#fowler family radio

[teenslib]

Recommendations from friends are one of the main ways I find new podcasts? And then we go see the shows together if they're in town?

you people have friends who listen to audio fiction, like irl, the people you can see and touch ? you talk about the shows you listen to together ? girl I know you're lying, there's no way in hell

[nova--spark]

TFP: TIMESKIP | RID15 AU

Set 3 Years Post Predacons Rising & 1 Month post RID15 Finale [A Personal Rewrite/AU Of the TFP Kids Post TFP/RID]

Jasper, Nevada has become a quiet place for Jack, Miko and Rafael after their final goodbye with team Prime, and with Ratchet, when word that the Medic was needed reached their comms.

For the next 3 years, it was relative radio silence. No news from Cybertron, though they tried to reach out. They sent so many transmissions to their friends, yet not a single one returned to them.

Almost as if something blocked them from them, like something didn't want them in contact.

So, in the absence of their friends, their robotic family they had loved so much, the trio of kids put their all into making them proud.

They spent every day they could at Hangar E, and every year, on the anniversary of their departure, they would visit the old Outpost Omega-1.

They would hold hope for their friends to reach out, someday.

They had to...right?

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Miko dove head first into combat training, thanks to some strings pulled by Agent Fowler. When she wasn't sparring on a mat with her teachers, she was in the hangar, cheered on by Raf and Jack as she learned to translate those moves into the Apex Armor.

After some convincing too, of her parents when she turned 18, and some more strings pulled by Fowler, Miko made the base her home, and lived in Jasper full time. She'd even had her cats brought over from Japan, a fact that made her stay in the hangar less lonely, though she'd spent many dinners at Raf and Jack's homes regardless.

She'd trained her abilities in battle to a fine tuned machine, hoping for the chance to make Bulkhead proud when he walked through the groundbridge someday. Even took to a video diary, to catch him up on everything that had happened since they'd left Earth.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Rafael excelled in his studies to little surprise of many of the others in his presence. The young boy seemed to have matured overnight, and after a letter from Fowler to some colleagues in some colleges, Raf was skipped up a few grades, and was even taking some college courses online, to further his computing knowhow.

Taking up robotics as a hobby mostly, Rafael upkept the remaining Cybertronian tech left by their robotic team members. He remembered every lesson from Ratchet, and from the many times he also tried to help with Bee's voice box, so it was of little surprise to the team when Raf not only upkept but upgraded their base's tech. No better wifi could be found in Jasper, and access to every show they wanted was at their fingertips.

Still, Raf missed Bee, especially after seeing every transmission they sent go unanswered. His best friend had promised to visit, to write them back, call...had...he forgotten them?

He hoped not. Raf could never forget the scout, the one who'd help Raf find his own voice, among the chaos of his own home and family life.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Jack changed the most and the least at the same time. He was still a gentle and quiet soul, but he was fiercely protective now, of Miko and Raf. He dove into his studies, and even skipped a grade, to the surprise of his mother. Studying under her even, Jack learned medical care for his loved ones behalf, especially with all the bruises Miko returned with after her sparring lessons. He joined, once in a while, when he had the energy to, but his energy had shifted to making sure both of his teammates were ok. For his 18th birthday, his mother surprised him with a real motorcycle of his own, after seeing how much he missed Arcee and their rides around Jasper. And Agent Fowler, who had begun dating June at this point, helped hook up Jack with a job alongside him, mainly harmless paperwork, but it would pay better than slinging burgers at KO Drive Inn did, which he appreciated.

His free time was often spent fixing up his bike, and riding out far, along the routes him and Arcee would take. He really hoped their messages would reach them someday.

-0-0-0-0-0-0

Added Notes

Takes place 1yr after the ending of RID15/it's finale

June and Fowler got married by the time Jack is 19, which Jack actually was happy about, even if it shocked him a good bit at the start that they did begin to date.

Rafael has been checking every cryptid sighting website he used to, searching for any hint that Team Prime has come back.

Knockout has been, unbeknownst to Cybertronians and humans alike, been sneaking to Earth via rogue groundbridge of his own. It was where he lost Breakdown, and he continues to race still there [Yes this is bc of RID's use of his car model]

The kids came into contact with the Rescue Bots at some point, and they too have had issues contacting Cybertron, something that they tried to work on together but it did little in the end.

The 'Autobot' High Council had put a ban on travel to Earth, and had erased the coordinates from most databanks, as well as disrupting transmission from the kids to team Prime.

Crown City is located California for this AU

Outpost Omega-1 has been abandoned yes,the kids mainly use Hangar E, but regularly visit the old base since it's destruction.

[theragsagainstthemachine]

Yes, it matters.

One pleasure I get-and maybe this goes for every artist- is the “ah” moment I get when someone first looks at a piece they commission from me.

These moments happen at a convention where I’m face to face with the audience. They range from unmitigated joy to discernment from people trying to calculate the resale value.

So clearly it’s the joy we’re after.

(side-note: I really don’t care if someone wants to resell any of my pieces. I assume they eventually go to someone who wants it proudly displayed. Just have the common decency to appreciate it with a smile when you do receive it.)

When I mail out a piece, there’s always the anxiety that something will go wrong with the mail, despite my best efforts. So when I get a response that it got there safely, there’s relief. Sometimes I even get a “wow, it looks so much better in real life.”

That makes me smile.

The “I’m sure you get this all the time,” can be true but it never gets old. Between the beginning of starting a piece and the hundreds of calculations you think through (no, it’s not all muscle memory) to the final “ah” moments, that’s what gives me verification.

That’s why I do it.

And then, there’s something absolutely beautiful:

“Hi Rags,

Alan Neal in Canada writing, with a long overdue final THANK YOU for the incredible "Black Canary and radio" sketch... the one that got lost by the airline before you got to Ottawa!... but did arrive in the mail.

I know I told you how much I loved it, but I really did want to write to say how great it is to have your work up on the wall in our house. Maybe you get sick of people telling you how great your work is, but I figure it can't hurt to tell you again. :) I have been so swamped with family stuff that just having a moment to write seems so hard to come by.

Anyway...

My wife said "I think it's time to showcase the Canaries in the living room", and so we have hung them all up, and just love the way they look.

I know so often you must do these works and send them off into the world and not know what they mean to people. So I just wanted to say they mean a lot. The joy they bring and the discussions they launch, the details that people mention to me, the way they provide both escape and happiness, allow someone to be both nostalgic and present.

Everyone who comes over is instantly drawn to yours. You did such a beautiful job conveying the joy of Dinah listening to music, and it once again showcases your skill with expressions and movement. It's just stunning.

I also think the framer did a great job (I went with harvest gold as the matte because it was the "it" colour of 1973 :))

So I just wanted to send you a thanks and show you what it looks like, surrounded by many who we've now lost... George Perez, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Ramona Fradon... as well as Kat Hudson, Mike Grell, Jamal Igle, Gisele Lagace, and a lovely piece where Gail Simone did the "script" and Tom Fowler did the art. Someday I'll track down Jose-Luis Garcia Lopez and Phil Jimenez :) The living room "gallery" of Black Canaries and radios is below. :)

Sorry that this is a long blathering note, but putting up all the art has just reminded me of how special it is, and how lucky I am, so wanted to say thanks, and hope all is well.

All the best, sir!”

Alan

[emwhyarentyouwriting]

And Now The GOP Wants To Disarm Us

In a recent segment titled "Tucker: They care more about pronouns than human life", Carlson implicitly calls for the disarming of trans and queer identities.

"You don't need a RA 15 or whatever they call it—says the head of the democratic party speaking very clearly the party's position on guns: "If we can't control them, you can't have them."

He makes this claim to somehow stir up a concern in his viewers, also saying the following:

"It's the same template, always: scare the crap out of your voters, tell them their lives are at risk, encourage them to get guns, how do you think that ends?

Sounds familiar, Mr. Carlson... Almost like the republican party... You did say in this segment "Just to be clear, we're not against people, American citizens, owning firearms, having firearms, we support it, including trans people, it's fine."? So, why does he have an issue? Let's take a look at the situation:

Carlson was driving, listening to NPR , and he hears this:

"EYDER PERALTA: Mass shootings targeting LGBTQ spaces and a rise in anti-trans rhetoric have inspired some quee people to take up arms. New Hampshire Public Radio's Todd Bookman joined the monthly gathering of a gun group that sees firearms as key to their own self-defense. As and you might imagine, this story does include the sound of gunfire."

BOOKMAN: "On a recent Sunday morning, the parking lot of Pawtuckaway State Partk in Southeastern New Hampshire is filling up with hikers. There's also a different crew packing up warm clothes and weapons."

FIN SMITH: Thank you all for coming to Rainbow Reload.

Tucker stops to mention his disapproval, making the claim these militias are actively out to get anti-trans or non queer people for the sake of it. Saying NPR endorses the gatekeeping of weapons to queer people exclusively and for nobody else, hinting at the disarming of the right wing by democrats, also hinting they might want to harm republicans simply for disagreeing with them.

"Well, you know what's going on here: NPR has decided that guns are bad except when the enforcers of its ideology have guns. You can't have guns, but faithful servants of the democratic party can; that makes sense because all totalitarians, they want a monopoly on force, right? So, debate ends at that point, so the other side has all firearms, you don't have to argue. You say "you can't change your sex" "SHUT UP BIGOT! BANG BANG!" He also utilized NPR's coverage of the death of a transgender woman who goes by Eucy, who, according to her friend, Rachel, "was a peaceful, kind being who liked to garden and make soups from things she grew in her garden. I think out of desperation she barricaded herself in her apartment, as far I know, she had no family in the area." And, he made a big point of NPR leaving out the fact she shot a deputy, but he was unable to mention why she shot the deputy which landed them in the hospital; this entire situation is incredibly unfortunate no matter who is in the wrong, and, we should show attention to the injured deputy as well as Eucy, and, friends and families of the two. This shouldn't have happened, definitely. Though, it would be very logical to find out who fired the first shot.

"And, anyone hearing or reading that dispatch from npr "reporter" from Lily Ana Fowler would feel pretty bad for the person who killed him or her-self. Politics aside, completely. But it turns out NPR didn't tell the whole story. What NPR left out was Eucy had shot a Sheriff's deputy prioe to killing [himself] . In fact, Eucy put that Sheriff's deputy in the hospital where he remains tonight after undergoing emergency surgery. That wasn't of any interest whatsoever to NPR's "social justice" team. They just didn't care. What they want you to know she was part of the trans community, and Eucy died. And so, Eucy's life matters much more than anyone's, including the cop that she shot, certainly more than yours."

Jason Rantz, another member of Fox News and an NPR reporter, after conducting his own research claims:

"There is no genocide of trans people in the U.S. or anywhere in the West.. In fact, there has been an explosion of trans-identifying people, which research suggests is a social contagion spread by social media fads and youth peer pressure. They few dozen trans people tragically killed in the U.S. each year are usually murdered by black men while in the course of prostitution activities."

