#it makes sense since 13 is smaller than the rest of the Doctors the bad guys would try to physically overpower her more

[lariskapargitay]

Me thinks that someone on the writing staff had a bit of a choking/bondage kink regarding 13/Jodie bc like idk if I never noticed it with the other doctors but this was a weeee bit excessive

[meltwonu]

s n a k e     |     e y e s     [chapter 8]

pairing; snakehybrid!woozi x female!reader

this chapter’s notes; minor angst, major fluff 🥺 the smut(fingering) in this is lite but it’ll all make sense🥺🥺🥺 a bit of a cuter chapter, and lots of storyline 💕💕💕💕💕 this chapter focuses more on Jihoon and friends(tm) hehehe~💕💕

chapters; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - x - x

Jihoon wakes up the next morning feeling almost completely fine; just a tad cold despite being in bed with you. He snuggles closer into you from behind, arm wrapped around you in a vice grip.

“Ugh… Jihoon…”

“Mmm?”

“S’hot…” He pouts against your shoulder; he knew that it’d be difficult for you to sleep with the heaters and humidifiers on but you’d done it for his sake. Sacrificed your comfort for his. “I’m sorry…” You attempt to turn in his grip, instead giving up and just reaching an arm behind you to pat at his hair.

“Don’t apologize~ You’re sick and you needed them. I’ll live with being hot and sweaty. But are you feeling any better?” Jihoon loosens his grip a little, letting you resituate yourself in his hold. You turn around, facing him as you take in his features. His blonde hair was slightly matted down to his forehead and his eyes were still laced with sleep, but he already visibly looked a lot better than the previous day.

“I’m feeling better, still a ‘lil cold but I feel like I’ll probably be fine by tomorrow. I think… last night really helped.” He smiles widely, eyes turning to crescents when he laughs a little.

“Oh, I bet. I’m surprised that it didn't completely heal you, to be honest. Who needed Wonwoo as your doctor when I'm here.” Now it’s you turn to laugh, snuggling closer into his chest as you do. “But really, I’m glad you’re feeling better. We--I was really worried, y’know? I mean, did you get sick often before you went to Seungcheol’s?”

“Um… Kind of? I mean in the winter it was kinda inevitable. The overpass only really shielded the rain and snow but I couldn’t do much about the temperature. I think I mentioned it before but there were times some of the diners near-by would let some of us stay overnight when the weather was really bad. Otherwise… some of us just huddled up under the overpass.”

Your heart breaks listening to Jihoon; no matter how many times you’d hear it, you didn’t think you’d ever get used to hearing about his past. You were just glad you could provide him with a safer future. “Were there other snake hybrids with you?”

“Nah, it was just me. I think some of the other runaways just felt bad for me since I was the only cold-blooded hybrid out there.”

Jihoon can practically feel the sadness radiating off of you, tightening his embrace as his kisses your forehead.

“You don’t have to be sad, y’know. It’s in the past now. And I’m happy here.”

By midday, Jihoon feels good enough to come sit with you in the living room, watching a movie while you get some work done. Your phone pings next to you, text messages from Minghao.

“Hmm, Minghao says he can drop Chan off next Friday. I guess I should ask Seungcheol if that’s okay but is that okay with you too?” Jihoon turns his attention from the TV to you, nodding. “Does Chan have a phone? Can you ask Minghao if I can get his number just for future reference.” You text Minghao to ask, setting your phone back down afterwards.

“Huh… I just realized something, Ji.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve never asked if Mingyu’s got a phone or something. Isn’t he one of your closest friends?” He pouts, hiding his face in the turtleneck he was currently wearing. “That’s only because he doesn’t know I have a phone and the second he finds out, he’ll text and call me every second of the day.”

“Aww, but that’s cute! He really likes you!”

Jihoon pokes his head out, cheeks flushes as he stares at you from across the sofa.

“He’s clingy and followed me around like a lost puppy and always tried to sleep in my bed.”

“Jihoon… isn’t that… isn’t that what y-you do.” You hold back a laugh, his eyes widening like saucers as he begins tripping over his own words. “I--n-no! It’s not the same! I just--he--I--” You can’t help but think his flustered expression is cute, watching as the pout on his face grows.

“It’s different when I do it!”

“Ngh… Ji…”

Jihoon lazily kisses the nape of your neck, the pads of his fingers pressing harder into your clit as he spoons you from behind. He’d pinned you down onto the sofa, hands snaking underneath your shirt and down between your legs with ease as he worked you up. He knew you were sensitive to his touch; your body relaxing into his hold almost instantly.

He smiles against your skin, delicate fingers sliding between your folds until he slowly eases in his middle finger into your entrance. Your soft breaths and cute whines are music to his ears as he continues to tease you; body warming up under his skillful caress.

Jihoon leans into your warmth, sighing contentedly. Being intimate with you and touching you wasn’t always a daily occurrence; he knew your body needed to rest. And even though he knew you’d never turn him down, he always knew his own limits as well, never pushing you or himself for more.

But the times the two of you were intimate, he cherished like no other, loving the way you were always so welcoming and ready for him.

“Jihoon…”

The pitch in your voice rising lets Jihoon know you’re close, snuggling into you more as he abandons fucking you with his finger in favour of rubbing your clit to make you cum.

“It’s okay, cum when you want.”

You whimper his name over and over, back pressing into his chest hard when you finally cum. Jihoon nuzzles into the crook of your neck, kissing your cheek as he works you through it.

“I told you, it’s different when I do it.”

Friday comes sooner than the two of you think; making sure Jihoon has everything he needs before he takes off for the day. Minghao had offered to drive Jihoon and Chan to Seungcheol’s to make it easier on them, to which they both agreed.

“You sound like a mom.”

You roll your eyes at Jihoon’s comment, watching as he layers a jacket over his sweater. “In fairness, you’re taking Chan with you and he is a baby.”

“He’s, like, 21 in human years!” His phone rings in his pocket, a message from Chan on the other end. Despite Jihoon complaining abt Mingyu potentially ringing him up all hours of the day, he surely was doing the exact thing to Chan from what you’d seen.

“Yeah, but he’s also my boss’ hybrid so be careful okay? I’m not just worried about him, but you too.”

“Chan says they’re almost here. But yeah, I promise we’ll be okay. I won’t take your precious bunny anywhere unnecessary.” He snorts.

“Don’t you think he’s cute?”

“You’re asking me if I think Chan is cute?” You nod, watching as he checks to make sure his keyboard is ready to go.  “He’s a bunny hybrid. Everyone sees those bunny ears and they lose their minds.” He mimics hysteric screaming, chuckling afterwards.

“Some hybrids have it easy.”

The adoption home is in complete chaos as soon as Jihoon and Chan walk in. Mingyu and Seokmin meet them at the door, excited faces welcoming them in. And there’s only a second after Jihoon leans his keyboard up against the wall before Mingyu wraps his arms around Jihoon, lifting him up into the air.

“It’s Jihoon-hyung!! I missed you so much!!”

The tall puppy hybrid spins him around in his grasp, Jihoon beating on his back to let him down. Chan watches with amazed fascination at the exchange, eyes slowly glancing at the smiling male behind the two. He slowly sidesteps the two currently locked in an odd embrace, heading straight for the other with determination.

“Hi! I’m Chan! I’m Jihoon-hyung’s friend!” Seokmin’s mouth opens in a surprised ‘o’, grasping Chan’s hands in his own in a handshake. “I’m Seokmin! Wow, when did Jihoon-hyung have time to make a new friend?” There’s a grumble and a whimper behind the two, both turning to see Jihoon blushing and Mingyu holding a section of his head.

“Jihoon-hyung pulled my hair… and then bit my ear!!”

“I told you to put me down!”

Seokmin and Chan share a laugh, both shaking their heads at them bickering. “To be fair, they’ve always been like that.” The bunny hybrid raises a brow, meeting Seokmin’s stare. “Really? Jihoon-hyung seemed so calm when I met him the first time.” Seokmin watches with fondness as Mingyu picks up Jihoon’s keyboard for him, the two walking in unison towards the sunroom.

“That’s generally him.”

The four hybrids spend the next hour or two getting to know each other, laughs and giggles filling up the space as they share stories. Jihoon was glad that they welcomed Chan in easily; Mingyu immediately fond of the younger boy.

“I can’t believe Jihoon-hyung didn’t come around sooner! And with a new friend!” Jihoon spreads out onto the floor, soaking up the sun’s rays after days of rain. “I just wanted to get used to my new place, is all. And I only met Chan once, we just kept in touch by calling and--”

“Wait, calling? You have a phone?”

The only thing running through Jihoon’s head as he watches Mingyu petting at Chan’s ears is ‘oh shit’. “Uh, I mean--”

“Yeah! Jihoon-hyung talks to me every day! Sometimes we even facetime when he’s got a new idea for a song!” The snake hybrid bites his lip, watching the pout sit on Mingyu’s face when he realizes.

“Jihoon-hyung… doesn’t like me…” Mingyu pets at Chan’s ears sadly, nuzzling into the younger male for comfort. Seokmin holds back a laugh, watching the panic fill Jihoon’s features as the smaller male sits up from his position. “No! Damn it, it’s not like that! I like you okay!?” Mingyu’s bottom lip shakes as he meets Jihoon’s flustered expression, puppy eyes on full display.

“Really? You like me?”

“Y-yes. I just didn’t say anything ‘cause I knew you’d call at like 4AM when I’m sleeping.”

“No, I wouldn’t!” Seokmin and Jihoon give the tall male a pointed look, both raising a brow in disbelief. “I mean I’d try to keep it… to a minimum.” Jihoon sighs in defeat, reaching into his pants pocket for his phone to pass to Mingyu.

“Here, put in your details. You’re only allowed 13 text messages, 3 attempted calls, and 1 facetime call, okay? And no calling after 10PM. Seokmin, you can add your contact info in, too.” Mingyu nods happily, tail wagging behind him as he reaches for the phone. “Wow, Jihoon-hyung sure is strict. Does that mean the 3 facetime calls we had the other day were too much? Should we stop?” Jihoon wishes the bunny hybrid didn’t have such loose lips; his own eyes sliding shut as he exhales harshly through his nose.

“Three!?”

Seokmin breaks out into a boisterous laugh, falling onto his back as the tears well up in his eyes. “Oh my god!”

“Chan’s a baby, he’s got different rules!”

“I’m not a baby! I’m, like, 21 in human years!” This time it’s Chan’s turn to pout. “And anyway, hyung was the one to call me!”

Jihoon groans, dragging himself closer to his keyboard. “I just wanted to run a song idea by Chan, okay? I promise if it happens again, I’ll try to call the two of you.”  

Mingyu brings out a late lunch after a while, the four of them taking a break from listening to Jihoon play melodies and writing lyrics.

“Oh! By the way Jihoon-hyung, Mingyu and I had an idea!” The snake hybrid turns his attention to Seokmin, who was currently sitting with Chan across the room. Seokmin and Chan were thankful to have similar diets, finally able to share lunch with another person. “Mm?”

“There’s this cafe down the street called ‘An Ode’. Seungcheol-hyung took Mingyu and I there the other day and they do this thing on Fridays where music artists can come perform! Mingyu and I were kinda thinkin’...”

“...That we should perform!” Mingyu finishes Seokmin’s sentence, tail wagging excitedly as he peers at Jihoon.

“Oooh, that sounds like an awesome idea!” Chan chimes in.

Jihoon bites the inside of his cheek, unsure. He used to busk for money and it’s not that he wasn’t comfortable with it but it’d been quite a bit of time since he’d performed, much less in front of a crowd. Those times, he’d only covered songs too. Now that he was capable of writing his own, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to perform them. “Um, I mean… what are the… requirements?” Seokmin ponders for a moment, shoveling a forkful of his salad into his mouth.

“Mm, I fink we jus’ hab to apply.”

“Seokmin, don’t talk with your mouth full, it’s gross.”

“Mingyu, you literally sneeze into your hand.”

The puppy hybrid pouts, taking a bite of his own food. “Anyway, I’m not… opposed to the idea. I just… I don’t know if I’m comfortable with any of my songs right now.”

“But they’re really good, hyung!” Chan gives him a proud smile from across the room, finishing up his food before he scoots closer to the shorter male. “I think it’d be an awesome goal for all of us to break out of our comfort zones. I’m so used to hanging around Minghao-hyung’s apartment and all but it’s nice... having new friends. And getting to try new things with you guys.” A cute blush coats Chan’s cheeks, shy smile on his face.

Jihoon recognizes Chan’s right. Now that you’d given him a safe space and a loving home, he felt more at peace and ready to tackle new things. He slowly meets all of their stares one by one, seeing the determination swimming in their eyes. 

“Okay... Let’s do it!”

That night when Jihoon gets back, it’s a race to get his key into the doorknob, adrenaline pulsing through his veins when he all but tears the door open. 

He haphazardly sets his things down, giddy smile on his face when he sprints  into the living room. You stand in the middle of the open space, confused eyes meeting his eager ones as you set your cup down onto the coffee table.

“Ji, wha--” 

Jihoon tugs you into his arms, excitedly kissing you on the lips. You melt into his arms immediately, kissing him back with just as much excitement as you wrap your arms around his neck. He smiles into the kiss; his grip on you tightening.

When he pulls away, he stares at you lovingly, lips still tilted up in a serene smile. “I take it you had a good day?” 

“Mmhmm~” The two of you stay in each other’s embrace for a while longer, eyes locked onto each other. “Wanna tell me why you’re so excited?” He nods animatedly, guiding you to the sofa. 

Once the two of you are seated, he takes your hand in his, interlocking his fingertips with yours. Jihoon smiles shyly, a faint pink across his cheeks. 

“I--I want... I want to be a musician.”

[fluffykitty1999-blog]

Dog of the Military- Chapter 6

So to be honest, I just intended this to be some good old humor and relief of Ed sleep talking while he's drugged up. But in reality, it turned out a little bit darker. And I'm perfectly okay with that lol. What’s this? A button to donate to my caffeine habit? Here ya go... 

Chapter 6- Nightmares

"Nuugh..." Roy looked over as the lump of blankets that was Edward Elric shifted on his bed. Roy had finished his calls- back to Central, alerting Hawkeye that he'd found Fullmetal and intended to bring him home tomorrow. To Hughes, asking just what hell he could wreck on someone who unjustly imprisoned and tortured a state alchemist. And to General Gruman himself, to report Colonel Bank's misconduct and begin the proceeding for an official court martial.

Now, it was nearly midnight and he was up to his elbows in paperwork for all of the above reasons.

Still, he couldn't really be mad at Ed, since it wasn't like the boy had asked to be held captive by that bastard.

Roy was loathe to admit it, but Ed looked much more childlike when he was asleep. It was almost... cute. Almost.

"Alfonz..." Ed slurred, twisting around on the bed.

Roy pursed his lips, frowning. The doctor had promised Ed would rest through the night, but he certainly didn't sound asleep.

"M-mom!"

Ed's voice rose an octave, and Roy frowned. He was about to say something, try and convince the boy to roll over and go back to sleep. Ed was silent for one moment, two... maybe he'd already fallen back asleep.

"Don't do it! Don't! I said stop dammit!"

Ed vaulted out of bed, stumbling like a drunk and barely managing to catch himself on the nightstand and stay upright.

Roy quickly got to his feet, intent on putting the boy back into bed, but Ed saw him and wove his was over to him, grabbing onto his coat and looking up at him with terrified eyes.

"T-the hands. So many tiny, black hands. L-let him go! I told them to let him go, but they wouldn't, and Alphonse- gone!" It was something in the tea, Roy realized. The laudanum the doctor gave Ed might've acted as a painkiller, but he also was no longer lucid, and apparently having a night terror of some sort.

Ed looked at him with wide, teary eyes. His pupils were smaller than usual, Roy noted- it just made his golden eyes look bigger.

"Don't do it. Don't activate the array." he pleaded, a tear finding its way down his cheek.

"Edward." the boy looked like he was going to fall over any minute, and Roy placed both hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to steady him.

"We didn't know what we were doing!" Ed burst out.

Roy had heard rumors about what happened when one committed the ultimate taboo. Alchemists who saw things- stories of black hands that dragged people to a strange place, one not meant to be touched by humans.

Not knowing what else to do, Roy pulled Ed into a rather awkward hug, pressing the small blond head to his chest.

"Edward. Shh, Ed, it's alright. I know. You were just a kid, you didn't know what you were doing..."

Ed was trembling like a leaf in his grasp, and Roy looked down to see the boy looking up at him with those impossibly large eyes, pupils dilated from the medicine.

Ed reached up, grabbing a fistful of Roy's coat. "D-dun ever do it." he muttered. "Pure white. All of it. So much noise and I couldn't scream. And that... thing- he took my leg. He didn't have a face... just teeth." Ed paused, looking into the distance but not really seeing anything.

He swallowed thickly. "All white." his voice was barely above a whisper, and it had a sing-song quality to it. "No color. I hated it there. Bit my own arm until there was blood just so there was color..."

Ed's body seemed to decide to give into the pull of sleep, and he sagged heavily against Roy, who gathered the teen into his arms and deposited him back onto the bed.

Ed still hadn't let go of Roy's coat.

"Don't ever do it." Ed whispered, looking at him desperately.

"I won't, Ed. I won't." Roy assured him. Ed didn't look much more at peace, and Roy found himself sitting on the bed beside the boy, carding a gloved hand through his bangs.

"I know you probably feel quite odd right now, Fullmetal. That's okay. The doctor gave you some medicine- I think it's given you some vivid dreams..."

"It's real." Ed insisted, reaching up to grab Roy's hand and holding it in both his own, as though he were afraid Roy would disappear if he let go.

Ed looked so... lost, Roy couldn't bring himself to pull away.

"Yes, it is real, Ed, but you're not there anymore. You're here, with me, in the inn, remember?"

Ed blinked drowsily.

"Let me get you some water..." Roy stood, gently disentangling his hand from Ed's hold and grabbing the mug off the beside table, moving to the bathroom and filling it at the tap.

He moved back beside the bed, handing the mug to Ed, who looked impossibly pleased as he took it the mug and held it in his hands. "Thank you."

Ed sat there for a solid minute, grinning at the mug in his hands as though it were the best thing in the world.

Roy chuckled. "You're supposed to drink it, Ed."

Ed blinked at him before doing as he was told, lifting the mug to his lips and taking a large sip, smacking his lips.

"It's delicious." he declared, looking into the distance.

"I'm glad the tap water here is to your liking, Fullmetal." Roy was having a very, very hard time keeping the amusement from his expression. He chuckled.

Ed looked up at him with those golden eyes. His large pupils and golden irises gave him a cat-like look. "Why are you laughing? What's funny?" Ed gave him an easygoing smile and wiggled beneath the blankets. "I wanna know the joke!"

Roy paused. There really wasn't a joke- except that the Fullmetal Alchemist, Hero of the People and dog of the military was a 13 year old boy who acted like an adorable child when dosed with launadum.

Still, Roy couldn't miss the opportunity to mess with the kid. He smirked. "Alright. I know a really good knock knock joke, but you have to start it."

"Knock Knock!" Ed said eagerly.

"Who's there?" Mustang said with deliberate pleasure.

Ed's face went from excited to the prospect of the joke to confused, since he didn't know what to say to continue the joke, before his expression was alight again when he realized that was the joke. He laughed a little. "A-alright. You got me with that one."

"Did I now?" Roy feigned innocence.

"Yeah. But it's my turn. Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

"I eat mop." Ed said with certainty and intensity.

Roy paused, frowning. He didn't see where this joke was going. Maybe it was some drugged out thing that only made sense in Ed's head?

Ed looked as though he was about to burst with excitement, he was practically vibrating on the bed waiting.

"...I eat mop who?"

Ed looked as though he was about to piss himself from laughter just as Roy got the joke.

"Y-y-you just said..." Ed trailed off, unable to stop laughing. "Y-you s-sah-said..."

Roy sighed, though he couldn't help the smile on his face. "Very clever, Fullmetal."

"Y-you said you... eat poo!" Ed was doubled over laughing now, clutching his stomach.

"Easy there, Fullmetal." Roy reached out to rub the boy's back. Ed couldn't help but laugh, but he was breathing harder and Roy could see the pain creeping onto his expression.

It took a minute for Ed to fully calm down and stop laughing, and by then a tear or two had trickled down his cheek.

"Gah, it hurts..."

"I know. Just relax. It'll fade if you take a few breaths." Roy kept rubbing gentle circle's on the boy's back through his shirt, being careful to mind the areas he knew were injured.

Once Ed had settled down, he laid back against the pillow. The kid looked pretty spent.

"Anything else hurting, Ed?"

Ed shook his head, eyes half closed.

"Alright, Fullmetal. Get some rest..." he moved to stand and go back to his paperwork.

"Wait! Don't go. I'll miss you." Ed looked up at him sadly. "Stay... a little longer? Please?"

Maybe it was because it was such a childish request. To not be left alone. Or maybe it was because the boy was out of it on painkillers. Or maybe because it was the first time he could remember Edward had used the word please when talking to him. But he sighed, taking a deep breath and pulling his desk chair over to sit beside the kid's bed. "Alright, Ed, I'll stay for a little while."

"Yay." Ed's voice was nearly a whisper. He really was almost asleep. Within ten minutes, the kid was out.

Roy found himself watching the boy's expression for a few moments- Ed was resting easy again, features relaxed, lips slightly parted- the boy really was just a child. And, as the cuts and scratches on the boy's face reminded him, he'd taken a pretty horrific beating from the sounds of the doctor's report. Why hadn't Ed just given up the information? It would've saved him so much pain...

"Rest up, Edward." he reached over, tucking the blankets further around the boy's chin before he stood up, and with some difficulty, dragged his chair back over to the hotel room desk. Somehow paperwork seemed much less fun after sharing knock-knock jokes with his drugged up alchemist.

Roy stopped the pen mid-stoke, turning to look at the sleeping boy on the bed. He couldn't make out much, but Ed was still fast asleep. Still, since when had the boy become his alchemist?

Roy stopped to think. Ed had always been under his command, he was new, rash, impulsive, but... It'd been after the Shou Tucker Incident, he realized.

He'd gotten a call late at night from Hughes- Ed and Al had just been told they could no longer stay and study with Shou Tucker after Ed had tried accessing the man's research in Central. The boys had gone to stay the night at Hughes.

"I just got a call. They want me team to deploy to the Tucker Estate. Something bad had happened. And..."

