#like not even fully electric i think if we all went hybrid it would probably stop smelling

[localatheistchurch]

listen I'm not a huge fan of electric vehicles but honestly I'm giving in because if everyone goes electric city air won't smell like petrol and that outweighs every reason why I don't like them

[suckitsurveys]

Would you rather have another job? I don’t know what the hell else I would do lol. Right now I’m hating it because I need to be paid more and I’m training someone who makes more than me and it just sucks, but overall, I really do like what I do.

Did you ever live in a house with more than one story? Our building is 2 stories and we live in the basement. Growing up my house had two stories.

What room of your home do you spend most time in? The living room.

Is your second toe longer than your big toe? Is it bad that I can’t remember? haha.

Have you ever given yourself a tattoo? Nope.

Do you own any clothes you wouldn’t wear in front of your mother? Well, my mom’s dead, so.

Do you have health insurance? Yeah. What are some medical issues you’re currently dealing with? Oh I’m fully convinced all my organs are slowly failing, but, ya know.

Why did you last take pain medication? I had a headache.

What physical traits have you inherited from your father? My eyes and nose.

How about your mother? My face structure and mouth.

What personality traits do you wish your children would inherit from you? I'm not having kids merely for the fact that I’m not passing this shit down to another human.

What parts of the world are your ancestors from? Places where white people are.

Have you ever had a strange pet, outside of the normal animals people keep? No.

Do you believe in astrology? I’m not hardcore about it but I strongly identify with a lot of Virgo traits.

Do you drive an electric car? I have a hybrid that runs on battery when the car goes under 15MPH. It charges while I’m driving it.

Do you like facial hair on guys or do you prefer the clean shaven look? I like stubble.

Who was your first celebrity crush? Ash Ketchum from Pokemon. Who is your current celebrity crush? Michael Longfellow. Are you good with kids? Sure.

Are you usually late, early, or right on time? I can be any of these at any given time.

Are you good at applying makeup? I manage but I also just use very basic shit when I do ware it.

Do you like pastel colored hair? Mine is currently pastel pink.

What do you think about the most? Just, life, man.

Do you like to see it snowing outside? It’s nice to look at if I don’t have to go anywhere.

Do you have your national flag hanging up anywhere outside your house? Definitely not.

Have you ever been in a choir? We used to have music classes in grade school and we all sung in those.

Do you look older or younger than you actually are? Younger.

When is the next time you’ll be up on stage? I have no idea.

Where did you spend your last birthday at? I had dinner with my family and Mark and I went on a little staycation and got sushi.

What was the last show that you watched a full episode of? Saturday Night Live.

Is there anything you need to work on doing soon? Little bit, yeah.

Were you ever a boy or girl scout? Nope.

Do you take your medications in the morning or at night? I don’t take any medication at all.

Have you ever bought a YouTuber’s merch? Nope.

What is the best type of donut? Jelly filled powered donuts are my favorite. I also like Boston cream.

Do you like thrift stores? Sure.

What is your town known for? Probably the food and the architecture most of all. Also people like to think we’re crazy dangerous but we aren’t even in the top 10 most dangerous cities.

Have you ever used a fake name at Starbucks? No.

What color is your lava lamp? I don’t own one.

Who is your favorite Lisa Frank character? I don’t know them by name but I always liked the kitties and the aliens the most.

What’s your favorite movie that you remember seeing in the theater? Recently it was Bottoms.

Do you know anyone who has ten cats? My dad’s neighbor does.

Have you ever had a cat? I had two growing up and three currently.

Have you ever had a dog? Yes, we had a family dog.

Have you ever any other kind of animal? Yes, birds, mice, fish, hamsters.

Have you ever had a pet rock? Nope..

What were you voted in the senior class polls? I wasn’t..

Who was your favorite teacher in high school? My art teachers.

Do you want to give your kids common names or unique names? I’m not having kids.

What collection are you thinking of starting? I wanna start/continue a playing card collection.

Do you organize your clothes by color? Nope.

What do you want to name your first child? I am not having kids.

List ten favorite girls names. Cecilia, Josephine, Stella, Alice, Margo, Alex, Louise, Veda, Ramona, Maple.

List ten favorite boys names. Brendon, Archie, Eli, Dylan, Bennett, Howie, Ezra, Grant, Arlo, Henry.

What season do you want to get married in? I got married in the summer.

Is your Pinterest cluttered? I don’t use Pinterest enough to make boards.

What is your favorite insect? Praying Manti, butterflies, dragonflies, lady bugs.

What bugs scare you? None really “scare” me but I cannot stand earwigs and centipedes.

Who picked your name, your mom or your dad? They ultimately decided together but my dad was dead set on my middle name being my first name until my mom found Hannah and they decided on that.

Have you ever fallen asleep in a significant other’s arms? Yes.

Do you have a television in your room? If you do, is it one of the old school big ones? Or i it a new flat screen? Yes, it’s a flat screen.

What was your favorite cartoon or television show as a child? What about movie? Oh goddd I had do many. Garfield and Friends was one, and as far as movies, I loved Nightmare Before Christmas.

Did you have sleepovers at your friends’ houses a lot as a child? Or did your friends come over to your house more often? Yes, it was pretty even.

Do you have any significantly older siblings? My sister is 9 years older than me.

When opening presents on Christmas or birthdays, do you first try to guess what is in the package? Do you tear the wrap off slowly, or just rip it to shreds? Are you polite no matter what the gift, and say you love it anyways? I don’t know I never pay attention to how I’m opening something but I do always say thank you.

What happened last time you got drunk? It’s been a WHILE since I got fully drunk.

What are you listening to? Nothing.

Which parent do you feel the most affection for? Because my mom has passed, I feel different affections for both her and my living father.

How do you feel about God? I don’t feel anything about god.

Which platform do you use to listen to music on the most? Spotify.

Who do you care about the most? My husband and my nieces.

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Knight in Shining Red Armor | Dante + Child!Reader (DMC 4)

A/N: Hey so this is a rewrite of one of my first (and only) DMC fic from like...2016. This takes place post-DMC 4

You can read the og one on my DeviantArt! But if you're here for the new one then I hope ya'll enjoy!

Summary: Child!Reader was taken under Dante's wing after being saved from a demon invasion, but even years later he hesitates to tell them what he truly is, fearing they'll resent him for his demonic heritage.

............

"Hey, um..Dante?"

"What's up, kiddo?" The red-clad devil hunter asked, though he wasn't completely paying attention to you. Rather he was sitting at his desk, feet kicked up as he was flipping through a magazine.

Meanwhile you were roaming around the shop, stopping only to gaze at the massive curved sword with glowing gems hanging on the wall behind him. He mentioned claiming many weapons--"Devil Arms" as they were called--from defeated demons, but you were curious about their names.

"Just wondering..what's that sword behind you called?"

"The Sparda. It sealed the barrier between the Underworld and human world. Nero went through hell and back, quite literally, to return it to me, so don't even think about touching......it?"

Dante put the magazine down as he turned to see you holding the Sparda in your small hands. You smiled triumphantly, but stumbled a bit before the blade accidentally slammed into the wooden floor, making you wince.

"Oops."

Yet your little act amused him, as he chuckled and shook his head. "You're a little too young to go devil-hunting, I'm afraid. But maybe one day you will."

"And maybe you can help pay off Dante's debt, too." Trish lightly joked as she entered the room, taking the giant sword from you and putting it back on the wall.

Her words were responded by a groan from the male, who went back to reading.

"Whatcha reading?"

Dante slowly lowered the magazine to see you sitting on his desk, but he just snapped it shut and tossed it into the trash, out of your line of sight. "Nothing that eyes like yours gotta see."

"Okay....ooooooh, what's this briefcase?" Hopping off the desk, you ran over to Pandora and crouched down to poke the skull emblem.

"Pandora. That baby can turn into six hundred and sixty six different weapons, but...right now we only have access to seven." Now he was feeling like an exhausted teacher on a museum trip, trying to explain each exhibit to his hyper first graders--the exhibits being his Devil Arms.

Yet as you ran around asking him about more of them, he couldn't help but see his childhood-self reflected in you. Just full of energy and never-ending curiosity and optimism.

Yeah..he definitely saw the resemblance.

Eventually you decided to leave him be and dash off to your room.

And only then did Dante drop his smile, sighing as he put both feet back on the ground. He ran a hand through his hair before dragging it down the side of his face tiredly.

"You know..you'll have to tell them eventually." Trish reminded.

"How, though? That kid's afraid of all demons..hybrids or not. I'm pretty sure saying "oh by the way the guy who rescued you is actually half-demon" is gonna send 'em running, and...I can't risk that." He shook his head, gazing at the jukebox in the corner.

"But I think [y/n]'s old enough to comprehend the concept of not all demons being evil," Lady chimed in after overhearing the conversation. "Just give it to them straight and I'm sure they'll understand."

As much as Dante wanted to argue, he saw that she had a valid point. But he still worried...

How would you react?

It's been a few years since he saved you from a Mega Scarecrow, though it turned out that more demons invaded your neighborhood, slaughtering everyone you knew and loved. And as he took you back to the shop to patch you up, he could see the terror in your eyes, any traces of innocence long gone.

No child should have gone through such a tragedy.

A tragedy that he was all-too familiar with.

After the defeat of the Savior, things have been looking up. You've regained your happiness as you lived in Devil May Cry and learned of Dante's tales of devil hunting, though the memories of that horrible night never truly left you alone.

Along with that, just seeing a demon is enough to make you run and hide, and you were terrified when you first met Nero and saw his demonic arm.

From that incident alone, Dante became extremely reluctant to tell you of his own demonic heritage.

He just didn't know if he's only hurting you more by keeping it hidden..

...............

Later that night, you were plagued by yet another nightmare. Different demons, same neighborhood...same deaths of your loved ones.

But in this one Dante got hurt, too. And you tried so hard to be brave for him, even shouting in the demon's face...but in the end you failed as it snatched you away, dragging you into the darkness of the Underworld before he could reach you.

Although you calmed down since awakening, you wanted to be sure he was alright.

So with what little moonlight shone in the shop's darkness, you located the worn sofa where Dante laid. He was engrossed in some TV program, though after sensing your presence his eyes flickered to you.

No words had to be exchanged in order for him to see what was wrong, as he sat up and patted the spot beside him. You smiled in relief and climbed onto the sofa, snuggling into his side as he wrapped an arm around you. "Th-Thanks, Dante."

"No prob. So uh..another nightmare, I guess?"

"Yeah, but..they hurt you, too and...I-I tried staying brave. I shouted at them to leave you alone and..they didn't listen. But...I think one of them looked scared of me."

"Wow." He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Gotta say I'm impressed."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. Y'know demons are used to seeing kids scream and cry, not take a stand against them. Plus that's pretty epic of you to defend me, so thanks." With a smile, he ruffled your hair.

"You're welcome," you giggled a bit. "But..I really just wanna be as brave as you. I mean...Nero says you laugh at giant demons and tease them all the time. How do you do that without being scared?"

"Well..it comes with the business. Getting them riled up just makes the fight more fun. At least for me. You might think I'm crazy but if ya decide to hunt demons one day...you'll see what I mean."

"But until then, could I watch you fight one? Like a big bad one?"

"......."

"Dante?"

"..kid, there's a reason I never took you on any missions." Dante sighed, swallowing back the growing lump in his throat as he carefully planned his next words. "And how I always...bounce back from getting smacked by a demon tail. No human would be able to withstand that without some broken bones."

"Oh?" You tilted your head. "Then..how can you if you're human?"

"....because I'm not fully human."

As much as he wanted to shut up, he decided to tell you the truth once and for all, not sugarcoating anything:

He explained how his parents were a demon and human--a forbidden romance which resulted in himself and Virgil being born. His bloodline allowed them to blend in with humans, exercise their demonic abilities in battle, and even tap into their true demon forms.

All the while you listened silently, with not much emotion on your face. So it was hard for him to tell what you were probably thinking in this moment.

It scared him.

"...and that's it." He sighed, closing his eyes and looking away from you. "So go ahead and hate me if you want. I won't blame you for-"

"Can you show me?"

Dante blinked stupidly as he swung his head back towards you, wondering if he heard you right.

"I...wish you told me before, but I don't wanna be scared of demons anymore." You smiled a tiny bit as you elaborated. "Especially not one who helped me. So...can I see your other form?"

"...a-alright. Just...if you get scared I can turn back instantly, so don't freak."

"I won't."

He had doubts you'll keep your word, but he got up and activated his Devil Trigger form. As he opened his eyes, you gasped upon seeing how much they were glowing--being orange rather than blue. Red electric sparks danced around his metallic body as he observed you close, anticipating your reaction. He expected you to scream or cry.

Yet..there was only curiosity and wonder in your eyes.

"Scared yet?" He asked in his distorted voice, crouching down in front of you.

Not even the way he spoke startled you, as you just shook your head. "I was wrong all along..not all demons are bad."

"Not even this one?"

"Nope. You look awesome..like a knight in shiny red armor."

"...wow..I um...." For once, the talkative devil hunter was at loss for words. But when you learned forward to hug him around the neck, he was completely shocked.

Earlier in the day he thought of countless worse-case scenarios, and yet...the best-case was happening right now.

You were accepting him, hugging him even.

He couldn't believe it.

Dante smiled as he wrapped his arms around you, making sure his armor spikes didn't hurt you. "Thanks, kid. It really means a lot that you're not terrified anymore........[y/n]?" He was concerned about your lack of response, before realizing you were dozing off.

'Damn..I might make a pretty good dad, after all..' He mused, standing up and making the trek back to your bedroom. Then he set you down and tucked you in, relief and warmth in his heart.

He had a feeling that your nightmares won't be so bad anymore. Now he felt like he could truly protect you.

Why?

Because he was gonna be your knight in shining red armor.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Jeez, man. Quit clanking around shit and---AH!!! WHAT THE FUCK?!!"

"Shhhh! Chill out, Nero. You'll wake 'em." Dante was quick to shift back to his human form once he was outside your room, glaring at his nephew. "Why are you so freaked out? This ain't the first time you've seen my devil form."

"But still..why in the middle of the night?! Thought we had company."

"...just go back to bed, kid."

"Don't call me kid!"

