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honeyleesblog · 1 year ago

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34 Top Lifestyle Blogs Catered to Women's Interests

Why numerous way of life sites are so rousing? Now and then way of life sites have all the earmarks of being simply something to peruse in our extra time. Then again, the best way of life web journals can give an abundance of significant data that can help us in remaining current on patterns and happenings. They likewise cultivate areas of strength for an of local area. Perusing the remarks and adding your own can provide ladies with a feeling of local area. Joining email records can advise us that others share our considerations and interests. It's an astounding technique to keep in contact. At long last, way of life sites and online journals offer truly necessary inspiration. These sites have all that you really want, from recipes to paint tones, closet ideas, and gym routines. 34 of the best way of life 34 Top Lifestyle Blogs Catered to Women's Interests for ladies

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Twins Mother Twins Mom is one of the most incredible web-based assets for hopeful bloggers and authors. Elna Cain offers nurturing direction and her well-informed and compelling business systems. 34. Insightful Cheeky Mothers The Clever Cheeky Mothers site has all the direction you want for family, nurturing, home, and so on. It's ideally suited for mums needing a few inspiration and thoughts for family festivities. The most effective method to regularly practice perusing way of life websites Would you like to begin perusing web journals all the more habitually? Don't have the foggiest idea where to start? If it's not too much trouble, begin with the rundown above and buy into their mailing records. You'll be advised of new postings along these lines. Then, consistently, put away a couple of moments to peruse. Maybe a couple of seconds over espresso in the first part of the day or prior to hitting the hay around evening time. 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mrburnsnuclearpussy · 4 years ago

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Can Star Trek characters cook? (TNG/Ds9)

Picard- No but he’ll recommend you a wine pairing.

Riker- He believes he can but NO. Also he takes the tray out of the oven with his bare hands.

Geordi- He can if he tries really hard but he thinks cooking works like mathematics and ends up creating the weirdest Frankenstein food accidents. “It just doesn’t add up, my calculations were accurate...”

Data- Yea he just downloads the Gordon Ramsay DLC cookbook pack for robots and creates perfect meals every time, is forced to stop after he calls someone a “fucking donut”

Crusher- She makes the worlds healthiest meal and it tastes like paper. She can’t tell how bad it tastes and doesn’t understand why nobody likes her “fun pizza”

Troi- She has never touched an oven or washed a dish in her entire life and you know it.

Worf- Can cook somewhat but he gets too worked up over it. He spends hours trying to get it perfect and then trips and drops his omelette on the floor.

Tasha Yar- No and that’s okay. I love you Tasha Yar.

Sisko- Best cook around and everyone knows it. Some random people make excuses to walk by his quarters after hours because there’s ALWAYS a different great food smell coming from there. If only they knew that he’d happily invite them in for a bite.

Kira- She understands basic food science better than her actual ability to make it. She’s got the life skills to get nutrition out of a rock and two pieces of string but let’s just say it needs salt.

Bashir- Yes but it’s a hit or miss. He has a good understanding of how cooking works but there’s a 3/10 chance he’ll get distracted and burn the pizza to a crisp.

Jadzia- She’s lived 7 lifetimes so she really should know how to cook. And technically does, but at this point she does not care and is just fucking around. She will make spaghetti and M&Ms jello just to mess with Benjamin and he will cry.

Quank- Hell yeah and he always adds a personal twist. His food is not always for everyone since he uses lots of Ferengi cooking techniques, but he secretly loves to personalise meals for each person and watch as they enjoy it.

O’Brien- He can cook one meal. But only ONE. He sticks to it because it’s safe.

Odo- If you give him a couple of weeks to study the art, he will cook the most elaborate meal you ever had in your life. IF you are patient.

Garak- Yes because don’t you know he used to be a professional chef? True story!

Jake- With his dad around, who needs to cook?

Every other child on the show- If they work together, they can put dinosaur nuggets in the oven. Wesley gets extra credit because he can make ramen noodles.

Q- He’s been alive for billions of years and refused to cook for that entire time. But he can turn into a giant croissant.

#ok I gotta stop #I left out so many but the post would go on forever lol #this is fun #star trek #cooking #headcanon #ds9 #tng

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hallowedmuses · 4 years ago

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𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑡: 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

SUMMARY: Our ragtag team of heroes including Natasha Romanoff, Daniel Sousa, Clint Barton, Loki Laufeyson, Veronica Stevens, and Deke come together to rescue Director Daisy Johnson from the clutches of Lucia von Bardas. TRIGGERS: Torture, Violence, PTSD, Trauma WRITTEN WITH: @ofbartons, @oflokismischief, @ofdcniels, @daisyljohnson, @ronniestvns, @oflemcns

CLINT: when loki woke him up for the rescue mission, clint wasted no time. he threw on the first shirt he could find, which luckily was clean, and his shoes before literally tumbling out the door with his bow in hand. his fuzzy pizza-sliced patterned pajama pants wasn't the most tactical choice, but then again neither was his bright purple t-shirt and converse. once they'd arrived at the hellicarrier, clint took out the guards on a section of the deck before firing a bomb arrow at the wall to create a point of entry for 'tasha and the dude in the blue shirt. "i will admit, being subtle might have been the smarter play here." he chuckled over the comms while firing a trio of arrows. the explosion had two purposes in his head- one, the point of entry, and two, draw attention away from daisy's rescue duo. the second purpose was just working a little better than he'd thought it would. he slid across the deck, firing off a couple more arrows before standing up and kicking one of the guards in the chest. using the controls on the handle of his bow, he switched to a smoke arrow before aiming at a group of the guards "hey lo, i'm really glad you have the cape still." keeping the arrow drawn back, clint turned his head to look at his boyfriend "otherwise i'd be too distracted by that ass of yours." he winked and let the arrow loose, still looking in loki's direction "not to mention all these schmucks would be staring at it." he switched back to regular arrows before firing into the smoke.

LOKI: Loki should've known Clint would be far from ready when it was time to lead the mission, it had been quite awhile since he'd gone into battle but then again he did quite love the hunt when it came down too it. His mission was simply and if anything he could easily take out anything humans could throw at him. "Possibly but then again we have quite the army of people who have been missing out dear Director and I'd burn the place down if she wasn't in there." He mused throwing iced daggers at all who dared come near. For those who got to close they were met with his quick stabs and his illusions. when he heard his boyfriend speak chuckling softly "Its all about fashion darling, Those little SHIELD outfits do nothing for my figure" He mused back looking at Clint he always found his Archery skills rather attractive before he rolled his eyes "as for my ass I'm sure I can other wise to distract you, maybe flirt with a villain or two and see how much of your spy skills come out to play, after all Green is quite your color my hawk"

NATASHA: "Subtilty was never your strong suit, but I do appreciate the flare. The pajamas make it easier to find you too," she laughed as Clint shot a few explosive arrows to give herself and Daniel an entry point into the helicarrier. As Clint, Loki, and Ronnie guided Lucia's guards away from the entry point, Natasha and Daniel made their way in. Natasha fired off a few taser disks, hitting the oncoming guards squarely in the chest. She watched them fall to the floor, convulsing as electric shocks ran through their body. As the guards fought to peel the taser disks off of themselves, Natasha made her way through the hallway. She ducked as a few rounds of bullets came flying at her and Daniel. She grabbed him and pulled him toward the wall for cover. Natasha used the wall to shield herself as she fired at the oncoming guards. "Ronnie, have you located the room where Daisy's being held captive?" They could aimlessly fire rounds all day, but they needed to know what direction to go. She made a face as she heard bits and pieces of Clint and Loki's conversation over coms. "Honestly," she frowned and looked over at Daniel. "I can't even be mad. I did this to myself inviting those two along."

RONNIE: “Yea... I’m working.. on it.” Veronica breathlessly remarked over the coms. A few grunts could be heard as she flipped the guard she’d been tangled up with and stabbed him with one of poison daggers. “Now where were we.. a yess.. here we go.” Ronnie grabbed her data pad, ducking down behind a bolder as she took control of the building. “I’m in, I’ve got eyes on Daisy.. She’s alive..” Ronnie neglected to add how bad she looked from the live feed she was getting on their shitty surveillance system. “She’s on the fourth floor, third door to the right. Give me thirty seconds, I’m disabling the alarms and lock mechanisms now. I’m about to fry the fuck out of their systems and equipment. Can’t promise I won’t blow the lights.. hope you brought flares.” Ronnie playfully teased, falling forward as a couple of guards began to fire at her out of no where. “Hey lover boys! As uncute as it is listening to you flirt endlessly while taking out guards, I could use some help over here! Cover me while I shut down their main line.” She made a mental note to switch them over to their own channel when she was finished here.

DANIEL: while this wasn't the strangest mission he'd ever been on, that title probably had to go to the whitney frost case, this had to be the most chaotic and strange team daniel had been apart of. you had not one but two super spies (one of which was in pajamas and using a bow and arrow of all things), a tech genius, a god (or were they an alien? daniel was a little fuzzy on that particular detail), and deke... at least most of them seemed to know what they were doing. daniel ducked down when agent romanoff pulled him out of the line of fire "thanks." he waited for the shooting to stop, meaning the men were reloading, and once they did he leaned out at shot the men. keeping low he moved towards the door to the stairwell one he heard daisy's location. daniel couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him at the couple's banter "compared to the things i've heard howard utter, this is nothing."

DEKE: In the past, when Deke had thought about his 'next cool mission' this had hardly been the thing in his mind. Not Arrow-Guy in his pajamas, not working with someone who practically a God, Black Widow herself or well, any of them. Certainly not Daisy being in danger like this... But still, he was nothing if not adaptable. So adapt he did. Rescue Daisy now, rankle his mind about all these events later. There was something pretty calming about the group of them being so casual and prepared (though he still felt a spike of fear at every loud noise, the many of them). He was working with the best, Deke reminded himself. He'd gotten the Hyperbaric Chamber ready to go for Daisy upon their return, nervously awaiting. In one of his more anxious moments he'd thought about preparing food for Daisy before remembering he wouldn't know how long she'd be in there for. So, with the chamber up and waiting, Deke listened on the comms and waited. "How's it looking? It sounds pretty crowded." Crowded, being the word for all the many enemies they seemed to be facing (and taking down). "You guys doing okay?" He was fairly sure they were but it didn't hurt to ask.

DAISY: Daisy had been living in a fantasy world, but it could only last so long before she eventually had to wake up. Wake up was a relative term. It didn't mean she was entirely awake and aware, more so that she had to wake to the reality of her situation, that there were no happy endings, that she couldn't get what she wanted, that actions had consequences, and even when you thought you won, it could come back to bite you in the ass. In the time that it had taken everyone to track down her kidnappers, Daisy had been put through several different forms of torture. Lucia had even been so kind as to grace her with her presence, reminding Daisy of what she'd done to the woman and how everything she was going through now was her own fault. Daisy could give her that much. Daisy had done her fair share of awful things, even if she hadn't been entirely in control of her own actions at the time. Nick Fury Sr. had made sure of that. It seemed that even after she'd taken things over from him, he still managed to screw up her life, but in the end she wasn't really surprised by any of this.

Currently, she didn't know where Lucia was, and she was just surrounded by guards who had all made sure not to listen to a word she said. Still, that didn't mean she wouldn't try. Her ears were ringing, but she could still feel some kind of activity on the ship. She spat out blood. "Sounds like . . . you've got company," she taunted, her voice raspy and barely carrying out to them. Her breathing was shaky and uneven. "You might . . . wanna go deal with that." They ignored her, saying nothing.

CLINT: clint had been in a lot of sticky situations before, but this wasn't one of them... if anything he was like a greased up hog running from the farmers trying to catch him, which might be a little dangerous for him. bad things tended to happen to him when he got too confident, but at least both loki and 'tasha were here to keep him from dying. he was about to fire off an arrow when a guard came up on his left, so he turned and stabbed the arrow into the guy's eye "oooh... i hope your insurance includes vision." clint quipped as he fired another set of arrows into the group. "aww, don't be like that lady. you know that my husband and i are cute as fuck." he winked at her as he ran by, headed towards loki... not because he needed the back up but purely because clint wanted to get another look at loki. his look was different from the last time clint had seen him in his battle gear and the blonde had to admit it was a damn fine look. "hey handsome! you come here often?"

LOKI: Loki had enjoyed the thrill of field work, it had been such a long time since he'd been able to use his daggers and magic against an actual threat. The best part was having Clint fight side by side him, before they'd been on opposite sides of a war, never sharing more the small glances. He fought with a passion ensuring they would clear a spot to bring Daisy home, there was no way he was leaving without her even if it cost every single on of these humans lives. "Did you really just say that Clint?" He questioned chuckling softy as he quickly disarmed three more guys pinning them down with a couple of his daggers. "We actually are, plus you are the driving force that brought us together in life and on this mission. The blame is fully on your shoulders Nat darling." He teased the other as he noticed his lover coming towards him. He could easily see that glint in his eye whenever Clint saw Loki in his more regal clothes, though now he'd donned on his Asgardian wear leaving that as his go too field work outfit. He turned to reply to Clint before throwing a dagger right into the bad guy who'd tried to take Clint by surprise. "Depends on who's asking, and if they are going to buy me dinner first," He mused winking at Clint.

NATASHA: Natasha had learned long ago to tune out the chatter of the coms. She kept her volume low so she could focus on their current situation. If shit hit the fan outside, she trusted her team to be able to handle it. "Ah, Howard Stark. If working with him is anything like working with his son, I'd pass on the opportunity," she joked. Tony wasn't so bad...in small dosages anyway. The lights on their side of the helicarrier flickered before going out completely. In the next moment, Natasha and Daniel were bathed in an eerie red light. Ronnie must've knocked out the security system. Only the emergency lights were operational now. "Fourth floor, third door," Natasha nodded as they slipped into the stairwell. She heard heavy boots above them. Reinforcements were coming through. "Five pairs of boots," she whispered to Daniel as she ducked behind one of the spirals. As the sound of boots came closer, Natasha shot a taser disk at the first guard. He convulsed and fell forward, tumbling down the stairs. He was wearing the same mask Natasha saw in her memories. The widow jumped out from behind one of the spirals and landed a kick square in the chest of one of the guards. He fell forward and took a third guard down with him. Three out of five. Not bad. She turned to take down the other two, but it appeared Blue Shirt was already disengaging them. She would have to share the body cam footage from her stealth suit with Daisy later. That was sure to lift her spirits.

RONNIE: “Nice one Nat.” Ronnie mused as she watched Nat take out three guards at once, followed by Daniel knocking out a couple more. “You kids make a good team. Daisy’s gonna be so proud.” She snickered into her earpiece. She’d muted Loki and Clint’s come but kept an eyes on everyone’s body cams in case the lover boys got into trouble. She loved them dearly, but their banter was brining her lunch back up. “They’ve got her surrounded.. ten.. maybe fifteen guys.. the footage is shit.. but I’m trying.. ” Ronnie relayed, watching the room she was being held in like a hawk. “She’s saying something to them but no ones budging... hold on..” a few clips to enhance the audio and suddenly Ronnie was sporting a shit eating grin. “I knows we’re here. Hang on, Director.. we’re coming for you.”

DANIEL: hearing that they had eyes on daisy made him feel a little better but he wouldn't feel settled until she was out of here completely. after kicking the fifth guard in the chest, with his bionic leg for good measure, he turned towards natasha to see if she needed help "ten to fifteen? i think we can handle that." daniel smirked before reloading his guns "so how do you want to do this?" he peeked around the corner seeing that there were no guards outside the room but daniel knew all hell would break loose once they went in.

DEKE: He listened intently to the communications, hoping to hear word of Daisy's safety and prepare the Hyperbaric Chamber for her. Well, it was mostly prepared. It'd really be him opening the thing, then everything was smooth sailing. That is, if her injuries could be healed by it... Which they should. Unless she literally lost a limb or died she should be fine. She would be fine. He heard the ruckus over the comms and felt his heart swell with fear. "Any eyes on Daisy yet?" He asked desperately. Then he heard it. They found Daisy. "Is she okay?!" He asked over the coms, without much hope of getting an answer. They had other things keeping them busy, after all. So he continued waiting anxiously.

DAISY: As the fighting outside continued, the guards around Daisy got more anxious. They could hear on their comms that they weren't exactly winning this fight. "Let's just get rid of the dead weight," said one of the guards. "I doubt Lucia wants this one alive anyways."

"Did you hear her say that or are you just assuming shit again?" asked the other guard. "You know what she'll do if we go against her orders."

"Screw her orders. That's the fucking Avengers out there. If Lucia wants her alive, we can just blame her death on the Avengers, say they didn't give us any choice. Hell, we can say she attacked us." He pulled the tubes that had been connected to Daisy out, but there were still drugs in her system. She couldn't do much. She could barely move. He pulled her up by her hair, shoving a gun against her skull. "You're going to get them to stand down, or you're going to die.

