#silas bell my little guy…

[caramel-clowns]

shoutout to the cover of the spirit bares its teeth bc i saw it in the library and was like 'oooo shiny' so i picked it up and read it, now it plagues my brain daily

[heartfullofleeches]

Hey chief, do you mind if I play some Pokemon here? Been here for a while and already collected some pearls, let me see..

*Pulls their bag and open it, taking out some Pokeballs*

Here we have... Titus, Dylan, Theodore, Erin, Spencer, Ben, Evan, Sammy, V, Host, Janitor, Ball Pit God, Bathroom Succubus, The Storyteller, The Manager, Amyas, Cholly, Tobi, Alasdair, Baron, Maddox, C.C., Orion, Jaremiah (btw, wtfrick happen to that dude? Did he melt on the microwave or smt?), Reese, Lambchop, Liu, Alien, Selene (honest, miss the sweet lady), Daina, Pin (another one that I miss, what happen to little dude? :( ), Static (do you remember them? It's been a while like, previous year halloween or smt?), Damsel, Elliot (I feel so old for still remembering him off-)...

Pretty sure I forgot some fellas, would you mind helping me find the others? I need to complete my Mr. Devil Collection. :b

Casper, Gemi/Gemini (miss these two fr, Ceres, Baron's sleeper paralysis big sister who's name I forget, Mal, Devlin, Silas, Gus, Ventri, Melan, The Director, Anri, Julian, The Scavenger, Rosebud, The Painter, the clock one, The lady in White, The Faceless Angel, Ruthie, Farmer Crow, Blythe, Mimi, D.Kay, Cherry, Clementine, Lemon, Lime, Melon, Eve/Everett, Vendetta, Dea, Thane, Mono, Exael, Titus, Sucrose, Mocha, Jolie, Izzy and Cinnabar, Gumi, Lollie, Zachary, Hayes, "Lucille" (Liu's parasite half. Also Liu used to be Lee), Morgan, Seth, that one cowboy guy, that one bullman guy, horny ghost lady, Chocolate Milk, Strawberry Milk, Eggnog, Screamsicle, Oat Milk, Apricot Milk, Peach Milk, Cotton-Candy Milk, Mint Milk, Apple Milk, Milk Tea, Spice Milk, Milk/Milk Maid, Cherry Milk, Bear, Bo, Spot, Saber, Belle, Doc, Trick, Prince, Wisteria

The list goes on but that's what I got for now. Fuck I miss the night gallery so fucking much. Jeremiah is dead. I haven't mention my poor baby Static since the beginning of the year. Pin has a draft I need to finish eventually

[sundove88]

Despicable Me (Sundove88’s Version Casting)

You can find the original Here.

A man who delights in all things wicked, supervillain Guzma hatches a plan to steal the moon. Surrounded by an army of little green bug types and his impenetrable arsenal of weapons and war machines, Guzma makes ready to vanquish all who stand in his way. But nothing in his calculations and groundwork has prepared him for his greatest challenge: three adorable orphan girls who want to make him their dad.

Now that Guzma has forsaken a life of crime to raise Nezuko, Eri, and Lillie, he's trying to figure out how to provide for his new family. As he struggles with his responsibilities as a father, the Anti-Villain League, an organization dedicated to fighting evil, comes calling. The AVL sends Guzma on a mission to capture the perpetrator of a spectacular heist, for who would be better than the world's greatest ex-villain to capture the individual who seeks to usurp his power.

The mischievous bug types hope that Guzma will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain League fires him. Instead, Guzma decides to remain retired and travel to Freedonia to meet his long-lost twin brother for the first time. The reunited siblings soon find themselves in an uneasy alliance to take down the elusive Binary Bard, a former Astro Knights inventor who seeks revenge against the world.

Evolving from single-celled multicolored organisms at the dawn of time, bug types live to serve, but find themselves working for a continual series of unsuccessful masters, from T. Rex to Napoleon. Without a master to grovel for, the Bug Types fall into a deep depression. But one bug type, Golisopod, has a plan; accompanied by his pals Accelgor and Escavalier, Golisopod sets forth to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. Their search leads them to Maleficent, the world's first-ever super-villainess.

In the 1970s, young Guzma tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader -- the legendary fighter Jiraiya. When the interview turns disastrous, Guzma and his Bug Types go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance -- Jiraiya himself -- and soon discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

Guzma as Felonius Gru (Pokemon)

Beedrill as Bob (Pokemon)

Centiskorch as Carl (Pokemon)

Golisopod as Kevin (Pokemon)

Escavalier as Stuart (Kirby)

Accelgor as Jerry (Kirby)

Dustox as Mel (Kirby)

Butterfree as Dave (Kirby)

Ledian as Tim (Kirby)

Yanmega as Otto (Pokemon)

Ribombee as Themselves/Gru’s Emotional Support (Pokemon)

Eri as Agnes (My Hero Academia)

Nezuko as Margo (Demon Slayer)

Lillie as Edith (Pokemon)

Awoofy as Kyle (Kirby)

Agatha as Marlena Gru (Pokemon)

Professor Turo as Dr. Nefario (Pokemon)

Ghetsis as Robert Gru (Pokemon)

Kai Chisaki as Vector (My Hero Academia)

Scar as Mr. Perkins (The Lion King)

Zira as Herself/Mrs. Perkins (The Lion King)

Dolores Umbridge as Miss Hattie (Harry Potter)

Raiden Shogun as Lucy Wilde (Genshin Impact)

Asgore as Silas Ramsbottom

(Undertale)

Ruto as Jillian (The Legend of Zelda)

Magda as Shannon (The Legend of Zelda)

Vaati as Antonio Perez (The Legend of Zelda)

Ganondorf as Eduardo Perez/El Macho (The Legend of Zelda)

Lady Maud as Herself/El Macho’s Wife (The Legend of Zelda)

Maleficent as Scarlet Overkill (Sleeping Beauty)

Hades as Herb Overkill (Hercules)

Mal as herself/Scarlet's Daughter

(Descendants)

Felix as Walter Nelson (Encanto)

Pepa as Madge Nelson (Encanto)

Dolores as Tina Nelson (Encanto)

Camilo as Walter Nelson Jr. (Encanto)

Antonio as Binky Nelson (Encanto)

Various Villains as the Villain Con

Attendees

N Harmonia as Dru Gru (Pokemon)

Youngster Joey as Himself/Dru's Adoptive Son (Pokemon)

Binary Bard as Balthazar Bratt (Poptropica)

Holmes as Clive (Poptropica)

Monster Kid as Niko (Undertale)

Gogoat as Lucky (Pokemon)

Jiraiya as Wild Knuckles (Naruto)

Magica De Spell as Belle Bottom (Ducktales)

Haxorous as Dragon!Belle Bottom (Pokemon)

The Ghoulfather as Jean Clawed (Yo-Kai Watch)

Annihilape as Monkey!Jean Clawed (Pokemon)

Gaston as Stronghold (Beauty and The Beast)

Tauros as Ox!Stronghold (Pokemon)

Queen Grimhilde as Nunchuck (Snow White and The 7 Dwarves)

Arbok as Snake!Nunchuck (Pokemon)

Jafar as Svengeance (Aladdin)

Incineroar as Tiger!Svengance (Pokemon)

Korina as Master Chow (Pokemon)

Duke Caboom as The Biker (Toy Story)

Here’s your hint to the next Crossover Casting (It’s Don Bluth):

👸🇷🇺🎶

[disciplesofthelamb]

[ I struggled with this one and i still don't like it 💔 ]

After a long afternoon of work in the lumberyard, another follower was finally willing to take over, and Briar got the opportunity to give her arms a well deserved break.

As she was about to walk towards her hut, she heard the distinct chime of the bell that signaled when drinks were ready, looking toward the drinkhouse, she saw a scene that seemed to be becoming customary these past few days.

Silas, drunk out of his mind, happily chatting to an uneasy bartender, who was clearly only nodding and smiling out of politeness. For some reason, instead of doing it in the privacy of his own bedroom like usual, Silas seemed to have taken a liking to the follower that often prepared the drinks at the bar... Poor guy, she should go over there and save him from that situation, maybe even have a drink herself, she's earned it.

Silas seems to only notice her presence when she sits down next to him. He looks to her with a smile so cheerful that it was a little uncanny, she's not used to seeing him happy.

"Briaaaaar! Hey... How's your day been, hm? You look tired." He zeroes in on her, tilting his head and pouting, as if he was actually concerned about her.

"Well, I was--"

"Yea, yea, that sounds terrible. My day has been great, however!"

Of course. She rolls her eyes, gesturing for the bartender to pour her a drink as well "Mhm."

"I've been here, chatting with my best friend, Simon. Isn't that right?"

"Simon" looks confused, that's not his name. But he has no chance to correct Silas before he speaks again.

"He loves me, we go way back... Does anyone love you? Didn't think so."

"... What?"

Silas perks up, remembering something. "Hey! Did I ever tell you that you look just like my ex?"

Silas's dating life was a dangerous topic to get into, but she was curious, and a little bored, so why not?

"Oh, really? Which one?"

"No, no! I'm serious! I dated this one guy a really long time ago..." He paused, tapping the side of his glass as if it would jog his memory. "I think his name was Jess?... Jal? It was something with a 'J' for sure."

Briar's tensed up little at that, but there was no way he was talking about the person who came to her mind.

"... Jasper?"

"That's it! How'd you know?"

Briar's eyes widened at that, no, it was impossible, Silas couldn't have dated her brother, it was probably just a coincidence. Surely there are plenty of people named Jasper out there.

Silas chuckled, presumably reminiscing on this past relationship of his.

"Oh, Jasper... He was such a sweetheart."

"What happened, then? Did he dump you?"

"Pfft, no! I got sick of him 'cause he kept writing me shitty songs on his guitar... They were SO bad, he only knew like, four chords."

Yep, that was her brother alright, there was no denying it. She didn't know how to feel about this, she was under the impression that he had better standards.

"... Tell me about it."

"I do miss him sometimes, though... He was so nice to me, so kind..." He sighed dreamily, leaning onto the counter. "And let me tell you, his heart wasn't the only part of him that was big." He said, making sure to demonstrate what he meant with a hand gesture.

"Gross. TMI, dude."

"What? It's not that big of a deal. Well, his deal was pretty big, but that's not what I meant."

Briar refused to give such a statement an answer. She wondered how he managed to become a part of The Lamb's inner circle.

"Whaaat? Quit looking at me like that! You're just jealous."

"Of what? Your ex boyfriend?"

"No, of me, duh. What's it like being beneath me in every single aspect? I bet it's frustrating."

Briar almost laughed at that, there was no way this wet rag of a man truly believed that he was above her in any way.

"... I could easily fold your ass in half."

"Oh yeah, I bet you'd loooove to get near my ass, wouldn't you?"

"You barely have one."

"...Hmph."

The drink that she had asked for is finally poured in front of her, but she doesn't get to touch it before Silas prompty tips it over, spilling it all over her.

"Yiiiikes, you should really be more careful, sweetheart."

Briar gets up from her seat, already fuming. She should strangle the life out of him for that. That little smirk of his is just BEGGING her to do something.

No, she has to stay calm, she can't give him the satisfaction of reacting to this, that's exactly what he wants. She'll just wait for him to fall asleep to suffocate him with his own pillow. That's it. Just you wait Silas.

With a deep breath, Briar turns around to leave.

"Awww, going so soon?"

She momentarily turns back to push him off of the stool before actually leaving. It was incredibly easy, he fell over immediately.

"AGH-- YOU BITCH!"

... She feels a little better now.

[nicoleabingspeaks]

tao bagay hayop lakompake basta umayos ka lang

dear kimmy,

andito ka naman ulet crush mo ako no chz. today andito tayo para makapagrant ulet ako kung paano naman nabulabog ng sas yung chakra ko habang nag-eenjoy ako ng strawberry juice. from an essentialist's point of view naman kasi i am a reklamador first and human second chz. anyway unang una sa lahat, gusto kong sabihin na hindi talaga ako yung type of person na naniniwala na may nakatakda na may certain genetic traits na naga prevail over others (we all know how a certain person with this kind of thinking turned out... yikes). however, tao lang din naman ako so siyempre i still believe some stereotypes, especially because of the way na pinalaki ako. hindi naman siya super discriminatory na way of thinking. i still treat other people equally. however, there are a certain group of people that i am especially cautious around: men... siguro eto dahilan bakit naging part ako ng LGTVHD1080P pero ever since i was little, i always had a certain outlook towards men because kahit saan ako tumingin parang attributed talaga sila sa violence. yung mga crimes sa tv usually yung suspects ay lalaki. yung mga anime na pinapanood ng dad ko usually yung mga enemies lalaki din. and although my dad means well, minsan nakakatakot talaga siya mhie. kaya ayun... as i grew up, i learned to treat guys nicely kaysa ba naman always nalang ako iiyak pag may lalaki na lumapit sakin. pero ayun... takot parin ako sa lalaki. anyways, itong the bell curve ni herrnstein and murray nainis lang ako so hindi ko na tinuloy yung pagbasa pero ma understand ko naman yung gist. my friends know me for my honesty kaya i will be honest with my thoughts. i believe na kung bobo ka, bobo ka talaga. hindi mo diyan masisisi yung genetics or socio-economic status mo. kahit babae o lalaki ka, kung ano man lahi mo, kung gaano man karaming pera yung ibinigay sayo para baon mo sa school, bobo ka talaga if bobo ka. "sorry di ko alam na ganito pala dapat yan kasi-" EDI ALAMIN MO!!! nako naman nabulabog na naman yung chakra ko eh nagsusulat lang naman ako. kung sa tingin mo kasalanan pa ng mga magulang mo na pinanganak kang bobo, EDI UMAHON KA BEH MAGSIPAG KA UMAYOS KA JUSKO. so ayun mag move on na tayo before pa ko mamusdak apdo (p.s. hindi po ito projection sa galit ko sa groupmates ko sa sas. i cannot say the same for groupmates sa ibang subjects chos lang).

move on tayo tsaka pag usapan natin yung "the gaze" (huey). anyways, yung society as a whole parang meron na talagang preconceived notion of normal. if hindi ka "normal", hindi ka part ng society. hindi naman sa completely tinataboy ka talaga, pero alam mo yung parang na didiscriminate ka na ng super malala hanggang sa feeling mo na parang ganun na nga. dahil dito parang may nagaform din na mga societies based sa kung ano yung trait mo na pinakanaaayawan ng mga tao ano? sa module ginawang example yung medical gaze. dito naman, gagawin kong example yung "the gays gaze" (HAYS ang galing ko talaga). so ayun nga diba parang naperceive na na normal yung heterosexual relationships and tama naman na normal siya (kahit ayaw ko talaga sa heterosexual relationships except a select few) pero sino ba naman kasi yung nagsabi na hindi normal yung homosexual relationships??? pareho lang namang nagmamahalan yung tao na involved sa relationship pero kung makisawsaw yung iba parang akala mo pinipilit din silang maging bading eh. like,,, wala namang masamang naidudulot yan??? although some people might argue na "hala baka maging bakla din yung anak ko" or something like that. eh kung ganun nga, so what? anak mo parin naman yan diba. kahit mag-iba pa yan ng porma or makipag momol sa kapareho niyang kasarian, pinaghirapan mo parin yang palabasin at palakihin. ewan ang weird lang talaga sakin kung bakit ang hirap lang i accept ng mga tao yung mga homosexuals na wala namang naidudulot na masama. mas tinatanggap pa nga yung implementation ng EJK na nakakapinsala sa buhay ng mga inosente. nag-aapply na po dito yung sinabi ko kanina na kung bobo ka, bobo ka talaga. so again, UMAHON KA BEH MAGSIPAG KA UMAYOS KA JUSKO. siguro ganito yung theme ko for today's entry.

