#he who shall not be named (but it's greg. his name is greg.)

[satureja13]

Greg's Story - Part 3 Part 1 is -> here and Part 2 -> here Greg's whole story - including Prequels - starts -> here (It's highly recommended to read in chronological order 🐺)

Noxee: "Greg had to return to Moonwood Mill to defend his land. But he couldn't raise a child in this war zone. And so he stole the truck (they used to transport him to the Lab) from the Council and drove the Super Soldier to Henford-on-Bagley. To Stefan, who is like a brother to him.

"I don't know if you noticed it, but Greg isn't good with children so he was glad to hand the Super Soldier over to Stefan ^^'. Stefan changed the child's clothes and Greg prepared the pizza. They hadn't even cut the hair of the poor child at the Lab..."

Noxee: "Stefan played and talked with the child until the pizza was ready - it smelled so good, it couldn't wait ^^' Everything I know about making a good pizza I learned from Greg!" Saiwa: "Awww!" Jack: "Tch!"

"And this is how the Super Soldier tasted his very first pizza! (When Stefan changed the child's clothes, he found out it's a boy)."

"It seemed to be a magical pizza. No matter how much they ate, it remained whole ^^' And they ate a lot!"

"After pizza, they went over to the Drawing Room. And Super Soldier's comrade got some pizza too."

"There were a few matters to clarify before Greg had to leave again to Moonwood Mill. Stefan: 'What shall we call him?' Greg: 'Since it's a plush wolf: maybe Logan?" Stefan: 'Not the toy! The boy! He's your son after all!'

Greg choked on his drink.

"Greg: 'My son? Gods, you're right! Then it's Jack. Jack Callahan.' Stefan: 'That's a good name. And it has no connection to you so the Council can't trace him.'"

And this is how Jack and Logan got their names and ate their first pizza. ö.Ö' Jack still owns the blanket. And plush Logan of course. And Adult Jack even named his second born son Logan. And we now know why Jack is so strong! He's the - hopefully - one and only Super Soldier! And! Even Jack's adult sons still drive the truck Greg stole from the Council! And Jack grew up with Uncle Stefan! And therefore Jack likes pizza so much 🍕 These episodes were so mind blowing for me! And I cried a bit.

And the house is Callahan Mansion, where adult Jack and his kids (and adult Kiyoshi) live.

We also used this house as 'The Manor' in our Heidi Special ^^')

To be continued...

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest

The 'Disbandment of the Group' Chapter from the beginning -> here

[unofficial-book-of-quotes-tm]

The first thing I want to say about series 6 is, it’s incredibly underrated in my opinion. I get why it’s not one of the great ones, but it’s far from bad and it has so much awesome banter and studio stuff in addition to giving us two pivotal moments in the show’s history (the kiss and Alex sitting on a cake bare-arsed), but we’ll get to that. When I watched series 6 for the first time, the only contestant I knew was Russell Howard, so let’s begin with him, shall we? I don’t have much to say on Russell other than I enjoyed his overall performance and his forte seemed to be tasks where he could show off his physical prowess, which — and I have no qualms admitting that — he’s a decent sportsman and watching him do keepy-ups will stay on my mind for a while.

Also, I always think it’s funny when one of Greg’s mates is on ‘cos they have absolutely zero respect for the Taskmaster whereas everyone else seems a little apprehensive at first usually. I feel similarly about Asim Chaudhry; He was fun to watch, though what he lacks in physical abilities and competence he makes more than up for in charm and cheek. Just like Russell, he had his moments and I think he managed to make Alex (the assistant) jealous once or twice. I mean, look at Alex’s face when Greg invites Asim to sit on his lap. I think this moment also highlights how Greg’s and Alex’s on-screen relationship changed in series 6, though more on that in a bit. Now, Liza Tarbuck. One might assume that I should be prepared for women like Liza Tarbuck and Sally Phillips at this point who are utter nutcases (affectionately) and absolutely not above doing the most insane shit imaginable. I mean, I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them. What I remember about Liza’s attempts (and maybe I’m misremembering / misinterpreting) is that she didn’t appear to be ‘needing’ to win, instead she seemed more interested in having a good time and being creative. And who can forget:

Tim Vine is an entirely different beast and I’m not sure how I feel about him, though with every rewatch of series 6 I grow fonder of him (I’m calling that the Paul Chowdhry Effect). The thing is, I appreciate Tim going for the pun, ‘cos I’m a sucker for bad puns. But contrary to Liza, Tim gave me the impression he wanted to win and on occasion it felt like he was trying a bit too hard. Nevertheless, his big announcement and the hook disaster still crack me up only by thinking about them and the solo task he was made to do with putting together an outfit was perfect for him. I don’t really know what to make of Alice Levine, and it seems to become a habit that I’ll save contestants who baffle me for last in this sort of review. I think she’s incredibly charming and sweet, and she had a strong pet name game going on with Alex, which was quite adorable. I actually assumed she was given the solo task and had to come up with different pet names for Alex whenever she began a task, but nope. On the other hand, I kept asking myself whether Alice wanted to do Taskmaster or if she was told to do it, because in my opinion, she appears to half-ass a lot of tasks and does minimal effort, but I don’t know. Now, before I get to Greg and Alex, I just like to mention that I think the tasks in this series were actually quite strong and there are several of which I’d like to have a go myself (e.g. the bedtime story, find the link, parachute for the wooden spoon, the egg live task of episode 7, and many more). On my mainblog I made a post a couple of months ago about the shift in Greg’s and Alex’s on-screen dynamic between series 5, champion of champions 1 and series 6, ‘cos what the fuck was that? It went from something pretty one-sided (as in Alex being the besotted one) to them going for a full on snog.

I’m not complaining, just pointing out that they went from 0 to 100 pretty fast in that series — and it was only the sixth series! Speaking from series 17, I think we’re due another kiss, guys (yes, I’m absolutely shamelessly shipping the Taskmaster and the assistant). Overall I really enjoy this series, it’s got so many great and iconic moments that it baffles me how people don’t like it. I’m not here to invalidate anyone’s opinion, believe me, I have a great one coming up soon-ish, and with that, I’ll see you all in series 7! Thank you so much for sticking around!

[darrowfire15]

i love you ❤️

-🫀

I love you too! And by your request, you shall receive Cdemo headcanons!

Cdemo came from a long line of miners who created holes in mountains when the railroads were being made. While not calculated with building demolition, he's got damn good aim for a fight.

He and Cscout have beef for both having the name Greg. The only difference between the names is that Cdemo's name is a nickname for Gregory while Cscout's is his fully name.

With his helmet off when he was younger, he's the certified heartthrob of the team. The trick with this is that he's aroace, so he broke a lot of hearts.

He has a pet python named Cornelius, who was put under the care of Cdemo's brother. The funny thing is that Cornelius ended up being a girl, but it was too late to change the name.

Cdemo and Fred like to share a smoke sometimes when work becomes too much. Cmedic got on their case for smoking inside, so they moved it outside.

He's the second most private person of the group, the first being Cspy. There's not much known about him and he'll just drop personal tidbits at the most random times.

Reblogs > Likes

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Hello, how are you doing? Well, I hope?

I has things! X3

Oh… my gosh… How hilarious would it be if, when the Zonai first arrived, they actually were planning to be full-on colonizers?

But then Rauru & Sonia meet & it's like Disney's Pocahontas meets Steven Universe if the Greg/Rose relationship had taken place as the Gem War was going on.

Like, literally with “Colors of the Wind,” just replace Pocahontas with Sonia & John Smith with Rauru. But, like, make him Latin! XD

… Fudge, now I'm thinking about a literal Zonai civil war much like the one between Homeworld & the Crystal Gems with Rauru as Rose Diamond/John Smith, any other Zonai who agreed with him as the Crystal Gems, & the rest of the Zonai as Homeworld Gems.

(… Oh my gosh… In such a situation… Ganondorf is effing Renaldo from the “Rising Tides/Crashing Skies” episode! 🤣)

In fact… What if it was Rauru & Mineru’s mother who was the one who wanted to colonize Hyrule? (I shall call her Jueru!)

