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Arsenal 22/23 a season review Part 3 of 3: April-May-

April

From an Arsenal perspective, Bukayo Saka was again the story of the International Break, receiving rave reviews from the media for his role in England’s 2-0 Euros Qualifier win over Ukraine, where the winger grabbed a goal and an assist, the goal being a wonderful curled finish into the top corner from outside the box. On his return to Arsenal he received the award for Premier League player of the month for March, making it the first time since 03/04 that Arsenal had multiple players win the award in the same season.

Given Arsenal’s league form in March, the club’s own player of the month award was just as competitive as the one for the overall competition. Both Saka and Martinelli missed out despite the latter scoring 4 in 4, and the award instead went to Leandro Trossard for his 5 assists. An easier decision to be made was for the Premier League manager of the month, Mikel Arteta picking up the award for the 4th time that season as Arsenal won all 4 games in the competition.

Arsenal’s first game of April would be their first league game of the season without Saka’s name in the starting 11, but in his place came Gabriel Jesus, making his first league start since November. The visitors to the Emirates were Leeds United, in the midst of their own scrap against relegation, them and 8 other teams all in the lower places were fighting for every point to survive in the Premier League’s most competitive season to date. 

For the first half an hour or so Arsenal failed to do anything meaningful with their possession, until Jesus faked to shoot then chopped back to manoeuvre his way past Kristensen in the Leeds box, then he left Ayling on the floor and ran past him. As he did so the Leeds defender dangled a leg which caught Jesus on the knee and sent him to the turf. Without hesitation the ref pointed to the spot and after receiving the ball from captain Odegaard, Jesus sent Meslier the wrong way to give Arsenal the lead and score his first goal for exactly 6 months. 

Arsenal started the first half slowly, but they were immediately at the races in the second, doubling their lead 2 minutes into the second half when Martinelli beat Ayling then put an inviting ball across the six-yard box. It was right-back Ben White who gambled on it and got to the back-post unopposed. His powerful connection cannoned into the net off the underside of the crossbar. 8 minutes later and Arsenal had their 3rd following a devastating combination between Trossard and Jesus. This was the first game the two started alongside each other, but their understanding on the pitch was already apparent. Jesus found Trossard on the edge of the box, he made his way into the penalty area and found the angle to provide the cut-back to Jesus, who had the easy task of converting from six yards for his first open-play goal since scoring against Tottenham in October. 

With a quarter of an hour to go, Arsenal briefly allowed Leeds back into the game with a very soft goal they will feel was very avoidable. As Leeds broke out from Arsenal’s press they attacked the Gunners backline and despite Arsenal managing to get 7 players back behind the ball, the ball still broke to an unmarked Kristensen who had the time to pick his spot and he found the bottom corner as a deflection off Zinchenko took the flight of the ball away from Ramsdale. Like their last game before the break against Crystal Palace, Arsenal had been cruising 3-0 when they’d allowed the visitors a glimmer of hope with a goal against the run of play. 

Like against Palace though, Arsenal quickly restored their 3-goal margin, getting their 4th goal in the 84th minute. Substitute Saka dragged 4 men outwide with him, then found Odegaard who instantly looked for the head of Xhaka. Odegaard’s ball was a perfect one but it still needed a good header, and Xhaka certainly provided it, his touch was so good that the keeper didn’t even move for it, he knew he was beaten as Xhaka netted his 4th goal in his last 5 appearances for club and country. In between Arsenal’s two 4-1 home wins against Palace and Leeds, City had a 4-1 home win of their own beating Liverpool, but Arsenal had restored their 8 point advantage (having played a game more). 

Next up for Arsenal it would be their turn to face Liverpool as they travelled to Anfield, a ground they had last won at in 2012. Since then the ground had become a graveyard for them with Arsenal having conceded at least 3 goals in 8 of their last 9 Premier League visits to the ground, and having lost by a margin of at least 2 goals in all 6 of their most recent league visits. 

For the first time since before the World Cup, Arsenal started with what is considered their first choice front 3 of Saka, Jesus and Martinelli. It was a combination between Arsenal’s young trio of Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli that got the league leaders off to the ideal start. Saka led the attack and found Odegaard who looked to return it to him, though his pass deflected off Van Dijk into the path of Martinelli who kept control of the ball and then poked it beyond Alisson in the 8th minute. 

20 minutes later things got even better for Arsenal when Martinelli was found once more, with a clever pass from Xhaka putting him in down the flank, from there he swung in a perfect cross to find the unmarked Gabriel Jesus who headed it down into the ground and into the back of the net for 2-0. The first 40 minutes went better than any Arsenal fan could have dreamed of, in a game that was considered a huge test of their title credentials, they had risen comfortably to the challenge. They led 2-0 and for a spell of around 10 minutes, looked the likelier of the two teams to get the game’s 3rd goal which would surely secure all 3 points.   

However at a time when Arsenal looked most in control, Liverpool halved the deficit when Jota’s pull-back for Henderson was steered to the back-post by the Liverpool skipper and Salah was waiting to turn it in from inside the six-yard box. The timing of the goal just 3 minutes from half-time was a crucial one and meant that an entirely different second half was promised and that was what materialised.

Just 7 minutes into the second half and Liverpool won a penalty when Arsenal failed to clear a corner and Holding rather clumsily brought down Jota whilst attempting to reach the ball first. There would be a reprieve for him and his team however as Salah missed the chance to level the contest with his second of the game, pushing his penalty wide of the post. Ramsdale had stayed down the middle so all Salah had to do was hit the target from 12 yards, but he was unable. 

The equaliser still looked and felt inevitable as Arsenal continued to toil in the second half, squandering possession cheaply time and again and failing to get to grips with Liverpool who continued to attack, constantly swarming into the Arsenal half with swathes of red shirts and Arsenal seemed caught in a blur as had been the case so many times before at Anfield. However after weathering a storm which in reality lasted around 20 minutes (but must have felt like 6 hours for Arsenal fans, coaches and players) the game began to settle down again with Arsenal finally getting the chance to catch their breath and play some of the game outside of their own half, whilst Liverpool were almost re-charging and preparing themselves for one last big push. 

With less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining Liverpool began to get sights of goal again, and a big chance came when substitute Nunez was put through one-on-one against Ramsdale, but the Arsenal keeper was equal to it getting a big hand to the ball as Nunez attempted to pass it beyond him. A 4th goal in the game appeared near certain, but it wasn’t definite which way it would go as Liverpool pushed more bodies into the Arsenal half, the Gunners had threats on the counter attack and aswell almost scored from a corner when Gabriel got good contact on his header but aimed it straight at Alisson. A minute later another Arsenal chance came when Saka got free of 2 Liverpool defenders in the area, but his ball across goal could not find substitute Trossard. 

Arsenal were immediately made to rue those missed opportunities when Alexander-Arnold got beyond Zinchenko and stood an inviting ball up to the backpost, Firmino was there and he won the header for his 10th Premier League goal against Arsenal. There was still a couple of minutes of normal time remaining and now Liverpool really smelt blood, feeling the game was now there’s to go and win. With 6 minutes added on, in the 5th minute Salah tried to bend one into the top corner and a deflection off of Gabriel made it even harder for Ramsdale, pushing the ball further away from him but the Arsenal keeper pulled off one of the saves of the season giving the importance of the moment to divert it behind for a corner. 

Liverpool were still not done and a flighted ball from Alexander-Arnold found the run of Nunez who had got in behind the Arsenal defence, his header down across the six-yard box found Konate just inches from the goalline, the defender couldn’t go with his head so opted to try and guide it in with his chest when Ramsdale somehow got back on the line in time and was able to push the ball away from goal, when the Liverpool winner looked so certain that some fans began celebrating prematurely. The drama of the game still wasn’t done as Arsenal attempted to counter-attack with Saka, Martinelli and Trossard up against just one Liverpool defender, Martinelli attempted to put Saka in on goal but his pass was too heavy and Alisson got their first. Then the ref called time on a pulsating second half and one of the most dramatic Premier League games in recent memory. 

Whether it would be a point gained or two points dropped for Arsenal would ultimately come down to whether they finished 1st or 2nd, as at full-time there were arguments for both. Having led for nearly 80 minutes and outplaying Liverpool for nearly the entirety of the first half they would on one hand rue the opportunities they didn’t take to get the 3rd goal and put it out of Liverpool’s reach. However they had got out of jail with Salah missing a penalty and then they’d had to rely on a miraculous, heroic performance from Ramsdale between the sticks, as he produced not one but two incredible saves in the final minutes.

The following Sunday and Arsenal were on the road again, this time travelling to West Ham who were in the midst of their own fight against relegation. It took Arsenal just 7 minutes to open the scoring. Patient, intricate build-up in and around the West Ham box eventually saw Odegaard play in White, who squared it across the six-yard box for Jesus who was waiting to tap home for his 4th goal in 3 starts. Just 3 minutes later and Arsenal’s advantage was doubled with Martinelli swinging a ball over to an unmarked Odegaard who had all the time he needed to side-foot volley it beyond Fabianski. Arsenal were opening West Ham up at will, and with such a flying start they had roared into such a commanding position that the only question at that point seemed to be: “How many will West Ham keep it down to?”

Arsenal spent the next 20 minutes passing the ball around at a leisurely pace, with no real urgency or desire to push for a 3rd goal, they were content to just leave West Ham chasing shadows as they passed it around the side who had been away in European action just 3 days prior. Arsenal’s casual approach would come back to bite them however, as Partey attempted a flick past Declan Rice who was on him in a flash, charging the ball down and finding Paqueta. His first touch was a dreadful one as he lost control of the ball, but Gabriel had already committed his body to a diving tackle, and though he managed to pull out at the last second, Pacqueta felt enough of a touch off Gabriel to go down and try to win a penalty. It was soft and perhaps harsh, but Arsenal had given the ref a decision to make. Firstly by Partey’s carelessness in possession so close to his own box and then by Gabriel’s clumsy challenge attempt. 

Benrahma sent Ramsdale the wrong way to half the deficit and suddenly a game that was completely in Arsenal’s hands was once again in danger of slipping away. The chance to re-establish control emerged early in the second half when a Martinelli shot was charged down by the outstretched arm of Antonio and the ref pointed to the spot for the game’s second penalty. 

Saka had never before missed a penalty for Arsenal and stepped up to take it, however on this occasion he pushed it way wide of the goal. Mere minutes after passing up this golden opportunity Arsenal were made to pay, when a simple ball lifted into the box from Kehrer bypassed an Arsenal defence who hadn’t pushed out quickly enough. They were caught cold as the ball arrived for Bowen to take on the volley and his shot which bobbled into the ground beat Ramsdale, who will have been disappointed he didn’t do better with it. 

With West Ham’s tails well and truly up, Arsenal were dragged into a game where possession was exchanged regularly and cheaply, as they were forced to defend many situations such as corners and throw-ins. Holding in particular endured a torrid afternoon, with Antonio enjoying regular success in isolating himself against him one v one and getting the better of him. Arsenal wanted to salvage the day and rescue all 3 points which earlier on had looked all but assured, but they lacked the control over the game to do it. Substitutes helped them to re-establish some authority but they never really looked likely to score a 3rd goal and in the end they were forced to accept a second 2-2 draw in a week. Like at Liverpool, they had been 2-0 up but conceded before half-time and like the previous week a missed penalty early in the second half was a crucial moment in the game, this time of course it was Arsenal making the costly miss.

Arsenal had only themselves to blame for squandering such a commanding position through individual errors and a seemingly lax approach, but they had the chance to put things right just 5 days later at the Emirates as they hosted bottom side Southampton. However they got off to an unimaginably start when Ramsdale underhit a pass for Zinchenko, which was easily cut out by Alcaraz who immediately punished the error by putting it straight into the back of the net to put Arsenal behind after just 28 seconds. It was an unfathomably poor attempted pass from Ramsdale and after rescuing his side late away at Anfield, he had on this occasion put his side in a precariously bad position early doors. 

A bad start got worse in the 14th minute when sloppy play in midfield eventually led to a poor giveaway from Odegaard which went straight to the Southampton midfield, with one pass they picked out Alcaraz who was in acres of space running towards the Arsenal back four, he spotted the run of Walcott and picked him out in behind Gabriel. The pass allowed the former Arsenal man to take a first time shot, and he was able to simply pass it beyond Ramsdale. 6 minutes later and Arsenal got themselves back into the game with Saka getting beyond his man and digging out a cross from the byline which found Martinelli who expertly steered it in on the volley. 

Arsenal pushed for an equalising goal for the remainder of the first half, but Odegaard and Vieira (covering for Xhaka who missed out with illness) were wasteful with their opportunities. The closest Arsenal came to a first half equaliser came when when a clever Ben White header from a corner was cleared off the line. 

Arsenal continued their domination in the second half but struggled to calve out many clear-cut chances, despite keeping Southampton pinned in their own third for much of the halves opening 20 minutes. One good chance came just shy of the hour mark when Saka and Jesus both had opportunities to force the ball over the goalline but both were unable. With 25 minutes of normal time remaining Arsenal made their job harder, when Partey unnecessarily played himself into trouble and ended up conceding a corner. From that resulting corner, taken by dead-ball specialist Ward-Prowse, Bella-Kotchap got the contact to send the ball to the backpost where Carleta-Car had been left completely free to nod home. Arsenal had began the game with over 50 more league points than Southampton, but now they trailed them at home by 3 goals to 1, as their title dreams crumbled all around them in the most unlikely of ways. 

Just minutes later a big chance falls to Jesus to get Arsenal back in it once more, but on a frustrating night for the Brazilian, surely his worst for the club thus far, he fluffs his lines and skies his volley way over the bar. Another chance comes when a shot from Saka looked likely to find the back of the net before it was blocked by his own teammate in substitute Nketiah. Just as Arsenal had appeared to run out of ideas Odegaard bent one into the bottom corner from outside the box, an excellent strike from the Norwegian who like most of his teammates had endured a poor match. One of the few who hadn’t been poor was Bukayo Saka and 2 minutes later he got the equaliser. A good ball into the box by the lively Trossard (who had replaced the ineffectual Vieira) was held up by Jesus who teed up Nelson for the shot. His effort was saved but fell to the feet of Saka who levelled the game, just before the board for 8 additional minutes went up. 

They surely couldn’t do it again could they? They tried. 2 minutes into stoppage time and Trossard thundered one off the bar, a few inches lower and the power would have beaten the keeper and the net would have been bulging. In the 5th minute lightning almost strikes twice for Nelson as he comes close to scoring his 2nd injury time winner of the season, but his effort deflects just wide. Partey���s evening which had been one to forget got even worse in the 98th minute when he ignored all his teammates and opted to try his luck from 30 yards out. It was just what Southampton were hoping for, a dreadful effort which flew miles high and wide of the goal. 

Still it wasn’t over though as it went to the 100th minute, with Arsenal still attacking. Another chance fell to Jesus and yet again he was unable to take it, again ending up on the floor and appealing for a penalty which wasn’t forthcoming. The referee called time on a crazy game between top and bottom that ended in a 3-3 draw. The game showcased Arsenal’s fighting spirit and never say die desperation which is why they are top of the league, but it also showed their defensive vulnerabilities and capability to produce abysmal individual errors, which has meant their lead at the top had been cut to 5 points despite them having now played 2 games more than City. 

Arsenal had not beaten City in the league since 2015, and since Guardiola took the job the following year, the Gunners had only managed to avoid defeat in the league against him once, going into the game on a run of 11 straight defeats in the Premier League to their title rivals. Arsenal began as 4/1 underdogs and those odds would’ve moved even higher when City scored the opening goal in the 7th minute. A long ball up to Haaland allowed City to bypass Arsenal’s press and the Norwegian touched it down and laid it off with Holding on his back as though he wasn’t there. His pass was perfectly weighted into the path of De Bruyne who was then able to isolate Gabriel 1 v 1, with ease he made room for the shot which beat Ramsdale from outside the box. The Belgian simply passed the ball firmly past the Arsenal keeper, of whom questions would be asked as to if he could have done better, but in fairness it did appear to be a very well placed finish. 

Ramsdale was twice called into action later into the half, his intervention needed to stop Haaland doubling the lead on two separate occasions. First when he weaved his way in between Zinchenko and Holding with the ball at his feet and later when he attempted to finish off a cut-back from Gundogan. Ramsdale was equal to these attempts and Arsenal were in touching distance of getting into half time only a goal down. But right on half time, they conceded a free-kick and from the resulting set-piece De Bruyne found the unmarked head of John Stones who made no mistake. The linesman’s flag then immediately shot up for offside, but on VAR review it was found that White’s foot was just playing Stones onside, and now Arsenal had a mountain to climb.

A mountain they never really looked like climbing since they had been completely unable to get their dangerous wingers in the game, as the players instead mostly opted for safety first passes backwards and sideways, as though their only intention was to stave off City attacks for a while by keeping possession in an unthreatening manner. The game already appeared to be over but it was made certain in the 54th minute when a poor pass from Odegaard (typically of Arsenal on this night, one that tried to go backwards to Partey rather than try to progress the ball towards City’s goal) was picked off by De Bruyne who linked with Haaland, the duo’s combinations had destroyed Arsenal all evening and this instance was no exception as De Bruyne finished the move off with another smart finish for his second of the game. 

After an opening hour where City had been vastly superior to Arsenal in every department in each area of the pitch, the hosts seemed content with their cushion and looked to see it out, which finally allowed Arsenal to grow into the game and string some passes together in better areas of the pitch. The introductions of Jorginho and Trossard in place of Xhaka and Martinelli who had been completely anonymous saw a slight improvement from Arsenal and it was a combination between them and fellow substitute Reiss Nelson that eventually saw Trossard tee up Holding for a first-time shot. It was a good finish from the centre-back as he gave Arsenal the smallest of small glimmers of hope with 4 minutes of normal time remaining. The final goal of the game would be City’s however when substitute Foden was allowed to bring the ball down on the edge of the box with all the time and space he needed to nudge it on for Haaland to strike first time. It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but there was enough venom on the shot to beat Ramsdale and make it 4-1.

On the night Arsenal needed to produce their best performance of the season, they in fact produced their worst. Predictably Holding was terrorised by Haaland, Neither Partey or Xhaka had any success getting to grips with De Bruyne and in an attacking sense Odegaard, Martinelli and Saka had their quietest games of the season, with all 3 being subbed off before the end. The warning signs had been there with the contrasting form of the two sides going into the game. The damage had seemingly already been done from Arsenal’s side with the way they had surrendered and threw away points in the previous games. By holding onto their 2-0 lead away at West Ham and then beating the bottom placed side at home they could have gone to Etihad 9 points clear. Instead their slip-ups allowed the City game to be something of a straight shoot-out with the winner being the overwhelming favourite to take the title. 

Given Arsenal’s recent struggles with Holding looking out of his depth, the form of Partey really dipping and a host of individual mistakes from others, getting a favourable result from the Etihad appeared a long shot but there could be questions asked of Arteta’s decision to stick with the likes of Holding and as well not bringing in Jorginho to try and bring more control to Arsenal’s midfield, either in support or in place of Partey. By keeping the same team, Arteta allowed Guardiola to see all of Arsenal’s weaknesses in recent games and set up to brutally expose them, which he did. 

May

After 4 without a win, Arsenal were desperate to return to winning ways at home to Chelsea who were down in 12th position. Sensing he could persist no longer with what had not been working, Arteta made 3 changes to the starting line-up taking out Holding, Partey and Martinelli and bringing in Kiwior for his first Premier League start, Jorginho and Trossard who had been on the winning side in all 6 of his previous league starts for the club. 

Arsenal quickly began to look more like their old selves, pressing aggressively and winning the ball back regularly in duels or by picking up the second ball. They got the goal their start merited in the 18th minute when Xhaka picked up the ball on the left hand side, with time to pick his head up he expertly found Odegaard who had found some space on the edge of the box. The captain’s first-time finish was a magnificent one as his effort went in off the underside of the crossbar. Chelsea almost responded when Kante picked out the run of Chilwell who had got free down the right hand side. Ramsdale produced an excellent stop to push his attempt wide for a corner and keep Arsenal ahead. 

Just past the half-hour mark and Arsenal doubled the lead, with that same combination of Xhaka to Odegaard causing the problems for Chelsea once more. A cross from the left-hand side from the Swiss again found an unmarked Odegaard who again scored with a one-touch finish for his 14th league goal of the season. 3 minutes later and Arsenal had their third with White’s diagonal ball to the backpost picking out the chest of Jesus who laid it off for Xhaka to shoot. His effort was blocked but the ball fell to the feet of Jesus who struck it home for his 10th goal of the season, making Arsenal the first side in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have 4 different players hit double figures.  

The Gunners looked to continue where they’d left off in the second half and almost got the 4th when Gabriel got his head on a corner, beating Kepa to the ball but Thiago Silva was well positioned on the goalline to clear it away. Chelsea had not been able to deal with Xhaka all night long and he was the next to come close to adding himself to the scoresheet but his effort was saved by Kepa. 

As has become a regular occurrence at the Emirates in recent months, just as Arsenal appeared certain to score the game’s 4th goal and make it 4-0, they would instead concede it against the run of play. Yet again it was a goal they should have done better on, Zinchenko this time the guilty party, switching off and allowing Madueke to run off the back of him, which gave Kovacic a clear target to pick out which he did. With one pass, from a situation where there was no danger Madueke was now through on goal and with a good first touch he was able to finish beyond Ramsdale despite the attentions of Gabriel by bobbling the shot into the ground. 

Arsenal had once again failed to be ruthless at one end and then at the other switched off to concede a soft, avoidable goal. From there the game got messy, Arsenal could not regain the same control over it they’d had up to conceding, but Chelsea never looked likely to seriously threaten the result of an Arsenal win, with the game ending 3-1. There had been positives for Arsenal, the main one of course being they’d ended their winless run by beating a local rival, and they looked more comfortable as a team with Kiwior in defence who had done well on his first league start. Jorginho as well had been a big improvement on the recent displays in that position from Partey, the Italian midfielder kept things ticking, never dwelling on the ball unnecessarily and that helped Arsenal to move the ball around much quicker and get the ball into the forward players regularly. There would be however tougher tests ahead, such as the away trip to 3rd place Newcastle.

After recent away fixtures at Anfield, West Ham and the Etihad, Arsenal’s travels were not getting any easier as they visited 3rd place Newcastle who had only lost at home once in all competitions and who had recently dispatched Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham 6-1, with the Magpies leading 5-0 after 21 minutes. They threatened to make a similarly fast start against Arsenal, hitting the post inside 70 seconds with Jacob Murphy afforded too much room for the shot by Zinchenko. Pressure from Newcastle forced Arsenal into conceding a corner and from that resulting set-piece, the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty judging Kiwior, who had kept his place in the team, to have blocked a Joelinton effort with his arm. 

VAR looked at the incident and in the end asked the ref to go across to the monitor and decide for himself. After several re-watches it was clear that the ball had first hit Kiwior around his knee before diverting on to his arm and nearly 3 minutes after pointing to the spot, the referee reversed his decision. It was already looking like another long afternoon for Arsenal though, in an incredibly hot and hostile atmosphere with 50,000 Newcastle fans relishing the occasion of their side coming up against one of the Big Boys and attempting to unsettle them. 

In the 14th minute though the game turned in Arsenal’s favour. After winning a free-kick, Jorginho who was keeping Partey out of the team went back inside to Odegaard. Newcastle had expected the ball to be worked outwide so had everyone deep in their box preparing for a cross. This gave Odegaard time to set his sights and after setting the ball out of his feet he let fly with a powerful, accurate strike which quickly travelled through Botman’s legs and all the way into the back of the net. It was a goal eerily similar to the one he scored away at Spurs back in January, and with this one he joined Martinelli on 15 league goals, to mark the first time in Premier League history that Arsenal had 2 players reach 15 goals. 

The goal settled Arsenal down massively, and they began to thrive in the white hot atmosphere twice cutting through Newcastle with scintillating passing moves. The first opening came after 20 minutes when after a patient build-up Odegaard suddenly put Martinelli clean through with an exquisite pass, but he could only hit it straight at Pope in goal, Odegaard then forced Pope into immediate action in the aftermath with a curling effort from a wide position. Just minutes later Arsenal were in again as Saka found himself suddenly in on goal after another sharp passing move. He faired no better than Martinelli though hitting his shot straight at the frame of Pope. 

Those misses could have been costly as Newcastle forced Ramsdale into action at the other end, but he was on hand to deny Willock with his legs. Right on half-time Arsenal had another huge chance to get into the break 2-0 up but this time it was Odegaard’s turn to be denied by Pope when presented with a one on one. Saka won the ball back down Newcastle’s left and fed Martinelli who was able to find Odegaard. The skipper dummied past Burn who was left on the floor but Pope was quick to close down the angle and Odegaard could not find the precision to beat the big target Pope had imposed. 

Newcastle started the second half with the same intensity they began the first, and there was a couple of bad minutes for Zinchenko. First with Murphy running at him, he continued to back off and back off, in the end falling over and allowing Murphy to easily pick out a cross which was met by the end of Isak who was denied by the post. A minute later Zinchenko then gave a cheap free-kick away in a dangerous area. Schar’s head met the subsequent free-kick and but for a fantastic reaction stop from Ramsdale, the Geordies would have been level. Arsenal again responded to the Newcastle chances by coming up with one of their own, Martinelli coming close with a fantastic effort which left Pope rooted to the spot, but didn’t quite come down enough and bounced off the crossbar. 

The hosts came close again just shy of the hour mark, but were again denied this time by a fantastic sliding block by Xhaka just as Willock was about to pull the trigger from close range. Xhaka was high upfield but as a good Newcastle move played through Arsenal’s press, the Swiss midfielder chased all the way back and then timed his tackle to perfection. Sensing the precarious nature of Arsenal’s lead, Arteta withdrew Zinchenko who had again suffered in moments and replaced him with Tierney. Arteta made the switch with the intention of preserving the cleansheet but it also had an impact at the other end as the Scot leapt onto a loose Newcastle pass and found Jesus who then fed Martinelli on the half-way line, the winger carried the ball down the flank until slowing down when he was level with the penalty area, he then faced the Newcastle full-back up, teasing him before eventually making room to fire a low cross along the six-yard box which Schar turned into his own net.

With the two-goal cushion Arsenal’s win never again looked in doubt, with Partey brought on in place of Odegaard to try and help shut the game down. Arsenal saw out the 2-0 win for one of their most impressive results of the season, which offered some revival to their title chances. Against a very physical side who attempted to bully them by often leaving a foot in and going in extremely aggressively, the Arsenal players remained brave for 90 minutes and took their bumps and bruises in order to win the game. The Gunners did not allow themselves to be rattled by Newcastle’s roughhouse tactics, instead using them to their advantage by taking their time getting up to frustrate the crowd and stifle the home teams rhythm. 

