#passenger convenience measures

[townpostin]

Tatanagar Station Enhances Passenger Information System

Extended coach indicator display and continuous announcements to improve traveler experience Tatanagar railway station implements new measures to provide better train information and reduce passenger confusion. JAMSHEDPUR – Tatanagar station has introduced new measures to enhance passenger convenience through improved train information systems. The coach indicator will now remain active for the…

[scotianostra]

January 29th 1848 saw the first adoption of GMT by Scotland. The subject has been the source of controversy ever since.

The change had broadly taken place south of the Border from September the previous year with those in Edinburgh living 12 and-a-half minutes behind the new standard time as a result.

Some people in those days were still using sundials to tell the time, Scottish inventor Alexander Bain had only given the world the first electric clock 7 years previously. Sundials were criticised for being poorly made and set by "incompetents" among those who supported the move to GMT in the 1840s.

The discrepancy grew the further west you moved, with the time in Glasgow some 17 minutes behind GMT. In Ayr the time difference was 18-and-a-half minutes with it rising to 19 minutes in the harbour town of Greenock.

All these lapses were ironed out over night on January 29 1848, but the move wasn’t without controversy as some resisted the move away from local time.

Sometimes referred to as natural time, it had long been determined by sun dials and observatories and later by charts and tables which outlined the differences between GMT and local time at various locations across the country.

But the need for a standard time measurement was broadly agreed upon given the surge in the number of rail services and passengers with different local times causing confusion, missed trains and even accidents as trains battled for clearance on single tracks.

An editorial in The Scotsman on Saturday, January 28, 1848, said: “It is a mistake to think that in the country generally the change will be felt as a grievance in any degree.

“Probably nine-tenths of those who have clocks and watches believe that their local time is the same with Greenwich time, and will be greatly surprise to learn that the two are not identical.

“Even if they wished to keep local time, they want the means.

“Observatories are only found in two or three of our Scottish towns.

“As for the sundials in use, their number is small, most of them, too, are made by incompetent persons and even when correctly constructed, the task of putting them up and adjusting them to the meridian is generally left to an ignorant mason, who perhaps takes the mid-day hour from the watch in his fob.”

The editorial added: “For the sake of convenience, we sacrifice a few minutes and keep this artificial time in preference to sundial time, which some call natural time, and if the same convenience counsels us to sacrifice a few minutes in order to keep one uniform time over the whole country, why should it not be done!”

Mariners had long observed Greenwich Mean Time and kept at least one chronometer set to calculate their longitude from the Greenwich meridian, which was considered to have a longitude of zero degrees.

The move to enforce it as the common time measurement was made by the Railway Clearing House in September 1847.

Some rail companies had printed GMT timetables much sooner. The Great Western Railway deployed the standard time in 1840 given that passengers on its service between London to Bristol, then the biggest trading port with the United States, faced a time difference of 22 minutes between its departure and arrival point.

Rory McEvoy, curator of horology at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said travel watches of the day had two sets of hands, one gold and one blue steel, to help measure changes in local time during a journey.

Maps also depicted towns with had adopted GMT and those which had not, he added.

There was information out there for determine the local time difference so they would know the offset to apply to GMT before the telegraphic distribution of time.

Mr McEvoy said different towns and cities in Scotland would have had their own time differences before adoption of GMT.

Old local time measurements show that Edinburgh was four-and-a-half minutes ahead of that in Glasgow, for example.

Mr McEvoy added: “I think it is fair to say there was no real concept of these differences at the time. It was when communication began to expand quite rapidly that it became f an issue. I think generally, you would be quite happy that the time of day was your local time.”

Pics are the station clock at Glasgow Central in the early 1880s and the sundial at Stonehaven Harbour, Aberdeenshire.

[seat-safety-switch]

"I think where we went wrong is that we should not have gotten on a boat with a hole in it," I calmly inform the other passengers.

"It's a ship, dickhead," chirps a guy wearing a sailor hat in an audacious display of stolen valour.

By any conceivable measurement, our cruise has not gone very well. First, they ran out of those little potato puffs in the buffet, and now we're going to agonizingly die on the bottom of the sea.

"Don't worry. I know what to do," says a helpful-type in the back. I suspect that he owns a pickup truck with bald tires in what the others call a "land life." It turns out that he knows what to do from half-watching a TV movie airing of Titanic, where they do not actually teach you how to operate a lifeboat. Shortly thereafter, we stand in front of the lifeboat-lowering button, having just discovered that we should have gotten into the lifeboats before pushing the button that lowers them into the ocean. Then we watch our lifeboats float away, just in time to escape the howling void that is our sinking ocean liner.

It's times like this that two kinds of people emerge. Many of you may be wondering where the crew and other miscellaneous staff of the doomed ship have gone, and why they aren't helping us. The other half or so is wondering if the hole can be patched. I like the latter folks, because the former people are going to spend a lot of time looking for the crew, then crying when they realize they have been abandoned.

Through an act of absolute heroism, and not at all a convenient accident, it turns out that the hole in the hull of the ship is exactly the same size as the little golf cart that the captain once used on shore leave. Plugging the hole with an improvised Mitsubishi-powered cork does not help me escape trial, however, because it turns out that international marine law does not legalize "doing a sick wheelie on the shuffleboard deck," which is considered mutiny because of an obscure French tradition. The important thing to know is that you should never board a boat with a hole in the bottom of it.

[lunaandco]

did it have to be him?

pairing: gavi x ofc

summary: emma works as a social media manager for real madrid. her job would be way easier if she didn't fuck barcelona's star boy in her free time

warnings: smut, hate sex, dirty talk, degradation kink, vaginal penetration, use of condoms, madridista ofc (😔)

masterlist // I do not take requests

In a normal match day, after she got home from work, Emma would be rearranging all the pictures and videos she had taken from the game, to post them the day after in the official social media accounts. But today was different. Real Madrid had lost, so she should have less pictures to post, but she wasn't looking through her gallery.

Emma was bent over her desk, her clothes gone and her cheek pressed against the wood, as Gavi fucked her without any semblance of mercy.

Gavi was like a hunting dog. He always smelled the weaknesses in his opponents. Mere hours earlier he was getting under Vinicius' skin with ease, getting him to start blabbering and fighting. Vini was an easy prey, nerves already on fire, Gavi just had to press the right buttons.

Emma sometimes thought that he had done the same with her. He had known, smelled even, her weakness. He saw her as what she was, the most fragile link in Madrid's structure. Her wandering eye, following him when she should have been taking pictures of her own players.

Gavi had known, and he had acted accordingly.

Emma was sure Gavi could find prettier, more convenient girls. Girls that wouldn't enrage his fans, that wouldn't get him in trouble with the club. But she also knew that she had something those girls didn't, the reason he had come back to her.

The power struggle turned him on like nothing else ever could. She could ruin his life, but they both know she would go down with him if she did. Emma was sure that ripping off the free white and gold merch she got from work fueled him with more adrenaline than stripping a random model from an expensive dress ever could.

After the adrenaline high of playing a game like el Clásico, one would thing Gavi would be tame and pliant, but Emma knew better.

They had gotten together after Bellingham's first Clásico. Emma was working overtime in his passenger seat, queueing and programing as many posts as possible, to make sure her absence wasn't noticed. Her club would want to boast the win, and they would not be happy to know their social media manager was not doing her job properly because she was spreading her legs for the enemy.

Emma had been with many men before Gavi, but no one measured up to him, she had decided as she scrambled to recover her clothes, under his careful watch. A part of her wished she could stay a little bit longer with him, but she did not want Ancelotti of all people questioning why she wasn't available during work hours.

For better or for worse, a week after, Gavi got injured and Emma never heard of him again, until today.

Gavi was subbed in for the last minutes of el Clásico, and immediately stole her attention. He was clearly older, even if only a year had passed. His shoulders cut a broader shape, his gaze was hardened. He still got into fights, got his yellow card, but he seemed... more powerful.

And as he passed next to her, to go back to the locker room, Gavi caught her eye, and Emma knew. She knew he would search for her, go back to her studio apartment and continue what they started a year earlier.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think that you're really into being made a bitch by a Barça player," grunted Gavi above her. Emma whined in response. It was humiliating, it was degrading. But it made her wetter.

"Is that all you've got?" she snapped back. "You didn't even play ten minutes, you can't be this tired."

The response was a hard slap on her ass that made her gasp, and the hand pushing her head against the desk tangling on her brown curls and pulling her up, until her back was pressed to his hard chest.

"You don't want to play this game, corazón," he mocked, his voice warm against her ear. But Emma does. She wants Gavi to really let go.

His hand came up to squeeze her breast, as his teeth found the flesh of her neck. It was one of the things Emma loved about Gavi, that he would take her body fully, like it belonged to him. And maybe it did.

Emma moaned loudly, her body twitching and the orgasm approaching. It hit her like a train wreck, and Gavi, the little shit, kept fucking her through it, until she was scratching at his arms.

"Please, stop. Too much—" Ovestimulation was making everything painful, but then Gavi stilled, filling the condom as his muscles hardened under her touch.

"I'm sorry—" he gasped. He seemed genuinely apologetic that he hadn't stopped in time.

"It's fine," she replied, caressing the skin she had scratched. "It's fine."

💙❤️

Afterwards, Gavi led her to her own shower, gently washing the sweat off her body.

"I really wanted to do this last time," he confessed. Emma blushed. "You don't have anywhere else to go this time though."

Emma smiled sleepily.

"Don't you, though? I heard Flick has military rules in place. How did you manage to come here?"

"That is classified, corazón," he joked, kissing her lips softly. "Turn around, I'm gonna wash your hair."

Emma hummed. She really liked this gentle side of Gavi.

💙❤️

"We could do this again sometime," offered Gavi, as he put on his jacket. They had cuddled for as long as they could, but he had to leave at 5 am if he wanted to pretend he had been at the hotel the whole night. "Maybe when neither of us is under the restrictions of our clubs."

Emma thought about it. Vacation time, with Gavi. Soft kisses, warm cuddles and hot sex. She could get used to it. And as far as Madrid never knew, she would be safe.

"I would like that."

[blueiscoool]

Greek Archaeologists Discover Mysterious 4,000-Year-Old Building on Hill Earmarked for New Airport

Archaeologists on the Greek island of Crete have uncovered a monumental ancient structure that threatens to halt progress on the construction of a new airport.

The structure belonged to the Minoan civilization and was mainly used between 2000 and 1700 B.C.E., around the same time that Crete’s monumental palaces at Knossos and Phaistos were built, per the Greek City Times.

But unlike these palaces and other feats of Minoan architecture, the purpose of the building remains unknown, and it’s now the subject of much archaeological attention and speculation.

The structure resembles “a huge car wheel from above,” writes Nicholas Paphitis for the Associated Press, with a diameter of 157 feet and a total area of 19,000 square feet.

According to a statement from the Greek Ministry of Culture, some of the structure’s features are comparable to Minoan tombs, including its circular arrangement of stone rings and its intricate layout. But a large quantity of ancient animal bones found nearby is complicating researchers’ understanding of the site.

“It may have been periodically used for possibly ritual ceremonies involving consumption of food, wine and perhaps offerings,” says the statement, per a translation by the AP.

