#sc: elizabeth

[midnightsun-if]

Me looking at Elizabeth: why does my mind keep conjuring of Child!MC begging her for upsies I—

Your MC would get a head pat for your troubles 😂

Elizabeth has never been a upsies kind of woman — barring with her own children; though that was more to keep them safe than anything else — but if the MC started crying, or was fairly persistent, she may humor you. Unless the crying became a thing that constantly happened when she refused; then you’d simply get a lesson that not everything will always go your way and you get either complain about it or do something that’ll make what you want happen.

[mm1necraftbra1nr0t]

Empires smp 1&2 NSFW Blog introduction!

Hello my name is Crystal and I go by they/them!

There's not enough nsfw blogs for Empires smp 1&2 on Tumblr... so I will be your savior!

A bit about me to start off

I am 20 years old, I discovered the MCYT a couple years ago, but when I actually dug deeper into it it was almost a year ago, I am ashamed to have been this late :(

【Don't feel comfortable enough to tell you where I live

【I can be busy with life, so sorry if I don't respond to your asks right away but don't be shy! :D

Now onto boundaries!!

First off, MINORS DNI!! This is a nsfw blog!

Secondly, Do Not Repost my blogs to accounts who cleary dislike nsfw!

Things I do accept!

【Male vaginas and female penis

【Omegaverse

【Most of philia's

【Extreme things like rape but only consensual (or treat it In a serious matter and don't romanticize non-con)

【Poly relationships

【Spit play

【Cumflation

【Foreplay

【Selfcest

【Gender bending

【Tentacles

【Cuckholding

【Dom/Sub

【Impregnation/pregnancy

【Mpreg

【Overstimulation

【Humiliation kink

【Semi-public sex

【Public sex

【Size difference

【Breeding kink

【Deepthroat

【Breath play

【Foot fetish

【RPF

【Double/triple penetration

【Cock warming

【CBT

(Most of kinks/play I allow but you'll see the ones I do not accept)

(More to add later)

Things I do not accept!

【Sexuality bending (only for Scott idgaf for others except for gay and lesbian people In general)

【Pedophilia

【Necrophilia (except zombies like Cleo)

【Blood play (period specifically everything else is fine!!)

【Beastiality

【Scat

【Piss kink

【Knife play

【Gerontophilia

【Incest

【Diapers kink

【Lactation

【Vore

【Feeding kink

【Belly kink

【Fart fetish

(More to add later)

I will also share my own thoughts!

Xornoth x anyone except Joey ships are not my cup of tea but send them anyway because I don't want to shame anyone ^^)

Another thing I want to add, despite this being all of Empires, I would like wlw relationships more, but for the mlm and m/f ones you're welcome! Also there can be fluff and angst, but NSFW is also allowed :)

Also, other series can clash into this as well but this is mainly Empires smp 1&2!

If you don't like it then leave :D

But if you're cool then stay!

Can't wait to interact with you all!

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Droolworthy completely refurbished 1891 Elizabeth Arden house in Summerville, SC has 6bds, 5ba, 2 .5ba, plus 2 cottages with 3bds, 3ba, & 2 kitchens, plus a pool house with 2 .5ba, & a kitchen, for a total of 9bds, 8ba, 4 .5ba, & 4 kitchens. Main house 6,399sq ft, cottages 1,662 sq ft, pool house 321 sq ft, for a total of 8,382 sq ft. $3.29m.

Beautiful entrance hall with silvery wallpaper.

Of course, I love the sitting room b/c it's pink. Features a stunning carved marble fireplace.

A large arch is open to the matching 2nd sitting room. Both rooms feature beautiful marble fireplaces and sunny alcoves with floor to ceiling windows.

Lovely pink powder room.

Next there's a home office with a nice fireplace and chandelier. It looks like the shelves are built-ins.

The office has its own half bath.

The dining room accommodates a table for 14 and features wainscoting plus a fireplace.

Next to the dining room there's a bar room.

And, a beautiful side porch. Since we're in the south, we will call it a veranda.

Very large cook's kitchen is so pretty in blue & white with black counters.

The kitchen includes an ample everyday dining area.

Very nice pantry stores toiletries b/c the kitchen has plenty of storage for everything.

This actually looks like some sort of ballroom or entertaining space.

Upstairs in the primary bedroom. It also features a lovely fireplace and an alcove.

Beautiful ensuite with marble flooring.

Love this bedroom and its office.

Matching ensuite.

The finished attic is the children's domain. This is so nice.

Gorgeous big bath.

Soooo pretty. Love the flooring.

Fabulous patio, pool, poolhouse, and Ivy-covered main house.

The poolhouse has an amazing kitchen.

Guest houses with garages in between.

The larger 2 floor guesthouse has a cool retro vibe.

The smaller one has a beachy cottage look.

1.2 acres.

https://www.redfin.com/SC/Summerville/208-Sumter-Ave-29483/home/62680676

[harrywavycurly]

SC Reader and Harry are going to have 20 kids I just know it and she’s going to have such organized chaos because Harry can’t help himself but cause unplanned mishaps even when he’s just in charge of lunch duty

Hiii lovey!! I agree they are probs gonna have like 10 kids and Harry per usual is gonna be a hot mess leaving his Texas Tornado to swoop in and fix the chaos in a way that leaves him standing there all wide eyed and amazed making him fall even more in love😂 but anyway I hope you enjoy this because I couldn’t just NOT write something about this?💖

Find all things Southern Comfort here✨

CW: None it’s just fluff

Tag List: @wedontknowherorhimorthem @blckburd @daphnesutton @styleswithaseaview @stylesfever @youngpastafanmug @hannah9921 @umadirectioner @sunflower-tia @tulips4harry @gmikaelson @fangirl509east @howling-wolf97 @outofthisworl-d @namoreno

A/N: I didn’t give them 20 or even 10 kids I gave them 6! And this isn’t edited so sorry if there’s hella errors I wrote this in a hurry😂✨

Summary: Harry makes the kid’s lunches and he is slowly proven just how overwhelming the kitchen is when everyone is home✨

Harry swears he doesn’t know how it happened, well he knows how it happened thanks to a very awkward conversation with his mother back in his early tween days he is very aware of how he managed to help create all of his kids but he just isn’t sure how all of a sudden every single one of them is in school, all six of them. He remembers it like it was yesterday when most of them still needed him or you, most preferring you for obvious reasons for everything from getting dressed to feeding. Now he finds himself standing in the kitchen with a whole stack of lunchboxes in front of him each with a little post it note that has that child’s preferred lunch written on it in your lovely handwriting as the kids run around trying to finish getting ready for school.

“Daddy my bow is all wonky lookin and it’s the only pink one I have because Elizabeth keeps taken em’ from my side of the bathroom.” Mary, the eight year old as well as the oldest whines as she stomps into the kitchen from down the stairs that leads to the hallway the kid’s rooms are on upstairs. Hot on her tail is no other than Elizabeth herself, the soon to be seven year old that was just accused of stealing her sister’s bows.

“I didn’t take none of her bows daddy she’s fibbin’ on me.” Harry has to hide his smile at how the girl’s accents get a touch thicker due to the emotions in their voice, something he knows they got from you. He puts the butter knife down next to his cutting board where he has his sandwich station set up and turns to look at his two oldest daughters.

“Okay Liza if you didn’t take her bows then-”

“Daddy look!” Harry gives the two girls a soft smile before his attention is stolen for a moment as he looks down at Laney, his five year old daughter who is tugging gently at the bottom of his t shirt.

“Oh my goodness did you do that yourself love?” He asks as Laney turns around to show him her hair that has about four hair bows clipped in random places above a low ponytail.

“Are those my bows Laney Marie?” Mary asks the four year old as she crosses her arms over her chest. Harry looks from Mary back to Laney who just shrugs as she walks over to her step stool so she can reach the top of the counter.

“I found em’ in the bathroom.” The little girl answers as she grabs her cup of milk Harry saved her from breakfast knowing she would want it later.

“Our bathroom you sticky fingered thief.” Elizabeth snaps and just as Harry is about to say something about how Elizabeth can’t talk to her sister like that he hears it, the angelic sound of your voice coming from the living room.

“Who is that I hear bein ugly this early in the mornin?” Harry looks up just as you walk into the kitchen with one of the three year old twins, Edward on your hip who is giving his older sisters a glare.

“No bein ugly s’not nice.” He informs his sisters as you place him down on the ground with a warm smile and a kiss to the top of his head that’s covered in brown curls.

“Sorry Laney I didn’t mean to call you a sticky fingered thief.” Elizabeth mumbles as she looks at her litter sister with apologetic eyes, Harry watches Laney place her cup down and step off her stool so she can rush over and hug Elizabeth around her legs.

“S’okay Liza.” She says with a smile before she turns to look at Mary. “M’sorry for takin your bows.” Harry has a proud grin on his face as the three girls hug it out before rushing off into other rooms.

“Daddy!” His moment of peace is short lived as he hears a little voice shouting for him from the bottom of the stairs. “Daddy I can’t find my boots!” He knows he has exactly ten seconds before Edward’s twin sister Hailey starts to get all watery eyed and sniffly, he knows she can’t help it she’s just the most sensitive one in the bunch.

“Sweetheart you can’t wear boots to school today it’s-”

“No boots? But-but I lo-love my bo-boots.” She whimpers between sniffles and when Harry looks over at you all you do is place a hand on your heart as your mouth drops into a frown and now Harry knows if he doesn’t fix this situation he will not only have an upset three year old but an upset wife as well.

“I know you love your boots but you just can’t wear them to school today.” He tells her as he walks over and crouches down so he’s eye level with her. When she looks at him with her big green eyes that are now all glassy looking because she’s about to have real tears rolling down her cheeks he has to clear his throat to stop his own emotions from getting to him. “But I’ll make sure you have them to put on the moment you get home okay? How does that sound?” He offers in hopes it’ll be a decent option for her and have her eyes drying up and a smile on her face instead of the current over dramatic pout.

“You’ll find em for me?” Harry just nods as he reaches his hands out to grab both of hers and give them a soft squeeze. “Thank you daddy.” Harry smiles as he lets go of her hands so she can wrap her arms around his neck and give him a tight squeeze.

“You’re welcome love.” She smiles as he wraps his arms around her and stands up with her in his arms. He moves her so she’s on his hip so he can walk over to the spot he has set up to pack their lunches. “Now have you seen-”

“Momma said you don’t get to help with the grocery shopping anymore cos you picked a bad melon s’that true daddy?” Harry’s question gets cut off as the sound of Anne, the four and a half year old’s voice hits his ears as she climbs onto one of the stools in front of the kitchen island he is currently standing at with Hailey still on his hip.

“Daddy has a song bout melons.” Hailey says as if that has anything to do with his abilities to help pick a perfectly ripe melon at the store. Harry looks up just to find you giggling to yourself as you turn to head into the living room to begin gathering up the kid’s shoes and coats so when it comes time to leave everyone will have their things ready.

“That’s bout Watermelon.” Anne says as she looks at her little sister and then over to her dad. “M’talkin about the green melon.”

“Honeydew.” Harry corrects her with a soft smile as he places Hailey down on the step stool Laney was just using so she can stand there and watch Harry get back to packing lunches. “Now uh well it’s not that I’m not allowed to help with the grocery shopping it’s just that I’m mostly there so I can get things off the top shelf for mommy so she doesn’t have to climb shelves-”

“You’re very tall daddy.” Hailey states as she reaches over and grabs a cheese stick from the stack Harry has for each of their lunch boxes. “Eddie doesn’t like these he trades em’ for cookies.” Harry feels his eyes go wide at this bit of information while Anne leans over so she can grab one of the juice boxes he pulled out for the older girl’s lunches.

“Daddy they ain’t gonna-”

“Aren’t.”

“Sorry. But daddy they aren’t gonna drink these they don’t like the grape flavor they like fruit punch.” Anne informs him making him let out a huff as he places his hands on his hips and looks from Anne over to Hailey who just nods in agreement.

“Okay so no cheese for Ed and fruit punch juice boxes for Mary and Liza now anything else I need to know before putting the final bits in the bags?” He asks the two girls.

“Mommy always puts the sweet treat on the bottom so we have to work our way towards it.” He nods at the bit of advice Anne gives him while Hailey reaches over and gives his arm a soft pat.

“Yer doin’ great daddy.” He laughs at the words of encouragement his toddler offers before she hops down off the stool so she can run into the living room while Anne stays sat across from him.

“Anne you seen m’screw dryer?” Edward asks as he walks into the kitchen from the mudroom that leads out to the driveway where the cars are parked.

“Screwdriver son not screw dryer.” Harry tells him with a chuckle as his little boy goes to the bench seat of the kitchen table and begins looking under throw pillows for his tool.

“What do you need a screwdriver for?” Anne asks as she turns around in her stool so she can watch her little brother look around the kitchen for the missing object.

“Momma said uncle Niall got s’m screws loose so m’gonna fix em for him.” Harry has to bring a hand up to cover his mouth to help keep him from letting out a loud laugh.

“Oh well did you look n’the closet by the back door?” Anne asks making Edward turn around from where he was looking under one of the girl’s backpacks that’s sitting on the table so he can rush off towards the back door. “M’gonna go help him.” Harry just nods as Anne climbs off the stool and goes to see if she can assist her brother in finding his tool.

“Hey there good lookin.” Your voice makes Harry smile as he feels you wrap your arms around him from behind. ���You hear that son of yours is gonna try and fix up ole crazy uncle Niall?” Harry chuckles as he turns around in your hold making a grin take over your face as you look up at him.

“I did hear something about that as he was poking around in here looking for his screwdriver.” He explains as he places his hands on either side of your face. “M’gonna have to check his backpack before he leaves for school to make sure there’s nothing in it that will result in a phone call from the director.” He adds as he leans down so he can place a kiss to your lips.

“I hid his screwdriver in the bread bin.” You mumble as Harry pulls away making him laugh because that’s your go to spot when you’re hiding things from the kids. “Kiss me one more time before I wrangle up all these crazies and get em loaded in the car.” With that Harry’s lips are on yours in a sweet kiss because he’s never been one to tell you no and honestly kissing you is one of his favorite things.

“I love you.” You smile as Harry’s hands go to your waist so he can give you a little squeeze.

“I love you too sugar.” He smiles as you reach up on your tiptoes making Harry instinctively lean down to meet you half way so you can place a quick peck to his lips. When you drop your arms from around him and turn to walk away Harry can’t help himself as he gives your backside a little pinch making you let out a squeak before looking at him over your shoulder. “Watch yourself Mr. Styles that’s how you wound up being a father of six remember?”

“Oh trust me baby I remember.”

“Simmer down now honey I don’t have time for all that right now.”

“Later then?” He teases with a wink making you laugh as you take a few steps towards the living room.

“Maybe. Now you better pack them lunches quick fast and in a hurry sugarplum because we leave in ten minutes.” That has Harry’s eyes widening as he looks at the kitchen counter in a slight panic because he hasn’t even finished cutting the sandwiches having been distracted a few times during his lunch packing process.

“Baby can you-” Before he can even finish asking you for help the oldest appears next to him with a smile on her face as she looks around the kitchen.

“I’ll start putting juice and waters in the lunch boxes while you finish with the sandwiches.” She tells him and Harry just nods as he begins putting the finishing touches on the sandwiches before placing them in baggies.

“I can put the snacks and fruit inside them.” Elizabeth offers as she suddenly walks into the kitchen from the living room, Mary smiles and nods as she scoots over making room for her sister to stand next to her. Harry smiles as the two of them begin chatting about some school drama while also helping him finish packing lunches. By the time you walk back into the kitchen all the lunch boxes are neatly lined up in age order on the edge of the counter ready to be grabbed on their way out the door.

“Car is pullin’ out of the driveway in five minutes! You miss it you stay home with daddy and help him wash baseboards and fold laundry!” You shout with a playful smile on your face and soon the house is filled with the sound of feet coming from almost every direction.

“Coming! Don’t leave me!” Hailey shouts as she runs down the stairs with Laney right behind her. The two girls grab their lunch boxes as Harry crouches down so they can place a kiss to his cheek before rushing out the door to the car.

The rest of the kids make their way into the kitchen one by one from the living room, upstairs and lastly Anne and Edward come from the back of the house. Harry notes the look on his son’s face and he knows it’s because he never found his screwdriver.

“Love you daddy have a good day.” Mary says with a smile as she places a kiss to his cheek after grabbing her backpack and lunchbox.

“Can you look for my screw dryer please? S’lost.” Harry just nods as Eddie grabs his lunchbox and rushes off towards the car.

“Bye daddy.”

“Bye daddy! Love you!”

“Bye sugar I’ll call you when I get them dropped off.” Harry stands up and gives you a nod as you lean up and place a kiss to his lips.

“Love you.” He says before giving your cheek a quick peck before watching you walk to the door with your purse over your shoulder and a mug of coffee in your hand.

“I love you too honey.” You say with a wave of your hand before you close the door behind you leaving Harry standing in the kitchen surrounded by silence and the only slightly messy aftermath of making all the kid’s lunches and even though Harry’s mornings are now filled with a bit more chaos than a few years ago he wouldn’t trade it for the world because he loves it, he loves the life he’s made with you and can’t imagine it any other way.

[theinquisitxor]

My Top 24 books of 2024

Here are my top books I read in 2024, last year's list here!

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Daughter of the Forest (and rest of Sevenwaters series) by Juliet Marillier

Hostage of Empire series by SC Emmett

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Texicalaan duology by Arkady Martine

The Wall by Marlen Haushofer

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Beartown series by Frederick Backman

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison

Paladin's Grace (and rest of Saint of Steel series) by T. Kingfisher

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

The Magician's Daughter by HG Parry

The Fur Person by Meg Sarton

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova

The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky

River-Horse: A Voyage Across America by William Least Heat-Moon

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

Graveyard Shift by ML Rio

The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holton

The Familiar by Lehigh Bardugo

A few honorable mentions:

Chrestomanci Series by DWJ

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

House of Flame and Shadow by SJM

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abby

[elizabethanderson055]

Hello everyone I'm Elizabeth by name from Charleston SC single trans girl and I'm new on here as well, thanks 🥰

[girlactionfigure]

THURSDAY HERO: Anita Pollitzer

Arrested For Picketing The White House

Anita Pollitzer was a women’s rights activist and leader of the suffragette movement of the early 20th century. She was instrumental in the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting American women the long-denied right to vote in 1920.

