#pretty serious allegations thrown his way— i say LIKELY not IS FOR SURE but still

[causticsunshine]

.

[storiesofsvu]

Second Chair Spark Ch 4

Warnings: Language, talk of assault, domestic violence mentioned. **Also note that for the sake of this story, Casey has the big fancy office with the fcking fireplace that Barba/Stone had, while Y/N has a smaller one like Casey had on the show.

**

Bobby D’amico’s arraignment had wrapped up the next morning, you were in your office buried in paperwork for the case while Novak took care of things at the courthouse. You heard a knock on the door, calling out for the person to come in, looking up from your work, finding Casey entering the room.

“How was arraignment?”

“Donnelly denied him bail.”

“Good. Prick deserves it.” You turned your gaze back down, moving through a pile of papers in front of you.

“She also said you were off the case…” Dropping your pen you groaned, 

“You can’t be serious? After what I went through?!” You were frustrated, this prick deserved to be torn apart and destroyed, since the news of his arrest and assault had spread through the media, multiple other girls had come forward with the same allegations. 

“That’s exactly why you can’t work D’amico’s case. If the defence calls the second chair to the stand, the entire thing will get thrown out and you know it.” Casey may have been right but it simply frustrated you further, and worried her. Once you’d gotten to the hospital you’d shoved her away from you, saying you were fine, Fin taking your statement (despite the camera footage) before driving you home. There’d been no contact between you, she’d only found out you were discharged when Fin made it back to the precinct. 

“Do you need me to take the stand?” You leaned back in your hair, arms crossed around your body.

“If Donnelly throws out the video, yes.” 

Sighing, your gaze cast downward, gaining up the thought of having to testify, you didn’t notice Casey move towards you until her hand was on your chin, soft pads of her fingers tilting your head gently to examine the darkening bruise on your cheekbone. Jolting at her electric touch, you pulled away, a confused look on your face as you looked up at her.

“You sure you’re okay?” Her voice was softer, eyes pouring into yours.

“I’m fine Novak.” You snapped, pushing your chair back into your desk, attempting to continue working, Casey took that as her cue to move back around in front of your desk. She was genuinely concerned about you, you’d been practically trembling on the way to the hospital, to dive right back into sex crimes work the next morning seemed a little extreme.

“You seemed pretty shaken up last night, I just want to make sure. I’m sure McCoy would let you take a few days.” Groaning you dropped your pen again, running your hands over your face, wincing slightly as you pressed a little too hard on your bruising cheek.

“I don’t need a few days! I was so shaken up last night because that was…the first time a man has ever done anything like that to me…” Casey gave you a confused look, starting to process this new information. “I don’t sleep with men, I don’t date men….on a good day I find them tolerable at best.” 

“…You’re gay…” She slowly and gently spoke, a hint of question still in her voice. You met her eyes, nodding slightly.

“Yeah…kind of a double whammy on your dignity when you get assaulted by a creep of a man…” The air between the two of you took a shift with the knew knowledge opened up.

“I’m sorry I pried, I didn’t mean to—“

“Don’t worry about it.” You waved her off, 

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Aside from being kicked off the case, trust me, I’m fine.” Casey sighed, truth be told if she was in the same situation she’d want to dive right back into work too.

“Liv just called, they caught a DV case, head down there, take it on your own.” You gave her a curt smile, gathering up the paperwork into its file.

“Thank you.” You moved to pass the information you’d been organizing for the D’amico case to her, another jolt as her hand brushed yours when she took it. You shook it off, pulling on your coat as you made your way out into the streets.

***

Domestic violence cases were your least favourite to prosecute, more often than not the victims were unwilling to testify or even press charges, blinded by what they thought was love or too terrified to get out and get the help they needed. ACS usually had to get called in if kids were involved and that was always a messy scene, judging by the little boy Fin had in the meeting room, this was going to be one of those cases.

“What’ve got?” You approached Olivia and Elliot at the board.

“You takin’ this one solo?” Elliot questioned, 

“Well I’m officially kicked off the D’amico case, so yeah.”

“You okay?” Liv spoke up, you nodded, giving her a ‘let’s move it along’ look, she turned back to the board, taking the lead explaining the case.“Andrea Taylor, currently at Mercy with a cracked skull, three broken ribs, sprained wrist, multiple bruises and contusions.”

“Jesus…” You took in the photos of the battered woman, “Rape kit?” 

“Fluids present, vaginal and anal tearing.”

“Neighbours call it in?”

“No..” Elliot cut in, gesturing towards the meeting room, “Their 7 year old son Jackson did, crying for them to help his Mom while begging his Dad to stop hurting her.”

“Is he injured?” A shake of the head, “Have you guys ever dealt with them before?” 

“First time.” You sighed, nearly rolling your eyes, “Do you guys even have the boyfriend in custody?”

“He’s in the wind.” That did grant an eye roll,

“I’ll talk to the kid, call me when Andrea’s conscious or you have someone in cuffs.”

The next 30 minutes you chatted with Jackson, warming him up before delving into his home life. He didn’t make any complaints about abuse, though he mentioned that his Dad yelled a lot, and had hurt his Mom before, but never this bad. You hoped that would be enough to scare her into pressing charges. 

***

When you got back to your office you realized you still had a few files that Novak would need for the D’amico case. Bringing them along with SVU’s reports on the Taylor case on the off chance that she’d need you to go over anything, you settled into the large table, pulling up the Taylor’s history and social media accounts you started to piece together the case.

An hour or so later your phone pinged, Casey watched as you checked a message quickly before dropping your head directly onto the table in front of you letting out a groan.

“Fuuuuckk…”

“Everything alright?” She cocked a brow as you rolled your head to look over at her.

“My rape and assault case just turned into a rape one, murder two case, if the Judge throws out the 9-1-1 call I’ll have to put a seven year old on the stand against his own Dad, who SVU has not managed to find yet.” She rolled her eyes heavily, she certainly understood that, the detectives were quick to call the A.D.A. when they had absolutely nothing worth using, and constantly flushed her cases down the toilet by screwing things up. “Not to mention this Plan B is making me really fucking nauseas, I highly recommend you plan ahead so you never have to take it.”

“Well luckily that won’t ever be an issue for me.” You scrunched up your face, still lying against your pile of paperwork, realizing what she meant when she gave you a knowing look and a smirk. How the fuck had you missed that? She started digging through one of her desk drawers, pulling out a pill bottle, tossing it over to the table, nearly hitting you square in the face.

“Jesus Casey…” You shot back, realizing she’d thrown you Gravol. 

“Sorry Y/N…” There was a ghost of a laugh on her lips, was that a smile? An actual real smile, not accompanied by a snarky remark, but a soft one, a glint in her eye. Something changed in that moment, you became human to each other, not just another sass filled A.D.A. rushing through the halls at Hogan Place. Sure you’d still bicker and butt heads all the time, you certainly weren’t friends, the air was still thick, but a little less foggy.

[charlotte-of-wales]

  H&M Documentary Review: Episode 6

I watched this while angry that Argentina won the World Cup so I’m already in a bad mood lol sorry if the bitchness was running wild

(my commentary in italics)

- Harry: “we are on the freedom light” shut up

- “It felt like they were running” shut up 

- talking about Tyler Perry now

- he sent Meghan a letter before the wedding, they never talked and then she called him crying in Canada??? 

- Tyler saying Diana was thrown to the wolves after the divorce 

- Now he says what the institution did to H&M is the same ‘abuse’ as what his mother faced in a physically abusive relationship because they took away their money and security to force them to come back.....no they did that because they were no longer working royals NEXT

- like this man literally admits to not knowing anything about the royals and now he is talking like is the expert be for real

- “They just wanted to be free and be happy” they’re not prisoners of war gosh the lack of awareness is wild

- “No one knew you were there” yes they did for someone so obsessed with the media did you miss the daily mail articles about y’all moving to LA

- wow paparazzi can take pictures of you from hundreds of feet away? If only there was a property where that was not allowed and somewhere your children go run free without being photographed......somewhere like Windsor maybe?

- they’re going hard on the Mail.....seems a bit silly to piss off one of Britain’s largest tabloids like this but oh well

- talking about her miscarriage 

- Harry blaming the miscarriage on the Mail.......this man is something else

- btw the story her friend told on the miscarriage is different than what Meghan wrote about it.

- the editing in this doc is weird as hell, it goes from them talking about their causes, to Meghan’s reaction to the BLM movement in the news to this random montage of home videos of them?

- Meghan saying Harry’s so fun after he makes the most unfunny joke I ever heard. No one laughed.

- James Holt either shut up or use the braincells God gave you challenge

- saying the journalist who releaved the bullying allegations ‘admitted’ to doing it right before the Oprah interview is another half-truth in this doc. He did it because the victims wanted their story out there before H&M could probably twist the whole thing and play the victim. 

- institutional gaslighting????? harry shush and stop bringing up the diana comparisons ever two seconds I am tired

- they recorded themselves reacting to the Oprah interview

- Meghan saying she thought most people would focus on what she said about dealing with depression and mental health issues.....girly there’s no way that’s true be serious

- ‘Beyonce just texted’ and Meghan justs reads the text out loud lmfao

- Meghan reacting to the BP statement after the Oprah interview and Harry shows Meghan a text from William on his phone to which she says ‘wow’

- Meghan looking at travel arrangements for Harry to go back to the UK after Prince Philip died because that man is incompetent 

- something about Harry being ok being filmed non-stop after his grandfather died is weird to me but whatever

- Harry reading the statement he wrote in Philip’s honor is so tacky to me bitch have some respect

- ‘He went quietly. He went peacefully’ aham

- Harry says William and Charles were focused on the same misinterpretation of the situation

- “I’ve had to make peace with the fact that we’re probably never going to get genuine accountability or a genuine apology “ BITCH BE FOR REALLLLL

- “My wife and I we’re moving on” YOU CALL MOVING ON???? TALKING ABOUT IT NON STOP?????

- Harry says he sees a lot of Meghan in Archie and a lot of Diana in Lili. Nothing from the Windsors then huh

- TYLER PERRY is Lili’s godfather???? is this common knowledge or what I swear I did not know about this

- also pretty sure the public still doesn’t know who Archie’s godparents are?? But the celeb gets announced like this, got it (also does this mean she was baptized outside of the Church of England?)

- btw they are showing quite a lot of footage of Lili now, before it was all Archie

- NOT EUGENIE GIRLLLLLL (I hope William yelled at her about this too) 

- Meghan’s lawyer talks a LOT of crap for someone who is a lawyer and knows she can’t just say shit without proof. Implying that William told Jason to send in a statement to harm Meghan’s case against the Mail without any evidence is shady girl 

- Meghan “it’s your brother, I’m not going to say anything about your brother but it’s so obvious” again girly show me the obvious evidence then

- Meghan says her niece Ashley is back into her life but like why did she even leave her life again???? Its the big bag palace to blame once more?

- By the way, it’s interesting that they try not to show Lili’s face but Archie’s is no problem. 

- Meghan saying their kids now get to have moments out in the world and travel and sorry to break it to you luv so do the Waleses

- Harry saying LA is one of the places Diana would have lived eventually???? bro

- Nacho saying Harry always wanted a more normal, simple life why didn’t he leave the family to join the army then when he had the change? Also, what’s simple about a $15 million dollar mansion in Montecito?

- there’s so many footage and pictures of Harry and Meghan out and I genuinely wonder who took those like do they get the children to do it?? a professional photographer??

- Meghan read the speech she read at the wedding and it was written in that fancy caligraph of hers and the whole thing was so cringey

- (do you think they did it for the first time in that tent in botswana) 

- the constant montages of the home videos with some crappy song in the background makes me want to scream

- “in response to allegations that Mr. Knauf submitted a voluntary witness statement in connection with the Daily Mail litigation with the consent of Prince William’s office, a representative for Mr. Knauf sent the following statement: ‘these claims are entirely false. Mr. Knauf was asked to provide evidence by both The Duchess of Sussex and Associate Newspapers” LMFAO TELL THEM JASON (Meghan’s attorneys then clap back that they didn’t ask for a statement and he did not remain neutral in the process because he was working for the Cambs this is so dumb and so easy to proof like why are them doing all of this)

I’M FREE!!!! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY FUCKING LIFE!!!! (this is about the doc and the world cup by the way I’m glad both are done)

Anyway, this doc is boring and full of inconsintencies and this could cause no harm to the family whatsover although it will be HILARIOUS if they get invited to the coronation and actually show up. 0/10 do not reccomend. 

[delicioussshame]

[cries in fandom] I was supposed to work tonight and instead I wrote more of yesterday’s fic because I had the idea and couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

Shen Qingqiu isn’t an empty nester. He has plenty of disciples still running around the peak, eager to learn and keeping him very busy.

It’s just that the generation that was already there when he arrived, Ning Yingying, Ming Fan and the others, are now fully grown cultivators, spending most of their time roaming the world on their own quests.

They bring him pride each time they visit, usually gifting him with obscure artefacts and rare volumes he spends days pouring over. It doesn’t quite make up for their absence, but it helps.

Still, he would have preferred Ning Yingying gift him something else the last time she visited.

He, of course, knew she would eventually cross paths with Luo Binghe. She was bound to. After much pondering, he had decided not to interfere. Her occasional visits to Luo Binghe weren’t enough to hurt her cultivation, and anyway Luo Binghe was usually careful not to let Xin Mo gorge enough to leave traces, especially on trained cultivators. She’d be fine.

Plus, when Luo Binghe would tire of hiding in plain sight and reveal his status as leader of the Demon Realm, his fondness for her would protect her from the consequences Shen Qingqiu himself might face.

He would probably be fine though. He’d just have to take a less adversarial take than his predecessor, who had fought to the death to “protect his disciple from the beast”.

Or he’d thought he would, until Ning Yingying, with a blinding smile that radiated unblemished innocence, had told her she’d booked him a session with her A-Luo, because, to hear her say it, he needed it.

He had been tempted to expel her on sight. Don’t thrown Shen Qingqiu into the maws of the beast! He doesn’t have your youthful beauty or girlish charms!

He hadn’t. Ning Yingying is just too caring. She hadn’t realised that just because she very much enjoyed Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu might not feel the same. Wrong tree. Because if he were attracted to men, which he was not, what a ridiculous notion, he would have made a move himself. Luo Binghe is soft on his favorite clients. He’d have nothing to lose by endearing himself to him.

Too bad he’s not interested. He had to refuse him.

He’d thought he knew what to expect when he’d gone to reject the offer as politely as he could. It wouldn’t do to offend him.

Sadly, all the foreknowledge of the world hadn’t been quite enough to shield himself from his unnatural charisma. He’d made a fool of himself, practically running out to escape the protagonist’s aura. Luo Binghe, how terrifying! His poor disciple had stood no chance!

Anyway, he can admit he is occasionally lonely. He misses his dear Yingying and his first disciple, whom, for all his flaws, Shen Qingqiu had grown fond of. It wasn’t impossible for Ning Yingying to have noticed, and to have tried to offer him company. Totally misguided, but understandable.

When he hears a commotion outside, he instantly goes to check it out. Maybe it will break his monotony.

He immediately regrets it. Why, why on earth are Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge fighting with enough strength that they could easily kill his terrorised disciples here on his peak! It’s way too early for Luo Binghe to have come out of the demonic closet! And why is he even here!

Shen Qingqiu turns towards his closest disciple. “What is happening here.”

The poor girl jumps at his tone. “Shizun! I’m sorry, I’m not sure, we heard rumours that Luo Binghe was at the sect, so we were curious, but Liu-shishu showed up and it devolved into a fight. I don’t know why.”

Huh. So Liu Qingge made the first move? Quite possible. He might have wanted to protect his sister’s honor.

That should be manageable. He raises his voice. “Fighting on my peak isn’t allowed. Stop at this instant.”

To his surprise, both swords freeze.

Shen Qingqiu despairs for this world’s mob characters. How come no one wonders why a courtesan can keep up with Liu Qingge? Why can’t they notice how Xin Mo oozes with malevolence? Can they only see Luo Binghe’s fabulously handsome face and physique?

He wouldn’t be surprised.

“Shen Qingqiu! How dare you!”

Shen Qingqiu blinks. “How dare I what, Liu-shidi? I’m not the one who picked a fight on someone else’s peak.”

He points to Luo Binghe. “Him!”

Beside his general existence, there’s nothing especially offensive about Luo Binghe? “What about him?”

“I thought you’d outgrown such nonsense, but he shows up here!”

Shen Qingqiu has no idea what is happening. “I’m sorry if his presence offends you, but I assure you I have nothing to do with it.”

“I’m afraid that’s a lie,” says Luo Binghe as Liu Qingge seems close to death via outrage.

Shen Qingqiu turns toward Luo Binghe. “How could it be?”

In answer, Luo Binghe brandishes… the fan he’d completely forgotten when he’d visited, shit! Did he come here, on his peak, holding this incriminating evidence as a badge of honor!?

Shen Qingqiu feels himself blanch. How can he clear himself of these allegations? Liu Qingge thinks he’s trying to steal his sister’s man! Once the War God of Bai Zhen is done with Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu’s head is next!

Luo Binghe continues like he didn’t notice Shen Qingqiu’s obvious discomfort, which he must have. “You left this behind the other day, and so I have come to return it. Let it not be said I am not a perfect gentleman.”

Oh no. He can hear consternation from some of his pupils, and definitely less consternated exclamations from others.

