#thats why he left it at the warehouse before blowing the whole shit up

[latenightsundayblues]

How fucking stupid do you think Hoffman felt when it was his turn to record the tapes and move Billy's mouth in sync with the audio

[thebibliomancer]

Justice League Indispensable: JLA #222: Beasts II: Death Games

January, 1984

I’ve noticed over two-hundred and twenty plus posts that villains love being tall and dangling heroes from their fingers.

That tactile sensation... It must feel amazing. And a little squirmy.

Not much else to say about the cover. Except that Hawkman’s legs seem to not exist.

Anyway.

Last time on Justice League: the Justice League have been dealing with a lot of weird animal/people hybrids. Has Dr. Moreau finally been adapted into DC? Probably not. But Flash, Elongated Man, and Hawkman all get badly injured in separate locations by these Ani-Men. And Firestorm catches a catgirl named Reena robbing the Empire State Building. She asks him for sanctuary so he takes her to the JL Satellite to spill the beans on the Ani-Men.

This time: Superman is in the hilarious position of interrogating catgirl Reena who has forgotten how chairs work.

Just sitting on the table. Probably getting hair everywhere.

Firestorm tells Superman to chill out with the hardnosed animated Justice League approach (I mean, he doesn’t, but animated Superman also needed to chill out, amirite?) because Reena volunteered to help.

Reena says she has no choice but to trust the League and that she’s lived in DAILY TERROR for the past few months.

She asks if any of them have heard of Repli-Tech?

Dang, shame Batman is off having recently formed the Outsiders because I bet he knows all the companies. All of them.

Ooooorrrr Aquaman does?

Aquaman: “Repli-Tech Industries... They were one of the first of the genetics companies to go public on the stock exchange, weren’t they? I remember they made quite a splash a year ago... But I haven’t heard anything about them since.”

Oh, Aquaman, you punster, you.

So Reena lays down some exposition about how Repli-Tech was a hilariously mismanaged company, where the executives forced a rapid capital expansion beyond its market niche and how a recession just bankrupt the overextended company.

But despite the dismay and panic of the other execs, hilariously mustached CEO Rex Rogan had a daring plan to save the company!

Rex Rogan: “Dr. Lovecraft and his genetic discoveries were the basis for our initial success, developing new forms of medicine -- new fertilizers -- even new fuels! He’s come up with a way out for all of us, involving a new, experimental form of DNA manipulation. It could kill us -- but the alternative is disgrace, financial ruin, and imprisonment.”

Oh, sure. Of course. Why not trust a guy called DR. LOVECRAFT.

But due to faith in Rex Rogan, CEO, or just fear of prison, the whole board all agrees to this wild plan.

And the wild plan?

Dr. Lovecraft uses SCIENCE to put them all in cocoons where they are transformed into furries.

Rex Rogan Maximus Rex: “We are reborn -- we are above the beasts, and above mankind! We will do more than merely survive -- we will conquer -- we will rule!”

Then with company guards also enhanced by Dr. Lovecraft, Rex has them steal a whole bunch of shit which is used to protect Repli-Tech from bankruptcy.

Huh.

Uh. I don’t really get how becoming furries was an essential part of this plan.

If the plan was just to steal a bunch of shit to make up for poor financial management. But live your best lives, Repli-Tech board of directors.

Anyway, having super hunky animal powers is handy when the superheroes inevitably become involved which oops look its happening. It happened last issue and this issue so good thing they had turned themselves into furries.

(Do the Repli-Tech board of directors not have to make any public appearances? They’re a publicly traded company, apparently.)

Also, Maximus Rex buys a warehouse to turn into an arena for some death games where humans fight beast-men for the amusement of the rich and powerful like politicians and corporate executives.

Not really sure how this specifically saves the company but I think that’s more of a personal project for Maximus Rex, lion hunk.

The blood sport did make Reena start thinking that maybe Rex was the asshole.

‘Uh no shit’ chimes in Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman who determine now is a good time to interject that Reena is just as much of a monster for sitting idly by as people were killed in blood sport.

Firestorm, Superman, and Zatanna counter ‘hey lets hear the rest of the story, mkay?’

Reena grew unable to stomach all the death and as luck would have it Rowl, one of the Repli-Tech guards recently transformed into an animal hunk also found the whole situation gross.

He helped Reena escape but wound up captured himself.

He did manage to high kick a scorpion man though. So that’s something.

Anyway, Rowl getting caught is why Reena was breaking into the Repli-Tech office in the Empire State Building. She wanted to find evidence!

Hawkgirl: “I don’t believe it. Not a word. She’s obviously a plant -- she said herself, she was Rogan’s mistress, that she always did everything he told her. Why should we believe she’d turn against him?”

Firestorm: “Look at her, Hawkgirl -- me, I believe her.”

Aquaman: “We can’t ignore what she’s told us, Shayera.”

Even Superman goes yeah lets believe the catgirl. And I’m sorta wondering about all the male Justice League members believing the catgirl while two out of three of the woman leaguers are like uhn uh I don’t trust that darn cat.

But we shortly see that Reena was telling the truth about Rowl, if nothing else.

Guards at the Arena snooze gas Rowl to drag him from his cell into the Arena.

A Guard: “Y’know, I used to be friends with this guy, when he was still human. Rex gives him a chance to be something special, and he goes and blows it helping some damn cat.”

Rowl comes to in the center of the Arena with the crowd roaring for his blood.

He tries to talk to the crowd, win their sympathy by saying he used to be human like them but they’re rich dicks who want to see someone horribly murdered for their amusement.

Trying to talk to them was a non-starter. And Maximus Rex even mocks him for trying.

Maximus Rex: “Human you may have been -- but you were never like them. Smell the air: it’s so thick you can taste it -- the oily sweat of a blood-hungry mob! They want a death, Rowl... They want your death!”

Maximus Rex asks the crowd what Rowl deserves and they chant DEATH and KILL HIM so Maximus Rex jumps down to the Arena floor to see to it personally.

He’s kinda like Roman Emperor Commodus from the historically adjacent movie film Gladiator who liked to gladiate instead of just watching Gladiator gladiate.

And unlike movie Commodus, Maximus Rex is no slouch.

Right off the bat, he blocks Rowl’s ultimate technique, a jump kick.

Poor Rowl is doomed.

And he doesn’t even know it yet. He manages to hit Maximus Rex once and thinks he’s winning.

Rowl: “You’re just as you were in the boardroom -- you’ve no stomach for a real battle! We used to laugh about you, Rogan, down in the ranks! All of us -- we called you a gutless wonder!”

Maximus Rex retorts by disembowling Rowl.

Maximus Rex: “So, Rowl... Which of us has no stomach now?”

Savage af.

Then he knocks Rowl down and RIPS OFF HIS HEAD TO SHOW TO THE CROWD??

Geez! This is a gory story! I mean, we don’t see anything really except for some dark blue blood but geez!

A lion man just ripped off a jump-kicking wolfman’s head in a gladiatorial arena for the ultra rich!

You’re bonkers, superhero comic books!

RIP Rowl, Justice League #222 (1984) - Justice League #222 (1984).

Back at the Justicey part of the plot, 22,300 miles above the Earth, the League receives an emergency message from Dr. Hamid of Cairo Hospital.

Or he says he’s Dr. Hamid of Cairo Hospital.

He looks like Tony Stark, that Ironman guy from Marvel.

Anyway, he got the JL’s top secret broadcast code from a device on Hawkman’s uniform.

Yeah. Hawkman. Remember how he was attacked by a giant scorpion last issue? Well, he’s in the hospital with an acute case of too much scorpion venom in him. And Dr. Toby Stark fears he may not last the night.

