#round 2 - 2031

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

Paws for Applause - Chapter Two 'Basenji'

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> James "Bucky" Barnes x Original Nonbinary Character (Soldierbug)

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑�� -> Mars and Bucky go on a road trip, and Bucky makes a new friend.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 4555

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (T) Panic attacks, nightmares, PTSD.

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here! Dividers by us! Cards at the end <3

<- Chapter One Chapter Three ->

Prompts used;

– “I’m Telling You, I’m Haunted.” – @anyfandomgoesbingo; - ‘Popsicle’ – @buckybarnesbingo – B049; - ‘Rain on the Roof of this Empty House’ – Bug’s First Bingo; - ‘Sticky Notes’ – @eclipsingbingo (Dark); - ‘Post-it Notes’, ‘Stream of Consciousness’ – Gen Prompt Bingo; - ‘Refusing Help’ – @hurtcomfort-bingo – C042; - ‘Real Men Hate Affection’ – @multifandom-flash (International Day of Families);

- ‘A Day off or Procrastination’ – @julybreakbingo (Mini); - ‘Watermelon’ – July Break Bingo (Summer); - ‘Always Tired or Way Too Energized’ – July Break Bingo (5x5); - ‘Cheer’ – July Break Bingo (6x6); - ‘Mild’ – July Break Bingo (7x7); - ‘Poinsettia’ – @seasonaldelightsbingo (Language of Flowers); - ‘Humiliation’ – @lgbtqbingo;

- ‘You Are Better Than You Think You Are’ – Multifandom-Flash (Compliment); - ‘Sorry I’m Late’ – Multifandom-Flash (Global Forgiveness Day & Apologies); - ‘Purple Prose’ – Multifandom-Flash (National Writing Day – Troping in the Literary Field!); - ‘Damaged Soul’ – Multifandom-Flash (Round 2 – 2031); - ‘Fugitives’ – Multifandom-Flash (Team); - ‘Dirty Dishes’ – Multifandom-Flash (Thanksgiving – 7026); - ‘Mango Lemon Margarita Mocktail’ – Multifandom-Flash (Pour Me a Bingo – Mocktails).

I woke coated in my own sweat, blankets tangled around my limbs suffocatingly. I’d attempted to sleep on the bed, but jerked awake almost immediately, my muscles had seized in fear, breath coming in sharp pants as terror threatened to overwhelm me.

I’d quickly given in, dragging a blanket with me to crawl under the table, my sweat-slick body shivering in the chill coming under the ill-fitting door. It was there that I’d spent the largely sleepless hours until dawn, eyes wide and afraid, locked on the front door fearfully.

When I blinked my eyes open to face the scratched underside of the table, my brow furrowed, gaze landing on a post-it above me.

Meeting with Mars @ 9am - Paws for Applause; Going to get a puppy!!!

I frowned in confusion, one finger reaching out to touch the note uncertainly.

This… This isn’t my handwriting.

There was a pang of shy anxiety, the feeling distant but notable. Um… I didn’t want you to forget.

You did this? There was a quiet, hesitant sound of affirmation, and I paused. … How?

I’m… Not sure. I just… Did? You were asleep… I’m sorry; did I do something wrong?

My heart ached at the uncertainty and fear in his voice, and I shook my head quickly, letting my hand drop with a soft smile. “No, you did great,” I soothed reassuringly, chuckling under my breath. “I appreciate it, truly. … Are you, uh… Excited?” I probed tentatively. It felt odd, talking to someone who may or may not exist in my own head – but I couldn’t deny the flood of joy that overwhelmed my nervous system at the question, bringing a broad grin to my face.

Yeah! I like dogs. I like cats too, but not as much, I think…

I couldn’t help but grin, comforted by this childlike excitement. “I think I’d quite like a cat one day,” I mused aloud, letting the quiet joy ease my frayed nerves of the night. “… What about you, Soldier?”

I… Maybe I’d appreciate a bird. Flight fascinated me.

Blinking in surprise, I cocked my head, sightless eyes still on the note overhead. “… Why?” I’d never asked him a direct question about himself, and I winced guiltily at the wave of uncertainly that flooded my veins. “You don’t have to-”

It… Seems like freedom. The ability to go anywhere in the world without restriction, to be out of reach with only an endless sky for company… He paused, humming thoughtfully, only the faintest hint of embarrassment undercutting his words. That sounds like a nice way to live.

That’s beautiful, the second murmured after a moment, his voice full of tender wonder.

“It is,” I agreed, a newfound respect for the screaming, flapping bundle of feathers I encountered the day before overcoming me at the sentiment. “I’ll try to make it happen for you one day.”

He made a quiet, joyful sound, bringing a smile to my face. I’d like that.

We arrived at the store with five minutes to spare, leaning back against the brickwork as I smoked a cigarette while I waited, foot tapping with anxiety.

9am came with sharp, nervous breaths and trembling hands. The mild morning was fading into midsummer heat – still cool compared to the Wakandan weather I was accustomed to, but it contributed nevertheless to my claustrophobia, feeling sweat form along my spine.

It was almost ten minutes later before a door to one side slammed shut, a harried-looking Mars leaning against in with a heavy sigh. “Sorry I’m late – honestly, I can’t seem to get my brain in gear when I finally get a day off, it’s like I just-” They cut themselves off as they considered me, wincing guiltily. “Shit. Are you okay?”

My breath was coming in ragged gasps as I quivered, back plastered to the brickwork, my fingernails desperately clawing at the cement to find some form of grounding purchase. “Crap… Bucky? It’s okay- I’m here. Fuck, I’m so sorry…” They glanced around, glaring at anyone who dared as much as look my way as they passed by. My humiliation increased, and they bit their lip, offering their hand to me. “Come on. I’ve got you – let me get you out of here.”

I was barely cognizant as they bundled me into the passenger seat of a small car, hands finding the dashboard to brace myself, sucking in air desperately. They climbed into the driver’s seat, watching me worriedly and murmuring soft reassurances as I began my slow return to reality.

By the time I looked up, my face was slick with tears, body quivering with effort, embarrassment stilling my tongue. “There now… It’s okay. I’m here. I’m so, so sorry I was late.”

I shook my head weakly, offering them a lukewarm smile. “It’s okay. I-I just… Even other people just walking by made me- I mean, I didn’t feel…”

“Safe?” they finished softly, clucking sympathetically when I nodded. “Yeah… I know what that’s like. But you’re safe with me, okay? I promise.”

Their eyes shone with fierce sincerity, and I found myself relaxing a little, feeling secured despite myself by all five-foot-something of the person before me.

“I trust you,” I murmured, reaching out to squeeze their hand uncertainly. They smiled as they squeezed back, then looked around us pointedly.

“Well, we’re already in the car, at least, so… I guess we should get on our way, huh?”

They chatted aimlessly as they drove, telling me more about their life before the States – though they skirted around a previous relationship with an infinitesimal wince, moving instead to their sister’s tree-planting initiative.

We’d been on the road for half an hour, their incessant warbling effectively staying my anxiety, when they cut themselves off with a thoughtful hum.

“Fancy a cold drink?” they offered, gesturing at a passing advertisement with a glance toward me. I hesitated, and they smiled softly. “We can sit outside, if you’d like.”

With a relieved sigh, I smiled back, nodding slowly. “That sounds good.” The sweat was beading along my hairline, and I exhaled heavily, running a hand through the shoulder-length tangle. Their eyes shifted to me once more, and my skin prickled nervously under the attention. “… What?”

Shaking their head quickly, they looked back to the road, the faintest of blushes spreading across their cheeks. “No- Nothing. I just… I like your hair. You- You have nice hair.”

I arched an eyebrow, considering their features in profile, distantly amused at their steadily increasing blush. “You have nice hair, too,” I replied at length, reaching out to tug gently on the short ringlets that made up their ponytail. They blushed harder, turning onto the gravel road without looking at me, seemingly speechless for a moment as I smirked.

This is nice.

It’s been a long time since we flirted with anyone.

It’s been a long time since we felt comfortable enough with anyone to flirt.

The realisation left me dumbfounded, still staring in disbelief as they parked the car. Glancing curiously at me, they bit their lip, picking anxiously at the skin around their thumb when they found my eyes still trailing their features. “I- You’re, uh… You’re staring a little. I mean, it- it’s fine, I just- I wanted to make sure there’s not, y’know, something on my face, or something, or-”

“No,” I interrupted softly, offering them a gentle, soothing smile when their eyes flicked to me once more, wide and uncertain. “No, there’s not- nothing like that. I, uh… It’s been a real long time since we… Since anybody was nice to me, just for the hell of it.”

They paused before turning to face me, considering me for a moment, head cocked. “That sounds like a lonely way to live,” they volunteered at length, and I nodded shortly. “Well, I’ll always be nice to you, so you’ve got that now, okay?”

Their face split into a broad grin as I nodded again, letting out a quiet, affectionate chuckle. “Okay.”

I waited, stood leant against the car with a cigarette hanging from my lip, foot tapping nervously as Mars’ absence grew longer. It was quieter here, and my fear less overwhelming – but that didn’t stop me from eyeing the door uncertainly, watching for any sign of trouble.

You should have gone with them.

They told me I could stay out here…

They’re so small, so sweet… Anything could happen to them.

Aren’t they more at risk with us than without? We’re not… Safe.

And if anyone were to recognise us…

I shook my head hard, passing a  thick stream of smoke from my nose. “Look, I just thought-”

My jaw snapped shut at the sight of my companion pushing their way through the door, a drink in each hand and a small bag hanging from their pinkie. The way their eyes lit up and they beamed eagerly at the sight of me waiting made my own lips turn up in a smile, chortling as they offered me a clumsy wave and yelped in panic, the drinks tipping ominously.

“Nothing happened. You saw nothing,” they insisted breezily, offering me my cup with a grin, and I snorted.

“Mhm, sure,” I agreed readily, taking a long pull on my straw before releasing it with a quiet groan. “God, that’s good,” I sighed, head falling back.” I never expected Seattle to get so damn hot.”

They chuckled and nodded, taking their own sip before replying. “This is a particularly brutal one,” they admitted. “You got unlucky. Not a fan of the heat?”

“Not as much as I’d like,” I replied softly, thinking, just for a moment, of the endless icy wastelands of Siberia – of cold so intense that each breath was agony on the lungs. I wanted to love days like this, with heat so strong that I could feel my skin burning and bronzing the moment the first rays of daylight fell upon me.

But I hadn’t had a sunburn in a long time, and I never acclimated to the heat after spending the better part of a century – and most of my transformation from regular soldier to international assassin – in one form of ice or another.

Even my biothermal processes couldn’t forget.

“I know what you mean,” they agreed thoughtfully, taking a drag of a violently yellow drink that smelled so sickly sweet that my nose wrinkled from three feet away. “I’m half-Egyptian; I should love the heat! But nope – I’m a much bigger fan of rain , thanks.” They delved into their bag once more and withdrew a pair of plastic-wrapped ice lollies, liquid already beginning to pool around the base. “Aw, crap. Probably should have got these out first, huh?”

They offered me one as I chuckled, and I watched as they tore away the clear packaging carelessly, sticky juice immediately running over the curve of their fingers and racing toward the delicate dip of their wrist. With a squeak of surprise from them, and a fond grin from me, they chased the errant liquid with a small, pointed, lemon-tinged tongue, lapping up the fleeing droplets with a practiced precision that made me unexplainably happy.

Mars met my gaze, blushing at the sight of my smile and amused, arched eyebrow, and I reached out to pet their arm affectionately. “I didn’t see  a thing,” I assured them with a chuckle, earning a laugh and an affectionate elbow to the ribs for my humour. “How do you have so much energy? It’s so early.”

They shrugged, assessing their popsicle for a moment, falling quiet and pensive. “I have ADHD and insomnia,” they offered eventually, pausing to draw the frozen treat slowly between their lips in an unconscious gesture that made the back of my neck sweat. “I’m always tired, and always energised. It can be a frustrating combination.”

I hummed sympathetically, nodding, eyes lowering to watch my popsicle to drip slowly into the dust by our feet. “Yeah… I’m not unaccustomed to a lack of sleep myself – though I don’t think I’ve felt energised in longer than I care to remember.”

With a wan smile, they squeezed my forearm softly when my gaze rose to theirs once more. “A fellow insomniac?”

My hand waggled. “Hypothetically? No. I… Have bad dreams.” My response was weak, and it felt a pale representation of what I experienced – terrifying flashes of blood and screaming, half-remembered scenes from a life that was barely my own. Their pitying gaze made me blush, my arm pulling from theirs to push a hand through my hair shyly. “I, uh… I guess I’m a damaged soul, huh?”

My chuckle and light-hearted comment fell flat, smile fading at the sincerity in their dark eyes. “No… I think you’re better than you think you are, James.”

Snorting, I shrugged, shaking my head. “No, I don’t think I am. I’m telling you; I’m haunted.”

I hated acknowledging this part of myself – hated giving this kind, gracious soul a reason to look at me with suspicion and wariness earlier than they found one of their own.

But I couldn’t let them begin to think positively of me – it would only end in disappointment.

They watched me silently, mahogany eyes locked on mine, probing and intense. “… That part, I believe,” they murmured softly, scrutinising every millimetre of my face attentively. “I… Definitely believe you’ve got a few ghosts who won’t give you peace.”

I held my head high for a moment before looking away, jaw clenched. “I… Used to be in Army,” I offered, quiet and uncertain, fingers curled into fists inside gloves that made no seasonal sense. “I saw some things – and did some things – that I’ll… They’ll never… I’ll never be able to forget it. I’m not… A good person, Mars. That period of my life left me with a lot of damage, in every sense. You’d be smart to keep your distance from me,” I finished quietly, my gaze trained stiffly on the ground.

I hate this.

I know. But… They need to know. It’s better they run fast, and they run far, and the sooner that happens, the better it is for everyone.

I felt the third hum in agreement, and finally looked back to Mars. They seemed thoroughly unphased, dragging the remnants of their popsicle off the stick with their teeth and sucking thoughtfully on the ice before responding. “My mum always said I have no common sense.” They shrugged and grinned, lips tinged with that vibrantly yellow drink. “Look – if you don’t like me, or don’t want my company, or whatever, then that’s fine; I know I can be a little too much for some people. You can just tell me – I’m an adult, I can handle it. But if you think you’re doing some… Dumb attempt at chivalry? Then get over it, drink your lemonade, and let’s go find you a dog.”

They straightened up, leaning to drop their cup in a trashcan, while I simply gawked in silence at their vehemence. “I…”

“Yes?” they hummed, turning to set that penetrating gaze on me once more.

I swallowed and looked away, tossing my own trash into the can as a gentle heat rose in my cheeks.

“I guess we should go, then.”