"Guess. . ." Daisy choked on her words. It was hard to focus on her words, when she was focused on something else. "Guess I'll die then." Her shoulders moved up slightly in a shrug. She wasn't actually expecting to die now. She imagined Natasha was probably leading this charge, and these guards didn't stand a chance against her. If Daisy could just move her fingers a little more, she could help Natasha too. There. A small tremor shot out from her fingertips, and the door to the room slammed open. The guard still had a gun to Daisy's head, but Natasha would be here in 5...4...3...2...1... //

NATASHA: "Thanks, Ronnie," she replied when Ronnie relayed the message about what was waiting for them up ahead. "I dunno, Danny Boy," she smirked up at him. "I seem to be carrying all the weight here," she elbowed him gently. "Pick up the slack or I'm gonna leave you behind and save your girl myself. Maybe I'll steal the kiss right from under you too." Natasha glanced down at her utility belt to see what supplies she still had left. "I still have a few taser disks left. That should be enough to shock the oncoming guards. The rest we can take down the good old fashion way." And with that she heard the door to the room where Daisy was being held slam open. "Good girl," Nat grinned. Daisy was a fighter till the end. "Come on, Daniel. Let's work for a living." Natasha sprinted into the room full force. It didn't take long to make an assessment of the danger. She threw the first taser disk at the man who'd had a gun to Daisy's head. He dropped the weapon and began to convulse on the floor. Natasha threw the remaining disks that she had at the next few guards that tried to come at her. She used the momentum of their falling bodies to take down a couple more men. She was really hoping this would be the last of them.

DANIEL: the male let out a quiet huff at the update from ronnie "quack right?" he raised a brow before rolling his shoulders "to be fair, you are enhanced." daniel joked. he looked calm on the outside but internally he was worried about his girl... if that's still what she was. plenty of time had passed for her and daisy was probably given many opportunities to move on from some square she only knew for a short time... he wouldn't blame her in the slightest. nodding he followed after natasha, downing guards with his guns before exchanging blows with a couple. he dropped to the ground and knocked the legs out from under one before moving towards daisy his heart nearly breaking at the state she was in.

his hands were shaking slightly as he knelt down by her “hey... what did i tell you huh? i thought you were supposed to take care of yourself.” he was so relieved to see her again, although this wasn’t the reunion he had been hoping for after he had to stay behind to make sure that the team was able to escape back to their timeline with the chronicoms in tow. he worked as quickly as he could, removing any leftover wires and nodes from her body, while talking to her about... well, anything really. if anyone asked him later what he’d said, danny boy wouldn’t be able to tell you. his focus was getting daisy out of there and making sure she was safe. after he pulled the helmet off her head, he started brushing the hair out of her face “keep fighting okay? you stay awake for me daisy and i’m gonna get you home.” memories flashed in his mind of their time in the barn with malick, his heart breaking at the fact people kept hurting the amazing woman in front of him. he’d kick himself later for not trying to find a way back to her sooner, could he have prevented this from happening if he had? or perhaps he’d have been taken too, used against her in some way... he’d never really know, but daniel had to focus now. get her home, get her safe, make sure she’s okay three easy goals he could focus on. as gently as he could, daniel gathered daisy up in his arms and lifted her from the ground. “i got you sweetheart, it’s okay.”

DAISY: As the man who had been holding Daisy fell after being tased by Natasha, Daisy crumpled too, her body unable to hold herself up after constant torture. She was glad to have been right about Natasha coming in, but after her head hit the floor, her awareness of what was around her was fading again. She vaguely heard the sound of fighting, and then there was a familiar voice that she hadn't heard in a long time. Her eyes, covered in her own blood, wouldn't open anymore, but she recognized Daniel. She must've been slipping. It was a result of being so close to death. An auditory hallucination. It wasn't real. "Daniel?" she whispered, allowing herself to ask even when she knew this wasn't real.

NATASHA: Natasha was tired as she took out the last of the guards. Parts of her tactical suit were torn and her lip was bloody from where one of them managed to hit her, but she was thankfully in one piece. She pushed her coms button to give the team a status update. "We have Daisy," she informed them. "We're en route out through the north bay entrance. Take the carrier, find Lucia," her voice took on a darker tone. "I have some questions for her myself." Lucia von Bardas was the one that ordered this torture. Natasha was about to return the favor. She turned to see Daniel pick up Daisy. The woman was barely conscious at this point. Natasha approached them and gave Daisy a reckless smile before quacking obnoxiously. "I didn't give you permission to die. This is so unprofessional. I'm sure you'll make it up to me though."

Her coms buzzed. "Romanoff, we're in."

"Welcome to the party, boys," she grinned. Moments later she heard boots on the ground and the sound of rooms being checked and cleared. It was the back up unit that she'd called. "Come on, let's get her to the Hyperbaric Chamber."

DANIEL: "yeah sweetheart, it's me." he spoke softly as he adjusted his hold to keep a feel of her pulse like he had when he pulled her out of that barn all those years ago. watching the small interaction between natasha and daisy made him smile, seeing her have family like this made him so happy... it was everything she deserved. seeing the agents filing in daniel started moving out of the room, daisy didn't look too good and she needed to get back to hq to start recovering. he turned and looked over his shoulder, smirking slightly "you coming romanoff? thought you said you were gonna steal the kiss from me?"

DAISY: She still heard his voice speaking to her, and she felt like it was just a sign that she was going to slip away again soon. The sound of Natasha's voice was something she knew to be real. She could focus on it, though that was getting harder to do. She heard Lucia's name, and the hellicarrier started shaking violently. It wasn't intentional on Daisy's part. She was hardly in control of her body right now, but as Natasha came over to her and started quacking at her, Daisy calmed enough for the shaking to stop. She tried to return the greeting, but it only came out as choked gurgling. Apparently, blood in your throat didn't allow for very articulated speech, even in the instance of duck calls. She managed at least a small smile as Natasha criticized her for not getting permission to die. "n't dead yet," she wheezed out.

She felt herself being lifted up and moved through the halls. Her eyes weren't open, but she could hear and feel just well enough to know she was being moved quickly. Daniel's voice spoke again, and she had to remind herself again that this wasn't real. It was easier to believe that it was a hallucination from what he said. Even if it was her Daniel, she was sure Natasha would kick his ass for implying she was falling behind. Daisy hadn't been able to see much before, but she'd heard the fighting. Plus, she knew Natasha well enough too to know that she must've done almost all of the fighting here. From the sound of Natasha's orders, she was leading this thing. Whoever suggested she of all people was falling behind was going to regret the words coming out of their mouth. Daisy almost felt sorry for whoever it was, but at least it wasn't actually Daniel.

Whoever was carrying her, certainly not Daniel, got her off of the hellicarrier fairly quickly, or maybe Daisy was just losing her concept of time passing. She heard S.H.I.E.L.D. agents directing the person carrying her back to the zephyr, telling them to get her to the hyperbaric chamber as quickly as possible because she didn't look good. She fell back into unconsciousness before she found out if she made it into that chamber or not. Maybe she was dead. She hoped not. Natasha hadn't given her permission to die yet. How would she make it up to her?

DEKE: Deke was nervous. Not his usual 'state of being' kind of nervous but the more dastardly 'holy shit is my friend alive' kind of nervous. Also the 'she got tortured and it's my fault' kind of guilt laid in pretty thick too. But... he couldn't let that take away his focus right now. He needed to be an agent. Turn off the nerves and the guilt, he was a pro at it in the past he could for sure do it now. He would, if nothing else than for Daisy's sake. The moment Daisy was in, all hurt and bruised and broken but still Daisy, still strong. Well, Deke did what he did best. Move. As soon as it was possible with Daisy situated and safety in there the machination turned on and began it's process.

That was his part. Small. In the end, it was Daisy who would have the toughest job. And that was surviving. Deke inhaled deeply, wishing he could do more and knowing he could not. He ran a hand through his hair. "She'll be okay." He spoke, not even knowing if the words were for himself or the others. "She will..."

NATASHA: She rolled her eyes at Sousa's joke. "My pacing's fine. Yours though..." she frowned. She'd carried most of the operation from the investigation to the rescue mission itself so she wasn't even mildly amused. "We'll have to work on that if you wanna keep up with me and Daisy," she winked. She'd already stolen a kiss from Daisy...more than that actually. But she wasn't gonna tell the old man that. Bless his heart. Now that her team had moved in on the helicarrier, getting to the zephyr wasn't all to hard. Natasha's shoulders eased once Daisy was in the chamber. She would be okay.

"Romanoff, we have Lucia," one of her agents reported through the coms.

"I'm on my way." Natasha looked up at Deke, Daniel, and the others. "They have Lucia and I have questions." She also had a penchant for violence. And based on the way Daisy looked right now, Natasha had no plans to go easy on Lucia. "I think you guys can manage from here. Get Daisy home safe or the next body I bury will be yours," she informed the team. It was very clear she had the means to carry out on that threat. With that, Natasha left Daisy's side and made her way back to the helicarrier to interrogate Lucia. / END

#discord chat

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calliecat93 · 3 years ago

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ST: TNG S4 Watchthrough Episodes 6-9

Legacy: We have ended up on the home planet of Tasha Yar… and wow it’s not a nice place. We also find out that she has a sister, welp. So… it was alright. Ishara is very similar to Tasha in demeanor, but also very different. I tilt my head at the crew being so willing to trust and accept Ishara into their midst when they know nothing about this woman. I could see the ‘she’s using them’ plot a mile away. But to be fair, the episode addresses it. They wanted to see Tasha. They wanted to see the brave, loyal, strong-willed Security Chief that they lost so callously in her sister… and in the end, that took over. While I can see why Ishara acted as she did, she didn’t know these people and hasn’t seen Tasha in years so she’s under no obligation to care about them, it really has to hurt that she used them and almost committed mass murder and make them take the lame. Her world is a hellhole so her actions make sense, but that doens’t change the betrayal. Especially for Data. Riker sums it up well, with trust comes betrayal… but without trust, there is no friendship. That’s just the cruel truth. Anyways, it was a fine episode. I like that we have a pot-mortem for Tasha even if late… but it just makes me wish that tasha herself didn’t get killed sos he could have had her own plot and feeligns focused on. It still pisse sme off and is just a reminder of so much wasted potential. But ah well, for what they had to work with, they did it welll. 3/5.

Reunion: K’Ehleyr is back… and with a child. Worf’s child, to be exact. Huh. have been waiting very patiently for a follow-up to Sins of the Father and this was an excellent one! Back in K’Ehleyr’s first episode, she was unwilling to take the Oath and Worf wanted to so much and follow the Klingon traditions. Here? K’Ehleyr is ready and doens’t care that he was discommendated… but now Worf can’t. he’s been dishonored and even if it means nothing to K’Ehleyr, it means a great deal to him. He can’t let her or his son bear that shame. It’s so hard to watch him here. How anguished he feels, the way the other Klingons treat him despite it being their damn fault that he accepted it, to begin with, just knowing that he did nothing wrong… but for the greater good, he has to bear it. He doesn’t even want Alexander to be known as his son not because he’s unwilling to accept parental responsibility but to spare him of the dishonor. Just… freakin’ ouch. I was so happy to see K’Ehleyr back and her character is just so freakin’ good and her wanting to allow Alexander to find his life path? Excellent parenting. So… needless to say, her being killed off pisses me off. They at least allowed her character to shine, but… it feels like they only did it to make Worf suffer more. It was well-executed, I was about ready to tear up and Worf being driven to kill Duras for all the suffering that he put him through and now killing the woman he loved (which btw the romantic chemistry was MUCH better here than last time)? I can’t blame him at all. I get why he got reprimanded since Duras was a political figure and this can cause a whole host of problems and clearly Picard was sympathetic… but I just felt so bad for Worf. At least he admitted that he was Aexander’s father and hopefully the poor kid will have a good life with Worf’s parents, bu… yeah. K’Ehleyr’s death stops me form giving this a perfect score, very least I wish we had gotten to see her fight instead of goign to commerical and them walking in on her bloody corpse… but at least they got the tone down. I just hope that one day, Worf and his brother can truly expose the conspiracy because Worf deserves a Hell of a lot better. 4.5/5.

Future Imperfect: Let’s perform a thought experiment, shall we? Imagine going on assignment on your birthday, business as usual… then some kind of mishap happens. You wake up… and discover that you have lost sixteen years' worth of your memory. You can’t remember significant life changes, special moments for yourself and your loved ones, or even your spouse and child. Then just as you begin getting used to things and accepting this new life… you find out that it was all a lie and you were in an illusion all along. You were captured and tricked… and then you find out that was also a lie and it was all due to a lonely alien child left on a barren planet/within a highly advanced Holodeck system that can give him anything that he wants, everyone he knew had died and he did all of this just to have a friend. Congratulations folks, you have now experienced what Riker went through this episode! Yeah, this episode was crazy. I feel bad for the poor kid, while he shouldn’t have done what he did we’re talking about a lonely child essentially forced to live in a Holodeck and just wanted to interact with someone real. Also, I loved how Riker got clued in on how the future word was fake, excellent call-back to Season One! Not much else to say, but good episode! It was wild, that’s for sure~ 3.5/5.

Final Mission: Well folks, this is the curtain call for Wesley Crusher. I know that he pops back up once or twice, but this will be his final episode as a main character as he finally enters the Academy. We’ll get to my final thoughts on Wesley here in a bit, but l focus on the episode itself first. And… it was fine. We have Picard, Wesley, and some third guy crash land on a desert planet, the Enterprise unaware of if they’re alive or not. Thus the three struggle to survive which not only is the third guy essentially a paranoid asshole… but a cave-in seriosuly injures Picard. Thus Wesley is more or less on his own and has to keep Picard alive. Thankfully we avoid killing him off, and thus they make sure to give Wesley a proper send-off. They let him showcase his strengths with his intellegence, fast thinking, and compared to in the beginning he’s much more mature and capable of handling an Away Mission. This convinced me that yes, Wesley is ready for the Academy and that he will be a great Starfleet Officer someday. Meanwhile the Enterprise are dealing with their own issues because of course they are. Nothing can ever just go easy for these people. can it? It’s fine. The Enterprise plot didn’t have me invested aside form worrying about Dr. Crusher. The poor woman just burris herself in her work to deal with her worry about Wesley and evades Troi when she tries to assure her Otherwise the plot is there sot hat it can be a solo Picard and Wesley adventure without hem interfering. Which while I havn’t been the biggest fan of their dynamic, it’s clear how much Welsey admires Picard such as recounting their Samaritan Snare adventure, and Picard admititng that he brought him along because he was going to miss the kid. It’s a nice moment between the characters and allows Wesley to truly open up… though I wish it focused more on him and his mother since that’s been seriously lacking, but ah well. It was still a good send-off episode for Wesley and that’s how you want to treat your characters, whether they stay ont he show or not. 3/5.

As for Wesley himself… it’s been a bumpy road. Do I agree with the consensus that Wesley is an annoying child character that even his actor agrees with (albeit I think jokingly but still)? No. Wesley isn't a bad character. He’s a smart young kid, tries his best, makes mistakes but tries to do his best, and he grew. He’s a perfectly likable kid and this episode especially shows the best of him. Do I agree that the character's role and execution were annoying and contributed to his reputation? Yes. That is ultimately what it boils down to decent character, poor execution. In S1 Wesley was elevated far more than he needed to be. He was given privileges that no other character his age would have been granted no matter the competency level that borders on blatant favoritism. Whenever he made a serious error, he got praise for fixing it, never scolded for his actions with The Naked Now being the worst example. He still had good episodes like Coming of Age, but alas. I think having a kid character who aspires to be in Starfleet, has a parent who is a prominent crew member, and being able to use his skills to help was a perfectly fine idea… but there were just issues with how they did it. S2 and 3 were. While I disliked him at the end of The Dauphin and he still got showed some blatant favoritism, it was better balanced. I didn't feel he earned to be an Ensign until this episode… y’know, the one that shipped him off to The Academy. Crusher being written out in S2 and then brought back in S3 also really killed any and all potential that their dynamic could have truly brought which also hurt. It really feels like by S3 they just didn’t know what to do with the character anymore, limiting him to mainly Helmsman duty. He wasn't being elevated anymore… but he wasn't adding anything anymore either. Maybe promoting him was to help give him something… but Wil Wheaton decided to go, and that ended that. I can’t say I’m sad to see Wesley go because his potential just got squandered to the point that keeping him just felt pointless, and having him go to the Academy feels like the best natural end-point for him, so might as well be now. Nevertheless, Wesley was still part of the crew and for all that I criticized, he certainly didn’t deserve the hate that he got. If people like or even relate to the character, that’s great! He just didn’t work for me unfortunateley. Wil Wheaton obviously moved on to bigger, better things and is well-liked in the fandom, so that’s good cause he certainly did the best that he could. He just wasn’t given a lot of good material. Hopefully Welsey’s later guest appearances will give him somethingg ood and heck maybe they’ll convince Wheaton to come back in Picard one day, but for now… farewell Wesley. Can’t say I’ll miss you, but it wasn’t the worst ride either.