Born in 1894 in Charleston SC, Anita’s parents were Eastern European Jews whose family fled the old country because of antisemitism. Anita’s keen intellect and creative mind were evident at an early age, as was her charismatic personality. She was raised in a traditional Jewish home and as a teenager taught Sunday school at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the oldest continually active congregation in America.

After graduating from high school, Anita moved to New York to attend Teacher’s College, where she majored in art education and became friends with photographer Georgia O’Keeffe. When Anita saw some of her friend’s charcoal drawings in 1915, she was so impressed that she took them to her friend gallery owner Alfred Stieglitz. Stieglitz and O’Keeffe later married and became one of the most famous artistic power couples in American history.

Anita wrote a book about her friendship with O’Keeffe, A Woman on Paper, that wasn’t published until 1988, long after both women were deceased. Book reviewer Lynne Bundesen said, “it is a book that tells you that the voices of the most independent, far-seeing women of the times, the pioneers of women’s rights and visions talked to each other as gushing, enthusiastic, eager and confused schoolgirls straight out of the Victorian era – as they may not have talked with their men.”

Around this time, Anita became involved with the movement for women’s suffrage. Incredibly, seventy years after Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Women’s Rights Convention in 1848, American women were still unable to exercise the most basic right in a democracy – the right to vote. Anita joined the National Women’s Party (NWP), a political organization formed in 1916 to fight for women’s suffrage. Anita became a party organizer, traveling all over the United States to advocate for her cause. Her friendliness, charm, and reasoned yet passionate arguments for her cause helped create a groundswell of support among both women and men for a constitutional amendment to guarantee women’s right to vote. She spoke to everyday Americans, as well as state legislators and was very successful in bringing her cause to the forefront of public conversation.

In 1917, Anita was a leader of the Silent Sentinels, also known as the Sentinals of Liberty, a group of women from the NWP who picketed outside the White House to protest President Woodrow Wilson’s lack of support for suffrage. They held signs saying “Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty” and “What will you do for woman suffrage.” This vigil lasted two and a half years, through blizzards and heat waves, and pioneered the “silent protest” activism strategy. During this time, the women were constantly harassed, insulted, bullied. Anita, a visible leader of the movement, was arrested but remained undeterred from her mission.

The protests worked. By 1918, President Wilson supported the federal amendment. It still had to pass Congress, and Anita became a feminist legend when she befriended Congressman Harry Burn of Tennessee and convinced him to cast the deciding vote for the amendment, which passed in 1920, enfranchising 26 million American women.

Anita married press agent Elie Edson in 1928 and they lived in New York together for almost fifty years. Elie encouraged his wife’s activism, and after the 19th amendment passed, Anita continued working with the NWP. She lobbied legislators to pass laws ensuring women’s property rights and ban unfair salary practices. Anita traveled to Europe to use her experience to help women there organize for equal rights.

Elie died in 1971, and soon after Anita suffered a stroke from which she never recovered. Anita Pollitzer passed away four years later in New York City.

For her passionate work to enfranchise 26 million American women, we honor Anita Pollitzer as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[rumnether]

Thoughts on James Norrington in At World's End

I recently had a great discussion with @writerxwren, about James Norrington’s arc in At World's End. Her thoughtful comments inspired me to reflect more deeply on his role in the trilogy, and I wanted to share my thoughts in this post.

First of all, I want to say how much I appreciated the depth and thoughtfulness of her comments. She brought up some fascinating points, particularly regarding Jack Davenport’s incredible nonverbal acting, the potential of deleted scenes, and the broader structure of the film. Her insights gave me a lot to think about, and I’d like to share both my perspective on some of the ideas she mentioned and my personal reflections on James’s arc.

One of the points writerxwren raised was how much Jack Davenport’s nonverbal acting added depth to James’s character. I completely agree—Davenport’s ability to convey so much through subtle expressions and body language is remarkable. It’s one of the reasons why James feels so human and relatable, even when he’s making questionable decisions.Looking at his role across the trilogy, James was always more than just a rival or secondary character. In The Curse of the Black Pearl, his love for Elizabeth gave him emotional depth, and his decision to give Jack Sparrow a day’s head start showed that he wasn’t a man bound by rigid rules. He already had the capacity to weigh morality against duty, which makes it clear that his arc wasn’t just about blindly following orders and learning to rebel. In Dead Man’s Chest, his fall from grace added layers to his character, showing a man struggling with humiliation, regret, and the desire to reclaim his honor. However, while his journey in this film is compelling, it also sets up questions about his internal conflict that are not fully resolved in At World's End.

While At World's End had the opportunity to build on James’s complexity, I feel that his arc was ultimately underutilized. Instead of continuing to explore his internal conflict—especially his feelings about serving Beckett after giving him so much power—the film focuses more on advancing other characters’ arcs, like Elizabeth’s rise as a leader and Bootstrap Bill’s subjugation. James’s role as a narrative tool in At World's End feels like a step back compared to how integral he was in the first two films. Personally, I would have loved to see a scene where James reflects on his decision to give the heart to Beckett or how he feels about returning to society after his disgrace.

Another missed opportunity in At World's End is the lack of a final interaction between James Norrington and Jack Sparrow. Their dynamic of rivalry, which for me balanced respect, wit, and conflict, was a key highlight of the first two films. An exchange in the third film could have provided closure to their relationship, especially considering how they both represent different approaches to freedom and morality.

These moments could have made his eventual sacrifice feel like a culmination of his journey, rather than a narrative necessity to push others’ stories forward.In addition, I personally find the execution of James’s death disappointing. While I appreciate the symbolism behind his final act—refusing to serve Davy Jones and setting Elizabeth free—it feels rushed and lacking in emotional weight. The lack of meaningful buildup, especially through interactions with Davy Jones or Elizabeth earlier in the film, diminishes the impact of his sacrifice. Moreover, his death at the hands of Bootstrap Bill, a character with whom he has no personal connection, feels more like a way to emphasize Bootstrap’s descent into madness than a fitting end for James.

Writerxwren also highlighted how certain deleted scenes could have enriched James’s arc. For instance, she mentioned the scene in Dead Man’s Chest where James retrieves his sword, as well as the extended scene in At World's End where Weatherby Swann tries to stab Davy Jones’s heart. I agree that both scenes add depth to their respective characters, but I chose not to reference them because they didn’t make it into the final cut. While the scene with Weatherby Swann is particularly powerful—showing his desperation to save his daughter and highlighting his moral courage—it was ultimately removed, likely altering the intended impact of his character’s death. Similarly, the scene with James retrieving his sword in Dead Man’s Chest could have provided earlier insight into his internal conflict, but its placement in the third film changes its meaning and shifts the focus. Although I appreciate the potential of these moments, I’ve focused on the final version of the films as they were presented to audiences, as I believe this reflects the definitive story the filmmakers wanted to tell.

In another comment, writerxwren brought up an interesting perspective on whether James could have aligned with the pirates in the final battle. She noted that some fans feel James would have been too "straight-laced" to join them fully, likely due to his regret over his time among them in *Dead Man’s Chest*. While I understand this perspective, I believe it’s possible to imagine a temporary, strategic alliance.

In Dead Man’s Chest, we already see him reluctantly working with Elizabeth and Jack Sparrow, and doing so again could have shown his growth as someone capable of pragmatic decisions for a greater purpose, without compromising the principles he still holds dear.

Finally, I want to emphasize that this is just my personal interpretation of James’s arc. I understand and respect fans who see his journey as complete or have different views of James character, as they focus on the positive aspects of his scenes in At World's End.

Overall, I think James Norrington’s arc in At World's End had great potential but ultimately feels incomplete. Reflecting on his journey has only deepened my appreciation for one of the most complex and human figures in the trilogy.

[midnightsun-if]

if this is spoilers, ignore, but who's the strongest in your universe? where does the family fall on the chart (mainly Elizabeth)? what about Balerion?

is there an original vampire? where did supernaturals come from?

honestly, I love every character, but Elizabeth in particular is so fascinating to me. also, i apologize for so many questions, I'm bursting atm🫠🤭

When it comes to the family Elizabeth is absolutely the strongest, which is due to a number of factors, but her overall age is a big one. I can’t truly go into who is the strongest as a whole — as one of the strongest will be revealed later on to the MC — but the Divine and the Fallen are fairly powerful individuals that I wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of.

There are a lot of theories on where the first supernatural species came from; some are a bit easier to pinpoint as they simply came from different realms and settled on Earth. While others — like vampires — are said to have been blessed (or cursed depending on who you ask) with their affliction; with some even thinking that vampirism, as it is today, evolved to what it is now. The only vampires who would really be able to tell you what happened are the ancients and they’re typically tight lipped about a lot.

As for Balerion? Dragons in general are powerful due to their fire alone. Magic is also imbued into their very blood which is why ingredients from true dragons are so rare to see being sold — given that the majority of dragons have gone back to their own realm — and why said ingredients are so astronomically expensive. The kind that Balerion is, is the largest of the draconic species but not many dragon hunters would try to fight him due to his size and attitude in general.

There’s no need to apologize at all! I loved answering all of your questions and I hope I was able to give you what you were looking for. ❤️

[lamuradex]

Short Story: Academic Rigour

Tales of Hero City Collection

Wordcount: 13,584

Synopsis: Tessa Kwells is a brilliant student, top of her class, and the kind of women who can clear a room with a sharp glare. But, when she finds herself in competition for the top spot, she realises she might need an extra edge if she wants to hold onto her future, and get that extra credit for her grades.

Luckily, she has a supervillain in the family, and a loose enough moral compass to use that.

Witness the origin of Madame Mechanism.

Author's Notes: This short story is one my favourite things I've ever written. I've come back to it repeatedly over the years and that opinion hasn't changed. Tessa has become one of my fave characters, and I really think you'll enjoy seeing her origins.

Please enjoy.

AO3 Link for that that want it:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63767050

Full Story Under The Break

Academic Rigor

Tessa sat outside the office, her nerves rattling to her core. She clutched her papers so tightly her hands ached. Feeling the pain, she put them on her lap, but that only drew attention to how her knees shook. She took a deep breath.

“Calm down, Tessa,” she muttered to herself, breathing in and out. “You are a strong, confident, and beautiful woman, with the body and musculature of a ballerina. You are a force of nature and have nothing to be scared of.”

A smile broke over her face and she turned to a tall mirror positioned in the waiting room. She was certainly right about the first half. She was a tall, slender, bright-haired redhead with the kind of determination that could scatter crowds with a glare. She winked at her reflection. Then she checked to see if anyone saw that. The only other person nearby was the receptionist, busying herself with a crossword book.

The book was upside down.

“Good crossword?” Tessa asked casually, her words tinged with danger.

“Yes. Yes it is,” the receptionist stammered, throwing the book into a nearby plant. Tessa glowered like a venomous snake as the receptionist frantically got back to work.

That’s right, Tessa thought to herself. You don’t make fun of Tessa Kwells. Tessa Kwells fears nothing. Why should she? Nothing can phase her. Not with her family history.

At that moment, the doors burst open and another student came out. Tessa couldn’t work out where she knew him from, she was too distracted by the tears streaming down his face, the paleness of his complexion, and how he was currently stuck between wailing, screaming and dying. In the end he met somewhere in the middle, and fainted with a squeak.

“I think you’re next, dear,” the receptionist said, and came out to retrieve the fallen boy. “The academic committee will see you now.”

Tessa stood and entered. The room was pitch black, the light of the waiting room vanishing as the doors slammed shut. Then the lights came on. Massive spotlights above that made it difficult to see. When Tessa’s eyes adjusted, she could just see them.

The Academic Committee.

There were five of them, all sat in a semi-circle around a curved desk. The desk stood high, like the gallery of a court looking down. Each of the committee were clichés of bureaucracy, an old, enfeebled, monocle wearing bunch, but they also had the final say.

The leader amongst them was Everton Clark, a fat, smug-looking man with a crown of grey hair at the edges of his head. Beside him sat Elizabeth Vault, an old, elegant woman wearing full makeup. On the other side was Myra Clips, who was quite the opposite. Somewhat younger, she huddled, scowling and sickly pale. The last two Tessa didn’t recognise, but by process of elimination they had to be Victor T Victor, who looked like a wax model of an old war general, and James Crisper, who looked to have been baked on a sunbed.

Tessa stood before the committee. She smiled politely.

“No time for your pleasantries, girl,” Everton Clark barked. “Get to the point.”

“Don’t call her ‘girl’ like that,” hissed Elizabeth Vault.

“She is just a girl. Look how scrawny she is,” spat Myra.

“We all look down on her, don’t we? Our chairs are quite high up,” Crisper said with a cheesy grin.

“Are you being literal or figurative?” Vault asked.

“Don’t start that again,” groaned Myra.

Soon enough Myra was shouting at Elizabeth, Elizabeth was debating with Crisper, and Crisper was insulting everyone else because of their weak complexions. Everton Clark however sat in silence. He scrunched up a paper ball, threw it at Victor, and the old man miraculously sprang to life.

“Order, order,” the old general roared. “Quiet in the ranks, I say, quiet in the ranks. If you don’t quiet down, you will all run laps, I say, you’ll all run laps.”

Everyone fell silent. Tessa was glad, but that feeling quickly left as all eyes returned to her.

“What do you want?” Everton asked again.

“My name is Tessa Kwells,” she said, her stomach in her knees. “I wanted to talk to you about my grades.”

“Your grades? What about them?” Crisper asked smarmily.

“Well, I was hoping to gain something towards extra credit,” Tessa stated hopefully.

“Extra credit?” Myra sneered. “And what have you done to earn extra credit?”

“Well, on top of my main project, which is due next month, I am also working to create a documentary showing the complexities and real life applications of my project. For fun.”

“And what is your project?” Vault leered.

“My thesis is several papers on the physical, theoretical, and societal impacts of superheroes on the economic and philosophical state of our country. How do people like Justice Man or Stealth Watcher affect the world around them? And I’m not just talking about making insurance companies rich,” Tessa joked, trying to break the ice. The ice actually grew thicker.

“What a boring subject,” Crisper criticised.

“Very boring. Very boring,” Victor echoed.

“I guess if it’s factually accurate, it can’t be faulted,” Vault admitted.

“But who would want to see that drivel as a documentary,” Myra drawled.

“You thought we would be interested in that?” Everton finished. “If it weren’t against the rules, I would actually deduct points for that tripe. But I can’t. Instead, I’ll just tell you to get out.”

“Please, I need the credit!” Tessa pleaded.

“Begging will get you nowhere. It’s never worked on any of us before, and it’s not about to start now. Come up with something actually impressive and maybe we’ll reconsider. For now, get out.”

“Yes. Get out!” Crisper, Elizabeth and Myra agreed.

“Yes, yes. Get out, get out,” Victor prattled.

Tessa dropped her head, turned, and walked out. The research in her hands had been useless. The speech she’d memorised was pointless now. It was over.

She couldn’t help but remember the events that had led to this.

* * *

It had been six months ago. Exams and projects were under way and panic reigned supreme. But Tessa had always been a bright girl, and as such took her natural place at the top of the class. Every class in fact. She aced every test and project, because that was how hard she worked. Sure, she was a bit of a social outcast. Sure, many of the other students were scared of her. It wasn’t her fault her confidence was frightening. And it didn’t matter much that one cold glance from her could clear the computer room. Tessa kind of liked being feared. Life had been good.

Then two bad things had happened. The first was that she was late. Once.

She’d been on the bus when a superhero fight levelled the motorway. It was over two hours before they could get everyone over the resulting chasm, and by the time she arrived for class, the lecture was over and she’d been forced to rely on someone else’s feeble notes. Notes which no one had taken. All because of the arrival of the second bad thing.

Brian Heed. A new genius student, who’d spent the entire lecture proving he could recall all the essential facts from memory. Everyone had been so wowed by him, that no one had written anything down, and thus everyone else forgot the lecture. Tessa eventually asked Brian for his notes, but, as it turned out, Brian wasn’t just a genius. He was also a total trash bag.

“Well, this is what happens when you’re late, Tilly,” he had condescended.

“A superhero fight stopped my bus. And it’s Tessa.”

“Well, you should have been listening to the news. They would have told you where was safe. You only have yourself to blame, Tiffany.”

And that was how it started.

That one petty act set a fire of hatred in Tessa. Partially because she couldn’t argue, and partially because he was still insufferably clever. But Tessa took it as a challenge. She kept pace with him, much to Brian’s chagrin. Neck and neck in the run for academia. Nemeses.

But then came the test. The test with question eight on time travelling superheroes. The subject taught in the lecture Tessa had missed. She didn’t know the name of the first ever time traveller, scheduled to be born three years from now. She got a 99%, while Brian got a 100 and crept inescapably into the lead.

And now, as the year was drawing to a close, they were both applying for the same hyper advanced program. The Technology, Electronics, Chemical, Hypothesis, Analytics, Acronym program, or TECHAA for short. There was only one spot and whoever got in would be set for life.

And Brian was in the lead. Tessa had needed the extra credit to make up the difference. And now she was screwed.

* * *

Tessa returned to the present and the waiting room, and her distress turned to fury when she saw who was waiting.

“Hello, Brian,” she snarled through clenched teeth.

“Hello, Tabitha,” Brian grinned, his strangely large head only mildly distracting.

“We see each other all the time-”

“Mores the pity.”

“- so why do you insist on getting my name wrong?” Tessa finished unflinching

“I don’t know what you mean,” Brian said calmly, then walked through the open door into the office. As the doors closed, Tessa could just about hear the words, “Everton Clark, my main man. Father sends his warmest regards, and thanks you for the gift basket.”

Then the doors slammed shut and Tessa felt her spirit leave her.