Hawkgirl is understandably upset and wants to rush to his side as fast as possible. And since the League has cool teleport booths, that’s... still not that fast because the booths only go to other booths and Cairo Hospital doesn’t have a booth.

She also asks Wonder Woman to go with her.

Superman wonders if Hawkgirl is maybe too emotionally torn up to go see her scorpion’d hawkguy.

Zatanna: “I won’t stop her, Superman. Will you?”

WHILE GIVING AN EXPRESSION THATS LIKE ‘please do not drag me into drama.’

Reena tries to commiserate with Hawkgirl but Shayera is having none of that.

Hawkgirl: “Your people did this. If Katar dies -- you killed him!”

Oof.

Zatanna tries to contextualize Hawkgirl’s outburst by explaining that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are just super close but Reena says she understands because she and Rex were that close.

And that despite everything she still loves him and it makes her feel like shit.

Oof.

Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl arrive at Cairo Hospital and Dr. Hamid tells them that Hawkman isn’t the only one who got scorpion’d.

Dr. Hall and his students were attacked by giant scorpion man to rob some archaeological relics they found. Several of the students are in the hospital after being stung and two have already died.

As for Dr. Hall, why he’s just plum gone missing. (Because he’s Hawkman)

From his hospital bed, Hawkman weakly (because of getting scorpion’d) apologizes for the argument they had before he left for Cairo and Hawkgirl claims she doesn’t even remember the fight. Because nothing makes you put aside hurt feelings like possible death by scorpion.

Dr. Hamid tells Wonder Woman that Hawkman is very likely to die unless they can get some giant scorpion man venom to develop into an anti-toxin.

And while they walk by, a random janitor mopping the floor reports the presence of the Justice League members to his ring.

HMMM.

I think that I suspect that this humble janitor is in fact actually a plant for the Rex Squad.

Yup.

Yuuuup.

That janitor was up to no good.

With two Hawks down with sleep gas, its left to the Rex Squad unit leader to handle Wonder Woman.

ITS A HECKIN RHINO MAN!

Of course, a hero as strong as Wonder Woman isn’t going down to a single rhino punch.

It takes a second whole punch to knock her out.

Womp womp.

Rhino Man: “Gas her and shove her in the ‘copter with the others, Mac. The boss wants ‘em all for a little TV show he’s planning. Way I hear, it’s gonna be a ratings smash!”

Rhino puns.

About an hour later, the Justice League subteam nicknamed Sit On Their Thumbs is still in the satellite wondering why Wonder Woman hasn’t called to tell them how Hawkman is doing.

But gosh darn it, if they don’t hear from her in two more minutes in time for the regular hourly check-in, then they’ll just have to do something maybe!

But they get a signal from Hawkgirl’s code and Aquaman main screen turns on... to reveal a big sneering lion man who is not Hawkgirl at all.

Reena: “oh god... he’s found me.”

Maximus Rex, full incoming ham: “Yes, Reena, I’ve found you. When this is done, you’ll suffer the fate of all who betray me. But first, tell your new friends who they face! I am MAXIMUS REX, LEADER OF THE NEW ORDER!”

Firestorm: “Y’know... Somehow, I’d already guessed that.”

Snrrk.

But Maximus Rex warns them not to mock his lionness and has the camera swung over to reveal that he has Wonder Woman and the Hawks as his hostages.

Hawkman is definitely going to die (from being scorpion’d) but Maximus Rex is Magnanimous Rex and instead of immediately killing them, he’s going to turn them into furries too.

Maximus Rex: “I think the Amazon would make a very proper pig, don’t you?”

Man, this guy must have loved the “This Little Piggy” episode of Justice League Unlimited.

Buuuut he won’t turn them into furries and make them fight in his Arena if the Justice League do him some small favors.

First thing, turn Reena over to him.

Second thing, “I want your full cooperation with my plans.”

When Superman tells him ‘obviously no’ Maximus gets mad.

Oh, Maximus the Mad. That’s a catchy name for him.

Maximus Rex: “In the hours to come, you will regret this decision, Justice Leaguers. My new order is the future. You cannot turn the tide of destiny. It will sweep over you... Draw you under... Drown you in the sea of history! Ours will be a struggle to the death -- your death! HA HA HA HA”

He is.

Frothing a little.

And as the mad lion lad continues just belly laughing on this collect call, Superman shakes his fist determinedly.

Superman: “Enjoy it while you have it, Maximus. We’re bringing you down.”

I mean, sure, half of the League is captured or in the hospital already from tangling with these Ani-Men but the League is probably due for an upswing, right?

Or maybe they’ll all get captured and I’ll get to see what the Justice League’s fursonas are.

My guess for Superman is the noble capybara, friend to all.

Follow @justice-league-indispensible or @essential-avengers​ which is my real liveblog. I’m sorry, this has all been a lie. A jape. A delightful jest. An April Fool. Like and reblog maybe. The more notes this gets the more I go oh no look at what kind of response Justice League gets and I’ve backed the Avengers horse, the April Fool turns out to be me! That’ll show me.

[plugloveff]

Chapter 4

Meek: 

“So what do you think of my offer ?” Carter asked taking a sip of his scotch. 

Staring into my glass, I let what he said sink in.  

“Offer expires in 10 seconds” Carter stated. 

"It sound's good but I still have to talk to my team" I replied. 

“Your the head man right? You make the decisions and they are either on board or not” Carter stated. 

“Ight deal” I said.

Carter smiled and extended his hand for me to shake. "One thing, Chanel doesn't need to know about this". 

“Why?“ 

“She just doesn’t need to know the details of our business. And I’m sure she doesn’t know the amount of bodies you have on your resume or the play by play of what you do on a daily” He stated. 

Nodding my head in agreement I took a sip of my drink. “So, how did this meeting go? I tell her what exactly?" I asked. 

"The meeting went well and I gave you my blessing. That's all she needs to know" he said finishing his drink. 

Waving over the bartender he reached for his Wallet. 

“I got it” I said reaching into my pocket. 

Carter stopped me, "My business deal I pay" he said pulling two hundred dollar bills off his money clip and tossing them on the counter. 

"I'll be in touch Ahmeek" he said before walking out. 

Tossing the rest of my drink back I pulled my phone out and sent a text to Dre and Wayne to meet me at the warehouse for a meeting. 

Walking out of the restaurant I handed the valet my ticket. Taking in my surroundings I thought about the conversation I had with Carter. I was still trying to wrap my head around it.

Seeing my Range Rover come into view I slid behind the wheel. The music was blasting from my custom speakers as I sped off into the Miami night, it was time to talk money.

                                                    _________

"You dead ass right now?” Wayne asked. 

“Yeah” I replied taking a hit of my blunt. 

“Damn that’s a good deal” Dre replied. 

Nodding in agreement, I thought of all the money that could be made during his deal. We were rich but this would take us to a whole new level.

“I’m sure Chanel is going to be happy to know you and her father are getting along” Wayne said. 

Blowing the smoke out my mouth I shook my head. "She can't know about the deal" 

"Wait what? How you expect to keep this from her ?” Dre asked. 

"Nothing's changed she doesn't know about the day to day operations. I'm just the same ole street nigga "

"Ight bro ” Wayne said. 

“Don’t go running your mouth’s to Steph and Aria either. This shit don’t leave this fucking table” I stated. 

Wayne and Dre nodded in understanding. 

Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Chanel’s name flash on the screen. Speak of the devil. 

Chanel : Are you still with my dad? How is it going? 

Meek: Nah, I'm on my way back now. 

“Ight I’m bouta head out I’ll let y'all know when I hear something” I said getting up from the table and dapping them both. 

“Aight Brodie stay up” Wayne said. 