After a wobbly April, The Arsenal looked their old selves again, back to something approaching their best. Ramsdale’s form had dipped in the previous month but here he was flawless as he picked up his 10th away cleansheet of the season, which was twice as many as any other keeper in the league. Kiwior and Jorginho helped Arsenal to look much more solid and composed than they had with Holding and Partey in the side in recent games. Xhaka and Odegaard were also vital in Arsenal picking up the 3 points and with 3 games left to play, they remained alive in the title race. 

For the 8th successive gameweek that Arsenal and City were both in Premier League action not against each other, Arsenal took to the field knowing their title rivals had already won that weekend. On this occasion it was particularly damaging. City had a tricky looking fixture away at relegation threatened Everton sandwiched in between two Champions League semis with Real Madrid. To still be in with a fighting chance of the title, realistically Arsenal required City to drop points here, but they won easily by 3 goals to 0 for their 11th successive victory in the league. It was a punch to the gut for the Arsenal fans in the stadium and the players who took to the pitch shortly afterwards. 

Arsenal’s opponents on the day Brighton were fighting for European qualification for the first time in the club’s history and they needed to bounce back from a shock 5-1 home defeat to Everton earlier that week. They boasted a good record at the Emirates, having already won there this season in the League Cup. Arsenal had beaten Brighton at the Emirates just once in their last 5 attempts. 

Arsenal would be without Zinchenko who had been all but ruled out for the remainder of the season, and after 20 minutes they lost Martinelli aswell, as he was unable to shake off a poor challenge on him by Caicedo that also ruled him out of Arsenal’s last 2 games of the campaign. His replacement Trossard came closest to giving Arsenal the lead against his former club when he travelled into the box with the ball and then let fly, but his shot was just too high and clipped the crossbar on its way over. 

For much of the first half Arsenal had to be patient and disciplined as Brighton knocked the ball around with supreme confidence, daring Arsenal to push high and press them, leaving space in behind for their wide players to run onto accurate clipped balls forward. It was a tactic that did give Arsenal some trouble, but they also came close at the other end when pouncing on loose Brighton passes and as the half drew to a close Arsenal were growing into the game and beginning to edge closer to the opening goal. The best Arsenal chance fell to Saka when the Gunners kept the ball alive in the box and it eventually fell to the youngster who looked to find the bottom corner but fired just the wrong side of the post. 

The game was finely poised at half-time, Arsenal had been made to accept far less possession at home than they were used to, but they still had the better chances of the half, being let down by less than clinical finishing from Saka and Odegaard. The first goal of this game always felt like being a massive one in deciding the outcome and it was the visitors who got it. Mitoma gave White a torrid afternoon, the Arsenal right-back was completely unable to get to grips with him, he was toyed with and tormented all game in what must have been his most difficult day in an Arsenal shirt since his debut. 

The goal came from more Mitoma work down his side, the winger put Estupinan in behind White whose initial cross was blocked but the ball fell to him once more and this time he was able to pick out the head of the 5 foot 7 Enciso who could head home unmarked from point blank range. The goal immediately looked bizarre as just before the cross came in Kiwior went down off the ball clutching his ankle. On the replay it was clear Ferguson had impeded Kiwior by accidentally stepping on the back of his ankle but VAR did not intervene. 

Going behind early in the second half was a real blow to Arsenal as it gave Brighton yet more confidence and they began to play even better, raising their level to heights Arsenal were struggling to match. Substitute Nelson who had replaced Xhaka came closest to getting Arsenal an equaliser with a powerful low drive after cutting in from the left, again it was close but not close enough for the hosts. With time running out, Arteta played his final hand and brought on Nketiah and Smith-Rowe, neither of whom had made much impact as second half substitutes all season for Jesus and Odegaard. It seemed something of a bizarre move, as did leaving on Saka who for the 6th time in his last 7 starts failed to notch a goal or assist and was evidently badly struggling for form.  

Arsenal did not muster any further threat after these subs and it was Brighton who secured victory in the 86th minute. Arsenal’s day was summed up when Trossard, one of their most consistent performers since joining the club made a costly mistake when he lost possession after being found by his goalkeeper, his attempted pass was instantly blocked by Gross and with that one touch the ball fell perfectly into the flight of Undav who lifted the ball over Ramsdale and into the empty net. 

If Arsenal thought their day couldn’t get any worse they were wrong as in the 6th minute of added on time, Ramsdale could only push out an Undav shot to Estupinan who reacted quickly and bobbled his shot beyond the Arsenal keeper, who was celebrating a very unhappy 25th Birthday. It was just the 3rd league game all season Arsenal had failed to find the net and at the other end they’d now conceded 15 goals in their last 8 games. The week before they’d managed to hold onto City’s coattails with a great win at Newcastle, but this time faced with another tough opponent and needing to dig deep once more just to hold onto the coattails of the league leaders that little bit longer, they had been unable to muster what was required. It was a day where everything went wrong.

Arsenal’s final away game all season would also see them wearing their much loved black away strip for the final time, a kit generally considered to be one of the best in the clubs history. The Gunners hoped to bid a fond farewell to it at Nottingham Forest, the home team who knew one more win would keep them mathematically safe from relegation in their first season back in the Premier League. Anything less than an away victory would secure City as Champions with 3 games to spare.

Arteta went with an unusual looking side, Kiwior moved to the left-back position with White filling in for him at centre-half, making his first start of the season in his old position. Partey came back into the team for his first start since the City defeat, filling in at right-back. For the third time in the last 5 games, an Odegaard give-away in midfield led immediately to a goal as another cheap giveaway from the skipper allowed Gibbs-White to break away. His through pass for Awoniyi was weighted just right, Gabriel slid in to try and clear the ball but only succeeded in pushing the ball into the forwards stride as he made contact with the ball and put it beyond the sprawling Ramsdale.

Arsenal had 71 minutes to find an equaliser against a team who had not kept a cleansheet in their last 15 matches. However they never really looked like getting it. With something to protect Forest sat in a compact shape with nearly every player behind the ball and waited for Arsenal to try and break them down. The away team passed the ball around in a laboured fashion, with slow side to side passing where too many touches were taken and the most obvious option was taken again and again. 

They were desperate for some creativity but nobody on the field seemed to have it in them to be the game’s spark and get the team back in the game. The most obvious candidates to be that player: Jesus, Trossard, Odegaard and Saka all toiled in their own way. Trossard was anonymous, Jesus was bullied, Odegaard could not find the space to get on the ball in dangerous positions and Saka continued to look all out of ideas and energy. Jesus appeared to have a strong case for a penalty when he was clearly pulled back when trying to get on the end of a pass played in behind by White. Instead of pointing to the spot though, the referee booked Jesus for his angry protests at the penalty not being given.

Arsenal looked like a team desperate for the season to end as they crawled on their knees towards the finish line. Arsenal managed 82% possession but with it mustered just one more shot on target than Forest with 3. 19% possession is the lowest possession with which a team has won a Premier League game since the 03/04 campaign. With the win at Newcastle, Arsenal had given fans hope they could dig in until the end of the season and at least finish it strong, but instead they suffered back to back league defeats for the first time all season, and failed to score in consecutive league games for the first time in the campaign too. After such a magnificent campaign it was now all petering out rather lamely. 

Arsenal would close the season out with a home game against Wolves. Arteta opted to keep the same 11 that had lost against Forest, he and everyone else hoped for a better outcome this time. It took Arsenal 11 minutes to end their goalless run when Jesus appeared on the right, reached the by-line and produced a pin-point cross onto the head of the unmarked Xhaka who nodded home from inside the six-yard box. 3 minutes later and Arsenal’s advantage was doubled, again it began with wing play down the right, this time it was Saka beating his man and playing in Odegaard who attempted to return it to him with a flick of his heel, the ball instead was met by Wolves defender Kilman, but he only succeeded in putting the ball in the path of Xhaka who sidefooted it into the net. With a move back to Germany now an open secret, in his 297th and final game in Arsenal colours, the Swiss midfielder had notched his very first brace for the club. The goal was also Arsenal’s 100th of the season across all competitions.

Arsenal went 3-0 up before the half-hour mark, the ball was again worked out wide to Saka who played it to Partey before Trossard and Odegaard combined. This made room for Saka to be fed inside the box by Trossard, the youngster took a sharp, sudden touch to go back inside and with it he made the space for a shot. His shot was an excellent one fiercely curling in beyond Sa in the Wolves goal and the perfect end to the week for the man who had just committed his future to Arsenal with the signing of a new contract.

There was still time in the first half for Xhaka to have the chance to notch his first ever hattrick, an excellent patient passing move we have become accustomed to seeing from Arsenal this season eventually led to Saka finding an umarked Xhaka right infront of goal. He had time to set himself and pick his spot and appeared certain to net his 3rd goal with his 3rd shot, but this time he got the connection all wrong and miscued horribly wide, denying himself the most perfect possible send-off. 

Early in the second half Partey momentarily thought he’d put Arsenal 4-0 up but on a replay it was quickly apparent that White had clearly fouled the goalkeeper and the goal was rightly chalked off. However it didn’t take Arsenal much longer to get the 4th goal, an excellent long pass from Jorginho picked out the run of Trossard who waited for support before getting the cross in which was met by the head of Jesus. This was Trossard’s second assist of the game, and already his 10th in Arsenal colours despite only joining in January.  

In the 78th minute, Arsenal got their 5th when a corner eventually fell to Kiwior who got decent contact on the ball. However Sa should have done much better with the effort but instead fumbled it over his goalline. Not only was this goal Kiwior’s first for Arsenal, it also gave Arsenal their 88th league goal of the season, which had the distinction of being their highest ever tally in a Premier League season, this goal taking it clear of their previous best of 87 in the 04/05 season. The 5-0 win was their 26th league win of the season which was the club’s joint most ever in a Premier League campaign, equalling the number won in their league winning campaigns of 01-02 and 03-04. Their final points tally of 84 was their highest since the Invincibles 19 years earlier and their 3rd highest ever in a Premier League season. 

Arsenal player ratings from April to May (must have started a game or else appeared in at least 5 games):

Ramsdale 6/10- Continuing the seasons pattern he produced his best performances at difficult away grounds, winning Arsenal a point with a series of top saves at Anfield and keeping a cleansheet away at Newcastle with a flawlessly solid display. His worst moment of the season came at the worst possible time, a huge error in the first minute of Arsenal’s home game against Southampton, as the team floundered with their title bid on rocky waters.

White 6/10- All Arsenal’s backline suffered with the loss of Saliba and White was no different. The injury to Tomiyasu also meant White was ever-present in Arsenal’s last 10 games. His worst day of the season came in the 3-0 loss to Brighton where he was terrorised by Mitoma. Otherwise White was usually one of Arsenal’s better performers even in games the team did not play well. He finished the season back in his old centre-back slot as Arteta made tactical alterations. 

Holding 3/10-  His first 2 games in place of the injured Saliba went fine with Arsenal winning with a combined aggregate score of 8-2 at home to Palace and Leeds. However as fans feared, when tougher tests emerged Holding was found wanting. He conceded a penalty at Anfield and was bullied by Antonio at West Ham as Arsenal dropped points from commanding positions in both games. At this point it seemed unsustainable to continue with Holding in the team, but Arteta did and that’s on the manager not the player. Arsenal then conceded 3 to bottom placed Southampton and the away match at City went predictably badly with Holding up against Haaland. Though it would be unfair to pin Arsenal’s collapse solely on Holding, I don’t think 21-year old Saliba would’ve prevented nerves and the magnitude of the title run-in from hampering Arsenals displays somewhat, but there is no denying Holding complicated matters further for Arsenal due to his style of wanting to defend from a deep position which clashes with how Arsenal want to play. It is likely that with Saliba or even Kiwior, Arsenal would have at least picked up more points than they did in April.

Kiwior 6/10- Made his first league start against Chelsea and helped Arsenal to look more like themselves and end a winless run of 4 games. He looked similarly composed the following game when tested further away at Newcastle. Ended the season at left-back which could suggest this is where Arteta sees his future. 

Gabriel 6/10- Didn’t look quite the same without his centre-back partner Saliba. Committed a soft foul in the box against West Ham which allowed them back into the match and was the beginning of Arsenal’s collapse. His need to be present in the middle of defence to help with build-up and because Holding does not have the athleticism to defend the area alone meant Zinchenko was often left more isolated as Gabriel could not offer his usual protection on the left side of defence.

Zinchenko 5/10- A tough end to the season for the left-back. His score of 5 is due to what he gives Arsenal on the ball, always giving them a safe passing option with his technical security. However if it was on defending alone, his score would be much lower as his defensive lapses have cost Arsenal goals on a far too regular basis across the final two months of the season.

Tierney 6/10- His gametime has continued to be limited, even when Zinchenko was ruled out the final 3 games with injury, Arteta still chose a different option to fill in. He started just 2 of Arsenal’s last 10 games, struggling away at West Ham trying to replicate Zinchenko’s inverted role and being on the wrong end of a 3-0 loss at home to Brighton. He fared better in his cameos though, shoring up Arsenal’s defence in the second half at Newcastle when Zinchenko was starting to struggle. 

Partey 4.5/10- More than any other player, Partey suffered most from the absence of Saliba. His overplaying which saw him robbed of possession by Rice was the start of things unravelling for him and Arsenal. He made another costly mistake the following game against Southampton losing possession needlessly and Arsenal conceded from the resulting corner to go 3-1 down. After another poor performance away at City, he lost his place to Jorginho. Partey returned to the side in a new right-back role. 

Jorginho 6.5/10- Helped Arsenal return to winning ways with his introduction to the starting line-up at home to Chelsea. Followed it up with a classy performance away at Newcastle but was unable to prevent Arsenal losing their next two at home to Brighton and away at Forest.

Xhaka 6.5/10- Got two assists against Chelsea and was excellent in Arsenal’s away win at Newcastle. Like nearly everyone he struggled in Arsenal’s disastrous April but finished the season with a brace in his last game for the club.

Odegaard 6.5/10- 3 poor giveaways in midfield from the skipper led directly to 3 goals conceded in a six-game run. The sloppy passes from Odegaard in what had become a dysfunctional looking team were punished by Southampton, City and Nottingham Forest respectively. However at the other end the Norwegian had a run of 5 goals in as many games, including a nice goal from outside the box against Southampton to get Arsenal back in the game, a brace against Chelsea to help end Arsenal’s 4-game winless run and the opener away at Newcastle which settled the Gunners down after they’d began under the cosh.                                                                                                                            Vieira 4/10- Started against Southampton but was hooked before the hour-mark after failing to input any personality on the game, and wasting a couple of potential openings. Did not fare any better when appearing off the bench. 

Saka 6/10- His missed penalty at West Ham while Arsenal led 2-1 was one of the defining moments of Arsenal’s season. Mentally and physically the season appeared to take its toll on the youngster as the weeks went on as he seemed without his usual creative spark and explosiveness as the season drew to a close. Re-found it on the last day of the season to score a smashing goal to end a 5-game run without a goal or assist.  

Martinelli 7.5/10- Scored 2 and assisted 2 in Arsenal’s 3 successive draws. Was anonymous away at City but after returning to the starting line-up away at Newcastle produced a top performance. Unlucky to have his season ended two games early. The 21-year old may lack experience but he didn’t lack belief or fighting spirit as he fought hard to keep Arsenal’s title hopes alive. 

Reiss Nelson 6/10- Made a positive impact from the bench when introduced against Southampton and City. 

Jesus 6/10- After 4 goals in 3 games he then endured his most frustrating games thus far for the club against Southampton and City where he did not make a positive impact. Returned to the goals against Chelsea and finished with a goal and assist at home to Wolves. 

Trossard 6.5/10- The return to fitness of Jesus meant Trossard lost his place in the side but when returning to the starting line-up against Chelsea he played well. An uncharacteristic mistake at home to Brighton led to Arsenal conceding the game killing second goal, but he finished the season well with 2 assists vs Wolves.  

Arteta 6/10- The manager had been nearly faultless up to April but in the season defining moments he came up short. His substitutions vs Liverpool and Brighton in particular were eyebrow raising and did not work. His persistence with always starting Saka despite the winger’s apparent lack of fitness aswell as form seemed unnecessary. It was a big ask to keep a young, inexperienced side calm and composed as the pressure built in many players first title race and he was not able to do it. That said, the Emirates Stadium was still near capacity a full hour after the final match of the season against Wolves as fans waited to hear the managers parting message for the summer. This pays testament to the work he has done this season in bringing the fans and the club closer together. 

[mfingenius]

Hey, I’d love a drarry in 4th year where Draco is Harry’s second task and/or they go together to the Yule Ball (a lot of provocation between them!)

Harry's staring; logically, he knows he should hurry, knows he doesn't have time to simply float around, contemplating life, but Malfoy is there, floating motionlessly beside Hermione and Gabrielle Delacour and Harry is confused.

Cho was obviously Cedric's task; that had been clear enough even before Cedric had grabbed her - while Harry had just watched, as confused as he is now - and Hermione has to be Krum's. There's no Durmstrang student, and - as far as Harry knows - Krum only talks to Hermione.

Gabrielle Delacour is Fleur's. She's her sister, it's as simple as that.

Which means that whoever designed this Merlin forsaken task thought Malfoy was 'what he'd sorely miss'.

Where the fuck were they getting their information?

Harry's startled out of his silent shock when Krum pushes by, half transformed into a shark, and frees Hermione.

He gives him an odd look while he swims back up, which is quite an impressive feat with what is possibly the least expressive animal's head as his own.

Right.

Right.

He frees Malfoy with a quick Diffindo, and grabs his wrist so he won't simply go away while he looks around; his time must be almost up - he can almost feel it, the effect of the gillyweed beginning to fade, his lungs beginning to feel unpleasant with water in them - which means Fleur needs to show up to get her sister, soon, but she's just - not.

He looks at Malfoy's face; he looks unexpectedly young and - handsome, almost - like this. There's no denying his aristocratic nose and high cheekbones are appealing - at least to Harry, who doesn't know how Ron could possibly think Malfoy's 'weird-looking' - but Harry doesn't usually have time to appreciate it, since Malfoy immediately ruins it by opening his mouth.

Fleur is still not showing up.

Gabrielle, who looks exactly like Fleur, looks like a kid even to Harry; if he'd been deemed too young to participate in the games, why is everyone in this task as young as he is, or younger?

Surely, he tries to reassure himself, the heads of school wouldn't let them rot here.

Even if the egg said they would, even if it said it 'wouldn't come back'. These are children.

Harry only has to ponder half a moment more before he decides that he doesn't trust adults that much.

A matching Diffindo frees Gabrielle, and he drags her and Malfoy up with merepeople grabbing at his feet, with his lungs filling with water, heart bursting in his chest and vision darkening at the edges because he can't breathe and he can't get out and-

He breaks the surface and hears screaming, and he's coughing up water and maybe blood - or maybe it's not his, but someone is bleeding, because the water around them is turning pink - and he wants to sink right back down, wants to rest.

"Gabrielle! Gabrielle!" Fleur's shrieking is louder than anyone else's, but Harry thinks that's fair; he's never had a sibling, but he can't imagine thinking they were going to die because of a school approved activity.

Everyone else is cheering, he realizes; they're happy for him, for them, they think this is good.

He manages to catch sight of Cedric's, Krum's, and Fleur's faces, and none of them look like they're feeling anything even slightly positive.

"Potter?" He finally looks at Malfoy. "What the bloody hell are you doing?"

Harry can't help the laugh that bubbles out of him. What is he doing? What was Malfoy doing, representing the thing Harry would sorely miss? Dumbledore - or the merepeople, or whoever made this decision - could've taken Ron, could've taken any Weasley, hell, they could've taken bloody Mrs. Norris, and Harry thinks they would've been a better choice than Malfoy.

He tightens his grip around Malfoy's and Gabrielle's arms, and begins dragging them towards the other contestants; as soon as they're there, hands are reaching in and pulling them all out, wrapping them in blankets, and Fleur is hugging Gabrielle and crying and Malfoy's teeth are chattering and Harry can still feel water in his lungs and he can't think.

"Merlin, Harry, you're bleeding!" Hermione exclaims.

Harry looks down and realizes she's right; the merepeople got him with their claws.

"Come on," she says, cheeks red from the cold. "We'll get you to the infirmary."

*

Slytherins keep making kissy sounds at him in the hallways, and it gets worse whenever Malfoy is around; he'd think this is Malfoy's doing, except the bastard looks just as embarrassed as Harry - if not more than Harry - when it happens.

They can't quite even look at each other anymore, let alone argue, because if they even say a word to each other, there are three dozen people suddenly watching.

Which is how Harry finds out he would kind of miss Malfoy if he were gone.

In the totally not friendly, even less romantic, entirely normal rival kind of way.

Obviously.

He likes to think Malfoy misses him a little bit too.

Which is, of course, why Harry seeks him out after checking the Marauders' map and making sure there's no one else within a hundred meters of them.

"What the-" Harry has to cover Malfoy's mouth, because if not, it would ruin his plan of quietly shoving Malfoy into the broom shed.

"Shut up, you git," he says, looking around and shutting the door behind him; Malfoy bites his hand, hard, and Harry muffles a yelp, pulling it back.

Malfoy smirks, looking quite pleased with himself, and Harry glares.

"What do you want?" Malfoy asks, looking around and upturning his nose; his features are decidedly less appealing when he's talking; Harry wants to shut him up. "Why'd you bring me here? It's disgusting, Potter."

And yeah, okay, the broom shed isn't quite nice - it has just as many spiders and much more dust than Harry's old cupboard under the stairs - but it's not like they could talk anywhere else.

"I didn't want other people listening," he says.

Malfoy looks at him incredulously. "Listening to what?"

Which makes Harry realize that he didn't really have a plan after this, and yeah, it might've been a bad idea.

What does he want to do? Talk to Malfoy? Apologize? For what? Insult the bastard? Argue? It wouldn't be too hard, considering Malfoy's a pointy, contrarious git, but Harry suddenly doesn't know why he dragged Malfoy in here, either.

He can't let Malfoy know that.

"You never thanked me," he says.

Malfoy's look turns more incredulous, first, and then his eyes narrow furiously, jaw tightening.

"Thanked you for what, Potter?" he asks, crossing his arms. "Making sure every single person in this awful school thinks we're secretly dating? Making sure I can't get down a bloody hallway without some idiotic Gryffindor asking me something beyond inappropriate about you? Making my parents think there's something going on between us so they're threatening to disown me?"

"What?" Harry asks, immediately thrown off. "Your parents would disown you if we were dating?"

Malfoy looks taken aback, like he didn't expect himself to say that, and he looks away. "Forget it. I'm not thanking you."

"Your parents would disown you for dating me?" Harry asks, still stuck on that fact. "Why?"

Malfoy looks troubled, and he shakes his head, looking at the door like he wants to flee; unfortunately for him, Harry's blocking it.

"Are we done here?" he asks. "I'd really rather not spend time in a shed with you."

"Oh, please, you'd love to spend time in a shed with me." Harry rolls his eyes, because he, too, is easy to goad into an argument, as long as it's Malfoy doing the goading.

"Yeah? What part of this do you think I'm loving?" Malfoy asks drily.

Harry doesn't have an answer except for the realization that he himself isn't having the worst time of his life. He isn't even having the worst time he's had today.

"Arguing," he says dumbly.

Malfoy looks at him incredulously again, and then he shakes his head, almost to himself.

"Go to the infirmary, Potter," he says, sliding past him, twisting himself in an almost impressive way so he doesn't touch Harry at all. "Tell Pomfrey to check for head injuries."

"Would you care if I did have a head injury?" Harry asks, already knowing he doesn't have one but not willing to quite reject the idea, because he's enjoying time with Malfoy. He's enjoying arguing with Malfoy.

Malfoy snorts and rolls his eyes. "Sure, Potter. If you end up in the infirmary with a head injury, I'll visit and even bring you flowers, I pinky swear."

He leaves the shed, and leaves Harry blinking after him.

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[wormstacheangel]

El Chacal con la trompeta while everyone chants FUERA! at Dean.

Read the first 3 chapters of my latinenatural Aqui (I know I can't believe it has chapters either)

Dean ran up the stairs to the 4th floor, where Sam said he was waiting. His adrenaline was pumping too hard to even wait by the elevator doors.

He got lost trying to find the room because nomas puede pensar que su hermanito ya sabe su secreto.

“Fuck!” Dean said out loud as he turned into another hallway while his head repeated, “No estoy listo! No estoy listo!”

Finally, Dean stood outside the closed glass door with the nameplate that read ‘C. Novak’ with his job description nicely engraved at the bottom. Dean knew Cas had a great job and knew his family owned a successful business; he just didn’t know that his family cleaned their building.

He stood outside the door for a second longer, letting out a shaky breath, before turning the handle on the door and letting himself in.

He didn’t know what he expected to see when he walked in. He was preparing himself for the yelling and the disappointed looks, but he didn’t get any of that. Instead, when Dean walked in, he was practically ignored.

He stood by the doorway watching Sam sit behind the desk while Cas stood behind him teaching him how to do some paperwork. Sam was smiling from ear to ear as he asked question after question while Cas answered them patiently. He was pointing and explaining as much as he could before Sam interrupted him with another question.

“Ya mamón, dejalo en paz.” Dean walked closer to the desk as both heads lifted to look at him.

Cas gave him a small smile while Sam completely ignored his words, eyes shining with excitement, as he pointed at the screen. “Dean! Mira, Cas is teaching me how to read a contract!”

Dean was close enough to read over his shoulder now and looked at the mess of words on the screen, humming as if he could understand any of it, before looking towards Cas.

“Sorry, my little brother is bothering you.”

Dean winks at him as Cas shakes his head, a blush growing at his cheeks.

“Not at all. Sam just mentioned he was interested in law, and while I don’t do any exciting Law and Order stuff, I thought I could show him some basics.” Cas put a hand on Sam’s shoulder to get his attention. “I’ll ask about our internship program and send some paperwork home with Dean.” Cas then looked towards Dean, looking unsure. “If that’s okay with you?”

Before Dean could answer, Sam spun around in his chair and stood up to shake Cas’s hand with both of his. It looked painful, but Cas chuckled with every tug of the arm.

“Really? Oh my god! Thank you, Cas!” Sam then looked at Dean, still looking like a kid locked in a candy store. “Dean, you have the best boyfriend ever! Si haces algo para arruinar esto, te mato.”

Dean’s eyes turned to meet a wide-eyed Cas who smiled awkwardly. “Oh, actually we aren’t-”

Dean’s body took a step forward without really thinking, but he knew what he was about to say as he took Cas’s hand away from Sam’s grip.

“Callate, menso. Cas, if my boyfriend. Tu piensas que no sé qué he's the best.”

“Boyfriend?” Cas looked like he had stars in his eyes as he turned to look back at Dean, his hand squeezing back before the familiar squint replaced it. “Really?”

