#the fire guys are called Ethan-ol

[okapi8]

My brother's game he made as an A level coding project. It started as a generic platformer but he wanted an interesting player character with powerups and it became Randall!

It's a simple level, there was no time to get to sound effects or fancier graphics, but maybe one day it will get developed more.

I have a dream of repainting all the assets and backgrounds in watercolour and making the layout accurate to randall's car, imagining what further train car levels would look like... (but my plans don't usually get anywhere!)

[soridwritierlovesculture]

CONTENTS- one shot, younger sister x older brothers best friend (both over 18yrs of age), smut, swearing\vulgar language, mentions of SA, mentions of alcohol

Anora stumbled as Alex pulled her into the bathroom and closed the door. He gripped her by the hair and pulled her over to the toilet, and when he shoved his fingers into her mouth Anora bit down, hard, glaring at him as he hissed and tightened his grip.

“You need to puke, now.”

“Wuck ooh a-ol!”

“You’re usually smarter than this, since when do you just let someone get your drinks? That dipshit you were talking to and the guy he was with? Last time he was around here, some girls were found beat up in a motel the next day, and one of them was seen leaving a planned parenthood a month later. No reports that anyone knows of, but you can put two and two together.”

Anora froze, then snarled as he pushed his fingers deeper before choking and bending over the toilet as what little she’d eaten came up. Alex still had his grip on her hair, and when she was done he pulled her up and turned her to the sink, finally letting go when she turned on the water. Rinsing her mouth out, Anora glared at him through the mirror before turning to slap him, hard, her wet hand leaving a red print around his beard almost immediately, and he met her eyes with a glare of his own.

“You’re a pain the ass you know that?”

“Then leave me the fuck already!”

“I would if you’d use the brain we both you have and quit making my life difficult.”

“I’m not the one who’s so emotionally stunted he turns into a caveman when his best and only friend goes away.”

“No, you’re just the liar who’d rather pretend that everything is going exactly as planned than face the reality of the consequences your actions have.”

“Yes I’m a liar fine, but you haven’t exactly been a saint yourself Alex. Does Ashley know you’ve been watching your besties little sister less than subtly rather than doing your part for the wedding, because as your fiance that’s certainly something she should know.”

“Ashley and I called off the engagement months ago,” Alex said, stepping into her as she backed into the sink, “and that doesn’t absolve you of all the silly shit you’ve been doing. You lied to Dick about work, you lied to your mom and friends about your piece of shit ex, you lied to ex about me, and you’ve lied to me about everything. I had to find out from Rachel fucking Furman about tonight, and that’s only because she still wants to fuck me to fuck with you.”

“Go and fuck her then. You couldn’t keep up with me anyway, so go fuck her or Ashley or whoever else you want, and let me live.”

“Can’t fuck who I want. She’s my best friends baby sister and I can’t stand liars.”

Anora blinked at him, then scoffed and pushed him back, leaving the bathroom to go to her room. Alex followed her, closing the door behind him, and Anora took of her heels as she smirked at him.

“So let me get this straight. Since Dick left, when you insulated me, insulted my friends, badgered me about Ethan and that whole situation, came to my job and nearly got me fired, followed me to and from my classes and work, fucked your fiance… sorry ex fiance apparently, in front of me and then berated me for it, and then just now dragged me away from a stress relieving activity to then force your fingers down my throat, all of that was because you wanted to fuck me? Are you stupid? You realize the whole ‘ he bullies you because he likes you’ thing is both juvenile and toxic yes?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Isn’t it? When did this even happen, we’ve known each other for years and all of a sudden you’re interested? What, do you have some forbidden fruit kink or something?”

“You really think this is happening just because you’re Dicks sister? Besides, we both know you’ve been watching me as much as I’ve been watching you, maybe just as long.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck about you,” Anora said, but her heart was racing. He knew? All this time, he knew about her stupid crush and did nothing? That made this even more ridiculous. Alex strode over to her and held her waist, pulling her into him, and Anora glared up at him as he smirked down at her.

“You’re still lying.”

“And you’re still an asshole. Let go of me.”

“Not a chance. I want you to admit what you did tonight was stupid and reckless.”

“Fuck you. I’m not sleeping with you just because you’re bored and horny and I’m the only person around. That’s the only reason you really want to fuck me right?”

“Not even close.”

“Now who’s lying?”

“Only you.”

“Tell you what. Let’s both tell one truth, and then you get the hell out of my room.”

“You couldn’t keep up with me.”

“Try me.”

Alex pushed her back then, and Anora gritted her teeth as he went over her and pressed his leg between hers, her skirt coming up as he ground his knee against her pussy. Pulling her hands above her head , Alex then held both in one hand while he pressed down on her stomach with the other, and when she bit her lip to keep the sound building in her throat down, he smirked down at her before leaning to whisper into her ear.

“I have this fantasy where after I fuck you six ways to Sunday and back, I wake up with my cock still buried inside you. I’ll watch you wonder why you feel so warm, and when you move your hips to milk me dry, I pin you down and kiss that pretty neck of yours when you realize you’ve been caught and lie again, saying ‘I’m not into this’ or ‘it means nothing’. I’ll say, ‘look at my pretty girl, stuffed with cum and still so hungry,’ and your filthy fucking mouth will open up for me when I put my fingers down your throat again, just for fun. I’ll get to push deeper into you and listen to every sound that limp dick Ethan could never fuck out of you, and when you come I’ll say, ‘there’s my naughty little liar’, and you’ll lie again. You’ll say you’re not mine or that he did it better, but I’ll know. I know every time you lie because you bite that lip and tap your fingers when you do, and I’ll be so deep inside you I’ll feel your heartbeat through your pussy and fuck you again, and again, and again. I’ll fuck the lies right out of that mouth, and you’ll never tell me another one because you’ll be too busy gulping around my dick when I empty it in this pretty throat of yours. And the reason all that’s gonna stay a fantasy, the real honest to God truth why I don’t rip off this skirt and finally taste you, is because even though I want you so much I lose my mind a little more every day, your brothers my best friend, my family, and I’d rather have only one of you in my life than lose both of you.”

Alex let go of her then, his body tense and breath heavy, and Anora swallowed as she shook from the sudden loss of heat. She could see the hard on through his jeans, and she watched as he flexed his hands before balling them into fists at his sides, his eyes on her tits as she fought to steady her breath. The whole time he’d spoke, she could swore she could feel every moment. She could feel his warm, his touch, how heavy he’d be on her body, how hard he would move inside her, how his hands would move across her burning skin, how his breath would feel on her body.

“Well,” Alex said, his voice tight as he glared down at her, “your turn Terror. Tell me one truth, the whole truth, and I’ll walk out of here right now.”

“…I want you to. I’ve wanted you to do that and more for years, and I hate it. I hate that I want you. I hate where you stand in my life. I hate you for always being there and knowing it means nothing. I decided to move on, but you always being around makes it hard. So I bury it. I bury it with work and sex and lies, and I’ve made myself get used to not having you, because I know you never could be mine. I know I’m a liar, and I’ll lie every day to keep the truth buried so deep I forget it’s even there. I want you, but I also hate you. And I think that little fantasy of yours would be the best and worst thing to happen to us.”

They looked at each other in silence for what felt like forever, and then Alex took a deep breath, and walked away, leaving Anora alone in the darkness of her room.

[pjisskullourful]

horniest smut ever

H O R N I E S T

Girlie, do you know how many times I've come to your smut? I'm not into the masturbating masturbating thing, i prefer to imagine your smut while clenching and damn it girl, you've made me feel the best!!

the victoria ones awake my gayness, ethan are leaving me breathless, stained sheets makes me want to find a daddy and we don't need to talk about gay enough, it's astounding.

Can I just say that I'd love to see jealous Thomas or Victoria?? These kids could punish me anytime

i need you to know how wonderful this is! this is an aspect that i literally never saw coming& i really was knocked off my feet/didnt know what to make of this info when yall 1st started sharing. but now that i've had time to ruminate on it- i am so happy for yall. yall should feel so free to explore your arousal, your sexuality, your kinks(or lackof) & thats why i got so fired up cos yall dont deserve to be shamed, sex is so natural& fun& so is masturbation!! its someting i really struggled with the guilt& shame of-- theres somuch external bullshit making us feel bad/inadequate/gross cos of our sexual curiosities that it can be hard to feel sexy while having a wander& a play. so the fact that my pushing words around on a page can help you dull all of that out& fuckin enjoy yourselves& EVERY ORGASM IS A BLESSING! its a gift you give to yourself, & you deserve it!! reclaim that power over your body& experience it how YOU want, not how someone else wants it

I AM CANCELLING SHAME INTHE HORNYJAIL! idc that im not in charge, im writing a strongworded letter& its coming to be- horny home not hornyjail& all

so thankyou & thankyou to everyone else that has felt liberated enough to share

&yes i can kick that request around inmy filthy ol brain for a bit & see who i think it would suit best of either vic or tom.... UPDATE: its gonnabe tom so that i can keep my 2word title tradition going& call it jealous guy after the john lennon song- thankyou& goodnight

[birdlord]

Everything I Watched in 2020

We’ll start with movies. The number in parentheses is the year of release, asterisks denote a re-watch, and titles in bold are my favourite watches of the year. Here’s 2019’s list. 

01 Little Women (19)

02 The Post (17) 

03 Molly’s Game (17)

04 * Doctor No (62)

05 Groundhog Day (93)

06 *Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (86)

07 Knives Out (19) My last theatre experience (sob)

08 Professor Marston and his Wonder Women (17)

09 Les Miserables (98)

10 Midsommar (19) I’m not sure how *good* it is, but it does stick in the ol’ brain

11 *Manhattan Murder Mystery (93)

12 Marriage Story (19)

13 Kramer vs Kramer (79)

14 Jojo Rabbit (19)

15 J’ai perdu mon corps (19) a cute animated film about a hand detached from its body!

16 1917 (19)

17 Married to the Mob (88)

18 Klaus (19)

19 Portrait of a Lady on Fire (19) If Little Women made me want to wear a scarf criss-crossed around my torso, this one made me want to wear a cloak

20 The Last Black Man in San Francisco (19)

21 *Lawrence of Arabia (62)

22 Gone With the Wind (39)

23 Kiss Me Deadly (55)

24 Dredd (12)

25 Heartburn (86) heard a bunch about this one in the Blank Check series on Nora Ephron, sadly after I’d watched it

26 The Long Shot (19)

27 Out of Africa (85)

28 King Kong (46)

29 *Johnny Mnemonic (95)

30 Knocked Up (07)

31 Collateral (04)

32 Bird on a Wire (90)

33 The Black Dahlia (05)

34 Long Time Running (17)

35 *Magic Mike (12)

36 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (07)

37 Cold War (18)

38 *Kramer Vs Kramer (79) yes I watched this a few months before! This was a pandemic friend group co-watch.

39 *Burn After Reading (08)

40 Last Holiday (50)

41 Fly Away Home (96)

42 *Moneyball (11) I’m sure I watch this every two years, at most??

43 Last Holiday (06) the Queen Latifah version of the 1950 movie above, lacking, of course, the brutal “poor people don’t deserve anything good” ending

44 *Safe (95)

45 Gimme Shelter (70)

46 The Daytrippers (96)

47 Experiment in Terror (62)

48 Tucker: The Man and His Dream (88)

49 My Brilliant Career (79) one of the salvations of 2020 was watching movies “with” friends. Our usual method was to video chat before the movie, sync our streaming services, and text-chat while the movie was on. 

50 Divorce Italian Style (61)

51 *Gosford Park (01) another classic comfort watch, fuck I love a G. Park

52 Hopscotch (80)

53 Brief Encounter (45)

54 Hud (63)

55 Ocean’s 8 (18)

56 *Beverly Hills Cop (84)

57 Blow the Man Down (19)

58 Constantine (05)

59 The Report (19) maddening!! How are people so consistently terrible to one another!

60 Everyday People (04)

61 Anatomy of a Murder (58)

62 Spiderman: Homecoming (17)

63 *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (95) Of the 90s drag road movies, Priscilla is more visually striking, but this has its moments.

64 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (92)

65 *The Truman Show (98)

66 Mona Lisa (86)

67 The Blob (58)

68 The Guard (11)

69 *Waiting for Guffman (96) RIP Fred Willard

70 Rocketman (19)

71 Outside In (18)

72 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (08) how strange to see a movie that you have known the premise for, but no details of, for over a decade

73 *Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country (91)

74 The Reader (08)

75 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (19) This was fine until it VERY MUCH WAS NOT FINE

76 The End of the Affair (99) you try to watch a fun little romp about infidelity during the Blitz, and Graham Greene can’t help but shoehorn in a friggin crisis of religious faith

77 Must Love Dogs (05) barely any dog content, where are the dogs at

78 The Rainmaker (97)

79 *Batman & Robin (97)

80 National Lampoon’s Vacation (83) Never seen any of the non-xmas Vacations, didn’t realize the children are totally different, not just actors but ages! Also, this one is blatantly racist!

81 *Mystic Pizza (88)

82 Funny Girl (68)

83 The Sons of Katie Elder (65)

84 *Knives Out (19) another re-watch within the same year!! How does this keep happening??

85 *Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (10) a real I-just-moved-away-from-Toronto nostalgia watch

86 Canadian Bacon (92) vividly recall this VHS at the video store, but I never saw it til 2020

87 *Blood Simple (85)

88 Brittany Runs a Marathon (19)

89 The Accidental Tourist (88)

90 August Osage County (13) MELO-DRAMA!!

91 Appaloosa (08)

92 The Firm (93) Feeling good about how many iconic 80s/90s video store stalwarts I watched in 2020

93 *Almost Famous (00)

94 Whisper of the Heart (95)

95 Da 5 Bloods (20)

96 Rain Man (88)

97 True Stories (86)

98 *Risky Business (83) It’s not about what you think it’s about! It never was!

99 *The Big Chill (83)

100 The Way We Were (73)

101 Safety Last (23) It’s getting so that I might have to add the first two digits to my dates...not that I watch THAT many movies from the 1920s...

