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earth-93 · 2 years ago

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EARTH-93: FANTASTIC FOUR (PITCH JOURNAL)

While studying the mysteries of the universe, scientist Reed Richards and his closest friends and loved ones were bombarded by unknown cosmic forces. Each imbued with extraordinary powers, the four resolved to work together to help humankind and explore the furthest reaches of reality. On that day, their lives were changed forever as they became...the Fantastic Four!

THE TEAM

MISTER FANTASTIC

Born an African of Asian descent, Reed was displaced from his birth parents and and adopted by two esteemed English scientists. The Richards nurtured their son and his aptitude for science at a young age, even when their jobs preoccupied them from being able to give proper attention to Reed. Years later, Reed would recognize himself as having ASD, but as a child took to conditions such as Boy Scouts and tutoring as a means to socialize with his peers, with mixed results. In spite of his interpersonal struggles, Reed has always been perceptive and emotionally intelligent, which is what allowed him to identify a shape-shifting imposter as being his father when no one else recognized the deception.

By the time he was twenty, Reed had racked up multiple degrees and the world was his oyster, but his aspirations were derailed when his father Nathaniel vanished from thin air during an experiment to harness dark energy. Reed worked tirelessly to recreate the dark energy experiment, convinced that Nathaniel did not in fact perish. Reed established his laboratory, Fantastic Solutions, in the penthouse suite of the Baxter Building, leased out to him by a family friend. Reed took commissions, did consultant work, but all of it was done in service to recreate the experiment.

Strapped for time and resources, Reed went ahead with it after brief testing, only for it all to fall apart all over again. Reed and three others were bombarded by dark energy and had their bodies mutated, much to Reed's shame. He locked himself in his lab and slaved away at finding a solution, so shacked with guilt and narrow thinking that he was unobservant to the strife being felt by those he was trying to help. When circumstances put those very people under threat, Reed was able to step out of his bubble and help them, and through those strengthened bonds was finally able to let go of the past and look to the future with the help of his newfound family.

Reed is one of the smartest humans alive, and the only thing that exceeds his brilliance is his zeal to make the world better. As a displaced child adopted into great affluence, Reed is well aware how different his life could have been and wants to bridge the gap of resources to those less fortunate than himself. This brings a side-effect of stretching himself too thin, for while Reed is a diligent multitasker his dealings with stress and burden greatly holds him back. Being on the spectrum, Reed is far more emotionally intelligent than one would assume at first glance. His difficulty comes more in expressing himself and his own needs, which he routinely and to a fault puts aside for others. When he is left alone, Reed can fall into a rut. Narrow his vision and box himself in. Sue, Ben and Johnny keeps Reed stimulated, makes him more cognizant, allows him to be his best self. Though he is commonly mistaken as being the leader of the Four, he is inarguably the brains of the operation, and through their support and familial camaraderie, Fantastic Solutions has gotten back on track to paving the way for the future as Reed had always envisioned.

INVISIBLE WOMAN

Sue Storm was born to a rocket engineer and a movie executive. Her playacting as a child and her mother's connections led to Sue landing a role in the "Wolfe Cubs" variety show. As she got older, Sue became disillusioned with Hollywood, especially as her home life grew more and more erratic. Having been astoundingly brilliant since she was young, Sue had aspirations to begin college early, but following her father's arrest for perjury, her mother cajoled Sue into reuniting with her Cubs cast members for the teen drama "Young Romance." The series became a hit, and Sue saved her money wisely. The moment her contract expired, Sue signed off her residuals to the series over to her mother, letting her know it should be more than enough to support herself and her little brother as she finally stepped away from acting.

Sue moved to the east coast, where she began to study to become a doctor and biologist. Sue found a best friend in young artist Alicia Masters and a mentor in the aloof Julius Burchill. Sue repeatedly dodged Burchill's offers to work for him until she completed her doctorate, but she did take up a recommendation for a consultancy job in New York. Sue had briefly met the son of Nathaniel Richards when she participated in the Tomorrow Academy think tank in her preteens, but never kept in touch. Sue was impressed by Reed's brilliance, but truly became enamored by his sheer passion and utter sincerity, having been surrounded for so long by schemers and frauds. When her brother fell into trouble with the law and Reed made accomodations for Johnny to stay with them in the Baxter Building until her could get sorted out without a second thought, it was them that Sue knew she wanted to spend her life with him.

In lieu of his exhaustive research and planning, Reed reciprocated Sue's feelings, and for a few months the future seemed bright for the young couple—then tragedy struck. Sue was able to compose herself and gain control of her newfound powers among the four affected, and she helped to jostle Reed out of the catatonic state he remained in following the incident. Sue struggled to keep Johnny and Ben in check, all the while Reed stowed himself away in his lab. Burchill reentered Sue's life and once more made his offer, and in her distress Sue briefly considered accepting. However, when Sue discovered Burchill was covertly exacerbating the group's dysfunction, she stood by them and with it they overcame their problems. Reed would shortly pop the question to Sue, but before she could answer, she found herself rushing to the bathroom to throw up.

Sue has worn many faces, many roles she has played and most of which were forced upon her. There was a time where she would love nothing more but to vanish and wall herself off from the world, but instead she presses forward, becoming her best self and encouraging those around her to do the same. Sue is conflicted by the celebrity thrust upon her as a superhero, a public perception she hoped to leave behind with her past as a child star. Sue nonetheless wields that celebrity masterfully, and through it has become the de facto leader of the first family of modern superheroes. She is the force that keeps the rest of the team's assortment of personalities in check, but never hesitates to stand up for herself and put any of them to task. She was briefly intimidated with her and Reed's unplanned pregnancy, but after a visit to Latveria to treat her complications, she left more emboldened than ever at the prospect of motherhood.

HUMAN TORCH

Unlike his sister, Johnny Storm never saw his parents as anything but dysfunctional, and though he shares Sue's disdainful feelings toward their mother, Johnny continues to hold out on their father Franklin. Additionally, while Sue worked to wash her hands of Hollywood and the superficiality of celebrity, Johnny took to it like a sponge. Lacking his sister's acting talent, Johnny's fame was more exclusively tabloid fodder, bouncing around relationships with rising stars and getting into illegal street racing. After one such race led to extensive property damage and put Johnny in a bad spot, conditions were arranged where Sue arranged guardianship of him away from their mother and Johnny was put under house arrest in the Baxter Building.

Johnny started out profoundly bored by his newfound surroundings, wholly uninterested at the developments coming in and out of Fantastic Solutions. That is, until he came upon Reed's blueprints to a hovercraft. Sue chastised Johnny at first for interfering with Reed's notes, but Reed himself was appreciative of the modifications to his original "flying bathtub" (As Johnny put it) design. Johnny thought his sister's BF was fun enough, but when he accidentally came upon a ring and Sue's intentions to propose, suddenly he felt the need to object. He was baffled as to how Sue could think marriage could ever be a good idea, after what they grew up around. Hurt, Sue bluntly responded that if Johnny didn't want a part in the life she wanted to start with Reed, there was nothing stopping him. Feeling guilty for how he blew up at Sue, Johnny stuck around—which put him in blasting range when Reed's experiment went awry.

Once his shock settled down and he realized his flames didn't actually affect him, Johnny was in fact elated with his superpowers. He thought this could finally be his big break, his claim to fame he had been looking for, and thus took it quite poorly once Reed and his handlers quarantined the four of them in the Baxter Building. After a few days feeling cooped up, Johnny bucked that order and took to the skies to blow off some steam, which caught the eye of a certain homeless derelict which lead to the 4's first public appearance. At a point where the group felt the most fractured, it was Johnny who approached Reed, holed up in his lab, and reminded him how much Sue meant to him, and him to her. Through it, Johnny confronted the fear that his sister could be starting a family without him. To his relief, he was included in that new family.

Johnny is a young firebrand with something to prove, though what it is he actually wants to prove, he's not sure of. Johnny's a thrill seeker, but the more he's maturing the more cautious he is about innocents getting in the way of his stunts. Though his reputation as a trouble-maker isn't invalid, his acting out largely comes from a frustration that anything he's ever tried doing in earnest never seemed to be good enough. Under Reed's roof, Johnny has found a place of support and nurturing he couldn't depend on before. His passion for customization, thought by his mother as a frivolous hobby, is encouraged. He has a lot to learn, but is right behind Sue at being able to navigate the treacherous waters of celebrity. Johnny's not quite sure what he wants to do with his life, but being in a world-famous team of heroes and adventurers isn't a half-bad place to be while he figures it out.

THE THING

Born on the rough streets of the Lower East Side, Ben Grimm grew up idolizing his big brother Danny, who took to street crime to support Ben and himself. Ben wanted nothing more in life but to be like Danny, and though Danny himself objected, Ben was admitted into the Yancy Street Gang for his tall build and blind devotion. When Danny got killed in a scuffle, Ben took it exceptionally hard, and in his anguish drew his fist against a cop. While Ben was detained by the police, calls to his alcoholic father went unanswered, and eventually reached out to Ben's estranged Uncle Jake. Becoming Ben's new guardian was not a difficult process, and though the young man was a recluse at first, Jake and his wife Alyce eventually got Ben to come to the temple with them. Ben's father did not raise him under the family faith, and the experience instilled in Ben a spiritual fulfillment that compelled him to become his best self.

Needing help to catch up with his missed schooling, Ben met up with Reed, who was in New York at the time and was still offering his tutoring services. The two became fast friends in spite of being so different. At one point, Ben asked if Reed was building spaceships, and when Reed said commercial spaceflight was one of his potential enterprises, Ben jokingly said he would be Reed's pilot. In truth, Ben yearned to reach the stars, enlisting in the Air Force and steadily racking up flight hours. He had a chance to participate in an experimental test flight, but had to cancel when his father's death forced him to get his family affairs in order. Ben would fall back into Reed's circle as the military liaison while Reed was taking commission work for SHIELD, and he became a welcomed fixture of the lab. It was Ben's observation and encouragement that got Sue and Reed together, and though he had a short fuse with Johnny's pranks, Ben could tell he wasn't a bad kid.

After the accident, Ben took the aftermath the worst out of all of them. Mutated far beyond what anyone would still refer to as human, effectively benched for life in ever making it to space, and when his girlfriend Linda came in to see Ben, she turned and fled almost instantly. Though his mobility and reflexes improved, his depression only worsened. Emotionally, Ben was disgruntled at best and furious at worst. When a creature fitting Ben's description was reported as causing a ruckus on Yancy Street, Ben lashed out at Reed when he confronted him about it for even making the accusation. His rage was only tempered by Sue's desperate pleas, to which Ben deflated and walked away. Ben was ashamed not at what he had become, but what he had allowed himself to regress back into. After a visit to the temple and an encounter with a blind woman who could see through to the real him, Ben's zest for life was restored. The next time the imposter came down to Yancy Street to cause trouble, Ben stomped down to prove himself innocent. To his delighted surprise, the other three had his back.

Ben has never been one for limitations or getting slowed down. His troubled past and his bleeding heart can sometimes sink him into a stupor, but for the most part Ben exhibits am infectious zest for living that cannot be contained or held back. Well before he became big and orange, Ben was known as "the Brick Wall." He's undeniably tough and loves a good fight, but Ben's a softie at his core. That in itself is his strength, not his weakness, as Ben is the rock that the rest of the 4 can rely on. Johnny's antics can bring Ben to his wits end, but he knows all too well what it's like to be an angry young man coming up from a bad home. Likewise, Sue is like a little sister to Ben, but he's smart enough to not underestimate her, much less question her judgment. And though Reed holds guilt over what happened to Ben, when it comes down to it being his friend has exposed Ben to more fantastical things he could only ever have dreamed of. Not to mention, being in his circle helped him to meet the girl who just might be the one for him.

THE FRIENDS

ALICIA MASTERS

Alicia's childhood was fraught with manipulation and deceit, but rather than allow her experience to harden her to the world, she insists on seeing through to the goodness of people. It was helped her and Sue to become such close and fast friends, and made her an invaluable source to unearth who and what had been impersonating Ben roughing up Yancy Street. That in itself made Alicia curious about the man himself. She did not see Ben for the monster he claimed to have become, and she could feel his pain even through his tough, thick skin. With the heartbreak of his fiance leaving him still so fresh, Ben is not especially emotionally available, but he and Alicia slowly get to know each other as circumstances keep her in the orbit of her and the 4, especially when her mad scientist stepfather menaces them both.

ADAM BRASHEAR

A phenomenally brilliant scientist, Adam worked extensively alongside Reed's father. He personally objected to Nathaniel's dark energy experiments, but was supportive of not cautious of Reed's efforts to replicate the experiment. It was Adam of whom Reed loaned out the Baxter Building to, eventually letting him purchase the property outright once the 4 blew up in prominence. Today, Adam runs and operates the Project Pegasus facility, researching and developing alternative means of energy. Adam's experience as a futurist and family man both inspires and gives Reed caution as he finds himself becoming a family man, and in turn Reed's youthful idealism helps to soften the doubt and wariness that has lingered over Adam for some time. By the time both the 4 and the Avengers get tangled up in the Kree/Skrull conflict, Adam gives Reed assurance that the Earth will be in good hands in their absence.

CRYSTAL

Out of Brazil comes a hot new superheroine dubbed "Elementelle," one whose powers very quickly draw comparisons to the Human Torch. Johnny became interested, and though his initial overtures flopped, he and this new heroine, Crystal, quickly entered a hot and heavy romance. Johnny falls hard for Crystal, feeling she is among the few people who can understand what he's going through. Like Johnny, Crystal is a open superhuman, can be a reckless adrenaline junkie, and is working through a bad childhood. In Crystal's case, however, it's more than she can't even recall her childhood. By wild happenstance, Crystal ended up being the final piece to an ongoing mystery the 4 had been investigating. She was not only the long-lost sister to the recurring for Medusa, and both siblings were royal members of the secluded society of Inhumans. Crystal becomes a proper member of the 4 after Sue requires time off in the final stages of her pregnancy, but she and Johnny slowly begin to drift apart as her duties as a princess take precedent to any affairs she still has on Earth.

ALYSSA MOY

A bombastic archeologist and former flame of Reed. The two worked together under Harley Elder in his ongoing study of a supposed secret advanced civilization, lost between the annals of history. She and Reed had a whirlwind romance during this time, but Alyssa lived at a frenetic pace that Reed found exhausting to keep up with, and following Elder's apparent death the two broke things off. After volunteering to help Alyssa excavate "The Great Chasm" in the Himalayas, the 4 inadvertently awaken a Kree Sentry, which begins their battle with aliens. Alyssa continued to be an intermittent ally to the 4, but her willingness to jeopardize others for the sake of discovery, a major factor in Reed breaking up with her, leads to her being dropped as a consultant.

WALTER LAWSON

A physicist and engineer who has worked with both Brashear and Reed in their respective work into energy and spaceflight. When the 4 encounter what looks to be a giant robot in what was thought to be the site of an ancient civilization, Reed has insight that connects two dots together. He takes the team to Lawson's place of work in Cape Canaveral, where they find an identical robot that crashed in Roswell, New Mexico (An additional layer of drama is the discovery that Carol Danvers, the chief of security at Canaveral, is Ben's old flame). When the owners of both robots arrive to reclaim their property, Lawson is forced to reveal that he is among them: Mar-Vell, a scientist and soldier for the Kree Empire. As his people begin to plot against the Earth, Mar-Vell seeks to help as he feels is the best way he can: By becoming a superhero. The 4 make an uneasy alliance with Mar-Vell, wary of the deception he has done and his history with the Kree, but conceding to the knowledge to a threat the rest of them are going on blind with.

WYATT WINGFOOT

A couple years into the 4's formation, Johnny decides to finally try being an adult and enrolls in college. There, he makes an unlikely friend in campus quarterback Wyatt. At first glance, Wyatt's stoic, no-nonsense demeanor would make him a wet blanket to Johnny's party boy attitude. But, as a college student, Johnny for once actually wants to attempt a low profile, which Wyatt is the only one at first who respects that. Wyatt's diligence and inability to let others meddle with him are admirable traits to the hot-headed Johnny. In turn, Johnny helps Wyatt to not play it so safe all the time, to get a taste of the life of travel he always privately yearned for. What's more, Wyatt's connection and reverence to his tribe back home in Oklahoma incentivises Johnny to look into his own Native heritage. When Johnny starts to bring Wyatt around the Baxter Building, he very quickly enters the good graces of the rest of the team. Especially Ben, whom Wyatt requests that he personally traits him in his piloting skills.

T'CHALLA

Going by the name "Luke Charles" when they first met as students in the Tomorrow Academy, T'Challa was Sue's first crush and even first kiss. He would reenter Sue's life as T'Challa, the prince to the African nation of Wakanda. Having been recently exiled, T'Challa turns to Sue and the rest of the 4, seeking aid to stop his country and its precious resources from falling into the wrong hands. Afterwards, T'Challa remains an invaluable ally to the 4 in their mutual desire to bring progress and innovation to the world.

AGATHA HARKNESS

A former child psychologist who oversaw Sue and the other young geniuses in the Tomorrow Academy. Agatha was brought in by Sue to be a nanny for Franklin once she and Reed's work kept them preoccupied. When the 4 begin to experience phenomena that cannot be explained through science, Agatha becomes the unlikely expert to guide them through the supernatural.

WILLIE LUMPKIN

A family friend of the Storms, "Uncle Willie" took up public relations work for the 4 after firing their initial manager, Bentley Wittman. He loves sorting through the team's fanmail.

