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forasecondtherewedwon · 7 months

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stop-motion poetry

Fandom: Masters of the Air Rating: T Word Count: 1295

Summary: the irony of loneliness / is we all feel it / at the same time - Rupi Kaur (Italicized passages are also Rupi Kaur poems.)

i tried to find it but there was no answer at the end of the last conversation

Everywhere was empty, like a museum. Crosby’s skittish fingers kept tracing around inside his pocket, and he finally realized what he was absent-mindedly feeling for: the snow globe.

In his other pocket, he had the intercepted letter. He was treating those words as Bubbles’ last to him, though… would Bubbles have shown him the letter? Maybe, if Crosby had asked. Maybe, because Bubbles might feel he was coming between Crosby and Jean if he didn’t. He could be funny like that. Whenever Jean came up, Bubbles made Crosby feel like Wendy regarded by the Lost Boys—an adult among children.

Wouldn’t you like to know, Bubbles had shot back when Crosby’d repeated the name of the plane. Suddenly, Crosby was the clueless one, Bubbles with the inside baseball on the mystery of women, high on the promise of She’s Gonna. Now, Crosby wasn’t so sure Bubbles was correct; why should he have liked to know? He had no inclination to know what Bubbles knew. What the sky looked like when all the planes in it were falling. Whether you felt an explosion that happened so close, so fast. How long it took to die from a thing like that. Nope, Crosby wasn’t interested.

He preferred to remember Bubbles the way he remembered the snow globe: a little something to carry with him everywhere he went. When the world slanted, something to be plucked from the tilt and, once held, leveled.

—

i hardened under the last loss. it took something human out of me. i used to be so deeply emotional i’d crumble on demand. but now the water has made its exit. of course i care about the ones around me. i’m just struggling to show it. a wall is getting in the way. i used to dream of being so strong nothing could shake me. now. i am. so strong. that nothing shakes me. and all i dream is to soften.

She recalled that he’d had too much to carry, heavy kit bag slung over his shoulder, but when he’d taken the provisions she’d passed him, he’d managed not to crush the donut against the mug of coffee he’d held in the same hand. Herbert had been gentle, that was what Helen recalled. Forward, yes. Obvious, yes—but gentle.

Some of them hadn’t taken the donut, but just about all of them took the coffee, unless they were very young and shied from the bitterness. There had been others before Herbert. Men who’d crossed a room to talk to her, men who’d announced their name and stuck out their hand. Helen had felt their palms on the small of her back when they’d danced. She’d seen their faces up-close, with the bravado gone, had understood herself an as object of lust or a tap on their watch, reminding them time might be running out. Sometimes, she’d only danced with them through words. Sometimes they hadn’t come back from the mission, and she’d wished she’d been kinder.

It was good though, that she and Herbert hadn’t kissed on the mouth. It meant she couldn’t miss that feeling. Missing the smile he’d given her the morning they flew out was plenty hard. Missing the scent of the oil he’d used in his hair, the rosy smudge of lipstick she’d left on his jaw during their dance.

Ever since Major Rosenthal had told her, since he’d said Lieutenant Nash had gone down, Helen’s chest had been a crater she covered over with smiles like old boards, stiff and creaking, threatening to cave in. She felt guilt, because Herbert had called her “Helen of Troy.” She hadn’t sent them, but she was too smart and too good at punishing herself not to figure that she had, in a way, launched those ships of the air. She represented the innocent, to them. Sisters and sweethearts. To fight for her or something like her, they would all go, go by the hundreds. One less, now.

At the next dance, Helen decided, marooned on the grass by Rosenthal, she would shake her head and stay at the table.

—

yesterday when i woke up the sun fell to the ground and rolled away flowers beheaded themselves all that’s left alive here is me and i barely feel like living

Dawn came. Bucky wasn’t convinced the sun came with it. Through the windscreen and the cigarette smoke trapped in the cockpit, the sky changed colour, definitely paler than night as it arrived before his itchy eyes, but if there was light, he didn’t register it. Like a telephone call in another room, it wasn’t for him.

He wanted to drink himself into the plane. Become so liquid that the seat absorbed him, that a thin trickle of whatever was left of him dribbled into the fuel tank. Then he could be burnt up. Sic transit Major Egan: He was an unpredictable drunk, and a more successful flirt than he’d deserved to be. He’d had a best friend, once. That man—that better man—was gone and nobody was lookin’ for him. Bucky was looking pretty damn hard in the bottom of this flask, but so far, no luck.

The horizon turned blue, which was bullshit. Blue was for eyes. Bucky laughed harshly at nature’s mistake.

“Hey, Curt,” he called over his shoulder, loose grin sliding all over his mouth. “Curt!”

But that had been a different today-is-tomorrow. Bucky blinked more tears back into his eyes, like he’d been doing all night. His smile withered. Too much water. Not enough light.

—

in order to fall asleep i have to imagine your body crooked behind mine spoon ladled into spoon till i can hear your breath i have to recite your name till you answer and we have a conversation only then can my mind drift off to sleep

It was usually that Curt’s body did what his mind would’ve urged him not to if it’d been paying attention. As the plane swept towards the ground and his body, shoved back against the pilot’s seat, couldn’t slow the descent, his mind took the controls and slowed time. He began to be able to separate the breaths in his rapid panting. He could think of stuff that wasn’t this, climb into the top turret of his own brain. He could see that it was a stupid fuckin’ idea to try to land a Fort with a belly full of bombs while his hands distantly and futilely kept trying to pull up and slow the glide. His body knew how it ended: in an orange ball, fire round as a cloud. His mind reached out and tugged up another reality like a blanket.

A blue hour, walking the wing, the air damp and cool, but it didn’t matter because he was warm from drinking, but not so much drinking that he couldn’t strike a taunting Bucky hard and sharp with a clean, swift hook, but not so hard and sharp that Bucky didn’t still smile after it connected, but not such a big smile that Curt was in danger of thinking it was real. The smile. The memory.

The plane battered through the trees.

“Oh god.”

He tugged up another place, another time. Dickie with a whole, smooth face. Buck’s voice coming down the line, callin’ Curt Bucky’s little spoon. Smilin’. Sleeping in a Scottish bed that smelled like wool and the fire that’d burnt down in the hearth. He’d been wound up so tight after the crash-landing, scoring those rows of cabbages from the earth. He hadn’t thought he’d be able to surrender to anyone, ever, including sleep, but sleep had come eventually.

“DICKIE—”

Yes, sleep had come.

#my writing #Masters of the Air #MotA #MotA fic #Harry Crosby #Joseph 'Bubbles' Payne #Helen (Masters of the Air)#Herbert Nash #John 'Bucky' Egan #Gale 'Buck' Cleven #Curtis Biddick

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brokenthimbles · 2 years

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The Lt. Col. & The Nurse

@dontcxckitup

Wendy wasn’t allowed to know where he had gone. Long had they admitted to one another that they had been in love, but he was still a soldier and it was his last assignment before being shackled to a desk. Wendy hated the idea of being stuck in the flat alone. In between letter and the few e-mails they shared Wendy had decided to do some volunteer work with Nurses without boarders. So for 8 weeks Wendy was off to a strange land, and off to some camp. Given her history even she was kept mostly in the dark.

Donning her now green fatigue colored scrubs she was finally getting a tour of the grounds, but what caught her eye towards the edge of camp was a military base. Her home flag flying she smiled softly. Sarah, the other nurse having given her the tour noticed her fascination and continued the tour as if it had been a part of the original.

"....and this is the camp we're not allowed to enter - soldiers are training here, it's all hush-hush and top secret for whatever reason.”

“Military operations.” she shrugged looking back into the camp when one soldier caught her eyes. Face covered with a scarf, and yet the way his shoulders shifted, stood tall with the ever so slight shift of weight that only Wendy would notice. Somehow, the universe had brought them closer together.

"Oh," the Sarah says s she notices Wendy staring, "that one; that's the Lieutenant Colonel, I hear he's handsome - but aloof, you better not cross paths with him.” What had only been a guess, was now confirmed when she said his rank, but all she wanted was for him to turn around for him to know what she did....... worlds apart? They were still next door.

#dontcxckitup #thread; worlds apart and yet together #oops

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april-is · 1 year

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April 15, 2023: Dutch Elm Disease, Valencia Robin

Dutch Elm Disease Valencia Robin When Danny Johnson's big brother was killed in Vietnam, Danny ran around the block five times. I counted. Ran as if when he stopped his brother would be back in their driveway washing his car. But nobody knew anything about time travel back then, Star Trek hadn't even come out, Lieutenant Uhura still on Broadway doing Blues for Mr. Charlie. And even if Danny did understand the space-time continuum, his parents weren't having it, his mother on the porch yelling his name, his father tackling him on the front lawn, all us kids, the whole block standing there on pause. Which didn't exist either. No fast forward, no reverse. We weren't even Black yet. Was Milwaukee even Milwaukee? Is the Lincoln Park Bridge still there, do boys like Danny still climb over the rail, hug their bony knees to their narrow chests and plop into the river as if there's no way his parents could lose two children? Which is all I know about Vietnam, that and the way the sun hung in the faded sky as Danny ran around and around and held the air hostage, that and the way the thick August air ignored the leaves of all our doomed elm trees and let itself be held hostage. The streets were like ghosts when they cut down those trees.