okay mag proceed na me sa psychosocial construction of the self. dito na yung "the looking glass self" ni cooley and "i and me" ni mead. i go over ko lang siya ng very konti pero i explain ko siya in a way na based sa understanding ko so baka hindi talaga siya super accurate. so yung "looking glass self" is yung self na nabubuo based sa kung ano yung nasa paligid niya. yung "i and me" naman is extension ng "looking glass self", pero na explain din yung aspect ng self as yung self talaga wherein hindi siya affected ng societal factors. yung ganyan is yung "i" and yung "me" is yung naaffect ng society. so babalikan po natin ulit yung bobo na ferson. say na bobo siya kasi ganun nga napalibutan siya ng mga people na hindi ganun ka informed about sa mga nangyayari. kung ganun lang talaga, siguro maiintindihan ko pa. like if wala talaga siyang resources para maging informed, okay lang maging bobo. pero minsan talaga, may mga tao na tinuturuan na nga ng kung ano yung tama, ang tigas tigas parin ng ulo. bahala na. bato bato sa langit, matamaan magalit. anyways, i guess it can still be argued kung ano nga yung tama. in this case, dadalhin ko dito yung natutunan ko sa ethics na kung ano yung tama is kung ano yung nagdadala ng kabutihan sa majority. so if yung pinaniniwalaan mo na tama is nagacause ng negative na effects sa majority... ewan i hope na there is still hope for you. and even if napapaligiran ka ng mga tao na same na paniniwala sayo, may choice ka naman na i accept or reject yung mga ideas and concepts na pinaniniwalaan nila na tama (kahit hindi naman)—hence agency and reflexivity. gamitin mo to do better beh. and once again, UMAHON KA BEH MAGSIPAG KA UMAYOS KA JUSKO. bale yung summary ng last two points ko is kahit na yung self is built by societal factors, pero to some extent ikaw talaga bahala sa sarili mo. hence yung meme sa taas na looking back hindi talaga siya nagamake sense pero natawa ako so ikekeep ko nalang siya.

last nalang talaga humahaba na yung entry ko. yung time and collective memory. leave behind na natin yung whole rant ko and mag move tayo into something medyo(?) wholesome. bale for example dito sa miagao diba, student ako. nakatira ako dito temporarily as a student and a classmate. the memories i have here are that of a student and a classmate. therefore, ina attribute ko yung lugar na to with academics. however, for some people, this place is home. in miagao, they are children of their mothers and fathers and vice versa. the memories that they have of this place are that of children, mothers, fathers, etc. for them, this place is attributed to family. this draws the line between sa mga locals and the students na mula pa sa mga malalayong lugar. dito maclarify yung difference ng dalawang societies, but it doesn't necessarily mean na there should be separation between the two societies. sadyang yung mga ideas and beliefs namin are different because iba yung mga memories yung ina attribute namin sa miagao. sila iinom para makipag bonding with their families. kami naman iinom para makatakas sa responsibilidad ng isang estudyante. pero sigurado ako na lahat kami umiinom to have a good time. hindi po ako alcoholic. pero hanggang dito nalang siguro ako kimmy. next time ulit hehe.

talks even more,

nicole

[lungsandlips]

"They any good at actually righting wrongs?" Reed didn't know if an apology would matter. Sure, he was nice enough that he would probably just accept it and move on if that's what it came to but he neither expected it or really wanted it. "I like Izzy, he makes it easier to be around everyone else sometimes. Probably because he's nearly as in the dark about all of it as I am. Haven't had the chance to meet Abi yet but Silas talks about her a lot, regrets his actions. But I get why his kids feel the way they do." Reed nodded, agreeing with her, he would have told Bells too. "I've heard a little bit about Jason. He seems interesting. Wait until you meet her newest one. Darcy was my downstairs neighbor and I had no idea he was anything more than just a strange guy."

Britt had the same softness in her face that he saw in Dimitri and Felix when they tried to talk of their pasts. While Dimitri skipped over the parts about his dad he would mention his friends which is where Felix would chime in. Reed just hadn't been in the headspace to remember their names. He was pretty sure he just figured it out. They were friends with both Dimitri and his dad, of course they were. When Britt moved on to what had happened to her a look of horror settled onto Reed's face. "... that's where the no family rule came from, isn't it? Damn. No wonder. I feel like I should be terrified but you say things are better and I just... feel like I should trust you."

Reed appreciated the gesture but he wasn't sure it was anything he wanted to see right now. "Maybe someday I'll take you up on that offer. Right now I'm just trying to come to terms with the fact that I'll probably never know him and I think that might be a little bit too much for me."

"Yeah...They should also issue an apology to you for whatever hell you went through before you found your way to us." Britt was half human, sure, but she also knew how cruel humans were to anything that was different. "Yeah, that's true. Abi's still pretty pissed off at Silas over Izzy and trying her best to get to know her little brother. She's gotten very protective of him in the short time she's known about him." It was good, really, that the younger kids had people trying to look out for them already. "Good, good. If she wasn't aware, I would have told her myself with you letting me know that." Britt had to laugh at that, not really surprised. "Bells has a weird way with people. It's why she has such an odd mix of kids. Wait til you meet Jason."

"Lyri is very likely to fuss over you. It's just in her nature. I don't think I've ever met anyone with a bigger heart than her." It was clear from her tone and the softness of her smile that her adoration for Lyri ran especially deep. "No, he was asleep before...well, you'll end up hearing about it eventually so I might as well just lay it out there. My second eldest son tried to kill me. I had finally agreed to let his father have him locked up and didn't know that Chance had cameras set up around my home. He doesn't handle betrayal very well and it ended with me being stabbed several times," she explained, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "Things are better these days, he's not a threat to anyone in the family anymore, not unless he's genuinely provoked."

Britt nodded, not really surprised that he had been going through such a mix of emotions. "I know it won't make anything better, but I might still have some of his old paintings if you would be interested in seeing them."

[jobesimming]

1..2..3 and We're Back!

POV Naura

"Hey, guys! I know it's been two years and I can explain myself.." Naura giggles as she continues, "I got pregnant by my boyfriend, Brayton Johnson. But I couldn't tell that I was pregnant, nor could anyone else. My mother said she experienced the same thing with my brother Sayeed."

"I actually gave birth to Silas in Sulani. Silas is Sulani American !! I thought that was so cool..until I had to undergo so much for citizen papers..." Moments later, I finished filming my video.

"Gibush gaba mama, food?" I giggle as I hear Silas gibberish.

I pick him up and he was so excited, he started singing something he heard from Kids Toons, "Alright big man." I say as I place him in his highchair, "Whatcha want? We got spaghet-" he bangs his hand on the table. God, he's so adorable, I do not want him to grow up! But at least he has his aunt to grow up with. That is as long as I don't have to see Oukesson. My relationship with Porsha has gotten better though. She doesn't do too much, stays in her lane, doesn't force a title. When I took out the spaghetti I heard giggles coming from down the hall, more than one voice. So Colt is here, Belle's boyfriend-- Belle'Anna is my BSF(Best Sister Forever). She was the first friend I made when I moved down here. I don't have a problem with him though, but his mother Cassie Vanessa irks the hell out of me. She's friends with Belle's Step-Mother, Adrienne Lauren-Darling. Cassie is one of those white women who are sorry until force to be sorry. She's always doing something for attention. Like she knows what she's doing and she just wants attention. Honestly don't get how Mr. Herlin Williams is married to her.

"Hey, Naura...hey little guy." Colt high-fives Silas and sit next to him. I waved at him and Silas instantly started talking his ear off.

Belle'Anna walks up to me smiling extremely hard, "Girl...that boy did it again!" she whispers in my ear. She is so nasty, but I'm so happy she's happy again. I'm even proud of Aspen for finally accepting who he is. He's always been you know.."Bi" and not saying you have to pick aside. But he knew it from the beginning he liked boys. I'm not an expert on sexuality, I'm straight and came from a very toxic household; meaning my dad force every negative thought onto me and my brother. My baby brother is fourteen now, he's a high school freshman. Everyone is growing up. Just yesterday we were all going to brunch and having killer parties. Where did the time go? It's like everything went downhill during Senior year. Prom is the real drift...After Aspen broke up with Belle, she was actually hurt. Which in fact is weird, she never cares about guys. I guess it was different because she really liked Aspen. After Prom, we all went our different ways...

Belle has always been a Simstagram model, but now she's an internet personality. Her Step-Mom has her own tv show "Adrienne and Messer: Our Messy Love" and yes, Belle stars on it now... At first, she didn't want anything to do with her new extended family, but after so much happened in her life. She saw it was time she got to know her other family.

Aspen has branched off into modeling. He and Monroe are big-time actors now. They've always been famous because of their parents, but they run "New Hollywood" now. Monroe is engaged to a girl named "Luna Villareal". I guess I'm...."happy" for him. I can't really talk much about Luna, although I do hate her family. Her dad brought the school a new gymnasium, two new tennis courts, a golf course, and new flooring for the whole school-- just so his daughter can be "Class valedictorian". She couldn't get valedictorian because of Belle'Anna. She has never fallen behind, she may have had a few minor grades that weren't A's but her impressive GPA has kept her on her toes and secured her spot.

(Kinda discontinued this story... but I just wanted to post all the legacies post.)

[sunflower-swan]

Wolfstar Chapter 2

A/N: Here’s what you need to know: I created this story for Writer’s Month 2020. Every day is a new prompt, and therefore a new chapter. This is an AU Wolfstar where Remus is a tattoo artist next door to Sirius who manages a flower shop. James and Lily are alive in this universe and own a coffee shop across the street. And to make parts of the story work with the prompts, Remus is about 10 years older than Sirius. It also takes place more or less in present time, minus coronavirus.

This is chapter 2 of a multi-chapter work. If you’d like to start from the beginning, here is chapter 1.

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters. I just like to play with them.

Day 2 Prompt: Quarantine

Rating: Teen and Up

Word Count: 1150

Tags: language, original character, angst

Chapter Two

Remus

Lumineers, “Ho Hey”

I been trying to do it right

(Hey) I been living a lonely life

(Ho) I been sleepin' here instead

(Hey) I been sleepin' in my bed

(Ho) I been sleepin' in my bed (hey ho)

“Remus! Sirius!�� James roared from behind the counter as the pair walked into Potter’s Wheel. “How’s it going?” He bounced around the counter to embrace Sirius in a hug like a brother.

“Siwus!” James’ young son Harry came running through the back door with his mother hot on his tail. The boy jumped into Sirius' arms.

“Hiya, squirt!” Sirius ruffled the boys' unruly hair. “Alright there, Lils?” he asked the mother.

“He just doesn’t stop moving!” Lily exclaimed. “I look away for one second, and POOF!” she threw her hands into the air, “he’s gone.”

Remus chuckled to himself, and sat down at a nearby table. The warm ambiance of the place had filled him with contentment from the first time he visited. With each successive visit over the past 18 months, he felt more at home than he would have believed possible before.

 James and Lily were Sirius’ oldest and dearest friends, and he watched the interaction between them with mild interest. Sirius' happiness and affection for his friends and their child were so evident on his face. He had a light in his eyes that Remus found intoxicating. Oh, shit. Lily was smirking at him with a knowing look. She caught me staring. Remus quickly looked down at his hands. Yeah, you don’t look guilty at all now. 

Sirius sat down across from him, holding Harry in his lap. “What’s good today, Lily?”

“Got a Creamy Thai Carrot Soup with Basil. Picked the ingredients from our vegetable garden this morning.”

“Well, doesn’t get much better than that. Does it?” he asked Harry and tickled him.

“Uncle Siwus!” Harry giggled. “Stop it!” Harry wriggled out of Sirius’ lap and went to his mother.

“What about you Remus?”

“Carrot soup sounds great. And a slice of your amazing chocolate cake if you have some.”

Lily gave him a wink and herded Harry into the back room with her.

“I don’t know how you eat so much chocolate and stay so thin.” Sirius pointed a finger at his companion. “Most men your age have at least a little bit of a belly, even if they do take care of themselves.”

Remus shrugged in response.

“It’s not natural.” Sirius narrowed his eyes and laughed.

“Good metabolism,” was all Remus offered in reply.

The little bell attached to the front door rang. Remus sniffed the air and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

Sirius turned to see who had come in. “Silas!” He stood to greet his boyfriend with a hug and a chaste kiss on the lips.

Remus looked away from the display of affection. Be nice, he reminded himself. This kid has done nothing to you. If only his gut would listen to his brain.

“What are you doing here?” Sirius asked.

“I got done with training early, so I thought I'd surprise you. When you weren’t at the shop, I figured I’d look here,” Silas explained. “Alright there, Remus?”

“Just peachy, Silas,” Remus responded with a tight smile.

“We’re having some soup. Sit down,” Sirius gestured toward their table. “Then you and I can hang out at the shop a bit. I have a couple more orders to finish today.”

Silas sat as Lily arrived with the soup and Remus’ cake. “Hey, Silas,” she said.

“Hey, Lily.”

“Silas will have some soup, too, Lils,” Sirius stated.

“No problem,” Lily said with a smile, and skipped away.

“That’s a big piece of chocolate cake, Remus,” Silas commented. “You going to eat that all yourself?”

“That was the plan,” Remus responded in a flat tone. Not like it’s any of your fucking business, mate.

“I hope when I’m your age I can still eat whatever I want and look as good as you.”

Remus shoved a huge piece of cake into his mouth to resist the sarcastic retort that was dying to fly off his tongue.

Sirius barked, “That’s what I was just saying to him!”

Yeah, but when you said it, it was cute. Remus thought to himself. When this imbecile says it, I want to smack him.

Lily returned again, this time with Silas’ soup, and water for the three of them. “If you need anything, just give me a holler,” she said as she walked away.

How quickly can I eat this food, and get away from Silas, without seeming rude? Remus wondered, as he blew across a spoonful of soup before placing it in his mouth.

Interrupting his thoughts, Silas asked, “So Remus, how come I’ve never seen you with anyone? I mean, no girlfriend? Boyfriend?”

“Ahem,” Remus cleared his throat, “I … don’t date.” Nosy little bugger.

“What do you mean you ‘don’t date’?” Sirius asked with an incredulous look. “Everybody needs somebody, Remus,” he added in a matter of fact way.