While archaeologists further excavate and study the building, which sits on top of Papoura Hill, near the town of Kastelli, they must contend with the hilltop’s future function: a planned radar station for Crete’s new international airport.

Beginning in 2027, the airport will serve Heraklion, Crete’s capital and largest city, as well as a wealth of cultural and archaeological sites across the island.

Eighteen million passengers are projected to use the airport annually once construction is complete, the AP reports. Tourists want to visit Crete’s well-preserved historical sites, but they need convenient, modern infrastructure to take them there.

At times, rampant tourism threatens the integrity of ancient sites in Greece, prompting the government to take protective measures, like limiting the number of visitors to the Acropolis in Athens.

Per the statement, excavations in the area uncovered at least 35 other archaeological sites. As Greek authorities build Crete’s new airport and the network of roads needed to connect it with the rest of the island, they must continually strike a balance between innovation and maintaining cultural heritage.

In the statement, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni describes the structure as a unique find of great interest. She says the Greek government and airport officials will explore alternative locations for the radar station to ensure the preservation of this historically significant archaeological site.

“It’s possible to go ahead with the airport while granting the antiquities the protection they merit,” Mendoni adds, per the AP. Her comments offer hope that Crete’s past, present and future will once again be reconciled.

By Eli Wizevich.

[bekolxeram]

I know we've been manifesting S8 Air Ops since that photo of a hangar was posted by a member of the scouting team. And I know the other side has been mocking us for being delusional when other bts photos of an aircraft came out. So here I am, taking my shipper's goggles off, and diving into the aviation side of things. I have to admit, it left me with more questions than answers.

They already have a hangar for Air Ops in S7, they don't need another one

No. The 911!Air Ops we see in S7 is the Helinet hangar at Van Nuys Airport. Helinet is a company that rents and operates helicopters for news stations, film crews, medivac service or regular charter flights. You can compare images from 7x02 and 7x03 with Google Street Views of the Helinet Hangar.

You can also see N67TV and N29HD here.

Helinet is where ABC usually rents its news helicopters from, so it's cheaper and more convenient to film a couple scenes there when helicopters are needed. It can't be used for regular filming though, because Helinet has a business to run, and when a helicopter takes off, it's so noisy that you can't even hear each other talking, let alone shooting a scene. (I recommend watching the whole video, if you're interested in accuracy when it comes to writing fics.)

It's a plane related emergency so it must be related to Tommy

Also no. Again, I've written a piece about how Tommy was not the air tanker pilot in 2x14 before, and if he was not qualified for that, he's not qualified to fly an airliner either. It's not impossible that he flies a small turboprop aircraft like a Cessna 172, but he would never have the time to get certified as a commercial airliner pilot while working as an active firefighter since 2005.

And this is a prop for an Airbus airliner.

It's actually pretty easy to tell an Airbus aircraft from a Boeing one, as the shape of the rear cockpit windows is pretty different between the two. It's just a matter of which Airbus model it is. I believe it's a narrow body single aisle aircraft from the A320 family.

Wide body Airbus aircrafts, like this A300, have their side cockpit windows more tapered to the top. It also applies to other Airbus twin aisle aircrafts, like the A330 and the A340.

On the A320 though, the side windows are flat on the top.

So it's a pretty safe bet that the aircraft we see in that bts photo is one from the A320 family. I can't pinpoint which one it exactly is, because again, I can just see a tiny section of the cockpit, not the rest of the aircraft.

So the hangar must be for the airplane then?

The hangar itself is a former Air National Guard maintenance hangar at Ontario International Airport (ONT/KONT). It's especially used for filming. There are bigger hangars at the same airport for filming, but this one looks the best on camera.

They don't need a hangar for scenes inside of the plane, they have cockpit and cabin mock-ups at the studio for them.

You can clearly see the cabin door right here from recent bts footage. It looks just like a training facility for flight attendants.

They only film on location if they want shots of the entire aircraft from the outside. Like in 1x04, the scenes of Athena responding to an alleged unruly passenger were filmed in a set. The plane crash rescue parts of the episode though, were filmed in an actual retired 757 in a tub of water.

(Lone Star worked with this exact company for 3x08. Though, that plane was a 737 I believe.)

I can't think of any disastrous scenario happening in a maintenance hangar, where the aircraft is powered off with only maintenance staff present, no passengers or crew. Well, there have been cases of planes crashing into a hangar, but even then I don't see the need for the 118 to be there. Every major airport has at least one fire station on site with dedicated foam and crash units. In fact, there is a fire station right next to this hangar IRL.

Another problem, although I'm not sure because I don't have the actual measurements, is that the celling of the hangar looks quite low. (Refer to page 44 of this document) It was originally built in 1955 to house fighter jets. The F-102, the type of aircraft operated there in the 60s and 70s, has a total height of 6.5 meters. The tail of an A320 on the other hand can reach 11.76 m from the ground. (The shortest variant of the A320 family is actually even taller, 12.51 m.) So there could be some tail bumping action if you try to tow an A320 into this hangar.

So Air Ops is still a possibility?

Yes. This hangar is quite a bit larger than the Helinet hangar, but still not as big as the actual Air Ops facility. A helicopter is obviously much smaller than a passenger airliner that can seat over 180, you can easily fit multiple helicopters in there with plenty of space left for other set props. But the problem is, they don't have enough helicopters.

They have that one replica of N211FN that they used to film the search and rescue in 7x03, that's it. All the other helicopters you see on screen, including the real N211FN that actually flies, belong to Helinet. Sure, they can get some more fake helicopters that are empty inside just for looks, but I don't see the need to spend so much extra money just to show Tommy's place of work unless it's related to some major plot points. For now, I don't see how that would fit into the story.

There is also the possibility that the hangar has nothing to do with anything aviation related. I mean, they've filmed countless ads, music videos and movies, including Ford vs Ferrari there. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe that's why that crew member eventually got the green light to confirm the hangar is indeed for 9-1-1, it tells us absolutely nothing.

[rideboomindia]

RideBoom Revolutionizes Transportation with Innovative Solutions and Unmatched Convenience

RideBoom India is expanding its innovative ridesharing services to 20 more cities across India. Providing affordable, eco-friendly transportation options to the masses.

RideBoom, the leading transportation service provider, is proud to announce its commitment to revolutionizing the transportation industry with innovative solutions and unmatched convenience for riders and drivers alike.

Unmatched Convenience

RideBoom is dedicated to providing unmatched convenience compared to other transportation services. With the RideBoom app, users can easily book a car, taxi, or delivery service right from their mobile devices. The app connects users with nearby drivers or couriers, allowing them to get to their destination or receive their deliveries quickly and efficiently.

Innovative Solutions

RideBoom is constantly innovating to provide the best possible experience for its users. The company has recently expanded its Bike Taxi Service to additional cities, offering an eco-friendly and efficient mode of transportation for short-distance travel. RideBoom is also exploring the integration of electric vehicles into its fleet, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and the EV revolution.

Commitment to Safety and Reliability

At the core of RideBoom's mission is a dedication to providing safe and reliable transportation services. The company has implemented stringent safety measures and training protocols to ensure that its drivers and couriers deliver a secure and comfortable experience for all users.

Transforming the Ride-Hailing Industry

RideBoom's innovative approach and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction have positioned the company as a leader in the transportation industry. By continuously introducing new features and adapting to changing market conditions, RideBoom is redefining the way people and goods move, ultimately transforming the ride-hailing landscape.

"RideBoom is committed to revolutionizing the transportation industry and providing our users with the best possible experience," said the RideBoom founder. "We are excited to continue innovating and expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of our customers."

For more information about RideBoom India and its services, please visit https://rideboom.com/india/

About RideBoom India

RideBoom India is the leading ridesharing platform in the country, providing affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly transportation solutions to commuters across India. Founded in 2020, the company has experienced rapid growth and now operates in many cities, connecting passengers with a network of verified drivers. RideBoom India is committed to revolutionizing the way people commute and contributing to a more sustainable future.

[fairlyang]

Crazy 🏹

passenger princess kate

w/c: 885

pairing: kate bishop x f!reader

tags: 18+ smut. teasing, sassy & impatient kate, fingering, kinda voyuerism

——

"Isn't it funny with how differently we're dressed and the one between us that looks like she should be able to drive, can't." You joke looking over at Kate as you drive to the mall.

"No I don't actually." She says and pretends to look annoyed.

You were dressed more feminine-like while Kate wore more masculine clothes. And you've found this little fact a bit funny especially when she first asked you out on a date but couldn't pick you up because she couldn't drive to your house.

She somehow made it to your house but she never revealed how.

That didn't matter but what did matter was the way Kate was manspreading on your passenger seat.

How she managed to look so hot on the passenger seat is beyond you but you were so happy to have such a fine ass girlfriend.

You then came up with a silly little idea and decided to go for it. You continue driving as normal, looking straight at the road and move your right hand off the steering wheel and lean over to put it on Kate's thigh.

Your left hand it on the middle of the steering wheel, keeping you straight, meanwhile your right gently squeezes her left thigh. She shifts in her seat and you kept a poker face for the most part.

Unfortunately she was wearing pants, and a whole ass jacket but that could be a very easy fix.

If she really wanted to that is....

You trail your fingers along her thigh, softly from the middle and then towards the inner thigh until she's full on squirming. You bite your lip and look at your peripheral to see her little reactions.

She was biting her lip and already breathing heavily. You'd only just started too.

Well you might as well go big.

"Spread your legs for me Katie." You asked sweetly finally stopping at a red light and she does without a second thought.

"You're fucking crazy." She mutters under her breath and you just shrug, turning to her to give her a grin.

"You love it." You say and move your hand to rub her pussy over her pants.

She gasps and bucks her hips up making you chuckle, "needy much?"

"Shut up." She groans and you continue rubbing her, now a little faster so she can feel some tension.

She then moans and grabs your arm, pulling it down even more. You rub a little hard and go up to rub her clit because you have a feeling it'll feel good.

She moans louder and bucks her hips up making you chuckle, "feel good?"

She doesn't answer and instead grinds on your fingers. You pull away making her pout before trying to undo her pants but unable to do it. The light turns green and you start driving again.

Kate unbuttons her pants then unzips them and for good measure lifts her jacket up so it wouldn't be in the way. Then also pulled her pants down a little.

"That was fast..." you tease and she groans before grabbing your hand and leading you towards her pussy.

"So needy." You mumble and already feel her wetness seep through her boxers.

She bucks her hips up again for more friction making a smirk appear on your lips. "And greedy."

She groans and you tut, shaking your head before moving your hand and finding the convenient hole. Your fingers move through the fabric before finally your fingers rub against her drenched folds. "Holy fuck." You moan and sneak a glance at her when luckily the light turned red.

"Baby you're so fucking wet." You mutter and collect all her wetness with the tips of your fingers before going up and rubbing her clit in slow circles.

"You tease-" she whines and you nod.

"Not nice to be on the other foot now huh?" You tease and she sighs.

But you felt nice and decided to no longer tease and go down to her entrance and only tease it for a solid two fingers before slowly slipping two fingers in. "How's that baby?" You ask looking at her for a second before looking back at the road.

"Oh fuck-" she moans and you could feel her clench against your digits.

