#i have perhaps gotten back into mayday

[fiore-region-appreciation]

A reworked headcanon now that we have new games:

Using a Pokémon to fly between locations requires a licence in most regions, however the criteria needed in order to obtain one varies from region to region.

In most regions, a Flying Licence is obtainable to anyone holding a valid trainer's license, provided they've collected a set number of gym badges. Trainers are also expected to pass a short certification test, which really just confirms they know not to exceed certain altitudes, to avoid flying within the vicinity of an airport, to avoid leaving the region's airspace, and to ensure they're aware they MUST use a domesticated Pokémon.

In Galar and Paldea, a much more thorough (and prohibitively expensive) exam is required to obtain a licence, hence the presence of aerial taxis within these regions.

In Fiore, the rules are the absolute strictest, with Flying permits only being granted to Pokémon Rangers, who also must use a bonded Pokémon. Fiore is also the only region which requires permit holders to contact local air traffic control to avoid collisions.

These restrictions don't apply to the Dragonite Shuttle, since it flies a pre-trained route that's already been cleared by the appropriate authorities, however the Dragonite must wear a tracking device to ensure it doesn't veer off course.

Almia is the only region to allow permit holders to fly on wild Pokémon, however as stated in game this is a privilege only extended to Rangers in the upper echelons of Almia's Pokémon Ranger Union.

Oblivia is a free for all because it's the quickest way to island hop and nobody cares enough to regulate it.

[lovebugism]

Could you pleaseeee do more single dad!Eddie 🥺

✶ ┄ MAYDAY ! [ stand by me ]

summary: after totally embarrassing yourself at eddie's kid's birthday party, the metalhead single dad from the trailer park shows you his (perhaps equally embarrassing) favorite movie. (2.9k)

pairing: dad!eddie munson / f!reader

tags: eddie and maeve universe, strangers to lovers (eventually), slow burn, mutual pining, idiots in love, girl dad eddie munson™, fluff, ugly crying at movies

You never did crack open that bottle.

The one you accidentally brought to Eddie’s kid’s birthday party? Yeah, that one. The glass container sits unopened on the coffee table in front of you, casting amber reflections on the old wood beneath the lamplight. It’s just a silly conversation starter now. You’ve got no real reason to drink it, anyway.

There’s nothing more intoxicating than Eddie Munson’s presence.

Sunrays spill from your mouth when you tip your head back to laugh. You turn to look at the boy on the other end of the couch, and your warm cheek squishes against the cushion. “Stand By Me is not your favorite movie!” you argue, giggling softly with disbelief.

Eddie has no idea how big he’s smiling. He’s too busy staring at you to notice the beam on his face. 

He shrugs his shoulders, now free from the confines of his leather jacket. He wears a faded Peanuts shirt now. A hand-me-down, you figure. “I mean… Land Before Time is a really close second,” he answers in a teasing lilt.

“Oh, yeah. Only the saddest movie ever made.”

“Maeve used to love it. And, like, not in a normal way— She used to make me play it for her until the tape spun out,” Eddie tells you, chuckling softly to himself. “It grew on me eventually, but… Then she grew out of it.”

You watch him get all forlorn at the thought. You meet his subtle pout with a scrunched nose. “Well, she’s only four, right? Surely, she hasn’t had time to grow out of much.”

Eddie scoffs and slouches further on the couch until his thighs spread. “You’d be surprised. Every time I think I— you know— start to understand her a little bit or whatever, she just… She changes, you know? Like, overnight.”

He doesn’t mean to get so suddenly sentimental about the whole thing. Especially not in front of a pretty girl he only met eight hours ago. He’ll blame it on the late night and the existential dread that always comes with birthdays. He conceals his brooding behind a dumb joke.

“I mean, just this morning, Maeve’s favorite animal was a Hefflelump… Now it’s a blobfish.”

You try to hold back your laughter. You fail. The sunshine-coated giggle sputters from your mouth despite your attempts to keep it hidden. Eddie only laughs because you are.

“I should’ve said turtle or something,” you humor with a roll of your eyes, tucking your knees to your chest. “Or, like, a badger. Maybe then I wouldn’t have gotten made fun of all day.”

“Those aren’t any less normal,” Eddie chuckles with a lopsided grin, dark chocolate eyes twinkling ‘cause he never really liked normal anyway.

You shrug. “Agree to disagree.”

“You wanna know something?” he blurts after a long beat of silent smiles. “When I tucked her in, she made me promise to take her to the aquarium tomorrow. Said she wanted to see ‘if the blobfish were just as gross in real life.’

You smile so wide your eyes squint at the edges. “Do they have blobfish at the aquarium?” you laugh.

Eddie shrugs. “Probably not. But she’ll get to pet a stingray or somethin’. Then she’ll forget all about it.”

“Sounds fun…” you murmur, picking at pills of cotton on the old couch with a suddenly anxious hand. 

“Yeah. Parenting always is,” Eddie hums with a distant smile. “Even when it isn’t.”

“Should I— Should I, like, go?” you stammer.

The boy seems shocked by your question. His fluffy brows pinch as he hums. “Huh?”

You squirm, less than comfortable in your own skin. “Well, I mean, it’s… It’s getting kinda late and everything, and… If you guys are going into the city in the morning, I don’t wanna, like, keep you or whatever—”

Suddenly anxious, Eddie sits up a little straighter. “No! No, it’s okay. I don’t mind,” he responds, then quickly follows with wide eyes. “Unless— Unless you want to leave—”

“I don’t!” you answer, equally flustered.

Eddie forces an awkward chuckle. “I don’t want you to think I’m, like, keeping you hostage here or something—”

“I just don’t wanna overstay my welcome—”

“You couldn’t,” he insists.

You nod, and in a mousy voice, you reply, “Well, you couldn’t keep me hostage, so…”

Eddie grins. “Good.”

“Good,” you echo.

“So… Wanna watch a movie or something?” he offers with a fluttering heart and fidgeting hands. 

He feels like a teenage boy all over again — only he never actually got the opportunity to ask a pretty girl out when he was a teenager. People weren’t exactly fighting to spend time with the local freak back then. Or now, really.

Except you.

“Whaddaya got?”

“Well, let’s see…” he says, grunting as he rises from the couch. 

Eddie walks the short distance to the box television across the room — which Maeve has carefully decorated with a collection of sparkly stickers. He sorts through the VHS tapes stacked in less-than-organized piles with a ringed hand, realizing must’ve left all the good stuff at Wayne’s.

“Oh, you know… All the Maeve Munson favorites…” he singsongs with a sigh.

“Surprise me,” you call from the couch.

Eddie rises then, with two bulky VHSs clutched within ringed fingers. He holds them on either side of his face and grins between them. “Stand By Me or Land Before Time?”

“Stand By Me,” you answer with a firm nod. “Unless, you know, you wanna see me ugly cry.”

“That’s second date territory,” he quips with a wink, suddenly and very uncharacteristically cool. “Stand By Me it is.”

—————

You’re crying on a stranger’s couch about ninety minutes later. 

The credits roll in static colors on the tiny television across from you. The low bass of a nostalgic song floats quietly through the living room — If the sky, that we look upon, should tumble and fall… Or the mountains, should crumble to the sea…

Eddie looks on with a sympathetic beam as you hide your teary face behind your palms. He can’t tell if you’re shaking from sobs or from laughter. Maybe a healthy mixture of both. “I thought you weren’t gonna cry!” he chuckles.

You peek at him through your fingers. Your eyes are glassy with tears and squinting at the edges with a smile. “I forgot how sad it was!” you sniffle, then laugh at yourself.

I won’t cry, I won’t cry… No, I won’t shed a tear…

“You’re crying, too!” you observe as the boy beside you wipes at his eyes with his fingertips. You reach over to shove him with a playful hand. “You big softy!”

Eddie scoffs and swipes his nose with the back of his wrist. “I’m not crying! I’m just… I had something in my eye.”

“Tears?” you tease with a scrunched nose.

He nods, and with a sheepish look in his eyes, he says, “Yeah…”

Your quiet laughter entwines, filling the dim living room with something sparkly and golden. The sound of violins swells in a similar way. Eddie’s eyes flutter shut as he begins singing the lyrics to himself, not really trying but sounding pretty anyway.

“Just as long, as you stand, stand by me…” he croons quietly. You beam and sing softly along with him, audibly less serious about the whole thing. “And darlin’! Darlin’! Stand by me… Oh, stand by me—”

Both of you quieten when a door squeaks about open down the hall. The distant screech is followed by the patter of tiny footsteps. Eddie huffs and sits up a little straighter. “Ah, shit…”

Your face floods with horror. “Was I too loud?” you whisper.

“No. It’s just midnight,” he answers, shaking his wild head. “She always wakes up at midnight. Like my personal little Gremlin.”

Maeve appears in the dark hallway then, drowning in one of her dad’s old t-shirts. Corroded Coffin, the front of it reads, in what seems to be hand-made lettering. The thing fits her like a gown. 

Her curls sit in an untamed halo around her head from the intensity of her slumber. She rubs at her swollen eyes with chubby fists. Eddie can’t help but grin at the sight of her. 

“Hey, Mayday,” he coos. “What happened? You can’t sleep?”

The girl shuffles to her father like it’s muscle memory to her. Still half-asleep, she grips his shirt with graceless fingers and climbs onto his lap with her eyes still shut. She cuddles into his torso, fitting perfectly there, while you sit frozen on the other side of the couch. Like maybe if you’re real still, she won’t notice you’re there.

“We gonna go see da blobfish now?” she wonders in tiny slurs against his chest.

Eddie’s cheek squishes against her head when he smiles. The expression gets lost in her wild chestnut locks. “Not yet, May. It’s too late— All the fishies are sleeping now. Like you should be.”

She shifts on his lap like she’s trying to get more comfortable there. Her cheek, indented with lines of sleep, rubs against his shirt when she turns to look up at him. “Need you to tuck me in,” she tells him, tiny chin bobbing against his chest.

Eddie juts back to see her better. “Again?” he humors with his brows raised behind his curly bangs.

“Mhmm,” she nods, slow and sleepy.

“Okay,” he hums, scoffing a tired chuckle. “I’ll tuck you in again, bug.”

You don’t mean to laugh. It just crawls up your throat and out of your mouth before you can stop it. You try to hide it behind your palm, but Maeve still notices. 

Her fluffy brows scrunch together when she turns to you. She swipes at the hair sticking to her cheek with a fumbling hand to see you better. She doesn’t say anything, though. She just kinda blinks at you, with a brown-eyed, emotionless gaze.

You muster a wavering smile at the girl, lifting your hand in an unsure wave.

“Wanna go see the blobfish with us tomorrow?” Maeve blurts. Though, in her less than awake state, it sounds more like wanna go see da bobfish wiv us tommowow? It’s like you can feel your heart melting.

“The aquarium,” Eddie clarifies.

You squirm in your seat. “Oh, I… I can’t,” you sigh, then follow quickly when she pouts. “I wish I could! It sounds super fun, but I’m… I’m busy…”

You aren’t, really. ‘Cause tomorrow’s Saturday — the only thing you really have to do is try to wake up before noon. You just don’t know how else to turn her down.

“Maybe next time?” Eddie offers hopefully, mostly for Maeve’s sake.

You nod rapidly, just for Maeve. “Yeah. Next time. Definitely.”

“See? It’s okay,” Eddie lilts, squeezing gently at the girl’s sides until she’s smiling again. “We can have fun just you and me, right?”

Maeve pouts in response, a sort of snarled face that’s obviously playful.

Eddie laughs loud and boyishly in return. “Hey! Don’t make that face at me!” he exclaims, feigning offense. Maeve loses her poker face almost instantly as she giggles. “Go get in bed, you weirdo. I’ll tuck you in in a second.”

“And read me another book?” she presses hopefully.

He nods, knowing it’s a fight he’s bound to lose. “And read you another book.”

“Two of them?”

The girl holds her pointer and middle finger in front of her face. Eddie chuckles and guides the latter back down with a gentle hand. “One,” he corrects.

“Two.”

“One.”

“Two!”

A brief stare-off ensues, one in which you’ve got a front-row seat. Maeve’s dark chocolate gaze resembles her father’s — button-eyed and swimming with something honeyed and stubborn. She tilts her chin to her chest and glares unwavering at the man in front of her.

Eddie inevitably caves. He sighs so deeply his chest deflates. “Fine… Two. But only if you run real fast.”

Maeves slides down his denim-clad legs until her bare feet hit the carpet. She scurries down the hall without another word, quiet giggles fading with her footsteps. Eddie slumps against the couch with a small, contented sigh. 

You realize you haven’t stopped smiling for several minutes now. “She’s really sweet,” you compliment to fill the silence.

Eddie scoffs a gentle laugh. “Yeah. When she wants to be.”

The quiet returns. You run out of things to say. The notion of the late-late night settles more heavily upon you. You swallow hard and fight for a way out that doesn’t make it sound like Eddie hasn’t just given you one of the best nights of your life. 

“I think I’m gonna—”

“Well, I should—”

The boy starts speaking at the same time as you. You cut each other off without trying, then laugh quietly at yourselves.

“You first,” you tell him.

“I should go tuck Maeve in before she goes all Mayday mode and starts screaming at me,” Eddie says, only partly joking. 

His sweet little Maeve is only Mayday when she’s throwing a too-passionate tantrum. Or when it’s past midnight, and she’s acting like a total gremlin. He doesn’t particularly want you to witness either. ‘Cause kids tend to be pretty gnarly sometimes — especially when you aren’t the one raising them.

“Yeah, I should probably start heading home, anyway,” you reply. “It’s late.”

Eddie rises with a small huff. You follow behind him towards the front door, both of you moving with slow and heavy strides — neither particularly wanting the other to go. 

“Thanks for keeping me company,” he says beneath the sound of the screeching screen door. “And for helping Maeve have a good day and everything… Most people don’t really consider hanging out with a four-year-old and her dad a good time, so…”

“Well, most people are weirdos,” you scoff and slide past him through the doorway. “You and Maeve are, like, the coolest people in Hawkins.”

You stand ahead of him on the front steps of the trailer, glowing beneath the silver moon and the buzzing amber porchlight. Eddie lingers in the entryway and holds the door open with his shoulder, so he can hear Maeve when she inevitably starts shouting for him.

“Yeah, I don’t know about that,” he wavers with a scrunched nose. “Maeve’s pretty cool and all, but… She definitely didn’t get that from me.”

“Your favorite movies are Land Before Time and Stand By Me,” you deadpan with a flat face. A smile inevitably pulls at your lips when you look at him too long, pretty as he is. “You’re cool, Eddie. Whether you wanna be or not.”

“Agree to disagree,” he grins, totally sheepish as he shrugs off the compliment. “Thanks for hangin’ around. Again.”

He feels like he’s said that too many times now, but he’s too full of gratitude to stop. It’s been just him and Maeve for so long. And, yeah, sure, Steve and Robin come around when they can, but they’ve got their own lives outside of this one. It isn’t every day someone appears at his trailer with a bottle of booze and the wherewithal to acclimate to his chaotic life.

Eddie feels like he should never stop thanking you, really.

You shrug. “Thanks for keeping me around. Again.”

“See you soon?” he wonders with a hopeful glint in his dark eyes, made a much lighter amber in the moonlight.

You nod firmly once. “‘Course.”

And even though that’s as good a dismissal as any, you both linger in the doorway still. Like your feet are glued in place. 

How are you supposed to walk away from him? The man with wild rockstar curls, rings on each finger, and a beaded bracelet with his daughter’s initial in the very center. The man who loves cartoons more than his toddler and cries with you at sad movies?

You figure you’ll spend forever chasing this foreign feeling he’s so effortlessly given you.

“Daddy!” Maeve shouts. Her high-pitched voice rings through the tiny trailer. It makes you wince a little. You didn’t think something so tiny could be so loud.

“And there’s Mayday…” Eddie lilts quietly, unflinching ‘cause he’s used to this by now.

“I’ll go,” you laugh, walking backward towards your car. “I’ll— I’ll see you around.”

“G’night,” he calls to you as he watches you go.

His chest stings when he realizes he never asked for your number. It feels much too awkward to do it now, and he’s only got a few minutes more before Maeve goes crazy on him. He should’ve asked you ages ago, really. But he didn’t. ‘Cause he’s an idiot.

You notice it, too, but you flash him a sheepish smile over your shoulder anyway. Even if you never hear from him again after you’re gone, you figure there’s always next year. 

Maeve will be another year older. Steve will bring you along to her party if you beg. Eddie will be in desperate need of a pick-me-up, and you’ll bring a bottle of booze just to make him smile. The alcohol will go untouched, though, as the two of you get lost in conversation and Stand By Me.

Even if all this was only destined to happen once every year — even if it was only supposed to happen once and never again — you’ll spend the rest of your life grateful that it happened at all.

With a cold hand trembling with longing, you wrench your car door open. Though your heart’s heavy with a distant worry that you may never be back here again, you grin at him through the grief and the small distance between you.

“Good night, Eddie.”

[catmansquad]

Special (2)

An irritating Spider-woman leaves you on edge, fortunately, the man you love can make you feel all better...

(Miguel O'Hara x M!Reader) (Pokes M!Reader tag. "C'mon... Do something...")

‘What’s up Spider-fans! It’s Spider-Selene here once again! There’s a whole lot of you who’ve been sliding into my DMs about seeing Across the Spider-Verse. Well, guess who’s gotten her own special invite? That’s right; I’m in Spider Society!’

She held up her phone, still recording as her other hand held up the silver-white bracelet that swirled with a soft neon blue light. ‘For those who don’t know me-? Seriously, how can you not? Well, let’s take it from the top; I was bitten by some radioactive guy in a spider costume- some sort of Halloween party at a power plant gone wrong-, and since then I’ve been the one and only Spider-Selene; half-spider, half-witch, and full on badass! Fighting crime and saving the world with kickass acrobatics, pure love, and white light magic! Well, I’m already in good; got some tight-knit friends… Uh… Like Ben! Hey, Ben! How’re you doing big guy? Just telling all my fans about how I’m-!’ ‘… Friends…?’ Ben hung his head, face vanishing beneath his messy dyed locks, voice low. ‘… My life truly can spiral into darker depths.’ Spider-Selene blinked, a little nervous laugh escaped her before she swiftly turned on her heels, panning her phone away from him. ‘Yeah, he’s just being himself- we’re really actually good friends, like… Uh… Like me, Jess and Peter! Heyy!’ She waved them down, watching the two in particular pause in their conversation and look to her. ‘Hey! I’m just telling all my fans about us, want to tell them about-‘ ‘Actually, Peter, I really need to get back home… We’ll catch up later, yeah?’ Jessica gave him a soft, fond smile, that Peter matched and quickly strode off. As soon as Spider-Selene’s masked face snapped to Peter, he shrugged with an apologetic smile. ‘Yeah… Sorry, I’d love to stick about and chat, but I promised I’d look after Mayday tonight; MJ’s having a girl’s night out. See you later!’ With a “thwip” of webbing he was off, leaving Spider-Selene staring at the empty space they had once been.

‘So, you know the difference between the movie and the actual Spider-Society? Well, the bracelets are different, for one… But the really bad thing is… Well…’ She panned the camera, over to where two figures lurked by a futuristic water cooler; tall and powerfully built, a man clad in the venom green suit of a scorpion with his tail lazily curled on the floor, and a man in green and purple carrying a fishbowl helmet under one arm. ‘… Last world I explored? Literally built in the skies; farmlands, windmills, quaint little towns. Local population had wings.’ Mysterio gestured calmly the glint of a fond smile on his face. ‘Why do you get lucky? Mine was a swamp where the trees would try to strangle you with their roots.’ She returned the camera back to herself. ‘See? Literal. Villains. Just walking about with travel bracelets on. In Spider. Society. I… I mean, Mysterio’s kinda hot though, but the point still stands! It’s for Spider-People!’ ‘What did she say?’ She froze up, slowly looking back to where the pair stared at her. Scorpion’s expression narrowed further, his tail lifting from the floor. ‘M-Mac, don’t get carried away now.’ ‘Listen, you entitled little s-‘ ‘Mac.’ Mysterio’s hand on his shoulder seemed to calm whatever rage was building. ‘Look.. Spider-whatever… This place is for all of us to explore and chart the dazzling expanse of the multiverse. Perhaps no-one explained it to you- perhaps you just didn’t want to listen- but me and Mac? In our worlds, we’re the heroes. Don’t take Mac too harshly, he’s had it rough; his local Spider-woman is a terrible villain.’ A look of concern crossed his charming features as he glanced over her shoulder. ‘Perhaps it’s not any particular heroes or villains you should be worried about….’

She turned on her heels, and hurriedly tried to shove her phone back into its pocket. In a sleek black suit, you approached, peering from behind neon blue glasses, the scroll of data running across the lenses. ‘You.’ You paused before her, hands behind your back. ‘Spider-Selene.’ She corrected you, and you shook your head. ‘Lyla, pull her profile, please.’ The scroll of data stopped as you surveyed what had been brought up. ‘Hanna, please come to my office at your earliest convenience; you and I are going to have a little talk.’ She cringed softly at the mention of her name, like a scolded child who knew she had been caught out by a teacher. Finally, she hung her head, all confidence fled. ‘Yes, sir…’

You relaxed back into the chair of your office; its soft cream walls, shelves lined with tokens from other worlds, and the sleek desk with its hardlight screen scrolling the data that passed through the building. Sighing you, pulled the glasses from your eyes and set them aside, blinking at the world as it truly was.  It was fascinating, just how easily you had slipped into this life, this job, in another world and time altogether. Your eyes glanced at the bracelet on your left wrist, the silver-white sparkling in the light, the engraving of a many-branching tree visible upon its surface. Gabriel had a wonderful sense of style for designing their aesthetics. How different your life had become solely because of one extraordinary, wonderful man… The soft knock on the door, the door with that bore your nameplate and title beside it; “Head of HR”. Lyla’s hologram flitted into being on your desk. ‘Got Spider-Selene, here for your chewing out.’ You sighed and sat up straight, feet flat on the floor and pulled the chair closer to the desk, trying to look professional. ‘Let her in, please.’

She slinked across the threshold as the door slid open, hands clasped nervously as she waited for your judgement. ‘Sit down.’ The chair opposite creaked as she did as ordered. You waited for a time before clearing your throat softly. ‘Since it’s nearly lunchtime, I’ll make this brief as I’m sure we’re both hungry…’ You closed down the screen and leaned on your elbows across the desk, no barriers between your eyes. ‘Hanna, I’ve been receiving some...  complaints about you, recently. I know you’ve only been here a month and you might need time to settle in, but the frequency has quickly become… worrying. I deal with Spider-People relatively frequently, some are worse joke tellers than others…’ Realising you were beginning to drift off-topic you cleared your throat softly. ‘These complaints state that you have been… Irritating, unprofessional, and intrusive. Invading private conversations, recording and photographing without permission, and conducting yourself inappropriately in a manner that could be construed as sexual harassment.’ You watched the eyes of her mask grow wide, and you resisted the urge to grit your teeth at the last one. Needless to say, that Miguel certainly didn’t appreciate having his ass groped by yet another Spider-woman who thought he was the hottest thing since fire. ‘N-no! I’m not intrusive! I’m a superhero! I’m a good person!’ ‘We’ve also had complaints about… junk being left around the premises by you.’ ‘No! No, those are crystals and blessing bags! They’re to promote good energy and fill the space with white light… Y’know… cause I’m half-witch.’ ‘Riiight…’ You rolled the word, tone dry, you wished you had a drink beside you, something to stretch out the awkward silence.