102 Phantasm (79)

103 The Burrowers (08)

104 New Jack City (91)

105 The Vanishing (88)

106 Sisters (72)

107 Puberty Blues (81) Little Aussie cinema theme, here

108 Elevator to the Gallows (58)

109 Les Diaboliques (55)

110 House (77) haha WHAT no really W H A T

111 Death Line (72)

112 Cranes are Flying (57)

113 Holes (03)

114 *Lady Vengeance (05)

115 Long Weekend (78)

116 Body Double (84)

117 The Crazies (73) I love that Romero shows the utter confusion that would no doubt reign in the case of any kind of disaster. Things fall apart.

118 Waterlilies (07)

119 *You’re Next (11)

120 Event Horizon (97)

121 Venom (18) I liked it, guys, way more than most superhero fare. Has a real sense of place and the place ISN’T New York!

122 Under the Silver Lake (18) RIP Night Call

123 *Blade Runner (82)

124 *The Birds (62) interesting to see now that I’ve read the story it came from

125 *28 Days Later (02) hits REAL FUCKIN’ DIFFERENT in a pandemic

126 Life is Sweet (90)

127 *So I Married an Axe Murderer (93) find me a more 90s movie, I dare you (it’s not possible)

128 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (67)

129 The Pelican Brief (93) 90s thrillers continue!

130 Dick Johnston is Dead (20)

131 The Bridges of Madison County (95)

132 Earth Girls are Easy (88) Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum are so hot in this movie, no wonder they got married 

133 Better Watch Out (16)

134 Drowning Mona (00) trying for something like the Coen bros and not getting there

135 Au Revoir Les Enfants (87)

136 *Chasing Amy (97) Affleck is the least alluring movie lead...ever? I also think I gave Joey Lauren Adams’ character short shrift in my memory of the movie. It’s not good, but she’s more complicated than I recalled. 

137 Blackkklansman (18)

138 Being Frank (19)

139 Kiki’s Delivery Service (89)

140 Uncle Frank (20) why so many FRANKS

141 *National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (89) watching with pals (virtually) made it so much more fun than the usual yearly watch!

142 Half Baked (98) another, more secret Toronto nostalgia pic - RC Harris water filtration plant as a prison!

143 We’re the Millers (13)

144 All is Bright (13)

145 Defending Your Life (91)

146 Christmas Chronicles (18) I maintain that most new xmas movies are terrible, particularly now that Netflix churns them out like eggnog every year. 

147 Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (18)

148 Reindeer Games (00) what did I say about Affleck??!? WHAT DID I SAY

149 Palm Springs (20)

150 Happiest Season (20)

151 *Metropolitan (90) it’s definitely a Christmas movie

152 Black Christmas (74)

THEATRE:HOME - 2:150 (thanks pandemic)

I usually separate out docs and fiction, but I watched almost no documentaries this year (with the exception of Dick Johnston). Reality is real enough. 

TV Series

01 - BoJack Horseman (final season) - Pretty damned poignant finish to the show, replete with actual consequences for our reformed bad boy protagonist (which is more than you can say for most antiheroes of Peak TV).

02 - *Hello Ladies - I enjoy the pure awkwardness of seeing Stephen Merchant try to perform being a Regular Person, but ultimately this show tips him too far towards a nasty, Ricky Gervais-lite sort of persona. Perhaps he was always best as a cameo appearance, or lip synching with wild eyes while Chrissy Teigen giggles?

03 - Olive Kittredge - a rough watch by times. I read the book as well, later in the year. Frances Mcdormand was the best, possibly the only, casting option for the flinty lead. One episode tips into thriller territory, which is a shock. 

04 - *The Wire S3, S4, S5 - lockdown culture! It was interesting to rewatch this, then a few months later go through an enormous, culture-level reappraisal of cop-centred narratives. 

05 - Forever - a Maya Rudolph/Fred Armisen joint that coasts on the charm of its leads. The premise is OK, but I wasn’t left wanting any more at the end. 

06 - *Catastrophe - a rewatch when my partner decided he wanted to see it, too!

07 - Red Oak - resolutely “OK” steaming dramedy, relied heavily on some pretty obvious cues to get across its 1980s setting. 

08 - Little Fires Everywhere - gulped this one down while in 14-day isolation, delicious! Every 90s suburban mom had that SUV, but not all of them had the requisite **secrets**

09 - The Great - fun historical comedy/drama! Costumes: lush. Actors: amusing. Race-blind casting: refreshing!

10 - The Crown S4 - this is the season everyone lost their everloving shit for, since it’s finally recent enough history that a fair chunk of the viewing audience is liable to recall it happening. 

11 - Ted Lasso - we resisted this one for a while (thought I did enjoy the ad campaign for NBC sports (!!) that it was based on). My view is that its best point was the comfort that the men on the show have (or develop, throughout the season) with the acknowledgement and sharing of their own feelings. Masculinity redux. 

12 - Moonbase 8 - Goodnatured in a way that makes you certain they will be crushed. 

13 - The Good Lord Bird - Ethan Hawke is really aging into the character actor we always hoped he would be! 

14 - Hollywood - frothy wish-fulfillment alternate history. I think the show would have been improved immeasurably by skipping the final episode.

[euphoricethan]

Bear - G.D

Summary: as fall is quickly approaching, Grayson decides he wants to take his girl camping —without Ethan’s complaining— one last time before the new season sets in.

Word count: 1.9k

“Is that the last of it?” Y/n asked, standing in the back of Ethan’s costume Jeep.

“Yep. I think so.” Grayson took a quick glance at the supplies before slamming shut the Jeeps trunk doors and smiling at Y/n.

With a head nod and a sly smirk placed on his lips to hers, they were ready to spend what seemed to be the first and last night of peace-fullness until next year.

“I can’t believe he’s letting you take his car, y’know, since he’s not going.” Her seatbelt clicked shut, as did his.

He sighed. “Yeah. But he’ll get over it.”

“He’ll probably jerk off all night if I’m being honest.” she mumbled under her breath as she pulled up the directions on her phone.

Ironically, Ethan had been trying to get some action since they told him yesterday. It was late, around eleven, and he couldn’t have been more oddly thrilled for them to be gone.

“You aren’t mad or anything? Just a few days ago you were mad we went to the beach when you were sick,” Grayson was sprawled out on the couch, Y/n tucked in the corner on her phone looking for camp sights near LA.

“Nah. What time are you guys leaving?”

“Uh, I dunno. Like, one?” he glared over at Y/n, who was lost in yelp reviews.

“Y’all should go earlier... just so you don’t catch traffic or anything. Would hate to get stuck on the highway for like two hours.”

Grayson’s brows quirked up, reading right through his twin brother. “Yeah, sure, I guess.” he then finished off his last spoon-full of dairy free ice cream and called for Y/n.

“Night E.” she said softly, not taking her eyes off the bright screen that she was so lost in.

“Night.”

After he heard his brothers door close, he had imagined himself doing it all over. Where ever he wanted.

“You know, last night, when we were at together?” he asked her, turning the corner to get onto the highway.

“Hm?”

“I knew he was lying and trying to get us out of the house earlier just so he could beat his meat.”

Y/n turned quickly over to him, cupping her thigh. “Wait are you serious? I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”

“I’m being dead serious, you do realize we can read each other pretty well right? We shared a womb. And y’know, not to be rude babe, but...”

Y/n cocked her brows upright. “But what? I wanna know.”

“It’s no big deal, it’s just... you aren’t the best at picking up signals and stuff. Like, that one time this kid was hitting on you when we were out looking for props; you had no idea until he asked if we were related.”

“He was being nice! Can I not be nice to other people!?”

“Y/n he asked if we were related.”

“Maybe he was just curious! Ever think about that?”

“Whatever you say,” he glanced over at her, chuckling at the sight of her dark red cheeks that he had caused.

Once they were on the highway, all the minor tension between them had flown out the rolled down windows and trapped inside the speakers that blasted Kid Cudi.

“And every time, the moon shines I become alive! Yeah!” Grayson sang, dancing in the drivers seat while he tapped hard on the steering wheel and bopped his head to the beat.

Y/n couldn’t help but let the biggest smile she’s ever seen on herself while watching her boyfriend sing to his favorite artist, with his favorite girl, on their way to do his favorite thing.

Grayson felt his “solo” approaching, taking a deep breath in waiting for the long string of na na na’s to pass.

“I watch the sun collapse, and took up in the clizoud! I am the lone wolf, go where I wanna, let the moon shine be the guide to the lizight! Even when I stray away the light never left me, uh! I learn to follow my instinct, Blinded by the light, Rather that than the evil. Feelin' out of place in a room full of people Try and be the same but you know you're not a sequel!” he screamed at the absolute top of his lungs, gasping for air.

She smiled even wider, now watching him reach over her legs for the glove compartment where he kept an emergency inhaler, taking a big puff of it.

There is never a dull moment. She though as Gray had caught onto her giddy stare.

“And what are you looking at?” he asked, highly and most definitely already knowing the answer.

Y/n shook her head, still giving him that smile he loved.

He only smirked, taking one of his hands off the wheel in order to gently place it onto her thigh and give a reassuring squeeze.

Hours have passed, and what have Y/n and Grayson been doing? Maybe the typical cliché couple things that those couples do? Like go on hikes, take pictures together, maybe even go rock climbing? No, that isn’t what they are doing. In fact, that is the complete opposite of what was happening at ten pm at night around a campfire.

Y/n, who had about five jumbo marsh-mellows in her mouth, was trying desperately to try and catch Grayson -- who was trying to escape Y/n’s sticky marsh-mellow-ie fingers-- as fast as he could without falling off the edge of a steep hill that lead to the road or into the pit of fire.

“Why are you like this?! Can’t we just have a normal date without you trying to injure me!” he called out, only making Y/n laugh harder while pumping her legs faster just to get to him.

Her giggles were muffled since she had managed to shove five jumbo marsh-mellows in her mouth and struggling to get her now grimey hands on her boyfriends clean face.

“C’mere!” she couldn’t help but laugh, causing one of the mellows to pop out from her lips and onto the brown dirt surrounding them.

“Ew!”

The dirtiness of the mellow was funny to her, causing her to pick up the pine-prickled dirty marsh-mellow and toss it straight at his face.

“Ugh! Y/N!” 

He was raging, but never at anything she did. Because even though she threw something completely disgusting at him, he could not help but notice how adorable she looked with her hair down and puffed out cheeks.

She was ready to run, but somehow ended up his big ol’ arms she was so familiar with.

“S’cuse me sir,” Y/n’s cheeks were puffed more than ever, and Grayson had to remind himself over and over again he was too young to get married.

“Spit them out.” he demanded, but made sure he didn’t sound like he was angry at her.

She listened, only because she had made him sufficiently mad to say the least. And one by one, she popped a mellow out until her red hot cheeks had calmed down from being inflamed.

“Now, you my love, are going to not try and get nasty food on my face and we are both going to make the last night of summer good; without Ethan or you acting like an animal. ‘K?”

Y/n was in shock still, getting lost in the golden flecks that blended in the fire that reflected in them easily. “Mhm,” she muttered without thinking.

Soon, they were sharing a lawn chair, --and Y/n was “sharing” Grayson’s big ol’ Kid Cudi sweatshirt that had the printing SWIM IN THE LIGHT on the front-- admiring the fire that was keeping the two warm from the cold wind that was blaring past them.

“See, when you’re calm, you are much easier to do things with.” Grayson whispered into her ear.

And even though it wasn’t exactly a compliment, she got the chills that ran down her spin with just the sound of his voice and the lingering presence of his skin on hers.

“You are lucky you’re stronger than me, because I would totally throw you off this cliff and make sure that nobody would find out that is was your innocent girlfriend that did it.”

He cocked his head back, probably -- if not indefinitely-- surprised at what she had said. 

“Well now I’m scared,” he admitted, unrealing his arms from around her.

“Good, you should be.”

She was thankful that she had her back towards him, because then she couldn’t see the huge smile that broke onto her face after seeing how red his ears and cheeks got.

It would totally give away the fact that she is the softest person Grayson has ever met and would never hurt a fly.

She then rested her head into the crook of his neck while he gave her waist a soft squeeze just to remind her that she was his. Then, tears threatened to shed from her cheeks, but she kept herself calm and managed to sniffle and blink them away.

“You okay bear?” he asked, trying to look at her face that she was hiding from him.

“Yeah, I’m good. Allergies.”

Even if she had told him why she was crying, she wouldn’t know what to say. Because in all honesty, she’s never cried from happiness before. At least not because a boy took her camping with the middle name, Bailey.

He sighed slowly, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over her head to transform her into a cone head.

Both of them sat in silence, accompanied by the crickets that were giving them a performance in the distance and the trickles of rain that had started to surround them.

“Was it supposed to rain? I thought you said the weather would be good?”

Y/n was spaced out, staring blankly up at the trees that made her feel like an ant.

“Y/n?” he asked.

“Hm,”

“You know it’s raining, right?”

She looked down from the atmosphere, finally understanding what exactly he was saying. “Oh.”

Grayson was never the greatest with his patience, but his girl was different. He never snapped at her or yelled, only because he thought of her as such a delicate angel and he didn’t want to be the cause of a broken wing.

“Hey, bear, we should get inside before we get hypothermia.”

Y/n nodded, captivated by his words and the softness of his touch under the sweatshirt and on her bare warm skin.

She felt as if she were floating in her skin when it came to his touch. He was so beautiful and just being around him the majority of the time, seeing the soft side of him most people didn’t get to see, was so mind-boggling to her that she herself couldn’t fully comprehend the fact that she had him. And of all people, he picked her. 

“Y’know, I knew it was gonna rain but I didn’t wanna tell you because I knew how excited you were to finally get out of the house without Ethan.” she whispered when they got into the tent.

“Bear, you could have told me, it’s not like I’d be mad or anything.”

“Well, I know, but you were so excited.”

He gave her a closed-mouth smile, pulling her in to give her a soft forehead kiss and having her rest atop of his chest. 

My sweet girl. He thought, seconds before he drifted off to a calming sleep with his indeed sweet girl in his arms, listening to the rain trickle on the top of the tent.

[inkribbon796]

The Heart and Soul of Egoton ch 1

Summary: Looking for clues, the heroes hold a meeting to trade information and meet a couple friendly faces they haven’t met in a while.