#st watchthrough

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agentstarkbarnes · 4 years ago

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New guy. (Steve x Jules)

Summary: Julia Katina-Rose Johnson and Steve Rogers are in a relationship for over a year. A new guy comes along to share Julia’s love. --------------------------------------------------------

“Wake up, Miss.Sleepyhead” Steve grinned as he sat on the edge of the bed, all suited up. Apparently, another mission.

“I was working all night, researching with Tasha” Julia mumbled, pulling her blanket over her. Tasha Stark was Julia’s best friend, more like a sister. “Young Stark is ruining you very much” Steve laughed in a friendly way. “You two are always talking science and being smart” “Dumbass” Julia giggled from under the sheets. Steve started tickling her, eventually waking her up. “I need to sleeeeeep” she whined.

“And I need a kiss from my beautiful girlfriend” Steve smiled as he pecked her softly, making her smile. “Another mission, Steve?” she sounded worried. “You need a break, sweetie” “Hey, this is my last mission for this month..after this, we’ll cuddle all day, watch movies and eat chocolates!” he winked at her, like a little boy. The boy she loved.

“That sounds fun” she chuckled as he admired her. He got up from the bed and towards the door after a warm hug from her.

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Steve’s mission was fortunately an easy one. They had to raid an old building, beat up the mobs and collect data from the hydra database. However, it took two days to organise the data, clear up the place and return to the Avengers tower.

It was about 4 in the evening when he returned from the mission. Steve was smiling as he was excited to see Julia after two days. He had promised to give her his time after missions which made him smile more.

“Darling I’m here” Steve entered the room. Much to his surprise, the room was empty. After cleaning himself up, he went to the kitchen, living room and even the gym to look for her. “Hey Tasha, have you seen Julia?” he asked Tasha who was painting Bucky’s nails.“No Stevie, I haven’t seen her” Steve sat in his room, reading a book, waiting for Julia. After what seemed like an hour, he heard her voice afar, thanks to his superhuman hearing.

“Hush, Steve’s inside, I need you to be silent” Julia whispered, making Steve more curious.

After she finally opened the door, she looked at him. “Steve, I have something to tell you” “Oh no, is it bad news?” his made his classic puppy eyes at her. Julia raised another set of puppy eyes at him, except for this time, it was a real puppy.

“Surprise” she smiled at Steve. “Meet Dodger (:smirk:)” she giggled as she closed the door with the little labrador.They spent the rest of the day, talking and playing with the pup, but it was mostly Steve adoring Julia and the way she played around their pup.

The night passed around with Tasha, Bucky, Steve and Julia playing with Dodger and laughing after the dinner with the Avengers. After a while, around 11, Tasha bid them night and went to Tony, her dad and Bucky went with her. Steve and Julia got tired, mostly because they were playing with Dodger, so they decided to call it a night.

Julia walked with Steve to his room. “Good night Captain” she smiled and he pleaded for a goodnight kiss. As she leaned forward, Dodger tugged her shoes and ran on the floor which made her chase Dodger, without giving the captain a kiss. Steve sighed at the pup and went inside his room, mumbling to himself. “Little guy stealing my love”

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The next morning, Steve woke up and went to the gym, as usual. Everyday, Julia and him used to work out together, helping and complimenting each other and making cute jokes about each other. But this morning, Steve found Tony, Romanoff, Tasha, Bucky, Clint, and even Banner, but not Julia.

“Where is she?” he asked Tasha, who was laying back to back on Bucky, facing the ceiling as he did push ups. “Jules went outside with Dodger, for a walk” she chuckled. Steve sighed at this.

“What’s the matter, capsicle?” Tony asked from across the room. “Nothing” he muttered, going towards the weights.

This happened for over a week, and Steve didn’t tell Julia anything because he didn’t wanna seem like a jerk. Steve missed Julia who now had a new responsibility to take care of Dodger, so he didn’t blame her, of course. She would take Dodger on morning and evening walks, play frisbee with him, and sometimes took him along on their dates because Dodger was a wee little pup. She tried her best to spend time with him, and Steve was happy about that. Still, he missed her around him.

He was sitting on the lounge, reading a book. Clint,Tasha and Buck fought over who gets to pick the movie, while Tony and Banner talked science. Romanoff was taking a power nap. Julia was at the vet with Dodger. “Hey Cap, you good?” Tasha asked, after finally losing the remote battle to Clint.

“Yeah I am” he muttered, a tinge of sadness in his voice. “You sure buddy?” Bucky asked. Steve nodded and walked away to the kitchen, with Bucky following him.

“I know you’re not fine, punk” he picked up a bottle of chilled water.

“Fine, I know it sounds stupid, but Julia seems to rarely spend time since we got Dodger” he sighed. “He’s always needing Julia, and I promised her that I’ll stay with her all the time after the mission, but now she isn’t free”

“Are you jealous of a pupper, Dorito?” Tasha smirked,picking a dorito pack from the shelf. “Good one” Bucky winked at her, chuckling at the pun.

Steve rolled his eyes. “Yes I am, you happy now?”

“Steve..” Julia was standing by the doorway, and she was hearing this conversation the whole time. “You really thought I ignored you for Dodger?” her voice was sad. Tasha took the hint and went out of the room, Bucky following her.

Steve was flustered and embarrassed. “Not really, but ever since Dodger came, we rarely spend time with each other” he sighed. “I’m sorry, this sounds ridiculous..” “No no, Steve” she went closer and gave a warm hug. “I’m sorry for not spending time with you” she stayed in the hug, so did he.

“It’s only because I found Dodger near a dump, Steve..I wanted to make him feel loved, and he is young so he’s fragile..I never realized you got hurt..” Julia continued. Steve was now feeling guilty. Julia has a golden heart and made sure the pup was loved and I’ve been acting like a jerk.. Steve thought as he kept on the warm hug.

“I’m sorry baby” he whispered. “Hey hey it’s okay, I’m sorry too..” Julia said. She then withdrew from the hug and gave him a bright smile. “To make it up to you, let’s do what you promised- days of cuddling and movies and chocolates!” Julia giggled and gave him a gentle kiss. “That’d be great, love” Steve smiled as he went with her to his room, turning on the TV.

“Wait, what about Dodger?” he asked.

“Tasha will take care of him for a while..I’m sure the others would chime in too” she chuckled.

“Perfect” he chuckled as they cuddled up for the movie.

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writings-in-ebony · 5 years ago

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The Black Dahlia - Stucky x Black!Reader

Summary: You just wanted to board your plane but the two men following you have other plans. This is an AU based off of the show Carmen Sandiego, where you also play a female thief who escapes a corrupted organization of thieves.

Author’s note: Wow! Two submissions in less than 24 hours! Yeah but this might be a one-shot, it might be a series. Who knows. It’s up to you guys. I love the show Carmen Sandiego and wanted to add this concept to the Marvel Universe. As always, likes and reblogs are well received and I love comments and asks! Thanks again, everyone!

Word Count: 1704

Warnings: Bad language

The Black Dahlia

The airport was not too crowded today, mostly because it was a Sunday and the holidays had just recently ended. You were currently standing in line waiting for your luggage to get checked in, looking over the recent data Tony had sent to you that morning. It was a long list of things, but the flight would give you enough time to look over and analyze everything that you needed. Then, you could plan your next steps.

You moved up within the line and noticed something out the corner of your eye. There was a man, a thickly built blonde wearing a Yankees baseball cap and a tightly fitting t-shirt, standing over by the suitcase return. He stood with his hands in his pockets and the way he angled his face, you could decipher that his eyes were aimed straight at you under his thickly tinted sunglasses.

Wow, such an amateur move, you thought to yourself as you pretended not to notice him. The suitcase return hasn’t been activated recently which means he was standing there for nothing. Add that to the fact he was wearing sunglasses in a dimly lit portion of an airport. He told on himself and you had found him.

“Tasha?” you casually asked to the hidden earpiece in your ear?

“Yes, boss?” came a silky Russian accent.

“I’ve got eyes on a blonde over by the suitcase return. Very built and very noticeable,” you provided, stepping up yet again. You were next in line and you rolled your suitcase in front of you.

“Ah, I see.” There was a small pause. “He is definitely here for you. Can’t take his eyes off you. Is he one of your previous friends?” You did a small sweep of your eyes and smiled at the fact you couldn’t even spot Natasha. However, wherever she was, she saw everything. She was very good at her job and stealth was one of her strongest skills. It’s mainly why you hired her.

“Not to break up this chat, but uh…you have a second admirer too. Nine o’clock position,” came Clint’s voice. You darted your eyes to the left and searched. This one was harder to find, but you saw him. He was standing by the information desk, leafing through the travel brochures and informational pamphlets. He, too, was built, but slightly smaller than the blonde. It also didn’t help that he had on the same dark sunglasses. They really, and you meant really, needed to retire those.

You were called to the front by one of the attendants, a friendly-looking elderly woman. “How may I help you, Miss?” You placed your suitcase on the scale and smiled at her, making small conversation and asking the woman how her day was. All the while, the men in the background didn’t shift and watched your every move. It was funny how intensely they stared, yet you knew their efforts would be fruitless.

“All done dearie. Here’s your suitcase number to make sure you can keep track of it. Have a nice flight!” And with that, she tossed your suitcase on the conveyor behind her and you eased away from the counter. Now, you just had to get to your gate. But first, you had to lose Thing 1 and Thing 2.

“Tony,” you said into the earpiece.

“Yes, my lovely Dahlia?” You rolled your eyes. He was such a cornball, but he got the job done.

“Is there a way you can bypass the airport’s security measures and make a few changes for me?”

“What changes you need, babe?”

“I need you to look within the cameras and spot the two men tailing me. One’s blonde and wearing a tight blue shirt and the other is brunette with a large green jacket on. Can’t miss them,” you provided as you weaved through the thick crowd.

“Gotcha.” Furious typing could be heard, and Tony made a sound of triumph as he locked in on the two. “Oh, yeah, they’re definitely following you.”

“Great. I want you to use the airport’s new identification system to lock on these two men and expose them as threats. Make it seem like the police is searching for them. Once you do, airport security will immediately lock on them and we’ll be able to board our plane with no hassle. Got it?”

“Ooooh, petty. I love it,” Tony giggled maniacally.

You looked at your phone once again and looked up the airport’s emergency hotline. Immediately dialing the number, it took two rings before a woman’s voice piped up saying, “Airport Emergency, how may we be of assistance?”

You quickened your breathing, simulating panic and heightened the tone of your voice. “Oh, thank God. Hi. Um, I know this might seem like a pointless call, but I feel as though there are two men who have been following me throughout the entire airport. It’s really freaking me out and I just want to make sure they’re not going to harm me.”

The woman on the other line jumped into action and asked for their descriptions. “Um, one’s a blonde, very muscular, and has on a tight blue shirt. The other one is scarier with shoulder-length brown hair, a stubble, and a thick green jacket. Is that description okay?” You were really selling it and you could hear Clint’s snorting through the earpiece.

“Of course, ma’am. Let me look.” It only took a few seconds before the woman gasped. “Oh my.”

“What is it?!”

“These two men have search warrants out for them. The police are looking to question them on allegations regarding sex trafficking, coercion of a minor, and battery! Ma’am, please hang tight. We are deploying security right now.”

“Oh my God! Thank you! My flight leaves in about ten minutes, so I’ll just sit at my gate.”

“Okay. If you need anything, please call us again.” You thanked the woman profusely and hung up, a smirk crossing your face.

“Wow, Tony. Way to up the criminal offenses.”

“I had to make sure they were quick about it. You know how slow law enforcement is.”

You were about to reply when you felt a large hand grab your elbow. Trained to not react, you calmly looked up at the imposing figure beside you. It was the brunette, his face set in a grim expression as he looked down at you from the corner of his eyes.

“Why, hello, Bucky,” you smiled.

“Don’t ‘Hello, Bucky’ me. It’s the Winter Soldier and you know it,” he growled, hand squeezing the upper part of your elbow. “We’ve been tailing you for some time now and you really think you’re about to hop on that plane and elude us again. Well, you’re not Black Dahlia. You’re not going anywhere but back to the compound.” You didn’t answer and instead turned to the left to look at the blonde who was standing very close to you.

“Hello, Steve. Still wearing that same lame disguise?” His jaw tensed at the comment, but he didn’t reply.

The hand on your elbow pulled you to the side, away from an incoming cart, but it kept its same grip. “You’re not getting away easily. We’re going to go straight out this airport and down to the car, with no problems. If you cause any, we’ll make sure you arrive back to the island with some difficulty walking,” Bucky threatened.

“No, you won’t,” you challenged.

“And why won’t I?” Bucky’s eyes widened at you, wondering if you had lost your goddamn mind. But you didn’t waver.

“Because you and Steve love me.”

Bucky’s eyes narrowed and you could hear Steve intake a breath. “No, you don’t get to say that. You stopped loving us when you left us there. When you decided to go your own selfish way and leave us to fend for ourselves! So yeah, we did love you, but you made your choice and proved to us that we were disposable!” His voice rose above a growl, his anger clear as day on his face.

“I never stopped loving you,” you shot back. “I never stopped loving either of you, but I’m not going to give away my life to…to crime and hurting innocent people. That’s not me and I’d rather live without you both than subject myself to that moral torture!” You aimed a glare at Bucky, then composed yourself. It would do no good arguing in the middle of a crowded airport. Too much attention.

You eyed a passing clock, realizing you had five minutes before your flight took off. You also saw that men dressed in thick police gear were approaching from both sides. Now’s the time for your escape. “And while I would love to keep confessing our mutual dislike for each other, I really must catch my flight. And you and Steve must try to leave this airport without getting caught by the police and airport security. I think I heard from a little birdy that you both have arrest warrants for sex trafficking, coercion of a minor and battery.” The men stopped and looked at you, bewildered, then aimed their confused stares at the incoming police. “So, ta-ta boys and I’ll see you at a future date? If you make it out of here, that is.” And with that, you pinched a nerve in Bucky’s arm, causing him to cry out and escaped his grasp, disappearing into the crowd with ease. If they were smart, they wouldn’t follow you and by the looks of it, they didn’t.

You passed the armed men and headed straight for your gate where the flight attendants were preparing to close the doors. Making it just in time and quickly scanning your ticket, you boarded the airplane with ease and went to your first-class seat. Natasha and Clint occupied the two seats behind yours, giving you respectable smirks and a thumbs-up for your cunningness.

As the plane was beginning to roll itself away from the airport, you looked out the window and spotted two figures standing on the roof of the airport, staring at your plane. It was too late, and they knew it. They had failed again and would keep failing. The Black Dahlia never got caught.

#stucky x reader #stucky x black!reader #black!reader #Steve Rogers #bucky barnes #steve x bucky #poc!reader #bucky x reader

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atamascolily · 4 years ago

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lily liveblogs Star Trek: TNG 1x10 - “Hide and Q”

oh, man, a q episode. I'm so excited. I’ve missed that crazy fucker so much.

No Troi this episode? Hahaha, right, because I'm sure the crew will get up to all kinds of shenanigans without their resident counselor (or maybe her actresss just needed a day off?) Too bad, though, I like Troi.

Okay, who has the miniskirt as part of their uniform? I keep seeing background characters wearing it, but none of the main crew. At least, it's gender-neutral, inasmuch as I've spotted both men and women wearing it.

Geordi picks up a force field on the scanners... "It's almost like..."

....the last time we ran into that obnoxious Q guy at Farpoint, Data finishes.

(Riker totally missed that bit, so it's gonna be hysterical watching him catch up.)

Picard: "Not now, Q, damn it!" (is there ever a good time, though?)

I see the show is re-using its SFX from the pilot to save on money.

Q, a floating three-headed cobra attached to a translucent balloon: Hey, wanna let me make your dreams come true?

Picard: NOT NOW, DAMN IT, I'M BUSY!!

so that's what a Starfleet Admiral's uniform looks like with the ridiculous gold trim? WOW.

(love how the music sweeps to a dramatic flourish as Picard and Q stare at each other there)

Riker crosses his arms over his chest, and looks all smug as Q flirts with Picard. RIKER KNOWS. RIKER KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS GOING.

so much flirting. so much flirting. I can't keep a straight face.

Q decides to flirt with Riker instead since Picard is Not Buying It, and then kidnaps the bridge crew to mess with Picard

Q is dressed up as Napoleon because of course he is, lol

(Q is literally just fucking with them all because he's bored)

Worf refuses to drink with Q and stares up down while dramatically destroying his glass, #respect

Q puts Tasha in a literally penalty box for threatening him, so much for any female characters in this episode, sigh

oh, wait, she's on the Enterprise with Picard, trying to explain everything and Picard is so sweet trying to console her ahhhhhh my heart.