Rantz does not have a psychological or medical degree, rather, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree of Arts in Politics from LA's Occidental College in 2004. The college became accredited in 2022.

We also know that he has not realeased how he came to this conclusion, or even the data of his research. This can lead one to believe it may be biased or nonexistent. It's just another claim to discredit transgender people so that they have more of a platform to say they cannot own firearms, while also making the hypocritical statement the trans community has the ultimate goals to disarm or cause harm to those they do not necessarily agree with. Obviously, even if trans people do have guns, it's already proof this is not the goal, self-defense is the goals. And, nobody is ever barred from the right to bear arms in at least one way or another. The second amendment is for all people.

SOURCES (video at start of post)

[naturecoaster]

The 15th Annual Pigz in Z'Hills BBQ & Blues Festival is the Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce signature event. As the name suggests, BBQ & Blues features a friendly Kidz Grillin' competition amidst a background of blues music, a hog-calling contest, and a wing-eating contest! FUN FAMILY EVENT! There's something for everyone, including a Live Blues Concert from 11 am - 5 pm 2025 Entertainment Lineup: - Ed Wright - Kid Royal Band - Mark Shane & The Shane Gang - Chuck Riley All-Star Band featuring Tyrone Vaughn, Damon Fowler & RJ Howson Cornhole Tournament located behind Zephyrhills Brewing Company - Cornhole is back! Last year featured our 4th Cornhole Tournament sponsored by AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Faithful Friends Pet Cremation. With the move to downtown, you will find Cornhole behind the Zephyrhills Brewing Company this year! Bring your chair and enjoy the day - whether that is the music or watching cornhole! What can be better than music, beer, & great friends? Vendors featuring arts, crafts, and a variety of fun merchandise Kidz Zone sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union and the YMCA features a variety of activities that children and adults of all ages can enjoy! - For just one price, grab a wristband and play all day on all inflatable attractions! Check out the inflatable games or do the fun activities that our local YMCA and Suncoast Credit Union have lined up! Parents can even take turns relaxing in the shade while the kids play! Hog Calling Contest sponsored by Boss Hogg Radio Zephyrhills Military Museum, located just down the street from downtown. - In the early 1940s, hundreds of Army fighter pilots came to Zephyrhills to hone their skills at the newly built Zephyrhills Army Airfield before going to war. After World War II, the airport was donated to the city. The barracks where the pilots lived have all been demolished with this infirmary building being the only survivor. From 1997 to 2001, state and city grants allowed for the restoration and preservation of this building. The museum holds treasured memories of the World War II veterans who lived and trained in Zephyrhills and others who served in this and other wars. Wing Eating Contest - looking for a sponsor! The 4th Kidz Grillin' Competition, sponsored by Bahr's Propane Gas & AC, Publix, Sonny's BBQ, SouthState Bank, The Home Depot, and Chick-fil-A. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 with gift bags for all competitors. All meat and cooking supplies will be provided! All you need to do is bring your child and stay to supervise. The first 30 registered entries are sponsored by local community members. No Coolers | Service Animals ONLY         In partnership with Florida’s Sports Coast and Boss Hogg Radio; Suncoast Credit Union; Advent Health Zephyrhills; the City of Zephyrhills; Baycare Hospital; Sonny’s BBQ; SouthState Bank; The Laker Lutz News and Tampa Bay Times. Since 2010, BBQ & Blues has pulled more than 3 million dollars into the Zephyrhills area. Last year, the festival brought an estimated economic impact of $500,000 to our local economy. Since its inception, BBQ & Blues has helped The Chamber of Commerce to provide approximately $40,000 in scholarships to Zephyrhills area students and given back over $100K to our community partners. BBQ & Blues engages over 200 dedicated volunteers every year. The Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than $68,000 in donations to local 501(c)3 youth groups and charities that commit time and talent to create this successful event. With 10,000-13,000 guests per year, BBQ & Blues has grown to become the most attended event in Zephyrhills. While nearly half of the participants are usually local, about 30% are regional and a surprising 20% are from out of state. BBQ & Blues helps put Zephyrhills on the map! Read the full article

[coghive]

TobyMac Officially Impacts Radio With “Cornerstone (Ft. Zach Williams)”

Seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist TobyMac is officially impacting radio with “Cornerstone (feat. Zach Williams).”  The new single, originally recorded for his GRAMMY-nominated album, LIFE AFTER DEATH, launched for adds this past Friday 2/24. The song made its radio debut on Jan. 30 exclusively on K-LOVE as part of a K-LOVE First event.  Out of the gate, “Cornerstone” received 56 adds as Capitol CMG’s most added song of 2023 and the second most added song at Christian Radio this year. The single is currently reporting in the Top 20 on the Billboard Airplay and MediaBase Audience charts.  Listen HERE. TobyMac’s latest single follows a string of previous hits from LIFE AFTER DEATH:  “The Goodness (feat. Blessing Offer), “ which became the hitmaker’s 14th No. 1 on Christian Airplay; “Promised Land,” which peaked at No.2 on the AC Indicator and AC Monitored charts and reached Top 5 on Christian Airplay; and “Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight),” which topped five charts and held on to No. 1 at Hot AC for 13 consecutive weeks.  “Cornerstone” remains a personal declaration of hope for the singer and his family in the wake of his oldest son’s passing.

“What are you building your life on? Sometimes we may not even mean to, but we start building on the promises of this world. At times, it can be difficult to navigate. I wrote this one with my brothers, Brian Fowler and Micah Kuiper. We were tired of the fogginess and wanted to say it out loud… We want to intentionally build our lives in every area on the solid rock. On Christ alone, the Cornerstone. All other ground is sinking sand,” he shares of the message behind the track. “Honored to have my man, Zach, on this one with me. I love this song, and I love Zach’s voice on it. He brought it to a whole ‘notha level.” TobyMac surprised fans at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last weekend during a hometown stop on his “Hits Deep Tour” when he invited Williams to join him on stage to sing “Cornerstone” for the packed house. The 32-date trek runs through Mar. 31 and visits the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH. tomorrow. In addition to a full headlining set from TobyMac, the tour also features Crowder, Cochren & Co., Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick and Terrian. Cornerstone - TobyMac Ft. Zach Williams https://youtu.be/m7NQ5AvuMPM Upcoming “Hits Deep Tour 2023” Dates: 2/24 — Eaglebank Arena // Fairfax, VA 2/25 — Eaglebank Arena // Fairfax, VA 2/26 — Chartway Arena // Norfolk, VA 3/2 — Huntington Center // Toledo, OH 3/3 — Taxslayer Center // Moline, IL 3/4 — Now Arena // Hoffman Estates, IL 3/5 — Van Andel Arena // Grand Rapids, MI 3/9 — Cajundome // Lafayette, LA 3/10 — Toyota Center // Houston, TX 3/11 — H-E-B Center at Cedar Park // Cedar Park, TX 3/18 — Enterprise Center // St. Louis, MO 3/19 — Gainbridge Fieldhouse // Indianapolis, IN 3/20 — Wright State University // Dayton, OH 3/25 — BOK Center // Tulsa, OK 3/26 — United Supermarkets Arena // Lubbock, TX 3/28 — Tucson Arena // Tucson, AZ 3/29 — Don Haskins Center // El Paso, TX 3/31 — AT&T Center // San Antonio, TX   For tickets, visit www.tobymac.com/tour. Read the full article

[thatdorkyauthor]

Helllooooooo, i wanted to request again because i loved how you wrote the last one so i wanted to make another promt that i think you might like.

What if Bee, Optimus and Ratchet got a call from their s/o asking them to pick them up with something along the lines off

"My family tried setting me up because they don't believe i'm on a relationship with you"

The second I read this request I was like: "Ooohohoh I indeed like this... angst." Only to draw a blank and not being able to come up with anything. So I hope this is close to what expected it to be like.

Bumblebee:

The second you finished your sentence he was on his way.

No one was taking away his partner, not as long as his spark was online.

Fowler will end up with multiple speeding tickets

Expect a certain yellow Camaro honking like crazy in front of your house as soon as he arrives.

Puts his speakers to the loudest volume possible, playing “Accidentally in love” as loud as he can, lowering the passengers side window slightly, just enough to make sure no one can see the car is empty.

Your family looks confused at the car, the person who came with the idea, raising an eyebrow. “What is the meaning of this?” Another honk was all the courage you needed. Not thinking about your words you turned to your family with a bright smile. “That is my boyfriend.” Knowing that you most likely fucked up, you run towards the car and quickly climbed in. “Thank you Bee.” The radio stopped playing the song, instead beeps and static coming from the speakers, now lowered to a normal volume. “~Anything for you, sweetheart.~”

OptImus:

You didn’t have to finish your sentence for him to make his way to you. The second you called he was able to hear the distress in your voice.

He couldn’t lose someone else that he liked, no loved. He was aware that humans have a shorter lifespan than cybertronians but he was ready to spend the rest of his and your life with you.

The second he reaches your place, the normally calm leader panics, what would he be able to do.

The first and only thing that came to mind was honk, and so he did.

He cringed the second after that, not sure if it would actually work, and because he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

The honk most definitely caught the attention from your family, who instantly ran towards the window out of curiosity. You smile however, the second you hear the honk. “That’s my boyfriend, bye!” Without giving your family time to respond you run out of the house, straight towards the familiar flaming truck. “Thank you Optimus, that was a close call.” You huffed after climbing into the truck and sitting down with a relieved sigh. “Of course my love, no one is taking you away from me.”

Ratchet:

He was quite calm, there was no way your family wouldn’t believe you dating him.

That lasted five seconds before realization sunk in, no one knew who and what he was.

Without time to waste he activated a groundbridge, whose end was located a couple of streets away from your place.

Unlike his friend and boss, he already had figured out how to catch your attention.

The second he reached your place he turned on his sirens.

The entire neighborhood peaked from their curtains, curious as to why there would be an ambulance in their street, including your family. A smile appeared on your face, you were familiar with those sirens. “My actual boyfriend is here!” Your family glanced at you with confused looks on their faces. “What-?” They couldn’t finish their sentence as you bolted out of the house, towards Ratchet. “Thank you Ratch, I didn’t know what to do.” He waited until you sat down properly before driving off. “Always darling, I would do anything for you.”

[askvectorprime]

What are your favorite MacGuffins to use, if any?

Dear MacGuffin Monitor,

The Magnetically Confined Gravitational Fuzzball Network, or MacGuffin, was a hybrid of Cybertronian and Earth technology. An artificially produced micro-singularity, the MacGuffin would have revolutionized energy generation, particle research, and—unfortunately—weapons technology.

It was that last use case which attracted the attention of Silas and MECH, who stole it from the facility it was stored in. Agent Fowler requested the aid of the Autobots in getting it back. The mission was especially taxing for Ratchet, as he had originally helped develop the MacGuffin alongside Huffer and Fallback, who had both perished not long after—he was plagued throughout with flashbacks to their time together, usually at the worst possible moments. He almost broke down completely when a stray blast of gunfire sent the MacGuffin into meltdown, forcing him into a dilemma: destroy the MacGuffin and lose the last remnants of his friends, or let it unravel into a miniature black hole.