A/N: This is late. Usually I like to post stories on Friday but the characters didn’t want to cooperate with me. I’m hoping I can get on track for next week.

Chapter 1: Heroes are Fire Hazards

NEXT

It was around midday in the base the Heroes’ Coalition used as a safe house and an information hub. In the kitchen was the minor fiasco of three heroes trying to get coffee ready for a massive meeting because, by Roman’s own admission, the coffee he conjured up tended to tasted bland and watery. Only Remy had the ability to actually conjure up good coffee, but Logan wasn’t around to tell them he wasn’t fusing for the sake of coffee.

So the coffee fiasco continued. Virgil had two pots of coffee in his hands.

“Do you think this is a bit much?” Anxiety asked Eric. The three of them were running the coffee machine and were trying to keep several pots of coffee warm.

“Roman said there were going to be a lot of people there,” Eric told him, his tone a little shaky.

“Silver’s pals are all coming in,” Jack warned. “Mark might not take a coffee, but some of his friends will.” Jackieboy, trying not to spook Virgil or Eric by moving too quickly, zipped away with the coffee pots.

Then there was a loud thud, almost as if some heavy cabinet or a piano had been thrown against the wall. Several things in the room shook and Virgil looked around.

“W-What was th-at?” Eric stammered nervously.

“Dunna,” Jackie answered, “give me a sec.”

The speedster dashed off, clearly intending to search the base. Then he rushed back in with a giddy look in his eyes. “They’re back, come on, Eric you didn’t get to meet them last time.”

“Who?” Eric asked, Virgil nervously starting looking for the closest exit.

“Virge, come on, you’ll like them,” Jack turned to Virgil with that same smile. “Don’t worry about that noise, it was just one of the guys didn’t know we closed up some of the hanger bay and overshot a little bit.”

“Is anything damaged?” Virgil asked.

“Ehh, Marvin put out the fire, but other than that no,” Jackie admitted.

“The fire?” Eric asked.

“Like I said, it’s taken care of, an’ we used to get way worse back in the day. Why do ye think we don’t take the plane out every chance we get?” Jackie was suddenly too dismissive for Anxiety’s liking.

“I figured it was the price of plane fuel,” Virgil jabbed.

“Yeah, that too,” Jack admitted, “just come on. They’re some old Coalition guys that really were palling around with us back in the days.

“Yeah, fine,” Anxiety grumbled, and reluctantly followed Jackieboy and Eric out to what Logan had introduced to him as “the fire hazard everyone calls a garage”.

So Virgil had stayed away from the place, and walking in he could see some scorch marks in the wall of the large underground garage. Some looked old, others looked suspiciously recent. But two masked heroes were standing looking at a new-looking series of scorch marks. One with curly light brown hair, heavier set than his friend. His outfits consisted mostly of purples, with a cape. The second hero had a visor covering his eyes, his outfit mostly in reds and oranges. Both of them were taller than Virgil was.

Trying to hang behind the others, Virgil tried to use Jackie as a buffer. Not as a meat shield, because Jackie was much faster, but enough time to run with Eric.

“Heya, boys!” Jackie whistled and yelled out.

The two heroes turned and smiled at Jackieboy.

“Jackaboy,” the light brown, curly haired hero greeted with a warm smile.

“Hey, man,” Jackie zipped over and slammed his fists several times into the taller hero, small barriers meeting his fists every time he tried to hit him. “How’s it hanging yah big lug.”

The taller hero managed to grab Jack and throw himself into the hero with a visor. Jack screamed in shock and surprise, turning into water and Jack hit the ground. The hero reformed and looked over at the speedster. “Give me some warning.”

“Sorry, next time I’ll hit you faster,” he scoffed.

“Hey, asshat!” Silver called out and flew through the door, pushing Virgil and Eric aside. The two newer heroes heard the impact as Silver slammed into the still-masked hero. Silver still in his civilian clothes. “Where’ve you been?”

“Nowhere,” the bigger hero smiled at Mark, grabbing him and throwing him down at the ground. Mark had a giant grin as he slipped away and kneed his opponent in the side. Jack and the hero that had turned to water were starting to spar, Jack trying to actually get a hit on him before he turned into water.

Virgil leaned over to Eric, whispering quietly, “Do you know them?”

“Yeah, they’re some of the older Coalition guys,” Eric whispered back, “but they tend to do their, uh, own stuff with Silver these days.”

“Dog pile!” Ethan called over, still in his grey and blue costume as he ran in and jumped on Mark.

“Get off me,” Mark shouted, trying to throw Ethan back off.

“Come on,” Ethan cajoled, as he got both himself and Mark tackled to the ground.

“Ethan, get your hands off me,” Mark shouted.

“No,” Ethan jabbed back, but Mark was able to free himself, flying up in the air and out of reach. “Mark, you never let me love you.”

“That’s because you’re doing it to stir shit.” Mark ordered. “Don’t touch me.”

“Mark?” Virgil repeated.

“Hah!” Mark shouted in triumph. “I’d like to see you get me up here.”

The water-based hero threw a large glob of water at Mark, chuckling. It made the superhero drag his hand down his face to dry it. “Ugh, are you kidding me.”

“How you doing, big guy?” Bob, the curly haired hero, asked Mark.

“Oh, you know,” Mark shrugged, still floating out of reach. “Same old town, same ol’ Dark.”

“Didn’t you say you’d have his network dismantled in five years?” Wade, the water-based hero jabbed.

“Hey, turns out you can’t just try and dismantle a mob boss without fifteen vultures cropping up to clean the bones,” Mark defended. “I don’t see you guys sticking around to help.

“Hey, looks like you guys got some new kids,” Bob smiled over at Eric and Virgil. He walked over and extended out his hand. “Name’s Gatling.”

Eric nervously ducked behind Virgil, which the anxious hero finding that nerve-wracking and ironic.

“Anxiety,” Virgil took his hand. “What’s your power?”

“Impenetrable barriers,” Bob grinned.

“Why’s your name Gatling then?” Virgil asked. “Can you fire lasers?”

“Not even in the slightest,” he grinned. “But it keeps Dark’s chumps guessing.”

“Sounds neat,” Eric said, peeking out from behind Virgil.

“So who’s the proud dad?” Bob looked back at Silver.

“Iplier brought them in,” Mark floated a little bit closer.

Wade whistled, “What does this make? Ten?”

“Six, dude’s a good judge of character,” Mark corrected as he looked around. “Where’s Tyler?”

“He’ll swing by, but dude’s been busy,” Bob shrugged. “Said he’d be running late.”

“Probably won’t be the only one,” Mark dismissed. “When he comes in, he knows the way. Although he could be with two of the Sides’ group keeping up, Roman said they were going to keep watch over the city.”

“Is it Joan?” Virgil asked.

“No,” Mark answered. “”They’re with Roman and Patton. Don’t know where they are right now.”

“Okay,” Virgil admittedly felt a bit better knowing that Joan was going to be with them. He always felt better with Joan around, which was probably a residual effect of who Virgil was than Joan themselves. “Where’s the meeting?”

“You ever seen the storage closet, the room King’s usually in?” Mark told him.

Virgil shrugged.

“It’s got the hole in the wall near the top of the frame?” Mark clarified.

Virgil nodded, then asked, “Wait, who did that?”

The senior hero’s mouth formed a tight line, there was a certain guilty air about it. “Doesn’t matter. The meeting room is directly across the hall from it.”

“Geez,” Bob spoke up. “What else did you break?”

“Not my fault, I was taken over by zombism,” Silver defended hotly. “The fact I missed Jack is the good thing.”

“Doc give you your rabies shots for that?” Bob chuckled. “Please tell me you haven’t eaten the furniture.”

“It was bad,” Ethan spoke up, a huge smile on his face as Silver took a deep breath. “He had to get a lot of transfusions, they almost replaced all of his blood. We built a panic bunker to hold him until the infection ran its course.”

“Good to know the docs can cure a zombie plague,” Wade commented.

“They can now,” Mark clapped his hands to bring attention back to him. “Let’s go before they start without us.”

Gatling, and as he introduced himself to Eric and Virgil: the Drowned Man, kept ribbing at Silver. They did start to actually make their way to the meeting room. Virgil hanging in the back to avoid getting caught up the inevitable wrestling that tended to happen as Mark argued with his friends.

[polarishq]

Meet SHILOH POWELL. They are UNKNOWN/THIRTY TWO years old and hail from JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. Shiloh embodies the constellation, PHOENIX. They use she/her pronouns. Their faceclaim is EMMY ROSSUM.

Phoenix reminds me of Hey What’s Up You Guys, Welcome Back to My Channel, imposter syndrome, only knowing second-hand love, the sterile smell of a hospital room, can’t do math (both because of the gay and because she’s never had a formal education), trying to navigate the terrifying world of Instagram notoriety, a sudden shift in the mannerisms of someone you’ve known your whole life, private hobbies learned in rare spare moments, an unwilling devotion to the stars, the story of Sisyphus, an attention to detail, beanies. Beanies in every color. So many beanies, universal across time and space and identities. A secret beanie cove. Beanies!!!!!!!!

BIOGRAPHY

Major TWs: Various terminal illnesses, and talking about them in a somewhat casual manner.

When Shiloh wakes up as Shiloh, she comes to know herself as a twenty-nine year old Twitter-famous witch with a heart defect, and the first thing that springs to mind is: “Well, at least it’s not another brain tumor.” When you have a mission, particularly when you don’t know what that mission actually is, brain tumors are problematic; they affect your mood, and your memory, and as they grow, your cognitive functions begin to slow, making your already limited time on earth more difficult to navigate. For someone like Shiloh, who has a short yet undetermined amount of time to fulfill a task, staying in operation until the end is imperative. Of course, heart problems come with their own set of complications; namely, she doesn’t know when time is running out. One day she can be out on the town, smokin’ cigarettes and fucking strangers and having a grand ol’ time, and the next—boom, dead.

Shiloh has been a puppet for the stars for centuries, now, as have all who have been cursed with the Phoenix sponsorship, and it’s frankly a pain in the ass. When Shiloh first came into consciousness, it was somewhere in the astral plane, face to face with the former Phoenix—a boy with bags under his eyes, a failure, tasked with passing the torch onto his successor before their spirit dies permanently. The message was simple: “To live, you must complete the task before your current body dies. Your time is limited, you do not know what it is ahead of time, but it is a significant goal that impacts the world in some way, even if you cannot see that in the moment. If you succeed, you live out the remainder of that body’s life before you move onto the next. If you fail, you get no second chances. You die, and that is it.” … Load of fucking bullshit, if you ask her, because who does that? But sure enough, Shiloh blinked and woke up in the body of a young girl with tuberculosis, and from that point on, it’s been nonstop.

It’s also worth noting that Shiloh is not really Shiloh, though for the sake of this life, she is. She actually doesn’t know who she is, as she’s constantly assuming the identities of others and must step as seamlessly as possible into their lives without drawing a great deal of attention to herself, which is neither easily said nor done. She has formed hobbies that follow her from one life to the next, has developed her own set of moral standards, but there is not much freedom in the way that she lives. Sometimes she is born a wife, or a grandpa, or a moody teenager. Sometimes she has a week, or several decades. She’s not always born into the body of a witch, but her powers seem to follow her where she goes—occasionally they coincide with the original host, but not always. Mostly, she doesn’t know why she continues to live life the way she does. There is nothing to gain aside from the possibility of perhaps one day finding peace, or happiness, or love, which Shiloh has only come to know second hand (waking up in the bed of someone’s lover, feeling the way they touch her and knowing that person was loved so deeply, but it’s not her, she’s merely an intruder, always an intruder). It’s a thankless job (congratulations, you did it, have an autoimmune disorder as a display of our undying gratitude!). Every life she comes to realize more and more what she will never have, but for now, she continues to fulfill her duties as though something might one day change.

Anyway, when Shiloh wakes up as Shiloh, not only can she tell she’s a twenty-nine year old witch with an ungodly amount of Twitter notifications, but she’s quick to find out she’s famous this time. Not, like, Angelina Jolie with the paparazzi kind of famous, but Youtube famous, with a boisterous channel with millions of followers and daily content, an aesthetic Instagram and—for the love of God—a fucking TikTok account. This comes with the perk of being able to review hours of content of the body she’s inhabiting, picking up quirks and mannerisms and speech patterns, but also with the added complication of being under the scrutiny of a lot of people. Documented slip-ups are never good. Shiloh also comes to find that she can’t just disappear, because she’s the oldest of a large, loud Jersey family who depends on her income to keep a roof over their heads, so it’s not like she can exactly start a scandal and get herself “cancelled” as was her original inclination. Fine.

What she does do is eventually take her channel down to weekly posts, boosts her acceptance of Instagram ads to supplement the income (those are pretty easy), and enrolls at Polaris, where she’s found her missions take her often these days. It’s always weird, seeing people she knows and has formed relationships with under different identities, but it doesn’t take her terribly long to adapt, as it’s not the first time she’s had to wrestle with this notion.

Although her first few months at Polaris were uneventful, the day Shiloh met Light, who introduced her to a famous serial killer group called the Lunatics, she felt the first piece of the puzzle click into place. She’d like to say she fit in like a glove, but that’s only an accurate depiction if we’re talking about that OJ Simpson glove; suspicious, divisive, and enigmatic. Her appearance caused problems from the get-go, though that was likely because she’d infiltrated their ranks and was the one who felt most comfortable calling Light out on their abusive bullshit. When Light began to abuse her too, locking her up in rooms, staving her, putting her though physical and mental trauma to try and beat her in line, Shiloh only felt like she was getting closer and closer to what the stars actually wanted. Maybe Light needed to be handled, or perhaps the others needed to be freed, or perhaps the Lunatics would lead her to a certain mark. Whatever it was, Shiloh felt confident that she was on the right path.

—Light’s dead, now. No matter the who, or the what, or the why, for this immediate bullet point, and things are in disarray. Shiloh hasn’t received any indication that she’s solved her mission, and with this new distraction, she’s terrified that her clock is running out and she’s been wasting her time with a group that has nothing to do with what Phoenix actually wants from her this go-around. But she can’t just disappear, because some of them suspect her as it is given her newcomer status, and Shiloh’s got too much at stake in this current lifetime (the Powell kids, the fact that she finally got James Charles to follow her back on Instagram, having no other leads), so she remains in it. Might as well see this through until the bitter end.