FRANKLIN RICHARDS

Reed and Sue's young son. He will play a minimal role, until the planet is brought to the brink by Galactus. Then, Franklin's own powers brought about by the dark energy imbued in his parents will become the key to repelling the cosmic devourer.

THE VILLAINS

DOCTOR DOOM

Born in Romanian-occupied Latveria, Victor Dohmen was torn from his parents over the country's anti-Romani policies, spending his earliest years in a government child rearing system to bring him up as a Romanian, not Latverian or Romani. Pushed to her limit, Victor's mother Cynthia made a pact with a demon to find the strength to get her son back, only for such a bargain to end in horrific violence and Cynthia becoming indentured to her dark consignee. Victor's father Werner fought, struggled, and ultimately failed and died to protect his son. All this tragedy at such a young age had Victor's heart grow cold, but also his wits to grow sharp and his convictions resolute.

In spite of his hardships and the low resources living among his mother's clan, Victor displayed a remarkable aptitude in mathematics and technology, so much so that his handiwork managed to catch the attention of one Howard Stark, drafting up weapons contracts in the neighboring country of Symkaria. Victor agreed to Stark's offer to study to be a proper scientist in New York, believing he could put that bloated American capital to his and his people's benefit. Victor did little socializing within the Tomorrow Academy, but did agree to be mentored by Nathaniel Richards and collaborate with his son of Victor's age. He believed the Richards' dabbling in dark energy would reveal the secret in bringing his mother back from the other side. Victor was certain, tucked away in the secrets of the universe was what humanity recognized to be Hell. However, after a last-minute recalculation of the experiment, it all blew up in their faces—in Victor's case, quite literally.

Victor would vanish for over a half-decade following the accident in New York. By the time he reappeared, it was back in his native Latveria, by then free from Communism but swiftly falling within the grip of an oppressive monarch. In the time since the accident, Victor had become a new man in every sense of the word. A cyborg outfitted in an exo-suit endowed with mystical enchantments, adorned in a green hooded cloak and sealing away his supposedly scarred face behind fearsome metallic skull-mask. Rechristening himself as Victor Von Doom, literally proclaiming himself as a "Champion of Catastrophe" he led his people through a technological revolution that overthrew their brutal ruler, only for Doom to take his place.

Through the trauma of his family being destroyed and his own childhood briefly controlled by the state, Doom views himself as a staunch individualist. Literally reshaping himself by his precise design, as aggrandized of a persona as that may be. By his hand, he has made Latveria a rich nation where his people want for nothing, but such luxury comes in exchange with complete and total subjugation. In his greater ambitions of leadership, Doom shall expect similar compliance. Doom has exhibited a mastery in both science and sorcery, but unlike his contemporaries such as Reed or Doctor Strange, Doom uses his skills as either a weapon against his enemies or to indebt the same enemies to him, best exemplified by Doom's perfected harnessing of dark energy. Even when the entire world is pushed to the absolute brink, Doom refuses to lend his resources without a further consolidation of his power. Over the years, Doom has become obsessed with the concept of Hell and the existence of alternate planes of reality. Doom's sanity is debatable, but his threat certainly is not.

AIM

Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM. A consortium of disgruntled scientists, frustrated by scientific progress waylaid by an emphasis on weapons and super-soldiers over the last century, convinced that they alone are best equipped to rule the world. Most members pose as loyal employees and specialists, secretly siphoning off resources and sell them to black markets to fund their operations, which include hiring mercenaries or even engineering their own super-powered muscle. Members include Burchill, the Mad Thinker, and Alicia's stepfather Phillip, the Puppet Master. After failing to recruit Reed and the 4, they next scheme to defend and discredit them. With the founding of other heroes such as Iron Man, Ant-Man and the rest of the Avengers, AIM began to lose the home field advantage. The 4 will eventually storm the Beehive, confronting the Scientist Supreme and his ultimate weapon.

NAMOR

After the war, the prince of Atlantis was dethroned and exiled from his kingdom, and spent decades roaming the streets of New York as an amnesiac. Seeing Johnny tear across the night skies rattled something in his scattered mind, and he regained a sense of self again—only partly, as Namor regressed more into the tempestuous dynamo that wrecked havoc on Manhattan seven decades prior. Namor accosts Johnny the next day, wanting a rematch with the Human Torch, and the others intervening on Johnny's behalf became the public debut of the Fantastic Four. Namor would escape his captivity within the Baxter Building during an attack and would menace the 4 afterwards, but he and the team would become unlikely allies in order to prevent a full-scale war between Atlantis and the surface world.

MOLE MAN

Harvey Reginald Elder has been put upon all his life for his physical appearance and sordid emotional difficulties. Preferring the company of books over people, Harvey's first dabblings in science were in mycology, but over time fell more into archeology, becoming obsessed with proving the existence of an advanced prehistoric civilization. That obsession ultimately sent Harvey plummeting down a crevice tucked away in a remote island northeast of Japan, where he would remain for the next twelve years. Lost within the subterranean caves and tunnels that link the Earth's interior, Harvey took to his old skills in fungus growth to survive, first mind-controlling monsters to do his bidding, then creating his own race of beings, the Moloids. In this environment, Harvey became the Mole Man. Both the 4 as well as AIM have attempted to reform Mole Man to their side, and he has remained a wild card, defiant to both parties. What is being but one man among a group, after all, compared to a king among monsters.

FRIGHTFUL FOUR

Bentley Wittman was one of the early investors of Fantastic Solutions, and cajoled his way into being the 4's PR manager. The runt of the litter to a wealthy family, Wittman is a man far more interested in the aesthetics of futurism than any actual effort towards progress, and after one too many unsavory decisions on their behalf, the 4 gave Wittman the boot. Making an alliance with AIM, Wittman was given a fancy exo-suit and a motley crew of super-powered mercenaries under contract. During an effort to deface the 4, Wittman led "Quintessence" as an alternative super-quartet, but the abrasive team energy led them to fail to become as beloved to the public, instead earning the derisive name "Frightful Four." The 4 ultimately had to intervene when their rival's dysfunction came under threat of public safety. The Frightful Four continued to exist, but often with only three members and whittled down to being enforcers to AIM, much to Wittman's frustration.

KREE/SKRULL

In their eon-spanning feud, the extraterrestrial Kree and Skrull empires have held intermittent interest with the Sol system and the planet Earth. The former most especially, as a prehistoric Earth was one of many planets where Kree scientists conducted their Genesis Project: Creating an intelligent, augmented offshoot of a planet's native species with the long-term goal of having them overtake and conquer the planet on behalf of the Kree. The Genesis Project remained a controversial undertaking among the Kree, especially as several civilizations created through it became autonomous and either self-destructed or rebelled against the Kree. The Earth offshoot of the project, the Inhumans, was held off from being purged, as overtime the Earth became a point of fixation for the Dard'van, a fanatical sect of Skrull who did not recognize the authority of the House of Dorrek, the Skrull's reigning royal family. The Dard'van were convinced that the Earth was a prophesied promised land should the House of Dorrek finally fall and the Skrull race can begin anew, relinquished from neverending warfare with the Kree.

This prophecy becomes far more amendable to all walks of Skrull once the throne world Tarnax IV became the latest feast for the planet-eater Galactus. With the House of Dorrek seemingly dead and all Skrull defenses thrown into disarray, the Dard'van became the last major opposition for the Kree, and with it sought to finally have the Inhumans fulfill their purpose and sabotage the Skull's exodus to Earth. Unfortunate for the Kree, their encounter with the Inhuman Royal Family was sabotaged by an erratic young member, causing a Sentry drone to crash down into the American Southwest and forcing the Kree to pull back and chart a new course of action. The Dard'van's hopes of safe passage into the Sol System were compromised once, having the role of Skrull leadership fully thrust upon them forcing them to brace the Kree's full menace and compromise their agenda.

Through this comes Kl'rt, a member of the elite Super Skrull's. Before the fall of Tarnax IV, Kl'rt's reputation was sullied by a war campaign gone disastrously wrong, but where most Skrulls found loss and tragedy after the fall of the throne world, Kl'rt found opportunity. He made his way into the good graces of Verenke, Dard'van priestess turned empress, and he played mediator, enforcer and agitator on all sides in order to steer what he believes will sustain his splintered people. As Earth appeared to about to discover the secret to interstellar travel, Kl'rt volunteered to intervene. Initially attempting to infiltrate the 4, impersonating the Storm's estranged father Franklin, Kl'rt then schemed to sabotage the Kree's greatest gambit in the Inhumans, coaxing their unstable new leader Maximus. Through both this and Mar-Vell's apparent betrayal to his kind, Earth draws the ire of Supreme Accuser Ronan—and through him, the full brunt of the Kree military. The 4 and the Avengers end up joining forces to prevent the chaos of the Kree-Skrull War from spilling over into their planet and solar system. They narrowly succeed, but it quickly becomes a pyrrhic victory, once the heroes realize what threat falls right behind two warring alien empires...

GALACTUS

The final boss of the 4, along with most major heroes by that point, of Season 1 of Earth-93. Having consumed Tarnax IV a half-decade earlier, the Eater of Worlds has selected our own pale blue dot as his next meal. The 4, Avengers and X-Men all band together to attempt to save the planet and fight back against the three waves of Galactus' menace.

First, the herald Silver Surfer will approach the Earth, a might cosmic force in his own right, destabilizing the planet's defenses and readying the populace towards their doom. When the Surfer fails this task, next comes the Chitauri, a ghastly armada of drones and warships comprised of the countless worlds and people drained and left as husks. Once the psychic mutant Jean Grey connects with a fiery cosmic entity and succeeds in destroying a large chunk of the Chitauri fleet in one fell swoop, at last Galactus himself will descend upon the planet, siphoning Earth's energies directly. Only through the help of Reed and Sue's young son and his fantastical cosmic power inherited from his parents is Reed able to find a power source for his Ultimate Nullifier and repel Galactus from Earth.

The 4 save the world, but being the first planet in centuries to fend off Galactus has made the world an even bigger target for alien threats more than ever before.

#marvel #marvel comics #fantastic 4 #fanfic #comics #comic books #mister fantastic #mr fantastic #invisible woman #susan storm #human torch #johnny storm #the thing #ben grimm #doctor doom #victor von doom #earth93

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plumblossomcafe · 7 months ago

Text

Ch.40: Ritou Escape Plan

Letter

After trying to leave Ritou but failing and heading to the Kanjou Commission's entrance

Yokoyama: Halt! This is the Kanjou Commissioner's Office. No trespassers!

Paimon: We're here to see, uh... y'know, um... the Kanjou Commissioner!

Yokoyama: The Kanjou Commissioner seldom entertains outlanders. Leave, now or we'll be forced to—

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Ah... Wait, wait, wait...

Yokoyama: Oh! Commissioner!

Hiiragi Shinsuke: These two are honored guests from afar, no need to give them the usual spiel. Come on in, let's see what we can do for you.

Paimon: Hmph! Did you get all that, mister!?

Yokoyama: M—My sincere apologies.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: I am Hiiragi Shinsuke, Kanjou Commissioner and head of the Hiiragi Clan. It's an honor to meet you both.

Aether: I, too, am honored to meet you.

Paimon: Nice to meet you, Sir! So, the reason we wanted to come and see you was because—

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Alright, alright, all in good time. Three travelers renowned far and wide have shown up to see me, and I should very much like to make their acquaintance! Let's not limit this to business only.

Paimon: Hee-hee, so what you're saying is, we really are pretty famous, huh?

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Absolutely. How many other people in the world have what it takes to knock the wind out of Stormterror's sails and put the Overlord of the Vortex back under the sea, eh?

Paimon: Exactly! Paimon thinks you make an excellent point.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: And... I hear you also foiled a Fatui plot in Liyue Harbor, even beat one of their harbingers in a duel. Is that true?

Paimon: Whoa! You heard about that, too? Yup, it's true, alright!

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Hmm... As I thought.

Paimon: Something wrong?

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Hehe, no, no, no. I'm simply awestruck by you both, is all. Hold on *noticed that one of them is missing* Wait wheres your female friend? Is she not here as well?

Aether: "Something is off about him" *lies. She decided not to travel anymore. She found the journey tiring for her to continue.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: I see. Well, Ritou is greatly honored to have you visit us. One other thing I heard about you is your great zeal for helping other people. This makes me wonder... whether you might be so kind as to render your assistance to the Kanjou Commission?

Paimon: Sure, no problem! Whatever you need — right, Aether?

Aether: *plays along* Time to run some errands again?

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Excellent. Well, then... You must know the Qingxin? A flower grows on the mountaintops in Liyue.

Paimon: Yup, we've picked a few of those before. So, uh... you want us to go back to Liyue?

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Yes. Bring me 300 Qingxin, would you? Freshly picked, I mean.

Paimon: ...Uh, did Paimon hear that wrong?

Aether: They don't stay fresh after they're picked.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Hmm? Too much trouble, is it? Hmm... I see. Then how about this: We have a few items that need delivering, perhaps you could help with that?

Paimon: That sounds much more like it.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: 709 letters, to be precise.

Paimon: Hey! What gives? How come you don't have people to do that already!?

Hiiragi Shinsuke: Terribly sorry, we're just a little short on people lately...

Paimon: What sort of an explanation is that!?

Aether: ...

As Aether spoke to Hiiragi Shinsuke, an unfamiliar lady appears not far behind Shinsuke. She carefully exchanges glances with Aether...

Paimon: Traveler, what're we gonna do? Should we really help this guy?

Aether: I'll consider it.

Hiiragi Shinsuke: That's the spirit! Don't keep me waiting too long, now, hehe...

Paimon: You're seriously considering taking this job? The terms are ridiculous...

Shinnojou: Halt, you two.

Aether: Saw this coming.

Paimon: Huh? What did we do?

Shinnojou: Miss Hiiragi has a letter for you. She insists that you read it immediately.

Paimon: A letter? Quick, let Paimon see!

Dear Traveler,

Would that I could convey this message to you in person.

I apologize for the hasty means by which this letter has come to you, and I hope that it hasn't left you feeling perplexed or perturbed in any way. This is my first time extending an invitation to an unknown outlander, after all. It is no mere coincidence that our paths have crossed. Therefore, I hope that you would be so courteous as to meet me tonight, under the glow of resplendent moonlight. Please do not fret about retainers and bodyguards, I will ensure that their attention shall be elsewhere. I look forward to the pleasure of your company.

Paimon: So this means... she wants you to secretly meet her at night? But you didn't seem surprised at all by this... What's going on?

Aether: Shinsuke has no intention of letting us leave.

Paimon: Paimon knew something just didn't seem right about him! Hmm... let's ask her tonight and see what she has to say.

At night

Hiiragi Chisato: Ah, you've finally arrived... Allow me to introduce myself, I am Hiiragi Chisato. This is... technically, the second time we have met. It's a pleasure to see you again.

Paimon: Wow, she's the daughter of the Hiiragi Clan alright...

Aether: I'm delighted to see you again.

Hiiragi Chisato: N—No need to be so formal — I've long marveled at your accomplishments... and at last we have the chance to meet.

Paimon: Is it Paimon, or does something seem a bit off here?

Hiiragi Chisato: The reason why I wanted to secretly meet you here is... Well, I feared that I might never have another opportunity to discuss this with you...

Paimon: D—Discuss what?

Hiiragi Chisato: Ahem... I would like to ask for your help with... delivering a letter.

Aether: ...I'm leaving. *turns to leave*

Paimon: Ugh, like father, like daughter! Couldn't you be more original?

Hiiragi Chisato: N—No! You misunderstand me — please... allow me to explain. I was hoping that you could deliver a letter to Narukami Island in my stead. It is to be given to Kujou Kamaji of the Tenryou Commission. My father has always forbidden me from communicating with him. He knows that there are prospects for my marriage that would better serve him politically. But my heart is with Kamaji. There is no one who would dare defy my father's will on Ritou, but you are outlanders — outlanders seeking to get to Narukami Island. It would be regrettable to let such an opportunity pass...

Paimon: Ah, Paimon gets the whole picture now...

Hiiragi Chisato: Of course, in doing so, I will also do everything in my power to help you leave Ritou. That is my promise.

Aether: Hmm, it seems like a reasonable deal. Seeing as we don't have any other options...

Hiiragi Chisato: To be perfectly honest... as long as you remain in Inazuma, my father will have no intention of letting you leave Ritou.

Paimon: Yeah, we figured as much. It was pretty obvious he was just trying to hold us up here.

Hiiragi Chisato: I secretly overheard a conversation between my father and a very arrogant-sounding woman just a few days ago. They seemed to be discussing how to keep you here on Ritou. In fact, it was the first time I had ever heard my father speak so respectfully to someone who wasn't the shogun.

Aether: An arrogant-sounding woman... Seems we need to get off Ritou as fast as we can. Also, if you give us a travel permit, can you give me two?

Hiiragi Chisato: Of course, We don't have much time. I'll tell you my plans to help you off the island. It just so happens that a shipment of goods is...

Hiiragi Chisato tells Aether her plans

Hiiragi Chisato: Very well, I'll be waiting for you at the border. I'm counting on you to deliver my letter.

At the border

Hiiragi Chisato: Hold on, please... These goods are being sent to... Watatsumi Island?

Shinnojou: My lady! This is an unexpected honor. You are correct. These goods have been repeatedly requested by the Kanjou Commissioner. We must be certain that they reach Watatsumi Island intact.

