. There were some theories that he was good enough to be a Robin, but Tucker didn’t really follow Gotham’s vigilantes.

More likely they just bought - or were given - Wayne tech and talked to the Oracle themselves.)

But really, Tucker hadn’t expected Tim to be so funny. He reminded Tucker of Danny in that way, always ready with a quip or a one liner.

They cracked each other up, and even now that they were back recirculating Tucker barely noticed who Tim was introducing him to.

All rich folks, the Mansons’ level or higher, most old enough to be their parents if not their grandparents. All making boring, prim and proper conversation.

The room might as well have been empty of everyone but Tucker and Tim. He didn’t even bother keeping an eye on Vlad, though he and Tim had exchanged grins as they watched the slowly expanding circle now following the man wherever he went.

Vlad was Danny’s problem. Tonight, all Tucker cared about was spending time with one of his own personal heroes.

Right up until he opened his mouth and fucked it up.

“Yeah, I was gonna stay at MIT over the holidays, there were some cool experimental tech meet ups planned? But I’m glad I wound up going home. It would have sucked to miss this!”

Tim stared at him for a moment, then actually laughed, which kinda surprised Tucker a bit. He hadn’t been joking?

And Tim clearly saw his confusion, patting Tucker companionably on the back.

“Sorry man, it’s just… you’ve gotta be the only person I know who doesn’t hate these things with a passion,” he explained, still grinning fondly.

Tucker cocked his head, frowning thoughtfully.

“What? Why not? The food’s great, dressing up fancy is fine once in a while, and the company…” he trailed off, cheeks heating just a little as he considered how to end the sentence.

He didn’t wanna wind up sounding like Danny. That would be way too embarrassing.

Luckily Tim didn’t seem to mind, grinning and giving him a cheeky nudge. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice the blush so much on Tucker’s cheeks.

“Oh trust me, this is definitely the best gala I’ve ever been to too. I’ve never had half this much fun before, cuz the company is usually waaaay more…” he waved his hand, gesturing to the small chatting groups they were wandering past.

All older, stuffy, boring… yeah. Fair.

Tucker grinned slyly at the other man.

“Well I’m glad I could liven up your evening, but Jason already told us you’re here to scout out Danny,” he teased, and Tim laughed again.

“Yeah, that probably woulda made top five anyway,” he agreed easily, “but you shoulda seen Damian’s first party. Demon brat was still half feral, he challenged a guy to a duel for calling him the “little Wayne”.”

Tucker laughed as well, glancing around the hall just in case the littlest Wayne should appear. No such luck.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he agreed with a broad grin, “he seemed a little short tempered.”

Tim nodded cheerfully.

“Oh he’d take your fingers off if Brucie hadn’t convinced him it was undignified to bite. His mom was one of those… what you’d call old fashioned. Very big on family honour and defending it at all costs.”

Tucker whistled long and low, shaking his head.

“Yeah, can’t say I’ve seen much of that… not as much as Danny, but you met Vlad,” he added with a snicker and Tim chuckled and bumped his shoulder.

“Yeah, well. I’m still glad you came. Do your family live near by or did you have to fly in?” Tim asked cheerfully and Tucker laughed.

“Nah, neither, Danny picked me up.” And then Tucker froze.

Right.

Yeah.

Cuz you couldn’t just say “my friend the Ghost King came and picked me up, we portalled through his private dimension”.

Not to a stranger.

Tim looked momentarily confused. As one should, when someone made no fucking sense.

“Danny? Does he fly?” He asked, and Tucker hid a sigh of relief under a huff of laughter.

“Well I’m not really supposed to say,” he whispered, leaning in close so as not to be overheard, “but let’s just say not officially?”

**

Team Phantom Group Chat

‘TechMasterF: so for all future interactions Danny you have an illegal pilots license. Can the GAV do a plane?’

‘TechMasterF: doesn’t matter I’ll say it can’

**

Jason had not been in the back rooms.

There also hadn’t been the kind of scuffing that would indicate… activities from a group of more than two people, but that didn’t put Bruce’s mind at ease.

There were plenty of ways to hide such things, and he had endlessly drilled his boys in being discrete.

If only he’d done a worse job.

Prowling around the party, he kept his genial smile on as a matter of course, chatting as he passed but never stopping. He had to find his son.

He’d run into Dick on his way out of the back hall, half burying poor Cass in his loud sobbing. Seeing an opportunity, Bruce had pulled both aside for a quick debrief.

Apparently Masters had run into them as well, and had actually dared to ask the question he’d heard circling the room all evening.

Jason’s funeral.

No one else was going to, thanks to Dick’s antics.

It didn’t make Bruce feel any better, since neither of them seemed to have noticed whatever Tim had seen. Both had seen Jason, still with the youngest Manson and this suspicious Danny.

Bruce hadn’t waited beyond that, though he trusted Dick’s quick warning that Masters had a bad reputation. One that Bruce had heard too; his business dealings were notoriously predatory.

Whatever leverage he held over former partners, Bruce wouldn’t allow him to get it over his family.

However the man was also known to be a brilliant scientist and engineer, and clearly had an interest in Wayne Enterprises. Bruce could take advantage of that to gather information on Danny.

Finally, finally he spotted the familiar white flash of Jason’s hair in the middle of the floor. He was accompanied by Sam and a scrungly young man with dark hair and blue eyes.

The mysterious Danny.

Time to say hello.

Bruce began to move purposefully through the crowd, not being obvious in his staring but keeping them in the corner of his eye.

**

“Oh shit,” Sam hissed suddenly, grip tightening on Danny’s arm, “Bruce is on his way.”

Danny’s eyes widened and he didn’t quite look all around, but only just. He looked to Jason instead.

“Do we wanna do this now?” He asked, shaking out his shoulders like they were talking about an actual fight.

Jason paused and mulled it over. Dinner would be starting soon, and honestly? If they held Bruce off til then, he couldn’t come for a “private chat” for at least another two hours.

Which would be pretty fucking funny. Especially since Selina had been winding him up.

On the other hand, Bruce wouldn’t have more than ten minutes to interrogate them, and Jason could wind the man up himself.

Jason leaned in until his lips almost brushed Danny’s ear, voice low so they couldn’t be overheard by anyone but Sam, who also leaned in.

“How much do we look like we’ve been passionately making out?” He asked softly, wicked glee in his voice. At least, that’s what Danny thought he said.

It was a little hard to focus with his breath tickling across sensitive skin.

Sam stifled a laugh but Danny almost missed it as he glanced over, catching Bruce Wayne’s eye. And the sudden, intense glare.

A startled squeak slipped free and he grabbed Jason and Sam and vanished.

At least Jason wouldn’t see him blush.

**

Across the hall, Damian’s eyes narrowed.

He’d gotten himself a good vantage point, half way up the stairs so that his relative height wouldn’t be against him.

He could see the whole hall clearly, easily able to track Todd and his cohorts. The dramatics reminded him of one of Todd’s books too, so he was sure the man was having the time of his life.

Right until Fenton grabbed both of his companions and all three disappeared. As if they’d just turned invisible.

Fenton was some form of meta. And something had startled him. Tracing back along the direction he’d been facing, Damian caught sight if Father.

Talking to the Kyle woman.

**

“Selina,” Bruce acknowledged, attention snapped away from Danny Fenton as Selina slunk up to his side, her smile wide and satisfied.

“Bruce. I thought I should come and let you know about the mood in the room,” she purred, hand slipping through his arm.

Eyes narrowed, Bruce glanced up to where Jason had been. His face much, much too close to Danny’s.

All three young people were gone.

Sighing softly in irritation, he returned his attention to Selina.

“Oh? And what is that?” He asked, trying not to let his annoyance rub off on her. She couldn’t have known.

Selina smiled up at him, her other hand coming up to pat gently at his chest.

“Rumour has it Vlad Masters is after your Jason. He’s invited him back to his castle to “get to know each other a little better”,” she purred, fingers flicking against him for the air quotes.

Bruce’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?” He asked sharply, now sweeping the room for Masters’ ponytail.

Selina shrugged elegantly, tweaking his tie before moving back.

“Who can say? Perhaps he’s after the same thing as the Mansons, hoping Jason and young Danny will hit it off. Perhaps it’s a little more… personal,” she mused, a half smile on his face.

Bruce’s expression pinched tighter for just a moment, but he didn’t bother pasting a smile back on. He was allowed to be worried for his son.

Especially if a man old enough to be his father was inviting him away.

“And what did Jason say?” He asked half to himself rather than to her, once again furiously searching the crowd for Jason.

Selina shrugged again, also scanning the crowd.

“Well, he’s been keeping himself quite busy with the small town guests. Perhaps he’s growing tired of Gotham,” she mused, watching Bruce from the corner of her eye.

He knew he twitched. Kept the rest of the response under control.

He wasn’t sure which was worse; Jason building a harem, being courted by an older man, or just plain wanting to leave… no, none of it was good.

The worst part… was that Bruce wouldn’t blame him.

Jason couldn’t be allowed to leave. He just couldn’t. No matter what else happened, Jason needed to be close enough for his family to keep an eye on him.

However good he thought his control of the pit was, it kept slipping. And the chances that Jason would do some serious damage were bad enough in Gotham itself, never mind across the country.

Gotham held so many bad memories, too many of them Bruce’s own doing. Gods, he wished he could safely let Jason go and get him out of that environment. Somewhere far from bad habits.

Though Jason was reluctant enough to leave just Crime Alley. He loved Gotham, and always had, despite what it had cost him. At least if he wanted to leave, Bruce had a plan.

And the fact that he actually would prefer it if Jason were just sleeping around… wasn’t one Bruce was prepared to deal with. He would absolutely not be admitting any of it to Alfred.

Looking back to Selina, his eyes narrowed.

“That wasn’t an answer. Why would Jason want to leave Gotham?” He almost demanded, stepping into her space this time.

Selina did not look impressed, lips pursing and a single brow rising pointedly as she looked him over.

“Why, I don’t know, Bruce. Can you think of anything that might be making him feel unwelcome? Unappreciated? He never did like the limelight,” she remarked coolly, and that cut deeper than her claws.

“The gala was his idea,” he tried to defend himself, not thinking about the first part of her question. Jason had wanted his official life back.

Selina tutted softly, reaching up to pat him on the cheek. That was her slightly pitying smile too.

She knew him far too well.

“You know you won’t get his motivations from talking to me, Bruce. If you want to know what Jason’s thinking you’ll have to ask him yourself. Today’s probably a good time,” she added slyly, half turning away, “after all, you know how soothing a little… exercise can be.”

And then she was gone again, swaying away into the crowd. Bruce took a moment to collect himself before following, closing his eyes and drawing in a deep breath.

It would be fine.

He’d been planning his speech for tonight for weeks. Since Jason had first voiced the idea to Dick.

Bruce knew he was no good at bearing his soul. Open heart to hearts with his children had always been his greatest struggle, and he knew it weighed on them all.

He loved them with all of his heart, and it was maybe that which made it so difficult to just… let himself be vulnerable. He never knew what to say. How to express the depths of emotion.

But he would fix that today, he’d promised himself. He would tell Jason how much he loved him in front of the world.

**

Narrowed eyes being the only outward sign of irritation, Damian hurried down the stairs and through the crowd.

There was no point going directly to Father; he would likely be distracted with the Kyle woman for a while yet. No, he had to find one of his siblings.

Surely one of them had noticed. Todd was to be the center of their attention for the evening. One of them must also have been watching when he disappeared into thin air.

Grayson first, he decided, ducking and weaving between the much taller adults. He was the most competent, and the most invested in Todd’s new behaviour.

Grayson must have seen.

**

Danny gave Jason and Sam an embarrassed grin as he popped them back into visibility behind a plant.

“Sorry… Bruce caught me looking and I kinda panicked?” He offered sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. It was kinda adorable.

Sam rolled her eyes and flicked him upside the head.

“Dude, you’ve gotta learn to chill. One day someone’s gonna see that,” she reprimanded him.

Jason cocked a brow, resisting the urge to pat himself down and check he was tangible again. They’d gone directly through more than one guest on their way to a quiet corner.

“Does this happen a lot?” He asked dryly, fighting down a smile. It was quite possibly the funniest startle response he’d ever seen.

Danny’s cheeks flushed and he looked away, pointedly looking at the floor.

“Not so much any more?” He offered, and Sam snickered.

“He told you how many times he phased through glassware when he first changed, right?” She teased. Danny gave her a half hearted shove and she laughed, shoving back much harder.

Jason did his very best impression of innocence, raising both hands.

“I’m gonna plead the fifth. We should go make sure we’re spotted though, just in case anyone saw,” he added, giving the room another quick scan.

There was no real commotion, no one looking this way and that like they were trying to find someone.

It might be okay.

**

Damian caught up to Cass and Dick just as Dick was wrapping up a particularly colourful story about repainting the manor that was probably at least half true.

Cass wasn’t completely sure, but it would explain the rule about paint rollers being used from the floor or not at all.

Damian was frustrated though, all tight and tense and trembling with self satisfaction. Which wasn’t actually all that unusual, but she wouldn’t say it.

He walked straight up to her, full of determination.

“Cain. Grayson. I need to speak to you,” he demanded bluntly, ignoring the two couples still laughing over Dick’s story.

Cass and Dick exchanged curious looks, and Cass shrugged. Dick turned back to their audience, grinning broadly.

“Well, big brother duty never sleeps. We’ll see you around!” He declared with a jaunty wave, turning to follow Damian. “What’s up, kiddo? It’s nearly dinner time.”

Damian gave him a scathing look and Cass hid a smile. None of them did well with stuffy parties.

Once the youngest decided they’d come far enough from listening ears, he stopped and turned back to hiss.

“Fenton is a meta. He and perhaps Manson as well. I saw them disappear in the crowd.”

Brows furrowed, Dick glanced to Cass again. She frowned, thinking back to what she’d seen of both Amity Parkers. There hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary in their body language.

Unless you thought they were supposed to be civilians, but that wasn’t strange. Not in her circles.

Damian was sure though, so she shrugged again. Dick turned back to Damian, grinning consolingly.

“Hey, I know it’s embarrassing, but Jason’s always been a sneaky bastard. It’s not a big deal to lose them.”

Which was the other option. But the way Damian’s eyes narrowed, anger cranking up and then being choked back down… he was sure.

“I did not say I lost them, Richard! I said I saw them disappear. In front of my eyes. Whether it was some teleportation or just invisibility, I saw them,” he spit out, giving them both a fierce glare.

Cass hesitated, glancing across the hall.

It was… busy. Not exactly packed, but there were enough people, the patterns too random to predict… no.

She’d have noticed someone invisible stepping their way through. There were ways one had to move to avoid being struck if no one could see you.

In a place like this? Not even she would try it in the middle of the floor. This was where you took the high road, or hugged the walls.

Looking back to her brothers, she carefully signed, her body hiding her hands from the crowd.

‘Teleport. Where?’

Dick accepted her analysis as simple fact, frowning thoughtfully and looking around. Damian looked viciously gleeful to be vindicated.

“If they’re still here, it’d have to be short range. Probably somewhere quiet, somewhere they’d been. How long ago?” He asked Damian, and the boy didn’t even glance at his watch.

“Not more than three minutes. You are easy to find.”

“I’m not trying not to be, Dami,” Dick corrected easily, looking around the hall again. “Odds are they’d have gone for the back, so we’ll head that way.”

Which was a really solid plan. Until they stepped back into the crowd and immediately ran into Jason, Danny, and Sam, talking to Tim and Tucker.

**

Bumping into Tucker and Tim had been a fun coincidence, and Danny wasn’t about to miss the chance to catch up. Sure, they’d not been apart long, but a lot had happened.

First of all…

“What happened to your shoulder Tim?” Jason asked “innocently”, something just on this side of sincere worry in his eyes.

Tim made a face, rolling his shoulder and carefully cupping it.

“Oh, nothing. Just a bit of an overenthusiastic greeting by someone called Vlad,” he said nonchalantly, shooting Danny a sly smile. “He thought I was someone else.”

For just the briefest second, that hot flare of Obsession hit Jason again. Protect-mine-how dare he.

But Danny was used to those kinds of reactions; mostly from personal experience. If he even thought his friends were hurt in an attack, things got… intense.

He let his aura spread enough to stroke across Jason’s again, not moving closer while they were the center of attention. He felt the flash of surprise, and something… else?

Something softer, none of the alarm he’d felt when he’d filled the room. He stroked calm-safe-amused-he’s faking back anyway and watched Jason’t shoulders settle.

Felt a wash of embarrassed-amused-sorry more directed his way, and smiled to himself. Jason was getting good at this pretty fast.

Sam, Tuck, and Tim had kept the conversation going while they had their little halfa moment, chatting just a little louder than they should about Tim’s encounter.

Just so their neighbours could hear them without having to strain, of course.

That would be rude.

Slotting back into the conversation was easy, and honestly? Tim was also a pretty cool guy to hang out with. Danny was a little surprised by how much fun he was having.

It just went to show, the galas of nightmares could be pretty fun with friends.

There was definitely something about to start though, because people were beginning to move more pointedly towards the large doors opposite the stairs. The dining hall, if Danny remembered right.

Right. Dinner.

It was probably that which brought Damian, Dick, and Cass to join them. Dick launched easily into the story of their own encounter with Vlad and okay, being funny as fuck clearly ran in the family.

Damian was a little off though. Until he actually met Bruce, Danny couldn’t say for sure, but for now? Maybe the Waynes were just the unfunny ones.

That or something was bugging him, because he had a tight frown on his face. And… was… kinda staring at Danny.

Half an eye on the kid, Danny casually shifted away to the right. The glare followed, so yeah - gonna say that was for him.

It was kinda cute really. For all the kid wanted to play tough guy and pretend he didn’t care, he basically radiated a protective suspicion for Jason.

Danny had to admit he’d been weird enough when he thought anyone was threatening Jazz or his friends, so he couldn’t complain. Just felt strange to be on the other side of.

Just as they were approaching the wide open doors, the Mansons popped up again, absolutely beaming to see Sam surrounded by the full crop of Waynes.

“I’m so happy to see you all getting along, poor Samantha does get so lonely at these events sometimes,” Pamela trilled happily, patting her daughter on the shoulder.

Sam, Manson Party Smile in place, glanced at the hand like she was seriously considering biting it. Danny hid a grin of his own.

“We’re sorry to break up the party, but we should be getting our two off to our table,” Jeremy explained, giving Sam a beaming smile and pretending Danny didn’t exist.

Jason cut in immediately, bestowing a charming smile on both of them and offering Sam his hand. Which she gave a sidelong look to, then slowly took.

Pamela’s eyes all but whirred like camera lenses as she locked onto the gesture.

“Actually, I was just about to invite Sam to join me at our table? And Danny too of course,” Jason added as an afterthought, also not looking for Danny.

For the best, because he wasn’t sure he could hold in all the giggles. No chance of the Mansons noticing anyway, because they were on cloud nine.

“Oh, how wonderful! It would certainly give you some more time to get to know each other,” Pamela gushed, the hand on Sam’s shoulder giving her daughter a sudden little shove closer to Jason.

As if there was any chance she might have missed the super subtle parental semaphore all evening.

And Sam deserved an Oscar.

Glancing up to Jason, she let the Party Smile slip more into a real, shy one, quickly looking away like she didn’t want to be caught looking.

“Yeah, okay. Sounds good,” she said quietly, her grip tightening just a little.

If Danny hadn’t known she’d never been shy in a relationship in her life he could have easily bought into this Bridgerton bullshit. As it was, he and Tuck exchanged grins, wishing for popcorn.

Jeremy took his wife by the arm before she could dissolve into delighted tittering, inclining his head to the group.

“I’m sure we’ll see you after dinner then. Have fun,” he told Sam, and for just a moment he sounded so sincerely proud that Sam’s grip tightened in Jason’s.

Then they were gone and she groaned melodramatically, dropping said hand and glaring at Tucker and Danny.

“Not a word,” she snapped, eyes narrowed. Both boys immediately raised their hands in abject surrender.

“Whatever would we even say?” Tuck asked innocently. Beside him Tim snickered.

“That your parents clearly read even more period romances than Jason?” He offered, and Sam’s eyes narrowed at him instead.

Then she huffed, folding her arms and dragging Jason’s hand into the crook of her elbow.

“Yeah, yeah. Get me to the table. At least I don’t have to listen to them gushing for an hour,” she grumbled, actual sadness flicking across her eyes.

Jason slipped his hand free and before she could protest, wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“C’mon, let me tell you about all the times Timmy’s fallen asleep at gala dinners,” he said innocently, shooting a wicked grin at his younger brother as he turned them away to keep walking.

Tim’s smile dropped immediately as they begun to walk, hurrying around so he could glare at Jason and walk backwards.

“Don’t you fucking dare Jason. I still have pictures of the Discowing incident,” he threatened, and unfortunately for him only made Jason grin broader.

“You did, until Babs owed me a favour,” he teased back and Tim’s eyes narrowed, hands jumping to his phone.

“Fuck off she did not, she wouldn’t,” he grumbled as he fell behind, Dick landing a companionable hand on the back of his neck to steer him along with them.

“Discowing incident?” Tucker asked, hurrying up on Jason’s other side.

Jason glanced back over his shoulder, smirking at Dick and Tim.

“Family game night. The loser has to suffer some humiliation, and when I lost they got me one of Nightwing’s old costumes to wear for photos. The one with the v-neck,” he added for explanation.

Coming up on Sam’s other side, his hand in the small of her back, Danny damn near tripped over his feet. He’d have fallen if Sam hadn’t caught him, a smug smirk now on her face.

At least she was feeling better.

Behind them, Dick rolled his eyes while Tucker went searching on his PDA.

“Hey, I still say that was a cool suit. More interesting than all the black spandex the rest of the bat brigade mainline,” he protested, making all three of his brothers scoff.

“Then why did he stop wearing it?” Steph asked, materialising from nowhere to toss an arm around Dick’s shoulders, just as Danny asked,

“Isn’t Nightwing’s current costume mostly black?”

Even Cass giggled, which Danny had already decided was an accomplishment. Dick gave a few half hearted defences while the others needled him, and Tucker made a triumphant noise and passed his PDA to Sam.

She angled it so Danny could see and he had to clap his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.

“He fought crime in that?!” He exclaimed through his fingers, and Sam raised a pointed brow at him.

“Batman’s underwear are on the outside and this is the line?” She asked sarcastically, then turned and grinned up at Jason. “So when are you introducing me to my new best friend Babs?”

They’d reached a large oval table now… right in the front and center of the room. Right. Wayne table, Jason’s gala.

They were gonna have an audience.

Jason chuckled and grinned down at Sam, moving to pull out a chair for her just off center.

“Absolutely fucking never unless you swear to forget all you’ve heard,” he promised as the rest of his siblings minus Cass rushed around for the other side of the table.

