#jade star badge

[mypokemonscreencaps]

[ruggiesbiologicalfather]

What The NRC Boys Wanted To Be When They Grow Up (circa 4 years old)

Heartslabyul:

Riddle - obviously when you ask, he's going to tell you he wants to be a doctor. every christmas and birthday, he gets a doctor kit. and he likes them! but... if you ask him on a warm afternoon during his free time between the thousand things on his tiny shoulders... he'll tell you he wants to be a painter

Ace - astronaut. hands down. he 100% had those little glow in the dark star stickers on his ceiling and he didn't take them down until high school. on his fourth birthday, his parents got him an astronaut helmet and it was practically welded to his head by the time he turned five. little man yearned for the stars

Deuce - race car driver. he was born with the need to go fast. he would beg his mom to let him watch races on tv and stare with an open mouth as the drivers went around and around and around. he was a big fan of taking big cardboard boxes and running around the yard with them like they were race cars

Trey - dentist. he was an anomaly when he was little: a kid who wasn't afraid of the dentist. he loved going. as a matter of fact, he would often make his friends (mainly chenya) play dentist with them and not understand why they wouldn't let him put his pretend tools in their mouth.

Cater - he desperately wanted to be hannah montana. not like a singer or a dancer, no... hannah montana SPECIFICALLY. the wig, the microphone, everything. he had three hannah montana themed birthday parties in a row

Savanaclaw:

Leona: he could never give an answer when someone asked him what he wanted to be. he knew from a very young age that he couldn't really be whatever he wanted. not in a way that means anything. he wanted to be the king like his daddy, but it was always made clear to him that he could only dream of that. so he just played games and looked at the stars and didn't think of what he wanted to be, just who he was right then. and right then, he was the chess champion of the kingscholar bloodline

Ruggie - cowboy! honestly, he still kind of wants to be a cowboy. he wanted a horse and some cows and a big pasture - the whole nine yards. he never actually got to ride a horse, they were far too expensive, but he would still beg his mom for a cowboy hat and a pair of boots. he got them both when he turned nine and was so excited, he slept with them on. he didn't care that the hat squished his ears and the boots were a little scuffed. he wore them until the soles became more hole than rubber. he still has the hat tucked away in his closet. just in case...

Jack - classic firefighter kid. one day in preschool, a fire truck came to visit in the parking lot, and he was so shocked that he couldn't say a word. the firefighter let the kids sit in the truck and his teacher literally had to pry him out of the seat when they were done, and he cried all the way back to the classroom. the firefighters still made sure he got one of those flimsy plastic hats and a golden sticker of a badge. he thought firefighters were heroes. he still does

Octavinelle:

Azul - scientist. any kind of scientist. he wanted to have a big lab of his own where he could mix up all kinds of chemicals and just... see what happens. obviously at that age, he had very little idea of what scientists actually do but he knew it was the place for him

Jade - he managed to sneak a peek at the original karate kid movie and his life radically changed. from that moment on, he knew he was going to grow up to be a ninja. unfortunately for everyone else involved, this meant he was going to spend years coming up with elaborate plans to sneak up on and attack his brother. his parents quickly became used to the sound of loud, crashing scraps from all corners of the house. but they weren't worried. floyd could handle his own

Floyd - if you try to ask this kid what he wants to be when he grows up and he'll look you dead in the face, say "bagel" and return to his toys. whatever kid

Scarabia:

Kalim - he didn't want to be anything when he grew up, but he wanted to do everything. he didn't want to have a job. in fact, he was never actually told he could do that. instead, he wanted to experience all the joys of life. he wanted to paint and dance and sing and write poems and raise sheep and sail in the ocean and grow figs and play drums and everything

Jamil - this boy practically came out of the womb dancing. he wanted to dance every moment of every day. when there was no one around to play music or kalim was too busy to sing, he would hum little tunes to himself just to have something to move to. he wanted to be one of those dancers who performed all over the world and were applauded with showers of flower petals. he quickly learned that his dream was far from reality. but he kept tapping his toes while he worked

Pomfiore:

Vil - princess. there's no way this boy did not dream of growing up to be a princess. he was obsessed with all things gaudy and sparkly and would try on every single costume available to him. he rarely went to preschool without some sort of mismatched getup on. but his dad didn't care. you can only be this young for so long. so what if his boy wore a crown to school? no one would dare say anything about it, lest the wrath of the schoenheits. vil wouldn't accept any comments that weren't compliments. snide remarks were met with an impressive eyeroll and a flick of his sparkly cape. after all, a princess didn't care what commoners thought

Rook - garbage truck driver. his rich-ass parents were FLOORED when he said this the first time. "honey, don't you want to do something... bigger? like you could run the whole garbage company and make a whole lot of money!" "no! i wanna ride on the back of the truck!" no one could persuade him to dream of anything else. he is immune to your classist ideologies. viva la garbage man!

Epel - he wants to be a vet but SPECIFICALLY a horse vet. like if you mention him wanting to be a vet, he will correct you. the horses around his hometown captivated him and he wanted to be around them all the time. when he was tiny, he would weave around their legs in the pastures and give his family heart attacks. he just loved them so much and they loved him too

Ignihyde:

Idia - he saw sonic the hedgehog once and decided he was going to be dr robotnik. his parents could not decipher why, and they quickly stopped trying to

Ortho - even when he was really little, he wanted to be a teacher. he would line up all his toys and tell them about everything he was learning in preschool. sometimes, the lessons were wrong and idia would pop in to correct him. but that made him mad. he was the teacher not idia! after all, what did idia know that he didn't?

Diasomnia:

Sebek - a swordsmith. not a blacksmith who makes all sorts of things, specifically a swordsmith. he wanted to swing a great big hammer around and make huge, fancy swords. he was often shooed away from the forges and told to stop bothering the craftsmen. but he wasn't trying to bother them, he just wanted to get as close as he could and maybe they would let him hold one when they were done

Silver - he didn't have many ambitions he would admit to. he was a shy kid and didn't like feeling interrogated. but he liked to watch his father play the lyre especially when it was dark and the fire was warm and he was feeling sleepy. lilia always said when he was big enough to hold the instrument, he would teach him to play. maybe it would be fun...

Lilia - he wanted to be a witch. [i hear you saying, "but Ruggie's Biological Father, they're mages so he's already a witch" and i say to you... Wrong]. he didn't just want to cast spells. he wanted a pointy hat and a giant robe and a frog for a friend. once, his mom walked into his room to discover he had her largest cooking pot filled to the brim with no less than nine mystery substances. and it was somehow smoking...

Malleus - being a precocious little boy, he always told people he was going to be a geologist. but he didn't really know what that meant, only that it had to do with rocks which he liked. his dream job was actually wandering around and stuffing his pockets full of rocks. it became a nightly occurrence before bathtime for malleus to stand in front of the bathtub with both arms out to the side and let lilia empty all of his pockets and sleeves and boots. he would laugh loudly as the pile of random stones became a mountain at his feet. lilia would always chuckle, plunk him in the tub, and say "there, now you won't drown"

[beansproutsong]

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[roy-dcm2]

Pokemon Headcanon - Ritchie's Mom

If you remember, we met Ash's doppelganger Ritchie during the Indigo League... and we don't know anything else about him. For an extra bit of fun, I like to imagine Luana from the Orangle Islands is actually his Mom.

[They have the same eye color, similar hair color, and similar hair styles.]

Evidence: We have one BIG piece of evidence, she think Ash looks like her son, and her son uses a Pikachu, too!

Now, i know what you're thinking - We see her son. Her son is named Travis, and it's NOT Ritchie.

Counter-point: She has TWO sons, guys! Her eldest son is Ritchie, and he started his journey a year ago. And her younger son is Travis, who just left to start his journey.

Or, if you really want to stretch things. Maybe Gym Leader Luana is not Ritchie's Mom. Maybe Luana is like Nurse Joy, and there are MULTIPLE Luana's around the world, and ONE of them is Ritchie's mom.

Bonus "Evidence" - The Gym Badge for Luana's Gym is called the Jade STAR Badge. What does Ritchie put on his Pokeballs? Stars.

[iamprchung]

The Spider and the FBI: Part 7 "Paradise Syndrome"

Synopsis by guest writer Jose Chung (written prior to his apparent death at the hands of the Nostradamus Nutball):

Now, grab your Stetsons, conspiracy cowboys, 'cause we're moseying on over to Elmo, Wyoming. Here, amidst the questionable barbeque and dazzling fireworks of the 4th of July festivities, we find Agent Scully embroiled in a situation more perplexing than a malfunctioning weather balloon.