Liu Qingge has now plunged on Luo Binghe again, who dodges with too much ease. How can no one notice something is wrong!

Maybe the renewed fight will distract everyone while Shen Qingqiu discretely dig himself a hole deep enough to never have to come out.

Oh well, there’s nothing he can tell but the truth. No one will believe it, but since no one ever believed Shen Qingqiu, how will it be any different? “Please stop this fight at once. Luo Binghe, I thank you for bringing my fan back to me despite my rude refusal of your services. It wasn’t your fault my student misconstrued my interests. Again, I am sorry for your wasted time. Liu-shidi, I understand your sister’s paramour might not be your favorite individual, but please don’t assault the sect’s guests. Think of our reputation. What will people say?”

Liu Qingge stares at him with… stupefaction? “You’re not his?”

Yeah, he’s nipping that train of thought in the bud. The last thing he needs is his disciples thinking he’s some pretty thing’s toy. They would never respect him again. “No. He’s not my type. No offense intended.”

Liu Qingge remains still for a moment, before he plucks the fan from Luo Binghe’s hand and shoves it toward Shen Qingqiu. “Keep track of your fans! There are two in my home!”

Ladies and gentlemen, Shen Qingqiu, a man being berated in public about his chronic tendency to forget things like an unruly child. “Why should I care when Shidi is always so eager to bring them back to me?”

Liu Qingge flushes in anger.

Shen Qingqiu gives himself a point.

_______________

Things were light-hearted before.

Now, Luo Binghe is serious.

Not only did Shen Qingqiu refuse his advance, but he implied Luo Binghe himself wasn’t good enough for him, in front of his whole peak, before ignoring him in favor of flirting with another man, right in his face?

Never has he suffered such humiliation.

He had intended to be kind. To soothe and seduce the man gently until following Luo Binghe to bed would seem like the only logical option.

He bets Shen Qingqiu would have paid him for the privilege, and paid him well, regardless of his disciple’s previous arrangements.

Now, those options are off the table. When Luo Binghe is done with him, pleasure will have robbed Shen Qingqiu of the last of his voice, and yet he’ll still be trying to beg him for more.

He’ll be ruined to anyone that’s not Luo Binghe; unable to live without his touch.

Anything less would be an unsurmountable affront.

Shen Qingqiu better prepares himself. The fight might have been lost, but Luo Binghe will be the one to win the war.

[chronicbatfictioner]

"Overall, it wasn't so bad..." Tim commented.

"Except for the fact that Bane roared like a constipated bear and literally lunged at Damian and Jason threw him out the window..." Barbara quipped, her face serious but her lips were still twitching. "I... am highly amused. Twice."

"You were laughing until you bent over double that if you weren't in a wheelchair, you've probably knelt on the floor laughing." Dinah deadpanned. "It was hilarious."

"Yes, it was. The fact that Jason could actually lift Bane and throw him out... Did you guys see Bruce's face, though! Oh my god! He... he looked at Jason as if he'd seen the lord savior Jésus Todd or something!" Tim crowed. "Like, the dude Bane got thrown out a bay window twice. I get the awe, I was a little star-struck myself. But I can't believe dude actually wanted to try the third time until Alfred pointed a damn shotgun to his forehead! I can't even!"

"This thus solidifies my thoughts that the Waynes may be trying to figure out a way to get rid of this... brute without... I dunno..." Barbara pondered.

"Gotten themselves broken in half?" Tim suggested. "He sure insinuated that he would do such a thing to Damian."

"Oh, gee, Tim. Which part of his speech insinuated that? 'You lying bastard!', or 'I'll break you in halves!'?"

"I'm partial to the 'bastard' remark, really. I mean, pot, kettle?" Tim replied, giggling.

"Technically," Helena Bertinelli - The Huntress - sighed as she chimed in; "and ironically, at that; the 'bastard' would be Bane since he claimed to be Thomas Wayne's son and is younger than Bruce. Which means he was 'conceived' while Dr Thomas was already married to Mrs Wayne..."

"Right? Bruce and Talia were two consenting adults, albeit under 20 years old; and were wed in a local ritual witnessed by locals, according to Jason. You should see Bane's face when Jason presented copies of the marriage's registry." Tim continued.

"Oh, we saw, all right. Harper's drones worked quite well." Dinah replied, snickering, referring to Harper Row, one of their tech 'consultants'. "Even at that height, it still delivered crystal clear pictures. I vote we use them again."

"No vote needed, the drones are on stand-by at the Wayne Manor permanently at this point. I'm more interested in his reaction when Damian offered them a DNA test." Barbara told her.

"I'm more interested in Bruce Wayne's reaction, really. He didn't seem too surprised, as if he was expecting this to happen or something." Helena pointed out.

"Maybe he did," Barbara replied absently. "Dude has been swingin' more than the roarin' 50s, there has got to be some juniors out there that even he didn't know of."

"Ugh, while I'm not a fan of Bruce Wayne's womanizing ways, I personally don't think he's that reckless. He's not a drinker or a junkie, as far as I know. He has virtually no vice other than extreme sports." Helena argued.

"I agree," Selina, who has been quietly watching from the corner, chimed in. "This is a guy who got visibly antsy when some sexy girls in bikinis come up to him - I thought he was gay. But if he'd been... wedded to Talia Al Ghul all these times, that would make sense. He knew exactly where he stood, and what would come up if he screwed it up."

"Has Jason or Dick said anything of the Doc and Mama Wayne's reaction?" Helena asked.

"They seemed truly confused, a little apprehensive, but didn't seem to be opposed to the idea that Damian is Bruce's child. Dr Wayne said that a DNA test wouldn't be necessary, but Jason insisted it." Tim replied, and added a little absently a few heartbeats later. "But why would he, a physician with more specialties than a truck stop, would not question the biology of anyone claiming to be his biological descendant?"

Barbara glared at Tim, "excellent question, Tim. If my dad has someone coming out of the boonies saying he's related to me, the first thing dad would do is draw blood."

"They... don't care?" Dinah suggested. "Maybe the Wayne men were less... chaste than they appear?"

Barbara glared at her this time. "Of all the women Bruce Wayne has dated, I've only recorded a handful who would end up in a second date. Less than a handful who were actually mentioned beyond social media photos; and you know how I feel with social media photos: generic, unverifiable, and showoff-only. Dates with Bruce Wayne generally would start with the pick-up, dinner, and then some form of jewelry. I..." she looked at Selina and Helena, "you've both dated him at one point or the other."

Selina shrugged, "I went for a gala dinner, and was honestly there to scope the homeowner's safe, really. I wasn't interested in a follow-up date." she replied. "Helena?"

"Social arrangement. My people called his people and boom, we were on a red carpet." she elaborated. Helena was a part of a mafia family, until she decided that the mafia way would not be the best way to make Gotham a happy place for all, and donned the costume of the Huntress to hunt down wrongdoers. Barbara had decided to let her join to prevent her from going over the line and murder anyone out of overzealous-ness; but also in order to get a line-in into the mafia families.

"No second dates, either, huh?"

"No, I'll have to check, though. I think his people called me again, but I wasn't interested in a vapid playboy, even if he has more money than Jesus."

"Vicky Vale," Selina reminded. "She has had a... somewhat lengthy relationship with Bruce some years ago."

"Sooo... the next answer in our mystery could probably be answered by interviewing an investigative journalist." Tim commented.

"Oh, no..." Barbara grinned mischievously. "Not this investigative journalist. I know just the journalist to talk to when it comes to gossip among themselves."

Dinah snorted a laugh. "I thought you didn't like her."

"I liked Vale less," Barbara griped. "Plus, Vale is already getting news on Bruce's probable child; why shouldn't I send Lois Lane the allegations of the Bane Conspiracy?"

"Conspiracy with who?" Dinah asked curiously.

"Oh, the Waynes, of course, to get rid of the Court of Owls," Barbara smirked. "Why should we be the only ones racking our respective and collective brains when we can have someone else on the ground doing the grunt work?"

"Babs, you can be... pretty evil sometimes," Selina remarked. "I know there's got to be a reason why I like you."

"I'm also awesome with technology and can launder your ill-gotten money and make it legal and undetected." Barbara pointed out.

"Oh no, that's why I liked you." Helena quipped smirking. "Seriously, how many mob family can say their ill-gotten money is accountable by law?"

"As long as it is within the facets of the law, and so on and so forth... Anyway! Tim, you're quiet for more than two seconds. I'm always nervous when you're quiet."

"Just thinking..." Tim said, looking a little lost in his own brain. He often does that when he has at least a dozen scenarios running through his mind. Through the time of Barbara knowing him, Tim would probably be the only person whose claims of 'just thinking' wouldn't immediately be picked on by anybody.

"Care to share with the class, kitten?" Selina prompted.

"It's not fully mapped yet... but I was thinking. What if the Waynes aren't... didn't cooperate with Bane in order to destroy the Court of Owls, and they're literally being hostages in their own home? What if Bruce Wayne has predicted something like this could happen, and has gotten himself all prepared all the way to ten years ago when he wedded Talia Al Ghul? I mean, who would have had enough firepower to defeat Bane other than the Al Ghuls? Look at Jason," Tim pointed out. "He threw Bane out the window as if he was a fly. While Jason is as solid as a rock but isn't a metahuman - Bane is. He was assigned by Talia herself - out of Gotham - to protect and guide Damian-- why? What's so special about Jason Todd? Why did Talia choose him? Why didn't Bruce Wayne - at least - act shocked when Damian said he was his son? Surprised, sure. But not shocked or in denial.

"Who's gonna win if Bane turned out to be Dr Wayne's son? Who's gonna lose? What will they lose? Who is Bane accountable to? If none, who planted the idea of him being Dr Wayne's son? Because from what I've read about him, he was born and raised in a prison with his mother - no mention of a father. His mother was an insurgent of Hasaragua, fighting against US-condoned democracy. And while there was a record of Dr Wayne being there, there was no exact date and length of stay, because he was there privately and not as a part of Médecin sans Frontieres or something like that.

"What about Mrs Wayne? She wasn't a poor or uneducated woman, since she was a Kane. Society-wise, do you think she would have tolerated her husband's indiscretion, both then and now? Yet she kept quiet for nearly two months. She has a Ph.D. in psychiatry, and would she be the ones to keep quiet about DNA testing and all that? Personally, I don't think so. If my mother - a little 'lesser' society lady compared to Martha Kane-Wayne - ever got a word of a child that 'probably' got fathered by my dad, she would have demanded a divorce right away without bothering with a paternity test, sure. But my dad, who was also a society man, would have at least attempted to convince her that it was a mistake and/or it was a lie. What best method to decide a child's paternity than DNA test?

"The criminal front in general - especially the costumed criminals - has been pretty quiet since Bane eliminated the Court of Owls. Why? That's rather stupid since we know that the Court's Talons were the ones who made moves to 'discourage' the costumed freaks. Annnd... that's where I couldn't map out things further." Tim rambled.

"Keep talking, even half sentences are better than none, Timmy." Barbara prompted. Tim might have had a brain that worked a mile a minute, but he was still very young and would often get flustered with himself. Barbara, on the other hand, has an eidetic memory, and things Tim said tend to stick to her brain and would fill the gaps in any puzzles she might be thinking about. Even half sentences.

"Right, I do the fact spreads, you do the jigsaw-puzzling." Tim nodded. "The murders of Talia and Ra's Al Ghul. Jason said they were deliberately murdered in a way that they would never be able to be resurrected through the Lazarus Pit. The perpetrators would be the League of Shadows, a rogue splinter of the League of Assassins. Lead by Lady Shiva. Why? Why were they murdered? Why now and not - say - next year or last year? Who benefited by their death? Aaand... I'm done, for now, I think..."

"I... can feel a headache brewing," Dinah admitted. "You and your conspiracy theories." she rubbed Tim's head fondly. Tim gave her a half-smile, still trying to articulate the thoughts in his head.

"That's why we need him, he takes the most random input and makes a theory out of it, and some of them would actually make sense. I'll start a search string based on some of your questions. If you have more, don't hesitate to tell me, Tim." Barbara realized belatedly that her tone sounded dismissive, and turned to Tim. "Want me to call up for Chinese and powwow a little more?" she added.

Tim shook his head, still glaring blankly. "Thanks, I gotta go... I've some... things to look into. Thanks, Babs," he replied, ending it with a genuine smile as he got up.

"Want to come home with me, Kitten?" Selina asked, worry for Tim apparent on her normally-blank face.

"No, thanks, Ma. I gotta go back to the mansion, just in case, right?" Tim pointed out.

"Then Dinah should go with you," Selina decided.

"She's coming there later, right, aunt Dinah?" Tim asked. Dinah nodded.

"I'll get home with food, so don't worry about that, kiddo." she said. Tim waved them all and then walked out.

Once he was out of the door, Selina sighed. "Ah, young love..."

"Right? Remind me to check in on him before going to the House. I don't want to walk in on something and have him traumatized." Dinah agreed.

Barbara glared at them quizzically, and then at Helena, who shrugged. "Grayson said it first, I think. Our kitten is growing up. I just hope that Jason guy is worth his firsts..."

The memory of Tim gawking at Jason when he thought Barbara wasn't watching flashed in her mind.

Oh.

And then of Jason blatantly checking Tim out just before Oracle made her appearance, and at times when her Oracle projection was turned off.

"Oh boy," she sighed.

"That's about it in a nutshell. Good thing I've told him of the birds and the birds..." Selina grinned slyly.

"Millennial parenting at best, Ms Selina Kyle." Dinah grinned. "Come on, let's go patrol and induce the fear of goddesses to Gotham's low-lives before inducing maternal fear to our little kitten."

"...or to the big tabby. We'll see," Selina added, waving as she and Dinah walked out of the room.

Suddenly Barbara felt a little sorry for Jason. Just a tiny, teensy, weensy bit of sorry.

[maplecornia]

Thoughts on the bullying scandals going around in the kpop community at the moment

Things to know before I begin:

Since I'm a small blog this probably won't be seen by much, I just wanted to basically talk about this since it's been bothering me for a while

Bullying is a VERY serious issue, and I suggest that you take it seriously. While these accusations may or may not be real, please understand that real people go through this and shoving it under a rug will not do anything.

Regardless of where you are BULLYING IS BULLYING. Doesn't matter where in the world you may be. Just because you live somewhere else doesn't make the pain or the trauma any less real.

If I have gotten any of my facts wrong or have missed something, please respectfully bring it to my attention. I am human after all and I will make mistakes from time to time.

Okay now that that's out of the way...

I wasn't originally going to blog about this. I mean I didn't see what good it would do and there are so many different people talking about this who are more influential than I so I didn't see the point.

However a lot of the things that people are saying and a lot of the things that are happening to the artists just don't sit right with me. So I decided to say something.

As you all know, this started in Korea after after bullying scandal happened to volleyball twin sisters. They turned out to be true so they were suspended and were prevented from competing in the Olympics.

Following this, they moved on to actors and actresses (the outcomes of which I am unclear on so I wont say much more than this)

And then of course kpop idols.

These started with Soojin, moved to others such as Soyeon, Sunwoo, Kihyun, Minhyuk, Chuu, Aisha, Hyuna, Hyunjin etc (if I have missed any please bring it to my attention).

Now while some of these accusations may have been true accounts (such as the volleyball ones) the ones where it involves idols seem to be more old middle school drama that was never resolved.

Allow me to explain.

Whereas before the idols had moved into the picture, most of the actors and actresses were being accussed of bullying younger classmates as their "sunbae" or senior.

Since Korean culture relies heavily on respect and hierarchy, you can imagine how these alleged victims would feel entirely helpless and unable to do anything. They would be mistreated, called awful names, get things thrown at them. If you need examples look at Korean dramas, I'm sure you'll find many there.

The volleyball twins turned out to have actually done these things and are paying heavily for it. Their actions were no doubt inexcusable.

And these cases of bullying actually do happen in Korea and it's a big issue.

However, there's a fine line between bullying and mere arguments or drifting apart. There's also a difference between being immature and/or a bully.

For example, Soojin was accused of being violent with a past friend, drinking underage, going to group chats to make sure said friend was outcasted, having older boyfriends, smoking and driving motorcycles.

While she has said she has tried cigarettes in the past, most of these allegations are false and somewhat immature. You shouldn't be judged for driving motorcycles or having an older boyfriend. When it comes to underage smoking and drinking, that's just immature thinking.

However, with the incidents with her past friend, those turned out to be a misunderstanding. Soojin said that she did have an argument with her that led to their falling out, but never did she resort to violent acts nor go out of her way to me sure she was outcasted.

You can also see these trends with the other idols being accussed including Mingyu and Hyunjin.

Mingyus accusations have turned out to be mostly false, as Pledis is still undergoing investigations. I must commend them for doing a great job of handling this and am pleasantly surprised. Mingyu however has halted his activities for the time being, and I'm sure it's for his health after dealing with all the allegations directed his way.

For Hyunjin, he is also pausing his activities, but the way JYPE is handling it seems as though they regret him joining Stray Kids. This could be just my opinion, however.

In any case, while his accusations have turned out to be an argument/misunderstanding as well, people are still throwing him hate and requesting he leave the group.

Mind you this is also happening with Soojin, and many model companies or brands are removing their pictures/taking them down so that it doesn't conflict with business.

When it comes to the other idols I know very little so I won't say much.