"What is it, Hughes?"

"Ed and Al aren't in their rooms."

"I'll be there in five minutes."

He'd ridden with Hughes to the Tucker estate- his eyes eagerly scanning the road, the yard, everywhere. He'd busted into the room filled to the brim with chimeras- abused, suffering beasts in pain. The investigations personnel on the scene looked up, surprised, at his entrance.

All Roy could see was the rather large spatter of blood on the floor.

"Where's my alchemist?" he asked the nearest officer.

She frowned. "Shou Tucker has already been taken into custody, Sir..."

"Not Shou. My alchemist, the Fulletmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric... He should have a seven foot tall suit of armor with him."

The woman frowned. "No one was here when we got here but Tucker, Sir."

He'd found Edward in the alley later that night. Sobbing his heart out over a dead chimera he couldn't save. And selfishly, as he and Hawkeye sat in the car and watched over the boys in the distance, Roy had been relieved. Horrible things had happened. But at least his alchemist- his Ed- was okay.

That was probably the moment Ed had become 'his alchemist'. It was as close to it as he could remember, the first time he'd said it out loud, anyways. But he'd probably been calling the boy that longer in his head.

Ed wiggled around a little under the blankets, and Roy sighed.

Ed. Leave it that boy to worm his way into his heart.

[thanksjro]

MTMTE #21:  The Sound of Breaking Glass, a prose story- James Did, in Fact, Put That Baby in That Robot

It’s after the fight with Tyrest and his goons, but before Cyclonus stabs Tailgate with a sword for medical purposes. The portal has stopped working, Skids isn’t making any sense, and Rodimus is about to do one of the scariest things you can do as an adult person.

He’s going to make several business-related phone calls.

Perceptor trying to be funny is the oddest take I’ve seen in a bit. I was completely unaware that he had a sense of humor.

Rodimus is looking pretty rough from that nonsense he pulled in the space-crucifix, but he doesn’t want to bother Ratchet, since Tailgate’s still looking like he’s gonna bite it at this point. Besides he’s still got work to do- he fully intends on getting the space bridge back in working order.

The bridge, unfortunately, isn’t making it easy for him; thing’s falling apart and bursting into flames at random intervals.

Rodimus wants to make the last few days at least somewhat worthwhile, a sentiment that Minimus catches onto, and doesn’t seem to agree with. What would it mean, if they were able to say “well, Tailgate, half a religious order, and the concept of trust in the law are dead, but at least we got to finish off our road trip in record time!”? Food for thought, Minimus, I’ll give you that.

Brainstorm runs through the room like a maniac, over the metaphorical moon about something, as he interrupts the conversation. Once he’s gone, Minimus asks about his outer shell, I guess because he feels naked without it. As he collects his belongings, Rodimus brings up their earlier conversation, and reaffirms that he wants to make up for what’s happened. Minimus acknowledges his words, but doesn’t really offer anything in return.

Back over on the Lost Light, we get subjected to a title drop.

Rung is meeting Fort Max in the hollowed-out remains of Swerve’s, because his office is full of corpses. This is a sort-of continuation of their conversation in the brig, where Rung forgave Fort Max for being a big part of why he got shot. They have a brief discussion about where Max’s head is at, and whether or not he’s ready to get back into the workforce after the nightmare hellscape that was Garrus-9. Rung seems to think that the fact that Fort Max is considering his mental health in the first place is a good sign, and offers his services should he be needed.

Too bad they’re going to have to tele-con, since Fort Max is being sent off the ship for his new job.

Over at Rodimus’ office, Rodimus considers hiring Atomizer to redecorate his pad- even though they seem to have very similar tastes when it comes to paintjobs- because he just isn’t feeling the sick flames and hot pink interior anymore.

I see Rodimus is taking the “no fun allowed” route to personal growth. Wonder how long that’ll last.

He has a think about the last conversation he had with Drift before he threw him off the ship, the memory laced with “Overlord murdered a lot of people because of me” guilt. Drift hadn’t been thrilled about the prospect of Rodimus’ inquiry, and made that much known, then volunteered to be the scapegoat. Rodimus hated this idea, horrified by the idea of letting Drift take the fall for him, after all the work he’d put in to try and be liked by people after the whole “Deadlock” thing.

Then Drift revealed that he’s got another reason for not letting Rodimus get kicked off the ship.

Back at Swerve’s, the man himself has made an appearance, interrupting the meeting between Rung and Fort Max, and proceeding to make a fool of himself by way of slapstick. It’s okay though, because he’s too high on actually feeling good about himself for once in his miserable life to feel physical pain.

Rodimus more or less insinuated this exact idea back in issue #17, and it made him so upset he was about to close his bar completely down over it. Good to see our robot Pagliacci bouncing back so nicely.

Brainstorm enters the scene like a vengeful spirit, and I guess Rung and Fort Max just disappear into the aether as he has a little chat with Swerve. Turns out that someone went and took a peek inside the super-secret, possibly-sun-destroying briefcase Brainstorm keeps on his person at all times, and he wants to know who. It was probably a little easier to swing than usual, given that Brainstorm had given up the springs on the clasps of the thing to help break everyone out of moon jail, and he probably had to take at least a little time to recover from his soul halfway evaporating out of his eyes.

Swerve makes a joke, because he has a lot of trouble handling serious situations, then we get confirmation that Brainstorm kidnapped a fucking zygote from the moon.

Brainstorm has a baby inside him.

James, I’m begging you, we can’t keep doing this.

Later, Ratchet’s checking on Tailgate after his stabbing/stabbing repair/cybercrosis cure injection.

Swerve what the FUCK do you think you’re doing with that medical biowaste?

Minimus comes in, looking very silly, as he’s having a heck of a time putting the Magnus Armor back on.

Minimus would like some help getting dressed, and, because clothes for space robots seem to skew more towards body parts than anything else, he’s come to the best doctor on the Lost Light.

(Nobody tell First Aid I said that. I fear his wrath.)

Ratchet is surprisingly handy with the Armor, and it’s revealed that he’s known about Ultra Magnus actually being a completely different, much smaller guy, since the very start.

As in, when Tyrest first started pulling this nonsense.

He didn’t say anything to anyone because he didn’t see the point, then lets Minimus know that he’s his favorite, which gives him a much-needed ego-boost. Minimus wanders off to go put the rest of his clothes on, leaving Ratchet to pull a body out of the morgue that isn’t dead.

Later, on Luna 1, we get to see Rodimus get bummed out about the baby moon not flaring back up. It’s not for lack of trying- he’s crawling around on the ground, rubbing his face in the dirt, all while Getaway watches- but it doesn’t seem like the babies are coming back. Getaway thinks it’s weird that it just kinda turned off, but then again this wasn’t exactly a typical situation, now was it? He tries igniting the Hot Spot himself, planting the first seed of his primus apotheosis diagnosis years from now, then asks our dear captain what’s next on the agenda.

Rodimus, saddened by the loss of literally a billion lives, shakes out his pocket onto the ground.

Don’t worry, the Matrix was in there, so it was totally respectful of the dead. Fort Max rides up, playfully threatening to arrest Rodimus for littering, and we finally get to know what his new career path is.

Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord.

Also, he brought a friend.

Red Alert, jumping right back into his work, has decided to stay with Fort Max on Luna 1, to chase bad guys and help the Circle of Light recover/prepare for attack. Then he tells Rodimus to turn his phone back on, because Perceptor’s been trying to call him for a while now.

Back at Tyrest’s sweet digs, Perceptor’s gotten the communications system working, and is ready to call Cybertron. Cybertron, who probably thinks they all died back in issue #1, despite Blaster’s best efforts in issue #13 and #15. Blaster did not help with this project, probably because he was busy getting his tiddy compartment fixed.

Perceptor dials, everyone wonders what Bumblebee’s been up to, they get their hopes up, and we get one hell of a reveal for anyone who hasn’t been following along with the sister series up to this point.

Ah, that’s right, I’ve got to do a lightning round for RID, don’t I?

In the Postscript of this prose story, we meet Outrigger, a member of the Circle of Light who will be established as a big honkin’ dork the more we learn about him. He’s just run into Red Alert’s office to tell him about Tyrest having moved. This is a very odd occurrence indeed, as Tyrest was shot in the spine, and should not be able to move. 

The two of them head over to where Tyrest is being held, only to find he’s disappeared from a locked room.

Well, shit.

[lyssismagical]

happiness can be found even in the darkest of times

Febuwhump Day 13 & 14 – Unfortunate & Broken Heart

Read on AO3

For once, the day didn’t seem to hold any heaviness to it. The sky was bright, the cake made to immaculate perfection, the card and present nervously left in the center of the table.

“Happy Becoming a Stark Day, kid,” Tony says, uncertainty obvious in the way he holds himself, shoulders tense and eyes wary.

Three years ago, Peter would’ve hid away in his room at the reminder, scolding himself for calling it his room. He would’ve tucked himself under his blankets, locked the door, and cried, begging May and Ben to come back.

Two years ago, Peter would’ve shrugged Tony off. He would’ve rolled his eyes, refused to have any of the cake, and ignored the gift. He would’ve shouldered his backpack and stalked to school, not even accepting Happy’s offer for a ride.

Even last year, Peter would’ve squared his jaw, maybe attempted a half-smile in consideration. He wouldn’t have eaten the cake, would’ve maybe peeked at the gift when he thought Tony wasn’t looking, but would’ve ignored the idea of the day that stood before him.

But today’s different. Three years is a long time to heal.

So, instead, he offers Tony a smile, maybe a little weary and down, but a smile nonetheless, and he sits at the table across from his guardian.

“Hey, bud,” Tony murmurs, even quieter than before, but his shoulders have relaxed. “I know I’m not supposed to let you have cake for breakfast, but I figured we could go out tonight, if you want.”

Peter pauses, and even quieter than Tony, even smaller, he says, “Could we maybe just have a movie night? Just us here? If not, that’s okay, I don’t mind going out, but I just- I-”

But Tony’s face is so gentle, eyes shining. “Yeah, buddy, of course. We can watch that show you never shut up about.”

Tentatively, Peter steels himself to extend the olive branch he’d been holding close to his chest for far too long. “Do you think, maybe, we could try to make meatloaf? It was- It was the only thing May could cook and I found her recipe when I was going through her things.”

And Tony’s eyes light up with pride, smiling softly. “Course we can, buddy.”

“Can I?” Peter asks, reaching for the present. Anxiety still thrums in his veins and the remnants of grief still curl from his toes up to the pit of his stomach, and guilt still lingers in the back of his mind. But he wants to try.

Tony pushes the present and card across to Peter, still smiling so carefully like he’s scared any wrong move on his part will set Peter backwards on his course to happiness.

The card is simple, a few kind words scrawled in Tony’s messy handwriting about how much Peter means to him.

The gift makes tears spring to Peter’s eyes. A gold chain with a locket on the end of it. When he opens it, it’s the picture of Peter, Ben, and May on the beach when they went on one of their Spontaneous Sunday Stunts. They drove out to Coney Island that Sunday, not long before Everything Happened.

Peter quickly slips the gold chain around his neck, unable to tear his eyes away from the picture of Ben and May smiling at the camera, arms wrapped around Peter.

He stands suddenly, chair kicking out behind him before he can stop it, but Tony beats him to talking, voice low and apologetic.

“I’m sorry, I know it’s soon and it’s not my place, I just saw the picture when I was going through some of the stuff, and I figured-”

“Thank you,” Peter murmurs, swallowing thickly. Tears catch on his cheeks and his hands are shaking where they clutch the golden pendant, but he needed this. It’s been three years.

Peter moves around the table and allows himself to hug Tony, a few years ago, he would’ve never allowed himself to, he would’ve told himself it was betraying May and Ben to be accepting Tony’s comforts.

“Yeah, course, kiddo,” Tony says, pressing the quickest kiss to Peter’s temple.

He clears his throat, offering a proud smile. “Finish up your piece of cake and then I’ve gotta get you to school.”

Peter lets himself laugh, a small fraction of the person he once was, before everything happened, but it’s enough for now at least.

Three years ago, Peter watched Ben die in the grim alleyway (bloody hands, pained wheezes, the murmured With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility, the guilt and the grief, watching May fall to her knees when the police officers dragged Peter, shocked and blood-caked hands, into the house with The News) and there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening. And then, as though the universe wasn’t done ruining his life, when Peter went to see May the next morning, she was gone too.

Broken Heart Syndrome, the doctors told him. A rare occurrence, but somehow Parker Luck had struck again.

And suddenly, within the course of twenty-four hours, Peter was alone. Absolutely, irreversibly, indescribably alone.

Running away from the CPS wasn’t as hard as he thought, running from grief was harder than he’d thought.

He spent his days swinging through the streets of Queens as Spider-Man, he’d take naps on rooftops, hoping nobody would catch him.

Until, of course, Iron Man showed up one day and took him back to the tower, offering up one of his hundreds of guest bedrooms.

It wasn’t like Peter couldn’t accept it, he didn’t have much of a choice unless he wanted to sleep in his stupid Spider-Man onesie on various rooftops for the rest of his life, running from CPS.

And three years later, somehow, Tony’s still here. He hasn’t given up on Peter yet, he hasn’t died like Peter thinks he might if he starts to think of Tony as a real parental figure.

But Peter’s been letting his guard down. He’s been accepting the homework help, he’s been letting Tony take him out to restaurants and for ice cream, Tony’s been coming to his Academic Decathlon competitions, they have movie nights at least once a week.

Peter’s let himself get close to Tony in a way he promised he wouldn’t because he knows that whenever he gets close to somebody, they die. It’s happened four times already, and he swore he wouldn’t let it happen to Tony.

But he lets his guard down, and the bad things happen like he knew they would.

* Ned’s rambling about his new girlfriend, hands moving wildly with his emotions. Something about how he thinks she may have cheated on him already because of some snapchats MJ swears she saw during Academic Decathlon the other day.

It’s obviously important to Ned, and normally Peter would care a lot about it, but something seems off. Wrong. His spidey-sense is ringing in the back of his head.

And then they leave the school, Ned rolling his eyes dramatically as he gets to the part of his story where he’s planning on asking Betty about it, and Happy’s the one waiting for him not Tony.

Normally, Peter wouldn’t have been worried. Happy picks him up all the time.

But it’s their third anniversary of being a family and Tony said he’d pick Peter up from school so they could grab some ice cream, maybe some fast food, hang out for a bit.

He wouldn’t just miss it.

“Happy?” Peter calls out, wincing when Ned abruptly stops talking. “Sorry, man. I’ll call you later and you can tell me everything about what happens tonight.”

Ned’s shoulders don’t slump in the way Peter thought they would, there’s no disappointment or anger or any ill feelings in his eyes. He just grins and claps Peter on the shoulder.

“No worries. I gotta get going anyways. Guess we’ll cross our fingers that Betty has a reasonable explanation for those snaps,” Ned says. “Bye!”

Peter murmurs a half-hearted goodbye with a distracted smile, before turning on Happy, trying his best to push down the worry and disappointment.

“Hey, kid,” Happy says. His sunglasses slip down a little to reveal red-rimmed eyes, making Peter flinch.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

Happy sighs, opening the door for Peter to get in but the teenager doesn’t move. “Listen, kid, it’d be easier to explain when we get back home-”

“Is he okay?” Peter demands, tears already threatening to spill. Of course this happened. Of course something bad had to happen on the three years since Peter became a Stark. It was bound to happen one day, Parker Luck always ready to attack when Peter least expects it.

“He had a heart attack, Pete,” Happy says, voice soft and careful. “It happens sometimes, ever since Afghanistan his heart’s been weak.”

Peter’s knees buckle and Happy barely manages to catch him, gently maneuvering Peter into the car.

“He’s okay,” Happy reassures, easily blocking the car from the view of the prying teenagers passing. “He’s going to be just fine. He’s going to spend a couple days, maybe a week, in Medical, and then he’ll be fine.”

Peter lets out a broken sob, tears spilling over the edges. His shaking hands comes up to cover his face, hunching over himself in passenger seat.

“Pete, kiddo, he’s going to be okay, I promise,” Happy soothes, hands rubbing at Peter’s shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” Peter cries, tugging loosely at his curls. “It’s my fault. If I had- If I had just-”

Happy’s shaking his head, hands tightening on Peter’s shoulders. “Not your fault, kid. Tony’s heart been weak for over a decade now. It just happens sometimes. There was nothing you could’ve done to prevent this.”

But if Peter had followed his gut and stayed away from Tony, away from the Starks, maybe they would’ve been okay. Peter, he’s infectious. The Parker Luck attacks anyone close to him.

That’s why Mary and Richard were dead. That’s why Ben and May died. That’s why Tony’s now in the hospital.

Because of Peter.

“C’mon, kiddo, let’s get you home.”

Happy doesn’t say much more as his hands disappear from Peter’s shoulder and he gets into the driver’s seat, starting back towards the tower. He murmurs a few more quiet reassurances, before he gives up and lets Peter curl up and cry. All he does is reach out a hand is pat Peter’s shoulder gently every once in a while.

Peter just cries and wishes the bullet had taken him instead of Ben that night over three years ago. Things would’ve been different.

*

Ned calls him when they get back to the tower and Peter answers it without really thinking, sinking down onto the couch as Happy disappears down to medical without him.

“I walked Betty home from school,” Ned starts without waiting for Peter to say anything. It’s not like he knows anything’s wrong, he doesn’t know Peter’s life is crumbling before his very eyes. “And I confronted her about the whole ordeal.”

Peter hums, worried if he tried to speak, his voice would crack and give it all away.

“Betty admitted she was planning on going to Brad’s this weekend,” Ned exclaims. “MJ was right, she was going to cheat on me. Can you believe it? I ended it right then and there, told her if she liked Brad so much, she should be with him and not me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah… I know I was the one to break up with her, but man, does it ever hurt? I think my heart is broken, dude. Like can you believe it? Brad, of all people?”

Ned continues rambling about his relationship problems, but Peter stops listening, mind looping the same phrase. Heart is broken.

Broken heart.

Ned and Betty were together for like three weeks, maybe. Ben and May were married for ten years, happy and in love, and prepared to spend the rest of their lives together.

Ned’s relationship problems may feel like the end of the world to him, but it isn’t a broken heart.

“I gotta go, Ned, sorry, man,” Peter blurts, cutting Ned off again. “I, uh, Tony’s, he, fuck, Ned, Tony had a heart attack and I-”

“Shit, Peter, I had no idea, I- I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can, just let me know, yeah? I- I don’t know what to say. I’m just-”

Peter shakes his head, willing the tears not to fall. “It’s cool. I’ll call you back later. I gotta go bye.”

He hangs up, gives himself exactly two minutes to panic, to absolutely fall apart at the seams like he remembers doing when he walked into May’s room the day after Ben died and found her already long gone. He gave himself two minutes to panic before he called the police, packed up his things, changed into his Spider-Man suit, and swung into Queens.

This time, Peter doesn’t run away, he doesn’t try to hide. He pulls himself together as much as he can, and steels himself to go down to Medical.

* When Peter’s parents died, Ben and May would take turns reading Peter to sleep out of the Harry Potter Series, a collector’s edition Mary bought just a few weeks before the fateful plane ride.

She had left them with Peter at May and Ben’s before they’d left, saying it would be good entertainment while they were away.

Turns out, they’d be one of the only things Peter could keep that belonged to them.

The Harry Potter books were tucked away in the back of his closet not long later, when looking at them was enough to bring back waves and waves of grief.

After Ben and May died, Tony found them when taking everything from the apartment to the tower.

Peter was practically catatonic, refusing to leave his bed or eat the food Tony brought. And his new guardian did the only thing he knew how to do.

He read the Harry Potter books out loud, night after night after night until they’d made it to the part where Sirius died, and Peter had jerked out of bed and taken the book from Tony’s hands, drawing it to his chest as he cried.

It’s not like he didn’t know it would happen, he’d read the books six or seven times each, but hearing Tony’s rough voice depict Harry’s closest parental figure’s death so soon after Ben and May…

Now, years later, Peter tugs the box of books out from his closet where he’d hidden them a while back.

He takes them down to medical where Tony is, needles and IV’s and machinery surrounding him. His heart monitor is steadier than Peter thought it would be, but it doesn’t do much to quell his anxiety.

The spine crackles when he props open the first book of the series, tucking the rest of the box under his chair and he starts reading.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much…”

* Pepper came down every once in a while, trying to convince Peter up from Tony’s bedside. She brought a few snacks, but when they went uneaten, she settled for bringing a few bottles of ice water when Peter’s voice became rough and cracking through the overuse.

Happy was in and out for the first night but he didn’t bother as much after that. They both knew Tony would be back on his feet in no time, there was no reason to cry at his bedside when he’d be just fine.

Bruce and Helen showed up occasionally, they tried to speak to him, tried to take the books from him, tried to get him to rest or eat or drink some water at the very least, but he never complied and used his sticky fingers and strength to his advantage.

The two constants, though, was the steady beeping of the heart monitor and Peter’s voice, reading and reading and reading.

After two nights of Tony resting, which apparently was perfectly normal according to Helen and Bruce, Peter’s voice finally cracked, tears overcoming him as he tries to continue to force himself through the blurring words of the page.

“‘There's nothing you can do, Harry... nothing... He's gone.’ ” Peter chokes out, voice trembling and hands shaking.

A sob escapes his throat and he can’t get his voice to keep going, book falling into his lap. Even three years later, he can’t make it through Sirius’s death. He can’t do it.

He tucks his knees up to his chest, hunching in on himself in the uncomfortable plastic chair at Tony’s bedside, tears refusing to cease, pouring down his cheeks like waterfalls. Sobs wrack his chest, shoulders shuddering, book clutched to his chest.

He cries and he cries and he cries.

And then,

“Pete?”

He turns quickly, nearly falling from his chair in his haste to see if the voice was real and not a figment of his imagination.

But it’s real. Tony’s eyes are finally open, boring into him with an intense worry and concern, hands already reaching for him, seeking to comfort the crying teenager.

Peter flinches, shying away from the outstretched hands. The book slips from his grasp and hits the floor with a thud, and he scrambles to grab it, hands trembling violently.

“Kiddo, hey, it’s okay, we’re okay,” Tony’s reassuring, voice rough from disuse, but so soft and caring it makes Peter want to fall into his arms and let him will the horrors of the world away.

But he can’t. He can’t pretend it’s okay.