Exactly twenty minutes later I was stepping off Chanel’s elevator. The condo was dark the only light coming from the Miami skin line peeking through the windows. 

I could hear the sound of music coming from Chanel’s bedroom. Kicking off my shoes I dropped my keys on the counter and followed the sound into her bedroom. 

When I walked in my breathe caught in my throat. Chanel was spread across her bed in a red lace baby doll that didn’t leave much for the imagination. I could feel the blood rush to my dick seeing how the red material clung to her caramel skin.

“Hi” she said looking up from her phone. 

“Hi Mama” I said. 

“Come here” she said sitting up on her heels. Giving a better view of the Lacey number. 

Walking over to her my eyes raked over her body. When I was inches away from her she sat up on her knees so she was almost eye level with me. 

“I missed you” she said. I could smell the wine on her breath, she was intoxicated. 

“I missed you to baby girl” I said running his hand down her cheek. 

“How did it go with my dad?" she asked. 

"Nah, we not about to talk about your dad, when you looking like this" I said licking my lips.  

"But baby, I've been up all night thinking about what happened. You can't not tell me" she said. 

“Shhhh, we'll talk about it later" I said. 

Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck I pulled her into me crashing my lips against her's. My tongue slipped into her mouth, she moaned against my lips and I grabbed a handful of her ass pulling her into me. Her hands slid down my body till she got to my dick. She gripped me through my pants. Groaning I pulled back from her. “Take it off” I ordered taking off my clothes. 

Chanel quickly threw the baby doll over her head and tossed it onto the floor. 

Placing one knee on the bed I climbed on top of her. My dick stood at attention pressing against her center. I could feel her wetness on my dick. I trailed kisses down her neck to her D cup breast. Cupping one in my hand I wrapped my mouth around it sucking hard, drawing circles around her nipple with my tongue. 

Chanel’s back arched in pleasure. "Meek please” she moaned. 

Smirking I took her other breast into my mouth. I wanted her so badly but I couldn’t give on breast attention without giving some to the other.

“Meeeek” Chanel moaned. 

Having teased her enough I released her breast from my mouth. Nestling in the crook of her neck I guided my dick inside of her. 

Chanel’s back arched and she gasped as I filled her. I hissed feeling her wrap around me. Fuck I missed this. 

Pumping in and out of her slowly, I could feel her wetness dripping down my balls. 

“Fuck baby” I hissed. 

“Harder baby” Chanel moaned into my ear. 

Lifting her legs slightly I pumped in and out of her faster. Chanel’s nails dug into my back and I knew I'd  have bruises in the morning, but I didn’t care. Sucking on her neck marking my territory, she was mine all mine. 

“God Meek I’m about to cum” Chanel screamed. 

“Cum for me” I whispered in her ear. On command I felt Chanel’s grip on my dick tighten. Her legs locked around my waist, her back arching further off the bed as she came. 

Gritting my teeth I felt the swell of my balls, I was close. I pumped in and out of her faster. There was nothing gentle about it I was claiming every inch of her pussy. It was mine. 

“Oh shit” I groaned spilling my seeds inside her. 

When I was done I collapsed on top of her. Both of us trying to catch our breaths. Wrapping my arm around her waist I pulled her into my chest and drifted off to sleep.

Chanel: 

Gripping my pillow I yawned and opened my eyes. Meek's side of the bed was empty and from the feel of it he'd been gone for a while. Sitting up in the mattress I looked around my room and noticed a small piece of paper on my nightstand. Grabbing it I read the note:

I left you breakfast in the microwave. There’s some money on the dresser go buy yourself something nice to wear because I’m taking you out tonight. I’ll see you later beautiful.  - M

Smiling at the note I threw the cover's off my body and grabbed my phone. Walking into the bathroom I sent a message to Cassidy to see if she was up for a shopping trip. And started to get ready.

Thirty minutes later I was dressed in denim shorts, a Dior t-shirt and matching Dior sneaker’s. My hair was pulled back into a ponytail and my makeup was light.

Walking into the kitchen I warmed up my food, waiting for Cassidy to pick me up.

When I saw the French toast, bacon and eggs in the plate I smiled. Meek always paid close attention to things that I liked. I was just digging into my food when my phone rang in my back pocket.

“Hey Ari” I said putting my phone on speaker.

“Wassup? What you doing today I’m bored” Aria asked

“Going shopping with Cass you wanna come?” I asked

“Yes, what time y'all going?“

"I’m waiting on her now should be here in like 45"

"Alright I’ll meet y'all there. I’ll ask Steph if she want’s to come"

"Cool, I’ll see you in a few than” I said.

I just finished my food when I got a text from Cassidy that she was downstairs.

Running my room I grabbed my bag and stuffed the thirty-thousand dollar’s Meek left in my purse along with my sunglasses I left.

Cassidy: 

Scrolling though my instagram I waited for Chanel to come downstairs. Double tapping on a few pictures I nodded my head to the beat of the music blaring through the speakers of my G-Wagon.

A gentle tap on my window, grabbed my attention. When I saw Chanel I quickly unlocked the door.

“Took you long enough” I said.

“I didn't even take ten minutes ” Chanel replied

Shaking my head I pulled away from the curb.

"Are you looking for something in particular today or we just blowing a bag?" I asked.

“I don’t know Meek just told me we're going out tonight, he wasn’t specific so probably a dress or maybe a jumpsuit” Chanel replied.

"So it's a date"

"Yeah"

"So how did thing's go with dad?" I asked.

"Well I didn't go to dinner so he, was at my apartment when I got home and we argued for a little then he told me he wanted to meet Meek. When I told Meek he told me to set up the meeting but he didn't want me to be there. He wasn't told me exactly what went down he just said Dad gave his blessing" she said.

"Wait he what?" I asked

"He gave his blessing, I even called dad to make sure and he said yeah he likes Meek. I don't know what the fuck happened and Meek refuses to tell me. But I guess it's all good. Thats one less problem for me to worry about" she said.

"Wow" I said trying to wrap my head around it. My father and I didn't have the best relationship and it was mostly because he was so controlling. He was a man of power and he abused it, which was something I couldn't deal with. I hated being controlled which is probably why I found a yes man to be in a relationship with.

"Alright enough about me and my life. Tell me about your vacation" Chanel said snapping me from my thoughts.

"Bora Bora was amazing" I said thinking back on my trip, it was beautiful but I couldn't help but think about how unhappy I am with Chris.

"I'm sensing a but here" Chanel said.

Biting my lip, I kept my eyes trained on the road. I didn't have the heart to look at Chanel because she'd see right through me she always could.

"Nothing" I said

"Cassidy, don't lie to me I'm your big sister and I'm here for you no matter what. Anything you need and i'm here" Chanel said.

"I know Coco, I'm just not ready to talk about it" I said.

"Well I'm here when you do" she said.

"Thanks" I said pulling into a parking spot at the front of the mall.

"Neiman's first?"

"Ofcourse" I said hopping out of my truck.

Sliding down my sunglasses, I walked into the mall with Chanel following close behind me.

Three hours later I was leaned up against the cash register, while Chanel paid for her stuff. When Chanel pulled out a stack of money from her purse my eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Since when do you carry cash? And in rubber bands?" I asked watching her count the money.

"I don't, Meek left me money this morning" she replied handing the cashier 7,000 dollars.

Cassidy leaned against the cash register as Chanel paid for her stuff. They were on hour four of shopping and this was probably their seventh store.

“That’s sweet. When am I going to meet Mr. Meek anyway?” I asked as we walked towards Steph and Aria.

“I don’t know, soon hopefully” Chanel replied.

“Good I have to make sure my sister is in good hands” I said.

“Oh she’s def in good hands” a male voice said.