Soyeon: accusations seem to have smoothed over

Chuu: accusations turned out to be false, accusser apologized for the post

Aisha: accusations also turned out to be false

Hyuna: accusations are false

Kihyun: accusations are false

For some of these idols, the original accusers posts have been taken down, which obviously shows something fishy there and I believe that means the accusation wasn't real in the first place.

Many of these idols have come out with apologies like Hyunjin, Soojin, Kihyun, and Hyuna have. Many of them towards their fans and towards those they may have hurt in the process.

So...here's my take on the whole thing.

While bullying is a serious issue, I couldn't help but find a trend in the idol accusations.

They all happened in middle school

Regardless of the time period, bullying is nkt okay and i understand that. However, middle school is a hard time for all of us. We are going through a lot at that stage and I think many of us lash out in different ways. People grow up from that immaturity, I know I have.

They all come from past friend and/or relationships which have fallen apart

A lot of these originate from people who claim to be in the same class, or be a past friend of the idol. They talk about arguments and things that they disagreed on ghat led to a friendship being cut off. Soojins came from a victims alleged sister. Let me make one thing clear. ARGUMENTS ARE NOT BULLYING. If that were true the whole world would be bullies by now.

That being said...do I think the idols should apologize whether or not these are true?

Yes.

And here's why.

Regardless of how much you have grown or matured if there was a time in your life where you had hurt someone, indirectly or not, I believe you should apologize for that. You don't know how that might have affected them, nor how much they may have suffered. So yes, I believe you should always apologize and hopefully be given a chance to resolve the issue.

Now do I think we should automatically cancel an artist if their apology isn't to our king and/or they dont make one?

No.

For one thing, we are not involved in the issue. We are, in fact, just bystanders. Unless you were bullied by that particular idol or involved, you don't have a right to reject or accept someone's apology. That is up to the victim and the victim alone.

That being said...what is the best way to act as a fan?

Keep quiet and support the idol as best as you can during these tough times. If the rumors turn out to be true, then decide what you want to do. Unstan, don't listen to their music anymore...whatever.

But please do not spread hate.

You do not know these idols nor what they go through. If they decide not to apologize then that's pretty douchey, but you don't know their reasons so please do not act as though you do.

You must understand that they are human too. And they have made mistakes. They will continue to make mistakes.

Does that make it right? No.

But they deserve a chance to become a better person in spite or because of it.

That's all from me! Thanks for reading. ♡

[casually-shipped]

Jeff Wittek is DUMB! Means well, but DUMB!

     That interview. Where to begin? The turn this interview took, I didn’t even want to write this. I’m more torn for metoo which is further harmed by, and at the expense of this shit show. From Jeff’s handling of this, to Ethan and Trisha’s involvement in this conversation. Jeff was thrown from the very beginning. He fucked up. As genuine as he wanted to be, Ethan dominated him because Jeff was unprepared. I am shocked Jeff didn’t refresh his memory on the situation, that he would speak out when he didn’t know fully the information to even speak out about. From the moment Jeff released his own video on his YouTube, he was working without the complete information. Which unravels anything he hoped to achieve. 

     I was very disappointed to realize that Jeff is, and was more interested in protecting himself (excluding his employees) his business, than the concerns of any allegation. I’m glad he realized that too, and said as much. I get Jeff, I get his history, and I see how this situation is not easy for someone like him, his self esteem, his past, secrets, and new found success. He wants to protect himself so much, but at the same time protect his friends, those he loves, and the alleged victims, and he is tripping all over himself. For the morons on the internet, in the court of public opinion, this did him and this situation no real favors. 

     Ethan and Trisha are master manipulators, and very smart when it comes to this. Jeff was very much out matched especially with this team up. The worst part in all of this is Jeff resorted to past problematic behavior imo. He lied! You see, when you choose not to speak truth to power, or speak truth out of fear of saying the wrong thing, or to protect someone, you lose credibility immediately. As you should. I didn’t expect Jeff to take this turn, but I can see it because he was backed into a corner, and when this happens to him, this is the result. He panicked, and fucked up. From this point on in the interview when he says he doesn’t remember the photo Ethan showed him, the interview went further down hill.

      The photo was used by Ethan to trip Jeff up. It was a brilliant move, but someone with actual brain cells would know, that the picture wasn’t time stamped. That was an upload time, but Jeff didn’t realize this, nor understood that, so he doubted his own memory, which I wouldn’t be surprised is screwed up especially after his so called “near death car accident.” (EDit: Further analysis, I thought the photo was an upload from a social media site, it might actually be a time stamp.)  “Which means his memory of events are very questionable, but his entire statements are in doubt regardless!”

     Not only did he doubt his memory, but the situation doesn’t truly matter to him because he believes his truth, that he didn’t bother to do the work. It showed. It showed Jeff doesn’t actually believe the victim, and even if he is telling the truth, even if the victim is lying, this isn’t how you handle this situation. Believe victims, for the sake of the movement until proven otherwise. He tried to walk this line, but ultimately failed. He failed to tell the right truth because he doesn’t truly understand this. He shouldn’t have spoken at all to this degree outside of a court of law in the first place, for his sake, his friends, the metoo movement, and the alleged victim.

      Once he doubted his own memory because of the photo and Ethan’s clever rues, he crumbled. From this moment it was very hard to watch. There came a point where it seemed Jeff was trying so hard to distance himself, it really sounded like, and I believe this is what he was doing, throwing everyone who isn’t him under the bus. Intentionally or not, that was publicly damning.  He acted as if there was a cover up that he wasn’t aware of, and tried to protect himself which came across as confirmation of the allegations. Which again began to destroy public confidence and his credibility. As well as his character. He quickly became an unreliable source. If Jeff wants to remember where he was, if he had his location turned on his phone, he can look up his location from that time maybe? lol Just a thought! Well, the authorities will anyways. 

     Ethan’s way of asking questions was to project a truth that he believes or wants people to believe and plays off that. He makes people think that his opinion or point of view is fact, as well as making shocked faces, using certain tones and inflections, being accusatory, twisting words, ignore and not following up statements, moving past answers in favor of his own answers, talking over Jeff and retailing Jeff’s point of view and the point of view of the allegations, with his own narrative. At points Trisha did the same, which Ethan allowed and played off of. This interview was a hit job, not getting any other side or truly getting to the bottom of something. Ethan disgusts me! This interview DISGUSTED ME! If you can call this an interview outside of an opportunity for exploitation, and monetization. After the interview even began to make jokes was disgusting do to the serious nature of all of this.

      I’m glad I powered through the interview because it was so cringe, too cringe, but I got through it. What a waste of time. I walked away knowing more than I thought I would, but I put myself through mental anguish just to end up with more questions. I have an idea what Jeff is hiding about his eye. I have many theories about Jeff, and David. These theories is pretty eye opening for me when it comes to this situation. I do still give credit to Jeff and surprisingly even Trisha for this situation to a degree. Trisha will however always be trash for me. But she isn’t wrong about how David in some ways treated her, even if it was mental health driving her physical, emotional, and mental abuse towards others and Jason. There’s just no excuse for her. No excuse for David either. David is and was a very insensitive self involved individual. To the point where his pranks deffinetely crossed a massive line. Brandon even thought he was a psychopath, he truly believed it. David had to beg for forgiveness and say even sorry to his parents for what he put Brandon through. An emotionally traumatizing moment. Shit like that David needs to own, and hasn’t.

     If what happened with the victim happened, then she as well as everyone involved has to speak out. Even if it didn’t! That’s just doing the right thing for the movement. Let’s say the victim messed up her story or is lying? You still treat this with the respect it is owed until it becomes a criminal case, or defend yourself in court for defamation and we hear otherwise. If you have privilege then you will gain back anything you lost when the truth is finally known, if you are innocent. Some thing you don’t allow to play out in the court of public opinion, literally fuck the public, it’s the only way to protect victims and the movement from being destroyed by outrage cancel culture, the way it has been. David and others who were there, not speaking is a mistake. However, I disagree with how far you have this conversation. Jeff in my opinion has gone a little too far. Some truths you keep to yourself, even if it makes you look bad, until court. It comes out then not before to respect the victims involved publicly as well as the movement.   

     What are my final thoughts? Personally, I don’t really know what to believe. I in all honesty am not sure I truly believe the victim, but, I choose to because of the movement, and that I wasn’t there. So I don’t know shit! But if you want just my honest opinion, I believe Jeff wasn’t involved in that way, I also don’t believe David would go as far as being insinuated, he’s dumb and careless, but not that. But even then, who really knows? Anything is possible. I just don’t think that part of the story is correct, but that’s just me. I have always at that time when I saw this vlog, thought it was faked. I remember David peaking and nothing was happening. They were all dressed, but that could have been shot at a different times, again no one knows. This is edited footage here.

      David in the past has been involved in edgy sexual content when it comes to consent. Heath (and I can’t remember who else it was, maybe Zane,) were in a hot tub clearly drunk, and David used that moment when they kissed for a fun video moment and that was a moment David took advantage of for content. They may have consented for that video to be uploaded after the fact, but it seems David has always had a problem with consent, AFTER THE FACT! I do believe David has grown and changed a lot, but he still imo hasn’t come far enough. There are things he still needs to take accountability for, and he never has. His video, very much wasn’t that. The whole situation is just awful. I can however mimic some of Ethan’s words at the end to Jeff. I hate Ethan, but damn if he wasn’t right. Credit where credit is do. But fuck Ethan! David HAS to treat this issue with more respect that it is owed!

[def-initely-soul]

Burn The Witch {1}

pairing: yoongi x reader (f.)

genre: supernatural; angst; mystery; magical society AU; magicals!AU

rating: PG-15

warnings: violence; emotional abuse; blood; bullying; mentions of murder; mature language

words: 3k

summary:

↠ {a boy who keeps running away, a girl who can’t seem to no matter how much she tries and a series of murders caught all in between of the cracks spread through what appears as a quiet little town…} ↞

or alternatively, not everything is always what it seems

.

.

There’s something distinctively peculiar about little towns. About their alleged serenity and peaceful way of living. About their closed-off shops and their faded-out road signs and billboards left behind simply because no one bothered to replace them. About the undeniable bonds existing between the native-borns and the ex ostracization of anyone that threatened those bonds, or really anyone different. About their so-called hospitality that turns into vicious, violent hatred once that quiet, “peaceful” way of living is put at risk.

Yoongi is bound to feel intrigued, as he drives by the road sign that welcomes him into such a small town. Xefoto its name. Derived from the Greek word for “clearing”, as it was one of the first towns that took in supernatural beings -or magicals if you prefer a different term- and let them build shelter in the clearing in the woods. Back when humans and magicals didn’t get along too well, so their new home had to be founded away from the outskirts of the human town. But as centuries went by, the two small establishments began growing and spreading, until the borders meshed together and humans and magicals learned to live side-by-side.

Yoongi has done his research before moving here. He may have a house he can settle in already, seeing as the Min Vampire Clan was one of the first vampire families to live in Xefoto, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be welcomed here.

Trees pass him by as his eyes never stray from the road, his grip on the steering wheel tight as he taps his fingers on the leather impatiently.

If his research is correct, he just transferred to one of the most prestigious universities for magicals. The “Xefoto University of Magical Arts”, or Xuma for short, has been around almost as long as the town has existed. People Yoongi only ever dreamt of meeting have studied here and the path he’s about to take is only promising in its entirety.

Then why does he feel as if he’s about to lose control of his own life?

His heart thumps once against his chest as he finally drives into town, the gloomy skies seeming like an appropriate welcome.

.

.

Okay, maybe this wasn’t exactly the welcoming he had expected.

Yoongi was ready for apathy for the rest of the student body, even some suspicious glances thrown his way, given he’s an outsider infiltrating their little town’s haven. Instead, from the moment he stepped foot into the academy castle, he’s met with students approaching him to know his name, to befriend him, to know more about him. Girls and boys alike are flooding his path, overly friendly smiles, and kind gestures to the point of feeling overwhelming and Yoongi can't help but hate this sudden interest in him.

He expected -wished even- to be left alone, not this welcoming committee of students following him like a shadow everywhere he goes.

There hasn’t been a course he’s been to today without someone approaching him, interested in getting to know him but it’s not something he welcomes. Most of those students, -or professors in some cases-, are after him only because he’s the new student. Something entirely foreign and simultaneously so much fascinating to people that have known nothing more than what’s inside the premises of their little town. No one is really interested in him as a person and so Yoongi finds all those interactions irritating and weird.

But there is one person that managed to intrigue him.

There’s this fae boy, Jimin. He approaches Yoongi throughout the day.

Although his method might seem to some… unconventional.

Most people that approach Yoongi are really excited to get to meet him. Big, wide smiles, so forceful they almost look hurtful, eyes swimming with excitement and overall people practically throwing themselves at his feet. Although Jimin seems dormant. No skippiness in his steps, no trembling excitement or flashing smiles, no eagerness to get close to him. Instead, a frown masks the fae boy’s features every time he nears the dark-haired vampire boy, slow, dragging steps, as if unwilling to move, as he points Yoongi to the next class or the cafeteria. His words always come out as exasperated grumbles. Yoongi at one point thought the boy was cursing at him, only to realize he was just informing him about lunch hours.

Jimin helps out Yoongi through the school grounds and routine but it seems like the fae is doing it almost by force.

The notion that this might be a prank has passed Yoongi’s mind, but to be honest, Jimin’s tips have proven to be helpful, so Yoongi can’t help but wonder about the blond boy.

Hence, why, when he spots the man in the dining hall, he wastes no time in taking the empty seat next to him.

Jimin’s eyes almost bulge out of their sockets as he regards the vampire sitting nonchalantly beside him. Yoongi doesn’t seem like he pays attention to Jimin as he settles down and goes through his lunch, though his ears are attuned to the fae’s reactions, waiting for the moment the younger man speaks up.

Jimin closes his agape mouth and swallows nervously.

“What are you doing here?”

Yoongi almost laughs at the accusatory tone, finding himself enjoying teasing the other boy, but nonetheless, he remains serious.

“Having lunch?” he cocks an eyebrow.

Jimin huffs in annoyance. “No, yeah, I know, I mean…” he takes an exasperated breath, “Why here?”

“Because it’s the dining hall?” Yoongi barely manages to conceal his laughter as Jimin’s ears grow red.

“I- ugh! I meant why next to me?!” he exclaims out loud, irritation shimmering in his words, though he looks more like a child that’s just been denied ice cream. A slight glimmer appears behind Jimin, at the place where his wings are supposed to be, threatening to reveal themselves.

Yoongi lets out a breath, deciding that was enough teasing.

“Well, to be frank, it feels like you don't particularly like me and yet you still help me around. Couldn’t help but feel curious…” he comments before taking a bite of his medium-rare steak.

Jimin once again remains speechless as he regards the other boy, suddenly feeling ashamed of his behavior. His eyes fall to his lap, biting his lip as he ponders on his answer.

“I… I’m sorry if I made you feel unwelcome, it wasn’t my intention, honestly…” he responds, for once no sign of annoyance in his features, only remorse, and guilt.

“Don’t worry about it. Actually, it was a nice change from being treated like the town’s local rockstar,” Yoongi chuckles, tone casual as Jimin visibly relaxes next to him.

“Oh, yeah, the whole town’s been buzzing since they learned about the new vampire transfer…” Jimin comments, finally seeming to be comfortable around Yoongi’s presence.

“But why?” Yoongi’s voice is full of confusion, not at all understanding why is everyone so enticed by him.

“Well I think being a Min and a vampire might have tipped the scale…” the fae boy says as-a-matter-of-a-factly.

Yoongi’s unimpressed stare makes Jimin reconsider.

“Ah, right… You’re new here…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jimin rolls his eyes before he speaks again.

“Well, the fact that you belong to one of the oldest vampire families in the world should be enough but this town…”, he pauses, clearly struggling to find a way to put this, “...it’s a little different from other magical colonies…” Jimin begins to explain and Yoongi puts his food aside in favor of something much more interesting.

“I’m sure you’re aware of how the universal hierarchy of magicals works at the rest of the world. At the bottom there are the werewolves, -due to their lack of self-control once they transform-, then demons, then shapeshifters, then mermaids, fae, elves, vampires and on the top there are sirens and… witches,” he speaks the last word in a hushed whisper, something that confuses Yoongi, “due to each species’ control of their respective magic. But here…” the fae boy shakes his head in thought, “the hierarchy is a bit different…”

Yoongi thinks it’s safe to say his attention has been captured.

“You see, 11 years ago an accident happened that killed almost half the town, humans and supernatural beings alike…” Jimin’s voice now becomes quiet, eyes wary as they look around to make sure no one else is listening.

“There was a fire, started right at the witch coven of Xefoto and it spread through the entire town. If it wasn’t for the faes’ help the whole town would have gone down in flames. And even though many people were killed and injured, witches were entirely erased. Only one witch survived and well… it’s pretty much common knowledge between the locals that she set those fires…” Jimin concludes but Yoongi isn’t easily convinced.

“But why? It makes no sense for her to wipe out her entire coven…” he interjects but Jimin simply shrugs.

“No one knows. Rumor has it she was drunk for power and wiped her peers out so she could act freely without her coven interjecting her every decision. Everyone suspects it’s her but some of the evidence was destroyed so she was never caught. Others say she’s cursed…” Jimin responds with wide eyes and Yoongi has an inkling Jimin is one of those people.