[q-kanbas]

...one week back to college and im already regretting it. for a fresh new reason this time! someone hit my car while it was parked

even though my college is pretty small, we have a parking garage, where students living on-campus can park perpetually if they need to. I was using the garage, and had my car parked for about eight days where i wasn't driving. Apparently someone hit my car while parking on friday. and the school didn't see fit to notify me even though the other student reported it within business hours until i found my car with a giant dent and almost a foot of missing paint with scratches so deep the body metal is exposed, and contacted them myself yesterday.

the other student is being cooperative so far, but since my car is somewhat new in comparison to the rest of my family's vehicles, and still in nice condition other than the obvious crash damage, i want to have it repaired and to do that in this state, you have to file a police report so you aren't found to have broken reporting laws when the shop reports you. so i hate that i have to do that, probably today.

and i have 9 hours of class today and tomorrow so i have to duck out on at least one session on the second week to call people, which has consistently induced panic attacks in me before.

also to continue, when i asked the security office, you know, the office who handles this kind of stuff on the college grounds, they told me to just leave my contact info and wait to hear back from them, even though they've probably realized the damage is way more than the reporting cap that this state has if they actually went to look at the involved vehicles. if it's as bad as i think, it could be up to $3000 to fix fully, maybe even more. They wouldn't give me the student's info to get his insurance/plate #/ect. "For their protection" and then the people i asked about it just gave me his name and number with no hesitation.

I didn't get any answers or progress on getting the other party's insurance info until i contacted the student dean directly. which is why i was waiting to report to police because there was a grey area on the legality of the way they left. all they left was a name and phone number, which, if i'd reported this to the police, would be counted as a hit-and-run. at least now that i have the stuff i can probably avoid that happening to them. but now i'm not sure if I can even report the incident since several days have passed.

i feel like im being picky about my car's appearance since it's technically a used, old car, but that thing would still be worth $15,000-20,000 right now if it was undamaged due to some price hikes on used cars, and i would like to switch to a hybrid or electric at some point.

also the other student is a Junior i thought he was a freshman or something because he was so confused and didn't leave the right stuff like buddy you've gotta figure some shit out. ..

[sinceileftyoublog]

Nashville Ambient Ensemble Interview: A Little Help From My Friends

BY JORDAN MAINZER

“I feel like Nashville his my home,” Michael Hix said. The experimental musician, who now leads the Nashville Ambient Ensemble, is fully immersed in the ambient country scene that’s logically emerged from the fingerpicked guitar renaissance of the early 2010s. But for him, it took coming back to Tennessee to get there.

Hix grew up in Southeast Tennessee in a rural town, the closest city Chattanooga, before going to college in Nashville and staying there for a few years after. Then, like many before him, he moved to New York, exploring the various experimental music scenes thriving in the nation’s biggest city. After he and his wife had a child, they realized they needed more space and moved back to Nashville two years ago. “It’s been great to be back,” Hix said. “The avant garde and experimental/music scene--there’s always been a space for that here, but I really noticed when I moved back two years ago, it’s really grown an amazing amount. There are a lot of new people in the scene I didn’t know previously.” 

Many of those new people would end up playing with Hix in Nashville Ambient Ensemble and on their debut album Cerulean, released last month via Centripetal Force. The group--Hix on synth and keys, venerable pedal steel player Luke Schneider, pianist Kim Rueger, baritone electric guitarist Jack Silverman, singer Deli Paloma-Sisk, guitar synth player Cynthia Cárdenas, and electric guitarist Timon Kaple--came together slowly as Hix would meet the various members at shows and parties. (He knew only Kaple and Schneider before moving back to Nashville.) Once he had a group and music that embraced improvisation more heavily than any of his solo material--he calls each song “a loose constant theme and a cycle of solos”--the band rehearsed a couple times and recorded over two sessions. Their chemistry is palpable, on the arpeggiated “Ingia”, the guitar-forward title track, and swaying “Coda”. And as it turns out, having a kid also influenced Hix’s ability to let go. “Part of this project was me realizing as a parent that I didn’t have the time anymore to sweat over my solo compositions where I’d have things ornately composed down to the smallest detail,” he said. “If I called on a little help with my friends and got an ensemble environment together and relied on improvisation, I could make more music with less content.”

Speaking with Hix earlier this year over the phone, I got the sense that not just collaboration, but taking in other types of art directly seep into his creative output just as much as anything. Hix is as likely to cite ambient legend William Basinski and director Andrei Tarkovsky as formative influences as he is instrumental or experimental country music; he trades music, book, and film recommendations with passion and curiosity. With an increasingly open approach to music making, you realize how Hix and Nashville Ambient Ensemble both lead and transcend the ambient country scene highlighted by artists like Schneider and Chuck Johnson. Laying the groundwork but providing space for expression, the Nashville Ambient Ensemble could switch out members and instruments and still retain the exploratory spirit of the group and the scene.

Below, read my conversation with Hix about moving back to Nashville, starting the Ensemble, making Cerulean, and what the future holds. 

Since I Left You: When you lived in New York, did you feel isolated from the Nashville scene?

Michael Hix: Yeah, I was kind of isolated from it. In fact, when I moved to New York, I honestly didn’t see myself ever moving back to Nashville. I was planning on just staying in New York. I wasn’t really keeping up with what was going on here. I was just totally invested in the kind of music I was doing in New York. I was really surprised when I came back here that there were so many new artists doing really great work, and a pretty good, sizable experimental music community. That’s been really cool to see. I’ve been able to meet a lot of new people.

I expected that I would get back in the groove in my old circle, but I’ve met so many new people.

SILY: Of the folks in the Nashville Ambient Ensemble, how many were in your old circle, and how many were new?

MH: The only person I really knew was Timon Kaple. We went to college together, and he was in my larger circle of friends. The only other person I knew was Luke Schneider. He was just an acquaintance of mine, and we had never hung out but ran into each other when I moved back. At the time, he was starting to record his own solo, ambient, new age kind of music. We just hit it off and started to exchange music. Those two guys were the only ones I knew, and the others I met when I moved back to Nashville.

SILY: When was this group formed, and when was this music written and recorded?

MH: This took off in a crazy way. I feel like I didn’t really have to think about it very much. It happened very organically and quickly. One of the things I was struck by when I moved back to Nashville was how unique it was in how music is made here, in a really collective manner. Even if you’re not getting into a project with someone, they want to jam with you. I played one show in January 2019, and just at that first show, I had 3 or 4 people ask me if I wanted to jam or if I collaborated. That’s really representative of Nashville. That first show that I played, Timon came up to me--we hadn’t made music before--and asked to get together some time. It’s the same night I met Jack Silverman. I also met Deli Paloma-Sisk that night. She played that show as well. After that, I got together with Timon once in 2019, and I had a couple more people in that period ask me if I made music, so I thought I’d just make a supergroup. 

I had been in a similar group ensemble thing before I left Nashville, back in 2011. I was really wanting to do that again. At a certain point, I just started asking people if they were interested in an ambient ensemble. I asked Jack if he wanted to be involved, Luke, he was on board. Deli joined. The other two, Kim and Cynthia, I met Cynthia at a party one night and Deli was telling her about the project, and Cynthia asked to be in the group, and I was like, “Yeah, sure!” She has this MIDI guitar synthesizer set up. That’s what she plays on the album--really amazing. Kim Rueger, who goes by the moniker Belly Full Of Stars, I was speaking to her at a show one night asking her if she knew any pianists, and she was like, “I play piano.” It came together super organically. We had two rehearsals January 2020. These people are all really talented. We booked two days at the Battle Tapes studio in Nashville and recorded everything live in the studio in two sessions. It was really quick.

SILY: That’s a lot of lead up to a short recording process!

MH: Organizing it together took some time, but once we got everyone on board, it was really quick. I sent around some demos, we rehearsed twice, and then we recorded the album.

SILY: The opening track, “Breve”, is effective because you can hear all the elements going on, and it’s a unique hybrid of styles, the electronics with the country western instrumentals. Why did you lead off with this track, and what’s the story behind it?

MH: The pieces came together really quickly. I wrote every piece except for “Cerulean”, which was written by Jack Silverman. All the tracks I wrote came together really quickly, and it just so happened I had two that were a lot shorter than the other three, and I had the idea of bookending the album with these short tracks that serve as a prologue and an epilogue, which is why I placed “Breve” first. Knowing it was gonna be the first track and an introduction, I wanted to showcase all of the sounds in a very concise, clear way. That was kind of my direction with the track.

SILY: It’s interesting the title track is the only one not written by you!

MH: [laughs] Right.

SILY: Why did you name the album after that track?

MH: I was speaking to my wife about this, and I had a couple other ideas for album titles. She said, “Read me the names of your tracks.” We both thought that Cerulean was a really great title that was evocative but not heavy. You didn’t really have to read into it very much. It provided a tone for the album. This project was honestly about trying to get myself out of the way. I really wanted the other players involved to really shine on the album. I really liked the idea of using someone else’s [song] for the album title.

SILY: The track “Inga” seems to me to be exemplary of the mix between structure and improvisation that’s on the record. Can you talk about balancing those two aspects of the music?

MH: “Inga” and “Conversion” are probably the two examples where we achieved what we were aiming towards the most. In “Inga”, I definitely provided, to use a metaphor, the structure of the house, but everyone else made it a home. Something that had beauty in it. All of the songs, we had a very loose structure, some charts with the chord changes, but the sheet music for the songs would be a list that was just the order of the solos. I think the reason “Inga” works so well along with "Conversion” is that everyone has a solo in that song. You have the extended experience of the piece cycling through solos for each of the soloists.

The way we recorded that one, we had a loose structure of these chord changes and some from my modular synth, but the primary structure of it was the order of the solos. In the studio when we were recording, I had a microphone and would just call out whose solo was coming up next.

SILY: Why did you release “Conversion” as the first single?

MH: I thought about “Inga” for the first track, but personally, “Conversion” is generally the strongest track on the album. At the same time, I think it’s the most representative of what I wanted to achieve with the project and the concept.

SILY: What’s the inspiration behind the cover art?

MH: The cover art is a painting by Wendy Walker Silverman, who is a really great Nashville artist who is also the wife of Jack Silverman, the guitarist in the band. The cover features her painting. It’s been kind of altered by the person who designed the album art [Alethea Hall], but that is her painting there.

SILY: Are there loose plans to perform any of these songs in a live stream or socially distant show?

MH: We would definitely like to play some shows. Due to the nature of the project and the fact that every person involved has their own music projects and other things going on, it would be hard for us, once touring is a thing that happens, to go on tour. But we would like to play an album release show in Nashville once that makes sense to do so. We’ll probably wait till we can have a good amount of people attend in terms of COVID restrictions. We’ll see what happens after that and what kind of opportunities arrive for performances.

SILY: What else is next for the Ensemble?

MH: I’ll see what kind of level of interest people have in it, both listening and enjoying as well as other artists and musicians in the community here, whether anyone expresses interest in being involved. I’ve definitely already started to think about a round two and have some ideas of people I’d love to ask to be involved. I’d like to change things up a bit and get some other people and instruments involved. We’ll see: I’m not exactly sure. It was a ton of work organizing the whole thing, being a big group, and getting the recordings done. I mixed the album, so having a regular job, being a parent, and trying to carry through a project like that is a lot of work. I definitely want to do it again.

SILY: What have you been listening to, reading, and watching lately?

MH: I love the new William Basinski album Lamentations. I really loved the new compilation from Music From Memory, Virtual Dreams: Ambient Explorations In The House & Techno Age, 1993​-​1997. I just listened to a reissue from Aguirre Records from Morgan Fisher and Lol Coxhill, called Slow Music. It’s one of those albums that really didn’t get a lot of attention back then but could be considered an essential or cornerstone album for a genre of music. Morgan Fisher is a really great composer--he has a few great albums--but this is the best one I’ve heard of his. It takes some tape recordings of Lol Coxhill playing I think soprano saxophone, and he cuts the tape up and makes a composition out of the various recordings. 

I watched the films of Bi Gan: Kaili Blues and Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Both are absolutely mind-blowing. I’m a big Andrei Tarkovsky fan, and he’s a big influence on me. Bi Gan definitely has some strong Tarkovsky vibes but definitely has his own language. Long Day’s Journey Into Night was in particular amazing.

SILY: Is there anything I didn’t ask about the record you want to say?

MH: One of the things I’m most satisfied about this album is I’m almost not on it. I didn’t anticipate it, but realized it when listening to the recordings. I’m always working on trying to remove my ego as much as possible from my music, which is hard when you’re making solo music. I think William Basinski achieves that in an amazing way, and I haven’t been that effective at it. But I think it happened in the Ensemble album. There’s my modular synth sound, and I play keys, but I didn’t do any solos on the album. It was really satisfying to know that though I organized the project and wrote the music, it was the other people who shined through.

The other thing I’m happy about is that it really does have a Nashville sound, in large part because of the pedal steel, but it’s there with the other players as well. To some extent, the music does give you a flavor of what Nashville is about and what’s unique about it. There are some really great artists doing some really progressive sounds.

Cerulean by Nashville Ambient Ensemble

[supremeuppityone]

This was written for Klaroline Bingo @klaroline-events. Prompt: Murder. Caroline is having some growing pains learning to adjust to her new sensitivity as an Augustine vampire and needs some assistance with hiding her leftovers. Fortunately, her mysterious neighbor doesn’t seem like the squeamish sort.

Chapter 120: A Friend InDEAD

“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” ― Jim Morrison

           “Why does every invite to your flat involve helping you hide a body?” Klaus heaved an exaggerated sigh as he stood in Caroline’s doorway, looking far too put together considering she called him in the middle of the night to come help her out. Again. If only she hadn’t taken that job at Augustine Labs. She’d been a lab assistant so incredibly entry level she didn’t even warrant a security badge when her boss’ boss randomly asked if she was interested in participating in a sleep study. She may have been a baby vampire, but she knew better than to tempt fate and run the risk of scientists discovering what she was. Unfortunately, they already knew.

           “You could’ve said no,” she told him flippantly, already moving aside to let him in.

           He favored her with a dimpled smirk. “Nonsense, I welcome the distraction from my shite painting.” He knelt down to study the body, a disinterested look on his handsome face as he flatly said, “I take it your date didn’t go well?”

