#guardian bravo

[rotm-channel]

RotM:MEET THE MONSTERS-Chapter II

“Are you awake Susan darling?”said a familiar voice.

“Derek!I had a nightmare, a terrible horrible nightmare that I was a hideous giantess.”

“Of course not," the voice said.”You're a very nice and handsome giantess.”

Or was it a dream?I cleared my eyes and my body was aching with pain and I saw Monger flying right in front of me in fact…“It wasn't a dream.” I realized,I felt utterly destroyed from this truth.I wanted to hide from this painful reality.

“Good News!Your time in solitary confinement is up!You're free to join the others!Oorah!”He said, hoping to cheer me up.

It was kinda relieving that I wouldn't be in one place in complete and utter solitude and finally get to talk to someone…then again that someone would be a hideous monster…And I was there,In solitary…alone,for days…at least I thought there were no clocks or skies to tell when it was day and night…time went by and I didnt have the slightest idea when was now or how long I was here.I was fed about three times a day I guess so i guess i was there about a week or so,they gave me oatmeal…I never really like it and this bulk army variation less.It was too dry and lumpy but I also got orange juice to balance it out.These were the loneliest days of my life…Id rather not even talk about them.

Monger and a trio of mini copters escorted me to the meeting room.Via the platform we went down with a level and then I was taken around the cells on my platform again.

This time I tried to look more closely. There were little people and little crates and all going about like ants in their antfill.

As we continued around, I saw many strange beings there…

I saw that buggy-scientist guy Dr…well something. At work he called out to me while playing with some toy bricks and building what looked like a toy brick variation of an atomic bomb.

“Aw Susan!You wouldn't happen to have some Uranium with you,I only need a little”I thought to myself that he must be joking no one would be that nutty.

The General did not: “Deny him his toy box privileges” he said to one of the guards.

“Yes Sir!”One of the guards replied via the walkie talkie.

Then I saw the Missing Link again. He was in his water tank lifting weights.

“Seven”

“Eight”

Then he noticed me and how I was looking at him.

“Nine Hundred Ninety Nine”

“One Thousand”

“Woah can't believe I did one thousand sets” he said trying to impress me and tossing away the weights,what was with him,did he think I didn't notice him till now?

This was some odd company I had here…but then again that should be expected.Because this place was built for monsters like- like- NO!I am not a monster, I am a normal girl who just by chance is stuck here!

We continued on…at times I looked at those strange beings despite not wanting to. They were hideous, they were odd,yet this morbid curiosity inside of me just forced me to just look at them.

Then I saw Grubzilla.

He was gigantic!Even in my view he was a giant…I shuddered in fear…just looking at him despite him not saying or doing anything scared me because after all he was a terrifying beast!All he was doing was looking at me… and then he roared and licked the glass as if he was trying to eat me!I was petrified.And to boot while I was a giant!But compared to this behemoth I was tiny…

While looking around I really started to see that the overall appearance of the prison was cold and sterile,with an eerie bluish cast from the fluorescent lights.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well you're here you can meet your new colleagues.After all you're going to be here for quite some time,OOOrah”Monger said when escorting me into the meeting room. “Oh and one more thing Monger” added to me. “The Government wants to change your name to something new” like a name which we will address you now that you're well ...you know. ,I put in a good word for you so they gave you the chance to decide it.”

“But I don't want to change my name” I said in protest! “My name is Susan!That's it!Susan Murphy!”

“Look this is how it's gonna be…be glad you can choose your name okay?” Monger cut me off giving me a bit of a look of displeasure with my ungratefulness,but then again it was still a change nonetheless.

“Oh and breakfast has been served”Monger added

In the meeting room at first I was alone…just me…I felt alone,but then again maybe it was for the better. those freaks could be dangerous…especially Grubzilla that way he licked the glass…he must have been really craving for me.Speaking of eating I didn't feel the least bit hungry I lost my appetite along with any taste.

I went to have a closer look at the common room she saw a big chair and a big table built just for me “When some people want to really do something,they can do it really fast”I said to myself ,when realizing how hard it must have been to do it and in such a timeframe it did help to lift my spirits a bit.But then I sat there and looked around…this place was so bare,like yes the chair and table were nice but it just felt so basic and dull as if all the color was out of its life. “A carpet,a few paintings and some flowers would be nice,”I said, dreaming about it.I sat in it,It was cold and not very comfortable while I wanted to complain I realized a chair of this size must have been made from construction girders used for skyscrapers and this was a sad reality,that this was how it just is.

“Well,Good day to you Susan!”A familiar voice said.

I quickly stepped back and screamed in terror,but then promptly stopped,I really had to get used to this…

“Oh,I understand your fear.But you seem to have been getting more accustomed to here,as last time you tried to crush me,and you seem to be getting better!Good for you” .After all be taken away and locked up in a prison not allowed to even say goodbye to your family and friends.And then meet us terrifying creatures at the same time,It is no surprise you were scared." He congratulated me.

“It's so nice to see you you again,The buggman continued “maybe this time we can meet on better terms.Sorry about Link bothering you,he was just a little excited”

He seemed to be a kind and intelligent fellow.Maybe they all weren't that bad I thought to myself he was quite nice and charming.

“I think I should formally introduce myself. I am Dr. Jacques-Yves or “Cockroach” that's my new name but both work.And you are Susan we didn't meet on best terms last time so I think we can give it a go again.

While I was looking at him I noticed that my Breakfast was on the floor. “Why is it there?” I asked.

“Practicality as just having to build a system to lift it would be hard so it was decided that It would make the most sense for you to do it without assistance”.

“Yeah great!”I said in a sarcastic tone I just didn't feel like well…Susan.

The Army kinda had a point after all just building a mere chair was hard and expensive, it was the cold hard truth.

Speaking of the chair, when I wanted to move it,it stayed in place. I looked down and noticed it was bolted in place…this place really was bare-bones. I couldn't move in neared or further just sit,then I looked at the food when I put in in front of me

“Is this-” I began to say.

“Yes it's oatmeal!It is served to all personnel for breakfast.”Jacques said.

“Sigh” Oatmeal again,why did it have to be oatmeal?Just remembering how I used to have homemade marmalade and sweet tasty pancakes smothered in maple syrup and tea with sugar…ah those sweet memories.

I noticed that Link and the blob were there but that werewolf who I noticed last time wasn't.

Then Grubzilla came in and he was looking at me.I was panicking on the inside at least,I told myself internally “Surely he's fead and wouldn't eat me,right?''I looked at him with uncertainty.

I examined him,he was weird, he was bi-pedal and had some plates on what I assumed to be his tale,he was terrifyingly weird and scary.

The atmosphere was tense…

Suddenly Grubzilla reached out for me!

I was petrified in place!

His pincer arms caught me and took me!

“Oh no!NO!NO!NO!HE'S GOING TO EAT ME!!!”I screamed in terror.

He took me up and,and,and, and then he!…hugged me on his belly? I calmed down it was oddly relaxing.Quaint…he was trying to calm me.His fur was like feathers.They were so soft, I felt…lifted.I felt as If my Mother was hugging me when I was a little girl.I felt relaxed,calmed by him.It was so comforting of him.

“Just when I needed it”I said merrily.

“That means that he”likes you Link said

I rubbed his foot back and he happily stomped and then he purred,Like a cat but because of it being a creature of his size it couldn't really hear it but feel it.

I started wondering about grubbzilla and then I aksed Jacques.

“What,what even is he?”I asked,he was so odd his face kinda reminded me of a hamster. He had a tail and two big legs standing like a dinosaur,with four pincer-like arms and two antennas.

"He's a Giant mutated grub -Bombyx Mori to specify.Got Hit by radiation from Castle Bravo nuclear test in the pacific.Apart from growing he had a few other changes to his biology like the ability to shoot silk and his appearance changing quite a lot."

“He has a taste for Japanese Cities,Oh and his brain is still bug-sized" Jacques adeded sarcastically.

"Hey!Link said angrily Grubzilla wasn't actually attacking the city.He was teething on buildings since grubs don't have teeth and getting teeth was one of the side-effects."

“Wait, if he's from Japan why is he kept here?”I wondered.

“Because Dear Susan,this facility was made for such beings and it is the only real place of its type in the world!And there is an international agreement between the world governments to hide them here and assist with capturing them and denying them,which is also coupled with an agreement that other myths which do not disturbed the balance are to assistant in not being exposed.”

"How are you even like this?"I asked Dr.Jacques-Yves

“I am a brilliant scientist. While a little batty at times,I was quite normal.Until the day I tried my experiment with a machine which had the mutation enhancements of certain bug life to combine my genes and get the benefits. By test number 78 I was ready to have a go for it.It turned me into this hybrid mad genius.While it gave me the cockroaches ability to survive and the ability to walk on walls it came at a high price,I was half cockroach…and if that wasn't enough my after my transformations my mind shifted…it changed.I found myself no longer liking many things as I did before but liking things a bug would like.”

"How did you even end up here?"I asked him.

“Well I won't bore you, the change made me just lose myself,things just kinda happened.I was kind of out of control ,I tried to take over some countries the government was called in and I ended up here.”

“That over there missing Link Half-ape Half Fish.When explorers accidentally found him,scientists were sent to thaw him out.He immediately escaped and headed directly for the beaches which were his old watering home,went on a rampage,kidnapped several women and fought back and after a few actions Monger was sent and managed to bring him here.”

“That Blob is the Blob but we like to call him Bob.”

“He was created in an experiment with tomatoes and chemically altered ranch salad dressing. He is a creature of very little intellect but ,I must admit that he is by far the happiest of us. His blinding stupidity and mirthful ignorance just help him.He is a simpleton,but a happy simpleton.”

Well…this was interesting,.I thought to myself maybe they know something about this place I didn't. Any of them could tell me more about how this place goes,then an idea flew into my head!Maybe they allowed visits here…maybe I could see Mom and Dad and even Derek!

“Are there any visitors here,you know family or friends?I asked hopefully with a slight glint of hope in my eyes.”

“Family?To be truly honest Susan none of us really had any family.For instance I was always so busy and caught up in my work that I never truly had a family or even many friends. I was married to my work…yet even despite that I at times just seem to lack a certain something in my life as if I'm empty.”

“As for Link, his family and species died out many millennia ago leaving him alone in a world that moved on without him and he didn't have the best relation to women he kidnapped.He is truly a relic of a bygone era.”

"Bob is a result of an experiment so he had no real connection to anybody or anything.The closest thing he had was that he is part tomato but that's about it."

"Grubzilla never really had a family he was just hatched and left alone to his own devices, so he went on his own and had an adventure which led him here."

“But I have a Family!”I said, choking on my words “And i want to see them!”

