#kord square

[aziraphale-is-a-cat]

Planned Obsolescence

Pt 1

Danny liked to think he had made a life for himself outside of the hero gig, that he'd put down the metaphorical cape, gone to fancy engineering school, and landing himself a job at S.T.A.R. Labs.

So walking into the main lobby at 6am he was understandably a little unnerved to find a member of the Justice League there, waiting for him.

"Dr. Fenton!" His boss called him over from where she'd been chatting with the new guests. "We've been waiting for you, come with us."

Danny was suddenly extremely uncomfortable, part of the main hero force of his home dimension was suddenly staring at him intently. If they'd been tipped off about his dead-ness then he was in a whole world of trouble.

"Uh, Dr. Norris, what exactly is going on?" He asked, nervously.

"We'll discuss it in my office, follow me."

The slowly walk up to the office was a new type of torture, trying to push down his panic and watching the hero watch him from the corner of his eye.

With his supervisor and him were Nightwing and some random Dude who, while not in costume, still held himself with his shoulders squared and his stance wide in the same way.

The guy must've seen him staring and introduced himself. "I'm Ted Kord, I work as a, uh, civilian contractor with the Justice League."

Danny's eyes narrowed but he didn't voice his skepticism. "Damn, how do you even get a job like that?" Kord, that sounded familiar.

The guests all shared a look as they stepped into the office, Dr. Norris finding her seat behind her desk. "Well actually, that's what we came here for."

Danny was immediately on edge, he wasn't on good terms with the government already. He remembered in that moment where he remembered the name 'Kord' from.

"This is about my parents' work, isn't it?" He accused, continuing when he got no response. "You're from Kord Omniversal," he said to Kord, "You wouldn't go running to S.T.A.R. Labs, your competitor, unless we really had something you didn't." He let the silence stew.

Danny had put a lot of work distancing himself from the legacy of his parents, going so far as to pull most of their research from public access once he gained ownership of it after their deaths. It really bothered him to still be associated with them and their body of work now that he had a name for himself and a reputation he had built on his own.

Awkwardly, Nightwing stepped up to fill the silence, doing his best to ignore the mounting tension.

"We know you have your parents' complete research, but while we need that your expertise in building and designing," he gestured with his hands as he searched for the right word, "unique machines-"

"You want me to build you a portal." Danny interrupted shortly.

"To another dimension, yes." Nightwing responded, cringing a little.

Danny rubbed the bridge of his nose, wishing to the ancients that he could just run off and be a hermit in the mountains. Appalachia would work well, a healthy supernatural community for occasional social interactions and minimal contact with stupid fucking humans.

"What would I get out of it?"

"Money, government contract, that looks good on a resume." Kord responded.

He looked to Dr. Norris, pleading with his eyes for a reason not to take it.

"Dr. Fenton taking on a contract with the Justice League would open up some in demand employment opportunities for you here at S.T.A.R. Labs, positions with better pay and access to better materials." She pushed him a manilla folder smiling, and when he opened it Danny saw contract pre-written, addressed to him.

He snapped it shut and took a deep breath to ground himself. "Where do you wanna go?"

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Being picked up for work via Zeta Tube was a new brand of surreal, even for a Teen-Hero Turned Engineer.

The automated voice called out his designation, "G-09: Daniel Fenton", as he stepped into his new temporary laboratory. The workspace was top of the line, and lined with cameras. The constant surveillance was going to make this very hard, seeing as he's now stuck with staying humans the whole time, and is no doubt going to be bugged going home.

Something was sketchy about this whole ordeal. Danny hadn't seen hide nor hair of any of the other members of the Justice League, and even though he's handling a task drenched in the occult, he hadn't had to consult any League Affiliated occultists.

Batman was notorious for going through research and experiments with a fine tooth comb, and yet Danny hadn't been called in to explain himself nor the obvious holes in the material he submitted to them, intentionally omitting parts both to keep the more dangerous parts out of government hands and to see where he stood.

And it appears he stood at the crossroads- holding, though his unique and specialized knowledge, all the cards. Nightwing was desperate, something had at least a few of the more senior members out of contact, including whoever they had that knew anything about magic and the multiverse. And it had everything to do with what was on the other side of the portal they wanted him to build.

Any magician worth their own ass knew that mechanical portals outside their own group of dimensions, known as a format due to their similarity in inhabitants and history, never fucking work. Spell portals were the only type that ever made it out, and it took an exceptionally strong caster to open one for even a few seconds.

Any portal trying to leave would just find themselves in the hub, the space between dimensions in a format, same as any portal without a destination or goal which is why it was relatively easy for the Fentons to punch a hole into the Infinite Realms.

As it stood Nightwing really should know that what he was asking of Danny should by all means be impossible.

He purposefully set his file box down on his desk Infront of a hidden camera, it would be hard to work around later when he needed the space but it was worth it to make his point. He knew he was being watched. And he didn't like it.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Walking into the nearly empty conference room, Dick Grayson slid onto the table and laid down. Being alone with some friends in the watchtower free to sit on the fancy, expensive surfaces however he wished sounded like childhood Dick's dream, but now it was just depressing.

"You know you're taking a massive risk with this one, right?" Cyborg asked from the head of the table. "I know our options aren't too great, but this is just miserable."

"Cy, we are beyond the point of miserable."

The half machine groaned and put his head in his hands. "Constantine would shoot us for even trying this bullshit, first for mixing tech and magic, then again for hiring a Fenton!"

"Yeah well, the blonde bastard is stuck with the rest of the League on the ruins of fucking Azarath, and Dr. Fate fucked off to whatever he's deemed more important than us so there's not much by the way of options!"

Cyborg massaged his temples. "This guy's tech is off." He pulled out the papers Dr. Fenton had submitted on his research. "I know confronting him about the inconsistencies will just scare him off, but it's not just that! The tech he brought in, I tried interfacing with it and it just repelled me. There's something wrong with it."

Nightwing rolled his head over to look at him critically. "Something magic? Something interdimensional? Because if so that's what we hired him for."

Cyborg opened his mouth to respond but at that moment a bright flash of light filled the room as The Flash zipped into the room.

"Hey so I know you guys told me to check out his old home for signs of that portal, but the whole place is fucking weird."

[unholywriter]

Stars | Jaime Reyes x Fem!Reader

Warning: Fluff.

Paring: Magic Reader x Symbiotic alien infused bug boy.

a/n: I know it’s definitely not the time of year for Christmas but enjoy. 💙🪲

It was later, and your shift was ending. Working at a bar downtown in Palmera City, you never knew what kind of rambunctious shenanigans would unfold. But, for Christmas Eve, it was quiet. It was a godly slow day, not many stopped by aside the few occasional regulars wishing good holidays. Thankfully, it was coming to an end. Setting up the bar stools on the table, and making sure all was clean, capped and put away. You slid out the door, locking it behind you. Palmera was nippy, but it doesn’t get too terribly cold around this time of year.

Pulling up your scarf you walked looking at the text message from Jaime, your lover. A smile blanketed your face.

Jaime: Close went good?

You: Yes. Just stepping out now.

Jaime: Need a pick up? I’m near by.

You: What, a roof top a block over?

Jaime: Hey, rooftops are peaceful. 🥺

You: So is being wrapped up in my bfs arms but, sadly you like rooftops more. 😈

Jaime: You’re not going to let me live that down huh? Also, lamp post. 😂😭

As you read the last part you halted immediately. You were a few inches from running into it. You took a breath in and smiled looking up to the sky to see a silhouette of a particular blue looking suited boyfriend of yours. But you knew he was grinning ear to ear underneath that mask.