In strides Sheriff Lawrence Durokoff, a man carved from the same government-issue granite as Assistant Director Skinner, only with a grin brighter than a chrome bumper on a brand-new pickup truck. Was it a case of cloning gone wrong? Or perhaps long-lost twins separated by, well, let's just say a misplaced birth certificate (we can delve into government conspiracies all day, but identical twins are a stretch even for this jaded scribe).

The truth, as always, is stranger than the wildest fan fiction. The undeniable spark between Scully and Sheriff Durokoff has tongues wagging about a future filled with calico dresses and prairie sunburns instead of chasing shadows in the bureaucratic labyrinth.  Is our favorite redhead about to trade her badge for a butter churn? Only time, and perhaps a strategically placed horseshoe (it's a small town, after all) will tell!

Notes: Yes, I sure did title this after a Star Trek episode.

"Paradise Syndrome"

Part VIII of "The Spider and the FBI"

by PR Chung

Preface/Notes:

Just reading through this, even after all these years, I recognize exactly where one of my very best friends and amazing author assisted with this story. I know her work is still out there somewhere as she was one of the originals in the X-Files fiction fandom, authoring stories that are still amazing. None other than the very talented Paula B. Her ability to turn a phrase cannot be surpassed, and it’s a joy to read passages I know she helped on.

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

Elmo, Wyoming July 4th

By the time she hung up the phone from her conversation with Mulder, Scully's hair was nearly dry from her shower. She got up from the bed and went to the window, drawing back the curtains of her hotel room to look out on the street below.

Nothing much had changed except for the layer of increasing smoke drifting up through the trees from the square. How many barbecues were going? She wondered. And what were they cooking? Burgers and hot dogs? Roasting corn snugly rolled in foil? Brisket and ribs, too?

Her stomach gurgled.

Trying to remember the last meal she'd eaten she turned to go check on her blouse. It was hanging to dry in the bathroom after a lame attempt to clean it in the porcelain basin. It was a very nice bathroom, just not very functional.

The entire room was very nice, as was the whole hotel. Small and quaint, just a few rooms sitting atop a gift shop and cafe. Heavy in small town charm and light on the amenities; a bed, chest of drawers, mirror, and nightstand. No television, no radio, and the phone had to be brought up specially for her room, as had the one taken into Skinner's room down the hall.

His would undoubtedly be of heavier use than hers she presumed as she touched the still damp fabric of her blue blouse. He wasn't pleased in the least about either the situation or the location, and he apparently wanted out as fast as humanly possible.

He had been on the phone at the Sheriff's station the entire time it took to get Bernstein squared away in the holding cell. There was nothing but skeleton crews of federal workers manning the phones in Denver and Salt Lake City. Calling Washington hadn't been much help either; apparently all he had gotten was an ear full of instructions to get Bernstein back there for trial- come hell or high water.

Sure, they could get a flight out of Laramie or Cheyenne in the morning or even tonight if they were lucky enough that the agents from the Casper field operation should show up. But things were looking ugly up there, suspicion of terrorism and arrests sparking upset among the jingoistic masses. It was just another unpleasant federal incident in the making.

Aside from becoming another bout of bad press for the bureau, this whole Casper thing had gummed up the works, delaying agents that Mulder had needed, and now, still, those she and Skinner needed.

Mulder could have gone forever, and would have, if she hadn't interrupted his denunciation of every federal employee he had dealt with during the last twenty-four hours. She could tell he hadn't slept by just the shear amount of information he was trying to pack into a single conversation followed by a spate of questions.

She was sure there would be more questions when he finally arrived in a few hours. After muttering something about manic helicopter pilots, he had said was going to drive to Elmo, which concerned her if he hadn't slept, but once Mulder was set on doing something there was generally no swaying him from it.

A sudden resonant sound of a band practicing drew her attention back to the street below her hotel window, where she caught sight of Sheriff Durokoff.

Self-consciously she took a step back from the window not wanting to be discovered in just her bra. At a careful distance from the window, she watched him across the street and stop there in the shade, talking pleasantly with others.

The sound started up again, a guitar... being tested on an amplifier. Curious, she searched through the trees trying to see, hearing the strong chords of a bluesy country-rock song she couldn't name being played by fits and starts.

The trees were just too thick. She couldn't see a thing and gave up and turned back to look at more interesting things— He was gone. The people he'd been talking to were still there, mulling around and talking, but Durokoff was gone.

Crap. She'd see more of him later, but it was unlikely she would get another chance to covertly study him at length, to examine the similarities between him and Skinner.

His cousin, she concerned. How bizarre, she thought and smiled. Of all the towns they should end up in, after all they had gone through, they just happen to hit the one tiny patch of earth containing another Skinner- or rather a Durokoff. Their mothers were sisters undoubtedly, or perhaps a remarriage had caused the difference in names. She analyzed the possible branches of genealogy.

Like an impression of the sun Durokoff's smile was emblazoned on her retinas. He wasn't the consummate small town, no non-sense Sheriff, all bluster, and intimidation when it came to federal involvement.

He didn't like Bernstein, and he had been to the point with the man, swiftly locking him away in the blunt bowels of the Elmo holding cells, but during the entire time at the Sheriff's station he had still managed to be cheerful and lighthearted. She thought she'd even seen him give her a quick wink at one point.

The un-Skinner, she thought and nearly laughed out loud.

Not completely, though, the similarities remained, and were so great in certain respects that she had found herself deferring to Durokoff the same as if he were Skinner. A certain turn of a phrase, a look, a motion, everything about him stirred an almost constant sense of surprise and amusement in her.

Two Skinner's could be a rather daunting concept for some, but it didn't seem like such a bad idea to her.

A solid knocking sounded at the door of her room yanked her out of that thought, audibly startling her.

"Agent Scully?" a muffled voice called through the door, concerns seeping through the woodgrain.

"Just a minute," she called, rushing to grab her top.

Lawrence Durokoff stood in the hall listening to the muffled scurrying sounds beyond the door, arched his brows. Perhaps she wasn't alone in there, he thought and glanced down the hall toward his cousin's room which he'd discovered was empty only a moment before he tried her room.

"Is there a problem?" Durokoff turned at the sound of Skinner's voice. He was coming down the hall from the stairs, his eyes pinched and his jaw set.

"No. No problem here." He answered taking a step back from the door to address Skinner. Well, he wasn't in there. So, what's going on?

The door jerked open suddenly, a flush faced Scully looked back at the two men. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, questions pooling.

"Uh, hi." She greeted the two of them, holding the hem of her blouse out and away from herself, it was still damp and almost transparent when it contacted her body. "Is something wrong?" She finally asked when neither one of them spoke.

“You two sure are shellshocked.” He commented, glancing amusedly between the two of them. “Nothing wrong,” he told her, and glanced at Skinner, “and no problems.”

Durokoff held out a small satchel to Scully. "I had one of the deputies gather some things together for you," he explained as she took.

"Thank you," Scully said glancing inside it to see what appeared at first glance to be a tee shirt still in the plastic packaging, a hairbrush, and a few basic items of make-up.

Skinner averted his gaze from the scene shifting the plastic bag he was carrying from one hand to the other. Durokoff glanced back at his cousin holding out another bag, a half-sized duffel. "I got some clothes for you and some shaving stuff."

Skinner's hand went to his face, feeling the growth of beard stubble. What a pig he must have looked like, he ruefully thought and glanced at Scully. "Thanks."

The sound of music drifted into the hall through Scully's room from outside; a hearty rendition of Bad Moon Rising being played in the square.

"Well, uh," Durokoff muttered planting his hands on his hips, looking between the two of them. "I guess you've figured out there's a little party starting outside. There's plenty of food and music," he made a brief gesture toward the sound of the music past Scully's shoulder. "I've come to extend the official Elmo invitation for you both to join us."

Scully's stomach gurgled urging her to accept the invitation.

* "... I see the bad moon a rising. I see trouble on the way..." *

Skinner spoke before she could. "Food sounds great, but I don't think we should get distracted. We're still on duty here."

"No distractions," Durokoff said and grinned. "Just good food. I've got plenty of people keeping an eye on that Bernstein joker, so you can stop worrying about him. Just come on down to the square when you're ready and make yourselves at home."

* "... I see bad times on their way..."*

"I may just rest some." Skinner said quietly.

Speak for yourself, Scully thought. "I'd be happy to sample the local flavor. I can't remember my last real meal."

* "I know the end is coming soon..." *

"Great," Durokoff blurted, zealously slapping his hands together. "I'll see you down there, Agent Scully." He said and turned to go, saying to his cousin as he went, "I hope you'll come down, too, once you get some rest, Walter."

* "...don't go 'round tonight... It's bound to take your life..." *

"Here," Skinner said, unceremoniously extending a plastic bag to Scully.

She blinked pulling her gaze off his departing cousin. "What's this?" She asked, taking the bag.

"A toothbrush and paste." He answered already halfway to his room down the hall.