Also: // On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War In Vietnam, Hayden Carruth // An Ordinary Composure, James L. White // Paralysis, Peter Boyle // Things That Have Changed Since You Died, Laura Kasischke

Today in:

2022: More Bang for Your Buck Running Scared, Brennan Bestwick 2021: Rain, Peter Everwine 2020: Things to Do in the Belly of the Whale, Dan Albergotti 2019: Prayer, Galway Kinnell 2018: Egg, C.G. Hanzlicek 2017: Well Water, Randall Jarrell 2016: For Desire, Kim Addonizio 2015: The Coming of Light, Mark Strand 2014: Flying Low, Stephen Dunn 2013: The Envoy, Jane Hirshfield 2012: Red Wand, Sandra Simonds 2011: Trying to Raise the Dead, Dorianne Laux 2010: Asking for Directions, Linda Gregg 2009: A Blessing, James Wright 2008: New York, New York, David Berman 2007: Waste Land Limericks, Wendy Cope 2006: There Are Two Worlds, Larry Levis 2005: America, Allen Ginsberg

#poetry #poem #war #the art of losing #time #valencia robin

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docgold13 · 2 years

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365 Marvel Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…

Supporting Character Supplemental - still more fun supporting characters

Following the jump are a few more supporting players that I couldn’t fit into the schedule in that the idea for extended cast supplementals was an idea that came to me late in the process. Apologies in advance for all of the cool supporting cast members who are not included.

Stick

The enigmatic warrior and sensei known only as Stick was born blind, yet honed his other senses to such an uncanny degree as to entirely compensate for his lack of sight. He was taken in and raised by the shadowy order of warriors known as the Chaste who believed Stick to be the reincarnation of Yamato-Take.

The Chaset had been in a centuries-long war with The Hand and Stick was selected to lead The Chaste in this ongoing conflict.

He received extensive training throughout his life, including tutelage in the mystic arts by The Ancient One (the then Sorcerer Supreme). Having become a master of multiple forms of martial arts and mystical practices, Stick set about recruiting and training new warriors to bolster the ranks of The Chaste. Among these students had been Matt Murdock whom Stick sought out not long after Matt had lost his sight. Stick helped Matt utilize his hearing and special radar senses to compensate for his blindness, aiding him on his path to becoming the superhero known as Daredevil.

A later pupil of Stick was Electra who ultimately turned away from him to become an assassin for The Hand. After Elektra was killed in battle against Bullseye, Stick sacrificed himself, using his life energy to bring Electra back to life and purge her of the evil influence of The Hand. Although Stick was later himself resurrected by the cosmic entity known as The Grandmaster. Actor Terrance Stamp portrayed Sick in the Sony Films movie, Electra; whereas actor Scott Glenn portrayed the character in the MCU Netflix television shows. The blind sensei first appeared in the pages of Daredevil Vol. 1 #176 (1981

Wendy Kawasaki

Wendy had been a student who asked Captain Marvel for an interview as part of her research. Marvel was so impressed by Wendy that she hired the young woman on to act as a personal assistant.

Wendy would later join the Alpha Flight Space program. She earned the rank of lieutenant and has more recently been appointed commander of the program.

The character first appeared in the pages of Captain Marvel Vol. 7 #9 (2013).

Ganke Lee

Ganke Lee is the best friend of Miles Morales, and one of the only people whom Miles had shared his secret with. It was Ganke who figured out that Miles carried similar abilities to Spider-Man. He was first alerted to his friend's newfound powers when Miles came bursting into his room and explaining the events that transpired to give him such abilities.

Thrilled at Miles's ‘cool’ powers and making the initial assessment that he was a Mutant, Ganke made suggestions that he should be a superhero and embrace his abilities; though Miles was much more reluctant to use his powers and wanted to ignore them in pursuit of a normal life. Ganke later made the correct deduction that Miles's abilities were not a product of the X-Gene, but as a result of tampered genetics.

Following the Secret Wars event wherein the Ultimate Universe was destroyed, The Molecule Man recreated Ganke in the 616 Universe as a favor to Miles who had shown him kindness during the ordeal.

Actor Jacob Batalon portrays a version of Ganke (renamed Ned) in the MCU Spider-man movies. The character first appeared in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 #2 (2011).

Moira MacTaggert

Doctor Moira MacTaggert had been a brilliant geneticist, medical doctor and researcher who became a staunch alley to the X-Men and Mutant rights all over the world. Based on Muir Island, MacTaggart was at the forefront of trying to find a cure for the terrible Legacy Virus.

She was later revealed to be a Mutant herself who possessed the capacity to recall the events of her life across a near countless spectrum of alternate realities. She used this knowledge to guide the Mutant race so to avoid extinction events and establish the Mutant nation of Krakoa. Yet the emotional toll of having experienced and being able to recall her own death across some many different time lines ultimately drove her mad and she became evil.

Actress Rose Byrne portrayed MacTaggert in the Fox Films X-Men movies. Moira MacTaggert first appeared in the pages of Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #96 (1975).

Roz Solomon

Agent Roz Solomon served as a member of SHIELD in the organization’s environmental sciences division. A staunch environmentalist, Solomon investigated an illegal oceanic drilling practice conducted by the Roxxan Oil Corporation and ended up sharing an adventure with the Mighty Thor. Following the dissuasion of SHIELD, Solomon accepted an offer by King T’Challa to become a part of his Agents of Wakanda program. The intrepid young agent first appeared in the pages of Thor: God of Thunder #12 (2013).

Telekinian

Ian Soo. A latent Inhuman who gained his powers by way of exposure to the Terrigen Cloud. Terrigenesis did not alter Ian’s physical form and endowed him with telekinetic powers, the ability to lift and manipulate objects with the power of his mind. The upper limits of Ian’s telekinetic abilities has yet to be revealed. Ian was living in New York City when he was bestowed his powers. He had recently lost his job and apartment and was having terribly difficult time finding new employment. Desperate, Ian chose to use his newfound powers to rob an armored car. Brand new to this would-be turn of becoming a super-villain, Ian chose the truly awful codename of ‘Telekinian.’

Ian’s attempt to rob this armored car was foiled by the hero Hellcat (Patsy Walker). Rather than duking it out in typical fashion, Ian and Hellcat ended up bonding on their mutual love of musical theater. Patsy convinced Ian to give up his villainous ways and the two became roommates and good friends. On occasion, Ian would resume his guise as Telekinian to aided Hellcat in her heroic endeavors.

The hero first appeared in the pages of Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 (2015).

Leach

A toddler aged Morlock whose Mutant powers and attributes were active at birth. Leach’s abilities act to nullify any other Mutant’s powers in his immediate vicinity. He essentially takes away other Mutant’s powers, although these powers return once they are away from Leach’s vicinity. Leach’s power-nullification abilities also work on some non-Mutant super powered beings and the reasons for this remains unknown. Leach survived the Morlock massacre and currently resides at The Baxter Building as a member of The Richards’ Family and student of The Future Foundation. Young Leach first appeared in the pages of Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #179 (1983).

Artie

Arthur ‘Artie’ Maddicks’ Mutant powers manifested in childhood, leaving him mute and physically transformed in a fashion that his father found grotesque. Although he had lost the capacity to speak aloud, Artie gained the power to tap into and project the thoughts of himself or other people.

Artie’s father had Hank McCoy abducted so to force the scientist to find a means of ‘curing’ his son’s mutation. The ordeal resulted in tragedy and Artie’s father was killed. Now orphaned, Artie was taken in by X-Factor were he became lifelong friends with fellow Mutant child, Leach. He first appeared in the pages of X-Factor Vol. 1 #2 (1986).

Swain

A latent Inhuman named Jovanna whose transformation was caused by exposure to the Terrigen Cloud. Terrigenesis endowed Swain with psychic powers that enables her to read and control the emotions of others. The transformation also left Swain with a reptilian-like tail.

Following her transformation, Swain accepted the invitation of asylum of New Attilan. She was made the captain of the Royal Inhuman Vessel (or RIV), an enormous flying fortress that circumnavigates the globe following the Terrigen Cloud. Swain’s central role aboard the RIV is to use her empathic powers so to maintain the wellbeing of Hub, the new Inhuman who was transformed into a powerful dynamo of unlimited energy. Hub’s energies power the RIV, yet his transformation has caused him great pain and emotional duress. Swain has used her powers to help Hub feel in control of his anxiety and the process of powering The RIV acts to quell his pain.

The intrepid NuHuman first appeared din the pages of All-New Inhumans #1 (2015).

Nancy Whitehead and Mew

Nancy Whitehead is the college roommate of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. A young woman of incredible intelligence and ingenuity, Nancy has become involved in many of Squirrel Girl’s adventures and her quick thinking and no nonsense attitude has proven crucial in saving the day on numerous occasions.

Nancy is a proficient author of fan fiction and self-made comic books. Her favorite character is CatThor, a version of the Mighty Thor who is also a cat. She is Loki’s favorite human. Shge claims her cat, Mew, is the greatest cat in the world (debatable).

The unbeatably clever roommate first appeared in the pages of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 1 #1 (2015).

Dinah Soar

Much of Dinah Soar's history remains a mystery. However, during her long life, she came to live in Wisconsin where she was drawn to helping others despite her inability to communicate with others and many humans fearing her appearance.

Dinah Soar was one of a few individuals who answered Mr. Immortal's advertisement looking for costumed superheroes and became one of the founding members of the Great Lakes Avengers. Sadly, Dinah was killed in action whist battling the villainous Maelstrom.

The mysterious heroine first appeared in the pages of West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #46 (1989).