“tfihs em oot sih edis.” You whispered. Now it was your turn to grin ear to ear as you materialize right beside him. You swore a squeak left his mouth.

“Dios mío mi amor!” He hitched his breath, dramatically placing his hand on his chest. “You know you could have just let me come down and meet you right?”

“Maybe I like the rooftops too.” You smile, and move in closer to embrace him. He embraced you back, and just like he read your thoughts, and well. Khaji reading his; the suit’s mask dematerialized revealing his gorgeous face underneath. And damn those beautiful brown doe eyes of his.

“You were just teasing me about it.” He rolled his eyes, his grip gently squeezing you.

“I know.” You placed your lips against his tenderly, running your fingers though his hair as he kissed you back just as sweetly. “I’ve missed you JaiJai.”

“Sorry for being gone a week, I thought we caught wind on a lead for Ted.” He said grimly. His mood changing only made you soften your expression with more concern.

“How’s Jenny?” You pulled away slowly. You still didn’t leave his touch though. But you knew making sure he was okay and being his emotional support is more important than craving deep intimacy at the moment from him.

“She’s doing well for someone who found out her father is alive. Just not knowing where he is, you know. She’s worried.” He began to explain, his tone and pace nerve racked. You could only assume because, Ted, being his predecessor. A man he’s never met before. Definitely an unregulated, stressful situation. Not only that, Jenny and Jaime had some moments together. But, she stepped away knowing you two were more or so in love with each other without each other knowing. She was the one, (and Milagro) who gave you both a push ironically. Now it’s been a few months after Jaime had Khaji Da infused within him, Victoria Kord, and Jaime’s father almost dying. It’s been rough, but you’ve been there. As a best friend and his lover. He is thankful, and you know it. Just as much as you’ve been thankful for him all these years.

“I’m glad, but we’re here for her. She has you. And Milagro always makes it her business to make sure she and all of us are okay. So honestly, Jenny will be alright.” You smile, entangling your fingers within his. “You will be alright too, got that mi querido?”

“Loud and clear.” He smiled brightly, fighting back his tears. You reached up, rubbing your finger against his cheek.

“So, do you still want to visit the tree in town square?” You ask, making sure he’s up for it. Yes distractions are nice too get away from everything but you can’t always run away.

“Of course. But I actually had a better idea.” His grin pulled further, a bit of mischief being one of your favorite signature looks that spread across his face.

“What do you have in mind?” You grinned back, curious to what your boyfriend had in store.

“Just trust me?” He grabbed both your hands gently and started to walk backwards, leading you too the edge.

“Always.” You tittered softly, turning back into a soft smile. He then lifted you into his arms. His wings materialized and off you two went. The view was beautiful, of course you’re used to flying via magic yourself but being in his arms with the breeze hitting you even if it was chilly was very peaceful. Soon you could see Palmera City Square, the large Christmas tree erect in all its multicolored glory for season cheer.

“So pretty.” You spoke softly. “What now?”

You both now hovered a far distance from and over the tree. The crowd gathered below enjoying the festivity. “I thought we could have a once in a life time experience not many normal people can experience.”

“Oh?” You tucked some of his curled hair behind his ear still nice and snug in his arms. “So we’re not normal?”

Your tease made him laugh. “I have an alien symbiotic peice of technology infused into my back and connected to every cell in my human body and you? Well, you’ve never been normal mi tesoro.”

The tease back earned him a gentle smack to his shoulder. “Wow, if this is your way too whoo me tonight I might just have to up my game.”

“Hey! I meant you not being normal in the best way possible!” He cheesed. And you gave him a kiss on his cheek.

“I know my love. So what now?” You beamed happily. Patiently waiting for his goofy, lovable plan of his. Because well, both of you were sixty or so feet in the air and you were beginning to wonder if people looked up wondering what or who was hovering above them.

“Well.” He then begin to help you to where you were now dangling closely together. But your feet hung out, and gravity wasn’t to kind. “Uh.” He laughed nervously, his plan not working in his favor for the moment. “I was going to see if we could just, dance? But, I honestly didn’t think this part through.”

“It’s okay Jaime, that’s why having a girlfriend with magic comes in handy.” You giggled. Holding him close. Taking a breath in you closed your eyes and met his again. “Ekam eht ria a ecnad roolf, kaolc su nihtiw eht thgin.”

With ease your feet met an invisible flooring underneath the both of you. He looked down awe stuck with bewilderment but quickly smiled back. “What did…?”

“Now we can dance.” You took your arms wrapping them around his neck. He tenderly held you by your back. From below Christmas music rang, the smell of peppermint and pine filled both your senses. Laughter and happiness from people all over could be heard. It was truly magical.

“Okay, so bear with me mi amor. My two left feet might become a problem.” His cheeks turned a tint of pink, and soon an even more embarrassed expression crossed his face. “No Khaji!” He looked over his shoulder in a fit of sheepishness. Your smile pulled further.

“What did she say this time?”

“She said she could help me learn because she indulged herself to the internet the other night.” He rolled his eyes yet again.

“Oh no, that poor thing.” You gasped in actual horror. “I hope she didn’t delve too deep into the endless web of dark and treacherous Fortnite dances.”

“Do not give her any ideas.” He widened his eyes. You laughed again. Waiting patiently. “Besides, even if I trip over my feet as long as I’m dancing with you no matter how bad I am - that’s all that matters to me”.

You blushed softly. “Me too. Then lead the way Jai.”

Slowly, he began to lead. His steps a bashful disaster. But, he kept at it, soon both you moving in a circle of rhythm. “I think, I think we got!” He looked down and snapped back up with his playful, dramatic expression of giddiness. One of the many things that you fell in love with about him.

“We are!” You pressed your lips together tighter, and he then placed his forehead against yours.

“Feliz navidad mi estrella.” He said softly as the bells began to chime signifying midnight. “I love you so much y/n.”

“Feliz navidad Jaime. I love you so very much too amor de mi vida.” You softly spoke back. A gentle kiss was exchanged, and the both of you continued to dance above the city square. Locked deep in each other’s arms, but more importantly deep within each other’s hearts. And man, were the stars so pretty tonight as they watched the both of you fall in love deeply.

[wardensantoineandevka]

Our little tragedy is in its final act — and it's a long act at six and a half hours, so bring some water with you. I've got a call list here for part three of Downfall. It's currently 51 items long: you can check out all the squares below the cut, and you can grab your own card through this BingoBaker link.

Some quick notes:

I already corrected that misspelling of Umleta that's visible in the example cards above.

"Cassida flees" is at minimum flees combat, since she is as of the end of the episode still in combat.

"Betrayers learn about Society of Primes" doesn't have to be about the Society of Primes specifically. Learning in general that the Factorum Malleus has been tampered with to win the Primes the war is enough.

"Umleta kills someone off-screen" and "Umleta causes trouble off-screen" can be legal at the same time.

"Bolo mention" is absolutely because it is fun for me and my friends to have included.

As always, if you're unsure what a square means or whether something makes it legal, feel free to ask me! There is also a chance that I will add squares before the titles roll, and if I do so, I'll make a post stating such; if you want to play with those squares, simply refresh your card.