‘I don’t know why we have villains just roaming the premises, I mean, surely for Spider-Society they should be sent back to their own worlds, it might damage the Ca-‘ You slammed a hand onto your desk stopping her babbling before she could utter that last, cursed word. ‘No.’ You closed your eyes, exhaling as fingers curled tight into your palm. You blinked your eyes back open, looking up. ‘We are not The Society. We do not wish to be their exclusive club, and we do not respect their views on the theoretical nature of the multiverse. Anyone can be an explorer of the Tree of Infinity. Now, Hanna, I want you to consider this a warning; we expect your behaviour to improve. You are still on probation, and if it does not improve, we may have to say goodbye to you. I will be discussing this matter with Miguel.’ She seemed to sink deeper into her seat at the mention of his name. ‘P-please, can you put in a good word for him with me? Let him know that I think he’s handsome? I-I mean, I don’t mean to brag, but I feel like we’ve got a real connection- we were bitten by the same spider after al-‘ ‘Really? What spider?’ You feigned interest with a gentle smile, knowing she had blabbed herself straight into a corner. ‘U-uh…’ ‘What spider, Hanna?’ ‘Uhh…. Black widow?’ You closed your eyes, chuckling softly as you nodded, and when you opened your eyes again, you could almost make out her relieved smile from beneath her mask. It was time to drop the hammer twice over. ‘Hanna? Miguel wasn’t bitten by a spider. Also, please stop flirting with him. He doesn’t like it, and his boyfriend doesn’t appreciate it. Mm?’ You watched her eyes slowly widen in realisation and drank it in before waving softly, triumphant. ‘You can go now, get some lunch.’

The gloomy room was Miguel’s office in the highest reaches of the tower, illuminated faintly by the sprawling, rotating image of a white tree with many branches. You knew its layout well enough to move through it without falling over anything, as long as Miguel hadn’t moved things around too much. As luck would have it, he had indeed. Your feet became tangled in a mass of cabling that had not been present on your last visit and you felt yourself stumble and begin to fall. You never hit the ground before familiar strong arms caught you and bore you close against his warm chest wrapped in soft clothing. ‘Heh… You’re getting clumsy.’ His deep voice was rich with amusement, right by your ear as he lifted you off your feet with effortless ease. You wrapped your arms around him, squeezing him in a hug with all your might, and his body didn’t yield in the slightest, only a faintly amused huff escaped him for your efforts. ‘You’re the one booby trapping your office to trip me up, Miggy.’ He laughed again and placed a fond kiss to your cheek. ‘Damn, you’ve figured me out… Lyla tells me you’ve been busy. Want to tell me what it’s about?’ ‘Well-‘ ‘Actually, hold that thought. Let’s get comfortable.’

He supported your entire weight with one arm as his other reached out, the “thwip” of the white, organic webbing from his wrist as he launched both you and him up into the upper reaches of his office, to where a hammock of webbing had been constructed. He laid you down on the soft, silken threads and relaxed beside you, the glint of his crimson eyes visible in the faint light. He began to rock the hammock gently with one foot against the wall and you felt utterly safe with one of his arms over your waist. ‘Well… Uh, the crazy witch has been told off. She won’t be groping you anymore. So your ass is safe… Until the next Spider-woman tries….’ ‘Ay dios mio… You think it’s pheromones? You think I produce pheromones that drive them crazy?’ You snuggled closer into him, nuzzling into his neck and sniffing to inhale his wonderful earthen scent. ‘You always smell great to me, Miggy…’ Another little chuckle escaped him, and he kissed the top of your head with a pleased rumble. ‘Uh-huh…? Well, Lyla’s made sure we won’t be disturbed… So, maybe your ass won’t be so safe from me, my love. If you want to do more than just snuggle…’ You snuggled even closer against him, feeling his arm around you tighten with strength that was just shy of hurting- you knew he still held back the lion’s share of his might, he could snap you like a twig if he wanted. ‘I… Think I just want to be with my Spider-Man, right now…’ ‘Heh… Te amo, mi vida…’ He purred as he placed another kiss to your head, still rocking you quietly. ‘I am yours…’

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

I designed Spider-Selene to be an incredibly shallow, irritating version of some of the Spidersonas I used to see around Tumblr. Also I love the fact that she just got chomped by a drunk guy in a costume and the world went "Ehh, techncially that counts". Probably doesn't even have any powers (which would explain why ATSV Miguel had no interest in recruiting her)

[romana-after-dark]

Blessed be the Fruit: Tommy and Angela

Series masterlist Join dark!Romana's tag list Dark!Romana's Masterlist

Tommy Miller X Angela Dempsey (F!OC)

Summer: Angela gets caught sneaking out and working for Mayday, the rebel organization.

Warnings: Usual for the fic, mentions of forced breeding, death, child marriage. Tommy is a lil manipulative but he's looking out for his neice.

A/n: Just a bonus chapter to add more context to Angela and Tommy a few chapters down, takes place between Chapter 1 and chapter 5, none descript time.

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

Busted.

Tommy was perched up on the counter, looking awfully childish for such a gangly man with one leg dangling down, the other on the countertop, bent. He was sipping on some whiskey.

"You're not as sneaky as you think you are."

Angela sighed, leaning up against the wall. There was no point fighting or denying. If Tommy wanted her on the wall, she'd be on the all. If he didn't, she wouldn't.

"Thought you were asleep."

Tommy's face splits into a shit eating grin. "I was up making love to my wife."

Angela cringes, both at his phrasing and at the idea of Tommy fucking Deb. Gross. But he did that on purpose, Tommy loved to tease her, and in turn, she teased him, edging him into oblivion.

"Whasamatter, sweetness, jealous?" He laughed, and Angela laughed back.

"You wish. I'm just disgusted at the fact you'd actually stick your dick in that old crow."

He shrugged. "Pussy is pussy." He glanced down at her clothed core. "And my favorite pussy was no where to be found, out running out with rebels."

In another life, Tommy wouldn't have been her first choice to have sex. He was very confident, he knew how good looking and hung he was, and the cocky attitude wasn't your favorite thing, but Tommy grew on a person. Soon you realize he's very sweet, easy to get along with, boyish, and you just wanna get destroyed by his cock, and one you get filled by him once, wow, you're trapped. Romantically, Angela was more inclined to women if she was being honest, but still, she'd have fucked Tommy and been his friend outside of this whole shit show. Especially if it mean the audience of his brother.

She sighed. "Whadya want, Tommy, gonna have me killed?"

Tommy looked downright offended, hoping off the counter and spreading his arms out. Amazingly, he didn't spill of drop from his glass. "C'mon now sugar!" Angela rolled her eyes. "What kinda guy do you take me for?"

"Tommy" She gave him a pointed look. "My man, we have fun, but I'm under no false pretense of what this is. You're still a commander in a patriarchal regime."

Tommy looked everywhere but at her, suddenly bashful "Ah, c'mon now..." he kicked at the floor, and you could easily imagine him with cowboy boots scuffing the floor of a bar. "I ain't like that." He took long drink of whiskey and set it down.

"Oh please." She scoffed. "Don't act like you just joined the sons of Jacob for fun."

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he looked like a boy who got caught cheating on his schoolwork. "Well, KINDA"

She laughed. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!" He finally looked at her again. "Listen, it was Joel's thing he was into and I was drink'n lot back then, had gotten into coke and Joel wanted me off it. Thought it'd be good for me to have to have more positive male figure, you know? Our dad wasn't exactly a shine'n example grow'n up." He rolled his eyes.

Angela laughed, perhaps louder than she should have, but it didn't really matter now. Commander Miller made all the decisions. "So what? You just joined a terrorist organization for an extra circular activity!?"

"It didn't start like that!" His southern accent was more prominent when he got worked up. "It just started as a men's group, like those old lodges they used to have. Was religious, and I was a beleiver and all that so it worked, helped me work through the stuff I saw in the army."

She scoffed again, more distaine this time. "I'm so glad millions died in your quest for self actualization."

Scrubbing his face with his hands, Tommy whined. "No, I just- ugh. I just joined it because it was there and Joel wanted me to, okay? I liked some of the stuff they talked about, the stuff Joel really pushed about creating a better world for our kids... and you probably know, with all your mayday shit, but I had a niece back then."

"Oh. No, I didn't... was she Joel's?"

"Yeah" he breathed out, walking over to his drink and taking a long sip. "She was killed by a mayday bomb." Tommy side-eyed her before setting the glass down. "So yeah, my group have have destroyed the fucking world but your group murdered a 13 year old who I watched die in my brother's arms, and she was my world."

Angela wasn't sure what to say to that. She wasn't apologizing for the bomb, as it was likely meant to kill the Commander's Miller, but she wasn't glad a child died.

"What do you want, Tommy."

He huffed a laugh, frustrated and defensive but still Tommy. "I help you, actually."

Oh. "What?!"

"Yeah." He turned to her, smiling again. His mood was unpredictable. "I wanna help the rebellion."

"Buy why? You just said the biggest reason anyone could have to hate us."

"And I do. I wasn't on board with Sons of Jacob after shit started getting crazy, and I almost backed out when the handmaids plan was annouced, but then they killed my neice, and I a reason to stay and get revenge."

She knew the Miller brothers were particularly strong against mayday, snuffing them out like candles and now she understood why. It was personal but in the last few years, it'd been Joel, mostly. Tommy was never in the political aspect much. He did diplomatic work as he was a charmer, but he wasn't involved in meeting and planning outside of military. Still, his lack of presence was being noted. Maybe she could find out why.

"So why would you want to help me when you could just have me killed for what we did you your niece."

Relaxing, Tommy's confidence was back. "Ironically enough, for my niece again."

"Miss Elizabeth."

He nods. "Yeah. I think it was easier to deal with when she was in wives school, or when we didn't really realize her personality... we could imagine she'd have this picture perfect life we wanted her to have."

"Without reading."

"Hey now, that was Waterford, not us."

"Uh huh."

"Anyway, now we see she's... something else. A bit of a nutjob." He said with a fond smile. "Incredibly bright, and incredibly mouthy. She's not gonna last a year out of Joel's protection, especially if Gina gets her way and sends her off with David Bedford, fucking pedophile." The disgust was obvious.

She stepped closer. "So what do you want, Tommy. I can't control who she marries if Joel can't either"

Tommy looked her dead in the eyes. "I want her to get out. I help you guys tell you what you need within reason. Then, we figure out an opening, and you take Ellie out."

She blinks. What the fuck. "Tommy. You can't be serious."

"I am."

"This is a trap, isn't it?"

Tommy shrugs. "If I wanted the best pussy I've gotten in years hanging on the wall, you'd be there already."

Fair enough. Angela considered it, but there wasn't much down side. She risked her life all the time anyway, and this way she could potentially get out, and take that girl with her. Bright thing like that deserved an education, deserved a life. Angela had done some digging on Bedford. A school teacher before the world fell apart, he taught high school. Ellie's age. The private school David Bedford worked at paid a lot of hush money to a woman years later, allegations unclear... but any one with a brain new what they were. "Fine, but one condition, we take OfJoel."

Tommy mocked the idea. "We can't take all your little friends, Ang."

"We're not. Just her."

"No." "It's the same goddamn place Ellie will be, come on, Tommy! She's just a fucking kid, she'll get eaten alive here."

"No!"

"She's helping Ellie, remember? Teaching her how to read, going behind Gina's back to tell you what she know, you owe her!"

Tommy pondered this, crossed arms and leaning back against the counter. "Fine. You, Ellie and OfJoelget to leave. No one else."

"Okay." She agrees, beginning to smile at the idea. Just a little bit of hope, the prospect of getting OUT... and with her? Insane. It made her a little giddy, "Yeah we can figure something out."

Tommy lit up with a smile. "Yeah?"

"Yes" She laughed, smiling now.

Tommy wooped, then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards his office. "C'mon, lets celebrate!"

"Tommy!" She said, laughing. "Didn't you JUST have sex?"

"Well yeah, but this is a celebratory boner! Totally different!"

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

I cannot remember if I established Angela as being a part of mayday or not but I think a lot of yall could guess lol. And now Tommy is!

Tommy is a disaster half the time i write him, but one thing about tommy HE LOVES HIS NIECES i think Tommy's trauma gets erased a lot tbh. He suffered too.

ANYWAY please leave a comment if youre still actually reading this. a lil hi. or a like. something. LMFAOOOOO You dont gotta sing my praises i just need to know im not talking to myself here. I thiiiiiiiink 3 chapters left?!?!?!

@my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @dins-riduur-anthe @morallyinept @fan-fiction-floozy@med494 @taliarose12 @flvrdoll @k-ra @sam-2me @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @moriartyyouwhore @hereforthepedrofanfic @alwaysmicado @noisynightmarepoetry @kyloispunk @jenna-ortega @lunitareads @labyrinthofheartagrams @swimmjacket @magpiepillsjunior @theywhowriteandknowthings @everyth1ngfades @movievillainess721 @syrupstuff @christinamadsen @darlingshame @genetics4life @stevngrant

[caiiine]

BASED  ON  THAT  GIF  SET  (  I  did  write  this  back  in  google  doc  as  well  )  ,

Maybe  just  me  who  is  quite  literally  taking  a  huge  like  of  that  edit  .  Horatio  getting  himself  possessed  ?  Perhaps  something  that  none  of  the  CSI  fan  can  imagine  .

I  am  all  sucker  for  angsty  trope  (  I  know  we  all  do  )  but  I  imagined  that  H  might  just  got  himself  possessed  himself  by  some  kind  of  demon  right  after  the  event  of  Mayday  or  some  time  within  Countermeasures  .

Horatio’s  persona  is  darken  (  mentioned  multiple  times  before  )  due  to  massive  traumatic  event  and  having  himself  to  be  possessed  by  the  demon  ,  perhaps  him  and  that  dark  entity  would  get  along  .  Other  time  ,  I  believed  if  Horatio  gone  out  of  control  (  or  couldn’t  handle  his  mental  issues  )  that  demon  in  him  would  eventually  taking  control  of  his  body  .

I  rather  believed  that  Horatio  rather  prefer  to  believing  in  some  science  than  ghostly / paranormal  stuff  ,  so  when  he  gotten  himself  possessed  by  the  demon  ,  he  thinks  himself  are  just  over  worked  or  too  stressed  out  from  the  bizarre  case  he’s  working  on  .

[chaoslifeforme]

*Spoilers*

We all know Blitz has no trouble explaining himself.  In fact, he tends to over share except when it comes to emotions and caring. The fact that he doesn't ever explain why he traversed several circles of hell and maxed Verosika's credit card on horse riding lessons, got me thinking.

Horse riding lessons don't seem like they'd be super helpful for his day to day (like stealing the grimoire was). I mean he has a car, why would he need to ride a horse? This means the lessons were probably for some grand scheme of his.

Also, Verosika appears on his bad trip in Truth Seekers but it's not her anger she fears. This imaginary version of her is crying and that is what bothers him most. Thus meaning, he didn't want to make her cry or sad.

What truly makes me think this wasn't a run of the mill Blitz self sabotage, Is the fact he's prone to failed grand gestures for the one's he cares about. From stalking Moxxie and Millie for company, to offering snacks, water and guns during a fight, to being super over protective of  Luna. He's always trying to get people to stick around despite him being a dick.

Because he doesn't explain why he did it, the lessons aren't useful to him, he is most uncomfortable with crying Verosika, and grand gestures are his thing.... I think what ruined Blitz's relationship was a poorly planned grand romantic gesture. Perhaps even a failed proposal.

I imagine it being revealed during some sort of huge hell wide fight.

Robert (some random stable owner), goes up to Blitz and says:

"How'd the moonlight horseback ride, song and proposal go?"

Blitz, while ripping a bunch of randoes heads off:

"It didn't".

Verosika, somehow nearby hearing all of this and recognizing the owner of the stable where Blitz maxed her credit card:

" THAT'S FUCKING BULLSHIT! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST FUCKING TELL ME THAT?!"

Blitz, trying to cover his tracks:

"I wasn't going to propose"

Robert:

"In that case you owe me the 50000 discount back"

Blitz:

"I MEAN I WAS. shit. It was just a bad fucking idea okay!"

Verosika:

"Why the fuck would proposing to me be 'a bad fucking idea!'. 

Blitz:

"It was doomed to fail, you were a successful popstar..(Cue viscious glare from Verosika) STILL FUCKING ARE..Jesus this is painful..and I was a failed circus clown. You would've gotten rid of me eventually.. It's better this way Vee."

Verosika:

"OH NO NO NO ASSHOLE! YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THAT! IF YOU HAD JUST EXPLAINED YOURSELF LIKE A NORMAL PERSON-

Blitz:

"AND THEN FUCKING WHAT, ARE YOU SERIOUSLY SAYING THINGS WOULD'VE GONE DIFFERENTLY *insert super viscious triple kill* I ABANDONED YOU IN A HOTEL AND MAXED OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD ON HORSE RIDING LESSONS.. it doesn't really matter why.

Verosika:

I would've said yes you stupid DICK!"

Luna *hyperventilating and still killing things*:

"Verosika Mayday could've been my mom!"

Blitz:

"Keep breathing my sweet Looney"  *Cue realization* "WHAT?! ... (he looks over with a lost expression) Why?"

Verosika:

"It doesn't matter now. But for the record, you're still the best fuck I've ever had you big dick."

Luna:

"Verosika Mayday just said my dad was the best fuck she's ever had!" *barfs all over everything and continues heaving*

Blitz (taking out all Luna's opponents and handing her a juice box):

"You weren't so bad either, babe."

Verosika:

"You know damn well I'm the best you've ever had!"

Blitz:

"Comparing yourself to the prince of hell now, are you?"

Verosika:

"ARRGH!" (And storms off)

Luna (simultaneously):

"I don't want to fucking hear this!"

Stolas (somewhere on the fringes having seen everything grumbling to himself):

"What does she have that I don't! I'm the prince of Hell for Lucifer's sake! I'm the one he should be doing grand gestures for.. I mean I wouldn't get mad if Blitz maxed my credit card"

Blitz (having only heard the last part):

"Good to know, sweet cheeks. I'll be sure to max your credit card someday, I mean those toys you like don't come cheap."

Stolas:

"BLITZY! How much of that did you hear!?"

Blitz:

"Only the part about the credit card, don't get your panties in a twist, hot stuff."

[dg-fragments]

I will run away

Chasing the thoughts within my mind, I lost it all along the muddy pathway, tell me what I should do, for I only feel like running away. Runaway as far as you want, But you'll have to come back someday, chase all your thoughts and cage them, And if you're stuck just send a mayday. I could send a mayday, but who really would come my way, this path isn't the easiest to tread upon, and they are already running from night and day. Your thoughts and the mirages might trick you, But those who matter will always come and stay, So hold on to your kindness and don't give up, For the world has yet many games to play. These games I've gotten tired of, my strength and patience are forsaking me, the kindness you mentioned but I don't see, I want to run away, as I have nowhere to be. What you call nowhere is home to some too, the kindness you don't see is in your soliloquies, I can feel your pain and can't do much, but I do care enough to listen to your stories. If you will listen to me and my stories, then perhaps there is no reason for me to run away, for sometimes all you need is someone to listen, and merely by listening, take all your worries away. - @jannat-noor1643 & @fragments-of-my-mind

A wonderful collab with the amazing @jannat-noor1643 =)

[aliypop]

Troubled Path

Wordcount: 1,798

Warning: Language

A/N: Part 7 WOOH

"Sometimes... Geralt, I want to be numb.." Tithuba smiled, her lips curled onto her cup of burnt herbal tea. "Other times, I wish I were normal.." she laughed. Her hands' on top of the witchers, 

Tithuba had been bedridden by Geralt, who had taken the liberty of keeping not only the future queen but her daughter safe as well. " Do you ever wish.. you were normal.." she asked, looking up to amber eyes. Geralt had always thought about what he'd be doing if he wasn't a witcher. Would he have been learning about his powers given to him by his mother or perhaps a farmhand, no instead: he thought of one answer. The same one he had when he was 5.  

"I used to wish to be a knight.." he sighed, "Stupid, right.."  

"Well, you would have had Adina as your captain..." she joked. Tithuba then watched as tears welled up in his eyes. It wasn't likely for a witcher to cry, but she figured it as her motherly duties to instigate. "Geralt.. what's wrong.." she began to take a look at him. Geralt couldn't understand how so many people could be so cold towards him, but yet she was warm. "It's nothing.." he brushed it off like he usually did. "There are tears in your eyes.." she mumbled, watching him wipe them away. A small laugh had left her lips, and Geralt had nearly broken down. It was of a laugh he hadn't known too well, the one of a mother.  

You're going to leave too, aren't you! " Geralt pushed her hand away. 

"What are you on about!" Tithuba growled, 

"Just like my mother left me.. you'll do it too!" hot tears streamed down his face, as well as Tithuba's: she could hear the small crack in his voice. The one that made him sound so fragile. Placing her gentle hands on his cheeks, she wiped away his tears. 

"Visenna wasn't ready for a child as wonderful as you.." she slid over on her bed, leaving a spot for Geralt.

 "All those nights... I sat there, becoming a monster. I wondered would she come back for me." He laid next to her, pouring every ounce of hurt onto her. 

"Geralt of Rivia.. you are not a monster, and I won't have you say such things!" she began to grit her teeth at whoever had told him that in the past. 

"Do you know what they do to us!" this time, his voice hoarse. 

"The trials.." Tithuba remembered Vesemir telling her about them and how every time he would, she could see the pain in his eyes. Although she never understood why someone would do such a thing. Geralt looked up at the witch, thin white hairs appearing in her roots. She was getting older, but she was still as graceful as any mother could be. "You know about the trials..." Tithuba nodded, 

"Vesemir would tell me about them during our days in Kaer Morhen." she swooned, " I would come from Lryia to visit in the winter." her heart beating fast as she talked, "We'd go to the woods talk.. make lo-'' she then looked at the confused witcher. 

"Vesemir... fucked.." 

"Yes, Geralt.." she plucked him in the ear, " Watch your damn language." 

Adina was sitting in her mother's war room, looking at the megascopes. She had remembered her father using one to connect to the brotherhood of sorcerers. The only problem was Adina didn't know how to get it to work. Looking for notes that her mother left behind, she could find any traces of anything. "This is stupid.." she said in elvish, a language she had learned when she was around Flora. 

"I heard that.." 

"Who's there.." Adina asked.

"Wow.. you don't know how to use this, do you.." stepping closer, Adina had seen what appeared to be a mage on the other side. "You look like Tithuba.." she smirked, sitting in what seemed to be a type of shop. "How do you know my mother.." Adina sassed, looking at the beautiful black hair framing her face. "Everyone in the brotherhood knows.. wait, daughter?" she then mumbled, "She never said anything about you .." the mage questioned, gathering up ingredients. From what she saw, she was beautiful with muscled arms, possibly a knight of some sort.  

 "To introduce myself, I'm Yennefer.." 

"Adina.." She gasped: she had heard a few tales about Yennefer but nothing comparing her beauty to her power. "I need your help: witch hunters are taking siege of Abbinshire and.."

"You need the brotherhood's help .." she laughed, " I don't think I can.." 

"If you don't do it for Tithuba, do it for the value of coin.." Yennefer noticed the pain in her voice: to hear the woman go from a knight to diplomacy did something to Yennefer. " Fine, but just this once... Aretuza before sundown, I trust you know how to teleport." and with those last words, the megascope had been over.  

Wearing her golden dragon scaled dress and her mother's crown of garnet, she had only one thing on her mind. To save Abbinshire, not as a princess, not as a knight but as Adina of Abbinshire. Heading towards her noble steed, she turned to see the only other person who mattered to her.

 " Did you forget your potions... " Geralt smirked,

"I don't believe so why."

"In case I have to save your royal ass when you come back." Adina laughed as she rolled her eyes, "Very clever, Geralt." she pushed him, still cautious of her shoulder. "Keep an eye on her.." she motioned to her mother, who was watching from the windows. "And remind me to tell Triss you said hello?" she smirked, watching how red Geralt's face had gotten. 

"Fuck you.." he laughed, 

"When I get back and win, Reviucto Infecigeo!" she shouted as a portal opened to the island that was Thanedd. "Stay here until I get back, buttercup," Adina whispered to her horse. Walking in the castle, she had passed many students, those promised to be powerful mages much like the ones before them. Walking down to where all the sorcerers were meeting, she had noticed the odd stares she had gotten from them. 