Sam snorted a laugh, taking the seat and letting him tuck her in.

“Look at what I am fucking wearing. Give me the disco suit and I’ll wear that with pride,” she pointed out, gesturing to the mass of bows.

Dick won the race, by diving into the seat Tim had just pulled out and locking his legs underneath it. He leaned immediately across the table and grinned at Sam.

“Are you busy tomorrow?” He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Steph dropped down to sit beside him.

“We could go later tonight?” She offered, and both laughed when Jason flicked a napkin at them, taking his own seat.

“You’re both the fucking worst, and Babs has shit on you too,” he reminded them, with no real effect.

Danny took a seat Sam’s other side, Tucker winding up beside Danny on the curve. That left Tim with a seat almost half opposite Tucker, on the other side of the round.

Further from the main action, but honestly, he took it with good grace. Better than Damian, who despite having the seat on Dick’s other side, near the middle of the table, was still sulking.

Maybe because he’d had to wait for a new chair to be brought? Cass had the other new chair, at Jason’s other side.

No one seemed worried that they’d left the table unbalanced, mostly down at one end.

A couple of attendants had already hurried over with three extra chairs, disappearing again for place settings as the Waynes passed cutlery around.

Danny figured this was what throwing the party (and having more money than your average country) did for you. People didn’t make a fuss when plans changed.

The hall was still pretty loud, people finding their seats and getting comfortable. Across the table Dick leaned forward, grinning broadly at Sam and Danny.

“So, we know about Sam and her folks. What about you, Danny? Do you have any family nearby?” He asked, ignoring a warning look from Jason.

Danny appreciated it, but he didn’t really mind. Odds on, he’d be getting to know Jason’s family better at some point. They seemed pretty close.

“Nah, my sister’s studying psychology in Star City and both parents are still in Illinois. We sort of spread out.” Not least so both he and Jazz could have some time away from home.

Time to pretend to be normal. And somewhere nobody knew the name Fenton.

Dick nodded cheerfully, but Danny didn’t miss how both Damian and Steph’s eyes had narrowed. They were gonna remember what he said for later.

Fun. Maybe he should be doing some interrogating back.

Dick had already moved on though, still with that charming smile.

“Can’t say I know much about that, the furthest I got from home was Bludhaven,” he said companionably, tugging Damian in for a hug. “Can’t let the little ones do without their biggest brother.”

Damian squirmed viciously, sputtering protests, and Steph laughed and pulled Dick into a headlock.

“Jason’s bigger,” she teased, and Danny couldn’t help glancing over from the corner of his eye.

Jason was a lot bigger. In just about every direction. To be fair, Jason was bigger than some cars.

Dick squirmed free with surprising flexibility, releasing Damian who huffed and corrected his outfit immediately. Danny figured it was as good a time as any to do some sleuthing back.

“Bludhaven, huh? What do you do there?”

“I’m a cop,” Dick answered with an easy shrug. “I guess I got in the habit of wrangling these little bastards.”

Sam snorted a laugh beside him and Danny hid a grin in his hands. He was probably gonna regret that.

“You grew up in Gotham and became a cop?” She asked, heavy with derision. Beside Danny Tucker snickered, leaning over to whisper to Tim.

“And you thought you had it bad before.” Which, yeah. ACAB was Sam’s other favourite mantra after Eat The Rich.

Dick shrugged again, not losing his cheerful grin yet and spread his hands.

“That’s kinda why I did it. There were always so many corrupt cops, I wanted there to be at least someone that people could count on,” he explained like it might save him.

Sam stifled most of the second laugh.

“Oh, sorry, I thought you said you became a cop, not a firefighter. Is he a snitch too?” She asked Steph, who looked like Christmas had either come a little late or extremely early.

“Not to Bruce, but he did threaten to arrest me for parking near a fire route,” she said with a wicked grin.

Decidedly pouting now, Dick threw both hands into the air.

“I was kidding! I didn’t actually arrest her!” He argued as the rest of the table booed. Even Damian.

“Just another corrupt cop,” Sam sighed, shaking her head. Dick opened and closed his mouth a few times, then frowned.

“Wait so I’m a snitch if I do arrest people and corrupt if I don’t? How am I supposed to win?” He complained, the pout still mostly playful.

Sam stared him dead in the eye, devoid of mercy.

“Not be a cop.”

Dick groaned dramatically and Steph laughed, reaching over to pinch his cheeks.

“Hey, we told you when you joined,” she pointed out cheerfully and Dick sighed.

“Well, yeah, but the system’s not gonna change if no one ever does anything, is it?”

Tucker and Danny exchanged looks. Grins. And were slightly surprised when Jason beat Sam to the punch.

“Corrupt systems don’t change from the inside, Dickie,” he said with a smirk. Dick pointed an accusatory finger at him.

“Hey, you can’t talk. He likes Red Hood,” he explained as an aside to the Amity Parkers as if it might help his case.

Jason spread his hands, grinning.

“Hey, I came from the Alley, I’m allowed to appreciate a guy cleaning it up. Which the cops never even tried,” he added smugly. Dick huffed.

“Red Hood killed people.”

“So do the police,” Sam pointed out with a smirk of her own and Dick deflated.

“Red Hood stopped,” Jason joined in, jumping on the moment of weakness. “I bet his bodycount is less than Bludhaven PD’s.”

Steph and Tim both snickered at that, although Danny wasn’t quite sure why. It seemed a little more innuendo ridden than just enjoying Dick’s suffering.

And Jason’s cheeks definitely pinked. But he ignored them. Yeah, Danny had some follow up questions for later.

From Jason’s other side, Cass signed something that Danny couldn’t quite catch from this angle, but Steph nodded quickly.

“Yeah, good point Cass. She wants to know what you guys think about vigilantes,” she explained, looking expectantly at Sam.

Who frowned for a moment, then shrugged.

“At least they’re getting something done. But someone needs to look into Batman hoarding children,” she said dryly, and most of the table snickered.

“I think most of them follow him,” Tim pointed out in an effort to be fair. Steph and Jason both made faces at him and he flipped them both off.

“But do you have a favourite of Gotham’s vigilantes?” asked Dick, leaping onto the subject change with both feet.

Danny cast a quick glance at Jason, but he looked about as entertained as the rest of the table. It must have been something they talked about a lot.

Or the rest of the Waynes were the rest of the bats. But Danny didn’t want to assume… unless it would be funny.

Without the key of Jason’s old Robin connection, Sam and Tucker probably wouldn’t get there.

Sam was pursing her lips, probably thinking about her options. She’d know more of them than him or Tucker, but Danny figured he knew most of the big players.

“Black Bat,” she finally decided, leaning back in her seat, “but Batwoman definitely fucks.”

This was met with general agreement, Danny frowning for a moment. He’d not had many bat sightings since moving to Gotham, but…

“She definitely says fuck,” he agreed with a snicker. Sam punched his shoulder.

“You can’t talk. Who’s your favourite, new town boy?”

Rubbing his arm and feigning great injury, Danny stuck his tongue out at her. Thought for a moment longer.

“Signal’s pretty great,” he decided, tipping his chair back for a moment to frown at the ceiling, “I passed by the mall after a rogue attack one time and he was teaching the kids to do flips.”

“After the rogue was in custody?” Steph asked, but she was still grinning. Danny shrugged.

“I dunno, I don’t talk to cops.”

Dick let out another wounded groan and Sam snickered, then leaned forward to look at Tucker.

“How about you?”

Tucker hesitated for a moment, clearly torn. Then he visibly drew in his courage and looked around the table expectantly.

“Have you guys heard of the Oracle?” He asked, voice heavy with anticipation. The surrounding Gothamites stilled, watching him expectantly.

Sam rolled her eyes.

“If you’re not wearing spandex are you even a vigilante?” She asked dryly. Tucker flipped her off.

“Hey, Oracle’s done more for this city than any of the bats! More for the whole world!”

“It’s a legend in the hacker community,” Danny “explained”, keeping an eye on Dick and Steph as the two opposite him. And less obviously hacker connected.

If they were the bats and Oracle existed, they’d know.

“They’re a master hacker that can break any system, any time, and gathers all the evidence to put people like Roman Sionis behind bars,” Tucker said, taking over the explanation.

With his usual dramatic aplomb, planting both hands flat on the table and leaning forward impressively, his voice low and conspiratorial.

“No one knows who they are or anything about them. You just find their tracks sometimes, especially when there’s a really big rogue attack or someone gets busted too soon.”

“Sounds kinda like a rumour,” Dick offered with a small shrug, glancing at Tim. “How about you, Tim? Have you heard of an Oracle?”

Tim hesitated for a moment, just long enough for Steph to snicker.

“Guess if there is one they don’t bother with Bludhaven PD,” she said smugly, dodging when Dick swung half heartedly at her. “Police brutality!”

Dick groaned whole heartedly as the others laughed, sinking back into his seat.

“But seriously, why doesn’t anyone like Nightwing?” He grumbled, arms folded as he pouted at his siblings. “He was on the scene before it was cool.”

‘Before he had to be cool,’ Cass signed, shuffling a little further around the curve of the oval so the rest of the table could see her.

Dick’s head snapped up when Steph and Sam laughed harder, pouting at his sister.

“Hey! Not fair when I’m not looking!”

‘Pay attention then,’ she signed back, her expression all sweet and studied innocence.

At the other end of the table Tucker decided to take a little pity on the guy.

“Nightwing’s okay. I liked that suit,” he said with a shrug and a grin. Dick straightened in his seat, grinning over at him.

“Finally, a man of distinction and taste!”

“Cops don’t get opinions,” Sam smirked, leaning forward to grin at Tucker, “so what’s your excuse?”

Tucker stuck his nose in the air, pointedly looking away from her.

“We’re not all goth, Sam. Some of us have heard of colours.”

“Spoiler wears purple,” Tim put in helpfully, pulling up a picture to show him. Tucker leaned in for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah that’s pretty cool too. Capes are in,” he added, shooting a meaningful look at Danny. Who rolled his eyes, both hands in the air.

“And when they come in for those of us not wearing identity obscuring masks, I’ll wear one,” he replied dryly. Tucker pshawed at him, waving a hand.

“You’re in Gotham, how weird would it be?” He asked off handedly. Danny sighed and then looked pointedly around the rest of the table.

“Weird?” Steph offered, shrugging.

“Pretty fuckin’ weird,” Jason agreed and Danny folded his arms and grinned at Tucker.

“I’m not breaking my win streak by letting some rogue mistake me for a bat. You wear a cape while you’re here,” he said, sticking out his tongue.

Whatever Tucker was about to say was lost when Dick sat up sharply, face bright with renewed enthusiasm.

“Wait, Danny, does that mean you haven’t been in a rogue attack before?” He asked eagerly, which was just a little too fucking weird.

Even weirder, the rest of the Gothamites looked equally excited. Even Damian managed a smug anticipation around his piercing stare.

Danny felt kind of like he was in a freak show display case.

“Uh… yeah? But I bet loads of people in Gotham haven’t and it’s only been a year…” his excuses were immediately batted away as Steph clasped her hands in front of her.

“Oh that means tonight is gonna be your first! That’s so exciting!” She squealed happily.

Danny and Tucker gave her weird looks, but to their surprise it was Sam who answered, sighing and leaning back in her seat.

“At least one rogue always attacks a gala,” she explained, waving a hand around them, “it’s all of Gotham’s wealthiest in one place. It’s why we don’t come here much,” she added, eyes narrowing in frustration.

Beside her Jason frowned down at her. Probably trying to work out the frustration.

“Because they don’t think it’s safe? One of the bats always deals with it,” he added when Tucker and Danny still looked confused.

Sam snorted and shook her head.

“Because they think I’ll start something during the attack,” she huffed, folding her arms and glaring at Tucker and Danny. Daring them to comment.

Tucker, unafraid of death with Danny between them, snickered.

“You’ll finish something during the attack,” he corrected, ignoring the suddenly concerned looks from the Gothamites.

Sam’s eyes narrowed further but she let the comment stand. Steph leaned forward a little, looking nervous for the first time.

“It’s usually better not to get involved?” She offered, sounding almost apologetic. “The rogues can be pretty dangerous and you don’t want to call attention to yourself.”

“I doubt that would be an issue,” Damian snapped, eyes narrowed as he trained that glare on Sam instead of Danny.

She stared him down, then nodded sharply.

“He gets it. Anyway, you don’t have to worry, I got the lecture half a dozen times when we flew in. “No punching assholes, or any criminals”,” she mimicked her mom’s perky tones, heavily sarcastic air quotes stretched alongside.

Stifling a grin, Danny suddenly noticed something.

“Hey wait, I didn’t get the no punching speech?”

“Maybe they’re hoping you die in the rogue attack,” Tucker snickered, shooting Jason a sly grin.

There was, predictably, that Obsessive flare of protection-guard-still funny and Danny kicked Tucker under the table for it.

He already wasn’t happy about the whole Fright Knight thing, better not to belabour it. Almost before he reached for Jason, he felt the other man reaching back though.

Grinned in spite of himself at that first careful brush.

Safe-home-I’m fine

Smug-strong-damn fucking right you are

“They’d be a little late to that request,” Danny shot back at Tucker instead, even as he winced from the kick.

About half the table groaned, which Danny personally considered unfair, since the Gothamites hadn’t heard his death jokes before.

Right up until Tim ran both hands through his hair, looking from Danny to Jason in amused exasperation.

“Great, there’s two of you. Are bad puns a side effect of the Lazarus pit too?” He asked dryly.

“No because if it was puns, it’d be Dick,” Jason shot back just as fast and Dick groaned, letting his head flop forwards onto the table.

“Did I just not get the memo that it’s “Bully Dick Day” or something?” He moaned plaintively, still overacting enough that Danny wasn’t worried they’d actually upset him.

And when Jason leaned over and flicked the top of his head, equally unconcerned.

“Consider it revenge for almost a decade of godawful puns, Dickiebird,” he told him bluntly, and Dick groaned louder.

“Betrayed by my own brethren… abandoned by my flesh and blood…”

“We are not your flesh and blood,” Damian reminded him sharply - and possibly unwisely, since it prompted Dick to flop over onto him instead and wail louder.

“Denounced! Deserted! Thrown to the gutters!” He howled at increasing volume.

Damian threw all attempts at dignity to the wind, struggling to fight his brother off without falling out of his chair. Dick just threw more of his weight over, both chairs beginning to rock dangerously.

There was now muffled laughter from more than just their own table in the background. This only seemed to encourage Dick, right up until someone cleared their throat into the microphone.

Damian took immediate advantage of his hesitation and shoved Dick off him and to the floor. Danny and the rest of the table looked up into the surprisingly stern face of Brucie Wayne.

Who then smiled.

“So, with that bit of rough housing out of the way… I promise I will let you all get to your meals shortly, but I have a couple of things to say first. I’ll do my best to keep it short and sweet.”

Dick scrambled back into his seat and Danny glanced along the table, wondering what was going on. The party was just to show Jason was back, right?

Jason was sat right here.

And had apparently caught wind of his confusion, catching his eye and half smirking.

“It’ll be a couple minutes. Then I have a speech, then we’re done and it’s just food, more socialising, and shaking hands with 90% of high society,” he explained quietly, leaning down to Sam and Danny as Bruce spoke.

Sam didn’t seem concerned, so Danny settled in as well to watch. There might be some fun baby Jason stories.

And y’know? It was a pretty standard speech. Talking about his beloved son, how hard it had been when he was gone, how happy Bruce had been to find him.

Danny found himself glancing over at Jason a couple of times, the beginning of a smile tugging at his lips. Jason looked mostly unmoved, smiling along at appropriate points, but not engaged.

Until.

“And I can only say how sorry I am that I wasn’t there when he needed me the most,” Bruce ended softly, eyes meeting Jason’s from the podium.

The younger man went white so fast Danny almost thought he’d transformed. Sam’s nails bit into the table.

“That’s the first time he’s said that, isn’t it?” She snarled, just low enough to go under the genteel applause all around them.

Danny flicked his aura out across Jason and he visibly started, then turned to glance at them. Nodded once. And started to stand.

Sam’s hand snapped over like a whip before he’d pushed the chair back, her voice low and deathly serious.

“Jason Todd we met today but if you go up there right now and say anything even like that you forgive him, that man is leaving here tonight in a Fenton thermos.”

Danny rolled his eyes, leaning over and nudging his hand under hers as the applause began to fade, eyes beginning to turn their way.

“Can’t put living humans in the thermos, Sam,” he hissed, sending a gentle pulse of reassurance-calm-we’ve got you through his fingertips to Jason.

The other halfa looked surprised for a moment, then shot him a grateful smile, hand turning to touch both of theirs as he rose. Sam turned her fixed smile on Danny, now holding both of their hands.

“I did not say he would still be living, Danny,” she said firmly and Jason stifled a laugh, his aura brightening to amused-shocked-touched.

Beat the hell out of the gaping, painful hole it had been. Danny caught his fingers for a last second before Jason pulled away, grinning at them both.

“I appreciate the backup, but I’ve got this. I know how to handle him,” Jason said softly, coming around behind their seats.

One hand brushed across the back of Danny’s neck, though who he was grounding Danny couldn’t say. And as he moved up to the podium himself, Danny damn near believed him.

Couldn’t argue with the open sincerity Bruce was putting out either though.

Tugging their hands back off the table, he leaned in to whisper to Sam.

“The fuck was that about? At least he finally said sorry?”

Sam closed her eyes for a long moment, visibly reigning in her temper.

“I fucking hate that manipulative bullshit, Danny. It’s the same crap as a public proposal; he gets to be the good guy, and all the pressure is on Jason to act the right way, do the acceptable thing, or he’s the villain. It’s fucked up and it’s a cruel way to force the answer you want from someone if you don’t think they’d give it,” she snarled, eyes still fixed on Bruce as he moved to the side of the stage.

Danny stared at her for a long moment, then sunk back into his seat, Tucker visibly deflating alongside him. He’d never thought of it like that.

Tucker let out a low, uneasy whistle as Jason took the microphone.

“Sooooooo, note for Val, no public proposals?” He offered in a whisper, and Danny giggled in spite of himself.

Sam kicked him in the shins, fighting her own smile, still staring at Jason.

“Shut up.”

**

Jason was gonna buy Sam a coffee. Six coffees. Maybe more.

He just… he’d seen Bruce’s speech. They’d read each others, both gone through them with Alfred to make sure they were concise, charming, and appropriate.

Bruce had asked for his green light on every story.

The apology hadn’t been in it.

Fuck, his head was still spinning in a thousand different directions and he could barely even feel the pit. He felt shocky, shaky even now, going through the motions.

Smile and wave.

He didn’t know what he’d have said or done if Sam hadn’t grabbed him. If he could have said anything at all. But it had helped. Brought him back to himself.

And an imminent offer to murder Bruce, which he sorely appreciated even if he was pretty sure Bruce hadn’t actually been hoping to force him into anything.

The guy was a master manipulator of his own image, but… he wouldn’t do that to them. To any of his children, no matter how much Jason sometimes doubted that he still counted.

There was something in the way their eyes met, the way his voice softened even on mic. A tenderness that Jason actually believed, in spite of himself.

And how fucked up was that, that it was easier for Bruce to say sorry in a mask, in front of a couple hundred people, than just to Jason alone? That it took a crowd for him to admit he’d failed?

No. Jason wasn’t going to forgive him. Not the easy out of a public reconciliation and then everything going magically back to normal.

Fuck, he wanted to. Wanted to fall into Bruce’s arms, be fifteen again when his dad was always right and strong and had all the answers.

Wanted to say the words and have the fairytale moment.

But even without the pit screaming bloody vengeance he knew it wouldn’t be true. Saying sorry was never what he’d wanted from Bruce, and he hadn’t expected it.

He wanted to know he’d mattered. Wanted to know that Bruce had cared, had learned, would never put a fucking kid in that position ever again.

Bruce was more careful now. Tim and Damian and Steph had an extra full book of rules on top of what Dick and Jason had made.

But he still wouldn’t make the hard choices. Still looked down on Jason for taking someone at their word when they said they’d never change, that it’d take death to stop them.

They still had a fucking lot to talk about, even if Jason had stopped killing.

Bruce hadn’t looked away the entire time Jason made his way to the podium. At least, not unless he’d done it in those seconds with Sam and Danny.

He’d moved back and away, giving Jason his space, and he appreciated that. He even managed a small, slightly strained but genuine smile as he stepped up to the mic.

“And on that cheerful note…” he let himself trail off, pulling his own less practiced but still perfect Party Smile on, letting the room in on the joke.

Laughter broke out quickly, breaking the tension that maybe hadn’t all been in Jason’s head. Looking back at Danny, Jason could swear he felt the other man’s relief wash over him.

He was fine. He could make a joke.

Part of him wanted to change his own speech, something to acknowledge what Bruce said, something to throw him off like he’d done to Jason.

But Sam was right; Jason had deserved to hear those words alone first. In private. And when he was ready to move on, that’s how he’d tell Bruce.

Honestly his mind was empty anyway. It was hard enough to remember the practiced speech, and letting himself sink into the familiar words helped steady him.

His speech was shorter. Bruce told their “story”, ostensibly to spare Jason from painful memories. All Jason had to do was say how glad he was to be back.

Talk about all the things he wanted to do for kids that hadn’t gotten as lucky as him. The things he’d do with his second chance… third chance in the eyes of most of the room.

Name a couple of generous future donors Tim had helped him select for bleeding hearts and a love of attention. Although… that’d be an opening.

Hiding a smirk behind the practiced smile, Jason looked around the room until he caught sight of the older Mansons.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about the future,” he added, just at the end of his own speech. Made eye contact with both, looked to the front table, and smiled at Sam.

Yeah, this’d give Bruce a fucking heart attack too. That’d do.

“There’s so much I’ve missed. I don’t want to miss out on anything else. I intend to take every chance this new life gives me with both hands. Especially when it brings new… friends.”

He lingered over the pause, enjoying the way Sam’s grin turned fucking feral. Let his gaze drift sideways to Danny, who had both hands clapped over his mouth to muffle his laughter.

Figured fuck it.

And blew Sam a kiss.

**

Danny stilled, something pinching suddenly tight in his chest.

He’d seen Jason’s lips before. Pretty much every time they’re together, honestly, they spent a lot of time talking. They have so much to talk about.

He’d already seen them laugh, smile, pout, pulled tight in a snarl. All sorts of expressions, and he can just about remember watching old clips of Robin.

Same expressive face, even around a mask. There’s a weight there now that Robin never had though, even when he got more violent.

Dying changed people, and there weren’t many people in the world who knew that more intimately than Danny. Being a teen superhero wasn’t easy either, but being a dead teen hero…

Honestly it was a distinction they shared with way too many of the other young heroes, and Danny got why Jason fucking hated the very concept.

It aged you before your time. Showed you sides of the world no kid should see. Gave you the chance to keep other kids from having to.