We proceeded in a companionable silence, save the odd comment from Mars when they expressed enthusiasm about a particularly noteworthy tree, or went off on a seemingly spontaneous monologue without a clear cause, leaving me to smile fondly and wonder once more at the inner workings of their peculiar, intoxicating mind.

By the time we pulled up to a low brick building, my cheeks ached from laughing, any anxiety I felt about the process before me stripped away without my awareness by my companion. But my hands began to shake once more as I slid from the car, the far-off, muffled sound of barking painfully clear with my heightened senses.

“You doing okay?” Mars pressed softly, glancing at my trembling fingers with a sympathetic smile. I nodded silently, but when I didn’t move, they extended a hand to me – a silent, unforced offer of support, should I need it.

I barely hesitated before my fingers wrapped with theirs, only my thin glove acting as a barrier between metal and flesh. Distantly, I worried they’d notice the hard, cool material of the prosthetic – but their expression showed no change as they squeezed my hand gently before leading me forward.

I stood silently as they spoke to the desk clerk, lost in an overwhelmed haze, my gaze flicking between the large number of posters behind the desk, a heavy door off to one side, and a constantly rotating slideshow of tips for dog ownership – trying and failing to note everything of importance all at once. Mars tugged gently on my fingers, startling me from my panic and I looked down at them in surprise as they gestured over their shoulder. “I explained what you’re looking for, and they have a suggestion – they’re gonna bring him out to meet us, okay? So we’re just gonna take a seat here for a minute while they grab him.” I nodded again, tongue seeming thick and clumsy, and let them guide me across to the hard plastic chairs, their hand still firm in mine. “You okay?” they murmured under their breath, shooting me a brief glance as I nodded once more.

“It’s… A lot,” I acknowledged eventually, free hand gesturing toward the array of information on display. “How am I supposed to know it all?”

“Oh, you’re definitely not,” they snorted. “Even out of the things that actually relevant to you… About ninety percent will be ‘don’t feed your dog this’ and ‘don’t feed your dog that’. But, you know… Google exists, and you’ll retain some of the more common stuff over time. Basically, just don’t deliberately feed him anything you don’t know he can eat, and you’ll be fine.” They offered me a reassuring grin, and I returned a soft smile, comforted by their presence.

The second the door opened, I was smitten.

The gangly tan legs were flecked with dark stripes, leading endlessly up to a stocky body and enormous head, a tongue the size of my palm lolling between two rows of pristine teeth. A white blaze trailed from throat to chest before vanishing beneath him, intersected only by the lime-green strap of his harness. To this there was attached a short leash, the person on the other end straining to contain the furry bulldozer that seemed hellbent on reaching us, brown eyes fixed intently on my face as his thick tail lashed with an audible, dull thud against the attendant’s leg. The dark smear of his muzzle tipped up, and they winced pre-emptively as the maw grew wider. The bark didn’t bother me, much to my surprise, despite the booming sound making my oversensitive ears ring and my bones shake. But I could only laugh, leaning forward in my seat, bubbles of joy building in my

chest, captivated by those hyper-focused eyes still locked on mine with a single-minded determination and the non-silent jaws parted in a goofy grin. “He’s incredible,” I whispered, inching as near as I could without falling to my knees.

“Want him to come a bit closer?” Mars prompted, and I nodded wordlessly, barely conscious of them indicating for the attendant to approach.

They tried to take a step forward, but the slavering beast on the other end of the braided nylon had other ideas. He lunged toward us, straining and hauling against the leash, dragging the unwilling attendant along with him.

My hands were quickly filled with short fur and muscles trembling with delight, a broad tongue passing over my face in long, eager strokes. Mars moved beside me, concern creasing their features, but they paused when the giggles building in my chest bubbled between my lips, pressed against the colossal head clutched against me. “He’s perfect,” I breathed, glove-coated metal fingers curled against the brindle coat possessively.

“His name is Zeus,” the attendant offered, reaching to tousle the dog’s ears with a bemused, fond expression. I grinned up at them, and they smiled back. “He’s a good boy. He’s just… Too strong, for a lot of folks. Myself included,” they added, snorting.

“I can really take him home?” I clarified, landing heavily on my backside as I let the wriggling hound push me over.

“If you want to,” Mars confirmed, their own fingertips brushing over the dog’s head. I nodded hard, holding him to me with something akin to desperation, earning a chuckle and an affectionate tip of their head. “Then let’s sign some papers, hm?”

I let myself and my new housemate into my apartment, the mastiff mix barrelling through the space with reckless abandon. His feet slid on the laminate wood, claws skittering in a comical, delightful din, punctuated by the intermittent snorts and sniffs as he investigated this novel environment.

Mars stood beside me in the open doorway as we hesitated in unison, silence stretching between us to the backing track of Zeus’ exploration and the heavy rain outside.

“… I should probably-”

“… I don’t suppose you’d like to-”

Our eyes cut to one another, and we grinned simultaneously, shy and uncertain. With a deep breath and an uncomfortable rub of the back of my neck, I tried again. “Would you like to… Come in? Have a cup of coffee, or something?” I offered, feeling a timid blush creeping up my throat. With an equally shy flush, they nodded, offering me a sheepish smile when they passed me at my indication.

It wasn’t until they were further into the apartment that I winced and looked around myself, struck by how sparse the space was when seeing it while considering the eyes of another. I really did own very little – the stained, second-hand mattress sitting bare on the frame was the only sign of life aside from a half-empty box of personal effects on the dusty table.

That, and the copious dog-related items.

His blanket and bed were set up beside my own, despite my sheets still twisted and curled in on themselves in my sanctuary under the table. His bowls sat in one corner in their stand, his nose buried in the water bowl as he gulped and lapped noisily, slobber dripping onto the mat below and eliciting a chuckle from us both. There were leashes and bags and food on the counter of the kitchen in the corner, and a pile of soft toys and balls beside the sofa that was here when I moved in, the faux leather cracked and faded.

I glanced at them worriedly, checking for their reaction. The flicker of surprise was brief but definite, and I felt shame crawl up my spine, even as their expression settled into something more neutral. I cleared my throat, uncomfortable even as they turned their non-judgemental gaze to me. “Uh… Take a seat anywhere you’d like, I guess. I won’t be a minute.” With a nod, they moved to the beaten sofa, face splitting into a broad grin as Zeus dropped his heavy, still-dripping head in their lap, new tags gleaming around his throat.

He’d been perfectly behaved in the car, lying down in the backseat without complaint, large nose turned toward the warm air flowing through the open window and relishing the scents. But any sense of calm evaporated once more when we arrived at the parking lot beside Paws for Applause and freed him from the harness that secured him for the drive. The collar he wore, courtesy of the shelter, had all but choked him on the short walk to the car, and now it groaned and complained under the strain as he dragged desperately at the end of leash, wheezing with desire to consume the endless new aromas washing over him.

We’d already agreed on his need for a harness as we drove, and watching him struggle to breathe against my immovable grip on the leash only solidified the point. Mars motioned for me to let him run free once we entered the store, and he needed no further encouragement to explore the space, his coal-smeared muzzle stuffed everywhere he could reach. My eyes flicked worriedly to the store owner beside me, but they simply laughed, shaking their head fondly as the dog found a pig ear to chew on and settled contentedly on the floor.

His new lime-green harness was in the bag clutched in my hand- along with several other things he had dragged from shelves and I hadn’t the heart to deny him. I eyed the dirty dishes in the sink with a curl of my lip, dropping my gloves beside the bag to wash my only two mugs as the kettle boiled.

The clouds that had begun to gather since we left the store finally broke, and I leaned over the sink to open the window, deeply breathing the fresh air. The raindrops echoed on the roof of the empty house, and I

closed my eyes for just a moment, letting the feeling of quiet wash over me, hands stilling in their cleaning.

“James?”

The soft voice startled me, lids snapping open, and I jerked back, ashamed, angry at myself for having been caught to vulnerable. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” They spoke gently, but their eyes assessed every inch of my face, intense and probing.

“Fine,” I replied stiffly, reaching past them to snag the tattered towel on the counter.

Too late, I realised my mistake, light catching on metal as I began to draw back. Their gaze followed the flicker, widening infinitesimally at the sight of the prosthetic before snapping back to my own, inquisitive and curious in an entirely new way. “I-”

“We’re out of coffee,” I interrupted sharply, placing the clean mug on the counter and sliding my hands into my pockets nonchalantly. “So, I guess you should be going. Thanks again.”

They blinked owlishly, startled, and I winced internally at the ripple of hurt that passed briefly over their features. “I… Y-yeah. Okay…”

My steps were directly behind their own as they headed to the door, pausing briefly to pet the dog and croon sweet, soft nothings to him, hesitating again only when they stood at the threshold, their brow furrowed in confusion. “Well… If you need anything, you-”

“We’ll be fine. We’ve got it from here.”

They flinched at my cold, dismissive tone, and guilt squeezed my chest, but I simply gazed at them impassively as they nodded once more. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Goodbye, Mars.”

“Bye, Bucky.”

I closed the door behind them with a growing, unplaceable sense of

unease, moving to sit on the sofa and staring down at my fingers until they were headbutted violently by my wagging companion. Smiling weakly, I trailed my hand over his neck. “Not sure what it is that’s got me so nervous, bud. All they said was ‘bye, Bu-’”

My blood ran cold as realisation hit, gaze moving to the door in fear and horror.

They know who we are.

[goodlucktai]

raised on little light (2/3)

rise of the tmnt word count: 4k pairing: mikey & oc big thank you to  @soldrawss for the art included in this chapter and to  @mykimouser for making me insane about neutral!michelangelo at all hours of the day title borrowed from northern attitude by noah kahan read on ao3

x

2031

Mikey is looking for his little brother. It seems like he spends half his life doing that these days. 

The TV is on in Splinter’s room, door ajar but equally as unapproachable as the door to Donnie’s lab, which is shut tight, as usual. Raph’s door is standing open, but his room is empty, because he leaves early for work on the weekdays. 

Mikey maneuvers past the closed doors and empty rooms like a professional. He doesn’t even have to think too hard about it anymore. 

Rounding the corner to the dining room, Mikey’s stride slows and relief punches an exhale out of him. He doesn’t realize how tense he is until he deflates like a balloon. 

Gio is asleep at the table, face half-buried in his folded arms, crossbow and maintenance supplies spread out in front of him. It’s disappointing, but not surprising. He rarely stays in his own room, as if he’s afraid of taking up space that isn’t really his. As if they’re going to change their mind and tell him they do still need it for storage, actually, and he wants to be ready when they do. Mikey’s pretty sure he never fully unpacked his bag. 

Sometimes he leaves the lair entirely, and since he’s the most unreliable texter Mikey knows, and has never met a phone call he would answer without a gun held to his head, he might as well fall completely off the grid each time he’s gone. Mikey stays up on those nights, keeping busy in the kitchen, worrying worrying worrying. 

He feels too much like Raph when he doesn’t know where the kid is. He understands intimately how overbearing big brothers could be, remembers how a tiny rift had formed between him and Raph when they were young because of it—childish and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things to come, but devastating at the time. 

So he tries to channel Leo instead, who had always trusted Mikey to know when to ask for help if he needed it. Tries to make sure Gio never feels like he can’t come home again, with a smile ready for him as soon as he slips silently back through the door. 

But last night Gio must have stayed in. There’s a blanket draped over him that Mikey didn’t put there, and Splinter almost certainly hadn’t left his room to put there, which leaves two possible culprits. Raph and Donnie don’t know how to make gestures that Gio can see for what they are, hardly know how to be in the same room as the kid without seeing a ghost superimposed where he’s standing. It leaves a lot of the emotional heavy-lifting on Mikey’s shoulders, but it’s fine. A brother could never be a burden to him. 

Mikey can’t give Gio everything he deserves to have, everything that should have been his from the very beginning, but he can give him some things. 

And we’ll start, Mikey thinks with the kind of absurd resilience that wouldn’t have been out of place at the actual end of the world, with breakfast. 

Gio wasn’t trained in ninja like the rest of them were but his senses are as sharp as any other turtle genetically modified for war. Mikey woke him up with a touch once and the fear response only lasted a handful of seconds but it was enough that Mikey made the executive decision that no one would ever do that again, or else. 

Mikey pulls a chair out beside the smaller turtle and sinks into it soundlessly. He traces the newly-familiar white spots on that smoky gray-green face with his eyes, counting and recounting them, even though he knows how many there are. Everything about Gio is at once brand-new and well-loved to him. 

After a moment, the only other sound the ancient Snoopy clock counting seconds in the kitchen, Mikey starts to hum. Three little birds sat on my window…

He can’t help remembering another morning just like this one, what feels like a lifetime ago. Mikey, all of thirteen, had insisted on being woken up to make breakfast so he could try a new crumble muffin recipe, but he’d stayed up too late the night before and sleep clung stubbornly to him despite the row of alarms he’d set. Their resident insomniac had been the only one awake, by virtue of not having gone to bed in the first place, and he’d parked himself in the beanbag under Mikey’s hammock and hummed the same song over and over until Mikey woke up. He had it stuck in his head for the rest of the day. They sang “GIRL PUT YOUR RECORDS ON” in the kitchen at the top of their lungs until Donnie sent the group chat a PDF of a noise complaint form, completely filled out. 

Mikey hadn’t realized he was taking any of it for granted back then. He would do anything— anything—to wake up that way again. Just one more time. 

Beside him, Gio stirs. Once he’s awake he’s alert fast, those big dark eyes sliding open and staying that way, head coming up off the pillow of his arms. He has that look on his face that Mikey would be tempted to call earnest on anyone else. 

“Rise and shine, Clementine,” Mikey says brightly, reaching over to rub the back of his fingers against a spotted cheek affectionately. “I was craving breakfast empanadas today and was hoping my best sous chef would be willing to help me out.” Then, deliberately light-hearted, he adds, “Little turtles who skip dinner have to eat extra breakfast, you know. That’s house rule number one.”

Gio blinks at him, his face giving nothing away to the casual observer. 

“I thought house rule number one was ‘always get it in writing’.” 

Mikey’s smile widens, surprised and pleased every time he plays along. 

“That’s number three, actually. Right behind ‘don’t do anything you wouldn’t want recorded and replayed at family functions.’ If you want, I can tell you exactly why that one’s a rule, and why it’s entirely Donnie’s fault.”

Gio does that thing where he assesses Mikey’s expression and tone as though he’s looking for the trap. Mikey weathers it, makes sure his smile doesn’t slip an inch. 

Donatello is more of an urban legend to Gio than his actual living brother. After a few hesitant attempts to approach the older turtle that had been shut down completely each time, Gio made the informed decision that that road was closed permanently. 