But the fae boy continues, undisturbed. “And well… The hierarchy changed after that. Since practical magic was the one that caused everything, it is kind of frowned upon to practice the art of it since most times it’s completely uncontrollable. Natural magic, on the other hand, is completely fine, like faes’, elves’ and demons’. Witches, -or well just this one witch-, is at the bottom of the hierarchy tower.”

Yoongi scrunches his eyebrows. “Even bellow werewolves?” he finds that hard to believe.

But Jimin nods. And Yoongi can’t help but wonder how awful this woman’s life must be. Bellow werewolves? That shit’s hard.

Jimin continues. “So witches dropped and since sirens also use practical magic, they got dragged along with them. Now they’re on the same level as mermaids,” Yoongi shudders at the mere thought. A prideful and vengeful being like a siren being cramped up with mermaids? That can’t be good.

“Fae also rose up due to the help they provided and now rest at the top,” the blond boy explains somewhat remorseful before he keeps going, “... along with vampires.”

Yoongi lets out a sound of understanding at that. That’s why everyone was treating him like that.

“Okay, now everything makes a bit more sense…” he admits, before stealing a glance at Jimin.

“And I guess it explains your behavior towards me, too.”

Jimin's head snaps up, eyes wide with alarm.

“You were forced into befriending me, weren’t you?” Yoongi asks insightfully and Jimin’s ears redden once more.

“I’m sorry. My parents thought it’d be great for our family if I were to become your friend… we may be fae but… we’re not the most prestigious family there is. Not even close…” Jimin sounds resigned as if already expecting the vampire boy to be offended but this. But Yoongi can only nod in agreement.

He knows a thing or two about family expectations.

He sighs before pushing his tray aside, done with his food and he stands up. “So, where does the course for “interspecies rights” take place?” Yoongi asks nonchalantly, even though the boy already knows the way to said classroom. He can’t help but feel a certain level of sympathy towards the fae boy, even if Jimin approached him with a certain agenda in mind.

Jimin looks at Yoongi with disbelief. “I- I’m sorry?”

The vampire turns to look at him with no sign of malice in his eyes. “You’re my tour guide, aren’t you? I expect you to show me around, not just the university but the town as well,” Yoongi explains and Jimin can’t help but look at the boy with gratitude. Then the blond boy stands up as well.

“Follow me.”

.

.

As Jimin walks Yoongi through the academy grounds, the vampire gets to know a little bit more about the quiet fae boy.

Jimin is one year younger, at 22, born and raised at Xefoto but his family, -being one of the few that settled years after the settlement was formed-, isn’t exactly prestigious among their peers. Actually, Jimin’s family, the Parks, have been around no longer than 3 eons, making them almost foreigners in correlation with the other families.

The fae boy is studying to become a Bringer, the magical equivalent of a lawyer. Although Yoongi spots a healing course at the younger man’s schedule that has nothing to do with being a bringer.

But Yoongi doesn’t ask. Everyone has their secrets.

What he also learned is that Jimin has a girlfriend. Actually, scratch that, the exact word used was “betrothed”. Which came as quite a shock to say the least, as when Yoongi first met the blond boy, he thought he was gay. To be honest, though, Sua and Jimin didn’t seem to be exactly enamored with one another.

But, again, Yoongi does not ask.

Instead, he pretends to be interested in the architecture of the castle and not at all observing the slightly suspicious looks Sua is giving him.

“So,” the fae girl exclaims, voice loud and commanding, successfully interrupting whatever Jimin was about to say. The boy effectively swallows his words before deflating slightly. But then, as if it never happened, a mask of excitement takes over his features as he turns his attention to his girlfriend.

Yoongi observes the interaction with hawk-like eyes. And again he says nothing.

Sua smiles brightly before continuing. “Where are you boys planning on going next? Jimin you should show Yoongi around our town! There’s so much to see really!” the girl exclaims enthusiastically and Yoongi fights to conceal the slight frown that threatens to appear. If he had to guess, he’d say Sua supports the Parks family’s decision to force Jimin on Yoongi.

Jimin timidly nods his head before speaking up. “Ah, yes, I was hoping to show him the old town of Xefoto and then grab some drinks-”

Sua gasps excitedly. “That’s a great idea! I’ll tell you what, why don’t you go to Selkie’s Place? They serve some wonderful mashed potatoes - and I can meet you there with some friends, I’m sure you must be dying to meet new people!” she concludes with a grin and Jimin throws an apologetic smile at Yoongi.

Yoongi grinds his teeth. “Yes… dying…”

Sua doesn’t get the sarcasm and squeals before clapping her hands together. “Fantastic! Let’s say eight? Yeah, that’s perfect, we’ll meet you there!” she says excitedly before fishing her phone out of her skirt and walking away almost immediately. Too engrossed in her typing to actually say “goodbye” to the two boys.

Yoongi sends a glare to a fidgeting Jimin. “That’s your girlfriend?”

Jimin sighs. “I know she’s kind of a lot. But she’s nice once you get to know her!”

Yoongi purses his lips before shrugging, it’s not his place to comment on that. “If you say so. So, old town of Xefoto, huh?” he redirects the conversation and Jimin’s eyes gleam in excitement, as they begin walking towards the exit.

“Oh yes! It’s very picturesque, there’s this museum with historic relics and the history of the town, plus the first families that gotten here, the founding of the academy and even-” Jimin rambles on about something he’s clearly into but as Yoongi listens to him he fails to see the person to his left.

This inevitably leads into him bumping into said person, thus spreading the books they’ve been holding all over the marble floors.

He hears a sigh of resignation coming from the girl dressed in all black before she crouches down to pick up her books.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking,” Yoongi explains, ignoring Jimin’s terrified gasp as he rushes to help by picking up the rest of the books. Only to stop when he realizes the girl has stopped as well.

And currently stares at him.

He raises his eyes at her, indignantly, not ready to deal with another person dying to get to know him.

But instead of the heart-eyes look he expects to see, he’s met with big, doe-like eyes that stare at him with unadulterated shock.

Yoongi suddenly forgets the rest of his sentence. What did he want to say anyway? Something foolish and weird for sure and with the way the girl’s eyes are boring into him he can’t help do anything but blink.

There’s something about her, he can’t quite tell. Something about the way her eyelashes flutter, about the parting of her lips as she silently gasps, the roundness of her cheeks and the crystal color of her eyes. They all leave Yoongi breathless. Like she took the air out of the room and he’s left helpless. He could swear he’s been under some sort of spell. But he knows his spells. And this isn’t one.

The girl’s hair falls right into her face and Yoongi has an itch in his fingers, from the sudden urge to reach forward and brush them away to get a better look. 

But that would be weird. Definitely creepy and weird.

Then the girl’s eyes, as if suddenly remembering where they are, move to the person behind Yoongi, Jimin.

Her eyes widen even more and Yoongi swears he sees fear in them.

Fear accompanied by sadness.

That doesn’t sit well with him. As he sees the girl’s eyes moving rapidly away, he has this bad feeling growing in the middle of his chest, warning him, burning him. Like a premonition he’s certain he doesn’t want to come true.

So he speaks up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

But as soon as his voice reaches her ears, the girl springs into action.

She immediately grabs her books from Yoongi’s hands before taking off instantly, not sparing the two men another glance.

Yoongi’s eyes follow her figure down the hall, speechless. Did he actually creep her out? He couldn’t tell.

The girl disappears behind the gates, hasty in her steps, not bothering to look back.

At that moment Jimin releases a breath, Yoongi only now remembering the existence of the other boy, and he sees the fae being relieved by the girl’s absence.

“What?”

Jimin’s eyes are wide with horror. “God that was close! Do you know who that was?”

Yoongi’s unimpressed stare gives Jimin his answer.

“That was her! The witch!”

Yoongi’s features scrunch up in confusion at that.

The witch? The one that’s supposed to have caused the accident?

Yoongi thought the witch was an old woman for sure. Some recluse, living far away from modern society, deep in the woods, cursing everyone that crossed her path. After all the fires happened eleven years ago.

Realization hits him and his eyes widen in mortification. 

She was only a child.

His stare moves to the gates, already curious about the girl with the black dress that disappeared behind them.

next part: {2}

[insideoutstory]

Inside Out → Chapter Seventeen

summary: A trip to the police station shows Christine that she’s in way over her head. word count: 5.6k warnings: cops???

[ masterlist ]   [ FF.net ]

The Hawkins Police Department was not a large building. For a town with a population of 30,000, it seemed odd that there were less than ten people in the building. Christine got the pleasure of meeting Flo, the flat-voiced secretary, as Callahan dragged her into the building. Powell had taken charge of Jonathan, probably because Callahan was too scared after his nose. Nancy was given the privilege of walking on her own. 

They were split up and asked to give their preliminary statements separately. This time, Christine did not hold back. She told them about the party and the drinks, Jonathan’s alleged pictures, Tommy’s graffiti, Steve’s heckling, and Jonathan’s first swing of the fight. She admitted to punching Tommy a few times, but without a victim coming forward, she was pretty sure there was nothing they could do to her. And she doubted Tommy would admit to be assaulted by a nerd girl anytime soon. 

After that, Christine slumped in a chair by the window. She was not allowed to go home yet, for some unknown reason. She also didn’t know what she was waiting for. Maybe she was supposed to bear witness to whatever crime they were pushing on Jonathan. He was the only one in handcuffs. They looked good on him, but even Christine thought assaulting an officer was a stretch. Callahan just seemed like a wimp who got in the way of a stray elbow. 

Christine was surprised as anyone when Nancy sat down next to her. 

“I got you some ice,” she offered, passing off the balled-up towel. “For your hand.” 

“Oh, uh…thanks.” 

Christine hissed at the cold contact. Still, hopefully it would ease off the ache. She was about to comment that Jonathan needed it more, but a quick look confirmed that he’d gotten the first batch. He was multitasking, the cold pack sitting on top of his knuckles while he face-planted to ice his black eye. 

“How are you feeling?” Nancy asked hesitantly. 

“Fine,” Christine said with a shrug. “You guys pulled me back pretty fast. I don’t think I did too much damage—to me or Tommy.” 

Nancy nodded, the tiniest smirk on her face. “You do know that Tommy was on your side, right?” 

“Gross,” Christine groaned. “I never want to hear that sentence again in my life.” 

“Seriously, Christine. He was trying to help Steve. Why did you punch him?” 

Christine stared at Nancy. The final straw had become pretty clear to her after the adrenaline had drained from her system. She didn’t want to hear Tommy H running his mouth about her best friend. Christine had been hurling her own accusations only a few minutes before him, but that didn’t mean he was allowed to do it. But she didn’t feel like trying to explain that. So she shrugged. 

“Do I need a reason? I’ve been dying to punch Tommy all week. I’m just pissed I didn’t break his nose when I had the chance.” 

Nancy shook her head, which helped to hide the way her smirk was growing. Christine tested out a smile. It fell fast, her own guilt weighing it down. 

“Hey,” she said softly. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t know about the graffiti. If I’d seen it, he wouldn’t have made it out of the alley breathing.” 

“Right,” Nancy said skeptically. 

“No, I’m serious. I know I’ve messed up a lot, but…I wouldn’t let someone do that to you. Steve came in asking to talk about you, and I thought you might’ve been in some kind of trouble. Then when he told me about Jonathan and the pictures, I—I just kinda lost it. They must’ve taken advantage of the distraction.” 

“I get it,” Nancy said, though her voice was subdued. “And, for what it’s worth, I didn’t…you know. With Jonathan.” 

“Okay.” Christine nodded. She wanted to take Nancy at her word, but there was still so much evidence against her. “If you didn’t, then…Nance, what the hell is going on?” 

Nancy looked at her fully for the first time. For a moment, she looked just like Steve—conflicted and completely at a loss for what to say. But her wide, fearful eyes reminded Christine of someone else, too. Someone who had seen too much, and had no idea how to put it into words. 

“Nancy,” Christine pleaded, lowering her voice. “What happened?” 

Before Nancy could respond, the door to the precinct slammed open. Mrs. Byers was wearing the same leather jacket she’d worn to the funeral, but all traces of the spacy, despaired mother were gone. She blew past the receptionist desk and let herself into the bullpen, eyes locked on her son. 

“Hey! Jonathan? Jesus, wha—what happened?” 

“I’m fine,” Jonathan assured her, and Officer Callahan stood up behind him. 

“Ma’am…” 

“Why is he wearing handcuffs?” Mrs. Byers demanded. 

“Well, your boy assaulted a police officer, that’s why.” 

“Take them off.” 

“I am afraid I cannot do that.” 

“Take them off!” 

“You heard her. Take them off.” 

Mrs. Byers had been followed into the room by Chief of Police Jim Hopper. Christine had only seen him one or two times. Maybe at an assembly or a summer fair. He looked every bit like his intimidating reputation. He was the tallest person in the room, with a disheveled appearance and tired face that clearly read: “I am not going to deal with your bullshit.” 

Christine shrunk involuntarily into her chair. 

“Chief,” Powell interrupted, stepping up from his desk in the corner. “I get that everyone’s emotional here, but there’s something you need to see.” 

“Now?” asked Hopper, and Powell nodded gravely. 

“Now.” 

Hopper sighed, wiping a hand down his beard. “Okay. Okay, move it.” 

“Hop…” 

“I’ll be right back, Joyce,” he assured Mrs. Byers. 

Without removing the handcuffs, Chief Hopper followed his two officers out of the precinct. 

Christine averted her eyes as Jonathan’s mom fussed over him, turning instead to Nancy. “What do you think it is?” 

“Oh,” she said weakly. “I…I don’t know.” 

Her shifty eyes suggested otherwise, but Christine didn’t want to push. She got her answer a few minutes later regardless. 

Hopper returned with a large cardboard box, which he dropped heavily onto the desk in front of Jonathan. Christine couldn’t see inside from where she was sitting, but she could hear the sturdy clank of metal. Jonathan apparently didn’t need to look up to know what it was. Thankfully, his mother decided to narrate helpfully as she peered in the box. 

“Is that…is that a bear trap?” she asked. “And—And lighter fluid, and guns and…what is this?” 

“Why don’t you ask your son?” Hopper asked darkly. “We found it in his car.” 

“What?” 

“Why are you going through my car?” Jonathan demanded. 

“Is that really the question you should be asking me right now?” Hopper leaned dangerously over the top of the box. It was a miracle Jonathan didn’t shirk back. “I wanna see you in my office.” 

He started toward the hallway, only for Jonathan to call him back. 

“You won’t believe me.” 

Hopper paused, glaring evenly. “Why don’t you give me a try?” 

He nodded to Callahan, who reluctantly released Jonathan from his handcuffs. He was instantly swept up into a hug by his mother, which he returned with vigor. Christine watched as he looked over her shoulder, sharing a tense look with Nancy. He shook his head into his mother’s neck. Then without a word, he was carted off to the hallway. 

Christine was about to ask what that was about when Nancy jumped out of her seat. 

“I’m coming with him!” 

Everyone turned to stare at her, each more shocked than the next. 

“No,” said Hopper, the first to recover. “I think your boyfriend can handle a little one on one.” 

“He’s not—I mean, I was there when he bought it.” 

“No she wasn’t,” Jonathan said immediately. “She’s just covering for me.” 

“I paid for it. It’s my stuff.” 

“It’s not!” 

 “Nancy?” Christine gasped, but she got no response. 

Hopper was looking more annoyed by the minute. 

“Who the hell is this?” he asked Mrs. Byers. 

“She’s—This is Nancy Wheeler,” she answered, looking just as confused. “She’s uh…her brother is friends with Will.” 

“Fine,” Hopper sighed. “Fine, you wanna make things more complicated? Be my guest. Come on.” 

“Nancy,” Christine repeated. “What the hell are you doing?” 

“It’s fine,” Nancy assured her. “It’s okay.” 

Whatever was ‘fine’ or ‘okay,’ Nancy didn’t bother to explain. She followed the police chief and the Byers out of the room, and disappeared behind the office door. 

Christine huffed. 

“Is that it, then?” she demanded, glaring at Officer Powell. “Can I go home now?” 

“No,” he said, sitting back at his desk. 

“Why not?” 

“Cause you’re annoying. And I’m kind of hoping whatever guy you beat up is gonna come in so we can detain you and laugh at him.” 

She sunk back into her seat, defeated. 

The minutes slipped by over the clock face. Christine watched the hands tick in slow motion. They were moving, but nothing else seemed to be. No one else came or left the precinct. No one entered or exited the chief’s office. She strained her ears, but she couldn’t hear any screaming, arguing, or concerned voices. Whatever was happening, they were doing it quietly. 

Her butt was starting to go numb from sitting so long. Callahan snapped at her more than once for tapping her foot or drumming her nails on the arm of the chair. She’d started to do it just to annoy him. It wasn’t smart. If they were trying to charge Jonathan with assault they could easily try and stick something on her. Maybe then she’d get arrested and thrown into the Chief’s office too. 

It felt like ages before anything interesting happened. Even then, it was just another concerned mother with an injured boy coming to file a complaint. Christine completely disregarded it until the woman finally coaxed her son into telling his story. 

“We…We weren’t doing anything,” he insisted to Officer Callahan. “We were just hanging out by the quarry, and all of the sudden this weird girl shows up. And she pushed my friend James to the ground, and then she broke my arm!” 

“And how exactly did this happen?” asked Callahan. “Was there an argument or…?” 