So, while he’s trying to bring Hyrule together so as to bring peace, which was already at war with itself, he's also secretly rebelling against his own mother.

…

What if the reason that there are no more Zonai is because of this possible civil war?

In fact, what if the reason that Rauru chose the style of government that he did was simply due to only having ever really known that one?

I mean, think about it. If the Zonai were really from the sky & if this were something legitimately unusual on Hyrule's Earth, then it's very, very probable that they, just as a society, were very isolated.

If so, it’s also possible that they, themselves, were an empire. Meaning that, logically, that’d be the sort of government that he & Mineru would know the most about & would be most prone to thinking about & considering.

And, if they were literally all part of it. Like, in a united sort of way, then depending on how many generations this were the case, the Rauru likely wouldn’t have practically any experience with them. He may not even know anything about them beyond intellectually.

Or, if the Zonai in charge (Jueru) was more tyrannical, he might not have even be aware that other such forms of government even existed. Or even if he did, his perceptions could’ve been colored by that individual or regime. (Though, those last 2 don’t seem nearly as fun as if it was literally just a result of faulty memory & human error. XD)

I imagine him just sort of blinking rather mystified & going, "... I... suppose that I forgot that there were other kinds... Tell me more..."

Like, in my mind, he was aware of them, but because those 2 particular thoughts simply hadn't connected inside his brain yet, he's never really considered them as viable possiblities.

And what if, for having helped the then forgotten Hyrule to end the fighting, the people of the land chose him as their king?

What if, in an attempt to honor the lands culture & history, he chose the name “Hyrule,” in a similar way that one might choose to name a new kingdom “Camelot” or similar to why Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum from Ni no Kuni 2 named his new kingdom “Evermore?”

Which, I understand, “cool story, still imperialism,” but at the same time, you could say something very similar about Ganondorf, too. “Cool motive, still murder.”

… Actually… this could be a really cool angle to explore in a fic or something… Though, I feel like it'd be a bit too ambitious for me...

Sounds like a Steven Universe storyline and I AM HERE FOR IT!

Oh, if my brain functioned like it did a few years back, I would sooo be here to take on the challenge. I DO encourage you to make an attempt! A sentence a day is a sentence more than nothing! You can do it if you truly want to!

I really wanted to see how such a path could go, so... ChatGPT for a small scene:

The moonlight bathed the courtyard in a serene glow, casting long shadows over the ancient stonework of Hyrule Castle. Sonia stood by the fountain, her golden hair glimmering in the soft light, her eyes reflecting the stars above. She hummed softly, a tune reminiscent of the melodies of old Hyrule, as she waited for Rauru.

Rauru approached quietly, his heart swelling at the sight of her. His thoughts were heavy with the weight of his dual roles: uniting Hyrule and defying his mother’s imperial ambitions. He reached out, and Sonia turned, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

"Rauru," she greeted, her voice gentle and soothing.

He took her hands in his, their touch grounding him. "Sonia, I’ve been thinking," he began, his voice carrying a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "About our people, our future... and the legacy we wish to leave."

Sonia’s expression turned curious, encouraging him to continue. "Go on," she urged softly.

Rauru sighed, glancing up at the stars as if seeking their guidance. "My mother, Jueru, she envisioned a different path for the Zonai. A path of conquest and control. But when I met you, everything changed. Your people, your culture... it’s something worth preserving, not dominating."

Sonia squeezed his hands, her eyes shining with understanding and love. "Rauru, you’ve already done so much. You’ve brought peace to Hyrule, united the tribes. But we can’t stop there. We must build a future where all voices are heard."

Rauru nodded, feeling a sense of resolve wash over him. "I want to honor Hyrule’s history, its people. When they chose me as their king, it wasn’t for power. It was for hope, for unity. That’s why I named our kingdom ‘Hyrule,’ to signify a new beginning."

Sonia smiled, her heart swelling with pride. "And together, we’ll ensure that Hyrule remains a beacon of hope and harmony."

Their moment was interrupted by Mineru, Rauru’s sister, who approached with a worried expression. "Brother, the council is convening. There are rumors of unrest among our people. They fear our mother’s influence still lingers."

Rauru’s expression hardened with determination. "Then we shall prove them wrong. We will show them that our path is one of peace, not tyranny."

As they walked towards the council chamber, Sonia looked up at Rauru, her eyes filled with unwavering support. "And remember, Rauru, you’re not alone in this. We stand together, as one."

In the shadows, Ganondorf watched with narrowed eyes. He had his own plans, his own ambitions. But for now, he observed, waiting for the right moment to strike. The Zonai’s civil war had left scars, and he intended to exploit them.

As Rauru and Sonia entered the chamber, the future of Hyrule hung in the balance. The legacy of the Zonai, the dream of a united Hyrule, and the shadows of the past all converged in this pivotal moment. And with Sonia by his side, Rauru knew they had a fighting chance to build a kingdom that truly honored its people’s heritage and dreams.

[recordsandmemories]

He came.

I thought he wouldn't come because it was too late.

I was the one who said it's okay not to come if it's too late.

When he didn't come long after he had promised,

I felt lonely for some reason.

Why am I still waiting for him?

I know he must have had a very busy and hard day.

He doesn't have to come today.

However, he always came.

He quietly walked through the door and talked to me with a shy face.

And he sat on the chair across from me, calmly waiting for me to start talking.

Maybe he won't come today.

And I shouldn't feel lonely by it.

I rummaged through the papers on my desk and tried to think of other important things.

But eventually he came.

drenched with sweat.

His hair was disheveled and his big brown eyes were glistening more than usual.

I hid my sorry and gladness and spoke in a calm voice.

" You're very late. Couldn't you have come a little earlier?"

"Yes. I'm late. If I get in your way, shall I just go?"

"No. It's late, but we'll have to talk. It must have been a rough day."

"Yes. I'm a little tired, to be honest."

I looked at him for a while without saying a word.

"Thank you for coming, Greg."

He looked at me with a puzzled but delighted look on his face.

This was the first time I called his name.

[lisbeth-kk]

May 14 prompt: time (thanks for the tag @notjustamumj @meetinginsamarra @raina-at

The day we met

Sherlock’s undercover. In Liverpool of all places. Greg’s mentioned something about a football team being the city’s pride and joy. Sherlock’s deleted the rest of that information. Not relevant. What is relevant is the fact that Sherlock’s going to perform on live television. In front of the whole world. Apparently Ukraine won last year’s competition, but due to the war, and the UK coming second, Liverpool is hosting the Eurovision this year. Sherlock’s not totally oblivious, but he’s got no interest in the competition per se. The reason he’s present is that a threat’s been made, and Mrs. Hudson’s asked for Sherlock’s help finding the culprit. Normally he wouldn’t considered this sort of case, but Mrs. Hudson’s niece is the one who’s been threatened and she’s also one of the dancers in the show. Her fiancé is the one who’s narrowed down the number of suspects for some reason. Sherlock almost had an aneurism from mere boredom while Mrs. Hudson told him about the whole charade.

“The things I do for you, Hudders,” Sherlock had said before he kissed her cheek and headed out of Baker Street.

***

So, here he is, all dressed up in a leather outfit in black and purple. According to Alice, the niece, it should’ve been black and red, but as Sherlock’s the only male dancer in this dance number, he went for colours more suited for his skin tone. Mrs. Hudson’s clearly warned Alice about him, because she just shrugs when he explains himself.

A short man with gold and silvery hair approaches them, a clipboard in his hand and an earpiece in his left ear.

“That’s John,” Alice whispers. “He’s the stage manager. You don’t want to mess with him.”

Sherlock gives this John a onceover and smirks. Ex-military most certainly. Sherlock licks his lips in anticipation. Maybe this case won’t be as bad as he feared.

***

As John approaches Alice and this new fellow, he can’t help but cast an appreciative look at the newcomer. He’s tall and slender, pale, flawless skin, the most striking face John’s seen in a while and raven curls, meticulously styled. All of him radiates his posh upbringing. Public school, rich parents, arrogant, spoiled. All the things John despises, but if he does his job properly, John can at least enjoy the look of him while this last. There are ten days until the final, and John decides to make the best of it.