           “This was a snack — not a date.” With an aggravated groan, she distractedly pulled at her messy waves, telling him, “I thought I was getting a handle on this Augustine shit; I swear I didn’t mean to, but he just tasted so good and I tend to not run into a lot of vampires in our neighborhood.” She hated how helpless she felt. Her former employer turned her into a ripper — something she’d managed to avoid when she first transitioned. Fortunately, she’d been able to apply her iron control to her new sensitivity and was able to curb all but the most extreme aspects of her bloodlust. But sometimes it just wasn’t enough.

           Suddenly, Klaus swept her into his arms, his normal smirk being replaced by uncharacteristic concern. “Shh, sweetheart. We’ll just tidy up here and set things right.”

           She breathed in his familiar scent of paint, her body instantly relaxing against him. Theirs was a bizarre friendship that had been forged after she escaped from Augustine Labs (she may have had to set a fire that turned into a surprisingly large explosion). She’d been running through a hiking trail when she tripped over a very surprised (and very naked) Klaus.       

           With smoke still clinging to her hair and blood-soaked clothes, she somehow landed in a whole new life with an arrogant, inconveniently attractive new friend (who enjoyed naked runs). Despite how close they’d grown, she still didn’t know that much about Klaus. He was an older hybrid (and didn’t that blow her mind to learn that a person could be two different supernatural creatures) and seemed to have a complicated family.

           “You hate the smell of bleach,” Caroline replied, her voice muffled against his henley.

           “But I like the smell of...those honey-cinnamon cookies you make,” he quickly said, awkwardly patting her on the back as he released her.

           Why was he being so weird? “Fine. I’ll make a batch tomorrow after I go to the store.” She finished tucking the ends of the old rattan rug around the body, motioning for Klaus to grab one end.

           He wryly observed, “You do realize that either of us possess the strength to lift this corpse easily? Must we keep up the pretense?”

           “Seriously?! It’s a corpse, Klaus. One that I created. You know, with murder? One that we’re trying to hide while we carry it up to your penthouse to dismember in your gigantic bathtub. If we run into our neighbors, we need to look normal.”

           “We could just compel them,” Klaus argued, his face turning into a comical exaggeration of pain as they began their trek down the hallway to the elevator. “And murder doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. I’ve been encouraging you to get a hobby.”

           “Murder is not a hobby!”  

           He winked at her from across the lumpy, rolled-up rug. “It is if you do it right.”

           Was he flirting with her? Caroline did her best not to react; she’d never been good at reading people. (If she had, she never would’ve been in this mess in the first place.) But then she never would’ve met Klaus. Feeling a blush start to creep up her neck at that distracting thought, she instead focused intently on the elevator buttons.

           She’d just begun to relax when a simpering voice called out, “Klaus! I thought I heard you out here!” Twit in 14C poked her head out, eyes going round with excitement as she spotted her prey.

           Caroline subtly tried to block the rug they’d stood up on one end, awkwardly standing on her tip-toes.

           “Ooh, Klaus, is that another of your magnificent art projects?”

           Trading a mildly panicked look with Klaus, Caroline hurriedly said, “Yes! It’s an art installation with a sort of...um, postmodern take on um...”

           “Clearly his deep-rooted angst that reflects his sensitive artistic temperament,” Twit in 14C swooned, fluttering her eyelashes at Klaus. “You’re an old soul, I can tell.”

           Well, that was an understatement. While Caroline wasn’t sure exactly how old Klaus was, she assumed he was at least a century or two. Fortunately, the elevator dinged, and they were able to clumsily wave at Twit in 14C while pretending to heave the rug with a gooey corpse center over their shoulders.

           “So, that’s still happening,” Caroline observed with a giggle, playfully nudging Klaus with her elbow.

           “Only because you won’t let me compel her,” Klaus grumbled.

           She winked, cheekily telling him, “Poor Klaus, it’s such a terrible burden to be so attractive.”

           As the doors opened to his penthouse, he seemed to perk up as he asked, “You think I’m attractive?”

           She rolled her eyes, not bothering to feed his ego with a response, and ducked her head behind the rug to hide the blush on her cheeks.

           The first slice with the electric carving knife always made her gag reflex kick in, so she rambled as a distraction. “If only some of the Augustine scientists survived.” At his startled expression, she explained, “After the explosion, I went back to the lab looking for answers. I even tried to track down the staff who hadn’t come in that day. Stupid waste of time — they’re all missing or dead.”

           “They didn’t know anything,” Klaus blurted out, hastily adding, “I mean, those in the explosion were probably killed instantly and odds are the higher ups were just the face of the organization without any useful knowledge...one would assume.”

           She raised her eyebrow in surprise, but found herself considering his words. It wasn’t how she thought her life would turn out, but maybe it was time to move on. Despite her aversion to gore, her monster found the clean snap of her meal’s femur immensely satisfying. Clearly, she was a monster and that was all she’d ever be. “I can’t be fixed.”

           “You aren’t broken!” Gray eyes widened in alarm at his outburst, and he quickly busied himself by bundling together some of the shorter bones, stacking them to the side of his enormous porcelain tub.

           Caroline whipped her head around to stare at him, suddenly breathless. No one had ever thought much of her when she was alive — and even less after she died. But Klaus made her feel worthy. Wanted. His loyalty and friendship had been so unexpected and exactly what she needed. But maybe it could be more? Before she fully realized what she was doing, she tossed the decapitated head back into the tub and grabbed Klaus’ henley to pull him in for a kiss.

           He made a surprised noise that turned into a little moan as he deepened the kiss, painting her blonde waves red with his gore-streaked fingers.

           Caroline pulled away hesitantly, voice tinged with concern as she asked, “Do you know what you’re doing? I mean, getting involved with someone like me could be dangerous. Just because I haven’t nom-nomed on you yet, doesn’t mean I won’t. And this ripper virus has made me really strong and I don’t want to hurt you.”

           He gave her an enigmatic smile, “I’m a bit sturdier than I look. Tell me, sweetheart, what do you know about Originals?”

[pinnithin-writes]

I Realized. Then I Couldn’t Stop Realizing.

Chapter 3: C-53

Depending on where he looked, it had begun that night.

Dar’s party plan ended up being a success, save for a few minor snags and broken bottles. AJ had a delightful time being tossed back and forth between Dar and Horsehat until the latter got drowsy and had to be put to bed. C-53 caught Pleck’s amused grin from across the room as he watched the action, elastic and amiable, and it struck him how long it had been since he’d seen the tellurian smile.

Now, they were stretched out on a hill in the countryside of a grassy nearby planet. AJ and Horsehat were snoozing peacefully a short ways off, while the rest of the crew settled into a comfortable buzz. It felt good to be able to stretch out his limbs in the cool evening; so much of his time on the ship was spent cramped into a corner so as to not take up too much space. Dar was sprawled beside him, and Pleck lay with his arms tucked behind his head between the two.

The suns in the distance were setting, purple and hazy. C-53 luxuriated in the strange calm electricity pumping through his system, relaxing in this rare pocket of quiet they had found in the turbulent galaxy.

“So, what’s the verdict?” Dar asked finally, their voice syrupy with alcohol. “How’s morale? Good? Better?”

“Definitely better than it was, Dar, thank you for organizing all this,” C-53 responded. Putting sentences in order was fun in this state - the dust accelerated his processors in a way that pulled random threads of his consciousness to the surface and pieced them together in interesting ways.

“Yeah, Dar, I think everyone had a good time tonight,” Pleck yawned. “Thank you for forcing me to go against my will.” There was a laugh in his voice, and it was pleasant to C-53’s audio sensors.

“Anytime, you big mopey baby,” Dar purred. “Barge? You having a good time?”

“Doing way better now that my vents are full of dust,” Bargie hummed from where she was parked on the hillside. “This was long overdue. We should do this every week - no! Every day.”

“Well, that would get incredibly expensive after a while,” C-53 reasoned.

“Yeah, I just wish Nermut coulda been here, yknow?” Pleck piped up again. “I mean, I guess he has his hands full with the campaign, but it would have been nice to see him.”

“Nermut’s got his own parties to go to,” Dar muttered, honeyed tone falling flat.

“Oh no,” Pleck said, rolling onto his side so he could look at them with his good eye. “Is it like the Rebellion all over again? Is he going through Seesu boot camp?”

The captain sighed heavy in the back of their throat. “No, it’s just weird with him right now. I don’t really feel like talking about it.”

“Oh, is he like, being all impressionable-”

“I said,” Dar growled, talons quivering, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Pleck had thankfully learned the signals to retreat by now, and he fell silent. Bargie, on the other hand, was humming loudly, engines whirring just for the fun of it.

“Hey Dar, if you wanna talk about it with me, I’ve got a ton of dust in my vents that would make it waaaaay easier to deal with,” the ship said.

“I’m not sure if that’s how that works,” C-53 began, but Dar was already clambering to their feet.

“That sounds great, Barge,” they said. “Boys? Can you watch our fully grown children while Bargie and I have a chat?”

“Oh, uh, you got it,” Pleck said, raising a hand in salutation while C-53 nodded.

After the captain disappeared onto the ship, Pleck settled back in the grass, looking forlorn. “Guess I jucked that one up, huh?” he murmured, the lavender sky reflecting off his eye as he gazed into the distance.

C-53 watched him carefully. “You know how they get sometimes,” he stated.

“I know, but Dar wanted to relax and I went ahead and made them all agitated again.” He plucked a piece of grass from beside him and fiddled with it, keeping his eye on the clouds. “Should just keep my stupid mouth shut.”

His processors hummed, tacking together Pleck’s words with data stored in C-53’s memory bank. “There are many times since we’ve met that I would agree with that statement, Pleck,” he said, recalling a particular incident years ago that nearly resulted in the tellurian getting ritually sacrificed. “But lately I would say you’ve been too quiet, if I can be frank.”

Pleck idly tied his grass stem in a knot. “Got a lot to think about,” he replied vaguely. He tossed the grass in C-53’s direction and watched it flutter to the ground between them.

“Such as?”

Pleck floundered, freckled face animated as he searched for an answer. “Well, y’know, the usual,” he finally said, “The Allwheat bearing down on us, the fate of the galaxy’s leadership hanging in the balance, hundreds of sentients out there dying for no reason, Seesu Gundu’s failing campaign…” he trailed off and shrugged, hazel eye refusing to look at him. “Y’know.”

“Is the Allwheat still contacting you?” C-53 asked, gently.

Pleck flinched at his words all the same. He scratched the side of his jaw. He needed a shave. “Yes,” he said quietly.

“How often?”

The tellurian was tearing out grass by the fistful, now, slowly and methodically. His eyelashes fluttered low over his cheekbones as he continued to avoid C-53’s scanners. “Almost every day. Multiple times a day, sometimes.” His voice was soft and cautious, as if he would set C-53 off if he said something wrong.

We instilled that nervousness in him, C-53 realized suddenly. It had been easy to belittle Pleck when he was his usual unflappable self, but now it was pitiful to see the results on his self-esteem. C-53’s processors buzzed, drawing conclusions for him.

It hurt. It hurt to see his friend like this. And it was partially his fault he had gotten that way.

For once in his life, C-53 was at a loss for words. AJ and Horsehat continued to sleep peacefully a few yards away while Pleck, white-knuckled, tore clods of grass out of the earth beside him, refusing to meet his best friend’s eyes. The dust filtering through his system wasn’t making it any easier for him to compute this, and he almost wished he had remained sober for this conversation.

Maybe that way he wouldn’t feel so helpless. Somehow, saying ‘I’m here for you’ felt horribly inadequate.

“It’s not just the fact that it talks to me,” Pleck continued after an agonizing stretch of silence. “It’s the things it says. It… knows me, somehow. Says things about me that are true and real and it gets inside my head.” His shoulders were curled with tension, his head bent low, blue hair skewing out of its ponytail.

“Things that are true?” C-53 asked. “You mean, facts about our missions, or-”

“Like stuff about who I am. As a person.” He tossed the grass away from him in disgust and folded his arms protectively around his own torso. He tucked his knees up to his chest and hunched over, continuing in a small voice. “I know this is all my fault already, okay? I don’t need Beano’s weird hybrid Rodd-ghost telling me about it constantly.”

Pleck didn’t cry, but he did look like a frightened animal, huddled in the grass like that. While C-53 gazed down at him, his fan kicked on, startling both of them. He didn’t think he’d taken that much dust, but his processors were definitely firing off under an unusual amount of strain.

“Sorry,” Pleck muttered. “That was probably too much, huh?” He carefully uncurled himself, stood, and brushed the grass off of his robe. “I’m gonna…” he faltered, remembering that Bargie was full of dust and an angry Dar and the rest of their team was sound asleep. He cast his eye around the grassy hillside and the farmland below, the sky purpling around him. He looked so lost.

“Pleck, if I may,” C-53 ventured. His frame was vibrating uncomfortably from the heavy industrial fan, and he hoped it would kick off soon. “You don’t have to tell me about this if it upsets you. We can talk about other things. Or we don’t have to talk at all.”

The tellurian stared at where C-53 lay in the grass, the expression on his face complicated and messy. He always wore his emotions on his face. It was a marvel none of them saw his breakdown coming sooner.

After a beat, Pleck reached up and undid the rubber band keeping his hair back, shaking out the ponytail and letting his locks fall around his shoulders. “Sure. Sorry. I’ll…” He wrapped the rubber band distractedly around his wrist. “I’ll stay. I can stay here.”

And stay he did. They settled into companionable silence, absorbed in their own thoughts as the stars blinked into view around them. C-53's fan eventually stalled to a halt. At one point, he thought he saw Pleck’s lips moving in a silent, prayer-like repetition, but his scanners couldn’t quite track what he was saying.

His dust-addled cube was drawing up memories and notions he had long since compartmentalized, scattering his internal filing system with careless abandon. Pleck had come a long way since they’d all first set foot on the Bargarian Jade. He wasn’t clueless anymore, though he did blurt the occasional tactless observation every once in a while. He’d escaped federal tyranny, survived a bitter revolution, and resolved to lead the next one of his own accord with nothing but a stupid stick and his own naive willpower.