Tyesha and Gabe Hillman

Tyesha Hillman is the fiancee and later wife to Aamir Khan, the brother of Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). Tyesha and Aamir later had a son whom they named Malik. Her younger brother, Gabe is a classmate of Kamala and has acted as a member of the ‘Kamala Korps,’ a group of would-be crimefighters who stepped in to patrol the streets of Jersey City during a time in which Ms. Marvel was missing in action.

Actress Travina Springer portrayed Tyesha in the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel; actor Jordan Preston Carter portrayed Gabe in this same series. Tyesha first appeared in the pages of Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 #2 (2015); whereas gibe first appeared in Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 #5 (2016).

Naja

Very little is known of the origins of the Inhuman hero known as Naja. A latent Inhuman whose transformation was caused by way of exposure to the Terrigen Cloud. Terrigenesis greatly altered Naja’s physical appearance, changing her into a reptilian form, with green scaled skin, clawed hands and feet, and a web-like membrane connecting from her wrists to her lower trunk that allows for glide-based flight. Along with these physical changes, Naja also gained greatly enhanced dexterity, strength and durability, the aforementioned flight, as well as the capacity to alter the color of her scales so to blend in with her surroundings in a camouflage-style process.

The heroine first appeared in the pages of Inhuman (2014).

Phat

William Reilly was a Mutant who possessed the ability to control and redistribute fatty deposits on his body. This enabled him to increase his size, strength and durability. He was recruited into the corporate iteration of X-Force and served as a member of the team under the alias of ‘Phat.’ He was later killed in action, although a portion of William’s lipid structure was saved by Doop who used it to create William’s ‘daughter’ BabyPhat.

The character first appeared in the pages of X-Force Vol. 1 #117 (2001).

Grills

The friendly fellow affectionately known as Grills had been a neighbor of Hawkeye (Clint Barton) when the Avenger was living in an apartment building in the Bedford-Sty area of Brooklyn. The two became pals and Hawkeye assisted Grils in tending to his aged father during Hurricane Sandy.

Unfortunately, being friends with superheroes can be a dangerous matter and Grills was sadly killed by the assassin known as The Clown.

A version of the character featured in the Disney+ series, Hawkeye portrayed by actor Clayton English. Grills first appeared in the pages of Hawkeye Vol. 4 #1 (2012).

#365 Marvel Comics Heroes #Supporting Characters #cut-outs #paper art

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fanficstartrekouat · 10 months

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The Strange Voyage part one

One month passes and Elsa still feels the effects of Ice's blast. Her scars have healed, but she still has difficulty doing physical activities and is taking it easy as she tries to recover. Anna is always by her side, cheering her on and encouraging her to keep trying, while Captain Snow has been visiting her regularly to check on her progress. The healing process is slow, but Elsa is grateful for the support of her friends and is determined to fully recover.

Captain Snow is on the bridge when her Navigator, Lieutenant Jr. Grade Wendy, speaks up.

Wendy "Captain, we encountered a new planet- well actually solar system, and their sun seems to be red. Should we make first contact?"

Captain Snow is alert to this report and is now faced with a big decision about whether they should try to make contact with this new planet. They don't know anything about this solar system and there could be potential dangers involved, but it's also an opportunity to explore a new world and make contact with aliens. What should they do?

Captain Snow turns over control of the bridge to Commander Cinderella as she sets out to meet the alien race on the new planet. She is accompanied by Ensign Jane Potts and Lieutenant Meridia. They are charged with making first contact and exploring the new planet.

As they land on the alien world, they see that the technology is far more advanced than their own or that of the Federation. Snow sees a Man walking towards her with a look of surprise on his face.

Male "Who are you and why are you in Krypton?"

Snow is taken aback by the level of technology on this new planet and is caught off guard when this Man asks her about why she and her crew are here. She takes a moment to gather her thoughts and prepares to tell the Man why she and her crew have come to visit their planet.

Snow: "We've come in peace."

Male: "Space travel is forbidden in Krypton."

Snow: "We were not aware of that."

Snow is taken aback by the Man's statement that space travel is forbidden on Krypton. She wasn't aware of this law and now she is wondering if she and her crew have made a big mistake in trying to visit this planet. She wants to reassure the Man that they mean no harm and are here in peace, but she has to figure out how to talk her way out of this difficult situation.

Male (angry) "It makes sense that you're not aware of it. The Council of Krypton are a bunch of morons for scientists. They don't realize that by preventing space travel, they have stunted the growth of our people!"

The Man is obviously angry and seems to be speaking his mind despite the presence of Snow and her crew. He seems to be frustrated with the Council of Krypton and their decision to prevent space travel. He goes as far as to say the council are a "bunch of morons for scientists." His anger speaks volumes about his feelings towards them.

Snow "Sorry about your Council, but if you want, you're welcome to come with us and join us on our space travel. Oh by the way, my name is Captain Snow-White of the fairytale. "

Male "I appreciate the offer but I can't leave…. Save my son, wife, my brother, niece and my brother's wife please, if you can save my planet please do. I beg of you.

Snow (confused) "Save your planet from what exactly?"

The Male seems desperate for them to save his family and planet from a threat that Snow is still unaware of.

Jor-el "My name is Jor-el, and both my people and planet are near their end. The green plague has caused our resources to become limited, forcing our leaders to use the planet's core. This made the planet unstable and we only have two days before it explodes. The only hope for our survival is evacuation, but the Council won't listen."

Jor-el reveals his full name and makes the situation even more dire. He says that not only are the planet's residents in danger, but they only have two days before the planet explodes.

Snow (shocked and now realizing the dire situation) "I'll do everything in my power to help you, even if it means breaking the Prime Directive. First thing's first, get your family in the shuttle just in case we fail. I don't plan on failing, but it seems your government is a stubborn lot. "

Jor-el hurriedly brings his family aboard, including Lara-el with her infant Kal-el, Zor-el and Alura, as well as Kara Zor-el, a teenage girl. Meanwhile, Snow heads to the council to talk to them.

Snow (to the Council) "Jor-el says that his planet is set to explode in two days and his people are in danger. He says that the council hasn't listened to his pleas for evacuation and that he needs our help. We need to find a way to communicate with the Council and convince them to listen to him."

To be continued...

#once upon a time #ouat #star trek #star trek ouat crossover #fanfic #fanfiction #startrek #the voyages of the uss fairytale #snow white #Jane #merida #jor el #krypton #star trek once upon a time crossover #fanfic crossover #fanfiction crossover #ouat crossover #once upon a time crossover

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nothingunrealistic · 11 months

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There could be only one Machiavellian daddy standing in the "Billions" finale revenge showdown between Bobby "Axe" Axelrod (Damian Lewis) and his hedge fund usurper (and dangerous presidential candidate) Michael Prince (Corey Stoll). After seven seasons of cutthroat high-finance drama and power struggles, "Billions" went endgame with the titan matchup in Showtime's series finale (now streaming on Paramount+; airing on Showtime Sunday 8 EDT/PDT). But the entire cast of characters featuring ever-evolving allegiances got its due, including longtime Axe persecutor U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), now working with his former nemesis to bring down Prince. The multi-pronged farewell episode even featured former U.S. Attorney Bryan Connerty (Toby Leonard Moore), who hadn't been a "Billions" regular since Chuck engineered his legal problems and prison stint in Season 4 for illegal wiretapping. Connerty made a surprise appearance to receive his reinstated law license, also engineered by Chuck as a peace offering. "This show was for the show superfans; we found the ultimate landing spot for all these characters," says Brian Koppelman, who created the series with David Levien and Andrew Ross Sorkin. The final positions from the "Billions" finale:

Axe made Prince a pauper, and resumed his office chair throne Prince helped orchestrate Axe's downfall in Season 5, which allowed him to get his greedy hands on Axe Capital. As Axe, the heavy-metal-T-shirt-wearing Road Runner of finance, realized he had finally been defeated by Prince, he uttered the line "So this is what it is like to lose." In real life, Lewis was leaving "Billions" to return to life in England for personal reasons. So Axe was written off (exiled to Switzerland) to avoid arrest by Chuck, thanks to a tipoff from Prince. Prince took over Axe's throne and renamed the kingdom Michael Prince Capital (MPC). With Lewis and Axe back for the final season, the downfall script was reversed. Axe returned to New York, with Chuck's help and urging, to join the team trying to stop Prince. The Never Princers, who included MPC's general counsel Kate Sacker (Dola Rashad), conspired to annihilate Prince's stock portfolio while the unsuspecting presidential candidate met the U.S. president at Camp David, as his mobile phone was locked up by Marine security. With the trap sprung, Prince flew into MPC in a rage. Showing the volatile side no one wanted to see responsible for nuclear weapons, Prince threw a printer through the office window of Chuck co-conspirator and ex-wife Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff). Prince bottled his rage seeing Axe and an office full of former employees present to witness his financial demise and presidential ambitions crushed in one bad news day. "So yeah Mike, this is what it's like to lose," Axe said to Prince, parroting his own line, with a very different subject. "I bet that felt good," Prince sneered back. "What does it say about someone who wants to throw somebody's words back in their face? Not great things," says Levien of the line. "That's why we found it so satisfying." Big winner Axe reclaimed his office chair with no trumpets, but only his faithful lieutenant Mike "Wags" Wagner (David Costabile) standing just behind him. While Prince hid dark ambitions behind noble ideas, Axe sent his traders out with the capitalist battle cry "Let's make some ... money!" with The Steve Miller Band's ode to bandit living, "Take the Money and Run," playing as the exit soundtrack. "That song felt just absolutely perfect for the show," Koppelman says.