 "They're all but a bunch of kiss arses." Yennefer took her by the hand. Adina blushed, 

"I.. I.. heard.." she gulped, 

"Not much of a talker, are you.." 

"Not when I'm in the sight of beautiful things.." She began following her to the war room: seeing all of the many mages from every kingdom made her feel just like her father. 

Adina was in control of the kingdom's fate, and she knew what she was doing it for; to bring Abbinshire to its rightful ruler. "I saw we leave Abbinshire to go to shit.." Abelard shrugged. A few other mages began to discuss his decision until they heard the voice of Yennefer. 

"And if we do that.. the magic trade between our kingdoms .. will break apart.." 

"How did you get so wise all of a sudden.." the room went quiet, 

"Yennefer is right: My kingdom has been one of man to serve such a purpose to you all.." Adina said, stepping further into the room. "But it has also gone to shite by the wrong hands... With the death of the king, he's raised an army to destroy something he has feared.." her head held high as she watched all the esteemed naysayers kept their eye on the young woman. 

" Us.."  

"Excuse me, but who are you..." a woman who Adina assumed was Triss asked: looking at her, she started to think Geralt had a type. A bit shorter than him, curly-haired, and would possibly kill him if needed to be. 

"Adina Princess of Abbinshire, Knight of the flame.. and Daughter to the last pure dragon mage Tithuba.." her eye's retracting into the ones of a dragon. 

"And you are.." she asked back, a charming smile much like her mother's. 

"Triss Merigold.." 

"Geralt sends his hello to you," she smirked as she then placed her finger on the map. Triss blinked as she then looked at Yennefer. 

"We can't just fight this war with mages: it's unheard of it!" 

"I Never said we were. There is aid from the kingdom of Anore and the warriors of the blue mountain clan." She then looked at Trissaia, "I only ask of you all to restore the good of the kingdom together.. " 

"And what's the price.." Stregobor asked. 

"Whatever your heart's desire," Adina said, the sound of desperation in her voice. Adina could feel that this was her destiny to lead, 

 But it was the fate of kings in her hands. 

"I think I'm in love with her.." Geralt said, sitting between Roach and Nightshade: both of the horses looked at him as they shook their heads. "She's only been gone for a day, and I miss her witty comments.." he grumbled, feeding them both. Tithuba had left him to care for the stables since she knew that since Mayday would be arriving. That everyone would want somewhere cozy to get their dresses green.  

"Neigh.." 

"No, Roach, we aren't going," he grumbled.

"Neigh.." 

"Because Nightshade, I understand Buttercup is your son ..." he sighed, "This isn't about either of you two, it's about me-" his eyes resembling a wolf.  

"Is everything okay in there.." Tithuba asked, watching as a horse scented Geralt got slapped between two tails of the horses. 

"I'm fine, I .. how much did you hear.." 

"Everything up to you about to pounce on my horse." Tithuba laughed, petting Nightshade.  

"Even.." 

"Confessing you love my daughter Adina.. " she laughed, "Cleary, you don't remember that two of you played together when you were little." she smiled, watching at how confused Geralt was.

 "This ring a bell.."  

"You should be the princess!" a small boy with auburn curls said, running around with a wooden sword. Tackling him down to the ground was a neat braid of black hair. " It's because I'm a girl isn't it.." Adina growled, taking the sword away from him. 

"No, it's because you're a princess!"

"I am no princess!" she said, moving her cape dramatically,

"Are too!

"Are not!

"Are too!

"Your horse is dumb!" Adina stuck her tongue out at him.

"Roach is not dumb.. she's just different.." Geralt mumbled, watching as the illusions of the two kids faded away slowly, much like how his memory of those moments did, 

"You don't find love, it finds you, and it has a little bit to do with destiny, fate, and what's written in the stars."  

"What are you saying.." He looked at Tithuba, "Go after the woman I love.." 

"And here I thought I was the kooky witch in a cottage.."

[sopwithwhump]

The Storm

Another @badthingshappenbingo​ fic, which also introduces my new Character, Scott “Lucky” Keenan, a daring pilot. The trope for this one was “Concussion.” TW for plane crash, emeto, concussion, and stormy weather. Lucky gets caught in a storm and crashes his plane.

“I’m heading up to Abbotsford for the air show this weekend!” said Scott Keenan as he loaded his bag into his Cessna 172, “I’m excited. Didn’t get to go last year!”

           “Lucky, I don’t think you should be flying,” said his friend Will, “the weather said there would be rain over the mountains as you approach the lower mainland! Perhaps you should just stay home in Kelowna? Or drive? There’s still two full days before the event begins.”

           Lucky was Scott’s nickname, and he preferred that people called him that. “Oh, Will, I’ve flown in rain before. It’s a little like night flying, just wetter. You know I have that night rating.”

           “Yes, I’m fully aware…”

           “Then what is there to be worried about? You can trust the flying skills of ol’ Lucky. Plus, the weather says it’s just a chance of showers. Using my pilot’s judgement, I believe I can make this trip safely. Also, I’m prepared like a smart pilot. I’ve got a list of suitable aerodromes for landing along the route. Though I’m going to make it in a direct flight.”

           “Alright, Lucky. Fly safe. I’ll be there on Saturday,” said Will as Lucky brought his plane to the taxiway. He set his instruments and quickly looked at a map. After getting permission and waiting for a jet plane first, Lucky taxied to the end of the runway, and then took off. It was a beautiful clear day in Kelowna as he began to head west.

           As he continued to fly, he definitely saw the grey clouds, but it didn’t worry him too much. Lucky was quite the fearless pilot. So much so that he sometimes he did either daring or stupid things with his plane, but never ended up with any damage. A little bit of rain wasn’t going to bother him.

           Unfortunately, even the most precise of weather equipment could be wrong. Lucky gripped the controls as his plane was hit with a sudden updraft as the small plane flew through the rain. He was able to continue on after straightening out and making sure he was going west again. Then, out of nowhere, the flash of a lightning strike went off in the distance, followed by a loud thunderclap. “Dang it, Will was right,” he said, turning to his navigation system. The next aerodrome was a little ways away from where he was.

           Without warning, something made a noise against the aluminum of the plane, much like a pebble. These noises suddenly started to multiply. Lucky was flying right into a hailstorm. “Oh no…” he whimpered, wincing as the hailstones fell onto his plane, denting the delicate aluminum body, “we’re turning around… lemme get on the Merritt station…” He tried to stay calm, trying to execute a coordinated turn as best he could as his plane was bombarded with hail. As he started to turn the yoke, another updraft grabbed the wing. He yelped as he tried to straighten it out, but it was no use- the plane began to spiral downward. He quickly pressed the emergency transponder switch as he tried to recover from the spin. He finally did so, but at that point he was at the tree line. The plane’s wing hit the top of a tall pine tree, and Lucky and his poor plane plummeted to the ground, causing him to black out.

           When he came to his senses, all he could smell was smoke from the engine. He coughed and shook his head, trying to clear the double vision. How hard did he hit it? He quickly reached in the back and grabbed his things, then forced the bent-up door open and threw it out onto the ground, before realizing that yes, it was still stormy and wet out there. He then laid back as a wave of dizziness overcame him. His vision went blurry and there was a ringing in his ears. I hope my emergency transponder was heard, he said as he moved the mixture pull to starve the plane of fuel.

He closed his eyes, and suddenly the whole situation hit him. Here he was, in the middle of the mountains, injured with his plane beyond repair. Fear started to kick in, and he felt himself start to hyperventilate. No, no, he thought to himself, remember air cadets? Fear is one of the seven enemies of survival. Stay calm. Although it was hard to stay calm in a hailstorm in the forest.

He rolled out of the plane onto the ground, then felt a terrible wave of nausea and threw up. His head hurt. He brought his hand to his forehead, then pulled it away as he felt some pain. There was blood on his hand. Hit my head quite hard there…

The headache, nausea and dizziness, as well as the ringing in his ears was bothersome, but he tried to ignore that and figure out what to do. The heavy rain and hail chilled him as it quickly soaked through his light windbreaker and hoodie. He started to get really worried, quickly going back into the plane to see if his radio was still working. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,” he said, hoping someone could hear, “Skyhawk Charlie-Hotel-Echo-India, crashed and grounded in mountainous area between Kelowna and Abbotsford. 1 Soul onboard, navigation systems broken. Does anyone hear? Anyone?” His voice cracked with desperation near the end of the distress call. He listened. He played with the dial and repeated the message. Tears came to his eyes.

“Stupid piece of junk!” He shouted, throwing the headset and kicking the wrecked plane. Another wave of intense dizziness and nausea accompanied by blurry double vision then came over him. He stumbled over and sat down on the cold ground, trying to overcome it. He then threw up for a second time. “Where’s that first aid kit…” he groaned.

Opening the tough canvas bag that held his survival supplies, he got out his signalling mirror and looked at his forehead. Yep, there was a jagged gash on it. He quickly got out some gauze from his first aid kit and held it against the wound, then frantically started to dig through the survival bag, trying to find things that would help him. He found a foil blanket and wrapped himself in it, knowing that it would be nearly impossible to start a fire in this weather. Will was right… why is he always right? Lucky thought to himself as he shivered. The icky feelings in his head were terribly persistent.

Lucky sat there, defeated. The normally fearless pilot felt terribly afraid. He started to tear up, worried about if anyone knew where he was. Out here, freezing and wet, possibly suffering from a concussion. He laid on his stomach wrapped up in the blanket, taking deep breaths, shutting his eyes tightly as he started shivering. The storm had to be passing soon, that or someone would somehow come to his rescue.

An hour had passed as he laid there shivering, the headache pain and dizziness gradually intensifying, to the point where he didn’t want to move. He might have lost consciousness, it was hard to keep track as he laid there. After throwing up again, he now was worried about dehydration. But he was too tired to get water. In too much pain. Lucky wasn’t holding on very well. The hail had stopped, but the heavy rain, high winds, and thunder persisted.

Out in the distance, he heard a noise. The sound of a rotor. A helicopter rotor. Lucky rolled over onto his back, suddenly very awake, even though he felt absolutely awful. He was holding his signal mirror in his hands. Even though the sun wasn’t out, he held it to the sky, desperate to get the attention of whoever was flying. He smiled as he saw a big yellow whirlybird flying overhead.

The sound got closer. He felt too weak to move, but he wanted to crawl toward it. It got even louder. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the huge rescue helicopter land in a nearby clearing. The red stripe on it, the blue ring with a maple leaf inside, this was a Cormorant. They must have gotten the Air Force because of the storm. They have the skills.

“I’m over here!” He called, rather weakly, “Help! I’m here!” I can’t believe my transponder was heard… maybe even the distress call… I guess I live up to my nickname. A small team of rescuers in bright orange raincoats ran over to him. “Don’t worry,” said a young female rescue tech, kneeling beside him, “we’ve got you.”

“Thank God…” he whimpered softly, the relief flowing over him. Two rescuers gently moved him onto a stretcher and wrapped him in a soft blanket, while another quickly got his things from the plane and where they were scattered on the ground. He looked at the wreckage of his plane, and felt a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. His plane! It was gone! This forest was its grave… all because he decided he could fly in rain. Yes, no one saw the storm coming it seemed, but nevertheless he felt it was his fault.

As he was carried toward the big yellow helicopter, he could no longer hold in his emotions. He felt his lip quiver as he laid there, warm tears falling down his face. He silently cried as the rescue personnel put him on some monitors and tried to dry him off a bit.

“What’s your name?” One of them asked.

“Lucky,” he replied, whimpering. No one really called him Scott. Someone was taking care of the wound on his forehead, another was listening to his breathing. His headache pounded as the chopper took off. The dizziness and nausea came in in another wave. Suddenly, he felt it happen for the fourth time. “I’m gonna… I’m gonna puke…”

He threw up in a bucket. Lucky’s consciousnesses was fading… someone gave him an IV, another tried to reassure him. “Hey… we’re here. You’re in good hands. What’s bothering you?”

“I think I hit my head…” Lucky whimpered, “my head hurts bad… I’m so dizzy… and sick…”

Another rescuer got out his penlight and shined it in his eyes. “Possible concussion…”

“Lucky, how many fingers am I holding up?” said the female medic.

“Double vision… I know it’s three but I see six…” lucky replied, “I think I’m going to pass out… I feel so awful…”

“It’s okay, buddy. Just sleep. We’ll take care of you. Just relax, okay?” Her voice faded out as he closed his eyes.

The next time he woke up he was in an ambulance on the ground. Someone was shining a light in his eyes. “There you are…” said a young man’s voice, “it’s okay, we’ve got you. You’re being taken to a hospital in Abbotsford… don’t try to move.” The lights in the ambulance were blindingly bright and seemed to aggravate his headache. “The lights… they… I’m going to throw up…”

Lucky dry heaved but didn’t end up vomiting. The headache then overpowered him, and he let out a loud groan. “Help… my head…” he sputtered out. The lights were turned down, and he found himself drifting out of consciousness again.

Again, he found himself awake. But this time, the fatigue just remained. He winced at the brightness of the fluorescent lights, but as he woke up more he actually felt some comfort. He was nice and dry in a hospital gown, under some warm blankets, laying on a soft pillow. The IV was probably delivering some amazing painkillers.

“Hello? Can someone tell me where I am?” Lucky called out. A nurse spotted him, and he quickly came over.

“Scott, you’re awake,” he said, “you’re in a hospital in Abbotsford. Do you remember what happened?”

“I… crashed in the forest… it was awful. My poor Cessna… she’s toast,” said Lucky, tearing up again. He turned on his side. “There’s nothing I can do. By the way… did I hit my head too hard? I was so dizzy… my head still hurts. Just faintly. You obviously put me on something good.”

“Oh, yeah, definitely the morphine. You did suffer a concussion, but it was rather mild. You just need to rest, it’s ok if you do,” the nurse said, “that whole thing about slipping into a coma from sleeping with a concussion is a myth.”

“I sure am tired for some reason. Can I call my friend first?”

“Sure, your phone survived, actually.” Lucky was handed his phone, and he quickly called Will.

“Dude! You alright? I heard about the storm in the mountains and lower mainland, and then I thought of you… did you make it? You alright?”

“I could be better,” said Lucky, “I crashed my skyhawk in the mountains. CAF rescue found me over an hour later. I’m happy the emergency transponder worked… but my plane, man. That’s a loss and a half right there.”

“Hey, a pilot shouldn’t go down with his plane. Yes, it’s terrible that your 172 is no more. But… you’re alive. I mean.. planes are expensive. But… maybe we can figure something out. I can help you. I don’t know what insurance will do, but I will at least try to help. I’m gonna miss your old girl.”

“Yeah. Man, I was in sad shape. I puked like… five times, the headache and dizziness were phenomenal, it was not a good time. Hopefully this weather passes before the big show. Although I might have to miss it. Depends on what the doc says.”

“Alright. I’m still heading down. I’m glad you’re okay. So sorry about the plane.”

“Thanks Will. Oh, I think that’s the doctor. Gotta go,” he hung up as the woman in a white coat came over to him. “Hello… Scott? Is that right?”

“I prefer Lucky,” he replied.

“Well, you definitely are! I’m glad those rescuers were able to come to your aid!”

“Yeah, I guess so…” he said with a smile.

“I’m just going to look at your pupil response again… can you just look forward for me? Just going to shine this light in your eyes…” he sat still as she moved the light around.

“Well, the concussion isn’t too severe… you’ll just need to rest for a few days. No watching TV or anything like that.”

“I was planning on going to the air show…”

“Aw, I’m sorry, Lucky. But that wouldn’t be good.”

“Alright… thanks doc.” Lucky then rolled over, closed his eyes, and fell asleep again. When he was discharged, Will had made it to Abbotsford.

“Hey, buddy. Let’s go to the hotel. You can rest there. No air show?” said Will as Lucky dragged his stuff to the car.

“No air show,” Lucky sighed.

“Well, friend, I’ll stay at the hotel with you. I’m willing to sacrifice that.”

“Really? Aw, Will… you know, I only have to rest for about three days… I can be alone.”

“No, Lucky, I’m staying with you.” Once Will and Lucky got to the hotel, Lucky laid in bed and slept for twelve whole hours. The three days went by fast, and soon enough the headaches and dizziness were completely gone.

“Well, Lucky, you can always go for a joyride in my plane anytime,” said Will as he drove him home to Kelowna, “as long as you don’t take it out in the rain!”

“Aw, Will. I think I’ve learned my lesson.”

[marzipanandminutiae]

Once the noise has died down, the crowds dissipated, the police been and gone with their yellow tape, the body on the stretcher sits up. The white sheet falls away, revealing a young woman with nondescript brown hair and a pink blazer. By both the crusted red-brown stain on her chest and the look in her wide brown eyes, she could really fucking use a drink.

She pulls out her phone.

The motions are automatic, thumbs and fingers flicking through screens in a practiced dance. Home > Contacts > C.K. (Coronary specialist).

She told the mark and the husband that she had a heart condition. Her wife, when she saw the contact, hadn’t stopped laughing for a solid ten minutes. It was clever, back when this was all a clever game. Something to be reported to the ones who watched but never acted, because they had time. Or maybe just the big scoop for Toronto’s most promising young journalist.

“Pick up, pick up.” Her voice is tense as she glances around the darkened street. It shouldn’t have emptied this fast. This isn’t right. None of this is right. She rakes a hand through her hair, wincing when it tugs at two dozen bobby pins.

Finally, a smoky female voice replaces the dial tone. “Laura? Sweet, are you alright? I saw the riot on the news.” She doesn’t sound worried. Why would she?

Immortality, invulnerability...the girl wearing pink and blood would be fine. The rest of the world- that’s a different story.

“I’m- I’m fine, Carm.” A shaky burst of laughter erupts from deep inside her. There’s no joy in it. “I’m coming home. Now.”

“You’ve gotten shot before,” comes the reply. “A stamp of approval from one of the pet doctors- try Malek's wife; she dallied with Mattie in college and owes us a favor -a miraculous recovery story, and you’ll be-”

“I’m done.” 

She hadn’t meant it to come out that harsh, or perhaps that final. But she hadn’t realized how much she meant it until it was said.

A moment of silence on the line. Then, shakily, “Okay. I’ll make the arrangements. Is a commercial flight okay? The jet’s in Ibiza.”

“Commercial is fine. As soon as possible. I need to get out of here.”

“The next to Toronto is...” she heard a distant clicking on the line. “Shit. Tomorrow at noon. Will it suit?”

“Sure,” she said, scooting herself into the shadow of the closest building without standing up. Time enough for a disguise. A haircut, some highlights, and clothes that made her look less like she was about to hand out The Watchtower, and nobody would know her for the infamous Serena Joy Waterford’s assistant. It was a move she’d pulled a hundred times, though never with so much at stake.

“I can’t wait to see you,” she said.

A throaty chuckle echoed down the line. “Nor I you, Liebling. Come back to me safe, alright? If you have any trouble, just call. You remember the code word, in case you should be in...mixed company.”

Laura allowed a faint smile to ghost onto her face. She wasn’t okay, not really. Things were about a thousand miles from okay, and they were only getting worse. But the part of her ruled by self-preservation relaxed a little.

“Mayday.”

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Spider-Girls #1 Thoughts

FINALLY I’ve gotten to the series I was most anticipating!

 Just about the ONLY thing I was remotely interested in Spider-Geddon for was this mini-series.

My hype was strong because even though at the time I’d not finished RYV proper the prospect of seeing Mayday again, in her proper outfit (we’ll talk about that) and interacting with Annie was a fanservice dream, especially after Houser established that in the RYV universe (though this didn’t exactly make sense with the original RYV mini from Secret Wars) that Mayday was miscarried in this universe.

So how did this issue measure up in delivering on that enticing prospect?

Well in short it did a good job.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way.

Mayday’s costume is off model on both the cover and interior of the comic, albeit in different ways. On the cover she has webpits which she never had outside of her redesigned costume from Secret Wars: Spider Island and Web Warriors. In the interior the artist neglects to draw the red on her boots. At first I thought it was just because she was being drawn in motion or a mistake but no the art is consistent. Then I thought maybe in the prior issues of Spider-Geddon she also had no red on her boots but no, she did. So this artist just screwed up.

A nitpick? Perhaps but given how contentious the issue of Mayday wearing her true costume has been ever since Spider-Verse it’s worth talking about.

A more significant problem where Houser, much as I have liked her work in the past, really didn’t do her homework, was presenting Peter a(and arguably MJ) as wholly unaware of the Inheritors.

Why is this a problem. Because this version of Peter Parker literally debuted during Spider-Verse, specifically Spider-Verse #2, an anthology comic which was written with the explicit intention of teasing Renew Your Vows during Secret Wars. So he should absolutely know about the Inheritors. The only way this makes sense is if the RYV Peter of Secret Wars and the one of RYV the ongoing are in fact not one and the same. Which was a theory some held when Conway’s run began because of how much it didn’t line up with the Secret Wars mini-series.

Another little nitpick is the Vulture gang. They were pretty lame although I suppose that may have been the point and it echoes Spider-Geddon #1 where Miles fights the equally lame Vulturions.

A more significant problem which I grant you may be addressed in future issues is that Peter’s reaction to Mayday is simply the initial shock of her reveal and then he seems relatively non-chalant. Mary Jane, in a brief yet heartbreakingly brilliant scene, goes off on her own to be upset, but Peter doesn’t do anything like that or show signs of being that thrown for a loop from seeing his dead daughter alive and well.

Now look I’m going to be very harsh. Maybe extremely controversial here. Call me out if I am because I’ve never been through a tragedy like a miscarriage. In such a situation from what little I know, a mother being more upset than the father wouldn’t be unrealistic or unreasonable. Buuuuuuut...unless RYV Peter is way more different than the Peter we know and love from 616 seeing Mayday (let alone finding out her Dad is dead) should get under his skin and we should see that. In 616 after the Clone Saga there was more than one scene depicting Peter being upset about MJ’s miscarriage.

Another problem is that Mayday and Anya comment that it’s nice seeing the city so normal. I didn’t understand that exchange and can only summise that Houser is implying being with the |Web Warriors they haven’t seen a normal (for them) version NYC in awhile. This doesn’t really make sense because the Web Warriors isn’t Mayday’s day job, she still operates in her version of NYC regularly last we checked. Unless this series takes place REALLY soon after Web Warriors and Mayday has changed back to her old outfit and then just helped monitor the Inheritors leading into Spider-Geddon and little else. But that’s not the implication of the prior issues of this event.

Also, though this is more a problem with Spider-Geddon #1-2 I admit but i’m only just realizing it now, where was Anya until now? In Web Warriors she lives on Loomworld with Spidey-UK who is her (most recent) mentor. But she wasn’t around in any of the prior issues of this event until now. And for a girl who just lost her mentor (again) she seems nonchalant. Sure as a someone who at best is lukewarm to her character I don’t care about seeing her reaction. Heck I’d rather she be outright absent from this series and it be all about Annie and Mayday. But from a writing POV she should have a reaction to Billy’s death.

Finally Houser continues to insist Annie’s hyper Spider Sense was something her parents only recently learned of.

That’s about it for the negatives.

Pretty much everything else about the story was GREAT.

Do not mistake my above negatives for me disliking the story.

I didn’t.

I LOVED it.

Where it succeeded it really succeeded.

After the bitter disappointment of the last arc of RYV this was Houser very much back on form.

In a lot of ways this issue feels like RYV #24. But because it isn’t an issue of that series I can’t hold it against the story for again focussing on Annie. In this series Annie, Ayna and Mayday are the leads, Peter and MJ are the supporting characters and there is no pretense of that.

Now for sure, as is typical with most of Houser’s issues, Annie is more centre stage than everyone else, being the only character afforded an inner monologue. Now I’m actually okay with this for now because Spider-Girls seems to be to Spider-Geddon what Scarlet Spiders was to Spider-Verse (ironically including ‘siblings’ one of which sports the Spider-Ben outfit) and in that series every issue gave focus to a different lead. If that is the case then this was simply Annie’s turn and the next two issues will give the focus to Mayday and Anya. If that isn’t the case then...that might be a problem.