He only recovered with the aid of Jack, Miko, and Raf, who reminded him (over the radio, from the Autobot base, I hasten to add; the children had fortunately not stowed away on this mission) that even if Ratchet's friends were gone, his memories of them kept their sparks alive.

Ratchet managed to destroy the MacGuffin at just the last second, and although Silas got away, many MECH soldiers were arrested. The mission, although not completely successful, was still complete. And Ratchet reluctantly agreed with Arcee and Bumblebee that he had a new family, and a new home to protect.

[allegedlyanandroid]

Reed900 shenanigans; birthday boy!Gavin

Gavin wakes up to a soft kiss on his cheek and his boyfriend worming himself out of his arms like an eel dipped in oil, slipping from his embrace with a disturbing amount of ease. A petulant whine of protest sees the light of day before he has a chance to bite it back. He can feel Nines smile into the second kiss of the morning, the corners of his lips quirked upwards when Gavin tries to chase them; all sleep-drunk and slow, and then he leaves with a teasing “don’t sleep the entire day away,” thrown over his shoulder. 

The next time he’s roused to consciousness it’s thanks to the sound of indignant scratching on the bedroom door. He sighs heavily and drags himself out of bed to open the offensive piece of wood for his gremlin cat. Socks immediately twines himself around his legs, butting against him, and squeaking for his attention – a pathetic mewl capable of melting the most hardened of hearts.

Swinging him up in his arms Gavin proceeds to cuddle and coo over him until the cat is satisfied with being the sole recipient of his affections, purring like a freight train all-the-while.

It’s not until halfway through his first cup of coffee that he realises Nines hadn’t offered him a happy birthday that morning. To be fair… it might have slipped his mind with the long hours they'd both pulled in the last couple of weeks but it still stings, just a little bit. 

He’d hoped this birthday might be different to the past ones – all the ones he’d been forced to spend alone – but the hope fades quickly.

He receives a text at midday, one he opens eagerly, only to be disappointed again when it’s a curt statement of: "I’ll need to stay late, they need my help re-filing evidence.” 

Nothing more than that. None of the terms of endearments he saves for when they’re alone or even a reassurance that he’ll hurry home.

So maybe he mopes around for a while and maybe his eyes prickle a bit when Fowler calls him in on his first day off in close to two weeks but only because he’s frustrated… honest. 

The radio crackles on when he’s stopped at a red light, a 415 where he’s the closest officer. The operator sounds the slightest bit apologetic when he answers with a 10-4 as he sets off towards the listed address.

He thinks nothing about how it corresponds with his favourite Italian place, it’s work after all.

The waitress who greets him asks him to follow her, past the guests dining to ambient music and the quiet chatter of nearby tables instead of the shouting of vulgarities he’d expected to hear.

She steers him towards the second dining room and the moment he steps foot inside a cheer rises into the air. Gavin blinks at the sight of his small group of friends and chosen family all in one place. It must take him a moment too long to catch up because Nines moves from his spot at the table to slide an arm around the small of his back murmuring a low, “happy birthday, love,” into his ear.

A kiss follows the words, feather-light on his temple, and that’s what startles him out of his stupor. 

He turns his face into Nines’ neck, hiding a blossoming smile against his skin. “Thanks, babe,” he says, voice rougher than the situation calls for. The arm around his waist squeezes him tighter before nudging him towards the rest of the crowd, who no doubt also notices the faint shine to his eyes as he blinks away the fluid building in them. Tina throws herself around his neck and chatters excitedly in his ear, Connor and Hank offering a their own, slightly more subdued congratulations. Sixty, Allen, Chris and his wife. The only ones missing are Fowler and his spouse but Gavin understands that someone needs to keep the precinct in check in their absence.

The afternoon bleeds into early evening with him opening presents between courses, with laughter and small talk that doesn’t grate on his nerves for once, and Nines like a blazing line of heat drawn up his side from where they’re sitting pressed together. Connor and Tina skirts around the line of too much PDA without crossing it, at times becoming so engrossed in one another that they forget about the rest of the room.

Gavin can’t begrudge them their happiness, especially not Tina when she looks happier than she has in years.

Nines nudges him with his foot, drawing him away from protesting against Sixty and Hank’s not-so-quiet scheme of getting the waitstaff to sing for him. There’s an uncharacteristic softness in his eyes, adoration so vast it’s nearly frightening, and Gavin surges up to claim Nines’ lips for his own again.

“Hey,” he whispers, a bit breathless as they part.

“Hey,” Nines says, mirroring him with a teasing lilt in his tone. “Was this… okay? You seemed a little overwhelmed before. I hope I didn’t go overboard.”

Gavin takes in the scene again, the warm light shrouding their party in gold, and then back to the hopelessly earnest expression on Nines’ face. Love, warm and content and all-encompassing, laps over every crevice in his body and the smile he’d been wearing all evening widens a fraction more.

“It’s perfect.”

[melishade]

Some more Attack on Prime head canons, because I haven’t talked about it in a while.

Here’s the like to the story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36583423/chapters/91243426

-Sasha can sense the Transformers, like a sixth sense. It’s not impossible for her to not do that. Sasha has been known in the main show to sense regular titans even brief moments before Mike. Her hunting skills are very impressive, and when she’s around Optimus, she smells the dirt, smoke, grime, and everything else coming from the titan. It’s obvious and unfamiliar to the smell of the trees, grass, and smoke emitting from the mindless titans. But she can also sense the Matrix of Leadership within his chest. It takes a while for Sasha to get used to Optimus because of her own trained instincts. However with Megatron, it’s a completely different story. She can smell something similar to Optimus: the smoke and exhaust from whenever he flies, but the dark energon is too much for her. It’s toxic and chaotic; it makes her want to throw up. And she has to pretend that she’s completely fine because she’s afraid of Megatron’s brutality, which is understandable.

-Megatron’s conscious is broken, and is suffering from massive PTSD and trauma which would include getting revived from the dead and getting possessed by the devil. That doesn’t excuse his actions, of course, and he deserves a fate far worse than death. Unicron and his younger self end up manifesting frequently as a result of Megatron’s mental health. Unicron always taunts him, his younger self warns and berates him for his mistakes. Both tell him to forget about Optimus and watch out for himself. That helping others isn’t in his nature. The only time they are quiet is when Megatron is constantly keeping himself occupied with tasks, no matter how beneath them they are. It helps him ignore them and shut them out. However, he can no longer sleep, and yearns for a night no longer plagued by thoughts and nightmares of his sins. But that was too much to asked. He deserved this punishment anyway.

-This is a response I provided to someone on Ao3 about Willy’s opinion on Megatron, or Matthew in this case: Meanwhile Willy, is both grateful and fascinated by Megatron, or Matthew in this case. Grateful because Megatron saved his life and his family, and fascinated because of how different Megatron acts from everyone else he's met. He's so used to people respecting him, treating him with dignity, and worshiping the ground he walks because of his name and title. But he knows without that, he would just be treated like filth. Just like every other Eldian devil on this world. Willy doesn't have the luxury of being treated like a normal person. But Megatron shows up and is not walking on eggshells around him or trying to be respectful. He's actively calling Willy out for his hypocrisy, and Willy is happy. Because someone is treating him like a normal human being. Not a god or a devil. And Willy's fascinated with that because he wants to know how someone could even think like that in a world that hates Eldians. How can someone be kind to Eldians and say they and the Marleyans are no different? Because that mentality has been heavily indoctrinated in this world. Oddly enough, Willy sees Megatron as a genuine friend.

-Optimus misses radio. I’m certain that when he was on Earth, he would listen to stuff like NPR to pass the time and learn more about Earth. He even took Fowler’s advice and listened to some country music. He thought it was pretty decent. But he liked listening to informative radio to pass the time. Sometimes when Optimus is driving through a walled city, he’ll spot a street performer playing the guitar, and he will wait a while and listen before heading out. He can’t tip because he doesn’t make or need money anyway.

(There’s a lot more stuff that I want to talk about, but it requires me going into spoiler territory, and I get particularly picky about it. I don’t mind spoiling myself. It’s not really a big deal for me, but for someone who would want the experience of being surprised, there are certain aspects of my story that I can’t talk about just yet. Maybe I’ll post a chapter when I go on my two week break before the fall semester, but I said that I would post in either December or January. I’m currently writing the confrontation chapter, but part of me feels like with what I have left, that I can shorten it. Maybe I’ll post some music I think would be fitting for the Paths II and onward. Because what I can tell you is that the Paths II and forward is going to be where the tears flow.)

(Although, for the OCs that I made specifically for attack on prime, the son is essentially a millennial while the father is a boomer.)

[whenyouknowyouknow]

Harry the Womanizer

 This thing started because I find the whole womanizer image of Harry absolutely disgusting and wanted people to see how utterly bad and wrong it was.

Please be aware that the following does not reflect Harry’s personality but it shows us the image their label wanted him to be seen as.

Some disclaimer about where the data comes from

written, digital coverage (no print,  1-2 videos, no radio)

google search “Harry Styles”, I looked through the first 20 hits each month but didn’t read all of them ( headlines usually are a dead giveaway if an article contains a new “conquest”)

I did not list every woman that was mentioned in the same article as Harry. Also not those that showed interest in him. But most of those that were said he showed interest in (I might have skipped a few in the worst years just bc it was so freaking disgusting)

Often articles contained offhand comments about his pulling power or unrelatedly recounting his latest conquests in any given article to enforce the womanizer image. These did not make it into the list.

Deleted articles are of course not included (as of Aug 2020)

Some of the women turn up again for a round 2 (or 3 or 4), I only mention them once a year tho

I put the women into the list on the date the news coverage happened/started because many articles date back things by saying  “pics have circulated since…” “They have been reportedly seen together since…” or simply tell a story that supposedly happened a few years prior

Some dates overlap. Thats either bc they pushed several woman at once (very effective to drive the whole womanizer image home) or its bc one woman was seeded in while the other was happening.

Because this is a freaking long post, I’ll put it under the “read more”

About the list

split by years

each year has Harrys age for that given year in brackets

each data set has in brackets the age, occupation and date of news coverage for the woman (if available)

winter gf get their own category as they sometimes overlap with other woman

Some of the woman get brought back up (not just mentioned in passing), those are listed at the end of each year with the dates when they where brought back up

“again” is for those who dated him again

Women linked to Harry

2010 (16)

5(?) girls from bootcamp

Cher Loyd (17, txf fellow contestant, Oct)

unnamed girl fan (13.11.)

2011 (17)

Adele (23, singer, 27.09.)

Sarita Borge (record executive, 29.11.)

2011-2012

Caroline Flack (31, txf, 23.10.-27.01.)

2012 (18)

Pixie Geldoff (21, 09.02.)

