#i am team “sorry i won't be in the country for a few months” as a response to being asked out

[malpractice-morale]

so fun stuff fun stuff i have an ace pride pin on my pencil case and that is just about as open as i am about identifying as asexual due to my whole "a single-word label is never able to fully encompass the range of complex self-understanding and emotions of a person" approach to gender and sexuality and i really really don't want to get into the whole asexuality thing in relation to my own identity because that is wayyyy too closely linked to the darker parts of my personal history and i really don't need anybody to know. so subtlety it is, because i am also of the belief that it makes for a good nod to anybody who cares enough to even know the flag on the pin. but i have a friend who is ace too and with whom i have had that talk about my personal experiences around sex and attraction and just general intimacy and tactility but she has very little awareness that, while nominally open about my identity, i do in fact keep very quiet about it because i dont. want. people. to. ask.

cue to me handing her my pencil case fully aware that the pride pin is on there and she sometimes doesnt consider what she is saying and her immediately almost word for word repeating our conversation about it (not getting into personal history, but still quoting my approach to attraction (namely the "i dont swing at all" annecdote/quote from aftg because i am lame like that and it just fits as a description)) and a guy who i am fairly sure has a middling to major crush on me (which is weird for ANOTHER whole host of reasons) but who is also the most respectful person that i know is sitting right in front of me for all of that.

additional fun fact: i like my personal space, i am really picky about who i am okay with touching and that doesn't always correlate to whether or not i like people, that's a whole thing too.

additional additional fun fact: i have another whole THING™ about only telling people if they ask because i don't owe anybody my identity and asexuality allows the comfort of not needing to communicate to the people i am attracted to as there aren't any. and i don't care otherwise because, again, me and my (sort of involuntary) label have an ambivalent relationship since I DONT LIKE LABELS but we also live in a hellscape of a world where everything needs to be categorizable.

On the same day we had the ace-pin reveal (seriously, this pin has been on there for years now, get with it and learn the flags, people!) i offered the guy a goodbye hug because he is an emotional shipwreck right now and seemed like he needed it but, again, i dislike people in my personal space so this was a bit of an occasion™. safe to say he was perplexed at me offering a hug.

and here we are three days later with the guy asking me if that goodbye hug was weird or not (again, very nice dude who really likes respecting other people's boundaries). and then we get to the "was that weird because of "that penguin-pin on your pencil case"" and i have a grown ass man asking if i do not like people in my personal space because i am asexual and if that is a general asexuality thing and UGH this is precisely what i mean - i immediately have to explain that a) i am neither a representative of the identity i possess nor the community that it comes with b) that this community is NOT a monolith and c) i at most use asexual as a shorthand to get the "i don't want to date you fuck off" point across and don't feel that it, as either label or identity, fully encompasses my personal experience. and i REALLY don't want to get into the reasons for all of that so bless the guy for being good about boundaries and respecting mine. and not asking too many questions about it because NOPE we are not getting into the whole mess that is me and my relationship with sex and romance if there is any way i can avoid it. and in the moment my nervous system was on high alert because this conversation has the potential to go in a very bad direction for me. but i am reasonably sure that i will have to face the "why do you only talk about it when asked" question as well as the "so what does asexual even mean" conversation with this dude because our entire relationship is deep talking about personal problems until three am.

and on a last side note: i think the only people in my life that haven't yet gotten the gist of "i don't want to date anybody i do not care for sexual encounters get lost leave me alone in a hut in the woods with a barn full of animals pLEASE" are my parents and my best friend (although they are all aware of the fact that i am LIKE THAT, they are just not aware that there is a somewhat correspondent identity and label that i could utilize). in their case i am reasonably certain that, where my identity and lifestyle are currently accepted, giving it a name would only serve to "other" me, especially with regards to my dad who understands queerness only in the stereotypes of gay men and lesbian women. but at least my best friend needs to get with it sooner or later or one of my friends will assume she's in on it and be unable to keep their mouth shut (probably the same friend who was talking about the pin, she has bad impulse control and it is forgiven as the existence and meaning of the pin are public knowledge, so long people know to decode it (which, seriously, it's the year 2024 and this label has been around longer than my grandma).

so guess what my weekend plans will be, what great joy…. (for context: my best friend is my childhood best friend who is straighter than a ruler and has about negative understanding of queerness, meaning that, where in my university bubble most people know about asexuality and usually go about it in a "are you ace?" way, my best friend will need the whole kit and caboodle of Asexuality101 full frontal coming out and just the thought drains my life-force)

but hey, at least i am now kind of officially out to everybody in my university bubble so that is a win (though my friends who know already knew it without asking (and then asked))

[jackhues]

together - pricey shots and brick wolls

pricey shots and brick wolls! au masterlist

note: takes place in march 2022 - rowan's 23 years oldish. if something's not factually correct, i'm so sorry guys. i tried really hard to make it kind of accurate. i kind of don't like this... but anyways it's here now

tw: asshole doctor, mentions of periods/fertility

--

"i suggest you drink lots of water and work out more," the doctor told rowan. "if the pain continues, you can take pain medication, but i don't think it'll be necessary. take a half hour walk in the mornings and evenings and stay hydrated. perhaps watch your diet as well. it's nothing big."

rowan stared at him, unsure if he was being serious.

the doctor noticed this, raising a brow in her direction. "any questions?"

"i'm just -- i mean, i'm an athlete," she reminded him. "i work out a lot more than the average person. i stay hydrated. i've got professional trainers making sure i have a healthy, balanced diet. i can't get any healthier than this. telling me to drink more water, to work out, to eat healthy -- it's not a solution. i can't do it any better than i am right now."

rowan could've sworn the doctor was about to roll his eyes.

"you play in a league?" he asked her. "or just... recreationally?"

"i play professional hockey," her voice came out tougher than usual. "i play in the phf, for the toronto six. i play for team canada too, i just won a gold medal for this country a month ago. i can assure you, my diet and work out routine has nothing to do with the pain i'm feeling."

the doctor sniffed, noting some things down on the clipboard.

"alright, the best i can do is prescribe you some pain medication," he ripped a prescription off and handed it to her. "i can also refer you to a specialist, but i don't think it'll be much help."

"i'd like to see the specialist," rowan responded, taking the prescription.

"sure, okay," he nodded, filling out something else and handing it to her. "you'll get a call from that number in a few days to work out an appointment time."

"thank you," rowan told him, not really meaning it.

she left the room, making her way back to her car. she took a deep breath, reminding herself to calm down. being angry and driving home would do no one any good.

over the past few weeks, rowan had been experiencing lots of pain and intense cramping. her periods had always been a little unusual, but so were her mom's, and she didn't think too much about it. the big problem was the cramps and pain she'd have even after her period. her fiancé finally convinced her to get it checked out after seeing her crumple in the middle of her practice due to pain.

"this is why i haven't gotten my shit checked," she muttered to herself, angry at the doctor for simply dismissing her. she'd heard stories of this her whole life, and of course, it finally happened to her.

she sent a text to joseph, letting her know the appointment was done and she was going to see a specialist eventually. finally, convinced that she had cooled off a little, she turned the car on and made her way home.

---

rowan got the call to pick up her reports while she was washing the dishes.

"everything alright?" joseph asked her once she hung up.

"it was the specialist," she told him. "um, they told me i have to pick up the reports."

"that was pretty quick," he responded. "i thought they take like, weeks. i didn't know it only takes a few days."

"they usually only tell you to pick up reports if something's wrong," she continued quietly. "otherwise, they might not even call back."

"hey, hey," joe got up quickly, taking her hands in his. "hey, look at me. giving your report doesn't mean it's something bad, okay? you won't know until you get them."

"can you come with me?" she asked, her voice a little small.

"of course," he responded. "you don't have to ask. whatever you want, love."

rowan's heart felt like it might burst -- either from the nervousness of getting her report back, or the love she felt for joseph in that moment.

unable to speak, she simply nodded, allowing joseph to lead her outside and to the car. he talked while he drove her to the specialist's office, telling her about his day and all the crazy things his teammates had done.

she appreciated him a lot for that, for doing his best to take her mind off of this. she wasn't usually nervous when it came to things like this, but for some reason, she could only think up the worst things.

"you ready?" joe asked her, turning the car off and turning to her.

rowan closed her eyes, taking a deep breath the way her uncle had taught her years ago. a deep breath in, a deep breath out -- and out with it went the thoughts of everything that didn't matter in this moment.

she nodded at her fiancé, "ready."

---

"miss price?" the doctor asked, entering the room.

rowan sat up straighter, nodding, "that's me."

"and this is?" the doctor looked at joseph, sitting in one of the seats near the patient's bed.

"joseph woll," rowan introduced him. "my fiancé. he'll be staying here for the reports, i already signed a consent form at the front desk."

"perfect, it's nice to meet you," she smiled at joe. she turned to her computer, typing up a few things and pulling up some files. "okay, so rowan price? twenty three years old?"

"yup," rowan nodded.

"you came in for a pelvic ultrasound and test two days ago, due to intense, recurring abdominal pain, correct?"

"mhm," she nodded again.

the doctor furrowed her brows at the reports, turning back to rowan. "is there anything else you'd like to tell me? any other pain? discomfort? irregular periods?"

"it's mainly just cramps so bad that i can't even walk," she responded. "a little bit of back pain, but nothing else really hurts. sometimes i feel sick though. and my period's always been a little weird."

"hmm," the doctor noted. she turned back to rowan, passing over two ultrasound photos -- the printed results of her ultrasound a few days ago. "you see the tissue clumps right here? that's a type of tissue similar to the lining of your uterus."

rowan examined the ultrasound, barely able to make out what the doctor was explaining. it had nothing to do with the ultrasound, but it was simply the fact that rowan was unable to ever see ultrasounds.

her parents had once tried to surprise her with the ultrasound of her youngest brother when they were pregnant, and she had no idea what it was.

"well, this tissue isn't in your uterus," the doctor explained. "it's growing outside, which may cause bloating, especially around your period."

"that's what's causing the pain?" rowan asked. "uterus tissue not growing in my uterus?"

"it's a condition called endometriosis," the doctor told her. "you might've heard of it."

"i have, yeah," rowan muttered. she might've heard of it, but she didn't know much about it.

"there's no cure for this, but there are treatments," the doctor told her. "hormone therapy, iuds -- surgery's also an option. the treatments can relieve your pain, they can increase your fertility, they--"

"wait, what?" rowan cut in. "it affects fertility?"

"in many women, yes," the doctor told her. "you won't know for sure unless you try to get pregnant, but there is a solid chance you may be infertile. if you'd like, we can do more tests..."

the rest of the doctor's words seemed to go straight through rowan's ears. she was hearing them, but she wasn't understanding them.

she heard joe say something to the doctor, who nodded in understanding and left them in the room. the door closed behind her, and it was as if the spell had lifted.

"hey, look at me," joseph said to her, cupping her chin in his hands. "it's going to be okay. you're okay."

"i just -- i'm scared," rowan whispered, finally speaking. "i never thought about being a mom before, and now that i might not be able to be one -- this is so stupid, why am i like this?"

"don't do that," joe told her sternly. "don't invalidate your feelings. you were just informed of a health condition, you're allowed to be emotional over whatever part of it you want."

"i'm still mad about that stupid doctor too," she whispered, voice cracking as more tears welled up in her eyes.

"you should be mad about that too, he was a dick," joseph agreed.

rowan closed her eyes, leaning forward and letting joe wrap his arms around her.

"whatever's next, i'm here for you," he promised her. "we're doing this together."

in that moment, rowan knew, they were going to take it step by step, and they were going to do it together.

---

note: before someone goes crazy, rowan doesn't think being a mom is her only purpose in life yadda, yadda -- she's just in shock. she has siblings that are much younger than her, and she loves babies. she never expected to possibly be infertile so the news is shocking to her. that's all, thanks <3 also if you feel like i depicted smth wrong, please let me know (nicely is all i ask)

[yourwitchybrother]

Hi! I'm sorry if this sounds a bit weird, but I just read your post about Apollo worship and saw that you're open to questions, so I came over to ask, since I really don't know anyone else who can guide me. Please feel free to ignore if this looks too long or makes you uncomfortable.

I'm of a different faith that works with both polytheism and agnosticism/atheism. A few months ago I read a bunch of stuff about Apollo and got absolutely obsessed with him, but in a obsession-with-a-fictional-character way. I started staying up at night to read up about him, searched for literally any scrap of info about him, made up stories and scenarios about him and his lovers in my head, and at this point I have memorized nearly all his powers and epithets. I started wearing gold jewellery (which I previously did not like) and got myself a golden snake ring. Then a few nights ago a mouse showed up in my house (we've never had them in the near decade we lived here) and it was gone by morning.

At this point I was convinced he was smacking me on the face with symbolism so I went to an online tarot card deck, because that seems to be something hellenistic devotes do a lot. I asked him if he was trying to talk to me. He gave me two yes's and also justice, wheel of fortune and the sun.

However, I am devoted to quite a few of deities of my own faith, and while it's kind of casual, I am not going to give them up. I know they won't mind, but is it okay to work with Apollo along with them? Will he mind that, especially since I think of him more as a fictional-friend than a god? Or are these coincidences and I'm making up stuff in my head? My country has next to no hellenistic pagans, and most plant-based things that he seems to like- laurel, bay, cypress etc, or the crystals, are not really found here. If I do worship him, do I also need to try and find these items?

Hi hello! Thank you for reaching out :) I've got a few things to say that I hope help you out, lets get the ball rolling.

Firstly, I love hearing that you've done so much research on him! It's an amazing start to get familiar with any deity, so it's an amazing start. In terms of the pantheons or deities you work with, it would not hurt to check in with those who you already work with to assess boundaries and check in with them. They may give you some personal guidance that I cannot provide.

Trust your intuition on this. If you think he is reaching out, check in with your divine team and go from there! And as far as Apollo's concerns, I doubt he'd mind. In the past, I've worked with angels and demons and Norse Gods while working with Apollo. Worst case, you'll just have to come up with boundaries. Work out things like who can be in the space together at the same time, who shouldn't be sharing spaces, and boundaries like this.

And Apollo, for the most part, loves the fictional depictions of himself. He sees it as a form of devotion and recognition of who he is. So I wouldn't be worried about that part. If you see him as a fictional-friend, if you do pursue a bond with him, you can talk to him about that and work it out with him personally!

You don't need all of the things I listed in my post to worship him. I don't currently have access to anything but Bay leaves to honor him. You can honor him with any yellow, orange, or white flower you may associate with him, or honestly any plant you personally associate with Apollo. My post was just a strict look at facts, it's fully up to you to decide what you want to devote and offer to him.

I really do hope this was helpful, and please feel free to reach out again if you have further questions! My inbox is open! Blessed be, and may the sun be your guide. A domani!

[battersweet]

[TW: GORE, SUİCİDE, MURDER, VERY DİSTURBİNG İMAGE]

IKBAL UZUNER INCIDENT

Location: Turkey

İ'm so sorry that i'm posting this, but it's so heartbreaking i just can't be silent about it.