Turning around to find who the voice belonged too, I assumed it was Meek from the huge grin on Chanel's face. Taking in him I mentally applauded my sister, Meek was a huge upgrade from Robert's bum ass and the smile that was plastered on her face and he way his eyes lit up looking at her I could see they loved each other.

“What are you doing here? And how the hell did you find me?” Chanel asked pulling away from him.

He smirked “I can’t give up my sources” he said.

Chanel looked over her shoulder at Steph “You told him didn’t you?” Chanel asked.

“Nah, I told Wayne ass where we were. Where is he anyway? ” Steph asked.

"They waiting for me at the jeweler, but I had to swing by and see my shawty real quick" Meek said wrapping his arm around Chanel's waist.

Chanel beamed up at him in response. “Oh, Meek this is my little sister Cassidy. Cass, this is Meek” Chanel said introducing us.

“Wassup lil sis” he said letting go of Chanel and pulling me in for a hug.

“Lil sis huh ?” I asked playfully.

“Yeah you family, cause lord know’s I ain’t ever letting this one go” he said looking down at Chanel and she blushed in response.

I smiled and nodded my head in approval “I like him” I said.

“You ready to be out baby girl or you still got some stores you wanna hit up?” Meek asked.

“We have like three more stores” Aria answered.

“Aight, you drove?” Meek asked Chanel.

“Nah I came with Cass"

"Aight I gotta finish up at the Jewelry store a couple blocks away. Text me when you done. You need more money?” he asked her.

“No I still have like 15 from what you gave me” she replied.

Meek reached in his pocket and pulled out a stack of money. “Here’s another 10” he said handing it to her.

“Meek I’m good” she said.

“Chanel take it” he said.

"Ahmeek seriously I'm good"

"Coco, it's my treat take the money"

Before Chanel could protest again I took the money out of his hand.

Meek smirked, "There's 5 in there for you little sis. Enjoy" he said taking the shopping bags out of Chanel's hands.

"See I really like you now" I said stuffing the money in my purse.

"Later baby" Chanel said stepping on her tippy toes and kissing Meek.

"Umm, don't take all day I got plans for you Ms. Wright"

"Y'all so nasty" I said grabbing Chanel's hand pulling her away from a laughing Meek.

Chanel: 

“Where are you taking me?” I asked Meek. My eyes were blindfolded and he was holding my hand guiding me. I could see the ocean but I honestly had no clue where we were.

“You’ll see in about 30 seconds” he said.

We walked for another 20 steps before he stopped. “Can I take this off now?” I asked.

“No. I’m going to pick you up" he said

"Ok” I said feeling Meek scoop me up in his arms. I felt us sway and I clung to him, "you better not drop me" I said.

Meek chuckled, "I’m not”

We climbed up a few steps before he stopped. He placed me on my feet.

“Ok, I’m going to take it off now” he said

“Finally” I said impatiently. Meek gently removed the blindfold from my eyes. I gasped when I saw where we were. We were in the middle of a yacht on the harbor, there were red and white rose petals leading to a candle lit dinner.

I felt like I was in a movie this time of thing only happened in movies. It didn't feel real men didn't do this in real life. Not where I was from, but here I was with this perfect man who did shit like this out of fairy tales. I was in complete awe, and I was fighting back tears.

“Do you like it?” Meek asked.

“Baby I love it thank you” I said kissing him.

“Come on let’s eat, we’re about to set sail in a few” Meek said taking my hand and leading me to the table. Pulling out a chair for me, I took a seat and Meek sat across from me. Just as the captain signaled that we were pulling away from the dock.

“This is beautiful” I said.

“I agree” Meek said.

Looking over at him, he was staring at me instead. I smiled but before I could say anything a waiter appeared with two trays.

"Herb-roasted Lobster and Steak” he said placing the food in front of Meek.

“Garlic butter Lobster and Shrimp with garlic mash potatoes” he said placing a dish in front of me.

“Thank you” Il said as the waiter poured wine into our glasses before disappearing.

“Ahmeek, this is amazing, thank you” I said

“Nah, ma you deserve this. I realized I never took you on an official date and I had to make up for us being together for two months and never taking you out. Plus you deserve the world and I plan on spending my entire life spoiling you" he said.

I bit my lip trying to stop the tears from falling.

“Eat up” Meek said smiling and taking a bite of his Steak.

                                                       _______

“You really outdid yourself for a first date” I said leaning against his chest.

“It’s only going to get better from here” Meek said

“Always one to try and out do yourself"

"Yeah I gotta stay on top of my game so you don’t leave me”

“I’m not going anywhere"

"Good, because I love you too much to let you go” Meek said.

My body stilled against his and my heart raced. "You what?" I asked making sure I heard him correctly.

Meek turned me to face him. "You've changed me ma, you got a nigga feeling stuff that I've never felt before. I'd do anything or you, your'e my whole heart man, you got me doing all this emotional ass shit that's not me but for you I'd do it all. So I need you to hear me and understand me when I say I love you. I know it's only been two months, but you have me wrapped around you finger. I'm all in with you I want it all, I'd go to war with the world for you. We locked in forever 25 to life" he said.

I didn't fight the tears anymore, I couldn't. “I love you too” I replied kissing him.

[daydreaming-nerd]

Power Couple (Loki x reader)

Plot: When you learn that Loki is alive and locked inside a cell courtesy of The Avengers you become the bad bitch you need to get him out.

info: This will be switching pov’s between you and third person. I’ll be sure to mark it just be aware.

It’s been three months since the love of my life fell off the Bifrost. I remember our plot to take over Asgard, it was all running smoothly until Thor showed up.

I remember squatting next to Odin holding onto both of his sons on the edge of the broken rainbow bridge. I was reaching my hand out for Loki to hopefully take. I remember the look in his eyes as he let go and floated off into infinite space. My heart broke and I screamed in pain, sadness, and loss for him. If it wasn’t for Thor engulfing me in his arms on the ground trying to keep me calm I would’ve jumped in after him. I died that day. 

As days rolled by I began to realize Loki wasn’t coming back. A new side of me came forth, a dark side. A side that wanted to avenge my love. I worked harder on my powers of telekinesis and grew power hungry. I remember sparing with Thor every now and then, sometimes he would win sometimes I would win. Regardless I was growing more powerful and that was becoming quite handy. 

I had a dream last night that Loki was alive and was imprisoned by his brother and a group called The Avengers, I knew then it was him trying to contact me and there wasn’t a soul that could keep me from him. 

3rd person pov:

Thor had gone out looking for the tesseract and the rest of the Avengers sat together in deep in conversation on what to do next.

“Well Loki won’t talk so until we either find the tesseract there’s not much we can do,” stated Natasha. 

“Furry said he found it funny that Loki seemed like the only person who actually wanted to be on this bird and I agree. We need to be ready for anything he has plotting,” Steve said.

A sudden boom hit the top of the Helicarrier.

“We have an unidentified person on top of the carrier! I repeat we have an unidentified person on top of the carrier!” shouted agent Hill.

Your pov: 

I landed on top of the helicarrier the wind blowing my emerald green cape and my leather catsuit clinging to my body except for where the plunging neckline exposed my chest. I used a spell Loki once taught me to float through the ceiling and into the carrier. I landed and looked up to see what appeared to be these famous Avengers I’ve heard so much about. The female fired her pistol at me but I used my powers and flicked her bullet away with the wave of my hand, and then flung both my arms out to either side of me sending them all flying towards the nearest wall as hard as I could knocking the wind out of them all and then walking past them like the mewling quims they are.

3rd person pov:  

Steve finally stood up and looked at Tony still on the ground.

“Put the suit on,” he said running to suit up himself. 