“I’m sorry. I- I’m sorry,” he cries, knees buckling. He doesn’t have Happy to catch him this time, instead hitting the floor with a whine and hunching in on himself on the floor as he gasps for breath.

“Hey, hey, hey, kiddo, we’re okay. It’s alright. I know it’s scary, but it’s okay. I’m just fine, alright? But I can’t help you if you don’t let me.”

His eyes slide over the books, in particular the book that Peter’s pulled into his lap again, and his expression softens.

“Buddy, you know we skip over that book, don’t you?” Tony murmurs. He carelessly tugs off the circles on his chest, monitoring his heart rate, and the IV out of his hand, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

“No, no- You shouldn’t-” Peter tries to say, but then Tony’s kneeling on the tiled floor beside him and pulling him into a tight hug, effectively cutting off his protests.

Tony’s voice is soft and warm as they rock gently on the floor, reassuring him that everything alright.

And it works in a way that Tony’s perfected over the past three years of learning how to soothe Peter through guilt and grief and panic.

“You wanna tell me what’s up, bud? You wanna talk to me?”

Peter pulls away from Tony’s arms, knowing he must look like a wreck with tousled greasy curls and red-rimmed puffy eyes and a trembling mouth.

“I kill everyone I get close to,” Peter says, face crumpling. “Everyone I get close to dies, Tony, and I- I can’t lose you too. I can’t do it again, I can’t. My Parker Luck, it- it- Please, I- I have to leave, you have to send me away or else- or else-”

But Tony isn’t angry like Peter thought he would be. His voice stays in the same soft tone he’s adopted. “It’s not your fault, buddy. I know you think it is, I know it’s been tough for you, but it isn’t because of you. My heart’s been weak since Afghanistan, kid, long before you.”

“But- But Ben, and May, they- If I had just-”

“Kiddo, baby, you weren’t the one to pull the trigger. You weren’t the one to crash your parents’ plane. You weren’t the one to give me a heart attack. This isn’t on you, bambi. Bad things happen to good people.”

“But-”

Tony shakes his head, pulling Peter more firmly against his chest. “No buts. None of it was your fault no matter how much that little voice in your head is saying it is. It wasn’t your fault, I promise.”

Peter gives up fighting, he sinks into the hug, hiding his face away in Tony’s shirt, shaking hands curling into the hem of his shirt.

“I can’t lose you,” he says. “I can’t do it again, Tony, I can’t.”

“And I’ll try my hardest to make sure you won’t have to, okay? But you know I can’t promise you something like that.”

“I know, I just… I just can’t do it again. I can’t lose a fifth parent, Tony. I can’t do it. I don’t think- I don’t think I could do it.”

Tony curls tighter around Peter. “You won’t, baby. I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.”

“Tony?” He curls one of his hands around the pendant that hangs around his neck, the one Tony got him.

“Yeah, kiddo?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, buddy. Now what do you say, we hop back into bed and we can pick up where you left off, yeah?”

Peter looks over to where the fifth book lies harmlessly on the floor. “Can we skip to the end?”

Tony offers a smile, picking up the fifth and the sixth with a little huff of laughter. “Yeah, kid. Of course.”

They shift up onto the bed, Peter refusing to let go of Tony’s shirt, and Tony opens to the end of book five, clearing his throat.

It’s not perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect for Peter. But it’s enough. It’s good.

“‘Instead he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley hurrying along in his wake.’ ”

[donotexterminateupgradepudding]

Further defining the relationship between the Doctor and Clara Oswald; Season 9 episode 1 & 2

Blargh.  I’ve been busy with work stuff and getting ready for some travel so it has been taking longer for me to sit down and actually get this going.  To make my life easier, I’ll try to work on smaller chucks of season 9.  Hopefully, this will prevent me from getting too involved in the post. 

After the Doctor and Clara are reunited in the Last Christmas special (one of the more emotionally rewarding Christmas specials might I add) they are back to traveling together. Episode 1 starts with the Doctor doing a solo trip where he encounters the a young boy, Davros in a creepy handmine field.  Upon learning his name, the Doctor flees seeing that he shouldn’t help the creator of the Daleks himself!  And thus the tension builds as he hides while Davros’ snake servant goes in search of him. 

Of course, Missy decides to catch the entire world’s attention and Clara is summoned to U.N.I.T headquarters and we get a badass scene of her riding her motorcycle to the Tower of London. The biggest shift in how she behaves is how she acts like the Doctor when talking with Kate and the others as they try to determine what is happening.  Clara throws out big picture ideas and almost automatically starts thinking of all of the possibilities that this could be.  She has always been a self-assured and intelligent person, but she commands authority now.

As Missy expects Clara appears with the U.N.I.T. and the two of them have a very tense conversation about the disappearance of the Doctor.  As Missy really wants to have the full attention of the Doctor, she will stop at nothing to rile up Clara and insult her including her hurtful words asking about if Danny is still dead.  Missy presents the Time Lord confession dial to Clara stating it is the equivalent of a will.  She makes it clear it is delivered to his closest friend of the eve of his final day.  Clara’s reaction here is her at her best trying to give nothing away to Missy.  Her concern is evident, yet she knows she can’t be riled by Missy and must remain calm both for her safety and the Doctor’s.

Clara glances down at the dial, back at Missy, back at the dial before reaching for it before it zaps her.

She has a look of complete shock as it hurts her.  Clara believes herself to be the Doctor’s closest friend.  She declared it to Danny when he was just another cyberman.  Yet, Clara is not a Time Lord.  To add insult to injury, Missy points out that Clara is like the puppy with the random couple.  This implies that Missy and the Doctor are like a married couple and Clara is just some dumb pet. I get that the Master/Missy isn’t supposed to be a nice or sympathetic character, but I really personally hate Missy.  She spends all of her time trying to state how intellectually advanced she is, how she has risen over feeble and dumb emotions yet it is 100% clear that she is extremely jealous of Clara and the Doctor’s relationship.  She set their relationship into motion, but she’s not a fan.  Missy and Clara have a very tense exchange as Clara implies that their relationship must be love and Missy is totally offended by the remark and can only retort back Time Lords are better than that.  Clara clearly hit a nerve, not like Missy will ever state the truth.

Missy wants to state that her level of friendship with the Doctor far exceeds any understanding that Clara may have, so thus, she can’t even begin to comprehend a 2000 or so year relationship.  Honestly, not matter how old the Master may be, I really think as a character he/she will never develop a deeper understanding of “humanity” as a concept that includes Time Lords and humans. 

The 10th Doctor has stated that he’s observed people who have done more in 20 years than 80 years implying that time does not always equal wisdom or accomplishments.  He also stated he was just a young one at 90 implying as well that even though Time Lords live much longer, they clearly mature at a slower rate than humans or other species. 

Being the overly analytical nerd that I am, let’s say a 90 year old Time Lord is like a 13 year old human.  It means that at 2000, the Doctor is like an ~ 289 year old human.  Therefore, Time Lords can be more mature and wiser than a standard human, but not as much as one would expect with a different rate of maturation.

Back to the whole Clara - Missy face off, Clara clearly isn’t buying this and provokes Missy by stating that she’s to believe that Missy is best friends with the Doctor and turned good.  Obviously, Missy takes immediate offense to the concept of being good and kills two of the U.N.I.T staff in the area.  Of course Missy threatens to kill the rest of the U.N.I.T people in the area, but is caught when Clara tells her to kill her next.  It shows that despite all of her bravado and her Time Lord intelligence, she can’t figure out where the Doctor is since she isn’t as close as Clara is.

Therefore, Clara wins by telling her to prove that she is serious.  She only needs to point at the plane above her to get her point across.  And with that, Missy has no choice but to obey.

Oh sure, she tries to write it off as something easy and something that she couldn’t actually do anything bad with; yet at the end of the day Missy has to recognize she is out of her depth.

The framing then shifts where Clara is not the one seated and Missy is standing behind her since by her own admission, she can’t find where the Doctor is and Clara is the only person currently who can.

This also gives Missy a chance to put a vortex manipulator on Clara while she is distracted, thus removing her from the assistance of anyone else.  I have to admit, if Missy is so smart, she should have figured out what it took Clara all of 10 seconds to put together - where is the Doctor having a crazy party.

As Clara ponders what will let them know he’s there, Missy states it will be a small anachronism.  Of course both are shocked as he enters playing guitar on a tank . . .

The Doctor then tries to have some hilarious stand up a few hundred years too early and Clara cringes at his fish tank joke while Missy seems . . . not amused? befuddled?

Clara then asks Missy what’s the matter with him.  She’s never seen him like this - and she has seen the 11th and 12th Doctor, so she got to compare to totally different personalities.

He immediately hears her and pulls his sunglasses down a bit to get a better look at Clara and Missy.

Clara then wonders if he heard them and realizes that they are there.  Instead of verbally answering, he proceeds to play some of “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison.  Of course based on their facial expressions both Missy and Clara think the song is about her and likely not the other.  However, Clara wins for having the more totally adorable smile.

As he continues to play, the camera will quickly switch back to them for a moment where Clara beams, Missy then gets a side glance over at her before she stops smiling and is more serious looking.  The camera pans back to the Doctor and then back to a very flattered and happy looking Clara who only stops smiling with her teeth as he finishes playing as if she were caught on tape.

Now the lyrics for “Pretty Woman” aren’t very deep or anything like that, but they are appropriate for the relationship between the Doctor and Clara. Pretty woman, walkin' down the street Pretty woman the kind I like to meet Pretty woman I don't believe you, you're not the truth No one could look as good as you, mercy

Pretty woman won't you pardon me Pretty woman I couldn't help but see Pretty woman that you look lovely as can be Are you lonely just like me

Pretty woman stop awhile Pretty woman talk awhile Pretty woman give your smile to me Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah Pretty woman look my way Pretty woman say you'll stay with me 'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right Come with me baby, be mine tonight

Pretty woman don't walk on by Pretty woman don't make me cry Pretty woman don't walk away, hey, OK If that's the way it must be, OK I guess I'll go on home, it's late There'll be tomorrow night, but wait What do I see? Is she walkin' back to me? Yeah, she's walkin' back to me Oh, oh, pretty woman.

The Doctor is always lonely - the Doctor travels through time and space yet can never have a friend able to keep traveling with him.  Therefore, these lyrics really fit both of them at the beginning of season 9, the only person they have is each other.

Clara runs down to ground level while Missy continues to watch from above.  The Doctor has to visually look at Missy before she will even come down while Clara was already there waiting for him.  She then comes up to him and asks how he knew she was there.

Clara:  Did you see me?

Doctor: When do I not see you?

Clara: What, one face in all of that crowd?

Doctor: There was a crowd too?

Clara: Wow, we’re doing charm as well now, are we? [laughs] Which one of us is dying?

As she states he’s “doing charm” it means she is impress with how he’s grown as a person and is trying to impress her.  Of course it totally works, she’s beaming at him here as she smiles, though obviously concerned.

After some nervous glances between the two of them, he then hugs her.  She’s thoroughly overwhelmed as the Doctor has initiated a hug between the two of them.

Clara can’t keep up with these changes.  This all makes sense.  Clara, like the 12th Doctor uses her quick wit and sarcasm to deflect when she’s not sure what is happening.  She’s clearly concerned based on her facial expression, but she has to be strong for him since his hugging means he’s worried. 

And we get that worry as the camera finally shows his face as he tells her it is a great way to hide your face.

When they finally break from the hug, she’s able to guess that he’s throwing a party, but this was not the type of party she was expecting.  The lighting in this scene is telling, his light eyes dart back and forth and when she pulls away we see shadows under Clara’s eyes.  She knows this is not the Doctor and he deflects her by stating he’s been many men and all of him is invited to this party.  12 may have come a long way with his emotions, but at a time like this he really still doesn’t know what to do.  He also has to deal with Missy as he then introduces her as the wicket stepmother.  He also uses this transition to place himself directly between Clara and Missy.

It is quite clear that he’s protecting Clara since he already realizes that Missy brought her there and he can’t trust Missy with Clara alone.

There is a bit of chit chat and eventually Colony Sarff, Davros’ snake errand boy shows up and confronts the Doctor.  He states he followed his friends to the location and asks for the Doctor to come see a dying Davros. 

The sonic screwdriver is thrown down before him and he looks ashamed and can’t say anything only able to reply to Clara’s comment that it used to be his sonic.

Not surprisingly, Missy has to ask what the Doctor’s facial expression is.  I waffle on if this implies that Missy knows exactly what that facial expression is and only says that so that Clara states that he’s ashamed.  This is him feeling ashamed for some sort of action.

Clara looks on with great concern as she asks him what he’s done.  That then leads to the rest of the flashback explaining what happened at the beginning of the episode.  Upon learning that the boy’s name is Davros, the Doctor freezes and is unsure what to do.  As the fog rolls in, he uses that as a chance to escape as the fog obscures the TARDIS, yet the tell tale sign sound of it departing before returning to the current events implies that the Doctor abandoned a young Davros.

The Doctor agrees to go and says the lamest good-bye to Clara ever as he just turns to her before turning his back to snake errand boy.  In true Clara fashion she barely even glances at Missy before she springs into action stating that they will come with him. 

And with that, the trio are transported to the ship as they travel to where ever Davros is.

While waiting to meet Davros, the Doctor reveals that he’s the creator of the Daleks (a surprising thing for Clara to not know seeing that she knows tons about the Doctor) and that the bigger question is “Who created Davros?” as an almost rhetorical question.

As Colony Sarff comes to take the Doctor away, he and Clara have a very awkward conversation.  She immediately calls him out on giving the confession dial to Missy.  Therefore, the Doctor knew she was not dead and he had someway to reach her - though she was unable to find him without Clara.  This clearly does not sit well with Clara.  She’s the one who is supposed to be able to lie, not the Doctor to her, Clara.  Their facial expressions are so strained, he’s trying his best to look calm and looks so sad as he hid things from Clara while she tries so hard to look tough. 

The tension between them is so palpable you can almost taste it.  Clara is off her game, he ran off to 1138, had a crazy party, made it so that Missy and Clara would have to find him, he tried to coldly say good-bye and how she’s stuck in a holding room with Missy who keeps trying to kill her.

When Missy and Clara get captured escaping from the room and the Doctor sees her trapped in the room with the TARDIS, he begs Davros not to hurt her.

There is then a discussion between Davros and the Doctor about how compassion was his weakness and he asks himself why he let him live when he stumbled upon him as a boy in his present time. The Doctor looks quite distraught as the Daleks wait for Clara to run before zapping her, the TARDIS is “destroyed” and the episode then ends with the Doctor deciding to save Davros to save his friend. I would say this scene is a complete parallel to the 9th Doctor and Rose when they were on satellite 5.  It appears that Rose was killed by the laser beam, instead she was transported to the Dalek command.  This is the exact same thing, I’m sure the Doctor knows that Missy would have messed with the vortex manipulators, the big question is if she only made it that hers would transport her elsewhere while Clara ends up dead.

Already this meta has gotten out of hand and I haven’t even gotten to episode 2.

The second episode makes it very clear that indeed the Doctor knows that they are fine (again as long as Missy didn’t kill Clara on purpose).  With Clara hanging upside from the rope (where did Missy get the rope? and the stick?) Missy makes Clara take her “Doctor intelligence test” to determine if she should keep or alive or not.  Of course Clara, knowing the Doctor so well, is able to determine not only why Missy wasn’t dead in the first place, meaning the Doctor knows that they are still alive and that the Doctor always assumes that no matter what, he’ll win.

Missy seems to need some convincing as to if the Doctor is actually thinking that, which Clara simply states, he’s expecting them to pick up the slack for him.  Therefore, they should assume that they will win.  All of this must annoy Missy on several levels since she wants the Doctor’s attention but has to deal with the puny and pitiful Clara.

Since the Doctor and Clara are separated, I’ll only briefly [try to briefly] get though parts of the episode.

The Doctor is upset and steals Davros’ Dalek chair and a laser as he messes with the Daleks.  They point out that he does not use violence, confident that he will not actually fire a weapon at them.  They do seem to forget that the 10th Doctor clone did commit Dalek genocide, but for some odd reason that doesn’t count. . . .

However, Clara is involved and this is clearly foreshadowing to how far he will take things for Clara.  Really, the Doctor has two great enemies, the Daleks with Davros and the Time Lords, well the Time Lord establishment that is.

Meanwhile, Clara and Missy are stuck in the Dalek sewers as Missy really defines how she really can’t work with anyone despite her opinion that she is a great friend of the Doctor.  Clara is 100% correct that they are not a team and the entire time it is like the worst Time Lord - human team, with the Doctor and Clara making the “best” Time Lord - human team.  I digress.

The Doctor then gives his demand to the Daleks, that he wants Clara Oswald returned unharmed and alive and he even makes sure it is broadcast through the whole city so Clara and Missy can hear it as well.  Missy comments on it while Clara only listens.  Clara clearly is trying to understand what it all means.  What is interesting is that Missy states this is the Doctor without hope . . . upon saying that Clara only shifts to look at Missy in shock.

Does Clara think he’s actually without hope?  She does look like she’s holding back tears, but she is unusually silent and instead Missy keeps commenting.  With Danny’s death Clara was talking non-stop when she was upset.  Now, she’s oddly silent.

To be able to infiltrate the Daleks, Missy makes sure to stick Clara in a Dalek casing, which has the added benefit that, she can no longer say her name . . . this is a bit of an odd thing since when Clara’s part of her self that had been scattered through the Doctor’s timeline was her Oswin Oswald, who was a fully transformed Dalek and could still say her name.  I think you wrote yourself into a little contradiction there Steven Moffat. . . not like your whole weeping angels issue between “Blink” and when Amy and Rory get stuck in 1880 something.  Sorry dude, your writing is not the most consistent.

The point is, everything that Missy does, is to use Clara to her advantage while still keeping her expendable and Clara just had to roll with it. . . . the whole thing highlights how her relationship with the Doctor is so much more equal even though there are times Clara will act as bait to assist the Doctor.

A huge portion of this episode is dedicated to philosophical discussions between the Doctor and Davros as Missy tries to use her negotiating skills with the Supreme Dalek.  I’m personally surprised that they can’t figure out that Clara is in the one Dalek shell, it is one hell of an assumption to make after the Doctor stole Davros’ chair.

The Doctor being himself, knows that Davros will likely try to take advantage of his compassion, a constant theme these two episodes but damn well knows he’ll also wake up the zombie Daleks. 

Missy runs into wake up the passed out Doctor and has procured the Dalek laser.  The Doctor immediately asks where Clara is and if she is fine, while Missy is upset he’s not asking about her at all.  Of course he gets the last laugh and runs out with his confession dial and runs into Clara.  He stops as the Clara Dalek says “Doctor.” and he tries to tell her to run.  The framing of this shot is good, we see Clara at the end of the hall and then it switches to a view behind Clara looking at the Doctor.

This is a classic “reunion” style shot as two characters approach each other after being separated.   The issue is that the Doctor thinks it is a regular Dalek and the weird Dalek programming won’t let her explain things clearly (really seriously, this plot inconstancy is bothering me, Clara should be able to override the Dalek programming since she already has done it).

Missy confirms that it is Clara and then tries to convince the Doctor to kill the Dalek as it is the one that killed Clara.  All of her cries that she is his friend and that she would never hurt him eventually result in the the Dalek saying “mercy” which is enough to get the Doctor to step back a second and realize that something is off with this Dalek (as well as Missy’s insistence to kill it).  Upon realizing that it is Clara, he lowers the laser and tells her to open the casing and helps her figure out how to open it.

He is at a loss for words as he sees Clara as tears run down her cheeks.

She’s trapped inside and he reaches his hands out to hold her face as she cries and really, we don’t get a great look at his face as it is shaded most of the time.

What is clear is he feels terrible about everything and to steal an oft used phrase from the 10th Doctor, he states that he is “I am so sorry.”  Since the 12th Doctor is much less social and has only had one companion so far, Clara, the guilt he must feel this time has to be immense. 

It is clear that when he tells Missy to run, it is a threat that if Missy doesn’t leave him and Clara alone, there likely will be consequences. 

The action then skips back to them returning to where the TARDIS was.  They return to the location and Clara looks perplexed why they were not shot when the Doctor reveals the TARDIS is fine and with that statement Clara is beaming and smiling as he explains things to the Daleks.

This is clearly and expression of deep love and appreciation for the Doctor here.

And back to form, now with Clara, he can show off as he looks back at her softly with that spirit in his eyes.

He has his Clara Oswald back safe and sound.  He knows what he needs to do.  With that he puts his sonic sunglasses on with more bravado than necessary (since it is all for Clara) and we get a repeat of how she looked when he had the invisible watch and was playing around with her.  The two of them look like two idiots who can’t get enough of each other.  What seals the deal is when the Daleks ask what is happening.

The Doctor’s reply.

Oh same old, same old.  Just the Doctor and Clara in the TARDIS. [Clara giggles]

As they escape it is just the regular old Doctor and Clara looking at each other, smiling, beaming at each other.  The two of them are 100% into each other and the fact that he makes it sound like they’ve been at this forever and will be at it forever shows how different 12 is compared to some of the other Doctors. He’ll do anything to hold onto Clara.  This really is the normalization of the two of them as an inseparable duo.

As they watch the Dalek city on Skaro succumb to the zombie Daleks, she asks if she’ll get to know what is on the confession dial, but she damn well knows he’s not going to tell her.

As he discusses the ability of Clara to get the Dalek to say “mercy” he ponders how it would be left in their programming so to speak. 

Realizing that it was the Doctor saving young Davros (and giving him his sonic) that it was himself who then allowed himself to save Clara.  He sprints off to the TARDIS and rescues Davros and only tells him that mercy matters, and likely based on Missy’s behavior, he tells him that friends and enemies likely doesn’t matter but that mercy does.

The first two episodes of season 9 serve a purpose both to shadow what will happen at the end of the season as well as show how far the Doctor will go to make sure that Clara is safe and sound.  His love for Clara is almost extreme compared to his love for others that he has traveled with before.

I found their reunion at bit flat, when they reunited during the “Last Christmas” episode, it felt much more of a connection between the two of them.  Instead, we the viewers barely get anything, we don’t even get to see him pull her out or hug her.  Did they think this would be too much too early? 

Overall, they do set up the depth between Clara and the Doctor and really highlight how much they love and care about each other while Missy acts as a foil to both of them wanting to have the Doctor’s full attention, yet never able to do so.  It seems like episode 1 did a better job of connecting Clara and the Doctor, while episode 2 fell flat for sure and just didn’t seem sincere enough even though there were dramatic events.

