#first it was barnaby BOOKING IT DOWN MY STREET

[radioisntdead]

Being a fanfic writer is so fun because when the child of my sister PURPOSELY LOCKS ME OUT OF MY HOUSE THE ONE TIME I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE AND REFUSES TO OPEN THE DOOR SO I'M KNOCKING AND RINGING THE DOOR BELL FOR THREE MINUTES TERRIFIED THAT I'LL BE OUT THERE IN THE HEAT UNTIL MY MOM NOTICES I'M NOT THERE, HE EVENTUALLY TOLD HER AND SHE GOT ONTO HIM SO HE FINALLY LET ME IN, BUT NOW HE'S IN TROUBLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE LOCKED ME OUT BUT BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE.

I can make that happen to my favorite characters!

[tiredly101]

A picture not ment to be seen part 5

Pairing: Wally Darling x Writer!Male reader

New Neighbor Masterlist

Illustrated Au, season two continues dearies so enjoy! Very close screenshot of the picture done by @niki-the-cat

Wally stared at the notebook in his hands before a picture dropped out of it, it was him holding M/n in his arms and while M/n seemed confused he had the begging of a smile to form on his lips; moment forever frozen in the picture and as in a cruel joke he remembered why that picture was taken in the first place.

Wally was standing in front of Barnaby who seemed jolly, he was in a colorful tuxedo and was waiting anxiously, an emotion he didn't feel quite often, for M/n to arrive but he supposes that he always feels a tad anxious when it comes to M/n.

"Don't worry Wally, he will be here any second now," said Barnaby and if on cue M/n appeared with a white tuxedo that had some nice embroidery of flowers at the end of his pants. Their eyes connected and M/n smiled at Wally who was left just as breathless as the first day he and M/n met.

"Hello my darling, you look perfect as always," M/n whispered to Wally who blushed before they held hands, M/n looked at Barnaby and nodded which made Barnaby smile grow.

"Today we are here to see M/n Cherry and Wally Darling become a married couple and I couldn't be prouder to say it was because of me so your welcome," said Barnaby which made people laugh softly while trying to keep quiet at the wedding. After the "I do's" from the couple Barnaby smiled grew.

"With the power invested on me by Frank’s books I proclaim you husband and husband! Kiss already," said Barnaby making M/n laugh before kissing Wally which made the other melt. As soon as they broke apart M/n was going to pick Wally up for him to defeat him.

"You are really strong for your size my darling," said M/n making Wally laugh before they kissed again. This was the best day of Wally's life and he swore to himself to never forget about it...

Wally looked at the picture again with a bitter taste and looked at Sally who was looking at her feet, he sighted and left her alone, not bothering to even talk to her since she didn't deserve his words.

Wally walked down the street in anger, he wanted to remember M/n since he was already in love just with the memories themselves. He stood under the rain, his hair getting wet again and he saw Franks house and a little part of him knew he had something of M/n's.

"Wally knew deep down he had M/n's novel from when they first met"

Part 5 is done peeps! Part 6 is being made but let me know if you wanna join the tag list!

Tag list from New Neighbor because this is season two:

@farleyis @whynot5243 @fluffyart5000 @blueberricowboi @bonesbonesbonesuponbones @who-let-me-write-this @pr5is1ng @just-random-post @smiling-carcass @nettaw @sleepyscxry @theorchardcollective @thelostboys11 @darling-w @ametistacollinsworld @vampyrefay @cloudeecheer @lacunaanonymoused @waywardstardustcollector @welcome-home-puppets @redjeanjacket @fried-lotud @waywardstardustcollector @frindtheshapeshifter405 @lotusflowerexe @sleepyscxry @the-gayest-toad @mythjustiice @backyard-bear @beu-is-here0 @just-random-post @fic-fortress @elegantkidfansoul @eyesarefun @one-green-frog @beu-is-here0 @waywardstardustcollector @24-7lazy @azyimnothere @fluffyart5000 @chesterthejester12-blog

[hogwartsmysteryho]

Ok, I don’t actually know a lot of T Swift, so pardon my ignorance on the topic. Sending you Murphy & Katriona and any ship of your choice for the ask. This is the cutest!!!

no worries! i love taylor enough for the both of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

murtronia - “Paper Rings” (Lover)

now i gotta admit, picking a song for murtronia was a little nerve-racking, since they’re like one of the top otps in this fandom. however, i’ve been reading up on my coffee and commentary (which is so so so excellent, i don’t know why i didn’t start reading it sooner) and i’m pretty pleased with what i’ve got here!

the word that comes to my mind when i think of murtronia is “fun” (along with soulmates, best friends, otp, and adorable). they are just genuinely one of the most fun couples, and i think that especially comes through in their cameo @lifeofkaze’s Art of Balance, which was my first introduction to this ship, and those vibes were only strengthened upon my reading of c&c! so, i really recommend listening to this song especially, as the groove of the song is just very fun and that’s not something you can experience just by reading the lyrics. the atmosphere the song creates is one of the reasons i initially thought of this song for them. ok sry for my rant, let’s get to the break down!

“The moon is high / Like your friends were the night that we first met / Went home and tried to stalk you on the internet / Now I've read all of the books beside your bed” while there was no getting high or internet stalking upon their first time meeting, katronia did return to her dormitory and gossip about murphy with her friend, so i think that counts enough. also, this ravenclaw power couple has absolutely read all of the available reading while waiting for the other to wake up.

“The wine is cold / Like the shoulder that I gave you in the street / Cat and mouse for a month or two or three / Now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe” it’s safe to say these two played cat and mouse for MUCH longer than three months, it took them a while to stop secretly pining after each other and confess their feelings. “i wake up in the night and watch you breathe” for all of the falling asleep together that they do.

“Kiss you once 'cause I know you had a long night (Oh) / Kiss you twice 'cause it's gonna be alright (Uh) / Three times 'cause you waited your whole life” I haven’t made it very far in coffee & commentary yet, but already the number of times they comfort each other in times when they really needed someone with them is off the charts. and the way they support each other is simply by being present for each other, and knowing when the other needs them.

“I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings” really suits their engagement story- they get married within 24 hours of murphy popping the question. they don’t need an extravagant engagement, they just need each other!

“I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this” so many misunderstandings, and reckoning the odds of the other liking them back were too low, stood in the way of katronia and murphy’s romance initially. if they hadn’t once again accidentally fallen asleep in the common room together maybe katronia wouldn’t have been courageous enough to shoot her shot with mcnully so soon. love isn’t something mcnully can just predict with statistics, but i reckon he’s 100% happy with how things turned out for them.

“Darling, you're the one I want / In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams” it was always murphy that kc wanted, sorry barnaby. and katronia was the one for murphy from the moment they became friends as well.

“I want to drive away with you / I want your complications too / I want your dreary Mondays / Wrap your arms around me, baby boy” katronia and murphy are that couple who want to be with each other on their bad days as much as their good days. and they’re very cuddly.

and for the free choice i have chosen…

viktoliver - “New Year’s Day” (reputation) victoria belongs to the marvelous @whatwouldvalerydo

“There's glitter on the floor after the party / Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby / Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor / You and me from the night before” this reminds me of the Halloween party story, where oli and victoria are hanging out alone together after the party has ended.

“Don’t read the last page / But I stay when you're lost and I'm scared and you’re turning away” oliver didn’t look to see the carving in victoria’s pie… but she did stay to comfort oliver after his seemingly lost love. victoria, in fact, is always there for oliver after all his failed endeavors, if only he saw her there and he’d have his love much sooner.

“I want your midnights / But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day” Victoria had wanted nothing more than to be oliver’s date, just as the song references wanting to have spent midnight on New Year’s together. instead, they share a different kind of intimate moment together while dealing with the party aftermath.

“You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi / I can tell that it's gonna be a long road / I'll be there if you're the toast of the town, babe / Or if you strike out and you're crawling home” they stand with each other in times when they “strike out”, but are ever supportive and will be cheering the for the other loudest when success comes.

“Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you / And I will hold on to you” the impossibly cheerful victoria and ever hopeful oliver must have countless stories of fun they cherish, such as being trapped in a corn maze together.

“Please don't ever become a stranger / Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere” i think they would both think this of each other even pre relationship, and even before oliver realizes victoria was the perfect girl for him all along. their relationship was always that strong, even when they were just friends.

[pof203]

Tiger & Bunny Fanfiction: The ghosts of the past haunt best

This is a fan plot for Tiger & Bunny's 10th Anniversary. It was inspired by Chapter 20 of the Comic, All lay loads on a willing horse.

NOTE: Some elements of Ghost Hunters, The Conjuring Universe and other horror movies and scary stories involved.

Meet the Original Characters

Karl Storm Feather

Voiced by Robbie Daymond.

Bio

Karl is a 16-year-old Psychic-Type NEXT with the ability to sense and see aura, reveal aura, and even manipulate aura. He is a student at the Hero Academy. (This story takes place during summer break.) His parents own a grocery store which he helps out at and he loves ghost stories and scary movies. Even though he's being trained to become a hero, Karl's real passion is paranormal investigating. He is the leader of the paranormal research and investigating team, The Groovy Ghosties.

History

Karl's NEXT powers first awaken when he was 8 years old. He and his soon-to-be girlfriend, Beatrice "Bea" Kelleman, were at her apartment watching a scary movie. Then, Bea's older brother, Sidney "Sid", snuck into the dark living room dressed like a bloody ghost with a hideous monster mask and scared the two little kids as a prank. Bea was crying and Karl was mad. So mad that his powers activated for the first time and tried to choke Sid with his own aura. Fortunately, Bea managed to stop him and Sid was spared. Sometime later, Karl started attending the Hero Academy. However, he, with an interest in the supernatural and the occult, really wanted to become a paranormal investigator, following the work of renown demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren. (I apologize to the relatives of the Warrens for using them in this story. They'll only appear in it as pictures.) So, he started the paranormal team, The Groovy Ghosties. This team consists of himself as the lead investigator, his girlfriend Bea, her older brother Sid, Sid's best friend Steven Burrow, Bob Lyman the neighbor kid from across the street, his friend from school Darla Torrington, fellow Academy student and Bea's best friend Marcia Fey, and Marcia's girlfriend Sarah Sands. This usually leads to him and Marcia being ridiculed and made fun of by the other Academy students who think that they should focus more on becoming heroes instead looking for ghosts. But they are not giving up. The truth is out there and the Groovy Ghosties will find it!

Appearance

Karl is a 16-year-old Native American teenager with tan skin, black hair, and grey eyes. He wears the Hero Academy's sweatsuit with a Native American necklace. Bea and some of the other Academy students often describe him as a "rather handsome animal". Karl says, "I look more like my dad when I he was young."

Personality

Karl is kind and caring young man who believes in the good in others. However, he is prone to losing his temper when pushed enough.

Trivia

Karl is slightly based off of Jesse Cosay from Infinity Train and Charlies Little Bull from The Casagrandes. Both of them were voiced by Robbie Daymond.

Even though many would say that he would be a fan of Sky High because they both have goofy attitudes, Karl is actually one of the extremely rare fans of Rock Bison. Partly because Karl believes in the underdog (or in this case, the undercow) and partly because Bison's sponsor, Kronos Foods, is one of his parents' grocery store's major suppliers.

Karl is allergic to nuts. Because of this, his parents only sell them in the store when he is away at school, but put them in the back when he's helping them.

If he were to end up on Hero TV, Karl would try to convince Apollon Media to have segments in between episodes where he and his friends would investigate supernatural phenomenon.

Beatrice "Bea" Kelleman

Voiced by Cristina Valenzuela.

Bio

Beatrice, often known by others as Bea, is Karl Storm Feather's girlfriend and a member of the Groovy Ghosties where she is in charge of the team's gear. She is also Sid's younger sister.

History

Bea lived in one of the apartments above The Storm Feathers' Grocery Store with her parents and her older brother, Sid. Like Karl, she also has a love for the paranormal. She was also there when Karl's NEXT abilities first awoke and nearly shocked her brother to death. Fortunately, she managed to calm him down and saved Sid. Sometime after Karl started attending the Hero Academy, he introduced Bea to Marcia Fey and they became best friends. They later formed the Groovy Ghosties. Her job on the team is to create and inspect their ghost hunting equipment.

Appearance

Bea is a 16-year-old teenager with black hair which she dyed blonde blonde, though some it is still black, and brown eyes. She also has a charm bracelet she got as a birthday present from Karl, Marcia, and Sarah.

Personality

Bea is a nice person. She is very optimistic and is willing to do what she can to help her friends. She can also be very driven, but devoted.

Trivia

On Hero TV, her favorite hero is Barnaby. Though, she likes Dragon Kid, too.

Bea's parents are plastic surgeons (mostly nose jobs).

If she were not a paranormal investigator, Bea would either make movies or become a dermatologist.

Bea is actually how Karl became interested in becoming a paranormal investigator. She gave him one of the Warrens' books.

Sidney "Sid" Kellemen

Voiced by Grant George.

Bio

Sidney, often known as Sid, is Bea's older brother. He is a member of the Groovy Ghosties as the skeptic of the group. He mainly joined them to keep an eye on his little sister.

History

Sid has always thought that his sister and her boyfriend's interested in the paranormal is just silly as he doesn't believe in that sort of stuff. So as a prank, he dressed up as a bloody ghost with a monster mask, snuck into the dark living room while Bea and Karl were watching a scary movie, and scared them good. As a result, Bea was crying and Karl lost his temper which lead to him activating his NEXT powers for the first time and nearly killed Sid by choking him with his own aura. Fortunately, Bea managed to calm him down and Sid was spared. Since then, he came to distrust Karl. Sometime later, Karl started the Groovy Ghosties. Bea joined and so did Sid. He did not want to, but his parents said he had to to watch over Bea. Sid is the skeptic of the group. His job is to try and find a more logical explanation for every supernatural case the group investigates. He and his best friend, Steven Burrow, are in a band, The Blue Rose Experience, together who do parodies of Blue Rose's songs.

Appearance

Sid is an 18-year-old man with black hair with a bang that covers one of his dark brown eyes. He has a fine build, but not very strong. He often dresses in a grey short-sleeved shirt and black pants.

Personality

Sid is a self-proclaimed realist. He believes that everything that everything has a scientific and logical explanation. He appears to be a bit apathetic, but he truly cares about his family and little sister. Though he won't admit it, he is also very close to his friend, Steven.

Trivia

Sid is slightly based off of Shinjiro Aragaki from Persona 3. They also share the same voice actor.

Many would imply that Sid and Steven's relationship is romantic. However, they are probably just real good friends as both are fans of Blue Rose. But this remains to be seen.

Sid's skepticism comes from simply being scared of the unknown. Though, he doesn't want to admit it.

In the band that he and Steven are part of, Sid plays the bass.

Steven Burrow

Voiced by Bumper Robinson.

Bio

Steven is Sid Kelleman's best friend and fellow member of the Groovy Ghosties. He is the public relations, responsible for finding cases, and providing spiritual and religious insight for the group. He and Sid are also members of the band, The Blue Rose Experience.

History

Steven and Sid have known each other since the 6th Grade. When they got into high school, they both joined The Blue Rose Experience, a band who are fans of Blue Rose and do parodies of her songs. They later joined Karl and Bea's paranormal research and investigation team, The Groovy Ghosties. At first, Steven's highly religious parents objected to their son joining a group they deem "doing the Devil's work". However, Steven assured them that he will be very safe and they will be very safe, so they let him join. Sid's job on the team is PR, finding cases for the group to solve, and provide them with spiritual and religious insight.

Appearance

Steven is an 18-year-old African American young man with black hair and black eyes. He has a tattoo of the Holy Mother on his back.

Personality

Steven has a positive attitude and isn't afraid to say what needs to be said. Like his family, he is very religious, but isn't afraid to try new things.

Trivia

Many would imply that Steven and Sid's relationship is romantic. However, they are probably just real good friends as both are fans of Blue Rose. But this remains to be seen.

Steven is also a fan of Barnaby. Whenever he's not with the band or the Ghosties, Steven is doing volunteer work at the same orphanage that Barnaby visits.

Steven is actually the grand nephew of the CEO of Titan Industry.

Bob Lyman

Voiced by Bryce Papenbrook.

Bio

Bob is a 13-year-old member of the Groovy Ghosties as the cameraman. He was actually the Groovy Ghosties' first client.

History

Bob was the Ghosties' first client. Less than a month after they began, Bob had what he described as a paranormal experience. One night while he was in bed, he woke up, but couldn't move or speak. Then, he saw a shadowy figure come out of his closet and stare at him for about a minute before leaving the room. After they left, Bob finally got free of his trance and went out the room after the figure, but they were nowhere to be found. The next morning, Bob and his parents found their living room, which was nice and tidy the previous night, a total mess, but none of them heard anything. Bob went to Karl, Bea, Sid, and Steven about this. Karl reveals that Bob's trance was sleep paralysis which is sometimes caused by ghosts, which was probably the shadowy figure. Sid, however, simply says that Bob just has a nightmare and nothing else. But Bob asks how that could explain the living room being a mess when no one heard anything. It was time for the team to investigate. They set up cameras and things and waited that night. Then, odd things began to happen. First, they could hear footsteps going around. Sid said it was probably somebody upstairs or next door. Bob said the upstairs apartment is vacant their neighbors on both sides are either on a date or on vacation. Then, the temperature of the room started to drop. Sid said that because it is winter, of course the temperature would be cold. However, it was actually in mid March so winter would be near over and the weather getting warmer. They could hear voices saying something like, "There are two." Then, Karl could have sworn he saw one of the pillows on the couch move on its own. Until was about midnight or so, they decided to call it a night. A few days later, they concluded that whatever was in the house means no harm and that Bob and his parents have nothing to fear. Since then, the odd occurrences stopped, though they had a feeling that it was not over. Since then, Bob became interested in what the Ghosties do and convinced them to let him join the team as their camera man to help record footages of ghosts and chronicle their cases. Later on, Bob's friend from school, Darla Torrington also joined on.

Appearance

Bob is a 13-year-old boy who has tan skin, light brown hair, and blue eyes. He often wears a t-shirt with a picture of Wild Tiger and Barnaby on it.

Personality

Bob is a happy-go-lucky kind of kid who loves his friends and want to help them whenever he can.

Trivia

Bob is named for Bob Papenbrook, the late father of Bob's voice actor.

Bob is a fan of both Wild Tiger and Barnaby. His dream is to join Apollon Media and become a camera man so he can record the many adventures of his favorite heroes.

Bob often sleeps with a teddy bear. It's also where he keeps his secret savings.

Darla Torrington

Voiced by Sandy Fox.

Bio

Darla is a 12-year-old girl who is friends with Bob Lyman from school. She is the youngest member of the Groovy Ghosties as the sound manager and researcher.

History

Darla is a friend of Bob from school. When Bob told them about the Ghosties, she joined them out of curiosity. Her main job is to handle the sounds (this including making sure every sound is recorded, including ghosts they might encounter on investigations).

Appearance

Darla is a 12-year-old girl with blonde hair and green. She wears a suit-like dress complete with tie, sweater vest, and and a grey skirt that reaches down her knees.

Personality

Like Sid, Darla is also a bit of a skeptic. However, she wouldn't mind trying something new. She is brave and understand.

Trivia

Even though she is younger than Bob, they are in the same grade. She was skipped ahead.

She is a fan of Dragon Kid.

She is Orlando Cooper's niece.

Marcia Fey

Voiced by Erin Fitzgerald.

Bio

Marcia is a NEXT with powers similar to magic. She can a lot of things. She is a student at the Hero Academy with Karl Storm Feather. She is in a same-sex relationship with Sarah Sands and is Bea Kelleman's best fiends. She is also a member of the Groovy Ghosties where she is the team's occult consultant.

History

Marcia's NEXT powers first awoke when she was about 3. She was watching a witch anime and became interested in what they did and did them herself. When her parents saw her levitating above her bed, they thought she was possessed by a demon. However, hey later found out that she was actually a NEXT who just came into her powers. For many years, she had to keep her powers secret by her parents. Later, she was accepted into the Hero Academy where she met Karl. They both had an interest in the occult. Later, Marcia met Sarah and they became a couple. Then, Karl invite them to join the Groovy Ghosties on their paranormal cases. They agreed. Marcia is the team's occult consultant and user. She provides magic where it is needed.

Appearance

Marcia is a 17-year-old lady with blonde hair with red and blue highlights and brown eyes. She wears the Academy's sweatsuit.

Personality

Marcia is described as a nice-but-tough girl who is willing to do the right thing. But don't get on her bad side, she will express herself the best way she can when it happens.

Trivia

Marcia is a mixture of Chie Satonaka from Persona 4 and Sana Chikage from Mind Zero.