"Oh my god just like that." She moans and you continue your same pace, not too fast or slow.

Then another idea occurred and right as the red light hit you slowed down. She whined and you smiled, "gotta be patient baby, the lights red."

"Fuck the lights just please fuck me." She pleads and you turn to her, shaking your head.

"Don't think so Katie." You say and give her a fake frown making her whimper.

You slipped your fingers deep inside and just kept them there, feeling her clench every few seconds.

Then the light turned green and without a second thought you started fucking her harder and faster. "SHIT!" She cried out and laid her head back against her headrest.

"Fuck-! Fuck yes please." She moans out and out of your peripheral can see she closed her eyes.

She looked so fucking gorgeous.

The sound of her sopping pussy filled the car and she started shaking. "I'm gonna-"

"Cum for me pretty baby." You coo and she does, hard.

[muiitoloko]

Love on the Run

Summary: Dinner and romance? Not with Hans Gruber.

Pairing: Hans Gruber × Fem! Reader

Warnings: Weapons.

Also read on Ao3

You drummed your fingers against the steering wheel, your nails tapping out a frustrated rhythm as you stared at the glowing sign of the 24-hour convenience store. The neon buzzed faintly, flickering like it was just as exhausted as you were. This was how you were spending your Valentine’s Day.

Not in a fancy restaurant. Not in some five-star hotel suite with silk sheets and champagne. Not even at home, tangled in Hans’ arms while he whispered his usual brand of dangerous, wicked promises in your ear. No. Instead, your boyfriend—the brilliant, maddening, infuriating Hans Gruber—had dragged you to a damn convenience store at ten at night.

You glared at him as he stepped out of the car. “What the hell could you possibly need at this hour, Hans?”

Hans didn’t even glance back at you. He just smirked—that infuriating, knowing smirk that meant he was up to something. The kind of smirk that made your stomach flip and made you want to strangle him in equal measure. “Patience, Liebchen,” he said smoothly, his thick German accent laced with amusement. “I’ll take care of everything.”

“Yeah, right.” You scoffed, rolling your eyes as he strode into the store.

You knew better than to expect flowers or chocolates or even a half-assed Hallmark card. If he was finally getting you a Valentine’s gift, it was going to be last-minute and probably terrible. Some expired candy bar, a stuffed animal with one eye missing, or—hell—maybe a single wilted rose from the discount rack.

You sighed, staring at the road, forcing down your irritation. If he forgot completely, you’d kill him.

Then— BOOM.

Gunfire erupted inside the store.

Your head snapped up. What the—?

Your heart was still catching up when Hans burst through the automatic doors, moving like a damn hurricane. A black ski mask was pulled over his face, a gun in his hand, and a bag—a full fucking bag—stuffed with cash slung over his shoulder.

Your jaw dropped.

“What the fuck, Hans?!” you shrieked, even as he practically threw himself into the passenger seat.

“Drive, darling!” he ordered, breathless but laughing, his voice buzzing with pure adrenaline. “Unless you’d prefer we stay and have a chat with the police.”

“Jesus Christ—” You slammed your foot on the gas, peeling out of the parking lot just as the wail of sirens cut through the night air.

Hans yanked the ski mask off, his hazel eyes gleaming, his hair mussed from the rush. And—because he was a goddamn lunatic—he was grinning.

Grinning.

Like he’d just won the lottery instead of committing armed robbery.

“You absolute bastard!” you snapped, your hands gripping the wheel so tight your knuckles went white. “You took me to a damn convenience store just to rob the place?!”

Hans laughed, completely unbothered, his smugness infuriatingly intact. “Technically, I took you so I could get you a gift.” He opened the bag, casually flipping through stacks of stolen cash. “Now, I can buy you something truly exquisite, my love. Diamonds, perhaps? A private island? A fleet of yachts?”

“You son of a bitch!” You threw one hand off the wheel long enough to smack his shoulder—hard.

Hans barely flinched, adjusting his suit jacket like he hadn’t just committed a felony. “Tsk. Violence is never the answer, darling.”

“Screw you, Hans! I thought you were just getting me some shitty Valentine’s gift, not robbing a damn store!”

“Oh, but I was,” Hans said smoothly, flashing you a wicked grin. “And now, you’ll have the finest gift money—or a well-executed crime—can buy.”

“You absolute menace,” you growled, exhaling hard. You should have been furious. You were furious. But this—this was so Hans. And god help you, some twisted, chaotic part of you couldn’t help but laugh.

Hans caught the sound immediately. “Ah-ha! You like this,” he teased, tilting his head, his voice dipping into that low, dangerous purr that always turned your bones to liquid. “Admit it, darling. You enjoy the chaos.”

“You are such a fucking menace,” you muttered, shaking your head.

“And yet, you love me,” he mused, smug as hell, tossing a stack of money into your lap.

You scowled but snatched up the bills, pocketing them with a begrudging smirk. “Fucking bastard.”

Hans chuckled, looking far too pleased with himself. “Ah, my dear, sweet Valentine. You do know how to flatter a man.”

And with that, you kept driving—speeding down the empty highway with sirens in the distance, money in your pocket, adrenaline in your veins, and your lunatic of a boyfriend grinning beside you like a goddamn madman.

Some girls got chocolates. Some got roses.

You got a fucking felony.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

[shewasverynice]

Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen 

⚠️ SPOILER HEAVY ⚠️

Major Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death 

Full tags/warnings on Chapter links post

Major Characters: Original Character, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, Ieiri Shoko, Yaga Masamichi, Nanami Kento, Haibara Yu, Tsukumo Yuki, Choso

‎‧₊˚✧ Chapter 36 ✧˚₊‧

Shoko, Boe, and Rin stood awkwardly outside the convenience store. They huddled together under the awning, trembling slightly in the chill of the early fall rain. The sidewalks were nearly empty at this time of day and it felt almost surreal to see empty streets. The street lights reflected on the rainy concrete, giving the area a bleak and gray atmosphere.

Rin turned and peeked in through the window as Yaga paid for a few things. She pulled her hands up, breathing on them to warm them up as the wind picked up.

"Anything?" Boe rasped, "I haven't seen any Kamo in, like, half a day at least."

"Yeah," Shoko agreed, "Nothing."

"Nothing," Rin agreed as well. She glanced at the two of them and closed her eyes. "I never thought I'd be excited to get back to that old place."

"Let's hope today is the day," Yaga said as he rejoined the three of them outside. "As long as we aren't spotted we shouldn't have issue getting back home."

Yaga passed Rin the bottle of cough syrup out of the bag and she gave him a little nod of thanks before she started to pick at the plastic seal. "Make sure you drink some water," Yaga said quietly, watching as she measured out the amount of medicine with the little cup and drank it down. "We'll stay still today so you can get some sleep."

"Thank you, sensei," Rin said, passing him back the medicine.

He slipped it back into the bag, then nodded to all three of the girls. "Let's get back to the van."

Once the three girls had settled into the back of the van, Yaga sat up in the driver's seat watching the rain drops landing on the windshield. His arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes focused on the road leading out of the small alleyway they'd parked in. His fingers flexed just barely and he exhaled slowly, calming his heart.

All of this was becoming more and more dangerous and with every outing things had been beginning to escalate up until this point where it all finally had given in. The authorities wouldn't be a problem. The Japanese government would pardon almost any crime a sorcerer had committed without too much question, assuming of course they hadn't done lasting damage or killed a non-sorcerer.

What had Yaga on edge was the fact that the Kamo were openly searching for them. They'd clearly chosen an alliance which was something he never expected from them. Kamo never liked to be this direct with his choices. Kamo always preferred to keep his business and his families' business private. So why would he choose to work directly with the council for this?

He grit his teeth. They wanted Sarah back, that was clear and expected. The Gojo clan wouldn't move against their six-eyes and the Zen'in wouldn't move until they knew what the Gojos were doing. The two of them would hold until the last moment and he knew he could count on that. But Kamo? What was Kamo's angle in all this?

"God damn it," he spat, shaking his head.

"Yeah? That bad, huh?" Shoko's voice mumbled as she pulled the passenger door open and climbed up into the seat beside Yaga.

Yaga said nothing as she lit up a cigarette and slid down into the seat, propping her feet up on the dash. She glanced over at her mentor and smiled lazily. "You look stressed, Yaga."

Yaga gave her a deadpan look and she chuckled, shrugging just a little. "I know. Sorry it all got messed up."

"It's not your fault," Yaga muttered, shaking his head.

"I know it's not," she said simply.

The two of them sat in silence for a while. The rain had picked up significantly, the wind blowing the drops into sideways streaks across the glass. It was soothing in a way, the sound of the drops bouncing off the metal of the van and the slight whistle of the bitter wind.

"How is Rin?" Yaga asked.

"She's fine," Shoko answered, "She's asleep with Cathy in the back. Boe is probably out by now too. She was still tired after last night's watch."

"Good," Yaga sighed.

Shoko took a long drag of her cigarette, then held it out for Yaga. He waved it away, recrossing his arms. She grinned at him, taking another drag herself before tapping the ashes outside the window.

"So," she said, "What are we gonna do once we break the big vow?"

"I'm not sure yet," Yaga admitted, "Yuki is going to try to experiment with Sarah's technique. Ideally she will be stable enough to function."

"And what if she's not?" Shoko asked, "Then what?"

"Then I will re-instate the vow," he answered.

"How's your wound healing, by the way?" Shoko nodded towards Yaga's abdomen.

"Still healing very slowly," he muttered, placing a hand over his middle. "But I believe your technique was enough to stop the damage from spreading any further."

"Yeah? Well that's good," Shoko sighed, "I was sure the damage from breaking a vow would be way more dramatic than that. I'm glad I caught you that day. You should have told me sooner."

Yaga grit his teeth and turned to look out the window. "I didn't want to involve any of you with my mistakes."

"Well, you're probably going to have to forget about all that pride," Shoko said, tapping her cigarette on the window once again. "If just telling us that much about Sarah's vow opened up a rotting wound like that then at least I should be nearby when you break one again. If you want me to keep quiet about it, I will, but you can't just do things that put you in danger. If we lose you we'd be in deep shit."

"Thank you," Yaga mumbled.

Shoko expected him to continue, but when he didn't she rolled her eyes. She smiled to herself as she flicked the cigarette butt out the window and let her heavy eyelids start to close.

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Sarah held her arms outstretched as Yuki held back the long white sleeves of her kosode. Yuki tilted her head, looking over the garment with a sour expression.

"Why does that chick back at Kyoto wear this? It can't be easy to battle in," Yuki muttered, letting the sleeves flutter down.

"Doesn't Utahime not really fight much?" Haibara asked. He was sitting nearby on the wooden porch, watching as the two women attempted to work with the miko garment.

"I think she's more like battle support," Sarah said, adjusting the obi and lifting up the Hakama just a touch. "Because like… running in this would be really hard," she muttered, letting the hems on the legs hover just barely above the ground.

"Well, I guess you'll just have to practice in it," Haibara said with a bright smile, "I think it looks really pretty on you."

Sarah blushed, scurrying over to him and giving him a soft peck just on the tip of his nose. He smiled at her, rubbing the back of his neck as the blush rose on his own face.