"Thank you..." she leaned out the door calling back to him, but his door had already shut, leaving her alone in the hall.

Back inside her room, she picked through the duffel finding a new tee-shirt, boasting a silk screen print that read 'Second Annual 4th of July Celebration, Elmo, Wyoming'. She frowned reading it.

Only their second? She wondered and moved on to inspect the rest of the items. The mascara would work fine and the lipstick too if she only dabbed it on, it was just a little too dark for her taste, but the blush would have to go, it was far too red.

Grateful for necessities, she snatched up the brush and plastic bag, heading to the bathroom. Her hair was frightful. Could she get it to behave even if she did re-wet it and brush it straight out? No beauty contest is going on that I know of right now, she told herself, yanking first paste from the plastic bag, then the toothbrush— and stopped.

She looked at it, confused at first by what she saw. Turning the brush over in she found a small decal stamped on the handle; a little stagecoach in motion with a name drifting behind it like dust from the wheels. The name wasn't Dana, though... It was Kate.

She looked at that a second before she realized and glanced back, her thoughts on the room down the hall. Dana wasn’t a common name emblazoned on any gift shop trinket. She looked down at the toothbrush.

He’d gotten the next closest.

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

The when the music began Skinner opened his eyes, hearing the chords that were undeniably familiar aside from the performers’ ad-libbing. Before finally getting up to go to the window, he laid on the bed listening to the guitar playing down in the square wrenching out Sleepwalk.

It wasn't great, but it was close, he critiqued pulling back the gossamer curtains to look out. Anyway, the slower, more sedate sounds were a nice break from the honky tonkin,’ rambunctious stuff they'd been playing for the last hour.

He would have liked to have blamed his inability to sleep on the music, but he doubted he could have slept if he were in a soundproof room with no windows. There was just too much weighing on his mind to allow sleep to come easily. There was still no call from the special agent in charge up in Casper, no word on when they could expect more agents. At least Mulder was on his way, that fact, in the strangest of ways helped ease his concerns in some.

Once he got there, they could continue on to Laramie, get Bernstein drugged to the hilt and on a plane and back to DC by Monday at the latest. That would still give them a day before the arraignment hearing and get the federal prosecutor and Attorney General out of his hair.

Skinner chuckled to himself. If ever there was a figure of speech...

A glimpse of red drew his attention to the street below. There walked one of his other concerns: Scully was heading across to the town square.

Damn.

From out of the cover of the trees came Lawrence, a huge smile plastered across his face.

And there came the next concern.

Of all the damn places to end up in why the hell did they have to end up here? Eighteen years of peace shattered in a single day. Peace, yes, but not complete disconnection. There had always been word floating through the family about who was doing what and where they were.

He had known when Lawrence finally made Sheriff here, he'd actually been invited to a party to celebrate the event. He knew it hurt Aunt Anne and Bulah when he didn't respond. He had been busy, and just didn't feel like dealing with it again.

Skinner watched as two boys scurried between Scully and Lawrence, almost bumping into her as they went. He watched Scully laugh about it and talk cheerfully as Lawrence guided her into the park, disappearing beyond the thick canopy of tree branches.

His heart sank almost in time with the lamenting cry of the guitar playing. Too much time had passed, he thought, but things hadn't changed much...

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

Norwalk, Ohio December 1st, 1963

There just wasn’t a whole lot to do, and all the adults were still shuffling around, overwhelmed by the news out of Dallas a little over a week before. It felt like the world, at least their part of it had come to stand still after the news of the president’s assassination.

Heavy and silent, the day pressed in around two small figures scuffing through turned leaves. It was Sunday after Thanksgiving, not much to do between the time Church was done and time for supper, except track around in the woods, down by trestle and maybe, if luck were good, a train would pass on its way into Cedar Point.

But come tomorrow, Monday was going to be the start of a whole new experience...

"Will there be a lot of girls there?"

"Sure will. Who do you think we're gonna dance with, Walter, each other?"

Walter pulled the collar of his red plaid coat up closer to his neck, shivering against the sudden cold breeze. "But a lot of them?" he asked, concerned.

"I don't know," Lawrence looked at him closely, "why, are you scared?"

Walter shrugged and stuffed his hands deep in the warmth of his Tuff-Skin pockets. "No. I was just wondering."

"I think you're scared. You're scared of the girls." Lawrence began to laugh. Walter blushed making his cousin laugh even harder. "Cubby's afraid of the girls."

"I'm not. And stop calling me that stupid name."

"Cubby, Cubby, Cubby." He chanted, jogging in a circle around Walter.

"I don't even look like that kid, knock it off!" Walter hauled off and shoved Lawrence knocking him off balance.

"You got the ears."

"So, what if I have mouse ears? You've got that stupid coonskin hat, and I know your cat gave it fleas cause you're always scratching your head when you wear it!"

"I don't scratch my head!" Lawrence proclaimed, his voice cracking hard. "And I wasn't talkin'bout your dumb Mickey Mouse ears. I meant your ears!"

"So! You scratch your head so much you're gonna scratch all your hair off and then see how many girls you dance with."

"You're dumb." Lawrence spat shoving Walter.

"You're stupid." Walter spat back, regaining his balance.

"You're fat."

The comment fell on deaf ears, Walter wasn't listening to his cousin, something else had caught his attention, a rustling sound close by. Lawrence tried shoving him again, but Walter didn't budge, he remained steady and fixed on the sound. "Cut it out... Listen..." he said, adjusting his glasses.

Lawrence listened, hearing the sound he frowned. "What is that?"

Walter shook his head and started forward, following the rustling.

They walked carefully though the brittle layer of leaves covering the ground, listening intently, checking the bare trees around them for some sign of what the sound was.

"There," Lawrence blurted, his arm shooting straight out from his body as he pointed toward the trees ahead of them. "It's a kite!"

"It was a kite," Walter corrected his cousin who had started for the tree the tattered kite was caught in.

"Oh, wow, look," Lawrence excitedly called out when he peered up at the object. "It's not torn or nothing, look, Walter. Look."

Walter stepped up next to him, peering up. "Nope. It's not torn or nothing."

"Wow."

"But it's also up a tree."

Without a word Lawrence reached up and grabbed a low branch in each hand.

"What are you doing?" Walter sounded more accusatory than he did inquiring.

"I'm gonna get it."

"It's just junk, Lawrence." He told him and shook his head when he saw that he wasn't being listened to.

Lawrence struggled up through the bare branches, losing purchase several times as deader ones broke off under his weight, but somehow managing to only go higher rather than fall back down. It wouldn't be long though...

"You're gonna fall. You better not go any higher!" Walter yelled; his neck bent back until it hurt now to see his cousin. How high was he going go before he would see that kite was just junk, all busted up and worthless?

"I got it!" Lawrence shouted triumphantly.

Walter watched as he waved the ragged kite before him like some trophy for endurance and strength.

It was about then a loud crack sounded.

Clear and loud, like bones cracking, the branch Lawrence was resting his butt on breaking cut through the chilly air.

Walter saw the look in Lawrence's eyes when he realized things had gone very bad- black and huge with fear. He shrieked and Walter thought he sounded like a girl in the instant before his cousin plummeted through the branches and crashed to the ground on his side.

He lay there on his side; his back curved like a hula-hoop and his legs turned in crazy angles that didn't look right at all. His mouth was moving but there was no sound, he was sucking air in, and his eyes were squeezed shut so hard Walter couldn't see his eyelashes when he got up close.

"Holy smokes! Are you all right? Are you all right?"

Finally, and with an intensity like Walter had never heard in his life, a horrible noise came out of Lawrence's mouth: a ragged scream that degenerated into a gut-wrenching bawling. "My legs," he screamed, blood and snot trickling from his nose. "It hurts! It hurts! Walter, help me! Oh, God it hurts!"

"I told you!" Walter screamed, his breath beginning to hitch with frightened sobs. "I told you! Why didn't you listen to me?"

"Please- it hurts!"

Freezing air ripping at his lungs Walter tore through the woods, crashing toward Lawrence's house.

Walter Skinner didn't believe he had ever run harder or faster in his life than he had that afternoon.

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

Elmo, Wyoming 4th of July 1999

"Here you go," Durokoff declared, sounding a little breathless as he reappeared from the crowd, waving a handful of napkins.

Scully almost laughed at the inordinate amount of napkins he'd brought back to the table.

"I know I wasn't that messy," she said as he sat back down opposite her at the picnic table.

He watched her take a napkin from the pile and begin to wipe the barbecue sauce from her chin, noticing the dab she'd dropped on her tee shirt. "I don't know," he said grinning at her, "maybe I should have brought back a bib, too."

Scully looked down, gasping at the blotch of red sauce on herself. "I can't believe I've turned into such a mess."