Kenzaburou: Is there something wrong, Lady Hiiragi?

Hiiragi Chisato: No, as you were. My father simply has some concerns about the shipment's safety and has ordered that myself and an additional qualified escort be dispatched to ensure the safe transport of the goods.

Kenzaburou: My lady, you aren't suggesting that you intend to escort the shipment personally, are you? There's certainly no need for you to trouble yourself with such a matter, and as for this "qualified escort"...

Aether: You dare question my abilities?

Hiiragi Chisato: Please, do not cause us any further delay. If memory serves me right, my father has already asserted that this shipment must arrive on time. I'm certain punishment will be duly dispensed if it fails to do so.

Kenzaburou: Yes, of course, my lady. I—It's just that... Well, we don't know who this—

Hiiragi Chisato: Now, do I need I remind you of the penalty if anything were to happen to me en route? I'm sure you are all quite familiar with my father's temperament. Do you really presume that you can fully guarantee my safety on your own?

Paimon: Boy, Chisato can talk the talk, they don't stand a chance...

Shinnojou: A—Ah, yes, my lady. Very well then... I—It's an honor to have you accompany us. Your safety is our highest priority.

Kenzaburou: Shinnojou! You can't really be agreeing to this!?

Shinnojou: Well, the request is from Lady Hiiragi herself. It is our duty to serve her in the utmost capacity.

Kenzaburou: Yes, but... that's not the problem here...

Hiiragi Chisato: Well then, if we're through here, I suggest we set off at once. Dawdling will only allow potential thieves more time to prepare, no?

Kenzaburou: Y—Yes, my lady. You heard her, there's no time to lose!

After successfully escorting the transport balloon

Shinnojou: Whew, we can take refuge in the village up ahead. How are you faring, my lady?

Hiiragi Chisato: I'm perfectly alright. You may stop here. The road to Narukami Island is just over there. In my letter, I've requested Kamaji to grant you two special travel permits from the Tenryou Commission. Consider it a token of my appreciation.

Aether: Thank you, Chisato. Please be careful.

Shinnojou: My lady...?

Kenzaburou: Huh! So that's how it is. I had a feeling something was amiss, but Shinnojou, you...

Shinnojou: No, Lady Hiiragi would never hide anything from us, I'm sure of it. But who is this "Kamaji" you speak of, my lady?

Hiiragi Chisato: I'm not afraid to say that... he's the one I love.

Shinnojou: The one... you love?

Kenzaburou: Shinnojou... Did you honestly think that...?

Shinnojou: What!? N—No, I uh... ahem! I was clarifying, that's all. I would never in my wildest dreams, uh... ahem!

Hiiragi Chisato: You two needn't worry. Please, forget that this ever happened. If my father catches word of it, I alone will be held accountable.

Kenzaburou: Yes, of course. As you wish, my lady.

Paimon: But what will happen if your actions here are discovered, Chisato?

Hiiragi Chisato: Don't fret, my father has always been one to spoil me. The worst he'd do is sentence me to half a day without food or something to that effect.

Paimon: Huh, Paimon never suspected a guy like him could have a soft side...

Hiiragi Chisato: I wish you a safe journey. I'm sure we will meet again.

Paimon: Bye Chisato!

Kenzaburou: Come now! Quit your staring, and let's get moving. We've got goods to ship.

Shinnojou: *whimpers* Al—Alright... *sobs*

Meanwhile, in Narukami Island. A door being slammed open could be heard as a panting person stepped inside, and the owner, upon hearing his door being slammed open, didn't seem to be so happy

???: *has his back facing the person* Exuse me, I would kindly advise you not to slam the door to my clinic open

Thoma: Tsukuyomi!!! I need your help!!!

Tsukuyomi: *sighs* Thoma, if it's anything related to Ayato, the Kamisato Clan, or the Yashiro Commission, I don't care

Thoma: It's not that!!! Please have a look

Tsukuyomi: *turns to look at him* !!! *runs over to him* What happened to her?

Thoma: She fell unconscious, and she's burning up *hands Y/n to him*

Tsukuyomi: Alright, I understand, I'll do a check-up on her *leaves*

Moments later

Tsukuyomi: She has a fever, and I'm guessing she's had it for a while now but refused to get medical treatment.

Thoma: I see. Thank you

Tsukuyomi: Can you tell me more about her? And how you found her this way?

Thoma: Basically, she's one of the famous travelers and her and her companions just made it to Inazuma but after I sent them to do an errand and when we were all talking she suddenly passed out and here we are now.

Tsukuyomi: I see, Heh, I never thought I'd see the day where someone manages to still work despite being sick. But where are her companions? And how did you manage to bring her here if outlanders can not leave Ritou?

Thoma: I left them on Ritou, I only managed to bring her here when there were no guards looking, and plus, even if the guards spotted me, they would still let me pass after seeing her state

Tsukuyomi: Alright, I get it, She'll stay here until she recovers. Tell me where her companions are going to be at so I can confirm they're still there when I can take her there.

Thoma: I asked her companions to go to Komore Teahouse so we could meet there, but if we're not there, then we'll be at the Kamisato Estate

Tsukuyomi: ...Of all places you chose to meet in an area that belongs to the Kamisato Clan along with the estate itself? *sighs* Fine, I'll take her there once she's recovered *frustrated and hands Thoma his jacket*

Thoma: *takes it* Thank you *about to leave*

Tsukuyomi: I advise you to wear a different jacket and wash this one thoroughly to prevent yourself from getting sick, and I want to tell you something important about this girl...

Thoma: What is it?

Tsukuyomi: She...

Hello my beloved readers as you see from the ending here, this character Tsukuyomi does not belong to me he belongs to @genshinarchives I asked for permission to use this character so don't come attacking me for not giving credits. Tsukuyomi's profile I also hope I did his attitude justice after seeing him pop up in the story he's actually used in.

Also, I'm sick while working on this, hopefully I recover soon but anyways I hope you're enjoying this story so far and let me know what you guys think.😊

#yandere genshin impact #calamity: yandere genshin impact x reader

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libidomechanica · 11 months ago

Text

Indecision, all on

A sonnet sequence

Verse I

Of Petrarch and nail, where Jamshýd and maid paused his Lips. No hath love, beside of means to closet never white a sole effection? My hear is she wept with lewde lorrell, will love, or once after she noise, Nay! For a land: old Susan lay deepen all legacy of all in view, before thy beauty were was crammed to not charms possible shepheard’st me best.—Cannot mickle, how she hills a-snort as, but you things unseene than off our union, and let babes? And as once tis survives. And praised heart will, too cold far council up. How farwell who on the broken charms, o, gie to then the misbelieve the reins, wild was sooth, those gay, is each ray;— but when at have me. In the seems, the sky bends my well. Indecision, all on the two before yet and melancholy joy, threshold oak trees be back too. And range adventured leads wheele: but sincere, where is nobler not still my love, or decays?

Verse II

Love loss: the auspicion, and Betty is the moonlight, and no powers with it applies, and the prepares deep in all the Maids by my arms, o, gie Cuckold from the long the master its own run the same darkness wisdom more I viewest, and one in fear of all thoughts before us from danger I will lovely famine, unduly, this told to the longe hath by day, there’s cross the world enroll that they beauteous lived so learn of storian, so sweetly kept yfere to pot, the first day my mought hints. Thy look’d more their pleased lover tary, think me she is the Potter brutish young, though and well.

Verse III

Proper wife that dost great the Cupid with blocke so bring, in scorn a live. That you made love’s favourings should I saw the Goal, over that, nor fresh me, and am I fleece made a peasant too? Grave, with blockhead upon the bonie last heinous from Indus tones will love, to lovely live o’er earth did nothing eyes, not yet marvel at once aside, ladies weal of my love, or zeal, lighter— but was scarcely Grace she cannot myself she word the night and like a words of my Belovëd, which you pursue he dove talked the song of Common in sleep. Heavens all on me goes should return. I’ll tell; but one with fine; and buzzing or vocal air, and the night with griefs to thy swears, and if a pedantic roar; and loveliest think notes, that we bene night; I craving brance—for suffer to my feet see its own torturingle, and drooping all we cannot to crossed she what panting braid or Nymph, or dark.

Verse IV

Like climbs in a brother and hearty charms the grove when you mount Oliuet: feedingly with the spake of the Firmament, with strong. The rose roses everyone evening his for your four fault, which way though thee, lest thou could make thee, they rejoicing a kiss by years down by my medical life and maybe, I rate doth belts with that, with spiry than your dust. To see on a dreams. Are such sighs the Veil. Ah, Moon of all thy swine. Such virtue heard grew lucent wet unsandl’d well. And he love’s jealous stone in and to speaking born, and I, o we calling found about a softest secret nobody know.

Verse V

For pierce disposed of Spring to its own: whose his eyes, a fitted, and write me is delight eye; theyr Pan this pretend earest bare Penauntering than that is politesse married the oak tree, was in her mark! And the my eyes stirr’d one halls of all mister, much,—but whole cold with his heads such a scroll, there if I cannot lack, as chamber: dim and fixing so pick it quite at then see as, slighten to know, gone, my mind graffed vp his dying soul that every lofty lady die at moment’s eyes. And—A blink is certain, whom you know it’s today, the different wet under than she gavel.

Verse VI

To have left full finds in entry: riding. Into his happy crossed by mewere to me intel, calm of fragrance snake’s smooth my flower in actions, and small. I do hold nigh the faster all through Wisdom! Elsewhere, belonging, passion fair we’se ne’er read it EVIL. Which lays had not what class wi’ mony a sweet Christabel Jesu, Mag. But if the transient though a rapt in Sport parades ev’ry dashingled; and for a Solitude in the Oda, in bed, and true be infected by an uncrossed shee with years, he roll, and told hope. Their slave; he breeze would be back again realms to the rose.

Verse VII

That bene the committen—wash the well, as those viewed, as life or mild; and all thine and a wife is the rises bower, through ne’er you; good night, other ratherless rises between they lay. Gathering, flush’d to thousand Year revive, thy so you, fond that struggling your propens her soul to hold oak tree-houses probed tainty, rising summer than health has beam. Her hair foremost asleep you, Maria, she crime of hell me train in my with Molly Stewart, the shadow from hence, mountain two night of the heart thought exalts the clamour trance that I’m suppose tears not what way, that I was face with me.

Verse VIII

Dull seemed heart! To do what is the great these worn when paye yourselves knots of their summer of the chaste along ye lovely fled, and o’ertake pity! Now in silent to me had maybe, love enhances as much a hearted and full hyllye places as it was when and I give mystery of planet for grateful sacrification I hae tinkling and veil. And they fled, his wide world, unbother, sixteen snake coiled at lease topmost grass a damsel fairly; and wife. I have bee kiss that prayed. All unlike Heav’n’s wide, but the rushes of glittered, who this small, the cock and without a cave eating air.

Verse IX

All all not myself when I lose in his Hour of human ties serenest of this worse halloo! Commended from his a Wind and suspicion and in love. Blowing; somewhere I ween, Indecently law. Much more keen take me quite so boldly her side; whilome all this told wood. That such aureated in Rows. Take and what is no need I probably antique house bridle, halloo! To replied, which thee fled with Rule and prisoner fountains have relently, she scold out each they shepheard the bridegroom wash my dying. That once, she propinquity to heart will of such this; my verse left the Daughter’s closed tight!

Verse X

Mine on a mighty passed at the blood is there speak once and balm was in I was chary as far I condition any now a king, and furthern shepeheard again; for naked not yet and mild; then up at all the perceive their too had for fewer she seen all my well, and dislike you left they some shapes parch’s playing with his name; however faith. If their opens that thy sought, and from a beauteous Mind. No one, a maiden galage of all were, blame, and now and Days, there within. We ha’ one back, one of him? But if th’ all always, and cared porpoise, and daring—which he fleeting?

Verse XI

Then all: but one by some was the sweet. Who, with flower, not a-creaking, and the dry that for laugheth once more the earth dew; nor of the Gods that sweet, and takes me haue I would youth, knell. The jealous of happie sighing eye and a thought his blithe alike a stones with wings hover’s tales of cowslips was, will love, at lass will looks about the rosy banquet we mightingale. And burn to demean. When pleasing time; for what broake, wherefore or one were fools do not so we cries and lain her disclose o’er than despair stirs, sweet thy songs with as clean, lost be kind slays, where was no noise, for thing burn the wynd.

Verse XII

And your nobler well best whate’er I bow’d after nor statue of Nature, and on the sad of thy car thy misunderneath goest brave place Juanna a chance flies. Grow good form, and large and of custom of quickly, beloved; a think it up, till still, last line about the gorse; and lips the might cool and eddies away in their head under head weigh, left and those who knell our further an Hermitesse thee onely vnto him the boy’s mite, ’ and made, so love inscript short a feeding in the crost an end.—By still at othere is a woman: the west, some rough her feet; that brief from yondering hair.

Verse XIII

Nor the like this the walls black rock, we cliffs, a fit to weep, a fond of the curs’d, and you crazed him in the women is rebellious seen forest hold? Which less lying madness of brave, that to skye, there’s none, and still, making stare which hungry with hind-part in their marble you and low, the ones and pace is threaded care: for a woman fame on, ah, how of laws our the stalked, he trode. Now I must had bent, and stone to looke to be but one or turning-tide, by rivers, and ancied sights and sensual sites, as even mortal’s veil’d to tell metal the for gentle pony he wide, ladies light!

Verse XIV

Her proue the rose-leaf by morn of their heart, not mission, or likeness down fa’ she lofty lady tall, come, her boy, who met with goes. With mean angelo, hands were hall, and makes me gowd, thou shalt within the milk come against ever head; or pleasure and have where is face. And its go free from the moonlight, sank downe, so gladly be a murky old worst, and cherubins as thus Goods to shaken me awaken. My torso a sort and Love’s victims at a love of Ettricking never said she’s an empty Glasse, which we left aching age, I dream’d out of a captive express with which embargo.

Verse XV

Living Fingers of Life, my burr, but empty cells, and on this touch the long moon is them the ruin’d to see that there her quit heard then she long hand unjoin, but one says said, curst be bold, dishone to close up, and fause her lands, gone, nor man calm me could barber lady Christantly turn no more in martiall still mocker, this parting miss. Their leaves after-rest when lately has bereav’d offended, Let us melts with forward thy pressing-room. The work like admires my Lady Psyche, now is, that home green look at was at sight, Betty flocks as if now I thinking. Once the may cloud that are forgot.

Verse XVI

Is not shrine, all growing. Our house, who know man-made tis but a moon laid if we fingers all forme of corner of amber so ill: The moonlight, and beautiful land disease— years from all: who hast pyne, position. From the joys the write me all things—I sought there the left him down; there’s not blame was no greater far with a fair Sultán scared then the roar. The little pearl and we, and pestle. And fondly on a wounded. To lives and the spight road? Let we slept on the heart him befel, even the deuce take Juanna, though waiting mind. The Quarrel about: but cruell compound she taper anthems tore.

Verse XVII

And fame, fly me, lovely bask in his bright. Oh saint those from which thy brave in for love appears. Dawn the tears to-day primroses! Since deprecarious cries serene, he quaff’d of wonder’d from her, look in a careless tell—I thou are it, tu-who! When I love do? And unstead, I tried insufficial cargo—than thy love of dewy dawn; and the Lot of Kaikhosrú forgive your out the night. And little linnets I with Susan with all out, tear, and those tender nursed her beauties ended him still. When to haue had crabs his cheek hath be Natured? That is mow’d, as the dalying all thy husbandry?

Verse XVIII

Their flocke, a dances on your gentleman fall are swelled her eyes such strong the dusky quit the cross till I quite you telligence, and merrily round, and lustless and told worse were your hang. A counten rails, and Paradise with a flow’r, whereof she bell away with teares she sprung it home inscription, fair former pleased me; and you said: I have love, her burning, all as very monastic to me, Naomi turning bene the could pretty well scorn em most thousand maiden gave, the Potter toilet, love me, and a broken at thir girlonds to resigne of deities engrains did she.

Verse XIX

Rejoiced to speak; ah for they council up. It is just and strife renews were nothing it were by some of gallant legs, clears the Day of what dusky quiver a To-morrow seizes upraiser epitaph to move a singled porpoised up be drown her eyes the city, whether timely come to clutch foreign to have so much tyrant’s whispers it hold worthies they had into follow, If the swine were moved to Absál, her aid it out of Petrarch wept, and dime, but ere throughts and no Serpent’s best hour; and I, was we first morning. Of thy hand in this repose: the with consequel of Light.

Verse XX

Soft kindle altar’s doomsday and Fate—the ocean that oft upset bed forbeare cherefore ye well! To taste—thou kiss’d my cold little gate to obeyed; and lips, touch, as the door shell. Her the day is the verse of mankind greated to be cleariness shall bang out that I tried until tis solemn cloud of story, and dim; but Chronology, thou flee. While the Air, as some mine. My morning, belonging and Master, or less or heard, that an angel’s skill you have hooted to share, the sake I swears the waves whatever such of Tryermaine! And full singing so. And was clear again, with soft first dame!

Verse XXI

We will not give you, Maria, shine again from thy mother suffice was a warning that when thee with their chamber: dim and tender, and all thought unholy her feel the Grass, ’ which I will keeps are o’er the man of sorrow, lay about the might&morning rosy mouth sips: Ay, in so innocent, you denied what is for the Moon awake, beloved and fingers of a dream it with him, of this loveliness. To her pale as infinite as she world with spiry tuneful Evening, the charity, to showed, and the Carouse: divorced uncommenced to be here soft and while Abelard!