Tasha says, "If only you weren't Captain", oh no, that girl has some ISSUES with sex and intimacy that this show has only hinted at, but NO PLEASE I DON'T SHIP THIS and Q shows up jealous, WOW, lot to unpack there.

Picard, as a French person, has, uh, issues with Q's Napoleonic outfit, lol, that’s totally why Q chose it

ahahaha, picard and q get into an argument over Shakespeare, I am LIVING FOR THIS.

Riker is doing the thing where he props his leg up on a boulder again, lol

(where is wesley crusher in all this, anyway? no idea)

Riker asks Data a question and Data turns and its Q in Data's makeup AHHHHHHHH SO CREEPY AHHHHHHHH

Q gives Riker phenomenal cosmic power, this is gonna be fun

Data is hesitant to explain that they were being shot at by animal creatures in Napoleonic uniforms because Picard is French. Poor Data.

Picard's like, welp, we don't have to worry about Riker, because Q's interested in him. Jealous much, Jean-Luc?

Watching Riker annoy Q is so satisfying, lol.

oh there's Wesley in his rainbow sweater, finally

Riker uses his new Q powers to save the crew from DEATH then makes a promise to Picard not to use it, even though he could have saved a girl's life with it later when they visit a mining colony and this bothers him.

(I see why Troi isn't around, she would have SHUT THAT SHIT DOWN in a heartbeat.)

Riker is so impressed with the Q, and everyone else - who was there for that fucking trial farce - is like, nah, bro, Q's a bastard, don't fall for it.

Q shows up dressed as a monk now, and encourages Riker to give the rest of the crew "gifts" using his powers

Dr. Crusher startles to hustle Wes out of there but too later - Riker turns him into AN ADULT STILL WEARING THE SAME RAINBOW SWEATER AHAHAHAHAHA (because he wanted to be “a man” and not, you know, a fashion icon)

(Geordi's reaction to aged-up Wes is "Not bad," which is just *chef's kiss*)

Data's like, no, I want no part in this, and quotes Shakespeare, so Riker doesn’t make him play this stupid game

Geordi gets to SEE with his eyes and his first reaction is to tell Tasha how beautiful she is, SIGH

but Geordi makes Riker take it back because he doesn't want to owe Q anything

Rikers gets Worf a girlfriend. I shit you not. They start brawling/making out on the bridge, which must be so awkward for everyone else, and then Worf rejects her, saying he has no place for sex in his life now

(but really this is the equivalent of the drink-tossing earlier)

We are spared Riker trying to grant Tasha's wish because the writers are SHITTY AT WRITING FEMALE CHARACTERS AND IT WOULD BE AWFUL by Riker admitting he's wrong

Picard’s like “no really?”

and then the rest of the Q show up and nab our rogue Q and he disappears screaming

Data asks how Q can be so good at time and space and shit at humanity, and Picard says space and time are easier, and you can see Data's "well, that checks out" shrug

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS EPISODE. WHAT THE FUCK.

don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this, but the message got a little muddle with the incredibly convoluted plot, and none of the writers know how to write female characters AT ALL

like STOP SHIPPING TASHA YAR WITH EVERY MALE CHARACTER ON THE SHIP, DAMN IT

this could have been really good if the writers had been on their A-game, but instead it's just cracktastically weird

I think if I were to re-write the episode I would focused on either the “Riker having the powers of the god” bit OR “Q forcing them to fight to the death on a random planet for his amusement” but BOTH plotlines in a single episode was really a mess

but hey, I am a simple soul, and Q messing with Riker and flirting with Picard is pretty hilarious in my book.

I still maintain none of this would have happened if Troi had been there, though, because Riker would have been “yes, ma’am” and sat the hell down as soon as she looked askance at him.

(still no clue what the title means, though)

#lily liveblogs #star trek: tng #hide and q

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phantom-le6 · 4 years ago

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Episode Reviews - Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 (2 of 6)

Again, this is bit later in being posted than I’d planned, but here’s my second round of episode reviews for season 4 of Stark Trek: The Next Generation.

Episode 6: Legacy

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

The Enterprise, responds to a distress call from the Federation freighter Arcos, which has suffered engine failure and taken emergency orbit around the planet Turkana IV, the birthplace of the Enterprise's late chief of security, Tasha Yar. The Enterprise arrives just as the Arcos explodes, and finds a trail left behind by the freighter's escape pod leading to the colony. Turkana IV's government collapsed 15 years before; and the last Federation ship to visit, six years earlier, was warned by the colony's warring factions that trespassers to the planet would be executed. Because the freighter crew's lives are in danger, Captain Picard decides to attempt a rescue.

Commander Riker leads an away team to the surface, where they find the colonists initially unperturbed by their presence, but soon end up in a standoff with one of the colony's two remaining warring factions, the Coalition. Their leader, Hayne, reveals that the other faction, the Alliance, holds the Arcos survivors hostage, and offers the Enterprise the Coalition's support in exchange for Federation weapons, a proposal that Riker rejects. Hayne, however, after learning of Tasha Yar's service aboard the Enterprise, instead offers as a liaison Ishara Yar, claiming she is Tasha's sister. Picard accepts Ishara aboard; although the crew is initially skeptical, DNA tests support her claim, and she gradually gains their trust. Commander Data, who was especially close to Tasha, becomes friends with Ishara, who seems ready to leave behind her life in the colony.

To find the hostages, Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge suggests using the crashed escape pod's instruments; Ishara recommends that she beam separately to a nearby location as a distraction, because her implanted proximity device will set off the Alliance's alarms. The crew executes the plan, but Ishara is wounded in the attempt. Riker rescues her, and is impressed by her bravery. Later, Ishara privately tells Hayne "It's working."

When the Enterprise receives a message from the Alliance announcing that they are preparing to kill the Arcos crew, Picard's crew decides to execute Ishara's proposed rescue plan: Dr Crusher removes Ishara's proximity device, which she gives to Data as a memento. Riker leads an away team to the planet, where they rescue the hostages, but Ishara disappears in the confusion. Data finds her trying to disable the Alliance security grid; Ishara reveals that a large Coalition force is just outside the Alliance perimeter waiting to attack. Data concludes that all her interaction with the crew was a ploy. Riker arrives to distract Ishara just as she fires at Data, who dodges and then stuns her and reverses her attempted sabotage. Riker notes that her phaser was set to kill.

With the away team and Ishara back aboard the Enterprise, Hayne demands that Picard return Ishara and challenges his jurisdiction. While Riker argues that they have cause to hold her for firing on two Starfleet officers, Picard decides to allow her to leave. As Data escorts her to the transporter room, Ishara claims he was the closest thing she had to a friend. Data considers his relationships with both Ishara and Tasha, as the Enterprise departs. Data then discusses the recent events with Riker; while Riker states that trust always carries the risk of betrayal, and that that risk has be taken to have friendships, Data suggests he is lucky to be spared the emotional effects of betrayal. However, as Data leaves Riker’s quarters, he finds himself still carrying Ishara’s proximity device.

Review:

When it comes to get posthumous mileage out of the late Tasha Yar, I think this is the best effort TNG has offered us so far. Discounting minor allusions in episodes like ‘The Measure of a Man’ and ‘The Most Toys’, the only other episode prior to this to really try and utilise Tasha again was the over-rated ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’, and that was just trying to re-do her death a bit better. This time, however, we get to see something of where Tasha came from and explore her in a more interesting way by having her crew-mates interact with her former home-world and her sister. There is also some allegory to gang violence and gang culture in the episode, but with Tasha’s sister Ishara being involved and having a connection of sorts with Data, that allegory is largely missed behind an inadvertent plot point that the episode brings up.

As I’ve noted in the previous TNG reviews I’ve posted, Data is often a metaphor for many aspects of autism, and the way he above all others is deceived by Ishara in the episode is an inadvertent, ahead-of-its-time allegory of mate crime. For anyone unfamiliar with that term, mate crime involves the offender pretending to be someone’s friend in order to set up that friend to be injured in some way. This can vary from being lured into a physical ambush to being set up to take the blame for something the victim hasn’t actually done. It often depends on the victim of this mate crime not having a full grasp of friendship and/or deceit, so people on the autistic spectrum and with other mental frameworks that make this difficult are heavily affected by it.

This being the case, one can easily see in Ishara Yar the exact kind of person who would commit such an offence in real life; selfish, ruthless and with no real regard for others. What she does to Data is every bit as heinous as any mate crime committed against an autistic person in the real world. It is inexcusable, and frankly I think Picard should have locked her up instead of letting her go. Nothing justifies her being let go at the end of the episode; not being Tasha’s sister, not the crew wanting to see something of Tasha in her, nothing. Honestly, I was hoping for a transporter accident to kill her when she was beamed back down at the end. Overall score for this episode, 9 out of 10; a transporter death some other suitable retribution on Ishara would have netted this episode top marks.

Episode 7: Reunion

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

The Enterprise is met by a Klingon Vor'cha class battlecruiser, and Ambassador K'Ehleyr requests to speak to Captain Picard on an "urgent matter". When she beams aboard, she brings a young Klingon boy; based on his previous romantic experience with K'Ehleyr, Lt. Worf suspects the child is his son. K'Ehleyr warns the senior staff of a power struggle occurring within the Klingon Empire and implores Picard to meet Chancellor K'mpec aboard the battlecruiser. On the Klingon ship, K'mpec acknowledges that he has been poisoned and is slowly dying, and insists that Picard become the Arbiter of Succession and identify his assassin. K'mpec dies shortly afterward. In a private moment, K'Ehleyr confirms to Worf that the Klingon boy is his son, Alexander, and she did not tell Worf for fear he would try to have a deeper relationship with her; Worf, already burdened by his discommendation, fears for Alexander's future, given the stigma of his family name.

The two challengers for leadership of the council, Gowron and Duras, arrive for the Rites of Succession. Worf still harbors hatred for Duras, who had (falsely) revealed Worf's father, Mogh, as a traitor in the Khitomer massacre and stained Worf's family name. Both Gowron and Duras attempt to quickly end the proceeding, but a small explosion erupts in the assembly hall. Picard and K'Ehleyr are safe but decide to draw out the Rites using an archaic ceremony while the Enterprise crew perform a forensic analysis on the explosion. Though both resent the longer form, Gowron and Duras have little choice but to agree to continue the Rites.

The Enterprise crew discover that the explosion came from a Romulan bomb implanted in the arm of one of Duras's guards. K'Ehleyr, aboard the Enterprise, has become intrigued and tries to find out why Worf was discommended. She accesses the Klingon records, and comes across evidence of Duras's father being the true traitor in the Khitomer massacre. Duras, notified of K'Ehleyr's access to the records and already aboard the Enterprise, goes to K’Ehley’s quarters and mortally wounds her. Worf soon discovers K'Ehleyr, dying, just in time for her to reveal that Duras is her killer; then she has Worf promise to look after Alexander. Returning to his quarters, Worf grabs a bat'leth, leaves his combadge behind, and transports to Duras's ship. There he challenges Duras to the Right of Vengeance. Initially, Duras rebuffs Worf, claiming that his traitor status denies him any rights, but Worf declares K'Ehleyr was his mate; since even discommendated Klingons may claim vengeance for a loved one's death, Duras accepts Worf's challenge. Worf easily gains the upper hand, but Duras taunts him; if Worf kills Duras, Worf can never regain his honor. Worf nonetheless strikes the killing blow. With Duras dead and no other challengers present, Gowron is presumably named Chancellor of the Empire.

After the Klingons leave, Picard takes Worf to task for killing Duras. Though Worf defends his actions as valid under Klingon law (as does the Klingon government), Picard reminds him he is first of all a Starfleet officer and places a formal reprimand on Worf's record. Worf and Alexander mourn their loss, and Worf places the boy in the care of his own adoptive parents, Sergey and Helena Rozhenko, finally admitting to Alexander himself that they are related.

Review:

The first appearances of the Vor’cha class Klingon battleship, the Bat’leth, Gowron and Alexander, plus a combined follow-up on both ‘The Emissary’ and ‘Sins of the Father’. This episode has not only huge impact on this series and the wider Trek franchise with all that it does, but it’s also very well-performed and, unlike the previous episode, the villain of the piece gets immediate comeuppance. There are numerous occasions up to now where Trek has been a bit too willing to let their villains off a little too easily, so it was good to see Duras finally go down, and to do so in proper Klingon style.

Now I know some fans were disappointed, upset, even out-raged that K’Ehlyer gets killed off because they all loved the character so much, and some even thought it was a bit sexist of the show to kill such a strong, independent female character on only her second time out. However, let’s put this in a bit of context; first, K’Ehlyer is one of three named characters to die in this episode, the other two of whom are Klingon blokes. This means that actually it’s not all that sexist because the episode’s body-count, and I believe that of TNG in general up to this point, favours male guest characters for croaking in tried-and-true red-shirt tradition.

Second, if K’Ehlyer doesn’t die, Worf has no reason to go blade-to-blade with Duras and ultimately bury his Bat’leth in the petaQ’s chest. K’mpec’s death is hardly going to justify Worf going to such lengths, and I don’t think violent child death would ever be acceptable within the world of Trek. Third, you’re supposed to be upset and out-raged over K’Ehyler’s death, and you’re supposed to direct those emotions the same way Worf does; at Duras. The idea is to be rooting for Worf, to cast aside the normally high, often too liberal sensibility of the Federation ideology and be rooting for Duras to get slaughtered. It’s fine to have a visceral reaction this time round; just focus it on the guest character where it belongs.

My one issue with this episode is Picard’s speech to Worf in reprimanding him for acting against Star Fleet’s code of conduct, or more specifically the line “If anyone cannot perform his or her duty because of the demands of their society, they should resign.” Taken out of the context and applied to real-life military organisations in societies that are highly backwards in their standards of tolerance, this line seems to imply a condoning of societal demands that impede inclusion. After all, if a society frowns upon certain groups of people serving in a military organisation and makes the life of anyone from those groups who tries to serve harder, Picard’s line could be used to justify forcing that person out of the military. Frankly, the idea that people have to ‘leave their culture at the door’ seems totally anti-Star Trek. What’s next, asking Deanna to leave her empathic powers in her quarters? Overall, this episode nets 9 out of 10 for me; Picard’s backwards line robs the episode of top marks.

Episode 8: Future Imperfect

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

Commander Riker's birthday celebration is interrupted as he, Geordi La Forge, and Worf are sent down to a huge cavern on Alpha Onias III, an uninhabited Class M planet, to investigate unusual readings. After their arrival, the cavern suddenly fills with toxic gases, and the three officers fall unconscious.

Riker awakens in sick bay to find that sixteen years have passed. He is now Captain of the Enterprise with Data as his first officer, and Picard has been promoted to admiral, with Deanna Troi serving as his aide. Riker cannot remember any event after the Alpha Onias III mission, which Doctor Crusher explains is a side effect of a viral infection he contracted on the planet, and his memories of the intervening events may or may not return in time.

Riker learns that he was married, is now widowed, and has a son named Jean-Luc (named after Picard). He is further startled when Tomalak, a Romulan commander who was formerly an archenemy of the Enterprise but is now an ambassador, beams onto the ship to negotiate a peace treaty with the Federation. Despite Picard's reassurances, Riker is hesitant to reveal sensitive Starfleet information in negotiating the treaty.

As Riker struggles to adjust to his new life, numerous inconsistencies arise. The Enterprise computer is uncharacteristically slow, numerous systems experience minor technical glitches, and Geordi is unable to correct the problems. Finally, Riker discovers that his late wife "Min" is Minuet, a fictional holodeck character he fell in love with (in the first season episode "11001001"). Riker realizes that the entire "future" he has been experiencing is a charade and confronts Picard and Tomalak on the Enterprise bridge, with more inconsistencies arising as he does so, proving his suspicions. Suddenly, the false future fades away, revealing a Romulan holodeck. Commander Tomalak is revealed to be behind the simulation, the object of which was to trick Riker into giving away the location of a key Federation outpost. The Romulans, Tomalak explains, were fooled by the intensity of Riker's memories of Minuet and had incorporated her into their fantasy on the assumption that she was real.

Riker is put in a holding area, where he meets the boy whose image the Romulans had used to create his "son". The boy identifies himself as "Ethan". Together, they manage to escape and briefly elude their Romulan guards. However, as the two are hiding from their pursuers, Ethan inadvertently refers to Tomalak as "Ambassador", instead of "Commander". Riker realizes that he is still in a simulation; confronting Ethan over it, he demands that the game end immediately and that he be allowed to leave.