"Ribs are messy business," he said handing her another fist full of napkins.

She laughed, feeling embarrassed. She had been half starved but attempted good manners, yet good manners went out the window when it came to barbecued ribs. She knew she should have stuck with the hot dogs.

"Barbecue in general is a messy business," she commented, demurely dabbing at her shirt.

"That's what makes it fun." Scully looked at him, struck by the strong and cheerful sound of his familiar voice. He looked back at her with kind brown eyes she thought she knew and had to remind herself that she didn’t know this man at all. "I think you missed a little..." He told her, gesturing first at her face then his own, brushing at his own upper lip.

Scully wiped at her mouth again, another wave of chagrin passing over her.

"Uh, it's..." he stammered a little again gesturing at her mouth and beginning to sound frustrated. "It's still..." Scully frowned, growing annoyed by her inability to find this stray smear of barbecue sauce he kept pointing at. "Uh, here," he said leaning over the table enough to hesitantly wipe her lip with another napkin. He stopped, pulling his hand back to look at her quizzically before he confusedly said, "it's not coming off?"

"Huh?" Then she realized and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh... Well, it's not going to be coming off, either, not without laser surgery, unfortunately." Durokoff's expression was beginning to take on that cast that Skinner more than often got when he didn't quite get something. "It's a mole," she explained and went back to pick at the ribs on her paper plate.

"Unfortunately?" He questioned her choice of words. "Don't you like it?"

"No," she said emphasizing the word by pursing her lips. "I usually cover it up."

"It's darling," he declared. She raised her eyes to give him a dubious look. He wasn't making it any better and she hoped her expression communicated the fact. "Why would you cover it up?"

Apparently her expression did not phase the man. "I've never liked it," she answered and shrugged. "Since I was a little girl, I hated it."

"Why don't you have it cut off?" he bluntly asked.

She cringed, managing to stop her hands before the ribs touched her mouth. "I don't know," she sighed putting the rib back on the plate and pushing it away. "I guess because it's still a part of me."

"Attached to it, huh?" He was being deliberately idiotic now.

Scully blew her breath out, laughing hard in spite of herself. He laughed along with her appearing to do so with his whole body; he seemed to shudder, his eyes pinched with glee, his mouth a full broad smile.

She liked him. She liked his laugh- full on bass and warm- she liked the way he looked and carried him self- formidable confidence blended with deft grace. She'd even become a little fond of the propensity he had for repeatedly adjusting his hat when he spoke. A nervous quirk, Scully had considered, or merely a motion to ease the press of the cap against his bare scalp. She had seen he was just as balding as Skinner the few times his hat had come far enough away from his head.

Although, his skull appeared smoother than Skinner's that was subtly pitted and pocked with peculiar dings and curious indentations. Occasionally, while seated before her superior's desk with Mulder explaining himself at her side, her mind would drift curiously over that uneven back-lit scalp, indexing the probable causes of those marks and wondering if there something more to phrenology.

When their laughter tapered down to scant chuckling they found themselves looking at one another, a certain level of wariness passing between their gazes. The echo of live music rebounded around them, people mulled about laughing and cheering, but it all seemed suddenly very far away.

After a moment, affected, Durokoff cleared his throat shifting his eyes left and right, anywhere but on her. He got up from the table and motioned for her to follow. "Come on, I think that sauce is getting to you."

"Getting to me?"

He laughed one last breathy laugh, re-adjusting the cap on his head. "That sauce has probably got more booze in it than the bar over there."

She gawked at the plate of ribs she'd torn through. There might have been a good amount of liquor in the sauce but surely not enough to make her tipsy. "I couldn't taste liquor in it."

"Likely story, missy," he teased, "come on along with me."

"Am I under arrest for public intoxication?" She went with it, allowing him to take her by the arm and lead her through the crowd.

"Public intoxication, lewd and disorderly conduct, not to mention bad table manners..."

She didn't know where he was taking her but happily trotted along enjoying the feel of Durokoff's firm grasp.

Why couldn't Skinner be more like this, she mused as they wound their way through the crowded park. There was that one brief instant, she recalled his inciting of the Gilligan's Island theme while they were marooned in the middle of the lake, but she had assumed that was just the champagne.

She'd seen him smile just once, that same night, and the simple gesture had softened his features and lent light to his eyes. It was a long time before she had rid herself of the hope of ever seeing him smile like that again, at least for her. Again, she chalked it up to the alcohol he'd consumed and let it go.

Anything between them was not meant to be despite her moments of weakness, times when she was ready to throw everything away and tell him how she felt. He would probably give her one of those incredulous looks he so effortlessly doled out on a regular basis, saying something like "you've obviously made a mistake." Yeah, a mistake, all right. A big one, too. Don't go falling for your superior unless you're ready to suffer the knicks and scratches of unrequited... The sound of Durokoff's walkie-talkie interrupted her dejected introspective.

He excused himself by stepping away from her. A few moments later she was accepting his request to join him on a call, promising it would be interesting. And interesting it did turn out to be.

A rather typical domestic disagreement but with rather distinctive circumstances; at the far-off fringe of Carbon County where the Elmo Sheriff's department authority just about ran out. Two men of wise age, one would assume at first sight, sitting around all morning with nothing better to do than drink themselves into a stupor, decided the fireworks show was too far off to wait any longer. So, they started their own show a little early by setting off sticks of dynamite in their front yard.

The first blast had taken out a car belonging to one man who promptly set off a second stick that demolished the car belonging to the man who had set off the first explosion.

With their cars burning and the yard and house torn up and looking like a scene from a war, the men continued to argue and fight, each threatening to blow the other up.

Judging by the familiarity that the deputies on the scene as well as Durokoff treated the men, Scully figured that these two had a long history of such behavior.

An hour or more had passed when the county fire trucks were finally showing up on the scene and the two men had been talked down and on their way to Elmo where their view of the fireworks show would be quite good from their cells.

Stating that he was certain nothing he could show her now would top what they'd just seen, Durokoff set off anyway to give Scully a brief tour of the area, introducing her to locals less radical than the last and reciting regional history and lore making her feel quite comfortable with his attentiveness and polite gestures of respect.

She found in his behavior an old-fashioned charm replacing cautious political correctness that punctuated the cities she'd lived in most her life. Still, he showed respect to her, as the fellow agent of law enforcement she was, asking her opinion on issues of concern in the area and wanting to know her feelings about recent negative attitudes directed toward federal agencies.

But in defiance of their almost deliberate trade discussions, there was an underlying tension building between them. She could feel the air becoming charged as they traveled together and quite by themselves in the four-wheeler. Talk was becoming less and less as they drove through the mountainous roads, replaced by the frequent exchange of glances and shared smiles in the increasingly awkward silence.

Scully was beginning to feel as though she were on a first date when the radio gratefully crackled for attention, the dispatcher announcing she had a message from the Albany Country Sheriff's department. Scully was quick to stop any information from going out over the radio, making Durokoff aware of that being one feasible way Gryzwac had been tracing them with the use of a scanner.

Remarking how he hoped everyone was being as alert as she was he instructed the call be put through to them on his cell phone, and moments later Scully was talking to a ragged out sounding Mulder. He was traveling with an Albany Country deputy to get a rental car and didn't believe he'd be arriving until nightfall.

"Why doesn't he just get Boyd to have him flown over here," Durokoff asked Scully who relayed the question to Mulder.

"The helicopter is temporarily out of commission," she relayed back, listening to something else Mulder said, then, "besides, he's not thrilled about the idea if it were working."

Durokoff laughed. "I don't blame him in the least."

By the time they got back to town he'd shared his own tale of his experiences with Ronnie Stewart, the rock’n’rolling hot shot of the Albany County Air Patrol. It seemed the man had never quite put aside his days as a stunt show pilot, still managing to get a little acrobatic flying in every once in a while to show off and sometimes scare what he liked to call his "virgin" passengers.

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

Lariat Car Rentals Rock Springs, Wyoming

What was the deal?

Was there no respect left in this country for the urgency of federal business?

Mulder mulled these and a multifarious amount of other questions over as he watched the rental car agency employee languidly collect agreements from various pigeonholes along the wall of the storefront agency. Tired beyond measure he leaned against the chest high counter, believing if he stared hard enough at the back of the man's head, willing him to move faster.

"Please do not lean on the counter," he suddenly announced without turning.

Rolling his eyes, Mulder straightened and checked the time on the wall clock. Jesus, it was nearly four o'clock. Where had the damn day gone? "Could we hurry this up some, I'm really tired and I'm in a hurry to get to where I'm going."

"Perhaps you shouldn't be in such a hurry if you're so tired, sir." The man said, turning back to him with a smug lift to his eyebrow, his bushy mustache twitching like a nervous ferret had nested under his nose.