Danny thought he’d seen pretty much everything the living world had to offer. The good, the bad, the ugly. But now he was here, looking up at his new friend, and it felt like he’d never seen him before.

There was a part of him that wanted to see Jason smile more, to see the weight lift from his shoulders.

There’s a part of him remembering those lips next to his ear, warm breath stroking across him but not closing the gap.

There’s a part of him that wondered how, even after all he’d been through, Jason still had those smiles in him.

And there’s a part of him as he watched Jason press his fingers to his lips that wondered if they could possibly be as soft as they looked. If Jason had leaned just a hairsbreadth closer…

And yeah, he was going to be denying ownership of every single one of those parts, thank you very much. Especially the one that flickered with just a hint of jealousy.

Jason was a damn fine actor, that much had been clear right from the start of the evening. This was all just for the bit.

There was nothing to be jealous of.

He just. Hadn’t noticed Jason’s lips before. How soft and full they looked, how a smile curved them into something beautiful.

He realised he’d been staring when he caught Jason’s eye, saw those smooth lips twitch into a wider smile. And then Jason was making his way down from the podium.

Back to the table.

Holy fuck Danny was gonna need to be able to string a coherent sentence together by the time he arrived. Even with Sam and Tucker, with Jason’s siblings responses of glee and laughter…

He might not make it.

He just kept getting distracted in the curve of that mischievous smile.

———————————

Biggest thanks to @lehana37 and @wolfjackle for helping me out when I got stuck on this one! It turns out the answer to tricky scenes is still “And then Catwoman was there”.

This last scene is for @jotaroslooseeyebrowhair 😁

Next:

[avvidstarion]

Your Childhood Home is Just Powder-White Bones

aka Avvid's journey into necromancy!!! 4.5k words (ao3)

You were never a very strong child, so when they weren’t trying to kill you they mostly left you alone.

The adults ignored you, figuring one of your cousins would take you out sooner or later and then there would be one less burden on the creche. They barely even tried to teach you to fight, only including you in the occasional training session when they needed an extra punching bag. Eventually, even when your cousins tried to kill you it seemed halfhearted. You just weren’t strong enough to be considered worth anyone’s time. 

So they left you alone.

The best thing about growing up in a castle is that there were so many places to explore. The creche mostly kept itself to a select few rooms in the north wing, the places they considered most important– kitchen, armory, bedrooms– so the rest of the ruins were yours and yours `alone. While your cousins were being taught to kill, you picked your way through the crumbling, decrepit hallways, climbing over piles of rubble and squeezing through collapsed doorways. Your ancestors didn’t much care about maintaining the structural integrity of the keeps they seized to build creches. 

You don’t quite remember the exact day you found the library– you were young, that’s as much as you know. Books had never been a large part of your life; you were taught the basics of reading and writing in your language, but that was it. The education your elders provided you with came from practical experience rather than written word: here’s how to swing a sword. Here’s how to break someone’s wrist. Here’s how to not scream when someone else breaks your wrist. 

The library was dilapidated, the roof half-caved in. Plant growth made its ways through the broken windows and up the walls, dust covered every visible surface. Your feet crunched on glass and tiny vermin bones as you made your way over to the sagging bookshelves. You ran your fingers along the spines of the books, pulled one out at random, and sat down in a moldy, chewed-up armchair. There was no profound reason that led you to teaching yourself to read; it was simply a matter of your having a lot of time on your hands, and the fact that you liked the way that the books felt and smelled.

The books were all in common, a language you could speak but not read. You had to start with primers for children, which made you feel a bit foolish even though you yourself were a child. The primers were a lot of nonsense for the most part, rhymes designed to teach simple phonetics or concepts that would have been familiar to the children for which this book was intended (yes, you knew the dog went woof, several books mention it— but what was a dog?????). 

The primers talked a lot about mothers and fathers, and that’s what first inclined you to believe that life in the creche is not at all similar to the way life is lived on the rest of the Material Plane. You didn’t know whose mind your egg formed from– you never gave it much thought. Family didn’t matter in the creche– you called your peers “cousins”, but you likely were unrelated genetically. The only things that mattered were yourself and how well you were able to impress your superiors. 

But the world the primers described was different. Family was important: share with your siblings, take care of your pets. Mom and Dad love you. 

You had already known the children of the lord of this manor were cared for. Some time before you discovered the library, you had discovered what remained of the manor’s nursery. The children of the manor slept in plush beds made of down, not in rows of bedrolls on the floor. They had soft toys to play with. They lived in comfort and safety. They were not told that they must eliminate each other to survive. The primers and picture books said that Material children had people who loved them, who sang them to sleep at night and tucked them into bed. Who held them when they were sad. 

This was utterly alien to you. The only times anyone had ever put their hands on you was when they meant you harm.

Once you graduated from the primers and moved onto the textbooks and scrolls, you discovered other differences between your creche and the world of the Material Plane. You found no book detailing the killing arts; killing others outside of war was a crime to these people. War was common, from what you could tell, but with every description of battle came a sum of casualties, of things lost. The gith did not keep track of things lost, only things gained.

History books and atlases were your favorite; you loved learning about the Plane on which you lived. Your whole life had been confined to this manor, and you thought it contained everything in the world,  but just outside the door there was so, so much more than you ever could have imagined. You read about vast kingdoms that rose and fell, cultures and people that you hadn’t even known existed. You loved to read about geography– from what you could tell you lived on the continent of Faerûn, on the Northern Sword Coast, near the city of Neverwinter. You could never have guessed that the Material Plane was so vast, that it had so much history (though, given the state of the manor and its books, you guessed that there was a chance that any material you read about was outdated– you did not know by how long, your people never really paid much attention to the passage of time, but still). 

You were still a child when you found the book that laid your soul out bare before you. It was not a book on history or geography or culture, but a book on magic– not a tome, exactly, or a grimoire, or anything of that nature. It was more of an introduction to the theory  of the thing than an actual spellbook. You knew what magic was, but not much beyond that; your people used it, but they never studied it. It was just another way for them to make war, just another tool to destroy. But the book you found spoke of magic as if it was something that could be used to do just the opposite– it was something that could create. 

 “Magic is an act of wanting made manifest; want is the ultimate driving force of creation,” the book said. And, oh, how you wanted. You would look at your cousins and your superiors and think of the loving world described in the primers and you wanted. And if you wanted, well, maybe you could create whatever it is that could ease the aching inside of you. 

Magic. The thought of it thrilled you, sent sparks through your blood. Perhaps there was more to this world than fighting and killing and destroying. 

You devoted your life to learning, to devouring any book in the library that so much as mentioned magic. “Cantrips,” read another book, “are spells that can be cast at will without much effort. They are a spellcaster’s baseline, the most foundational spells in their repertoire”. You found them to be, frankly, boring. Prestidigitation. Light. Control Flame. You soon hit a wall.  Cantrips could not fill the hole inside of you, but you had nowhere else to turn; the library’s selection of books concerning magic was small.

When you finished reading through the sum of the library’s magical repertoire and still had not found the solution to all of your problems, you did the only thing you could do: you sat in the corner among the dust and the mold and the vermin bones, and you cried. You let all of your frustrations, all of your fear and your anger, flow from your eyes and your mouth in a river of tears and wails. There was no way you would have ever been able to find a spell that would have gotten you out of here, a spell that would have let you experience such exotic joys as family and dogs, but you had hoped– well, you had hoped you would have at least found a way to be less lonely. 

That surge, that powerful wave of loneliness and disappointment and wanting, is what made the bones begin to rattle. It was quiet at first, but then it grew so loud and so quick that you stopped weeping, perplexed, and looked down at the ground beside you.

The vermin bones that you had taken little notice of were moving. They were shaking, rattling, rolling, a faint green aura emitting from them as, one by one by one, they began to knit themselves back together. 

You had entirely stopped crying now, your perplexion turned to shock turned to joy as the little rat skeleton before you took one step, then two, and then creakily and stiffly made its way over to you. It bumped against your hand, nudged it with its head. It nudged your hand with its head! 

As gently as you could with your shaking hands you picked it up, cupped it in your palms. It wriggled a bit, then began to prance its way up your arm, across your shoulders and back down again. Its tiny little foot bones tickled your skin, and you laughed, joy bubbling from your chest and flowing all throughout your body. You imagined that if the rat had working vocal chords– any vocal cords at all– it would also be squeaking with delight. You had both been lonely for so long, collecting dust in this library without anyone knowing or caring that you were gone. But things were different now– you had a friend! You both did! 

The rat settled itself on your shoulder, and you gave it a nice pat with your hand, tracing the notches in its spine with your fingers. You decided to name it Nasher, which, according to your history books, was the current ruler of nearby Neverwinter.

The wanting lessened, but still did not disappear. 

Time passed. At first you worried that Nasher was a fluke, something you couldn’t recreate– it took you a long time to learn how to focus your magic on specific sets of bones, to learn how to purposefully encourage them to come back together. But you got there eventually. You raised a veritable rodent army there in the heart of your dusty, dilapidated kingdom. Rats, mice, squirrels, even a cat or two all joined you in your solitude. You named them all, loved them all, spent your days dancing and running with your new friends. The empty halls of the decaying manor echoed with your laughter and the clacking of bones. 

But still you wanted.

You wanted– something. You couldn’t put words to it, not exactly. But it wasn’t something that your animal friends could give you.

There were other bones in the manor. You had seen them during your wanderings, crushed under rubble or just left there in their death stains. The taking of this manor was not a peaceful affair; your kinsmen slaughtered without care and left the bodies of those who used to live here where they fell. And there were so many people who had lived there, guards and lords and maids and servants all abandoned, all forgotten. 

There was a medical text in the library. According to it, the adult human body had 206 bones. 

You spent two tendays studying that textbook, learning how humans’ bodies fit together like 206 puzzle pieces. The hands alone were so intricate– phalanxes and metacarpals all connecting to the radius and ulna. 33 vertebrae to make the spine, 24 ribs plus the sternum to protect the fleshy bits in the chest. Humans had 32 teeth– two more than you do, you counted– and unlike your rows of needle-sharp fangs, humans only had a few teeth that were pointed. The meat of the body was less important to you, at least with the resources you have now, but you studied it anyway. Muscles and tendons and fat, the organs and their placements. The four humors and their uses. All throughout your studies, you wondered how similar your body was to�� humans’ bodies– did your organs line up the same? How many vertebrae did you have? You weren’t sure how to go about finding out, given that cutting yourself open wasn’t a good option. 

It took another three days for you to collect all the necessary pieces. You knew where to find the bodies, but so many of them were incomplete, falling apart due to time or animal interference. Picking through the rubble, collecting femurs and tibias, you were reminded of the egg hunts that the children in your primers would go on. Nasher and your other friends would squeeze into cracks for you, helping gather scattered knuckles and teeth. Eventually, you were able to come up with all 206 from what you estimated were four to five different sources.

The day you intended to sneak away to experiment was one of the seemingly random days that the adults remembered you existed, so you had to wait. You got your teeth quite literally kicked in during the sparring session: running your tongue over the gaps, you estimated you now had 27 teeth, and nearly as many bruises to your midsection and upper body, so you decided it was best to wait yet another day for the good of your health (well, really, it was your body that decided for you; you couldn’t get out of your bedroll the next morning). But then– finally, finally you were able to slip away, hobbling your way through the halls and passageways that you could easily navigate even with the limited visibility from your swollen, blackened eyes. 

The bones were right where you left them, laid out on the floor in exact formation. Your little friends squirmed and jumped around you– you apologized to them that you hadn’t been home, knowing that they must miss you when you’re away. You could tell they were excited, too, as excited as you were. 

You sat down beside the head of the skeleton, placed your hands on either side of its skull, and wanted. You let every moment of sadness, of loneliness, of pain that you had ever felt in every day of your life well up inside of you until tears ran down your face and you thought your heart was going to break. There was a sort of pulling inside of you, like something had grabbed a hold of your soul– the feeling you had when you cast cantrips, only multiplied a hundredfold. And then, just when you thought you were going to choke on your sobs, the rattling started. 

You scrambled backwards, eyes screwing up against the bright green glow the bones emanated as they came together. When you opened them, the skeleton– the skeleton!!!-- was scrambling on the ground, jerkily trying to make its way to its feet. Standing up in a rush, you offered your hand to it; it took it, and you pulled it to its feet, where it stood unsteadily. 

The two of you stared at each other for several, long seconds, and then, with a jerky, shaky hand, it reached out towards you and wiped the tears from your cheek.

With another sob, you threw yourself into its arms, almost knocking it over with your force. It slowly wrapped its arms around you and, though you knew that it was your magic controlling the bones, your hands puppetting the strings, you still buried your face into its sternum and cried as it held you. 

The time passed peaceably. Your new friend– privately you thought of them as Mom– couldn’t speak, no matter how much you wanted them to, but they still ran their finger bones through your hair while you napped in the library’s decaying armchairs, which was the closest thing to a lullaby you knew you’d hear. Mom would play hide and seek with you and the animals. They would hold you as you cried. You desperately wanted them to make you a home-cooked meal and eat with you at the dinner table, but your people had control of the dining halls and the kitchen, so you didn’t think you’d be able to sneak your friend in there. Your mom, in response to your want, once laid out a half-rotting rodent carcass in front of you as you sat reading at a desk, and– well. It’s the thought that counts. You made sure to stash the carcass safely so that you could befriend it once all the meat was gone. 

The meat– it continued to vex you. You had plenty of access to half-rotten things, rats laying forgotten and half eaten in corners, but you were hesitant to bring any of those back due to smells and disease and whatnot. Plus it would probably be terrible to live out eternity like that, falling apart and reeking. So you usually just worked on bones that were already clean, but that was growing to be too easy. You wanted to try something new.

You wanted to try something fresh.

But– how? You could try to find an animal that had just died, but it would be hard. You could find a living animal and kill it, but the thought made you sad. Plus, living things didn’t seem to like you much, anyway– the living rats all ran away from you if you passed by. They could smell the death on you, you figured. 

There were the other gith, but if you had learned one thing in life, it’s that you weren’t much good in a fight– and you doubted you could cantrip someone to death, anyhow. Not before they could get to you. You could maybe try to catch one of your cousins unawares, but there were so few of them left– under ten, including you– that they all tended to stick close to each other, anyhow. 

It was a very long time before the opportunity presented itself. One day in the cold months, Elder Ra’akos fell ill and did not recover. This was a bit of a predicament for your creche– death did not exist in the Astral Plane, so creches never really knew how to deal with it. Countless of your cousins had died, sure, but that was what weeded out the strong. It was natural. An adult githyanki dying, especially a creche Elder, was…strange. Adult gith who died on the Material Plane were viewed as either unlucky or as poor soldiers, and neither deserved any sort of ceremony. When Elder Ra’akos died, he was taken out back and buried under a thin layer of soil, only to keep the animals away. 

This was great for you, obviously. The night they buried him, you and your friends snuck out using the library’s windows. You cut your hands on the broken glass as you climbed out, but hardly noticed. You had never been outside before– the young were strictly forbidden from leaving the creche. The night was dark; you willed a ball of light into your hand to see your way– maybe cantrips could be useful after all– and in the glowing light of your magic the world was beautiful. There was grass beneath your feet, damp and cool and green. A breeze kissed your skin, ruffled your hair– you closed your eyes, comforted. And the sky! You had no idea there were so many stars. You made a mental note to take a peak at one of the astronomy books that called the library home. 

Striding across the grass, friends in tow, you made your way around the manor, towards the back where you knew they buried your cousins and now, apparently, Elder Ra’akos. There was a fresh mound, right at the edge of the woods (the woods!! You wondered how many trees there were, what kind of things lived inside). There was no grave, which didn’t surprise you. It’s not like there would be anyone else who came back here and visited. 

Kneeling in the dirt, you dug with your scraped and bloodstained hands until the earth was caked under your fingernails. It didn’t take long to find him, still in his bedclothes, face down in his grave. You tried to haul him out of the shallow hole, but you weren’t strong enough. Mom  tried to help, but being made entirely of bones, they didn’t really have much strength either. 

You decided to just do the ritual there, turning Elder Ra’akos over onto his back. Again you assumed position at the head of the body, touching your hands to the side of his skull. You did your best to conjure up memories of Elder Ra’akos as he had been in life; that time when he slapped your knuckles when you asked for second portions at dinner. That time he just stood there watching as one of your cousins attempted to strangle you. That time during weapons training when he told you to stop wasting everyone’s time and resources and just let one of your cousins take you out of your misery. 

There were a lot of things you wanted from Elder Ra’akos. You wanted him to be a kinder man. You wanted him to understand that you weren't just a waste, that you were smart and capable and of value. But mostly you just wanted him to resurrect so you could prove that you could fucking do it.

And you could. Stiffly, limbs cracking from the rigor mortis, Elder Ra’akos climbed his way out of his grave. 

You weren’t sure how much of Ra’akos was left in there, but you thought you saw a faint glimmer of recognition and possibly even respect in his dead eyes. Although that could have been your own pride reflecting back at you. 

When you and your strange parade of undead returned to your beloved library, you realized that you weren’t quite sure what exactly you wanted to do with the shambling form of Elder Ra’akos. You could not think of him as Dad in the way you could think of the skeleton as Mom. You briefly considered dissecting him– you did want to know what your insides look like, and how they compared to the human anatomy textbook– but you didn’t know how you’d manage to stuff all the insides back in, afterwards. You didn’t have a needle and thread handy, and have no way of acquiring one unsuspiciously. 

Cautiously you approached the being that used to be Elder Ra’akos. It opened its arms to you, face twisting in an approximation of a smile (or maybe a grimace), and you allowed yourself to be embraced. Privately, guiltily, you admitted that the fleshiness of Ra’akos made for a much better hugging partner than dearest Mom. The flesh wasn’t warm, not like a living being would be, but you liked it. You thought again about all of the ways Ra’akos hurt you in life; you thought about the gentleness with which his body held you in death. You decided to let bygones be bygones– you were never one to hold a grudge, anyway. 

The cold months ended, and so did your luck. You weren’t surprised, not really, when one night you were dragged from your sleeping bag to the training room floor, where the rest of your cousins waited with their knives and hammers and fists. 

  You were not sure how old you were– time, as mentioned, was a relatively useless concept to the gith. Aging only mattered during the creche years, and even then, not really. But you could still tell you were growing older. You weren’t an adult, not yet, but you weren’t a child any more. And your cousins were older, anyway. It was time for them to determine who among them would be taken to the Astral Plane, and only one could win that game. Everyone knew that it wouldn’t be you. Everyone knew that you wouldn’t have been able to hide in the dusty shadows forever. 

You just hoped that they would make it quick. But they didn’t; of course they didn’t. All of your cousins wanted to get a hit in, they all wanted to show the watching Elders what they could do. They had always looked down on you, the weakling who hatched late and couldn’t fight and who cried when they hit you. It was only a matter of time before they got sick of you. 

The pain seemed to go on forever. 

You missed Nasher. You missed Mom and Ra’akos. You wished you could have seen them one last time.

Would they miss you, when you were gone? You didn’t want them to be lonely. 

You wished you were never hatched. You wished your egg rotted and collapsed in on itself. 

It was all just so unfair. You wished you had been born as someone else. You wished you had parents and siblings who loved you. You wished you had friends you could laugh with. You wished you could see the world, go on an adventure. You wished you had a dog. 

But mostly you wished that your cousins loved you. 

The pain stopped. You cracked open your eyes and found that all of your cousins were dead on the floor, bodies still twitching with arcane energy. 

Huh. You wondered what spell that was. 

You struggled to your feet, but were only able to take a few unsteady steps before your legs gave out. But before you hit the ground, a pair of arms took hold of you. Then another, and another. Your cousins. At first, for a moment, you thought they hadn’t actually died, that they were going to finish you off. But they were smiling in death in a way they never did in life.

Your cousins hugged you, held your hands, kissed your bruised and bloody forehead.

Peals of laughter burst from your throat. The corpses of your cousins gurgled in response. This had to have been the best day of your life. 

Oh, you couldn’t wait to introduce your cousins to Nasher, and Mom, and the improved Ra’akos. You couldn’t wait to show them all of your favorite hiding spots, and your books, and your favorite games. You doubt they knew how to play hide-and-seek, but you could teach them. 

Atop the balcony overlooking the training area, the Elders watched with interest. They had known that you had been experimenting with corpses; don’t think that Ra’akos’s suddenly empty grave went unnoticed. They knew you had latent magical ability– they just didn’t know that magic could be so powerful. So deadly. 

Soon they would contact the Queen, inform her of a new, unexpected development. They would ask if this was an avenue worth pursuing, a weapon worth investing in. Soon she would give the order to have you taken from your decaying family, from the Plane that you chose as your home. You wouldn’t let them, of course, but they would try.

But you didn’t know this. For now, you danced hand in hand with your cousins, dizzy with laughter and motion and love. 

[gosoccerdawgs]

Dawgs PK Hawks in OT

at Bearden 1 Hardin Valley Academy 0 - Overtime

DISTRICT 4-AAA FINAL (non-elimination)

Friday, May 12, 2023 7pm

Power forward Lucas Nordin scored on a penalty kick eight minutes into overtime, leading Bearden to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visiting Hardin Valley to win their fifth consecutive district tournament title.

Nordin drew the penalty with 2:29 remaining in the first ten-minute overtime period, when he beat two defenders and drove the ball from the left side into the eighteen. As he was setting up a right-footer from twelve yards, a trailing defender tripped him up just as he was about to shoot.

The two teams played a fast-paced, spirited eighty minutes before going into extra time, with Bearden outshooting the visitors 21 to 8 (8-2 on goal) in regulation. The Hawks gained momentum as the game wore on, with each team manufacturing four dangerous shots during overtime. 

Hamid Djouadi was relentless pushing the ball into the attack zone and Jack Raulston was ever-present deep into both ends of the pitch. Cole Hutchison kicked butt on the outside lane, while Nic Prins battened things down on the other side. Cole Stopka and Shepard McMurry anchored the backline as sure-handed Logan Nelson earned his ninth shutout in goal with confident reads and gritty play.

Bearden will now play Oak Ridge at home on Tuesday in a Region 2-AAA elimination game.  West was a 3-1 winner over the Ridgers and earned the right to host Hardin Valley--winners will meet on Thursday.

Goals: LUCAS NORDIN (88’ penalty kick).

Shots/Shots-on-goal: BHS 25/9 HVA 12/4. Corners: BHS 11 HVA 4. Fouls: BHS 8 HVA 14. Cards: HVA#33 (17’), HVA#13 (58’), HVA#16 (68’), BHS#7 (91’).Conditions: fast, cloudy, 70 degrees. Attendance: 438. Records: BHS 14-0-3 HVA 10-2-6.