Dean shrugs, acting as if it was no big deal while the butterflies in his stomach turned into a wasp nest. “Si quieres. If you want.”

All fear melted away as Cas nodded a few times, a growing grin stretching over his lips as big hands reached to cradle his face. Cas’s thumb was barely grazing his bottom lip, making Dean weak in the knees.

“Sammy.” Dean reached with his free hand to slap the back of Sam’s head. “Vete.”

Sam was sitting down looking at the screen again when he turned his glare on him, but Dean snapped his fingers and pointed at the door. His eyes stayed glued on Cas’s face, following the movement of his boyfriend’s tongue licking his lips.

“What? But we haven’t even talked about-!”

“Talk later.” Dean hissed, turning to give his brother the most ‘Si no te vas ahorita te voy a chingar’ stare he could give him.

“Dean,” Cas started as he dropped his hands and took a step back.

“No. No. No. No.” Dean wrapped his hands around Cas’s waist to hold him close because he knew that tone. “Cariño, por favor.”

He ignored Sam’s dumb snort of a laugh--he’ll kill him for that later--as he snuggled his nose into the side of Cas’s throat. He didn’t even care who saw right now; he wanted to make out with his new boyfriend in celebration.

“You two should just sit down and have a conversation. Anyways,” Cas took Dean’s face between his hands to hold his gaze, watching with his right eyebrow lifted to make sure Dean was listening to his words even though Dean was already swallowing hard at the look. “You’re working. So, how about I stay a little later and then I can drive you home after? Is that okay?”

Dean nodded, turning his head just a little to kiss Cas’s palm. “Lo que quieres.”

Cas excused himself to make copies while also asking Dean for his keys to the rooms to go into his brother Gabriel’s office to grab some of the things he essentially borrowed. Dean watched his novio walk out of the office before once again smacking the back of Sam’s head.

“Ow! Dean, si me pegas otra vez-!”

“Que? ¡A ver dime! Que vas hacer, pinche mamón?”

They ended up wrestling on the floor for a few seconds until they both grew tired and sat down behind Cas’s desk, looking out the window and into the night sky. They didn’t say anything for a while until Sam finally broke the silence.

“So que? Eres gay?”

Dean didn’t respond right away, trying to find the right words, but he knew there was one word that would easily explain it, but he has never said it out loud before. His throat dried up at the mere thought of it escaping his lips, but he knew it was time to finally come out. Sam already made it so easy by announcing how much he liked his boyfriend, su novio--fuck, tiene un novio.

Jamás pensó que iba a tener un novio. Let alone a rich white boy. What Cas sees in him, he will never know, but Dean didn’t want his fear and doubt to stop him from being happy.

“No,” Dean answered before clearing his throat. He wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs as he looked down, trying to make himself say it. It was just a word. Nomas es una pinche palabra pero--fuck. “No soy gay. Soy-soy...ugh, mierda this is hard.”

Dean could hear his voice break. His vision blurred as the word sat at the tip of his tongue, wanting to be set free but also fighting to stay hidden away. He was starting to become frustrated with himself, feeling like he was making a big deal out of nothing, but he felt like the world may explode if this didn’t go well.

Que va ser if Sam no cree en bisexuality? If Sam gets mad at Dean for not choosing one or the other because he thinks everyone is pretty great. Otra vez, Dean tenía miedo de perder a su hermanito.

Dean felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Sam looking at him in understanding. It wasn’t disgust or hatred like Dean feared, but he almost looked...proud?

“It’s okay, Dean. You don’t have to say anything. But just reassure me, are you happy with Cas?”

Dean let his shoulders fall and let out a heavy breath he held before looking down at his shaking fist. When he stretched his hand out, it burned, but he felt a little more relaxed because this, he could say.

He looked back at Sam and tried to smile while failing to hold in tears. “I really like him, Sammy. De verdad, yo pienso que me estoy enamorando de él.”

Sam’s eyes widened at the words, but then tears started to fall.

“Dude,” Dean rolled his eyes at Sam’s tears, trying to ignore his sliding down his cheeks. “¡No llores! You’re making it weird.”

“Sorry.” Sam chuckled as he wiped his tears, and then it was quiet again as they stared out the window.

“Okay, ya terminamos de hablar.” Dean slapped his leg before standing up. Giving Sam his back real quick so he can wipe sneakily wipe his face from any snot or tears. Sam copies him, and they head out of his boyfriend’s --tiene un novio con una officina!--office. “So let’s hurry up and finish so I can go make out with my--Ayi, esta!”

Cas was walking back towards his office with his arms filled with books and a large plant. He looked up when he heard Dean’s voice and sighed with relief.

“Oh, good! You’re still here. Can you help me with this? I still have one more plant to get, but it’s much heavier. I swear if Gabriel steals my shit again, I’m gonna make him into fertilizer.”

Dean’s heart raced as he grinned. He nudged his brother once before whispering, “No le digas nada pero lo quiero mucho.”

Sam only nodded once, his face scrunched up in confusion as if he wasn’t sure if he could tease him before Dean ran over to help Cas carry the big plant back to his office.

He held his cheek out for a kiss as soon as he dropped the plant where Cas wanted it, but instead of receiving a nice kiss, Cas started to push him out of his office.

“Okay, go to work so we can leave already.”

“Ni un besito?”

“No besito.”

“Pero, Angelito,” Dean kicked the door close once he was close enough and spun around to wrap his arms around Cas’s waist. Tugging him close until their noses touch.

Cas chuckled as he stood utterly still, almost challenging Dean with the lift of the eyebrow. “Yes?”

Dean clicked his tongue, pretending to be annoyed, as he dropped his hands.

“Nada. Nada. I’ll go back to work.”Dean reached for the door handle and quickly said, “Okay, bye. Te quiero.”

“Te qui-What?”

Dean opened the office door only for Cas to push it close again. He turned around to see his boyfriend looking at him con ojos azules y brilloso, watching him like he wasn’t sure if he heard it right.

“You um, you said-” Cas eyes watched his face as he nervously tried to read Dean’s face. “You explained that-that means two different things, and I’m just not sure if you mean-”

Dean interrupts Cas’s rambling with a kiss. It was short, but he couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I love you. I do.” Dean reached to gently wipe a tear from Cas’s cheek, smiling as he repeats himself. “Te amo, Cas.”

Cas opened his mouth, reaching for Dean, but they both jumped when they heard loud pounding at the door.

“Dean! Bobby’s coming.” Sam hissed through the door, and Dean could hear his name being faintly called along with curses.

“Shit, I left all my things on the floor. El viejo va estar enojado.” Dean kissed Cas’s forehead before opening the door and whispering, “I’ll come get you when I’m done.”

He was out the door when Cas called for him.

“Dean, wait-”

Dean and Cas were now standing face to face with Bobby, who looked between them with a questioning glare—mainly aimed at Dean. Sam was standing behind Bobby, knowing what to do as much as Dean.

“Hello.” Cas stepped forward with his hand stretched out to shake Bobby’s. “Sorry to keep your workers busy. They were helping me move some things in my office.”

Bobby shook Cas’s hand with a grunt. He pointed with a raise of the chin towards the office. “Oh. That office?”

Cas looked and then nodded. “Yes. Sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. Castiel Novak. Nice to meet you and sorry again.”

Dean could read Bobby’s face. Nope. Bobby does not like him.

Hijo de puta.

[emsylcatac]

Hiiiii just wanna ask why do you think Amelie is toxic. I'm very curios about it

Heeey!!

“Toxic” is maybe a strong word but from what we’ve seen of Amélie, her attitude as a mother and as a person in general isn’t really great...and yeah, borderline toxic haha.

1. The way she arrives in the Agreste mansion & greets Adrien as if all was fine

So basically I guess the last time she saw Adrien & Gabriel was around the time Emilie disappeared/died. Yet she comes off as very fake, overplaying how she acts to Adrien, while knowing she is his mother’s twin and might remind him of his own mother, especially because it’s the anniversary of Emilie’s disappearance; no, she doesn’t have to be like “oh wow I look like his mum I need to be super extra careful” but the way she came in like assuming everything was perfectly fine and all felt really fake and exaggerated to me, kind of uncomfortable.

She’s even like “I thought we should be together and united on a day like today, right?” on a super cheerful voice and ??? jhdffhjd ok but... that’s not supposed to be a party day like Christmas or something haha.

2. Asking for the rings back

Okay, as much as I hate Gabriel, if we forget he’s a bad person and everything... Amélie has barely arrived that she directly looks behind his back to see if he was still wearing his wedding ring and makes a comment about it like “oh, you’re still wearing your wedding ring, how cute” which is a very inappropriate thing to say and do, especially with that tone of voice she’s using, and it’s kinda not respecting Gabriel’s boundaries.

The fact that Gabriel still does wear or not his ring shouldn’t be any of her concern nor up to any of her personal judgement and open criticism and that’s really rude.

Then, she reproaches him to still not having answered her message about the rings, and straight up tells him she wants to take the rings back:

That’s not up for her to decide at all; Gabriel was married to Emilie and is now owning the rings, whether she wants it or not

That’s totally insensitive and disgusting to ask a widow·er for their wedding ring. Like seriously, what the hell, even if she was in the right of getting the rings back, it’s only been a year since Emilie passed away, if you’re a minimum human, you can’t do that

To which Gabriel answers that “these rings are memories that are very precious to [him]”, making it clear that it represents something important he and Emilie shared: their love bound by marriage.

Amélie answers very coldly that “the rings are also extremely precious to [her]” and the reason is that these jewels have always belonged to her family, the Graham de Vanily, not to the Agreste. => That’s... Such a dull reason compared to Gabriel’s. And technically now it’s also the Agreste’s property, whether she wants it or not.

3. At the end, when Adrien tells Félix that what he did was serious

Amélie totally shows that she has the kind of “my son is the king and does nothing wrong” attitude here, and same with the 4th point I’ll bring up soon.

When Adrien tells Félix that what he did was serious and not good, Amélie right away steps in saying that “ever since his Father is not here to keep him off creating troubles, he--”. She doesn’t reproach him anything about what he did, despite it clearly having made Adrien’s friends and Adrien himself suffer, especially when it came to Félix sabotaging videos his friends sent him with nice messages about... his mother’s death anniversary, aka no laughing matter.

Yet she tries to defend him and find excuses for her son, instead of playing her mother’s role, aka either letting Adrien talks and explains himself with Félix, or scolding Félix herself.

4. The end scene between her & Félix in the train

Amélie must know that Félix stole it from Gabriel since she’s calling him “my little magician” and winks at him when she says “I’m delight that this jewel is once again at its place within the family”. And yet, she seems very encouraging of what he did. Again, she doesn’t scolds him at all, and has the kind of attitude some parents have thinking their kids can do whatever they want. And that’s... not a good attitude to have.

So yeah, basically, every single apparition of Amélie in the Félix episode is problematic and displays an appropriate attitude hence why I called her “toxic”; it might not be the exact right appropriate word, but I do not trust her at all until she proves me wrong.

[p-artsypants]

Five Minutes

Gabriel has had enough of all these girls fighting over Adrien. He decides it’s high time Adrien picks one, and arranges the perfect opportunity for him to do so. Each candidate has five minutes to present why they’d be a good girlfriend.

Marinette decides to take this opportunity to shoot her shot.

Ao3 | FF.net

Adrien came into school that morning with the weight of an entire future on his shoulders. His face pale, his lips tight in a line, and everything tense.

He bypassed everyone that wanted to talk to him, including his friends. Chloe and Lila seemed in a chipper mood, as they took turns hanging on his arms and blowing kisses at him.

It bugged Marinette more than she wanted to admit. Did no one else notice he was suffering?

At lunch, she dug down deep inside herself and asked him, before he could leave the classroom. “Hey Adrien?”

He cringed at her voice, but relaxed a moment later, sending her an easy smile. “Hi Marinette. What’s up?”

The smile reeked of stress and despair. Given their lose, almost-friendship, she didn’t know if she had the right to ask him, but plowed ahead anyways. “You seem…stressed. Are you okay? Anything I can help with?”

The question gained the attention of Nino and Alya, who were also packing up to head home for lunch.

“Yeah dude, you’ve been kinda tense all day…I just didn’t know how to ask.”

Adrien’s eyes flicked around the room. Chloe had already left, but it seemed like Lila had hooked an end of the conversation and walked down to them, placing a hand on Adrien’s shoulder.

“He’s just a little nervous, that’s all. Mr. Agreste has decided that he can finally have a girlfriend, and invited some worthy candidates to the mansion this afternoon!”

Marinette’s heart squeezed painfully. She hadn’t heard anything about this, so she obviously wasn’t invited. But if Lila knew, then…

“Are you a candidate?!” Alya nearly shouted, excited.

That only heightened the pain in her chest.

“Naturally! Adrien and I have a great working relationship, and we’re great friends! Mr. Agreste really respects me as an artist too! Of course he invited me!” She pet Adrien, like he was an animal, and not a person. “Adrien and I both know it’s already a done deal. But the…contest, it’s more of a formality.”

“It’s not official yet,” Adrien said, scooting away from Lila. “You still have to go through the interview.”

“Of course, but I’m a sure win.”

The quiver of his lip and tense eyebrows told Marinette otherwise.

Adrien took a deep breath and looked at his friends. “My father said I could invite a few friends, for morale support. Would you guys be willing to come?”

“Of course dude!”

“You’ll come to support me too, right Alya?” Asked Lila.

“Of course girl!”

Adrien’s beautiful eyes met Marinette’s, pleading with her. “Marinette? Are you in?”

“I’m sure she’s busy in the bakery, Adrien,” Said Lila, “don’t make her feel guilty.”

“I’m free.” Marinette blurted out. “I’d love to be there.” She really didn’t want to, actually, but felt it better to go and plunge the knife in and rip her heart out. With Adrien officially taken, she could finally move on, right?

At least, that was her hope.

Adrien smiled at her genuinely, looking relieved slightly.

He and Nino went to eat lunch together, while Alya followed her back to the bakery, quiet on the way.

“Hey…um, I’m sorry you didn’t get invited to participate.”

“I suppose that’s what I get for sitting with a thumb up my butt.” Marinette answered with a sigh.

“And, I know you don’t like Lila, but she’s just as deserving of Adrien’s affection as you are, okay? Please please please don’t be embarrassing and try to ruin this in a fit of jealous rage.”

Marinette wanted to say, ‘No promises’ but instead, she stated, “I won’t.”

“Kay, cause like…that wouldn’t be fair to Adrien, you know? This is his future girlfriend. He deserves a fair chance to look at his options and choose who he wants.”

Marinette glared at Alya, a million red flags popping up in her mind.

The sudden anger took Alya aback. “What?”

“You think this is fair?”

Alya just blinked.

“Mr. Agreste has decided that Adrien can have a girlfriend and selects a handful of candidates for him to pick from? What is he, a Prince?”

Alya shrugged. “I don’t know how the wealthy work! Besides, I think Adrien and Lila have real chemistry! Better than him and the Ice Queen.”

“You mean Kagami? I think he’s got better chemistry with her than Lila.”

Alya scoffed, “no offense girl, but I don’t think you can judge that objectively.”

Marinette frowned, hurt and betrayal flashing through her head before she stomped it down. “Maybe I can’t. But Adrien’s happiness is still important to me. Even if he doesn’t find it with me. Kagami isn’t as much of an ice queen as she seems.”

Alya shrugged. “Okay, I might be wrong. I don’t really know her that well. Maybe she got invited too.”

“I’m sure she did. She was always Adrien’s professional date for events. Gabriel seems like the type to build up PR where he could.”

“Mmmm, you’re right. I bet Chloe’s up there too.”

“She and Adrien have been friends forever. I wouldn’t doubt it.”

They ate their lunch quietly, both mulling over their own thoughts.

“Adrien didn’t look too happy.” Marinette commented.

“He’s sure he’s just nervous. He’s never had a girlfriend before.”

“Right…”

Alya sighed again. “I can’t help but feel like this is really good for you, Marinette. This might be what it takes to get over him. You’ve been stuck on Adrien for a while now.”

“Yeah…silly me.”

“Come on, I’m not calling you silly!” She protested. “I’m just…it was frustrating watching you get all tongue tied over him. I want you to be happy, Mari. I desperately do. But Adrien might not be that for you. Take some time and then…who knows? Luka has his eyes on you.”

“I know.” Marinette said, some guilt popping up at the name. “Maybe…maybe someday.”

—

After school, the limo arrived to pick them up. Adrien told his driver that Nino, Alya, and Marinette were joining him, while Lila jumped in to grab a ride.

Marinette sat on one side of Adrien, while Lila sat on the other.

“So like, what’s this contest like?” Asked Nino, conversationally.

“Well,” began Lila, with a confident little flourish. “Mr. Agreste is going to interview all the contestants. We’ve all been given a five minute allotment to write a speech on why we would be a good candidate. Of course, he has files on all of us so he can see background, family income, achievements, charities, etc.”

“With all of your accomplishments, I bet you have a real chance!” Chirped Nino. “How many contestants are there?”

“I’m not sure.” Said Lila, with an honest shrug.

“Dude?” Nino probed Adrien.

Adrien shrugged too, as he had been quiet the whole ride. “I…I have no idea. I was just told about it this morning.”

Marinette sucked in a gaping breath next to him. He’d only had a day to think this through? This really was completely unfair!

Finally, they arrived at the mansion, and they were ushered inside.

Gabriel greeted them in the entry hall, as cold and professional as ever. He raised an eyebrow. “I believe I said you could invite one friend for support,” he said, by way of greeting.

“This is a…big decision. I wanted people around me with opinions I could trust.”

Gabriel glanced at the assembled, his eyes lingering on Marinette for a touch too long. “I understand. Come now. The other’s will arrive soon.”

They were escorted into the parlor, where three chairs sat in a line, then a table with two other chairs behind it.

“Miss Rossi, please take a seat. The other two contestants will be here shortly. Mr. Lahiffe, would you be so kind as to grab more chairs for you, Miss Cesaire, and Miss Dupain-Cheng?”

“Sure dude—er, yes sir.”  

Gabriel took a seat at the table, looking at the three folders upon it.

Adrien begrudgingly sat next to him, as his three friends took up seats behind him.

Gabriel didn’t really want to do this. Match-making wasn’t something that felt worthy of his time. However, he considered this as killing three birds with one stone. 1) He’d get these girls to stop fighting over Adrien and being an embarrassment for Adrien’s career. 2) He’d have a controlled environment for Adrien to pick a girl. He wanted his son to pick a girl that was worthy of the family. After all, once Emilie came back, they would be a family again. 3) Whoever won or lost didn’t really matter. He’d get an akuma or two. And that made this all worth it.

And with the unsuspected surprise of Marinette Dupain-Cheng added, that added his 4th goal, to finally akumatize her. He wasn’t stupid. He knew very well that Marinette had feeling for Adrien. It was glaringly obvious. But since she had made no attempt to ask him out, he didn’t feel the need to invite her. Perhaps he should have anyways.

The second contestant arrived, as Chloe Bourgeois.

“Running late, are we Chloe?” Alya taunted.

“Not a bit.” Chloe flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. “You can’t rush perfection, you know.”

Gabriel twitched an eyebrow, and wrote down some notes. “Please, take a seat. The final contestant should be here soon.”

Lila had taken the middle seat, and Chloe took the one to her right.

Nearly as her butt hit the chair, the final candidate was escorted in. Kagami Tsurugi.

“Thank you for having me, Mr. Agreste.” She bowed politely.

“Thank you for attending.” He replied, cooly. “Please have a seat.”

As Marinette looked across the three girls, her stomach churned with unpleasant feelings. Nerves, nausea, dread…

And idea popped into her head, speaking in a voice that sounded a lot like Tikki. But she simply waved it away with a shake of her head.

‘Please please please don’t be embarrassing and try to ruin this in a fit of jealous rage.’ Alya’s voice piped up, as the angel on the other shoulder.

She swallowed, and looked to Adrien.

He was hunched in his seat, his leg bouncing quickly. She couldn’t see his face, but his body spoke of uncontested anxiety.

As far as Marinette was concerned, Kagami was the only one up there that deserved a chance to be with Adrien. She was honest and a hard worker.

But Marinette feared that she wasn’t affectionate enough to help Adrien.

Her voice crawled up her throat, resolution pumping through her veins, pounding in her ears, sweating through her palms.

This was a bad idea, a very very bad idea—

“Excuse me, Mr. Agreste?” She blurted, right as he was about to speak.

All eyes were on her, and she felt the immense pressure of it all. This was not like being Ladybug. These weren’t akumas and she had no authority in her civilian clothes.

“Yes, Miss Dupain-Cheng?”

Gabriel looked right at her, staring her down. But his tone held no judgement or impatience. Just curiosity.

“I was hoping, if it isn’t too late. May I also throw my proverbial hat in the ring?”

“You?”

“Yes. Of course, I know I wasn’t invited. So I understand if it’s a no.”

Gabriel was quiet a moment, thinking.

Adrien, however, was staring at her, mouth open, eyes wide. Utterly gobsmacked.

“Adrien, do you have any objections to having Miss Dupain-Cheng join the others in the interview?”

He breathed, his whole body relaxing in one sweep. “No, I don’t mind at all.”

Maybe it was the nerves, but Marinette could have sworn he looked relieved.

“Then I see no problem. Please bring your chair over with the others.”

“Thank you sir,” she said, humbly.

As she moved, Alya grabbed her wrist. “You promised!” She hissed.

“This isn’t a fit of jealous rage.” Marinette said calmly. She walked over and sat her chair next to Chloe, who looked furious. Lila gave her a smile that looked like friendly competition, but came off as a little smug.

Kagami just looked cold, and a little betrayed.

Marinette flicked her eyes meaningfully over to the other awful contestants, trying to send a message.

Kagami, smart as she was, seemed to get it, and quirked her lips in forgiveness. But her expression turned steely again. This was a competition, and she would not loose.

“Thank you ladies for all coming today,” Gabriel began. “I asked each of you here, because you have shown interest in Adrien in a romantic way. Relationships are important in our line of work, but Adrien’s significant other must reflect well upon the brand. Therefore, I have arranged this meeting. You will each be given five minutes to present why you would be the right candidate for this position. I will have a little say so, but ultimately the decision is up to Adrien.”

Alya and Nino shared a look, both getting the same vibe from the situation.

This was a job interview.

“Miss Kagami Tsurugi, the floor is yours.”

Kagami stood. “Thank you, Mr. Agreste.”

Marinette’s face paled. Kagami had note cards. She was prepared. She had probably prepared all week for this!

What was she doing!? Her whole speech was going to be her going “Da-uh--eh—cute boy—love Adrien!” And she’d be an embarrassment forever! She’d loose all progress she made with him! Their friendship was effectively over!

And judging by the way Alya was glaring at her, it wasn’t the only friendship that was going up in smoke.

“Adrien,” Kagami began. “You and I met in a duel. A match that was repeated over and over because we were in perfect sync. Perfect in rhythm and time, and perfect off the mat as well. We match in wit and grades, and in talent and grace. We match in family, and background. Our relationship will only be good for both of us, and our families. I strive for perfection in all that I do. Each task I come upon, I complete flawlessly. You are the only boy for me, as you have reached a level of perfection unparalleled in man. You and I connect and understand things that most people don’t. Fine manners, and public relations. You need a girl that can withstand the scrutiny of the media. A girl like me. I can be scrutinized and not bow to the pressure, for I have no flaws to display. Together, you and I will be perfect.” She nodded once and sat down.

“Thank you, Kagami.” Adrien said, sincerely. He liked Kagami, he really did. She was nice, and they got along…but the amount of times she dropped the word ‘perfect’ was a little unsettling. He didn’t forget Oni-chan. And while akumas couldn’t be held responsible for what they said, Kagami had announce that she deserved him because he was perfect.

But surely, there was more to her than that, right?

Gabriel said nothing, just wrote down some notes. Then, “Miss Lila Rossi, it’s your turn.”

Marinette watched Lila stand and take on this air of confidence that only came from living in a state of denial. “Adrien, as you and I have both discussed before, you and I make a wonderful pair. As you can see from my long list of achievements, you can see that I have a broad repertoire of skills, spanning from assisting with and upstarting charity work, leadership, academics, and of course, design. As the daughter of a diplomat, I am well spoken and naturally charismatic. I have a vast network of connections, and you’ll find it a benefit to join that network. Though I don’t doubt the power of the name Agreste, I can get you in contact with people you’ve wanted to connect with before. As an artist myself, I carry a fine eye to design, and can lend myself to the family business. I am acquainted with the workings of the modeling industry, and therefore require no training to pick it up. In fact, I can work as a liaison between different departments with my vast skill set. Along with all of this, you and I have good chemistry on the set as models. We work well together. And we’ll be even more amazing together.”

Marinette would have been impressed if that wasn’t all flaming garbage.

But judging by the way Alya was giving her a thumbs up, it must have sounded somewhat convincing.

Adrien nodded, “Thank you Lila.” He stated plainly. She sounded very professional for someone who just lied through her resume. But weirdly enough, it seemed like Lila was more presenting to his father than to him.

He already knew he wasn’t going to pick her, but he wondered if she was playing on her connection she had to his father. That would not be good…unless his father really was letting him pick.

That’d be a first.

“Miss Chloe Bourgeois. You have the floor.”

Chloe stood, a hand on her hip. “Adrikins,” she started.

Marinette couldn’t help but smile. Good old Chloe.

“You and I have been friends forever. You know what friendships are built on, right? Memories. And you and I have shared a whole lot. We were there for each other when our moms left. We survived that together, so why can’t we do more? Of course, you have no need of my money or fame, but business talk, we’re great. We’re already great. Adrien Agreste and Chloe Bourgeois, heiress and supermodel, beauty incarnate!”

That actually made Adrien chuckle.

“We’ll be the modern Brangelina. We’ll have fan clubs! We might even have a movie made about us!” Then she smiled, a smile that Marinette had never seen on her face before. One that was actually happy. “And you know, I like imagining a future with you. I think it could be fun.”

He quirked a smile at her. “Thanks Chlo.”

It was a nice sentiment. But he never had any feelings of romance towards Chloe. She was always a sister to him. And she had begun to fall out of his favor with her treatment of other classmates. It just wasn’t going to happen.

Marinette pressed her palms down hard into her knees to keep from trembling. Would it be awful to bow out now? Would that be rude and unprofessional? Would Mr. Agreste forbid Adrien from talking to her, since she was so flakey? She swallowed, once, twice, but her throat was still dry. Why did she do this?

Adrien looked at Marinette while his father finished writing notes about Chloe. Kagami had been somewhat predictable. She wasn’t being completely honest about her feelings with his father in the room. But, she did have a competitive streak in her. And…she always wanted the best.

Lila was also pretty predictable. It was all horse shit. Even if his father bought it and pressured him to pick her, she wouldn’t last because she wouldn’t be able to pull through on her promises.