The first address of the blood-curdling savagery in Istanbul was Eyüpsultan. According to the allegations, Semih Çelik, a butcher, stabbed and murdered Ayşenur Halil yesterday at around 15:30. It was claimed that Ayşenur was Çelik's new girlfriend. Çelik, who killed the young girl who was also his schoolmate, then went to Fatih. Here, Çelik called his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend İkbal Uzuner to his side and took the young girl at knifepoint to the historical city walls on Fevzipaşa Street in Derviş Ali Neighborhood.

After arguing with İkbal for a while, Çelik stabbed the young girl to death, then cut off her head and body parts and threw her off the city walls. The murderer then committed suicide by jumping off the city walls.

The teams that searched Çelik's house found a notebook with dismembered human figures drawn. It was also learned that the murderer had 3 criminal records with the police. The cops, who conducted an investigation into Semih Çelik’s house, found a pencil drawing on a notebook belonging to Çelik, with his head and body separated and his body torn apart. It was determined that İkbal Uzuner, who was killed in Fatih, was killed in a similar manner to the picture found in Semih Çelik’s notebook.

İ blurred the drawing, but i think you still can figure it out what is it. Means that this was already planned before.

A video that Semih Çelik, who brutally murdered two women, shot last year for İkbal Uzuner, in which he said that he wanted to kill himself, has emerged. In the video, Çelik says,

“İkbal, I wanted to say goodbye to you in private. I am finally dying. I apologize for what you have experienced because of me. You won't have to be afraid or worried. I hope you live a normal life and die beautifully. But there is something I have to tell you. The day you saw me one day, I came there to kill you, I want to take a life when I leave this life and it's more valuable for me if that person was you. To cut out your heart and your eyes... you already know what is it. I gave up, if I kill you, I will have created my own hell. You won't leave me alone on the other side. That is why I will go alone, without killing anyone.”

As known that he used to use drugs and substances. His father said that he was going to pysciatrist regularly to be cured.

İ really don't know if i should be happy or sad that he's dead. İt's not fair that he get away with it without any punishment, but even if he wasn't dead, he was going to be sentenced for 5 or 6 years in prison than they would just let him go. This is going to be forgotten after a few months, than something that is way worse than this is going to happen. İ'm never going to forget. Turkey is NOT an safe country, i don't want to live here anymore. İ sometimes get annoyed to my parents being so strict, but i understand that they are just trying to protect me, in their own way... But i can't blame them, especially after this incident, there is no way i'm going to be allowed to go out by myself.

Please stay safe everyone.

[lokis-army-77]

If You Please

Chapter twelve

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 2588

This is technically a reader insert but without the (y/n) and all that. She also has no name mentioned so feel free to imagine as you please.

Follow the reader through the events of the Captain America movies and experience her love for Bucky Barnes.

Warnings: none

Note: Normally I am the type of person to be date accurate when writing things and if you are too, I'm sorry. I messed up on the dates, so the battle of New York happens like a month after it should. This is also a short chapter because it's a filler and I'm trying to just get to the Winter Soldier but have everything make sense.

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Masterlist

A few days later I had received a small archivist job in the WWII department of the Smithsonian. Thankfully the made-up resume and a few fake SHIELD recommendations came in handy. I would officially start the following week after a few background checks were cleared. In my free time until then, I unpacked all the boxes in my apartment. It started to feel more homely and warm when all of my things filled up the space. When I didn’t feel like unpacking anything, I started taking long walks to the VFW building. I hadn’t joined in on any of the meetings yet, I just stood by the doorway and watched, listening to the stories people told.

One day that week as I stood back in the hallway after the meeting had ended, a man came up to me. He was a little taller than I was and had the brightest smile I had ever seen. I had watched him in the meetings before, he was usually the one hosting them, giving advice to all who needed it.

“I’ve seen you standing out here for the past three days, why don’t you come have a seat next time? It would be more comfortable than standing out here for an hour.” He said as he leaned his back against the wall right next to me.

“I have thought about it, but I tend to get here after you have started. I don’t want to interrupt anything by just barging in.” I said over my shoulder at him.

“You won't interrupt anything, just come on in next time, we’d be happy to have a new face around,” He pushed himself off the wall and walked down the hall.

After that, I ended up joining the meetings and even spoke a few times. I learned that the man who came up to me that day was Sam Wilson, pararescue, who had served two tours in Afghanistan. From the first day he came up and talked to me to now, we quickly became friends.

The days had turned into weeks and I was finally able to live relatively by my own means. The Smithsonian was great, in the archives, no one was really around and I could spend a whole day without any interruptions, which allowed me to just concentrate on what I was doing. After closing, I normally walked to meet Sam, who was usually way too excited to see me, even though we saw each other almost every day without fail.

“You’re late today.” I jumped, startled out of my thoughts at the sound of someone talking to me. I looked up, spying Sam standing next to one of the small trees outside the VFW building.

“What do you mean late?”

“I mean you usually get here at three-thirty. It's four right now.” He said looking down at his watch.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t realize. I've just been lost in my thoughts lately.” I sighed.

“I know we’ve only been friends for what? A month? But I already know when something is bothering you, What is it?”

“Nothing really, just my brother. Since moving here he's called at least twice a week to check up but it’s been radio silence for the past two weeks, he doesn't even answer when I try calling him. I'm just a little worried that something bad is going on, considering his job.”

“Well, maybe he’s just really busy at the moment, or he's somewhere he can't call you. You know how it is being out on those military missions.”

“I know, it’s just the last time we were apart on a mission,” I trailed off and looked up at Sam, he raised his eyebrows, quietly waiting for the end of the sentence. “Someone close to us passed. It’s still fresh in my mind like it happened yesterday. I was there that day and I was too far away to even know what had happened, now my brother and I aren’t even in the same vicinity as each other, there is no telling what could happen and it makes me nervous.”

He gave me a small apologetic smile and patted my shoulder before leading me from the tree where we stood to where his car was parked. “What do you say we hang out at mine and just watch some tv? Get your mind off things? Or we can talk about it, either way, it’s better than dealing with it alone.” I nodded my head and grabbed onto the car door handle as he unlocked it.

Walking through the front door after him I took a quick look around. It was cozy, way more decorated than I thought it would be for a man in his early thirties living alone.

“Make yourself at home. Do you want anything to drink?” He asked neck-deep in the fridge.

“Okay, I’ll just have some water,” I called out as I made my way further into the living room. The couch was backed up to the wall a few feet away from the dining room table. I sat down on it and scooted as close as I could to its right arm. A few moments later Sam came over with two glasses of water and a bag of chips. He handed me my drink before crashing down into his own seat. “Thank you,” I said before taking a long sip.

He nodded as he said “No problem.” Before he got himself really comfortable he searched around for the TV remote. As he pressed the ‘on’ button the TV came to life. “What in the world is that?” He sounded concerned so I quickly looked at the screen.

“Breaking: Attack on New York City. This afternoon at 2:15 several unidentified aircraft descended onto Earth's surface. Strange beings, some are calling aliens, Accompanied these ships and are causing havoc in Manhattan. Eyewitnesses have stated that they have seen Iron Man, and what seemed to be Captain America, leading a team of three others fighting back against the invaders. The battle seems to be over but updates are still coming in, let's take a look at some footage of the downtown destruction.” My eyes went wide and my heart stopped as I listened to what the reporter was saying. I kept my eyes glued to the screen as it changed to show a destroyed street. As the camera panned around I spotted Steve fighting against two of the creatures, before the clip quickly changed to show one of the large ships crashing into the New York skyline.

“Oh God Steve, what did you get into?” I murmured to myself.

“You say that like you know him personally.”

“Uhh.” I just gave him a wide-eyed look of surprise. “I do, he’s my brother.”

“Now really isn’t the time to be joking about things,” He gave me a pointed look.

“I swear I’m not joking, he really is my brother. I can explain later, I need to try and get a hold of him.” I pulled out the small flip phone from my pocket and dialed the number for Steve's cell phone, it rang and rang but no answer. I hung up quickly and dialed the number Fury gave me at the beginning of the month. After two rings he answered.

“I assume you are looking for Captain Rogers.”

“Where is he? Is he okay?” I tried to keep the worried tone from coming through in my voice.

“He’s fine. He is in the middle of a debriefing. I’ll tell him you called.”

“Okay, thank you.” As soon as the words left my mouth he gave a quick hum and then hung up. I looked over at Sam whose eyes hadn't left me at all. “Everything is fine, he's in a debrief so that means that whatever happened in New York is definitely over.”

“That’s good to hear, hopefully, those things don’t try to come back again.” He shook like a shiver ran down his spine. “Now please explain how Captain America, a man from the 1940s, is your brother.”

“I can hear the skepticism in your voice.”

He held his hands up in defense, “Hey, I'm not the one saying I'm the sister to a 90 something-year-old man.”

“Look, it’s a long story that I would rather not get into now but the short version is that I was born in 1921, Steve is my older brother, we both ended up taking the super-soldier serum and fought against HYDRA in the second world war. We ended up crashing a plane into some Ice in the Atlantic ocean and were found and unfrozen last October.” “If you are really Captain America’s sister, then why are you never mentioned in anything?” I looked at him and shook my head.

“Well for starters it was the forties and I was a woman fighting on the front lines. Credit is never given where it is due. But there is also the fact that I was a part of the SSR, which was very secretive, after I died.” I put my fingers up in air quotes, “They should have erased most, if not all the files on me, per protocol. The only reason Steve is well known is because of his time going cross country selling war bonds.” I paused for a second before quickly adding, “I’m sure if you look hard enough, you’ll find me in the history books somewhere.”

Sam just sat there not really saying anything. This was the first time I think he had ever been quiet for more than five seconds. I let out a deep sigh and stood, grabbing my bag from the floor. “Thanks for having me over, but I think I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stood and walked me to the door.

“Don’t be late. I’ll see you.” Sam waved me off and I headed down the street.

About half a year later while sorting through some archive files, I came across Peggy Carter. I felt a pang in my heart as I stared at the photo of her standing next to Howard Stark. Other than Steve and Bucky, those two were my closest friends. I fell down a rabbit hole after that, finding any information on the two that I could find. They had both helped found SHIELD in 1965, they had both gotten married and had children of their own. Peggy's children had stayed out of the public eye, but in true Stark fashion, Howard’s son evidently took over the family business and was living the high life. I pulled out a newspaper from the stack I had on the table in front of me and was shocked at what I saw. The title read ‘Howard and Maria Stark Die in Car Accident’, I knew Howard most likely wasn’t alive anymore but seeing the photographs of the wrecked car in the newspaper cast a somber mood through the room.

I laid the paper down on the table and ruffled through more of the papers before determining that we had no information on if Peggy was alive or not. That sent me into a frenzy of looking through phone books to try and find her and calling every retirement home in DC that I could. The only lead I had to go off of was a small interview from a newspaper, talking to Peggy about the seventieth anniversary of V-E Day, stated that she was living in Washington, DC.

After eight failed calls, finally, on the ninth, I had finally found a home which had a Peggy Carter as a residence in room 204. I rushed to pack up my things and left my office early. I ran down the back hallways as fast as I could without drawing too much attention. When I made it out of the building I ran full speed to the road to hail a cab.

Amazingly the traffic was almost nonexistent and I made it to the retirement home in only ten minutes. I fumbled out of the cab and I raced through the front doors of the building. I must have startled the women at the front desk because as soon as I rounded the corner to the staircase, they were yelling after me. I took the steps three at a time in my haste to get to the second floor. I stopped running when I was outside of room 204. I couldn’t see anything clearly through the frosted window so I knocked hesitantly and slowly opened the door and stepped in.

There in the middle of the room, against the wall was a single bed. A woman laid there quietly with her eyes closed. The closer I came to her the more familiar she looked. I let out a relieved gush of breath. There she was, older now, but still the Peggy I once knew. I nervously grabbed one of the chairs in the corner of the room and brought it over to her bedside so I could sit. Gently I gave her a small tap on the hand before just holding it in mine. She stirred but her eyes never opened.

All of a sudden one of the nurses from downstairs came into the room, with an angry and shocked expression.

“Ma’am, You can't be in here. If you want to see a patient, you have to sign in.” I ignored her, my eyes trained on Peggy's face. The commotion of the woman barging into the room had made her open her eyes and look around. I just watched as she scanned the room, first to the door on the left, to the wall in front of her, past me sitting on her right, then to the window behind me.” Her brows raised and she lifted her hands to her eyes to rub. The shock on her face was evident as she turned her head to stare directly at me.

“Hey Carter, long time no see huh?” I gave her the biggest smile that I could.

“Is it really you?” She reached her hand out to mine and grabbed hold.

“It is, it’s really me.”

“Ma’am, I mean it, you can't be here.” The nurse tried again, this time Peggy shot her a glare.

“Ms. I’ll have you know this is one of my best friends and she can be in here if she wants to. Now leave us alone.” The young nurse nodded her head and rushed out, even in old age she could still put on that commanding tone that struck fear in every man. She slowly turned back to me, almost like if she looked back for me, I would be gone. “How? How are you here?”

“It’s a long story Peg, are you sure you want to hear it?”

“Look where I am, I have nothing but time.” She laughed out and I let out my own small laugh as I shook my head.

In addition to what I had been doing, like hanging out with Sam, after that first visit, I made it a priority to see Peggy once or twice every two weeks, depending on how she was doing. Dementia had put a lot of stress on her, and seeing me after almost seventy-five years and looking relatively the same as I had when frozen took out a giant toll on her.

And that's how the next 10 months went until Steve eventually moved into an apartment directly under me.

Tag List: @ginger-swag-rapunzel @underc0vercryptid-reads @geek-and-proud @intothesoul @leyannrae @starkleila

[croatian-nt]

Badelj podcast

For @lovren-la-vida-luka who wanted to see why everyone likes Badelj 

Host: *asks first question about the club and the second is immediately "how is Pjaca?"

Badelj: Pjaca is well. He is getting back into shape after that injury. I am sorry he isn't with the nt right now

Host: every kid that plays football dreams of playing in the nt. Tell me, at what point in your life did you realize "oh, I am someone who can play in Dinamo and in the nt" and was the support from people around you important in that?

Badelj: well, I don't think I ever thought that. Don't get me wrong-I didn't doubt myself. But when you watch TV and you see people playing for big clubs or for the nt...you don't know how that works. What's going on in their heads. I think people around me believed that I could do it more than i did, to be quite honest

Host: do know anyone who you expected to make a great career in football but didn't, for whatever reason?

Badelj: from my generation? I thought Tomecak would go out of the country and make a big career there. There was also Lovren. You see, the rest of us went step by step in our career but Loki skipped steps, climbing higher. I think he made international career first from all of us. But yes, I expected Tomecak to do so as well

Badelj: *explaining how while he was in Lokomotiva they were second in second league *

Badelj: I think the club that was first was called...Mladost Suhopolje? I think? Is that possible?

Domo: *yelling something from the background *

Host: Vida says that's not possible

Domo: it doesn't exist anymore!