* * *

Tessa sat at the dinner table, stirring her mashed potatoes with a fork. She looked lost in thought but her mind was blank. Four days had passed. She was closer to the deadline and now further behind Brian. The infuriating brain box had apparently made a functional digital model of Earth, which by the time he showed the committee had already evolved tiny dinosaurs. He was getting extra credit on top of his perfect score. Now Tessa felt truly doomed as she continued stirring her potatoes. Even so, her dread didn’t stop her dodging an incoming sprout launched by her little brother.

Outside of Tessa’s depression, the table had descended into chaos. Mum and Dad were dealing with little brother Magnus and Cousin Greg as they launched sprout after sprout at their respective parents. The grandparents and other relatives were either slightly drunk or overly fed, so every child was functionally unsupervised and hyped up on sugary drinks. Those adults who were still functional were locked in arguments over how the lamb should have been roasted, or how the sports season had been going. Last but not least, Edwardo Zanzibar, the dog belonging to some branch of the family, was running wildly between the table legs eating scraps, making it almost inevitable that someone would trip or the dog would eat too much and throw up.

This was all pretty standard for the Kwells family dinner. Only one chair sat empty, right next to Tessa.

On the other side of the room, Mum had finally managed to wrestle the plate of sprouts from the two boys. They were flinging cutlery now, but not at people, and they soon ran out. With the situation in hand, her mother turned to Tessa and finally took notice of her mood.

“Honey? What’s the matter?” she asked in her best mum tones. She was a short, thin woman with deep walnut hair.

“Just everything I’ve ever planned coming apart at the seams,” Tessa muttered.

“Oh, no need to be so dramatic.”

“I’m not being dramatic. I’ve always wanted to get into the TECHAA. Now Brian will instead and I’ll be left with nothing.”

“That nice boy Brian? Wish him the best. There are other things to do, Tess. Don’t wallow in all this.”

“The person I hate most in the world is about to beat me at my own game, rob me of my dreams, and look annoyingly smug while doing it. I’d sooner send him a lit firework than any well wishes.”

“Don’t be rude, Tessie,” her father chimed in. He was a taller man with the same bright red hair as Tessa.

“It’s not rude if it’s true, and Brian’s not here to be offended.”

“It’s still not nice,” her mother returned, then stopped. “What was the name of that program again?”

Before Tessa could answer, the entire room was brought to silence by a sound. The doorbell had rung. A few nervous people glanced around, counting who was and was not there. Dad hurried to answer it, while Mum seemed to be gathering storm clouds on her brow. Tessa however felt her heart leap. After a minute and some muffled distant talking, the visitor entered.

He was quite the sight to see.

The man who entered was of medium height and quite healthy looking. It was difficult to tell this however, as his skin was a deep sapphire-blue. A great silver beard and moustache jutted from his face, with each and every hair naturally forming into lightning bolts. His scalp meanwhile was bald and shone like a marble. His eyes were bright, with one coloured a sharp green, the other replaced with a mechanical orb which glowed a similar shade. Similarly, one arm was entirely mechanical, gleaming metal and made of pistons. An imposing figure, the entire image was offset by his clothes. He was wearing a brightly coloured Hawaiian shirt, brown shorts, and a pair of sunglasses designed to resemble palm trees. He stood in the doorway, smiling brightly, as people stared nervously or pretended not to notice.

“Hello, everyone!” he greeted joyously, his voice revving with a smooth robotic tinge.

“Hello, Frank,” Mum groaned.

“Uncle Intellitron!” a couple of the kids chimed excitedly.

“Hi, Uncle Frank,” Tessa greeted, smiling broadly.

“I’m glad to see you made it,” Mum said through clenched teeth. “What a surprise to be graced by the infamous Mr Intellitron.” Her eyes darted to her husband, who had sent the invitation against her instructions.

“Good to see you too, Minnie. And thank you, Kent, for sending the invite this time,” Intellitron said in good humour.

“Why don’t you have a seat?” Mum offered unpleasantly.

“Don’t mind if I do, sis.” The blue man walked over and sat himself beside Tessa. “And good to see you too, Zapper.”

“Didn’t think we’d see you today,” Tessa returned, beaming.

“Me too actually, but business was slow. Then there was a bit of an incident during the six o’clock plaza show, so we had to send the customers home.”

“What? One of your secret projects get loose?” Mum derided.

“No, no,” Intellitron answered calmly, long since used to it. “Not one of my experiments anyway. During the show, one of the animatronics stopped working, then it decided to leave the stage and go ride the rollercoaster. Someone was messing with the protocols and accidently changed the personality subroutines to Child Mode. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but the protocol got uploaded to the network. Now every animatronic on the island is riding the rollercoasters or playing in the arcade. But I know my workers can handle it, so I left them to it and came here. As I left I saw Henchman 12 trying to lure the Justice Man animatronic off the flume ride,” he chuckled, wiping a tear from his bionic eye.

“Well, something like this was bound to happen, using death droids as children’s entertainers.”

“Minnie, it’s nothing like that,” Uncle Intellitron countered. “I had the battle androids decommissioned years ago. These ones are entirely child safe, and only made from recycled battle android parts. Now, can we please be civil? I’m not a supervillain anymore and I’ve missed you and the rest of the family.”

Mum seemed to consider it for a moment, then noticed Tessa looking at her with massive puppy dog eyes. She relented and looked back to her sibling.

“Fine. But no shop talk at the table.”

“Agreed,” Frank smiled through his beard. “So, how has everyone been?”

* * *

The dinner went on peacefully and the former supervillain sat and ate pleasantly. He laughed at stories and occasionally related humorous events from his work. Tessa hung on every word. She had always admired her uncle, even before his big change.

Uncle Frank had once upon a time been one of the world’s leading supervillains. Up there with the likes of Annihilator, the Boar-gular, and even Dark Dragon. Mr Intellitron had been feared and hated the world over. Hell, his official nemesis was Justice Man, perhaps the most super of all heroes. While the family had never approved, Tessa always found a certain glee in it, hearing her uncle’s booming mechanical voice delivering fearful speeches from on high.

But then he retired, out of the blue, no warning, and opened a beautiful island resort. The resort had been the cover for his secret lab, but then he saw the profit margins and decided to go legit. The transition had definitely been awkward, but soon enough Intellitron Resorts was one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, even if most holiday makers still looked at the staff a little nervously. They were all former evil henchmen, after all.

Tessa still admired this change. Uncle Frank had finally found something that made him happy, and wouldn’t put him in prison. It also made the family dinner’s slightly less awkward, though Mum still had difficulty letting go of the past.

As Tessa’s father began to serve up coffee and after dinner mints, the room had lowered into a comfortable quiet. Everyone appeared to be listening to a cousin tell a story about stamps, but honestly no one was paying attention. They were all either blissed out on food, or already asleep. That was except from one corner of the table, where Uncle Frank was chatting with Tessa. He was relating the problems with converting an underwater sub-bay into an Ocean Tours attraction.

“…And of course, the main issue is pressure. Not the water pressure, but launch pressure. Escape subs are designed to go really, really fast, but tourists want a slow trundle. Have to be careful not to set the launch pressure too high, or whoosh!” He mimed something flying off at high speeds.

Tessa giggled. “You could always turn it into a rollercoaster?”

“That’s a good idea. Maybe I will,” he considered. “But enough about me, Zapper. What about you. How’s school going?”

 “Oh, right…” Tessa deflated.

“Not good, huh?”

“I don’t think I’m getting into the program I wanted. Instead, Brian Heed-” she whined his name- “is going to get it.”

“Better connected is he? Because there’s no way he’s smarter,” Frank winked his real eye.

“Annoyingly, he might be smarter. And better connected. He’s also smug as the day is long.”

“Oh…” Frank patted her on the shoulder. “What program is it?”

“The TECHAA.”

“Ah, one of old Everton’s creations. He always was as cruel as he was boring.”

“No shop talk at the table,” Mum suddenly shot across at them, hard faced.

“Minnie…” Frank looked back, then gestured at Tessa.

“I said no,” Mum argued, then zipped her lips. The argument was apparently over.

“Mum!” Tessa complained. This argument wasn’t over. “This is important to me.”

Her Mum’s features softened. “I’m sorry, dear, but maybe the TECHAA just wasn’t for you.”

“And what! It is for Brian Heed?” Tessa shouted, shooting up from her seat.

Suddenly all eyes were on her as she realised her outburst. She looked back at her Mum, who looked more concerned that Tessa was causing a scene. With a snarl, Tessa kicked her chair into the wall and stormed out.

“Tessie…” her Mum said meekly.

“I’ll talk to her,” Frank intercepted, and followed Tessa out of the room.

Tessa stormed upstairs and into her room. Of course, it wasn’t exactly a usual bedroom. Research notes plastered one wall, while another had a poster of Mr Intellitron, back from the strange days where companies made merchandise for supervillains. Her bed covers were floral print, but she hated them. She preferred her circuit diagram patterned carpet. Then there was her desk, huddled in a corner, papers piled high, with a video camera, various books, and several action figures of famous heroes and villains. It was easier to get those than actual statuettes.

Tessa flung herself onto the bed, lying on her back so she didn’t have to look at the duvet. Then she rolled over, torturing herself with the floral pattern. She deserved it. She wasn’t good enough to not have flowers on her sheets. When the floral design became too much, she stood, thudded over to her desk, and threw herself down amongst her papers. She looked up and focused on a small framed photo. It was of the academic committee, originally placed to motivate her. Now it simply mocked her.

Knock knock.

“Come in,” Tessa said, pressing her face into her papers again. She knew it wasn’t Mum. It had been a metal hand on the door.

“How are we doing in here, Zapper?”

“Just being completely destroyed, hopeless, and without future purpose. How are you?”

“Look, your Mum didn’t mean that. She’s just worried about you getting your heart broken.”

“She just doesn’t get it. I was so close. But one class, I missed one class, and now I can never overtake Brian.”

“Well, I know a thing or two about an insurmountable foe,” Frank nodded.

“I can’t vaporise Brian,” Tessa groaned. “I’m pretty sure the committee wouldn’t allow it.” She picked up the photo and glared at it. Stupid laws.

Frank reached over and took the picture from her.

“You might be right. Everton certainly wouldn’t approve, but the man wouldn’t rob a bank without filing paperwork at the scene.” He pointed a finger to James Crisper. “You might have a chance with Crisper though.”

“Wait…” Tessa sat up. “You know them?”

“Sure. I didn’t get on with most of them, but you could always go to a club with Lady Lock, not that her husband was happy about it. Of course, you’d always end up paying for the drinks. What is her name now?” He turned the photo over and read the back. “Elizabeth Vault! That’s it. Tsch, nominative determinism runs rampant in our community.”

“Who’s Lady Lock?”

“An old villain from back in the day. Could open any lock. Favoured stealing gold. She broke into my lair once,” Frank reminisced.

“Wait. Chancellor Elizabeth Vault was a supervillain?!” Tessa almost yelled, then stared in disbelief at the photo.

“Of course. All of them were.” He pointed at all five. “I’d always assumed it was just an open secret, I mean, who else could be so evil to run the academic committee?”

“What do you mean all five of them?” Tessa said in utter shock.

“Look,” Frank began, casual as you like. He pointed at Everton Clark. “He used to be Bank Breaker, a banking themed villain. He would only steal bearer bonds and other boring stuff. Mainly does admin stuff for the Villains Bureau nowadays.”

His finger moved over to Elizabeth Vault. “Bank Breaker was married to Lady Lock. She stole gold, he stole bonds. You’d think it was a match made in heaven, but no. They argued constantly.”

He moved on to Myra Clips. “She was Eternal Eclipse. The eyebrows are a dead giveaway. She was a moon themed villain who used magical darkness to commit her crimes. Effective, unless anyone was carrying a flashlight.”

On to Victor T Victor. “Now his name was The Victor. A strange one that. His whole gimmick was that he always won, no matter what game he was playing. He made millions gambling, then turned to supervillainy when the casinos wouldn’t let him in. Had an odd habit of repeating himself. With how long villain monologues are nowadays, it was half the reason he got beaten so often.”

Finally he moved to James Crisper. “Now, Crisper was The Torch. Everyone knew that. Fire themed villain, had a magnifying glass as a weapon, was trying for a sun gimmick. All the insect themed heroes were terrified of him. Honestly though, it was a bit strange as he was already pyrokinetic. I even remember when he was a hero called Burno, with The League of Titans. That was back when I was a kid though, back before he turned evil.”

Tessa sat stunned. All of them. All of them were supervillains. Sure, it explained why they were so cruel, but seriously, all of them?

“Were they like a team or something?” she asked.

“No, no. Sure, they teamed up occasionally, but it never worked out. No, these guys were just separate villains who all wound up in the same place.” Frank paused, remembering he was here to cheer her up. “My point is, you really shouldn’t be seeking the approval of these old codgers anyway. All of them are past their prime, half mad, and not worth your time nor effort.”

“Right, Uncle Frank,” Tessa nodded.

“You feeling any better?”

“Yes, Uncle Frank.”

Tessa wasn’t really listening. She didn’t even notice as Uncle Frank left. He’d given her the perfect idea. The perfect way to undo Brian Heed.

* * *

It had taken some doing, but she’d found it. As an avid fan, Tessa knew where all her uncle’s old hideouts were. The closest one was two miles away, hidden under an old hospital. The hospital wasn’t in operation anymore, but that secret floor was still there. Some technical skills with the lift and hey presto, she’d made it down. Down into the dusty remnants of long forgotten projects, where she found precisely what she’d been looking for.

Now she was sat outside the academic committee office again. The receptionist looked at her sceptically, never having seen anyone visit twice. Finally, her time came, the doors opened, and Tessa walked in.

“What do you want?” Everton groaned. Then he looked down over his monocle. “Wait. Weren’t you here the other day?”

“Yes, Mr Clark, I was,” Tessa answered.

“Well, why should we care?” Elizabeth Vault sighed.

“Because I have a new project that might interest you.”

“I hope it’s more interesting than the last one,” Myra Clips said snidely.

“Oh, it will be. Would you mind inviting your receptionist in here? I’ll need her to demonstrate,” Tessa said politely.

“What is this? What is this?” prattled Victor.

Crisper looked down with a gleam in his eye. “I’ll allow this.” He pressed a button on his desk. “Cynthia, could you come in here please?”

Behind Tessa, the doors opened and the receptionist entered. She looked terrified, struggling against the blinding spotlights.

“Yes, Mr Crisper?” she asked meekly.

Tessa didn’t wait. She pulled a small blue cube from her pocket, pointed it at Cynthia, and fired. In a second, Cynthia glowed blue and vanished. The cube’s glowing surface showed a tiny silhouette of her.

The committee sat in shock. Then, as Vault raised a hand to object, Tessa pressed another button and the cube glowed again. Cynthia was returned unharmed, but looked quite dizzy.

“That will be all, Cynthia,” Crisper dismissed her. Without a word, she toddled out.

“Alright, you five,” Tessa began, a manic grin on her face. “If this doesn’t impress you, nothing will. This is a Containment Cube, designed by me, and if you don’t give me the extra credit I want then you’re all going in here. Forever.”

This was a lie. Tessa hadn’t invented it. She’d stolen it from the forgotten lab. She also couldn’t go through with her threat. There was a reason Uncle Frank had abandoned it. The Cube only had a capacity of one and a time limit of twelve minutes. Intellitron had used it once to catch Justice Man, but it had failed while he was stuck in a tiny lift. Justice Man had pummelled him senseless.

“Well?” Tessa prompted. “You all want to go in the box?”

All five of the committee burst out laughing.

“Well, well, well. The girl does have some fire after all,” Myra praised.

“I’ll say,” Crisper agreed, giving Tessa a sleazy wink. She repressed her urge to vomit.

“Quite the little gadget? Quite the little gadget,” Victor agreed with himself.

“Still, of course, it won’t work,” Vault smiled.

“No,” Crisper agreed. With a gesture, a tiny bolt of fire shot from his finger and knocked the Cube from Tessa’s hand. She recoiled, now a little frightened.

“Hold on,” Everton interrupted. Everyone else fell silent. “Miss Kwells, if you’re trying these methods, you almost certainly know who we are. As such, it takes incredible gumption to try and threaten us. If you did indeed build this little device, then you may have a truly impressive project. Something like this could revolutionise the world of villainy. However, you would have to prove it. Prove your talents using this gadget and others like it.”

“And… how would I prove it?” Tessa asked, daring to interrupt.

“How does any villain prove anything? Through villainy. There’s a museum exhibit on the west side showing off the famed Stone of Stevenson. The five of us have been talking recently and found ourselves quite jealous of the museum curator having such a prize. Were we any younger, one or all of us would certainly try to steal it ourselves. So, you come back to us with the Stone of Stevenson, and we’ll give you what you want.”

“And I can get the place in the TECHAA rather than Brian Heed?”

“Miss Kwells, if you bring us the stone, we’ll make sure Brian’s project gets an F.”

* * *

Tessa wandered the halls of the college, not really paying attention to her surroundings. She had a lot to think about. Sure, using a stolen gadget to impress the committee was one thing, but stealing a famous artefact was quite another. It was being held in the West County Museum, one of the most secure locations in the city. Well… secure by museum standards anyway. Even so, it was a tough task. And did she really want to become a criminal just to get a pass?

Her thoughts were interrupted as she bumped into someone.

“Tessa? Watch where you’re going, girl,” said the obstacle. Tessa looked up and smiled. The woman before her was about her age, dark skinned, with frizzy black hair and a sturdy, full frame. Rather than be embarrassed to walk into her, Tessa was relieved to see her.

“Sorry, Jude,” Tessa sighed. “I was a million miles away.”

“The project keeping you busy?” Jude said with a charming smile.

“You could say that,” Tessa dodged. “How about you? Run any interesting stories recently?”

“Urgh, hardly. Last story I wrote was about that superhero, Judgement. Bleh.”

“Again? Though, what’s wrong with Judgement?”

“I don’t know. Super strength, flight, energy blasts. Everyone keeps saying they’re the next Justice Man. They’re such a goody-two-shoes though, right? And my editor is always asking for photos of her. I’d rather not think about it.” Jude shrugged. Then she looked at Tessa again. “You sure you’re alright, Tess?”