The anime they Marcia was watching when her powers activated was Witch Craft Works.

Marcia's favorite heroes on Hero TV are Dragon Kid and Fire Emblem as they prove that anyone can be a hero.

She is not a big fan of scary things, but she joined the Groovy Ghosties in hopes of changing that.

Sarah Sands

Voiced by Cree Summer.

Bio

Sarah is Marcia Fey's girlfriend and a member of the Groovy Ghosties as the team's equipment manager and the team's secondary driver.

History

Sarah has always been a fan of heroes. One day, she and her mother were working the cafeteria of the Hero Academy when she met Marcia. The two fell in love and have been a couple ever since. Then, Karl invited them to join the Groovy Ghosties on their cases and they agreed. Sarah's job is equipment manager and drive's the team's van whenever Sid cannot.

Appearance

Sarah is a 17-year-old African American woman with short brown hair and grey eyes. She also wears a pair of red glasses. She also has a ring which was a gift from Marcia.

Personality

Sarah is nice, but a bit sassy. But, she is brave and is willing to do what needs to be done.

Trivia

Sarah is actually the one who came up with the name Groovy Ghosties based off some cartoon her mother used to watch. This implies that the Scooby-Doo cartoon exists in the Tiger & Bunny Universe.

Sarah is a fan of Dragon Kid and Fire Emblem since they prove that anyone can be a hero.

Sarah's mother is the head cafeteria worker at the Hero Academy.

Sarah's father who is a preacher actually knows Steven, his parent and Barnaby since the orphanage Steven and Barnaby volunteer at is owned by the church Reverend Sands preaches at.

Reverend Sands also helps the Groovy Ghosties either to bless a haunted place or object, or perform an exorcism if they're are dealing with something evil. He also performs a blessing in the Ghosties' artifact room.

The Groovy Ghosties (in general)

The Groovy Ghosties are a ghost hunting team who go around Sternbild City solving paranormal, supernatural, and occult cases. Karl started it out of an interest in the supernatural. Karl is the lead investigator, Bea is the tech specialist, Sid is the skeptic and driver, Steven is the PR officer, case finder, and spiritual and religious expert, Bob is the cameraman and expert, Darla is the sound manager and researcher, Marcia is the occult consultant, and Sarah is the equipment manager and secondary driver.

The Groovy Ghosties' man headquarters is an old warehouse where they meet up a few times a week. They also have an artifact room where they keep items they collected from some of their cases. In the words of Ed Warren, "Everything in this room is haunted, cursed, or have been used in some ritualistic practice. Nothing here is a toy. Not even the toy monkey." Due to the growing evil in that room, Sarah's father, who is a priest, come in to bless the room every week or so.

Tiger & Bunny Characters who will star in this story

Kotetsu T. Kaburagi/Wild Tiger

Barnaby Brooks Jr.

Keith Goodman/Sky High

Antonio Lopez/Rock Bison

Ivan Karelin/Origami Cyclone

Ryan Goldsmith/Golden Ryan

Agnes Joubert

Cain Morris

Mary Rose

Orlando Cooper

Mario

Alexander Lloyds

Ben Jackson

Saito

Yuri Petrov/Lunatic

Mr. Legend

Robin Baxter

Kaede Kaburagi

Muramasa Kaburagi

Plot

Our story begins with Karl Storm Feather who just got out of the bathroom after taking a shower when he saw his parents watching Hero TV. Wild Tiger and Barnaby had just captured another criminal. Then, Mario announces that another open submission will be open for a wish to be granted by them. Remember that the Groovy Ghosties will be having a live stream while investigating an abandoned orphanage which is believe to be haunted the ghost of it matron, Karl decides that this would be an opportunity to get more recognition for the team.

So, he goes to his computer and writes a letter:

Dear Apollon Media,

My name is Karl Storm Feather. I’m a student at the Hero Academy.

I’ve heard of this time you had to help some guy look after a cursed tea set. You know, me and my friends have been doing some investigating into the supernatural ourselves. We are a team of paranormal investigators known as the Groovy Ghosties.

I know it’s not something you guys would normally do, but we were hoping that maybe you could do something for our live stream. We are investigating the old orphanage which is just a little way from the orphanage that Barnaby Brooks Jr. lived. Our PR, Steven Burrow, said that it’s supposed to be haunted by the ghost of its matron, Reverend Mother Clarice Dellaway, after she died falling from the window. They say since she died, odd things happened. Some were so terrifying that they had to close it down. According to Steven, they’re thinking of reopening the place since the current orphanage is getting too full. They want to move there, but they’re afraid of the ghost and what she might do.

We would like to do it, but I think we might need a little more help with this case. So we’re hoping that you could come and help us with this. I know that we and the orphanage would be so happy. Meet us at our headquarters: Warehouse 13, Bronze Stage.

Please help us. Thank you.

-Karl Storm Feather, Lead Investigator of the Groovy Ghosties

Karl finished the letter and printed it. He put it in an envelope and was ready to send it. However, he remembered that at the Hero Academy, the other students made fun of him because of his love for the paranormal. This lead him to be scared that it would only embarrass him, the team, and even the heroes. So, he decides not to send it and goes home.

The next day at the Grocery Store, Darla Torrington comes in with Antonio Lopez. They notice Karl looking down. They asked what was wrong. He said that he could not bring himself to submit a wish to Wild Tiger and Barnaby about investigating the orphanage. Darla thinks it that is a shame. However, Antonio tells him that no matter how ridiculous his wish may sound, there is still a good chance it could be granted. Karl is still a bit unsure, but is willing to go on with the investigation. However, Darla decides to submit the wish for him through her uncle, Orlando Cooper, who is a cameraman for Hero TV. Antonio secretly decides to help as it it the least he can do for one of his favorite neighbors.

The next day at Apollon Media, Kotetsu Kaburagi, Barnaby Brooks Jr., and Agnes Joubert are looking though some submissions (most of which are for Barnaby). Then, Orlando and Antonio added one more submission to their pile. At first, Agnes did not think it would be worth their time, but Kotetsu said that because Antonio is his best friend, they should at least take a look. Barnaby also decides to take a look when Orlando said it came from his niece and her friends. They read the note. At first, Kotetsu was not sure, however, Barnaby assured him it would be fine, especially since this involves the orphanage that he grew up in and now helps in. Besides, Agnes said this would be a perfect way for Barnaby to make up for the cursed tea set. Barnaby groans saying that she is still not going to let that go. Antonio tells Orlando to tell Karl, Darla, and the others the good news.

Later that day, Kotetsu is at the train station when the train pulls up. Then, his daughter, Kaede, and his older brother, Muramasa, get off. Kotetsu is happy that his daughter will be spending two weeks with him. Kaede said that she only came in hopes that her won wish would be granted: To spend more time in Sternbild and with Barnaby. Later at a restaurant, Kotetsu, Kaede, and Muramasa are having dinner when Barnaby shows up. Kotetsu and Barnaby explain that they are going to investigate a haunted orphanage. Kaede, out of curiosity, wants to go, too. Kotetsu and Muramasa say that may be a bad idea saying that if she gets her, her grandmother would never forgive them. Kaede was disappointed.

At Bar Number 06, Antonio is hanging out with Keith Goodman and Ivan Karelin when Antonio tells them about what happened. Ivan wonders if it would be alright if he came as well, since he knows a thing or two about the occult. Antonio is not sure, but Keith said that he might convince Agnes as he is the King of Heroes. Antonio thinks that may work, but he wants him to convince her to let him come as well since Karl is a fan of Rock Bison.

Back at Apollon Media, Agnes, Orlando, Cain Morris, and Mari Rose are talking about the wish they were going to film. Alexander Lloyds, Ben Jackson, and Saito hear them. Lloyds reveals that one of his children watches the Ghosties' videos and that he would like to come as well, mainly to get a picture of the team and their autographs. Saito decides to come too. But this, being a man of science, is only out of skepticism whispering that there are no such things as ghosts. Ben, however, is a believer and would like to see this for himself. They agree to let them come.

At Justice Tower, Yuri Petrov was about to get ready to return home for the night when Lloyds called. He said that he will be joining Kotetsu and Barnaby to investigate a haunted house and to let the sponsors know that he may not come tomorrow, but will try to come the day after. Yuri agrees. After the call ends, the ghost of Yuri's father, Mr. Legend appears. Yuri asks if he's ever going to stop (appearing to him). Mr. Legend just smiles and asks if what he's doing (going around as Lunatic and killing criminals) is really justice to anyone. Yuri tries to block him out, but flashes of the day his powers first activated and killing his father keep rushing through his head. He looks into the mirror to see that he accidentally rubbed off the makeup that hides his scars. He looks to see his father is still smiling. Then, he looks back to his computer to see call history. Curious, he goes to his computer and goes to the Groovy Ghosties' website where he watches an episode of them investigating an abandoned diner that was used as a front for a cult to lure virgin women with a waitress job only to kidnap them and drag them down to the basement where they would sacrifice them to their dark masters. The cult was found out and arrested by Stealth Soldier (whose powers are finally revealed to be the ability to shroud an area in fog). Down in the basement, Karl finds the knife that was used in the rituals. He he then activates his powers and reveals a dark aura coming from it. Later in the episode, Karl, Marcia, and Steven take the knife and place it in the team's artifact room with Marcia reciting some kind of spell and Sarah's father, Steven, and Steven's parents reciting a prayer. Karl then turns to the camera and says, "The evil has been contained." When the episode ended, Yuri just stares for a moment. Then he looks up to see Mr. Legend not there. Yuri takes out his phone and texts Lloyds saying that he will be coming as well.

At Abbas Prison, everyone is on high alert saying that a prison has escaped. The warden is yelling at a guard who says that only loosened the restraints on his eye-covering mask because he kept complaining that he was sweating in the face, he didn't know he could just shake it off and end with the guard in the cell. In a public bathroom at a park, Robin Baxter comes out of a stall just after changing out of his prison uniform and into his roller suit. He casually glides out but quickly hides behind a bush as some kids come around. He hears them talking about rumor that Wild Tiger and Barnaby going to work with the Groovy Ghosties. Another kid wonders if they would get to see the team's artifact room saying that even though they have weird meaning, some of them are actually quite priceless and would be worth a king's ransom on the market if they weren't so creepy. This gives Robin an idea.

The next day, some cars were coming in carrying Wild Tiger, Barnaby, Kaede, Rock Bison, Sky High, Origami Cyclone, Agnes, Cain, Mary, Orlando, Lloyds, Ben, Saito, and Muramasa. (Yuri was behind them in his own car.) Kaede had managed to convince her father and uncle to let her come saying that if she didn't, she was going to complain to her grandmother, their mother. Barnaby said he doesn't mind since he gets along with Kaede and Agnes thought that the daughter of a hero and now a future hero would up the ratings. They arrive at the warehouse that's used as the headquarters by the Ghosties. Darla is outside waiting for them. She calls the rest of her team out and Karl screams in excitement that they actually came, especially Rock Bison.

Inside the warehouse, Karl, Bea, and Sid explain what they do and the things in the warehouse. Origami asks Karl why he wants to become a paranormal investigator when, as a NEXT, he must become a hero. Karl states that not all heroes go around wearing a costume and be on TV, some of them don't have have powers. Agnes thinks that's just ridiculous as only NEXT can be heroes. Origami also states that at the Hero Academy, the other students make fun of him and Marcia for what they do. Marcia says, "Let the naysayers say nay like the dumb horses they are. This is what we do and we love it... Except for Sid." Both Bison and Tiger commend Karl and Marcia for their faith. "And besides," said Barnaby. "Even ghosts need to be saved... Speaking from experience." Karl assumes that he's talking about the cursed tea set, but Barnaby blushes with his eyes on Tiger saying that it's something like that while Tiger is just confused. Agnes has everyone taking pictures while Yuri wonders off and finds the artifact room. He finds that one of the Ghosties accidentally left their key in the keyhole. At first, Yuri is tempted to unlock the door and go inside, but refrains himself from doing so. But then, he sees his father's ghost appear next to him. Reluctantly, Yuri finally gives in and unlocks the door and goes inside. Inside, Yuri looks at all the objects inside, including:

a pack of poker cards

a white satin evening gown

a pair of red shoes

an Asian music box

the melted remains of a candle

a wooden mask

and a golden locket.

Suddenly, Yuri happens upon the knife he saw from the video. Yuri gets closer for a better look. He was about to pick it up when someone grabs his arm and pulls it away. At first, Yuri saw it was his father, but it was quickly revealed that it was Karl who gabbed it and said, "Didn't your mother tell you to look with your eyes and not your hands?" Yuri also saw that Tiger, Barnaby, Bison, Agnes, Cain, Mary, Orlando, Lloyds, Saito, Bea, and Sid where in. Sky High, Origami, Kaede, Muramasa, Ben, Darla, Marcia, and Sarah were still out taking pictures. Outside the door, Steven was scolding Bob for leaving his copy of the key in the door where someone could unlock it and enter. Yuri says he saw the knife in the episode and Karl says he's happy to know a justice of the peace has taken in interest in what the Ghosties do. Tiger is a bit skeptical about the items in the room. Karl explains that everything in the artifact room is either haunted, cursed, or have been used in some ritualistic practice and reminds him not to touch anything. Each of the visitors take an interest in the listed items.

Lloyds is attracted to the cards.

Cain and Mary are attracted to the gown.

Agnes is attracted to the shoes.

Bison is attracted to the music box.

Tiger and Barnaby are attracted to the melted candle.

Saito is attracted to the mask.

Yuri is attracted to the knife.

You'll know about the locket soon.

Karl notices this and tells them about the items.

The cards belong to Jimmy "The Gambler" Gambino who made a bet on a boxing match and lost which lead to him to be killed by some gangsters he owed money to. Since then, the ghost of his cut-up remains haunted the cards, earning him the name "The Torso". The Ghosties found the cards while they were investigating the ruins of a glass mansion which was owned by Cyrus Kriticos. Sid's skeptical conclusion was that people were scared of the stories and made them imagine seeing a cut-up body and that Kriticos was a crazy old man.

The gown belonged to a young woman who died and was burred with it because she didn't want anyone else wearing it. However, it was taken by graverobbers who sold it to a shop here in Sternbild. That shop rented the gown to another young woman who need something to wear to his school's prom. That night, when she had it on at the dance, she felt sick and went home. The next morning, her mother found her dead. The mother could not bring herself to give the gown back to the shop out of fear that the ghost of the gown's original owner would kill someone like she killed her daughter and has been on a dummy in the attic for many years. When the Ghosties came to investigate it, the mother gave them the gown in hopes that it would give the mother peace of mind and keep others safe from the gown. Sid's skeptical conclusion is that the gown had some kind of bacteria that came from the woman's rotting corpse that when introduced to living flesh would cause some kind of lethal reaction.

The shoes belonged to in old lady who lived on the Silver Stage. The shoes have been in her family for years dating back to when they were living in Denmark. The shoes have a curse on it. When they are put on, they stick and never come off and force the wearer to dance whenever music is played. Sid's skeptical conclusion is similar to the gown, but the deadly bacteria caused something similar to the dancing plague of 1518.

The music box belonged to a Chinese woman named Lu Mei who lost her family to a plague. She made a pact with a demon known as a yaoguai which gave the box the power to grand seven wishes. However, the first six wishes come with a price: the lives of the owner's friends and family. Then, after the final wish, the yaoguai claims the owner's soul. Sid received box from his pen pal, Ryan, before his mysterious death. (Most likely from making his seventh wish.) Sid has yet to come up with a logical explanation.

The melted candle used to magic candle known as the Black Flame Candle, which was made from the fat of a hanged man. It is said that if a virgin lights it on the night of a full moon on Halloween Night, it can resurrect the dead for one that one Halloween Night. The last time this happened, a young teenage boy lit it and brought back a trio of sister witches who wanted to steal the lives of the children of Salem, Massachusetts. The Ghosties brought it back with them from a case they were doing in there. Sid's skeptical conclusion was that it was just a prank as he believed that the story of those witches were just that, a story.

The wooden mask was made by a woodcarver who crafted a it from a tree where a dark spirit was trapped a century earlier by a Cajun medicine man. The mask compelled the carver to kill his family and others in the village until a young woman kills him to stop the killings. Now the cursed mask is rumored to be buried at the woodcarver's grave. However, the mask was found by a camp counselor who donned it and was compelled to kill everyone at the camp. Eventually, the mask was recovered while the Ghosties were searching for ghosts there. Sid's skeptical conclusion was that the mask a natural hallucinogen that puts the wearer into a frenzied state.

Karl was just about to talk about the locket when Steven comes in to say that the orphanage called and that they are ready for them. Karl says he will tell them about it another time. They leave the room and Karl locks it. Steven comforts Bob for making a mistake and reminds him to be careful next. With that, they leave, but Steven leaves his own copy of the key behind on his desk behind a picture of the Holy Mother. Just after they leave, Robin Baxter come into the warehouse through a window. He spots the artifact room, but could not enter because it was locked and needs a real person inside to switch places with and he forgot his lockpick case. Then, he goes over to Karl's desk and tries access his computer. At the orphanage, one of the older nuns tell the Ghosties, the heroes, the crew, and the Kaburagis the story of Mother Clarice Delleway. As a side job, Mother Clarice was a birdkeeper who took care of birds who were sick or injured. But one day, one of the birds got out of its cage and onto a branch out side of her office window. Mother Clarice tried to get it, but the bird taking off surprised her and she lost her balance and fell out of the window to her death. Sometime after her funeral, odd things began to happen. Whispers could be heard at night, objects and furniture were found to have been moved, and rooms would start to get really cold. Then, an orphan girl who despised Mother Clarice started having nightmares about falling from her office window or being under Mother Clarice as she fell. This drove the girl mad as she tried to cut herself. The girl was sent to an asylum where she got better and was adopted. However, this started happening to some of the other orphans, all of which entered her office and disrespected her or her birds (even though they were taken away after her death) in it. The church could no longer take seeing the children suffer like this and decided to close the orphanages. It has been standing empty to this very day.

Barnaby asks how come he never heard the story while he was growing up in the current orphanage. The nun said it was because Barnaby was too young to hear the story without getting scared and the subject was never brought up again until now when the current orphanage was starting to get too crowded. The old orphanage has more room for more children. They were hoping that the money collected by the church, they could fix up the building, but they cannot until they are sure that it would be alright with a mysterious presence there. But then, Steven, who was doing volunteer work at the time, heard about this and told the nuns about the Groovy Ghosties. After thinking about it, they decide to give them a try. The heroes agree to help as well, particularly Barnaby.

Later on at the abandoned orphanage as it starts to get dark, the team (except for Bea and Sarah), the heroes, and the crew (except for Agnes, Cain, and Mary) get ready. Kaede had to stay behind with Muramasa, Yuri, and Saito. Saito, Cain, and Mary, were in the van with Bea and Sarah to monitor the ones going into the orphanage. Inside the orphanage, the remaining team, the heroes, and the remaining crew looks around in the old building. Then, they divide into teams:

Karl with Wild Tiger, Barnaby, and Rock Bison.

Sid and Steven with Lloyds.

Bob and Darla with Orlando.

Marcia with Sky High and Origami Cyclone.

With Karl, Tiger, Barnaby, and Bison, they investigate Mother Clarice's old office. Karl activates his powers and tries to sense any aura. He says there is some faint residual energies coming from a certain part of the office. Barnaby says that the nuns told him that that spot was where the cage that held the birth that escaped used to be before she died. Karl senses that that energy that was given off from the cage is still in the orphanage meaning that the cage might still be there. Karl radios the others.

With Sid, Steven, and Lloyds who are investigating one of the rooms get the message. As they investigate the room they found that the church was originally going to turn this room into a home theater for the children to watch movies when they are unable to go to the city to watch them. But due to the strange happenings and the orphanage closing down, it never happened. Steven says they should hope that after they have given the orphanage and the church peace of mind, they will continue with that plan. Sid, however, believes that the theater was the real reason why they closed down the orphanage because the theatre would cost so much money that they didn't have. So they made up the supposed haunting to get out of paying. Steven disagrees but should be open-minded. Lloyds wonders about doing the same the next time someone like Wild Tiger shows up in his office. Though, chances are it would turn out the same.

With Bob, Darla, and Orlando, they are investigating one of the classrooms. Darla's tablet starts to pick up some odd sounds. She plays it back to hear what sounds like heavy breathing. At first, Bob thinks that Darla was breathing too heavily near the tablet, but then remembers that she was sticking it out that it couldn't pick it up. Orlando then spots something on the camera. He says that it looked like some faded transparent image passing out of the blackboard, but quickly vanishes. Bob takes a look and confirms it to be a semi-apparent specter.

