#gerry brooks

[invincible-selfxmade-punk]

Watch "The School Secretary Grinch..." on YouTube

For staff development today we got a live performance from THIS GUY!!

So much fun!!!!

[glimeres]

The-Office-Style Something Rotten! promos, my beloved!

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Furry Vengeance 2010

[geekcavepodcast]

"Fall of the House of X" and "Rise of the Powers of X" (And Tie-In "Resurrection of Magneto") to Close Out Krakoan Age

Marvel Comics has announced two intertwined series that will close out the X-Men's Krakoan Age. Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X will each deliver half a story that, put together, will see the "X-Men of today and the X-Men of tomorrow as they wage the final war against extinction across their entire existence! Evolution is inevitable. Extinction is optional!" (Marvel Comics)

Fall of the House of X #1 (of 5), from writer Gerry Duggan and artist Lucas Werneck, goes on sale on January 3, 2024. Rise of the Powers of X #1 (of 5), from writer Kieron Gillen and artist R.B. Silva, goes on sale on January 10, 2024. Covers are by Pepe Larraz.

Spinning out from the Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X events, is writer Al Ewing and artist Luciano Vecchio's Resurrection of Magneto. With Krakoan fallen, bringing a mutant back from the dead is harder than ever. Storm, however, will fight to bring back Magneto, "but after all he did, and all that was done to him, can Magneto bear to return?" (Marvel Comics)

Resurrection of Magneto #1 (of 4), featuring a cover by Stefano Caselli, goes on sale on January 24, 2024.

Images via Marvel Comics Mark Brooks and Richard Isanove's Promo Art for Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X and Stefano Caselli's Cover of Resurrection of Magneto #1)

[topoet]

Hawes Atomic Wild Side

I added this collection of Hampton Hawes: Three Classic Albums plus, a year or so ago as the iTunes price was right & I love Hampton. When I was living in Sydney, Cape Breton he was my real introduction to jazz that wasn’t fusion. Traditional straight ahead inventive playing & well worth adding to any collection. John Betsch Society: Earth Blossom (1974) – sweet postbop percussion & sax/flute…

[graphicpolicy]

X-Men #35 is a bit of a mixed bag as one era ends and a new one begins

X-Men #35 is a bit of a mixed bag as one era ends and a new one begins #comics #comicbooks #ncbd

All good things must come to an end, and as good of a thing as the Krakoan era has been for mutantkind…its time has come at last. The tragedy and triumph of Fall of the House of X, the madness and mystery of Rise of the Powers of X…they have all come to their end and led to this moment that will change the future of mutantkind for years to come. X-Men #35 officially closes the Krakoan era and…

[showdown-of-the-undead]

Undead character showdown: Semifinals, matchup one:

Who is your favorite undead character?

Propaganda:

Brook: "Brook died and ate a devil fruit that would let him revive, but he's soul got lost for and by the time he found his body, it was already a skeleton. He's obsessed with skeleton puns. His a great musician and at some point becomes a rockstar known as "Soul King". He has a very sad backstory too.

(Spoilers for Brook's backstory) He was part of a pirate crew that befriended a baby whale. They eventually had to leave the whale because they felt it was too dangerous to take it with them, but they promised they'd eventually comeback. Sadly half of the crew got "the plague" along the way (including the captain) which meant that those that were still healthy had to continue the adventure on their own. Later they got attacked by an enemy crew and everyone died, making Brook the only one of his crew left thanks to his powers. Unfortunately the rowing of the ship had been broken, leaving Brook adrift and completely alone for 50 years until a new pirate crew found him and welcomed him. The promise he made to the baby whale has kept him going this time." -Submitter #1

"Former musician-turned-acting-captain of the Rumbar pirates, he was revived after death due to the effect of his devil fruit. Of course, it took a bit and the ocean carried away his ship, so by the time he found his body, he was nothing but bones. He joined the Straw Hat pirates in an effort to fulfill his crew’s final promise, as well as to help Luffy make his dream a reality. He is light enough to run on water, can enhance his attacks with ice, and he’s been able to save the crews skin on multiple occasions…which is ironic considering he doesn’t have any! Skull joke! Yohohohoho!" -Submitter #2