C-53 remembered the first time their consciousnesses had been tied, when they were at Suetopia and experiencing each other’s emotions as they happened. Pleck had felt so unsure, so curious, and so happy to be around friends. Friends. Had C-53 considered him a friend, then? He wasn’t sure when that had happened, but he did know the next time the two of them had been neurally connected, inside Kevin the blob, the experience was entirely different. C-53 had felt awash with every kind of emotion, a pleasant, peachy feeling he attributed to being one with hundreds of other sentients.

But… no, that wasn’t right. The dust zinged up and down his coding, plucking at his memories like a harp.  He remembered dawning understanding as he laid scanners on his crew, feeling their emotions submerging him, passing between them and identifying them one by one. He remembered locking eyes with Pleck last, cringing away from a fear and nakedness that softened in the orange glow around them. He remembered being flooded with longing, a latent ache in his wiring that he felt as his own, though it didn’t originate from his cube. He remembered. He remembered.

He... remembered.

“Oh my Rodd,” he blurted, realizing a nanosecond too late he’d exclaimed it out loud.

“What?” Pleck startled, looking around. “What is it?”

“I uh,” C-35’s cube was in overdrive as he scrambled. That look he’d given him in the blob, that ache deep in his fibers, that quiet hesitation every time they were close. Pleck had feelings for him. Strong feelings. Why had he buried that? Why had it resurfaced?

“...I saw a shooting star,” he lied.

Gullible, trusting Pleck believed him instantly.  “Aw, I missed it,” he said.

“It was on your blind side,” C-53 replied, hating himself for continuing the ruse. “I’ll point it out if I see another one. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. They’re fast little guys. Used to get them back on Rangus Six all the time.” Pleck stared fondly up at the velvet night, reminiscing.

C-53 wanted to slip into low power mode so that he could better examine this sudden realization. His tellurian coworker, his best friend, the man lying drunkenly in the grass beside him, had yearned for him for… months, possibly. At least a season. How had that happened? How had he not realized sooner? Was he still yearning, after all this time?

Pleck stretched his arms luxuriously over his head. “Hey, C-53?” he asked, his voice going soft with drowsiness.

He angled his chin ever so slightly. “Yes?”

“I’m glad you’re here with me.”

C-53 hoped Pleck couldn’t hear the strange, small juddering noise coming from his internal processor. His vocal modulator was slow to start up, but it spoke the truth.

“I am, too.”

Chapter 2 <-----> Chapter 4

[writingandchocolatemilk]

A Gentle Slide

Anonymous said:  "That's not exactly a good coping method" with prucan?

guess whose state just got the first snow storm of the season

On AO3. FFn.

"That's not exactly a good coping method."

Prussia looked over at Canada and blinked. "What?"

Canada looked down at Prussia's hands. Prussia slowly followed his gaze to find himself applying hand sanitizer. Prussia rubbed his hands together, a little defensively. "Do you know how filthy cars get?"

Canada adjusted his seat. "Oh, no doubt. However, that's the fifth time in as many minutes that you've applied Purell. Your hands are going to dry out."

Prussia snapped his travel-sized bottle of Purell shut. He had bought it at the airport. He always bought them at airports. Airport were fucking nasty. "Not that it matters."

Canada rolled his eyes. "Will you calm down?"

Prussia pointed at him. "Don't do that, don't act like I'm overreacting. You're not reacting enough. We are going to die out here."

"Oh my God," Canada breathed, "I called a tow truck."

Prussia looked miserably out the window of Canada's tiny, fuel-efficient, two-wheel drive, hybrid piece of carboard. The snow continued to pour down like rain, the whole world one gray mass, blended together.

Canada fiddled with the windshield wipers. "Aren't you from Germany? Aren't you part of Germany? Don't you have snow?"

"Yes, of course we have snow." Prussia even skied when he had the spare time.

"Didn't you fight against Russia?"

Prussia rolled his eyes. "I couldn't tell you the number of times I have throttled that psycho in the snow."

Canada tapped the window. "And you're afraid of sitting in a car, with heating, in the snow after all that?"

Prussia shook his head. "No, this is different. It's very, very hard to die when you're leading an army through the snow. You can huddle together, you know?"

"Like penguins," Canada said mildly.

"Yes, but manly penguins." Prussia gestured to the winter wonderland around them. "We're in a ditch in the middle of nowhere. No one knows where we are. Germany doesn't even know where I am. I don't have signal."

Canada crossed his arms. "You refuse to buy an international plan."

"Oh, sorry I didn't expect to get stranded in the middle of your country. I thought it would be a nice, relaxing visit. Crack open some beers, play some video games, watch you do paperwork because you're a hard worker or whatever. And now?" Prussia rested his head against the window. "Doom."

Canada shifted in his seat. "Well…"

Prussia looked at him. "Well what?"

Canada gave a little, innocent shrug, eyes drifting over to the radio. "Well, we are only out because you wanted beer in the middle of a blizzard."

Prussia gaped at him. "How dare you."

Canada was clearly fighting to keep the smile off of his face.

Prussia was at a loss. Did Canada just accuse him of getting them into this situation? "Okay, there are many things wrong with that sentence, and I'm going to go through all of them. One." Prussia held up one finger. "You assured me you could drive through this mess."

Canada, reflexively: "I can."

Prussia gestured wildly around the cabin of the car. "And yet we're in a ditch!"

"Oh, it's just a snowbank."

Prussia held up a second finger. "You knew about the blizzard and didn't stock up on booze. It's a staple to stock up on booze and get drunk during blizzards."

Canada didn't look convinced by this. "I'm not an alcoholic."

"And if the power went off? What would we have done? Played Monopoly by candle light? Monopoly is only ever fun piss drunk, and I should know." Prussia realized this made him sound like an alcoholic. "Not that I'm an alcoholic."

Canada let out a noncommittal noise.

Prussia wouldn't let that hurt his feelings. "Third." Prussia held up another finger. "You decided to bring us to your creepy, serial killer-cabin in the middle of nowhere. We were guaranteed to, firstly, get snowed in and stuck up there, and secondly, to lose power, which leads back into issue number two with your this is my fault argument."

"It's scenic."

"If you had brought us to your nice apartment in Montreal, we could have ordered pizza and walked to the liquor store." Prussia let his hands drop into his lap. "Ergo, this is your fault, not mine."

Canada considered these points, nodding slowly. He hummed like he had come to a realization. "Counterargument: I bought fucking wine."

"You and I both know wine isn't alcohol."

"And you and I both know wine is stronger than beer and is the better alcohol."

Prussia was on the edge of opening the door and running away from this conversation. He could feel himself getting stupidly angry because beer was a man's drink. Instead: "Either way, you're the one who drove us into the ditch."

"Okay, it is a snow," Canada pronounced the words clearly and slowly, "bank. And I still think that you set us on this course of events because of your stupid 'beer is manly' reasoning."

Prussia opened his mouth and then caught sight of exactly how hard it was snowing. It was coming down in buckets. It looked like rain. Prussia realized that Canada didn't drive a giant car like he did. He drove the piece of shit Prius, which was low to the ground.

"Canada," Prussia said, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. "I have something very important to discuss with you."

Canada raised an eyebrow. "Uh. Okay?"

Prussia very calmly pointed outside the window. "We can't let the snow cover the exhaust pipe."

Canada rolled his eyes. "I drive a Prius, Prussia."

"You don't drive a fully electric car though, do you? You still produce carbon monoxide and that will definitely kill us if we let the tailpipe get covered by snow."

Canada shrugged again. "Feel free to clear it out."

Prussia hesitated. It was. Very cold outside. And blizzarding. And he hadn't brought his gloves because he didn't think he was going to get fucking stranded in the middle of a blizzard. He thought he would be outside for two minutes, max.

Plus, it had not been Prussia who had gotten them into this mess. "No, you."

Canada patted his dashboard fondly. "I trust her not to kill me. You're the one with doubt in your heart."

Prussia shook his head. "I have died of hypothermia. I'm not doing that again. It was probably the worst time. It took, like, a year for me to feel my toes again. It took like a month for them to thaw me out."

Canada raised his eyebrows. "Really? I haven't heard this story."

Prussia opened the hand sanitizer. "It's not a very becoming story. I was leading a group—a smaller group—to try and flank… God, maybe Russia's men? But, since it was fucking blizzarding outside, visibility was lacking, to say the least. My men managed to find the army. I did not."

Canada reached over and took the Purell from him.

Prussia cleared his throat. "So, I have already frozen my ass off. Your turn."

Canada gave him a small, soft smile. "Who hasn't died of hypothermia?"

Prussia's hands felt grimy. "You terrify me, you know that?"

"Listen, I have been to the arctic. I have been on a ton of expeditions. It happens."

"Oh my God."

Canada shrugged. "So, it's either facing the cold or facing the carbon monoxide."

Neither option was appealing. "Where is this tow truck?"

Canada looked out the window. "Actually, that's a good question."

Prussia let his head fall back against the head rest. "We're going to die."

Canada let out a sigh and opened his door. He threw the car into neutral and stepped out into the swirling snowflakes outside. Prussia thought for a horrified second Canada was leaving him to freeze to death, but then the headlights illuminated Canada in front of the car.

Canada gave the car a shove.

Prussia groaned and then opened the door. "Alright, alright, I'll help."

Canada gave the car another shove. "That would be great, yeah."

Prussia joined Canada at the front of the car. The metal was very, very cold. Stupid fucking Prius. "Alright, one, two, three!" They gave it a shove. It stayed firmly in the ditch.

"Fuck," Prussia muttered. "Okay, again!"

It was raining ice. The snow, up in the stratosphere—or where ever the fuck rain and snow formed, Prussia couldn't remember because his brain was freezing in his skull—the snow had frozen into tiny, ice-pellets that were hailing from the sky. It felt like bullets hitting his face.

It was actually painful. It stung. It burned.

Prussia let out a miserable little noise. "Your stratosphere is trying to murder me."

"It's the troposphere."

"Fuck," Prussia said, deeply, with feeling. "One, two, three!" An ice pellet hit Prussia in the eye. "Again!" he bellowed, turning his 'I want to cry' feelings into 'angry' feelings.

Finally, the car groaned and rocked back an few centimeters—

Prussia threw his hands in the air. "Success!"

-and then promptly rocked back forward.

Canada cracked his knuckles. "We have it warmed up now, don't worry."

A final push got the car back onto the road, or close enough to where the road was underneath all the snow.

They returned to the warmth of the car. Prussia stuck his hands in front of the air vents, teeth chattering. That was misery, but fuck that ditch, they had pulled through.

Canada turned off the hazards. "Now, are we still going to the liquor store, or have you come to your senses?"

There were two paths here. Either Prussia could drink real alcohol, or Prussia could get out of this shitty car and shitty weather and actually enjoy his time with Canada. The decision was not as easy as one might imagine. "Listen, don't tell France or Spain I consented to drink wine. I'm begging you."

Canada rolled his eyes. He put his car into drive and then tossed something into Prussia's lap. "Hand lotion. Told you they would dry out."

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Returning the Flash Drive

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): DC/BatFam - Jason Todd/Red Hood

Rating: PG

Original Idea: An AU prompt list I found on Pinterest but was from Tumblr.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) The italic blocks of text are parts of the original project. And that original project is actually an actual original project of mine. @welovegroot @batboys-and-other-messes Posting way early today because why not and I have no self-control

^^^^^

Jason plopped down at the library computer, fully intending to just search the catalog for Sense and Sensibility, check it out, and leave.

But he got distracted by the bright blue flash drive sticking out of the USB port. There was a piece of blue masking tape on the side, with a heavily worn-out name written on it. But it was so worn, all he got was a T and maybe an e. Though it could have been a g. He wasn’t sure.

Curious, he clicked out of the library catalog window, and found the drive on the desktop. It was named, “Bat-Drive.” He couldn’t help but snicker as he opened it up.

There was a long list of Microsoft Word docs immediately there with weird file names. Angst Galore, Crimson Poison, Duct Tape and Safety Pins, For What I Love, and Winter Went Down to Georgia as some of the ones he noticed. At the very top, though, was a file that read, !!!IF FOUND PLEASE READ!!!

Jason clicked it open.

“Hi there, stranger! If you’re reading this, that means you found my flash drive. This thing is my life. Thank you so much for finding it. Please text me at ###-###-#### and say you found it and where I left it. I’ll promptly come back and get it! Thank you so much! I appreciate it!”

Jason blinked and got out his phone, already typing the person’s number into a new text message box. He closed the file.

SUPERNATURAL HIGH—DRAFT 3

Another file name caught his eye.

Knowing he shouldn’t, he opened it. The person’s little note for whomever found the lost drive didn’t have a name. Just a phone number. But the file name implied it was some form of fiction. Maybe there would be a byline.

Supernatural High

By: Me

Well that wasn’t helpful. Jason narrowed his eyes in frustration.

Chapter 1—My Roommate is a Vampire

“Welcome to Supernatural High School!” the banner read over the huge front door. I looked at it, reading the same five words over and over again.

“Wow,” I said to my mom. “I’m here.”

Jason tilted his head, attention caught. He leaned forward, laced his fingers under his chin, and started to read.

He knew he shouldn’t be reading this. He knew that someone else’s writing was a private thing until made public, but it was good. The writing style felt like someone around his age wrote it—probably a girl if the main character being a first-person narrator female character was anything to go on—and it was engaging. Creative and with an interesting premise.

Jason poured over the third draft of the story—and glanced at the page count. 102. Single-spaced. Wow.

Enraptured, he continued reading.

Vicky pulled open the A-G Freshmen filing cabinet. It took her three seconds to find Adamaris, Aaralyn (the name of the protagonist) in the front of the drawer.

Vicky snatched it and flipped open the light-yellow file folder.

“What in Hades is an aquatic hybrid?” Vicky hissed to Carrie and Vinnie.

“What?” two voices asked quietly. Carrie left the computer where she was trying to erase Aaralyn’s name from the teachers’ rolls and Vinnie left the door so they could both look at the file over Vicky’s shoulders.

Species: Aquatic Hybrid.

“Huh,” Vinnie grunted.

“Yeah��� what is an aquatic hybrid?” Carrie whispered.

The light flicked on. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” a voice said from the doorway.

Jason paused reading for a moment. Who was writing this? He needed to return the flash drive to its owner…

Opening the file explorer window again, he scanned down the file names.

Me—Facebook Profile.jpeg

Eureka.

Jason opened the picture.