With Marcia, Sky High, and Origami Cyclone, they inspect the dorms. Marcia casts a spell to track movements other than hers, Sky High's, or Origami's. Origami is interested in Marcia's powers saying that it's rare to see a Magic-Type NEXT. Marcia explains that you never know what kind of NEXT will appear. Sky High agrees and says that Marcia will make a great hero. Marcia says she still has a lot to think about that as there are some things about hero works that might scare her a bit. Origami says she know how she feels and that he would get scared sometimes, but he remembers that fears has a way of being made work for (you) than the criminals. Then, he takes out some ofuda (Japanese paper talismans) saying that he too has a way cast spells and begins placing them around.

Outside, Muramasa, who had left, returns with some pizza and coffee. Muramasa asks if they really believe in all this supernatural stuff. Sarah asks if he is a religious person. Muramasa says that whenever his brother goes off doing what heroes do best, he, their mother, and his niece pray for his safety. Sarah says that's good. Mary and Yuri reveal that they are Jewish, Cain is a Christian, and Agnes and Saito are Atheists. Bea said that there are times when even the Warrens have trouble with keeping the faith, but they keep at it. Bea asks Kaede why she wanted to come along. She says that apart from wanting to spend more time with her father and Barnaby, some of her friends have actually watched the Ghosties' webisodes and was a bit curious. Bea says that curiosity killed that cat, but it makes the person a bit more knowing.

Karl, Tiger, Barnaby, and Bison meet up with Bob, Darla, and Orlando in front of the door that leads up to the attic. Karl says that the aura is strongest up there and Bob says that the wispy figure reappears and was headed this way. They go up to the attic where Bison says that his infrared thermometer's number just went down. Karl says they most likely found a cold spot which is known to be caused by the presence of ghosts. They search the place until Barnaby finds something under a tarp. It was a bird cage. Karl uses his powers to reveal that there is a strong aura around the cage. Bob takes a picture and sends it back to the crew outside. Bea and Agnes says that one of the older nuns showed them pictures of Mother Clarice and her office. They find that bird cage is the same cage that the injured bird escaped from. Karl tries to pick up the cage, but another aura swats his hands away. Then, Darla picks up a sound. She plays it back and it sounds like a voice saying "No". Karl suspects that it is Mother Clarice. He asks her if she is there. He then uses his powers to reveal a blueish aura which Karl believes might be her. Darla tries to record the sound, but nothing comes up. Karl assures Mother Clarice that they come in peace and wish to know why she is here. Darla records the sounds and picks something up: "Away". Karl asks if she is talking about the bird that flew away. Tiger asks Barnaby if he asked what became of the bird. Barnaby did ask the nuns that, but they said they are unsure, although, one of the children found the scattered remains of a bird, most likely the bird that got away met its end by a cat or a fox. Suddenly, the room got even colder. Karl suspects that Mother Clarice is upset about what became of the bird. Karl then tries to assure her that even though that bird probably did not make it, her other birds were cared for, the nuns told them that after her death, they birds were sent to a zoo to be well taken care of and that she did a great job taking care of them. The aura responded as if trying to say yes. Barnaby then says that the current orphanage needs a new place to stay since it is getting full and that they want to use this one, but they can't unless they're sure it is safe. Bison then asks if it is alright if they could move to the old orphanage since it has more room. The aura then responds again. Darla even records the sound and plays it back to say "Stay." Tiger, who was getting a little shaky at this point says, "We'll take that as a yes." Karl then asks if they could bring the bird cage with them since her task is done. The aura responds again. However, Karl says it felt more like a no. Karl then says that if Mother Clarice wishes to stay, she must obey that rules of the living and not scare or harm anyone, especially the children. The aura then responds as if to say yes. Then, Darla records something that sounds like "Respect." Barnaby says that the nuns and the children will respect her memory as long as she means them no harm. The aura responds like saying yes again. Then, Karl calls Steven and Marcia to come.

Later, Steven, Marcia, and the rest of their teams arrive. Karl asks Steven to perform a blessing. Marcia was to use her powers with Karl in case something goes wrong and the spirit fights back. Origami says that he will also contribute with his ofuda. He then places the paper talismans on each wall of the attic as Steven begins to pray. The room shakes a bit. Karl tries to assure Mother Clarice that they just want to make sure that she will keep her promise. The shaking dies down a bit. Finally, Steven finishes his prayer saying that the spirit is at peace. Though she is not ready to ascend to the heavens, she assures them that none will have to fear her. Karl says it is time to call it a night and to review what they have found and share what they've learned with the orphanage. So, they regroup outside and leave.

Back at the warehouse, Robin had finally managed to access Karl's computer (the password was Bison which Robin thinks is not very clever). Robin then access the files of previous episodes, cases (on and off the record), and even a few videos. Robin opens one of the videos to see a recording of Ed and Larraine Warren performing an exorcism on a possessed man. Robin thinks that the Ghosties are sick and obsessed. Then, he access another video file about a haunted house on the Bronze Stage. It showed pictures of Karl, Marcia, Marcia's father, and Steven performing an exorcism in front of the house. Then, Robin finds a catalog files of everything in the team's artifact room. He reads them until he find the entry on the gold locket.

The locket is haunted by a banshee, a female Irish spirit whose wails can predict the death of another and can drive even the most virtuous of men to the brink of insanity. The story goes that the locket was a gift from an Irish nobleman to his wife for her birthday. Then, one day, the nobleman said he had to go out to sea to check on one of his farms the next day. That night, they heard a loud wailing that almost shook their entire estate. The looked out to see a woman in a black dress and her face was covered by a black vail. When they went out to see who she was, she vanished. The next day, the nobleman left. But then, a violet storm hit and the ship was lost. Sometime later, the ship was found, but the crew and the nobleman had all drowned. The nobleman's wife was in total grief as the banshee's wailing kept sounding at night. Finally driven mad with grief and the wailing, the wife hung herself in their room. After her death, the servant ransacked the entire estate taking everything: The money, the gold, the jewels, and even the locket. A few nights after taking the locket, the servant who took it started to hear the banshee's wailing. A few days later, the servant died of a heart attack. The locket ended up in the hands of the servants daughter who wore it to her wedding. On her wedding night, she and her new husband heard the banshee's wailing. The next day, the husband, who was riding his horse at the time, lost control of it and they both road off a cliff to their deaths. The wife feared it had something to do with the locket. She put it in a box and berried it near the estate in hopes that the banshee would leave her be. Many years later, someone dug up the locket and sold it to a shop in Kinsale. Sometime later, the locket was bought by Mrs. Cooper, Orlando's mother and Darla's grandmother. She wore it to a party that was thrown by her friend. Then, Mrs. Cooper heard a faint wailing and looked over to see a woman in a black dress and a dark veil standing near her friend. At first, she thought it was just another one of her friend's friends who was probably waring those clothes out of mourning, but less than a minute later, she vanished. The next morning, Mrs. Cooper got word that her friend had been killed by a burglar sometime after the party while the friend was in bed. Over the next two years, similar occurrences happened. Mrs. Cooper finally decided she needed answers. Fortunately, she learned that Darla and her friends are paranormal investigators and contacted them. So, Darla, the other Groovy Ghosties, and even Orlando, came to Kinsale, Ireland. They investigated the locket and it was definitely haunted. Since they could not do much about it, they decided to take the locket back to Sternbild to be locked in their artifact room.

Robin seemed to have taken a great interest in the locket. However, he is still unable to get inside the artifact room. He searches the desks until he arrives at Steven's. He looks at the picture of the Holy Mother and tells her not to judge him. He turns down the picture to find Steven's copy of the key sitting behind it. He picks it up with a smile saying, "Amen." He takes the key and unlocks the door. He goes into the artifact room and looks around until he finally comes upon the locket. At first, Robin was a bit hesitant because of what he read, but shrugs it off as just a silly ghost story and says, "I already lost my marbles the day I decided to become a thief." So, he takes the locket in its box. But for extra cash, he also takes the pack of cards, the white gown, the red shoes, the music box, the melted candle (for some reason), and the knife.

Just after he put the items into his bag, he leaves the room only to run into the team, the heroes, and the crew who just returned from their case. The heroes try to catch him, but Robin just uses his powers to switch places with them to escape. Barnaby says that they have blind Robin first as his power require him to see that person while he is switching places with them.

Outside, Robin stops someplace to take another look at his loot. When he does, he gets a feeling that they are shaking for some reason. Suddenly, a mist comes in. It turns out Marcia was casting a spell. Origami shapeshifts into a ghost to try and scare Robin into dropping the bag. But just as he was about to sneak up to him, Tiger's phone rings. Robin hears this and realizes he is being tricked and flees. Agnes yells at Tiger for leaving the ringer on. Tiger apologizes and answer his phone to find it was a wrong number. The heroes go after Robin again. He manages to allude them until he was caught between Karl and Marcia who both activate their powers with Karl trying to tie him up and blind him with his aura and Marcia ready to cast a knock-out spell. However, Robin manages to see Karl well enough. They two were now charging at Robin, but he activates his powers ready to switch places with Karl. But as he was doing this, all the items in the bags also glow, but not blue like Robin, but a dark purplish color. Then, Robin trades places with Karl and Marcia nearly hits him. They look to see Robin had escaped them. But just as he was about to leave and the heroes and crew arrive when the bag begins to shake violently and explode. When the smoke cleared, they saw that the items in the bag have disappeared except for the locket. They heroes make a go for Robin, but he grabs the locket and switches places with a nearby workman. Robin escapes.

Later back at the warehouse, Steven checks the artifact room and to see if anything else had been taken. Karl also sees that Robin has accessed his computer. Kaede asks why the exorcism video was only of pictures and sounds. Karl says it would make the episode way too scary if they showed actual footage of an exorcism and to respect the victims and their families, they don't have reveal their identities. Karl finds the catalog and identifies what was stolen. Kotetsu asks what just happened with the bag exploding. Karl says that all NEXT have unique aura that become more active when their powers are activated. They discovered that when these powers are activated near the items in the artifact room, it causes some kind of reaction, as if the NEXT's powers were waking the items up. And last Karl and Marcia noticed, three NEXTs activated their powers around them. With that, the haunted, cursed, and ritual items are now fully awake. Karl says they need to find those items before they end up with people who will be endangered by their dark powers. Kotetsu and Barnaby say that they will do whatever they can to find them.

Meanwhile, on a roof somewhere, Robin is look down at the city when he looks at the locket his put around his neck. He is a bit disappointed that this was the only thing he could recover, though it would still fetch a price. However, Robin starts to get curious about what was inside. He tries to open the locket, but to no avail, almost as if it were welded shut. Robin just stares at the locket when he suddenly hears wailing sound. He looks up to the building across him and sees a woman wearing a black dress and a dark veil. Robin was a bit scared an looked away for only a second. He looks back to see she was gone. Robin's face beings to look grim with fear as the sound of the music box can be heard along with the sound of women cackling.

To be continued...

Story Trivia

Most of the items listed above along with the backstories come from different stories and movies.

Jimmy "The Gambler" Gambino, also known as "The Torso", is from 13 Ghosts.

The white satin gown is from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz.

The red shoes come from the story of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson.

The music box is from Wish Upon.

The Black Flame Candle is from Hocus Pocus.

The mask is from You Might Be The Killer.

Sorry if I'm ending the post here. I was afraid that it was getting too long and I already have a lot of things to do. I might continue this, I don't know if it will be before or after the anniversary, but I'll see what I can do. Thanks and thanks again all for taking the time to read this.

Let's believe HEROES

[anari3l]

stirrings

WORDS: 2249 /// PAIRING: Arthur Morgan x Reader (Harlow as surname) /// Part of ongoing fic, Humors of Whiskey /// also posted on AO3

Humors of Whiskey [1] [2] [3] /// Wildflowers [1] [2]  

“Barnaby.” 

The dappled grey Norfolk Roadster whickered, bobbing his head up and down as you said the name, a large smile on your face. 

“Barnaby.” Arthur’s voice held a hint of amusement, almost a laugh, as he repeated the name. The stablehand smiled brightly, leading the horse towards the center of the stable.

“I like it,” you hummed, taking the reins from the stable hand and leading your brand new horse out to the sunny Valentine street. “Doesn’t he look like a Barnaby?”

“If y’say so,” Arthur hummed, cigarette between his lips. 

“Take care now!” the stablehand bidded as you left the building.

The Norfolk had put you back almost $200. Plus a brand new saddle, blanket, tack, and saddlebags.  You had lost the saddle, and all the gear as well when you left Eugene, nursing a dislocated shoulder on the back of Arthur’s horse, and since then, had been borrowing horses from the camp or riding with Arthur into town when needed. You missed the freedom of having your own horse, however. Since you had turned sixteen, you had always had your own horse to care for. 

“Thank you, Arthur,” you started, petting your hand along Barnaby’s neck. 

“Quit thankin’ me. I ain’t done nothin’.”

You smiled, running your hand over Barnaby’s neck some more, fingers toying with his long mane. “You helped me, patched me up when I hurt my shoulder, took care of Eugene … brought me into town, so I could buy a horse. You’ve helped plenty.”

“Agh, that ain’t worth thankin’ me for,” he groaned, running a hand up into his hair as he removed his hat. 

You sighed, pulling yourself into your saddle, adjusting the skirt you wore as you settled, reins in hand. “When are you gonna realize you’re a good man, Arthur. I mean, even as kids you always kicked yourself.”

“Maybe one day.”

He looked away, down to his hands holding the reins as Calliope shifted beneath him, hoofing at the dirt. You could see the self deprecation oozing off his shoulders as he sat in the saddle.

“One day, I’ll make you realize it,” you groaned, kicking Barnaby into a trot. “I’ll meet ya back at camp.”

***

“Miss Harlow!”

You jumped, shifting to lean against your arm as you looked over your shoulder. You had been quietly reading a book against a tree, Jack sitting beside you making flower chains. Miss Grimshaw was striding forward, the stern look of your mother figure ever recognizable. She rarely used your name; you had grown used to her calling you dear or dearie, and the mere sound of it always had you at attention. 

“Yes, Miss Grimshaw?”

The stern gaze lessened, her features softening as she neared, looking down to you with a small smile. “Dutch wants to speak with you, dear,” she smiled, running a hand over Jack’s hair as he held a flower chain up to her.

“Thank you, Mister Marston,” she smiled, bending at the waist to accept the gift. 

“Miss Harlow’s got one too!” Jack smiled. “And I made one for momma!”

“Go on, then,” you smiled, urging the child in the direction of camp. “Your momma’s gonna love it.”

You rose to your feet, watching Jack run off to Abigail as Miss Grimshaw tutted. “Off with you, now,” she urged. 

You smiled, and headed for Dutch’s tent. Arthur, Bill, and Charles were sitting around outside, listening as Dutch spoke, cigar in hand. 

“Mornin’ boys,” you smiled, folding the book into your hands as you stepped up. 

“Ah, our little doe, Miss Harlow,” Dutch smiled. “The mastermind for this robbery!”

“You found this out?” Bill asked a bit incredulously. You had grown used to the men viewing you as nothing more than a wash maid over the years. Dutch knew better. You may have worn a skirt, but you were just as valuable as an enforcer and scout as Arthur and Charles. 

“Yes I did,” you hummed, jutting your chin up. “Ready to head out?”

“You would be correct, dear,” Dutch smiled. “Good luck. I trust you can handle these men.”

Charles and Arthur smirked as they stood, starting for their horses. You met Bill’s eyes, smiling as you stepped past, setting your book on the camp table. “Of course I can, Dutch!” you smiled back to the gang leader. “Keep up, Williamson!” 

Arthur helped you onto his horse, settling you behind him on the saddle. “So, how do you want to play this?” 

You glanced over to Charles and Bill. “The man who gave me the information said it’d be guarded pretty well,” you started. “I’ll play the damsel, get them to stop, and you three take out the guards.”

“How much is supposed to be on this coach?” Bill asked over his shoulder.

 “It’s payroll for some shipping company in Saint Denis,” you answered. “Driving through the Heartlands to Lemoyne. From the sounds of it: a lot. Should be able to catch it just over the state line.”

“When the shootin’ starts --” Arthur started.

“Run for cover. I know,” you interjected with a scoff. “This ain’t my first robbery, Arthur.”

You felt him chuckle, your hands placed on his sides to steady you in the saddle. “No, it ain’t.” 

The hill you stopped on overlooked a main road, the Lemoyne state sign off to your left. You dropped from Arthur’s horse, stepping up to the ridge as you looked up the road. “Alright, boys, they’re comin’ through,” you hummed, turning and smiling to the men. “Wish me luck!” 

***

“I got a girl in Berryville! Can’t be screwed cuz she’s too damn ill! I don’t go down there no more. There’s a blue horse laying outside her door!” 

You smiled brightly, leaning into Karen’s side as the two of you sat on the log in front of the fire, both of you leaning heavily against the other, a bottle of whiskey being passed between the two of you. Your voices were loud enough to be heard throughout camp, but somehow, even in the drunken haze the two of you had fallen into, the others hadn’t told you to shut the hell up. Yet.

You and the boys had returned that afternoon after robbing the payroll stage, pockets full and a smile gracing Bill Williamson’s face as he admitted you did a good job. 

It was Karen’s bright idea to drink and have fun. It had been a while, and you agreed it had to help lift the camp’s spirits somewhat, especially when Trelawney’s information about Sean being moved by bounty hunters had entered the camp gossip stream earlier that day. 

“No, no!” you laughed, waving a hand in front of your face as you screwed up the line, laughing raucously with Karen. “I got a girl in Berryville!”

“Can’t get it in cuz she won’t stay still!” Karen finished before taking another deep swig of whiskey.

Arthur sighed, leaning on his elbows at the wooden table. The poker game had dissolved almost an hour ago, cards and chips stowed away. Dutch’s tent had been closed, but the lamp was still lit, and those still awake lazed around the fires, watching the stars. “Shut them up, please,” John sighed as he landed in the seat beside Arthur. 

“Give it a try,” Arthur smirked, turning from watching your duet with Karen. “You and I both know that bottle will be thrown at our heads.”

“It’s one in the mornin’,” John groaned, leaning against the table. 

Arthur groaned, pushing from the table with an agreeing nod. “Alright, alright,” he waved Marston off as he stood. 

You were practically laying against Karen’s shoulder, watching the dying fire as you sang mismatched verses of O, Mollie. 

“They say I drink whiskey, my money’s my own! And them that don’t like me can leave me alone … ” You laughed, hiccupping into your hand as Karen hummed along.

“Alright, ladies,” Arthur’s voice startled you as he stepped up, reaching for the bottle of whiskey in your hand. “It’s gettin’ real late.”

“I’ll eat when I’m hungry,” you carried on, a large smile on your face, hand tightening on the bottle of whiskey as he tried to take it away. “I’ll drink when I’m dry! And when I get thirsty ... “ you trailed off, watching as Arthur successfully pried the bottle from your hand and dropped it to the ground. “I’ll … I … forgot the words ...”

Arthur laughed, ducking his head with a small shake of disbelief as he watched you look around your seat for something your drunken brain made up. Karen hiccupped beside you, pushing to her feet. “Goodnight, Mister Morgan!” she smiled, voice much louder than normal, as she leaned into his side and bopped her finger to his nose. “Goodnight!” 

Arthur caught her around the waist as she stepped by, guiding her until she started to walk towards her tent. “Alright, come on,” he started, reaching down for your arm. 

You stumbled as you got to your feet, leaning against his chest with a hand laid over his suspender strap. “I think … I’m drunk,” you laughed, pushing off of Arthur as you tried to step away. 

Arthur’s arm wrapped around you. “Again,” he sighed, shaking his head. “Ain’t ever gon’ be surprised when the two of ya are together. Drinkin’ the camp dry.”

You laughed, turning to face him as he neared, wrapping his arm around your middle. “You should join us sometime, Arthur!” you started, jabbing your index finger into his chest to punctuate your words. “Have some fun! Stop fretting over robberies … and Dutch’s words … and us girls.”

“I don’t fret,” Arthur argued. “But you are sloshed, sweetheart. Time for bed.”

You pouted, stumbling as you stepped away from Arthur. “Rrriiiigggghhhttt,” you droned, waving a hand in the air as you walked. “Frettin’ over me … runnin’ after Mary … helpin’ raise Jack … always frettin’.”

Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as he watched you. Stumbling forward, hand landing against the bark of the large oak tree, you bent over at the waist, vomiting up your stomach contents into the dirt. 

“Alright, that’s it,” he sighed, stepping up and pulling your hair out of the way. “Ya need t’ sleep. And eat. Come on.”

“See,” you started, wiping your chin on your sleeve. “You’re frettin’ again.”

“Sure.”