Gerard "Gerry" Keay: "Gerry is everything. Sarcastic, Goth, really cool, full of quips. He has a deeply tragic story and a bittersweet end. What more do you need??" -Voter

[why-i-love-comics]

X-Men #35 - "Dream's End" (2024)

written by Gerry Duggan, Al Ewing, & Kieron Gillen art by Joshua Cassara, Phil Noto, Lucas Werneck, Leinil Francis Yu, Walter Simonson, Mark Brooks, John Romita, Jr., Scott Hanna, Jerome Opena, Luciano Vecchio, Stefano Caselli, Sara Pichelli, David Curiel, Laura Martin, Sonia Oback, Marcio Menyz, Matt Hollingsworth, & Matthew Wilson

[comicwaren]

From X-Men Vol. 6 #035, “Dream’s End”

Art by Joshua Cassara, Phil Noto, Lucas Werneck, Leinil Francis Yu, Walter Simonson, Mark Brooks, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Jerome Opeña, Luciano Vecchio, Stefano Caselli, Sara Pichelli, Romulo Fajardo Jr., David Curiel, Laura Martin, Sonia Oback, Marcio Menyz, Matt Hollingsworth and Matthew Wilson

Written by Gerry Duggan, Al Ewing and Kieron Gillen

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Out December 2023 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose 🧡 Heartstopper #5 by Alice Oseman 💛 This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede 💚 All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows 💙 Vampires of Eden: Book One by Karla Nikole 💜 Not My Type by Joe Satoria ❤️ Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck 🧡 Eternal Embrace by Luna Lawson 💛 A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford 💙 Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney 💜 Through the Embers Volume 2 by Adriana Sargent 🌈 Lucero by Maya Motayne

❤️ The Poison Paradox by Hadley Field & Felix Green 🧡 Second Chances in New Port Stephen: A Novel by TJ Alexander 💛 Matrimonial Merriment by Nicky James 💚 Under the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Ramsden 💙 Every Beat of Her Heart by KC Richardson 💜 The Memories of Marlie Rose by Morgan Lee Miller ❤️ Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers 🧡 Always Only You by Chloe Liese 💛 Fire in the Sky by Radclyffe and Julie Cannon 💙 Nuclear Sunrise by Jo Carthage 💜 The Naked Dancer by Emme C. Taylor 🌈 Resurrections by Ada Hoffmann

❤️ Destiny’s Women by Morgan Elliott 🧡 Framed by Kate Merrill 💛 The Spoil of Beasts by Gregory Ashe 💚 Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert 💙 A Cynic’s Christmas Conundrum by L.M. Bennett 💜 Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn ❤️ One Swipe Away by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue 🧡 The Gentlemen’s Club by A.V. Shener 💛 A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold 💙 Secrets of the Soul by Holly Oliver 💜 Like They Do in the Movies by Nan Campbell 🌈 Limelight by Gun Brooke

❤️ Heart First by S.B. Barnes 🧡 Grave Consequences by Sandra Barret 💛 Haunted by Myth by Barbara Ann Wright 💚 Invisible by Anna Larner 💙 The Murders at Sugar Mill Farm by Ronica Black 💜 Coasting and Crashing by Ana Hartnett ❤️ Fairest by K.S. Trenten 🧡 A City of Abundant Opportunity by Howard Leonard 💛 The Dark Side of MIdnight by Erin Wade 💙 Mending Bones by Merlina Garance 💜 Transform by Connal Braginsky & Sean Ian O’Meidhir 🌈 The Apple Diary by Gerri Hill

❤️ TruLove by Nicole Pyland 🧡 Structural Support by Sloan Spencer 💛 Whiskey War by Stacy Lynn Miller 💚 Overkill by Lou Wilham 💙 Heart of Outcasts by Nicole Silver 💜 In the Shadow of Victory by J. E. Leak ❤️ Just Like Her by Fiona Zedde 🧡 Gingerbread: Claus For Christmas by Miski Harris 💛 Lies are Forever by C. Jean Downer 💙 The Boys in the Club by M.T. Pope 💜 Lasting Light (Metal & Magic) by Michelle Frost 🌈 Tell No Tales by Edie Montreux