Sometimes Mikey will tell a story, or April, on one of her increasingly sporadic visits to the lair, will lean over and show him a video on her phone, and Gio will listen or watch like he has no idea who the guy they’re talking about could possibly be. 

They do their best, but there’s no way to really introduce the Donnie that they know to Gio, because that Donnie only still exists in their stories and videos. The Donatello who was silly, who loved music and theater, who burst into the living room with some new invention or gadget to boast about, had been replaced by one who rarely spoke, who didn’t even have Spotify on his phone anymore since it took up too much space, who kept the lair running only because it was where his family lived but not because he had any lasting attachment to the place, and he certainly didn’t make any unnecessary tech just for fun. 

I know you’re still in there, Mikey thinks sometimes. 

He’ll bring Donnie lunch and leave it on the table in the lab, and then hold out his arms. Sometimes, Donnie won’t look at him. Sometimes, Donnie will put his tools down and let his little brother crowd in for a hug. He’ll tuck Mikey under his chin and hold him tight, like they were children again and nothing was wrong that couldn’t be made right. 

Thank you for staying, Mikey will think, clinging for every second he’s allowed to. I know it’s hard. It’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. 

The grief is always encroaching, like floodwaters. Rising slow and steady, swallowing up cars and street signs and single level houses, changing the landscape of his hometown until it’s an unfamiliar place. No end in sight. No sign of land. 

Someone send us a boat, Mikey wants to cry hysterically. But he knows how stupid that is.

He is the boat. 

—

When he met Giorgio for the first time, Mikey was twenty-five and Leo had been dead for ten years.

“Sorry,” Mikey said. His fingers felt numb around the phone. “Could you say that again?”

“A turtle,” Hueso had replied shortly. “I would not have called, but he has familiar eyes. He is not aware of any family in the area. Would you like me to ask him to wait for you?”

Mikey hadn’t tried his portals again since the last disastrous time—since Raph had made him promise to stop—so he knew it couldn’t be Leo. He knew it. Hueso would be able to pick his sobrino out of a million turtles and would have led the call with that. And Leo wouldn’t have stopped for pizza before running back to them, he wouldn’t have stopped for anything. Leo would have been the one to let them know Leo was home. 

Still, there was a tiny warbling hope in the bottom of his heart that wailed “maybe, maybe, maybe.” Still, it hurt to feel that hope shrivel up and die when Mikey slammed into the private dining room and found Hueso talking to an unfamiliar mutant with white spots and a black shell and—it was undeniable—Hamato Yoshi’s eyes. 

The turtle was small, dressed in dark grays and greens, a strap across his chest that made it clear he was armed by something resting out of sight on his back. He stood with his arms crossed, in a manner that was probably supposed to read as stubborn or defiant, but Mikey clocked instantly as nervous. 

This kid didn’t know what he was doing here or who the hell Mikey was and he looked about as comfortable with all the attention as Donnie would have been at that age. 

Mikey felt himself soften, some distant part of his heart sitting in disuse and disrepair lurching to life again. Ancestral magic that he had largely turned his back on suddenly stirred, ninpo reaching out fragile feelers toward the person in the room that it recognized as immediately as if it was looking at its own self in a mirror. 

“This is one of my creations,” Draxum announced, confirming what Mikey’s heart had already decided. “It must have survived after all.”

“Elaborate,” Mikey said, in a tone that didn’t match the gentle smile he had for the spotted turtle. 

“How old are you?” the alchemist had asked instead, which seemed an odd first question to have and didn’t explain literally anything. 

“Eighteen,” the spotted turtle replied. Mikey’s brow made a bid for his hairline. He would have been less surprised if the kid had said fifteen. Was he that scrawny as an eighteen year old?

“You hatched at about the same time as the red one,” Draxum said dispassionately, “so you should have been about his age, and he is twenty-seven. And how did you come to be here?”

Gio’s eyes slid away from him, over to Mikey. Mikey didn’t know what his face was doing. He hoped it was encouraging. 

“I went through a yellow door,” Gio said. “And I ended up here.” 

“By yellow door, I’m assuming you mean a rift in space-time,” Draxum said. “What possessed you to walk into it?”

“Felt safe,” Gio said, and that was the last thing he said about it, expression closing up in a way Mikey was intimately familiar with as I’m done talking and liable to bite if provoked. But Draxum was a lot of things, genius among them, and seemed to already have an idea of what had happened. 

Portals could be capricious. The night of Splinter’s mutation and escape from the Hidden City, a machine in Draxum’s original lab had gone haywire as the structure collapsed. Draxum watched as it snatched up various tools and equipment and finally one of the experiment enclosures that Splinter had not been able to reach in time to save its occupant with the four he already carried. 

With the machine destroyed, it was impossible to even begin tracking the experiment down to wherever it had ended up. And there were unfortunately small odds that the creature would have survived long on its own wherever the portal deposited it. Draxum had written it off as dead. 

But there he was. Ten years displaced, but living and healthy and whole. Apparently he’d been in another dimension all this time, and only came back again because a portal he encountered had looked inviting. 

—

And now he’s in Mikey’s kitchen, listening studiously to his brother’s chatter and following instructions with exacting precision, still wearing the ridiculously oversized red sweater Mikey bundled him into the day before. It made Raph’s face do something funny when he saw Gio in it at lunch, but he hadn’t said anything when he saw Mikey hauling it out of the dryer earlier that morning, and he didn’t say anything at the table either.  

Over the years and countless wash cycles it’s been worn to unbelievable softness. It used to be that Raph couldn’t keep it in his closet if he tried, caught as it was in a constant rotation between little siblings who loved to wear it, floppy sleeves and sagging hem and all. It’s almost strange to see it again, here under the kitchen lights in this new country they all live in. 

Stealing clothes was a baby brother right of passage. And it was just collecting dust in storage anyway. 

Gio sees Mikey looking and glances down self-consciously. Then he jolts, and drops the ball of dough in his hands, lifting and twisting his left arm to put it more in the light. Near the elbow of the sleeve is a smudge of flour. 

He thumbs at the spot, preoccupied by it. His body language is shrinking because he always makes himself a smaller target when he starts to get anxious. 

One day, Mikey is going to find whoever taught him to do that and have words. For now, he rounds the island to Gio’s side and leans against it so he can duck down and peer into that little spotted face. He makes sure to plant his own elbow in the flour dusted across the butcher block counter, sending up a little poof of it as he does. 

“Hey, sweet kid, don’t worry about this old thing. It’s already been through everything you can possibly think of,” Mikey reassures, tweaking the hood playfully. “It survived the Paintball War of 2017, it’ll hold up to a little baking accident.”

Gio’s dark eyes lift to meet his, attentive and absorbing everything he sees and so, so careful. 

“Raphael won’t get mad?” 

Mikey keeps smiling, even though he’d like to start crying. 

Of course he won’t, he wants to say. He’s your big brother and he loves you. He’d move heaven and earth for you. He doesn’t know how to say it these days—he doesn’t trust himself to hold people the way he used to, doesn’t know who he is anymore since the shield he used to be was broken—but he’s still Raph. Our Raphie. I promise, it’s still him. 

Gio had never been lifted up into strong arms and tossed in the air until he laughed, caught safely and held tight like those arms would never get tired of holding him. He had never crawled under the blankets in a room humming and blinking with electronics after a nightmare, resting his head on a broad shoulder and falling asleep to a low voice rattling off his favorite explanation of gravity—a force that held everything down, pulled everything together, that could always be counted upon to keep you. He had never snuck out for brunch, just him and someone who saw him more clearly than he could ever see himself, who knew when a stack of French toast and a string of Snapchat selfies and a little mischief was exactly what he needed. 

Gio had never had any of that. He had been alone since he was freshly mutated and abandoned by pure chance, and now he was barely nineteen and he didn’t know how else to be. He didn’t have the first clue, but he was so willing to learn. He soaked up attention like a plant starved for sunlight, petals reaching endlessly for an end to the dark.  

I wish you had been there, Mikey thinks sometimes when he looks at him, heart breaking with the truth of it. We would have held you. You wouldn’t even know how to be alone. You wouldn’t be worried about a stain on a sweater. 

“He won’t get mad,” Mikey says instead. He channels his most charming brother, the one who could sell water to a fish, who could talk his way out of anything, who convinced his family to keep hoping even when all hope seemed lost. “And hey, if he brings it up, we’ll just blame the cat.” 

The corner of Gio’s mouth twitches, and then he smiles despite himself, as buoyed along as Mikey always was when Leo was silly with him, and says, “We don’t have a cat.” 

“Maybe I’ve just been waiting for an excuse to get one!” 

At that point, a burst of white noise from the living room cuts over whatever Gio might have been about to say. It sounds like the roar of wind from an open window of a car going seventy down the highway. It cuts off, and then something clatters noisily, and Gio’s reluctantly amused expression vanishes into alarm. 

They don’t exactly get a lot of surprise visitors down here. He wouldn’t recognize the familiar sound of transportation-by-time-scepter, followed by the even more familiar sound of its clumsy wielder tripping and knocking something over immediately upon arrival. 

“Oops—helloooo?” 

“In here, Renet,” Mikey calls back, nudging his shoulder into Gio’s so he knows not to worry. 

The timestress bumbles in, scepter tucked into the crook of her arm so she has both hands free to fix her braids. She’s smiling all big and crooked and sweet, mouth open to greet Mikey the same enthusiastic way she always greets him, but she stops dead in the doorway when she catches sight of the second turtle in the room. 

Renet takes one look at Gio and says, “Oh! Well, you don’t belong here at all, do you?”

It’s been a long time since Mikey has felt like screaming at her, but the way his little brother absorbs that blow without flinching is enough to get him on his feet. 

“Hey, Nettie, can we talk in the hall?” he says with a brightness he doesn’t feel. “Georgie, I’ll be right back, okay?”

Gio dips his head in a nod, slowly rolling dough in his hands again, and Renet follows Mikey out of the room like someone who knows they’re about to face the firing squad. 

“I did not mean it like that,” is the first thing she says when it’s just the two of them. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Mikey does know that somewhere in the back of his mind. Renet is his friend and she’s never been anything but kind to him. If they had met when they were children, they probably would have gotten along like a house on fire. 

There was a time when he only saw the best in people, but the idealism had been carved out of Mikey when his portal to the prison dimension failed to open.

Some days, Mikey looks at Renet and can only see the person with time itself at her disposal, the past and future spread out like a choose-your-own-adventure book—the person with the power to help, to change things, who took Mikey’s countless, desperate pleas to be allowed to save his brother and held them tenderly like they were important to her and still told him no. 

Some days, that “no” is the most significant thing she ever said to him. 

“He’s my brother,” Mikey says. “He belongs wherever we are.” 

“Of course he does,” Renet says, brown eyes soft. “Mike, of course he does. That’s not what I meant.”

When they move back into the kitchen, introductions are made properly, and Renet makes it a point to clarify that she’s glad to finally meet him. 

Giorgio is watching them with those eyes that take in everything. Deep and trusting when he looks at Mikey, sharpening into something calculative when he shifts his gaze toward Renet. 

Looking back, Mikey will recognize it as the moment he lost him. 

“Smells pretty good in here, boys!” Renet says, swanning over to the stovetop. “Oh, is that chorizo? Mike, tell me you’re not making empanadas! I already ate on my way over!” 

“Then you won’t need to stay for breakfast,” Mikey sing-songs, feathers still ruffled. Then, because he feels bad for the way she deflates at the blatant dismissal, adds, “If you want to stick around, you can take some back with you to Null Time. Just don’t let that jerk Savanti have any, I don’t like his vibe.” “I swear,” Renet says, hand to her heart. 

“You talk about time travel like it’s something you can do,” Gio says suddenly. “Is it?”

The air in the room suddenly feels much thinner than before. Renet looks at Mikey quickly before answering.

“Sure, Gio. I’m a timestress—or, you know, I’m a student now. Basically an unpaid intern. But one of these days I’ll be the real deal.” She winks at him, and Gio gazes back at her placidly. 

“So you could send someone back in time? To stop something bad from happening?”

Oh, no, Mikey thinks. 

“I could,” Renet says. To her credit, she doesn’t sound as bone-tired of this conversation as she must be. “But I can’t. There are so many rules, and for good reason! One little slip-up could be an absolute disaster. It won’t do you any good trying to change the past if you end up destroying the present and the future while you’re at it, right? I’m barely allowed to look at this thing, much less use it,” Renet goes on, wagging the priceless time scepter around like it’s a rubber spatula. 

“But you could,” Gio says. “If we followed all the rules. If we figured out a way—”

“Georgie,” Mikey interjects. 

“I’ll tell you what I told Mike, baby,” Renet says gently. “It can’t be done. He belongs here.” 

Gio says, “But I don’t. You said that.”

“Stop,” Mikey says, not recognizing his own voice. 

But it’s too late. It was too late when he tried to open a door inside the prison dimension, because Leo was already dead inside. 

He was already dead inside, Draxum had said, clinical in a way that helped to distance himself from the hurt, but also distanced himself from the ones hurting, clinical in a way that made Mikey bare his teeth and say things he couldn’t take back. That’s why you couldn’t reach him. It wasn’t your fault. There wasn’t a point for you to anchor off of, there was no other end for your line to reach. He was already dead inside. He was already gone. 

Mikey stares at Gio, the tuck of his chin as he looks back down at the dough on the counter. He’s unwilling to argue with Mikey, but that stubbornness is an innate family trait. There’s no way he’ll give it up now that he’s got his teeth sunk into the idea. Mikey knows what it looks like when a brother is about to leave. Mikey knows what it feels like when they’re already gone.   

When he was younger, he was so angry. He was bursting with potential, with possibilities, his magic a wounded, snarling creature in his heart. It’s not fair that he failed. It’s not fair that he didn’t save his brother, that his love wasn’t enough to punch through the prison dimension and wrap Leo in warmth and light and bring him home. It’s not fair that no one was willing to help him. 

Fine, he had thought, fine! I’ll do it myself! 

Renet had explained to him over and over that his power had more to do with space than time. Casey Jr. said that he’d been sent back in time by his Uncle Michelangelo, but that wasn’t necessarily true. Casey’s arrival in the past had created another universe, parallel to the former. That was Mikey’s power—he could affect and even create other timelines, which was powerful and amazing, but not true time travel. Nothing he did could change his own reality, the one he was living in, because he had already lived it. He couldn’t get back what he had lost. 

Mikey plunged ahead anyway, desperate. He could make it work. He could make a change. Even if it didn’t change anything here, he could find another world and save its Leo and—and maybe that could be a start. Maybe he would finally get his head up above water, and stop drowning for just one second of the day, maybe he’d be able to take a full breath for the first time since his brother disappeared on the other side of a closed door.  