“No! She just came out of the woods and she snapped my arm!” 

Christine perked up in her seat, and did her best not to make it look like she was listening. 

“Okay, okay,” said Callahan, writing in his notebook. “So…So you were playing with your friend, and you say a…little girl just…came out of nowhere and snapped your arm clean in two?” 

“Officer,” the mother snapped. “You will not speak to my son like that!” 

“Like what? Like I’m repeating what he’s saying?” 

“Don’t act innocent with me! You are insulting him!” 

“Woah, now—hey! I am not being insulting. If a tiny girl broke his arm…” 

“Officer!” 

“Ma’am,” said Officer Powell, stepping into the conversation. “My partner just needs to get the details of the incident so he can file the report. It’s procedure to repeat…” 

“Oh, it’s procedure to mock the citizens of Hawkins when they ask for help?” she demanded. “It’s procedure to laugh at young boys who’ve been the victim of a crime?” 

“Hey, who is laughing?” Callahan asked. “I’m not laughing. He’s not laughing. We’re just…” 

Christine watched the situation devolve comically. She wondered if Callahan was the newest officer to the squad. He certainly seemed it. He was spectacularly bad at his job. 

“I want an apology!” the mother demanded, her voice getting louder by the second. 

“An apology for what, exactly?” 

“Where is the chief? I want to speak to him. Right this instant!” 

“Ma’am, I need you to calm down…” 

“What is your name, Deputy?” 

“Well…I’m an officer, okay?” he said with a laugh, which did not do anything to deescalate the situation. 

“Name and badge number, both of you!” 

“What the hell is going on here?” 

Chief Hopper had returned, bellowing the room into order as he bee-lined for the problem woman. Christine peeked behind him, but neither Nancy nor Jonathan was in sight. 

“These men are humiliating my son!” the mother cried, pushing her son forward like some kind of proof. 

“No, no, no,” said Callahan quickly. “Okay, that’s not true!” 

“Yes!” 

“There was some kind of fight, Chief,” Powell started, only to be interrupted again. 

“A psychotic child broke his arm!” 

“A little girl, Chief,” Callahan supplied. “A little one.” 

“That tone!” the mother screeched, jabbing painted nail at him. “Do you hear that tone?” 

“Honestly, I’m just trying to state a fact! It was a little girl…” 

“I don’t have time for this,” Chief Hopper groaned. “Will you please take a statement and…” 

He mouthed the last few words, gesturing sweepingly toward the door. Callahan and Powell nodded dutifully. 

 “So what did this girl look like?” Powell asked. 

“She had no hair,” the boy gushed, “and she was bleeding from her nose. Like a freak!” 

Christine froze. It was all the confirmation she could have hoped for. Eleven was out there, somewhere, still alive and powerful and kicking. What the boy had done to upset her, Christine couldn’t imagine. But she already felt less sympathetic. He must’ve been a real asshole. 

What surprised her was that she wasn’t the only one who’d stopped. Chief Hopper had paused halfway to his office. He turned on the spot, looking like he’d seen a ghost. 

“What’d you just say?” 

“I said she’s a freak,” the boy repeated. 

“No, her hair.” He hurried back over, staring intently at the kid. “What’d you say about her hair?” 

“Her head’s shaved. She doesn’t even look like a girl. And…” 

“And what?” the chief prompted. 

It was clear that whatever was supposed to come next was not going to sound great. The kid stared anxiously at the floor until his mother rubbed his shoulder. 

“Tell the man, Troy.” 

Troy hesitated a moment longer, then looked up to Hopper. “She can…do things.” 

“What kind of things?” 

“Like…make you fly…and piss yourself…” 

“What?” asked Powell, obviously filled with glee, but the Chief held up a hand. 

“Was she alone?” he asked fervently. 

“No,” the boy answered. “She always hangs out with those losers.” 

“Losers?” 

Christine had asked it at the same time as Hopper, her tone accusatory while he remained confused. She clamped her mouth shut, praying that no one had noticed. But as tired as Hopper looked, he was definitely sharper than people gave him credit for. 

“Hey.” Hopper was bearing down on her now. “Do you know who he’s talking about?” 

“No,” she said too quickly. “I just…you know, rich for a kid to call someone else a loser when his arm got broken by a girl.” 

“Young lady!” Troy’s mother gasped. “Chief Hopper, I expect to see some disciplinary…” 

“Absolutely,” Hopper agreed, though his eyes never left Christine. “Let’s go, Blondie. My office. Now.” 

He grabbed her by the arm, wrenching her out of her chair and dragging her down the hall before she could so much as yelp. He dragged her past Jonathan and his mother, who were waiting anxiously in the hallway. He dragged her right into the office and tossed her into an empty armchair across from Nancy. He barely waited for the Byers to reenter the room before he rounded on her. 

“Where is she?” he demanded. One hand on either arm of the chair, he leaned into her face, making her shrink back. “Huh? Where is she?” 

“Where is who?” Christine asked. 

“Hopper!” Mrs. Byers’ tone was scolding, and she quickly closed the door to the office. “What the hell are you doing?” 

Chief Hopper didn’t spare her a thought. 

“Where is she?” he asked again, slamming his hands onto the chair. “I know you know where she is. Who do you work for, huh? Who is it?” 

“I don’t know!” 

“She doesn’t work for anyone!” Nancy jumped out of her seat. She stood at Hopper’s back, pleading but also too afraid to attempt to pull him back. “Just stop! Please!” 

Mrs. Byers was the only one brave enough to step between them. She shoved him back, her hands shaking, but her arms firm. 

“Seriously, Hop! Stop it! She’s—She’s just a kid!” 

“You know that for sure?” he asked challengingly. “You know her?” 

“Yes! Of course I know her! Her name is Christine! She’s a damn babysitter, Hop! Now what the hell is going on?” 

Mrs. Byers’ testimony seemed to be enough for him. He sagged back against the couch, collapsing onto the arm and grabbing the coat rack for support. He waved a hand at Christine, which she supposed was supposed to reassure her. Surprisingly, after being dragged and cornered and screamed at, it wasn’t much of a comfort. 

“She knows,” he said shakily, wiping one hand down his face while the other one pointed at Christine. “She knows something.” 

“No, she doesn’t,” said Jonathan. “Trust me, if she did, we wouldn’t have ended up here!” 

“She doesn’t know anything,” Nancy agreed. “Please, just—can we leave her out of it?” 

“Out of what?” Christine asked, though no one seemed to be paying attention. 

“No,” Hopped said confidently. “She knows. She knows where Jane is.” 

This did not seem to make much sense to Jonathan and Nancy. They only shrugged, and exchanged a dubious look. Mrs. Byers, however, went stock still. 

“Jane?” she asked, her voice trembling. 

“Who is Jane?” Nancy asked. 

“Yeah,” Christine added. “Who the hell is Jane?” 

Hopper didn’t seem amused or convinced by her confusion. He stormed to his desk, sifting through several piles of paper before he found the one that he was looking for. He grabbed a copy and thrust it into Christine’s lap with finality. 

“That! That is Jane!” 

Christine faltered, but looked down at the page he’d handed her. It was a newspaper clipping from over a decade ago, probably copied from the microfilm at the public library. The title read “Terry Ives Suing,” accompanied by a picture of a pretty woman with long, dark hair. Christine scanned the article as quickly as she could. 

“After the district attorney’s office declined to press criminal charges citing lack of evidence, local resident Terry Ives is not giving up her search for justice for her and her daughter, and this morning filed a lawsuit against research scientist Dr. Martin Brenner and his staff. 

“Ms. Ives suit seeks unspecified damages against Dr. Brenner and his faculty, alleging physical abuse, sleep deprivation, malnourishment, and kidnapping…” 

The article went on, describing the woman’s claims against Hawkins Laboratory—that she’d undergone psychedelic tests under false pretenses, that she’d given birth to a child with enhanced abilities, that the scientists of the lab had taken the child hostage and attempted to erase the circumstances of her birth. The journalist writing clearly thought she was insane, but did their best to remain impartial. 

 But Christine’s blood ran cold at the mention of a child with psychokinetic powers. Her eyes flicked between the words Hawkins Lab, Jane Ives, and Dr. Brenner. She did her best to hide her concern under the shocked hand she placed over her face as she read. 

“This is what you’re concerned about?” Jonathan asked angrily. He’d moved behind her chair, reading over her shoulder. “Will is out there—and Barb—lost or—or trapped, and you’re worried about finding some other kid?” 

“Yeah, I am,” Hopper said tersely. “Cause this kid is the key to everything. It’s all connected. You’ve gotta see that by now.” 

Jonathan shook his head, nonplussed. Nancy didn’t seem to be much further along. So Hopper huffed, and glared back at Christine. 

“Do you want to tell them, or should I?” 

Christine kept her mouth shut tight. 

“Fine. I’ll go first.” 

 He grabbed the paper out of her hands, and walked back to lean on the edge of his desk. He held the article up for them, tapping the last paragraph. 

“This Hawkins Lab? It’s run by the Department of Energy, right on the edge of town, around Randolph Road. Now, I went down there when Will first went missing. Figured maybe he ran, got through the fence, went to go hide inside. I didn’t find Will, but when those folks showed me their security tapes, they were faked.” 

“Faked?” Nancy repeated in shock. 

“What? W-Why?” 

“Well, I didn’t know. Just that they were hiding something. So I went looking into it, found these articles. We didn’t get much further at the time, cause that was when we found Will’s body.” 

“Which—Which wasn’t Will’s body,” Mrs. Byers added firmly. “Which wasn’t anybody’s body.” 

“What was it?” Jonathan asked. “I mean, we went to the morgue. I saw it. We saw Will.” 

“From a distance,” Hopper corrected. “You saw him from a distance, because they didn’t want you to get too close.” 

“To what?” 

“To the fake. Now, when they found Will’s body, it was called in by a State Trooper—guy named O’Bannon. I went to see him, and he said that someone told him to go to the quarry, and not to let anyone get close to the body. Then when we brought the body in, some State doctors kicked out Gary Tranden and did the autopsy themselves. When I went to check it out, he was still being guarded by Troopers.” 

“They had State Troops guarding Will’s body?” Jonathan asked incredulously. 

“Yeah. Cause it wasn’t a body. It was stuffed rubber, made up by some specialist to look like your brother.” 

“But why?” Nancy asked. “Why go through to trouble to make a fake body?” 

“Exactly,” Hopper said, jabbing a finger at her. “Unless you know what really happened, and you don’t want anyone looking into it.” 

A chill went around the room as that thought sank in. Whatever was going on was bigger than they could have imagined. It was cover-up big, conspiracy big, government big. Christine was starting to understand why Eleven was so afraid of her home. If she’d come from a government lab, then the “bad men” who were after her certainly did have eyes everywhere, just like she’d said. They’d been pulling the strings the whole time, and no one had noticed. It was a miracle she hadn’t already been found. 

Still, Christine kept her mouth shut. 

“So you’re telling me,” said Nancy, with a wary look to Christine, “that…everything that’s happened. This…thing, and Will and Barbara…the government knows about it?” 

“Yeah,” the chief confirmed. 

“And…they’re not doing anything to stop it? They’re just letting it happen? Letting them die?” 

“Yeah,” he said again. His jaw was set with determination. “But we’re not.” 

“It’s the government,” Jonathan said despairingly. “What are we gonna do about it?” 

“We’re gonna find what they’re looking for. Before they do.” 

“What are they looking for?” asked Nancy. 

Hopper raised the article again. “Jane.” 

“We still don’t know everything,” Mrs. Byers explained. “But Hop and I have been looking into this—this girl. Her mother went through all these trials, these isolation tanks and drug testing, and she said that it gave her baby special…I don’t know, special abilities. And the lab took her daughter. They just took her and—and covered it up.” 

“Like Will,” Hopper agreed. “Now, when he first went missing, I was following all these dead end leads. There was a kid at the lab, and a kid out at Benny’s, and I thought it was Will. But I don’t think the lab was lying about Will getting in. I think they were hiding that Jane had gotten out.” 

“And, she’s…what?” asked Nancy skeptically. “A psychic or something?” 

“Yeah, or something. I don’t know a lot more than that. But I think someone here does.” 

Everyone turned back to look at Christine. Never in her life had it been so clear that she was in over her head. The boys had been right. Eleven had been right. There were bad men with guns, and a monster on the loose, and the bad men were trying to capture Eleven and keep it all quiet. The government knew about everything. Everything fit into place. 

Hopper stared at her intently, willing for her to break. But if there was anything his story had taught her, it was just how dangerous the bad men were. And Christine was not going to let Eleven down. 

“Look,” she sighed, shaking her head. “This is all…insane. Completely. And it sounds really serious and really scary, but…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Then why did you look up?” Hopper demanded. “Hm? Some kid comes walking in talking about a girl with psychic powers and you lit up like a Christmas tree. Why?” 

“Uh, cause it’s ridiculous?” she said with a laugh. “He’s a punk ass middle schooler who doesn’t want to admit he lost a fight to a girl.” 

“And the losers? What about them?” 

Christine huffed. “Okay, so I know who Troy is. He’s a middle school kid, and he bullies my neighbor Dustin. All his friends. So I’m a little protective—sue me. I’m not part of some grand cover-up.” 

Chief Hopper deflated. He sank back against his desk, purposely knocking over a cup of pens in his frustration. Mrs. Byers looked dispirited too. It broke Christine’s heart to see her so hopeless, just like she’d been at the funeral. But she was going to stand her ground. She wasn’t going to let anyone get to Eleven. She wasn’t going to let anyone use Eleven. She wasn’t a weapon, or a bargaining chip, or a lynch pin in a conspiracy case. She was just a scared kid. And Christine had made a promise to keep her safe. 

 She thought she was going to get away with it. Until Nancy opened her mouth. 

“She’s lying.” 

“Excuse me?” Christine’s jaw dropped. “Says who?” 

“Says your hands,” said Nancy. Her tone wasn’t accusatory. She seemed more shocked than anything, but she was confident. “You’ve been my best friend for five years, Chrissy. I know you pick your nails when you lie.” 

“Well, I also pick my nails when I’m nervous,” Christine growled. “You know, like when I’m being accused of harboring a telekinetic child fugitive.” 

But Nancy wasn’t having any of her excuses. 

“Is this the real reason you’ve been missing so much school?” she asked in surprise. “Is this why you were at the quarry with my brother?” 

“No!” 

“The quarry?” Hopper’s head shot up once more. “You were at the quarry? When? Today?” 

“No,” Nancy answered for her, “the night they found Will. Mike came running home crying about it before they were even on the news. Christine said she took them on a bike ride and they heard the sirens, but Mike said they’d been going to Will’s house to bring over some of his drawings. I never thought to ask why he lied.” 

Damnit, Michael. 

“He didn’t lie,” Christine amended, exasperated. “I took them on a joy ride after AV club, they had the bright idea to bring Will’s mom some of his drawings, and we were on our way when we heard the sirens. Why is that so hard you to believe?” 

“Because since when do you hang out with my brother?” 

“Since kids were going missing and I lost my two best friends!” 

“Okay,” said Mrs. Byers. She shuffled between Christine and Nancy, holding up her hands. “That’s enough, girls. Let’s all just calm down.” 

 This was mostly directed at Christine. Nancy still seemed calm in her shocking revelation. Christine was the one furious about being dragging into an interrogation. She considered getting up and storming out, seeing how far she could make it without Hopper either tailing her or physically carrying her back to the office. But before she could decide, Mrs. Byers had knelt down in front of her. 

“Christine,” she said softly, resting her hands on top of Christine’s knees. “I know that this is scary. And I know that you care about those boys. When…When you came over to talk to me at Will’s funeral, I knew…gosh, I knew that you really cared. And I knew that there was something, something else you wanted to say. But you couldn’t or—or you didn’t know how. But Christine, if you know where Jane is…please…she’s…she’s the only chance I have of getting my son back…” 

It was hard to look her in the eyes. Christine ended up closing her own so she didn’t have to see her. 

 “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Byers. I…I can’t help you.” 

Mrs. Byers’ lip trembled. Jonathan was over in an instant, helping her up and hugging her to his chest. Christine hated to see it. She hated to be the bad guy. She knew that Mrs. Byers was hurting, but desperate people did crazy things. What if she tried to give Eleven back to the lab, in exchange for help finding Will? Christine couldn’t let that happen. She wanted to save Will as much as anyone, but she wasn’t going to let anyone trade Eleven in. 

Hopper seemed to sense what she was thinking. 

“Look, kid,” he said, still gruff but softer than he had before. “I know that you’re trying to protect her. Maybe you think hiding her is the best chance she’s got. And you’ve done good so far. I’ll give you that. You kids have to be damn smart if they haven’t found you yet. But this is the United States government we’re talking about. This is the Army. These are soldiers and scientists who have complete control over this town, so I need you to believe me when I say that it is only a matter of time until they find her.” 

He got off of his desk, grabbing a different article and placing it into her lap. He squatted down next to the chair, and tapped the picture. It showed a group of people in hospital gowns, all thin with sunken eyes. There was a doctor on the right, standing tall and proud. Dr. Brenner, if she had to guess. He wasn’t scared like he patients. He even looked happy. 