❤️ Radio Silence by Alice Oseman 🧡 Even Though We're Adults Vol. 7 by Takako Shimura 💛 The Accidental Bite by Michelle St. Wolf 💚 Mated to the Demons by Taylor Schafer 💙 Someday Away by Sara Elisabeth 💜 Gatherdawn Luminia Duet Volume 1 by Lee Colgin ❤️ Curse of Dawn by Richard Amos 🧡 Healing the Twin by Nora Phoenix 💛 Ride Me by KD Ellis 💙 How to Bang a Vampire by Joe Satoria 💜 Cthulhu for Christmas by Meghan Maslow 🌈 Prestige by Toni Reeb

❤️ Don't Look Down by Jessica Ann 🧡 Winter and the Wolves by Chris Storm and Kinkaid Knight 💛 Hat Trick by Ajay Daniel 💚 Starborn Husbands: Return to the Pleiades by S. Legend 💙 Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume by Vawn Cassidy 💜 Practice for Toby by Amy Bellows ❤️ The Siren's Song by Crista Crown 🧡 Hers to Hunt K.J. Devoir

[roguearchives]

Rogue in the variant cover of X-Men (2021) #26, illustrated by Mark Brooks.

Source: X-Men (2021) #26, by Gerry Duggan, Javier Pina and James Towe.

[heckcareoxytwit]

A preview of X-Men #35 (Uncanny X-Men #700)

X-MEN #35 (UNCANNY X-MEN #700)

THE END OF AN ERA — UNCANNY X-MEN #700!

All good things must come to an end, and as good of a thing as the Krakoan era has been for mutantkind… its time has come at last. The tragedy and triumph of FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X, the madness and mystery of RISE OF THE POWERS OF X… they have all come to their end and led to this moment that will change the future of mutantkind for years to come. Written and drawn by an all-star cast of writers and artists who have shaped the Krakoan Age, this is one milestone no X-Fan will want to miss! Also featuring a story of family by X-Men master Chris Claremont… and a glimpse of things to come!

Written by: Kieron Gillen, Al Ewing, Gerry Duggan, Chris Claremont Art by: Sara Pichelli, Stefano Caselli, Jerome Opeña, Leinil Francis Yu, Phil Noto, Mark Brooks, Walt Simonson, Luciano Vecchio, Lucas Werneck, Joshua Cassara, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Sunny Gho, David Curiel Cover by: Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia Page Count: 84 Pages Release Date: June 5, 2024

[glimeres]

2015 - The Something Rotten! cast reads some Mean Tweets

[thosefuzzywordfeelings]

La Seduction Vengeance // Part Two.

CW: mentions of violence, manipulation

The rope was tight. Enough. Coarse, tied securely around the trunk of a blossom tree outside the house, I observed my setup. If my amateur calculations were correct, the breezeblock suspended from the tree should fall directly onto the bonnet of Mr Thompson's car. It was midnight, people on my street known for getting early nights. That was the lucky thing in my situation, the residents of Blossom Close either over the age of 80 or so inundated with money that they'd be visiting their multiple holiday homes as soon as the sun burned the streets warmer. My dad and I were the youngest on the street, keeping everyone feeling youthful and hopeful with the sitcom-like happiness that used to radiate from our home.

Now, Mr Thompson wasn't a terribly behaved man, he just had some what he called 'old-fashioned' ideals about the way the world was changing. And it was those outlandish opinions shared a little too loudly to those on our street that made me choose him for this particular mission. I needed to get that SUV down this road, and I needed to speak to that officer. Double checking that none of the houses lights had switched on - elderly folk up using the bathroom at witching hour - and when I was sure it was clear I pulled out the shiny engraved switchblade my dad had bought me for my 18th. "Every young woman should have one of these. In case of emergencies, you know?"