He didn’t wait for permission or approval. He slunk off into a tunnel a mile away from home and drew the circles himself. Lifted his hands and filled them with power, until it felt like he was holding the sun. And it hurt, of course it did. It burned all the way through. But he was hurting anyway. 

A portal opened, a pale yellow window. Mikey looked through it, and saw himself on Staten Island, ripping open a hole in the universe and saving his brother. 

What?

He looked again, over and over, at least half a dozen times—and every time, he looked into a universe where Leo didn’t die. Where Mikey saved him, or Raph scooped him up before he went diving off the Technodrome to catch Mikey and Donnie, or Donnie flew back up to Leo with a rocket and yanked him back through the door before Casey managed to close it. Over and over and over, Leo didn’t die. 

So it’s just me, Mikey realized. I’m the one who got it wrong. 

Raph followed the detonation of ninpo and hysterical screaming through the maze-like tunnels and found him suspended in midair. Rock and rebar were flying around Mikey, everything not nailed to the earth turned dangerous projectiles, his arms burning and flaking away into pieces that disintegrated when they met open air. 

His big brother’s expression had been terrified as he pulled Mikey down into his arms and held him through the shrieking storm he’d made. One hand on the back of his head to keep his face tucked safely into Raph’s scarred shoulder, the other arm cradling him like he was half his age, like he was still someone’s baby. 

“Angie, it’s okay,” Raph had said, low and aching. His voice was a rumble beneath Mikey’s ear, barely audible but just loud enough. “It’s okay. You can scream, you can bring the whole damn city down if you want. But you gotta let go, sunshine. Let go, Mikey.” 

I don’t want to I don’t want to I don’t want to I don’t want to! Mikey wailed, clutching at Raph’s jacket with hands that felt like two white-hot points of pure agony, clinging, holding on. If he let go, Leo stayed gone. If he let go, he really didn’t love Leo enough to save him. 

But Raph pressed his cheek to the top of Mikey’s head, and his next breath shuddered in his chest, and he whispered, “I know you don’t want to, I know. But this isn’t gonna save him. You’re just hurting yourself and L—Leo would hate that. He’d tell you to stop.” One hand crept over to cover both of Mikey’s, squeezing them tight. “Come on, big man. It’s okay. Let go.” 

He let go. The magic faded, dropping everything it had picked up back to the tunnel floor with dull thuds. His hands spasmed wildly, grip nonexistent, and Raph just kept holding them as he carried Mikey home. 

Mikey sobbed for the rest of the night, what felt like hours and hours. Raph reverted to turtle sounds when nothing he said seemed to get through, and Donnie crept under the blanket and plastered himself to Mikey’s carapace so that they had “A little citrus sandwich!” Leo would cheer, the silliest and sweetest turtle in the world until Mikey finally cracked a smile. 

His family made him promise not to try again. It’s not worth it, they said, a unified front—and as much as the words hurt Mikey to hear, it must have hurt his siblings and father just as much to say them. We can’t lose anyone else, they were ready to beg, because they didn’t know it was his fault Leo was gone. They didn’t understand how badly he’d failed them all. If they did, they wouldn’t have been so grimly determined to protect Mikey’s life from his own hands. 

It felt like a betrayal at the time, but he understands now. 

It’s not worth it, he thinks, staring at Gio. I can’t lose anyone else, he’s ready to beg. 

But Mikey knows what it looks like when a brother is about to leave. Mikey knows what it feels like when they’re already gone. 

What he doesn’t know is how to love someone well enough to keep them. 

[mcu-fan-fics-blog]

Remember a Time viii

Series:  (Pt.1), (P.t 2), (P.t 3), (P.t 4), (P.t 5), (P.t 6), (P.t 7)

Wanda Maximoff x Fem! Reader, Natasha Romanoff x Fem! Reader ;)

(High school Au ) No Powers

Word count: 2031

A/N: Things are going to speed up after this one. I'm so excited for this story to continue. I hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter. Let me know if you like it. Comment if you want to be added to the tag list. 

There are moments in life that teach important lessons. There are also people that make us who we are. We all have people in our lives that taught us a lesson or two whether it be a good one or a not so good one. Many learn to appreciate the wisdom gained, you’d like to consider yourself as one. Every event in your life, good or bad you learned something and didn’t dwell on what could’ve been. There was no point in dwelling, what happened happened. The only exception to this seemed to be Wanda. You were stuck there for far more than you’d like to admit. That was mostly because you’d never brought yourself to hate or even dislike her. Even after you’d gotten ‘Over’ her you still mourned the friendship. You missed her as your friend but, by the time you got around to that point too much time had passed. Too much to drag someone back into something that crashed and burned so long ago. She was never truly out of your life; you'd promised her that much. Even after she completely destroyed you.

Going to school the next day wasn’t something you were exactly looking forward to. It wasn’t much different for Wanda. Your words were still rounding her head. She couldn’t exactly place it, but everything about what had happened felt too final. Vision caught her attention as he sat next to her. His presence felt comforting for her, but she still couldn’t get her mind off of you. She didn’t notice Vision's tensed shoulders. “Did you talk with her?”  She sighed lightly, understanding his curiosity, but she was still tired of going through it. She’d already gone over and over it with Pietro. “Yes.” She was also tired of everyone telling her what to do and what was the right thing to do was.  “What did you two decide?” Wanda hadn’t told Vision the context of the situation mostly because she didn’t know what the true context was. She looked at him puzzled. “You know?” He nodded “She didn’t have to tell me, I already knew. But she did just before Christmas break.” He filled her in. “She wants me to forget about her, to disappear from her life.” He nodded. “But you don’t want to…” 

Her answer was immediate. “Of Course not.” She rubbed her temples. “She’s my best friend, Family even.” Vision's shoulders relaxed slightly. “I know that my opinion might not be the most unbiased one but would you mind if I shared it with you.” Wanda was in awe here she was talking about not wanting to let go of someone that loves her, and here he was offering his advice. She already knew what he was going to say, but she nodded anyway. “ When I last saw her she told me she loved you, but she also acknowledged that you were happy. She said that that was all that mattered.” Wanda was stunned. He continued. “You don’t have to listen to me” He prefaced “But if you care about her the way you say you do, you would prioritize and listen to what she's asking of you and to respect it.” And there it was: The conclusion Pietro had already engraved in her head. She was selfish, and it was a shit move to not respect the one boundary you’ve set with her. “You don’t have to listen to me. You know me and Y/n aren’t the best of friends. Let me ask you this, do you love her?” He questioned but he already knew that answer and so did she. 

“Not the way she wants me to. Not the way she deserves to be loved.” He nodded. “She deserves to heal the way she wants, if you love her you will let her heal. Your paths might split for now, but they might also bring you back together later on.” He didn’t push her anymore, he hugged her, he gave her a kiss she didn’t think she deserved. “I’ll see you later?” He asked and she nodded letting him go. Things weren’t going to be easy and Wanda was trying to navigate this as best as she could, but it was becoming clearer and clearer by the second. She was bound to hurt someone, and that was the reality that she was facing. She was already being called selfish, why not take the one thing she won't let go… It was just one thing.

You weren’t planning on telling Tony soon about your college plans… And you didn’t. You should’ve known this could’ve happened looking back. It was genuinely something that you had overlooked. Tony had a habit of checking your mailbox every once in a while saving you the occasional trip. Only this time the letter you were waiting for was there, and he was the one who received it. It was a large envelope with bold letters on it, it read Congratulations!!!. Only this envelope came from another coast, California to be precise. ‘UC Berkeley’ He had already knocked on your door before he really noticed the envelope. You saw it in his hands before you looked at his face. He was speechless and not in a good way. His eyes met yours and he tilted his head as he studied you. “When were you planning on telling me?” It was an accusation he didn’t bother hiding. This wasn’t a small indiscretion and you both knew it. You’d made a promise long ago just you and him, one that was also overshadowed by Wanda.

“I was, when I was sure it would actually be an option. I’m sorry you found out this way.” He nodded, the anger in him was not misplaced and you knew it when he brought her up. “It’s her fault isn’t it.” You didn’t nod, this was at the end of the day a decision you took. “I decided that a change would be best.” He scoffed. “Because of HER.” You didn’t bother fighting him on it; he had made up his mind. “I will not disappear from your life, we’ll have Summers and Christmas.” You try to point out. “And you have a private jet at your disposal.” He fought it for as long as he could, but a small smile broke through. “I will not let you disappear from my life. Not that easily.” His words were genuine, you knew it, but you knew he was still mad, maybe not at you but he was. “I hope that is a promise. Just please don’t do anything stupid.” He understood the double meaning, but chose to disregard it. “Congratulations, I'm happy for you.” He gave you a small hug and you relaxed a little bit. “It’s getting late. I just thought I'd give you your mail.” You’d never think to describe Tony as a thoughtful person, but he was. “You are the best, and I am not below admitting it.” Just like that his cocky demeanor and signature smirk returned. “I fear I may have stroked your ego a little too hard.” You teased. 

Tony had a way of doing things. It was either bold and over the top, or subtle but straight forward. You’d come to learn that over the years. “You heard Y/n’s big news?” He asked casually as he walked up to Pietro in the hallway. “I haven’t. We haven’t been on the best of terms.” Tony nodded. “Well, I’ll tell you. She applied to UC Berkeley and got in. She’s moving to California with our resident Russian bombshell.” Subtle and to the point. There was no way Wanda wouldn't hear about it by day's end, that was guaranteed. “That’s, wasn't she going to NYU?” Tony chuckled and shoved his shoulder playfully. “Plans change. I too would change all my plans for someone I love.” Pietro nodded. “Listen I’ll see you later alright.” Pietro was in a rush now. “Of course.”  Tony wasn’t stupid he knew Wanda cared about you, he also knew that she was 0-2 with him. First she breaks your heart, then she causes you to abandon him. He knew this would hurt her hopefully as much as she had hurt you. The logic was clearly flawed, but he did it because he cared. 

“She’s what!” Wanda had heard him the first three times “She’s not going to NYU.” Wanda was pacing at this point. The whole day was a blur, how could you? What were you aiming for? It was an impulsive move that she made, she knew it but she still had a chance in her mind. She caught up with you before you left that day. The hallways were empty and only her voice filled it. “You can’t leave me.” You stopped dead in your tracks not bothering to look back. “I’m not leaving anyone.” You shot back. “You said you loved me, this is not something you do to someone you love. You don’t abandon the people you love. You don't ask them to forget about you. You don’t do this to someone you love.” She knew this was unfair; it was more than she was willing to admit. “You wouldn’t be doing this if you loved me.” There it was. “Wanda…” She’d completely caught up with you at this point, she was looking at your eyes. It had been so long since you’d let yourself truly admire them. Wanda was too close, and she wanted to be closer. 

Wanda always knew that your feelings for her teetered a very thin line. But it was all too clear now. All the late nights you’d stay up with her, Your lingering gaze. It never bothered her, only now she was realizing that she couldn’t go without them. You were always thinking about her, and you were never ashamed to show it. It was all building up in her and your eyes, she noticed how sad they were, and In that moment all she wanted was to make your sadness go away and she would do anything. Then she couldn’t hold back anymore, she kissed you. You were both breathless when she pulled away. Wanda was too caught up in the moment to notice your tears. “Please don’t leave me…” You were trying to pull away slowly, but she didn’t let you. “Please…” She was pleading. Her forehead was resting on your chest and her hand was clutching your shirt. “This is… wrong.” It was small and barely audible but you said it. She whispered equally as softly “it doesn’t have to be.” That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. It pulled you out of your trance. “No Wanda, this is wrong. You’ve never wanted this… Never. For god's sake Wanda you’re with Vision. You love him!!!” Whatever it was she was going to say next died in her mouth. She loved Vision. It was true. “You love Vision, and what you just did Wanda was cruel.” You scoffed. “I asked for one thing Wanda. You know how I feel about you, you also know you don't feel the same way.” There was the unspoken truth Wanda would carry with her from this moment on. ‘But I could’

She nodded and let you go. “I’m sorry… I didn’t. I wasn’t thinking straight.” There wasn’t much else to say and you both knew it, yet you still lingered. There was a moment where neither of you said anything, you just observed each other. You broke the silence. “I love you, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you… But you’re killing me.” She waited and took it. “You’ve hurt me in ways I never thought you would. Yet here I am… Wanda I will forget you, I will move on, and I’ll be better because of it.” You had no Idea where your determination came from but you weren't stepping down. “So I'll promise you this, when you truly need me I’ll be there. Both highs and lows. If you want me there I will be there.” You continued. “But for now we’ll be nothing more than strangers with shared memories.” You left and didn’t look back this time. 

Tag List: @when-wolves-howl , @alyciaddict , @username23345,  @arixxxxxxxxa @justyourwritter69 , @picnicmic ,  @swiftdazer @alphawolfchicago1124 ,  @sojo154 @xxxtwilightaxelxxx , @marvelogic @wandasmistress , @alwaysgoodnight​ , @chickenlittlsblog​

[asunsetgrace16]

☀︎ ▴ ｎｅｘｔ ｔｈｉｎｇ ｔｉｍｅｌｉｎｅ ▴ ☀︎

main masterlist ⎥ au masterlist⎥ navigation

November 4, 2024 - Stayin' Single - The first time Luca meets Maddie is all of fifteen minutes after he told Adam that he was staying single for a while

October 29, 2025 - U-Haul - Luca and Maddie officially move in together during their senior year

July 14, 2027 - On One Knee + Don't Say No - Luca proposes to Maddie at her parents' beachhouse, complete with nervous pacing

September 10, 2028 - Honeymoon Beach + Sunburned - Luca and Maddie go on their honeymoon, 2 blissful weeks in Puerto Rico

December 8, 2030 - "Yes" - Maddie tells Luca that she's pregnant

August 6, 2031 - Funny White Hat + Dad + Nice To Meet You + Promoted to Uncle - Maddie gives birth to their first child Theo and Luca is ecstatic

June 5, 2032 - Firsts - Pt. 1 - Baby Theo's first steps

January 17, 2033 - Round 2 + Twinsies - Maddie and Luca are having babies No. 2 and No. 3

September 19, 2033 - The twins Colton and Caroline are born

November 12, 2036 - Here We Go...Again + Baby No. 4 - Surprise, it's baby no. 4 for the Fantilli's

July 2, 2037 - Daphne Fantilli is born

March 2, 2045 - Firsts - Pt. 2 - First date for Theo

May 30, 2048 - 17 Years - Theo graduates high school, and Maddie and Luca have an emotional moment of realization at his graduation ceremony

September 19, 2049 - Firsts - Pt. 3 - Colton and Caroline turn 16 and get their first cars

August 3, 2051 - Too Far - Tensions rise in the Fantilli house as Maddie and Luca prepare to send Colton and Caroline off to university, but Caroline is going back to Michigan to play hockey and Colton is heading out east, playing football for Yale

April 25, 2054 - 11:01 - Luca will always wait up for Daphne to get home from a date

September 10, 2054 - More In Love - Luca and Maddie are more in love than ever, after 4 kids and 30 years

June 11, 2055 - Theo marries his long-time college girlfriend Lana Thomas-Lu

April 28, 2058 - Caroline marries her partner of many many years Cisco Hernandez privately, then throw the party of the decade

December 25, 2058 - Remember When - It's Christmas Day at the Fantilli house, and the whole family shared a laugh over the antics people got up to at Caroline and Cisco's wedding bash

October 1, 2060 - Colton marries childhood friend-who-grew-apart-and-reunited-after-college- Melanie Holt

January 15, 2066 - Daphne finally married Jake Jeffers, after they have been together for 10 years. It was a formality at this point

June 6, 2075 - Your Kid's Kids - Grandma and Grandpa love life with their abundance of grandkids

[sensitive-virgo]

Unlock Your Future: Top 5 Reasons to Enroll in an Academy of Dental Assisting Today!