Prince went down defiantly, vowing revenge With Humpty Dumpty falling off the financial wall and Prince's world in tatters, even his loyalists disbanded. Right-hand man Scooter Dunbar (Daniel Breaker) saw the light and realized how far the power duo had drifted in its quest for power. Finding he has been spared financial ruin, Scooter announced he's embarking on his dream of conducting an orchestra. In classic villain mode, Prince admitted defeat but vowed to return and financially crush Axe and anyone else who knocked him. "This country is built on second acts, and when you see mine, you better duck and cover," Prince said. "People like Prince are not laid low by things that would lay all of us low," Koppelman says. "In three years, the guy will somehow have bought The Sphere off James Dolan."

Chuck and Wendy end up laughing over dinner Chuck, the main Axe battler in many season finales, relished the slightly less sexy victory over Prince. Chuck also finally came up triumphant in his personal life. Wendy and Chuck's marriage, and vigorous BDSM sex life, had ended acrimoniously after Wendy worked for years as Axe Capital's high-end performance coach. But "Billions" ended with the two exes smiling as Wendy walked out of Axe Capital moments after turning down Axe's return to work offer. Wendy and Chuck agreed to go on a family dinner with their two children. The final shot featured Wendy and Chuck laughing at dinner with their kids, as noted chef Connerty performed impressive culinary tricks on the teppanyaki (Moore's real-life cooking skills were often highlighted). Wendy and Chuck don't resume life as a couple, "but they settled their issues, coming to a great place of mutual understanding, fondness and co-parenting," Levien says.

#billions #7x12 #brian koppelman #david levien #bobby axelrod #mike prince #chuck rhoades #bryan connerty #scooter dunbar #wendy rhoades #and none for taylor i guess :(

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junkyardbluebox · 3 months

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Caption This!

#classic doctor who #2nd doctor #jamie mccrimmon #zoe heriot #lieutenant carstairs #patrick troughton #frazer hines #wendy padbury #david savile #the war games

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summersnow82 · 2 years

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Late Night Conversations - Part 4

Fanfiction _ SeaQuest

Fictober 2022/ Prompt #20: “There’s only us.”

Fictober 2022/ Prompt #23: “Not on my watch!”

Summary: Tim says some interesting things while on pain meds. Takes place after “Dead End.”

Author’s Note: A two day challenge because I’ve been sick, so this is a long one. Part 4 in “Late Night Conversations.”

TW: Mention of death, trauma, potential death.

……

“Captain, I could use Ensign Harris in sick bay if you can spare her,” Dr. Wendy Smith said, nodding in the direction of the brunette.

“Of course,” Captain Nathan Bridger nodded, motioning for Annabelle to leave her station.

“We’re going to need some prep work before they get there,” Wendy told Annabelle as they headed for the Mag-Lev. “I’d like to be there waiting when they arrive. Do you think you could take care of that for me?”

“No problem, Wendy.” It was amazing to Annabelle how Dr. Kristen Westphalen had commanded so much respect, money, and personnel, but the UEO expected Wendy to run on just herself. Every time they got a decent crew member they were plucked off to another assignment, and Wendy’s frustration was growing. Thankfully, Annabelle had some medical experience and training, a large chunk of it within the field Wendy could find useful.

“I can’t keep pulling a Weapon’s Officer away from their post. They’ve got to find me someone,” Wendy complained, something she rarely did.

“Think of me as your field medic,” Annabelle said lightly, trying to ease her friend’s mind, and not think about the condition her friends and crew mates would be arriving in.

“You’re worried about Tim,” Wendy said, inclining her head to meet her friend’s eyes.

“And Lonnie, Jim, and Lucas. Gosh, poor Lucas. He’s gone through more crazy than most career officers,” Annabelle said, trying to change the subject.

“You know,” Wendy said gently, “I don’t have to be psychic to know you have feelings for him.”

“Lucas? Well, yeah, he’s like a little brother to me.” Wendy arched a brow letting Annabelle know the gig was up. “Okay, okay. Look, it’s just a crush. It’ll fade. I mean, it’s bound to happen at some point on a submarine, right?”

Wendy didn’t look convinced. “I suppose.”

“And there are lots of attractive men on this ship. You spend enough time with one it makes sense…,” she continued on, but Wendy had blocked her out. Annabelle might not be ready to admit her feelings for O’Neill, but Wendy knew it was more than a crush. She’d heard Annabelle’s continuous mental prayers the entire time she was on the bridge, and while they’d been for all of her friends the deepest pain came with the thought of losing Tim. “...and besides, on board romances can’t work out. I mean, surviving the rumor mill would be hard enough, and - .”

“Thank you for riding Mag-Lev.”

The shuttle stopped at Sick Bay, and Annabelle exited so Wendy could continue onto Docking Bay. What Wendy wanted to tell Annabelle was she wasn’t alone in her feelings. She’d watched O’Neill send plenty of sidelong, wistful glances her way over the past several months. The only question now was would the two ever be brave enough to admit it to one another?

……..

“Does she have to be here for this?” Tim asked Wendy, nodding to Annabelle who was wrapping a cut on Lieutenant Brody’s arm. Thankfully, Lonnie and Jim had minor injuries that didn’t require an overnight stay in Sick Bay. Lucas, Dagwood, and Marcus Rawlings were on their way back to the SeaQuest, and would be heading their way shortly.

“I’m sorry, Tim,” Wendy said sympathetically. “I need the help, and Annabelle has the training.”

“I just feel so… pathetic,” he muttered, keeping his voice low.

“You broke your leg in the line of duty. I’m thankful that’s all it was. It could have been much worse.” Tim nodded a concession, watching Annabelle chat with Lonnie as she worked on cleaning her up.

“Do you think… do you think telling someone how you feel is a good idea after a life-or-death situation? Or is it too soon? Like, your emotions aren’t trustworthy enough?” He asked.

“I think,” Wendy said slowly and carefully, “In those situations we realize what really matters to us, and what we would truly miss if we lost it.” She hesitated. “But I also think discretion is wise.”

“Thanks a lot,” Tim snarked, looking away. Wendy let out a little chuckle, shaking her head.

“You know, why don’t we go ahead an get those pain meds in you now?” Tim began to shake his head, but Wendy leaned down to meet his eyes. “You need them, Tim. I appreciate the brave front, but trust me on this, okay?”

Tim nodded reluctantly, casting another glance at Annabelle before laying back against the pillows of his hospital bed.

…………..

“How’s my favorite patient?” Annabelle smiled down at the Communications Officer. The pain meds Wendy had given him were working faster than expected, and Tim had been quietly singing “Pretty Woman” to himself for the past five minutes.

“Heeeeeeyyyyyy,” he drawled, grinning up at her. “It’s you!”

“It’s me,” Annabelle chuckled. “Can I take your glasses for you?”

“Nah,” he slurred. “I like looking at you. I look at you all the time. Did you know that?” His voice had this adorable sing-songy quality to it that made Annabelle smile.

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

“Because you’re soooooo pretty. So pretty. So, so, so pretty.” He grinned, closing his eyes, and snuggling against his pillows.

“Hey, can I check on the patient?” Miguel Ortiz was standing halfway in the door, hesitation lining his features.

“By all means,” Annabelle said, waving him in. She strode over to Miguel, lowering her voice. “The pain meds have kicked in, and he’s feeling very good.”

Miguel laughed, moving over to sit in the chair by Tim’s bed. “Hey, buddy. How ya feeling?”

Tim opened his eyes, blinking, then grinned broadly when he saw Miguel. “Heeeeeeeyyyyy,” Tim said, “Come here. Come here!” He waved his hand like Miguel had more than a few inches to cross before he was literally on top of Tim. “I saw a dragon,” Tim drawled. “It was huge. Like this...this big… so huge.” He hands kept moving further away from one another as he spoke. “I thought it was going to eat me,” he said, leaning over to Miguel, eyes wide.

“Wow, Tim. Sounds… scary.” Miguel had seen the dragon worm, and his memory of it wasn’t nearly as much fun as Tim’s.

Tim’s eyes remained wide. “It was.” He paused. “You used to have short hair, but now it’s long.”

Miguel turned to look at Annabelle. “How much did Smith give him?”

Annabelle just laughed, going back to cleaning up the supplies she’d used earlier. Tim tossed his head back to look Miguel in the eyes. “She’s pretty!” He said a little too loudly in Miguel’s ear. “You’re so pretty!” He said even louder, tossing his head back to Annabelle.

“Is he medicated or drunk? Good grief,” Miguel asked. “Ya know,” he said, looking over his shoulder at Annabelle with a teasing grin. “We should record this, and send it into one of those home video shows.”

“You’re terrible,” she laughed, walking over to the pair. “You comfortable, Tim?”

“I like it when you wear you hair down,” he said, smiling up at her. “I thought about you while I was down there, you know.”

“Oh, you did, huh?” Annabelle asked, perching at the end of his bed. .

“Mmmmhmmm.” He closed his eyes, a huge grin plastered on his face. “I thought about you a lot.”

“Um, Tim, maybe you should get some rest. We can come see you when you’re feeling better,” Miguel offered, standing to leave. He was getting very concerned where this conversation was going, and he knew Tim would be mortified when he sobered up.

“We should get married,” Tim said, never taking his eyes off Annabelle.