Tony got up and ran to the storage room full of his things. As soon as his suit was on he called Thor right away. He knew the Avengers couldn’t beat a goddess from another world without him.

“Hey Thor we got a problem,” he said flying towards where the threat was.

“Is it my brother?” Thor said into Tony’s earpiece.

“No Sid's fine but I think Nancy just showed up,” 

“Sid and Nancy? I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean,” 

“Remember when you said Loki had a little girlfriend? Yeah well, the bitch just showed up!”

“Oh gods. Whatever you do, do not let them reach one another. They feed off each other's power and the second they get together I won[’t be able to defeat them. I am on my way back now, make sure they don’t reach each other,” Thor said now worried.

“You guys hear the man?” Tony said into the earpiece for everyone to hear. Multiple Roger thats followed.

Your pov:

It was almost too easy for me. Anytime someone or something came close to me I could simply use my powers to push them away. I waltzed through the whole ship throwing agents and Avengers left and right straight to a room with a glass cell in the middle of it and my Loki inside.

He looked up at me with the devilish grin.

“Darling,” He said. “You came for me.” He said standing up and walking towards me.

“You know I always will,” I said placing my hand on the glass. He did the same. Our hands would’ve finally been touching had the glass not been there. With a little bit of magic, he practically floated through the thick barrier. 

I put my hands on either side of his face and his hands landed on my waist pulling me into a kiss that slowly turned into a makeout session until Thor ruined it.

“Brother!” He shouted charging at us. As I opened the glass wall with my magic Loki cloned and transported us away from the cage. Thor went through us and fell right into the glass case.

Loki and I just looked at him from the control panel holding hands.

“Are you ever not going to fall for that?” said Loki getting a giggle out of me.

Thor banged on the glass with his hammer in anger causing the whole capsule to shit down. Loki and I looked at each other, the devil behind our eyes.

“The humans think us immortal. Should we test that?” he said walking towards what appeared to be the controls to this massive cage.

All the sudden a well dressed man appeared holding a large gun, his badge read Coulson indicating he was another agent. Apparently an agent with access to the weapons vault.  

“Move away please,” he deadpanned pointing the intimidating weapon at us. Surely my powers could not hold back whatever this weapon fired.

Loki stepped away from the panel and tucked me behind his back protectively. 

“You like this?” he said slowly walking towards us.”We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don’t know what it does. Do you wanna find out?” he said firing up the gun. Loki’s clone showed up behind him stabbing him in the back. I could hear Thor’s scream of defeat behind me.

The man sunk to the floor and leaned up against the wall. Loki strided over to the panel once again and hit the button sending his brother falling thousands of feet inside a stronger than steel capsule. Loki began walking back over to me until he was interrupted.

“You’re going to lose,” the man said. Loki stopped dead in his tracks.

“Am I?” 

“It’s in your nature,” the man said on the brink of death.

Loki and I began walking toward him.

“Your heroes are scattered. Your floating fortress damaged courtesy of my lovely queen who now stands by my side,”he said gesturing to me.”where is my disadvantage?” 

“You lack conviction,” the man deadpanned once more. I could sense his finger on the trigger,.

“I don’t think I’m-” I cut Loki off before the man shot by teleporting us to an abandoned warehouse.

It took him a second to realize what I had just done.

“Why did you do that?”

“He was about to shoot darling and we can’t take over Midgard injured.” I said giving his a peck on the lips. He smiled and put his hands on my waist once more.

“Where would I be without you?” he said.

“In a cage,” I said wrapping my arms around his neck. He chuckled at my remark.

“Oh my darling how I’ve missed you.” He said placing his forehead on mine.”Now, where were we?” 

“Why don’t I show you,” I said kissing him passionately resuming our make out session from earlier.

Taking over a whole planet could wait till tomorrow, right now we needed to make up for being apart for three months.

[jaouinedcan]

Home is Where the Journey Takes You [NedCan Week: Day 5 - Home/Journey]

I was initially on the fence about Nyotalia, but oh man did I ever fall for Nyo!Netherlands when I read “The Raven’s Call”   👌👀👌👀👌👀👌👀👌👀 good shit go౦ԁ sHit👌 thats ✔ some good👌👌shit right👌👌there👌👌👌 right✔there ✔✔if i do ƽaү so my self 💯 i say so 💯 thats what im talking about right there right there (chorus: ʳᶦᵍʰᵗ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ) mMMMMᎷМ💯 👌👌 👌НO0ОଠOOOOOОଠଠOoooᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒ👌 👌👌 👌 💯 👌 👀 👀 👀 👌👌Good shit

...So yeah I wanted to spread the love a bit and also give props to paladinquen for the inspiration; I also really liked the name they chose for her so I went with it for this fic, too :)

Anneke de Boer had her whole life mapped out by the time she was ten.  She was going to inherit her father's shipping company, manage it from her mother's flower shop, marry the most capable man in sight to take charge of the ships, and have a few children to carry on the family business after she retired.  It was a simple and clear-cut plan.  She didn't even have to be in love with the man she would marry since it was far more important to find someone with smart business sense.  Since her father was one of the most successful men in town, Anneke didn't think she's have much trouble interesting someone, and, indeed, a few young men began making a habit of visiting her and her father once she grew older.  It seemed as though everything was going perfectly as planned, and she continued focusing on her education as she left negotiations to her father, trusting him completely as he weeded out the smooth talkers hoping to simply live off her family's wealth like a parasite instead of contributing to it and ensuring that her family name would carry on in prosperity.

It startled her how easily it all came undone once the Netherlands were invaded in 1940 as she teetered on the cusp of adulthood.  Her father's ships did not return, his warehouses were commandeered by the invading army, and their home was used as a residence by the men assigned to control the city.  Even her suitors disappeared, either having lost interest or their lives through resistance efforts.

Most of their possessions, wealth, and assets gone, they moved into her mother's flower shop.  It was an unfathomable difference between having a private room to herself and sharing a small storeroom with her parents and sister, which shrank further yet when one of her father's most trusted business associates came to them under the cover of night with little Luca in hand and a desperate plea, and then she had a little brother, too.  The townsfolk closed ranks and spoke of little Luca de Boer as if he had been theirs all along, and when the German soldiers asked them why he had no papers, Anneke feigned humiliation at having a son while still so young herself, saying he was raised as her little brother instead to avoid bringing shame upon her family and harming her marriage prospects.  Luca was lucky that his facial features were so miraculously similar to hers, because the soldiers moved on without asking any more questions.  They never saw his father again and no one else would come to collect him, but that was fine.  Little Luca became so precious to them it wasn't long before he was truly considered a de Boer in every way that counted.

Over the course of the next five years, conditions continued to deteriorate, but nothing was quite as terrible as the final winter of their occupation, when all they had left to eat were the tulip bulbs left in the storeroom and Anneke was forced to get creative.  As people succumbed all over the city to hunger and the cold, her family scraped along until liberation, though it came at the price of her father's peace of mind.  She knew that he blamed himself for being unable to provide for his family--he apologized often and spent long hours sitting up awake when he should have been sleeping, going so far as to eat smaller and smaller portions of the food she brought home, insisting that she share the rest of it with her siblings.  Despite her best efforts, he nearly willed himself into an early grave, bedridden for weeks before the Canadians marched through their streets.  While her mother kept a close eye on Emma and Luca, jumping up and down with pieces of chocolate melting all over their hands, she'd dragged her father's moldering mattress all the way to the shop's front door to watch the parade.  It was the first time she saw him cry, and it would not be the last, because instead of passing on he slowly recovered over the next few months and became much less concerned with keeping up appearances.