“Yeah,” Silas continued, placing an arm around Sirius’ shoulders. “Someone to worry about you, care for you, 

If this fucking soup wasn’t so hot, then I would tip it from the bowl straight into my mouth in order to get the hell out of here. “I don’t need another person to make me feel complete. I am a complete person on my own,” Remus explained. “I don’t date anymore would be more accurate. I’m in a self-imposed romantic …” Remus paused, searching for an appropriate term. “... quarantine, if you will.” It’s too soon, and I’m too dangerous to be in a relationship anyway. 

“Romantic … quarantine?” Sirius repeated. “Wha’ … why?”

Remus placed both hands flat to the table. Annoyance flared within him as his muscles tensed. “Um … because I am.” Remus wiped his face with a napkin and rose. “I need to get back to the shop. Thanks for the food.” He strode toward the door, “Tell James and Lily for me that the soup and cake were delicious.”

Remus stalked across the street to his tattoo parlor. He unlocked the door and slammed it behind him, willing his breathing and heart rate to slow. What is it with that guy? Remus had asked himself this question many times since the relationship began. It’s not like Silas was a ‘bad person.’ But something put Remus on edge when he was around. His instincts were usually spot on, so he couldn’t understand this unexplainable agitation. 

Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he started the nightly ritual of cleaning up the tattoo parlor. By hand tonight. His emotions were running a little high to trust he wouldn’t bollock something up if he tried to use magic.

He finished his cleaning a few hours later. His irritation had subsided some time ago through the physical labor. Stepping outside into the darkness to lock the front door, he noticed lights were still on next door in the flower shop. Weird, he thought, looking at his watch. Sirius had said he was working late this week, but even this was a little ridiculous.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3

[chwesolai]

The Interviewer

Work’s never been easy on you. Your bum feeling numb after sitting in a chair for several hours, practically memorizing the same exact questions about the new movie you were about interview the cast of, and practically starving.

“y/n, I’m picking up lunch, you good with chinese?” You looked up and saw Paige, our PR assistant, standing in front of me.

“Oh yes, I’m starving, you’re a godsend, P!” You sigh in relief. She laughs, “Of course, and here’s your Starbucks you ordered.” I smile in delight, finally having something in my system besides water, some taste.

I sit on my phone for a good 20 minutes waiting for our next guests to walk in and begin to read my briefing of who’s coming in. After watching three different movies before all these interviews, I spent my morning interviewing the Detective Pikachu cast and then the Aladdin cast and now it was time for the Rocketman cast. I mean after meeting Ryan Renolds and Will Smith, I think I’ve got my inner fangirl to calm herself till I read I was not only interviewing Taron but Richard Madden, Jamie Bell, Dexter Fletcher, and Matthew Vaughn.

“I think I just died a little,” You whisper to yourself and then get distracted as some of the most beautiful men walk into the interview room.

Our PR head, Silas, briefs the cast about who I am and what will be doing and then, briefing me on how long the recording session will be. All of us nod as Silas gets behind the camera with our crew and I begin my introduction.

_______

“So, Rocketman! I can’t tell you all how much I loved this movie. It’s beyond amazing. And as an Elton fan myself, I couldn’t have expected anything more from this film.”

“Oh, thank you so much.” Taron smiles and Dexter adds on, “I’m so glad you mentioned that because this film is meant to tell Elton’s story in ways his fans didn’t even know about.”

“I love that for this film,” You smile at the genuine love in the room because some of your favorite people in the film industry are in the same room as you, 

“So cutting right to the chase, we’re going to play a game.” I now introduce the game after hearing some behind the scenes of Rocketman.

Mixed reactions come from five men, Richard especially, “I always lose all these  damn interview games.” We all laugh as I begin to explain the game, “We’re going to play Superlatives, Rocketman Edition. So how this will work is I will say a Rocketman related scenario and you will all point to who is most likely to do said scenario. Got it?”

“Got it.”All the men respond. Taron nervously shifts in his seat, “I swear half these are gonna be me.” The men laugh and Jamie adds “Speak for yourself!”

I laugh, watching everyone’s reactions, “let’s begin!”

Some laughs, smiles and pure enjoyment last throughout the interview and your 20 minutes were coming to an end, “Well you guys, it’s been an absolute joy speaking with you today and please everyone, go see Rocketman in theaters now!” You finish the interview with your scripted outro.

The guys all shake your hand and thank you for your time. You begin cleaning up your cue cards and search for your lunch until someone picks the last card for you. Looking up, the kindest eyes met your eyes.

“y/n? is it? I just wanted to say thank you for a really fun interview, we haven’t had one of those in a bit,” Taron smiles.

God, he was gorgeous.

“Of course, it was my pleasure! It's my job to make my interviewees as comfortable as possible.” You feel a slight blush creep onto your cheeks.

“T, lunch is waiting for y-” Richard comes barging back in, “oh, sorry. I’ll just back out now.”

“Well, that cat is out of the bag,” Taron nervously laughs. His voice shaking a bit, was he actually nervous? “Well, y/n, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you this whole time and I was just wondering if I could get your number?”

You couldn’t believe it. Taron Egerton was really asking for your number.

“Yes! I-I mean of course you can, and maybe we can talk more over lunch since Richard is very concerned with lunch.” You both laugh and continue to talk as you walk into the green room, welcomed by the food you’ve been waiting for.

[xocookiest]

SUPERGIRL PLAYLIST: SEASON 1 (PART I)

Summary: This is a compilation of songs that can possibly summarize Kara and Winn’s thoughts and feelings throughout Season 1 of Supergirl. All of these songs were compiled using the application Spotify Song Radio and the song “She’s A Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) by Carl Carlton in Episode 1 of Season 1 of Supergirl as its base.

1.      She’s A Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked - Carl Carlton

2.      Through the Fire - Chaka Khan

3.      The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations

4.      Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

5.      Silly - Deniece Williams

6.      Car Wash - Rose Royce

7.      Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition

8.      We Are Family - Sister Sledge

9.      Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton

10.    Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

11.    Groove Me - Guy

12.    Let It Whip - Dazz Band

13.    Let’s Get Serious (Single Version) - Jermaine Jackson

14.    Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations

15.    All This Love (Single Version) - DeBarge

16.    Best of My Love - The Emotions

17.    Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) - Stevie Wonder

18.    Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation

19.    Encore - Cheryl Lynn

20.    Let’s Hear It for the Boy - Deniece Williams

21.    I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops

22.    My Girl - The Temptations

23.    Shake Your Pants - Cameo

24.    Candy Girl - New Edition

25.    Watchin’ U - Ardijah

26.    Lady (You Bring Me Up) - Commodores

27.    Working My Way Back to You - The Spinners

28.    Boogie Shoes (2004 Remastered Version) - KC & The Sunshine Band

29.    Sparkle - Cameo

30.    Head to Toe - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

31.    Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang

32.    New Attitude - Patti LaBelle

33.    Time Will Reveal - DeBarge

34.    Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knights & The Pips

35.    Boogie Fever - The Sylvers

36.    Stay - The Temptations

37.    Cool It Now - New Edition

38.    Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) - Four Tops

39.    Apache - The Sugarhill Gang

40.    Candy - Cameo

41.    Got To Give It Up (Pt.1) - Marvin Gaye

42.    I Found Lovin’ - Fatback Band

43.    Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band & Gene Paul

44.    Lady Soul (Single Version) - The Temptations

45.    Lovergirl - Teena Marie

46.    Blame It on the Boogie - The Jacksons

47.    Rapper’s Delight - The Sugarhill Gang

48.    Last Dance (Single Version) - Donna Summer

49.    The Second Time Around - Shalamar

50.    When Somebody Loves You Back - Teddy Pendergrass

51.    Looking For A New Love - Jody Watley & Louil Silas Jr.

52.    Can You Stand The Rain - New Edition

53.    Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

54.    Blame it on the Boogie - The Jacksons

55.    Is It Good To You - Heavy D & The Boyz

56.    Shout, Pts. 1 & 2 - The Isley Brothers

57.    Let’s Stay Together - AI Green

58.    Oh Sheila - Ready For The World

59.    Apache (Jump On It) - The Sugarhill Gang

60.    If It Isn’t Love - New Edition

61.    Do I Do - Stevie Wonder

62.    I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross

63.    Forever Mine - The O’Jays

64.    My Prerogative - Bobby Brown

65.    If Only You Knew - Patti LaBelle

66.    Cut the Cake (Single Edit) - Average White Band

67.    Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations

68.    I’m Every Woman - Chaka Khan

69.    Candy Girl (Mixed By: Arthur Baker & Maurice Starr) -  New Edition

70.    Written All over Your Face - Rude Boyd with Gerald Levert

71.    Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb

72.    Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder

73.    It’s A Shame - The Spinners

74.    Love Ballad - L.T.D

75.    Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing) - Zapp

76.    If I Had No Loot -Tony! Toni! Tone!

77.    Meeting In The Ladies Room - Klymaxx

78.    I’ll Be Good - Rene & Angela

79.    I Wish - Stevie Wonder

80.    Lovely Day - Bill Withers

81.    Bad Girls - Donna Summer

82.    Lost In Emotion - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

83.    Get Ready - The Temptations

84.    Turn the Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson

85.    Every Little Step - Bobby Brown

86.    Looking For A New Love (Radio Edit) - Jody Watley & Louil Silas Jr.

87.    Back In Love Again - L.T.D. & Jeffery Osborne

88.    Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge

89.    Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry

90.    Lean on Me (Rerecorded) - Club Nouveau

91.    Call Me - Skyy

92.    Fool’s Paradise - Meli’sa Morgan

93.    September - Earth, Wind, & Fire

94.    Soul of a Woman - Johnny Gill

95.    Rock Wit’cha - Bobby Brown

96.    The Cisco Kid - War

97.    Run - Bell Biv Devoe

98.    Roni - Bobby Brown

99.    Saturday Love - Cherrelle & Alexander O’Neal

100.  I Like - Guy

[umbralsound-xiv]

Reclaimation And Redemption: A Respite For Thoughts.

Some small handful of suns had passed since their arrival, and aside from the initial confrontation with Sihret, all had remained relatively peaceful within the Clan. Mhira had found herself tending what wounds the others could not, and Zhav busied herself with dulled and broken weaponry. The entire Clan never seemed to stop for long; and when they had finally deigned to rest during the daylight bells, there was always at least a handful on watch.

Bexy had preferred her solitude, as she always had in unfamiliar locations. Especially ones whose residents weren’t exactly the most inviting, and often eyed and spoke about her when she thought she couldn’t possibly have overheard. They were wrong, of course. Still, she ate with the others, much to Sihret’s displeasure, but due to the agreement of hospitality, she could have hardly argued it. But this sun, her appetite had eluded her. Some tight knot had worked it’s way into her stomach, and her want for solitude had taken her to the treetops.

The sun had just begun to peek up from the horizon, the sky awash in a pale array of colours. It had been some time since she’d seen a sunrise, Bexy thought, and there was some peace she’d managed to find, greeting her Goddess, rather than watching her sink away in the sunset. It was late for Karahli standards -- Keeper standards at that, being nocturnal though they were, and just a little too early in the morning for almost anyone else.

And such a moment of peace is promptly interrupted, by the loud snap of a branch, and an unkempt head of purple hair.

“‘ey.”

Zhav clambers up the tree, and uninvited, joins Bexy on the sturdy branch that stretched high enough to oversee most of the canopy. In her hands, a wrapped cloth that seemed to clatter and rattle as she’d adjusted to sit more comfortably, swinging one leg to hang down from the branch as the other stretched forwards.

“Zhav.” Bexy offers a greeting. It’s not quite a smile, but a knit brow of confusion as to exactly why she was here, and why she’d picked this very spot on the branch next to her.

“Figured y’d be about, but not this fuckin’ high up. Guess it’s’n archery thin’?”

Bexy stares. What a strange way to begin a conversation. She finds herself still asking internal questions, before stuttering her answer.

“I... Suppose? I’ve not... Really spoken to many archers. I just... Like... Taller...--” With a thought that intruded her mind, she gives an uncharacteristically dismissive wave to her own words. “...Did you need something of me, Zhav?”

“Nope!” Zhav chimes back. After staring at Bexy for an uncomfortable amount of moments, she reaches for the wrapped cloth and sets it at Bexy’s side. “Y’didn’ eat earlier. Thought y’might be hungry.”

Bexy’s gloved hands take up the cloth as though it was some delicate object. Sitting it on her lap, she unpicks the knot, revealing the pottery within; a haunch of boar and a handful of vegetables... And another, containing half a dozen rolanberries. She smiles at the gesture rather than the want to eat, but keeps it close regardless. “...You didn’t have to. I... Appreciate it all the same, though.” Bexy glances down to the floor, or what little of it she could see beneath the boughs. “...You came all the way up here to bring me food?”

“Kinda.” Zhav admits, curling up to rest on a solitary knee, peering at the Seeker still. Zhav hadn’t seen Bexy much without her mask, and to see the woman at all in something casual had still been something of an occasion for her. Bexy had, after all, opted to wear her usual garb for her visit; if it was anything more armoured, Sihret may well have been more on edge than she already was.

The shared silence had lingered awkwardly in the air for long enough as Zhav simply stared and Bexy had given back a most bewildered glance, offering a small, discomforted smile as she reaches for a rolanberry in some bid to dispell the feeling.

“Think y’interestin’.” Zhav speaks again, watching the woman’s every move with vested interest. “Think y’neat.” She gives a pause, a question on the tip of her tongue, before she decides to speak it. “What y’doin’ all th’way up ‘ere, anyway? Y’ain’t on watch, far’s i know.”

Bexy gives a light roll of her shoulders. Eyes diverted away from Zhav, they move to greet the fading stars in the sky. “...Just... Thinking.” Came her short answer. She reaches for another rolanberry. Zhav immediately interrupts a good bit louder than she’d probably have intended, giving Bexy cause to jump from the sudden change in volume.

“---Whatcha thinkin’ bout? I always were curious, an’ ain’ ever ‘ad much oppertunity t’ask!” She beams, craning in forward as though it would help her better listen, pointed teeth on show in a grin. She pauses. Maybe a little more enthusiastic than she’d intended herself. “Uh... Not that y’have t’tell me. Just... Always been curious, ‘s’all.”

A light sigh is given from Bexy’s nose, taking a bite from the rolanberry and discarding the stem far into the undergrowth below. “...Lots of things. Sihret. What might come to pass. Ideas. Poetry. Friends.” She pauses, offering the smallest of frowns. “...People back home.”

Zhav bobs her head with unyielding enthusiasm. “Interestin’ thin’s, then. Y’reckon they’re copin’ without ya?” She laughs. It’s half sarcasm, half serious, and manages to draw Bexy’s attention from the sky.

“I wouldn’t see why not.” Bexy responds. She reaches for the rolanberries again in an effort to fight the melancholy reminder that had settled in her thoughts. Few had spoken to her since her arrival, and she could not deny the claws of lonliness had begun to set in. “...What of you, Zhav?” She asks, in some attempt to deflect. “...Will you remain here, when all is said and done?”

Zhad hadn’t expected a question in response. With rare speechlessness, a hand raises to comb through her unruly hair. “Uh... Ain’... Really thought tha’ far. Wherever Mhira goes, i guess.”