Badelj: but it didn't exist. I am talking about something 12 years ago

Other host from the background: there was a club called Mladost from Suhopolje

Badelj: so I wasn't wrong

Saša(a doctor, second podcast guest): *quietly* damn

Badelj: you want me to be wrong don't you? You are just waiting for it

Sasa: maybe

Host: Could you name what other 4 players except for you transfered first from Dinamo to Lokomotva?

Badelj: Oh, I can, but you see, you are wrong, First transfer from Dinamo to Lokomotiva happened 4 years before ours, and it included 10 players. But, second transfer you think of was ours. *proceeds to number the other 4 guys*

Host: you came to Dinamo as a replacement for Luka Modric, but you played a bit with him before that, right?

Badelj: yes, in 2008, for about 5 months before he transferred

Host: could you have guessed back then that he would be such a well known player?

Badelj: I personally don't think you can tell those things. He always had that something. That quality, that kind of special talent you don't forget. But for a player to win all the awards that he did you need your cards to fit just right. And lots of media exposure. The fact that he won all that, that's incredible

Host: could you tell us some things you remember from your time in Dinamo?

Badelj: in Dinamo? Well the problem is that I remember everything from my time in Dinamo. But to sum it up, the first and the last game. The first, in which we played against Rijeka and I scored a goal. I'll never forget that. I remember thinking I was on top of the world back then. And the last, against Maribor, where in first half I gave autogol and the fans booed me as I exited the pitch, and second half, where I scored a winning goal for us. I think that last game sums up my time in Dinamo very well. Ups and downs

Host: okay, first card break. Please take your cards

Sasa: *reaches out and turns one card *

Badelj: you turned them! Why did you already turn them?

Sasa: I only turned one

Badelj: we are supposed to wait until he tells us to turn them and read

Sasa: well, I did have a habit of cheating on my exams

Badelj: Well, I for one am glad for cards break. I was starting to think my friend Vida will fall asleep

*Domo yelling something from the background *

Sasa: quiet. I don't want to choose hard questions

Host: okay, okay. Miki, read it for doctor

Badelj: oh I am reading it to him? *smiles * see? You fucked up

Badelj: extra time or penalties?

Sasa: *pause * penalities?

Badelj: in football, you know?

Sasa: of course I-

*everyone laughs, Vida's laugh is literally echoing *

Badelj: okay, okay. I am just saying, because questions are mean. It could have been a metaphor. So in football. Extra time or penalties

Sasa: penalties

Sasa: popcorn or chips?

Badelj: chip

Sasa: of course, that was easy. I would have answered the same

Badelj: I am sure you would. Besides, I saw the question beforehand when you turned it on the table

Sasa: okay, I definitely already know your answer to this but anyway-

Badelj: no, wait. Don't read the question, tell me what I'd answer and I'll guess what the question is

Sasa: Beer

Badelj: Wine or beer?

Sasa: ...yes

Badelj: I know your answer to this one too

Sasa: tell me the answer then, I'll guess the question

Badelj: cat

Sasa: cat or a dog?

Badelj: yes

Sasa: hmmm. A dog

Host: I think Milan won this round guys

Sasa: wait-

Domo: *laughs again *

Sasa: why did he win? When I am a dog?

Badelj: I didn't ask if you'd rather be a dog or a cat. I meant what would you rather have

Domo: *laughs harder *

Sasa: yes. A DOG

Badelj: oh. A dog? But if I ask what kind-

Sasa: a small one

Badelj: ah. So you want a cat. Next!

Badelj: prosciutto or kulen?

Sasa: joooj

Host: careful, careful what you say

Sasa: Vida is here but- prosciutto

Vida: Then I won't send anything to your house!

Badelj: at least you know who not to send it to. Send it to me

Sasa: except if it's from black pig

Vida: yeah, yeah, now. It's over now. No more deliveries to your address

Host: so, I want to hear a bit about towns you lived in. Firenze specifically, as one of centers of culture

Badelj: well it isn't only cultural but also gastronomic center and general hedonistic city and region. You can really enjoy yourself there. People are also interesting...I am afraid Domo is falling asleep

Host: I am sure he finds that interesting as well

Badelj: well, I don't know. I tried to get him to visit me while I was there but he never did. As a manager I failed

Host: speaking of travelling, Iva told me she almost didn't manage to contact you for WC in Brazil

Badelj: well that isn't my fault. Whenever she can locate me or not is her issue. I was...located. The fact is I was in an plane while we played our first game in Brazil. I am sorry Iva, I know this isn't a very good advertisement for you-seriously she is amazing and she usually plans everything ahead and I think without her at least one person would get lost on a airport before every game. But the fact is, that time I didn't play the first game because I was in an airplane

Host: so tell me, did you ever get an offer from Milan? And if you did how close you were to signing. And the most importantly if you have signed, would you have "Milan" or "Badelj" on your jersey?

Badelj: definitely Badelj

Host: is there more pressure to do an operation on a professional football player than let's say, your neighbor?

Sasa: of course. I mean, their whole career depends on that. If I operate my neighbor and it isn't as good as it can be he can just stop playing football in his free time. If I tell Badelj he can't play football anymore-

Badelj: don't drag me into this mess. I don't want to imagine that

Host: it seems only charmers come from Gajnice. I mean, football wise(charmer isn't exactly the right word but...I can't think of a better one to fit)

Badelj: yes. We bully the strong ones out of football. They can do athletics

Host: the most memorable part about you for me actually isn't your career, but the speech you held at your teammate, Astori's funeral. How did you manage to do that? To hold yourself together and make such a speech?

Badelj: well I. You have to understand, outside of Croatia, he was my best friend. We were captain and vice captain so it began as a duty to keep the team together at first. And during that time...when he died, there was lots of new, young player in Florentina and they looked up to us for guidence. So...so it made sense for me to hold that speech. One thing that made it easier that I had period of 3 days before the speech after he died. Three days of crying and suffering but at least you get some of that grief out. I wasn't empty of it when I held the speech but I wasn't overflowing either

Host: alright, next card break

Sasa: who has the best free kick?

Badelj: oh man, there are quite a few. Brozo, Orša and Bruno is good as well. If Srna was here I'd say him. Or if Raketa was here. Perisic is also good. He can shoot with both legs too. Not in the same time though

Badelj: who eats the most?

Sasa: well-

Badelj: and not on your table. Our table. But how would he know, he doesn't eat with us

Domo: why not from his table? It says who in the team as a whole!

Badelj: but that isn't fun! How about who in the history of the team?

Sasa: hmmmm. Let me think. Who would it-

*voices overlapping, Domo laughing *

Badelj: you are really mean. Really mean

Domo: I didn't say anything

Badelj: but you thought of it. Few times

Sasa: who takes the most to get ready? I even know that one

Badelj: Peri always comes in last. But I don't think he takes that long to get ready. But he does come in last

Badelj: best sense of humor?

Sasa: oh there are a lot of players with a good sense of humor. Hmm

Badelj: it doesn't have to be a player

Sasa: it doesn't?

Host: well it's more fun if it is, but it's okay if it isn't

Sasa: hm Someone off the camera: Miki!

Badelj: I am not funny. He likes to talk to me but I am not funny

Sasa: well you can be funny. Sometimes. But Vida I guess. He really cheered me up this morning

Badelj: what did he tell you?

Sasa: oh he was pestering me

Badelj: and you love when people pester you?

*everyone burst out laughing *

Sasa: no! That's not-it was just funny!

Host: so, there has been a question in our podcasts, who would you choose as a partner in Potjera and 90% of our guests said Miki Badelj. What kind of cheating did you use to get that kind of reputation?

Badelj: I have no idea. You'll have to ask them that

Host: if you weren't in football, what fields would you be interested in?

Badelj: I'd still be in sport. Even if I didn't end up as a football player I'd do something with sport. That always interested me, even as a subject itself

Host: would you be a sport doctor like Sasa?

Badelj: god no

Sasa: no huh?

Badelj: I really don't think I am the type for that

Sasa: favorite subject?

Badelj: Geography

Sasa: same! I guess we really are friends for a reason. Favorite movie?

Badelj: it was brave heart for a long while but not anymore-

Sasa: it was my favorite too!

Badelj: you know you don't have to answer this question right? I also liked Interstellar for awhile but I watched it too many times

Sasa: Interstellar is too long for me

Badelj: and Brave Heart wasn't??

Sasa: favorite female or male singer?(we have different words for each)

Badelj: female singer

*all laugh *

Badelj: Alright, alright. Nina Badric

Sasa: as a singer or...?

 Host: so tell me, who doesn't complain a lot about...well, everything?

Sasa: well, Luka, Vida, Miki...older players generally complain less than younger ones. *Looks up, sees Livi *And Livi of course! But none of goalies complain, really

Host: a lot of players from bronze generation became coaches. 14 of them, actually. If we say hypothetically 14 of silver generation will do the same, who do you think would become a coach? You can switch on saying names

Sasa: Miki

Badelj: hah. Sasa

Sasa: you can't choose me!

Badelj: fine, fine. Carli then. He already is but it still counts, right?

Sasa: I think Lovren would want to be a coach

Badelj: hmmmm *looking at Vida * would you want to be a coach? Vida!

Sasa: Luka would probably want to be one

Host: that's five

Badelj: hmmm. Piva

Host: okay, we won't go to 14 since it would probably be hard to get to that number. Next card break

Sasa: who would you choose as a co-driver in rallying?

Badelj: Vida. Yes, yes, Vida

Domo: you sure about that?

Badelj: it's because Vida has that sort of personality that in last seconds, when that kind of character is important, he makes a step forward. Because you can't stay in place. Either you make a step forward or a step back. And he'd take a step forward

Badelj: who would you choose to score a penalty if your life depended on him scoring?

Sasa: uff

Badelj: remember, your life depends on it!

Sasa: Kramaric

*uhhhing and ahhhing from the background *

Vida, barely audible: not bad

Sasa: as a partner for tennis?

Badelj: oh god. I have no idea how anyone plays

Sasa: *streching *

Badelj: is that you volonteering or...?

Sasa: no!

*Domo laughs *

Sasa: besides, you have to choose a player, not me

Badelj: hmmm. Brozo. He can run a lot. A lot more than me. *laughs * so it wouldn't be so bad

Badelj: to choose a movie for you?

Sasa: hmmm, not you, you'd choose something too serious. I'd choose Vida, he'd pick something funny

Domo: *says something

Sasa: you don't watch them either? Miki do you watch them?

Badelj: I do, but I wouldn't know what to recommend

Domo: Livi!

Sasa: Livi is young still. He didn't watch a lot of movies

Livi says something it sort of sounds like: Oh com'on!

Sasa: I don't know who I'd pick, really

Badelj: can he say I don't know?

Host: yeah, I guess so

 Sasa: but I said you first!

Badelj: no, you said I'd pick something too serious. You said Domo would pick something funny first

Domo: But I don't watch movies!

Sasa: fine, then Livi, if I must

Badelj: if I must do you hear that Livi? How do you feel about that?

Host: he looks truly honored

 Badelj: who would you choose to help you cheat on a test?

Sasa: you

Badelj: and I'd be already cheating by reading someone else'd answer so that's a good idea *laughs *

Sasa: who would you choose as a partner in a fight?

Badelj: Vida

Host: As a doctor would you explain to us how during WC in 2018 there wasn't a single game where one of the players couldn't play because of an injury? What is the secret?

Sasa: well, motivation mostly. Everyone wanted to play. Even if someone had some issue-and we had them, they would push through it and play anyway. I'll be honest. There were some players I thought wouldn't be able to get through the game but not only did they manage it but they manage to play until the end of the WC

Badelj: yeah, Šime

Sasa: yes, it was Šime. I didn't want to use the names but it was him. I didn't expect him to play after the game against Russia but he did and he played the England and the France one. I-I really don't know how to explain what he did

Host: so when we made pairs that will come to the studio I'll admit I was really looking forward to interviewing the two of you-

Badelj: now you are just talking shit. You say that to everyone

Sasa: Vida did he say the same thing to everyone?

Badelj: you should have written it on the cards "I looked forward to talking the two of you the most"

Host: -and you fulfilled my expectations despite the fact that Miki obviousy isn't funny-

Badelj: I am not! But I recommend bad, too serious movies. Serious and boring ones

Sasa: I only said serious ones!

Host, turning to the camera: Thank you for watching our newest podcast! Watch us tomorrow as well!

[themarcusmoreno]

unsteady

an: this doesn’t have a read more bc i don’t know how to do them tbh AND i’m posting from mobile. any errors present are yet again my own. i tried to give my dumbass, baby boy javier what i took away in timing is everything. i suggest listening to this version of the song that inspired the title and i hope that you guys enjoy it, i’m proud of this one. i left this with a possiblity for more, if that’s something you’d like to see let me know! feedback is welcome! //// tagging: @spacedadheadcanons, @bonkybaaarnes, @callingmrsbarnes, @buckywiththegoodglare, @drakecaggiula91, @thatsonehellofajedi, @mando-vibes, @i-like-those-odds, @i-am-forever-a-fan, @fvckingavengers, @ikeatwins776

You found becoming a DEA agent to be an easy task, falling into the training and field work like they were second nature. You made a name for yourself, eager to the fight and quick to solve the issues presented to you. So, when the opportunity came for you to take an open post in Colombia, in Bogotá, you took it. Transportig your life to the new country seemed easy enough but finding your place amongst the senior agents proved troublesome, especially when Javier Peña seemed to be involved. You'd been placed with him and his partner, Steve Murphy. Where Steve had warmed up to you quickly, Javier stayed distant and cold. Every bit the asshole you had been warned he would be.

Over the coming months, you saw small breaks in the persona the man presented. Whether it was when you joined he and Steve for drinks after a particularly rough day or at the "family dinners" that Connie held once a week. You, even in the briefest of moments, got to see a different side of him. One that showed the crinkle of his face as he laughed at one of the jokes Steve shared, the warmth of his smile as he watched Connie with the Murphy’s little girl and even the lingering glance he'd give you as you told stories about your early days as an agent. A smirk played on his lips every time he saw you home safely and bid you goodnight.

"You know if you keep this up I may think you actually like me or something, Peña." A smile spreads across you face as you lean against the doorway of your apartment.

"Now what would give you that idea?" Javier has a smile of his own as watches you, arms crossed over his chest and head tilted upward ever so slighty.

You chuckle and roll your eyes, turning to disappear into your quiet home. "Goodnight, Javier."

A brief wave of somethig like sadness fills his chest as he watces you turn away, his arm aching to reach out and grasp yours but instead he is met with the soft click of your door. "Yeah.. goodnight, cariña." He mumbles, sighing and rubbing his jaw before he backs away to head to his own place just a floor below.

In the coming weeks, you saw more of that change in Javier. Once in him lingering near the entrance of the office long after finishing his cigarette, fresh cup of coffee in hand for the both of you. You hid the soft smile that crept on to your face at the gesture behind your cup, walking along with him as he explaied yet another lead in the hunt for Escobar. You saw it again in him seeking you out after another raid had failed and your team had lost four men. You'd be alone, gathering your own thoughts when the knocking at the door had pulled you from your silence. Wiping your face quickly, you opened the door to him standing there looking no better than you felt. His jaw clenched and eyes tired as he took your appearance in slowly.