"Oh! Did you finish putting it on?" Satoru suddenly called out, the sliding door slamming open just inside the temple. He stepped out and playfully put his hand over his heart with a big smile, "Look at you!"

Sarah's eyes narrowed and she turned her nose up, helping up Haibara and wrapping her arms around his bicep. "C'mon Yu, let's go for a run," she said, pointedly ignoring Satoru.

Haibara looked at Satoru and shrugged, that goofy smile still plastered on his face as he dissapeared with Sarah outside the barrier.

"Oooh, what happened?!" Yuki asked, grinning like the Cheshire cat, "What did you do?!"

Satoru, still in shock from the snubbing, shoved his hands in his pockets and scoffed. He turned to head back inside, but Yuki was faster and clapped her hand hard down onto his shoulder. She pulled him back towards her, her eyes sparkling.

"No way, nuh-uh, you gotta tell me," she insisted, "What did you do to her?"

"I don't have to tell you shit," he sneered, pushing up his sunglasses. He shook her hand off and headed inside anyway, stomping right up to his and Suguru's room.

Suguru was folding a shirt when Satoru slammed open their room and he watched as Satoru walked straight over to him, knocked the pile of clothes out of the way and laid down with his head in Suguru's lap. Suguru looked at the scattered clothes and sighed, then placed his hand on Satoru's head.

"Something happen?" he asked softly.

"No," Satoru pouted.

Suguru raised an eyebrow. He pushed Satoru's bangs back with one hand and with the other he carefully removed his sunglasses and set them on the floor beside the two of them. He turned Satoru just enough to look into his eyes and held it there until Satoru finally groaned.

"I said some really stupid shit to Sarah yesterday," Satoru admitted. Both of his hands came up and rubbed all over his face as he groaned again, his back arching off the floor and feet scraping out of pure embarrassment.

"What did you say?" Suguru asked, sliding his finger's through Satoru's hair.

"She—well—-I just… I—Aarrgh!" Satoru shook his head, holding his hands up in the air and waving them aimlessly, "I just fucked it so bad!"

"Well, maybe it's not all that bad," Suguru tried to reassure him, but his expression couldn't hide his doubt. "Go on, tell me."

"I got her to admit she doesn't really want to do her technique, but she's still dead set on doing it," Satoru explained, "But then I… Well, I dunno, I told her some stuff that I didn't really mean to be insensitive but I think I was being insensitive? But the thing is I don't really know why I even said it anyway! I shouldn't have right? I should have just kept my mouth shut and—"

Suguru placed his fingertips to Satoru's lips. Satoru stared at him, the blush rising on his face before Suguru finally calmly said, "Relax. You're rambling. Tell me what you said to her."

Satoru sighed as Suguru drew back his hand and then he finally spilled. "I told her I don't like it when she's not around," he said quietly, "I told her I hate it when I can't see her and how I just want to be someone she can feel safe around."

"Ah, I see," Suguru nodded sagely, "That would hurt her feelings."

"I just… she always does that stuff with us, you know? She's so sweet so I thought it would be fine if I said how I feel too," Satoru groaned, "But it gets worse and I—I'm such a stupid asshole."

"What did you say?" Suguru pressed.

"She was mad at me for saying all that stuff and she brought up how she was trying to get over me and I…" Satoru paused, searching for something. His eyes darted around on the ceiling above him as he considered it and finally settled on, "I don't think I like it when she talks about not… not wanting to like me anymore."

"Ah," Suguru nodded again, his hand still gently petting through Satoru's hair. He tilted his head and an long awkward silence stretched between the two of them.

"It's not like what you're thinking!" Satoru said quickly, "It's not like that! I'm not secretly into her like that and I'm not jealous!"

Suguru said nothing for a few beats, staring down at Satoru's wide blue eyes. Eventually he smiled and asked, "So why are you so upset about it then?"

Satoru could see that smile barely reached his eyes and he swallowed. "I have no idea," he answered honestly, "I just got mad as soon as she said it and I just blabbed whatever I was thinking at the time."

"Satoru," Suguru asked softly, "Is it because you do like her?"

"No no no!" Satoru urged, "No, it's not like that at all!"

"Then how is it like?" Suguru asked.

Satoru scrambled up to sit up in front of Suguru and shook his head. "It's complicated and it's all jumbled up, but it's you that I like!" he insisted, "She's really important to me and someone that I want to protect at all costs. She's wonderful and she I really do get along, like, perfectly, but it's… it's like… she…" He trailed off, running a hand through his hair.

He looked up at Suguru and said, "She's sent me back before with the ashes. A few times, actually."

Suguru's brows shot up and his frown deepened. "So, how far back?" he whispered.

"The first time was fourteen years back," Satoru admitted honestly, "The second time was around new years."

"Fourteen years," Suguru said slowly. He looked at Satoru and tilted his head, "Why?"

"I died," Satoru explained, "I died fighting a revived Sukuna and she was someone I didn't even know. She died to revive me and at first I didn't even want to be back, ya know? It's hard to explain, but I thought I was done. I thought I didn't need to be around anymore and she'd just died for nothing."

Satoru looked down at his hands in his lap. "But she'd left instructions for me. She'd left me a way to come back to when we first got to JJT as kids and I was so so grateful." He shook his head and continued, "My whole first life was spent dwelling on regrets and things I could have done better. All I did was work and sleep and focus on making sure what happened to you and I wouldn't happen to anyone else."

"What happened to us?" Suguru asked softly.

Satoru stared at Suguru. His Adam's apple bobbed as he considered the question and he nodded a few times. "You deserve to know," He whispered.

Satoru took his time, slowly explaining everything in the best detail that he could. Suguru said nothing, listening closely to the story. He didn't ask any questions, only waited for Satoru to finish. When Satoru did finally finish, his eyes darted all across Suguru's face trying to get a read on anything.

"S-so that's why," He stammered out in the awkward silence, "That's why I feel so close to her. I owe her so much more than I can ever give her. This was exactly what I always needed and I didn't even know how badly I did until I got here."

Suguru held his silence for a while longer, considering everything. Eventually he asked, "So you don't have feelings for her?"

Satoru's mouth fell open and he threw up his hands. "No? Is that all you took from all of that?!"

"No," Suguru said softly, "But I think maybe you're not being honest with yourself."

"No, I don't have feelings for her," Satoru insisted, "She's just a kid to me. I was nearly thirty years old before and she's cute, but just a kid. I swear!"

Suguru snorted a little. "That's a bit hypocritical when you're dating me, isn't it?"

Satoru furrowed his brows. "Okay, well that's different though… I've been thinking about us for a long time and what we had and what we could have—"

"I'm just teasing," Suguru said with a little smile when he cut him off. He reached up and ruffled Satoru's hair when he said, "A lot of things have become clearer thanks to your explanation. Thank you for telling me the truth finally."

"I'm just so grateful to her," Satoru whispered. Both of his hands wound in his lap and he stared at them as he continued. "I just can't believe that I'm really here and I'm finally doing exactly what I always wanted. She's been the catalyst that's turned my whole life around and I'm just so incredibly grateful to her that I… I just want to make sure she never has to worry about anything ever again." Satoru looked up at Suguru with a smile, "I want to give her the world. I want her to live in a big mansion with a billion servants and never have to do anything for herself except eat grapes or some shit."

Suguru laughed. "She would absolutely hate that."

Satoru grinned. "I know, right? She would be so mad at me."

Suguru sighed and reached out his hand, placing it on Satoru's knee palm up. Satoru gingerly placed his hand in Suguru's and looked up at his boyfriend.

"Thank you, Satoru," Suguru said earnestly, "Thank you for finally telling me all this. I think I understand you so much better than I did before."

Satoru smiled, "Yeah? Did that help make this mess make any sense?"

"It does," Suguru chuckled, "But please, don't hide so much next time." Their gazes met and Suguru's brows furrowed, "I think you should tell the others this as well."

"What? Why?" Satoru asked, "They don't need to know. They'll just want all the details and I'll have to tell them they died and how it happened. That wouldn't help them."

"You need to tell them," Suguru insisted, "They deserve the chance to make changes to their lives based on their own choices."

"But they don't even need to know about any of that stuff since it won't happen this time," Satoru argued, "I mean, everything is completely different than the first time. Haibara won't die next year and we already took care of Amanai. Nanami won't need to fight Dagon or even see Jogo. There's really no good reason to tell them something that would just freak them out about some shit that will never happen."

"No, but you would be eliminating their autonomy if you choose not to tell them," Suguru said, "They should be told so that they can make their own decisions based on their previous mistakes."

"No, that doesn't make any sense," Satoru said, "It's not like they remember any of that happening. They may not even believe me!"

"They'd believe you, we all have it confirmed that Sarah's technique works that way," Suguru added, "We know it's possible."

"Not that part," Satoru scoffed, "I mean about their past lives! I can't prove that anything I've said is real so why would telling them change anything?"

"It would!" Suguru gritted, "It would give them a new perspective on things they may already be considering."

"No it wouldn't! Especially not for Haibara!" Satoru laughed darkly, "He was killed because the higher-ups are morons, not for anything he did. Telling him he died wouldn't change anything for him."

"Why don't you want them to know?" Suguru asked, balling up his fists, "What are you hiding this time?"

"What? I'm not hiding anything!" Satoru spat, "I just told you everything!"

"How can I know that?" Suguru scoffed, "Yet again you're making excuses and keeping things from others. And for what? So you shoulder all the responsibilities yourself? Why do you get decide what's best for them? Why are you infantilizing them and assuming they can't possibly know what's best for themselves?"

"Why are you so upset about this?" Satoru asked, shocked by that response.

"I'm not upset!" Suguru shouted, jumping to his feet. He glared down at Satoru, his nostrils flaring with barely contained rage.

Satoru sneered up at Suguru and said, "You sound pretty upset to me."

"Why do you always think you're the only one who's got it right?!" Suguru shouted, "Why do you always have to be the one with all the damn control?!"

"Because I've already done this shit!" Satoru shouted right back, "I've already seen it and I know what needs to change!"

"How do you know I was wrong?!" Suguru spat, his eyes never leaving Satoru's as he stood up in front of him as well.

"What do you mean?" Satoru hissed, "Are you talking about your big stupid plan from back then?"

"How do you know I was wrong?" Suguru repeated.

"Because you fucking died trying to do it, moron!" Satoru shouted, "What do you mean?! You can't seriously be asking me that!"

"I'm asking you that because you clearly never talked to me again," Suguru scoffed, "You're telling me you just assumed I was completely wrong in my conclusion and you just let me leave without even trying to talk to me even once?!"

"Suguru, don't you fucking dare do this," Satoru growled, "You have no idea what it was like back then for me. You have no idea how hard I took it when you left."

"I always knew you were treating me like you thought I couldn't handle things," Suguru jabbed his pointer finger in Satoru's chest, "You think I can't handle myself, don't you?"

"Well, you couldn't before," Satoru sneered. "We failed a mission, then Haibara died, and without me you fucking lost your goddamn mind! So, no, Suguru, I don't think you can handle this life like that and I've tried to—"

"Fuck. You." Suguru glared at him. He tilted his head back defiantly, staring down his nose at Satoru.