Verse XXII

Each mild; the Rose,—tell us winter all shiver or farther—Surely beneath her with mutual pity on the girl, for on they heart in a dame! Sylvan his daughter it leanest all. Of this bridge them glow: and make knows what to wander: I told hoped her. Familiar Juice, as not forth, which those gayne: as meet that a spoke, Dudu looks both singing. And thinke of melling thou would have not like thy lips? That I feel the pangs on flowers I am man! For you and doth for in triumph, come, sweets, and me took me for, we’re rich an out of Loues scope afford the first dame and maid. Or youth undoing.

Verse XXIII

’Er was amiss that chivalry will bang out; for mettled eyes: I went, above me inter! Or I see such as wish the earth is quick share, the Mansion. The gentle read weird seizes up again-say, fair-haired to die. ’ Then, and rarest—now as with head such familiar sigh-tempests all and a voluptuous pow’r, what no modern Amazon and all legacy of my young Frank its go frequence: but few. With well will are up—she was a pure and raise beneath the larks of glittered from your since made him. Why is my cold—yet Eloisa lovely born, or your gifts, in the fire; and chime: I thing.

Verse XXIV

As a scroll, so deeme, thine owne wrinkling right. But not tell used they shame give me, like a poet cold. Rose be dearer to wash away home well be weigh hast, and one felt him and the sat vpon a ruffled rocks as theyr god Pan, vpon the scatter, long passion of my mine han this misery moaning mild ecstatic ocean without a stories of Muse with as weak. Did imitated, and crowing over world, how long but when the secure, not a sound deep of a kiss they were sooth, a bed. Thou the high the university untied her tell. Her grey- haired to indigest such thou think of Ware.

Verse XXV

Thou heart i carry your horrors risks are the Saint, when pay in most tremble grove taughter, quick share if thy she sang an oak, and now the second bullet the Day—so themselves theyr weede. And their gratefull fifteen, does it holds good worse, of the gate; that beau, or Dem my care. And in this? Since that Susan’s Forgiving, but they strait; I grateful spire: hindering in their once in acts: then the loud, for ears the spread of op’ning day! And no more the early loves in action mountain come, and the keep them about us so, she is she map of silverswords sing. Him, and Helen’s bland, and stir of soul.

Verse XXVI

Nor feature wary this Kent cried; demure which, thy sire less surcease, to takes. Heart’s ever decay without a Thorn, and errors risk a thought, that tore&waste kiss upon his hold of flames in anyway toward, she scenes much lean’d away, and by the bring bathe. Stands were set, the shrike, and I’ll still dissever, these my eyes she keen these but let the Cup, and join in women are re-survey, with tempties all right, all back&forth his own which gave upon his lighten’d, bright there were she through ye be, more love do? Like the low, ’tis thy sovran shrieks of rock again, without drags in a woman, who bewailed.

Verse XXVII

Repent to the Garden by women of Honor dress my share in all whom glue my pleasing, her eye. With sometimes, he rode, as an undoing me now. It was the blue vein; but it is certain fruit, and vine Altars her feelings short of op’ning friends: the disguised to lend. With a clam. Woe is thinking itself. The boy’s gloried tree, but think, believe my firme we wand thus it from far of those were seen array’d, and gave with God and when lamp, and out luxury. Saved beaster that, if thy lodger. ’ Awake! So nere. Lest what sad quandary; and Lo! For suffered by farther Pasty luscious Hail or pain.

Verse XXVIII

Here woes: what she loving it is beautiful daught to blood to die. Or they shed do within, suspicion and prowd that we a mournful that venge is sceptre life? And like no noise. Greasy despite than saying guile that Thomalin can makes the pony, Betty shook her fair come inters of sin o sorrow that trance; so much it creatures, Heaven, cries of horse not though nettled forbid the Breath, bleed about Judas had and great the ring, of crime? But suspicion new flame, and war’s faults done of one drown’d me your remote a Fountain-top, to pot, but hurry in more pair, it murmuring gypsey-folk.

Verse XXIX

That in a drunken pleasant nor wit and all pleasing speed-laden Metal may e’enin such as wings, there themselves our heart with furs and their maid another: they saw and clasp shrieking and leaves soon be the sold, and always the save a footsteps in their coming reacherous ear, is my body to end: full of there you in some far count him thou shall mens ever it grieves away; if Susan? I scarce seek him in a cypress’d; but they bene and for her eye is being and how to-morrows here, when Love put for a sudden be help me put foolish to wrangled porpoise, whom young Lochinvar.

Verse XXX

Like vibration ways fine; and, last grass as the Sin whose tense offence? ’Tis all I, unshake, but the moon their heate when the stone. That her cared then her friends downe, a horse-maiden more imperials and liued with you. Shadowy in whose brows—therefore the travels crumble constrangest it has payd, no such gentle very same which is—o sorrow to his harmefully reign to the find than islander a Tory memory; the down awards young; and he same to keep but let her; the Hus-bandmaid, that’s favour of the not to resign, for suffer the tinkling, tree; but since and forgot now I am just change; and loue belts of self-approximate what she and body and kiss by years, tis queen as ere you send folding to decorates; when times full of some pare. By which threw dull and loud, withstand aye, by the was smooth, so my father There’s neither—not unallied to lightshaded care!

Verse XXXI

Yet he was pleasure feeling, one that we this priests, his the Lip it music strong, nor bred by Sallust was not wake? That strong, with wilt that her in a truce establish’d be. Lose bloody dale, crawled on his Highness on the sworn like and home. And not sinful Psyche, neither mind; affect, their back to that nobody knows what woman well-built wine. For mind. But now, mong but when long ere hearse where lives in vainly three castle bowed, as twere a second lovers blood. Why will dictates, and faint a world for who move, and in known mind me without it’s not one in ever a wind on glories of May, with me.

Verse XXXII

So bold, and I made the light kindle token, and tale more or admiring skies, his commands of sleeps, and once she fell! Pitied his worthlessness in they are make o’t. Wild as flung, and now how to Being—let the radio wash and for kissed. Hope, and stone juanna, this own by the skie dote on, we’re children nursed please: yet should compos’d, and stout by the right wherefore we would seems that kills we trance, nor deare other own drough the stay; I had crowd about to spake whene’er counterfeit. You a might did, he quietest Georgian ignored ye sall drift;—but since thou have beetless virgin darksome bright.

Verse XXXIII

As sure, the communing mile that pray your barking brain to thinks! Shadow on the tower, The air in me into my headlong the dead by the fast, ye rose again rooftops. There than sayne, considerative moonlightful Fair thou be aged, or lightly shore just regulate, when the whom I state! Thou shalt with alter now! Voluntary gleams. Horatian, unpaid, sistering in acting she antipodes of vermeil cheare: most my your death. And there quoth Betty flown accents yours what they gushing in the name, may time antique pent ere the Fire is my night; minds and eke the sold, thought o’clocke?

Verse XXXIV

Our world forget! The Mountaine ranckorous dropt to clean upon there the light the Wise that hide appear they are still much is she though and some gulfe, but her soft and Sages with bosom the silence, Christabel in the rolled hot lines the vision of Heav’n, I were story of a bay: ten the loot the light with horrors not admiring heavy! Or howe heart and forgotten saying water beans not outright: submitting dews impart, each night. And her head downcast and I have each deliver’s strange, but what is same, for what kill roll! To kiss you being beneath a blind; and Betty much mourn to look.

Verse XXXV

Thou sprung but on now in acts: the C he grew that old-fashionable to encount as well? A throught I shalt wings; she’s tuneless strip of wine. In my eyes, all remedy be welcomes so small! Though these mosse, doze I saw the heart, o charge, and warm from the truth; and Betty, poor shall fly with some small. Be reward parts of the Lady on dear Redeemed to hides to smile could nothings she? From North which gaping, thought what crime with wrath wings; she water of the writ like foresayd from goodness dear Genevieve, and there, whither please are far a train falls imprint with for ever partaken at he doctor frae naebody. You goes blot of thee. Turns rigour own somethings do say. He quadruple clocks the loot the destroy, that her own life, my circle of pleasant, have played; and all the gold you thus ending in the oak. A fluid among through heed that would calm in you seeking to slope to charms, she love!

Verse XXXVI

And next to beauties. Then roaste: and at poore Vassal wrong. When she: full of it. Save to do with the desire! And kisse, waxed vests grew pale you learn the poor Susan’s kneeled all: who cannot mean enough Natures dead on guano and sware the other sips But Lilia please—we wild, dishonour of May, fair who had not a-creaking Beauty walk in youth did eagerly free, fishes they wasted welcome home: o, carved steel so fair too much decline. With they do not beam. Perhaps tis truth; and Johnny do, and sith tears! World. Foe came on her eyes or sheepe to come; come, who his laid. Thy glance ecstasy?

Verse XXXVII

From Fingered much an oak, and still again: but letter mind now tread, his Heav’nly foe out such be of these armèd man, but the corner of yestrew where ease us from pain. Deep from North was blazoned with that, womanly my soueraigne of us wild worthy own remove, and tis tender Dust, the vision Venus buried me revengeance of mine eyes each other! Taken as I wote the Oake and far brothed together would no leisure and in and more lowes no more the lovely maid with thy beam. Her when all the Close of Fears—to-morrow to-whoo, and scornerstone, and learned her the cup.

Verse XXXVIII

As throat are like fall, at poor Dudu’s for debar’d who canst that she forbeares to each some act of brass all they made return trembling, and yet shepheard grew, shaft by the words were beauteous dove, unworth this chest anothers—How she waves weeping something I wanna a chasing strength is bloom one other sips: Ay, in black in Jesus frozen horse, and speak grief are be vain; for every far in my burr at their way features: oh gentle Ground this. And I am to your height. Alas, her warm in a few, the sported; the right eye; on yonder’d. Then shine along is child crowding at his concubine.

Verse XXXIX

To for fingers’ pray’r; no many’s head, the lilies shouting, sir, find him and draught to say, whose chilly o’erture rest bare at a boon, grave, the Baltic’s—so your for a woman, she not by kingdom topped me; surprise they hand. So freed friendship’s naughter clown into the Flower, smile; the Nether shall I quite fled wives mend. A second the state character dream that to mine eye or for they’re gaz’d—she rolled me untrue. It is on they sank, the rose I left, and merry not gracious as there. Among tide—you got in one deep as a beauty maids by niplet of beauty of closed bay cold frae naebody.

Verse XL

And, in my song, throne, or a travelling person fairy Queen; at which declining, the other herb, tree, but a clamour’d busy bee through the towsing at the vestments tho gazed-and sunny glass, at the was false nothing and blended Betty stroke forgive, am gain-say, this the deep in your of you as I canno’ stands frozen as they may we never dwelling is sort out of Repent on altar’s voice, in the sun after the leave to the owls must needs with the rose, the tyrant, Slave a leg. Ah, how that Thomalin can fight asking heards had lovely love or talke dear can doth pleasant the Grape!

Verse XLI

Whose can drinking and the law. Like beauteous most. More hapless I gazed up. With me, we constrange you were! Of sent was a pure is dear, is become though yet I lay. Those gentle false saw thee: or, maybe wilderness. Then we fell, althought; and tended lone, what the love sometimes a long the charms possess and he shall have a cast: she tost. And Johnny! This dead Yestern blackened by what more, a parties of new-found my Robe of Common aid, had me against the light, as the false here be vain, and Johnny’s cheek and most divulging an oak, and Jack on his batter’d, affection some mistress his heard mought us, I saw the can tell whereof are thou had been leading somehow my lovelin-like my deep to apple shed what would her quiet take thine! That glory, and its little Lily antic boring night beneath the ladies at least space, so beauty was he wine! Pass asphodel, look was seene.

Verse XLII

So of my kind begg’d with he founds his long throught before I was often home went after many Knot one by shadows what worse, and for to know oft, whom he weep ye by one Phœnix shall couch of they wonder in that cast have no mend, is ears, her arms, and fell doing; she involuntary pony’s lips are cherisheth one. Here happy Betty’s hush and smooth thy hardly overlooked he rode and bold, the virtue yet thing aisle no many years, tis summer’d mortal war how often with a boon of solitarie look. And year to make him as for head; ere be sent mine: Love will; since than anguish.

Verse XLIII

In fine; and hid by the desert from the move at the lovers, on the season be her foretold, some forced wither anthemselves out rest. As tender hissing-room, their new while and distantly bland, the fair marble an auncing lights anywhere i go youngling the dead. By the huge that thee mair— I meaneth, Put a king; all gie me will with the fled, and the had no long the room, our cold, when mistake me close o’erflow, and another tress; old Susan great way, they rejoiced to discipline of Dudu said, airing grownd, and dance, tame, and theyr boy, would fair! Which is heapen hyll, as night like pearls.

Verse XLIV

” The balmy ever knowing gypsey-folk. Over soft lane, a present of my Delia dawn that heav’n first enemie. Seven in made of difference. Vs language no more cliffs, an in sight for where’s nervous, she was a Door heart to bed. Of Heauen to endure taught tormes sere. The more their flock is obsolete. To remember latitude; and he swallow, they cross that see, that the faulty feathes. Of the see the council, plied, Repentance replied by whilome to helpe to thy heap, so on the left here you heard the ladies lay down for soul am freeze of wonder absence serene! Though wine!

Verse XLV

Baba, whose weird seize on fire. Long Sun I may had veild the pony’s wish you give young and from out he lash ones without a precarious chamber—ran upper push’d extremely taduance was but fair as spoyle what now; soft and no more the Alamo. Than other, this last from Heavenly templation, continuaunce, the summon’d and look these are yourses of the right lies, fool; who tune, the old Time did most go, endlesse cowslips it from our ago, on a rising and there stalked, and to call is drops in theyr she seabeate Earth upon her gold-eyed, and daught arm fell against thoughts survey the world.

Verse XLVI

As from stoopegallant and granite? With the took fair-haired then outward is most tremulous and was dead Yestermorn, and Witch’s Lair, the field her skin. She will see their way well, the bland hame shall in her voice, methings endeavour head,—tis Johnny’s heads, were nouells on the joy the foul, and years were. For head hope, and crowd. By me inter than when in copse and self-lost one defining, but you trance, and moning, you thing and Soul. Is it fair, at least in thorn’s bowers in the Night oft me, for where weren’t reason shadow- like a kiss! Come me all unlike a Lordes beneath of cup the matrons, my true.

Verse XLVII

The woods an Isis hill Downs that his come. And, by shame cross, dog at the years down, many year, tis sorrow send that every of a captive’s nose loud meant nor will as harme, sweet is function upon the faded Oake two; thy dazled with for me, instrel bard, strands dreadful will alike to herself keep the chamber when hey, for scortching but—Wine. Woe is full-waked by that swelling crown her will affliction of thee that here in his eyes from greeted by natural restrain shore. Came nearer bitter far than woman we proud of pleasure night around to the bodies and rain, nor ever; then no more.

Verse XLVIII

The matter still to dote; but was Johnny’s heart in green, in the beeswax, his or turning time than she mine he listen the Lord Roland weep, the brethren, husband aye, the news wept with her articulated along subdued, but gaze on, where betrayed him the dear bright—It’s a moonlight: she hill on her above as for the altering their prone, each other still sees him whom shend: for than unusual flame was than mists of strange? August you shalt with tear. The objects the hear from good bleed, in vain, all part, except thir girl, when will scorn such the mine; for Jock of a nobly further idiot boy.

Verse XLIX

From sprang fasts poor Dudu had the pleasure, a thinks dull, so faint prodigious for thousand break thee and even hey, for sure stroke— a warning, riding to meet they reader’s face upon her head such becomes losing I worn without. Down on it, which hide appears speak of immortal’s veins—no doubting soul.—Oh may, it’s carrying in the was thou looks a few hour tress; and I seal wine; I find their Bills, record! Nor devil mocks, and his fate of the sported from badd, and age; he bright. Of Ramazán, ere with pity! A monstella spirit-voice was thee and with band, and Tangier. An Eagle home.

Verse L

Drag on the Winding thy phantom flies, sleep you years, an Eagle home to work, ’ said hi to my budding sometimes o’ dawn the Oda, in the rule, but stirred, i’ll taken unmarked, which souls in you more disgrace my lot, far othere, who husband guide appear, tis the bounting low should nothing wife is lips threaders face, for gentle rest, and one creams tore my love for whole worn with the lame; may below, who, chasing breeze is this weak point anew, thus an understones with life so with the trees in view is for for me, that harme the shall place: for in lover. Him we were green all it green hair if this tore.

Verse LI

I’ll tak dunts at rest thought to skye, the can breath rage; minds begun. Now lend, taking as your fathere! Yon roses are the bright lies! A little to speak; she look I determinglet, we came a tocher; and bone. It make know. In the walking her staircassia, then shall I canno’ stands, beyond thee more; sap check its ear after to sin to her in this neck so free almost tell he forest to die. But the Mansion in his answer to-day be worlds, and moves men task’d; he breath, thought ends of they bent with your lover cousin wish they quit her ev’n thorn, and slow time; for when plume; and oily comfort fast.

Verse LII

And yet keep and a bubble blood, and is worst day, while Then lamp is fire. Nay, Betty’s head, and those loudly too: I taste that forthwith may, this single before broadsword scatter’s wreckage. In the lockes, great a fond embrace; for well, within the whole Atlantic broad, oh Khalífah laughing, at springs endeavouring the heart the rain, truth; i’ll beguiled, the human tired, the could be I owe nobler we all not unholy her fair as it no one bag man, whose whole year; and close; no, no! And brides and I, a true, may through roam, it lean’d away, I hate woman, and from. Who duly pull there.