“Just stressed. Very stressed,” Tessa answered, struggling not to clench her teeth. “Hey, hypothetical for you. Say I had to do something really bad to beat Brian Heed. Like, I had to kill someone. Would you do it?”

“To beat Brian?” Jude stopped to think. “I don’t think I’d kill someone, but how much would I have to hurt them. Or could I just hurt Brian?”

“Unfortunately, no. What’s that thing you always say? ‘The hardest battles are the ones you can’t punch your way out of���?” she recited. Jude did say it strangely often.

“Sure, but…wait, Tess.” Jude was suddenly serious. “Are you thinking about bribing your teacher?”

“Oh, god no,” Tessa stressed. Or was she? “I’m just wondering how far you would go to stop that jerk Brian.”

“Okay, okay,” Jude calmed down. “I like to joke, Tess, but honestly I’m pretty straight edged. I couldn’t cheat to beat him. Not really. Not even to knock the smug smile off Brian’s face.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” Tessa accepted. “So, are you on your way to class?”

“Just meeting Ben. And speak of the devil.” Jude lit up as she set eyes on her boyfriend.

“Sorry, sorry I’m late,” Ben apologised. He was a scrawny young man with the complexion of a nocturnal librarian. Even so, there was an optimistic charm to him. “I was on my way here when there was a Judgement sighting!”

“Where?” Tessa asked. That was something she hadn’t considered. Superheroes.

“East side of campus. She landed, then vanished. Maybe there’s a crime being committed right here, right now,” Ben snort laughed with excitement.

“Oh, I doubt it,” Jude dismissed. “I think Judgement was just stopping off briefly, before going on her way.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because this is a college, Ben.”

“Yeah. No super crime happens here,” Tessa stated. Wait, there were five super villains on the academic council. What the hell was she on about?

“Anyway, good to see you, babe,” Jude smiled and gave Ben a peck on the cheek. “I just needed to tell you I’m busy tonight. I’ll have to skip the movie.”

“Again?”

“Sorry, but I think a juicy article might be opening up. Corruption, theft, the whole nine yards. I’ve just got to be there. The greatest obstacles are the ones we can’t punch. We must report on them.”

“Alright,” Ben reluctantly accepted. “But we’re doing a creature double feature to make up for it next week.”

“It’s a date,” Jude smiled. “Now, I’ve got to fly. I mean… I’ve got to go. See you.” She gave Ben another kiss, then hurried away down the corridor.

“Always so busy,” Tessa commented. “Last Tuesday, we had plans to go to that new restaurant but she cancelled. Was she with you then, or….?”

“No. No idea where she was,” Ben shrugged. “Journalists, am I right? I’m still so proud though, every time I see an article written by Judith G. Mint.”

“Yeah. And honestly, it was a good thing we missed the restaurant. There was a super fight like three streets away. It would have ruined our meal.”

* * *

Two weeks to the deadline, Tessa made up her mind. She’d been unsure at first, unsure if she could actually be a criminal, until she saw Brian in the common area showing off his project to everyone. His evolution simulation was still on dinosaurs, but to put a spin on it, he’d made it simulate the evolution of an alien world. Everyone was transfixed by the alien dinosaurs, with only Tessa apparently realising he might as well be showing them science fiction, for all of its accuracy.

With her rage renewed, she came up with a plan. Meeting up with Jude and Ben, she convinced them to join her for a little vacation. They’d been working hard, Jude and Ben’s exams weren’t for a few weeks, and Tessa needed to blow off some steam. Her friends had been hesitant, but they soon came around. And so, using a family discount, Tessa booked them all a couple days at Intellitron Resorts.

Still, she didn’t want anyone finding out, so booked the trip under the fake name, Marge M. Mechanism, and didn’t worry her friends with the price. Not that she didn’t intend to also have fun.

Ben wanted to try every cocktail going and ride every ride. Meanwhile, Jude was planning a review of the resort, though was understandably hesitant on the cocktails. Intellitron Resorts tended to put mint in drinks, to reflect the cold machinery of Intellitron himself, and Jude had a mild but significant peppermint allergy. One sip and she’d break out in rashes, dizziness, and it would generally ruin her day.

For the first few hours, Tessa joined them. Riding the rollercoasters, watching the parades, and going to the re-enactments of famous super battles. The weather was pleasant, as the island’s volcano created a balmy humidity. It was just what they all needed to relax. Then, as they stopped for some drinks, Tessa set her plan in motion. She devised a division of fun, with the happy couple having some time alone, while she went to the legendarily unpopular “History of Villainy” ride, siting it as research for her project.

The ride was a relic back from Intellitron’s evil days, and was a slow historical lecture that played like an ego trip to the villain. In truth, it was built by his henchmen to please him. While Jude was reluctant to split up, wanting to spend time with her friend, Ben had been perfectly happy for some alone time. He planned to take Jude on the “Tunnel of Love” ride, unaware that the ride was actually an intense, unpleasant rollercoaster based on Intellitron’s feelings towards romance.

Once Tessa was out of sight, she slipped away towards the Volcano Tours. She paid her entry fee and headed in, then almost immediately snuck away into the employee area. Darting between the corridors, she eventually found an elevator. It required a code to operate, but it was easy enough to guess. Frank Intellitron’s birthday, a day that always caused a certain tension in the Kwells household.

The buttons for the lift detailed floors 1 – 5. Below that was labelled Basement, Storage, Lab, then Sub-Lab, and then Secret Sub-Lab. She hit the lowest button.

It took a solid ten minutes to descend to the Secret Sub-Lab, gentle elevator music warbling the whole way. When the doors opened, blue light flowed in. It was either blue bulbs, or the walls themselves were blue, but the entire lab was engulfed with a cobalt radiance. Various artefacts and machines were all locked in cases or sealed in glass chambers. Lifeless robots sat idle, guns sat dusty on racks, and hovering drones flew in small circles. One box just contained a swarm of bees with massive warning signs pinned all over it.

Tessa entered and began her search. If she was going to rob a museum, she’d need the gear to do it. But what to take? Doom Blaster? A bit violent. Wrecker Droid? No, she was trying to minimise damage. Invisitron 5000. No, she remembered hearing about its test subjects. They were never visible again.

She rounded a corner and stumbled across a sight which filled her with awe. A gigantic robot with a dozen arms, each weaponised and surrounding a central dome like a spider or a crab. She recognised it as Mr Intellitron’s first giant robot, once defeated and crushed by Justice Man himself. Still, it wasn’t what she was looking for.

Then she saw it.

It was a chrome coated gun, the engraved plaque reading Stun Cannon. Perfect. She reached forwards and pulled it from its plinth. It was surprisingly heavy and gently buzzing, but every sense told her this was what she wanted.

Ding!

Her reverie was broken as the lift arrived. The doors hissed opened and a man exited. He was in his early forties, old for a henchman, but was wearing the uniform of the resort staff. His hair was thinning and his skin was just starting to wrinkle, but there was a youthful vigour to his movements. He was also carrying some kind of energy weapon and grumbling. As he got closer, Tessa could make out a name badge that simply read “14”.

“If this is you again, Justice Man, I swear to god…” he grumbled. Then he spotted Tessa, standing out in the open. “What are you doing down here?”

“Umm… Just looking for my uncle. Have you seen him?” she tried to lie. 14 just raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, no. Tell me the truth, or I’m going to call him.”

“Wait! Please don’t,” she begged.

“Why are you here?”

“Okay. I’ll be straight with you,” she gave in. “I need to commit a robbery. I won’t tell you what or where or why, but I need some gear. Just a little something to make the job easier. And since my uncle was one of the best villains ever, I thought why not take advantage of that?”

14 sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Tessa…”

“I know, I’m putting you in a difficult position, but I wouldn’t be doing this if my entire future wasn’t on the line,” she pleaded.

“And me telling you ‘no’ wouldn’t stop you?” he asked, holstering his weapon.

“Not in the slightest. In fact, I’d be liable to knock you out and leg it.” She’d never hit anyone before but there was a first time for everything.

“Ha. Good luck,” 14 smiled. He looked her over. “I know you’re a smart girl, so you really wouldn’t be here if you had any other options,” he reasoned. “And the boss would kill me if anything happened to you out there. But,” He held up a finger, “I’m not letting you have any of the weaponry, or anything dangerous. Most of this stuff is decommissioned for a reason,” he said sternly, snatching the Stun Cannon from her grasp.

“I’m not looking to hurt anyone. Just get in and out.” She held up her now empty hands.

14 thought for a moment. “Come with me.”

He led her through to a small chamber, built like an isolation room. Tessa entered, where a device like a silver backpack sat on a pedestal. Without prompting, she walked over and picked it up.

“User detected,” a mechanical voice uttered. The backpack opened and a swarm of something emerged. Noiseless, but they swarmed like flies, swirling around her. She felt them on her skin, her hair, her clothes, and for a moment she froze in sheer terror. Then it stopped. When she opened her eyes, the backpack had mysteriously moved to her back and a blue suit had morphed around her like a second skin.

“The Nanosuit,” 14 explained. “It should keep you safe. It heals injuries, can function as stealth camo, and can morph to fit your needs.”

“Wow…” Tessa looked down. Then her brow furrowed. “Oh, thanks!” she jeered. “Of course the super tech has to be a sexy, skin-tight cat-suit, which frankly leaves very little to the imagination. Very little at all.” She suddenly felt outstandingly exposed. It really clung to every curve and she didn’t know where her clothes had gone.

“It’s intuitive. Responds to what you want.”

“Are you saying I wanted this?” she asked angrily. Then she stopped. The suit responded and was constructing armoured plates, turning the cat-suit into combat armour. “Ooo,” she cooed. The armour was azure-blue, suitably modest, and very agile. “Can it build weapons too?” she grinned.

“Just for self-defence, young lady,” 14 interrupted.

Tessa raised her hands to show she understood. As she did, the gauntlets over her forearms shifted, the fingers becoming sharp as blades. She gave them a few test swings and then mentally commanded them to return to normal. They did. She smiled broadly.

“Wait.” She caught her reflection in a shiny surface. “I’m going to need a mask or something.”

The suit responded, the material stretching up to her chin and producing two plates as a mouth guard. It wasn’t much of a disguise though, still pretty recognisable with her hair and face and everything. The suit responded and she felt a tingle across her scalp. It was like the flies again. She turned and looked at her reflection to watch her hair changing. It was turning grey and being shaped into jagged zigzags, just like Uncle Frank’s.

“So that’s how he does it…” she muttered. “Can I turn back?” she asked 14.

“Yep. Just think about it.”

She did, and watched her as reflection changed again. Her hair returned to its natural red and the suit vanished, replaced seamlessly with her original clothes. All the armour vanished into the ether and all the Nanosuit materials were sucked back into the backpack. She tried not to think about whether her clothes were technically the originals or if this was a Ship of Theseus situation. She instead turned to 14.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“As I said, the boss would kill me if something happened to you,” he shrugged.

“But you don’t even know me. You’re just… a henchman.”

“I know enough,” 14 said with a keen eye. “You’ve had a few birthdays here, Tessa. You were one of the first when we officially opened as a non-evil resort. Plus, Intellitron keeps a photo of you on his desk. He’s so proud of you. I’ve worked for him for a long time, and before he retired, he only ever smiled when he was talking about you. That or when he was briefly winning.”

“Aww,” Tessa said, her heart aglow.

“But, let’s get some things straight.” He pointed a stern finger. “First, you’re bringing that armour back when you’re done. The boss does inventory on this place regularly. Second, if he asks, you stole that by yourself. Third, if he asks me, I’m going to have to tell him everything. I can’t risk lying to him.”

“What would he do if you lied to him?” Tessa asked, suddenly a little worried.

“He could fire me!” 14 said, sounding genuinely terrified. “And what am I going to do then? Who’s going to hire a 15 year duty henchmen, out on his luck, with more knocks and bruises to his name than an average fight club?”

Tessa smiled. “Maybe if I ever need a henchman, I’ll look you up.”

“I’d honestly enjoy that,” 14 nodded, almost surprised to be saying it. “I’d take fighting superheroes over picky customers any day.”

* * *

The rest of the vacation went well, with Tessa letting her hair down and relaxing. On the outside anyway. Inside, she was planning. Every free moment, she researched the museum and its weaknesses. She even got chatting with a few resort staff, all former henchmen, on tips and tricks of the trade. Then finally, when the fun was over, Tessa, Jude and Ben all headed back to the mainland, and back to their college campus.

And Tessa prepared for her heist.

* * *

The night eventually came, and Tessa got to work.

Getting into the museum went off without a hitch, just walking up and disguising herself in her nanosuit once she was on the grounds. She’d also designed a device, which the nanobots constructed, which she fed it into the power systems to disable all exterior alarms. The walls proved no problem either, the nanosuit turning her hands into claws, she clambered up the outside, in through a skylight, and crawled along the ceiling. None of the cameras were aimed upwards, so she was free to move and disconnect them from above. Finally, she was in the room with the Stone of Stevenson. It was an unremarkable chunk of granite with a few words carved into one face, housed in a glass case on a plinth. Security lasers surrounded it on four sides and she knew from her research that the plinth was rigged with pressure plates to alert at any change in weight.

So she dropped straight down from above, down the middle of the cage of lasers, and plucked the entire plinth from the ground with suit-enhanced super strength. The plinth rose and all its wires snapped with an obliging fizzle. With the security disabled, she cut open the case with a sharpened finger and took out the stone.

That was when a guard walked in.

He paused. She froze. He was just a night watchman, holding a torch. She was in full supervillain garb, grey lightning hair and armour, and holding the Stone of Stevenson. But she didn’t know what to do.

The guard did though. He sprinted, slapped a button on the wall, and suddenly alarms were blaring. Tessa cursed herself. No more need for stealth, she pulled a Containment Cube from her belt, stored the Stone of Stevenson inside, and got moving. She then raised a hand, fired a grappling line, and jumped to the ceiling again, where she formed a gauntlet into a drill and tunnelled her way back out.

The night air was crisp and cold and the view of the city from the museum roof was spectacular. However, Tessa was too busy to enjoy it, as she desperately fled the scene. Sounds of guards swarmed below. She ran to the edge of the rooftop and formed a jetpack using plans she’d uploaded to the nanobots. They worked fast and by the time she leapt from the roof, the thrusters were finished and she flew out across the city with a rocketing whoosh!

The wind rushed against her skin. The cold was blistering, but thrilling all the same. She had to resist crying out into the night in joy. This was fun! And she’d gotten away, and there was no way anyone was tracking her now.

That was when something hit her. Something hard.

She wasn’t sure what it was, but it knocked her off balance. Her thrusters spiralled and she was sent hurtling towards the city below. Aiming herself, she just managed to fall towards the roof of a block of flats. Then the thrusters kicked in and span her so she landed uncomfortably, but safely, on her rear.

“Ow,” Tessa complained, rubbing her butt, “but it could have been worse.”

“It’s about to be worse!” a triumphant voice shouted.

A figure leapt across several rooftops, then landed without even disturbing the rooftop gravel. It was a woman, stood tall and proud. She had dark skin, slicked back black hair, and had a full, sturdy figure, plump full lips, with muscles to die for. Gorgeous by Tessa’s standards, though the attraction caught her by surprise. Maybe it was the adrenaline.

Whatever she was feeling, it was lessened by the outfit. A black spandex bodysuit with yellow accents. A logo of a set of scales printed across her chest. There was even a small eye mask concealing only a fraction of her face.

She was a superhero. Oh crap.

“Stop, you vile villain!” the hero proclaimed.

“And who are you supposed to be?” Tessa asked, stumbling to her feet.

“I am the warrior of truth and justice. I am Judgement!”

Judgement! Oh, double crap.

“Look, there’s no need for a fight here, Judgment,” Tessa tried not to beg. “Can I call you Judgement?”

“You can call me your doom, you treacherous thief. Where is the Stone of Stevenson?” She glanced up and down Tessa’s figure, trying to hide her confusion that the stone wasn’t there.

Tessa pretended to look for it. “Oh, would you look at that. I must have dropped it.” For all her skills, Tessa was not an actor. Even she could hear how stilted it sounded. “Wait, hold on! Was that you who knocked me out of the air? You could have killed me, you cretin!”

Was Judgement a hero who killed villains? Or was she one who just took them to jail? Tessa couldn’t remember.

“My strike was calculated, and I didn’t see you drop anything. Now give me the stone and I’ll make your trip to jail minimally painful.”

Tessa heard the word jail. An icy dread froze her stomach. She couldn’t go to prison.

“Nope!” she blurted, turned and ran. She had intended to fly away, but one thruster was damaged and fired before the others. She tried to compensate but failed. Instead she just span a cartwheel in the air and fell back to the roof in a pile.

“Ha! That was pathetic!” Judgement judged, striding closer. “Look, how about this? You give me the stone, I tell the police that you cooperated. Might cut down your sentence from fifteen years to ten. It’s the best offer you’re going to get.”

“Says you,” Tessa answered, spitting out some gravel.

“What do you even want with some old relic anyway? I’ve checked and it doesn’t have any magical powers or anything. It’s just some old rock from another country.”

“A holy relic stolen from another country,” Tessa argued.

“Hey, that’s colonialism for you. That kind of politics is above my paygrade. Not that I get paid for this.”

“Then why does it matter to you? Why stop me?” Tessa pulled herself back to her feet. She needed a plan.

“You broke the law. Simple as that. You’re guilty, and I judge you as such.” She gestured to the Scales of Justice depicted on her outfit.

“And who put you in charge?”

“Well, the police can’t stop people like you, can they?” she stated. “Besides, you still stole it. What right do you have to be above the law?”

“Oh, shut up,” Tessa dismissed. This was getting sanctimonious and she just wanted to escape.

“No, really, what’s making you do this? Is it money? Power?”

“What? No!” Tessa was almost offended.

“Is it influence? Ego? Do you just have to prove you’re the best?”

“No!” That last part hurt a little. It was slightly true.

“Then what? Why steal some ancient chunk of rock? Did the museum curator kill your family or something?”

Tessa stared at her. “…What are you on about?”

“Then why? Did you lose something? Did you fail? What did you fail to be driven to this?”