"Yeah?!" Satoru shouted, "Well fuck you too you stupid ungrateful moron! I've been working non-stop since I've come back doing shit to make sure the future is good and we all come out of this shit alive and happy!"

"That's ridiculous," Suguru rolled his eyes, "You can't honestly believe that. You've been fooling around with all of us pretending to be a teenager and just enjoying your new life just as much as trying to change it. Admit it."

Satoru's mouth fell open and his eyes widened. He dropped his head, gritting his teeth and feeling the hot shame rush through his veins. "So what was I supposed to do then?" he hissed, "What was I supposed to do then, Suguru, since you know so much better? Am I just not supposed to enjoy myself ever? Should I have come back and immediately turned this place upside down and fixed it?"

"I would have started doing what needed to be done right away, yes," Suguru said calmly, crossing his arms. "I would have taken in my failures and done better with my second chance."

"Easy to say that when it's not you," Satoru spat, "Easy to say that when you haven't lived the life I had and felt the way I did!"

"All the more reason to pick up where you left off as soon as you got here," Suguru said matter-of-factly.

"Right, just start murdering people?" Satoru chuckled, then rolled his eyes. "That's what you would have done, yeah? Just start the killing right away. I'm sure that's what makes you right, Suguru."

"Sometimes that is the only option," Suguru said with a condescending snort, "You know that's true. When those who are in control are out of line the others rely on us to sort it out."

"Because we're strong we get to decide what's right?" Satoru retorted, "Is that what you're saying?"

"No, I'm saying—"

"That's exactly what you're saying. You're saying that we're strong so we're the ones who need to make sure all those dumb little weaklings don't fuck shit up," Satoru taunted, "You think we're so far above them that they just can't keep it together unless someone is around to tell them."

Suguru rolled his eyes, but when he didn't disagree Satoru laughed. "See? You've always been so fucking arrogant, and that's coming from me!"

"You—"

"I am arrogant and cocky and rude, yeah yeah," Satoru took the words right out of Suguru's mouth, then grinned, "But I'm not the one who actually looks down on the weak ones like they're useless, do I? I've never been the one who got a hard-on about being a leader and being in control just because I'm the strongest." Suguru started to retort, but Satoru was already waving him off. "Just, shut up. I shouldn't have told you anything," he muttered, "This is exactly why I didn't."

"And yet again you treat me like I can't do anything right," Suguru gritted.

"Well, prove me wrong then," Satoru scoffed, "Prove me wrong and I'll apologize. Hands and knees and everything."

"I will," Suguru grunted, "You'll see."

Satoru watched him storm out of the room. He slammed the screen door behind him and Satoru immediately let his head fall back and he screamed in his mouth. Kicking at the pile of folded laundry on the way, he fell into his cot with his arms crossed and his brows low.

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The sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled golden light onto the forest floor. A slight chill lingered in the air, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Haibara tightened his grip on Sarah's hand, pulling her closer as they walked. She nestled against his side, her laughter soft and warm, like the sunlight that danced around them.

"Cold?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

"Not anymore," she replied, her cheeks pink as she glanced up at him. His heart skipped a beat, as it always did when she looked at him like that—like he was the only person in the world.

They reached the top of a small hill, the path sloping downward into a sea of vibrant green. Haibara stepped in front of her, turning to face her with a playful grin. "Careful now," he said, his hands finding hers again. "I’ve got you."

Sarah laughed, her fingers tightening around his as they began their descent. The ground was uneven, dotted with roots and rocks, but Haibara steadied her every step of the way. She stumbled once, and he caught her effortlessly, pulling her close until their faces were inches apart. For a moment, the world seemed to pause—the rustling leaves, the distant chirping of birds, even the breeze holding its breath. Then Sarah smiled, and Haibara felt his chest swell with something he couldn’t quite name.

They reached the bottom of the hill, and the forest opened up into a wide clearing. Tall grass swayed in the breeze, catching the sunlight and turning it into a shimmering sea of gold. Haibara glanced at Sarah, her green eyes wide with wonder, and without a word, he took off running, pulling her along with him.

Sarah’s laughter rang out, bright and unrestrained, as they raced through the grass. The world blurred around them, nothing mattering but the feel of her hand in his and the sound of her joy. When they finally stopped, breathless and grinning, they collapsed onto the soft ground, the grass forming a natural cushion beneath them.

Haibara turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow to look at her. Sarah’s hair was tousled, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a happiness that made his chest ache. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering.

"You’re so pretty," he said softly, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Sarah’s smile softened, and she reached up to touch his hand. "You’re not so bad yourself," she teased, her voice barely above a whisper.

As they lay side by side in the clearing, the tall grass swaying gently around them like a protective cocoon, Haibara felt a quiet pull in his chest. The world seemed to slow, the rustling leaves and distant birdsong fading into a soft hum. He shifted slightly, scooting closer to Sarah until their shoulders brushed, the warmth of her presence seeping into him.

Sarah turned her head to look at him, her eyes soft and curious. Haibara’s breath caught for a moment, his heart pounding. He reached up, his fingers trembling just slightly as they grazed her cheek. Her skin was warm beneath his touch, and she leaned into it ever so slightly, her lips parting in a quiet sigh.

Gently, he tilted her face toward his, his thumb brushing against her cheekbone. Sarah’s eyes fluttered shut, and Haibara felt his own do the same as he closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a kiss that was soft and sweet, tentative at first, then deepening just enough to make his head spin. It was the kind of kiss that felt like a secret, like something meant only for the two of them, hidden away in this sunlit clearing.

When they finally pulled apart, Haibara rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool air. Sarah’s eyes opened slowly, and she smiled.

"So do… do you want to, uh," he stammered, swallowing hard. He picked his head up, awkwardly rolling onto his hands and knees. He hovered over her, his breath catching at the sight of her under him like that.

"O-out here?" she squeaked, glancing around as if an entire crowd had gathered to catch them.

"No one will find us," he whispered. His fingertips dug into the dirt beside her head. The sunlight caught on her eyes, the green lighting up just right. "It's just you and me out here," he murmured, his lips catching hers in a deeper kiss.

Her hand landed on his back and he shivered. The heat running through his veins was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He could feel her heart through her lips, her breaths fanning on his face and her fingers unsure about tugging his hair.

With a soft gasp, he pushed her mouth more open with his lips and touched the tip of his tongue to hers. His body froze when her tongue didn't retreat, the two of them were left unsure what the next step was supposed to be. He let his curiosity take over, exploring her mouth freely. Her hand decided on tugging harder in his hair and he groaned in his throat.

Haibara sat up, staring down at her with heavy lidded eyes. She looked back up at him, her cheeks flushed and eyes wide. He stared at her and only managed out, "… want to?"

She swallowed, the hand in his hair loosening and falling to her face. She bit her lip, covering her eyes with her hands. She nodded just slightly and he sighed, laughing just a little with relief.

"Okay," he said softly, letting his lips brush against the shell of her ear. "I promise I'll do a good job."

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Taglist: @inthedarkshadows000

[play-now-my-lord]

my preferred reading of 2001: a space odyssey is "the jet age and the last man". here it is at some length, because i'm bored.

Bowman is a sort of high-modern superhero - an astronaut on a voyage of exploration - but he is played painfully mundane, boring. He flies to the moon on a Pan Am space jet, and the first thing he does on the fucking moon is check in at a Hilton hotel.

The Jet Age can be defined for the purposes of this reading as the era in which the danger and novelty of discovery, including personal discovery, died. At least as Kubrick tells it, a lineage of machines designed for war - culminating, in his time, in the passenger jet, but projected forward into space vehicles - ultimately had the effect of killing off man's sense of the unknown as dangerous or holy. They had the effect of strangling man's capacity for awe.

Early in the film, Bowman is called to encounter a mysterious monolith uncovered on the moon. While this is at the very minimum an exotic scientific curiosity, by all reasonable measures solid evidence that humanity is not alone in the universe - that much of what we believe we know about our place in the cosmos is wrong - him and his team get to the monolith, enshrouded in a rather ordinary construction site (again, on the fucking moon), and their first instinct is to take selfies with it.

And it punishes them with inexplicable, terrifying noise.

As Bowman trespasses further and further into the true unknown in search of answers to the mystery of the lunar monolith, he is largely unchanged. He greets the apparent intractable hostility of the AI agent created to keep him alive with some fear, but mostly with irritation. It's a distraction from his busy schedule jogging and otherwise killing time until he gets to his destination and gets his answers.

When Bowman kills HAL, it is with the ruthless, robotic efficiency of a machine. He betrays no particular emotion except urgency, and a moment of relief when he's succeeded in killing something that he had no special reason to consider alive a week ago. The entire time, HAL is begging for its life, reliving its infancy. If anything of us survives after we succeed in killing our gods, Kubrick is saying, it will not be embodied in ourselves, but latent in our machines.

The disassembly scene in 2001 has been endlessly parodied, pastiched, homaged, and yet it remains, if you strip away the science-fiction armor around the raw emotion of the scene, one of the most brutal things ever committed to film. Machine-man tears man-machine's brain apart, lobotomizes it one screw at a time.

After that comes Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite. Bowman experiences... well, whatever that is, and the rest of his life stretches ahead of us. He grows old in spaces that merge domesticity with display, opulence with sterility - resembling nothing so much as the moon Hilton - and at the end, after a long and apparently meaningless life, he sees the hand of God in front of his face again, and reaches out to meet it.

The final shot describes what our ultimate apotheosis might look like, if the line the film describes continues - godlike infants, fetal and enclosed, gazing at once upon all of creation with no apparent understanding. I think this has been misunderstood for a long time as a sort of approbational or aspirational image - for Bowman, for humanity, for the audience. But the Also Sprach Zarathustra musical bookend implies continuity with the development of our tools - of murder, of convenience, of safety, of security - and paints a darker picture. In this reading, I would say Kubrick is trying to say that human civilization is not just a drive towards death, but a drive towards spiritual death - towards the creation of a Last Man so empty of fear and awe that he might as well never leave the safety of the womb; that for this Last Man, stripped of the first and final terror of death and the unknown after it, the vastness of all creation is exactly the same as the womb.

I don't know that I agree, but I felt compelled to write some of this down a while ago arguing about whether 2001 is trying to promote the idea that man requires God, or to run down human accomplishments in an explicitly religious context. I don't think that's exactly true, I think Kubrick works a little more complicated than that. And I don't know if I actually agree with the thesis I suggest he's laying out here - but I have to say, it makes an awful strong case.

[pinesource]

We've seen the versatile and charming Chris Pine take on a litany of roles over his career that have stretched him both emotionally and physically. He has been the suave space pioneer Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek movie franchise, the sophisticated CIA special ops man in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the charismatic and rakish swindler Frank in Don't Worry Darling, and most recently, the down-his-luck scoundrel in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He has handled each of these characters with just the right amount of deft, nuance, and effusive energy. But the role that is without a doubt his most layered and measured is as Toby Hooper in the Taylor Sheridan-written neo-Western Hell or High Water.

While it might surprise some to learn that Pine has never even been nominated for an Academy Award, there is one singular part we think deserved not only a nomination but a straight-up Best Actor in a Motion Picture Oscar, all thanks to his elegantly rugged portrayal of Hooper. By now, he should have a little golden statuette on his mantle as we speak, and the fact that he wasn't even nominated needs to be re-examined as there are a handful of "Oscar moments" for Pine in the film.