Unlock Your Future: Top 5 Reasons to Enroll ‌in an Academy of Dental Assisting Today!

Are you looking for a rewarding career⁤ that offers⁣ both‍ stability and growth? If so, enrolling in‍ an‍ academy of dental​ assisting might ​just be the‌ key ​to unlocking your future. ⁣This vibrant‍ field is rapidly growing and offers countless opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore ⁣the top five reasons why you should consider taking that step today!

1. High ‌Demand in the Job Market

The‌ dental assisting field is experiencing a‍ surge in demand. According‌ to the Bureau of Labor ⁤Statistics, the employment ⁣of dental assistants is‌ projected to grow 11% from 2021 to 2031, which ‌is much faster than the average for all occupations. ⁤This ⁤growth is ⁣driven by:

The aging population⁤ requiring ‍more dental care

An increase in access to dental services

Expanding roles for dental ‌assistants in various settings

2. Competitive Salaries and‌ Benefits

Enrolling in an academy of dental assisting not only ​prepares you for a rewarding career but also offers competitive⁤ compensation.​ Here’s a brief overview of what you might expect:

Position

Average Salary

Dental Assistant

$42,000/year

Lead Dental Assistant

$48,000/year

Orthodontic​ Assistant

$45,000/year

In ⁢addition to a competitive salary, many dental assisting positions⁣ offer benefits such as health insurance, ‌retirement plans, and paid time⁢ off.

3. Hands-On Learning Experience

One ⁢of the‍ most⁣ appealing aspects of enrolling in an academy ⁤of dental⁤ assisting is the hands-on learning experience. Unlike many professions that rely solely on theoretical knowledge, dental⁢ assistants work directly with patients⁤ and dental professionals, providing opportunities⁣ to:

Learn essential skills through real-life⁣ scenarios

Gain confidence in ‍patient⁣ care

Develop technical abilities with dental equipment

4. ‌Opportunity⁤ for Advancement

Starting as ⁢a dental assistant does not ​limit your career potential. In fact, many professionals find that this role serves as a stepping stone to further opportunities. Here’s how you can advance your career:

Specialization: ‍Focus on orthodontics, oral surgery, ⁤or pediatrics.

Certification: Obtain certifications such as Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).

Higher Education: Pursue a degree in dental⁤ hygiene or dental therapy.

5. Impacting Patient Lives

As a dental assistant,⁣ you play ⁤a crucial role in⁣ improving⁢ patients’ oral health and ⁤overall well-being. This job is incredibly rewarding as you ​get‍ to:

Help patients feel ​at ease during dental⁤ procedures

Educate patients about oral hygiene and‍ health

Make a positive impact on their lives by restoring ⁣their smile

Benefits ​of Enrolling​ Today

When you enroll in an academy of dental assisting, you gain essential advantages:

Comprehensive ⁣Curriculum: ​ A well-rounded education​ covering essential​ skills.

Networking Opportunities: ⁤Connections ‌with industry professionals⁤ that can lead to job placements.

Supportive ​Environment: ‍A⁣ dedicated faculty that⁤ encourages student success.

Real-Life Success ⁤Stories

Many successful dental‍ assistants share common themes‍ of perseverance and passion. Here are brief case studies of individuals who transformed⁢ their lives through dental assisting:

Maria Gomez: Went from⁣ a high school ​dropout⁢ to⁤ a ⁤lead dental ​assistant, now earning‍ over ​$50,000 a year.

James Chen: ‍Transitioned from retail to dental​ assisting, now⁤ pursuing dental hygiene after gaining experience.

Linda Patel: Enrolled in an ⁣online ‌program, became a certified dental assistant, and opened her private practice.

Conclusion

Enrolling in an academy of dental assisting is a decision that can truly transform your future. ⁤With high demand for dental assistants, competitive‍ salaries, a hands-on learning‌ experience, and opportunities for ⁣advancement, it’s an ideal time to take the next step in your⁣ career. If you’re ‌passionate ⁣about making a difference in people’s lives and working in a dynamic field, consider ​enrolling today. The doors to a fulfilling career⁤ in dental ‌assisting⁢ are wide open—take the ⁤first step and unlock your future!

https://dentalassistantclasses.net/unlock-your-future-top-5-reasons-to-enroll-in-an-academy-of-dental-assisting-today/

[marketsndata]

Superconducting Materials Market Size, Share and Growth Forecast 2031

Global superconducting materials market size was valued at USD 2.07 billion in 2022, expected to reach USD 4.6 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 10.5% for the forecast period between 2023 and 2030. The development and advancement in materials has led to the introduction of superconducting materials. The growing market in healthcare, energy, and transportation has significantly driven the technologies spectrum for superconducting materials. 

High temperature superconductors are used for round conductors and solenoid applications in healthcare and electrical sectors. Superconducting magnetic systems are truly reliable and deliver high performance by ensuring safety parameters, used as current limiters and in lead applications. Superconductor magnetic bearing is used in high-speed textile and processing machines to run dynamic yarn processing effectively. Resilient electric grid is developed using advanced superconducting materials using high power medium voltage cable technology.

Incorporation of Superconducting Materials in Developing Electric Grid and Distribution System 

Considering the objective of net zero goals transport, heating and similar industries need to be electrified during the upcoming years. Superconducting cables are potentially great to transmit humongous electricity in a small space for congested urban grids. Superconducting cables transform urban power by eliminating heating, electric and magnetic fields. High temperature superconductors make power grid units and transmission cables by providing cryogenic compound insulation, usually liquid nitrogen surrounding the cable. 

Brass metal is extensively used in high-current AC or DC applications like power transmission and distribution without affecting the voltage and providing high strength and stability. Copper metal find the application in power dense coils for developing synchronous motors, generators, and magnets. The market for superconducting materials can be emphasized as its incorporation in building resilience electrical power grid and distribution network.

The European Commission has executed an action plan for 2022 for “Digitalization of the energy system” to invest around USD 633 billion by 2030 to develop an advanced European electricity grid. China has already implemented measures to modernize and enhance the power grid system by investing USD 442 billion from 2021 to 2025. The United States commenced the Grid Resilience Innovative Partnership (GRIP) program in 2022 with a funding amount of USD 10.5 billion with the objective to upgrade and expand grid networks.

Superconducting Materials to Augment the Technology of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The conventional equipment for performing magnetic resonance imaging usually takes around 1-2 hours, but with the introduction of superconducting materials, the MRI examination time has come down to minutes. Superconductivity is considered important for MRI scanning devices that assist in creating unprecedented views of structures deep inside the human body. Conventional MRI with novel elements, like magnesium and titanium, can generate magnetic fields at higher rates. For instance, Hitachi has exceptionally developed a 1.1-m-diameter magnesium bromide superconducting magnet where the time required to perform MRI examinations is 10 minutes. All modern MRI scanners are equipped with niobium-titanium (NbTi) superconducting materials with multiple NbTi microfilaments embedded in a copper core. These advanced MRI scanners provides superior soft-tissue imaging to assist doctors in predicting various diseases like cancer, Alzheimer, trauma injury, etc.

Japan has the highest density of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units, accounting for over 55 units per every million of its population, followed by the United States and Germany. Siemens in Germany has commenced a whole-body MRI scanner Magentom Free Star that is enabled with AI-based technology that generates superior image quality.

Applications of Superconducting Materials as a Magnetic Bearing in Textile Machines

Cooled superconductors require an additional positioning system, which is significantly replaced by superconductor magnetic bearings in a stable position. Shock-staple yarn production is progressively achieved by the ring spinning technique operating at a maximum speed of 25,000 rpm and is widely adopted across the textile industry. The SMBs are used as twist elements that comprise a rotating permanent-magnetic ring that handles the yarn twisting. The problem of friction-induced heat generation in the ring-traveler twist element during ring spinning is overcome through superconductive magnetic bearings.

Data released by the Ministry of Textiles, India states that FDI has invested USD 1522.23 million in the textile sector from 2017-2022. In 2022, the net value of the United States manufactured fiber, textile, and apparel shipments accounted for an estimated over USD 65.8 billion, whereas the export of fibers and textiles contributed to around USD 34 billion. Around 33% of companies across the European Union are textile-based, accounting for micro and SMEs. With such impeccable figures, Europe has extreme potential for a superconducting materials market that generates phenomenal opportunities to replace conventional technologies.

Download Free Sample Report

Impact of COVID-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 severely impacted numerous sectors with a shutdown of industrial operations due to imposed lockdowns and less workforce, including Superconducting Materials. The lowering demand for textile production has substantially de-structured the incorporation of superconducting materials as the magnetic bearing was significantly discouraged. The closure of various industrial manufacturing units has reduced resources to manage the electric-grid distribution network which substantially degraded the market of superconducting materials.

Report Scope:

“Superconducting Materials Market Assessment, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F”, is a comprehensive report by Markets and data, providing in-depth analysis and qualitative and quantitative assessment of the current state of the global superconducting materials market, industry dynamics, and challenges. The report includes market size, segmental shares, growth trends, COVID-19 impact, opportunities, and forecast between 2023 and 2030. Additionally, the report profiles the leading players in the industry mentioning their respective market share, business model, competitive intelligence, etc.

Click here for full report- https://www.marketsandata.com/industry-reports/superconducting-materials-market

Contact

Mr. Vivek Gupta 5741 Cleveland street, Suite 120, VA beach, VA, USA 23462 Tel: +1 (757) 343–3258 Email: info@marketsandata.com Website: https://www.marketsandata.com

[oldschoolfic-ds9]

Chocolate Surprises

by T’Lin, 2004

A little vignette, in celebration of Valentine's Day.

Kira lay on the bed, clad in nothing but a red lace teddy which shimmered in the candlelight.

Words: 2031, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: none listed

Characters: Kira Nerys, Leeta

Relationships: Kira/Leeta

Reader suggested tags (what are these?): Femme Fuh-Q Fest (round 13)

links (link broken? report it and try the archive.org alternative):

oocities

archive.org - option 1 / option 2 [Archivist’s note: nsfw image at top of page.]

[superiordiamond]

Choosing the Perfect Diamond Ring: Tips for a Dazzling Statement Piece

The magical sparkle of a diamond ring can make hearts flutter, and eyes shine. It's more than a piece of jewelry. This beautiful item symbolizes love, commitment, and personal style. As you embark on the journey of choosing the perfect diamond ring, it's essential to understand the 4Cs of diamonds—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight—determining the quality and value of your gem. Let's not forget the fifth important C, a Certificate, ensuring your diamond's authenticity. We guide you through each step at Superior Diamond, ensuring you create a dazzling statement piece uniquely yours.

Steps to Getting the Perfect Diamond

#1 - Size

Size matters when it comes to diamonds, but remember, bigger isn't always better. The perfect diamond size fits your hand proportionately, complements your style, and aligns with your budget. We offer a diverse range of sizes, ensuring everyone finds a diamond that fits just right.

#2 - Shape

The shape of a diamond dramatically influences its overall appearance. From traditional round cuts to more modern forms like princess, cushion, Asscher, emerald, marquise, oval, or pear-shaped, the shape choice reflects your style. Each shape radiates a unique sparkle, and choosing the right one can enhance the beauty of your ring.

#3 - Cut Quality

The cut of a diamond refers not to its shape but to the quality of its facets, symmetry, and polish. The better the cut quality, the more the diamond sparkles, affecting how light is refracted within the gem. When selecting your diamond, you can rest assured knowing we prioritize excellent cut quality to maximize your diamond's brilliance.

#4 - Color

While colorless diamonds are traditional favorites, colored diamonds have gained popularity for their unique and dramatic appeal. Fancy blue, orange, yellow, brown, black, red, and pink – our selection is a vibrant rainbow waiting to be explored. Choosing the perfect color can make your diamond ring a true reflection of your personality.

#5 - Clarity

Clarity refers to the absence of internal or external flaws, known as inclusions and blemishes. Diamonds with fewer flaws have higher clarity, enhancing their beauty and value. Every diamond at Superior Diamond is carefully evaluated for clarity, ensuring you purchase a gem of high aesthetic and monetary value.

#6 - Carat Weight

Carat weight impacts a diamond's size and price. While it might be tempting to opt for higher carat weight, remember that it's the balance of all the 4Cs that creates a stunning diamond. Whether you prefer a minimalist design or a grand statement piece, our professional team offers a range of carat weights for all preferences and budgets.

Don't Forget the Certificate

The diamond certificate is your assurance of the diamond's quality and authenticity. It verifies the 4Cs of your diamond and ensures you're making a well-informed purchase. There is a lot of discussion about how and why diamonds are sourced. Having a certificate goes a long way to offering you the peace of mind you want for your quality diamond. Interestingly, as consumers become more conscious of their environmental footprint, lab-grown diamonds are gaining popularity. According to recent research, the lab-grown diamond market is projected to reach $55.6 billion globally by 2031. Superior Diamond offers a range of these ethically sourced, environmentally friendly alternatives, providing the same beauty and brilliance as their mined counterparts.

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect diamond ring can be an exciting journey filled with love, anticipation, and joy. Whether it's an engagement, an anniversary, or a gift to yourself, a diamond ring from Superior Diamond is more than just a piece of jewelry. It's a personal statement, a tale of love, and a reflection of your unique style. Are you ready to create your dazzling statement piece? Connect with Superior Diamond today, and let us guide you toward your perfect diamond ring.