Good luck — we'll need it.

a PC killed

multiple PCs killed

Betrayer killed

all avatars survive until the fall

Emissary's Death Ward triggered

Betrayer attacks PC or Arcadia

PC or Arcadia attacks Betrayer

Cassida flees

Cassida killed

a prayer

Asha wolf time

"little lies" invoked

Kord sends storm

another subclass confirmed

Betrayers learn about Society of Primes

other Calamity event referenced

Factorum Malleus damaged by other means

Latimus Princeps destroyed

Cognouza Ward flees

Umleta rejoins party

Umleta kills someone off-screen

Umleta causes trouble off-screen

Umleta remains at large

Acastriel appearance

Erathis appearance

previous god of death referenced

other Prime mentioned by name

other Betrayer mentioned by name

Brashaar or Athodan mentioned

new Magestri named

another Society of Primes member named

Luxon lore

Predathos mention

Hallis mention

FRIDA appearance or mention

Ethedok or Vordo mention

reference to Tengar

Bolo mention

Trist's family mention

Emissary related to stasis bubbles

Emissary is explosive

Guiding Bolt

Counterspell

Stunning Strike

Rage

Metamagic

Insight check against PC

Insight check against Betrayer

PC casts 9th-level spell

other god casts 9th-level spell

pre-5e spell

[beauregardlionett]

Yasha was standing outside in their yard, staring up at the rippling lights in the sky, when a shadowed figure came rushing up the road toward the house. Immediately on guard, Yasha summoned Light to her hand and held it out in front of her, trying to catch a glimpse of features, of intention.

“Who’s there?” Yasha called, voice gruff and low, a tone she hadn’t had to use in years.

“Yasha,” a familiar voice called from the shadows. “It’s me.”

The figure stepped closer, hair ruffled and cloak askew, but his frazzled expression familiar.

“Essek?” Yasha said, suprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I was visiting Zadash on business when things...changed. Have you felt the shift in magic?” Essek wrung his hands together, brow furrowed with confused agitation.

Yasha hesitated before she nodded slowly, wary of admitting the way she had felt her connection with Kord falter. She had thought they were long past unstable connections and the need to prove herself. But if what Essek was saying was true, then maybe this time it wasn’t on her.

“I’ve felt Kord...getting distant. But I thought it was just me. You’re saying there’s something else going on?”

“It’s not all magic,” Essek clarified, running a stressed hand through his hair and sighing. Yasha had seen this expression before, half fascinated and half frustrated at a problem he couldn’t quite work out. “I’ve tested a few different spells, and I can still cast. The issue is that any time I try to use my Sending stone to contact Caleb, all that comes back is a rush of static. My transportation magic isn’t working, either.”

Yasha’s stomach had already bottomed out by the time Essek looked up at her, eyes desperate. They both knew Beau and Caleb were off together, chasing down another lead on Ludinus and the Assembly. But that was all they knew - not where or why or finer details that could put them in danger.

Essek didn’t even need to ask. Yasha was already digging into her pocket to wrap trembling fingers around the smooth, familiar surface of her Sending stone.

“Beau?” Yasha called as soon as she swiped her thumb over the rune to make it glow. “Beau, baby, are you there? Please answer me, if you can hear me. Let me know you and Caleb are okay. I love you.”

There was a moment of quiet as the rune’s glow faded. Then a faint ring of static reached Yasha’s ears, swelling with pressure against the inside of her eardrum. Just when Yasha thought she might lose the battle against her will and scream, it cut off.

She looked up from the stone in her hand to meet Essek’s gaze. He looked back at her, already aware of her result.

“What do we do?” Yasha asked, voice strained as her grip tightened on the stone. She had always used this one connection to Beau as an anchor when her wife was on missions. Now, it provided no comfort. “Where do we even start? We don’t know where they are.”

“I may have let my curiosity get the better of me and snuck a look at some of Caleb’s documents,” Essek confessed, not looking contrite in the least. There was instead a determined set to his brow as he finally straightened out his cloak. Yasha knew stubborn resolve when she saw it. In response, she tucked her stone away and squared her shoulders.

“They’re in Marquet, in the Hellcatch Valley.”

Yasha felt her resolve falter. They were so far away, a completely different continent on the other side of the ocean. If Essek’s transportation magic wouldn’t get them there...

Turning on her heel, Yasha marched back into the house, leaving Essek baffled on her lawn. A few moments later, she returned, armor fastened over her gardening shirt and sword strapped to her back. The Light faded from her hand as she locked the door behind her and bid her garden a silent farewell. Rejoining Essek in the grass, she gestured back toward Zadash, jaw set.

“Let’s go,” Yasha prompted before striding toward the road.

“Sorry?” Essek asked, scrambling after her and looking confused. “Where are we going? How do you plan on getting to Marquet?”

“We’re going to the Cobalt Soul archive. They might have some way to get us there.”

“And if they do not?”

Yasha rolled her shoulders and breathed out an intentional exhale.

“My wife is missing,” Yasha said, voice low and simple. “They better come up with something.”

[dc-polls]

The DC Comics "Best Dancer" Who's Who Dance Party Post!

[ID: Thumbnails of the characters Guy Gardner, Booster Gold, Ted Kord, Sir Justin, Greg Saunders, Cass Cain, Batman, and Virgil Hawkins. /End ID]

Here are the submissions we received for DC Best Dancer. I'll be honest, it's a very unlikely group for a dance battle, but here we are nonetheless. 😁 Feel free to comment, tag or add on to any of the polls or this post with your propaganda! Without further ado, let's bring in our contestants...

Guy Gardner (Green Lantern)

🎵I Just Want To Celebrate by Rare Earth (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Comic panel of Guy Gardner as Green Lantern, leading in several people in a conga line all singing Celebrate drunkenly. /END ID]

Michael Jon Carter (Booster Gold)

🎵Shakedown by Bob Seger (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Cropped comic panel of Blue Beetle leapfrogging over Booster Gold. Booster talks to Scott Free off screen saying, "The question, Scott, is - URK! I hate playing leap-hero - Why aren't you there with that girl?" /END ID]

Ted Kord (Blue Beetle)

🎵Shakedown by Bob Seger (YouTube)🎵 Note: Booster and Beetle were submitted together, so they get the same song. But alas, since this is an individual tournament, we must do the unthinkable and split them up.

[ID: Comic panel with the setting labeled "Justice League Embassy, New York". Ted Kord as Blue Beetle and Fire dance to the stereo while Ice looks on. Beetle sings along, "Oh, do the mon-kay, at the love shack, bay-ay-ay-BEE!" /END ID]

Sir Justin (Shining Knight)

🎵The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Dancing Willow (YouTube)🎵 A message from the submitter: "traditional music for a reel, a traditional dance that may have gone back to Justin's time. we don't know a lot about medieval dance but this is a bet"

[ID: Comic panel of Sir Justin as Shining Knight riding atop the pegasus Winged Victory with sword brandished. In the background are a wizard and other figures. /END ID]

Greg Saunders (Vigilante)

🎵Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, 1940s square dancing music (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Character profile image of Greg Saunders as The Vigilante with one gun drawn and a hand on the other. In the background are several characters from his adventures. /END ID]

Cassandra Cain (Batgirl)

🎵Enchanted Lake from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Comic panel of Cassandra Cain in many graceful ballet poses. A small image in the bottom corner depicts her near a window overlooking the city. Narration reads, "And, in her own way, she begins to speak... She begins to shout... And sing." /END ID]

Bruce Wayne (Batman)

🎵Drives Us Bats by the Music Meister (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Old comic panel of Batman stuck in what appears to be a fishing net above water. His narration reads, "I did the Batusi on that netting -- until a certain cap of my utility belt opened and the laser-torch fell out..." He thinks to himself, "It'll float on top of the water -- drift past me with the moving tide..." /END ID]

Virgil Hawkins (Static)

🎵Static by James Brown (YouTube)🎵

[ID: Comic art of Virgil Hawkins as Static in a nighttime city with electric energy surrounding his hands. He is in a crouched pose and his hoodie flows behind him. /END ID]

--

All polls and posts for this tournament can be found using #dc-polls-best-dancer!