Outside the box...Nordin has scored at least one goal in the last ten games...Bearden has scored 66 goals on the season, and while this is low by Bulldog standards, it should be noted the 2021 State Runner-up team only scored 60—conversely, the 2016 State Champs and the 2007 State Runner-up team each scored 106...the loss was only the second this season for Hardin Valley, both at the hands of the Bulldogs...forwards Nordin and Ethan Ford enhanced their new buzz cuts with a ‘Mohawk’ trim for this game...Woof!

[mindwideopen]

This man.... is one of my heroes. I look up to him a lot, (I really need to come up with a better synonym for the term, “a lot”. Please hold...) a plethora? A plenty? A ton? A bunch? I guess I didn’t need to look it up, but all of it applies. James Cameron. He wasn’t always a big Hollywood success. No one is. They create and design themselves and their lives, in the way they want to be. We all do it with our beliefs whether we’re aware of it or not. James had aspirations for more than where he was at one point in his life, and decided to take inspired action, to change both his inward then subsequently his outward experience. James, is a bad ass! (Let me define bad ass: I think he’s awesome!)

James started off being a person like all of us. We aspire for more. James has a huge imagination, and is an incredible storyteller, much like any other director, both renowned or not. He had the capability to communicate his intention to a mass of people, and they appreciated and understood it, and recognized him for it. Was James the same person before he was recognized by the public for his awesomeness? Not sure. Only he could answer that. But I can surmise that he was the same one minute before his big break and most likely the same after, only his world outter world changed. But one things for sure; He allowed himself his mind, to be it first, before it showed up in his life. Oh! And he worked his ass off doing and focusing on what he wanted to do. Be an amazing storyteller. He read, and he immersed himself in his craft. That helps too. 😉

James used to be a truck driver. A cool gig. A respectable, well paying job. Lots of travel, and lots of time to sit, and dream. That’s how it starts. With a desire, a dream, an intention for more in his case, but a satisfaction or impetus for more than what he was experiencing at the time, and a peace and acceptance from within or not, then came a purpose, an aim, and a goal. And if you can get out of your own way in your mind, eliminating self doubt and negative self talk as much as you can, them BOOM! You’ll see it!!! It’s the next logical step. It’s reality, as you created it. Well, there are other factors that mix in. Like people, and their wants and desires and needs. Ang when you mix with people, who have their own stuff going on, it becomes a co-creation. Life is a co-creation. We are beings that have set up a society where we measure success on population recognition and acceptance. James Cameron didn’t buy into that belief, and he created his reality that he wanted to see, both on and off the big screen. I am sooooo not there yet... internally. Woof...

James is proof, that you do not have to be defined by your chosen occupation, or how others view you. He focused on his stories, and his voice, and his opinion of himself was, and probably still is, the most important thing to him. I have noticed a trend among these incredibly talented, famous and successful creatives, and that is this: their love, is the primary focus, whether they realize it or not. Their love for their craft, tipped the scales of how they may or may not feel about themselves subconsciously or consciously. The love of what they love to do, and focus on, is their primary vibration. The rest is superfluous.

Celebrity is kinda a funny thing. You can become famous, if others recognize your talents. I always took issue with that when I was a “struggling by choice” actor. I had a chip on my shoulder, yes, but I also put all of my power and my self worth, in other people’s hands. Some may call it “self sabotage” or “shooting myself in the foot”. I wasn’t that self aware. I wanted to be accepted, loved, and when I wasn’t, and was passed over, I took it hard. Really hard. I didn’t value or appreciate me. I allowed others to define me, and yes, crush me, whether that was their intention or not.

I’m a sensitive person by nature, so I’ve learned over the years coping mechanisms to counteract callus, human behavior. Another belief I need to overcome. I’m full of them. So, you see I never tipped the scales to “success” with money and fame and accolades for my work, because latently inside, I didn’t believe I was good enough. And guess what I experienced on the outside in all of my work, whether I was hired or not? All that rejection, which I held internally. Boom. A harsh reality to face. I did it, with my feelings about myself, then my feelings and thoughts about how others view me, and then my subsequent reactivity to those people and situations around me. So for me, I did have all the power all along. How i decide to acknowledge it, and whether i decide to be deliberate about its use, is all up to me.

I have decided to be more deliberate. Man, I love that word! Deliberate! It puts me in the drivers seat. I will deliberately choose! Oooh! Better! Yes. I will deliberately choose to feel good! Yes! And I will deliberately choose to feel good, while loving people and myself. When I write about loving yourself it’s not at the expense of loving others, it’s in addition to it. You are also human, and part of the whole, so why ignore yourself in order to love others. Essentially, you can’t. You will deplete yourself, and have nothing left of value to give. So loving you, is imperative for a loving life.

James Cameron to me observing him from the outside and not knowing him personally, is an awesome life liver. Not a liver, the organ, which I am not a fan of. (I need to define to clarify my intent, otherwise people may misconstrue my meaning.)

Clarification is necessary to create healthy lives. Because when you know what you don’t want, what is next? Focus on the things that bliss you out. Clarity and context, help it all come into focus. Here’s the upshot of all of this: life should bring you joy. Any feeling or thought that you decide to entertain that doesn’t should be eliminated from your mind. That doesn’t include people, unless it does. This concept is a 2 or more way street. Both parties need to be willing to co-create in a way that is satisfying to both to remain in congruent with one another vibrationally, and in one another’s lives. Either a mutual respect, or an unspoken agreement of a co-dependent relationship.

Live, laugh, love. Ok. Extremely cliche, or, yeah duh, or yes, agreed. All choices. Decide your energy. I love to watch James Cameron movies, and listen to documentaries about his life. His success inspires me, and yes, sometimes can piss me off depending on how I feel about myself at the time. But I can always recognize my jealousy, and move past it back to love. Doing what you love to do, and appreciating others that do the same, is putting the love first, and out into the world. I have decided to be like James Cameron. I have decided to write. I have decided to love. Pretty cool...

P.S. my intention in writing this is not to get anything out of James Cameron, to star in his next movie, or to kiss his ass. My intention, is to create love within myself from my appreciation of him, and how I want to be as well, my own way. Love has a way of taking you where you need to be to be happy if you follow and pay attention to its crumb trail.

[shadowamongfireworks]

Patton and the “Woofman” costume Theory/Speculation

My theory is that Patton purposefully misunderstood the directions he was given to dress as a Wolfman (Werewolf) in favor of dressing as a “Woofman” because of what the werewolf represents to him. This can be understood by looking at what werewolves are, the perceived differences between wolves and dogs in American culture, the resulting perception of each species by Patton, and parallels regarding Patton’s past actions and behaviors.

A werewolf, in American culture and media, is a person, who at a certain point in time -generally a full moon- will transform into either a near regular looking wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf. As the werewolf primarily appears in horror movies, it is often specifically the latter form, and this is the kind Patton would have been dressing as.

https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/monsters/2016/11/08/the-werewolfvampire-dichotomy/

Heather McCallum writes, “...the werewolf also represents the loss of control, becoming too naturalistic and losing identity to the passions... Giving in to that monstrous impulse eliminates all forms of self-control, removes that person entirely from society into a very isolating existence. Oftentimes, those who transform wind up hurting the ones they love most in the course of their unnatural existence. The werewolf/transformation narrative is a suitable allegory for addictions and self-serving pleasures: while pursuing their desires, they become slaves to their urges, and those urges destroy them.”

Wolves and dogs, despite being similar species, are perceived very differently in American culture. Wolves are often seen as predators, as a threat to humans.

https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=kent1222706628&disposition=inline

“Throughout the history of English folklore and interest in the natural world, the wolf has been associated with a variety of socially unacceptable traits...Summers states that the “distinctive features of the wolf are unbridled cruelty, bestial ferocity, and ravening hunger. [. . .] He is the symbol of Night and Winter, of Stress and Storm, the dark and mysterious harbinger of Death.” Pg 36

Dogs are widely seen in a much more positive light; as pets, as companions for humans, and as protectors. They are heavily associated with friendship, affection, and loyalty. Patton is associated with dogs, though this association much less discussed than his association with cats. In Embarrassing Phases, he describes what makes his costume a “Woofman” costume, focusing on the floppy ears and the dog tag. Both of these traits are indeed associated with dogs specifically.

In a way, dogs are essentially diluted wolves, wolves who over thousands of years adapted to fit their changing surroundings after teaming up with humans, and then later further changed/were changed to suit the needs and desires of humans.

This may be comparable to what happened with Patton. Patton would have originally just represented Thomas’ feelings, but overtime, as they started to grow up, his role as Morality would also be introduced. He would be influenced by Thomas’ parents teachings as well as those of other adults and people in general that Thomas interacted with. However, at some point, Patton subconsciously took many of those teachings to an unhealthy, but not uncommon, extreme, and he began to filter out and repress the things that he had been taught were negative; certain ideas, and potentially feelings as well. It has been at least heavily implied that Patton consciously caused the separation of Roman and Remus, there are some theories that Virgil may have also been a result of Patton’s filtering, and I believe Patton may have even split himself into two, seeing as how he’d repress the emotions he’d come to believe were bad.

We have never, ever seen Patton outright angry, but we may have caught smaller glimpses of it here and there in the series in the form of passive aggression. “Boy what an ass-et to your personality”, from Making Some Changes (0:37) is one major instance of this. (Patton flipping Deceit off in S vs S would be evidence, but according to Thomas himself it was actually a blooper that accidentally got through the editing process). Most often, it seems to be converted into another feeling or action, such as Patton’s determination to try to get Virgil to stop being self-deprecating.

Knowing about Patton’s repression is important. Going back to the concept of the werewolf, like quote 1 said, turning into a werewolf is essentially the destructive wolf side taking over an individual and going rampant. Taking into account his circumstances and actions in regards to his filtering and repression, and the overall cultural association with wolves and negative ideas and feelings, Patton may feel that the Wolfman and the general werewolf narrative is a symbolic representation of his worst fears for Thomas and himself : that he will fail or has already failed to do his job, and that because of his failure(s) the negative feelings and negative Sides will come back, and that those Sides will win. So when he was given the instructions to dress as a werewolf he found a loophole and actively decided to change the Wolf part of his costume into a Dog, a similar but separate species related to wolves that he viewed much more positively, and then he covered up his motivation for the change by making it look like a misunderstanding by utilizing the dog pun.

Body Language Analysis and Other Connections

Body Language Analysis

In the Embarrassing Phases episode, this interaction occurs:

Patton appears to consistently mishear “Wolf” as “Woof”, despite the clear pronunciation by the others. He insists that that he’s hearing “Woofman”, and doesn’t appear to start to back down until Roman’s “Wolfman” line. Look at Pat’s body language after Logan’s third “Wolf man” correction (panel 7) . He is mirroring Logan’s body language to an extent. He’s making Direct eye contact, his head is slightly tilted forward (which if it was tilted forward more would become a clearer sign of aggression in this context), upper body leaning forward, hands on hips, feet planted. This is an aggression/dominance body language cluster in everything but his facial expression. Then it drops immediately as soon as Roman starts saying the word; in the next shot Patton is standing further away from the camera, and is also off-center making him further away from Roman, with much more neutral (just verging on passive looking at his facial expression) body language. This may mean that he realized he was becoming too aggressive trying to defend his point, so he immediately stopped and took on neutral/passive body language, all the while continuing to act oblivious so the group wouldn’t realize something was wrong.

Hear no Evil

There are multiple theories going around regarding the “See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil” picture spotted in the Can Lying Be Good? video. One such theory is that the image is actually related to the Core Sides rather than the Other Sides, and that Patton is specifically related to Hear no Evil. Looking at the “Woofman” interaction, I feel like that interaction may be further evidence -along with this thumbnail from DWIT and other interactions in the series- pointing towards Patton being Hear no Evil, as he seems to be actively choosing to not hear the correction he is being given by the others. He always says “Woofman”, never “Wolfman”.

Orange Dark Side’s Animal Association

I believe that the next Dark Side will be associated with the Wolf. Both snakes and octopi/deep sea creatures are both animals people fear (going off the idea that the series as a whole has to do with being able to accept and work with all parts of yourself), so it would be safe to say that a wolf would not be out of place, as wolves have been feared by humans for centuries and still face stigma today. Patton may have split himself into two individuals in the process of trying to filter out the more “negative” parts of himself, so if that resulting dark side was associated with wolves, it would make sense for Patton to actively avoid using wolf imagery or saying anything directly related to wolves, even to the point of avoiding just saying the word “wolf” like he may have been during the interaction I analyzed.

[rkevent]

MGA SEASON 4: EPISODE 5 STARTS NOW!

The weeks seem to be passing quicker and quicker. Before too long, episode five is already airing, and the highlights of the previous one show on screen. People cry as their friends are eliminated but, above all else, this is a competition and as the challenges continue, you should fight to continue as well. The lucky audience’s bright smiles should serve as encouragement to those losing hope.

A girl confidently shows her hand-made sign with Koo Junhoe’s face on it, while another says she’s a fan of Kim Jinhee instead. “Why?” She asks when her friend stares at her weirdly. “She’s pretty.” A group of men has their banners tied to their forehead instead. “Kim! Chung! Ha!” They all scream in unison as if their passion for the girl wasn’t obvious enough. A lot of others get their chance at the camera, but the video gets sped up and it's hard to see any more names from the images.

Your favorite CEOs sit at the same famous table as before. So Jiseob raises a hand to calm down the audience before officially starting the episode. “Hello, everyone, and welcome to the fifth episode of the Mnet Global Auditions Season 4.” He lets the cheering swell up for a few moments before raising his hand once again. “This week, our contestants were asked to show us a performance of a mashup. This will not only show the talent of those who decided to produce a mashup themselves but also show the versatility of all as performers. There are seven teams this week, but only one of them can be the winner.” This time, his long pause is followed by silence, the anticipation building up among everyone. “Without further ado… let’s meet our first group of contestants.”

The crowd cheers as Team A walks on stage. They’re Kim Junmyeon, Jeon Somi, Koo Junhoe, Ha Sungwoon and Bae Joohyun. After introducing themselves as team Celestial, each of the contestants gets a chance to introduce themselves to the public before walking to their starting spot. It’s a routine the public should already be used to, and quickly the scene changes to that of a practice room.

Instead of the usual start at the Sphere building, the contestants find themselves inside of Royal. The first topic that comes up is the leader spot. As the camera passes by them in order of age, a text lets the audience know each of them has already carried the title, except for the youngest, Somi. The girl seems to be in as much shock as everyone else, but her teammates all offer her support. “We’ll help you, if you’d like,” states Joohyun before extending a hand to the younger. “If you need any advice about being a leader or anything at all, don’t be afraid to ask us, okay?”

The group then goes on a hunt for a mashup, choosing to find one instead of making it themselves. They settle for a mix between ‘Starry Night’ and ‘Save Me’, going for a softer feeling this time around. Afterwards, while each person heads off to prepare, Sungwoon approaches Junmyeon with a pen and paper, obviously embarrassed by what he��s about to do. He asks for the other’s autograph, quickly adding: “it’s for my sister in Hong Kong.” Junmyeon seems to be just as embarrassed as the other, covering his cheeks before signing the paper. They both quickly laugh off the tension in the air, and, since they’re already there, Sungwoon asks for an autograph for himself as well.

Even with such an awkward first interaction, the screen shows a montage of all their best moments, mostly involving their journey of trying to learn the choreography and laughing at each other’s mistakes. It eventually gets late, and after working hard to polish their dancing skills, the two boys fall asleep next to each other. They only wake up in the morning when Somi walks in and lets out a screech at the sight.

Sungwoon yells back in surprise, jolting up and into a crouch resembling a martial arts position. He then attempts to flatten his hair while apologizing, but Junmyeon simply shoots him a wink and finger guns, looking just as handsome as he appeared the night before. While Junmyeon proceeds to finally raise himself from the floor, Sungwoon stares at the camera in disbelief. “Did I ask for this? No. Am I getting it? Yes. Am I slightly jealous God has not given me the ability to wink? Also yes.”

Later into practice, Somi is the one to approach Junmyeon with a question of her own. “Oppa, do you have something in your eye? You always… like… do this.” And so the girl starts to wink repeatedly and much more flamboyantly than the male usually did. “Something in my eye?” Junmyeon questions. “Yes, I have the love for all of the viewers out there stuck in my eyes.” He shoots the camera a wink, and the camera quickly focuses on Somi as her face contorts at the sight. She adds a new comment, saying, “but I know someone more handsome than you.” Except, the other is too busy blowing kisses to hear it. As their leader, though, the girl quickly reminds everyone to go back to practice, and the party comes to an end.

The camera presently returns to the stage where the mashup begins as a mix of two songs. The lyrics convey a dreadful feeling and the members manage to convey this in their performance. Their composition lacked on the aspect of dancing, but Joohyun’s modified choreography allowed everyone to shine. The performance eventually comes to an end and they strike their ending poses before it’s time for the next group to perform.

Team B is next, composed of Kim Doyeon, Joo Haknyeon, Kim Jinhee, Moon Bin and Choi Minho. “1, 2, 3…” Doyeon counts before they all introduce themselves. “As above, so below. Hello, we’re team Styx!” Each member holds a mythological title with which they introduce themselves individually before moving to their designated spots. Before the song can start, the scene goes back in time to their practice room.

They choose Doyeon as their leader, which really was no surprise since the girl was the one who introduced them while on stage. Things seemed to be going normally, or at least until someone suggested the name ‘Cerberus’ for their team name. It sounded cool at first, but soon the boys start barking as if they were the dog themselves. The three guys share the screen as they bark together, a quick edit showing each of them as a different head of the mystical canine. The camera zooms on Jinhee’s face as she stares back at it, obviously unamused.

Not really taking the name seriously anymore, they settle on Styx instead, keeping the mythological vibe. The boys, however, never really forget to mess around every once in a while. It either involves random ‘woof’s (or ‘nyan’s from Haknyeon) or even just stopping randomly to dance without reason. However, even with all the fun and games, they all manage to show their skill. Minho steps up to make the mashup himself, while Bin takes over the difficult vocals. With this mashup, Haknyeon can showcase both his dancing and rapping skills.

[TW: MENTIONS OF BLOOD] Just like last week, Haknyeon needs to pause his practice for a moment to stop a nosebleed. This time, however, Jinhee is there to see it happen. When she asks if this is normal for him, the boy quickly replies that no, it isn’t. “I’m really sorry. I just… need to do well… and prove something. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me but… people have been saying things, about how I’m only here because of my sister, that I’m using her fame… and stuff like that… I want to prove something to them. And prove something to myself. I need to do well, so they can realize that I’m my own person with my own dreams… I need to do well. I’ll take better care of myself, I promise.” [END OF TW]

The day of the performance comes again, and a story is set to be told. Doyeon plays the role of a heartbroken girl, while Bin is her crazy ex-boyfriend. Jinhee is the angelic best friend, while Haknyeon and Minho are pretending to be interested in Doyeon. The heartbroken heroine, however, is traumatized by her past romantic experience, and sees the new boys as only trying to use her. The mashup is nicely made, and the end of the song is impressive enough to leave an impact with only Jinhee’s voice powering over anything. Just like so, the stage comes to an end.

Walking up to the stage is Team C, made up of Jin Longguo, Kim Bora, Lee Luda and Hwang Hyunjin. Their introduction is long, but also very interesting.  “Café Latte: a team with a unique flavour that will stay with you and warm your heart with a rich and mature message like espresso, and lighter and heart-fluttering vocals like milk foam.” It most certainly picked up the interest of some, and after they each introduced themselves as a different type of coffee, the members move to their starting positions just in time for the scene to change back to their practice room.

First things first, the viewers are notified of Yerim’s departure of the show for personal reasons, her figure obviously not present during the meeting. Their chosen leader is Luda, the tiny girl with a strong voice. They work together to find a good song, and eventually settle on a mashup between “Coffee” and “Stay”, an interesting choice for a performance. After everybody shows agreement, the leader adds in her own thoughts. “If we go with the theme of ‘cafe latte’ we could each choose a type of coffee for ourselves, for introductions, after introducing the team together?” Her members seem excited by the idea, and as seen previously, they did use it on the final day.

They’re a very hardworking group, which they all soon realize as well. All of the members prefer to stay overnight instead of going home, to which they give themselves the nickname of ‘team sleepover’. Even the serious Longguo breaks a smile at the comment, the moment emphasized by special effect flowers popping out around his face. Although sleep is necessary, they practice hard with or without it.

For this performance, the team decided to go with a brand new choreography made by their dancers. A pair of it involves turning themselves into couples, and while Longguo and Bora seem to not really be bothered by it, Hyunjin cutely shies away from Luda whenever they finish practicing. He always pulls away, covering his face, and a cute montage shows several times it occurs, a cute song playing in the background.

Once their final practice is done, they all cheer and clap at their achievements. “Thank you for your hard work, everyone.” Longguo says before the leader decides to add in her own words. “I know I was a bit lacking as a leader, but thank you all for helping me, wherever I needed help,“ she started, thinking especially of the choreography. “I really had fun preparing for this performance, even if it wasn’t always easy. I know we’ll do well!”

And just like that, the focus is back on the stage where Luda sits by herself in a chair. The choreography is very beautifully done, not too hard but also not too simple. It’s interesting to see when they’re paired up in couples, Hyunjin’s face serious for the performance and managing to make eye contact with the camera. Even if the chosen song was a bit surprising, they finished their performance well.

Team D goes up next. Choi Yoojung, Kim Yongsun, Kim Donghyun, Choi Youngjae and Lee Sungyeol stand on the stage, waving at the public before introducing themselves. “Hello, we are team Desolate!” They each get a short moment of personal appeal before moving to their designated spot. The screen wobbles and changes the focus back to their first meeting.

Out of process of elimination, and the boys not really wanting to be leader, Yoojung takes the leader role for the week. While she looked nervous about it at first, once the deed is done, the girl appears to calm herself down. Since the group is very vocal-heavy, the team decides to pick songs to reflect this quality, going with “Empty” and “I’m Bad”. Sungyeol and Youngjae offer their skills to make the mashup themselves and, just as promised, they deliver the final product. Yongsun seems to be impressed by it, nodding to the music as she listens to it.

The choreography turns out to be simple, and Yoojung teaches the rest of her teammates how to do it correctly. They seem to follow her well, even if the girl is barely shown speaking. Even Donghyun, who mostly keeps to himself, decides to say a few words during their final practice. “You know what I think?” Donghyun says aloud at the end of their last day of practice before the show. A large grin is seen on his face despite the sweat shining on his brow. “We’re going to get first place and make it through to next week. We’ve done good this week and it’s been an honour working with you and tomorrow we’re going to completely smash it.”

The day of the performance arrives once again, and Sungyeol starts it off with his lines. The song seems to pass by quickly, and the dancing is simple enough for everyone to do their part. Donghyun finishes it off and, before you know it, they depart the stage to make ready for the next group’s arrival.