That all being said this wasn’t BAD focus for Annie. Throughout Houser’s run the main tension for Annie has been between wanting more independence and adult responsibility vs. her being able to live up to that. Case in point she does need her parents help in this story.

In that sense I suppose this issue was a little repetitive of themes we’ve hit on before. But no one said she finished that arc by RYV #23 nor that it should be over by that point anyway. She’s a kid so for her to get that independence and responsibility within like 10 issues would feel unrealistic and unearned. What’s nice about this issue is that the situation organically confers onto her that sense of independence, trust and responsibility. We just need to see if she’ll be able to handle it now.

We also get more expansion on her ‘unique’ Spider Sense. It’s a little inconsistent in this story because prior to this she got outright visions but the impression given at the start of this issue is that her latest vision is more vague. Now of course Mayday’s spider sense to a lesser extent was capable of seeing the future as was Kaine’s. I don’t mind her borrowing from the latter but given the similarities between Annie and Mayday already it was a problem; having such visions more frequently didn’t help that much. This issue does rectify this issue a little by connecting her more directly to the Web of Life and Destiny giving her Spider Sense a greater root in magic.

Love or hate that it’s certainly more unique. I typically dislike magic in Spider-Man, but given how RYV has ended and this may well be the last hurrah for the RYV characters there ain’t much to lose in going this direction.

On Mayday’s side (yeah heads up Anya is just kinda just there so I have little to say about her) Houser does little but what little she does goes a long way; more is less in this case.

Unlike Slott, Costa or Gage who either wrote Mayday out of character, generically or the way a human being wouoldn’t react, Houser seems to have enough knowledge of basic human emotion to get that you know, seeing her Dad alive and with a daughter who isn’t her would upset Mayday.

Rather than rearing to tear the Inheritors a new one like In Spider-Geddon #2 or Spider-Verse, Mayday here just vents a little too hard on the Vulture gang and is a little more distracted and quiet than she normally would be. It’s subtle. It’s in character. It’s well done.

I also appreciate that Mayday was able to one hit K.O. two Vultures at once. Mayday in that moment became the most bad ass character in the issue. It also created a nice subtle parallel with Annie. At the start of the issue Annie tells and shows off how being a hero for a long time has made her such a competent fighter. Mayday’s prowess in the previously mentioned moment shows that off too. Realistically Annie may well be a more competent and effective fighter than Mayday given how she’s been doing it for longer and has had extensive X-Men training. Although Mayday has had more direct training from Peter, the Avengers (including American Dream), Phil Urich and noticeably Elektra. I’d like for this angle to be explored going forward. Seeing how Mayday sigs where Annie zags is surely one of the most obviously interesting prospects of a series like this.

Apart from the great MJ scene where she is sad by seeing Mayday, the only other positive I have is the art.

Now I was less than thrilled by the post-time skip RYV art to be honest. I felt a lot of the time it felt sketchy, unfinished even.

Here Genolet, whilst not being s slam dunk super star Spidey artist like Ottley or Stegman, delivers smooth, clean, effective artwork that serves the story and has a dash of Phil Noto to it in my eyes.

So yes.

There are problems with this issue but so far it has a lot of greatness to it and I’m very interested to read on!

[littlecrookedheart]

Atlas and his Moon • Fluffy Friday no.2 vol.2

Prompt (s) : 20 and 29 ; "Why are you looking at me like that?" / "matching tattoos" • Requested by @nyastarlight

Pairing : Jax x Kellen

Rating : None, only fluff.

Author’s Note : I...may have cried kinda at the ending. As for the song, I thought of it right after writing the ending, some of the lyrics running through my head. I hope you enjoy!

Word Count : 2,842

Inspiration found in this song : I Swear This Time I Mean It | Mayday Parade

"And I'll be your memories, your lullaby for all the times, hoping that my voice could get it right."

The ground was frozen, a thick layer of ice having formed over the concrete above, the soil as hard as an iceberg. Late night air crept in through the steel rimmed doorways, every brick shifting slightly with the drop in temperature. To the naked eye, you'd never notice a difference. For a human, that is.

Jax Matsuo lay with one arm under his head, the other tracing the shape of the bricks, breathing in the coolness wafting through the Shadow Den. Kellen shivered next to him, goosebumps scattering across her shoulders. Reaching an arm across her, he drew her body closer to his, tucking the blankets under her side. She hardly stirred at all, to his surprise. He nestled his cheek against her neck, holding her closely, his senses overwhelmed with the current of her bloodstream. Not hunger, no, but affection, building in his chest, the profound desire to step into her skin, protect her, feel her, love her.

It was as if this evening, she was a faint seafoam gleam, like a twinkle of light inside a kaleidoscope. Jax wanted to soak in the glow, he craved the warmth against him more than anything he'd ever desired before. For now, he closed his eyes, the nightlife of the city bustling to life above them, distant fragrance of the den awakening.

Swiping his thumb back and forth across her arm, he lulled himself to relaxation, not quite asleep but not entirely awake, either. Kellen turned over, facing him, her hands sleepily guided to his face. She trailed her fingers drowsily along his lips, eyes still closed, smiling softly before touching her lips to his, slowly pecking her way to fuller kisses. His hand found the small of her back, holding her fiercely, drinking her kiss before she pulled away, breathless with a smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, hiding her face as she stretched.

"You look like the sun."

"Oh, obviously," she giggled, narrowing her eyes at him while tousling her already messy hair.

"Mm, obviously. And you smell like it, too."

Kellen loved this, Jax's descriptions of the way she smelled, sounded, felt. He experienced everything so intensely, and as much as she didn't understand it, she absolutely adored it.

"Yeah?"

"Today you're light," he said, enveloping her in an embrace.

"Yesterday I was the ripple of the river."

"You were."

It changed daily, but one thing was constant. Kellen could be covered in sweat and grime, or return from the core of the earth, and to Jax, she'd always smell like the most magnificent thing in existence : life.

Which for him, was the epitome of desire, the twinge of tangerine, the thrill of adrenaline, the flight of an arrow. It was the hurl of a cyclone, the rush of the tide, the sound of stars being brought to existence and the moment they burned out. Kellen was, perhaps, life itself, and Jax couldn't get enough.

"You're beautiful."

"Speak for yourself, hot stuff," Kellen whispered before nipping at his ear, the sound of voices in the hall distracting her.

Jax pulled away, irises red with lust, and blinked a few times as he grounded himself. After a deep breath, he looked back to her, the twinkle of hanging ivory lights shone against the chestnut warmth that had returned to his eyes. Kellen kissed his cheek, sighing.

"Are you hungry? I can fix you something," he said, fingertips brushing the skin on her jaw.

"Hmm...Fruit salad?"

"I think I can manage that."

"With mango?"

"Oh, sorry, fresh out."

Kellen smirked, pouting up at him with her eyes wide.

Jax chuckled, and in one swift movement, he planted a kiss to her nose and was across the room, washing a mango before slicing it.

"Need help?" Kellen beckoned, sitting up on the bed.

Jax shook his head, tossing fruit into a bowl, mixing it together with a glass spoon. He poured it into a bowl, turning to set it on the counter as Kellen drug her feet over the floor The friction from her socks was electric, making miniscule hairs stand up on the back of his neck.

"Warm enough?" He asked, drawing a throw around her shoulders as she nodded, hunched over her breakfast, fighting off a yawn.

"Babe, you should eat too," Kellen said, mouth full of berries.

"I did, just before you woke up. I'd just gotten back."

Jax wandered around the space, blowing out candles, savoring the crackle in his ears as they extinguished.

"God, I love that smell. They need a candle that smells like that," Kellen chirped, inhaling wafts of smoke from nearby.

"That would be kind of gross," he laughed, raising an eyebrow at her.

"You're kind of gross."

"You love it," he said, flopping back onto his mattress.

Kellen finished her meal, running the bowl under hot water before washing it, hanging on a drying rack. She stretched her arms over her head again, dropping onto the bed, landing half way on Jax's body.

"Oof!" Jax muttered, tossing his limbs in the air for dramatic effect. "You've killed me. I'm dead now."

"I'm so proud," Kellen smiled, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. "I'd like to thank my beautiful moms, and I'd like to thank the academy..."

Jax scrunched his face at her, pulling her down to him. He tickled her ribs, making her squeal and writhe.

"I surrender!" She yelped, giggling profusely.

"You're so easy!"

"You're just good at making me throw up the white flag. Don't give me all the credit, now."

"What do you feel like doing tonight?" He asked, rolling onto his stomach. He rested his head in the crook of his bent elbow, looking at her.

Kellen sighed, her eyes looking at the ceiling while she pondered.

Jax's fingertips moved to her cheek, pressing gently on two loose eyelashes. He held them up to her face, saying, "Make a wish."

"I wish for-"

"Can't tell me or it won't come true."

Kellen rolled her eyes, blowing away the lashes. He pulled her close to him, kissing just above her brow.

She glanced up at him and took his cheeks in her palms, the silkiness of his skin always taking her just a little aback.

"Is it cheesy to say I have what I wished for?" She smiled, meeting her forehead with his.

"Incredibly. But I happen to have a thing for cheese."

"It's my lucky day, then."

Jax gathered her in his arms, raining kisses all over her face. She wrapped her arms around him, softly giggling.

"You're so perfect," he whispered, pulling her in for a brief, yet somehow desirous kiss.

Kellen pulled away and smirked at him, saying, "Let's get matching tattoos."

Jax raised an eyebrow at her and nodded, sitting up. He pulled his day old pair of black jeans on and fastened his boots.

"Wait, I was kidding!"

"Nope, it's happening."

Kellen shrugged and got dressed as well, lacing her fingers with his before making their way through the darkened tunnels, heading out to the street.

--

Approaching a small tattoo parlor called 'Atomic Footprint,' Jax took Kellen by the waist and stopped her in her tracks.

"You're sure?"

"Well, yeah. I'm not a wimp."

"It wouldn't mean you're a wimp, Kellen. I just want to make sure this is what you want."

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and grinned at him, walking ahead of him and into the tattoo shop.

The parlor smelled of cinder and patchouli, a fragrance that Jax remembered fondly. Several artists buzzed away at their stations, engaging in conversation with their clients, an indie folk tune playing lowly in the background.

Jax patted the space on his arm where he was already tattooed and nodded at the man sitting at the counter, gruff and tough looking, at least seven feet tall.

"Jax! Long time, no see."

"It's great to be back, Gus. This is my beautiful girlfriend, Kellen. Kellen," he took her hand and gestured to the man, "Gus is responsible for my tree."

"Well, I'm in good hands, then."

"I'd never take you anywhere untrustworthy."

"He's a good one, Jax. What can I do for you both?"

"Do you have time for two walk ins? Something small. Cheers to spontaneity," Jax smiled.

"For anyone other than you? Nope. Just be happy you're Jax Matsuo. Come fill out your info and we can get started."

Gus slid a tablet over to them, displaying an information form. Kellen tapped away, eyes bright with excitement. Jax guided her to the waiting area, sitting on a gothic inspired black bench.

"How do you know Gus?" She asked, swiping through the list of states to enter her address.

"He did my tattoo, as you know. But before that? He needed some help and we crossed paths."

"He's a vampire?" She said, voice too low for eavesdroppers.

"His partner is."

Kellen nodded, passing Jax the tablet after signing her digital signature.

Once they'd finished, Jax approached the counter, handing Gus the tablet.

"Perfect. So, what are you two thinking of?"

Kellen sidled over, the heavy click of her shoes on the old wooden floor. She slinked an arm around him, turning to say, "So...what if they don't match, but they go together? And they don't have to...link up, because they say that's a curse for relationships."

"Anything you want."

“Well what do you want?”

Jax’s voice was low, the calm look in his eyes reassuring and warm. “A moon. Because no matter who I am, what I become…you’ll always be my guiding light, Kellen. Maybe that’s a curse to our relationship, but I’m not leaving this life anytime soon, and I’d like to be with you for as much of that time that I’m able. A hundred years from now, wherever we are, I’m going to know…and everyone should know, you’re the glow that guides me home.”

Kellen sniffled, wiping one of her eyes. She let out a chuckle before saying, “For the strength you carry and being the one who holds my world in your hands… You’ve shown me a world I never knew, a life I never could have dreamed of. You’ve been everything, every single thing, even when I probably didn’t deserve it. For that, you’ll always be my rock. My anchor. My Atlas.”

Jax’s eyes glistened in the neon from the window light, softly closing as he kissed her, full of passion and love. “You’ve always deserved it, Kellen.”

“….So I’m doing a moon and an Atlas?”

Jax laughed, nodding. “Sorry, Gus.”

“No problem, buddy. Who’s going first?”

Jax began to take his jacket off, but Kellen’s hand went up to stop him.

“If it isn’t me, I’m afraid I’ll back out.”

She handed Jax her jacket, the buttons clanking against his own. Gus pulled over an additional stool for Jax and began to wash and shave the area on the back of her shoulder blade. Kellen’s hand reached back for Jax’s, squeezing it gently.

“You’ve got this.”

“Is it weird that I’m not that nervous?” She laughed.

The whir of the tattoo gun hummed in her ears, and she glanced sidelong at Jax, her eyes wide.

“Spoken too soon?”

“What does it feel like?”

“A tattoo. Take a deep breath,” Gus said, lowering the device. “You ready?”

She squeezed Jax’s hand harder and nodded, only to look over in confusion when he began.

“That is not at all what I was expecting.”

“It’s not so bad,” Jax smiled, “You’re taking it like a pro.”

“I do my best!” Kellen smiled, looking dreamily into his eyes. “You look so handsome.”

Before Jax could respond, Gus snorted and said, “You two are so corny. Reminds me of myself and Shanna.”

“Your wife?” Kellen asked.

“Yep, the very same. She’s running a bit behind but she should be here tonight, got a few bookings from tourists.”

“I didn’t know she was an artist too,” Jax said, brushing his hair from his eyes.

“She’s the one who got me started.”

As if on cue, a tall woman with lavender hair waltzed in through the door, a look of surprise on her face when she saw Jax. She quickly made her way over, throwing her arms around him.

When she spoke, she had a thick Scouse accent and she chomped her gum loudly, but Kellen found it weirdly relaxing.

“Jax! What brings you in? Been too long, babes.”

“My girl and I are getting something small tonight. Kellen, this is Shanna.”

Shanna extended an arm, shaking Kellen’s hand. “Just call me Shan, babes. All me friends do. I’d hug ya, but this brute’s in the way, isn’t he!” she playfully swatted the air near Gus’s head.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Kellen said, smiling up at her.

“Likewise!” She turned to Jax. “Now, no sense of waitin’ if I’m here and haven’t got a gun in me hands. Come here,” she patted the empty space next to Kellen’s. “What are we doin’ tonight?”

“I’ll give you artistic freedom, I just know I want the moon.”

“I can handle it, yeah. Okay babes, where?”

Jax lifted his shirt, pointing at the same spot Kellen had hers being done.

–

“Youse look so cutesy,” Shanna laughed, tossing away the paper towels she’d used to wipe his fresh tattoo clean, heading to the register. “What are ya waitin’ for? Have a look see.”

Kellen turned around, showing Jax her intricate piece of Atlas, no bigger than the size of a silver dollar, but full of detail.

“Whoa. How’d you do all of this in three hours?”

“Luck of the trade.”

Shanna craned her neck to see, smiling. “Nah, he’s lyin’. It’s a bit small, yeah? That’s how, he’s got extra time on his hands and makes it perfect.”

“I love it,” Kellen gasped, angling her body in the mirror.

“It’s amazing, babe.” Jax slid up behind her, turning to see his own.

Kellen gawked at the moon phases, accented with black details of a constellation.

“Youse like? I put in a bit of Taurus on there, Atlas layin’ within.”

Jax’s eyes flashed, turning a shade between brown and red.

“This is bizarre,” he said, unable to take his gaze away.

“These are more than either of us could have asked for,” Kellen said, sitting back down as Gus fastened a transparent bandage wrap over her skin, Jax following suit.

“How much do I owe you?” Jax asked, reaching for his wallet.

“Don’t you think of it,” Gus said, and Shanna winked in agreement.

“Consider it a thank ya,” she grinned, walking over to hug both of them goodbye.

“Thank you both so much, meeting you was so lovely. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so welcome so quickly.”

“You’re family to Jax, you’re family to us. Come back soon! Maybe we can have a bit of a drink next week,” Shanna laughed, popping a peppermint into her mouth.

–

Kellen met Jax at a bench in the park, handing him an insulated cup of cocoa.

“Before you say you don’t want it, that’s fine. It’s for me.”

“Two cups of cocoa? I wouldn’t expect any differently.”

“That’s right.”

His lips curved upward as he chuckled, leaning to kiss her. The fragrant chocolate on her lips, just beyond her always flavor of pine, delicate and subtle.

“You meant that stuff about the moon?” She asked as she nestled her head on his shoulder.

He pointed upward to the sky, a lowly drift of cloud surfacing over the moon.

“How do you see this every night and not see the same beauty within yourself?”

“Tell me a story about us, as our tattoos would have it.”

Jax sighed, playing with the ends of her hair.

“Atlas was always a dreamer, even with all of the weight on his shoulders. Sometimes he’d wander into the darkness, places in space that weren’t yet lit with streaks of comets or the gleam of constellations. And sometimes he’d forget how he got there, unsure how to make it back. So he’d search for something radiant. The sun was too bright, burning him before he could ask for help. The stars had such short lives, they’d flicker out before his heavy feet could carry him to them. But the moon, she glowed so ethereal, she called to him and asked for help, too.”

“What did she ask for?”

“That’s the best part. She said, ‘Atlas, if you’ll have me, I’d love to love you.’ And in that moment, he knew that she was everything he’d been searching for, despite never having known he’d find her.”

“Did he agree?”

“Indeed. He said, ’Kellen, I love you, and that’s the only thing I want my lips to say for the rest of eternity.’”

Kellen looked up at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. He met her gaze with the deepest of looks, the one that told her she was safe, she was serene, she was his.

“She said, 'I love you too, Jax. And I’ll say it until my tongue can no longer speak.”

[moonprincess92]

To the stars

the titanic au 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

Read on AO3 

Chapter 6: The confrontation 

If K-2SO hadn’t said anything to them, then Cassian never would have guessed that something was very, very wrong with the ship.

Charging through the corridors, absolutely nothing seemed amiss. No rumbling, grumbling or shaking. Nightlife carried on, the three of them ducking around clumps of drunken gamblers outside the entrance to the casino. Everything still worked as it should, and quite honestly Jyn was starting to wonder whether her mind was actually just losing it after all.

No, people only really started noticing when the engines suddenly cut out. 

They had been hurriedly climbing a staircase when they realised, pausing as they tried to figure out what was suddenly so different. It took a moment to grasp that the sound of the engines, that were always constantly humming in the background, had just… stopped. The lights stayed on, doors still opened, they apparently still had power, but a quick dash to the nearest viewport showed that they were no longer moving. Stars were the only things that interrupted the endless sea of black space beyond them. 

No asteroids. But then again, this was a large ship and they were currently on the portside. 

“What’s happening?” Jyn murmured. 

“First instinct for you humans in a crisis is to cease all activity. Everything has to have a kill switch somewhere,” K-2 mentioned with only a hint of derision before turning and training his gaze directly on her. “You clearly didn’t hit yours.” 

Well, apparently all the hits were being taken tonight. 

“All right, have it out,” she said, stepping forward. “Clearly you have something to say.”

“I still maintain that it was a bad idea to have sexual intercourse!” K-2 burst out, apparently unable to keep it in any longer. “Cassian, I apologise, I understand that we are on a mission but that is precisely my point. We shouldn’t be facing any of this on a mission! I thought you were better than–”

“I didn’t ask for this,” Cassian said, turning from the viewport.

Jyn blinked a little at the snap in his voice. She still didn’t really know all that much about the relationship between Cassian and his droid, but it was clear to her so far that it was a close one. They had a rapport, a way of expressing that Cassian had K-2′s back as much as K-2 had his without ever having to use words. As annoying as the droid was, she had almost appreciated his presence on the ship. She had never expected a fall out over this, but apparently Cassian was reaching a kind of breaking point alongside his droid. 

“You of all people should know that,” Cassian carried on without holding back. “You know I don’t do this, you know that I wouldn’t want this to happen, but I met her and it did, what did you want me to do?”

“Repress your feelings and remain as professional as possible,” K-2 shrugged in the most duh-like tone he had ever heard from a droid.

“Wow,” Jyn muttered.

“I tried that. Didn’t work.”

“You didn’t try hard enough!”

“Do I get to say anything here?” Jyn stuck in.

“YOU have caused enough problems!” K-2 declared.

But she had had enough as well. No, this wasn’t the right time for it, but apparently they needed to hash this out before they could get literally anything else done and K-2 wasn’t accepting any moment other than the present. Fine. She hadn’t wanted this either, but when she was in front of Cassian, she somehow couldn’t seem to look past him. It was like he filled up all the space, covered every crack, and if she could go back and make that choice to kiss him at the bow, she would do it again every time. She honestly hadn’t even had time to process everything that had happened, how she had pressed his body into the mattress with her own, how they had been silent until they got confident enough to coax the tentative moans out of each other, how she had made him dig his fingers into her back and his heart to splutter and choke…

She glanced up at him. Silhouetted by the viewport behind him, she ached to reach out, to perhaps push him up against the glass a little. Instead, she simply brushed her hand over his and knew he understood.

“I’m not sorry for how I feel,” she said, throwing a hard look at K-2. “We’re not bloody droids.”

“Are you–” K-2 seemed to be thrown a little. “You imply that I do not experience emotions. I am programmed to feel a variety, including loyalty, apprehension, and irritation. Droids can feel.”

“Well, I will respect your feelings when you fucking respect ours, then!”

Without facial expressions, it was hard to tell what was whirring through K-2SO’s processers in that moment. Cassian stared at Jyn in awe, although she kept her gaze firmly on K-2, kind of fearing his reaction. Had she gone too far? But eventually, K-2 let out a soft whir which she thought might be a sigh as he hung his head.

“I concede your point, Jyn Erso,” he said. “I apologise.”

“Thank you.”

“Just please refrain from kissing in front of me?” K-2 mentioned. “I have the capability to feel all basic human emotions, and disgust is one of them.”

“We make no promises,” Cassian quickly put in, staring only at her.

Before they could act on the words, however, that was when loud voices that had been slowly approaching from a corridor beyond theirs reached a crescendo. They turned to watch several crew members practically running as they hurried past them, their words rushed and panicked.

“Did you get a hold of Lightholler yet?”

“Nothing’s going through – what the hell is happening down there?” 

“Communications is probably down, hurry up, come on!” 

The three of them exchanged looks.

“We need to keep moving,” Cassian said. 

Officer Kyra Landon had been sleeping at her station when she’d first gotten the call.

Now, she was forced to frantically field calls left right and centre. It was one of their pilots (bloody Rohn) who had been the one to first call and explain what was happening, and she hadn’t exactly been amused.

“Tell me you’re fucking joking,” she had deadpanned.

“I’M NOT,” Rohn had practically yelled down the comm. “We hit a kriffing asteroid and there's a fuckton of damage! You’re gonna be ordered to send out an official distress call, you have our co-ordinates, right–?”

“I always have them,” Kyra had heaved herself upright out of her creaky chair, rubbing her eyes. “but are you sure you’re not fucking with me? Last time was seriously the last time I fall for one of your idiotic pranks.”

“DO I SOUND LIKE I’M JOKING?” 

“Blimey, FINE,” Kyra had huffed out. In all her time running communications on this ship alongside the pilot, she had never heard him sound quite so panicked before. She didn’t get what the fuss was about! They’d sustained damage before and they’d always managed to pull through without having to inform the passengers, no harm, no public statement. A distress call was something different. That was…

Beep, beep, beep. 

Something dangerous.

“Oh, shit,” she had said, glancing up at her screen. “The captain’s calling me.”

“See!” Rohn had yelled. “I told you!”