[avatarrecom]

Top Gun AU: what would their callsigns be

A/N: What callsign would you give them?

Three potential callsigns for each Recom.

🌍 Recom Miles Quaritch

Zuko - Because he’s always talking about honor (also, they both have facial scars)

Dorothy - “We’re not in Kansas anymore” It’s the first thing he said when arriving on Pandora afterwards it became his welcome speech.

Scar - Both because of his facial scar and his similar personality to the Lion Kings Scar.

😈 Recom Lyle Wainfleet

Viper (Very Idiotic Person) - once asked “Why is sandwich meat round when bread is square?”

Banjo (Busted Ass Naked Jacking Off) - no explanation needed.

Panzer - He’s built like a fucking tank.

🍬 Recom Z-dog  (I know that Z-dog is technically a callsign of sorts but I wanted to include her)

Bubblegum (bitch) - Because she’s always chewing gum.

Dentist - She needs to go to the dentist a lot because her chewing gum habits are bad for her teeth.

Iron Maiden - Listens to Iron Maiden almost everyday.

🥽 Recom Walker

Grandma - Last name Walker, referring to old people using a walker.

IRIS (I Require Intense Supervision) - has a habit of doing stupid things (especially when tipsy/drunk).

Bambi killer - accidentally shot a deer during targeting practice.

😎 Recom Mansk

Rico - Intense, and constantly armed to the teeth, like the psychotic penguin from the Madagascar movie.

Cheese - Someone thought his name was Mac. So, “Mac and Cheese”.

Hugger - Always wears his sunglasses, so people joke that he’s always hungover. Also, very much hug shaped, legend says someone thought hugger meant that he himself loved hugs, the guy ended up in the infirmary. 

🧯 Recom Prager

Kasper - Deadly silent, always pops up in different places and scares the shit out of everyone.

Rambo - Because of the bandana.

Kord - Spelled backwards, always stating random facts. No one knows where he gets his information.

⚕️ Recom Ja

FORD (Found On Road Dead) - Got drunk and passed out on the trainingfield.

Waldo - Got lost on a training mission.

Utah - Utah is the second-driest state in the country. The only thing drier is his sense of humor and conversation skills.

🧢 Recom Brown

Beagle - Kept 'bouncing around' like an excited beagle puppy.

Hash - Thanks to his last name being Brown.

Potluck - Was tested 14 times for drugs always came out clean but he smelt of marijuana every time he sweated (also a reference to hash brown)

📿 Recom Lopez

Siesta - Has a habit of falling asleep at bars when they’re drinking.

Pimp - Always at parties with a new girl on his arm.

Frodo - Once accidentally used his heirloom ring to propose to a stripper during a party in a stripclub when he was drunk.

⛓️ Recom Fike

ALF (Annoying Little Fuck) - because he’s the shortest recom.

Grumpy - Not a morning person, or tall. One of Snowwhite’s seven dwarfs.

Clepto - Always stealing when tipsy/drunk.

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

(low quality rip) here is the bingo list!

I used a list randomizer to assign a number to each character so that I can use a number generator to tell me which square to fill (aka real bingo style) which is why the numbers aren't in order – once I finish a square, I'll update this post to link it, and once I finish the whole board I might try the challenge mode idea

(still toying with the ideas of a crossover bingo, a bingo exchange, or a little bingo party so if anyone is interested or has any thoughts on those, lmk!)

Vaella Targaryen

Daenyra Targaryen

Azalais Martell

Cece Cartwright

Izumi

Valaenyra Targaryen / Alicent Hightower

Ridley Katz

Kelara Velaryon

Rhaella Targaryen

Sienna Elliot

Lyria Hightower

Saera Targaryen

Kirsty Gilmore

Kitri Belov

Dorian Tyrell

Ace Hearts

Kinsley Kord

Cyrissa Cole

Troy Donahue-Callisto

Satine Smythe

Aurora Anderson

Nikki Rogers

Aurélia Agreste

Kaiya

Carlys Tully

[xtruss]

'Blue Beetle': Latino Culture Reigns Supreme in Long-Needed Superhero Departure

'Black Panther' proved there was an immense audience for movies based on diverse comic book characters. Will DC's latest also deliver at the box office?

— Steve Appleford | August 11, 2023

As a young comic book writer and fan in 2006, Josh Trujillo was immediately captivated by a new take on an old second-tier superhero, the Blue Beetle. Less important than the character’s powers and ancient scarab technology was the name behind the mask: Jaime Reyes, a high school kid from a Latino home in El Paso, Texas, grappling with his new capabilities amid the usual teen angst.

Traditionally, most superheroes from DC and Marvel were dependably square-jawed and Caucasian, but this was something different. “The fact that his name was Jaime —that’s something you rarely saw in comics at the time, and even now, it’s relatively rare,” says Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based creator who now writes the character for DC Comics. “I kind of became obsessed with learning everything I could about him.”

Now, the character is the latest superhero to lead a live-action feature film, Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, with Xolo Maridueña (the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai) in the title role. The August 18 release from Warner Bros. Pictures will face a variety of constituencies, including fans outraged by last year’s cancellation of Batgirl, which had been anticipated as the first superhero film starring a Latina actor, Leslie Grace. Blue Beetle also lands after disappointing box office numbers in June for The Flash, which some blamed on allegations surrounding its star, Ezra Miller. Others suggest, not for the first time, that the superhero genre is simply running out of steam.

For many of those eagerly awaiting Blue Beetle, its arrival as a commodity could not be less relevant to its value as a cultural statement, regardless of fallout from The Flash. Superhero fans from Latino neighborhoods across the country are openly anticipating the film, which stars a mostly Latino cast, including George Lopez and Adriana Barraza, with Susan Sarandon as a ruthless villain named Victoria Kord.

Ángel Manuel Soto, George Lopez, Xolo Maridueña, and Harvey Guillén. Instagram.Com/George Lopez

“Everybody’s really excited about this in the community,” says Frederick Luis Aldama, author and professor of humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches courses in comics studies and Latino pop culture. “The support is going to be because, for the first time, we have a Latino superhero who is the protagonist — he’s the one carrying the story. And we haven’t had that in the past.”

Aldama, who has adopted the nickname “Professor Latinx” (a takeoff on X-Men’s Professor X), noted his disappointment that the film relocates Jaime from the borderlands of El Paso for the fictional Palmera City. But he appreciates that in the comics, and in the movie trailer he saw a month ahead of the film’s release, Jaime “didn’t lose his Latino-ness” after being transformed into the Blue Beetle. “It was very much still a part of his identity and his struggle.”

Before Blue Beetle, the first major superhero film to feature a Latino lead character was 2018’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, winner of that year’s Oscar for animated feature, with a kid named Miles Morales in the Spidey mask. It was followed by this year’s sequel Across the Spider-Verse. Last year, Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness included a teenage Latina superhero named America Chavez. And in The Flash, the central role of Supergirl was played by Colombian American Sasha Calle.

Most likely, the castings aren’t so much about social justice as reading the room. In 2021, Latinos made up 24 percent of the U.S. moviegoing audience, according to a study by the Motion Picture Association. “Within the Latino community, there’s always been excitement for colorful characters and larger-than-life heroes,” says Trujillo, who also created an openly gay version of Captain America for Marvel. “You see that in luchador [wrestling], right? You see it in even telenovelas. There’s this larger-than-life element that people are really drawn to in our community.”