“Not on my watch,” Miguel said, catching Annabelle’s amused grin.

“You never let me have any fun,” Tim grumbled, pouting. He turned back to Annabelle. “We should definitely get married.”

“Okay, Tim,” Annabelle laughed, playing along.

“Really?” Tim tried to sit up, and Miguel quickly and gently pushed him back down. “I’m getting married! Will you be my best man?”

“Sure thing, buddy.” Tim lolled his head back, speaking in slurred French as he gazed over at Annabelle dreamily.

“Do you understand any of that?” Miguel asked, glancing over at her.

“Not a single word, but he seems very happy.”

“A little too happy. You’re not gonna tell him he said all this, are you?” Miguel looked genuinely concerned.

“As much fun as it would be to tease him, no. He’s been through enough.” She glanced at her watch, frowning. “Wendy was supposed to be back by now. They’ve really got to get her some more staff. Ford’s going to kill me.”

“Nah,” Miguel offered. “After the past twenty-four hours I think everyone gets a bit of a reprieve.”

Tim’s words had gotten softer, and his eyes had fluttered shut. Annabelle shifted to remove his glasses, and he blinked his eyes open as she was folding them up. He looked at her with a seriousness that had been absent minutes ago. His hand reached up, brushing away a lock of hair that had dislodged from her braid. “I love you, you know.” Annabelle went very still under his hand, now gently stroking her cheek. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment I met you.”

Annabelle opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Next to her Miguel was frozen in place, unsure what to do or say because Tim seemed so genuine. Annabelle closed her mouth, reopened it, and Miguel saw the quiver in her lip. “I’m glad you’re safe, Tim.” Tears pressed at her eyes, and she closed them, bowing her head so they wouldn’t be seen. She swallowed hard, forcing the sob back that forced to erupt from her throat. Tim’s hand brushed her hair back once more before dropping to the bed. A few minutes later his breathing had regulated enough Annabelle knew he was asleep.

Miguel, unfortunately, was still by her side.

She sat up, hurriedly wiping her eyes, giving a short chortle. “I guess I was more worked up over this mission than I realized.” She forced a grin, but Miguel said nothing. “He doesn’t mean it, you know. It’s just the meds. That’s all.” She stood, striding over to the opposite side of the room, trying to regain her composure. Miguel took a moment to consider his next course of action before standing and following her.

“There’s only us, Belle,” he said, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“I thought he was dead, Miguel.” Her voice was cracked with tears he couldn’t see because she refused to turn around. “I thought they all were. I prayed they were safe, but…,” she stopped, trying to regain some control.

“We all did. That’s the hardest things about this job, but they’re okay,” he assured her.

“This time,” she said, turning to meet his eyes. “This time he’s fine, but what about the next?” Miguel didn’t have a good answer for that. Annabelle took a shuddering breath, wiping her eyes. “Did you know I was married once?”

Miguel frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “No. Does… does Tim,” he gestured over his shoulder, and Annabelle shook her head. “Just Lonnie and Wendy. Not,” she held up a hand, “that it’s something I try to hide, but it’s not exactly a happy memory.” She tilted her head to the side. “At least, not all of it.”

“Can I ask what happened?” Miguel didn’t want to push – he valued Annabelle as a crew mate and friend, but he also knew Tim tended to fall hard and fast. If he really was in love with Annabelle it would either be absolutely wonderful or a complete disaster.

Annabelle took a deep breath, leaning back against the counter. “It was a long time ago when Sean and I first started…,” she motioned with her hand, and Miguel nodded. Time travel. Right. “Maybe a year or so in. We fell into this beautiful little village, and he was warm and gentle,” she smiled at the memory, “And for some reason, he loved me.” Her smile wavered. “But his job was more dangerous than I knew, and… and one night…,” she closed her eyes, fresh tears budding under her lashes.

Miguel tilted his head down, closing his eyes. “I’m really sorry, Belle.”

“I didn’t know…,” her voice broke, but this time she didn’t try to hide it. “I knew it would hurt, but…,” her hand staggered over her heart. “I can’t go through that again, Miguel. I just can’t. I can’t. I just can’t.” She was full on sobbing now. Everything she’d held back while they were missing came pouring out. Miguel opened his arms, letting her fall into them as she sobbed on his shoulder. “I thought he was dead, Miguel. I thought….”

“It’s okay, I’ve got you. It’s okay.” Miguel kept repeating, holding her close. Since Captain Bridger recruited Annabelle to serve on the SeaQuest Miguel had never seen her like this. She was normally calm and cool during a crisis, but they’d never experienced anything like this.

Anything involving Tim.

It was very apparent to the Sensor Chief this wasn’t some crush or rebound he’d initially suspected. Two of his friends were in love, terrified to admit it to the other, and Miguel, by default, was stuck in the middle.

#fictober #fictober 2022 #fictober22 #fan fiction #seaquest fanfiction #seaquest dsv #seaquest #ted raimi #time travel #lt tim o’neill #tim o'neill #tim o'neill x female oc #annabelle harris #late night conversations #ao3 fanfic #miguel ortiz #mention of death #mention of trauma

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victorawhi · 1 year

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Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, dies at 93

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (June 8, 2023) — Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson religious broadcasting pioneer, philanthropist, educator, Christian leader, businessman, and author died on

June 8, 2023, in his home, surrounded by his family. He was 93.

The Christian Broadcasting Network announced his death.

Dr. Robertson served as the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. (CBN); founder, chancellor, and chief executive officer of Regent University; founder of Operation Blessing Relief and Development Corporation (OB); founder and president of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ); co-founder and chairman of International Family Entertainment, Inc.; and a leading force behind several other influential organizations and broadcast entities.

His greatest treasure in life was knowing Jesus Christ and having the privilege of proclaiming Him and His power to others. His life was lived to the glory of God.

Early Life, Education, and Military Service

Pat Robertson was born on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia, to A. Willis Robertson and Gladys Churchill Robertson. His father served for 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

After graduating with honors from McCallie School, a military prep school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Robertson entered Washington and Lee University in 1946, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa.

In 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. After graduating magna cum laude from Washington and Lee in 1950, Robertson served as the assistant adjutant of the First Marine Division in Korea. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States.

Mr. Robertson received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1955 and his M.Div. from New York Theological Seminary in 1959.

Family

In 1954, he married Adelia “Dede” Elmer Robertson. They were married 67 years before she predeceased him on April 19, 2022, at the age of 94.

Together they had four children: Timothy Brian Robertson of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Elizabeth Robertson Robinson of Dallas, Texas; Gordon Perry Robertson of Chesapeake, Virginia; Ann Robertson LeBlanc of Portsmouth, Virginia; plus 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Religious Broadcasting

In 1959, Mr. Robertson moved his family to Tidewater, Virginia, with just $70 and a vision of establishing the first Christian television network in the United States.

Although he didn`t even own a TV, he filed incorporation papers for The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., then raised funds to purchase a defunct UHF station.

On October 1, 1961, CBN began broadcasting from WYAH-TV in Portsmouth, Virginia. At the time, its signal barely reached the city limits, recalled his son Gordon Robertson, CBN`s president and CEO.

The ministry’s scope grew exponentially over the decades, reaching viewers across America and around the globe through television broadcasts, cable, satellite, the internet, and other media.

Today, CBN is one of the world’s largest evangelistic ministries, proclaiming the Good News in over 100 countries and dozens of languages, including Russian, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Chinese.

CBN`s flagship program grew out of a telethon in 1963, when Mr. Robertson asked a “club” of 700 viewers to give $10 a month.

In 1966, The 700 Club program was created, airing each weekday with interviews, prayer and ministry. Today, it is one of the longest-running religious television programs in America.

He hosted the daily program until October 1, 2021, the sixtieth anniversary of CBN`s first broadcast, when he announced that Gordon Robertson would be the show`s new full-time host.

Over the years, Mr. Robertson`s co-hosts included Ben Kinchlow, Sheila Walsh, Gordon Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, and Wendy Griffith.

Throughout its broadcast history, The 700 Club and CBN News have covered national and international events and issues, including key elections, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war on terror, Israel, and the Middle East.

Guests have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump; key congressional leaders from both parties; as well as a “Who’s Who” of world and national figures, journalists, professional athletes, celebrities, and pundits.

Regent University

In 1977, Mr. Robertson incorporated CBN University, and classes began in 1978.

Later renamed Regent University, the school quickly became a leading academic center for Christian thought and action, and now has over 30,000 alumni. Today, thousands of students take classes on its Virginia Beach campus and online around the world.

With the mission of “Christian leadership to change the world,” Regent University offers associate`s, bachelor`s, master`s, and doctoral degrees in numerous disciplines and holds accreditations from bodies including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

U.S. News & World Report has listed Regent among the top national universities four years in a row.

Distinguished faculty and lecturers have included John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General; Vern Clark, former Chief of Naval Operations; Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes, Inc.; Justice Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court; and Michelle Bachmann, former U.S. Congresswoman.

Operation Blessing

Operation Blessing was established by Mr. Robertson in 1978 as a nonprofit organization with a mission “to demonstrate God`s love by alleviating human need and suffering in the United States and around the world.”

Its programs focus on the primary goals of providing hunger relief, clean water, medical aid, and disaster assistance to help break the cycle of suffering for those in need.

Operation Blessing has provided relief aid in the aftermath of numerous disasters across America and around the globe, including the COVID-19 pandemic, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and fires.