An abrupt and unsolicited laugh escaped Mulder. "Uh," he forced his eyes closed against the sight of the man. "I'm taking the full insurance on the car." He finally managed to assure the funny little man, who was now frowning at him.

"Of course you are after what happened to your last vehicle." He said planting the paperwork on the counter in front of Mulder. "Never in the history of Lariat Rental has there ever been such an act of complete disregard and..."

"I'm really sorry about the other rental car," Mulder bemoaned both what had become of the car he'd left on the side of the road the previous day and the fact that Lariat Rental seemed to have a monopoly on the rental car business throughout the area. Who would have thought there was a vandalism problem in such an area of the country? "Circumstances beyond my control kept me from calling..."

"Yes, yes. So, you've said. Still, I certainly hope this isn't the normal mode of operation among all representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." He remarked pointedly as he handed Mulder a pen.

"As a matter of fact, it is," Mulder, aggravated to a point now, began signing papers with a whimsical flourish of his wrist, dispatching the signed copies toward the man with abandon. "It's a new policy that all federal employees must abide by totally, seek out and destroy as much property as humanly possible within the private sector." He emphasized his final word with such zeal he ripped right though the tissue thin top copy of the rental agreement with the ballpoint of the pen.

"Wonderful," the man declared throwing his hands up, "more destruction. I just never- now, we'll have to start over again."

"What!" Mulder spat as the man snatched up all the papers and started for the pigeonholes again for fresh copies. "Haven't you ever heard of scotch tape?"

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

Continued in part 8

[sistasmcnealey]

Gym Badges of the Orange Islands

Coral-Eye Badge

Sea Ruby Badge

Spike Shell Badge

Jade Star Badge

[bloodydayshq]

Bloody Days 'Play in the Park'

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟏𝟓𝟓𝟗: Join the King and his Family in the Knot Garden for an open-air viewing of 'The Spanish Tragedy' at Hampton Court. Take in the scenic views of the Thames, enjoy a spectacular firework display, and, most importantly, enjoy the show. Feast, drink, and make merry, but try not to get caught in the sudden storm that drenches the Palace.

As another jade-scented evening settles over Hampton Court Palace, the brash sound of hammering and worker's chatter can be heard from the courtyard. Twinkling stars shed a milky glow over a sea of stages and wooden platforms, constructed for this very purpose, awash with glittering London actors flitting to and fro, and an ample spread of imported wines, seasonable fruits, and sugared delicacies for the court to feast upon – and, if necessary, to toss at lackluster performers.  

His Majesty the King wishes to invite the entirety of court to join His Grace and the Royal Family in the Hampton Court knot garden for an open-air viewing of budding young bard Thomas Kyd’s ‘The Spanish Tragedy.’  At random, members of the court may be summoned to come up on stage and regale the rest of the court with their singing or dancing abilities – but they, too, will be subjected to the cruel tossing of ripe fruit. The night will be cinched with a grandiose firework display over Hampton Court's magnificent towers and a lavish feast of confections and wine by the river, lit by the glow of torches along the banks and a number of royal barges floating over the dark depths of the Thames.

The weather is balmy, but the air swirls with an impending rain, so dress appropriately – and beware the rumbling of the skies above, and the ever-present grumblings of plots and schemes afoot. 

For this special occasion, courtiers have been asked to sport their most glamorous (if not downright ostentatious) garments to impress the foreign guests summoned to join the English court in London. For ease of introduction, each guest present must sport some sort of badge, pendant, or symbol upon their person related to their identity, family, or political sway.

NOTE TO MEMBERS: As the clock strikes midnight (mere minutes after the last blaze of fireworks zing through the smoky sky) a sudden onslaught of rain descends over the court. There is no paucity of places to run to at court, just remember, where – and with whom – you escape to the cloak of safety will be watched by everyone, enemies and allies alike.

OOC Details:

Welcome to our first event, post-revamp! This event will last from Tuesday (noon EST) until Sunday the 5th; however, if you so choose, by Thursday you may begin posting non-event related threads. 'Play in the Park' will take place, in character, at Hampton Court’s Knot Garden. All characters have been asked to participate – so please be sure to join us! Tag all threads and starters with #bd.event002.

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Sonic Steam Badges Reviews lol

It is perhaps shameful to admit but I've been finding myself fascinated by Steam badges recently and have been working to max out all the Sonic ones, and potentially go for the foil badges as well although that's a dangerous game and I don't want to get too invested in that. Anyway, I thought reviewing all the badges across the different Sonic games on Steam might be fun. So here's that.

Sonic Mania

Pretty solid start I'd say, the art is pretty unique and the block colour silhouettes are cool enough. The sparkle on the ring makes it stand out more from its simple shape. Eggman being the level 5 badge is a little odd though, like I both get it but also think the idea of maxing out a badge and showing off your main villain is a weird play. Chaos Emerald is a reasonable foil badge pick and displays nice on a profile. Respect.

Sonic Forces

This is rather a not great showing. Just... wisps? Not even the wispons either just the wisps. In not really much of a hierarchy either - white as the lowest makes sense but then red is the first wispon you have like why is it fourth. Phantom Ruby is a great foil though, would probably rep.

Team Sonic Racing

Fairly stock artwork of the cars in a progression I find mostly reasonable, although two cars to represent Team Vector is a play. I think it'd have been better to make Team Sonic the level 5 and come up with something more unique and interesting for the foil. Team Dark is the only car facing to the right which is weird.

Sonic Colours Ultimate

Actually a pretty good selection! The progression of the wisps matches their order of appearance in the game for the most part, with Jade being saved for last because of the whole new to Ultimate privilege. The art for all of them is cute too and the icon they're in is nice. The foil badge is straight up dope though, like "I actually want it and would use as my profile badge" dope. Really clean artwork.

Sonic Frontiers

Yeah okay I kinda fucks. The Koco progression is a little odd mainly with our bronze cactus fellow, but backgrounds get increasingly flashy which sells it well. Foil is pretty poor though - I like the background but swapping the Koco, which are a unique part of Frontiers' identity, out for stock Sonic art is pretty lame.

Sonic Superstars

Bad. Across the board. You are repping 6 out of 7 Chaos Emeralds which feels weird. They're not at all presented in the order they appear in the game, which is weird. The purple of all emeralds is the foil badge with only a starred banner to signify that it's your dope foil? Shit. Terrible showing. Could've just done like Amy/Knuckles/Tails/Sonic/Trip with a group photo as the foil or something. Awful.

Sonic x Shadow Generations

Very much akin to what Frontiers was doing but with Chao instead of Koco and Shadow instead of Sonic. I think it works. Although don't think too hard about the neutral/hero/dark/neutral/dark again progression. Dark Chaos Chao is actually the profile badge I'm repping atm since I love that guy. Good showing for the main badges is the tl;dr, although as with Sonic in Frontiers I think Shadow as your foil is a little lame. Not quite as lame because we get less Shadow than we do Sonic, like this is the Year of Shadow after all.

That's it

[twinegardening]

A few hours later in the day of The Egocentric by Ola Hansson

Walk around a comic strip starring an egocentric truck driver. But you are not him. You are a jaded cop with a case to solve. Your story unfolds in the captions below as you try to outwit the young trucker and his frighteningly tough uncle. Not everything is as it seems, however. Arm yourself with a sharp sense of satire to uncover the truth about your adversaries. Beware, you might just end up exposing the real story behind your own badge in the process. Very short play-through time, but success will require some replaying.

[writerleo86]

Terravenger Season 6 - The Two Ravens Arc (End of Arc) - Episode 499 (Do Not Copy) - 01.12.2024

    During one bright afternoon in Midas City, the pint-sized Ino Iruka hurried into the small flower store called Fenmore's. She found another girl named Akari Mido leaning on the tall desk as the worker Jade Fenmore remained at the other side of the desk.

    Ino wore a sky-blue shirt with a U-shaped neck collar and short sleeves. The bottom of the shirt lowered to her waist. And placed on the front right side of her shirt was a small golden pendant that was shaped as the head of a toad. She had a small orange band around each wrist along with a long light-orange skirt and a thick red ribbon that kept the skirt together. She also had on a pair of light-brown sandals. Her golden MAF badge was placed on the front left side of her shirt. And her long blond hair was still made into a bun which was behind her head.

    Akari had fair skin, black eyes, and long brunette hair. She wore dark-brown eyeliner and pink lipstick. She had on a sleeveless white shirt with a thick pink-lined star placed on the left shoulder. And the bottom of her shirt lowered to her waist. She wore a pair of tight dark-pink bottoms that lowered to her ankles. On the top of the right leg was a blue-lined yellow star. She also had a red band around her right wrist while a white band covered her left. And she wore a pair of open-toed jet-black shoes that lifted to her ankles.