INCLINATION

Those with the Phoenix sponsorship are not truly people, but simply a consciousness; meant to be a foot soldier for the stars, Phoenix is always a passionate, cunning individual with an affinity for fire magic, though sometimes they inhabit bodies of witches with different inclinations and can pick up some of those skills, though they lose them again as soon as they’re reborn. These individuals wake up in the body of a person, always with a limited lifespan (often a terminal illness, though occasionally death is destined another way) and is given that limited time on earth to fulfill a certain duty for the stars; if they succeed, they are reborn, but if they fail, the torch passes on. Phoenix is one of the more cursed constellations, despite most people thinking its’ representative of second chances, but with the right person at the helm, Phoenix makes more of an impact on the world at large than most people will ever know.

CONNECTIONS

In the Know: This is either a Polaris staff member/professor, townsperson, or someone who’s been around for centuries that knows the nature of Phoenix and is the one common thread who has known Shiloh throughout multiple identities/rebirths. They might be helping Shiloh try and find a way to keep one identity and be able to live life the way she wants, so she seeks them out early so they can continue their work.

Fan: Someone who’s been watching Shiloh’s channel for years and picked up on the shift in her demeanor. They’re likely nosy and Shiloh avoids them at all costs.

Sibling: Fuck it, a younger sibling who’s also at Polaris and is probably also low key suspicious of changes in Shiloh’s behavior. Bonus points if it’s Jeremy Allen White.

Filling Maryanne Brooks’ #WifeGoals.

Filling Ethan King’s Bad Influence.

Filling Izabel Navorra’s You Spin Me Right Round.

Penned by Ashley★

[smallgayblanket]

Fresh Muse List

In case you guys were curious about my characters I have a big old list:

Egos:

Anti   (Usually the softer kind, has green emerald glowings eyes which turn staticy blue when hes vulnerable/being open/himself. He can be an asshole though and does in deed take out bad guys with his knife.)

Jameson Jackson  (Mute but does actually still have a voice- his vocals are in ruins and he's kinda dealing with poor eating making him dangerously skinny. He works as a bartender and has silver tipped brown hair that's a little bit longer than the others.)

Crank  (Robot Ethan ego. He’s an utter mess- eyes sometimes fizzle out, joints stiff, has emotional issues. He also has a corrupted voice in his head that is real nasty when he pops up and sometimes takes over their shared frame.)

Blank  (Fricking soft boy, his aura is hard to control and sometimes controls him. He has a rare heart issues which makes him prone to fainting and collpasing without much warning.  Still, he tries.) 

Jackieboyman   (Super hero boy! Super buff, caring, kind, and tol.  Lilac/Gold eyes. Little odd strip of red in his brown hair. The best voice.  Works as a gas station worker to hide his identity (he looks great in the blue button up and glasses.) He.’s ftm trans. Sometimes I HC him as a phionex other times he has pretty golden whips of light.)

King of the Squirrels   (Otherwise known as Simon. He’s a hybrid, Tail, ears. Omega. Very sweet, little skittsh and frzzled. Wears glasses and cozy sweaters- likes making nests and being out in nature. Loves PB but is actually allergic..doesn’t keep him from eating it though.)

Henrick Von Schneeplestien  (Grumpy german doctor who lives off of coffee. He is willing to assist those in need and really needs to sleep.)

Chase Brody  (He’s got his youtube channel and a bunch of positive vibes! He’s strugglign sometimes with depression but its not always so bad. Sometimes he had real bad migrains though, and he also suffers from chornic fatigue making his days shorter or hard to get teverything done.)

Wilford Warfstache  (We know him, lover of bubbles and pink. Talks funny, loves candy. Chubby man.) 

Yandere  (Nonbinary somewaht MTF.  They’re a real cutie, will punch dickheads without a sweat and really just want someone to be their senpai and let them fall for them head over heels without running away..) 

Were-Eth  (Ethan got bit by a werewolf and now deals with that. Basically an Ethan muse with a small twist. He’s absoultely adorable with the tail and ears and sharp teef.)

Mark  (Abused and kidnapped by Author My Mark is a little bit softer then the guy he’s based on. He’s a little bit shorter and alot more anxious and unsure of himself thanks to Author breaking him down. He’s vcovered in lots of scars spescfially his wrist’s and does not like water much. )

Bing.  (Tries his hardest to be good, bit glitchy but he’s chill. He tries to skate, and jokes wen nervous. He’s pretty sweet though.) 

Edward Iplier  (Absoulte adorable dork, He tries to help everyone and anyone no matter what- I’ve kinda fallen in love with the idea of him only having one arm but that’s only one of many ideas. He loves space, he’s chubby and also loves food. He’s got a prety neat aura ablity too.) 

Robbie.  (Soft grape zombie boy. He’s sweet and innocent as ever. He’s easily th e shyest of the bunch and doesn’t always talk to much. He loves getting affection though and is always eager to please.) 

And meet my OCS! Some of them are old- and alot of them are new! There's a little description for each just to get your interest~

Quinton  (A Hybrid of Demon and Angel otherwise called a Guardian.)

Ori ( Very pure angel boy AU of the angel half of Q - a little androgynous when it comes to clothing he/him sometimes they/them.)

Zeno  (A DJ with a somewhat secret love for dancing too. Only has one arm.)

Lumi (Ghost boy- literally- he died and he’s kinda like Danny phantom in reverse- he can turn solid but eventually has to rest and turn back to being unable to interact with objects)

Eztli   (Pretty grump guy who was cursed by a witch to be immortal- although it made his blood kinda..weird..)

Gallio (Strawberry Hipster guy- A photographer who also has hypoglycemia)

Aomi (A blackberry witch- hes not very great at spells yet but he tries!)

Lucas (A moonstone gem perma-fusion. Quite a nervous wreck.)

Eme. (A smart scientist. Human. Nothing special.)

Chris. (Camp leader! He’s based off David from camp camp but hes far more buff and hes not so over the top. He has his own green house and is part dryad.)

Alex  (A very confused, overly optimist Alien who doesn’t know what they are. Come from the planet Eutychia)

Locus  (Fish boi!  Transparent fins, glowy patches, plays harp + loves music)

Lir(A Tiny Octopus/Human boy!!)

Reese (Passionfruit bab! Literally. He kinda contains passionfruit pulp but don’t cut him open!!! :< Or do if you want weird angst >_>)

Benji (Strawberry shortcake boi- Cursed tape /bandages. Demi half god. One eye. Uses notes to communicate but also sign. Really. Good sweets maker)

Small bois- These boys are pocket sized! though sometimes I do like to think about them being human sized ^^.

Kiyan. (A little assistant android. Created to assist! He works at a post office currently. Pronouns do not matter to him though its usually he/they/it.)

Tobias. (Made of hair gel. Eats soap. Someone stop him before he gets a tummy ache. He/him.)

Hinto  (Guy made of foam slime- He was kinda based off Remy aka Sleep from the fanders.)

Glowstick bubs (They are tiny boys who glow like well- glowsticks but also lavalamps, very pretty to look at. and theyre nocturnal!)

Theo(A tiny ink creature. He makes a mess but hes adorable.)

JellyBubs! (A collection of tiny sentient jelly babies, The main one being strawberry aka Jeri. They dont mind what you calm them but usually they works best.)

Miel (A tiny little bee boy! He makes honey.)

Moyachi  (Cactus boi!! Loves water and has clear/lime green tinted aloe/herbal helpful blood. Spikes up at defense from bad people)

Apocolyse Squad:

Long story shot: The planet Keres,  Left uninhabitable after the invasion that ruined the air and killed almost the entire race. I have loads of stuff to talk about for this gang of 6:

Sameal o’Ceirin (Being of smoke- partly blind.)

Mallory Thomas (Part cat! Can talk to animals. Nonbinary/genderfluid.)

Hamrish Benat  (Also goes by Hami/Hayden. He/him. 4 eyes, soft tongue. PTSD. Super soft boy. Loves soap cutting videos (and doing it himself) and bears/plushies - Has an arrange of cute face masks. Is a trained nurse and learning to be a pediatrician.)

Joshua who cares (An asshole lets leave it at that.)

Andy Peters (Strong, kind. Kind of like Tyler Scheid, He/him.

Adrian  Géarán  ( Real anxious. Gets bullied alot. bit of a weakling/cry baby to some. Has a pretty shit immune system struggles with food and sleep.. He has a Demon esc-Tail, fire abilities, likes to make little robots. He loves iron man. He/him.)  

Liren Pichi (Deaf peaches n cream boi- Nickname Pichi.  He wasn’t part of the squad- however he did end up landing on their planet- he had some rough encounters with the aliens ^^)

Neighbours AU:

These guys all live in the same little  cul de sac

Lynx is from planet Ananke.

They all live on the new homeworld, Ermioni. (Its basically earth just a few more creatures live there and the government is less of a mess.)

Lesbabs:

Blake Aglaia  (She/ her.  A human with a gift of being able to put emotions into glass balls..)

Lynx ?? (She/her/they/xe/ xir  An alien and human, the alien somewhat resides inside its host but they coexist. Sometimes goes feral)   Alien half likes to go by Perse  (Percy)  They have cool looking saliva- viens that run down their arms that are pretty cool- sharper nails/claws? Tendrils. Large ol mouth. Lots of point ass teef.

Demon fam:

Hyacinth ( A six-armed demon. Grows flowers on his skin based on emotions. He’s a huge mother hen, will care for anyone. Enjoys cooking and gardening and children.  He/Him)

Rhys  (They/Them. A Demon with a great curiosity about humans) Feri  (The sibling of Ryhs)

Anthos (Rhys and Hy’s summoned accidental toddler.. He has a cute tail and tinnny horns.  He/him)

Roommates:

Douglas Connelly  (He/Him A regular chubby human bean! Loves baking and music.)

Donovan Amores  (He/Him/ Real fricking cool and smokin hot Bartender with a love for dogs. Dougs roommate. Has glowing fuckin orbs- donates his heart- is smooth as fuck, background heavily Spanish (moved when young.))

Haris Alaksim Real name (lost in translation  (Huitzilopochtli God of sun and war) ) - A god whom Dono is very close with and donates his heart two one every 3 years during the day of the highest sun. He is a god / Mouros.  Donovan refers to him as “Dios gentil”  or “ Viejo colibrí sabio”   (“El viejo colibrí sabio es un dios gentil” (The old wise hummingbird is a gentle god.)

Donovans Family

Rem (They/He/Him Looks after magical creatures- Cane is from Haris)

Oscar  (He/Him.  Not sure what trinket or power but He’s just a casual store worker w/ good arms. Surprisingly good with knives- perhaps has one from Haris?)

Nicole  (She/her/they/them.  Makes clothes..possibly got some ability to do with seasons..?  Perhaps earrings or a bracelet from Haris)

Javi  (Makes jam, cute boy, wears cloaks. Has a cute little jar necklace  ^ a proper sized magic jar.  Doesn’t mind whatever pronouns but usually prefers he/him/boy.)

Luca (FTM Trans bookkeeper- Talks to Haris most often and likes to ask questions..Has precious books…Possibly a special pen..)

Forest bois:

Cypress (The soul of the forest - Mentor of Rem. Doesn't mind what you call him but usually leans masculine.)

Unicorn boi (Yet to be fleshed out. Hes got very rare blood- lost his horn and lives with a giant inside of a bubble?  He/him/it)

Fyn. (Mushroom boy. Protects a gate. Lost his twin in a fire caused by humans.. He/him)

Fie. (Bat boy. Love fruit. Is ironically scared of the dark- shy but cute. He/Him)

Moh. (Fairy/incubus hybrid.  They/them)

Tucker. (Bunny hybrid- cool guy with bunny ears and a tail. Soft white patches on his chest. Got a bit of an attitude but is chill- is also friends with Ainsley. He/him but is usually mistaken for a girl because he by bunny standards is..)

Ainsley. (Fawn boy. Wears glasses. Much like a deer, skittish and nerdy and keeps to himself. Tries to keep Tucker out of trouble but usually ends up dragged along instead)

Experiments:

Izekiel  Iris (A being of Paint!  Stutter, anxious, hallucinates. Zones out alot. An amazing artist though. He/him though has feminine tendencies.)

Matty   (An experiment, part human, part lizard, part dragon. Much smol and cute. Hes very quiet, selectively mute on occasion. Lots of scars and trauma, scars on his arms and constantly needs to wear bandages. Very easily tired. he/him.)

Nes. (Based of off Crankgameplays as face claim but he’s basically his own thing at this point. He’s been through alot of angst and trauma and some really nasty stuff ^^’ (He killed his parents, the ice cream truck driver tried to abduct him, he was experimented on in a very bad place, and now he's an utter wreck who will cling to anyone who gives him the time of day. He has murder tenancies but is full of guilt and hates whenever he hurts anyone. Lots of panics. Very hard to handle if you aren’t patient.)

[movienotesbyzawmer]

August 21: Mission: Impossible II

(previous notes: Mission: Impossible)

Not gonna lie, this is without question the Mission: Impossible movie that is remembered most unfavorably by me and, I'm pretty sure, everyone else. My recollection is that they tried SO SO SO SO HARD to make an action movie for Today's Kids; I'm typing this with the title screen of the 4K Blu-ray blasting its turn-of-the-millennium neo-metal version of the classic theme with Tom Cruise running in front of a wall of flame and it's just like come on. Is there even must fun spycraft in this? The first one promised lots of gravely furtive glancing, world-class makeup disguises, and dazzling gadgetry. Did this movie's director John Woo replace those with just way way way too much shooting and chasing and sexy vehicles? That's how I remember it but it's been a couple of decades.

I should probably address this series' exciting approach to director selection. The first one was directed by the legendary Brian De Palma, who brought us Carrie, The Untouchables, and Carlito's Way. Whether or not this one worked out, the trend here seemed to be to choose a respected director with a certain cred that could be imported into the franchise. More on that as this series unfolds. I am now to press play.