Everything disappears once more, leaving only Riker and Ethan back in the cavern on Alpha Onias III. Riker is then able to contact the ship and learns that Worf and La Forge had beamed up without incident, but the Enterprise was unable to locate him. After Riker advises the captain that he will presently report back after learning more about his situation, Ethan confesses that he had created the simulations, using sophisticated scanners to read his mind and create the "reality" they experienced. Ethan's planet had been attacked and his people killed; his mother had hidden him in the cavern for his own safety, with all the simulation equipment, before she died; and Ethan, all alone, had been yearning for real companionship. Realizing Ethan's intentions were not hostile, Riker offers him refuge on the Enterprise. Ethan accepts Riker's offer and after Ethan reveals his true form as a grey alien named Barash, the two beam up to the ship.

Review:

This episode is interesting to start off with; alternate timelines/futures can often be quite fun, and according to Memory Alpha’s page on this episode we also get some uncanny prescience in many of the predictions this episode makes, which would become apparent in later episodes, films and series within the world of Trek. It also very cleverly distinguishes itself from ‘Remember Me’ earlier in this season by having the alternate realities that Riker experiences nested within each other, as opposed to Beverly’s scenario where it was just the one alternate reality. However, once the second layer of deception gets revealed, I became a little disappointed.

Why is this? Well to be honest, I don’t like episodes that try to play on a character’s sense of reality part-way through a TV show that has long since established what its reality is. It can work by implying an alternate future and memory loss as this episode initially does, but the number of illusions need to be left at one and not keep going. I’d rather the rest of the episode been a straight-up action-adventure where Riker has to escape the Romulans with the aid of the Enterprise crew, possibly with some interrogation room dialogue between Riker and Tomalak beforehand as a means for Riker to play his captor, stall for time, whatever.

As it is, the ending ends up feeling like a cliché of Star Trek rather than anything truly Trek-oriented. Certainly there’s no deeper issue exploration or major character development in Riker himself. Overall, it’s really just a bit of a filler episode when taken on balance. I give it about 7 out of 10.

Episode 9: Final Mission

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

The Enterprise has travelled to the Pentarus system where Captain Picard must mediate a dispute among some miners on the fifth planet. Wesley Crusher receives word that he has been accepted to Starfleet Academy and, for his final mission on the Enterprise, he will accompany Picard on his shuttle trip to Pentarus V. A distress call comes in from Gamilon V, where an unidentified vessel has entered orbit and is giving off lethal doses of radiation. Picard orders Commander Riker to take the Enterprise to resolve that situation while he and Wesley travel in a shuttle sent by the miners, commanded by Captain Dirgo.

En route, Dirgo's shuttle malfunctions and they are forced to crash-land on the surface of a harsh, desert-like moon. Though they are unharmed, the shuttle is beyond repair, and its communication systems and food replicators are disabled. Dirgo admits he has no emergency supplies on board, so they are forced to search for shelter and water. With his tricorder, Wesley identifies some caves and a potential source of water some distance away, and the three set out across the desert. Reaching a cave, they find a fountain-like water source, but it is protected by a crystalline force field. Dirgo attempts to use a phaser to destroy the field, but this activates a burst of energy from the fountain which encases the phaser in an impenetrable shell and causes a rock slide; Picard pushes Wesley out of the way but is severely injured in doing so.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise has arrived at Gamilon V, finding the unidentified ship is an abandoned garbage scow filled with radioactive waste. Their initial attempt to attach thrusters to the barge to propel it remotely through an asteroid belt into the Gamilon sun fails, and Riker is forced to attempt to tow the barge themselves using the tractor beam, exposing the crew to the lethal radiation.

As Wesley continues to analyse the forcefield, Dirgo becomes impatient and attempts to breach the field again, but this time the energy burst encases him as well, killing him. Picard, weak from his injuries, gives Wesley advice about the academy, and tells him he is proud of him. Wesley refuses to give up. Meanwhile, the Enterprise, despite the rising radiation levels on board, manages to get the barge through the asteroid belt and on course into the sun. The Enterprise then speeds off to help in the search for the shuttle.

Wesley continues to study the fountain, and devises a plan to disable the force field. He fires his phaser at the fountain to attract the energy defence mechanism, then uses his tricorder to disable the mechanism and is finally able to access the water.

Shortly thereafter, the Enterprise locates the wreckage of the mining shuttle, and Picard and Wesley are rescued. As Picard is carried from the cave, he tells Wesley that he will be missed.

Review:

It’s with this episode that Wil Wheaton finally left TNG as a main cast member in an effort to try and expand his acting career, and given how poorly his character of Wesley Crusher was written in many episodes, it’s not unreasonable or a bad idea that he did so. After all, Wesley had to get off the Enterprise at some point if he was ever going to attend Star Fleet Academy, and you couldn’t do the show that TNG was if it was all about Star Fleet characters on Earth. That said, a spin-off about Star Fleet Academy might have been an interesting thing to see. In any event, this episode is better than most Wesley-centric plots and features a bit of coming-of-age narrative within the story. However, it has a few bits of less-than-stellar dialogue-writing for Wesley in some of the earlier scenes (Wesley coming onto the bridge and the argument with Dirgo by the crashed shuttle being key examples).

The b-plot makes for an ok diversion, but part of me wonders why it took the Enterprise so long with that waste barge. I mean space is three-dimensional and the asteroid belt looked to only be at a certain height, relatively speaking. I therefore fail to see why the Enterprise couldn’t have pulled the barge above the ‘top’ of the asteroid belt, while keeping it on course for the nearby sun (which, being circular and massive, the barge would easily hit even going over the asteroids and not through them). If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s stories where people go through an obstacle instead of round when the only reason to go through is because the story is too short otherwise. Honestly, it’s just as well Wesley gets to return as a guest character a few times after this because it’s not a great episode for him to go out on. I give this one a score of 6 out of 10.

Episode 10: The Loss

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

Traveling through deep space, the Enterprise stops to investigate an odd phenomenon of phantom sensor readings. Meanwhile, ship's counsellor Deanna Troi experiences pain and loses consciousness as her empathic abilities suddenly cease to work.

The crew discovers they cannot resume course, as the Enterprise is caught up in a group of two-dimensional lifeforms.

Without her powers, Troi suffers a tremendous sense of loss, and goes through several classic psychological stages, including denial, fear and anger. Ultimately, despite the reassurances of her friends, she resigns as ship's counsellor, believing that without her empathic abilities she cannot perform her duties.

Lt. Commander Data determines that the two-dimensional creatures are heading for a cosmic string, with the Enterprise in tow, and that once they reach the string the ship will be torn apart. Noting that Troi's training makes her the most qualified to assist, Captain Picard pleads with her to try and aid Data in communicating with the strange creatures.

After attempting to warn the creatures of the danger posed by the cosmic string, Troi posits that they are seeking out the cosmic string in much the way a moth is drawn to a flame. Working from this hypothesis, Data and Lt. Commander La Forge simulate the vibration of a cosmic string, using the deflector dish at a position well behind the Enterprise. The simulations eventually cause the creatures to briefly reverse their course, breaking their momentum long enough to allow the Enterprise to break free.

Freed from the two-dimensional creatures' influence, Troi's empathic ability is restored. She discovers that her powers were never lost, but were instead overwhelmed by the two-dimensional creatures' strong emotions. Troi returns to her old job with a renewed confidence.

Review:

I get that this episode is Next Generation trying to identify with what people who suddenly become differently abled go through when they lose their regularly abled status, and it’s a sound idea in theory. In practice, it’s ruined because they put it across through Troi spending most of the episode being a whiney cry-baby about it. I mean ok, granted, as someone who has been differently abled all their life and who has been aware of that from a very young age, I don’t easily empathise with those who end up differently abled later in life. More often than not, they’ve had experiences and opportunities that someone like me has never had, and for that matter may never have. For instance, having to go to schools away from where I lived means I’ve never been able to grow up with friends I could met outside of school or walk to school with, and being an adult now I can never have that childhood experience everyone else takes from granted.

Moreover, in the episode ‘Tin Man’ Troi notes that Betazoids are born with their telepathic abilities inactive in the vast majority of cases and develop them during their adolescence, so having her lose her empathic powers doesn’t warrant this level of response. She’s only been psychic since she was a teen, for crying out loud, and it’s an extra sense rather than one of the five ‘core’ senses most humans/humanoids have by default. The level of wigging out she experiences would have been far more appropriate if she’d been blinded or deafened, and speaking of the former, why was Geordi not among those who spoke to Deanna about what she was going through? The one time another member of the TNG main crew loses a sense and you don’t have them compare notes with the one TNG main crew member who was born one sense down on everyone else? Talk about a ludicrously squandered opportunity.

Frankly, this episode is a howler of such dire magnitude that it feels like we’ve stepped into a time machine back to the first season. Frankly, I’d sooner go for any Marvel lore featuring Daredevil or the M*A*S*H episode “Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind” for a good sensory loss story than watch this shipwreck of an episode again. 3 out of 10 here, and that’s mostly for Guinan; it’s amazing how good Whoopi Goldberg can be at making even the worst episodes worth something.

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jbbarnesnnoble · 5 years ago

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Vulnerability and Other Things (Part One)

Chapter Title: Do people assume you’re always right?

Summary: You’re the newest Avenger still trying to figure out where you fit in and determined to prove yourself, no matter how many times people tell you you don’t need to. Balancing your pre-Avenger life with your new life is a challenge, one that is threatening to fall apart.

Features: Angst; unhealthy relationship

Pairing: Reader/Original Male Character; eventual Bucky/Natasha/Reader

Notes: The Reader/OMC relationship is going to be unhealthy. If that’s triggering in any way, skip this story!

Edit: I realized I missed an inconsistency when I was editing...oops

Word Count: 1064

You had only been with the Avengers a few months, still green by their standards. You had been a lot like Peter, dealing with smaller crime in your neighborhood. But you were enhanced which meant you were on their radar. You went by Renegade. It was a nickname given to you by the police force in your hometown before you had moved to New York after college. You’d been using your abilities to fight the bad guys since you were sixteen.

You knew how the team saw you sometimes. Naive. Innocent. You were older than Peter, but most days it felt like you were treated like you were one in the same. You knew it came from a good place, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t tired of it.

Things had come to a head after a mission where you took a calculated risk and got injured in the process. You managed to retrieve the data you were looking for but that didn’t matter. No. Not only did Steve let into you once it was established your injuries weren’t life-threatening, but Tony did too. You got checked over by medical, finding you just had some minor bruising. Medical told you to take it easy for a few days.

You were in the gym early the next morning. You were on the treadmill when Natasha walked in with Bucky. Your relationship with the two assassins was complicated. You weren’t sure where you stood with either of them most days. They were together, but it seemed like whenever either of them or both of them were alone with you, they’d flirt. It confused you to no end. As you were cooling down, your phone went off. You smiled seeing who it was.

“Hey babe! I wasn’t expecting a call from you this morning,” you said when you answered. Your boyfriend let out a low chuckled.

“Yeah, well, I was hoping we could grab lunch today? That place you like in town,” Danny said. You smiled. You and Danny had been together for nearly a year. You’d been dating since before you even joined the team. You didn’t tell the team outright you were seeing someone, figuring it was none of their business as it was, especially since you were so new.

“Hmm, I think I can pencil you in,” you teased.

“Good, I’ve been missing my girl,” he said.

“You saw me two days ago,” you said.

“Yeah...but I like getting to see you. I haven’t gotten to spend much time with you in person since you joined them,” he grumbled.

“I know. I’m sorry, babe. It’s just, between training and missions...it’s hard finding time to get away,” you said as you wiped down the machine.

“Can’t you just take time off? For me? You love me, right?” he asked. You sighed. Danny’s insecurities had been becoming more and more apparent. It felt like most days you were reassuring him that yes you loved him, no you weren’t going to leave him.

“Yes, I love you. I’ll see what I can do. You know I’ve only been here a few months,” you said. You could feel a fight bubbling.

“If you love me then you’ll get the time off,” he said as you headed to sit on a bench to take a short break.

“Danny,” you said.

“I’ll see you at lunch,” he said, hanging up. You hated when he got like that. He’d act like a child if he didn’t get his way. He was always sensitive, but in the time you’d been together, it seemed like it had only gotten worse. You were so lost in thought you didn’t notice that Nat sit down next to you.

“You know if Steve finds out you’re in the gym, he’s going to flip. You’re supposed to be resting, not pushing yourself,” she scolded. You shrugged.

“I feel fine,” you said.

“Humor me. We just worry about you. You know you have nothing to prove right?” she asked. You snorted.

“I’m the newbie, Natasha. I have everything to prove,” you said. She just shook her head.

“If you had anything left to prove, you wouldn’t be here. You got the data we were looking for, but you took an unnecessary risk to do so. And I think you know that,” she said. You hated that about Natasha. She wasn’t afraid to call you on things. You knew that you could’ve gotten the job done without taking the risks you had that ended with you injured, but in the moment, your own safety had been the last thing you’d been thinking about. You sighed before checking the time and standing.

“I need to go shower and change anyway. I’m meeting a friend for lunch,” you said. Natasha gave you a look you couldn’t quite decipher.

“Can we meet this friend?” she asked. You frowned.

“Uh, no. No, not today,” you said before hurrying out of the room. You were oblivious to the look shared by Natasha and Bucky.

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

Natasha and Bucky watched as you left the gym. They had caught pieces of your conversation. Neither had been aware you were seeing someone.

“She never mentioned having a partner,” Bucky said with a frown. He and Natasha had discussed this on a few occasions. They were both attracted to you. It had taken him a bit to get behind the idea of polyamory. The concept of it had been foreign to him, but after discussions with Natasha, it made sense.

“Nothing has ever come up on her social media. She never talks about him,” Natasha said.

“It makes sense when you think about it. Our lives are danger magnets. Just being with her could put a partner in danger,” Bucky said.

“I don’t like it. Not that she’s seeing someone but...the way she shifted during that call. Something isn’t right there,” Natasha said.

“What, you think she’s a double agent or something?” Bucky asked. Natasha shook her head.

“No, nothing like that. The way her body language shifted...something just feels off,” Natasha said.

“She’s a grown woman, Tasha. As much as the team acts like she’s not, she is. And she can take care of herself,” Bucky said. They fell into an uneasy silence, both trying to figure out if there was more to the conversation they had overheard.

#bucky/natasha/reader #bucky barnes/natasha romanoff/reader #marvel reader insert #bucky barnes #natasha romanoff #Bucky Barnes Fanfic #bucky barnes/reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes reader insert #marvel fanfic #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff/reader #natasha romanoff fanfic #marvel fanfiction

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marveliciousfanace · 5 years ago

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# 43,

I assume this was for the combo prompts, but since I was never given clarification I took the liberty of doing 43 for all three lists. Hopefully this was something close to what you wanted? It’s sickeningly sweet either way. Read it below the cut or here on AO3.

Data glanced up when the door banged open, his fingers pausing momentarily on the Risian lute he’d been playing, the last note still vibrating through his fingers as Tasha staggered in, laden with bags. She glanced over at him, and smirked, “Well, don’t stop on my account.”

Data set the instrument aside, moving from the sofa to help his wife with the bags. She had two sashed over her shoulder, knocking against her hip as she moved, and another two on each arm, her muscles visibly straining as she hauled them towards the kitchen of their little homestead. Data liberated four of them from her, in spite of her protests, latching the screen door behind her with his free hand. He set the bags on the kitchen table while Tasha dropped hers to the floor, folding her arms and raising her eyebrows at him.

Her sleeveless tunic left her arms bare, tanned from her time in the sun, and her hair had been gathered up with a string, pulled into a low ponytail that bared most of her neck, a few escaped strands curling with the heat. Her cheeks were flushed from exertion, and it was this collective, beautiful picture that Data would blame for the moment it took him to respond. Time had been kind to Tasha, and middle age suited her. It was a thought he’d had before, but it still managed to catch him off guard every time.

“I wished to assist you,” he said. “You were having difficulties.”

“I was doing fine,” Tasha needled good-naturedly. She crouched to begin unpacking. “I may not be as fit as I was at thirty, but I can still kick your ass.”

“Of course, dear.” Data opened the bags on the table, removing items from them and organizing them on the table by where they belonged, while Tasha moved around him, shelving items one at a time. They had done it enough times that stepping out of her way was easy, a cue as familiar as the dance steps he had taught her for their wedding, over two decades ago. He smiled to himself, and Tasha pinched his side.

“You’ve got that look again,” she teased. “Wedding or honeymoon?”

“Am I so predictable?”

“To me, you are.” Tasha gave him a quick peck on the cheek, her hand lingering for just a moment before she went back to work.

“It was our wedding,” Data told her. “I was thinking about our first dance.”

Tasha chuckled. “I remember.” She twirled, her layered skirt flaring around her legs, and Data watched, a swell of affection surging over him. She caught the edge of the table, grinning at him. “My feet were sore for weeks.”

“I did tell you to sit down.”