Since its founding, Operation Blessing has touched the lives of millions of people in America and around the world.

The American Center for Law and Justice

In 1990, Mr. Robertson founded the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a public-interest law firm and education group that defends the First Amendment rights of people of faith.

Focusing on pro-family, pro-liberty, and pro-life issues, the ACLJ has argued before the Supreme Court and won several high-profile religious freedom cases.

Author

A prolific and New York Times best-selling author, Mr. Robertson wrote 24 books, including The Secret Kingdom, Answers to 100 of Life`s Most Probing Questions, and The New World Order, which were each the number one religious book in America in the year of their respective publication.

His other books include the autobiographical works Shout It From the Housetops and I Have Walked With the Living God; along with My Prayer for You, Maximum Security, Beyond Reason: How Miracles Can Change Your Life, America’s Dates With Destiny, The Plan, The New Millennium, The Turning Tide, The End of the Age, Steps to Revival, Bring It On, The Ten Offenses, Courting Disaster, Miracles Can Be Yours Today, The Greatest Virtue, Right on the Money, Successful Families and Finances in the Secret Kingdom, The Power of the Holy Spirit in You, and The Shepherd King, released in May 2023.

Presidential Candidate

In 1986, Mr. Robertson announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States on a conservative platform.

While he enjoyed some success in the early primaries, he eventually placed third.

At the 1988 Republican Convention, Mr. Robertson endorsed Vice President George H. W. Bush, who won the nomination and the presidency.

Organizations, Awards and Honors

Mr. Robertson was a past president of the Council on National Policy.

1982 he served on President Ronald Reagan`s Task Force on Victims of Crime. He previously served on the Board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and on the Governor`s Council of Economic Advisors in the State of Virginia. Mr. Robertson founded and served as the president of the Christian Coalition of America until his resignation in 2001.

Over the years, numerous officials and groups have recognized Mr. Robertson`s achievements, including Humanitarian of the Year in 1982 by the Food for the Hungry organization; Man of the Year in 1988 by Students for America; Christian Broadcaster of the Year in 1989 by the National Religious Broadcasters; one of America`s 100 Cultural Elite in 1992 by Newsweek magazine; the Cross of Nails award in 2000 for his vision, inspiration and humanitarian work with The Flying Hospital; and the Distinction in Ministry Award in 2009 from New York Theological Seminary.

In 2013, he received the Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award, the first of its kind awarded by the Faith & Freedom Coalition in Washington, DC. And in 2017, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th Silver Anniversary Movieguide Awards in Hollywood, California, having served on the Board of Reference for their Christian Film & Television Commission since 2010.

In honor of his support for Israel, Mr. Robertson received the Defender of Israel Award in 1994 from the Christians` Israel Public Action Campaign; the State of Israel Friendship Award in 2002 by the Chicago chapter of the Zionist Organization of America; and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Support of Israel in 2008 by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

For more information on the life and ministry of Pat Robertson, please visit https://cbn.com/Pat.

In lieu of flowers, the Robertson family respectfully requests that anyone wishing to honor Pat can do so by visiting here (cbn.com/HonorPat) and supporting the organizations he loved dearly: CBN, Operation Blessing, and the Regent University Pat Robertson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Categories: National, News, Top Stories

Tags: 700 club, Christian Broadcasting Network, Pat Robertson

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hookedonapirate · 2 years

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Summary: 1919 England, Emma Cassidy, wife of a baronet, finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage after the war leaves her husband, Neal, paralyzed from the waist down and unable to produce an heir.

Despite the obstacles, she sticks by her husband's side at Goldby Hall, his family's estate, but when she meets former army lieutenant and Neal's aloof gamekeeper, Killian Jones, she feels curiously drawn to his distant blue eyes and quiet demeanor.

At first, she seeks him out for reprieve from her soulless, mundane existence at Goldby Hall, but what starts out as purely physical quickly turns into more than either of them expects.

But Emma is a baronetess, wife of an aristocrat and Killian is a working class servant. Their love affair is frowned upon, and she risks losing her title, her wealth and her position in the world by being with him. But she is determined to get her happy ending with the man she loves. Even if it means losing everything else in the process.

A/N: Thank you @ultraluckycatnd and for looking this over and for being amazing!

Hope you all enjoy!

Catch up: Ch 1 I Ch 2 I Ch 3 I Ch 4 I Ch 5 I Ch 6 I Ch 7 I Ch 8 I Ch 9 I Ch 10 I Ch 11 I Ch 12 I Epilogue

Also on: AO3

Chapter Four

“There was an explosion in the mines, and Ted was only twenty-eight.” Johanna places some violets into a small vase on Neal’s breakfast tray. “The company said it was his own fault somehow. He was running away when he should have laid down. The compensation was only £300. I’ll never forgive them for that. Them branding Ted a coward.”

Emma’s heart constricts as she sits at the table with her legs crossed, hearing about Mrs. Bolton’s husband. From what Johanna has told her so far, Mr. Bolton was a very brave man. “He wasn’t a coward, though, Johanna. He was only trying to survive.” She offers a small smile before her eyes fall to the tray Johanna had prepared.

At first she worried Neal would take Johanna for granted and give her too much responsibility, but the caretaker doesn’t seem to be stressed or overworked. In fact she is always positive and cheerful and encourages Emma to go for walks and get some fresh air. She is used to Neal and his demands after all.

“You should really let Wendy do that. You’re his nurse, not his servant.”

Johanna waves off her words. “No, I don’t mind. Busy hands, quiet mind.”

Before she takes the tray, Emma snatches a small plate of toast and tears off a piece, popping it into her mouth.

Johanna laughs softly just as the bell tinkles. “Oh, there’s the bell. I have to go.”

After Johanna leaves the room to bring Neal his tray, Emma finishes her toast and goes for a walk. She’s feeling stronger than before, both mentally and physically. Her appetite has returned and she doesn’t feel weighed down like she did when she was Neal’s caretaker.

When she reaches the forest, it’s still, yet gusty, the sun warming her skin, the rays showing through the trees.

She takes the same route she usually does, but this time she can hear faint pounding or maybe the chopping of wood. She follows the sound and it leads her to a long, winding creek, the water flowing around a trail of rocks that are close enough together to allow her to cross the creek. So she steps onto the first rock and carefully skips from one to the next. Once she reaches the other side of the creek, she follows a path around some firs, where the chopping draws nearer and she comes across a secret little hut made of rustic poles where the keeper is chopping wood. Emma’s breath catches as she stops to admire him.

His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, exposing strong forearms, his biceps bulging underneath his navy-blue shirt. Emma's eyes are glued to him as he lifts the ax, the fabric straining over the breadth of his shoulders which tense as he brings it down with a low grunt, the log splitting easily in two with a loud crack before he adds to the pile of chopped wood.

Droplets of sweat bead at his forehead before rolling down the sides of his handsome face. He wipes it with his arm and slips off his suspenders, letting them fall by his thighs. She’s not sure why but the strength of his body combined with the sureness and power of his strokes send heat coursing through her, setting her skin ablaze despite the chilly air.

Jolly trots toward her, barking, alerting the keeper of her presence, and Emma smiles, reaching out a hand to pet her as the dog runs down the steps.

Jones lowers the ax and salutes, watching her in silence, as she climbs the steps. She can tell he’s annoyed by the intrusion, for he enjoys the quietness of this place. Enjoys his solitude.

“I wondered what the sound was,” she explains, feeling weak and breathless as she rubs her arms to warm herself. She steps toward the door of the hut and turns around to face him. “Is there a chair in this hut? I walked much further than I expected, afraid I wore myself out.”

“Of course, your Ladyship.” He sets down the ax on the tree stump and leads her inside. “Please, come in.” Drawing out a chair, he places it in the center of the floor.

Emma takes a seat, thanking him.

“I’ll light your fire, milady.”

She looks up at him in surprise. “Oh, no, don’t bother.” But as she peers down at her hands, they’re nearly blue.

“No, I insist.” He quickly takes some logs to the little brick fireplace in the corner. “Warm yourself up a little bit while I prep the coops for the new chicks.”

Soon the flames blaze and crackle, the smoke rising up the chimney.

She sits and warms her hands while Jones goes outside and starts hammering nails into plywood. She listens to the tapping as she looks around.

The hut is quite cozy, paneled with unvarnished material, and there’s a little table and stool at the back wall. It has no windows, the only light coming in through the open door. It’s not luxurious by any means, and it’s a bit cluttered with tools and traps and other materials for the keeper's various projects, but it looks like a nice little sanctuary from the rest of the world. In fact, it looks like the perfect place to come and read her books. The perfect place to escape from Goldby.

She’s not sure how much time passes when she realizes the tapping has ceased. She turns her head toward the doorway and catches the keeper averting his gaze from her and returning to his task, the tapping continuing.

Was he watching her?

He’s now hammering away at his workbench, giving no sign of awareness of her presence. He is obviously a man who likes to be alone, and she is invading his personal space. He is quiet and sort of broody like a timid, wild animal that recoils at human contact and hides away from the rest of the world. As she stares at him fixedly, she is reminded she had seen him naked, those images flooding her mind so intensely, her cheeks warm and she looks away, a tiny smile tugging at her lips.

Feeling hot now, a little fire of her own flickering inside her, Emma rises and stands in the doorway.

He doesn’t look her way, just focuses on his task.

“I never knew this hut was here before.”

“Not many do. That's why I like it.”

Surely his statement is a hint to his displeasure of her being here. “Do you keep it locked when you’re not around?”