Alexa Chung (28, model, 16.02)

Alexandra Burke (23, txf, 20.02.)

Jo Wood (56, ex of Ronny Wood 21.02.)

Denise Welch (54, actress, 21.02.)

Georgia May Jagger (20, Mick Jagger daughter, 21.02.)

Sarah-Louise Colivet (24, photographer, 11.04.)

Lily Halpern (19, singer, 11.04.)

Jillian Harris (32, reality TV star, 13.04.)

Emma Ostilly (18, actor for Gotta be You MV -  22.04.) 

Ellis Calcutt (18(?), friend, deniedm, 30.04.)

Emily Atack (22, TV star, 20.05.)

unnamed girl (Article about her one night stand with H, 06.06.)

Lucy Horobin (32, radio presenter, 24.06., dated back to Aug-Oct 2011)

Caggie Dunlop (23, TV star, 12.07.)

Allyssa Reid (19, singer, 23.07.)

Blond girl with pink bag (from a night out, 26.07.)

Cara Delevingne (19, Model, 05.08.)

Natalie Imbruglia (37, singer actress 28.09.)

 2012-13

Taylor Swift (22 singer 19.10.-07.01. (fling dated back to April 2012 then getting back together)

2013 (19)

Hermione Way (27, reality star, 08.01.)

Millie Brady (18, actress, 24.02.)

Shaniece Nesbitt (fan, 11.03.)

Yvette Fielding (44, TV presenter, 11.03.)

Fia Litton (niece of Preston Mahon (security), 14.03)

Chelsea Ferguson (25, stripper, 14.04)

Kimberly Stewart (33, confirmed by Rod, 27.04.)

Camilla Foss (18, fan in oslo, 09.05.)

Kara Rose Marshall (22, model, 03.07.)

Alexis Allen (19, fan, 21.07.)

Cara Delevingne (20, model, 11.09.)

Paige Reifler (17, model, 30.09.)

Sjana Earp (18, model, 25.10.)

Samantha Armytage (36, TV presenter, 27.10.)

Daisy Lowe (24, model, 01.12.)

Caroline Flack (brought back up, 01.02./11.09.)

2013-14

Kendall Jenner (17, model, 21.10. - 23.02)

2014 (20)

mystery brunette (20.01.)

Alison Mosshart (35, singer, 07.03.)

Daisy Lowe (25, model, 11.04.)

Larissa de Macedo Machado (21, brazilian popstar, 08.05.)

Lou Teasdale (30, hairdresser, 26.05.)

Sinitta (45, Smons ex, 22.07.)

Paige Reifler (18, again, model, 25.07.)

Meghan Trainor (20, singer, 27.08.)

blond woman (at Coldplay concert, 18.09.)

Katy Perry (29, singer, 01.10.)

Erin Foster (31, 08.10.)

Kate Moss (40, model, 03.11.)

two blond woman (leaving a club in LA with H, 30.11.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 12.02./02.03./20.08./14.10./04.12.)

Emily Atack (brought back up, 23.03.)

Caroline Flack (brought back up, 26.03.)

2014-15

Nadine Leopold (20, model, 20.12.- 12.03.)

2015 (21)

Emma Watson (24, actress, 14.01. dated back to 26.12.14)

Suki Waterhouse (23, actress, 05.04.)

Joy Muggli (23, talent agent, 12.05.)

Sara Sampaio (23, model, 15.06.)

Georgia Fowler (22, model, inspiration for Kiwi, 15.10.)

Nicole Scherzinger (34, singer, 17.10., dated back to 2013)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 15.01./13.02./10.03./08.05./13.10./28.10.)

Caroline Flack (brought back up, 24.05./11.10.)

2015-16

Kendall Jenner (again, 30.12.- 31.01.)

2016 (22)

Pandora Lennard (28, model 31.01.)

Lindsay Lohan (30, actress, 10.03., dated back unspecified)

Kendall Jenner (again, 05.09.)

Kara Rose Marshall (brought back up, 07.10.)

Suki Waterhouse (again + dated back to 2013, 11.11.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 01.02.)

2017 (23)

Tess Ward (26, food blogger, 09.05.)

Townes Adair Jones (20s, 17.05., dated back to 2014)

Camille Rowe (31, model, 31.07.)

Sjana Earp (22, again, 05.12.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 18.04./12.05./03.09./09.11.)

Kendall Jenner (brought back up, 31.01.)

2018 (24)

Delta Goodrem (33, voice coach, 27.04.) 

Camille Rowe (ends 31.07.)

Kendall Jenner (brought back up, 15.07./12.12.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 21.03./)

2019 (25)

Kiko Mizuhara (28, denied by K, 12.01.)

Camille Rowe (brought back up, 22.11.)

Kendall Jenner (brought back up, 11.12.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 23.08./04.11./13.12.)

2020 (26)

Daisy Lowe (brought back up, 20.06.)

Taylor Swift (brought back up, 02.03./24.07.)

data from here on is not included in the graphs, I will keep adding when things happen

Tracee Ellis Ross (48, actress, 28.10.)

The age differences

The graph shows clearly how

the age gaps are very big in the beginning, likely to attract an older audience in addition to the usual target audience of teenage girls

the amount of woman linked to Harry gets smaller each year because in later years, articles could just reference his history with woman

the amount of woman linked and mentioned in regards to Harry gets significantly lower after hiatus started

A rough timeline of women that where connected to Harry over the years

Why give Harry the womanizer image?

Would the image of a womanizer not damage the image of 1D?

If they’d portrait him as a sleeze it would have surely damaged the overal image of 1D. But Harrys image portrait him as charming, a bit quirky and overall an airhead that likes people and doesn’t want to be tied down. Thus giving the illusion of being potentially available to every woman and showing them a good, no strings attached, time. Which is a massive selling point for boybands to increase the age range of their fans.

In addition, all his conquests would be used to stir up drama or simply generate attention at crucial times to get 1D in the press without mentioning their current promo focus in every headline.

The winter girlfriends had a special role as they were the only ones actively worked as continuous dating. To build some attachment, have a continuous storyline that could be tied to the just released album and bridge the holiday pause, and when the relationship ended generate more drama to be used for promo.

Harry did keep on using his womanizer image to promote both his solo albums but in a very controlled manner. The numbers of new woman linked to him declined to 1 in 2019, for now we are at 0 (1) in 2020

HS promo used 3 woman as inspirations for songs (Towns, Fowler, Swift) and a tour gf (Rowe)

FL promo only uses the previous tour gf as now ex to push the storyline of a breakup album

He is very visibly changing his image while still maintaining a level of connection to his old image. Whether that's due to contractual restrictions or a strategy to not alienate to many fans is unclear

Jeff Azoff

For what I’ve seen Jeff and Harry seem close (the Azoff family having him on family pictures, posted by Jeff’s brother)

Looking at the timeline of Jeff and Harry

2014-03-25 first mention of Harry at Azoff family home in an article about Irvin

2014-04-23 first pics of Harry and Jeff at a sports event (Jeff named as a friend, no name or position yet)

2014-12-22 Jeff not named yet but identified as his agent

2015-01-10 first time Jeff being named and being the link between Harry and a woman

2016-03-07 Jeff leaves CAA as a music agent and launches his own company Full Stop Management

2016-03-11 Harry confirmed to have joined Full Stop Management

Jeff likely took over as Harry’s agent in early 2014. In 2015 Harry’s image change starts to become aparent and changed drastically after hiatus.

Harry choosing Jeffs management firm as soon as he left Modest is a clear indication that he feels Jeff will represent him how he wants

The Timeline - Women connected to Harry and Promo

I started the visual timeline in end 2011 when his womanizer image started to take off

The instances before where likely used as seeding for this image (first instance was a segment in txf where he was linked to 5 of the girl contestants and funny enough one older guy)

purple - women from the entertainment industry

pink - fans/no-names

lilac - winter gf

dark burgundy - thos who date him again

dusky pink - brought back up

light blue - single release

royal blue - album release

mid blue - other releases

dark turquoise - tour legs

Adendum: a few numbers analyzed,

[mnictasbcl]

Life’s beauty

For #dbhcolorsofdeviancy, prompt:

June 9th: The feeling of being alive @connor-sent-by-cyberlife

Rating: Teen

Characters: Connor, Hank Anderson

Relationships: Connor & Hank Anderson

Additional Tags: Fluff, Break, Swearing, Cabin, Woods, no not a cabin in the woods this is fluff lads, Beauty of nature, Fishing, Sensory detail,

Summary: After the Revolution, Connor had done nothing but work. Hank decides to take him away to the beauty of nature, to truly realise the feeling of being alive.

Story below! Or, read it on AO3

The androids fought, they won, they became free. In the weeks proceeding the revolution, Jericho’s sole goal was getting sorted the rights of androids so that deviants could truly be as human as they wanted to. Connor was involved in some of the proceedings, helping Markus word and practice his speeches, aiding North with logistical things and tasks to help with the thousands of homeless deviants seeking shelter. But as soon as the right was agreed that androids could work and earn a salary as humans do, Connor was right back at Hank’s side, working at the DPD. After all, whilst his help was needed in Jericho, he could be of much more use on the police force, especially given the rising numbers of hate crimes towards androids following the revolution.

Besides, it was nice to get back into a familiar routine, minus the all-seeing, all-knowing control of Cyberlife hanging over his head.

So, the months progressed. Connor worked as partners with Hank at the DPD, and the two were an unstoppable force, what given their bond and skills around deviancy. More rights were being fought for them in the background. Soon, androids were almost treated, at least by law, as equally as humans. They could not be discriminated against, not hurt, they could work, they could buy property, they could start families- everything. Months after the revolution, and things were looking bright on the horizon.

This didn’t mean that the hatred against androids all out stopped. However, crimes were slowly but surely falling, what with the consequences for committing them becoming stronger by the day. This left slightly less work for the DPD to sort out.

However, when Hank woke up one morning and decided he wanted some time off, Connor was still a little confused.

“Are you quite alright, Lieutenant?”

Hank groaned. “For the last time, it’s… never mind.” He paused, placing his coffee mug back on the kitchen table. “Why’d you ask, though?”

Connor shrugged. “I just wondered whether you needed the time off to rest, or recuperate, perhaps—”

The man shook his head. “You don’t always need a reason to take some time off, Connor. It’s been pretty hectic these past few months at the DPD and I just thought it was time for some change around here. Sumo’s barely seen us.”

“Alright.” He nodded, “But I will have to arrange with Fowler what partner I will be assigned whilst you are away.”

“Whoa whoa, who said you couldn’t use a break too?”

“I do not require breaks. I perform stasis every night and—”

“Don’t you just want to… to be out there?” Hank questioned, rather vaguely, Connor thought with a furrow of his brows. “Go out and do things. I mean, now that Markus and crew have got all those fancy rights for you all, I thought you’d want to go and experience them.”