Weirdly, the girl looked like the kind of girl who would write the piece of fiction open on his screen. A wide, sparkling smile. Eyes full of sweetness and intelligence. A few wisps of hair caught in a breeze. She was standing on top of the Wayne Enterprises tower on the observation deck, arms thrown in the air and one leg popped behind her, obviously excited. A Batman beanie was hanging out of the bag on her shoulder.

Jason smiled and looked around the library. He couldn’t see around corners or shelves, but in his line of sight, the girl in the photo was nowhere to be found around him.

So he kept reading. When he was done, he’d turn it in to the lost-and-found or go searching for her through the shelves—and maybe even down in the children’s section in the underground level.

He was so entranced by the words that flowed so naturally, so casually, down the page that he really didn’t notice time was even passing. He didn’t notice his back muscles growing stiff or the occasional buzz of his phone in his pocket.

When he finally reached the end of the document—“Kalen’s arms found my waist as the disco lights swirled over our skin and the music beat its gentle rhythm into the floorboards and our hearts. I smiled and”—he almost flipped the desk over. Why did it end in the middle of the sentence? Why did it end at all?! Where was the rest of it? That couldn’t be the end!

In a frustrated state, he closed the document, and the picture, ejected the drive, and yanked it out of the computer. He logged off and roughly shoved his chair back. Holding the drive lightly in his right hand, he started to wander the library, looking for the girl to return it to.

^^^^^

I’d been sitting in the same spot in the library for hours. My apartment’s electricity was off for the day while some wiring was getting fixed and my laptop had broken. Not to mention the library was the only place my sister wouldn’t look for me and I’d been avoiding her for two days. Long story.

I was sitting in a worn-out old velvet armchair with Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse in my hands. My water bottle was halfway empty—I’d need to get up and refill it before I left… if I ever left.

Something hit me in the chest.

“What the—?” I muttered, looking down.

It was my flash drive. Bright blue with my smudged-out name in masking tape on the side.

“Why did you stop there? How’s it supposed to end?” a voice hissed.

I looked up, one hand closing around the drive.

The man in front of me was so ridiculously handsome that my mind went blank and my breath went away. Tall, muscular, black-haired, blue-eyed, chiseled face with a jaw sharp and strong enough to cut glass. Wearing skinny jeans that showed off exactly how powerful his legs were, a white T-shirt with what appeared to be Red Hood’s red bat symbol on the chest, and a red hoodie.

I didn’t even process that he’d asked me a question. My brain was going more along the lines of, “Oh hot dang he’s handsome. How is a man that handsome even allowed to exist? Wait. Hang on. Did he say something? Shoot.”

When I didn’t answer, and just stared blankly, he sat down in the long-vacant armchair across the tiny coffee table from me, and continued, “Your Supernatural High story. Why did you stop writing in the middle of a sentence?”

I realized what he was talking about. “Oh. You read… my story…” I trailed off.

“Yeah, missy. And listen, I get that Kalen and Aaralyn totally have a thing goin’ on, but c’mon lady! He’s too old for her at that stage in their lives and he may be the hot, bad boy type but she’s so bright and sweet! What about Conan? I know he and Zurie seem to have a small flirtation but everyone knows werewolf-vampire romances are doomed so why not just give him to Aaralyn? Though, I do appreciate the whole Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers vibe they have since you mentioned that the Wolfes and the Addingtons don’t get along,” he ranted.

I blinked but didn’t say anything. This handsome stranger wasn’t finished yet.

“I also really liked the Pride and Prejudice, Much Ado About Nothing feel between Aaralyn and Kalen. Especially with Zurie, Lyric, Conan, and Ryker contriving to set them up in a very Lady-Beatrice-and-Lord-Benedick way while the Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Bennet thing can be slyly represented by the fact that he’s a pureblood fairy and therefore more respected in the community while she’s a hybrid that others distrust for being half-human. What’s she even a hybrid of? A-hundred-and-two pages and you still haven’t revealed what her other half is.”

Someone in the library shushed him.

I opened my mouth, trying to come up with something to say. I hadn’t really intended for there to be all those classic literature parallels, per se, but it was nice to know someone could pull something out of what I’d written.

“I don’t even know your name,” I finally managed to say, whispering because we were in a library.

“I'm Jason. And why isn’t this published?”

“It’s not done, genius. Why do you think?” I retorted.

“Fair point. But seriously, what’s Aaralyn’s other half? What even is an aquatic hybrid?” he asked.

“A-hundred-and-two pages of implications and you can’t figure out what she is?” I joked. “With everything I’ve mentioned and every not-so-subtle clue. From her singing at the dance to getting pushed in the pool to what happened when those three boys drowned at the school decades before she even attended and you have no idea?”

^^^^^

Jason thought hard for a second, trying to puzzle through everything he’d just read. To be fair, he’d read quite a lot in a short time and it had almost overloaded his brain.

He glanced down at the book in her hands. He’d never read the PJO series but he’d heard a lot about it. His eyes also searched the ceiling, as though still reading the text on the computer screen up there.

An idea popped into his head. He looked back down at the writer girl.

^^^^^

Realization dawned on the man—Jason’s—face. His jaw dropped. He mouthed one word. I smirked.

“There you go. You got it,” I said, a little louder than I intended.

The librarian shot us a dark look.

“Look, I don’t even know your name, but I have to read the rest of this story. Please. It’s really good and I was really enjoying it and you ended it in the middle of a sentence!”

I smile lightly. “Thank you,” I said before offering him my name. “And if you really wanna read it, give me your email and I’ll send it to you as I work on it. I’d love a beta reader.”

“Absolutely. Please. I have to know what happens,” Jason said.

I pulled my notebook out of my bag and passed it to him, tucking my flash drive securely into a zipper pocket and zipping it up. Wasn’t going to lose that again.

He handed me back my notebook with his email address scrawled over almost an entire blank page.

“Can I take you out to lunch or something and you can tell me more about your stories? Especially this one but what else do you write? I saw a bunch of titles on your flash drive but I only read the one.”

My jaw dropped open. “Uh—I mean—yeah. Sure,” I said.

Jason got to his feet and offered me his hand to help me up. “I'm sorry if I'm freaking you out. I'm just a… voracious reader—” I could tell by that vocabulary word. “—and I’ve recently been getting into more contemporary stuff. There’s only so much classic you can read. It’s a finite genre.” He pulled me to my feet. I scooped up my bag and put PJO back on the shelf. Before walking next to Jason out the door.

“It’s okay. You freaked me out at first because you never expect someone to approach you accusing you of not finishing your story when you don’t know them and don’t realize at first how they even read your story, but I'm so unused to having someone so enthusiastic about what I’ve written that I was just surprised,” I replied. He smiled.

“I really look forward to the finished product,” he said.

“Thank you. I'm excited to have someone who’s excited,” I said as we left the library.

[crazy4tank]

Could The Next Dodge Challenger Be Electric??

New Post has been published on https://coolcarsnews.com/could-the-next-dodge-challenger-be-electric/

Could The Next Dodge Challenger Be Electric??

By Dave Ashton

The Dodge Opposition has been flying the banner for the muscle car a lot of a year now. More popular than ever before it sold 66, 716 models in 2018, great the platform is due for an revise, probably around the mid 2020s. As part of the new design of automobiles they may even be a crossbreed version.

Since reported by the Detroit Information in an interview with TOP DOG Mike Manley, it was mentioned that the new platform may incorporate lightweight technologies, offering scope for an electric design. The likelihood is that a 2L 4cyl engine would be used together with an electric powertrain. The electric powered model would probably slot in to the lineup around the base versions at a similar pricing.

Bob Gritzinger, steam analyst for Ward’ s i9000 Intelligence proposed that a twin-turbo V6 would most likely become mated to an electric engine.

Mike Manley went on to say, ‘ The truth is those platforms and that technologies we used does need to maneuver on. They can’ big t exist as you get into the particular middle-2020s, ’ ‘ New-technology is going to drive a load associated with weight out, so we may think of the powertrains in another way. And we can use electrification to actually supplement those vehicles. ’ ‘ Electrification will certainly participate the formula that states what is American muscle later on. ’

Among the standout statements giving the hint of the future, ‘ I believe that electrification will certainly participate the formula that states what is American muscle later on, ’ said Manley.

Electric variations are coming and from all of the big three makers. Kia are planning an electric SUV as well as a possible hybrid for the Mustang. The Corvette will get a mid-engined hybrid ‘ Zora’ probably producing up to a 1, 1000 horsepower.

Nevertheless , the good news for muscle vehicle purists is that a fully electric powered muscle car from Avoid is probably a long way off. Manley further says, ‘ electrification can’t be the dominant component (of a muscle car). Electrification deployed to increase the particular performance of the vehicle as the primary goal – using the added benefits of fuel economic climate – is very different, rather than the other way around. ’

Kelley Glowing blue Book’ s Karl Brauer also commented on the upcoming of electrification of muscles cars stating, ‘ There’ s a long-standing guideline about what constitutes American muscle tissue, but electrification is not section of it, ” he stated. “ I need something that will get my blood pumping. ’

Lessons come from yesteryear when Chrysler CEO Shelter Iacocca of the late 70’ s moved the great V8 to front wd V6 variations, losing grip in sales until 4 decades later when the V8 has become more popular than ever. In other words, the particular powers that be are very well aware what makes an American muscle tissue car and although electrical powertrains are coming, they will won’ t take over the entire muscle car line up.

It’ s crystal clear that the mighty V8 will not be phased out any time soon, yet hybrids are definitely on the horizon in a single shape or form.

Original source – Detroit News

The article Could The Next Dodge Opposition Be Electric?? appeared first on Muscle tissue Car .

[thetakenpokemon]

Act 3 - Chimera

[PoV: Dr. Benj????]

...

...

...

A dreamless, deep sleep.

...

I feel nothing.

Yet at the same time, I feel everything.

...

Project Chimera.

One of the many experiments that the HWDP wished to conduct. Although numerous kinds of Pokemon hybrids were made, there is one hybrid that they desired even more to create.

A hybrid of that of a Pokemon and a Human.

Yet...how could it be done?

The only reason why hybrids of Pokemon who are not even in the same egg group are even possible to make is that all Pokemon have that origin, that one entity that they all came from.

This entity is Mew.

Although they can no longer breed with each other, their DNA still have that source. Because of this, it’s possible to create such unique hybrids as long as we carefully direct it. The use of Ditto genes also make this possible, by injecting it into a host to make their cells more compliant to mutation when we inject the DNA of other species.

Nevertheless, this is not the same for Humans. Mew did not create us for we evolved through our own path, so we don’t share this origin with that of Pokemon. So does this make it impossible for a hybrid of a Pokemon and Human to exist?

The answer...is no.

There is one Pokemon that exists, and that is Deoxys. Deoxys is the DNA Pokemon, the Virus Pokemon. Its cells are highly unstable, yet also far more cooperative with that of other tissue.

The main goal was to inject a combination of Ditto and Deoxys cells into a Human host and guide its transformation, to create the first Human/Pokemon hybrid.

Yet there were two issues. One of which is that we had no idea how the test would turn out due to the unpredictability of the Deoxys cells, the other problem is that we had no Human willing to be a test subject for this likely dangerous experiment.

So...they went with an unwilling, expendable human instead.

Me.

...

...

...

Even though I’m technically unconscious, at the same time I’m also aware enough to properly know what is happening to me.

I’m inside one of the numerous Development Tanks, a gigantic canister whose purpose is to develop hybrids. The canister is filled with Perfluorocarbon, an oxygen-rich liquid that can be breathed just like air. The reason for this liquid being chosen is because it’s also a means of providing nutrients to the subject, specifically as they breath in the Perfluorocarbon.

Lining the walls of these giant tanks are mechanical arms for operating on the subject. Most of them consist of the Injection Arms, long robotic limbs ending in large needles capable of penetrating even bone. Not only are the purpose of these needles being to inject DNA into all regions of the body, but they also possess blood-clotting agents in order to prevent the subject from bleeding.

The subject is also given a powerful sedative anesthetic before the procedure in order to prevent them from struggling and possibly damaging themselves or their environment during their development. The company who developed the sedative gave it the trade name of ‘Zenital’, and it’s considered an incredibly efficient sedative due to how powerful it is and how little danger it poses to the body. Usually the subjects are sedated through injection with that of a different sedative, once they’re secured within the Development Tank we then infuse the Perfluorocarbon with steady streams Zenital vapors in order to render the subject in a controlled unconsciousness as they develop.

...

...

I...don’t know how long I’ve been ‘asleep’.

Days? Weeks? Months?

...Years?

...

Even when unconscious, I could feel my body change.

The Deoxys cells latched to the cells of my body and immediately began to change me, for the Ditto cells sent them into a frenzy. They grabbed everything they could find and began converting it, changing it into Deoxys cells like them.

Essentially, the cells were assimilating me from the inside out...transforming me into a Deoxys.

...

It is terrifying, the fact that your body is being destroyed and replaced with something different...piece by piece. Yet I can’t do anything, instead rendered helpless as I feel my own flesh change with each passing second.

It...has been going on for a long time. The cells destroyed my organs, yet then developed the crystal core that Deoxys possess. The heart of the Deoxys’ life and power, the sole thing that allows them to survive. The cells destroyed everything inside me, then it replaced it with a new method of survival.

Yet it didn’t stop there, for it began changing other parts of my body. Changed the skin, removed all of my hair and nails, and much...much more.

...

...

Eventually...I wasn’t even Human anymore.

Even though at one point the cells eventually stopped converting me, I doubt that I'm even part human when it finished.

Yet even though my body is now mostly Deoxys, at the same time it also possesses underlying traits that isn’t like that of a Deoxys. These traits belong to a Human, yet...at the same time it doesn’t.

I’m both a hybrid and not, a combination of Human and Deoxys as well as possibly being my own entity.

I...didn’t know what to think of it.

And I don’t know what my captors think of me either, which makes me feel even more afraid. Is my transformation considered a failure? Will they dispose of me due to not resulting in what they wished?

...

My conscious...it stirs...

...

...

...

My eyes slowly open, the changed orbs peering at my surrounding for the first time.

Everything is dark, for there is no lights within the Development Tank. Yet the alien eyes of mine are capable of forming a faint picture of my environment, it’s not complete night-vision...but it’s good enough that it gives me an idea of what my surroundings are.