He nods, still hammering away softly. “Sometimes, milady.”

“Can I have a key?”

He finally pauses from his task and looks her way, a look of surprise—or maybe irritation—on his face, like she is invading his sanctuary. But she finds it difficult to determine whether he is annoyed by her presence or simply curious about her. “You want a key?”

She nods. “Mmhmm. I think I’d like to sit here sometimes,” she murmurs, not in a demanding tone but one that says a thousand words she doesn’t actually speak. She too seeks solitude and escape from her ordinary world.

He studies her for a moment, their eyes locked, and she knows he senses her loneliness and desperate need for this tranquil hideout to either escape from human contact or from simply one person in particular. “I don’t know if there is another key.”

“Well, I’ll see to it myself then. Good afternoon.”

“Afternoon, my Lady.” He salutes as she walks away, heading down the steps.

When Emma returns home, Neal is waiting for her at the tea table, where the old brass kettle is simmering on the tray.

She removes her scarf and hat, putting them away and returning to Neal. “Sorry. Am I late?”

He doesn’t answer but the fake smile he offers tells her he is annoyed by her tardiness for their daily afternoon tea.

“Why didn’t you let Mrs. Bolton make the tea?”

“I don’t quite see her presiding over the tea table.”

“Hmm, I don’t remember anything about tea in our wedding vows,” she mumbles bitterly, plopping down into the chair across from him.

He glances over at her curiously. “What did you do all afternoon?”

“Went for a walk and found a nice little hut where the pheasants are reared.” She pours them both a cup of tea. “Do you think there is a second key to the hut?”

“There may be one in Father’s study. Why?”

“I thought it was quite lovely. Might read my book there sometime.”

Neal chuckles mockingly. “Books by that degenerate Irishman?”

Emma raises a brow. “What? You mean James Joyce?”

“I heard his next book is to be banned for obscenity.”

“Hmm, such a shame. I was looking forward to reading it.” Sitting back in her chair, she sips her tea.

Neal picks up his own cup and takes a sip. “Was Jones at the hut?”

“Mmhmm. Don’t think he appreciated the intrusion.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing. It was just his manner.” Emma laughs softly. “Don’t think he liked me having freedom of the castle.”

Neal scoffs. “That’s what happens when a lieutenant goes back to being a gamekeeper. What do you expect, giving a fellow like that rank and a sense of importance then taking it all away?”

Emma frowns at her husband, drumming her fingers on her teacup as she thinks about Neal’s words. Should a hired man be deemed less important because of his lack of rank and title? It’s certainly a Cassidy thing to say.

~*~

Dear Mary Margaret,

I hope it hasn’t been raining all week in Scotland like it has here. I’ve been able to go out and explore the grounds all I like. But I’ve spent most of this last week cooped up, aching to get back outside. I’m writing to you now from a little hut I found in the forest. A secret place where I can hide away from the world. Only one other person comes here.

Emma looks up from the leather bound notebook she's penning the letter in as she sits on the porch of the hut since she’d been unable to find the spare key in the study. It's a bit chilly but the sound of the light drizzle of rain is soothing.

Jones emerges from around the firs and heads up the steps with his gun tucked underneath his arm. She quickly closes her notebook and pushes herself up, apology on her face, afraid he might be upset she’s here, invading his space once again. “Don’t worry. I was just going. Only came to get out of the rain.”

He holds up a key. “I shall leave this here until I get another one made.” He extends the key to her, and she takes it in her hand, wrapping her fingers around it and gaping at him in surprise. Surprised he’s willing to give up his sanctuary to her. Or at least lend it to her when he’s not here. “Thank you.”

“The hut’s not very tidy, but I cleared it of what I could.”

“But I didn’t want you to go to any trouble.”

He shakes his head. “Oh, it wasn’t any trouble. I am setting the hens in about a week. But they won’t be scared of you. I still have to see to them morning and night, but I shan’t bother you any more than I can help.”

“But you wouldn’t bother me,” she assures him. “I’d rather not go to the hut at all if I am going to be in the way.”

He stares at her with his warm but distant blue eyes as though he’s surprised by her own kindness. He then turns away from her to cough.

She eyes him in concern. “You have a cold?”

“It’s nothing, your Ladyship. The last pneumonia left me with a cough, but it’s nothing.” He points at the top of the door frame above his head. “Just leave it here when you’re done, Milady. And I’ll do the same.” He salutes her before turning around to leave.

A small smile pulls at her lips as she inserts the key into the keyhole and opens the door. Stepping inside, she sits in the chair and finishes her letter to Mary Margaret.

I wish I could visit you, but Neal says he can’t manage here without me. Not yet at least. But I’ll come on the next holiday, I promise.

With love,

Emma

When she’s finished, she closes her notebook and leaves the key on the door frame before heading back home.

Over the next few days, the rain abates and she visits the hut every chance she can afford, reading her books in the chair and enjoying the quiet and peaceful reprieve from her marriage to Neal. Her aversion for him grows with each passing day. But she does not hate him, for hatred requires passion, emotion, and she feels none of that for him. There is nothing between them. He never so much as touches her and she never touches him. He never even attempts to hold her hand yet tortures her by telling her how committed he is to her and that he never wants her to leave.

What honorable man would subject a woman to this horrifying duty and then abandon her there in the void?

She flees as much as possible to the forest and retreats to the hut in the morning or afternoon. Jones is never at the hut when she’s there, but she surmises he is purposely trying to avoid her.

He had made the hut tidy and set the little table and chair near the fireplace, leaving a pile of kindling and small logs for her so she could warm herself while she’s there. Such a simple gesture, but very thoughtful of him. Outside, he had built a low little roof of boughs and straw, a shelter for the birds, and under it stands the five coops.

On another day when she arrives at the hut, she finds a brown hen sitting alert and fierce in the coop on the pheasants’ eggs, fluffed out so proudly. Emma calls her Lord of the Manor.

The next time she comes, all five coops are occupied by hens, three brown, one gray and one black. All alike, they cluster themselves down on the eggs, fluffing out their feathers. And with brilliant eyes, they watch Emma as she crouches before them, and they cluck with anger and alarm, protective of their eggs.

Emma finds some corn from the corn-bin in the hut and offers it but they will not eat it, one hen pecking at her hand with a fierce little jab. She’s afraid to get pecked again but longs to give something to the brooding mothers since they neither feed themselves nor drink. So she brings water in a little tin and is delighted when they drink.

Now she comes every day. Lately the hens are the only things in the world that warm her heart, give her a reason to get out of bed in the morning. They are the only things she looks forward to. Well that and possibly running into the keeper again.

When she arrives at the hut in the late afternoon on a beautiful sunny day with large tufts of primroses under the hazels and many violets dotting the paths, there is one tiny baby chicken dancing around in front of a coop and the mother hen clucking in terror. The little gray-brown chick has dark markings, and at that very moment, it is the most lively little spark of a creature in the seven kingdoms.

In a state of bliss, Emma crouches down to watch in wonderment as though the chick were her own. So little and precious and completely fearless. The small chick makes her envious. Even though it scampers back into the coop in response to the mother's shrill cries and hides beneath her feathers, it isn't actually frightened.

Emma is fascinated by the new life, but at the same time she is reminded more than ever of her own loneliness. It’s becoming unbearable.

She has only one desire in life now—to visit the hut in the forest. The rest is an agonizing, painful nightmare she wishes to wake up from. She supposes the forest is her awake-ness. But sometimes she is kept all day at Goldby by her duties as hostess.

~*~

“Well, if it starts to increase profits, that should keep them in business for the foreseeable future,” Mr. Geppetto says. Marco Geppetto is the general manager of the collieries, and once Neal got wind that the town of Misthaven will soon be going under, the coal thinning, he requested Mr. Geppetto’s presence for dinner.

“We can modernize as well. Why not?” Neals asks him as he sits at the head of the long dining table with other businessmen.

“Neal, what about your writing?” Emma points out.

He scoffs, dismissing her question. “The literary world doesn’t need me. But the mine’s a sinking ship. It needs a proper captain to save her.”

“Don’t you think the miners have led grim enough lives?” she points out, not happy about Neal’s new endeavor. “I mean, couldn’t you just help them move on?”

“To what? Begging?” He chuckles. “Help them move on?” he parrots in a derisive voice. “You talk like such a woman.”

She sighs and sets down her fork on the dinner plate, her appetite suddenly gone. “Spoken like a man.”

Neal ignores her and reverts his attention to Marco. “Mr. Geppetto, how much might it cost us, a ballpark, to build a chemical work?”

“Initially, I’d say around £500 to £700. Obviously, within that, there is contingency…”

Emma throws her napkin onto the table and rises, silently storming out of the room. She pulls on her violet mackintosh and slips out of the house at the side door, trying to hold back her tears.

It’s nearly dark, the sun setting as she flees across the park, afraid Neal has noticed she has left and will call her back or have someone else call her back.

She arrives at the hut, flushed and out of breath. The keeper is here, surprisingly enough, closing up the coops for the night, so the little occupants will be safe.

“I came to see the chicks!” She hurries up the steps, panting and glancing shyly at the keeper. “How many do we have now?”

“Eighteen, milady. Not bad.”

“Eighteen…” Emma’s eyes widen as she crouches in front of one of the coops. “Can I touch one?”

“Yeah, go ahead..”

Emma opens the door of the coop, a little timid after being pecked by the mother before. “What if one pecks at me?”