Connor straightened his tie. “I already am, Lieutenant. Captain Fowler is paying me above minimum wage, and last week, Gavin managed to restrain himself from insulting me.”

Hank smirked. “Oh boy. Not exactly what I meant. Look- I’m not going to force you, but I’m offering: we take a week or so off work, I’ll show you some sights, or we can just stay at home and spoil Sumo, whatever you want. I just want to see you have fun, kid.”

Connor blinked. His LED briefly flashed yellow, processing. Eventually, he nodded. Perhaps the Lieutenant’s words had some reason to them. Aside from a couple of weeks after the revolution, he hadn’t done much outside of work. Of course, it hadn’t struck him as odd. Even with his new status as deviant, which came with its differences, such as emotions and connections with other people, he’d been used to constantly working, following orders, completing tasks, completing the mission. But maybe he could now benefit from not having anything to do other than… what was it… Be out there, as Hank had put it.

“Okay.” He agreed, LED circling back to blue. “Perhaps some time away from the precinct would be optimal. However,” Connor added, glancing to the clock, “we had better get going for work today, lest Fowler relieve us of duty for good.”

Hank cursed, chugging back the rest of his coffee. But even with the time limit now imposed on their morning, Connor noticed he was a lot less grumpy about the rush to work.

 ___________________

  Luckily, Fowler had allowed them the week off work, and the time between then was spent planning what activities they’d get done.

Connor was pleased to hear that it wouldn’t be full of travelling and going a multitude of different places. Whilst he was excited (excited? Yes, he supposed he felt a rush of happiness every time he thought about their trip) about seeing the world, he didn’t really feel up to seeing everything at once, and, besides, travelling for long amounts of time bored him. There was nothing to do but listen to the tinny radio on Hank’s car, playing either jazz or heavy metal rock music, and flick his coin back and forth between his hands (at least for a short amount of time, until it was confiscated from him for being ‘loud as fuck, Jesus Connor’).

Instead, they’d decided upon going to a cabin Hank had managed to rent for a fairly cheap price, somewhere in a wooded, natural area. It wasn’t so out of civilisation that they would struggle to get supplies lest they need them, but it was far enough away from the traffic of the city and the hustle and bustle of busy daily life.

Sadly, the journey was still fairly long, a couple of hours out. Luckily, though, Connor had brought five US quarters with him, each one stored in a different place on his outfit.

Hank looked long-suffering by the time he’d taken away the third coin.

“You’ve got another one, haven’t you.” It was less of a question, and more of a statement.

“Affirmative, Lieutenant. You advised me to pack the essentials.”

“Like clothes. Food. Water. Ah ah ah—don’t you get cocky with me and say they’re not essential for you. I know.” He sighed. Connor smirked. He could tell that Hank was mildly annoyed but not angry with him. He tried his best not to antagonise his fellow occupant in the car, but he just couldn’t help it—since deviating, something in him had changed whenever he had to sit in a long car journey.

Boredom, his mind supplied.

boredom /ˈbɔːdəm/

noun          the state of feeling bored.

Connor chuckled softly at the definition his mind supplied. Firstly, it was… incredibly unhelpful. Secondly, he must be bored if he was subconsciously searching the definition of boredom itself.

He decided he would need to find a way to occupy his mind on the journey. For now, he didn’t think getting out his fourth coin to play with would be a good idea, since Hank was a bit on edge, and he needed some coins for the journey back. So, laying back in his seat, he took to looking out the window. It wasn’t too long before they arrived, he deduced from a scan of his surroundings. Things were changing vastly now. There were no tall and looming buildings like those in the city, no cars shooting by, horns blaring, people running up the streets, late to work. The city was alive, kind of beautiful in its own way, but nature, he began to notice, had its own sense of beauty. What with the trees lined up along the landscape, varying in shape and height, and in density of leaves and branches. The skies almost seemed clearer, more vibrantly blue and interspersed with soft white clouds. It was aesthetically pleasing, he noted, even if not sharing the geometry of lines and symmetry that the city held.

He whiled away the rest of the journey watching the sights go by, managing to stay stiller than he had the first half of the journey. It was awfully serene. Still, when they reached their destination, car pulling up on a dusty road, the cabin sitting by a pond in the distance, Connor was eager to leave the vehicle.

Connor helped eagerly with the bags, carrying a couple in each hand and waving off Hank’s requests to take some off him.

“I can manage, Lieutenant.”

“Show off.”

“I could also carry the two you have, if that would be of help.” He added, teasingly, to which the man flipped him off. Which then caused him to drop a bag with the change in hand positioning.

Connor couldn’t help it. He started to laugh, which wasn’t a good idea when he was holding four bags. His side started to ache a little, and he eventually had to drop a couple of the bags onto the floor in order to supress the stitch.

“That’s it, we’re going back home.” Hank made to walk back to the car, trying to act serious, but the fact that the android was still sniggering didn’t help things. “You’re a little shit, you know that, right?”

“I believe… I… believe you have referred to me as that multiple… times…” Connor got out between chuckles, before taking a few deep breaths, getting a hold of himself.

“Well, here’s one more to add to the list.” Hank remarked, reaching down to pick back up the bags, following after Connor as he headed towards the cabin.

There was a moment of confusion as they tried to figure how to get the front door unlocked, what with all the bags, until they realised it was already unlocked, Connor leaning against it and finding it swing open.

“That’s safe.”

“I do not detect any beings inside the residence.” Connor informed him after a quick scan of the cabin.

“You sure? No pigeons or squirrels made a little home for themselves up in the attic?”

Connor began to walk inside, glancing around in case his scans hadn’t been accurate, but shook his head upon reaching the living area. “I believe not. There is no attic.”

He heard a slight thud of a bag being dropped onto the floor, and snorted.

 ___________________

 The first late afternoon and evening at the cabin was spent getting everything unpacked and homely in the cabin, and Connor cooking a healthy meal for Hank (“There’s no takeaway service out here, Lieutenant”).

After that, however, Connor awoke them bright and early the next morning, coming out of status around 7.30am and pulling open the curtains.

“As per our schedule, Lie—”

“Jesus Christ, Connor.” Hank groaned, a phrase the android had become accustomed to hearing. He cringed. Perhaps he’d forgotten that coming out of human rest was different to coming out of stasis. He pulled the curtains slightly to, so that it wasn’t blinding early morning sunlight streaming into room. This time only a small slither of it.

“Apologies… Hank. I may have been too prompt. I’m just…”

Rubbing his eyes, Hank looked him over, seeing the android fully dressed in a long-sleeved black shirt with an image of a cartoon Saint Bernard on it, and some loose-fitting pants.

“Excited.” The man finished for him. “Well, that’s what I get for letting you organise a schedule for the week… If you get me some coffee, I might forgive you.”

Connor swiftly made his way into the kitchen and came back approximately 3 minutes later with a mug of coffee.

 And so, that’s how the morning went on. Hank might’ve complained, used to this side of the android from how he liked to get the tasks done swiftly and properly at work, but he was fond to see Connor moving about and happy to do something other than work.

It wasn’t much later into the day that they were sitting out by the side of the lake, situated to the right side of the cabin. It stretched out a fair distance beside the residence, its waters calm and silvery on the surface. Just reaching midday, there were chirps of wildlife buzzing around them, but nothing too loud and overbearing.

Hank had decided one thing he wanted to introduce Connor to was fishing. He could remember going on to a lake not dissimilar to this one in his youth, being taught how to fish. Maybe he could pass that skill, or at least the experience, down onto the android.

After making sure he wouldn’t cheat and download a step-by-step guide on fishing in his ‘brain-computer-thingy’, as the man eloquently put it, Hank entrusted him with his fishing rod he’d brought along. It was a little rusty with disuse and he had little in the way of lures, but it didn’t seem like Connor wanted to harm the fish anyway, given from his reluctance upon seeing the sharp metal hook of the rod.

“I doubt they’ll actually bite,” he shrugged, guiding the fishing rod into the android’s hands. “But if they do, you can just release them back in. A little different to how I’ve done it, but…”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” He stepped back a little, eyes squinting as he concentrated, focusing on flicking back the rod and casting the line as Hank had just shown him how to do. It was a few moments before he managed to precisely replicate the movement, and soon his line was bobbing in and out of the water.

After a few moments, though, he tilted his head, confused. “What now?”

“You wait.” Hank supplied, sitting back on a deck chair he’d brought with them, cracking open the ice box he’d brought with him. “Hey—where did all the beers go?”

The man was looking at him, holding out the can of lemonade. “It’s a much better alternative, Lieutenant. I did… I left a few beers in the bottom of the box, however I’d much rather you left those for later.”

Hank groaned, but complied, and Connor refocused his attention on the waters in front of him. The goal of the task was to catch a fish, and then reposit it back in the waters. But he was meant to wait for that to happen—

He shook his head. That wasn’t the goal. He supposed, from what he’d learnt from his short months of being human, was that there wasn’t really a goal to be attained with every action and thing he did. There were outcomes, but maybe the true aim of this ‘fishing’ wasn’t to catch the fish at all.

Not with the still waters, glistening on the surface, calm movements every now and then as something beneath rippled the current in its movements. Not with the calm hum of nature, the trees lightly dancing back and forth in the breeze. Not with the soft click of the lemonade can opening, Hank’s breathing, the warmth of companionship.

It was about the moment, he noted. The build up of planning their excursion, the anticipation in the car ride over, and now it was the moment he’d thought about. A break from modern day life, a chance to fully enjoy being human. Not working, not thinking constantly about android rights, having things to get done. That moment gave him a chance to reflect, as his eyes cast over the waters, line bobbing as something began to lightly tug on the end of it. To reflect truly on what had happened the past few months.

Because it was a lot. It was being created, being a machine, hunting deviants, meeting Hank… realising that there was more to life than following orders and completing the mission. Taking those orders and throwing them away, meeting the leader of the deviants, of their people, and finally becoming himself.

And now, he was realising what it truly was to be himself… it was freedom. Freedom was being able to have family, to move in with Hank and Sumo, to be free to choose his career path, choose what he wants to do with his life. Choose to take a break away from it all and immerse themselves in nature.

Nature, with all its beauty, all its life—

Standing there, realising this all, feeling the fresh breeze of air tickle his cheeks, the warmth of sun, shining soft yellow light, Hank teaching him to fish. He could do what he wanted. And it wasn’t a task; there was no mission. He could just have… fun.

“Connor? I think you caught one.”

He snapped back to reality. Hank was right. The line was tugging in his hands, and he moved swiftly to reel it in. A fish dangled from the edge of the line. He gathered it up in his hands, carefully, then crouched down, letting his hands hover partway through the water.

It was gentle, and the fish tickled as it moved in his hands, burrowing deeper into the water it could find. He laughed. It reminded him of the fish he caught back in the Tower, that one day, so far away. Connor let it back into the lake.

He watched it swim further away, down and down, deeper into the water. A pause. “Hank, is… is this what it feels like to…” he paused again. LED swirling in thought. “To be alive?”