Opening scene is about a scientist who injects himself with something while a voiceover teases us with I-already-forget-what.

Oh, he's pals with Ethan; they're on a plane together out of Sydney when some bad-guy shenanigans totally thwart the whole fly-to-the-destination-safely thing. But! It wasn't even Ethan! It was good-ol' makeup fake-outery! It was a heist to take the warn leather pouch that the scientist had.

This I remember - during the opening credits, the REAL Ethan Hunt is climbing somewhere impressive, all freestyle like. All the related supplemental marketing materials never fail to talk up Tom Cruise's penchant for doing his own stunts, but these don't look real.

He then receives a fancy techno-message in a very, very dramatic and action-movie-ish fashion, which is that someone flies a helicopter by his climbing mountain and fires a rocket near him containing message-glasses tech! The voice in the message glasses sounds like Anthony Hopkins. Is it Anthony Hopkins?

Anyway now he has to go to Spain to recruit Thandie Newton and here is where it's already starting to get way too the-style-of-John-Woo. There is a flamenco show and Ethan and TN spot each other across the room. There is SLO MOTION and SPANISH STOMPING and ACOUSTIC GUITAR, and THOSE TWO GAZING AT EACH OTHER. I tell you I do not care for it.

What happens next is TN proceeds to use fancy technology and lockpicking skills to steal a well-concealed necklace. Ethan tags along flirtatiously. She still tries to steal the necklace even though this Lothario, this smarmy but irresistible cad, is trying to distract her with his testosterone.

Ugh, I was very right to remember not liking stuff about this movie. Ethan fails to recruit her at the jewel heist, so he car-chases at her the next day! He calls her during the car chase to irritate/seduce her, and she's all "you'll have to catch me ha ha", and it ends in a nearly fatal crash and then they KISS. The director worked very hard to ensure the kissing was HAWT, and Ethan has now successfully recruited TN for both spy work and boinkage.

Anthony Hopkins! He is in the next scene! That really was him! How did I forget that he is in this movie. This scene where he meets with Ethan and fills him in on everything is effectively expository. But then after he knows what he's gotta do, he walks with INTENSITY and it is in SLOW MOTION next to a BURNING EFFIGY THING with ELECTRIC GUITAR MUSIC GOING ON.

0:33:40 - Oh now it's a little more what I like, with a montage about using spy tech to get Ambrose, the bad guy who was pretending to be Ethan on the plane in the beginning, to track TN. And to further assure us that there is techie-fun to be had, Ving Rhames returns to be that guy for Ethan's team. But there is also time in this sequence for shots of TN walking slowly and looking super pretty. You know, so she can seduce Ambrose. A flowing scarf figures prominently in this imagery. A John Woo Film.

I like that they tricked Ambrose into thinking he is so damn smart for tracking her down. I also like Ambrose's compound on Sydney Harbour, it is a bitchin property.

Scene just happened where Ambrose seriously menaces his friend and uses a cigar-clipper on his finger. Ambrose is a bad friend.

But then they're all at the horse race game, even Ambrose's injured friend, who we learn is named Stemp and who is spying on TN, and Ethan and VR are spying on them all. There are shots of TN doing sleight of hand to steal a tape from Ambrose's pocket and it's pretty good spy-shot stuff.

I guess I should mention that there's one more guy on Ethan's team of four, an Australian guy. I haven't caught his name, so he is Australian Guy now, and he is pretending to be an employee of the horse race game venue. He gets bullied by Stemp! We don't like Stemp!

The tape she stole, they watch it right away and it shows footage of what the virus (there's a virus problem at the center of this) does. It is effective, and a little shocking.

But then, this is surprisingly actually kind of well-conveyed - they made it VERY clear that the tape was originally in Ambrose's left jacket pocket, and they showed very clearly that TN returned it to the wrong jacket pocket, AND it's obvious a moment later that Ambrose knows it has been replaced in the wrong jacket pocket. Don't know why, but at least it's keeping us on top of this situation.

Also not-too-shabby is how they're doing the consequences of Ethan and TN fancying each other, except then she has to go and seduce Ambrose and that's uncomfortable and drama-making. In Ethan's defense, as well as Ambrose's, I am also in love with TN right now.

1:02:12 - Ethan disguised himself as Scientist, the dead one from the beginning, and I'm just saying I'm glad this movie is embracing the disguise-craft theme that was established in the first movie. Ooh, is the show like that too?

And then just as I've typed that, it turns out that Ambrose did an Ethan disguise (it was established by Anthony Hopkins that Ambrose was an IMF agent so he can do that stuff too) to trick TN into outing her intentions. They make it very clear that there is voice-fake tech with their disguises that involves a wire mesh thing stuck to the throat.

Next up is a heist scheme to break into a skyscraper where they're growing stuff about the virus, and it's a little bit of that style I liked so much in the last movie, with the added twist that Ambrose is somewhere else anticipating what Ethan's planning, and, I think, plotting a separate, way-better heist. They're still talking about it and the heist is happening and it is suspenseful! I totally like this more than I remember.

1:13:30 - Ethan is at the part of the heist where he's at fancy lab facilities with robot arms and AI voices and oddly no people. VR and Australian Guy are observing everything that's happening using technology and Australian Guy's helicopter, making it more suspenseful, but I also don't know exactly what's going on? We appear to be where Scientist originally injected himself, and Ethan is I think killing the virus while also somehow visualizing Scientist injecting himself.

But then that all goes away because a platoon of thugs in black burst in and are shooting at Ethan. It all quickly became an action movie with blazing guns and VR's tech van getting bombed.

In the fracas it's clear that one of the injector guns contains the last of the virus, and also gunplay might shatter it and make them all infected, so that's decent suspense. But also, the lighting in this bio-lab is like a nightclub, with inexplicably roving spotlights and neon accents that pop in 4K.

TN is in the mix, and she decides to inject the last of the virus into herself, and there's a dumb moment where it's like ETHAN YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SHOOT ME WITH YOUR GUN and Ethan, Man of Ethics, does not do that. Instead there is more gunplay and Ethan jumps out a hole he made in the wall.

1:28:45 - We've moved to new location, a new compound, and it's on a guard-patrolled island and Ethan sneaks up on a guard and does a totally unnecessary body-flip martial arts move to take him out. I think he needs to steal the antidote from this compound so that he can save TN, who is somewhere else. He is visually passionate about this mission.

Ethan got caught sneaking in to this new compound by Stemp, and he did a whole grenade blowup thing but he still got caught. It's a trick, right? Yup, he put an Ethan mask on Stemp and a Stemp mask on himself and got Ambrose to kill Stemp. He realizes he just killed Stemp because of the finger injury, good job with that.

I am reminded that this movie is from the director of Face/Off, so I needn't have feared that the mask/disguise conceit would be forsaken.

But did he get the antidote? He must have. Sometimes when I'm typing notes I miss stuff, but he's now motorcycling away while VR and Australian Guy are providing support from their chopper.

This is now the vehicle-chase opera that I remember ending the movie so terribly extendedly. Much gunplay. Vehicles pirouette with violent elegance. Ethan can do such exquisite dances with his motorcycle and firearm. This climaxes in the ridiculous feat of Ethan and Ambrose riding their cycles at each other and jumping at off them at each other to finish the job sans vehicle. It ends as a tussle on the beach, and Ambrose has a knife that almost gets in Ethan's eye. The visual on that is striking. But it's no good, Ethan is too Tom Cruise for him. He gets the knife from him and DISCARDS THE KNIFE, and punch-kick-fights him a lot instead. Ethics.

Turns out Ambrose has a gun after all oh no. But then it turns out Ethan is standing by a sand-obscured gun somehow also oh good. He does a thoroughly storyboarded sand-kick-body-twirl gun recovery that ends like you'd guess.

So although there are some dumb things about this movie, I think it's better than I remembered. And having just watched the first one, I think it actually did a good job of having a story where you don't have to ignore a lot of stupidness. It's not like it's an especially good plot, but it didn't try to make you forget its holes like the first one. I still like the first one better, though.

(next: Mission: Impossible III)

[dsmadmin]

#ReturnofAdam

Written by and posting order: @ForgotAboutAdam @DeanWinchester_ @SamWImpala83 @TridentHunting

Adam has been out of the cage for the last few days, he was still trying to get his head around the freedom. he knew he had many issues going on but he wanted to try and be normal as he could < possibly be. okay, he might have Michael in his head but he quietly sleeping for him. Adam had headed up to put some flowers down on the local lake as he knew they weren't an actual burial place when Dean and sam burn her remains of his mom. he wasn't ready to deal with the hatred he had for his family especially his older brother Sam. if it wasn't for him he wouldn't have ever been in the cage. noway, I was going to let him have the satisfaction of him knowing I was out just yet. they say revenge is best served cold. adam was angry and hurt at his family but he knew one day will come and he will face them all. he just wished he could forget them as they forgot him for many years.

Colt - Colt was oblivious to Adam and Michael's escape from the pit. He sat at the office finishing up some paperwork which he'd rather avoided and sent it off with the secretary. He stood looking out at the window at downtown Austin. There was a lot on his mind and he didn't know how to deal with it all. Jo was gone, he and Ethan were fighting regularly. Plus he hadn't seen his father in a few days and that always made him worry. He knew the ole man could take care of his own but he worried still.-

Adam had made his way home on this home he once shared with his mom. He knocks on the door go find a young family that had moved into the home that he shared some happy memories with his mom and dad, the family had settled into their home now. Adam couldn't call it anymore. With his prison sentence, he had in the cage. He was locked up and everyone in this world just moved on with their lives. No one ever had a second thought of me. When he stood talking to the couple who owns the house. He explains that he was born and grew up in this house He shared some stories of the house go them. When they let him in just to have one last look at the old place. Since his dog was buried out the back under the big oak tree. Adam had a coffee with the family after taking a tour of the old place. When they came out with a box of items that they have found in the attic. Adam had smiled and taken the box of memories with him when he left the house. He made his way into the truck putting the box on the passenger seat. When driving off to the motel that he had checked into. When he reached the motel he picked up the small box putting it under his arm. Making his way out of his truck locking it up and going inside to his motel room. He threw the box on the table sitting next to the window. Before taking a seat to look throw the box of pictures and letters that his father John had written to him over the letters. When he came across A photo of his dad with Dean and Sam. The photo made him see red he crumble the photo in his hand. You are all going to pay especially Sam.

Colt - -Things hadn't gone as planned, Sammy had been cremated and he hadn't bothered telling a bunch of people he couldn't handle it. He'd been buried out on the property under an Oak tree. John was off on a hunt down in Colombia and couldn't make it back. And his Dad had bailed without a word leaving Colt to deal with it. So the remaining Winchesters were pretty far from being close and he, in particular, knew that he'd have to get his shit together for his kids if nothing else. Asher was a big help and he was happy but somethings you a gotta break on your own. His /issues/ could get pretty severe so he'd chosen to start seeking professional help. It was a step in the right direction, he couldn't expect anyone else to save him from himself. Ethan wasn't gonna come sweeping in to save the day either so he'd need to take things seriously. He was devasted but he pushed that down and refused to wallow in it anymore. Going on back to the office he made his rounds to see what was going on in the world according to their analysts. -

Sam - Through a wild turn of events, Sam had managed to not only escape his dying world but land in the same one as his brother. Luckily, they’d found each other as well as Dean’s doppelgänger and his family. Colt and the rest of the family had been very welcoming, even allowing

Sam to move into the family house back on the ranch. Sam had found it easy to get along with everybody and was glad to see his brother was happy. But . . . Sam couldn’t be just yet. According to Colt, multiple worlds were collapsing for some unforeseen reason. Sam was sure it had something to do with Chuck, but when he joined the firm’s analysis team, they seemed to have a handful of possible causes. Sam tried to follow his brother’s advice to relax and let it go. Their world was dead, so it wasn’t their responsibility anymore. But deep down, he knew Dean was just pushing down his true feeling. But Sam couldn’t do that. He needed to figure out what was happening and why everyone he ever loved and cared about, besides his brother, was dead.

John - John had decided to send a text to the boys to have a get together at the headquarters building so that Sam and he could meet one another. They'd lost one Sam and gained another in a short amount of time. John couldn't fathom what the big guy upstairs was doing but they had to make a plan get everyone on the same page. So as he sat with a hot cup of coffee waiting for the boys to show up he read through the mornings briefing. Specifically about the rifts showing up here and there, depositing at this point Winchesters but he had his suspensions more was going on that they didn't understand.-

Adam - Adam had been quiet for a few days. he hadn't had any control over his body for the last few days, to be honest. Michael has put him in his trance. as the last few days were kind of a blur. as he never knew what going on with his so-called family. he logged onto his laptop to track on his family to see where in this miserable world where exactly they would be. living their perfect lives. he could see his elder brother has gone up in the world living in texas Austin. when he google him to see what's going on with the three Winchester his father didn't even care about him. it was always about him and dean and sam from the minute I meet him as a child. adam knew if he could track his elder brother sam and his father wouldn't be too far behind him. so he made a plan to head to Austin texas the following day. he was booked into this crappy motel for one more night.

Colt - He'd gotten a message from his father about meeting up with him and Sammy. Looking at his watch, he had somethings to do but he text'd back he'd be there but late. A local haunting had caught his attention when the guys mentioned it. Normally he didn't roll on things like this anymore, honestly didn't get the adrenaline pumping and he lived off of that. Since booze and sex had been quelled adrenaline was pretty much all he had to get through the days. Of course now with Asher in his life and again was a good thing for him and the kids. He worried about them, he knew he wasn't grade A father material but he made efforts to become more of what they'd need. Adapt and survive that was what he did.

Lost in thought till Justin reached over and slapped the back of his hand against his arm. "We're here Colt." Looking up at the old abandoned mental institution with a laugh. "Hope you did your homework Justin, hell, place like this could have multiple spirits haunting it. What did the construction workers say exactly about this place?" Listening to Justin describes a young teenage girl bloody and bruised up dragging a bloody axe down the corridor. And that the lead formen clutched his chest and dropped right there in the floor. they described the young woman like he flickered like an old movied projection glitching something out of horror movie. One of the guys had grabbed the guy by the wrist and trying to get him into the elevator but the girl snarled at them punching her small hand into the foreman's chest, like he was squeezing his heart literally. They guys ran for it and managed to get out of there, but they said when they looked up at the window she was standing there dead and pale staring at them. Fire, EMS and cops rolled and they searched the place best they could but couldn't find no trace of the young woman. EMS starting CPR right away but the foreman was DOD (dead on arrival) at the hospital.

