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bongaboi · 2 years

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Iowa Western: 2022 NJCAA Football National Champions

Defense wins championships. On Wednesday night in Arkansas, oh boy, did it ever!

Iowa Western (10-2) rode the backs of the Nation's best defensive unit to the program's second national title in a dominating performance over Hutchinson (11-1) at War Memorial Stadium.

The IWCC offense did their part early, scoring 17 first-quarter points and the 'Darkside' defense never allowed the #1 Blue Dragons any offensive momentum as Head Coach Scott Strohmeier's squad cruised to a 31-0 rout of their Jayhawk Conference rival.

"I'm just so happy for the guys that bought in, that took last year's defeat (to NMMI in 2021's NJCAA National Title game) and worked to make sure that they learned from that lesson and to make sure it didn't happen again," said the 14th year head coach after the game. "So many of these guys were here for that one and even when the regular season didn't end the way we'd hoped, they kept working hard, pushing toward the goal they had set for themselves."

Two games prior it was a game of explosive plays for the Reivers against the previously undefeated Blue Dragons, with HCC scoring a late touchdown to propel themselves to a one-point win in Council Bluffs. Those explosive plays never materialized for the Blue Dragons in the rematch, but they certainly did for Iowa Western.

Just five plays into their opening drive, Quarterback James Graham and the Reivers struck. The sophomore from Georgia found LJ Fitzpatrick on a short pass and Fitzpatrick, much like he's done on several occasions this season, raced down the sideline for a 68-yard score and an early 7-0 Reiver lead. The TD was the 800th touchdown in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs and Fitzpatrick's third of the season that covered 60 or more yards for a score.

The 'Darkside' allowed Hutchinson a first down on their first drive, but a high snap and continued pressure from Iowa Western forced the Blue Dragons to punt and gave the ball back to IWCC.

In his third start of the season, Graham led the Reivers on a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive on the next possession, capped by Jaden Koger's 4th career rushing score. Wilber's 34th PAT of the season pushed the 1st quarter lead to 14-0 Reivers.

The Iowa Western pressure continued defensively, keeping Hutchinson QB Dylan Laible from getting comfortable, although the Sophomore didn't get any help from his receivers when he did have time to throw. Trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter, Laible's pass to Malik Benson was dropped by the prize recruit, on what may have been the best chance of the day for the Blue Dragons. It was the most glaring drop of the day for Hutch's high-powered offense, but certainly not the only one.

The Reivers kept the 'Big 3' of Benson, Laible, and running back Dylan Kedzior in check in the game. After scoring against the Reivers in the first match-up, Benson, the Alabama commit, didn't fair well against the Reivers secondary, dropping several passes on the day and losing a fumble on a jet sweep when the 'Darkside' sniffed out the potential wide receiver pass.

The Reivers limited Laible, allowing just 137 yards passing and holding the Walter Jones Trophy nominee below 50% on 37 attempts.

And as good as the pass defense was, The Darkside was even better at locking down the Blue Dragons' running game. Kedzior, the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year, was limited to just 13 yards rushing after he had scored a pair of touchdowns against both the Reivers in November and three against Coffeyville in the semi-final round of the NJCAA playoffs. Those two performances pushed the Oklahoma native past 1,000 yards on the season into the title game. Kedzior's struggles in Little Rock were amplified when Quientrail Jamison-Travis stripped the running back for his first fumble lost of the season.

Travis, out of Minneapolis North high school, recovered two of three fumbles lost on the day by the Hutchinson offense and was awarded postgame Player of the Game honors during the Reivers' celebration. In addition to the pair of fumbles he recovered, the sophomore defensive tackle also turned in four tackles and two and a half of the Reivers' six sacks on the night. Those six sacks helped IWCC set their single-season record at 56, surpassing the 2015 total of 50.5 quarterback sacks.

Iowa Western's second-half offense was deliberate and paralyzing for Hutchinson's comeback chances. Bryant Williams capped a pair of drives with short touchdown runs, while the offense ground the clock down, splitting the time of possession with the Blue Dragons and forcing a pair of turnovers and a pair of turnovers on down as the clock wound to zero.

The Reivers posted their 4th shutout of the year as Rashion Hodge led the team in tackles to finish the season with a team-high 77 on the year. Elijah Elmore joined Travis as the only players with multiple QB sacks in the game as IWCC piled up 11 tackles for loss in the game. Will Lee, Jamorri Colson, and Dylan Reyes were credited with multiple pass breakups as the 'Darkside' turned in their best performance of the season. Hutchinson, averaging over 431 yards into the title game, was limited to just one-third of that yardage in the loss and was shutout in a game for the first time since 2010. In fact, it was the first time a shutout had been posted in an NJCAA National Title game since 1992.

"The coaches I'm able to work with make it easy," said Strohmeier, "If Black's (Mike Blackbourn) not here since day one, AT (Aaron Terry), Finney (Eric Finney), Monthei (Jeff Monthei) and the other guys that come in and know what to do, I don't have to worry about them, I don't have to micromanage and that's huge, especially at this level. We come in as a staff and we go to work, there's no hand-holding. We as an offense can do our job and the defense does theirs, it's a huge advantage for us to be able to have that culture instilled without having to revisit it every recruiting season, every fall camp."

James Graham completed only four passes in the game but piled up 116 yards passing and a touchdown as the Reivers ground out 288 more yards on the ground with Graham leading the way. His 102 rushing yards were the most by a quarterback since Kai Locksley cleared the mark against DuPage to close the 2017 regular season.

"So proud of James, he comes in in the fall and was open to a position change (wide receiver), but took reps at QB and we end up needing him," added Strohmeier, "his confidence level the last two games left me with no doubts about what he was capable of and he backed that up. What a story, barely on the depth chart at the beginning of the season and now a National Champion Quarterback, that's hugely rewarding."

The victory pushed the Reivers to 10 or more wins for the 8th time in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs. In two of those seasons, the Reivers played in less than 10 games.

For Strohmeier, it's the second time he's led the Reivers to the title, earning the program's first national championship trophy in 2012. The Reivers have finished runner-up twice since, but each time they've made the game, it's something that the Watkins, Minnesota native won't take for granted. "You know every time you make the game that there may not be another, so for the team to continue to persevere and win this one makes it so rewarding. We all have a family at home, and we all have people that sacrifice in order to make our jobs possible. For them to see these young men, get rewarded for their hard work is a testament to what their sacrifices at home allow us to do." Strohmeier added, "It's just about so much more than getting to wear a ring for winning a game, this game is about opportunities and we made the most out of it this season. I'm really proud of this team and who they are and will be as people."

The Reivers' last national title came just over 10 years ago when they won 27-7 over #2 Butler in the 2012 Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Reivers lost to East Mississippi in 2014 and New Mexico Military in last year's title game, in both of those seasons, the Reivers finished the regular season undefeated.

IWCC ended Hutchinson's 17-game winning streak with the victory and improves to 5-3 all-time versus the Blue Dragons. The two teams are scheduled to finish the 2023 regular season in Kansas at Gowans Stadium next season, a game that both squads hope is a precursor to another playoff run for each.

Iowa Western coaches will head out on the road immediately to finalize their recruiting season, while many players from this year's squad will make known where their next destination will be in the coming weeks. Former Reiver Namdi Obiazor is the only former Reiver playing in the NCAA Playoffs and can be seen wearing #4 for TCU when the Horned Frogs take on Michigan in the semi-finals on New Year's Eve at 3:00 pm CST. That team is led by Quarterback and Council Bluffs native Max Duggan. Duggan played for Lewis Central High School, the team that the Reivers share their field with for home games.

The 2023 season is slated to kick off on the road on August 26th against the Conquistadors of DCCC from Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, KS. The annual Blue-White Spring Game will take place on Friday, May 5th at Lewis Central High School at a time to be determined.

#2022 #iowa western #njcaa #national championship #junior college #juco #college football

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thatabitcryptic · 4 years

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Have the first chapter of the ficlet for the timestuck au :))

It’s about 1300 words

For context: Ford and Mabel have just convinced Fiddleford to help fix the time tape to get Mabel home. (This is set after fidds quit the project, Ford stumbled across Mabel on his way back from the diner- so everyone’s a bit of a mess but dad instincts kick in here yknow??)

———

Although the couch was much warmer in comparison to the frigidness of the basement, Mabel couldn’t help the cold pit that formed in her stomach. Things were starting to go in the right direction for getting back to her time but.. were they?

Ford and Mcgucket had been practically avoiding each other like the plague. Anytime either of them needed something from the other it was always Mabel who had to speak for them. Sure it made sense they were upset with each other but how could they possibly get her home if they didn’t even look at one another? Grunkle Ford refused to stop working in the basement so he could keep watch over the portal and Mcgucket’s terms of never having to enter it again.. how was she going to get them in the same room? They hated each other.

But then when she brought up the time tape why had Ford immediately jumped to needing Mcgucket’s help?? Ford was a smart guy, and not that she didn’t like the extra company but if her Grunkle had been so angry at his old friend why ask him?

And in the future when they had watched Mcgucket’s memories he didn’t sound mad at Ford, just that he had wanted to forget. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy to hold grudges either. Well, future him at least.

The strange air between them wasn’t the only thing that was throwing her off though. The whole house was wrong. It didn’t have any semblance of a home; more of a very disorganised library.

The mystery shack had never been the tidiest place but even when she and Dipper had first arrived Grunkle Stan had the place in organised chaos. Everything had a place and each place made sense at least. Here it was sporadic with no order like Ford had stopped during the middle of something and started a new task leaving previous items cluttered amidst coffee cups and stacks of books.

It was wrong in so many ways and there were so many things she missed from home. Even the little things. The murmuring of tourists in the gift shop, the mouldy spots on the roof, the spur of a tool from wherever Soos was fixing something in the shack, the weird gross smell of Grunkle Stan, Dippers late night reading, Pacifica's sweet perfume, Waddles’ hooves clicking along the floor-

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared down at her blanket. What if she never saw them again? What if Grunkle Ford and Mcgucket were never able to get her back home? Would she have to grow up here? What if she never saw waddles again? His swishy little face, his curly tail that bounced when the toddled behind her-

And Dipper? Would the next time she saw him be when they were born?? Thirty years from now?

Mabel’s head spun; all this time travel made her nauseous. Her chest ached and her hands were hot from wringing them on the scratchy fabric. She couldn’t think straight. It was just the swirling thoughts of her fate in solitude. All she could hear was her rhythmic heartbeat pumping another reason to miss her time into the front of her mind.

Her sweater was too tight, her headband too sharp, her cheeks were itchy from the waves of drying and flowing tears-

“-lright there sweet pea?”

A soft southern drawl from her side snapped her back. Mcgucket.

She didn’t hesitate to launch herself towards the familiar tone and bury her face in his green jacket. It smelt like a strange mix of tobacco, grease and molasses but that was closer to home than the stale dusty air of her surroundings.

“Shh shh shhh shh, it’s okay sugar plum.” He ran a hand through her hair and softly untangled any knots. “Ya’ wanna tell me what’s the matter?”

Mabel’s mouth immediately burst open with bubbling incomprehensible sobs.

“I wanma go h-homemm, Dippmffft, grunkmplmh stamm,” she took a breath and looked up at him with blurred eyes, “m-my pett pig waddles and h-his face.” And then she pressed herself back into his side. Each breath she took shook her body but it was stifled by Fiddleford hugging her closer.

“Hmmmm, a pet pig huh?” He paused and tapped his fingers on her back in contemplation.

“Did future me ever tell ya’ tha’ I grew up on a hog farm?”

Mabel stopped for a moment to look up at him with a trembling lip. “N-no, I-I don’t think s-so?”

Mcgucket drew back with a faux sound of horror. “Well, I never! I can’t ‘lieve this feller’! Ya’ hav’ a pig and ‘e didn’t even offer some advice!”

Mabel smiled and rubbed her nose on her sleeve.

“Naw’ darlin’ here.” Fiddleford reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief for her.

“T-thank you.”

“It’s tha’ least I could do after withholdin’ my advice in the future, or is it before..” He chuckled and shifted to rest his chin on top of Mabel’s head. “I’ll have to remember to tell ya ‘bout it”

Mabel stiffened and wiped her eyes again but didn’t comment.

Maybe it was best not to ask her...

“Now waddles?” he hummed. “I gotta say Mabel that’s a mighty fine name for’ a pig I reckon. The little fellers do tend ta’ waddle about.”

“Y-yeah.” Her voice quivered in reply and she absentmindedly latched onto the sides of his jacket and pulled them in over herself. “He- I miss him.”

Fiddleford could feel Mabel beginning to shake again and he wracked his brain for something else to talk about. He may not have known her for very long but it was heart breaking for such a bubbly kid to be so disquieted.

“How does he fancy the banjo?”

“The banjo?” She turned and lifted her head to look up at him with big eyes and Mcgucket’s heart melted. Mabel may as well have been Stanford’s kid in his eyes, each little mannerism was instantly recognisable as one as Ford’s.

“Uh huh, piglets on the farm used’ ta’ love it! ‘Td help ‘em drift off ta’ sleep in a big stack.”

He grinned at Mabel’s gasp and the way her eyes lit up when she spun around to look at him.

“In a piggy pile?” she started to bounce with enthusiasm.

“In one ‘o the biggest piles ‘o piglets a‘round!” He poked her nose eliciting a giggle.

“Old ma- I mean Mcgucket can you pretty please teach me to play? I-I’ll uhh umm I’ll draw one of my famous catacatures for you!!”

Mabel’s energy was contagious but Fiddleford couldn’t help his knee from bouncing slightly as he sheepishly looked past her to the door.

“Oh uh not that’ I don’t want one of yer drawins’ girlie but I’m not uhh too sure that’s such a good idea, Stanford’s mighty busy at work an’...”

He looked down to see Mabel’s eyes were full of stars as she was practically buzzing with excitement that he hadn’t seen since he met her. Fidds couldn’t help but feel delight at the sight. Just like Stanford.

“Hehaha ‘lright but if we hear Ford comin’ up we ‘ave to hide my banjo ‘else I’ll never see it ‘tagain.”

“Ahh thank you thank you thank you!!” Mabel wrapped him in a tight hug and it was as though all her upset had been transferred into her keenness for a banjo lesson.

Fiddleford stood, and helped Mabel out of her cocoon of blankets before fixing his glasses.

“Ahaha okay okay hush now aha we’ve gotta’ be a bit more quiet kidlet.”

His smile faltered as he saw his hand rising to grip his hair, Mabel must have noticed too because she quickly held onto it and subtlety swung it back and forth as they went to collect the instrument.

#this is just fidds and Mabel fluff because I need moreeeee #writing fidds as a dad was so much fun????#so there will be more #Cryptic wrote this when they were over tired: the first instalment #also who let me write fidds’ dialogue like this?? IM SO SORRY #uhhh I did read over this a few times but idk how good my editing skills are so...#please forgive me if it is badddd #timestuck au #gravity falls #stanford pines #fiddleford mcgucket #mabel pines #fiddauthor #fic stuff #:D

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twdmusicboxmystery · 3 years

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When the Midnight Fireworks Start Music Video - TD Symbols

Happy Memorial Day to everyone celebrating it! I’ve been promising this post for three days, so here it is!

Okay, let’s talk about Emily’s new music video. To be fair, people messaged me about the lyrics in this song when it first debuted, and long before the music video came out. I may have done an Ask or two about the lyrics, but nothing extensive. Now with all the suspicious things in the video, it makes the lyrics that much harder to ignore.

So, let’s start with the lyrics that I’m side-eyeing. Then we’ll focus on images. Here are the lyrics. I’ve bolded the ones that correspond with TD symbols:

I'm a slow burn driving fast through a city Full of matches and gasoline leaks Full of people so shiny and pretty I'm a slow burn You gotta give me a few more years But there is nothing that can stop this fire Broken bridges, no amount of tears

Matches and gasoline are obvious ones. Remember that we’ve specifically seen matches around Daryl a lot, such as in Rick’s 7x01 vision. There were matches at the moonshine shack as well. Gasoline has been a think since at least S4.

The “a few more years” line just sounds like a Beth thing. She’s been gone for a few years (p.s. did you know the biblical meaning of “few” is 8? Just saying) and we needed to give it a few years before we saw the Bethyl romance bloom.

Broken bridges. Bridge Theory.

I'm a slow burn about to take flame And when the midnight fireworks start Everybody will know my name And it will never be the same And it will never be the same And it will never... Be the same

These lines are repeated throughout the song since this is the chorus. And this is the main thing people have messaged me about. It just sounds like her talking about showing up alive on the show and then things will never be the same.

It's a short flight from the safe zone to danger From the middle to the edges From your family to a stranger But there's a little light keeping me on the right track I'm getting used to the temperature I am never gonna go back

The “safe zone” definitely sounds like a reference to Alexandria. From “family to a stranger” isn’t terribly Beth-specific (unless it is in some way we don’t understand yet) but it just strikes me as an overall TWD theme.

I’m REALLY side-eying the “little light” reference. Norman literally and famous called Beth Daryl’s “little light” and talked about how sad it was for Daryl to see that light go out.