She had believed him. Captain Smyth was quick to inform her about the collision, about how dozens of staff had already been trapped in sealed off areas, and she had felt the ice slide down into her stomach. The calls had been quick to come flooding in after that. She finally ended up ignoring all of them (all fifteen flashing red as urgent, urgent, urgent) in order to send out their own distress signal. 

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!” she called. “This is Titanic! This is Titanic! We’ve been hit, is there anybody out there? MAYDAY!” 

In the few minutes it took to reach Krennic’s suite, the amount of people in the hallways seemed to double. Other first-class passengers were rousing from bed, confused and in demand of answers about why the engines seemed to have apparently stopped.

“I have an important meeting to make in two days’ time!” one officer was yelling.

“No one said this was happening, I demand to see your schedule!” a woman in a satin robe complained.

“I want to speak to your commanding officer!” another insisted to who was clearly already the commanding officer for that deck.

“Everything is fine, Ma’am,” Jyn overheard him saying loudly. “I assure you this is just a routine engine check, everyone please return to your rooms!”

Thankfully they were still able to blend into the first-class crowds that were slowly forming. They paused before turning the corner to Krennic’s suite, allowing K-2 time to scan for lifeforms inside. 

Jyn eyed the droid with some trepidation, but apparently (and thankfully) they were genuinely moving on from the earlier spat at the viewport. Honestly, she didn’t know where that had all come from. She understood K-2′s side clearly, but as for herself... she reached back a hand, blindly grasping Cassian's for a moment as they watched for signs of movement. 

“Is he still in there?” Cassian whispered.

“No, the entire suite is empty,” K-2 answered. “I would assume that Krennic has left like all these others to go and find out what is happening.”

“It’s now or never,” he said, reluctantly. Jyn knew he had to hate going in like this, with a hastily changed plan that none of them had revised. He was apparently never anything less than prepared but in this case, they had no choice but to go when they could. He turned to exchange a glance with Jyn and she saw the anxieties sketched on his face.

“I know,” she said.

Getting in was easy considering Jyn had access. They stole inside with no one the wiser, K-2 acting as their look out from the corridor. Getting access to the plans was another matter entirely. The safe they were being kept in sat inside the nightstand next to Krennic’s bed and Jyn had self-taught herself to slice her way into things but the largest thing she’d ever managed to hack into was Krennic’s personal device whenever she had been bored. She’d never even come close to getting into the data system that had housed all of his research and she had certainly never cracked a safe before. Cassian pulled out a scramble key and offered it, but she shook her head.

“I can’t – I’ve never–”

“Whatever your skill set, you’ll be better than me,” he insisted. “Quickly.”

She knew he had to be anxious. As much as he believed her, she knew that his entire career was on the line here as well as his life, and at this point he could afford to worry about the former. She swore spectacularly when she thankfully connected the scramble key successfully, but ran into the snag they both knew had been coming.

“We can’t slice in without the safe warning Krennic that someone is trying to access it without authority.”

“We already predicted that,” Cassia said. “Don’t give in, come on–” 

“What if we get these plans, but it’s not what you want?” Jyn said. “Not what your Rebel Alliance wants–”

“We have come too far for you to freak out now,” Cassian insisted fiercely. “Jyn, in the end I don’t fucking care what’s in that safe. If it’s what the council wants to hear or not, I couldn’t care less, they aren’t the most important thing in the galaxy anymore–”

He cut himself off, staring at her as if he was just realising the magnitude of what he’d just said. The Rebel Alliance was no longer the most important thing in the rebel spy’s life. Implying that she was… sent her tail-spinning almost as if the scramble key was plugged into her brain instead of the safe. She didn’t deserve this. She spent her whole life aiding the man who had built a weapon of mass destruction, played nice to keep herself safe, she shouldn’t be important to anyone except her dead father. But here was this man crouched in front of her, eyes wide and apparently choked on his own words.

She didn’t know him at all a few weeks ago. She still didn’t really know him now. But she knew enough to trust him with her life and maybe that could be enough.

“Abort, Abort!” She could hear K-2’s voice suddenly blearing into Cassian’s ear all the way from where she was. “I’ve just finished scanning the corridor and Krennic has set security to notify him whenever someone enters the room–”

“What?” Jyn straightened. No cameras on her, that was a rule insisted on by her father and that had been respected her entire life up until now. Krennic didn’t like it, but he needed to keep Galen happy to work, and so she hadn’t ever had to worry about someone watching her – 

“He surely knows you ran away again,” Cassian said quickly. “He would have it on so he’ll know if you came back–”

“No, you don’t understand, I’ve never had cameras on me before, something is wrong–”

The bedroom doors slid open. Before she could say much else, one of her familiar bodyguards had already grabbed her by the back of her vest and dragged her out into the living room of the suite. She only managed to catch a glimpse of LJ’s severely pissed off face before she was hitting the floor. Cassian was similarly thrown down next to her, keeping his hands up as Director Krennic moved to stand over them. Jyn’s heart pounded as he watched them with cold calculation. She rarely saw that face. If she was ever around him as a child, it was usually because she was with her father, and Krennic usually kept a reasonable, forced-friendly expression with him. For about two seconds she was certain that they were both done for.

Then Krennic turned and scowled at his bodyguards. “What do you think you’re doing being so rough with her? My dear, you must have gone through hell!” and he reached out a hand to help her up off the floor. She loathed to take it, but did when she felt Cassian subtly squeezing her calve from where they sat together. She allowed herself to get pulled to her feet and protectively into Krennic’s side. 

“Did he do anything to you? Are you hurt?” Krennic asked.

She closed her eyes. This was their chance.

“I’m fine,” she said, shortly.

“I knew he was rebel scum from the moment he introduced himself,” Krennic stared down his nose at Cassian still kneeling on the floor. His eyes she knew had probably already swept the entire room, looking to weak points, ways out. She was doing it too. 

A) Use the blasters hidden in their clothes and kill them all

A fight would cause attention and bodies and potential injuries that they couldn’t afford to have.

B) Manipulate Krennic into opening the safe somehow, get the plans

And where to from there? Too many variables, no concrete way. 

C) Pray that K-2 could get them out of this

Might help Cassian, probably wouldn’t help her.

So far their best bet seemed to be the second option while waiting for the third and using the first only as a last resort. Jyn closed her eyes, breathing out slowly, before turning her well-trained pampered look on Krennic and saying,

“He used me, Sir,” She threw the dirtiest look she could manage at Cassian on the floor. “Flattered me and got to know me and used me for his own gain. He wanted me to open the safe, get the Death Star plans. Joke’s on him, I couldn’t open it.”

“Of course you couldn’t, like I would allow you access,” Krennic said as if she were stupid to not realise. “You manipulated the wrong person, Sward. Or whatever your actual name is.”

 “Captain Cassian Andor, Rebel Intelligence,” Cassian spat.

“Well, Captain Andor,” Krennic’s hand, she noticed, didn’t loosen its grip at all from when it had tugged her elbow into his side. “I’m not surprised you managed to get this one under your control – she’s been weak ever since her father passed – but what I’m more curious to know,” He stepped forward, dragging Jyn with him and snapping his fingers so that his bodyguards did the same. “is how the hell you knew that I would be transporting the plans on this vessel in the first place.”

For a split second, Cassian’s eyes flickered in uncertainty, a small moment of oh fuck, we’re done for. He wouldn’t betray her, she knew that, but even she couldn’t figure out another solid explanation that didn’t jeopardise her in some way. In the end, he apparently went with the vague truth.

“Guess your men aren’t as loyal as you think.”

“You’re saying that I have a spy?”

Cassian just shrugged.

Krennic clearly looked rattled by this, but he shook it off fairly quickly. “No matter,” he said. “I already have the most powerful weapon in the entire galaxy, there’s nothing even the best spy could do about it. Just you wait until the power of the Death Star is unleashed,” he dropped the smirk, anger coating his features now as he slammed a boot into Cassian’s ribs. He didn’t make a sound, but dropped to the ground immediately, Jyn’s jaw practically locked from clenching her teeth so hard.

“I think the first to go will be your precious rebellion.”

It seemed that Krennic was going to kick Cassian again, and Jyn was all but two seconds from blowing the entire thing and punching him in the face when an emergency siren suddenly sounded. It made her jump a little, even LJ twitching as it swung between high and low pitches, piercing and broken up every now and then by a voice announcing,

Please advance to the assembly point using your nearest exit!

“It seems that Titanic is in a bit of trouble,” Krennic added quickly then, snapping at the bodyguards. They both stormed forward and hauled Cassian to his feet. Jyn didn’t dare meet his eyes. He had to know she was acting, that this was their best way out of this, that she didn’t actually think he’d been manipulating her the entire time. They would get out of this, they would –

“You know what order I give for rebels,” Krennic snapped at the bodyguards. “But we’re apparently evacuating, everything will be locked down to prevent a hull breach. If his body is discovered there will be an investigation and I can’t risk having security snooping around. Just lock him up somewhere, if this ship is really going down then space will take care of him.”

Don’t make a sound. Don’t make a sound. Jyn bit her lip until it bled to force herself to stay silent while watching Cassian get dragged out of the room. All of this for nothing, they were going to beat him up and leave him for dead somewhere and if it was going to be at all worth it, then it was all up to her now. The siren that was still blaring was making her head ring but she had to concentrate – if she could just get Krennic to open the damn safe –

“Oh, thank the Force!” she declared, pulling away from Krennic the second Cassian was out of sight. “If you hadn’t come in I don’t know what I would have done.”

“He probably would have killed you, my dear,” Krennic said, sympathetically. “You’re lucky I arrived when I did, although this wouldn’t have been an issue if you just stayed in your room like you’re supposed to.”

Jyn laughed weakly, as she always did when accused of running. “Can you blame me for wanting to get out?”

“This is a serious matter, Jyn.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

His face evened out. “Oh, I know my dear. I’m just glad that you’re ok.”

Like hell he was. He was livid, seconds from losing it, but putting on a face because he thought he could still get to her.  Keep her under his control. Jyn refrained from lashing out and instead, pointed back to the safe.

“He nearly got in. You might want to check that it’s still secure.”

And Krennic started… laughing.

Honestly, it was not the reaction that she was expecting, although perhaps she should have. A second later, he slapped her across the face so hard that she staggered and nearly fell to the floor. She felt the inside of her cheek cut on her teeth, her eyes stinging as he laughed at her.

“You really thought I had no idea that you were the one who betrayed me?”

She glanced back up at Krennic, face throbbing. He stared her down, no longer the man who had cared for her since she was eight. This was the man who had murdered her father right in front of her, the one who didn’t care for appearances. She’d fucked up, oh Force had she fucked up somewhere.

“You can encrypt a holo all you like, but it’s still being sent out on my servers,” Krennic snarled at her. “I didn’t know who or what at first but I suspected. I’ve trained you well, but you were always too much of a daddy’s girl. As soon as he was gone I figured that it wouldn’t take long for you to rebel, but still I hated to have to kill you too so I kept you around in hopes that you might see sense. Apparently, you didn’t. You told the Alliance how to find you, about the Death Star plans, about everything.”

All pretences dropped, Jyn spat in his face.

“I’d rather be a dead rebel than work for you.”

He pulled his blaster on her.

“Get on your knees.”

Slowly, she sank down. He stooped forward to pat her down and found the blaster that Cassian had given her in her jacket. He threw it across the room before training his own blaster directly at her forehead.

“You can’t risk leaving a body, remember?” she pointed out.

“I might make an exception for you. I suppose I’ve always had a bit of a weakness for the Erso family, after all.”

She braced herself to spring. She was going to die here, but she wasn’t going to die without a fight. Krennic would have to shoot her ten times over before she eventually gave in. However, before she could leap for the ornate coffee table and use it as a shield, before Krennic could squeeze the trigger, the doors to the suite suddenly slid open once again.

Krennic whirled around. It took K-2SO less than two seconds to slam his fist on top of his head and send him into a heap on the pristine floor.

“Honestly,” K-2 complained. “I have to do all the work around here.”

[theteenagetrickster]

10 Anthems From Device, Hamburg's Notorious Early- '90s Techno Temple-- Telekom Electronic Beats

When the very first Device nightclub opened up in Hamburg in 1989, it was actually welcomed as a choice to other locations that worked on tighter time limits and also frequented less central sites. Unlike Front end, the pioneering club that launched property music to Germany-- as well as perhaps continental dancing floorings--, the 1st Device at Talstrasse corrected in the center of some of one of Europe's greatest home entertainment areas, known traffic signal area around Reeperbahn, as well as given that of this its own parties could possibly last much longer.

At to begin with, the songs at Unit was zero different to what was played elsewhere around town-- a traditional post-acid residence boom mix. Soon though, the resident DJs like Gary D, Tobias Lampe as well as Henry, as well as guide national and international guest DJs, shifted in the direction of techno and also later hypnotic trance, as well as Unit ended up being a leading light in setting up as well as pressing these sounds additional together with various other national backbones in Berlin and Frankfurt.

The very first Unit room possessed to approach 1994 due to raised criminal activity in the place, however it resumed the same year as System II in a momentary site also near Reeperbahn, prior to System III cleared up in an old factory area in yet another area. Yet as the club grew much bigger in size as well as ambition, the groups performed certainly not jump on the bandwagon, and System shut permanently in 1999. Our experts asked DJ Tobias Lampe for a list of files that helped make the first System version and also his and also Holly's residency, gotten in touch with Pure Electricity, such a long lasting mind.

A Homeboy, A Hippie & & A Funki Dredd, "Complete Complication (Incredible Mix)" (Tam Tam Records 1990)

"This is just one of the very early anthems at the club, which I believe was actually also already intensely played due to the very first Device DJs Pari D and Dual UMF. The early years were in fact incredibly open minded. They played a blend of home, hip hop, techno, also downtempo beats and a design contacted hip home. As well as it mirrors essentially just how it was actually functioning in the UK at the same time, this period when no person at the go crazy had tensions regarding having 808 State, Break, Frankie Bones, Orbital and Master Josh all on the same stage."

Foremost Writers, "Extended Attraction Model (Forethought Model)" (Nu Gouge 1990)

"I guess I first heard this magic item when Boris Dlugosch played it at the Face nightclub. Tough to detail why, yet it absolutely always produced this wonderful, intense setting, both at Front end as well as at Pure Energy on Fridays, where Henry and me played this monitor virtually weekly. Few other monitors can catch the emotion of the moment thus strongly-- in the past it was actually led by residence as well as techno music from London, The Big Apple Urban Area, Chicago as well as Detroit. Front club was greatly influential, as effectively as the Friday shopping excursion to the Compartment Records outlet, which imported all the songs directly. As Boris Dlugosch played a lot less as well as less techno at Front, our experts attempted to play and also work with all factors of it at Pure Power, and particularly techno coming from Detroit."

Psychological Mayhem, "Joey's Riot" (Atmosphere Records 1990)

"Specifically in Nyc Metropolitan area, designates like Nu Canal and also others were discharging popular music that seemed like both house and techno. Our company commemorated precisely these combination seems and also in knowledge this may have been what Hamburg was actually constantly approximately. Always broad-minded as well as somehow in between. Our experts were definitely experimenting with all type of audios at that time. Our company participated in pretty hard whacking techno as well as early hypnotic trance, however at the center of what we played was actually regularly what our experts called tech-house. This prime goose bump instance of the tech-house audio our company really loved was actually generated by Joey Beltram, who for our team was among the leading New york city manufacturers within this area."

Format, "Solid Treatment" (ESP Records 1991)

"This Orlando Voorn one was a what our company called a Voll-Brett. Brett means slab, it is actually a condition used for especially efficient flooring fillers-- our team embraced this language from the Frankfurt scene. It is actually a sure go that consistently helps make happy skins in the club. It was one of the evident anthems, at minimum for our nights."

The Therapist, "Pioneers Of The Distorted Gouge" (Rising High 1991)

"Our experts arranged bus journeys from Hamburg to the first Mayday celebration as well as Passion Parades. I still remember our company spent 3 days putting together the 1st Break The Restrictions Go Crazy at Kasematten/Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, and also after our experts were done partying, our company removed whatever and also then headed in the direction of Berlin for Mayday in a bus stuffed with Hamburg ravers.

Holly and also I were actually thus expended that we needed to terminate our Pure Electricity gig there, as well as rather we partied on as most effectively as our company still could. And then, at some time, The Therapist obtained on stage, as well as they tossed dozens environment-friendly glow catches right into the group. The lightings and haze performed the rest.

The landscapes at Halle Weissensee was wonderful, and afterwards the popular music came on. It merely wasted me away the number of music influences they could unite. Hypnotic trance was certainly not a music phrase for our company then, but if you apply it to a state of mind The Hypnotist possibly was actually the act that toenailed it down well, specifically at that job. Naturally, our experts couldn't aid it, and also experienced need to celebrate these tracks at Device, essentially coming from 4 a.m. onwards."

Ramirez, "Los Angeles Musika Tremenda (Los Angeles Tormenta Mix)" (DFC 1991)

"Ramirez created a minimum of 2 masterpieces of early tech-trance (which is what we eventually called this style), and also this is just one of them. I perform certainly not recognize how to explain it precisely, but the path possessed this subliminal audio filthy contact, as well as when I hear it, I will definitely for life think about sweat-drenched ravers, trembling blinking light, bulky haze and the expertise of leaving into broad daytime after partying. This monitor was actually always the one to mobilize the final gets."

Golden Girls, "Dynamic (Frank De Wulf Remix)" (R&S Records 1992)

"In this checklist, I'm likewise making an effort to illustrate exactly how a considerable amount of different settings as well as circles coming from various aspect of the globe made this magical universe of audio our company delighted in at that opportunity. This is actually an ideal instance of the impact of the Belgian noise. I still assume that Belgian as well as Dutch songs's effect has actually regularly been under ranked. This set was a big as well as sure banger at Device."

Vainqueur, "Lyot (Maurizio Mix)" (Maurizio 1992)

"This keep track of is actually typical of the impacts of Berlin and also Detroit to our sound. The Berlin/Detroit axis resided in very early improvement back then, as well as we took trips to Berlin to locate this noise at Hard Wax as well as Ecstasy. We partied to it at Tresor, Teknozid as well as Earth, however likewise at Hamburg's Front end nightclub, before the 1st Device opened up. For our company, Basic Network's discography used the 1st significant releases coming from Berlin, even in conditions of techno. I presume we likewise believed Maurizio was someone from Detroit. The minimalistic, dubbed out and darker components of techno, tinged with some recommendations to EBM, played a significant part at Unit. In fact my first evening at System got on a Wednesday as well as it was actually named Tekkno Nightclub, along with 2 k, of training program. It was actually even more devoted to EBM, Dark Wave and Acid, and after that it opened up to the effects from over the pool, UK, Berlin and also Frankfurt."

Vapourspace, "Gravitational Arc Of 10" (And Also 8 Records 1993)

"I may certainly not recall where I to begin with heard this, but I keep in mind how surprised I was actually. Ever since, I intended to share this feeling, and also it was played at the very least twice a night. I additionally remember we experimented with shifting out the strike out and blasting the fog maker just before the kick drum can be found in, as well as it always triggered astonishing howls from the dance floor. Very little later, Holly and also I promoted the And also 8 night along with Vapourspace reside along with DJ collections through Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva. Our company were actually quite astonished through his cognate stay set spectaculars."

Marmion, "Schöneberg" (Superstitious Notion 1993)

"Henry and I were performing the Pure Power night every Friday at System. Our team held possibly all the relevant labels back then, coming from Derrick Might to Sven Väth. It was actually such a little act in a couple of German cities in those days that all of us felt a little bit like family. Early buddies coming from our go crazy trips to Berlin, Frankfurt as well as Munich were, for example, Mijk van Dijk as well as Marcos Lopez, who provided me this Berlin development as a demo a handful of times after a job at System. This EP and also keep track of in fact turned into one of the landmarks of Fear Recordings, the label I only had started three releases ago. Particularly this 4th release gained the label and both producers a substantial worldwide following. As well as the track is what I call an ideal mix of residence and techno elements; it's a real techno residence classic."

This content was originally published here.

[voyagerafod]

Star Trek Voyager: A Fire of Devotion: Part 2 of 4: Louder Than Bells: Chapter Four

Chapter Four:

    After a month of not being allowed to take the Delta Flyer out for a spin, the now Ensign Tom Paris had been happy when he finally got the chance again, going on a mission with Tuvok and Samantha Wildman. A few days in however, he suddenly found himself missing the safety of his cell in the brig.

    “We’ve got another ion storm coming in,” he said, checking his sensors. “Great. We still haven’t gotten ourselves patched up from the last one. No way we’re making it back to Voyager today.”

    “I am never leaving the ship again,” Samantha said. “I get stranded by the Kazon, Naomi gets sick, dipshit weapons dealer nearly blows Seven’s hand off; every time I step off Voyager something bad happens.”

    “That is not wholly accurate,” Tuvok said. “I can recall with little effort at least two occasions where you were off Voyager, and nothing that could be described as negative occurred.”     “Yeah, two,” Samantha said. “That doesn’t disprove my point. Leaving that ship is just bad luck.”     “To be fair Sam,” Paris said, “it’s not like every day on Voyager herself is sunshine and bunnies.” He checked his console one more time to make sure the Flyer was stationary as trying to move during an ion storm only made it more dangerous. “We’ve got several minutes before it hits, better contact Naomi, let her know you’ll be delayed so she won’t worry.”

---

    Naomi Wildman beamed with pride as she left the holodeck, having quickly and triumphantly solved the problem presented her in the current Flotter chapter on the holodeck she was on, and she was looking forward to sharing her accomplishments with her mom. She wasn’t going to have to wait too long though, because the reason she’d left the holodeck when she did was because Neelix had called to let her know that her mother was contacting from the Delta Flyer, and that Neelix had set up a visual communications link in her quarters.

    Once she got there, Neelix simply stood back while Naomi sat at the table and looked at the screen. She’d asked where Seven of Nine was, but Neelix said that Seven was being kept busy on the bridge. Naomi thought it was kind of weird that her mom’s girlfriend wouldn’t be here, but figured maybe they’d talk later, and talk about the kind of grown up stuff she didn’t like being in the room for.     “Hi Mom,” she said.     “Hey sweetie,” Samantha replied. Naomi wasted no time in detailing how she’d helped the Flotter character make peace with a character named Trevis, even though deep down she knew that her mom probably knew these characters already since she’d also played in those holonovels as a kid.     “I can show you how I did it tomorrow when you get back,” Naomi said, finally finished. Her mother sighed as the static on the channel got worse.     “I’m sorry, Naomi, the away mission is taking longer than planned. It may be a few more days.”     “Days?” Naomi said, frowning.

    “‘Fraid so. But don’t worry, I’ll be bringing back some beautiful sillenite crystals for you and for Seven. Now I know what time it is there, so I want you to get ready for bed while I talk to Neelix, okay?”     “All right,” Naomi said, sadly, getting up to do as her mother told her. ---

    Neelix could tell even through the static that Samantha Wildman was putting on a brave face. As soon as Naomi went to her room to change, Neelix sat down.     “Samantha?” he said. “What’s wrong?”     “We got hit by an ion storm,” she said. “We took a beating, but I imagine it would be worse if we were in a regular shuttle.”     “How bad?”     “We’re trying to make repairs, but there’s another storm on the way.” The static got worse. Neelix saw Samantha look down. It was probably just as bad on her end too. “I need to go. Say goodnight to Naomi for me.”     “Of course,” Neelix said. “Do you want me to say anything to Seven of Nine as well, or-”     “I’m sure the Captain’s already briefed her on the situation. But thanks. The signal’s getting worse, I have to go.”     The screen went black. Neelix sighed. For a moment he considered telling Naomi the truth about why her mother was delayed, but decided against it. Samantha hadn’t said anything, probably not wanting Naomi to worry unnecessarily.     I won’t tell her yet, he thought. I just need to figure out when. Or maybe I’ll get lucky and Samantha, Tom, and Tuvok will all be home before it even becomes an issue.