“I’ve been inside this lab,” Hopper said softly. “I’ve seen where they were keeping her. Tiny room with no windows, one lamp, one bed. I know what living like that does to a person. I know the kinds of things they do in places like that. And I promise you, I am not gonna let any kid go back to a prison like that. But you gotta give me something. Cause if we don’t get to her first, that’s exactly what’s gonna happen. You can’t do this alone.” 

Christine stared down at the picture. She knew Hopper was right. There was no way she could protect Eleven alone. What was she going to do? Stand between Eleven and the entire US government with three twelve-year-olds and a rusty hammer? Keep Eleven locked in her room and hope her dad never went in to clean it? She didn’t even know where Eleven was. Just that she’d been with the boys at the quarry. And it felt like time was running out. 

She didn’t want to break her promise. She didn’t like the idea of telling anyone about Eleven, let alone a cop. There was no way for her to know if he was telling the truth, or if Hopper was just another state plant trying to find Eleven for himself. Christine didn’t know how Jonathan and Nancy were involved, but Joyce Byers…that was something else. She was a mother. If anyone could have compassion for a scared and abused kid, it was a mother who’d lost her son. If Joyce Byers was going up against the government to get her son back, she needed all the help she could get. And so did Christine. 

“I don’t know anyone named Jane,” she said, passing the article back to Hopper. “We just call her Eleven.”

[blueprinceseokjin]

YoonJin Detective Drabble

Okay so a YoonJin detective AU/drabble based off Markiplier's video Wilford Motherlovin Warfstache (if you haven't seen it, what are you doing with your life? Watch it.)

Anyways Yoongi is a detective who has been chasing after renowned criminal Kim Seokjin for years since his rookie days. He's been looking to bring Seokjin in for his alleged crimes or robbery, embezzlement, and murder. Some would call Yoongi obsessed and crazed over this case but he just wants what any good cop would want. To bring the bad guy to justice. Some would think Yoongi is only in it for the personal gain as this Seokjin (allegedly of course) is responsible for the death of his partner, various family members, and a serious nearly fatal gunshot wound. But no, that's not it, Seokjin is a bad man. A crazy man. A dangerous man. A loon who deserves to be handcuffed and locked up with the key thrown away.

Yoongi has been chasing Seokjin through multiple countries with very close leads but each time he thinks he can snag the other, the latter just disappears into the night, reinventing himself, and having Yoongi step back in square one. But not tonight. Tonight, he was going to bring Seokjin in and Seokjin will face justice. He will answer for his crimes and what all that he has caused Yoongi.

Seokjin, now under the alias Jin, works for an exotic dance club. The main attraction. His graceful posture and flexibility is what hundreds, even thousands fly from all over the world to witness just a minute of. When Yoongi walks in, he doesn't know what he's more disgusted by, sweaty people all over him as he tries making his way to the main stage or everyone flocking around him for a glimpse at the mysterious alluring beauty like he's a god or something. Yoongi shoots his gun towards the ceiling, causing everyone to go into a mass panic as they run out of the club. Jin, is unaffected by it, still dancing like the desirable siren he is. Yoongi shoots the jukebox that leads Jin's rhythm which finally grants him the other man's attention. Jin cocks a smirk, walking over to Yoongi. Yoongi finds it revolting when his body becomes Jin's playpen almost. His hands all over. Fingers gliding. Body shivers erupting involuntarily (at least that's what Yoongi tells himself).

But he remembers why he's here. Yoongi handcuffs Jin and brings him to his police car. Jin is confused slightly as to why he's being brought in. He doesn't even know this strange man does he? Yoongi stares him down and Jin starts guessing names. "Jungkook? Taehyung?" Yoongi arches a brow and shakes his head. This asshole doesn't remember him? After he made his life an unbearable living hell? Typical. It only made Yoongi madder. "Namjoon? Hoseok?" Yoongi can only see red as he heads back to the station but he has to remember, the target has been caught. He won. He finally won. But what really did you win? Yoongi looked back at Jin nearly causing them to get into a car wreck. Watch where you're going would ya? Yoongi is freaked out to say the least. How can he hear Jin's thoughts? How can Jin hear his? Maybe it's magic. Yoongi shook his head. Surely he's imagining all of this right? He's imagining it. It doesn't matter. What does matter is the person who has given him such grief is caught and he can finally put this matter behind him.

When he brings Jin back, he ties him up. Is that ethical? Probably not, but Jin doesn't have to know that. What happens if I do? And oh will he stop that?! Probably not. Jin looks up at Yoongi from where he's tied down and smirks again. Cocky little shit. But none of that matters right now. What matters again is that Yoongi can finally make this man....no....this atrocious monster pay for his sins. He has waited so long for this day and he can't wait to see Jin's pretty little face behind bars. Yoongi cocks his gun, taking off the safety. He wanted to have a little fun. Now that he had the notorious Kim Seokjin right in front of him, he couldn't wait to scare him at least a little. Jin tilts his head to the side. A puzzled yet amused expression graces his face. This poor fella really knows nothing does he? Yoongi turned around when he heard Jin but instead of finding him tied up, he finds him unbounded and looking around the private room. Yoongi? But how the fuck?!?! Yoongi tied down the man himself, double...even triple knotted all knots. How did he manage to untie himself the very few seconds Yoongi had his back turned?!?!

Jin, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered less as he looked around at the various files, pictures, maps, graphs, and everything else Yoongi had strategically used to catch his criminal. He turned around looking at Yoongi. Recognition finally dawning on him. Yoongi? Yoongi at this point is beyond freaked out. He just had Jin right where he wanted him and somehow the asshole managed to evade him again. Not this time. He pointed his gun towards Jin, the other not even paying any mind as he hugged Yoongi. After all this time, he had found Yoongi. Yoongi is confused. Why is he hugging him after everything he's put him through? Doesn't Jin know what a monster Yoongi thinks he is? Jin pulls away from Yoongi and just looks at him as if he's seeing him for the very first time and Yoongi is further puzzled because this man knows he hasn't. He ruined his life! Jin just smiles at the other and looks around again. It's beautiful how detailed oriented you are. Yoongi just looks at Jin in disgust. What kind of sick freak would ever think any part of this is "beautiful"? The amount of years Yoongi spent on this, the stress and frustration, the sleepless nights....none of that beautiful. Jin looked back towards Yoongi, sensing his anger and confusion.

"You're upset." Yoongi groans frustrated. How could he be so clueless yet so infuriating? "Anyone would be upset when they're dealing with the man who murdered innocent civilians, killed people I care about, and nearly killed me!" Yoongi was seething. Jin just gives a small smile to Yoongi. "You're looking at the smaller picture." Jin lays out the case files in front of the smaller. "You said you've been chasing me or rather your villain for years right? Tell me Yoongi, how long have you been chasing your perpetrator?" Yoongi looked up at Jin, ready to answer. Of course he knows how long he's been chasing this man...or does he? "I..." Yoongi's eyes go wide as he realizes, he's been chasing Jin for years but he can't recall how long exactly it's been. Jin just nods. "I see your maps with various locations circled. What cities or countries did you nearly catch this person?" Yoongi opened his mouth before closing it. He knows. He knows! Why can't he say it?! He blinks, a bit frightened at the fact that suddenly he can't remember?" Jin sits in the chair in front of Yoongi, taking pity on the other man. "You say I shot you--" "You did shoot me! You ruined my life! All these years I've been obsessed with finding you and now I can't..." Yoongi sighs frustrated at himself. What the hell was wrong with him? "You say I shot you," Jin started again softly, "where did I happen to shoot you?" Yoongi just looks at Jin, finding him unbelievable at the moment. This man was insane but at least Yoongi could remember where his wound was, as clear as day. His chest was beginning to hurt and his heart seemed to slow like it was just yesterday he was shot by the crazed man. He pointed towards the center of his chest but to the slight left. Jin looked confused and then nodded as if suddenly everything began to click for him.

"You say you've been chasing this man...or me...for years but you can't remember for how long nor can you remember where I've been or how you've tracked me yet haven't caught me." Yoongi looked up, catching Jin's gaze. He was defeated. He didn't know what was going on and this just seemed to be a bad dream that kept going. He wanted it all to stop. Just everything to stop. "Do you want to know why it's been so impossible to catch your guy? To catch me as you put it?" Yoongi just wordlessly shakes his head, not comprehending where the other was going causing Jin to smile wistfully at him. "Because it's also impossible to survive a gunshot to the heart." Yoongi's eyes widened and he looks down at his arms that were noticeably paler than they were seconds ago, now understanding why he finally felt so weak and tired. He looked up back up at Jin, nauseated and his vision blurring. "Suddenly I don't feel so good..."

"I'd chase you to the end of the Earth if I had to."

"Are you sure you really want to find me?"

(Masterlist)

[the-stories-in-my-head-95]

Public Menaces

Wade Wilson x Reader x Peter Parker

Summary- You and your boyfriends have been labeled as public menaces by the press in New York. The Avengers decide to take action against the 3 of you thinking you’re the bad guys.

Message- This is the same reader as I Used to be Pretty too! You can read this without reading the other one! This is Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man. Both him and the reader are in their early-mid-twenties. The reader is enhanced, she has enhanced senses, super strength, quick reflexes and can run really fast (basically Caps powers.) Her costume covers her whole body (it has a hoodie- like spider Gwen) and is completely black.  Should I do a part 2?? Sorry if it sucks!

Word Count- 1246

“This is bad.” You murmur as you read the newspaper. “This is really bad.”

“It’s not that bad.” Wade says as he rolls his eyes.

“The Daily Bugle is calling for Peters arrest and yours!” you snap.

“So we get thrown in prison. Big deal.” Wade says as he rolls his eyes. “We’ll make sure the lawyers get me and Pete into the same cell and you can come for conjugal visits.”

“THEY WON’T LET BOTH OF YOU IN WITH ME, YOU IDIOT!” You yell.

“Oh shit!” Wade says as he jumps up and starts to pace around. “Why didn’t they call for your arrest?”  

“I am a rumor. No one can actually prove Nightshade exists. ” You say. “I never took pictures of myself and sold them to a newspaper or jumped off a building and walked away in the middle of the day.”  

“Yeah, that’s fair.” Wade says. Then there’s a knock on the door. “Do you think Baby Boy forgot his keys?”

“No, why don’t you go into the back room and I’ll answer the door. Just in case.” You say and Wade nods and moves to the safe room the three of you added to the apartment. Once you heard the lock click you went to answer the door and you were shocked at what you found behind it. “Y-You’re Tony Stark and you’re Captain America.”

“Hello, ma’am, we are looking for Peter Parker. We need his help.” Steve says politely.

“He’s not home. What do you need his help with?” You ask cautiously.

“He worked for the Daily Bugle, when he was in college right? Used to take those amazing pictures of Spider-Man?” Tony asks you.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t work there anymore.” You say.

“But, I bet he still knows how to get in touch with Spider-Man. Right?” Steve says.

“Why do you need to find Spider-Man?” You ask.

“We need to bring him and that Deadpool vigilante in to question. There have been some serious allegations made against them in the media.” Tony says.  Fuck, this isn’t good.

“Even if Peter knew how to contact Spider-Man, he wouldn’t tell you. Spider-Man and Deadpool are heroes.” You snap.

“Listen, it’s better if we do this quietly. Help us do that.” Steve pleads with you.

“No! Now please leave!” You snarl before slamming the door shut in their faces. “This is bad.” You whisper before walking to the back of the apartment to tell Wade what happened.

***

A week. That’s how long it takes the Avengers to attack. You had been walking home from work after staying late one night when you get a text from Peter. It said help and had a street name on it. You ran into an alleyway and changed into your suit, before booking it to the street Peter had texted you. When you get there you take in the scene. Your boys were doing their best, but they were completely outmatched. It was currently 5 against 2. Wade was fighting Thor, Cap and Iron Man. While Peter was fighting Black Widow and Hawkeye. You didn’t see the Hulk- Thank God.

“Hey!” You shout. “This doesn’t seem like a fair fight!”

“Hasn’t anyone ever told you life isn’t fair?” Clint snarls. “Who are you?”

“Nightshade. I’m their back up.” You say before hitting him over the head with one of your escrima sticks. Then you run over and engage Cap. You were able to get a hold of his shield and you flung it towards Peter, who caught it and used it to hit Black Widow in the face. You were fighting Cap and you were winning.  “I’m stronger than you.” You snarl.

“Maybe, but he’s not.” Steve says and before you can say anything you feel something connect with the side of your head and the world goes black.

***

You wake up confused. You were handcuffed to a hospital bed, but you weren’t in a hospital. You look to your right and you see Cap and Tony standing there.

“You’re good ya know. We thought Nightshade was made up.” Steve says and you just glare in response.

“This is when you tell us everything. Your buddies have already given you up, blamed everything on you. So you should take this opportunity to tell us your side.” Tony says.

“No they haven’t. They wouldn’t tell you anything.” You snort. “This is your pathetic attempt to get me to spill. It’s not going to work.”

“You seem pretty confident about that. Are you willing to risk your freedom on it?” Cap asks.

“Yes, I trust Pool and Spidey with my life. We’re not bad you know. We’re heroes. The Bugle just has it out for Spidey.”

“Yeah, okay.” Tony says as he rolls his eyes. “Deadpool aka Wade Wilson is a mercenary. He kills people for money. That doesn’t sound very hero like.”

“Everyone has a past, not all of them are nice and if I remember right, you have two ex-assassins on your team and you built weapon and sold them. Last I checked weapons kill people.” You snarl. “People can change.” Then you shut your eyes and lay back down, not wanting to talk anymore.

***

It takes the Avengers a week to realize the error of their ways. You had been moved to a cell on day two, the same cell you were currently being released from.

“Told you.” You say to Tony.

“Yeah, maybe we should have looked into it a little better.” Tony says.

“Were are they?” You ask.

“In the conference room.” Tony says as he leads you through the halls. He pauses at a door and you open it and you let out a sigh of relief.

“Baby Girl!” Wade says as he stands to hug you. You barrel into him, wrapping your legs around his waist, you pull him into a kiss.

“I missed you, both of you.” You murmur. “I-I was so worried.”

“You were worried?! You were the one who got knocked out by a magic hammer!” Peter says. You move out of Wades grasp and into Peters. You kiss him and then pull him into a tight hug.

“We thought you were dead.” Wade murmurs.

“You boys can’t get rid of me that easily.” You murmur and then you snuggle into Peter’s chest a little more as Pete and Wade share a quick kiss.

“Well, you three are just full of surprises. Aren’t ya?” Tony asks from the doorway.

“Yep, now if you’ll excuse us, we’re leaving.” Peter says as he grasps both yours and Wade’s hand.

“Actually we wanted to talk to the three of you about joining the Avengers.” Tony says.

“You kept us locked in cells for a week and now you want us to join you guys?” You ask.

“Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. But you guys should consider it. We have resources that you guys could only imagine.” Tony says.

“W-We’ll think about it and get back to you.” Peter says as he pulls you and Wade out of the room and then out of the building. You make your way back to your apartment in relative silence and then the three of you climb into bed, tangling your limbs together.

“I think we should do it.” You murmur.

“Shh, we’ll talk about it when we wake up, Baby Girl.” Wade murmurs. You nod silently and then drift off into the deepest sleep you’ve had in a week. 

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[anythingstephenking]

Tabitha’s Story

Lisey’s Story is decidedly King’s most intimate novel to date. Dedicated to Tabitha, it reads like an inside look at their courtship and marriage, with magic and parallel universes thrown in, because why not? It doesn’t take a mathematician to put two and two together on this book.

The basic facts are this: Lisey’s husband Scott is an author (obviously). They live in Maine (double doy). And Scott has died an untimely death. King’s obviously still playing the “what if I had died” game with himself following the car accident, and for better or worse, we get the frustrating and beautiful Lisey’s Story out of it.

I adored King’s painting of ficto-tabitha as a pretty tough gal who harbors some serious sentiment about her husband’s death, but can still clean a dead cat out of her mailbox without crying and calling a man for help. Seriously, could you clean a dead cat out of your mailbox? I sure couldn’t. I can’t even kill the spider that lives in my bedroom. I assume it will die one night when it crawls into my open mouth while I sleep. This is gross, but true.

The moral of the story is that Lisey really knows how to take care of business, and boy does she have some business to take care of. Like so many other King novels, Lisey’s set to take on some real world baddies (in the form of a thug trying to kill and/or rape her) as well as some other world baddies, in the form of a parallel universe her husband could travel to. We’re back and forth (literally and figuratively) over the course of the novel, revealing repressed memories and current events side by side in a way that narratively makes sense, sometimes?

The overall narrative was really my only gripe with this book. The first 250 pages or so read like an inside joke that you don’t get.

Everything comes together eventually and becomes a captivating race against the clock to save Lisey, her sister Amanda and Scott’s legacy, but it takes a looooooooong time to get there. After 250ish pages I couldn’t put this guy down, but who wants to spend 250 pages saying “huh?” to themselves? I guess me because I put my head down and plowed through.

This book redeemed King’s stretch of “women treated badly years”, at least in my eyes. We get a cohesive, strong female lead (although one could argue it’s as much Scott’s story as Lisey’s, and they wouldn’t be wrong), but we also get a husband that loves, adores and respects his wife. After so many men that knocked their ladies around, it was refreshing to see a healthy-ish marriage, and even more refreshing to know that at least some part of Lisey and Scott’s story is based on King and Tabitha’s own lives. Tabitha King is a national fucking treasure, and we all must love and respect her.