With the new DC Universe brand of superhero films, television, and video games still a full year away, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has declared that the movie’s incarnation of Blue Beetle is “the first DCU character” of the new regime. What exactly that portends for future films with Blue Beetle was left vague, but the film seems destined to rise and fall on its own, unconnected to any of the major DC heroes. It’s also arguable that Maridueña is much better known for Cobra Kai and better positioned to lead a film than The Flash’s Miller had been.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics

“He looks just like Jaime Reyes, and we all know he can act,” says Trujillo. “The special effects and the action, it feels very youthful. It feels very fresh. I think a lot of people who might be turned off by the heavier continuity of the superhero movies will be able to find something new and something they can really take ownership of in the Blue Beetle movie.”

The negativity emanating from Batgirl’s cancellation continues to resonate. The company line from the newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery was that the film was unreleasable, though the move was widely seen as a Machiavellian choice by CEO David Zaslav in order to take an easy $90 million write-off, turning the mogul instantly into DC’s least popular supervillain.

Zoe Saldana, a star of three popular movie franchises — Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek, and Avatar — called the cancellation a “truly atrocious act from a studio.” And filmmaker Kevin Smith, normally a dependable booster for the comics properties he adores, noted that it was “an incredibly bad look to cancel the Latina Batgirl movie. I don’t give a shit if the movie was absolute fucking dogshit — I guarantee you that it wasn’t,” pointing to the sterling bona fides of the film’s codirectors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, on the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel.

The Batgirl cancellation drew the attention of U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, who was already critical of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Castro was one of four members of Congress in April to urge the Department of Justice to investigate the merger. “I don’t see how it’s been beneficial to many people,” Castro says.

That said, Castro is already looking forward to Blue Beetle and has met with the director and star, with plans to rent a theater in his working-class “bread and butter” district to share the film with members of his community. “I and many others were concerned at the time of the Batgirl announcement that the same thing would happen with Blue Beetle. I’m glad that it didn’t,” he says. “It’s important for the Latino community because Latinos have been excluded from Hollywood, by and large, in front of and behind the camera.”

Castro has also been active in promoting Eva Longoria’s streaming comedy-drama Flamin’ Hot and attended a screening at the White House. He says these films follow generations of Hollywood stereotypes of Latinos and other communities, if they’re shown onscreen at all. “So Blue Beetle, where you have a Latino who

is a superhero, is a striking departure from the usual Hollywood fare of Latino as gangbanger, as ‘illegal,’ as criminal. And that means a lot.”

The movie was already in production when Trujillo began writing his recent comic book miniseries Blue Beetle: Graduation Day, which is set for rerelease in book form in time for the movie’s debut. He says it is the first American mainstream superhero comic to be created by an all-Latino team, including Spanish artist Adrian Gutierrez. He was given bits and pieces of information from the movie to incorporate into his storyline but hasn’t seen the film. He hopes to attend the premiere and bask on the “blue carpet.”

“I’ll be there day one, regardless,” he says of the Blue Beetle movie. “I do think there’s a bit of a rising tide, and DC in particular has done a really good job of embracing the Latino community. I’m really grateful that DC’s been on board for it from the very beginning.”

[verycorrectslugterraquotes]

I believe a solution to all this can be solved with a little brainpower.

Kord and Junjie to the gang

[forlornmelody]

@ferociousqueak said: How about K Square Rose Tajes Bart to a Rave :D

(Sorry, this probably doesn’t work very well on mobile, but here we are 🙃)

Well, we’ll, WELL. @commander-hot-pants-blog and I are writing this crossover AU where our faves from Mass Effect, DC Comics, Life is Strange, and Confederation of Valor all work at a shopping mall owned by Ted Kord and run by his boyfriend Booster Gold.

Rose Wilson is a desk girl at the mall’s gym and Bart Allen works at Starbucks. She plans on going to a rave with Jason Todd (cause she really wants to get high and fool around with her favorite person him). Instead, Jason gets summoned to a Wayne family dinner and it’s just Jack Nought, Roy Harper (who probably work at this mall’s version of Hot Topic or Spencer’s) Rose, and Bart. Jack and Roy vanish the moment they park, and it’s just Rose left to keep Bart out of trouble. She fails hard. Bart gets high on Ecstasy and confesses his demisexual awakening for his friend Jaime Reyes (who works at the Taco Bell.) Rose conspires to get them together.

That last scene is heavily under construction at the moment so here’s some hot banter between Jason and Rose.

——-

She slides her tongue into his mouth, and her hand into his hoodie pocket.

Jason seizes her wrist, pulling away from her mouth. His breath comes out ragged. “Really?” Sitting back, she pouts. “Empty? Nothing? Nada? Zilch?”

“I’m ​working.​ ”

“Not even ​one​ joint? You disappoint me, Todd.”

“I’m not going to get arrested at work, ​Wilson.​ ”

“At least tell me there’s a party this weekend.” Rose traces the lines of Jason’s jaw. She could do it all day. It’s not her fault he’s so easy on the eyes.

Jason leans back against the boxes, pulling Rose with him. “Mm. I think there’s a rave.”

Grinning slowly, Rose braces her hands on either side of his head, letting her hair drape around their faces. “Please tell me we’re going.”

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll get a group together.” He slides her hoodie’s zipper down. “Get a couple cars going.” His eyebrows scrunch together as he grins up at her. “Shouldn’t you be thinking about r i g h t n o w ?​ ”

“Depends.” Her hand slides underneath his hoodie and his shirt, shivering at the way his skin jumps. It should be illegal for someone to be this perfect. “Is it going to be more fun than this weekend?”

Jason rolls them over, pushing her shirt up. “Depends.” He lavishes her middle with kisses. “On.” A breath. “Where your head's at.”

WIP Folder Meme

Tagged by @inquartata30 and @leysendris Thanks, darlings!

Tagging: @bronzeagelove, @joufancyhuh, and @ferociousqueak if you haven’t done this yet and would like to 😅

Rules:

Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous.

Send me an ask about the title that most intrigues you, or interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

[dailyadventureprompts]

Adventure: The Feast of Last Lights

The beacon shines in the highest and harshest of places to forewarn others of danger. vigilant and true, burning proud and bright against the storm. 

Setup: Celebrated on the night of the winter solstice, the Feast of Last Lights harkens back to an ancient calamity, when the land burned and the sky was so thick with ash it seemed as if there would never be another true sunrise again. The old empire died under the weight of a decades long winter, but still the people survived, with their lanterns and their petty hearths and their guttering candleflames of hope... to emerge one spring day to a world that had was born anew. 

Originally a memorium for those lost in the calamity, Lastlight has evolved into a festival celebrating survival in the coldest and bleakest time of the year, where lanterns and paper flowers are hung up all about the town square to remind all that spring is coming, and songs are sung from dusk till dawn to herald that the darkness of the season will soon abate. 