“My exams!” Tessa blurted. The interrogation had been getting fraught and she just wanted her to shut up.

“What?” Judgement processed what was said. “You’re doing this because you failed an exam?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say failed. I got an A-.”

“And this will solve everything? Stealing this relic?” Judgement asked genuinely.

“Without it my entire future slips away. All because of stupid academia and one stupid jerk. This is my only hope, and you aren’t going to stop me, Judgment. I’ll do anything to get past you, so get out of my way.”

The conversation had gotten strangely real, Tessa noted. Judgement looked saddened, but sympathetic. Meanwhile the weight of it finally hit Tessa. This was all or nothing for her. Like a mouse backed into a corner by a cat. And Judgement knew that.

“Look, whoever you are, I still can’t let you leave with that stone. There are always other ways out of situations like this. So please, just hand it over and you can walk away. Because you can’t fight your way out of this. The hardest battles are the ones you can’t punch your way out of.”

Wait, what?

Tessa froze as reality imploded for her. It was like looking at a magic eye picture and suddenly seeing the image. It hit her like a truck how little was actually hidden by Judgment’s mask and outfit. And yet only now could she see it. The skin, the hair, the facial features, the body.

It was Jude!

Her mind frenzied. She didn’t know what to do. A thousand thoughts vied for attention. How Jude’s strange behaviour and disappearances suddenly made sense. How she always had the inside scoop on superhero events. That time she had been in a collapsing building and somehow emerged unharmed. How Tessa had found Judgement so attractive! Did she have a crush on her best friend? These were all thoughts for later.

For now, she just had to find a way out of this without revealing herself.

“Sorry, but I can’t. I need this stone,” Tessa apologised, subconsciously lowering the tone of her voice to hide it. The nanobots picked up on her anxiety and added a robotic reverb.

“So be it,” Judgement shrugged. She attacked.

In a single step, Judgment was on her. The first punch hit Tessa in the jaw and sent her sprawling. She thudded into the edge of the roof, dazed and dizzy. She could feel her jaw buzzing as the nanobots fixed any damage. But it still hurt. It really bloody hurt!

Suddenly, Tessa’s blood was up. Her friend had just punched her and now she was mad. Sure, Jude didn’t know it was her, but Tessa didn’t care. Brian Heed couldn’t stop her, the committee couldn’t stop her, now neither could Jude. It was time to fight back.

Activating her thrusters, she launched herself at Judgement, punching her in the chin. She threw a right hook, then a left, then another right. Tessa had taken boxing once for a summer alongside ballet. Even so, she was punching a superhero. Judgement’s head barely moved.

Oh crap, Tessa swore to herself, as Judgement raised her fist.

Another punch, this one to the chest, and Tessa thudded to the floor. It hit her armour but she still felt the nanobots buzzing behind the plating, mending ribs. Jude was strong. Really strong. Tessa struggled back to her feet, a little wobbly, as the hero cockily watched her.

“Had enough?” she smiled.

“Not yet,” Tessa hissed. She had to think. How did Intellitron ever beat Justice Man? Well, he didn’t, did he? That sent her heart into her stomach. But how could Intellitron beat Justice Man. Brains vs brawn? Uncle Frank would outsmart him.

Judgement just shook her head disappointedly, then swung her fist. Tessa raised her arms to shield herself, taking the next blow to her gauntlets, and the next. Jude was clearly toying with her, but that was her mistake. With her forth punch, Tessa channelled several thousand vaults through her gauntlets. Jude’s fist landed and her entire body flashed with lightning.

“OW!” the hero recoiled.

“Amateur. Your gloves aren’t even shock proof,” Tessa grinned. She launched a barrage of sharp jabs, each one delivering a payload of electricity. She was careful with the voltage, worried she might actually hurt Jude. In actuality, it was likely too low from the start. While the blows stunned her, the hero was recovering quickly.

She caught one of Tessa’s fists.

Judgement stared daggers. Tessa struggled to escape, and not to do anything embarrassing out of fear. The hand was like a vice. And under her fist, Judgement’s palm began to glow.

Oh, right. Judgement can fire energy blasts, Tessa reminded herself.

The blast released and hit Tessa like a hammer. It sent her flying. She cleared the edge of the roof, cleared the alley, and then cleared the next two buildings. When she landed she was a couple of blocks away and lying in a rooftop flowerbed, the nanomachines buzzing all over her body. Her arm especially hurt, like she’d punched a wall at high speed.

She needed a plan. Judgement would be on her any moment, and she was a novice supervillain at best. She needed an edge. She needed Judgement’s weakness.

A metaphorical bulb lit up over her head.

Sure, she didn’t know Judgment, but she knew Jude’s weakness. Peppermints. She was allergic. It was a mild allergy, sure, but it should be enough to stop her. Even as she thought, the nanosuit crept out into the flowerbed and consumed any of its regular mint for a base. But Tessa also had to explain why she was spraying her opponent with peppermint.

Judgment landed on the roof, her features creased with annoyance. She was done playing. Tessa stood before her, wearing a fake smile. She needed to stall. But with that surge of adrenaline, an idea took form. She stuck out a hand and an array of harmless lasers shot out, cascading over the hero. Judgement flinched, and looked confused. They’d done nothing. The lasers stopped and beeped like a barcode scanner.

“Hahaha,” Tessa laughed theatrically. “And my scan is complete. Now I have a complete analysis of you, Judgement.”

“Pardon?” Judgement paused.

“Oh, yes. My technology has made a complete assessment.” A small screen slotted down over Tessa’s eye, displaying meaningless information. “You’re strong, can create energy blasts and fly. You’re not indestructible, but you’re tough. Also, it looks like you have a genetic abnormality that reacts negatively with Mentha balsamea.”

“Mentha what?”

“Peppermint!” she proclaimed and sprayed the synthetic peppermint her suit had finished.

The spray hit Judgement. She leapt back, but the mist clung to her. She swatted at the cloud around her, then it dispersed and she fell to her knees.

For a moment, Tessa worried she had overdone it. It was a mean thing to do, but needs must. Fortunately, Judgement started to move. And glow. Her skin changed from its usual coffee-black to a dull orange. Then to yellow. Jude stood up, her eyes glowing white and her skin shining like purest gold.

Tessa backed away slowly.

“I think your machine made a mistake, you vile villain,” Judgement announced, her voice now echoing ethereally. “Peppermint doesn’t hurt me. It just makes me lose control of my powers. It’ll also make me sick as a dog in about twelve hours, so thanks in advance for that,” she snarled. “But please, I don’t want to be rude. I’ll show you the wonderful power you’ve let loose.”

Judgement charged.

* * *

Tessa awoke about nineteen seconds later. She was on another completely new rooftop, her entire body hurt, and the nanobots were working overtime to fix her injuries. There was a massive dent in her chest plate and she was pretty sure her hair was scorched. She could see Judgement flying after her, glowing like the sun, but Tessa was out of tricks. She might have to fight this properly. She tried to command her suit to make an anti-peppermint compound, but the suit was too busy fixing her bones. She swallowed nervously. This would be the most difficult fight of her life... It would also be her first.

Judgement landed and marched forwards. Every step, her golden form scorched the ground and left blackened footprints behind her. Tessa got to her feet, which only made Judgement smile. Tessa couldn’t smile. She was scared. Really scared.

“Stop right there, young lady!” a voice yelled from above. As they both looked up, a metal platform descended. On the platform was a blue skinned man with a bionic eye, wearing full cerulean robes, and a look of absolute annoyance on his face.

If anything, Tessa was even more scared of him.

“Mr Intellitron!” Judgement exclaimed.

“You, butt out of this. This is between me and her,” Intellitron dismissed the hero, stepping off the platform and marching towards Tessa. “Hello there, M. M. Mechanism,” he said mockingly. “14 told me everything.”

“Okay, look, I can explain.” Tessa put up her hands as if she were praying.

“Can you?”

“So you’re behind this!” Judgement realised wrongly. “I knew we couldn’t trust a villain like you, Mr Intellitron.”

“I said, butt out!” Uncle Frank growled back. “I’m still retired, I just need to deal with this. Run along. I’d like to talk to her alone.”

“Not on your life. I can finally do what Justice Man never could, and put you away for good.” Judgement hovered, aiming her body threateningly.

“For god’s sake…” Intellitron grumbled, then looked Judgement square in the face. “Hey! Watch the birdy!” He pointed to his robot eye. It glowed blue as Judgement looked on in confusion.

“What are you-” she began, then a beam fired and froze her to the spot, a glowing aura holding her in mid-air.

“Tsch. Call yourself a hero? Even Justice Man would never have fallen for that,” Intellitron critiqued. “These young bloods need to learn.”

“Does Mum know you had that in your head during dinner?” Tessa asked.

“There’s a lot of things your mother doesn’t know.” He rounded sternly on her. “You said you could explain?”

“Yes… Where to start?”

“Let’s start with what, then why, then we go from there,” he pre-empted. “So, what did you steal?”

“The Stone of Stevenson…”

“And where is it?”

“In here.” She held up the Containment Cube.

He nodded. “So it hasn’t been gone long. Twelve minutes, if I remember correctly.”

“Actually, it’s been longer. While testing the cube, I discovered that with a few modifications it could store inanimate objects for almost eight hours,” Tessa explained, turning the cube in her hand.

“What do you mean?” Uncle Frank asked, some of his sternness fading into curiosity.

“Well, a small change to the energy frequency and it becomes a lot more stable. However, the change means it can’t contain anything organic safely. Specifically anything alive. The results are a bit unpleasant. I tested it on a houseplant and it came back inside out.”

“Huh.” Intellitron stared at the cube. “I’d never considered just using it for storage.” Then he got back on track, his annoyance resumed. “I’m assuming you’re stealing it for someone else? My guess is the academic committee.”

“Got it in one, Uncle Frank.”

“Why do they want it?”

“Jealousy? Boredom? Who knows?” she shrugged.

“And yet you’re getting yourself beaten up to steal it.” He shook his head.

“Hey, it’s not like the museum deserves it anyway,” Tessa argued. “They stole it from its indigenous people 200 years ago, and now it’s just on display. I did my research to make sure I wasn’t hurting anyone innocent.”

“And the committee will give it back?” he doubted

“No, but I think it’s better than nothing. It’ll defame the people who stole it by showing how they can’t protect their property. I know it isn’t perfect, but I just couldn’t miss my chance. Not with Brian ruining my life.”

“I see,” Intellitron thought for a moment, his sternness faded. “Zapper, I’m going to ask you a serious question here. Are you really doing this for the TECHAA, or are you doing this just to beat Brian Heed?”

Tessa considered it, then pouted a little. “I can be doing it for both reasons.”

“And this TECHAA thing is really worth all this? And taking down Brian?”

“Honestly, it’s all that I live for at the moment. Victory and revenge.”

Intellitron shook his head again. “Headstrong, obsessive, selfish,” he judged. “God I miss those heady days,” he sighed nostalgically.

“Pardon?”

He smiled. “I get it. Sometimes you need to be a bit hard headed, don’t you? Refuse to give in. Never relent. Some days you have to be so driven it hurts. And yes, sometimes you have to be a bit selfish. Do something for you, even if it isn’t the best for everyone else. I remember why I became a villain. I thought the world would be better under my rule. That I alone could fix all the world’s problems. I was wrong, of course, but all that started from that one selfish idea.”

“I thought it was because you got denied for a bank loan because you were blue,” Tessa remembered. She’d been told this story before.

“Well, yes. That too. I wanted money for an invention. They said no, so I robbed the bank that denied me. Okay, petty at the time, but it made me understand the corruption in economics. The inequality of opportunities. It made me fight back. If I hadn’t, I’d still be a bricklayer like your grandfather, god rest him.”

“Okay?” Tessa said cautiously. She wasn’t sure where this was going anymore.

“But now look at you! You’re going toe to toe with a super. You’re doing your research and making your moral judgments. You’re refusing to accept the world’s unfairness, even if the law wouldn’t agree. My only complaint is that you stole my tech to do it, but even then…” He couldn’t help but grin.

“You’re not mad?”

“Of course I’m mad,” he continued, still smiling. “Your mother would be livid if she ever saw you like this. And there’s no way she’d believe I wasn’t responsible. She’d never speak to me again. But, by fate or by function, you’re following in my footsteps.”

Tessa looked down at herself. Azure armour, grey lightning hair, a general use of gadgets. She did look like a knock-off Mr Intellitron.

“You always were my role model,” she justified. “You’re the reason I worked so hard. I wanted to be as clever as you.”

Intellitron smirked. “You know, your mother would say villains make terrible role models. And for the most part, she’d be right. Criminals, tyrants and self-centred jerks, the lot of them. But at the core of it all is a desire for change. Sure, for most of them it’s change that puts them on top, but it’s change nonetheless. Heroes just enforce the rules. Yes, they save people, but they don’t fix the problems. They won’t change the laws to help the oppressed. No, they’ll just beat up that oppressed person when they’re forced to steal to survive. Well… some of them anyway,” he conceded. “Overall, they just enforce the status quo. But I always saw the need to change the status quo. To try and fix the unfairness of the world, even if I had to do it by force.”

He paused, a nostalgic look washing over his face.

“Justice Man used to say to me, ‘The world ill needs a saviour such as you’. My response was always ‘I don’t see anyone else doing any better’. And now here you are, your future at stake, and you fight back against it. Doing anything to make your dreams come true.” His anger was gone and he beamed, looking her in the eye. “I’m so proud of you, Tessa.”

“Thanks, Uncle Frank,” Tessa blushed.

“Now, what do we do with her?” Intellitron turned to look at Judgement, still frozen nearby and still glowing yellow. Tessa suddenly remembered the hero was there. “This is Judgement, right?”

“That’s her, Uncle Frank. Will she be alright?��

“Basic stasis field. She’ll wake up feeling no time has passed.”

“Good. Because it turns out she’s my best friend from school.”

“Really?” Intellitron said curiously. He thought for a second. “That girl Jude you’re always talking about?”

Oh god! She was always talking about her! Maybe it really was a crush!

“Um…yes,” Tessa said embarrassingly.

“The world is peculiar,” Intellitron admired. “You know, one of my first heroes turned out to be your mother’s hair stylist?”

“Huh… That must have been a let-down.”

“Hardly. He was a demon with those scissors,” Intellitron recalled. “You see all this?” he gestured to his grey lightning hair and beard.

“Yes?”

“This is all natural. Your mother has it too, her stylist just cuts and dyes it with such fury it’ll never spring back. That’s the man I fought… And, don’t let on to your mother I told you that. She’d kill me.”

“I’m just sad I missed out on that gene.”

“Perhaps. It does look good on you,” he admired her disguised hair.

“So, Judgement?” Tessa got them back on track.

“She’ll wake up in an hour and we’ll be gone. Does she know who you are?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Good. That can get messy. You’re giving the Stone of Stevenson to the committee?”

“I can’t miss my chance. Besides, a few plans are forming on that front.”

“That’s my girl,” he smiled again. “And is this villainy going to be a onetime thing or an ongoing project?”

“I’m not going full time,” she dismissed. Then she thought. “But then again… it could be useful. It really would put Brian in his place if I robbed him. He’s a trust fund brat and I’ll need capital for my research.”

Uncle Frank chuckled. “People like that sometimes need reminding they’re not invincible. In that case, I guess I’ll leave you with the Nanosuit. Might as well. The cat-suit look never suited me.”

“Thanks, Uncle Frank. I’ll be careful with it.”

“And call me if you ever need anything. For the time being, you can use my lab if necessary, but I’ll give you the number for a guy who can get you your own lair. Cosmo works wonders.”

“Um… Thanks, Uncle Frank,” she said a little less assuredly.

* * *

The next day, Tessa stood before the committee. They all waited until the doors were closed, as Everton Clark looked down with a leering smile.

“Do you have it?”

“I do,” Tessa answered. She pulled out the Containment Cube and pointed it, materialising the Stone of Stevenson on Everton’s desk. The five of them all stared at the dull hunk of rock as if it were a diamond.

“Suitably banal,” Everton admired. “Now, you can be off.”

“Not without my reward. I was thinking a full star grade for me, while you drop Brian down to a B+. It’s low enough that he won’t get the placement, but high enough that no one will feel sorry for him.”

“A suitably cruel retribution, but we have the stone now. You don’t have anything else to offer. It’s a rookie mistake,” Everton grinned maliciously. Around the desk, all the other members began to chuckle.

“You’re really going for the old backstab?” Tessa said incredulously. She’d expected it, but still…

“Well what are you going to do about it? Report us?” Crisper laughed. The others joined in.

Tessa stared up at them, waiting for them to stop. When they didn’t, she raised a hand and her pinkie ring sent a bolt of energy whizzing past Elizabeth Vault’s ear. The laughing stopped, with them honestly more annoyed by the hole in the wall than the danger.

“You really think I didn’t come prepared?” she smirked. “I’m a villain now, and I have the weapons to fight all five of you. So try it, why don’t you?”

“You little…”

“Or maybe I should just tell my Uncle Frank. Then you’d be in trouble.” She inspected her nails condescendingly.

“Why would we ever be scared of your Uncle Frank?”

“You know him, don’t you? I know at least one of you does. Frank Intellitron.”

All their faces fell.

“I’m sure he’d love to hear how you’ve been picking on his favourite niece.”

They all turned pale, even Crisper with his ridiculous tan.

“Now, about my grades?” Tessa grinned.

* * *

That afternoon, Tessa walked through the college green, her heart alight with success. Across the campus she noticed a crowd surrounding the music hall, a deep and frenzied wailing coming from within. No one outside appeared worried. The reactions ranged from curious people trying to see what was happening, and people irritably waiting for it to stop.

She walked past, heading out onto the veranda where Jude was waiting.

“Hey, Jude. How are… Oh my!” Tessa stopped. Jude didn’t look well. She was sniffling with a runny nose, occasionally coughing, and her skin was a jaundiced yellow above her usual tone. She blew her nose loudly into a hanky.

“Hey, Tess,” she said, her nose bunged up.

“What happened to you?”