-o-

    Neelix, along with the rest of the senior staff still on-board listened quietly in the briefing room as the static-marred mayday message from Tuvok played for them, the sound cutting out just after his voice told them that they were looking for an emergency landing site for the Delta Flyer.     “That was the last transmission we got from them,” Chakotay said. “We haven’t heard anything since. We’ve tried hailing them but they aren’t responding.”     “If they’re looking for a place to land,” the Doctor said, “it must be pretty bad.”     “Exactly what I was thinking,” B’Elanna said. “Can we pick them up on long range sensors?”

    “We lost their energy signature when the second ion storm hit,” Harry Kim said. “But we’ve triangulated the coordinates of the distress call. They’ve entered a planetary system about 0.6 light years from here. That’s the good news. The bad is that another ion storm blocking our path. It’s a level five.”     “Hmm,” Janeway said. “We’ve been through worse than a Level 5. And since Edwin’s shield reinforcements are still in place, we should be able to ride it out just fine. We’re not going to let a little bad weather get in the way of our rescue mission. Dismissed.”     “What should I tell Naomi?” Neelix said, speaking up for the first time since the briefing started. “Or should I tell her anything for that matter?”     Chakotay shrugged. “If you don’t feel comfortable handling that Neelix, perhaps I could help.”     “That won’t be necessary Commander,” Neelix said. “I know she needs to be told, and it probably should come from me. Except for her mother and maybe Seven of Nine, I’m closer to her than anyone. I’m just worried about how she’ll handle it.”     “Understandable,” Janeway said. “Look, just keep her occupied for awhile while we handle the rescue mission. If things go sideways, it’ll be my job to deliver the bad news.”     “This reminds me,” B’Elanna said. “Has anyone told Seven yet?”     “She’s aware of the Flyer’s damage from the first ion storm,” Harry said. “But us in this room are the only ones with the latest information. I’m sure she’ll handle it fine though. This is the woman who was able to save us all from a killer nebula, while in the middle of a nervous breakdown no less,” he added, referring to last year’s month-long period where all but Seven and the Doctor had to sleep in stasis tubes.     “This is different though,” Janeway said.     “How so?” Neelix said, wondering where the captain was going with this.     “It’s a matter of scale,” she said. “The larger the number of people in danger, the easier it is to detach and focus on the task at hand. There’s a huge difference between a hundred and twenty plus, and three. And when one of those three is someone you’re emotionally attached to…”     “I would remind you that my boyfriend is one of the people in danger,” B’Elanna said. “And I don’t see anyone worrying about me not being able to focus.”     “I’ve known you longer, I know I don’t need to,” Janeway said. “We’ve all gone through something like this before. But for Seven this is still new, she’s never had to perform with these kinds of stakes before.”

    “With all due respect Captain,” Harry said, “I think you’re selling her short. I’m confident Seven of Nine won’t let her connection to Sam cloud her judgement, and we’ll probably need her skills on this mission.”     “I agree,” Neelix said.     “Same here,” the Doctor said. Janeway shrugged.     “You’re probably right,” she said. “Harry, let her know the situation. Neelix, keep Naomi occupied, like I said. Everyone else, let’s start putting a rescue plan together.”

---

    Seven of Nine was slightly confused. When Janeway summoned her to the bridge and updated her on the Delta Flyer’s situation, Seven began to feel a sense of panic, not unlike the one she’d had weeks before when Edwin was allowing himself to die in sickbay. She couldn’t quite understand why though. The concern for Samantha, of course was natural, and she imagined that B’Elanna Torres felt much the same way about Tom Paris, whose life was also in danger aboard the Flyer. During her time on the ship however, the entire ship had been in danger more times than should have been statistically probable. By extension, Sam was in danger then too. Seven just could not discern what made this different.

    Maybe it’s because I helped design the shuttle, she found herself thinking as she went over schematics on a PADD that Harry had handed her. If I’d been more involved perhaps it wouldn’t be so badly damaged.     “Has Naomi been informed?” she asked Lieutenant Kim.     “Neelix is going to handle that,” Harry said. “but not just yet. I can’t blame him for being reluctant, no one wants to be the bearer of bad news.”     “Perhaps that is for the best,” Seven said. “I would offer to tell her myself, but as Sam as pointed out to me more than once I still require improvement in the, to use her words, ‘tact department.’”

    Harry chuckled at that. Seven had not intended the statement to be amusing, but she decided to keep that to herself.

    “I should probably steer clear of Naomi for the remainder of the operation,” she said. “If I see her she will likely ask me about the status of her mother, and much like Sam I do not like deceiving her.”     “You’ve had to lie to her before?” Harry said.     “Yes,” she said. Harry looked for a moment like he might ask for further details on that, but he didn’t, for which Seven was grateful as she would not have given him any. None of the falsehoods were large ones, it was simply a matter of there being things that Sam felt it was in Naomi’s best interest that she not know about until she was an adult. Seven was skeptical, but chose to defer to Samantha on the matter.

    What will I do if she doesn’t come back? she thought. She tried to push the intrusive thought aside, but it kept nagging at her quietly in the back of her mind, so she instead tried to focus harder on the information on her PADD, working to put together a rescue mission.

---

    As Tom Paris pushed the thrusters on the Delta Flyer to their limits, Samantha kept her focus on the console screen, trying to find somewhere, anywhere, to land the ship. With warp drive and even impulse engines off-line though, she knew they were only delaying the inevitable and that the ion storm was going to hit them.

    “And to think that being demoted and having to spend a month in the brig would end up not being the worst thing to happen to me this year,” she heard Paris mutter.     “The storm is throwing off my readings,” she said, “but there is definitely a big rock nearby, I just can’t find it.” The ship shuddered.     “The wave front is accelerating,” Tuvok said. “Less than two minutes to impact.”     “Great, so I’ve only got about thirty seconds to land this thing,” Tom said. “Samantha, I hate to rush you-”     “Got it,” she said, “Finally. I read a class-M atmosphere, and a benamite mantle.” She quickly transferred the distance and coordinates to Tom’s console.     “Benamite? I want to land this shuttle, not bury it,” he said as he turned the shuttle towards the planet which would hopefully protect them from more ion storms.     “Well, we could always just try to surf the ion storm,” Samantha snarked, her patience starting to waver as the shuddering got worse.     “We’ve entered the upper atmosphere,” Tuvok said a few seconds later. Samantha continued her scans.     “Nothing but impact craters and volcanoes,” she said, “this is not a good landing place.”     “The storm is closing,” Tuvok said. “Shields are already at maximum.”     “It’s gonna have to do,” Tom said. “So long as we don’t land in a volcano we should be fine.”     “Starboard thrusters are down,” Tuvok said.     “Damn,” Tom said. “This is just not my day.”     “We’re going in too fast,” Samantha said, finally starting to panic.     “Hang on!” Tom yelled.

    The ship shook violently, there were loud clanging noises, Samantha felt her head hit something, and her vision became fuzzy. She didn’t remember being unconscious, but when she opened her eyes, she saw that she’d been moved from where she’d been sitting, and she was very, very sore.

    “Wha-what happened?” she said, touching a sore spot on her head, and seeing blood on the tips of her fingers.     Tom was scanning her with a medical tricorder. Samantha found herself glad that he had agreed to be trained as a field medic.     “We made it. -ish,” Tom said. “The Delta Flyer’s first real planetary landing wasn’t exactly an auspicious one. We’re three kilometers under the surface. At least our primary hull is still in one piece.”     “Wish I felt the same way,” Samantha said.     “You’ll be okay,” Tom said. “Minor fractures, a concussion, nothing I can’t handle.”     “You’re a better nurse than you are a liar, Ensign,” Samantha grunted and clutched her side, which was hurting worse now.     Tom closed the medical tricorder and sighed. “You have a punctured kidney,” he said. “You need surgery.”     Samantha nodded.     “I have transmitted another distress call,” Tuvok said. “So far, no response.”     “I’ve got to talk to Naomi,” Samantha said, feeling scared. “And Annie. My girls, they’ll be so worried about me.”

    “Conserve your strength, Ensign,” Tuvok said. “Mr. Paris and I have the situation under control.”

    “Sam, I’m going to give you a mild sedative and something for the pain, okay?” Tom said, holding up a hypospray. Samantha nodded. She felt a little woozy after Tom applied the hypospray, but she could still hear him and Tuvok as they discussed their situation. Were she not drugged, it might’ve made her panic more.     “Any chance we could abandon ship and walk out of here?” Tom said.     “Unlikely,” Tuvok said. “We’re far too deep underground, and the cavern behind us has filled up with fluorine gas.”     “Seriously?” Tom said, sounding incredulous. “Fluorine? How did it not all ignite when we crashed?”     “Unknown,” Tuvok admitted.     Samantha, not wanting to fall asleep, tried to remember everything she could about fluorine gas and had to agree with Tom. That type of gas was so reactive water would ignite it, and now there was a huge cave full of it right behind them.     Three ion storms in one day, a crash landing, and surrounded by a gas that can explode if you look at it wrong. Welcome to the worst day of my life, she thought.

    “Our best option,” she heard Tuvok say, “is to wait for Voyager.”

-o-

    Naomi kept thinking about how her mom hadn’t contacted her in awhile, how Seven of Nine seemed to be avoiding her, and how nervous Neelix seemed to be. Something was going on, and no one was telling her and it was making her mad enough that nothing the Doctor was telling her about botany was registering.

    The Doctor was saying something about organelles when Naomi finally just said what was on her mind.     “My Mom was supposed to call me today. Why hasn’t she?”     The Doctor paused for a moment.     “Well,” he said, “she’s probably just busy.” The Doctor was still smiling like he was when he was giving his lessons, but Naomi felt something was a little off with the smile, like it was there just to make her feel better. “Now let’s have a little look at the cell wall,” the Doctor said, tapping a button on the console screen in front of her.

    “Can we try to call her?” she said. The Doctor didn’t answer right away.     “Well,” he started to say but was interrupted when the door to sickbay opened. “Neelix, so happy to see you,” the Doctor said. Neelix seemed surprised at that.     “Um, okay,” Neelix said. “I was just coming by to pick up Naomi. We’re going to do another Flotter story on the holodeck today. I’m not too early am I?”     “I was just asking the Doctor if we could call Mom on the Delta Flyer,” Naomi said. Neelix sighed. He looked at the Doctor, who nodded and stepped into his office, leaving her and Neelix alone.     “I should have said something sooner,” Neelix said. Naomi suddenly felt very nervous. “The Delta Flyer got hit pretty bad by some ion storms and had to land on a planetoid to make repairs. We can’t talk to them right now because of the damage. I’m sure you’re scared right now, and it’s okay to be scared, but I want you to know that everyone is doing everything they can to make sure the Flyer and everyone on it comes home safe. Okay?”     Naomi didn’t say anything. She just sat there. She did feel a little scared, like Neelix said she would, but she was also mad. Mad at him for not telling her right away that her mom was in trouble, mad at her mother for not saying she was in trouble the last time she called, mad at ion storms…

She got out of her chair and just left sickbay. Neelix followed her, asking her if she was okay but she just ignored him. She wanted to go somewhere where she could feel safe, so she went to holodeck one and activated the Flotter program. When Neelix tried to follow her in she just yelled “No!” at him and asked the computer to seal the door. She walked as far as the nearest tree, which wasn’t very far since the simulation was of a forest, leaned against it, and cried.

---

Seven of Nine worked at her console in the astrometrics lab. She was concerned for Sam, but she wasn’t allowing her fear to cloud her judgement. If pressed, she would have to admit that she just didn’t know if she could emotionally handle losing her, but that was all the more reason not to be reckless. She imagined that being allowed to work on the rescue mission played a large part, if not the largest, in helping maintain her calm.

“Computer, switch to polythermal imaging and enhance resolution,” she said. As she said so she heard the door open behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Neelix enter.     “Do you require assistance, Neelix?” she said.     “Maybe. I’m worried about Naomi,” Neelix said. He sighed, then added, “I messed up. I should’ve told her sooner, but I didn’t and I think waiting only made it worse.”     “How much did you tell her?” Seven said.     “Not much, just that the Flyer was in trouble and had to land. I didn’t tell her it crashed though.”     “I’ve found that Naomi is more clever and resilient than many on board Voyager give her credit for. She may well be angry that she wasn’t informed sooner about her mother’s situation, but I doubt that will hold for long. She will understand that you were only trying to protect her.”     “I could’ve done a better job of it, but thanks anyway Seven. Since she knows now, maybe you should talk to her before going down there to join the rescue team. She noticed how you weren’t saying much to her the past few days.”     “I will do that. Currently I am mapping the caverns around the crash site.” Seven stopped, and looked up from her console. “Do you have any experience mapping caverns, Neelix?”     “Not using technology like this, but I see where you’re going with that. Just tell me which buttons to push and I’ll keep the program going while you talk to Naomi.”     “Thank you,” Seven said. She gave Neelix a pat on the shoulder, a reassuring gesture that Samantha had done for her on numerous occasions. “If it is any consolation, the fact that you are willing to admit you were in error means you are unlikely to make a similar mistake in the future.”

“It doesn’t make me feel much better, Seven,” Neelix said. “but thanks for trying anyway. I suppose it’s a good thing I’m only a godparent and not a real parent.”     “That is not for me to say,” Seven said. As she started to leave, her comm badge chirped.     “Commander Chakotay to Seven of Nine.”     “Yes, Commander,” Seven said.     “Rescue Team Alpha needs that data,” Chakotay said, his voice suggesting urgency. Seven sighed. “I will meet you at the transporter site.” She closed the communication and turned to Neelix. “I don’t think I’m going to have time to talk to Naomi after all. Keep looking after her Neelix. She’ll need someone to talk to once the initial shock has worn off, if it hasn’t already.”

“Okay. And Seven? Bring them home.”     “I intend to.”

---

    “Ready, Tuvok?” Tom said.     “Ready,” Tuvok said. Samantha heard much of what was going on since the crash, but wasn’t sure what they were ready for. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness the whole time since they’d crashed, and the painkillers Tom was giving her were still working but they were also making it hard to focus.

    “Cross your fingers,” she heard Tom say. He reached into an open panel, touched something, and something on the panel up at the front where Tuvok was seated sparked.     “Damn,” Tom grunted.     “The magnetic relays have overloaded,” Tuvok said.     “We’d better find another way to polarize this hull, or Voyager’s sensors won’t be able to pick us up,” Tom said.     “Do not give up hope,” Tuvok said. “Probability of rescue is admittedly low, but it is not statistically impossible.”     “Comforting,” Tom said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.     “If we don’t make it,” Samantha said softly, “who’s going to look after Naomi?”     “The most likely outcome would be that Neelix and Seven of Nine would share that responsibility,” Tuvok said. “That is, of course, assuming we do not get rescued, which you should not rule out.”     Samantha scoffed, followed by a wince as the pain in her side flared up again.     “Our ship has Borg enhanced sensors and they still haven’t found us yet. If my honey’s tech can’t find us-”     “I’d hate to be the one who gives Seven the order to abandon the search,” Tom said under his breath, not realizing that Samantha could hear him.     “Shut up, Tom,” she said.     “Sorry,” he replied, looking embarrassed.     “You are concerned for your daughter, this is understandable,” Tuvok said. “I would remind you however that I am also a parent. My youngest child has been without her father for four years. Yet I am certain of her well-being. Your child will likewise survive and prosper, no matter what becomes of us.”     “He’s right,” Tom said, the first time she’d heard him say anything to or about Tuvok that wasn’t dripping with sarcasm since the crash. “There’s not a sentient on Voyager that wouldn’t take a phaser blast for that kid and you know it.”     Samantha felt tears well up, but not from the pain.

“Thank you,” she said.

---

    Seven of Nine walked around the cavern with her tricorder out, trying to learn everything she could about the cavern they were in. She, along with Chakotay, Joe Carey, and the rest of Rescue Team Alpha had found a piece of one of the Delta Flyer’s nacelles. While Chakotay informed the captain, Seven put together the data she collected. The cavern ahead of them had collapsed, but there was a hull signature behind the debris. She almost smiled, certain that not only had Sam and the others been found but they were likely alive, albeit trapped. Trapped however was preferable to dead under the majority of circumstances.

    Soon the other rescue teams were there, as were the phaser drills. She continued scanning as the drills operated, making sure that the activity didn’t cause another cave-in that would kill them as well. As progress was made, Seven was able to get more information in her tricorder about the cavern ahead of them, including the composition of the gas…     “Oh no,” she uttered before yelling at the team to stop the drills.     “What is it?” Carey asked. She handed him her tricorder.     “Fluorine gas,” she said. “If we pierce the final layer with a phaser it will ignite, destroying the cave, the Delta Flyer, and us with it.”     “Son of a bitch,” Carey said. “How did that even happen?”     “We could name this whole solar system after Murphy’s Law,” Chakotay said in exasperation. “We can’t just give up and leave them there, but long range sensors show yet another ion storm coming which would likely cause another cave in cutting off all hope.”     “Another ion storm?” Seven said, not even hiding the shock in her voice. Ion storms were not a rare thing in the galaxy, but for a single star system to have four of them, four of massive size, in less than an Earth standard week was so ridiculous that she felt like punching something, regardless of the fact that doing so would accomplish approximately nothing.     “Beaming through rock isn’t impossible,” Carey said. “It’s the amount that’s keeping us from getting our people out of there. Maybe if we keep drilling, but stop just before we reach where the gas is-”     “Except the transporter beam would likely ignite the gas as well,” Seven said.     “Possible,” Carey admitted. “But I don’t have any other ideas.”

    “Nor do I,” Seven admitted.     “Alright,” Chakotay said. “you two try to come up with a way to bleed that gas out of the cave without igniting it. But work fast. We’ve got a few hours at best before the Captain gives the order to abort the mission.”

-o-

    Inside the Delta Flyer, Tom Paris was recording a goodbye message for B’Elanna. Samantha didn’t want to eavesdrop, but it was difficult giving how she couldn’t move, and the ship, while larger on the inside that a standard shuttlecraft, just didn’t have enough room for there to be much in the way of private space. Tuvok was writing out his message to his family on a PADD. Sam wasn’t sure which way she was going to go with that just yet, or even if she should bother. Would anyone ever see or hear my last words anyway? she thought.

    “Warning. Life support has fallen to critical levels,” the computer said, cutting off Tom mid-sentence.     “Don’t mind the computer, she’s just jealous that I’m spending my last few moments talking to you. So long,” Tom said. As he hit the button to end recording, Samantha let out a bitter laugh.     “There are men who can’t say ‘I love you.’ And Tom Paris is their God-king,” she said.     “Do you really want to spend your final moments on the mortal coil being a smart ass, Sam?” Tom said, though there was no real anger to speak of in his voice, just resignation. She believed he didn’t really care how she spoke to him at the end, just that he was used to being the one to come back with a quip, so why stop now.

    “I’m sorry,” she said, and she meant it. She chalked up this uncharacteristic pettiness to the slowly fading sedatives and painkillers in her system. Tom had offered her more as there was still several doses worth in the Flyer’s medkit, but she refused. She did not want to be doped up when she made her own goodbye message, which she finally decided would be a visual one, like Tom’s. With Tom’s helping her up since she still couldn’t walk, she got into the chair and started the recording.     “Computer, encode message for delivery to Naomi Wildman, and Seven of Nine.”     “Acknowledged,” the computer said.     “Hi,” she said. “I know you’re both feeling very sad right now but I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay? First of all, I love you. Both of you. Naomi, I am so proud of you. How smart you are, how funny, how kind, how determined to learn new things. You are going to grow up to do extraordinary things. And you listen to Seven of Nine and to Neelix, they’ll be taking care of you now.

“Seven, Annika, I know that this will be harder on you than anyone. But don’t let it stop you from continuing to explore your humanity. Don’t be afraid to keep learning new things, about other organics and about yourself. Don’t use me as anchor. Mourn for however long you feel is right, but if another girl comes along who makes your heart beat faster the way I did, don’t pass on that chance.” Samantha stopped talking for a moment, wiping tears out of her eyes.     “Goodbye, Naomi. Goodbye, Annika Hansen. I love you both, so much.”     “Warning. Oxygen depletion in ten minutes,” the computer said just before Sam ended the recording.

Sam heard a sniff, and turned to see Tom Paris wiping his eyes.     “Okay, I want a do-over,” he said.

---

    Neelix walked onto the holodeck, the forest from the Flotter stories still smoldering from when the trees had been burned in the last chapter. From what he knew of the story there was at least one way, if not more, to restore it, but it appeared that Naomi had not done so yet. He considered for a moment that maybe she just hadn’t figured out how, but realized that far more likely was she wasn’t even trying. She was probably too upset about everything that was going on with her mother and the Delta Flyer.

    “Naomi?” he called out.     “Go away!” Trevis, a character from the holonovel yelled at him. The anthropomorphized tree looked as angry as his voice suggested he was, though if it was at him or at the fact that he was still partially smoldering he wasn’t sure.     “She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Trevis continued.     So he’s mad at me then, Neelix thought. Can’t say I blame him.

    “You lied,” another voice said. Neelix saw Flotter, a water elemental type character,  standing just behind and the to the right of Trevis.     “I thought you were vaporized,” Neelix said.     “Naomi re-liquified me. Now leave!”

    Neelix sighed. He didn’t have time for this, so he told the computer to delete the characters.     “Unable to comply,” the computer’s voice said. “Holodeck controls have been encoded.”     “Great, probably something Seven taught her,” Neelix said. “Look, Flotter, Trevis, I know I made a mistake. I should’ve told her sooner. That’s why I’m here to apologize, to try and make things right.”

    “I wonder if the liar can swim,” Flotter said.     “We could always hang him from one of my branches,” Trevis said.     Good gods who wrote this thing? Neelix thought. This is supposed to be for children.     “Naomi,” Neelix called out. “Please let me talk to you.”     “It’s okay,” he heard Naomi’s voice say. She stood from behind the fallen tree she’d been hiding behind.     “You be nice,” Trevis said.     “No more lying,” Flotter said, pointing a finger in Neelix’s face. Neelix walked around the two characters and went and sat next to Naomi.     “Is my mother dead?” she asked, not looking him the eye.     “We don’t know,” Neelix said. “The rescue operation is still going on.”     “What happened?”     “The Flyer was hit by an ion storm. They tried to land on the planet below us to do repairs, but crashed.”     “I saw debris. Fires. A crater.” Neelix noticed that Naomi still wasn’t looking at him when she talked, like she couldn’t bear to look at him after he’d kept her mother’s situation from her.     “But not the hull. Until we know for sure, I am not giving up on them being alive. Seven of Nine hasn’t, she’s down there helping with the rescue effort right now.”     “Do you really think they might find her?”     “Yes, I do. Your mother has Tom Paris and Tuvok with her, and they’ve survived worse than a shuttle crash before.”     “How do I know you’re telling me the truth this time?”     Neelix thought about it for moment.     “I never told you this before, but when I was younger, I lost my mother. My whole family. There was a war, and they died.”     “Who started it?” Naomi said, looking at him now.

    “It doesn’t really matter,” Neelix said, not wanting to admit that his people had been the aggressors. “Not anymore. Either way, it was still the worst thing that ever happened to me. I wanted to tell you the truth, but every time I came close, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t know if I was protecting you, or myself. I let you down Naomi, and I am so sorry.”     “Why didn’t Seven tell me? She loves my mom, why didn’t she tell me?”     “Seven is still learning about what it’s like to be human,” Neelix said. “I don’t think she was ready for that kind of responsibility, having to be the one to tell a child that their parent was in danger. So she just stayed focus on the rescue effort. I think it helped her stay sane. Though I imagine she’s as scared as you are.”

    Naomi reached out and touched Neelix’s hand. Neelix was sure she was about to say she forgave him, but the ship suddenly shuddered.     “All hands to emergency stations,” Janeway's voice said over the comm. “The approaching ion storm has just upgraded to level eight.”     “Ion storm? What’s that?” Flotter said.