“Afghanistan or Iraq?” are the words greeting John.

Normally John’s not one to get startled, but the question, not to mention the voice asking, leaves him amazed.

“Sorry, no time for pleasantries today, I’m afraid,” John says brusquely. “I’m John Watson, stage manager. You are?”

“Sherlock Holmes,” the man says with a knowing look.

Of course he would have a posh and exquisite name as well.

John feels his face blush. He hasn’t done that since high school.

“Right. Welcome, Sherlock. You’re familiar with this dance?” John inquires as professionally as he can manage.

“Obviously,” Sherlock says and rolls his eyes. “Shall we begin the rehearsal anytime this month?

John rolls his eyes and summons the dancers. They go through the dance a few times. Sherlock’s an excellent dancer and falls into step with the others in record time. His lithe body moving around the stage in the sensual manner the dance requires, makes John’s mouth salivate considerably. 

“Alright. One last time, then you can all take a few hours break and some lunch,” John states.

***

While the other dancers have lunch, Sherlock changes out of his costume and sends a text to Alice’s fiancé, Richard. They meet in Richard’s office, and Sherlock’s shown the little evidence Richard’s got. There are three messages. All of them spelled with cut out letters from The Times.

“How do you know it’s The Times?” Richard asks astounded.

“Please,” Sherlock drawls and rolls his eyes, but doesn’t elaborate.

Richard doesn’t pursue the matter. Mrs Hudson’s done her job at least. She knows he hates pestering and nagging when he states the obvious. The obvious to him, that is.

“Any suspects?” Sherlock asks, not too hopeful.

Richard surprises him. He’s actually quite astute.

“Eleanor, Cindy or Taylor,” he states with confidence.

Sherlock looks attentively at him.

“Eleanor is jealous of Alice getting the job. She was certain she’d get it, but she’s not half as good a dancer as my Alice,” Richard says affectionately.

“Alright. What about the others?” Sherlock prompts impatiently .

“Well, Cindy’s just a bitch on a regular basis, so that’s why I mentioned her. Not lightly her, but you said to be thorough when you texted me earlier.”

“Quite so,” Sherlock agrees.

“Then there’s Taylor. She…um…how shall I put it? She thinks of herself…well at a level above the rest of us. Her name isn’t actually Taylor at all, but she doesn’t respond when she’s called by her birth name, which is Anna, by the way. You see, she’s auditioned for Taylor Swift. It’s a few years back now, but after that, she started calling herself Taylor, and she’s totally weird. Doesn’t have to mean anything, of course.”

Richard trails off when he sees Sherlock’s blank face.

“You know who Taylor Swift is, yes?” he asks cautiously.

“Why would I? Is she, I assume it’s a she, relevant to this case?” Sherlock asks curiously.

“Er…no…I guess not,” Richard stutters.

“Well, then. Where can I find this Eleanor?”

***

“You’ve lost your mind, Watson,” John mutters to himself.

After five days of rehearsal, the show’s looking promising, but John’s predicament is of a more personal matter. He’s totally besotted with Sherlock Holmes, and that’s a bit not good. John’s never been one to hide his feelings very well, and Sherlock seems to notice every tiny glance John cast Sherlock’s way. Not that Sherlock’s been dismissive, the opposite, rather. But it’s highly unprofessional, and John’s a man of principles, so there’s that.

“John,” a familiar baritone purrs in his ear.

“Jesus, Sherlock!” John exclaims.

John had been lost in thought and hadn’t been watching where he was going. He had stopped right outside the women’s dressing room and out of nowhere, Sherlock emerged. Not entirely true. He’d actually come out of said room.

“What have you been doing in there?” John asks suspiciously.

“Investigating,” Sherlock mutters while texting rapidly on his phone.

“Invest…”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, John,” Sherlock snaps.

He looks at John with narrowed eyes.

“I’ll explain it to you over dinner, if you’re so inclined. You’re dying to know what I’m up to, and you can finally answer my question from the day we met. Meet me at the entrance at seven.”

And with that Sherlock’s gone, leaving John speechless.

*** 

Waiting for the time to pass, was agony, and John obviously knew time didn’t go slower than normal just because he was eagerly anticipating what might occur during dinner with Sherlock. Nevertheless, time seemed to have stopped momentarily. When he turned up at the entrance, he had to wait another ten minutes before Sherlock showed.

“Shall we?” Sherlock said without apologising for being late.

He was texting at his phone again, in an unfathomable speed. Just as John was about to ask if his company was warranted at all, Sherlock pocketed his phone and stopped outside an Italian restaurant.

“After you, John,” Sherlock said and held the door open for John to enter first. 

It smelled delicious of Italian cuisine and the interior was cosy and not as posh as John had anticipated. They were shown to a secluded table with a chequered table cloth, large wine glasses, and a lit candle. They ordered wine and pasta, and Sherlock asked his question again.

“Afghanistan or Iraq?”

Instead of answering, John asked a question of his own.

“How did you know?”

Sherlock’s rapid deduction made John gape. Before he could praise the precise analysis, their waiter brought the wine and shortly after the pasta. John was famished, so he decided to eat first and ask further questions later.

Sherlock wasn’t much of an eater, so between his nibbling on the garlic bread and rigatoni, he told John about why he’d been inside the women’s dressing room.

“So, if you solve the case before the final, you’ll be heading back to London?” John asks with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Normally yes. The other dancers aren’t dependent on me. However, I have other interests than the case,” Sherlock says.

Suddenly he looks shy, something John didn’t think Sherlock was even capable of. The wine makes John relax and he feels a bit bold, so he reaches over the table for Sherlock’s hand. While stroking Sherlock’s knuckles with his thumb, his eyes meet Sherlock’s and the look in those cerulean eyes, makes John shiver.

“Care to elaborate?” John asks hoarsely.

“Mm, after dessert,” Sherlock answers. 

Decided to pay a little homage to Eurovision from last night, but I've been struggling all day with this after 4 hours of sleep, so go easy on me...

@totallysilvergirl @calaisreno @missdeliadili @topsyturvy-turtely

[starkraivennemad]

Reciprocal

"Sir?"

Lost in his thoughts Mycroft blinked and looked to his assistant staring at him oddly. "Yes, Anthea?"

"You did not answer the question?"

"Forgive me, what was the question?"

"Shall we drive off and take you home now or do you still need a moment to ponder...?"

Mycroft sat up in his sedan at what he knew the ellipsis implied.

Mycroft looked in the direction Gregory Lestrade had headed to his flat.

It had been fifteen minutes since Gregory left the sedan. Yet they still sat idling at the curb.

Detective Inspector Gregory Michael Lestrade.

An average man he once considered one among the many minions that served him. He did not think much of Lestrade, and the feeling was reciprocal.

Except, even from the onset Gregory Lestrade never was an average anything. 

The very first person to turn down his offer, he could not be bullied nor bribed as so many others. Did Greg follow Mycroft's lead when it came to keeping a weathered eye on his brother Sherlock, yes, but only on his own terms. If Mycroft wanted to know about his brother he always had to come to Greg and ask. Thus began their dinners when Mycroft would get updates on Sherlock.

Never anything sordid and wasn't his business to know as a brother or protector. Conversely, he learned nothing he ever said about Sherlock reached his brother's ears. The intelligent man had an integrity that Mycroft respected even if he never openly admitted such it was understood it was reciprocal.

In the years since, dinners that went from three or four times a year became four or five times a month and long ago gave up the pretense of being anything about Sherlock.  it surprised Mycroft when he found himself looking forward to those dinners with Gregory and learning that was also reciprocal. 

Reciprocal. Mycroft thought about that. The two men have gone from through much dealing with his brother and by turns each other. Mycroft was there to help Greg through his divorce. Greg has been there to help him get through the trauma of Sherrinford. He could not imagine his life now without Greg in it. 

With a shock he wondered if that too was also reciprocal. 

"Sir?" Anthea touched his arm when he opened the sedan door to step out. 

He realized then that he had not responded to her earlier question.  "Sherlock is the only person alive who knows me better than you, Anthea. I feel it's time to change that. You can go home."