    Jade had cocoa skin, green eyes, and a slender body. She had on a black eyeliner, brown eye-shadow, and peach lipstick. She also had black hair that was long and puffy. And she had a silver tiara around her forehead that looked like a wreath of leaves. She wore a pale-brown shirt with long pale-green sleeves and a thin yellow-green collar. She had on sand-colored pants that past her knees. Placed on the top of the left leg was an upside-down leaf that was made of silver. And she had on a pair of dark-brown sandals.

    Jade carried a large glass cup of fertilizer inside with both hands as she greeted "Yo Iruka! How are things?"

    Ino informed her "Since I won my match with Thomas a few days ago, I've been beat."

    And a cheerful Akari added "But you're still energetic as ever."

    Ino gave a quick laugh and answered "You know it, Akari-chan."

    Jade placed her cup on the desk and told Ino "Your banquet's ready. I'll get it for you."

    Then Jade walked into the back room as Ino called out "Thanks, Jade-chan!"

    Akari soon asked "Are these flowers for Luna?"

    Ino hopped onto a tall chair which was by Akari's left side and responded "Yeah. Luna-senpai was the first person I met and identified with in my third year."

    Akari gave a large smile and commented "Luna's actually the first of her family to enter the Midas Academy. And she took extra classes last year in order to graduate this year. She's gotta be excited."

    Ino turned to her and implied "I'm still psyched about the party she's getting from the Paigettes."

    "Yeah," replied Akari. "I already know Iris is gonna miss her too. Luna's been there for Iris since her second year."

    Ino commented "I know Iris was going through a hard time since before her first year. That was when her mom disappeared on her mission."

    And an emotional Ino lowered her head as she thought "Iris may still be bummed about that although she doesn't show it."

    Walking out the Information Center of the Midas Academy were many students with the struggling Duo Storms among them.

    The spiky-haired Duo wore a sleeveless black shirt with the capital letter X printed in yellow on the chest area. He had a sand-colored band around each wrist. He also had on a pair of tight light-gray jeans with a thick dark-brown belt that had a thick silver buckle at the center. And he wore khaki shoes with maroon at the center.

    As he carried a light-blue backpack, Duo was accompanied by the young clown called Jinx walked by the left side with a black backpack.

    Jinx was a slender youth with light-brown skin, a fair height, and a pair of dark-brown eyes. He had short hair with dark-brown at the left side while the right side was dyed light-blond. And his hair was tied into a pair of high pig-tails. He wore white face paint over his face with black eyeliner and black lipstick. He had on a white T-shirt with a fine red collar and the capital letter J printed in red on the front left side. And a red heart remained below the letter. Along with that was a pair of pants that lowered to the top of his knees. Colored at the left leg of his pants was red while the right side was black. And a see-through warmer covering each knee. He also had a short red boot covering his right foot while a black boot was placed on the left foot. And a fingerless black glove covering his right hand.

    The pair had walked through the green grass away from the Academy's building as an excited Jinx yelled "Hooray! You went through one full day without those head-tricks!"

    A tired Duo gave a quick yawn and implied "I guess the tattoo Tucson gave me did the trick. Meph hasn't come in to say hello for the last three days."

    He leaned his head back and added "But now I have lots of homework to do. I really think the teachers are stiffin' me 'cuz of the days I missed including the first day."

    A concerned Jinx turned his face to his friend and implied "Or maybe it's dear-ol' Dad trying to keep you busy."

    "You might be right!" replied Duo. "Mom and Dad probably want me to stick to my studies instead of doin' anything else! My dad did ask the L.T. not to let me go on any missions for a while."

    "What?" cried Jinx.

    The irritated Duo lowered his head and called "Bullshit, right? I can't believe my folks did that!"

    The pair continued to the sideway on White Oak Street as Duo said "I shoulda known my dad would do somethin'. But not this crap!"

    Jinx mentioned "Maybe you should talk to Tucson or Kamiya into gettin' the Lieutenant to give you simple missions like babysitting, or helping Pacey again."

    Duo yawned once again and answered "I guess I'll continue workin' for Deacon. That's actually the easiest job out there right now."

    "There you go," encouraged Jinx. "That's the spirit!"

    And Duo commented "I still can't believe my parents did some shit like that!"

    A male voice soon called out "Storms!"

Terravenger -- Season 6

Episode 499:  The Two Ravens -- Confrontation

    The pair turned around as another individual hurried to them. And this person with vicious intent punched the left cheek of Duo's face using their right fist. Then Duo fall face down on the ground and spotted his attacker.

    The stranger turned out to be the younger student, Denny Ravenstone. The angered boy wore a light-blue top that looked like a kimono-robe. On the right short sleeve was a picture of a flying bird with golden feathers. He also had a thick red collar on the top of his robe-like shirt. And he had on a pair of short brown boots.

    Running behind Denny was a frightened Nix with her long brown hair tied into a high pony-tail. She wore a light-blue shirt with short sleeves. And the bottom of the shirt lowered to the top of her waist. Covering her chest was her brown armor along with long brown warmers that covered her wrists and a thin brown warmer protesting each knee. She also had on her long light-brown boots.

    Nix tried to pull the enraged Denny from his victim as Jinx helped Duo from the ground.

    Duo rubbed his nose using the back of his left fist. Then he found a small pint of blood laying on the back of his hand.

    Denny yelled "You really are a bastard, you know!"

    Duo soon asked "What the hell's this about?"

    Nix held his shoulders with her hands as Denny told the older youth "I'll forget about you gettin' Tera under your belt. But you will never be my brother! You're nothing but pure scum!"

    "Brother?" questioned Jinx.

    And Duo asked "You mad because I had the guts to ask Tera out?"

    "What did I just say?" replied Denny. "You came to Midas last year, try to get to know Tai, and try to steal my family? That's not happening!"

    Nix told her friend "Take it easy Denny!"

    "This has to be said!" yelled Denny. "Just because my dad stepped outta his relationship with my mom -- my mother. And he had one affair, it doesn't mean you're automatically a part of this family!"

    Duo soon informed the youth "I just learned about this! I'm not tryna replace Tai or anythin'! I cared about Tai too! He helped me through a lot once I moved here! And I got no intention in bein' a part of your family!"

    And Denny responded "Good! Keep it that way! You're nothing but an urchin tryna ruin everyone's lives! Stick with your own kind, like that one standin' with you!"

    Jinx walked a few steps forward and told Denny "Hey! Calm down Man! We can talk about this!"

    "Shut up!"

    Then the vicious Denny warned Duo "Just mind your own business! One more thing: Stay the hell away from my dad! He's goin' through a hard time. He's still grievin' for my brother -- his oldest son, not you! You're nothing!"

    Finally, both Nix and Denny walked off as Jinx turned to Duo who stood by his left side.

    Duo placed his right hand over his nose as he cried "That guy! He's just crazy!"

    Jinx asked "Are you alright?"

    "Yeah," answered Duo. "I can just go to the Doctor's later."

    And Jinx yelled "Good! Because you have a lot of explaining to do! The main thing is what's Denny talking about you being his brother?"

    Duo stood with anger in his eyes as he watched the livid Denny walk away.

[downandcrafty]

all my yno project badges

All in order in my badge tab screen thing:

yume 2kki streetlight dance, hey Little guy…, lotus girl, shadow forest, insect Urotsuki, chaser party, Jack out of the box, loose nail, giant, strike!, farce duality, the hourglass desert scale, polygon Urotsuki, sprout world, robot friend, bright harvest, beloved dreamer, huyure-Chan, biplane, shattered, happier times, last chance to see, reflection of one, world trader, smiling world, rainbow fish, magical tunes, when the floor is the ceiling, water flowers, song of the sea, muertitos, sweet dreams Urotsuki!, blue orb, jade sky, paradise, lone penguin, rainbow sea lily, step into a pig, donut hole, ready set go!, teleporters galore, divine water lanterns, sandstorm!, musky rave, lonely refrigerator, glowing star friend, and tomatoes made of clothes

.flow

music cubed, Oreko, and blooming

answered prayers ^_^ chroma key cat, halo of the deceased, march of general winter, bon Appetit, Musical pin, bright sunflower, monochrome nightmare, and cliffhanger

muma|rope

the owl chorus and depressed meal

she awaits

celestial siblings, eternal love, lanterns at sunset, dimly-lit fungi, magicians hideout, hallowed icon , stained glass rave pin and fallen paradise

(last edited Jan 13th 11:09 pm)

[mypokemonscreencaps]