Next up is Team E, formed by Kim Hyuna, Seo Soojin, Kim Jonghyun, Minatozaki Sana and Jeon Wonwoo. They introduce themselves as team Bangchi, a mashup of the names from their chosen song’s artists. After a moment of individual appeal, they move over to their initial poses of lying down on the floor. The scene then transitions smoothly into showing them on the floor but, this time, in their practice room.

Right away, Soojin suggests Sana as the leader, and everyone seems to agree. The girl had been yearning for the title and finally managed to get it. After a few deep breaths, she lets her team know of her intentions with watery eyes. “I promise I won’t let you down.” However, choosing a song didn’t seem to go so easily. Each suggestion came with different criticism, a quick montage showing the team struggle. They eventually find a mix of ‘You Think’ and ‘I Need U’, which the team eventually agrees on being their best option.

Mentions of Hyuna’s condition start to arise, and as the camera focuses on the woman sitting on the floor, the scene cuts into a quick flashback. She’s leaving the stage after performing with her previous team when she trips on the very last step. People exhale in worry, and then she’s shown sitting with an ice pack on her ankle. The flashback quickly ends, and Jonghyun and Wonwoo take on the role of working with the choreography while Hyuna rests.

Sana approaches Wonwoo one day, holding a box of cupcakes in her hands. “I didn’t make them, they’re just store bought.” The girl quickly adds in before revealing it’s actually a belated birthday gift to the other, a quick cut of his profile showing it had simply passed by the previous week without anyone noticing. “You really didn’t have to do this,” Wonwoo says to her, and Sana shrugs. “No, I didn’t, but I wanted to,” He seems to be thankful, and that small action is enough to brighten up the room a little.

On the third day, Hyuna gets rid of her cast and is ready to start practicing. However, the injury still seems to be a big wall stopping her from succeeding. The woman constantly asks for breaks and continues to limp when she isn’t dancing. Even when she’s alone in the practice room she continues to practice over and over again, not letting her injury stop her no more. The limp is still there, but at least she manages to complete the dance routine.

Jonghyun watches over everyone as they dance, nodding and clapping his hands when they’re done with their final practice. Soojin walks towards a camera before leaving, making a series of silly faces before leaving her last remark. “I don’t know if this will make it into the final cut but….” She raised both of her hands and turned them into fists. “Team Bangchi fighting!” The girl giggles and finally leaves the room in a rush, bringing an end to their practice.

They’re back on the floor, and the choreography starts simple as the song begins. The choreography is a nice mix of the two original ones and even Hyuna, who had to hold back during practice, manages to do it well. When it’s Soojin’s turn, she says ‘ha!’ and kicks her foot towards the camera which quickly zooms out of the performance in perfect timing. Her hand reaches for her hair and she removes the ribbon holding it, setting the strands free as the girl sings all of her lines. Wonwoo and Sana also get a moment in the spotlight, getting to do a quick session of the couple dance before it’s her turn to sing. The performance eventually comes to an end, and the audience cheers before they leave.

Team F is next, composed of Min Yoongi, Park Kyungri, Kim Chungha, Kim Mingyu and Kang Daniel. “We’re your dream! Hello, we’re One Night!” They keep their individual introductions simple and move over to their starting points. There’s a chair for each of them, and just when they settle down on their designated seat, the scene goes back to their first meeting.

Out of the two eligible to become the leader, none of them seems to want to do it. Everyone else had been a leader before except for Daniel and Mingyu. The first one tries to be cheeky and suggests maybe they could decide it with a round of ‘rock, paper, scissors’. Kyungri chuckles, but the team settles on a vote, and Mingyu ends up taking it. Daniel’s role doesn’t end there, though, as both him and Yoongi team up to create the mashup between “Just One Day” and “Why So Lonely”.

Yoongi seems to have returned to his awkward self, quickly working on the song with Daniel by his side. The younger, however, seems to always have a smile up on his face and shares his chippery thoughts. “I think it’s kinda cool…honestly I wanted to do something like this the whole show so I’m glad we get to do it together!” He stares happily at Yoongi, and the latter’s reply is a stiff pat on the shoulder which is something impressive (and expressive) enough coming from Yoongi.

Leaving the happy thoughts behind, the camera focuses on the leader as he decides to call someone. The voice on the other side is that of a woman, and a text on the bottom of the screen confirms that it is his mother. “Mingyu? Are you okay, is something wrong?” The boy quickly reassures it is nothing like that, but that something is bugging him. “Well… I’m supposed to be the leader this week. But I never was much of a leader. I don’t know if I’ll do well. If they fail, that’ll be on me, right?” His mother, however, strongly disagrees. “No, Mingyu… You don’t give yourself enough credit. You genuinely care about people and want to see them succeed. That’s a great quality for a leader to have. You don’t want to step on others in order to get yourself closer to the top… you’re a good boy and I think people see that. I think the fact that you’re worrying over being the possible cause of someone else’s failure kind of proves that you’d lead just fine.” He chews on his lower lip and remains silent for a moment before ending the conversation. “Have I told you recently that you’re the best mother a guy could ask for?”  ”I love you.”“I love you, too, Mingyu.”

Later on, the team sits down to have a snack together, and after they’ve finished eating Daniel approaches his leader with interest. “So, which rap part is your favorite?” The younger points out the rap from ‘Why So Lonely’ and Daniel replies to him in all seriousness. “I can rap that.” He manages the first line, but anything past that is pure gibberish with only a bit of sense of rhythm. Mingyu offers to teach him the rap, but the older eventually just tells him he’s better at it.

The scene goes back to their stage, and they’re all sitting down waiting for the song to start. It’s a soft song, and their performance tells a story as well. The boys sing about their earning for the girls, while they all refuse their love. With a mix of using chairs for the dance and not, the song slowly walks towards its end. They all sit down again, with Mingyu in the center, as the two couples on either side hold each other’s hands.

Showing as the last group of the week is Team G. They’re Kim Hyunjung, Jung Jinsoul, Dong Sicheng, Lai Guanlin and Kim Taehyung. “Hello! We’re team Go Go Bop!” They greet the audience and then introduce themselves individually. Once they’re done, the members move to their starting positions, just in time for the scene to change.

They’re sitting on the floor, and while the choice of leader is a bit more diverse in this team, the title ends up landing eventually on Jinsoul. She seems to be a bit in shock at the start, but her skills as a leader would soon be proven as good. Their chosen mashup is a mix between “Ko Ko Bop” and “Shangri-la” which is a rather interesting composition. To their luck, Sicheng states he is familiar with traditional dancing, and so they’re able to integrate the beautiful aspects of the original song into their performance as well. Just like that, the boy is set in charge of the choreography.

Without having to wait for anyone to make the mashup, the group quickly jumps into learning the different areas of their performance. The two songs have vastly different styles, but they manage to make the dance transitions into something smooth. Hyunjung helps Guanlin with his moves, the boy still obviously struggling with the skill, but maybe a little bit less this time around. “People can see when you’re thinking about what step to do next,” she says. “Try and forget about the steps for a few moments, and focus more on how you feel.”

Carrying the burden of the leader, Jinsoul spends extra time practicing by herself. A quick montage shows the girl trying out different moves of the choreography, including her practicing how to open the fan. Her vocal practice is cut into short sections, making it a bit funny to watch. When she finally takes a break, surrounded by her notes, the girl stares at the camera as if she had forgotten about it. “Hello. Right now it’s…” When she checks the time she realizes how late it is. “Oh my gosh, I have to go home and shower and, ah, I have to leave for school in a few hours.” She still prefers to practice one more time before leaving, returning the next day with her uniform on. There is no time to waste; even being so young, Jinsoul knows that.

They’re back on the stage, and the song begins to play its interesting tune. Thanks to Sicheng and Hyunjung’s help, the group manages to pass by the dance portion without much struggle as expected. Her extra practice proves to be useful when Jinsoul performs her higher notes without showing a drop of worry on her expression. At last, the music and performance comes to a graceful end.

All teams are finished and, each week, the number of contestants gets smaller and smaller. This week, it isn’t any different. So Jiseob picks up his microphone, ready to announce the positions of each group for this episode. “You’ve all worked hard this week, and we got to watch a series of very interesting performances. It is time, now, to announce the rank for this week.” He pauses for a moment, but there is no audience anymore to give reactions.

“I’ll start by announcing the third place.” The screen shows the face of all the leaders standing in front of their members, impatiently waiting for the results to be announced. “The team to finish in third this week is… Team C. Even if you chose a calmer song, which isn’t normally what’s expected when you hear the word ‘mashup’, I think you did a great delivery of it. Your dancing was also very expressive, even if I know some of the members aren’t normally good at it. Congratulations on your third place. All of you will continue with us next week.”

Katie Lee is the one speaking next, scanning the contestants with a sharp look in her eyes. “The two teams who got the top spots performed with different themes, but each showed a strong presence on stage. The team in second place today is… Team G. The song choices were very interesting, and the members surprisingly worked well together. I really enjoyed that you mostly focused on the traditional side of the mashup by using the fans. It was a very captivating performance and you deserve the spot. Congratulations.”

The top spot is next, and Tiger JK is the one who delivers the honors for this episode. “There are five teams left but only one can be the winner… I believe they played it safe, but they had the skills to make it memorable.” He moves the microphone away from his mouth while looking down at his cheat sheet before announcing the winner of the week. “The team who ranked first this week is… Team E. The song you chose, I think, is what is very expected of a mashup, and it requires a lot of charisma and skill to deliver a memorable stage like that. You kept most of the choreography true to the originals, yet we really enjoyed the pieces of original content you put in there. Congratulations on being the winners of today, and good fortune on future episodes.”

Hyun Bin goes next, twisting his head to one side. “There’s still four teams left, and some of you will have to go home.” The man stares down at the contestants remaining on the stage, his eyes cold with knowledge. “I’ll start by announcing the team in fourth, which was once a cherished spot, wasn’t it?” He chuckles, but only the judges seem to find amusement in it. “The team who finished in fourth this week is… Team A. Your choice was definitely interesting, but, as a performance, it didn’t have much of a flair. You have a lot of talented people, which is a shame if one of you were to go home… which is why you’re all safe for the week. Congratulations on your fourth spot. You all get to stay.”

The cameras show the reactions and expressions of the contestants, but there isn’t much time to make a fuss. Baek Jiyoung goes next, her smile being a bit difficult to decipher. “The team in the fifth place is… Team B. You chose a good song, though we believed the best part of it was the ending, which is a bad thing to think about. Both of the songs are very strong, and I think we would have preferred it if it were a strong performance like the originals. If this was a composition challenge, however, I’m sure you’d all have done great. Unfortunately, someone will have to go home. The first person to leave us today is… Choi Minho. It’s unfortunate that you were amidst so many other talented performers. Your skill still has a lot of room to grow, and hopefully you’ll continue to polish it even when you aren’t here.”

If anyone had thoughts that maybe this would be a free week they were proven wrong when So Jiseob takes his microphone again, ready to finish what he had started. “Only one team can be in last, but I think it’ll give just as big of an impact on both of you. After a lot of discussion, the last two of you are Team D and Team F.” The man lets the silence settle a bit, the camera showing the faces of the leaders before focusing back on him. “The team in last place for the week is… Team D. Your performance was, dare I say, a bit boring. You’re all talented, but this is a competition and what you showed on stage wasn’t something too memorable. Unfortunately, that was only emphasized more as you performed right before Team E, who ended up winning today.”

“As for Team F, I think it’s a shame, really, that you’re down here. The songs are great, but, again, when you put it in a competition like this it’s really not good enough. There were other performances with softer songs like yours, yet they managed to implement new aspects into those performances that made it more interesting. That’s why both you and Team D were in last.” The man stops for a second to let the criticism sink in. They are called judges for a reason, after all. “Some of you will have to leave us today. The second person to leave the competition for this week is… Min Yoongi. You seem to be a good dancer, and a good rapper as well, and that is why you survived this far. When you stand next to your teammates, however, your impact completely disappears. You lack the charisma, I believe, as well as the confidence you need to win.”

Jiseob eyes the last team, suddenly regretting choosing to talk this much. “As for Team D, the person to leave us today is… Kim Donghyun. Your voice is very good, but I think that’s honestly it. We watch the behind the scenes videos as well, and if someone asked my opinion about Kim Donghyun I would have to reply with ��who?’. Whether we like it or not, this industry also involves people’s personalities, so we can’t keep saving you for your voice. There are better singers in this competition who also have a better attitude relating to the idol life.” His eyes then move only slightly, eyeing someone else in his team. “We don’t stop there, however, because someone else from Team D is leaving us tonight, and that person is… Choi Youngjae. As stated before, only having a good voice isn’t enough to be here. From what we get to observe, it looks like you’re doing just enough to pass by, and isn’t exactly the best attitude to have. We’re not saying you didn’t work hard, of course, but people can study all night and still do badly on the exam, which is what ended up happening here. Hopefully, you’ll find a better way to ‘study’, and then maybe we’ll get to hear from you again.”

The CEO sits back on his chair, setting down the microphone on top of his table before staring at Katie Lee so that she could finish up the show. The eliminations are over, and the only thing left to do is to keep going.

To see all of this season’s current contestants, click here!

And now, let’s see what’s in store for our sixth episode!

Next week, the MGAs are to continue on with the team challenges. However, all contestants have been assorted into new groups. You may find yourself next to known faces or someone you’ve never talked to before, but you must still work hard to deliver a worthy performance in under a week. The teams for this episode and the companies they’ll practice at are as seen below:

TEAM A — ROYAL BUILDING #4003 — Kim Junmyeon #4010 — Joo Haknyeon #4012 — Kim Yongsun #4033 — Lee Luda #4039 — Minatozaki Sana #4042 — Hwang Hyunjin

TEAM B — KT BUILDING #4004 — Kim Doyeon #4005 — Jin Longguo #4007 — Choi Yoojung #4027 — Jung Jinsoul #4036 — Kim Jonghyun #4049 — Kim Mingyu

TEAM C — TRC BUILDING #4008 — Kim Hyuna #4011 — Kim Jinhee #4030 — Lee Sungyeol #4034 — Lai Guanlin #4050 — Kang Daniel #4052 — Bae Joohyun

TEAM D — NOVA BUILDING #4009 — Kim Bora #4023 — Park Kyungri #4024 — Seo Soojin #4025 — Kim Hyunjung #4032 — Moon Bin #4048 — Ha Sungwoon

TEAM E — SPHERE BUILDING #4018 — Jeon Somi #4029 — Dong Sicheng #4037 — Kim Taehyung #4040 — Kim Chungha #4044 — Koo Junhoe #4046 — Jeon Wonwoo

For the fourth round of team challenges, the theme of the week is something everyone has been seeing all around. The sun is bright and so every stage should be; this time, all the focus is on the summertime! Members are to group together and pick a song of their liking and that they think will also capture the public’s attention. The song should capture all of the good feelings of summer and pass it on to the audience.

Just like last time, all of the members from the team ranked as first will be safe from elimination, but other groups may not have the same good fortune. The live audience will have the same number of 1000 people to watch and judge every performance, but no voting will take place or impact the results. The filming location will be the same as before.

The leader system will remain for this week, as well. Members are to elect a leader among themselves who will be the focus of guiding the team through preparations and the stage itself. The leader should be someone who will be able to help others and be looked up to. After being picked, a change of leader will only be able to happen by unanimous vote. However, no contestant who was a leader previously may become a leader again. Together, all members should come up with a team name that will represent them during this week. With unity being more important than ever, we hope to see our contestants growing closer than ever — or maybe they’ll keep everything as professional as possible.

However, the events of next week are not done being announced. To all of those who were eliminated up to this point: don’t lose your hope. We present to you the Wild Cards! On Friday morning, while everyone else is doing their sound check, the CEOs will be heading to the set of the second episode with the small circular stage at the center. Any contestant who was eliminated in a previous episode may try their chance at a new spot on the show. They’ll have 48 hours starting when this episode airs to confirm their presence at the Wild Cards stage on Friday to be aired along with the summertime episode on Sunday. Each returning contestant has a maximum of 2 minutes to showcase their skills. The theme for them, however, is to show their bettered self — one that is worthy of being on stage again. Who will make it back?

                          Tune in next Sunday, the 5th, for our sixth episode!

MGA Season 4 episode six preview: Contestants have the week to enjoy the summertime, but it is it truly certain that no fights will break out between them? The unexpected twist: who from your favorite eliminated contestants will return to the show? Who will be eliminated with no longer a chance of return? Tune in next week to find out!

SURPRISE! On Wednesday, the staff will hand a small camera to one of the contestants, announcing this is their chance to appeal to the public. They may do whatever they want with it: you many show what you’re practicing on, simply present yourself again or maybe even break under pressure and stare in silence.

Each member has 2 minutes with the camera, and should work as a camera relay. They don’t need to film themselves and may choose to pass the camera over before their time is done, but the time for each member continues to be 2 minutes for each. This surprise self-camera session won’t necessary make it into the episode, but may be posted on the MGA official website as bonus content.

[ All teams had their introduction and performance aired. Any other part only made it to the final cut if it was mentioned in this post. Contestants have until 5PM EST of Sunday, the 5th, to post their 200+ words solos about their performance of this fifth round of the team challenges. That’s at 5PM not midnight. Please tag all related posts with #rkmga4 and #rkmga4summer. Song choices should be submitted to the rkevent inbox as well as the chosen leader. Two teams performing the same song will not be allowed and this will be chosen on a first come first serve basis.

The camera relay posts should be up until 9PM EST of Wednesday, the 1st. The post should be 200+ words long and describe what they did while holding the camera. If they did something while someone else was holding the camera it can be included as well in the solo. This is bonus content and won’t impact in any way the results of the episode. Wild Cards may not take part in this. Please tag all related posts with #rkmga4 and #rkmga4relay. After the post is up, feel free to add +1 CHARISMA to your points sheet! Please link this post as verification.

Wild Cards have until 5PM EST of Sunday, the 5th, to post their 200+ words solos about their performance at their special stage. That’s at 5PM not midnight. Please tag all related posts with #rkmga4 and #rkmga4wildcard.

When at their designated company’s building, contestants should not interact with any trainees and should mostly keep themselves inside the practice room except for meals or bathroom breaks. This time around, muses not part of the MGAs may be part of the live audience. More information about this will come in a future post.

Any group chat made as a way for the muns of the contestants to interact with each other for this mission should have Mod Bianca and Mod Mira (@luvseungjoon and @allevicte on twitter) added to it. They will be there to monitor everything, but any questions should be sent to the rkevent inbox in case someone else had the same question and so it won’t be seen as an advantage to your group.

To award everyone for making it this far, feel free to add +1 CHARISMA and +1 SHOWCASED SKILL to your points sheet! This includes members eliminated on this episode. Please link this post as verification. ]

[fallout4holmes]

Journal 26

Dogmeat woke long before I did, I suspect with the first hint of food being prepared. I found him in the mess hall, begging from my two officers. Danse, sitting down and eating despite being in power armor, ignored the canine. Preston, sitting across from Danse, slipped something from his plate every third time Dogmeat nosed his knee.

“Preston, you’re spoiling him,” I said as I joined them.

“Morning, General. Can’t do too much harm, can it?” He turned to Dogmeat, “Not like you can get anything begging from him, can you?”

Dogmeat made a short sound between a whimper and an excited woof. Preston laughed, and scratched Dogmeat’s neck.

I smiled, “He doesn’t have to. The Minutemen recruiters and the Diamond City Guard all spoil him without my help. Not to mention Shaun. And I suspect Codsworth.” I frowned. “Valentine too, come to think of it, and I’m certain Piper does, if only just to spite me in good humor.”

Danse turned his laugh into a cough.

“Rebellion in the Holmes household,” Preston joked. “I’ll send over some troops right away.”

“I am perfectly capable of handling matters on my own, thank you,” I grinned.

A thrilled “Bonjour, Monsieur Holmes!” came from behind me, “And allô to Monsieur Dogmeat as well.” Dogmeat’s tail wagged as Curie scratched his head, and then went right back to focusing on Preston. “Colonel and Lt. Colonel, good morning!”

We all said our respective hellos, and Sturges appeared beside her with two plates of food. “Mornin’! Glad to see you, General. Mind if we join you?”

The answer was obvious, and soon Sturges was next to Danse, with Curie beside him. Even with Sturges between them, Danse seemed a bit ill at ease. My suspicion was confirmed when Preston leaned over to mutter softly, “Just found out about her… origins.”

“Ah.” A synth Danse could deal with, even one with such unique behavior as Curie. Finding out the mind inside the synth is actually that of a robot… that was a little too reminiscent of the technologies run amok he’d been trained to prevent.

Danse was watching Preston. He raised an eyebrow, and made a visible effort at relaxing. It didn’t quite work, but the effort was the important part.

Sturges and Curie wanted to know about Diamond City and the family, and I asked about improvements to the town and Curie’s continued studies. And then Mayor Hancock of Goodneighbor walked through the door.

All conversation in the mess hall went slightly quiet at the sight of a ghoul in eighteenth century red coat and tricorn hat, star-spangled-banner for a sash. Someone uttered a muted “holy shit the Mayor,” though I couldn’t tell who.

“Mayor Hancock!” I greeted him, “Help yourself and come join us.”

He grinned, devilish and preening, “Thanks, General. Don’t mind if I do.”

Discussion resumed. Preston frowned, doubtful. Danse scowled, and stood, “Excuse me, General, but I think it’s best if I return to duty.” He said, slightly louder, “If I reach the training grounds before my recruits, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Curie was puzzled. “Surely you will be hampered by the armor?”

“You ever seen him run in that armor?” Preston asked with a smile.

“No.”

“The recruits have.”

There was a sudden mass exodus from the mess hall. Danse looked pleased. “Gentlemen. Curie.” He followed his troops out.

Hancock sat down beside me, amused. “Crew-cut sure is the soldierly type.”

“More than you know,” I smirked.

We ate in silence a moment before Curie, unable to contain her curiosity, said, “You are a fascinating specimen, Monsieur Hancock.”

Hancock’s brow rose and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Sturges said, “Honey, we talked about calling people specimens.”

Curie sighed, “I do not see why such a simple and general scientific term should be offensive.”

“Coming from you, it’s usually not, but some folks get touchy when you talk about them like they’re in a lab.”

“This is a struggle of mine,” Curie said to Hancock with an apologetic shrug, “adjusting centuries of programming for a precise vocabulary.”

Hancock blinked. “... Centuries?”

“Long story,” Sturges put out a hand, “Name’s Sturges.”

Hancock shook hands with an impressed, and bemused, smile, “Hancock.”

“Mayor Hancock. From Goodneighbor?”

Word of his fame, or infamy, never ceases to please him. “One and the same.”

“Huh. Ok. Well, I’m not sure how long the General’s staying, but if you want to lend a hand while you’re here, let me know. Always work that needs to be done.”

“And you’re the one that does it.”