I’m suspended in the center of a metal tank, several closed pods are located on the walls that house the inactive robotic arms. Attached to my head is a small pair of mechanical limbs, their purpose being to lightly keep me in place so that my body doesn’t drift around the tank.

I reach over to the hands with my own limbs and pry them off with little effort, yet at the same time the action feels so alien due to how...different my body is.

It suddenly occurs to me, the fact that I’m not...breathing.

I place one of my strange hands on my face and to my shock I discover that I lack a nose and mouth. The place where a pair of lips should be is smooth skin, while my nose is only a faint bump that gives the impression of something that used to be there.

However despite me not breathing, I seem to be doing just...fine.

How...much have I truly changed?

The container suddenly vibrates for a brief moment as a muffled rumble is heard outside of the canister, although the walls keep me properly insulated...I still barely managed to hear and feel it.

...

Is something going on?

I turn my gaze to one of the numerous cameras inside the tank, their lenses focused on my body. I feel that I should be worried due to them observing me, for they could do anything to me while I’m inside.

Well...almost anything.

Another thought occurs to me.

How am I conscious? The Zenital should be keeping me unconscious, did they cease providing it into the Perfluorocarbon?

...

Oh...yeah, I’m not breathing. Because of this the sedative anesthesia has no way of affecting me, which is why I’ve awakened.

Another shake jostles the gigantic container I’m in, making me look at the walls again with growing confusion.

What’s going on out there?!

The size and weight of the Development Tanks are nothing to underestimate, especially when filled to the brim with Perfluorocarbon. So if something is making the thing jostle for an extremely tiny moment, then it must be very intense...

I’m floating in the center of the tank, my curiosity outgrowing my fear. Whatever is going on outside of this thing, it must be very...very big.

I...want to find out what’s going on.

No...I need to find out.

The purple crystal in my chest suddenly glows, illuminating my surroundings. This startles me, my head looking down at my chest with surprise.

I feel...power radiating from it, radiating from me.

My desire to get out of here and discover the unknown, it’s fueling it.

My will and thoughts are fueling my power.

I feel the energy of the crystal collecting to one of my arms, making said appendage glow with a purple sheen. This power seems to flow like an electric current, flowing to my arm and then back to the crystal.

This power, it’s inside me.

But now...I want it...

OUT.

The energy explodes out of my hand, striking the wall of the Development Tank in front of me. The heavy metal quickly caves in, for although it’s designed to withstand physical trauma...it wasn’t built for raw energy.

With a giant hole punched straight through the liquid immediately starts gushing out, alarms blare outside the machine to notify of the compromised subject.

As the liquid continues to flow out I feel my body tense, prepared to meet gunfire by the guards that should be stationed nearby. Yet...nothing comes from it, nothing at all.

Hesitantly I step out of my makeshift exit, my legs shaky after being used for the first time in who knows how long. Several times they nearly gave out from under me, but I managed to keep myself up as I fully step out.

Although most Development Tanks are located near each other in gigantic labs, this lab I’m in is more secluded due to it only having one tank. In it are several computers and machinery whose entire purpose is to monitor me, yet...not a single living soul is nearby.

The place is empty. Not a single scientist, guard, or even a simple employee is in sight.

But then I heard the sounds.

The sounds of chaos.

My gaze turns to the automated door of the room, I can hear shouts and even gunfire from the other side of it.

With my curiosity overpowering my common sense I approach the door, my body still partially soaked with Perfluorocarbon as it drips down my form and leaves footprints whenever I walk.

Eventually I reach said door, the sounds having grown even louder now. On the ground I notice an ID, something that one of the HWDP members probably dropped in some hurry.

Nevertheless, it’s mine now.

I pick up the card and swipe it on the scanner, it took only a brief moment for it to approve my access and open the automatic doors.

And beyond it...is absolute mayhem.

The place is under attack.

The intruders are Pokemon, garbed in dark blue garments. Their efforts are only partially coordinated, however they seem to be holding themselves very well against the extremely well-armed guards of the HWDP.

I don’t know who these Pokemon are...

...but I have the strong feeling that they’re here to liberate their brethren.

I watch the carnage unfold, both Humans and Pokemon dying.

...

I clench my fists, the crystal in my chest glowing as its power circulates inside my body.

I made a promise to that Gardevoir hybrid, a promise that turned my own people against me.

A promise that had them turn me into a hybrid against my own will, thus destroying my very identity.

A promised her that I would make things right.

Now...with my new body, I have the power to act on this promise.

[fastmusclecar123]

New Post has been published on http://fastmusclecar.com/best-muscle-cars/could-the-next-dodge-challenger-be-electric/

Could The Next Dodge Challenger Be Electric??

By Dave Ashton

The Dodge Challenger has been flying the flag for the muscle car many a year now. More popular than ever it sold 66,716 models in 2018, but now the platform is due for an update, probably around the mid 2020s. As part of the new design of vehicles they may even be a hybrid version.

As reported by the Detroit News in an interview with CEO Mike Manley, it was stated that the new platform will incorporate lightweight technologies, giving scope for an electric model. The likelihood is that a 2L four-cylinder engine would be used alongside an electric powertrain. The electric model would probably slot into the lineup around the base models at a similar pricing.

Bob Gritzinger, propulsion analyst for Ward’s Intelligence proposed that a twin-turbo V6 would most likely be mated to an electric motor.

Mike Manley went on to say, ‘The reality is those platforms and that technology we used does need to move on. They can’t exist as you get into the middle-2020s,’ ‘New technology is going to drive a load of weight out, so we can think of the powertrains in a different way. And we can use electrification to really supplement those vehicles.’ ‘Electrification will certainly be part of the formula that says what is American muscle in the future.’

One of the standout statements giving a hint of the future, ‘I think that electrification will certainly be part of the formula that says what is American muscle in the future,’ said Manley.

Electric variations are definitely coming and from all the big three makers. Ford are planning an electric SUV and a possible hybrid for the Mustang. The Corvette will get a mid-engined hybrid ‘Zora’ possibly producing up to a 1,000 horsepower.

However, the good news for muscle car purists is that a fully electric muscle car from Dodge is probably a long way off. Manley further says, ‘electrification can’t be the dominant part (of a muscle car). Electrification deployed to increase the performance of the vehicle as its primary goal – with the added benefits of fuel economy – is very different, instead of the other way around.’

Kelley Blue Book’s Karl Brauer also commented on the future of electrification of muscle cars stating, ‘There’s a long-standing rule about what constitutes American muscle, but electrification is not part of it,” he said. “I need something that gets my blood pumping.’

Lessons come from the past when Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca of the late 70’s moved the mighty V8 to front wheel drive V6 variations, losing traction in sales until 40 years later when the V8 is now more popular than ever. In other words,the powers that be are well aware what makes an American muscle car and although electric powertrains are coming, they won’t take over the full muscle car line up.

It’s clear that the mighty V8 is not going to be phased out any time soon, but hybrids are definitely on the horizon in one shape or form.

Original source – Detroit News

[fixxofvixx]

TEACHING VIXX - CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Hey y'all. So Ravi’s got purple/pink hair….I feel bad for his hair but I kinda love it!

Anywho, I was gonna post this tomorrow but their new hairstyles got me excited!!

I hope you enjoy and comments are always welcome!

Thanks for reading!!

———————————–

“Taekwoon.”

Nothing.

“Taekwoon~.”

Still nothing.

You tried to move the heavy arm that was wound around your stomach but it wouldn’t budge. You had to pee so bad but he wouldn’t let go. You tried pinching his skin but he still wouldn’t move.

“Taekwoon, let go. I need to get up!”

He finally stirred and nuzzled his head into your shoulder. Gaining hope, you tried to move his arm again but he held you even tighter.

“Jung Taekwoon!!”

You felt the exhale of his chuckle in your hair and you smacked his arm.

“I like you where you’re at. So stay right there.” He sounded half asleep. You assumed that he wasn’t quite comprehending the situation so you tried to bargain with him.

“I will. As soon as you let me up long enough to go to the bathroom. I’ll come right back and we can keep cuddling. Okay?”

“No.” You could hear the pout in his voice and you almost gave up. But the urge to pee came back with avengance and you desperately tried to struggle out of his arms. The movement was making matters worse so you decided on a new tactic. You remembered what his mother had said about his stage name and using it if he was annoying you. You had no idea what it would do so you gave him one last chance.

“Come on, Taekwoon, just five minutes.” You tried lifting his arm but it tightened back around you like a steel band. Fine.

“Leo, let go!”

You felt his body go deathly still and heard a sharp intake of air. When you tried to move his arm this time, there was no resistance. You move away and looked back at him. His arm flopped to the bed and didn’t move to grab you. He looked at you and narrowed his eyes.

“Get back over here and undo this.” His green eyes darkened and your heart skipped a beat. He looked greatly annoyed but you didn’t know if it was because you had moved or the fact that he couldn’t. He didn’t look paralyzed exactly but that he didn’t have the strength to move.

“I don’t even know what I did! Your mom just told me to say that if you weren’t listening! She didn’t say how you would react.

"Just undo it!” He seemed to be able to move his head just fine but his body lay still.

“Okay, hang on!” You ran to the bathroom to take care of what you needed to. You almost felt bad for leaving him but it was his fault for not letting go sooner. There was no way you could stay there a second longer.

While you were washing your hands, you tried to figure out what exactly you’d done. His mother had told you not to do it while he was driving or something like that and you now understood why. It was like it rendered him completely helpless.

You hurried back into the room to see that he had managed to roll onto his back. He was breathing deeply as if he was trying to hold in his anger. You hesitated going closer.

“Come here.”

“I-I’m…I don’t…” You took a step closer but still far enough away from the bed, just in case. You took a deep breath and chided yourself for being slightly afraid. This was Taekwoon. He wasn’t going to do anything. Right?

“Look, I had no idea what calling you by your stage name would do. I really had to pee and you wouldn’t let go and I panicked.”

He laughed and you sighed in relief. He wasn’t mad at you. He moved his head slowly to look at you. His green eyes were still dark but at least they weren’t red.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in your head. He couldn’t move. That fact gave you courage to move closer to the bed. He followed your movement but his eyes gave away that he could tell what you were thinking. You smiled and climbed onto the bed. Moving closer to him, you threw one leg over his waist, effectively straddling him. You could feel his abdominal muscles clench at the feeling of you on top of him. You leaned down, crossing your arms atop his chest and laid your head on your forearms.

“So, explain this to me.”

“Undo it first. As much as I love you on top of me, I need control of my limbs. I want to touch you.”

“Huh-uh, I want an explanation first.” You unfolded your arms and poked his cheeks. He moved his head to try and bite your finger but you were quicker. He grimaced and rolled his eyes.

“Fine. Some hybrids have alternative names. Me, Hakyeon, Jaehwan, and Wonshik fall under that category.”

“Not Hyuk?” You idly ran your fingertips over his collarbone and he took a deep breath.

“No thats just a shortened version. But our alternative names give our significant other a sort of….power of us. It only works if very strong feelings are involved. To undo it, you just say that name again.”

“Really? Very interesting.” You smoothed your fingers over his cheeks and pinched them slightly.

“Its not to be abused, though.” His eyes flashed and you grinned.

“Of course not. Only when you’re being a bad hamzzi.” You poked his cheeks again resulting in his eyes turning red.

“I am not a hamster.”

“Aww, but I like it when you are.” You frowned and kissed his cheek. He leaned his head into your touch but you backed away. “Well, I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it.”

You removed yourself from his waist and stood up.

“Where are going?”

“I’m hungry. You used up all my energy earlier.” You winked at him and walked towards the door.

“(Y/N),” You name came out as a deep growl and you had to force yourself not to turn around and jump back on him. “Undo it. Now.”

“I will. I’ll bring us both some food back. Just remember this the next time you wont let me get up to pee.” You waggled your finger at him, playfully scolding him. You had to turn away from the look on his face. If you had lingered on it, surely you would have been on the floor.

After about twenty minutes, you had just finished loading a couple of plates with food to take back to the room when the hair on the back of your neck stood up. Electricity pulsed and in the room and you knew you were in trouble. You calmly set the plates down and eyed the door in front of you which led to the outside. You’d probably never make it but you still wanted to try. Anticipation mixed with the adrenaline now pumping through your bloodstream and your breath quickened. You wondered if this was how prey felt out in the wild when they were being stalked by predators. You thought about pretending he wasn’t there but you knew your heartbeat had already given you away. However, you didn’t dismiss the possibility of distraction.

You grabbed one of the now empty containers with a shaky hand and pretended to close the lid down on it. You fumbled it in your fingers and let it drop to the floor, causing it to clang loudly. As soon as it dropped you took off, hoping his focus would be on what you dropped.

You made it to the door and gripped the doorknob when two large hands smacked the wood on either side of your head. Effectively caged in and trapped, your breathing grew erratic. He stepped closer, crowding against your back and placing you flush against the door. His breath was hot against your ear and you shuddered.

“I forgot to tell you that it eventually wears off.” His lips grazed your ear with each word and heat pooled in your belly. You tried to turn but there was no room to move. Your hand gripped the doorknob tightly to try and keep your body from shaking so much. Taekwoon had a way of reducing you to a puddle of goo with just a few words and you loved it. You loved him. And you loved it when he played around like this. You tried to swallow despite your dry throat.

“Well, that would have been nice information.” You leaned your head back so that it was against his chest. The rumble in his chest resembled more of a purr than a growl.

“But then I wouldn’t get to chase you.” He whispered low in your ear and your whole body shook. His tongue flicked out and ran over your tattoo and your knees buckled. His arms were fast to wrap around your waist and haul you against him. He hummed against your skin, satisfied with you reaction. His lips traveled down your neck until he found a patch of skin that he particularly liked and pulled it into his mouth. His action elicited a whimper from you and he pulled you closer to his chest.

“If this is the reaction I get, I may have to abuse that power. Next time you’ll have to give me a better head start though.” You smiled as he chuckled into your shoulder.

“You don’t have to use the power, though. I’ll chase you whenever you want.”

You leaned your head back so you could see his eyes. The green glowed brightly and you were lost in them. It amazed you at how much love you always saw in them. How was this even possible? How did you get this lucky?