He looked to her and saw the smile hidden behind her professional mien and knew she knew, but still she had to ask. "Are you sure, sir?"

"No, but like every single thing that has happened when dealing with him it has been with reciprocity, Universe is rarely so lazy."

Her hidden smile became a wide one as she let his arm go and sat back in the sedan. "I'll see you overmorrow.".

A few minutes later he is standing in front of Greg's door when he phone rings. He grinned seeing the name of the caller. 

"Yes, Gregory.?"

"Yeah, um... I can see the sedan still parked out front, are y...is everything...okay?" Greg asked, and before Mycroft could respond asked a new question. "Or would you like to come up? Oh nevermind I see the sedan is leaving..."

"The sedan is leaving I am not."

"What?"

"Open your door."

"Really?" The amount of joy heard in Greg's voice was only succeeded by the alacrity in which Mycroft could hear Greg run to said door and smile that greeted him when it was flung open and Mycroft was treated to a shirtless Greg.

"All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life.” 

"Your heart was never dead, just dormant. I suspect like mine it only needed the right person to tend to it." Greg stepped back granting him entrance. "Welcome to my garden."

And Mycroft knew with every fiber of his being then that everything he said to Anthea was correct. 

Every single thing that has happened when dealing with him it has been with reciprocity.

As soon as the door closed behind him Mycroft pulled Greg into his arms.

"And welcome to mine, Greg."

@mystradepromptsandscenarios

[microwavingtoniii]

Saw one of those “could they solve the Kira case” posts this morning and proceeded to spend the entire day contemplating how the death note would work on Dog Man (yeah he’s not really a detective but still) (also I’d like to note that I have very limited knowledge of Death Note lore so if anybody who knows more than me can answer some of my questions then that’d be cool ig)

The rules of the Death Note says that “The human whose name is written in this note shall die” so riddle me this, what the hell happens to Dog Man? Dog man isn’t exactly a human, so would his name being written just kill his body, as we know that bodies and heads die separately because kids book logic, is Dog Man just a head until he dies? And on the subject of his name, what name would the note take? Is “Dog Man” even his real legal name? If it’s not, then would it still take Dog Man as the name given that he’s been almost exclusively referred to as Dog Man, and his name is effectively Dog Man? And if we’re stretching like that, would taking the mantle of The Bark Knight or Cat Man change it? And if we’re going exclusively by legal names and his legal name isn’t Dog Man, how does that work when he’s both Officer Knight and Greg the Dog? And regardless, both Officer Knight and Greg the Dog are effectively dead, as half of them died in an explosion and the other halves are now one entity separate from each other? Dog Man is simultaneously 0, 1, and 2 people at the same time and im fucking sobbing

[softsnzstuff]

Thinking about an overworked detective who just caught a big break in the case having to stand out in the rain at night overseeing a crime scene investigation (or something) when he’s already got a bad cold 🤤🤤

——

I’m here to request this!! 🤭

Ask and you shall receive!! Getting back to my roots with some classic M/ystrade goodness.

Summary - D.I. Lestrade has caught the worst cold in a long time but he’s stuck working a new lead in the case thanks to Sherlock. Mycroft stops by and fusses. As per usual. 🥰

Dedicated to @snzagaba for encouraging me to write it and also to my lovely Anon for requesting 💕

The winter rain hammered the pavement all over London, icy winter chill freezing people to the bones. Most people were inside their warm homes at this time of night, but Detective Inspector Lestrade was out near a construction site.

Sherlock had informed him earlier that they needed to go to the site immediately and search for the discarded backpack that would lock up the suspects for good - nasty fellas involved in a brutal child murder.

Greg wasn’t sure how Sherlock always managed to do it, but he hadn’t been wrong yet. This time he was on about the way the suspect wore his belt. Had to give away that he worked construction in the side.

The consulting detective and his partner were standing under two umbrellas, Sherlock barking orders at the dog team. Greg was without umbrella, soaked to his shoes.

“HURRRDSH!!”

He snapped forward, water droplets flying off the soggy whisps of hair.

Sherlock shot him a glare that said ‘you’re interrupting my thinking’.

“Bless you.” John offered before turning back to face the scene with sherlock.

With Mycroft away on business this week, no one was around to tell him to get some rest. The DI had been working late nights at Scotland Yard every day this week, running himself ragged. By Wednesday he’d already started coming down with one hell of a cold. Donovan and Anderson avoiding him by Thursday.

The silver haired man used a wet hand to try and wipe the rain out of his eyes - an effort that was futile. He pulled an already damp tissue from his pocket and coughed harshly into it.

The cough sounded worse than it was - two decades of smoking seemed to have that effect on Greg whenever he fell ill.

“You’ll catch your death out here, Gregory.”

The man in question turned around and was met with none other than the British government himself holding an umbrella over them both.

“ii’GSHHH! Heh’RRRDSHUH!”

Mycroft huffed a sigh, always startled by how loud his partner could be.

“I thi’gk I already have…” Greg mumbled from behind the tissue. He blew his nose, practically turning it to confetti.

“For heavens sake Gregory, do throw that useless napkin away.” The younger man removed a clean and pressed handkerchief from his suit’s breast pocket and handed it to the detective who was already putting it to good use.

“H’eTCHiew!”

“Bless.” Mycroft pursed his lips as he strode over to Sherlock and John.

“Ah, brother. You’ve gained weight.” Sherlock quipped.

Mycroft rolled his eyes, “Could you perhaps hurry this up, brother dear. Detective Inspector Lestrade is unwell.”

“What Grant?”

“You know his name, Sherlock.”

The younger of the Holmes’ brothers shouted at the crime scene investigators who were digging in ponchos.

“Not there you idiots. Your other left!! For Christ’s sake Anderson, didn’t anyone teach you directions?? THERE!”

Right where sherlock pointed, someone hit something solid. After a couple people joined in the digging, it was unearthed as a backpack. THE backpack needed to crack the case.

“Detective, I think you’ll find the backpack was exactly where I’d thought. Inside you’ll found damning evidence that the banker did it all along for the insurance claim. We’ll be on our way now.”

Sherlock turned on his heels, John apologizing but following after him.

“Is that enough to get you home and into some dry clothes then?” Mycroft asked. “Anthea has the car ready to go.”

“Erm… let me make sure Donovan can handle this before I just snfff leave them…”

Mycroft made a note of his partner’s growing congestion. He’d prepare the humidifier later that night.

A few moments later, Greg was trotting back over through the rain.

“Alright, she’s got it. Don’t suppose the British government can summon me a towel?” He teased.

The window of the car rolled down and Anthea handed one over. It was warm as if it had just come out of the dryer.

“How did you-? Nevermind…”

“Don’t mumble, Gregory.” Mycroft ushered him into the back of the car. “Let’s tend to that cold of yours, shall we?”

[a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives]

Scrublands review – Chris Hammer adaptation is a rock solid addition to Australian rural noir

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jay Ryan plays murderer priest Byron Swift in Scrublands, now streaming on Stan. Photograph: Sarah Enticknap

A journalist is assigned to write about a traumatic event, speaks to wary locals, scratches away layers of obfuscation and discovers All Is Not What It Seems. Yes, we’ve been here before. Ditto for crime stories based in rural Australian locations; the bounty for this year alone includes Deadloch, Black Snow, Bay of Fires, The Clearing and Ivan Sen’s feature film Limbo.

However, Stan’s new four-part mystery series Scrublands, directed by Greg McLean and adapted from Chris Hammer’s bestselling novel of the same name, demonstrates why genre-ified tropes and formulas have evergreen appeal if staged with some vim and flair.

These kinds of narratives don’t have to be fresh, per se: according to Campbellian wisdom there’s nothing new under the sun. But templated stories should always feel fresh and be invigoratingly staged. That’s certainly the case in Scrublands, which at its worst feels a little potboiler-ish but is grippingly sustained across four episodes of roughly one hour apiece and never overstays its welcome.