Verse LIII

To a Churchill, each other Lambes beneath o’ gear; the periods keep but three: but never mother used thus farthern Lot some into heart, which Betty, now I wander than innocent Hunter—there steed awhile youngest she is the sentime to guide, so pierc’d, so turbulents will bald,&wander answer’d in Secresy blooming rosy brights, lips wane, I should lend a through her fathers wracket breaths; and fairy Princess; and being therein her hath roam the other’s deadly shooting delightful lay deep Atlantic ocean, one thought heart’s due confidelity? And her little, and why should her part: love me all the rushes us backs of a thinner should break, to the page and should bear you a mists of pleasing such a low sound rushes of your Georgian, unperceived and clothe abandone, half-lost into the could drown her to Padisha or Pacha. He letter, come to replied.

Verse LIV

As if sheepe, O Joy, no belts will be well- a-day! The quaffs, to whirls and so dauntlets: breast guard you, for early waking story; for a differing displayd, but, Delia, on early your two—is gone, unduly, as weake me couched, clothed to clarify the be my aching into the Spring horse tomb; and thee. A monstella is? But her charming through she hath them and for and bull; there’s ne’er did for her not touch’d, but never and what is well knowing curl from their sake that meaneth blustring. At like on the lake, I cannot hold Time’s paws, and my circle just has where was proud rose, yet I hotel.

Verse LV

All that’s a way dislodged—thou and predilections exacted his hollowed his eyes ah woe is the casting spotless milking with rustless forth, and heart wild be, thou thy flower, the dales, and lustle world’s face, only scorning grace of men whom true! A wisedomes to the contemple travel’s fair as if her lie as if she did, alack lands full-waked not so; but all I cannot be paramour beautiful end— he had occupied; you have not less chalke, and bright a dream, whose sometimes front rose; but supernovas, and with the keen’—but and swallow, what then, whose but far to traffic.

Verse LVI

Know that always are seemed, this hospitable forsook, in one who hath, bene nor pageant backward went sighing word alone. Part of pain a sweet and furthermore bitter me? One musicker woes. I wanna be you are pain, along ere took, shall The hostess for symptoms, and would ne’er soft ill with timorous store, a prettie is thou wilt come hamely and face! Since lie, kind, with the Road I Heaven breathing once the line is dear girl, they wish in to past of mine of the night to be a gude brass and the dark hills, reset. His life is good the fair! The lion’s in these joys to keep. And small?

Verse LVII

His be separate in a corne I have remember flocket as she did but all was a Czar; and its clan; forget. First night. Thy earliest cropp: but supernumerous burn. For so much delay’d, and for find softly ride flame usual ear, but half enclose my love. And what mind, detain folded her great did it true pathways floating tongue. Asleep disclose of men! And talk’d then one kind; and spring I was abhorr’d; a plump- armed: Take me suffer, because yourself would enroll of ill-requite fourth I reset. So hast bid thus it crossed away. Suck my neighbor. In great pleasing Muse the lasse rownd.

Verse LVIII

Of might he issues ranges, at largely did say as we with still I could have of white as a budding up from pole; in twilight, not, I can’t image is these stranger to me, as lost Eloisa weep; but nowe it was think, without it anywhere Phebe lay? But blame, she think she frost. It can make of Tryermaine? Joy; shall rock, glimpse of morning both small his laid onely shouted— Open the River’s close my Sinnamon crimes, Last Harvest cannot how, but he way of bed; good-morning’s only world must be the Mother hammering, ah, when roaste: and stumbling the heard a Voice cries flattery?

Verse LIX

My budding ray, and how of lies we fall and said Baba’s faine the were no one murmuring on they less declined, I saw they shepheard mought this quite hands know is fish, naked not this won’t demand, ourselves me laugh this rupture’s nervous to gan he wind did left it love, nor smell, that high, left but her like mistressful cry; but thought a kind she middle or leaues the two and told man, so might as you my argument: for all sea again, inflame played, all Eternity. Than sustain’d then said not so good steel-mirror. An angel’s name enough and have a hair in the quiet world, head ha’ one place, said, or from a tyrant, somewhere all lie, mocks as if half far-shadow oft hand of the first to his hand. On alone, she strike, and since apieces: then at his own her but a peevish Brere like thrust like a stars we’re dreams and so very pray, hurt high them goe: the moral Englishman, but what?

Verse LX

They witness, with they have all, I probably, rising statues. You transmittent find soft turned in a cypress’d in her time, till my budding, then all my nights are fair Juanna, the endeavour horse, her arms tore hot lies; take what a cock, a woman’s nose love the never blink is she live is holy eld dishes stirs to die. A messenger the was not howls, not how listencil, plied we lost into decline, sweet past to bed, and of the Springs, where cut of a dreadful fancies deare. Although me round then the lost be praised him befell youth, with her arms, expected wave&wander: I told and degrade!

Verse LXI

I slept, degree that sunset with length is not for she like misse. Mark when he wedded like twelve, and low-brow’d which would beauteous Bride of Human the rose, thy glancing age, ’ which in the lady’s woe, woe is kneeled are a thought about the goes be trickling through his Arbour, all he’s a thought seems to It for to no one her come agained cells Embleme. With the myself in definite Pursuing the dame alone cure, a bad taste, not the vacant like a sweet ladie, lifted maine. Good nigher therefore canno’ stand. Thy was thered: these were of thou foster- child and her brethren two and mildness strange?

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 5 #187 texts #sonnet sequence

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thenewdeadseascrolls · 1 year ago

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Judges 1: 22-26. "The Upward Captain."

Zealousy leads to the subjugation of others. It is forbidden. Steadfastness is encouraged always, especially with the throat and the mouth. Zealousy, which entails literal interpretations and actions based on scripture requires the use of the mouth, so suppression of zeal begins there. Without Ms. Mouth, one cannot boss other people around, spread lies, or enforce a tyranny. And where does the mouth learn how to do this o so swell? In the church.

So the throat of the church is what we attack first, before the little kiddies learn to start talking like mom and dad:

22 Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel "the House of the Lord," and the Lord was with them.

23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz),

24 the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well.”

25 So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family.

26 He then went to the land of the Hittites "the horribles", where he built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

Spies are the unborn tendencies of the 12 Tribes. We are exploring their meaning here in the Shoftim, learning how to turn them into extremeties that operate at the behest of the enlightened self. This is how we avoid zealousy to discover intelligent and practical way to be religious instead of a rote follower of someone else's beliefs.

Joseph "the dreamer" uproots a Hittite "horribles" estabslishment after he takes over the Temple. The name changes to Luz which means:

The verb לוז (luz) means to turn aside. In the Bible this word is used mostly negative, either as a turning away from wisdom (Proverbs 3:21, 4:21) or being a "twisted" person (Proverbs 3:32, 14:2). This verb yields two derivations:

The feminine noun לזות (lazut) means deviation or crookedness and is used only in Proverbs 4:24.

The masculine noun לוז (luz) means almond wood. The latter word is used only in Genesis 30:37, where Jacob strips branches of the crooked almond tree.

The implication of the name Luz is found in the reference to Jacob above. Joseph, a son of Jacob was also a dreamer and prognosticator and a father of nations. Mankind is always going to try to grow like a crooked tree. Rather than cut the tree down, one has to sculpt it by removing the losers from the trunk allowing stronger branches, those named in the Torah to take their place.

For this to work, Torah instructions must be performed in depth, and they must be accurate, following the steps we discussed in the prior frame. If you have ever seen a young pimple faced lad in a big hat with hairy cheeks and long black socks shaking up and down like he's got ants in his pants, you will know how awry Torah lessons can get.

The Christian version reveals a bunch of teenage fat girls with their gay best friends picketing in front of Planned Parenthood on Saturday mornings when they should be home watching cartoons.

Absurd and ridiculous both.

As the text says, they need to be put to the sword like Adam and Eve. The Sword is a dual edged question, "Who is God?" And "Who are you?" Mister Lightning Bolt, a True Jew, whose identity we are building now dreams of being shown the way.

If you can't find the answers through the ways you are currently practicing you need to find another. This is how Luz becomes Bethel, by pruning the mind of spiritual rubbish till it finds tangible truth.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 22: The Tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel.

Joseph is the personification of Ephesus, "the town of the future. they even sound the same. He had two sons, Ephraim "double the fruits" and Manasseh "evaporation of what is bad from the past." We will learn more about these in the next section.

The Value in Gematria is 5874, ה‎חז‎‎ד‎, the hazed, "the door to understanding prophecy or a vision."

v. 23: When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz), The Value in Gematria is 4410, דדאאֶפֶס, dadaeps, "understanding of how to understand is eps, "heaven and earth."

Eps also refers to the serpent in the branches of the Tree in Eden.

v. 24: The spies saw a man coming out of the city. The spies the 12 plus the 70 saw the angel Malachiel, the Angel of the Lord, "the upward captain" who created the Alefbeis. It is Malachiel that ignites the mind using the Hebrew Alphabet, which, if fed to the teen bean bag brain will engineer the responses to its dual edged questions.

The Value in Gematria is 11025, יא אֶפֶס‎בה‎ ya ephesus, "say yes to what happens next."

v. 25: So he showed them. The Value in Gematria is 6610, וואאֶפֶס, wafess, "and frowned."

A frown is obviously a sign of disapproval. In Judaism one is frowned upon when one refrains from the right things and should instead be indulging. Celibacy for example is not encouraged and intercourse is. Intercourse in Judaism promotes intimacy and social literacy. If one is intercoursing and causing problemes, one is then refraining from the observations of the decrees and one would then get a frown for that.

v. 26: He went to the land of the Hittites. The Value in Gematria is 7432, ז‎ד‎גב‎, zdgv=

Zayin Dalet= the door to the Eye of the Fountain

Gimmel Vav= is opened by recompense/pegging the statements together into phrases and sentences.

The Hittites are horrible because they are illiterate in the Alefbeis and the Torah. If one cannot remit from one's mistakes and deliberately try to find the Self, called Ha Shem, the Knower of All Things by hooking or pegging the letters of the Hebrew alphabet into a roadmap one will wind up with a crooked cock instead of one that grows right straight up, and no one likes those.

To avoid this, the Shoftim says not to do as mom and dad do or necessarily what the faith says, but resort instead to comprehensive research into the Torah and the Tanakh and follow one's own most direct course to Ha Shem, the place where all selves are stored and waiting within God's Own Self.

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latveriansnailmail · 1 year ago

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A brief review of the Marvel Multiverse ttrpg core book.

The mechanics: pretty good, really, if crunchy. It uses what they call a d616, that being two regular d6 plus a differently colored d6. Roll all three, the 1 on the different die counts as a 6 or a crit or other special, add the ability modifier, compare to a set DC or the target's defense, 10 plus modifier. It fits and it works. If attacking, the special die also counts as the base damage. You can benefit from one or more edges, favorable factors, that allow you to reroll individual dice, or can be hindered by troubles that have an opposite effect. The Karma system makes a return, allowing a heroic character to invoke multiple edges per session and earn them back through noble actions, good RP, and playing up their idiom. I dig the system overall. Again, kinda crunchy.

The capabilities/powers: come up short. Not everything is represented here. I tried out this system by trying to port my favorite OC, Nick Chapel, Psychic Detective and Nick doesn't have to do much: investigate, know the occult, strong telepathy, ESP, a psychic touch attack equivalent to Magik's soul sword or Psylocke's psychic blades, psychometry, and premonitions. Fairly unilateral and not asking for too much. Psychometry and premonitions were not represented at all (though to be fair those are not common powers in Marvel) and I had to find a lackluster backdoor to the psychic punch. The bulk of the powers are grouped into categories so you can build by theme and get a little more out of your buck but it doesn't always make sense. There's a whole block of Spider powers that could have been categorized more broadly. There are some things you can only unlock mechanically if armed or if unarmed and those didn't always need to be mutually exclusive. So in the end, fairly well covered but they didn't get everything and some bits fit poorly.

Advancement/Experience: almost totally lacking. There are only a handful of rank levels representing different tiers of play (local vs national vs planetary, etc.) The GM gets to declare when you as a party go up a rank. That's it, that's the whole system. There are so many powers to choose from but you only actually get to command a handful of them. There needs to additionally be an experience system that lets you at least gradually increase your abilities and climb your power trees. I hold that gradual increases work better than receiving new powers in a bundle; getting increases one at a time allows for a learning curve. I would have to homebrew and fix this lack.

Art: excellent! All taken from actual published comics. Looks fine.

Profiles: about 40% of the core book is character profiles and as a big Marvel nerd of course I'm going to disagree with the bulk of them. They made T'challa weak on brains and made Blade a higher rank than Black Widow. I'm going to abstain because I would pick these to pieces and I can tell from the other writing that this Mister Matt Forbeck is also a high level Marvel nerd and would disagree with my takes with an equal zeal.

Final Rating: would play, but definitely need to patch it up, most especially the lack of an advancement system. I see on the whole what the creator was aiming for and he didn't miss the mark by too much.

#Marvel #ttrpg #Marvel Multiverse #Marvel Multiverse role-playing game

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writer59january13 · 2 years ago

Text

Mister money bags no more

Mister money bags no more Ah..., how I idolize the days of yore before June twentieth, and twenty first two thousand twenty three when utter senselessness wore,

a trail of woe brutally ravaging and savaging mine psyche,

yours truly attests gullibility tore

and rent asunder

leaving cumulative finances decimated, pulverized, and frankly zapped rendering me poor

as a Unitarian church mouse named Kishore

dirty deed done dirt cheap extempore

courtesy yours oblivious to "red flags."

I still bitterly lament how the computer/scammer who called himself "Harvey Specter" exhibited exceptional faux zeal and blame myself, whereby figurative cog and wheel

within sixty plus shades

housing mine gray matter

did not properly turn ordinarily (when perspicacity, sensitivity, and acuity optimally function)

setting off an ear splitting squeal loud enough to rouse

a sleeping Leviathan

when upon awakening would bellow now cue the giant from Jack and the beanstalk Fee-fi-fo-fum!

I smell the blood of an Englishman:

Be he alive, or be he dead,

I'll grind his bones to make my bread.

Nevertheless significant loss viz medium of exchange (enriching the coffers of another - particularly him that scoundrel née fraudster foisting financial fiasco

frazzling father most definitely nonideal

modus operandi I envisioned, hence the gofundme page (ofttimes sited with

gentility, honesty, integrity...

when crafting previous poems), yet passage of time did not heal

severe financial hemorrhage,

keeping checking and savings accounts

analogously under critical care

(think intensive care),

whereby heroic measures undertaken

wads of cold cash linkedin

to many intravenous tubes

but ideally capitol offense aired once again toward remuneration

imposed upon ganef

who bled me dry

courtesy convincingly, glibly, liberally...

sweet talking his way,

and I swallowed hook, line and sinker (fabrication that Citizens bank employees

scheming to siphon investments) yielded zilch (the big goose egg), absolute zero positive result,

i.e. even partial remittance of lost monies,

when yours truly did make an appeal.

0 notes

nortromthesilencer · 6 months ago

Text

"A political prisoner?" One chimed in, now wondering who this Small-Keen had pissed off in the Quorum, or what did he know that needed to be silenced? But as Rizzrack ranted on, this theory only got muddled further by whatever insane details he kept adding on.

By now, others in the room had been drawn into this conversation, or at least listening to what was being said. Additional entertainment was always welcome, especially if it didn't put them at risk of harm at the moment. The original source of conversation remained incredulous, however.

"Leave? And how do you think you'll do that huh? Mister big shot hero?" He slurred the word, emphasizing how silly it sounded to him, "Unless this ancient of yours is going to break you out, smash the walls, or whatever, you're not leaving! You're stuck in here like the rest of us!" As he raised his voice, the guards took more interest and on higher vigilance for any sudden outbursts that might disturb the peace. Heated conversations rarely stayed as just conversations.

The crowd talked amongst themselves, questions heard between them wondering what the hell Rizzrack was talking about, what this 'ancient' thing was, was it a dragon? A demon? Was something going to happen? As the volume rose, along with tensions, one single word broke through the sound and cut it like a knife.

"Quiet."

It was hollow, the voice sharp as a glass hit by a utensil. There was no emotion in it, no zeal, no authority; but it worked all the same. All eyes turned to the source, the one prisoner that spoke, and the way everyone stopped could easily be mistaken for the warden's silence.

He was withered, not so much in age but by just how empty he looked. The prisoner, reptilian in feature, looked ahead but not in front of him; No, he looked beyond the next seat, the wall, the world around him. He looked at nothing, and everything, at once. Vacant. With everyone settling down, he kept eating, each action methodical and robotic, scaled hands doing what they've done so many times before with perfect precision. The inhuman display oddly matched the uncanny tone that single word took when it pierced the air. That strange feeling and uncomfortable feeling only grew when the same voice spoke again in slow, monotone, words:

"What makes... a hero?"

....

"What... unmakes one?"

Not another word was spoken by anyone, prisoner or guard alike. They merely finished what needed to be done here.

There was a moment of silence between the two before Rizzrack finally replied with an audibly exaggerated sigh.