Adventure Hooks: 

Lastlight is but one day in a long chain of interfaith festivals and celebrations, because after all, if you’re out on the town enjoying the pretty lights, why not stop in at your neighbor’s place and pay homage to their seasonal spirits and a cup of spiced sider? A party in town for a holiday season is sure to find all manner of amusements and distractions, but perhaps among all the cacophony they may find called to a celebration that particularly calls to them, whether it be the folksy feasting of Yondalla for those missing family, or the joyous reindeer games of kord for those who wish to savor all life’s triumphs. For some, it’s enough to put down life’s burdens for a while and share a bottle and a bad joke with a fellow traveler.  These side festivals should be tailored to your party, addressing their unspoken needs or subtly pushing them to explore new avenues 

The night before Lastlights is called Wispernok, and is a time of gift giving, outrageous toasts, and the telling of tales. Often these will be stories of hope and survival in lean times, though sometimes stories of festive characters such as the Weary Drover , the Bride of Winter, or Yangle the Yulegoat will make a cameo. Of all these stories, the last one told is always of that of the city that burned, a parable of warning that takes many forms and morals but speaks of how the old imperial capital was consumed by flame. Whether because of pride or ill omen or the foolishness of a single child, the doom of the city is always tie to the ascendancy of Qualavanch, a demon with an all consuming hunger for the beauty of the world who fed upon the glories of the empire till there was ‘naught left but ash.  

Just like the Festival of Last Light, The dread tales of Qualavanch have also morphed, giving birth to the character of Mx/Mr/Ms. Quench, an ostentatiously dour figure played during winter festivities by a minstrel with (artificially) blackened teeth and a talent for fire-eating. Quench Is supposed to go about the town wagering candy and toys for dares and riddles, “drinking” the fire from lanterns whenever they win to keep the merrymakers on their toes. This year however, the entertainer hired to portray Quench really is a devil, intent on causing a little holiday mischief  by being unbeatable in games and exhaling larger and larger plumes of flame. If the party can’t manage to beat the fiend’s wits, perhaps they could challenge them (and a hastily summoned band of impish assistants) to a snowball fight to save the holiday!

[gentlemanmcbitch]

Literally Everybody At the Dark Crisis Memorial: A Comprehensive List

Alrighty no preamble everyone's saying "where's x person" "where's y person" "is this person there" in the dark crisis preview so because I'm bored I'm gonna go through and point out every single costumed fucker of note in that image let's GO

That said my knowledge only goes so far so I'm gonna put down some unknowns (by number) and would love the help to identify them, as well as anybody who I miss completely!

Okay starting over here we've got:

-Nightwing (Dick Grayson) leading the service up front -Barda and Miracle (Scott Free) -Flash (probably Wally West) -Hawk (Hank Hall) and Dove (Dawn Granger) -I'm guessing the purple hood in the foreground is Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) -I'm also gonna guess the redhead (the one in full view, not in the foreground) is Barbara Gordon -Unknown #1: not sure who that tiny fella with the mohawk is, my guess is someone from the Lobo fam but idk if any of them have a mohawk? Also why so short -Unknown #2: I'm gonna randomly guess the hooded person in the front is Raven, but honestly could be anybody -Unknown #3: Who's that metal guy next to maybe Raven? I honestly have nothing on this -I also see a silhouetted horned guy wayyy in the front (look above bardas left horn thing) who I think may be Blue Devil

More under the cut!

Moving on, we've got:

-Robin (Tim Drake) -Aqualad/man (Jackson Hyde) -Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) and probably Lois Lane -Batwoman (Kate Kane) (the redhead right in the foreground) -Red tornado -A bat person next to red tornado who is probably Cassandra Cain -Above Kara's head way in the background is Katana, you can tell from the square shoulder plate -Unknown #4: weirdly prominent random guy with a backpack? Maybe I'm reading into this too much -Unknown #5: whoever's between Cass and Tornado -Unknown #6-7: I think those two hugging people in the background are the Wonder Twins but they could be anybody -Unknown #8: another shortie, this time to the left of Barbara (far right of the picture) in green. Costume alone makes me think Enchantress but there's no reason she'd be that small -Unknown #9: the white and gold guy way in the background on the far left looks like godspeed but I thought he was dead? Idk -Unknown #10: left of #9, partially cut off in this screenshot, is a suited man facing away from the viewer. He's so prominently drawn that I thought he was The Question, but I think Renee Montoya currently holds that title so I may be wrong on that

alrighty, over here we got:

-Superboy (Conner Kent) -Robin (Damian Wayne) -Booster Gold -Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) -Black Lightning -The Lobo fam girl from the Rebirth Teen Titans comic whose name I cannot remember (Crush? Carnage?) up in the foreground -Also from the Rebirth TT comic but whose name I remember, Roundhouse! He's in the background above Beetle's head -Doctor Light (the non-evil one whose real name escapes me) -Naomi McDuffie -I think the man in the foreground is Beast Boy (Garfield Logan) but the tank top is a weird costume choice for him -Unknown #11: There's a...gorilla?? to the left of Doctor Light and I have NO idea who they are but they're so distinctly shaped that they've got to be somebody. -Unknown #12: There's another hooded figure slightly to the left of Black Lightning's head. The shape of the hood makes me think Red Hood (Jason Todd) in his Rebirth/Infinite Frontier costume, but the sloped shoulders make me think it's someone less buff. Maybe an arrowfam person since we haven't seen any of them, but your guess is as good as mine! -Unknown #13: to the right of Roundhouse (from our perspective) is a figure I don't recognize. He could be one of the metal men (who are also here, I'll get to them soon) but he's a bit separated from them so maybe not.

And finishing out the folks on the ground, we can see:

-Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark) -Cyborg (Vic Stone) -The Signal (Duke Thomas) -The Metal Men (see I told you I'd get to them) -Metamorpho -Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) -Bunker (Miguel Barragan) -The redhead standing to the left of Cyborg, who due to the lack of mask + cloak + standing among multiple Titans members I'd guess is Omen (Lilith Clay) -Unknown #14: I have no idea who this woman in the immediate foreground is. Like, not a single clue. Please help.

Up, up in the sky, we've got:

-Plastic man sticking his lil head above the crowd -Superman (Jon Kent) -Green Lantern(s) (Jessica Cruz and Jo Mullein) -Starfire (Koriand'r) -Unknown #15: Incredibly nondescript dude in a black cape. My first guess was Osiris if Black Adam died with the league, but I think that's wrong since he hasn't really been mentioned in comics in a LONG time. if he wasn't so white-looking I'd say Icon.

Lastly, watching mysteriously from the rooftops, we have:

-Deathstroke (Slade Wilson) -Unknowns #16-20: these are distinctive silhouettes, but every villain I think of who would match them definitely wouldn't be the type to pay respects, and every non-villain I think of wouldn't be lurking up here in the first place. Maybe far right is the Trickster from the Flash Rogues? Would appreciate some more guesses!

The people with Deathstroke could also be the other villains on the cover art for Dark Crisis, which would make far right Nekron, second from the right Doomsday, second from the left Ares(?), and idk about the other two, but it'd be kind of wild if all the major villains of this event were just like. Hanging out at the memorial service.

This post is long enough so if anyone points out one of the unknowns, I'll just edit the post instead of adding it in a reblog. I will, of course, give credit to whoever finds out. I really just did this to avoid doing my work for class tomorrow, but it was fun. Thanks for reading and consider this my application to DC tumblr <3

[thekytchensynk]

An Absolutely Normal Training Day (Fictober Prompt 24)

Prompt number: 24

Fanfiction Fandom: DCU/Booster Gold and Ted Kord

Rating: G

Warnings: No warnings

Read this story on AO3

“So you’re sure about this?”

Ted grinned. “Trust me! It’ll be great.”

They both stood in tee-shirts and sweatpants in a room at Ted’s house. Booster thought it used to be some sort of formal sitting room last time he visited -- the sort of room where the furniture is nice so you can visit with company in there, but all your company is so informal that it feels too weird to go in there. Booster had seen it only once, and felt pretty sure there was enough dust that it gave the upholstery a whole new texture.