“I wasn’t going to sit down. It was my wedding!” Tasha bumped Data’s hip with her own, reaching around him to pluck the vine of tomatoes from his grip. “Besides, it wasn’t like we didn’t spend plenty of our honeymoon laying around.”

“I seem to recall someone insisting that rock-climbing was vital to our enjoyment of the time off.”

“Aside from that.” A breeze rustled in through the open window, ruffling Tasha’s hair. She brushed it back out of her face, and the wooden slats beneath their feet creaked as Tasha rocked back on her heels. “Besides. You would have carried me if I got too tired.”

Data scooped her up now, depositing her on the table as Tasha squeaked with delight, throwing her arms around his neck for balance. “Data!”

He rubbed his nose against hers. “I enjoy carrying you,” he murmured.

Tasha’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, slipping under the collar to swipe gently along his skin. “I like it when you carry me too,” she whispered, and tilted her head up to press a soft kiss to his lips before leaning back again. She tapped his chest with a hand. “Come on. We need to finish unpacking. Will and Deanna are coming by later, and if things are still a mess when their shuttle drops them off, Thad and Kestra will make off with all the crackers.”

“It has been a few years since we have seen them. Perhaps their children are better behaved now.”

Tasha gave him a sceptical look, but it broke with her smile. “Because an older Troi-Riker never got into any trouble.”

“A fair point.”

Tasha hopped off the table, scooping up a handful of vegetables and depositing them into a basket by the sink. “Is it weird that I miss having kids in the house? I mean, they never really lived here, but…”

Data set a hand on her shoulder. “I am familiar with the sensation.” Tatum had been a junior grade lieutenant, and Lyra and Aletris pursuing their training at Starfleet Medical and the Vulcan Science Exchange respectively well before Data and Tasha had even claimed this house as a temporary vacation home, much less by the time they’d retired. Having time to themselves was nice, but that didn’t make the quiet less disconcerting at times.

He wrapped his arms around Tasha’s waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “We could have another one, if you would like.”

Tasha laughed and elbowed him gently. “The last time you said, ‘let’s think about adopting,’ we ended up with three in two years. I’m not sure I have that kind of stamina anymore.”

“Your stamina appears sufficient to me.” Data grinned as Tasha shoved him lightly. “I was referring to your outburst earlier. Surely, if you do not need my assistance with the groceries, chasing after children should not be an issue.”

Tasha rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“A fact which I am constantly thankful for.”

Tasha groaned theatrically. “How did I end up marrying the cheesiest man alive?”

“As I understand it, I proposed, and you accepted.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Tasha shook her head, but she was grinning. “What was I thinking?” She dragged Data in by the front of his vest, pulling him until his chest was flush with hers. Data glanced down at her lips, then back to her eyes, and Tasha smiled coyly. She leaned in, and then stopped, shoving gently, “Finish your work, mister, or there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Promise?”

She laughed and pushed a little harder. “What happened to the innocent Data I met on the Enterprise? The one who wouldn’t understand a joke like that, much less make one?”

“He fell in love with a very demanding woman.” Data swooping in to steal one last kiss, then darted away before Tasha could retaliate, folding up the discarded bags and returning them to their rightful place by the door before helping Tasha finish up in the kitchen.

When they were done, Tasha collapsed onto the sofa, picking up Data’s lute and plucking absently at the strings. “What were you playing before?”

Data sat beside her and took the instrument from her, adjusting it as Tasha snuggled into his side. “I was transposing,” he said.

“Oh?” She tilted her head up to look at him, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Which song?”

Data feigned like he hadn’t heard her, tightening one of the strings to retune the sound. Tasha nudged him. “It’s our song, isn’t it? The one you wrote for me?”

Data fought a smile as he settled the lute in his lap, plucking the opening chords. He stopped abruptly and teased, “You have heard it many times. You must be tired of it by now.”

“Just shut up and play the damn song,” Tasha said, and Data grinned, resettling the instrument in his arms and letting the melody wash out into the little cabin. Tasha closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder. Data closed his eyes too, playing from memory, and let the bubble envelope them for just this moment.

#datasha #star trek #my thoughts #my writing #why does tumblr hate me so #anyway thats all the prompts out of my inbox #hell yeah

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sharpnothashtag · 4 years ago

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Chapter 41, The Good Ship CrushWay

If you’re keeping track at home (as I’m sure none of you are) this is the beginning of season three! This began as an idea back in the summer of 2018, when I read all of my friend’s CrushWay fanfic (a considerable amount) in one day. (https://archiveofourown.org/users/SophieD?fbclid=IwAR3H_Q6kcXZThegwEHFBsggHvRXzjNORwNCBTAWq-Fmzmxp5yD1XXrCdO70) I thought to myself: “What if I took that ship and MADE IT MY OWN?!” Out of that was birthed whatever this has become. It has been a great source of solace and silliness in 2020, which could have used more of both of those things. As a general PSA, I should probably state here what I’ve said multiple times in conversation about this fic: I do not claim that this fic is actually any good. It is, however, a ship-ton of fun! (Author’s note: I’m ret-coning something from the very very first episode. It is the year 2375. The first episode occurs in 2373.) With that being said, let’s start off season three the way it should be started: with a Data episode!

Data is practicing violin in his quarters. His doorbell rings.

Data: (putting down his violin) Enter. Bev: (entering, clearly excited) I got it! Data: (mirroring her excitement) May I see it? (Bev nods excitedly. She pulls out a golden band with a single emerald in the center.) Was it altered? Other than it being sized, of course. Bev: It was my idea to include her birthstone, but her father’s ring was just the perfect idea. I am a bit jealous that I didn’t think of that before Gretchen mentioned it. Data: Kathryn will love it. Beverly, may I pose a semi-rhetorical question to you? (Bev giggles a little and nods.) Who would have thought that you would be marrying again--and for that matter, marrying someone younger than you? Bev: (feigning insult) You don’t have to rub it in. (small smile to show that she’s kidding) Just because Kate is 39 and I’m...(she can’t bring herself to say it) Data: 51 years, two months-- Bev: Yes. Somehow I always forget that you do that. Now...is everything prepared? Data: Yes, Beverly. The crew is to report to the Promenade at 2100 hours to celebrate. Worf and DeAnna are making a trip for this occasion. Bev: He’s been baking, hasn’t he? Data: Yes. He seems quite pleased with his efforts. DeAnna is, of course, supplying a chocolate bar of sorts. Bev: Wesley said he’s bringing his dom-jot board. (Data moves his head in a very Data way.) What is it? Data: I made a connection I had not made before. Wesley is twenty seven now, correct? Bev: (blinking, realizing Wesley is older than she was when she had him) Yes. Well, 26. His birthday is next week, though. Data: And he is coming in on the Rogelio with the graduates of Counselor Troi’s program? Bev: Yes, the academy is hosting the graduation. Wesley has been catching up with Boothby for a few days, so he decided to go to the graduation to support Patrick and then come back here for the party. What is the connection? Data: You know about Kathryn’s new post, correct? Bev: Of course I do; it’s OUR new post--all three of us. (impatiently) What connection did you make, Data? Data: One of our newest academy graduates is coming to be a part of the crew. Their name is Daneel Akares. Bev: Hmm, strong Bajoran name. Why him, though? Data: Them, Beverly. Bev: Sorry, them. Why did you make the connection from them to Wesley? Data: They have the same January 11th birthday. And they bear a striking resemblance to Wesley. Bev: ...is that all? Data: No. There is one more curious similarity. Bev: Which is? Data: When Daneel was 13, they ran away to go undercover to the Cardassians in disguise. Bev: (horrified) They’re a Zoma Devo’tá? Data: (gently) They were. Daneel did some damage, escaped, and returned to their parents. Together, they fled to an underground shelter, built ages before the occupation. While they were there, the story goes that Daneel built an undetectable communications system, where they could intercept messages from the Cardassian military and alter them to redirect troops away from Bajoran forces. They became an exceptional strategist--unparalleled in tactical skills. From there, the story turns to legend. Bev: Legend? Do tell. Data: The Traveler appeared. Bev: The Traveler? There’s a name I haven’t heard in ages. Data: One day, there was a bit of a cave-in. Daneel had managed to fit a few families into their shelter, and the militia had been leaving food at an undisclosed location. Each night, one person would sneak out of the shelter, retrieve the food, and bring it back. It was Daneel’s turn. When Daneel was almost to the food, the Traveler appeared. Bev: What did the Traveler say? Data: The Traveler said he was looking for you. Bev: Wait. Me? Me, Beverly Crusher? Data: Yes. Bev: Why me? Data: The Traveler noticed you were caught in that warp bubble Wesley created, and he was looking for you to try to get you out. Daneel was greatly frightened. Bev: Did their emotions activate the sequence? Data: Yes. This is frightened them even more. The Traveler realized he had frightened Daneel and reached out to touch them. Something in his touch diffused the bomb. Bev: What happened then? Why did The Traveler appear there--Starbase 133 isn’t close to Bajor at all. Data: As no one completely understands The Traveler’s ways, I am unsure. As for the next part of the story, Daneel is the only living Zoma Devo’tá. Maybe when they get here, you can ask them. They are the Chief Tactical Officer. Bev: That’s a big position for a recent academy graduate. Data: As I said, they are unparalleled in their tactical strategies. They are said to be unorthodox. When dealing with the Borg, that is sure to be an invaluable trait. Bev: Well, it sounds as if our newest crew member is sure to be a wonderful addition to the team. I’ll see you later, Data--I should really go prepare to propose now (smiling broadly). Data: I will see you on the Promenade this evening! The best of luck to you, Beverly.

Beverly grins, nods, and exits. Data exits and reenters the room with an easel, one featuring an almost finished impressionist rendering of Bev and KJ holding hands and walking in the snow into the Northern Lights..

Data: First Officer’s Personal Log, Stardate 37044.763. Today, two of my friends are getting engaged. I have spent several months challenging myself to paint in an impressionist style, and Kathryn encouraged me to paint the Northern Lights. As their wedding gift, I am playing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” on the violin and then unveiling this painting. I am looking forward to getting together with this crew tomorrow morning for our first briefing on the new assignment. While not a crew of traditional taste, the people promise to pose an interesting dynamic for my first real venture into command. Serving under Kathryn Janeway with me are several returning crew members from the Enterprise and a few from Voyager as well: Communications Officer Seven of Nine, Security Chief Tasha Yar, Chief Engineers Miles O’Brien and B’Elanna Torres, Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, Ensign Tom Paris on the helm, and Ensign Ro Laren at the conn. While we are unsure of our need for one, we also have a ship’s counselor on this voyage: Patrick TusNua. His new last name is Gaelic for “New Beginning.” I cannot think of a more fitting way to begin his journey.

Data finishes his last brush stroke and hangs the painting on the highest point in his room. He eyes Spot, who is licking his paws.

Data: (picking up Spot) This is up. Up is no. (Spot struggles, so Data lets him go.) Bev: Dr. Crusher to Data. Data: Proceed, Doctor. Bev: Data, could you come to my quarters right away? I need your help with something. Data: On my way, Doctor. Bev: Data? Data: Yes? Bev: Would you bring your violin? Data: Of course. Data out.

Bev and KJ’s quarters. Bev is sitting on the ground, rocking back and forth in an attempt to calm herself down. Data enters.

Data: Doctor, would you like me to help you up? Bev: No, Data. Would you come sit with me? (Data sits down, laying his violin at his side. Bev takes a deep breath.) What if she says no? Data: (confusion) Kathryn loves you. Bev: Yes, but what if she doesn’t want to be with me in that way? She’s going to be the Captain, after all. She shouldn’t be compromised by her feelings toward her crew, especially if one is her wife. Data: Most species are compromised by feelings toward their loved ones. Humans especially, in my experience. Also, I believe she understands the risks she would be taking. If she did not understand that risk, she would not have accepted the command. Bev: What if I’m too old for her? Data: (moving his head in a Data way) She has made absolutely no remarks to me about your age, and you have not told me of her mentioning your age at any point in your relationship. Bev: I know she hasn’t mentioned it, but it’s 12 years. That’s significant. Data: It is only significant if you require it to be. Beverly, Kathryn loves you for who you are: age, Wesley, depression, dead husband, and all. I do not know if she will say yes, but it is highly probable that she will respond in the affirmative based on her past behavior patterns. Now, why did you ask me to bring my violin?

Bev has laid out a trail of rose petals to the bedroom, where she is sitting in the center of a heart made of fresh-cut roses with the ring next to her. Data is standing in the corner, tuning his violin. KJ is walking down the hall and sees a padd on the ground outside the door to her quarters. It says, “Ring the doorbell first.” She shrugs and rings the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door opens to Data’s playing, accompanied by the computer’s piano, trombone, and saxophone trio: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. KJ follows the trail of rose petals to Bev. She kneels down with her.

Bev: Kate, I’ve tried to plan out this speech. I’ve tried to quantify in words how much I love you. I’ve tried to make this some inspiring, sweeping declaration and it never comes out the way I want it to. But, I’m 51 years old, and I am lucky enough to have found a woman better than my wildest dreams. We...fit. And I don’t want to spend another day of my life without you by my side. (pulling out the ring) Your mom gave me your father’s ring and her blessing. I had it sized for your (teasing) tiny fingers, and I put your birthstone in it. KJ: (wiping a tear away) It’s perfect. Bev: Will you marry me, Kathryn O’Dell Janeway? KJ: (nodding, putting the ring on) Yes, of course I will. (Kiss) Thank you, Data. Data: You are welcome. I will leave now to allow for you to have time alone. Congratulations.

The Promenade: Miles, Molly, and Keiko, DeAnna, Alexander, and Worf, Tom and B’Elanna, Tasha, Ro, GJ, Wesley, Patrick, Seven, and Data are waiting impatiently.

Miles: Data, when are we starting, again? Data: 2100 hours, Chief. We have two minutes. Miles: Shouldn’t we be hiding, then? Ro: Don’t be an idiot, Miles. It isn’t like she doesn’t know it’s coming. GJ: As her mother, I honestly don’t think she does. Tasha: I agree. She knows most of us are on board, but in her mind, we’re here to be briefed on our mission and to disembark next week. Miles: If we’re going to hide, we need to do it now. Ro: I’m not hiding. Alexander: Come on, Ro. Please? Ro: It’s something one would do for a child! Alexander: So, do it for me? Ro: (taking a second to ponder. Since she has a soft spot for Alexander) Okay. Let’s hide!

A fair amount of commotion as they all try to hide behind various furniture. Since it’s the Promenade, there’s not much to hide behind. Worf comically stands directly behind a fichus that does not remotely hide him. As Ro and Alexander crouch down behind the jumja stick cart, they run into Tasha, who has curled up inside the cart and looks extremely uncomfortable. Wesley crouches behind a chair, and Seven lays down flat behind a very long ottoman. A door opens, and Bev and KJ are holding hands, KJ clearly not expecting the lights to be off.

KJ:...The hell? Computer, lights! Everyone: Surprise!

Tasha tries to pop out of the jumja stick cart and ends up tipping it over in the process. It lands with a big crash. Worf knocks over the fichus, and dirt flies everywhere. Seven sits up suddenly, and she knocks her head on the edge of the ottoman. KJ laughs a bit too hard at all the ridiculousness, and Bev runs to Tasha to make sure she’s ok. Since Wesley is closest to Seven, he springs up to help her. GJ, also laughing far too hard, goes over to her daughter.

GJ: Congratulations, Katie. Your friends/crew love you so much that they decided to injure themselves in an attempt to surprise you. KJ: I’d have it no other way.

Tasha is ok, but definitely has a concussion. She and Seven go to Sick Bay for a quick healing and then return to the party.

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natashastark3000 · 5 years ago

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Bad Behavior - Tony / Natasha

A/N: I can’t help myself. I have to do write a lot of stuff about this ship.

Pairing: Tony / Natasha

Warning ⚠️: Smut

The apartment was flooded with darkness and Natasha sneaked through the hallway into the living room. She wore her tight, black Black Widow suit that was so typical of her. The security system was easy to hack and the door lock was no greater challenge.

Arriving in the living room, she purposefully ran towards the desk and bent down to turn on the PC. Her job was to access secret police files that Officer Stark had stored on his computer. After a few seconds, the password question appeared and she was about to enter the word she had been told in advance, and the lights came on.

Her heart made a sentence and she slowly turned around. There, in the door frame, stood Tony Stark, one of the bigwigs of the New York police. He was wearing a white T-shirt, through which a blue glow penetrated 'Well, who have we here?', his voice was full of ridicule: "Natasha Romanoff." When he pronounced her name, it shivered down her spine. They had planned everything exactly, but now that her role-playing had begun, it was even better than she had imagined.

"Mr. Stark," she replied, making an innocent face played. "Are you looking for this?" Tony pulled something out of his pocket. It took a few seconds, but then she recognized a small USB stick. The woman admired how detailed Tony had planned her meeting. If you didn't know that they had agreed on all this, you wouldn't immediately think it was a role play.