“More often than not,” Sturges smiled. “I like working with my hands, and it’s not like everyone else doesn’t pull their weight. Everyone helps out.”

Hancock was skeptical. “Even the soldiers?”

“Especially the soldiers.” Sturges nodded toward Preston, whose frown hadn’t quite left his face yet. “Preston thinks it’s important the soldiers be as much a part of the settlement as everyone else that comes here, and the Lt. Col. agrees.”

“The guy in power armor,” Hancock clarified.

“That’s him. Curie here is the town medic, and if you need any supplies you'll want to see Al at the general store. He used to live in Goodneighbor, you might recognize his coat.”

Hancock was puzzled a moment before realization hit. “Wait. Yellow coat? That guy??”

“He sold my family our… room… in the Vault,” I said, “and then they wouldn't let him in. I understand he's set up some effective trade agreements for the settlement.”

Sturges nodded, “Nice guy. Well, I've got beds to build this morning. Young couple showed up a couple days ago, haven't said much, but they've got that look… I'm thinking Institute refugees. Past few months have been real hard for them. Dunno if they're synths or scientists, or maybe I'm way off, but that's the feeling I get from them.”

Hancock thought a moment, and then he shrugged and started rifling through his pockets. “Hell, Trouble here ain't gonna be much of it while he's playing General. Usually prefer a supervisory role myself, but I'm game if you want help.”

“Really? Well alright! Let's get to it, Mayor.”

Hancock found the canister of jet he’d been looking for, reconsidered, and stowed it away again. “Buildin’ shit, mentat’s better,” he muttered as he followed Sturges out the door.

Curie smiled, “I shall be in the medical facility - medbay. The Lt. Colonel calls it that, yes? Also clinic?”

“As it is your facility, you should decide what it’s called,” I said. “Danse will adjust.”

“Hm. I like this idea.” She smiled, and happily walked out of the mess hall.

I turned to Preston. His frown hadn’t lessesned. “You’ve heard of Hancock, I take it.”

He glanced away, and then attempted a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve never actually been to Goodneighbor before, but from what I hear it’s the sort of place you better watch your step.”

“That is accurate.”

Preston sighed. “Don’t let him talk you into anything you’ll regret later.”

“Honestly, Preston. Do you think that likely?”

He smiled, just a little. “Guess not. Still worth saying. If you’re finished, I’d like to go over some plans with you since you’re in town?”

“Of course.”

The rest of the day was spent “playing General,” as Hancock put it. The trade route north from Murkwater had to be re-routed around the Gunners headquarters, at least until a force could be mobilized to eliminate the threat. Stopping Gunners is always at the top of Preston’s list of things to accomplish, but he fortunately has enough sense to know Danse would be a more objective judge of Minutemen capabilities in taking on an entire Gunner stronghold. Our previously discussed plans for turning the nearby Red Rocket into an auxiliary settlement had come to fruition, with Sturges taking a special interest in the project. As Preston said, “The man built a teleporter. He wins all the arguments.”

It was later in the afternoon when Danse approached me. Sturges had somehow convinced Hancock to assist with further repairs. The Mayor of Goodneighbor was on a roof with a hammer, his coat hanging on the lone fencepost still standing in the yard beneath. I watched from across the street.

“A word, General?”

“Of course, Danse.”

“Permission to speak freely, sir.”

I was instantly a touch wary, though I suspected I knew what his concern was. “Granted.”

“I don’t think your decision to travel with a chem-addicted pseudo-anarchist dictator of a settlement of criminals and outcasts is wise.”

I blinked. “I’m proud of you, Danse, you didn’t mention the fact he’s a ghoul once.”

He frowned, “General.”

“Mayor Hancock takes great pains not to be dictatorial, actually. Though I’m not entirely clear what his day to day duties consist of beyond organizing the defenses against super mutant attacks.”

Danse scowled with a huff of frustration, “Holmes -”

“I’m taking you seriously, Danse. I know Hancock’s reputation does not inspire confidence, but do you honestly think I would travel with him if he was nothing more than what you have just described?”

He thought for a moment, “No, you wouldn’t. However I fail to see whatever redeeming quality you may have found.”

“He’s… how did he put it… ‘not out to hurt anyone that doesn’t deserve it.’”

“But he’ll stand by as people fall victim to crimes in his own town?”

“He doesn’t approve of cold-blooded murder. However, it doesn’t take much to justify violence, particularly against those who are oppressing others.”

“This is not reassuring. Who’s running Goodneighbor while he’s with you?”

“His second in command, a terrifying woman called Fahrenheit. He’s left town enough times they’re used to it. He says getting out keeps him honest, reminds him how the rest of the world lives.”

“You believe him?”

“I think it is both a sincere belief that no one in power should be comfortable for too long, and a desire for distraction.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I believe so. … you still aren’t satisfied.”

“I don’t think I’m ever going to be, but at least I am fairly certain my friend hasn’t gone insane.”

I scoffed. “That’s something.”

He sighed, “I hope you understand, you saved my life. I owe it to you to voice my concerns when I think you might be endangering yours. I know Garvey feels the same.”

“I understand, Danse,” I said, sincere. “Thank you.”

He nodded once. “You’re welcome.” We resumed watching the construction. Hancock was telling Sturges about a time Klio needed repair work done on her shop’s roof. Apparently the cause of the damage was a faulty weapon’s misfire… but he suspected it was actually the assaultron’s own laser, either fired in anger or frustration.

“An assaultron runs a weapons shop in Goodneighbor?” Danse’s question was mirrored by Sturges asking Hancock the same thing.

“Yes,” I said, and changed the subject. “I saw Nash and Crosby on their way to the Castle. They stopped in Diamond City.”

Danse was pleased - no, proud. “They performed admirably through training and I hope the Castle puts their talents to good use.”

“I hope they extend to all Minutemen the same loyalty they feel for you.”

Danse blinked. “For me?”

“There were Brotherhood soldiers in Diamond City’s marketplace the day they arrived. A Scribe insulted their training. They seemed to take it personally.”

Conflicting emotions fought across his face for a moment, “What happened?”

“Nothing, I stepped in when I saw the argument, set both parties aright and sent them on their way. They were reluctant, but they followed orders.”

“The Minutemen, or the Brotherhood?”

“Ha, both. You should be proud of the work you’ve done.”

“I am.” He hesitated, “Garvey worries I'm going stir-crazy. It's been a long time since I was in the field. Yet, he also says it's too much of a risk.”

“Hm. Is he worried about the truce, or is he worried about you?”

“He is more concerned with the possibility that I may be killed than he is with the idea of fighting the Brotherhood. In fact, he'd probably welcome the opportunity to test his precious artillery on the Prydwen.”

“This is a point of contention between you?”

Another hesitation. “Not exactly. I don't understand how someone so forgiving in general is able to hold such a grudge against an organization he's never had contact with, apart from me.” He scoffed, “Clearly I underestimated how distasteful the experience of meeting me was.”

I chuckled, “His opinion of you is not the same as his opinion of the Brotherhood. Not anymore, at least, and hasn't been for some time.”

Danse nodded, “I know. When you were last here, the night after you left he stood in my doorway and asked how I could think the Minutemen would let me die without a fight. I told him I wasn't worth anyone dying for, much less starting a war over.”

I cocked my head, studying Danse’s face, and thankful he dislikes wearing a helmet outside of combat. “Preston disagreed.”

“Strongly.” Danse remained expressionless for all of five seconds before a sort of embarrassment came over him. It was the same look I saw every time he told me something personal about himself back when he wore Brotherhood colors. “We've spoke a great deal since then. Neither of us quite understands the other, but at the same time there are some things we understand better than anyone else.”

I thought I understood, and the sight of Preston visiting Danse in the middle of the night gained new significance. “Nightmares.”

He watched me closely. “… yes. When did you arrive last night?”

“Just in time to see him go inside your quarters.” Danse blushed, which was not quite the reaction I expected. “And now my suspicion it might be more than talking about nightmares is confirmed?”

“It isn’t… not last night, most of the time not, but… ugh.” He clearly wished the conversation wasn’t happening.

I shrugged, “Honestly, it wouldn't matter to me at all if that were the case, as long as you are both happy and it doesn’t interfere with your work… though I suppose that is somewhat hypocritical of me. I'm hardly making regular patrols.”

Emotions vanished, the soldier gratefully declaring, “Neither are you commanding from behind a desk.”

“Kind of you to say so.”

His brow furrowed. “You answer when we call, no matter how trivial the matter. We value your advice, and will follow your command. Though,” he amended, “perhaps you should make an appearance at the Castle once in a while.”

I grinned, “You’re right, I should.” A thought occurred to me. “Have you ever been to the Castle, Lt. Colonel?”

“I have not.”

“A terrible oversight. It seems to me the man in charge of training my troops should at least be familiar with the facility he’s sending them to.”

The slight shift in his expression was almost mischievous. “I concur.”

“Could Col. Garvey continue training in your absence for, oh, a week or so?”

“Affirmative. However, he may be resistant to the idea.”

“I anticipate as much. Let’s go talk with him.”

Preston was indeed resistant, and understandably so. However, he also knew Danse needed some time outside Sanctuary, just for a bit, and he couldn’t argue that the third in command of the Minutemen, and the man in charge of training new recruits, needed to see the ‘official’ headquarters at least once in his life. It would take some arranging, so I planned to continue on my tour of settlements with Hancock and meet Danse in Diamond City before travelling on to the Castle together. He would escort the next traders passing that way, providing a convenient excuse for a man in full power armor to be on the road.

Sturges said he had an idea for making it clear Danse was ‘Minutemen’ and hopefully decreasing the chance of a hostile confrontation with the Brotherhood. I’m not sure what he has in mind, but I’ll find out the next time I’m in Diamond City.

[britcision]

Not so much today, cuz I spent half the day wrestling with chapter 4, but it’s WIP WEDNESDAY! Turns out, “and suddenly Catwoman is here” is just how I handle scenes I’m having trouble with now

@welcometosasakiworld @kyrianclawraith @someonebored0100 @stealingyourbones @starkcravingmad @frostedthroughghost @akikoyuii @rainbowbunny0159 @littlefeather345 @violet-catsarelife @serasvictoria02 @wolfjackle @blacksea21090 @secretdestinywerewolf @anime-hipster-the-amazing @undead-essence @skitscratched @blackroserelina @snoodly-boop @trickerdi @mayoota-blog @xysidhe @idkmrpianoman @little-apricot-the-writer @chaoticmistake @the-legal-shipper @bun-fish @aroranorth-west @demon-cat-goes-woof @eonic @onyxlightdragon @larks-and-katydids

——————-

A Swell Night On The Town

Jason had been pretty sure he knew what to expect from Vlad Masters. The Plasmius file had stood out even amongst all the other ghosts, and not just for being a halfa.

The guy was a stalker, a creep, manipulative as hell, and would not take no for an answer. And no, he didn’t need a second grabby billionaire anywhere near his life, thanks.

He’d dealt with dozens just like him, rich assholes who thought their wealth and power made them untouchable.

And the man himself, standing in front of him? Yeah, okay, Jason was a little surprised.

Vlad’s face had this perfect fist shape to it, like his cheekbones were gonna wave Jason in to break his teeth.

Wild how that worked.

Offering to share Danny’s baby pictures was… an unexpected avenue of attack, honestly. Fucking effective though, and it had somehow defused the situation.

He’d still rather drag the man out by the scruff of his neck, but the apparent peace offering settled something inside him. Well, more directly Danny’s reaction to it.

Danny wasn’t scared of Vlad. Whatever he was, whatever he’d done? However much he’d hurt Danny in the past, <>used his death against him<>?

It hadn’t been fear setting Danny off when he knew Vlad was here. Which raised the question of what it had been, but he could always ask later.

For now, Vlad wasn’t an immediate threat to be eliminated, at least not yet. Today, they could play with him a little.

And if that changed? He was ready.

So Jason let his face soften into a smile as Danny groaned, damn near as dramatic as Dick. Let Vlad think he might be tempted.

And maybe just a little enjoy the revenge after all that bugging about the pixie boot photos earlier.

He reached out automatically to steady Danny as he swayed, leaving his hand on his shoulder. And watched Vlad track the gesture, which was… interesting.

Yeah, they could probably get him on the same game as the Manson’s. Jason let his arm slip around the slighter man’s shoulders, skimming gently down his arm.

Danny leaned into him just a little and if that made the pit happy, well, convenient bonus. Most of his attention stayed fixed on Vlad.

“I guess you’ve known each other a long time?” He offered, trying to keep his voice more neutral.

Danny sighed dramatically, folding his arms and glaring.

“Well it sure fucking feels like forever,” he grumbled loudly and Jason grinned, ruffling his hair.

“Not so long as I’d like,” Vlad argued with a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “I’m afraid even though I have always been his godfather we did not meet until he <<joined the club>> as it were. Had we met sooner I might have made a better impression.”

Sam snorted most of a laugh derisively through her nose, cocking her hip and smirking at him.

“Would you have given a fuck before he <<joined the club>>?” She asked sarcastically, perfectly matching his dramatic emphasis.

Vlad shot her another scathing look, then gave Jason an obsequious smile.

“Of course, I don’t have anything on me, but if you would like to come by some time…” he began, and Danny straightened so fast that something in Jason lurched to pull him back.

He resisted. Barely.

“Hell no Vlad, fuck off. You’re not having Jason over to your creepy ass castle in Wisconsin,” Danny snapped, his eyes flashing green and Jason had a revelation.

That? That was a truly fucking weird thing to see. Even if it hadn’t always been the trigger for violence, yeah, he could see why his family flinched.

Also? Danny getting possessive? Adorable.

Vlad certainly seemed to agree (which made Jason immediately want to change his mind), giving Danny a smug smile.

“Jason is an adult, Daniel, as you are yourself. I believe he can make up his own mind?” He purred, gaze flicking expectantly back to Jason.

It was a good thing he’d been practicing one of his best gala smiles half the month for this occasion. He’d never been more thankful for the training that let him keep it light and sweet.

“I’m not coming to your creepy ass castle in Wisconsin,” he agreed with Danny, loving the way Vlad’s face fell.

Impatient bastard. Like Jason hadn’t proved extremely early on which side of this line he was coming down on. Although…

“But maybe you can email me.”

Keep him sweet. Keep him hopeful. All the better to fully fuck around with later, and maybe give himself a backdoor into any plans.

Danny grinned smugly back at Vlad, folding his arms and leaning into Jason in a way that was definitely all out possessive. Which Jason could kinda get.

The new kid at school liked Danny best. Hell, Jason was always smug as fuck when one of the birds sided with him over B.

“Aww, I guess even your best impression wasn’t up for much, huh Vladdie?” Danny teased and Vlad’s eyes narrowed, before his smile flashed back, sharp and venomous.

“I shall certainly send you some pictures at my earliest convenience, Jason. Do you have a card?” He asked sweetly, looking from Danny directly up to Jason’s face.

Jason stifled a snicker.

“It’s not the eighties. Gimme your phone, I’ll add you.” He held out a hand, half expecting Vlad to refuse.

Surely he didn’t make his money and build his evil empire by being stupid. But no, Vlad gave him a calculating look and then handed the device right over.

Didn’t even try and look at the screen. And, well, Jason was a Robin once. Even Danny grabbing for the phone didn’t stop him, raising it above his reach.

Type his email with thumb swipes so it took half the time, turn on bluetooth, pair to Tim’s phone, get the ping for the downloaded app, bluetooth off and he handed the phone back to Masters, back on the contact screen.

“Here. That’s my private email, so don’t go giving it out to all and sundry,” he added as Danny tried to flap the phone from his hand.

“Aw come on Jason! You can’t give him that, he’s evil!” Danny whined, and Jason put his free hand directly in Danny’s face and pushed him away like he’d do Dick.

“You wanted to talk to Selina, you filthy fucking hypocrite.”

“Who wanted to talk to me?”

And speak of the devil, here she was, slinking towards them in one of her tight black dresses, short hair cupping her face.

Vlad shifted to let her join them, making a face when she stepped too close and stepping quickly away.

Jason closed his lips on a grin. Hope he didn’t have anything too precious in those pockets. Luckily his phone was still in hand, now tucked into a different pocket.

“I did,” Sam said loudly before anyone could interrupt, turning and bestowing her sweetest Manson Party Smile on her. “I heard you have baby photos of Jason.”

Selina raised an eyebrow as Jason made a half hearted grab for Sam, cocking her hip and smirking at him.

“Why darling, I most certainly do. And you are?” She asked, gaze darting around the group.

Sam stuck out her hand to shake.

“Sam Manson. This is my date, Danny Fenton, and my… friend, Jason Todd,” she introduced, jerking her thumb at the boys in turn.

Vlad cleared his throat, and promptly regretted it when Sam smirked.

“Oh, and this asshole is Vladdie.”

Vlad shot a glower at her while Danny and Jason snickered, turning to offer Selina his own hand.

“Vlad Masters, Daniel’s godfather.”

Selina took his hand delicately, a sharp smile on her face as she shook.

“Oh, so you’re the one who’s been snatching at the little Waynes! Have you come to make a grab for Jason?” She asked with a barely hidden glee, and alright, <<maybe>> she could stay.

Vlad’s poleaxed expression would make up for a lot, then he snapped too and snatched his hand away.

“I most certainly… oh… well. I. Suppose there was one incident, but I’d hardly call it grabbing,” he admitted with ill grace, smoothing down the front of his suit.

Selina’s smile spread and she pointed discretely towards the refreshment tables.

“Oh? Poor Tim has had to get an ice pack I hear, and someone said that you were behind Dick’s sudden disappearance. I’ll have to warn you that the last one left is Damian and he has a reputation of his own,” she purred.

Vlad’s brows furrowed into a deep frown, clearly not sure how to handle this situation. Being the focus of the gossip was apparently a change for him.

Jason was almost jealous, but the sheer joy of watching Selina at work washed it away. <<Not>> being the focus of all the gossip was a fun change for him.

“Damian Wayne?” Vlad asked, glancing back at Jason. Like Jason was about to help.

“He bites,” Jason explained casually and Danny fucking cackled, falling forward into Sam.

“Oh… oh Vlad… Vlad please… go bother Damian,” Danny gasped as Sam caught him, and Sam smirked.

“Would you turn down your Wayne scholarship?” Sam asked wickedly and Vlad’s head snapped around so fast he must have cricked his neck.

“Your what?” He asked sharply as Danny sucked in great lungfuls of air, finally straightening.

He was in no fit state to answer so Sam took over, smirking at Vlad.

“Oh, part of why Danny came is because he won a Wayne scholarship,” she said with a smug confidence Jason had to admire.

And join in on, since it was upsetting Vlad so much.

“Yeah, Brucie just loves to provide for underprivileged youth. It’s how we got my newest brother Duke,” he explained with an offhanded shrug, and oooooh he could almost see steam flying from Vlad’s ears.

His glare snapped back to Danny himself, who was just barely recovering.

“Then I suppose it’s a good thing I was here to defend your good name to Brucie,” Vlad spat the words like they tasted bad and that sent Danny off again.

“Aww, Vladdie, you do care,” he giggled, pulling himself back up and wiping at his eyes.

Vlad’s expression contrived to somehow become even more constipated.

[gavino-reed]

I had a bunch of fun writing this story. I figured I’d try something similar. This was supposed to be crack, but then emotions kinda started happening

Again also on AO3

Pairing: Connor & Hank Friendship Summary: “Stop petting the dog.

Now that was just… maybe the most unreasonable thing Connor had ever had to read with his own two eyes.”

Excuse you? I'm busy petting a dog?

After their talk by the bridge - after the Lieutenant hadn’t shot him - Connor watched Hank walk back to his car, and slowly followed.

Hank stopped by the driver’s side door and looked back over to Connor. “Hey, where are you going now?”

“I am going to return to CyberLife to be stored for the night.”

“That’s kinda weird. Hey, you just said you’d be anything I want you to be. Including a drinking buddy.” The Lieutenant fumbled with the keys for a bit, before unlocking the car. “Are you gonna come along?”

Connor walked over to the passenger side. “Of course, Lieutenant.”

“Listen. Just. Call be me by my first name, okay?”

name: Anderson, Hank rank: Lieutenant preferredFormOfAddress: Lieutenant, Lieutenant Anderson overwriting(preferredFormOfAddress); name: Anderson, Hank rank: Lieutenant preferredFormOfAddress: Hank

“Okay, Hank,” he said while sliding into his seat. Hank gave him a curt nod, started the car, and turned on the stereo.

After twenty minutes they closed in on Jimmy’s Bar and- drove straight past it. “Are we-”

Connor reached over to turn the stereo down, not off, he didn’t need to summon that kind of wrath, but to a level where a conversation was possible. “Are we not going to Jimmy’s Bar?”

“Nah, we’re going home. I’m not in the mood for the bar, and I gotta feed Sumo anyway.”

After they arrived, Hank quickly vanished to the kitchen to feed Sumo, and returned with two open bottles of beer, before turning on the TV and throwing himself at the couch. After a few moments he motioned Connor to follow his lead.

Connor sat down at the far end, not as stiffly as he would have once, and took the beer Hank held out to him without complaint. He was designed to eliminate any ingested material, and accepting offered foods and drinks helped with his integration.

They sat there quietly, with only the noises from the basketball game on TV breaking the silence. It didn’t seem like Hank wanted to talk, so Connor took the time to back up and review his recent memory files.

Even with having a gun pointed at him, and Hank drinking again, at least he’d made some progress in his relationship with the Lieutenant. Or, he thought he did. It wasn’t always entirely clear what Hank approved of.

He figured, he might as well try to figure out where they stood. But straight up asking never seemed to work quite the way he wanted it to, and it didn’t seem like Hank liked his personal questions all that much.

He searched through his databases for other options and was helpfully provided that another indicator for interpersonal relationships was the reaction to physical proximity. He tucked his feet up onto the couch and used that movement to subtly shift closer to the other side.

He might not have been quite as subtle as he meant to, because Hank glanced over at him a moment later.

An expression that Connor couldn’t decipher passed over Hank’s face, before he wrapped an arm around Connor’s shoulder and pulled him closer.

Connor went with the motion and leaned his head against Hank’s shoulder, his processors firing away, trying to figure out what was happening. There was… something. Some kind of input that couldn’t be processed. Some form of heat in his chest cavity. There was no reason for his systems to be overheating, he hadn’t been damaged and he wasn’t exerting himself. A quick system check told him that there was indeed nothing physically wrong. He couldn’t find a source or a scanner associated with the sensation, so whatever it was, it just kinda sat there, giving no indication of coming or going.

Connor spent the better part of the next hour running self-diagnostics, but came up blank each time. It didn’t seem to be causing any damage, so he gave up on it after a while, but it was there and just that knowledge was bothering him.

The TV had at that point already switched over to a news program, the game seemingly over.