I'd consider this an emergency, Dad. Slicing the thick rope in one swift cut, the breezeblock came tumbling down onto the grey metal, the alarm instantly blaring to alert the street. I ran away to my house, three doors down - thankfully - and ran through my screen door. Sweat formed on my brow as I peered through my living room curtains, making sure to keep all my lights off. As I heard commotion and angry yells from Mr Thompson; I knew that was my cue. Wrapping a large hoodie around my frame and pulling it over my head, I pulled an eye mask over my head too, letting it nestle on the rim of my forehead as I slipped on some slippers. Heading out into the cold, dark night once again, I found Darcy coming out to our side of the road.

"Looks like Jerry's in a bit of trouble there." Darcy spoke with a slight giggle. She didn't like him either, not many of the residents of this street did. Looking down the pavement at Mr Thompsons arms flailing about angrily as residents began to gather at the chaos, the all too familiar silhouette of the black SUV came swinging around the corner of the street. Bingo. Clunky black DM's hit the concrete as the young man stepped out of the car, sucking back a disgusting cloud of flavoured smoke from a vape I could see was electric green from down the street. He came towards Mr Thompson and his beautifully wrecked car (you're welcome) before looking around at the other residents. His eyes landed on mine for a moment before drifting back to Mr Thompson.

"He might just be the dishiest officer we've had around here, you know. Your age too." Darcy mumbled as she folded her arms, trying to hug herself away from the chill of the night. I knew what she was trying to do, trying to hook me up with the not entirely unattractive sheriff, but she had no idea of my ulterior motive. I chuckled lightly in her direction, keeping my eyes on the officer. Shit. He was walking towards me. If I end up in a jail cell I'm screw-

"Good evening ladies, or should I say mornin'?" The young man spoke with a sideways smile. Darcy and I smiled in response, her bony elbow nudging mine subtly. I nudged her back. "You lovely ladies see what happened to Gerry's car?"

"No, sir. I was sleeping. Woke up to the alarm blaring." I replied innocently, pointing to the eye mask atop my head. His eyes flickered up to it, studying it for a moment.

"Sleep is for the week?" He read the lettering on it aloud, chuckling to himself as he turned towards Darcy. "What about you, Ms Brook? Know you ain't too fond of the man. Got some weightlifting trophies we don't know about?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at his ridiculous attempt at humour, my eyes looking over his uniform and his features. He had beauty marks dotted over his skin, ironic considering his cocky personality was so ugly. But the way his kevlar hugged his frame, his cap rested almost over two big chocolate eyes was getting a little intense. He didn't seem that attractive when he was perring out of the SUV window, but I suppose that's a distance away. Doubt flooded my mind that this young man could have possibly killed my father, but I needed to get answers nonetheless.

"Well here's a card with my details on. You know, incase something comes to ya." He said, shoving a little piece of cardboard into just my hand, Darcy peering over my shoulder at the writing. Gator Tillman. Tillman sounded familiar, but i couldn't think where from. I nodded up at Gator, tucking the card into my dressing gown pocket. He walked away, taking one more quick glance over my shoulder at me before patting Mr Thompson on the shoulder; seeming to have made amends with the old crony about fixing his car. Hm. I needed to speak to him more, I thought to myself, as I bid goodnight to Darcy and headed back into my house to sleep. And plan.

Like some kind of crazed, grieving magician I'd been working on my next trick for just a few days. The middle of the night worked best, as it seemed Gator was on call a lot more nightly as of late. I'd decided to make this one a little personal, meticulously planning out a break in. Of my own home. I'd wait until the street was silent, all the elderly folks resting peacefully in their beds - bar Gerry Thompson who I could practically still hear grumbling about his car even still - and I'd smash my front door window in. My dad had left some money in piggybanks in the basement and it was a little window, easy to fix. In he'd come, like a knight in shining camouflage and then I'd out him. Or whatever, I hadn't actually thought of the crux of the trap yet. The onyx sky rolled around quickly, as I bound multiple tea-towels around my fist and headed through my back door and around the porch towards the front. Punching straight through the glass, I unlocked the door and snuck in; making sure to use a pair of my dad's old shoes to tread in the glass. I did the same to my back door, punching out the glass towards the patio so the 'attacker' could escape.