"Mind if I come in?" The softness of his request betraying the way his features held such frustration. You gave a slight nod and made your way back to the chair you'd previously occupied. When he speaks again there's something in his tone you can't quite place, concern maybe. "I couldn't find you when we got back. You disappeared and nobody saw where you went. I thought you'd left. I needed - wanted to make sure you were okay."

You were silent a few seconds before you brought your gaze to his, fresh tears threatening to spill. "Would you be? I lost men, Jav. I lost four good men because of a fucking raid I planned." There's a bite to your words, not at the man in front you but at the pain in knowing you'd cost someone their life for something you believed in, something you trusted. A wave of nausea brought you to your feet, the emotions overwhelming. You let the tears fall, not noticing the gentle pressure of Javier's hand on your arm as he pulled you close. You didn't fight him, instead you turned into him and gave yourself over to the sobs that racked your body.

"Easy, cariña. Easy." Javier rubbed the small of your back, holding you close and letting you cry. His heart broke for the pain you felt and the thought of the guilt you carried. "What happen.. What happen today, it wasn't your fault. The best laid plans fall apart every fucking day and I know that better than anyone else. So does Steve. But this, this raid and what happen to those men wasn't your fault. You want someone to blame, you blame me. Not yourself, me. Understand?"

You listened to him, your tears slowing as spoke to you. Firm but gentle. When you did't respond he said your name softly, repeating his question. "Blame me, no one else. Understand?" He gave you gentle squeeze, words slightly muffled by your hair as he rested his chin against you.*You nodded slowly, pulling away from his tear strained shirt, and answering. "I understand but - "

"No buts. You did your job well today and thats what matters for now. Losing men is never easy but we recover, come back harder the next time and you can bet we will. Harder and faster than this time. We'll avenge the fallen and take that bastard Escobar down a peg or two when we do." Javier looks over your face, absentmindedly reaching to brush a stray tear from your cheek. He lets his hand linger before he shakes his head a little and steps back. "You should take the day. I'll get your reports done. Just go home and rest, yeah?"

You don't stop him as he pulls away, don't reach out fo him the way you want, instead you nod slowly and wrap your arms around yourself to savor the bit of his warmth left. "Are you sure, Jav?"

"Positive, miel. Go home, rest and I'll check on you when I get done here." He gives you a soft smile, not hesitating to reach out and brush your hair from your face. "Maybe I'll bring food too."

"Nothing you cook though because I want to survive the night." You smirk, laughing at his look of shock. "Sorry, you're a great agent but a shit cook." When he grumbles a response, you just shake your head and press a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Jav." You squeeze his arm and smile, glancing back at him before you step out into the hallway.

He feels it then, the unsteady beating of his heart as he watches you leave. The feel of your lips still on his cheek and your scent lingering on his shirt, he knows what it is but he won't say it, at least not aloud. He just sighs, "Shit..."

The month that follows is different, you can't place it but something is different between you and Javier. He's more attentive, checks in on you more frequently. Lingering touches, soft smiles and few too many quiet moments shared for you to keep ignoring whatever may be there growing between the two of you. You don't get to bring it up to him, address the elephant in the room, before another wave of information comes in. Leads you needed to help the raid you, Javier and Steve were planning. Though leery to go out again, your partners encouragement had you eager to finally put a dent in the armor Pablo Escobar thought he wore.

"We've get every possibly scenario covered. Too many guards, too few guards. Nothing in the lab, something in the lab. Civilians present, no civilians present. I'm not saying it's perfect but its about the best damn plan we've had in a while." Steve looks up from the map to the small gathering of men, including you.

"Doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful. Expect the unexpected, I don't want another repeat of last time." Your arms cross over your chest as you look at everything spread across the table. “Everyone gets a vest, everyone has a partner. You watch each others back. We work quickly, we get home faster."

"Well you heard her. Date prisa, go get the gear and be out front in ten." Javier gives your arm a firm squeeze and winks before he joins the other men leaving the room.

You feel his gaze on you before you speak, sighing as you look at Steve. “What Murph?"

"You gonna tell him?" Steve quirks an eyebrow as he pops his gum and rocks on his heels.

Your breath catches and you brush it off as a cough as you start to speak again. "I don't know what you mean. There's nothing to tell anyone."

Steve scoffs, shaking his head as he gathers things from the table. "Uh huh. You keep telling yourelf that, darlin.” He smiles and squeezes your shoulder, "If it helps, he feels the same way. I've been that asshole's partner long enough to know when he's fallen for someone and that someone happens to be you." He heads towards the door, glancing back once more. "Just... Just don't wait too long to tell him. With our job, we aren't always promised tomorrow. But I told him the same thing and so far no one has made a move.”

You hesitate in the now quiet room and let Steve's words sink. Whatever you felt, Javier felt it too. You wouldn't wait past today, you'd tell him as soon as you could. "I'll tell him tonight." With vocal confirmation, you nodded to yourself and went out to join your men.

Javier had been right that day in the office as he held you close, the best laid plans really do fall apart and its usually in the worst of ways. There had been an ambush waiting, a leak from your own department tipping the guards off. You were all outnumbered before you even got there, but when you did you gave them hell. Losing two of your own men as they worked to stop the assault. When the man you'd paired yourself with was taken down, you felt the fear of not making it set in. It make you hyper aware, but not enough. Javier had covered your six after your partner went down, keeping an eye on Steve as well. That's how he saw him, lurking just out of your peripheral vision and coming up fast. The solid body crashing into you was enough to distract you from the shots but when the body didn't hurriedly move, you knew something was wrong. You shifted enough and the body of your protector landed beside you, causing him to groan lowly. You could see the blood pooling slowly, panic rising as your eyes traveled up to his face. Javier.

"Steve, fuck! Steve, get some medic here. Javi is shot, he's bleeding out!" You look around for Steve, locking eyes with him as he brings his walkie to his mouth.

"Necesito abulancia. Oficial de policía abajo." He listens to the feedback and curses. "Goddamnit! They're ten minutes out, he got that long?"

You survey the area of the pooling blood, grimacing at the pained sound Javier produces. "Maybe.. I can't be sure. He took a couple rounds, looks like they went through but its not good. It doesn't look good, Murph." You feel the familar burn of tears as they start to form. Steve's voice fading away as you look down to the soft call of your name. "Jav? Take it easy for me, okay? Try not to move."

Javier blinks softly, the vision of you him above edged in darkness. "Mi sol.." He winces, grasping at your hand as you press it against the wounds. "Oh mi sol, I'm sorry."

His sun. You blink back tears as you look him, cupping his face carefully with your free hand. "Javier, why? Why would you do this?" You don't hold back, letting the tears fall freely. The sound of the ambulance outside not pulling you from the moment. "Javi, why? I don't - I can't lose you now."

Javier smiles, its weak and fading but he smiles as he squeezes you hand and starts to lose consciousness. "This.. This is about keeping you alive." When he starts to drift off, he hears hurried spanish and your cries.

A week. Javier Peña lays in a drug induced coma for a week before he starts to become aware again. Its slow at first, a groan that has you gathering a nurse then a few mumbled curses as starts to fully wake up. You watch him drink slowly from the cup of offered water. Closing his eyes again before he slowly opens them once more to scan the room, you hear his breath catching softly as he looks at you. You don't hear the nurse leave, you don't feel yourself move until your close to his side and his hand is in yours. The warm, tan skin familiar and welcome in your grasp.

You get choked up as you start to speak, the reassuring squeeze of his hand in yours bring the words forward. "I.. I thought I lost you."

Javier's voice comes out soft, raspy from lack of use. "Can't kill me if they wanted to, miel. I'm too fucking stubborn to die." He laughs and grimaces, shifting in the bed for you to have room to sit.

You reach up, rubbing his cheek gently once you finally join him. "Well you at least got the stubborn part right." You tease, wiping your eyes as you look at him. Stubble lines his jaw and chin, his hair unkempt and you know he's never looked better. Never looked more alive.

"What's on your mind?" He questions, running his thumb over your knuckles as he watches your eyes shift over him.

"Do you remember what you said? Before you blacked out?" You work your lip between your teeth before he slowly reaches up and pulls it free.

"Si." He cups your cheek, no hesitation in his movements. "Por qué?"

"What did you mean? 'This is about keeping you alive.' What does that mean?" You lean into his hand, savoring the feel of him against your skin.

Javier shifts, taking his hand from your face and wincing he sits up more. When he's finally up and stable, he leans in presses a soft kiss to your lips. Sighing against your mouth as you return his affection, he breaks the kiss and rest your foreheads together. "It means that I can't picture my life without you in it and I don't want to. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you that, to tell you I love you."

You smile, matching his own as you kiss him again. "Glad to know it takes almost dying to get you to confess your feelings." You joke, closing your eyes and basking in the moment with Javier. "I love you too and I'm not going anywhere."

[judgement-free-sideblog]

Ghosts from the rainforest

Captain James Conrad x Reader

Summary: A simple rescue mission will bring him back to a place full of nightmares, and maybe this time he could find redemption. Situated in 1975, 2 years after the events of Skull Island.

Warnings: Violence, blood, wounds, mentions of war, cursing, implied smut, smoking, angst.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

I finally manage to write the end to this tiny fic, I hope you like it, and I'm going to start on my ideas for a Jonathan Pine adventure, but I haven't decide yet.

Chapter 7: Fever [Final]

The helicopter was already on motion, and the rescue crew that Brooks had sent for you were charging everything for the trip. The guys were excited to finally going back home, the Celebes Sea was ahead of you in the military base you were staying, and waiting in the Pacific the majestic USS Constellation  (CV-64) waiting to take all of you home.

Home? A country that had make more damage and taken everything from you, your family, and had force you to live away to mend some of the atrocities they had committed in the name of freedom.

"Not looking so charming today are we?" You said to him once he walked in your room to pick up your bags, you have finally stop the hostilities after he had offered you his shoulder to cry while you mourned Shukri on his funeral and after all the physical torture he had endured so you could safely leave Borneo.

He had been clear about letting you stay if that was what you wanted, and even when the rest of the crew asume you were coming back to USA, he knew you would have to say goodbye sooner or later, so instead of telling him all the things your heart was keeping from him you kept teasing him and pretending the chopper was not waiting for him.

"I have a minor headache love, but it's okay, are you ready to say goodbye?" He said and you noted how his temple had a few wrinkles, he was trying to smile over the pain in his head "It's a shame you don't come with us, I have a lot of things I wanted to show you" he grabbed your hand and all your alarms started to scream.

"Conrad are you okay?" Those words were all you have hoped for, however the radiant heat from his skin told you he was not exactly fine. "Dear God you are burning up" You said touching his head and looking desperately for a thermometer in your belongings.

"I like you too doctor, but why don't we wait until we get to the ship, we can share a bunk bed" He was definitely not himself.

"103° damn it Conrad!" You said, and for some oddly reason remember the night he told you about Randa and how much he complained about mosquitoes while he was dressing "Look at me, I'm not kidding, did you take Chloroquine before we leave Malaysia? I told you guys you had to..."

He nodded negative, and before he could speak he simply throw up in the nearest trash bin, making you suspect of the worst, specially since all the medicine was now gone and the only viable solution now was the aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific waiting for you.

"Also you have perfect legs you know that? I could spend my life sleeping on them." He kept saying things like that while you helped him to the heliport "Come here princess your prince charming needs your love" he said trying to kiss you.

"Later dear, preferably when you're not dying or smelling like vomit" you tried to stop him.

"Well you didn't mind me covered in dirt and sweat" He tried again but he stopped to scream "Reg! I love you man, you are like a son to me" and also tried to kiss the boy on the forehead.

"What happened to the Captain?" Slivko asked concerned once you help him to board the chopper while carrying his luggage and your medical bag.

"I have no idea, but I'm afraid it might be Malaria" you said bluntly and all of them looked concerned at you, while he vomited again "Do you have medical equipment here?" You asked the pilot and he only raised his thumb while you make sure he was steady on the helicopter floor, and almost didn't feel the machine take off while you tried to put an IV on his arm.

After one hour that felt like ten you could no longer see the island, only the immensity of the Pacific, and growing in the horizon the USS Constellation, even when you despised war and everything it represented the enormous carrier was enough to let you speechless, specially when a team of nurses and a doctor was already with a stretcher waiting for him.

"It's going to be ok James" you told him holding his hand while the experts rushed him inside.

"You really like men to die quite literally for you right?" He tried to joke, fighting the impulse of vomiting again, "Hey it's okay, I have to take care of you remember?" He smiled and you hold his hand trying to not get on the way of the medical staff, but he was too weak and fall asleep.

After they had stabilized his temperature, and take samples of his blood to determine the pathogen they let you in, the beds inside the medical bay of the ship were oddly spacious, and you could be sited next to him without any other person listening.

"Y/N?" He asked opening his beautiful eyes, "Hey it's okay love, I'm feeling better" He said and tried to reach for the glass of water on the table.

"Let me" You said and put it closer to him, "I know, once they identify the plasmodium they will know what is the best treatment for you, they take test and interrogate all of us, don't tell him I told you but Reles almost passed out when he saw the needle " He attempt to laugh but was still weak so he only smiled.

"Well is rewarding seen you on my dead bed, I'm quite honored, tears look oddly beautiful on you" He said and a small smile form in your lips.

"And you are still delirious" You said looking for a piece of cloth, and cold water from the sink to put on his head. "Here, try to rest, I'll come see you later" you told him but before your hand could leave his head he hold you still "What?"

"I might be dying, so you owe me at least listening me like adults" He said forcing you to stay next to him.

"You are not dying" you said trying to sound like it didn't matter and failing miserably "you are not, but fine. Let's talk" you concede.

"I'm sorry" he started contrary to what you had expected. "I had no idea how you looked before we met, and i was under no circumstances trying to seduce you to lure you back to America" you blush and regret your decision to stay by his side.

"I'm sorry too" You responded after a while "You have done so much helping me, even when half of the trouble I caused was preventable if I haven't trusted in the wrong people." You said and he hold your hand softly, he didn't want to hear about that, and you knew it so you took all the courage you have to continue. "And I'm sorry I over reacted, I am so used to people coming to me with second intentions that I just pushed you away to avoid getting hurt, and I just end up making other people hurt you"

"I'm sorry I make you come to the ship, I knew you wanted to stay" he said sincerely.

"It's okay, I have to make sure you stay alive, you know for the boys, maybe working at Monarch with you and Brooks won't be so bad"

"Well you can always run away from us in Hawaii, or maybe... we could run away together" He gave you a pleading look, and for moment you could imagine that life, keep running away, by his side, the soldier that never came home, and the idealist doctor, and keep leaving ghosts in every island, trying to find happiness apart from the world, but together. He kissed you, but this time it wasn't a lusty hunger kiss, nor passionate and angry like before, it was reassuring and you knew no matter what your answer was, he was on your side, for the first time you had someone on your side "So what do you say?"

But you couldn't answer because out of nowhere your stomach make you nauseous and you rush to the toilet to empty its content.