Hank stood beside him, hand patting his shoulder. “This, and a lot of other things, kid.”

Connor thought it over for a moment. “I think I like it.” Being alive seemed to bring its downs, but even the hostage situation would bring the fish struggling on the floor to be saved. It would bring choices, choices he could make his own decisions on, and moments like this which he wouldn’t trade for the world.

“Great. Now, where were those beers you hid again?”

[fandom-necromancer]

Part 2 has been prompted by the wonderful DetReed900 on AO3! I hope you enjoy it!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed900 | AU: Cyberpunk AU

‘Quick, get in!‘ Gavin leaned on the passenger seat to hold the door open, as he watched Nines run towards him at full speed. The android jumped in, smashing the door close and Gavin drove off with screeching tires, while their pursuers desperately tried to get a good shot at them before they could disappear. But Gavin drifted around the next corner, accelerating again and taking several tight turns to lose anyone who might follow them. All the while Nines sat next to him laughing and cheering. Gavin looked into the rear-view mirror and relaxed a little as he couldn’t see anyone following them. He smirked, unable to be angry with the android although he likely should have been. As soon as they had made it on the highway, Gavin slowed down and weaved the car in between regular traffic.

‘How many times do I have to save you?’, he finally spoke a bit more serious. ‘Oh, come on’, Nines purred, leaning over. ‘You are just too good at that, it would be a shame letting that talent go to waste.’ Gavin turned his face towards Nines for a split second and smiled, pushing just a little on the gas. ‘You better start getting a talent for staying out of trouble, my friend.’ Nines laid his hand on his chest and looked accusingly at Gavin. ‘Do you see any bullet wound? I stayed out of trouble.’ ‘Yeah, and that gang will just forget about you doing… What even were you doing, Nines?’ ‘It’s a secret’, the android winked at him and leaned back in his seat. ‘Despite I really don’t think they would dare retaliate against us.’ ‘And why should that be?’ ‘Gavin, we could buy their whole organisation. I doubt they would dare attacking us openly.’ Gavin huffed. ‘Didn’t look that way when they were running after you.’

‘Hey, I’m fine, okay?’, Nines tried to change topics. ‘And I got what I needed from them.’ ‘Alright, Taxi Gavin reporting for duty, where can I bring you?’ ‘Stop with the sass, you get your fair share for this too. Just drive on, I have to hide it for the client in the city. I will give you directions.’ Gavin just sighed and turned up the radio.

‘What even is it with all that random side jobs you’re doing?’, Gavin asked standing next to the car while Nines hid a small package in the remains of some homeless person’s deserted shelter under a bridge. ‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you wanted to get rid of me.’ Nines stood up and stretched, smiling at the human. ‘Quite the opposite. I’m making sure we will do this together for a long time coming.’ ‘Alright’, Gavin chuckled, opening the door to the car. ‘And when will I be part of all the fun again?’ ‘Take a break’, Nines told him as he joined him inside. ‘For once in your life enjoy it. I will tell you soon enough.’ ‘It’s not because of Cyberlife, is it?’ ‘No. Elijah keeps his promise. For now, at least. And if he chooses to change that, I still have the backup of RA9 I can manipulate him with. We’re safe.’ ‘Good to hear. Can we go home then?’ ‘Yes. I’m done for today.’

They drove through the city, various neon signs glowing down on them and advertising the latest product you had to get immediately. Not too long ago, Gavin had lived in an old dilapidated house at the edge of the city. Once the dream of families with jobs in the city, the suburbs had now fallen into poverty and were taken over by criminal activity as the police didn’t care to patrol there anymore. Not when all the important people with money and influence were living in fancy apartments in the highest floors and everyone that still dreamed of getting there was packed like sardines in the mega-buildings. Now they were driving into their very own parking spot in a garage that had tighter CCTV as any street out there.  With only a short walk to the elevator, they were arriving at their flat in a matter of minutes.

Gavin exhaled with the satisfying clicking of the lock and the low hum of their security systems. The largest part of their Cyberlife money had been invested into this flat and the security measures and Gavin was thankful for it as it would at least get them more time should the corporation – or any other fraction for that part – decide to attack them. Nines walked up to the large glass front of their living room – reinforced to withhold everything up to a rocket launcher – and took off his white jacket he had exchanged his Cyberlife uniform with. Gavin watched how he pulled on the fabric of the tight turtleneck underneath and swallowed as he saw Nines’ smirk. Phcking all-seeing bastard…

He walked up to the kitchen and heated up the leftovers from yesterday’s meal, joining Nines on the sofa while eating. ‘Alright, I will go take a quick shower and go to bed. How about you?’ ‘I’ll skip straight to the bed part and warm it up for you’, the android muttered and took Gavin’s hand to pull him in for a kiss on his temple. ‘Don’t let me wait too long.’

As Gavin slid under the sheets, Nines had indeed warmed up the space comfortably. With his heated skin from the long shower, the softness was like heaven. The android’s hands in his hair gently massaging his scalp an added bonus. The man relaxed completely, closing his eyes as Nines dimmed the lights and switched them off completely. And with how tired he was and how good just lying there like that felt, he decided he would think about everything that happened tomorrow, if at all.

~

Gavin was woken up by the sun shining through the clouds directly into his face. Groaning, he slapped an arm over his face and turned, only to see that the other side of the bed was empty. He frowned. ‘Nines?’, he called into the flat, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes. As he didn’t get an answer, he shrugged and stood up piking up some lose-fit pants from the floor to wear. He yawned heartily as he walked up to the kitchen to make himself a coffee. His fingers hadn’t yet hit the button as his eyes finally noticed the post it note stuck to it.

Good morning, darling. I’m off for the day, but it shouldn’t take long. Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble for today. -9

Gavin took the little piece of paper and leaned against the counter, reading it again. He sighed, flinging it behind his back and getting back to his coffee. It was okay, it could happen, he told himself. Nines could do whatever he wanted. That was fine. He let himself fall onto the couch, sipping his coffee and cursing at himself for being so impatient as it was still far too hot. Maybe he had gotten a call by Fowler or any other Fixer in the city. Maybe he was preparing for a job. Maybe he was just out to buy some more equipment, who knew?

He shouldn’t worry. But he did. He had been betrayed a fair share in his life already and he had always been prepared should his recent partner do the same. But Nines was different. He wouldn’t do that, right? He couldn’t imagine the android doing that. And there was no reason for him to do so. They were a good team, made for each other since their very first mission together. There was no reason for Nines to leave him behind, right? ‘Phck’, Gavin cursed. If Nines did do that, it would destroy him. He knew it.

He sat there almost the entire day, watching the news, reading up the truth behind the media’s lies and checking in with the gang territories and job offers. After that it was cooking for himself, going for a short drive and after that: waiting. Until the android came back home. Because he needed to know. He would confront him today.

He perked up when the door unlocked with a familiar click and the android entered the room. ‘Gavin, I’m-‘ He stopped as he saw the man sitting in front of him, eyes fixed sternly on himself. ‘I’m home’, he finished in a more appropriate volume and shut the door. ‘Welcome back’, Gavin said. ‘We need to talk.’ Nines grimaced at that but nodded. ‘Okay. Just a moment.’ He hung up his jacket on the next chair and joined Gavin on the couch. ‘What did you want to talk about?’

‘I need to know what is going on’, Gavin decided to get right to business. ‘I need to know what you are doing and why you keep disappearing like this without any information. Sorry.’ Nines let his head rest in his hands for a moment, then lifted it out with a sigh, looking over to Gavin. ‘I know how this might look like, Gavin, but I can only tell you it isn’t what you think’, he began. ‘Hell, that makes it sound even worse now. I can’t tell you what I’m doing.’ ‘Alright.’ Gavin was short of standing up and leaving, but Nines grabbed his arm and gently pleaded him to stay with him. ‘Listen, I can’t tell you yet. I’m asking for two more days of your patience. Friday evening I will show you what I’ve been working on the past weeks, okay? It will all make sense then, don’t worry. I’m not leaving you behind or plan on betraying you. But I can’t tell you what it is, yet.’ ‘So a surprise, huh?’, Gavin asked not at all satisfied with the answer. ‘Yes’, Nines grinned and his smile reassured Gavin a little. ‘Yes, you could call it that.’

~

Friday evening was coming faster than thought, even if Gavin spent most of the time alone in their flat or out drinking in a bar. But that evening, Nines had told him to wear something comfortable and snatched the keys to his car from him as they left the flat. Now, Gavin was sitting in the passenger seat of his own car feeling weirdly out of place. ‘So where are we driving?’, he asked finally. Nines smiled at him and just asked in return: ‘I thought you knew these streets?’ ‘Yeah, I know we’re driving out of the city. I don’t know where you plan on bringing me though.’ ‘You’ll see. You just have to wait a little longer.’

Gavin spat some expletives his way in his mind and sighed, obviously uncomfortable. They had long left the city behind them and it dawned on Gavin where they were going. As Nines turned on the dusty road that would lead them to a very familiar hill, Gavin frowned. ‘The shed? What are you planning?’ Nines just chuckled and parked the car behind the bushes like Gavin had done before. ‘Do you know it has been a year now?’, the android asked him and stepped out of the car.

‘Exactly a year?’ ‘Yes.’ Nines helped him out of the car and led him towards the shed. ‘Wait.’ The android stopped him and watched the shed that lit up on command. The roof had been fixed and a few lightbulbs dangled from cables fastened to it. A few insects buzzed around the light sources and Nines hurried inside, leaving Gavin standing there admiring the comfy yet out of place looking decoration. As the android came back, he held a box and walked towards the tree, beckoning Gavin to follow him. In one swift motion Nines placed a blanket on the dried grass and leaned a few pillows against the tree. Then he sat down and looked up at Gavin expectantly.

‘What is this all?’, Gavin asked sceptically. ‘Just sit down’, Nines laughed and patted the ground at his side. Slowly, Gavin approached and sat down. Even before he was fully seated, Nines had pulled a few bottles out of the box as well as plates with snacks. ‘Seriously, what is this all?’, Gavin asked, by now more perplexed than suspicious. ‘I believe you could call it a picknick, darling’, Nines explained. ‘Exactly one year ago, we were sitting here and didn’t know what to do next. You changed my life that day and I can’t say I regret it.’ ‘And…?’ ‘And I really like how that new life turned out in the end. Thought it was a reason to celebrate.’

Gavin just stared at the android. ‘Wait. Wait a moment. You disappearing all the time… How did this lead up to this?’ ‘Do you know how difficult it is to get real lightbulbs in a city that relies on neon lights? Everything calming and warm is ridiculously expensive, because some people intentionally push up the prize. I thought to change that by breaking in, getting what I need and sell the rest.’ ‘You… You didn’t really run face first in gang hideouts just to plan a picknick, did you?!’ Nines shrugged at Gavin’s incredulous eyes.