[webnewsify1]

Solar Eclipse 2023: All you need to know about 

A hybrid solar eclipse will be observed on April 20.Only a few times a century does this alignment occur. As the moon's shadow sweeps across the Earth's surface during this alignment, the sun will be blocked out by the moon, changing the type of eclipse from a total solar eclipse to an annular (ring-shaped) eclipse, according to Space.com. An eclipse's phase can occasionally change from annular to total as the Moon's shadow round the globe due to the curvature of the Earth's surface. The most recent hybrid solar eclipse occurred in 2013, and the following ones will take place in 2031 and 23 March 2164, respectively, according to Space.com. The hybrid solar eclipse is known as the Ningaloo Eclipse after an indigenous Australian phrase. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up, either completely or partially, solar eclipses take place. Eclipses offer a singular, fascinating view of either the Sun or the Moon, depending on how they line up. Total, annular, partial, and hybrid solar eclipses are the four different varieties. A total solar eclipse, as defined by NASA, occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, fully obscuring the Sun's surface. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon is in front of the Sun and at or near its distance from Earth. The Moon appears smaller than the Sun and partially blocks it because of its greater distance from Earth. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not quite aligned and the Moon crosses the path of the Sun, a partial solar eclipse occurs. The Sun will appear to be half obscured and will resemble a crescent. Due to the curvature of the earth's surface and the rarity of hybrid solar eclipses, an eclipse may occasionally change from annular to total when the Moon's shadow passes over the earth. When to watch The hybrid solar eclipse will not be seen in India, however it can be seen in western Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesia. According to a report from In the Sky, it will take place over western Australia, East Timor, and Indonesia from the South Pacific starting at 9:36 p.m. EDT on April 19 and lasting until 2:59 a.m. EDT on April 20. According to some accounts, it will be seen in Indonesia from 11:23 pm to 11:58 pm EDT, in East Timor from 11:19 pm to 11:22 pm EDT, and in Western Australia from 10.29 pm to 10.35 pm EDT. Read the full article

[leupagus]

It's The Mileage pt. 2, aka you shouldn't have encouraged this

continuing from this, but to be super clear, it's still @robinade's fault:

*

Things got weirder from there, which honestly didn’t bother me that much. Talking foxes and trolls and people who can turn your beer into water if you piss them off aren’t really covered at Hendon but it’s not like they aren’t still Londoners. My grandfather’s ex-Job and he’s always said that you have to remember that they’re all people, even the ones who are hurting other people, and nine times out of ten the worst ones you’ll meet are the ones sharing the uniform.

But he’s also the one who said, 'What the fuck are you playing at?' the first time he met Tommy, which wasn’t really what I’d expected him to say.

Actually, I’d been trying to avoid the whole thing for almost a year. Tommy and I got on really well, but I think we both sort of kept our friendship to the clock, if that makes any sense. We’d go to the pub with the rest of the PCs, and he even came to one of my matches — the semi-final, where we only lost because Stacey Hardwicke got her ear sort of ripped off — again — but Tommy had a sort of barricade around himself. (Later on he told me that he felt the same way about me, which just goes to show that you should always ignore barricades.) So I knew his favorite team and his favorite beer but not the names of any of his brothers or sisters, or if he had brothers or sisters, or who his mum was or what the deal was with the beautiful bloke who still picked him up after shift on the regular, although sometimes it was a beautiful woman with short natural hair and a couple of times an even more beautiful woman with a cascade of dreadlocks and a permanently amused expression. And he didn’t know any of that stuff about me.

Which meant that when Grandad showed up at the nick to surprise me for my birthday, it was one of those birthday surprises that ends in disaster. At least I wasn’t wearing a prom dress and crying about everyone forgetting; probably no one was ever going to forget this.

'…hi,' I said, trying to get Tommy behind me. I’d learned in the past year that Tommy can take a punch, but it leads to him looking like rough trade for two weeks and we end up having to arrest people who come up and proposition him. Even with the uniform. On days when we’re really cold and miserable, we can just wander around Covent Garden until some middle-aged banker throws money at Tommy for a quick beej down the alley, and that’s a whole three hours in the nice warm station with some cocoa and our after-action reports. (Yes, it's still technically a crime in 2031. What can I say, the law is a slow-moving beast.)

Grandad glowered at me, which was new. He’s not exactly the mythic figure of legend that Tommy’s dad is, on account of my grandfather still being alive and able to turn down the offers of commendations and knightships and all, but he certainly had a reputation. (One reason I didn’t go round telling everyone about him; bad enough when you’re a girl stood a hair under two meters, without having to live up to the image of a bull in a teashop, or whatever the saying is.) But I got all the nice bits of him: teaching me how to ride a bike and telling me gruffly that he was proud of me and big bear hugs and not a lot of shouting.

'Me?' said Tommy, with the same level of outrage Grandad seemed to be harboring, just more expensively. 'What the devil are you doing here?'

'Kay, who do you think this is?' asked Grandad, which was such a weird question that I answered it.

'I think he’s my partner,' I said slowly. Maybe Grandad was having some sort of… old person issue. 'You remember? I told you about him.'

'Tommy. Of fucking course. I should’ve known that God would curse my family with this, too,' said Grandad, and pulled out his mobile, jabbing at it hard enough to crack the casing.

I turned to Tommy, who was scowling at my grandfather like he owed him money. And then I remembered all those propositions, and how my grandfather’s been a bachelor for over five years, and — oh God. 'Please tell me he’s not a john of yours or something,' I said.

Tommy reared back like he’d just stepped in vomit again. 'He most certainly isn’t,' he hissed. 'He’s an old… associate. But not like that,' he added with a comfortingly disgusted look.

But then I rewound what he’d said. 'How old an associate can he be? You’re nineteen.' He wasn’t, of course, but he was definitely younger than me, and had been hilariously cagey about telling me his birthday. Probably to avoid something like this from happening.

Whoever Grandad was calling finally picked up the phone. 'Grant, do you want to know where I am?' said Grandad, in that tone of voice that means all questions are going to be rhetorical and you'd best not try being clever with answering them. 'I’m at Charing Cross nick, picking up my granddaughter for her birthday, and her partner is standing here, and would you like to know who that fucker is?'

Over the tinny sound of laughter, Tommy blinked and seemed to be putting things together. 'You’re Alexander Seawoll’s granddaughter?'

[airmanisr]

RD22188sc. 41298 at Wootton. by Ron Fisher Via Flickr: RD22188sc. Over the weekend 25th / 26th September, 2031, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway held a 1960s event and this photo shows Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T 41298 running round its train at Wootton; it’s a screenshot from a video that I took while I was there: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmi3s6UAgwA&list=PLFsbViNeGSH... The time frame was 1967 and they supposed that the Isle of Wight railways weren’t closed or electrified; instead, steam haulage continued and British Railways shipped some Ivatt class 2MT 2-6-2Ts over to the Island to replace the ageing O2 Class 0-4-4Ts. As was customary on the Isle of Wight railways, the Ivatt tanks were given names of towns on the Island with one being called COWES and another RYDE. Although the Adams O2 tanks were withdrawn, one, W24 CALBOURNE, was purchased for preservation and this was displayed at Haven Street restored to the Southern Railway Malachite Green livery. To compliment the trains, there were also a few 1960s manufactured cars plus live groups playing music from that era. Saturday, 25th September, 2021. Copyright © Ron Fisher 2022. ***For a list of videos of railways on the Isle of Wight, see here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFsbViNeGSHm92mgSa9RN0GJdL... 

[squarecarousel]

Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: A-Frame Studio Life Buckle up-- this is a long one! Wow, ten years. It’s hard to believe a whole decade has passed since Square Carousel began, and since I graduated college. In some ways, it feels like another lifetime, and in others, it feels vastly shorter than the decade before that, from ages 12 to 22. Time is fascinating that way. College was such an incredibly impactful time period, but just a measly 4 years-- I could have done college 2.5 more times back-to-back in the years since I graduated, but somehow those four, from 2007-2011 were monumental.  It’s hard to believe I’ll be in a post-college world without Square Carousel, since the group has been a constant in my life these last ten years. I’m really proud that we made it this far and are able to choose to end the journey, rather than it fizzling out or dying from lack of interest. Sometimes it felt like that might happen, but other times it felt like we were blooming. There have been many ups and downs over the course of this journey. And damn, it was a lot of hard to work to keep running, but I am so grateful for the learning experience. I know so much more about leadership now than I ever would have before-- the delicate balance of having rules to keep the group running (deadlines, participation requirements, our dreaded “strike system”) and keeping up morale (knowing when to forgive slip-ups, keeping challenges sufficiently entertaining and well...challenging, making sure the group feels like it’s a community). Elizabeth and I were reluctant leaders, just naturally having to take those roles as other original members of the group left and were replaced by folks who needed guidance. We definitely didn’t seek it out, but we knew that if the group were to stay alive, we had to put some structure into the system. Pretty early on we made our rules and guidelines, extended the challenges to 3 weeks from just 2, and worked on our visual image online. Our awesome logo was made by former member Casey Crisenbery, and we switched from Wordpress to Tumblr, purchasing a URL, and Casey using special code for custom organization on the site. Sketch critiques were now a halfway point through our 3 weeks-long challenge, which helped a lot with the community aspect and engagement. We started doing interviews for each member, reaching out to other illustration groups, blogs and submission sites and had our work featured on a few of them. Some of us even got jobs from the connections made through Square Carousel!  There was a bad stretch several years ago when I wasn’t sure we’d make it through, with toxic behavior and a few folks petitioning for removing deadlines and structure, making everything optional. One thing I can tell you with certainty after ten years of working with artists is that 95% of us require deadlines to do anything, and incentives/obligations for meeting those deadlines, or it just isn’t going to happen! Elizabeth and I, along with a few other solid members, were able to keep the structure we’d worked hard to create, but the toxic culture had already killed group morale and we lost a lot of members simultaneously. That was a sad and scary time for Square Carousel, but I didn’t want to go out on a sour note. So the small group of us picked the pieces back up again, did a little refocus on our goals as a collective and created an “Admin” so Elizabeth and I didn’t have to carry the entire burden alone. I am forever grateful to Sayada and Jordan for stepping up into these roles to help us get the train back on track. Sayada especially picked up a lot of responsibilities that a newer member shouldn’t have to worry about, and was a total rockstar for Square Carousel. I wish we’d had her with us for the whole ride. I’m so happy that we’ve had a few really great years with some really loyal and talented artists to round out the experience at Year Ten.  There is nobody I’m more thankful for than my Good Cop, Elizabeth, though. She was so reliable, always able to provide balance in our leadership roles, and such a wonderful shoulder to cry on when things got too stressful. Elizabeth, thank you for this journey and for being my SC Wife all these years! It’s so funny because of all the original members, you were one of the only ones I hadn’t really known from SCAD classes, yet you’re the SCAD Illustration friend I have remained most connected to most consistently. Nothing bonds you quite like running an illustration collective does! It also cracks me up that in all these years, we hadn’t ever facetimed or talked on the phone until a few months ago--I didn’t even know your mannerisms or voice, but knew you so well anyway. My greatest internet friend! I love you dearly and it truly won’t feel right, the absence of our weekly SC conversations. Thank you for all of the memories! As just a member and artist, this group has helped me grow so much professionally. It was my client when I didn’t have clients. It was my motivation to paint when I didn’t feel creative. It was my source of portfolio-worthy work, but also my safe place to experiment and fail when I was trying something new. The girl who started as a Square Carousel member freshly graduated in 2011 was working part-time at Urban Outfitters, had basically no money, and no clue how to promote herself. The “studio” was a corner of the bedroom and nobody took her seriously. But a stubborn dedication and the security, purpose and structure of Square Carousel helped the slow change from that lost girl to a full-time freelancing woman. Now, in 2021, I have been doing freelance illustration fully for six years, through contract jobs, editorial, publishing, advertising, commission and local work, as well as selling prints and products online, in local shops and events. I am not making the big bucks, certainly, and I still have goals I’m working towards, but damn, if that isn’t a glow-up, I don’t know what is. Thank you for helping me achieve my impossible dream, Square Carousel, and always being a place with the right amount of advice, support and critique. Ten years, 34 artist interviews, 38 artists, and 144 challenges. I’m the only member to have completed every single one. 144 illustrations through the years. Some were game-changers for my style and my portfolio. Some were total stinkers and I hope you don’t go looking for them. But all were an important step in my career.   So, in ten more years? I’ll be 42 years old, which is very weird because I have never imagined myself that old before... it’s hard to honestly say what that would look like, especially considering the world we are currently living in and how the last 4/5 years have proven that anything (awful) can happen. Jordan and I have a goal to move to Colorado in the next 4 or 5 years, and I’d love to have a little A-Frame in the mountains with a loft studio, shown in my illustration here. Texas has become extremely problematic, especially after the winter storm in February of this year, and will be impacted greatly by climate change, both environmentally and economically. Right now, Austin is still booming, but at some point the lack of foresight in this state’s government is going to screw over the residents and it will be one of the places from which climate refugees run. Is that tomorrow? No, obviously not. But I want to already be settled someplace more stable, having grown some roots, before other folks start to roll in. But, to be able to do that, I need to rely less on my local jobs and connections and be able to have an “anywhere career.” So right now I am focusing on expanding in that way, particularly with book cover illustration and design. I’ve been doing a lot of portfolio work and self-publishing jobs, and hope to get an agent that can shop my work to big-time publishers sometime in the next year or two. Let’s say I succeed at all of those things in five years-- we’re in our Colorado A-Frame, I’m illustrating book covers (and I’ve also convinced my parents to come with me, and maybe a couple friends!). The next five years after that? I don’t know... hopefully a lot of adventures. Hopefully a lot of cool jobs, but also a lot of work/life balance. Right now, I don’t want kids, so the A-Frame will be filled with cats. Maybe we’ll have an old camper van for regular road trips around the western National Parks. I’d love for my work to reflect those passions-- more jobs with outdoor brands, parks, organizations. More book covers for stuff I’d personally love to read and keep on my overflowing shelf. That’s the vague goal for me in ten years, but I don’t want to plan any further than that, because life just also needs to happen the way it’s going to happen. There are parts of my current life I planned for in 2011... and there are parts I never, ever would have guessed. I hope there’s some fun surprises in 2031, too. Thanks for the decade, Square Carousel. Joining illustration collectives will always be the first bit of advice I give fresh graduates. Caitlin

[preppernewstoday]