I started to cry again

Link came up come on “Girly it isn't that bad give us a chance…and give me a chance im the tough guy after all”

“Link I think it would be best for you to Leave Susan alone,what she went through none of us did to be frank.”Jacques said to Link

“To be honest,we are the closest thing we ever had to a family.” Jacques added in.

“Any others here?”I asked, trying to get myself out of the gutter.

“Well yes but not all of them are as sociable as us…Some have been locked up for good and aren't even let into the meeting room.”

Really?Which?

“Well we have quite a few most aren't as friendly or sociable like us.That is why they usually stay permanently locked up in there cages as they would only cause trouble.We have all sorts of beings here thought to be mythical creatures A giant sea serpent,dragons,Harpies,Invisible Man.They were all caught either by Monger or governments with assistance from various other groups.”Jacques though back likely remembering the first meeting.

“There's also Beastman who is a werewolf. While he comes out he can only control himself in the day hours so his visits to the meeting room are often sporadic and limited.Hes quite charismatic and gentlemanly but can at night he is feral.He actually gave himself up to the government.”

This was so odd all these things that were supposed to be confined to imagination…they were all real and here.

“Susan dear?You wouldn't mind if I made a check on you?”

“It's fine…I guess.”

He ran some checks through his computer and other such ways. It was less embarrassing then in the lab I had to admit at least I was treated more like a person on a check-up rather than some oddity of nature that was being explored.

After a while Jacques said“This is oddly fascinating. Despite your size you seem to have abnormal strength and energy…”

“What energy?What strength?I don't feel powerful?I shouldn't even be here, I'm a normal girl”This was weird for me,and about to get weirder.

“Indeed,one of the most interesting ones I had the honor of knowing.

After re-examining his studies he looked at me.

“Hmm,your height is 15.214 meters 49 feet 11 inches,however your weight is not equal to your height.”

“My weight?”I added what was he rambling about?

“Exactly,you weigh less than twelve tons.You weigh merely 11.8 tons which is a quarter of what it should be at your proportions.You're amazingly light!”

“LIGHT!?”I screamed in shock and horror.

“I am as heavy as an elephant!”This was disgusting.Just the fact alone that I was as heavy as an elephant made me feel repulsed.

“A smidge heavier actually my dear.”He added "Remember you are far taller than an elephant.And the cube law which dictates if you increase somethings mass by a factor of two its mass increase by the cube…however in your case it seems as though your strength was cubed instead.How Lucky for you.And wait!There's more to you!Your cardiopulmonary system,your nervous system by any normal biological sense you defy all scientific logic!Whatever caused this would defy all laws of normal physics!But let's be honest you're not the only one to do that…But it is so monumentally fascinating!

“I dont get it…i was a normal girl and now im heavier that an elephant and disproportionately strong…”

“Of course you were!”He said soothingly.I looked at his odd face nervously and listened.

After a while Monger flew in?”Susan Murphy!Have you chosen your new name yet?!”Monger shouted he must have been busy,his temper was not good.

“No,I completely forgot sir.”It's just that i was just having a talk with some of the others here an-

“I get it,I can come back later and check if you got your new name,so long as you're happy with it”He said and left he is quite a busy man.

This Left me deep in thought she wanted to think of a name.

“I just need to think of a name,a name that best describes me,a name like…

Amazon Babe?Link proposed. “Big,Strong and Beautiful”he added.I layed down into a position

I shook my head. “No something else…delicate like a blossom,elegant like a ballerina.

Like bob?Bob the blob said.

“No youre bob!”Link said

“Oh yeah!I keep forgetting.Bob said rather brainlessly.

“Well you see it's not easy trying to be a woman,and a Giantess is even harder”

“I don't know” Link said “I never tried to be either”

“It's just when most imagine giants there are big and hairy monster.Dumb and masculine.”

How about Garganta,Ginormica…or……THE AMAZING COLOSSAL WOMAN!Link said

“You got that from a movie right?”I said in a lighter tone slightly chuckling to myself.

“You know it would be better if I were a Man,Men are always so strong and big and muscle bound.I need the name to be cute and delicate, while I weigh almost twelve tons and have over 20 foot long fell. It still doesn't mean i can't be gentle…”I said slowly thinking back on ideas for a name.

“So youre saying you need a name which shall be most fitting for yourself as with your form and with your personality in one.” Jacques-Yves said.

!Which would be the right name for it?MEGA-MAID?Monsterina?"

“How about Gaia?”Jacques replied he was done with his examinations of collected data and was paying me full attention.

"Well...I dont know"I said in uncertainty.

“She originates from Greek mythology.She is a giant,the personification of Earth and mother of all life.And the mother of the Titans,Cyclops and other giants”

“Gee,thanks Doc.But I think it's too vague like yeah she sounds good but the name just doesn't seem to fit me”I said after some deep thinking in my head.

Jacues-Yves went back deep into his thought and ended the silence with another well thought out suggestion.

“How about Titania?”

Now this sounded interesting, it did have that power and softness in it.It was by far the most fitting name so far.But it wasn't completely sold on it,but it sparked my interest.

That sounds interesting”

“Oh it is!”He said with a smile “It's from ancient classical Roman legend.It was the name given to the daughters of the Titans!”You might have heard of it sometime.He said looking proud of his suggestion.

No,I don't think so.Am I supposed to?I asked

The Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare's Midsummer night's dream!So its fitting to represent both sides of you!

“That's great,...but I think it needs a bit of a change.Something just to deviate a little and make it inspired yet at the same time with a hint of familiarity Doc.”

Well let's think about it,meanwhile maybe we can talk about that Shakespearean classic!...you read it right?

“Well to be honest doc,I never read anything shakespeare.But I did see Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet with Derek.”I said abashed, my memories quickly came back.How she loved that movie and Derek did too it was such a romantic night…sigh…if only it were…if only it were.

You…never read Shakespeare?Jacques said in surprise. “I hope you don't mind me asking you this but where did you go to?”

“Well…I said, continuing to reminisce on my past. It was kinda normal standard school,not some school for gifted which you surely went to”

Actually my was fairly standard to Dr. Admitted “Not an extraordinary amount of geniuses there to be truthful”But they did force a few old classics into us students quite meticulously.

“Not by us.I think we did some Shakespeare in English,but I never was really interested in it.I remember only just something like First Folio and one thing about Fair is..well something”

Well then,First Folio is a compilation of 36 plays from Shakespeare whereas “Fair is Foul and Foul is fair”Is from Macbeth The power of unchecked ambition is the main theme of Macbeth and that sentence is one of the first in the entire book.

“Wow,you seem to know everything there is to know”I said he really was the smartest person I ever met.

“No,not at all!For instance I don't exactly how you grew to this size and how you defy so many laws of physics”

But I do seem to have quite an oddly good memory for such trivial things.

“I dont”I sighed. I had to admit I felt very ignorant dumb after that conversation with all things a bugman.

Then I remembered the name I thought about and thought about how to add that something to it.Than I came up with it!

I think I'll choose to call myself……TITANICA!

Link Chapter I : https://www.tumblr.com/rotm-channel/753657409087684608/birth-of-a-monsteroriginal-story-part-1

I hope you liked it,if so please give a heart and reblog

[radiowarp]

I wanted to draw Maurice from the episode "Johnny's Guardian Angel"

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Home Video Releases for August 1, 2023

[sjsmith56]

Worthy - A Private Man, Chapter 28

Summary: Ten years have passed and Bucky is leading an Avengers mission. An emergency message sends him home to face something he has always feared but accepted as inevitable.

Length: 7.2 K

Characters: Bucky, Tracey, Rebecca and the rest of the family, found and made.

Warnings: Grief of the deepest kind, deathbed scene.

Author’s notes: Final chapter. This was always a story about family and it ends with the understanding that love is what binds a family together, even in the saddest of times. Bibi: grandmother in Swahili, a common language in Sudan. Fields of Gold, words and music by Gordon Matthew Sumner, 1993. Divider by vecteezy.com

<<Chapter 27

June 2035

With hand signals to the squad behind him Bucky got his team in position in a dark shadowy area of the compound, held by rebel soldiers of the army of a Central American republic.  The rebels, aligned with the former dictator who lost in a democratic election had taken hostages from the various embassies whose ambassadors had arrived to support the swearing in of the new government.  Bucky pressed a button on his comms piece. 

"Alpha team in place," he said in barely more than a whisper.  "Other teams report."

"Bravo in place," said John Walker, code name U.S. Agent.

"Charlie in position," said Yelena Belova, code name Black Widow.

"Both eyes are in the sky," said Captain America for himself and Falcon.  "Hostages are all in the central hall.  Read a dozen guards with them.  A dozen scattered throughout the main floor, more on the second floor.  Secondary barracks one mile away, complement unknown."

"Roger that," replied Bucky.  "Stealth mode for initial infiltration.  Shang Chi and White Wolf for initial entry, followed by U.S. Agent, Ant Man, Black Widow and Red Guardian.  Support teams to follow on my mark, with setup for possible second wave from those barracks.  Spider-Man, Wasp, Hawkeye, and Black Panther take second floor, then join the fun on the first when all combatants are neutralized.  Confirm."  He received the confirmation from everyone.  "On my mark, execute.  Mark."

Bucky and Shaun approached the outside sentries near their location taking them down silently then entered the building, both of them so stealthy in their approach that the remaining guards near them didn't have a chance to react.  The other four did the same, entering the building from their vantage points.  Bucky gave the signal for the second-floor teams to enter, then their armed support teams followed, some of them setting up outside to counter any resistance approaching them while the others disarmed and bound the enemy, dragging the unconscious figures to a location out of their way.  Finally, the Avengers were in position just outside the central hall, having disarmed everyone except the guards inside with the hostages. 

"Someone must have tripped a silent alarm," reported Sam, from above in the night sky.  "The barracks has suddenly gone active.  You have five minutes, maximum."

"Roger," replied Bucky.  "Support teams all to the outside for defence of our position.  Extreme force authorized if necessary."

Receiving confirmation from the squad sergeants he returned his attention to the central hall, trying to work out the best way to disable the guards with minimal danger to the hostages.  The way the hostages were scattered in various seating arrangements would make it difficult unless they could signal them to all drop to the floor at the same time.

"Hope, Scott?" he said.  "Time to shrink.  Go to each hostage and tell them to hit the floor when they see the red flare.  Sam?  You have enough red flares to make it visible inside the central hall?"

"Damn right we do," he replied.  "Just give me the signal when everyone has been alerted.  We'll set off the flares then provide covering fire from above at the incoming reinforcements."

"Already on it, Buck," said Scott.  "Give us a minute.  We'll stay on the floor with them, if that's okay with you.  We can take out a guard or two when they're distracted by the flare."