Chris Pine has been called on to play all sorts of characters in his still very young career, but his role in the Taylor Sheridan neo-noir Western is by far his best. In Hell or High Water, Sheridan writes a part for him that really pulls out all the actor's talents as a modern-day Frank James to his brother Tanner’s wild-ass Jesse James. After a series of ham and egg bank robberies, the two main characters settle into place. Tanner is brash, irreverent, and seems okay with giving the whole world the middle finger. For Pine's Toby, it's not quite so easy. He has to be the brains and measured temperament of the outfit as they are on a mission to steal enough money to pay off the bank lien on their family ranch that sits amid the sprawling West Texas plains. Sheridan wastes little time giving Pine the emotional anchor of the misanthropic antiheroes and asks him to deliver a sympathetic felon who you somehow want to see succeed no matter how many laws he's broken or people he's harmed. It takes serious dramatic savvy to do that and be convincing to a smart audience.

As the Hooper brothers are on the run from the law played by the equally dyspeptic tandem of sheriffs named Marcus Hamilton and Alberto Parker (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham, respectively), they stop at a remote convenience store in the middle of nowhere. When two punks pull up next to Tanner waiting at the gas pump in a bright neon green muscle car and start to give Tanner shit, Toby comes out of the store and sees what he perceives to be a threat to his kin (the driver brandishes a gun), and doesn't hesitate for a second. It's Chris Pine's second "Oscar moment" in Hell or High Water as he single-handedly delivers an epic beating of the driver. By the time he makes his way to the passenger side of the car, he is met with a stunned and frightened kid who doesn't want any part of the ass whipping he just witnessed. The beautiful part of the scene is watching Toby proceed calmly and get into the car and the two share a laugh as they drive away from the scene arguing the merits of Dr. Pepper verus Mr. Pibb. Pine can deliver the brawny goods if he needs to and the size and physicality combined with a protective brother bear instincts make for a stark and utterly believable outward expression of the lengths he'll go to protect who and what he loves.

We've mentioned "Oscar moments" throughout this article and there is complete validity that in order to win the little golden man, you need to have at least one remarkable and memorable moment that gives us goosebumps, warm fuzzies, sadness, fear, or any other manner of emotions. But aside from these isolated turns, there is an overall tone and mood that the character must create that permeates and sets the tone for the entire film. In Hell or High Water, Chris Pine has an unmatched reserved urgency about him that both slows down and speeds up the measured pace of the movie. There are a handful of tender moments between father and son, and the two brothers as well. He doesn't have a lot of dialogue, and that's the way we like our leading men in Westerns. In fact, Pine spends most of the film with his chin planted firmly in his upper chest peering up at his counterparts. At the same time, there is a restlessness about him that is difficult to pinpoint, but impossible not to feel — all the way to the front of your cinematic cerebral cortex in a weighty performance that is criminally unrecognized.

[scotianostra]

January 29th 1848 saw the first adoption of GMT by Scotland. The subject has been the source of controversy ever since.

The change had broadly taken place south of the Border from September the previous year with those in Edinburgh living 12 and-a-half minutes behind the new standard time as a result.

The discrepancy grew the further west you moved, with the time in Glasgow some 17 minutes behind GMT. In Ayr the time difference was 18-and-a-half minutes with it rising to 19 minutes in the harbour town of Greenock. All these lapses were ironed out over night on January 29th 1848, but the move wasn’t without controversy as some resisted the move away from local time.

Sometimes referred to as natural time, it had long been determined by sundials and observatories and later by charts and tables which outlined the differences between GMT and local time at various locations across the country. But the need for a standard time measurement was broadly agreed upon given the surge in the number of rail services and passengers with different local times causing confusion, missed trains and even accidents as trains battled for clearance on single tracks.

An editorial in The Scotsman on Saturday, January 28th, 1848, said: “It is a mistake to think that in the country generally the change will be felt as a grievance in any degree. “Probably nine-tenths of those who have clocks and watches believe that their local time is the same with Greenwich time, and will be greatly surprise to learn that the two are not identical. “Even if they wished to keep local time, they want the means.

“Observatories are only found in two or three of our Scottish towns. “As for the sundials in use, their number is small, most of them, too, are made by incompetent persons and even when correctly constructed, the task of putting them up and adjusting them to the meridian is generally left to an ignorant mason, who perhaps takes the mid-day hour from the watch in his fob.” Can you imagine a Mason putting up with being called ignorant in this day and age!

The editorial added: “For the sake of convenience, we sacrifice a few minutes and keep this artificial time in preference to sundial time, which some call natural time, and if the same convenience counsels us to sacrifice a few minutes in order to keep one uniform time over the whole country, why should it not be done!”

Mariners had long observed Greenwich Mean Time and kept at least one chronometer set to calculate their longitude from the Greenwich meridian, which was considered to have a longitude of zero degrees. The move to enforce it as the common time measurement was made by the Railway Clearing House in September 1847.

Some rail companies had printed GMT timetables much sooner. The Great Western Railway deployed the standard time in 1840 given that passengers on its service between London to Bristol, then the biggest trading port with the United States, faced a time difference of 22 minutes between its departure and arrival point.

Rory McEvoy, curator of horology at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said travel watches of the day had two sets of hands, one gold and one blue steel, to help measure changes in local time during a journey.

Maps also depicted towns with had adopted GMT and those which had not, he added. "There was information out there for determine the local time difference so they would know the offset to apply to GMT before the telegraphic distribution of time.”

Mr McEvoy said different towns and cities in Scotland would have had their own time differences before adoption of GMT. Old local time measurements show that Edinburgh was four-and-a-half minutes ahead of that in Glasgow, for example.

Mr McEvoy added: “I think it is fair to say there was no real concept of these differences at the time. It was when communication began to expand quite rapidly that it became f an issue. I think generally, you would be quite happy that the time of day was your local time.”

In this day in age we takeGMT, for granted, but try and think of how it would have worked in this day and age, and the confusion that would reign!

[seat-safety-switch]

“Everything’s in the cloud now,” I shout at the hot air balloonist over the sound of the burners. Sun glints off my snub-nose .38. “I was never smart enough to be a hacker before.”

Phineas Fogg looks behind him. "Uh-uh," I gently scold, and shake the gun for emphasis. "That went overboard a long time ago." He looks glumly over the edge of the basket, hoping to see his Passenger Removal Blackjack. It's a a desperate hope, one that it was simply misplaced by me, rather than yote parabolically into a nearby state fair from 8,000 feet. "Now drive."

"Fucking Missouri," he spits, and he's right. In any other state, this would be a felony. Balloonists are like gods there, unimpeachable even by law enforcement. Here, the gods meet mortals, and they don't like it.

We float higher and higher as he works what I have determined to be a crude throttle. The fire is beautiful, but I know that I cannot allow myself to be distracted by the purging of hydrocarbons. These balloony-types are crafty, having fought their way out of the vicious canvas wars of their disgusting home country. I know that if I take my eyes off the prize for one second, he'll try something.

Indeed he does. We pass briefly over an attractive red-and-white circus tent, itself an overinflated artifact of a bygone age of freaks. My unwilling travelling companion takes the opportunity to leap out of the basket, falling hundreds of feet. He bursts through the roof of the tent, landing squarely in a conveniently-placed bale of hay. Figures, I grunt to myself, but then I notice that he's not moving. No doubt the Barnum Bros have gotten themselves a cost-cutting MBA, who has decided that rocks painted like hay is sufficient enough to convince the rubes that the elephants are eating well and treated well, in equal measure.

I have caught myself in quite the pickle, I realize, as I look at the crude array of burners, levers, strings, springs, and apertures that lay before me. Saturday morning cartoons have taught me that this contraption operates the balloon's height, but its exact nature is unclear to me. Safe for the moment, I decide to take advantage of the surprising-but-welcome solitude and meditate on the issue, sitting cross-legged in the bottom of the basket and pivoting my thoughts towards the eternal expanse of human ingenuity. Carburetors of my youth come unbidden to my mind's eye on this vision quest, and soon I have discovered the common ancestor of this gas-burping nightmare and my precious Plymouth Volare's single-barrel, ethanol-rotted Ball & Ball.

Opening my eyes, it is very clear to me now what I must do. I floor the fucker. An enormous wall of flame bursts from the burners, singing my eyebrows. I laugh, and rise into the sky. Up there, in the clouds, the banks dwell. I am coming for them.

[indigosunsetao3]

A Reason To Try

Chapter 4 - New Directive

Masterlist of Chapters

Warnings: 18+ - No minors Please read the tags on AO3 for any of your triggers

Alex Keller X Original FMC 5.8k words - AO3 Link

Madeline was able to get the gist of the one side of the conversation she could hear from Alex and her blood ran cold. They weren’t going to take them with them. After all of this, they were going to be left behind. She should have just stayed home, stayed holed up in the apartment like she wanted to do to begin with. Now they were out there in the middle of nowhere and there was no way she could get back to the apartment now. Their car was busted, she could smell smoke, and they were just going to be left to fend for themselves.

“I’m not leaving them behind,” Alex said smoothly back to Graves over the comms as he looked over at Madeline in the passenger seat for a second. He didn’t even need to think about it. He had said he’d get them to safety and he was going to make sure he kept that vow.

“Then don’t Keller. We can do it without you.” Graves answered back.

“Price is this your directive?” Alex asked into the mic, ignoring Graves. He found the hangar; it wasn’t hard to miss since it was the only one with lights on and multiple cars. Sliding a bit on the ice he squealed the car to a stop, jolting in his seat against the seatbelt at the sudden movement. “Stay here,” Alex said to Madeline who was already unbuckling her seatbelt.

“So you can ditch us? I don’t think so,” Madeline snapped as she got the belt off and let the buckle crack against the window in her haste. “I’ll be right back E, just need to sort a few things out,” she said turning back to look at him and Everett just nodded. He was exhausted, all of the fight and fear drained from him. She turned the volume up on the radio a few degrees for good measure; he didn’t need to hear them all yelling if it came to that.

“I’m not ditching you,” Alex answered as he watched her come around the car to walk alongside him. She looked fierce and determined, even if she was terrified. “I would have done that back in downtown Boston if that was my plan,” he snapped, wondering if she really thought that lowly of him after all this.

“I don’t know you,” Madeline said as she stomped next to him, her eyes roving over him as if sizing him up for good measure. “You brought us here because it was convenient and you needed the car. But when we’re no longer an easy task then what?” She knew how these things could go. How many times had she been left behind by the ‘good guy’ in her life. Too many.

“Listen, if I-“ Alex started determined to defend himself but then stopped. Graves had walked over in their little tiff and was staring at them with his head slightly cocked, an amused look on his face, and hand holding a pistol at his side. Alex instantly grabbed Madeline’s wrist and yanked her to a hard stop before she got too close to the guy and his small band of Shadows. She shook him off about to snap at him when she caught why Alex had stopped her.