It went from the Doctor almost shooting Clara to them back to normal as the TARDIS materializes around them and no discussion of this afterwards.  Clara was unusually silent as well in the episode, it just felt off.  By this point, they should have had a long detailed conversation about what happened, but no, he hops back into the TARDIS, saves young Davros and the episode ends.

[mystech-master]

Some other BBTAG scenarios that’d be cool

(I will now try and limit myself to the o.g. 4, b/c I barely know jack about Arcana Heart, Senran Kagura, Akatsuki Blitzkampf)

I might’ve mentioned some of these before, but I’m including them here for completionists sake

1. Ragna hanging out with Gordeau. I like his interactions with Ragna in BBTAG’s story okay, he treated Ragna with respect. Maybe Ragna meets Gordeau in Kanzakai and he goes to Gordeau’s bar and they chat. Ragna learns about how the Hollow Night works, they could chat about how annoyed that are by their usual aquaintances (Goedeau about Hilda and Chaos, and Ragna about.....well almost everyone in his life). Maybe Gordeau and Ragna get on the topic of revenge, since Ragna wants revenge on Terumi and Gordeau has a vendetta against Wagner. Ragna talks about how he had Terumi at his mercy once (CS’ climax) and Gordeau asks if it was worth it. Ragna notes that it was unsatisfying due to Terumi laughing during it when Ragna wanted him to suffer, AND recalls how Lambda died for him, and says it wasn’t worth it. (I see this as between CS and before CP).

If you want to go even further, maybe Gordeau introduces him to the rest of Amnesia (or Hilda and Chaos show up at the bar as Ragna and Gordeau are talking), and they offer Ragna to join Amnesia, sensing the power he has and saying that they share similar goals of taking down their world’s organizations of Order (Amnesia vs Licht Kreis and Ragna vs the N.O.L.). Of course Ragna tells them to fuck off b/c “When I did it it was for revenge, you’re doing it for shits and giggles” (TFS reference). I mean Hilda says that Amnesia’s purpose is just a bunch of people who want to be powerful and have fun. But they don’t kill, that rule was made clear by Chaos in Ekidu’s Chronicle Mode (following the death of Roger and Ogre in Gordeau’s Chronicle Mode).

2. Ragna in Remnant, like his first visit there. Of course Ruby might want to talk to him more, Yang gives him the benefit of the doubt for saving Ruby, Blake is in the middle considering I think she’d understand the situation they were in but also be wary of his Soul Eater ability (I think Blake would notice that), while Weiss would be against him due to her seeing his wanted poster for 90,000,000,000 PD. Ozpin could have Qrow tail Ragna since he is Oz’ informant and Ragna does seem to be a more active/immediate threat to those who don’t know him (if you want comedy maybe Qrow’s Misfortune semblance causes more grief for Ragna. Assuming that RWBY still have their System Crystal from RWBY’s ending, they could tell Ozpin about this and Oz will be up to speed.

So when Ragna shows up at Beacon he gets called to the Headmaster’s Office where the Ozluminati is waiting for him to just get the run down on things. Ragna’s bad attitude would attract Grimm, and also his Soul Eater makes him quite dangerous in a world where the powers are based on the Soul. Oz doesn’t want to start shit and Qrow probably has enough info to see he isn’t AS bad as people say, and that the situation is far more complicated. But Ragna is still a criminal with a dangerous power. The only reason he’s only being given a warning is due to Ruby’s good word, and if he tries anything, no matter the cost he WILL doe everything in his power to stop him from harming his students or the world he has sworn to protect as a Huntsman. Plus the fact that they can’t exactly enforce the las of a whole other Dimension.

Glynda is a bit wary of Ragna but respects Ozpin’s decissions, but Ironwood is in the camp of “This guy is a danger to us, so we should either contain him or kill him”.

If you want to go a bit more into the adult interactions, maybe after Qrow hears of Ragna’s shit lif ehe tries to take Ragna out to drink, but I think Ragna isn’t one to drink b/c he’d see it as a bitch’s way of dealing with probelms. But if Qrow annoy him to a point they have a drink off, butRagna out drinks him b/c his Azure Grimoire has a healing factor against toxins too (as shown how he shook off poison in one of the mangas) so he can’t get drunk.

Or you could have Taiyang seeing Ragna fight (Grimm, sparring with Qrow, who knows) and he picks up on how Ragna’s fighting is like Yang’s: prefering to go trhough everything and rely on your power when you get in a jam. But it can’t always save you. Maybe even have Tai give Ragna a thanks for saving his daughters, or this could be the only way you imagine Burnie Burns as Tai channel his inner Church and have him sass Ragna.

3. Referencing back to the post about the scene in CS where Ragna is with the Kaka Clan, you know the one I constantly reference. I'd imagine that after a week or so of everyone just chilling with each other Ragna is WAY more chill with everyone. So what I thought was maybe Yang and Akihiko, along with a few others maybe, are at a boxing gym and then Ragna shows up being......oddly more friendly/chill than usual, and just have them all have a friendly spar and just have Ragna be chill and friendl with people who don’t insult him or treat him like ass. I wish there was another cool brawler in UNI that Ragna could get along with to even it out.

4. Something smaller, just put anyone in the Kaka Village and watch cuteness overload. You guys saw how Weiss was with Zwei and Adrien, and Kanji wanted to pet Jubei so imagine how he’d react to the Kaka kittens.

5. Just something simple and cool for fighting shit: The I.T. go through the Emerald Forest in the style of Beacon’s Initiation Exam. With the 4 o.g. members of the I.T./current 3rd years (Yu, Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko) for one team, with the later members/2nd years form the other team (Naoto, Kanji, Teddie and Rise).

6. Adam Taurus and some other W.F. members are raiding a Sector Seven outpost/storage facility only to be intercepted by Makoto and Blake. After some fighting maybe Kokonoe talks over intercom or through a video screen so we can have some philosophical discussion between her and Adam,. Adam saying she’s kissed up to humans, while Kokonoe calls Adam and the WF bitches for letting the humans’ insults get to them this far. Makoto and Blake are a but uncomfortable, b/c while Adam is too heated about the animal people racism resulting in him going to murder people, Kokonoe has become a cold hearted bitch who, while not evil, has some issues.

7. How does Raven react to all this Cross-Dimensional bullshit? One idea I had was Yu talking with her to try and get her to see the Power of Friendship! He notes how her power also works through bonds, being able to make portals to those she has an emotional connection to (her former husband, brother, and daughter). Maybe then he unleashes his Wild Card aura to show how powerful Friendship can be (you know, the same aura that makes Elizabeth, the one who oneshots Erebus every other month, step back). Raven could still call Yu a naive idiot for thinking he can stop the horrors of Salem, although even she finds it hard to beleive that when Yu most likely just showed off Izanagi-no-Okami aura which was said by Izanami to possibly be near godlike power.

8. Sho Minazuki and Carmine Prime meeting. Both are vulgar fight happy assholes who have a blood moon motif going on. Sho goes to Kanzakai b/c the Hollow Night is full of assholes he can fight for fun. He and Carmine can fight and mayeb vibe off each other a bit, but Sho at leats has a tragic past while Carmine is just a loser who doesn’t care if he dies in a gutter. Mabe Labrys could say something like “I’m glad that Sho-kun finally has a friend he can relate to.....but.....I don’t think he’s a good influence.” As Sho and Carmine are laughing manicaly as they fight.

9. Ozpin learning about the Insulator and just....needing to sit down. Because as we all know from Vol 6, he had No plan to defeat Salem and was playing the long game defense. But now thanks to this cross-dimensional bullshit, here is the perfect weapon to FINALLY end it! Oz tries to talk to Linne about convincing Hyde to let him use it. But Linne has told Hyde to guard the Insulator with his life, and Linne doesn’t trust anyone else with it. Eventually Ozpin’s desperation leaks through and Linne connects the dots about Salem’s Immortality and Ozpin hiding her immortality. She then holds it over Oz’s head that if he tries to force the Insulator from Hyde she’ll spill his secret.

DRAMA

10. The main heroes (Ragna, Yu, Hyde, and Ruby) all talking with System just wondering what it would’ve been like if they all lived in a merged world. How would their lives be different, imagine them all going to school together? The possibilities are endless.

11. Doctor Oobleck beign fascinated by these other worlds and wanting to learn about their histories. Espeically the Persona and Under Night worlds (as thye are “Earth” worlds where things are very normal, no Grimm to limit humanity to 4 kingdoms and some small villages that get razed to the ground on a weekly to monthly basis. That sounds like it would be FASCINATING for a historian like Oobleck. Unfortunately since Earth doesn’t have dark monsters to unite against, we have a shit load of wars against each other. Which could lead to a lot of philosophical discussions about how people can only band together if they have a mutual enemy.

Just imagine Oobleck talking with Jubei or Bang about the Ikaruga Civil War, just Oobleck and Bang talking would be fun.

12. The robot girls: Noel, Aigis, Labrys, Vatista, and Penny all hanging out. Vatista is the most Robotic, Aigis has the most “life” expereince, Noel is the most “human”, Labrys and Penny are both very human like but naive and lack life experience. So they could all talk about shit.

13. Weiss wanting to spend time with Mitsuru, b/c Mitsuru is basically everything Weiss wants to be: she is an exceptional leader (commanding both SEES in her school years and current leader of the Shadow Operatives), a skilled fighter (Mitsuru flawlessly summons her Persona and Weiss struggles with summons at Beacon, AND her 1 v 1 Win-Loss record is kind of iffy), and she is on her way to redeeming her family name and company (after Mitsuru’s grandad caused the Dark Hour Incident 10 years before P3, and Weiss wants to redeem the SDC from her father) although IDK if it is still going on because A. people are still against Kirijo for the explosion accident 10 years before P3, or B. people are just against a woman being in power. Like Mitsuru is liek a perfect role model for Weiss.

I might add more later, lemme know what you guys think and if you guys want to take these to use them for fics.

[onewhoturns]

fictober.13.: speech

#Fictober19 Prompt: 13. I never knew it could be this way. Fandom: Oxenfree Pairing: Alex/m!OC, Jonas/Alex (ambiguously maybe/maybe not one-sided) [future fic] Rating: T (no warnings apply) Tags: Alex is getting married, Jonas isn’t happy about that, implied stepcest Word Count: 2032

There’s a chime around the room as the man stands, tapping silverware against his crystal glass. Clean cut, clean shaven, well dressed, looking like he just rolled out of a J. Crew catalogue. That formal kind of casual. Everything about this event screams expensive informal.

The invite said casual wear. Jonas is under-dressed. As per usual, with this group. (Apart from Alex, that is. At least, how she dresses around him.)

“Thank you all so much for being here with us this weekend, for such a momentous event in our lives,” the man begins, his teeth too white as he smiles that too straight smile. “Alex and I are so grateful to all of you.”

Bullshit. 

Jonas’s head cocks slightly, chiding himself. That’s not fair. He probably is legitimately grateful. He’d better be.

“Before the ceremony on Sunday, I just wanted to take this opportunity - with a much smaller audience - to say a few words. So… be patient with me, okay, I usually only make speeches with a nice array of visual aides to back me up.” The room laughs politely.

The man (Jason. Jason Flemming.) clears his throat, and his lips have that little quirk that Jonas reads as smug. Which might be unfair. He has to keep reminding himself not to be unfair. Cause Alex loves him. (Maybe.)

Jason pulls out a note card, but only glances at it briefly. "I never knew it could be this way."

His hand is on the back of Alex’s chair. He’s got a watch that probably costs more than half of Jonas’s wardrobe. Jonas watches it carefully, and tries not to see Alex’s adoring look up at her fiancé. Soon to be husband. 48 hours. Less, actually. 

“I can honestly say that I am truly blessed to have Alex by my side,” Jason continues, and his hand slides onto her shoulder, squeezing for a second, even as his eyes watch the rest of the room. It’s something that irritates Jonas just a little bit. That he’d take his eyes off his bride-to-be for even a moment. “I have had the privilege to watch her grow and mature and develop into the woman she is today.”

Jonas’s jaw clenches, and he’s too focused on his breath, on keeping his temper in check, because that’s just—

“If you had told me, the night I met Alex, that years later she’d be my wife, I never would have believed you. I would have looked at her - dancing on a table, I kid you not, the night we met - and said there was no way that she could ever be tamed. Yet here we are, four years later. Alex is wearing white - and you know that’s a feat in and of itself - and my parents are thrilled to call her their daughter in law.”

Tame her. He wants to tame her. Alex isn’t meant to be tamed. Tempered, maybe, but never tamed. Yet that’s what this Jason has done. Slowly, over time, but gradually he’s been sanding away at her rough edges, polishing her up, smoothing her into something pretty to stick on his shelf.

Maybe.

All of this is conjecture on Jonas’s part, of course. It’s not like it’s something Jason has done maliciously. And Alex may have been just as complicit. But it feels wrong.

“Tonight never would have been possible without all of you; our family and friends,” he goes on. “I’m sure my own parents are well aware of our gratitude and - well, mom, I’m sure Alex is thankful for the pearls as well-” Pearls. Alex in pearls. It’s too cookie-cutter country club. Jonas glances to Alex, finally, and she’s looking just a little nervous. A little bit put on the spot, offering a crooked smile to her very blonde soon-to-be mother-in-law. “-but I want to extend my personal thanks to Alex’s family as well.” Jason himself has dark hair, like his dad. Who’s wearing Hugo Boss. To a rehearsal dinner that was labeled casual.

“To Alex’s father, David; thank you. Without you, this never would have been possible.”

Without David’s threat to stop paying Alex’s tuition. Alex had been utterly distraught, and Jonas had been the one comforting her through it, through her security crisis, when she felt like she was just hovering over a precipice of no education and no savings. The ‘compromise’ that had come to pass moved Alex out of their house and into her dad’s. She got Thanksgivings with them, but Christmas was with the new family. Jonas knows she never really felt at home there. It was why she took every break she could to come visit. But it was never the same, not really. They never had what they used to. Not that Jonas didn’t want it.

“To Alex’s stepmother, Anne; thank you, for your kindness and hospitality. You truly are the perfect hostess, and I honestly think my mother envies you.”

Translation: good little housewife. Alex may not have brought it up recently, but that was one of those things she’d mentioned a lot after the move. Feeling like she had to be performing around her new extended family. Like she was constantly being judged, like they were deciding if she was worth the investment. She was terrified, and Jonas was her shoulder to cry on as often as he was her guilty pleasure. Not— not like that. Not since they were teens. But he was the one she could wear sweats around every day, and stay up with til 2 watching horror movies (her choice, not his), and unabashedly eat all the processed foods banned in Anne’s home. He was her pillow and her ride home and the reluctant participant in every instance of acting out that she couldn’t do around her dad. Well, maybe not every instance. He got the inside scoop on some of her wild nights in college as well.

Until Jason. Until fucking Stephanie, and Casey, and Jason. Being brought into the Stepford fold, as he so uncharitably considered it (to himself, never aloud). Their gentle guidance.

It’s not fair— Jonas knows it’s not fair to think of them that way. Alex really does like them. And he’s met them and… well, aside from being kinda… basic, they aren’t too bad. Just sorta boring. Not exactly the type to go breaking into old amusement parks, or climbing around unfinished construction sites, or deciding that 21 was the year to cross bungee jumping off of her bucket list. They were cosmopolitans, she was a shot of jaeger with a coffee chaser. Unorthodox, and an acquired taste that you couldn’t really forget. Also, maybe a little fucked up on the palate. His lips twitch at that thought.

“To Alex’s mother, Grace; thank you. I have never felt such warmth as I do around you and Martin. Martin, as well, you have always made me feel part of the family.”

Jonas’s dad is smiling. He’s too easygoing. And Jason is… unobjectionable, Jonas supposes, grudgingly. Business major. Not a frat boy, but still in a fraternity. He’s generous, at least, and conscientious. Always makes an effort to follow up on things they’ve talked about in the past. He can even dial down the rich-kid thing, when he stays with them in Camena. But that’s kinda the annoying part; that he’s not that bad. Just irritatingly unobjectionable. He’s nice to Alex, he is. He’s patient with her. And he’s soft and affectionate when it matters, but… But Jonas still gets her calls when she’s upset about something. He’s still the one getting called at 3am so she won’t wake up her fiancé with panic from nightmares.

“To Alex’s brothers—”

Jonas tries not to wince. Aside from just the dropping of the step distinction, being compared to Alex’s other stepbrother is… well, insulting. The douche is a workaholic med student, who’s never in a good mood. Who can never resist the chance to throw insults at Jonas over his vocational schooling and lack of a four-year degree. In layman’s terms: Will is an asshole.

“Will; I am thrilled to no longer be the youngest child! Finally, someone to give noogies to, and lecture about— well, nothing, you’re way more educated than I am,” he grins as the room laughs. Will is smirking, and Jonas resists the urge to roll his eyes. “I fully believe that you will be the next top surgeon wherever you decide to take your talents after residency.” Optimistic, assuming the douche is gonna be a half-decent doctor, when Jonas already knows his bedside manner must be horrific.

“Jonas;” Jonas tries to put on a slight smile. It’s easier if he looks at Alex, whose eyes are bright and appreciative and warm when she looks at him. “I really do have to thank you.” Jason sounds sincere. It almost makes Jonas feel guilty. Almost. “From the bottom of my heart. I have no doubt-” Jason breaks off, speaking more casually, speaking to the room at large, with a crooked smile that feels like something he probably picked up from Alex; “-Have you guys met Jonas? Look, when I started dating Alex— he’s an intimidating guy, right?” Jason grins, looking back at him. “I have no doubt that if you ever thought I wasn’t good enough for your baby sister I would’ve been kicked to the curb in a matter of seconds - either literally or figuratively.” Baby sister. Yeah, he’s never thought of her that way. Though the rest of that is… close. There may have been times Jonas grumbled that Alex’s boyfriend wasn’t quite enough of a dick to actually deserve a threatening.

Jason goes on, jokingly. “I always have this sneaking suspicion that Alex only gave me a chance because she misread my name as Jonas instead of Jason.” There’s a tittering of laughter, and Jonas’s eyes flick to Alex, who’s blushing a little, a hand over her eyes as she shakes her head. She’s still smiling, though. It’s cute. “So for that I have to be insanely thankful.” It’s less cute when Jonas spots Jason’s hand rubbing reassuringly at Alex’s shoulder.

“Alex goes to you for everything - I think your name comes up more than the rest of my entire family-” he jibes, teasingly. It’s frustrating that he’s having a good sense of humor about this. When Jonas has always felt a little… guilty. About that. “...and you have been the most supportive stepbrother she could have ever asked for.” Oh. Oh that’s something that makes Jonas’s lips curve up a bit with his own little touch of pride. Because that’s Jason siding with him over Will. Which is kinda nice.

“It’s a little unorthodox to have a Man of Honor, but Alex has always been a little outside the box. And, I’ll admit, I was pretty jealous of you once upon a time.” Again, Jonas looks to Alex, who’s rolling her eyes, but hasn’t taken her eyes off of him. She’s still blushing. It kinda makes his stomach flip a little bit. “But taking the girls to Vegas, that was really taking one for the team, and your patience is utterly commendable— being the cock in the hen do, so to speak.” Jason has that slightly sheepish smirk as a few people - including Alex - giggle a bit at the words.

Right. Vegas. That had been…

Jonas’s brow furrows for just a second as he studies Alex. She’s still bright eyed and glowing. Like a girl in love. Even if he’s… he’s just not sure if she is. Not after Vegas.

“But that’s enough about that,” Jason smiles, gesturing to the room in a sort of apology for going on. “Suffice it to say; I’m thrilled to have not one but two new sets of parents to buy Christmas gifts for, and two new siblings to rib me about all of my bad life decisions. Luckily— I know that this isn’t one of them.” Jason finally looks at Alex. And… yeah, okay. He looks happy too. In love. Which… well. It’s good, probably. At least he’ll care about her.

“So I invite you all to raise a glass. To all of them, and to Alex. For being exactly what I needed.”

[source for AO3]

[ren-akimiya]

Stalker Metamorphosis

I walked into my office with a crime investigation folder in my arms. After a long chase, we finally put that psychopath behind bars. However, despite knowing that she can get sentenced for her entire life, or put in an asylum, she didn't resist much. Or maybe not at all. She simply put everything in her hands down on the floor as we pointed guns at her. And those eyes... just staring into the abyss of nothingness. It was rather creepy. I have seen similar eyes on victims of homicide. Shock and extreme trauma cause it most of the time. It felt like... she was a completely different person from what we were expecting. She had a diary with her. I know it is rude for one to read a complete stranger's diary, however, I am really interested in what can be in it. Wacos like her usually write interesting and creepy shit, and I always loved horror as a genre in almost everything. Games, movies, books... let the genre be horror, and I always gave it a try. The chills running down my spine, before a good scare or when an eerie music began to play in the background, brought a sense of euphoria as well. Sometimes an effective jumpscare filled my mind with ecstasy as well however it always felt cheap on the long term. Guilty pleasure what I call it. Maybe I sound creepy, but tell you what, I am a genuine and cool guy. Sometimes a little bit too passive.

I put down the folder on the closer end of the desk and jumped into my chair. The diary was inside my pocket, ever since the arrest so I did not need to take it away from the evidence safe. There is a smaller chance I get discovered this way. Holding back evidences can put me into every kind of trouble however curiosity got the better of me. I guess there is no turning back at this point. My fingers slip under the cover and with a steady motion towards myself, I opened it on the first page. As expected, nothing was on the first page. Why the hell did I even open on it. Turning on the next page revealed what I was looking for. The handwriting was pretty and organized. It was odd from a sort of artist as far as I know. Or maybe I am just generalizing.

Entry 1:

Dear Diary,

I’m happy I’m starting you.

Well, my psychiatrist suggested writing a diary so that I clear up my mind from all the things happened to me. I am not entirely sure though what he was referring to...

He was asking questions about what was the last thing I remember before I fell into a coma. I had a really hard time answering them. Until my CT scan doesn't come back to him I am restricted of using anything electronic since it can worsen the possible damages in my brain. Better safe than sorry I guess. However, he recommended me to write a diary or some sort to clean my head from the cloud that blocks my thoughts and help me remember certain scenes. I have no idea why he wants me to do that. Did I see a wanted criminal or something that bad happened they need to catch someone? I think it is better for me to pull myself out from the case entirely. I don't want any other trouble in my life I already have. Speaking of problems, ever since I got back to my senses I can't shake this odd feeling off of me that someone or something is watching me from behind. I also happen to catch glimpses of it on my horizon but never too close to identify it...