“And if Mhira asks you to decide?”

Zhav falls quiet again. Giving a moment, she only rolls her shoulders before her response. “...Dunno. Figure... We’d go back t’the house. Figure out what we’re doin’, regardless’ve what happens. An’... Uh...” Zhav shrugs, before the wide smile returns once again. “Got business w’one’ve y’healers. Said i’d tell ‘em ‘ow stuff went. Nice ‘nough guy, past conflicts not withstandin’.” She laughs. “...If shite really goes south, maybe i’ll even put in an application!”

At that, if Bexy’s brow rose any higher, it may well have vanished. “...Well, i would not deny your credentials. I’ve seen you fight.” Somewhat surprised, her head tilts. “...Silas?”

Zhav cuts a glance back. “Aye.” A brow perks in response. “How’d y’know?”

A small smirk tugs Bexy’s lips. “...He was attentive enough during your injuries. Simply an observation, Zhav.” She chimes, with a half-mocking tone. “...Naught to be ashamed of. He has always seemed... Pleasant, if a little reserved. Quiet.”

“Y’jus’ ain’ pissed ‘em off ‘nough.” Zhav laughs, “S’a laugh. Don’ take ‘emself too seriously. We get on.”

Bexy nods, head tilted with intent to pry. “An amusing match, considering. An ex-Wood Wailer, and a Keeper woman of the Shroud...”

“Is what it is.” Zhav states. It doesn’t sound so much as defensive, as matter of fact. “An’ what ‘appens, ‘appens.”

Chuckling, Bexy nods. Lazily, her tail sways behind her at the branch on which she sat. “...I’m much more used to people denying their affections in most conversations regarding the subject. ‘Tis a pleasant change.”

Zhav offers another shrug. “...Is what it is.” She repeats, again. “...What ‘bout you? You ever think you’ll... Y’know?” Zhav dances around her words; she had known the subject to be delicate, but hadn’t known to what extent.

“...Perhaps.” Bexy muses. A warm, yet faint smile lingers on her lips. “...After... He left. I had resigned myself to a life of solitude, for many a reason than just this.” Bexy waved a gloved hand in dismissal. “But... Suppose i can see, now. That it need not be so.” She smiles to Zhav again. “Perhaps.”

“Ah?” Zhav grins, and scoots another ilm closer. “Well, y’can’ jus’ leave it at that, now! Y’know ‘bout me, s’only fair. Eye fer’n eye, ‘n all that!”

Bexy gives a reserved glance, lips pursed in some protest that she hadn’t wished to share any more, before they are broken by a sigh.

“His name is Laurent. I... went to see him, afore i came here. I know not why. Not fully. Perhaps, to inform him more personally of my absence. He is a dear friend, and...”

Bexy trails at her words. A friend? Was that truly all they were, now? At the pause, Zhav grins a toothy grin, her pointed canines well on show.

“S’cause y’got a thin’ for ‘em. S’why you went to see him. Ain’t hard t’figure out, Bexy.”

Bexy almost offendedly looks to Zhav, jaw-half dropped. “And how do you come to that conclusion?!”

“Eh, met ‘em once. He’s an Elezen... Duskwight? Wildwood? Ain’ know. Wears fancy clothin’. Your type, aye?” Zhav snorts. Bexy purses her lips in defiance.

“...Suppose. But it is not what draws me to him. Not... Wholly. He is kind. Views his friends much the way i do. It is rare i am matched in loyalty for those dear to me.” Again, she gives a hesitant pause in her words. “...He wounded himself for me, once. Fought beside me.” Slowly her gloved fingertips move to trace her lips. “...Kissed me, before i left. I have had much time to think on it. What it means. And how i should proceed.”

Zhav laughs again. “Proceed by kissin’ ‘em back. Ain’ hard.” She teases. “Seems nice ‘enough. Bit fancy f’my tastes. Seems suitin’ ‘nough t’ya, though.”

Zhav’s words hadn’t at all helped with Bexy’s dilemma. Another pout falls upon her lips much to Zhav’s amusement, Bexy half bristling with the comment. “What would you know of my tastes, anyway?”

“---Y’think we didn’ ‘ear’ve your victims back when you were th’Coeurl? More’n half’ve ‘em were the tall’n pointy sort.” Zhav remarks, half considering taking a rolanberry for herself, and deciding any potential repercussion simply wasn’t worth it. “...Know a lot more’n you think, Bexy. Y’like sweet stuff. Prefer higher places. Fancy clothin’. We had folk keepin’ track.”

Bexy sinks in her shoulders. “...I suppose you did. It would make sense.” She sighs. She wouldn’t deny having this new knowledge had set a knot in her gut. How long had they watched her? How much, exactly, did they know? She keeps her silence, and reaches for the rest of her meal.

“Y’got plenty’ve stories ‘bout you. Mostly used as ways t’discipline unruly kits.” Zhav half-beams. It quickly fades to a bittersweet smile. “Know i told m’own plenty’ve times if she didn’ go t’bed when i said so, th’Coeurl’d come get ‘er. Was a common ‘nough threat. Didn’ eat somethin’? Coeurl. Didn’ wanna wash? Coeurl. Y’get th’picture. ‘Course, y’wouldn’ come. Well, not ‘til now, anyway. Y’wonder why th’kits’re so well behaved when y’here?” She chuckles. Bexy stares on in surprise, and a smile tugs at her lips. It was equal parts worrisome when she had heard such stories of herself, and somewhat amusing for the obedience it beckoned.

“I need wonder no longer.” Bexy responds, giving an amused hum that mulls into contemplation, and curiosity. Slowly, she turns to look to Zhav. “...Your own?” She asks, hesitantly.

“...Aye.” Zhav nods. The shift of her weight on the branch is accompanied by a sigh. “...Finish y’food. I’ll tell y’ all about ‘er.”

Bexy nods, taking up the bowl in her hands, ears flicked to listen, the two speaking until the sun was high in the skies.

[sundove88]

Despicable Me (Sundove88’s Version) Casting

A penguin who delights in all things wicked, supervillain King Dedede hatches a plan to steal the moon. Surrounded by an army of little orange waddle dees and his impenetrable arsenal of weapons and war machines, Dedede makes ready to vanquish all who stand in his way. But nothing in his calculations and groundwork has prepared him for his greatest challenge: three adorable orphan girls who want to make him their dad.

Now that Dedede has forsaken a life of crime to raise Yuri, Ribbon and Adeline, he's trying to figure out how to provide for his new family. As he struggles with his responsibilities as a father, the Anti-Villain League, an organization dedicated to fighting evil, comes calling. The AVL sends Dedede on a mission to capture the perpetrator of a spectacular heist, for who would be better than the world's greatest ex-villain to capture the individual who seeks to usurp his power.

The mischievous Waddle Dees hope that Dedede will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain League fires him. Instead, Dedede decides to remain retired and travel to Freedonia to meet his long-lost twin brother for the first time. The reunited siblings soon find themselves in an uneasy alliance to take down the elusive Binary Bard, a former Astro Knights inventor who seeks revenge against the world.

Evolving from single-celled orange organisms at the dawn of time, Waddle Dees live to serve, but find themselves working for a continual series of unsuccessful masters, from T. Rex to Napoleon. Without a master to grovel for, the Waddle Dees fall into a deep depression. But one Waddle Dee, Morpeko, has a plan; accompanied by his pals Meta Knight and Sword Knight, Morpeko sets forth to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. Their search leads them to Maleficent, the world's first-ever super-villainess.

In the 1970s, young Dedede tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader -- the legendary fighter Jiraiya. When the interview turns disastrous, Dedede and his Waddle Dees go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance -- Jiraiya himself -- and soon discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

King Dedede as Felonius Gru (Kirby)

Kirby as Bob (Kirby)

Chilly as Carl (Kirby)

Morpeko as Kevin (Pokemon)

Meta Knight as Stuart (Kirby)

Sword Knight as Jerry (Kirby)

Waddle Doo as Mel (Kirby)

Bandana Waddle Dee as Dave (Kirby)

Blade Knight as Tim (Kirby)

Kuro The Kosokoso as Himself/Dedede’s Emotional Support (Balan Wonderworld)

Ribbon as Agnes (Kirby)

Adeline as Margo (Kirby)

Yuri Brand as Edith (Balan Wonderworld)

Awoofy as Kyle (Kirby)

Agatha as Marlena Gru (Pokemon)

Escargoon as Dr. Nefario (Kirby)

Giovanni as Robert Gru (Pokemon)

Kai Chisaki as Vector (My Hero Academia)

Scar as Mr. Perkins (The Lion King)

Tatiana as Miss Hattie (No Straight Roads)

Queen Ripple as Lucy Wilde (Kirby)

Asgore as Silas Ramsbottom (Undertale)

Isabeau as Shannon (Madoka Magica)

Selim Bradley as Antonio Perez (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)

Father as Eduardo Perez/El Macho (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)

Maleficent as Scarlet Overkill (Sleeping Beauty)

Hades as Herb Overkill (Hercules)

Mal as herself/Scarlet’s Daughter (Descendants)

Felix as Walter Nelson (Encanto)

Pepa as Madge Nelson (Encanto)

Dolores as Tina Nelson (Encanto)

Camilo as Walter Nelson Jr. (Encanto)

Antonio as Binky Nelson (Encanto)

Various Villains as the Villain Con Attendees

Bowser as Dru Gru (Super Mario)

Bowser Jr. as Himself/Dru’s Adoptive Son (Super Mario)

Binary Bard as Balthazar Bratt (Poptropica)

Holmes as Clive (Poptropica)

Bell Pepper Cookie as Niko (Cookie Run)

Gogoat as Lucky (Pokemon)

And as always; here’s your hint for the next Crossover Casting (It’s Blue Sky):

🤖🔧👨‍🔧

@fleurlna

[mc-apprenticedirectory]

Hello everyone! I would like to say thank you to those who took the time to fill out the survey. The current information gather isn’t much as expected but it is helpful atm to hopefully try and get the other apprentices recognized. So, thank you for that.  For those of you who haven’t, no worries. You’ll still have a chance to take it >> HERE <<.  Now I would like to try read off some of the collected data of the Fan Apprentices and their creators from the first couple of questions of the survey. I’m only listing off people’s favorites, those people have/have not seen, and would like to see more off, deserves more recognition, etc. (everything else will remain private and anonymous). The only condition for yours or anyone else’s apprentice to end up in this list is that they have to mentioned at least once (at least that’s the condition I’m thinking of atm for rn). Just an FYI, neither of these lists are in any particular order.

~~Current Popular Fan Apprentices~~ Moonwort ( @cakiebakie ) Marian ( @cicadagirl ) Halla ( @linaisbluepancake ) Darcy ( @murielswife ) Yomi ( @hachidori-e ) Valarie ( @aaliyah-draws ) Venus ( @smellsliketinycupcakes ) Astoria ( @nelmdraws ) Ajina ( @ajina-apprentice ) Sorael ( @methodicalmadnessv1 ) Ross, Rocco ( @padrooke ) Faigel, Mina ( @pon-ee ) Adrian ( @iranoutofsnarkycomments ) Antares ( @midnightcrows ) Aurelia ( @herukas ) Luchesi ( @konchuu-san ) Belle (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?) Emrys (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?) Laramie (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?) Europa (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?)