“Oh, all this?” Jude gestured to her whole head. “Allergies. Someone blew one of those vape pens in my face and it was laced with peppermint. Been fighting the damn symptoms since yesterday.” She snorted again, clearing her nose.

“Oh...” Tessa felt a little spike of guilt. “Maybe I can use chemistry to make you an antihistamine or something.”

“Don’t worry, Tessa. It’ll pass.”

From behind, the wailing in the music hall grew louder, then faded again. Tessa turned and briefly saw Brian Heed sprinting away in tears.

“What’s going on there?” she pointed.

“Oh, you didn’t hear?” Jude blew her nose again. “Brian decided to hand in his project early, just to be the smuggest he could be. But it turns out alien dinosaurs aren’t scientific fact. They said it was just meaningless sci-fi and a betrayal of the original concept. But they still accepted his submission and graded him at a B.”

Tessa tried to be humble, she sincerely did. She failed utterly.

“Oh nooooooo…” she grinned.

“No need to pretend, Tess,” Jude stopped her with a similar grin. Then she sneezed into her hanky, groaning at the discomfort of it. “Urgh, I hope this clears up soon.”

“Hey guys!” called Ben, running up to the pair. He headed up to kiss Jude, only to recoil from her snot.

“Sorry, honey. No kissing today,” Jude groaned.

“That’s fine with me.” Ben stepped back. “Anyway, did you hear, Tess? There was a huge superhero fight last night!”

“Oh?” Tessa tried to look innocent.

“I tried to call you? Thought it would be good for your documentary. Where were you?”

“Busy. I was visiting my uncle.”

“Well, listen to this,” he said excitably, pulling out his phone and reading the article aloud.

Last night, Hero City was shaken by a robbery at the West County Museum for Art and History. The theft resulted in the loss of a famed antiquity, The Stone of Stevenson, a disputed artefact that has been the subject of multiple protests and debates. However, it was not the theft itself that caused such an uproar, but the emergence of yet another villain onto our streets.

As described by a museum security guard, the villain was female and used various gadgetry to slip in and out of the museum almost undetected, only spotted by one patrolling guard. The villain, identified by local superhero Judgement as Madame Mechanism-

So that name’s going to stick, Tessa thought to herself.

-is described as being six foot with a lithe and impressive combat suit. She has grey, lightning hair, but this fails to distract from her firm and shapely figure. While no people were directly harmed, she is considered to be armed and dangerous, no matter how alluring she might be. However, many readers will find the description of “Grey Lightning Hair” familiar, as a key feature of former villain and resort owner, Mr Intellitron. According to Judgement, Intellitron was sighted that night conflicting with Madame Mechanism. When questioned over his involvement, Intellitron had this to say.

“This new villain is clearly an upstart, and has taken to likening herself to me. But, even so, she is formidable. She managed to infiltrate my own labs and steal an archived and unfinished project, and then completed the design herself. Imagine that! I think the world should be ready for this new villain’s rise to prominence.”

Speculation continues to churn concerning a connection between Intellitron and Mechanism, but as of yet no further proof has been established. Judgement was reported to have attempted to apprehend Madame Mechanism, but failed due to Intellitron’s interference, or so the hero says.

As of yet, The Stone of Stevenson has not been located, nor the reason for its theft. And now yet another villain has risen. Watch out citizens of Hero City! Madame Mechanism is on the loose.

“What do you think? Isn’t that the coolest? Have you ever heard anything like it?” Ben said excitedly.

Jude just raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Ben. I wrote it,” she said flatly, sniffing again. “What else was I going to do, laid up in bed all night, unable to sleep? I had to pay someone over the phone to get me that Intellitron interview.”

“…I was more talking to Tessa there,” Ben deflated. Then he eyed Jude again, and the state of her. “Let’s get you home and back into bed. You look like you need it.”

“Sure… I don’t deserve you.”

“Well, you have me. So there,” Ben teased.

“For how long?”

“Forever. Didn’t you know? College romances always stand the test of time.”

Jude smiled through her snot.

“Hey, did you say the Stone of Stevenson was stolen?” Tessa refocused the conversation.

“Yes?” Jude nodded.

“Oh, man,” Tessa complained. “I was planning to go and see that.” Of course, that was a lie.

Ben looked puzzled. “Why? It sounds so dull.”

“It has some fascinating history,” Tessa said promptly “It was stolen ages ago by settlers from its native people, and now it’s being held in the museum… Well, it was. In all honesty, it’s just a rock, but a rock with cultural significance. There are laws in place, that should it ever make it back to its homeland, then it automatically becomes their property again, no questions asked. Some hero could send it back and legally everyone would be in the clear. It’s a fascinating prospect.”

Ben kept his puzzled look. “How do you know all that?”

“Everton Clark,” Tessa sighed, displaying pretend boredom. “He rambled on and on about it this morning. All I wanted to do was talk about my project, but he had a replica of the stone on his coffee table and kept talking about how much he hated the museum owner.” She performatively quirked an eyebrow. “Though, now that I think about it, I do find that strange. I wouldn’t have thought they’d make replicas of something that dull.”

“It does seem unusual,” Ben agreed.

“And now the real stone’s been stolen.” Tessa watched Jude as she drip fed the information. “You know, it’s funny. When I was researching for my documentary, I had a theory that Everton Clark was actually the villain, Bank Breaker. I could never prove it though. What do you think, Jude?”

Finally the pieces fell and a look of revelation crossed Jude’s face.

“Yes,” she said, hiding her revelation. “And he knows all about this stone, doesn’t he? Maybe I should interview him? A private interview to get the truth.”

“You should do that,” Tessa agreed. “You should definitely do that.”

Tessa smiled. Bank Breaker was getting a visit from Judgement, Brian was ruined, and she’d survived a superhero fight.

She couldn’t have been happier.

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Proposal

Part One of Three Years

Masterlist | Year One

Pairing: Nathan Bateman x Reader

Rating: Explicit - 18+ Only.

Length: 4.3K

Notes: ....Hi! This is the first of 2-3 fic drops. I'm hoping to push all five chapters of this fic out this weekend. Also I started writing this before the current AI market explosion. Not beta-read. Never beta-read.

Warnings: Cursing; angst; enemies to enemies who fuck; tech-talk; angst (I know I said it before but really); Nathan being Nathan

Summary: He’s shorter than you thought he’d be.

Nathan Bateman isn’t unattractive, or short, even, he’s just…Shorter. 

Of all of the things that you thought you’d feel about Nathan Bateman’s visit, surprised wasn’t what you thought would be first. Shit-scared, sure. Insanely nervous, absolutely. Surprised by his height? Not on your list.

“This could be huge for us.” 

Jenn looks at once desperate and wild-eyed as she paces in her office. You watch her closely, taking in the dark circles under her dark eyes. Her typically California-tan skin is pallid from her recent late nights, and her days spent indoors. The company is running her ragged—and this potential seed money from Nathan Bateman is throwing her into the craziest tizzy you’ve ever seen. She sweeps her hands through her frizzed auburn hair before she raises her nails to her mouth.

“I mean,” She mutters, continuing to pace, voice muffled as she chews her nails, “If we get Bateman’s backing, that’d be great, but if I can get him on the board.” She stops finally, turning to face you, lowering her chewed nails from her mouth. “That would send us into the fucking stratosphere.” 

“...Okay,” You sit up a touch. You don’t want to be a buzzkill, but you need to bring Jenn down from the fucking stratosphere. “Nathan Bateman has scheduled a meeting. Okay? A meeting. One,” You raise your finger. 

“He’s having his team go over our numbers—” 

“I know that. He’s doing the due diligence that anyone coming in would be expected to do. Just, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket when we haven’t even gotten the basket yet.” 

“Come on,” Jenn groans. “I could be the next Steve Jobs!” 

“Yes, you absolutely could. But if you keep putting your focus on the idea stuff and not on the structure and application stuff, you’re going to be the next Elizabeth Holmes. And honey, I love you, but you do not look good in orange.” 

Jenn deflates just a little, slouching back against the windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. 

“...It clashes with my hair,” She grumbles. 

“I’m not saying don’t be excited at all," You insist, "I’m just saying…We’re bringing him in to talk about financing. How freaked out would you be if you went on a first date with someone and instead of asking for a second date, they said, Hey this was fun, let’s get married.”

“...Pretty freaked.” 

“Right. And asking someone to join the board is like a business-y 3.5 carat pear cut diamond on an infinity band. So. Let's schedule an All Hands, give the team a heads up, get them prepped. Before that, though, we need to get you some fucking lunch and some sunshine.” 

“You’re my sunshine.” 

“Awww,” You coo before you get up, adding, “Seriously. Get your phone and your sunglasses, we’re going out.” 

“But I have an email from prod—” 

“Production about the user profile settings set to drop at the end of the week. I know, I answered it already. Phone. Sunglasses. Lunch. Let’s go.” 

"You'll be here, right?"

You frown, shaking your head in slight confusion, and Jenn clarifies: "For his tour. You'll be here?"

You consider, glancing at your phone. If you can get the time off—but that's no guarantee.

"I'll try."

--  

When Jenn started Sc(ai)le three years ago, you’d had no idea that it would take off the way it would. You knew that Jenn was brilliant, you’d never had a doubt about that. But you couldn’t have anticipated how quickly varying industries moved to scale AI. Jenn had assembled a team of engineers, scientists, and sales reps. She trusts her teams, and they work hard to keep the company in motion.

But Jenn still insists in being very much hands-on everywhere she possibly can, sometimes to hers and the company’s detriment. She needs a Chief Knowledge officer, a Chief Information officer, and a Chief Marketing officer. She has a Chief Tech officer, a Chief Financial officer, a Chief Compliance officer, a Chief Data officer—all incredibly knowledgeable in their fields. She wants a board, too, but you’re worried that the company may still be too young for it. 

You work with the SVP of Marketing now and again, helping her to manage the way marketing materials are created, where they’re stored, and how they’re distributed. You’re working with Sc(ai)le part-time, on a temporary basis (though it’s technically been ‘temporary’ since the company started). Jenn needs an official team, with people that can work with her full-fucking-time. You have a full-time job at a separate tech company, one that’s well away from the AI space. You’d been worried their hackles would be raised when you informed them that you’d be taking a part-time position elsewhere, but they hadn’t even flinched. 

Hell, your manager had asked you if you’d be able to get them an employee discount. You may just have to take a few days off for Bateman’s visit.

You don’t blame Jenn for being so excited, or so nervous. 

Nathan fucking Bateman? This is huge. 

But if both of you have your heads in the fucking clouds, neither of you are gonna make it out of orbit. So you’ll keep yourself grounded, and bring Jenn back down to Earth if you absolutely have to. 

-- 

He’s shorter than you thought he’d be.

Nathan Bateman isn’t unattractive, or short, even, he’s just…Shorter. 

Of all of the things that you thought you’d feel about Nathan Bateman’s visit, surprised wasn’t what you thought would be first. Shit-scared, sure. Insanely nervous, absolutely. Surprised by his height? Not on your list.

You glance over at Jenn to find her tipping her chin up, slapping on her I Should Be On the Cover of Forbes smile. It’s the smile that’s brought every other investor on board. It’s the smile that’s brought on every single team member in the company. Now, you can only hope that it’ll bring Nathan Bateman into her coffers.

Where you’d typically leave Jenn to finesse any other investor, you stick close by. You trail Bateman and Jenn by a few steps as she directs him around the offices, and the facility. 

He asks a fair number of questions. A few are unexpected, but for the most part, they’re things that you and Jenn had anticipated. The three of you come to a stop overlooking a row of engineers. You don’t want to appear nonchalant, but with Bateman and Jenn focused elsewhere, you allow yourself to lean back against the wall, eyeing the room. It’s then that you see an engineer flagging you down, a harried look on her face. You glance toward Bateman and Jenn’s heads and make sure they’re distracted before you push yourself off of the wall, skirting around the two and walking over to her as calmly as possible. 

“What’s up?” You ask, crouching down beside the engineer’s desk. 

“The marketing team sent through a brief about the user profiles—” 

“Uh-huh—” 

“And there’s an error regarding the, uh—The functionality.” 

“Okay. Where’s the problem, what’s the fix?” 

“Our systems are starting at Mac- or Blue-OS compatible.” 

“But not Windows?” 

“Most of the companies we use don’t touch Windows OS anymore.” 

“But we have got a few clients that do.” 

“Yes, we’re—We’re working on it. But this can’t go out like this, it’s not correct.” 

“Okay,” You nod, mind racing through the possible, necessary fixes. “Okay. Could I use your laptop for a second?” 

“Sure.” 

The engineer starts to stand, but you wave her back into her seat, just turn the laptop toward yourself. You hurriedly log into your email on a web page, and tap out an email to the marketing SVP. 

“Mac and Blue only,” You reiterate as you type. 

“—But not Windows, yep.” 

“Do we have an expected date on Windows functionality?” 

“Q2 of next year—Maybe Q1, but—” 

“We don’t wanna over-promise and underdeliver,” You shoot the engineer a smile. “I appreciate the honesty.” 

The engineer nods hurriedly. You feel her casting a glance behind you, but you’re already turning back to the laptop, practically hammering the keys as you send out the message. You lean back, reading and rereading the message before you CC your work email, Jenn’s, and the engineer in question. Then you send it, straighten up, and sign out of the email. 

“I’ve put myself and Jenn on the email, we will take it from here. Thank you so much for flagging that—And if anything comes up, please text, email, slack me. Anything.” 

“Thank you!” 

“No, thank you,” You insist, patting her shoulder. You straighten and turn, and freeze immediately at the sight of Jenn and Bateman standing just behind you. You swallow thickly, fighting to keep a straight face. 

“I didn’t mean to hold up the tour,” You apologize. “You guys could’ve moved on, I would’ve caught up.” 

“Everything alright?” Bateman asks, nodding toward the engineer. 

“Yes. Just a little communications update.” You give them both a reassured smile. “Why don’t we continue?” You add, nodding down the hall. 

--  

“What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?” 

It’s a question that he should be asking Jenn, and that’s why your mouth works wordlessly, your brow furrowing heavily. It’s a bad look—Nathan Bateman has asked you a simple question, and you’re floundering like a landed fish. 

“Uh—Shoving something in the microwave, probably?” You manage with a shaky laugh as you put your laptop into your bag. You haven't been able to take the time off as much time as you’d hoped, and you’ll have to make up what time you have taken to keep yourself on track. “I’m working a double, so, I’ll get off shift around one in the morning.” 

“A double.” 

“...Yes? It’s when you work two shifts at—” 

“I know what a double is.” 

Jeez, of course he does. 

“Right. Sorry. You seemed—...Anyway.” 

“I seemed what?” 

Confused is the wrong word to use with this man. 

“Inquisitive?” You offer. Nathan’s brows tip impossibly higher, his chin angling down to gaze at you over the tops of his glasses. 

“One,” He finally confirms. “How’s 1:30 for you?” 

“For what?” 

“For dinner.” 

“I—I don’t think I’ve ever eaten dinner that late in my life. I don’t even go out that late anymore.” 

“But you’ll make an exception?” 

“Do I have to?” 

When he smiles, you know that you will have to. 

“I’ll send you the details.” 

That’s it. He breezes away from your desk space. He doesn’t offer to walk you to your car; he doesn’t ask you any questions about what you want to eat, or what you like to eat. He just walks away. You look after him for a moment before you look down, taking up your laptop chord and wrapping it with a mutter of, 

“Dinner at 1:30 in the morning? Not in fucking college anymore…What’s even gonna be open that late for fucking dinner?” 

You think, and then giggle. 

Maybe Nathan Bateman is going to take you to McDonald’s. 

--  

“You ever been here before?” 

“Uhh…” You peer down at the menu. It’s timeworn, and splattered with what look like gravy stains. At least—well, you hope it’s gravy. “Nope, can’t say I have.” 

The diner has a vintage bent to it. The seats are all coated in robin’s egg blue vinyl; the floor is tiled like a checkerboard; the walls are pepto-pink. There’s a jukebox in the corner, but the oldies being played in the diner are coming from a few recessed speakers in the ceiling. You glance up again as you hear Bateman shifting in his seat. He’s lounging back in his seat like he owns the damn place. 

…Maybe he does own the damn place. 

It could explain why they’re open so late, at least. There are a few other people in the diner, a ways away. Now and again, an explosive swell of cackling laughter will pass over your way before one of their party hurries to hush them. You glance back curiously as you hear one of them add, 

“Dude, you’re gonna get us kicked out again.” 

“So how long have you known Jenn?” Bateman asks. 

“Oh, gosh,” You turn back to him. “Since Kindergarten. She’s my oldest friend.” 

“You two seemed pretty close during the tour yesterday.” 

“Did we?” 

“Insomuch as you were her shadow.” 

You close your mouth, reaching for your water. You had shadowed because Jenn had asked—but you’re in no position to quibble with this man. You’ve no need, either; he goes on: 

“How was your double?” 

“It was fine.” 

“What are you working on?” 

“I work at a company that produces technical books and longform guides for—” 

“I know where you work, that wasn’t my question. What are you working on.” 

The bored, irritated tone in his voice raises your hackles, and it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. But you swallow your annoyance in favor of giving a straightforward answer: “Right now, a quantum software engineering roadmap.” 

“Are you enjoying it?” 

“The writing can be a little dry, but the subject matter is interesting.” 

“Hm…” Bateman nods, his eyes sweeping your face curiously. You fight the urge to shift or fidget under the scrutiny of his gaze. 

Can you ask questions? Are you allowed? Why does this man make you feel like you’re in a damn interview? Your gazes break as a waitress comes over, a pad in hand and an expectant smile on her face. You instinctively offer her one in return as you order. You don’t really hear what Bateman orders; you’re too busy wracking your mind for things that came up on yesterday’s tour—pain points, questions that Jenn promised she’d get back to him on. 

“So,” Bateman’s voice snaps your focus back to him, and you arch your brows as you meet his eyes again. “In your opinion, what’s the company lacking?” 

It’s a slap of a question. Your brows manage to inch higher. Oh…God. No wonder he didn’t want to do this with Jenn around.