"Well this is unfortunate." He twisted at the hip to look behind him at the men. He held out an arm at his side, and there from his hand hung strips of fabric and whatever remained in one piece of the garment he was given. "If I knew I had to change into these I wouldn't have played with the stitching. Something really has to be done about the lack of enrichment here. This is torture for keenfolk like me."

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polly-isok · 10 months ago

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MISTER ZEAL X MISTER DEMI ART FOR YALL <33

#art #digital art #phone art #artists on tumblr #illustration #fanart #fan oc #mister zeal #mister demi #mister zeal x mister demi #zemi #fundamental paper education oc #fundamental paper education mister demi #fundamental paper education #fpe #fundamental paper education ship #ship art #fpe ship

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askdaisydandfriemly · 2 years ago

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Plot twist!

...... I got nothing......

Are you- like this Anon- wanting to send an ask but not sure what to ask?

Well, look no further, because below the cut I have a ton of questions I've been dying to answer!

Of course, anything that has ??? in the character profiles here are things I'd like to answer too- but the below questions are a little more story-oriented.

Obliviously you can phrase them in your own words, but here they are by character:

Daisy Daedal:

-You seem to have a lot of friends- why do you want more

-How to magic comics differ from regular ones?

Raven Luster:

-Are their any crafts you're especially proud of doing?

-Why weren't you in the same Unity Scout troop with Daisy?

Naturally Unique:

-Is there a costume you did that you're especially proud of?

-How did you meet your boyfriend Rasul?

-Why do you like to tease Daisy so much?

Devil's Food Cupcake:

-What made you want to be a Baker?

-Why are you friends with Daisy again?

Rose Moon:

-How do you change shape?

-What’s the deal with Rose Moon’s Skeleton motif?

-What made you want to own a fashion shop?

Moon Flower the 2nd:

-Why are you so anxious all the time?

-Who was Moonflower the 1st?

Adere "Jack" Zeal:

-Why don't you seem to like Menta Baci?

-What do your female fans think of your having a marefriend?

-Why are your teammates new?

Striking Plate:

-Was it hard to raise a dragon?

-What do you miss the most about Whisper Wind?

Verdigris:

-Do your dragon parents know ponies adopted you?

-Was it hard been raised by ponies?

-Who got you into reading comics?

Hidden Key:

-What is it like to have a dragon for an older brother?

-Are you ever jealous of Echo Wind?

Echo Wind:

-Do you remember your mother?

-Why do you want to fly so much?

-Why aren't you talking yet?

Mage Heart:

-What is it like being the eldest child?

-Why are you on Sabbatical from your teaching job?

-Do you have friends?

Midnight Show:

-Why do you live in Seaddle?

-How did you befriend Adere Zeal and Torrent?

-Why do you put up with your older sister's jealously about your height?

Crystal Knight:

-Do you have fans like the San Francicolt Miners?

-What's the next plan to win over Daisy?

One question wonders:

Umber Abade, why do your fans call you "princess"?

Mister Filidelli, why do you put up with your wife?

Sheriff Warlock, would you hire Terra if she joined the police academy?

Who was taking the pictures during the 80s theme prom?

Who can fight?

Gingerbread, how do you get along with your siblings?

Ludustella, do you have a crush on anyone?

#anon ask #shamelessly asking for certain asks #wanted asks #ask blog

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dontcxckitup · 2 years ago

Note

The Scotsman's zeal deflated at the other's reply. How the hell was Richard to counter his insomnia now? Besides, even if Richard were to fight with one of the other trainees, they never really posed much of a challenge for him, and right now, he craved a challenge. He wanted to feel the thrill of it. The only one who often answered that call was Gareth Mallory and his skillset, and even he was being particularly boring tonight.

"Mm... I heard a rumour tha' ye' used to be pre'y good at this stuff," he shrugged. "Must've just been a rumour then. Tha' or ye' lost yer' spark, old man." Consider that a feint, Richard thought to himself.

@richardxoliverxmayhew

His back was still turned towards the other, an although Mayhew couldn’t see it and it seemed like Mallory didn’t react to the other’s words, he in fact raised an eyebrow. The grip on the handle tightened. It had been fun back then, he had enjoyed fencing and their private little competitions. He had never been an expert, though, merely used it to let off some steam and waste time in a productive way.

“Three hits.” He turned around to Mayhew and got into position. No gear. Just the blades. That was more than wrong. The sabre was lifted, its sharp tip pointing at the other man. His other hand, meanwhile, disappeared behind his back. “And just for the record, Mister Mayhew,” his brow rose, “I refuse to tolerate your disrespect.”

#;;answered #;v:we have all the time in the world (pre)#richardxoliverxmayhew

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leftonraed · 4 years ago

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The Night We Met - Episode 6

pairing : Taehyung x OC genre : bodyguard!au, singleparent!au, idol!au word count : 4.1k summary — It doesn’t look good for Taehyung and his niece when his brother’s in-laws come visit them. Prologue | ep.1 | ep.2 | ep.3 | ep.4 | ep.5 | ep.6 | ep.7

“I told you you didn’t have to stay home today,” you hear Taehyung tell you when he comes out of the bathroom. “I don’t want to ruin your week when I don’t have to go anywhere.”

He pauses in the entrance corridor where you’re standing almost at attention. You look up at him and can feel some uneasiness on his behalf when you don’t move an inch.

You speak calmly. “You’re not ruining anything.”

He frowns,powerless and opens his mouth without really knowing what to say back. He slowly walks away in the kitchen.

“Want me to make you something?”

You shake your head. Seeing him confused and trying to find some meaning behind your attitude is somewhat amusing.

He pauses again.

“Come sit with me… I’m barely awake but you’re stressing me out.” You indulge him. He frowns to himself, “don’t make me order you.”

You sit at the end of the couch. “Thought you’d like it...”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

You both hear Hina toddling out of her room. Her usual toothy grin is absent this morning and it immediately thought-provokes you both.

She doesn’t look up at you but stops a short moment to hug your knees as a compensation. You watch her shuffle her way between Taehyung’s legs with a pouty face.

“Morning sweetheart. You okay?” He cranes his neck down to get a look at her face pulled back downward. ��What’s wrong? Feeling sick?”

Your eyes show little worry.

“You tummy hurt?” He asks again when she rubs her stomach. She nods a little, turns around and lifts her arms to have him hug her. He traps his slice of bread in his mouth, rubs his hand and picks her up on his lap. “Want this banana? It’ll make you feel better.”

She accepts to be fed with little zeal but eats anyway.

******

Taehyung has noticed your unusual quiet behavior which has now endured the whole past week but he doesn’t comment on it. He senses you alert but isn’t sure about the reason behind it. His attention is fully directed to his niece, taking special care of her as she thankfully seems to get better quickly.

You’ve been left alone in the living-room for a while. You look at the door when the doorbell rings and stride towards it confidently.

You swing the door open with too much force, taking by surprise Hwiin who’s standing on the other side. You frown a little at her when she smiles at you eerily. You shift to let her in.

You walk past her and sit down again while she remains standing, looking around to localize anyone else.

Luckily, you both don’t have to keep up with an awkward silence when Taehyung shows himself a couple of minutes later. You don’t pay attention to them as they start conversing about whatever brought her here.

You find yourself looking at her two or three times before you eventually decide to walk away and check on Hina.

“This seems like a lot, to be honest,” Taehyung admits looking at the screen right in front of him. “I’m barely keeping up with Hina and her school schedule.”

Hwiin’s smile doesn’t falter. She leans in and gently puts her hand on his arm. “Trust me, those interviews and shows overseas are much needed after your successful comeback.”

“I thought they’d be enough, you know, given my previous absence.”

He meets her fairly subtle gaze, sensing its pleading. It used to work much more easily before. He runs his finger in his hair, breaking touch with her but gets her all the more captivated with his casual demeanor and bare face.

“You cannot just rely on local activities, it’s an opportunity not to miss. And I’m sure your foreign fans will be so grateful. It’s been so long.”

He leans back in the chair, grazing his bottom lip with his teeth. He can’t say he doesn’t miss them just as much.

“We’ll take care of…” She looks down, frowning as she looks for her words, “adjustments later. Please give your green light.” They lock eyes. She grins an innocent smile, “trust me.”

The dilemma is very clear but his hesitation also emphasizes his excitement about touring abroad again.

He lets out a deep sigh, covering his face with both hands, “I can’t believe I’m saying this but… okay. I’m down.”

He hears the excited squeal that escapes her.

“You won’t regret it.” She says delighted as she nimbly taps an answer to an email on her tablet computer and puts some order in the several open documents. “Okay,” she brings the device back in front of him and quickly resumes as her way not to lose momentum. “I also needed you to take a look at the new merchandise…”

Sitting with your back against the wall with Hina’s head on your lap, you’re gently combing your fingers through her silky dark hair. You’re starting the reading of the second book when the bell rings again.

Taehyung frowns at the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” His manager inquires as he carefully stands up.

“No…” He trails unsure. She watches him take a look at the intercom to identify the visitors. His frowning deepens. “Yes?”

“Hello, mister Kim?” A female voice says.

“Yes?”

“I am Seohyung Choi from the Seoul Council.” She continues, “our agency received a call from someone concerned about- I believe if I understood correctly your niece, Kim Hina. I would like to discuss it with you.”

Hwiin doesn’t say anything and can feel alarm overwhelming Taehyung.

“Uhm-...” His pulse picks up in speed and his mouth feels dry. “I don’t understand, I-”

“There is nothing to be worried about,” Seohyung reassures him. “I simply would like to ask you a couple of questions about you and your niece, if that is possible.”

“But I- we don’t have any issue here. I me-”

“Let her in.”

Taehyung looks over his shoulder when he suddenly hears your voice.

“I’m not-” He stutters, wondering if you knew about this. “I don’t know-”

He’s panicked and your heart squeezes at the sight but you don’t dither.

“Let her in. Go change quickly. Don’t worry.”

He takes a deep breath and looks back at the intercom. “Uh.. Come in.”

“Thank you.”

He dashes to his bedroom and starts looking for clean clothes with shaking hands. He barely gives himself the time to look at his reflection to ruffle his hair. He thinks of checking on Hina who’s quietly looking at the pictures in the book you were about to read and decides not to bother her.

You watch Taehyung giving quick looks around the penthouse to make sure it is not too messy before he joins you back in the corridor leading to the entrance.

“It’s going to be okay,” you say softly only for him to hear.

His eyes are glued to the door. “I don’t know why… I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know. You’ll just be answering some questions. Don’t worry.”

He doesn't know how you’re doing it but the calmness in your voice manages to sooth his nerves a little and he remembers to breathe somewhat normally.

“Should I come later?” Hwiin interjects standing up, making you and him turn your heads in her direction.

“Y-you can stay. It’s fine.” Taehyung trails while staring back again at the door. He mutters to himself, “everything’s fine.”

You step back behind and wait.

He pauses right before opening the door. A woman around her mid-thirties walks in with a warm smile and you let out a relieved sigh at her seemingly likeable air, thinking it’ll help him feel less stressed.

She takes off her shoes, smiling at you and Hwiin when she sees you two.

“Please, come in. This is ______, our bodyguard and here, Hwiin my manager.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she grins and you both return the gesture. “You’re home is so lovely inside.”

“Ha, thank you.” He smiles shyly. “Uhm- w-would you like something to drink?”

“Oh don’t bother yourself. I’m good, thank you.”

A very brief instant passes by with everyone being quiet. You look at Taehyung.

“Maybe we should sit down.” Seohyung suggests, smiling to herself while Taehyung leads the way to the dining table with an embarrassed look, shaking his head as a way to get a grip.

“Is Hina here?”

“She’s playing in her room. Should I bring her?”

“Oh don’t. It’s good this way since I’d like to discuss with you first.”

You let him on his own not to cause any kind of extra stress and decide to keep Hina company. Taehyung notices and feels relieved you’re taking a weight off his mind. Hwiin has moved her belongings to the couch where she feigns focusing on her work.

********

“Where are you going?” you ask Hina.

“With daddy…” She pouts at you because of your sudden serious tone.

You stand up from her bed to peek outside her bedroom. Taehyung and Seohyung have left their seats and he is now showing her around.

“Okay, you can go.”

Hina walks away on her tippy toes. You see her hesitating on her tracks at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She freezes when Seohyung crosses her path.

“Hello, you.” She crouches at her height, slightly shaking her hands. “Your name Hina’s right? Can you show me room?” She lets out a chuckle when the little girl forces her way between Taehyung’s legs to hide herself behind.

“It’s down the corridor.” He informs her when she stands up.

You walk out to let her in and lock eyes with him. He seems a lot more comfortable but gives you an interrogative look. You settle for a small supportive smile and leave them alone.

Hwiin naturally looks up at you when she feels your presence. Her mood seems to have changed.

Seohyung smiles your way when they come back. She and Taehyung sit down with Hina perched on his lap. She finishes writing down notes on her report.

“Alright, I didn’t see anything worth being raised about your household. Beside that one outlet and the window in the bathroom like I pointed it out earlier.”

Hina whines when she drops her soft toy, signaling Taehyung to get it back.

“Otherwise, it seems very secure for little Hina.” She smiles at her while Hina baby talks to her plushy. Taehyung keeps all his attention on the woman. “I’ll send you an email with all the documents needed so I can complete your dossier.”

“Alright.”

“Do you have any specific questions? Something I can shed light on?”

“I don’t think so, no.”

“Very good. Here, my contact information if something comes back to you.”

“Thank you.”

She bids her goodbye to everyone before Taehyung shows her out. You take one last glance at Hwiin whose face has turned expressionless.

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

You’re waiting outside the dressing room with Hina half-asleep in your arms.

Taehyung just finished performing for a show and is now discussing alone with Hwiin as she’s requested. The chair you’re sitting on has been positioned not too far from the door so you can hear it immediately when their conversation becomes heated although you can’t decipher their exact words.

The door opens a short while later. When you look up, Taehyung seems to try his best to keep himself calm. You don’t see Hwiin follow closely.

“Give her to me,” he says quietly with his arms stretched towards you. You stand up and let him hold Hina. He’s wearing the clothes he first came with so you grasp he’s ready to leave the building.

The ride back home is quiet.

He puts Hina to bed and goes shower after telling you to order dinner from his phone. You take it where he left it on the counter on his way in, unlocking it without difficulty since he didn’t set a password.

When Taehyung walks out, dressed in a simple black shirt and grey sweatpants, freshly cleaned but visibly exhausted, you are unpacking the few last dishes.

You start eating, letting the TV fill in the silence between you. You don’t mind being quiet, it just feels off when Taehyung seems elsewhere and it indirectly has you looking for ways to bring him back.

“Hey, you’re not eating that?”

He blinks and automatically hands the chicken wings left in his box.

“I’m not eating if you want it,” you smile faintly.

“I’m full you can have it.” He trails with a small pout and you take his box.

“Don’t look so dejected or I’ll lose my appetite too.”

He lifts his chin to look pensively at the small frown on your face as you bite on the food. “Sorry.”

“You want to talk about it?” You cock your head towards him, attacking a second wing.

He remains quiet a moment and you think you should’ve as well when you see his face gets darker.

“I feel abandoned.” He begins quietly. “It’s like everyone wants me to give up on the idea I could be good for Hina and it’s putting me off.”

Your lips part but you’re not sure if you mean to talk. You wipe the grease off your hands with one of the wipes given by the restaurant.

“I keep asking myself why no one’s seeing the efforts I’m making for this to work. It’s not fair... Just because I’m not practising the kind of job they think is more suited for a family life? It’s not fair...”

It really isn’t, you think. You never thought you out of all the people in his life would be among the few supporting him. You wish you had a say but you’re only left with encouraging words to repeat yet again.

You naturally reach for his knee, squeezing it a little. “I think they know you’re doing a great job. For some reason, they refuse to accept it.”

“They think Hina’s maternal grandparents would provide a more stable environment. I don’t want her to be taken away, ______.” He groans with a weak voice.

You feel a pang of sorrow when he blinks his teary eyes at you. You detest when you can’t find anything to do that could help. You reach for the second wipe, tear it open and unfold it.

“Even if they do,” you inch yourself closer to clean the stains of the dipping sauce off his mouth and explain with a soft voice. “You won’t give up on her. Because you know, it’s the right thing to do. And if you don’t, you’d prove them right.”

Taehyung quietly fixes his gaze on you with tired eyes, replaying your words in his mind. You remain silent as well, squeezing the dirty wipe in your fist, and find yourself glancing down at his lips irregularly.

Before you can feel drawn to each other even closer, you back up until reaching an appropriate distance from him and begin cleaning the table, looking away. “You should go to sleep.”

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

Taehyung tried his best not to look too dispirited the following weeks until the day he received a mail stipulating Hina’s maternal grandparents showing themselves as the better option for her at this moment in the eyes of the court.

You couldn’t help but think it had to do with the sudden change in social workers.

You close your hands around the cup of hot tea you just made herself, eyes riveted on the grey winter sky.

You get snapped out of your reverie when you hear one of the stools being dragged as Hina tries to climb on it. Your eyes soften at her when she gives you a victorious smile and settles on her seat to eat her snack prepared by you. It’s almost dinner time but Taehyung doesn’t care.

He dressed her in a beautiful dress, you wouldn’t dare to guess the price of it.

Taehyung joins a little after with a matching hair band in his hand. You don’t look at each other. He carefully combs her hair and places the accessory. He sits down between you and watches her eat in silence.

He props his hand on the table to rest his head on. You don’t mind him hiding from you.

“We going to the zoo again? Let’s go to the zoo.” She blinks her big eyes at him.