Chloe. Chloe was a little refreshing. Informal, not really seeing a need to elaborate. They’d known each other forever, like she said.

But Marinette was a wild card. Sweet, kind, helpful, everyday Ladybug. As much as he detested this stupid stunt, having Marinette speak up to participate made it a little more tolerable. But…if she said anything like the other girls, he didn’t know if he could look at her the same way.

“Miss Dupain-Cheng. I apologize that you didn’t have time to prepare, but you have five minutes, just like the others. It starts now.”

She stood. “Thank you, Mr. Agreste.”  

I’m Ladybug. She told herself. I’m worth it. I deserve my chance at happiness.

Adrien watched as she closed her eyes and breathed. When she opened them, she looked right at him.

Were her eyes always so blue?

“Adrien,” her voice was soft and tender. This wasn’t a pitch, this was a secret, just for him. “I love you.”

Adrien gasped slightly, warmth settling in his chest immediately.

“When we first met, I hated you. I saw this fancy rich kid who was friends with the other bratty rich kid, and I made an assumption. I misunderstood your good deed. It was never the fame or wealth that drew me to you.

“It was that moment in the rain. You humbled yourself, and confessed you didn’t know how to make friends. I scoffed at you, I was rude and you had every reason to write me off and never speak to me again. But you didn’t. You offered me that umbrella, and took the time to explain yourself, because you wanted to be my friend. That kindness was an arrow to my heart, Adrien. And every time I see that kindness, I find myself falling over and over again.” Her voice wavered, as she started to loose courage.

Adrien just smiled at her, and nodded her on, desperate to hear what she had to say.

“I don’t have much to offer you. I’m the daughter of a baker, which makes for a modest living. The Dupain-Cheng’s are famous, but just for our macarons, and only in Paris. I come with a lifetime supply of sweets and carbs,” she giggled. “And um, I can make things for you. I know you can get whatever clothing you’d like, but…I can knit you some mittens to match that blue scarf of yours. And…most of all, I can offer you me. My ears to listen to you when you have a rough day, or when you just want to make puns. My eyes to watch you at your tournaments and support you. My hands to play video games with you and massage your shoulders after a long photoshoot. My arms to hold you when you feel lonely. And my lips, to kiss you and reassure you when you feel inadequate.” Then she swallowed again, her eyebrows furrowing. “If…even if you don’t pick me. I still offer all of this to you. Because you’re my friend, and I care about you. I want you to be happy. Even if it’s not with me.” She smiled slightly and sat down.

For a while, Adrien just stared at her, struggling to breathe. He could see her trembling. He wanted to run to her and hold her. He had never felt this strong of an urge before, but that’s what he wanted to do.

“Marinette, I…thank you…” he finally managed out.

“Miss Dupain-Cheng,” Gabriel spoke. “I must ask, you’re a budding designer, correct?”

“Yes sir.”

“Does a relationship with my son look like a in for you in my company?”

Adrien almost wanted to yell at the accusation, but stayed quiet.

Marinette thought a moment, then answered. “I’m here for Adrien. If I get a chance to work in the industry, that would be amazing. But if dating Adrien meant I sacrificed my own career…I think it’d be worth it.”

“Thank you, for being candid.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now then,” Gabriel stood. “Adrien and I, and company,” he gestured to Alya and Nino, “will be stepping into the other room to reach a decision. Please remain seated.”

As the door closed behind them, Marinette let out a sigh of relief and let the weight fall off her shoulders. She did it. She confessed to Adrien. She made her shot. Now it was up to him.

—

In the other room, Gabriel, Adrien, Alya, and Nino gathered around a television projecting the parlor on the screen.

“What’s this?” Alya asked.

“People act different when they think others aren’t watching.” He answered simply, and turned up the volume.

Chloe hauled off and whacked Marinette on the arm. “What the shit, Dupain-Cheng!?”

“Ow!” Marinette cried, more from shock than pain.

“Yeah, what the hell were you thinking?” Lila asked.

“I thought you were my friend.” Kagami bit. “How could you do this to me?”

Marinette rubbed her arm. “I just…I just wanted a chance to tell him. Before it was too late.”

Lila scoffed. “It was absolutely pathetic. And you ruined your own chance! You said ‘I can’t offer much, but what I can offer, I can give as a friend too.’ Why would he consider dating you then?”

“At least I had something to offer!” Marinette shouted back. “Your resume is all lies!”

“Doesn’t matter! Mr. Agreste likes me more than his own son. It doesn’t matter if Adrien knows I’m lying, Gabriel doesn’t. And daddy pulls all the strings. I’m going to be Adrien’s girlfriend.”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Chloe shouted. “No way! Gabriel likes me more! Who doesn’t? I have fame and notoriety! And I’m prettier!”

“Stop it!” Marinette shouted, genuinely upset. “Stop talking about Adrien like he’s a prize to be won! He’s not a trophy or a piece of meat! He’s an intelligent, kind, loving man! He deserves someone that will love him!”

“I love him plenty!” Chloe cried indignantly.

“I love him more!” Kagami interjected. “And Marinette’s right. He’s a person. He needs someone on his level that understands his life. Marinette…that person isn’t you. You don’t understand what kind of pressure he’s under. You don’t understand strict families and high expectations…you haven’t done anything to deserve him.”

Marinette closed her eyes, trying to keep from crying. That was a low blow.

Lila chuckled. “Did you see the look on Alya’s face when you invited yourself up here? She was so angry! Probably because she’s so sick of you embarrassing yourself.”

“It was really embarrassing.” Chloe added. “You super don’t belong up here. I’d be surprised if Adrien ever spoke to you again after that stunt.”

Lila grinned at that. “Hey, nice work! You did my job on your own. I told you, didn’t I? You’d loose all your friends, and Adrien would be mine. Jealousy really is a little bitch, isn’t it?”

Marinette screwed her eyes shut, rocking in her chair, and begging herself not to cry. This had been all a big mistake.

“So what are you going to do now?” Lila asked, taunting her more. “I hope you switch schools. It would be so much easier. But if you stay, I’m sure that would be even more fun. After all, I hold all the cards now. No one will ever listen to you again!”

Alya’s mouth dropped open as soon as Lila went off. “She…she lied?”

“She’s lied this whole time.” Adrien provided softly. “Marinette tried to tell you. I guess…I didn’t realize why you didn’t believe her.”

Gabriel muted the TV. “Well. We have four candidates, each with some benefit…except Miss Rossi, obviously.” He closed her file. “But, true to my word, the final decision is yours.”

“I know who I want.”

“That soon?”

“It’s easy.”

Gabriel nodded. “Then we’ll return.”

—

Marinette breathed and dabbed her cheeks with a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. If this was how it ended, she would remain dignified.

The door opened and the others returned. Adrien looked nervous again, but a lot more optimistic.

“Adrien has reached a decision.” And Gabriel gestured him forward.

Adrien swallowed. “I’m sorry that you all had to get involved in this. It hurts me that I have to break hearts today. That’s something I never wanted to do. Kagami…I’m really sorry. I did enjoy the fun we had together, and I hope we can still be friends.”

“Of course, Adrien. I understand.” She looked mildly forlorn, but hid heartache well, for Adrien’s sake.

“Chloe, you’re right. We have been friends for a long time. And I love you, but like a sister.”

Chloe pouted. “Ugh, save me your ridiculous pity speech.”

Lila sat up a little straighter, her smug smile emerging as Adrien turned to look at Marinette.

Marinette looked to him, steeling herself for the rejection that would come.

“Marinette…I…” he stepped closer. “I’m speechless. I…I’m so glad you spoke up!” And he rushed to her, scooping her out of the chair and crushing her to him. “Thank you. For seeing me.”

She blinked up at him, still in shock. “Does…that mean I won?”

“Yes!” He laughed, exasperated. “I chose you!”

Marinette trembled before clinging to him tightly, and sobbing. “These are happy tears!” She declared.

He laughed at her and just squeezed her tightly.

“Um, I don’t mean to interrupt.” Said Lila, obviously interrupting. “But Adrien, I think I should warn you. Marinette isn’t as innocent as you think—“

“Oh shut up Lila.” Alya spat. “No one’s buying your bullshit.”

Lila gaped at her. “But-But Alya! You know how Marinette gets!”

“Yeah, she’s not as bad as you. She didn’t have to lie to make friends. And she certainly cares about Adrien more than you do.”

“What? I would never—“

“Dude, there’s a camera. We saw the whole thing.”

Gabriel loomed over Lila. “‘Daddy pulls the strings’ hmm?”

“Its…a figure of speech?”

Gabriel wasn’t impressed. “Leave my house. If you so much as touch my son or Miss Dupain-Cheng, I won’t hesitate to file for a restraining order. Consider this your only warning.”

Furious, Lila stomped out of the mansion.

Kagami approached the couple. “Sorry for what I said, Marinette. I guess you really do deserve him.”

Marinette wiped her cheeks. “I forgive you Kagami. I’m sorry too.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. You love him, and you deserve to be able to tell him. I’ll see you guys around.” She bowed to them and then to Mr. Agreste. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

Then Chloe was left. She looked at them, and ‘hmph’ed. “I don’t approve. But…as long as you’re happy.”

“I am.” Adrien confessed.

“And Dup—Marinette?”

“Yes, Chloe?”

“Break his heart, and I’ll ruin your life.”

“Noted.”

“Good. Now, I’m off to shop my woes away. I might even pick out somethings for you Marinette, now that you’re dating the son of a fashion mongol, you have to look presentable.”

“That’s very kind of you, Chloe.” Marinette smiled softly.

“Of course, I’m the nicest.” And she left as well.

“Now,” said Gabriel. “Miss Dupain-Cheng, please tell your parents to expect a call from Nathalie in the coming days. We will be arranging a time for us all to sit down for dinner and discuss this relationship going forward.”

Marinette nodded, trying to collect herself. “Yes sir, absolutely.”

“And, in regards to the question I asked. I don’t expect you to quit designing. In fact, perhaps I can give you a portfolio review, when you’re ready.”

“That would be wonderful, sir.”

“Now that that is settled, I must get back to work. Adrien, your friends may stay for dinner, but must leave before 8:00. Agreed?”

“Yes sir, thank you.”

He nodded once and then headed to his office.

Alya met Marinette’s eyes and just shrugged shamefully. “Mari I…I don’t know what to say. I’m glad you ignored me!”

Marinette offered a smile. “It’s alright Alya.”

“No, no it’s not. Lila conned us, all of us for a long time. What was that thing she said? ‘Your friends will all leave you and Adrien will be mine?’”

“Yeah, it was a threat she made against me, the first time I called her out.”

“God, I’m such an idiot. I thought about it two seconds after she admitted to lying about her achievements, and saw right thru her stories. I have no idea how I was so blind!”

“Well, we have some damage control to do,” said Adrien.

“Nah uh.” Alya poked him in the chest. “We have damage control to do. You two, have a lovely first date!”

Marinette blinked, a blush rushing to her face. “O-oh!”

Adrien’s arm hooked around her waist. “We’ll pass the time somehow. Video games?”

Marinette breathed. Everything was fine. This was great. “Yeah, that sounds fun.”

“Catch you dudes later!”

—

Up in Adrien’s room, Marinette sat on the couch as Adrien glanced through his video game collection. “Let’s see, I knoooow you like Ultima Mecha Strike, but I want to win a little.”

“Aw, won’t let the girl win on the first date?”

“You’re cute, but you’re not that cute.”

She giggled, her face alighting with a blush. Adrien thought she was cute! “Rude!”

“Yeah, I forgot I’m bad at jokes.”

“You’re not bad at—“ The girl I love doesn’t like my jokes either. “Oh. Oh my god.”

“What?” Adrien returned, hearing panic come into her voice.

Marinette stood, preparing to leave. “Adrien, I…I can’t do this.”

He blinked. “What?”

“You don’t love me.”

“Well…” he rubbed the back of his neck, awkwardly. “Not…not quite. But I really like you, and I know if I just spend a little more time with you—“

“But, what about the girl you’re in love with?”

He wilted, instantly. “Oh. Right.”

“We have to redo this contest or something! She has to know! She needs a fair chance too!”

Adrien smiled at her. Even at the sake of her own heart, she was still thinking of others. “No, Marinette, that ship has sailed. I held out for her…but she rejected me. A lot actually.”

Marinette’s heart ached for him. She reached out and took his hand. “Adrien?”

He shook his head. “For a while, I believed that any other romance was being unfaithful to her. But, how can you be unfaithful to someone you’re not in a relationship with? It’s stupid.”

“No, no it’s not.” She insisted. “I know exactly how you feel.”  

“You…you didn’t give up someone waiting for me, did you?”

“I turned someone down, but I didn’t love him. I was fond of him, and he’s a great friend…but I didn’t love him.”

“Oh…Luka?”

“Oh…yikes, him too. And Nathaniel. Gee, I’m a heart breaker.”

He chuckled. “No Mari, I think you’re just very lovable.” He kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry about that other girl, okay?”

“But like…I am going to worry. Can you tell me who?”

He pouted. “Don’t laugh.”

“Never.”

“Okay…it’s Ladybug.”

She blinked. “…Ladybug?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but…she’s saved me a few times, so…”

Adrien had never confessed to Ladybug. Unless he did it as Aspik and she didn’t remember, but she knows she would have said yes to him. Ladybug had gotten plenty of confessions, but not several from the same person, except for—

No.

No way.

Marinette stepped away from him, her hands over her mouth.

“Oh great, now you think I’m some sort of weirdo, right?”

She shook her head, but didn’t remove her hands.

“Then what is it?”

Marinette was the new guardian. She alone held the responsibility of the Miraculous. But this thought kept nagging at the back of her head. Someday, they’d have to reveal their identities to each other. She’d need to know who he was incase of emergency.

Looked like today was that day.

She pulled her hands away, resting on her heart. Then she drank him in, letting the pieces come together.

“Oh kitty.”

Adrien’s eyes widened. “Wha—?”

“I’m so sorry for hurting you. You were the other boy.”

He choked on his breath, then took a staggering step towards her. “My lady?”

“Yes, kitty. I’m right here. You found me.”

He closed the distance, crushing her body to his once again, this time with tears of his own. “I knew I picked right! I knew it!”

“Oh Chat! It’s you! I’m so glad it’s you!”

“My lady!” He pressed his lips to her face over and over again, not caring if he connected to her mouth or not. He just wanted to shower her in affection. “I love you! I love you I love you I love you!”

“Adri—“ Her words were cut off by his kisses and her giggles. “I love you too, silly boy.”

He cupped her cheeks holding her like she was precious and delicate. “We have to be even. I can offer you my wallet, to pay for school and whatever supplies you could ever want. I offer my eyes to drink in your perfect face every day. My ears to listen to your adorable laugh at my perfect puns.”

She giggled.

“Like that! And I offer my hands, to hold you when you’re lonely. And my lips to kiss you senseless when you need a break from all your stress!” He kissed her deeply, making her hazy. “And I offer my abs, to carry you through the threshold when we’re married!”

“You lift with your legs, Dingus.”

“Then what can I offer my abs for?”

“Those are just for me,” she cheeked, running a hand down his shirt.

“I’m going to kiss you again.”

“I’m not going to stop you.”

He pushed her over to lay on the couch, as he leaned over her and kissed her again. Her fingers dove into her hair as his own cradled her. “My lady,” he breathed.

“My prince.”

An explosion rocked the city, startling the two teens apart. They shared a look, and then laughed.

“Alright, four macarons says it’s Lila.”

“Hmm…five says it’s Chloe.”

A third voice, belonging to Plagg, spoke up. “And if it’s Kagami?”

“A draw.” They said together.

“Oh, one more smooch before we go, my love?” Adrien grinned.

Marinette rolled her eyes. Rolled her eyes at Adrien! “Oh, I suppose one wouldn’t hurt.” She pecked him gently. “You can have more afterwards.”

“Smooches Gracias!”

“Smooches revoked!”

“Nooooo!!”

[lostonehero]

Wally paced back and forth in front of the Question's room in the watchtower. He knew what he saw was true and bats was right there and couldn't see it, he will not let this go till he has answers he isn't the crazy one here. The ground really had cracks and it smelt of ash.

Wally wasn't paying attetion when he walked headfirst into the said man he was waiting for.

"Pray tell why you are in front of my room Flash?" Question seemed more out of it then normal and if Wally could see his face he would probably see a tired man.

Wally fidgeted in his spot, and quickly blurted out almost too fast. "I saw something in the woods in Central city and bats thinks I'm crazy and thinks I should let it go but I knew it was there and it smelt of ash. I need you to help me but you have to be in civilian clothes and I know nobody knows your identity and not even bats does but I need your help so I'll keep it a secret I just need a answer is it linked to illegal dumping some cult parademons underground I just need to know its behind a church and a school."

The Question stops it is impossible to read that blank face of his. He spoke in a tired voice. "I'll be in the park tomorrow find me."

......

Victor immeditally regretted the words that came out of his mouth as he sunk down on the untouched bed in his room. The door was firmly shut but he never risked taking off his mask in the watchtower. Why did he even say yes? Was it the sleep deprivation, or the concert he did in conjunction of a research mission that linked spontaneous combustion to a new soda brand. He didn't dwell on the answer because he knew it was Wally's smile after he said yes that did him in.

Just because he had a crush on the other hero didn't make him soft no matter what his uncle said. He was a half demon something that shouldn't exist (he was actually 3/4th demon but don't dwell on that) granted he was forced to watched the tapes of his mother being violated and then given birth to him.

That church orphanage was horrid. He shook his head of the thoughts. Demons shouldn't exist on the human plane because of the war and blah blah his uncle Micheal and aunt Gabriel regret there part. Why was he lingering on this he didn't care much about where he came from. He only used his powers as a disguise when he played on stage. What can he say people like the horns bone wings and tail for a punk rocker.

Oh fuck he thought to himself. Wally would recognize him just for that. Maybe not he only plays in his home city and nothing ever really leaves hub city. So he would be fine.

.......

Wally paced in the park he wasn't confident at all that the Question would even show up. He was embarrassed for even asking. Why woukd he even say yes to his request? The only guys who were close to him was Arrow, Black canery, huntress, and supergirl. He wasn't one.

A man behind Wally tapped him on the shoulder, the piercing blue eyes with the heavy bags under his eyes stood out, more so it was his favorite singer and he nearly passed out.

"Wally, you've got me out here." He yawns "so where is this area you want me to investigate?"

Wally was floored, this man was the Question, he was stunning and his poor bi heart couldn't take it. "R-right uh do you need a coffee first there is a nice Cafe down the street." Wally internally screams this was The Question of all people why did he just ask him to get coffee together.

The Question stretches and shrugs. "It may surprise you but I only drink tea. However fine, and by the way call me Victor in public alright."

Wally's mouth went dry as he nodded. "Yeah ok"

......

Victor was kind of floored, why did Wally even ask him to get coffee? He wasn't attractive he didn't think, but Wally's face was red when he smiled at him. Wally was probably getting a cold. He took a sip of his tea. "So tell me more of this incident."

Wally looks up startled and chokes on his coffee. "Oh me, oh right the incident, why I called you here, that incident." He trailed off.

Victor looked up with a raised brow. "Yeah the whole cracks in the ground, smell of ash, that thing."

Wally's face was red in embarrassment, he kind of forgot about that and switched to making googly eyes at Victor. "Yeah uh the ground shook slightly and I smelt ash in the air Bats thought the shaking was odd but he chalked it up to the rouges here "

"I see so maybe its someone underground creating something sinister." The gears were turning in his head he didn't notice Wally stare at him with desire in his eyes.

"Uh yeah sure."

"We should go now." Victor gets up this was a quiet to-city it wasn't what he was used to. It felt peaceful and he felt like a stranger trespassing.

Wally nods.

.......

Victor scowls he hated churches, not because they hurt him, more so they made him physically ill reminding him of his youth. Being behind it was more of a relief in a symbolic sense.

"So this is where it happened." Wally frowns seeing no evidence. Victor is going to think he is crazy.

Victor smelled ash in the air. The area itself wasn't out of place it was peaceful, and nothing was out of place. But that ash in the air made him feel at ease for some reason.

"Something is off about this place, it still smells of ash "

"Well yeah that smell hasn't left, so you believe me that something is off."

Victor nods "I'll be back here, however I expect you to come with me. I'm not familiar with this city."

Wally nods eagerly "of course maybe coffee again, oh wait tea?"

"Sure Wally." Victor walks away he needed to get back to his apartment.

"Wait let me take you back." He freezes for a moment. "I mean it takes awhile to get back to hub city from here like 12 hours let me shorten that." His face was red again.

Victor looks confused "It's fine Wally you look like this area is getting you sick your face is all red like your hair, it makes your green eyes stand out."

Wally's face goes a few darker shades of red as he picks up Victor who gives a startled shout. He was lighter then he thought also very muscular. "No no I insist."

.....

It was a shorter run then what Wally wanted. Victor yelled at him to stop when they arrived in hub city.

Victor brushed off the nonexistent dust on his outfit and shivered at the cooler weather of the northern city. "Thank you for the life my apartment is right over there. I'll uh see you later."

"Wait." Wally shouted. "We should exchange number just in case."

Victor frowns why did Wally need his number he could just use the watchtower communication. Maybe he needed to be more private and he understood that, and truly respected that. "Of course keeping this private." He takes out a pen and writes his number on Wally's arm. "Call me later we can go over our notes."

Wally nearly passed out there. Victor had such pretty handwriting when he wasn't writing on his conspiracy board. He was a bi mess with a super crush on the Question out of everyone he could of been crushing on. He watched Victor dissapear into the crowd. Wally's heart fluttered as he ran back home to tell Diana about his new crush.

[percywinchester27]

About a boy (Part-8)

Word count: 4.7K

Warning: Suspense, feels, physical abuse, child-trafficking and bullying

Characters: Dean, Cas, Gabriel, Benny, Michael, OCs and… Sam?

Summary: Dean Winchester has a secret. A secret that could really land him in trouble. He never expected to connect with anyone when he walked into the ‘Blue Stone Orphanage for Boys,’ but even then, the walls he has put up are slowly coming down. Now, a series of strange events are threatening to expose him. When everything starts falling apart around him, will he still be able to save the one person that matters the most?

A/N: I’m sorry this part is so delayed. Life got to me in a not so nice way. I will try my best to be better from now on <3

All my love to @thing-you-do-with-that-thing​​​​​ and @deanssweetheart23​​​​​ for beta reading this story <3

About a boy masterlist

“Sometimes I think that some of these kids dye their hair,” Will muttered, kicking a stone out of the way. “There can’t possibly be that many brown haired boys.”

“You have brown hair,” Cas pointed out mildly, feeling sympathetic towards the boy.

“But my name isn’t Sam!” Will exhaled, attacking another stone. 

The two of them were walking back from school. Dean had waited back for some extra class, and on the way out Cas had bumped into Will, who had been in a dark, brooding mood. Only now did he know that it was because of an abundance of dark haired boys.

“I feel like I’m disappointing Dean,” Will admitted. “But I swear there isn’t another Sam on the floor, unless some kid is hiding his real name for whatever reason. The only other thing Dean gave me to go by, was that Sam has brown hair. But that is most boys.” His voice was full of despair. 

“You’re being harsh on yourself, Will,” Cas soothed, placing a hand on Will’s shoulder. “There isn’t much to go on here and Dean knows that. He isn’t going to be disappointed.”

“I had to do this one thing, and I’m wretched at it,” Will moaned, seemingly not having accepted a word of what Cas had said. 

He is used to always having a solution, Cas thought. Will attempted math Olympiads for fun. He was smart enough to fuse out the fire alarm system. He was the sort of boy who was used to getting solutions for his problems, answers for mysteries, and now that he couldn’t figure this one out, it was bothering him. But there was also one other thing. Will was probably used to being self sufficient. He had always made his own bed and clapped his own back. Now, there was Dean.

Cas realised, Will looked upto Dean. The way he hung on to Dean’s every word like it was a gospel. How he glowed when Dean lightly made fun of him, teased him or even called him a dumb-ass. Behind Will’s disappointment was his inherent desire for praise, and not any praise, but Dean’s praise.

Cas felt a deep pang in his stomach, a swell of empathy. He had seen so many kids yearn for attention, for a drop of love in this place where everyone was lonely together. Will was no different. He’d never had anyone to appreciate his intellect. Lots of parents would have sold their souls for a prodigal child like Will. But here he was looking for acceptance from a boy who was looking for something else, someone else.

With a heavy heart, he said, “We’ll keep looking, Will. We’ll find Sam.”

The boy looked up, hazel eyes round, the question in them clear as the day. Who is Sam? But he didn’t ask. Maybe something about Cas’s expression made it clear that he wouldn’t answer. It wasn’t his secret to tell anyway. Besides, he had no business dragging a kid into this. Especially a kid residing on the 4th floor. Cas shuddered.

Will cast another look, but didn’t talk for the rest of the way back.

*****************************

“Damn it!” Dean cursed as he stumbled over a rough patch of land. It had been three days since the fire alarm incidence and he could only barely manage to walk by himself. Of course today had to be the day when the calculus teacher extended the class. Ordinarily, Dean would have ditched in favor of having a steady support in Cas to walk back, but he paid attention in calculus. After all, he had promised to help Will out with it. So much for that crazy kid’s expedition to champion math! Which was why Dean took meticulous notes and for that, he had to wait back.

Apart from having to stumble all the way back, Dean didn’t really mind walking alone. Cas had been hovering over protectively over Dean at all times, worrying that if he was left alone, Michael’s goons might ambush him and finish what they started that night. As it turned out, Cas needn’t have worried at all. All his fears had been put to rest when the Principal had called Dean and Cas and asked about their bruises. Apparently, the nurse had made a formal request to the principal to look into the matter. Dean hadn’t given names, but the word got out and the said gang of goons started skirting him. It had still taken a quarter hours reassurance to get Cas to leave without him. 

Now his legs ached, his lungs screamed in protest. I’m experiencing old age at fifteen, Dean thought wryly as he pushed the gate of bell stone open. He heard the voices before the scene around the corner met his eyes.

A woman’s voice was echoing in the yard, high and poignant and authoritative. The familiarity and hope of just seeing someone he knew had Dean running despite the pain shooting up his foot. He wasn’t wrong. 

There she was standing tall and thin, with short brown hair, and the sheriffs uniform crisply cutting a formidable figure before him. Even though her back was to him, Dean knew it was her.

Jody.

He started rushing towards her, then abruptly stopped, the realisation hitting him like a block of ice. No one knew that he knew Jody. He couldn’t just barge in like that and blow his cover and their plan. The sight of her induced such homesickness, Dean staggered to the tree next to him, falling back against it for support. He felt like his legs might give out anytime. 