"Everyone else, pick a target, disable them then get outside to take on the second wave," ordered Bucky, waiting on Scott's confirmation that the hostages were ready.

"We're ready," said Scott a few moments later.

"Sam, Joaquin, send up the flares."

As the inside of the central hall glowed red all the hostages hit the ground as the guards raised their firearms, looking up through the skylights of the tall atrium.  As Scott and Hope resized to normal the rest of the Avengers swarmed the guards disabling them.  There were the sounds of gunfire outside as the support teams began taking fire and returning it.  Scott and Hope stayed to bind the guards and keep the hostages together, while everyone else took off out of the various exits to take on the incoming troops from the barracks.  After a short firefight and some one-on-one battles, they finally subdued the final rebel reinforcements.  They had no casualties although three members of the support squad had been hit by gunfire and were receiving treatment from a medic.  Bucky walked through the support teams, talking quietly with them, thanking them for their help, staying a little longer with the injured ones, who all made light of their injuries.  Only then did he get on his comms to the command base in New York.

"White Wolf to base," he said, his voice audible to all team members.

"Go ahead White Wolf," said Maria's voice.

"Objective achieved," he said.  "All hostages safe.  Request immediate evacuation.  Advise local military they will need several trucks to transport captured rebels.  They have some casualties, but I don't have that number yet.  We have three injured, none serious."

There was a pause then Rhodes voice came on, just for Bucky's ears.  "I'm sending a request for a portal," he said.  "Buck, it's Rebecca."

"What's happened?" asked Bucky, switching to privacy mode on his end.

"She's had a stroke," replied Rhodes.  "She's comfortable but the doctors said she won't survive.  Come back to base, get cleaned up and we'll give you a portal to the hospital.  The others can handle the debrief on your behalf.  Tracey is with her, and Janice is already on her way there."

A numb feeling filled Bucky's body that must have shown on his face because Sam suddenly landed beside him, his face concerned as he faced his friend.

"It's Rebecca," said Bucky, running a hand through his hair.  "I have to go.  You do the debriefing."

"Of course," said Sam.  "We'll be there as soon as we can.  She'll hold on for you Buck.  I know it."

Mindlessly Bucky nodded then walked into the portal that suddenly appeared, exiting into the armoury section of the Avengers compound where the weapons master took his weapons from him.  Outside the armoury door Rhodes waited then fell into step beside Bucky, telling him that the nursing home had done their usual 11 pm check on Rebecca.  When they did the next visual check at midnight she was on the floor beside the bed and transported to hospital immediately.  An MRI confirmed it was a massive stroke.  Bucky never said a word as Rhodes escorted him to his quarters, then waited outside the door as Bucky stripped down, showered and redressed in less than 5 minutes.  When Bucky came out Rhodes stayed with him as they arrived at an open space where he signalled Wong to open a portal to the hospital.  Just before Bucky walked into it, he turned to Rhodes.

"Thank you," he said, sincerely.  "For everything."

His mouth set in a grim line Rhodes nodded and watched as the man he regarded as the best soldier in the world went through to face a grief they had known would come someday.  Didn't make it any easier to handle.  For a moment, Rhodes twisted the wedding band on his ring finger.  When he asked Janice to marry him eight years before, Rebecca had decided it was time she move to a retirement home.  Bucky tried to convince her to move into their home, but she demurred, saying he, Tracey and the kids needed to have their own space.  Even though they visited her often and had her stay with them over the holidays it never seemed to be enough time with his sister for Bucky.  With a sigh, Rhodes returned to the command centre where Maria gave him a questioning look.  He just shook his head.

As Bucky stepped out of the portal in front of the hospital he stopped for a moment and looked up at the imposing building.  He didn't trust most medical facilities, with the exception of the birthing centres that welcomed new life.  To him, most hospitals were places of pain and death, a remnant of his HYDRA trauma.  With a deep breath he stepped inside, registering with the night security station, steeling himself to spend whatever time Rebecca had left with her.  He texted Tracey, receiving an answer immediately with Rebecca's room number and went up the elevator, ignoring the looks he was given as the few people around in the pre-dawn hours recognized him.  No one spoke to the well-known super soldier, probably because his face was too grim, although one person in a wheelchair caught his eye and smiled, receiving a slight smile back from him.  Then he reached the floor where Rebecca was and found Tracey waiting for him.  Immediately, he enclosed her in his arms, pressing his face into her neck for some time before pulling away and searching her face.

"How is she?" he asked. 

"Waiting for you," she said.  "I think she knows.  She calls out for Harvey every once in a while and your parents."

He nodded.  "The kids?"

"My sister Lena came over.  She said she would stay the night."

Looking up at the ceiling then taking a deep but ragged breath Bucky nodded, and they began the walk to Rebecca's room.  It was quiet in there, except for the sound of an infusion pump, and the soft beeping of the pulse oximeter that measured Rebecca's heart rate, O2 levels, and respiration rate.  She lay on her back with her eyes open but distant.  Her skin looked so fragile and pale against the hospital bedding, that he wondered for a moment if her heart was actually pumping blood through her body.  Then his sister said his name, in barely a whisper and Bucky stepped forward, taking her hand in his and hovering over her.

"Hey sweetheart," he said softly, before kissing Rebecca on the forehead.  "I'm here."

"Sorry," she mumbled, one side of her mouth not working.  "Mmm sick."

"I know, don't be sorry," said Bucky, feeling his emotions beginning to bubble up inside him.  "You just take it easy.  Let them get you better."

"No ... s'time," replied Rebecca.  "Waiting ...."

She closed her eyes and for a moment Bucky thought she was gone then she opened her eyes again.  "Luv you."

"I love you, too, sweetheart," he said.  Then he took a shaky breath and began to recite from Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch.  He knew it by heart after reading it to her, then to his own children. "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Her eyes watched him as he said the words, with a single tear dropping from the corner of one of them, then she smiled, closed her eyes and took two more breaths before letting go.  As her heart rate drastically slowed down Bucky began to cry and laid his head on her chest, desperate to hear her last heartbeats for himself.  Tracey put her hand on his back and rubbed it, crying herself.  Janice arrived at that moment, her face falling as she saw the heartbreaking scene in front of her.  A nurse entered, saw what was happening and stepped past Janice, turning off the machines, looking up at the time, then stepping out and closing the door behind her. 

Bucky's sobs were the loudest sound in the room as he gave in to his grief at losing the last person with a connection to his original life.  After some time, his crying slowed down and he raised himself up, reaching out for Tracey and holding her desperately.  He then noticed Janice was there and held out his arms for her, standing as she reached him, hugging her and Tracey together.  Reaching into his pocket he found a handkerchief, offering it to the two women, who declined it in favour of tissues.  He wiped his eyes, while trying to take some cleansing breaths, before speaking.

"She was waiting for me to let her go," he said.  "What do we do now?"

"We can stay here as long as we need to," said Tracey.  "When you're ready to leave we can call the funeral home and they'll pick her up.  She already arranged everything."

"Yeah, she told me," he said.  "She wants to be buried with Harvey."  He took another shaky breath.  "You'll both help me through this?"

Tracey put her hand on his cheek.  "Yes, my love, you won't have to do this alone," she replied.  "Mom and I will be here for you."

"So will Rhodey," said Janice, warmly.  "He'll be coming as soon as the debrief is done, so will Sam and Maria.  We'll all be here for you."

"Thank you," he said quietly, then his face crumpled again as he began to cry once more.

Tracey led him to the armchair and sat on his lap, enclosing him in her arms.  Janice pulled her phone out and texted Rhodey that Rebecca passed away in Bucky's arms.  When his reply asked how Bucky was taking it, she responded with one word.  Heartbroken. 

After spending the rest of the night at the hospital before finally allowing himself to leave Bucky and Tracey went to their house to break the news to their four children, Sam, Steve, Rebecca and Raina.  Rhodes and Janice followed in her car.  The oldest two children, Sam, almost 10 and Steve, 8 years old, understood right away that Rebecca died, and began to cry for their Nana.  Rebecca, 6, and Raina, almost 4, had a harder time understanding what happened, so Bucky sat in an armchair with them on his lap, breathing deeply to explain death to his daughters.

"Do you remember Alley Cat?" he asked.  "When he got sick, and we took him to an animal doctor, but we didn't bring him home?"

"Mommy said he was on the Rainbow Bridge," said Rebecca, "and would stay there waiting for us to be with him someday.  Is that where Nana is?"

"Yeah, part of Nana is at the Rainbow Bridge, with Alley Cat," he said patiently.  "Her spirit is there but her body was left behind, so we're going to bury Nana in the ground with her husband Harvey.  His spirit has been waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for Nana for a long time, so have my parents.  They'll all be there waiting for us, when it's our turn to go there."

"I want to go now!" exclaimed Raina.  "I want to see Nana."

"No, sweetheart, it's not your turn yet," replied Bucky, kindly.  "Until it's your turn you'll have to remember Nana in your dreams and your memories."

"When?" asked Raina.

"I don't know," he answered.  "Everybody's time is different."

"Did you cry?" asked Rebecca.

"Yes, I cried very much," said Bucky.  "I still feel like crying because I loved Nana very much."

"But she wasn't your mom," said Rebecca.  "You never called her Mom."

Bucky looked at Tracey.  It was something they had discussed about how to tell the kids about him being older than Nana.  They decided to leave it until one of the kids brought it up.  Tracey looked at him sympathetically as the timing of this wasn't the best.

"Nana was actually my baby sister," said Bucky.  "I'm a lot older than I look because I was kept a prisoner by some bad people.  They made me sleep a lot and it meant my body slowed down and didn't get old.  Nana wasn't a prisoner, so she got older like everyone else."

Sam and Steve were in front of Bucky looking seriously at him.  "Who were you a prisoner of?" asked Steve.

"Some very bad people," said Bucky.  "I don't want to say who because I still feel bad about it.  They did things to me and turned me into a bad person for a long time."

"One of the kids at school said you were the Winter Soldier," said Sam.  "I looked it up on the internet.  That was you?"

"That was me," said Bucky, feeling dread at having to explain what he used to be to his son.  "I didn't want to be him.  I was never given a choice.  They changed me and made me obey their orders.  Steve Rogers, who your brother is named after was my best friend then, and he helped me get away from them.  He took me to Wakanda, and they gave me this arm, which is different than the one the Winter Soldier had.  The Wakandans made it so that I would never be the Winter Soldier again and I became an Avenger instead, to do good things in the world instead of bad things."

"So, you're a hero now," said Sam.  "Like Uncle Sam, and Uncle Joaquin, and the other Avengers."

"That's what they tell me," answered Bucky.  "What do you think I am?"