Sound and feels pretty unnerving if you ask me knowing someone is watching me maybe going to do something to me… I just hope nothing happens and I am just imagining things.

Oh well, this all that I wanted to write down for this day. Wow writing my thoughts down to you is pretty fun as well. I might develop a habit out of this. I feel so old school right now...oh well I hope I write down on you soon.

From, Naomi

I put the diary down on the wooden table, under the light of my desk lamp then crossing my fingers in front of my head and resting it. Thoughts rush through every synapse of my brain, piecing together the unnecessary info and the already known facts about the caught girl. No motive or possible explanation in this entry…

Reaching down under the paper again, I turned the page to reveal the next entry in the strange diary

Entry 2:

Dear Diary,

Finally, back at school. I was worried that I would fall behind my studies and fail, after working so hard for getting mom and dad’s approval to get in this college. I cannot let my hopes and dreams shatter just because of this little coma. I know they can’t make huge exceptions like letting me pass all the test. I would not want it either. I would just pull more unnecessary attention on me. I don’t want that…. I don’t want to be noticed anymore...Please just leave me alone...Not anymore...I think I uncovered the secret that lying that certain night’s shadows...

It looks like the entry ends here. The part with the dots appears to be less organized and more like scribbles. The psychology book about handwriting would say that the person who wrote this was in fear. The strokes of the pen suggest that the writer’s hand was shaking while writing. I bit down on my finger, ripping of a small fragment of my skin chewing them into softer dusty matter then swallowed it. A really bad habit of mine. I start doing this thing when I feel excited or I am bored. Few of my colleagues who I am friends with said that I should try dropping this childish habit, since they and science says that removing your skin causes bacteria to invade your body. Are they thinking that I am some kind of idiot? I am fully aware of that fact. I just can’t help it…

Shaking my head, I turn a few more pages only running through the lines with my eyes. Nothing really interesting except this shadow figure that entry 7 describes. I stopped scrolling to put on under my metaphoric magnifying glass.

Entry 7:

The shadow person is getting more and closer with each passing day. This goddamn faceless figure. I think it resembles a huge figure. Mostly humanoid in shape however it keeps on warping and warping sometimes. And not just that but I think I began hallucinating even weirder shit. Sometimes when I turn on a corner, everyone disappears from this city. It becomes abandoned. I roam the empty streets for a while, begging to find someone with me without any luck whatsoever. When I snap back to reality I am usually at the same spot where this hallucination started. Yes, I classify them as hallucination since I see them clearly but no one else does. I never move from my original spot either. What else could it be? Exactly, nothing else, other than a hallucination.

I heard about killings taking place in the city more and more frequently. Coincidentally, my hallucinations became more common and longer. What if...these two things are linked somehow…

The entry ends here. The author noticeably became more frustrated than ever. Organized writing and structure were thrown out of the window at this point. Her fear emitted from her writings, like a sinister miasma choking me. Chills ran down on my spine while reading the entry. This is what I was waiting for. Excitement. From the very moment I first averted my gaze at her broken facial expression and empty emerald green eyes I knew I was in for some exciting events.

My pupils filled most of my eyes, pushing out my iris to the outer rim of the inner ring and every single hair on my arms stood on their edge. I could not wait even a millisecond and turned to the final page. The entry was this:

Entry 13:

Dear Diary,

I was really glad to start you so I could talk about this dark secret with you. Dark secret... sounds pretty cliché if you ask me. I am finally putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The meaning behind this hallucination, the Shadow Being and the genocides occurring across the city. Meaning? What the fuck am I even trying to say. There is no meaning to anything what am I doing. I don’t even know why am I hallucinating. Maybe I am just simply going nuts. These medications that the doctor gave to me have no goddamn use.

I hear him telling things to me. I don’t know what, but I am certain that he is talking to me in a strange language. I can’t even think it is human language… He is getting closer to me. One night I woke up to him staring at me, just a couple inches away from my face but when I blinked, he was gone in an instant. Why am I referring to that thing as a “he”? It is something beyond human knowledge. A malevolent beast that wants nothing else just to take people away and murdering them in unspeakable ways. Or maybe this is just all in my head…

Never mind... Nothing matters anymore. Whatever that thing is, imaginary or real, I am giving myself up to it. I am tired of running…

Thank you, my dear Diary. You were a wonderful companion throughout this journey.

I closed the small journal and put it back on my table. Averting my gaze at the case folder on the very edge of my desk, I pulled it under the yellow light of the desk lamp. The newly gained information fit right into the missing spots of the case’s jigsaw puzzle. Though the case was solved as soon as we caught the poor thing in the forest. She made a shelter there to keep herself from hurting more people. Her final acts are worthy of acknowledgment, as Naomi, however, it will not erase the fact that she killed people.

I let out a long sigh then got back up from the comfortable hold of the leather chair and I left my office with the journal in the pocket of my coat. The rain was pouring from the sky so for the distance between the door of the building and my car, I opened my umbrella. If I am correct, she must be in jail still. I don’t remember the chief talking about transferring her to an asylum or prison. Starting the engine, I drove down in the dim lit road towards the district’s police station. The words from the diary formed images in my head, flashing into my mind like lightning. For some reason, I felt myself more and more agitated with each passing street light as the distance between me and the complicated serial killer lessened. Pain stung into my stomach like a tiny blade and my arms became shaky again. I have not felt like this ever since my first case. Adrenaline rushed through my veins and my heavy feet pushed down on the gas pedal ever so slightly. The engine roared up and the mechanical beast that I was sitting in almost muting the popping sound that the rain gave as each drop landed on the windshield. The adrenaline rush got the better of me until another traffic light put me to a halt by changing to red. It was strange that only the final light gave me a red signal. All other were green or just changed to green like some strange coincidence. And only the final one stopped me, for the better. I would have been sent to the afterlife by the coming truck with a frontal collision. most likely sending my body flying across the windshield or the breaking glass piercing through my skull.

As the light switched to green I took the final turn to the police station. It was technically closed by this time of the day, however, there were always a few officers who were on nightshift to look out for the ones locked up and to answer possible calls. Rushing inside the station from the rain, the officers looked at me dumbfounded.

I asked where can I find the girl that we took in a couple of hours ago. They looked at each other, dumbfounded by my request then one sighed and took me to the cells in the room that opened from the very back of the building. I told him that I would want some alone time with her, to that he widened his gaze then shrugged, leaving the room. I venture forward to the only cell that held someone captive. There she was, sitting by the wall, looking downwards at the floor, or at her feet. Her hair, a brown and semi-short mess. The body was still covered in dirt and her clothes were tattered and torn. When she heard my steps getting louder she raised her head up from between her knees and looked into my eyes. The same soulless eyes I have seen when we caught her. Her huge pupils, trying to focus onto mine, as her emerald iris was only visible on the very outer rim of the central ring. It was like she was in some sort of trance.

Sighing, I pulled the journal out from my pocket and giving it a push, I slid it to her. To this it looked like, life went back into her. Reaching out to it with shaky hands, she lifted it up and held it close to her chest. A gentle smile curved onto my face then took a few steps backward.

“So you have read it. But why?” she asked, in an extremely low tone. It was like she was whispering. My answer was presented to her with a sigh.

“No particular reason. I thought that a psycho’s diary would hold many horrors, waiting to be uncovered. And it looks like I was right.”

She responded with an “Oh,” then looked back down on the floor.

“But why did you bring the diary back to me? It makes no sense…” she said. And that struck me. I had no answer to this question. Possible answers raced through my mind like cars, however, neither of them would have done any good. I was wondering if I would be able to chat with the other one inside her. The so-called Shadow Person, however, it was a fact that bringing her out would only do harm to her. I already broke a few unwritten regulations of mine with bringing the diary back to her. It was time for me to leave, so I left her with the question, hanging unanswered.

On the way back home, in my rear-view mirror, I noticed something. I adjusted it a little bit to gain a better sight on it. Something that I should not be able to see. It looked like a hole anomaly in space, warping and changing into... into a humanoid shape.

[verdigrisprowl]

Operation: SPRLKDFLJGH. Part 5.

Tarantulas repaired Springer’s zero point. Our boy is Cured.

But still not awake—not until he gets his upgrades. That’s coming next time.

To properly capture the mood of this stream as it was when we were writing it, please go watch every song with “doctor,” “surgeon,” “nurse,” or related words in the title that you can find.

Whirl 6:48 pm

((screaming)) ((my internet is being real bad so my skype messages ain't going through. let's see how many times rabbit drops me before i give up))

Tarantulas 6:49 pm

(( ;A;

ItsyBitsySpyers 6:53 pm

((how we wanna start))

FakeProwl 6:54 pm

((want me to describe the lab in more detail?))

ItsyBitsySpyers 6:55 pm

((sounds good))

FakeProwl 7:04 pm

"I'm going to find a light source." He headed for a wall, and then searched around the perimeter for a switch, as he did so illuminating swathes of the lab in his headlights. The lab was obviously long past its heyday—it seemed to be mostly used for storage now, crates piled up on and under the tables, many of them marked with hazardous material warnings—but it was clear that even when it had been in use, it probably hadn't been the pride of the Decepticons' R&D department. Over a dozen workstations, most of them with radically different equipment nearby, were crammed into a room that could more comfortably have held eight. But the station they were working at now—the prototype for the Phase Sixer project—had, at one point, been given a place of pride; most of the other tables were scooted away from it, giving more room to the project it had been working on, and the empty tank near the medical berth was the largest thing in the room.

FakeProwl 7:06 pm

Prowl found a switch near a set of double doors, and flipped it on. A knee-height generator in the far corner of the room began humming, lights on top of it glowed a sickly green, and in a few seconds fluorescent lights flickered on. Two similar-looking generators were shoved underneath the tank, so at least they'd be able to get adequate power to it without having to disrupt the base's electrical supply.

Whirl 7:14 pm

Whirl stalks through carefully, swiveling his helm about in a sweeping, exaggerated arc. He remains tensely silent for a moment, just as calm and still as he's been since the mission began, before softly muttering, "What a dump."

Whirl steps aside to let the others enter. He continues peering about, and after a moment, he pauses, making a soft huffing noise with his vents. "Hey, Ravage? Can I get your take on this? Someone's been here recently, I think."

He looks back towards the bridge. "I can smell 'em."

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:22 pm

Soundwave drops out of alt mode from just high enough to make the smallest thump possible and deploys Ravage.

The big cat sneers at the room - who's been maintaining this mess? - and prowls around a little, the small plates along his nose bunching up and wrinkling. His tail flicks a couple of times, and then he squints at a corner of the room. There's nobody there, though. It's probably safe enough.

=Yes. Older scent.= Huff. He sits on his haunches and looks up at Whirl. =I don't know them.=

FakeProwl 7:24 pm

"That would be the Constructicons' friend," Prowl says. "They talked somebody into checking out this lab and making sure the equipment was still there. Other than that, they report that nobody else has been in this lab, and I quote, 'for forever.'"

Tarantulas 7:32 pm

After shifting back out of Springer-carrying mode, Tarantulas remains unusually quiet, busying himself setting up on and around the berth where Springer now laid. The mess all around doesn't seem to bother him - if anything, it makes him feel more at home. The boxes scattered around the berth serve as perfect organizing surfaces for the surgical tools and equipment Tarantulas is pulling from both his subspace and through a small bridge back to the Tor.

"Just so long as no one is ACTUALLY here," he mutters.

FakeProwl 7:34 pm

With the lights back on, Prowl drifts back toward the berth. He grimaces at the tools stacked on the various boxes. "That doesn't look sufficiently sterile."

Whirl 7:35 pm

After getting confirmation from Ravage, Whirl huffs softly, one last time. "Yeah. That'd explain it," he says. After this, Whirl falls largely silent. He isn't going to interrupt the surgical proceedings unless something happens, but he is going to be watching Tarantulas like a hawk.

Tarantulas 7:38 pm

Scoffing, Tarantulas double-taps the top of a box, and the surface seems to ripple. "I've laid holo-mats," he explains. "I'm honestly offended you think I'm that slapdash, especially /now/ of all times."

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:41 pm

Already deployed as of the last space they were in, Frenzy wrests himself free of his brother's grip and trots over to examine the surgical equipment. This is some kinda learning opportunity, as well as the chance to see some cool alternate-world guts, and he's gonna take 'em both. Rumble stands over by Prowl, while Ravage moves over to Whirl and resettles himself, still sniffing the air from time to time.

FakeProwl 7:42 pm

Prowl nods. Good enough for him. He settles back against a table to watch.

... Not good enough. "How can I help?"

Tarantulas 7:50 pm

Alright, all settled. Tarantulas steps back for a moment to survey everything, to get one last glimpse of Springer lying strangely serenely there on the berth still with the temporary life support module on his chest - before he begins.

"Mostly by staying right where you are," Tarantulas says offhand. "The zero point should be easy enough to resolve once I find it." He's picking up sensors and bits from the kit he made, placing them strategically, starting to remove plating here and there to get at underlying parts of Springer's frame.

FakeProwl 7:51 pm

Prowl hesitantly nods. He crosses his arms, puts on his most neutral face, and settles back to wait.

Whirl 7:53 pm

Whirl is going to stretch up to his full height and crane his neck so he can watch, but he's not going to move from his spot. He's just going to stare, intense and unblinking.

Tarantulas 7:56 pm

Unfortunately for the rest of the crew, there isn't really much to monitor or watch, no screens on which Springer's vitals are displayed - only some beeping from smaller pads arrayed on a box right next to Tarantulas. The only sounds otherwise are from the surgery itself, klunks and scrapes of plating, and the buzz of equipment as Tarantulas runs spark energy through Springer's chassis one trial at a time.

Tarantulas 7:59 pm

It isn't long before he's worked his way up to focus on Springer's chest, then shoulders, then neck, then solely his helm. There's some muttering about how that would make sense - of course the zero point's in Springer's helm somewhere. "One of the only things they /didn't/ replace on his frame. And no one thought to - well. I'm sure they did. But given - hm. If..."

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:02 pm

Soundwave isn't paying much attention to the surgery itself; Frenzy can deliver him a recording later AND have it annotated to the best of his ability. Instead, he's busy poking and prodding at the different machines laid out around the room, searching for something that will help him get into the building's security with a minimum of work. Laserbeak's at the door, listening carefully for sounds of approaching Decepticons. It keeps her from complaining about rescuing an Autobot.

FakeProwl 8:03 pm

Prowl is still all crossed arms and careful neutrality; but he's leaned forward to watch as Tarantulas progressed. Of course, of COURSE it's in his head. The only part of him that hadn't been completely replaced. They hadn't even fixed his nose, had they; nothing else would have been changed.

Tarantulas 8:07 pm

Carefully Tarantulas begins taking apart Springer's helm, small pieces of kibble at a time, until he's fairly certain where the zero point is. A little tricky - it's very close to the brain module, but nothing that frightens Tarantulas. He'll be able to handle this.

Tarantulas 8:10 pm

There's a moment when he almost pauses, suddenly emotional as underlying bits of Springer's helm start looking much more like Ostaros - but he keeps on.

"...I've got it." Not triumphant, just matter-of-fact.

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:10 pm

Frenzy leans forward, determined to see for himself what a zero point looks like.

...He kinda thought it would be something really big. Huh.

Whirl 8:11 pm

"Where was it?"

FakeProwl 8:13 pm

Prowl craned his neck slightly, but didn't get any closer. It probably wasn't going to be visible to the naked optic, he was sure; and there was no practical reason for Prowl to know that would justify crowding Tarantulas while he was trying to work.

Tarantulas 8:13 pm

Honestly there's really nothing to even SEE. It's a microscopic gap in spark circulation, after all.

"Directly inferior to his left lateral subprocessor. Not interfering with processing itself, mind you."

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:14 pm

That's why Frenzy's surprised.

Tarantulas 8:19 pm

The kit pieces are discarded now in favor of finer tools, one of which seems to be something akin to a soldering iron. Tarantulas leans in close, and...

It's mere seconds before he's done, stepping back again to check Springer's vitals on the mini console. A quick scan, a pause, another quick scan, and a pleased chitter of mandibles. "Well! One surgery, successfully completed. All I've left to do is reassemble, and - yes. Yesyesyes."

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm

\\WHAT'D YOU DO?\\ It's said as quietly as he can manage, which is a hair above indoor voice.

Whirl 8:20 pm

He only moves slightly, stepping around the perimeter of the scene to get a better view and a fresh angle.

Tarantulas 8:21 pm

"Bridged the gap, of course. You DO know what a zero point is, don't you?"

Tarantulas already has Springer's helm back together, all bits of Ostaros disappeared again. Springer himself hasn't stirred.

FakeProwl 8:21 pm

(Somewhere back in reality, Prowl sighs in relief.) "He's—fixed, then? You're sure? There's some difference you can measure now?"

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm

Frenzy shakes his head yes. Then no. Then shrugs? What he knows is literally what he just saw and a bland everyman's explanation picked up from earlier discussions.

Tarantulas 8:23 pm

"Yes, most definitely. Spark energy circulation is reestablished instantaneously as soon as the zero point's negated, and - of course I can measure that." He's consistently baffled by the things other people don't know, goodness.

FakeProwl 8:26 pm

It isn't that he doesn't know; he just needs to hear the conformation. He nods. That's good enough for him. "... I expect to see a paper on your new repair process sometime soon."

ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm

Frenzy rolls his optics. Are they seriously getting mushy during a surgery and mission? Some romantic bots, Primus.

Tarantulas 8:28 pm

A few tools get tossed back into subspace, clearing up a box, and the life support module is gone from Springer's chest as well.

"Sometime, hyeh."

Tarantulas 8:29 pm

"And yes, before anyone asks, he's not going to wake up yet, he's still in induced stasis."

FakeProwl 8:31 pm

Hey. Prowl is all business. He's talking about a paper that could potentially save countless future zero point victims. The fact that this is also about as close as Prowl can get to giving a compliment to someone's face is irrelevant.

Tarantulas 8:32 pm

Pretty much, yep. Tarantulas didn't catch that bit, he's already moving on to the spark augmentation process, removing one bit of Springer's chest after another in order to get to his spark chamber.

[ianfaulkner1-blog]

​By Roxanne Reid Which are the best n holidays? If you’re mad about wildlife and , chances are that these 7 parks everyone should visit are on your wish list. They span 7 countries in southern and East . I’ll tell you what to expect, the best time to visit, other things you can do there, and some of the ins and outs to be aware of when planning your .

It’s impossible to compare one park, reserve or wildlife area to another so I haven’t ranked them, but presented them in a logical order from south to north. Just because Kruger is listed first doesn’t mean it offers a better experience than the Mara, which is listed last. Each of the 7 offers something a little different and each deserves a visit on its own terms. Kruger National Park, South A Kruger National Park  is a must. This is South ’s most well known park, about 500-600km from Johannesburg, depending on whether you enter from the south or the north (or a 50min flight away). It’s high on anyone’s list of the best place for in because of its astonishing diversity – 147 mammal species, 507 bird, 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian and 114 reptile species. Apart from the Big Five, which account for much of Kruger’s popularity, other animals to look for include hippo, crocodile, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and sable antelope. Stop near a waterhole and be patient – you’ll be amazed by how much you can experience. You may see all of the Big Five on a single morning’s game drive, but don’t forget to appreciate the smaller creatures too, to look among the brush for mongoose and into trees for an elusive owl having a snooze. ​

Elephants drinking in northern Kruger

​Best time to visit Kruger National Park The dry season (May to October) is the best time to visit Kruger. May to August is cooler, but October can reach more than 30 degrees Celsius. Birders will enjoy September and October because that’s when the migrants return. I personally avoid December to March, which are very hot and can be wet, with flooding washing roads and bridges away from time to time. Things to do at Kruger

There’s a wealth of things to do in Kruger, from self drives to guided game drives and night drives which are a great way to improve your chances of spotting nocturnal species like leopard, hyena, serval and porcupine.

Guided bush walks, backpacking trails and three-day wilderness hikes are perfect for immersing yourself in nature and experiencing it with all your senses. They’re usually more about tracks, small creatures and plants than big game, but you may get to watch big game like elephants and rhino at close quarters too.

For something different, sign up for a self-drive 4x4 trail or go the full hog with a multi-day camping-out eco-trail through the bush with a guide.

If you’re a keen cyclist you’ll love the guided mountain biking at Olifants.

There’s a number of rock art and cultural heritage sites you can visit too, like Masorini and Thulamela.​

Spotted hyena cubs in the early morning light

Ins and outs

Kruger can get very crowded, with many vehicles swarming a sighting. Visit the south and central Kruger to see the Big Five but expect a crush of vehicles that can result in gridlock; go north for a sense of wilderness and the joy of not having to share your sighting with too many other vehicles.

Kruger offers a huge range of accommodation options, from exclusive but expensive luxury lodges to mid-range self-catering camps and budget camping stays. There are restaurants in many of the larger tourist camps for lazy days when you don’t want to cook.

Given its excellent road network, Kruger is one of the easiest parks to self-drive, even without a 4x4; just get a good map and GPS with accurate software.

There are pleasant picnic spots dotted around the park where you may get out of your vehicle to stretch your legs, go to the loo or have a prepacked meal. You can even hire a gas cooker to cook your eggs and bacon.

Daily conservation fees per person in 2019 are ZAR93 (for locals), ZAR186 (±US$13) for SADC visitors and ZAR372 (±US$26) for international visitors, according to the exchange rate. Depending on how long you plan to stay, it may be worth getting a Wild Card, which means you don’t have to pay entry/conservation fees.

Remember that Kruger is a high-risk malaria area. Even though the risk is lower in the dry season, consult your doctor or travel clinic before your visit.

Etosha National Park, Namibia Etosha National Park, about 500km north of Namibia’s capital of Windhoek, is one of the best places to see wildlife in Southern . Although you won’t find hippo, buffalo, crocodile or wild dog, expect good sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra and antelope from eland to the tiny dik-dik. The landscape is very open so you can see a long way and don’t have to struggle to photograph animals through thick bush. In the dry season, animals come regularly to a small army of waterholes, which are good places to sit and be patient. Olifantsrus (campers only), Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni camps each have their own waterhole too, so your game viewing doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down and camp gates close.