Even if he did meet her, what was he going to tell her? He’d made no progress when it came to the Stynes. Jody had put all her trust in him, risked arguments with authoritative people to get him in and he had nothing for her. He had no clue about where all the kids were disappearing off to. Shame and guilt flared up inside him and he lowered himself on the ground, disappearing completely from her line of vision.

He had disappointed her. 

“Officer,” someone cleared his throat. Dean recognised Andy. He sounded uncomfortable and scared. “It wasn’t really my fault, you see.”

“Not your fault?” Jody thundered. “Locking up kids like that on floors? And don’t you lie to me, I saw the grills myself.”

“They’re old, rusted and just there, doesn’t mean we use them,” Andy stuttered. He was much taller than Jody, but right now she seemed to tower over him.

“Do you take me for an idiot? I rolled one of those down, and for iron so rusted, it sure slid down smoothly.”

Despite the reeling shame, Dean wanted to whoop out loud. Jody was one of the smartest people he knew, and badass. Andy was in for it.

“We searched the whole place thoroughly, and those kids live in horrible conditions,” she said. “This place is a living hazard. You call it a boys home?” And what of the left wing?” she pressed, disgusted.

Dean dared to raise his head above the shrubbery just a little bit to peer into the opening. Jody was standing along with two other police officers, all of them in uniform. Andy was just a few feet away, visibly displaced, and Garth was hovering in the background, for apparently no other reason than to provide staff support to Andy. Garth seemed disinterested in the exchange and was fiddling with the dials on his walkman.

“The left wing is not in my jurisdiction. It’s always locked up. It doesn’t belong to the orphanage.” Andy’s voice was reedy.

Jody put her hands on her hips. “Really?” There was a dangerous edge to her tone. “And you don’t have the keys.”

“No,” Andy lied through his teeth. That asshole. 

If Dean had had any reservations about whether or not Andy knew what was up in this place, they were shattered right then and there. He was in this with the Stynes.

Jody turned to the police officer next to her. “Alright, Andrew, we’re breaking in.”

“Do you have a warrant to search the place?” Andy questioned. Dean swore under his breath. This man actually had the audacity to act superior. Dean tried to raise his head further to get a better view, to see the expression on Jody’s face. His foot slipped and fell back on the ground with a crash.

“Who’s there?” Andy said sharply.

“Shit!” 

“Get up,” Jody ordered, and Dean, after muttering a few more choice words, staggered to his feet and raised his hands. “It’s me.”

Andy’s face turned red, the suppressed anger making its appearance. “Winchester!” he bellowed, “What the f-... hell are you doing there?”

“I-I fell down,” he said hurriedly. “Was coming back from school.”

“From behind the bush?” It was Jody. “Higgs, what’s this boy doing here?”

Dean noted with detachment that he’d actually never known what Andy’s last name was. He avoided meeting Jody’s gaze.

“Look up!” Jody ordered, and Dean did so; slowly.

It was there for a split second, but Dean saw it in her brown eyes as they widened. A complex emotion; a mixture of relief, tenderness, pain… and then horror… anger.

“Higgs.” Jody’s voice was low, but it was so full of anger, loathing, that Dean backpedalled. “What the hell,” she said, seething, “happened to his face?”

Andy looked at Dean properly for the first time and paled. The angry red patches on his cheeks disappeared quickly. “I-I don’t know,” he said, running a hand across his face nervously. “You know how they get sometimes. Boys will be boys.”

But Jody was having none of Andy’s shit. She grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face to her level. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t drag your ass back to the station for allowing child abuse.” She looked dangerous, and Dean truly understood why everyone with ill-intent back home ran in the opposite direction when they saw her car. 

Dean knew she couldn’t actually haul Andy to the station. This wasn’t her area of jurisdiction. This was just part of her case. And even if she could get the local PD to do this, it threatened their whole operation. Sniffing police interference, the Stynes might completely move their base. Children would keep disappearing and Dean would lose his only chance of finding Sam.

Andy stammered a mumbled explanation as Jody pushed him roughly. Dean didn’t hear a word of what Andy was saying, for Jody had turned to look at him, and Dean braced himself for the disappointment in them. Not only had he failed her so far in the operation, he’d managed to get his ass kicked spectacularly, too. In fact, his bruises were better now, light purple to yellow in some parts and the swelling almost gone in others. 

When Dean looked up, Jody had squared her shoulders to face only him. Her eyes were blazing, though not with dismay or any hint of let down. There was only regret and pain there and so much worry that Dean felt he would drown in it. 

He was reeling. Suddenly he was standing in the front space of Bobby’s house, Jody looking down at him not with anger but worry when he’d first rigged a car. The day when he’d caught Bobby and her sitting on the porch steps and how hastily she had withdrawn her hand from Bobby’s when she’d seen Dean walk towards. He remembered the sun light squinting off the wooden table and how she had been nervously running her fingers along the edge of the table when Bobby told him they were seeing each other. Jody who was never nervous, only scary, had cared about what Dean, who wasn’t even Bobby’s son, had to say about their relationship. 

Dean remembered all the times she had driven by early so she could drop Dean off at school when Bobby was out of town. he had hated being driven around in the sheriff’s car. It was like announcing ‘don’t be friends with me, I know the sheriff.’ He’d barely ever spoken a word to her then. Suddenly there had been casseroles on holidays and real food on the table on Sunday mornings, instead of whatever mix Bobby put on the table in his hungover state.

All the sneaking around, whispers that were quieted too quickly so it wouldn’t make Dean awkward. The hope in her eyes when he sipped the coffee that she had made on mornings that she’d stayed over. She would almost always get it wrong by adding sugar, when Dean liked his black. Only now, after he had lived in this hell hole, did he realise the sort of luxury he’d had. He was no different from all the boys living in the orphanage. His parents were as dead and cold in their graves as the others’. But unlike them, he’d always had a room of his own, no worry where his next meal came from. He’d had gruff ‘good mornings’ from Bobby and shenanigans in his garage. And unexpectedly, softness from a woman who made her living by being firm.

Tears burned at the back of Dean’s throat and he blinked rapidly, still unable to take his eyes off of hers. Of course there would be no disappointment in those eyes… only care and… love. Jody’s eyes shone with unshed tears of her own, and he could see her desperately trying to get a grip. 

“I got punched at school,” Dean said through a thick throat. “It wasn’t anybody’s fault.” He fervently hoped that behind his words, she heard what he truly wanted to say. It wasn’t your fault, Jody. None of this is. Please don’t pull me out of here. For the both of us.

She had wanted this one win in that male dominated department where she was better by ten times than any idiot. And he wanted… no, he needed to find Sam. He stared intently back at her, willing her to understand. At long last, she nodded. A quick jerk of her chin.

“Alright,” she said hoarsely. Dean hoped that the others interpreted it as anger. “Get going then. Next time I hear of you breaking into fights, I’ll admit you to a juvie myself. You get that?”

Dean nodded.

“Off you go,” she ordered in what was supposed to be a stern voice. Then, she very deliberately raised her hand, as if to shoo him off, and pointed it to the side of the orphanage. Even though the main door was right in front. Something glinted off her finger as it caught the Sun, and Dean caught his breath. It was a thin gold band, plain but solid, resting on the second finger.

He had to bite his lips so as to not betray a reaction.

She widened her eyes. GO.

Dean turned on his heel and headed towards the side she had pointed towards, completely bypassing the main door. In the distance he could hear Jody ordering Andy and the others off towards the left wing, even if just for the heck of it. Leading them away, he realised, away from him.

He increased his pace and turned around the corner. Dean rarely visited this part of the ground. Mostly because there was an old barnhouse there that totally creeped him out. Once upon a time, when the orphanage hadn’t actually been an orphanage but a handsome, inhabited manor, the barhouse used to house actual animals- poultry, horses and pigs. Now it was just as dilapidated as the manor house if not more. The timber girders were sagging under the dead load of the disrupted roof. The planks that made up the walls had been eaten into by termites, and cobwebs adorned the facade extensively. Of course it gave Dean the creepers. Of course he’d never even been slightly tempted to go in. But as he inspected the barren building, he noticed, to his surprise, that the door was ajar.

Dean knew the barn-house was used as a storage for things so old that even the Orphanage didn’t want it inside, which was saying something. Dean and Cas often joked that the only use it would be would be if they used it as kindling and set it on fire. At least one night wouldn’t be so cold anymore. The trepidation he felt as he stepped inside the threshold now, was very real. 

Inside, everything was at least five times dustier than what he thought it would be. And so much darker. Silhouetted against the broken furniture and wardrobes was a man. He was wearing plaid underneath a thick flannel jacket and a baseball cap. Scruffy beard covered his face. A face with all too many frown lines, but laugh lines around his eyes. A face that was more familiar to Dean than any other.

Before he knew it, Dean was bounding forwards till his face was pressed against the soft cotton of the man’s shirt.

“Bobby!” Dean let out a strangled dry sob. 

It was too much. The weeks and weeks of living in this hell house, the constant fear for Sam, of not finding Sam, all came crashing down. Then there was that other feeling, one that almost made him feel ashamed. If Dean didn’t know better, he’d say it was a feeling of… belonging. But how could he belong to this place? He hated every brick of the orphanage. A place that caged children. His Sam... Cas and Will. Maybe the belonging wasn’t with the place… but with the people.

“Hush,” Bobby said gruffly, patting Dean’s shoulder. Dean noticed that his voice was thicker than usual. Bobby cleared his throat. “It’s alright, my boy.”

Dean didn’t want to let go of Bobby. Not just because he had missed Bobby terribly, but because he’d never actually ever hugged Bobby like this. He didn’t know what to expect when he pulled back. 

When he did, there was only fierceness in Bobby’s eyes. Fierceness and fear. Not unlike Dean’s own fear for his brother and friends. A disjointed part of his mind wondered if love and fear were always this connected. And how it had taken him a trip to this goddamn place to feel both of those emotions so viscerally.

Bobby was still looking down at him, his lashes were wet. Dean had to look away.

“What are you doing here?” Dean asked.

Bobby shrugged. “I heard about the fire from Jody. I-I was worried.” he hesitated, then added. “I needed to know that you were fine. I know you’re… well, you’re scared of fire.”

Dean had never said it, but Bobby was there in the early days when Dean even flinched from the stove fire. 

That still didn’t answer the question.

“I mean, what’re you doing here?” Dean gestured to the out house.

Bobby cleared his throat once more. “Sneaked in. Had to see you. I had to beg with Jody so I could tag along. Her only condition- no one could see me.”

“Jody!” Dean suddenly remembered, then threw a finger towards Bobby. “You’re getting married?”

Bobby shuffled from one foot to another, almost looking nervous. “Yeah. I had that ring made for a while now, since before you left. And I meant to ask you before asking her… but she found it in the back pocket of my pants and well, the damn cat was out of the bag.”

Dean stared. 

Romantic proposal was one thing. He hadn’t really expected Bobby to put on fairy lights around the house and fill the front yard with rose petals, but the proposal could have been more than her accidentally stumbling upon the ring. Dean wanted to shake his head indulgently at Bobby’s complete and utter lack of romantic timing. Maybe Jody liked that sort of spontaneous thing. Who knew? 

There was something in Bobby’s words that stopped Dean from acting upon his amusement.

“You said you wanted to ask me?” Dean asked flatly.

Bobby looked even more nervous if that was possible. “It is your home, Dean. I wanted to ask you if it was alright with you.” He looked at Dean with a worried expression.

This time Dean really did shake his head. “Bobby, you crazy old man,” Dean laughed. “Of course I’m happy for you. Jody is a badass.”

Bobby’s eyes softened, and his shoulders relaxed. “She wanted you to know, too. Said it didn’t count as engagement if you weren’t in on it.”

The tears had just subsided, but Dean’s throat burned with them again. 

“Bobby,” he said, his voice rough. “You getting married to Jody would be the best damn thing to happen to our home.”

Bobby beamed. His whole face lit up, and for a second Dean could almost feel the homely warmth of Bobby’s kitchen in the cold, dusty barnhouse. Then Bobby’s smile slid.

“What’re you doing here, kid?” Bobby asked, his face screwing up in his classic frown. He always tried to look annoyed when he was feeling something, Dean remembered fondly. “Come home. The place feels just like an empty car dump without you annoying my gourd,” he said pointing to his head.

Dean wanted to smile at Bobby’s attempt to lighten the tone, though it didn’t take a keen eye to see the wetness of his lashes, hear the gruffness of his voice.

“Sam…” Dean started.

“Sam’s… Sam’s a ghost story, Dean!” Bobby almost gasped, as if he’d tried too hard to not say those words, but they had escaped him anyway. Dean’s heart seemed to crack just a bit. He could see that Bobby loved him. Like his own son. But for Bobby, Sam was still his friend’s son, who was lost. He had no connection to Sam whatsoever. 

All these years, through hot grizzly afternoons and through cold shivery winter nights, that blood bond was what had kept Dean awake, picturing horrors that might have been happening to his brother who was still out there somewhere. Who knew? Maybe waiting for his older brother. Dean had held on to it, steadfast, never giving up. But somewhere through the years, Bobby had.

Dean didn’t begrudge Bobby the non-attachment, but if only he understood that finding Sam was the purpose of life for Dean, especially now that there was a ray of hope, now that he was so close to discovering the truth.

Perhaps Bobby understood too well, because he put his hand on Dean’s shoulder. “Shouldn’t have said that,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. I just worry about you.” His eyes roved over Dean’s face. “Look at all of his,” he gestured vaguely at the bruises. 

“It’s nothing, Bobby,”

“Exactly!” Bobby pointed out. “It could get so much worse.” But something about Dean’s look made Bobby’s shoulders slump. It was clear that Dean wasn’t going to give up on this.

With a resigned gesture of his arms, Bobby turned around and produced a wooden box from behind. The box wasn’t ornate but, the rosewood exterior had a pristine quality to it, as if the box had been in existence since a long, long time.

“Here.” Bobby’s voice was heavy, and his eyes had that look… the one that made him look older than he was. “Take it.”

“What is it?” Dean asked, running his fingers over the rough exterior of the dark wood. 

Bobby didn’t answer, and Dean clicked the lock on it. The lid opened easily enough. Inside was a collection of mismatched things. There was a small knife, a little charm bracelet, a figurine of a peaceful looking baby angel and among other things a bundle of photos. Images after images of his family… of faces that he was afraid he was beginning to forget. Photographs from his parents' wedding, in front of their lawn, from his childhood, dad hugging mom in front of a sleek black car.

“Your dad loved that thing,” Bobby murmured, but Dean barely paid attention. He was hungrily flipping through the bundle, his hands shaking. At the very end, there were pictures of a small baby, clicked in a series. Small chubby hands held out, rosy cheeks, light brown hair and a laugh that seemed to reach out of the picture itself. 

Dean didn’t know whether to simply keep looking at the picture- because at this point his eyes were simply devouring it- or shut the box, just so he could control his feelings, get a grip on his wildly failing heart.

“Where?” he stammered, shutting the box as the later instinct won. “Where did you find these?” Even to his own ears, Dean’s voice sounded strangled.

“I’ve always had them,” Bobby said, then gauging Dean’s outrage quickly added, “I wanted you to move on, Dean. When you first came to live with me, you didn’t talk for half a year. It was like living with a shadow. I didn’t want you to get lost in the past and never resurface from whatever goddamned dark depth you had fallen into. And then when you started talking, and it looked like you were finally going to get a childhood, I didn’t want you to lose yourself in a false hope.”

“So you never gave these to me?” Dean glared. He could feel the blood rising to his face, his fingers balling into fists.

Bobby squared his shoulders. “Damn right I never gave you those. And I won’t feel sorry for hoping that you’d give up on the crazy mission to find Sam. You were just a kid, Dean. You still are, and from what I knew, I truly believed Sam was lost.” His voice cracked.

Just like that Dean felt all the anger leave him, his body deflating. Suddenly he felt tired, bone weary. His legs gave out from under him and he collapsed onto a dusty trunk. What was the point of being mad? It was not like Bobby had kept his childhood from him. Dean still had his mother’s picture by the side of his bed. His dad’s first sawed off and baseball glove on the wall. He’d always had mementos to remember his parents by. The only things new were Sam’s pictures. And what was even the point in blaming Bobby. All he wanted was to help Dean. Besides, Bobby had left no stone unturned in his time to find Sam.

“Why are you giving this to me now?” Dean asked, head bent low, all energy simply draining out of him.

Bobby lowered himself to Dean’s level, hand back on his shoulders, “Because now it might actually help you.”

Dean couldn’t help himself. He flung his arms around Bobby once more. This was more hugging than maybe all of their time together, but Dean simply didn’t care. “I can’t wait to be back,” he admitted, his voice muffled against Bobby’s shoulder.

Bobby chuckled dryly. “Can’t wait to have you back either, kid.”

After a moment he let go, patting Dean’s back in quick succession. “You still remember about the pager, right?”

Dean nodded, now slightly awkward. “I’ll send out a flare if there is ever an emergency.” Secretly Dean knew he wasn’t going to do it until he found Sam because that would mean an immediate rescue and permanent goodbye to this place.

Bobby gave him one more hard look, then nodded and walked out of the barnhouse. Goodbyes weren’t really his thing.

Dean knew that they couldn’t have left together, too much risk, so he waited for a few minutes, then slipped out, too, the box clutched tightly in his hands. He felt both lighthearted and also awfully homesick at the same time. So lost was he in his own feelings that he never noticed the shadow move from the side of the barnhouse where it had been lodged for a while now, and come face to face with him.

Dean ran headfirst into the wall of black, then staggered backwards.

“Benny!” he said, surprised as he looked into the shadowed face.

Benny’s face looked impassive, his eyes however were narrowed. “That police woman looked like she wanted to smother you in hugs.Your old man looks pretty solid and caring and alive. Care to tell me who is this Sam you’re looking for, Winchester?”

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A/N 2: Please do tell me what you thought of the chapter? I live for comments!

If you wanna be tagged, please send me an ask

About a Boy taglist:

@sdavid09​​​​ @deanssweetheart23​​​​ @blacktithe7​​​​ @thing-you-do-with-that-thing​​​​ @cosicas-cuquis​​​​ @chalicia​​​​  @anathewierdo​​​​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​​​​ @protectteamfreewill​​​​ @firefly124-writing​​​​ @spnbaby-67​​​​ @hoboal87​​​​ @rizlow1​​​​ @donnaintx​​​​ @starmission​​​​ @gh0stgurl​​​​ @tftumblin​​​​ @emily-a-c11​​​​ @ericaprice2008​​​​ @jotink78​​​​ @charliebradbury1104​​​​ @ohgodwhybloggg​​​​ @i-dont-get-cold​​​​  @bobbie3939​​​​  @samsexualdeancurious​​​​ @dancing-the-hellfire-rumba​​​​  @cookiechipdough​​​​ @wildfirewinchester​

[wordstrings]

Inbox dump 

(brace yourselves, I’m including the timestamps because these have been sitting forever and you may literally forget ever having sent one of these because they’re from so long ago 😬)

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Anonymous said: March 11th 2014 *Clears throat* Non-canon verse, uni AU probably *strums guitar and takes a deep breath* DUEEEEE TO A COMPUTING errORRR, dean and gabe are stuck as roomatesssssssss, whilesamandcascanbestucktogethertoo that'snotaneccesitybutitwouldbegreaaaaaaaaattttttttt, and veeery soon it turns into something of a friendship BUT THEEEENNNN dean fights with saaAAAM and gabe is like "dude stop being so upset" aND FLUFF HAPPEeeeeeEEEEEEeens! *stands up and bows* tyvm for accepting debriel though like omg <3

I’ve been rewatching some of Supernatural seasons 5 and 6 this past weekend, and it reminded me how much I love and miss Gabriel. I still maintain that Debriel is a super-underrated ship. The manic-chaos potential is *muah*. (see: #Debriel)

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Anonymous said: August 7th 2018 psst... light back tickles while cuddling in bed are pure™ and wholesome™

Good shit good shit good shit

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Anonymous said: September 19th 2018 I love science and go to public seminars as often as I can. I walked in to the most recent one (which I had picked at random), and it was on the science of tickling. There were demonstrations. There were hand gestures and finger wiggling. There were in depth descriptions of the anatomy and physiology behind ticklish spots. It was legitimately your Amateur Production’s fic, and I was Kevin. Worst of all it was 2 hours long. I think I died during it and my soul was sucked into hell.

Uhhhhhh where can I get a copy of the slide deck?? Asking for a friend. (see: #series: Amateur Production)

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Anonymous said: September 23rd 2018 your art skills have me shook in the best possible way

aaaahh thank you! Fun fact: I went to art school and even took illustration as a concentration area but I’ve hardly drawn anything for like ten years. When I do draw, it’s usually because there are feelings that I don’t wanna do words about. (see: #strings does art)

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Halo!anon said: September 27th 2018 A small, sinful part of Castiel had the urge to gloat. It was somewhat dampened by the fact that Dean was still under the impression that being abducted is peak romance."I can't believe you went out of your way to set up our second date!" He'd squealed, as Castiel tightened his restraints. - little excerpt of a sequel to Date Nights with Demons i had planned for months but abandoned. halo!anon

Your demented version of Demon!Dean is so entertaining 😄 (see: Date Nights with Demons)

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Anonymous said: November 6th 2018 Aaaaah your Gabriel / Kali drabble was adorable, I can't help but love seeing our mighty archangel reduced to a mass of giggles, and you write Gabriel so so well <3. I love your writing your stories always brighten my day ^^

It’s so rare for him to let his guard down, isn’t it? But when he does, he has a grand old time of it. :) (see: this drabble)

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sarah-lou-who said: November 8th 2018 1/4 Boo! The ghost of my online presence in the community is peeking its head in because I need help. I don’t have a platform or following to sound an alarm, so I’m using my platonic tumblr wife’s platform and following for me, because that’s what platonic tumblr wives do. Right? Anyway, I’m very actively fixated on Attack on Titan atm. You know this very well. You also know my predicament. I seem to have exhausted the entire supply of tickly AoT content I’m interested in that exists currently. 2/4 So, if you’re willing to publish these for me, I’m crying out into the vast TFB lands hoping that there’s someone out there to answer the call. I am in desperate need of tickly AoT content. I don’t know if anyone around here writes for it much these days. I haven’t found anyone. And I know beggars can’t be choosers, but it can’t be helped; I really only care if Eren is involved. Even better would be Levi, but I haven’t found ANYTHING involving him, so I feel like asking for that is futile. 3/4 I digress. Even after all this time I can’t keep my asks less than 50 parts long. So my goal here is that someone, somewhere, will by chance come across these, and be able and willing to either write fic of the tickly variety for Eren and/or Levi from Attack on Titan, or direct me to someone who can, if they know a person who knows a person who knows a person. (Sidenote, hi anyone who still remembers me! It’s Sarah, the more ticklish half of Leerah. I’m doing good and I miss you!) 4/4 (I hope you’re all doing well!) Thank you for letting me take advantage of your devoted followers, Strings! Love yaaa!!!

Ah, my platonic tumblr wife Sarah returns! (Digitally, anyway. Reality-wise, we hang out all the time and it’s probably very rude of me to have not published this ask for so long!) I keep teasing her that she has a Type, and that is dark-haired sulky badass who’d probably make a wicked ‘ler – AoT Levi, SPN Cas, FMA Roy, etc. So anyway, if anyone knows of somewhere I can point her to find the content she’s (still) craving, lmk!

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Anonymous said: October 23rd 2019 I’m sorry if this is invasive in any way, but how is Sarah doing? I’ve been absent from Tumblr for a couple years and I see that her blog is now deactivated. I was just wondering if she’s doing alright and if she’s still around here on a different blog maybe?

See above! She doesn’t have a TFB community blog anymore, but she’s doing well. We’re quarantine buddies and helping each other out a lot. Very kind of you to ask! <3

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Anonymous said: December 2nd 2018 Hi, sorry to bother you but do you know what happened to prodigal-anon’s blog? It seems to have been deleted. Sorry again if you’ve been asked this before

No worries, friend! Here’s an answer for you!

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Anonymous said: December 13th 2018 I LOVE THE LOOPY SERIES! I love it so much, is there any chance you’ll be doing a part four? I’d give anything to see Cas and Dean tickle each other, it would be so cute 😍

Despite all evidence to the contrary, I haven’t entirely stopped writing... and Loopy 4 is one of those unfinished pieces that has seen a few additions lately. :) I’ve learned not to make promises about when something might get finished and posted, but I genuinely do believe this may be one of the first things that shows up once I’m ‘back in the game.’ Stay tuned... (see: #series: Loopy)

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Anonymous said: January 1st 2019 No no no you can't just stop there! I need more fluffy destiel with tickles and kissing! Pretty please?

I believe this is in response to Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight. Don’t you worry, anon – Dean and Cas are not done being fluffy on this blog!

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1832wasalongtimeago said: January 25th 2019 Hi I just wanted to pop in and say the Maintenance series is amazing!! The second part was doing things to my poor heart I’ve read it like 5 times already. You’re such an amazing writer and thank you fo writing for us!

I’m very flattered, but I can’t take credit for the Of Maintenance series – that’s the lovely work of ask-flip-frost! It does things to my poor heart, too, so you’re in good company. :)

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Anonymous said: January 26th 2019 Sam Winchester can take a lot of things. The one thing he CAN'T take? Someone using baby talk on him when he's being tickled. He collapses into a puddle of helpless giggles faster than a house of cards in a stiff wind.

Precious Sammy just needs to laugh and be held, doesn’t he? <3

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Anonymous said: May 17th 2019 Thor needs tickles. So. Damn. Much.

Oh this was from right after Endgame came out. Thor did make me feel some sads there. :( Poor bab.

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Anonymous said: July 25th 2019 hi! i’ve read your wonderful fics forever but i’ve never really sent anything like this before so i don’t really know what to say.. but i had a destiel tickly thought and really wanted to share it with somebody, so here goes i guess- dean is taking too long in the shower so cas decides to use his mojo from the other room to speed things along. and listens to dean’s echoey laughs through the door. that’s all. sorry if this is weird! okay bye have a good one

This is not weird and I may have delayed in telling you any of my feelings about it but I definitely have a doc somewhere that has some vague notes about how I’d like to write this because I like it!

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Anonymous said: August 6th 2019 Anhhgff your Good Omens tword fics are so cute snvfddf i never knew I needed that of my favorite husbands till now😳😍

I know, right?! They’re just dying to be dropped into every fluffy situation. (see: #Good Omens)

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Anonymous said: July 25th 2019 Poking my head in to say hello, hope you’re doing well still! I just got into Good Omens and I absolutely loved your fic! (I watched the show first because my book was taking too long in the mail lol) Also, the other week I somehow talked myself into making a tfb blog, after all these years of almost doing so before chickening out (this ask isn’t from it because I just hopped in here briefly in a private phone browser to say hi, it’s literally just august-anon though) ~August!Anon

August!anon, I’m always so happy to see you stop by! Tagging your (not-so-new anymore) blog so everyone can check you out: @august-anon​

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hey-teenblog said: August 4th 2019 I love your fanfiction very much! They give me a lot of pleasant emotions. And most importantly, they, saturated with tenderness and love, gave me to accept myself as lee!! sorry for my english, i'm russian Love you 😘❤️

I will never tire of hearing things like this! Thank you for telling me. “Saturated with tenderness and love” is a such wonderful compliment about my writing – thank you very much! No need to apologize for language differences; I’m always impressed with anyone who manages to pick up English because it’s bonkers. 