"My dad," he replied immediately.  "You're my dad.  You're nice to us, nice to everyone.  You're not a bad guy anymore and I told that kid that you weren't.  I said you're a good guy and a hero."  He started to cry.  "You're my hero."

Bucky reached past his daughters and pulled Sam into his arms, trying to hold all three, then Steve as well, when he stuck his head into the mix.  Lena, Tracey's sister was trying not to cry but gave up and Tracey had to comfort her. 

"Sorry, it's a beautiful moment," said Lena, wiping her eyes.

The kids pulled away then Steve looked up at his dad, puzzled.  "Why did we call her Nana?"

"She wanted that," said Bucky, smiling.  "She never had any kids of her own and when Sam was born the first thing she told him was that she was Nana.  It made her happy."

"She was a good nana," said Sam.  "I loved her."

"She loved all of you so much," said Bucky, "as much as me, your mom and Grandma love you.  Always remember that."

Once more he drew his children in close, kissing them all on the forehead and telling them each individually that he loved them.  They went to Tracey, receiving the same affirmations from her.  As Lena made breakfast for the couple, Sam and Maria arrived, with their two children.  As much as Bucky and Sam jokingly pretended they didn't like each other it was obvious about the bond between them as Sam held his partner, crying himself for the elderly woman who became his friend. 

"She was an incredible woman," he said to Bucky, once he wiped his tears away.  "I loved her as much as I loved my own sister."

"She loved you too, Sam," replied Bucky, his stoic façade completely shattered.  "I know she left something for you in her will, but you'll find out soon enough.  We all will."

"She always was good at playing her cards close to her chest," grinned Sam. 

"Bucky, how can we help?" asked Maria, kindly.

He looked to his wife, at her kind smile, feeling an upwelling of love for her, knowing he wouldn't have been able to get through the night without her soft presence.

"Tracey and I have to go to the funeral home," he said.  "Even though Rebecca pre-arranged everything they want to go over it with us so we can see what she chose.  If you two, Janice and Rhodey could hold the fort here, watch the kids, and deal with anyone who stops by we would appreciate it."

"Sure, it's the least we can do," smiled the dark-haired assistant director of their organization.  "When you get back, if you two want to catch up with your sleep we'll still be here."

"We'll call the centre and a few others on our way to the funeral home," said Bucky.  "They'll be devastated.  If Amina, Samira, or Kalyna come over tell them to wait for us to return.  I want to talk to them personally."

With that Tracey and Bucky headed to the funeral home, going over the detailed plans for Rebecca's funeral.  Like they expected there were a few surprises in her plans, but the director said he would make the arrangements and make sure it was all set up and coordinated with the right people.  A smile crossed Bucky's face when he saw the list of pallbearers that Rebecca chose.  Some of those people were going to be so surprised when he asked them.  They also stopped at Matt Murdock's office.  As the lawyer for Rebecca's estate, they wanted to tell him in person of her passing.  The big man hugged both of them for a long time, as Foggy waited his turn.

"Your sister will be very missed," said Matt.  "She was one of a kind and one of the kindest people I ever met."

"We'll inform those people who have been named in her will to meet before the funeral," said Foggy.

"She asked that you both be pallbearers," said Bucky.  "She trusted you both while she was alive.  Now she wants your help to finish her journey."

"It would be our honour," said Matt, looking directly at Bucky's face. 

On their return home Joaquin and his wife were there and Bucky informed him and Rhodes that Rebecca wanted them to be her pallbearers.  Sam's head jerked up at that moment, wondering why he wasn't named. 

"She wanted you to give the eulogy, Sam," replied Bucky.  "You're the one to tell her story."

"Surprising me still," said his friend, grinning.  "I'll do a good job."

"You always do," smiled the super soldier.  "Rhodey, do you still have the former President's phone number?"

"Yeah, we play golf once in a while," replied the Avengers director, then he grinned as he put two and two together.  "You're serious ... she wants him?"

"Yup," grinned Bucky back.  "The funeral director said the Secret Service can coordinate with him on President Burton's participation.  It's going to be a large venue as well, but I don't want to say anything until the final pallbearer gets here."

As they all relaxed in the family room with coffees to stave off the fatigue of the previous night, Bucky looked out the window at the Barnes and Wilson kids playing on the climbing set, a different one from the one bought when young Sam was a baby as it unfortunately didn't hold up to the rough play of two super soldier boys.   He began thinking about how much his life had changed from when he first moved in with Rebecca.  Originally it had been a familial obligation that he felt was his duty; the older brother obligated to look after his younger sister as amends for not returning from the war, not being there to help his parents transition into old age, or to stand up for his sister when she married. 

Very soon after he moved in, they had words, and not very nice ones either.  Both of them were angry at the years stolen from them, the birthdays, the anniversaries, any number of important family occasions that never happened because Bucky was kept a prisoner by HYDRA.  That was the only time she asked him about being the Winter Soldier, how he mustn't have tried very hard to escape, considering all of his strength and abilities. 

"We needed you," she cried.  "I had to deal with Dad's dementia and Ma's failing health by myself.  Harvey wasn't well and it was too much.  I hated you, hated that you weren't there.  You were dead and then when I found out you weren't it was like a slap in the face.  Why didn't you try harder to get away from those people?"

He almost walked out then, almost turned his back on his sister, but as he got to the door he dropped his head and came back to her, kneeling on the floor in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"I tried many times to leave," he said earnestly.  "Without even knowing who I really was, I knew I didn't belong to them.  They constantly wiped my memories and told me everyone who had been friends or family had abandoned me, given up searching for me because I didn't matter.  Then they told me I did matter to them.  To someone with no tether to the past, just brief fragments of faces ...."  He caressed her face then.  "Your face, Ma's and Dad's, the memories were still there but they had nothing linking them together that said I belonged to them.  Even when I did remember a name, or my own name, if they got a whiff of that they did unspeakable things to me.  I was beaten, burned, cut open, injected with all sorts of toxins to study how the serum neutralized them.  It was constant, Rebecca.  They'd wipe me, bring out the soldier and order me to take my punishment for the smallest infraction.  To disobey meant even worse punishment.  There are still memories of water boarding, of being hung up by my arms bound behind me while they shocked me, of being ... raped." 

He broke down crying then and Rebecca bent over him, gathering him as close as she could to herself.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeated over and over again, as they both cried in complete and utter despair.

After that it was better, as they each made an effort to be kinder to each other.  Rebecca became his anchor to his humanity, reminding him of the times when he was a good son and brother, and when she had her first stroke his decision to become her primary caregiver wasn't done out of obligation, it was done out of love, of wanting to make sure that whatever time they had left would have meaning for both of them. 

"You're crying," said Tracey's voice, softly, at that moment and Bucky turned his head to his wife's beautiful face.  "You're remembering her, aren't you?"

He put his arm around her and kissed her temple.  "Yeah," he murmured.  "Just remembering when I first moved in with Rebecca.  It was tough at first.  We had been apart for so long and there was a lot of unresolved anger between us.  I almost walked out the door, but I needed her, deep down my body and my brain knew I needed to be with her.  We made up and it was better after that.  Then you came into our lives, and it became amazing."

She slid onto his lap, and they held each other, thinking the same thing about how amazing her life became when she met Bucky and Rebecca.  They were still sitting like that when Amina Nyok, her husband Irshad, son Kafeel, and daughters, Fiza and Hiba arrived, bearing containers of baking.  Immediately the Sudanese woman, who had become good friends to all of them hugged Bucky, as did her husband and children, deciding to fully embrace the closeness of their families and dispense with old customs that forbade them from integrating more into the lives of their American friends.

"I'm so sorry, Bucky," said Amina, trying to keep from crying.  "She was my first American friend and my best one at that.  I learned so much about being an American from Rebecca and now she's gone."

"Thank you," said Bucky.  "She loved you and your whole family so much.  You and the others helped her get better and I'll always be in your debt for that."  He motioned to Kafeel.  "Rebecca has asked that you be a pallbearer for her.  It means that you and five others will carry her coffin from the funeral venue to the hearse, then from the hearse to the burial plot.  Are you up to it?"

The young man, now 21, and almost as tall and strong in appearance as Bucky nodded.  "It would be my honour, Buck," he said.  "She was my bibi in every way but blood.  I will do her proud."

With all of the pallbearers informed, Bucky finally conceded that he needed to rest and with the encouragement of the others he went up to the bedroom he shared with Tracey, looking out the window for a moment, before he unzipped his pants, took them and his shirt off and got under the covers.  Within moments he was asleep.

Five days later, on a warm and humid June day, the funeral for Rebecca Barnes Proctor took place in the large auditorium of the Brooklyn Newcomers Centre, a non-profit organization that helped all immigrants and refugees who entered their doors with English language instruction, job counselling and training, advocacy, and provided a safe place for them to meet and socialize as they acclimated to the different culture of the United States.  Early on, those who used their services were encouraged to volunteer their own time, as a means to make friends, and learn firsthand about American life from the people they helped.  From the moment the centre became involved with Bucky Barnes and his sister Rebecca, the centre experienced a growth and acceptance into the community unlike anything in its 40-year history.  When they agreed to host the funeral for Rebecca it was seen as thanks in return for all that she gave them.

Attending the funeral was a who's who of community, civic, and federal leaders, including representatives from city council, the police department and former President of the United States, Warren S. Burton, who didn't hesitate to accept when he was asked to act as a pallbearer for Rebecca Barnes Proctor.   Also in attendance was almost the full complement of Avengers, although some were on call, in case an emergency required their attention, with two of them, Director James Rhodes and Captain Joaquin Torres, code name Falcon, acting as pallbearers.  Two other pallbearers, Rebecca's lawyers, Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson, sat proudly next to the other three waiting for their cue to perform their honourable task.  The final pallbearer, a senior at NYU taking criminal justice, Kafeel Nyok, arrived and shook hands with the other pallbearers before taking his seat, impressing many with his demeanour at such a young age.  Prominent citizens included Pepper Stark, local entrepreneurs Samira Hussain, Kalyna and Bohdan Lyashenko, and many attendees from the larger multicultural community who all had a connection with the elderly woman.  The final surprise was the attendance of King M'Baku and Princess Shuri of Wakanda, complete with a guard complement of Dora Milaje.

Before the funeral a meeting with Murdock and Nelson revealed that Rebecca had left significant surprises for the people named in her will.  To her nieces and nephews, the children of her brother James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, she left trust accounts for their education of $100,000 each.  Bucky interrupted loudly, knowing for a fact that she didn't have that kind of money.

"What did she do, Matt?" he asked, incredulously.

"Remember when she bought back your interest in the house for $1?" asked Matt.  "She sold it to another person.  Turned out that property was worth a lot of money."