~~Had/Have or Have Yet 2 Be Recognized Fan Apprentices~~ Kate ( @gosshawks​ ) Puck ( @prince-of-humbug​ ) << someone added “Puck my boy! You a wonderful doll to see, hear about and draw!” Kass ( @kasstheapprentice​ ) Nisha ( @hopebagelz​ ) Lilliana ( @apprentice-lilliana​ ) << someone added “she’s an adorable little sweetie and the art style is adorable” Crystal ( @cristal-the-apprentice​ ) << someone added “the character is a cutie, her personality is great and the art and design too” Atem ( @feathers-and-peonies​ ) Wren ( @asra-memelord​ ) << someone added “they have such a great detailed background, history and personality” Silas ( @mauvemacabre​ ) << someone added “such an adorable apprentice and great hair too” August ( @usagiboii​ ) << someone mentioned loving their apprentice Kihari ( @niponmirai02​ ) << someone added “she is a really adorable character such a shame her creator doesnt think so :C” Eclipse (unknown?) << someone added “she's fun to interact with, and she's a great character!” Velvet (unknown?) << someone added “she has a dedicated backstory with a family formed, and is friendly to new people interacting with her” Rowan (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?) Kate (unknown?) [ @killswitchkatie​ ??] Alma (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?) Dean (unknown?/not yet listed in directory?)

~~~ And I think this is all I have right now. The list will be updated and reposted overtime as more survey responses come in. I might also think about making a couple tabs or so with lists like this or something similar. Anyways, that’s all for me folks. Have a good rest of the weekend. See you guys later~! 

[ladyseaheart1668]

Endless Summer Book 4 : Daughter of Vaanu (Chapter 30)

Description: Caleb plots his next move while Nicholas Montoya is reunited with his sister.

Tagging: @xo-endlessmayhem-xo ; @princesstopgun : @mysteli @endlesshero1122 ; @whatmcsaid

Note: In this chapter, I want to give special thanks to @endlesshero1122 , who not only gave me a great idea, but invented five characters and blessed me with full permission to use them. One of them, though not yet named, appears in this chapter, and he and the other four will continue to appear in the future.

Chapter 30: Shadowed Voices

Estela

I'm sure my vise-like grip is hurting Quinn's hand, but to her credit and my great relief, she doesn't ask me to loosen it. I don't know if I could just at this moment. The silence in the living room of my mother's apartment is deafening as she and her older brother stare at each other through a computer screen. I tremble violently as I watch my mother's eyes start to shimmer, until finally, she takes a shuddering breath and the tears spill over.

“...Nicholas...? Say something...”

“Livita...” My Tio's voice cracks with emotion. “...Livita, where have you been...?”

“Well...for the last five years, I have been in a fugue state in a mental hospital in Florida. Before that is...harder to explain. But I want you to know, Nicholas, because I don't want you to believe even for a moment that I could have left you or Estela without me by choice.”

“I could never...”

“...What I want to tell you is sensitive information, Nicholas. As sensitive as any information you have ever dealt in. ...It was enough to get me killed once, and I would rather tell you in person. Estela and I can be in San Trobida in about six hours.”

“Yes...Dios mio...of course...but...Livita...” Tio gulps audibly. “Livita, are you real? I...surely must be dreaming...”

“In six hours, I will be in San Trobida with my daughter, and you will see that I am real. ...I love you, Nicholas.”

A sob escapes him. “Livita...I love you...I love you, my sister...please come home...”

Caleb

One thing I can say for Gigi's operation is that it pays well. It's part of how she keeps her squatters loyal. She runs her gang like the mafia, or a Golden Age pirate crew, where all the treasure is divided equally, after dues are collected for the maintaining of the abandoned houses where she's set up. I have enough in my pocket to hole up in a cheap motel for a couple days and eat cheap, greasy food for a few meals. I also get a couple decent showers out of the deal while I wrestle with Tahira's offer.

I could just walk away. She says she doesn't think I'm going to go crazy or get sick from exposure to the Prism Crystal, which is really all that I was worried about. ...But I just keep hearing her voice in my head saying it's bigger than Silas Prescott. It's bigger than Northbridge. It's bigger than all of us.

Fuck me, I shouldn't care. I'm not a hero. I don't care about the rest of the world. Just myself and my little corner of it. …But I can't deny that the whole world includes my own little corner of it, much as I would like to pretend otherwise. Besides, I'm not lacking in curiosity.

Still...having to earn Talos' trust does give the whole deal the bitter taste of impossibility. Maybe I should save myself the frustration and just walk away. The only thing that really stops me is knowing that if I do, I won't have another chance. Talos and Minuet are formidable enough on their own, but with Dragonness back on their side...well, I'm an anarchist, but I'm not suicidal. Plus, Dragonness is just...so...fuck me, she's intriguing. As Dragonness, as Tahira...there's something compelling about her. I don't know, but it makes me believe that she isn't a complete tool of the system. That maybe there's hope for her or something. There's hope with her. …Fuck me, I haven't believed in another human being in twenty years. So what the fuck is happening to me?

I buy a burrito, a can of generic beer, and a pack of Camels in a convenience store in Bayside. The cashier is a young, dark-haired guy who looks about sixteen, and who needs his grizzled biker manager to ring up the beer and smokes. I wander outside and lean against the wall of the building while I eat the burrito and guzzle the beer. I toss the empties in the trash and pull a cigarette from the pack. I snap my fingers to summon a small flame and light it. I take a drag and let the carcinogenic smoke fill my lungs.

The bell on the door dings as the teenage cashier slips outside, huddled up in a ratty windbreaker that might have been lime green once. He glances over at me.

“Hey, mister? Can you spare five bucks?”

I exhale a cloud of smoke, slipping him a sidelong glance. “You're the one with a job, kid.”

He grins ruefully. “I mostly don't spend my paycheck on myself. I support four kids and a dog on minimum wage. I just need a few bucks so I can get lunch. Otherwise, I don't eat until dinner.”

I'd say he's laying it on thick, but the hurried, tired way he explains it makes me think he gives this spiel a lot, and is in fact growing pretty tired of it. Still...

“Not a very convincing story, kid. Not unless you got some kind of super sperm and you knocked up a chick with quadruplets, only to have her abandon you with the kids and the dog.”

He sighs, rolling his eyes. “They're not my kids, they're my brother and three cousins. Can you spare a few bucks or not?”

I frown, taking a good look at the kid for the first time. Some kinda South Asian ancestry in him, I think. He's kinda scrawny and scruffy, like a stray animal. That windbreaker might as well be tissue paper in the biting early November chill. He says he isn't spending his paycheck on himself, and it kinda looks like no one else is, either.

“You support them? How old are you, anyway?”

His gaze suddenly gets hard. “Older than I look.”

“Yeah, but four kids...? No parents...? I mean, that's just asking for a visit from child services.” As I look of panic crosses his face, I pull a five dollar bill out of my pocket and hold it out to him. “Relax. I'm not looking to add you to the system. Though...If I were you, I'd be more careful who I tell about looking after four kids.”

A blush creeps to the surface of his tawny cheeks as he snatches the money from my hand, muttering his thanks. I watch him rush back into the store, my eyes lingering for a moment on the empty space where he was. Then, I shake my head to dislodge the vague concern that's creeping in on the edges of my thoughts. A bunch of kids trying to escape the foster system isn't a priority right now. Figuring out how to get Talos to trust me is the priority. Learning about what I am is the priority. I take a last drag on my cigarette and toss it to the ground to grind the butt under my heel.

...Talos isn't gonna be convinced if I just round up criminals and turn them over to the DA. No one is going to be convinced that way. ...But if I can figure out on my own what's so much fucking bigger than all of us, maybe I can figure out a way to help the superhero squad avert the apocolypse. And on that score, I think I know where to start.

...Everything begins with La Huerta.

Nicholas Montoya

It is nearly midnight by the time I reach the airport, where a charter flight carrying my niece and my little sister is supposed to be landing. I am terrified. I am terrified that I was dreaming Estela's call, my little sister's face beside her daughter. Even when I see her coming down the steps out of the plane, I and still sure that I am going to wake up any moment and she'll be gone again. She looks...barely altered from the last time I saw her. I have aged eleven years, and she has barely aged a day. I approach her cautiously, as if a sudden movement might cause her to vanish like a frightened deer. I don't speak as I place my hands on her shoulders, staring at her face, trying to memorize every detail. Finally, she smiles.

“...I'm real, Nicholas.” She wraps her arms around my neck, and I have the presence of mind to embrace her back. That's the moment when I realize that Olivia and Estela have not come alone. Over Olivia's shoulder, I can see that there is a red-haired young woman standing close to Estela. Apparently noticing where my gaze has landed, Estela clears her throat.

“Tio, this is my friend, Quinn. She was on La Huerta with me.”

So much said in so few words. This young woman was on La Huerta, where I thought my sister had died. Where for six months, I was sure my niece had died, too. Quinn was there. She was one of Rourke's prisoners. She knows same secrets Estela knows. I pull back, looking at my sister.

“...Let's go home. I want to know everything that you are willing to tell me.”

“And we would like for you to know everything.”

* * *

As the three women lay out the facts for me over coffee at our kitchen table, I realize very quickly that “everything” is...quite a lot. Quite a lot that I have never imagined possible. Time travel. Other dimensions. Alien beings from another world, and a conspiracy to use those aliens to achieve untold power.

“...Alodia said that ultimately, Rourke wanted to use her power to build himself an empire,” Estela concludes grimly. “It seems he has not entirely lost sight of that ambition.”

I am quiet for a moment, considering all I have heard.

“...I am honored that you trust me with this information.”

“Of course we trust you, Tio. Besides, you have experience with tyrants and dictators. We may end up needing your help.”

“Right now, though, Rourke is contained,” I point out.

“I know. ...But no prison is escape-proof. And Rourke is a slippery demon.”

“I believe your caution is wise,” I agree. “But right now, perhaps what we should think about is your mother...” I look up at my sister, “...and what she wants.”

“Right now,” Olivia replies, “What I want is to be with my family.”

Raj

With the camera crew following behind me, I stroll through Campagna Amica in Rome, carefully choosing ingredients for an authentic Italian pasta carbonara. I talk as I go, commenting on each ingredient, making sure I explain every choice. Lila follows well behind the camera, watching me curiously, silent until I've paid and headed back to the car with my supplies. When the cameras are off and we've climbed into the backseat, she looks over at me with fascination.

“...So...is this what you do for a living now?”

I grin. “Pretty much. Travel the world, cook delicious food, meet fans...it's a pretty sweet life.”

“...And Diego is a professor, Sean is a professional football player, Michelle is a doctor, Quinn is healthy and running a charity...”

“Yeah. We're all doing really well.” I hesitate a moment, before speaking again, but I decide to add, “Even Jake, now that he has Alodia back. He was...kind of touch-and-go for awhile after Lundgren's trial.”

“Raj...did he really put her in a stasis tube? Is that really where you found her? ...Or was it true what Rourke said about her? That she's one of the crystal people? That she was part of the Island's Heart?”

Again, I hesitate, but Lila's in this as much as any of us. And even if she turns on us, it's not like Rourke doesn't already know what Alodia's origins are.

“It's the latter. The stasis tube was the story we told to explain her return. The long and short of it is that she gave up her own existence to restore the world without turning it over to Rourke. But thanks to the Prism Crystal, she was able to come back, and a past was written for her. ...We lost five years with her, but now we've got her back for the rest of her life. And she's got a home and a family.”

Lila is quiet for a very long time. Finally, she says, “...Once I thought Rourke could give me back my home and my family.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “...You lost them when you were little, right? A car accident?”

She frowns slightly. “...How did you...?”

“Alodia put together a few...puzzle pieces, so to speak. Some notes of Rourke's or something, plus a little of her crystal alien psychicness. She only told us recently, though. There was a lot she kept hidden on the island.”

“...Oh.” She goes quiet again for another long moment. “...I thought he could bring them back. And...maybe he could have. ...Clearly, she couldn't. ...Even if she could bring me back, she couldn't bring my family...”

“No...I think...she didn't have a lot of control over who she brought back, or she wouldn't have brought back Lundgren.”

“But she came back. She came back, and now she has a past and a home and a family. ...Just what Mr. Rourke was promising her. ...Except that he can't give me my home and my family anymore.”

I feel something cold seeping into my veins at the way she's talking. I carefully take hold of her hand, folding it between my palms. She glances at me with surprise, and I capture her gaze, holding it firmly.

“Lila, don't start thinking that way. ...The past and the family she has now...they aren't some sunny ideal. She's an orphan, too. She was adopted by an aunt and uncle who didn't really want her, and mostly raised by a nanny. Diego was the only person who unconditionally loved her all her life. Diego, and then the rest of us. ...She needs us, Lila, as much as we need her.”

Lila bites her lip, a guilty blush creeping into her cheeks. “...I...don't mean to sound...petty. She deserves what she has. ...She certainly deserves her family more than I deserve mine.”

I squeeze her hand. “...Family isn't really something you deserve. Like I said, the family she was given was hardly ideal. But the eleven of us are her family, too. ...And we can all be your family if you let us, Lila. The whole reason you're in Rome with me right now is so that we can protect you from someone who only wants to use you.”

“...I...you're right.” Her breath shakes as she exhales. “...Thank you, Raj. I needed to hear that.”

“Hey, no problem. Come on, we're almost at the studio. You can help me make the carbonara.”

Alodia

Jake has been clingy with me since the revelation that there is an Arachnid mook alive somewhere on the east coast. I can't really blame him. Of course, we're all concerned by the news, but it's different for him. I know what nightmares this has to be bringing up for him, what memories of being hunted in Kharzistan are surely lurking at the edges of his mind. And those are just the nightmares I didn't live through with him. I expect there are memories from La Huerta crowding in there as well, of Lundgren intercepting us in the mountains, being pursued by Fiddler and Tetra, Mike's dull, lifeless gaze under the influence of mind control...the fireball that consumed him and Lundgren in one terrible moment...the moment my hand slipped on the landing skid of the doomed chopper and sent me hurtling into the sea below...

… He's afraid for himself. Of course he is. ...But he is more afraid for me. For Mike. For our baby. For Diego, and Varyyn, and any Catalyst who gets caught in the crossfire. All in all, it adds up to the same thing. My husband is frightened, and there is little I can do to reassure him. For now, I can only let him cling to me whenever possible, check in with him throughout the day, and let him drive me to the studio and pick me up on Saturdays.

As my pregnancy advances, I have lightened my personal classload, but I can still teach if I keep the jumping to a minimum. I'm about nineteen weeks gone. Now that my bulge is starting to really look like a baby bump and not just some extra weight, I have opted today to start telling my students that I am expecting. I am pleased to find that the news perks up my twelve- and thirteen-year-old advanced ballet students, who at ten-thirty on a Saturday morning are typically still fighting off sleep and usually don't really wake up until halfway through the barre exercises. Once the initial excitement fades, though, they're all business.

One student does approach me as I sit on a bench just outside the studio with a bag of trail mix after class. She hesitates a moment, but I smile and pat the bench next to me.

Her name is Divya Gupta, and she's quickly become one of my favorite students. Extremely talented, but too friendly to make enemies for it, bright and curious. Not to mention that her parents are just two of the kindest people I have ever met. She started at the studio as a four-year-old shortly after I left for Hartfeld, and apparently her parents are well-known for helping out with costumes and shows when the studio needs a few extra hands.

Divya sits down next to me, placing her bag on the ground beside the bench. Over her black leotard and pink tights, she's pulled a pair of denim shorts and a sunset-colored sweatjacket with the studio logo on the back. The jacket hangs open and the convertible feet of her tights have been rolled up to her ankles to accommodate a pair of flip-flops.

“Aren't your toes cold?” I ask her. “I know we're in California, but it's still November.”

“Yeah, but we're in California,” she retorts, grinning. I chuckle.

“Fair enough. Maybe I'm just getting cold easier because of the baby.”

Divya leans over to eye my belly. “You don't look very big yet.”

“Not yet, but I will definitely get bigger.”

“...Are you married, Miss Alodia?”