He guided you to your tent, making you sit down on the edge of your cot before standing and producing a chunk of bread from his satchel, wrapped in an embroidered handkerchief. “Eat.” He didn’t order, but even in your drunken haze, you could hear the sternness in his tone; the caring nature that was Arthur Morgan. “You’re gonna have a hell of a headache in the mornin’.”

You picked at the bread, chewing on it slowly as you sat on your cot, head already pounding. “I … heard ya saw her … Mary … in town.”

Arthur nodded, standing at the opening of your tent. “Yeah, I did,” he answered. “And her brother, Jamie.”

“She was always nice,” you hummed, tossing the half eaten chunk of bread onto the small wooden crate acting as a table and reaching for your small pillow. 

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Get some sleep,” he added after a moment, pulling the blanket over your shoulder as you slumped onto your pillow, snores almost immediately filling the silence of the tent. 

***

“Son of a bitch,” you groaned, leaning bodily against the support pole of your tent. 

Arthur glanced up from his spot by the cookfire, bending at his waist to pour himself a cup of coffee. You stood against your tent, hand placed over your eyes as the morning sunlight hit you. Your hair and clothing was disheveled from a drunken sleep, and the pounding in your head was worse than Uncle’s snoring. 

“Mornin’, sleepin’ beauty,” Arthur smiled, stepping up and holding out his coffee to you. 

“Shut up, Arthur,” you groaned, taking the cup. 

“Strauss should have some tonic for that headache o’ yours. Or I could go see if Pearson’s got any fresh offal for ya …”

At your visible retch, Arthur chuckled and trailed off. You covered your mouth, wiping the coffee from your lip with the back of your hand before looking up to glare at the man in front of you. 

“You’re mean.”

He shrugged, taking the now empty cup from you. “Could say I’m frettin’ over ya ‘cause you drank Uncle under the table last night.”

You groaned, shoving the heels of your hands into your eyes. “Shut up, Arthur.”

He chuckled heartily, relaxing back as he hooked his thumbs into his belt. “I’m sure it’ll happen again,” he smirked, nodding to the main campfire where Karen sat with Javier and John. “We’re headin’ out to find Sean.”

You managed to chuckle, squinting up at him in the morning sun. “He’ll have the entire camp drunk if you bring him back.”

“Almost a guarantee,” Arthur smirked. 

You stepped past him, patting a hand against his shoulder. “You’re frettin’ over us all again,” you mumbled as you stepped past him. 

“Only you,” he countered. “Better eat something for that hangover.”

“I know,” you groaned. “I’ve been drunk before.”

“It ain’t a camp secret, sweetheart.”

You looked up to him, a small smile lighting your face. “You’re mean,” you repeated, with a small chuckle. “But you’re … right. I guess. Go get Sean back, Mister Morgan. Fret over someone else for a bit.”

“Will do,” he smiled. 

[alice-beaumont-ravenclaw]

A Wonderful Surprise

A/N #1: This is fic #2 of the Brazil series. It was inpired by the ! prompt of the 30 days OTP alphabet challenge as well as Prompt #2 of Fictober 2020 by @hphm-fictober​ . You can find Alice’s outfit HERE, and the suggested music HERE. (Here are Part 1 & Part 2 of the first fic of the series.)

“Alanza told me she would join us here.”

Alice and her friends were standing near the bronze statue of Floriano Peixoto, the second Brazilian president, in the neighbourhood known as Cinelândia. They were surrounded by buildings built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, which gave the area a certain European cachet with their columns, symmetry, and highly decorative façades. 

“Are you sure about the time?” asked Diego.

“Noon seems like an odd time to meet up,” said Penny, who was wearing a large sunhat.

“That’s what she told me. She said she knew of this place where we could eat lunch close to here, and that it would be simpler to visit the area after,” explained Alice, fanning herself with her map of Rio.

“Olá!” they heard from behind them.

“Alanza!” they exclaimed, running to her.

“How are you? I hope you didn’t wait too long,” she said beaming.

“No, not at all,” said Barnaby, blushing.

“Long enough for us to overheat,” mumbled Tonks and Tulip.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! Come, come. Let’s go and eat. I know this boteco that’s been around since 1921.”

“What kind of food do they serve?” asked Alice.

“Various stuff. You can get pizza, fish, churrasco, feijoada…”

“What are the last two things?” asked Penny.

“Well, churrasco is basically meat barbecued on skewers, while feijoada has black beans, some pork or beef product, and at least two types of smoked sausage and jerked beef,” explained Alanza.

“Black beans, you say?” said Alice. “Well, as I do not want to spend the afternoon passing wind, and that I don’t want to eat something too heavy, I think I’ll stick to pizza.”

“The meat on skewers sounds great,” said Barnaby as they sat at a table under the yellow awning. 

After a hearty meal, they headed to the Theatro Municipal, a theatre that borrowed from the Parisian Opéra Garnier’s architectural style. The roof was a vibrant shade of turquoise, and the central dome was adorned with a majestic golden eagle.

“Can we go inside?” asked Andre, using his hand to shade his eyes from the sun.

“Unfortunately, no. We can only go in to see a performance or if we are part of a tour, which were all full when I checked,” replied Alanza.

“Too bad. It looks really nice from the outside, would have loved to see the inside,” said Alice.

“Oh, I doubt it compares to the Paris Opera,” said Alanza. 

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been inside the Opéra Garnier.”

“What? But don’t you have family in Paris?” asked Tulip.

“I do, but it’s not like the law mandates us to go inside the Opera every time we’re in town. I walked past it when I’ve been to the Galeries as a kid, but until last summer, I hadn’t been to Paris after Jacob’s disappearance.”

“I wonder if this one has a ghost, like the one in Paris,” said Penny.

“A ghost?” asked Barnaby and Charlie as they started to walk past the theatre.

“A phantom, actually. This French author wrote a story at the beginning of the century about a Phantom haunting the Opéra. It turns out that the Phantom is a deformed man named Erik. An excellent musical was made based on this story. I honestly could listen to the soundtrack over and over again,” said Alice, softly sighing.

“So, where are we heading next?” asked Tonks as they strolled through Largo da Carioca.

“Igreja São Francisco de Penitência. It’s a church. The interior is really impressive,” said Alanza.

“Where is it?” asked Diego.

“Right there,” replied Alanza, pointing to a building up a small hill.

“Doesn’t look super impressive from the outside,” said Andre.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover, Andre,” said Alice, nudging her friend on the shoulder.

“Oh, sweetheart, everyone judges books by their cover. Why do you think I put so much importance in my outfits, as well as yours?”

“Believe me, the exterior doesn’t do justice to the interior,” said their Carioca friend as they made their way up the stairs to reach the church.

When they finally made it inside the church, they were greeted by exquisite gilded carvings on the walls and altars, as well as magnificent paintings on the ceiling depicting the glorification of Saint Francis in a Baroque illusionist style.

“Wow,” simply said Andre, his mouth ajar.

“So much gold,” said Tulip.

“Good thing we didn’t bring Jae. He’d be salivating,” said Tonks.

“He’d probably try to take something to sell it,” said Penny as she removed her hat.

“Come on. He’s not that bad,” said Alice as she looked at the ceiling.

“Are you so sure of that?” asked Charlie, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at Alice.

“Well… Ok, maybe not, but he mostly deals in magical contraband, so I don’t think he would see anything here worth selling,” admitted Alice.

“I wouldn’t put it past him to still try and make a quick buck from something here,” whispered Diego.

“Is it common for Muggle churches to be covered in gold?” asked Barnaby.

“Can’t say I’ve ever seen a Catholic church with so much gold. Russian Orthodox churches have their fair share, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this amount of gold in a church,” said Alice, looking around. 

“How do you know so much about churches?” asked Diego.

“I’ve seen some when I travelled with my parents when I was a kid. Even if you aren’t religious, churches can be of cultural interest, as artists were often commissioned to paint and decorate them to show how grand and powerful the Church was,” explained Alice.

“And if you didn’t already know, Alice is in Ravenclaw,” said Tonks, Alice sticking out her tongue at her.

“Hey, where did Charlie go?” asked Andre.

“He’s right…” started saying Alice as she looked beside her, only to see no one was standing there. She turned on herself trying to spot her boyfriend, to no avail.

“Hum, I think he went outside,” said Diego. “He found it stuffy in here.”

“Why didn’t he tell me? I should go with him,” said Alice. 

Before she could turn around, Diego wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her further inside the church. “Come on; I’m sure he wouldn’t want you to miss all the art in here.”

Alice gave Diego a suspicious look, furrowing her brows, before glancing behind her. She figured that if Charlie had wanted her to be with him, he would have told her. She shook Diego’s arms off of her shoulders and joined the girls at the altar, where Tulip was busy imagining Dennis getting married to the love of his life. Once they were done visiting the church, they went back outside, where Charlie was waiting for them in the shade.

“Are you ok?” asked Alice as she ran up to him.

“What do you mean?”

“Diego told us you went out because you felt it was stuffy in the church…”

“Oh! Yeah, I just needed some air, but I’m perfectly fine now.”

“Glad to hear you’re feeling better, mate,” said Andre as they made their way down the stairs.

“Ok, next up is a sweet treat: pastéis de nata. And it will give us the chance to relax a bit and step away from the heat,” said Alanza.

“Hum, actually, you guys can go ahead. We’ll join you later. There’s something I want to show Alice,” said Charlie, taking Alice’s hand.

She looked up at him, her cheeks turning pink.

“Ok, you two have fun!” said Diego as he guided the rest of the group away from the couple.

“We’ll be at the Confeitaria Colombo!” shouted Alanza as Alice and Charlie walked away.

They left the street they were on, taking a narrow road to lead them to the larger Rua Sete de Setembro.

“Where are you taking me?” asked Alice as she let Charlie lead the way.

“You’ll see,” simply replied Charlie.

“Is it what you and Diego were talking about yesterday?” asked Alice.

Charlie stopped in his tracks and looked at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Diego was looking for you yesterday before lunch, and he went straight to talk to you when I told him where you were. Also, you two looked like you were cooking up some plan last night at dinner,” said Alice as they started walking again.

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” replied Charlie, avoiding Alice’s gaze.

“Ah! I knew it! You were planning something with Diego!” said Alice as they turned into a small deserted street next to an old theatre. “Seriously, where are you taking me?” she said, looking worriedly around.

They crossed a plaza and stopped in front of a building built in limestone that looked like a church. Four statues were on the façade: one on each side of the building, and the other two were on each side of the door. Before she had time to read what was written at the top of the building, Charlie took both of her hands and made her look at him. 

“Close your eyes,” he said, smiling.

Alice looked at him, skeptically.

“Please,” he pleaded.

She furrowed her brows, smiling lightly as she closed her eyes after removing her sunglasses. He waved a hand in front of her closed eyes to make sure she wasn’t looking. He gently took her hand and guided her inside the building.

“You can open your eyes now,” said Charlie as he stood behind her.

Alice opened her eyes and what she saw rendered her speechless. Three floors of walls covered in books. A magnificent chandelier dangled from the ceiling, which also had a skylight in iron structure. The intricate details of the wooden frame of the library’s galleries were sublime. Alice felt like she was in a dream. Sure, Hogwarts’ library was big, but it was dark, a little gloomy, and unwelcoming; Madam Pince having a lot to do with that last impression. This library was luminous. The blue walls contrasting with the wood’s darkness and the touches of gold on the wood contributed to Alice’s warm feeling as she stood in this great library.

“Oh, Charlie,” whispered Alice, turning around, the skirt of her dress twirling as she did so. 

“You like it?” asked Charlie as Alice wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Like it? I love it!” she said before kissing him on the lips, her straw hat falling backward.

Charlie placed his hands on her waist, closing his eyes as he leaned into the kiss until he realized something. He opened his eyes and cleared his throat.

“What?” asked Alice as she took a step back.

“Hum… there are people around…” whispered Charlie, looking around the room.

Alice turned her head, noticing some people looking at them as her face grew hot.

“Sorry,” she mouthed before looking back at Charlie. “Let’s take a look around,” she whispered as she grabbed her hat from the floor.

They walked around the bookcases on the ground floor, looking at all the old books’ spines. They didn’t dare touch any, as they felt the gaze of the librarian on their back.

“I guess every library comes with a Madam Pince,” whispered Alice.

“I guess kissing in a library won’t get you on the librarian’s good books,” said Charlie, looking behind him. “Anyway, it’s not like we can read anything here. Everything seems to be in Portuguese. We should go back to the others… Alice! What are you doing?”

Alice held a book in her hand while holding her wand over a page with the other. “Shhh, be quiet. It’s just this book had ‘Contos de fadas brasileiros’ written on it.”

“But it’s in Portuguese! And your wand…”

“I need it to use a translation spell Rowan taught me.”

“Taught you? When?”

“Well, she didn’t actually teach it to me in person. I just found it on a note in a book she read,” explained Alice as she read the page her wand was hovering over.

“Quick,” said Charlie, as he looked behind them, “the librarian is coming.”

Alice closed the book and promptly replaced it on the shelf as she surreptitiously slid her wand back into her crossbody handbag. “Obrigada,” said Alice, turning to face the librarian with a sweet smile, her angelic face seemingly calming any worries the librarian had as the couple swiftly left the library.

“That was a close call,” said Charlie once they were outside. “Anyway, what did you say to the librarian?”

“I simply said ‘thank you.’”

“Why?”

“Because it’s polite and one of the few things I can say in Portuguese,” explained Alice as they made their way back to the Rua Sete de Setembro. “Figured something polite, and my sweet face would get her off our backs.”

They leisurely made their way to the Confeitaria Colombo, holding hands and talking about their vacation so far. As they approached it, they saw their friends leaving the restaurant.

“Here are the two lovebirds!” exclaimed Tulip.

“We got some custard tarts to go when we figured you wouldn’t be back in time,” said Penny, holding up a small plastic bag.

“They were delicious!” said Barnaby, rubbing his stomach as he smiled.

“Mate, you have some coloured lip balm on your lips,” pointed out Andre, smirking.

“So I guess Alice liked her surprise,” said Diego, grinning.

Charlie used the back of his hand to wipe off the lip balm as he and Alice blushed.

“Wait, did you two abandon us just to make out somewhere?” asked Tonks.

“What? No! We visited a library!” exclaimed Alice.

“A library? Why would you visit a library instead of eating custard tarts? Are you trying to cover up for the fact that you did spend all that time making out?” asked Tulip, her face inches from Alice’s as she looked at her suspiciously.

“No, they did go to a library: The Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, or Royal Portuguese Reading Room,” explained Diego, making Alanza wince at his Portuguese pronunciation. “The two Argentinian girls I spoke to yesterday said it was a really nice place to see, so I told Charlie he should take Alice there.”

“Wait, when you left the church…” started saying Alanza.

“I went to locate the library, make sure I had the right directions,” completed Charlie.

“Aw, all that for Alice… Makes me sick,” said Tonks, sticking out her tongue in fake disgust.

“Jealous,” said Alice, lightly nudging her friend.

“You wish,” replied Tonks, linking her arm with her friend’s. “Now, come on. We’re supposed to go see a royal palace.”

“Actually, it is the Imperial Palace,” explained Alanza as they made their way down the street. “It became the prince regent of Portugal’s residence when he moved here with his family to escape Napoleon’s invasion of Portugal. It is at that time that Rio became the royal seat of power.”

“Bloody French,” said Tonks, smirking as she glanced at Alice. 

“He wasn’t French, he was Corsican, and his ancestors were Italian,” said Alice.

“But he was the emperor of France, no?”

“For, like, ten years.”

“His army was French?”

“Yes…”

“Therefore, I reiterate what I said: Bloody French,” said Tonks, sticking out her tongue.

“Stop bickering, you two,” said Andre. “As long as I get to see a palace, I’m happy.”

“We are not bickering. We are having a friendly conversation,” said Tonks and Alice in unison, making Alanza raise her eyebrows and look around in confusion.

“Don’t ask. That’s how they are,” explained Penny to Alanza, rolling her eyes.

When they finally arrived at the Imperial Palace, what stood in front of them was a white three-storey building in a simple baroque style with a tiled roof. 

“That’s it?” asked Tulip.

“Well, it has its charms,” said Alice.

“There are some details around the windows,” said Penny.

“It is not what Europeans think of when they hear ‘Imperial Palace,’” pointed out Alanza.

“Thank Merlin, you see it too! I mean, it’s lovely, sure, but it’s no Versaille or Buckingham. Please tell me it’s like that golden church, and the interior is grand,” said Andre with pleading eyes.

“Unfortunately, no. It was stripped at the end of the 19th century and became a central mail office. It mostly serves as a cultural center nowadays, with temporary art exhibitions.”

“Then why is it called the Imperial Palace?” asked Barnaby.

“Because when Brasil became independent, it became the Império do Brasil, or Empire of Brasil,” explained Alanza. “When it was the Portuguese royal family’s residence, it was known as the Royal Palace. Before that, it was the house of the Governor.”

“How come you know so much?” asked Tulip.

“She’s from around here,” said Diego.

“Alice, you live in London. Do you know who first lived in Buckingham Palace?”

“Hum, no?”

“See! I live in London as well, and I don’t know the history of any buildings, except the Tower of London because executions,” pointed out Tulip. 

“Alright, when Alice told me you wanted to visit the historic part of Centro, I may have studied up on my Trouxa history. The map I have with me is full of my notes,” she said, showing the scribbles on her map.

“Trouxa?” asked Barnaby.

“People who can’t do magic.”

“Ah! We call them Muggles,” said Charlie.

“So, as much as standing in the sun learning about cultural differences is fun, what is next?” asked Penny.

“Well, that’s pretty much it. Next up for you is to head back to the hotel to relax, so you are ready for tomorrow’s hike,” said Alanza.

“Hike?!” said Alice and Penny.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any outfits that are intended for nature,” said Andre.

“I was actually planning to go to the National History Museum tomorrow, since it’s free on Sundays,” said Alice.

“Says the rich girl,” said Tonks.

“Rich people are notoriously cheap,” replied Alice.

“But I don’t want to go to a stuffy museum,” complained Tulip.

“We can separate for the day. You guys can go hike in nature, while Penny, Andre, and I go to the museum.”

“Will there be dragons on that hike?” asked Charlie.

“Charlie. Always asking the important questions,” said Diego.

“Hum, no, sorry,” replied Alanza.

“Meh, then I’ll go to the museum with Alice.”

“Are you sure? There won’t be any dragons in the museum either,” said Alice.

“No, but you’ll be there,” replied Charlie, making Alice blush.

“Ok! I think this is our cue to head back to the hotel before those two start snogging in front of the palace,” said Tulip as she ran towards the street to hail two cabs.

“Well, see you tomorrow then! Tchau!” said Alanza waiving to the group as they joined Tulip.

A/N #2: Hope you enjoyed it! Next up: the museum, where I will describe every single exhibit they see... Joking. Anyway, just wanted to let you know something regarding the Imperial Palace. So, in the fic, Alanza said they interior is rather ordinary, it’s mostly based on pictures of the interior. According to Culture Trip, “in 1980 it was restored to its former glory with the interior replicated to how it was in the 19th century.” Unfortunately couldn’t find any information regarding the current state of the interior.

[queenofmoons67]

Midori Oni: Prologue

Welcome to my obligatory Tiger and Bunny and BNHA fic!

Summary: When Wild Tiger accidentally ends up 155 years in the future, he’s still being chased by a criminal mastermind, and as such does his best to blend into the new world around him. But Kotetsu has never been the best at hiding, and this time is no different:

Before long, Wild Tiger is making ripples amongst villains as a new vigilante. And as he fights to simultaneously be a hero, stay safe, and find a way home, he stumbles upon two students of UA’s hero course. And then eighteen more.

Aka an outsider view of Kotetsu, through the eyes of Class 1A.

(Shinsou Hitoshi replaces Mineta Minoru)

Canon timeline-wise, the story begins during the time leap after cour one of "Tiger & Bunny." Kotetsu enters the BNHA timeline during the sports festival.

Kotetsu panted, struggling to catch his breath when he was already out of Hundred Power and racing through the lowest part of Sternbild.

“Wild Tiger!” a voice called, echoing off the alley walls close behind him. “Why don’t you just give up? There’s nowhere to run!”

Kotetsu grinned. “Hear that, Bunny?” he asked. “He thinks there’s nowhere to run.”

Bunny’s voice was tinny through the comms, but the scoff came through loud and clear. “Focus, Wild Tiger. You’re going to take a right on the next street; I’m almost there myself.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m bringing this guy straight to you, don’t worry.”