I'm a slow burn about to take flame And when the midnight fireworks start Everybody will know my name And it will never be the same And it will never be the same And it will never... Be the same

I was crawling, now I'm about to walk And when I stand up straight the whole world will talk And when I snap my fingers they will clap along Singing words by heart to every single song

Crawling, walking, and standing up is all about growth and specifically aging. Babies crawl and then learn to stand and walk. Beth was obviously never a baby, but even in the song this is a metaphor for growth as a person. Intellectual, professional, and psychological growth. It goes along with the Carrot Theory, which is about maturing over several distinct seasons. So this just goes well with that, and with Beth coming back as a stronger, tougher, more survivalist character.

I'm a slow burn about to take flame And when the midnight fireworks start Everybody will know my name And it will never be the same And it will never be the same And it will never... Be the same

Great lyrics! Now let’s look at images, many of which correspond with the lyrics.

It starts out with Emily in what I’m sure is the same white dress we see later when she’s on the blanket, but at the beginning they specifically have yellow light running over it, which makes it look reminiscent of Beth’s yellow polo.

The light changes as it goes on. At various times it’s orange and blue.

But the yellow comes first and it’s the one that really stands out to me.

We see her writing in a notebook that looks very similar to Beth’s diary.

When she mentions matches, we see one get struck. And then candles being lit.

We see her looking at the moon a LOT, and then the moon is superimposed over the next frame. This is important because 1) We saw a full moon in Still and 2) we have all the Beta/Half-Moon references, in which he was singing one of Emily’s songs.

We also get the moon tarot card. This is what made so many of us TDers gasp. Emily has been posting the Star Card quite a lot over the past year. And that works very well as a Sirius symbol. (X). The moon card is right after the Star Card and indicates trouble or uncertainty (X). So, my theory is that the Star Card itself represents Beth as a character and her return. The moon card represents the arc (CRM war, etc) that will happen once she returns.

If you look closely, you can see that she’s putting the Moon Card down on top of the Empress Card. I did a post a LONG time ago about how many attributes the Empress Card shares with Beth and her symbolism and arc. You can read it HERE.

Then we see her working a spell or some kind of magic on a blanket. She’s adding a clear liquid to different dishes of spices. I’m not sure if the liquid is water or alcohol, but either one works.

All the white (her dress, blanket, roses) could be for the black and white theme. There’s definitely a dark background around her, and we’ve always said that Beth = white in the black and white theme.

Finally, we see her burning the notebook paper she wrote on at the beginning of the video. Especially as the lyrics talk about how in the past she’s been weak and young, but moving forward she’ll be strong, this could well represent burning your weak past as you move into the next, more successful phase.

Sounds like Beth to me. ;D

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

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lo-55 · 4 years

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Tilt The Hourglass Ch. 4

Mustafar was exactly as Maul remembered.

Sidious had even put him in his old room. One with no way out. No key pad by the door, no latch for the windows, and the vents filled with toxic gas to knock him out if he tried to hard to escape. It was meant to keep even the most powerful of forceful children inside.

Maul hung from shackles above an anti-grave platform near one wall. He was facing the window now, showing him his own body and the black shorts he’d been left in.

He stared at his reflection. At the floating boy outside the window. The one he’d wanted to be for so long. The one that was free.

Free of electric whips and punishments, free of expectation. That boy had no shackles, nor lessons, nor cold, unfeeling droid to raise him. He could fly away into the lava fields if he wanted.

Maul met that boy’s eyes with his own yellow one. They weren’t tinged with red yet.

How strange.

For all he’d spent most of his childhood in this one locked room Maul had no fond memories of it. All of his fond memories were of people, not places. They were the blood, sweat, and tears of a well fought battle. They were his brother at his side and power at his fingertips. They were careful hands of Kilindi and Daleen smearing bacta on his damaged body.

None featured his master. He had learned that the ‘kindness’ he doled out was nothing more than another way to manipulate Maul and ensure his loyalty.

Sidious’ droid paced the room. It held an electro-staff tightly in one hand. Every now and again, without warning, it would strike at him and shatter his chain of thought. Maul snarled at it. He’d tried to crush it on impulse once, but the shackles cut off his connection to the telekinetic powers of the Force.

At the very least they didn’t keep him from working on his mind.

Deep in the dark ocean of his memories he was pushing pertinent information down, and down, past the water, past the floor, and into lava that burned at the heart of his very being. He had to keep those parts of him guarded before anything else.

The droid struck him across the face and Maul spat out one of his eye-teeth. Blood still filled his mouth. All he could taste was copper. All he could feel was pain. Every now and again his muscles would spasm with residual shocks.

Unbidden, a passage from a medical book flickered through his brain.

Long term effects of electrocution and electronic torture include, but are not limited to, muscle spasms, memory loss, pain, tingling, numbness, and personality disorders and changes. This makes long term, and high grade electronic torture innefective for gathering information. Instead-

A hiss signalled that the door opened.

In walked Sidious, his cloak billowing around him dramatically. Inefficiency had never stopped him from shocking people. Maul personally thought he just enjoyed inflicting pain.

A lightsaber hummed in his hand.

Sidious came up to him and gripped his chin. Maul snapped at his fingers with sharp teeth, for all the good it did.

“You’re a fool, Maul, and a failure as a sith. Once you would have made a powerful apprentice. You could have been great at my side. But you chose sentiment. Your future, thrown away for a pair of girls who will never be anything more than ants.”

He drew the tip of the lightsaber down Maul’s side. It was turned up high enough to burn, but not cut into his ribs. Sidious wouldn’t end things that fast.

“Better them than you,” Maul spat. “You stole my life-”

“Silence,” Sidious thundered, slapping him across the face. Maul’s head spun. Had he ever heard the man raise his voice? Maul had truly enraged him. A sliver of satisfaction curled in his chest and Maul bared his bloody, gapped teeth at him in a grin.

Sidious gathered himself visibly. Maul had never gotten such a rise out of him. The minor, phantom vengeance tastes like blood.

“You have never pushed me so far,” Sidious said, his voice slow and sickly kind. “I have never had you disobey. I can be persuaded to forgive, if you do as I told you. I have no doubt you can hunt the slave girl and her little pet down again. You could kill her, and come again to my side.”

Maul wanted to laugh in his face. Did Sidious think it was kindness? Did he think Maul was foolish enough to prostrate himself before the sith Apprentice and bed for a life without future, without fraternity or friendship?

Of course he did.

Maul would have once. Sidious knew as much. Once he would not have hesitated to do his bidding. His only disobedience would come from misplaced eagerness and bloodlust.

Now, Maul spat blood in his face.

Sidious ripped through his already ragged outer shields once more. He lanced through Maul’s memories of Orsis and picked them apart. Each test, each challenge, and more than that, his time with the girls.

Kilindi, bumping her shoulder to his. Daleen, carefully stitching a cut upon his brow. Kilindi touching his arm while talking casually. Daleen gripping his elbow and shooting over her shoulder as he led her through their portion of the test course.

Every brush of skin, every kindness, ever inch of camaraderie between them and each small show of care. Sidious hunted them down like a dog and all Maul could do was give them to him, and spin his hurt around the depth of his being, away from his impossible truth.

He gave him Kilindi. He gave him Daleen.

In return, Sidious burned the memories across his skin. Every place he’d felt gentle fingers or joking shoves Sidious struck with the heat of the lightsaber and burned deep into his skin.

There was only pain. The taste of blood. The scent of burning flesh.

Darkness swirled across his vision. Maul welcomed it. He focused on his uneven heartbeat under the pain. Maul drew the pain and the anger inside of him and closed it around his heart, first one, then the other. He drew inside, inch by inch, bringing every agony with him.

The Force swirled through him and Maul forced it to slow, and finally still. His body went limp. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t hear. He couldn’t feel.

The taste of blood was gone. The smell of his body burning vanished.

Only the Force remained.

It did not like being still. It was a fight for Maul to keep it like that, suspended inside him. Shadow consumed him, and he welcomed it.

The Force showed him what happened, in the distant, blurry way of visions.

Maul’s body went limp. He wasn’t breathing. Sidious struck him harshly across the back, where Kilindi had once rested against him with her ankle twisted. He’d carried up a mountain, and still beat the other team there while she shot each challenger who got within range.

Sidious defiled each of those memories with pain and fire.

Finally, he stopped.

Sidious circled the limp body of the boy he had raised. Blood dripped lazily to the ground and his body smoke faintly.

“I expected more,” Sidious said, frowning at his ‘corpse’. “You always had potential. I raised you to be better. What a waste of time.”

The shackles were deactivated and Maul’s body crashed to the ground. One ankle twisted wrong and made a terrible snapping sound. The body didn’t move.

“Dispose of him,” Sidious ordered.

The spider legged droid that had once raised Maul, now reconstructed for some new purpose, crawled into the room and picked up the child it had brought up from infancy. The body was small and broken in its cold metal hands. Sidious left, and the droid took Maul to the ship that would dispose of waste that day. One hand hand fast to his throat.

The vision ended with the droid running cold fingers across Maul’s brow and tucking him carefully into the ship's ventilation shafts before it closed up the grate and erased its own memories of ever finding a pulse.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Maul came to to the scent of rot and blood.

All there was was darkness and for an instant he was back on Lotho Minor, surrounded by garbage and rotten waste. Half a person, he is even less than that, and the blood he tastes is a rat he’d dragged in and a body that the snake creature had fed him. They were both mad, shrieking, and consumed by the world of fire and destruction. He was no one. He was a broken creature of hatred-

His ankle screamed in pain and Maul gasped into awareness.

He still couldn't see, but he could feel the pain in his ankle. He had his legs still. He was not on Lotho Minor, buried deep in darkness and forgotten.

He was on the ship that the droid had placed him inside of. His head still swam with his near death.

It was one of the many things that was in the Sith holocron he’d recovered with Ezra, and one of the only remaining things after its destruction. A suspended animation based in the darkside, it, like all things, took its tole on him.

Not just his suspension, he realized. It was a fever too. His body was always warm with two hearts, but now it was burning.

Maul tried to move. It wasn’t just his ankle that hurt, but every burn was festering in spite of cauterization. How long had he been out? He’d been woken by the ship jolting and the Force hissing warnings of danger into him.

Maul drew the pain inside of him and spun it into the steel of strength. Slowly, he crawled through the vents he’d been sheltered inside of. He tried not to think of the TD-D9. He’d tried not to think of him for a long time, after his destruction. It was easier to hate him for the torment he inflicted than to remember the fond friendship between them. He’d mourned him, in his own quiet way, after Deenine was destroyed. He’d done his best to protect Maul from his master, even if he was too young to really understand.

Maul quietly swore to one day return for his friend.

I’m getting greedy, he thought. What will I do with three friends?

The vents were winding and small, but Maul was small too. He made his way to the cockpit, where another familiar face was. The droid pilot that had once dropped him off on Hypori, for his finally test for Sidious. Maul turned his gaze to the window.

They’d dropped out of hyperspace into the middle of a firefight. Maul recognized some of the ships as belonging to pirates, trying to board, and their ship had been hit in the crossfires. Alarms kept flashing red lights on the console, and the droid was frantically trying to send a distress signal.

Maul watched the pirates tear away from the ships they’d been foolish enough to go after.

Why they thought they could take a full assault craft was beyond him.

Maul’s fuzzy mind couldn’t recognize the design painted on the side, and he barely registered that he spoke the language that came over the communicator.

The droid squeaked it’s need, and it’s cargo. They had left most of the waste behind, somewhere, and though the ship still stunk of it. Now they hauled back raw materials for building.

Maul crawled away from the droid, his dizziness increasing when the ship shook with a boarding ramp. He stumbled. He needed to find the emergency med pac that was on the ship. Sidious kept them on all of his craft. It was…

Fuck.

It was somewhere.

Maul dragged himself through the shafts, the world getting more and more blurry. His tongue kept poking into the new gap in his teeth. He didn’t think he made a sound, but he must have because someone shouted underneath him and a blaster bolt shot into his shoulder.

Maul howled in anger and pain and the shaft, with the boy inside, collapsed to the ground. It hit with a crash that jarred every burn and break in his body, and a crack from his ribs was telling. Someone was shouting, but he didn’t register words, only the threat behind them.

He lunged out of the wrecked vent and tackled his assaulter. His hands found their way around his throat as the body, hard and cold against his bare skin, fell back to the ground. The blaster went skidding across the ground. Maul was shaking. He was angry and cold and everything hurt but he would not allow himself to die now.

His small hands closed around the throat and he started to squeeze.

All at once he was flipped onto his back and he screamed. All the lights went out.

There were hands on his shoulders.

“Sshhh, ade, there’s no fight here,” the voice was quiet, muffled by a helmet. Maul bit the wrist nearest to him and nearly shattered his upper teeth for his trouble while the lower ones caught on the thick material of a flight suit. He was shaky and weak, the fever and adrenaline warring inside of him. The Force still muddled him with near death.

Maybe it was Mando’a that made him ease his teeth out of the flight suit on the underside of the vambrace. Maybe it was the hum of the Force, muddled but reinforcing the idea that he wasn’t in danger.

Back up lights kicked on in the ship, flooding the area in dim red light. It still revealed enough of him to made the mandalorian hiss through his teeth.

“Who did this, ade?” the anger in his voice was almost enough to make Maul fight him again, but the Force encouraged him not to. There was no danger here.

“Mas-ter,” he croaked, his voice hoarse and his throat bloody and raw.

Anger radiated out of the Mandalorian and Maul drank it in, trying to use it to clear his head. His body was having none of that. Now that he wasn’t in danger of dying it was forcing him to stop fighting. To rest. To heal. Or he really would die.

“There’s no master here, ade. I’m going to pick you up. Don’t go biting me now.”

Maul did his best to scowl at the mandalorian, but he couldn’t figure out which one to glare at. Four of them blurred in his vision. The hands that picked him up were careful, but there wasn’t anywhere to hold him that wasn’t injured. The festering wounds on his back burst and leaked across the blue painted armor.

Maul was swept into a fevered sleep by the time they reached the mandalorian ship.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jango sat beside the cot in the medbay while the droid circled the boy he’d brought back from the transport ship. He’d blown the thing up as soon as they were off of it, an impulsive choice he regretted now.

If he’d kept it, maybe he could have found out who the ‘master’ that had done this was, and where to find him.

Low rage simmered deep in his chest, and it only mounted the more the droid told him.

There were the obvious injured that Jango had seen on the transport when the boy had nearly fallen into his lap. The blaster bold that, much to his own shame, Jango had put in his shoulder was nothing compared to the rest of the damage.

His whole body was covered in injuries. Both plasma and electric burns made a horrific pattern across a body that was already mostly covered in tattoos. There were so many that Jango almost couldn’t tell if he was red with black tattoos or the opposite.

Most of the burns had half healed, but there were many, especially the ones on his back, that had gotten infected. A fever was burned through his body, keeping the boy unconscious as much as the drip of chemicals attached to his arms. The droid had gone through most of their boosters just trying to purge the infection from his system.

Jango wished he had a bacta tank to submerge the child in. He couldn't be more than a decade old.

Jango rubbed the back of his neck, where little fingers hadn’t been able to close all the way around. There were distinct hand print bruises on his throat. The boy was a fighter, that was undeniable.

He had been for a while, if what the droid said was to be believed. He had broken an ankle and a few ribs, but there were healed fractures all across his body, some years old. One of his floating ribs was twisted in a way that indicated that it had been damaged before it had even been bone yet. There were scars all across his body.

The abuse had been going on for a long time.

It made him sick.

Jango steepled his fingers and leaned forwards with his elbows on his knees. He was lucky, this boy, if only in that Jango had even answered the distress call of the droid, and hadn’t accidentally put a bolt between his eyes when he’d been in the vents. An escape attempt?

Jango wouldn’t put it past him. The boy fought like a feral-tooka, and he bit hard enough he’d actually put a dent in beskar. Jango could respect that.

One thing he couldn’t get out of his head was the way the entire ship had shut down, lights blown and fuses exploded inside walls when the boy had screamed. Jango had an unpleasant history with jetii, and the near miss on Galidraan didn’t help anything. There was no denying that this kid had the Force. Was he jetii ade? Had they managed to misplace one of their own?

Jango had a lot of questions on the matter.

None of them had answers yet. Jango finally left the medbay to let the droid finish covering the boy in bacta so he could check the autopilot. They would be landing in Coruscant in another two days. He would ask a few allies if any jetii ade had gone missing, and hopefully get the zabrak some proper medical treatment.

Then he could meet up with his friend, and current contractor, and get started on a job that he could feel was going to be more complicated than it was on data pad.

Weren’t they always?

Jango sent a message to Silas explaining the situation as well, just in case more needed to be done, and so he could look into any reports of a zabrak that matched the description. The rest of Haat’ade were out on similar jobs. Something quick that paid well. They needed to gather their resources and amass more money.

Galidraan had been close. Closer than Jango would have liked. Even with the warning that their mysterious benefactor that sent them, Jango had decided that it would be best to spring the trap. He’d been smart enough to have the bulk of their forces hidden and waiting, just a brief hyperspace jump away from the planet. They had intended to round up the Kyr’tsad on the planet and put an end to the war, but the jetii had gotten in the way. His forces had gotten out with minimum damage, and only a couple of casualties, and they’d dealt a vicious blow to their enemies.

Vizla had still gotten away. He’d hidden behind his own men, and then the governor of Galidraan and his jetii allies as well.

Hut’tuun.