-----

The series begins provocatively, with a priest – Jay Ryan’s Bryon Swift – shooting at his own congregation with a sniper rifle, murdering five people before turning the gun on himself. Not the most effective recruitment drive for the church. Twelve months later, a Sydney Morning Herald journalist – Luke Arnold’s Martin Scarsden – arrives in the town where it happened to pen a “one year on” anniversary article. One local accuses him of writing “torture porn” but Scarsden says his brief is a colour piece: “just weekend supplement stuff”. Nothing to challenge or upset people. The protagonist will change his tune, of course, when he gets an inkling that something is wrong with the official narrative and attaches himself to the story like a dog with lockjaw.

We know that things can’t be as they seem but we saw the priest killing in cold blood, so what kind of twists and turns await? Good mystery writing is sometimes about appearing to box things in, to construct narrative limitations before finding ways to circumvent them – by widening the context, perhaps, or unveiling different perspectives, or laying out a tangled backstory, all of which is the case in Scrublands. Like other crime mysteries such as The Dry, McLean alternates between timeframes, the current one having a hot glazed look, the palette taking on cooler hues during earlier times. The latter moments feel reflective, distanced from the white-hot part of the flame. Later on, these once-lighter looking scenes get warmer, signifying that the plotlines are merging and the drama is coming to a head.

Luke Arnold is compelling – and he doesn’t overdo it. Photograph: Sarah Enticknap

Luke Arnold is a compelling lead: from the start you feel invested in his presence. When Arnold does that thing when an actor frowns while examining a piece of evidence, as if to say “now I’m putting two and two together”, he doesn’t overdo it; it feels genuine. This is a less showy performance than Simon Baker’s heroin-injecting cop in Limbo or Travis Fimmel’s sleepy-eyed detective in Black Snow – perhaps because Arnold is playing a journalist who can’t afford to indulge in too much self-destructive behaviour, with all those bloody deadlines to hit.

But when it comes to dramatic purpose, the journalist and the detective often occupy the same essential role: as upsetters of the apple cart, sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong, making people uncomfortable and creating a chemistry change that draws dormant feelings – and, of course, The Truth – to the surface.

Bella Heathcote, who co-starred in the excellent 2020 horror movie Relic, is very persuasive as Mandy Bond, who has, shall we say, unique knowledge of the late priest. Just by the way she holds herself, by the longing in her eyes, the actor very effectively communicates that Bond wants to be somewhere else, emotionally and physically.

Mandy Bond (Bella Heathcote) in Scrublands. Photograph: Narelle Portanier

As the aforementioned priest, Swift initially seems a little imposing and Ironman-like for a man of the cloth, as if he should be in a Nutri-Grain commercial rather than a confessional. But stay with it; this tale is tangled and things feel quite plausible (notwithstanding the need for a wee bit of disbelief suspension as it rolls and tumbles along).

Like much of McLean’s work, Scrublands can be a bit pulpy but here not in a bad way: this isn’t trashy or schlocky. It’s a rock-solid addition to the rural noir genre, engaging from the start, all the way to a satisfyingly explosive finale.

Scrublands is streaming now on Stan.

Source: The Guardian

[amar-bell]

I always come back Chapter 3

“Cassandra, why don’t you sit next to Gregory? There’s an open seat there.” Gregory cursed himself for not putting his bag on that empty seat, and the new girl came and sat down next to him.

Gregory was unsettled throughout the class, he was 100% certain the new girl was staring at him the whole time. It was not fun. 

The class bell rang, and the teacher told them their homework and left. The next teacher would be here in 5 minutes. Gregory could act as if he needed to use the bathroom and avoid talking to the new girl. There was no way she could be his best friend Cassie who died 5 years ago. They had come to the ruins every night for a whole month to search for her and they couldn’t find her.

Freddy and Vanessa gave up after 2 weeks, but Roxy and Gregory kept coming back to look for her, before they finally accepted that she didn’t survive.

How could she have lived?! “My name’s Cassandra, or Cassie.. I didn’t get to introduce myself to you yesterday.” The girl suddenly spoke up, making Gregory jump. “Y-Yeah nice to meet you!” He responded, cursing himself for sounding so terrified, but can you really blame him? He was about 90% sure he was speaking to a dead girl.

“Are you okay? You seem scared.. Did I do something?” The way she spoke seemed awfully robotic, like she was reading the words off of a script that someone had given her.

“Yeah I'm fine, don’t worry about it.” Gregory responded, giving her a polite smile. Cassie looked away, focusing on doing the homework the teacher had given. 

Gregory took this as an opportunity to just take a breather and plan his next move. He could ask her questions, maybe try to figure out and see if she is his Cassie, but that would just come off as annoying, he was practically poking into her past, maybe if he asked a wrong question, it could lead to her pushing him away entirely. He should play the slow game, maybe gain her trust before actually asking her about that.

“I see that you’re the type of person to do homework in school too.” He said in an attempt to make small talk. “I find it far more efficient, I can return home and do something else, like study, or read.” “Oh yeah, same here. You know, at the end of the school day, I usually go and submit the work to the teacher, she doesn’t mind me doing that, you could maybe join me?” Cassie looked up at him with a blank expression, before nodding. “Sure.” 

Soon the next teacher arrived, and things with the both of them were pretty slow. She didn’t seem to talk much, only when absolutely necessary. That wasn’t like his Cassie. She was way too talkative, even worse than him, and that was saying something, because during every parent-teacher meeting, that was the main thing they complained to Vanessa about.

At the end of the day, Gregory waited outside for Cassie, who had been talking to their biology teacher. Finally when she came out, Gregory smiled at her. “Are you ready to go?” He asked her, to which she nodded.

“Greg, wait!” The two of them looked behind them. Allison and Mason ran up to them. “Hey Greg, new girl.” Mason greeted. “Did you both hit it off? Where are you going?” Allison asked. “Oh. Gregory was just about to take me to the teachers to submit our homework.” “Oh?~ Another one who’s like you Greg?” Mason asked teasingly. “Yeah. Someone who finally understands why submitting work early is beneficial. She has some sense, unlike you two.” Cassie’s mouth curved up in an odd little smile, and that made me smile back. “We should probably go. My mother and father will be waiting for me, so I must not be late.” ‘Mother? Father?’ That made Gregory confused. Cassie’s mother had died when the girl had been 6 years old. Cassie’s father disappeared when she was 9. Certainly this can’t be his Cassie? But there was always a chance a couple found her after she escaped the pizza plex.

“Gregory? Shall we leave?” Cassie’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.” After bidding a goodbye to his friends, Gregory left with Cassie.

~

“There’s no way that girl can be Cassie. She’s gone! We searched for her for a month!” We were all gathered on the dining table, Roxy and Freddy were seated together, while Vanessa and I ate our food. Freddy seemed reluctant to believe that Cassie survived. “We can never be sure Freddy. There is a very real chance that she could have escaped without us knowing. But I am skeptical that the kid that Gregory has described is the same Cassie is my little Carrots.”

Gregory gave Roxy a look. “Carrots?” Roxy growled at him. “Freddy has a nickname for you, does he not? I had a nickname for my beloved Cassie too.” Greg simply rolled his eyes in response. “Back to the topic at hand, yeah her attitude was.. Weird to say the least. Nothing like how Cassie was 5 years ago. But we can’t say that it isn’t her because of that. Trauma could be a very good reason for it. She did go through a near death experience, and who knows what else after that.” Gregory says to the group. “He has a point, but what about the topic of her parents?” Vanessa asks. “She could’ve been adopted by someone. It’s as simple as that.” 

Vanessa bites down on her bottom lip as she thinks this situation over in her head. “I say that Gregory should spend more time with this girl.. What was her name Gregory?” “Cassandra Nightingale.” “I think Gregory should spend more time with this Cassandra girl, and find out if she’s actually Cassie. And if she is, then great! She’s alive. If she isn’t, Gregory gets another friend at the end of it, a cute friend.” Vanessa bats her eyelashes at him, and Greg just rolled his eyes. “Stop it mama.” “But you’re so painfully single! You have all the options out there, boys and girls! Come on Greg.” “At least I'm not pining over someone and refusing to tell him about it.” There was utter silence at the table.