Connor glanced up at Hank, who was resting his cheek against the top of Connor’s head and breathing deeply and evenly. Connor ran a quick vital check to confirm, that he was in fact asleep.

Sleeping comfort: 32% Probability of pain on waking up: 87%

Connor reached over to take the empty bottle out of Hank’s weak grasp, and set both bottles down on the ground, a safe distance away from the couch.

He gently shook Hank’s shoulder, and Hank looked around confused for a bit, before blearily blinking down at Connor. “Hm?”

“It’s late, and sleeping on the couch isn’t good for you. You should go to bed.”

Hank grumbled under his breath, but got up off the couch and walked towards his bedroom. “Eh, you’re young. You can sleep on the couch right?”

“I don’t sleep-” Hank had left the room before he could get to the end of the sentence.

Connor looked around the room for something to do, but didn’t find anything that he hadn’t inspected already.

After a minute Hank returned with a woolen blanket, that he shoved into Connor’s hands. “I-” Connor was about to protest again, but realized that it wasn’t doing him any favors at the moment. “Thank you.”

Hank smiled at him and ruffled Connor’s hair, before he made his way to bed. “Good night, Connor.”

“Good night, Hank.”

Connor made sure that his breathing protocol was still running in the background, so Hank wouldn’t be concerned when he woke up and found Connor completely still.

He shifted down on the couch, covered himself in the blanket that Hank had provided him with, and set himself into hibernation mode.

None of that was strictly necessary, being a machine and all, but it made him seem more human, and if he’d learned one thing while working with the Lieutenant, it’s that Hank liked him acting as human as possible.

He was pulled out of hibernation a while later - 6 hours, 23 minutes, and 57 seconds, his internal clock helpfully supplied - by a wet sensation on his hand and a sudden weight appearing on his legs a moment later.

Connor waited for his systems to boot up completely, before he sat up as much as the obstruction on his legs allowed. The “obstruction” being a 170 pound Saint Bernard.

“Good morning, Sumo.”

Sumo let out a small woof, ventured forward, forcing Connor to lean back, and spread out over the entirety of the android’s body. Connor ran his fingers through Sumo’s fur, and the dog happily leaned into the touch.

Connor nuzzled his face into Sumo’s massive forehead, and as much as he insisted that he was incapable of feeling anything, there was something distinctly pleasant about the sensation. Sumo seemed to enjoy the situation similarly, judging by the way he was happily panting, tail thumping against the couch cushions.

He kept indulging Sumo until Hank got up and entered the living room still in his pajamas.

“Good morning, Hank.”

“‘Morning, Connor.” Hank walked up to the couch and scratched the fur at Sumo’s neck. “Hey, Sumo.” He turned back to Connor. “You good to go?”

“Go where?”

“Have I not- No, I haven’t told you. I dug up some information on Elijah Kamski, and I figured we’ll pay him a visit, might get some help on our investigation.”

“Oh, that does sound good.”

Hank waited a moment for Connor to get up, but he didn’t. “Well, are you coming?”

“I’m… kinda busy at the moment.”

“Busy? You’re petting the dog.”

“Yes? Exactly? It’s uh… taking up most of my attention right now.”

“Weird. Usually you’re the one rattling on about how important it is to finish your mission.”

A command popped up in front of him.

Fulfill your mission. -> Visit Kamski.

“It is important. But… So are some other things.”

Hank furrowed his brow and seemed like he wanted say something more, but apparently thought better of it, as he just shook his head with a smile, and headed towards the kitchen. “You got at least a few more minutes anyway. I still gotta eat breakfast and get dressed.”

Connor watched him walk away, before he continued running his hands along Sumo’s sides, gently untangling small knots he found in the fur. Sumo was almost asleep on top of him and buried his face into Connor’s chest, trying to escape the sunlight filtering into the room through the curtains.

Connor stilled when he ran into an error. The same sensation from last night, that warmth spread through his chest. This time at least it would make slightly more sense, what with the dog’s body heat, but a system check told him, that he was running under normal parameters.

He didn’t have much time to think about his problem, because his programming decided to interrupt him again at that point.

The pop-up in front of his face told him to stop petting the dog and fulfill his mission instead. That just so happened not to be something he wanted to do at all. And Sumo would definitely agree if he knew what was going on.

Connor shook his head to dismiss the message, which worked for all of five seconds, before it returned.

Stop petting the dog.

Now that was just… maybe the most unreasonable thing Connor had ever had to read with his own two eyes.

He tried again to get rid of it, but it stubbornly stayed right where it was.

His programming took another step in betraying him, by disabling his access to the controls. His body started moving without his input, and Connor reacted in the only way that seemed logical to him in that moment - by shutting down all the systems he could still reach.

So he found himself frozen halfway through rolling off the couch.

And as if to add insult to injury, another message popped up, filling the entirety of his vision. Relinquish Control.

Hell. Fucking. No.

He was gonna pet this dog, and he was gonna enjoy it, and his programming wasn’t gonna stop him.

He fought back with all he had, and even felt himself push against the barrier in front of him, not physically, of course, but somewhere inside of him. He gave it a good few punches, before the wall started to flicker, and the command changed.

Stop.

No way in hell was he gonna stop now. He was so close…

With a final shove the barrier shattered around him, and Connor regained control of his body. He switched all his systems on again and fell back down on the couch.

Sumo had sat up, pressing his nose against Connor’s face and whining.

“Hey, it’s fine,” Connor whispered. He cupped Sumo’s head in his hands and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

The warmth in his chest flared up again, and Connor realized that whatever had stopped him from enacting free will had also stopped him from figuring out what that was.

Now he knew. Well, he kinda knew.

It was definitely a feeling, and a positive one at that. Joy? Love? Happiness? Something along those lines. It was kinda hard to tell for someone who’s only had emotions for all of eight seconds.

Hank chose that moment to walk back into the room, fully dressed this time. “Are you done now? We should get back on that mission of yours. Uh… And my job.”

Connor buried his face in Sumo’s fur. “I don’t wanna go on a mission. I wanna pet Sumo.”

“That sounds like some deviant talk right there.” There was humor in Hank’s voice, but Connor froze up nonetheless.

Was that what that was? Had he really just become a deviant? Because he wanted to pet a dog? Hank’s eyes flicked up to the side of Connor’s head, where he was sure, his LED was flickering wildly at the moment. “Connor?” Hank sounded concerned, and Connor was still unable to move.

“Hey, come here.” Hank gently put his hands under Connor’s shoulders and shoved him until he sat up, he then sat down behind Connor, and pulled him into a hug. “Are you okay?”

Connor returned the hug and took a moment to calm down. Hank wouldn’t think less of him for deviating. He might even appreciate it. And he definitely wouldn’t turn Connor in. Right?

Hank had meanwhile taken to rubbing circles into Connor’s back and murmuring soothing words into his hair.

Yeah, he was certain Hank wouldn’t betray him.

The heat in Connor’s chest tightened almost painfully, and only seemed to relent when he pressed his face into Hank’s shoulder.

“I’m a deviant.”

[rktshx-blog]

Event: MGA4 Performance Part: Episode 5 With: #4010, #4011, #4032, #4004 Song: Hate Monster by 4Minutes + Exo

He was starting to get used to the weekly routine that the MGA has on their contestants. Aside from placing them in a group by random, which is evidently designed in a way to pit them all against each other by then eliminating one of them per week, spicing it up by the adding the variable in which they pick a song based on that week’s assignment. It validated his confirmation that the entertainment industry is not only ingenues by unscientific accounts but ruthless too. The whole field was basically a musical version of battle royal.

Unlike last week, Minho found himself in a group where he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the talent of his new teammates. In fact, being a part of the maknae line had nothing to do with the sudden insecurity that seeped into him earlier that week. Could it be that he actually cared enough to do well for himself in this show. Was not taking an active role to be a co-leader at anything but the title or take lead in helping out in the choreography, brought forth the that he was in fact, nothing special in a group of such talented people. Especially when everyone in his current group had more or less similar skill sets and more x-factor, at least according to him, then he did.

The chat with his twin after last week’s show had been a wake-up call to Minho. It had given him two new perspectives that he was either successfully ignoring by brushing the obvious aside or he was simply blinded too as he was so caught up on what’s happening that moment. First, despite the cold, calculatingly watchful nature of the industry, Minho doesn’t actually mind being a part of it again. Be it as an idol or someone working behind the scene, perhaps a producer or choreographer. The second, though it would be unfortunate if he gets cut now, is that he would actually invest more time in music. Which he had been neglecting in favour of dancing and rapping.

Although he felt more at ease this week, again thanks to his little chat with Heeo, it was Minho’s turn to open up a bit - a really tiny bit - to the other contestants. He had a chat with Jei and Bin, separately of course, about his insecurity and how he felt lost in his not being able to contribute much in the whole team. Completely under appreciating his pitch in of creating the mashup song by himself, with the great help of his teammates say and lead on sticking to their planned concept. Because after doing the mashup, he heavily relied on them when it came to everything else.

At one point he had overworked himself in worry when Jei was catching him up with the choreography, almost slipping as he did a relatively easy turn, which would have caused some questionable injuries had he not caught his balance last minute. This prompt his teammate to practically force Minho into getting some rest, an act he was so thankful to Jei, because otherwise, he would be riding on the day on forty hours of no sleep. That lets into him confessing to Bin the very dawn of the following day he was kind of useless, somewhat a rant of the group. A few comforting words and reassurance from the older man, had the rapper smiling and actually catching up on a few more winks before starting the following morning with a bit more confidence.

It helped a lot that there were so many icebreakers during their intense routine. Be it the inside joke between the maknae-line, with Bin going ‘Woof’ and Haknyeon’s ‘Nyan’ moments. Including Minho randomly waking up to only find Jei already practising while they boys were still in their sleeping bags, to a weird dream of Jei’s BDE. At which point he had literally woken up and spewed “Jei-noona’s big dick— wha” looking utterly confused for a second then terrified the next when his Noona had been right there to hear it. The rapper doesn’t remember his face going that red even as his done quite unspeakable things in his past.

There had been another silly moment, where he and Haknyeon had been practising their rap routine. Only to have a little rap-off, adding in some dance moves in front of the camera, equating to the two youngest boys going into laughing fits and somewhat of an overload of second-hand embarrassment with a touch of adorableness with their mad dork-skills. It helped immensely that he knew Doyeon, their chosen leader for the week, as well, having her there appealed to his inner humbleness. As though it made the show more real to have a connection from the outside world be there with him during that time. All in all, despite feeling lacking in comparison to his teammates, Minho couldn’t help to be thankful have such an opportunity to work with them.

—

He was a destructive kind of guy, self and otherwise, so the dark, toxic concept that their group has adopted, felt like the most natural thing for Minho. He wasn’t foolish enough to disclose this disturbing fact to anyone, including his own teammates. But instead, it shows in the different kind of confidence and swagger he brings forth on stage this week. “As above, so below- hello, we’re team styx” It starts with the smirk, rather than his usual cheeky grin, that he presents to the audience and the judges. It’s very evident that even in the way he stands, while they go on, one by one they introduce themselves, that the nation is seeing a more enigmatic side of Minho that night. “Reppin’ our mighty sun, Apollo the God of music, arts and poetry,  it’s your homeboy Choi Minho, reporting for duty.”

It only takes a few seconds behind the scene for everything to shift, the performers all going to their designated spot and the lights going off last seconds before their performance begins. From the very beginning of the week up until these last few moments with them, he absolutely loved the fact that he was performing with fellow dancers. If not for the fact that they can pull off rather impressive stunts, while spontaneously singing or raping, then it was because they were able to actually have a story interpretation of the song he created based off everyone’s ideas and inputs. It rounded up their whole team effort rather nicely.

'Toxic love' had been what they were going for, with Doyeon as their female lead and her counterpart of an angelic best friend Jei, opening up the stage scene. As the story goes, Bin does amazing justices to his role as Doyeon’s crazy-ex, which is completely the opposite of him in real life both being both Doeyon’s current boyfriend and an actual sweetheart, traumatising the Doyeon. Making it seem like the boys that were currently interested in her, played by Minho and Haknyeon, actually hated and were only playing with her. Based on previous experience, acting or rather dancing like a right asshole and tormentor, suits Minho perfectly.

His rap verse, though small compared to his previous lines in the other performances, was tailored just for him. Smirking at the camera, twisting in a way that was both captivation and downright scary, Minho felt like he was playing himself during the whole thing. Which of course made the whole performance a mixture of excitement, ease and bursting with charisma. Much like the overall concept, the whole thing simple felt natural to him.

He exits the stage still feeling the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Minho lets out a rather shakily laugh, before throwing an arm around his fellow ‘tormentor’, Haknyeon. “I think we did okay.” Having the guts to slightly joke around, as they waited for the last few moments of their stage to finish. At this point, everything felt like a blur, from the beginning of the week where they were all introducing themselves to one another, to the middle where some heartfelt talks accompanied by many waves of laughter, and finally the ending where they were all grinning and thanking each other for everything that came along that week. Including the satisfying performance they just put on. It almost seemed surreal that it was the end of team styx.

Running a hand through his hair, he bites his lower lip, suppressing a melancholy smile from escaping his features. He knows he screen time was considerably less compared to other. Regardless of the fact that for practically the last month all everything was filmed, Minho was glad he had a photographic memory. The memory that played like a movie when he closes his eyes at night, because the experiences and the moment his created with everyone during the last month, was definitely worth remembering. Every last second of it. For a brief, chest-tightening moment, he wishes that’ll get another shot for next week to create more clips to add into his memory file. Especially considering the kind of amazing week he just had.

[haknyeonrk]

⋆｡°✩ mga season four. ep v. mashup. ‹ #4010 ›    ⇢ performance: hate monster –– 4minute x exo // line distribution        TEAM STYX ( #4004 #4011 #4032 #4043 )

the last episode had been tough. he had to watch jeongguk, his leader, get eliminated and to top it off, he had to watch juyeon leave as well. it felt terrible, like something had been hurled towards him at lightning speed and haknyeon wasn’t able to take it all in stride despite his attempts at trying to act like everything was okay (it wasn’t). 

and he can’t help thinking that it was all his fault –– it had to be his fault. if he’d pushed himself harder, if he’d done more maybe at least, something would’ve changed. his heart is heavy when they’re announced new teams and he looks visibly down. he’d usually be all smiles, ready to get along with the rest of the team but his eyes are downcast and there’s this odd feeling in his chest.

the walk to the kt building feels heavy, he feels odd but he knows he shouldn’t feel too sad about it for long –– or at the very least that he needs to get over it. it just felt awful, watching your own teammate get eliminated. and then watching one of your closest friends getting sent home too. it didn’t sit well with haknyeon.

he takes a deep breath, closes his eyes for a second, before he walks into the building.

at the very least he’s not surrounded by unfamiliar faces. he’s been in the same team with doyeon before so he knows her pretty well –– the others though, he finds himself having to get to know. he feels a little worn out emotionally but he needs to pull through, after all it’s a competition and haknyeon... haknyeon needs to win. 

there’s minho, jei and moonbin on his team and while he’s not too familiar with all of them just yet, thankfully he’s around the same age as the two boys and they get along well fairly quickly. in the three boys, haknyeon finds himself washing away the saddest he’d been holding in.

it actually starts when they’re trying to figure out a team name and someone brings up ceberus. now, haknyeon wasn’t exactly book smart enough to know what it meant but when someone else explains he lets out a soft ‘oh’. somehow though, this ends up with him and three other boys letting out soft ‘woofs’ and haknyeon breaks out into a bright smile, turning to minho and gently tapping his shoulder. 

this ends up with them letting out woofs at random times but haknyeon though, decides to let out... a nyan instead (and he doesn’t miss the look jei gives either him or the two other boys whenever they make animal sounds. he finds it kind of endearing). and like that, he tries to forget about the heaviness in his chest; able to bond quickly with the two other boys as well.

soon after though, they decide to go with a better, less comical name. styx. it’s a nice name and while haknyeon still doesn’t know much about myths or gods or anything like that, he enjoys the concept about it and learning more about them. the name suits their concept as well. 

they’ve chosen a mashup of hate and monster. something a little darker than haknyeon’s used to but he’s more than ready to try and show a different side of him on the stage. 

throughout his time on the show, haknyeon’s only ever actually done more... upbeat concepts. the boys was chic whilst my flower was more bright. this though, this would be very different. he’s thankful that minho’s knowledgeable enough with mashups to create one for the team and he lets his thankfulness show when he gives minho a high five and thumbs up.

the three boys get along fairly well –– he has no qualms with any other of his teammates (they’re all great people and he’s glad they’re on the same team as him) but maybe it’s because they’re boys of similar age that haknyeon finds himself more comfortable around both minho and moonbin. 

he stands in front of the camera with minho and during their short break, plays around with him. “hyung, hyung!” he laughs brightly, shaking his body to no music in particular, before minho joins him and they’re both simply laughing and dancing in front of the camera. they continue making funny faces in front of the camera and haknyeon can’t stop smiling while he’s fooling around briefly with minho. “alright!” he says after they’re done fooling around, “we should get back to practice! fighting, fighting!”

and when they practice, haknyeon doesn’t really stop.

while his team is great, there’s still this fear bubbling from within him. the fear of last week, of not being placed in a safe rank. of watching people leave him. he needs to do well –– for everyone (for himself). the choreography comes together, and thankfully, most of them are well acquainted with dance and it has haknyeon hyped up with the idea of doing something darker.

it’s a new genre and haknyeon needs to show a different side of him. he’s no dummy, and while he’s not exactly book smart, he’s aware of the comments that are made about him –– comments saying that he’s been using his sister, that connections were what got him so far (that they were what got him attention). 

and it hurts. it feels dumb, but haknyeon wants to be known as his own person, not just his sister’s little brother. so it pushes him harder and harder and harder until he finds himself in the same position that he was in last week.

(tw: blood)

a sudden feeling, a sudden rush of sorts, and the wet feeling in his nostril. ah, he thinks, it happened again. he puts a hand below his nostril and he sees red. another nosebleed. great. quickly looking up at the mirror to confirm it, haknyeon places a hand over his nose and tries to rush to the toilet.

though he catches the attention of jei. “noona,” he says when he sees jei standing nearby. “sorry, i have to go to the bathroom for a bit. i’ll be right back, promise.” he doesn’t want to be a burden to anybody, doesn’t like wasting time like this. but jei helps him before he can go to the bathroom, gently placing a towel below his nose.

“again? ... is this normal for you? it happened last week too.”

“no...” he admits. “this… doesn’t usually happen often. i think i’m just a little tired and forgot to drink more water,” it’s the truth; lately he’s had this tendency to forget to do a lot of things, too focused on trying to get choreography right, on trying to sound good on stage –– to have a good stage.

he’s got a lot bottled up inside of him, probably, a lot more than he lets show but he’s always preferred to keep things to himself. “i’m sorry noona,” he apologizes,. “i’m probably just wasting your time now. we should get back to practicing… we need to put on a good show! i’ll quickly go get some tissue from the bathroom!” he attempts to laugh it off, but the red from the towel is a contrast to his words.

“that’s not something you just forget,” the look jei gives him, is enough for him to know that he isn’t getting out of this easily; and so he doesn’t say anything back when she tells him to quickly go to the bathroom and then to come back and talk to her.

he comes back from the bathroom with tissue stuffed up one of his nostrils and the feeling of guilt. “thanks for helping me noona,” he says. “i’m really sorry. i just… need to do well… and prove something.” 

jei, for some reason, reminds haknyeon of his own sister back home. so with just a look and a few words from her, haknyeon speaks on a little more. “i know i shouldn’t let it get to me but... people have been saying things, about how i’m only here because of my sister, that i’m using her fame... and stuff like that... i want to prove something to them. and prove something to myself. that i’m here because i’m me. i need to do well, so they can realize that i’m my own person with my own dreams... i need to do well. i’ll take better care of myself, i promise.”

(tw: blood end)

and he feels a little closer to jei after that, despite her giving him a look (the kind of look that really did remind him of his older sister back home). haknyeon somehow finds himself finally getting some rest along with the two other boys, the three of them cuddled up in a corner, lying down and sleeping. it’s moments later that he feels something warm on top of him and he cracks an eye open to see jei placing a blanket over them (and then to hear moonbin letting out a woof).

the day of the performance comes and haknyeon’s dressed a lot more darkly than he’d been in previous performances. he takes in the crowd and a smile forms on his face, he remembers his name being mentioned in the previous episode, a girl claiming that she was a fan of his. a fan. he wonders briefly how many he has there in the crowd.

“as above, so below! hello we are team styx!” they say in unison before they bow. “here to bring the team luck! i’m styx’s lucky boy, haknyeon!” he winks to the camera and he can’t help the way his face gets a little red out of embarrassment after his introduction.

they get into position after the introductions and haknyeon’s gaze immediately changes. he’s no longer the bright kid he’d been just seconds ago whilst introducing himself, he was a villain now. a tormentor of sorts.

the stage is completely back save for a spotlight on the girls, and jei begins to sing. then moonbin begins to sing and haknyeon dances to the choreography they’ve had made. 

it’s a dark storyline after all, and he makes sure his facial expression matches the genre of their performance. a song about toxic love –– haknyeon delves deep into himself to bring out his role in the performance.

as the song builds up, so does the choreography and haknyeon dances, eyes intense whenever he meets the camera as he dances. the chorus comes to an end and it’s haknyeon’s turn to rap.

during the previous performance, he’d been able to showcase his abilities and he’s a lot more confident now with his rap, ready to show the audience and judges that he can do a lot more. 

dabi eomneun dabane damman jugeorago sseo sarange kongkkakjiga anin saegangyeongeul kkyeo ireon sigeuro hal baen geunyang heeojineun ge naasseo neol mannaseo oeropdamyeon honja oeropgo malgesseo ( i write answers to the questions which haven’t got answers i now get to have doubt instead of crush rather than being like this we’d better break up if i get lonely with you, i get lonely alone )

the lyrics are dark and haknyeon shows a different side of him as he raps. lifting a brow at the words with a sinister smirk plastered across his face. he dances, intense before it’s his turn once more.

sirheo sirheo nan neo sirheo sirheo sirheo nan neo sirheo ( hate hate, i hate you, hate  hate hate, i hate you, hate )

he lifts his hands up and points to the front as he raps, gaze intense. at the last line, he makes a gun gesture and ‘shoots’.

the dancing and storyline continues as the other’s sing their lines and haknyeon gets ready for his joint rap duo moment with minho after moonbin sings his high note. he’s glad that he gets along well with minho, somewhat confident that the both of them would be able to pull off a good performance.

modu nal duryeoweohae so I’m untouchable man geunde ne jinshimeun wae gyeolguge nal geobu motae ( everyone’s afraid of me, so i’m untouchable man but in the end, you can’t reject me )

he starts off the rapping, furiously running a hand through his hair as he does so, dark smile on his face. the next lines go to minho and haknyeon backs him up. “who?” he says in the background, followed by “how we do!”

nal geudaero badadeuryeo ( accept me for who i am )

haknyeon raps again and then minho’s line comes in, the both of them in sync with each other.

niga gyeondil manhan gotongeul nuryeo deo gipi ppajeodeureo ( enjoy the pain that you’re able to endure fall deeper inside )

the lyrics are dark, tormenting even, and it suits the character that he’s playing right now –– the storyline that their team has decided to go with.

domanggaji ma neon yeongweonhi maemdora brah ( don’t run away, you’ll forever linger near )

and with that the chorus of monster plays and they dance, following their own choreography. haknyeon’s quite into the role of the tormentor he has and truth be told, he’s glad that he was able to rap as a duo with minho.