There was just the sound of panting as Kotetsu leapt over a fallen trashcan, and he imagined Bunny pausing to think about what to say. Since dealing with Martinez and Kriem, they had both been trying to be more patient with one another and acknowledge each other’s ideas, and personally, Kotetsu thought they were working a lot better as partners. Bunny had actually agreed to Kotetsu’s idea of using himself as bait for this criminal, for one, and for another—

Kotetsu wouldn’t admit it to Bunny, but it was strange for him, running through the streets without his partner by his side. Having him on the comms just wasn’t the same.

But there was the corner, and with a grin, Kotetsu put on a burst of speed as he rounded it. Bunny was waiting for him.

<line break>

Mario blinked, adjusted his glasses, and peered closer at the camera image before him as it was overwhelmed by a bright white light.

“Just a second folks, we might be having some technical difficulties. Orlando, can you zoom in for us and try to find Wild Tiger again?”

Orlando gave him a thumbs up, already messing with his camera, and Mario leaned back in his seat.

This segment had been weird from the very beginning. The criminal had been stopped while in the middle of robbing a bank, but had seemed unbothered by it—in fact, he’d seemed downright delighted to get the chance to taunt each hero as they arrived on the scene, his super strength power easily keeping the heroes back from being able to actually arrest him.

Barnaby and Wild Tiger had ended up in charge of the fight when Wild Tiger’s fight with the criminal had accidentally sent them down to Sternbild’s lower levels, where the HeroTV chopper couldn’t follow. Mario and Orlando had done their best to follow them from the skies, and report on how Wild Tiger had quickly run out of Hundred Power and started fleeing from the criminal instead of chasing him—and instead of escaping, the criminal had actually given chase in turn! But now…

Orlando shook his head and gave him a sideways thumb. Frowning, Mario directed his attention to the screen and began to narrate for their viewers.

“Orlando has gotten the view back for us, folks, but it—it doesn’t seem to be working that well. That is, we can see where Wild Tiger and the criminal just were, but we can’t actually see them now. Oh, and here comes Barnaby, looking for his partner—”

Mario kept talking, but he also gestured frantically for Orlando to contact Agnes. They had a missing hero on their hands.

<line break>

Kotetsu stumbled to a halt, jaw dropping as Sternbild’s night sky was replaced by daylight and a cheering crowd. He himself was standing in the shadows beside them, but inching forward, he realized that they were all gathered around a wall of tv screens facing outwards from a store’s glass front.

There was someone with green hair fighting someone else with red-and-white hair. What was this, some new kind of Christmas style?

Peering closer, Kotetsu noted with surprise the tagline was in Japanese. Thankful he knew his mother’s language, he read: “UA Sports Festival—Second Round of the Battle Tournament.” What on earth…?

Kotetsu tore his gaze away, meaning to see if any of the other televisions were showing something that actually made sense, but his eyes caught on the reflection of someone staring back at him. The criminal he’d been chasing grinned.

Kotetsu bolted, dashing into the nearest alley and heading away from the crowd. So far the criminal hadn’t attempted to harm any civilians, but there was no reason to take that risk.

“Come back, hero!” the criminal called, his feet slapping against the concrete as he followed Kotetsu.

“Not on your life!” Kotetsu replied, and the criminal laughed.

As Kotetsu focused back on the path before him, though, he realized that someone else had been unusually quiet through all of this.

“Bunny?”

No answer, but the comm was still on.

“Hey, Bunny, you there?”

Still nothing.

“Barnaby, this isn’t funny! Answer me!”

Silence yet again.

Cursing, Kotetsu made a series of quick turns, one after another. He’d obviously been transported somewhere new, likely in Japan. Maybe the comms were fried when the transport happened? They still looked like they were on, but Kotetsu knew weird things happened with technology sometimes. Case in point: Whatever happened to land him here.

For now, though, there was nothing Kotetsu could do about it. He wasn’t a tech wizard like Saito, and he had to focus on just evading the criminal for now. In this unfamiliar place, where his hero license didn’t apply and he had no Hundred Power for at least another forty-five minutes, he couldn’t risk a fight.

If he was being honest with himself, he couldn’t risk a fight even after his Hundred Power came back. He’d lost the first one; that was why he’d been leading the criminal to Bunny in the first place.

Kotetsu swerved around another corner and took the opportunity to look behind him. His tail was still a bit back, but—but was he gaining on him? Kotetsu couldn’t tell.

For a moment, he thought about dumping his suit. Its weight only slowed him down, and without his Hundred Power, it was less than useless.

It would take time for him to wrestle the suit off without mechanical help, though, and he might not remember where he dumped it. Plus, Saito would kill him if he lost it.

Resolving to losing the criminal the good old-fashioned way, Kotetsu turned deeper into this maze of alleys.

<line break>

When Kotetsu’s Hundred Power finally returned, he took the opportunity to get away for good and turned on his speed, sprinting through a series of dizzying turns before grappling up to a roof. Safe in the high ground, he tried every rooftop entrance he came across before tiredly stumbling into the first open one he found and collapsing in a metal heap in a stairwell.

Kotetsu spent the night like that, still in his suit, and when he woke up, he made a mental note to never do that again. His poor, aching body did not like him right now—though Kotetsu liked his comms still being fried even less.

He would have to go out and try to figure out what all of this was himself. But he couldn’t do that while in his suit; that was just asking for the criminal to spot him again, and Kotetsu wasn’t in the mood for another high speed chase through the alleys. He would have to take the suit off.

<line break>

An hour later, Kotetsu shielded his eyes with a hand as he walked out onto a busy street. Removing the suit had been an adventure and a half. He’d always had Saito by his side for it, which meant this time, he’d fought his way out mostly by randomly selecting pieces to remove individually. He felt bad about it, but he figured Saito should be able to put it back together—and if not, the man would probably just go to Maverick with the idea for a new set of matching suits for Tiger and Bunny.

Reasonably satisfied, Kotetsu had stashed the suit pieces behind some dust-covered boxes in a supply closet, then headed out.

Perhaps he should have second-guessed his outfit choice, though. His tight black under-armor was drawing a lot of looks.

After the third person he spotted openly checking him out, Kotetsu turned on his Hundred Power and sped through an apartment building at top speed, stopping only to snag a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt hanging in a communal laundry room. A little wet, and the theft made his skin prickle uncomfortably, but necessary.

As comfortable as he could be, given the circumstances, Kotetsu finally turned his full attention to finding a newspaper and figuring out where he was.

Or rather, he tried to, but Kotetsu was quickly distracted by just how strange his new surroundings were. Some people looked normal, but there were others with even weirder hair dyes than the two on TV the night before. And even stranger than that was the way some NEXTs’ powers had affected them. Kotetsu had never seen a NEXT mutate before, let alone take on the features of animals.

And then there was just how many people seemed to be NEXTs. Kotetsu was used to being one of a minority, but here, NEXTs seemed to actually be the majority. They walked the streets freely, unafraid of using their powers for trivial things. One boy idly stirred his coffee, finger steaming, while a girl used some of the eyes on the ends of her hair to read a book even while the eyes in her head watched where she was going.

The strangest thing of all, though, was how no one else blinked. Not a single person, whether they seemed to be a NEXT or not, was afraid of those using their powers. It was as though Kotetsu had stepped into some idealistic future where NEXTs were no longer discriminated against.

Finally spotting a stand selling newspapers, Kotetsu hurried over, picked one up, and scanned it. Like the TV the night before, and like most of the conversations around him, the text was in Japanese: “Musutafu Local News.” That wasn’t surprising.

What was surprising was the date next to it.

“Excuse me, sir?” Kotetsu asked the seller, handing him the newspaper. “Is this date right?”

The seller barely glanced at it. “Yep. Do you want to buy it?”

Numbly, Kotetsu shook his head and walked away.

He was 155 years in the future.

<line break>

The first thing Kotetsu did was find a library and research everything he could about current events. He refused to touch anything from his entire time, worrying that this might be like one of those sci-fi novels where he risked accidentally changing everything.

Even with his research, though, he was missing things. Refusing to go too far back meant he missed a lot of both the civil rights movement for NEXTs, and the laws that were eventually put in place for both civilians and their present-day version of heroes.

Because of that, what he knew could generally be summed up as most of the population having powers, now called ‘quirks.’

A consequence of this was stricter laws on when and where a person could use their quirk; what Kotetsu had seen in public so far was generally the limit. There was also discrimination against the quirkless, which threw Kotetsu for a loop for a moment since he was used to being discriminated against for his Hundred Power, though he supposed it made sense considering he was now in the majority.

For a moment, Kotetsu wondered if he would still be discriminated in this future, since he as good as had no quirk for most of the day—then he shook his head and moved on. If he was, it wasn’t like it was anything he wasn’t used to. If anything, he thought wryly, it might be refreshing to be discriminated against for how weak his power was, instead of how powerful it could make him.

Hopefully, though, Kotetsu wouldn’t be in this future long enough to find out.

Unfortunately, he was losing that same hope every second longer he was stuck here. It had been nearly twenty-four hours, and the power still hadn’t faded.

For all Kotetsu knew, it would take technology to get him back—technology that not even this future seemed to have.

<line break>

Kotetsu headed back to the same stairwell he’d stashed his suit in that night, and sighed when he woke there the next morning.

For now, he decided, he would act as though he would be stuck in this new society for the rest of his life: Settle in and build a base of support, before trying whatever it would take to find a way home. He would have to lay low, since it was possible the criminal who’d also gotten snapped here was still after him. It was also possible that same criminal knew how to get back home, but Kotetsu had nothing to make him want to take Kotetsu back with him. Besides, it was better to be the one surprising than the one being surprised. He could track down the criminal and stay low.

The next big problem was money. Kotetsu needed it for food, shelter, a place to store his suit, toiletries, and just about everything else. He had a decent amount of cash stashed away in his suit for emergencies, but for the most part: For money, he needed a job, and for a job, he needed a new identity.

Kotetsu couldn’t trust that the heroes of this time wouldn’t see straight through a fake paper trail, which meant no seeking a position with them.

At the same time, this new society was different enough to the one that Kotetsu knew that he didn’t quite trust it anyway. Before, he knew that money motivated sponsors, while heroes competed but ultimately trusted each other. Now, he didn’t know what pushed society—if they did catch him, they might not let him go free. They might not even help him. And for now, that meant avoiding heroes and picking up smalltime jobs until he had the money for a new identity.

Kotetsu chased criminals for more than ten years; he knew how to track down a forger—though admittedly, this would be his first time hiring one.

<line break>

It didn’t take long for Kotetsu to figure out the main issue with his plan: When you’re searching for one kind of criminal, it’s not hard to stumble upon others. Kotetsu managed to ignore them for as long as it took to set up a new civilian identity—Kaburagi Muramasa, after his brother—and to find a retail position.

Several weeks later, Kotetsu had enough money that, while he still returned to that stairwell every night, he felt comfortable caving to his instincts and putting his suit on for the first time since he’d taken it off that first morning.

Or at least, he tried.

Without Saito and his mechanics to help, it took Kotetsu an entire day to figure out how to piece his suit back together.

After that, though, Kotetsu started spending all of his free time on the streets. He knew Bunny wouldn’t be happy about him going out, but he also knew that Bunny would understand why Kotetsu couldn’t just sit still when there were people in need. In a compromise to his partner, though, he at least tried to stick to the shadows.

<line break>

It only took a week and a half for the heroes and police to start hunting him.

<line break>

Naomasa Tsukauchi pinned a sketch to an otherwise blank board, then sat on his desk and stared it. Glowing neon green eyes stared back.

A new vigilante had appeared on the streets, and those eyes were one of the only clues he had for finding the man. He hid behind armor that lit up when he used his quirk, though they hadn’t yet figured out what it was: Some of the villains he’d caught claimed super strength, others super hearing and a half dozen more.

Naomasa had been tempted to nickname the vigilante ‘Superman,’ after the classic comic, but the villains had already named him ‘Midori Oni.’

The Green Oni.

Naomasa couldn’t deny the vigilante had the typical horns and green coloring down perfectly, though he lacked a tiger pelt.

Sighing, Naomasa stood back up and grabbed a box already full with case files for villains Midori Oni had caught. He’d been busy, Naomasa could give him that—but vigilantism was illegal. They had heroes for a reason.

[mad-madam-m]

Trope Bingo Masterpost

With less than two weeks to spare, I hit a blackout on my Trope Bingo card! Twenty-five fics in ten different fandoms, totaling 61,807 words, holy shit.

The fandom breakdown ended up like so:

Tiger & Bunny - 6 Castlevania (Netflix) - 5 Gargoyles - 4 Teen Wolf - 3 Good Omens - 2 Voltron: Legendary Defender - 1 Leverage - 1 Star Wars - 1 Mary Stayed Out All Night - 1 Captain Harlock - 1 I can honestly say I did not expect Castlevania and Gargoyles to have the #2 and #3 positions under Tiger & Bunny, but hey, it's been a weird year.

But WOO! I DID IT!!

You can find all 25 Trope Bingo fics listed under the cut!

Title: The Shops on Morning Street Prompt: Rivals to Lovers Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) Character/Pair: Trevor/Alucard Words: 6934 Rating: T Summary: Trevor Belmont, former monster hunter and current florist, is tasked with looking into the proprietor of the new tattoo parlor across the street, much to his annoyance. What he finds is Adrian Ţepeş, current half-vampire, current tattoo artist, and a whole lot more than Trevor bargained for. Title: An Avian Aggravation Prompt: Soulbonding/Soulmates Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) Character/Pair: Trevor/Alucard Words: 3864 Rating: T Summary: Trevor didn't know magic, not really. But he'd heard enough stories to guess where this was going. "Sypha, did you summon a goose that's going to guide Alucard to his one true love?" Alucard choked. "You what?" "No!" Sypha flipped between two pages in the book and hesitated. "Well...maybe?" "What?!" Alucard repeated. Title: Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be Prompt: Fake Relationship Fandom: Gargoyles Character/Pair: Elisa & Xanatos Words: 5372 Rating: T Summary: "We've received intelligence that Latimer is going to be making a deal at an exclusive event this Saturday. We'll have people stationed around the event, but we need to get someone on the inside to track when the deal is going down." Chavez pointed at her. "That's where you come in." Finally, they were doing something to take this bastard down. Elisa grinned. "Going undercover?" "In a manner of speaking." Chavez gestured to the door. "You'll be posing as the girlfriend of our informant." Elisa turned. "Who's—" David Xanatos walked through the door. *** Or: Elisa has to fake date her nemesis, and learns that they may have a little more in common than she'd like. Title: Mind's Eye Prompt: Telepathy/Mind Meld Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 705 Rating: T Summary: Kaede copies the ability to read minds and immediately has Many Regrets when she reads Barnaby's. Title: Ill Met by Moonlight Prompt: Handcuffed/Bound Together Fandom: Gargoyles Character/Pair: Elisa & Owen Words: 5154 Rating: T Summary: For Elisa, waking up tied up to one of her least favorite people on the planet is just the cherry on top of an already crappy night. Title: Gonna Make This Place Your Home Prompt: Quarantine Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 5738 Rating: T Summary: A rescue goes slightly sideways and Barnaby and Kotetsu must be quarantined for two weeks as a precaution. Barnaby’s the one who suggests that they be quarantined together. Being locked inside with Kotetsu for two weeks will end up being either the best or worst decision he’s ever made. Title: If You Get Lost You Can Always Be Found Prompt: Fix-It Fic Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) Character/Pair: Trevor/Alucard Words: 3217 Rating: T Summary: "Trevor?" Alucard took half a step forward; he may have been hallucinating. "What the hell are you doing here? You look terrible." "Oh, thank fuck," Trevor said, and collapsed. *** Trevor returns to the castle alone and injured. Alucard takes care of him. Title: Coming Home Prompt: Reunion Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 767 Rating: T Summary: Kotetsu comes home after several days away, and Barnaby welcomes him. Title: With Broken Words I've Tried to Say Prompt: Epistolary Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) Character/Pair: Trevor/Alucard Words: 3700 Rating: T Summary: In which Alucard sends a letter to Sypha, but ends up corresponding with Trevor instead. Title: Something Like Friends Prompt: Rare Pairs Fandom: Teen Wolf Character/Pair: Allison/Erica Words: 2460 Rating: T Summary: Allison is sick. Erica is taking care of her. Erica is really, really not examining her reasons for doing so. Title: Truth or Dare Prompt: Truth or Dare Fandom: Teen Wolf Character/Pair: Boyd/Erica Words: 707 Rating: T Summary: She smiled very slowly at him. "Truth or dare?" Boyd wasn't sure which would be worse. "Truth." He really didn't want to think about what Erica would dare him to do. Title: Locked In Prompt: Locked In Fandom: Good Omens Character/Pair: Aziraphale/Crowley Words: 2484 Rating: M Summary: Aziraphale and Crowley have picked this weekend to be locked in...in every sense of the word. Title: New Rings Prompt: In Vino Veritas/Drunk Fic Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 831 Rating: G Summary: "You have a wedding ring," Bunny informs him in a tone used only by toddlers and drunk people. Kotetsu nods. "I do." "It's a new one. It's not the same one you had before." "Hey, don't tell me you already forgot how I got it." Kotetsu wiggles his ring finger. "I didn't think you had that much to drink." Title: A Woman in Need Prompt: Huddle for Warmth Fandom: Teen Wolf Character/Pair: Sheriff/Melissa Words: 467 Rating: T Summary: The heater's gone out in their cabin. In Colorado. In the winter. At least Melissa has someone willing to help keep her warm. Title: Are We or Aren't We? Prompt: Everyone Thinks We're a Couple Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender Character/Pair: Keith/Shiro Words: 1338 Rating: T Summary: Everybody seems to think Keith and Shiro are dating. The problem is, they're not. Or are they? Title: Gentles, Do Not Reprehend Prompt: Chosen Family Fandom: Gargoyles Character/Pair: Alex Xanatos, David Xanatos, Fox Xanatos, Owen Burnett Words: 1208 Rating: G Summary: A kid at school makes fun of Lexington. Fortunately, Alex is more than capable of taking care of it. Unfortunately, his parents find out how he did. Title: A Parental Predicament Prompt: Meet the Parents/Family Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) Character/Pair: Dracula/Lisa, Trevor/Alucard Words: 3627 Rating: T Summary: Adrian is bringing home his boyfriend to meet his parents. There's just one tiny problem: his boyfriend is a descendant of a notorious monster-hunting family, and his father is Dracula. It goes about as well as you would expect. Title: Let Me Love You Prompt: Wing Fic Fandom: Good Omens Character/Pair: Aziraphale/Crowley Words: 948 Rating: G Summary: Crowley sighed. "Something wrong with your wings?" "Oh, nothing's wrong with them, exactly, it's just," Aziraphale made a face, "trying to get them back in order." "You're never going to get it flapping like that." Crowley shot one last warning glare at the rosebushes and got to his feet. "Here, I'll do it." Title: How You Say "I Love You" Prompt: Food and Cooking Fandom: Leverage Character/Pair: Parker/Eliot/Hardison Words: 967 Rating: T Summary: Parker groaned. "Let's just go to bed." Hardison turned them toward the bedroom. "Don't have to tell me twice." Eliot really, really wanted to follow, but he ducked out from under Hardison's arm. "I'll meet you in there. Got to do something in the kitchen first." Title: Undercover Prompt: Undercover Missions Fandom: Star Wars Character/Pair: Finn/Poe Words: 948 Rating: T Summary: "We don't have another way out!" Poe walked around the front of the desk. They had no time and all he had was a very bad idea. "I'm going to kiss you." Finn's eyes doubled in size. "You're going to—" Title: Love, Bunny Prompt: Language/Translation Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 1877 Rating: G Summary: Barnaby gets a mysterious cake on Valentine's Day, and goes about finding the best way to respond. Title: Two Bedrooms or Three Prompt: Curtain Fic Fandom: Mary Stayed Out All Night Character/Pair: Mary/Mu Gyul/Jung In Words: 613 Rating: G Summary: Mary, Mu Gyul, and Jung In are ready to look for a new apartment together, but Mu Gyul has a request that throws a wrench into their plans. Title: Coming Out Prompt: Coming Out (Of The Closet) Fandom: Tiger & Bunny Character/Pair: Barnaby/Kotetsu Words: 2335 Rating: T Summary: Kotetsu's decided it's time to call Kaede and tell her about him and Barnaby. Title: The Shipping Ship Prompt: Matchmaker Fandom: Captain Harlock Character/Pair: Harlock/Yama Words: 2487 Rating: T Summary: Tochiro has been waiting for Harlock to find someone for a hundred years. ONE. HUNDRED. YEARS. And now the perfect person has waltzed onto the Arcadia and Harlock is going to do...nothing. Absolutely nothing about it. That's fine. Tochiro might be a ship now, but by God, he can still wingman with the best of them. Title: New Friends and Stranger Companies Prompt: Trust and Vows Fandom: Gargoyles Character/Pair: Elisa & Xanatos Words: 3059 Rating: T Summary: Elisa hung up her jacket, tossed her badge and keys on the table, and had just taken her gun safe out of the drawer when she registered that someone was sitting on her couch. She drew her gun. "Put your hands up and stand up slowly." The man chuckled, and damn it, Elisa knew that laugh. "Took you a little longer than I thought it would, detective. You really must be tired from your adventures." *** In which a cop and an ex-convict form a tentative truce over being way too damn tired to deal with anything anymore.