"Are you okay dear?" He screamed from the bed "I'm trying bloody hard to not take this as criticism"

"I'm okay, but I'm going to check your tests and start taking the pills before I end up confessing my sins on the fever like you" you said and walked out of the bathroom to saw him "We can talk later" you assure him.

You marched inside the medical office and started to look in the cabinets, when the young doctor that had received Conrad walked in.

"I'm sorry, I start feeling the symptoms and I thought it would be better if I start on the chloroquine before it gets worse" you excuse yourself.

"That would be great, if any of you had Malaria" he said offering you a seat that you take since he speak with a Texan accent and an authoritarian voice that made up from his young face "But we test all of you and what our SAS friend has is more likely a stomach flu from some bad shrimp, I was just on my way to tell him." He said and you sigh in relief, but also concerned about your own symptoms

"Oh that's great, but I start barfing too, and I didn't had the shrimp last night" you said and he took out a small file with your name that the nurses had put together earlier.

"Well it may be motion sickness, we are in a boat after all, or maybe... you told the nurse you didn't remember when was your last period?" He said looking the file.

"Well we have been in the jungle almost a month so I wasn't exactly counting" you tried to joke.

"The change of environment can trigger the vomit, or if you had sex in the past three weeks you might be pregnant" He smiled and all the weight of the world fall into your shoulders instantly. "In any case you should rest and let alone my medical cabinets, go with nurse Matthews she will give you some vitamins" he said but you were not longer listening.

No, it couldn't be that, right? You tried to convince your mind, but deep down you knew it was true, what would he think? He was a soldier, a man of the field, not a father, and you were obviously not a mother, what will happen now? Now that he wanted to run away in the world next to you, a baby had a place on that plan?.

Two days later Conrad was out of the medical bay and trying to approach you, offering you a fresh start from the afternoon you pause all those weeks ago in Malaysia.

But the stolen kisses on the hallways, and his nightly incursions on your cabin only made it harder for you to find a way to come clean about your news, even when the idea had already sink in your mind, because it was a baby, and it was his baby, how could you not be happy and grateful? Yet you haven't say anything to him.

Four days later he had spend the whole day walking on the deck with you, like if the planes and choppers were an appropriate sighting for a date.

"We'll be in Hawaii soon" He started "If you want to go out for a walk in the morning and get lost in the jungle we have to star planning now" he said and you were looking at the ocean trying to make up your mind.

"Maybe... I was wondering about the work you do at Monarch, maybe I will give it a chance" you start not sure how the whole we are having a baby situation will fit in your speech "I mean if you want to travel the world it might help to have a paying job for a while" you were nervously touching your hands.

"Of course, also when the baby comes I would like to have a proper house for him to be... or she, I don't care you know? as long as they're healthy" he said and you nodded yes.

"Yeah of course... what??" You look at him and he had the most radiant smile on his face, and he was clearly holding his laugh and apparently tears, of joy? "How do you know?

"Well nurse Matthews saw us kissing and then she complained about how Children this days keep having children out of wedlock" he said and you hide your face on your hands.

"I was really going to tell you... for real is just..." but you didn't have the words in you, and the tears were running on your face

"I know, it's fine, I mean is a little soon but if I'm honest I'm tired of running, and after all we've been trough I couldn't imagine a single person to share this experience with" He said cleaning the tears from your face.

"You sure?" You asked again, needing to hear it from his mouth.

"I'm sure, I fall in love with you when I saw you scaring local vendors in Malaysia and then fighting guerilla liders in Borneo, I even loved you when you vomit after kissing me for real, I'm completely taken by you Y/N"

"I fall in love with you too James" you said, and his expression got serious for a moment. "What?"

"Nothing, is just that I'm going to miss Prince Charming" he said giving you again the disarming smile that had started all this adventure.

The end

@damalseer

@kinghiddlestonanddixon (I hope you like the end)

[what-the--curtains]

Braving the Elements

Chapter 4: explanations and introductions

TW: mentions of forced experimentation, swearing

Songs

(playing when she enters the room with all the Avengers)

(when she first looks at Bucky and then again when demonstrating her powers)

Authors note: oof this is a long one but our boy is finally in it! Once again apologies for not making it a (continue reading) but i am trapped on mobile RIP

“Sorry about this.” Wanda says, tightening the cuffs currently trapping your hands behind your back.

“ Don’t worry about it, I’d have done the same.” you say.

“Jesus (Y/N) what have you gotten yourself into now?” she chuckles uneasily with worry in her eyes, as she gently grazes the bruise on your face with her hand.

“Oh you know me. Just placed my bet on the wrong horse is all.” You say lightly. She removes her hand nodding slightly. This answer seems to have satisfied her for now.

“Well most of the guys are asleep, but you can meet the head honchos now.” she says.

“ What is this an Al Pacino movie?” you ask with a smile.

She laughs, picking up the bag you had dropped on the floor and leading you to the elevator.

As you enter the room the four Avengers all stare at you. You had seen them on the news before so you could put names to faces. Not to mention you choked one of them out yesterday. Tony speaks up first “Well this is uncomfortable.” You clear your throat before speaking

“Sorry about the light choking cap! Nothing personal.”

“Sorry about the shield in the back” he responds.

“So, even Stevens then?” You ask with a hopeful smile.

“No..” says Tony screwing up his eyebrows in confusion “Not, ‘even Stevens’, you robbed a bank, severely injured four guards and have been working for a mobster for the past six months!”

“Fair enough.” you reply, “Hey Wanda wanna open that bag you have there?” Looking at you with just a hint of doubt she opens the bag and pulls out one of many wads of cash.

“Figured I shouldn’t show up empty handed, so I brought back the money I stole and the safe thing. That’s in there too.”

“Not bad” Tony shrugs, peering into the bag.

“As for the whole working for a mobster thing it’s really not what it looks like. I mean I didn’t want to take up crime. It just kinda happened!” You express.

“Alright then, please enlighten us on how you started as a friend of our dear Wandas and ended up robbing banks.” Tony says taking a seat across from you.

“Alright don’t get your panties in a knot Stark. I’ll start at the beginning, and please hold your applause until the end. My parents sold me to a government run lab at the ripe old age of 7 when I first started showing signs of being “different” “ you say making air quotes around the final word.

“When the mutant gene presented itself.” Wanda clarifies

“ I mean, I did accidentally light the couch on fire after getting angry about something, but in my defense, I was a kid! How was I supposed to know any better? By my ninth birthday Xavier had managed to shut down the lab on the basis of it violating the mutant rights act. He took all us kids in and taught us how to control our powers and gave us a pretty amazing education. It was the first real home I ever had and it was also where I met Wanda.” Your voice falters for a second. “Hey, by the way I’m really sorry about Pietro, he was a great kid, best kind, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” She gives you a small, but reassuring smile and you continue “When I turned 18 I decided to leave, wanted to see what the world had to offer. Along the way I met Magneto who convinced me that what he was doing was right, so I joined his fight. Then proceeded to lose said fight. All of us non-compliant mutants were given two options: go to prison or serve your country and join the military!” you say in an old timey radio voice

“So you chose prison and Roman broke you out?” Nat inquired

“Oh god no! I picked the military, figured I’d get out eventually, but I got tired of fighting for a country that secretly hated my existence, so I tried to leave, but they wouldn’t let me. When I refused to fight they discharged me, deemed me a danger to society and locked me up in one of those fancy prisons you helped build Mr. Stark. By the way do you know what really goes on in there?” Tony glances at you out the corner of his eye “I designed it, I don’t run it, so no” he scoffs.

“Figured as much, your type don’t tend to care once you’ve got a payment” you state matter of factly.

“Hey, now that’s a bit out of line.” Steve jumps in defending Tony

“You know what was out of line Mr. America?” you snap back “Being forcibly tested without my consent. I lost teeth, bone marrow, fingernails, and part of my liver and I was only there for 6 months, so maybe you should look into that Mr. high and mighty.” Tony’s face turns white “No, I didn’t know that.” he manages to say. Cap and Nat avoid your eyes, but are obviously shocked while Wanda wipes away a single tear.

“ Come on don’t act so naive, mutant testing has been going on for years they just got better at hiding it. Anyways, Romy broke me out so I went to work for him.”

“Makes sense guy saves you from a life time of torture I’d work for him as well.” Nat says.

“So why did you leave him?”, Steve asks

“What? The face doesn’t give it away.” you reply “Also turns out the guy legally owns me.”

“He what?” Nat and Wanda yell in unison

“Ya the bastard drugged me up and got me to sign a contract signing myself over to him. So, I left, wanted to make things right and now I’m here to offer my help, get redemption or whatever. If you’ll have me.” No one says anything “Well I mean I also kinda figured you were my best shot at bringing him down. See he has dozens of mutant files in his office, but I’ve never seen any of them. Leading me to the conclusion that he’s up to something.”

“And why exactly should we trust you after all you’ve done?” Tony poses

“Wanda side pocket of the bag,” she pulls out multiple brown folders

“That’s my contract, along with ones belonging to a few other mutants, also I’m gonna need you to cut my arm open” you say. They look up at you with concerned, and slightly disturbed, faces.

“There’s a microchip in it with all the downloaded files from his work computer before I blew it, and his HQ up.”

“Pretty crafty. I knew I liked you!” Nat smiles

“Thanks!” you return

“Well it’s a pretty good start,” says Tony “but the others will have to agree. So we’ll have a vote in the morning. Which is in approximately,” he pauses looking down at his watch, “5 hours so I’d suggest we all get some sleep.” The rest of the team nods in agreement and Nat, Tony and Steve leave the room. Wanda hangs back for a second “Hey, I’m really glad you’re here I’ve missed you.”

Sheepishly you respond “Ya, I’ve missed you too. Hey Wanda?”

She stops in the doorway “Ya?”

“Is the rest of the team as hot as you guys?” you ask wiggling your eyebrows

She snorts “Oh ya. Just wait till you meet the rest of them, they blow Summers out of the water.”

“Which Summers brother Wanda? Which one?” you call with fake urgency, but she doesn’t answer.

You’re woken up by the sound of light tapping on glass. You must have dozed off. Wanda walks in with two cups of coffee, placing one down in front of you. She puts her own cup down on the table and frees your hands. “Thanks,” you say shaking out your arms, which had partially fallen asleep, before taking the cup from her.

From a distance you hear Tony’s voice exclaiming

“Well we have a very special surprise for you all. A delivery that arrived last night.” Stopping in front of the door he continues “Now some of you may know her, but for those who don’t, this…” he says pointing towards you through the glass “is (y/n).” You gaze back at the substantial group of people currently staring at you, suddenly understanding how a tiger in a zoo might feel. The group has two teens, one of which you recognized as Shuri, the princess of Wakanda. You also take note of the four large, and very attractive male Avengers making up the rest of the group who you recognized as Clint, Sam, Bucky and Vision . “You were right, they are hot, even better than they look on the news!” you whisper to Wanda causing her to roll her eyes.

“Hey! You trapped me in a tree!” the teen boy pipes up

“Spiderman is a child?” You question, before Peter can denounce the use of the term child, you continue “Sorry about that kid. I won't do it again. Promise!”

“So were just letting any run of the mill villains onto our team?” Sam asks.

“ Well I wouldn’t exactly call myself run of the mill, and I did bring back the cash I borrowed.” You say.

“ Borrowed?” Bucky asked with a smirk, you go to say something snarky back, but are taken aback for a moment when your eyes meet his. Wow. These have gotta be the most gorgeous eyes you’d ever seen, a color of blue that falls somewhere between a stormy ocean and steel. You hadn’t failed to notice that they were attached to a very nice face, leading you to speculate that his body was probably equally as exquisite. You quickly pull yourself out of the trance realizing you probably hadn’t said anything in a few seconds and were just openly staring at this man.

“Ya, borrowed, I took it and brought it back, how would you define the term?” Sam laughs, and Bucky frowns slightly before nodding his head in agreement.

“Also weren’t like, at least half of you guys, all villains at some point?” you ask.

“That is a very valid point” Clint spoke up.

“Thank you! Your my new favorite person” you say causing Wanda to give you a look of fake offence.

“Alright now you’ve met her it's time to cast votes to see if she should join the team.” Steve says

“Wait!” you exclaim, “Don’t you guys want to know what you’re buying before you pay for it?”

You smile at Wanda. She reluctantly gives into your demand huffing out a “Fine. Anyone got any water?” Peter pulls his backpack forwards to his chest and takes out his water bottle throwing it to Wanda. “Alright what about a lighter?” Leaning forward Bucky pulls one out of his back pocket and throws it at you. Catching it you smile and place it on the table.

“Steve can you pull in that ficus from just outside the door?” lifting his eyebrows in suspicions he lifts up the potted plant and.

“Not bad doll” Bucky says almost impressed

“Well sweetie buckle up cause you ain’t seen nothing yet!” The half dead ficus Steve had dragged into the office suddenly began to turn green again and began sprouting new leaves. Using the air from the room you carefully pick the plant up and return it to the hallway dropping it back to its original spot.

“And for my final trick,” You say while flicking Bucky's lighter open. You gather a few embers and create a ball of fire between your hands. You extinguish the ball between your hands and throw the lighter back to Bucky.

“Well that’s gonna come in handy” Clint says

”I also served in the military for 2 years so I can shoot and fight as good as any of you”

“That I can personally vouch for” Steve says rubbing his throat “Anyway, let's vote.”

“Well I want you to stay,” Wanda says excitedly “we’ve got 10 years of catching up to do.”

You were surprised when the next person to pipe up was Bucky “ Can’t exactly say no, I was a war criminal before joining you guys.”

“I was a yes the second you blew up that building.” Nat says placing a hand on your shoulder.

So far everyone has said yes though some more begrudgingly than others.

Everyone looks to Tony for the final say.

“What the hell, she can stay, just no powers in the loft!”

“But what if I need something like an ice cube or a bonfire!” you proclaim

“Fine no destructive powers! Shuri can you get started on making her a suit?”

“Thank god someone with style is doing it” you say Causing Shuri to smirk and nod her head up at you

“Sam trains all the new recruits so you're going to go up against him tomorrow. He’ll figure out where you are in your fighting abilities” Tony says.

You turn to Sam and give him a wicked smile. Sam looks back at you, obviously concerned before muttering, “I swear if we just let another psychopath into this building so help me god”

“Don’t worry I’ll go easy on ya!” you say patting him on the back.

“C’mon” Wanda says, pulling your arm “I'll show you to your room!”

“Great!” you respond as she leads you down the hall “This is me, This is Bucky and then this is all yours” she says opening the door. The room was a decent size with a double bed, floor to ceiling windows, a closet and an ensuite bathroom. It wasn’t as extravagant as the apartment Roman had gotten you, but it’d do just fine “I’ll leave you to get unpacked” Wanda says before leaving the room. You head downstairs back to the car you had stolen the night before and grab your two suitcases out of the trunk. Using the midday wind, you launch them over towards the front entrance, almost hitting an unsuspecting Sam who was just exiting for a run with Bucky. “Sorry! Didn’t see you there.” You shout tensing up slightly.

“If you think taking me out with a suitcase is gonna give you the upper hand tomorrow you are sorely mistaken.” Sam laughs.

“Darn saw right through my clever plan!” you respond feigning disbelief.