If Jango could face him in a straight fight it would put an end to everything, but he was slippery. He always managed to find a way out of a fair fight. His hit and run tactics were brutal. He’d be forced to lay low for a while after this, now that his forces had taken such a hard blow, and now that Jango knew he wasn’t above manipulating entire planet’s to get Jango he was vetting jobs more intensely than ever.

The only reason he’d taken this one without hesitating was because he owed Clat’Ha for getting him off a dustball when they were teenager’s and he’d managed to wreck his already stolen ship.

Jango leaned his head back on the pilot’s seat and watched hyperspace blow past him.

Not for the first time did he long for Jaster back. He would have known what to do about the little ade in the medbay. Jango had a good idea, but the jetii aspect complicated things.

Well.

If the jetii couldn't keep track of their ade that was hardly his fault, now was it?

Jango grinned to himself.

For all his anger that the situation he’d pulled his little guest from, it wasn’t all bad. Once he woke up they could work out what happened next.

#Darth Maul #Maul #time travel #jango fett #darth maul time travel #tw; violence

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kerbaldevteam · 4 years

Text

Kerbal Space Program 1.10: “Shared Horizons” is now available!

Hello everyone!

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Kerbal Space Program have come together to bring you brand new content, including the ESA space-suit texture, new parts and variants, and two of their most iconic and groundbreaking missions into the game. Gear up, fuel up and prepare to share horizons with ESA and KSP!

Kerbal Space Program 1.10: Shared Horizons is the game’s latest major update aimed to continue with our efforts to enrich the KSP experience. Build a kerbalized version of the renowned and powerful Ariane 5 heavy launch vehicle, visit comets and push the limits of space exploration with a host of new additions to the game that not only will give you more things to do, but also make the game look and perform better with a bunch of bug fixes and quality of life improvements.

Let’s go through some of the update’s highlights below:

ESA Missions

Thanks to our collaboration with ESA, put yourself to the test and carry out KSP versions of the historic BepiColombo and Rosetta missions! Drop a lander module on the surface of a comet and visit the innermost planet of the solar system to study its magnetosphere and surface characteristics, all in the name of science. Best of all, the Making History and Breaking Ground expansions are not required to play these missions!

Comets

In order to make the Rosetta mission possible, comets now roam the Kerbal Solar System. With beautiful tails and larger dimensions than regular asteroids, comets appear in all game modes and you can take on new career mode contracts to detect and visit them. Be vigilant, because you might even see one that is passing through from interstellar space!

New Parts and Variants

Kerbal Space Program 1.10: Shared Horizons includes several new parts and variants to match ESA’s style! Decorate your vehicles with a variety of flag parts that can be attached to your liking, take the brand new Magnetometer Boom along with the MTO and MPO to carry out scientific experiments on Moho or beyond, or capture asteroids and comets with the Advanced Grabbing Unit Jr., a smaller and versatile version of the “Klaw”. Additionally, there are also new variants of some tanks, SRBs, the “Poodle” Liquid Fuel Engine, and decouplers; plus, fairings have not only new variants, but some updated functionality as well.

Jool and Laythe Visual Improvements

The legendary green gas giant and it’s innermost satellite have new high-quality texture maps & graphic shaders, and now look sharper and more realistic than ever! Find a nice beach on Laythe and enjoy the view of Jool’s newly animated clouds. Beautiful!

youtube

To learn more you can read the full Changelog here:

======================= v1.10===========================

1.10.0 Changelog - BaseGame ONLY (see below for Making History and Breaking Ground changelog)

+++ Improvements

* Added the ability to fine tune fairings or use the existing, snap mode. This behavior reacts to the editor's angle snap. * Added ESA missions tutorial. * Adjusted the Remove Row button in KAL to only delete the row when clicking on the red cross, not the whole segment. * Fuel cells can be set started in the VAB or SPH for launch. * Drag cube debug information now available in VAB/SPH when show aero data in PAW debug option is on. * Improve drag cube system to handle Part Variants and Shrouds on the same part. * Add additional drag cube information to Debug Aero info in PAWs. * Persist Aero GUI UI debug window setting and Debug Aero info in PAWs setting between game sessions. * Performance improvements for engine module. * Performance and memory improvements for launching a vessel from the space centre. * Performance and memory improvements for part action windows by caching them. * Performance and memory improvements for reading and writing config nodes, so better performance for loading and saving. * Performance and memory improvements for undo and redo in VAB/SPH by caching stage manager icons. * Intended duplicated group-actions have a marker to distinguish the part side. * Converter actions now indicate resource type to differentiate them. * Performance and memory improvements for loading vessels. * Preview and select suits for Kerbals via the suit selector icon (coat hanger). * Performance and Memory improvements for game, craft and mission load dialogues. * Performance and Memory improvements for vessel loading. * Performance and Memory improvements for ModuleJettison in VAB/SPH. * The KSC's grass now changes according to the currently set terrain shader quality. * Revamped Jool, giving it a new animated shader and high resolution textures. * Laythe planet textures revamp. Low, medium and high quality terrain shaders. * ESA Collaboration missions implemented for base game. * Added EVA button to the crew transfer dialog. Functions the same as the crew hatch dialog EVA button. * Added the ability to have open-ended/uncapped fairings. * Sliders now display units in the Part Action Window where appropriate. * Optimized fairing mesh construction and exploded view heuristic by caching mouse position. * Reduced GC and unnecessary calculations performed for variants on fairings. * Reduced number of meshes and colliders for fairings to improve draw calls and standarize at 24-32 sides. * Added Marquee scrolling to a few PAW items for when the text is super long. Text is ellipsis in this case and on mouse over will move left then right. * Performance improvements in flight mode by caching variables in ThermalIntegrationPass and PartBuoyancy. * Hide UI elements that aren't being used and avoid unnecessary updates in flight mode. * Performance and memory improvements for DeltaV simulations. * Speed up craft loading and use less memory in VAB/SPH. * The PAW starts towards the outside of the screen instead of over the center of the rocket/screen. * The camera will not position itself at an appropriate distance when switching vessels to prevent the camera starting inside vessels. * KSP now has Comets! * Added two new contracts for comets. * Added surface sample science experiment for comets. * Comets can explode into smaller fragments while entering a CB's atmosphere. * Fairings can now be set to not auto-expand in SPH/VAB via a new PAW option. * Improve performance of splash FX in water by using combination aof close splashes and limiting how many occur in close proximity * Adjusted the "dark" them color to be more visible in the variant selector.

+++ Localization

* Changed Japanese translation of "Polar Crater" based on community feedback. * Stock vessel name and description translations. * Fix science done at Dessert not showing localized name. * Fix Service Module parts displaying unlocalized text for Shroud. * Fix Command parts displaying unlocalized text for Cutaway. * Fixed a localization issue on the Strategies occurring on FR, IT and PT * Fix unlocalized label for facility level during missions. * Fix grammar issue in From the Moon tutorial. * Updated SC-9001 Science Jr. perform science button so it now matches the new part name. * Fixes translation error in FTE-1 part in Japanese. * Fix missing character in KSP Merchandise link in main menu in simplified Chinese. * Improved phrasing for landing label in Russian. * Fix localized string when debugging aero details. * Fix localization issues with tab headings in Tracking Station. * Fix KSPedia - Numbers on Resources/Conversion Management page alignment in Russian and Chinese. * Fix KSPedia 'app launcher' text box on the Manual/Flight Interface page alignment in Portuguese. * Fix KSPedia text on Rocketry/Basics/Centered page spacing in Japanese. * Fix KSPedia text on Manual/Management page spacing in Portuguese. * Fix KSPedia unlocalized text for measurements is displayed in the 'Effective Range Table'. * Fix KSPedia Japanese Incorrect break line in Control. * Fix numerous part description texts. * Fix a couple of messages in tutorials. * Fix action sets override explanation tooltip text. * Fix Localization of Vessel Naming Group and vessel name in PAWs. * Removed line breaks in the Orbit's Ejection field tooltip in English.

+++ Parts

* Add fuel line ESA variant. * Add Thoroughbred ESA variant. * Added Rockomax X200-32 ESA variant. * Revamped R-11 'Baguette' External Tank and added silver variant. * Revamped R-4 'Dumpling' External Tank and added silver variant. * Revamped R-12 'Doughnut' External Tank and added silver variant. * Added new variants to the fairings size 1, 2 and 3. Now we have them in white, black and white, orange, silver and gold. * Revamped Struts and added white variant. * New Moho Planetary Observer (MPO) Probe. * New Moho Transfer Module (MTM). * Fix Mainsail's Center Of Thrust. * Fix LV-N engine FX particle offset. * Added the ESA variant to the Rockomax X200-16 Fuel Tank. * New Flag parts, these new parts can be placed on fairings by holding the Mod key or by setting the Fairing Expansion = Off setting in the fairings PAW. * Parts with Flag Decals on them can now have their decal set to mirrored. * New Magnetometer Boom science experiment.* Advanced Grabbing Unit textures revamped and added a Dark variant. * New Advanced Grabbing Unit Jr. With 2 variants * Fix for LV-N engine not stacking correctly at the bottom. * Added a white and yellow variant to all TD decouplers and TS separators.

+++ Bugfixes

* Fix Action Groups app position. * Fix mesh scale on short compoundparts causing reentry FX issues. * Fixed Interstage fairings holding onto the payload in certain use cases. * Fix dV calcs for stages drawing resources across decouplers with crossfeed enabled. * Fix unable to timewarp after using Set Position and then Set Orbit cheat. * Fix autostrut being incorrectly reset on parts attached to dynamic nodes if the part is the parent. * Fix drag cubes on J-90 Goliath, 48-7S Spark, LV-909 Terrier, RE-M3 Mainsail, RE-L10 Poodle RE-I5 Skipper, and numerous other parts. * Fix craft browser selecting wrong tab when player switches between VAB/SPH. * Fix the highlight and navigation colors not being set on game start when the settings file did not exist. * Fixed a bug that stopped the player from progressing in the Basic Science Tutorial. * Fix Action Groups app header in flight. * Fix Lights toggle image not showing all rays properly in Altimiter UI. * Fix comm link not displaying correct strength when focusing on a relay satellite. * Fix node icons being rendered on top of other Flight scene UI elements. * Fix broken off solar panels, fairings and shroud parts left on the surface causing vessels to remain in landed state after they take off. * Fix Dont Show Again not working for Delete all Messages functionality. * Fix LV-T45 config by removing duplicate definition of testmodule. * Fixed veteran kerbals dissappearing when being dismissed. * Fix Navball render issue when Maneuver mode is enabled. * Fix resources not being displayed in tracking station in Prospecting Eeloo Scenario. * Fix asteroids having incorrect mass when docking. * Fix bug causing kerbals to not respawn in Space Center. * Fix bug causing difficulty settings to revert when reverting flight. * Fix maneuver node label not showing when switching selected node. * Fix an issue where Maneuver Mode's Maneuver Editor's Gizmos can enlarge or shrink when clicked extremely fast. * Fix 3.75m decoupler and separator drag cubes creating too much drag. * Fix issue where some vessels were not being reset to the terrain when loading them in a save game where the game terrain detail settings had been changed since it was last saved. * Fix a different tone of white in the white fairing variant. * Fix Launch platform selector getting stuck when opening dialogs while it is already open. * Fix Portrait Gallery when EVAing and all gallery pictures have been hidden. * Fix lighting on specular shaded part icons. * Fix 3D object masking in Editor and RnD scenes for Windows platform and openGL forced. * Pinned PAW stays open in the editor on click events and on part selection. * Add some clarity in the strategies that have no-duration (Bail-out and Sell-out) so players dont expect them to remain active over time. * Fix Z-100 battery light showing white in toolbar and tooltip icons sometimes. * Fix fuel overlay becoming offset when dragging the root part by hiding the overlay during that drag. * Remove Jettison event for Jettison parts that are fairings as they cannot be jettisoned manually. * Fix hitching in the main menu. * Fix visual artefacts of atmosphere planets in map view at high timewarp rates. * Interior lights of ship cockpits and passenger modules are linked to the toggle lights action group. * Fixed bug causing empty stages not to be deleted. * Fix label overlap that was happening in some languages. * Part Action Windows will always close when its part is destroyed. * Fixed bug where drain valve values were being defaulted to true. * Fixed bug which caused some building lights to remain on during the day. * Fix camera out of frustum error when reloading flight scene in some scenarios. * Fix inertial tensor errors when reloading flight scene in some scenarios. * Fix log messages when running missions with test experiment node and node is set to any experiment. * Maneuver mode UI negative handles don't flip functionality anymore after adjusting the tool sensitivity. * Docking Port Actions now fire docking ports on same vessel. * The technology path lines don't disappear anymore. * Fix tutorial 'orbit 101' getting stuck when trying to get to the inclination value of 10 degrees. * Correctly handle engines burning across stages for dV calcs. * Fix decoupler handling when no parts attached to decoupler for dV calcs. * Fix stage UI dV display fluctuating up and down whilst burning engines. * Fixed NRE when changing the variant of a surface-attached LV-1 'Ant'. * Fix not copying resource amounts when copying parts in VAB/SPH. * Fix contract part naming to use real part names and not 'research lab' or 'materials bay'. * Fix for some keybindings activating when typing in toolbox part search in VAB/SPH. * Fix camera shake issues in the SPH when using shift and hovering over UI elements. * Fixed disappearing mode toggle button in KerbNet dialog. * Fix for Shadow Projection Settings resetting. * Fix PAW group headers being cut off in some languages. * Fixed an issue where the UT field in Precision Maneuver Editor wasn't able to display Universal Time in the 'y * Fix 'Cannot deploy while stowed.' bug for service bays. * Fix manuever node handles changing value incorrectly when dragging 'anti' handles. * Fix randomization error in Sentinel causing short lifetimes of discovered asteroids. * Fix Exception storm when inflatable heat shield destroyed by overheat in some situations. * Fix incorrect Line Break - Tracking Station - The string 'Last seen * PAW title now matches the new name of an asteroid after being renamed. * Maneuver node no longer moves along the planned trajectory instead of the current one when moving it ahead in time using the Maneuver Mode UI input field. * Fix crew assignment being blocked after loading second ship. * Fix the vesselSituation on unloaded space objects being Flying instead of Orbiting. * Fix flickering Celestial body self-shadow issues with DX11 platform. * Fix icons in map view not rescaling properly when UI scale changes. * Fix the EVA 'Board' button prompt not disappearing when the target vessel is destroyed. * Fix unlocalized label for mk1-3 pod lights. * Fixed the Island runway textures. * Fix camera behavior when camera mode is activated multiple times in flight mode. * Fix loading of Modders KSPedia slides. * Fix beginner tutorials being locked out after pressing Save or Load game buttons. * Fix NRE flood when creating or selecting a maneuver node with the Maneuver Mode UI Intercept tab open. * Fix Set Orbit cheat to allow rendezvous with vessels in an escaping sphere of influence situation. * Fairing panels now display the proper texture you see in the editor instead of pure white. * Fix incorrect drag cube and class size on Asteroids after they have been grappled and subsequently ungrappled or reloaded via scene change or save game load.

+++ Mods

* Add IPartMassModifier to ModuleJettison. Allows mods to implement mass change on jettison. * Fix application of mass to resource ratios in ModuleResourceConverter recipes. * Renamed a duplicated shader "KSP/Particles/Alpha Blended" to now have one named that and another named "KSP/Particles/Alpha Blended Scenery".

===================== Making History 1.10.0====================

+++ Improvements

* Tracking of vessels now works for creator defined vessels that undock and get created during a mission from another vessel. Mission creators can now assign parts that have had vessel rename and priority set to test against in mission nodes. * Moved localization files to base game. * Add checkbox to FlyThrough Test Node to allow the map marker to be hidden * Added a new icon for Test Grapple node in Mission Builder. * Add setting (MISSION_NAVIGATION_GHOSTING) to show nav marker ghosting when the target is behind you. Defaulted to on for all mission games (including ESA). * Added a new Grapple test node to verify if a grabbing unit took hold of a space object. * Space Objects can now be selected in the Distance to node. * Test vessel velocity can now be compared relative to vessels, kerbals, and space objects instead of just the orbited CB. * Nodes in Making History support comets the same as asteroids.

+++ Localization

* Fixed wrong localization for asteroid nodes in mission builder. * Fix descriptions for Shrimp and SWM-94 parts.

+++ Parts

* Kickback booster revamp and ESA variant. * Added new variants to the fairings size 1.5 and 3. Now we have them in white, black and white, orange, silver and gold. * Added a white and yellow variant to the size 1.5 and size 4 TD decouplers and size 1.5 and size 4 TS separators.