“Then peck it back,” he answers in a teasing tone.

Emma rolls her eyes and cautiously sticks her hands into the coop, the chicks chirping as they patter about on tiny feet. She lets out a little squeal when they all flock toward her trying to peck with tiny beaks.

The keeper comes over and stands above her, chuckling as he crouches down beside her, picking up a chick and gingerly placing it in her hands, encasing the backs of hers with his palms. “That’s it. Very gently.” The tiny body is warm and shaky in her palms. And the keeper's hands are warm against the back of hers, making her heart flutter.

“He’s trembling.”

“You’re trembling much more than he is.”

Emma’s not sure why, but for some reason, holding the baby chick in her hand fills her heart with emotion. Such a tiny creature, yet so full of life. Unlike her, a full-grown woman who has no life left within her. She will never be able to bear children as long as she is shackled to Neal, she will never get to hold a tiny baby in her arms and show him or her tenderness and care and affection, the things Neal will never show her.

Despite herself, a tear slips down Emma’s cheek and lands on her wrist. No longer able to hold back, she gives in to the emotions buried inside her, body racking with sobs.

“Milady?” he says in concern after a moment.

She exhales sharply, realizing she’s crying in front of the gamekeeper. Shame is added on to all the other emotions she feels. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right,” he murmurs sweetly as he gently takes the chick in his hands and releases him inside the coop.

She is once again surprised by his kindness as she wipes at her tears and buries her face in her hands, gasping for air. He rises and extends his hand to her, helping her up. His palm is so warm against hers, a wave of something indescribable crashing through her.

He closes the coop and turns toward her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and softly, gently, strokes her back in soothing circles. Her heart is pounding painfully as she spins and throws her arms around him tightly as though her life depends on it, craving his warmth and more of his comforting scent.

At first his body stiffens—he’s not sure how to react, or maybe he’s too stunned to react—then he slowly winds an arm around her. “So that’s how it’s been lately, eh?” He brings his other arm around her and continues stroking her back softly and slowly as she sobs into his shoulder. “Don’t cry,” he whispers, his voice calm and soothing in her ear.

After a moment, she releases her hold on him and he leads her into the hut.

He sets aside the chair and table and grabs a brown soldier’s blanket from the tool-chest, spreading it out on the floor. She glances at his handsome face.

“You lie there, I’ll start the fire.” He closes the door and kneels in front of the fireplace to get it going.

Emma sinks to her knees on the blanket beside him but doesn’t lie down, just tries to catch her breath and wipe her tears.

“We need more firewood.” He moves to get up, but she grabs his arm to stop him.

“Please don’t go.” Among the overwhelming sadness, she feels painfully drawn to him and so helplessly desperate for his warmth. His affection. Anything he can give her really.

Surprised she had stopped him, he eyes the hand on his arm before moving his intense blue ones to her sad green ones. All the air leaves her lungs when she swears, underneath that loneliness, she spots the desire there. Desire for her, perhaps?

The thought intrigues her, makes her want to discover how true her musings are. Does he yearn for her as much as she yearns for him?

Drawing his hand to her lips, she inhales his manly scent, sparking parts of her to life again, her senses tingling. She brushes her lips across his skin, her heart pounding as she looks up at him. He’s no longer looking at her, but she can see his face. She can see the internal battle in his features. He wants her, but he’s torn. He’s trying to reign in his desire for her. She hopes he gives in. She wants it more than anything she has wanted in a long time.

She gives his hand a tug, trying to pull him closer, and he doesn’t move just yet, but she can almost see those walls of his caving in. She can see it in his eyes, the way they darken and become hooded. He brushes the pad of his thumb over her lips, and she kisses him there, taking his hand in both of hers and breathing heavily against his skin, but for a different reason this time. He finally turns his head toward her, and after a moment’s pause, he comes closer, cupping her cheeks in his hands. She sighs in utter relief, her eyes locked with his, letting him see the desperation behind her jaded depths.

She wants him, she wants him so much it terrifies her.

He leans in so close, she thinks he’s going to kiss her, but instead his lips linger over hers and she can feel his breath mingle with hers as he strokes her cheek with one hand and lowers one of his suspenders with the other. She pulls down his other one as he removes his hat, sharply flinging it to the floor with a loud thump and resting his forehead against hers.

Lowering Emma to the floor, he fumbles for her undergarments, moving her dress out of the way and removing the thin silk sheath of her slip, desperately pulling it over her feet, tossing it aside and spreading her legs wide, leaving on her stockings and shoes. Quickly and clumsily, he undoes his trousers, their breaths heavy, hearts pounding in anticipation, their eyes fused in a heated, unbreakable gaze.

God, she needs him.

She hadn’t realized how badly until this very moment.

As fast as he moves, she is too damn patient in her need for him, her core pulsing with need, her body aching for him to touch her. To pound into her. When he finally gets his trousers down to his knees, his cock is big and hard and throbbing—even bigger than she had imagined—as he wraps his fingers around himself and kisses her naval softly, his lips warm and firm against her skin. Looming over her, he settles himself in the cradle of her soft, bare thighs and enters her swiftly. Emma gasps, her body thrumming with relief. She grabs his shirt, pulling him closer, urging him to move, her hand slipping underneath his clothes and stroking his back, desperate to pull him in deeper.

Good lord, he feels good.

Incredible, really.

He buries his face into the crook of her neck, his lips sliding over her heated skin, and finally, finally, begins thrusting deep into her warmth, all the air leaving her lungs. The welcoming intrusion as he rocks into her slick, tight heat slowly yet fiercely, his warm, heavy breaths brushing her skin, his solid weight on her fragile body and the low groans in her ear awaken every single part of her, parts that have been dormant for years.

As he picks up speed, their heavy panting and moans sync and intensify with each thrust. Emma gropes for something sturdy to hold onto and she cards her other hand through his untidy hair. Gripping the leg of the table tightly, it drags along the floor, the table knocking against the wall as he fucks her rough and hard in the middle of the hut.

It feels so good, too good, and she doesn't want this to stop but it's been years since she had been with a man, she doesn't even remember how long. Arching her back, she tips her head, moans flying from her lips as she feels her orgasm building.

“Yes, yes, yes!” she cries out as her walls come tumbling down around his girth, and she knows no one can hear her from deep within the forest.

Jones moves faster now, chasing his own impending orgasm, and the unusually high-pitched sounds clawing from his throat make her skin tingle as he groans and grunts into her neck. "Bloody hell." When he gets there, his thrusts are more aggressive but slower as he pours his seed inside of her.

He stills, and Emma runs her hands through his hair, still writhing in his arms as his body goes limp. He lowers his head and groans, panting heavily against her breast.

They stay like that for a while, still and quiet, while they reassemble themselves.

She briefly wonders if this is even real.

Is she dreaming?

If she is, she doesn’t wish to wake up.

Jones still lies atop her with his arms around her, their bodies still fused as her mind reels with so many questions.

What is he feeling? What is he thinking? Does he regret this? Does he even like her? She has no idea. He is a stranger to her, she doesn’t even know his first name. Whenever someone mentions him, they always refer to him as the keeper or Jones.

They had not even kissed, they hadn't stared into each other's eyes dreamily while he fucked her, they hadn't engaged in foreplay. They had skipped all of that, too desperate to have each other, but perhaps it’s better this way. Better to not risk getting attached. They were both simply fulfilling their most carnal needs.

Yet when he finally rises and draws away from her, taking away his weight and warmth, it feels like abandonment. He pulls up his trousers, tucking his shirt into them, replaces his hat on his head and quietly opens the door, stepping outside.

Seeing it’s now dark, the silver moon shining above the trees, she quickly pulls on her slip and rises, dragging her hands over her face and taking a deep breath. After rearranging herself, she leaves the hut and finds Jones on the porch, waiting for her.

“I’ll walk you back,” he says casually as if he hadn’t just fucked the lights out of her and orgasmed inside of her.

They’re both silent as he walks with her back to the park, his hands shoved into his pockets as he trails behind her shyly. “You alright, milady?”

“Mmhmm. You?”

“Aye…” They approach the park gate and turn toward each other. “That was uh…” He scratches behind his ear, fumbling to finish his sentence.

“A one-time thing,” she clarifies firmly.

He nods, his cheeks turning pink. “Probably for the best.”

Emma nods her head toward the park, making sure to not let on how much she wishes this weren’t a one-time thing. But it has to be. It’s best for everyone.

“I should probably go on alone.” She opens the gate and turns back at him. “Goodbye then.”

“Goodbye, milady.”

After she steps through, he salutes her and grabs the gate, pulling it closed.

Emma bites her bottom lip as she walks back to Goldby, or rather floats back, still in a daze. She can feel Jones' warmth dripping down her thighs and it's a feeling she rather enjoys, like a souvenir. She has no choice but to remember their brief encounter. Not that she wants to forget. She won’t be able to forget. She can still feel how incredible he had felt on top of her, she can still feel how big he was inside her, filling her up so perfectly.

She doesn’t know why but she doesn’t even feel guilty about being with him. In fact, it feels freeing, like a heavy gray cloud has been lifted from her world, the stars finally aligning.

She feels light as a feather.

But then she gets closer to Goldby and her heart starts to pound when she remembers Neal and worries he'll be upset with her for leaving.

But when she returns, Johanna informs her he’s still chatting with Mr. Geppetto.

He didn’t even notice she was gone.

#cs ff #captain swan #lady cassidy's lover

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