“Nice car.” Bucky says

“Thanks I stole it.” you respond breezing by the two men and picking up your cases before heading up the stairs to the elevator

“You know I can’t tell if she’s joking or not.” Sam says looking to Bucky

“20 bucks says she isn’t.” he responds with a chuckle.

You make it upstairs and open your suitcase “unpacking” most of your clothes straight onto the floor before jumping in the shower.

The hot water hits your body and you begin to scrub away all the troubles (and grime) from the past two days. As you wash you notice the array of bruises on your body. Poking at one on your hip which you figure must have happened when you landed on it during the robbery. You press it again and squint in pain. After a thorough cleaning you turn off the water and wrap a towel around your body. Wiping steam off the mirror you look at your face. Your split lip had basically closed up and the bruises around your neck and on your face had gone from an array of dark purple hues to ones with yellowish undertones. After looking at your face for a bit longer you brush your teeth, put on your pyjamas and drift off to sleep.

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digitally. Where will you be by then?

This also applies to cryptocurrency. When Bitcoin started in 2009 if I'm not

mistaken, the creator and some financial analysts specifically said

“CRYPTOCURRENCY IS THE CURRENCY OF THE FUTURE”. 1 Bitcoin was less than

$1 then. Fast forward to Jan. 2020, 1 Bitcoin was $10,000 that's about 3.6 million

naira. Now Imagine someone who bought or accumulated 100 bitcoins between 2009-

2019, as at 2020, he will have had

$100,000 that is 3.6 Billion naira. A lot of companies are now accepting cryptos as a

means of payment. In few years to come, Cryptocurrency will be of extreme value and

it's acceptance would have been more than it is today

Let me now explain in details how Forsage Smart Contract works and what you

stand to gain by investing in Forsage Smart Contract.

WHAT IS A SMART CONTRACT?

A smart contract or rather a crypto contract is a software program that is executed by a

set of codes controlled by the programmer to carry out transactions between the users

and the thirdparties.

In other words, a smart contract is a code that is run on the Blockchain network that

sets out certain rules that have to be followed by both the parties. A key thing you ought

to know about this business is that all transactions are done within the smart contract and

since no third party is involved, any earnings you make are sent directly to your

Ethereum wallet.

HOW DOES SMART CONTRACT WORKS?

Smart contracts run automatically and help the transfer of digital assets and carry out

transactions under the guidance and supervision of the Blockchain Network. The main

idea is to carry out the transactions seamlessly without being hacked or infiltrated by

any third party or fraudsters.

*NB:There is no way the system can be hacked because the Smart Contract was built upon the Blockchain technology which is currently the safest and most secured form of

technology in the whole world.

Since information stored within the Blockchain cannot be hacked, there cannot be an

event of the smart contract crashing.

WHAT IS FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT?

Forsage smart contract is a platform which allows you earn and accumulate as many

Ethereum as you want and you trade them for instant cash anyday anytime and at any

price you so wish depending on the market price of Ethereum at the Point of Sale.

The main focus of joining Forsage Smart Contract is to earn and accumulate Ethereum.

Now why must it be Ethereum? Why not Bitcoin or any other form of Cryptocurrency??

WHAT IS ETHEREUM?

Ethеrеum is a cryptocurrency (digital currency) bаѕеd on the blосkсhаіn tесhnоlоgу thаt

еnаblеѕ dеvеlореrѕ tо buіld аnd dерlоу dесеntrаlіzеd applications. Ethereum is one of

the leaders in the smart contract platform in the blockchain market.

Ethereum is completely decentralized and allows you to launch your decentralized

applications into the network. It is, in fact, one of the most trusted smart contracts that

have been used globally in recent times. Bitcoin cannot work on smart Contracts

because Ethereum was programmed with codes that made it suitable to work on

smart contracts.

TAKING A CUE FROM THE GROWTH OF BITCOIN TO INVEST IN ETHEREUM.

In June/July 2010, 1 BITCOIN (BTC) (The biggest cryptocurrency for now) was just

$0.008 (almost valueless). A lot of people saw/noticed the growth of BITCOIN then and bought/accumulated as much BTC as they could. Some sold there's along the line

some stored theirs until recently.

Imagine if you had bought lots of BTC then and you are selling them now that the price

of 1BTC is equivalent to #3.6million ($9000+). You'd be freaking rich by now.

Some years back, a lot of people missed a golden opportunity that could have

transformed their financial life. Those who accumulated Bitcoin then when the price

was still rising, are currently enjoying the benefits today.

GOOD NEWS!!!!

For those who missed the opportunity of accumulating Bitcoin as at when it was still

growing, today another opportunity is here again. It has come back in form of another

cryptocurrency called Ethereum.

ETHEREUM is currently on a big race with BTC. To tell you how fast Ethereum is rising,

Ethereum grew from $130 to $230+ just in one month. Ethereum is expected to hit over

$1000 by the end of 2020.

Forsage Smart Contract will enable you accumulate as much Ethereum as possible

before the value of Ethereum becomes unaffordable. A lot of forsage members around

the world have been making huge earnings from this business.

“Forsage Smart Contract Is A Global Business With Members From OVER

100 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD”

HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY IF YOU INVEST IN FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT?

You make money through this platform through 3 main ways:

1. Spillovers: In summary, this usually comes from your upline or the person who

registered when he has excess registrations. The system rewards you for being a

downline of an hardworking upline. If your upline is lazy, it won’t come fast.

2. Overflows: This usually comes from the Forsage Smart Contract system. This pays

you with or without referrals.

3. Referrals: This involves registering people under you with your affiliate link. The

higher you grow the more you make crazy profit because we have different levels which

ranges from level 1-12.

N.B.ForsageisaWin-WinSituationforanyonejoiningtheplatform.Ifyouwant tojoin

without referring and wait for overflows and spillover, you can join and wait but do not

complain if it doesn’t come fast. However, if you are good with networking, team work,

referring or talking to people, you’d make a lot of cool cash in form of Ethereum from

this platform. But THIS IS NOT A GET RICH QUICK SCHEME as You will make a lot of

money in the long run. Do not be greedy or selfish.

THIS IS HOW FORSAGE SMART CONTRACTWORKS

There are two major structures under the Forsage network namely: X3 Forsage & X4

Forsage.

The x3 Forsage runs on a 3 by 1 matrix while the x4 Forsage runs on a 2 by 2 matrix.

Earnings on the x3 matrix are strictly through direct referrals while earnings in the x4 matrix occurs either through direct referrals, indirect referrals, spillovers or overflows.

With Or Without Referrals

What this means is that ‘Members who get referrals will earn on both the x3 and x4

Forsage whereas members not having direct referrals can only earn through x4 on

Forsage’.

Spillover comes from your upline when he has excess flow of registration as well as

overflows that generates from the system, it comes to you as direct earning which is a

spillover from Top.

Overflows is about you earning from the system as the system increases in registration

which can come from bottom or from the top.

NB: Through teamwork, you can grow as fast as possible by leveraging on the efforts

of different team members. Making money requires commitment, dedication and

determination. So if you are not ready to work with a team, I'm sorry this business is

not for you.

Also, in case your fear has been that if u join and you don't have referral then you won't

earn at all, these illustrations above should let you know that under Forsage, you can

earn with or without referrals but your earnings are faster and more when you are very

active. If you want to travel to Abuja from Lagos, you can either take bus or flight. We all know

you will get to Abuja faster via flight than when you take a bus. Earning on Forsage Smart

Contract through spillovers/overflows is like taking bus while earning through referrals are like taking flight. But one very certain thing is that, there is no loss in

Forsage Smart Contract. Teamwork is like an AEROPLANE that would take you faster

to your financial destination.

HOW TO GET STARTED ON THE FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT

STEPS TO JOIN FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT:

1. Download your preferred crypto wallet app on play store.

2. Create your wallet and get it funded.

3. Create the ForsageAccount.

In order the join or invest in the Forsage Smart Contract Platform, You need 0.055-0.06

Ethereum. However, there are steps and process to do this. Follow these Steps to get

started.

You need a Wallet to fund with the required Ethereum and a registration link which will

be given to you once you indicate interest in joining.

Three Major Wallets are being used to run the Forsage Smart Contracts namely: Trust

Crypto Wallet and Token Pocket (Green) for Android and iPhone. They can be found on

Playstore and Appstore respectively while Metamask is for System (Desktop/Laptop).

For this Article, I’d be guiding you through the usage of the Trust Crypto Wallet App

because it is thebest.

After downloading the Trust Crypto Wallet, Click on Create new Wallet

You'd see 12-wordphrases.

Copy the words the way you see it (somewhere in your notes or write them out

accordingly)

After doing that, click next and you'd have to rearrange those 12 words the way you saw

it in the previousstep.

On no Account must you lose these 12 words, Trust Wallet is one of the most secured

Crypto currency wallets in the world. It can't be hacked because it doesn't use username,

email address or passwords.

These 12 words are your unique login details. Your 12 words is very unique because

nobody else has the same 12 words. It's that crazy. It's extremely secure.

After you've successfully rearranged it, it will take you to a page where you'd see

different cryptocurrencies.

Click ETHEREUM

Click Receive

Click Copy and paste your wallet address somewhere.

It could be in your notes on your phone because you'd need it later.

The next step is funding your wallet, this can be done in two major ways.

1. Funding it yourself via the Luno App which is the most advisable to use in

Nigeria and using your debit card to fund your wallet with the required amount

then sending it from your Luno Ethereum wallet to your Trust Wallet Ethereum.

address. This can be a strenuous process. You can meet(09039050445 on WhatsApp or Telegram) me to guide you

through. This is to show transparency that I’m not here to spend your money but

to help you invest, grow, earn and accumulate Ethereum

2. The second option is to buy from Trustworthy Cryptocurrency Vendors whereby

you send money to them and they in turn fund your wallet with the equivalent

worth of Ethereum. This is very easy and stress-free and it saves time.

Once you get your wallet funded, You will be sent a registration guideline with a link in it

and you will be guided through the rest of the process. Once you register with my https://forsage.io/i/8fne9i/ with my link.

You will be guided and tutored to the extent that you will make as much as 1-5

Ethereum in less than a month. You will given promotional tools materials and

strategies to grow. All of these will be done as a team and nobody will be left out

provided you are ready to work and be financially free.

[soldierallen]

Married. 5

Summary: you're in love with Sebastian and you're one of his three best friends however he finds a women he loves and marries her.

Featuring: Chris Evans, Alexandra Daddario, Robert Downey Jr, Tom Holland, (Henry Cavill & Anthony Mackie on the phone/ in a flasback) Sebastian Stan.

Warnings: a very villainous Alexandra, probably a few curse words?

Part 4:

÷

"I'm sorry I called I didn't know who else to go to" she paced her living room, the quiet settling in Chris looking at her as she paced and explained

"Its okay I'm always here for you, you know that" he smiled a reassuring smile at her he knew she needed the reassurance when she called.

she hated asking for help she wanted to be independent do everything herself however that wasn't easy for her when she was always shy and an only child she never had anyone growing up until she was 11, met Chris they became the bestest friends then soon met Anthony, a year later they met Henry and Sebastian.

○○○○○○○○

"Okay I've made a big mistake a huge one" she looked at the four boys on the couch pacing back and fourth they followed her with their eyes

"What did you do?" Anthony asked

"I told my grandmother I had a boyfriend so she could stop setting me up on dates with her friends grandsons you gotta help me" she stopped pacing, her knee bounced up and down waiting for someone to stoop in save the day, crickets.

"Oh thanks guys FUCK" she nervously fixed her hair in an angry ponytail

"There's a guy I know that would love to take you" Chris said, the other three not following because well they didn't know who he was talking about

"I have a friend named Tom he owes me a favor" Chris said tapping his fingers on the arm chair

"You're serious? He's human right?" She asked

"Yes I'll ask him when I get home" she hugged Chris

A day had passed and he introduced them

"Y/n this is Tom Holland, Tom this is Y/n y/l/n" they shook hands "it's nice to meet you" "You're even more beautiful in person" Tom blurted out she blushed profusely he was a charmer.

"Whatever you need, I'm ready to do it no excuses" he said, Chris smiled at the interaction between the two they looked really cute together he hopes they make it far.

And from that day forward she knew the lengths Chris would go for her.

○○○○○○○○

"I'm having a mental breakdown"

"Did you tell him about alex?"

"No I couldn't get to that part! I said I'm not going to your fucking wedding and I stormed off - I yelled at him i told him don't answer that fucking phone let me talk to you he answered it and my brain let hell break loose he never chooses me" She finally stopped pacing looking back and fourth as she stood up her nail digging into her skin trying to pull the skin off, a nervous habit she couldn't help it.

"Hey hey hey, you're stressing over nothing okay" he got up quickly to bring her to the couch " y/n You're in love with this man since I can't even remember how long, you can't stop loving him I understand one hundred percent you deserve to be happy" he cuddled into her on the couch her head on his chest his arm around her "but Whatever you think is right for you, do it you know yourself better than anyone else what you decide is purely what you know is good for you"

she closed her eyes and pulled in a breath letting it flow out through her nose "I think it's better if I just stop talking to him all together, I'm delaying it only because I don't want to lose him" he nodded he knows once this all blows over she'll lose him for good.

"I know" he held her stroking her hair "If you think that's good for you do it-" the door was knocked on

"hide" she whispered to Chris he stood up walking to her room closing the door behind him, she stood up fixing her clothes she had one of those chain locks, she opened the door the noise of the lock chain locking the only noise heard she looked out

The devil herself.

She shallowed not ready to face another problem today.

She opened the door fully but not letting her in, "what now?"

"I know what you saw, you seen me at the coffee shop and Henry saw me check in I know both of you know, you're not going to ruin my whole life that I built with one phrase said to Sebastian, we love each other"

"You don't fucking love him, you're cheating on him for God's sake!! you've been lying to him for months we caught you" Y/n was done being scared of her

"Well daddy knows you're CEO, you wouldn't want to loose your job at the company? Right? You're the creative director of the company. You wouldn't want to loose this opportunity all on a bad rep."

"Don't play dumb games like this were old enough to know right from wrong"

"Don't play god and you won't have to play games, Sebastian will find out sooner or later but If it comes out of your mouth you've got a lot coming y/n, if I go down you're going down with me" she said her piercing blue eyes staring right at her, getting closer to her face. this is what she was afraid of Sebastian and her job, Sebastian was going to end things with her whether he likes it or not and Alex was going to get her fired.

"Tell me one thing, why are you leading him on like this why are you... destroying him like this Sebastian could have such a full life"

"It's like playing with toys, you have the one toy you love bring it everywhere with you show it off it means the world to you without it you don't know what would happen, but then you come home and you see that one doll you bought awhile ago it's not the prettiest in the bunch, if anyone knew you liked the old doll better they would call you a hoarder you don't want to be a hoarder so you throw everything out and only have the nice pretty thing in front of you but right behind your closet door sits the doll you've loved your entire life" She said in such a villainous tone, y/n was taken a back

"Go home you nutcase" and she shut the door on her face, y/n held her breath and pulled out her phone clicking the stop voice memo the notification popping up

"new recording saved"

"CHRIS" she yelled out

"What the actual fuck" the door opened to her bed room he looked like nervous wreck, she locked the door behind her

"Is this women a villain from a comic book Jesus Christ" Chris said Clearly distraught from hearing that story

"I recorded the whole thing" she shallowed showing Chris her "New Recording" on voice memos he picked her up and sprung her around "you're a genius how did you know it was her?"