+++ Bugfixes

* Fix scenario loading in Mission Builder scene causing Mission Issues. * Fix Vessel/Part tracking on Nodes for Dock/Undock/Decouple/Couple events during a mission. * Added Create Comet node to be used on the Mission Editor. Under the Spawnables section. * Fixed minor typo in Intermediate Tutorial for Missions * Fixed label size to better suit other languages in SpawnAsteroid, mission builder. * Fix label displaying incorrect experiment for collected science data when prompted to overwrite. * Fix incorrect orbit around The Sun for asteroids spawning in missions. * Fix lighting brightness on displayed Kerbals and Vessels in the GAP. * Fix bug that impeded time warping after finishing a mission. * Fix Dawn of Space Age mission failing inmediately after lift off in some cases. * Fix drag cubes for the 3.75m Structural Tubes. * Fixed mirror symmetry placement for structural panels. * Fix GAP vessel filter ribbon disappearing when selecting alternate vessel/part selector in the SAP. * Fix #autoLOC_8005448 showing in Mission builder test distance validation report. * Fix bug causing unlocked servos to be locked when launching * Fix missing line break in node description. * Fix log messages when running missions with test experiment node and node is set to any experiment. * Fix log messages about Gene Kerman's animations being legacy when using him in message nodes in a mission. * Fix misnamed FL-TX440 Tank variants so they are consistent. * Fix a number of typos in the 'Dawn of the Space Age' mission. * Fix wrong size category for FL-R5 RCS Fuel Tank and the Heat Shield (1.875m) parts. * Fix stutter and error in planet viewer transition. * Fix button text issues on Play mission dialog for non-English text.

+++ Bugfix

* Fixed erratic positioning of Dessert Airfield windmills.

==================== Breaking Ground 1.5.0=====================

+++ Improvements

* Solar Panel and RTG now displays the power units produced based on Experience trait settings in the Part extended tooltip. * Added action groups for the fan blades for toggling the Roll, Yaw and Pitch controls independently and also Turn them all ON or OFF.

+++ Localization

* Localized Blades Control Rotations.

+++ Parts

* Fan Shrouds now have a node stack on top.

+++ Bugfixes

* Fix an issue where the Track Editor would remain open after switching vessels. * Fix for localization overlapping bug for all languages in graphics settings. * Fix spelling errors in robot scanner arm parts. * Fix tooltip not appearing for max limit axis. * Fixed bug when a KAL controlling another KAL's parameters play position stopped. * Fix issue with motors engaging on launch when they have been set to disengaged in editor. * Fixed mirror symmetry placement for propellers, blades, alligator hinges and rotational servos. * Fix Autostrut on Robotic Parts being cancelled (set to off) in some use cases. * Fix Autostrut debug visualization on Robotic Parts when locked/unlocked. * Fix the FTE-1 Drain Valve releasing particles when switching between VAB and SPH. * Fix non-cargo parts being able to be stored in a cargo container. * Fix Hinges and Pistons sometimes returning to build angle when locked. *Fix lock/unlock of robotic parts not working when fired from an action group.

Kerbal Space Program 1.10: Shared Horizons is now available on Steam and will soon be available on GOG and other third-party resellers. You will also be able to download it from the KSP Store if you already own the game.

Happy Launchings!

#Kerbal Space Program #shared horizons #ESA #Update #annoucnement #Update 1.10 #changelog #available now #comets

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inevitably-johnlocked · 5 years

Note

hi steph! know of any fics where sherlock dates someone else and john gets jealous and confesses his feelings?

Hi Nonny!

AHHHHHHH Okay, so I have this weird thing where I have a hard time reading fics where Sherlock is dating someone else, LOL, because I’m garbage. I dunno why… the closest I can get is fics with Victor Trevor in them as a “replacement” or “past bf” D: I’m so sorry I’m useless in this regard… Methinks these lists may help you out a bit? :)

MY FIC LISTS:

Jealous John

Jealous John Pt. 2 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 2

Jealous John Pt 3 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 3

Jealous John and Sherlock Pt. 4

ALEXX’S LISTS

John is Jealous of Victor Trevor

Victor Trevor Appears

MORE Victor Trevor/Sherlock (Part 2)

Jealous John

Sherlock with Other Men

John thinks of Sherlock with Other Men

EDIT: ACTUALLY NONNY, I just found an offline list in my folders that I think you will like; I’ve been waiting to post it anyway :P I hope this is good :D

VICTOR TREVOR / VICTOR IS SHERLOCK’S PAST FRIEND (S4)

Unforgiven by 221b_hound (M, 4,721 w., 1 Ch. || Marriage Proposal, Victor Trevor, Jealous / Protective John, Jealous Sherlock, Sherlock’s Past) – Sherlock’s latest case is for his ex boyfriend, the brilliant and handsome Professor Victor Trevor. John is not too happy about that. But things aren’t what they seem, an old friend of John’s is involved in the case, and John has a few surprises up his sleeve. Also - a proposal! Part 16 of Unkissed

Laid Bare by esplanade (T, 6,529 w., 1 Ch. || Romance, Fluff, Pining, Angst) – “I suppose it comes as no surprise that I always rather detested grand romantic gestures. They struck me as unnecessary and contrived, feeble attempts at desperately holding together relationships, most of which should have been allowed to fall apart.”

I can’t pretend by Salambo06 (E, 7,692 w., 1 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Victor Trevor, Jealous John, Miscommunications, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, First Kiss/Time, Anal, BJs) – They had arrived more than a hour ago, and the moment they had walked inside the hotel reception, John had understood why Sherlock hadn’t wanted to come. Two men, posh suits and expensive watches on their wrists, had come to greet them with sharp remarks and badly hidden mockery, and John had seen red. Sherlock hadn’t said anything, mostly ignoring the two men entirely, and without thinking twice about it, John had slid an arm around Sherlock’s waist and introduced himself as his husband.

My Life for His by QuinnAnderson (E, 8,816 w., 1 Ch. || Guardian/Protector, Greek Mythology || Growing Up, Sex, Religious Themes, Suicide, Minor Character Death) – It began when Sherlock was eight, and he attempted to climb all the way up to the highest branch in the old willow tree in his back garden. He’d thought he was still small enough that it could support him, but the second he’d grabbed hold of it to pull himself up, the branch snapped, and down he went, plummeting a solid twenty metres. The odd thing was, he never actually hit the ground.

Illogical, even. by magikspell (E, 9,119 w., 1 Ch. || Grey-Ace Sherlock, Character Study, Growing Up, Victor Trevor, Romance, First Time/Kiss, Sherlock-centric) – Five reasons Sherlock never believed in love and one reason he does now.

I’m content as we are (but) by inqui (The_Circus) (E, 13,086 w., 1 Ch. || Jealous John, UST/RST, Pining, Victor Trevor, Minor Whump, First Kiss / Time, Misunderstandings) – In which John Watson sees something unusual, becomes jealous, and makes too much of a small thing as an old friend of Sherlock’s shows up in the middle of a case.

Say For Me, Love by MirabileLectu (T, 13,147 w., 1 Ch. || UST, First Kiss, Drama, Pining John, Victor Trevor) – If you had asked John this morning what the result of his quiet afternoon at home would be, discovering a truth about Sherlock’s past startling enough to shift the foundations of their friendship would not have been his first guess. So naturally, that was what was bound to happen.

Let’s Make a Bed Out in the Rain by theimprobable1 (M, 17,664 w., 11 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Angst & Fluff, First Kiss, Unrequited, Jealous Sherlock, Protective Sherlock) – John is devastated after his long-term girlfriend leaves him. Sherlock helps him through it.

That Partitioning of the Things of Youth by wearitcounts (E, 35,353 w., 7 Ch. || Humour and Angst, Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, UST / RST, Friends to Lovers, Jealous John) – Victor Trevor is in town, and nobody’s happy.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Resistivity and Relative Charge by liriodendron (E, 41,750 w., 8 Ch. || Synesthesia, Angst, Case Fic, Romance, Est. Rel., Homophobia, Religious Content, Victor Trevor, Mild Jealous John, Mild John Whump) – In which Sherlock Holmes meets an old acquaintance, John Watson doesn’t enjoy a trip to the country quite as much as he thought he would, and the past absolutely refuses to stay where it belongs. Part 3 of Conductivity

Sacré Coeur by Mamaorion (M, 95,236 w., 27 Ch. || S4 Fix It Rewrite, First Kiss, UST / RST, Eventual Happy Ending, Coming Out, Holmes Family, Marriage Proposal, Husbands, Healing, Evil Mary, Beekeeping, Caretaker Sherlock, Mind Palace, Alzheimer’s Disease, Protective / Big Brother Mycroft, TD-12) – In this s4 fixit, John must piece together the gaps in his altered memory if he and Sherlock are to face the terror that has plagued Sherlock since childhood. As they untangle the web, seven years of hidden love ignite. (TO READ)

A Further Sea by i_ship_an_armada & ShinySherlock (E, 125,492 w., 23 Ch. || Historical Pirates AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Doctor John / Pirate Captain Sherlock, Sailing, UST / RST, Masturbation, Action / Adventure, Mild Angst & Peril, Romance, Shaving, Molly/Janine, Bottomlock, Hand / Blow Jobs, Past Drug Use, Slow Burn, Mild Violence, Happy Ending) – Here be a tale of adventure for both body and soul, but beware if ye be not of stout heart, for this be piratelock, ya savvy? Luckless ship’s surgeon John Watson takes a chance, and finds himself eye to eye with The Ghost, the scourge of the seven seas and a definite thorn in the side of the blaggard, James Moriarty. But when John finds there’s more to this most cunning pirate than be meetin’ the eye, he has to choose… is it a pirate’s life for him?

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w., 17 Ch. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We’re all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors ‘Verse

SHERLOCK AND OTHER MEN

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

Drawn to Stars by Silvergirl (E, 66,392 + w., 42/56 Ch. || WiP || S4 Compliant to TLD / TFP Doesn’t Exist, Sherlock’s Italian Adventure, Jealous John, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, First Kiss/Time, Idiots in Love, Angst with Happy Ending) – After the Culverton Smith case Sherlock is clean, working, and looking for a romantic partner—since John has told him that’s what he needs. Shame John didn’t mention he was interested in that role himself, before Sherlock went off to Rome with a gorgeous Italian copper to try to fall in love and become a complete human being. (MARKED FOR LATER / TO READ)

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #victor trevor #my fic recs #Anonymous #jealous john #johnlock and other people #fic rec sunday

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mitchintille · 4 years

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2021 Mock Draft 1.0

Super Bowl 55 is just a few days away, which means draft season is looming in the rearview mirror. In a class that is expected to produce an abundance of offensive talent, several teams could benefit from this year’s crop. With a reported possibility of 18 teams looking for a change at the quarterback position, there is quite a bit of ambiguity as we approach the draft, and this year could shape up to be one of the wildest drafts we’ve seen in recent memory. Without further ado, here are my early first round predictions for the 2021 NFL draft....

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

From the moment he set foot on campus his freshman season, Lawrence has always has shown the capabilities of being a future NFL star. He took no time bursting onto the scene. After a dazzling freshman season, in which he lead the Tigers to a title in blowout fashion over an absolutely loaded Alabama team, he followed it up with two more trips to the playoffs, including another trip to the title game.

The former No.1 overall recruit in the country offers everything one could wish for in a franchise quarterback. He is a gifted, natural thrower of the football who is wise beyond his years at the position. Even new head coach Urban Meyer feels that he has the potential to be the best QB ever. Jaguars fans, your savior has come. Rejoice.

2. Houston Texans: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Houston receives: 2nd overall pick (2021), 23rd overall pick (2021), 3rd round pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 4th round pick (2022)

New York receives: Deshaun Watson, 6th round pick (2022)

Let’s get weird. Deshaun Watson being traded has reached inevitability status, and the Jets are stockpiled with draft picks over the next few years. It has been rumored that Watson would prefer to play for the Jets under the tutelage of new head coach Robert Saleh. The Jets have the firepower to make this pick happen, and in this scenario they pull off the mega deal and get their guy. So where does that leave Houston?

They luck into a talented, natural thrower of the football, with a very clean feel for the pocket. He has a rocket arm, and is particularly impressive when asked to go off script. The Texans rebuild will undoubtedly be a long one, but with Wilson, they have a fresh face of the franchise moving forward, and will look to continue adding more weapons around him to set him up for success.

3. San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Between the Rams’ recent trade for Matthew Stafford, and Kyle Shanahan remaining noncommittal on Jimmy Garoppolo for the foreseeable future, it wouldn’t shock me to see John Lynch be aggressive and try to nab their QB of the future.

Fields put up gaudy numbers in his first year as a starter, posting an absurd 51-3 TD/INT ratio. He showed a bit of regression in a COVID-shortened year two, but still displayed all of the tools you’d hope to see when searching for a franchise QB.

Finding a way to get Jimmy G’s lucrative contract off the books, and adding a talented player like Fields would be a win-win for an organization whom I feel would GREATLY benefit from a changing of the guard under center.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

With the arrival of new head coach Arthur Smith, it is time for a rebrand in Atlanta. Matt Ryan is expected to make over $40m a season for the next two years, and while he is certainly not the main issue with this team, the Falcons need to move in a new direction.

Lance is perhaps the most polarizing player in this year’s class. Similar to Fields, he too posted video game like numbers in his first year at the helm. The Minnesota product threw for 28 TD’s, while posting another 14 on the ground. He also didn’t throw an interception all season. He possess all of the physical tools that NFL teams salivate over, and while questions will remain in regards to the inferior competition he’s been exposed to over his career, the opportunity to sit and learn from Matt Ryan could serve both himself and the Falcons some good.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

If Sewell is on the board, he will be the pick for the Bengals. After breakout rookie quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the sense of urgency to upgrade the offensive line should be at an all-time high for the Bengals.

Sewell allowed just one sack over 1,376 career snaps and will spend the majority of his rookie season at age 20. He is a smooth mover with easy power, who is capable of playing on either side of the line. He is the exact type of stalwart that is needed for the Bengals to protect their QB of the future.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

I don’t know what to make of the Eagles’ current situation. They are in QB purgatory and have gaping holes riddled across their roster. With the recent hiring of Colts’ OC Nick Sirianni, I’d imagine adding offensive firepower would be at the top of his to-do list. Assuming they move forward with Jalen Hurts at QB, it is imperative to surround him with quality skill players. After drafting Jalen Reagor in the first round last year, they double dip this year and take the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Smith is not the most conventional receiver, being that there aren’t too many 6′1, 175-lb receivers who have enjoyed prolonged success in the league, but Smith doesn’t care about your player profiles. Smith can make plays all over the field and beat you in a myriad of ways. He is a nuanced route runner with a seemingly natural feel for his position, and someone I can assume Sirianni will fall in love with as the draft process begins to heat up.

7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

If Lance were to have fallen to this spot, I’d have probably made him the selection. However, I’ll opt to give them a difference maker like Waddle.

With Kenny Golladay’s impending departure and both Danny Amendola and Marvin Jones Jr. testing the open market, that WR room could get UGLY in a hurry. Waddle is essentially a supercharged version of his former teammate Henry Ruggs. He has legit 4.2 speed, and does a great job of tracking the deep ball. The Lions are desperate for speed on the perimeter, and Waddle would be an instant upgrade to what they have now. He’s a true, top-10 talent assuming he manages to stay healthy.

8. Carolina Panthers: Ja’marr Chase, WR, LSU

Now just hear me out on this. Curtis Samuel is approaching free agency and will likely be headed elsewhere. Aside from DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, the cupboard is bare. Chase put up record-setting numbers in his only year under current Panthers OC Joe Brady when they were at LSU, so a reunion would only be right.

Chase is perhaps the best player in the entire class regardless of position. He is a physical route-runner who attacks the catch point with ease, and his RAC ability might be his best trait. He is very reminiscent of Moore, and pairing those two along with Anderson’s deep speed could perhaps create the most dangerous receiving trio in the NFL.

9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

After an heavy offensive draft last year, the Broncos buck the trend and refocus on rebuilding their defense. Farley’s size and athleticism are a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s versatile defensive scheme. I believe Farley has the potential to be a star in this league very quickly.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

After wrestling back and forth with myself on this pick, the Cowboys settle on Slater. The once elite Cowboys offensive line has suddenly deteriorated into mediocrity. With both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins returning from injuries, Slater can serve as an insurance policy at either position, or kick him inside if need be.

His versatility and strong lower half are both commendable traits that should allow him to see a long career in the NFL.

11. New York Giants: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Truthfully, this might be the most unpredictable pick in the first round. Dave Gettleman is tricky, but recently he has invested into the secondary quite a bit. After signing James Bradberry to a pricy extension last off-season, they also invested a pick into Xavier McKinney, as well as the addition of guys like Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers.

With Surtain, he brings a combo of length and savvy to the position, and would serve as the Giants’ other outside corner opposite of Bradberry.

12. Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Yes, I’m highly aware that Mike Gesicki exists. But hear me out on this one, Pitts is more than just your standard “tight end” prospect. If it weren’t for a TE listed next to his position, I’d say that he’s the second best receiver in the draft.

He is nearly impossible to match up against. He’s too fast for linebackers and too physical for corners. He’s shown the capability to play in the slot, flexed out wide, or with his hand in the dirt. Pairing him and Gesicki together will give Tua Tagovailoa (assuming he remains their guy moving forward), a plethora of weapons at his disposal.

13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Keeping Justin Herbert clean and protected should be the top priority heading into the offseason for Tom Telesco. After a breakout rookie season, it seems the Chargers struck a goldmine in Herbert. Being that the Chargers haven’t had a decent offensive line in years, a trip out west would make sense for Darrisaw.

The Virginia Tech product is a very fluid mover, whose length and quickness allow him to reach the second level with ease as a run blocker. He will be an instant upgrade to their run game, and has the maturity to protect Herbert’s blindside from day one in LA.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

After the loss of Everson Griffen to free agency, and Danielle Hunter missing most of the 2020 season due to a back injury, the Vikings should be looking to rebuild their pass rush. Mike Zimmer seems to have a knack for high-ceiling pass rushers with athletic upside. Rousseau fits the bill.