"I don't understand," replied Bucky.  "She still lived there until Janice got married.  Then she rented it to the Newcomer's Centre as a place for a refugee family to get on their feet.  That's what she told me."

"She didn't tell you everything," said Matt.  "After she sold the house, the new buyer donated it to the Centre for the same purpose.  Rebecca invested the proceeds so that she could do some good with it.  If you let me continue to read out the will, you'll find out what she wanted to do with the money."

With a little bit of a huff, Bucky sat back, still puzzled why Rebecca would do this without consulting with him.  As Foggy read the rest of her will, he understood more.  Foggy read out the list of scholarships that Bucky's sister provided seed money to, money that was matched by two other individuals, whose identity would be kept confidential.  There were several; the first one to be named for her, the Rebecca Proctor Scholarship for the children of refugees or immigrants who had used the services of the Newcomer Centre and had, in turn, provided volunteer service as part of the requirements to qualify for funds towards their post-secondary education.  Prior to creating that scholarship, she had personally paid for the education of Kafeel Nyok, and his two sisters.  The two anonymous individuals paid for the education of Kalyna and Bohdan's children, and the children of Samira Hussain, respectively.  Another scholarship, named the George and Winnifred Barnes Scholarship was announced for the children of military veterans, specifically those from the Brooklyn area.  Volunteer service was a pre-requisite for the application. The recipients had to be studying in a field that provided support to the community at large.  The third scholarship, named for Rebecca's brother, James Buchanan Barnes, was limited to military veterans who required additional funds to complete their education if it had been interrupted by their service, or by injuries suffered during their service.  It was meant to supplement the living expenses of veterans who used their military benefits to continue their education.  Foggy sat back and looked at everyone when he finished reading that part.

"The following are the final disbursements of the estate of Rebecca Barnes Proctor," he began.  "She wanted the people and organization named to know how much she appreciated their help in the last 11 years of her life.  To Sam Wilson, she leaves the amount of $250,000.  The following are her words.  Sam Wilson provided support to my brother and thus to me, at some difficult times in his life.  Sam made me laugh when I needed it, provided comfort when I had none to give in return, and never treated me like the old woman I was."  He looked at Janice Rhodes next.  "To my dear friend, Janice Rhodes.  I am so proud of how you reclaimed your life after the trauma of your first marriage.  Not only that, but you also became my partner in crime, my best girlfriend, long after those I grew up with had passed away.  With your friendship I felt young again.  I have donated $100,000 in your name to a women's shelter network in the Brooklyn area that provides support for the transition of women leaving abusive situations.  To you, I leave $150,000 as seed money to do with as you please.  Live it up, girlfriend!"

Janice smiled.  "She was my big sister.  It was like we just clicked.  I'll do some good with it, I promise."

Foggy nodded and continued.  "Rebecca has left the balance of her estate to the Brooklyn Newcomers Centre for their own use in continuing the services they provide to so many.  Without their volunteer services at a time that was needed by Rebecca and Bucky she doesn't believe that they would have had a good life."

Then Foggy got up and turned on a TV screen.  With a tablet connected to the screen broadcast he began playback of a recording of Rebecca, taken at the nursing home where she lived.  Her frail appearance couldn't hide the force of her words, her last words to Bucky and Tracey.  She smiled at the person recording her and began talking.

"This recording is for my brother, Bucky and his wife, Tracey but I want everyone at the reading of the will to be present as witnesses.  I have already set aside money for your children's education.  With having your own settlement any monetary inheritance I could give to you would be redundant, so I decided to do something different.  For several years I have worked with a documentary film maker, using photographs of our family, and photos and film footage of you during the war, news footage from before your escape from HYDRA, and since we reunited.  The result, narrated by myself as well as various friends of yours is a film documentary about you, Bucky, my big brother.  From the first moments I could remember I knew you were my protector.  Even though we were separated by quite the gap in years you never made me feel like my presence was unwanted.  My childhood memories of you are full of laughter, joy, and the certainty that with you I would have a friend for life.  Our forced separation, first by war, then by a crime perpetrated on you by evil, was the stuff of tragedy. 

Shakespeare said, "we are such stuff as dreams are made on" and my dream of someday seeing you again was realized when you returned to me.  For that I will be eternally grateful to whatever force brought you back.  The documentary is almost completed but won't be broadcast or shown in theatres without your permission.  So, dear brother, I know you are a private man, but I am asking you to indulge your baby sister one final time and allow it to be shared with the world so that they see what I see and know.  You are worthy, Bucky, of everything good that has happened to you.  You are worthy of the love of Tracey, a wonderful woman who came into our lives when we needed her the most.  You are worthy of the friendship of an organization of heroes, who follow your example on a regular basis.  You are worthy of the admiration of people who recognize you for the good man you are, not what you were forced to be.  You are worthy to be a father as you have shown such love and patience with your own children that it makes my heart burst with joy when I see you with them.  You were always worthy as a son and brother and friend.  Don't ever forget that Bucky.  I love you with all my heart, and when my time comes know that same love also comes from everyone who is with you on this day."

She smiled and nodded at the person recording, and the screen went dark.

"That is the end of the will reading," announced Matt.  "Personally, I felt privileged to know Rebecca Barnes Proctor.  She was a force of nature, but one that was gentle, persuasive, and very determined.  Thank you for being here today."

Bucky, who was already crying, and not the only one, took the expressions of sympathy and gentle hands on his arms and shoulders as genuine condolences.  He sat there for some time after the others left until it was only he and Tracey left.

"What will I do without her?" he asked his wife.  "Twelve years with her at the end of her life wasn't enough."

"It never is with the ones we love," she replied.  "I knew the first day I showed up at the house how much love there was between you.  It's part of what drew me to you.  We go on, and we follow her example."

"The day you returned I was in a state," said Bucky.  "I was cleaning everything, wanting the house to be perfect for you and in my total dedication to it I forgot it was her anniversary the day before.  I remembered when I saw the wedding photograph of Rebecca and Harvey as I was dusting.  She accepted my belated Happy Anniversary wish and cried a little.  I asked what her and Harvey's secret was, as they were married for 49 years."

"What was it?" asked Tracey, her hands intertwined with her husband's.

"To always be truthful, without being hurtful.  To tell each other "I love you" every day, many times.  To have sex as often as they could."

"I would say you followed that very well," she murmured, kissing the side of his head.  "She was very smart, and I loved her as my friend first, then as something more, something deeper.  Are you going to be okay for the funeral?"

"No," he smirked, then he became serious.  "I'm going to cry my eyes out, but I'm not going to hide how much she meant to me.  She saved me, Tracey, as much as Steve and Sam did, as much as the Wakandans did.  I learned how to live amongst people again because of her.  Did you know about the documentary?"

Her smile was her answer but she did elaborate.  "It was done by a man who does documentaries for PBS.  She approached him about three years ago, through Matt, wondering if he was interested.  It turned out he had been for some time.  I've seen an unedited cut, with Rebecca, and it is a warts and all documentary.  He doesn't skimp on the details when your Winter Soldier years are shown.  But it is balanced by your life before and your life since.  When you're ready he wants you to watch it and hopes that you can come to an agreement of how to proceed from there.  Your story should be told, Bucky.  I agree with Rebecca on that."

True to his promise, Bucky cried his eyes out during the funeral, at the music Rebecca chose, at the stories told about her by the people she had touched in the last years of her life, and especially by the funny and heartfelt eulogy given by Sam, that had everyone laughing then crying.  When the six pallbearers took their place beside her coffin they raised it together, carried it out of the auditorium with dignity, and into the hearse then again from the hearse to the burial plot.  It had clouded over a little bit by then but it was still beautiful out, with a slight breeze, and birdsong in the air.  At the reception Bucky graciously accepted the condolences of everyone, staying seated with Tracey, Sam, Maria, Janice and Rhodes.  Little was spoken by him but that was alright with those who were there.

That evening, after the kids were in bed, Bucky sat out in the back yard.  It was dusk, the fairy lights had just come on and he was drinking a beer.  He was already changed into jeans and a T-shirt, then Tracey came out with a beer for herself and climbed into his lap.  Quietly they sat, enjoying the calm after the last week of funeral preparation, lawyers' visits and the like.  Suddenly a song came on the outdoor speaker and Bucky looked at his phone with puzzlement as it wasn't set to any of his playlists.  Then Tracey smiled at him, and they both got up and began to dance to the first song they ever danced to together, Sting's Fields of Gold.  Rebecca had suggested it at the time, saying she liked the words.  As those words echoed throughout their backyard Bucky and Tracey softly sang along themselves as they danced, picturing Rebecca and Harvey dancing in their own fields of gold, somewhere near the Rainbow Bridge.

Will you stay with me?

Will you be my love?

Upon the fields of barley

We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky

As we lie in fields of gold

The End

Series Masterlist

If you have liked this series please leave a comment and reblog it. It would be greatly appreciated.

[ficretus]

Gaslight masters

*during Volume 2*

Emerald: Aren't you worried about this psychological evaluation? On the account of us being...

Cinder: Oh please Emerald, this is a trivial matter. Only person who should be worried is Lionheart for not fabricating it for us.

Mercury: What's the matter Em? Afraid they are gonna dig up your mommy issues?

Emerald: Shut up Mercury. Still, what if they have some ways of digging through our psyche and...

Cinder: Emerald you are doing it again.

Emerald: Panicking?

Cinder: No. Thinking. Don't think, just repeat after me. Mask and deflect.

Emerald: Mask and deflect.

Cinder: Excellent. Do this every day and you'll be as proficient as me and Mercury in no time.

Mercury: We'll see about that.

Emerald: You are scared you'll never be able to match me.

Mercury: Not bad.

Cinder: Bravo, already making some progress.

Emerald: *smiling* Thank yo... *clears throat* Not that I care about your praise.

Cinder: Very good. Just mind your tone.

*door opens*

Ozpin: Miss Sustrai, you are next for psychological evaluation.

Emerald: Wish me luck.

Cinder: Sigh...

Mercury: It's still work in progress.

*1 hour later*

Ozpin: Now that I finished evaluating all three of you, I want to talk about something worrying with you.

Mercury: Em fucked up again, great.

Emerald: Me?!

Mercury: Who else. I wasn't the one that started crying for mommy half way through the session.

Ozpin: Oh, not Miss Sustrai. Longing for a maternal figure as an orphan is something completely normal. I wanna talk more with you Mister Black and Miss Fall. Miss Sustrai is free to go.

Cinder: Me? My interview was flawless.

Ozpin: Miss Fall, all you and Mister Black did was mask your feelings and constantly deflected.

Cinder: Oh please, vent your frustrations on your lackeys. Don't bother us.