"They didn't think I was stupid enough to store secret data badly protected on my hard drive," the man gave her a reproachful and at the same time blaming look: "They know that I could call my police colleagues at any time. Then it would be your turn." Slowly, like a predator chasing his prey, he approached them, while Natasha stood as if rooted. It would probably be better to leave now, but she needed that stick. The man also strangely impressed her.

"However, I've heard a lot about the Black Widow's breathtaking abilities and a little demonstration might change my mind," his broad grin made her realize what kind of abilities he meant and she felt a hot shiver running down her back. "Well, if that's the case," she tried to look unimpressed on the outside, but her anticipation was already coming in.

Tony stopped in front of her and swallowed her up with his gaze. He put his hand on her cheek and let it slowly wander over her neck to the zipper of her suit. This was at the front so that his hand was now between her breasts. His touch left a pleasantly warm tingling sensation on her skin and she felt her abdomen contract. She held her head up and watched his face so as not to miss a second of the lust that was looming there. His fingers closed around the small metal part and he slowly started to open the zipper. This he did so yawning slowly that she almost became impatient. When he had finally opened it, he pushed the leather of her suit over her shoulders and leaned forward to squeeze a chaste kiss on her collarbone. She watched him and gave him a free hand as he explored her body.

"It's such a waste that you chose the wrong side," he breathed against her neck and she immediately got goosebumps. Why hadn't she let him do that much earlier? "But don't worry," he buried a hand in her hair and pulled it lightly but firmly so that she put her head on her neck: "I know how to deal with bad girls. He took the soft, vulnerable skin of her neck between her teeth and sucked it. It was already clear to the young woman that this meal would be difficult to conceal. But probably that was the man's intention.

"I'm sure it was, Mr. Stark," she replied and her voice was surprisingly deep and just as lustful. In Tony's ears, these words sounded so melodic and they were exactly what he needed to break his caution and let him give up his hard-won self-control. He pulled the suit down to her beautiful ass, which had attracted his attention more than once.

As if by a silent order, Natasha took off her shoes and allowed him to take them off completely, for which he was more than grateful. Now that she was only standing in front of him in underwear, Tony realized what luck he had at that moment. But he didn't let it show when he pushed the red hair out of her face with one hand. Then he buried the hand deeper into her hair and pulled her head back slowly but surely.

"What do you think of showing me what else you can do with that mouth", an almost devilish smile appeared on his lips. Immediately she knew what he meant and slowly went to her knees in front of him without him even having to ask her for it. Pleased at this courteous behavior, he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand surprisingly gently: "Tell me what you want, darling! "I want to suck your cock, Mr. Stark," she looked at him from her green eyes as he opened his belt to take his pants off.

His cock was already hard and Natasha felt her abdomen begin to pound with relish. She put a hand on his hips as he held her red curls out of her face. With her tongue, she once licked his glans and then took his limb into his mouth without hesitation. She kept her eyes fixed on his face to see the demanding expression in his eyes, while his hips kept twitching slightly. He also looked down at her and gasped slightly: "You're so damn beautiful, Natasha."

They both realized at the same moment that Tony was about to slip out of his role. For a few seconds, his inner struggle was reflected in his eyes. However, as he strengthened the grip around her hair, she realized that his professionalism had regained the upper hand. This reassured the woman and she could finally concentrate fully on her task.

In the meantime, a pulsating pressure had built up in his erection, which spoiled her so divinely, that he was about to find salvation. This also seemed to Natasha to know, but unfortunately, this was not part of his plan. A little harsher than he wanted, he pulled her head away from him. Because although he would normally give a lot to see the black widow swallow, he would have to postpone that to another time.

With a surprised look, she wanted to ask a question, and suddenly he pulled her back on his feet. Now they were almost at eye level and the stiff length of the man pressed slightly against her belly. Their looks met as if on command and it almost seemed as if they were studying each other.

But this short moment was severely interrupted when he put one hand under her ass and lifted her as if it was nothing. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his hips and held her arms to him. With a few big steps, he carried her to the next wall and pressed her against it to relieve himself a little. Her heart was beating wildly and the cold wall was the counterpart to her burning, tingling skin and made her shudder slightly.

Tony opened her bra with two fingers and drove her fingers almost fascinated over her breasts. She grinned broadly as she saw his gaze and stroked his dark hair with one hand. But then he pulled himself together again to take off her thin panties just a few seconds later.

With one finger he penetrated her and couldn't help but pant in surprise. Tony responded with a smug grin and he bent down to run his tongue over her nipples while massaging her clitoris with his thumb.

The young woman took a lustful moan and he lifted her chin a bit to look her in the eye. Her moaning sounded like music in his ears and he wanted more. He pressed his length a bit into her and she stretched her pelvis towards him so that he could penetrate deeper into her. But he kept her away, wanted to make her beg a little more. "Oh Stark," she gasped in frustration, making him grin again. "Beg me, sweetheart," he placed some hard kisses on her neck. "Please Mr. Stark, please fuck me hard," he loved the submissive way she said that and so decided to give her, and finally herself, salvation. He tilted his pelvis forwards and so it was in her as far as it would go. She put her hands on his back and buried her fingernails in his skin. A light but not unpleasant pain twitched through him and he noticed how this only turned him on even more.

He wanted to have the beautiful agent on her own for so long and now it was finally time. And in fact, it was better than he had ever imagined. It was so wet and tight and it almost seemed like they were made for each other. He quickly found a good rhythm and Tony felt her pelvis stretching out towards him.

After a short time, Tony realized how close he was to his orgasm for the second time that evening. Natasha didn't seem far away either and she told him with her eyes that it was okay. But he wanted to offer her salvation first and so, while fucking her, he gently began to pamper her clitoris. She put her head upon her neck and leaned it slightly against the wall behind her that held her at that moment.

When she came moaning, he felt her strength weaken slightly. He noticed the woman's hips twitching slightly and this sight was enough for him to push him over the edge. He came inside her and then needed a moment to clear his head again. Then he put both arms around her again and pulled himself out of her.