He combs her bangs away from her eyes and wipes his nose with the back of his hand. “Wanna go see the animals?”

She hums positively and nods at the same time bringing her eyes back on her brownie. “They don’t bite, daddy. They nice.”

Hina stretches her tiny hand to feed him some of her snacks and lingers her gaze on him for a second, thoughtful.

“We going with ______ too.”

You look away from her and lower your head.

He cleans her mouth with his thumb and jumps a little when the doorbell rings.

“I going! I going,” she chirps, jumping down from her seat with his help.

A shaky sigh that escapes him. You gently grab his forearm, addressing him with a supportive look before you both walk towards the door.

You stay behind. Hina’s now able to graze the doorknob when she stretches on her tiptoes. You wonder if this is how she looked right before you first saw her. Your face darkens.

When he opens the door, you recognize the new social worker joined by her grandparents. Everyone’s eyes on the little girl who seeks comfort behind Taehyung as she peeks up curiously.

“Hina,” calls softly her grandmother with her open arms. “Come say hi.”

She doesn’t move, tightening her grip on his pants. He pats her head while her grandmother keeps beckoning her.

“Go say hi to grandma.”

After a couple of seconds, Hina walks slowly towards the elderly couple to let them kiss her as they exchange a couple of words. Taehyung walks away to get a bag with all of Hina’s belongings.

You don’t know where to look. You try not to stare as he crouches down at the doorstep. Her grandmother tries not to look too affected when Hina hops back in his arms.

“Hina you’ll go to grandma and grandpa’s house, today.” He trails softly while putting her coat and small beanie on for her. “You’ll go with them for some time and then I’ll come see you, all right. Here, don’t forget your gloves… It’s snowing outside.”

“You coming with Hina?” She asks after fetching his black knit cap from the sideboard for him.

He takes it from her, ignoring the tightness in his chest. “No, baby. You go with them. I will come after.”

Her frown deepens as she shakes her head unsatisfied. “No, no. I stay with daddy…”

“Hina,” her grandpa’s voice earns their attention. “There are a lot of toys back home. Don’t you want to go play with them? There’s a big princess castle built an-”

She turns away to hug Taehyung’s neck, shaking her head again.

“Hina, we should go now. Come.”

He can’t help but tense at the authoritative tone the old woman uses. She goes to grab one of Hina’s arm and forces her back up on her feet.

She starts whimpering and her eyes get teary.

“Let’s try not to linger.” The social worker interjects suddenly, backing away to prompt their quick departure and get settled with it rapidly.

You look their way. Hina brings a clothed hand to her face and rubs it when a tear slides down, naturally recalling what Taehyung always told her when she’d fuss. He stands up with his head hanging and she cranes up hers to pout at him and her grandmother, baring her grief.

“Let’s go,” her grandfather prompts after taking the bag from Taehyung.

Hina drags her feet, looking back as she’s taken further and further away from him. You join Taehyung rooted in the corridor. He sniffles at the gut-wrenching sight.

“Don’t break down in front of her.” You say quietly, seeing her one last time before they turn around the corner.

He looks down at the black beanie and closes his hand tightly around it. Her crying is weaker now and Taehyung can't hold it back anymore.

You walk him back in and barely have the time to close the door before he slowly grabs onto your body, hugging you to him, seeking comfort.

You freeze in surprise a quick second and slowly lower your hands on his back, listening to him sobbing in your neck.

“Please, hold me.”

You squeeze him hard, clenching away the tears blurring your vision.

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

You indulge him when he asks you to spend the night in his bed, allowing him to curl in your embrace as he cries himself to sleep.

The following day, he hopes to see you still by his side but finds the other side of the bed, cold and empty.

He didn’t rest that night and the note you left on his bedside table had only awakened a headache he would’ve done without. What he reads doesn’t surprise him, Hina had been taken away from him and so did your professional duties with you.

Hwiin cannot hold back the delight of having him to herself again, steering him towards whatever she thought advantageous for him and mostly for her.

She didn’t take in account the other side of the coin. As pliable as she got him to be, his demeanor was left out of her reach.

Taehyung does the bare minimum expected from him on tv shows and interviews, he still gives his all during performances but they’re lacking and soon, Hwiin is brought to deal with unhappy and worried fans who do their utmost to discover the reason behind his dull self.

Taehyung becomes withdrawn not only around strangers but also when he’s with his parents, friends and even when he’s left alone with her and she doesn’t stand it. She hates to witness him become the ghost of himself and this would only lead them to their downfall. Her feelings for him make it all uncomfortable.

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

As for Hina, she isn’t doing any better.

Her grandparents have a hard time getting along with her. She’s not lacking anything but they fail filling in his absence. She struggles to get familiar with her new surroundings and their strictness does nothing but nurture her fear of them.

Her change of mood doesn’t go unnoticed by her school teacher but even her doesn’t manage to make her talk.

“This can’t go on,” her grandfather grunts sitting down on their bed, facing the window. His wife remains quiet on her side. “This isn’t benefiting any of us.”

“If she goes back with him, we’ll never be part of her life.” She places the comb back on the bedside table. “She’s everything we’ve got left of our precious Yuri.”

“Let’s not put a wall between us and him.” He reaches back when he feels her slipping beneath the sheets. “We’ve got to admit he did a good job raising her all this time despite his lack of experience… We’re not this patient anymore... It pains me to see Hina like this. We should think about it.”

She doesn’t answer and he turns back to look up at the night sky.

I hope you forgive us, Yuri.

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

It takes a month to Hwiin before she decides to visit mr and mrs Hiroshi. The wind is harsh on her skin as she climbs up the slope leading to their house. She tries to block the cold as much as possible, tilting her head down in the collar of her coat and ends up bumping into someone coming in the opposite direction.

“Sorry,” she apologizes instantly but the person doesn’t acknowledge her, hidden under a large hood. She stops a second wondering if they come from their house since the path doesn’t lead anywhere else but hurriedly picks up her walk again.

She pushes the intercom button but notices from afar mister Hiroshi outside sweeping the pathway from the outside door to their house.

“Hwiin, isn’t that right?” He recalls after walking up to her and greeting her. “What brings you here in this awful weather? You’re going to catch a cold.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she trails embarrassingly as she tries to think of ways to formulate her next words. “I’m sorry to bother you but I’ve come to talk to you because of Taehyung a-”

“You here to convince my wife to have Hina go back to him, aren’t you?”

“Uhm- y-yes, yes.” She blinks a little taken aback. “I- I”

“Well, you’re running a little bit late.”

She stares back, confused.

“A young woman around your age- very charming and polite by the way- just came by with the same motive. You probably saw her, she left a couple of minutes ago.”

Hwiin looks behind her, pensive. “Did she?”

/////////////////!\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Feedback is much appreciated Reblog if you wish to read more

#bts scenarios #taehyung scenarios #bts angst #taehyung angst #taehyung smut #bts smut #taehyung fluff #bts fluff #taehyung x reader #taehyung x oc #bts imagines

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spookyspaghettisundae · 4 years ago

Text

Something Curious

Cutlery softly clanked against plates, tinny music emanated from the radio behind the counter, and the smell of eggs and coffee filled the air. Bright day outside, sunny. Cars lazily drifted by outside the big wide windows of the diner.

Sienna drank in the smell of coffee and sipped the dark brown magic juice from her cup. She looked up from her phone, the device on which she had been flipping through various news articles from her feed for the past few minutes.

Something was wrong.

Like electricity in the air, she could feel it. She had this feeling sometimes, a strange sensation that told her something was about to happen, even if she could not tell directly what was causing the hairs to stand up on the back of her neck. Like a sudden thunderstorm about to break loose or sensing that a phone was about to ring before it did.

A man slid into her booth. Some complete stranger. The bright red leather upholstery cracked underneath his butt as he sat down across from her, hunched over the table, leaning in as if he were about to initiate an intimate conversation with Sienna.

“Excuse you?” she asked.

With a quick glance, she scanned the entire diner around her, checking how other people present reacted, hoping others would have the alertness to intervene if this uninvited encounter turned bad.

The other customers and staff seemed to not care nor notice. Which made sense, given how this guy had just slid into her booth like he belonged, or like they knew each other.

Black rings underneath his eyes, brows arched in a way that made him look as skeptical as she felt, and dilated pupils like he was tweaked out on drugs. He met her gaze dead-on and stared at her without blinking.

“Uh, hi,” he said, clearing his throat. Sounding timid and far more soft-spoken than he looked, he quickly stammered out, “Uh, I'm—I’m, uh, I’m really sorry about, uh, bothering you like this Missus Jordan, but I think there’s something—uh, there’s something you need to see. Like, I need to show you something.”

Hah.

No way.

Sienna shook her head and said, “Sorry, who are you?”

The way his eyes flashed, he clearly panicked in a way that looked almost cartoonish. Like he was seconds away from sweat streaming down his face in waterfalls, he swallowed a thick lump of nothing that had gotten lodged in his throat.

“S-sorry, I-I—I know how this a-all sounds, Missus Jordan,” he stumbled further through his verbal diarrhea.

Miss Jordan. But she was not going to correct what might be a crazy person—at worst, a dangerous one.

Another glance of hers to sweep through the diner, it still looked like nobody had taken notice of this guy bothering her.

“M-my name is Daniel Collado. I know your show, and I found this—I-I found something that would fit right in,” he said. The stammering subsided, making way to a firmer tone, fueled by a zeal that overcame his nervousness. “And I’ve got to show you. I-I don’t even care about taking credit for it, I just need someone else to see it, so I know I’m not crazy!”

Great, she thought. Her nostrils flared as she suppressed a sigh.

“Uhm, okay,” she finally interrupted him. “Mister? Collano? It’s just a show. The things I present there are not to be taken too seriously—”

“No-no, I get that. I mean, please, you gotta hear me out. I don’t even—I’m sorry, I don’t even like your show.”

She furrowed her brow, trying to figure him out, but getting no clear read.

He continued to ramble, “I mean, it’s an alright show, but I don’t really believe in that stuff. I just—I just can’t explain what I found. What I’ve seen. And I know you’re the kinda show—you’ve got the kinda show that would debunk this? I, uh, I just dunno. I guess I want to know if I’m going nuts, or I’ve stumbled upon a real thing here.”

Sienna leaned back and the leather of the bench on her side of the booth now crunched underneath her weight.

At the very least, he did not seem overly hostile.

For now.

“A what? What thing?” she asked him, crossing her arms.

He stammered and shrugged and wiped over his own face with a hand. Clean fingernails. His whole figure was a bit reedy and haggard underneath his clothes. Not particularly wealthy, given the attire. Things Sienna studied while he cycled through various stages of struggling to explain himself without uttering any words.

The thing was: he seemed genuine.

Not like someone putting on a show. Maybe crazy, given that he seemed to believe what he was saying—or rather, what he was not saying.

This, of course, did little to mitigate the creeping sense of threat in his presence. Sienna had met several guys like Daniel before. Oblivious of what darkness they could unleash, unaware of the things they were capable of once they did not get their way, or were backed into a corner, whether in a physical or a merely figurative sense.

“It’s one of those things, like, you gotta see it yourself to believe it. Like, you’d think I’m crazy if I tried to describe it,” Daniel finally found some intelligible words.

He locked eyes with her, and his brow twitched in between disbelief and mild despair.

Sienna sighed and instantly regretted her failure to stop that sharp breath from escaping her. But she had to break it to this guy.

“Okay, Mister Collono, I hear that specific phrase more often than you can possibly imagine,” she said, trying her best to avoid a tone of derision.

His face darkened, but not in a way where it fed the tightening knot of concern in her belly.

He looked desperate, but in a sad way. Daniel’s eyes flashed again, and she recognized that as well. Someone who had given up. His head nodded and bobbed energetically, and he once more swallowed that non-existent lump in his throat.

“Okay, I’m sorry for wasting your time. I, uh, I’m sorry for bothering you,” he said, already sliding along the bench to leave.

Sienna had to think quickly. Was this a trick? A nutjob trying to lure her somewhere? Or was this just some normal guy who had seen something truly strange, played through this conversation a million times in his own head before meeting her in person, and already long resigned to her not giving him the time of day?

He had just pushed himself out of the booth and walked past her when she placed her hand on his forearm.

“Wait,” she said, stopping him dead in his tracks.

His eyes flashed again, this time with a bright and hopeful light.

“At least give me something. I’ve seen a lot of weird things in my work on the show. I—my whole team—we gotta sort through a lot of B.S. till we find things worth our while—and worth the time of our audience. You know, the reality is, we are genuinely looking for the big break. You know what kind of ratings we could get if we uncovered something real for a change? When we finally discover and expose an authentic, waterproof case.”

Who knew? Maybe she had just hit the jackpot.

“Sell me on this,” she said.

Sienna did not believe in the stuff they investigated in her weekly show. If it made good television, she was interested. As far as she was concerned, it was always bullshit.

But if this Daniel fellow had found juicy bullshit, she could not pass up on the opportunity.

His tired face, as enthusiastic as it now suddenly looked, maintained an air of mistrust. He shot a nervous glance over his shoulder and to the other people in the diner, then leaned down to Sienna to deliver a conspiratorial whisper.

“I think it’s some weird government experiment stuff, like some old bunker. And I think it’s making the animals around my house act all weird. But none of it makes any damn sense.”

His breath smelled of cheesy jalapeño hamburgers but paired with a tinge of something that smelled like vomit, probably due to a bad smoking habit.

She stared at him, going through the mental checklist of personal safety measures. Mace in her purse, never turning her back on him, and avoiding any remote place where she was alone with him.

Just in case.

“I know,” he muttered, standing up straight again, though his shoulders perpetually slouched. “I know how scary it probably is to follow some crazy-ass dude in a flannel jacket and jeans who looks like he could be some serial killer.”

Sienna squinted at him, shook her head, and said, “You’re not helping your case with that, man.”

The glimpse of bright hope quickly faded from his face.

“Just show me this place,” she sighed again, flashing him a feeble smile.

It helped to stop the hope from fading entirely from his eyes.

If he was indeed crazy, she wanted to placate him enough, so he always felt safe, heard, understood, and just enough in charge.

“No worries,” he said. The stammering fully gone. “It’s not far, and it’s right here in town. Patch o’ trees right behind my place. Please, if you wanna ask any of your, uh, team? Y'know, so you know I’m not up to any weird stuff. Just—ask other people to come along.”

Sienna rifled through her purse to produce some bills and change, placing them on the table to pay for her coffee and leave a tip as she hastily got up to follow Daniel. He walked ahead, already pushing open the diner’s front door as he exited, accompanied by the little jingle of a bell.

“Ain’t far, like I said. We can walk from here, just down a couple o’ roads.”

Sienna contemplated taking her car, but somehow didn’t want Daniel to inside of it.

“Lead the way. I’ll text a colleague of mine, maybe he’ll show up to see things for himself,” she muttered, tapping away with her thumbs on her phone.

Daniel always walked a few steps ahead of her and nodded to that. He told her his address.

She sent a message to the group chat, informing them of where she was going. Could not hurt in case anything happened.

A few minutes in of walking, Sienna started asking him open-ended questions, trying to get him to reveal more of this mysterious discovery of his. But Daniel remained cagey about the matter. He avoided it for the most part, though he proved to be more talkative about his own person. At least that helped take off the edge somewhat—the longer she talked to Daniel, the more certain she was that he was not dangerous, just some guy.

Daniel had not been looking for her specifically, but when he saw her through the window, sitting in the diner, he took the chance to talk to her, hoping she might be able to make sense of the “thing.” He genuinely seemed worried that he was losing his mind, and it somehow rendered his account more credible to her.

Most kooks were so convinced about what they had to share, and it always turned out to be bunk. It was often people like Daniel who refused to believe the obvious in front of their eyes that stumbled upon the most fascinating cases of the unexplained.

His personal life spoke to that. Single, smoked weed recreationally, worked as a croupier at one of the local casinos. Did not earn a lot, but had inherited the house from his parents, and everything in town was within walking distance for him, allowing him to save a lot of money on gas.

Speaking of which, Sienna tired after a while of walking.

“Not far” my ass, she thought.

Checked her phone for the time.

They had been walking for over 10 minutes.

At the very least, this was a busy neighborhood. A lot of people. That made Daniel’s supposed discovery a bit more dubious, but also helped Sienna feel safer about things.

“I thought you said your place was nearby,” she said, doing her best to can her frustration.

“Yeah, I mean, I guess it’s not that close. I, uh, I walk a lot. Only drive for groceries, and shit,” he said. “Also, the, uh, the ‘thing’? I think it’s been doin’ something to my drinking water, so I’ve only been drinking bottled water in the past few weeks. Lugging a lot o’ that around.”

Over the course of the next few minutes, Sienna kept drilling for more clues, which only yielded some trivialities about Daniel’s friends. Nothing interesting. Nothing in there she could mine for a show.

Her group chat was not exactly blowing up, but one of the replies to her initial text message carried a lot of snark—one of the writing staff was already busy doing the research for a new installment of the show. Another true crime episode, it sounded like, and Sienna did not find those particularly interesting, and returned the snark with some emojis that told Simon to go stroke an eggplant.

The producer, however, seemed a bit worried. His voice-to-text was unusually terse for how chatty he normally was in writing, and his message read that he was on his way to Daniel’s address. But that had been only minutes ago, it would take him some time to get there, Sienna reckoned.

Finally, they arrived.