Ozpin: I don't think so. For example, both you and Mister Black seem to have issues regarding paternal figures.

Mercury: Look whitey, just because your daddy didn't hug you doesn't mean rest of us have issues.

Ozpin: Yeah, this isn't working. I want to talk with your guardian.

Mercury: I see what this is, you wanna hook up with my mom. For shame...

Cinder: I don't see point of that.

Ozpin: But I do. Lets just say you are not leaving this room until I talk with them. Or perhaps do you want me to look into some other information, Miss Fall?

Cinder: Of course not. Here, take this number. That's our adoptive mother.

Mercury: *whispering* Are you crazy? He'll find out.

Cinder: *whispering* Relax moron. She is an expert.

Ozpin: Hello, this is Headmaster Ozpin from Beacon Academy. Is this Madam Fall-Black?

Salem: Of course not.

Ozpin: Can I speak with her?

Salem: I don't know, can you?

Ozpin: Sigh, Ma'am, are you Cinder's or Mercury's adoptive mother?

Salem: Mother? I suppose I am. How endearing.

Ozpin: I just wanna talk about their behavior. During the psychological evaluation all they did was endlessly mask their feelings and deflected everything I've said.

Salem: Oh my, how terrible. I'm so sorry you got offended.

Ozpin: This isn't about me. This is about the fact their way of communication is unhealthy.

Salem: Oh but it is about you. Always about you Ozma.

Ozpin: It's Ozpin. Look Ma'am, could you talk with them?

Salem: And tell them what? That there is a compulsive liar who gets offended by everything?

Ozpin: Ma'am, they need to be able to deal with their emotions and shortcomings. They can't mask them their entire life.

Salem: Hypocritical drivel. How did you raise your children?

Ozpin: For your information, I have a perfectly healthy relationship with my daughters!

Salem: I am sure you do. That's why only reason any of them would want to be in the same room as you is if they were comatose and on life support!

Ozpin: Wait what? Who is this?

*call ends*

Ozpin: *lights a cigarette* It's like I'm talking with my ex wife again. You two can go, can't deal with this shit anymore.

Cinder: *whispers to Mercury* Told you she still got it.

[jessiarts]

Trying to help these Palestinian Families!

There are two verified Palestinian GFMs in my linktree, and I want to help them meet their fundraiser goals.

To do this I hope to donate my art and time to raise the money.

How this will work is you donate directly to one of the GFMs in my linktree, and then send me a screenshot of your donation receipt as proof (via tumblr ask or email) and I will draw the fandom character(s) prompt you request based off the donation amounts in the graphic below.

Both GFMs are verified by Operation Olive Branch.

First GFM is organized by Tasnim Alhamss (on line #663 of OOB's spreadsheet), who is still trying to evacuate her sister's 3 children as well as her brother's 3 daughters. They're just a little over $2K from their goal. They're so close!

Second GFM is organized by Layal Qudaih (on line #844 of OOB's spreadsheet), who is trying to evacuate newlyweds Hala and Abd Al Aziz, as well as Hala's elderly mother, Amal. Hala was 7 months pregnant when the GFM was created in February. It is now August. That means there is now a baby, just a few months old, who needs evacuating too. They have only achieved 67% of their goal as of writing this post.

Below is the graphic detailing the type of drawing I'll complete in exchange for the amount donated.

I encourage other artists to take this idea and run with it for their own adopted families. Operation Olive Branch has a whole spreadsheet of family fundraisers you can sponsor if you are able!

Hopefully together we can help more families meet their goals and get to safety!

I've included a list of fandoms and shows I'm most familiar with under the cut, but feel free to ask about others!

Again, this is not an exhaustive list, but I did try to put them in alphabetical order to make them easier to look through.

Avatar the Last Airbender

BBC Sherlock

Cartoon Network- Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Ed Edd & Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Kids Next Door, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Johnny Bravo, Powepuff Girls, Dexter's Lab

Child's Play franchise

Coraline

Defiance Series

Doctor Who - mostly 9th Doctor through current Doctor, but I have seen a little bit of Classic Who too

Disney Movies- again, pretty much all of it- but some of my favorites were the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Hocus Pocus;

classics like Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, Emperors New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, etc;

newer stuff like Brave, Encanto, and Coco, Moana, Frozen, etc.

The Hobbit

House MD

Jurassic Park

Looney Toons

Lord of the Rings

Marvel- pretty much all of it, but especially familiar with Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor movies, Loki series, The Avengers, Deadpool, etc

Nickelodeon- Fairly OddParents, Spongebob, Danny Phantom, My Life as a Teenage Robot

Once Upon a Time

Pokemon

The Princess Bride

Scooby Doo

Shrek

Supernatural

Tim Burton Films - Nightmare before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd, Beetlejuice, etc

Unus Annus

X-Files

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Marita Vlachou at The Guardian:

Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, on Wednesday announced the spinoff of many of its cable TV channels, including MSNBC, carrying out a plan the company had hinted at earlier this year. In addition to MSNBC, the portfolio of the newly created company titled “SpinCo” will also comprise CNBC, USA, Oxygen and E!, among other channels, as well as digital assets, including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. Those assets made about $7 billion in revenue in the year that ended Sept. 30, the company said in a press release.

Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, the Peacock streaming service, Telemundo as well as the theme parks business and film and television studios will remain part of Comcast. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the transaction was imminent. Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast, said the move will enable “both SpinCo and NBCUniversal to play offense in a changing media landscape.” “Taken together, the entirety of NBCUniversal will be on a new growth trajectory, fueled by our world-class content, technology, IP, properties and talent — all working in concert with each other as an integrated media company,” Cavanagh said. Mark Lazarus, the outgoing chair of the NBCUniversal Media Group, will serve as chief executive of the new company. The process is expected to be completed in about a year, the Journal reported earlier.

Comcast spins off nearly all of NBCU’s cable networks, including USA, CNBC, MSNBC, and E!, into a separate spin-off company named SpinCo. NBCUniversal will retain NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, and Peacock as its key assets.

Splitting off CNBC and MSNBC, and possibly USA, from NBCU, is a disastrous decision, mainly due to newsgathering resources being shared (MSNBC and CNBC) and sports coverage (primarily USA, but also some CNBC).

[monarch-afterdark]

Titan History: Godzilla

Welcome once again to Monarch: After Dark, the digital gateway between you and the organisation dedicated to understanding and navigating this troubled new world we live in.

For today's communication, it was decided by Monarch officials stationed at Castle Bravo (Outpost 54) that we should create an updated historical account on arguably the most recognisable and infamous of the Titans we currently know of; Godzilla.

(Pictured above: aerial footage of Godzilla leaving San Francisco the morning after G-Day, circa. 2014)

Monarch Database File: Godzilla

Monarch Designation: Titanus Gojira

Height: 393 feet

Weight: 99,634 tons

Length: 582 feet (tail)

Nature: Bio-Atomic

Behavioural Classification: Protector

---------------

A member of an ancient reptilian species that was known to exist as early as the Permian period, Godzilla serves as a guardian of the natural order, rising from the depths whenever the balance of the world is threatened, be it by other Titans or by humanity. Newfound information has revealed that, at some point in their early history, the Titanus Gojira species waged war against a population of great apes within the Hollow Earth. The outcome was victory for the former, while the latter migrated to a surface landmass that would become Skull Island, where they would face near-extinction.

Throught the millenia, imagery of these Titans showed their defense of humanity against other Titans, including the seemingly extraterrestrial lifeform, "Monster Zero". These battles were documented well, immortialised in the form of cave paintings and tales passed down through the generations.

(Pictured above: Cave painting documenting a battle between Godzilla and Monster Zero, circa. 1973)

While much of the history surrounding the individual we know today as Godzilla is unknown, his modern history is far clearer. First discovered in 1954 by founding Monarch figures William Randa, Keiko Muira and Leland Shaw, the initial reaction to the Titan's existence was an attempt to kill it using a nuclear weapon. Covered up as the Castle Bravo nuclear test, it was believed that Godzilla had been killed until he resurfaced a year later in Hateruma Island.

His next widely documented appearance was the infamous G-Day in 2014. Tracking down a mating pair of Titanus Jinshin-Mushi (aka MUTOs), Godzilla battled and eventually killed them in San Francisco, though not without extensive damage done to the city and the Golden Gate Bridge beforehand. Months later, he battled with a Jinshin-Mushi Prime, which resulted in the Prime destroying his dorsal plates before she, too, was killed.

According to Keiko Muira, and her grandchildren Cate and Kentaro Randa, who were recovered on Skull Island in 2017 through an "in-between" realm linking the surface to the Hollow Earth, Godzilla responded to a Gamma Radiation Simulator abandoned in the 1960's and battled a large dragon-like creature before they were able to escape. Their account is currently under Monarch investigation.

(Pictured above: Godzilla using an "intimidation display" in front of Monarch's Castle Bravo crew, circa. 2019)

In 2019, a mass Titan outbreak instigated by eco-terrorist Alan Jonah and Monarch paleobiologist Emma Russell called Godzilla to action once again. He first appeared in front of Castle Bravo, where he prepared to attack before the outpost lowered its weapons and calmed him down. He made way to Antarctica, where Monster Zero had recently been awakened. The two battled before the latter Titan retreated.

They clashed again off the coast of Isla de Mara, Mexico, where Godzilla succeeded in tearing off one of Monster Zero's heads. Before this battle could end, likely in Godzilla's favour, the military deployed an experimental superweapon called the Oxygen Destroyer, which severely weakened Godzilla and allowed Monster Zero to escape and regenerate its missing head before usurping control over Earth's Titans.

Their final battle took place in Boston following an evacuation of the city. Godzilla had support from an ally Titan known as Mothra to battle Monster Zero and its own ally, Rodan. The battle ravaged much of Boston, and culminated in Godzilla being dropped from the troposphere and Mothra being killed by a powerful blast from Monster Zero. With some assistance from Monarch and a final gift from Mothra, Godzilla achieved a heightened state of power and caused a thermonuclear explosion that destroyed Boston, and Monster Zero.

Following the battle, other Titans gathered around and bowed before Godzilla, accepting him as their new alpha. In the interim between this and the next major incident, Godzilla would travel the globe and keep other Titans, such as Scylla and Amhuluk, in check.

(Pictured above: Godzilla surrounded by other Titans, bowing down and accepting his claim as the alpha Titan, circa. 2019)

Following a period of minimal Titan activity, Godzilla suddenly surfaced in Pensacola, Florida and destroyed an Apex Cybernetics facility before returning to the depths. In response to this, a joint operation between Monarch and Apex went underway to use another Titan, Kong, to track down an energy source that would give humanity the edge over Godzilla before he could hurt more people.