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Anonymous said: August 23rd 2019 Hi! Just found this blog and wondering some basic info. ** What fandoms do toy write for? ** Do you accept prompts? ** Do you write reader insert fics? Thank you lovley ❤️

Anonymous said: August 29th 2019 Do you write tickle fics for bnha?? Asking for a friend 👀👀

The only fandoms I have reliably been able to write for are Supernatural and Good Omens – but even Good Omens is a rookie player here. Supernatural is my main jam, and Destiel is my favorite flavor. I don’t do reader inserts, but I’m always “accepting” prompts. I just haven’t written many of them for quite a long time now, so you’re welcome to drop them as long as you’re okay with them collecting dust. (see: this selfsame post)

My About/FAQ page is very dusty right now, too, but there might be some useful tidbits in there for you.

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Anonymous said: November 12th 2019 okayokayokay. Have you watched Lucifer? It's on netflix, it's great, so much emotions and pining. (Also, y'know, reg. Luci stuff. He runs a club. Bad jokes. It's great.)

I haven’t, but it’s on my Netflix watchlist, so I’ll get there eventually! I saw a gifset once where he actually did the thing I see in winged fanfic all the time, where there was gunfire and he sheltered someone he cared about with his manifested wings. And honestly, that was the deciding factor for me.

---

Anonymous said: November 16th 2019 Oh Man U listen to Critrole as well! Nice! Campaign 1 was awesome but also heartfelt and really gut-punching at points. Who is your fav so far, anyone you aren’t fond of? (& Out of interest do you have any tickle related thoughts on the main crew or upcoming Fics we can look out for? As you said it’s tumbleweeds out here for this fandom’s tickles and I’ll take anything really 😂!) Hope u enjoy!!!!!

It’s STILL tumbleweeds out here and it’s making me crazy! My heart belongs to Vax primarily, Percy secondarily. I don’t really have cohesive thoughts or headcanons about anything, unfortunately. I do have this one mental picture that keeps coming up that I keep wanting to see art of (who knows, maybe I’ll commission somebody someday?) – of ridiculous brute Grog just lifting Vax straight up in his arms and gettin’ wiggly with his fingers while all Vax can do is laugh and pry and kick while absolutely nobody helps him.

---

Regarding #series: Accessor:

Anonymous said: August 31st 2015 I would like to see accessor!verse cas using feathers on Dean!!! and NIBBLES and RASPBERRIES and TEETH and TONGUE and WOWWWWWW

ME TOO, FRIEND. It’s been aaaaages since I published anything new for the Accessor AU, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been going back to my unfinished docs every once in a while to add a few lines here and there. ;) 

-

Anonymous said: October 29th 2016 Prompt: Cas is put in charge of getting a treaty with a neighboring country that shares a lot of the same customs, including Accessories, with certain... twists (think Bracelets AU) and treats their personal slaves (like Accessories) like people (listening to opinions, giving proper care, etc.). The foreign diplomats keep bringing that up and talking to Dean. Cas isn't sure he can make it though the diplomatic proceedings. Also, he might be having improper thoughts about that custom and Dean...

I’m posting this here, but I’m definitely keeping this filed elsewhere because it’s FANTASTIC.

-

Halo!anon submitted: June 4th 2018 I can’t help but imagine how tickling must play a part in other aspects of society in the accessor ‘verse, besides the sessions between master and accessory. So here’s some imagines and headcanons, with a touch of worldbuilding. (Warnings, besides the usual for this AU: death mention, reference to past trauma.)

- Among the high class, during parties and other celebrations, it’s seen as a common courtesy to string up one’s personal accessory in the center of the room and let the guests entertain themselves with them. Lord Castiel never does this with Dean, much to his fellow nobles’ disappointment; the mere suggestion had Dean quaking as things he’d rather forget came back to bite him.

- Every so often, a petty criminal(the poor man’s accessory, if you will) is placed in stocks in a small town’s square and left at the mercy of the very people they used to menace. What happens next usually involves honey, some sheep, and plenty of begging. A guard stands by to warn people, “No hurting, only tickling. Everyone please wait your turn, they’re not going anywhere any time soon.”

- Certain monastic healers perform tickle therapy as a treatment for anxiety, stress, and other “diseases of the soul”, as they call them. Balthazar himself proposed the idea, because of course he did. The rich usually indulge in this kind of therapy secretly, due to its undignified nature. Some contemplate the possibility of training accessories to tickle in the future, but it’s still a big taboo.

- Every town has a folktale about a tickle monster. Curiously, many of them involve controlling plants and attacking through dreams. The southern communities still have a giggle remembering that one time six years ago when Michael offered to hunt down one such monster and came back with Crowley, a sleazy drunkard with a fetish and a dream, sitting in a cage and wearing a mask.

- The Masters sisters, Lillith, Meg and Ruby, have a long history with law enforcement. Their favorite pastime is snatching unlucky merchants off the roads and tickling them into coughing up everything they have. Everyone is sure they had a hand in Fergus"Crowley" Macleod’s untimely demise by ferocious attack hounds, but they’re very good at covering their tracks. They’ll help you cover up your tracks too, if you’re a friend- ask Bela Talbot.

I might make a second part if I get any more ideas. I hope you enjoyed this! -Halo!anon.

I am very fond of you indeed, Halo!anon. These are so creative!

-

hypahticklish submitted: July 24th 2018 Accessor!Ideas:

~ Gabriel leads a furious rant regarding Prince Lucifer/Sam to Castiel, relating back to perhaps dealings he has directly had with the Prince between their two unstable-yet-truced Kingdoms. Castiel relates with similar views shared by Gehenna’s councilor(s).

~ Dean and Sam BM where the audience learns more about their homevillage. Dean starts it after a rather morose remark from Sam and ends with Sammy smiling and stealing my heart.

~ Balthazar helps Sam in several ways: 1) Learns the Sam was originally a psuedo-Advocates apprentice, as well as herbalist nephew when Sam identifies the components to some salves/medicines he’s making (he had been explaining what he was doing in an attempt to spare himself being attacked like the first couple times) 2) Calls Sam out on being intelligent and making a recklessly stupid choice by selling himself to find Dean. 3) Removes Lucifers mark. And maybe perhaps: 4) Allows Sam to assist in his own healing/medicine making under his careful observation, feigned as needing two sets of hands to do correctly and his assistant was running an errand, to assess his skills. 5) Offer he work in the hospice under him, apprenticing, should Gabriel allow his intelligence not go to waste. It’s not what Sam really wants to do/learn, but it’s better than doing nothing.

~Dean officially thanks Castiel for saving Sam. I’m talking full feels, single man tear sorta thing. And Castiel says “there was never another option” and then its schmoopy sweet with the kisses and the tickles and the Cas saying he loves Dean back!!!!!!!! swoon.

~ Kali!Likes!Sam’s!Spirit! Give me a dinner scene with Gabriel, Kali and Sam where hes holding his own in a diplomatic conversation with them when he nearly crosses a line (maybe something classist? Making it clear that Cas and Gabe are the exception to his experiences) and she says “I like this ones fire. He reminds me of you, my love.” *grabby hands*

~ Prince Lucifer sends a message to Gabriel requesting (threatening) his Helpmate be returned to him for a handsome reward. Sam somehow sees letter and gets spooked because DRAMA. Gabriel responds to Lucifer with the Chief Advocate equivalent of “Fuck Off”

You, my friend. YOU. All these feelings about Sam? Top-notch, and I shall be borrowing them, yes I shall.

---

Regarding #android!Cas:

hypahticklish said: January 23rd 2016 Android!Cas deciding today is the DAY. Dean has been teasing him lately that he likes these strange sensations that have him using all his back-up generated power to not accidentally break Dean's bones and challenging him with that cocky smirk and relaxed confidence. Android!Cas practicing during time while Dean rests with holding objects with similar density to the human wrists with enough gentle force that they neither fracture or slip from his grasp. Android!Cas surprising Dean by turning the tables and pinning his wrists over his head while settling himself on Dean's thighs. Android!Cas not necessarily tickling at first so much as just touching like he had been wanting to so as to catalog how his best friend feels with his new technology. Android!Cas feeling that bubble of FEELS in his chest as he listens to Dean swear at him with positive physical actions negating his harsh words, growing more amused as the bubbling giggles begin. I love Android!Cas 

Anonymous said: January 23rd 2016 Android!Cas figures out his own strength comes in handy for more than just retaining himself during tickle fights. When he surprises Dean, Dean tends to squirm and fight back a little (even though he told Cas to get him back as part of the experience), so Cas uses his strength to gently hold Dean down while ticking him. Dean's never been held immobile before so it's a new experience for him, but he ends up liking it. Cas notices how Dean relaxes into his hold after a minute or so. Cas doesn't fail to use this knowledge about Dean, coming up with teasing words and methods of ticking to make Dean all squirmy and giggly, taking special notice of how light tickles effect Dean even more than most other touches, using that specially designed soft brush meant to gently clean Cas' delicate computer chips.

Anonymous said: February 17th 2016 I'm joining in on the Android!Cas thing, if not too late. Perhaps Android!Cas has detachable parts, like a foot, and Dean is a jerk and runs off and hides with it all the while tickling it and making fun of Android!Cas's increasingly desperate attempts to get it back.

Y’all, careful deliberate curious determined ‘ler Cas is LIFE. And, reserved confused helpless adorable ‘lee Cas is also life. Detachable and extensible parts are probably key to both of these things.

---

Regarding current personal circumstances:

Anonymous said: January 14th 2020 I pray that you’re able to find peace during this difficult time. You are loved more than you will ever know. I know it’s hard to believe, but there will come a time that you are thankful for this experience, because it will have turned you into the person you are truly meant to be. Be strong and be hopeful. Keep your faith and keep knowing that you are going to be okay. Don’t let this dark time destroy the magnificent light inside of you. Sending you so much love

Anonymous said: January 17th 2020 I’m so sorry you’re struggling. Hang in there! We’re all here for you!

Anonymous said: February 11th 2020 all my love, thoughts and prayers are going towards you right now. also wanted to just drop a little thank you note in your inbox for all the light and joy i've found in your fics over the years. im sitting half way through my first year at uni currently but ive been a fan of yours since early highschool and i feel like ive almost grown up with your writing and fanfics in a strange way, so thank you so much for that. sending all my love to you once again- you are so strong x

I love you all so much.

[ofcluka]

( 02 / muse 5 / cismale & he/him  ) contrary to what the campers might tell you, that’s not gavin leatherwood. that’s luka donahue! this is their 4th year working here and they’re a lifeguard. they’re 24, and i just found out during ice breakers they’re a pisces. at first they might seem pretty facetious, but they’re actually really magnanimous . when they have down time, you can usually catch them hiding snacks in his cabin. try to get to know them for yourself this summer!

hiiii i’m raq, i also play micah this is luka ! these were poorly written at 2 am so :) sorry in advance. hmu for plots <33

[  𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔𝕤  ]

full  name:  luka gabriel donahue    

age:  twenty-four.

date  of  birth:  march 2nd

star  sign:  pisces

nicknames: luke, luki, you could call him literally anything he’d probably answer to it

place  of  birth:   salem, oregon  

sexual orientation:   tbh i don’t think he cares to label he just be living.

TL;DR : an idiot! that’s it! maybe not completely.   i’m probably going to say it alot but he really is just living. hardly ever one to worry about something longer than 2 seconds, blindly forgiving – just a big ol’ golden retriever who just so happens to probably forget to call you back or go skinny dipping at 4am because he got bored and drank too much red bull before bed. he’s a good time.

[  𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕  ]  

born luka gabriel gilbert, his biological mother’s a bit of a mystery. she didn’t really leave much of a trace behind once she dropped him off at the police station when he was about a month old. so from then on he hopped around a few foster homes, which weren’t always the greatest towards him but he was way too young to remember alot of it now.

at age 3, he’d get adopted by the donahue’s – a moderately well off family in salem, oregon who looked into adoption after their biological children grew up and left the nest. luka fit right in, making him feel right at home.  

after that his life was honestly pretty smooth sailing. elementary through highschool was relatively easy for him. maybe not the academic side of school but, the social side. he’s always been charming and athletic. so, he was the kid who could befriend just about everyone. did a plethora of sports throughout his childhood but eventually joined the swim team in highschool.  

a dagwood frequent growing up -- literally went every summer. certainly the biggest clown around. pulling pranks, joking around. 

didn’t land the swim scholarship he’d hoped for literally the entirety of highschool ( that was the only way he’d get into college with his grades ksdfgja ), so he just started working , sifting through alot of jobs ( aka getting fired from alot of jobs ) before landing on a small bar in town. 

[  𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪  ]  

he’s a irresponsible guy and  pretty impulsive. he’d do pretty much anything if there’s a promise of fun attached to it. more socially motivated more than anything, so he’ll rarely say no to anything his friends are up to doing. has been arrested for this reason thanks to being so willing to befriend literally anyone and getting mixed up in the wrong crowd.

easily excitable. outside of sports, movies, and music ( i’ve just /decided/ he loves the 1975 so there’s that )  – he’ll love to talk about almost anything. as long as it doesn’t get too serious cause he can’t be serious for very long or he’ll get actively sad and he doesn’t know how to… be sad. his main emotions are excited, happy, and mildly annoyed. that’s about it sjgas

not eloquent in talking about the way he feels / thinks about anything ever. him crushing on someone is like “ they’re really nice.” tends to be very surface in relationships, just cause he’s got some emotional growing up to do. as bubbly and warm as he is, he doesn’t talk much about himself to most people. you’ll have a 3 hour, great conversation about him and realize all he really said about himself was his name skgjafs

serious rejection hurts him like x3000 because he still thinks about his mom not wanting him. so! hurt his feelings ! ksfjga

hmu to plot!! i’ll come with ideas!! hopefully. sdkgjad

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

The Master List of the Fall 2k19 Chopped: The 100 Fanfic Challenge!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in this second run of our Chopped Challenge! We are so excited that this fun little idea that we got from @chants-de-lune took off and was such a success (TWICE)! We had someone write their first ever fic for us this time, which is just insane, and we had so many creative and exciting fics that were a thrill to read. We hope you guys had as much fun writing and reading these fics as we did, and we hope you’ll join us if we decide to give this another go in the future! Enjoy these fics, and a big thanks again from both of us! @thelittlefanpire @dylanobrienisbatman

The Master List of the Spring 2k19 Challenge can be found here!

Round 1: Canon Divergence Fics

Tropes:

1. Somebody lives...or somebody dies

2. Sunsets

3. Protectiveness

4. A dichotomy

small dot among infinite stars (Rated T) [Bellamy/Clarke] @kindclaws

Dante is painting in his office when they enter, his movements carrying the gentle tremble of old age. Doesn’t even look up when the door shuts behind them, just says hello in that wispy, scratchy old man voice and keeps staring at his canvas.

“We’ve got some bad news,” Clarke says, steeling herself.

“You are bad news,” Dante says. Underneath the agreeable tone there is something bitter and curdling. Dante may have pulled the trigger that stopped Cage Wallace, but Clarke isn’t surprised that he blames them for it.

“The world is ending again,” Bellamy says.

“Unfortunate that it likes to do that,” Dante says. When he keeps painting, Clarke fantasizes about taking the paintbrush and stabbing him with it.

- or, Dante Wallace shoots his son. Clarke doesn’t irradiate Mount Weather. Months later, ALIE warns her a nuclear winter is coming, and suddenly, that act of mercy means everything.

1st Place Best Overall, 1st Place Canon Divergence Theme, 1st Place Somebody Lives/Dies Trope, 1st Place Protectiveness Trope, 3rd Place Sunsets Trope, 1st Place Dichotomy Trope Winner

can we pretend? (Rated T) [Clarke/Murphy] @probably-voldemort

Murphy’s not exactly sure how he went from laying low to fake dating Clarke so they have an excuse for sneaking around Mount Weather, but that seems to be where his life is at right now.

3rd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Tie Dichotomy Trope, 3rd Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

your voice is like a ghost inside my head (Rated T) [Bellamy & Octavia] @loveislarryislove

“I bear it so they don’t have to,” Clarke said when she left. But Bellamy has to.

~*~*~

“How do you bear it?” Bellamy asks.

“What?”

“You were there too,” Bellamy says. “You helped us. We pulled the trigger, but you put the weapon in our hands. Don’t you feel…” He doesn’t know how to finish that sentence. He doesn’t know how Monty feels. Only that it doesn’t seem to be a fraction of what he’s feeling. Or if it is, he hides it better.

Monty is quiet for a long time. “I guess,” he says at last, “I just figure… we do what we have to. And then… we have to keep moving. Keep living. Because otherwise, what was it all for?” He shrugs, though it feels like his shoulders are heavy with it. “I did what I did. You did what you did. Now we’re here.”

Here. Monty says it like it’s simple. We’re here. But Bellamy has never felt more lost.

3rd Place Somebody Lives/Dies Trope, 2nd Place Proctectiveness Trope Winner

Survival Instinct (Rated T)  [Clarke & Murphy] @justbecauseyoubelievesomething

The sunset was a deeper red than she remembered, as if Praimfaya had reached out into space and curled its fiery fingers around the sun itself. Clarke shivered despite herself and realized that it was cold. The sun was going down and she was alone on a radiation-soaked planet. Alone and alive.

“Murphy.” The name left her lips involuntarily. And then she was running away from the lab before her brain caught up. If the nightblood worked and she survived, Murphy survived too.

Not alone.

2nd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Sunsets Trope, 2nd Place Tie Dichotomy Trope, 3rd Place Best Platonic Relationship Winner

the brave not broken girl (Rated T) [Raven & Anya] @dylanobrienisbatman

Raven wakes up dazed and incoherent, and then she wakes up again, and finds herself in Mt. Weather. But an extremely ill man, a little detective work… and some vomit.. put her on the path to trying to save the grounders trapped in the mountain. All she has to do is get Anya to Lexa.

3rd Place Tie Protectiveness Trope, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Pairing Winner

Turning of the Tides (Rated G) [Clarke & Anya] @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold

So much of Clarke’s life since landing on Earth has not gone according to plan. Most recently? Being captured by the Mountain and not being able to rescue her friends to escape with her. Least planned of all though is the unlikely partnership she forms with Anya kom Trikru. Grounder Princess versus Sky People Princess. They form a tentative alliance after proving themselves to each other, but then that’s when things continue to derail. When Anya is shot, Clarke has to scramble to keep their tentative truce alive (as well as Anya), so that they can take on the mountain.

Baptism//Resurrection (Rated T) [Echo & Roan] @kuklash

If the last moments of the final conclave had gone differently.

This is the first fic I’ve ever written, so any notes, comments, etc. would be appreciated!

3rd Place Dichotomy Trope, 2nd Place Best Platonic Relationship Winner

The Last Living Tree (Rated T) [Jasper/Monty] @kinetic-elaboration

He rubs at his eyes with the back of his fist, stifles a yawn, and forces himself to focus on the blurry object above, until the last scrim of sleep has been blinked away and he sees it, at least, clear. A little drone, hovering in the air over their bed.

3rd Place Canon Divergence Theme, 2nd Place Somebody Lives/Dies Trope, 1st Place Sunsets Trope Winner

tangerine skies and cherry earth (Rated T) [Murphy & Luna] @ hopskipaway

Survival has always been the word John Murphy lives his life by. He thought that this would have given him an advantage when the end of the world came and flipped their lives upside down.

Turns out, like with most things, he was wrong.

1st Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

Just say you love me (Rated G) [Jasper & Monty] @raven-reyes-of-sunshine

Monty finds Jasper when he's only drunk half the tea.

3rd Place Tie Protectiveness Trope, 1st Place Best Platonic Relationship Winner

Bunker Down (Rated G) [Monty/Harper] @hostagetakerandhistraitor

Monty, Harper, Murphy, Emori, and Miller set out to Polis in hopes of finding a bunker to shelter humanity from Praimfaya. Takes place midseason 4.

a civil twilight (Rated T) [Clarke/Bellamy/Josephine/Gabriel] @thelittlefanpire

“It’s funny how your deepest fears can be your deepest desires, too,” the words fall from Clarke’s lips, but it’s not Clarke who speaks them. The voice is airy and lighter than Clarke’s normal cadence.

“Josephine?” Clarke asks aloud. Her throat feels scratchy, but her voice works. Everything comes rushing forward as her body heals and her mind snaps back into focus.

“Ah, just in time for a Sanctum sunset, my love,” Josephine croons towards Gabriel. The hand Clarke wanted to use to comfort Bellamy, reaches out for Gabriel’s arm instead. Her body pulls away from where she was sitting between Bellamy’s legs.

“Jo—,” Gabriel’s voice breaks as he reaches for her face. He cradles Clarke’s head between his large brown hands. He’s soft and gentle, holding her like she might dissolve into smoke.

“How the hell is this possible?” Bellamy’s voice is loud in her ear, right behind her. Clarke pulls away easily from the other man to look back at him.

final journey to the ground (Rated T) [Lincoln & Bellamy] @shen-gong-oops

Bellamy Blake is sent to Earth a little over a year before one hundred delinquents who inadvertently start a war.

2nd Place Canon Divergence Theme, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Pairing Winner

oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do (Rated G) [Linctavia, Octavia & Bellamy] @queen--sansastark

“You shot him?”

“Not fatally, but it was a good distraction.”

“You’re developing quite the habit.”

“I guess I have."

What if Bellamy had made the right choice back in season 3?

———

Round 2: Canon Speculation Fics

Tropes:

1. One character is a ghost

2. Joke kiss turns serious

3. A character is eavesdropping, and their presence is revealed 

4. Characters struggling to talk because they’re crying or laughing

i will take your pain (and put it on my heart) (Rated T) [Clarke/Murphy] @probably-voldemort

Clarke didn't completely know how comas worked, but she was pretty Murphy's ghost showing up in her living room wasn't normal.

4th Place Tie Best Overall, 1st Place Most Unique Speculation Winner

no one calls you honey (when you're sitting on a throne) (Rated T) [Clarke/Raven] @kindclaws

“It would have been easier if you died in Praimfaya,” Raven confesses, when it is dark and no one is supposed to awake.

Clarke hears.

2nd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Canon Speculation Theme, 3rd Place Ghost Trope, 1st Place Eavesdropping Trope, 2nd Place Struggling to Talk Trope, 3rd Place Most Unique Pairing, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Speculation Winner

Why Can't I Get Just One Kiss? (Rated T) [Raven/Wick, Jasper/Raven] @kuklash

Jasper tumbled through the shelf behind Raven with as much grace as one could expect of an alcoholic three bottles deep.

“Oh, shit,” Jasper slurred. “You guys continue on with your extremely private conversation. I’ll just keep looking for booze.”

Raven, face red with anger and embarrassment, turned to face Jasper.

“Jasper! You idiot! Why didn’t you say something to let me know you were here?!” Raven shouted.

Wick, exacerbated, rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath.

Raven turned towards him, enraged.

“Do you want to repeat that?”

“Oh, that’s a trap, dude,” Jasper murmured.

5th Place Best Overall, 3rd Place Kiss Trope, 3rd Place Eavesdropping Trope, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Speculation Winner

snow faintly falling through the universe (Rated T) [Echo/Roan, Bellamy/Raven, Bellamy/Echo] @justbecauseyoubelievesomething

The floor under her bare toes suddenly feels too cold. Once, after her cover was blown, she was forced to run three miles in the utter blackness of a winter night, without the chance to grab her boots and cloak first. It took many hours for the feeling to come back to her iced over feet by the time she was able to find safe shelter. Now the cold seeps up through the soles of her feet in the same way, chill spreading through every bone in her body.

“My king, forgive me…”

“Echo kom Azgeda. Will you die for your king?”

She trembles, swaying back and forth just enough so that her forehead bumps the window with each movement. “If you would give me more time… a chance to die fighting again…”

He is gone almost before the words have left her mouth. She wishes with all her heart that she could cry again, but the tears simply won’t fall. The pain merely coils into a knot low in her stomach and waits.

1st Place Best Overall, 1st Place Canon Speculation Theme, 1st Place Ghost Trope, 1st Place Kiss Trope, 2nd Place Eavesdropping Trope, 1st Place Struggling to Talk Trope Winner

When the Map Runs Out (Rated T) [Clarke/Echo] @kinetic-elaboration

In a cabin on the edge of a small Azgedan village, on the shortest day of the year, Clarke and Echo play a game of truth or dare.

3rd Place Best Overall, 3rd Place Struggling to Talk Trope, 1st Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

the hundred (Rated T) [the delinquents & hope, s7 spec] @thelittlefanpire

One hundred juvenile delinquents were sent to Earth to see if it was survivable. The fate of humanity depended on their success.

As the green smoke of the Anomaly settled, Bellamy Blake had a feeling that he was a long way away from where he was supposed to be. But the Universe had a way to set him back on the right path.

All Bellamy had to do was gather up the hundred.

3rd Place Canon Speculation Theme Winner

An ode to the last child on earth (Rated T) [madi & madi’s parents, pre-canon] @shen-gong-oops

“They spent so long trying to prevent losing Madi that they never anticipated Madi losing them.”

A brief take on Madi’s life prior to Pramfiya

4th Place Tie Best Overall, 2nd Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

stop staring straight through me (Rated G) [bellamy/murphy, s7 spec] hopskipaway 

Bellamy Blake had been through enough in his life that he thought a fresh start sounded like exactly what he needed.

What he didn’t expect was his fresh start requiring a great deal of ghosts from his past. Figuratively and literally.

3rd Place Most Unique Speculation Winner

Confetti (Rated G) [costia/lexa, pre-canon] @dylanobrienisbatman

The cold of a blade… and darkness. That’s the last thing she remembers before she wakes to find herself, 5 years old, running into her mother’s arms… and then herself on the day she met lexa… and then… and then…

So… this must be what happens when you die.

2nd Place Ghost Trope, 2nd Place Kiss Trope Winner

———

Round 3: Modernised Canon Fics

Tropes:

1. Magic AU

2. character being all “you expect me to do X?” And then immediately hard cut to character doing X

3. Secret places

4. Sex Pollen/Love Potion/Magical Obession

time cast a spell on you but you won't forget me (Rated M) [Bellamy/Clarke] - @captaindaddykru​

Miss Pramheda’s Orphanage for Extraordinary Girls once flourished, a home to a hundred girls with mysterious gifts. A hundred girls and Bellamy.