Rumors had gotten out and apparently, no one wanted to take a stab at the renovations. So the recent owner called in a Catholic Priest, Father Gentry. He went in and never came out. Fire and cops searched what they could again but they didn't find him. Colt grabbed his duffle and shotgun. There was a chance the priest could still be alive so he slung the bag over his shoulder and went in, Justin guiding with top of the line GPS and map configuration of the building plans but as soon as they crossed the threshold the equipment began to falter. Colt didn't need EMF to tell him they had a very real problem here but one of the guys held one holding it up. It's was going off like crazy. "Okay stick together, this place has been searched twice but we're looking for anything out of the ordinary. Be suspicious of everything. These places used to do underground work trying to find ways to fix people and who knows what kind of evil went down here. Gotta be a place big enough to hold a grown man but if he's already dead it may be smaller. Check for hidden rooms, panels in the floors or ceilings etc. Break into teams of two. Work back to back if anything goes down and make damn sure to use your training. Everyone's going home tonight and hopefully the priest as well."

Sam After settling into the ranch, Sam had tried to spread out, get to know a few people here and there and actually go out on cases with the crew. It was still jarring working, talking and hanging out with people he recognized from his past, but didn't have the same history with him. He'd found that out a lot of the people still had the personality, some for the best and some . . . not so much. Either way, he was glad to at least have found his brother.

Sam was sitting in the kitchen at the main ranch after just having another hacking lesson with Ali when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw there was a message from one of the John's floating around this universe, requesting he and some of the others meet him at the main headquarters downtown. He quickly wrote back, letting John know he could be there in about an hour before tucking his phone away. Sam headed upstairs to change, grabbing an apple as a snack, before saying bye to Ali and heading towards the meeting.

John - -John checked his phone and laughed, might be different worlds but typical responses from both. He laid the phone down and went down the hall and into the Operations Command Room. Monitors up all over the places and people monitoring each hunt from their station. He talking to Gilbert to get an update of what was going on. John sipped his coffee as they rattled off several vampire cases, hauntings and a possible ghoul problem. They talked a little and he was about to walk out when one status came back "We've lost coms with Team 8." John walked over and watched them try to figure out any possible problems. "What's the case they are working and where are they?" The analyst looked up. "It's a haunting sir, one confirmed dead and one missing. John looked at the computer screen to see if he recognized any of the operators on the case. He recognized /Justin Hartgrove/ and then the next name /Colt Winchester/. He frowned and shook his head no wonder the kid said he was going to be late.- "How long have coms been down?" The analyst answered "Twenty minutes sir." John took a breath. "Keep me posted on the situation and send me the case file to my office." With that he turned around and walked out. Colt was a top tier operator but that didn't matter, everytime these guys went out in the field he worried. Not just for his son but all of them.-

Adam - The next morning Adam couldn't wait to check out of this motel. He liked to have his morning coffee outside watching the world go by. This might be normal to others around the enclosed motel with the busy parking lot. He stood watching the people coming and going in their lives. When they were doing the hustle and bustle. He had been locked up the cage of hundred of years with Lucifer and Michael. When somehow Lucifer managed to escape with some ease. Whereas Michael and himself took a lot longer. Now they were finally Free he had Michael for the company on his body and mind. This one thing that was on Adam mind was a showdown with his family. Since they never ever looked for him. They simply just forgot about him. It's so true out of mind out of sight. Both Michael and himself had issues that needed to be settled. Michael was helpful since he would often help Adam to track his so-called family with a location. He knew that the Winchester had moved on from Kansas now they have a headquarters n Austin Texas. This Is where he was going to be heading too. Michael had the offered to get him there in seconds but Adam wanted the surprise on his side. When he had chose to make the three days drive down to texas. But he may change his mind in due course. Adam finished his coffee-making his way back inside his room. Putting his coffee cup on the sink. When he turns to pick up his bag. Leaving this motel room, to head towards the reception area to check out. He stepped in placing the key card in the drop off box. saying ”Cheers” to the receptionist. Making his way outside. Walking to his truck. Unlocking the trunk throwing his bag in. Making his way into the driver seat. To begin the drive down to Texas.

Colt - -The top floors had been searched first and they'd found nothing now the team descended the stairs to what they believed to be the basement containing the bowler room etc. Dank and dark the basement was pretty damn big with rooms in itself. This was making Colt wished he'd called for a backup team but them again more men, meant higher possibilities of casualties. Signaling they split up, weapon at the ready he went point and led his guys down the east hallway looking for anything that stood out. Lights flickered overhead which could be a sign but could also show the date and faulty wiring of the place. Moving on coming up on a thick door to his right, Justin moved to the left and Colt turned the knob pushing it open. Quick scope of the room then pulling back, having not seen anything he moves around the frame and disappears into the darkness, Justing reaching for where normally a lightswitch might be flipping it on. Fluroscent lights overhead flickered and Colt moved further into the room checking it. Papers where strewn across the floor. He thought he saw what could be fresh blood on the floor and disappeared behind an old bookcase. Cast in darkness he thought he saw something in the distance. On the other side of the basement, the rest of the team was mirroring his actions with nothing in sight yet.-

Sam - Sam climbed up into the truck he had procured from Blackwater's operations for his personal and business use. Colt had really done a lot to make him feel at home and it was nice not to worry about the

little things sometimes.

He drove to the main office downtown and after clearing through security he was directed up to John's office. The fact that two John Winchesters were floating around here had him on edge. After all, his own father had been dead for over a decade and now to be thrown back into this situation with not one, but two of his twins, it was a lot for Sam to handle.

Sam was directed into John's office only to find him sifting through a pile of files and papers. Knocking on the door, he cleared his throat, "Um, John? It's Sam. I'm . . . I'm here."

John - John: -John looked up from over the frame of his glasses at the young man coming through the door. The circumstances could not have been weirder but the love he felt for his boys had his heartwarming at the sight of Sam, even if he wasn't technically his son. Standing he pulled his glasses off and laid them on the desk and walked around to meet Sam, offering his hand.- Welcome to family Sam. I'm hoping we can put your mind to ease and help you any way we can. Would you like something to drink?

Adam - Adam was taking his time his drive down to texas to go and see his family. Driving along the interstate. Sometimes the roads were busy and quiet. The road that was black in the day time just melted into the darkness of the night. When a car passed its headlights were reflected in the water that lay over the surface. There were street-lamps but they looked like they all had been sabotaged for their solar triggers. They rig things up with dirt over the sensor and then after some rain whatever they have rigged up explodes. roads are dark and the days are anxious, who knows what days would bring and what would strike would be next. The quietness of the traffic goes on his travel to Texas. He was getting tired from all the miles he was putting down. When he stopped off to a local gas station. When he needed to fill his truck up with some gas to make the rest of the journey. Stepping out of his truck. Cracking his neck side to side. ” wow that's felt good” asking the attending to fill her right with up. Throwing his keys to the attend. Making his way inside the station to pay for the gas. Taking a Break from the drive when he orders a coffee and bagel. He sits at the window. Nursing his coffee when he mind wondered to his recurring flashback that saved him from the torture of when he was in the pit. His dream as of the day when him Dean Sam and Father would have a day out with no stress. They dreamed of the day when all the guys. They were all on a fishing boat on the lake doing some fishing. Even when he had never gone fishing before, trying to catch some fish from a bbq when we're intending to have that day when the sun when down. Having a a real family day together with no worries and having some beers. Telling jokes and have some beers. He laughed when he could see the day ended end too well with himself falling in the lake trying to catch the bloody fish. But this was only a dream and he doubts this day would ever happen. With his family, all moved on with their lives in their own ways. Adam shaking his head to come back to this reality knowing he needed to get back on the road to get down to Austin. Where his father and Sam was. Taking his coffee and bagel with him. Leaving the gas station to walk over to his truck. Stepping in and buckling up his belt to set himself on his way. He wondered where his brother was. Michael sensed he wasn't with his father and Sam.

Colt -Moving forward he knew if this was a spirit they already knew they were here and where but if the priest was down here somewhere he wouldn't so Colt spoke loudly.- “Father?! You down here! If you can help me somehow let me know where you are it would help! We're gonna get you out of here!! -As he moved further into the darkened area books began fly at his head from around the room, concentration on avoidance of being knocked out he didn't see the teenage ghost until she'd rammed her hand into his chest squeezing his heart. Gun had dropped from his fingers as he gasped, face straining of the lack of blood flow. Seconds later Justin fired a salt round causing the ghost to disappear, Colt grabbed his own chest trying to recover, his other team mate handed him back his shotgun. “You okay boss? Looking peakish.” Colt laughed despite how bad his chest hurt and took the gun. “Spread out, look around. He's gotta be here somewhere.” They looked for a lightswitch, finding one but it didn't work. Cracking glow sticks they tossed out several. Looking things over Justin spotted some echoplasma near what looked like another bookcase. Colt came closer and listened looking the book case over running fingers under the shelves when he felt a cold rush of air go past him and behind the bookcase. “I think there's a passage back here.” Check the books as they did Justin pulled one and the lock clicked, the bookcase swung open. “Good job man, let's see if we can't find a priest and send casper home.” Colt tossed several glow sticks out into the darkness ahead and the three hunters worked their way down a narrow hallway.-

Sam - *Sam looked around the empty office and wondered how different his life might’ve been if this was his own world. He was still getting used to his surroundings and the people. Shaking John’s hand, he nodded.* Sure. Whatever you’re having to drink is fine by me.

John - -Pours them both a glass of whiskey and takes a seat.- So how are you doing with the displacement? I know all this has to be a shock to the system.

Adam - Adam stopped when he saw a woman hitchhiking at the side of the road. Letting down the window when he popped his head out the window with his shades on. Where Are you off too? When she wanting to get a break and get to Oklahoma. Deep down Adam was a good guy but never giving a break with his family. When he told the young woman to give in as they were in his direction he was going. The woman was grateful for the lift. When she was talking about her broken-down relationship with her boyfriend. When she needed to get moving. Adam just listened and kept his eyes on the road. In a few hours, he had reached the state of Oklahoma. When he stopped to let the woman #Toni to buy him a coffee. When she thanked him and asked him what's in texas for you. He relies simply upon saying payback on the decisions of his life. He wished #Toni a goodbye and wondered what to do next. Alex was in two minds to whether chase after his dipshit of a brother Colt or keep driving down to Austin go have it out with its so-called family members of His beloved father and Brother Sam Not. Michael was monitoring where Colt was. He had run off to be the goodie to shoe guy away running off trying to save someone else other than his brother. In that instant Adam was pissed. Loud and clear Colt he muttered to himself. You want to play two of us can play. When he turned up the radio when highway to youtu.be/ikFFVfObwss to hell was playing. Typical just my life in a nutshell. When he started up his engine. putting his foot down and speeding down to Austin.

Colt - Colt and the other hunters worked their way down the hall, he spotted a figure slumped over in the dark and went to him. It was the priest, checking for to see if he had a pulse he sighed a breath of relief. Turning things over to Justin he picked the priest up over his shoulder and carried him out. About that time backup from the firm had shown up and after the priest was checked out and cleared to go to the hospital he spoke with the backup team. Overwatch had done their jobs and they thought they knew who the spirit was and where to look a young girl had went missing and had never been found. One doctor had been suspected in her disappearance but they couldn't prove it. Blackwater had sent someone out to go talk to him and being in his nineties he'd caved to killing her and burying her in the back of the asylum. Colt joined the part of the team to dig and pulled the rest out for safety. She was going to be mad as hell when they salted and burnt her bones.-

[dsmroleplay]

#TheReturnOfAdam Part One

Written by and posting order: @ForgotAboutAdam  @DeanWinchester_ @SamWImpala83 @TridentHunting

Adam has been out of the cage for the last few days, he was still trying to get his head around the freedom. he knew he had many issues going on but he wanted to try and be normal as he could < possibly be. okay, he might have Michael in his head but he quietly sleeping for him. Adam had headed up to put some flowers down on the local lake as he knew they weren't an actual burial place when Dean and sam burn her remains of his mom. he wasn't ready to deal with the hatred he had for his family especially his older brother Sam. if it wasn't for him he wouldn't have ever been in the cage. noway, I was going to let him have the satisfaction of him knowing I was out just yet. they say revenge is best served cold. adam was angry and hurt at his family but he knew one day will come and he will face them all. he just wished he could forget them as they forgot him for many years.

Colt was oblivious to Adam and Michael's escape from the pit. He sat at the office finishing up some paperwork which he'd rather avoided and sent it off with the secretary. He stood looking out at the window at downtown Austin. There was a lot on his mind and he didn't know-how to deal with it all. Jo was gone, he and Ethan were fighting on a regular basis. Plus he hadn't seen his father in a few days and that always made him worry. He knew the ole man could take care of his own but he worried still.-

Adam had made his way home on this home he once shared with his mom. He knocks on the door go find a young family had moved into the home that he shared some happy memories with his mom and dad Johns the family had settled into their home now. Adam couldn't call it anymore. With his prison sentence, he had in the cage. He was locked up and everyone in this world just moved on with their lives. No one ever had a second thought of me. When he stood talking the couple who owns the house. He explains that he was born and grew up in this house He shared some stories of the house go them. When they let him in to just to have one last look of the old place. Since his own dog was buried out the back under the big oak tree. Adam had a coffee with the family after taking a tour of the old place. When they came out with a box of items that they have found in the attic.