‘I wanted the best for today. The wine is made from real grapes, it’s not that synth-stuff you get at every bar. As is everything else. I could have either spent all our money on this or get them myself. It was easier.’ ‘Holy shit and I thought you were ratting me out for some kind of deal!’, Gavin called out in embarrassment. ‘I would never’, Nines grinned. ‘Although I do have some kind of deal for you, darling.’

Gavin looked up to the android and lifted a brow. ‘Really?’ ‘Yes. Gavin, we have lived together for a year now and I can’t imagine a life without you. And considering how high the chances of an untimely death are in our business, I think it’s long overdue that I asked you.’ ‘Asked me what?’, Gavin asked, not believing what was about to happen.

Nines simply turned around to him and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a tiny silver ring made from what looked like parts of machinery. ‘What is that?’, the human asked and couldn’t keep his eyes from it. ‘A ring, dumbass. Remember that Job from Fowler last month?’ ‘Yes. How could I forget that? You nearly died!’ Nines nodded and took Gavin’s hand in his. ‘That settled it for me. The ring is made from my damaged part and I want you to have it. If you want it.’ ‘What exactly are you asking, Nines?’ Nines looked up to him and he saw his LED turning at insane speed. ‘Gavin Reed. Do you want to marry me?’

Gavin stared at him, then at the ring and lastly at his surroundings. Who was he kidding here, he had hoped for his dream to come true, but he still couldn’t believe it as he saw it right before his very own eyes. Grinning like crazy, he dove in for a kiss instead and only afterwards panted: ‘Yes! Yes, I would love to.’ Nines couldn’t hide his own smile and pushed the ring onto Gavin’s finger where it lit up in the same colour and rhythm as the android’s LED. ‘I love you, Gavin’, he whispered, brushing his thumb over the ring before pulling the human in a tight hug, the man returned in equal strength. ‘I love you too, tin-can’, Gavin laughed and looked down on the ring over Nines’ shoulder.

He really was far too lucky for this world. But he wouldn’t ever think about complaining.

[rk1kheadcanons]

Angst? Near death angst?

Alright anon, time for me to serve up that angst, careful what you wish for! These prompts are super interesting because depending on who has the near-death experience makes for a good story.

It's a public event broadcasted live over the Detroit news station. A meeting between the Android ambassadors and Detroit's official local and state government representatives. The Jericrew is dressed to impress in Neiman Marcus and Armani, with Markus and Connor up front leading the pack. A crowd has gathered at the steps of the city council, thousands of androids from every walk of life next to their human allies, holding up signs spattered with red and blue paint reading "I am alive!" "We are equal!" And "Different blood same love!", among others. Hank, and Connor who stands next to the rest of his family, are handling security details in a joint move between the DCPD and the androids.

Someone makes it through the security checkpoint (The guard turned around, were there two of them?)

The gun goes off (Faster, faster, why wasn't he faster why was he moving so damn slow-)

Chaos erupts. The crowd begins to panic, people screaming and crying as security teams bark out orders (Don't move! Everyone gets down!) before they, and the perpetrator, spill out into the streets in a riotous uproar.

If Connor Gets Shot

Loathe as he would be to admit it, Markus is a mess. The love of his life just took a bullet for him and is currently bleeding out on the steps of the building, Markus is beside himself with fear. Josh and Simon are guiding the people outside to safety with the police, and he's pretty sure North has taken off after the shooter with a security team in tow. But Markus?

Markus is crying. Markus is begging. Markus is praying.

He's choking back tears as he applies pressure to the wound, hands stained blue and whispering pleas to ra9 to don't take him stay with me baby please Connor Connor Connor!?-

His composure is gone, replaced with alternating levels of fear and rage. Fear for Connor’s safety, fear for the love of his life, and rage at whoever did this. Markus doesn't leave Connor's side, screw everyone else this comes first right now. They come first right now. Markus spends hours at Connor's side, worry creasing his brow, murmuring prayers between his lips and pressing kisses into his knuckles. Hank has come and gone, stuck between the need to assert the fact that Connor is alive, and battling back a sea of emotions knowing he almost lost another son. Markus can't blame the man. Fingers tracing patterns over Connor's face, Markus presses a kiss to his sleeping lips.

Then comes the rage.

Markus dresses to kill and makes sure everyone knows it. The halls of Jericho grow quieter with every step he takes, the lines of his suit pressed as neat and sharp as his smile. The chaos of the DCPD screeches to a halt once the Android leader makes his way inside, as calm and devout as they have ever seen the man. The offices are a mess of paperwork and grisly photos, Hank looks ready to combust if the glare he is sending the SWAT leaders mean anything, and Fowler looks like he went three rounds with the rabid menace that is political media and can't tell if he has won or not. 

Markus smiles, charming and mean,

 "Good afternoon everyone, I'm sorry about the unexpected visit but given the circumstances we at Jericho thought it best to work together with law enforcement in order to find the perpetrator. I trust that all of you would be more than happy to comply yes?"

It's a systematic takedown. Markus may not have all of Connor's investigative abilities but he is thorough. Josh and Simon hold down the fort at Jericho, and provide online assistance. North starts an unofficial patrol and search party with the beat cops, who learn fast to stay out of her way. She's a wildfire on a good day, but with Connor lying in the Android equivalent of a hospital bed, North is an inferno of unbridled rage with no one to take it out on except the next poor sap who pisses her off. Markus works with Hank, and together they beat back the political red tape and ignorant special unit leaders, combing through security videos and run down bars.

They find him.

Hank drags the perpetrator, kicking and screaming, up the steps of the DCPD. Everyone knew not to get in his way.

Inside, Markus is a figure of almost saintly patience. When Hank, prepared to drag the man to his cell, pauses and allows Markus a "moment" with him, the temperature of the room drops. The perpetrator is struggling in Hank's grip, jerking and snarling like a caged animal. Markus smiles, serene and cruel, as he leans down to lock eyes with the man who had dared harm Connor. Carefully, tenderly, Markus cups the man's face and hisses "You will never touch my Connor, or anyone else, ever again."

Someone leaks the iconic moment to the press, and photos of Hank and Markus' with the shooter spread like wildfire. But Markus can't bring himself to care, waking up with his arms clutching Connor to his chest a little to tightly. His lips hush Connor's fears with tender, breathless kisses, and though the skin had been healed and replaced, his mouth lingers in the space where the bullet wound should be. He doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the fear that had gripped him, clutching Connor tightly, hands stained blue, and praying for his love. Suddenly emotional, Markus buries his face in Connor's hair and breaths him in, murmuring "I love you's" into the skin of his neck.

If Markus Gets Shot

The minute he heard the shock of gunfire, Connor's first instinct is to shield those closest to him, coincidentally this is Markus. Unfortunately, the shooter had a better aim than expected. It's a clean shot, in-and-out of Markus arm, lodging itself into a nearby wall. Through instinct and sheer mental focus, Connor tunes out the chaos behind him as the security teams are put on alert and the crowd begins to panic. In a few short moments, he learns that the bullet had avoided most of Markus internal structure, and instead had torn through the upper level of his synthetic flesh. Still painful, still bloody, but comparatively much less than expected. Connor blinks, forcing the built-in protocols back for a moment, and leans in to kiss his bleeding, but blessedly alive lover while his thirium pump whirs in his ears and the fear surges back with a vengeance. A heavy pressure builds behind his eyelids, and for a brief moment Connor feels engulfed in anguish. 

“Not to complain sweetheart,” Markus grunts out, because yes, bullet wounds are still bullet wounds, “but I don’t think this is the place.” Connor can see him grimacing in pain, and clutches Markus hand tightly, stroking the skin of his palm.” I’ll be ok,” Markus assures him, because of course he would, “Now, I think you have something else you need to do” But Connor hears the pain in his voice and can’t bring himself to let go. For a moment they just lay there, in the eye of the storm, assuring themselves that they are alive, before Connor releases a breath and let’s the preconstruction algorithms do their work. 

“Josh?” 

“I’ll get Markus somewhere safe. The blood flow is already slowing, and we have some voluntary repairmen in the crowd who came from Jericho.” 

“Simon?”

“I’ll help with crowd control. PD will probably want to question the one’s here in the building at least, and everyone is pretty shook up. I’ll start handing out water bottles and thirium to those who need it.” 

“North.” 

“I’m gonna muscle my way into that security room with the officers and those security guards. If I find anything useful I’ll let you know.” 

“You do not have authority to be in there during an investigation North.” 

“Don’t worry about me. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to let me in on Markus behalf.” 

“Great,” Markus broke in, “Game plan. Now can we hurry up cause I did just get shot here.” He reaches over and squeezes Connor’s hand, and though he’s hiding it well, Connor hears the quiver in his voice. Connor presses a kiss to his forehead. “Think you can catch him?” 

“I will.”  It’s a promise, sealed tightly with love and barely constrained rage. The Hunter is off, chasing down the gunman with Hank on his tail. He had let his preconstruction program run in the few seconds the crew had been planning, and follows the trail of haphazard bystanders out into the street. Connor vaults over the railing, and takes off tearing down the sidewalk. He bears his teeth in a particularly nasty snarl as he catches up with the security teams. 

“Dark denim jacket, black beanie, about 5′6 and in a pair of grey sneakers.” One of the officers next to Connor, grunts out as they run, “One of the other units radioed us. Said he’s headed towards the park near the traffic stop.” 

Connor nods, and takes off sprinting. A left, and Connor spots him, stumbling his way through across the road, the screech of tires and blaring car horns causing a traffic jam of angry Detroit commuters. Narrowing his eyes Connor races after him, sliding over the roof of a Ford Expedition, and nimbly dodging a beat up red beetle while doing so. Without the loss in speed, Connor comes of fast on the shooters tail. “Stop,” He commands, “Stop! Detroit Police!” 

Something like rage builds inside of him. How dare this man, Connor thinks, how dare this man hurt Markus. How dare this man threaten his family. What gives him the right, Connor thinks viciously, to treat them like this? “Stop!,” And this time Connor reaches out, taking the man to the ground. 

They fall into a pile of limbs, with the gunman spitting vitriol at him. The rage bubbles inside, barely contained, as the is yanked to his feet, “Stop,” Connor’s voice is shaking now, as he tries to clamp down on the viciousness inside, spitting like a cobra, “You are under arrest. You have the right to-” 

“Damn piece of plastic,” The gunman hisses, and when he tries to jerk out of Connor’s grip something inside the android gives away. Officer Davidson, the one who had provided Connor the description, is headed their way with his partner. The others shouldn’t be too far behind then. Connor’s face goes blank, programming coming to the forefront of his mind like a crutch as he hands the man off to officer Davidson. But not before the man turns around, catching a glimpse of Connor’s face as the android stalks forward. The blood drains from his face at the sight of the androids rage. 

“You are under arrest,” The venom in Connors’ voice is palpable, “Because now you cannot do this to us. You can’t do what you did to Markus. There will be consequences for your actions,” Connor sucks in a breath, keenly aware of his hands trembling, “And if you ever go near Markus again, I will deal with you personally.” 