[shannaroka]

her nose scrunches up into a frown, ears nearly turning red in embarrassment ——— did he think she was useless? the pink haired medic has gotten that underestimation before, without her white coat and alchemist badge, sakura sticks out like a weak, stupid little girl. (she's used to it. had it not been for training under albedo or lisa, sakura would've been dismissed as a starry eyed dreamer instead of the star pupil she's quickly become.) the anger passes before sakura can give him a lecture on infections, death. and all the side effects that come from a wound like that. fine. ❛❛ your funeral then. ❜❜ she huffs out, crossing her arms. ❛❛ — how did you even get something like that? ❜❜ jade eyes study the angle, the blood. there's something uncharacteristically off, something on her edge that warns her. ❛❛ you should be more careful if you're so convinced you're fine without treatment. ❜❜

a year prior his movements would have been much different, much more severe than the measured glare he regards her with now, his previous haughty revulsion for humanity now giving way to something more akin to apathy. his disdain for humans still stands, for their fragility and frivolity, but it no longer holds the weight it once had, both the wish to become human and the staunch resistance to it as a whole once he had accepted the impossibility of such a desire now fading into a separate reality entirety, becoming mere secondhand to him now. it tints rather than colors. before, he would have spat out in disgust that he wasn't human, that he wasn't so pathetically breakable as to need her help, but now he weighs his options. bringing the matter of his lack of humanity to her attention would serve him no purpose — and neither would going through the motions, allowing her to think she was helping him as she wiped artificial blood, so he settles on a scoff, a condescending tone familiar on his tongue. "i assure you that's entirely unnecessary." if she thinks he's merely being stubborn, that's on her. he feels no need to explain himself.

[idoltenshi]

VARGAS CAMP ~Happenings Returns~

Episode 1 ~Chapter 1-5 Summary...

So basically this event is the continuation of the previous VARGAS CAMP 🏕

So the old participants returns to the dorm ..we can see Ace , Deuce , Riddle returning back all so tired .... Except Riddle wasn't that tired lol ...

Then the rest of the club activity groups ( The ones who didn't participate in the previous VARGAS CAMP ) were called by the Crowley for an important announcement.

This time we have the Light Music club , Filming Club , Science Club , Mountain lovers club , Board Game Club and the Gargoyles Club

So The Star of the Event MR .VARGAS appears and talks about the MUSCLES as he always does... (*sighs*)

Jade is so exciting to hear that this time he can take part in VARGAS CAMP as well as he's quite sad that he's only member in his mountain lovers club and hoping for new members 🥲...Last year they didn't approve his club too it seems..( I felt bad for him 🤧)

Idia is dying inside ..... Rip 🙏

Then finally on the day of the VARGAS CAMP 🏕

Everyone was excited for the camp 🏕 except Idia was so unwilling but somehow he did come lol ...

Malleus was so obsessed with the camp and he was reading some books about camping...He was looking forward to the VARGAS CAMP *SO CUTE....*🥺💚

As for Kalim... Jamil prepared every things he needed for his camping ...

As per the last VARGAS EVENT this time also we have the same type of rules and instructions..

We're also been invited again along with our partner Grim-chan !

The Magic pens and Smartphones are not allowed 🚫 RIP Idia And Cater...and VARGAS gives the usual instructions for the survival in camping for 3 days...

For the 1st task they're instructed to make a Tent for their camping within a time limit ...🏕

Since Jade , Malleus are the single member clubs they've been allotted to the other clubs ..JADE to Light Music Club and MALLEUS to Science Club

Azul has been working hard to build his tent ... ⛺

So VARGAS announces the best built tents ...

Azul gets it because of his efforts and VARGAS was amazed by that eventhough his tent is not that well made ...But it seemed that he was acting 😂😅 as expected from MAFIA Business Man ....

TREY , JADE , VIL AND AZUL gets a special reward from VARGAS ... That is an outfit !

Everyone were like I could have tried even more harder if we're getting a cool outfit .....

They have to collect "7 VARGAS BADGES " Within 3 DAYS BY doing some tasks and they're given a map...

First comes the creating fire , fishing for food and collecting magical crystals around the size of 2 inches with 7 gms is applicable ...

They'll be rewarded with " VARGAS BADGE " by the ghost after completing the tasks ...

Once 7 badges are collected they'll pass !

The Science Club decides to go for Magic Crystal hunting first .... In The DUNGEON....🔥🔮

THE REAL THING STARTS FROM NOW ONWARDS!! 🔥🔥🔥

Look forward to EP 2 ! 💥

I'll be making it soon ! 🤗🎶

[twistedmusings]

Congrats on 600+ followers! May I request fluff no. 18 with Azul with a g/n reader who works on campus catching him off guard because they're naturally suave? Love your works btw >w>

A/N: Ah thank you for the compliment! And the writer is going to be perfectly honest...I kinda went rouge with this prompt request. I didn’t expect to be so into it but I’m an Azul simp so maybe its just in my blood q wq. 

Warnings: None! Unless you count Azul embarassing himself as one. 

Azul Ashengrotto 

Azul hated everything about this.

It was just a simple question. Were you free tonight? Azul had planned out a perfect excuse to get you to drop by the Monstro Lounge as well as a brand new appetizer set that he had put on the menu that would hopefully keep you in the Monstro Lounge and in the company of Azul.

And then maybe, just maybe, Azul could believe that he had a date with you. 

The plan was flawless in his eyes

He knew you weren't doing anything tonight, had planned each appetizer based on what you usually ordered when you went over and  handpicked an array of conversational topics which were all ordered based on how interesting you would find them. 

All he had to do now was just...set it into motion. Which is good! No plan this good should be kept in the dark. 

So why did he hate every single aspect of this? 

Ever since your little 'hardworking' comment back in the Atlantica museum, Azul started drafting what ended up being a five page outline on how to get you to be his friend. After spending more time with you he extended the outline to ten pages in order to include how he would get you to visit Atlantica and his parent's restaurant. Followed that came several more hangouts as well as you offering to work for Monstro Lounge for some extra madol and Azul didn't necessarily know how a five page outline turned into a fifteen page outline complete with color coordination on events he deemed important in your relationship as well as future events he had already planned out that would get your feelings for him to change into something with a more...romantic overture. 

"Oh. Hey Azul!" 

This was it. No turning back. Every single muscle in his body was tensed despite how relaxed and poised he looked on the outside

"[Y/N]-san. Lovely seeing you here." 

"Feeling is mutual." you smile, "Need help finding a book?" 

First hurdle. Reply with a flirtatious comment or state his intentions clearly. 

"No,I am just here...to check out books..." 

Oh Great Witch, he wouldn't be able to pull this off would he? 

Azul needed to call the whole thing off, needed to go back and draft any other scenario that didn't start with him stating the blatantly obvious--! 

"Oh well good! Do you need my help?" 

Or maybe not? An excuse to stick by your side had presented itself and Azul would be damned  if he didn't take it. 

"I need a book on human's thoughts on Atlantica before the start of the 21st century. I thought it would be an interesting read for both me and Jade." 

Azul can't help the softness he feels in his heart as he watches you think to yourself before placing a finger on your lips. 

“Twisted Wonderland history...that should be over in the next couple of shelves. Wanna follow me?” 

Yes. YES! 

“If that would be alright with you.” 

Sky blue eyes take in your form, letting his mind wander as you talked about...well he wasn’t necessarily listening. With you being this distracted Azul could take all the time he wanted staring at way your lips moved and how your eyes looked when staring at him--

“Azul? Did you hear what I said?” 

He blinks when your words reach his ears, blushing when realizing that he had been staring so much he truly had no idea what you were talking about. No need to panic or get carried away, however, this was perfectly normal in conversations. 

“I apologize. I have been a little out of it.” 

You stop walking beside him, halting Azul’s step as you looked at him. 

“Are you alright?” 

Damn you. That was the sort of thing that Azul loved and hated about you. You were in a world that wasn’t your own and were almost pushed to take up odd jobs here and there to make ends meet and you were asking about his well-being? Friendship or possible romantic relationship be damned, Azul just wanted you by his side constantly. 

If he could rope you into a contract that would assure that it would be so much easier than having to plan out an entire situation to get what he wants, but you at least were worth the trouble. 

“More than alright. Even I tend to get distracted.” 

Your cheery smile comes back as you both keep walking, you speaking up after a few seconds. 

“I asked what had brought you here.” 

You. 

“Just the book I suppose...and the company that came along with it.” 

First flirtatious comment made and the small look of surprise was his prize. Catching you off guard was one of the goals he had set for himself in this conversation so he could promptly check that off. 

“And you?” he adjusted his glasses before smiling his practiced charming smile, “Do you come here often?” 

“Well considering I work here...yes.” 

Azul can almost hear a pin drop when you say that, his eyes somehow abandoning his tunnel vision and realizing what you looked like. 

A small name badge on your uniform, a lanyard with several keys that he guessed would help you open several library doors and a trolley (how did he miss a trolley!?) full of books that you were currently pushing. 