There was one last blow as the reforming Dutch government sought to punish Germans and their supporters, but Anneke endured it with her head held high.  Her family wasn't able to return home since it had been destroyed in an allied strike, but she didn't mind that so much as the townsfolk silently staring at the back of her suddenly bared neck as she went about her errands, and so limited her time outside as much as possible.  Some of the other girls refused to go outdoors at all, and she could hardly blame them.  She, at least, had been fortunate enough to not fall in love.  There had been some good men in the German army--she'd had the sense to avoid them, but some of the girls in town were so desperate for companionship in such trying times that they'd been drawn in by any hint of affection.

When they'd been gathered in the street to face their punishment, Anneke, repulsed by the whole spectacle, took the scissors from the official stepping up from behind her and cut her hair herself, refusing to give him the satisfaction of shaming her and the other girls for making the best of a bad situation.  Some of the other girls were shocked out of their tears as she threw down the scissors and walked away.  When Emma told their mother as she helped her even out the mess she'd made, Anneke caught her smiling in the mirror's reflection, and remembered what pride felt like.

Even so, Anneke disliked the attention and kept to herself, taking care of the flower shop as money began to pour back into the city.  It was easier to handle than going out into the street since the majority of her customers were Canadian soldiers, the one group of people with a bit of money to spare for non-essentials, though it was the young Dutch girls capturing their hearts who enjoyed the gifts they bought.  It had been the same story over the course of the occupation, though she only sold flowers to the Canadians.

One day, about a week after cutting her hair, a new customer came in.  She'd long since learned the names of the others and their beaus along with their favoured arrangements.  It was all part of being in business, knowing what the customers wanted and ensuring that she kept the most popular items in supply.  This soldier was unfamiliar, though, and she went through a mental checklist of the local girls who were still single, trying to match him with one.  He seemed either shy or nervous, pacing among her displays, so the girl may have approached him, first, but all the more assertive girls were already dating, to her knowledge.

Anneke tried to decide whether to leave him be or greet him.  It was in good business sense to welcome him to the shop, but if he was skittish--and she couldn't fault anyone who fought the Germans for suffering lingering anxieties--it was possible that surprising him would cause him to leave and she'd lose a possible regular customer.  All of a sudden, though, he steeled himself and approached the counter.  "Hallo," she said, having the decision made for her.

"Hello," he replied, standing straight like he was facing his commanding officer.  "Do you speak English, miss?  Au Français?"  He had a quiet way about him, but she had no trouble hearing his voice in the otherwise empty shop.

"My English is better."  There hadn't been many French nationals in the city willing to let her practice, especially once the occupation began and speaking anything but German in public became increasingly dangerous.  "What are you looking for today, sir?"

He seemed relieved; most of the soldiers she'd encountered spoke English, so maybe his French was weak, too.  "I'm afraid I don't have the faintest idea," he admitted.  "It's for a girl, of course--I don't exactly have family nearby--but I don't know what she would like.  Do you have any suggestions, miss?"

"What is her name?" she asked.  "I may know her preferences."

"We haven't yet been introduced," he said, and offered his hand.  "I'm Matthew Williams."

She was a bit taken off guard by the abrupt change of subject, but shook his hand anyway.  "Anneke de Boer."

"On nuh kuh," he repeated carefully, getting a feel for the pronunciation.  "Anneke, if you don't mind me asking, what is your favourite flower?"

She heard that question often; men often assumed women liked certain kinds as a collective.  Well, he was in luck at the moment, because Anneke had plenty of her favourite in stock at the moment.  "For soft feelings of affection, tulips are best.  As with roses, the colour of choice for romance would be red.  If your intention is to pursue a Dutch girl's heart, even if her English is not good, the meaning of a red tulip is clear."

Matthew smiled, pulling out a handful of coins from one of his pockets.  "That sounds perfect; I'd like to buy one, please."

She counted out his change first, then lead him over to the tulips, pulling an attractively shaped one out of the bunch for him.  When she held it out for him to take, though, Matthew enclosed her outstretched hand between both of his, instead.

"Anneke," he said, "I hope to see you tomorrow at the town centre."  Matthew then released her hand and bowed his head slightly toward her before turning and walking back out into the street, leaving the tulip in her hand.  She stared out after him until he stepped out of sight.

She isn't sure how long she stood there, but it couldn't have been long because Emma and Luca tumbled out from behind the counter, obviously having snuck in through the back door.  "Anneke you have to go," Emma insisted, bringing her from English back to Dutch.  "He's the one who always has sweets!"

Indeed, both Emma and Luca held up hands marked with melted chocolate, but Luca looked a bit unsure.  "He wouldn't let me and my friends play in the field by the hospital yesterday, though..."

Emma tugged on his ear.  "That was because they haven't finished clearing out the land mines, Luca!  We really have to work on your English before you get blown up!"

"I'm not going to get blown up!" Luca protested with a pout, holding one hand over his ear and licking the other one clean of chocolate.

"Listen to what the soldiers tell you, Luca," Anneke said, backing up her sister, "and you will not get blown up.  The fields are too dangerous to play in, so you will have to stay in the city for now."

"Okay..." he agreed, though he still looked put out.  "I hope they get all the mines soon.  I want to go out exploring like the boys in books do.  It's not fair."

"It isn't fair," Anneke agreed, helping to placate him by acknowledging the injustice, "but it is better than before and it will continue to get better from here on out.  If business keeps up at this pace, I will be able to buy you a football in time for your birthday."

Luca's eyes opened wide  as saucers.  "Really, Anneke, really?!"  At her nod, he launched himself around her legs, burying his face in her skirt.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

Anneke ruffled her little brother's hair with her free hand, and looked over to her sister, who thoughtfully licked her fingers.  Luca was still a boy, but Emma was well on her way to leaving childhood behind her.  Anneke suspected that she even had a good idea how she'd kept them all fed over the last year, though she'd hoped to spare her from the knowledge.  "Anneke," she said, eyes locking on the tulip, "I was just kidding about the sweets.  You know that, right?"

She wanted to find out who told her and tear a strip from their hide.  "I know, Emma."

"Still," she said, lips curling into an encouraging smile, "he's really nice, always asking us how we're doing, and I don't think he even knows we're family so it isn't just to get into your good graces.  You should go see him tomorrow.  I can look after the shop.  Luca can stay here, too, and I can help him with his English in between customers and you can have a day off and have some fun for once."

Anneke considered it.  With their father at the Allied hospital and their mother working to help care for him and the rest of the recovering townsfolk and soldiers, Emma and Luca were mostly left to run free, but maybe it was time to allow them a little more responsibility.  "If you really mean that," she decided, "then I will go."

She brought the tulip to the back room and left it on the table in a cup with sugar water so it would last longer.  When their mother returned from the hospital with their supper, she saw it, took a long breath, slowly exhaled, and once she was done, looked more at ease than she had since the occupation began.  Anneke brought up the football idea before she could ask.

The upper ranks of the Allied military were supposed to discourage romantic relations between their soldiers and the civilians they protected, but such regulations were doomed from the start.  Young people were drawn to excitement no matter what their elders had to say about it, and while Anneke considered herself an exception to the rule, she still liked to see people around her having fun.  In the weeks following liberation, the most exciting thing was to meet the Canadian soldiers, and it was inevitable that romance would result.  She profited from it directly, and swiftly heard about the unsanctioned social gatherings in the town centre.  Someone would bring a radio and everyone in attendance would drink and dance.  The generals could not dictate where the troops spent their off duty hours and forbidding contact with the locals would lower morale, so many of them were in attendance and flirted with the girls who came to see them in open defiance of military policy.  It had only been a few weeks and already there were at least a dozen couples dancing, clearly besotted with one another.  She wished them well.