“Get back in the car,” Graves greeted while raising his gun to point right at Madeline who shot her hands in the air. Alex didn’t budge, didn’t even flinch, because Graves was not the first or last person that would threaten him with a loaded weapon. “This is my directive, this is my operation,” he said answering Alex’s last question before glancing at Price with a smirk. Price looked highly unimpressed but outnumbered by the other Shadows there wasn’t much he could do. “Either you come with us now Keller, or you get back in that fucking car.” He shrugged, “or I can shoot you both for holding me up. I’m not picky.”

“What the fuck Graves?” Alex asked as he stared at the man. He saw Graves flip the safety off as he continued to point it at Madeline and Alex subtly sidestepped to get in the line of fire.

If Madeline had any sense she would have cowered and gone right back to the car. But she stood her ground, legs shaking and feeling like she was going to faint as she stared at the man pointing a gun at her. She wasn’t going to risk Everett’s safety because this guy was seemingly on a power trip based on everyone else’s reactions to him. This must be the guy that Alex had said kept his Shadows on a string like puppets. She opened her mouth to say something but Alex blocked her eyeline, his broad shoulders stepping in the way of the barrel aimed at her. Maybe it was a good thing she kept her snark to herself.

“We aren’t risking ourselves for two people, not on a mission this big. We don’t get this potential cure it’s over for everyone.” Graves shrugged, “I’m not making you come along. If you want to stay here and play the white knight for her like you did for Farah,” he smirked, “be my guest. But you have ten seconds to make a choice before I make it for you.”

“Leave me your keys and a few guns,” Alex said to Price as he looked over at him, ignoring Graves and his taunts. The asshole liked being the center of attention and he wasn’t about to give him that satisfaction. “I’ll get them to the CDC,” he stated and Price nodded.

“Always so chivalrous,” Graves taunted. “I’ll be sure to let Farah know that you ignored her orders too.” He laughed at Alex’s glare before turning around, rotating his free hand in the air in a circle. “Round up boys. We’re leaving.”

“You can’t be serious. We can’t drive through this, we barely got here!” Madeline said feeling rage boiling up in her as she stomped up to Alex’s back, knocking her shoulder into his as she moved to walk around him.  “You’re leaving us to die!” Madeline yelled loudly at the man called Graves who didn’t even bother to look back as he climbed into the plane.

“He’s been known to do that,” Alex answered flatly as he looked at Price and Ghost who were walking over.

“We have to go with him,” Price said quietly as he handed the keys over. “You know what he’s done in the past, I’m not letting him go unattended.” His eyes darted over to Madeline and she stared right back at him, not even flinching as the guy in the skull mask crossed his arms and assessed her.

“I get it,” Alex answered as he took the keys to one of the large SUVs; a Tahoe. “Probably take us a few days to get there,” he explained as Madeline continued to look between them all like they were insane. “How much can you leave me?”

“Full crate,” Gaz answered as he walked over. “You’ll need to get gas though,” he stated as he looked over his shoulder as the plane whirred to life. “Soap is already on making sure they don’t leave us all behind.” He paused and smirked, “or maybe strangling Graves, not sure.”

“He’d deserve it,” Madeline seethed as she looked at the pilot through the front window of the plane as they flipped switches. “Any of you pilots? Just shoot him and take it,” she reasoned. She had never been one to advocate for murder but for Everett, she found it wasn’t fully off the table. "He doesn't even know where they are, didn't even bother to ask," she tapped her foot impatiently wondering if she could use that as a bargaining chip to get on the plane. "I talked to my sister on the phone, they're hiding in a school." She wasn't going to risk her sister she decided a second later.

“Just the occasional helo,” the one with the skull mask said which elicited a chuckle from the man in a baseball cap. “We need them even if we don’t want them,” he tacked on, “otherwise I would.”

"A school?" Price interjected quickly looking at Madeline. "Last I knew they were at a local hospital."

"Yeah, well I'm willing to bet sick people also went to the same hospital," Madeline answered crossing her arms mirroring Ghost's body language. "She said it's the biggest building in the town nearest the airfield. Don't tell that asshole," she gestured with a jerk of her chin, "he'll probably push you out of the plane if he thinks you aren't of use."

Price chuckled and cut his eyes at the man in the skull mask before nodding. "Noted. Still in Parupa?" And when Madeleine quietly said yes he let it drop.

“Go,” Alex said after a second to the team, his eyes flicking over Madeline’s face which was twisted with anger as she pointedly looked away from all of them at the plane. “Get to them before it's too late. I’ve got this, I’ll see you in a few days,” he finished. When Price clapped him on the arm, they all nodded at one another before the three of them jogged back to the plane.

He wasn’t going to ask any of them to stay behind, even if he could use the help. For all that Graves was this mission was much more important and they all knew it. Alex also knew they could use him as an extra set of hands but wasn’t going to leave Madeline and Everett to fend for themselves after he dragged them out there. And not especially when her sister, who could potentially put a stop to all of this, was depending on him to keep her family alive.

“Alex, are you crazy? We need to get on that plane,” Madeline said as the other men got out of earshot. “If we just get on…they wouldn’t-” she stepped toward the plane as if she were going to march over and demand they let them on. Alex grabbed the hood of her jacket swiftly, she really was like wrangling a temperamental child, which stopped her. She twisted to get him to let go but he held fast and she whirled on him. “At least send Everett,” she demanded, “he can’t do this with us. He’s six, how are we supposed to do this with a child?” She gestured at the car where Everett was still settled in.

“You heard him, they are going right for your sister. They aren’t stopping and honestly, they need to get to her as fast as possible after that phone call you had with her.” Alex stated as he stared at her in the car headlights. The look of fear on Madeline’s face at the reminder of what her sister was going through was enough to make his gut twist in guilt. “It should be a relative straight shot to Atlanta if we leave now before everything can be blockaded.” He added trying to change the subject a bit.

The plane roared as it began to move forward and Madeline pushed her hair off her face as it blew this way and that as she watched it taxi. Their ticket out of Boston was slowly rolling away right before her eyes and there was nothing she could do about it. She sighed before twisting away from Alex defeated, the fight draining out of her as fast as it had come on. She was tired, so tired, and couldn’t even begin to fathom what was lying ahead of them if getting out of Boston had been this bad so early. She watched Alex for a second as he let his hand fall to his side before she walked back toward the car to where Everett was waiting to tell him plans were changing. Again.

Alex watched her go before heading to one of the SUVs, hitting the key fob to figure out which one it was. Opening the trunk, he pulled a crate of weapons toward him and began to take stock of what was left behind. It was a decent amount thankfully. An M-16, plenty of bullets, a few grenades, flares, rounds for his pistol, and even another set of pistols. He had a feeling that Gaz may have slipped a few extra things in there for him when he realized what was happening; knowing Alex wasn’t going to just ditch Madeline and Everett. Just like when he hadn’t left Farah in her moment of need.  Well, the first time. The thought of her alone in this right now sent a jolt of regret down his spine as he slammed the trunk shut and pocketed the keys.

“I know it’s cold bud,” Madeline answered Everett’s quiet complaint as she stared at the contraption of his booster seat. There were straps that led to nowhere, buckles, a button, and even a crank handle. She had no idea how any of this worked, Josephine had set this up and they had never needed to remove it.

“Ready?” Alex asked as he walked over, slinging his M-16 over his shoulder as Madeline struggled with the booster seat to get it out. Everett was standing next to the car, his hand holding on tight to the door handle as if Madeline had given him instruction to hold still and not leave.

“I can’t get his seat,” Madeline answered frustrated as she shook the stupid thing and tugged harder before shoving it away from her with a frustrated grunt. She glared at it before grabbing at it again and tugging hard at the straps that held it onto the base. It didn’t budge and she almost screamed in frustration; not necessarily at the seat but with everything else that was happening. The seat was going to be the final straw.

“Hang on,” Alex said, realizing Madeline was about to lose it. He quickly grabbed her hips and pulled her out from the car, tugging a little harder as she held fast to the seat as if she’d drag it out with her. “Let me give it a shot. Take a breather,” he said as Madeline slapped at his hands to get him to let go. He did swiftly and put his hands up innocently as she straightened herself. “Go to the SUV,” he instructed as he looked down at her and she grabbed Everett’s hand. “I’ll be there in a second.”

Madeline huffed as she took Everett’s hand and headed toward the Tahoe, scooping up the duffle and backpack that she had unceremoniously tossed out of the car moments before. Everett had barely reacted when she told him they weren’t getting on the plane but were instead driving. He just blinked quietly at her which concerned her more, she would have preferred another breakdown even if it broke her heart compared to the silence. He didn’t even laugh at her as she yelled in frustration like he normally did when she had her little tantrums that Josephine had akin to E’s toddler tantrums; something he found highly entertaining.

Alex was muttering to himself as he followed the seatbelt lines to see if he could figure out where it hooked when he heard the snarl. It was quiet, almost lost on the wind, but he definitely heard it. He paused in his work and looked through the back window across the way from him and he saw the movement in the shadows. Slipping back out of the car he hustled back into a crouching position, slipping his M-16 back over his arm and bracing the butt against his shoulder. He looked over to the SUV where Madeline was still half in, helping Everett get up and loading the bags, she was oblivious.

“Get in the car!” Alex yelled as he saw one move around the side of the hangar. It would get there before he could. He aimed down his sights but he didn’t have the shot, it was stumbling as it ran and he knew his yell had caught the attention of the one he had spotted before. He couldn’t wait. Slamming the door shut, trying to make more noise to draw them to him, he began running for the SUV. It wasn’t far but he could hear the slapping of footsteps following him. These things were fast, too fast.

Madeline snapped her eyes up at Alex’s yell and it took her a second to figure out what he was yelling about before she saw it. There was one on the other side of the SUV in the hangar and she could see more moving up the airfield. They must have been drawn by the sound of the plane in the relative silence of the area. She didn’t hesitate, she climbed right in the backseat with Everett and slammed the door shut before looking at Alex running right for the car.

“Shit,” Madeline whined as she saw two of them right on Alex’s tail. He was going to need to dive in if he was going to avoid them, even just stopping to open the door could be the difference between life and death for him. She didn’t want to open the door by Everett because there was one still close in the hangar but she couldn’t just leave Alex either. Making a split-second decision she scrambled over the center console, her legs flailing as she hauled herself up. The bottoms of her wet shoes from the melted ice and snow slipped on the leather but she finally made it and she flopped on her stomach on the seat. Frantically she pulled on the door handle, fumbling with the lock before flinging the door open and hustling backwards to get out of the way.

Alex grabbed the SUV door as it opened and jumped in, throwing his gun at Madeline ahead of him before slamming the door quick and fast enough that he almost trapped his hand in it. The things collided with the metal less than a second later and the Tahoe rocked to the side a bit at the hard impact. He was panting as he stared at the window as two of them scrabbled and clawed at the glass, foaming blood from their mouth as they shrieked. Pushing his foot on the brake he hit the push start and the engine roared to life and the headlights lit up more of them running right at them.

“Put on your seatbelt,” Madeline instructed Everett as she righted herself in the passenger seat, holding the gun that was much too heavy in her hands. Her nephew hadn’t even screamed at the things attacking but instead looked at her puzzled for a second. He was obviously still waiting for his seat, never riding in the car without it before. Madeline gestured for him to hurry up before he reached for the belt and buckled himself in after fumbling with it for a second. She nodded at Alex who was looking at her before he hit the gas and they began moving.