That was all before Clarke left. Before Josephine Lightbourne decided she was a better fit to be the Supreme, and Octavia decided to runaway with her warlock boyfriend.

Bellamy decided to stay, take care of remaining girls who had nowhere else to go. They were all orphans after all, like him. It was hard, on his own. Especially considering the coven had no real leadership now. He had no powers. He was no one. Just somebody willing to take care of these girls. On his worst days, he’d remind himself that’s more than they’ve ever had before.

Nowadays, the place is a wasteland. The hallways empty, rooms untouched, furniture collecting dust. A ghost of what it used to be.

Nowadays, there’s less than two dozen girls around. Most of them dead, gone in hiding, or worse.

The last person he expected to show back up at their door was Clarke.

Written for Chopped: The 100 Fanfic Challenge - Round 3: Modernized Canon. A take on Hakeldama.

5th Place Best Overall, 3rd Place Halloween Trope, 2nd Place Best Smut Winner

If It Takes You, Will It Break You? (Rated M) [Bellamy/Clarke] - @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold​ 

Bellamy and Clarke, past classmates who distanced themselves from each other, are two stubborn witches in need of an escape from their homes. They hadn't planned on running into each other, but it seems like fate had other ideas. Their night takes a turn though when after consuming some of Monty and Jasper's jobi nut brownies, they run into an old enemy of Bellamy's. In between hallucinations and fights, they'll discover that old feelings do die hard.

A modernized, magical take on Day Trip for Chopped: The 100 Round 3.

6th Place Best Overall, 1st Place Modernised Canon Theme, 3rd Place Magic Trope, 3rd Place Sex Pollen/Love Potion Trope Winner

the end of the world as we know it (and i feel fine) (Rated T) [Murphy/Emori] - @probably-voldemort

John Murphy was going to bring about the apocalypse if it was the last thing he did. And, really, with the apocalypse and all, there was a high chance it would be.

But what a glorious way to go out, with fire and chaos and probably zombies.

That’d teach Bellamy to stop telling him what to do.

3rd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Magic Trope, 3rd Place Hard Cuts Trope, 3rd Place Secret Places Trope, 1st Place Sex Pollen/Love Potion Trope, 1st Place Tie Halloween Trope Winner

when nothing's right, you shine a light (Rated T) [Murphy/Raven] - hopskipaway

He has seen enough horror movies to know this trip will be nothing but trouble; it's a group of friends travelling to stay in a remote house in the woods for Halloween weekend, what could go wrong?

Or; maybe he might find that it is, in fact, possible for something good to happen to John Murphy.

4th Place Best Overall, 3rd Place Tie Modernised Canon Theme, 1st Place Hard Cuts Trope, 2nd Place Secret Places Trope, 2nd Place Halloween Trope, 3rd Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

pulled by the tide (and falling for you) (Rated M) [Bellamy/Clarke] - @thelittlefanpire

After a huge storm, two unlikely companions set out to uncover the lost treasure of a legendary shipwreck. They both have secret motives for the hunt, but the day trip will bring them closer together in unexpected ways.

2nd Place Hard Cuts Trope Winner

Bellamy Blake's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (Rated E) [Bellamy/Clarke] - @shen-gong-oops

He wasn't saying Becca Franco started the zombie apocalypse, but Becca Franco started the zombie apocalypse.

Or the one where Bellamy tries to keep himself and six other people alive during a zombie outbreak. And grumbles about magic.

1st Place Best Overall, 3rd Place Tie Modernised Canon Theme, 1st Place Magic Trope, 1st Place Secret Places Trope, 1st Place Tie Halloween Trope, 3rd Place Best Smut Winner

Exiles (Rated M) [Murphy/Raven] - @kinetic-elaboration

John Murphy didn't kill the girl himself, but he's the reason she's dead. Raven’s heard the story often enough: Arcadia’s only murder, only suicide, only banishment. So when she finds Murphy sitting outside the gate, coughing up fire, she doesn’t feel bad for him at all.

2nd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Modernised Canon Theme, 2nd Place Most Unique Pairing Winner

munuð (Rated E) [Emori/Echo] - @dylanobrienisbatman

When Echo and Emori finally find a group of Hedges willing to offer them a place after the Library takes control, to say they were a little sceptical would be an understatement. They play the roll, but something feels off. When Emori discovers a dark secret, it takes every bit of their wits to get out of it with their lives.

2nd Place Sex Pollen/Love Potion Trope, 1st Place Most Unique Pairing, 1st Place Best Smut Winner

———

Round 4: Championship Fics

Tropes:

1. Reincarnation

2. Soulmates

3. Forehead Touches

4. Free Space

snow white stitching up the circuit boards (Rated T) [Bellamy/Clarke] @kindclaws

"Where have you been? Your soulmate filed a missing person's report."

"I don't really remember anything," Clarke says, and it scares her that it doesn't feel like a lie.

{WAKE UP}

3rd Place Best Overall, 1st Place Most Unique Time Periods, 3rd Place Reincarnation Trope, 3rd Place Soulmates Trope, 2nd Place Free Space Trope Winner

what we feel (started way before we ever touched) (Rated M) [Murphy/Clarke] @probably-voldemort

In every life, they're drawn to the ocean. Again and again, over and over. And in every life, one way or another, the ocean brings them together.

Most Unique Pairing, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Time Periods, 1st Place Reincarnation Trope, 2nd Place Tie Soulmates Trope Winner

Eons With You (Rated G) [Bellamy/Clarke] @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold

A simple touch can change someone’s path. Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake circle each other throughout history, their lives intertwined by fate. In some lives they come together easily, in others societal taboos hold them back. And in others, the blame falls on themselves. No matter the obstacles though, destiny has its own plan for them no matter where they are or what era they belong to.

A collection of soulmate vignettes and tales of two people unable to stay apart.

2nd Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Time Periods, 2nd Place Tie Soulmates Trope, 2nd Place Forehead Touches Trope Winner

Vera Lynn sang it best (Rated T) [Bellamy/Clarke] @shen-gong-oops

Don’t know when, don’t know where, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day - We'll Meet Again, Vera Lynn.

Legend says that if you were lucky enough to be born with a soulmate, you’ll never truly die. You and your other half will be reborn countless times. But a person never truly knows if someone was their soulmate. At least, not until the heartbeat on their wrist flat lines.

Guess who is such a mess this week that they deleted their fic because they thought they did it wrong?

1st Place Tie Forehead Touches Trope Winner

light of uncreated fires (Rated T) [Bellamy/Clarke] @justbecauseyoubelievesomething

“How?”

“How what?” he stuttered.

“How do we recognize each other? In every life? In every new body? You said it’s impossible.”

Bellamy stared at her, her eyes still wet and cheeks flushed. “I don’t know.”

3rd Place Most Unique Soulmate Idea, 3rd Place Most Unique Time Periods, 3rd Place Forehead Touches Trope, 3rd Place Free Space Trope Winner

 Compost in Training, Graves Left to Fill (Rated T) [Murphy/Emori] @kuklash

As he unlocked his car, he heard the familiar click of a gun cocking.

“Hi there, stud.” A woman’s voice. “You know, you’re not the person I was planning on robbing tonight, but I guess cash is cash.”

“You aren’t gonna shoot me,” Murphy insisted, as he started to turn around.

It was difficult for Murphy to know which came first; the sound or the pain. The last thing he saw was the girl’s face, unflinching in her brutality, as she leaned over his body to reach his wallet. The last thought Murphy had was of how strikingly beautiful her face tattoo was.

1st Place Most Unique Soulmate Idea, 1st Place Free Space Trope Winner

you open the door to another door to another door to another door to another door and i'm running through to you (Rated T) (Bellamy/Clarke] @captaindaddykru

Murphy is dead-set on causing the apocalypse that finally destroys planet earth once and for all.

If only Clarke Griffin and her fucking soulmate wouldn't throw a wrench in his plans every goddamn time, thank you very much.

1st Place Best Overall, 2nd Place Most Unique Soulmate Idea, 2nd Place Tie Most Unique Time Periods, 2nd Place Reincarnation Trope, 1st Place Soulmates Trope, 1st Place Tie Forehead Touches Trope Winner

The Butterflies (Rated T) [Octavia/Lincoln] @queen--sansastark

It was as though the universe kept trying to tell her something. Every time she felt the butterflies, it was because of him, and him only.

Take a read! Leave a kudos/comment! These fics are so unique and fun and the authors worked so hard on them. Thanks so much!

[lawrenceop]

Holy Land Retrospective - Day 3

Reminder: clicking on the link for each photo (links are all in red text) will take you to the Flickr page where you can see the photo in larger sizes. Start with DAY 1, or go back to DAY 2, or read on!

PHOTO 9: This symbol is called the labarum, and it is one of the oldest of Christian symbols, which takes us back to the time of the Emperor Constantine, under whose auspices the Holy Land sites were first explored (by his mother St Helena) and who built the first major churches on these sites. At the centre of the labarum is the monogram of Christ, formed by the first two Greek letters of that title, Χριστός (Christos), and it is surrounded by a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory and imperial power. According to Eusebius, Constantine saw a vision in which he saw this symbol, and he was told by Jesus that in this sign, he would be victorious. He subsequently won the battle at the Milvian Bridge near Rome in 312, which led to his becoming sole Emperor of the Roman Empire. In 313, he ended the State persecution of the Christians, and eventually was baptised. His mother Helena converted shortly after her son became Emperor, and she was proclaimed Augusta Imperatrix. 

In 326-28, St Helena came to the Holy Land and, using funds from the imperial treasury, she found the holy sites which we visit throughout the Holy Land today, and she built great basilicas on these sites. Sadly, none of these basilicas have survived the millennia in which Islamic conquest and the fall of the Byzantine empire led to their destruction. This mosaic of the labarum, though, dates to the 4th-century, almost certainly from the Constantinian basilica that Helena had built here, and it is in now preserved within the current (very modern-looking) basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; the current basilica was dedicated in 1969. 

Many people cluster around the cave, which is where Our Lady lived, and around which her house was built (although the house was somehow transferred to Loreto for safekeeping when the Christian sites of the Holy Land were being ravaged by Islamic invaders). It was in that cave that the archangel St Gabriel appeared to Mary, and it is here that he made the announcement that changed the course of human history. 

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"” - Luke 1:26-28

But in our excitement to see this marvellous place, and to contemplate the incarnation, it is easy to miss all that surrounds this rather unique location. For around the site of Mary’s cave are several layers of architectural history. Christianity, you might say, began with Mary’s “Fiat” to the angelic revelation, but in another sense, this mosaic of the labarum reminds us of another beginning that was caused by a divine revelation. For Christ himself intervened in 312 to safeguard his Church from Roman persecution, and thanks to Constantine the Great (whom some Christians venerate as a saint) and his mother St Helena, the Church spread and the Faith flourished, and pilgrimages to the Holy Land began. One of the earliest pilgrims, Egeria, came here in 384, and she mentions being shown this “big and splendid cave” in Nazareth where Our Lady had lived.

But this mosaic labarum, this sign of victory, being all that remains of a great past age reminds us of the essential truth that it signifies: The victory of Christ is not principally about military might, nor the maintenance of empire, nor about worldly power. Rather, in Nazareth, in this humble backwater town where the people lived in caves, in holes in the ground, we see that the victory of Christ is the victory of love, of divine grace winning over the hearts of men and women. And it all began here, where Mary of Nazareth said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Lk 1:38)

PHOTO 10: 

“And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”

This window at the centre of the facade of the Annunciation basilica shows the moment of the divine overshadowing. In the Greek of St Luke, the word used is ἐπισκιάζω (episkiazó). God is all light, pure brilliance, dwelling in inaccessible light, in whom there is no darkness at all. (cf 1 Jn 1:5 and 1 Tim 6:16). Everything that is not God, therefore, i.e., every created thing is by comparison in darkness so that when the divine Light shines upon them, they are overshadowed, literally, they stand in the shade of the light. It’s a beautiful profound image, when we think about it, and this stained glass window vividly expresses its meaning. For Mary is not shown in any shadow at all, but rather, as the word ἐπισκιάζω implies, Mary is enveloped and bathed in light. Thus she is “full of grace”, she is full of God’s divine light. Indeed, he who is Light dwells in her womb. Indeed, it is the light of her Son, his grace, which sanctifies Mary so thoroughly, so completely, that she is conceived, even, in light and hence she is uniquely preserved from the moment of her conception from the darkness of sin. 

PHOTO 11: The inscription reads: “And he came to Nazareth. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."” (cf Lk 4:21) On the third morning we had travelled several hours by coach from Jerusalem to Nazareth, praying the Rosary as we went. The town is now dominated by the conical dome of the Annunciation basilica, but a short walk from the basilica is the church built on St Joseph’s house, the place where the Holy Family of Nazareth lived. Like the cave of the Annunciation, this, too, is like a rock-hewn cave underground. Nearby, is the site of the synagogue, shown here, where Jesus had preached. And just a stone’s throw away are more excavations of underground caves where people lived in Nazareth; I was amazed to realise that Jesus and his family were ‘cave-dwellers’. Moreover, everything is ‘nearby’ because Nazareth was a very small village. And yet, two thousand years ago, among these humble cave-dwellers in this humble location, God accomplished his greatest work: the salvation of the human race, overturning the sin of Adam, and the ending the reign of Satan over this world. For in Nazareth Christ had announced to his townspeople “this has been fulfilled in your hearing.” It is mistaken to think that epic events need to be performed on a grand and monumental stage. God’s greatness is precisely to be found in his humility and his attention to the little. All he needs is a human heart that is opened in faith to his Word. 

PHOTO 12: It was a short journey from Nazareth to Mount Tabor. The landscape here was relatively flat; we had come across some hills and mountains as we had driven north from Jerusalem, and now in Galilee, the landscape reaching down to the sea was low-lying. Except for one great mountain that could be seen from miles around. The Bible does not tell us which mountain Christ ascended for his Transfiguration, but in 348 St Cyril of Jerusalem chose Mount Tabor as the most likely location, and this was backed by St Jerome, the great Biblical scholar who lived and died in Bethlehem. This inscription records that “according to an old tradition, Tabor is the mountain of the apparition of Christ”, but interestingly, not simply the mountain of the Transfiguration where Saints Peter, James, and John receive a foretaste of Easter glory, but also where the Risen Lord appeared to his disciples. As Luke 28:16-17 says: “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted.” 

A church was built on this site shortly after St Cyril of Jerusalem identified this place, and in 1099 even a Benedictine monastery was founded here. This photo shows the marble inscription on the ruins of that monastery, which had been destroyed by Islamic invaders in 1113; the monks were martyred. 

Perhaps this is what Resurrection faith entails, and this mountain that witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus fittingly is the place to remember the faith of countless Christian martyrs: 

"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Mt 10:28 

PHOTO 13: If Tabor is the mountain of the Risen Lord, then it is right to expect symbols of the Resurrection to abound. This stained glass window in the Art Deco style stands behind the Altar where we celebrated Mass. The peacock is, like the labarum, another early Christian symbol although this was installed in the 1920s when the current Transfiguration Basilica was built. Because the ancients believed that the flesh of peacocks was incorruptible, the peacock became a symbol of immortality. The beauty of the peacock was also a symbol of the Resurrection and the new life of grace that transforms and beautifies us. Here, the peacocks flank a Eucharistic chalice, with the Triangle indicative of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, this window is a reminder that we Christians receive a share in divine life through the Eucharist, and that the power of Christ’s Body and Blood gives us eternal life, and also makes us as beautiful as Christ is. Every time we come to the Mass, we stand on Tabor, as it were, and we glimpse the Resurrection; we receive a foretaste of the divine life of heaven; and, indeed, we receive the command and comforting reminder of the Risen Lord which he first pronounced on Mount Tabor: 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." – Mt 28:19-20

PHOTO 14: The view from the high vantage point of Mount Tabor (which had been an important military post) explains why the Lord chose this mountain to send his apostles out to “all nations” (cf My 28:19). From here, one can glimpse on one side the Sea of Galilee, which for the apostles was home. It was familiar, and safe, and was their ‘comfort zone’. But on the other side, one catches in the distance the glint of the Mediterranean sea, which was perilous, unknown, and forbidding. But, Christ promised to be with them always, and so, secure in that faith, they set out into the big wide world. Thank God for that!

PHOTO 15: Back in Jerusalem, at dinner on the third night, our special guest, Jim Caviezel arrived to join our pilgrimage; he would have a week with us. But I had an appointment somewhere even more special: the Holy Sepulchre! So, I dashed out of dinner and rushed back to spend some quiet moments before the church closed for the night. 

This photo, I think, captures the quiet of the night time in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and it also shows you one of its many hidden passages and nooks - it is well worth exploring at leisure in the evening. The deeply marked stones on the wall, and the flagstones, worn smooth and shiny by countless feet, speaks of the antiquity of this church, and yet, this section is only a thousand years old.   Before it was vaulted in stone, this section stood open to the elements, a kind of open courtyard between the two structures that sheltered Calvary and the Empty Tomb. At the end of this passageway, in the well-lit space is the prison where Christ and the two thieves were held before they were crucified. 

You may have noticed in yesterday’s photo from the Holy Sepulchre (Photo 8), that a very tall ladder is prominently placed at the entrance of the church. So, too, in this side passage, ladders are in evidence. All these ladders are used for changing the hundreds of votive oil lamps that constantly burn within the church. But the ladders also remind me of two things. Firstly, that a ladder was probably needed to take Jesus down from the Cross for his burial, and so it is fitting that ladders should be seen in this church because the ladder connects Calvary and the Empty Tomb; he goes from the Cross to the Tomb. But, secondly, the ladder is a symbol of what Christ’s Death and Resurrection have accomplished for us. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross, and by his rising from the dead, Mankind can now climb up the ladder of grace to heaven; we go from our tombs to eternal life! 

PHOTO 16: The doors of the Holy Sepulchre church are sealed for the night, and a fortunate few are locked within alongside the monks and clergy where they will remain in prayer all night. But the rest of us have been herded outdoors by the Muslim keeper of the keys, and sometimes with the encouragement of the Israeli police. Since at least 1192, the keys of the Holy Sepulchre have been entrusted to a prominent Muslim family because no single Christian denomination could be seen to have control of the church. Although we might see this as a sad sign of Christian disunity, there is a fittingness to it. The Tomb of Christ, after all, had also been sealed by unbelievers. 

The doors are locked, again with a ladder because the lock is so high up, and then a hatch is opened, and the ladder passed back into the church through the hatch. This simple nightly routine is being photographed by the many pilgrims and tourists gathered outside at 9pm, and I liked the look of the blue glow of their screens against the warmer light of their surroundings. 

Hundreds stand outside for this spectacle, but far far fewer will be here before dawn when the church re-opens its doors (before 4am). I suppose this, too, is fitting for only three very devout women came to the tomb early that Sunday morning and saw its stone rolled away. 

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body.” – Luke 24:1-3

Tomorrow: Sea of Galilee and Capernaum

[iguana012]

Top 10 programs 2016-2017 (singles)

As I write this post I realize that the number of followers I have now vs the time I wrote top 10 programs of 2015-2016 is... A. Lot. Bigger. So first of all I’d like to show my gratitude towards all of you who follow me, like and reblog my edits and bullshit text posts. It’s a great feeling when you know other people like what you do. 

Secondly, Yuzuru Hanyu finally won Worlds again in classic Yuzuru fashion: coming from behind and closing the gap. It seemed impossible but in his case, we always learn that there’s no such thing as impossible. Once again he was followed by a countryman (Shoma Uno) but this time the margin was significantly bigger than in Tatsuki Machida’s case - so if 2014 Worlds created a lot of discussions, this time there’s no doubt who is the winner. 

The non-European ladies must be happy there’s a competition called 4CC which Evgenia Medvedeva can’t win due to citizenship. Evgenia showed she’s here to stay unlike former Russian champions who fade away. She doesn’t even worry about it; in fact she’s gotten so bored she jumps additional invalid jumps in her programs (much wow). 

While in the men’s field we have 6 skaters who can fight each other equally, the ladies’ field has gotten pretty deep no matter how much some may complain that they’re stagnating technically. Apart from Medvedeva you just never know what may happen down past 1st place. While Satoko Miyahara was doing a pretty good job staying world’s #2 skater, she had to withdraw from the second half of the season due to a terrible injury. This left room for Mai Mihara to shine, and for Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman to do a double Canadian on the Worlds podium. 

So here’s my personal, biased top 10 for this season.

10. Boyang JIN (China) - Spiderman (SP) 

While this wasn’t a super consistent season for Boyang (didn’t make the GPF, nor the podium at 4CC) he peaked when it mattered aka Worlds and WTT and we can now refer to him as TWO TIME World Bronze Medalist Boyang Jin. Take THAT. Now Boyang has obviously addressed the criticism he was getting and managed to improve his artistic skills without losing any of his technical skills which is brilliant really. In my foggy memory this was a kid who rarely showed a smile when he was a junior and a lot of people (including myself) were annoyed with him for beating the much more artistic Shoma due to his superior technical content. None of that shit now. Boyang won the critics’ hearts with some shoulder shimmies and streams of him eating things I guess. 

9. Karen CHEN (USA) - On Golden Pond (SP)

Karen Chen saved USA’s spots with a couple of self-choreographed programs, one of which I really enjoyed. The US Nationals was a turning point for her; after an inconsistent GP season she managed to win her first national title and finish 4th at Worlds. Loved the music, loved the dress, beautiful jumps, spins, lines - she’s really getting there. This program is a dream, a fairy tale. When she spreads her arms and does the arabesque spiral she’s flying free. Very committed to her music, every movement goes in sync with the notes, well done. If she can manage to become a little more consistent, I believe she’s USA’s best shot at making the Olympic podium. 

8. Zijun LI (China) - Only For Love (FS)

Although this was a very tough season for Zijun, this program was breathtaking. I was already a fan of the song having watched the Chinese wuxia drama film The Banquet. Whenever I watched Zijun skate it was like watching Ziyi Zhang’s Empress Wan. Grace is Zijun’s middle name so it’s always a joy to watch the movement of her body, especially her arms. It flows like a crystal clear stream. Her disadvantage remains the (slow) speed but I felt like she managed to control her jumps much better than before (thanks Mishin). Her dress is superb. Just a wonderful package to compliment Zijun’s beauty and artistry. 

7. Shoma UNO (Japan) - Buenos Aires Hora Cero (FS)

I have no doubt left now. Shoma needs time to make a program work. From a hot mess to one of the figure skating fans’ favorites, Buenos Aires Hora Cero was literally a journey we’ve gone through with every competition. When he first skated this program in the off-season he lacked the sharp movements he acquired later and as the season went on, the screaming woman went from unbearable to karaoke. This program allowed him to expand his expression range (he actually looked bonkers during certain parts of the program, good job) and even sing along but I do wonder whether he understood those lyrics at all? I’ll guess no. *cough*

6. Wakaba HIGUCHI (Japan) - La Califfa (SP)

This program was wow. Underrated due to consistency issues but otherwise a piece of art. Those who have been following Wakaba since she started skating in juniors know that she was criticized for being too technical and not so much artistic. This program showed a new, mature Wakaba who was able to express the music with every fiber of her body and I honestly got chills whenever she skated (clean). She is so, so fast and she loves being fast and powerful but the tricky thing here is the way she handles that speed in order to not make mistakes on the jumps. 

5. Yuzuru HANYU (Japan) - Hope & Legacy (FS)

Some people insist that unless you haven’t seen this program live you can’t fully get it. I haven’t seen it live so if you think 5th is too low then I didn’t “get it”. But don’t get me wrong, it was a great program; emotional, personal, smooth like the stream of a river. Except old habits often showed up here and there. Looking down, posture issues but I guess shit happens when you skate a program as packed as this one. His performance at Worlds was fabulous, perfect, otherworldly, timeless, you name it. His jumps and spins are textbook. When he skates clean he’s literally waving at us (and the rest of the men) from a different planet. 

4. Patrick CHAN (Canada) - Dear Prudence / Blackbird (SP)

As skaters become veterans, the technical content is inevitably starting to suffer but on the other hand they can show a level of maturity you don’t get to see very often. Patrick has become much better in the artistic department and watching him skate feels like spreading butter on toast. Like opening the window in the morning and breathing in. Like drinking a cup of hot chocolate. The “right in the feels” kind of skating. You just take a moment and let it spoil your senses. 

3. Carolina KOSTNER (Italy) - Nisi Dominus (FS)

Speaking of maturity, here is Carolina Kostner taking your feels and throwing them in a mixer. She’s like a painting in motion. Those deep edges. Effortless change of direction. Floating arms. Picturesque. You just feel like getting up and clapping with tears in your eyes, even if you’re in front of your TV. She really brings the artistique in patinage artistique. Loads of it actually. Enough to share with the other ladies if they’re willing to improve. The type of maturity I was talking about earlier in Patrick’s paragraph. There’s still a lot of work to do in the technical department but she’s simply heavenly on ice. 

2. Mao ASADA (Japan) - Ritual Fire Dance (SP/FS)

It’s a pity Carolina and Mao didn’t get to skate in the same competition because it would have been a real treat for the fans. I can’t really separate Mao’s short from her free because they’re linked together but let’s say I liked the SP more for dark witch Mao. Both of her dresses were top class. Superb choreography, interpretation, footwork, spins - the class of the field. I LOVED the ponytail. These programs had great potential and I was hoping to see them for another season but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m simply thankful for their existence. Thank you Mao. Looking forward to your new programs as a professional skater. 

1. Satoko MIYAHARA (Japan) - The Planets / Princess Leia’s Theme (FS)

You can call me biased ‘cause I really won’t care. We just don’t see this type of program in figure skating. This program pushed Satoko’s limits and this is exactly what Tom Dickson always manages to do when he choreographs for her. He allows her to expand her artistic range without losing the essence of the program. People noticed her speed and projection this season. She was making eye contact with the audience and the judges without problems. The program is actually a medley of four songs (Venus, Mars and Jupiter of The Planets and Princess Leia’s Theme of Star Wars) but you barely even notice, not only thanks to the clever music cuts but also to Satoko’s talent to adjust. Unfortunately, this program couldn’t be skated to its full potential but Satoko had already done a superb job in the first half of the season. Here’s hoping she will keep it (probably not but still). 

Other notable programs: Anna Pogorilaya SP/FS, Kaetlyn Osmond SP, Adam Rippon FS, Yuzuru Hanyu SP, Elena Radionova SP, Zijun Li SP, So Youn Park SP

Top 13 programs 2014-2015

Top 10 programs 2015-2016

[chorddebtor0-blog]

Projecting all the offseason moves for the Chicago Bears

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears offseason is upon us and because of that, it’s time to let the imagination fly. Even so, this is a team that is currently tight against the cap and will still have more movement before they can spend with any sort of impact, if that is indeed the plan.