Unwrapping the tea-towels and putting them back in the kitchen drawer, I was relieved that my fist was unharmed. The next part was to wreck my beautiful kitchen, making sure the drawers were emptied and the knife block was menacingly strewn onto the floor as it looked like someone had ransacked the place. Grabbing duct tape from the drawer, I wrapped it around my wrists, pulling it and securing it tightly with my teeth. Some feat. I threw the duct tape underneath the sink. Holding two strips in between the fingers of one hand and my mobile phone in the other, I headed upstairs to my dad's bedroom, sitting in the corner opposite the dresser and tying one of the duct tape strips haphazardly around my ankles. Calling 911, I took some quick breaths in succession before they picked up. Just as an unfamiliar male voice answered, my tied feet kicked the dresser and let everything crash from its top. I screamed for help as the person the phone confirmed someone was on their way. As I covered my own mouth with the final strip of duct tape, I muffled some fake screams through it as the call handler tried to reassure me. Rolling my eyes I took the final step, adrenaline running through my veins at my intricate plan; drawing my head back hard against the wall and slumping down with my eyes.

I came round to a deep voice and a firm hand pinching my shoulder. "Ma'am? Can you hear me?" Groaning and mumbling, I blinked my eyes open to see two officers knelt beside me, holding pieces of duct tape from my body and bottled water. "Is he gone?" I mumbled, mentally noting that I should absolutely write a speech for my upcoming Oscar. "Is who gone? We found signs of forced entry, you're looking at getting two new doors replaced. No perp though." One of the young officers spoke softly. Neither of them were Gator. My entire plan had been to get Gator into a corner, like a little rat. A rat who, no matter how intelligent he may have seemed, had no idea that the person holding the cheese had backed him up into that corner on purpose.

With an inspection of my head and more numbers to call if I was 'alarmed', the officers headed back to their station as I packed a bag to stay at Darcy's for the rest of the night. The officers warned that the 'perp' may come back with my broken doors, so they'd asked my sweet, oblivious neighbour if I could crash at her place. She was kind, as always. Opening the door in her fluffy robe and matching slippers, her smile as warm as the heating that rushed out of the door of her home. "Come on dear, tea is ready for you. Lord knows you must be shaking like a willow in a storm." Her soft voice carried me into her home, as I settled on her floral-patterned couch. We drank tea, as I allowed my mouth to ramble about the horrors of what - I had orchestrated - had happened that evening. I felt awful lying to Darcy's face but the rigid ache in form of flashbacks and memories of my father pushed the lies right out of my mouth.

She gave me a kiss on the head as I stood in the doorway of her spare room. I felt my eyelids tingle with a sadness I hadn't allowed myself to process yet. "You'll be alright darlin'." Darcy's words were gentle, but her actions bore a heavy weight that I think she knew I needed. Then they came, what felt like gallons of tears washing over my cheeks as Darcy wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me against her chest. "Double squeeze." She whispered softly, her arms tensing around my shoulders twice. I pulled away instantly with a worried look on my face between sobs. "How do you know - about - about double squeeze?" I said weakly, my voice wavering with sadness. Darcy's face broke into a sympathetic smile. "I've known you since you were this big, darlin' -" She whispered, holding her index and thumb finger paralell to each other, "Saw you grow up. Saw how your father loved you. Saw how you loved him. He always told me how clever you were, how you were going to take on the world. I still see it. In your eyes, you're still that clever little girl, that clever big man raised you to be. He said to me one day," Darcy spoke with such passion, her elderly voice hinting with her own grief for my father as she grasped my hands tightly, "He said, if I'm ever not here, remind her. Remind her of her bravery and dont forget the double squeeze." I let out a sad chuckle as I kept the flow of sadness streaming down my face as her words clung to my skin like the double squeeze. My father would always hug me, tightly, sometimes so tight that my lungs felt like they could burst. He'd let go with a chuckle, kissing the top of my head as he'd wrap his arms around me tighter, squeezing twice as he mumbled 'double squeeze' into the top of my head. What I'd give to feel that from him again. Darcy's arms were thick, soft and plush and the squeeze felt too kind. I needed the air knocked out of me. With a sad smile, I hugged her and thanked her for her kindness tonight as I shut the door behind me and settled into the squeaky metal bed frame. I hugged one of her downy cushions tightly, letting a few more tears hit the pillow. "Take on the world." "Clever little girl." Darcy's words echoed around my head as I tossed and turned, staring up at the mottled ceiling. I needed to get to that smarmy officer. Pretty boy. Dangerous for an active murderer to wear such a sweet smile. I needed to come up with something better.