The Florida native saw his star shine after a dazzling sophomore season, racking up an impressive 15.5 sacks. Rousseau has easy power off the edge. While he is still a bit raw from a technician standpoint, his natural power and length will be a nightmare for tackles to deal with from day one. If he can mature his game, he has the potential to be one of the most productive edge rushers in the league in due time.

15. New England Patriots: Micah Parsons, EDGE, Penn State

After some recent concerns over Parsons’ character, he sees his stock slide and he falls into the lap of Bill Belichick. After being used in several different spots at Penn State,

Parsons projects best as an EDGE, but has the necessary tools to develop his skills over time. Belichick has a fetish for hybrid linebackers that can rush the passer, and pairing the two together would do wonders for his development over time.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

After adding Matthew Stafford to the division, and the Niners looking to upgrade at the quarterback position, it is time for the Cardinals to get better in the secondary. Quickly.

Horn is an excellent press corner, with an alpha-dog type mentality that should fit in well in the Cardinals’ back end. He does have a tendency to be too grabby and aggressive at times, and his lack of size will hurt him against bigger receivers. He is not a perfect corner prospect, but the Cardinals don’t have much of a choice here.

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami

Truthfully, I have no idea what to predict here. The front office is an absolute mess, and have proven themselves to be incompetent when it comes to drafting. After missing badly on Clelin Ferrell a few years ago, they have a chance to redeem themselves with the selection of Phillips.

The former number one overall recruit had a late start to his career, after suffering several injuries and at one point declaring himself medically retired. After transferring to Miami from UCLA, Phillips began to improve his game, and vaulted himself into first round considerations after a breakout 2020 campaign. His injury history may force him to fall, but his combination of size, speed, and motor is very exciting, and he may be the exact type of player Mike Mayock falls in love with.

18. Miami Dolphins: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Brian Flores is one of the few Belichick proteges recently that has found success as a head coach. Much like Belichick, Flores places a large emphasis on versatility, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. This is why Collins would be a perfect fit on day one.

Collins was truly a jack-of-all-trades in his time at Tulsa. He was one of the best players in all of college football last season, and did so in a number of ways. He can rush the passer, cover a runningback out of the backfield. Think D’onta Hightower type role for Collins if he were to head to south beach.

19. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

With the trend in the NFL heading towards a youth movement at QB, it wouldn’t shock me to see Washington fall in love with Jones.

Although he’s not the most dynamic passer, Jones is a solid athlete with an incredibly comfortable feel for the game. He is a great processor with plus accuracy, and has shown impressive flashes of improvisation. He may not have a very high ceiling moving forward, but I can him instantly making that team better and elevating them into playoff contention on a year-to-year basis.

20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

With Allen Robinson likely headed elsewhere in free agency and Anthony Miller’s slow start, the time is now to add playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Insert Bateman.

One of the most forgotten men in the whole class, Bateman is silky smooth in everything he does, and will be the most physical WR on any field he steps on. He eats up intermediate routes, and is capable of being a vertical threat. His game reminds me a ton of guys like Keenan Allen and Michael Thomas, not the most physically gifted guys, but masters of their craft and play to their strengths.

Whether or not the Bears decide to move forward with Mitchell Trubisky at QB or not, it is imperative to give the man under center some more feasible options to work with in the passing game.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

While the temptation was high to take a receiver here, I opted for the highly athletic EDGE with limitless upside.

Not having a combine will prove to affect Paye’s stock, as he was expected to test through the roof at his position. Once listed as one of Bruce Feldman’s “freaks”, Paye finally applied his athleticism to the field in 2020. He is very reliant on his natural power and speed, and has yet to develop any consistent counter moves. If developed properly, his size/speed combo alongside Deforest Buckner could prove to be deadly for an already improving defense.

22. Tennessee Titans: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Being that the Jadeveon Clowney acquisition backfired on them, the Titans are still in search of a consistent pass rush opposite of Harold Landry.

Ojulari is young and lacks experience. But when his motor gets going, he could be the most explosive rusher in the class. He’d be perfect in their 3-4 defense, and has the potential to be a good player in space as he gains more experience.

23. New York Jets: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

One of the staples of a Robert Saleh defense is consistent pressure off the edge. The Jets lack any and all types of pass rush at the moment, and Ossai’s intriguing upside in that defense could see him turn out to be a very productive player.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Man, Notre Dame just pumps them out, don’t they? With GM Kevin Colbert’s affinity for drafting players from big name schools, Eichenberg becomes the most recent, NFL product of the offensive line factory that is Notre Dame.

Much like any of the Notre Dame linemen of the past, Eichenberg is techincally sound in everything he does. He may not be athletic enough to play left tackle, but is a plug and play right tackle from day one.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Although the temptation would be to select a receiver here, the Jags have $100m in cap space to work with, which can be spent on one of the receivers in what is expected to be an impressive free agency class.

Cosmi may be a little undersized, but is very athletic and light on his feet for the position. If he can bulk up and maintain his athleticism, I can see him being the Jaguars’ left tackle for the next decade.

26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

A surprising slide leaves Cleveland with one of the most gifted players in the draft.

JOK is a heat-seeking missile, who showed very impressive flashes in coverage. He is the prototypical, modern-day NFL linebacker through and through.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Eric Decosta recently hinted at his lust for the dynamic Florida receiver. Toney was used in several different ways over the course of his career, but really seemed to find himself as a slot receiver in 2020.

On a team desperate for playmakers on offense, Toney would fit like a glove on that intermediate/short game offensive scheme. Toney is a menace with the ball in his hands. He has incredible contact balance and vision. If he continues to progress as a receiver, he would be a very nice addition.

28. New Orleans Saints: Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

In what looks to be a fairly uninspiring IDL class, Barmore’s stock rose in his first season as a starter. The Philly native has clubs for hands, and he proved himself to be un-blockable down the stretch. Ohio State had no answer for him in the national championship game, and he seems to only be sratching the surface of what he can become.

In this case, the Saints don’t reach for a QB and draft the best player on the board, which just so happens to be Barmore.

29. Green Bay Packers: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

The Packers failure to address the receiver position came full circle this season. After losing their second consecutive NFC Championship, the lack of talent at WR cost them in the end. Enter Dyami Brown, one of the best kept secrets in the entire draft.

Brown is a budding star. Only listed at 6′1, 185-lb, Brown consistently plays larger than his frame. He is perhaps the best vertical threat in the entire draft. Brown displays freakish ball tracking skills, along with 4.3 speed. Pairing him with Rodgers could be the missing piece that gets them over the hump moving forward, and would show that the organization is dedicated to Rodgers as their guy until he retires.

30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

With Matt Milano’s future with the Bills in question, it would not surprise me to see them cut bait and go after the athletic and physical SEC backer.

Bolton is a bit undersized for the position, so pairing him with Tremaine Edmunds would be the perfect complement. He great sideline to sideline speed, and will be an immediate upgrade over Milano from an athletic standpoint.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

With Donovan Smith set to become a free agent, I’d imagine the Bucs will look to replace him this off-season.

Leatherwood was a two-year starter at left tackle, but is capable of playing on the interior as well. Even if the Bucs were to bring Smith back, having a depth piece to the quality of Leatherwood could serve vital for a team who is destined ti make a run until Tom Brady’s retirement.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC

An interesting storyline that has gotten lost in the mix of guys like Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have battled several injuries along the offensive line. They’re likely to play 3-4 backups in the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Although the production remains elite and ultimately the deteriorating health on the line hasn’t bitten them yet, it is not a sustainable way to move forward.

Vera-Tucker is a highly refined player, who has experience playing at any spot on the line. Much like the Bucs, adding quality depth and talent among the offensive line to protect your franchise should never be a move that is scrutinized.

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marshunter06 · 4 years

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After The Snap

A/N: This really should be longer, so forgive me, but I had to get the idea out. Also it’s weird that this is for TD, but hey *shrugs*

It took another two years after All Stars for them to get back together. They ran into each other by chance after Duncan had served his time and Courtney graduated from school. She just got settled in a law firm and his lawyers happened to be from the same one. They recognized each other instantly, but she ignored him once more just like the last time they met. He should just let her go, he’s hurt her enough and she clearly doesn’t want anything to do with him. He never was one to follow the rules though, she barely gets two steps out of the building before he’s already running after her. She hears him coming and before she turns around she smiles. This is how they come together again. Armed with knowledge and love for each other knowing that their relationship wouldn’t be easy, but that it’s worth it. Just as the first time they fall hard and fast, full of passion and burning desire. Second chances are hard to come by, neither of them would risk what they worked so hard to rebuild, but of course nothing about them ever came easily.

“Sorry, I’m running a little late, the last case brief went a little over.”

“It’s alright Princess, I’m stuck in traffic, so we should meet up about the same time.”

“I’m about ten minutes away.”

“Me too, I’ll see you… what the…”

“Duncan? Hello?”

Strange, maybe he was going through a tunnel, Courtney didn’t pay it much mind as she walked down the empty block towards the park where they were supposed to meet. She checks her watch, it was a little after seven on a Thursday evening, the streets are usually busier, but it was a four day weekend, everyone was probably traveling to the next city. There were many cars around since most had driven home at six already, but there were a few scattered in weird positions. They would get a ticket not to mention it was incredibly inconsiderate to park in the middle of the road. Still she tries not to let that distract her, she was already late. They only had date night once a week and she was looking forward to this one. It was officially six months since he asked her out again. She got to the park, there was a heavy feeling around the air an unexplainable weight. She felt it as soon as she sat down on the bench, there were also dust particles floating about. Lost children looking for their parents and parents looking for children. Something was very wrong.

He was late. Really late. They were on the phone thirty minutes ago and he said he would be here in ten. The children started to cry and the parents’ screams were desperate. She tries to call him, but it rings until she gets his voicemail. She tries again and again, then texts him. She doesn’t get a reply. Why wouldn’t he answer at a time like this, it’s not like him. They’ve both made it a point to prioritize the other, so why wasn’t he answering? She waits around another twenty minutes before she decides to go home. She was angry, but mostly upset. Her heart was telling her something was wrong.

She makes it halfway home when her phone rings, she picks up immediately hoping it’s Duncan with an explanation, but it wasn’t. It was Cate and she was crying.

“Court…”

“Cate, what’s wrong?”

“You’re still here…”

“Of course I am, why wouldn’t I? What’s going on?”

“They’re… they’re gone…”

“What? Who are you talking about?”

“Mom and Dad… they disappeared in front of me… turned to dust…”

“That doesn’t make any sense…”

“If it didn’t happen before my eyes I wouldn’t believe it either… turn on the news Sissy.”

“I’m outside, I don’t have the… wait there’s a T.V there.”

It was all over the news, footage of people turning to dust in front of their loved one, there was no explanation. No one understood what was going on and why those were the ones to disappear. It was happening all over the world, plane crashes and car accidents from the pilots and drivers vanishing. The only thing they knew was that Earth's population was cut in half in the span of a second.

“Court?”

“... no… it can’t… Duncan!”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know Cate, we were supposed to meet an hour ago… he hasn’t been answering me…”

“You don’t think…”

“No… no way… we just… no…”

“Check his location. You have to make sure, I’ll go with you.”

“Okay…”

Duncan was the one to suggest sharing their location, he wanted to prove to her that he had nothing to hide. That way even she would always know where he is and vice versa if they ever needed to find each other in an emergency. When they first started dating again she did check on it once or twice, but she quickly got rid of the habit. She had nothing to worry about, he reassured her countless times, she was the only one in his heart.

Cate met her at the bus station closest to where Duncan’s phone said he was. Together the both of them walk towards the intersection, they spot his car easily, but he was nowhere to be found. His phone was in the cup holder and the engine was still running, but the car was at least parked, nothing was out of place except for the pile of dust on the driver’s seat.

One Year…

A whole year passes and they still don’t know why half the universe disappeared. The only people that Courtney knew who weren’t dusted were Cate, Bridgette, Geoff, and Heather. The whole world was still trying to get used to life going back to normal, but it wasn’t easy. New positions had to be filled, but everyone was still mourning the ones they lost. Courtney was no different. Life as a lawyer has to go on, but she couldn’t focus on her cases, trying to figure out who was still alive was a huge hassle. She knew she had to be brave for Cate, the loss of their parents hit her sister especially hard. Combined with losing Duncan, it’s a miracle Courtney could still function, but she was strong. She tried her best to carry on like normal even though her whole world turned upside down. She still held onto the hope that this was temporary and he would be back soon. He was brought into her life for a reason, he shouldn’t be gone when they were finally happy again.

Two Years…

Society was starting to pick up slightly, thanks to those helping others cope through support groups. They helped people through the stages of grief and how to move on without all the answers as to why their loved ones were gone instead of them. Cate has been doing well in those gatherings, she encouraged Courtney to join in. She has yet to attend a meeting, instead she self medicated with too much alcohol with Heather. She could talk to Bridgette about this, she still had her other half and even though she was supportive, she could never understand how painful this whole ordeal is.

“Two fucking years, can you believe it Court?”

“I know, it’s hard to keep hoping with each passing day.”

“Yeah, I miss him a lot. I would never say this if we weren’t drunk already.”

“Not drunk enough if I’m willing to admit that I miss Duncan too.”

“He was going to propose to me…”

“What?”

“I knew, I found the ring at the bottom of his sock drawer, he was mid proposal when it happened, all I have left is the ring in the box. He’ll never know I would have said yes.”

“Heather…”

“What about you Court? I know you guys only recently got back together.”

“Our story isn’t anything like yours, it was date night. We were on the phone and then he stopped talking.”

“Doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”

Three Years…

The rest of the world was mostly back to normal now, yes people still mourned their loved ones, but the Earth still spins with or without them. Cate even managed to find a boyfriend through her meetings. They were able to find comfort with each other trying to navigate this new world.

“Come on Sissy, I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine Cate, promise.”

“No you’re not, you’re still hurting like crazy, I know you haven’t moved on.”

“How can I move on…”

“I know and I’m not asking you to forget him, but you know Duncan would want you to be happy.”

“Going to these meetings won’t help.”

“Just one, please. I’m hosting the next one, just be there to support me.”

“... okay, but I’m not going to share anything. Nothing I say could bring him back anyways.”

Four Years…

She did end up going to those meetings after Cate forced her to attend the first one. It didn’t make her heart any less heavy, but at least she knew she wasn’t alone in feeling lost. Heather even joined wanting to connect with others. It seems neither of them could cope well without their soulmates. It didn’t matter how much society was thriving, it wouldn’t bring Duncan back. She did start volunteering to help others deal with how to move on, she helped them get their life together without forgetting those they lost. She hated going home alone, they didn’t have a chance to move in officially, but she kept all of his stuff. She even moved all of his things from his place to hers. She tried to keep busy, but once she was home there was nothing to distract her, she wasn’t sleeping well. Courtney’s always prided herself on her image, but she could care less about what others saw. Her heart wasn’t in it, even during their big breakup on World Tour couldn’t compare to how hurt she was now. It didn’t help that her Facebook would remind her of all the memories she had with him. Seeing him smile in those pictures knowing he would never be back was too much to bear. Still she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of the pictures, it was all she had left.

Five Years…

It took five years for them to get back together, naturally it would take another five years for her to get him back. This must have been payback for the way she treated him when they first started dating. Truth be told she didn’t believe their relationship would last, they were too different and too young, but still she found herself going back to him every time they broke up. She loves him, always has and always will. She never expected to rekindle their romance after All Stars, just as she never expected to lose him just when she was finally ready to tell him she loves him again. No one had ever broken her the way he did, but Duncan was also the only one who complimented her so well. She had decided during these five years that no one would ever compare, she still had suitors chasing after her, but she turned them all down. It wouldn’t be fair to them when her heart only belonged to one man. He made her weak, and for once she wasn’t mad, he was the reason she even knew what love was.

She was walking with Heather to a coffee shop when it happened. There was a shift in the air and they all felt it, in the blink of an eye there was a crowd of people before them. Everyone was confused, how was this possible… her phone was ringing, she must be dreaming or this was a cruel joke, Duncan was calling her.

“Princess? What’s going on?”

Tears immediately fell down her face, she couldn’t answer him. Was this real? Could he actually be back. She turned to see Heather with the same reaction, without another word they both ran out of the store headed to where they left their other half five years ago.

“Hey, don’t cry, where are you? I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Duncan, I’m headed to the park.”

“I’m already there, I don’t know what happened to my car but somehow I ended up by our bench.”

“Stay there and don’t hang up okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

She ran as fast as she could afraid that if she didn’t get there soon then he would disappear again leaving her all alone. She didn’t stop until she saw him and when she did, she immediately collapsed into his arms. He held her tight and the sound of his heart beating calmed her. He was real and he was actually here. He looks exactly the same as the last time she saw him five years ago on his way to work.

“Hey, it’s okay Court.”

“You disappeared.”

“What are you talking about?”

He finally took a good look at her and saw that her hair was longer and she looked older. More importantly she looked exhausted, he hasn’t seen her this torn apart since their big fight back on reality T.V.

“Princess, what happened?”