“Yes, I am. Well, sort of. My husband and I got married in a ceremony overseas, but it wasn't really official. But we still think of ourselves as married.”

“Is he the one who dropped you off this morning? I saw you get out of the car when you got here because I got here at the same time. There was a man driving.”

I nod. “Yeah, that was Jake. He doesn't work today, so he decided to be nice and drive me.”

“That's a cool name. ...He looked cute, too, but I couldn't really see him very well.”

I grin. “He is cute. Very cute.”

“What does he do for a job?”

“He works for my uncle now, but he used to be a pilot in the navy.”

The sigh she gives is unmistakably dreamy and I can't help grinning a little. “That's soooo cool. How did you meet?”

For a moment, I'm a little thrown by the question. People knowing my name and Jake's is something I've just learned to get used to in the months since I've been back. The disappearance of eleven college students was international news, as was their return six months later with one of them missing. As was, for that matter, the trial of the two former navy pilots who were eventually cleared of three-year-old treason charges. But I suppose the media hasn't exactly been rigorous about keeping up with us. And at her age, I guess it isn't unlikely that Divya wouldn't have much interest in following the news to begin with.

“He was the pilot when my friends and I took a trip to the Caribbean five years ago. He sort of got stuck there with us.”

“In the Caribbean? That's soooo romantic...” She looks up at the clear blue sky. “...I can't wait until I'm in high school next year. Right now I'm in eighth grade, and all the boys at my school are my age, or they're younger. I like boys who are older than me, because they're more mature. When I was in sixth grade, all the eighth grade boys seemed so grown up. But now that I'm in eighth grade...”

“So are all the immature boys who were sixth graders with you?”

“Exactly,” she sighs.

“Well...eventually the boys your age will catch up to you in maturity.”

“Is Jake your age?”

“Well...no,” I admit. “He's five years older than me. But some of my best friends are guys my age, and they're pretty mature. Well...most of them. In their own way. ...Come to think of it, maybe guys just don't mature.”

Divya laughs, and so do I, but the truth is that I wouldn't change any of my friends for anything. I hope Diego never stops making pop culture references. I hope Jake and Mike never stop nicknaming. I hope Craig and Raj always find ways to startle me with their crazy ideas. I hope Aleister is always just a little bit pompous and Sean is always just a little overprotective. As long as they don't stop learning, or slip back into harmful patterns, I hope they never lose those little quirks that I love about them.

Divya sits up abruptly. “Oh! I see my dad coming. I'll see you next class, Miss Alodia!”

She grabs her bag and all but skips off to meet her dad as he pulls up at the curb, waving to me as she goes. I wave back, then gather my energy to return to the studio. I have one more class before I can take a long break for a proper meal, and then one more class in the afternoon.

My fifteen-year-old jazz/hip-hop students don't react to my news with much more than brief smiles. They are a dedicated group with very little time for much outside of dance. I confess that they often exhaust me with their dedication, but a good meal restores my energy, and by the time I get back, the four-year-old ballet students are starting to stream into the studio. At this studio, proper class attire is demanded of even the youngest students. The girls all wear tiny black leotards and pink tights with pink slippers of leather or canvas, and the boys come in fitted black shorts and white tops, with white or black shoes. Most of the girls also like to dress up their outfits with sheer ballet skirts and ribbons for their hair. When I get back to the studio, most of the parents have just about finished getting their little ones dressed and securing long hair off their faces. I stand at the dressing room door and clap my hands.

“Okay, is everyone all set? Come on out and let's sit in a circle in butterfly position. If you brought a doll for the dolly dance, let mommy or daddy hold onto it for now, okay?”

Fifteen little dancers rush less-than-gracefully out onto the dance floor, plopping down in a lopsided circle and obediently arranging their legs in a butterfly position, grasping their ankles. They leave a space for me at the head of the circle, and I accept it.

“Okay, everyone, before we start, I have an announcement to make: I am going to have a baby.” A chorus of excited gasps greets my news. “In the next few months, my tummy is going to get big and round, and I'm going to be eating a lot of extra snacks to help the baby grow before it's ready to be born. Also, after the baby is born, I will need to take some time off to rest, so Miss Vikki will be teaching everyone for awhile. You all know who Miss Vikki is, right?”

“Yeeeees,” everyone choruses.

“Good. Miss Vikki was my ballet teacher back when I was five years old, too, and I learned everything I know from her, so you'll all be in good hands.”

Martin Becskei puts up his hand, but doesn't wait for permission to speak before blurting out, “Miss Alodia, my mom told me where babies come from! If you're gonna have a baby, that means you made sex with a boy!”

Chloe Baudin gasps and swats Martin's shoulder. “Martin! That's a bad word!”

“No, it isn't! It's what happens when you're a grown up and you're in love with someone!”

I bite my cheek to keep from laughing. A few of the parents watching from the benches in the back aren't holding back. Martin's mother is actively beaming, apparently oblivious to the mortified looks from a couple of the more conservative parents in the room.

“Okay, Chloe, no hitting,” I say, my voice strained with the effort of holding back giggles. “Martin, your mom is very smart.”

“Miss Alodia?” Megan Radcliff calls. “Is it a girl baby or a boy baby?”

“I don't know yet, Megan. Right now the baby is too small to tell, but in a few weeks, I'll go to the doctor and have a picture taken of the baby inside me, and they should be able to tell me then.”

“When the baby is born, will you bring it to show us?”

“Of course, Ji-hu. Once the baby is strong enough, I promise I'll bring them in so they can meet everyone. But that's going to be a long time from now. For now, let's get started by warming up our bodies. Everyone shake out your hands and let's warm up our little ballerinas.”

I lead them in shaking out their wrists and fingers, then hold up my hand with my palm out and my fingers spread. In unison, we name the five ballerinas on each hand, just as I was taught when I was five years old: the thumb is “Daddy Ballerina”; the pointer finger is “Mommy Ballerina”; middle finger, “Skinny Ballerina”; ring finger, “Princess Ballerina”; and at the end of the line is “Baby Ballerina”.

I lead them through the most basic warm-ups and barre exercises, never throwing enough at them to overwhelm them. At their age, they don't need to worry about knowing the proper French names for each step. For now, it's enough to do “tippy-toe turns” and “ballet leaps.” All I'm worried about now is that their bodies get used to moving. Proper technique will come later. I do lead them through the five positions for the feet and arms, though. That's basic enough to be necessary even at their age. For the next hour, I get lost in the magic of dancing with these children, tapping on cheap tamborines while we skip in circles, and watching them hop over a line of old discarded ballet slippers that I keep in a box and lay out on the middle of the floor for them. Just before the Dolly Dance, I notice Jake slipping into the studio. Quite unexpectedly, I find myself struck hy a sudden wave of shyness; a self-consciousness that swells in me for a moment as I instruct the students to collect the dolls and stuffed animals they've brought as props. I manage to swallow it as I start the music.

I keep a doll from my own personal collection on hand so that I can participate; Emma, a handmade rag doll with yellow yarn hair, wearing a blue paisley dress and a lace pinafore. I retrieve it and try not to look over at Jake as I call out directions to my students. We all take on the role of parents as we rock and kiss and admire our “babies.” But then we place our babies under the barre and pretend we can't find them. We plié right and left, shifting our weight and holding our hands over our eyes as if searching the horizon for what is right in front of us. We pretend to cry in despair at our inability to see our babies staring patiently at us from beneath the barre. We hop from first position to second as we weep, “Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my!” and scrub at our eyes theatrically. Then, lo and behold, the clouds lift as suddenly we realize where our babies are and we run to gather them in our arms. We kiss our babies. We hug our babies. We rock them, chanting “Rock-a-bye Baby,” and gently twirling after each line. As the music fades, I have to push past a lump in my throat as I call out to the dancers to give their babies back to their parents and come line up in the center of the room again. It takes a little wrangling, as usual.

“Everyone, remember our ballet manners?” I call, my voice still hoarse with suppressed emotion. “It's time to say thank you to everyone for dancing with us and watching today!”

The class reluctantly gathers at the center of the room and settles down as I select the révérence track, and a slow, gentle piano piece trickles out from the speakers. I lead my students through a final port de bras, and tippy-toe turn. As I end facing them, I lead them to bow or curtsey to me, then to turn and face their parents at the back and acknowledge them as well. Then, on impulse, I hurry to the door and take Jake by the hand, leading him into the room. His eyes widen slightly.

“...What are you doing?” he whispers.

I grin, turning to face my class. “Everyone, this is Miss Alodia's husband, Jake. He came to watch the Dolly Dance, so everyone bow or curtsey to him, too.” My students do as I say, giggling a little, and Jake applauds obligingly. I can't help chuckling. “And Mister Jake even knows his ballet manners! Everyone, let's clap to say thank you for a good class today!”

The students clap, and I finally dismiss them. Jake turns to me, lacing his fingers together at the small of my back, and leaning in to plant a kiss on my mouth.

“I hope it's not bad ballet manners to kiss the teacher,” he murmurs.

“Not after class,” I reply. “But we should still save it for after the kids and parents are gone. They might have questions or something.”

“Questions about where babies come from?”

I laugh. “No, apparently, they know that already. I was talking ballet-related questions.”

“Very well then, Princess. Go see to your subjects.”

It doesn't take too long for the students and their parents to clear out. Most of them are hungry and tired and ready to go to dinner. I'm starting to feel it myself, honestly. I'm starting to feel a lot of things. As I close down the studio, I suddenly realize that the knot of tears in my throat has dissolved, and I've started crying. Jake winds an arm around my shoulders, drawing me back into his arms.

“You okay? Is something wrong, or is this a baby thing?”

I laugh weakly, clutching him and resting my head on his chest. “A baby thing, a hungry thing...it's a thing. ...That stupid Dolly Dance got to me. Especially when I saw you watching.”

“Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.”

“It's not your fault. It was just...with this kid inside me, I was dancing out a story about losing my baby...”

“...Except the baby was right in front of you,” Jake points out. “And you found her again two minutes later.”

“I know. I didn't say I was being rational.”

I hear him exhale a short breath of laughter, and he kisses the top of my head. “I get it. I know I've been noticing dads and kids a lot more recently. Just today, I saw two men with their little two-year-old daughter in the grocery store and just couldn't stop watching them. I must have given the wrong impression because one of them finally turned to me and said very loudly, 'Yeah, we're married, and this is our daughter!'”

I giggle through my tears. “And did you tell him you were an equal-opportunity fornicator before you were married?”

“Well, no. There was a child present. I just said I was sorry for staring, but my wife and I were expecting our first and I was feeling dad-jitters.” He kisses the top of my head again. “We ended up having a very pleasant conversation. Anyway, I think the almost-parent jitters have to be ten times as bad when you've got pregnancy hormones coursing through your veins.”

I sigh a little, nuzzling his shoulder. “...Pregnancy hormones might make mine stronger than yours, but yours are stronger than the average parent's, too. ...I think it's all going to be harder for the two of us. ...Just think of everything you and I have gone through to even get to the point where we're standing here together with me growing a baby inside me...”

He tightens his grip. “...I never stop thinking about it, Alodia. ...I never stop thinking about T'kal nearly shredding you the first time we met him. Or looking down while I dangled over a cliff and seeing you under me. Or holding you while you cried for your best friend, knowing I couldn't say or do anything that would make it better. I remember how it much it killed me to see you in pain. I remember being terrified that if I didn't go with him, Lundgren would try to hurt you to get to me. ...Waking up when you cried out in your sleep because you were watching us die and couldn't bring yourself to say anything about it. Watching you almost going over a waterfall...watching you fall out of a chopper...finding you on the beach and realizing you weren't breathing...watching you disappear...”

“...I never stop thinking about it, either. ...Just in that last loop alone...when we snuck into MASADA and I saw Lundgren with your throat in his fist...Sean had to hold me back. Remind me that I was still dressed like an Arachnid. ...Every time one of them showed up, you got hurt. Physically or emotionally. ...You were lying in my arms, coughing blood and crying over Mike...and I couldn't make it better anymore than you could when Diego was missing. All I could do was hold you and make promises I didn't know if I could keep...”

He's started to sway with me now. “...But I also remember dancing like this on New Year's Eve. I think about that all the time, too.”

“...I think about that, too. ...I think about sitting beside the river with you...watching the sunset...windsurfing together...”

“Winning masks in quuk'tanoi...ice skating in the mountains...”

“...Our wedding...our honeymoon...the first time you called me Princess...” I pull back to look up at him. “...I meant it when I said you gave me a lifetime's worth of love in a matter of weeks. ...But don't imagine for a moment that I didn't always want more.”

“I never do, Princess.” He bends to kiss me gently, just tasting my mouth, lingering there for a moment. I savor the sensation, but then an aching quiver deep in my belly makes me pull back with a gasp. He looks up, concerned. “What is it? Are you okay?”

“I'm starving!” I groan. “I feel like my stomach's going to start dissolving itself if I don't get food soon.”

He laughs. “Fair enough. Watcha in the mood for?”

“Potatoes,” I answer promptly. “Don't care how they're prepared, as long as they're loaded with carbs and starch. Potatoes and pickles, and a garden salad with spinach leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers, bacon bits, blue cheese...”

“Wait, what? You hate blue cheese.”

“I know! It smells like feet! But apparently, River likes that in food, because I want it all over my salad. ...That and peanut butter.”

“...Our kid has a weird appetite. Also, cucumbers and pickles are the same thing, just one is salty.”

“I need both the salty and the unsalty.”

He snorts, winding an arm around my waist and bending to nuzzle my neck. “Let's see what we can rustle up.”

Diego

There is something in the air in Laguna Beach tonight. I'm not sure what it is, but it's made my little nuclear family of five feel giddy and affectionate. Maybe it's all of Allie's baby hormones permeating the air. When she and Jake got home an hour ago, the trunk of her car was loaded with a bizzare mix of groceries that she explained dismissively as being the result of cravings. Of course, Jake, Varyyn, Mike, and I all forbid her from trying to carry any of the bags in herself and loaded our arms up with them. Stubborn wench that she is, Allie defiantly grabbed one of the lighter bags and marched into the house, sticking her tongue out at us as she went. Looking at the bags on the counter, somehow, the four men in the room got the same thought in our heads that we were going to make dinner. Allie looked at us skeptically when we suggested it, but as I pointed out, even if none of us are Raj, we can still follow a recipe. So, she obligingly excused herself from the kitchen with a bag of potato skins, a jar of peanut butter, and a carton of orange juice, and settled in the rec room to watch TV.

Now, we're all gathered around the table on the deck, looking out over the Pacific as the sun goes down over the water, nibbling at the remains of a satisfying meal of potato soup, garlic bread, salad, and fresh fruit. Allie, who drenched her salad in Italian dressing and peanut butter, uses a thin slice of garlic bread to soak up the remaining puddle, sprinkling pieces of blue cheese on top before stuffing the abomination into her mouth. She grins as she notices us watching her with a mix of horror and fascination.  

“I know, I know,” she says around the mouthful. “When I'm back to normal, I'm going to realize just how disgusting these combinations are.”

“My mom says that whatever a woman craves most while pregnant usually ends up being the kid's favorite food,” Jake remarks. “Kinda makes sense to me. My mom hates seafood, but she says she had the worst cravings for it while she was pregnant with me, and I could basically live off anything that comes from the ocean.”

“Guess that means River's going to be a fiend for peanut butter,” I quip. “Seriously, how many jars of the stuff have you gone through this week?”

“At least one-and-a-half of the family size,” she admits. “I just hope they don't end up with peanut allergies. ...But anyway, how was everyone's day?”

Most of us were off today, but I spent the morning working on a lesson plan before Varyyn and I went for a little picnic on the beach. Mike applied to a few jobs in the area, and thinks he might have secured something for the holiday season at a warehouse. Meanwhile, Jake was making travel arrangements for himself and Allie for Thanksgiving.