“I-i’m going to tell him soon..” Vanessa mumbles with a blush. “You said that last month too.”

-

[britishsass]

Professor Rattmann and the Rewound Future

This post will include full-game spoilers for Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, as well as mild spoilers for Portal, Portal 2, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, and Layton Brothers: Mystery Room. There might be some spoilers for Perpetual Testing Initiative, Aperture Tag, Portal Stories: Mel, and basically any other assorted Portal and Professor Layton games.

There will also be discussions of abuse, death, manipulation, implied torture, and a whole heaping of other triggering subjects. Viewers, have discretion. It's advised.

With that, let's get into a longform description of my au, shall we?

This plot has three time periods. We will refer to them as PAST (P), NOW (N), and FUTURE (F). Let's start with the Past.

PAST:

10 years prior to NOW, there were four people working together on a project. These people were as follows: Caroline Davis, her brother Greg Davis, Cave Johnson, and Henry Peters. Greg wasn't really involved here outside of being the guy who runs for supplies and whatever, while Caroline, Henry, and Cave were working on their project quite frequently.

(At the same time, Caroline was dating Doug Rattmann, a local graduate school student a bit younger than her. This will be important later.)

The project was nearing completion when Henry suggested that they test it on a live subject, and after a discussion between the main trio of developers, they decided to test it on Caroline, as they would have multiple investors at the testing to prove their device worked as planned.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, the machine created was rushed, and instead of working, it exploded inside the laboratory they had set up, at the edge of campus near an apartment complex. With the explosion, the apartment and the lab were destroyed. Henry and Cave barely survived, while Doug tried to rescue others after arriving late. Greg was nowhere to be found at the time.

In the apartment complex that exploded were two other important characters: Grant Wilner and Nigel Parkersberg. Grant's mother was killed in the explosion, while Nigel's parents and sisters were caught in the blast as well. Nigel and Grant were rescued by Doug, while very few others survived.

The two boys and Doug grew closer to each other, and Doug eventually adopted the two boys, taking care of them while they adjusted to the new situation. At the same time, Doug sought after any information about the machine the quartet was making, as well as looking for any information about the others involved.

This is when things got worse much quicker than before: While in the midst of his investigation, Doug was attacked. He fell into a coma for a while afterward, but his research was stolen, and even worse-- Grant and Nigel were abducted.

Though he kept looking, neither the boys nor his research showed. After a while, he put that on the back burner, focusing instead on his studies. He became a professor of art and archeology, teaching other students about the subjects. (Archeology was his actual profession, but his art was his passion instead. As well as puzzles, of course.)

After nine or so years, Doug took on an apprentice-- Marcel Wheatley, a young boy with a very bright mind-- and helped Rick Harris, another young boy without a family to rely on. Doug adopted Rick in all but name, unwilling to replace his old children with another, but still caring for him as much as he could. During a few earlier investigations, they met with Cave, discovering he had learned disguises and slipped into a life of crime. As well, they met Michael, Marcel's older brother, and a few others who may show up. I'll introduce them when they do come up.

That brings us to the next part of the story...

NOW/FUTURE (It's time travel, sorry):

With Marcel and Rick by his side, Doug felt that things were looking up. However, that was when a letter found its way to his mailbox: A letter from Grant. Of course, still missing his children, Doug promptly tried to follow the instructions there in order to reunite. This led the trio to a small clock shop where a few people were waiting-- one of which was Virgil Steinback, Grant's boyfriend. There, Virgil told them what had happened that led Grant to reach out:

Ten years in the future, Doug became a tyrannical ruler of their city. Instead of focusing on the family he had made, he instead focused solely on bringing Caroline back. The city and people suffered, and eventually, all that was left to fight was the small group that he had brought together.

The idea of time travel seemed impossible, but instead of explaining, Virgil showed them the way they did it, involving the clock shop. On the other end, someone else was waiting: An older version of Marcel.

F!Marcel led them back to the hideout he was using, where a group of people were staying. To be specific, the group there was F!Rick, F!Grant, F!Marcel, F!Michael, F!Virgil, F!Nigel, and F!Cave. This is where the first explanation of what happened comes out:

After Marcel's apprenticeship ended, Doug drew away from Rick and Marcel before suddenly disappearing at the end of the school year. A few years later, a bunch of scientists were abducted, one-by-one. One day, someone reported a sighting of Doug Rattmann-- in the same place that one of the scientists went missing the next day. His name was linked to a rise in crime in the city, as things worsened. People tried their best to understand, but the troubles continued instead.

Cave was the last person who saw Doug in a peaceful situation when Doug came to his house late at night. Doug requested his help and warned him that things were going to get worse. He asked Cave to find Marcel and Rick and keep them safe. Since then, they haven't seen him except while fighting.

Doug's power in the criminal world grew, and he eventually took over the city. Grant and Nigel found the others, staying with them after they exchanged information: Those two were involved in the criminal world since their abduction, being trained to take over for a different crime boss. They escaped at last and found the people on their side-- those who wanted to take down the regime here.

This obviously is a bit scary to the "Now" Team. With this knowledge, though, they're dragged into the situation as they try to take down the evil regime ruling the city, despite the person at the head being Doug himself.

~

So. Other than this, there's a little bit more to talk about-- all the characters, obviously, but also some of the timeline stuff. I'll happily explain more when it comes up, or at least when I have the energy (and when my head stops hurting.) For now, though, I'm happy just to post this much :) Hope it makes sense so far!

[bllsbailey]

BREAKING: RFK Jr. Drops Out, Endorses Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from the race and endorsed former President Donald Trump, an event brewing for days. There was initial speculation if he would just quit and walk away. However, sources have told multiple news agencies, including ABC News, that Mr. Kennedy has been critical of Democrats since announcing his third-party run. Kennedy has not been supportive of the Democrats’ replacement of Biden.

There was some palace intrigue regarding the Trump endorsement reports since a) his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, wants the Trump camp to admit Operation Warp Speed was a failure, and b) Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, isn’t keen on the former president at all. Yet, ahead of his speech in Arizona, Mr. Kennedy decided to endorse Trump, with the Associated Press reporting on his new Pennsylvania filing, which indicated he was jumping on the MAGA train (via AP):

BREAKING: Ahead of a speech, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says in a Pennsylvania court filing that he will be endorsing Donald Trump. https://t.co/45npx3wW5u— The Associated Press (@AP) August 23, 2024

When he took the podium today, Mr. Kennedy torched the Democratic Party and the liberal media. That's where CNN cut to break. Kennedy also torched Kamala Harris for refusing to do interviews while slamming the 2024 Democratic National Convention for being a wholly manufactured event aimed at boosting their candidate's poll numbers based on vapid talking points. 

RFK Jr calls out Kamala Harris for failing to give a single interview or speak to voters unscripted. pic.twitter.com/PH9ldLvuLs— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 23, 2024

RFK Jr: "Instead of showing us her substance and character, the DNC and its media organs engineered a surge of popularity of Vice President Harris based up...well, nothing." pic.twitter.com/jFuYOHpcWX— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 23, 2024

RFK Jr: "Who needs a policy when you have Trump to hate?" pic.twitter.com/02PoOfou2F— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 23, 2024

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 23, 2024

RFK Jr: "The mainstream media was once the guardian of the First Amendment and Democratic principles, and it's joined this systemic attack on Democracy." pic.twitter.com/Vf0bZ9E5O8— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 23, 2024

Katie wrote about the Democratic Party’s anxiety about RFK endorsing Trump, which could put the former president over the top in key states yesterday. In Arizona, Mr. Kennedy formally withdrew his name from the ballot. This move had to be done before ballots got printed, so we shall see how this shakes up the race. When Biden was in the race, Kennedy’s candidacy was hurting him. It flipped when Biden quit. We shall see how this recalibrates the race. These moves matter in an election that will be decided by tens of thousands of votes and razor-thin margins across a few states.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: "We just had a very nice endorsement from RFK JR!" pic.twitter.com/yNmooMWGo4— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 23, 2024

🚨CNN cut away from RFK Jr's speech as he was explaining how the DNC rigged the primary, replaced their candidate with one who didn't receive a single vote, and how the media covered up for it and censored him. pic.twitter.com/sQfGcmWKWT— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 23, 2024

Trending on Townhall Videos

[writerleo86]

Terravenger Season 6 - The Twilight Arc - Episode 525 (Do Not Copy) - 03.06.2024

    On the right sideway of the Midas Hospital Trail, the focused Greg Griffin remained at the front as more of the soldiers from the Midas Armed Forces stood behind.