"I knew it was coming so I've been recording whoever comes to the door since the past four hours" she laughed trying to regain focus

"You're a sneaky little person" he smiled

"I learned from the best" she said his eyebrows furrowed

"Henry" she said nonchalantly

"Oh" he said

÷

"Mr Downey could I speak to you" she knocked on her boss's door she saw him her nerves circulating through her entire body they never truly spoke he asked for the work she did the work designing helping her team approving it and he was given the final approval and if he didn't like it all the work that everyone put since weeks could be thrown in the trash all in 5 seconds.

"You have the designs this early miss y/l/n?" He was confused looking at paperwork on his desk & back up at her

"Uh no not exactly I have to talk about something important" she was at the risk of losing her job if she had the wrong thing.

"If you want a raise I can't give it to you right now" he said "No sir i- it's personal."

"Okay shoot?" He said giving her his now full attention, "sir I've been at this company for three years as the creative director you don't understand how grateful I am to have this job, to be in this community to have you the giving and loving man that you are hire me"

"Y/n You put in a lot of hard work it was a crime not to give you this job you clearly deserved it" he said very seriously.

"Thank you sir, I have made myself an enemy in the higher ups, Mr Daddario's Daugther.."

He nodded "that man does whatever his daugther says it's a dishonor for everyone who works for him" he shallowed fixing his posture a little "she's trying to get me fired, she's going to ask her father to tell you to fire me and find some kind of excuse" she tried swallowing her nerves which wasn't helping "I didn't want to come and do this, however I don't want to lose this" she looked around at his awards for the magizne they produced the awards for articles, a whole segment he did in the New York Times.

"Please don't fire me over a phone call"

He sat back on his expensive leather chair, he loosened his tie.

"I respect you I've always have but this...ive never respected you like this ever before" she tried not to show her smile but her eyes told a different story "you really want this job?" "More than anything sir" she said being very serious

"Well, if mr Daddario tells me to fire my best CD I'll tell him to stick it where the sun don't shine" he smiled standing up "Mr Downey thank you sincerely" she went to go shake his hand "nope this is a hug moment" he said she laughed and gave him a hug, she walked out she's never felt so powerful in her entire life it was only 4 days until the wedding she knew it was over today it was finished.

She laughed in the hallway jumping, she heard someone laughing a man she turned around it was Tom...Holland

"You're back" she said with a smile, they broke up for one reason only he was leaving to another country for a job in entertainment he was a director for movies and tv shows I totally supported him however we knew the long distance wasn't going to last it's been a year.

"You know every time I see you, you have this glow you get more beautiful every time" he smiled getting closer to her her face blushed she wasn't prepared for the compilment

"What are you doing here" she said gesturing to her place of work & trying to weigh down the redness in her cheeks "I came to see you, I know your friends wedding is coming I thought maybe we could possibly...go together" he said still smiling ear to ear finally face to face to a women he did absolutely fall in love with, she fell in love with him to but she knew it wasn't right for her.

"I'm going to ruin the wedding tonight actually" he gave her a questionable look "his bride has been cheating on him for months I didn't have the heart to tell him." "That's horrible" he said "I know, you still have the same number" she laughed "yeah" he said

"Call me tomorrow we'll catch up" they hugged, everything went smoothly the entire day it was great.

It was a late night coming home, it was one of those days where it felt like you want to just be alone sulk she had a mission though..

Stop that god damn wedding.

She changed out of her work clothes into normal clothes which consisted of a sweater jeans and sneakers, she made a conference call to the three boys "Its happening I have the keys in my hand and it's happening im freaking out" "Don't be nervous it'll look suspicious" Henry said "like Henry said chill we're gonna get through this together" Anthony said "I just I'm- I don't want to break his heart.. I never wanted to break his heart"

"His heart was going to get broken anyways" Chris said "Yeah but not by me."

At Sebastian's house

"Why is she not coming why won't she answer my calls" he said to himself as he brushed his teeth

"Babe who are you talking to?" Alex yelled out

"Nobody" he yelled back she came to the door and knocked on it he opened the door she wore a silk lacey nightie it's like she wasn't even wearing clothes..that was the idea I guess

"Baby what's wrong?" She said he spit in the sink "I didn't want to tell you cause I didn't want you to know, she's not coming to the wedding" he was really upset "who" she asked

"Y/n she got angry she was trying to tell me something and I wasn't caring I answered your phone call and she blew up on me when we got here, she screamed I'm not going to your fucking wedding my heart broke she's been with me my entire life I'm getting married to the women I love and she's not coming?"

Alex thought here's her chance to ruin it all.

"Finish I gotta tell you something" she patted his chest and sitting on the bed, he rinsed and sat next to her

"What's up" he said giving her a comforting look his hand on her leg

"I didn't want to tell you this I've been keeping this secret it's been killing me for months, y/n threaten to ruin the wedding because she's in love with you"

Sebastian's stomach turned he felt like he was going to throw up his nerves circulating through out his entire body

"What are you talking about?" He said his voice coming out shaky his nerves getting the better of him, this wasn't what he was expecting.. she's in love with me? He thought...why didn't she tell me why was she doing this

"She told me she's going go ruin the wedding and and - I don't deserve to be with you" her fake tears about to well up "I told her you're trying to ruin our lives at what cost?"

"For him to be with me, she's a psycho I told her if you ruin my wedding he'll never forgive you" her fake tears ran down her face he was soothing her through her "grief"

"I didn't want to tell you because you love her like your sister I wasn't going to ruin it for you I'm so sorry" she cried "Its okay I'm going to fix this" he stood up "what are you going to do?" She said wiping her face "ruin her like she did to you." He called her on the phone he was angry she threatened his wife? What kind of animal does that!

"Where are you" he asked trying to calm his anger

"I was coming over to you?" She said

"Don't I'll be there in 20 minutes" he said

"Seb what is this about?" She said

"Me and you everything" he hung up ready to get into his car and end his friendship with y/n.

Tagged: @hiddlestonstansworld @lovely-geek @imcalledflorence @misz-adrii @escapistdreamer-wishfulthinker @someplxce @cuddlesforlashton @coffeebooksandfandom @weasley16 @ilovethewayyourheartbeats @vogueworthy-barnes @xeniarocks @thisismysecrethappyplace @racheo91

[alj4890]

Chapter 34 Information

The Royal Romance Fan Fiction (Liam x MC*Riley) (Maxwell x OC*Amanda) (Drake x Olivia) (Hana x Rashad)

These characters are from the amazing writers of Pixelberry's Choices stories: The Royal Romance and Red Carpet Diaries. The only character of my own is Duchess Amanda Bridgerton of House St Orella. 

Masterlist for The Other Friend TRR

Chapter 34 summary: On the train ride to Paris, Bastien has some information to share about Savannah. Plans are made.

Chapter 34

Bastien made his way to meet with King Liam. He was not looking forward to this conversation. The investigation had become personal and he was having a hard time separating emotion from doing his duty.

Bastien had been one of the youngest recruits to become a member of the king's guard. He thought it would be years of working for minor nobles before having the opportunity to work directly for the royal family. It was an honor given due to how well he had performed in the academy. He had also impressed an agent of the King's guard. Agent Jack Walker interviewed him for the position. After looking at his file and hearing his opinion and plans for handling possible threats and situations, Jack knew he should be a part of their security team.

Jack took the young Bastien as his protege. Not only did he guide him into ending up as the best agent of the king's guard, he also included him in his family. Bastien became an honorary uncle to Jack's two children, Drake and Savannah. Bastien developed quite an attachment to the Walker family. He had never been close to his own and he loved the moments he spent with the Walkers.

When Jack died during an assassination attempt on the royal family, Bastien tried to be there for Drake and Savannah. His own heart was broken. He had lost a man that was a big brother to him, his mentor. He owed him everything.

When Constantine had requested he look into Savannah's whereabouts, he was surprised. Why would the king want to know where a commoner had gone? He understood Liam wanting to know. Drake was one of his best friends. Now he was angry at himself. He had not paid as close attention to the information he had gathered, trusting that the man he served would handle everything.

He would not allow something like that to happen again. He knew Liam would be a different ruler from his father, but absolute power could still corrupt absolutely. He would do the right thing by Jack's daughter and make sure she had a home.

During his interrogation with Bertrand, it had taken all his training to keep from smashing the duke's head into the table. They had to find Savannah. She needed help and support now more than ever.

He took a deep breath and knocked on Liam's door. He entered and saw that Drake and Maxwell had arrived before him. Each had a look of expectation and hope on their face.

"Your Majesty, your grace, Drake, I have news concerning Savannah's disapperance."

Liam motioned to a chair, "Please, sit and tell us what you have learned."

Bastien sat down and cast an anxious glance at Maxwell. "I spoke to Duke Bertrand about his meeting with Savannah. He..."Bastien paused, swallowing uncomfortably.

Drake couldn't take it anymore. "He what?! Bastien, please just tell us what you learned."

Bastien looked at Maxwell. "Your grace, I'm afraid your brother was rather...harsh with his treatment of Savannah."

Maxwell paled. His hands gripped the arms of the chair he was in. "He didn't hurt her did he? I mean, did he hurt her physically?"

Bastien looked at his hands. "The duke and Savannah had an intimate night together. She found out she was pregnant a month later. When she told him the news...he told her that it was her responsibility. He offered to help her as he could financially, but he had plans to marry a member of the nobility. He encouraged her to try to start a life away from Cordonia and the court."

Liam noticed his two friends getting angrier with each word. "Now we know why she was in the hospital in Paris. Do we know how the baby is? Do we have an address?"

Bastien nodded. "She gave birth to a healthy baby boy four months ago." He handed the address to Drake. "I...I'm sorry I did not tell you about the first investigation. I assumed the king father would handle everything. If you need me for anything else, please let me know." With a bow, he left the room.

Maxwell shot up out of his chair and hit the wall. Shaking, he looked at his friends. "Drake. I am so sorry my brother is the cause of this. I should have...I should have done more to find out what happened."

Drake tried to calm down. His little sister had been alone and pregnant in another country. She had needed someone to take care of her but had chosen to do it on her own. He wanted to ram his fist through Bertrand's stupid noble face.

"Maxwell, none of this is your fault. I'm going to go ahead and apologize. I'm going to tell him off and most likely hit him."

"Don't apologize. I will help you do it. All his talk of upholding the family honor and he does this. He deserves to have his ass kicked."

Liam sat there thinking, letting them vent their frustrations and need for revenge. Why had his father kept this hidden from Drake? What was the point? What had he planned to do? Or was it about Drake at all?

Could it have been kept because Bertrand was involved? Did he have the file created in case he needed to blackmail Bertrand? That seemed the most likely scenario. His father saw another use for it, as a threat to Drake when trying to convince them that Liam should marry Amanda.

Maxwell was walking to the door. "I say we go get him now! It's time that smug look was wiped off his face!"

Liam stopped them. "We can deal with Bertrand later. Right now, we need to decide how to approach Savannah. She needs to know that she does not need to remain apart. She can come home to be with those who love her and are ready to help."

Drake nodded. "I will go see her tomorrow afternoon. I don't believe I will be able to wait a moment longer."

"I'm going with you. She needs to know Bertrand's opinion is not how the rest of the Beaumonts feel. I want to be there for my nephew. He will need to know he has my love and support, even if his father is a douchebag."

Drake grinned. As if anyone doubted that Maxwell would always stand by those he considered his. He should have known that nothing would keep him from proving his loyalty.

Liam frowned as he pulled up his calendar of events. He had a lot of meetings that he would be unable to get out of. The next few days had a lot happening too. "I'm afraid I won't be able to come, unless you want to wait until later this week."

Both did not want to wait.

"You will need a third person there. You both are emotionally involved in this. You are going to need someone calm to diffuse the tension. Is Amanda available to go?"

Maxwell grimaced. "No. She found out yesterday that she will be taking part in some press junkets in Paris. Now that the movie has wrapped, Thomas asked her to meet him for some of them. She's having to work them in between the court events."

Liam thought he knew the perfect person. He could give her up for one afternoon. "Then you should take Riley. She can be a voice of reason in case things get a little heated. I know she will be happy to help out."

"Thanks Liam, if you're sure she won't mind, then I will gladly take all the backup I can."

They all agreed on a time and left Liam's sitting room.

A few hours later, Drake was laying on his bed. He was roused, from thoughts of what he should say when he saw his sister, by a knock on his door. He was surprised to see Olivia there. "Hey Liv."

She smiled. "Are you going to invite me in or keep me talking in the hallway?"

He rolled his eyes and stepped back to let her in. She sat down and noticed his worried expression. "What happened?"

Drake saw the concern in her eyes. He hesitated in answering. They had a past of hurling insults that cut deep. He remembered her using Savannah as one many times. Should he share this with her? Would she agree with Bertrand's actions? How did she really feel about nobles and commoners together? There was only one way to know the answers to these questions.

He told her everything. He watched her face flush red with anger. Her eyes flashed as she stood up, pacing his small compartment.

"That unmitigated asshole! How dare he do that to her! I knew he was an idiot but I never dreamed he was that cruel. When I get through with him, no decent noble will even want to breathe the same air as him. Just look at what he has done to Maxwell and Amanda. That should have pointed out to us how mean he can be to those who are unfortunate in being close to him. I hope Madeleine marries him. He deserves a lifetime with that witch. They need to be together so their evilness doesn't spread to anyone decent. He--"

She was unable to finish her tirade due to her lips being caught in one impassioned kiss. Drake pulled back and saw that her anger was quickly replaced by desire. He smiled as he kissed her again. She had a heart. A tender heart that he was coming to care for, a lot.

They were interrupted by a knock on his door. Madeleine stood there. "I heard raised voices. Is everything alri-- why Olivia! I would never have expected to see you in Drake's room."

"What do you want Madeleine?" Drake asked.

"I don't want anything. I have everything I need." With a mysterious smile, Madeleine walked off and went into the next train car.

"What did she mean she has all she needs?" Olivia wondered.

Drake shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? I have a feeling it does not mean anything good."

@fullbeaumonty @fullbeaumonty @cocomaxley @katurrade @krsnlove @hopefulmoonobject @annekebbphotography @mynameiskaylabella @umccall71 @museofbooks

[qzkevin]

Reflective Journal

When I first hear we have to post our project process on the blog, I was so confused. I don't know tumblr and how blog work before I come to BCT. To be honest, it really me a lot pressure. I am a person that more enjoy to communication with other by face to face.

My idea was changed when I start understand how blog work. When we doing a project, the hardest part is decide what to do. When I go to blog and see what other people post their genius ideas, I always surprise and learnt from them. I change my view that blog is not just a place to post project process for teacher mark. It is a more helpful and interesting place that we communication and discover more ideas from other people that you may not talk to them before.