“Uh…” Is your initial succinct answer. You clear your throat, taking your glass up for another sip, gathering yourself. You could say that Jenn has everything she needs, save for capital. You could say that the team is rowing as one one, your little unsinkable ship, the Sc(ai)le. 

But Nathan Bateman is a genius, and a billionaire, and a man with a low tolerance for bullshit. 

“She needs a complete C-Suite,” You admit firmly as you set your glass aside. “She needs a solid, knowledgeable team behind her. We’re doing the best that we can now, and the Chief positions that she has filled are pushing the company in the right direction, but the ones that she doesn’t are slowing down growth. We need a CMO and a CKO and a CIO, like...Yesterday. We have a lot of data, and we have a lot of marketing materials—and the seniors VPs in those positions are doing the best they can, but you can only fill a leaky bucket so many times before the handle breaks. The company doesn’t have the capital to bring those positions on, and until it does, the company’s going to continue to grow at half-speed because the plane’s being flown while it's still being built."

Bateman doesn’t react for a moment. His silence makes your stomach twist with nerves; your palms are sweating. 

“I didn’t think you’d say that,” He finally says. You can’t help but laugh a little. 

“Look—I could tell you that we’re all one happy family, and that the only thing wrong is the fact that bluebirds don’t land on our shoulders and code for us—” Your stomach flips as Bateman’s lips twitch with a smile, “But you’ve already been inside. You’ve looked through our books, you’ve seen the facility. And if you’re going to go in on investment, you’re going to see the dirty laundry anyway. I may as well show you where the hamper is.” 

“You like your metaphors.” 

“It’s the writer in me.” 

Bateman’s brow quirks a touch as he nods. 

“...Why aren’t you full time?” He asks. That question throws you for a loop. You shake your head a little—like it’ll knock an answer loose. But the answer—the truth—is that you and Jenn haven’t worked well together in the past. Sure, you’re part-time now, but you hardly ever interfere with her day-to-day unless it’s to coax her out of her office to get some air or a meal. You prefer to take your time with a project, and Sc(ai)le is in a growth period where time is of the essence. 

“...It’s not…” You start, brow furrowing as you grapple for a reasonable answer, “What Sc(ai)le does, it isn’t what I do.” 

“The company has technical writers.” 

“...Yeah—” 

“It needs someone that knows how to compile the information, translate it for the average consumer—” 

“But—” 

“Just tell me they can’t afford you.”  

Your chest twinges with indignation. 

“That’s not true,” You insist. 

“So they can afford you.” 

“That’s not what I—” 

“Which one is it?” 

“You’re twisting my words, and I don’t appreciate that.” It leaves you more harshly than it should, and you damn your tone immediately. There’s no way scolding this man is gonna bring him on board. You realize that your shoulders have scrunched defensively and risen toward your ears, and you force yourself to relax them. But Nathan’s lips just twitch again, his eyes bright with amusement. 

“...Why aren’t you full-time?” He repeats. 

“I told you. This isn’t what I do.” 

“It could be.” 

You don’t want to make the concession, but the look on Bateman’s face tells you that he’s got you pinned. So you give a small, begrudging nod. 

“Hypothetically.” 

His smile widens at your confirmation. You want to smack him. 

But that really won’t bring him on board. 

--  

You expect Jenn to grill you for your time with Nathan the second you get in, but she’s grabbing your hand and hissing, “He’s here, and he’s waiting.” 

“What?” You ask dazedly, pulling your sleeve back to eye the watch face where it rests on the inside of your wrist. “He’s not supposed to be here for another two hours! I didn’t see an email—”

“He didn’t send one! He just showed up!”

You pull Jenn to a stop in the hall, slowing her with a gentle, “Whoa, whoa—Okay. Look at me.” 

Jenn stops, eyes wide, head shaking minutely as she tries to continue walking toward the conference room, insisting, “We’re already late—” 

“Slow down!” You urge. She looks stricken, and you immediately feel guilty. You take her hand in yours, giving it a squeeze before drawing in a deep breath. Jenn hesitantly does the same, pushing it out when you do. You draw in another, and are relieved as she copies you, some of the tension melting from her face as she closes her eyes. You watch her pull in and push out one more deep breath before she opens her eyes slowly, nodding. 

“Thank you,” She breathes, patting your hand before she tugs down the hall again. 

--  

“I like what I’m seeing.” 

Bateman’s assertion shouldn’t surprise you, but it does. Sc(ai)le is a good company, something that would make sense in his portfolio. But he’s so steady and calm as he peers out of the office of Jenn’s window. 

You don’t like how he’s commandeered the space behind her desk. She shouldn’t be sitting on the other side of it with you; she should be behind it, with him—or he should be on your side. 

Still, Nathan pushes himself off of the window, turning to face Jenn. His gaze flickers to you before he looks down at something laid out on the desk. 

“Your initial proposal was…Whadda we got here…” Bateman tuts as he turns a page. You think he must be dragging it out for suspense—there’s no way he doesn’t have those numbers memorized. Sure, it must be chump change to him, but it’s still a big fucking number. “One million for a fifteen percent stake in the company.” 

“That’s right,” Jenn nods. 

“I’ll give you four.” 

“...Four?” Jenn repeats dazedly. 

“Four million for what percent?” You ask before she can leap up, kiss the man on the lips, and accept. 

“Fifteen,” Bateman affirms. Your eyes narrow at him. This doesn’t feel right. He adds, “I have one condition, though.” 

“Name it,” Jenn nods. You glance at her nervously. You’re certain that if he told her to strip naked and run through the office covered in spray cheese, she’d do it right this second. 

“You come on as CKO, CIO, and CMO.”

Your brow furrows as Jenn turns to you. Who comes on? Jenn? She’s already CEO for fuckssake—

And then Jenn turns to you, eyes wide and insistent as she nods toward Bateman. Your head snaps to him, stunned. He’s waiting with that same patient, bored expression that he'd given you with all throughout dinner. 

“You want me to take on three C-Suite positions?” You ask, brows raising. “Are you that strapped for cash that you won’t spring for two more people?” 

Jenn hisses your name in warning. You know it’s the wrong thing to say, but to your surprise, Bateman just smiles and leans against Jenn’s desk. 

“Hear me out,” He waves your irritation off. “I want to roll the positions of CKO and CIO into one. Chief Knowledge and Information officer.” 

“And add Chief Marketing officer on top of them.” 

“That’s right. You’re much quicker on the uptake than you were the other night. No, it’s alright—I’m sure the double shift and the late dinner had you off your game.” 

You want to argue, but Nathan is already turning his attention to Jenn. 

“Four mill for a fifteen percent stake,” He reiterates before nodding toward you. “And her.” 

What would Jenn get if you didn’t come on? One million at fifteen? Two million at thirty? Nothing at all? You can’t bring yourself to look at Jenn just now—you know you’re getting a pleading expression. So you keep your eyes on Bateman, and his expectant expression. He knows he’s got you backed into a corner. 

“...Does this condition have a term limit?” You ask. Bateman purses his lips, seeming to think for a moment. Then he levels you with an ungodly answer:

“Three years.” 

You feel like you’ve been punched in the gut. You only just manage not to double over with it. Three years. Three years inhabiting two positions that you never wanted or asked for. Three years working with your oldest friend on her passion project, knowing that you will lock horns on approach. Three years of Nathan Bateman hanging over your head. 

You can’t face Jenn. One look at those hopeful, doe-like eyes and you’re going to fold like a house of cards. You can’t look at Bateman. One look at him and you’re going to lunge in, slap him silly, and ask what the fuck is wrong with him. 

You look down at your lap. 

Three years. Three years or what? Nathan pulls his backing? Asks for repayment? That could level the company, and everything that Jenn has worked for would disappear overnight. 

Three years. 

You don’t ask about the pay. You don’t care about that. You’re not doing badly as it is. Two C-Suite positions (well, three) would surely pay you more than you make now, but still. 

Three years. 

You’ve been considering leaving your current job. You’ve been chugging along happily, though you’ve started to get too settled, too bored. Too complacent. But you've been ducking away from management positions at job after job because you just don't want to be in charge of people. You want to be fully in the action, working on the words, not floating above them and giving them a thumbs up or a thumbs down. This isn’t like anything you’d consider throwing yourself into. 

Three years. 

This is bigger than you and Jenn. Pumping more money into this company would give Sc(ai)le the chance to expand its staff, upgrade it's tech, bring on a more comprehensive QA team.

You draw in a deep breath, giving a small hesitant nod. 

“Alright,” Leaves your mouth before you can talk yourself out of it. 

“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Bateman bats back without missing a beat. You can hear a note of triumph there, one that makes you want to reach into his throat and rip out his layrnx. Jenn is springing out of her seat, pumping Bateman’s hand enthusiastically and telling him that he won’t regret it. You’re staring down at your hands, your head and chest feeling hollow, like you’ve just been jailed for three consecutive life sentences. 

Three years. 

Bateman’s hand enters your field of vision, outstretched and patient. You eye it for a moment. 

You could still tell him to go fuck himself. But you glance up at Jenn, and find her beaming down at you. Her eyes are bright with joyful tears; her hands are clasped to keep from visibly shaking. 

You can’t tell him to go fuck himself, and he knows it.

So you suck in a deep breath and raise your hand, shaking Bateman’s without meeting his gaze. 

“We should grab a drink to celebrate,” He insists. You let go of his hand and push yourself up shakily. 

“I—Have some things I need to sort out. You two go on,” You add, slapping on an encouraging smile and turning to Jenn. 

“Sure,” Bateman concedes. “You have a letter of resignation to write.” 

You pat Jenn’s shoulder on the way out, hardly meeting Bateman's eye as you go. You get into your car, and drive back to your apartment. You mechanically unlock your door, drop your keys in the bowl by the entryway, kick your door shut. You don’t bother to turn the lights on. The sun is streaming in through your front window with a vengeance. You walk over to your bar cart and take up a bottle of whiskey. You don’t bother with a glass. You just plop into your favorite armchair and curl up. You don’t cry. You don’t scream. You just stare blankly at the wall. 

Three years. 

Next Part: Year One

Tag list: @missredherring ; @fantasticcopeaglepasta ;  @paintballkid711 ; @massivecolorspygiant ; @blueeyesatnight; @recklessworry ; @amneris21 ; @ew-erin ; @youngkenobilove ; @carbonated-beverage ; @lorecraft ; @moonlightburned ; @milf-trinity ; @nolanell ; @millllenniawrites ; @chattychell ; @dihra-vesa​ ; @videogamesandpoorlifechoices​ ; @missswriter ; @thembosapphicclown ; @brandyllyn ; @wildmoonflower ; @buckybarneshairpullingkink ; @mad-girl-without-a-box ; @winchestershiresauce ; @aellynera ; @writefightandflightclub ; @thedukeofcaladan ; @beepboopyoda ; @foxilayde ; @revolution-starter ; @rachelwritesstuff ; @queen-of-elves

[no-sleep-fox]

Got a lil design going for Love Dog

And I also got some names for my critters w/a bit of whipped up info at the moment for this gal under the cut if folks want to see it

Love Dog, or LD for now, is gonna still be a rejected toy within the au. However, instead of being happy or something like some other LDs could be in other aus, she's more grumpy. Being rather closed off around others and wanting to keep to herself even if she wants to be around them.

She has lived up on the rougher side of the factory, taking care of herself and her sister, whom will be Petite Pooch. LD is usually the one to go out and about in other parts of the factory, to which she had found out more about 1006's clut. Making her not like them even more than she had when the HOJ had been going on.

That's all I'mma probably put down, however, perhaps one day y'all will get to see her interact with some of the other characters in my au. For now, here are the names for each critter (both SC & NC).

Catnap → Mallory

Dogday → Hunter

Hoppy → Elizabeth

Bobby → Rosabella

Crafty → Ema

Kickin → Maurice

Picky → Kelsey (Glenn) Thompson

Bubba → Lance Thompson

Baba → Tempest

Allister → Derrick Miller

Icky → Spencer

Rabie → Lara

Maggie → Madison

Poe → Caden

Touille → Alden

Simon → Ryan

[antifainternational]

How are you helping the women's liberation movement? Such a access to abortion clinics and so on... I rarely see you post anything that has to do with women unless it's about trans women and other non-binary afabs...

Hey there Anon, we are an anti-fascist social media collective consisting of ten people in eight countries. We've been doing our thing since 2014. In that time we have: -been documenting and tracking hate-motivated violence targeting women. -provided legal defence funding to 100 feminists arrested in Germany for stopping a fascist march against abortion access (via The International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund) -provided additional support (via the Defence Fund) to this teacher, this other teacher, this woman, this community college staffer, this PNW woman, this waitress, Louise Thundercloud, two moms in SC, this victim of the 2017 Charlottesville terror attack, this BLM defender, Lina, Alissa Azar, Kita and Xvedia, Tabitha, and this Filipina activist, among others. -profiled anti-fascists like Marina Abiol, Hedy Epstein, Jane Elliot, Leah Feldman, Giovanina Berneri, Zora Neale Hurston, Ida B. Wells, Yuri Kochiyam, Natalie Tran, Elizabeth Mironova, Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Magda, Arundhati Roy, Anastasia Baburova, Zinaida Portnova, Marina Ginestà, Heather McGhee, Akilah Green, Fanya Schoonheyt, Sophie Scholl, Tina Anselmi, Faye Schulman, Hanna Bohman, Viola Liuzzo, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, Maria Kislyak, Maria Dimadi, Georgette Kokoczinski, Irma Bandiera, Franceska Mann, Rebecca West, Lepa Radic, Giovannina Caleffi, and Audrey Hepburn, among others. Still, we could be posting more, of course! Why don't you tag us on posts from your tumblr you think we should reblog/signal boost? (finally, we get a whiff of "all lives matter/TERFishness from your objections about us not posting enough about "women" except for "trans women" - we hope that's not how you intended your msg!

[lizdonnelly]

Second Circle, Ch. 1

Pairing: Elizabeth Donnelly x f!reader, shades of Alex Cabot x Olivia Benson Warnings: Smut, violence, references to alcoholism Summary: “We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.” Based on a request for Liz/f!reader's first time, and my own desire to write a series about Liz navigating romance amidst chaos. Loosely inspired by the events of 2x21 'Scourge' and a few details from 10x8 'Persona'.

---

Although the wind rattled against the windows of the banquet hall and the pinprick lighting of the chandeliers overhead flickered, the murmur of the gala continued on.

The air vibrated, alive with the weight of the tension that had wracked the city in the past few weeks and no doubt fueled by the media machine cranking out headline after headline, each more sordid and gruesome than the last.

Melinda's grip tightened on your elbow as another group approached. Your heart quickened at the sight of short, gelled back blonde hair and the heady perfume that wafted over. Anxiety tore at your stomach with molten claws.

"Doc Warner, glad to see you've made it," a bloodhound of a man said, leading the pack. He gestured towards you with his whiskey glass. "Elliot and Olivia give you enough time to make friends outside the morgue? I must not be pushing them hard enough."

Melinda patted your back. Heavily lined brown eyes scoured you from behind the bloodhound, appraising the manner in which Melinda had touched you. A cold bead of sweat slid down the back of your neck.

"Always glad to see you on the right side of the concrete, Captain," The medical examiner teased. "Especially these days. But yes, believe it or not, I do have time to run in other circles." A man with a voice as calm as the creek that ran beside your childhood home piped up. "Pleased to finally get the chance to meet you," he said with an easy smile and a tip of the head. This man carried himself with a centeredness that was hard to come by, even across the crowd of New York City's top professionals that had congregated that evening. "I've heard about your efforts at Mercy General. I can't imagine what you've had to deal with as of late." It was a line you'd heard plenty of variations of recently, but his sincerity seemed completely genuine. Although his eyes were warm, inviting pools of black ink, you couldn't shake the feeling that somehow he knew. Melinda turned to you with a smile, oblivious. "As you can probably tell, Dr. Huang is our resident psychiatrist," she said. "And a fed, at that," came that harsh, staccato voice you had become attuned to. You bit at the inside of your cheek. The psychiatrist-fed's gentle smirk grew. Thankfully, a pasty, bird boned blonde intruded, reaching out past Huang. "Alexandra Cabot, assistant district attorney," she said, wasting no time.

You shook her hand, surprised at the strength of her grip. Studying her gaze, you got the sense that events like this were easier for her to navigate than they were for other members of the party. She sipped at her champagne lightly and looked around, her stare lingering on the elevators as if she either wanted to leave or wished for someone else to arrive.

"Can't forget her royal highness," the bloodhound Captain joked, gesturing to the woman you'd been struggling not to address.

Dr. Huang spoke again in earthen tones and an air of alacrity. "There's no need to bother, Melinda. The only reason the Bureau Chief wouldn't have led the introductions," he paused, "is if this isn't a stranger to her." Liz rolled her eyes. You subconsciously tugged at the sleeve of the sweater that hung a little past your fingertips. "If you're so perceptive, Agent, then why did a sixth girl show up gutted like a fish at Grand Central this morning?"

---

Liz Donnelly hated courtroom restrooms. She had since the 70's, in fact.

On this occasion, though, she tolerated the lavender soap and the lukewarm water as she used the mirror to study the other woman.

The younger woman next to her scrubbed underneath her nails with a precision so adroit it had to be practiced. "If you're trying to scrub away evidence," the Bureau Chief piped up, "do me a favor and be less obvious." The woman's eyes widened, eyebrows rising. Liz leaned over and tugged playfully at the name tag dangling from the pocket on the woman's scrubs. The woman paused. "If you're trying to flirt with me," she finally whispered, "do me a favor and be more obvious."

The bathroom door swung on its hinges and in strode Olivia Benson, the SVU detective clearly in a tizzy and blind to the way the Bureau Chief and her conversation partner jumped apart like two opposing magnets. The strands on the back of her glossy brown pixie cut stuck up. As the detective ran a nervous hand through them again, Liz understood why.

"Got tired of listening to Cabot try to grill a child? Don't tell me she needs me back in there." Benson shook her head, slumping against the paper towel dispenser. "He got another one."

The detective muttered a quick apology, shifting aside to let the woman in scrubs dry her hands. Liz swallowed thickly.