A clutter of different species at Nebrownii waterhole in Etosha

Best time to visit Etosha The dry season (June to September) is the best time for an Etosha National Park . Summers (October to February) are very hot, with average temperatures well over 30 degrees C. Winter days (May to July) are sunny and warm in northern Namibia, though it may get cold overnight. July and August are very busy in Etosha, with many European tourists choosing to visit during these months. Things to do at Etosha

The best things to do in Etosha are game drives and waiting at waterholes, but spend some time at the in-camp waterholes too, especially at Okaukuejo and Halali’s Moringa waterhole.

The park offers guided drives. My choice would be a sunset drive, which includes some time out in the park after dark for a chance to see nocturnal species. This is special because you’re not allowed to self-drive in the park before sunrise or after sunset.

For something completely different, visit Etosha Safari Camp to experience the shebeen with its energetic township vibe. You’ll find it 10km south of Anderson Gate near Okaukuejo. You can camp or stay in chalets there too if you want to avoid the very busy Okaukuejo camp.

Watching elephants at Moringa waterhole at Halali camp

Ins and outs

The rest camps and campsite ablutions were refurbished in 2007 for Etosha’s centenary and haven’t had much attention beyond basic maintenance since then, so they’re a little tired.

Don’t expect wonderful food or service in the restaurants, even though they’re pricey; the better option is to self-cater if you can. You can restock with basics at the shops in the main camps of Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni.

Daily conservation fees per person in 2019 are N$30 for locals, N$60 (±US$4) for SADC visitors and N$80 (±US$5.50) for international visitors, plus N$10 per vehicle.

Etosha’s fairly simple road network means it’s one of the easiest parks to self-drive; you don’t even need a 4x4 in the dry season. Some of the road markers are a bit faded so make sure you have a proper map as well. You can buy these at the shops in the main camps.

There are a few places where you may get out of your vehicle to stretch your legs, go to the loo or have your sandwiches, although they’re not very well maintained. I prefer to eat in the car at a waterhole, when you still have a chance to see wildlife.

Although the risk of malaria is lower in the dry season, consult your doctor or travel clinic before your visit.

Okavango Delta, Botswana The Okavango Delta in landlocked Botswana offers one of the most diverse s in . Covering between 6 000 and 15 000 square kilometres, this montage of islands, water channels, floodplains, swamps and game tracks owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River that flows from the highlands of Angola. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of few inland deltas in the world. The variety and quantity of wildlife here is a draw card. You have a chance to see some 160 mammals – from elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah, hyena, buffalo, hippo, croc, giraffe and zebra to antelope specials like sable, roan, sitatunga and red lechwe. Birding is also excellent with some 500 species, including n fish-eagle, Pel’s fishing-owl and numerous bee-eaters and kingfishers.

Elephants in the Delta as seen from the air as you fly in to one of the private camps

Best time to visit Okavango Delta The best time for wildlife sightings on a Okavango Delta Botswana is from July till October, when temperatures are moderate and the Delta is flooded. April, May and June are a little less busy with visitors though sightings are still good. December to February are hot, wet months. Things to do in the Okavango

Depending on water levels and camp location, you may be able to game drive here, or your activities might be mainly boat-based. Either way, don’t miss poling along the waterways in a mokoro (dug-out canoe) to slink quietly up to birds, frogs and other animals.

Bush walking with a guide is a wonderful way to connect with nature and see small things up close. Note that walking isn’t allowed in a national park like Moremi, but is allowed on private concessions in the Delta, though it may be seasonal depending on water levels and the length of the grass.

For the ultimate close-to-nature indulgence, book a night at a camp that offers a romantic sleep-out on a star bed platform. Wilderness Safaris has a few of them.

Whatever you do, don't miss spending time on the waterways in a mokoro

Ins and outs

Botswana’s high-value, low-impact tourism model is both good and bad for visitors; it keeps a lid on the number of tourists but it also means that the Delta is an expensive destination, filled largely with luxury private concessions that offer exclusive s, with the added cost of flying in over the Delta on a charter plane.

You can enjoy a budget in Moremi Game Reserve in the Delta, where you can self-drive and camp if you have a 4x4 and strong skills in driving in deep sand in the dry season and mud in the wet season.

Daily conservation fees at Moremi in 2019 are BWP120 per person and BWP50 per vehicle (±US$11 and US$4.60 respectively). If you’re staying at a private luxury camp in the Delta, your park fees will often be included in the price of your accommodation.

Malaria occurs in the Okavango, although the risk is lower from June to September. Consult your doctor or travel clinic before your visit. ​

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe A good choice for a Zimbabwe is Hwange National Park. It’s the country’s largest park at some 14 650 square kilometres, or half the size of Belgium. It’s best known for its high density of elephants. Its mix of different veld types makes for game viewing all year round. There are more than 100 species of mammals including the Big Five (though rhino numbers are small and they’re less easy to see because they prefer thick vegetation). There are also hippo, hyena, cheetah, wild dog, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and antelope like sable, eland and kudu. Birders will enjoy nearly 400 bird species, especially raptors. Wildlife relies on pumped waterholes, which are superb places to see game, especially elephant and buffalo. Originally run by diesel generator pumps, they became known as the heart-beat of Hwange. In recent years many have been converted to solar pumps.

Photo by Wilderness Safaris, which has three private camps in Hwange

Best time to visit Hwange The dry season (July to October) is the best time to visit Hwange. This is generally when wildlife congregates in larger quantities around the artificial waterholes to drink. Low season is January to May, when accommodation is cheaper but some of the camps close. Birders will want to visit from October to March when the summer migrants swell the number of species they can spot (like southern carmine bee-eater, for instance). For photographers, the months December to March provide contrasts between dark cloudy skies and lush green vegetation. Just be aware that in these months humidity and day-time temperatures are high. Things to do at Hwange

As with all parks and reserves on this list, game driving will be the hallmark of your experience. But spend time at some of the raised viewing platforms or sunken hides at waterholes for a change of pace.

If you stay at a camp on a private concession on the edge of the park, you will be able to do night drives to spot elusive nocturnal species.

You can also do early morning bush walks on private concessions, a chance to see, hear and smell things you’d miss in a vehicle and to learn from excellent Zimbabwean guides how to interpret tracks and signs.

The Elephant Express, a converted railcar operated by Imvelo Safari Lodges, is a different way to see wildlife on the open plains and in forest woodlands.

Horseback s have become popular, with two operators now working in and around the park.

If you have an interest in culture, arrange to visit a local village to learn about the community.

Since Hwange is about 190km from Victoria Falls, it makes sense to combine your with a trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sunset in Hwange - photo by Wilderness Safaris

Ins and outs

Daily conservation fees in 2019 are US$5 per person per day for locals, US$8 for SADC visitors and US$20 for foreigners.

There’s Hwange accommodation for all budgets, from camping and basic huts provided by Zimparks to luxury camps on private concessions. Although the latter are expensive (but with low-season discounts), they make for a wonderful personal with excellent guides and delicious food, and often come with a hide and a waterhole at the camp.

You can self-drive and self-cater in Hwange but be aware that Zimparks facilities at Main Camp, Robins Camp and Sinamatella are run down and very basic. Bring everything you need with you, including drinking water. To be safe, I’d recommend a 4x4 for self-driving here, especially in the wet season.

Guided drives are in open vehicles.

There are a few places in the national park where you may get out of your vehicle to stretch your legs or enjoy some coffee from your thermos or a packed meal.

Hwange is a high-risk malaria area, especially from October to May. Consult your doctor or travel clinic before your visit.

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South Luangwa National Park, Zambia The particular appeal of the 9059 square kilometre South Luangwa National Park is its unhurried, uncrowded wilderness atmosphere with a high concentration of game. On this Zambia you can expect dry woodland, mopaneveld, and lush riverine vegetation along the Luangwa River with its oxbow lakes. There are 60 mammal species in the park, including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion and wild dog. You’ll also see hippo, croc, puku and waterbuck along the river, and there are a few special endemic species to watch out for, like Thornicroft’s giraffe, Cookson’s wildebeest and Crawshay’s zebra. Birding is good, with over 400 species, including nearly 40 raptor species and lots of water birds like n fish-eagle, openbill and saddlebill storks, and kingfishers.

You have an excellent chance of spotting leopard at South Luangwa National Park

Best time to visit South Luangwa The best time for a South Luangwa is the dry season from June to October. The best time for birding is from September/October, when summer migrants start to swell the numbers. November, April and May are shoulder season, when you’ll still have good sightings but can snatch some good bargains on your accommodation, although some remote bush camps close. December to March is low season, when temperatures are high, some roads are inaccessible, most of the rain falls and many camps close. Plusses of this period are good birding, lower accommodation prices, fewer visitors and lots of newborn animals. However, sightings aren’t as good as in the dry season because the rains make the bush quick thick and animals don’t have to come to the river to drink. If you hate heat and humidity, you might prefer to avoid October to April. Things to do in South Luangwa

You may spend some of your time game driving, but South Luangwa also offers some of the best walking s in with operators like Robin Pope Safaris and Norman Carr Safaris.

Even if you’re self-driving in the park, budget for at least one guided drive to learn about some of the seasonal roads and good spots for finding game. A sunset/night drive is a good choice because self-drivers aren’t allowed in the park at night and this gives you a chance to see nocturnal species. Guided drives are in open vehicles.

Visit Tribal Textiles at Mfuwe village just outside the park to watch local artists make hand-painted textiles combining traditional n art with contemporary design.

A few kilometres from Mfuwe is Kawaza village, where you can learn about the culture of the local Kunda people. 

Hippos lazing in the Luangwa River

Ins and outs

Daily entrance/conservation fees in 2019 are US$20 for SADC visitors and US$30 for international visitors.

Some camps close in the wet season.

There are a number of private lodges in the park, with prices from the mid range to super luxury. They offer twice daily game drives with excellent Zambian guides who know the area well.

If you’re looking for a budget camping , book at one of the campsites in the Game Management Area (GMA) bordering the park; they’re obviously cheaper than staying in lodges inside the park but there are no fences between the park and the GMA so you’re not cut off from the wildlife.

If you’re self-driving, you need to be fairly adventurous in a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle because many roads in the park are little more than jeep tracks; they get remade each year after flooding. Make sure you have good GPS software because you’re unlikely to get a map of the park when you enter at the gate.

I can’t remember seeing any places inside the park where you can stop to stretch your legs or enjoy a packed lunch.

South Luangwa is a high-risk malaria area, especially from October to May. Consult your doctor or travel clinic before you visit.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania The Serengeti – 14 750 square kilometres of savanna, grassland, riverine forest and woodland in northern Tanzania – is one of East ’s classic destinations. Here you’ll find the Big Five, over 500 bird species and of course the Great Migration, when around two million wildebeest and zebra migrate north from southern Tanzania to Kenya and back again. Big cat sightings are common (especially lions because of their high population density here), as are elephant and buffalo. Don’t despair if you’d rather avoid the crowds that descend on the park during crossing season for the Migration; Serengeti has plenty of resident wildlife that makes for good sightings all year round. Remember to stop to admire the landscapes of plains, umbrellas trees and giant rock outcrops.

Elephants and umbrella trees in the Serengeti National Park

Best time to visit Serengeti There’s good game viewing all year round, but the best time for a Serengeti is probably June to October. Calving season is the end of January to the end of March, when the southern plains are the place to be. Rutting season is June and July, when the herds are in the western Serengeti. Crossing season, when most of the river crossings happen, is from the end of July to October, when the herds cross from Serengeti into Kenya’s Maasai Mara (see below). April and May see the long rains, with the short rains from November to January; these wet, green season months can deliver hefty discounts for visitors compared to the crossing season. Remember that you can have great big cat sightings at any time of year in the Serengeti. Things to do in Serengeti

Apart from your game drives, one of the best things to do here is to visit a Maasai village to learn about their culture and customs.

If you have the budget, don’t miss a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti plains. It’s an experience of a lifetime to look down on the herds as you float by following the direction of the wind.

Go on a walking with a guide to really absorb yourself in nature and its wonders. Just check before you book because not all camps offer bush walks.

Cheetah in the early morning light

Ins and outs

From July to October the Serengeti can get very crowded, with more than 100 or 200 vehicles jostling for space at sightings.

Private concessions on the border of the park give a less crowded experience but it’s a privilege you pay for.

Daily conservation/entry fees in Serengeti are much higher than Southern n parks at US$60 per person per day for international visitors.

Unlike the open vehicles you see in southern , those in the Serengeti are often closed with a top hatch that opens, giving a less immersive experience. If you care about this, check before you book.

Malaria is a risk in the Serengeti, though higher in the rainy months of April, May and November to January. Consult your doctor or travel clinic before you visit.

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Say the words Maasai Mara and you’ll immediately think of a classic East n , abundant wildlife and attractive tree-dotted plains. About a five-hour drive from Nairobi (or a quick 45-minute flight), this national reserve in southwest Kenya covers 1510 square kilometres – or 2500 if you include the surrounding conservancies. It forms the northern part of the Great Wildebeest Migration that stretches between Tanzania’s Serengeti (see above) and Kenya. There are 95 species of mammals here, and you’re likely to see a glut of lion, leopard and cheetah, hippos and crocs, giraffe, buffalo and heaps of plains game like zebra, wildebeest and topi. More than 570 species of birds have been recorded.

Stop for a picnic breakfast on a Masai Mara

Best time to go Although the Mara is a year-round destination for big cats and general game, peak season is July to October; you’re most likely to see the Great Migration and maybe some river crossings in August and September. November to May is low season, when you can get substantial discounts, but the long rains come in March and April, so these aren’t the most comfortable months for a Masai Mara . That said, photographers sometimes prefer the wetter months for the lush green grass and the dust-free air. Things to do in the Maasai Mara

Game drives are obviously an essential part of the Kenya experience, but depending where you stay you can also visit a Maasai village to learn about the culture and traditions of these local people.

Take to the skies in a hot air balloon at dawn to see the rolling plains and winding rivers of the Mara beneath you, spotting antelope, wildebeest, zebra and maybe even elephant and lion from the air. Finish with a slap-up breakfast before returning to camp.

Cheetah and cub in the Mara

In and outs

As in the Serengeti, if you travel in the Mara during the Migration your experience will be crowded, with loads of other vehicles all jockeying to see the same sightings.

Daily park fees are high, much higher than in most southern n parks. If you stay inside the park it’s US$70 per person per day for international visitors in 2019, or US$80 if you’re staying outside the park and coming in as a day visitor.

When you book, check what kind of vehicles your operator uses for their s. I much prefer open vehicles for a feeling of freedom and being close to nature, but some in Kenya use closed vehicles with a hatch in the roof.

If you want to splurge, staying in one of the luxury camps on a private concession adjoining the reserve can be a way to ensure a less crowded experience where you have a sighting to yourself and perhaps one or two other vehicles. These camps, like those run by Great Plains Conservation, are all-inclusive and come with a guide to drive you around and explain the ecosystem.

If you want to experience the Mara on a tight budget, it’s possible to self-drive. Just invest in a good map and GPS – and perhaps even hire a Maasai guide to come in your vehicle. You’d need a 4x4 because the roads can be rudimentary and especially difficult after showers. There are campsites in the reserve but they can be fairly basic so stock up in Nairobi and be self-sufficient.

Although malaria is rare in the Mara because of its high elevation, it does exist so consult your doctor or travel clinic before you visit, especially if you’re travelling outside the dry season.

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[westword-stories-blog]

CrossSwords - Chapter Twenty-One

1 Night after Hest Town's Attack

"Well..The attack on Hest Town went swimmingly. Heck, those knights we had to deal with on the way? Were those even really knights?! I've seen guards do better at small villages for crying out loud! Anyways..You guys can do whatever you want to that 'General' gu--"

Suddenly interrupted by someone dashing in the tent, carrying a bag around his shoulder. "I'm back..And...I've got it."

Kohma was about ready to kill whoever interrupted him, but clapped his hands together once hearing what he had to say. "Oh? Is that so? Well, we might actually be able to do what they weren't able to. Maybe it's because they thought they were living in a time of peace? How idiotic. No, they're living in the worst time possible..."

Chapter 21 - Time of Devastation ( Part Four )

Three Weeks Later, Varska Castle

King Rose was pacing around the war room, There stood Valerie, Matthew, Erie and the other contestants from the tournament. The situation was tense, like a kindling fire that is slowly getting more and more bigger.

"Everything.." The King finally spoke, everyone turning their heads to his direction. "...Every, single village in my Kingdom. Terrorized by these..these..Maniacs!" He put his hands against his face. "It's only a matter of time before they attack our town. Our Castle." He said while his face was masked by his hands.

"...Dad..." Matthew crossed his arms, closing his eyes to think for awhile. "If you think..they're going to attack us, shouldn't we be prepping for an attack? Let us build our defenses, be armed to the teeth at all times, and always be on the look out for anything out of place." King Rose turned to his son, a determined look burned in the King's eyes.

"We will. Come on, we probably don't have much time left."

Erie took the white silver armor off, leaving herself only in her body suit. She hooked the pieces of armor together, then hung them on a large hook in her armory. She turned her head left, staring at another suit of armor. "...I never thought I'd wear this." She said, taking it off of where it stood. Piece by piece she put it on. The breastplate was much thicker, heavier than her last piece. And had two layers of chainmail weaved together inside of the breastplate. Once she had that on she took in a deep breath, adjusting to the weight. "...This is nothing." She then put on the shoulder pieces, gauntlets, greaves then the sabatons.

The armor she wore was a more refined, better defensive version of her other set. It even had some offensive capabilities. The shoulders had one large spike protruding from the side and her elbows also had a blade attached to the end of it. Her knees also had small spikes covering it. It was armor she hoped she'd never have to wear, but if some deadly force was bringing the land to it's knees, she had to equip herself.

After she was in a full suit she took a look at herself then turned her head to the small rack of a variety of swords. It seemed to show her evolution in the Varska Knights. The leftmost weapon was a basic iron sword that every knight in training received. Then there was an enforced iron sword, steel sword, enforced steel, titanium and then finally her custom sword. A White Steel Sword, forged by the best blacksmith in the Varska Region. The metals used are a secret by the blacksmith, but judging by it's name, steel is obviously involved.

She, much like any other proud knight or swordsman gave their sword a name, since it would be their partner in battle. She named it "The Kingdom's Treasure". She grabbed the sword off of it's resting place and held it up, right beside her face. "We'll protect this castle. By whatever means necessary."

"Frost! Ice Tremor!" Exclaimed a feminine voice. A gloved hand reached forward, a icy wisp covered her palm as the ground ahead of her was suddenly covered in a thin layer of ice, then in an instant three large ice spikes rose in different directions. The girl let out a sigh of relief.

"Wow..You know. I always knew you could use magic, but I've never seen you do it." Said another voice, a sophisticated one. The girl who wore light armor looked to her right, seeing her brother, equipped in light armor as well. Small breastplates and armor covering only the vital areas. It was Valerie and Matthew. "Flames! Flamethrower!" Said the man, forcing his palm over to the ice spikes as a light flame covered his hand while fire spit from his hand, melting away the ice.

"..I've never seen you use magic before. Where did you learn it?" Valerie walked right up to Matthew, he smirked then looked to the side. "I had Melinda teach it to me while she and the other stayed."

"You mean that crimson eyed girl?"

"Yeah, her."

Valerie looked a bit confused. "..But they were only here for a week. It took my months to learn simple Ice Magic." He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "..Must be a faster learner than you, huh?" He said before turning around. "Anyways, Dad told me that he, along with some others, heard a distant roar." Matthew shot Valerie a glare. "..We better be absolutely ready for a fight."

~ ~ ~

A melodic tune, with a glint of destruction plays somewhere in a deep forest when suddenly a distant roar echoed throughout the forest. The person playing the flute grinned, pulled his face mask over his head then put the white mask on. "..It's here." He said, putting the flute aside. Beside him there stood Melinda, Erik and a variety of others. Including one cloaked in a dark red hood.

A gust of wind blew down on the treelines, making the forestry tremble and waver. Then, flying from above there was an onyx color, floating right above them. When it finally landed, trees crackled and tumbled over. Everyone was taken aback at this sight. There stood before them, the legendary beast who was summoned by a legendary flute.

Ayghis, the Dark Dragon.

His large, Red eyes stared directly at the man in the red suit: Kohma. He had his arms open and a clear sense of joy would radiate off of him. A low, husky voice then spoke.

"Child who summoned me...What, is your purpose for my calling?" The dragon leaned forward somewhat. Once the sun coated the beast, it was shown that he was quite massive. Being nearly 13 meters tall just sitting down. "Dragon." Kohma began. "I have a job for you, a request." He said, showing respect to the dragon by bowing.

"Of course you do. Everybody does. Speak." The large beast replied in his deep voice. "We, Are the Sacred Eyes. And we have sought you out to help us in our mission."

"And..That mission is?" The Dragon replied. Kohma pointed his finger upwards. "..To bring down the Five Kingdoms." This surprised the dragon. He exhaled then closed his eyes, opening them again to look at the masked man. "I've been watching this place evolve from the shadows, seeing how man would eventually establish Kingdoms..It's..interesting how other men would want to see it fall, isn't it?" Ayghis turned his large head to the smaller man. "If I am going to assist you...I will need, a large sum of money." He said, his eyes glaring at everyone there. "Oh. That won't be a problem. We have it right here." He stepped aside, the man in the cloak stepped forward. "Summon." Was all he said, a purple flash struck the ground and there sat three large sacks full of gol and beside it all was a large, golden ball.

The Dragon's eyes looked a bit surprised, then he huffed. "How much is this worth?" He questioned, the cloaked man raised his head slightly. "Approximately 20,000 gol. Just for you." He said, lowering his head once more. "...20,000. That is a lot of worth, which Kingdom are you attacking? The Fields, Grasslands, Rockies, Savanna or the Cold Mountains?" These names seemed to confuse the bunch, but Kohma simply chuckled. "We are after the Fields. The Mainland: Varska."

~ ~ ~

"She's been out for nearly three weeks." A voice spoke, breaking a very short silence. There sat a boy and a man who looked to be a doctor of sorts. "She's the one who was brought here carried by those soldiers, right?" The boy asked and the doctor simply nodded. "She was in terrible condition. Whoever attacked her also made a mess of the village she came from. She had a blade lodged in her side, if it went any deeper than it was then, she might've died of bloodloss. Even now, she's still at risk." He said, standing over the sleeping girl.