“You were gone for five years, along with half the population. We don’t know what happened, but you’re back now. That’s all that matters.”

“That’s not possible, I don’t remember being gone at all.”

“It’s hard to believe, I didn’t when it first happened.”

“So you mean I really lost five years with you?”

“I must look terrible.”

“Not at all Court, you’re still as beautiful as the moment I met you. I’m just mad that I didn’t get to spend those years with you. We were supposed to be rebuilding our relationship.”

“We still can. There’s no one else for me Duncan. I love you.”

“I love you too. Always.”

They may have lost another five years together, but she didn’t move on, not this time. They’ll never know why this happened or if it’ll happen again. It’s a terrifying thought to know that she could lose him again, but isn’t that what life was like anyways? No one truly knows when death comes knocking. They were lucky to have found each other again and to stay in love. There’s too many unsolved mysteries in the world, it wasn’t their job to find the answers. All they need is each other, besides they had a lot to catch up on.

A/N: Srsly I could go more into detail and it would be way more angsty, but probs not a good idea with our own crisis going on in this world. Also I need a better title

#duncney #I didn’t want to actually make a crossover #I do feel bad that it’s Courtney who I made stay but oh well #while I’m at it fuck endgame

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iguessihavemore · 4 years

Text

TD Garden Chap.2: Not Your Garden Variety Pt.2

I wanted to finish off this episode with this part, but I’m having trouble with a few scenes after what I have here, along with the plethora of shit going on lately that I’m guessing you can imagine. So I decided to make this a 2/3 instead. I feel like it gives a pretty good idea of what everybody is running off to do anyway, so I hope you enjoy it for now!

The host produced two folded pieces of paper from his back pocket, holding them out to the mass of teens in front of him. “Y’all ready for a little island/garden scavenger hunt-”

“IT’S CHALLENGE TIMEeEeE!!!” Jackson screeched, lunging forward and ripping both from him. Chris held his hands up palm-open at the boy.

Rosie rolled up one of her boxy sleeves. “Hey now-” She began lightly.

Nadine waved at her to stay, dancing forward instead. After a few quick steps, Nadine stretched over on one foot until she was nearly horizontal. The sudden image of her face at his chest made Jackson jump, and she took the opportunity to pluck one of the lists from him.

“Hrmph!” He grunted, tearing the remaining one open. Both teams leaned into their respective paper.

A noticeable rift was between the Cheshire Queens and Hare Hatters now, and the only ones within it were the conjoined twins. They both turned a head to a team, then at each other over their shared shoulder. Avery and Erika whispered until they reached a conclusion, opting to sidle towards the Queens.

Chris cleared his throat and began to explain what they were reading. “Both teams have to find twelve roses, then an additional double-headed rose. So thirteen in all.” A few eyes flicked towards the twins. “After that, you’ll see that there are a bunch of taped-on flower names. You only have to pick four.” The teens sighed in relief- finding upwards of twenty things hadn’t sounded like much fun.

“And you’re going to want to choose wisely. Once you collect all your flowers, you need to make a bouquet with them. It needs to have a theme, and it needs to not look like GARBAGE. Just saying that because I want you all to know that I don’t have faith in any of you, so just ‘not bad’ will suffice. The team that has the nicer bouquet may be able to win, even if it’s incomplete. However, your team can only end the challenge if you’ve collected all of your flowers.” The host explained.

Pathetically, Rosie whined, “So all this means…. when we find them, we HAVE to p- p- p- p- pick them…?”

“...Yeeeaaahhh…” Chris drawled blandly.

“Oh, Chris, I can’t-!” Rosie cried out.

“Ah-ah!” Chris harshly waved off her outburst. Her bottom lip quivered agape, but she opted to start fretfully biting her nails instead.

“Now, with my flawless photographic memory, we dumped the stuff…” Chris muttered under his breath, squinting into the distance with his hands bordering his face. Lucas perked up out of his pouting long enough to curiously come up behind him, twisting the host a few inches to the side. “Right there!” Chris immediately said, motioning in that direction with his hands like an aircraft marshall. Lucas put his fists on his hips proudly.

“Go down that way, and you’ll find all the supplies you’ll need for making a bouquet. It’s also where we threw all your luggage.”

Jackson snapped his head up from reading the list. His knees started to bob as he listened more intently.

“And that’s all you really need to know-” Chris began to conclude, prompting Jackson to jump up and tear towards where they were directed.

The action alone set an uneasy energy through the rest, impatiently eying Chris. He gave an irritated sigh and a short nod, and the tense batch of teens took off, just itching to begin this game.

All but one, that is.

“Wh- hey! What are you all doing!?” Roger yelled, throwing his hands up. “You’re going the wrong way!”

“Come on Roger, catch up!” Jennifer impatiently ordered him.

“But- but- don’t we need roses? There was a bush full of them but- they’re in the other direction!!” He was just about screaming to be heard as the distance between him and the others grew larger, but what he said stopped them in their tracks.

Within seconds, Paulie swiveled on her heel and rushed backwards, toothily grinning. She shoved the team scepter into the muscular crook of Tony’s arm as she passed. He blinked down at it.

A few members of the Hare Hatters were up to the task, but Cameron was the one who broke into a run for it first. “I got this!” She cockily assured the rest. With a person from each team on it, most of them went back to barreling towards the tools and luggage.

Roger only watched the girls go past him. “I don’t-” He huffed, confused and irritated. “Which way are we going, then!? Why do we even need to run-”

Amelia jogged back for him. Her voice even more feathery than usual, she told him, “Paulie’s going to get the flowers. Come on Roger, let’s go get our stuff!” She flashed a smile at him and took his hand in hers.

“AH UH oh,” Roger failed to object, probably unsure if he wanted to, and simply allowed her to lead him into running with the others.

They passed in front of both sets of sisters: the twins, who were the only ones who opted to walk, and Stella and Marina, who were jogging lightly side-by-side. Stella watched after them, eyes half-lidded. “REAL dumb.”

*The Shed: Stella and Marina* The adopted sisters sat on either side of the bench. Stella was slumped over, idly toying with a trowel, while Marina addressed the camera. “Too many people assume that Stella isn’t smart because she can’t communicate well. But that isn’t the case at all! She’s full of good thoughts and ideas.”

She looked at her sister. “People like Roger who are able to process and communicate neurotyically but can’t… do a lot with it?” She bashfully rose a brow, trying not to say ‘dumb.’ “Might make Stella a bit jealous.” *End* *III*

Cameron and Paulie were heading full-speed towards the winner’s cabin. Paulie’s lime-colored coils bounced behind her, and Cameron’s plum hair hopped around her face, the green tips flying wildly. They shared a competitive smile as they kept pace with one another, a playful edge to their respective dusty red and dark pink eyes.

When they came to the bush, they wasted no time in circling it and grabbing their roses, getting a little nicked by the thorns in the process. Paulie jumped away from it first, whirling around pridefully. “First!”

“Tch, well-” Cameron was prepared to retort, but her final grab for her last rose came up empty. “Wha? Heheh.” She held up a finger to silently ask that Paulie wait. The baker responded by shifting her weight to one foot and putting her empty hand on hip, smirking.

Cameron searched around it a few more times. She stomped up to Paulie suspiciously. “How is it that YOU got twelve roses and I got all the way up to eleven, but there aren’t ANY more left?”

Paulie shrugged. “Man, I don’t know, you see that I only got a dozen!”

Cameron counted them and deflated. “Awfully strange it only had twenty-three.” She frowned at her own incompletely bundle.

“Probs just a coincidence and not, like, something they planned. It ain’t anybody’s fault how many times the thing tries to reproduce. Or whatever roses are biologically for.” Paulie mused.

“Yeah… but it’s your fault that you’re gonna eat my dust!” Cameron charged off.

“Oh-HO!” The punk gleefully followed suit.

*The Shed: Paulie* “I really only did pick a dozen!” Paulie flashed her now-empty hands forward. She reached behind her back and pulled out her thirteenth rose, giving it a sniff. “Well, a baker’s dozen, but who’s counting?” *End* *III*

Soon enough for the head of the pack, two tables came into view. He rushed by both, completely ignoring them to get to the stacks of bags and suitcases at the end of the clearing. Not that he cared, but the foliage around him consisted mostly of twiggy shrubs and patches of wild flowers.

Jackson located his duffel bag with an excited wheezy noise, immediately lunging for it.

CLANG

A second too late, his eyes unfocused enough to let him see that he was careening for a metal cage. And then his face ran into it.

“ooOWW!” He seethed, pulling himself up. “What?” He scrambled around the metal frame, trying to get to his stuff until he finally realized it was stuck inside. He found a padlock and yanked it to no avail. “A hostage situation!?”

Jennifer trotted up behind him, followed by Tony, Jupiter in a sweat, and Amelia with Roger. They all understood that their stuff was locked inside the cage without needing to run into it.

Jupiter noticed the other team come up to a second cage, spaced exactly like the tables. “Guess we only get our things when the challenge ends- er- I mean when we win, eh?” They attempted a smile.

“You betcha!” Amelia agreed, freeing Roger from herself. He turned away, crossing his arms to stare only at the sky if not nervously side-eyeing the actress. Amelia addressed Jackson, putting on a worried expression. “Chris will doubtfully let us get anything from there for awhile. Is that okay? No immediate concerns?”

Jackson brushed off his knees. “Nah, I just needed to make sure nobody got their grubby hands on my stuff! Looks like it’s safe- for now…” He suspiciously surveyed the clearing.

“Now,” Jennifer stepped closer. “May I finally get my hands on THIS?” She swiped down and tore their list from his tight grasp. He nervously chuckled and apologized, which Jennifer rolled her eyes at.

At last, the conjoined twins made it to the area. There was still a wide gap between the teams. They could have decided to stay in the middle of that and render themselves utterly useless, but opted to gravitate towards the Hare Hatters this time. They were greeted to Rosie speedily pacing back and forth, panicking out loud.

Marina and Stella were climbing on the cage; Nadine and Annabelle were examining the array of tools on the table. They were all clearly keeping watch of the nature enthusiast.

“You’re supposed to leave nature as is!” She fretted. “I can’t possibly go against camping 101, rule numero UNO! I WILL FALL APART!”

“Oh, that hasn’t happened yet?” Annabelle lazily quipped.

Marina had been sitting with her eyebrows cinced in thought. Her demeanor brightened and she hopped to the ground, walking over to Rosie. “Rosie, this isn’t camping- this is a garden! It follows different rules than what you’re used to.” She sent a mauve smile up to her, gesturing for her to lower her fingers from her teeth.

“In fact, it helps a lot of plants to pick off the flowering part. And there’s not really an ecosystem we can disrupt here. Trust me, Stella and I are from a farm, we know all about it!” The singer explained.

“Farms are…” Rosie clenched her hands. “My nightmare. They’re so close to what I’m used to, just… less fun.”

Marina chuckled. “They aren’t that bad! Give them a try.”

“It’ll be like camping in bizarro-world.” Annabelle offered.

Rosie whined out. She relaxed with defeat.

Cameron and Paulie burst through the entry of the clearing in a flurry of panting. Rosie was now sound-of-mind enough to bother noticing Cameron stumble her way towards their team.

The ghost hunter held out the bundle of roses, her shoulders slumped. “Shitty new, you guys…” Rosie, unseen by the others, squinted.

“Got ‘em!” Paulie proudly thrust her set of flowers toward the other Queens.

“Yes!” Jackson pumped his fists. Jupiter took notice of the pinpricks on her fingers, and Amelia sighed dreamily at the pastel pink blooms.

“We should make a romantic bouquet!” The actress said.

“Uh-huh,” Jennifer voiced without interest, lowering the list she was reading. “Or we could make it goth.”

Amelia scoffed. To her shock, Paulie and Jackson gasped in delight. “YEAAAH!! GOTH BOU-QUET, GOTH BOU-QUET!” They chanted.

“I guess it would be a cool first impression?” Jupiter mused.

“Uhhhh… did you guys even look at them-?” Amelia started to argue, but paused. A mischievous smile crossed her lips.

“Chris is- he’ s like- almost here.” Tony informed everyone. With much (unneeded) urging from Jackson, Jennifer began peeling off flower names that they wouldn’t be using.

In between the two tables, Chris stood with his fists planted on his waist. “THANKS for making me take that walk. God knows my rigorous professional workout plan isn’t cutting it.” He complained. “Alright gardeners, I’ll be taking those flowers you don’t want now.”

The Hatters sent Nadine to take their handful of paper slips, and Jupiter had offered to go for the Queens.

Chris held his palms out. “May I ask what you guys decided on? By which I mean you have to tell me ‘cause there’s no way I’m looking through this mess to figure out which ones aren’t in it?”

Nadie looked up at him happily as she placed the scrap clump in his hands. “We decided on a cute, bright bouquet!”

“Cool! Not what I asked.” Chris responded.

“We picked a bunch of blue and yellow flowers to go with this pink we got,” Rosie chimed in, flipping her wrist at the roses.

“-Still didn’t ask-”

“So we’re going to p- find- pic- grab some daffodils, snowdrops, forget-me-knots, and pansies.” Rosie read off their list.

“Alright. Cheshire Queens?”

“We decided on the exact opposite- a goth bouquet.” Jennifer said.

“Lit-er-ally I DON’T care!” Chris barked.

Jennifer’s teeth gleamed with pride. “I know. We chose to find orchids, hydrangeas, carnations, and…” Her tone faltered for once. “... pansies.”

“Erg- why did we pick that!?” Amelia whispered.

“How could I have known!” Jennifer snapped back.

Chris clamped down on the papers dropped into his hand, causing Jupiter to jump. “Too late! Guess you guys are gonna have to share!” He taunted. “I’ll leave you to it. Just remember, you can’t end the game unless you have all of your flowers. And once you do, you can end it whenever your bouquet is ready.” He sauntered away after giving those last reminders.

The teens were awkwardly stagnant around the tables after his absence, not mingling too far. Marina was the only one who verbally stated she and her sister were going to search around the immediate clearing first, an idea shared with the others as they started to shuffle around the shrubbery.

It didn’t take long for Jackson to get fidgety about this, however. “Where’s that bush!? I bet that special rose is inside it!” He sprung into the air and dashed off.

“I can- wrap you up so you don’t get- injured.” Jupiter fiddled with the edge of their coat as they spoke towards him, turning as he passed.

“No time-”

Paulie jumped into his path and caught him by his shoulders. “Ah ah ah!” She spun him around. “We don’t want you looking like me, now.” She waved one of her scar-littered arms in his face while she shoved him back.

He grumbled and stuck his heels in the dirt, but all it did was leave marks in the ground. Jupiter smiled awkwardly and dug out a roll of gauze from their inner pocket.

“Sooo....” Annabelle voiced on the Hatters side, rocking backwards. “It would make sense to split up, yeah?”

“I’ll go with the sisters.” Nadine piped in, motioning her thumb at the two in a nearby flowerbed. Avery and Erika seemed to hang their heads just a little.

Cameron grinned, brushing off her hands. “I’m down with splitting. But first, does that list come with any pictures? I’m not sure I know what a sno- ACK!”

She had tried to lean in to see the paper Rosie was holding, but Rosie shot two fingers into the girl’s hairline, pushing her away with a strained grimace of a smile. “Now, Cameron, I thought you were going to take care of the roses? That’s the first thing you ever told our team you were going to do, and you didn’t complete it! That’s not a very look.” She bent down, fingers still harshly pushing into her bangs. “How can you expect us to trust you with anything else? Find that last rose, and then you can help the rest of us.”

Cameron stumbled back, eyebrows cinched incredulously. The rest of the team behind Rosie were clearly shocked by the scene. Annabelle coughed into her fist, bringing Rosie back to focus. The others were able to look nonchalant in time before she turned around.

“I was thinking I would take off with you?” Annabelle asked, finger-gunning at the nature enthusiast.

Rosie cocked her head with a relaxed smile, as if nothing had happened. “I don’t mind the company one bit!”

They turned to leave, Annabelle throwing Cameron a confused shrug over her shoulder. The ghost hunter rubbed her forehead.

The twins kept to themselves at the outskirts; Nadine went over to the remaining sisters. Jennifer watched the Hatters more or less break off, and decided to speak up to her own team.

“Alright, we should start spreading around the island.” She looked around at the state of the Queens- Paulie idly leaning against a post caught her eye.

Paulie flicked her gaze to the goth as she drew near, a smirk crossing her face. “Yeah, I’ll be on that as soon as ’m sure Jackson’s all good. Don’t think Jups will catch him if he runs away.”

Jennifer peered over her shoulder at the two sitting on the ground. Jupiter tucked some gauze around Jackson’s fingers, and through his pout, he reluctantly said, “...At least I’ll look like a badass brawler.”

“Oh, I’m just kinda covering your hands. Do you want me to wrap you up like a boxer?” Jupiter offered.

He shook his platinum, choppy locks. “Nuh-uh, no way. ‘Wasting enough time as it is.”

Jupiter nodded and went back to work. Jackson squirmed.

“...Give me the fighter wrap…” He conceded to his inner desires. Jupiter began to undo the current bandages without question.

Jennifer placed her hands on her hips and sighed upwards. “What a fanatic.” She grumbled. “But it is a pretty good idea that I know I don’t want to do.” She relented, getting a chuckle out of Paulie.