“You also snuck in to watch the end of my last class,” Allie reminds him. “Got there just in time for the Dolly Dance.”

“Yes, I did, and it was too fucking adorable. All those little rugrats bouncing and tippy-toeing with a bunch of dolls and stuffed animals was cute enough, but add in my gorgeous wife leading them?” He dramatically clutches his chest. “My heart almost couldn't take it.”

“Wait...the Dolly Dance?” I feel my face scrunch as I search my memory. “That sounds really familiar...”

“Possibly because it's the same Dolly Dance that I did when I was four years old, and your mom was always the one driving me to dance classes, which meant you were usually dragged along, too.”

“Right! And I remember once your teacher let me join in!”

Varyyn turns to raise an eyebrow at me. “Did you dance, Diego?”

“Well, not like Allie, of course. My parents could never afford classes...and I'm not sure they would have wanted me to dance if they could...”

The mood is temporarily dampened, but quickly lifted again when Varyyn takes my hand. I turn to smile at him and notice his golden eyes dancing.

“...Dance with me, my darling.”

“Right now?”

He stands to take my other hand and pulls me to my feet, drawing me against his broad chest. “You are a beautiful dancer, my love. You have been as long as I have known you.” He starts to sway with me, and I lean into his embrace.

“Well, I am as long as I have your lead.”

He nuzzles my neck. “No...you are beautiful and graceful all on your own.” He winds his arm around my waist and lifts my hand into a waltz position, spinning me slowly across the deck.

“Careful, you two!” Mike calls. “Don't fall.”

I pull back and lock eyes with Varyyn. “We won't fall. He will never let me fall.”

“Never,” he agrees, not taking his eyes off my face. “You are always safe in my arms.”

I hear Allie mock-groan. “Well, we might as well all get up and leave. Those two are going to forget that there's anyone else here in like, two seconds.”

None of them move, though. She's right, but none of them move. The evening is pleasant, and the temperature hasn't dropped yet. It will after the sun's been down for awhile, but right now it's still warm. And I'll be warm awhile longer, in Varyyn's arms. And yes, the rest of the world does fade away when I'm looking into his golden eyes. Even after five years, there are moments when I cannot believe how in love I am with him. Or how much he loves me back. I can hardly believe how lucky I am to be living this moment, to be a part of this little nuclear family. My husband, my best friend and her husband, her husband's best friend, and in six months or so, my little godchild...

In the next moment, several things seem to happen at once. For the life of me, I'm not sure which happens first, whether I see the change in Varyyn's expression or hear Jake's voice asking, “You okay, Princess?”

I look sharply at Allie, who has brought a hand to her forehead. In the waning light, I can see that her skin has taken on an ashen cast. I break my embrace to step closer to the table, but I keep one hand in Varyyn's.

“I'm fine,” Allie mumbles. “Just...feeling a little lightheaded. I...think I'm gonna go inside and get horizontal for a moment.”

She starts to stand, but it's clear she's not feeling steady on her feet. Jake moves quickly to brace her, and she winds her arms around his neck, letting her head drop onto his shoulder. Her breath shudders audibly as she struggles to keep it slow and steady. Jake strokes her hair, looking at the rest of us with alarm in his eyes.

“Should we call the doctor?”

“I'm sure it's nothing,” Allie replies weakly. “Vertigo is common in pregnancy. They told me as much.” After a moment, she lifts her head to smile at him, still looking peaky. He frowns critically at her, studying her face. Finally, he pulls back enough to turn her toward the house, taking her gently by the arm to steady her.

“...I'm gonna call Michelle as soon as we've got you inside. Get her advice.”

“Let me help you with her.” Mike gets up to take her other arm. I start to follow them inside, but Varyyn tightens his grip on my hand, holding my back. I turn toward him. My concern immediately deepens at the look on his face.

“Varyyn? Sweetie, what is it?”

“...She was seeing something,” he murmurs in Vaanti.

“What? What do you mean?”

“A vision. She showed it to me. There was...a figure in shadow. Someone familiar to her.”

I am still for a moment, trying to process this. “...Familiar to her...I don't think there's anyone familiar to her who wouldn't be familiar to me...unless...it's someone we knew in another time loop that I don't remember...”

“I don't know if you know this person. ...But the figure was familiar to me, too.”

“Do you think this...vision has anything to do with her getting dizzy?”

Varyyn shrugs. “I don't know enough about child-carrying to guess.”

I step forward to cup his cheek and press my lips to his—both because I want to kiss him, and because I need a moment to gather my thoughts.

“Okay. Let's not get carried away here. Let's not say anything unless she does, okay? Jake's jumpy enough with the news of that Arachnid mook, and with Allie being pregnant. If she doesn't know who the figure is yet and neither do you, there's no telling whether they're actually significant. I mean...it might be Yvonne. Or Malatesta, or Kele. One of those people who went back to their own times after the timelines reset.”

Varyyn exhales slowly and nods. “You are right, my darling. Of course. There is no reason to get upset.” He kisses my forehead. “...You have been a voice of reason around here of late, do you know that?”

I sigh a little, raising myself to kiss his throat. “It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. ...But I guess I've grown up a lot from the kid I was when you first met me, huh?”

“We both have, my own sweet love. But you in particular have grown so strong.”

I feel heat rising to my cheeks at the praise, but I can't help smiling. “...Let's go inside, sweetheart. It's getting cold. And I do want to check on Allie.”

Allie is lying on the couch when we get inside, her phone on speaker beside her head, talking to Michelle. After a series of questions, Michelle concludes that there is probably no cause for alarm. At this point in her pregnancy, Allie is probably getting dizzy because the growing uterus is pressing on her nerves. But Michelle does insist that she make an appointment to see her doctor in the next few days, and Allie promises she will.

She seems to feel better after a few more minutes of rest. She doesn't mention the vision of the shadowy figure. And if she and Varyyn mind-talk about it, they don't say anything to the rest of us.

Silas Prescott

The call comes well after the night nurse has left, from a number that comes up on my phone as Unknown. I was expecting this, and I answer.

“This is Silas Prescott.”

The voice that answers is rough and masculine, pitched low, with a cadence that makes me think of the storytellers of the far away ancient tribes that Helena used to study with such wonder.

“Silas Prescott,” the voice murmurs. “A mutual friend has asked me to speak with you. Listen, and I will tell you the story of the Endless.”

[thathalloweengal]

Christmas Eve at Wayne Manor (fanfic)

Bruce Wayne threw another log on the fire, it crackled angrily at him but its warmth soothed his weary bones. It was Christmas Eve and the newly renovated Wayne Manor had been decorated thoroughly, bright red and gold tinsel was draped from the oak staircase, a massive fern tree stood tall in the lounge and hundreds of tiny multicolored lights were hanging everywhere. The coffee table even had freshly baked cookies on it, still warm from the oven and spreading the smell of cinnamon throughout the house.

Bruce had one hell of a night, some idiot with powers called Gentleman Ghost decided to hold Mayor Grange and some city council members to ransom. When Bruce got the call it seemed like a cake walk but he didn't expect some damn councilman to be in on it. One maniac in a pig mask, two stab wounds and a pair of bruised ribs later, Bruce felt far older than he was. Ten years ago he would have been ready for them. The two newcomers to Gotham would have been taken down by what onlookers would only be able to describe as some kind of Bat demon, instead of that fifty year old playing dress up with kevlar.

"A dollar for your thoughts, Master Wayne?"

Not for the first time in his career, Alfred Pennyworth cut through Bruce's self criticism.

"Maybe when I was a kid, my thoughts are a little more expensive now"

"Damn inflation rates" Alfred sighed, sitting down in a nearby recliner and nursing a glass of what was probably cognac

"The guests should be arriving shortly" Alfred said after a moment

"Yeah they should be, you did a great job with all this by the way" Bruce nodded at the decorations and the tree

"Thank you sir, between being tactical support and stitching up near fatal wounds, I too believe that my calling lies in holiday planning"

"You didn't do it, did you?"

"Unfortunately I did not have the time but Mr. Allen thankfully stepped into my shoes"

"That kid's got a lot of heart" Bruce smiled

"Makes one remember brighter Christmases, doesn't it? I just wish he'd stop calling me Elfred"

"I always wanted you to have an irritating nickname" Bruce giggled

"Well bully for you sir, I suppose you are absolutely elated with Master Allen's choice for you?"

The look of confusion on Bruce's face prompted Alfred's reply "Bat Dad"

Bruce grimaced on the outside but deep down kept a slight warm feeling of contentment to himself, it had been a long time since anyone thought of him as a father figure.

"Any luck finding Curry?" Bruce asked

"Won't answer any communications but satellites have pinpointed him in a large stretch of ocean, near where the legendary city of Atlantis was once alleged to stand"

"More turkey for us" Bruce dismissed

A bolt of blue lightning sped into the room, carrying Barry Allen along it, he was wearing a sweater with a half eaten gingerbread man on it.

"Speaking of turkey, I don't know if you guys know this but I'm a vegetarian"

"Your dietary needs have already been catered for, Mr. Allen"

"You're awesome, Elfred"

Alfred rolled his eyes and took a long sip of cognac. Bruce decided to give his old friend a break from the young speedster by bringing back a Wayne family tradition.

"Barry, would you mind heading over to the cave and picking up the package beside the car?"

"The Batmobile?" Barry beamed

"The Batmobile" Bruce confirmed with a reassuring smile

Barry was gone in a flash, back into his blue lightning and out of the room. A few moments later he reappeared with a large crate as tall as he was, it had his lightning symbol on it.

"What is this?" Barry asked, slightly concerned

"Only one way to find out"

Barry raced around the crate, unbuckling straps and somehow removing screws, before finally removing the cover. Inside was a new costume, something that Bruce had his company create as a gift to Barry. Its design was much more refined than the current costume and had cutting edge Wayne Tech inside.

"Early present" Bruce explained

In the blink of an eye, Barry changed into the costume. It looked impressive on him, more like high tech armor than something someone had lovingly thrown together from NASA's dumpster. It's finish was a darker shade of red than Barry had previously sported and small holographic displays were already updating him on crimes around the city.

"Holy crap, this is so cool"

Barry superspeeded Bruce into a hug before saying something that sounded like:

"I'mGonnaTakeItForATestRunThanksBatDad"

Another blink and the blue lightning had once more carried Barry out of the room and through the front doors. Alfred smirked.

"That should keep him busy for at least a few minutes"

"Been getting under your feet?"

"Like you wouldn't believe, you are aware that he moved in upstairs?"

"Who do you think gave him the room"

Alfred chuckled a little before becoming a little more reserved.

"Does he know about the..."

Bruce cut Alfred off, immediately shaking his head, a matter of importance lay in the air between them.

"I wanted everyone to know" Bruce said softly "I'll tell them tonight"

Three knocks at the front door cut through their conversation.

"More of your unruly children, I think" Alfred grinned

Bruce got to his feet as Alfred topped up his cognac with a bottle from a nearby cabinet. Bruce pulled a massive door open to be greeted by a gust of cold wind, Clark Kent, Martha Kent and Lois Lane. Bruce took their coats and led them over to a sofa. He poured Lois and Martha drinks from the cabinet, Clark asked if he could get some hot cocoa instead, which Alfred kindly obliged, rising from his recliner and making his way into the kitchen.

"How's Perry doing?" Bruce asked, Lois and Clark's boss was an old acquaintance of his

"Same as always this time of year" Lois answered, taking a sip of her beverage "Santa hat on, singing Christmas songs older than the building, it's adorable"

"He's also very generous" Martha added

"But only to this one" Lois squeezed Clark's hand "He got the highest bonus that Perry has ever given anyone"

Bruce raised an eyebrow and Clark blushed.

"I don't think our cover story of how Clark Kent and Superman died around the same time and came back around the same time but definitely aren't the same person washes with Perry"

"He's too good of a reporter" Bruce replied

"We talking about the same Perry White that buries stories because they're too quote un quote invigorating for our readers" Clark spoke up

"Well he used to be a good reporter" Bruce said sheepishly "He rumbled me as the Bat a couple of days after he met me for an interview"

"How did you handle that?"

"Ever wonder how the Planet stays afloat despite hemorrhaging subscriptions and sales?"

The two reporters froze, no doubt wondering if Perry was blackmailing him or if Bruce was lying. It was unlikely that they knew they were talking to the secret owner of the Daily Planet.

Another knock to the door provided Bruce with the perfect moment to leave the three. Opening the door, once more, he found Diana arm in arm with a woman who must've been at least seven feet tall, they were both wearing stunning dresses. Bruce showed them inside and over to the Kents. Diana explained that her companion was called Mala, she was an Amazon and had just been exiled from their Island. They went back a very long time together and were now picking up their relationship.

Bruce had never seen Diana so happy, she was absolutely gleaming with joy, holding her partner's hand and joining in with the rest of them laughing at Clark's hot cocoa mustache.

A flash of blue lightning returned to the room, dropping off Victor Stone and Victor's father Silas.

"Look who I found outside" Barry announced, trying to hide his broken holographic displays and partially destroyed costume from Bruce

With one more flash, Barry changed back into his gingerbread man sweater and jeans. Bruce made a mental note to ask him about his misadventure later, but for the time being simply hugged Victor and shook Silas's hand, before pouring them out drinks.

The holiday party started well enough, Barry and Victor were talking about video games, Lois and Clark were sharing incredible "How we met" stories with Diana and Mala, and the sounds of jingle bell rock played throughout the old house. Bruce hadn't seen it this alive and full of love since his parents were there.

Bruce felt himself slipping into the past, he could almost hear his father telling him that he could open one present early. Feeling a little overcome with emotion, Bruce put on his coat and stepped outside for a breath of fresh air and to calm his nerves.

Bruce wanted nothing more than to be back inside, be with this new family he had helped create, but he knew that he would have to leave them soon enough. Why prolong the inevitable. Over the last five years, he had been through a lot, both mentally and physically. Jason's death, the fallout from the battle of Metropolis, his obsessive crusade against Clark and all of the guilt that followed after. Even helping to kill monsters like Luthor's creature and Steppenwolf didn't alleviate the demons and the damage inside Bruce.

The situation was made even worse by the fact that In the last couple of years Bruce found himself having nightmares, very real feeling nightmares. They'd always start differently, sometimes on a ruined Earth with soldiers wearing Superman's symbol, other times in an alley with Bruce himself snapping the Joker's neck. These dreams would have him being captured or buried alive or even breathing in the Joker's poison. They always ended the same way, regardless of if it was Clark, Joker or some mad man claiming to be his own father, Bruce would always be too slow, too beat up, too arrogant, Bruce always died.

Before he woke from these dreams though, Bruce would have a vision of Barry. Not the Barry currently in Wayne Manor, dancing terribly to the music of George Michael but an older, more tired looking Barry. He always gave advice and warnings before leaving. Advice that had helped calm Clark when he was brought back to life. He told Bruce that Lois was the key, had he not done that, Bruce expected things would have gone much worse than they did. Occasionally Barry yelled about being in the middle of a Crisis, about needing to correct something called a fractured timeline and told Bruce to be prepared for worse days to come.

These dreams and every night he patrolled Gotham convinced Bruce that he was seriously incapable of dealing with whatever the future held. Tomorrow as his friends celebrated, he would be on a plane to a city called Nanda Parbat, where he would seek the mythical Lazarus Pit it was infamous for. He hoped that it could heal his body and purge his soul of the pain that weighed him down.

Most people who looked for the Pit died climbing the mountain that hid the city, those who survived disappeared, never to be heard from again. That didn't put Bruce off however, he had inside information that the Pit lay somewhere within the palace of the Sensai, the ancient leader of Nanda Parbat. Bruce's only problems were getting to it through an entire league of assassins and any side effects the Pit might cause him. The only person he knew who had done this before wasn't exactly the picture of sanity, of course neither was Bruce.

"Only you would brood at Christmas" teased a voice approaching him through the snow

Holding a small stack of presents, Commissioner Jim Gordon smiled comfortingly at Bruce.