Adam had smiled and taken the box of memories with him when he left the house. He made his way into the truck putting the box on the passenger seat. When driving off to the motel that he had checked into. When he reached the motel he picked up the small box putting it under his arm. Making his way out his truck locking it up and going inside to his motel room. He threw the box on the table sitting next to the window. Before taking a seat to look throw the box of pictures and letters that his father John had written to him over the letters. When he came across A photo of his dad with Dean and Sam. The photo made him see red he crumble the photo in his hand. You are all going to pay especially Sam. ::::::::::::::: Sam : himself had gotten on with life outside of the cage. He'd gone back to hunting on his own, hadn't heard off john and colt for about a year and a half before he came back to the ranch. He never forgot Adam in fact that was one Sam's nightmares, he saw Adam/Micheal in the cage screaming. Thing was the younger male had done the stupid and insane. By saying yes to Micheal. The apocalypse was always going to happen. But he didn't expect this to happen. ::::::::: Sam had been let out of the cage, without a soul for a year. But now he had it back he actually missed Adam. Probably the same amount as john and @DeanWinchester_.] :::::::::::::::::::: Adam : Adam Was Going through the box of memories that the family had passed out to him. Of letters and photos of his family made Adam just see red. When all he ever wanted was revenge on Sam and Colt. Not once did they ever try to find me or even rescue me from the cage. It's so true out of sight out of mind. That's just me. My parents were killed and a half two brothers that don't give a shit about me. Those two are full of crap that's comes out of their mouth never leaves anyone behind.

He wanted to get Michael to wake up to track them down immediately, so he could rip their heads off. And throw them in the cage when Michael has got Lucifer back in the cage. To see what it's like to have hundreds of years of torture in the cage with Lucifer. ::::::::::::::::::::: Colt - -Things hadn't gone as planned, Sammy had been cremated and he hadn't bothered telling a bunch of people he couldn't handle it. He'd been buried out on the property under an Oak tree. John was off on a hunt down in Colombia and couldn't make it back. And his Dad had bailed without a word leaving Colt to deal with it. So the remaining Winchesters were pretty far from being close and he, in particular, knew that he'd have to get his shit together for his kids if nothing else. Asher was a big help and he was happy but somethings you gotta break on your own. His /issues/ could get pretty severe so he'd made a choice to start seeking professional help. It was a step in the right direction, he couldn't expect anyone else to save him from himself. Ethan wasn't gonna come sweeping in to save the day either so he'd need to take things seriously. He was devastated but he pushed that down and refused to wallow in it anymore. Going on back to the office he made his rounds to see what was going on in the world according to their analysts. - :::::::::::::::::::::: Sam - Through a wild turn of events, Sam had managed to not only escape his dying world, but land in the same one as his brother. Luckily, they’d found each other as well as Dean’s doppelgänger and his family. Colt and the rest of the family had been very welcoming, even allowing Sam to move into the family house back on the ranch. Sam had found it easy to get along with everybody and was glad to see his brother was happy. But . . . Sam couldn’t be just yet.

According to Colt, multiple worlds were collapsing for some unforeseen reason. Sam was sure it had something to do with Chuck, but when he joined the firm’s analysis team, they seemed to have a handful of possible causes. Sam tried to follow his brother’s advice to relax and let it go. Their world was dead, so it wasn’t their responsibility anymore. But deep down, he knew Dean was just pushing down his true feeling. But Sam couldn’t do that. He needed to figure out what was happening and why everyone he ever loved and cared about, besides his brother, was dead. :::::::::::::::::::::: John- John had decided to send a text to the boys to have a get together at the headquarters building so that Sam and him could meet one another. They'd lost one Sam and gained another in a short amount of time. John couldn't fathom what the big guy upstairs was doing but they had to make a plan get everyone on the same page. So as he sat with a hot cup of coffee waiting for the boys to show up he read through the mornings briefing. Specifically about the rifts showing up here and there, depositing at this point Winchesters but he had his suspensions more was going on that they didn't understand. :::::::::::::: Adam - Adam had been quiet for a few days. he hadn't had any control over his body for the last few days, to be honest. Michael has put him in his trance. as the last few days were kind of a blur. as he never knew what going on with his so-called family. he logged onto his laptop to track on his family to see where in this miserable world where exactly they would be. living their perfect lives. he could see his elder brother has gone up in the world living in Texas Austin. when he google him to see what's going on with the three Winchester his own father didn't even care about him. it was always about him and dean and Sam from the minute I meet him as a child. Adam knew if he could track his elder brother Sam and his father wouldn't be too far behind him. so he made a plan to head to Austin Texas the following day. he was booked into this crappy motel for one more night. :::::::::::::::::::: Colt: -He'd gotten a message from his father about meeting up with him and Sammy. Looking at his watch, he had somethings to do but he text'd back he'd be there but late. A local haunting had caught his attention when the guys mentioned it. Normally he didn't roll on things like this anymore, honestly didn't get the adrenaline pumping and he lived off of that. Since booze and sex had been quelled adrenaline was pretty much all he had to get through the days. Of course now with Asher in his life and again was a good thing for him and the kids. He worried about them, he knew he wasn't grade A father material but he made efforts to become more of what they'd need. Adapt and survive that was what he did.

Lost in thought till Justin reached over and slapped the back of his hand against his arm. "We're here Colt." Looking up at the old abandoned mental institution with a laugh. "Hope you did your homework Justin, hell, place like this could have multiple spirits haunting it. What did the construction workers say exactly about this place?" Listening to Justin describes a young teenage girl bloody and bruised up dragging a bloody axe down the corridor. And that the lead foremen clutched his chest and dropped right there in the floor. they described the young woman like he flickered like an old movie projection glitching something out of horror movie. One of the guys had grabbed the guy by the wrist and trying to get him into the elevator but the girl snarled at them punching her small hand into the foreman's chest, like he was squeezing his heart literally. They guys ran for it and managed to get out of there, but they said when they looked up at the window she was standing there dead and pale staring at them. Fire, EMS and cops rolled and they searched the place best they could but couldn’t find no trace of the young woman. EMS starting CPR right away but the foreman was DOD (dead on arrival) at the hospital.

Rumors had gotten out and apparently no one wanted to take a stab at the renovations. So the recent owner called in a Catholic Priest, Father Gentry. He went in and never came out. Fire and cops searched what they could again but they didn't find him. Colt grabbed his duffle and shotgun. There was a chance the priest could still be alive so he slung the bag over his shoulder and went in, Justin guiding with top of the line GPS and map configuration of the building plans but as soon as they crossed the threshold the equipment began to falter. Colt didn't need EMF to tell him they had a very real problem here but one of the guys held one holding it up. It's was going off like crazy.

"Okay stick together, this place has been searched twice but we're looking for anything out of the ordinary. Be suspicious of everything. These places used to do underground work trying to find ways to fix people and who knows what kind of evil went down here. Gotta be a place big enough to hold a grown man but if he's already dead it may be smaller. Check for hidden rooms, panels in the floors or ceilings etc. Break into teams of two. Work back to back if anything goes down and make damn sure to use your training. Everyone's going home tonight and hopefully the priest as well." ::::::::::::::::::: Sam: Sam: After settling into the ranch, Sam had tried to spread out, get to know a few people here and there, and actually go out on cases with the crew. It was still jarring working, talking, and hanging out with people he recognized from his past, but didn't have the same history with him. He'd found that out a lot of the people still had the personality, some for the best and some . . . not so much. Either way, he was glad to at least have found his brother.

Sam was sitting in the kitchen at the main ranch after just having another hacking lesson with Ali when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw there was a message from one of the John's floating around this universe, requesting he and some of the others meet him at the main headquarters downtown. He quickly wrote back, letting John know he could be there in about an hour before tucking his phone away. Sam headed upstairs to change, grabbing an apple as a snack, before saying bye to Ali and heading towards the meeting.

[djgwritings]

(A Serious Man - Joel & Ethan Coen, 2009)

Seeing Spots

Trying to find parking last night (even with a free garage pass now per membership) emitted a near-epic meltdown and story. I did well spinning Wilco Schmilco tunes at the start. Perfect "windows down" weather music if there ever was. I had excitement mixed with additive anxiety called "going out." Wicked dichotomy cocktail at work. And I was solo. So, that had me feeling funny. I mostly don't mind being alone. 

I went my normal route and everything was good for a few a couple minutes. Then, I went to turn left out of our neighborhood (on a main thoroughfare), an easy left at a well known light for years now ... but, the street was blocked with construction orange and heavy machinery. Huge signs said, “NO LEFT.” What? There had always been a left here prior. I panicked and went straight. Scared straight! Even though going straight took me away from the direction I needed and there were no lefts (dead ends per residential streets) for many, many blocks. And I knew this the moment I took it. However, going right would have had me backtracking and circling the wagons. Clock was ticking, along with my heart, and I was already a tad late. So, I did a suspicious "turn-around" below the belt of a fancy-pants street (where I assume they call the authorities on guys who don't look their part - guys like me performing a “turn-around”) and backtracked to square one of the construction intersection. I had no clue what they were doing, but the street was gutted and made a car feel guilty to navigate. Always something. Thankfully, I could take a wonky right around all the construction machinery, cones and barriers. OK. Back at it. Minor set-back and breezy tunes back on.

I got half a mile down the road and traffic was bonkers, to say the least. The car in front of me was going slow, like 15 under the speed limit slow, and doing that "Should I turn? Should I not turn?" thing folks are real into of late per following digitized commands and screen coordinates. Everyone else was speeding around us at 15 miles (and some) over the limit, and I couldn't get an opening to do the same. I'm not a flashy driver, so I just stayed behind as I have a distaste for lane juggling and I didn't have too far to go. I'm a stay-put journeyman at best. It turned out a much slower car was in front of the slow car in front of me. That makes three of us. Another half mile and there is a stop light coming up that I knew to anticipate. However, the slow car I'm behind (not tailgating by any means) slams on its brakes far sooner than it should have. The slow car that was in front of it had turned off and there were now no cars leading the slow pack to warrant such a panic-brake. It was weird and a mega-hard slam too, like, "About to hit a car!" kind of slam. I've seen this before and applied a mega-hard slam in response or I'd, "About to hit a car!" Phew. I was inches from them. What the heck? I looked in the mirror to find a giant truck is inches behind me, and so on ... a vehicular centipede. I did not hear any crunches, just my teeth chattering. 

Come to find out, apparently, a carload of kids was taking a ridiculous Harry Houdini left out of a bank onto the packed four lanes of traffic. There was no way I could even see them until they came around the other lane of vehicles, all giant trucks and SUVs, etc. Either someone allowed the kids to inch out and/or they all also had to mega-hard slam brakes in alarm of the kids pulling out into full-on traffic. I'm guessing they got an "in" from the other lane, but didn't think to consult the second lane (mine), not to mention the other direction of traffic.The kids barely made it through and were grinning like, "Holy heck! We almost wrecked! Grab yer goods and hit the deck!" Stupid kids. Stupid adults. Stupid cars. We're all so stupid. Having just got back from New York City, I stare down-blared my tiny horn as they smiled past me and let 'em have what for. Naturally, the slow car that was in front of me thought I was doing this to them. Oops. Sorry, guy! They appeared frazzled and quickly made a left turn themselves. OK, then. Good! Got 'em out of the way and regrouped at the stop light. 

The road I was on dumps into another road that either dumps into a big and busy area or goes around to my destination. It's always tricky and pre-meditation lane choosing is a must if you know it well. Especially since you seem to be dumped into a NASCAR race track. I hate it, but it's the best route from my house. However, the traffic hiccups prior didn't have my brain and bearings aligned. I was in the wrong lane. So, I played Frogger: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Edition and got where I needed to be. Or, so I thought. I got to another light and panicked. I needed over in the next lane now in order to turn left another block down on the correct street. And there was a lot of traffic. Always. Like I said, I have free garage parking, but prefer street parking if I happen to see it. Nothing beats ol' reliable and I'm not a fan of getting into tight garages with one way in and one way out. But, I couldn't get over as traffic was sledge hammering. I saw a giant pack of bicyclists, like 50 of 'em (that would make a giant enough pack, right?), looking to head down the very street I hoped to maybe park on. I was like, "Okay. So glad I missed that! Maybe this lane mess-up is in my favor?" I also realized when reading the event invite they said there would be overflow parking, as well as shuttle service, from another venue nearby. This is several blocks away, but the altered route I was taking just might work. A fail-safe, then.

After waiting forever to, uh, take a left. I inched toward the aforementioned overflow parking. However, I noticed there were only a handful of cars, so I assumed that meant it wasn't quite overflow time just yet. I also figured it would be either a long wait for a shuttle or a long walk. At this point walking sounded incredible. Still, the clock was ticking and I gambled to find a spot near the event. Though, passing further by the overflow entrance I soon noticed a shuttle idling, just waiting for crickets. I could have easily parked right by it, hopped on and been taken to the back door of the event, on time, in minutes! Ah well. For now, I'd just have to take a left at the end of the street, drive in front of the event space, then take a right to potentially find street parking.

Well, uh, that's a nope. There was zilch lefts on this busy street where huge signs aggressively blurt, "Buses ONLY." I always forget the situation at this intersection. What in the world? So, I grumbled and went straight and decided to just go the back way around the event space. Which, would completely cancel any street parking tries as I'd be approaching it all backwards. Therefore, I'd have to gamble with the parking garage now, surely packed by this point. Further assessment of this thought had me finding a way to U-Turn, something I never do, near the event space's delivery entrance. I went for it and survived. I was now realigned to follow through with trying to procure street parking. I drove by a giant face in front of the space, heading towards a (hopeful) safe right turn slide into home. Another NOPE! Now, the giant pack of 50 bicyclists I'd seen minutes earlier were herding through the intersection. Had I been 10 seconds sooner I would have been ahead of them. I turned after the last bicycle, the real slowpoke of the pack. It was annoying being stuck behind them, but a bit in my advantage as I was okay to go slow and be granted keener senses to spot potential street parking. However, going slow from the get-go ensured I'd have a slow chain of irritated cars behind me. I quickly spied ahead through bicycles a couple spots I knew I could fit in and patiently gripped the wheel with cars chomping bumper behind me.