Jennifer put her attention to the table instead. There she saw Amelia blissfully humming on a large rock, tapping the roses on the table surface like a secretary straightening her paperwork.

“...The hell are you doing?” She came up to her curiously.

Amelia regarded her with a smug pause. “You decided to make a dark, gloomy bouquet with these pretty pink flowers! It’ll take a bit to dye them a more fitting shade. Plus, someone needs to hold fort. Honestly, it should be obvious.” She flicked her wrist at the goth and reached for a bottle of dark dye with the other.

“Oh! Well in that case, get your ass up and actually help.” Jennifer barked. “You aren’t going to be making excuses to look busy, especially when all the rest of us are working.”

Amelia’s eyebrows rose lazily, not bothering to look up. “I have countless hours in set design and prop building, honey. Sorry to be frank, but nobody can do this better than me.” She briefly looked Jennifer in the eye. “It’s simply the wrong move to have me do anything else.”

Jennifer was definitely about to argue, but a light tap on her shoulder stopped her before she began.

“Ah-!” Roger startled. “I trust Amelia to know what she’s talking about.”

Jennifer groaned, rubbing her temples. “FINE. Let her have her way. Of course the little princess gets to be the only one sitting around- not surprised.” She stomped away, but not before yanking Roger by his upper arm. “You’re coming with me. I can’t risk you imprinting on anybody else.”

“Hey, wh- I don’t get what you’re saying-!” He stumbled to catch up with the arm she was dragging him away with.

Amelia watched them go with her sparkly blues. “Hm.” She cockily shrugged to herself.

*The Shed: Jennifer* “Any other day if somebody tried to pull that with me on a group project, I would have grabbed them over that table by their stupid done-up hair.” Jennifer was leaned over close to the camera, pointing at her long and loose dark hair, but meaning Amelia’s auburn brown, heavily curled locks. “Unfortunately I can’t trust anybody here yet to not see me as the bad guy in that situation.” *End*

”Ooh I’m just gonna sit here and decorate like it’s HARD,” Jennifer mocked under her breath as she trudged past Rosie and Annabelle on her way out. She ignored Roger telling her that it was Amelia who was doing that and not her.

“Oh! Decorating! That’s what this is in the end, isn’t it?” Annabelle stopped in her tracks and turned to Rosie excitedly. “Hey, you think I can hang out and plan that bouquet? I love this kind of ribbons and artsy junk.”

Rosie’s head sunk. “Better you than me.”

“Cool, won’t let you down.” Annabelle smiled confidently with a snap of her fingers. She went back to the table as Rosie left the clearing behind her.

Marina intently noticed the absence of their giant teammate. Much to Nadine’s annoyance, who’d been trying to get the sisters to leave with her for a while now. The black girl walked closer to Annabelle. “Annabelle! I’m so glad you stuck around.”

“Oh, yeah?” She lifted her head quizzically. “Did you need me somethin’? Haha.”

“I wanted to make a team huddle about Rosie. It looks like we’re all here except for her- good.” Marina explained. This instantly drew Cameron in. Marina flicked her eyes toward the conjoined twins, but considering how intense their staring was, figured they would listen in without invitation, anyway.

Once they began a true little huddle, she continued. “I think cursing is what’s setting Rosie off. For whatever reason, she looks really upset when swears or suggestive things are said.”

“Dang, she’s too tall for me to notice.” Annabelle said.

“Are you serious!? THAT’S why she snapped on me?” Cameron shouted.

Annabelle chuckled. “I guess I noticed that one.”

“I think we’ll go a lot further if we don’t say things that bother her so much.” Marina added. “If she’s the type to lash out like this.”

“That blows.” Cameron further complained.

Nadine crossed her arms under her shirt’s panda icon. “I don’t like tip-toeing around, and Rosie’s reaction earlier wasn’t acceptable, but I also want to be a functioning team. Keeping as many hands on deck for as long as possible just makes sense.”

“Y- Maybe for you guys, but I’m already on her bad side!” Cameron threw her hands up. “This is going to suck double for me.”

“We’re on your side if she keeps giving you trouble.” Nadine reassured her.

“Hmm…” Marina cupped her dark brown chin. “You could maybe avoid that by apologizing to her? It’ll be hard for her to be passive aggressive if you make it clear you didn’t want to hurt her.”

Cameron sputtered a bit. “Aw, she doesn’t really deserve an apology- I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“It’s not really about deserving....” Annabelle explained. “It’s about her chilling out and not bothering you or us anymore.”

“Er... also that even though you didn’t mean to, cursing upsets her! And unless you meant to upset her, you want her to know you feel bad that you did!” Marina added once again. “In fact, you’re in the right if you want an apology in return.”

“But that isn’t likely if you don’t give her one first.” Nadine said with an edge of finality. She gave Cameron a quirked brow.

She groaned, slumping over. “I don’t wanna… but fine, whatever. But uh- heheh- not until I find that rose. Don’t want her focusing on that the whole time, y’know?”

Stella had wandered a foot away quite some time ago, the twins never ceased staring, and the rest agreed in some fashion to keep it PG before breaking off.

The ghost hunter sighed a long sigh, pushing her hands down her face.

*The Shed: Cameron* “Maaan being the bigger person is disgusting!” She whined, lying on her back sprawled on the bench. “Like, it literally turns my stomach.” *End*

Behind her, Jackson jumped into the air loudly proclaiming, “Finally! Now to give that rose bush a piece of my miiiiind!!” He charged away.

Cameron perked up, whirling in the direction he had gone. Her purple eyebrows lowered in determination, silently taking after him.

Satisfied, Paulie stretched off the post she was leaning on. Her hands dropping behind her head, she studied the environment. A sight caught her eye in the distance.

Jupiter eyed the dark-skinned girl to see what she would do now that they were both free. Paulie started to skip forward, completely away from them. Jupiter figured.

As she passed by the twins, Paulie gave them a wink and told them the first inspirational thought that came to mind. “Knock ‘em dead!” Finally, she got to the Hare Hatter trio and looped her arms around the shoulders of Nadine and Stella, the latter tossing her off immediately.

*The Shed: Avery and Erika* They sighed.

“We knew it. They have no idea what to do with us.” Erika pouted.

“Once there stops being important stuff to do, we’ll undoubtedly get the typical million questions, which is fine.” Avery said, “But right now they would probably all rather have us out of the way.”

“I mean, it’s fine that they don’t know what we can do, but they could ask! Because heaven knows…” Erika trailed off.

“We can’t…” Avery tried to finish.

They two sighed harder, defeatedly saying in unison, “...Speak up ourselves.” *End*

“‘Eyo!!” Paulie greeted her anti-teammates, swinging off of Nadine. “Mind a bit more company?”

“You’re on the other team.” The tallest of the four stated, picking up one of Paulie’s fingers and moving it away.

“I knoooooow, doesn’t that suck ass!?! We got to take every opportunity to hang out with each other now!” Paulie pumped her fist. “Queens and hats and yadda yadda won’t stop ME from making friends, ha!”

Nadine opened her mouth to retort, but caught the sudden surge of positive energy from Marina and Stella, practically becoming two bright little suns. She pursed her lips silently instead.

“We love to make new friends! Stella, aren’t you a great friend?” Marina asked her sister, barely containing her excitement.

Stella lifted her fists over her head with a smile so wide it shut her eyes. “YEAH!”

“Ahhh…” Paulie vocalized a low shout. “You guys are jazzing me up, now. This is going to be great!” She peeked at Nadine’s smirk, and looped around her shoulder once more, whispering into the fabric over her ear, “I also didn’t want to hang out with Jenny Downer, y’know what I’m saying?”

“I get you.” Nadine reached for Paulie’s farthest shoulder and pushed her back onto her feet. “Now what were you saying Marina?”

“Oh, I was just letting you know that Stella-”

“YEAH!”

“-Was totally listening to us before. I know she wandered off, but to her, she doesn’t have to look focused in order to be paying attention. As long as she can hear you, she’s usually listening.”

“Not much for group huddles, then.” Nadine said warmly. “I’ll keep that in mind, not that I minded before.”

“Oh hey, I saw that!” Paulie piped in. “You guys looked super serious. Like, the most intense meeting for a bouquet I’ve ever seen.”

“We were actually talking about Rosie throwing a scene. It’s a pain already.” Nadine pinched the bridge of her nose. “She’s been acting hostile toward Cameron ever since she came back with the flowers.”

Paulie’s perkiness faltered, perspiration forming under the brim of her black bandana. “Th- that so? About not having all the- haha, yikes!”

*The Shed: Paulie* “My little sleight of hand wasn’t supposed to get anyone in trouble!” Paulie fretted. “Honest to godess I was just joshing! Now I feel like the world’s most bonafide douchebag. Give me my shithead degree! I deserve it!” *End* *III*

The albino cast member fidgeted. They tried to take note of their surroundings without annoying anyone else still around.

Their sibling was over at the Hatter’s table completely absorbed in the instruments at her disposal. Amelia was busy at theirs’. Paulie was just leaving their sight with three of the other team, and the conjoined twins had slipped off between blinks.

Jennifer had long since dragged Roger off to search higher into the island, and Jackson was retracing steps of their tour to find the double-headed rose. Jupiter sighed lightly, noticing the only person of the Queens that seemed to be idle, like them.

They cautiously approached Tony, who was leaning over some wildflowers. As soon as the shadow of their person crossed his sight, however, he shot his head up. He barely noticed Jupiter, saw that mostly everyone was gone, and made his way straight to the table. Jupiter only stuck around long enough to see Amelia look up at him. They rolled their shoulders, unsure, and made off in an unwandered direction alone.

#garden #garden chapters

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chemicalmongrel · 5 years

Text

The Union of Beauty and the Beast

Birthday Gift for Francis! | @yunalaqi

Author - Ghost Characters - Warwick, Qiyana, Sizani and Firefang. Word Count - 5,538

It began as many stories of happiness and fulfillment do--with a single spontaneous moment. One crucial meeting that might’ve never happened had the stars not aligned just right, something inconsequential at first blooming into something beatific and majestic. Much like a seed germinated in rich, fertile soil that will one day grow mighty with the right hands to nurture it along and the right level of determination to weather any hardship. For this, the moment was the day Qiyana and Warwick’s agents agreed on putting together a collab between the two artists. The soil was the constant proximity they had, and their desire to ensure a finished product of superb quality. Meanwhile, the growing fondness they had for one another, the distance between their hearts shortening, were the hands responsible for nurturing the sapling. And their determination to endure strife came through in their refusal to cut off contact once the project came to a close. They knew one another for several years following their collab, and nothing was ever the same after. It was most apparent in the works produced by Warwick. No longer were they harsh, cutting to the quick about seemingly disparate things without any genuine passion behind the words. Rather, more and more harmonious melodies came forward to accentuate loving lyrics directed towards an unseen individual. Each verse was delivered with such enthusiasm and heart that none thought him capable of before. More videos were released about issues around the world, paralleling an increasing effort on the part of the concrete jungle’s king to leave the world a better place than he found it. Without warning, the beast seemed to have found his long-lost spark amid the embers of the dying fire in his breast. More subtly was the change in the empress of True Death. She’d always been a hard-working woman dedicated to seeing the dreams of her and the family she found in the band come to fruition. But after the collab project? It was as if she was trying to outdo herself at every opportunity: rhymes became more fluid, beats resonant all the quicker, the meaning behind every word hit home harder, and the choreography of each video more and more eye-catching. All in all, it seemed the woman was hellbent on ensuring the stride she hit with her band was but the first stage of TD’s success. But they never let their evolving relationship slip out to be disseminated to the public. It was all very hush-hush--kept to the coziness of private moments. Of course, this didn’t stop some tenacious people from capturing snippets of intimate moments. Nor did their efforts fully curtail any rumors from being born and spreading to anyone willing to listen. Yet no one realized the entirety of the situation, all thanks to the two’s desire to keep these moments private. That is until the day Warwick, without concern for anyone watching, decided to take a knee before his queen, his empress, with an outstretched hand and open box. Then the world of music was abuzz with commotion.

Warwick never expected the sheer scope of planning and setting up a wedding required. This was compounded by the fact that preparing parties had never been his forte, let alone something as paramount as a wedding. This was due in large part to his disdain for large get-togethers. He’d never seen the appeal of trying to rub shoulders with socialites or other well-to-do folks, whether they were part of the music world or not. His dislike for such affairs as those was so great, in fact, that his agents more or less had to bribe him to attend soirees that were very important to his career. This time, though, was very different--he actually cared about the proceedings, for one. He cared so much that the consideration of performing all manners of awfulness on anyone who tried to spoil the proceedings had crossed his mind a number of times. Yet while he wouldn’t be happy if Qiyana wasn’t, Warwick did his best to console his betrothed when the idea of something going awry worked its way into her head. One way he did so was by taking an active role in helping set the whole thing up. That way, at the very least, she didn’t have to shoulder the burden alone. However, this was easier said than done as Qiyana insisted the two of them refrained from seeing one another until the day of, not until she was walking down the aisle. She explained to him--over text--how disaster awaited any bride or groom who met in person before the ceremony. And while he may not have believed such superstition, he was more than willing to humor her to abate her concerns. Thus he kept his phone on his person at all times, and never let a single notification from his cell go unnoticed. A notable instance of Warwick needing to shoulder something Qiyana couldn’t see to because of how hectic her schedule was growing the closer the date approached: when she asked him to meet with the wedding planner to help decide on the types of flowers to be used in the decor. It seemed rather trivial to him, but the planner ensured that the proper arrangement of beatific bouquets would cement the memory in every guest’s mind. The skeptic in him wanted to disagree on principle. But he held his tongue and went to go meet with the planner. They met at the building where the ceremony would be held. I t was an extravagant ballroom lined with massive windows along the back wall as it curved around and provided an overlook of a sandy coastline, the tide lapping against the beach’s particulate without rhyme or reason. One could close their eyes and be serenaded by the oceanic hymn nature was so gracious to provide. There was a gray overcast preventing the usual soft streaks of radiance from cascading through onto the polished marble floor. Rows of seats draped with stark silk and tied off towards the center with an indigo bow provided an aisle for the bride and groom to walk down. Where the aforementioned couple would stand, in front of the priest, was an archway carved out of a single immense block of marble. Floral patterns were conjoined with idyllic scenes of a perennial forest that could trace its history back before the emergence of mankind, all etched into its surface. This ornate aesthetic was furthered by the strips of fine fabric hung from the trusses of the ceiling, each accented by strips of golden embroidery. Truly, the only thing missing from such a scenic view was a final splash of life and color--the flowers. “So, I have a few options based on you and your bride’s tastes to choose from--although considering Qiyana’s favorite seems to be the hibiscus, I thought it best to narrow the choices down to species of that specific type.” The way the planner spoke caused Warwick’s ears to chafe. The woman snapped her fingers three times as she walked with the towering beast down the aisle, stopping and turning to face him once at the spot where the vows would be sworn. Several other people hurried up with an armful of fresh hibiscus bouquets in tow, the bright scarlet heads of the flora bouncing in sync with their carriers’ step. Tiny pearls of gold dotted the tip of the flowers’ stigma, yet the vivid appearance belied a rather modest fragrance. “These look good, yeah,” Warwick murmured, nodding to himself. These would no doubt compliment the overall decor if placed with the seats as per Qiyana’s outline. But something nagged at him. “...these also gunna be used ta scatter on t’e aisle?” Preoccupied with jotting something down on the papers attached to her clipboard, the planner dismissed the people with a wave of her hand. “Hmm?” She didn’t even look up from her notes. “Oh. Yes, that would be the plan.” Looming over her, the beast tapered his eyes and lifted his lips high as either ear stood to attention. He’d never enjoyed having someone not afford him the courtesy of meeting his gaze during a conversation. But this woman, in particular, irked him something fierce. “Wou’d it be possible ta change t’e kinda flow’r used fer t’at?” This was enough to catch her attention, evidently, as she looked up with bewildered eyes. “Ye-es...?” “Oka’, t’en I’d like ta use Forget Me Nots instead, thank ya.” “...might I ask-” “No.” And with that, the man was sauntering off. Later that day, he’d crash back into the sofa of his living room with an exasperated sigh before pulling out his phone. Even with the custom design meant to accommodate his unique biology, it was still a hassle to use. Regardless, he pulled up his wife-to-be’s contact information and send her a text--he only hoped she wasn’t busy with anything or too tired to respond. >>Rohi--I need to ask you somethin. Afterward, he placed the thing facedown onto the fabric straining against his chest and waited. Thankfully it wasn’t much of a wait. For within the span of a few minutes, the notification blip caught his attention. >>Yes? What is it? And did you talk with the planner about the flowers? >>Yeah, I did--that’s actually what I wanted to ask you about. Is it okay that I asked her to change what kind was used on the aisle? >>Well, what did you change it to? >>Forget-Me-Nots. >>Your favorite? They’re really pretty, can I ask why you wanted them? >>Forget-Me-Nots represent memory, ya ken? Like, if you use em, then it’s like saying you never wanna forget somethin. Mom said she had em next to her when I was born... they were there when she died, too. Our gettin together? Is somethin I never wanna forget, not for a second. There was no response for several moments. >>Rohi? >>Sorry, sorry. That’s so sweet, I love it <3 >>Anythin for you, lov’ <3 Without realizing, Warwick had started smiling like some lovestruck fool--because he was one when it came to Qiyana. >>I love you so much, Warwick <3 >>Not as much as I love you >>Nuh uh, I love you more, I have a trophy that says so >>Well I’ve got four times as big a heart as anyone out there, so I got much more to love with And it went on like this until the chimera, along with his wifey, passed out.