All of that was gone -- except a big bay window. It let in a lot of light on a fake-hardwood floor, a couple floor-to-ceiling mirrors, a treadmill, a rack of weights and … this.

“You’re sure about this,” Booster repeated.

“Will you stop judging a book by its cover?” Ted replied.

To be sure, judging it by its cover would do little for this particular book. The machine in the center of the room looked somewhat terrifying --falling somewhere between an oversized doll and a piece of construction equipment. He’d made some effort to stretch a rubbery skin over the whole thing, both to protect it and the people around it, Booster supposed. But that just made the whole thing another step creepier. The face was a single, smooth piece of metal with only shallow protrusions and indentations for facial features.

“How do you sleep with this thing in your house?” Booster asked, walking a slow circle around it. The thing looked rooted to the floor, which he assumed meant the bulk of its mechanical bits had to be down in the basement. Did you need some sort of special license for that?

“Quite well, thanks,” Ted said, so jovially that it tipped over into sarcasm.”Now come on. Half the Justice League, they have powers. Guys like you and me, we have gadgets. And you know what that means.”

“Ridiculous repair bills,” Booster agreed.

“Ye- No! It means we get put in the same category as Batman. Which is totally unfair, since that guy can probably kick the butt of an entire army platoon without breaking a sweat. So you and I, my friend, need to bulk up.”

“And we can’t do this in the same training area as everyone else because…” Booster prompted.

Ted shot him a look. Clear as a word. Clear as a book with its contents right on the cover. “Aww, come on, Ted,” Booster said, walking back around the monstrosity to stand by him. “No one is judging you or me or anyone like that. Well…” He paused. Amended, “well, Guy maybe, but he’s an ass. No one should listen to what he says. Dude, you move like an acrobat. It’s really impressive.”

Ted looked skeptical. “Nah, this is going to be great. Just think of their faces when I show up, ripped-”

“From this?” Booster paced around it again. “”Looks more like something that’ll rip you in half.”

“No pain, no gain.”

Throwing his hands up, Booster said, “Fine! How does it work. Let’s see the miracle in action.”

“Now you’re talking.” Ted walked over to the rack of weights and picked up a silver box that had been resting on top. It turned out to be a remote control, about the size of a stick of butter. It featured a couple dials and two buttons.”Speed,” he said, pointing to one dial, then the other. “Strength, and these are the on and off buttons.”

“Simple enough,“ Booster said, looking but not touching. He’d been around enough inventors to know to always, always let them try the experiment first.

“Three on the dial is average human,” Ted said, setting both dials there. “So, good place to start. Work my way up.”

“You really don’t have to do this,” Booster tried one last time. If pressed, he would have to admit he was still judging the book by its unsettling, quasi-human cover. It seriously freaked him out. Reminded him of an inhuman amalgamation illustrated in a book of scary stories for kids he’d taken out of the library once upon a time.

But Ted took a deep breath and pressed the on button. For a moment, nothing happened. Then a low hissing sound began to emit from the machine.

“Is it supposed to do that?”

“It’s the pressure building up in the hydraulics. Here.” He handed the remote to Booster and squared up opposite the machine. For a moment, they stood there, neither making the first move. Then Ted went in -- two quick steps and then punch aimed for the thing’s “face.”

The entire mechanical body swayed left with speed that left the metal screaming, then its body rotated a full time around. The head, of course, stayed perfectly still because why move normally when it could move creepily? One of the flailing hands caught Ted full in the face and knocked him back, out of range.

Booster hurried over to where his friend lay sprawled out on the ground, propped up on one elbow and with the other hand over the red blotch on his face. “Ted, you OK?”

“Uh … yeah. Yeah, I think I’m fine.”

“Oh, good,” Booster said. There was a beat, then he started laughing.

“It’s not funny,” Ted said.

“No. It wasn’t funny when I thought you might be hurt. But now that I know you’re fine, it’s hilarious,” Booster said between his laughter. “Your invention just slapped you across the room. Maybe you should have taken it on a date first before getting so close.”

“I’m glad to know your compassion runs only skin deep,” Ted said stiffly before starting to climb to his feet. Booster offered a hand. Ted scowled and got up on his own, but there wasn’t any real heat in it. Turning and surveying the still-twitching machine, he said, “I guess there are still a few kinks.”

“Looks like,” Booster agreed.

“Maybe when I assembled it, I didn’t account for the additive effect of the tubing. Or…”

That caught Booster’s attention. “So, you didn’t test this before showing it off?”

“I tested … parts of it,” he said defensively.

Further discussion got cut off as the machine spun around again. And then again. The hissing sound had stopped, and in its place a whine had begun, low but climbing in volume and intensity.

“Maybe we should turn it off,” Ted said. Wordlessly, Booster pressed the marked “off” button.

The thing kept going.

Frowning, Booster tried the button again. Then he handed the remote to Ted, who tried several more times. The combat dummy had begun to twitch back and forth, in addition to the shell of the chest rotating over and over. It had a very “if you get hit by this, it’s your own fault” vibe.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Ted said at last. He dialed both dials down to zero, but this didn’t cause any notable change in the performance.

“How worried should we be about this?” Booster asked.

“Umm… I’m going to go down to the guts,” Ted said, backing away from the flailing machine. “And maybe you should put your suit on. Or at least the bit that gives you that force field.” Then he ran out of the room, heading toward the kitchen and, presumably, to the basement from there.

Booster ran and got his belt.

When he came back, the machine almost looked possessed. It thrashed back and forth, still sometimes spinning. When this happened, the hands would smack into the floor, chipping up pieces of it.

“Ahh, shoot,” Came a muted voice from below. “Something got in here. This cord is chewed right through … which one is-”

Whatever mooring the sparring dummy was attached to seemed to be working loose with its wild gyrations. The movements were getting bigger, and he could see the metal box below it starting to peek up into the room.

“You gonna turn this thing off, or…” Booster asked the floor. The room wasn’t all that big. He set himself up in front of the window. On the off chance this thing did tear free, he didn’t want it to go sailing straight out through the window and potentially into some neighborhood minivan.

“Trying.” Ted’s voice carried equal parts exasperation and anxiety. “How’s that?”

“Did you do something?”

“Yes!"

“Then no change,” Booster blocked an incoming slap from the machine. Jeeze, that was supposed to be human strength and speed?

“I think … ah, are you kidding me? How could the … hold on!” Ted seemed to be carrying on a whole conversation with himself now.

“Ted?”

“I’m going to try cutting the hose. Hold on.”

A moment later and the room erupted in a spray of liquid and the sparring monster just sort of … lifted off. Booster watched it slam through the ceiling, then heard it slam through another level above. He stepped under the gaping hole in time to see the thing sailing up into the cloudy sky, drifting a little toward the front of the house. Booster booked it outside to make sure the suburban nightmare he’d been trying to prevent earlier wouldn’t happen in a whole new way.

He got out to the front lawn just as the training dummy came plummeting out of the sky and landed in the middle of the front yard in a shower of dirt. Booster blocked the flying particles from his face with one arm. When he lowered it, he saw the remains of the dummy poking out of a new crater. Looking further, he saw a kid on a bike, maybe eight years old, staring. As he looked, a door across the street opened and a woman stepped out, shading her eyes and staring over.