Then suddenly her eyes opened, slowly. A gentle green hue stared at the brown coated man. He nodded his head and shown a smile at her. "Well, good morning." He said to her. Her eyes widened and she gasped, sitting up then yelping in pain. "Oh, oh, oh..don't move. You'll open the wound again." She gritted her teeth, attempting to sit again but the doctor would just lay her back down. "L-Let..Me go!!" She exclaimed, beginning to hyperventilate. "Calm. Down." He said, running his hand over her injured and bandaged body. "You're in terrible shape, you're in no position to go anywhere."

"I don't care how bad I am! Let me go!" She yelled, still trying to get free. "What? What's so urgent?"

"Some guy! ..He stole it! He stole everything!" Tears began to well in her eyes as she struggled. "My home! My treasure!...And." She came to a slight realization, a tear gently sliding down her cheek. "...He's, going to attack the other villages." She said. "Please. You have to find them..Find them!" She pleaded, grabbing the hems of the doctor's coat. "O-Okay, calm down..Find who?" He pulled her arms off of his coat and she closed her eyes, letting the tears fall.

"Find Jackson, find Vincent..Bring them back."

"Where did they go?"

She rattled her brain for a bit then gasped. "They went to Concord. I-In Gaia!"

The boy saw how desperate the girl was to warn her friends. He knew she couldn't be lying about some guy attacking the other villages. So, he mustered up the courage and stood up from his seat. "I'll go. I'll find your friends, and I'll bring them back." Tessa stared at the boy and grew a relieved smile. "Thank you..W-What's..your name?" She asked.

"It's Edward...Hey, dad. We still have that bag of rations, right?" He asked, the doctor looked back at Edward and nodded. "Yes. They're in the shelf. I'll look after the girl, you go!" He said, turning back at Tessa who had her eyes closed, hoping that nothing else bad would happen.

Edward strapped on some small armor and grabbed a shortsword, putting it in a sheath by his waist and opening the door, bag in hand. "Jackson..in Concord, Gaia." He looked around then ahead. "..From here, it should be this way." He said, beginning to trek down a dirt path.

~ ~ ~

Varska Town was quiet, everybody in their homes, huddled together and scared. Nothing happened as of yet. But faintly, they could hear a stomping, and feel the ground shake very slightly. Those in the Castle could feel this too, the pressure in the air grew very tense. Soldiers armed to the teeth and all prepped for whatever came their way. King Rose, he was equipped with his own armor and weapon. Looking up from the ground and out in the distance. He stood atop a tower with his blade fixed in the ground. His piercing green eyes staring at what came.

A Dragon as black as the night sky. He knew what was going to happen, and he was going to do everything in his power to stop it. He lowered his head once more to let out a powerless sigh, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry my people..."

Kohma stood on top of the Dragon's head, holding onto one of it's horns as he stared at the castle ahead. "I'm sorry Varksa.."

"But it's over."

Next

CrossSwords - Chapter 22: Kohma

[8bit-arc-reactor-blog]

Locked out (Dr. Leonard *Bones* McCoy X Reader) -Star fleet academy-

Word count- 4507 Warnings- Alcohol mentioned, Sex mentioned, mild language  Rated- PG-13 I do not own Doctor McCoy, Captain Kirk, or Star Trek. They all belong to the lovely genius Gene Roddenberry 

 “I really don’t think this is such a good idea Emma” You said as you waited by the door of your dorm and waited for your roommate to get done getting dressed. “Oh c’mon (Y/N) don’t be a stick in the mud huh? We just finished our exams and if we passed then in the next four weeks we’ll be heading to our ship assignments” Emma laughed from the bedroom that you both shared. “It’s easy for you to say. You have a safety net; you can always be a starship entertainer. I don’t have the body or skills for that and I would rather get a real job on a starship like a science officer” You retorted crossing your arms tightly over your chest. “And you will, but for now you gotta let go because we won’t the exam score until next week” Emma answered finally coming into full view and wearing a short dress (I mean very short), A pair of silver pumps, enough makeup for two girls, and a few bracelets dangling from her wrist. You rolled your eyes at the sight of her and then grabbed your favorite science division hoodie that you had gotten from the science bowl last year while being on Professor Spock’s team. “I wish you’d let me make you gorgeous like this” Emma chirped grabbing her little black handbag and then joining you by the door. “Touch me and your dead woman” You growled and glared icy daggers at her. “Sorry I’m just saying” Emma laughed nervously as she opened the door and stepped outside. “Well I don’t want the attention of every man on campus either Emma” You answered pulling your hoodie tighter to your body and then pulled the hood up over your ears. “And that’s why you can never have fun. You are such a tight throat and you don’t know how to cut loose” Emma answered trailing slightly behind you. “Whatever. Look can we get to the bar already, I don’t want to miss happy hour again” You said flatly ending the argument with that and running up to the tram stop. “That’s my girl (Y/N)” Emma laughed and ran to catch up with you.

The Starfleet tram took students all around campus including to the miniature town that was basically on campus. The mini-town included a few bars and restaurants, a mall, a movie theater, an arcade, sports center, medical clinic, and even a grocery store. Most cadets affectionately named the place ‘Shooting Star Plaza’ because in the fountain that rested in the center of the place had so many dreams and wishes placed in it every day. You rarely went to that part of campus unless one of your friends dragged you there or unless you needed something for your fridge back at the dorm. To say the least, the place wasn’t really a bad place, it was just too crowded for you most of the time.

You did meet a few of your friends because of the place and if it hadn’t been for Emma getting hurt during one of her soccer practices you might have never met him. ‘Him’ being a medical cadet who was only a few years older than you, but still in your year. His name was Doctor Leonard McCoy and he was tall, somewhat lean, his eyes a warm brown and he always seemed to look grumpy. You only guessed that he was grumpy because of his wild roommate, a kid only about a year younger than you, named Jim Kirk. Leonard was very attractive though and you had wondered why all the ladies weren’t crawling on him just like they were on his roommate. You sadly never got the chance to see him much except for the occasional encounter in the hallways or a lucky meeting in the cafeteria. Even if you didn’t know him well you had somehow developed a huge crush on him and it compelled you to want to learn more about him. This was held back by your sheer shyness and fear that he would probably reject you anyway. As the tram passed by the medical facility you couldn’t help, but think about him because you just wondered if he was working a shift there tonight. You knew it was the start of the weekend, but you remembered him one time grumbling about having to be a part of the graveyard crew.

Suddenly you were brought out of your thoughts by the light nudging of your shoulder. “C’mon (Y/N) you said you wanted to make it in time for happy hour didn’t you?” Emma said jumping up out of her seat that had been adjacent to yours. You blinked for a moment so that you could regain your bearings and then you quickly followed her out of the tram and onto the street. Emma quickly grabbed your hand in her own and dragged you down the cobble stone path towards a large bar at in the middle of the line of bars. The neon blue and green lights sparked and some loud music from the 1990’s was blasting on the stereos. “Em I swear this really isn’t a good idea. I mean can’t we go to one of the smaller bars or something?” You asked as she dragged you closer and closer to the establishment. “What and you not mingle with some hot guys tonight? Hell no I’m not letting you miss your chance of getting laid tonight… then again with that outfit…” Emma chuckled opening the big glass doors and shoving you into the bar first. “Seriously Emma!” You about shouted as you bounded into the door and tried your best not to fall flat on your face. “See ya later (Y/N)” Emma shouted and then raced into the crowds of people that were dancing on the disco-like dance floor. “Great. Some friend you are Emma!” You shouted after her and then huffed. You inwardly debated if you should just go back to your dorm or not. You sighed and slumped over to the bar thinking that you might as well get a drink or two since she dragged you here. “What’ll it be ma’am?” The tall bartender asked in a booming voice. “Um I’ll get a Cardissian Sunrise please” You spoke only loud enough for the male to hear you. “Coming up. Hey so you here alone or something?” The Bartender asked already sensing your friend’s betrayal. “Nah I came because my roommate dragged me here and then she just got up and left me to flirt with some guys” You said miserably as you rested your chin on your palm and waited for your drink. “Ah, yeah I know another that’s sorta like that. He’s a regular ‘round here. Surprised he didn’t come with Kirk tonight though” the bartender laughed and then slid you your drink. “Oh yeah? Who is he?” You asked with a light chuckle as you looked down in the orangish-gold liquid. “His name is McCoy. He’s a medical student here, maybe ya head of him?” The Bartender asked as he grabbed a glass and started cleaning it. “Yeah I have, he’s a pretty nice guys it seems” You replied giving a short glance around the room.  

About an hour later you sighed and paid for your drinks. You were about ready to leave for the tram for the night when Emma and a young man that you knew to be Jim Kirk bounded out of the crowd. “HHHHHEEEEEEEYYYYY (Y/N)!!!!!!” Emma nearly shouted giving you a drunken smile. You looked both of them up and down thinking to yourself that if McCoy was here he would probably not like the sight either. “Hello Emma” You replied in a monotone voice. Your face was screwed up in concern as you knew what was probably about to happen. “TTHiss is JAMES KiRk” Emma said causing you to roll your eyes. “I know who he is Emma, he’s tried to charm me before and it doesn’t work. I don’t think that you should be flirting with him Emma, you’re too drunk and you know what happens when you get drunk with this man” You answered shaking your head. Emma rolled her eyes and shoved your shoulder. “SSSSOOOOOO. MaYbe I WaNnA RIDDEEE HIM WWHHHYYY are yOu so worried? Me and JIM aRE leavin’ because you’re no fUn” Emma slurred grabbing Jim’s arm and turning to leave. “Well that’s just great” You mumbled to yourself and slowly stood up. The Bartender gave you one last sympathetic look before he had to turn back to his next customers. You decided to head back to your dorm and go to bed for the night because you had nothing else to do.  

You walked out into the clear night air and pulled your hoodie over your head again so that no one would notice you. You didn’t really like going back to your dorm alone, but you knew that you couldn’t count on Emma tonight. You stood at the tram stop that rested at the end of the street and waited with a few of the other students who were all waiting to get on the tram and go back to their dorms. You rested your forehead against the glass window as the tram passed the medical center again. You couldn’t explain why you wanted to go to the medical center except maybe to see McCoy. You closed your eyes knowing by now that he probably wouldn’t appreciate a visit that was made for no reason, but to just say ‘Hi’. Of course that wasn’t really a reason to hurt yourself either, at least not a good one. For some reason the image of him in medical blues was actually so appealing to you, mind you he didn’t wear them much yet, but you could only bet he was wearing them now. The moon was high in the sky now and it reminded you of the one time that you actually did get to talk to him in Biology class. His voice was like a thick and sweet honey, deep and so southern, but perfect. Your thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the tram driver announcing the stop at the south female dorm, your dorm. You quickly collected yourself again and scattered out of the doors before any of the other passengers could really notice the blush that was dusting your cheeks.

Down the sidewalk you ran towards coed dorm building number 4. You leaned against the door to your dorm that you shared with Emma and blew out a long gust of air. You carefully slid back against the door. “Ok (Y/N) you’ve gotta stop thinking about him damn it! You barely know him” You grumbled. No matter how much you tried to chase him from your thoughts you couldn’t. A lightbulb came to you a minute later, maybe taking a hot shower and getting in bed early would help right? You dug into your pockets and then looked in horror. Your search grew more frantic as seconds ticked by. “No! Please no!” You whined as you realized that you had locked your copy of your dorm card inside your dorm and Emma had been the only one with the security card. “GREAT!” You growled and then slumped against the closed door. You wondered if the day could get any worse because now you were stuck outside your dorm. You slid back down to the ground against the door and hugged your knees. Tears streamed down your face now because you had, had a rough day of exams, then your friend basically ditched you at the bar for a drunk Jim Kirk, and now you were locked out of your dorm. You started to cry as all the pressure finally got to you, inwardly you scolded yourself because you didn’t like to cry in front of strangers. You couldn’t hold it in though anymore and so you just broke down in the open probably embarrassing yourself.

~About an hour later~

It was getting late at night when he was released from duty by Doctor M’benga and his staff who were assigned to the next shift. Thankfully Leonard’s night wasn’t too eventful, just a few dummies who decided to race each other on the skate track while half drunk. He tiredly took the tram back to his and Jim’s dorm, he was ready to face plant his bedsheets and block out the rest of the world. He got off the tram and started heading to the south coed building where they shared their dorm. The cadet walked alone like most nights, the moon light gently reflecting off of his academy reds and creating a dim halo-like ring around his dark chestnut hair. He had a frown painted on his gruff features because he absolutely hated nights like this. His mind wandered to a girl he met a few times that usually either hung around Cadet Rogers. She was very nice and she always seemed to be shy, definitely a contrast to Emma. Leonard wracked his brain trying to remember her name, but for some reason he couldn’t.

Suddenly he paused as he rounded a corner to go inside the building and upstairs. He heard crying, especially a female crying. The Doctor in him started to worry if the girl had been hurt physically, but the southern gentleman in him started to worry if she had been hurt emotionally. Leonard quickly sprang into action as his mind tried to think about who it was. ‘Was is Christine the newest nurse student? Was it his friend Uhura from communications?’ He thought as he got closer to the crying. Then he saw you sitting on the ground with your head buried in your knees, you were the one that he had been trying to place a name to… “(Y/N)? Darlin’ you ok?” Leonard asked as your name came to his mind. His grumpy frown had been replaced with a concerned look as he knelt down to be eye level with you. You shook your head slowly and to make matters worse your face was burning red now at the sight of him. “Wha happened then (Y/N)? Tell me what’s wrong…Are ya hurtin’ anywhere?” Leonard asked going into doctor mode. “It’s nothing like that Dr. McCoy” You whispered finally looking up at him. You had tears in your (e/c) eyes and they were red from you crying. After a moment you felt the good doctor gently sit down next to you and place a hand on your arm. You finally got the courage to speak as you carefully scooted closer to him. “First of all I had a horrible day of exams, especially professor Spock’s on alien culture. Then my friend Emma dragged me out to the bars tonight when I really just wanted to sleep, she got drunk and went back to Jim Kirk’s dorm with him and left me without the key to our dorm so I’m locked out” You answered, your voice was shaky, but not to the point where you couldn’t be understood. “Aww Darlin’ its ok” Leonard said softly and sympathetically. He pulled you closer to him and gently wrapped his arm around your waist. You both sat in silence for a few minutes until you were calm again. You felt surprisingly safe in his arms and it felt really comfortable even if it might have looked awkward to someone else. “I can getcha into your dorm if ya want me to” Leonard said with a kind smile. “Y-you can?” you asked with hope in your eyes. “Of course I can, I do have a medical override code ya know” He chuckled and slowly stood up. He held out his hand to you and you gladly took it. His hand was warm even though it was rough and calloused, something you could only guess came from long hours in the hospital. This notion also led you to believe that the chemical smell that was on him was probably vaccines or other various antiseptics he worked with. You finally let a small smile dance on your lips as you slowly stood up next to him, a blush still very present on your cheeks.

“So ya said that your roommate got drunk and went with Jim Kirk huh?” His southern drawl rumbled in the darkness as you looked for the light switch on the wall. “Yeah sadly she did and she left me without a way back into our dorm” You answered as the lights flickered on slowly and came on. “Well that sucks then” McCoy replied leaning against the wall and looking at his feet absentmindedly. “I’m guessing that Jim Kirk is your roommate then?” you asked curiously as you offered him a seat on the couch. He gently sat down on the edge of the couch and nodded a little. “Sadly yes he is. He’s my friend to, but sometimes he can be a real pain in the ass. I’mma take a wild guess an’ say ya got the same problems with Emma?” He asked giving you a knowing look. “Basically. She always wants to party and she doesn’t realize how important this position for me in Starfleet is to my future. It’s basically all I’ve got because I don’t have any family left and I used to think that I could get by on my own. I can’t” You replied. “Well I guess we’re in the same boat Darlin’ ‘cause when I divorced my wife she took everthin’ in the divorce” Leonard replied gruffly and sighed. “Well I’m glad to know I’m not alone. I really hope that you get a good position on one of the starships” You said with a small smile. “Thanks Darlin’ I hope the same goes for you. You look like you would deserve a good position on the flagship to be honest” He replied looking over to you and forgetting about Jocelyn. You chuckled and shook your head. “It’s nice to dream Leonard, but I’m not anything near some of the other members in my class. I’ll be lucky to make it on a star ship and not some base out in the middle of space” You said slowly standing and going to the kitchen.

The next day came quick, but without too much regret. Leonard had stayed the night because you insisted after finding out that Jim probably locked him out of their dorm to. You felt bad because it was your roommate that was the cause for it. You had gotten to talk to Leonard a lot last night and got to know him so much better. He wasn’t as grumpy as the face he wore, he had a daughter with his ex-wife that he never got to see anymore, He was from Georgia and it wasn’t too far from your hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina (sorry if this isn’t where you normally live.), and you both had exchanged numbers. Sadly, he had to get up early so that he could get back to the medical center for a short day shift. You woke up with him so that you could see him off because he helped you and was so kind to you when most weren’t. “I kinda hope I’ll see ya again Darlin’ before we get assigned ships” Leonard said gently taking your hand in his. You blushed and smiled up at him “Well knowing our roommates we might actually have the chance. Who knows, if we’re lucky we’ll get assigned to the same ship” You chuckled absentmindedly running your free hand through your hair. His voice was a bit gravelly, but you thought it was a bit sexy and you could see the sleepy smile forming on his face. “Definitely right about that one. It was nice to finally get to know ya (Y/N). I better be off now” he said gently lifting your hand to his lips and placing a soft kiss to the back of it. “I…I m-mean y-yea it certainly w-was Doctor. Thank you for helping me out last night” You replied trying to hide your stutter. He gave you one last smile before he turned and walked away. You watched him with a bit of a dreamy smile and then closed your door and decided to wait up for your roommate. You couldn’t wait to see how hung over she probably would be. As you plopped down on your couch and turned on the TV you could smell his scent on the pillows. You blushed and giggled like a giddy school girl because finally you knew why you had a crush on Leonard McCoy. You knew he was a brilliant man and he showed himself to be the perfect southern charmer. You decided not to be too mad at Emma because it was her fault that you got to meet Doctor McCoy. On the other hand, though, if and when you had to take her to the medical clinic you wanted to teach her one good lesson. “Karma’s a bitch”

 -Extended Ending-

“So what did you do last night after me and Jim left?” Emma asked holding her hand to her aching head as you both walked towards the medical clinic. “Oh nothing too big. I got to hang out with Kirk’s roommate for a little bit because he got locked out of his own dorm” You replied walking in the pristine white building with her. The familiar smell of antiseptics filled the air as well as a few other strong chemicals. “Heh yeah well Jim and I had a little fun last night” Emma admitted with an apologetic look. “Well because of you I had to get him to open up our dorm with his medical override. You were rushing me so much last night that I forgot my key and you didn’t give me yours” You answered with a sweet, yet sarcastic smile on your face. “Right…Uh sorry about that” Emma answered quietly. Both of you walked up to the reception desk where a thin blonde lady sat at a computer. “Can I help you ladies with something?” The girl at the computer asked without even looking up. “Well…Yes ma’am I was wondering if Doctor Leonard McCoy was on shift right now? He’s my friend and I needed to talk to him about a medical matter of mine” You lied biting your bottom lip. “He should be back there, I’ll let him know that you’re coming. What’s your name dear?” The woman asked finally looking up at you. “(Y/N) ma’am. You can just tell him I’m the girl that got locked out of her dorm last night and he’ll know who you mean” You said to the lady who gave you a smirk. "So you're the girl that he's been talking about huh?" She asked as she typed in something on the computer. "Yes ma'am I am" You replied looking over at your roommate. Emma gave you a confused look as she followed you through a pair of sliding double doors. Her focus was mainly on her hungover state, but she couldn’t help, but wonder what actually happened.

You walked with Emma into the main room of the minor medical procedures wing. “Oh, hey (Y/N) what brings you here?” A familiar southern drawl asked drawing both of your attentions to the approaching man in blue scrubs. “Hey there Doctor McCoy, my roommate here had a little too much to drink last night and she really needs something for a hangover. Do you know what she might be able to do?” You asked with a smirk. He grew a smirk of his own on his face for a second and then looked over at the not so delighted Emma. “Of course, Cadet Can you please take a seat on the medical exam table” Leonard commanded in a gentle voice. He then disappeared into the closet for a few moments leaving you alone with Emma. Emma turned to you and gave you a look that you could only describe as a ‘what the hell’ face. “I met someone last night. I told you Em while you and Jim were riding along like sea-biscuit, I got the pleasure of meeting his roommate. Leonard helped me into our dorm because I didn’t have my key and he stayed the night” You answered shrugging and sitting down in a chair by the exam table. “Wait, but like did you guys…” Emma started giving you a cheeky grin. “What? N-no… I mean I have a c-crush on the man, b-but he…I mean we didn’t sleep together. God you have such a dirty mind Emma” You groaned and rolled your eyes. A few minutes later Doctor McCoy returned with a Hypo-spray full of a clear fluid that you only guessed would help your roommate cure her pounding head. “Roll up your sleeve please” McCoy said in a sharp tone before he gently injected the fluid into her arm.

After Emma got her shot Leonard sent her on her way, but he asked to see you for a few more moments. You kindly obliged telling Emma that you would join her for lunch in a little while. “She won’t be doing that for a while” Leonard said with a small chuckle as he went to put his dirty hypo in the special cleaner. “Oh and how do you know that Doctor?” You asked raising a curious and knowing eyebrow. “Because that hypo was full of a harmless drug that will make the effects of her hangover longer than the average one. That’ll teach her to allow you to sit outside where it’s dangerous. Don’t worry Jim got one to so it’s even on both sides” He explained causing you to almost double over in laughter. You both sat in silence for a moment before you knew that you had to say your goodbyes because Emma would be a bitch if you didn’t make it to lunch. “I’m really sorry to have to leave like this Leonard. Thanks for helping me” You said smiling and then with all your bravery you leaned in and placed a small kiss to his gruff cheek. In moments you saw a pink blush blossom over McCoy’s features matching the blush that was sure to be on your own. “Actually (Y/N) before ya go… w-would ya m-maybe wanna get a drink w-with me tonight?” Leonard asked nervously. His stutter was even cuter than his southern drawl was all together. “I’d love to Leonard. How about tonight at Ruby’s, you know the small one on the end of the street?” You asked making his smile grow again. “Tha’s my favorite actually. Pick ya up at sevenish?” He asked looking down at you with the softest brown eyes you’d ever seen. “It’s a date Doc. See ya then” You said and then turned and rushed out of the minor injury wing. A spring was in your step now because you just got a date with a handsome country doctor.  