"Sorry I'm late, some damn fool decided to save the Mayor and tie me up in paperwork and reporters"

"Sounds like a real hero type" Bruce replied "A billionaire playboy like myself wouldn't know anything about that"

Bruce couldn't keep a straight face, Bruce and Jim embraced and kissed. His lips were chapped and he tasted of tobacco but it was Bruce's favorite feeling. When they seperated, Jim looked like something was troubling him.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked

"I was just wondering, will this be the last time we do that?"

"Hopefully not" Bruce said playfully but Jim looked somber

"I know that you have to go, that for you to stay fighting in a world of super crazies you need this elixir of mumbo jumbo, but I worry"

"That I'll come back different?"

"That you won't come back at all" Jim said, sadly "Bruce I care about you, I don't want you to end up dead in some snowy hell hole"

"Good thing I'm Batman then" Bruce said, taking Jim's hand in his own "One thing you can count on in Gotham, even a small time crook could tell you, when Jim Gordon stands on top of Police HQ and lights that big Signal up, the Batman comes running, might take him a while to get there but he'll always show up"

Jim looked like he was trying to suppress a smile but it quickly broke through.

"What will we do without you?"

"Oh I'm sure you'll cope for a while but just in case I did ask Dick to look in on you from time to time"

"You two are talking again?"

"I know it's a Christmas miracle" Bruce chuckled

"I'll keep your damn oversized nightlight running" Jim agreed "Might scare some superstitious cowards"

Hearing a commotion inside, Bruce and Jim glanced through one of the windows. Barry had supersped an Elf hat onto a sleeping Alfred, Diana was dancing with Martha Kent and Clark and Victor were playing Twister, though Bruce wasn't sure who brought it, Mala and Lois were refereeing.

"You going in?" Jim asked "I've always wanted to meet Superman" he grinned cheekily

"Only if you're my plus one" Bruce said, more cheesily than he had originally hoped

Bruce walked back into Wayne Manor, Jim close by his side. Bruce had no idea what Nanda Parbat would do to him but for now at least he was content sipping tea, giving presents and sharing this night with the people he cared for most.  

[pwchronicle]

Ring of Honor “Glory By Honor: Philadelphia” TV Taping Report October 14th in Philadelphia, PA

I attended my first ROH event in ten months, their second-to-last TV taping before Final Battle in December. It was not a sold out show, as I noticed a lot of empty seats beyond Row 4 or 5. Fortunately, the crowd was still lively and should come off well on TV in the segments when they’re not cursing. Also, as you could see, I was very happy to finally both meet Jeff Cobb and see him wrestle in person. Heck, the last time I attended ROH, I got to hold the previous iteration of the ROH World TV Title with the champion at the time...

Future of Honor Match: Cheeseburger, Eli Isom, and Ryan Nova beat “#1″ Brian Johnson, Ken Dixon, and Joey Keys following a tandem elevated double stomp move on Dixon. Cheeseburger, Isom, and Nova formed an alliance on TV recently, and are now calling their unit “3-S.” I know Keys better under the moniker Jasper Tippins, from the Chikara tag team Dez Peloton. I thought this was okay, with enough good hands involved.

- Introductions for the announce team: Ian Riccaboni (with music out of a game show that never existed) and Caprice Coleman, as well as Mandy Leon, brought in to call the first match. As seen on TV, the announce position in most arenas, including the 2300 Arena now, is way off to the side of the entrance, with the announce team facing away from the action as they look at monitors to call the action.

1. Sumie Sakai, Jenny Rose, and Madison Rayne beat Kelly Klein, Karen Q, and Dr. Britt Baker when Rose rolled up Klein. Rose and Klein had the most beef going into this match. Sakai got worked over a lot. Baker didn’t seem to jive so well with the more heelish Klein and Q, and her refusal to accept Klein’s tag while she had Rose tied up pretty much led to the finish. This was okay.

2. Cody (w/ Brandi Rhodes) beat Kenny King presumably by disqualification. I noticed Jay Lethal come in to do commentary for this match, announced as a television main event. I thought they had a pretty good match, and the crowd was definitely into it. King played off the crowd a lot. He got involved with Brandi at ringside, including pretending to get smacked by her when ref Paul Turner was focused on Cody. Towards the end, King threw his elbow pad at Brandi, making her get into the ring and held back by Turner. With the ref distracted, King retrieved Cody’s IWGP US Title (one of three titles Cody had with him), tossed it into Cody’s hands, and fell to the ground as if Cody hit him with it. Before Turner could be played into his Eddie Guerrero trick, Todd Sinclair ran down to tell him what actually happened. King shoved Sinclair, causing Turner to call the bell, so King may have been disqualified for shoving a ref, but not the actual ref for the match. King kicked Cody in the groin right after this anyway. Brandi tended to Cody and King got a hold of her, causing Lethal to run out to the ring to stop anything from happening. Lethal told King that he’s better than this, then unwisely turned his back to King, who clocked him with the US Title. After King left, Lethal and Cody both got up, holding each other’s titles, but they exchanged them back to each other and shook hands.

3. Jeff Cobb beat Shane Taylor with the Tour of the Islands. This match exceeded my expectations. I'm a big fan of Cobb, and he was able to get Taylor off his feet a few times in very impressive fashion, but Taylor was able to hold his own and make this a competitive match. Taylor was able to hit some knees to Cobb, and followed it up with a flipping piledriver of all things and a lariat for a believable nearfall. Taylor’s attempt at the 216 was turned into a deadlift German suplex by Cobb, followed by a lariat from Cobb and the finish. I think this match is definitely worth checking out when it airs.

Afterward, Adam Page walked out and had a staredown with Cobb, perhaps telegraphing that these two will meet at Final Battle. About a half dozen ring crew guys ran out to stop anything from happening between the two, but Cobb and Page just beat up all of them. One of the smaller crew members remained, looking like a deer in headlights in front of Cobb and Page as he was nearly out of the ring. Page gave Cobb the honors to take care of this poor guy and left the ring, so Cobb superkicked the crew guy and gave him a more impactful Tour of the Islands to end this segment.

4. The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brian Milonas) beat Cheeseburger & Eli Isom (w/ Ryan Nova) after Isom was given a superplex by Milonas and a frog splash by Bruiser. The Bouncers entered the ring from presumably the concession area through the crowd. Cheeseburger and Isom had some nice hope spots, but they were to no avail. Afterward, the Bouncers gave some beers to their opponents for a toast, but Isom said he doesn’t drink and passed his beer to Nova. I guess the Bouncers are turning face? They’re separate enough from Silas Young now.

- SoCal Uncensored came out to the ring. Following crowd work from Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian (who called the 2300 Arena sacred ground in the wrestling business), Christopher Daniels got serious. He spoke of Joe Koff’s promise to him and Kazarian at the beginning of this year that they’d be gone from ROH following Final Battle 2018. Daniels said he and Kazarian had since realized that Koff was right and they were wrong, so they wanted to give Koff a reason to keep them on board, which brought them to their attempt to end the Briscoes’ “reign of terror.” He talked about how they failed to do so at Death Before Dishonor, with Mark busting Kazarian open and Jay trying to break Daniels’ neck. Daniels then said that “next week,” they’ll have a 3-way with the Briscoes and the Young Bucks. He said it’s two of the best tag teams in the world standing in between them and the ROH World Tag Team Titles, but Daniels promised that they would win the titles and remain in ROH in 2019. As SCU were heading backstage after this, the Briscoes emerged from the crowd and attacked them from behind with a chair. This fracas ended with Daniels taking a Jay Driller on the entrance stage.

5. Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, and Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys) beat The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, and TK O’Ryan) after Castle hit Marseglia with the Bangarang. Announced as a main event, this was Castle’s big return as a mystery partner for Lethal and Gresham. Castle seemed to move well, though he was wearing a small back brace (partially hidden by his trunks) and a wrap around his left thigh. Taven had his “real world championship” from Death Before Dishonor with him, and stared down Lethal holding the actual championship before the match. I thought this was quite fun overall, with everyone looking good. Marseglia pulled ref Sinclair under the ring like he was Pennywise, so that Taven could hit Lethal with a chair. Towards the end, Gresham attempted to hit a shooting star press on Marseglia, but Marseglia got the knees up. O’Ryan was hit with a Lethal Injection. Taven at ringside tried to and Marseglia the chair, but Dalton caught Marseglia for the finish while he still had the chair in hand. Good ending. Afterward, there was a little bit of tension with Lethal and Castle both holding the ROH World Title, but it subsided and they shook hands.

- Intermission. Cody came out for a meet & greet with Burnard the Business Bear, who did not appear during the actual show. I spotted Facade by the backstage area, but he did not take part in the action.

6. Brandi Rhodes beat Ashley Vox with a spear. I see Vox as Oceanea on a Saturday, then I see her as herself on a Sunday. The crowd was way behind Brandi, and Vox worked a little heelish during this, fish hooking her mouth at times. Okay action.

- Next Bobby Cruise announced a Pick Your Poison Match, scheduled for one fall to a finish. Bully Ray interrupted him and explained the rules himself. He and Flip Gordon were picking wrestlers to represent them. If Bully’s guy won, he’d get to do whatever he wanted to Flip afterward. Likewise, if Gordon’s guy won, he’d get to do anything he wanted to Bully. Bully then introduced his representative, Silas Young. Flip Gordon made his entrance, and I noticed that both he and Bully were holding large envelopes containing their desired punishments for each other. As Gordon walked down to the ring, Colt Cabana popped up from the commentary position presumably and joined him inside the ring. Bully was incredulous that Gordon would pick Cabana to represent him. Cabana took the mic and said he was only out here for two reasons, to support Gordon, and to see the look on Bully’s face when he sees who Gordon actually selected. Gordon’s pick wasn’t Cabana, but The Sandman, who I believe was making his ROH debut. He did a full Sandman entrance from the crowd, as the actual Metallica song played, pouring beer into fans’ mouths and even spitting some beer into Bully’s face.

7. Silas Young (w/ Bully Ray) beat The Sandman (w/ Flip Gordon & Colt Cabana) in a Hardcore Match with Misery. “One fall to a finish” being announced at the beginning of this seemed key, as Sandman (wearing one of Gordon’s shirts) hit Young with his cane right off the bat for an early nearfall. Following more cane shots, Sandman introduced a ladder that he suplexed onto Young at ringside. Yeah, there were “You Still Got It” chants. The ladder was then set up in the corner, and Young threw Sandman into it. Young then brought out a table and set it up in another corner, but Sandman got to him first, placed a ladder on top of his prone body, and came crashing down onto Young and the ladder with a swanton off the top. The finish followed shortly afterward, and the table wasn’t even touched. A wild crowd-pleasing match before the finish brought them down, and Gordon looked dejected at ringside.

- Bobby Cruise was about to reveal what Bully Ray’s punishment for Gordon was, but Bully took the envelope and tore it up, saying it was too easy for Gordon. Bully came up with a new punishment for Gordon: ten strikes with a Singapore cane, and he insisted on using Sandman’s cane. Sandman attempted to take the strikes for Gordon, but Gordon wouldn’t let him do it, and Bully talked down to Sandman, as well as to Cabana. Gordon removed his shirt per Bully’s orders, and the strikes to Gordon’s back began. This was very reminiscent of Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in the early 90s, and the strikes were leaving marks on Gordon’s back. Silas remained at ringside for this, as did Cabana and Sandman. Gresham and Cheeseburger joined them at ringside three strikes in to lend support to Gordon. Bully said he would stop if Gordon said, “I Quit,” and Gordon refused. SCU then came out to ringside, followed by Cody, Brandi, and the Young Bucks. Cody even got in ring before thinking otherwise. Nine strikes in, Bully again asked Gordon if he quit, I’m guessing nine strikes in, and Gordon let out an emphatic “FUCK YOU” on the mic to a big reaction. He then turned his back to Bully for I assume the final strike, but Bully gave him a low blow and bailed to the floor as the faces quickly entered the ring. Kazarian got a hold of the ladder and briefly squared off with Bully before Bully and Silas left. Everyone tended to Gordon, but he got up on his own power. Despite taking its inspiration from a more famous segment from ECW, I thought this was really well done.

8. Adam Page beat Rhett Titus with the Buckshot Lariat. Page is on another level of popularity now, on par with his Bullet Club Elite friends. This was announced as an HonorClub exclusive. Good athleticism from both guys, along with a little comedy of Page deciding to wrestle while still wearing his vest.

- Dalton Castle came out in a suit and with his own mic, accompanied by the Boys. He talked about his road to recovery, and he’s now looking to reclaim the ROH World Title. He yelled out to Jay Lethal that he’s back, and he that he wants the champ. Cue Matt Taven, who once again claimed to be the real World Champion, thinking Castle must have had a concussion in addition to his other injuries if he thinks Lethal is the real champion. Castle took a seat on a makeshift Boys chair and said, “Go home Matt, you’re drunk! Like, Myrtle Beach drunk.” Taven told Castle that when he had the title, he couldn’t handle the pressure and had to go home with injuries. This led to Vinny Marseglia coming out from under the ring (cued by his balloons) and TK O’Ryan coming out through the crowd to beat up Castle and the Boys. It ended with the Kingdom giving three simultaneous chair shots to Castle, and then they posed over him.

9. Marty Scurll beat Shane “Hurricane” Helms in a No DQ Match. This was Hero vs. Villain IV and announced as the first half of a double main event. Scurll made his entrance holding the Hurricane mask. Helms’ entrance was a swerve, with Delirious appearing in Hurricane attire on the entrance stage while Helms showed up behind him in the ring, hitting Scurll with a chokeslam for the earliest possible nearfall. Scurll recovered and introduced a bunch of umbrellas from under the ring, hitting Helms with them. Helms retrieved the Hurricane mask, put it back on, and fought back. Scurll (I believe) set up four chairs together, but he went up top and Helms grabbed him by the nether regions and slammed him onto the chairs. A table was set up at ringside on the opposite side of the Arena from me, and Scurll put Helms through it with a death valley driver variant. Scurll introduced thumbtacks into the match, but he was the first one to fall victim to them with a chokeslam onto them from Helms. This only led to a nearfall, and Scurll fought back, put some tacks in Helms’ mouth and superkicked them out, and finished off Helms with Graduation onto the tacks. Another wild crowd-pleaser, also exceeding my expectations. Scurll shook Helms’ hand and put him over to the crowd afterward.

10. SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) beat Jay & Mark Briscoe and The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) in a 3-way to WIN the ROH World Tag Team Titles. A fun, fast-paced match, announced as a TV main event, to close the night. Ref Paul Turner was wiped out by an errant kick in the corner by Nick, allowing the Briscoes to introduce chairs into the match. Turner was able to count some nearfalls after this but was still largely out of it, leading to some relaxed rules. It eventually came down to just the Briscoes and SCU in this. Kazarian nearly took a Doomsday Device, but Sky tossed one of the titles to Kazarian to hit Jay (holding Kazarian up on his shoulders) in the head, then Mark came off the top and took a Flux Capacitor from Kazarian off of Jay’s shoulders for a big nearfall. Towards the end, Mark had a hold of Kazarian so that Jay could hit him with a chair while standing on the apron, but Kazarian escaped, Mark took an unprotected chair shot to the head, Sky dispatched of Jay, and SCU hit Mark with a double team move involving a lungblower from Kazarian to get the pin and the big win. NEW CHAMPIONS as the crowd went wild and Daniels came out in a neck brace (selling the attack on the stage earlier in the night, but not wearing it during the Gordon caning segment) to congratulate his teammates.

- In a post-show segment, the Young Bucks hung around with SCU in the ring, and Kazarian asked them if they could take a shot closing the show. He said between all of them were five guys from southern California who loved wrestling, and he put over the Young Bucks as two guys who have changed wrestling for the better. Sky said he’s known the Young Bucks his entire career, and he thanked them for demanding that ROH give him a job year ago. He said the past year has been the best year of not only his career, but of his life. Matt took over, putting over the members of SCU, including calling Daniels their road father, and he had the crowd shout out “SCU!” one last time to end the night.

This taping lasted just shy of four hours, with matches and segments likely taped for three episodes rather than four. Granted, it’s been ten months, but compared to the last time I attended an ROH TV taping, I felt this flowed much better. A surprising amount of hardcore action (but I guess appropriate given the Arena’s history), and a number of good matches and segments to look forward to on TV. Seeds for Final Battle in December continue to be planted.