[leahnardo-da-veggie]

The Unwanted Visitor pt 4

Part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here :) Enjoy another round of teenage idiocy!

“I'm going to ask you an important question now. Which of you has been harbouring a spirit?” Miss Bell smacked the pointer against the teacher's table, and I flinched. “I know one of you did it, and I know which of you did it. Now, own up.”

I stared at her, horrified. Did she mean me? I hadn't been harbouring Visitor. I'd just… Well, I had sort of been taking the fall every time Visitor's antics had reached the public eye. It wasn't often, but when he managed to set the oven on fire and the fire brigade came, I offered myself as the scapegoat. Did that really count?

“If you admit it here and now, I promise you nothing will happen. But if we end up having to chase you, we might be forced to charge you with aiding and abetting a malevolent inhuman,” Miss Bell said, her voice softening, as though she were putting on a mask of motherly concern.

“What’re you going to do to the spirit?” Without realising it, I had asked the question aloud. Everyone in class turned to look at me, and I could already hear the whispers. 'Aida's hiding a spirit! Of course she is, she's such a creep.’ By rising to show concern for the hypothetical spirit in question, I'd basically proven I was hiding a spirit.

“We’ll either exorcise it or return it to its people,” Miss Bell replied, eyes narrowing. “Who are you, girl?”

“Aida. Aida O'Dell,” I told her, and stood up. Ah well. Might as well go all the way, I decided. “And by exorcise, you mean kill, don't you?”

Miss Bell shook her head patronisingly. Gods, how did she get on my nerves more than Visitor? “Spirits aren't like us people. They're monsters, and I'm proud of you for admitting to helping one. Now, if you-”

“I'm not helping anyone!” Even as I said it, I knew how hollow it sounded. Why would anyone who wasn't hiding a spirit stand up to defend them? They were persona non grata. Actually, they were worse than that. They were monsters.

Miss Bell raised her eyebrows, as though doubting me. “As I was saying, Miss O'Dell, perhaps you could step outside and talk to my partner? I know it took a lot of courage to tell the truth, and I'm sure you must have lived in constant fear of that monster.”

I clenched my jaw. How the hell was I supposed to get out of this fix? Curse my fool mouth, always running off and spilling secrets. Suddenly my little act of defiance looked a great deal stupider. “Go,” Miss Bell snapped, and her tone brooked no argument.

Reluctantly, I strode out down the rows of tables, trying to maintain my dignity beneath the gazes and murmurs of my classmates. There was a man waiting outside, holding a pair of handcuffs.

“This is for your own safety,” he explained, reaching out for my hands. Was he seriously going to cuff me? I hadn't done anything all that bad. (And neither had Visitor, for that matter.) 

The cuff descended upon my wrist, encircling it with steel. I felt myself praying that this was all a dream, that I wasn't being arrested or something. My stomach twisted.

And the cuff went right through my wrist.

We stared at it for a moment, the policeman and I, equally confused.

Then I ran. My feet slapped the steps as I jumped down two at a time, barely registering the yells of rage that came behind me.

People came out of their classrooms to see what the fuss was, and I slipped right past them. I made a beeline for the doors, dodging a latecomer en route, and out into the daylight.

Of course, I had Mr Gerry and the school gates to deal with. I had no idea how to do whatever I did with the handcuffs again, but I needed to try. I grabbed my bike from the side and hopped on, not daring to look back. If this failed, it was going to be epically embarrassing. 

Mr Gerry turned around just in time to see me pedalling head on for the iron gates. “Aida, what the hell are you doing?!”

“Sorry sir, no time to-” I slammed into the gates. My stomach twisted.

And I was on the other side, still pedalling at top speed. Finally, I dared turn around. A small crowd gathered at the school's steps to watch the spectacle. Thankfully, the creaky old gates would take a while to open, and I knew my way home better than they did. I just had to hope my head start would be enough to keep the lead.