“Well if you just chase me, you have an unfair advantage. How am I supposed to compete?”

One of his hands came from around your waist to turn you in his arms. Once your back was fully against the door, he pressed into you even more.

“You know I don’t like to lose. You’ll just have to get creative.” His lips lowered to your neck and placed a trail of light kisses all the way across your collarbone. Your hands went under his shirt and pressed against the skin of his back. You received a low hum in response. He raised his head to look at you before sealing his lips over yours. It was slow, deep, and wonderful. He didn’t linger long there, however, and quickly made his way to your shoulder again. He curved an arm around your waist to pull you even further against him.

Suddenly his head lifted off you shoulder and he looked back towards the main door to the kitchen. Seconds later you heard a knock at the door to the common area. You involuntarily tensed, not knowing what to expect.

“Its okay. Its a family friend.” He removed himself from you and took your hand in his. You followed behind him, taking a moment to smooth your hair down and fix your clothes.

Taekwoon opened the door to the house and smiled, revealing an elderly man in simple, traditional clothing. Looking at his face, you saw that his eyes were green. Panther hybrid.

“Ah, there you are! I wasn’t sure if you would hear me or not. I apologize for interrupting your time together.” The man snickered and you blushed.

“I suppose I can forgive you.” Taekwoon sighed playfully and the man laughed.

“JinOh told me that he’d seen people at the Jung house and I assumed that it was your parents. When I came closer, I realized that it was you and a friend.” He peeked around Taekwoon to smile at you. “She’s yours?”

Taekwoon looked around at you and his eyes softened. He shook his head.

“No, I’m hers. She calls the shots.” Taekwoon smiled and tugged you until you stood beside him. “(Y/N), this is Lee JangPil, he’s a panther elder. He looks over the area and a lot of panther hybrids go to him for advice.”

“Yes, well, it should be the woman calling the shots anyway, right my dear? Us fellows would be lost without you. Oh, and your a handler to boot! It is certainly a pleasure to meet you.” He bowed and you returned the gesture.

“Would you like to come in? I can make some tea or coffee?” You smiled as you backed up to allow him room to come in.

“That would be lovely, my dear. Thank you.” He walked in and took a seat in the common area of the house. You went off to the kitchen to prepare some tea, and coffee for Taekwoon, of course. You picked up the container you had dropped earlier and set it back on the counter. You took some of the food that you had grabbed earlier and arranged it to serve as snacks on a tray.

Walking back into the common area, you saw Taekwoon and JangPil laughing quietly. You placed the tea tray on a side table and handed Taekwoon his coffee. JangPil took a tea cup and sipped on the contents.

“Oh, this is good. Miss (Y/N), since Taekwoon here has been lucky enough to convince you to put up with him, I wonder if you would adopt an old grandfather as well?” You laughed as he sweet-talked you. He reminded you of your grandfather on your mother’s side who had passed when you were in middle school.

“I believe that can be arranged.”

“Come, come, you must sit next to me. Taekwoon can have you back later.” He waved you over to sit next to him on the bench and you obliged. Once you were seated next to him, he took both of your hands in his. He closed his eyes for a moment and you looked at Taekwoon. He nodded indicating that everything was fine. JangPil eventually opened his eyes and looked sad.

“Oh, my dear sweet girl, you have already been through so much in your young life. I hope the terrors you have endured have not put you against all hybrids.” He looked into your eyes and you smiled.

“Of course not. I have known more hybrids that are good more than I have known bad. But, may I ask how you know? Did Taekwoon tell you?”

“Ah, I apologize. I should have asked permission. I am able to see certain things in a person’s life. I am not able to see the future, unfortunately, but I can see what some people have gone through in the past. Since you are a handler and obviously connected to Taekwoon, I can easily read you. Did I make you uncomfortable?” He patted your hand and smiled sweetly.

“No, no, I was just wondering. It doesn’t bother me at all.” You returned his smile.

“Good, good. Taekwoon, my boy, you have a treasure here.” He paused and looked at the young panther. “Don’t muck it up. If you do, I’ll have to take her away from you.” He looked back at you and winked.

“Oh, believe me, she’s not getting away.” Taekwoon’s statement made you blush but you felt happy.

“See that she doesn’t. She’s going to be a wonderful mother one day.” Your head snapped up at his comment. Your heart felt happy that he approved of you so quickly.

“I know. Hopefully sooner rather than later.” Your eyes went wide this time and flicked over to see Taekwoon grinning. The look he was giving you told you that he would make you pregnant right now if you’d let him.

“All in good time, I’m sure.”

After catching up with Taekwon for about a half hour, the older man stood, Taekwoon and you following after him in respect. “I must be going. JinOh gets anxious if I’m gone too long. Please come and visit when you are back this way again. Oh and Taekwoon? Try not to scare JinOh so much next time. The poor thing is traumatized.”

“Hey, he scared her first. I was just protecting what’s mine. I didn’t know that was JinOh.”

“Yes, well, fair enough. He tends to get a little protective of the area. I’ll tell him you’re sorry anyway.” He winked at Taekwoon and made his way out of the front door. It took you a second to realize what they were talking about.

“JinOh’s a dog? The dog from yesterday?!”

“Yeah, he’s JangPil’s companion. JinOh’s from a really long line of dogs that can communicate with hybrids. It takes a lot of work and practice but eventually you can talk to them.” Taekwoon explained as he walked with JangPil to the front drive of the house.

“That’s really cool!”

“It is nice be able to talk with him. Sometimes it gets a little lonely around here and they have a completely different view of the world. JinOh and his mate should be expecting some pups next year. If you want one, just let me know.” JangPil waved to you both and took off down the road.

“Oh, Taekwoon! Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dog you can talk to?!”

He didn’t answer so you looked over to him. He was already looking at you. His eyes very slowly started to glow and your heart picked up speed.

Apparently, he still wanted to play.

[riverofmemoriesft]

. Between the Lines . 176

From where she sat in the very front seats of the stadium, Lucy fought the urge to leave in favor of recognizing it would only serve to piss Natsu off more, which would make her angrier, and would start the whole mess all over again. It didn't help her attitude that Happy had chosen Natsu over her, and that since Gray and Juvia were having a late breakfast before joining them, she was sitting alone.

Natsu and Wendy were nowhere to be found. Erza was seated with Makarov, discussing something out of hearing of everyone else, and with Jellal down in the arena with Laxus, patiently waiting for the game to be announced...she was lonely.

She'd considered summoning Loke. But her magic had been drained the night before, Loke drawing on it to fight, and she didn't even have the power to summon Plue. She was exhausted. Strangely so, too. She couldn't fathom why her magic was taking so long to regather its strength and return to what it should be.

"Stop your mopin', Blondie, you're pissin' me off."

Lucy glanced up as Cobra dropped to sit beside her, Kinana joining him on his other side with a look of amusement. Knowing fully well he'd hear her no matter what, Kinana told her with a grin, "He wanted to sit by you since you were upset and he doesn't like it."

"Shut up, woman," Cobra grumbled under his breath. "Someone's gotta keep an eye on her while Salamander's off forgettin' she's being stalked."

Lucy scowled. "Thanks for the reminder. That's actually why he's angry with me." She propped her chin on the balcony, her eyes watching the people within the arena. "But thanks. I appreciate the company."

"No problem," Kinana hummed, eyeing the arena. "You know, there's something off about Jellal. Not what Erza mentioned last night - Erik overheard, of course - but something new. He looks a little shell shocked...frantic. Worried."

"He does," Lucy agreed, squinting and looking closer at the heavenly body mage. "Maybe he should be taken out of the Games...he's been getting worse since he started participating."

"Perhaps," Kinana agreed.

Lucy's gaze flickered up to the box where the royalty of the country supposedly was seated and she narrowed her eyes at it. What are you up to, Hisui…?

Cobra grunted, and she grimaced, knowing he'd heard her thoughts. But she said nothing, instead sitting back and watching as Mirajane suddenly stood. "Mira?" she called anxiously, but Mirajane didn't seem to notice. Instead, she flung herself over the side of the stadium wall.

"Mira!" Lisanna gasped, throwing herself forward to watch as Mirajane landed gracefully within the arena, her knees bending with the impact. She straightened and then ignored the mutterings of the crowd as she approached Jellal.

Lucy and Kinana turned expectant looks on Cobra, who was staring at the pair. "Well?" Kinana demanded.

"She's tellin' him to go get some rest," Cobra muttered. He narrowed his eyes. "She'll take over his spot."

"Good for Mira," Lucy praised. They watched as Jellal reluctantly left the arena, staggering. Erza climbed to her feet behind them and left to go and find him, looking worried. Lucy watched after her friend with an arched eyebrow. "Erza and Jellal are close…maybe they'll officially date soon?"

"Tch," Cobra said, making a sound of disgust. "Believe me, Blondie. They're dancin' around the idea. They'll get there eventually."

"Welcome to the fourth day of the Grand Magic Games!" the announcer suddenly shouted, and the crowd exploded with excitement. Lucy was startled that so many people who had probably been against magic beforehand were enjoying this… "Today's game will be based off of fairy tales we've all heard when we were little...wave for the screens, Miss Connell!"

Lucy's jaw dropped.

There, waving on the screen, was a giggling Asuka. "Asuka?!" Lucy gasped, and behind her, the guild exploded into commotion, everyone turning on Alzack, since Bisca wasn't around either. He gave a smile.

"They asked and Asuka wanted to. Bisca and I agreed that as long as Bisca could be with her, it'd be fine," Alzack agreed, throwing an apologetic look at the shocked Makarov. Mavis, who'd been watching the Games alongside them since her arrival, looked amused.

"The goal of today's game will to get through a labyrinth filled with monsters supplied by the Council and successfully rescue Miss Asuka Connell from the clutches of an "evil" dragon. We ask that you all be patient while we set up this game and thank you for coming today!"

"Lucy!" a voice suddenly called. Lucy looked over her shoulder to see a worried Levy climbing down the stands to join her. She grabbed Lucy's shoulders. "Lucy, have you seen Gajeel?"

Lucy shook her head. "No," she said apologetically. "I haven't-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence before her phone buzzed. Lucy checked it and found a delayed message from Yukino that had been sent nearly three hours before.

Have you seen Sting or Rogue? We can't find them!

Lucy yanked her upper body around and searched the Fairy Tail area for Natsu and Wendy, her heart swelling with worry for them. "The dragon slayers," she realized. "All of them are-"

The ground trembled beneath them. Everyone paused to look at the arena as the floor of it suddenly opened. Beneath them, giant machines worked to allow a massive tower to rise. Lucy's head, alongside everyone else's, tilted backwards as it got higher and higher until it was hundreds of feet in the air. A second platform rose with a wild labyrinth rising. Lucy caught sight of something metallic prowling through the leaves, rumbling.

"Lucy!" Levy suddenly cried, pointing.

Five platforms had seemed to extend out of the side of the tower. They all stared at the screens that showed as hundreds of feet up, a person stepped onto each platform.

"You've got to be kidding me," Cobra said, jaw dropping open.

"Come at me!" Natsu bellowed, letting loose a blast of fire from where he stood on his own platform. He grinned mockingly, exchanging a look with Gajeel, who stood on the platform not too far from his. Gajeel snickered, slamming a fist into his open palm. Wendy gave a huge smile, looking pleased at the fact that she was so high in the air. Sting seemed just as excited as Natsu as he shifted his weight back and forth with impatience and Rogue looked curiously down beneath them at the stadium itself.

"Did I mention that our "evil dragon" happens to be the five dragons of the Fairy Tail and Sabertooth guilds?"

"I'm going to kill him," Levy seethed, hands on her hips.

"How come I don't get to be up there?" Cobra made a sound that was akin to a whine. "I want to be up there!"

"I guess technically you aren't recognized as a dragon to them?" Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "And I don't think a lot of guilds recognize you as a member of ours, to be honest. Even with your name being mostly cleared...you upset a lot of people, Cobra."

He only pouted.

"They won't be going easy on their own mages. Have no fears, contestants. It'll be equally as difficult for everyone. Should they be caught letting their guild member pass through, they will be disqualified from the entire Grand Magic Games."

"I can't believe he didn't tell me," Levy sighed.

"It's okay," Lucy murmured, chewing on her lip. No wonder Happy had run off to who knows where. "Natsu didn't tell me either."

When everything was set up, the game began.

"And we're off!" the announcer shouted.

Lucy took notice of the screens. Each contestant had been given their own panel. Another screen had been set aside for Asuka and the five sitting with her. Bisca was settled in a far corner, watching with amusement.

She felt hurt over the lack of being informed on this development and wondered when Natsu had been approached about it. Levy had been relieved and understanding when a text from Gajeel had finally come through, explaining that he'd been caught by an official and asked to participate. But nothing came through for her and Lucy supposed Natsu was still irritable over their argument.

Cobra kept giving her bothered looks. "Stop moping," he growled, rolling her eyes.

"Stop being a jerk," she retorted grouchily.

"I'll stop being rude to the lady who took out my eye when she looks like I do."

"Don't make me take your other eye out, Cobra."

"Try me, Blondie. Freaking try me."

"No, thanks. You're probably disgusting."

He gave a horrified sound. "What are you? A cannibal?"

Lucy only rolled her eyes and nodded at the screens when the crowd began to chatter excitedly.

Mermaid Heel's mage had come across one of the "monsters" in the center of the labyrinth.

"What is that?" Levy demanded.

It was like some giant hybrid cat that towered above the woman. Massive talons scored the earth as it screamed. The woman's face went white as she stared up at it.

Lucy grimaced as the fight began and checked on Mirajane and Laxus. The two were sticking close, naturally. As S-Class mages, both hadn't had any problems just yet. Mirajane was working hard to keep up in Jellal's place, using her magic for the first time since Tenrou Island. Her body was covered in a skin-tight one-piece. Wings and a demonic tail sprang from her back, and her hair stood on end in the electricity crackling off of Laxus.

They made their way through the labyrinth, meeting various dead ends and trekking back. The worked silently and perfectly together and Lucy didn't envy the people that went up against them when they took work together.

"Go Laxus!" Bickslow called behind her in the stands. He laughed when Freed shushed him and ordered him to sit down. Evergreen looked amused with her friends as Freed began to scold him.

It was to all of their surprise when Lamia Scale reached the tower first.