“Right...of course...I knew that…” 

A small chip cracks off from his pride, the whole thing coming tumbling down as you laugh. How did he miss such a BIG detail? 

“Did you really not notice? I was even putting books away!” 

All he can do is open and close his mouth like a fish out of water, face turning an embarrassing shade of red as he tries to excuse himself from your presence. He just wanted to hide in a pot and never come out! The moment he got to the dorm he would tear that outline in half because what was the point if he missed something so little! Why would you even want to be friends with someone like him when he didn’t even know the more basic things about you! 

Stars, he just wanted to die. 

You wipe a tear from your eye before putting a hand on a shelf, “Oh my goodness...that was really funny. You should find the book you want here, ‘zul.” 

“...thank you…” 

Azul sighs and goes to look for whatever title he had told you he wanted but stops when a hand tugs on his wrist. 

“Well don’t leave me alone just yet. I have a question for you.” 

You pull out your phone, “I get off at six today. Do you mind if I drop by the Monstro Lounge to hang out?” 

His heart does a little flip as his entire posture straightens out. 

“I--” 

“Yeah I know you guys close at five and don’t open until eight for weekends but I thought we could just hang out in your office. We clearly need to catch up if you didn’t know I work here now.” 

You move closer, the little flips in Azul’s heart turning into major acrobatic leaps as you smile at him. 

“Sounds like a date?” 

Azul doesn’t necessarily remember what happened after that, all he remembers is nodding far too quickly that his glasses almost flew off and then tripping on air when you finished helping him check his book out. 

[emerald-studies]

Racist Clothing Brands + Black Brands to Buy From Instead:

                                         Racist Brands

Chanel

Chanel has been repeatedly accused of racially profiling Black customers and last year they hired a white woman as head of their "diversity and inclusion" department.

Gucci

Gucci has a complicated history with the Black community, stemming from them all but trying to destroy Dapper Dan's business only to hire him two decades later. Most recently they came under fire for releasing a sweater that had suspiciously Blackface elements and stealing designs from Black designers.

Prada

Prada has a similar history and they recently had to apologize after releasing a collection of monkey key chains.

Dior

Dior's most recent fragrance campaign came under fire for racist undertones but a Black Hollywood stylist also gave BET.com an account of an incident that she had with a brand. The stylist requests to remain anonymous says, "they compromised our creative relationship by not following through on requests and instead loaning looks that were promised to me to white actors instead."

Celine

Celine's branding is notoriously extremely thin and extremely white. A quick scroll of their social media will reveal exactly their opinion on Black lives.

Barney’s 

Before going bankrupt, Barney's had to pay out a settlement in a racial discrimination case of $525k to two plantiffs. 

Moda Operandi

A former employee of the company released this thread on Moda Operandi, citing several micro aggressions she suffered there. 

Burberry

Burberry issued an apology after releasing a sweater featuring a noose motif.

Tommy Hilfiger

In 1996, Tommy Hilfiger famously made comments against the Black community and has since clarified what he meant, but the hurt in the community lingers. 

Moschino 

Managers discriminated against black customers who did not appear to be rich or famous.

“If a potential black client was not a celebrity and did not have an outward appearance of money via diamonds or name brands, defendant [Ranna] Selbak called them a ‘Serena’ to other sales associates and wanted the ‘Serena’ to be closely watched,” according to the complaint.

Versace

A former male Versace employee sued Versace for allegedly firing him after his manager realized he was Black.

Zara

Zara was accused of using racial code words for black and Latinx customers. The Center for Popular Democracy surveyed 251 Zara employees in New York City about the retailer’s practices. Poll respondents said that when the term “special order” was used at the store, employees were to find the location of the shoppers in question and follow them around. Black customers were most often described as “special orders,” according to the survey results.

Reformation 

They were criticised for their internal practices by a black former employee, Elle Santiago. Santiago said she was denied work promotions in favor of white colleagues, as well as being ignored by the company founder, Yael Aflalo, because of her race.

“Being overlooked and undervalued as a woman of color who worked and managed their flagship store for three years was the hardest,” Santiago wrote in an Instagram post picked up by industry watchdog Diet Prada. “I cried many times knowing [that] the color of my skin would get me nowhere in the company.” 

Urban Outfitters

“As one of very few PoC [people of color] I quickly noticed the toxic environment I’d joined,” says the former employee, who wishes to remain anonymous. “Within my first month my manager made a flippant racist comment in regards to an Uber I’d called; the driver’s name was Muhammad. Her comment was, ‘You would get a Muhammad’ – in what I can only take as a comment made because of my heritage.

“There’s no PoC in the executive team and very little representation of PoC in head office, on the website, marketing campaigns and within the retail management teams.”

The company has a history of producing offensive items of clothing, including a seemingly blood-spattered T-shirt seen as a reference to the 1970 Kent State shootings; a T-shirt in a color named “Obama/Black”; another featuring a six-pointed badge, which seemed to allude to the Star of David badge that Jewish people were forced to wear during the Holocaust; and a racially insensitive Navajo line which used the Navajo nation name illegally.

Dolce & Gabbana

Ads, featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat spaghetti and pizza with chopsticks.

Comme des Garçons

White models wore wigs of traditional Black people’s hairstyles during its men’s autumn/winter 2020 show.

                                             BLACK BRANDS

ASATA MAISE

This designer transforms vintage fabrics into unique pieces that are made to be photographed. I mean, this whole slideshow of looks is A-R-T. Of course, being a one-person business can be overwhelming, so if you have the means, you can donate to Asata's GoFundMe which will provide her with equipment to keep up with demand.

Website: asatamaise.com

MIE

If dreamy, flowy dresses are up your alley, you definitely want to give this brand a follow. All the pretty pieces, including this stunning red puff-sleeve number, are made by local seamstresses and artisans in Lagos, Nigeria where it's based.

Website: mie.ng

JBD Apparel

Kim Kardashian recently gave this brand a shoutout, and it's easy to see why she's a fan of these body-hugging knit sets. All the pieces are handmade to order.

Website: jbdapparel.com

PHLEMUNS

Another celeb fave is this gender-neutral brand designed by James Flemons and based out in Los Angeles. Solange Knowles, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Clairo, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, and Bella Hadid have all worn its designs.

Website: phlemuns.com

RIOT SWIM

Looking for a truly standout swimwear piece to add to your summer wardrobe? Check out this label designed by Monti Landers featuring minimalistic silhouettes and shades that blend in seamlessly with darker skin tones.

Website: riotswim.com

COME BACK AS A FLOWER 

Specializing in hand-dyed garments, the pieces are ethically made using 100 percent recycled cotton. It also does drops of cool vintage tees, and stars like ASAP Rocky and Big Sean have worn its clothes.

Website: cbaaf.org

HUMANS BEFORE HANDLES 

This jewelry label has some of the cutest accessories for summer (eyeing these seashell ones, wow), and most impressive is the fact that everything is under $50.

Website: humansbeforehandles.com

LAQUAN SMITH

Here’s a real celeb fave (Rihanna, Beyoncé, and sooo many more have worn his pieces). Go to LaQuan Smith for any of your glam/sexy outfit needs, please! 

Website: laquansmith.com

BROTHER VELLIES

Founder Aurora James creates truly one-of-a-kind shoes (please look at this pair of mesh boots topped with feathers) and small leather goods that are handmade by artisans around the world.

Website: brothervellies.com

CUSHNIE

Designer Carly Cushnie’s sleek styles have been worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ashley Graham, and Lupita Nyong’o, btw.

Website: cushnie.com

JADE SWIM

Need a swimsuit? You’re going to want one of these pretty, minimal designs by former fashion editor and stylist Brittany Kozerski.

Website: jadeswim.com

CHRISTOPHER JOHN ROGERS

The 26-year-old designer from Louisiana was one of the hottest tickets at New York Fashion Week in February 2020, and high-profile ladies like Michelle Obama and Cardi B. have worn his unique, colorful pieces. Find his clothing exclusively at Net-a-Porter online.

Website: christopherjohnrogers.com

MATEO NEW YORK

Matthew Harris of Mateo New York is a self-taught jewelry designer hailing from Montego Bay, Jamaica, and living in NYC. Shop here for beautifully minimal 14k-gold fine jewelry.

Website: mateonewyork.com

TELFAR

Looking for something truly magical and out there? Consider designer Telfar Clemens, whose hybrid pieces (hello, “sweatpant jeans” and “scarf-collar shirt”) really stand out.

Website: telfar.net

FENTY

DUH.

Website: fenty.com

PYER MOSS

Founded by designer Kerby Jean-Raymond in 2013, Pyer Moss uses its platform for social change, storytelling, and activism as well as art and design. For shopping, come for the bright, matching suits, glam, and pleated gowns and stay for comfy sweats and jeans.

Website: pyermoss.com

                                         + More Brands Here +