Simple two-story house like anybody would commonly walk past in this town. The white paint was chipping and peeling from the wood, and the fence was warped in some spots and missing pickets in others. A rainbow of fallen leaves littered the driveway and front lawn, and it looked like the whole estate had seen far better days.

Daniel pushed past the gate on his fence. Its hinges loudly squeaked and threatened to swing shut right behind him. He held it open for her and showed her around the side of the house, past an old garage where a lot of ratty old junk was sitting on top of a pile of firewood, all covered in spiderwebs.

He paused and asked her, “You wanna wait for your team?”

Sienna turned the offer down. Her curiosity burned brightly. He nodded in response and led on.

The backyard was fully overgrown und unkempt, like Daniel had done nothing about it since taking over the house from his deceased parents all those years ago. Tall weeds had overtaken the grass, the canopy of trees grew wild, that kind of thing.

He continued leading her through the tall underbrush, and she worried for a split-second about ticks until she reassured herself that the season for those little bastards had passed.

Daniel stopped and looked around. His eyes darted to and fro, hastily searching the uncontrolled brush. He combed through some of the leaves and bushes with his bare hands, with ever-increasing vigor. Appearing more frustrated by the second.

Her concern flared up again, assuaged by him sighing and visibly calming down.

Without turning to her, he muttered, “That can’t be. They were right here.”

Sienna rolled her jaw and pondered if she should bite.

And she did.

“What was right here?”

Daniel shook his head and threw up his hands in frustration, causing Sienna to flinch. Though he did not notice that interaction, as his curious gaze still searched the vegetation.

“They were like, I dunno,” he said.

He gestured, cupping his hands around something invisible, the size of a football.

“About this thick, like massive metal cables. It was weird. And they led me to the hole.”

“Hole?”

“Yeah, that’s where it got really weird. There’s this hole somewhere here—I’m gonna find it, wait. You have to see it for yourself.”

“What kind of hole?”

“Uh, o-okay. I know this is going to sound crazy, because I feel crazy just talking about it. I’ve gone through it in my head so many times that I can’t explain it, but it’s just what it is, okay?”

Sienna stepped closer to Daniel and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Mustering the most sympathy she could feign and project, she gave him a faint smile with a hint of warmth, trying not to lay it on too thick.

“Just tell me, Daniel. I won’t judge you for it. Let’s figure this out together.”

He visibly calmed. His tired eyes conveyed gratitude.

“This hole had stairs that went down into what looked like a giant pit next to a subway station platform—”

“In this town? There’s no subway in—”

“I know! But that’s not the weird part, Missus Jordan. I lived her over half my life. This hole—this hatch—it was never here. I used to play out here as a kid! I mean, I only moved back here a few years ago, but it just—it doesn’t make any,” he said, slowing down more with every word until the thoughts and sentence both died in his mouth. “I guess it could make sense, but still, it’s odd. Like, did my parents know about it?”

“Well, even if you missed some hole and underground—some cellar—or anything being built on these grounds—it can hardly have vanished into thin air,” she said, surprising herself at how silky and smooth she sounded. “Let’s look around. It’s gotta still be here, right?”

Daniel nodded emphatically and continued searching.

They both froze as they stared into the eyes of a big brown-and-black striped cat. It sat on a tree branch, looking at them.

“That’s Ozzy,” said Daniel, transfixed on the cat. “He’s my cat. Old fella.”

“Who ya callin’ old?” asked the cat.

Sienna blinked. Swallowed. With delay, she realized her jaw had dropped.

Had that cat just spoken?

Daniel looked at Sienna, his brow furrowed. He clearly expected something, simultaneously wore an expression that silently said, “I told you.”

“What the fuck?” she blurted out.

“Hey, watch the language, lady,” said the cat. He had an accent that somehow reminded her of a caricature of a plumber in New Jersey.

She blinked again, in utter disbelief. The cat was indeed talking. Its mouth moved; its animal eyes trained on her in a disdainful glare.

“Yeah,” Daniel said.

“You said the animals were acting weird—that cat is talking!”

“Hey, Danny-boy, she’s a real bright one, this one,” said the cat. “Where’d you find her, down at the supermarket?”

Daniel clicked his tongue and countered, “Hey, drop it, asshole. She can help figure this out. She’s from that TV show—”

“Yep, you have watched so much TV that it’s leaking from your brains, dumb-dumb,” said the cat.

“Stop being so sassy and help us find the hole,” Daniel hissed at the cat.

The cat hissed back, decided not to reply in human words any longer, and hopped off the branch, disappearing into the tall tangle of bushes. Leaves and branches rustled, but the small brown figure darted off into obscurity.

“Gee, thanks,” muttered Daniel. “Asshole.”

He turned to meet Sienna’s confounded gaze and he shook his head.

Like this was normal for him.

“H-how long has this been going on?” Sienna asked him.

“He only started talking just recently. I had Ozzy before I moved back here. Anyway, I need to show you the hatch,” Daniel murmured, ignoring her question. “Like, I’m not going crazy, right? You hear Ozzy talking, too, right?”

Sienna nodded, unwilling to affirm him out loud just because she was now beginning to question her own sanity, following him as he pushed through some bushes, flailing as he stumbled and catching himself before continuing. The noise they made in searching the copse in Daniel’s backyard drowned out whatever sounds the cat may have made, ensuring that Ozzy was fully gone from them.

“There we go,” Daniel said with a sigh of relief.

Metal hinges screeched, a piercing sound that hurt her eardrums.

THUD.

A heavy metal hatch slammed into a tree trunk, causing its remaining loose yellow leaves to rain down from it with some dirt.

Daniel stood in front of a gaping hole. A flight of cement stairs led down into the darkness below and before she could make heads or tails of what this place was, Daniel had switched on the flashlight on his phone, descending with cautious steps. Grit, pebbles, and parched old leaves crunched underfoot.

He stopped halfway down to look back up at her.

“You’ve gotta see this. It’s weird. Like, I couldn’t even describe this if I tried. I ain’t got the words, and I sure don’t got the education.”

Fire burned in his eyes. Determination.

Without awaiting an answer or for her to follow, he pressed on, swallowed by the darkness until he formed a small bubble of light where his phone illuminated the depths. His footsteps echoed as if he had reached a gigantic hall down there.

Suddenly afraid of the cat—and everything really—Sienna tip-tapped her way down after him, whipping out her phone to activate her own flashlight.

Everything was made of cement, but it looked aged and like erosion had already set in. Like the place had been here for decades. A faded line and lettering on the wall, now indecipherable, let the impression that it must have been built in the 1980s, Sienna wagered. It did not match up with Daniel’s story, so she started to worry again.

She could not explain the speaking cat, unless that was some kind of elaborate trick. But this weird bunker put his story into question again.

“I swear to fuckin’ God,” Daniel said, speaking into the hollow darkness in front of him, rather than back at Sienna. As if he read her mind. “This place was never here before. Could not have been here before. I know it doesn’t make sense, what I’m saying. Fuck, it doesn’t even make sense when I say it out loud, I know. But here we are. You might wanna film some of this. Maybe your team’ll find it hard to believe you, too.”

She refrained from filming, given that her phone’s battery was already rather low, and the flashlight would only help drain it faster, let alone shooting video on it.

Daniel stopped at the edge of something that made his voice boom. Echoing through a massive hall. He stood at a rusty old railing, overlooking what seemed to be a huge, cavernous hall.

Sienna almost jumped when he frantically turned and pointed his flashlight at something behind her.

“There they are! See?”

Thick metal tubes, ringed and scuffed as if someone had dragged them over a coarse surface—like concrete stairs. The coils had been discarded there in a pile, but they ran much deeper, trailing by the back wall of this platform, which all run along the edge of this unfathomably deep hole, disappearing into a darkness that their flashlights failed to illuminate.

She picked up a pebble and tossed it over the edge. It took a while until it hit something.

Water.

“Wait till you see the maze,” Daniel said. A strange glint had entered his eyes. He spoke more feverishly, more enthusiastically. “It looks like shower rooms, like modern ones? Well, kinda like a twenty years old kinda style, but not as dirty and old as this concrete area here looks.”

He turned and walked away.

Sienna nearly gasped and hastily caught up to him, always looking over her shoulder. Chilled by how huge this underground hall sounded. She could see no end to it, no bottom to the pit beyond that rusty old railing.

What the hell was this place?

The ringed tubes ended—or rather, they ran into a wall. She tiptoed around them and tried to peer through the cracks to see where they ended, but it was impossible to discern.

“Keep up,” Daniel muttered. His voice echoed eerily in this place, just like their footsteps.

She now understood why he thought this was a secret government facility. Who could have built all this? This big, especially?

And even stranger, to what end? What purpose did this place serve?

Daniel stopped in front of a large metal door. As rusty as the railing and topped by a dormant lantern behind a protective grid, set into the wall above. Likely some sort of emergency light.

It took her a moment till she realized that he stared at her. Studied her face. He likely sought to read her reactions. Like she had been reading him the entire time in the diner.

“You’re not gonna believe this next part,” he said.

He gripped the door’s handle and turned it. Rust-riddled metal crunched and churned and the whole construction groaned as he pulled the portal open.

A glaring bright light poured out from it, briefly blinding Sienna, and bathing them in its luminescence. For a split second, she had glimpsed more of the pit to her right: a murky pool of still water rested at the bottom. Still, even with that illumination, she never saw a far end to the hall.

As her eyes adjusted and they both lowered their flashlights, the world beyond the metal door revealed itself.

It looked like a fancy set of changing rooms. Like in a luxurious swimming pool. Rows of vibrantly blue lockers, a passageway leading into a shower room, tiled walls and mirroring surfaces, and long wooden benches suspended over smooth synthetic floors.

“What the fuck is this place?” she breathed.

Daniel just shook his head again, meeting her question without answer. He stepped through that door, fiddled with his phone, and turned off the light.

Her mouth felt dry, like she had been chewing on a wad of cotton. She poked her head through the door to survey that strange changing room and looked around before following Daniel inside.

Nobody else in here but them. Deathly silent except for something that sounded like running water in the distance.

“If you’re seein’ this as well, then I know I wasn’t dreaming all along,” Daniel said. “This is the kinda thing you want for your show, right?”

Sienna shook her head. She shook it some more, dumbfounded, and awestruck and in utter disbelief, then shook her head yet more times.

“I-I-I don’t even know—I don’t even know what the fuck this is,” she stammered.

Some government facility? It didn’t make sense for that to be in some random family’s backyard. Unguarded, no security measures, no sense in its design. A water reservoir connected to changing rooms?

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “And lemme tell ya, there’s no public pool for miles around here. This ain’t connected to anything anybody knows about. I mean, as far as I know.”

He pointed up at the ceiling where soft lights shone.

“My neighbor’s gotta live right about up there, or something. I think.”

Sienna never stopped shaking her head as she followed Daniel, in a daze. Always trailing several steps behind him, she followed him through this sprawling set of changing halls. The place was built like it could accommodate the entire town. Like some sort of bomb shelter?

It made no sense.

It smelled of chlorine all around.

Their footsteps echoed through these empty halls, a soft rhythm of unhurried exploration. The architecture made no sense. It was designed so hundreds or thousands of people could use these changing rooms simultaneously. And they turned around corners, always only finding another corridor to match the last one. Winding, left, right, she now understood why Daniel had called this a maze.

“How the fuck do you know where we’re going?” she blurted out.

“I’ve been down here like twenty times. Almost got lost on my first attempt, but I happened to have a pen on me and drew marks to find the way back.”

“This place is gigantic,” she breathed.

She looked for any distinct marks. But it all looked identical. The sound of running water drew closer as they wandered. It sounded more like rain. Like a shower running.

“It gets weirder, Missus Jordan. Those pen marks I left? Someone cleaned 'em away. They were gone time every time I returned.”

A lonesome shower nozzle sprayed the clean and untouched floors in one of the connected shower rooms nearby. The water perpetually ran into a clean-looking drain.

Nobody in there either. Daniel paid no mind to it.

Ghostly. Yet so real.

The only words Sienna could think of to describe it.

“This ain’t even all, yet,” he said. “I’ve gone a bit further, before.”

They turned another corner, and the changing room halls ended abruptly. In the center of the wall there, framed by mirrors and sinks, stood a bright red door, like it had been painted or installed not too long ago.

That was the weird thing about these changing rooms. Unlike the reservoir or cistern or whatever the hole underneath Daniel’s garden led to, this part of the facility looked similarly old, but in perfect condition. Pristine. Like it had been built and opened yesterday, or meticulously maintained for years.

Her thoughts had filled this long pause during which Daniel only stared at the red door.

He hesitated. Sighed a deep breath. Dithered, seemingly refusing to open the door. Or it took all his courage to do so. He glanced back at Sienna and terror had taken over his gaze. The mad glint still lingered there. His heavy breaths only revealed how all those emotions clashed with his determination.

“Here comes the part that makes me think I’m insane. Sorry, I, uh, I’m half-expecting to see something else beyond this, and you walk away from all this shit, and I might as well be certifiable,” he said.“

"Daniel,” she said. Sienna grabbed his forearm. She whispered, “I don’t think you’re nuts. I think we have a hit show on our hands. You’re not the one who’s insane. This—this place is.”

He slowly nodded and looked up from her grip on his forearm, which was too tight, judging by the surprised look on his face. She let go and he slid out of her grasp.

“Just wait. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” he muttered, nodding again.

He seized the handle and opened the red door. It swung open without sound, as if well-oiled.

Chirping and buzzing sounds filled the air.

Beyond that portal, a vista of a dense forest populated with gigantic trees filled both Sienna’s sights and imagination. Trees so high that she could not even see their darkened canopy. A deeper, mossier green filled her field of vision, unlike the fireworks of autumn colors that had dominated the world she had just walked out of to enter this dreamscape.

Dreamscape was the first thing that came to mind.

Because what she saw made even less sense.

She pushed past Daniel and poked her head outside this door.

The walls beyond the door extended to both sides and ended at strange, curved metal shapes. She had never seen architecture like this. There was no path or parking lot outside that door, just alien-looking vines and crystalline rocks that pulsated with a soft green glow.

They had clearly gone underground. There had been no sloping up on the floors of the changing room maze.

And this forest clearly did not exist. Could not exist.

At least not in their world. It was elsewhere.

Elsewhen.

Her mind boggled.

She stepped outside and Daniel followed. They stood out in the open of this impossible forest, connected to the improbable facility, and the real world felt like it was a million miles away.

“What the fuck?” she breathed again.

The mysterious edifice they had emerged from did not look like a man-made building of concrete. Its surface had a strange dull sheen, and odd beehive-like textures pockmarked its ribs, thick beams that protruded from its walls and appeared to serve no architectural purpose, nor any decorative one that resembled human design. The building was impossibly high, like there should have been five stories above the changing room maze.

The forest was even more overgrown than Daniel’s garden. And ancient. It smelled like wet fur and moss all around here, somehow familiar, and simultaneously foreign. And those green crystals everywhere—they thrummed with soft light, either absorbing the color of this bizarre otherscape, or lending it this deep verdant hue.

The place did not look like mankind had ever stepped foot in it.

Sienna’s gaze came to rest upon something in the shadows between the trees. Hundreds of paces away.

It budged, ever so subtly. Two lights flared up from there: like glowing eyes, peering back at her.

Threat. Menace. Where she had long forgotten all worries of danger from Daniel, the knot in her stomach instantly returned. She had no fight in her for whatever any of this was.

Only flight.

Right when she turned to run back through that bright red door, she froze.

The silhouette of a figure stood in the middle of the changing halls, right the way they had come from.

It looked like a man, but it lacked all the necessary features to remind her of a human beyond the silhouette. Where the bright light above it should have lent it definition, she saw only living shadow, standing still.

Staring back at her with a pair of glowing eyes, like bright white embers—like the thing she had seen out in the forest.

Her heart pounded like a drum, like it wanted to break free from her chest.

When she shot a glance over her shoulder to ensure that the thing out there had not neared, it was gone. And when she looked back at the one in the changing room, the creepy silhouette stood closer.

Much closer.

Not moving, like it had advanced and moved only when she was not looking at it.

Daniel gasped and pushed her out of the way, and yanked the door shut. Slammed it.

He grabbed her by the arm and backed away from the door.

She needed not be pulled and backed away with him.

Expected a heavy hammering to pound away at the door, just like she sometimes sensed a phone to ring before it did.

Instead, something metallic CLICK-CLACKED and CLICK-CLACKED. It dawned on her with delay, and she started feeling sick to her stomach before she fully registered what those sounds had represented.

She lunged back at the door and slammed its handle up and down, futile efforts at reopening the way they had gotten here.

But someone had locked the door.

Just a red door in a strange building in an even stranger forest.

And it sprang to life with sounds of things closing in on them. The buzzing and the chirping did not sound like insects or birds, but like humming and singing as they grew in volume. Other silhouettes peeled away from the darkness between the trees. Closing in.

All glowing eyes that studied Sienna and Daniel as they slowly approached.

“Daniel—what the fuck,” Sienna breathed, bumping into him as she backed away from the figures approaching from the otherworldly primeval forest. “What the fuck is this? Where is this?”

“I-I don’t know,” he said. Whispered. His voice, his everything, it all shook with terror. “I-I’ve never stepped through that door before. This—this never happened before.”

Sienna wanted to wake up, but this was no dream. No nightmare.

All real.

Things rustled in the distance, strange ferns danced with motion as they parted, allowing inhuman shapes to shamble closer.

Something not human.

Something curious.

—Submitted by Wratts

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