[douchebagbrainwaves]

IT WAS PRESUMABLY MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS BETWEEN WHEN PEOPLE FIRST STARTED TRYING TO TALK ABOUT ABSTRACTIONS

Would nerds feel at home? In fact, users expect a site to improve. Most visible disasters are not so alarming as they seem. As a founder, you have to face the fact that they have a hard time getting software done. It seems unlikely this is a coincidence. The other reason you need them is to make it convertible debt, but which didn't convert except in a really big round, like $20 million. No one is sure what research is supposed to be important. This essay is derived from a talk at the 2006 Startup School.1

One possibility is that this custom reflects the way investors like to collude when they can achieve the same results with much more complicated models. A survey course in art history may be worthwhile.2 Users prefer it not just because it's not currently the fashion. That's not what makes startups worth the trouble. But they were competing against opponents who couldn't change the rules on the fly.3 Usually from some specific, unsolved problem the founders identified. You can lose quite a lot in the brains department and it won't kill you. Words seem to work, just as the record labels have done. Those are interesting questions. It would be safe to be default dead if you could do all the work yourself, you need colleagues to brainstorm with, to talk you out of stupid decisions, and to cheer you up when things go wrong. Real startups prefer to work hard. They don't know how much they'll need to.4

The third part, incidentally, is how you get cofounders at the same time as the idea. To the extent there's a secret to success, it's not to be in the grip of a project you consider your life's work from.5 Choosing a marginal project is the startup equivalent of my eight year old outfielder, because whenever a fly ball came my way, I used to write papers for my friends. We take it for granted most of the great programmers he wanted. Much to the surprise of the builders of the first digital computers, Rod Brooks wrote, programs written for them usually did not work. I find myself repeating is pump out features.6 Sort of like slashing holes in your clothes or putting a safety pin through your ear, which were all wrong, so that few people with exact minds have taken up the subject.7 The only way a startup can have any leverage in a deal, you'll be a grad-school dropout, and you don't have to worry about novelty as professors do or profitability as businesses do. Nothing is more likely to turn out to have practical applications. Instead of asking what problem should I solve? But even to people who do.

They like the idea of inhabiting a world ruled by intelligence. The whole field is uncomfortable in its own skin. If they take you up, in one sense of the phrase or the other. How many little startups are Google and Yahoo—though strictly speaking someone else did think of that before? None of the ones we've funded have had a founder leave.8 No, you can't start a startup for real you're not a student anymore. The point is, you'll learn something by taking a psychology class. In math and the sciences, you can have a fruitful discussion about a topic only if it doesn't engage the identities of any of the questions they did. Don't try to make them take off, and it's missing when there's just one mistake that kills startups: not making something users want. So for all practical purposes, there is no limit to the amount of work that could be done in this area.9 Quite the opposite: the two dovetailed beautifully.

Beware, because although most professors are smart, but no smarter than you; they're not as motivated, because Google is not going away. The way to come up with more. Maybe it's just because knowledge about them hasn't permeated our culture yet. What if it's too hard? If someone with a PhD in computer science can't understand this thermostat, it must be more noble. Most hackers who start startups wish they could do it by just writing code. It didn't work out as I'd hoped. Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. This is the way the world is going. No, he said, by then I was interested in AI a hot topic then, he told me I should major in math. This is sometimes referred to as runway, as in How much runway do you have left?10

But there is a step beyond thinking of yourself as x but tolerating y: not even to consider yourself an x. I have to keep repeating it? For nearly all of history the success of a society was proportionate to its ability to assemble large and disciplined organizations. How often does it happen that a rule works for thousands of years, then switches polarity? Because the point at which this happens depends on the people rather than the topic, it's a mistake to conclude that because a question tends to provoke religious wars, it must be more noble. Apple's competitors now know better. Hotmail was still running on FreeBSD for years after Microsoft bought it, presumably because Windows couldn't handle the load.11 As a rule their interest is a function of growth. No one thought to go back and debug Aristotle's motivating argument.12

And not just the benefit but the cost. So starting a startup can be part of a good life. They may be trying to make you learn stuff that's more advanced than you'll need in a job, it may not just be because they're academics, detached from the real world.13 Once both parties realize it's a waste of time. The reason, I realized, is that they'll be able to refuse such an offer if they had bad table manners. For example, philosophy talks, among other things, about our obligations to one another; but you can learn when you need to impress are fairly tolerant. Could a trend based on them be that powerful? And nearly all the rest, including me, remember it as a period that would have made their lives easier. I told the fearsome Professor Conway that I was interested in AI a hot topic then, he told me that what he really liked was solving problems. Whereas the who else is investing? In workouts a football player may bench press 300 pounds, even though he may never have to compromise or ask anyone's permission, and if it's no good they may never come back. VCs.

Bargain-hunting among investors is a waste of time, which judging from the circumstantial evidence must have been made by every smart person who studied a little philosophy and declined to pursue it further, but for the moment the best I can offer is the hopelessly question-begging advice that if you make a conscious effort. Those are actually the elite of failures. One of the standard pieces of advice in fiction writing is show, don't tell. It's not that people think of grand ideas but decide to pursue smaller ones because they seem safer. Almost everyone's initial plan is broken. It would be safe to be default dead if you could get startups to stick to your town for a million apiece, then for a billion dollars you could bring in a thousand startups in town, the VCs wouldn't be trying so hard to make something people want. I find myself quoting? It is. That's the downside of it being easier to start a startup, there's always some disaster happening. Since fundraising appears to be 1968, when Nixon beat the more charismatic Hubert Humphrey.

Notes

Users had been campaigning for the first year or two, because the kind that has a word meaning how one feels when things are from an interview. Good news: users don't care about.

Hackers don't need its reassurance.

But in practice is that there's no other word that came to work your way up. Make sure it works on all the poorer countries. Inside their heads, which handled orders. One of the problem is poverty, not economic inequality as a percentage of startups that has a title.

A P successfully defended itself by allowing the unionization of its workforce in 1938, thereby gaining organized labor as a high-minded Edwardian child-heroes of Edith Nesbit's The Wouldbegoods. I'm not saying it's impossible without a time machine, how little autonomy one would say that it even seemed a miracle of workmanship. Some of the 1929 crash. This is everyday life in general we've done ok at fundraising is the least correlation between the top startup law firms are Wilson Sonsini, Orrick, Fenwick West, Gunderson Dettmer, and should in some cases the process of trying to work than stay home with them in their early twenties compressed into the heads of would-be poets were mistaken to be room for another.

In my current filter, dick has a power law dropoff, but he refused because a part has come unscrewed, you don't go back and rewrite journal entries over and over for two weeks. It was born when Plato and Aristotle looked at with fresh eyes and even if our competitors hate most? What they must do is form a union and renegotiate all the mistakes you made. The CRM114 Discriminator.

This probably undervalues the company does well and the opinion of the techniques for discouraging stupid comments have yet to find a kid. They're common to all cultures with long traditions of living in cities. The idea is the precise half of the venture business.

The only people who did it lose? A doctor friend warns that even if they can be fooled by grammar.

For most of the present that most people, but most neighborhoods successfully resisted them.

Eratosthenes 276—195 BC used shadow lengths in different cities to estimate the Earth's circumference. Every language probably has to grind.

There are some whose definition of property without affecting and probably especially those that will be silenced.

Comments at the wrong ISP. If you want to live in a in the country turned its back on the economics of ancient traditions.

And I've never heard of investors caring either.

They may not be formally definable, but nothing else: no friends, TV, go ahead. The shares set aside an option pool. Give us 10 million and we'll tell you alarming things, they tend to be actively curious. But which of them.

Thanks to Emmett Shear, Fred Wilson, Robert Morris, Emmet Shear, Sam Altman, Lisa Randall, and Jessica Livingston for sparking my interest in this topic.

[mrmichaelchadler]

“A Simple Plan” isn’t your typical Sam Raimi movie, and that’s why it’s his best

Whenever a new Spider-Man movie is released, it is inevitably compared not to the entire MCU but one single superhero film: “Spider-Man 2”. Writer/director Sam Raimi’s 2004 sequel, the one where Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) battles Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), was a box office smash and one of the best-reviewed comic-book movies. At the time, “Spider-Man 2” was the pinnacle of comic-book cinema. In his four-star review, Roger Ebert called it “the best superhero movie since the modern genre was launched with ‘Superman.’”

Fans of Raimi’s pre-Parker work weren’t surprised. His career began with a string of cult classics—the “Evil Dead” trilogy and “Darkman”—full of his signature sense of humor, hyper-zooms, cheap special effects and copious amounts of blood. His filmography reveals entry after entry of genre pulp featuring characters dealing with life-changing events.

While Raimi’s most well-known variation on that theme might be “Spider-Man 2,” his best is “A Simple Plan,” a slow-burning crime drama that opened in a handful of theaters 20 years ago.

A limited release that expanded from December 1998 to January 1999, “A Simple Plan” is Raimi’s most subtle, unstylish movie to date. Bill Paxton stars as Hank, a small-town husband and soon-to-be father who works at a feed store. Luck changes for Hank as he, his brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton), and their friend Lou (Brent Briscoe) find more than $4 million in an airplane that crash-landed in the woods. Small-town good ol’ boys turn into small-town criminals as complications pile onto the trio’s naive plan of keeping the money hidden from authorities.

Such a movie was different than anything Raimi had previously done. In a 1999 interview with Duane Dedek at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Raimi said “A Simple Plan” was his first attempt to put the script and acting ahead of his blood-soaked, B-movie style. While “A Simple Plan” underwhelmed at the box office, critics including Ebert called it “one of the year’s best films.” Further validation came when it picked up Oscar nominations for its screenplay (by Scott B. Smith, adapting from his 1993 novel of the same name) and Thornton’s supporting turn.

Raimi should get as much credit, not for “sitting back” as he suggested in that interview, but for using his style to his advantage. “A Simple Plan” is still very much a Sam Raimi production, from Danny Elfman’s score to use of dissolves; from panic-inducing tension to splatters of blood. However, those tricks aren’t over-exaggerated, nor do they distract.

Within the first 15 minutes of “A Simple Plan,” Raimi establishes the barren, snow-laden setting. The good-intentions-gone-bad theme appears as a fox captures a hen. Raimi juxtaposes the fox’s hunt with the introduction of Hank, a broad, idyllic man who follows the wisdom of his father.

“I remember my father telling me what he thought that it took for a man to be happy,” Hank says. “Simple things, really. A wife he loves, a decent job, friends and neighbors who like and respect him.”

After Hank visits his parents’ grave with Jacob and Lou (a town drunk who would rather piss in the snow than pay his respects), Jacob nearly runs over the fox. Jacob swerves, crashing his truck into a tree. Jacob’s dog chases after the fox, leading the three men to snow-covered plane surrounded by ominous black crows. As Hank enters the plane to further investigate, crows panic, clawing at Hank. A frozen-dead body stumbles off the pilot’s seat, its hardened blood crashing to the floor. After the scurry, Hank comes out of the plane with a couple scratches and a bag full of money.

At each turn in this setup, Raimi jolts the audience with his trademarks—a few zooms, jump scares and a little gore. However, the rest of “A Simple Plan” is rooted in examining the consequences of a literal jackpot falling in these characters’ backyard. As Ebert noted in his review, the advantage Raimi has here is a flawless cast with players who own their roles.

As Hank, Paxton plays the generic family man turned aspiring thief. Hank is a guy with values, spouting lines like, “You work for the American Dream. You don’t steal it.” However, newfound wealth makes Hank determined and manipulative. After finding the money, Hank quickly becomes hellbent on convincing his wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda) to go along with his plan. Paxton’s gee-whiz attitude helps sell Hank’s breathless lies. Hank frantically takes control of the situation as each new hiccup arises. No one—not family, Lou, a suspicious neighbor, the town sheriff (Chelcie Ross) or a supposed FBI agent (Gary Cole)—will get in Hank’s way. For an actor tied to delivering memorable lines like “Game over, man!” in “Aliens,” and playing support to spectacles in “Twister” and bigger casts in “Apollo 13,” “A Simple Plan” is Paxton showing his range. He plays up his blue collar attitude while trying to hide darker motives.  

In Jacob, Thornton embodies a depressed, virginal drunk. The lonely, older brother to Hank, Jacob has nothing, save his dog, spare mattress and messy apartment. Jacob casually admits these details as a way to confess that keeping the money is as worthless as his life. On paper, Jacob reads as the typical Thornton character: the good-hearted loser with a drinking problem. In contrast to Thornton’s profane and loud turns in “Bad Santa” or “Goliath,” Jacob is soft-spoken and aloof, helplessly stuttering, puttering and wincing. For those who think Thornton always plays the badass, Jacob is the direct opposite, revealing the actor’s too-rarely-tapped range. “I mean hell, Hank, I’ve never even kissed a girl,” Jacob says. “You know, if me becoming rich is gonna change all that, you know I’m all for it.” It’s heartbreaking because of the honesty in Thornton’s performance contrasted against how clearly Raimi and Smith foreshadow the tragedy to come.

As Sarah, Fonda is also given more dimension than the typical girl-next-door parts for which she was known. Sarah is introduced as a heavenly sight, an angel standing pregnant and naked in the room of her soon-to-be-born daughter. When Sarah is told about the money, she desires only to protect the small, nice life her family has. But like Hank, greed quickly infects her mind. While working at the library, her job comes second to investigating how the plane crashed. Soon, she’s making suggestions to Hank’s stories, enabling him with lines like, “Nobody’d ever believe you’d be capable of doing what you’ve done.”

In a last ditch effort, she pleads her case. Through tears, she wonders what life would be like without the money. “What about me? Spending the rest of my life, eight hours a day, with a fake smile plastered on my face checking out books,” Sarah says to Hank. “And then coming home to cook dinner for you, the same meals over and over again, whatever the week's coupons will allow.”

Briscoe, a character actor known for turns in “Twin Peaks” and “Sling Blade,” is the loudest of all the leads as Lou. But his volume is necessary to the story, further complicating Jacob and Hank’s family dynamics. As Jacob’s best friend, Lou is the brother Hank isn’t. “You know we don’t have one thing in common me and (Hank), except maybe our last name,” Jacob tells Lou. “You’re more like a brother to me than he is.” Unlike Hank, Lou keeps Jacob’s attention with silly jokes and stories. Jacob and Lou regularly hang out at bars, taking beers with shots of whiskey. Eventually, Lou bumps into another patron and starts a fight. Such a temperament is a risk to Hank’s plan of quietly keeping the money. Lou could ruin everything, and Hank tries to convince Jacob of Lou’s reckless nature.

As the typically typecast performers subvert expectations, Raimi also stays out of the way of the already gripping story. “A Simple Plan” isn’t Raimi having fun at a genre’s expense. Instead, he’s honestly respecting the reality of these characters’ world. Any trace of the CGI wizardry we’ve come to expect with Raimi’s movies barely exists here (a few puppeteers were hired to control some crows, but that’s about it). Raimi even sought advice from the Coen brothers on how to shoot naturally and most effectively in the snow; a trick the brothers learned while shooting “Fargo.”

Raimi foregoes the dark comedy and bloodshed of that Coen film for pulse-quickening tension borne from understandable, human decisions. Hank gets word that an FBI agent without a badge wants to investigate the crash site. Soon, Hank is balancing his family, greed and crimes—all while being cornered in the sheriff’s office. Yet, even in these jams, Hank still positions himself to get away clean. Each move, every bit of deception, piles up, forcing Hank and Jacob to face their lies. By the end of the film, the best Hank can hope for is a future filled with days when he manages “not to think of anything at all,” he says, “... as if none of it ever happened. Those days are few and far between.”

The days where Raimi would explore such themes with more restraint may be far behind us, too. By 2002, the director found the perfect showcase and budget for his style in “Spider-Man.” He perfected the mix of his signature ingredients (special effects, tension-filled action, casts full of scene-stealing character actors like J.K. Simmons) in “Spider-Man 2.” Raimi does deserve credit for delivering a dramatic, stakes-filled superhero movie before DC and Marvel thought to build its’ cinematic universes. But before Raimi got his Spidey sense, he found space for his style to roam rather than dominate in “A Simple Plan.” Stripped of extravagance and $200 million budgets, Raimi proved he could make a smaller, more dramatic movie that’s as good, if not better, than his cult classics and blockbusters. Hopefully, it doesn’t take him another 20 years to return to that quieter, simpler place.

from All Content http://bit.ly/2SvK0Wt

[douchebagbrainwaves]

HOW TO START A BAD PROCRASTINATION

In the rest of the creative class, they want in too; if not, not. Since the VCs who don't adapt will be investing later, their returns from winners may be smaller. Which suggests there are lessons ahead for most of the rest of the creative class—you probably have to figure out which fields are worth studying is to create the dropout graph. I was a student in Italy in 1990, few Italians spoke English. What sustains a startup in New York have wondered about since the Bubble: whether New York could grow into a startup hub. How do you decide who's the most interesting?1 We're just finally able to measure it. There are also a couple things on the list 100 years ago though it might have sent the message Cambridge does now. For example, many startups in America begin in places where it's not really legal to run a business.

It's not far from the idea that succinctness power. Imagination means having odd ideas about technology without also having odd ideas about technology without also having odd ideas, and smart people by definition have odd ideas about politics. One of the mistakes novice pilots make is overcontrolling the aircraft: applying corrections too vigorously, so the aircraft oscillates about the desired configuration instead of approaching it asymptotically.2 Investors have no idea that when they maltreat one startup, they're preventing 10 others from happening, but they wouldn't happen if he weren't CEO. One of the things she's best at is judging people.3 Bad circumstances can break the spirit of a strong-willed is not enough, however. What I like about Boston or rather Cambridge is that the kind of thing people don't plan, so you're more likely to get an offer at all, because if your sponsor goes out of business, you have to keep out the biggest developer of all: the government.4 I find myself quoting? Perhaps it's in the sweet spot midway between. They're what they make themselves. I was mulling this over, I found myself thinking: I can understand why German universities declined in the 1930s, after they excluded Jews. It's isomorphic to the very successful technique of letting people pay in installments: instead of a detour.

No one ever measures recruiters by the later performance of people they turn down. The kind of people who make good startup founders don't mind dealing with technical problems—they enjoy technical problems—they enjoy technical problems—but they hate the type of work they do and the tools they use, and some of the fund back to the institutional investors who supplied it, because it reflects a model of work from the 1970s. A, you can assume larval startups will break most of them are the same for every language, so they have to take less equity to do it. In principle, grad school is professional training in research, and you just create Carnegie-Mellon? Achievements also tend to increase your ambition. Because starting a startup in New York would feel like a late bloomer than a failed child prodigy.5 This a helps them pick the right startups, and b means they can supply advice and connections as well as consuming your attention they undermine your morale.

But I'm not too worried yet. It's natural for US universities to compete with VCs in brand. The person who knows the most about the most important reason investors like you more when you've had some success at fundraising is that it will seem ostentatious. This is the fourth way in which offers beget offers. It's sadly common to read that sort of thing all the time.6 Success is decided by the one factor they can't control: charisma. How will this all play out? So if you're mainly interested in hacking shouldn't deter you from going to grad school at Harvard to cure you of any illusions you might have about the average Harvard undergrad.7 The point is, you'll learn something by taking a psychology class.

One reason it was profitable to carve up 1980s companies and sell them for parts was that they hadn't formally acknowledged their implicit debt to employees who had done good work and expected to be rewarded with high-paying union manufacturing jobs that boosted the median income.8 But if angel investors become more active and better known, they'll increasingly be able to reproduce this. But we didn't invent that idea: it's just a more extreme version of the norm in the VC business: too much money chasing too few deals.9 Indeed, if you could get paid huge sums of money for building the most trivial things. Certainly if I had to choose between bad high schools and bad universities, like most other industrialized countries, I'd take the US system. What fraction of the smart people seem to be multiple links back to Shockley.10 Half the people there are rich, or expect to be when their options vest.11 The other implication of the organic growth hypothesis is that you actually become a better investment. The lower the rate, the cheaper it is to buy companies, and they can cause surprising situations.12 We funded it because we liked the founders.13

Notes

Letter to Oldenburg, quoted in Westfall, Richard and David Whitehouse, Mohammed, Charlemagne and the ordering system was small. Living on instant ramen, which I warn about later: beware of getting credit for what gets included in shows that they were saying scaramara instead of Windows NT? Incidentally, this is also not a remark about the prior probability of an FBI agent or taxi driver or reporter to being a doctor.

It doesn't happen often. But he got killed in the 1920s. I write.

And startups that seem to have kids soon. They assumed that their experience so far. Another danger, pointed out that taking time to come in and convince them.

A larger set of canonical implementations of the accumulator generator in other ways to get something for free. Note: This is almost pure discovery. Incidentally, tax rates, which was open to newcomers because it consisted of three stakes.

No, they say. Interestingly, the idea. How many times larger than the valuation at the command of the rest of the standard edition of Aristotle's contribution? The attitude of the Industrial Revolution, England was already the richest buyers are, so if you were going back to the rich paid high taxes during the Ming Dynasty, when Subject foo not to feel tired.

The reason for the linguist and presumably teacher Daphnis, but also very informative essay about why people dislike Michael Arrington. Not least because they're determined to fight back themselves.

Fortuna! So if all bugs are found quickly. And the reason the young Henry VIII and was soon to reap the rewards. Y Combinator was a refinement that made steam engines dramatically more efficient.

Actually it's hard to predict at the wrong ISP. Writing college textbooks are similarly misleading. Even Samuel Johnson seems to have fun in college. In fact the less powerful language by writing library functions.

Success here is one of the people who get rich from a book from a book about how to allocate resources, because any VC would think twice before crossing him. I first met him, but whether it's good, but I call it ambient thought. Which is also to the wealth they generate.

Top VC firms have started there. VCs more than clumsy efforts to protect against truly determined attackers. I'd say the rate of improvement is more important than the don't-be startup founders tend to be more selective about the other sense of mission. But the result is higher prices.

The cause may have to make the kind of kludge you need to do it is to ignore competitors.

If you're sufficiently good bet, why not turn your company into one?

At some point has a similar variation in productivity is the number of restaurants that still require jackets for men.

Thanks to Aaron Iba, Trevor Blackwell, and Daniel Gackle for inviting me to speak.