Footsteps came up behind him, and he turned to see Ted approaching, splattered head to foot in what he assumed was hydraulic fluid. He surveyed the front lawn, hands on hips, then let out a huge sigh. “We’re in trouble, huh?”

“Yup.”

“What are the odds this gets back to the League?”

“For us? 100%.”

“Fair point. Help me clean this up? We could use a workout still.”

Booster grinned. “Hey. There’s always the League’s gym.”

[xarakaas]

his scent is one that makes it feel as though she’d just touched her tongue to a tv screen. sharp, electric, coppery... still holding him down she leans in, sniffing his neck before grinning. teeth were sharp, of course, in order to make a point. however not once had she made an attempt to seriously harm the man. “you remind me of static.” annoying, unnnerving, and with a potential to devistate. “hmm.” releasing him she stands upright, cocking her head some. “did youse let me throw youse on purpose, or did I get that fair and square? with youse I can’t tell what happens half the time.”

      She managed to pin him. HIM.

   Seems he was right to follow his instinct about her, she held that spark within her to fight and keep fighting, and yet even then he underestimated her strength and speed. Falling prey to her attack and finding himself completely at a physical disadvantage in this moment. He wouldn’t be making that mistake again, from here on...it was all or nothing when facing her.

     Yet, as she began to lean in towards him his eyes would shoot open wide in surprise. Thinking she planned to sink her sharpened teeth into his neck or something of a similar nature...but was faced with nothing but the faint sound of her taking a breath and a fanged grin.

         ‘you remind me of static’  

   “Static? Haven’t really heard that before...at least not like that.” Usually he was granted something a bit more...grand than static. Lightning, storms, energy...and now mere static. “Probably a reason for that though..” He’d speak with a shrug as moved to stand up, taking a moment to send out a few small sparks of blue energy to run down his arms and up his neck for display. 

   “As for that throw of yours-” He really hated to admit it, but with all the hate he carried for the God of Combat, Kord...one thing still remained that both Kamos and him could agree on. Honor in battle. He’d take this loss willingly, and learn to never let it happen again. “-enjoy your victory. I won’t be letting it happen again.”

[restaurantescapes]

Facebook    |    Instagram    |    Twitter    |    Pinterest    |    Tumblr

Chef Marcus Samuelsson brings his soulful brand of comfort food and culture to Miami.

Created along with developers Michael Simkins and Grove Bay Hospitality Group, Red Rooster Overtown includes defining features like interior fresco murals by London-based artist Grahame Menage and original commissioned artwork. Here, the private dining room.

Gastronomes, history buffs and culture mavens, take note: Your tastes are about to be sated in inspiring new ways now that Red Rooster has come to town. Debuting this month in a reimagined pool hall in historic Overtown, the new restaurant is the latest manifestation of a growing coterie of eateries launched around the world by the ubercreative chef Marcus Samuelsson and promises to bring fresh culinary dimension—and a lot of multicultural spark—to an emerging cultural and entertainment district near the heart of Miami.

As in Samuelsson’s original Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem, the James Beard Award-winning chef will serve up his unique take on elevated American cuisine with dishes inspired by his roots in Sweden and Ethiopia. Here, however, the menu features not only his versions of Southern classics, like Hot Honey Yardbird and Obama’s Short Ribs, but also a new selection of bright ceviches and grilled local fish dishes that draw on the Haitian and Caribbean culinary influences, such as soupe joumou, deep- fried paté korde, griot and accra fritters, that enrich the cuisine of this colorful Miami neighborhood. Also in keeping with its Harlem-and London-based sister restaurants, the accent at Red Rooster Overtown is not only on inventive food but also on music and art, especially works inspired by the diverse strands of the African diaspora.

Developed by Samuelsson and his business partner, Derek Fleming, who worked with Saladino Design Studio to create the restaurant’s design, the new Red Rooster Overtown aims to revive what Fleming calls “a spirit of celebration.” So the new 13,000-square-foot setting was crafted as a multifaceted gathering space offering a variety of experiences that reference both the history of the building—a former neighborhood hangout known as Clyde Killen’s Pool Hall—as well as the surrounding neighborhood. “In the 1950s and ’60s, Clyde’s pool hall was a notable hot spot, where people like Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King and Sam Cooke would come after performing in local venues in Miami or the beach,” says Fleming, noting the atmosphere of the new restaurant aims to echo the vibe of the venue during that lively era.

The outdoor dining space at Red Rooster Overtown

As such, the two-story structure’s interiors and outdoor areas brim with a multiplicity of eclectic influences— tropical colors, modern murals, handmade Moroccan tiles, cheetah prints and an abundance of art and sculpture, including pieces co-curated by PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans— in a joyful melange that redefines the neighborhood’s Caribbean roots with a fresh twist. The designers also worked with Samuelsson and Fleming to expand the experience beyond the expected “with approachable elements for people of every walk of life,” says designer Sean Saladino. So, in addition to the 209-seat main dining room and a speakeasy-inspired, horseshoe-shaped bar, private dining spaces, rooftop terraces, an upstairs lounge and a pergola-covered outdoor space known as the “Coop” offer a variety of spaces in which to gather and dine, sip handcrafted cocktails and listen to a mix of gospel, R&B, Afrobeats, soul and jazz performed or played by local musicians and DJs.

At the same time, extra components, including a bakery and creamery, provide accessible touchpoints for local kids and families to regularly stop by for an ice- cream cone after school or freshly baked bread after church.

“The new Rooster is a feast for the senses where soulful art, music and food live together, tell a story about the past and take us forward from where our forefathers left off,” says Fleming. “A restaurant is a place to feel restored, to be welcomed and to enjoy life,” adds Samuelsson. “That’s the spirit of what we’ve built at Red Rooster Overtown.” And just as it did in Harlem, that welcoming Red Rooster spirit is poised to transform the landscape of fine dining—and catalyze the powerhouse potential of an up-and-coming neighborhood—in Miami.

[the-fortyseventh]

AFTER ACTION REPORT - 01/03/627

Under orders from Regimental HQ, 1A deployed to the old training area north of Moonbrook in Westfall to test the soldiers' physical abilities after the holiday leave. CDR Kenorian Felmourn joined us to observe the training exercise and also participated in it himself.

There were mixed results with the physical, with CPL Koreva Gor from 1A1-1 seemingly struggling the most. MSG Silas Kord will be made aware so he can place her on a strict training regimen to get her back into shape.

After the conclusion of the obstacle course, I had 1A take a brief moment of respite with a hydration break. At this time several soldiers seemed to vomit randomly and when questioned later, complained they'd received violent headaches during the middle of the obstacle course without justification which led to sickness.

I ordered a square to be formed around those who were ill when five tentacles burst from the ground and began to attack us. We defended the ill until they could rejoin the fight and fought the tentacles off. However, every time we destroyed one, it would return. CDR Felmourn scouted the area and took a team to the east of our position where a source of corruption was found. Once it was dealt with, the tentacles vanished and everything returned to normal.

I ordered another square to be formed around the wounded, which included CPLs Eskron Colburn, Nyla Huxley, PVTs Keladry Hawklight & Sandor Brightmaul. CPL Laurelania Sullivan was then ordered to make an emergency portal back to Stormwind so the wounded could be treated.

I am recommending SI:7 be made aware of the situation and look into it further, as the reports from some soldiers claim the tentacles and source of corruption itself were linked deeply to the Void.

I am also recommending PVT Hawklight receive the Physician's Medal for her actions in saving PVT Brightmaul's life. PVT Brightmaul is to receive the King's Cross for wounds sustained.

KCP Kelsey Tinkertorch, 1A CO