All the way home, I feared coming back and finding they'd already gotten there before me. I remembered what Miss Bell said. ‘If we end up having to chase you, we might be forced to charge you with aiding and abetting a malevolent inhuman.’ 

I made it to the house with my clothes stuck to me in a cloud of sweat. No police cars in sight, I thought gladly. Visitor popped up, sitting on the fence casually. “Playing the truant now?” He laughed at me.

“This… Isn't… Funny,” I panted. “Trouble… Exorcists…”

Visitor's joking demeanour vanished immediately. “Exorcists? After you?” I nodded. “Holy shit. That's not good.”

“No fucking shit,” I said, having recovered my breath enough to curse at him. “Think my parents called the cops on you. Never thought they'd have the balls to do it, though.”

“That certainly explains… Something,” Visitor murmured, hopping off the fence to face the house. “Your parents didn't leave the house today. I was wondering why.”

It took me a moment to connect the dots. My parents stayed home to make sure Visitor wouldn't run away, because they'd called the exorcists on him. “Shit. We need to get out of here now,” I said. “We haven't got more than two minutes before the cops come.”

Visitor looked down at me. There was an odd look on his face, like that time he'd eaten a spoonful of salt instead of sugar. “Why are you doing this? Helping me, I mean,” he said, suddenly awkward.

I glared at the idiot, still trying to catch my breath. “You're family, moron. I grew up having your dumbass around. Besides, who else would I have to blame when stuff goes missing?” It was true. When I was little, I used to eat sweets from the jar and then point the finger at Visitor. It was amazing what ‘the evil spirit did it' could enable you to get away with. “Now come on, we haven't got much time, and if your moping costs us our escape I'm never going to forgive you.”

Visitor paused for a moment longer, then broke into laughter. “I have an idea,” he announced. “Your parents didn't go to work, so they haven't taken the car. You know what that means?”

I grinned at him. “Time for a joyride,” I said. “You nab the keys; they're probably in my dad's wallet. I'll go open up the garage and get everything ready.”

Visitor gave me a mocking bow and breezed up into the open window. I hopped over the fence and went through the back door. I suppose it might seem odd that I wasn't concerned about my parents catching me, but they had proven completely useless in disciplinary matters. If they couldn't stand up to the evil spirit haunting our house, they wouldn't be able to stand up to a rebellious teenager. 

My mother was standing in the kitchen, trying to affect a stern solemnity. “The school called. They said you ran out of the classroom. Care to explain yourself?”

I snorted. “Yeah, well, the police called. They said you snitched on Visitor. Care to explain yourself?” 

She opened her mouth to retort, but I was already gone, passing through the hallway and right into the garage, where Visitor was already waiting for me. “The hell took you so long? I could've already been halfway to the other side of the world already,” he jeered.

“Shut up,” I mumbled, finding the button to open the garage door. “You got the keys?”

“Yeah,” he said, and threw the wallet at me. “Even better, I've got your father's cash. It's a miserably small amount, you know.”

I snorted at that. Then I saw a small problem. “Hey, Vis? I just realised I can't drive,” I told him.

“Seriously? You suck. Come on, I'll do it,” he said, and snatched the wallet out of my hands. I got in the passenger side of the car. Visitor shoved the key in the ignition and turned it.

“Wait, when did you manage to get a driving licence? I thought spirits couldn't get that sort of thing,” I said as he wheeled us out of the garage. The distant sounds of sirens made my heart palpitate.

He glanced back at me. “You need a licence to drive one of these things?”

Taglist here!

@coffeeangelinabox, @dorky-pals, @calliecwrites, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @shukei-jiwa

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Genesis returns, Beast goes over the edge, and more as the Fall of X looms

Genesis returns, Beast goes over the edge, and more as the Fall of X looms #comics #comicbooks #xmen #fallofx

Paying off plot threads that have been brewing since 2019’s House of X and Powers of X, Fall of X will determine if mutantkind’s prosperous Krakoan Age can truly last forever or if its foundation has doomed it from the start. Today, fans can check out the covers for X-Men titles on sale in July, the month before Fall of X officially begins. These issues represent the final chapters of Krakoa as…