Slowly she released her legs from his hips and stood on her own feet again. He watched the woman for a moment and gently took her face in both hands to give her a loving kiss on the lips. They were equally aware that their role play was now over. "I think we should go to bed now, Tasha,' he suggested and reached for her hand to cross his fingers with hers. She agreed as she waited for her heart to return to normal.

~~~

The next morning Natasha was awakened by the sunlight flooding the room. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked around the room she was in. It took a few seconds, but then she realized where she was and the arm someone had put around her. She was in Tony's room lying in bed with him.

Still, a little sleepy, Natasha looked over to the alarm clock on Stark's bedside table and found out how early it was. Sighing, she pushed the blanket aside and freed herself from the arm of the dark-haired man next to her.

She slowly sat up and ran through the room towards the door of the bathroom, which was directly connected to the room. "Where are you going?", a male voice sounded at that moment and she drove around a little surprised.

Tony had leaned on his elbows and looked at them from head to toe: "You're trying not to sneak out? If you do, you're not doing it well." She rolled her eyes grinning: "Of course not, I wanted to take a shower."

"But if you don't believe me, you're welcome to come with me," she offered him with a smug grin. "I can't say 'no' to that," he responded to her offer: "I'll be right behind you."

"All right," she shrugged her shoulders and was about to enter the bathroom, so he stopped again: "Nat? "Yes?", she stopped in the door frame and took a look over her shoulder. "Let's repeat yesterday's one more time, shall we?" he added with interest. "Possibly", the right corner of her mouth went up and she disappeared into the bathroom without giving him a proper answer.

#marvel #avengers #tony x natasha #ironwidow #tony stark #natasha romanov #iron man 2 #smut #roleplay

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lovemesomerafael · 5 years ago

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Destroying The Planet To Save It Chapter 11: Insert Fondue Joke Here

Chapters 1 -10 Read It On AO3

Clint could only smirk as he watched Banner and Dr. Mulready squinting at pictures of the machine, turning them in different directions trying to get an idea what its purpose might be. All he could think of was people trying to make sense of particularly gymnastic pornography. He wasn’t surprised that they paid no attention to him. He’d known Banner – and Tony Stark, for that matter – long enough to have experienced that particular phenomenon plenty of times. He called it engeekment, and he knew that when they were fully engeeked, he could strip naked and lead Natasha in a lively tango and the most the scientists would do is shush them so they could concentrate.

He and Natasha shared an amused eyeroll, and their entertainment only grew when Bruce and Catherine began showing each other pictures. Their reactions were comical as hell. When one would hold a photo up to the other, the result could be anything from an inarticulate grunt to an intrigued hum; the one constant was that there were never words. Unless “Huh” counted as a word. Clint didn’t think so.

“So, um… Did you guys want to ask us any questions?” Natasha asked with a twist of her lips.

There was absolutely no response. In fact, at that moment, Catherine held her tablet out to Bruce and pointed to something on the screen. He hummed for a moment before shrugging one shoulder and going back to his screen.

“Do you guys want to see Natasha do her Red Skull impression?” Clint asked.

Nothing.

“We were thinking about playing a practical joke on Stark,” Natasha noted drily. “Any objections if we launched the tower into orbit?”

Crickets.

“You might experience some discomfort, including weightlessness and periodic shortness of breath before your blood boils and you explode.”

When Bruce nodded almost imperceptibly and muttered a soft “Mmmm-hmmm” under his breath, Clint looked at Natasha with a raised eyebrow. “Sounds like we’re a go, then.”

At that moment, Catherine looked up from her tablet. “What’s it smell like?”

Bruce looked up quickly, too, as though it was the most brilliant scientific query since Newton’s “’The fuck is up with these apples?”

“Huh?” Perhaps not Natasha’s most clever response, but it got her point across.

“The room where the machine was,” Bruce clarified. “Was there a smell? Was the air hot? Cold? Humid? Dry?”

Clint and Natasha grinned at each other again before Clint answered. “Hot. There was a cooling system, you can see the ducts, there and there,” he pointed. “Air was dry, and it smelled like lightning, y’know?”

“What, that ozone smell?” Catherine asked, clearly fascinated by that information.

“I guess.”

Whatever that meant, Bruce and Catherine looked at each other and nodded as though he’d confirmed something they’d, like, actually discussed. They were suddenly ignoring the others again and both looking intently into the screen of Bruce’s tablet.

“Do you think…” Catherine asked breathlessly.

Bruce grunted. “I’m sure of it. What else could it be?”

“That can’t be powerful enough. Can it?”

“You tell me. How much would it take?”

“I’d have to know the properties of that energy.”

“That’s Stark. We need him to see these.”

Both heads swiveled up from the screen to Clint and Natasha, the gazes leveled at them so intense Clint was surprised they weren’t slammed against the wall.

“He has these, right?” Bruce demanded.

“He has them. But he’s analyzing his own data from the Atlanta site. I don’t know if he’s-“

As one, Bruce and Catherine picked up their tablets and turned toward the conference room door, murmuring heatedly. Clint and Natasha could only stare after them, their faces equal parts amazement and mirth.

“What just happened?” Clint asked, standing next to Natasha but both still looking at the door.

“Were there even words? I know a few languages, and I don’t think that was any of them.”

At that moment, Bruce appeared in the doorway again, Catherine so close behind him she bumped into him when he stopped. Clint had seen Bruce get his first glimpse of aliens invading New York, and he would swear there had been less avid curiosity on Banner’s face back then.

Breathless, Bruce demanded, “What’s it sound like?”

That was it for Clint and Natasha. Bruce and Catherine could get nothing out of them for the next five minutes as they both dissolved into hysterics. Had they known it, Clint and Natasha’s pointing and new spasms of hilarity every time their eyes met was every bit as entertaining to Bruce and Catherine as their earlier wordless communication had been to Clint and Natasha. Or would have been, if they weren’t so impatient for the answer to their question.

“Seem to have lost the plot, what?” Catherine murmured to Bruce, indicating them.

“HEY!”

A shocked silence struck both Clint and Natasha, who whipped their heads around to stare, stock-still, at Bruce, whom neither had ever heard shout before. You know, when he wasn’t nine feet tall and green.

Bruce scowled at them and said, “Sound.”

Clint looked blankly at Natasha, who answered, “It hummed. Low, but loud. There was a, I don’t know, sort of electrical whine under the humming.”

“Told you,” Clint heard Catherine say as both she and Bruce disappeared from the doorway as quickly as they’d appeared.

Clint and Natasha spent the next fifteen minutes slouched in chairs at the conference room table, laughing and reliving things Bruce and Catherine had just said and done.

“Did you see when he pointed to her screen and she just said ‘no’, and he looked like she kicked his dog?”

“I want to know what they were looking at when she whistled and he nodded and grunted.”

When their laughter died down, there was a moment of silence, where they simply sat, grinning at the whole thing. After a while, Clint felt Natasha’s eyes on him and looked up.

“Do you suppose we’re like that?” She asked, a wistful expression on her face.

He answered warmly. “You know we are.”

“Are we?”

“Always have been. I think we’re cute.”

“You would.”

“I would, and I do. Whereas you, just to prove your ‘I am a stern Russian island’ bona fides, pretend you don’t. Luckily for you, I know you better than that.”

Clint stood, chuckling, and moved to leave the room.

“Clint.”

He turned. “Yeah?”

Natasha was scowling into the middle distance, not looking at him but not looking away, either. “I’m not a stern Russian island,” she almost whispered.

“I know.”

“That scares the living hell out of me.” She looked into his eyes.

He moved back toward her, his voice soft as he said, “I know that, too.”

He came to stand directly in front of her, and she stood from her chair so that they were almost, but not quite, touching. For a long moment, neither of them said anything as Clint watched emotions cross Natasha’s face like waves.

“I don’t want to be a stern Russian island,” she said sadly, now looking into his eyes. “But I think… I think it might be too late for me.”

The pain in her voice nearly broke Clint’s heart. He took one of her upper arms in each of his hands, holding gently but firmly. “It will never be too late for you and me, Tasha. Don’t ever think that. I love you. I can’t help it. I’ve stopped trying.”

“But, that’s-“

“It’s the way it is. Doesn’t mean you ever have to do anything. But it means you will always have that option, as long as I’m breathing.”

“Clint…” A tear slid from her eye. Just one, which she roughly pushed from her cheek.

He touched her chin, softly and briefly, and smiled as he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “Don’t cry, my love. You’ll smear your makeup.”

He wondered, as he left the room, whether she was watching him. He doubted it. If he knew his Natasha, she was looking inward, trying to beat her emotions ruthlessly into submission. For him, it was simple. He was in love with her, and what she was able to give him was enough. It had to be, so it was.

He was shocked to feel her touch him on the hip as he entered his apartment. He’d had no idea she was anywhere near. When he turned, she moved closer, pressing her body against his and sliding her arms around his waist as he flicked the door closed. Her eyes were luminous, not only with emotion, but also with heat, like a long-banked fire that had suddenly been stirred into flame.

“I want you to convince me,” she said.

“Tasha, you don’t have to…”

She lifted her face to his, the slightest twist to her lips. “Please, Clint. Don’t make me spend months in Wakanda.”

“What are you-“

“You know how strong my conditioning is. They didn’t fry my brain like they did Barnes. I’m hardwired from childhood. But I think, between you and me...”

“There’s nothing you and I can’t do together.”

“That’s what I think, too,” she said, letting the emotion overcome the heat for a moment. “I don’t know how to be in love. I only know not to. You’re going to have to teach me how.”

“Anything you need. Anything you want. All you’ve ever had to do is ask.”

She moved a hand to the back of his neck, and used it to pull his lips to hers. “Then convince me I can let myself love you.”

For Clint, kissing Natasha was something to be savored. From the first touch of her exquisite lips, in that musty, dark dockside room in Tallinn, he had never been able to get enough of kissing her. He dreamed of the taste of her kisses and the way she sighed, almost too quiet to hear, when she let herself melt into him. So he didn’t rush things. He simply stood cupping her face in his hands, feeling one of her arms around him and the other hand in his hair, moving his mouth against hers until he felt her part her lips in irresistible invitation. Even this, he took slowly and reverently, spending a long time tasting her lower lip with the tip of his tongue before moving to her upper lip and feeling her breath mingle with his.

“I love you, Tasha,” he whispered before adding just a bit of pressure and licking at her tongue. She only moaned softly in response and kissed him harder.

He waited, pouring his love into his kisses, until he could feel her rubbing her chest against his and not-so-subtly pushing him toward his bedroom before he dragged his lips from hers. He smoothed one hand over her hair and slid the other from her jaw to her shoulder. When she opened her eyes to his, he slid both hands down her arms to the hem of the loose, blush-colored sweater she wore over skin-tight leather leggings. The light knit fabric of her sweater was perhaps the softest thing he’d ever felt; it was almost like a breath as he smoothed his hands up her body, lightly tracing her curves as he did. She arched into his touch and raised her arms, shaking her hair loose of the neckline when he slipped it over her head and let it fall.

Rather than move on, Clint paused with his hands splayed across her back, looking down into her face with a mixture of love and concern. “I need you to tell me you’re OK, Tasha…”

“I’m OK,” she gasped, the tiniest laugh in her voice as she pulled him back to her and impatiently yanked his shirt from his jeans, rucking it up his chest. “I just need you.”

The second his shirt hit the floor, he bent to slide an arm behind her knees and pick her up, cradling her in his arms and recapturing her lips as he carried her into his bedroom. Thick, dark drapes blocked most of the afternoon light from the wall of windows so that the room was in shadow, with a few bars of bright sunshine splashed across the floor. Clint let Natasha’s legs gently down when they were standing next to the bed, but made no further moves except to kiss her with all the passion he felt and begin to murmur to her.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Do you know that?”

Her answer was to unbutton and unzip his jeans. So he unfastened her bra and slid the straps down her arms while she pushed his jeans and briefs down his hips as far as she could. It would probably have been funny to an observer, watching her shrug her bra to the floor and him using his feet to pull his pants off while they both tried to continue the deep, hungry kisses that were pulling moans from both of them. Eventually, though, Clint was naked and broke the kiss to sit on the edge of the bed, pulling Natasha between his legs. He made short work of her leggings, pulling her shoes off with them.

Clint’s warm hands grasped Natasha’s waist and he held her there, softly and slowly moving his mouth across her body to cover her with kisses and soft nips. As he lifted his face to mouth the underside of a breast, he was gratified to see that her eyes were closed and her head tipped back, not assessing or thinking, just surrendering herself to sensation. He smiled against her soft, fragrant flesh and allowed his own mind to go fuzzy as he, too, gave in to the feeling of her nipple hardening against his tongue.

When he knew she had no intention of moving away, he caressed down her hip and leg, sliding his hand to the inside of her thigh, and reverently whispered her name as she took a step sideways to give him room. He didn’t think the growing tension in her muscles had anything to do with being unsure about this, a sense which was confirmed when his fingers reached her folds and felt her full-body shiver.

“You may not be able to say you love me, but your body says it for you. All this,” he slid two fingers across her entrance, showing her how drenched she was. “Is that for me?”

Again, she didn’t answer with words; she let out a breathy moan and spread her legs further. Accepting her invitation, he slipped the tips of his fingers inside her, surprised at her heat. It had been a long time since Clint had made love to Natasha, but he remembered her body, her scent, her taste. Suddenly, feeling her respond to this slow, deliberate first stroke into her, he had a near-overwhelming urge to get his mouth on her. He fought it down, instead continuing to worship her breasts with his lips and tongue, while he began to find creative ways to move his fingers as he slid them in and out of her.

Not until she was gasping and moving against his hand did he stand and lift her again, laying her on the bed like the most precious, fragile thing in his life. Which she was.

“This is where you belong, Tasha, where we belong,” he hissed between sloppy, tongue-heavy kisses as he knelt between her spread legs, resting his weight on his arms on either side of her. “You and me, together. We’re made for this. For each other. You know that.”

“I know,” she breathed, eyes squeezed shut and a wrinkle of concentration on her brow. “The very first second I saw you - I’ve been yours from that second.”

“Hey. Look at me.”

She took a few seconds to find the courage to open her eyes, letting him see the fear in their green depths. He grinned and rubbed her nose with his. “It’s just me, OK? It’s just us. Nothing scary here except how much I want you.”

Clint was rewarded with a small smile and the slightest of nods. “Just you and me.”

“OK?”

This nod was just a bit more certain. “I’m good. I just need you.”

Clint huffed a small chuckle and kissed her deeply before beginning a long, slow journey down her body, inhaling her scent, kissing her everywhere, taking time to use his mouth on her nipples before continuing. When he eventually settled between her legs, lifting her thighs over his shoulders, he felt like he’d finally reached a destination he’d been moving toward for a long, long time. Not only in terms of their relationship, but even in terms of this moment. It had been over half an hour since he’d begun to kiss her. He and Natasha had certainly had quick, needy sex, but this was not the time. Now was the time to draw things out, to try to inundate her with pleasure and love, and remind her that she was entirely safe with him.

She seemed to feel safe enough as she relaxed into his tongue, groaning and shifting her hips while he finally indulged his need to taste her. She’d told him before that archery wasn’t his greatest skill, and he put forth his best effort now, torn between concentrating on her pleasure and his own. He reached up a hand to take one of hers, connecting them emotionally while he hummed against her clit, lips pursed and exerting just the slightest bit of suction.

Too soon for him, she began to cry out and grind against him. He backed off her clit, spending more time sliding his tongue into her as far as he could until her movements and the obscene sounds she was making told him it was time. There was no way he wanted her to come without him inside her.

He kissed his way back up her body until he could feel her against the tip of his achingly hard cock. He wasn’t sure exactly who was fucking whom, with the way she wrapped her strong thighs around his hips and pulled him into her. He kept his weight on his knees so that he could pull almost all the way out and then feel every contour as he thrust back into her. More importantly, he balanced on his forearms so that he could look into her eyes as he did it.

“Say it,” he growled. “Tell me you love me, Tasha.”

“I love you. You know I do. You know how much I love you.” All hesitation was gone. In her eyes now, all he could see was want.

He didn’t stop his strong but slow thrusts into her as he spoke. “Which makes you stronger. You and me, we’re stronger together than we are apart. You know that, too. How many times have we proven that?”

“Barton, if you start talking about Budapest right now, I will end you.”

He laughed into her neck. “Fine. How about I end you, instead? You’ve heard of happy endings?”

“Holy shit that was lame,” she snickered, bucking her hips up into him. “But I’ll forgive you if you don’t stop…”

Clint groaned loudly. “Ah, fuck, Tasha, I’m gonna come.”

“Wait for me. I’m almost there, wait for me,” she cried.

“I’d wait forever for you…”

That promise, which she knew to be true, apparently pushed her over the edge. She clutched hard at Clint’s shoulders, hissing a long, drawn out, “ooooooohhh fuuuuuuuuuuck!”

The wild, fuck-drunk look on her face as she came was all Clint needed before he was shooting explosively into her, grunting with each thrust and then transitioning into a low, guttural groan.

Although Clint needed to slow down while his brain rebooted and his body stopped shuddering deliciously, they didn’t stop. He rolled them to their sides, looking at each other and exploring with their hands to remind themselves of all the secrets they knew about each other’s bodies. He’d long ago learned how to touch Natasha to give her as many climaxes as she’d let him, which turned out to be several over the next hour, before she reacquainted her soft but demanding mouth with his dick and returned the favor.

She felt different in his arms than he remembered as she lay sprawled on top of him, while he combed his fingers through the silk of her hair. Softer, somehow. More at peace. She lifted up to study his face with her eyes and fingers.

“What changed?” Clint’s blue gaze was soft with dilated desire, but a hopeful curiosity burned behind his eyes as he kissed her forehead. “Why now?”

“I want what Banner and Catherine have.”

“Um… they’re not together, you know.”

“Yes, they are. He’s just not quite done fighting it.” She sat up, straddling him and idly stroking his chest as she spoke thoughtfully. “But I am. I can’t do this anymore. I love you. I’ve tried not to, but I can’t stop, and you’re too fucking stubborn to give up and move on. I see you every day, and what kind of man you are, and all the incredible things that you can do, and I just… I can’t stay away. I’m so tired of disappointing you.”

As he used one hand to stroke her breasts, he watched her nipples harden again and goosebumps form on her skin. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

“Look at me and tell me you love me,” he ordered.

She did, but her face was serious as she added, “I can’t change who I am. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“I don’t need easy,” he answered, squeezing her hips. “I just need you.”

“I’m probably going to hurt you. I never want to do that, but I’m not built for this. I don’t know how to do this, and it’s so hard-”

“I know. Shhhh. I know,” he crooned as he pulled her down to his chest. “Believe me, I know what I’m getting into. I also know that it’s all that I want.” He kissed her forehead through her bangs.

*****

Steve practically tore the door of his hotel room off its hinges when the knock came. He’d been waiting for Tony for what felt like weeks. When he saw the exhaustion and concern written in every line of Tony’s face and posture, however, he immediately reined in his impatience.

“Shit, Stark, you look like hell.”

Tony patted Steve’s cheek as he passed him, entering the room. “I love you, too, Yoko,” he mumbled as he crossed to the bed and threw himself face-first onto it. He said something into the mattress, but all Steve heard was a tired rumble.

“What?”

Tony turned his head so his face wasn’t buried in the bedspread. “We’ve got a big problem.”

“You got enough left in the tank to tell me about it? I could give you a few hours to crash-“

“Yeah, I will, on the plane. We gotta get back to New York.”

“We can give you some time. The meeting’s not for two days.”

“I need my lab. I need Banner and Mulready. I’ve already got them working on some stuff.”

Steve sat on the edge of the bed. “What are we dealing with?”

“That energy. It’s not from here. We followed the signature to the source this time, and it’s another fucking alien power source. Like the Tesseract or an Infinity Stone, but it apparently doesn’t have its own juice, it only amplifies power run through it. But the level of amplification is astronomical.”

“Damn. I don’t know whether to be happy we know about this shit or pissed that the bad guys aren’t more creative.”

“Oh, this guy’s creative, all right. The thing’s small and round, right? Glows the ugliest damn green you ever saw? And it’s sitting in the middle of a damn doomsday machine shaped like Chichen Itza.”

“Chichen Itza?”

“You can thank Barton for that one. Anyway, it’s the same as the one they found in D.C., which means there’s more than one of these damn orbs, or whatever you want to call them. More than one machine. And they’re fucking dystopian nightmares, these things. Ask me if they’re capable of causing the shit we’ve been seeing. I dare you.”

“I’m guessing that’s my answer.”

“Humor me, Cap, I’m runnin’ on fumes here.”

“OK. Are they capable of causing the weather phenomena? And the fire? The earthquake?”

“No.”

Steve started. “Wait… No?”

“No. Which means we haven’t gotten to the bottom of this thing yet. All these machines do is create a metric crapton of power. Who, or what, uses that power is a different question. And I got nothin’.”

“I’ll get everyone brainstorming that.”

“Do it,” Tony mumbled slowly. “And get everybody ready to bounce. Plane’s gonna be ready in an hour.”

“Done. And, Tony?”

Stark cracked a bloodshot eye open, looking up at the strange note in Steve’s voice. “Great work. Nobody but you could’ve figured this out so fast. World’s lucky you’re on our side.”

“If you’re gonna make a pass at me, can it wait until I have the energy to give you a black eye?”

Steve chuckled. “I’ll control myself.” He steeled himself to say the next part. “I’ve been thinking a lot about… what happened. Between us. Sharon’s made me see some things. I know I messed up.”

“Yeah. I know you did, too,” Tony smirked into the bedspread.

Steve felt an initial twinge of irritation, but quickly recognized that Tony was only saying the first snarky thing that came to his mind. Because Tony.

“Anyway, when we can, I was hoping you might be willing to sit down with me. Talk some. I don’t know if it’ll fix things, but I can promise I’ll listen. And not just because of all the stuff you did today. Because we were friends, and I want that back. Whether I deserve it or not.”

Tony closed the eye he’d been watching Steve with and frowned as he sighed. “Well, shit.”

“What?”

“I don’t mind you being the adult in the room, God knows that’s never been me, but now if I don’t say yes, I’m the asshole.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m not the adult in the room, either. That would be Sharon.”

“Hmm. That actually does make me feel better. Makes us both assholes.”

“That’s what she says.”

“Remind me to marry her.”

“Um… yeah...”

“Slow your roll, Captain Oblivious,” Tony muttered, half a grin showing against the bedspread. “I’m just rattling your cage. I’m not blind. I’d make a fondue joke here, but I’m too fucking beat. Let’s just pretend I did.”

#Captain America #The Winter Soldier #Bucky Barnes #The Avengers #Tony Stark #Bruce Banner #Clint Barton #Natasha Romanoff #Black WIdow #Hawkeye

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drunkcomicbookrants · 5 years ago

Text

Star Trek the Next Generation: Home Soil

You ugly bags of mostly water

The first season of Star Trek the Next Generatio nis mostly terrible. Let’s just uhh, this is an episode:

Most season ones of most shows are terrible. We’re still figuring out the characters, still figuring out how the off-stage crew works toeghether (lighting is HARD), still figuring out what works ina plot or doesn’t. (looking at you Buffy)

Star Trek TNG holds a special fuckin place in my heart. It was the first show that was MINE, and I’ve rewatched it a few times and I’m honestly, like, PROUD that this is the show that raised me. I honestly feel like I’m a better person because I stumbled upon reruns of this show after my bio family fell asleep when I was on summer breaks. Without getting too INTO IT this show is uhhh fuckin great

Also I could ramble incoherently for at least 45 minutes about the PLACE that TNG found itself in. It was 20 years after the original series aired, before hte internet was really a thing. Back when fucking 45 minutes of every star trek movie was spent on “THJE REVEAL” of the enterprise. Who was this new captain? TV Guide says he’s bald, what?????????? How is this going to cmpareafdafdsfasfd asOMGGDFAFFD so excited, let’s tune in. Also the cold war is a thing and we’re dealing with the beginnings of a technocracy in our IRL lives, and what does this mean for a show that is SOOO fucking good at criticizing us for our actual bullshit???? LET’S WATCH SEASON ONE TO FIND OUT

But season one, as the kids would say, is a big oof. We got your overt racism, we got your weird sexism but almost feminism, we got your wait are the ferengis supposed to be scary or funny or just back to overtly racist?

When I rewatch this show with somebody, I always give them the choice of skipping over most of season 1. Let’s get to that season 2 hotness where Riker has a beard and the writers have figured out who the characters are and the actors have figured out how to use that to work with each other

But you lose something with that, so I’m always happy to

Anyway we watch the first half of season 1 and it’s a little bit pretty YIKES

But then we get to EPISODE EIGHTEEN HOME SOIL

and this is the first Star Trek the Next Generation episode to really feel like a Star Trek the Next Generation episode. I mean that as a high compliment.

Before this we had some weird clonse of the original series episodes, some weired racist episodes. We get one episode with Lwaxana Troi where the only good thing about it is Lwaxana Troi. We get a holodeck episode. We get Datalore which is great but isn’t quite TNG yet.

But HOME SOIL is the first episode that has all of the characters doing the right thing. Captain Picard is fucking CAPTAIN PICARD. Bev has her theories, Data says “Uncertain. Possibility...” a few times. Geordi does more than literally look out the actual fucking window (honestly season one you are giving me a rash). Wes is around but not obviously a fucking audience plant. Worf is well okay not quite there yet but still okay. Tasha is competent and beliveable. It feels like a well oiled machine

You’ve also got yourself a MORAL CONUNDRUM where it’s not quite good-vs-evil, things are complicated, and it’s all a bit of a metaphor meant to be planted in the brains of the children watching (spoiler alert: it worked)

This is Star Trek the Next Generation at its fucking core, for the firs time. It’s not, like, the best episode of all time (hey I, Hugh), but it’s the first SOLID TNG episode in season 1.

There are other good episodes in season 1. I already mentioned the Lwaxana episode and Datalore. The binar episode was memorable even if a little weird if you think about it. And I’m looking forward to a few other episodes in season 1, even if they don’t end up going anywhere (fuckin, alien bugs have infiltrated the highest ranks of star fleet, fucking why wasn’t that a Star Trek movie???!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!!!!?!???!!!??!.)

But my point is, Home Soil is the first real TNG episode, and I don’t think it gets enough credit. It’s dismissed as a clone of Dvil in the Dark (the TOS episode with the rug monsters that Spock mind melds)

And I’ll admint that when I started watching this tonight, I thought it was Quality of Life (the one with the drill robots)

But this episode is the first time I felt like I was home again, and it has me looking forward to everything that I know is about to happen.

Beer paring:

This is a seasonal beer that you really like, but you don’t quite remember liking after it goes out of season. But when the season rolls back around, you’re always PLEASANTLY SURPRISED by it. Oh shit, I forgot how good this is!

This is a 21st Amendment Watermelon beer

In my brain I don’t love this beer, but hot damn if I’m not excited every time I see one on tap again. Not only is it a decent beer by itself, but it means that other summer berers, not to mention fucking summer itself, is on its way. It sorta makes you stop and think and question things a bit (wait beer can be watermelony??) but mostly you like it because it means even better stuff is on its way.

Excited for season 2.

#star trek #star trek the next generation #picard #21st amendment #data #beverly crusher #ugly bags of mostly water #lagunitas #overcooked #spider-man #spider-man far from home #star trek discovery #does anybody use tumblr anymore #summer #summertime sanddens #summertime sandman #5 seconds of summer

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