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, a roundup on demographic shifts in The American Redoubt. National and Region-Wide Trends Most Conservative States 2022. o  o  o Americans are fleeing to places where political views match their own. o  o  o The 10 U.S. states where income has risen the fastest since 2019. o  o  o How the U.S. Electorate’s Ideology Has Changed Since 2017. A quote: “The share of the electorate identifying as “very liberal,” “liberal” or “somewhat liberal” on a seven-point scale has dropped over the past five years, from 34% to 27%.” o  o  o The ‘Red Wave’ Has Begun: More Than 1 Million Voters Across 43 States Switch to Republican. o  o  o And from a left-leaning publication: Commentary: Lesser Oregon and Greater Idaho. Idaho University of Idaho: Idaho’s demographics changing at unprecedented rates. JWR’s Comment: What this article fails to mention is that the great majority of the state’s newcomers are conservative and that they tend to have large families. o  o  o Idaho population projected to top 2 million by 2031. o  o o Conservatives move to rural Idaho to escape liberal politics. o  o  o From a liberally-biased news outlet: ‘Republican and more Republican’: Idaho shifts ever rightward. o  o  o After being unfairly banned from most social media and hounded by liberal critics and web trolls, comedian Owen Benjamin has relocated to North Idaho  — not far from tehe post office where I take my mail. His website: The Beartaria Times. Montana Montana’s fastest-growing city last year? It wasn’t Bozeman. An excerpt: “Montana as a whole, in comparison, posted 1.7% population growth overall, adding just more than 18,000 people between 2020 and 2021. Several rural counties in western Montana also posted eye-catching growth figures, adding hundreds of residents and growing even faster in percentage terms than Flathead and Ravalli counties: Mineral (Superior) and Broadwater (Townsend) at 6.5 percent each, and Sanders (Thompson Falls) and Lincoln (Libby) at 4.1 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively.” o  o  o Former state legislator dies while hunting in Bridgers. o  o  o In The Daily Mail: ‘We were used as puppets to put on a show’: Miss Montana slams Miss USA pageant organizers for ‘rigging’ contest to let Miss Texas win after giving her ‘more resources’. o  o  o This was posted back in 2021: New census data shows reshaping of Montana population. Central & Eastern Oregon Why Republicans Could Win Oregon’s Governorship For The First Time In 40 Years. o  o  o A Look at Population Trends in Eastern Oregon. o  o  o Politics permeate Pendleton Round-Up as Oregon governor’s race heats up. The article begins: “Every year, people from all over the world gather in Pendleton, a city of 17,000 in northeastern Oregon, for the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the largest rodeo events in the country. With that in mind, all three candidates to be Oregon’s next governor trekked to Pendleton last week to mingle with potential voters. As upwards of 50,000 people and their animals descend upon the city each year, so too do political candidates from across Oregon, eager to increase their exposure before the next election. This practice has lasted for decades but has taken on added importance this year. That’s because this year’s race to replace Democratic Gov. Kate Brown at the end of her final term could be the closest contest in years, with three candidates — Democrat Tina Kotek, Republican Christine Drazan and unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson — vying for support.” Central & Eastern Washington Kennewick, Washington Will be Among the Fastest Growing Cities by 2060. o  o  o Tri-Cities population growth outpaces housing availability.

Wyoming Wyoming’s population growth outpacing other states. o  o  o Liz Cheney says she will do whatever it takes to keep Donald Trump from the White House, even if it means leaving the GOP. Send Your News Tips Please send your American Redoubt region news tips, event announcements, and American Redoubt-based companies worthy of a mention to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

[georgiagassavings]

AGL Building 2nd LNG Tank

New Post has been published on https://www.georgiagassavings.com/blog/agl-building-2nd-lng-tank/

AGL Building 2nd LNG Tank

Does LNG Storage Cut Natural Gas Prices in Georgia?

AGL’s second LNG tank doesn’t seem like a big thing — but it really is. Find out how it will help keep your natural gas bills lower and improve reliability.

Hasn’t exactly been the best season for energy shoppers, has it? But there’s a sliver of good news coming ‘round the mountain. Because natural gas provider Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) is continuing to build out its storage capacity in Cherokee. Yes, construction on their Ball Ground facility’s second liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank is properly underway. Hooray! Are you with us, or does that sound about as dry as your lawn in a heatwave? Well, we’ll give you a refresher on why it’s going to help keep those power bills cheap. 

What’s AGL Doing with an LNG Tank?

AGL is one of the largest cheap natural gas distributors in the South, and the largest in Georgia. They’re the ones who take that pesky pass through charge, remember? Now, Georgia is particularly dependent on these guys. See, whilst Georgia is one of the hungriest natural gas consumers, it doesn’t produce a puff of the stuff itself.

So any squeezes on AGL’s distribution systems could be kicked down pretty hard to consumers in the form of higher rates – and potentially unreliable supply. What kind of squeezes? Well, this spring’s energy crisis in Europe, for example. Or the rising natural gas demand reported by the Energy Information Administration. 

AGL’s response has been to put together what they’re calling an ‘Integrated Capacity and Delivery Plan’ for 2022-2031. It’s basically a series of projects that will help them store and deliver more natural gas and do it more reliably. The work on the Cherokee facility tank is part of this. 

New Cherokee LNG Tank: What, Why, and Where?

When you cool natural gas to around -260°F, it changes into a liquid that takes up only 1/600th of its original volume. This makes it a doddle, relatively speaking, to transport and store huge amounts of it. And if AGL can keep the aforementioned huge amounts in storage, they’ll have something to dip into when other sources get low or expensive. It gives them an alternative to drying up consumer supply or hiking up consumer prices.

The Cherokee LNG storage facility in Ball Ground currently has one tank, and can store about 2 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas. The new tank is going to double this. Just recently AGL raised the roof on it, and for reference, that roof weighs 444 tons: about 11 humpback whales. That’s gonna store a whole lotta LNG.

This project is slated to wrap up at some point over the next three years. And whilst that might seem a while, it’s still a quicker way to increase capacity than building out more interstate pipelines. That’s great news because natural gas demand isn’t getting any slower.

Keeping your Natural Gas Bills Low, Now and in Future!

AGL‘s new Ball Ground facility tank might not be completed just yet, but it’s on track – and in infrastructure development, that’s worth a round of applause. This is important, because that extra storage capacity will help insulate Georgia, somewhat, from the pressures of increased market demand. So with AGL building 2nd LNG tank, you’ve got a bit of longer-term protection. Protect yourself in the short term, by exploring some cheap natural gas plans at www.georgiagassavings.com!

[fereality-indy]

Gravity Falls: The Kids Are All Right Ch 2 Ran Not Away

At A Large Creek About Two Miles From The Mystery Shack               

Gravity Falls, OR                                       

Friday May 30th, 2031                                

Flashback Approximately An Hour And A Half Ago

 Terrance ‘Ran’ Pines was vigorously going through the mental checklist he had made of all the pointers his mom had taught him on how to remain calm, cool, and collected in stressful situations. But really she never taught him how to do it in this type of situation.

 “Are you sure you set your clothes down over here?” He called back over his shoulder as he looked through a bush for the missing items. He really didn’t know how he got into this predicament, he had came into the woods trying to find a replacement butterfly for his sister, not to stumble across a girl who had been swimming in just her underwear and apparently lost her clothes.

 “Yeah, right next to that rock there.” A voice came from behind him as a slender arm pointed just to the left of where he was looking. “Thank you for letting me borrow your shirt.”

He was glad he had worn on of his baggier Hawaiian shirts today. When she had told him what had happened he had graciously taken it of and left it by the creek bank as he turned and began looking for her clothes while she had put on his shirt.

 “It’s no problem. I’m sure we’ll find your clothes soon.” He said as he did his best to keep from staring at her. His parents raised him to be respectful so it was probably easier for him than most guys. “The names Ran by the way.”    

 “I’m Meaghan,” she said as she offered her hand.

 “Alright Meaghan,” Ran said as he shook her hand, “let’s get back to looking. If we can’t find them…”

 “We have to find them. I can’t go back to my family without them.” she said as she crumbled to the ground.

 “Oh, if we can’t find them I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you getting something from the Shack. And then we can call your parents.” Ran said as he finally turned around. Seeing the state she was in he went over tried placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

 “No! No! No! That won’t work.” she started screaming before she broke down crying, “I need my clothes, I can’t go back to my family without them.”

 Pulling her into a gentle hug  “Ok, I’ll keep looking. What color where they again?”

 “Steel grey, like my hair.” She replied as she pulled her braid around to the front and ran it through her fingers nervously.

 Ran would have sworn her hair was black, but now that he was closer it seems to have been a combo of the wetness of her hair and the lighting that made it look that way. “And what about your shoes?”

 “I, uhmm, didn’t wear any.” Meaghan said as she subconsciously pulled her feet up under her.

 Realizing that he was possibly making her nervous by being so close he got up and started searching again, this time out past the bush and rock  where she had said she had left her clothes. It was while he was doing this that it struck him, they were at least a couple miles from civilization and most of that was paths that would be harsh on bare feet.

 Mystery Shack

Present Time

 “Hey Debbie, where’s your brother?” Dipper asked his daughter after he realized that though Antonio was  here, he didn’t see Ran anywhere.

 “I’m not sure dad. We got into a fight earlier and he ran off.” Debbie said in a muffled tona as she hugged her dad close and trying to hold back tears, “I thought he would be back by now. I’m scared dad.”

 “He went into the woods, Mr. Pines. I thought it would be best if I calmed Debbie down while he maybe tried to catch her a new butterfly or something.” Antonio said shaking his head.  

 “Thanks Antonio,” Dipper said as he hugged his daughter, “It’s ok sweetheart. Remember he’s not only a Pines, he’s a Corduroy too. And these woods have been protecting the Corduroys for as long as they’ve been living with them. Let me call your mother and then we’ll go find him.”  

 He held on to Debbie with one arm as he pulled out his phone with the other.

 Soos and Melody joined them in the Gift Shop. Soos held a small phone in his hand, “He left in such a rush he forgot his phone. Sorry bro.”

 “It’s ok Soos, he knows this area of the woods pretty good. And most of the woods know him.” Dipper said as he dialed his wife’s number. After she answered he said, “Hey honey, Ran’s been out in the woods for a couple of hours. Yeah, a fight with Debbie. Uh huh, sure. Alright we’ll be here.”

 Dipper hung up his phone. He looked at Debbie and wiped a tear from her face, before turning his attention to the rest of those gathered. “Wendy just finished up reporting to the Mayor. She should be here in a couple of minutes. Luckily we have a plan for if any of the kids get lost in the woods.”

 Melody said under her breath, “Of course you’d have a plan for something like this.”

 Across Town At The Mayor’s Office

 Wendy hangs up her phone and turns back to the person sitting behind the desk, “Well that was Dipper, one of the kids may be lost in the woods I gotta get moving.”

 “Well which of my grandkids is in trouble this time?” the mayor said from the recesses of his too large for him chair.

 “It’s Ran. And just how did you know it was one of my kids?” Wendy asked with a smirk.

 “Because it was someone else’s you would have complained about ‘why parents in this town don’t teach their kids to respect the woods!’ instead of ‘one of the kids’. And you would have mentioned it if it was one of your friends’ kids.” The mayor said with a knowing smile she really remembers seeing the first time back we she told him that she and Dipper had started dating. “So why are you still standing here, you’ve got a missing son. Go git em!”  

 As she left the office, she stuck her head into the office of the town’s social media and tourism specialist. “Hey Tambers, thought I’d stop by to tell that dinner plans may have to be put on hold.”

 “Shoot, I was looking forward to seeing you guys this evening. What emergency did the boss come up with this time? Did someone file a noise complaint against Multibear again or something?” the magenta haired social media expert asked her oldest friend with a chuckle, remembering how the last complaint actually had come from a group of fairies who were upset that he had ate from their favorite berry bush and so they enchanted a pair of hikers to file the complaint.    

 “Nah, this one is personal. Ran went into the woods by the Shack earlier and hasn’t came out yet. I’m heading there now to start the search party.” Wendy said as she shook her head.

 “You want me to text Stacey to go help you? I mean she should be back from taking lil Genie to the mall.” Tambry asked with her phone appearing in her hand almost faster than Wendy could see.

 Wendy waved off the offer saying, “Nah, I can track better if I’m not having to worry about someone else’s kid. Besides, I’ll have Dipper.”

At that Tambry stopped short of sending out the text to her daughter she had started writing. “Yeah, I could  see how that would be problem some. Though I was gonna send her to watch Debbie for you guys.”  

 “Nah, thanks though. Soos, Melody, and Antonio are there. They can keep an eye on Debbie.” Wendy said as she started to leave. Before she shut the door she stuck her head back in and said, “I’ll call if things change.”

 At The Arcade

 “Ok, you’re going down this time Chiu.” Ed called as he furiously pounded a set of buttons while rotating the control stick in front of him.

 “Yeah right, I’ve beat you every time we've played this game.” Ginger responded as she carefully tapped the buttons needed to counter attack his character.

From across the arcade you could hear Ricky complain, “Grenda, that’s not how you play Dancy Pants Revolution Retro and you know it!”

 “What do you mean, I am gaining points aren’t I?” Ginger’s step brother said as he was seemingly using waltz movements to score points.

“I guess.” Ricky said throwing his hands up. “Hey, I’m gonna go check on Ed and your sister. I’ll be right back.”

 "No problem, I’ll still be here racking up points.” Grenda II said as he stopped waltzing and began playing the game earnestly.

 Ricky crossed the arcade and over to the Fight Fighters V game his brother and friend were playing. As he got over he saw that Ed was playing Beastor like usual while Ginger was playing Mi-Cha McSkirmish, a new character that is Rumble’s illegitimate daughter from South Korea. With her fondness for K-pop and whatnot, this didn’t surprise him. But reminded him of the fact that Uncle Dipper had told them not to mention it around the old Fight Fighters cabinet he has down in his basement game room. He knows the town has its eccentricities but that’s weird even for it.      

 “You winning bro?” he asked even though he could tell from here that Ginger had the upper hand.

 “No, she’s sweeping the floor with me.” Ed responded as he again began rapidly pounding buttons.

 “Don’t you mean that she’s ‘mopping the floor’ with you?” his brother asked.

 At that point Ginger had her character preform a leg sweep that ko’d  Ed’s. Ed turned back towards his brother, “Nope, I meant sweeping.”

 Suddenly a voice was carried from across the arcade near where Ricky left Grenda, “Oh look guys, it’s Little Lord Fancypants. You decide to come slum it with us common folks, Fancypants?”  

 “I think he might not have heard you, Alec. Maybe we should see if he need physical stimuli.” Another voice said before the sound of a body hitting the floor could be heard.

 As the friends started rushing towards Grenda they heard “Look I wonder if he even speaks American, don’t they speak something different over in Australia where he’s from?”

 As they turn the round the last game they see Alec Roberts, the worse bully at Archibald Corduroy Junior High, and his cronies, Danny King, & Max Brown, standing over Grenda with Alec actually having his foot on his chest. Alec looked down at Grenda and said, “Tell you what Fancypants, we’ll let you go back to your game for a small fee. Say five dollars for each of us.”

“Hey jerkface, what are you doing to my friend?” Ricky yelled before he ran and tackled Alec.