Godzilla and Kong clashed twice. Their first battle took place in he Tasman Sea, where Godzilla intercepted a naval fleet transporting Kong to Antarctica. This encounter was short-lived, and only a last-ditch effort by ex-Monarch agent Nathan Lind prevented Kong from being killed. Their second brawl in Hong Kong placed Kong on better footing, armed with an axe he obtained within the Hollow Earth, though Godzilla still prevailed and nearly killed Kong.

However, deception from Apex allowed them to siphon the energy from the Hollow Earth into a secret anti-Titan weapon, Mechagodzilla. After losing control of the mecha, it went on a rampage and battled a weary Godzilla nearly to death before a resuscitated Kong intervened. Working together, the two Titans triumphed over Mechagodzilla and parted ways without further conflict.

(Pictured above: Godzilla departing Hong Kong following Mechagodzilla's defeat. To date, this is the last confirmed sighting of Godzilla, circa. 2024)

---------------

And there you go! A simplified but up-to-date account of Godzilla's modern history. We will upload more information regarding him as we are authorized to do so by Monarch officials. We hope you have learned something from this historical account, and we will be back shortly with new information.

Until next time,

Monarch: After Dark

[danteskygod]

Wow. Yet another terrific Steve and Reece bait and switch.

"...after a series that has boasted guest stars such as Natalie Dormer, Vinette Robinson and Mark Bonnar – it has been confirmed that they are the only two people who appear in it." (from The Guardian preview)

Cheeky bastards!

All in all a near perfect ending to a remarkable programme. Self deprecating, funny, bittersweet, moving, and very meta. Trying to spot all the references will take a fair few views, I think.

Bravo!

[rotm-channel]

Burgeess Obeserver :1ST ISSUE!!!!JAN 16 1954!

Local news

MYSTERY FROM THE SKIES!!!

Last night January 16th hail fell upon our town,However this was no ordinary hailstorm as the hail was perfectly round with a dot in the middle.The experts are confused and so is the town.Some believe that this was caused by a freak of nature there are even beliefs that it may have been caused by a supernatural phenomenon namely aliens.Though research is inconclusive, some say it might have been a publicity stunt by the Cheerio Company but no one has come forth it is also important to note that such a stunt would be very difficult to conduct.

More on pages 2-4

MISSING LINK DISCOVERED?!

Scientist have just discovered the legendary Missing Link a fish/ape hybrid it was thawed out of ice and it seems to have been perfectly preserved by the ice,however it was discovered that it was only 2 million years old which means that it's not our link but it is to something much different. As noted it looked like nothing ever seen and its existence has lead experts to question what really is this oddity of nature?

More on pages 5-6

Metro City loves Pat Boone.

as he tops the charts.Records and Hearts broken.

More on page 7

OPERATION CASTLE SUCCESS!!!

Yes the newest nuclear bomb Castle Bravo is recorded as the most powerful explosion ever conducted. It was so bright that the fireball turned the night into day.With a power of yield 15 megatons of TnT. It unbelievable power was created here last night.One that was far more powerful than anything ever created!

Pages 6-7

Lucky Dragon 5 incident!

+Scientists conduct research on the effect of fallout on a grub.

Page 8

Last night a radar picked up an unidentified flying object in the sky not far from Burgess!Could it be responsible for the Cheerio hail?

Page 9

Sports results

-NHL playoffs

Page 10

Ads

Page 11

Comics

Page 12

Playing toninght in our local Movie Theater:

War of the Worlds starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson Sci-Fi

Our rating 10/10

Riot in Cell Block 11 Neville Brand Emilie Mayer Drama/Noir

Our rating 8/10

Peter Pan starring Bobby Driscoll Bill Thompson Margaret Kerry Animated family.

Our rating 10/10

Also:Compilation shorts:

Pluto's Heart Throb,Lion Around,Cold War,Casey Bats Again,Susie the Blue Coupe and Cold Storage

Theater Plays:

Waiting for Godot

at 7.PM

TV:

Howdy Doody 6-8 PM

I Love Lucy 8-9 PM

Our miss Brooks 9-10 PM

Weather:

Better take your umbrellas out ,it will be cloudy with a chance of cereal shaped hail coming from the skies above.

Also seeing as there are tons of cereal hale covering the roads it is a snow day today.

Editors Note:According to Peter Ramsey, on January 16, 1954, Jack Frost caused Cheerio-shaped hail to rain down on Burgess.

Based on a true story and events.

And around the same time back then Castle Bravo went off.

I am proud to present the first issue of the Burgess Observer newspaper.

Enjoy!

(Also this was originally on my dead account: https://www.tumblr.com/theburgessobserver well its here now!)

I have done it to chronicle the town(and to a degree the world) and have it on a semi-real life backdrop(ei some real life events) to detail more about it(an expansion if you may).To make it feel more real and lived in(after all it feels like a place you could just go to with working theaters/cinemas/communities).And also integrate some things into this wonderful world.

And also see how they would explain such supernatural occurrences/beings….

Please tell me your honest opinion and the pros and cons(what should i change or improve upon and how)

Also remeber that a comment will make the author much happier,and make the world a slightly better place. And Commenting,Following and favoriting me and my works will inspire me to do more!And i will always listen to your questions and suggestion

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 4 - Tov’s Log

Min (36) vs. Himei (63) -> Himei Win

————————————————————

Cassio said Tov couldn’t go with them to Round 4. But they didn’t say she couldn’t watch the round at home.

Semantics, yes. But she couldn’t stand the thought of waiting around all night, only to find out through second hand information that her friend lost.

But Himei didn’t lose.

She won by a landslide, almost double Min’s score.

Then why did Himei’s portrait go dark?

Why did Min’s name flash across the hologram scoreboard displaying the winner?

Why did Min have to step in front of Himei to get shot like she was supposed to?

Andromedas, what the fuck just happened?

Tov stared at the television screen. Stared at Himei, covered in blood, as she stared at Min’s dead body at her feet.

Min’s eyes were still open, staring off into nothing. Dull. Lifeless.

Just a few minutes ago, they’d been full of more life than Tov had ever seen in them. They were practically glowing.

And now—

Himei coughed and spit, trying in vain to rid her mouth of the taste of Min’s blood.

Her dark eyes were wide open, unseeing. Blood dripped from her long lashes. Tov had never seen her look so… lost before.

Tov’s heart ached, but not in the same way it had the other day.

Two guards emerged from the left side of the stage, each taking one of Himei’s arms. They clicked a collar around her neck and led her out of frame. She nearly stumbled in her heels.

The scoreboard flickered overhead. Min’s name was gone. Himei’s took its place.

Min’s portrait darkened. Himei’s lit up again.

An equal exchange.

Tov only knew of Min officially through magazines and footage from Alien Stage Season 38 where she won.

Talented. Popular. Fashionable.

She knew of Min unofficially through the gossip she’d overheard in the lounges she sang in or the events where Cassio paraded her around.

Spoiled. Manipulative. Cruel.

And then there was that interview she did with Himei before their round.

"So sorry to see you go. See you at our round, dear."

Tov had wanted to cut her face and answers out of the page.

She’d let her mask slip too early to win this time.

But that still didn’t explain the scoreboard, or Himei’s portrait going dark, or the gun clearly being trained on Himei instead of Min.

Nothing about her true self suggested she would sacrifice her life for someone else. Especially when she spoke so candidly about being better than them just a few days ago.

So… why?

Why did any of this happen?

Min’s guardian was wealthy, but were they really wealthy enough to rig a round like that? Even when the scores were so disproportionate?

Is that why Min stepped in the line of fire for Himei? Because she knew she lost and what that meant?

Was it her pride? Her ego?

Tov would never know. No one would.

The only person who knew the absolute truth had a bullet through their head.

Just like Stasya and Moran and Azure.

Even though a round finally went how Tov hoped, she found that it was still a hard pill to swallow.

Himei was traumatized.

Min was dead.

There were no winners in Alien Stage.

Only victims.

————————————————————

I originally wasn’t going to do a log for this round, but then @lookatmysillies wrote this amazing follow up to my End of Round 3 post from Himei’s perspective and the fallout that came after, and I was so inspired by it that I wrote this!

The Round 4 poll results were absolutely CRAZY to experience live. Seeing Himei’s portrait darken and Min being declared the winner despite the scores was so confusing (and lowkey terrifying).

Bravo to @starry-skiez for crafting the Min twist! Our first self sacrifice of the season 🥹

And shoutout to @season39 for formatting the Round 4 posts in a way that made me want to cry and rip my hair out (positive).

Himei belongs to @lookatmysillies.

Min belongs to @starry-skiez.

[strangeandoff-putting]

Gustavo Zerbino, guardian of memories

Gustavo's chapter is one of my favourite things about Vierci's Society of the Snow, and every time I read this part it rips my heart out.

I handed a piece of paper to Sergio, who was with the medic José Bravo, paper which I had torn out of a notebook where I wrote down the names of each person who had died, indicating the corresponding pile of bones for each name. I acquainted the mountaineers with the remains of all of them, so that if at some future date their relatives came here, each one would be able to find the remains of their son and take him home if they wanted. Sergio stared at me as though I had lost my senses. I was with them for two hours at the nose of the plane with that paper, explaining everything to them. I wanted someone else to know. [...] I knew that Nando’s mother and sister were on this side, along with Liliana Methol. I knew that for two reasons: because they might be food tomorrow and, if we were to get out alive, their families could take them back to Montevideo if they wished. I knew who was here, who was there, who was in between, each scattered in his own place. Sergio Díaz took my hand and said, ‘Thank you, thank you, Gustavo, but it doesn’t matter, it’s over, and you don’t need to worry any longer.’ He wanted to protect me, but I wanted to protect my friends.

[inu-yasha]

Another thing I find irksome about InuKag and Kagome stans is that it’s bad enough they wanna force the whole fandom to worship their precious Kagome, but they even expect Kikyo to kiss Higurashi’s ass too and have the audacity to get soo offended when she doesn’t!

They’re always whining about how Kikyo was ungrateful and never thanked Kagome for all those times she saved her and was always testing her, and they also blame her for not training Kagome… I’m sorry but why should Kikyo be expected to thank someone who she knows hates her deep down in her heart? Kikyo’s not stupid, she knows how Kagome really feels about her and that she only saves her for Inuyasha’s sake and because she feels like it’s her “obligation” for being a good person. Kikyo doesn’t owe Higurashi anything, if anything she wasn’t mean enough! All she did was state frankly that she won’t thank Kagome for saving her because she knew she would feel obligated to do so anyways and Kagome stans act like she’s the biggest bitch in the world for saying this… Like no? She was just telling the truth, why should she feel gratitude and help someone whose true desire actually wishes her gone? Do they expect Kikyo not to have any self-respect and be a doormat to Higurashi?