Matthew found her quickly.  There were not many Dutch girls with short hair willing to walk the streets these days, so she stuck out like a sore thumb.  "Anneke," he said, "I'm glad you're here.  Would you like to dance?"

It would be easier to talk to him in motion rather than awkwardly standing off to the side, leaving them vulnerable to eavesdroppers.  "Yes," she said, raising her arms and inviting him to step toward her, allowing him to take one hand in his, settling the other on her waist while she rested hers on his shoulder.  Up close, she realized they were either the same height or very close to it and his eyes were a very peculiar pale blue that seemed to shine violet in the light.

"Thank you for coming, Anneke," he said, once they'd found their rhythm.  "I've been wanting to meet you for a while now."

That was the thing she was the most curious about.  How did he know her?  She avoided the streets as much as possible and yesterday had been his first time visiting the flower shop, so when had he developed an interest in her?  Well, all she had to do was ask.  "I'm a little confused how I managed to make such a strong impression, given I've been keeping to myself lately."

"Yes, I've noticed," he agreed, smiling faintly.  "I'd have thought I would have run into you before now, but I ended up having to ask around to find you again.  I'm not surprised you didn't notice me back then in the crowd.  I was one of several soldiers assigned to the area to prevent any violence from breaking out."  So that was it.  She really should have guessed, but that still didn't explain his interest in her.  "I have a pretty good idea of what you said back then, but I wanted to know for sure.  Would you be willing to translate it into English for me?"  He made a good effort of repeating the Dutch phrase that must have echoed in his mind for the past week.

Matthew could have asked almost anyone in town.  He could have asked her yesterday, too, if it mattered that much to him, but maybe he had noticed her siblings spying on them.  Or maybe going in such a roundabout way was a Canadian custom.  Whatever the case, she had no reason to not answer.  He'd either like it or hate it and if it disturbed him the worst result would only be her mother's disappointment.  "In English, what I said was 'I will not be shamed for the things I have done to protect my family'."

His eyes closed for a moment as his lips curved further upward, likely focusing on matching the words to his memory.  "Yeah," he said, softly, "that was the feeling I got."  An odd pressure began to form in her chest as he opened his eyes again.  "Anneke, I've yet to meet a woman quite so resilient as you.  You're amazing; I hope you know that."

Anneke wasn't quite sure how to respond, so she didn't, and continued to dance with him.  When she didn't excuse herself as the first song ended and the next one began, Matthew took it as a sign to restart the conversation and they began to introduce more of themselves to each other.  As the afternoon wore on and Matthew's remaining off duty hours ran low, they agreed to meet each other again (and again and again...)

It was months later, after her father returned from the hospital, that the other shoe dropped.  Her mother had told him all about Matthew and he'd pried what information he could from Anneke when she closed the shop on Sundays to take Emma and Luca to see him.  He insisted that she invite him over for dinner at the first opportunity and she indulged him.  Matthew had already met her mother and siblings several times and got along with them well, especially as he insisted upon washing the dishes himself after meals, but he was nervous about meeting her father.  She gently teased him for worrying about nothing, but that was before she learned what they quietly discussed together when her father pulled him outside to talk over a few cigarettes.

"He's going to propose to you, soon," her father explained after Matthew left, knowing how much she hated surprises.  "I think you should accept."

"Father--" she started to protest, but he was having none of it, reaching out to grasp her hand and squeeze it tight.

"Anneke, the sacrifices you have made for this family are far over and beyond what any father would expect from their child.  You see me, here, a mere fraction of the man I used to be, unable to provide for you a future that does not involve you toiling away without a passing thought toward your own happiness.  I did not even have to meet Matthew to see that you care for him more than you would admit, but I did wish to see him and verify that he felt the same.  I'm sure you clearly remember the day that Luca was brought to us, but I never imagined I would understand the depths of his father's desperation and anguish.  He could not provide a life for his child, and so brought him here to us.  I cannot give you the future you deserve, and so I ask you now to go with Matthew and live your life as you wish.  That is all I can do for you, my darling child."

She forced the words out of her throat, tight with emotion.  "Father, I cannot leave you and Mother to raise Emma and Luca alone.  You still need me here.  You can't have me leave you this way.  How am I to help from halfway across the world?"

"Emma is nearly as old as you were at the start of the occupation," her father reasoned with her.  "It is her turn, now, to step into the responsibility you will be leaving behind.  She will spend a few years running the flower shop with your mother and I supporting her in every way we can, and once she reaches your age, she, too, will leave us to pursue her own happiness, and so it will go on with Luca after her.  It is my fondest desire as a father to see my children more successful than I was during the height of my career.   You know this, Anneke."

"Yes," she was forced to admit, eyes beginning to burn.  He'd told her many times over the course of her life.

"You will not be leaving us so soon," he assured her.  "The mission is far from over.  I expect the soldiers to stay for many months to come, but Matthews tour will expire soon enough and when it does, his government will be all but forced to take his wife back with him.  Until then, we will enjoy the time we have left together."

Her father, hunched over his cane, stood shorter than her.  It was the first time an embrace between them had her chin resting atop his head rather than vice versa.

The proposal had been simple, the ceremony had been small, and the honeymoon limited to a one night stay at the nicest hotel in the city, but it suited them both just fine.  Life continued on as before, but Matthew was unable to stay in her company for longer and longer stretches of time until he was finally relieved of his duties and sent back to Canada.  Her own voyage was postponed until much later, all sorts of bureaucratic nonsense to be done as governments worked together to organise the travel details of tens of thousands of war brides.  During their separation, they wrote letters often, the latest of which detailed Matthew's efforts to build a house for them on his parents' property and how he planned to prepare several flower beds out front and back just for her.  She hadn't even had to ask.

The ship was filled to the brim of women and children borne to them over the course of the war.  Most of them boarded in Great Britain because that was where most Canadian servicemen had spent at least a portion of their time in Europe.  She got along with the rest of the women well enough, but after a time, she'd gotten weary of the noise in the larger gathering areas and made her way to a more secluded area on the upper deck, where she would spend the majority of her time aboard.  Something about the open air and sea breeze just felt right.  If people were reborn into new lives after passing on, then she must have been a sailor in a past life.

She found her brother-in-law, Arthur Kirkland, leaning against the railing shortly after the stop in Great Britain.  She wasn't surprised to see him in a surly mood--British men were proud, just like most men everywhere, and he didn't take kindly to being teased as a 'male war bride'.

Anneke leaned on the railing beside him, recognising him on sight from the description Matthew had provided.  Arthur had met and married her husband's sister back in Canada before Matthew had been deployed, as it had been one of the safest places on Earth for Commonwealth airmen to be trained.  She'd been warned about his height but she was still surprised that the British Airforce allowed him to become a pilot.

Arthur glanced over at her and said, "Well, you may as well bloody get it over with," as he retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his jacket, lighting up without another word.

"I'm Anneke," she said instead of teasing him as he expected.  "I'm making the assumption that you're Arthur Kirkland?"

He seemed surprised, nearly dropping his cigarette, obviously having refrained from introducing himself to anyone on board as of yet.  "And how would you know that?" he asked, suspicious, looking as though he half expected an assassination attempt.

"Because I am Matthew's wife?" she asked in confusion.  He was supposed to have known that they would be on the ship together, but clearly, he did not.

"Damn it, Amelia..." Arthur grit out, the pieces falling into place.  "The worst part is that I have no idea if she forgot to mention it or did this on purpose just to vex me."  He took a long drag of his cigarette, then took it out of his mouth and extended his free hand to shake hers.  "Arthur Kirkland at your service.  It'll be good to have some sane company on board; can't see Matthew going for anyone without a lick of sense.  Should have married him myself."