Frazzled nerves and a stomach full of butterflies were common experiences for women on the day of their joyful nuptials, but Qiyana was anything but a common woman. For her, the day leading up to the ceremony filled her with exponential euphoria and excitement at the thought of being united with her hubby. She’d been smiling the whole time while touching up her visage with a tidbit of makeup. But these feelings were nowhere near as intense as they were now that she was standing in front of a mirror in the dressing room of the building the marriage was taking place in. Something which did not escape the notice of her omele, Sizani, even while preoccupied with helping her grandchild slip into her wedding dress. At her ripe age, Qiyana's omele was still a beatific woman wielding wisdom and overt authority in equal measures from the dark pools of chocolate amid an ocean of white in her eyes. She was the kind of individual people came to for sage advice yet never understood what was given until the exact moment they’d need it. Her snow-white hair was pulled taut into numerous dreadlocks that curled down past the nape of her neck and rested against her shoulders. Sizani was often seen wearing delicate fabrics colored in differing shades of purple, accentuated by the ornate jewelry commonly found on her person. Suffice to say, Qiyana owed her beauty to what she inherited from her omele--or so the old woman claimed. Despite all of her stern demeanor, though, Sizani was more than eager to crack a few jokes and tease her grandchild with her choice of man. It was enough to get Qiyana to crack a smile and giggle alongside her grandmother. She even returned the ribbing in kind as they continued to fit her for her dress--spending time with her omele always put a smile on her face. Eventually, the dress was fitted snug over Qiyana’s curves. The outfit boasted a soft palette of pinks and shades of white, as well as the finest silk money could buy. A window exposed her back, framing the veiled skin like a picture one would keep on their nightstand. Strips of transparent material along either fitted sleeve evinced her mocha flesh, each coming to a unified point at a single ring of precious metal around her middle finger. And up from the profuse transparent frills billowing out from the chapel trailing a foot behind her to the decotellage exposing her cleavage, stark embroidery fashioned in the likeness of blooming flowers interwoven with heart-like shapes decorated the fabric. Said decotellage brought attention to the various pieces of jewelry Warwick had bought for her over the years with the centerpiece being a necklace that had half of a heart-shaped locket dangling at the end. It was as if the Empress of some exotic, far-off kingdom had come to bless the peasantry of a third-world nation with her presence. Spinning in a circle once, twice and thrice, an ear-to-ear smile worked its way onto Qiyana’s countenance. The same delight was evident on Sizani’s face as she clapped several times. Save for the moment she was signed on by the TD producer, there was no moment in her life that filled Qiyana with as much euphoric joy as the day of her marriage. “You look perfect~!” Sizani said. “I know I do, but thank you for reminding me,” Qiyana responded. As if to further reinforce this fact, there was a series of excited yaps from the third occupant of the room. He normally came up to his mother’s, Qiyana, knee but now was only about mid-shin height with her high heels on. Big ears he’d yet to grow into had only just begun stiffening a few weeks prior, so both were still partially floppy. There was a tiny pink ribbon secured around his neck in place of a collar for the special event. A coat of tawny brown fur with accents of fiery gold covered the body of a wolf puppy that’s barely a month shy of half a year old. This pint-sized bundle of energy and jubilation was Firefang, Qiyana’s most precious baby. Firefang had been snoozing away atop a fancy downy pillow near where the two women had been fiddling with the dress, and now that they were done, he was up and ready to hoard all of his mommy’s attention. “Seems like your baby wants to remind you, too.” She shuffled over and bent over to pinch either of her baby’s cheeks, stretching them out with a grin and giving his head little shakes. Qiyana even scritched behind his ears and placed kisses atop his forehead. This was met by more yapping and a blep of his tongue. He was satisfied with the affection she showered him in. “Careful, you’ll need to reapply your makeup if he starts giving you kisses.” “Thank you for the concern, but it’ll be fine-” There came a knocking at the dressing room’s door, then the voice of Sizani’s husband informing the trio that it was a few minutes until they had to go. So, unfortunately, the hijinx occurring between those within the room had to be concluded. Sizani approached Qiyana with a soft grin, hands folded over one another against her waist, before reaching out to swaddle her grandchild in either arm. While usually reluctant, the melodica empress leaned into the embrace with a tightness her normal disposition belied. It was the kind of affection she’d never received from her supposed sisters, even her own parents. That was but one reason why she made sure none but her omele and her husband received an invitation to the wedding. There was fierce yapping from the side, garnering the women’s attention, as Firefang demanded to be included. They smiled and scooped up the canine to be squished between them in the hug. After a moment, once Firefang was balanced atop Sizani’s shoulder, they pulled away and Qiyana finally glimpsed the sheer intensity of pride and exultation burned in the other’s eyes. “I’m so proud of you,” Sizani whispered. “I’m so happy you came,” Qiyana breathed. “I wouldn’t miss my precious granddaughter’s big day even if someone offered me the whole world.” To witness the sheer joy softening the bride’s face at that moment would’ve been to gaze upon the sun itself as it crested the mountainous horizon with its rose-tipped fingers. For a moment, warm liquid welled up at the corners of her eyes--but being who she was, Qiyana did her best to wipe them away. Another knock came at the door to serve as a reminder. “Yes, yes, we heard you the first time, []! Everyone can wait while I congratulate my baby!” This earned profuse apology on the part of her husband, a confused mmm-ing from Firefang and a hearty chuckle from Qiyana. The elderly woman huffed a moment, annoyance contorting her visage a moment, before laughing with a sigh and moving Firefang from her shoulder to a more stable grip in either arm and hand. “No matter what anyone says about you, know that your omele loves you more than anyone--even that lumbering man who’s fallen for you. Okay? You’re the best singer out there, and that man is the luckiest man alive to get to be with you.” “I know, I know-” “And if he ever mistreats you!--” “Omele, please! He’d never do that, but, still... thank you, thank you so much for everything. For always supporting me; for always being there for me. It meant... so, so very, very much.” An ear-to-ear grin spread across Sizani’s face, “It was always a pleasure to support you...” Without another word, the two shared yet another tight embrace before parting anew and moving towards the door. “Shall we?” “Lets~!” “YAPYAP!!” When the door opened, Qiyana was greeted with the jubilant warmth of her omele’s husband and one of her best friend’s smiling faces. They were present for several reasons with the chief among them being to take Firefang off their hands. Each gave the bride their congratulations, sharing a hug and cheek kiss with her while passing off a bouquet of Forget Me Nots and hibiscus, before going off to take their seats with the tiny spitfire in tow. There was a brief moment of struggle when doing so, though, as the puppy was loath to be apart from his mommy. But since it was two people he liked doing so, with the aid of Qiyana’s kisses and reassurances, Firefang was willing to acquiesce. After they departed, Sizani extended an arm towards her granddaughter and Qiyana took her up on the gesture and interlocked it with her own arm while resting the opposing limb’s hand against her omele’s bicep. Then they began their trek.

Qiyana heard before she saw anything as a delicate piano began its solo serenade of the people invited to the affair. For a moment, there’d been the chatter of those now seated accompanying the piano. But they were very quick to die down to nothing. Then her nose picked up on the duet playing out between the modest fragrance of the hibiscus and the much stronger scent of the Forget Me Not flowers, the latter of which was far more restrained than what it could be had whole Forget Me Nots been used. And once she turned the corner into the open archway leading into the ballroom, she, at last, saw what she’d been anticipating from the moment Warwick got down on one knee. A trail of Forget Me Not petals led up to where Warwick and the priest stood beneath the marble arch. The former boasted a charcoal black tuxedo, even its custom size left the fabric straining against his bulk, bereft of its sleeves with a maroon red tie secured around his neck. The fur atop his head was slicked back to match the rest of his kempt pelt’s tidied aesthetic. Either of his ears was upright until she appeared, then they angled back slightly as his forehead smoothed while his brow raised up. His eyes, brimming with emotion, widened and his muzzle relaxed, jaw dropped ever so slightly. Framed by the soft palette of reds, yellows and oranges with indigo undertones that would grow increasingly skewed towards violet as the evening marched on into dusk were the people that’d been invited. It was not a large gathering of people by any means as this was a very intimate, private ceremony between those important to the bride and groom, primarily: the members of Qiyana’s family; Yasuo, Akali, Senna and her husband, her best friend and omele’s husband who made sure to keep Firefang from acting too rambunctious atop his seat, the wedding planner, the photographer hired to capture every second of the event, and a seat reserved for someone paramount to the groom. Who was this individual? Why it wasn’t a person at all. Rather, the cushioned seat propped up a single framed picture--the picture it contained was of Warwick’s mother, smiling with her arms wrapped around someone that’d been removed by someone who’d torn the photo. Sizani tightened her arm around Qiyana’s, getting her to look her way to exchange one final smile before regarding the path ahead of them anew. In sync with the piano, the two sauntered down the aisle as everyone present turned to watch the scene unfold. Everyone was smiling and quiet, save for Firefang who started yapping upon noticing his mommy. And with every step closer she got to her soon-to-be husband, Qiyana’s heart skipped a beat. Finally, her and her omele parted with a kiss as she took her place in front of Warwick and Sizani took her seat next to her husband. The look in Warwick’s eyes, as they usually did, told Qiyana everything she needed to hear--just like that, in an instant, every second they couldn’t be together was forgotten, swept away by the deluge of overwhelming joy coursing throughout her psyche. Then the piano came to a waning conclusion as the priest cleared his throat and opened the book he’d been holding against his breast. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the presence of God, to witness the joining together of Warwick and Qiyana in the holy covenant of marriage. Warwick and Qiyana recognize that marriage is an important part of God’s plan for mankind. Marriage is not just a social occasion with a religious touch thrown in. It is a service of worship from beginning to end, in which vows are made, prayers are offered, and blessings are given. “Warwick, if it is your intent to marry Qiyana, please respond with “I do.” Warwick, do you take Qiyana to be your wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?” “I do.” “Qiyana Yun Tal, if it is your intent to marry Michael, please respond with “I do.” Qiyana, do you take Michael to be your wedded husband, to live together in holy matrimony, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live?” “I do~” By now, those in charge of him managed to quiet Firefang down. “The ceremony of marriage is the first and oldest ceremony in the world. It was celebrated in the beginning of time in the presence of God himself. Marriage is a gift from God, given to comfort the sorrows and magnify life’s joy. Qiyana and Warwick, in all of life, rare is the moment that is filled with more hope, more joy, and more expectation that this sacred moment. By God’s design this moment will never be repeated, but rather be cherished as long as you both shall live. “A good marriage is created. “The little things in your life will become the big things. You will never be too old to hold hands, never be too old to say good night or for a gentle kiss. A good marriage is remembering to say “I love you” on a regular basis. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together, leaning on each other for strength and support. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is providing an atmosphere in which each of you can grow. It is finding room for the fruits of the spirit; which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. “It is not only marrying the right partner--it is being the right partner. “So much preparation has gone into making this moment a special occasion for you two and your guests. These next few minutes are more important than anything else that will happen today. These are the moments that you will look back and remember when you have children, when you have arguments, when you buy your first house together. “Don’t ever forget the words that you say this day; with God’s help, they will sustain your marriage through all of life’s ups and downs.” The subtle angling and twitching of the man’s ears were no doubt caused by picking up on people tearing up from the occasion. “To all those who have joined us to witness this special commitment by Warwick and Qiyana,” he made a broad sweeping gesture out towards the bridal party, “you play an important role in the lives of this couple. Your attendance here shows that you care for them and are supporting this marriage. I would ask that your support of this marriage not end on this day, but that you continue to support the union that they commit to. “It is often easy for us to undermine the value of the marriage commitment by saying simple things like “you don’t deserve this, you really should think about divorce” or even taking sides in an argument. Guard the words that you say, in jest and in counsel to this couple. Commit today, as friends and family, to uphold this marriage to the best of your ability and never do anything to harm it.” He turned and regarded Warwick, craning his neck up to do so. “Warwick, God has given you a unique personality and talents that add to this marriage. When Qiyana was asked why she chose to marry you, she says that you make her laugh, you got along with those most important to her, and above all else, you cherished her like no other. She said that she appreciates that you value her opinions, yet she can trust you to make good decisions for your family. Paul reminds us in Ephesians, that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. At this moment your love for your bride is apparent, I challenge you to grow in that love as you grow old together in life. Put her needs above your own and lead selflessly.” And then he shifted his gaze down to Qiyana. “Qiyana, as is apparent today, your groom finds you beautiful! When asked why he chose you to be his wife, Michael’s first response was “she saw something in a lumbering beast.” In our conversations together, it became apparent that without you around, Warwick might have stayed forever numb to his surroundings, forever maintaining a cold, stony heart! Warwick values your intelligence and that you are supportive of him as a person and the things that he enjoys doing.” Then he returned his gaze to between the two of them. “The two of you have a chance today to start your own family. You complement each other. Where one is weak, the other is strong. When one of you falls, the other can help pick them up. Choose today to keep God as the center of your marriage and there will be nothing that you could encounter that would tear you apart.” “These vows that you are about to commit are just words, but they cement forever your commitment to one another. Please, join hands and face one another as you recite the vows that’ve kept you up for so many nights crafting, perfecting, for one another.” They did so without delay, Warwick extending either of his massive mitts to take in Qiyana’s as they met each other’s gaze. They both started at once, then stopped to chuckle before allowing Qiyana to go first.

“Before I met you, Warwick, my life was dedicated to my baby, Firefang, and the family I found in Akali, Yasuo, Senna, her husband Lucian and Ekko. I didn’t believe I had the time to fit in something as intimate and precious as what we have now. Never before did I think I’d ever find a man or woman who’d become the entirety of my universe like you have. So no matter what, until the day I breathe my last, I will never listen to the people questioning our relationship, people expecting us to be normal--I will stand by your side, loving you with every fiber of my being.” Further disproving everyone who decried Warwick as a heartless beast of a man, tears began rolling freely from his eyes as Qiyana recited her painstaking vows. The runnels bled and diffused into the fur of his face. His hands tightened around hers as he cleared his throat to speak.

“’ve... nev’r been good w’th expressin’ myself through werds, and I of’en prefer showin’ someone ‘ow I feel rather’en tellin’, ya ken? So... what more ken I say t’at I’ve not already shown? So very much, I foun’ out as I thought ‘bout it... Qiyana, when I call ya Rohi, nev’r told ya what it meant--it means, “My soul.” Cause ya ar’ jus’ t’at, yer my soul, my everythin’... I wouldn’ be the man I am now without ya, wouldn’ be doin’ my momma proud without ya--bein’ more ‘n more like my old man... Yer the sun t’at brightens my day ‘n chases the ov’rcast away; yer the muse of my ev’ry song now; yer the woman t’at saw somethin’ a wurth in the body of a monst’r who couldn’ care less if som’un died in front’uv ‘is eyes... “Yer... everythin’--I cannit even think of a life without ya...” Now it was the Empress of True Damage’s turn to start shedding tears--something a scarce few people have ever seen. They carved a path down her face, smearing aspects of her makeup and dripping off her chin onto the marble floor. After a moment of quiet, save for the whining of Firefang at seeing his mommy cry, the priest continued on as he gestured towards the individual standing at the back, near the archway. This person was none other than Ekko as he carried the rings atop their pillow towards the bride and groom. “Warwick and Qiyana have chosen to present rings to each other as a token of their promise before God and these witnesses. They are a visible sign of an inward bond which unites two hearts in endless love. Warwick and Qiyana, from this day forward, the two of you shall be one.” Once there, Warwick took the much smaller of the golden bands as he held her left hand. “Do you Warwick, give this ring to Qiyana, as a token of your love for her?” “I do.” “Qiyana, will you wear this ring as evidence of your love for Warwick?” “I will~” He then slipped the ring onto her index finger. Then Qiyana took the much larger band. Because of the groom’s unique situation with his sheer size, a traditional ring couldn’t work comfortably. So a solution was devised revolving around a snapping mechanism that could secure the earring in a hole of his left ear that’d never healed. “And do you Qiyana, give this ring to Warwick, as a token of your love for him?” “I do~” “Warwick, will you wear this ring as evidence of your love for Qiyana?” “I will.” And so she snapped the ring into place in his ear. Once his role was finished, Ekko placed the pillow under one arm and stepped to the side. “Warwick and Qiyana have pledged their love for each other, and have expressed their commitment before God and before this gathering of friends and loved ones. They have given themselves completely to each other and declared it publicly by the giving and receiving of rings. Acting in the authority invested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--what God has joined together let no man separate. “Warwick, you may now kiss the bride, as it is with great joy that I present to you, Mr. and Mrs, Yun Tal.”

And kiss they did.

#✍️ Mun's Writing - Drabble ✍️#🎤 A Life of Rhyme 🎤#❤️ An Empress and Her King ❤️#🐺 Gnawing Hunger - IC 🐺#👑 yunalaqi 👑#🍃 AMBITIOUS SASS - Qiyana 🍃#🐺 The Beast - Warwick 🐺

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