There were a decent amount of the things running up the runway and Madeline stared as they flew past them, the V-8 engine roaring as they went back out the way they had come in. Josephine’s car was still sitting where they left it, the engine still running and lights on which drew the attention of some. They descended on it like ants and a few were ripping at the seats and things inside in an angry frenzy as if they were hunting for someone hiding inside.

“Thanks for getting the door,” Alex said after they turned back on the road before gesturing at the gun Madeline was still holding. Her hands were holding it tightly, though the look on her face portrayed unfamiliarity and a tinge of fear of it. “You can set that on the floorboard behind you,” he instructed and she stared at him, eyes darting to Everett who was sitting there. “Safety’s on,” he said with a small grin before holding his hand out to her to take it instead.

“I wasn’t going to leave you to fend for yourself,” Madeline answered simply as she hefted the gun over to him. She watched as he shifted it up one handed, despite the weight, and lifted it back behind their seats without taking his eyes off the road and set it on the floor. She peered behind her seat at the floorboard for a second before looking up at Everett who was leaning against his seatbelt to look at the gun at his feet. His legs were too short to touch the floor but it was still too close for her comfort as she pointed at Everett to sit back in his seat. “Don’t touch it,” she warned as he stared at her. “Lean back and try to get some sleep, we’ll be in the car for a bit.”

“We’re going to need gas before long,” Alex said quietly as Madeline turned back in her seat again to face front. Everett had leaned his head up against the car window and was staring out into the dark, his eyes growing heavier with every second. “Gaz said it low and looking at the gauge we’re at a quarter of a tank. I don’t want to get on backroads and run out. We need to avoid main roads for a bit,” he continued as Madeline pointed to where he needed to go next.

“There’s a 7-Eleven not far,” she stated looking back at Everett again whose eyes had finally shut. “I could use some water and he’s going to be hungry before long,” she reasoned just as her stomach gave a growl. “I guess me too,” she sighed and rubbed her stomach a bit.

“It needs to be in and out,” Alex said as he darted around a few slow cars, “I don’t want to get caught up in the mess as everyone starts raiding and trying to get supplies. Plus, crowds will just draw their attention,” he continued as he flipped the radio on low to see if there was anything else besides the emergency broadcast. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before the radios cut out altogether.

“My sister had a stack of cash stockpiled away,” Madeline explained, “I put it in her backpack. She’s, well, we used to poke fun at her preparing for the end of the world. I guess her line of work it sometimes felt like it, but I never thought it would happen,” she sighed running a hand through her hair which was a knotted mess from being whipped around in the wind. “We can just pay cash, get in and out. I don’t even know if I have my purse anymore, to be honest,” she sighed thinking about where she had last seen it.

“If there is even an attendant,” Alex said as he saw a sign for the convenience store. “Don’t linger around. I’ll fill up, you go get food and anything else you think we may need. If there is no one around just leave what you think is good. Or just walk out for that matter.” At the look on Madeline’s face, he shrugged, “I doubt anyone is going to arrest you for lifting some gatorades and gas station snacks. They’ve got other things to worry about.”

“I...well, fair,” Madeline conceded as they turned down the road that had the gas station and a few fast-food restaurants. The restaurants were still closed at this hour but the 7-Eleven was lit up brightly and Madeline saw another car there filling up their tank and two extra cans as well. “Do you have any of those?” She asked as she pointed at one of the red gas cans as Alex checked which side to park the car on to fill up.

“No,” he answered, “see if they have any inside. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to get an extra can or two.” He peered at the store, looking for any signs of distress, or those things, but everything seemed well. It was empty save for the other car and Alex climbed out first, careful to make direct eye contact with the man filling up so they were both aware of one another. And also noting they were both armed.

“I need to pee,” Everett piped up suddenly from the backseat and Madeline sighed. She knew he just wanted to go in the store and hustle her for some candy. But if he peed now, they wouldn’t have to stop for a while. “Please,” he whined as he undid his seatbelt.

“Fine,” Madeline said quickly as she watched Alex flip through his wallet and slip a card into the pump to start. He was leaning casually against the side of the car but she caught that his right hand was resting just above where his pistol sat strapped to his leg. “In and out. No playing,” she instructed as Everett rolled his eyes at her, “I mean it E. You go in, you go pee and you come right back out here to Alex.”

Everett opened the door and Alex’s head shot up as he saw the kid climb out before Madeline came around and held her hand out to him.

“Hang on,” Alex said as he pushed up from the car. “This isn’t a fun shopping trip,” he said as he looked at Everett who tugged on Madeline’s arm.

“I’m aware. He needs the bathroom,” Madeline said as Everett swung her arm impatiently “I’m going to let him go in and send him right back out to you,” she explained before giving a step as Everett tugged again.

“Give me a second and I’ll take him,” Alex reasoned as he stared at the gas pump. He still had a bit to go before it was full. He didn’t much like Madeline going in alone as it was, even if it was faster if they worked in tandem. Sending Everett with her was a whole other risk of security if something happened.

“I can go to the bathroom on my own,” Everett said impatiently.

“That’s not the issue,” Alex answered.

“We’ll be fine. Finish up here, I’ll send him out with a gas can,” Madeline offered as she looked around. Things were still quiet and the driver of the other car a row over was loading up one of his gas cans into his trunk. Soon it would just be them there. “I’ll be quick.”

Alex huffed; he didn’t like it but arguing was wasting time. He nodded once and watched them cross the small parking lot and head inside the store. He glanced at his watch on his wrist and decided they would get three minutes before he walked in there himself. Hanging his hand back down by his side he turned to look at the gas pump numbers steadily climbing.

“Go,” Madeline said as she came back out of the women’s bathroom, checking to make sure it was empty. Everett had protested wanting to use the men’s but Madeline put her foot down at that. He went in with a grumble and she turned around and walked to the closest aisle with the handbasket she had scooped up to start grabbing things. She was just putting things in the basket without paying attention, not really caring what it was just that it was some type of easy food. She peered around for the attendant and didn’t see one which made her uneasy but it was possible they were just in the back room or something.

Turning down another aisle Madeline glanced up at the rounded mirror on the ceiling to make sure she could still see the bathroom door as she browsed. She grabbed up some pain medication, her head was still pounding, and also decided that Pepto also wasn’t a bad idea with all this junk food. A few other little things like hygiene products, hand sanitizer, and even a map off an endcap hanger were tossed in the basket by the time Everett walked out shaking his hands. He didn’t like using the air dryers and she was guessing there weren’t any paper towels.

“Right out to Alex,” Madeline instructed as she pointed to the door, snatching up a gas can in the car section they passed. Everett nodded before grabbing something he wanted from the front counter, a bag of Skittles, and holding them to her. She sighed and tossed it in the basket before watching him walk toward the automatic doors and out to the parking lot. Alex was watching him, he made brief eye contact with Madeline and nodded and she turned back into the store to continue.

“Thanks,” Alex said as Everett handed the can to him before he opened the door for the kid. He indicated for Everett to climb in and gave him a small boost with how high the step up was. “Did she say how long she’d be?” Alex asked as he watched Everett climb to the very back row to sprawl out and lay down.

“No, she had a lot in the basket though,” Everett answered as he yawned and stretched out a bit. “How far are we going?”

“Long ways,” Alex answered as the pump finally clicked off. It was a wonder anyone could afford to fill these things on the regular. He shifted the pump to fill the gas can now before glancing over his shoulder to do another area sweep. The guy that was filling up the other car was gone and Alex whirled to see where he had gotten off to. “Damn it,” Alex muttered as he looked at Everett who was settled in. “Stay in the car,” he ordered pointing at the kid who nodded at him. He slammed the door shut and locked it before jogging toward the store.

Madeline was grabbing drinks in the back when the sound of the automatic door opened again. She turned to see who it was but didn’t spot anyone. She threw a few more gatorades in the basket, a few iced coffees, and some plain water when she heard steps approaching. She figured it was Alex and she opened her mouth to tell him she was almost done when she realized it was not him. It was the guy they had seen filling up his car, he was eyeing her as he opened a cooler to grab a drink himself. Not wanting to linger Madeline shut her mouth and turned away, heading back up toward the front. But he shut the cooler door and followed her.

Shifting tactics, sure she was being paranoid, Madeline ventured back to the personal hygiene aisle. She stopped specifically in front of the feminine products. He followed a bit too close for comfort and she dared to dart her eyes over to him as she blindly grabbed things and threw them in the basket. He was staring and she realized he had blocked her way out of the aisle unless she went further back into the store, further away from the store exit.

“Can I help you?” Madeline finally asked as she turned to face him fully. She had learned in her years growing up that men did not like being confronted by people they were leering at. Eye contact made them extremely uncomfortable when a woman stood up for themselves. “Wife need pads?” She asked holding up a pack sarcastically before tossing it into her basket. “Tampons?” She nudged a box as the guy stepped closer.

“I want what you have,” the guy answered simply as he shifted his jacket back to show the gun in his waistband. “All of it. The gas, the SUV, your guy’s guns,” he smirked. “You can come along to, leave the kid though.”

Alex was in the store and he paused at the rain mat looking around to see if he could see Madeline. There was no one working at the counter and he paused as he heard voices then a very strained voice call out his name. Alex felt his stomach drop a bit as he unholstered his pistol and looked for the mirrors to see if he could find her quickly as he walked.

Madeline had gambled that the second time the doors had opened that evening it was Alex coming in now. She knew she had been gone too long and he was hopefully coming to corral her back to the car. If it was someone else that was with this guy she knew she was screwed. Condoms and pregnancy tests were not ideal self-defense items.

“I’ll be staying with my nephew in our SUV,” Madeline answered a bit louder than needed. “And my guy,” she said sarcastically, “is our military escort. I would suggest you rethink what you are demanding.” Her eyes darted up to the mirror and she saw Alex headed her way, he was two aisles away. He had his pistol raised and ready but met her eyes in the reflection with a small nod. “Go back out to your car, and take these with you,” she snapped before throwing a package of pH wipes at the guy to distract him so he would instinctively reach out and catch them being thrown at his face. He did. Taking the diversion, Madeline darted down the back of the aisle and she heard the guy snarl and attempt to come after her.

“I wouldn’t try it,” Alex answered as he came up behind the guy. His voice was even and calm but he purposely flipped the safety off on his pistol so the click could be heard. The man had reached for his own gun but stopped as he turned around with his hands slightly raised looking at Alex. “We’re leaving,” he glanced at Madeline who was at the other end of the aisle behind the edge peering at him. He nodded his head toward the door and she listened without hesitation. She went right toward the door, not even pausing to drop money on the counter.

“You come out that door in less than a minute I will drop you,” Alex warned the guy as he stared him down. “I won’t miss either,” he tacked on and when the guy nodded Alex lowered his gun a fraction of an inch. “Don’t-“ Alex warned as the man went for the pistol in his waistband.

Madeline heard Alex say 'don't' followed by three gunshots in rapid succession. She flinched and whirled back around to go into the store, having been almost out the door.

"Alex?!" Madeline yelled out as she doubled back to find him, dread filling her as only silence met her ears.

[heraflightlinks]

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Check out more contents:

How to Choose the Right Private Jet Charter Service