So many times I wish Kikyo had the balls to tell Higurashi off just like the illusion of her that the Mt. Azusa Guardian conjured up, if anything she was too classy about it! It reminds me of this fic I was reading, the author was an InuKik shipper for once and in it Kikyo was way nastier to Kagome than she ever was in the actual manga, but she was saying what we Kikyo stans have always been thinking. In the fic Kikyo finally tells it like it is when Higurashi is getting on her case again and says that even though she acts like she’s so mature and level-headed and looking out for Inuyasha, in reality she’s just a child and can’t do a thing without Inuyasha!

Sis ate and left no crumbs! 😂 Higurashi was so flabbergasted and dumbfounded in the fic when she said that lol, I wish I remembered the name of the fic because really, that’s exactly what Kikyo should’ve said to Kagome in-canon to finally put her in her place! It’s true, Kagome’s a weak immature child who hides behind Inuyasha and expects him to protect her from everything meanwhile her privileged ass don’t lift a single finger except always getting kidnapped and screaming “INUYASHA!!!!!!” every 5 seconds.

And they act like Kikyo is obligated to train her in her Spiritual and Archery powers too? What a joke! How about she train herself for once instead of always relying on Inuyasha for every little thing and expecting him to always stick his neck out for her?

Very good comment. I have nothing to say other than bravo. Summarizing it all so briefly and concisely in a ask box. Bravo!

Anon, I hope you remember the name of this fanfic. I would really like to read it

[sundove88]

Avians (Planes Parody Casting)

Tsubasa Yuunagi is a small-town bird who dreams of one day competing as a high-flying avian racer. However, poor Tsubasa has two strikes against him: He's not built for racing, and he's terribly afraid of heights. To achieve his dream, Tsubasa turns to naval aviator Mighty Eagle. Mighty Eagle helps Tsubasa qualify to take on Dark Raven, the race circuit's defending champion. Tsubasa’s courage faces the ultimate test, as he takes aim at heights he never dreamed were possible.

Tsubasa Yuunagi, the famous racing bird, learns that his core is damaged, so he must shift gears and find a new career. He joins an elite corps of firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park. When a massive wildfire threatens the park, Tsubasa -- with the help of his fearless colleagues Terra, Splash Woman, Gyro Man, Meta Knight and the Brave Gang -- learns what it takes to become a real hero.

Tsubasa Yuunagi/Cure Wing as Dusty Crophopper (Hirogaru Sky PreCure)

Mighty Eagle as Skipper Riley (Angry Birds)

Ageha Hijiri/Cure Butterfly as Chug (Hirogaru Sky PreCure)

Skyla as Dottie (Pokemon)

Sora Harewataru/Cure Sky, Mashiro Nijigaoka/Cure Prism, and Elle-Chan/Cure Majesty as Themselves/Dusty’s Friends (Hirogaru Sky PreCure)

Chill Penguin as Sparky (Mega Man X)

Kakeru and Puwa Yuunagi as Themselves/Dusty’s Parents (Hirogaru Sky PreCure)

Storm Eagle as El Chupacabra (Mega Man X)

Panchito Pistoles and Jose Carioca as Themselves/El Chu’s Coworkers (The Three Caballeros)

Golden Cheese Cookie as Ishani (Cookie Run)

Dark Raven as Ripslinger (Billy Hatcher and The Giant Egg)

Stop and Freeze as Ned and Zed (Go Princess PreCure)

Storm Owl as Bulldog (Mega Man X)

Guardian Bird as Rochelle (Balan Wonderworld)

Various Other Bird Characters as the Wings Around The Globe Racers

Pigeot as Leadbottom (Pokemon)

Boomer Kuwanger as Echo (Mega Man X)

Gravity Beetle as Bravo (Mega Man X)

Pilot Cookie as Colin Cowling (Cookie Run)

Haoyu Chang as Franz (Balan Wonderworld)

Tropius as Little King (Pokemon)

Host Cookie/Fruit Roll Up Cookie as Judge Davis (Cookie Run)

SplashWoman as Lil Dipper (Mega Man)

Bandana Waddle Dee as Maru (Kirby)

Terra as Blade Ranger (Mega Man)

GyroMan as Windlifter (Mega Man)

Meta Knight as Cabbie (Kirby)

The Brave Gang/Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, Wizard Cookie, Custard Cookie III, and Chili Pepper Cookie as The Smokejumpers (Dynamite, Drip, Blackout, Avalanche, and Blackout) (Cookie Run)

Professor Kukui as The Secretary of The Interior (Pokemon)

Harukichi and Youko Hoshina as Harvey and Winnie (Star Twinkle PreCure)

Hikaru Hoshina and Parents as Themselves/Harvey and Winnie’s Family (Star Twinkle PreCure)

Green Biker Dude as Nick Loopin Lopez (Mega Man X)

Mammon as Cad Spinner (Helluva Boss)

Ramos as Ol Jammer (Pokemon)

PumpMan as Mayday (MegaMan)

FlashMan as Ryker (MegaMan)

HydroMan as Pulaski (MegaMan)

Waddle Doo as Flap (Kirby)

Iris as Patch (Mega Man X)

JewelMan as Andre (Mega Man)

Here’s your hint for the next casting (It’s Dreamworks):

⚜️🌆🌴

[redfurrycat]

🚀🤖Pacific Rim and Top Gun (AU)🤖🚀

Tom Iceman Kazansky, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, the military branch of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps, brings back to the Miramar Shatterdome the former Jaeger pilot Pete Maverick Mitchell to teach the new Rangers how to become better Jaeger pilots as well as to combat the Kaiju.

He’s the last known Jaeger pilot alive to have defeated three kaiju, despite the fact he was piloting his Jaeger alone – his former co-pilot Nick Goose Bradshaw had died during a previous simulation exercise leaving Mav without a compatible match, though it didn’t deter Mav from piloting his Jaeger alone to save another Jaeger team – Ron Slider Kerner & Tom Iceman Kazansky...

However, the successful rescue (followed by Iceman’s declaration of undying love and admiration for him – ‘Shut up, Ron! It’s not true!’ had said an unnaturally flustered Ice after Mav and Ice’s wingmen hug moment) left Maverick with severe neurological injuries including phantom memories from Goose as he died while they were still connected to each other.

It’s like having a piece of someone within your body and soul, only that this person is no longer alive, and it could be quite traumatic for somebody new to attempt a drift connection with one-and-a-half person. (Partly why Maverick was shut out from the Jaeger program, that and his famously known chaotic nature, of course.)

Because to able to pilot a Jaeger, you have to share what is known as a drift compatibility with your co-pilot. Drifting requires the pilots to share their memories, instinct and emotions with each other, and it allows them to act as one consciousness and control the very movement of the Jaeger itself, each pilot controlling one hemisphere. While drifting, pilots need to keep their mind clear of all thoughts [psspss like the ‘no mind’ from The Last Samurai! 👼🏻] to avoid R.A.B.I.T – the following of a memory to the point of losing the focus you need to control the Jaeger. As such, drift compatibility is a potential that exists between two people, that is usually determined through sparring exercises in the Kwoon Combat Room, the point is not to beat your opponent but whether or not you’re able to work in sync with each other. {Source: the Pacific Rim Fandom Page about Drift}

Twelve new Rangers are called back to the Miramar Shatterdome, under the command of Marshal Beau Cyclone Simpson. Most of them are already paired up in a Jaeger.

However, Maverick wants to try some out-of-the-box thinking by changing the designated pair of each Jaeger.  "Because –says Mav reading from a stack of disorganized papers, in front of Cyclone, Warlock, and Iceman– according to research, the Kaiju are sentient beings very much capable of in-depth reasoning, something they weren’t to do before, and, as such, I feel the need, the need to change some shit up to try throwing them off."

Thus begin the tests for new drift-compatible partners…

Before:

The Crimson Typhoon team – Bob, Phoenix, Rooster.

The Striker Eureka team – Coyote & Hangman.

The Gipsy Danger team – Fanboy & Payback.

The Cherno Alpha team – Fritz & Halo.

The Guardian Bravo team – Harvard, Omaha & Yale.

After:

The Striker Eureka team – Rooster & Hangman.

The Bracer Phoenix team – Fritz & Phoenix.

The Gipsy Danger team – Halo, Payback & Yale.

The Crimson Typhoon team – Bob, Fanboy & Omaha.

The Coyote Tango team – Coyote & Harvard.

The Cherno Alpha team – Iceman & Mav. [Even though it's super risky for the two of them, they’ll pilot one last time, and for the first time together, to help assist and rescue the Jaegers teams sent to drop a bomb to close the Breach, cutting the passage between the Earth and the Kaiju homeworld, once and for all.]

Let’s just say that the changes are not smooth for every pilot. Some get to stay in the Jaeger they’ve known all along, others don’t (let’s say some neural handshakes allowing the drifting function better in a particular Jaeger with a particular pair).

Rooster, for instance, used to be in a three-neural-handshake, and now must share with only one person, the –absolutely "despicable"– flawless Hangman. And Hangman is a bit frustrated ‘cause he used to be the best with his Coyote bro…and now feels like falling behind because of Rooster. So, he may or may not be overly provocative with his new co-pilot who thinks too much and follows the R.A.B.I.T every time he drifts with Hangman. [Nevertheless, before Rooster spirals out of control, there is a very strong neural handshake, the strongest ever registered. They just need to sort their shit out first.]

Bonus Hangster Conversation

(inspired by my beloved Chaleigh babes' stellar conversation in the movie)

Hangman: So you're the guy, eh Rooster? You're the guy who's going to be my new co-pilot?

Rooster: Yeah, Hangman. That's the plan.

Hangman: Good. Good. So, remind me again. When was the last time you jockeyed, Brad?

Rooster: You know very well it was three months ago with Tasha and Bobby…’Cause you were there!

Hangman: Colour me shocked with the way you weren’t able to stop following the R.A.B.I.T earlier…Looked like you were a Jaeger groupie just given the opportunity to pilot a Jaeger for the first time of his life. You’re a Ranger, act like one!

Rooster: Excuse-me for taking the time to feel the new Jaeger and my new co-pilot! It’s easy for you to say! Let me reorganize my feathers or something before jumping into it!

Hangman: Oh, wow, that's great. I mean, that's really useful. We get into a fight, you can build our way out of it with wings, as we won’t move a single hair of our Jaeger, eh, Brad?

Rooster: It's Bradley.

Hangman: Whatever. Look, I know you’re Commander Kazansky and Ranger Mitchell’s golden goose, but to me, so far, you're dead weight. You slow me down, I'm gonna drop you like a sack of Kaiju shit. *fingers guns and winking combo followed by dramatic exit*