"Sexually assaulted as well, I take it?" Benson eyed the prosecutor. The detective nodded exasperatedly. "She was an architect. Single, wasn't a user, friends are all model citizens." Benson sucked in her bottom lip and bit at it. "No vengeful ex-boyfriend, at that. Seems she had a gambling habit, but I've know plenty of girls who play the ponies, and all of them are still very much alive."

"However disparate these murders seem, there has to be a connection. Better make good use of that overtime, or you'll have more blood on your hands," Liz jabbed, gesturing towards the sink. The detective's brow furrowed.

"So this is the support we're going to get from our new Bureau Chief? How the hell are-"

Benson paused awkwardly as the woman in scrubs shuffled out the door, paying no mind to the quick finger waggling wave she threw at the prosecutor.

Liz managed a brief smile.

Benson looked towards the door, then back at the wiry woman before her in the starched black pantsuit.

Had there been a window in this particular courtroom restroom, Liz had half a mind to climb out it herself.

---

The bloodhound, whom you now knew as Cragen, thumbed the facets of his whiskey glass at the sound of the announcement.

A gentleman in a well-pressed suit and white gloves had called out across the banquet hall. The gala wouldn't be ending at its scheduled time, due to "inclement weather conditions", meaning the whole ordeal was to proceed for who knows how long. Fortunately, the waitstaff were headed back with fresh bottles and hor d'oeuvres as an apology for the inconvenience.

"I don't mean to pry, but does this have anything to do with-"

He cut you off with a somber shake of his head. He turned to face you, the capillaries webbing along the corners of his eyes swollen.

"This is news to me."

Cragen turned and headed back to the bar with a sniffle.

"They're doing a reasonable job of keeping everyone occupied, at least," came an even voice from behind you. Huang joined your side. Jet black pools still held a mirthful twinkle.

"Tell me something. How long have you and the prosecutor been involved with each other?" "This is the first time Ms. Cabot and I have met," you stammered. "You know that's not who I meant," he countered with a soothing grin. "Forgive my intrusion. You don't have to answer, if you don't want to."

The psychiatrist's musings were an unexpected relief to you. You felt the dam within your chest begin to burst, allowing you to finally speak on something you had kept locked up to yourself these past few weeks. "I'll forgive you, but only if you tell me how you knew," you laughed, tension evaporating from the edge of your voice. Huang nodded to himself.

"That's not your sweater."

You lowered your glass. "It's too long in the arms," he said, gesturing freely. Huang was one of the few who had not been drinking.

"It's not like I have much time to see a tailor," you tried to riposte. "True, but the odds that you and Donnelly wear the same perfume are not favorable," he said with an air of one revealing a royal flush. "My guess is that either she gave the sweater to you, or you're wearing it out of convenience. Alternatively, she could've asked you to wear it, knowing you'd cross paths tonight. She appears to be rather domineering, so that would not surprise me if it were the case."

It took everything in you to fight back the heat that rose in your cheeks at the bounce of his eyebrow.

"You make a hobby out of judging women's perfume?"

"I was a profiler in another life. It was more than a hobby to judge everything about a person." Huang's gaze followed Cragen as he made his way through the crowd across the room.

"Makes for a good party trick, I'll give you that."

Huang paused before turning back to you. His expression held an odd seriousness to it now. "I get the sense that I'm not the only one playing party tricks tonight."

---

Alex Cabot hadn't known Elizabeth for long, but she already didn't care to know the woman much longer.

The younger prosecutor checked her Cartier watch once more, eager for any distraction at this point. Somehow, neither clock hand had so much as budged. She squeezed her eyes shut amidst the bubbling conversation of the crowd in the godforsaken hall and thought of wide, chocolate brown puppy dog eyes and pixie cuts, of handcuffs and coffee cups.

"Alexandra, that look is not becoming on someone like you," an airy tone wafted over.

Lena Petrovsky, New York Supreme Court judge. Fuck. At this rate, she half expected Barry Moredock to round the corner and lecture her about some constitutional disservice she also happened to be encouraging this evening.

"Running all-nighters with the SVU shouldn't be taxing on someone from Harvard Law. But really, you look like hell, try to get some rest after this circus," Petrovsky said, gesturing around them. "You won't be of any use to the city if you keep burning the candle at both ends."

Alex opened her mouth to speak, but a harsh voice speared through her.

"From what I've seen so far, Ms. Cabot is no stranger to circuses," Donnelly jeered.

Alex was certain some snide joke about her courtroom performances was incoming, but she paused, shrieks cutting through the crowd behind them.

---

"This just in: at approximately 11:07 tonight, NYPD discovered the body of a young woman in Central Park. The cause of death? A large wound along the victim's neck, a similar M.O. to the recent string homicides that have shocked the city this past month. Although signs of sexual assault were present, no information is available yet as to the identity of the perpetrator. Investigators have identified the victim as local self-portraitist..."

Liz looped her arm around your shoulders, tugging you out of the bar and onto the street.

"I am not ruining one of the rare nights we both have to ourselves with more of that fear-mongering," she said. You shifted under the weight of the fur coat she shared with you, pressing yourself against her side. Although her voice was firm, you could tell she was rattled. She led you past throngs of men and women in pressed shirts and cocktail dresses, club promoters, and a man stumbling toward you with a box of pamphlets.

"They didn't call me in," you mused. Your brows knitted in confusion. Liz grabbed hold of your chin.

"And they won't," she seemed to command into reality through sheer force of will alone. She brushed her thumb across your lips. Rain gently began to fall overhead. The lights of the cabs clogging the street blurred.

You leaned forward, slipped her thumb into your mouth, and lightly sucked on it.

The prosecutor smirked. You were pleased with the fact that she appeared slightly taken aback by your boldness.

"Come on," she said with a gaze that told you she was a thousand miles away already.

You felt her breath hot against your ear as she tugged you into the back seat of a nearby town car.

"I have something else for you to suck on."

---

"Top her off," Cragen said to the bartender, tilting his glass across the counter.

Across the room, the band still played. The peeling notes of the saxophone reverberated across the inside of his skull. A dull throb continued to pound at the back of his eyes.

Looking down into the amber liquid, Cragen studied the panes of glass that stretched across the ceiling. More rain, more wind.

He couldn't kill in this.

Cragen took a swig.

Elliot and Olivia were still at the station, sifting through tips and folders full of supposed eyewitness accounts. Munch was no doubt trying his best to hold down the fort, but even his endurance, battle-tested over years in Baltimore homicide, was waning.

The brass thought maintaining appearances would comfort the public, although the Captain wondered how all of this pomp and circumstance could reassure anyone but those New York elites with the most fragile of egos.

He took another sip, turning back to watch ADA Cabot and Dr. Huang engaged in what appeared to be a heated argument. At least, heated on the blonde's end. Nearby, Doc Warner was caught in Judge Petrovsky's line of fire. He chuckled into his glass, thankful not to be in the good doctor's shoes.

Further off, Donnelly and the woman Melinda had introduced the group to were headed towards the restrooms. Cragen squinted. The Bureau Chief, with all five foot something's worth of bluster, was leading the other woman hand in hand. Something Arthur Branch had told him once made him chuckle.

Cragen went to take the final swig of his whiskey to finish off the glass, but noticed it was still full.

---

You stumbled through the doorway of Liz's brownstone, her hands quick to pull down your skirt. The door slammed shut. Her mouth pressed hot kisses up the side of your throat. Deceptively strong hands gripped at your ass.

"Upstairs," she husked.

Something fluttered in your stomach. Although you had gotten used to the feeling of the prosecutor's clever tongue in your mouth after a couple coffee dates, the two of you had yet to cross the threshold, so to speak.

Her hands guided you around the corner and up the flight of stairs, toying at the back of your bra. The sensation of her fingers trailing down your spine broke your brain. There could be no anxieties at this point, no thoughts for that matter, only Elizabeth Donnelly and her teeth at your throat and her pillows now pressed up against the back of your head.

The prosecutor leaned over you, nudging your legs aside. She began to drag her knuckle up and down the rapidly dampening fabric that clung to your slit. Heavily lidded brown eyes met yours.

"God Liz, I need you...I need it..."

You were embarrassed at the whine, embarrassed with how wet you already were for the woman.

"Need what?" her voice came coolly. She paused her ministrations to press a finger up against your hole. "This?"

You squeezed your eyes shut. "Please..."

Liz chuckled and hiked up the sleeve of her blazer.

"Since you beg so pretty," she said, "I guess I'll have to oblige."

You felt her tug your panties to the side, the sensation of her pressing a few quick kisses all across your mound and lips sending your heart into a spiral. Shortly afterwards, she helped you kick out of them, and her hands slid up to caress the insides of your thighs. Liz dragged her tongue up through your folds, praising how good you tasted. You moaned unabashedly now, desperation rising to a fever pitch.

"So impatient," she teased from between your legs as she lapped at you. You fought back another whine, the cry dying in your throat as you felt her climb up the bed and tug your body against her. She snaked a hand between your legs and slid a finger into you.

"Fuck, you're tight," her voice strained against a few strands of hair matted against your ear.

Your chest rose and fell rapidly as you tried to reply. "Speak up, sweetheart," she cooed, easing another finger into you.

"I want you to stretch me," you panted, clinging to lucidity.

She bit at your earlobe with a growl, a third finger slipping inside you now. Your head spun at as you felt yourself adjust to take even more of her. The air was now thick with the wet, wanton sounds of her pumping inside you. With each thrust, she stroked at a spot inside you that brought you closer and closer to your peak.

"I-I can't last much longer," you sputtered. You pressed back against her, hips rocking up into her palm. She sucked at a patch of skin underneath your jaw.

"Then cum for me," Liz said, beginning to stroke her thumb along your clit. She curled her fingers inside you and allowed you to roll your thighs against her hand.

The tension gripping your body snapped, your mind careening into the darkness as waves of pleasure rushed over you. Liz kept up her pace, pressing light kisses across your face. She talked you through your orgasm in crisp, honeyed tones in a manner you'd spend the next few days dwelling over.

When your heart finally calmed, she withdrew her hand, savoring the taste of you as she rose up off the bed. You watched her with a confused look, eyes straining against the shadows that cloaked the bedroom.

Her hand threaded into your hair, cupping the back of your scalp. Suddenly, she met you from the side of the bed.

You felt her pull you towards her, your face soon nuzzling up against the fabric of her slacks.

She tugged her zipper open with her free hand.

You wasted no time in starting to cover her panties in kisses, rewarded with a groan as she lolled her head back.

"That's a good girl," she said, voice straining. "Keep it up."

You reached up and tugged them down, lips wrapping around her clit. She laced both hands in your hair, pulling you closer. You leaned up, catching a glimpse of her through heavy lashes.

A thumb caressed your cheek.

"I can't wait to cum all over that pretty face."

You sucked harder.

---

Liz led you towards the restrooms, which were just outside the banquet hall in a hallway not so generously lit. The darkness served the mood well, though. Her mind wandered to thoughts of herself draped over your back, your legs parted wide enough for you to try taking her strap, her hips rutting into you with a ferocity that'd leave you with bruises she was proud to give you.

She wasn't sure if it was the booze or the fatigue calling the shots at this point, but neither prevented her from noticing your hand tugging free from her grasp.

The prosecutor turned in time to catch sight of a white glove cover your mouth.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

Queer Books Coming Out January 2024

🌈 Good morning, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ Tentacle Wonderland by Reese Morrison 🧡 Cupid’s Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann 💛 Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver 💚 Soren by Miranda Page & Lina Ganef 💙 Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia 💜 Stars and Soil by Dax Murray ❤️ Deep Sounding Chaos by Adrian J. Smith & Neen Cohen 🧡 Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments by Hema Sukumar 💛 Evergreen by Devin Greenlee 💙 Matsdotter and Adrastus (Adventures in Levena #2) by Aelina Isaacs 💜 Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu Vol. 3 by Meng Xi Shi and Me Mimo 🌈 Destined by Jen Carter

❤️ Her Spell That Binds Me by Luna Oblonsky 🧡 Her Mechanic Bear Mate (Crescent Lake Bears #3) by Arizona Tape 💛 That Bitter Sting by Melissa Polk 💚 Bioluminescence by Toni Duarte 💙 Lucky Bounce by Cait Nary 💜 Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by Emma R. Alban ❤️ Bachelorette Number Twelve by Jae 🧡 How to Share a Cat and Other Life Lessons by Evelyn Fenn 💛 A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing by Amy Allen 💙 Bound by Kate Hawthorne 💜 Moonbreak by Lise MacTague 🌈 Falling All In by Laina Villeneuve

❤️ Murder on Castaway Island by Alicia Gael 🧡 The Butler's Vessel by S. Rodman 💛 Tadek and the Princess by Alexandra Rowland 💚 Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney 💙 Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand 💜 Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa ❤️ A Doctor’s Touch by A.A. Fairview 🧡 So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole 💛 Never Be a Saint by Mark Runte 💙 Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook 💜 Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife by Eric Schlich 🌈 City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter

❤️ Enthralled by Her by Chelsea M. Cameron 🧡 Knight of Staria by Iris Foxglove 💛 The Storm Gathers by Maelan Holladay 💚 Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang Vol. 2 by Priest 💙 Fence: Redemption SC by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad 💜 Dreamer by Kris Bryant ❤️ Not Just Friends by Jordan Meadows 🧡 Winter's Spell by Ursula Klein 💛 Two is a Pattern by Emily Waters 💙 All Things Beautiful by Alaina Erdell 💜 Curse of Souls by Niranjan 🌈 Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

❤️ The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson 🧡 Curse of the Dragon Shadow by Selina A. Fenech 💛 No Shelter But The Stars by Virginia Black 💚 Shards of Trust by Fox Beckman 💙 My Fair Brady by Brian D Kennedy 💜 The Summer Queen (The Buried and the Bound #2) by Rochelle Hassan ❤️ A Luminous Heart by Cailee Francis 🧡 To Cage a God (These Monstrous Gods #1) by Elizabeth May 💛 Out of Our League by Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli 💙 Earth and Water by J.L. Gribble 💜 Rend Me, The Wayward Knight by Mary Vanalstine 🌈 Prince of Endless Tides by Ben Alderson

❤️ Sweet Wicked Thing by Jessie Walker 🧡 Ocean’s Blood by Thelma Mantey 💛 Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms by Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan 💚 A Reckless Oath by Kaylie Smith 💙 Fallen Thorns by Harvey Oliver Baxter 💜 Faded Moon by T.L. Morgan ❤️ Game On by Amy Aislin 🧡 The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers 💛 The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland 💙 Spark of Wrath by E.M. Lindsey 💜 Honeybloods by I.S. Belle 🌈 Love Me At My Worst by Adrian J. Smith

[moistvonlipwig]

supercorp 1 8 9 16 20

right on 🫡

What is my absolute favorite of their scenes and why do I love it so much?

Oh I don't know...there are many good classic scenes. For the sake of spicing it up I'll talk about a moment that I don't often see people discuss and that is actually from an episode that I otherwise don't really like, namely: the scene in 5x19 where Kara is on the ground with kryptonite coursing through her veins and then Lena's anti-kryptonite device flies in and attaches itself to her suit and before it's even started working, Kara smiles and laughs. Just...the fact that Kara is in (if we are to believe her assessment in S3) incredible pain and that doesn't even matter to her because Lena's on her side again. I think that's a really sweet moment and it captures a lot of what I wish S5 & S6 had been about for them lol.

8. Am I most interested in fics about them that focus on fluff, angst, humor, smut or actual plot?

Angst, humor, & plot are all good with me. Fluff & smut tend to bore me.

9. What is my ideal endgame for them?

Hm, I could envision several good endgames for them (none of which include Lena being a witch or Kara becoming editor-in-chief or revealing herself to the world lol). I think ideally Kara would eventually become known as Superwoman and maybe would become more of an independent freelance journalist, while Lena would run the Lena Luthor Foundation which presumably funds Good Things. Lena would keep kryptonite on hand in a secret vault in case of emergency and Kara would be cool with it, and Lena would also design all kinds of suits & accessories for Kara (sorry Brainy but your Supergirl suit design was not very good). I like the idea of Kara having a longer, more stately cape especially as she grows older and more confident.

I do think they'd both want to get married, probably in a Kryptonian or Kryptonian-inspired ceremony. I think they should get a cat or a dog or both. I like lena-in-a-red-dress's fic where Lena adopts Dex-Starr the Red Lantern cat so let's say their cat is Dex-Starr. And their dog can be Rex from sango-blep's comics. Rex is cute.

I like the idea of them having kids, though I also think they'd be OK without them. If they did have kids I think the kids would be Luthors, not Danverses or Luthor-Danverses. They would also probably be created via birthing matrix or a similar technology invented by Lena because I can't imagine either Kara or Lena wanting to get pregnant lol. I like Leo Alexander as a name for a boy. I'm less sure about names for girls (maybe Sasha? Elizabeth? Linda?) but I don't like Lori, I know that's popular because of an old comic where Lena has a daughter named Lori but I am not a fan.

16. What are three of my fic recs for this ship? And (in the event that I’ve written something for them) one of my fics involving them that I’m most proud of?

Catfishy Business by whythinktoomuch is an iconic and deeply funny fic.

lena dies on a wednesday by karalovesallthegirls is a GREAT time loop fic that ingeniously puts us in the shoes of someone who doesn't know they're in a time loop. I think you've said you've read it? Still, it bears re-reading.

There are so many other great fics I could rec but I'll rec one that is a little bit lesser-known, since I've already named two very well-known fics. Which is and darling (is there a cure for this hunger?) by m_oliverfan, aka There Are Consequences To Sending Nyxly To Eternal Torment Land, Actually.

I've only finished one fic for SC so far which is laid in thine enemy's grave? - in truth, i dig it, which I believe you've also read. ^_^

20. How and when should they have gotten together?

I think in a better S5 where they started talking to each other sooner -- end of 5x13 would've been a good time -- and had some time to work through some stuff, I could see an end-of-S5 confession or kiss working. In terms of the actual show, which was never very good at writing romance, I think a Korrasami-style 'they end up together or are implied to end up together as part of Kara finding herself' would've charmed me.