[chaoticdisater]

school day reunions// a Hogwarts mystery

“you could come with,” Tonks flicks her pinky red hair back as she works on some light makeup, 

she was going to see her school friends for the first time in forever they where actually in England, they had scattered across the globe but now they where all getting together and she was so excited her new husband, on the other hand, was a little wary of tonks going out alone to meet a group of people she hadn't seen in years, 

“I doubt your friends want me there,” Remus looked up from the newish book that he had gotten just yesterday

“they're bringing their partners,” Tonks shrugged putting lipgloss on then grabbing her leather jacket from the closet  

“there bringing the person they've been dating for a little bit, not the person they're married to,” Remus pushed himself up from the bed where he was laying 

“well, all except for one of them things that marriage is a dumb money wasting contract,” Tonks gave a small grin then countered, “but I do have friends who are in a common law marriage,” she shrugged, 

“have fun I guess,” Remus shrugged when Tonks started to pull on her boots 

“really just come, you don't have to sit with us if you don't want to but come anyway, they'll get really mad if I say I'm married and I have no one to show for it,” tonks took Remus hand giving a little pout as she looked into his eyes,

“fine, but only because I don't want you to get murdered,” Remus defended, 

they walked to a small muggle bar just to streets away from where Remus and Tonks were staying, and in the back corner sat a group of eight people sat around a table each already had their drinks, 

“Hello,” Tonks  grinned as everyone turned to see her, 

“hey, tonkies poo,” a man from the other side of the table called 

“ugh Andre don't call me that,” Tonks huffed, “anyways, guys this is my husband Remus Lupin,” she grinned 

“excuse me you got married miss what even is love, got married” the girl sitting in front of her flicked her long brown hair back from her face, 

“yes?” tonks shrugged as she took Remus hand, 

“wow, must be some guy,” the girl next to her nodded looking over Remus face just the glare of her violet eyes made Remus squirm, she was twenty-five yet she was one of the most terrifying people she had ever seen. 

“Remus, this is raven midnight, and her annoying girlfriend Merula snyde,” Tonks back hugged Raven as she stuck her tongue out at Merula 

“it's nice to meet you, Remus,” Raven smiled up at Tonks and Remus, 

“beside Merula is Penny Haywood, we where Hufflepuff buddies together,” Tonks gave Penny a grin as she moved over to hug her, 

“yeah but we all know I was professor sprouts favourite,” Penny ran her hand through her shorter blond hair, she had these bright blue eyes that sparkled when she laughed 

“you where also snape’s favourite, news flash he still hates me, not that anyone is surprised,”  Tonks laughed “next to penny is, Ben Copper, hes my favourite little scardy cat,” ben just rolled his eyes but gave her a shy smile, “Next to benny-boo is Rowan Khanna, she is the smartest person that I've ever met,” 

“that's very sweet tonks, but I doubt I’m the smartest person you've ever met, I mean have you measured the intelligence of everyone that you have worked or meet,” 

“you say things like that I'm convinced you're the smartest person I know,” Tonks grinned at her antics, “next to Rowan is Ardre and Barnaby  who is dressed much better then I remember him ever dressing,” 

“Andre picks out my outfits now he doesn't trust me to dress properly as he says,” Barnaby shrugged as Andre shook his head 

“Oh baby what will my clients think if my boyfriend is poorly dressed, I can't have that” Andre turned and placed a small kiss on Barnaby's cheek 

“I do think you've met or at least heard of Charlie, hes bills younger brother,” Tonks pointed to the redhead in the corner of the table who gave a small grin,

“we meet at Bills wedding, if you can remember, you should have to meet raven to but,” Charlie looked at raven dead in the eyes 

“there's a war Char, and I had wanted to come but England is a right mess,” raven shook her head, 

“We missed seeing you, wasn't rowan invited to,” 

“I was on assignment in China I didn't get the invite until I got back and then it was too late” Rowan explained,

“what do you do?” Remus asked as tonks sat them between ben and penny, 

“Currently I work for the US wizarding government in charge of peace treaties but I work on contracts, mostly in interrogations and occliamacey but there isn't much work in that right now,” Rowan gave a small look down into her glass. 

“it gets harder every day,” Raven chimed in,  

“you're all highly educated,” tonks shrugs she didn't expect to be the most successful. 

“well when you've got a bad rep, most people won't hire you its gonna get worse if we live through this war,” Merula leaned into raven who softly kissed her messy hair. 

“we’ll get by,” Raven mumbled, 

Remus learned a lot that night

Raven and Merula had been dating since school both Charlie and Tonks took the responsibility for that, Merula said they started dating in spite of the two, Ben and Rowan lived together but they didn't date, claiming that they just worked as friends, penny was the best at potions and sometimes put snape to shame with her handy work, Penny worked as a potion master for a privet company she made the big bucks, but she lived out in Australia. marulas parents had been convicted death-eaters she was never a death eater but she got turned away from jobs just from her name, Raven was a bounty hunter of sorts, very good at it too, but she also worked with dragons, Andre was a stylist one of the best apparently and Barnaby worked in a book shop, Charlie was probably the best dragonologist on the planet, Andre and Barnaby had been dating for five years now, they lived out in the states. 

around midnight they headed back home. 

“your friends are nice,” Remus said as they walked down the night street, 

“there some of the best people ever, I wish I could spend more time with them,” Tonks sighed 

“Maybe when the war is over,” Remus suggested reaching for tonks hand 

“yeah, maybe” Tonks smiled back at him. 

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//this was so much better when it was an idea in my head this didn't really end well or the middle wasn't great either,// 

[himbohunnicutt]

Something (In The Way She Moves) // DS Charlie Nelson

A/N: Hello! This is the first in a series of one shots about DS Charlie Nelson and an OFC called Anya Cook. There will be more, but this is first one, introducing them. Please enjoy!

MASTERLIST

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(I picture Felicity Jones in The Theory of Everything as Anya Cook)

--------

Anya Cook walked down the small high street of Causton, lost in her own thoughts, until a police siren went rushing by. The car stopped at the end of the street and two police officers jumped out. She popped into the small supermarket and bought two bottles of water, wondering if they were chasing a suspect. Her suspicions were correct, and both came panting from the building, the other of the two with someone in handcuffs. The younger man leant against the car, and Anya made her way over.

“Would you like some water?” She asked, holding the bottle out. He looked at her, and smiled widely.

“Thank you, Miss?” He said, taking the bottle from her.

“Cook. Anya Cook. I’m new to the village, I’m opening a coffee and book shop further down the high street” She replied.

“DS Charlie Nelson. Welcome to Midsomer, and I’ll be sure to come to your shop once it’s open” The man said, smiling. Neither said anything for a moment, just taking in each other’s presence. They were broken from this pleasant silence by DS Nelson’s superior calling him over.

“You’re wanted” Anya said quietly, smiling at him.

“DCI Barnaby. He’s lovely, really” DS Nelson replied, as he walked away from the young woman, and back to the grim reality of his job. Anya walked around the police cordon and smiled at DS Nelson as she made her way into her shop, nearly ready for opening.

Anya sat on her front lawn the next morning, a saturday, enjoying the sunshine as she drank her tea. She waved at people as they walked past, said good morning to those who stopped for a chat, and cooed over babies pushed past in prams. She was pleasantly surprised when DS Nelson walked past with DCI Barnaby, a woman, and a baby.

“DS Nelson!” She called, standing up and walking over to the front of her lawn.

“Miss Cook, good morning” He replied, meeting her at the fence.

“Anya, please. Who’s this?” Anya asked, cooing at the little girl in the pushchair.

“DCI Barnaby, Mrs Barnaby, and little Betty Barnaby” Charlie introduced, opening the gate so Anya could greet the Barnabys.

“Mrs Barnaby-”

“Oh, Sarah, please. How do you know Charlie?” Sarah asked, pressing a friendly kiss to Anya’s cheek.

“We...we met yesterday. I saw him and DCI Barnaby chasing a suspect and bought them a couple of bottles of water. I thought they might need them” Anya tried to explain, flustered by Charlie’s gaze on her.

“Anya is opening a book and coffee shop in the village soon” Charlie continued, smiling at the young woman in her silk dressing gown in front of him.

“Opening is next saturday, you will come along, won’t you?” Anya asked, stroking Betty’s cheek lovingly.

“I’ll certainly be there” Charlie replied, smiling at Anya. She smiled back and waved as the group walked off.

“I’ll certainly be there?” Barnaby asked as they walked away.

“What?” Charlie protested, looking at his boss suspiciously.

“Has DS Nelson got a soft spot for somebody? Especially after seeing her in her pyjamas?” Barnaby teased as they continued down the road. All the while, Anya stood at her gate, hoping DS Nelson would turn around and smile at her. Luckily, he did.

Later that afternoon, there was a knock on the door of Anya’s shop.

“We’re not open yet!” Anya shouted as she carried on painting the wall.

“It’s Charlie Nelson!” came a shouted reply. The door opened slightly, and the policeman was slightly taken aback by the paint fumes.

“I’m just getting the last of the painting done” Anya said as she carefully got down from her stepladder, wiping her hands on her overalls before she pushed her hair back out of her face, getting a tiny smudge of cream paint in her dark hair in the process. It took everything Charlie had not to get rid of it with his fingers.

“I can see - need any help?” He asked. She smiled at him.

“If you’re sure - I would kill for a cup of tea, and then somebody to paint the other wall wouldn’t go a miss” Anya replied, nodding her head towards a kettle and mugs on the floor. Charlie smiled and got on with making the tea.

“Milk and sugar?” He asked, slipping the tiniest bit of sugar into his mug.

“Milk, no sugar, please” She replied, taking the mug from him, sipping the hot drink gingerly. She thanked him with a wide smile, and gestured towards the pot of point opposite to the wall she was working on. He picked up the roller and began to paint, glancing over at Anya every now and then. She was also glancing over at him, under the presence of checking he was doing it right - but in fact she couldn’t take her eyes off him. The striped t-shirt he was wearing was riding up a bit, and the small bit of flesh was entrancing her. She had no idea why, but the sight of that small bit of Charlie’s back, normally unseen, was something wonderful to her.

Every time Charlie looked at Anya, he was captured by her beauty. She had flecks of cream paint all over her, blending in to her pale skin at first, but soon standing out. The odd bit of paint had made it to her perfectly coiffed dark hair, and made it look like a perfect night sky. The large shirt she wore over shorts looked tailored to someone far larger than her. The shorts were obviously an old pair of jeans repurposed for decorating purposes. She was a vision of casual beauty, and Charlie was entranced.

They spent the afternoon painting, with the occasional splatter thrown in the other’s direction. Multiple cups of tea were made and drunk by both, with the shop painted in record time. They chatted, Anya explaining that she’d just moved back to the UK from Hawaii, though she didn’t explain why she’d left the Island to come to Causton. Charlie didn’t push the issue, letting her tell him in her own time, if she’d tell him at all. He explained that he’d been transferred from London about 18 months back, and that he was enjoying country life much more than he was expecting, living with his colleague Kate. Neither mentioned a boyfriend or girlfriend, and neither asked.

Throughout the week, Charlie and Anya ran into each other a few times. Once, with DCI Barnaby and Dr Kate Wilding, when Kate made a series of inappropriate comments regarding DS Nelson’s thoughts towards Miss Cook.

Anya was somewhat surprised when Charlie turned up to the opening of her shop that next saturday. She was even more surprised that the Barnabys had showed up too, thinking that a Detective Chief Inspector must have better things to do with his saturday afternoons.

“I said I’d come” Charlie said as he walked over to her, to be handed a cup of coffee and a book wrapped in brown paper.

“You did. Coffee’s on the house and the book is a little gift, Charlie. I think you’ll like it” Anya replied, resting her hand on Charlie’s bare forearm for a moment. This gesture, and the blush it inspired in both of them, was not missed by John and Sarah Barnaby. They looked at each other, and formed a plan in a simple look. DS Charlie Nelson was smitten, and they wanted to do everything and anything they could to help.

“Congratulations Anya, it’s a beautiful shop” Sarah said as she walked over to the young woman who had quickly become her friend.

“Thank you Sarah, it’s been a tough week. I had some help, thankfully, but it’s been hard” Anya replied, looking over towards Charlie, who was charming baby Betty Barnaby.

“Charlie helped?” the older woman asked, amazed that Charlie had been so bold.

“He popped over last saturday to see if I needed a hand and I really really did so he helped me paint” the younger woman explained. Charlie smiled over at her, and she blushed profusely. Anya quickly excused herself to speak to the other people who’d turned up, causing Sarah to look at her husband with a grin that said she had a plan.

Charlie was the last one left in the coffee shop that evening. He and Anya had settled into one of the sofas just as the last customers had been leaving. Charlie didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay there forever with Anya. He’d only known her a week, but he couldn’t ever remember being fonder of a human being.

Luckily for him, although he didn’t know it, Anya felt exactly the same about him. She wanted to be in his company forever.

Charlie decided if he was going to ask Anya about Hawaii and why he left, now was the moment to do it.

“Anya, why did you leave Hawaii?” He asked nervously, arm slung lazily over the back of the sofa behind her. She looked at him, and smiled weakly.

“I was jilted at the altar. I moved to Hawaii because I thought he was the love of my life, but I was wrong” She said quietly.

“He didn’t deserve you” Charlie replied, matching her volume. She looked at him, and nodded slightly. This was all it took for Charlie to kiss her. It was slow at first, Anya’s hand slowly carding through Charlie’s hair, his hand lazily slung over her shoulders, pulling her closer. Things gradually got more heated, before they remembered that they were technically in public.

“Yours or mine?” Anya asked in between kisses.

“Yours. Mine’s got Kate” Charlie replied, moving his lips down towards her jaw and neck. Anya nodded and stood up, leaving Charlie mid-kiss on the sofa. She grabbed their coats and Charlie’s book and threw them towards him. He caught them and smirked at her, quickly kissing her again before walking out the door, letting her lock it behind them.

They stayed a fair distance apart as they walked back to Anya’s house, lest there be a sneaky DCI or Mrs Barnaby watching. They’d both cottoned on to the Barnabys plan to get them together.

The minute they got through the door, they practically threw themselves at each other. Clothes were thrown everywhere, stumbling up the stairs whilst trying to undress without their lips parting. Anya’s bra ended up hanging from a light fitting, and Charlie’s shirt was caught on the handle of Anya’s bedroom door. All that could be heard from Anya’s room that night were moans, groans, screams, and shouts of pleasure from both Charlie and Anya.

The next morning, Charlie snuck out of Anya’s house and made it back to his without being seen by anyone of interest. His hair was still ruffled by the time he got to the office, only a couple of minutes late.

“Late night?” DCI Barnaby asked, a glint in his eye.

“Touch of insomnia, that’s all” Charlie replied, not meeting the gaze of his boss. DCI Barnaby just raised his eyebrows and carried on with his days.

That evening found Charlie back at Anya’s, picking up where they left off that morning. He was hardly through the door before Anya was in his arms.

“Hello” He said, pressing a quick succession of kisses to various parts of Anya’s face.

“Hello hot stuff. Cuppa?” She replied, jumping down and walking into the kitchen where the kettle was boiling. Charlie was surprised. He didn’t know why, after their impressive performance in her bedroom the night before, but he was surprised that Anya had called him hot. He thought she was hot, to be honest.

“Love one” He replied, hanging his coat up on the bannister. He walked through to the kitchen, and found Anya sat on one of the worktops, cozily cupping a mug of tea. She looked pensive.

“What’s up?” He asked, picking up his mug and moving to lean against the counter opposite her.

“What are we, Charlie? Where are we heading?” She asked, sipping her tea, staring into the mug intensely.

“I don’t know...All I know is I’ve never felt like this with anybody before and I never want it to end” Charlie replied, putting his tea down and moving to kiss Anya gently. She reciprocated, but broke it off.

“I’ve never felt like this either, Charlie, and I don’t know what to do. I was meant to be getting married and I never felt like this with him”

“Then what you should do is love me, Anya, because in this short time I’ve fallen in love with you” He said, pressing a kiss to Anya’s forehead.

“I’ve never been in love before, not really - I don’t know what it feels like” She replied, looking up at him.

“Didn’t you love-” Charlie started.

“Not even a quarter as much as I love you” She interrupted. Charlie quickly kissed her, their tea abandoned on the kitchen counter as he carried her up to bed, where they remained for the rest of the night.

Charlie Nelson didn’t believe in soulmates. At least, he didn’t until he met Anya Cook. Then, well, everything was on the cards.

[chill-that-ur-inmyhead]

1. Who was the last person you held hands with? yao

2. Are you outgoing or shy? depends how I feel and the situation usually lean towards outgoing but I have my moments of shyness

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing? my friends and my mum

4. Are you easy to get along with? I like to think so

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you? I don’t like anyone but I’m sure my friends would

6. What kind of people are you attracted to?                                                charming and witty

7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now? doubt it

8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind? Jesus......???? haha no one

9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable? nah it is perfectly natural

10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with? yao

11. What does the most recent text that you sent say? “Yeah it’s insane”

12. What are your 5 favourite songs right now? Taylor Swift - betty                                                                                              Taylor Swift - The last great american dynasty                                                    The Heads and the Heart - Rivers and Roads                                              Rusted Root - Send Me On My Way                                                                  Machine Gun Kelly & Halsey - forget me too

13. Do you like it when people play with your hair? eh sometimes it can be nice sometimes I can only think about dirty hands on my hair

14. Do you believe in luck and miracles? yeah sure

15. What good thing happened this summer? I finally started my driving lessons and overcame my fear

16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? eh if it happens it happens but if not I’ll live

17. Do you think there is life on other planets? I hope so

18. Do you still talk to your first crush? nope

19. Do you like bubble baths? yep

20. Do you like your neighbours? yep they’re chill

21. What are your bad habits? nosiness

22. Where would you like to travel? Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, America, Canada literally EVERYWHERE!!! 

23. Do you have trust issues? ehhhh I have issues but idk if trust is my main one

24. Favourite part of your daily routine? making lunch and a smoothie yum

25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with? my hips and thighs like why are you so big!!!!

26. What do you do when you wake up? check my phone for the time

27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker? just a lil tan wouldn’t hurt... a nice golden glow yenno

28. Who are you most comfortable around? myself

29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up? nope! whoops haha

30. Do you ever want to get married? possibly

31. Is your hair long enough for a pony tail? yes 32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with? Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet 

33. Spell your name with your chin. bnzrerejketr (no where near)

34. Do you play sports? What sports? netball

35. Would you rather live without TV or music? surprisingly tv... music has been a solace in the pandemic and can’t give it up

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them? ofc

37. What do you say during awkward silences? nothing just let the awkwardness seep in 

38. Describe your dream girl/guy? thinks I am witty and charming ahah

39. What are your favorite stores to shop in? asos... I guess I shop on instead of in

40. What do you want to do after high school? go to uni. check! now what? who knows

41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance? depends if there are people waiting for their first

42. If you’re being extremely quiet what does it mean? I’m daydreaming

43. Do you smile at strangers? more like I try to have a neutral face

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean? ocean forever

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning? daylight

46. What are you paranoid about? being boring

47. Have you ever been high? yep

48. Have you ever been drunk? yep

49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about? no???