Card Game

The first post in my blog is about the card game we designed. Really simple and really boring. It is not a achieve level blog when I back to see it. I feel shame but I also feel this is another great thing of blog. It won’t disappear. I can see how bad I did at start and I can compare, fix and improve my other blog from it.

In this project, I don’t think I am doing a great job. I made a group but I am not a great enough leader. In that time, I read my group member’s post every night when then have new thing to post. I really want to say thanks and sorry to Stuart because if without him we won't pass this project. He is a really skillful person that I never seen before. The worst part in my group we didn’t have a good communication. Some people doing nothing which makes Stuart feel so angry and tired.

I also post a lots bad blog on the tumblr because in that time, I don’t interesting any about blog. Blog for me, it is more like a strange way to hand in my work. My idea is change in the next two project and right now when I back to see what I did I feel so shame. But I won't delete those bad blog because I love to see them to notice myself how bad I did at the start. It can clearly tell me how I change from a new-bee to a great poster? XD

In that time, I am so shame because I also did a few things in the group as well. So I decide to follow Stuart, once he made some improve change, I always sit nearby him and find the problem out to fix. It is really  embarrassed that One people doing near 95% work in our group and other people still think it is alright. I want to change this, but it is hard to said. In that time I was so confused because I don't know what I can let other people to do.

After that project, I start want make some change. I don't want it happen again if I made a other group in future. There is no reason that one people should doing everything in the group.

Sound Project

When we start the second project, it is totally a new area that I never touch before. I am really stupid on music and instrument. It is painful that doing a new thing you don't know but it is also interesting because you can learnt a lot from it. I really agree that learning how to use the software to edit sound is important for me.

During in that time, I start learn deeper on blog. I post my instrument build and how it work. I also enjoy to post my research journal on tumblr, I want people to see how my instrument work and where the ideas comes from. As the result, I starting thinking how blog affect and improve my work and life in my university. I don't think it change my view a lot, but it really make me agree this is a great way to share and communicate my idea to other people.

In my post I also post some link to my edit sound cloud. I start love this share idea and work to other people’s place. It wasn’t hard in the first two part of the sound project because I can learn from internet and doing good by myself. The hardest part is the last, it required us to make a team to make a performance in class.

Because the bad memory of the first project still in my brain, so I don’t like to make a team again until I think I can be a great leader. I join Carol’s group and I would like to say here is way better. We have clearly plan that every one in our group know what should they do. We really have some great communication that swap our ideas and make improve everyday. I don't know how other groups work but I love there, it really make me enjoy what we are doing and work hard on it.

Yup, it doesn't means we are perfect. Because some reason, we only did a short times practice before we going to the performance. I am worry about it but Carol is so confidence. The result isn't bad, we are great on each job which is better that what we did in the practice. I really love this project and the group I stay, it save my from the lack of confidence.

Film

In the last project which is about e-waste. I am finding a group on tumblr, I read a lot of people’s script and ask them can I make a team  with you? Most time I get the result is sorry. It is lucky when I start thinking should I do this project by myself, I find Quentin.

He is such a friendly and enthusiastic person. It is so easy that decide what will we do in the project. We introduce our self first because I don't know him before. The result is we clearly understand what other great at.

The project becomes easy. I am more great on finding resource and discover problem so I am working on that area. Quentin is genius on programming and editing video so he is going to make them out. I would like to say I feel so happy when other people see what I done and agree this is useful.

Our group is totally a small group that only have me and Quentin. But we are doing more faster and enjoy it. The important  harvest I get in this project is not credit or knowledge. It is I get a friend that I don't know him before. I think this should be another point that make me change my view on blog.

During in the project I also learnt some important things from Quentin. Because I lived in China more than 10 years, in some area my mind is different with other people who live in there. One thing is the use right.

When I download some resource from internet, Quentin is really worried about is it touch the right of use and is it allowed we to use? I don't know how to answer him because it is normal in China. And because of this, I really agree that Sangeeta said make a group with other culture or country people is important.

---

Back to see what I post in this 3 month, I am really happy that we doing a lot project. I know there are still a lot mistake I have to fix and improve. But now I have condolence to face more project and pass it. _(;3     Z)

[eniola22]

Robert Kiyosaki once said: "if someone invites you to join a Network Marketing

business, join the business even if you don't know what it is all about. But be patient and

learn the process gradually and relentlessly. Remain there even if it takes you 1-6

months to be successful in it because when the benefits begin to flow, you will NEVER

be the same person ever again."

People don't have the patience to build a business for 3 years. But they have the

patience to go to work for 40 years. It's crazy how some people feel that 1-2 years in a

business is a long time to get rich. However, don't feel that 40 years at a job is a long

time to stay broke. Change your mindset!

My name is OJO ENIOLA. I am a skilled Serial Entrepreneur, Digital and

NETWORKMARKETER.I AM VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ONLINE BUSINESSES AROUND THE world

most especially in Nigeria. I am one of the pioneers of Forsage Smart Contract in

Nigeria. FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT is a platform under the ETHEREUM

BLOCKCHAIN NETWORK. I have discovered over time that if you go farther in life, Don’t

go alone, Go with people with the same mindset as you. Positivity and teamwork is the

keypoint or strong threshold that Forsage Smart Contract stands for. It is not a platform

for selfish and greedy people.

This platform was created with the aim of getting a lot of people around the

world to be financially buoyant in a space of 6 months and as such it is not a ponzi or

get rich quick scheme as it is an investment and every transactions is done inside

your Ethereum Wallet and It is no scam. Forsage Smart Contract has members

from About 100 countries around the world. This is a global platform. You can make your research.

It is important to know that Forsage Smart Contract can only be invested in

with the use of a cryptocurrency called Ethereum which is the second most

profitable cryptocurrency in the world.It is second to only Bitcoinwhichis the most

profitable cryptocurrency in theworld.

We all know that things are changing and we're gradually entering the digital

stage. There'd come a time when everything you need to get done will have to be done

digitally. Where will you be by then?

This also applies to cryptocurrency. When Bitcoin started in 2009 if I'm not

mistaken, the creator and some financial analysts specifically said

“CRYPTOCURRENCY IS THE CURRENCY OF THE FUTURE”. 1 Bitcoin was less than

$1 then. Fast forward to Jan. 2020, 1 Bitcoin was $10,000 that's about 3.6 million

naira. Now Imagine someone who bought or accumulated 100 bitcoins between 2009-

2019, as at 2020, he will have had

$100,000 that is 3.6 Billion naira. A lot of companies are now accepting cryptos as a

means of payment. In few years to come, Cryptocurrency will be of extreme value and

it's acceptance would have been more than it is today

Let me now explain in details how Forsage Smart Contract works and what you

stand to gain by investing in Forsage Smart Contract.

WHAT IS A SMART CONTRACT?

A smart contract or rather a crypto contract is a software program that is executed by a

set of codes controlled by the programmer to carry out transactions between the users

and the thirdparties.

In other words, a smart contract is a code that is run on the Blockchain network that

sets out certain rules that have to be followed by both the parties. A key thing you ought

to know about this business is that all transactions are done within the smart contract and

since no third party is involved, any earnings you make are sent directly to your

Ethereum wallet.

HOW DOES SMART CONTRACT WORKS?

Smart contracts run automatically and help the transfer of digital assets and carry out

transactions under the guidance and supervision of the Blockchain Network. The main

idea is to carry out the transactions seamlessly without being hacked or infiltrated by

any third party or fraudsters.

*NB:There is no way the system can be hacked because the Smart Contract was built upon the Blockchain technology which is currently the safest and most secured form of

technology in the whole world.

Since information stored within the Blockchain cannot be hacked, there cannot be an

event of the smart contract crashing.

WHAT IS FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT?

Forsage smart contract is a platform which allows you earn and accumulate as many

Ethereum as you want and you trade them for instant cash anyday anytime and at any

price you so wish depending on the market price of Ethereum at the Point of Sale.

The main focus of joining Forsage Smart Contract is to earn and accumulate Ethereum.

Now why must it be Ethereum? Why not Bitcoin or any other form of Cryptocurrency??

WHAT IS ETHEREUM?

Ethеrеum is a cryptocurrency (digital currency) bаѕеd on the blосkсhаіn tесhnоlоgу thаt

еnаblеѕ dеvеlореrѕ tо buіld аnd dерlоу dесеntrаlіzеd applications. Ethereum is one of

the leaders in the smart contract platform in the blockchain market.

Ethereum is completely decentralized and allows you to launch your decentralized

applications into the network. It is, in fact, one of the most trusted smart contracts that

have been used globally in recent times. Bitcoin cannot work on smart Contracts

because Ethereum was programmed with codes that made it suitable to work on

smart contracts.

TAKING A CUE FROM THE GROWTH OF BITCOIN TO INVEST IN ETHEREUM.

In June/July 2010, 1 BITCOIN (BTC) (The biggest cryptocurrency for now) was just

$0.008 (almost valueless). A lot of people saw/noticed the growth of BITCOIN then and bought/accumulated as much BTC as they could. Some sold there's along the line

some stored theirs until recently.

Imagine if you had bought lots of BTC then and you are selling them now that the price

of 1BTC is equivalent to #3.6million ($9000+). You'd be freaking rich by now.

Some years back, a lot of people missed a golden opportunity that could have

transformed their financial life. Those who accumulated Bitcoin then when the price

was still rising, are currently enjoying the benefits today.

GOOD NEWS!!!!

For those who missed the opportunity of accumulating Bitcoin as at when it was still

growing, today another opportunity is here again. It has come back in form of another

cryptocurrency called Ethereum.

ETHEREUM is currently on a big race with BTC. To tell you how fast Ethereum is rising,

Ethereum grew from $130 to $230+ just in one month. Ethereum is expected to hit over

$1000 by the end of 2020.

Forsage Smart Contract will enable you accumulate as much Ethereum as possible

before the value of Ethereum becomes unaffordable. A lot of forsage members around

the world have been making huge earnings from this business.

“Forsage Smart Contract Is A Global Business With Members From OVER

100 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD”

HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY IF YOU INVEST IN FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT?

You make money through this platform through 3 main ways:

1. Spillovers: In summary, this usually comes from your upline or the person who

registered when he has excess registrations. The system rewards you for being a

downline of an hardworking upline. If your upline is lazy, it won’t come fast.

2. Overflows: This usually comes from the Forsage Smart Contract system. This pays

you with or without referrals.

3. Referrals: This involves registering people under you with your affiliate link. The

higher you grow the more you make crazy profit because we have different levels which

ranges from level 1-12.

N.B.ForsageisaWin-WinSituationforanyonejoiningtheplatform.Ifyouwant tojoin

without referring and wait for overflows and spillover, you can join and wait but do not

complain if it doesn’t come fast. However, if you are good with networking, team work,

referring or talking to people, you’d make a lot of cool cash in form of Ethereum from

this platform. But THIS IS NOT A GET RICH QUICK SCHEME as You will make a lot of

money in the long run. Do not be greedy or selfish.

THIS IS HOW FORSAGE SMART CONTRACTWORKS

There are two major structures under the Forsage network namely: X3 Forsage & X4

Forsage.

The x3 Forsage runs on a 3 by 1 matrix while the x4 Forsage runs on a 2 by 2 matrix.

Earnings on the x3 matrix are strictly through direct referrals while earnings in the x4 matrix occurs either through direct referrals, indirect referrals, spillovers or overflows.

With Or Without Referrals

What this means is that ‘Members who get referrals will earn on both the x3 and x4

Forsage whereas members not having direct referrals can only earn through x4 on

Forsage’.

Spillover comes from your upline when he has excess flow of registration as well as

overflows that generates from the system, it comes to you as direct earning which is a

spillover from Top.

Overflows is about you earning from the system as the system increases in registration

which can come from bottom or from the top.

NB: Through teamwork, you can grow as fast as possible by leveraging on the efforts

of different team members. Making money requires commitment, dedication and

determination. So if you are not ready to work with a team, I'm sorry this business is

not for you.

Also, in case your fear has been that if u join and you don't have referral then you won't

earn at all, these illustrations above should let you know that under Forsage, you can

earn with or without referrals but your earnings are faster and more when you are very

active. If you want to travel to Abuja from Lagos, you can either take bus or flight. We all know

you will get to Abuja faster via flight than when you take a bus. Earning on Forsage Smart

Contract through spillovers/overflows is like taking bus while earning through referrals are like taking flight. But one very certain thing is that, there is no loss in

Forsage Smart Contract. Teamwork is like an AEROPLANE that would take you faster

to your financial destination.

HOW TO GET STARTED ON THE FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT

STEPS TO JOIN FORSAGE SMART CONTRACT:

1. Download your preferred crypto wallet app on play store.

2. Create your wallet and get it funded.

3. Create the ForsageAccount.

In order the join or invest in the Forsage Smart Contract Platform, You need 0.055-0.06

Ethereum. However, there are steps and process to do this. Follow these Steps to get

started.

You need a Wallet to fund with the required Ethereum and a registration link which will

be given to you once you indicate interest in joining.

Three Major Wallets are being used to run the Forsage Smart Contracts namely: Trust

Crypto Wallet and Token Pocket (Green) for Android and iPhone. They can be found on

Playstore and Appstore respectively while Metamask is for System (Desktop/Laptop).

For this Article, I’d be guiding you through the usage of the Trust Crypto Wallet App

because it is thebest.

After downloading the Trust Crypto Wallet, Click on Create new Wallet

You'd see 12-wordphrases.

Copy the words the way you see it (somewhere in your notes or write them out

accordingly)

After doing that, click next and you'd have to rearrange those 12 words the way you saw

it in the previousstep.

On no Account must you lose these 12 words, Trust Wallet is one of the most secured

Crypto currency wallets in the world. It can't be hacked because it doesn't use username,

email address or passwords.

These 12 words are your unique login details. Your 12 words is very unique because

nobody else has the same 12 words. It's that crazy. It's extremely secure.

After you've successfully rearranged it, it will take you to a page where you'd see

different cryptocurrencies.

Click ETHEREUM

Click Receive

Click Copy and paste your wallet address somewhere.

It could be in your notes on your phone because you'd need it later.

The next step is funding your wallet, this can be done in two major ways.

1. Funding it yourself via the Luno App which is the most advisable to use in

Nigeria and using your debit card to fund your wallet with the required amount

then sending it from your Luno Ethereum wallet to your Trust Wallet Ethereum.

address. This can be a strenuous process. You can meet me to guide you

through. This is to show transparency that I’m not here to spend your money but

to help you invest, grow, earn and accumulate Ethereum

2. The second option is to buy from Trustworthy Cryptocurrency Vendors whereby

you send money to them and they in turn fund your wallet with the equivalent

worth of Ethereum. This is very easy and stress-free and it saves time.

Once you get your wallet funded, You will be sent a registration guideline with a link in it

and you will be guided through the rest of the process. Once you register with my team.

You will be guided and tutored to the extent that you will make as much as 1-5

Ethereum in less than a month. You will given promotional tools materials and

strategies to grow. All of these will be done as a team and nobody will be left out

provided you are ready to work and be financially free.