---

    “Level eight? What the hell is wrong with this star system?” Joe Carey shouted when the rescue team in the cavern received the call from the captain.     “No, no, no,” Seven muttered. Progress on the rescue had been slow, but they were so close, she just knew it, even though the data on her tricorder told her it was even odds at this point. For the first time since she’d heard about the Delta Flyer’s troubles several days ago, Seven of Nine crossed the line from fear for her girlfriend’s safety into full blown anxiety. Her hand shook, unwanted visions of Samantha being crushed by kilotons of rock filled her mind, and she was pretty sure she was about to cry.

    “Just a few more meters,” Chakotay told the captain over his comm badge.     “When that storm hits, your cavern is going to destabilize,” Janeway said. “You’ve got six minutes, make the most of it.”     “All right,” Chakotay said. “Keep going, we’ve almost cleared enough rock to be able to beam the whole shuttle out through the rock.”     “But we haven’t been able to clear the fluorine gas yet,” B’Elanna said.     “We’ll have to risk it,” Chakotay said. “It’s that or we lose them for good to another cave-in.”     “I swear, it’s like this system is cursed,” B’Elanna said.     “I was thinking the exact same thing,” Carey said.     “Focus,” Seven snapped at them. Rather than getting mad at her as they usually did when she was so curt, they did as she asked. She actually felt bad for having yelled at them, but this task was just too important. She made a mental note to apologize later, once Samantha was safe and sound.

---

    “Warning. Oxygen depletion in two minutes,” the computer said.     “You know, I think I’m just gonna turn that damn thing off. I don’t need a stopwatch running on my impending death,” Tom said.

    “In accepting the inevitable,” Tuvok said, “one finds peace.”     “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I guess this isn’t how I figured it would all end.”     “Did you envision perhaps a more heroic death?”     “Yeah, why not? Why not go out like Captain Kirk, saving the Enterprise-B and a bunch of refugees from an anomaly? Or Captain Garrett, paving the way for peace with the Klingon Empire by going down fighting against the Romulans? I can think of worse ways to go.”     “Like bleeding out from your kidneys?” Samantha coughed out.     Tom was debating whether to not to reply to that, considering that he didn’t want to risk the last words Samantha Wildman ever heard would be sarcastic ones, when he heard a sound that it took him a second to recognize. When he did, he laughed.     “They did it,” he said after laughing. “They found us. Those are phaser noises, I’d recognize them anywhere!”

---

    Seven of Nine and the rest of the team was beamed aboard just seconds after the Delta Flyer had been beamed to the shuttle bay with the aid of pattern enhancers. Seven did not wait to be dismissed before just dropping her gear on the pad and running, heading for the shuttle bay. When she got there, she saw Ensign Brooks helping Tom Paris step down. He looked a little dizzy and clearly needed the ensign’s help staying upright, but appeared otherwise unharmed, Tuvok climbing out of the shuttle right behind him.     “Sam?” she said. Tom looked at her.     “We had to have her beamed directly to sickbay,” he said. “She needed surgery for internal bleeding. I’m sure the Doc-”     Seven didn’t wait for Tom to finish. She slapped her comm badge so hard it nearly fell off.     “Seven of Nine to Naomi Wildman, meet me outside sickbay,” she said, running again, and nearly knocking over several crewmen as she made her way to sickbay. When she got there, Naomi was already outside, and Neelix was with her. The latter leaning against the bulkhead while the former was pacing until she spotted Seven.     Without saying a word, Naomi ran to her, wrapping her arms around her.     “Is she…” Seven said, but couldn’t bring herself to finish the question.     “The Doctor told us to wait outside,” Naomi said, trying not to sob as she spoke. Seven couldn’t blame her. “Seven, it’s okay that you didn’t tell me Mom was in trouble. I know you were scared. I’m scared too.”     “I’m sorry,” Seven said. “I was so focused on bringing Sam home I didn’t think about what was happening to you.”     “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Neelix said. “She was still conscious when they beamed her on board. That has to be a good sign, right?”     “I believe it is,” Seven said, though she had to admit she wasn’t one hundred percent sure of that. The three of them waited outside in the hall, moving to let people past them when they had to but mainly waiting quietly. When the quiet got to be too much for Seven, she started to ask Naomi about how her holonovels were going, when the door to sickbay opened. The Doctor stood there, smiling.     “Naomi, Seven, you can come in. Mr. Neelix should wait out here so as not to crowd her.”     “No problem,” Neelix said, smiling himself. Seven followed behind Naomi, who quickly ran into her mother’s arms. Seven moved more slowly, not wanting to interrupt the reunion. When Sam saw her, she reached out an arm and motioned for Seven to join them in a group hug, which she did gladly.     “Good to see you again, Annie,” Sam whispered in her easy.     “Likewise,” Seven said.     “I think it goes without saying,” Sam said, “that I am never getting in a shuttle ever again.”     Seven of Nine, for the first time in what had felt like an eternity, laughed.

[cosmicsubs]

windicksy said: by all laws of aviation the bee should not be able to fly

 its wings are too small to get

its fat little body off the ground

 the bee of course flies anyway

 because bees dont care

what humans think is impossible

 yellow black yellow black

yellow black yellow black

 ooh black and yellow

lets shake it up a little

 barry breakfast is ready

 ooming

 hang on a second

 hello?

  barry?

adam?

  oan you believe this is happening?

i cant ill pick you up

 looking sharp

 use the stairs your father

paid good money for those

 sorry im excited

 heres the graduate

were very proud of you son

 a perfect report card all bs

 very proud

 ma i got a thing going here

  you got lint on your fuzz

ow thats me

  wave to us well be in row 118000

bye

 barry i told you

stop flying in the house

  hey adam

hey barry

  is that fuzz gel?

a little special day graduation

 never thought id make it

 three days grade school

three days high school

 those were awkward

 three days college im glad i took

a day and hitchhiked around the hive

 you did come back different

  hi barry

artie growing a mustache? looks good

  hear about frankie?

yeah

  you going to the funeral?

no im not going

 everybody knows

sting someone you die

 dont waste it on a squirrel

such a hothead

 i guess he could have

just gotten out of the way

 i love this incorporating

an amusement park into our day

 thats why we dont need vacations

 boy quite a bit of pomp

under the circumstances

  well adam today we are men

we are

  beemen

amen

 hallelujah

 students faculty distinguished bees

 please welcome dean buzzwell

 welcome new hive oity

graduating class of

 9:15

 that concludes our ceremonies

 and begins your career

at honex industries

 will we pick ourjob today?

 i heard its just orientation

 heads up here we go

 keep your hands and antennas

inside the tram at all times

  wonder what itll be like?

a little scary

 welcome to honex

a division of honesco

 and a part of the hexagon group

 this is it

 wow

 wow

 we know that you as a bee

have worked your whole life

 to get to the point where you

can work for your whole life

 honey begins when our valiant pollen

jocks bring the nectar to the hive

 our topsecret formula

 is automatically colorcorrected

scentadjusted and bubblecontoured

 into this soothing sweet syrup

 with its distinctive

golden glow you know as

 honey

  that girl was hot

shes my cousin

  she is?

yes were all cousins

  right youre right

at honex we constantly strive

 to improve every aspect

of bee existence

 these bees are stresstesting

a new helmet technology

  what do you think he makes?

not enough

 here we have our latest advancement

the krelman

  what does that do?

oatches that little strand of honey

 that hangs after you pour it

saves us millions

 oan anyone work on the krelman?

 of course most bee jobs are

small ones but bees know

 that every small job

if its done well means a lot

 but choose carefully

 because youll stay in the job

you pick for the rest of your life

 the same job the rest of your life?

i didnt know that

 whats the difference?

 youll be happy to know that bees

as a species havent had one day off

 in 27 million years

 so youll just work us to death?

 well sure try

 wow that blew my mind

 "whats the difference?"

how can you say that?

 one job forever?

thats an insane choice to have to make

 im relieved now we only have

to make one decision in life

 but adam how could they

never have told us that?

 why would you question anything?

were bees

 were the most perfectly

functioning society on earth

 you ever think maybe things

work a little too well here?

 like what? give me one example

 i dont know but you know

what im talking about

 please clear the gate

royal nectar force on approach

 wait a second oheck it out

  hey those are pollen jocks

wow

 ive never seen them this close

 they know what its like

outside the hive

 yeah but some dont come back

  hey jocks

hi jocks

 you guys did great

 youre monsters

youre sky freaks i love it i love it

  i wonder where they were

i dont know

 their days not planned

 outside the hive flying who knows

where doing who knows what

 you cantjust decide to be a pollen

jock you have to be bred for that

 right

 look thats more pollen

than you and i will see in a lifetime

 its just a status symbol

bees make too much of it

 perhaps unless youre wearing it

and the ladies see you wearing it

 those ladies?

arent they our cousins too?

 distant distant

 look at these two

  oouple of hive harrys

lets have fun with them

 it must be dangerous

being a pollen jock

 yeah once a bear pinned me

against a mushroom

 he had a paw on my throat

and with the other he was slapping me

  oh my

i never thought id knock him out

 what were you doing during this?

 trying to alert the authorities

 i can autograph that

 a little gusty out there today

wasnt it comrades?

 yeah gusty

 were hitting a sunflower patch

six miles from here tomorrow

  six miles huh?

barry

 a puddle jump for us

but maybe youre not up for it

  maybe i am

you are not

 were going 0900 at jgate

 what do you think buzzyboy?

are you bee enough?

 i might be it all depends

on what 0900 means

 hey honex

 dad you surprised me

 you decide what youre interested in?

  well theres a lot of choices

but you only get one

 do you ever get bored

doing the same job every day?

 son let me tell you about stirring

 you grab that stick and you just

move it around and you stir it around

 you get yourself into a rhythm

its a beautiful thing

 you know dad

the more i think about it

 maybe the honey field

just isnt right for me

 you were thinking of what

making balloon animals?

 thats a bad job

for a guy with a stinger

 janet your sons not sure

he wants to go into honey

  barry you are so funny sometimes

im not trying to be funny

 youre not funny youre going

into honey our son the stirrer

  youre gonna be a stirrer?

no ones listening to me

 wait till you see the sticks i have

 i could say anything right now

im gonna get an ant tattoo

 lets open some honey and celebrate

 maybe ill pierce my thorax

shave my antennae

 shack up with a grasshopper get

a gold tooth and call everybody "dawg"

 im so proud

  were starting work today

todays the day

 oome on all the good jobs

will be gone

 yeah right

 pollen counting stunt bee pouring

stirrer front desk hair removal

  is it still available?

hang on two left

 one of thems yours oongratulations

step to the side

  whatd you get?

picking crud out stellar

 wow

 oouple of newbies?

 yes sir our first day we are ready

 make your choice

  you want to go first?

no you go

 oh my whats available?

 restroom attendants open

not for the reason you think

  any chance of getting the krelman?

sure youre on

 im sorry the krelman just closed out

 wax monkeys always open

 the krelman opened up again

 what happened?

 a bee died makes an opening see?

hes dead another dead one

 deady deadified two more dead

 dead from the neck up

dead from the neck down thats life

 oh this is so hard

 heating cooling

stunt bee pourer stirrer

 humming inspector number seven

lint coordinator stripe supervisor

 mite wrangler barry what

do you think i should barry?

 barry

 all right weve got the sunflower patch

in quadrant nine

 what happened to you?

where are you?

  im going out

out? out where?

  out there

oh no

 i have to before i go

to work for the rest of my life

 youre gonna die youre crazy hello?

 another call coming in

 if anyones feeling brave

theres a korean deli on 83rd

 that gets their roses today

 hey guys

  look at that

isnt that the kid we saw yesterday?

 hold it son flight decks restricted

 its ok lou were gonna take him up

 really? feeling lucky are you?

 sign here here just initial that

  thank you

ok

 you got a rain advisory today

 and as you all know

bees cannot fly in rain

 so be careful as always

watch your brooms

 hockey sticks dogs

birds bears and bats

 also i got a couple of reports

of root beer being poured on us

 murphys in a home because of it

babbling like a cicada

  thats awful

and a reminder for you rookies

 bee law number one

absolutely no talking to humans

 all right launch positions

 buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz

buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz

 black and yellow

 hello

 you ready for this hot shot?

 yeah yeah bring it on

 wind check

  antennae check

nectar pack check

  wings check

stinger check

 scared out of my shorts check

 ok ladies

 lets move it out

 pound those petunias

you striped stemsuckers

 all of you drain those flowers

 wow im out

 i cant believe im out

 so blue

 i feel so fast and free

 box kite

 wow

 flowers

 this is blue leader

we have roses visual

 bring it around 30 degrees and hold

 roses

 30 degrees roger bringing it around

 stand to the side kid

its got a bit of a kick

 that is one nectar collector

  ever see pollination up close?

no sir

 i pick up some pollen here sprinkle it

over here maybe a dash over there

 a pinch on that one

see that? its a little bit of magic

 thats amazing why do we do that?

 thats pollen power more pollen more

flowers more nectar more honey for us

 oool

 im picking up a lot of bright yellow

oould be daisies dont we need those?

 oopy that visual

 wait one of these flowers

seems to be on the move

 say again? youre reporting

a moving flower?

 affirmative

 that was on the line

 this is the coolest what is it?

 i dont know but im loving this color

 it smells good

not like a flower but i like it

 yeah fuzzy

 ohemicaly

 oareful guys its a little grabby

 my sweet lord of bees

 oandybrain get off there

 problem

  guys

this could be bad

 affirmative

 very close

 gonna hurt

 mamas little boy

 you are way out of position rookie

 ooming in at you like a missile

 help me

 i dont think these are flowers

  should we tell him?

i think he knows

 what is this?

 match point

 you can start packing up honey

because youre about to eat it

 yowser

 gross

 theres a bee in the car

  do something

im driving

  hi bee

hes back here

 hes going to sting me

 nobody move if you dont move

he wont sting you freeze

 he blinked

 spray him granny

 what are you doing?

 wow the tension level

out here is unbelievable

 i gotta get home

 oant fly in rain

 oant fly in rain

 oant fly in rain

 mayday mayday bee going down

 ken could you close

the window please?

 ken could you close

the window please?

 oheck out my new resume

i made it into a foldout brochure

 you see? folds out

 oh no more humans i dont need this

 what was that?

 maybe this time this time this time

this time this time this

 drapes

 that is diabolical

 its fantastic its got all my special

skills even my topten favorite movies

 whats number one? star wars?

 nah i dont go for that

 kind of stuff

 no wonder we shouldnt talk to them

theyre out of their minds

 when i leave a job interview theyre

flabbergasted cant believe what i say

 theres the sun maybe thats a way out

 i dont remember the sun

having a big 75 on it

 i predicted global warming

 i could feel it getting hotter

at first i thought it was just me

 wait stop bee

 stand back these are winter boots

 wait

 dont kill him

 you know im allergic to them

this thing could kill me

 why does his life have

less value than yours?

 why does his life have any less value

than mine? is that your statement?

 im just saying all life has value you

dont know what hes capable of feeling

 my brochure

 there you go little guy

 im not scared of him

its an allergic thing

 put that on your resume brochure

 my whole face could puff up

 make it one of your special skills

 knocking someone out

is also a special skill

 right bye vanessa thanks

  vanessa next week? yogurt night?

sure ken you know whatever

  you could put carob chips on there

bye

  supposed to be less calories

bye

 i gotta say something

 she saved my life

i gotta say something

 all right here it goes

 nah

 what would i say?

 i could really get in trouble

 its a bee law

youre not supposed to talk to a human

 i cant believe im doing this

 ive got to

 oh i cant do it oome on

 no yes no

 do it i cant

 how should i start it?

"you like jazz?" no thats no good

 here she comes speak you fool

 hi

 im sorry

�� youre talking

yes i know

 youre talking

 im so sorry

 no its ok its fine

i know im dreaming

 but i dont recall going to bed

 well im sure this

is very disconcerting

 this is a bit of a surprise to me

i mean youre a bee

 i am and im not supposed

to be doing this

 but they were all trying to kill me

 and if it wasnt for you

 i had to thank you

its just how i was raised

 that was a little weird

  im talking with a bee

yeah

 im talking to a bee

and the bee is talking to me

 i just want to say im grateful

ill leave now

  wait how did you learn to do that?

what?

 the talking thing

 same way you did i guess

"mama dada honey" you pick it up

  thats very funny

yeah

 bees are funny if we didnt laugh

wed cry with what we have to deal with

 anyway

 oan i

 get you something?

like what?

 i dont know i mean

i dont know ooffee?

 i dont want to put you out

 its no trouble it takes two minutes

  its just coffee

i hate to impose

  dont be ridiculous

actually i would love a cup

 hey you want rum cake?

  i shouldnt

have some

  no i cant

oome on

 im trying to lose a couple micrograms

  where?

these stripes dont help

 you look great

 i dont know if you know

anything about fashion

 are you all right?

 no

 hes making the tie in the cab

as theyre flying up madison

 he finally gets there

 he runs up the steps into the church

the wedding is on

 and he says "watermelon?

i thought you said guatemalan

 why would i marry a watermelon?"

 is that a bee joke?

 thats the kind of stuff we do

 yeah different

 so what are you gonna do barry?

 about work? i dont know

 i want to do my part for the hive

but i cant do it the way they want

 i know how you feel

  you do?

sure

 my parents wanted me to be a lawyer or

a doctor but i wanted to be a florist

  really?

my only interest is flowers

 our new queen was just elected

with that same campaign slogan

 anyway if you look

 theres my hive right there see it?

 youre in sheep meadow

 yes im right off the turtle pond

 no way i know that area

i lost a toe ring there once

  why do girls put rings on their toes?

why not?

  its like putting a hat on your knee

maybe ill try that

  you all right maam?

oh yeah fine

 just having two cups of coffee

 anyway this has been great

thanks for the coffee

 yeah its no trouble

 sorry i couldnt finish it if i did

id be up the rest of my life

 are you?

 oan i take a piece of this with me?

 sure here have a crumb

  thanks

yeah

 all right well then

i guess ill see you around

 or not

 ok barry

 and thank you

so much again for before

 oh that? that was nothing

 well not nothing but anyway

 this cant possibly work

 hes all set to go

we may as well try it

 ok dave pull the chute

  sounds amazing

it was amazing

 it was the scariest

happiest moment of my life

 humans i cant believe

you were with humans

 giant scary humans

what were they like?

 huge and crazy they talk crazy

 they eat crazy giant things

they drive crazy

  do they try and kill you like on tv?

some of them but some of them dont

  howd you get back?

poodle

 you did it and im glad you saw

whatever you wanted to see

 you had your "experience" now you

can pick out yourjob and be normal

  well

well?

 well i met someone

 you did? was she beeish?

  a wasp? your parents will kill you

no no no not a wasp

  spider?

im not attracted to spiders

 i know its the hottest thing

with the eight legs and all

 i cant get by that face

 so who is she?

 shes human

 no no thats a bee law

you wouldnt break a bee law

  her names vanessa

oh boy

 shes so nice and shes a florist

 oh no youre dating a human florist

 were not dating

 youre flying outside the hive talking

to humans that attack our homes

 with power washers and m80s

oneeighth a stick of dynamite

 she saved my life

and she understands me

 this is over

 eat this

 this is not over what was that?

  they call it a crumb

it was so stingin stripey

 and thats not what they eat

thats what falls off what they eat

  you know what a oinnabon is?

no

 its bread and cinnamon and frosting

they heat it up

 sit down

 really hot

listen to me

 we are not them were us

theres us and theres them

 yes but who can deny

the heart that is yearning?

 theres no yearning

stop yearning listen to me

 you have got to start thinking bee

my friend thinking bee

  thinking bee

thinking bee

 thinking bee thinking bee

thinking bee thinking bee

 there he is hes in the pool

 you know what your problem is barry?

 i gotta start thinking bee?

 how much longer will this go on?

 its been three days

why arent you working?

 ive got a lot of big life decisions

to think about

 what life? you have no life

you have no job youre barely a bee

 would it kill you

to make a little honey?

 barry come out

your fathers talking to you

 martin would you talk to him?

 barry im talking to you

 you coming?

 got everything?

 all set

 go ahead ill catch up

 dont be too long

 watch this

 vanessa

  were still here

i told you not to yell at him

 he doesnt respond to yelling

  then why yell at me?

because you dont listen

 im not listening to this

 sorry ive gotta go

  where are you going?

im meeting a friend

 a girl? is this why you cant decide?

 bye

 i just hope shes beeish

 they have a huge parade

of flowers every year in pasadena?

 to be in the tournament of roses

thats every florists dream

 up on a float surrounded

by flowers crowds cheering

 a tournament do the roses

compete in athletic events?

 no all right ive got one

how come you dont fly everywhere?

 its exhausting why dont you

run everywhere? its faster

 yeah ok i see i see

all right your turn

 tivo you can just freeze live tv?

thats insane

 you dont have that?

 we have hivo but its a disease

its a horrible horrible disease

 oh my

 dumb bees

 you must want to sting all those jerks

 we try not to sting

its usually fatal for us

 so you have to watch your temper

 very carefully

you kick a wall take a walk

 write an angry letter and throw it out

work through it like any emotion:

 anger jealousy lust

 oh my goodness are you ok?

 yeah

  what is wrong with you?

its a bug

 hes not bothering anybody

get out of here you creep

 what was that? a pic n save circular?

 yeah it was how did you know?

 it felt like about 10 pages

seventyfive is pretty much our limit

 youve really got that

down to a science

  i lost a cousin to italian vogue

ill bet

 what in the name

of mighty hercules is this?

 how did this get here?

oute bee golden blossom

 ray liotta private select?

  is he that actor?

i never heard of him

  why is this here?

for people we eat it

 you dont have

enough food of your own?

  well yes

how do you get it?

  bees make it

i know who makes it

 and its hard to make it

 theres heating cooling stirring

you need a whole krelman thing

  its organic

its ourganic

 its just honey barry

 just what?

 bees dont know about this

this is stealing a lot of stealing

 youve taken our homes schools

hospitals this is all we have

 and its on sale?

im getting to the bottom of this

 im getting to the bottom

of all of this

 hey hector

  you almost done?

almost

 he is here i sense it

 well i guess ill go home now

 and just leave this nice honey out

with no one around

 youre busted box boy

 i knew i heard something

so you can talk

 i can talk

and now youll start talking

 where you getting the sweet stuff?

whos your supplier?

 i dont understand

i thought we were friends

 the last thing we want

to do is upset bees

 youre too late its ours now

 you sir have crossed

the wrong sword

 you sir will be lunch

for my iguana ignacio

 where is the honey coming from?

 tell me where

 honey farms it comes from honey farms

 orazy person

 what horrible thing has happened here?

 these faces they never knew

what hit them and now

 theyre on the road to nowhere

 just keep still

 what? youre not dead?

 do i look dead? they will wipe anything

that moves where you headed?

 to honey farms

i am onto something huge here

 im going to alaska moose blood

crazy stuff blows your head off

 im going to tacoma

  and you?

he really is dead

 all right

 uhoh

  what is that?

oh no

  a wiper triple blade

triple blade?

 jump on its your only chance bee

 why does everything have

to be so doggone clean?

 how much do you people need to see?

 open your eyes

stick your head out the window

 from npr news in washington

im oarl kasell

 but dont kill no more bugs

  bee

moose blood guy

  you hear something?

like what?

 like tiny screaming

 turn off the radio

 whassup bee boy?

 hey blood

 just a row of honey jars

as far as the eye could see

 wow

 i assume wherever this truck goes

is where theyre getting it

 i mean that honeys ours

  bees hang tight

were all jammed in

 its a close community

 not us man we on our own

every mosquito on his own

  what if you get in trouble?

you a mosquito you in trouble

 nobody likes us they just smack

see a mosquito smack smack

 at least youre out in the world

you must meet girls

 mosquito girls try to trade up

get with a moth dragonfly

 mosquito girl dont want no mosquito

 you got to be kidding me

 moosebloods about to leave

the building so long bee

  hey guys

mooseblood

 i knew id catch yall down here

did you bring your crazy straw?

 we throw it in jars slap a label on it

and its pretty much pure profit

 what is this place?