Side note for a personal reflection - this book opens with lyrics from Ryan Adam’s When the Stars Go Blue. Ryan Adams burrowed his way into my heart 15 years ago, and was stuck there until last February when allegations unsurfaced that he was, indeed, a terrible human who belongs in a trash can. At the height of the #MeToo movement, feeling raw and vulnerable, processing my own past experiences, I threw my posters, albums and photos from his shows into the trash and was DONE. The day before I opened Lisey’s Story, almost a full year following the allegations, I was on my way home from a Target Run(tm), and just. started. sobbing. I couldn’t explain it. It came out of nowhere. So I pulled over, put on Jacksonville Skyline, and sat in my car and cried till I was done. It was cathartic and I felt better, but I really miss him. How can we ever come to terms with loving the art when the artist is a scumbag? I haven’t returned to him since that moment in the car, but seeing his name as I opened Lisey’s Story hit me like a bus. I have no conclusions, only more questions, but not even tangentially related to King so I’ll stop here).

A shorter than usual recap. Given the novel’s deeply personal nature, I feel yucky picking it apart any more than I have already. So ta ta.

7/10

First Line: To the public eye, the spouses of well-known writers are all but invisible, and no one knew it better than Lisey Landon.

Last Line: Then it was silent.

Adaptations:

Currently in development with Apple+ with Julianne Moore and Clive Owen in the titular roles. Baby Jesus, how many more streaming services am I going to have to pay for? I’my going to have to sign up for CBS All Access once The Stand hits.

Also currently bummed I can’t yet watch The Outsider on HBO. Too many books to read.

[xxlovendreamsxx]

can you do 33. celebrity/fan for Sasusaku with Sakura being a celebrity? :)

33 - celebrity/fan au

.

.

His devotion to her work is a silent thing, really. He’s never bought tickets to her concerts, or purchased any of her albums on itunes; never even told anyone of his interest in her music, or much less that she has become somewhat of his muse. And yet, still, Sasuke keeps track of her every content with near religious loyalty, storing every picture of her performances, events and tour dates away on an inconspicuous folder on his laptop, her stack of albums neatly tucked away in his nightstand alongside his vintage walkman cd-player. 

But if he is honest with himself, Sasuke prefers it that way, anyway. Sakura Haruno is, after all, not the type of artist most would think him to be into; generally (stupidly, he corrects), he tends to be associated with the louder, grungier bands—those of which coincidentally (not) always seem to comprise an abundance of headbanging. 

(it is almost comical considering his aspirations consist of nothing but to become an acoustic musician just like her.)

She is his inspiration, his absolute greatest influential figure, a paragon of true kindness and passion—and on the nights he works on his own pieces, he can never help himself from wishing he may one day meet her; from hoping he might someday bask in her bright, warm presence. 

(a funny thought to have, he realizes later, because really, what did he know about the famous twenty year old? maybe she isn’t even like that. maybe it’s all just an act.

but sasuke never accepts this.)

“Woah! Awesome! Sasuke-teme, isn’t that Sakura Haruno? The one whose songs have just been selling completely off the charts this past year? Damn, she’s a knockout! Never knew Konoha Cafe had enough money to get her to perform here.”

But the idiot’s words barely register to him; instead, Sasuke can only ask himself, What is she doing here? Isn’t she supposed to be taking some time off due to a family emergency? That’s what she’d said five weeks ago. And how long has she been in Konoha?

A hard nudge reels him back from his thoughts, and when he looks at the man in front of him, Sasuke finds him grinning. That makes him scowl.

“What?”

“What what?”

“What the hell are you smiling about?”

“Oh, nothing. Absolutely nothing.” 

But the grin remains, and Sasuke’s eyes narrow.

“I wasn’t staring at her if that’s what you think,” he says, because the last thing he wants is for Naruto to badger him for crushing on a girl. 

(which he is not. admiration and high regard are far different from a petty crush, he thinks.)

His best friend casually waves him away at that. “Right, of course not,” he replies, reaching for his drink. “You were probably just staring at that guitar of hers, right? Gauging the quality and whatever.”

“Exactly,” Sasuke says, feeling some relief for an easy out.

But he soon finds out what a terrible mistake he’s made as Naruto snorts a laugh. “Ha! Got you, bastard! She hasn’t even taken it out of her case yet!”

A deep, red flush taking over his face, Sasuke finds himself instinctively kicking his best friend’s shins. And when Naruto laughs again, he thinks to himself that this will only end up being a very, very long night.

.

.

He manages to escape to the balcony after the concert is over, much to his relief. Ever since his apparent discovery a few hours past, Naruto had been relentless with his questions and teasing remarks about his alleged celebrity crush. It had only gotten worse as the pretty little musician finalized her performance, with the former pushing him to stand up and urge her for a picture and an autograph; nudging his shoulder relentlessly as he teased and joked about the need to make a declaration of love to this famous musician. Flustered, and more than a little annoyed, Sasuke had sought an out from the mess of it all.

(but, he thinks, the most disappointing part of it all is that he would have likely gone to congratulate her, had it not been for naruto’s exasperating remarks. he likes to believe he would have, anyway.)

But the world must have taken pity on him, as it turns out, because the next thing he knows, Sakura Haruno is walking through the sliding doors with her guitar case in hand, pretty green eyes slightly wide but cheeks flushed with obvious delight.

(possibly from being overwhelmed by her fans, he muses distractedly.)

There is a moment of evident surprise as she notices him there. “Oh! I’m sorry,” she says, “I had no idea anyone else was out here.”

But for the second time that night, Sasuke hardly hears the words spoken to him. He is frozen, his barely-smoked cigarette sitting at his mouth, dark eyes wide and disbelieving. He is, quite simply said, stunned.

It’s only when she begins to look slightly thrown off that he seems to snap out of his daze. 

“It’s… fine,” he manages to say, inwardly cursing himself for the awkwardness of his tone. Any more of that would probably make her feel uncomfortable.

“Thanks,” she says, and beams politely at him. His heart all but skips a beat.

Silently, he turns back to the railing and watches from the corner of his eye as she makes her way to a place a few spaces beside him, keeping a respectful (and safe) distance. He takes an almost too-eager puff and shakily exhales from his nose, stealing glances at the woman he still can’t believe is really standing beside him.

She startles him once again as she eventually breaks the silence. “Smoking is bad for you, you know,” she remarks, sounding quite chipper and sweet, like a friend offering thoughtful advice. “Especially for your voice—you’re a musician, right?” 

Dumbly, he nods. How did she know that?

“Thought so.“ She smiles again, in that way that makes his heart flutter and his chest warm. He can only hope he’s not blushing. “I’ve got those same callouses.”

Ah, of course, he thinks, and nearly smiles. 

But then, she says, “Plus, they give terrible breath… and no one likes to kiss a smoker.”

She winks, here, and Sasuke knows then that he is definitely blushing. 

(Is she flirting? She couldn’t possibly, he fleetingly thinks to himself. Why would she flirt with a nobody like him?)

“It’s… a bad habit.”

Sakura hums, and leans her arms against the railing. “Peer pressure?”

The memory of a haunting phone call flutters through his mind. Swallowing, Sasuke takes his cigarette out of his mouth and exhales another puff, eyes closing as he rubs the bridge of his nose in an obvious attempt to force the memory away. “Stress,” he eventually replies, quieter. “When my parents died, it was either that or alcohol.” He shrugs. “Smoking seemed like the better choice.”

Sakura’s mouth parts at this. “I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have asked.”

He simply shrugs again, and takes another drag. “You couldn’t have known.”

A silence takes place between them.

“You know… it’s nice to kind of just spend time with a stranger who doesn’t try to make it a big deal that they’re in my presence,” she says after a while, lovely green eyes staring up at the sky. Then, she turns to him, and smiles kindly. “I know that you know who I am.”

He swallows again, but nods to this, because there’s no use in trying to pretend otherwise. And when she smiles wider, he finds himself swept off with a pounding heart, stomach flipping pleasantly; his mind suddenly struck with the epiphany that he hasn’t been wrong at all in his presumption to what she was like. 

She’s even more amazing. 

(this complete wonderment, he supposes later, is likely what had brought him to splutter without much grace:)

“I watch you.”

The mood shifts instinctively: warmth and tranquility quickly giving way to crisp unease—and it isn’t long until she looks downright frightened of him.

Sasuke panics, and nearly chokes on the smoke he accidentally inhales.

“Um—”

“I meant—your performances,” he rushes to explain, face flushing entirely once more. “I’ve watched them on YouTube a few times and—you’re really good. You—you really know how to work your crowd.” Gods, he sounds like a mess, he thinks. He reaches to rub his free hand at the back of his burning neck, trying to regain some composure. “And you… you love what you do.”

Much to his luck, Sasuke’s nervous outburst does more than calm her own anxieties—Sakura seems charmed.

“You’re serious about this aren’t you?” she asked him after a long moment, eyes crinkling softly. “About becoming a musician. This is really what you want to do with your life.”

The surprise must be evident on his features then, because she gives the softest little laugh and says, “I can hear it in the way you talk about it. Performing. I use to talk like that, too—still do, really.”

It feels surreal, in the moment, to have such a talented artist relate to him. The thought makes him speechless.

Sakura snaps him out of his muted trance by asking, “How old are you, stranger?”

It takes Sasuke a few blinks to reply. “Eighteen,” he says. He pauses. “And my name is Sasuke,” he decides to add, because he’s not sure he really likes her calling him stranger.

She smiles beautifully at this, eyes crinkling. “Eighteen, huh? Same age I was when I started out. Now, Sasuke-kun…” The suffix makes his heart skip a beat, sends his neck warming again—but the sensations only worsen when Sakura reaches for her guitar case and pulls out her undoubtedly expensive 1936 Martin D-45, extending it to him. “Play me something?”

He wonders if there are any songs he could play Sakura that wouldn’t immediately have her recognize they were about her.

.

.

.

(by the end, her cheeks are flushed, pretty green eyes wide—and that smile, oh, it makes him feel so shy, so flustered. he can’t help but to look away, to run his hand through his hair restlessly. he itches for a cigarette to calm his nerves.

“wow. you really are quite something, aren’t you?” she says.

there is a promise behind her words that makes his heart pound.)

[anexplanationofunfortunateevents]

election hacks were more extensive than previously reported

I’m trying to stay away from overused words like “bombshell.” So I’ll say, Monday night’s news was a story that you really do need to know. An NSA whistleblower leaked a top secret document which concluded that the Russian military, less than a week before the 2016 election, made numerous attacks on the election system itself. Basically, it looks like they were trying to get at the voter rolls, through an attack on a voting software company used by numerous states and on local election officials. Soon after the story dropped, the whistleblower was arrested for releasing a classified document - which means the government admits that this is an authentic classified document. (And yes, her name really is Reality Winner.)

This is a scenario which was widely suspected by those of us who were following the story, but which was largely downplayed or ignored by the most influential reporters and (at least in public) politicians. Up until now, the story has been that the attack on the election was limited to the disinformation campaign. Here’s the Intercept’s nutshell on what we do and don’t know about the information leaked:

Text:

NSA REPORT DETAILS RUSSIAN HACKING EFFORT DAYS BEFORE ELECTION

What we know:

1. The NSA believes Russian hackers breached at least one e-voting vendor. 2. The NSA believes these hackers tried to infect American local government officials with computer-hijacking malware. 3. The NSA believes the hackers are part of a special team within Russian military intelligence focused on American and other foreign elections.

What we don’t know:

1. There’s no indication that the cyberattacks had any effect on the outcome of the election. 2. The NSA isn’t sure if any officials at the local level were infected with the Russian malware. 3. It’s unclear why the hackers targeted email accounts associated with the American Samoa absentee ballot system.

Again, we don’t know if this particular attack accomplished anything. The fact that attacks like this were being made as late as November is huge.

The report is confident the Russian military (GRU) was directly responsible. That’s different than the email hacks, which were still directed by the Kremlin, but done by cutout groups with cutesy names like “Cozy Bear.”*

This is a report about one line of attack, on one company and then on employees of that company’s client states. It’s not the only one that happened. Senator Mark Warner, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Community, says that there were more attacks like it that the public doesn’t know about. 

Even if it was the only one, that would still be deadly serious. The software company supports elections in eight states. If Florida and North Carolina – both of which are served by the company targeted, both of which were close the whole way through – had gone the other way, that would’ve put Clinton over the top. Several counties in Florida confirmed these attempts were made on their systems. (What, you thought Florida wasn't patient zero for electoral bullshit? Just as a general rule, Florida is why we can’t have nice things.) Even assuming this particular attack didn't get any further than the report says, this needs to be a wake-up call.

It’s hard to know exactly what to make of this story. It may feel intuitively that something would have forced us all to notice if enough voters had been thrown off the rolls to make a difference. At least, that’s how it seems to feel to the affluent white men who tend to control the conversation. In fact, we have had elections where that’s exactly what happened to thousands of people of color. Republicans do not want us to investigate this theory of Russian election tampering, because if we do, then Republicans might not be able to tamper with elections like this anymore.

To be clear: wild shit does happen. Sometimes you really do draw what seems to be an impossibly good hand. It is entirely possible for the national polls to have been on target while the polling in critical states was off just enough to tip the state to Trump by a fraction of a percent. There are perfectly reasonable explanations for the nearly unprecedented (arguably entirely unprecedented, depending on what you make of the shenanigans of 1876) split between the popular vote and the electoral college. Neither of those things are particularly likely, but it was always possible for them to occur, separately or together. If everything before and since Election Day played out like the more or less normal elections of, say, 2004 or 2012, sheer chance would be the best explanation.

However. When you know that someone with the necessary competence and resources has made an extensive effort toward and stands to benefit from an unusual event, and then the unusual event happens, it’s hard to say that sheer chance is the most plausible explanation. If somebody just in Atlantic City for the weekend gets dealt a royal flush, good for them. If somebody who’s already been banned from the casino for cheating but gets in under the cover of his very successful magic act gets dealt a royal flush, questions are entirely appropriate.

“You hear that? He ran into her knife ten times! Nothing to see here, I guess.” - no one.

I'm not jumping to conclusions about how far this all went, and neither should you. God knows we spent most of last year dealing with baseless assertions about "rigged" elections. (Almost as if there was a propaganda campaign which trapped a candidate in a rhetorical no-win situation and desensitized the public to serious allegations - oh, wait, there was.) I'm saying you need to brace yourself, because you might need to believe some things that seem too big and too scary to be true. We're at this point in part because too many people said "psht, that would never really happen" about things that were happening right in front of their faces. We don't know how far this went. We do need to accept the possibility that it could have gone really fucking far.

Further reading:

The original report is pretty technical and dense. Somewhat less technical summaries: Boing Boing, Newsweek, the Guardian. 

What you can do:

Whether or not this particular hack was successful, you can be sure that the voter rolls were purged and will be purged again, because the GOP doesn't have to hack anyone to do it. That means you have to vote for candidates who promise to protect voter rights, ESPECIALLY for state and local offices, where these policies are usually set. You can also help out with voter registration drives in your community. Help out at a voter registration drive with organizations like Rock the Vote and Swing Left. Start just reminding people once in a while to register now, so we don't have to scramble six weeks before the next election.

PAY ATTENTION

*Clarification, 11/16/17: It is true that the FSB carried out the thefts and release of emails and they did not carry out the attack detailed here. This was executed by the GRU (Russian military intelligence), which also has a cutesy nickname of its own (Fancy Bear). Those whimsical designations came from the cyber security company which found the viruses and do not necessarily signify that the hackers were cutout groups. This isn’t directly relevant to the details of this report, but it’s good to be as clear as we can.

[eternaleve]

I was away in Northumberland so this episode was also delayed. I’ll try to be more diligent in the future, but each of these posts does take a fair few hours of my time. Stupid garbage series.

‘Message to the Emperor’ William Compton dies of the “sweating sickness” at Compton Wynates, his house in Warwickshire. As King Henry VIII receives positive news of his war against Emperor Charles, the sickness spreads like a wildfire. Henry flees the palace and London, and starts having doubts about the future and his ability to rule the country. Both Anne Boleyn and Cardinal Wolsey are stricken with the disease, but recover. Wolsey sends agents to the exiled Pope asking for him to make a favorable decision on Henry’s ‘Great Matter’ but Clement instead sends his legate, Cardinal Campeggio, to make a final decision in England.

Sickness! Everyone is scared and dying! Plague imagery!

Straight Out of Warwickshire

This episode is focusing mainly on the 1528 outbreak of the Sweating Sickness. This is an unusual illness in that it occurred mainly in England from 1485 to 1551 and then vanished. No one is quite sure what it was (although there are researchers who think that it may be an unknown species of hantavirus) but it was pretty serious as sufferers did not gain immunity – you could catch it again and again until you sweated yourself to death. It was not a pleasant illness.

Anyway, William Compton is being punished for the GAY by being the first to catch the disease. In the middle of rural Warwickshire. Even though epicentres for outbreaks for the Sweat were in busy city centres.

Yeah, disease works that way.

The doctor cuts open William Compton’s back in a display of ‘Wow, medicine was so backwards and disgusting five hundred years ago! It was so stupid and people were so stupid because they believed in the theory of the four humours!’. Well, to that I say, you’re stupid actually. Medicine and doctors did not aim to cure sickness in the sixteenth century. That’s a modern perspective. A doctor is there to make a patient feel better – but the ultimate cure is dependant on the will of God. A Tudor doctor will make you feel better and comfortable, but if you’re trying to get him to prepare an actual cure to combat disease, you’re not asking the right guy.