 He had no sooner had he plowed through the bully, then Ginger got down beside her brother making sure he was ok. Ed was at her side the whole time, glaring at the remaining two would be bullies.

 “Aw look, pacifier boy is here to defend Fancypants and his Otaku sister.” Danny said as he started towards them with Max following suit.

 “The term is pacifist Daniel,” Ed said in a calm clear voice, “It means someone who doesn’t believe that war and violence is the answer to life’s problems.”

 "So what? It still means you’re a wuss, Northwest.” Danny said as he went to swing at Ed who ducked.

 “Well you made three wrong assumptions about me. First is that since I don’t like to fight, it means that I’m a pacifist.” Ed said as he was dodging the first swing. Danny swung again which Ed easily dodged again saying, "The second is that since I’m a Northwest that I’m probably scared to get my hands dirty.”

 Ed then released a rabbit punch into Danny’s stomach followed by a right hook that sent Danny to the ground. “And finally you forgot that I’m a Pines, none of us are wusses.”

 "What happened to you Max?” Ginger asked after she was certain that Grenda was just dazed after his fall, “We used to be friends, until you started hanging with these jerks.”

 “They treat me good, and keep the others from bugging me. I just like feeling important, not like an insignificant dweeb. You know, like you said, we used to be friends. If you wanted to dump these losers, I’m sure I could talk the guys into letting you hang with us. You’d probably need to dump the band merch too.” Max said as he offered Ginger his hand to help her up.

 Taking it she stood up and said, “Oh you’d do that for me. How thoughtful. But really, that’s my brother. And if you look, it doesn’t seem like my friends aren’t the losers.”

 Max quickly turned saw that Ed was standing over a prone Danny and Ricky was getting up off a groaning Alec. He was then jerked back around by the hand Ginger still held. He faced her just in time to feel her knee connect below the belt. He doubled over just as she released his hand.  

 “So thanks, but no thanks. 얼간이.*” Ginger said as she went back and helped her brother to his feet.

 After he was standing, Grenda II looked around at the carnage and then at his approaching friends. “Thank you my friends. And you also Ginger, though don’t you think you went a little rough on him?”

 “Not really.” Ginger said as she saw the arcade employee, Ashley, standing there silently clapping.

 Realizing that she was seen Ashley Walked over to the group. Looking at the group she said, “Alright I hate to do this guys. Officially I’m gonna have to tell you that fighting of any type is prohibited and you guys have to be banned from the arcade for a week. It’s in store policy and unfortunately this was caught on film. Now unofficially, I’m glad someone put these guys in their place. I hate bullies.”

 “Alright, we get the picture Ash. Thanks for breaking it to us softly. We’ll get out of your hair.” Ed said as he reluctantly started leading the his brother and their friends towards the exit.

 “Remember it’ll only be for a week and I’ll talk to Mr. Decker and see if I can get it to be shorter.” Ashley said as she watched the group heading towards the door.

 “That’s ok. No need to put yourself out of sorts for us. We did the crime, we can do the time.” Ed responded as they hit the exit. As the others left Ed stopped himself to look back at Ashley and asked, “How’s things going between you and Jason?”

 “Good, we’ve got a date tomorrow night. Have I thanked you and Ginger yet?” Ashley said with a smile.

 “Yeah, you did. But you didn’t need to, we don’t do it for thanks. We do it for the cause of love.” Ed replied as he walked out of the door.

Ed joined the group outside while Ricky was pulling his hair back into his hairband from where the fight had messed it up. When he was done he looked at his brother and said, “What took you so long Ed?”

 “I asked Ashley how Jason was?” Ed said as he realized that his hand was hurting. This was the first time he had hit something other than the training bag mom had in the exercise room Mother had set up for them.  

 Ginger’s face lit up at the mention of Jason. She grabbed Ed’s hand and asked, “Are they still together?”

 Ed did a miniscule wince when grabbed his hand but knowing she meant no harm he hid it. Remarkably the longer she held it the less I seemed to hurt. Knowing she wanted an answer he replied, “Yep! They have a date tomorrow.”  

 “Alright that means it’s been two and a half month’s. I think we can quote your mom and call this one a ‘Match Made’!” Ginger said with a celebratory fist pump after releasing Ed’s hand.

 “Well now that that is out of the way,” Grenda II said with a smirk, “What are we going to do now?”

 “Hmm, I think Ran and Debbie are supposed to be at the Shack until their parent’s get done with whatever the hullabaloo the creatures of the woods are causing today. If they’re not there then at least maybe we can help Uncle Soos work on some displays.” Ed said. He was thinking that if they were there it would be another chance for him and Ginger to get his cousin and her brother together.

 "Really. De..., I mean your cousins will be there. That sounds good to me. Come on let’s be on our way.” Grenda said before he turned and quickly started heading in the direction of the Shack. With a little snickering at his enthusiastic agreement, the others started following him.

 As they walked they passed City Hall and the twins noticed their Aunt Wendy getting into her Alamo Jaunt. Ed called out, “Hi Aunt Wendy!”

 “Hi kids, I really don’t have time to talk. I’m in a rush to get to the Shack.” She said as she put on her seatbelt.

 “What a co-inky dink.” Ed said with a smile. “We were heading there ourselves. Any chance we could ride with you?”

 After thinking about it for a moment she replied, “Yeah, hope in. Ricky, you take the front seat and the rest of you get in the back.”

 After the kids were in she said, “Buckle up! We’re not gonna be taking the scenic route!”

 Back In The Woods 

Approximately Twenty-Five Minutes Ago

 “Meaghan, are you still over here?” Ran called as he worked his way back to where he had left her.  H had been making half circles spreading out from where she had said she had left her clothes. As he reached the creek he saw his shirt sitting on the rock he had last seen Meaghan sitting on. “Meaghan! Meaghan, where are you?!”

 He looked behind around the clearing while continuing call out for her. As he was searching in the hollow of a tree on the edge of the clearing he hears his name coming from back at the creek. He turned quickly and saw her head and bare shoulders breaking through the surface of the creek.

Quickly turning around so that his back was towards her and the creek he asked, “So why did you go back in the creek?”

 “I felt kind of bad that you were out there searching and I was sitting here, uhmm sorry but your shirt is gonna be a little wet, just sitting here doing nothing. So I decided that I would check the water to see if they had somehow been blown in.” Meaghan said. Ran heard the ruffling of the fabric as she buttoned up his shirt. “I’m done, you can turn back around.”

 “Thanks” Ran said as he turned back around. ”I hate to say this but I’ve looked everywhere I could think of to find your outfit. My parents are supposed to be at the Shack to pick me and my sister up soon. Why don't I call them and see if they could come help out.”

 Ran reached for his phone and when he realized it wasn’t there he began patting down his pockets before he remembered having it out on the table when his sister walked in on his taxidermy project. “Shoot, I left it back at the Shack. Now they’re really worry. And I’m gonna be in so much trouble. I’ve got to get back there.”

 Meaghan stood there looking like she was near tears at his statement. With a stomp of her foot she said, "You can’t leave, you promised to help me find my clothes.”    

 “I wasn’t gonna leave you, it’s just I need to get back to my family. They’re gonna be at the Shack soon, tell you what I’ll take you there and you can meet them…”  Ran started before he was cut off by loud ‘Harrumph’ coming from Meaghan.

 “No, no, no. I thought you were different. But no, you just want to take me away. Well I have news for you mister, I’m on to you. Where did you hide it?” She asked as she practically threw herself at him and started pounding on his chest.

 Scooting back he caught her arms, “Whoa, where in the world is this coming from. I just spent an hour trying to find your clothes. All I’m trying to do is help you.”

 “No, you’re taking me to meet your parents. I have heard that is a wedding ritual in your culture,” Meaghan said as she struggled to pull away from him now that her hands were caught, before she began crying and fell into his shoulder “I’m too young to be married.”    

 “Married? What? What in the world are you talking about?” Ran asked as he pulled her away only to be pulled back into a hug as he said continued, “I am in no way trying to get married. I’m only eleven and anyways you’re only thirteen or fourteen, I know the laws are lenient in Gravity Falls but the state’s minimum marrying age is still seventeen and that’s with parental consent. So yeah, no one is getting married around here.”  

 “But, but the customs. And the loss of my clothes.” Meaghan started  as she pulled away from  him. Seeing the earnest look on his face she added, “ You truly mean it!”

 “Yeah, all I’m gonna do is take you to my parents. They know every rock and tree in these woods almost better than they know me and my sister.” He said that last bit with a smirk so that she would know he was exaggerating. After she returned the smile he added, “So let’s head to the Shack.”

 “Alright,” she said as he took her hand and they headed towards the trail to the Shack.

 Present Time

Mystery Shack Parking Lot

 “Alright kids, remember what I told you. Debbie may need your help. Her father, Antonio, and I will be heading out to find her wayward brother.” Wendy said as she was getting out of her Jaunt, with the kids doing the same.    

 “No problem Aunt Wendy, with the four of us there she may even forget that Ran is gone.” Ed said as he rushed towards the Shack’s entrance.

 “What my brother means is we will do our best to entertain Debbie until Ran’s inevitable return.” Ricky added as he did his best to match his Aunt’s lengthy stride.

 Behind them Ginger is living up to her duties as a wing-woman and a matchmaker by giving Grenda II a pep talk as they head for the door. “Ok, you can do this. Comfort her, console her, and once Ran is back ask her if she’d want to go get some ice-cream tomorrow.”

 “Ok. Confront her. Control her. Scream at her eyes tomorrow. Ok, I’ve got this.” Grenda II said as they got to the door, “No wait that doesn’t sound right.”

 “Brother, you are hopeless.” Ginger said under her breath before continuing in a whisper, “Look, calm down. Ed should be setting the scene for you right now. Just be your normal charming self and you’ll be fine.”

 They walked into the gift-shop where everyone was gathered. The adults and Antonio were off to one side in a conversation. Walking over they joined Ricky and Ed in giving Debbie a comforting hug, all thoughts of asking her out left Grenda as soon as he saw how upset she seemed.

 “It’s all my fault. I was mad over something stupid and now Ran is lost. I’m such a bad older sister.” Debbie was said in between sobs. She had calmed down, but seeing her friends and not her brother had set her off again.

 “No, you’re a great big sister.“ Ed and Ricky said as one.

 “Hey  look. Your parents are gonna find your bro, you guys are gonna make up, and things will be alright.” Ginger added.

 “Tell you what Debbie,” Grenda said keeping one arm on her shoulder, “why don’t we go in and see if that show you like is on.”

 “I guess we can try, but I’m not sure even Nova Butterfly** can cheer me up right now.” Debbie said as she let her friends guide her into the residential area of the Shack.

 Across the gift-shop Wendy, Dipper, Soos, Melody, and Antonio were finishing going over the plan.

 “So for now Soos, you and Mel are gonna stay here in case he comes back while we are gone. Antonio, you’re with us. We might need the extra muscle.” Wendy said as she took off her flannel and tied it around her waist. She then tossed on a pair of gloves she had been carrying.

 “Watch over the kids too, if you don’t mind." Dipper added. After he got a nod in response he checked to if his M.A.C.R. (Mythical and Cryptid Resonance) Meter and other gear was still on his belt in case they needed to track any of the residents of the forest. Finally he joined his wife as she headed towards the kitchen and it's exit.  

 As they left Wendy said, “Antonio, show us where Ran went into the woods. That will give me a place to start tracking. He was probably agitated, so hopefully he wouldn't have thought of using anything Dad taught him.”

“It’s right up ahead Mrs. Pines. I was just coming back from helping you two with the creek when he ran into me.” Antonio said pointing towards a break in the tree-line.

 “Alright, that’s where we’ll start.” Wendy said as they headed towards the spot. Dipper pulled out his meter to check the area when they got there to make sure any tracks they found were real and not glamour influenced.

 When the reached the entrance Dipper began a full sweep, while Wendy started looking for tracks from her son. As he watched the couple go to work he was once again blown away by how much they complimented each other. He was in the middle of thinking how lucky he would be to meet someone that  matched him as they do each other,  when he saw some movement a couple hundred meters up the path.

 “Uhm, Mr. & Mrs. Pines doods. We’ve got movement up ahead. “ Antonio said as he watched a bush he knew had a path beside it shake.

 Wendy pulled out her ax while Dipper readied some sort of taser. He kept checking back towards his meter but there were no innocuous readings. Antonio pulled a rubber mallet out of his toolbelt. As they watched they saw a figure that appeared to be almost a head taller than Ran and it was about twice as hefty in the torso region. As it got closer they realized that it was Ran and that he was carrying someone piggyback.

 “Ran amigo, you ok?” Antonio asked as he dropped his mallet and rushed past the adults towards his little friend.        

 Wendy and Dipper quickly joined their young friend in greeting their son and the young lady that was on his back.

 “Hi mom, dad. Yeah Tone, I’m pretty good. But can you help me out here.” Ran said as he motioned with tip of his head at his passenger.

 “Oh shoot, sorry about that miss, the name’s Antonio. It’s still pine needles and what not from here till we hit the clearing, if you don’t mind I’ll take over for Ran here until you wish to be set down. You know, to give the little guy’s back a rest.” He said the last bit with a wink and a smirk as if h was trying to share a joke with the obviously confused young lady. When she nodded in agreement he slid an arm under her legs and the other along her back. He caught her as she let go and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

 “Ok, what’s going on young man? You had us worried and your sister was practically in hysterics until your cousins and your friends showed up yo help calm her down. I think she thought she had chased you to your death or something.” Wendy said as she hugged her son after he was free of his burden. Dipper stood there with his attention half on his son and half on his M.A.C.R. Meter.      

 “Sorry I took so long. I ended up coming across Meaghan here. Oh yeah. Mom, dad, Tone, this is Meaghan. Meaghan this is my parents and you’ve met Antonio. ” Ran started. After they all nodded in acknowledgement he continued as he rubbed his shoulders, “She was swimming in the creek and some one stole her clothes. I gave her my shirt and began looking for her clothes. Just trying to help out like you guys taught me to do and I lost track of time.”

 “I’m sorry that his helping me has inconvenienced you all, he truly was a gentleman throughout this whole ordeal.” Meaghan said, her voice teeming with admiration. She was still somewhat behind him so she didn’t how flushed his cheeks were as she continued, “Why he didn’t even broach the subject of marriage and flat out refused the notion.”

 “Marriage, what…”, Wendy started before she was cut off by her husband pushing the M.A.C.R. Meter towards her.

 Finally fully turning his attention to the young lady, and while Wendy looked at his readings he asked.  “Meaghan, young lady, what are you?”    

* Jerk

**  ** Nova Butterfly of Nova Butterfly vs the Forces of Adolescence is the daughter of Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz in the excellent story written by @mrevaunit42 and used with his permission.