Davidson, wisely, doesn’t say anything, as Connor storms off. News spreads among Jericho of The Hunter, and the length he went to protect the deviant leader. But Connor doesn’t care, that evening ending with him clutching Markus hand, eyes closed as is seeking forgiveness for guilt that is not his to bear. It ends with him confessing his loss of control. And telling Markus, in his breaking voice, just how much he loves him. 

[musemash]

LEGACIES OF AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY – by David D. Fowler / revised Oct 7, 2021

My memory of that haunting day is still quite vivid. In September 2001, I was working as a journalist for a mainstream Christian media organization. I got up early that mornng as usual, to prepare for travelling to my workplace. As was my habit, I turned on the CBC radio news.

I was quickly made aware that something terrible had happened in New York. I tuned in sometime after the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers; so I heard the news about the 2nd plane as it happened. By then, I realized I was not in the best emotional condition to do my job competently.

So I phoned my boss for some advice. He graciously assured me that everyone at the office was feeling pretty much the same way I was, and told me I should take the day off. I did so, and kept the radio on for the next several hours, riveted by all the horror unfolding in America.

I did not have cable TV at the time, so I saw none of the now infamous footage of the atrocity. A few days later, I went to the corner store, and bought newspapers and magazines with many photos. But I never actually saw any of the film clips until several years later.

To mark the 20th anniversary of this watershed event, MuseMash presents historic documentary footage; poignant music videos; clips from powerful dramas; photo galleries; wild conspiracy theories, and cogent responses to them; ceremonies paying homage to 9/11 victims; and touching human stories encompassed by this profoundly stirring tragedy.

Silence At Ground Zero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lipPEU8f5tU 9/11 Museum PSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBODSVBplsI Honoring The Dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Em4o5qHGE https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/us-honors-9-11-dead-on-20th-anniversary-of-attacks-3546394 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/11/september-11-20th-anniversary-ceremonies-biden Biden Calls For Unity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raIUKhwQ-6s Homage To Flight 93 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xL6eaiM14o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ozp3Rhg_gU Pentagon Flag Ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2bB5wwO-Q Royal Family Tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h948b79yuv0 Memorial Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfEFkLsPwWw Remembering A Firefighter https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9972979/20-years-9-11-survivor-pays-emotional-tribute-firefighter.html 9/11 Recap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GySgEL4NRFY How September 11 Unfolded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60QnpI_xH4 9/11 As It Happened https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2wVb_AILso Minute By Minute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36xB17pRSaM WTC Under Assault https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFBG8f-XZcw First Plane Hits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3shmfKOZ9g 9/11 Audio Timeline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RM5HM37CwI Second Plane Hits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFiEgwLQVJk Pentagon Attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDUhyW6zjFk Trapped In The Towers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8V9DEEx_cA Voices From The Air https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpI575rjPEM Twin Towers Collapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft2uIYucsXo Life Under Attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyfU1-FdUY Oval Office Address https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA8-KEnfWbQ Letterman's 9/11 Monologue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZeEdye0h9A The Final Flight Of United 93 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQdjDtlK3uQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv1HPrKtdYI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdDYMIKIElI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBbVCfJfQQY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q8eDgvxBWI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjV5KYvQO8Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5i-tvvHX68 World Trade Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG58-Vs838M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFdeC6ukDY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPCt2BBqR2k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHx-v7Xto7E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja4l7-L7n6M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEnaRGQc8Ls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CEYOnJqPE4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDU2I4kxPY8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagsLW2dKTI The Moment The World Changed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn64AyrHe4Q The President's Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_CEc4-r3TE The Miracle Man Of 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRVUvgJpi50 Last Rites For A Gay Saint https://qspirit.net/mychal-judge-gay-saint-of-911/ The 9/11 Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfygCVvW-lc A New Era https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uxe9oUjL4Q Let's Roll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sxqkbz6T4g Compassion & Generosity In Gander https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTbnjihUTrA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFuQfavlPyQ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/09/07/sept11-newfoundland-gander-canada/ https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/nick-diane-marson-come-from-away-chance-encounters/index.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcDETR8kGiU Photo Galleries https://ca.news.yahoo.com/remembering-911-harrowing-photos-day-world-changed-204656851.html https://ca.news.yahoo.com/911-images-september-11-terror-attacks-164119736.html https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19572895.9-11-attack-twin-towers-september-11-2001-pictures/ https://news.yahoo.com/9-11-photos-us-marks-200007461.html https://publicintelligence.net/911-ground-zero-damage-overview-high-resolution-photos/ https://newsnationusa.com/news/usanews/photos-of-9-11-and-its-aftermath-to-mark-the-20-year-anniversary/ https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/24-powerful-photos-remembering-9-113600513.html https://uk.news.yahoo.com/911-images-september-11-terror-attacks-164119736.html https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/national/19574339.pictures-20-images-documented-horror-9-11/ https://hotcelebrityreviews.com/world-news/never-before-seen-photos-from-9-11-attacks-show-devastating-wreckage-and-heroic-ironworkers-who-cut-through-steel-beams/ 9/11 Before & After https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj_I65LkrUM Return To Ground Zero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b17PaFqnIA Divided & Bruised https://uk.news.yahoo.com/divided-bruised-us-marks-9-015725050.html Trump On 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nsesc-ouLs In The Shadow Of The War On Terror https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/us-marks-20-years-since-9-11-in-shadow-of-afghan-wars-end/ Conspiracy Theories https://news.abplive.com/news/world/conspiracy-theories-that-surround-9-11-attacks-to-this-day-world-trade-centre-qanon-al-qaeda-1481537 The Big Lie https://artbyarion.blogspot.com/2011/10/big-lie-rick-veitch.html http://sequart.org/magazine/6016/on-the-big-lie-by-rich-veitch-and-gary-erskine/ https://norcaltruth.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/rick-veitch-on-911-and-%E2%80%9Cthe-big-lie%E2%80%9D/ Challenging 9/11 Myths https://todaybiznews.com/news/tech/debunking-the-9-11-myths-the-world-trade-center/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a6384/debunking-911-myths-world-trade-center/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMnJcp7FTeo Fahrenheit 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbKcN8B5cNQ Investigating 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=darxqmyLnpE Icon By Committee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVtiCdBM0Ho Come From Away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LA6alAIFQI https://comefromaway.com/about.php https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azNyW1_iXdg https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/beverly-bass-captain-depicted-in-musical-come-from-away-discusses-her-experience-on-9-11-120657477847 https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/09/entertainment/come-from-away-review/index.html https://www.salon.com/2021/09/10/come-from-away-review-apple-tv-plus/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTNDRvUqVQA A Visit To Ground Zero  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkJ0K0IBOA4 Forgotten Victims https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9965771/Activist-shares-awe-inspiring-account-fight-healthcare-9-11.html Stewart Champions First Responders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uYpDC3SRpM New 9/11 Movies https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/national/2021/09/09/new-911-documentaries-to-stream-ahead-of-20th-anniversary-where-to-watch/ One Day in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGEssh5UAak NYC Epicenters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ866ljcevY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsZxwYYxPLM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZ2cGMslbs https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/spike-lee-9-11-remembrance-nyc-epicenters-1235060437/ https://variety.com/2021/film/news/spike-lee-questions-9-11-nyc-epicenters-1235047399/ Inside The President’s War Room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BcKbOCYOpA Turning Point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqgNFGkOjBE America After 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJXNn_8IDk8 Worth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAemeB9CAw Generation 9/11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3K3c0oPBQ Memory Box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KZiO3nETw8 The Rising https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9LpsP0goJ8 Welcome To The Rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-ozsBI570 Annual Skyline Tributes https://news.yahoo.com/stunning-images-york-city-skyline-131316530.html Flight 175 Voicemail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gulhkfAjTko Where the Streets Have No Name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og0V1UtjPt4 I'll See You In My Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xku6UOkg7z8

[naturecoaster]

The 15th Annual Pigz in Z'Hills BBQ & Blues Festival is the Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce signature event. As the name suggests, BBQ & Blues features a friendly Kidz Grillin' competition amidst a background of blues music, a hog-calling contest, and a wing-eating contest! FUN FAMILY EVENT! There's something for everyone, including a Live Blues Concert from 11 am - 5 pm 2025 Entertainment Lineup: - Ed Wright - Kid Royal Band - Mark Shane & The Shane Gang - Berry Oakley and Friends featuring Tyrone Vaughn, Damon Fowler & RJ Howson Cornhole Tournament located behind Zephyrhills Brewing Company - Cornhole is back! Last year featured our 4th Cornhole Tournament sponsored by AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Faithful Friends Pet Cremation. With the move to downtown, you will find Cornhole behind the Zephyrhills Brewing Company this year! Bring your chair and enjoy the day - whether that is the music or watching cornhole! What can be better than music, beer, & great friends? Vendors featuring arts, crafts, and a variety of fun merchandise Kidz Zone sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union and the YMCA features a variety of activities that children and adults of all ages can enjoy! - For just one price, grab a wristband and play all day on all inflatable attractions! Check out the inflatable games or do the fun activities that our local YMCA and Suncoast Credit Union have lined up! Parents can even take turns relaxing in the shade while the kids play! Hog Calling Contest sponsored by Boss Hogg Radio Zephyrhills Military Museum, located just down the street from downtown. - In the early 1940s, hundreds of Army fighter pilots came to Zephyrhills to hone their skills at the newly built Zephyrhills Army Airfield before going to war. After World War II, the airport was donated to the city. The barracks where the pilots lived have all been demolished with this infirmary building being the only survivor. From 1997 to 2001, state and city grants allowed for the restoration and preservation of this building. The museum holds treasured memories of the World War II veterans who lived and trained in Zephyrhills and others who served in this and other wars. Wing Eating Contest - looking for a sponsor! The 4th Kidz Grillin' Competition, sponsored by Bahr's Propane Gas & AC, Publix, Sonny's BBQ, SouthState Bank, The Home Depot, and Chick-fil-A. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 with gift bags for all competitors. All meat and cooking supplies will be provided! All you need to do is bring your child and stay to supervise. The first 30 registered entries are sponsored by local community members. Please see the flyer for more information and register at the link provided above. No Coolers | Service Animals ONLY         Since 2010, BBQ & Blues has pulled more than 3 million dollars into the Zephyrhills area. Last year, the festival brought an estimated economic impact of $500,000 to our local economy. Since its inception, BBQ & Blues has helped The Chamber of Commerce to provide approximately $40,000 in scholarships to Zephyrhills area students and given back over $100K to our community partners. BBQ & Blues engages over 200 dedicated volunteers every year. The Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than $68,000 in donations to local 501(c)3 youth groups and charities that commit time and talent to create this successful event. With 10,000-13,000 guests per year, BBQ & Blues has grown to become the most attended event in Zephyrhills. While nearly half of the participants are usually local, about 30% are regional and a surprising 20% are from out of state. BBQ & Blues helps put Zephyrhills on the map! Read the full article