50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore? pink

51. Ever wished you were someone else? Jane Fonda

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself? my metabolism, it is so slow

53. Favourite makeup brand? nars and urban decay

54. Favourite store? asos

55. Favourite blog? ?????

56. Favourite colour? red

57. Favourite food? chinese

58. Last thing you ate? chocolate covered raisins

59. First thing you ate this morning? fish finger wrap

60. Ever won a competition? For what? yes!!! I won tickets to see hamilton in 2018 for my friend and I (!!!!!!) when I got the notification that I won I was shaking with excitement

61. Been suspended/expelled? For what? nope

62. Been arrested? For what? nope

63. Ever been in love? I have loved, but in love? who knows

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss? I don’t remember it tbh haha

65. Are you hungry right now? I’m chilling

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends? nope

67. Facebook or Twitter? Twitter

68. Twitter or Tumblr? Twitter

69. Are you watching tv right now? nope

70. Names of your pets (If any)? used to have rabbits called, bonnie, pip and Barnaby but the first two past away and we had to re house the latter

71. Craving something? What? nah

72. What colour are your towels? sandy brown and pink

72. How many pillows do you sleep with? uno

73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? nope

74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have? i used to have around 20 but now they’re down to 5 kept in a memory box

75. Favourite animal? dolphin

76. What colour is your underwear? black

77. Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate

78. Favourite ice cream flavour? coffee

79. What colour shirt are you wearing?                                                              pink

80. What colour pants? navy blue

81. Favourite tv show? gilmore girls, grace and frankie and the office (us)

82. Favourite movie? Bridget Jones’s Diary

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2? Mean Girls

84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street? Mean Girls

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls? Kevin G haha

86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo? Bruce

87. First person you talked to today? padre

88. Last person you talked to today? padre

89. Name a person you hate? my old estate agent

90. Name a person you love? family

91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now? nope

92. In a fight with someone? nope

93. How many sweatpants do you have? one purple pair and they’re so baggy and comfy I love them

94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have? 2 - first is pink from glossier and the second is purple from hilfiger 

95. Last movie you watched? easy a

96. Favourite actress? saoirse ronan

97. Favourite actor? timothee chalamet

98. Do you tan a lot? not as much as I’d like

99. Have any pets? only fish

100. How are you feeling? sleepy

101. Do you type fast? ish

102. Do you regret anything from your past? that I didn’t learn to drive at 17

103. Can you spell well? I like to think so

104. Do you miss anyone from your past? nah

105. Ever been to a bonfire party? hmmm don’t think so

106. Ever broken someone’s heart? maybe

107. Have you ever been on a horse? yes

108. What should you be doing? sleeping

109. Is something irritating you right now? my back

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt? yes

111. Do you have a full length mirror in your room? yes

112. Who was the last person you cried in front of? my family probably

113. What was your childhood nickname? H

114. Have you ever been out of your province/state? yep

115. Do you play the Wii? not anymore

116. Are you listening to music right now? yep - Taylor Swift, the archer

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup? yep

118. Do you like Chinese food? love

119. Favourite book? Ian McEwan Atonement

120. Are you afraid of the dark? not anymore

121. Are you mean? I try not to be

122. Is cheating ever okay? nah

123. Can you keep white shoes clean? yep

124. Do you believe in love at first sight? no more like lust at first sight

125. Do you believe in true love? for sure

126. Are you currently bored? ofc

127. What makes you happy? socialising, shopping, drinking

128. Would you change your name? probably not

129. What your zodiac sign? aquarius

130. Do you like subway? yep 

131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? he wouldn’t, he is 110% gay

132. Who’s the last person you called? Betty but she didn’t answer 

133. Favourite lyrics right now? “I’m only 17, I don’t know anything but I know I miss you” - betty, Taylor Swift

134. Can you count to one million? nope and I wouldn’t care to try

135. Dumbest lie you ever told? that I owned a horse, no I didn’t, I just went riding

136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed? closed

137. How tall are you? 5′5

138. Curly or Straight hair? wavy

139. Brunette or Blonde? blonde

140. Summer or Winter? winter

141. Night or Day? night

142. Favourite month? september

143. Are you a vegetarian? nope

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate? dark

145. Tea or Coffee? tea

146. Was today a good day? it was average

147. Mars or Snickers? snickers

148. What’s your favourite quote? “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay then it’s not the end” - Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie

149. Do you believe in ghosts? nah

150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page? “Two years later, in spite of her doctor’s warnings, mother took a final stab at having a son” My Life So Far, Jane Fonda 

[theloniousbach]

Week 33: Resist/s/urge: An Epilogue

[This entry concludes a weekly series of Facebook posts started as I sought to cope with going on lockdown.  Though we may well be heading back or should be, I have ended the series.  They are no more than ephemeral, but I archive this one as a record of the series.]

My title is meant to mash up “resist surge” and “resists urge” as I bring to an undoubtedly temporary end to this series which I started as we headed into lockdown.  I used it to focus on how I was coping—how as a measure and how as methods.  I shifted the heading every eight weeks as it seemed that we and I were entering new phases.  

We are certainly entering a new “resist surge” phase as we seem to have had almost 100,000 new cases yesterday and deaths over 1,000 the day before and nearly that many yesterday.  Most states are surging as is Europe and Latin America.  So, despite the profound US leadership crisis, the problems are not even primarily of that character.  It is not who is captain of the Titanic but that we are on poorly designed vessel sailing into a sea of icebergs.

It is also odd to suspend this series right as we end a US Presidential Election cycle where this issue is at the center.  But I have easily “resists urge” to write about that.  More challenging to resist is the urge to write about the broader, more fundamental politics underlying it.  I have such opinions and lived them in my 20s and 30s with pride and no regrets.  But this format is far from the avenue for those discussions—and, frankly, dear readers, even the young ones, for those discussions to matter very different social forces will be involved and lead them.

But I felt the series drifting in that direction as I have been settling into personal solutions to the profound challenges are living through.  So, it’s time for a balance sheet and an epilogue for now.  Again, there are new challenges/icebergs on the horizon.

But I started with addressing how I would keep body and soul together with attention, focusing on physical and mental health in the face of stress.  I continued and continue with intermittent fasting and, rather than the pandemic 15, I have continued to get rid of that middle aged gut and my weight is down 3% (rather than up 10%).  I am back in the range I was 30-35 years ago, but I am well aware that I don’t have the body of a 30 year old.  

Still I might be as fit as I have ever been.  From the start, I knew that daily exercise was key—and daily walks had been my prime exercise for year.  They were and are important for getting out of the house.  But I made daily yoga the focus witchin that first month.  I’ve been doing yoga fairly regularly for over 20 years, since I gave up alcohol as part of a detox prompted by getting off Codeine 3 for a long term bout with kidney stones in 1999 that culminated in surgery.  So I know my poses and had been using Yoga with Adrienne once or twice a week for several years.  I ramped it up with her several annual 30 Days of Yoga series working my way through all of them.  Now I’m a subscriber and follow mostly her daily classes.  I have much better muscle tone, posture, and lung capacity.

So, with the body part of body and soul going, I took up soul in parallel.  

I rolled with the punches with work and teaching fairly well, adjusting to the technology and tempo of remote work.  I am productive in ways that I couldn’t/cannot be at the office and feel connected to students and colleagues.  I get enough peopling in.

But, as someone important once said, life begins when this activity ceases, at the table, at the tavern, in bed.  Now the sale of my labor power is complicated and elements of it truly are unalienated and the rest of it is certainly rewarding and meaningful.  But it is alienated in the sense that, at 65 years of age, I can see the day looming when I can choose not to do it.  Life begins when I do the things I doubled down on to keep soul together.

STORIES—At first it was quite hard to concentrate and I could not read anything with a long arc.  So I read the Decameron, a story or two, but no more than three, a day until I had all 100.  It was a story of plague and distraction, so it fit. I also discovered streaming plays at first from the National Theatre of London but soon the Globe and Stratford Festival.  I homed in on Shakespeare, particularly lesser known plays.  That welcome habit has fallen off and I have missed an October series of three Shakespeare plays from a National Theatre partner.  But it is an acquisition that I hope to foster and grow.

I settled back into novels soon enough with mysteries mostly.  Right now, I’m rereading Elsa Hart’s The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne to teach and for a Webster University Book Club with my class and Elsa herself.  Since she is someone I take my beginner’s questions about my retirement project book, it is useful to outline it on this reread as I took my note taking to a deeper, multiple purpose level.  Recently I got caught up in the 1632 universe of alternate history.  There have been several Anna Eliot/Charles Veley Sherlock Holmes/Lucy James pastiche novellas which are also good to study for my own project.  I got back into mysteries by rereading, 35 years on, the Martin Beck series on the occasion of Maj Sjowall’s death.  I also dipped into the Hogarth Shakespeare series to see how modern authors dealt with the very challenging source material of “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Merchant of Venice” which were part of the theater season.  There were also a couple of Jodi Taylor St. Mary’s/Time Police novels as I keep up on that series.

SCHOLARSHIP—My teaching, an unalienated part of my labor and the part that I will do after retirement from the day job, has been rewarding.  I took Science in the News remote and asynchronous as we locked down.  That worked in the moment as I could make COVID our subject matter (because that what we were all studying anyway) and could think about how the world was testing us far more than I as a teacher could.  So I could relax about some of the mechanics.  I had already built eight weeks of rapport with them, so that helped too.  My current class happens synchronously but largely remotely.  It’s topic—the role of place—has been a way to test some concepts (place as human constructed, therefore rich in history worth studying, and where community happens) that are part of a broader collaboration that may result in a conference.

As we were shutting down, I had made some significant changes to my “last” Edgar Anderson paper for the Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden with Gar Allen’s suggestions.  It received further polishing from the Annals editor and also pal Peter Hoch.  So it is well and truly done, set to appear in the last quarterly paper issue of that renowned journal.  While I have said it’s the “last” Edgar paper, gee, maybe I could write about his collaboration with Pioneer Hi Bred Seed Company and so might see if Agricultural History might want it.

Place and a historical mystery are where my intellectual interests will shift.

MUSIC—The biggest threat of the pandemic is/was the loss of live music.  That very first weekend of lockdown I had the decision to not go taken out of my hands by cancellations of the SF Jazz Collective celebrating Miles Davis’s In a Silent Way and Sly Stone’s Stand at the Sheldon and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (where I have invested my Deadhead energy as I don’t think I’ll see any original members again, though talk about “resists urge” pressures) at the Pageant.  Those cancellations were sensible and necessary, but gee it would have been hard to make the decision to stay home.  

The pull for live music is that strong.  

But I’ve found it in ways that might even make for more opportunities.Jorma Kaukonen has done two dozen Quarantine Concerts, mostly solo with local friends from his Fur Peace Ranch operation, but Jack Casady came in for two shows in July and is around currently with the third show tonight.  Kaukonen is not only musically formative, but so forthrightly himself that it is comfortable to be with him.  I have similar warm feelings of connection with Larkin Poe who are extending the southern Americana blues roots etc tradition with slide guitar and killer vocals.  They have done various streams, both from their spare bedrooms to empty venues with their band.

The piano has been key and, at first, the recitals under the auspices of the 92nd Street Y and Fred Hersch’s almost 40 Tunes of the Day were the start.  The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the BBC 4/Wigmore Hall collaboration (with the helpful YouTube algorithm kicking in) gave me more choices.  Wigmore Hall is my go to source and through them I have seen Angela Hewitt wrap up her Bach cycle and Andras Schiff dig into the last three Beethoven Piano Sonatas.  I have discovered key parts of the horn repertoire including the Brahms Trio and the Mozart and Beethoven Wind Quintets and some of the clarinet chamber works (watching Gassenheuer for example.  I’ll click on most cello sonatas and ensembles and all piano trios.  There is something about this listening that has paid benefits to my jazz listening, particularly more challenging out there works, as I can hear structural elements better.

Jazz is my go to though and there is a wealth of in real time performances as if we really were in New York and had to choose between the Jazz Gallery (got a membership), the Vanguard (an annoying platform but top drawer stuff), the Blue Note, Smoke, and Small’s (a place to check for up and comers but also, with a contribution, through their archive, people who upped and came on the scene).  I have seen folks I wouldn’t have otherwise—George Cables, last night Oliver Lake/Reggie Workman/Andrew Cyrille, David Murray, Billy Hart with Mark Turner, Kenny Werner, Omer Avital.  It goes on and on.  I have lots of Couch Tour FB Note/Tumblr entries.

I was playing piano lots until we went on vacation, exploring how tunes fit together.  Nothing ready to unplug the headphones even for Ellen, but rewarding.  I have a new tune, “Everything Happens To Me” to understand, so I think that habit is returning.  But I do sit at the piano frequently for my almost weekly discussions with a young singer/songwriter/marching band tuba player about music theory where we explore things together.  They’re free to her and she still may be getting a bad deal but it’s part of keeping my body and SOUL together.  Between her, Jorma, and my own inclination, I do play lots of guitar and that helps too.

But it is WRITING that has been my biggest solace.  I come out of this experience comfortable saying I don’t just like to write and that I have a decent body of published work but I am a writer.  It’s how I live in the world.  It’s how I pin down my musical experiences for example.  

But obviously this series itself about coping with the pandemic is how I have coped with the pandemic.  I treasure that more of you have read these than I would imagine and I do take you all into account somewhat as I write these.  I want them to be organized, appealing, and clear.  But I am a writer and I would do this even if you weren’t here.  But social media means that I’m not Franz Kafka or Emily Dickinson writing to make sense of the world but creating papers that they would just as soon be destroyed.  That said, these are thoroughly ephemeral and this one will be the only one in the series curated in the sense that it’s on my Tumblr.

So, I am a writer who makes sense of the world by writing.  The world will call me to write by being insensible.  Very soon very likely.  But this series has run its course.  So as we resist the surge, I will resist the urge to do the same old thing.

Still I bet I see you soon.

[storiebookproductions]

Letters From Me To You

This is the tag drabble I postponed until today lol. I keep writing, and then my writing is like, you want to do it that way? You sure? We’ll just do it this way instead.

Barnaby doesn’t know where Percy keeps his letters.

They’ve known each other for seven years now, pen-pals for the first four of them and in those four years of writing to each other, Barnaby has close to fifty letters he’s kept. From Brazil to Southern Australia and then to America when Percy moved.  It’s over one hundred pages of their friendship, all the way up until they meet in real life for the first time.

 But he doesn’t see a single envelope - no stationary, none of the pens Percy writes with. Anywhere.

Barnaby doesn’t know where Percy keeps his letters.

They’ve known each other for seven years now, penpals for the first four of them and in those four years of writing to each other, Barnaby has close to fifty letters he’s kept. From Brazil to Southern Australia and then to America when Percy moved.  It’s over one hundred pages of their friendship, all the way up until they meet in real life for the first time.

They stopped exchanging them after that. When Barnaby moved to America too, their interactions became long phone calls that went into the early morning, getting lunch and meeting up, conversations stretching on for hours, and sometimes no conversation at all.

Being friends with Percy was always easy. Knowing each other face to face, a warm hand on his, was natural.

But. Barnaby doesn’t know where Percy’s letters are. He’s been in his house and room (tens of times), but he doesn’t see a single envelope - no stationary, none of the pens Percy writes with. Anywhere.

Percy knows where Barnaby keeps his. Every envelope bursting with ten page or fifteen page letters and postcards are in manila folders in his desk drawer. He makes sure they’re there every night when he goes to bed and every morning when he wakes up.

(No one questions him when they see it, but Barnaby isn’t afraid to admit that he’s scared of them not being there. That somehow the last four years have been some fever dream and he’ll wake up on the streets again, pocket knife gripped in his hand from underneath his bag. )  

He’s afraid that his boyfriend - his best friend - doesn’t care about their shared history as much as he does. And that thought terrifies him.

Rowan, his sibling, tells him to just ask Percy about it.

“Bar, I know you’re worried.” They say doing their hair. “But Percy isn’t a mind reader - and neither are you.”

Barnaby flops over onto Rowan’s bed. “I know.” He groans. “But Ro, what if Percy just…doesn’t care?”

Rowan turns to gives him an unimpressed look. “We both know that isn’t true.” They say. “Those letters meant everything to him before he started living with his dad.”

And Barnaby knows it is true. Percy told him that himself. Serious conversations and things he had to be told because some things Percy never put onto paper. Even knowing that their friendship means the world to him, it takes Barnaby a solid week and a half to work up the courage to ask.

He’s sitting on Percy’s lumpy bed, posing as he paints him. The walls of his room are littered with paintings, most of nature and Barnaby, but there are few self portraits, done in clashing colors and mixed mediums. Paints and sketchbooks are littered on his desk and dresser and nightstand and other than the bed and art supplies and easel, Percy’s room doesn’t have much else.

( In the back of his closest though, there’s a book bag packed with clothes and enough money to eat for a month that Barnaby pretends not to know about, just like Percy pretends not to know about his.)

Barnaby drums his fingers absently on his legs and bites on his lip, folding and unfolding an origami crane. There’s a collection of them slowly building around him, and after the eleventh or so, Percy gave him a long, impassive look before tilting his head and going back to the canvas.

Barnaby tugs on the edges of his binder. “Uh, Percy?” He starts and Percy pauses where he stands, wrist bent at an angle, paint brush poised.

“Y-yeah?” He says. “W-w-what’s up? Do you need a break?”

“Where do you keep your letters?” Barnaby blurts out. Not causal, not practiced. Just rushed and he can feel heat rush to his face.

Percy really looks at him, eyes wide and lips parted to show off his gapped front teeth. He blushes too, barely visible on his olive skin, and even though Barnaby is just as embarrassed, he still finds it cute.

“O-oh.” He warbles out.

“You-you don’t have to tell me, or show me.” Barnaby tries to amend. “I’m sorry, it’s just that, uh -”

“Barnaby,” Percy interrupts and puts his brushes onto a cup of water, marked “PAINT”. “It’s-it’s alright. You just surprised me.”

Barnaby flops over on the bed, crushing some cranes, and looks up at Percy. He’s fidgeting with his fingernails and when their eyes meet he doesn’t hold contact for long, but Barnaby’s used to that.

He turns his head to the bed. “Sorry for interrupting your painting.” He mumbles into the comforter.

“We-we needed a break anyw-w-way.” He smiles, because he’s Percy and even if he was bothered, he’d try to hide as much as possible. But Barnaby was holding that pose for two hours, so it was time for a break.

He rolls off the bed and Percy covers the canvas as he struggles to recover from almost tripping onto his face.

“You always do that.” He says pretending he didn’t almost fall on his face and Percy laughs.

“Bad luck.” He huffs and starts turning around his mattress.

“Bad luck to let your boyfriend see the painting he’s been posing for?” He jokes and Percy’s reply is muffled as he digs through the space between the wall and his mattress. When Percy comes back up, Barnaby stops laughing.

In Percy’s hands are several plastic folders, all bursting with envelopes

“These are them?” Barnaby asks. Of course those are them, what else would they be.

Percy’s smile grows a little embarrassed, but he nods, holding onto them tight.

“Yeah, these are all of them.” He says and glances at the door. No one is in his dad’s house but them.

“Do you want me to lock the door?” Barnaby asks and Percy purses his lips, but nods anyway.

He walks over to the door, and it locks with a soft click. Barnaby knows that locking doors doesn’t stop much, this type of lock doesn’t even need a key to be unlocked, but when he turns back to Percy, he’s sitting on his mattress, a soft and goofy smile on his face.

“Thanks, Barnlbee.” He says and Barnaby smiles back at the nickname. He sits next to Percy and this close he can see how his shoulders are lax, his jaw unclenched. His mattress is also significantly softer than it was before.

“No problem, Perc.” He scoots closer and lays his head on Percy’s shoulder. “So that’s them?”

Percy blushes again and fiddles with the folders. “Y-yeah, all th-these are all of them. You, uh, already know my-my mom, w-w-went th-through my stuff, so I try to hide them better.”

Barnaby lifts his head, looking at Percy. His eyebrows furrow and he tries not to glare at Percy. “Your sister and you’re dad don’t do that, do they?”

Percy looks down at the folders shakes his head. “No. But, uh, I w-want to be careful. Th-these are the letters from you to me, and, w-well, you know. ”

Barnaby hums and puts his head back on Percy’s shoulder. He wishes they didn’t have to worry about being careful. Percy shouldn’t have had to deal with his mom for the fifteen years he did and Barnaby shouldn’t have had to start writing only in Portuguese, just in case anyone tried reading his mail again.

They go over some of the better ones - some of them are light-hearted and filled with bad knock-knock jokes and idioms that don’t translate well. There’s the letter where Barnaby tells Percy he has to be more assertive, the one where  Barnaby wonders how his hair would look cut and dyed. The letter after that, being Barnaby complaining how bad his hair looks.

There’s postcards of São Paulo and from Rio de Janeiro. A lot of it is correctng verb usage.

The light-hearted ones are only up until letter fifteen. Sixteen through forty-seven become advice on living on the streets and avoiding truancy officers.Tear drops and rain making the ink run on some of them, but they know exactly what they say. There are carefree moments within them, but there also weren’t too much carefree ones before.

The winter that Percy felt safe for the first time in years, is overshadowed by the fact that at night, he had no bed to go back to. The time Barnaby befriended a dog was ruined when he couldn’t prove it was his by going back to his house.

They stop looking at them after an hour or so, and Percy puts the letters back, pushing the mattress back and Barnaby watches as he slides it back against the wall.

“Wait, Perc,” He says and Percy tilts his head, going back to the easel.  “Did you…did you gut your bed?” He asks and Percy stops and turns away from Barnaby.