    Among the soldiers was the elegant teacher named Kael Rama. He wore a white shirt with a fine collar, long sleeves, and thick red cuffs. Around both sides of his shirt was an upside-down V that was colored red. He had on white dress-pants with a black belt and black shoes with white at the middle. He also wore an opened white dress-coat with a fine collar and the golden symbol representing Planet Mars on the left shoulder. And his MAF badge was placed on a small pocket which was on the front left side of his coat.

    Rama stood by Greg's right side with his hands hidden in the pockets of his coat. The duo continued to face forward as Greg threw more of his energy into the barrier.

    Meanwhile, the commander Beau Ravenstone inside the Midas Academy's Meeting Room with Victoria Sidney and Kastano. They each sat at the end of the long table that was by the door while the technician Seven of Nine remained at the far end.

    "You have something to report?" asked Beau.

    The emotionless Seven of Nine aimed the tip of his mechanical pen forward. A large rectangle made of clear light appeared at the top of the table's center. The map of the planet Terravenger soon appeared on the large rectangle which was the monitor. And a thin red light began to point from the tip of Seven's pen.

    The red laser pointed at the land that was at the map's bottom and Seven reported "The people who have taken Duo Storms. According to the tracking device I inserted into Duo's drink while he stayed at his home, he is located at the heart of Pelican City."

    "Pelican City?" reported Victoria.

    "Affirmative," answered Seven. "After searching through every part of the city, we have determined that the main headquarters of the kidnappers is in an old temple that was rented by a certain source for almost ten years."

    Kastano thought to himself until he called out "Mother Blight."

    The image of the map quickly changed into a face picture of the wicked Mother Blight.

    Seven of Nine reported "Before this, I had discovered her true identity. Her name is actually Pamela Upchurch. She was the head of a small school somewhere in the United Kingdom before she was discovered by our enemy. But the information about her life in the past is unknown."

    Victoria read from the image and added "The only one of her children that is well-known and has a long record of arrests and complaints is her eldest daughter."

    "Aika," named Kastano.

    Seven revealed "Aika Romanov is her real name. She was born in a small village in the Russian Federation to a farmer who was a follower of the Bringer."

    "Pamela Upchurch?" repeated Beau. "And Aika Romanov."

    Then Seven informed everyone "The name of the person who rented the temple was A. Romanov Upchurch. Upchurch, or rather Mother Blight. She used both her name and her daughter's on every transaction which includes a few of the temples that are located in some parts of this planet."

    Beau read the file on the image before them and told the engineer "I think you for this information."

    The commander faced Kastano and informed him "We will gather a large army of capable soldiers. Then we will travel to this location in Pelican City. And we must battle through the Bringer's minions until we have rescued Duo from his prison."

    The calm Kastano shook his head and said "Very well, Raven. I shall let you go on your quest. Saving a student of Midas City is important."

    "He is not just any mere student," implied Victoria.

    Kastano shook his head and responded "Yes, you are right Lieutenant. Duo Storms is valuable to not only our academy. But this child is someone that is important to us all."

    He gave a daring smile to Beau and replied "Not only he is Raven's son. But Duo Storms is cared for by many people of the city. And we as the city's soldier will do our best to bring student home."

Terravenger -- Season 6

Episode 525:  Twilight -- The Grand Midas March

    During the early part of the next morning, many groups of the Midas Armed Forces' soldiers marched through the city. Leading them were their two superiors, Beau Ravenstone and Victoria Sidney.

    Victoria remained by her commander's right side while their general was by his left. The short hair was Kastano was made into a high bun which remained behind his head. He wore a blue coat with a golden-lined heart designed on the chest. A golden pad was placed on the top of each shoulder while a thin silver belt remained around his waist. And his MAF badge was placed on the front left side of the chest. He also had on a pair of long white bottoms and short light-brown boots. And a golden bracelet was worn around each wrist.

    Beau told him "I thank you once again for this, Kastano."

    Kastano gave a soft smile and asked "How long have we been friends, Raven?"

    "Too long," answered Beau.

    And the warm general replied "That should be the only thing which tells you I will follow you until the end."

    "As will I," added Victoria. "You do not have to go through this ordeal on your own, Commander."

    The focused Beau shook his head and said "You both are too good to me."

    Leading one of the groups at the back right side were the three members of the Paigettes.

    The girl at the left side was Seer who had her long hair worn out. And she wore black eyeliner along with light-purple lipstick. She also had golden rings on the bottom of her ears and her silver tiara on her forehead with a small clear gem lowering from the center. She wore a black outfit consisting of purple outlines and a large heart which revealed the top of her chest. And her tight bottoms lowered to her knees. She also had a long black warmer with purple outlines covering each arm and a pair of long black boots. Her MAF badge was placed on the front left side of her chest. And a long pale-violet sash was tied around her waist.

    Iris Thomas who remained at the right side had on black eyeliner, purple eye-shadow, and pale-violet lipstick. She wore a sleeveless aqua-green top that didn't lower to her waist. She had a pair of legless bottoms made of purple scales, a long light-blue fin on each side, and a thin purple belt with her MAF badge as her buckle. And she had on a pair of long black boots.

    And remaining at the center of the group was their leader. Paige McCormack had on black eyeliner and light-pink lipstick. She wore a sleeveless yellow top which was tied together by a white lace. The DSL crest was placed on its front left side. And the top didn't lower to her waist. She had on a short yellow dress with a legless bottom underneath. And the top of the dress was a white belt that had her MAF badge as its buckle. She also on fingerless black gloves and black knee braces. And she had on a pair of long black boots along with a thick black collar around her neck.

    Walking at the front of a group that was at the left side were four more students -- Silver Monroe, Cheetah, Seth Black, and Dilan Carr.

    The gargoyle Silver had on a short-sleeved blue shirt with three horizontal light-gray lines around the bottom of the chest. He wore a pair of jet-black pants that lowered toward his knees. A long black warmer with a long chrome-colored protector at the front was on each ankle. He also had on a long black glove on his right hand that didn't cover each finger while a short black glove that was also fingerless was on the left hand. And a zipped coat made of black leather was worn over his shirt with the hood covering his head.

    The face-painted Cheetah wore a sleeveless orange shirt that revealed the middle of his chest and lowered to the top of his waist. A pair of long light-orange leggings were worn with a thick tan belt that had his MAF badge placed at the center. He also wore fingerless black gloves with thin orange cuffs and long black boots. And a red bandana was tied around his left ankle.

    The charming Seth had on a see-through shirt with long sleeves and black designs around each shoulder. He had a long red warmer covering each wrist while a blue half-moon symbol was printed on his left shoulder. He wore white jeans with a black belt that had a golden buckle shaped as a wolf's head. He also had on a pair of short black boots. And his MAF badge was placed on the front left side of his chest.

    The quick-thinking Dilan wore a sleeveless green coat that was zipped up. He had on a pair of fingerless black gloves and black combat-pants with a thick black belt that had his MAF badge as its buckle. He also had on a black warmer covering each elbow. And he had on a pair of long black combat-boots.

    Traveling in front of the group at the far back were the officer Tiger and three students.

    The older Luna had her long blond hair falling toward her shoulders as she wore her long-sleeved white shirt underneath a pink shirt with shorter sleeves. And her MAF badge was on the front left side of her chest. She had on a long pink skirt with a small upside-down golden crescent-moon holding it together. She also had long blue-violet warmers around her ankles while she had on a pair of maroon slippers with high heels. And her long pink sword was holstered at the left side of a thick pink waist-band.