She was surprised enough by the joke to stifle a laugh, and Arthur allowed himself a satisfied smirk as she replied.  "I heard from Matthew that Amelia could be a handful at times.  Best of luck to you," she wished him.

"I'll need all of that I can get," he griped, then sighed, casting his gaze over the side of the ship.  "God, I miss that woman.  Having to go back to England for years without her was almost unbearable, but at least I could be sure she was safe.  My family lost everything in the blitz and were scattered to the four winds; I'm sure you have the general idea, being Dutch.  You know, I had the honour of flying some of the Operation Manna missions.  We had to fly so low I could make out individual people dancing in the street."

So he had placed her accent after all.  "I imagine it was quite different, flying a bomber to save lives rather than take them."

He smiled again.  "I have to say, it was one of just a handful of reasons why I was glad to have chosen the Royal Air Force over the navy."

Ships were as British as tulips were Dutch.  "Why didn't you join the navy, Arthur?"  He seemed to be enjoying himself on the sea.

Arthur used an arm to indicate his entire body.  "They would have taken one look at me before folding me into a suitcase and loading me onto a submarine with the rest of the sardines.  There was no way I was going to risk getting on one of those deathtraps when what I really wanted was, well, this.  The fresh open air, the salty spray, the freedom of an endless expanse of ocean...  Hah, at least piloting a bomber meant a bit of time here and there on aircraft carriers."

She was glad that he mentioned his size first so she could likely escape his ire if anything unwise slipped out of her mouth.  Anneke wasn't used to being around men so much shorter than herself.  "I see," she replied.  She would have felt claustrophobic, too, crammed into small spaces with strangers, though it hadn't been so bad sharing small spaces with family.  "Had I the choice, I may have preferred to spend my life aboard a ship like this one," she said, wistful.

"Why not?" Arthur wondered.  "If the lad liked you enough to ship you across the Atlantic, I doubt he'd be opposed to giving the sea life a shot."

It was Anneke's turn to smile.  "Unfortunately for my sea legs, I fell in love with flowers first."  There was no person on Earth able to get everything they wanted, but she could enjoy this part of the journey while it lasted.  That really was all that anyone could do.

Anneke and Arthur got along so well they were nearly siblings as heart by the time they disembarked, having enjoyed the voyage and explored the ship in mutual interest.  Unfortunately, the train was another story, the jarring motion of the rails putting them both on edge to the point that they could barely stand the sight of each other after a few hours.  Even worse, there were still several hours left to go.  The sheer size of Canada was almost unfathomable to both of them; the whole of Europe could easily be set inside with room to spare.

They were very nearly the last few off the train.  The moment they stepped out onto the platform they instantly began to feel better, and Anneke's eyes locked onto the western horizon in wonder, having never seen anything quite as spectacular as the mountain range in the distance.  "Would you look at that..." she mumbled, amazed.

Arthur was a bit more used to the sight.  "I'll bet you haven't seen much more than gently rolling hills before, back in the lowlands."

"No bet," she replied, since he would win hand's down, and dragged her eyes away.  "Did we arrive on schedule?  I half expected Amelia to tackle you straight out the door from all you've said about her."

He looked down at his pocket watch to check, and therefore completely missed seeing his wife barrel toward him.  "Artie!!!" she called out, and he looked up just in time to yell in outrage as she grabbed him around the middle and raised him over her head.  Even Amelia had a few inches on the poor man and Anneke held back a chuckle for the sake of his pride already under fire as she began scanning the crowd for her husband, who couldn't be far behind.

"Anneke," he said, approaching from the side, and she turned to see him.  He looked just as handsome out of uniform, and just as happy as he had been on their wedding day.  After a long moment of ignoring the loud struggle beside them, they stepped forward to meet in the middle of their stride, reaching forward to lay a hand upon each other's face, drawing themselves in for a long awaited kiss that slowly transformed into a full embrace as they sought to pull each other even closer, their heads tucking into the curves of the other's neck, taking in the familiar scents they'd missed so much.  "How was the trip?"

"Exhausting," she complained without a hint of exasperation.  "Please tell me the farm is a stone's throw away at the most."

"I'm so sorry," Matthew replied, contrite.  "There's still a few hours of driving to get there."  Anneke moaned in horror directly against his shoulder, and he tried to comfort her.  "I'll drive as smoothly as possible so you and Arthur can sleep, I promise."

"I'm in the back seat with Artie!" Amelia declared.

"You'll be up front with me so Arthur can rest," Matthew overruled.

Amelia howled in indignity.  "Mattie, I haven't seen Artie in years!  You can't do this to me!"

Matthew pulled back from Anneke and turned them both to face his sister and Arthur, who had freed himself from his wife's manhandling but looked nearly ready to give up the ghost.  "Anneke, this is my twin sister, Amelia.  Amelia, this is Anneke, my wife."

"Don't just ignore me, Mattie!" Amelia complained, but shook Anneke's hand anyway.  "Hey there, Annie, I'm sure we'll get along great as long as you aren't half the spoilsport my brother is."

"Oh, for God's sake, Amelia," Arthur said, finally at his limit.  "Calm down a tad, would you?  Let me rest a bit now and I'll give you my full attention once we arrive."

"You have a deal, mister!" Amelia accepted, then leaned in close to Anneke.  "I'm not gonna let him leave my room for a week."

"Amelia!" Matthew and Arthur protested in sync.  Her sister-in-law wasn't very good at whispering.

Matthew and Amelia's parents were good, hardworking people; farmers born from farmers.  They grew crops rather than flowers, but they were interested in her expertise.  In time, they might be willing to allow her a portion of the land to grow a few varieties to sell.  It would be wonderful if she could open up a flower shop one day.  She'd been told the winters could be brutal, though, so she'd have to look into building a sturdy greenhouse.  Before that, though, there was something else far more important to put their savings towards.

She was taken for a tour of their home-in-progress.  Until it was finished, they would be using Matthew's old room in his parents' house, but that was fine--it wasn't much smaller than the storeroom back in the Netherlands and didn't have to double as a kitchen.  The new house, on the other hand, would be much bigger--possibly even bigger than the house she'd grown up in.  They would have enough room for both them and Amelia and Arthur to stay until they settled upon their own plan.  There were a few possibilities between moving south to America or living full time at an air base, but the only thing they knew for sure as of yet was that they had no interest in taking over the farm, which was perfect, because she and Matthew would be happy to have it.

"Once Amelia and Arthur move on, your parents can move into the secondary master bedroom--theirs and ours will be on opposite ends of the house for as much privacy as possible.  The kids' bedrooms will all be upstairs; Emma and Luca will have great big windows to see all the way out into the field and plenty of space they can use to store whatever catches their fancy in town.  There'll be a few extra rooms we can use for storage at first; we can clear them out once we decide on when to start trying for kids of our own, but until they're big enough for their own space, we'll have the nursery in the room right next to ours.  I've plotted out the gardens, too, you see there?  It'll be great to see tulips popping up everywhere in spring like they did in the Netherlands."

If there was no such thing as perfection, this was pretty damn close.  Anneke looked over the properly with a smile, squeezing Matthew's hand tight as she turned to regard the vast open field untouched by conventional warfare.  "Luca is going to love it here."

[Notes: I hope I did nyo!Netherlands justice here; I waffled on whether or not to write her smoking, but in the end, I decided the timing didn’t work; tobacco would have been rationed around the time she would be considered old enough to smoke and she would have spent what little money she had on necessities instead.  Once she gets her family all together again, she might get into the habit, but not before.

I felt a little odd about mostly putting the romance on the backburner, but I felt it was more important to visit all aspects of Anneke’s life, journey, and development.  I might write a few drabbles in the future set in this AU to help flesh out their love story a bit more.]