Not surprisingly, seeing as he died in real life, Compton cops it. This random woman is his ‘common-law wife’ Mary Hastings.

That would actually be his second wife, Elizabeth Stonor, who was pregnant at the time of Compton’s death. He had been married before to Werburga Bereton and had three children. I guess they’re cutting out Peter Compton – his son – out of this to avoid pissing off the real Compton family.

William Compton’s family does still exist, by the way. They’re the Marquesses of Northampton, and they still live in the same home used by William Compton.

But Thomas Tallis has come to see what has happened to his lover. He passes by this ALREADY EXISTING MASS GRAVE BECAUSE LOOK IT’S ALREADY FULL OF SKELETONS –

And William’s body has just been thrown into a quick grave. Even though it wasn’t, and he was buried in the chapel. Which you can still go see.

Our romantic subplot never went anywhere yet the audience needs some kind of emotion…

ROCKE ANYDE ROLLE

Thomas is sad for about ten seconds while he writes a sad song for this lost beloved. Then he sleeps with one of the Fucking Sisters.

So much for the gay agenda, I suppose.

But she dies, so I guess that this epidemic is purely spread by Thomas Tallis sleeping with people. Either way, this whole subplot was meant to have some sort of emotional resonance but it merely annoys me for being needlessly designed to promote controversy and ‘naughtiness’.

I’m Henry VIII and I’m Mortally Terrified of Death

Henry doesn’t take news of this epidemic very well. That’s very much based on real life, as the real Henners was terrified of disease and illness. His brother had died young, and with Henry having no real male heirs, there was a high chance that the Tudor dynasty would come to a complete end or would result in another highly devastating English civil war.

A lot of Henry’s actions make much more sense when you realise he was on a constant knife edge of fear pretty much all the time.

Do you guys wanna buy some drugs?

Henry did really create and mix his own herbal remedies for conditions and to ward off illness. I have no idea whether they were effective or not (I’m saying probably not) but he didn’t die of the Sweat, so kudos.

Henry and Anne decide to frolic in the countryside with the new French ambassador, only to come back to London to find a rampaging zombie mob of sick people. Henry leaves Anne to the mob (what a guy) to make her own way home, orders Katherine to travel to Wales, and that he will stay in Whitehall by himself for… reasons.

In actuality, Henry left London. Like he did every summer, because he wasn’t stupid and knew that disease spreads in city centres and that it was most prevalent in the summer months. He may not have known about viruses and bacterium but IRL Henry knew enough to realise that staying in London in the middle of a really serious disease outbreak is just the worst thing you could do.

The pain on Maria Doyle Kennedy’s face as Henry says he still loves her enough to save her and offers her a kiss is both beautiful and heart-breaking. Stop searching for emotional moments with ridiculous subplots, writers. This should be the emotional heart of the show.

Anne’s maid, however, catches and dies of the Sweat within a day and Anne catches the disease while nursing her. It’s said that’s how she actually got the Sweat, and it would make sense. The modern world’s view of the employer/servant dynamic is very much shaped by the Victorian ideals, with master being far, far, far above the lowly servant. It was different in the sixteenth century, with the boundaries being far more blurred and not as distant. Your servant was a reflection and part of you, in a way, and not subject to the whole ‘must be invisible and never seen around the house’. Servants were an integral part of the household, and in a society that did not hold individualisation as the philosophical ideal, it was pretty likely you’d be close with your personal servants. Most would even sleep in the same room as you, on a trunkle bed from beneath your own. They would be there to serve you and your body for nearly all of the day, and so, it makes sense why Anne should care so much for someone who should matter not at all to her personally.

There’s a lot of changes to our society that the Enlightenment made and we presume that they apply to all of history. How we treat those in service is one.

Henry sits down and eats a whole plate of salmon to himself, because he’s a big fat pig who can’t control himself. Or some other such clever observation. But it turns out that being on your own in a palace full of sick people is scary…

If… only I’d had time… to be more evil…

Even Cardinal Wolsey is sick so Henry must escape!

Are you in Northumberland? How the fuck did you get there?

Oh my god, I’m an orc!

Henry freaks out because he’s convinced he’s going to die, but he’s fine.

Anne gets better (although her brother-in-law, Mary’s husband, died in the outbreak, as well as countless others, including the wife and daughters of Thomas Cromwell), so it’s all fine.

Squishy, reunited true love.

This Isn’t a Great Matter, It’s Merely an Okay One

Despite all of this, Henry’s quest for an annulment continues on. England and France are now allied against the Emperor, all that war stuff behind them.

Henry’s annoyed that the Emperor hasn’t impregnated his underage daughter, but Wolsey is sending lawyers to the Pope that will smooth all this matter over shortly. After all, why should the Pope, a virtual prisoner to the Emperor, support the Emperor?

I have no idea.

Wolsey is a FUGLY BIATCH.

Katherine, meanwhile, has been communicating secretly with the Emperor and is assured that he won’t let the annulment happen.

In all honesty, the only real reason (in my opinion) why the annulment couldn’t happen is that of the influence of the Emperor Charles. There have been other kings who have received annulments in far worse circumstances – for instance, Louis XII of France annulled his marriage to his wife Joan in far seamier circumstances, alleging that her body was deformed and it was impossible to have sex with her. The timing of Henry’s annulment just sucked. If only he’d tried earlier, I’m fairly sure that the Pope would have granted it.

The Pope (Clement VII, to be clear, as his name is never actually said in show thus far) is not particularly warm to Henry’s case. He doesn’t think that Henry’s drive to marry Anne is a particularly good reason – and he’s not exactly in a position to piss off the Holy Roman Emperor. So he’s sending a Cardinal to hold a court with Wolsey to decide on the marriage.

I kind of low-key love Cardinal Campeggio. He is the definition of ‘over it’. He doesn’t want to go to England, he doesn’t want to be involved, he wants none of it. It’s going to go well, you can tell.

You Simply Must – Oh Holy God, Thomas

Thomas More gets pretty creepy in this episode. Firstly, he starts to act like an apocalypse cult leader towards his family when the Sweat is rampaging around London.

He then starts talking about the real disease that’s killing people. Do you know what the real disease is, family? Protestantism.

Thomas, people are dying.

  Thomas is against violence, but the only way to cure a disease is to kill all those with criticisms of the Catholic Church by burning them alive.

Thomas, you’ve got some issues.

Walk, Walk, Passion, Baby, Work It, Move that Bitch Crazy

Ugh.

That’s Da Vinci’s La Belle Ferronière. It’s from the 1490s. I am fed up of these shitty cheap pseduo-medieval gowns that have nothing to do with the 1520s but look like continental gowns from thirty years before. It shouldn’t be difficult to get it right! It would surely take more effort to get these specifically continental designs of medieval outfit than just asking for Tudor gowns from costumiers!

This! This is what your ladies need to be wearing! There’s such a huge difference and it makes me very angry and frustrated. The shapes, styles, fabrics, weights, and flow of fabric are so completely different!

And the characters don’t wear enough jewellery. There should be more jewellery.

Is that… is that an over-gown with padded shoulders? In the heraldic Tudor colours? I’m shocked. It’s almost great, apart from the long trousers.

Thomas More wants to burn people alive because you’re all dressed so badly.

This is actually Thomas More with his family. Who are dressed correctly and not in a cheap approximation of ‘YE OLDE ENGLANDE’.

An eighteenth century shawl on a cheap Primark medieval wench dress. Poor.

Okay, for a start, this lady is wearing a corset on the outside. Uh uh. But you know what I want to wear when I’m someone who spends my time cleaning and picking up after people? Flimsy, transparent, white sleeves that will instantly get dirty, damaged, and ruined when I do the slightest amount of work.

YAS Thomas Boleyn, YAS. Good outfit! And something halfway decent for Anne, for once.

No one cares about your cleavage, Henners, And don’t wear your leather jacket to the table.

Monogrammed royal boxer shorts. Uh, nope. Put on a nightshirt, love, no one wants to see that.

And that’s the end of the sweating sickness. Do you feel good that you survived? Come back next time for more bad history, questionable writing, and terrible clothes.

Unpicking the Tudors; S1 E7 I was away in Northumberland so this episode was also delayed. I'll try to be more diligent in the future, but each of these posts does take a fair few hours of my time.

[namjoonchronicles]

Lost It To Trying #7 - [EXO] CEO!Jongin Au

[A/N] GDI. Can’t put gif cuz it keeps crashing..

Despite Chanyeol's protests, Jongin insisted to see the perpetrator's face. Chanyeol placed the petite women boring black fitted leather skin tight onesie, into the back of the police car. Not only that, he insisted that he'd be driving the car alone, without companion. Jongin slamming on the windows at Chanyeol's side, demanding that his requests be heard. "Why did you slide her mask up again?! Why!" Jongin angrily busted the glass window but being bulletproof, didn't scratch it one bit. The other officers blindly obeyed Chanyeol's orders and Chanyeol drove out the mansion to the station in the car alone with the perpetrator.

"I'm sorry I touched your um. Precious." He said, awkwardly and he could see the masked women looking out the jarred window with her hands cuffed behind her. "It was an accident. Please don't sue me." He added, glancing to the rear view mirror in a timely manner. Tackling her down was easy. At one point, the suited criminal's eyes shot back to Chanyeol's and it was then, while Chanyeol was driving, that she poke her legs through the bars and turned the rear-view mirror to face away from her, with her toes. Chanyeol cleared his throat and fixed them just nice so that she won't be seen. She doesn't like to bee seen, it seems. "It's a very amateur work." Chanyeol commented, but she remained silent with her masked still firm on her face. The only thing that's visible was her eyes and her long lashes and the tip of her nose.

Even her hair is tied in a bun. She wore a ski mask. A few hair stuck out the sides due to the previous tackling done by Jongin but she doesn't say a word. And soon they arrived. They placed her straight to the interrogating room, with her cuffs, cuffed to her front instead of her back. But immediately retracted the idea when one female officer came and she almost strangled her to death, asking for water. They cuffed her to the table, and strapped her legs. There's water, in a paper cup, but she can't reach it, so Chanyeol walked in, pushed them to her, but with her mask still on, and the paper cup still too out of reach, she looks up at Chanyeol with begging eyes. The radio buzzed, "He's here."

Chanyeol stuck his gaze on her. When he made sure that who ever 'was here' is watching, he turns to the masked girl. "How are you going to drink with that mask still on." He taunted. He took off those hideous ski mask and her hair drapes down her bosom and extended almost to her hips but stops at her navel. Her hair was chestnut brown, and her lips were red. She had a beauty mark just underneath her lips, and she had her gaze down on the table where the paper cup was. Chanyeol looked at the two-way mirror at where he guess Jongin stood and told him to come in. "Why are you doing this to me." Chanyeol leans over her. "You know exactly why," you challenged him. And that's when Jongin walked in. There's no other officers on site, on Jongin's request, but that demands came from Chanyeol actually.

When Chanyeol tried to pull the mask down during the flickering lights and hand to hand battle, he finds the hand movements predictable and with one flash of light when he managed to pull down that mask, he saw that beauty mark and his world collapse.

"I taught you how to fight like that. How could you use it over me." Chanyeol thought.

Jongin was calmer than you anticipated so you bravely gaze up to his stern expression and sad pair of eyes, eliciting with your own mysterious but sexy allure. "...You should have expected this. You let your guards down when you're upset, that's cute." A playful smile on your lips at Jongin. "Why are you not angry, Kim Jongin baby...?" You ran your tongue purposely slow, over your lips, seducing him. "...I didn't tell you I was engaged, stole your damn car, broke into your house, how are you not angry..." You sang, tipping your head to the side. "...There's a reason to everything." Jongin muttered. You scoffed. "Chanyeol. Cancel the wedding. Ain't no parent's want a criminal as a daughter in law. We're no longer engaged."

Chanyeol obtained a message from his father saying that his bank account had received 93,736 AUD from an unknown and he looked at you then to Jongin. "You sold the necklace?!" He roared. "How else am I going to payback the tuition fees without it! Marry you? Over my dead body, Chanyeol, you disgust me. Your incapability to voice your thoughts to your parent's rendered me speechless, and with my father tendency to sell his daughter in the name of education, had me cornered into the person I am today," you turned Jongin with a cunning smile, "And you thought I was nice when I'm only interested to inspect your wealth. And I didn't stole the necklace, Chanyeol," you rolled your eyes, "...I put them back where it belongs."

You glared at Jongin, "...My mother."

"To you, maybe it was just a pretty, antique, hand crafted necklace with a drop of genuine pearl and actual moonstone, but it belonged to my mother's mother, and we had it long before you were born. It not just a necklace, Jongin. It was an heirloom and it was a key. To the wealth we hid from my outrageous gambling father." You continued to tell them. "Your father looked very hard for you!" For the first time, Jongin raised his voice and he shakened Chanyeol at it too. Unintentionally of course.

"That's only because he owes the police station money." Your held your head to far back to show feigned frustrations. "You stole it. I was just taking it back. So if you don't want me to tell the world what you've done, you will release me with no charges, and with that I'll disappear from your pity and pathetic life." You add a smile at the end. Chanyeol walked out the interrogation room after Jongin. His expression was relaxed until he saw Jongin's perplexed face. "Hansul Development project," Jongin suddenly said. "I put one of my sister's boyfriend on the job, and they've taken things from the locals, no--stole, to blackmail the families that refused to move in order to make the development project possible. I didn't know they went to that extend. I should have trusted my guts when I think that's something's wrong. Release her."

"You're not making any sense!" Chanyeol hissed.

"Hansul! Hansul Project, Chanyeol! The high rise luxury penthouse in place of a low cost residences! I knew it! Everyone from that area was moved to the placement, it was close to slumdog living area, where I saw her father distributing fliers of her missing. I understand why she had so much vengeance. I won't put charges on her, release her, and set her free." Jongin looks at Chanyeol dead in the eye. "And between us two, she's mine."

Chanyeol contorted his face into extreme disagreement. "...She may call off the engagement, but she's mine first."

"Are you serious? She came to break into my house, she wants me." Jongin walks backwards. Chanyeol frowned to Jongin. "Wait, so the necklace is back to her family? How did it got out if she broke in and never got out? Is there an alliance?"

Chanyeol walks back in, "Why did the alarm go off and the system lockdown. Because of the stone thrown at the window, who threw the stone and took the necklace from you? It has to be someone you trust, immensely." Chanyeol walked in, babbling and when he looks at you, you were extending your chin as far as it could go, trying to drink from the paper cup and by Chanyeol's observations, it will never reach your lips at that distant. So he sat on the steel table, pick up the paper cup and placed them to your lips. He watches as you gulped thirstily down the liquid, tilting your head back. Some of it escaped your mouth and spill out your lips, till it trickled down your chin, dripping on your lap. "Some more?" He asked. You shook your head, panting, "No, I'm good."

The metal cuffs clinked together as you tried scratch the itch down on your spine, with much difficulty. And sniffs, unapologetic-ally. "Why did it came to this extend?" Chanyeol crossed his arms, peering down at you. "Revenge is a very important thing to me." You shrugged.

"To exposing lies about your dad?" "I wasn't lying, I was fabricating the truth." "Same thing, marry his daughter off to a penniless cop?" "You aren't penniless, your mother is actually pretty wealthy." You averted your eyes to the side. "You did a background research on me?!" Chanyeol raised his voice at you but you were unaffected. In fact, you're very emotionless.

"I had to. I need to know whom I could trust." You darted. "You're misusing your power." Chanyeol said.

You gave out a bitter chuckle to Chanyeol. "What power, Chanyeol? I am nameless and in stealth mode, I've loved only one guy in my life and that too I had to lose through this shenanigan, all the fact because no agents are to be involved in an intimate relationship." You recited the rules like how your director would say it. After a quick silence, you asked, "There is no charges against me, is there?"

Chanyeol took your file and answered while he walks out, "Nope, but you're spending the night in jail, just because." You smacked your lips at the failed attempt to persuade Chanyeol to let you leave tonight. You did felt slightly sorry to Jongin. It wasn't even his fault. His sister's alleged boyfriend is one of your own as well, and your director, seeing you being intimate with Jongin during your stake out to over watch Jongin's movements at the coffee shop, tries to cut off your connections, but you were stubborn. And was persistent, so it made the director to orchestrate a winding long scheme to get you to hate Jongin.

But you being in the industry for awhile, knows it all too well. So you hinted Chanyeol but told him nothing more than to construct the plan for Chanyeol to lead the 'robbery' case but never told him whose.

The necklace was true, it was an heirloom, and no one else knew about it but you and your agency. It was a classic throw-over. But Chanyeol's family did want you as their daughter in law because they helped pay the tuition, but halfway through you were cast into the intelligence agency and was put on scholarship. But they shouldn't know that, so the deal was that when you graduate, you will marry Chanyeol. But that's not the kind of life you had in mind. What you're really investigating is the sudden up rise in this under 25 billionaire, and how he got here. You found nothing sketchy, but his underlings proved to be nothing squeaky clean like their boss were.

Six years ago, there's a murder that took place in that building Jongin owns now. And because so few people knew about it, there's a covert team that investigates all these years, and one of the members is you. Since it's privately owned, the only way in to befriend the CEO. But can he trust you now, knowing that you broke into his house?