Lyon had been chosen to participate in the game that day. And he circled the base of the tower with a cautious expression, eyes darting this way and that as he carefully decided what to do from here on.

"No doorways," Levy commented, puzzle solving.

"He's going to have to figure out how to get up there," Lucy agreed.

It turned out to be no problem for him.

Much like Gray had done previously, Lyon used his magic to help him. He got to the platforms in minutes, feet hitting the surface. His eyes narrowed as he studied the doorway before him. Lucy's gaze darted to the screens in time to see Sting climbing to his feet, a grin on his face as he said, "Care to join me, Wendy?"

"Okay," she agreed, skipping towards the door with him.

Lucy watched as Sting and Wendy took only moments to blow Lyon over the side.

From where he'd come to sit nearby, Gray laughed. "Look at his face!" he cackled.

Sting peered down over the side of the tower. "Hey, Natsu, Gajeel!" he called over his shoulder. "Laxus and Mirajane are here!"

Sure enough, the Fairy Tail mages had arrived. Natsu abandoned what he was doing to come and look down a cackle leaving his lips. "C'mon, Gajeel, let's fight 'em!"

"I'm going inside!" Wendy squeaked.

The ever proud Sting looked down at Mirajane and shot after her. "I may be a guildmaster, but she could kick my ass," he informed Gajeel on his way inside. Gajeel snorted and slammed his fists together, snickering.

"Ready, Salamander?" he mocked.

"Hell yeah," Natsu growled, smoke leaving his nostrils.

Mirajane sprung into the air, the wings at her back beating to lift her. Laxus disappeared, turning into a streak of lightning and reappearing seconds later on the platform in front of Gajeel.

Gajeel sucked in a breath and then bellowed out an Iron Dragon's Roar. Shrapnel caught Laxus by surprise, neither of the two men having ever so much as sparred to prepare them for this. Gajeel grinned and pushed forward despite the lightning that cackled around him. His face glowed as Natsu let out a blast of flames in Mirajane's direction.

"Yum," she hummed, smirking at Natsu as they washed over her.

"I've made a mistake," Natsu whispered. He shouted for Sting to come back out but Sting wisely had decided to play with Asuka so Rogue rolled his eyes and ducked outside. One step let him drop into Natsu's shadow and together, they began to fight to drive Mirajane back.

Wendy reluctantly joined Gajeel against Laxus, which turned out to be something that was to the dragons' advantage. Laxus side-stepped around her, trying to not fight against her even as she let loose blasts of wind that nearly sent him right over the side of the tower.

"Ha!" Gajeel snarled proudly when Laxus tipped over the side. Laxus scowled and disappeared, reappearing safely below a few feet away from a scowling Lyon. Both stared up at the tower, neither having expected to end up down there.

It wasn't long before Mirajane reappeared beneath the tower alongside them.

Natsu threw his hands in the air, roaring a blast of flames in triumph and the crowd laughed. Lucy wrapped her arms around herself, noting that he'd worn the gloves she'd given him.

"Another thing we failed to mention...each dragon has been given something that was created by the Council to temporarily increase their magic levels to those of actual dragons! Or so we think. No one's really seen a dragon. The Council apologizes if they've offended them."

Natsu's face was alight with pride on the screen and Lucy sighed softly.

Idiot.

[rouge-fox-expanded]

Muse Post #2

All this is copied directly from my OC pages, apparently some users can’t get to these pages so I am making a post. In short: Tumblr be daft, so I’m doing this

Psychic: Protector of the Universe

(Art once again by the amazing Traumwelt, see here: http://nwitchgun.deviantart.com/)

Psychological Profile

Name: Psychic (birth name: unknown)

Alter ego: Mono-identity

Age: Physically late twenties, chronologically at least eight hundred years’ old

Nationality: Japanese (country of birth)

Eye colour: Deep Purple  

Personality Info

Psychic is an alien-human hybrid, the result of the union between the homo-Psychoid woman known as Sabrina Walker and the Lupos-Cosmaine humanoid male whom went by the Codename Psycho-Wolf. He was raised by his parents, his human grandfather Kai Walker and shared an upbringing with other homo-Psychoid youth at the Walker-Haven Orphanage in Tokyo Japan. Presently (and sometimes in the past and present) Psychic is a warrior who leads a special force unit consisting of himself, a Cosmaine humanoid male Vladimir Drake Ragun, a Primal Psychoid humanoid female Melanie Walker, his homoPsychoid grandfather Kai Walker and his fiancé Jun Tenshi also human. They travel in a Lupos Temporal Crusader vessel, Lunar Wolf, seeking out Temporal and Spatial anomalies and threats which could cause universal level threats and seek to neutralise them and safeguard all life in the universe.  

Psychic is a very calm figure, but not in a laidback manner in which we see from Jack Dahl aka Fox. Psychic’s manner is cold, stern and appears outwardly emotionless. He is noted to always have a serious demeanour, he never jokes and almost never smiles. Psychic however has an authoritative presence which comes from centuries of experience and understanding, even without his powers he can tell what kind of people he is dealing with almost at a glance and is able to distinguish between those whom would serve as an ally and those whom have opposing ambitions. In battle he is remorselessly efficient, both in his warrior stance and the use of his vast Psychoid abilities which include but not limited to:  

Psycho-elementis (in which he has been able to manipulate fire, electricity, earth and even the wind)

Temporal-kinesis (the manipulation of the flow of time)

Spatial Manipulation (his control over gravity has even enabled him to fly much like superman)

Telekinesis (One of such instances involves Psychic going as Fox calls it ‘Darth Vader’)

Telepathy

Astral Projection

Teleportation

Mental Suggestion (Fox has dubbed this Jedi mind trick)

Accelerated healing

On first glance one would think this alien super being would be on par with Superman, however this Psychoid prime suffers from all the weaknesses the homo-Psychoids have demonstrated and this doesn’t touch upon his own fragile mentality which is carefully concealed by his serious and no nonsense exterior.  

Psychological Info

Psychic comes from a species whom reportedly mate for life, the Lupos would single out one other being (not always of their own kind) with whom they felt a deep romantic and spiritual bond with and would only ever see that being in a physically and romantically attractive way. Because of this Psychic can be labelled Demi-Sexual as he is only physically and romantically attracted to Jun (whom seems to share this perspective) which also shows he is emotionally dependant on his fiancé. Growing up Psychic was surrounded by likeminded and likewise gifted children whom could understand the trials of being a Psychoid. However, Psychic is not like the homo-Psychoids on earth or the primal Psychoids from the planet Mylonis, he has been classified as Psychoid Prime meaning he is potentially a perfect psychokinetic being whom once fully developed could potentially be a universe altering being, able to control the very fabric of time and space like a god. But as a child Psychic has these powers and little idea how to control them, and so he has a history of emotional psychokinetic episodes in which moments of high stress, fear and anxiety has led to his powers going beyond his control and causing massive collateral damage. Perhaps because of this Psychic is emotionally retentive, feeling he must conceal and control these volatile feelings so as not to harm those he cares about.  

Like the homo-Psychoids his powers are not a sign of strength but sensitivity, despite his own formidable physical strength his own mental vulnerability is what allows him to access these powers. As such these powers cause the homo-Psychoids pain, in the case of telepaths they hear the thoughts of everyone who passes them by and it’s not like hearing something through headphones but like a voice speaking inside your head often at high volume. One voice hurts but imagine being in a crowd and hearing upwards of twenty voices at the same time, that is agony. Also when using powers such as Psycho-elementis you feel your body act in accordance to what you are doing, i.e. summoning psycho-fire you can feel the blood burn in your veins as you apparate it from your hands. It hurts a homo-Psychoid to use these abilities, and in the case of Psychic whom is Psychoid-Prime he lives his life in almost constant pain. This adds another level of dependency towards Jun Tenshi whom is the only leading medical and scientific figure on the homo-Psychoid front, she is the one whom developed the medicine known as white Psychoid which acts as a numbing agent which soothes the patient’s sensitivity and neutralises the pain and by extent puts a dampener on their psychic abilities. Psychic needs Jun to medicate him day to day, because it can’t do it himself anymore.  

Psychic as a warrior has killed before, and will kill again. Despite his own moral judgement and reserving such a permanent act as a final resort he does so without hesitation and the same remorseless efficiency he fights all his enemies, however these actions have a profound effect on him. Whenever he slays an opponent he can hear their last thoughts before they pass. There is an incident known as the Point of Genesis, where in order to stop a Universal Genocide Event Psychic had to commit a genocidal act himself and destroyed the Planetary System known as Tempest Row killing upwards of six billion people and he heard all of their dying thoughts drill into his mind before a deafening and horrible silence. This coupled with the trauma of seeing his parents die on this mission had thrown Psychic into a state of emotional, mental and physical disarray and he became wholly dependent on Jun. Before this Psychic had been taught how to medicate himself with White Psychoid but after the Point of Genesis he began taking more and more of the drug, beyond his prescribed dosage until he overdosed and went completely numb. He was unable to feel anything, nothing physical or even emotional and this very well almost lead to his death. This case of substance abuse is why he cannot trust himself and is thus dependant on Jun for medical care as well as emotional care, because on his own he is a wreck.  

Psychic has a good relationship with his team, Vlad and Mel both respect and adore him and his relationship with his grandfather is one of love and understanding. Despite his cold front he makes it as clear as he can that he cares for them all very much, even if he cannot show it as he thinks he should. He holds their complete trust and he in turn doesn’t keep anything from them, in fact Psychic almost never lies in general. This isn’t to say he doesn’t withhold information from his team or even from Jun but he doesn’t lie about it, he just says often rather bluntly ‘That’s information I don’t wish to share as of now’. Trust is something Psychic values very deeply and is something he doesn’t give lightly, probably because he can often hear people’s true voices as it drills into his mind so he knows automatically whom he can work with on meeting them. Familiar attachments are something Psychic both needs and yet avoids, it disturbs him somewhat that Melanie and Vlad see him as an older brother which ties into a deep seated sense of Parental insecurity. Psychic respected and worshipped his father and held his mother as a paragon of compassionate love and in his own mind he cannot measure up to their standards, which is unwittingly confirmed by Kai whom clings to the memories of his daughter and son-in-law with single minded adoration.  

Conclusion

Psychic is a cunning, wise and formidable warrior but despite his skill and amazing power he is anything but invulnerable. In fact, he is vulnerable because of his powers, they are so volatile that even his emotions can cause him to lose control so much that he is forced to adopt an emotionless front. His innate sensitivity and his ever developing powers leave him in a state of constant physical pain, and the trauma of his past actions and the loss of family and friends whom he loved and saw as important structures of his wellbeing cause him near constant emotional pain leaving him almost wholly dependent on Jun and his remaining family. His desire to not feel pain has left him open to drug abuse which ironically has put him in his most vulnerable state to date, meaning unlike heroes such as Russell and Fox (despite being monophobic) he cannot operate on his own. He NEEDS his friends and family, they keep him safe and they keep him good.

Family/Relationships

Art by the amazing @hyperchronic

Melanie ‘Mel’ Walker (Adopted Sister)

Vladimir 'Vlad’ Drake Ragun (Adopted brother)

Kai Walker (Grandfather from mother’s side)

Jun Tenshi (Fiance/Wife)

Shipping

Psychic is demi-sexual and romantically shipped EXCLUSIVELY with his fiance/wife Jun Tenshi. He is able to play the sibling, mentor and paternal figure but he is romantically unavailable (Non-negotiable!)

Role-Play Relationships

(To be amended)

[crazy4tank]

Could The Next Dodge Challenger Be Electric??

New Post has been published on https://coolcarsnews.com/could-the-next-dodge-challenger-be-electric/

Could The Next Dodge Challenger Be Electric??

By Dave Ashton

The Dodge Opposition has been flying the banner for the muscle car a lot of a year now. More popular than ever before it sold 66, 716 models in 2018, great the platform is due for an revise, probably around the mid 2020s. As part of the new design of automobiles they may even be a crossbreed version.

Since reported by the Detroit Information in an interview with TOP DOG Mike Manley, it was mentioned that the new platform may incorporate lightweight technologies, offering scope for an electric design. The likelihood is that a 2L 4cyl engine would be used together with an electric powertrain. The electric powered model would probably slot in to the lineup around the base versions at a similar pricing.

Bob Gritzinger, steam analyst for Ward’ s i9000 Intelligence proposed that a twin-turbo V6 would most likely become mated to an electric engine.

Mike Manley went on to say, ‘ The truth is those platforms and that technologies we used does need to maneuver on. They can’ big t exist as you get into the particular middle-2020s, ’ ‘ New-technology is going to drive a load associated with weight out, so we may think of the powertrains in another way. And we can use electrification to actually supplement those vehicles. ’ ‘ Electrification will certainly participate the formula that states what is American muscle later on. ’

Among the standout statements giving the hint of the future, ‘ I believe that electrification will certainly participate the formula that states what is American muscle later on, ’ said Manley.

Electric variations are coming and from all of the big three makers. Kia are planning an electric SUV as well as a possible hybrid for the Mustang. The Corvette will get a mid-engined hybrid ‘ Zora’ probably producing up to a 1, 1000 horsepower.

Nevertheless , the good news for muscle vehicle purists is that a fully electric powered muscle car from Avoid is probably a long way off. Manley further says, ‘ electrification can’t be the dominant component (of a muscle car). Electrification deployed to increase the particular performance of the vehicle as the primary goal – using the added benefits of fuel economic climate – is very different, rather than the other way around. ’

Kelley Glowing blue Book’ s Karl Brauer also commented on the upcoming of electrification of muscles cars stating, ‘ There’ s a long-standing guideline about what constitutes American muscle tissue, but electrification is not section of it, ” he stated. “ I need something that will get my blood pumping. ’

Lessons come from yesteryear when Chrysler CEO Shelter Iacocca of the late 70’ s moved the great V8 to front wd V6 variations, losing grip in sales until 4 decades later when the V8 has become more popular than ever. In other words, the particular powers that be are very well aware what makes an American muscle tissue car and although electrical powertrains are coming, they will won’ t take over the entire muscle car line up.

It’ s crystal clear that the mighty V8 will not be phased out any time soon, yet hybrids are definitely on the horizon in a single shape or form.

Original source – Detroit News

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