Oh, but wait. A serious outfitted bicyclist SPOKEsperson urgently-aggressively waved me to go around them. What!? Nooo! I wanted to park. Just move and I'll pull in a little ways ahead. I can wait! He kept waving and seemed agitated at my apparent lack of respect for his two-wheeled kind. I was all, "I just want to park and attend this thing I've been trying to get to!" Also, going around this herd of 50 bicycles would have me driving in the other lane. This lane was receiving cars opposite. Like the non-confrontational and compliant person I am, I soon found an opening and drove around the bulk of the bicycles. However, per my go-around lane opening quickly closing, cars the other direction flowed towards me and I didn't know what to do. I hate stuff like this - the stuff of quick driving decisions. I panicked and got back over, now in-between the herd of super slow bicycles! I was puttering along to not mow them down, staring at their spandex and bottle squirts. There were no longer any open street spots now as they had been passed up, too small or a fire hydrant. To the garage gamble it was now. I finally got another opening and drove around the slow bicycle gang, nearly plowing into smiling event-attending folks crossing the road who had found a spot elsewhere to park. And I could tell the bicyclists wanted to tread on me.

I pulled into the garage, praying to the giant face for a spot. Anything? The gate was up, so a good sign in my favor. Then, an attendant waved me to the right with bright-flashy things in a "follow the cones to parking" motion. I waved back and grinned. However, there was no parking actually open. I cursed. I rarely curse. Cars will do that to a supposed good boy. I could also see many cars that had entered before me creeping around like vultures for open spots. I exclaimed to the dash, "Where to now?!" Then, unbeknownst to my prior ten years of remodeled garage knowledge, at the end of a last-ditch effort looking a full row over, I discovered a second underground parking level entrance! (not even my wife knew about this) Better yet, I had beat the other cars to it! I creeped down the ramp only to, uh, find more car vultures and a lot of parked cars! Instead of following the leader of cars without a space, I somehow got smart and skirted an outside open lane. It also gave me a better parking lot perspective. Man, like a Thanksgiving afternoon it was beyond full. Though, I surprisingly spied a spot on the next row over ... how had it been overlooked!? Paydirt! Pavementdirt! Though, I noticed other vultures going towards it. I even noticed some that had passed it. Hmmm. Okay? Maybe they didn't see it? 

After I rev'd around into the next aisle of cars to pounce the open spot, and with several more sets of headlights coming towards me (others who had discovered the second level) and making telepathic/pathetic motions to the on-coming cars that I HAD SEEN IT FIRST, I noticed a car next to the only open spot had a wheel a good two feet into the supposedly empty spot. There was no room for another car. I was so mad, shaking my head and hands. I never get this mad. Come on! Something that irks me majorly is terrible parking. I'm not grate at much in this life, but will park the most perfect I can in an empty lot. An on-coming car of elders looked at me, pointed at the spot, and shook heads too. Haha! This bought me a bit of time. I did a shrug and floored it. I passed several more cars and got back to the exit of the underground. I was ready to just leave and park blocks away and walk it in, all panting and sweaty on this unseasonably warm fall evening. However, more cars kept descending into the underground and I could not get out! I could not leave. There was nowhere but runaround for all these cars. Who's going to tell the guy with the bright-flashy things? Would it be me? That's if I could ever escape. There were too many cars coming in for me to exit out, so I panicked again, I floored it again, and drove to the outside aisle I initially started at to regroup. I noticed there was a pile-up near the lop-sided parking spot. Weird. Was someone really trying to park there? There was seriously no room for my slim Honda Fit (not living up to its name in this situation), and all the cars I'd seen were tanks. But, there was one hopeful elder tank trying to back into the spot. They kept trying and readjusting. Ha! Go for it! I didn't wait to see the results, rather I realized all the cars that had just come down had played follow the leader and were jammed behind the old man trying to get into the spot that was not a spot.

I squealed tires, passing yet another gaze of the giant face at the bottom level entrance. Don't fail me now! I passed every aisle, staring them down into an abyss of cars upon cars and watched vulture cars slowly shrugging along waiting to pounce. I made it to the far opposite end aisle of the garage, passed more full spots and gaggles of elders shuffling excitedly - they had somehow just found parking spots - nearly plowing them down as they would not get out of the middle of the aisle. I then passed event official space vehicles and golf carts. We were getting near the end of civilization. I thought I had a spot, but it was not. In its place was a weird, tiny service machine that could not be seen until nearly pulling in. But, then ... THEN, I whipped around the end of the aisle to the start of the next. There was an unusual service elevator to my right. And right in front of it was a spot. It was shining. I looked it over intently. There was no sign. There were no markings to keep me from parking. There were no small service vehicles crouching in its corner. To the left of the spot was an obvious no parking area of huge yellow diagonals. But, the spot itself was spotless! I pulled in. I sighed. I got out and further inspected the spot. I even bent down and looked under my car just in case the pavement beneath was marked in a kind of camo paint to trick me. It was not. had found a spot! And it was seriously the last spot! I guess it had been overlooked per positioned directly in front of an elevator door.

I walked all the way down the aisle to the other end. I was almost at the door, as well as staring into giant eyes of the giant face again, and it me like it always does, "Shoot! Did I turn my lights off? I better walk back and check my lights. Pretty sure I got them. But, after all that I just want to play it safe." I walked back and it was good. I then triple checked my spot just to be clear it was valid. It still appeared so. More cars were driving around looking for spots and they thought I was going to my car to leave. Haha! Not a chance! 

[petemillson]

College Baseball Rankings Top 25 Chat (2/19)

Teddy Cahill: It was an exciting Opening Weekend around college baseball and you all have questions about it, so let’s get right to them

Josh (Olive Branch): What do you make of Southern Miss weekend sweep of Miss State? I know it’s early but is Southern Miss this good this year, or did Miss State just have a bad weekend?

Teddy Cahill: One of the weekend’s biggest series seems like a good place to start. I think it’s some of both. Southern Miss is good – that’s why we ranked the Golden Eagles No. 21 coming into the year – and Mississippi State clearly had a rotten weekend. Konnor Pilkington is going to pitch better. But I am slightly concerned that my two biggest questions about Mississippi State went unanswered this weekend. Jake Mangum and Josh Hatcher, the top two hitters in the lineup, were all of the Bulldogs’ offense. Someone needs to step up to bring them home. And Ethan Small had a poor start as he works back from injury. Mississippi State needs the pitchers that missed last year to come back and contribute. That said, it was one weekend. The Bulldogs have a chance to get it going this week.

Cade (Hattiesburg): Southern Miss made one of the loudest statements of the weekend sweeping Mississippi State. Were you guys tempted to move them up more than 4 spots?

Teddy Cahill: I was not and we didn’t talk about them any higher than 17. I am very unreactive early in the season, possibly to a fault. It was a loud sweep for sure, but it was one weekend at home to a team that we had ranked below them. I feel good about where Southern Miss is in the Top 25 right now.

David (Gulfport, MS): What’s your early opinion of Southern Miss? How do they stack up in CUSA?

Teddy Cahill: They entered the year as the CUSA favorites. Obviously that hasn’t changed. I think they might be able to boss that league again. Rice had a solid weekend and figures to be better and I like Florida Atlantic a lot too. But Southern Miss separated itself last year and could do so again this year. I wrote a lot more about Southern Miss in Off the Bat, if you want more in-depth thoughts https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/southern-miss-comes-swinging/

David (Mississippi): Thoughts on Ole Miss sending 16 batters to the plate over the 3 game series and all 16 getting a hit? Bode well for Ole Miss or still too early?

Teddy Cahill: That’s kind of cool, I guess? We knew there was depth at Ole Miss this year. It’s good that they all came out swinging, but the Rebels aren’t going to use 16 position players on an SEC weekend.

Dustin (Austin, Tx): The horns struggled to score runs this weekend. Were the Cajun pitchers that good? Should Texas fans expect another season of below average offense?

Teddy Cahill: Talked about this a bit on the podcast today, which will be online later this afternoon. I know Texas fans are eager to see more offense, but this is still a pitching and defense team. And Louisiana-Lafayette can really pitch. I think Texas has enough hitting, but I don’t think it’s going to be a particularly dynamic offense. I am very interested to see how the Longhorns hitters do this weekend at LSU.

Peter (Chicago): Does LSU have some serious issues on the mound and plate or is Notre Dame better than expected. Only one weekend but Notre Dame outplayed LSU in every aspect this weekend.

Teddy Cahill: We knew LSU was going to struggle early. Losing what they did from last year’s team, there were always going to be growing pains. The Tigers still have a lot of work to do, especially on the mound. All three of the starters can be better, but they need to get it turned around in a hurry. And while there’s some depth to that staff, it would really behoove LSU if those three can all stay in the rotation. I think Notre Dame might be a little better than expected as well, but we’re going to need to see some more baseball before we really have a feel for that.

VandyMan (VandyLand): Vanderbilt’s freshman class looked as advertised. Hickman was locked in and solid, Martin, Clarke, and Gonzalez all showed tremendous thump, oh and DeMarco was an on base machine. If these guys keep contributing (and covering an Infante 0-fer for the weekend) could this be a team that makes some SEC noise?

Teddy Cahill: Yeah, that’s kind of the formula for Vanderbilt this year. The faster the freshmen get up to speed (and clearly some are there already), the better the chances that the Commodores hit their ceiling. There’s a lot of talent on that roster.

Phil (Corvallis): Question on Trevor Larnach – obviously the numbers are going to come down a little from the first weekend but if he continues to show power where can he possibly go in the draft?

Teddy Cahill: Larnach has always been an interesting draft prospect to evaluate because the raw power was in there, but he had never really unlocked it. He had three career home runs coming into the weekend. If he keeps hitting, he can go pretty good. Barring a Player of the Year type season, I don’t think he gets into the top half of the first round because he’s a corner guy and the depth of the college outfield class (there are only going to be so many college outfielders taken really high and it won’t be easy to get past the likes of Conine, Jenista, Pompey and Swaggerty), but he can be a first rounder.

Jonathan Watkins (Birningham, AL): Auburn looked really good this weekend. Almost looked like a better team than last year. Do you think Auburn is a deep program or did they just play a really bad team this weekend?

Teddy Cahill: Well, Auburn played a really bad team this weekend. Longwood ranked 258 in RPI last year and I don’t think it will be much better this year. But that doesn’t mean this Auburn team isn’t good. Casey Mize is a legit ace and both of Butch Thompson’s first two recruiting classes have been ranked in the Top 25. The program is on the rise. I think there’s a lot to be excited about on the Plains, but I’m also very eager to see Auburn play better competition.

Nick (Greenwood, AR): Razorbacks. Any weak areas to speak of? Thanks.

Teddy Cahill: I don’t see any. I called Arkansas one of the most complete teams in the country all preseason. There’s a reason the Hogs are ranked No. 4

Chuck (Atlanta): Did Clemson pitching show enough to add confidence in their outlook if they start hitting the baseball and could they win the ACC? I know it was W&M, but first series sweeps since 2010

Teddy Cahill: I mean, Clemson was No. 12 in the preseason and the third-ranked ACC team. I feel like we already had established that the Tigers are ACC title contenders.

Burke Lyle (Kennesaw Georgia): I saw UConn lose to to Kennesaw Sate on Friday. What did they do the rest of the weekend to get into the top 25?

Teddy Cahill: Won the next two games, for starters. UConn is a team we talked at length about ranking in the preseason. We opted for St. John’s at the time, but UConn was very close. So they were kind of the first team up. It was a solid weekend for the Huskies. Not particularly groundbreaking, but I thought it was good to see them go on the road and score as many runs as they did. For Northern schools, getting through that first weekend, when you haven’t been outside much is key, and I think the Huskies will be strong on the mound going forward. Tim Cate is going to pitch better than he did Friday. It’s a solid all-around team.

Bill (Orlando): The Southern Miss offense was not a question going in to this season. But the pitching was a big unknown, so after this weekend is the pitching much better than expected or is MS State just really bad offensively?

Teddy Cahill: I think Nick Sandlin’s move to the front of the rotation changes the complexion of things. If he can lock down that spot, Southern Miss is going to have the edge on the mound most (every?) Friday nights in CUSA. And Wallner being healthy adds a premium arm to the bullpen. While Southern Miss lost a lot on the mound, there’s still plenty of talent there. But I don’t want to go overboard on Southern Miss’ pitching yet. It’s one weekend and Mississippi State is young offensively.

Dean (Greenville, NC): How do you see the East Carolina-UNC matchup panning out this weekend? Do the Pirates have a chance to win the series, and if they did, is there a possibility we see them in the top 25?

Teddy Cahill: I think North Carolina takes the series. They’re No. 6 in the country for a reason and I don’t think ECU can match up on the mound. But it should be a fun series. I know ECU fans will be fired up to see UNC in Greenville and the setup with the neutral site game at Duke’s home ballpark and the finale in Chapel Hill is cool. If ECU were to pull the upset, I wouldn’t look for them in the Top 25. It would be a really nice win, but we didn’t have ECU as a regional team in the preseason. So it would take a little more than just that series win.

Dan (DC): Tell me anything positive about GW’s chance in the A10 this year.

Teddy Cahill: I think the conference slate sets up pretty well for George Washington. Some winnable series at the start. Tough close with VCU and SLU on back-to-back weekends in May. It was a tough weekend at Florida Atlantic for the Colonials, but they played a very good Owls team tight.

Lionel (Nashville): How volatile are losses for Power 5 conference teams against mid-majors this early in the season? For example, if you’re a top 10, top 25 team, and you take 2 of 3 from a much weaker team, does it sway the rankings? Should it? Thanks!

Teddy Cahill: In isolation, I don’t get hung up on one loss in a series to a team you shouldn’t be losing to. So if, say Vanderbilt, lost a game to, say UMass-Lowell, say this weekend, I wouldn’t much care when I went to evaluate for the Top 25. But if Vanderbilt were to make a habit of losing games like that, either in midweek or on the weekend, that’s when it starts to make an impact on the ranking. Even if they keep winning series, that points to a larger issue, for me. UCLA was like that two years ago. Fullerton did it early last year before it got rolling. But on any one weekend, I don’t want to put too much stock into one game, unless it’s to like an RPI 250+ team. Baseball is a funny game and sweeping series is difficult.

Teddy Cahill: That’ll do it for today. Thanks for your questions. And, as always, if I didn’t get to yours, leave it in the comments and I’ll come back and answer there.

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