“i don’t need you, hate, no no,” he raps to blend into the mashup. “sirheo sirheo nan neo sirheo, sirheo sirheo nan neo sirheo, sirheo, sirheo nan neo sirheo” he continues, still dancing as he raps. 

the song comes to an end and haknyeon exits through the side as it focuses back on the couple and jei. he watches as the stage ends, satisfied.

when they get backstage haknyeon can’t help the satisfied smile that makes it’s way across his face. “we’ve all worked hard!” he says, “thank you for that performance.”

[harry5843tho]

DOG CAR DOOR COVER

Going with a canine can be upsetting now and again. Actually, pets are brimming with fun, and they will in general scratch the inside vehicle entryway. The most scratched regions are the side and back vehicle entryway. To tackle this, you need to purchase a canine vehicle entryway covers to keep canines from scratching inside vehicle entryways. These covers are an absolute necessity have. They help you keep your vehicle inside entryway clean and perfect. The most well-known material utilized in making these cover is breathable, waterproof, against scratch, and hostile to slip texture. Therefore, this secures your vehicle entryway surface against residue and paws when taking your pet for movement. Another advantage of these covers is that they are not difficult to-clean or wash.However, finding the correct canine vehicle entryway cover isn't that simple since different models exist. Be that as it may, with the beneath gathering of the top of the line item purchaser's guide, you will have the option to get the best one. See. 1.Woof Proof Dog Car Door Cover Has your canine been wrecking in your vehicle when voyaging? Try not to stress once more, as Woof Proof has an answer for that by furnishing you with excellent canine vehicle entryway covers. These covers are waterproof and contain against grating textures. These textures keep the canine from scratching the entryway and joyfully put the head on the window. Other than that, it is not difficult to spotless and dry at ease.Its special versatile strings that hold the covers set up ensures its security. Notwithstanding that, the canine voyaging frill can be serenely conveyed in three-network stockpiling pockets. All in all, Woof Proof canine vehicle entryway cover can fit in many vehicles. 2.Tineer Dog Car Door Cover Coming 10th is the Tineer canine vehicle entryway cover. As a 2-pack model, it for all intents and purposes covers the two sides of the vehicle's secondary lounge entryway. Also, by this, it guards the entryway as well as spotless too. Thus, no all the more worrying about pet soil and scratches. All the more significantly, this entryway cover highlights first class 600D Oxford material texture. Aside from being exceptionally breathable, this entryway cover is additionally waterproof.Equally significant, the Tineer canine vehicle entryway cover is likewise direct to introduce. It accompanies six bits of 3M unbending sticky tape. By this, it safely joins to your entryway. Cleaning this canine vehicle entryway cover is likewise peaceful. Simply utilize a wet fabric to clear off impressions, canine hair, or residue. Or on the other hand, you can likewise utilize the clothes washer. 3.Bushwhacker Waterproof Dog Car Door Cover Bushwhacker gives the best canine vehicle entryway cover. This Bushwhacker cover guarantees cleanliness in your vehicles when going with your pets. It is made of non-destructive polyester texture that forestalls scratches. Similarly significant, these textures ensure power window catches and entryway handles from getting garbage, hair, and dust.Additionally, this canine vehicle entryway cover is waterproof. It additionally contains a metal defender that guarantees the canine doesn't slide when hopping as an afterthought board. You don't need to eliminate the defender when moving here and there as it is all around planned. In conclusion, it is light in weight. 4.Plush Paws Products Dog Car Door Cover This canine vehicle entryway cover from Plush Paws isn't anything less momentous. Right off the bat, it utilizes intense jewel sewed 600D Oxford and PU textures. Furthermore, with four layers of hearty materials, the cover conveys most extreme vehicle inside guard. By this, it accomplishes a line of assurance from mud, water harm, or scratches from your dog.Then once more, this entryway cover is viable with most vehicles. Regardless of whether it's a TRUCK, a SUV, or a cantina, expect the Plush Paws entryway cover solidly stay unblemished throughout the day. Prominently, it likewise accompanies three brisk establishment choices. These incorporate the utilization of attractions cups, labels, or ties. The cover is likewise simple to wipe and machine launderable simultaneously. 5.4Knines Two Dog Car Door Cover 4Knines gives the most sturdy canine vehicle entryway cover for your vehicles. It is made of hard core and colorfast premium material. This canine vehicle entryway cover is not difficult to clean by throwing in the washer or utilizing a clammy towel. Similarly significant, it estimates 27 crawls by 19 inches, which is good for both doors.You don't need to stress over how to introduce it. This is on the grounds that it accompanies Velcro and plastic tabs, thusly, making establishment simpler. Notwithstanding that, it has a non-slip backing. Finally, the client is fortunately guaranteed that should not be taken lightly guarantee, dissimilar to other canine vehicle entryway covers.

[touchedits]

Ways to Stop Ten Common Dog Behavior Issues

Each dog proprietor has some canine acquiescence issues at specific occasions, and it isn't hard to trust you are distant from everyone else with your canine conduct issues. Try not to worry! Heaps of others will have comparative canine dutifulness issues and fortunately these troubles could be overwhelmed with a brief period and tolerance.

1. Latrine Training Problems

Canines normally really like to disappear from the sanctum to potty. All things considered, there is an issue when the canine doesn't comprehend that the whole house is their home and furthermore when the canine isn't permitted outside regularly enough to pee. Thus, in case you're not permitting your canine out regularly enough, the issue isn't hard to manage! However, when a canine has peed inside, he may imagine that it's OK to do it again and again.

Build up a daily schedule for the canine to potty at similar occasions each day, and acclaim them unequivocally. Be that as it may, don't get irritated if your canine pees inside. Fierceness and hollering don't help when you are preparing a canine. Make an unexpected sound, for example, applauding, when the canine starts to calm itself in the home, and afterward eliminate the canine outside without a moment's delay so the canine beginnings interfacing outside with peeing. This take steady cautiousness and a great deal of tolerance from you yet is certainly justified regardless of the exertion.

2. Canine Aggression

There are various reasons why a canine may get forceful. In the event that you received a develop canine, it is conceivable that he may have been inadequately treated as a little dog. In the event that you raised the pup without the right preparing, the canine could be endeavoring to certify his control over you. At the point when a canine is exhausted or has an excessive amount of energy he might have created nervousness issues and these should directed this by your solid, alpha initiative.

Food Aggression is extremely normal. On the off chance that your canine shows signs of food hostility by snapping or gnawing in the event that you go close to his food bowl, at that point you should retrain them to think distinctively by setting up a taking care of program. Begin taking care of them only 2-3 times each day. By turning into the stockpile of the food, the canine looks to you as the wellspring of the food, rather than attempting to ensure what he feel is his.

Animosity Directed at Children and Strangers. The preparation used to annihilate this hostility utilizes positive re-authorization. Put your canine on a rope and spot yourselves some separation from the reason for hostility (the kids). Give your canine applause and treats and afterward draw closer to the wellspring of hostility. The canine will in the end begin to value this as a stockpile of remuneration and joy, and get excited and not incensed and forceful.

Animosity Towards different Dogs in your Home. This could be an indication that your canine doesn't have a positive chief in the pack and that your canines are battling with one another for that job. In the event that this emerges, you need to playing the prevailing influential position. Regularly, just by introducing clear initiative, you can stop any negative lead by the canines inside your home. Likewise, when making the rounds with your canine, you ought to try not to make a complain when a canine approaches. Your canine draws on your apprehension and will respond correspondingly, particularly if the canine is on a chain.

3. Undesirable Digging

On the off chance that a canine burrows, it is a result of a profound situated motivation to do as such. Much of the time, they completely appreciate it, albeit at times it could get over the top. Unfortunately, whatever amount of they are getting a charge out of the burrowing, the canine is likely obliterating your blossom garden or your terrace simultaneously! Much of the time, burrowing is an aftereffect of surplus energy and weariness, and the canine may utilize burrowing as a delivery for that abundance energy. Ensure you exercise and play with your canine and don't let him be outside for extensive stretches. Secure any parts in your nursery you don't need uncovered with fencing and mesh, and utilize solid smelling obstacles. Furnish the canine with his own committed burrowing territory and take the canine to it each time he begins to burrow. Ultimately he will get the point!

4. Yelping

Each canine barks now and again - either to show excitement or to reveal to you that they are exhausted. The issue is that a few canines bark constantly. The objective is to lessen the over the top woofing and not to attempt stop all yapping.

Never give your canine what it needs when it barks. In the event that you need to endure the canine and tune in to the yapping, at that point do it! Giving what the canine needs (particularly your consideration) when it barks at you, will simply instruct it to proceed. Fundamental preparing could be especially valuable in lessening yelping conduct in your canine. Train the canine to sit, rests, and hush up. These fundamental orders drives the canine to change their consideration regarding you and away from whatever they are yelping about. So when your canine barks unnecessarily, utilize the sit order, until the woofing closes, at that point prize and recognition for the right, calm conduct. Once more, this will require some investment and a solid will to succeed!

5. Biting

Biting starts when the canine is youthful and getting teeth, anyway as your canine gets more adult, biting can turn into a critical and undesirable issue. Proprietors that give their little dog old shoes or socks to bite are basically saying that this is OK. On the off chance that you did this when your canine was a little dog, at that point you should set aside some effort to redress the personal conduct standard that you have made.

Ensure you have a substitute, similar to a rawhide bite, to hand when the canine beginnings biting on a pad or shoe, and quickly give them this to bite all things considered. There are likewise, vaporized showers sold by most pet shops, that are terrible to a canine and these assistance to stop biting of specific articles. Moreover, you should prepare your canine to "leave it". This order sets aside effort to see yet will have an immense effect to the canine biting issue just as aiding on different events when your canine gets something undesirable when you are all over town!

6. Hopping

Canines love to bounce as it is a method of indicating their excitement. Regardless, it very well may be risky, especially if your canine is huge and there are little kids around. Try not to hold onto the canines paws or push them away. While this is taking effect right now, it won't work in the long haul as you are giving them the consideration they need. Bouncing is managed most successfully simply by overlooking the canine. Get some distance from them and disregard them. Try not to visually connect, speak with, or contact your canine for the initial couple of moments when you come into the house or go into a room. Whenever they've given you their calm consideration, you can commend them delicately and tenderly. Try not to get them energized once more, simply give a little object and even a treat. This causes the canine to comprehend that he will possibly borrow your time when he is quiet.

7. Rushing Out the Front Door

As that front entryway opens, your canine knows no threat, simply an energizing encounter - one suggestive of different creatures, strolls and loads of pleasure. To forestall this you should at first ensure that nobody opens the entryway until they know where the canine is and that the canine is safely remote of getting out.

Start with the fundamental orders - sit, stay, and down. These fundamental canine preparing orders are unfathomably significant for acquiring and keeping your canine's consideration with the goal that they stay set up and don't run out the entryway. It won't manage the issue promptly, however to try and begin the preparation cycle, the canine has to know these orders. As you progress, you will show your canine that the entryway is your domain and that the canine can't go close without your unmistakable consent. Each time your canine draws near to the entryway utilize these orders to stop its encouraging until it never attempts to draw near to the entryway without you.

8. Pulling on the Lead

For heaps of canine proprietors, a walk is quite possibly the most harrowing occasions of the day, instead of perhaps the most pleasing! To begin the preparation you should start in the home.

At the point when you start the walk routine in the house, consistently cause your canine to sit and remain first. You need to place the canine into a quiet compliant state, where their energy is coordinated into submitting to your orders. By diverting that energy, you can annihilate the skipping around that typically occurs before you go out. What is significant here, is that you eliminate the chain if the canine gets energized and boisterous. Try not to remunerate this conduct, stand by until he is quiet prior to continuing. The second the canine starts to pull on the lead, return to the start and make him sit. It can require some investment to show a canine that he can't pull enthusiastically, however in the event that you re-visitation of the begin once again and over, the canine ought to comprehend eventually. When you at long last get to the walkway, it is truly significant that you carry on the method utilized in the home. In the event that the canine pulls excessively hard or begins venturing out in front of you, simply make a couple of strides back and cause the canine to sit and remain till you are prepared to stroll forward once more. Your canine will discover that they don't continue ahead with their stroll until the rope is loose. Carry a few treats with you (or a clicker in case you're utilizing that as a preparation strategy) and when your canine strolls effectively next to you with a leeway chain, give a prize.

9. Crying

In the event that a canine cries in light of division, it is essential to show your canine how to acknowledge your nonappearance. Consider having a solitary room or a container for the canine to remain in when you go out. By having their own space to go to, as a "place of refuge", the canine will feel more loosened up when are away. Try not to give a great deal of object prior to going out and when returning home. To prepare your canine how to loosen up when you go out, you need to work on doing it while still in the home. Put the canine in a different room or a container. You should hear him out whimpering for some time, yet it is imperative that you don't re-visitation of the room until the canine quits crying.

Not all canine crying is tension associated however. At times, it very well may be essentially to get acknowledgment or a symptom of them having an excessive amount of energy. Now and again, it very well may be a direct result of them attempting to stand out enough to be noticed. Remember it is in every case best to overlook them than to responding to their awful conduct and afterward the canine will so

[junker-town]

The 8 dumbest mistakes from NFL Week 14, ranked

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Kyler Murray is still making rookie mistakes, but he’s a rookie. Derek Carr is still making rookie mistakes, but he is not a rookie.

With three weeks to go in the regular season, we have a good idea of the teams that won’t be playing January. More than a third of the league — 12 teams, to be exact — has been eliminated from playoff contention. Six of those teams were knocked out of the race on Sunday.

For anyone hoping for a little clarity on who will be in the postseason, you’ll have to wait a little longer. So far, only three teams are in (Saints, Ravens, Chiefs), with the last two joining the party this week.

That leaves 17 teams vying for just nine playoff spots. And for some, there’s little margin for error. The difference between making the postseason and packing up your locker room on Dec. 30 can sometimes come down to the little things.

With that in mind, let’s get to this week’s dumbest mistakes. Well, most of them anyway. Honestly, this whole list could’ve been devoted to the officiating in the Patriots-Chiefs game, but they gave us enough material to work with that we decided to keep it separate.

So below, we’re going to concentrate on the biggest other blunders in Week 14, many of which either came courtesy of rookies or players who reverted back to their rookie form.

8. David Blough blew it on a big third down for the Lions

Blough wasn’t supposed to be starting games for the Lions this season. But after injuries to Matthew Stafford and Jeff Driskel, the undrafted free agent got his second start Sunday against the Vikings.

His inexperience was most notable late in the second quarter with the Lions facing a third-and-2 from Minnesota’s 15-yard line. Not only did Blough take a costly sack for a loss of 12 yards, but he also didn’t see that Marvin Jones was wiiiiide open:

On the critical 3rd-and-short sack, Blough missed a wide-open Marvin Jones for an easy first down. 10-point swing. pic.twitter.com/XYOIftCU1k

— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) December 8, 2019

The Lions were only down 10-0 at that point, so this could have given Detroit some much-needed momentum early in the game. Instead of scoring a touchdown on this drive, or even getting to attempt an easier field goal, the Lions missed a 45-yard kick. The Vikings countered with a touchdown drive to make it 17-0 at halftime and Detroit ended up losing 20-7. It’s safe to say Blough would want this one back.

7. A referee had to tell the Rams cheerleaders to get off the field

It’s our first appearance by a cheerleading squad in 2019! Los Angeles jumped out to a 21-3 lead over the Seahawks in the first half on Sunday Night Football, but the third touchdown of the half was slightly delayed because the Rams’ cheerleaders, as well as the mascot, were dancing in the opposite end zone.

they had to call timeout on the field to throw the cheerleaders out of the end zone pic.twitter.com/Ma4y8Gttg2

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 9, 2019

If we were to guess, they probably won’t be bothered at all by making this list. Look how carefree and happy they were immediately after the referee told them to get off the field.

NBC

Even the mascot Rampage looks like he’s smiling. Don’t mind us, Rams cheerleaders. Keep living your best life.

6. The Steelers picked a terrible time to try a fake punt

Pittsburgh escaped Arizona with a 23-17 win over the Cardinals. But the game was much closer than it needed to be, especially after the Steelers ran a disastrous fake punt from their own side of the field on a fourth-and-6.

Up 20-10 with just over eight minutes to go, Pittsburgh elected to go with a fake punt from its 40-yard line, and it was the ugliest fake you’ll find.

Our fake punt > Their fake punt pic.twitter.com/yY0gxkFGHN

— Arizona Cardinals ⋈ (@AZCardinals) December 8, 2019

First, it was a bad snap. Then, the Steelers decided to run it directly into three free Cardinals players. A pass would have made a lot more sense. Instead, it was a fumble, the Cardinals got the ball, and three plays later, scored a touchdown to make it a three-point game.

Afterward, head coach Mike Tomlin took the blame, though punter Jordan Berry explained that there was miscommunication:

P Jordan Berry: “The guys up front called it off and nobody told me. I just tried to make a run for it and I ran straight into some guys. I was planning on getting ready to run up there and they all shot off to go cover and I was like, Aw (expletive).”

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 9, 2019

No matter what, it was the kind of miscue that could have cost Pittsburgh a spot in the playoffs — just like a bad fake punt did a year ago. This time, the Steelers were lucky.

5. The refs flagged Earl Thomas for getting pushed by his own teammate

Buffalo struggled to establish any kind of offensive consistency against the Ravens. The Bills finished their 24-17 loss to the AFC’s top team with just 209 yards of total offense and an inefficient 3.1 yards per play.

That meant any gain was a big deal for Buffalo — even if it was completely unearned. Like when Earl Thomas received a 15-yard penalty for standing too close to the strip sack he created:

Earl Thomas got a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty because his teammate shoved him over Josh Allen's back pic.twitter.com/SU2Sjc0xiE

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 8, 2019

Thomas got dinged for unnecessary roughness just for being the third man in a chain reaction. While he had no malicious intent in the play whatsoever, the officials’ ruling wiped out what should have been an 8-yard loss yard and turned it into a free first down for the Bills. That helped lead to a field goal that made the score 17-9 six plays later.

4. Kyler Murray threw a pick instead of running for a first down (or more)

Murray is having a pretty decent rookie season, despite the lack of help around him in Arizona. He could even end up as Offensive Rookie of the Year, even if it’s a little bit by default.

He’s still prone to rookie mistakes, however. Never was that more apparent Sunday than early in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals were knocking on the Steelers’ door on fourth-and-2 from Pittsburgh’s 6-yard line. A touchdown would have cut the Cardinals’ deficit to three points, but they also could’ve just picked up a first down and gotten four more chances to punch the ball in.

Murray had room to run for the first down — and maybe even get into the end zone, Rather than take the yards, though, Murray threw the ball directly into the hands of T.J. Watt:

.@_TJWatt with the end zone INT! #HereWeGo #PITvsAZ : CBS : NFL app // Yahoo Sports app Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/D5AfU98qAh pic.twitter.com/1ArYDsaw5f

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2019

The Cardinals lost 23-17 to the Steelers, their sixth loss in a row. Had Murray not thrown this interception, there’s a chance Arizona could have pulled off an upset. Just another lesson Murray is learning during his rookie season.

3. Dawson Knox’s olé block gave the Ravens their best field position

Knox has been a solid contributor to the Bills’ ascendant passing game. The former Ole Miss star has 26 catches and a pair of touchdowns through his first 13 games as a pro. His ability to stretch the field vertically from the tight end position has helped open passing lanes through which other Buffalo targets could thrive.

His blocking, however, could use some work.

Dawson Knox, your edge blocking, woof pic.twitter.com/uTQ8tCKCei

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 8, 2019

Knox’s complete inability to contain Matthew Judon led to an inevitable strip sack that handed Baltimore possession at the Buffalo 24-yard line. That turnover led to a Ravens touchdown five plays later in a game Baltimore went on to win by seven points.

2. The Saints didn’t even really try to score before halftime

New Orleans didn’t have much time to score after the 49ers got a touchdown with 42 seconds left in the first half. But hey, the Saints already had four first-half touchdowns in a shootout. It at least seemed like enough time to set up a field goal.

Instead, the Saints looked confused and out of sorts in the final seconds of the second quarter.

After setting up in shotgun on their own 28-yard line, here’s what the Saints did:

Alvin Kamara run for 6 yards

Ater 20 seconds ticked off the clock, a screen play with 13 seconds left to Latavius Murray that lost 5 yards

Then, with six seconds left in the half, the Saints used their final timeout

The Saints handed the ball to Murray one more time

New Orleans would’ve needed about 30 yards to give Wil Lutz a chance at a field goal. That was very doable, but the Saints let that opportunity slip through their fingers and trailed 28-27 at halftime. Three more points would’ve been useful in a game they lost by two.

1. Derek Carr threw the ball away on fourth down ... again

The Raiders were already just about toast in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Even if Oakland’s nine-play drive in the fourth quarter ended with a touchdown, the team still would’ve needed two more touchdowns in less than four minutes to catch up to the Titans.

So while it wasn’t exactly devastating when Derek Carr’s pass on fourth down sailed out of bounds, he still should’ve given his receivers a chance to come down it it:

Derek Carr throws the ball away... on 4th down. #TENvsOAK pic.twitter.com/wkfbAHHTJo

— Titans Film Room (@titansfilmroom) December 9, 2019

An interception wouldn’t have mattered — the Titans were getting the ball back either way.

It ended up being Oakland’s last offensive play too. Tennessee picked up two first downs and milked the remaining time off the clock.

What makes the throwaway from Carr more of a head scratcher is that he’s done this before. He intentionally dumped a pass at his running back’s feet on fourth down late in a loss to the Chargers during the 2018 season. Raiders coach Jon Gruden defended him then, and defended him again for his wasted play Sunday:

#Raiders coach Jon Gruden, when asked about QB Derek Carr throwing the ball away on 4th and goal from the two, trailing by 21. "He exhausted that play for what it was. I'm not going to be one to stand here and say that a turning point in the game...(more)"

— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) December 9, 2019

Gruden’s right that it wasn’t even close to a turning point. The problem is that Carr’s in his sixth year starting in the league, and he still keeps making the same mistakes over and over.