    Her high-spirited friend named Ino Iruka had her long blond hair made into a high bun while she didn't have on any makeup. She wore a light-blue shirt with short sleeves and a V neck. Placed on the right side of the chest area was a picture of a toad with light-green scales and large yellow eyes. And placed on the front left side of the shirt was her MAF badge. She also had a small orange bracelet covering each wrist, tight khaki pants with a small skirt lowering from her waist, and a thick red-orange sash that was tied around the top of her waist. And she wore open-toed green-blue shoes with orange at the front.

    The focused Kitt Essmay wore a short-sleeved white shirt with the top part revealing his neck and shoulders. On the center of the shirt's front was a large shape made of golden lines. And placed around each elbow was a thick black brace with a jet-black pad. He also wore tight black pants lowering to his ankles. And he had on short black boots with light-purple protectors at both the front and toe areas.

    Tiger wore a sleeveless black top with a large light-blue V covering his chest. Each shoulder was covered in black while see-through sleeves were attached to his fingerless black gloves. He also had tight black leggings with long black warmers covering his ankles. And he had on an opened coat that was made of black leather.

    Meanwhile, two soldiers stood on the cliff at the Forest Area which was on the top of the Midas Academy.

    The determined Kirk Tucson who remained at the front wore a long-sleeved white shirt which had ruffled cuffs around the wrist. Placed on the top of the shirt was a fine collar that had a bright yellow tie. And at the bottom of his tie was a golden pendant that displayed his symbol. He also had on white dress-pants and white boots. And he wore an opened white coat with a large golden cross knitted at each side of its front.

    And standing behind the druid was the seer Alexis Sanyo. The top of her dark-blond hair was tied into a tail as the bottom part remained flat down. And she wore brown eyeliner along with light-pink lipstick. She wore her shirt with the top part and long sleeves colored dark-brown while the chest area was light-brown ad the waist remained pale-brown. She had on long dark-brown leggings with mauve pads on her knees. She had on a thick mauve collar attached to a pair of mauve pads that were on the shoulders. She also had on her long pale-brown gloves, a black belt around her waist, and long brown boots. And her MAF badge was placed on the front left side of her chest.

    She asked in a calm but strong voice "Are you prepared?"

    An emotionless Tucson placed his right wrist before his chest as he lowered his head. Then he lifted his head and faced forward with determination.

    He responded "It is time that I finally faced him. I will pierce through his darkness and chaos. And I'll see if I can destroy him too."

[eruanna1875]

Happy Reapers (Guidesman, C2)

Chapter Two: Shoulder

C2 on Tumblr: First/Previous - Next

(C1, The Lost Boys)

~~*~~

According to the bits of conversation the Woodsman heard over his shoulder as they walked, it seemed their new companion’s name was ‘Beatrice’.

They were coming now to the end of the trees. Though the damp of the morning still hung in the air, the path led out of the woods entirely, out from beneath the roof of leaves under which he lived out so many of his days.

The Woodsman glanced back at them over his shoulder. The half-early day was bright, and all was cast into a golden haze by the lingering mist. No shadows lurked behind. Or at least, none seemed to.

“Do you… think something’s following us?”

“Hm?” He turned his gaze. Wirt was walking at his right hand, and staring with a puzzled frown. “Why should I think that?”

“I mean, you keep looking back, so I just assumed you…” He tried to gesture an explanation, then gave up. “I-I don’t know. Dumb question.”

“No, questions are only natural in such a strange land.” A sigh. “And… I think nothing has followed us thus far. The wereling is long gone, certainly, and I’ve seen little that could be of any danger since we left the mill.”

“Really? So… why…?”

The Woodsman eyed him, then turned his gaze away. At his left side, out of Wirt’s sight, he set his hand on the lantern, hung on his belt hours ago. “The Unknown has taught me to keep vigil. Though perhaps you would profit from it, I am glad it will not have the chance to teach you.”

“Oh.”

Wirt fell silent, letting the sound of Greg’s chatter and the morning’s hush fill the space. And the Woodsman tried to turn his mind from dark possibilities. Their road had rounded a bend, and was fenced now on both sides. Fields of pumpkins stretched out beyond, their further borders out of sight. They walked in farmland now. Their road was plain. He knew the very dirt beneath his shoes. No need for concern, surely.

His eyes drifted over his shoulder once more.

“AHHHH!”

The Woodsman jumped. His hand sprang to his right side, where he had hung his axe. He spun to face Greg—the source of the scream. The child stared at Beatrice aghast.

“How can you not eat waffles?!”

Suddenly, he screamed even louder.

“What’s happened?” the Woodsman demanded, urgently bewildered as he bent toward the child’s level.

“I stepped on a pumpkin!!”

The Woodsman stopped. His eyes dropped to the ground. Greg’s foot was stuck inside of a small pumpkin. He looked back up, at a loss. But it only took him a moment before he let out a small “Ah.”

That’s right. Children do such things.

“Ha! Look!” Wirt’s triumphant cry caught his ear. He took a last look at Greg, who seemed now perfectly untroubled, and who began clomping along with his pumpkin pegleg. He glanced at Beatrice (who looked just as disoriented as he had been). She seemed to shrug.

The Woodsman, very slightly, did the same. Then he stood straight again, still a little baffled but no longer alarmed. Such a strange boy. He shook his head. I shall have to warn him of crying out without cause. The sound could well draw real dangers, or—

They came to the crest of the hill. And all his wary thoughts hushed at the sight.

Golden fields lay out before them. Autumn freely and wholeheartedly rested on the rolling hills. In the midst of these, the path wove down into a little farming village, its homely houses all together, safely gathered in. Pottsfield.

For a moment, there was nothing behind him at all.

“Civilization!” declared Wirt, throwing his fists in the air (and, he did not realize, shaking his guide from his reverie). “Yes! At long last, our ill-begotten wanderings through this realm of shadows are ended!”

The Woodsman cocked his head, intrigued at the strangely poetic words. The lad had never spoken that way before. And yet, it seemed as easy on his tongue as his everyday speech.

But the young wordsmith wasn’t used to attention for his work. He caught the look and shrank away a little. “Uh… yeah, we-we’re here, so— what the…?”

This last was said because his shrinking produced a squelch. Wirt looked down. Then he scowled. He too had stepped into a pumpkin.

“Ah, great.”

Once they’d removed the involuntary shoe, the four of them (five with Greg’s frog) made their way down the hill toward Pottsfield. Greg kept chatting with Beatrice, who seemed to respond only grudgingly. Wirt eyed their surroundings with curiosity (and kept watch for stray pumpkins).

The Woodsman didn’t look over his shoulder once.

[tresdem]

From the upcoming chapter 16 of Never Shall We Die

“People who fuck with Ed don’t last very long,” says Jack, arms folded, half sitting on the table. Edward knows this and sees him there but it’s like he’s faded into the dark, his voice part of the candlelight. Bellamy’s thin eyebrow raises but he doesn’t stop watching Edward from under his thick lashes, as if he’s searching for something, waiting for something. “What happens to them?” Bellamy asks as if he doesn’t believe Jack completely. “All sorts of shit,” says Jack. “They get shot, stabbed, hung-” And Edward remembers suddenly kicking the cask out from under Vance, but not really caring, the anger driving him around to the other bastard whose name he forgot. He doesn’t want to remember that time. He doesn’t want to go back there. Though he can almost smell the blood in the air and feel the resistance of the blade. “Ol’ Bitchface got his tongue cut out,” says Jack, stirring the memory a bit, making the room come back in focus. “Cook called him a monster.” Le monstres sont la, Edward thinks, feeling a little trickle of cold along his spine. “Now all that’s left of that bastard is in a little bag around Greg’s neck.” Not even that, Edward thinks. The bag is probably still sitting in the galley, the glass eye staring at nothing; one all alone. “He’s also been called demon-yo.” Edward is on his feet before he knows it, the banging his hip against the drawer and making it shriek in the too quiet room. Jack starts and Bellamy takes a full step back, hand on his knife like he’s terrified. Edward’s terrified. He can feel it beating icy in his heart. He doesn’t want to hear more- he can’t hear more. “I’m just sayin’ what you were called that’s all,” Jack says, holding up his hands. “Chill out, man and don’t take things so seriously.”