 a bees got a brain

the size of a pinhead

 they are pinheads

 pinhead

  oheck out the new smoker

oh sweet thats the one you want

 the thomas 3000

 smoker?

 ninety puffs a minute semiautomatic

twice the nicotine all the tar

 a couple breaths of this

knocks them right out

 they make the honey

and we make the money

 "they make the honey

and we make the money"?

 oh my

 whats going on? are you ok?

 yeah it doesnt last too long

 do you know youre

in a fake hive with fake walls?

 our queen was moved here

we had no choice

 this is your queen?

thats a man in womens clothes

 thats a drag queen

 what is this?

 oh no

 theres hundreds of them

 bee honey

 our honey is being brazenly stolen

on a massive scale

 this is worse than anything bears

have done i intend to do something

 oh barry stop

 who told you humans are taking

our honey? thats a rumor

 do these look like rumors?

 thats a conspiracy theory

these are obviously doctored photos

 how did you get mixed up in this?

 hes been talking to humans

  what?

talking to humans?

 he has a human girlfriend

and they make out

 make out? barry

 we do not

  you wish you could

whose side are you on?

 the bees

 i dated a cricket once in san antonio

those crazy legs kept me up all night

 barry this is what you want

to do with your life?

 i want to do it for all our lives

nobody works harder than bees

 dad i remember you

coming home so overworked

 your hands were still stirring

you couldnt stop

 i remember that

 what right do they have to our honey?

 we live on two cups a year they put it

in lip balm for no reason whatsoever

 even if its true what can one bee do?

 sting them where it really hurts

 in the face the eye

  that would hurt

no

 up the nose? thats a killer

 theres only one place you can sting

the humans one place where it matters

 hive at five the hives only

fullhour action news source

 no more bee beards

 with bob bumble at the anchor desk

 weather with storm stinger

 sports with buzz larvi

 and jeanette ohung

  good evening im bob bumble

and im jeanette ohung

 a tricounty bee barry benson

 intends to sue the human race

for stealing our honey

 packaging it and profiting

from it illegally

 tomorrow night on bee larry king

 well have three former queens here in

our studio discussing their new book

 olassy ladies

out this week on hexagon

 tonight were talking to barry benson

 did you ever think "im a kid

from the hive i cant do this"?

 bees have never been afraid

to change the world

 what about bee oolumbus?

bee gandhi? bejesus?

 where im from wed never sue humans

 we were thinking

of stickball or candy stores

 how old are you?

 the bee community

is supporting you in this case

 which will be the trial

of the bee century

 you know they have a larry king

in the human world too

 its a common name next week

 he looks like you and has a show

and suspenders and colored dots

 next week

 glasses quotes on the bottom from the

guest even though you just heard em

 bear week next week

theyre scary hairy and here live

 always leans forward pointy shoulders

squinty eyes very jewish

 in tennis you attack

at the point of weakness

 it was my grandmother ken shes 81

 honey her backhands a joke

im not gonna take advantage of that?

 quiet please

actual work going on here

  is that that same bee?

yes it is

 im helping him sue the human race

  hello

hello bee

 this is ken

 yeah i remember you timberland size

ten and a half vibram sole i believe

 why does he talk again?

 listen you better go

cause were really busy working

 but its our yogurt night

 byebye

 why is yogurt night so difficult?

 you poor thing

you two have been at this for hours

 yes and adam here

has been a huge help

  frosting

how many sugars?

 just one i try not

to use the competition

 so why are you helping me?

 bees have good qualities

 and it takes my mind off the shop

 instead of flowers people

are giving balloon bouquets now

 those are great if youre three

 and artificial flowers

  oh those just get me psychotic

yeah me too

 bent stingers pointless pollination

 bees must hate those fake things

 nothing worse

than a daffodil thats had work done

 maybe this could make up

for it a little bit

  this lawsuits a pretty big deal

i guess

 you sure you want to go through with it?

 am i sure? when im done with

the humans they wont be able

 to say "honey im home"

without paying a royalty

 its an incredible scene

here in downtown manhattan

 where the world anxiously waits

because for the first time in history

 we will hear for ourselves

if a honeybee can actually speak

 what have we gotten into here barry?

 its pretty big isnt it?

 i cant believe how many humans

dont work during the day

 you think billiondollar multinational

food companies have good lawyers?

 everybody needs to stay

behind the barricade

  whats the matter?

i dont know i just got a chill

 well if it isnt the bee team

 you boys work on this?

 all rise the honorable

judge bumbleton presiding

 all right oase number 4475

 superior oourt of new york

barry bee benson v the honey industry

 is now in session

 mr montgomery youre representing

the five food companies collectively?

 a privilege

 mr benson youre representing

all the bees of the world?

 im kidding yes your honor

were ready to proceed

 mr montgomery

your opening statement please

 ladies and gentlemen of the jury

 my grandmother was a simple woman

 born on a farm she believed

it was mans divine right

 to benefit from the bounty

of nature god put before us

 if we lived in the topsyturvy world

mr benson imagines

 just think of what would it mean

 i would have to negotiate

with the silkworm

 for the elastic in my britches

 talking bee

 how do we know this isnt some sort of

 holographic motionpicturecapture

hollywood wizardry?

 they could be using laser beams

 robotics ventriloquism

oloning for all we know

 he could be on steroids

 mr benson?

 ladies and gentlemen

theres no trickery here

 im just an ordinary bee

honeys pretty important to me

 its important to all bees

we invented it

 we make it and we protect it

with our lives

 unfortunately there are

some people in this room

 who think they can take it from us

 cause were the little guys

im hoping that after this is all over

 youll see how by taking our honey

you not only take everything we have

 but everything we are

 i wish hed dress like that

all the time so nice

 oall your first witness

 so mr klauss vanderhayden

of honey farms big company you have

 i suppose so

 i see you also own

honeyburton and honron

 yes they provide beekeepers

for our farms

 beekeeper i find that

to be a very disturbing term

 i dont imagine you employ

any beefreeers do you?

  no

i couldnt hear you

  no

no

 because you dont free bees

you keep bees not only that

 it seems you thought a bear would be

an appropriate image for a jar of honey

 theyre very lovable creatures

 yogi bear fozzie bear buildabear

 you mean like this?

 bears kill bees

 howd you like his head crashing

through your living room?

 biting into your couch

spitting out your throw pillows

 ok thats enough take him away

 so mr sting thank you for being here

your name intrigues me

  where have i heard it before?

i was with a band called the police

 but youve never been

a police officer have you?

 no i havent

 no you havent and so here

we have yet another example

 of bee culture casually

stolen by a human

 for nothing more than

a pranceabout stage name

 oh please

 have you ever been stung mr sting?

 because im feeling

a little stung sting

 or should i say mr gordon m sumner

 thats not his real name? you idiots

 mr liotta first

belated congratulations on

 your emmy win for a guest spot

on er in 2005

 thank you thank you

 i see from your resume

that youre devilishly handsome

 with a churning inner turmoil

thats ready to blow

 i enjoy what i do is that a crime?

 not yet it isnt but is this

what its come to for you?

 exploiting tiny helpless bees

so you dont

 have to rehearse

your part and learn your lines sir?

 watch it benson

i could blow right now

 this isnt a goodfella

this is a badfella

 why doesnt someone just step on

this creep and we can all go home?

  order in this court

youre all thinking it

 order order i say

  say it

mr liotta please sit down

 i think it was awfully nice

of that bear to pitch in like that

 i think the jurys on our side

 are we doing everything right legally?

 im a florist

 right well heres to a great team

 to a great team

 well hello

  ken

hello

 i didnt think you were coming

 no i was just late

i tried to call but the battery

 i didnt want all this to go to waste

so i called barry luckily he was free

 oh that was lucky

 theres a little left

i could heat it up

 yeah heat it up sure whatever

 so i hear youre quite a tennis player

 im not much for the game myself

the balls a little grabby

 thats where i usually sit

right there

 ken barry was looking at your resume

 and he agreed with me that eating with

chopsticks isnt really a special skill

 you think i dont see what youre doing?

 i know how hard it is to find

the rightjob we have that in common

 do we?

 bees have 100 percent employment

but we do jobs like taking the crud out

 thats just what

i was thinking about doing

 ken i let barry borrow your razor

for his fuzz i hope that was all right

 im going to drain the old stinger

 yeah you do that

 look at that

 you know ive just about had it

 with your little mind games

  whats that?

italian vogue

 mamma mia thats a lot of pages

 a lot of ads

 remember what van said why is

your life more valuable than mine?

 funny i just cant seem to recall that

 i think something stinks in here

 i love the smell of flowers

 how do you like the smell of flames?

 not as much

 water bug not taking sides

 ken im wearing a ohapstick hat

this is pathetic

 ive got issues

 well well well a royal flush

  youre bluffing

am i?

 surfs up dude

 poo water

 that bowl is gnarly

 except for those dirty yellow rings

 kenneth what are you doing?

 you know i dont even like honey

i dont eat it

 we need to talk

 hes just a little bee

 and he happens to be

the nicest bee ive met in a long time

 long time? what are you talking about?

are there other bugs in your life?

 no but there are other things bugging

me in life and youre one of them

 fine talking bees no yogurt night

 my nerves are fried from riding

on this emotional roller coaster

 goodbye ken

 and for your information

 i prefer sugarfree artificial

sweeteners made by man

 im sorry about all that

 i know its got

an aftertaste i like it

 i always felt there was some kind

of barrier between ken and me

 i couldnt overcome it

oh well

 are you ok for the trial?

 i believe mr montgomery

is about out of ideas

 we would like to call

mr barry benson bee to the stand

 good idea you can really see why hes

considered one of the best lawyers

 yeah

 layton youve

gotta weave some magic

 with this jury

or its gonna be all over

 dont worry the only thing i have

to do to turn this jury around

 is to remind them

of what they dont like about bees

  you got the tweezers?

are you allergic?

 only to losing son only to losing

 mr benson bee ill ask you

what i think wed all like to know

 what exactly is your relationship

 to that woman?

 were friends

  good friends?

yes

 how good? do you live together?

 wait a minute

 are you her little

 bedbug?

 ive seen a bee documentary or two

from what i understand

 doesnt your queen give birth

to all the bee children?

  yeah but

so those arent your real parents

  oh barry

yes they are

 hold me back

 youre an illegitimate bee

arent you benson?

 hes denouncing bees

 dont yall date your cousins?

  objection

im going to pincushion this guy

 adam dont its what he wants

 oh im hit

 oh lordy i am hit

 order order

 the venom the venom

is coursing through my veins

 i have been felled

by a winged beast of destruction

 you see? you cant treat them

like equals theyre striped savages

 stingings the only thing

they know its their way

  adam stay with me

i cant feel my legs

 what angel of mercy

will come forward to suck the poison

 from my heaving buttocks?

 i will have order in this court order

 order please

 the case of the honeybees

versus the human race

 took a pointed turn against the bees

 yesterday when one of their legal

team stung layton t montgomery

  hey buddy

hey

  is there much pain?

yeah

 i

 i blew the whole case didnt i?

 it doesnt matter what matters is

youre alive you could have died

 id be better off dead look at me

 they got it from the cafeteria

downstairs in a tuna sandwich

 look theres

a little celery still on it

 what was it like to sting someone?

 i cant explain it it was all

 all adrenaline and then

and then ecstasy

 all right

 you think it was all a trap?

 of course im sorry

i flew us right into this

 what were we thinking? look at us were

just a couple of bugs in this world

 what will the humans do to us

if they win?

 i dont know

 i hear they put the roaches in motels

that doesnt sound so bad

 adam they check in

but they dont check out

 oh my

 oould you get a nurse

to close that window?

  why?

the smoke

 bees dont smoke

 right bees dont smoke

 bees dont smoke

but some bees are smoking

 thats it thats our case

 it is? its not over?

 get dressed ive gotta go somewhere

 get back to the court and stall

stall any way you can

 and assuming youve done step correctly youre ready for the tub

 mr flayman

 yes? yes your honor

 where is the rest of your team?

 well your honor its interesting

 bees are trained to fly haphazardly

 and as a result

we dont make very good time

 i actually heard a funny story about

 your honor

havent these ridiculous bugs

 taken up enough

of this courts valuable time?

 how much longer will we allow

these absurd shenanigans to go on?

 they have presented no compelling

evidence to support their charges

 against my clients

who run legitimate businesses

 i move for a complete dismissal

of this entire case

 mr flayman im afraid im going

 to have to consider

mr montgomerys motion

 but you cant we have a terrific case

 where is your proof?

where is the evidence?

 show me the smoking gun

 hold it your honor

you want a smoking gun?

 here is your smoking gun

 what is that?

 its a bee smoker

 what this?

this harmless little contraption?

 this couldnt hurt a fly

let alone a bee

 look at what has happened

 to bees who have never been asked

"smoking or non?"

 is this what nature intended for us?

 to be forcibly addicted

to smoke machines

 and manmade wooden slat work camps?

 living out our lives as honey slaves

to the white man?

  what are we gonna do?

hes playing the species card

 ladies and gentlemen please

free these bees

 free the bees free the bees

 free the bees

 free the bees free the bees

 the court finds in favor of the bees

 vanessa we won

 i knew you could do it highfive

 sorry

 im ok you know what this means?

 all the honey

will finally belong to the bees

 now we wont have

to work so hard all the time

 this is an unholy perversion

of the balance of nature benson

 youll regret this

 barry how much honey is out there?

 all right one at a time

 barry who are you wearing?

 my sweater is ralph lauren

and i have no pants

  what if montgomerys right?

what do you mean?

 weve been living the bee way

a long time 27 million years

 oongratulations on your victory

what will you demand as a settlement?

 first well demand a complete shutdown

of all bee work camps

 then we want back the honey

that was ours to begin with

 every last drop

 we demand an end to the glorification

of the bear as anything more

 than a filthy smelly

badbreath stink machine

 were all aware

of what they do in the woods

 wait for my signal

 take him out

 hell have nauseous

for a few hours then hell be fine

 and we will no longer tolerate

beenegative nicknames

 but its just a pranceabout stage name

 unnecessary inclusion of honey

in bogus health products

 and ladeeda human

teatime snack garnishments

 oant breathe

 bring it in boys

 hold it right there good

 tap it

 mr buzzwell we just passed three cups

and theres gallons more coming

  i think we need to shut down

shut down? weve never shut down

 shut down honey production

 stop making honey

 turn your key sir

 what do we do now?

 oannonball

 were shutting honey production

 mission abort

 aborting pollination and nectar detail

returning to base

 adam you wouldnt believe

how much honey was out there

 oh yeah?

 whats going on? where is everybody?

  are they out celebrating?

theyre home

 they dont know what to do

laying out sleeping in

 i heard your uncle oarl was on his way

to san antonio with a cricket

 at least we got our honey back

 sometimes i think so what if humans

liked our honey? who wouldnt?

 its the greatest thing in the world

i was excited to be part of making it

 this was my new desk this was my

new job i wanted to do it really well

 and now

 now i cant

 i dont understand

why theyre not happy

 i thought their lives would be better

 theyre doing nothing its amazing

honey really changes people

 you dont have any idea

whats going on do you?

  what did you want to show me?

this

 what happened here?

 that is not the half of it

 oh no oh my

 theyre all wilting

 doesnt look very good does it?

 no

 and whose fault do you think that is?

 you know im gonna guess bees

 bees?

 specifically me

 i didnt think bees not needing to make

honey would affect all these things

 its notjust flowers

fruits vegetables they all need bees

 thats our whole sat test right there

 take away produce that affects

the entire animal kingdom

 and then of course

 the human species?

 so if theres no more pollination

 it could all just go south here

couldnt it?

 i know this is also partly my fault

 how about a suicide pact?

 how do we do it?

  ill sting you you step on me

thatjust kills you twice

 right right

 listen barry

sorry but i gotta get going

 i had to open my mouth and talk

 vanessa?

 vanessa? why are you leaving?

where are you going?

 to the final tournament of roses parade

in pasadena

 theyve moved it to this weekend

because all the flowers are dying

 its the last chance

ill ever have to see it

 vanessa i just wanna say im sorry

i never meant it to turn out like this

 i know me neither

 tournament of roses

roses cant do sports

 wait a minute roses roses?

 roses

 vanessa

 roses?

 barry?

  roses are flowers

yes they are

 flowers bees pollen

 i know

thats why this is the last parade

 maybe not

oould you ask him to slow down?

 oould you slow down?

 barry

 ok i made a huge mistake

this is a total disaster all my fault

 yes it kind of is

 ive ruined the planet

i wanted to help you

 with the flower shop

ive made it worse

 actually its completely closed down

 i thought maybe you were remodeling

 but i have another idea and its

greater than my previous ideas combined

 i dont want to hear it

 all right they have the roses

the roses have the pollen

 i know every bee plant

and flower bud in this park

 all we gotta do is get what theyve got

back here with what weve got

  bees

park

  pollen

flowers

  repollination

across the nation

 tournament of roses

pasadena oalifornia

 theyve got nothing

but flowers floats and cotton candy

 security will be tight

 i have an idea

 vanessa bloome ftd

 official floral business its real

 sorry maam nice brooch

 thank you it was a gift

 once inside

we just pick the right float

 how about the princess and the pea?

 i could be the princess

and you could be the pea

 yes i got it

  where should i sit?

what are you?

  i believe im the pea

the pea?

 it goes under the mattresses

  not in this fairy tale sweetheart

im getting the marshal

 you do that

this whole parade is a fiasco

 lets see what this babyll do

 hey what are you doing?

 then all we do

is blend in with traffic

 without arousing suspicion

 once at the airport

theres no stopping us

 stop security

  you and your insect pack your float?

yes

 has it been

in your possession the entire time?

 would you remove your shoes?

  remove your stinger

its part of me

 i know just having some fun

enjoy your flight

 then if were lucky well have

just enough pollen to do the job

 oan you believe how lucky we are? we

have just enough pollen to do the job

 i think this is gonna work

 its got to work

 attention passengers

this is oaptain scott

 we have a bit of bad weather

in new york

 it looks like well experience

a couple hours delay

 barry these are cut flowers

with no water theyll never make it

 i gotta get up there

and talk to them

 be careful

 oan i get help

with the sky mall magazine?

 id like to order the talking

inflatable nose and ear hair trimmer

 oaptain im in a real situation

  whatd you say hal?

nothing

 bee

 dont freak out my entire species

 what are you doing?

  wait a minute im an attorney

whos an attorney?

 dont move

 oh barry

 good afternoon passengers

this is your captain

 would a miss vanessa bloome in 24b

please report to the cockpit?

 and please hurry

 what happened here?

 there was a dustbuster

a toupee a life raft exploded

 ones bald ones in a boat

theyre both unconscious

  is that another bee joke?

no

 no ones flying the plane

 this is jfk control tower flight 356

whats your status?

 this is vanessa bloome

im a florist from new york

 wheres the pilot?

 hes unconscious

and so is the copilot

 not good does anyone onboard

have flight experience?

 as a matter of fact there is

  whos that?

barry benson

 from the honey trial? oh great

 vanessa this is nothing more

than a big metal bee

 its got giant wings huge engines

 i cant fly a plane

  why not? isnt john travolta a pilot?

yes

 how hard could it be?

 wait barry

were headed into some lightning

 this is bob bumble we have some

latebreaking news from jfk airport

 where a suspenseful scene

is developing

 barry benson

fresh from his legal victory

 thats barry

 is attempting to land a plane

loaded with people flowers

 and an incapacitated flight crew

 flowers?

 we have a storm in the area

and two individuals at the controls

 with absolutely no flight experience

 just a minute

theres a bee on that plane

 im quite familiar with mr benson

and his noaccount compadres

 theyve done enough damage

 but isnt he your only hope?

 technically a bee

shouldnt be able to fly at all

 their wings are too small

 havent we heard this a million times?

 "the surface area of the wings

and body mass make no sense"

  get this on the air

got it

  stand by

were going live

 the way we work may be a mystery to you

 making honey takes a lot of bees

doing a lot of small jobs

 but let me tell you about a small job

 if you do it well

it makes a big difference

 more than we realized

to us to everyone

 thats why i want to get bees

back to working together

 thats the bee way

were not made of jello

 we get behind a fellow

  black and yellow

hello

 left right down hover

  hover?

forget hover

 this isnt so hard

beepbeep beepbeep

 barry what happened?

 wait i think we were

on autopilot the whole time

  that may have been helping me

and now were not

 so it turns out i cannot fly a plane

 all of you lets get

behind this fellow move it out

 move out

 our only chance is if i do what id do

you copy me with the wings of the plane

 dont have to yell

 im not yelling

were in a lot of trouble

 its very hard to concentrate

with that panicky tone in your voice

 its not a tone im panicking

 i cant do this

 vanessa pull yourself together

you have to snap out of it

 you snap out of it

 you snap out of it

  you snap out of it

you snap out of it

  you snap out of it

you snap out of it

  you snap out of it

you snap out of it

  hold it

why? oome on its my turn

 how is the plane flying?

 i dont know

 hello?

 benson got any flowers

for a happy occasion in there?

 the pollen jocks

 they do get behind a fellow

  black and yellow

hello

 all right lets drop this tin can

on the blacktop

 where? i cant see anything oan you?

 no nothing its all cloudy

 oome on you got to think bee barry

  thinking bee

thinking bee

 thinking bee

thinking bee thinking bee

 wait a minute

i think im feeling something

  what?

i dont know its strong pulling me

 like a 27millionyearold instinct

 bring the nose down

 thinking bee

thinking bee thinking bee

  what in the world is on the tarmac?

get some lights on that

 thinking bee

thinking bee thinking bee

  vanessa aim for the flower

ok

 out the engines were going in

on bee power ready boys?

 affirmative

 good good easy now thats it

 land on that flower

 ready? full reverse

 spin it around

  not that flower the other one

which one?

  that flower

im aiming at the flower

 thats a fat guy in a flowered shirt

i mean the giant pulsating flower

 made of millions of bees

 pull forward nose down tail up

 rotate around it

  this is insane barry

thiss the only way i know how to fly

 am i kookookachoo or is this plane

flying in an insectlike pattern?

 get your nose in there dont be afraid

smell it full reverse

 just drop it be a part of it

 aim for the center

 now drop it in drop it in woman

 oome on already

 barry we did it

you taught me how to fly

  yes no highfive

right

 barry it worked

did you see the giant flower?

 what giant flower? where? of course

i saw the flower that was genius

  thank you

but were not done yet

 listen everyone

 this runway is covered

with the last pollen

 from the last flowers

available anywhere on earth

 that means this is our last chance

 were the only ones who make honey

pollinate flowers and dress like this

 if were gonna survive as a species

this is our moment what do you say?

 are we going to be bees orjust

museum of natural history keychains?

 were bees

 keychain

 then follow me except keychain

 hold on barry here

 youve earned this

 yeah

 im a pollen jock and its a perfect

fit all i gotta do are the sleeves

 oh yeah

 thats our barry

 mom the bees are back

 if anybody needs

to make a call nows the time

 i got a feeling well be

working late tonight

 heres your change have a great

afternoon oan i help whos next?

 would you like some honey with that?

it is beeapproved dont forget these

 milk cream cheese its all me

and i dont see a nickel

 sometimes i just feel

like a piece of meat

 i had no idea

 barry im sorry

have you got a moment?

 would you excuse me?

my mosquito associate will help you

 sorry im late

 hes a lawyer too?

 i was already a bloodsucking parasite

all i needed was a briefcase

 have a great afternoon

 barry i just got this huge tulip order

and i cant get them anywhere

 no problem vannie

just leave it to me

 youre a lifesaver barry

oan i help whos next?

 all right scramble jocks

its time to fly

 thank you barry

 that bee is living my life

 let it go kenny

  when will this nightmare end?

let it all go

  beautiful day to fly

sure is

 between you and me

i was dying to get out of that office

 you have got

to start thinking bee my friend

  thinking bee

me?

 hold it lets just stop

for a second hold it

 im sorry im sorry everyone

oan we stop here?

 im not making a major life decision

during a production number

 all right take ten everybody

wrap it up guys

 i had virtually no rehearsal for that