There’s plenty that can happen in an offseason, so I’m going to do my best to project a combination of what I think general manager Ryan Pace would do and what I would do as well.

Without further ado, let’s jump into this head first.

Current Cap Space: $18.146 million

This includes every currently announced cut and I also projected Cody Parkey’s cut in here as well, since there will be no additional cap penalties in 2019 because of the June 1st designation. This also includes the $2.5 million cap credit from Mike Glennon’s 2018 offset language.

Cap Savers: (+$12.751 million)

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Restructure Khalil Mack. (+$8.396 million)

By converting Mack’s $11.3 million base salary into a signing bonus, it would allow the Bears to save a maximum of $8.3 million. That would include a sixth year minimum salary and spreading the remaining dead cap over a five-year period, which would start this year.

Extend Chase Daniel (+$2.33 million)

By giving Daniel a two year extension (two years, $8 million), the team could also turn around and convert his $4 million base salary into a signing bonus. After a minimum salary benefit and the proration of the bonus, it would allow them to save around $2.33 million in 2019.

Trade Jordan Howard (+$1.535 million after rule of 51)

This is a move the Bears should only make after finding his replacement(s). I’m projecting that the Bears will trade Howard and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for their fourth round comp pick (#132). This saves money and makes the most sense for both sides if Pace feels comfortable with the return.

Notes: Converting Mack’s base salary into a bonus is somewhat of a risk, but even an extra $2 million in dead space over the next five years isn’t going to cripple them, especially when the cap has continued to rise by $10-$12 million each year.

Total Cap Space: $30.38 million

Internal Free Agents (8)

2019 MOCK FREE AGENCY

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

CB Bryce Callahan (Four years, $26 million with $12 million guaranteed) $4.75 million hit (Comp: Bobby McCain)

WR Josh Bellamy (Two years, $3.5 million with $1.1M guaranteed) $1.5 million hit (Comp: Sherrick McManis)

G Bryan Witzmann (Two years, $3 million with $600,000 guaranteed) $1.25 million hit (Comp: Eric Kush)

LS Patrick Scales (Three years, $3.5 million with $1.25M guaranteed) $1 million hit (Comp: Mike Windt)

TE Ben Braunecker (One year, $900,00 with $150,000 guaranteed) $900,000 hit (Comp: Daniel Brown)

S DeAndre Houston-Carson (One year, $700,000) $700,000 hit

DL Roy Robertson-Harris (one year, $650,000 (ERFA) $650,000 hit

RT Rashaad Coward (one year, $650,000) (ERFA) $650,000 hit

Notes: This is going to be an interesting group to follow. It’s quite possible that the Bears could end up retaining both Adrian Amos and Callahan after hitting the market, especially with how packed both markets are at their respective positions. The Bears have been vocal about wanting to retain both, and judging by the lack of reported buzz from both players at the combine, this seems more and more realistic. Even so, I’m still going to make this a safer projection and assume that just one of the two comes back.

Total Spent (after the rule of 51): (-$6.87 million)

Current Cap Space: $23.567 million

Primary Outside Free Agents (6)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

OLB Terrell Suggs (Two years, $12 million with $5.5 million guaranteed) $5.5 million hit (Comp: Cam Wake)

RB T.J. Yeldon (Three years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed) $3 million hit (Comp: Isaiah Crowell)

DB Brian Poole (Three years, $10.5 million with $4 million guaranteed) $2.5 million hit (Comp: Terrance Mitchell)

CB P.J. Williams (One year, $1.5 million with $500,000 guaranteed) $1.5 million hit (Comp: Marcus Cooper)

K Kai Forbath (One year, $1 million with $200K guaranteed) $1 million hit

WR De’Anthony Thomas (One year, $900,000 $150,000 guaranteed) $900,000 million hit

Notes: This isn’t going to be some extravagant offseason for the team like in previous years. They don’t have the resources to go out and sign multiple contracts in the $8-$10 million range, but that’s alright. Their holes will be minimal and the focus should be more about finding missing pieces in the short-term that can help push them team closer to a Super Bowl. It’s possible the Bears could do better at safety than Poole, but I have a feeling Pagano will want versatility, which the former Falcon brings. There’s also “better” options than Yeldon at running back, but stylistically, he fits like a glove. Maybe they’ll shell out $7 million per year for someone like Tevin Coleman, but I’ll keep my projection more conservative for the time being.

Total Spent (After rule of 51): (-$10.98 million)

Current Cap Space: $12.587 million

Extensions: (-$3 million)

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Notes: At this point, a Whitehair extension has not only been widely speculation by names like Adam Jahns and Biggs, but it seems like a foregone conclusion this summer. It’s a no-brainer and speaks to Pace’s ability to land talent out of the first round.

Current Cap Space: $9.587 million

Draft Class (-$2.5 million)

2019 MOCK DRAFT

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

3rd (#87): RB Miles Sanders (Penn St)

This is a running back class that simply didn’t test very well as a whole, but even so, there’s not a lot of first round talent, if any in this class. This should be a good thing for the Bears. Sanders is someone who didn’t originally pop to me on film, but the more and more I watched him, the more attractive he was. He’s a one-year starter with minimal miles. He doesn’t have a ton of long speed and may dance too much behind the line, but he has all the physical makings of a primary back in Nagy’s offense.

4th (#126): DB Amani Hooker (Iowa)

Much like the Poole signing, I expect the Bears to look for versatile options in the defensive backfield. Hooker can play in the nickel, either boundary spot or at strong safety. He’s someone that was used in multiple ways at Iowa and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust a good friend of mine who covers that team. He raves about Hooker and it’s easy to see why. Could be a plug and play starter from day one, but the Bears won’t need him to be.

4th (#132): TE Foster Moreau (LSU) Projected Trade with Buffalo

I’ve kicked a few different tight ends around at this pick. My other choice would have been Texas A&M product Jace Sternberger, but I find it hard to believe he’ll be sitting there in the late fourth, so enter Moreau. He’s not a crazy athletic kid, but he’s big, has steady hands and is an outstanding blocker. The Bears have invested heavy at the position, but this may be a needed addition.

5th (#162): WR Penny Hart (Georgia St)

Depending on who you talk to, receiver is either a bigger need than meets the eye or receiver is not a worry at all. I’m more in the middle. I don’t think they need to go out and spent big money or use a high pick, but finding Taylor Gabriel’s eventual replacement in the fifth-round wouldn’t be bad. Hart is smaller, but he’s very quick and could be used perfectly in Nagy’s offense.

7th (#222): K Matt Gay (Utah)

The Bears are likely to draft a kicker, seeing as how they have a pair of seventh round picks. Right now, the two kickers on the roster are Redford Jones and Chris Blewitt. Neither have NFL experience. Enter Gay, who has one hell of a leg.

7th (#238): OG Alex Bars (Notre Dame)

This pick is all about value and development. Kyle Long restructured his deal to help the team for a year, but has over a $9 million cap hit in 2020. Bars has experience with Harry Hiestand and could be a nice developmental pick or depth at worst.

Total Remaining Cap Space: $7.087 million

Offensive Depth Chart

QB Trubisky/Daniel

RB Yeldon/Sanders/Cohen/Mizzell

WR1 Robinson/Bellamy

WR2 Gabriel/Wims

WR3 Miller/Thomas/Hart

TE Burton/Shaheen/Moreau/Braunecker

RT Massie/Coward

RG Long/Witzmann

C Whitehair

LG Daniels/Bars

LT Leno/Sowell

Defensive Depth Chart

DE Hicks/Bullard

NT Goldman

DE Nichols/Robertson-Harris

OLB Mack/Suggs/Fitts

ILB Smith/Kwiatkoski

ILB Trevathan/Iggy

OLB Floyd/Irving

CB1 Fuller/Hooker/Williams

CB2 Amukamara/Toliver

SS Poole/Bush/Hooker

FS Jackson/Houston-Carson

NCB Callahan/McManis

Special Teams Depth Chart

K Gay/Jones/Forbath

P UDFA/UDFA

KR Thomas/Cohen

PR Cohen/Thomas

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/3/7/18252545/projecting-chicago-bears-mock-draft-free-agency-callahan-amos-suggs-mack-yeldon-bellamy-whitehair

[colp76-blog]

It’s hard for me to recognise that Star Trek Deep Space Nine is over 26 years old. I first watched this series on BBC2 in the 90s when they had the rights to air it, not long after that I was consuming the VHS tapes as my hunger for the show grew. Actually; I can feel that passing of time now when I think about it . . . . . It’s basically a lifetime ago. What a world we lived in back then, when entertainment wasn’t just a click away, look how spoilt we have become, I find it tiresome to put a DVD in the player these days. That click away is a very good reason that I have been less than productive over the last few weeks! I’ve been knee-deep in Galactic disputes, Jambalaya and Orbs. Yes, welcome to the wonderful world of binge-watching. Thanks to Netflix, I no longer have to wait for an episode anymore, even better for me is the “Skip Intro” button, just pour that sweet Ketracel-white into my veins. You know what I have learnt whilst watching this series in its entirety, it’s amazing and would say at this moment in time could be my new favourite series in the franchise. Strong words for someone who has watched The Next Generation as much as me. Funny thing is, I’m not alone as Deep Space Nine is having a real resurgence in the zeitgeist. The Member Berries are strong with this one. Anyway, this is isn’t gonna be a deep kick in the history of DS9 but me picking out my favourite episode from each season. I just thought I best make some use of those hours I lost in the abyss of a streaming app, don’t get me wrong, it was bloody glorious. Enough of the small talk, let’s get started.

Season 1. Captive Pursuit, January 31st, 1993.

Chief Miles O’Brien Colm Meaney what a character and what an episode. As much as I enjoyed the first season of Deep Space Nine it felt like it was still in its infancy stage but this episode hit the ground running. The humanity of Miles is so well written in this episode as he builds a relationship with a Gamma Quadrant alien called Tosk who is one of the best alien costumes in the entire series in my opinion. Tosk says his ship was damaged in the wormhole but was damaged by laser fire and then the mystery begins. Later we learn that Tosk is nothing more than prey for the Hunters, unable to let the prime directive decide Tosk’s future Mile’s does what he knows is right and helps his friend escape. This is pure Star Trek in its element and Tosk is by far one of my favourite characters of the franchise, I just wish we would have seen more of him.

  Season 2. Paradise, February 13th. 1994.

Captain Sisko Avery Brooks and Mile O’Brien locate an M-Class Planet and decide to investigate it further. A colony that once belonged to Starfleet has been living there for ten years, creating a utopian, paradise after they ship they had crashed, stranding them. Turning there back on the technology available to them, the camp opts out for a simpler and more rewarding way of life, that is until someone becomes ill and has to suffer; regardless of using medical science to cure her. As captain Sisko becomes more alarmed by Alixus’s way of running the colony, she becomes more annoyed with his reluctance to conform to the rules. Later Sisko is put into a metal crate as punishment, leaving Miles to work out that Alixus had actually planned the crash on the planet and has kept them there since. Paradise soon begins to unravel and eventually Alixus is forced to pay for her crimes. Funny thing is, most of the colony decide to stay on the planet. Great episode as we much the captain grows into his role, at this point in the series you can really understand how determined and passionate he is about injustice and freedom.

Season 3. Past Tense: Part 1,  January 2nd 1995. Past Tense: Part 2,  January 9th 1995.

A time travel episode that takes us back to San Fransico 2024. I really struggled to come up with anything I really liked from season three, to be honest, this is definetly the worst season from the series. This double bill certainly did take me back to the ’90s though. I think the moral of the story is meant to be something more meaningful but this is just a comedy episode for me. First, is Jadzia Dax! Why is she wearing something Sherlock Holmes would suit better? Next, we have the doom and gloom of the Sanctuary District, every extra in the scene is walking with there heads down and looking gloomy, it was hilarious. Nothing can compete with Miles and Kira energising into different parts of San Fransico’s timeline, the hippy scene was just car-crash television on the highest scale, wonderful! The positive again is Avery Brook’s as he takes part in the Bell Riots, he really does stand out from the rest of the cast in this episode as he falls into the role of Gabriel Bell.

Season 4. Hard Time, 15th April 1996.

I guess I really do like the character of Cheif Miles O’Brien as this stand-alone episode features the darts playing engineer again. Saying that though, this is such a well-written episode that any of the characters could have carried the story. Miles finds himself locked in a cell and is released after twenty years of confinement. Luckily for him, its only been a matter of hours as those memories of his imprisonment are artificial and he can go back to his normal life once again, or can he?  The Cheif suffers flashbacks back on the station, which eventually spills over in his real life as he lashes out at daughter Molly and assaults Quark. Miles is placed on medical leave but is constantly visited by former cellmate Ee’char. Miles sees no way out from this nightmare and finding a weapons locker pulls out a phaser and sets it maximum, until his friend Julian arrives. It seems Miles is feeling guilty as he killed Ee’char over a few pieces of bread that hill cellmate was saving for both of them, Julian manages to talk Miles down and explains that he isn’t an animal and can get help to move on with his life. As Miles gives in to what has happened, Ee’char slowly disappears from his mind.

Season 4. Trails and Tribble-ations, 4th November 1996.

Another time travel episode but the difference between this episode and Past Tense is a huge leap forward in terms of quality for Deep Space Nine. The Department of Temporal Investigations visit the station and they want answers! The one thing I like about this series is that it manages to be a serious and somewhat heavy show and still manage to have little moments of fun in between,  this episode is somewhat on the lighter side, even though the plot could have devastating results. Basically, the plot is pretty simple as the crew pick up the Orb of Time and a hitchhiker, Arne Darvin. During the trip back to the station, the crew find out they have been transported back 200 light years back to original Enterprise, the one featuring Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew. Sisko and his crew must do everything they can to stop Arne changing the timeline, in which Captain Kirk had disgraced the agent before.  The enjoyment in this episode comes more from watching the Deep Space Nine crew integrate with the Enterprise crew so easily, it really is a very technical episode and somehow they pulled it off superbly. The crew end up in a punch up with Scotty, who they mistake for Kirk starting out and it’s fascinating and funny. There are so many special touches in this episode that are worth writing about but I would be here all day. My favourite moments are Captain Sisko visiting Kirk on the bridge and eventually the promenade been overrun by Tribbles. Great episode, and one you can keep rewatching it without becoming bored.

Season 6. One Little Ship, 18th February 1998.

This is a little summary for an episode I really enjoyed. A runabout shrinks in size as they enter an anomaly, the only problem is the Defiant is attacked by the Jem’Hadar at the same time. The U.S.S Rubicon runabout must enter the Defiant and help the crew take the ship back. I’m a huge fan of the series, Land of the Giants and this episode made me realise just how much. There is nothing new here but its a really fun and enjoyable episode.

Shadows and Symbols, Image in the Sand and  Far Beyond the Stars. 7th October 1998.

Okay, I cheated a little, but I actually think this trio of episodes belong together and is by far one of the reasons I love Deep Space Nine and definitely confirms to me that this series is by far the most ambitious of all the Treks we have had before, or after. I mentioned earlier that I had bought the VHS of this series and Far Beyond the Stars was the reason why! Back then I got my information by a magazine and had seen some photos from this episode and was blown away. When I finally watched the episode, I was not disappointed and think its best and most powerful bit of television I have ever watched. Avery Brook’s is a great actor and I think it was only fitting he could get his acting chops around a story that is as powerful as this, his portrayal of Benny Russell is a thing of beauty. Benny Russell is a 50s science-fiction writer who writes a story about a black man commands a space station and can’t let the story go, regardless of the prejudice he comes up against. Benny works for the magazine Incredible Tales, and in this 1950s scenario, all the characters from Deep Space Nine are all there taking up some amazing roles. I really don’t think I have the writing skills to do this storyline justice enough, all I can say is that its a really important part of storytelling in today’s society. I also really love how Benny comes back and plays an important role in Sisko’s journey with the prophets. I just love everything about it. One picture that always catches my imagination is the picture of the space station for the magazine.

I enjoyed going back to this series quite a lot and Deep Space Nine is definitely back in the headlines again with the release of What We Left Behind and I can’t wait to watch it. I even hear that some of the writers for the show outline what an episode of series 8 would look like on screen. I also realise that movies, tv shows and other forms of media can change through time and becomes something much bigger and this series is becoming that right now and that can only be a good thing. Could we ever see a new series of DS9, I very much doubt it, but I can always dream. Anyway, what are your favourite episodes from Deep Space Nine? I would love to hear them?

          It’s hard for me to recognise that Star Trek Deep Space Nine is over 26 years old.

[oh-my-spn-one-shots]

What Destiny Has Chosen - Story Time

Words: 2.133

Pairing: Sabriel (Sam x Gabriel)

Warnings: Retelling of violence, psychological pain

Summary: Sam and Gabriel spend some alone time. What is Sam going to think of Gabriel after finding out about his past? (Contains a shortened and much less graphic version of Gabriel's Story, which I will link below)

A/N: As promised, here comes another chapter. I hope you won’t have to wait so long for the next but I can’t promise anything, me and my beta/editor/friend @godisalwayswright are very busy at the moment but we’ll do our best. As always, comments, likes and reblogs are very welcome. Love ya all!

What Destiny Has Chosen series:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4   Chapter 5   Chapter 6   Chapter 7

Prequel Gabriel

Part One  Part Two

Gabriel grins from ear to ear as he follows the black car to Sam's place. He had finally told Sam about them being soulmates and, what is even more important, convinced Sam to believe him. So needless to say, he feels on top of the world, just completely fantastic, like nothing could ever hurt him again.

The blonde haired man thinks back to the kiss they shared, it wasn’t particularly heated but filled with meaning and Gabriel thinks he's already on his way to being addicted to kissing Sam Winchester.

Sam Winchester... His soulmate. Even thinking that makes a warm, prickling feeling spread through his body. But then Gabriel starts thinking about his secrets and his past, the things he'd have to tell Sam.

What will Sam think about him once he knows his brother is a murderer? Will Sam think differently about him? Will they be okay? Will he still consider a relationship?

All these questions dampen the happiness in his heart but at least they don't kill it altogether. He must trust Sam to not think of his brother's faults as Gabriel's.

Gabe parks the motorbike in the parking lot next to the impala and climbs off, taking off his helmet and holding onto it tight.

A small, content smile spreads on his face as Sam gets out of the car and mentions him to follow. Gabriel quickly catches up to Sam and his brother.

"So you're back to talking, huh?" Jake raises a brow at them as he unlocks the door.

"Yes and now shut up." Sam grins and leads Gabriel inside. "We'll be in my room if you need us." He calls over his shoulder before smirking as he walks to his room slowly and clearly still in at least a little pain from his healing injuries. Sam swings open the door and holds it for Gabriel who walks in, eager to get out of the sight of Sam's brother's curious and suspicious eyes.

As Sam closes the door behind them and turns around, Gabriel has already plopped himself down on the bed.

"So you're Gabriel Novak, not George Smith." Sam states more than asks.

Gabriel nods slightly. "In the flesh. And you're Sam Winchester and not Tom Baker." This gets a nod from Sam this time.

"So you're not named after the actor of the 4th doctor after all." Gabriel jokes and Sam laughs.

"No I'm not." An uncomfortable silence spreads between them and Sam takes a deep breath and steps closer to the boy on his bed.

"So why do you have a fake identity?" Sam's question hangs in the air heavily for a few moments and he can see Gabriel's smile fade to be replaced with an expression of sorrow.

Sam sits down on bed next to him and frowns. It feels alien but at the same time oh so right as he reaches out to take Gabriel's hands in his own and squeezes it reassuringly.

The taller boy is about to say that the other doesn't have to tell him as Gabriel starts to speak.

"My brother and I are in witness protection program." Gabriel says quietly, looking at their joined hands on the blanket.

Shock is written over Sam's features as he squeezes Gabe's hand softly once more, not saying anything. He wants to give his friend time to open up at his own pace.

After a few deep shuddering breaths, golden eyes lock with worried green ones. "When I was 8 years old I came home from school, proud that I had gotten an A on a test I had studied for with my oldest brother." Gabriel states, glad that Sam isn't asking any questions, though the confusion is evident in his eyes at the mention of an older brother.

"Lucifer called me to the cellar and I went without hesitation. What I found wasn't the brother I grew up with but a cruel and cold replacement. Lucifer had our father tied to a chair and told me about his mother. Our father cheated on his mother with ours when he was drunk and it broke Lucifer's mother’s heart who later died with Luci watching. Anyway, he then forced me to witness dad being tortured."

Gabriel has to look away as he gulps, feeling unshed tears burning in his eyes, his whole body is shivering. Sam notices and immediately pulls him close to his chest, taking the blanket off the bed and wrapping it about the two of them.

Gabriel leans against Sam heavily, he's never talked about this to anyone but Cas, his mother and a therapist who claimed him okay after 4 meetings. Talking to Sam now feels weird, it opens up old wounds but at the same time it feels like now they finally have the chance to really heal.

Sam still hadn't said anything but Gabriel is fine with that. His left hand entwined with Sam as the other comes to rest on Sam's chest, playing with a button of his shirt. A small smile tugs at the corners of the shorter boy's face as he registers the hard muscles underneath the clothing covering Sam. Gabe then closes his eyes and continues to tell the story.

"I begged him to stop but Lucifer said that if I did anything I'd be put in my father's place." The hand rubbing circles on Gabriel's back feels good, making him relax just a little, making it easier to talk.

"Michael, my second oldest brother, came bursting in and when he saw what happened he attacked Lucifer, tackled him. I don't think it was intentional but Lucifer was still holding the knife he used to hurt our father and it impaled Michael's chest." At the last word Gabriel's voice breaks and the tears finally start falling, from Sam’s shoulder Gabe looks up at him.

Sam looks at Gabe, not with pity as Gabe had feared but with worry and a weird sort of pain that Gabriel can't really get a read on. After a moment Sam leans down a bit, lifting Gabriel's chin a bit as he kisses him softly, comfortingly on the lips. Both their eyes are closed and Gabriel lets go, losing himself in the kiss for a moment, letting it charge his batteries.

After a bit Sam breaks the kiss and peppers small kisses on Gabriel's cheeks, after a bit Gabriel notices that Sam is kissing away the tears still falling steadily from his eyes. It feels good, he feels cherished by Sam and that sparks something inside him. It tickles in Gabriel's tummy, for the first time he understands the metaphor ‘butterflies in your stomach’.

As Sam wipes away the last tracks of tears with his thumb, Gabriel rests his head once again on Sam's shoulder.

A minute later Gabriel finds his voice once again, determined to finish telling his story this time. "Lucifer looked shocked as Michael laid on the ground, dying. I ran over there and tried to help my brother, not knowing what to do. But since Lucifer wasn't paying us any attention Mike managed to sneak me his phone, telling me to call 911.

I held Michael's hand as he died but I had to call 911, after all it was the last thing he asked of me. I don't know how I managed but I called and only after saying a few words already, did Lucifer register. I started running away, desperate to finish the call before Lucifer caught me. He knocked me out cold. When I woke up in hospital they told me that my father and Mike were dead."

The tight squeeze around him caused by Sam calmed him in a weird way, it was as if this hug is holding Gabe together, stopping him from breaking.

"They caught Lucifer not long after but he only got a 10 years prison sentence. My mother died a year ago, she's had depressions ever since 'the incident'. I had only turned 17 but the witness protection program didn't want my brother and I to get a guardian. They had me checked by a psychologist who declared me mature enough to look after myself and my brother. They changed my fake ID's birthday so I was officially 18 years old. We live off the money the state sends us and what we inherited from our parents. I always wanted to one day have a real family again, one of the reasons I was so desperate to find my soulmate."

Gabriel finally ends his story and feels Sam rest his lips on the top his head. They sit like this for a while but as Gabe yawns Sam snuggles them in the bed, so they're fully laying on it, their heads resting on the pillow. Gabriel snuggles into Sam's side, his head now on his chest, listening to the strong and steady heartbeat of his soulmate.

"You're unbelievably strong Gabriel. I'm proud that you managed to get through all of that without breaking. You've become an incredible person and I can't believe I deserve a soulmate like you." It's the first time that Sam has spoken since Gabriel started telling his story. The low rumble of the taller boy's voice soothes Gabriel like nothing else, finally allowing him to completely relax.

A weight that had been crushing down on the smaller boy for a decade now feels like it's been lifted off his shoulders, if only partially. Gabriel can breathe much easier now, knowing Sam is here to support him.

Gabe yawns again, pulling up these memories and being accepted by Sam even after finding out about his history has left him exhausted. Sam starts rubbing soothing circles on Gabriel's shoulder blades.

"Sleep some Gabriel, I promise I'll be here when you wake up." Sam mumbles softly and wraps the other boy tighter in his embrace and the blanket, not caring that they're both still wearing shoes and all their school clothes.

"Thank you." Gabriel whispers back as his eyes droop and finally fall closed, his breath evens out and he falls into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Sam couldn't sleep, even if he wanted to, so he just watches Gabriel, thinking about everything he'd just heard. He closes his eyes and finally drifts off to sleep.

After a few hours a knock on the door has them both wake up.

"I don't want to know what you're up to in there but I've prepared dinner so you better get your lazy asses out here." The words are accompanied by another loud bang on the door before they can hear steps pounding back to the kitchen.

Sam looks at Gabriel apologetic. "I'm sorry, he can be an ass. How are you?" He kisses Gabe's cheek softly.

"I'm fine Sammy." Gabriel states and leans over, propping himself up on Sam's chest a bit as he leans in to kiss him happily. Sam smiles into the kiss and tangles a hand in Gabriel's hair, pulling him closer. It's not long till they have to pull apart to breathe but they both have grins plastered on their faces.

"Could we keep this to us for just a little longer?" Sam asks softly and Gabriel nods eagerly, not wanting anyone else to know for now either.

Once more Sam pecks his lips before pushing himself up on his elbows and huffs a laughs as he hears Gabriel's stomach growl loudly.

"Let's go eat before either your stomach eats itself or my brother decides to look what we're doing here after all." He helps Gabriel to his feet and kisses his head and fixes his hair a bit before opening the door for Gabe and leading him to the kitchen.

At the smell of lasagne and garlic bread that hits them at entering the kitchen, Gabriel's stomach growls once more in anticipation, even louder than before. "This is what heaven must smell like."

The older Winchester snorts at that comment but can't hold back a flattered smile. "Come sit."

Sam and Gabriel don't have to be told twice and they immediately sit down at the dinner table.

The lasagna Dean pull’s out of the oven could feed a small army but neither of them seem to mind and Gabriel eyes the food like a lion does his prey.

A minute later each of them has a huge plate filled with steaming food placed in front of them and not another word is wasted as they all dig in hungrily.

A breathy moan drops from Gabriel's lips around his first bite. "Holy shit! This is so good!" He exclaims, voice muffled by food.

The brothers look at him with matching smiles (and a small blush on Sam's face) and quirked eyebrows but as they continue eating, the noises they make aren't any better.