“No,” He mumbles,but the tips of his ears are red.

“Is this why your bed is so lumpy? Babe?” He laughs and Percy puts his head in his hands.

“Barnaby, please.” He groans.

He giggles again and tries to pry his fingers from his face. “Percy, c’mon you’re clogging your pores.”

“I have no space to put-put them.” He says and gestures with one hand to his room.

Barnaby catches his hand and tangles their fingers together. “You can always clean your room?”

Percy removes his other hand from his face and glares at him. “No th-thanks.” He mutters and sends Barnaby into another fit of giggles.

“Okay, okay,” He concedes and leans up to kiss his boyfriend. “Thank you for indulging me.”

Percy still looks embarrassed, but smiles. “Anyth-thing for you, Barnlbee.”

“Anything for you too, Percy.” He smiles back.

[adelaideattractions]

Bob's love affair that shocked Australia

The affair between Bob Hawke and Blanche dAlpuget was once the most scandalous in Australian political history, but it morphed into one of the nations greatest love stories. The public was outraged in 1991 when it emerged that the beloved, larrikin prime minster was leaving his wife of 38 years to marry a beautiful, blonde writer 14 years his junior, just four years after he had left office. The pair, it transpired, had been meeting for clandestine trysts for almost two decades. It triggered a media storm, with the press camping outside Ms dAlpugets home, chasing her down the street and publishing cartoons. But after the revelations about Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyces affair with staffer Vikki Campion superseded hers in infamy, the author told news.com.au it could have been far worse.

media_cameraThe revelation of Bob Hawke and Blanche dAlpugets 20-year affair scandalised Australia.

media_cameraWriter Ms dAlpuget paid tribute to the love of her life after he died aged 89. Picture: Supplied/Nine It would be a lot more brutal now, she told news.com.au last year. Its one of the reasons democracy is going down the gurgler everywhere. Its because good, strong people arent going into politics because of social media they dont want to get themselves and their families put through it. (These days) everybodys got a camera in their pocket. Politicians are now walking on eggshells the whole time ... there is a great puritanism thats fallen upon us. Last night, Mr Hawke died peacefully at home, aged 89, and Ms dAlpuget released a statement. Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era ... Bob was dearly loved by his family, and so many friends and colleagues. We will miss him. Mr Hawke was first married in 1956 to Hazel Masterson, who he met while he was at university in Perth, and the couple had four children together Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn and Robert Jr, who died in childhood. RELATED: Bob Hawke predicted his own death RELATED: Former PMs death to impact federal election

media_cameraThe former prime minister married wife Hazel in 1956 after they met in Perth.

media_cameraThe couple of 38 years had four children together. Picture: Supplied Mrs Hawke was the steadfast wife who stood by her husband as he led the Australian Council of Trade Unions in the 1970s, entered Parliament and served as Prime Minister from 1983 to 1991. But the much-admired Labor leader had a long-held secret. In April 1970, the then-ACTU president met Ms dAlpuget at a party in Jakarta a moment that would change their lives forever. She was living in Indonesia with her new husband, diplomat Tony Pratt, who she was very keen on, she told Mamamias No Filter podcast last year. Six years on, with her marriage going down the drain, Ms dAlpuget interviewed Mr Hawke for a biography on arbitrator Sir Richard Kirby. The click was different, she said and at the time, affairs were par for the course. The pair embarked on an affair that would last almost 20 years, throughout Mr Hawkes Prime Ministership. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, things were a lot wilder than they are now, she said.

media_cameraIn 1976, Mr Hawke embarked on a passionate affair with journalist Ms dAlpuget.

media_cameraThe Australian Council of Trade Unions leader felt unable to pursue his love as he rose to power. But there was more. Ive been in love with Bob since 1976, she told news.com.au. I fell in love with his character. He was a man of absolutely good character, as far as I was concerned. He was clever and genuinely charismatic. Hes a man of enormous compassion, and I saw all of those things. She had been going through a storeroom filled with old photographs, and could immediately tell the difference between the ones taken while she was with Bob, and the ones that predated their relationship. For many years, I just didnt look happy, she said. But the times when I was with him? I was a happy woman. These last 25 years have been the happiest of my life. In the late 1970s, Ms d'Alpuget went through a period of intense despair and contemplated suicide and even stabbing her lover when Mr Hawke tried to refocus on his marriage as he worked towards becoming prime minister.

media_cameraHe became the longest-serving Labor prime minister. Picture: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

media_cameraIt was only after he was replaced by Paul Keating that Mr Hawke felt able to divorce Mrs Hawke and marry Ms d'Alpuget. Picture: Richard Dobson I went through that dark night of the soul when we broke up, she told The Weekend Australian Magazine in 2017. And I came out the other side. I got over it. And then I really flung myself into writing, which is one of the great curative and healing processes. In 1978, after a vivid dream, the 49-year-old ACTU president asked the 34-year-old journalist to marry him in a Canberra hotel room. But a year later, as his campaign for a federal seat developed, he changed his mind. Divorce could cost Labor three per cent, he had fretted several times, back when this was an issue for us, she wrote in her 2008 book On Lust and Longing. As it turned out, he made the right decision: for himself, for me, for his family, for mine, for his party and, as became obvious, for the nation. Despite being deeply attracted to each other, madly in love, the pair resigned themselves to a sporadic love affair to the sake of the Labor MPs wife and the country, while Ms d'Alpuget worked on a biography. She said the book helped to persuade those who mattered to make him the leader of his party, from which point electoral success was assured, and her research helped him stop his problem drinking. Their relationship was an open secret, but neither she nor Mrs Hawke could tear themselves away from the charismatic leader. Each of us asked the other to leave, Ms d'Alpuget said. Neither of us did.

media_cameraThe scandal rocked Australia, with the public and Mr Hawkes children turning against the couple.

media_cameraBut their love has stood the test of time, and Ms d'Alpuget will one day be buried alongside her husband. Picture: Patrick Riviere/Getty Images He went on to the highest approval rating of any Australian PM in history: 75 per cent in November 1984. It is a level of popularity that is a far-off dream for current Labor leader and Australias possible next prime minister, Bill Shorten, who also left his ex-wife for a new bride after entering political life. The longest-serving Labor prime minister finally divorced his wife in 1995, four years after he was replaced by his deputy Paul Keating, following a freak accident that made him realise how much he needed to make his mistress his spouse. Ms dAlpuget was in a sea plane in far-north Queensland writing an article on the Great Barrier Reef when it crashed and the six passengers had to swim out of the window. As fuel poured out of the aircraft, a yachtsman picked them up in a dinghy and ferried them to Hamilton Island. The one phone call I made was to Go Between, the man who was (her and Mr Hawkes) secret contact, she told Mamamia. But he was a drama queen and he rang up Bob and said, Bob, Blanche has been in a plane crash, and he paused. Bob said in that moment he felt himself die. And then the man added, But shes all right. But it was just that instant; he knew then that, had I died, his life wouldnt have been worth living. At 64, the former Prime Minister announced his separation from his wife publicly, declared his love Ms d'Alpuget. Within two years, his divorce was finalised, and eight months later, he and Ms dAlpuget married in Sydney.

media_cameraA plane crash that almost killed his mistress convinced Mr Hawke he needed to be with the love of his life. Picture: Gregg Porteous

media_cameraThe affair hurt his family, but the former PMs children eventually came to be close to Ms d'Alpuget. Picture: Megan Slade It took an enormous amount of courage on Bobs part, she told The Australian. It took much more courage on his part than on mine. Because I was a single woman, divorced. But he was married. The whole country expected him to behave in this way and was unaware of what his true feelings were and so were bound to be shocked, angered and amazed when they discovered them. Mr Hawkes children were furious, and shunned their fathers new wife. But the relationship endured, and they are now close. Mrs Hawke died in 2013 from dementia-related complications, aged 83. Mr Hawke visited her before she died and formally apologised for the toll his affair had taken on the family after her death. I remember Hazel with deep affection and gratitude, he said in a statement. She was more than a wife and mother, being father as well during my frequent absences as I pursued an industrial then political career. In 2015, when the Labor leader nearly died of a stomach bug he picked up from the Middle East, and Ms d'Alpuget was by his side in the Sydney hospital. It was then that she picked out the place where they would one day lie together in a cemetery. The graves are side-by-side, she said. We chose a spot where the public can come. Itll be nice. Its in a rose garden and theres a seat there so if a member of the public wants to come and have a sit, they can. Originally published as Bobs love affair that shocked Australia https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/the-affair-that-scandalised-australia-bob-hawkes-20year-affair-with-blanche-dalpuget/news-story/cc4d90920d1fd2e1db2361ccd13d8d2b?from=htc_rss

[snarktheater]

The Chemist — Chapter 26

We open the chapter after Val's worked her makeup magic on Alex (and more descriptions of how ridiculously large Val's apartment is). And of course, Alex is now "perfect", by which we mean pretty. Val also insists she could make Alex sexier if Alex didn't insist on being inconspicuous. But she did need to be pretty for some reason? I get hiding the bruises, but the rest is just weird.

The two of them banter for a while about looks and Daniel, a.k.a. the only range of girly topics Meyer knows.

“Thanks for passing your observations on to Kevin.” “You’re being sarcastic, but you should thank me. Aren’t things easier now, without the secrecy?”

Anyway, plot-wise, this means Alex can move forward with her plans without constantly worrying about having to avoid being noticed. But first, the obligatory scene where the boys react to Alex's makeover in admiration. I mean, this is essentially what this is: a makeover. You may call it a disguise, but it's pretty clear from the narration that you only care about looking pretty.

“I’d gotten so used to seeing you with the bruises, I’d almost forgotten what you looked like without them,” [Daniel] said, and then his grin got wider. “It’s nice to see you again.”

"Again"…with a ton of makeup. Which I don't think she was wearing the first time. Something tell me Daniel isn't all that observant.

But the plot does eventually advance, as Alex heads out to place a tracker on Carston's housekeeper's minivan. Which the book doesn't seem to think is interesting enough on its own (and…can't really fault it there), so we also have Alex calling Daniel to "act natural" in the street, forcing us to suffer their pseudo-domestic banter, because Meyer can't imagine any couple that isn't a suburban married couple with mundane interests.

Oh, but if you think "what do you want for dinner?" is boring, wait until they get to talking about politics.

“You don’t care who the president runs with?” [Daniel] asked. […] “Ventriloquist dummies […] I don’t worry about the puppet,” Kevin said. “I worry about the guy pulling the strings.” “That’s a pretty cynical attitude about the democratic nation you used to work for.” Kevin shrugged. “Yup.” “Alex, Republican or Democrat?” Daniel asked. “Pessimist.”

Yeah, because having political ideals and caring about the state of your country isn't cool. It's for those other people. You're so edgy, Meyer.

But seriously…why is this here? No one was talking about politics until now. I assume your non-answer here is because you don't want to alienate any potential reader, but…again, what's the point of bringing it up at all?

Oh, but it's not over.

“So nobody cares that the front-runner is some ultra-right senator from Washington State who used to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency?”

Considering when this book came out, and what's going on right now, this is making me both uncomfortable and amused. I mean, ultra-right is correct, but the rest? Could not be more incorrect.

“It’s sad, but you’re probably right. Just a beauty pageant.” “Everything is, honey,” Val told him.”

Okay, now I'm just uncomfortable. Oh, but wait. It gets stranger as they keep talking about the candidate to the vice presidency.

“Plus, the new guy is one part grandpa, one part silver fox, with a catchy two-syllable name.” […] “Vice President Pace. Do you think he was born with that name, or did he alter it to make it voter-friendly? Wade Pace.”

This…can't be a coincidence, right? And if it isn't…what exactly is Meyer saying here?

Oh, but wait. It's actually a plot point. Yes, not-Pence here is our P-name winner of the Juliana Acronym Lottery.

“That name… it sounds familiar.” “I think everyone knows his name,” Daniel said. […] “I don’t follow politics,” Alex said.”

How did you do your job as an interrogator if you had no idea what was going on in the world? You realize politics isn't just about campaigning, right?

Eh, whatever. By the magic of coincidences (and really contrived conversations), we have our candidate to the highest element in our little conspiracy. Except he's now candidate to the vice presidency. But since he's only candidate, that means the Secret Service isn't protecting him yet, which means it's the perfect time to strike, according to Kevin. Sure. Sounds like a great plan. No one will notice!

“So he put a hit out on me, my brother, you, your friend… so he could try to be president. Oh, I’m going to enjoy this one.”

So, um…you're not even going to investigate a little? You're just going with Alex's instinct on this one? First name with a P that she hears is the right one and we're not gonna question that at least a little? Well all right then, I guess.

Oh, and they're going to straight to planning assassination, by the way.

“Quiet is the goal, right? It won’t get too much attention if our wannabe president dies of a heart attack or a stroke – not the same coverage as if he were found shot in some kind of home invasion.” “I can be quiet,” Kevin insisted. His eyebrows were pulling down into a scowl. “Natural-causes quiet?”

Alex asks for a few days to adapt her Carston plan to Pace, and…Kevin argues with that. Yes, he once again wants to improvise the assassination of a candidate to the vice presidency. Great idea, Kevin, you are truly showing how much of a competent agent you are.

Daniel breaks up their argument with the standard "let's just team up again" statement, i.e. have Kevin carry out Alex's plan. And do so within a few hours. Yes, really. This book is fucking insane. Actually, it's so insane that we don't even wait for the next chapter to do this. One scene break later, Kevin's inside Pace's home, with Alex remotely guiding him. By which I mean she just tells him to find something only Pace would use and poison that, because she'd feel guilty if they killed his wife too.

From everything Alex had learned in her hurried research about the senator’s wife, Mrs. Merritt-Pace seemed a pleasant enough woman. Certainly not deserving of the painful death her husband was about to suffer.

Yeah, well, to be fair, I hope a senator's wife is able to hide her skeletons in her closet enough that a couple hours online won't turn them up. Otherwise she wouldn't be very good at politics, which she probably plays too, being a senator's wife in the midst of a presidential campaign.

We waste a few pages trying to find what to poison, they settle on poisoning his nicotine patches, and…that's it, I guess. Kevin goes on to "target number two" (which I assume is his former boss?) while telling Alex to take care of her own guy. Because they can't cooperate on all three for…some reason.

So, after a nap, we cut to Alex watching Carston's housekeeper with a different makeup and wig. The point being, Carston likes organic orange juice, so Alex buys some while the housekeeper does Carston's groceries, poisons them, and switches them around.

She and Barnaby had called this drug simply Heart Attack, because that’s what it caused.

Someone please stop Stephenie Meyer. She has no idea how scientists work.

A man of Carston’s age, in his physical condition, and factoring in the high-stress job – well, Alex greatly doubted that anyone would look too carefully at the cause of death, at least in the very beginning.

Yeah, why would anyone investigate on the death of a spy, right? That's just ridiculous!

Only problem is: Alex notices that the housekeeper isn't buying the same things as usual, and that's bad because Carston has his habits (also something that totally works with his life as a spy), and that makes Alex worry she might kill the wrong person and alert Carston that she's still alive and around.

Luckily, Alex has just spent the earlier parts of this chapter listening to Carston's calls, so she just so happens to know that Carston has his granddaughter over. She hesitates, misses her window of opportunity. And because the book realized that this was not a very compelling way to add tension, she suddenly gets a call from Kevin, except no one's talking on the other end of the line.

Alex almost said, Kevin? Four years of paranoia stopped her tongue.

So instead she gets rid of her phone and prepares her escape. And that's our chapter break.

[jhuntfmp-blog]

A Place for Everything

My Role: Spark

Director: Barnaby Boulton

Director of Photography: Matthew Lewis and Svillen Slavov

Brief Overview of the Story: A Place for Everything is a short story about a man who when at work misplaces his stapler, when he goes to look for the stapler he comes across an odd chap that runs lost and found. He quickly discovers he isn’t there to find his stapler.

Pre-Production: I wasn’t involved with pre-production on this project.

Production: This production was at Nu Boyana Film Studios in Bulgaria, just outside of Sofia. We arrived on the first day and scouted all the locations and had a look at brief blocking explanations. Second day we pulled the lighting gear from the storage and took it to our main base which was Studio 5 where 2 sets had already been built for us.

Once we had all the gear out and sorted we cracked on with pre-lighting the first scene we were shooting which was the ‘caretakers office’ scene. They wanted a low-key, warm fell with pools of light. I had done pools of light with Misandrist the previous week so I knew we’d be using Source 4′s and I knew how to rig them. We used two Source 4′s, one over the desk of the caretaker, one in the middle of the room between the elevator and the desk. 

Myself and Adam rigging the Source 4 in the middle (Photograph by Alex Fountain)

They DP’s wanted some interest on the background so asked if we could attach dedo’s and 300w tungsten heads to the rig and pick out some interest. I made a suggestion of putting practical lamps in all the spaces around the edge of the set, they loved this idea and went for it. 

As you can see in the picture the spots of light dotted around the edge, they really come into their own in the film (Photography by Alex Fountain) 

We lit the elevator with Kinos and celebs, pushing the spill from the lift (the blue spill at the bottom of the photograph above) with another kino as you can see in the photograph below.

Me giving Adam a safety chain, safety is paramount on film sets. (Photograph by Alex Fountain) 

Once we finished in this area we moved to the American house, which was just one in a street of several American style houses. We were shooting a dream style sequence in this house to being the DP’s wanted strong sunlight coming in so we used 2 x 4k HMI’s with half CTO to warm them up slightly through different windows and set up a 20 x 20 blackout to stop direct sunlight coming in. 

Me making sure the window was fully covered from direct sunlight (Photo by Alex Fountain) 

We then boosted the light inside by putting a celeb above the table that the action is based around and a 575 HMI in the corner shot through 250 diff to really soften it. 

This photograph shows the finished feel from inside the house (Photograph by Alex Fountain)

We used this set up for 2 scenes of the film.

The night scene in this house was interesting as its the first time i’ve rigged something in a cherry picker. We put a 4k HMI in the cherry picker with full CTB over it, I then went up in the cherrypicker and directed the operator to position it, once positioned I was brought back down to the ground and it was sent back up. This was the ‘moonlight’ source for this scene. Inside the room we rigged dedo’s to the rafters and picked out small details in the room aswell as having two small practical pink flowers that made some nice shadows on the wall. 

Talking to Matt, one of the DPs, about gel’s to use before I went back up in the cherry picker (Photograph by Alex Fountain)

The props house was where things really got going, Adam headed down their early whilst we were still shooting the circus scene to get the cabling sorted so all areas were fed with 16amp. Then when I got down there they wanted to shoot within 40 minutes, so me and Adam got as many small tungsten heads and dedo’s we could and started rigging them on top of the racking that were holding all the props. We had a time limit in the props house, which was 1 evening - 5pm until midnight. The DP’s wanted pools of light for the characters to walk though, I think we achieved this rather well, we lit areas where the stopped a little brighter and passage areas dimmer.

We had to rig, de-rig and re-rig as we went because of the amount of heads we had. As soon as they had finished one section, we would get the lamps down and re-rig them for the next section. This method had helped me get quicker, which is a great advantage. 

The caretaker just got a message from a pipe, Dedo’s in the background lighting the door behind him and some of the props around. (Photograph by Alex Fountain)

There were several other scenes that we lit using similar techniques that I’ve already explained, slightly different effects because of the situations and diffusions we’d use. Below is a link to the final cut on Google Drive, the scenes described and more can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzi__lNMVkA1N1BrWkxIZm54UHc/view

What i’ve Learnt: I think this is a project that I learnt an unbelievable amount on, such as the following:

- I learnt how to set-up and use lights I had previously not used before. For example, Joker Bugs and Pocket Pars which are both really useful little lights that are punchy and versatile. 

- I learnt how to rig a light in a cherry picker, although I only observed but I am now aware of the process and safety surrounding it.

- Working quicker, safer and more efficient. Because of the nature of the job and the lack of people in the lighting department we had to be aware and responsive at all times, this really helped me to get quicker and better at being a spark.

- Also working wth people you’ve worked with before can be an advantage. You learn how each other handles situations and how you both work together. It’s a good advantage in an environment like film. 

- I found out that trusting old gear isn’t always advised. I struck up an old ARRI daylight head and within 3 minutes the bulb blew when I was right next to it. I was fine but there must have been a fault with the bulb or head because I did everything by the book. (I also learnt that the studio doesn’t care why the bulb, they still expect the production to pay for it)

Testimonial: 

Next Time: Because of the range of set-ups that were used in this film I will have so much more knowledge to take forward, which is amazing. I also need to get a good pair of shorts for sparking next time, sometimes it was too hot in jeans and I would have had more storage in cargo shorts.